I�m a fan of most animal programming on television whether it�s on Animal Planet, National Geographic or National Geographic Wild. If it�s about animals, I�m there. Some of them can be entertaining while others are very informative. Then there are those that can be very shocking and down right horrific. Like everything else in life, there is the good and the bad. I�ve always been a sensitive person when it comes to watching anything in pain. I�m even more so as I get older. I�m fascinated by the Predator and Prey types of shows with the Big Cats but when it comes time for the Predator to kill his prey, then I turn it off to watch a commercial or two and then come back to the programming.
Some of you might remember me writing about how much I really like the Pit Bull dogs. They can be some of the most loving and affectionate among the dog breeds. But naturally man sensationalizes everything and all we hear about is how mean they are and that they�re vicious killers. Just like the German Shepherd Dog is known to be one of the breeds of dogs reported that do the most biting offenses against people.
Well in this last week, I watched another part of a series on the Pit Bulls used for fighting. Here again, I turn the parts off of the dogs killing one another in the ring. What disturbed me on this particular night though was talk about a black German Shepherd female. This dog was used for breeding to produce puppies known as bait dogs! You read that right. Her purpose was a brood bitch for this sadistic operations unsavory behavior. Bait or baiting is the act of worrying or tormenting a chained or confined animal by setting game dogs upon it as sport! The dogs bite and tear to subdue the opposing animal by incapacitating or killing it. Baiting is a blood sport used for entertainment and gambling. It is illegal in most countries with varying levels of enforcement.
Well I�m happy to report that this particular lowlifes operation was shut down and the dogs were confiscated and received medical attention. Some were too far gone with their injuries and then there were others that were too aggressive for rehabilitation. The female black German Shepherd was also seized. She was very frightened and distrustful of people. Well with some work and training, she is now leading a life as someone�s loving companion. She was spayed and there will be no more of her babies used as bait dogs for the sadistic pleasure of these monsters.
It infuriates me to hear that German Shepherds are used in this manner. That�s not to say that I think that any dog should be used in this way. Our beloved breed should never find itself in the �pit�s of hell� known as a fighting ring used as bait for a dog�s jaw that is more powerful than his and can rip him to pieces.
Yesterday I saw a program on Dr. Phil on this very subject of fighting dogs for profit or someone�s sick pleasure. There was a man on the program that was sent to prison for fighting dogs and cited for animal cruelty. This cold, callous individual was there to say that he didn�t think what he did was cruel to his dogs. This was a sport like any other and didn�t see the difference from what he does with his dogs and those that chose and enjoy watching boxing. Again a video (that I didn�t watch) was shown to the audience and it was one of this man�s own dogs that was getting mauled and ripped apart. What I did hear was the screams of his dog in apparent agony. I muted the sound after a short bit. He claims that the dog was just scared because it was his first time in the pit. He said he was fine and he took him back home and put him on his chain again. Some home life with a big old heavy chain wrapped around his neck. Dr. Phil was all over this guy. The man didn�t seem too concerned. He had his lawyer sitting out in the audience. He was asked how many dogs he killed. Without too much thought, he answered a couple of hundred. He said he usually just took a gun and shot the dog if the dog was too injured to save. He thought that he was doing the dog a favor and doing the humane thing by putting him down. By this time, I�m ready to jump through the television screen and choke this ignorant �poor excuse� for a human beings neck!
We as breeders and owners of the beloved German Shepherd Dog must diligently protect them from the predators out there that are looking to do them harm. Sometimes these types of people will go to animal shelters and use the dogs from there as bait dogs. They will also pick up strays that are roaming the streets.
Now this just came across my computer yesterday. I recently joined a Yahoo Group for recycling. It�s called Freecycle. I get e-mails from them all day offering items for people to take for free. They just need to come and pick the items up at the person�s house. Also people will post that they are looking for certain things as well. Yesterday one of the moderators came on and I�m quoting one of the sentences from her e-mail�����We are looking for someone who has knowledge about caring for pets and wishes to help members offer or seek animals through this group.� (End quote). Now I was gone most of yesterday (sorry I didn�t get a chance to write on my blog before I left), so I haven�t got a chance to write to her about this yet. I do not think that this is a good idea. I can understand what they are trying to do here. Obviously because some people find they can no longer keep their animals, they are looking to place them in good homes. However, these moderators do not know the people that join their lists. Many of these predators look for free dogs or puppies and read the want ads of their local newspapers. Some might be used as bait dogs, and others may find their way into a lab used for experimentation. There is lots of money to be made on animal�s misery! So although the moderator�s intentions are good, I will have to write to them today to voice my concern.
We live in a scary world. We don�t want to have to become paranoid, however no concerned animal lover can ever be too watchful about the people that we invite into our lives. The predators are out there looking for their next prey or meal ticket! After all, this is their �SPORT� of choice. When they need to �train� their dogs, they might come knocking on your door when they hear about one of your dogs that you are looking to place in a �loving forever� home! We don't want to ever hear that one of our dogs is being used for someones profit from animal cruelty!
From the book: "BADD NEWZ: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE MICHAEL VICK DOG FIGHTING CASE"......Book Author, Kathy Strouse, has launched her first book, �Badd Newz-The Untold Story of the Michael Vick Dog Fighting Case�. She reveals the never before reported twists, turns, obstacles, plots, and setbacks that made building a case against superstar Michael Vick the challenge of a lifetime. Readers will be shocked to learn how close and how often Vick came to walking away from justice. Investigators were fueled by a determination to rescue the innocent dogs and to bring Vick and his Badd Newz crew to justice. The small team of �dead game� investigators put everything on the line to take a stand against the brutal �sport� of dog fighting. Strouse also introduces the undercover investigator known only as Dog Angel. A shadowy, elusive figure, he has worked for over 35 years infiltrating the underground world of dog fighting, rubbing shoulders with some of the most infamous characters in the �game�. The reader will learn how Dog Angel infiltrated the inner Badd Newz circle and used every skill in his arsenal to help make the case against them. No dog fighting case has ever captured the attention and the hearts of the public like the Michael Vick case. Most Americans had no idea that such cruelty even existed. The stakes in this case were very high. Success would send a message to dog fighters across the country that law enforcement was pledged to stamp out this cruelty and send the perpetrators to jail. Investigators knew they had to bring Vick to justice in spite of his wealth and fame. Climb aboard the rollercoaster for the story of how they did it.
My rating: The use of German Shepherds as bait dogs: (1), Profit from animal cruelty: (1)
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
MAKING YOUR DOGS AND YOUR LIFE EASIER
Recently I was approached about placing an ad for �Discount Ramps� on my blog. After reviewing their website and products, I consented and you�ll see an ad on my blog for their website. I decided to have their website here because of all the many different products that they offer the pet owner to help make yours and your dog�s life a little bit easier. So I�m going to post some of those products here for you to look at. They also make other �make your life easier� products besides dog items. Check out their website for more information. They truly have something to help make your dogs and your life easier.
They offer dog ramps for every size, weight and length you may need. These ramps are used for your dog to help him get in and out of your van, truck or SUV without him having to jump to the ground. Sometimes this can be too much on an aging dog�s legs or hips or a youngster.
