•   I received this from my friend Lyn Fairly at KVTA.

Dear Scamp,

Last Wednesday night the 6th of Jan. a young girl (around 21 years) , was killed by a hit and run driver. It was rainy and the difficult to spy the license plate (Scamp this is similar to a dog collar) , any tips from all humans will be appreciated. The story can be found on the KVTA Facebook page and in the police records.  Now why this matters to you Scamp is that a white, female Maltese/Poodle mix named “Coco” was with the young girl and took off running, not hit in the tragic accident.  We need you to put on your detective hat and request in your column that anyone who might have found “Coco” please contact me.

What is so sad Scamp is this young girl was homeless and living with “Coco” in her boyfriend’s car, he too is homeless. You know about this because you help find homes for dogs and cats.  The boy is crushed and would like to find “Coco” and care for her.

Respectfully, Lyn Fairly

•   Some nice doggie classes are being offered by the City:
Basic Obedience- sit, down, name recognition, basic commands (I know these)
Beyond Basic Obedience-shake, advanced commands, games, opening beer cans
Total Recall- even more advanced stuff, opening wine with a corkscrew
Treibball Urban Herding for Dogs-mental and physical workout
Canine Body Language Seminar-learn to identify  anxiety, etc.  in your dog(maybe we wag our tails because we need to pee)

To register and get more information go to www.cityofventura.net/prcp.

•   New York’s four-legged finest are now officially representing the state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation that names the “working dog” as the official New York state dog.

All breeds trained to provide a service are celebrated in this law, from the German Shepherd Dog that stands guard at Grand Central to the Belgian Malinois that patrols with police to the sweet Golden Retriever that leads his visually impaired owner around the city to the many more working dogs around the state.

AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung says of the legislation: “Working dogs provide unparalleled service to individuals and to our communities in a vast array of roles from search-and-rescue, to disease detection, to military and police work, to therapy and service for the disabled. We are extremely pleased by this recognition of the value that all working dogs bring to our lives.”

The inspiration for the bill is Bari, the dog of Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-Staten Island), who is trained as a therapy dog. Together they are working with non-verbal preschool autistic children and young adults facing adversity, like homelessness and drugs.

Inspired by the work Bari has done, Titone sponsored the bill signed by Gov. Cuomo on Dec. 23.

“Once I actually saw him working and the result of his work, that’s when I knew in my heart of hearts that [sponsoring this bill] was the right thing to do,” Titone said.

I am a working dog (writing my column) so maybe I should be Ventura’s official dog?

•   Paw’s Corner By Sam Mazzotta

My veterinarian recommended that I buy pet insurance for my puppy, “Max.” Should I purchase the insurance that the vet recommends, or can I choose my own policy? — New Owner in Nashville

Humans aren’t the only ones who could benefit from a New Year’s resolution or two. Resolutions can even help our dogs live healthier lives. Whether your four-legged friend needs a refresher course in training or needs to lose some weight, resolving to do more with your dog will help everyone involved. Here are four ideas to start the new year off right:

Mind your manners. Whether you have a puppy that has yet to start training classes or an older dog that has forgotten his manners, training classes teach important commands and socialization needed to help both dog and owner to be a responsible member of society, not to mention that training is a great way for dogs to bond with their owners.

Explore competitive events. Resolve to train your dog to compete in fun events in the New Year. Agility, obedience, and rally competitions are a fun and rewarding experience for all dogs. You’ll meet new people with a similar love for dogs and watch your pup grow into a well-behaved, even-tempered, and physically fit companion.

Lose those pesky holiday pounds. Exercise is extremely important for both you and your dog’s health. Daily exercise is good for your dog’s heart, lungs, circulatory system, and muscles, in addition to helping him maintain a healthy weight. Obesity causes many health problems in dogs and being overweight can shorten your dog’s life.

