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Webvet People & Pets Feed http://www.webvet.com/main/showArticles/page/11 This feed contains articles about People & Pets en-us Copyright 2009 Webvet, LLC 2009-11-20T20:20-05:00 advertise@webvet.com advertise@webvet.com People & Pets hourly Coping with pet loss during the holidays http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2114 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2114">Coping with pet loss during the holidays</a><br /><p>Opening a box of your holiday ornaments and finding the stocking you hung last season for the family cat or dog, now departed, can unleash a torrent of sadness. Coping with the holidays after <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1501" target="_blank">pet loss</a> isn't impossible, but it can be very trying.</p><p>"The first year without your pet is going to be difficult, because it's a significant loss," said Gary Kowalski, a Unitarian Universalist minister in Burlington, Vt., who wrote  Goodbye, Friend, to help people say farewell to their pets. </p><p>"Most people consider the pet a member of the family, and they also become a very important part of the holidays," said Richard Timmins, DVM, executive director of the Association for Veterinary Family Practice, an organization to advance the role of primary veterinary care.  More than half of pet owners buy holiday gifts for the family pet, said Timmins, citing a survey done by one of his students when he was on faculty at the University of California, Davis.</p><p>To complicate the problem, the extent of a pet loss is underestimated by our culture, Kowalski finds. "Most grief counselors will tell you it takes at least a year, maybe two, to regain your equilibrium, to get back to normal,"  Kowalski said.  So it is understandable, he said, that ''all those important holidays and anniversaries are going to hit you hard, but especially in the first year."</p><p>Here, Timmins and Kowalski offer advice on how to cope with your first holiday after pet loss. </p><h4>Acknowledge the emotion</h4><p>Don't deny your sadness and grief about the pet loss, Timmins said. Don't try to pretend everything is fine. </p><p>It's understandable that emotions come to the fore at holiday time, especially when something reminds you of the pet loss, such as finding a stocking you hung for the deceased pet. "It will be like it happened yesterday," Kowalski said.</p><h4>Celebrate the relationship</h4><p>To honor the departed pet's memory, you might take a moment at a holiday dinner to recall an endearing trait, such as: "Remember how Sparky used to beg nonstop when we had Christmas dinner?"  The idea is to acknowledge the relationship and be grateful for it, Timmins said. </p><p>In a family with children, realize that some of the kids might have had a stronger bond with the pet than others and may especially need an opportunity to remember the pet and cope with pet loss. </p><p>You might create a remembrance ritual, Kowalski said. "If your cat was 16 years old, light a candle for each year of her life, over Hanukkah or Christmas," for 16 days. "Light it in the evening. Keep it lit for half an hour.  That will be your time to mourn, remember, reconnect."</p><h4>Baby yourself</h4><p>"People who are grieving tend to lose physical resistance," Kowalski said. Take extra care of your body when coping with pet loss. Eat well and exercise.</p><p>He warns people not to medicate themselves with food and alcohol, which can be even more tempting during the holidays when coping with pet loss.</p><p>Spend time with nature. Going for a walk in the woods or a park, or going to the ocean, can be a huge help, he finds.</p><h4>Keep the status quo</h4><p>Coping with pet loss during the holidays is challenging enough. It's not the time to make a big decision in other areas, such as your job, your relationships or your living situation.</p><p>Nor is it probably a good time to <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1560/med/0" target="_blank">get a new pet</a>, but that varies from person to person.  So if you think you're ready for a new pet, be sure your loved ones are, too. It's not a good time to surprise someone with a pet, even your children. The decision should be unanimous, Kowalski said.</p><br />By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet People & Pets Service dogs help heal military veterans http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2121 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2121">Service dogs help heal military veterans</a><br /><p>The wounds of war are not always physical. Battle anxiety leaves many soldiers emotionally scarred with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can lead to lifelong disability if inadequately treated. </p><p>Coming to the rescue is the Paws for Purple Hearts program, with dogs trained to assist veterans with emotional and physical disabilities. </p><p>The concept of <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1469/med/0" target="_blank">service dogs</a>, trained to assist people with mobility or other impairments, originated in 1975 at the Bergin University of Canine Studies, Santa Rosa, Calif. The concept has now been expanded for an innovative program designed for wounded veterans. </p><p>In January the first group of dogs selected from the pilot program of Paws for Purple Hearts will report for duty at the Walter Reed Warrior Transition Unit in Washington, D.C. Veterans suffering from PTSD will train these dogs to become companions for other soldiers returning home with physical disabilities.