One of these ramps is an aluminum folding dog ramp. Some of the features of this ramp are: Light weight design
� One Year Warranty
� 2 lengths to choose from
� Durable grip tape surface - excellent for your pet's feet
� Hollow aluminum frame for maximum strength
� Strong hinges to allow ramp to fold in half
� 2 �" attaching lip for added stability
� Carrying handle on the side allows for easy transport
� Strap mounted on the side keeps the dog ramp compact for storage
� **Not designed for human use**
Your pets will get plenty of use out of this dog ramp. The new folding dog ramps from Discount Ramps are some of the strongest & sturdiest on the market today! Each ramp has an aluminum construction with heavy duty hinges that allows the dog truck ramps to hold up to 250 lbs. The dog ramp features a grip tape surface platform for superb traction in any weather for almost any pet. These folding ramps are available in 2 lengths to accommodate any dog or pet. They have a usable width of 15 inches and a 2 �" attaching lip on the top of the dog ramp allowing it to be used for Trucks, SUV's, Cars, or nearly anywhere. These dog truck ramps also feature a carrying handle and a strap mounted on to the ramps so that it can be strapped together in the closed position for easy transport & storage when not in use.
This is just a sample of the many ramps that this company makes. Check out all the many different sizes on their website.
They also make pet stairs. This can help a pet up on a bed or sofa that may have limited mobility. Here�s an example about one of the many steps and stairs that this company sells.
� Portable light weight design, only 10 lbs.
� Gives access to the back seat of an automobile which is difficult to do with ramps
� Supports over 250 lbs. for any size dog or pet
� Durable indoor/ outdoor carpet and plastic construction can be cleaned with soap & water
� Attractive design with neutral colors blends in almost anywhere
� Unique sloping treads are easier for small dogs to climb
� 19" height works well with most couches and beds
� Constructed from high density polyethylene and indoor outdoor carpet
� Made in the USA
� One year warranty
� **Not designed for human use**
They also make steps for loading a dog onto a boat and then there are steps for your dog to get in and out of the swimming pool. I thought that this was a great idea. So let�s say the steps that you normally would use to go in and out of your pool is on one side, but your dog is too tired to swim over that way, this can be placed in another area so he can get out quickly and easily. See the above picture.
This company also offers crates and vehicle barriers for your utility vehicle, vans and mini vans. There are dog seat protectors and dog seat covers. There are SUV cargo liners to protect your vehicle's carpet and they work for hatchbacks, SUVs, and vans. There is a dog crate constructed of aluminum and brown 1/8" wood laminate paneling. This dog cage is lightweight yet sturdy. The angled design gives it a unique look and makes it easier to fit into the back of mini-vans or SUVs when transporting. The pet dog crate also includes two tie down tabs on the front top corners, so you can more easily secure the dog crate when traveling.
I really enjoyed looking at this companies many products to help make traveling and living easier and more enjoyable for you and your dog. Check out their website on this blog for yourself.
My rating; �Discount Ramps�: (4)
They offer dog ramps for every size, weight and length you may need. These ramps are used for your dog to help him get in and out of your van, truck or SUV without him having to jump to the ground. Sometimes this can be too much on an aging dog�s legs or hips or a youngster.
� One Year Warranty
� 2 lengths to choose from
� Durable grip tape surface - excellent for your pet's feet
� Hollow aluminum frame for maximum strength
� Strong hinges to allow ramp to fold in half
� 2 �" attaching lip for added stability
� Carrying handle on the side allows for easy transport
� Strap mounted on the side keeps the dog ramp compact for storage
� **Not designed for human use**
Your pets will get plenty of use out of this dog ramp. The new folding dog ramps from Discount Ramps are some of the strongest & sturdiest on the market today! Each ramp has an aluminum construction with heavy duty hinges that allows the dog truck ramps to hold up to 250 lbs. The dog ramp features a grip tape surface platform for superb traction in any weather for almost any pet. These folding ramps are available in 2 lengths to accommodate any dog or pet. They have a usable width of 15 inches and a 2 �" attaching lip on the top of the dog ramp allowing it to be used for Trucks, SUV's, Cars, or nearly anywhere. These dog truck ramps also feature a carrying handle and a strap mounted on to the ramps so that it can be strapped together in the closed position for easy transport & storage when not in use.
This is just a sample of the many ramps that this company makes. Check out all the many different sizes on their website.
They also make pet stairs. This can help a pet up on a bed or sofa that may have limited mobility. Here�s an example about one of the many steps and stairs that this company sells.
� Portable light weight design, only 10 lbs.
� Gives access to the back seat of an automobile which is difficult to do with ramps
� Supports over 250 lbs. for any size dog or pet
� Durable indoor/ outdoor carpet and plastic construction can be cleaned with soap & water
� Attractive design with neutral colors blends in almost anywhere
� Unique sloping treads are easier for small dogs to climb
� 19" height works well with most couches and beds
� Constructed from high density polyethylene and indoor outdoor carpet
� Made in the USA
� One year warranty
� **Not designed for human use**
This company also offers crates and vehicle barriers for your utility vehicle, vans and mini vans. There are dog seat protectors and dog seat covers. There are SUV cargo liners to protect your vehicle's carpet and they work for hatchbacks, SUVs, and vans. There is a dog crate constructed of aluminum and brown 1/8" wood laminate paneling. This dog cage is lightweight yet sturdy. The angled design gives it a unique look and makes it easier to fit into the back of mini-vans or SUVs when transporting. The pet dog crate also includes two tie down tabs on the front top corners, so you can more easily secure the dog crate when traveling.
I really enjoyed looking at this companies many products to help make traveling and living easier and more enjoyable for you and your dog. Check out their website on this blog for yourself.
My rating; �Discount Ramps�: (4)
Monday, 16 August 2010
OPEN DOOR POLICY
The very first time that I put up a couple of kennels in my backyard we attached them to the back of our garage. The dogs could go in and out of the garage as they pleased because I had a �doggie� door for them to use. Can I tell you how much I loved that? So did they. You just drill a hole in the wall of the garage and attach the �doggie� door to the hole. The reason I liked this so much was that the dogs went in and out of it whenever they wanted except late at night when I locked those doors for the evening.
The nice thing about having your kennels attached to a building is that the dogs can get out of the sun or bad weather if they want and come inside. These doors have been around for a long time, but I think they are a God send to dog owners for the convenience that they afford our animals. Besides fencing, �doggie� doors are one of the best inventions in my opinion. The dog is not forced to stay outside if he doesn�t want to. He comes and goes as he pleases. Ideally a platform should be placed out in the dog�s run and one inside the garage or building. This way he�s not lying on a cold, damp or hard surface.
Some people that don�t own a dog kennel but keep their dogs in a fenced in back yard love the convenience of the �doggie� dog as well. The only difference with this set up is that sometimes when your dog is feeling a little bit frisky, don�t be surprised by the little �gifts� that he may bring into the kitchen and deposit at your feet. This is especially true if you have cats. He may share the rest of his uneaten dinner in the form of a �nearly dead� mouse or worse.