Help others. Dogs love helping others and they’re invaluable in providing service to humans – visiting the sick, helping the disabled, locating missing persons, and much more. There are many ways dog owners can put their special skills to use in their community.

“Who said dogs are smarter than cats? Savana

•  Q. My rabbit friend is putting on weight. Is this something she needs to worry about?

•  A. A rabbit that is overweight can have multiple problems. Being overweight increases the risk of having digestive problems, respiratory problems, and can increase the risk of arthritis as they get older.  It is important for your friend to get daily, regular exercise and to eat a healthy diet.  A rabbit’s diet should consist of free choice, good quality timothy or orchard hay, a small amount of good quality rabbit pellets (the amount of pellets depends on the breed of the rabbit) and a balanced selection of healthy greens daily.  Nuts and a lot of fruit should be avoided.
Elaine Fowell, D.V.M.
East Ventura Animal Hospital

•  By Victoria Usher

We are all constantly in awe of how much technology has continued to help us more and more in every aspect of our lives. Now here is something else that technology is helping do. Pet owners can now look for their lost dogs with the Finding Rover app. In order for the app to work properly dog owners must upload a picture of their lost animal to Finding Rover. Once they’ve done that then their dog’s picture will be compared with all other pictures of found dogs, and the facial recognition software will try to make a match. Finding Rover uses the same software that the FBI and other law enforcement agencies uses when they’re looking for missing people or criminals. The Finding Rover app has managed to reunite hundreds of owners with their lost dogs. “We’re encouraging everyone to register their dog on Finding Rover now,” Randy Friedman, marketing manager of Animal Service’s said.

It’s true that an app such as this is something that every pet owner should have on his or her mobile device. Company officials have said that that they will soon add cats to the app as well (cats usually manage to find their way home though).

•  Traveling with a pet can make things a lot more difficult. But having options is a huge help. Some people prefer to travel by ground instead of by air, but until recently, taking an Amtrak train was off limits to people with pets. Now, Amtrak is changing that policy thanks to a bill that requires Amtrak to accept dogs and cats as passengers on their trains.

The bill sets up a pilot program that requires Amtrak to allow pets in at least one train car as carry-on baggage. That means that your dog or cat has to be able to fit in a kennel or tote that you can carry with you, and it must meet Amtrak’s carry-on requirements. Any dog that is too large will not be allowed to ride. Does this mean that I will need to go on a diet to ride?

There are still plenty of regulations and requirements that you can find on Amtrak’s website, and the program is only available on certain lines. But it’s a step in the right direction that is especially helpful for certain dog breeds like French Bulldogs or Pugs who have short muzzles and find it more difficult to breathe on planes (I bet you didn’t know that?).

•  More than 13,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of these kids have to endure painful treatments that trigger stress, anxiety and depression. Researchers are studying a drug-free and inexpensive way to help the kids feel better. And it only costs dog treats.

Bryce Greenwell is no stranger to tests or hospitals. He has leukemia and will undergo treatments for the next three years or more.

A little pup named Swoosh is making Bryce’s hospital visits much more bearable. “It gives us something to talk about. He gets excited to come see Swoosh,” said Jenny his mother.

Bryce and Swoosh are participating in a study to determine if dogs can help pediatric cancer patients.

Mary Jo Gilmer, PhD, Director of Palliative Care Research at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing understands the impact the disease has on lives and is excited to see how the dogs can help.

“We know that the disease takes a terrible emotional toll on families. “It’s very obvious to me, just anecdotally, that those dogs are making a difference; that interaction is making a difference.”

Studies in adult patients have shown interaction with man’s (and woman’s)best friend can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and improve lung function. This is the first pilot study to test animal therapy in kids with cancer.

The dogs spend about 15 minutes with patients before treatments. The kids have their pulse and blood pressure checked before and after, along with a questionnaire.

The dogs even have their saliva checked to determine if they experience stress, but Swoosh’s owner Michelle Thompson says she doesn’t think that’s the case.”He loves to work. He loves to get his vest on, and he’s excited to go.”

