Walk The Blog

Puppy Abuse Case

In the news today is a story about a puppy whose guardian taped the puppy's mouth shut to prevent him from chewing and barking.  The puppy died as a result.  I am sickened by this story, I can't imagine what this innocent little dog went through.  

Chewing and barking are normal dog behaviors.  Puppies just don't know yet what is theirs to chew.  That's what makes me so angry about this case, this was a normal little puppy doing normal puppy behavior and he paid with his life at the hands of someone who was frustrated. 

Puppies take work, they need exercise, playtime, toys and training.  But what is so fantastic about them is how quickly they can learn with the right reinforcement.  And this puppy was still in that critical learning stage, not understanding what he did wrong. 

Having lived with several puppies throughout my life I know how crazy they can make you at times.  I remember when my dog Hailey was a puppy and transformed a coffee table book into what looked like confetti in the 10 minutes I left her alone in the house...  But I knew I was the one who made the mistake, not her.  I had left her unattended instead of in her crate where she was safe and couldn't do any damage. 

When our pet's behavior isn't what we want it to be, it is up to us to help them understand what we DO want from them.  We have to set them up for success.  Tools like crate training, reward based or positive reinforcement training, exercise and puppy proofing the house can make all of the difference. 

Resources like our training program are available to help give guardians the tools they need to shape their pet's behavior.  And if a puppy is just too much or too frustrating for someone, the Humane Society is here to take that animal in and find them a new home. 

Unfortunately this puppy never had that chance.  Someone asked me today what lesson we could take from this.  I struggled to answer because on some level this case was so senseless...  But it is a reminder of the consequences of our actions and the importance of building a healthy relationship with our pets.  I know this case will create some awareness around proper care and training for animals so hopefully this prevents someone else from taking such action. 

Our Happy Place...

I had some cousins in town this weekend from Chicago.  They wanted to see Boulder, go for a hike and take a tour of HSBV after hearing so many stories about our organization.  We lucked out on weather with a sunny day on Sunday and headed to Chautauqua to do the Royal Arch hike.  Hailey was along for the day and we spent two great hours enjoying the views, people and other dogs on the trail.  My cousins now know first hand why it is I never moved back to the Midwest.  Boulder and all it has to offer is quite addicting.  

We saw at least three dogs with the tell tale HSBV i.d. and microchip tags.  I am happy to say that all three of these pups were wagging their tails and tongues as they bounded up the mountainside with their guardians.  I love seeing our alumni out in the community.  Thinking about all of the places they came from, whether from Boulder or New Mexico or Oklahoma...  As a young animal or a wise old soul...  Were they one of our special needs pets, having medical or behavioral rehabilitation?  And now here they were, happy as can be and completely bonded to the person on the other end of the leash!  Makes me smile every time. 

After our hike we came to the shelter to look around.  It was great perspective to hear their comments as we toured the building.  They were both struck with the happiness that just fills this place.  They were impressed with the friendliness of our staff and volunteers and how happy and at ease the animals appear to be.  I seriously think the next time they want to add a cat or dog to their family I am going to be their personal shopper here in Boulder, getting on a plane to bring their next pet home to Chicago! 

As I have said countless times before, Boulder is a great place to be an animal.  Seeing our community through my cousins' eyes just reinforced that for me again.  Can't imagine living anywhere else!

H1N1 Flu Transmission to Pets

You may be hearing news stories about a cat in Iowa who contracted H1N1 from his guardian. Below is an alert received by our veterinarians from the American Veterinary Medical Association that includes a helpful link to its website for more information about this topic. 

 

There are simple steps you can take to protect your family (both people and pet members) from flu infections.  Our veterinarians recommend the same precautions you take when a person becomes ill.  Wash your hands before and after handling your pet and avoid sneezing on your animal.  If you suspect your pet is ill or has the flu, do not treat your animal with over-the-counter drugs yourself, but instead bring your pet to your veterinarian. 

 

Bottom line is that this is a rare occurrence.  Not every sniffle your pet gets is going to be serious.  However, any time your pet is showing signs of not feeling well, a quick call or visit to the vet is the best course of action.  

November 4, 2009 – A 13-year old cat in Iowa developed signs of a respiratory infection after several people in the household were ill.  Preliminary testing was positive for 2009 H1N1 on October 29, and the results were confirmed on November 2.  This is the first report of a cat infected with H1N1.  The cat has recovered from its illness.

To date, this is the first cat confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus.  Two ferrets, one in Oregon and one in Nebraska, have also recently been confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus.  The Nebraska ferret died, but the Oregon ferret has recovered.  To date, there is no evidence that the ferrets or the cat passed the virus to people.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners are reminding pet owners that many viruses can pass between people and animals, so this was not an altogether unexpected event. We are advising pet owners to monitor their pets’ health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness.