Now let me say here that if you have pets that you want to give freedom to by coming and going as they please, caution and common sense should be used. Only use these doors attached to your house if you have a fenced in yard. Depending upon where you live (what state) there are other things to take into consideration. Are there venomous snakes or bad mushrooms that grow on your lawn? Do you live in a neighborhood where children can throw things over the fence for your dog that may not be healthy for them to eat like a chocolate candy bar? If you live in a state like Florida, are there fire ants on your lawn? These are all the kinds of questions you should ask yourself before giving �Fido� his freedom to come and go as he pleases.
Another reason that some people like having a �doggie� door attached to their homes is because the owner may have physical ailments that make taking her dog for a walk close to impossible. Because she realizes the need for her dog to get fresh air and exercise, having a �doggie� door is the answer for her and her animal.
Here are some �doggie� doors that I found on Amazon.
My rating: "Doggie" doors: (4)
The nice thing about having your kennels attached to a building is that the dogs can get out of the sun or bad weather if they want and come inside. These doors have been around for a long time, but I think they are a God send to dog owners for the convenience that they afford our animals. Besides fencing, �doggie� doors are one of the best inventions in my opinion. The dog is not forced to stay outside if he doesn�t want to. He comes and goes as he pleases. Ideally a platform should be placed out in the dog�s run and one inside the garage or building. This way he�s not lying on a cold, damp or hard surface.
Some people that don�t own a dog kennel but keep their dogs in a fenced in back yard love the convenience of the �doggie� dog as well. The only difference with this set up is that sometimes when your dog is feeling a little bit frisky, don�t be surprised by the little �gifts� that he may bring into the kitchen and deposit at your feet. This is especially true if you have cats. He may share the rest of his uneaten dinner in the form of a �nearly dead� mouse or worse.
Now let me say here that if you have pets that you want to give freedom to by coming and going as they please, caution and common sense should be used. Only use these doors attached to your house if you have a fenced in yard. Depending upon where you live (what state) there are other things to take into consideration. Are there venomous snakes or bad mushrooms that grow on your lawn? Do you live in a neighborhood where children can throw things over the fence for your dog that may not be healthy for them to eat like a chocolate candy bar? If you live in a state like Florida, are there fire ants on your lawn? These are all the kinds of questions you should ask yourself before giving �Fido� his freedom to come and go as he pleases.
Another reason that some people like having a �doggie� door attached to their homes is because the owner may have physical ailments that make taking her dog for a walk close to impossible. Because she realizes the need for her dog to get fresh air and exercise, having a �doggie� door is the answer for her and her animal.
Here are some �doggie� doors that I found on Amazon.
My rating: "Doggie" doors: (4)
Friday, 13 August 2010
"I JUST DROPPED IN TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION WAS IN!"
I think I�ve mentioned that I love music and their lyrics as well as my love of quotations. The title of today�s blog article is from an old song that Kenny Rogers made popular many years ago. Aww��.�the genus of a song writer�s quick wit and imagination!
Several months ago I wrote about taking care of ourselves as we hit our senior years. We are all concerned about our aging dog�s health, but if we are not healthy ourselves taking care of a breed like the German Shepherd Dog can prove very challenging indeed. I bring this subject up again because of an e-mail letter that I read on one of the rescue groups that I send this blog to. A woman wrote that she didn�t feel that she could take care of a rescue like the German Shepherd Dog. She felt she was too old to take care of a dog. I think she said that she was 60 years old or in her early 60�s. So she was being honest and this is how she felt. Well many people wrote in response about this subject of the mature person taking care of this breed. I think everyone who wrote thought that the woman�s age should not have been a deciding factor about taking care of a rescued dog. Some went on to tell of many wonderful people in their advanced senior years happily and capably taking care of a dog or two or even more. But one must remember that not everyone�s circumstances are alike.
So I thought I would re-visit this subject again. Like the breed that we all love, some of us age better than others. While we may read of the 80 year old woman who just graduated from college or the 72 year old man that just ran the Boston marathon, those numbers are fewer than what the average person of this age is doing. Few (but some) may say that they are feeling better now than they ever did when they were in their thirties. However, this is just not the normal confession of a person over sixty.
Taking care of and raising a German Shepherd Dog is work��period! It is not all fun and games. It�s not just about throwing a ball to �Shep� a couple of times a week or teaching him how to sit or roll over. It�s a lot more and then some. Because each of our dogs like ourselves is individuals, they learn differently, they react differently, they age differently, and the one constant is that they challenge us differently. It�s just like kids. Some kids never give you any problems and are a �dream come true� when raising them. Then there are those that keep you down on your knees visiting God in prayer more then you ever did in your entire lifetime. Well it�s the same thing with raising a German Shepherd Dog. They all might be labeled a German Shepherd, but they�re all not cut out from the same mold.
In an ideal world, we humans will age well. We won�t be troubled by arthritis or other crippling physical and mental disabilities. We will not have had suffered a car accident or an accident on the job. Depression will not have immobilized us. Our life�s partner will remain healthy as well and we�ll both take that trip to the �pearly white gates� of Heaven at the same time. Our dogs will live to be a ripe old age of 15 or 16 with never a moan or a groan because arthritis is keeping them from doing the things that they love. His hearing will be as sharp as when he was a six month old puppy. He�ll eat well until the day he dies and he�ll slip away to the �Rainbow Bridge� while peacefully sleeping on his soft warm bed. Yes this is in an ideal world!
But what about reality? How does it work in the real world? What about those of us who don�t age well? What about our dogs that don�t fair any better? Maybe the sixty year old woman has all she can do to get out of bed in the morning. We�re not walking in her shoes��.or moving around in her body. Maybe our grandmother doesn�t look a day over fifty, but this woman may feel several years over seventy. We all know what we are capable of doing. What feels right for one person may not feel right for another person.
Because all German Shepherds are not created equal��because they all come from different pedigrees��..and if you are adopting a rescue dog��.we don�t know how he was raised. Some in this breed make wonderful house dogs and you wouldn�t even know that they are there. Well except when you want to use the bathroom and you notice a shadow following you. But let�s face it, some dogs make excellent house dogs and others do not. Case in point, most of you know that I own three bitches. I own the mother dog and her two daughters. The mother dog is my constant companion as she�s my house dog. Her two daughters are the �Wild Childs!� Would they make good house dogs? No, no and again no. Oh they�re in the house a few times a day and when they are, its total chaos�s. Their mother was very easy to train. Her daughters are much wilder than she ever was. �Bu� can never sit still and her sister �Jess� imitates everything that she does. Now my house dog would be great living with a senior citizen. Just give her love 24 hours a day and feed her and she�ll be happy and content. Would her daughters be good companions for a senior citizen? NO! They might put her in an early grave!
Another thing to consider is the financial responsibility for the senior citizen especially if she�s living on a fixed income. Taking care of dogs is expensive. Some are wondering how they�re going to feed themselves no less a dependent animal.
Don�t get me wrong, I�m not saying that all people over sixty have one foot in the grave! Not at all. Many people are healthy and strong and have taken good care of themselves and are aging very well. But there may come the day that age does get in their way and I don�t care how well someone ages, he isn�t what he used to be. Each step becomes more calculated. A dog not only needs his basic needs to be met, food, water and shelter, but he needs a fair amount of exercise to keep him healthy and strong. If the human isn�t up to that then both of them may suffer.