It’s therapy that any kid (and adult)would love!

Researchers at five sites across the country will enroll a total of 120 families for this study.

They are still collecting data and cannot report on results, but they have noticed children who interact with the dogs require less anti-anxiety medications than they did before the pet therapy.

For more information on this report, please contact:

Ashleigh Ruehrdanz, MPH
Research and Evaluation Specialist & IRB Administrator
Humane Research and Policy
American Humane Association
Phone: (303) 630-9480
[email protected]

•  I want to wish all of my wonderful readers, and sponsors a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. It has been another wonderful year of writing for you. And a special thanks to Victoria Usher for helping write some of my articles.

•  In my last article I had a story about a cat that got stuck in a car’s engine. Alfred Lewis (who makes the paper look so nice) sent me this. It is a wonderful story.

“We got a cat that way. I was heading out on my daily rounds, but when I started the car I heard a loud bang, like something hitting the hood, then loud feline screaming. I stopped the engine, popped the hood and a little furry head came up. It’s tail was caught in the serpentine belt.”

“I went straight to panic and got Cathy, who also went straight to panic. I have very limited tools and absolutely no mechanical ability, and in desperation called the fire department.”

“We don’t do that sort of thing,” I was told (I guess only if a cat gets stuck in a tree). We were pondering who to call next when the fire department called back.”

“We seriously don’t do that sort of thing, but two firefighters volunteered to come over and help you.”

“A few minutes later the firefighters and a man from animal control cut the serpentine belt ($125 plus $50 for the tow to the dealer) and the cat was free. The cat went to animal control, where his broken tail was removed. Cathy haunted their office until she got the cat and brought him home. “

“We named him Auto, which many people thought was totally sick, but he was a great cat and he lived with us for the rest of his life.”

•  I have a rabbit for adoption in this issue so asked my friend J. Elaine Fowell, D.V.M. at East Ventura Animal Hospital a question about rabbits.

Q.  A rabbit friend (being famous I have lots of friends)has to get her teeth trimmed every month. Is this something all rabbits need to have done?

A.  No, a normal rabbit should never need their teeth trimmed. Unfortunately malocclusion of the teeth where they do not line up properly can occur in rabbits.  As their teeth grow continuously, when they do not line up properly, the teeth can become very long and cause damage to the rabbit’s mouth and nose.  Sometimes the lower front teeth will stick straight out in front of the rabbits face!  Malocclusion of the incisors (front teeth) will mean that the rabbit has to have the teeth trimmed every 3-6 weeks, depending on the teeth.  Another option is to have the incisors surgically extracted so that the rabbit no longer has front teeth.  Don’t worry; she can still eat normally once she has healed from the surgery, as she will still have her cheek teeth.

Q.  Does a single house lady bunny have to worry about getting spayed?

A.  It is very important for rabbits to be spayed as cancer of the uterus is common in female rabbits. Ideally rabbits are spayed any time after 3-4 months of age.  This surgery will also get rid of the behavioral swings that can occur when they are cycling.  Neutering male rabbits is also advised to decrease the incidence of marking in the house.  Of course these surgeries will prevent unexpected baby rabbits if a rabbit companion is brought into the house.

Buddy was to be one of my “up for adoption friends” but I’m happy to say that he has been adopted, a very lucky dog indeed.

Scamp

My name is Buddy.  I am a golden tan American Staffie/lab mix, weighing about seventy pounds and about ten years old.  People say I act more like a well-behaved four-year-old and am the life of the party wherever I go.

I have become a self-made therapy dog since I ended up at Ventura County Animal Shelter in July after my soul mate person of many years, a Vietnam War Veteran, became ill and was taken to the VA Hospital in Los Angeles.

To provide an outing for me and give me opportunity to spread a little cheer, on December 16, my handler Jerry Dulek and I dropped by to visit my friends at the Coastal View Healthcare Center.  As always, smiles broadened and faces lit up when I entered the meeting room where about twenty residents waited to see me.

