Rescue or Buying

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It seems very popular to say, “I have ‘rescued’ this animal.” In the past many people went to the “pound” to get a pet, but Rescue a Puppynow it is all about rescue. Gee whiz I thought I was rescuing when I went to the pound and got a dog. I think there is a big difference between rescue and pound animals. The animals that are lucky enough to be grabbed up by a rescue group normally go into a foster home. So when you adopt from them they can tell you a lot about the dog, like if is she good with other dogs, cats, or had a problem with strangers, and so on. When you go directly to the shelter you do not get much information. If you are a newbie to pet ownership you should think about going through a rescue group or buying from a reputable breeder

On the other hand I also hear people condemn people who buy a dog from a good breeder. Why? They say there are too many dogs that don’t have homes, too many dogs in our shelters. I agree with both of those statements but do not agree with the view that buying a dog from a reputable breeder is wrong. We seem to have gotten confused with where the problem began — with backyard breeders, those people who refuse to have their dogs neutered or spayed, and puppy mills. I would stand by stricter laws to govern the backyard breeders, the puppy mills and people who do not alter their pet, but in my mind there is nothing wrong with purchasing a puppy from a good breeder. A good breeder takes the time to make sure her puppies are socialized, usually housebreaks them, and they are very choosy about who gets one of their puppies. A reputable breeder keeps records of any kind of illnesses or diseases and is always willing to take a dog back if something happens that causes the family to be unable to keep the dog.

Sometimes trying to get a dog from a rescue group can be quite frustrating. They have many rules and regulations and in many ways these are good. The problem comes when there is no common sense used in the application of the rules. One of the rescue groups I know of has a rule that if you do not have a fenced in yard, you can not adopt one of their dogs. I know many people who have owned dogs all their lives and have never had a fenced in yard. The dogs had wonderful lives, they were walked, taken for runs in parks and taken camping, and yet the answer is still no.

I have known people who have tried to work with rescue groups that were turned down because they had a child under 10 in their household. I certainly realize that young children are not always ready to handle a dog but that’s not always true. There are many children who have been raised with dogs and are perfectly fine with them, but again the answer is just no.

I hear rescue groups send out messages, “Urgent, need help, foster homes, need adoptive parents,” and yet when people want to adopt they hit this brick wall. I realize a lot of this is a way of protecting dogs from bad situations, but I just don’t see any common sense being used. I don’t see people looking at a situation and evaluating that situation before making a decision.

All these brick walls end up sending people who would like to rescue a dog trying to find a reputable breeder instead. Unfortunately not all of these people know how to tell who is reputable and who is not and they end up purchasing a puppy from a backyard breeder or a puppy mill. There has to be a better way for everyone to work together, to make sure that people who want a dog and who are responsible enough to have a dog get one without supporting bad breeders.

What are your thoughts? What are your experiences? Are you as frustrated as I am?

Are You Ready for a Rescue Dog?

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Lucy, Jake, George and I were at the park going for a walk today when we came upon a woman who had two small dogs. One of the dogs was barking and just uncontrollable, not behaving very well. We stopped to talk to the woman about it and her instant explanation was that he was a rescue. What a cliche that has become. It seems everywhere I go when a dog is misbehaving the owner says “She is a rescue,” and that is somehow supposed to excuse this bad behavior. Now we all understand that when we do take on a rescue dog sometimes there are some behavioral problems, but it’s not an excuse for a lifetime of this behavior. When we take on a new dog we take on the responsibility of training and spending time doing what you need to do to make that dog both a good companion and a good community dog.

I know this stance will not make me very popular, but if you’re not willing to take the time, or invest the money in training, then maybe a rescue is really not the type of dog you need. You might be better off going to a good breeder who has started the training for you; someone who has already done the beginning of socialization and has raised the puppy in a loving family environment that will fit in with your lifestyle. You will still need to invest time and money in training but you know you are not dealing with a dog that has been abused or mistreated.

A great article to read before going forward with pet adoption is this one from the Humane Society: Are You Ready To Adopt A Pet? Ten Questions

That said, there is no better feeling than taking a rescue dog and working with that animal to help it overcome its past — to watch an animal that has been abused learn how to be a dog, learn how to be a pet and learn how to be well behaved part of your family. What a wonderful feeling when you see this animal blossom; but don’t think that comes without a lot of work and money. Sometimes you will have to hire a private trainer or someone who specializes in animals with behavior problems. But being a rescue is not an excuse for animal to continue to misbehave.

Before you adopt a dog that has been abused or traumatized you need to take a good look at yourself and your family situation. You need to be honest. How much time are you willing to dedicate to this dog? How much money do you have to put into rehabilitation? How much experience do you have? One question that I think is overlooked most of the time is whether the whole family has agreed to be part of the rehabilitation of this animal. These are questions that should be answered before anyone takes on an animal that has behavioral problems.