On the other hand, a dog can be the greatest gift for a senior for many reasons. A dog can give the aging owner a reason to get up out of bed in the morning to begin with. The dog can provide comfort and companionship to an otherwise lonely person that may have said good bye to some important people in her life. A dog can provide hours of entertainment and laughter to someone that might need a good laugh once in awhile. Taking care of a dog can take one�s mind off of her own problems and help soothe a weary soul.
So not everyone�s conditions are the same. Some age well. Others do not. Some are financially secure. Others are not. Before you take on the added responsibility of a dog, check out �what conditions your conditions are in!�
Taken from the Audio CD..."21 NUMBER ONES"..........The gravel-and-grits voice of Kenny Rogers ultimately came to define the "Urban Cowboy" era of pop excess, even as the earlier "Lucille" and "The Gambler" were some of the most galvanizing story songs in country music's history. Looking back at this body of hits, it's easy to poke fun at the treacley "You Decorated My Life" or wince at the cheesy string arrangements on "Through the Years." It's also natural to wish Rogers had never heard of Sheena Easton, his misguided duet partner on "We've Got Tonight," and recorded more with the soulful, sad Dottie West ("Every Time Two Fools Collide") and the randy Dolly Parton ("Islands in the Stream"). (A bonus track, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer," pairs him with old pal Kim Carnes.) As the years went by, Rogers got fatter, lazier, and more content to make crappy TV movies and wallow in the flaccid sentimentality of adult contemporary pop ("Buy Me a Rose"). He also got smug--the worst of sins for a man in his business. But behind the microphone, he always knew how to make even the hoariest of lyrics resonate with feeling. And at his peak, he was the perfect male country superstar, equal parts swagger and sweet, sweet promise. --Alanna Nash
My rating: The German Shepherd Dog is right for everyone: (1 - 4), Senior Citizen raising the German Shepherd Dog: (1 - 4)
Several months ago I wrote about taking care of ourselves as we hit our senior years. We are all concerned about our aging dog�s health, but if we are not healthy ourselves taking care of a breed like the German Shepherd Dog can prove very challenging indeed. I bring this subject up again because of an e-mail letter that I read on one of the rescue groups that I send this blog to. A woman wrote that she didn�t feel that she could take care of a rescue like the German Shepherd Dog. She felt she was too old to take care of a dog. I think she said that she was 60 years old or in her early 60�s. So she was being honest and this is how she felt. Well many people wrote in response about this subject of the mature person taking care of this breed. I think everyone who wrote thought that the woman�s age should not have been a deciding factor about taking care of a rescued dog. Some went on to tell of many wonderful people in their advanced senior years happily and capably taking care of a dog or two or even more. But one must remember that not everyone�s circumstances are alike.
So I thought I would re-visit this subject again. Like the breed that we all love, some of us age better than others. While we may read of the 80 year old woman who just graduated from college or the 72 year old man that just ran the Boston marathon, those numbers are fewer than what the average person of this age is doing. Few (but some) may say that they are feeling better now than they ever did when they were in their thirties. However, this is just not the normal confession of a person over sixty.
Taking care of and raising a German Shepherd Dog is work��period! It is not all fun and games. It�s not just about throwing a ball to �Shep� a couple of times a week or teaching him how to sit or roll over. It�s a lot more and then some. Because each of our dogs like ourselves is individuals, they learn differently, they react differently, they age differently, and the one constant is that they challenge us differently. It�s just like kids. Some kids never give you any problems and are a �dream come true� when raising them. Then there are those that keep you down on your knees visiting God in prayer more then you ever did in your entire lifetime. Well it�s the same thing with raising a German Shepherd Dog. They all might be labeled a German Shepherd, but they�re all not cut out from the same mold.
In an ideal world, we humans will age well. We won�t be troubled by arthritis or other crippling physical and mental disabilities. We will not have had suffered a car accident or an accident on the job. Depression will not have immobilized us. Our life�s partner will remain healthy as well and we�ll both take that trip to the �pearly white gates� of Heaven at the same time. Our dogs will live to be a ripe old age of 15 or 16 with never a moan or a groan because arthritis is keeping them from doing the things that they love. His hearing will be as sharp as when he was a six month old puppy. He�ll eat well until the day he dies and he�ll slip away to the �Rainbow Bridge� while peacefully sleeping on his soft warm bed. Yes this is in an ideal world!
But what about reality? How does it work in the real world? What about those of us who don�t age well? What about our dogs that don�t fair any better? Maybe the sixty year old woman has all she can do to get out of bed in the morning. We�re not walking in her shoes��.or moving around in her body. Maybe our grandmother doesn�t look a day over fifty, but this woman may feel several years over seventy. We all know what we are capable of doing. What feels right for one person may not feel right for another person.
Because all German Shepherds are not created equal��because they all come from different pedigrees��..and if you are adopting a rescue dog��.we don�t know how he was raised. Some in this breed make wonderful house dogs and you wouldn�t even know that they are there. Well except when you want to use the bathroom and you notice a shadow following you. But let�s face it, some dogs make excellent house dogs and others do not. Case in point, most of you know that I own three bitches. I own the mother dog and her two daughters. The mother dog is my constant companion as she�s my house dog. Her two daughters are the �Wild Childs!� Would they make good house dogs? No, no and again no. Oh they�re in the house a few times a day and when they are, its total chaos�s. Their mother was very easy to train. Her daughters are much wilder than she ever was. �Bu� can never sit still and her sister �Jess� imitates everything that she does. Now my house dog would be great living with a senior citizen. Just give her love 24 hours a day and feed her and she�ll be happy and content. Would her daughters be good companions for a senior citizen? NO! They might put her in an early grave!
Another thing to consider is the financial responsibility for the senior citizen especially if she�s living on a fixed income. Taking care of dogs is expensive. Some are wondering how they�re going to feed themselves no less a dependent animal.
Don�t get me wrong, I�m not saying that all people over sixty have one foot in the grave! Not at all. Many people are healthy and strong and have taken good care of themselves and are aging very well. But there may come the day that age does get in their way and I don�t care how well someone ages, he isn�t what he used to be. Each step becomes more calculated. A dog not only needs his basic needs to be met, food, water and shelter, but he needs a fair amount of exercise to keep him healthy and strong. If the human isn�t up to that then both of them may suffer.
On the other hand, a dog can be the greatest gift for a senior for many reasons. A dog can give the aging owner a reason to get up out of bed in the morning to begin with. The dog can provide comfort and companionship to an otherwise lonely person that may have said good bye to some important people in her life. A dog can provide hours of entertainment and laughter to someone that might need a good laugh once in awhile. Taking care of a dog can take one�s mind off of her own problems and help soothe a weary soul.