I enjoy being physically close to residents who know moments of happiness when they talk to me and stroke me.  Having my ears rubbed as I sit by the side of a wheelchair; looking up into a compassionate, loving face as I sit at a resident’s feet; standing on my hind legs, my front paws resting on a colorful homemade throw or touching the arms of a resident or propped on the bedside of a resident—this mutual bonding and shared affection temporarily transcend, for the resident and for me, the circumstances of our lives.

When my visit is over, routine resident life continues.  And it’s back to shelter life for me.  Living a life behind bars, my heart aches even though staff love me, friends visit me, I have good food, a good bed, and as much attention as possible.

But after my last visit to Coastal View, suddenly wow, wham, bang!  Less than two full days later, my life changes forever.  Late in the day on December 18, I left the shelter for the last time and am now living in my forever home with the most wonderful family on the face of the earth.

Connect to VCAS Face Book to watch a video of my leaving the shelter for my forever home.  I got a great send off.  I get along wonderfully well with my new doggie brother and sister, both about my age.   I have already made soul mate connection with a beautiful girl, just the right size and age, to adore me and spoil me rotten. I have already kissed her in the mouth.   All she did was show delight.  I almost wagged my tail off before I was taken to my family’s car.  I left the shelter riding in the front seat. Shelter staff said, “This is a great day.”  “Look at that tail.” “What a great match.”  “He looks so happy.”  “I love that family.” When I got someone wet with a kiss, a staffer called out, “That’s what you get for adopting a lovable dog.”

I will always love my soul mate at LA Veterans Hospital.  I will always love my friends at Coastal View.  I thank all who have made my new life possible. I thank all compassionate people who have helped two broken hearts heal.

A few of the winning dogs at Howl-o-ween.
Photos by Bernie Goldstein

•  Hundreds of Howl-o-ween watchers lined the walkways around the stage at Ventura Harbor Village for the annual village event where dogs were judged for their best costumes. Ventura Breeze contributing photographer Bernie Goldstein was one of the judges (his photo was taken by Breeze contributing photographer John Ferritto). Sixty seven dogs in costumes were registered, considerably more than the 30 entries when the event was first introduced three years ago.

Bernie stated “I was privileged to sit on the canopy covered shaded stage as one of three judges. We were each given a clipboard and asked to each select three candidates of each of the five categories.

Dog owners brought their pets dressed in a wide variety of costumes and outfits; some came as brides and grooms, witches, bees, walruses, chicken, pirates, lions and more. Best in Show category winner was a Boston terrier costumed as a walrus being towed in a wagon with stuffed walrus’s.”

•  Over that last several months, there has been an increase in citizen reports of finding the deceased remains of cats, particularly in the neighborhoods east of Victoria Ave, south of Highway 126 to Saticoy Ave.

At this point all of the incidents that have been reported to the Ventura Police Department and Ventura County Animal Services have been investigated by veterinarians and determined by forensic analysis to be the result of “predatory kill.”  With the continuing drought, citizens have reported seeing an increase in coyotes wandering these neighborhoods to seek out food and water.

To help prevent cats from further harm, it is recommended family pets be kept indoors or in a secure enclosed structure and remove any outside food or water sources.

If any deceased cats are found and it appears suspicious, please do not touch the animal, preserve the scene, photograph if necessary, and immediately notify Ventura County Animal Services at 388-4341.

Q   Sometimes I worry that I’m getting fat.  How do I make sure I’m a perfect weight?

A   Ideally, your human should be able to feel your ribs under a thin layer of fat covering them.  You should also have a waistline behind your ribs.  If you’re feeling a bit pudgy, have your human reduce the food they are giving you by 5 to 10 percent and gradually increase the amount of exercise you are getting. Being overweight can cause both dogs and cats serious health issues including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis so it should not be ignored. – Dr. Jennifer Kelly, DVM is a local veterinarian at Ohana Pet Hospital in Ventura (www.ohanapethospital.com).