If you don’t have the experience, the patience, or the money, then you need to give a second thought to rescuing a dog that has emotional problems. It does not make you a bad person or any less of a dog lover, it’s just a reality. The last thing we want is to add to the problems this animal already has. Try and make sure that the dog that you adopt does not have problems that you are not ready to handle. After all, it’s a lifetime commitment.

Here is a great website for training rescue dogs and a great place to start out: Rescue Doggie

Be safe and have fun!

Carrot and Oatmeal Dog Treats

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This is an easy to make wholesome treat for your dog.  It is an easy way to increase the intake of vegetables in your dog’s diet.

2 cups whole wheat flour

Dog treats made with carrots and oatmeal2 cups cooked and pureed carrotsCarrot and oatmeal puppy treats

2 large eggs

1 cup oatmeal

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon canola oil

¼ cup wheat germ

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine and mix the carrots, eggs and oil.  In a separate bowl combine the remaining dry ingredients.  Mix both bowls together and knead until becomes a soft dough. Roll out on a floured surface and cut into desired shapes.  Bake 35-40 minutes. Turn off the oven and remove cookies. Allow to cool for 15 minutes and then return to the warm oven to dry for about an hour

 

Molasses Peanut Rewards

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Molasses Peanut Rewards

Molasses is a sweetener that is actually good for your dog, providing manganese and other trace minerals.

Use natural peanut butter in dog treats 4tbsp blackstrap molassesMolasses Peanut Butter Dog Rewards

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1 cup water

6 tbsp vegetable oil

11/2 cups rolled oats

2 cups wheat flour

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk the molasses, peanut butter, water and vegetable oil. Combine the oats and flour.  Slowly add to the wet ingredients. Mix and drop tablespoon (large) teaspoons (mid) onto baking sheet and press down. Bake for 25-30 or till firm. Calories 84g, Protein 2.2g, carbohydrates 9.3g, Dietary Fiber 1.6g, Fat 4.5g

 

Baggage

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When I rescued Domino he was 4 years old. He started his life by being abandoned on a beach in South Carolina. He was a lucky boy and was taken to a no-kill shelter Paws Place Inc. where he was adopted out several times and then returned for one reason or another. The last time a man with two sons adopted Domino but the man brought him back because “his kids did not feed him on time.” After that Domino was depressed and he started to lose weight because he would not eat, so the shelter Domino the dogplaced him in a foster home. That is where I first met him. When Domino came home with me he was very reserved. He did not play with humans. He would just sit and watch my family, not sure he wanted to join in. You could see that he was guarding his heart. He was not going to fall in love with another family just to be discarded. It took Domino 4 months to decide to be part of my family and it was nothing that I did. My niece Rachel was coming down for her summer visit. Rachel’s dad had passed away a couple of years earlier and since then she always spent a week or two with Aunt Robin in the summer. This special day we planned a day at the lake. We rented a pontoon boat and some jet skis – of course the dogs came along. It was having all the kids around for the week that brought Domino out of his shell. I am telling you the truth when I say I could see the look on his face when he decided it was safe and he wanted to be part of my family. Domino is now 14 years old loves to go for walks or play at the dog park. He still does not play with humans, but he will let you pet him and once in a while he will bestow upon you one of his rare kisses. Rachel is now 22 years old and will be down for her visit this week. I am so lucky that my life has been full of people like Rachel and dogs like Domino. Following is a poem that was given to me the day I adopted Domino. I may not know a lot of things; but I do know I never want to add Baggage!

Happy domino

Baggage

By Evelyn Colbath, (c)1995, All rights reserved

Now that I’m home, bathed, settled and fed,

All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.

I’d like to open my baggage

lest I forget

There is so much to carry –

So much to regret.

 

Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top.

Let’s unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss;

And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.

As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave –

I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,

But I wasn’t good enough – for they didn’t want me.

Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack?

Or will you just look at my things –

And take me right back? Do you have the time to help me unpack?

To put away my baggage, to never repack?

I pray that you do –

I’m so tired you see, But I do come with baggage –

Will YOU still want ME?

Pumpkin Dog Treats

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Pumpkin dog Treats

Pumpkin is very good for a dog’s digestive system and they love molasses

 

Pumpkin Dog Treats½ cup pumpkin pureedog shaped treats

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 tbsp blackstrap molasses

1 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp water (or beef broth)

Round pumpkin dog treats¼ tsp baking powderBone shapes pumpkin dog treats

2 tbsp vegetable oil

¼ tsp baking soda

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Blend together the pumpkin puree, molasses, water and vegetable oil. Stir in the flower, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda to form soft dough. Roll the dough into balls, put on a baking sheet, flatten (I sometimes roll out and used cookie cutter) Bake for 25 minutes or until hard and crisp

Notes: will last up to 2 weeks in airtight container Calories …. 35, Protein ….0.7g, Carbohydrates…. 6.1g, Fat ….0.9g

Older Dogs and Their Diets

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Our pets are living much longer than they did 30 years ago. There are many factors that contribute to this, such as betterRelaxation time with your senior dog veterinary care, the fact that most of our animals are now inside and the fact that we know so much more than we used to about their nutrition.