So not everyone�s conditions are the same. Some age well. Others do not. Some are financially secure. Others are not. Before you take on the added responsibility of a dog, check out �what conditions your conditions are in!�
Taken from the Audio CD..."21 NUMBER ONES"..........The gravel-and-grits voice of Kenny Rogers ultimately came to define the "Urban Cowboy" era of pop excess, even as the earlier "Lucille" and "The Gambler" were some of the most galvanizing story songs in country music's history. Looking back at this body of hits, it's easy to poke fun at the treacley "You Decorated My Life" or wince at the cheesy string arrangements on "Through the Years." It's also natural to wish Rogers had never heard of Sheena Easton, his misguided duet partner on "We've Got Tonight," and recorded more with the soulful, sad Dottie West ("Every Time Two Fools Collide") and the randy Dolly Parton ("Islands in the Stream"). (A bonus track, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer," pairs him with old pal Kim Carnes.) As the years went by, Rogers got fatter, lazier, and more content to make crappy TV movies and wallow in the flaccid sentimentality of adult contemporary pop ("Buy Me a Rose"). He also got smug--the worst of sins for a man in his business. But behind the microphone, he always knew how to make even the hoariest of lyrics resonate with feeling. And at his peak, he was the perfect male country superstar, equal parts swagger and sweet, sweet promise. --Alanna Nash
My rating: The German Shepherd Dog is right for everyone: (1 - 4), Senior Citizen raising the German Shepherd Dog: (1 - 4)
Thursday, 12 August 2010
WILL YOU ONLY BREED TO DOGS THAT ARE OFA CERTIFIED?
I�ve recently discussed here about some of those breeders that knowingly breed to animals that have genetic health problems or those that breed to dogs that have undesirable temperaments. But what about those breeders that don�t x-ray their dogs that they use for their breeding program or breed to dogs that is not x-rayed? The majority of stud dog owners do x-ray their dogs and many of them are OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certified. Then there are those others that are not concerned about x-raying their dogs because they say that the animals in his dog�s pedigree come from good hips.
Would you breed your x-rayed bitch to a stud dog that wasn�t x-rayed or had an OFA number showing that he�s certified? Do you think it�s an important part of having a good breeding program or do you think it�s just one more nuisance that you don�t want to be bothered with? And speaking of x-raying, how important are those elbow x-rays? And what do you think of some of those dogs that only have an OFA number for hips attached to the back of their name? Does this mean the dog�s elbows were x-rayed and he doesn�t have good elbows? Would you breed to a dog that only has one set of OFA numbers for his hips and not his elbows?
I believe that more and more breeders are conscientious about x-raying their breeding stock. I personally haven�t heard about too many animals that are crippled from dysplastic hips or elbows, although I�m sure other people have.
So here�s a question for you. If you x-rayed your animal and he or she didn�t have perfect hips or elbows and wouldn�t OFA certify would you still use him/her for your breeding program? In order to answer a question like that, one would also want to know about the litter mates to the animal that you are considering breeding? Were they x-rayed? Were there others in the litter that didn�t have good hips and elbows? What about the parents and the grandparents? Were they all OFA certified?
Some breeders feel that if they x-ray their bitch and she won�t certify because one of her hips is not as good at the other one, they will breed her anyway. They feel that if she is of superior quality that they will take a chance on breeding her and only to stud dogs that are OFA certified and come from a long line of OFA certified dogs and bitches in their pedigree. Are they taking a chance? Well of course they are. We all know that even dogs that are OFA certified can produce bad hips. There are no guarantees when you elect to breed dogs.
Do you feel as a breeder that you owe it to your puppy buyers to have the parents of the puppies that you�re selling be OFA certified or at least having been x-rayed? What responsibilities do you owe your puppy buyers? It is after all about more then producing the prettiest puppies. It�s about producing the healthiest puppies as well.
I think if one goes on the Parent Club website (The GSDCA) and you were to look at the stud dogs that have produced winning progeny, more times than not, you will see that those dogs have OFA numbers. Speaking of stud dogs, there are some stud dog owners that will not even allow a bitch to be bred to their dog unless she too has a certified number.
Now there are different degrees of dysplastic hips and elbows. As I said, some breeders will breed a bitch that doesn�t have perfect hips. But where do you draw the line as to what you will breed and ones that you will not breed? Would you breed one that is slightly dysplastic or would you breed one that has one good hip and the other is more severely dysplastic? Is there a line that you draw as far as considering using these animals in your breeding program? And would you tell your puppy buyers about the mother�s hips?
Will you only breed to a stud that has both OFA hips and elbows? If you see a stud with only an OFA number for his hips and not for his elbows, do you automatically eliminate using that dog in your breeding program?
There will be those breeders that will say there are too many things to take into consideration when choosing breeding partners. They will further argue that the whole dog�s package both physically and mentally must be taken into consideration. What do you think�..only breed good hips/elbows or is it ever alright to breed those that don�t qualify for an OFA number?
From the book: THE GENETIC CONNECTION: A GUIDE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PUREBRED DOGS....The Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs offers the most complete collection ever assembled of breed-specific information for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions with a genetic basis. For the veterinary practitioner and the serious breeder, The Genetic Connection covers more than 240 genetic disorders, including how they are genetically transmitted in different breeds, how they are best identified, and strategies to help prevent them from occurring in future generations. The book is cross-referenced by both condition within bodily systems and by breed. It includes an in-depth index and table of breeds, along with a detailed bibliography of supporting articles and texts. An appendix of the major players in canine genetics completes this substantial publication.
My rating: X-raying dogs BEFORE they're bred: (4)
Would you breed your x-rayed bitch to a stud dog that wasn�t x-rayed or had an OFA number showing that he�s certified? Do you think it�s an important part of having a good breeding program or do you think it�s just one more nuisance that you don�t want to be bothered with? And speaking of x-raying, how important are those elbow x-rays? And what do you think of some of those dogs that only have an OFA number for hips attached to the back of their name? Does this mean the dog�s elbows were x-rayed and he doesn�t have good elbows? Would you breed to a dog that only has one set of OFA numbers for his hips and not his elbows?
I believe that more and more breeders are conscientious about x-raying their breeding stock. I personally haven�t heard about too many animals that are crippled from dysplastic hips or elbows, although I�m sure other people have.
So here�s a question for you. If you x-rayed your animal and he or she didn�t have perfect hips or elbows and wouldn�t OFA certify would you still use him/her for your breeding program? In order to answer a question like that, one would also want to know about the litter mates to the animal that you are considering breeding? Were they x-rayed? Were there others in the litter that didn�t have good hips and elbows? What about the parents and the grandparents? Were they all OFA certified?
Some breeders feel that if they x-ray their bitch and she won�t certify because one of her hips is not as good at the other one, they will breed her anyway. They feel that if she is of superior quality that they will take a chance on breeding her and only to stud dogs that are OFA certified and come from a long line of OFA certified dogs and bitches in their pedigree. Are they taking a chance? Well of course they are. We all know that even dogs that are OFA certified can produce bad hips. There are no guarantees when you elect to breed dogs.
Do you feel as a breeder that you owe it to your puppy buyers to have the parents of the puppies that you�re selling be OFA certified or at least having been x-rayed? What responsibilities do you owe your puppy buyers? It is after all about more then producing the prettiest puppies. It�s about producing the healthiest puppies as well.
I think if one goes on the Parent Club website (The GSDCA) and you were to look at the stud dogs that have produced winning progeny, more times than not, you will see that those dogs have OFA numbers. Speaking of stud dogs, there are some stud dog owners that will not even allow a bitch to be bred to their dog unless she too has a certified number.
Now there are different degrees of dysplastic hips and elbows. As I said, some breeders will breed a bitch that doesn�t have perfect hips. But where do you draw the line as to what you will breed and ones that you will not breed? Would you breed one that is slightly dysplastic or would you breed one that has one good hip and the other is more severely dysplastic? Is there a line that you draw as far as considering using these animals in your breeding program? And would you tell your puppy buyers about the mother�s hips?