Q   I have a cat friend who is about to have kittens.  Is it o.k. for her humans to hold the babies when they are born?

A   Ideally, humans will keep their paws off the kittens for the first week of their lives if there is a mother there to do the job. One reason is that the moms don’t like it and another is that baby kittens are very fragile and must be handled properly or they could be injured. After the second week…let the cuddling begin since holding them is important to help them learn to socialize.   – Dr. Jennifer Kelly, DVM is a local veterinarian at Ohana Pet Hospital in Ventura (www.ohanapethospital.com).

This is me at On the Lamb Ranch in Camarillo honing my herding skills. I couldn’t tell if the sheep were scared to death or laughing their heads off (did you see the movie Babe?)

Dandy’s weight was 570 pounds when it was seized, extremely underweight for a horse of his size.

•  A Simi Valley woman was sentenced in Ventura County Superior Court for the neglect and abuse of her horse. Two months prior she had been convicted of animal cruelty in connection with her lack of care for the horse.

Superior Court Judge Ryan Wright sentenced Ursula Wardzinski to 20 days in Ventura County Jail with no credits for her arrest on Oct. 6 and for a failure to appear for her prior sentencing date on Sept. 16. She also will have 36 months of probation and not be allowed to own animals for up to five years. In addition, Wardzinski will be required to pay restitution to the Humane Society of Ventura County. Wright also ordered the horse, named Dandy, relinquished to the care of the HSVC.

Twenty days? Hardly enough. Should have been 20 years.

•  The Board of the Conejo Rec & Park district is expected to approve turning three temporary off-leash dog areas in their parks to permanent status at their next meeting to be held on Nov. 5. The three parks are Walnut Grove, Estella and Kimber. The parks have been used for this purpose on a temporary use for six-months while noise and neighbors’ concerns where addressed.

Now maybe Ventura can consider adding a few more off-leash parks here. We have one that has fenced off-leash areas (one for big dogs and one for smaller dogs) and one park that designates an area at certain hours to be off-leash. I certainly think that we need more of these. Marina Park has several large grass areas one of which could be used for this purpose. Especially since there have been some problems there with people allowing there dogs to be off-leash and not cleaning up after them.

•  I like to ask questions from my veterinarian friends. I asked Dr. Jennifer Kelly, DVM at Ohana Pet Hospital (www.ohanapethospital.com) the following.

Q. My human is thinking of getting another dog to keep me company. How can I be sure we’ll get along (And they won’t eat all of my food)?

A. It always interesting how dogs will get along because all dogs have different personalities. You will probably be happier if they get you a pal of the opposite sex. It would be great if your human could bring you to visit your possible new friend at the shelter to see how you like each other before taking it home. Your humans should give you plenty of extra love and attention to make you feel secure when they bring home the new dog.

Q. My dog neighbor always has to walk in a circle before she lays down.  Is that weird?

A. This habit was actually passed down the family tree from her undomesticated ancestors.  They didn’t have a comfy doggy bed like you and your friend so they walked in small circles to create a bed in the tall grass.  It was also helpful to rid the area of any bugs or snakes hiding out (I always check around my bed first for snakes).

Q. I’m not crazy about getting shots. Do I need the Rabies vaccination every year?

A. I’m sure you got your first Rabies vaccine when you were 16 weeks old since that is required for all dogs by California State Law. That shot is good for only one year. However after that, you only need the Rabies vaccination every three years. Also, for all your cat friends there’s a feline-exclusive Rabies vaccine they should have every year ( I’ll be sure to pass this on the Savana).

•  From my friends at Paw’s Corner. Hopefully it will start cooling off, I’m tired of the heat and humidity.