</p><p>"The experience of losing a close friend and feeling helpless leaves a scar,'' said Rick Yount, director of Paws for Purple Hearts. "It's very important to address it and come to some type of understanding of what they could and couldn't do in the situation.'' </p><h4>Unconditional love</h4><p>In the first part of the program, the unconditional love of the golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers in the program is part of a trauma-recovery team for incoming veterans suffering from PTSD. </p><p>Emotional affection is needed to praise the service dog, an empathic quality needed for veterans to recover. "Dogs won't let you isolate,'' Yount said, adding that they serve as grounding and help the veterans develop patience. </p><p>During a three-month training period, the service dog is taught vital skills to aid physically disabled soldiers, including the ability to retrieve items, turn on lights, open and close doors, and push wheelchairs. Once trained, the service dogs can accomplish many tasks typically performed by family members and attendants. </p><h4>Second phase</h4><p>In the second part of the program, the service dog moves to the next level, leaving the PTSD-afflicted trainer for a new human companion. The difficulty of saying goodbye to a new friend often brings up feelings of lost comrades, but with a significant difference: A sacrifice is being made for the good of another comrade returning from combat. </p><p>"Maybe they couldn't help their friend hit by an IED (improvised explosive device), but helping another veteran helps them to deal with the loss,'' Yount said.</p><p>Combat veterans usually have a difficult time expressing feelings about severe wartime trauma, and initial results are positive. "The vet can be more relaxed and less hypervigilant,'' he said. </p><h4>Call to action</h4><p>The call for the Veterans Administration to provide service dogs to disabled vets was signed into law in 2002 but has yet to be fully implemented. Paws for Purple Hearts started in July of 2008 and already, Yount is flooded with calls and e-mails. There is already a great need to expand the program.</p><p>Yount entered the field of animal assistance 13 years ago after spending 7 years in the social work field. "This is some of the most important social work I have ever done,'' he said.</p><br />By Marilyn Soltis for WebVet By Marilyn Soltis for WebVet People & Pets What is a veterinary behaviorist? http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1568 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1568">What is a veterinary behaviorist?</a><br /><p>Who you gonna call when your pet won't behave? Veterinary behaviorists help with pet aggression and behavior modification. </p><p>Before calling an animal trainer, first consult your veterinarian. Depending on the problem, your vet may refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, especially if aggression is the culprit.</p><p>"I see aggression cases in dogs and cats primarily,'' said veterinary behaviorist Gary M. Landsberg, DVM, of the North Toronto Animal Clinic. Speaking at the American Animal Hospital Association conference in Tampa in March, he said anxiety and phobia disorders can be seen in dogs, and compulsive disorders in both dogs and cats.</p><h4>Ask about qualifications</h4><p>With animal trainers, dog whisperers and pet psychics vying for attention, it can be difficult to cut through the fog of different designations. People in "many different groups call themselves animal behaviorists,'' Landsberg said. "Some behaviorists may have one year of community college or take an online course. Others may have a Ph.D. in animal behavior.'' He advised obtaining qualifications and referrals from trusted vets.</p><p>When the problem is more difficult than the vet can handle, a referral to a Vet Behaviorist may be the best answer. "We are the higher line call,'' he said. "A vet behaviorist is a board-certified specialist like any other specialist in veterinary medicine.'' </p><p>As veterinarians, these behaviorists are able to distinguish the medical from the behavioral. After vet school, behaviorist training includes:</p><ul><li>Comparative animal behavior</li><li>Learning and behavior modification</li><li>Abnormal behavior</li><li>Psychopharmacology</li><li>Effects of disease on behavior</li><li>Drugs vs. behavior modification</li></ul><p>As with people, nature vs. nurture considerations apply. Behavioral problems in animals can be caused by:</p><ul><li>Genetic differences</li><li>Early development - nutritional and behavioral</li><li>Unstable environment</li></ul><h4>Diagnosis and treatment</h4><p>After a thorough assessment, the vet behaviorist will make a diagnosis and devise a treatment plan. A prognosis will help determine what might be achieved and how to accomplish it. A treatment plan might include more stimulating activities or creating a more stable environment.