Will you only breed to a stud that has both OFA hips and elbows? If you see a stud with only an OFA number for his hips and not for his elbows, do you automatically eliminate using that dog in your breeding program?
There will be those breeders that will say there are too many things to take into consideration when choosing breeding partners. They will further argue that the whole dog�s package both physically and mentally must be taken into consideration. What do you think�..only breed good hips/elbows or is it ever alright to breed those that don�t qualify for an OFA number?
From the book: THE GENETIC CONNECTION: A GUIDE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PUREBRED DOGS....The Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs offers the most complete collection ever assembled of breed-specific information for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions with a genetic basis. For the veterinary practitioner and the serious breeder, The Genetic Connection covers more than 240 genetic disorders, including how they are genetically transmitted in different breeds, how they are best identified, and strategies to help prevent them from occurring in future generations. The book is cross-referenced by both condition within bodily systems and by breed. It includes an in-depth index and table of breeds, along with a detailed bibliography of supporting articles and texts. An appendix of the major players in canine genetics completes this substantial publication.
My rating: X-raying dogs BEFORE they're bred: (4)
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
"GREATNESS" WAS BURIED TODAY
I went to a funeral today to watch �Greatness� be buried. It was a sad occasion indeed. �Mediocrity� stood up at the podium and read a eulogy about �Greatness.� There wasn�t a dry eye to be found by those who were in attendance. �Mediocrity� said that all of us in this church today could only hope to strive to be like �Greatness� was. When talking about �Greatness� the word ordinary never came up in conversation. All conceded that he was beyond reproach and no one ever questioned his integrity.
There were those that never made it to the funeral today. �Must be right� decided to give her point of view while writing to someone on an e-mail list why the club needed to stay the way it was. �Meekness� could only shake her head in agreement as no one ever listened to what she had to say anyway. When backbones were given out, someone else got hers as well. So �Meekness� just went along with �Must be right� because well, maybe she is right after all!
Then there was �Good Old Sap� who goes along with everything everyone else says because being liked is more important to him then being right. He figures if the majority wants to change the club, well he�s up for anything.
�Old timer� tells everyone to leave everything alone. The club has survived all these years with things the way that it always has been. �Old timer� doesn�t like change. She believes leave things alone and stop trying to change them all the time.
�New beginnings� is bright eyed and hopeful. She wants so much to learn and hopes that she can follow in the footsteps of �Greatness� some day. �Cranky old geezer� has her nose way too high up in the air to take �New beginnings� even remotely serious. She�s of the thought that you start at the bottom, scrap and claw your way to the top like she did. Don�t look for any hand outs from her! Nope �Cranky old geezer� and �New beginnings� don�t even correspond with one another.
And how about �Under the disguise of?� �Under the disguise of� is the guy that aims to please everyone. One day he�s serious and the next day he�s the joker. Most of the time the rest of the crowd enjoys reading his e-mails and laughing at his jokes. But there are those other times that the crowd doesn�t appreciate his brand of humor when they are trying to get something serious done. �Under the disguise of� can be very shrewd while trying to win the popular vote of the day.
�Leader of the Pack� is the one everyone thinks has all the answers to the clubs problems. Sometimes she does and other times, well lets just say, everyone is left to draw their own conclusions. When she has the answers, she�s a saint. When she doesn�t, there are those that wonder why they voted her in to office in the first place.
�Quarrelsome Ed� is the guy that say�s white if you say black. No if you say yes. �Quarrelsome Ed� is the one that is out to prove everything you say is wrong. If someone says the club should stay the way it is, �Quarrelsome Ed� will say, �No it�s time for a change in the club.�
�Don�t give a damn anymore� is tired of all the bickering in the club and feels that nothing ever is accomplished anyway. So he�s moving on and won�t be renewing his membership dues come the end of the year. He feels the money he puts out for his membership dues will find a better purpose.
�Sick and tired� is moving on also. �Sick and tired� is sick and tired of all of the bickering, jealously and back stabbing. Not only is she giving up on renewing her membership to the club, she has chosen to get out of the German Shepherd Dog breed all together and has just bought herself one of those expensive designer dogs where they don�t have any AKC conformation shows anyway���well not yet.
So some remained and some left and some wondered if they should stay or leave. And those that went to the funeral of �Greatness� walked with a heavy heart from the church to his burial plot. Oh �Greatness� would have been so proud of the stone that his loyal friends bought for him. He would have looked at the headstone with pride as he read the words for all those to see that ventured past his grave site. They would read: �Here lies �Greatness� which only few hope to ever achieve; loyal beyond compare. Heaven opens her gates for him because what Heaven sends it calls home again.�
And so the battle rages on about the future of the club. While they continue to �get their points� across, some forget about the real reason they got involved in the German Shepherd Dog breed to begin with�.to promote, to love, to get the word out about the best dog on earth. They forgot today that �Greatness� got buried. They forgot that today they buried the German Shepherd Dog!
From the book: HOW WE CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY: THE 9 CHOICES OF EXTREMELY HAPPY PEOPLE....Foster and Hicks conduct workshops internationally in the development of interpersonal skills. For this book, they interviewed happy people from all walks of life, from the United States to Eastern Europe. The resulting personal stories, writing exercises, and quotes together inform and instruct the reader in the nine principles discovered by the authors in their travels. Foster and Hicks use their nine choices to teach leadership development in the corporate world and also as a diagnostic tool for medical doctors. These choices include the active intention to be happy, accountability, identifying needs and desires, and centralizing goals by creating a dream list. These are followed by recasting (looking at experiences in positive ways), exploring options, appreciating every day, the art of giving, and, finally, exploring truthfulness. Similar to Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance (Warner, 1995) and the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, this is recommended for public libraries and consumer health collections.
As one reader wrote: when I stumbled across this book a few years ago, it changed everything. Of course, I still have normal bad days, times when I feel sad or discouraged. But it's different now -- I don't despair -- I know that I'm finally learned how to be truly happy, and nothing can take that away from me now. READ THIS BOOK!!
My rating: The German Shepherd Dog: (4), Club woes and troubles: (1)
There were those that never made it to the funeral today. �Must be right� decided to give her point of view while writing to someone on an e-mail list why the club needed to stay the way it was. �Meekness� could only shake her head in agreement as no one ever listened to what she had to say anyway. When backbones were given out, someone else got hers as well. So �Meekness� just went along with �Must be right� because well, maybe she is right after all!
Then there was �Good Old Sap� who goes along with everything everyone else says because being liked is more important to him then being right. He figures if the majority wants to change the club, well he�s up for anything.
�Old timer� tells everyone to leave everything alone. The club has survived all these years with things the way that it always has been. �Old timer� doesn�t like change. She believes leave things alone and stop trying to change them all the time.
�New beginnings� is bright eyed and hopeful. She wants so much to learn and hopes that she can follow in the footsteps of �Greatness� some day. �Cranky old geezer� has her nose way too high up in the air to take �New beginnings� even remotely serious. She�s of the thought that you start at the bottom, scrap and claw your way to the top like she did. Don�t look for any hand outs from her! Nope �Cranky old geezer� and �New beginnings� don�t even correspond with one another.