Dear Paw’s Corner: Temperatures are really warming up now, and with it, I know, will come the annual onslaught of fleas on my dog, cat and all over my house. Is there any way I can get rid of fleas for good?

Flea infestations are incredibly annoying and tough to beat –even when you think fleas have been eradicated, they often come back. Winter temperatures often send these pests into dormancy or at least reduce their activity, but they return with a vengeance in spring and summer.

A pre-emptive attack could make a big difference in this summer’s flea wars. While you may not notice adult fleas on your pets just yet, flea eggs or larvae may be present on their fur or throughout the house.

Start by talking to the veterinarian about the best treatment for your pets. Many owners swear by one-month topical treatments that are applied to the back of a dog or cat’s neck, but others are leery due to potentially serious side effects. Consider alternatives if you’re not sure.

Next, treat your home for fleas — using a carpet and upholstery treatment designed for both adult fleas and their eggs. You’ll want to tackle not just the carpet and dusty corners of the house, but the furniture and any linens, such as curtains, that aren’t frequently cleaned. Keep pets out of rooms until the treatment you’re using has been vacuumed up or washed away.

Through the summer, brush your pets’ coats daily, checking for fleas. Vacuum and dust at least once per week.

This is one of my dog buddies as painted by my friend Jaime Baker. If you would like a dog portrait let me know and I will tell him. He would probably give me a dog treat commission.

•  I recently told you about Archie the Therapy Dog going to doggy heaven. Casa Pacifica is holding a Celebration of Life for him on Thursday, October 15th, at 5:30 p.m. Casa Pacifica will be celebrating the life of its beloved, original, one-of-a-kind, unforgettable therapy dog, Archie, who passed away at the age of 10 in July. The celebration will take place at Casa Pacifica and will provide Casa Pacifica’s children, its alumni, staff, volunteers, and friends the opportunity to remember a sweet, gentle giant, whose peaceful, calming presence brought comfort, love and healing to more than 4,000 children who resided at or attended the nonpublic school on Casa Pacifica’s campus over the last decade.

The event will include a video featuring Archie’s several ‘famous’ appearances on television, the planting of a tree in remembrance of him, and the unveiling of a special plaque honoring Archie’s life and contributions to Casa Pacifica.

For more information about the Celebration of Life event, please contact Morgan Tandy at 366-4022 or [email protected]. Casa Pacifica is located at 1722 S. Lewis Road in Camarillo.

Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families is a crisis-care and residential treatment facility for abused, neglected, or at-risk children in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Hopefully Archie will be replaced by another wonderful loving companion to these kids.

•  Every weekend in October from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Ventura County Animal Services will be

issuing free microchips for all pit bulls or bull mixes. Bring their pets to either the Camarillo location, 600

Aviation Drive, or the Simi Valley location, 670 W. Los Angeles Avenue. National Pit Bull Awareness Day (NPBAD), which is October 24th this year, is a day of appreciation and education

designed to change perceptions and stereotypes about pit bulls and their responsible owners. NPBAD was established to educate and foster positive communications and experiences in the communities in which we and our dogs live,  and it is an initiative dedicated to restoring the image of the American Pit Bull Terrier. Ventura County Animal Services is proud to promote education for the pit bull breed and loves all of its animals.

For more information go to www.vcas.us, or contact 388-4341.

•  Davey’s Voice is a brand-new, Santa Barbara County nonprofit founded to honor Davey, a five-month-old puppy who was euthanized in 2014 after being tortured by his owner. Formed by Santa Barbara local Gretchen Lieff, Davey’s Voice hopes to create awareness around animal abuse and empower the public to advocate for voiceless, abused, neglected and abandoned animals.

“Davey’s Voice will support local projects and programs that promote animal welfare, reduce suffering and save lives,” says Lieff, who learned about Davey’s death and vowed to get involved. “We want to ensure something positive comes out of Davey’s horrific fate and pledge to make Santa Barbara the most animal responsible county in California. After that, we will continue our mission throughout the United States and beyond.”