</p><p>Sometimes the vet behaviorist will prescribe medications. "As behaviorists, we do prescribe drugs - the important thing is to diagnose and use drugs if they are necessary,'' he said.</p><p>In studies conducted with a partner, Landsberg found that when cats lick off hair it can be caused by food intolerances, flea intolerances and allergies. "Over 50 percent of the cats had a medical problem,'' Landsberg said. Some cases of canine aggression may also benefit from drug therapy, he added.</p><p>Unlike therapy for people, a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist may require only one to three sessions. Before a consultation, Landsberg asks the client to fill out a comprehensive form on his website about the pet's lifestyle and home life. When possible, videotaping and recording the problem can help assess the pet's problem along with the owner's interaction. </p><h4>Finding solutions</h4><p>Armed with this information, along with medical records, the vet behaviorist can zero in on causes and suggest solutions. Follow-up support on what can be done at home can be facilitated with handouts, internet site referrals and phone consultations.</p><p>"Who you gonna call?'' Well, it depends on the problem. </p><p>In some cases, consulting an animal trainer can provide an answer. Some animal behaviors, like jumping up on people, "may be quite normal but the owner doesn't like them,'' Landsberg said. For those types of issues, a trainer is needed rather than a behaviorist.</p><br />By Marilyn Soltis for WebVet By Marilyn Soltis for WebVet People & Pets Wells Fargo, Morris Animal Foundation partner up for pets http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2111 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2111">Wells Fargo, Morris Animal Foundation partner up for pets</a><br /><p>Seeking to improve the lives of animals, the <a href="http://financial.wellsfargo.com/retailservices/healthadvantage.html" target="_blank">Wells Fargo Health Advantage program</a> recently joined forces with the <a href="http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Morris Animal Foundation</a> (MAF). The financial giant and the nonprofit animal research leader have formed a partnership that not only helps Well Fargo’s clients better afford their pets’ medical care, but also puts a share of the company’s profits toward forwarding the Foundation’s causes: to fund research that helps protect, treat and cure animals.</p><h4>From Wells Fargo’s perspective </h4><p>The Wells Fargo Health Advantage credit card program works similarly to a Gap or Macy’s card: participating veterinary practices offer it to patients looking to amortize the cost of their animal’s care over time. The no-interest and low-interest option payment plans allow clients to pay their pet’s bills over time without incurring large fees.</p><p>While most banks are getting out of patient financing considering the current economy, Wells Fargo’s Product Manager of Health, Gary Brown, says that Wells Fargo decided to go into the industry completely and brand a national program. “The relationship with Morris Animal Foundation was solely [created] because Wells Fargo is a community bank and wants to be part of the industry by contributing back to worthy causes.”</p><h4>From the MAF's perspective</h4><p>The relationship is unique for MAF as well. Paul Raybound, the Foundation’s vice president of gifts and business development, notes that, “Typically a corporate donor will come in with a large gift to support a specific program, but with Wells Fargo, we have an ongoing relationship, receiving a percentage of revenue from their consumer card program each year.” The good news is that it will also help create cross-promotional opportunities. “We can help introduce the Wells Fargo program to the 6,000 veterinarians that currently are donors to our programs, and Wells Fargo can help MAF promote our programs to vets that do not donate to them, so the marketing part of this relationship is huge.”</p><h4>The MAF: From then to now</h4><p>MAF Foundation grew from the revolutionary canine nutrition research of veterinarian Mark L. Morris Sr. in 1948, to the world’s largest nonprofit funding research that helps protect, treat and cure animals. In the 1940s, when commercial dog food sickened and killed many pets, Morris set about creating a nutritious diet that would not only sustain, but improve canine life. After Morris’s practices saved the life of a dog belonging to a blind activist, the vet’s treatment became widely sought after – leading him to partner with packing company owner Burton Hill. The pair teamed up to produce Morris’s innovative food, a partnership still visible today through the line of Prescription Diet pet foods manufactured by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. </p><p>It was Morris who led the effort for passage of federal legislation requiring all pet food sold in the United States to be safe and have nutritional value. His legacy, the MAF, funds research for the benefit of all kinds of animals. The Wells Fargo Health Advantage credit card supports the MAF’s mission because it provides veterinarians with another tool for providing care that helps pet parents keep their animals healthy. With this being the joint goal of Wells Fargo and the MAF, the funds from this partnership will undoubtedly lead to the continued research and wellness of the world’s pets.