For more information, view the AVMA’s press release on the Iowa case or visit the AVMA’s H1N1 resources Web page

Snow day!

I hope you and your pets are all safe and warm on this snowy day...  As you may have seen on our home page we will be closing today at 3:00 and will delay our opening tomorrow until 1:00.  Check out our site in the morning, we may remain closed all day tomorrow if the snow continues. 

We have staff who live close who will be here to make sure the animals are all taken care of tomorrow while we are closed. 

My dog Hailey was already out frolicking in the snow this morning. Somehow she found a ball out in the yard under the snow and came bounding at me juking and jiving until I tossed it over a dozen times.  I swear there is something in those flakes that makes her a little crazy!  She will be waiting for me when I get home and I know I won't be able to resist bundling up and heading out with her to trump through some drifts.  Nothing like fresh snow to have fun in. 

Snow days are great days to spend with our pets.  A friend of mine emailed me that she and her two cats were curled up on the couch, huddled around her laptop as she worked from home.  Her cats were purring and enjoying the cuddle time.  She said she couldn't get up even if she wanted to because they were so content. 

Pets bring us joy every day of the year.  If you or someone you know needs a reason to love the snow consider coming in and finding your very own snow angel making partner or personal lap warmer to spend the days of winter with you!   I promise the next time you are dreading the weather, your four legged friend will remind you there is an upside to a foot of snow... 

Come visit our adoption center!

 With over 50 dogs available in our adoption center we need you and your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, (you name it!) to visit our shelter and make a connection to one of our furry residents! 

Our normal stay in our adoption center is just a few days and right now we have several dogs who have spent over two weeks with us.  That is just too long and they need a home! 

Check out Pipa and Louie whose faces say it all, they will put a smile on your face as big as theirs. 

As nice as our building is and as wonderful as our volunteers and staff are that just doesn't replace the permanent bond and joy of a home for these deserving pets.  Please adopt today or talk that friend of yours (who has been hearing you talk about how great your own pet is) into giving one of our animals the love they need. 

Lisa

Young or old, small or big we have a wide variety of animals available. 

We asked and you have answered!

This morning we launched a special campaign to fund a desperately needed new piece of medical equipment for our veterinary clinic.  We need to purchase a new centrifuge -- a diagnostic piece of equipment that spins blood drawn from sick and injured pets, allowing our staff the ability to determine their illnesses and establish appropriate treatment plans. In just a few short hours we have received thousands of dollars to help us purchase this critical piece of equipment!  Thank you for this incredible response and support!  We will be able to purchase our new one this week and it will be put to use in our shelter medicine program.  I am confident we will hit our goal and beyond and will use the extra funding for our ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation of the homeless animals we serve. 

 

I am so thankful and honored to see this kind of action from our community. Together we are truly saving animals and improving lives!

 

Lisa

Breed bans force the issue to become how a dog looks not how he acts.

In the Westword hitting stands today there is an extensive article about the Pit Bull ban that exists in several communities in Colorado including Denver. The article highlights the question, do breed bans really work and help keep communities safe?  The answer is simply no.  It is not about the breed of a dog, it is about the behavior. 

Here in Boulder the city has carefully crafted ordinances that focus on exactly that, the behavior of an animal.  These ordinances aim to keep people and animals safe by providing definitions and consequences for dogs who exhibit aggression towards people or other animals.  These ordinances provide effective tools for evaluation and management of animals who may pose a threat to the community. 

Simply banning a breed doesn’t make dog bites and attacks decrease.  All breeds have the potential to become dangerous.  All breeds have the potential to bite and cause harm.    Just look at the statistics, last year here in Boulder the largest number of bites were from Labrador Retrievers.   The factors that contribute to a dog’s propensity to bite have to do with socialization, sterilization and training.  These are the areas we must focus on to really increase the safety of our communities. 

Breed bans force the issue to become how a dog looks not how he acts.  That isn’t the answer.  Breed specific legislation needs to be redirected to behavior based legislation so we can have the right conversations and address the actual causes of dangerous dogs. 

 

For more information please visit the website for the Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs.  This Colorado organization has been collecting statistics and providing public education on this important issue.  Visit the site at http://www.livingsafelywithdogs.org/mm_frameset_faqs.htm

 

To see the Westword articles:

For two decades, pit bulls have been public enemy #1 in Denver. But maybe it's time for a recount.