And how about �Under the disguise of?� �Under the disguise of� is the guy that aims to please everyone. One day he�s serious and the next day he�s the joker. Most of the time the rest of the crowd enjoys reading his e-mails and laughing at his jokes. But there are those other times that the crowd doesn�t appreciate his brand of humor when they are trying to get something serious done. �Under the disguise of� can be very shrewd while trying to win the popular vote of the day.
�Leader of the Pack� is the one everyone thinks has all the answers to the clubs problems. Sometimes she does and other times, well lets just say, everyone is left to draw their own conclusions. When she has the answers, she�s a saint. When she doesn�t, there are those that wonder why they voted her in to office in the first place.
�Quarrelsome Ed� is the guy that say�s white if you say black. No if you say yes. �Quarrelsome Ed� is the one that is out to prove everything you say is wrong. If someone says the club should stay the way it is, �Quarrelsome Ed� will say, �No it�s time for a change in the club.�
�Don�t give a damn anymore� is tired of all the bickering in the club and feels that nothing ever is accomplished anyway. So he�s moving on and won�t be renewing his membership dues come the end of the year. He feels the money he puts out for his membership dues will find a better purpose.
�Sick and tired� is moving on also. �Sick and tired� is sick and tired of all of the bickering, jealously and back stabbing. Not only is she giving up on renewing her membership to the club, she has chosen to get out of the German Shepherd Dog breed all together and has just bought herself one of those expensive designer dogs where they don�t have any AKC conformation shows anyway���well not yet.
So some remained and some left and some wondered if they should stay or leave. And those that went to the funeral of �Greatness� walked with a heavy heart from the church to his burial plot. Oh �Greatness� would have been so proud of the stone that his loyal friends bought for him. He would have looked at the headstone with pride as he read the words for all those to see that ventured past his grave site. They would read: �Here lies �Greatness� which only few hope to ever achieve; loyal beyond compare. Heaven opens her gates for him because what Heaven sends it calls home again.�
And so the battle rages on about the future of the club. While they continue to �get their points� across, some forget about the real reason they got involved in the German Shepherd Dog breed to begin with�.to promote, to love, to get the word out about the best dog on earth. They forgot today that �Greatness� got buried. They forgot that today they buried the German Shepherd Dog!
From the book: HOW WE CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY: THE 9 CHOICES OF EXTREMELY HAPPY PEOPLE....Foster and Hicks conduct workshops internationally in the development of interpersonal skills. For this book, they interviewed happy people from all walks of life, from the United States to Eastern Europe. The resulting personal stories, writing exercises, and quotes together inform and instruct the reader in the nine principles discovered by the authors in their travels. Foster and Hicks use their nine choices to teach leadership development in the corporate world and also as a diagnostic tool for medical doctors. These choices include the active intention to be happy, accountability, identifying needs and desires, and centralizing goals by creating a dream list. These are followed by recasting (looking at experiences in positive ways), exploring options, appreciating every day, the art of giving, and, finally, exploring truthfulness. Similar to Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance (Warner, 1995) and the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, this is recommended for public libraries and consumer health collections.
As one reader wrote: when I stumbled across this book a few years ago, it changed everything. Of course, I still have normal bad days, times when I feel sad or discouraged. But it's different now -- I don't despair -- I know that I'm finally learned how to be truly happy, and nothing can take that away from me now. READ THIS BOOK!!
My rating: The German Shepherd Dog: (4), Club woes and troubles: (1)
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
WHEN VETERINARIANS MAKE MISTAKES
I don�t think I�ll hear an argument from anyone when I say that paying a visit to your dog�s veterinarian can be very expensive. Sometimes an ordinary routine visit may find you paying for your dog to have expensive blood work done, stool samples checked, shots brought up to date, etc. Your vet may tell you he recommends that you do this for your dog or that for your dog. Before you know it, you walk out of the office having just laid out a couple of hundred dollars or more.
If you are lucky, you have a great veterinarian to take care of your animals and he has done so for many years. You�ve developed a friendship with him and if you�re a breeder, he�s willing to work with you and your breeding program. Some veterinarians do not look kindly on breeders. I know this to be true because I have a veterinarian right in my own town, not five minutes away from me. Once she found out that I was a breeder, she didn�t want to take care of my dogs any longer. One time she told me if I breed my bitch which I told her that I planned on doing, that she would not be there for me if the bitch had any problems while whelping her litter. She takes care of all of the shelter animals and is responsible for spaying and neutering them. She is very much against breeders. I should have asked her about all of the pure bred dogs that she takes care of; how does she think they got here? Needless to say, I no longer go to her. What a shame because here office is so close to me.
So we all know some very good veterinarians, but what about those that are not? What about those that make costly and sometimes deadly mistakes? Because there is no statistics on veterinary malpractice suits, it�s hard to know just how often this goes on. The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) collects not statistics on this.
For comparison purposes, many industry experts look to human medicine for data. This next information blew me away. Medical errors kill as many as 98,000 people a year and probably even more according to a decade-old Institute of Medicine report widely regarded as a baseline. Wow���..I just can�t believe that that many people seeking medical attention lose their lives because of a medical error. That really is unbelievable.
Veterinarians are human after all and mistakes do happen. But who wants to own the animal that has that mistake happen to him? It could be very costly financially and in some cases deadly to the animal. Following are some stories about some of these veterinarian mistakes.
A lawyer and his social worker wife suffered from extreme distress when a pathologist�s report from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine said that their dog had osteosarcoma, an aggressive deadly bone cancer. They had discussed putting their dog to sleep so he wouldn�t suffer so much pain. They reluctantly even scheduled the euthanasia. The day before the dreaded appointment, they got a second opinion from an expert at the Ohio State University who ruled out cancer and said the dog was recovering from any injury!
Listen to this one. A woman�s dog required four surgeries to repair the damage caused when her vet mistakenly operated on the wrong leg and then to make matters worse botched that operation as well when a bone plate fractured during surgery!
Then there�s the woman�s cat that had diabetes. The poor cat spent the last two years of his life grappling with severe brain damage which cost the owner $16,000 to care for him. It turned out that her vet allowed his adult son, who was not licensed as a veterinary technician to administer insulin to the animal without supervision the records shows. The penalty that this vet received was a $250 fine and 30 day suspension of his license. Records show that he was placed on six months probation.
Animal lovers were outraged at the �slap on the wrist� type of discipline this veterinarian received. They feel that a $250 fine and a stayed suspension were completely inadequate as a deterrent. What would happen to a human medical doctor if that happened some wondered?
Even more stunning are those owners of injured animals discovering that state veterinary boards dismiss up to 80 percent of the complaints filed against their members with a legal system that regards pets as mere property. There is no way to recover damages for emotional loss.
Laws vary, but in most state courts animals are worth their market value and maybe any economic value they generate for their owners. That could be a considerable amount of money for show dogs for instance but not for most household pets.
Let�s say you have an older mixed breed dog, the value of that dog is generally considered to be under $100. It�s sad and unfair for people who care about their animals only to find out if their animal is killed or injured, they cannot sue.