</p><br />By Barbara Sharnak for WebVet By Barbara Sharnak for WebVet People & Pets Biomusic growing in popularity http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1327 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1327">Biomusic growing in popularity</a><br /><p>Scientists in the exciting new field of “biomusic” are finding increasing evidence that both people and animals create and mimic notes, pitch and rhythm. In biomusic research, the differences and similarities between disparate sounds such as birdcalls, bonobo drumming, whalesong and mice “pitch” are investigated. Biomusic joins the trained ears of musicians with the latest scientific research and technology in biology, physics, computer science, zoology and other academic disciplines.  </p><p>Thus why the white-breasted wood wren can belt out an uncanny version of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony? And why Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel have recorded songs with bonobo apes as their back-up singers? </p><p>Human composers, from classical to modern day rockers, have been inspired for centuries by the sounds outside their windows at dawn.  </p><h4>The birth of biomusic</h4><p>Coined by the late Walt Rosen in 1986, the term biomusic emerged when leading international experts met at a powerhouse National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biodiversity conference.  </p><p>“We all got excited. There were things we were finding out from each other which obviously brought out entire new questions and whole new levels of inquiry,” said Patricia Gray, Founder of the National Musical Arts Biomusic program and Artistic Director and pianist at NAS at the time of the conference. </p><p>Moreover, because of the NAS conference, scientists began to look at musical structure across species lines, instead of limiting themselves to one animal at a time. They also brought the unique vantage point of musicians into their research.  </p><p>“One of the things that musicians bring is a very precise way of listening. For example, the way musicians listen and analyze birdsong wasn’t being considered in the larger context,” Gray said  </p><h4>Wild music </h4><p>The original group formed at the NAS conference grew in strength and numbers, which eventually led to an exhibit called <a href="http://www.wildmusic.org/" target="_blank">Wild Music</a>. Wild Music now encompasses a 4,000 square-foot exhibition constructed with green materials featuring the latest research about “the songs and signs of life.”  </p><p>The exhibit, which travels throughout the country, encourages multicultural and intergenerational audiences to better understand just what makes music, both in cities and in the wild.  A schedule for the national tour can be found on the Web site. </p><p>Included in this diverse presentation of worldwide sound:</p><ul><li>A bioacoustic lab, where you can compare the human larynx with the bird syrinx, and use an “electrolarynx” to “speak” without using your voice. </li><li>The Power of Sound and Music Theatre, where you can listen to sounds from around the world to see how animals use sounds to identify themselves, communicate, and nurture social groups.</li><li>A cross comparison of hearing ability (you might be surprised to learn where people rank!)</li><li>Learn how music influences our memory. </li><li>Many other exhibits about the “nature of music and the music of nature” </li></ul><p>According to sound engineer and composer Philip Blackburn, the exhibit has only grown in popularity since its launch.  </p><p>“We’re watching everything going green. So green music is a natural progression,” Blackburn said.</p><h4>The future of biomusic </h4><p>Recent advances in technology are going green, too. In fact, some advances in biomusic can actually be attributed to the latest microphone technology and software analysis programs.  </p><p>“Now, technology is helping us hear above and below our hearing range,” Gray said. “For the most part, human beings actually hear more slowly than other species.” </p><p>Gray is currently working with other researchers (and the same bonobos who recorded with McCartney and Gabriel) at the Great Ape Trust in Iowa, exploring where some of our musical abilities intersect with the development of life itself—the evolutionary record.  </p><p>Unraveling assumptions about what is and what isn’t uniquely human, biomusic has the potential to foster a deeper understanding about the human relationship with sound and our ancient connection with other animals.   </p><br />By Kim Nagy for WebVet By Kim Nagy for WebVet People & Pets Pet mediators put animal interests first during divorces http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2133 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2133">Pet mediators put animal interests first during divorces</a><br /><p>As a pet owner himself, Charles Regal knows that animals are much more than the property they are treated as in <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1919" target="_blank">divorce</a> court. That is why – armed with a master’s degree in social work and mediation training certification – he began a specialized practice in pet custody mediation, where separating couples can pursue mutually satisfactory custody agreements for their dog, cat, bird or small animal. </p><h4>Choosing a mediator over a lawyer</h4><p>In addition to potentially astronomical legal fees and long waiting period a former couple could face by going to court to determine custody of a shared pet, the U.S. legal system treats animals no differently than a piece of furniture. According to StraightDivorce.com, such a determination is made after examining receipts indicating which partner had been the functional owner of the pet, by way of expenses for medical treatments, training, nutrition and grooming. Regal, on the other hand, does not produce a legally binding arrangement, but facilitates an agreement between the people in question, who are unable to arrive at one on their own. </p><h4>The results</h4><p>“One that sticks out in my memory is a parting couple who was so resentful toward each other, I didn't think they'd stay in the same room together for very long,” recalls Regal. “Their whole demeanor changed when one of them mentioned their dog [was] acting lethargic and not having a good appetite lately. When asked if it was possible that the tension from their separation was affecting the dog, they both said they believed it was and wanted to do whatever was possible to help their dog through this transition. They were considerate to each other and listened respectfully to each others’ suggestions. Their love for their dog enabled them to rise above their negative feelings and create a plan that both were satisfied with.”</p><h4>Who they are</h4><p>There’s no clear-cut path to becoming a mediator. While some private organizations provide mediation training and offer what they designate as certification, no state has enacted laws regulating the private practice of mediation or established state-wide requirements for mediators as they do for other professions. Arguably, the best mediators are compassionate yet fair, with a history of thoughtful conflict resolution. </p><h4>How it works</h4><p>Getting the facts: In Regal’s case, he begins by talking to each person privately and confidentially, usually by phone. “Aside from getting all the pertinent information, I give each person a chance to vent their feelings about the situation they are going through.” </p><ul><li>Establishing ground rules: “I let people know what kind of process I have, and what kind of process it is not,” Regal said. “I want them to know they are not visiting me to prove a case or have me referee a fight. My focus is not on who is right or wrong, but on deeper understanding on how each person is experiencing the situation – without any judgment.” The goal is to get separating pet owners to work as a team to do what is best for their pets, and themselves.”</li><li>Leave the pet at home: “I don't like the pet to be present at the mediation because it would be too stressful for them. But I do ask for a photograph of the pet to be present to help us re-focus our attention if we get distracted.”</li><li>Put the choice in their hands:  “I make sure that any solution that comes from the meeting totally belongs to them,” concludes Regal. “Mutually acceptable resolutions resulting from the peoples' own ideas and desires are far more viable and solid than ones that are imposed or coerced.” </li></ul><br />By Barbara Sharnak for WebVet By Barbara Sharnak for WebVet People & Pets Puppies Behind Bars: Prison pups help prisoners help others http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2261 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2261">Puppies Behind Bars: Prison pups help prisoners help others</a><br />  <p>Set in the lush New York City suburb of Westchester County, the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility -- New York State's largest women's prison and its only maximum-security prison for women -- has housed many infamous prisoners. But there is a more positive and inspiring aspect to the Bedford Hills prison that most people are unaware of: <a href="http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/">Puppies Behind Bars</a> (PBB), an extraordinary program that allows inmates -- many of them serving long prison sentences for violent crimes -- a chance to turn selected <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1903" target="_blank" title="Training