The number one fact is that our pets have moved from the backyard into our living rooms. They are now such an intricate part of our lives; we take them to the park, we play with them while we watch TV and we see the changes that happen as they are aging and want to keep them comfortable and happy.

Dogs and cats are no longer animals that live outside to keep away pests and vermin. They are now truly members of our families and become even more so as our two-legged children grow up and go away to college. As we see our pets starting to age, we are concerned. We want to keep them active and part of our lives. One of the ways we can do Senior cats need special attentionthis is by better nutrition. As we age, our nutritional needs change and our dogs are no different. Each dog is different as well and we as dog owners have to make decisions about their diet. So where do we go, as pet parents, to get the information that we need to make sure our dog’s needs are being met? There are so many differences between breeds: small breeds, large breeds and giant breeds. There also differences between each dog. How do we, as pet parents, adjust their food and nutrition needs?

The first thing you should do is answer a couple of questions:

  • How active is your dog? Just like people, each dog is different. Some dogs will become lazy or inactive as early as three or four years old while other dogs will remain active past 10 years, so you have to look at your dog to make that decision. Is he or she high, medium or low activity?
  • Is your dog experiencing any discomfort? I have a dog that is 15 years old, I would still rate her as medium activity. However when she first gets up and starts to move you can see the stiffness in her back legs. She doesn’t have the strength that she used to have in her hind quarters, but she can walk 3 miles if the terrain is flat. I exercise her more often, but not as long.
  • Is your dog overweight? As they age, many dogs develop a weight problem, just as many people do. Take a good look at your dog; is she on the pudgy side? Are you willing to increase her exercise or do you need to adjust her diet to help take care of some of those pounds? Be honest with yourself, if you’re not willing to increase the exercise, then you must cut the number of the calories. A note of warning here: so many of the foods that are considered lite on calories actually cut nutrients and use fillers that are high carb. I would rather see you use vegetables to increase the bulk but keep the nutrients still on a high level. One more note on vegetables, if you are using canned vegetables make sure you are using low sodium vegetables.
  • Is he or she showing any other problems of aging? Incontinence, pain, loss of hearing, loss of eyesight and irritability may or may not be able to be controlled with nutrition, but the first thing to remember is to provide a dog the best food that you can afford. Do not trust the labels alone, food manufacturers have learned to disguise labels when the food is really not as good as they would like you to think. I hate to say this but also do not rely on your veterinarian. Though your vet is a wonderful resource for many things, you need to do your own homework on nutrition. After you have done your own research, have a conversation with your veterinarian and see if he or she has a problem with what foods you have decided on.
  • Keep it simple. Natural additives can sometimes be the best. There are many drugs that can help with arthritis but there are also natural additives that you could use such as fish oil, flaxseed oil and fresh salmon. If you keep to natural ingredients you don’t have as many worry to the side effects.
  • Think outside the box. Again, you don’t always have to put your dog on a chemical medication to relieve arthritis pain. Look into acupuncture, massage, and exercise. In my mind medication should be the last thing that you turn to in keeping your pet pain free.

These questions are really good idea at any stage of your dog’s life, not just seniors. Whenever you realize that your dog is going into another stage of life these are just a few basic questions you need to go back to review. A couple of other things that you need to take into consideration are how much time you want to take preparing food and exercising your dog.

With the Internet there is an endless source of really good information on nutrition for your pet whether it be a dog or cat. However as you search the Internet for information there is one thing I’d like to warn you about. You need to look out for who is sponsoring each website. One of the red flags that I look for is if there are food manufacturing companies sponsoring the website. I always look for a website that does not accept advertisements from the manufacturers. Just don’t get taken in by a flashy website a lot of propaganda. Some of the large manufacturers have wonderful commercials that would lead you to think that they love your pet as much as you do, but after you do your research you may find that where they buy their products would give you nightmares.

As your pet ages you will need to make adjustments to his food depending on how your individual dog is doing. Be very careful if your dog is overweight and you’re looking to get a lite dog food. Many of the well-respected manufacturers of dog food have introduced specialized dog foods, like foods for seniors or for overweight pets, and a lot of these foods are lacking in the nutrients that any dog needs for a healthy life. Do your homework; it takes a lot of time but is well worth it. We want to keep our pets with us for as many years as we can and we want them to be healthy and an active part of our overweight puglives. Please remember I am not a veterinarian or an animal nutritionist; you have to do your own homework and then team up with your veterinarian to make the right choices for your pet.