Davey’s case has drawn nationwide attention due to the severity of the abuse inflicted by his owner, Chinese student Duanying Chen, 19, who is serving a 12-month sentence in county jail. At the time Davey was relinquished to a local pet emergency clinic by Chen’s girlfriend, he had multiple broken bones, significant infections and burns over 80 percent of his body, the District Attorney’s Office said in a January 2014 statement. His life could not be saved.

I think that a 12-month sentence is not nearly enough. How many years would he have gotten if this was a human that he tortured.? And a human might be able to fight back and this poor dog couldn’t.

Lief stated “We’re still working on the campaign details and will announce our plan in the next couple of weeks.”

For more information please call 565.0001 or email [email protected], or visit daveysvoice.org.

•  On Saturday, October 24, from 6-11pm singer/songwriter Kelly Z and her band, Kelly’s Lot is hosting the 3rd Annual Kelly’s Lot and Friends Fundraiser for CarlDogs.org at The Patio at Player’s Casino located at 6580 Auto Center Drive. 15% of restaurant totals goes to C.A.R.L. Reservations can be made at OpenTable.com, put in ‘Patio at Player’s Casino.’

Kelly’s Lot will be headlining alongside Tommy Marsh, Ray Jaurique, Jim Gustin, Truth Jones, Chuck Strong, and more.  There will also be a silent auction and raffle throughout the evening.  $10.00 donation.  For more information, please visit www.kellyslot.com.

Kelly’s Lot plays Americana and Blues with a roadhouse rockin’ sound that is upbeat, heartfelt and fun. Canine Adoption and Rescue League is a 501(c) (3) Private Non-Profit No-Kill Organization that relies on donations and does not receive government, state, or city funding.

•  by Victoria Usher

Recently there was an hours-long standoff in Hemet between police and a man where the man was fatally shot after he himself killed a police dog named Sultan. Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Albert Martinez said hours earlier, a San Jacinto police officer and his dog, Sultan, were searching for this man who was described as a felon. The pup Sultan apparently alerted his officer to a crawl space that was at the house and was then sent inside to figure out if the man was indeed hiding there. A shot was heard from inside the house and poor Sultan returned with what would turn out to be a fatal neck injury. The man eventually came out of the house holding a handgun and deputies then fired at the man and killed him. This is absolutely heartbreaking but we must all remember Sultan as a hero, a strong and brave dog. He looked out for all of us(as all K-9’s do) and he will be remembered.

• Herman Bennett Foundation’s Haunted Mansion Dinner, Ghost Tour & Magic Fundraiser! October 30th at  the historic Bard Mansion on the Port Hueneme Naval Base benefitting the Foundation’s spay & neuter programs across Ventura County.
Help control the local animal population and prevent the needless deaths of cats and dogs.
All tickets sales are a tax-deductible donation.
Tickets available by phone at 445-7171.
Visit hermanbennettfoundation.org for more information.

• I received the following from Mindy Benezra:

“My dear friend Scamp:
Regarding the photo of the Shih Tzu puppies in the last issue of the Breeze.

The truth is, a litter of 8-9 Shih Tzu puppies are cute, but not really, and they are quite unnecessary as is every litter of puppies until we fix the problem of overpopulation of pets.

There are plenty of Shih Tzu’s and Shih Tzu mixes who are homeless and already born. Why do we want to make more of something we already have too many of?

Statistics state that 25% of purebred dogs end up in shelters, so 2-3 of these pups are doomed to homelessness.

Tens of thousands of healthy adoptable pets are euthanized  each year in California alone .
In this country 8-10 million pets enter shelters annually and less than half ever make it out.
If kids read  the Breeze or even look at the pictures, it is the wrong message to send.
No, puppies aren’t cute… There are too many homeless dogs and cats already!