puppies">puppies</a> into highly trained <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1469" target="_blank" title="Service dogs">service dogs</a> for the disabled, or explosive-detection canines for law enforcement. The program -- which started at Bedford in 1997 with five puppies -- now operates at six correctional facilities in the tri-state (NY, NJ, CT) area and boasts 377 canine graduates. </p> <h4>Puppies and inmates: in it together</h4> <p>Puppies chosen for the program live in the cells with their primary caregivers -- ‘puppy raisers' -- and attend classes administered by PBB. They also spend two or three weekends a month in the homes of 'puppy sitters,' so they can be exposed to things they won't experience in prison, such as the sound of a doorbell or a coffee grinder, or learning how to <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2003" target="_blank" title="Car safety for dogs">safely ride in a car </a>or walk down a crowded sidewalk.</p> <p>Inmates who wish to become puppy raisers must sign a contract with PBB outlining their responsibilities and providing that any inmate may be asked to leave for any reason deemed appropriate by PBB. Requirements for participation in the program are strict, and include mandatory attendance at weekly puppy class as well as successful completion of reading assignments, homework, and exams. The puppy raiser must always put the needs of the puppy before his or her own, must be able to work effectively as a member of a team, and must be able to give and receive criticism in a constructive manner.         </p> <p>The puppies live in the prison for 16 months, after which they are tested to determine their suitability for training as service dogs for the disabled or explosive-detection dogs for law enforcement. The dogs judged to be suitable are returned to the schools where they continue their formal training. Those who don't continue on the working-dog track are donated by PBB to families with blind children. In either case, these dogs spend their lives as companions to people who need them.</p> <h4>How it all began</h4> <p>The PBB story began in 1990, after founder and now-president Gloria Gilbert Stoga and her husband adopted Arrow, a <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/263" target="_blank" title="Labrador Retriever breed information">Labrador Retriever</a>, from one of North America's most prestigious guide dog schools, <a href="http://donate.guidingeyes.org/site/PageServer">Guiding Eyes for the Blind</a>. (Arrow had been on his way to becoming a guide dog, but medical reasons required his release from the program.)  Stoga started doing some research and learned about the extraordinary effort and expense that goes into the training of service dogs -- in particular, the critical work of <em>puppy</em> <em>raisers </em>-- individuals or families who take specially bred, eight-week-old pups into their homes for a 16-month period and teach them basic obedience and socialization skills. Subsequently -- inspired by the work of Dr. Thomas Lane, a Florida veterinarian who started the first guide-dog/prison program -- Stoga left her job at New York City's <em>Youth Empowerment Services Commission</em> to found PBB.</p> <h4>Changing Lives</h4> <p>Both people and dogs are transformed by the PBB experience. The pups become highly trained, well-behaved animals with a mission. The inmate trainers who have raised them also change: the responsibility of raising a dog for a disabled person and the opportunity to give something back to society provide inmates with an avenue for personal growth that would not otherwise be open to them. As a result, they form deep and lasting attachments to the dogs, learning patience, responsibility, and how to work as part of a team; for many, the relationship with the animal they train is the most positive and satisfying one they have ever had. </p> <p>As Stoga explained, the puppies have affected the lives not only of their puppy raisers, but also of virtually all the inmates and staff at the prison: "One of our particularly sensitive pups goes to several different areas of the prison: the 16- and 17-year-old inmates play with her; domestic violence classes use her to get the women to open up and talk; and she even visits inmates who are about to go before the parole board, for it has been found that her presence has a calming effect on the women." </p> <h4>Serving those who have served us</h4> <p>Recognizing the special contribution and sacrifice of those who have served in the U.S. military, PBB established a special program to provide service dogs to veterans returning home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan who have suffered a physical injury, traumatic brain injury, or who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). </p> <p>Designated <em>"Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who've Served Us," </em>the program provided its first specially trained dog to Sergeant Bill Campbell, an Iraq veteran who suffers from serious PTSD, a life-altering condition