Stay healthy, and have fun.

Rabbit Hill Park, Ducula GA

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Rabbit Hill Park Entrence

Rabbit Hill park, Gwinnett County


Rabbit Hill Park

400 Rabbit Hill Rd, Ducula 30019

 

Rabbit Hill Park is one of the newer parks in the Gwinnett County park system.  It covers 107 acres, has five soccer fields and some multipurpose fields. There is a 2.5 mile paved multipurpose trail. It has three dog parks, one for small dogs, one for large dogs and one all dog area.

The dog parks are very nice and of good size. They left the trees so there are nice shaded areas (but some owners think if their dogs defecate in the woods they do not have to pick it up). There is plenty of room for dogs to romp and play. There are water fountains for the dogs, agility equipment, and a nice sandpit for them to dig in.Map of Rabbit Hill Park

The only other problem that the dog park has is that it stays wet after a good rain. It can take 3 to 4 days for many areas to dry out. The multipurpose dog area stays wet most of the time and is not really very useful. The good news is that when I was out at the park this week there was a county employee taking pictures of the wet areas and they are planning to fix this.Open space at Rabbit Hill Park

From a dog’s eye, I rate this as a two wag, because they do have dedicated dog parks. However, they have nothing else for a dog to do: no hiking trails, no soft trails, and no lakes or streams for them to frolic in.

Freeman’s Mill Park

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Freeman’s Mill Park

1401 Alcovy Road, Lawrenceville 30045

Park Hours: Sunrise until sunset unless posted otherwise
Amenities ∙ 12 acres ∙ Restored historic gristmill ∙ Playground ∙ 0.5-mile paved multi-purpose trail ∙ Restrooms

This is a terrific little park that is close to my house where I like to walk my older dog Suzie; she is a 15 year old Border Collie. I also like this Park for training purposes. The path is 0.5 miles long and wanders around the perimeter of the park. At some points it is nice and quiet which makes it a great place to work on new commands with only a little bit of distraction from the outside world.

The path wanders over by the playground giving your dog an opportunity to get used to all the sounds kids can make. I have used this area to help socialize dogs that do not have any young children in their families. It helps them get used to the sound of balls bouncing, laughing, squealing, running and the rest of the noises children make while at play.

Next, the path runs close to Alcovy Road. This is a busy road that can help your dog get used to the sounds of traffic. If a dog that normally lives in a quiet neighborhood finds themselves on a busy street, they may become frightened and be unable to follow your commands, putting them in danger. It is very important for dogs to be comfortable in all situations. Taking the time to work with your dog and getting them used to different sounds will help keep your dog safe and make life much more enjoyable.

All in all this is a great little park. Good for short walks or training. I hope you will take the time to visit it soon. Our next stop will be the Rabbit Hill Dog Park. See you there!

About the Park:

The mill was built sometime between 1868 and 1879 by brothers John Griffin Loveless and Levi J. Loveless. In 1913 W. Scott Freeman and his son, Winfield, owned it until it was purchased in 1915 by Newt Pharr. Winfield descendants continued to operate the mill through the twentieth century. In the late 1990’s the mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in architecture, engineering, industry, and social history. As of 1996, the mill was the only working grist mill remaining in Gwinnett County.

The mill changed hands several times over the years until Gwinnett County purchased the mill and surrounding property in 2002 with funding available from the Georgia Greenspace Program and the 2005 SPLOST. In 2009, the county raised and restored the mill and surrounding 12 acres for educational and recreational use offering Gwinnett County citizens a sense of the agricultural past.

Gwinnett County Park System From a Dog’s Eye

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As I go about my business as a dog sitter & pet walker, I travel all around Gwinnett County and spend a lot of time with my dogs hanging out in the parks. Just read what J. Faith Meader writes in the Examiner,

Gwinnett County boasts one of the largest park systems in Georgia. At the national level, it has one of the most successful greenspace programs in the country, made possible by the one-cent sales tax of SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). Fortunately, the efforts of the Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Department have not gone unrecognized. The National Recreation and Parks Association presented the county with the 2008 Gold Medal Award for its excellence. In 2009, Park Pride announced Gwinnett County as a winner of its inspiration award.

In this series we will be exploring Gwinnett County’s Parks from “a dog’s eye.” We will be taking a look at how pet friendly they are and all the cool things you can do at each of them. We will also keep you aware of upcoming events that you and your dog(s) might enjoy.

Below is a map of the parks in the Gwinnett County area. Take a look, I’m sure you can find one close to where you work, live or play. Let us know what’s going on in the park that you frequent the most.

Note: Numbers next to park name indicate location on map.  

Map of Gwinnett Parks