People should spay and neuter their pets, support their local shelters and rescues, they should not buy from breeders, they encourage  adoption. Once the shelters are clear of homeless dogs, we can make more Shih Tzu puppies and then they will be cute.

The only solution is  to teach our kids, they are the key to fixing this problem: the next generation, the ones who have learned about the tragedy of our homeless pets, and who are responsible and compassionate enough to be part of the solution( Spay and neuter) not the problem (more puppies)…

Thank you for everything that you have done to help CABODOGZ and other homeless pets find their way home.

Mindy Benezra
CABODOGZ
Ventura Hwy Luxury Boarding for Dogs”

Mindy: I appreciate what you are saying, and all you do to save dog’s lives which is why I always have dogs to adopt but they still are cute. Scamp

• “The Blessing of the Animals” Saturday October 3, 11am
All pets are welcome for the blessing. Charles Carroll Funeral Home
15 Teloma Dr., Ventura. See the ad in this issue.

• The Humane Society has ranked California number one for six straight years on its list of fifty states for laws and policies that relate to wildlife, farm livestock, pets, and animal fighting. Regulations, legislation, and ballot measures have been passed by the state of California in order to improve the lives of our animals for many years. Some of these include bans on dog fighting and cock fighting, hunting of bears with dogs, poisonous lead bullets for hunting, and shortening dairy cow tails (I hope my tail is included in this).

There are horrible people who don’t like these laws because they will lose business. Maybe dogs should have events where people try to kill each other and we could use the money to build no-kill shelters.

But I think it is something to take great pride in that  our state is known as the most animal friendly. Be sure to pet a dog today.

Archie the therapy dog has gone to doggie heaven where everyone is wagging their tails.

• It is with a deep and heavy sadness that Casa Pacifica has announced the passing of its beautiful Newfoundland and original therapy dog, Archibald Razz-M-Tazz – more famously known as “Archie the Therapy Dog.” Archie, who turned 10 years old in May, was the agency’s “gentle giant,” a great healer who brought his peaceful, calming presence, comfort, and love over the last decade to nearly 4,000 children on Casa Pacifica’s campus – children placed in the emergency shelter, residential treatment center, or attending the nonpublic school. He possessed an insightful intuition that seemed to tell him when a child needed his extra attention and gentle presence. He demonstrated an endless patience with children pulling his tail, poking in his nose and ears, tugging his fur, and lounging up against, or atop, his enormous body. He would sit for long periods of time with a child, letting them read to him or cry into his fur. He loved to run and chase behind the youth in Casa Pacifica’s quad, sometimes stealing their football or soccer balls and popping them in his teeth, or swimming and playing with the children in the pool. The children loved it, and loved him. Archie was certified as a therapy dog and in water rescue.

Archie was the biggest dog that I ever saw.

• I want to thank East Ventura Animal Hospital for being a new sponsor in the Breeze. I will be asking them questions about animal care in future issues.

I asked my veterinarian friends at Ohana Pet Hospital these questions.

Q             Is it true that my mouth is cleaner than my human friends?

A             That is actually a myth.  The truth is that your mouth is overflowing with bacteria but most of those nasty germs are species specific so it won’t affect your human friends when you go in for the sloppy, wet smooch. Always be sure to keep your shots current to avoid problems.  –  Dr. Jennifer Kelly, DVM  Thanks I love smoochy kisses.

Q             My human is a chocoholic but he never wants to share with me.  Isn’t that mean?

A             No! You should actually say, “thank you” because chocolate can make you very sick or

even kill you.  Humans might love it but for you, chocolate can be poison. If one of your dog friends eats it, his vet should be called immediately. The vet will want to know how big your friend is and how much chocolate was eaten.  Depending on the answers to those questions, your friend might need to make a trip to the vet.  Dr. Jennifer Kelly, DVM Okay I will stick to strawberry Sundays

Found dog: Please call Ventura Highway Luxury Boarding for Dogs, if you have lost this sweet dog at 643-3647