that is characterized by panic attacks, severe depression, memory loss, nightmares and fear of public places. Campbell's <em>Dog Tags-</em>trained companion, Pax, reminds him to take his daily medications, alerts him to approaching strangers, and responds to the command "Block" by placing his body between Campbell and an approaching individual. </p> <h4>From behind bars . . . freedom</h4> <p>Though PBB's puppies start out behind bars, they make their way into the wider world, where they bring love, security, and -- ironically -- freedom to those they serve. </p> <br />By Yona Zeldis McDonough for WebVet By Yona Zeldis McDonough for WebVet People & Pets Dressing up your dog for Halloween http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2255 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2255">Dressing up your dog for Halloween</a><br />  <p>Halloween costumes for dogs (and some cats) are growing in popularity, and Kim Browning is ready. By mid-October, she had already picked out a Halloween costume for her dog  Harley, an 18-month-old yellow <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/263" target="_blank" title="Labrador Retriever breed information">Labrador Retriever.</a></p> <p>"A 'boo' cape,'' she said, ''almost like a Dracula cape. It's orange, with "boo!" spelled out in black letters, and a skull insignia. "He likes it," Browning said.</p> <p>Browning works as a marketing manager in Petco's San Diego headquarters, so she has easy access to Halloween costumes for dogs--and employees are of course encouraged to dote on their dogs. But she's not the only one planning to dress up her dog for Halloween. </p> <p>Sales of Halloween costumes for dogs (and also cats) are ahead of last year, even given the economy, Browning said. Part of that uptick, she suspects, is that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year.</p> <p>But not all of the appeal is the weekend holiday. In recent years, dressing up the dog for Halloween has been gaining in popularity among pet owners, spurred partly by contests. A Savannah, Ga., television station is hosting its third annual ''Dress Up Your Pet for Halloween" contest. A hotel in Scottsdale, Az., has a costume contest for pets with prizes that include hotel stays. Petco pet owners are invited to submit a photo in their costume and explain why they chose that look. A dog bakery in Portland, Mich., has a Halloween costume contest for dogs judged by the mayor. .</p> <p>Dressing up the dog (or cat) for Halloween is typically harmless fun, and understandable, according to Bonnie Beaver, DVM, a past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association and professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station.</p> <p>"It's a fun thing to do," she said. But she quickly added a caveat:  "Not every pet will tolerate it."</p> <p>There's no way to predict whether certain breeds or ages or individual dogs will warm to Halloween costumes, says Richard Polsky, PhD, a Los Angeles-based certified applied animal behaviorist. His purebred <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/332" target="_blank" title="Standard Schnauzer breed information">Standard Schnauzer</a>, Obi-Wan, has been known to dress as the devil, complete with padded red horns, while Polsky's rescue <a href="http://www.webvet.com/breeds/show/id/189" target="_blank" title="Border Collie breed information">Border Collie</a> mix, Swoozy, makes a fetching princess. </p> <p>But there are some caveats and tips to know about dressing up the dog for Halloween:</p> <ul class="unIndentedList"><li> Try a test run before investing in a costume. ''Dogs are individuals, just like people," Polsky said. "Some dogs don't mind at all. Other dogs will resist." Beaver and Polsky suggested introducing the idea gradually by trying a hat or small T-shirt on the dog first. ''Put a hat on [your pet] and take it off again,'' Beaver suggested. "Give them a treat."</li><li> The younger you start, the better. Browning began to dress up her Lab Harley while he was a young puppy. ''If you dress your dog earlier in their life, they will become accustomed to it," she said.</li><li> Consider your dog's personality before you dress it up for Halloween. If you have a dog who doesn't particularly like people other days of the year, think twice about dressing the dog up in costume and letting the kids take him trick-or-treating, Beaver said. For more on aggressive dogs and children, click <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1964">here</a>.</li><li> Even if your dog is fairly social, consider the stress it may experience by seeing your kids or others in costumes. The family dog may not recognize your kids and may become fearful or aggressive, Beaver said. If the dog does go along trick-or-treating, double check that it has its ID attached in case it gets spooked and runs.</li><li> Don't force it. "There isn't anything inhumane or improper about putting a costume on your dog," Polsky said. ''But if a dog shows resistance, take the thing off."