By Jared Jacang Maher

http://www.westword.com/2009-09-24/news/for-two-decades-pit-bulls-have-been-public-enemy-1-in-denver-but-maybe-it-s-time-for-a-recount/

Boulder sidebar story:

Boulder takes a bite out of bad dog behavior

By Jared Jacang Maher

http://www.westword.com/2009-09-24/news/boulder-takes-a-bite-out-of-bad-dog-behavior/

The Jedi of clicker training!

If you have taken a training class at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, you are probably familiar with “clicker training.”  If you’re unfamiliar with the term, clicker training involves an audio cue, such as a “click” sound from a dog training clicker, to mark a behavior.  In positive reinforcement training, the click is used to mark the exact moment when the desired behavior is demonstrated by the animal. The animal learns that the click means “Perfect! What you did right at that moment is correct and now you get a reward!”  For example, if you are training a dog to sit, you click as soon as his hind end hits the ground, and then follow up with the treat. 

 

So who the heck is the Jedi of Clicker Training?  Karen Pryor is a world renowned trainer who put clicker training on the map with her successful use of this technique to train everything from fish to dolphins to dogs.  Her new book "Reaching the Animal Mind" is a fascinating account of how animals learn and what modern training has taught us about the depth of animal intelligence and character. 

 

Karen’s positive reinforcement clicker techniques are the core philosophy of our behavior programs at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.  For these reasons, we are so excited that she is coming to Denver this weekend to give two presentations on this very subject!  This is truly a unique opportunity to hear from an expert who is changing the lives of animals through applications of the science of learning.  For more information on these sessions which happen on Saturday and Sunday click here http://boulderhumane.org/hsbv/go.asp?mode=events

 

And if that weren’t enough to pique your interest, Lindsay Wood, our very own Director of Animal Training and Behavior, is in Karen’s book!  Lindsay’s master’s thesis work on clicker training is featured in "Reaching the Animal Mind". How lucky are we to have these talented resources for the pets and guardians of our community! 

 

You are going to hear us talking more and more about our philosophies on training.  There are lots of techniques out there.  Here at HSBV we are dedicated to using behavior modification strategies that are founded on the principles in the science of animal learning and based on positive reinforcement.  Karen’s sessions will help you understand why it is simply the most effective and best way to train an animal.  It is critical to the healthy relationship between you and your pet.  I promise you will come away with greater understanding and quite possibly a greater passion for animal behavior! 

TOTALLY AWESOME!!

It has been a long time since I could say those words and not get crazy looks but last Saturday's 80's themed A Cause for Paws Walk a thon and Doggie Dash was just that!  The event was such a success, raising over $45,000 for the homeless animals we serve.  Not only did our participants generously support our mission with their pledges and donations, the morning was filled with great examples of strong pet guardian relationships. 

What was so great was that EVERYONE was happy and smiling, and I do mean both the two legged and four legged attendees!  I heard countless stories of the difference animals have made in people's lives.  From the woman who shared that her dog was her best training partner, that his wet nose was a great alarm clock to get her up and moving, to the man who told me how their little dog had sat by his wife's side throughout all of her chemo treatments this last year.  The common theme was the relationship they have with their animal has enriched their lives, given them love and made each day more joyful. 

The dogs who were there clearly felt the benefit of that relationship too.  I loved watching them try out their skills on the agility equipment, running through the tunnel to get that piece of cheese!  Tails wagging, tongues licking the face of their guardian... 

Thank you for making this event so much fun and so successful.  Our staff, volunteers and donors are a great team who make our mission possible each and every day.  A Cause for Paws is a wonderful celebration and tribute to the human animal bond.Totally rad dudes...  :)

A Cause for Paws!

I have to admit I am a child of the 80s.  Big hair, leg warmers you name it and I embraced that era in every way.  (Some have said my hair never actually changed from the 80s but that is a whole other story...)  I take you down memory lane for good reason and not just because I miss rubber bracelets and Madonna on the radio.  This year is the 20th anniversary of A Cause for Paws walk a thon and doggie dash and in celebration we are bringing back the days of of the 80s! 

This is my favorite morning of the year, with over 700 people and hundreds of their faithful dog companions joining us for the walk, the run, the breakfast and all of the activities involved.  This year we have added attractions including a great 80s cover band, the Flock of Beagles.  Pancakes for the people, treats and frisbees for the dogs, all the while we raise critical funds for the animals we serve. 

It is so easy to sign up and start raising pledges.  Simply click on the link

http://www.boulderhumane.org/causeforpaws09/index.html

to start today!  You can upload a photo of you and your favorite pet and invite your friends and family to support the animals you care so much about.  We need your help to make this event a success.  With just a few emails you can help us raise over $50,000 to provide the care and shelter for over 8,000 homeless pets this year. 

Please join my dog Hailey and me on September 12th!