These are just a few of the horror stories that some people and their beloved pets had to endure. Most vets are caring individuals and want the best for our animals. Some shouldn�t even be practicing. I used to know someone that worked for a veterinarian clinic and she once told me, �Barbara if you knew what went on here after people leave their animals, you�d be shocked!�
When we have to leave our animals over night for a procedure or operation, most of us are nervous wrecks about it. We�re concerned about our animals pulling through the operation, his recovery, etc. What we don�t need to be worrying about is if our animals are being treated properly. I remember many years ago taking someone�s cat into a vet that was sick while her owner was away. Now mind you this was the owner�s vet that she had been going to for years. I�ll never forget how that cat was taken out of his carrier and literally slammed on the table. Can I say that I was shocked? You bet I was. The owner gave him a piece of her mind on her return from her vacation and that�s the last time the vet ever saw her animal again.
If you have a great vet, then he is a God send. There�s nothing more rewarding than having a vet that cares and knows what the heck he�s doing. If he�s that good, people will travel the extra miles to go to him.
From the book: TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A VETERINARIAN: AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE STORY....
Dr. Witiak�s stories of the bond between the veterinarian, client, and pet take the reader into the exam room and on house calls to experience the laughable calamities, miscues, and surprises as well as the personal sorrows, revelations, and joys that treating animals can bring. This is a book of vignettes and personal commentary by a devoted veterinarian who is dedicated both to the science of his profession and to his personal belief in the importance of being loved and loving.
Dr. Witiak makes readers laugh when he checks a small dog�s breath and gets bitten on the nose and then makes them cry when he hugs an old man who has just lost his faithful canine friend. The stories give the reader a deeper understanding of how the unconditional love of our animals enables us to love each other better.
This is a joyous ride where readers bounce from one event to the other just like the veterinarian bounds from exam room to exam room � each with its own surprises. Readers discover just how organic caring is as Dr. Witiak works his magic, enjoying his tongue-in-cheek observations and self-deprecating humor along the way.
My rating: veterinarians: (1-4), veterinarians that work well with breeders: (4)
If you are lucky, you have a great veterinarian to take care of your animals and he has done so for many years. You�ve developed a friendship with him and if you�re a breeder, he�s willing to work with you and your breeding program. Some veterinarians do not look kindly on breeders. I know this to be true because I have a veterinarian right in my own town, not five minutes away from me. Once she found out that I was a breeder, she didn�t want to take care of my dogs any longer. One time she told me if I breed my bitch which I told her that I planned on doing, that she would not be there for me if the bitch had any problems while whelping her litter. She takes care of all of the shelter animals and is responsible for spaying and neutering them. She is very much against breeders. I should have asked her about all of the pure bred dogs that she takes care of; how does she think they got here? Needless to say, I no longer go to her. What a shame because here office is so close to me.
So we all know some very good veterinarians, but what about those that are not? What about those that make costly and sometimes deadly mistakes? Because there is no statistics on veterinary malpractice suits, it�s hard to know just how often this goes on. The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) collects not statistics on this.
For comparison purposes, many industry experts look to human medicine for data. This next information blew me away. Medical errors kill as many as 98,000 people a year and probably even more according to a decade-old Institute of Medicine report widely regarded as a baseline. Wow���..I just can�t believe that that many people seeking medical attention lose their lives because of a medical error. That really is unbelievable.
Veterinarians are human after all and mistakes do happen. But who wants to own the animal that has that mistake happen to him? It could be very costly financially and in some cases deadly to the animal. Following are some stories about some of these veterinarian mistakes.
A lawyer and his social worker wife suffered from extreme distress when a pathologist�s report from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine said that their dog had osteosarcoma, an aggressive deadly bone cancer. They had discussed putting their dog to sleep so he wouldn�t suffer so much pain. They reluctantly even scheduled the euthanasia. The day before the dreaded appointment, they got a second opinion from an expert at the Ohio State University who ruled out cancer and said the dog was recovering from any injury!
Listen to this one. A woman�s dog required four surgeries to repair the damage caused when her vet mistakenly operated on the wrong leg and then to make matters worse botched that operation as well when a bone plate fractured during surgery!
Then there�s the woman�s cat that had diabetes. The poor cat spent the last two years of his life grappling with severe brain damage which cost the owner $16,000 to care for him. It turned out that her vet allowed his adult son, who was not licensed as a veterinary technician to administer insulin to the animal without supervision the records shows. The penalty that this vet received was a $250 fine and 30 day suspension of his license. Records show that he was placed on six months probation.
Animal lovers were outraged at the �slap on the wrist� type of discipline this veterinarian received. They feel that a $250 fine and a stayed suspension were completely inadequate as a deterrent. What would happen to a human medical doctor if that happened some wondered?
Even more stunning are those owners of injured animals discovering that state veterinary boards dismiss up to 80 percent of the complaints filed against their members with a legal system that regards pets as mere property. There is no way to recover damages for emotional loss.
Laws vary, but in most state courts animals are worth their market value and maybe any economic value they generate for their owners. That could be a considerable amount of money for show dogs for instance but not for most household pets.
Let�s say you have an older mixed breed dog, the value of that dog is generally considered to be under $100. It�s sad and unfair for people who care about their animals only to find out if their animal is killed or injured, they cannot sue.
These are just a few of the horror stories that some people and their beloved pets had to endure. Most vets are caring individuals and want the best for our animals. Some shouldn�t even be practicing. I used to know someone that worked for a veterinarian clinic and she once told me, �Barbara if you knew what went on here after people leave their animals, you�d be shocked!�
When we have to leave our animals over night for a procedure or operation, most of us are nervous wrecks about it. We�re concerned about our animals pulling through the operation, his recovery, etc. What we don�t need to be worrying about is if our animals are being treated properly. I remember many years ago taking someone�s cat into a vet that was sick while her owner was away. Now mind you this was the owner�s vet that she had been going to for years. I�ll never forget how that cat was taken out of his carrier and literally slammed on the table. Can I say that I was shocked? You bet I was. The owner gave him a piece of her mind on her return from her vacation and that�s the last time the vet ever saw her animal again.
If you have a great vet, then he is a God send. There�s nothing more rewarding than having a vet that cares and knows what the heck he�s doing. If he�s that good, people will travel the extra miles to go to him.
From the book: TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A VETERINARIAN: AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE STORY....
Dr. Witiak�s stories of the bond between the veterinarian, client, and pet take the reader into the exam room and on house calls to experience the laughable calamities, miscues, and surprises as well as the personal sorrows, revelations, and joys that treating animals can bring. This is a book of vignettes and personal commentary by a devoted veterinarian who is dedicated both to the science of his profession and to his personal belief in the importance of being loved and loving.
Dr. Witiak makes readers laugh when he checks a small dog�s breath and gets bitten on the nose and then makes them cry when he hugs an old man who has just lost his faithful canine friend. The stories give the reader a deeper understanding of how the unconditional love of our animals enables us to love each other better.
This is a joyous ride where readers bounce from one event to the other just like the veterinarian bounds from exam room to exam room � each with its own surprises. Readers discover just how organic caring is as Dr. Witiak works his magic, enjoying his tongue-in-cheek observations and self-deprecating humor along the way.
My rating: veterinarians: (1-4), veterinarians that work well with breeders: (4)
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