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Happy Halloween! But Remember... Candy, especially chocolate, can be very toxic to dogs. So make sure they ask for only healthy treats! Great news! An initiative by Best Friends and the ASPCA has made it possible for rescue groups to pull animals from LA shelters with no "pull" fees! This means the groups that go around getting dogs out of shelters before they're euthanized will be able to do so without cost--so many more lives will be saved!!
Yeah for Best Friends and the ASPCA! |
Pet Detective on the Case! Happy Ending for Molly and Dolly
| Pit Love | Hot August...early morning...I was out back with my horses when I heard what sounded like gunfire. I peered cautiously over my fence to see two pit bulls squeezing under my neighbor's fence, escaping back out to the desert. My irate neighbor assured me he was firing blanks just to scare them away. I knew the dogs must be desperate for food and water, so later that day I drove along the dirt tracks that crisscross the desert. It took a while but I spotted four ears just poking up behind some brush. The two pits immediately moved away from me, very leery of humans at that point. I put food and water out and drove a distance away; after about 20 minutes, they came to eat and drink. Over the next several months, I kept moving their feed station closer and closer to my house. As it neared Christmas, the dogs started waiting for me to bring their food. I just couldn't get close enough to catch them. The weather was turning very cold (we even had a freak freezing thunder storm), and I was tortured with worry over them, both female. It was just a matter of time before they got pregnant, and their puppies would have no chance. I started laying trails of hot dogs and liverwurst into a fenced area on my property; once I could see that "operation pit bull" was working, I took the next step. At dawn in Christmas eve, I tied a long rope to the gate in such a way that I could pull it closed. I took the end of the rope and hid behind some lawn furniture about 15 feet away. I didn't have to wait long. They came sneaking in, following the food trail. I pulled the gate closed and breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was the best Christmas gift I could have gotten. After a few hours they started to warm to me, and the rest is history. | After a walk in the desert--a dip in the "pool"!
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Another case solved by The Pet Detective!
Are you a Pet Detective?
If you've investigated a case of animal cruelty or neglect, you can be a Guest Pet Detective! We'd need details of the case and a photo or two, and we'll feature your story in an upcoming issue. Email us at [email protected].
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Neuters of the Month
Puddin', Punkin, and Naomi
| Puddin' |
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| Punkin |
| Puddin' is now old enough to be spayed, and her new "brother" Punkin, who looks just like her but without the white hair on his chest, will be going as well. We also got a gorgeous gray tabby kitten from the desert, who we named Naomi, who's also ready. Puddin' and Punkin have blended right in to our pride of cats; Naomi, who was quite feral but has bonded well to Susan, lives in the closet and will come out when she's ready. She gets plenty of petting, but is just not ready to join the family yet. No hurry--she seems happy in her little bed in the corner of the closet.
| Naomi in her closet hideaway |
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Rescues of the Month Pepsi
A beautiful Boxer mix was picked up starving in the desert by a neighbor, Diane Alarcon. She got our number from the local feed store (called, surprisingly, The Feed Store), and we met Diane and Pepsi after she'd been well looked after for about two weeks.
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| Pepsi when she was first rescued from the desert
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| Pepsi is a beautiful Boxer mix, super-smart (she learned to sit and stay right away, and was housebroken within a day or two). She adores her foster family, Diane, her husband, and two sons.
| Pepsi with Butter the Pug |
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| Pepsi looking great! |
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Unfortunately, they can't keep her, but they're fostering her until she finds a loving home. She's great with other dogs, loves kids, and is eager to please. Quite a fabulous dog. She's spayed, has her first round of shots, and is ready to be adopted!
| Well fed and happy with her two foster "brothers" |
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If you or someone you know wants a terrific addition to the family, please let us know and we'll arrange for you to meet Pepsi. |
Tips from the Trainer Scott Beckman,
Thank you for the request for a brief interview! I am honored for the opportunity to help your readers. My training is based on pack leadership using non-aggressive techniques. Voice tones and body language are the hallmarks of canine communication, and that's my approach. If your dog respects and trusts you, she will willingly follow your "Pack Rules." All dogs are pack animals, and that's the psychology I tap into and teach my clients. My whole system is based on love, respect, and a bond that can normally only be achieved through canine communication. I call it "creating harmony in a home." I once worked with a big Great Dane that was slightly aggressive. When I walked into the clients' home, he barked and jumped up on me, resting his paws on my shoulders (and I'm 6'5")! He was telling me he was going to kick my butt if I didn't leave. The funny part is what a marshmallow he turned out to be. After I taught my clients what to do, I came through the door again, and he sat on the other side of the room, just watching submissively, with respect. Same dog, different behavior in 10 minutes. And we never laid a hand on him or used shock collars or anything like that. He was just waiting for his owners to take over leadership of the home. We all laughed a little; the wife even shed a tear because she had thought his behavior would never change. On House Breaking: The first rule is management. Letting your dog run loose through your home in the beginning is a disaster waiting to happen. Isolate the new dog to an area that you can watch, using gates designed for babies or dogs. Next establish a schedule for eating and drinking. Pick up the food and water in the evening; your dog will need to go out within an hour of eating and drinking. He will also need to go out after exuberant play. If you catch him going inside the house, give a loud clap and "Nooo!" Then show him outside, and tell him in a high-pitched voice how good he is. Soon he'll learn Inside bad...Outside good! On Barking: The principles are similar. When your dog barks, try a loud clap or a quick squirt with a water bottle and "No!" at the same time. But the key is to praise in your high voice the second she stops. Again, Bark bad...No bark good! The more she respects and trusts you, the better this will work, so acting like a leader is part of the solution. I hope you find these tips helpful. Cheers! Scott Beckman Bark Busters Home Dog Training Dog Behavioral Therapist & Trainer 661-312-6476 [email protected] |
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We need your help to help the dogs!
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Photo of the Month
| "God bless Mommy and Daddy..."
"Meat and gravy and maybe some more meat..."
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Video of the Month
This gets better as it goes on--the ending is worth the wait!
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Man's Best Friend
...and Friends
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To donate any amount from $1 up, click the button below to make a safe, secure donation through PayPal.
You don't need a PayPal account to donate; just click the button below and follow the instructions on the PayPal screen.
You can also mail a check to SNIP, PO Box 500064, Lake Los Angeles CA 93535.
Remember, each neuter can save hundreds of pets from neglect, mistreatment and abandonment.
All donations go directly to the care of the pets, vet bills, and the minimal costs of keeping the organization running.
We thank you in advance for giving to SNIP, when we know you have many uses for your hard- earned money.
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About SNIP
SNIP (Spay/Neuter Implementation Program) is a 501(c)(3) promoting the spay/neuter of domestic pets in Lake Los Angeles and Littlerock in Southern California. Our service is unique in that we pick up pet from the owner, take it to the vet for surgery, and either return it to the owner or find it a home. SNIP bears the entire cost of the neuter.We rely on the expert assistance of High Desert Animal Care and the Littlerock Pet Clinic, and donations from pet lovers who know the vital importance of keeping pet population under control so pets are not abandoned in the desert or neglected and mistreated at home. SNIP recently became a member of NKLA (No-Kill Los Angeles), a Best Friends' initiative, and we work with FixNation in Trap/Neuter/Return of feral cats. We want all pets to be lovingly cared for!
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