</li><li> If your dog likes the dress-up idea, and you want it to be in the ''in crowd,'' know the top Halloween costumes for dogs, Browning suggested. The top 10 list, she said, includes pumpkin, devil, bow ties and fancy collars, witch, super dog, princess, bat, dog of a different breed (than the one wearing the costume), angel and bumble bee.</li></ul> <p>So, by all means, do include your pet in your Halloween festivities, but remember: your pet is an individual, too. Keep that in mind, and you'll both have a howling Halloween!</p> <br />By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet People & Pets "Rescue Ink" group saves animals in distress http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1967 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1967">"Rescue Ink" group saves animals in distress</a><br /><p>Rescue Ink, a tough-as-nails group of working men, makes "visits'' to people suspected of abusing pets. "We get calls from concerned neighbors,'' said Robert Missari, a Brooklyn native, "and then we go out and knock on doors.''</p><p>Muscled and tattooed, these guys have a Don't-Mess-With-Me look. Some people assume they're a street gang. At the sight of them, young toughs have been known to scurry down the street. Although they look menacing, they will leave you alone -- unless you are harming an animal.</p><p>The group formed last year after a dog named Maximus was tied to a tree on Long Island and set on fire. "I wanted to scream in rage,'' said Missari, livid that anyone could inflict such pain on a living creature. He called some pals -- mechanics, trades workers, military veterans, including some trained in martial arts. "I said, 'Let's go find this guy.'''</p><p>Since then, Rescue Ink has helped liberate hundreds of dogs from abusive surroundings. The group has 11 members, mostly powerful men with big biceps, colorful names - "Big Ant'' and "Johnny O'' - and hearts that melt for pets in distress.</p><h4>Awful conditions</h4><p>In some cases, they find dogs left outside without shelter in icy conditions. They find animals who are being starved, tortured or caged in dark closets. Abuses are often tied to the practice of dog fighting involving pit bulls. These dogs, sometimes stolen, are used as bait in vicious street fights in which observers bet on the outcome.</p><p>"They're doing horrendous things to these dogs,'' said Missari, who often volunteers three or four nights a week for Rescue Ink.</p><p>The group cooperates with the police and animal control authorities. But unlike some other agencies, Rescue Ink finds foster and adoptive homes for the abused animals. When animal control removes a dog from a bad situation, the animal may have to be put down. For that reason, animal control workers often call Rescue Ink, which sends the animals to Save-A-Pet shelter in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island.</p><h4>They don't mess around</h4><p>Rescue Ink sometimes builds doghouses for people who cannot afford to buy them. The group has even paid to buy dogs to remove them from abusive situations. On its <a href="http://www.rescueink.org/" target="_blank">Web site</a>, Rescue Ink features a group of grimacing, ornery-looking dudes with the message: "Caution -- Coming to an Abuser Near You.''</p><p>These guys don't physically whip up on abusers. But if people who mistreat animals worry that these tough guys might get a little physical -- so be it.</p><p>"We're not a gang, vigilantes or social organization,'' the Web site explains, "but we do have that certain 'in your face' style when it comes to abusers.''</p><p>In some cases, Rescue Ink has even worked to get emotional help for the abusers. Missari recounts a case in which Rescue Ink stood face-to-face with a mean-looking abuser who seemed ready for a confrontation. "Twenty minutes later, we're inside and he's crying about what he's done,'' he said.</p><h4>Expanding the mission</h4><p>Rescue Ink, which works mostly on Long Island, hopes to start chapters around the country. The non-profit group is trying to raise money to expand its mission. It operates with the donation of services from volunteers, including veterinarians. </p><p>For its caseload, the group relies on telephone tips. "The phones don't stop ringing,'' Missari said. "Animal lovers are relentless. They call, call, call -- until something is done.''</p><p>For that, plenty of abused animals are grateful, including Missari's own beloved Hale, a Lab mix who was being kept in a darkened closet and used as prey for dogs being trained to fight.</p><p>Some vets said the dog could not be saved. But Missari would not give up. After six months of therapy, Hale is doing better. "He's a great dog now,'' Missari said. But he still cannot be around other dogs -- a legacy of the psychological scars from being tortured.</p><p>Because of the sadistic treatment he received by the bad guys, Hale will probably always fear other dogs. There are plenty of bad guys out there harming dogs, but they had better beware. Missari and his pals at Rescue Ink are out looking for them. </p><br />By Dirk Johnson for WebVet By Dirk Johnson for WebVet People & Pets