•Adoptable dogs receive Thanksgiving dinner from volunteers

More than 70 dogs available for adoption through All for Love Animal Rescue (AFLAR) and Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) received homemade Thanksgiving meals, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables and canine-appropriate pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving.

“I wanted to give something back to these organizations and the dogs they have rescued and provided care and shelter to. I thought to myself, ‘Let’s make Thanksgiving dinner for our pups.’ Thankfully, several of my fellow volunteers went along with the idea and gathered at my house the evening before Thanksgiving,” said AFLAR volunteer, Lupe Flores.

“We are very grateful for these meals that our volunteers cooked and assembled for all the dogs,” stated AFLAR Founder and President Maripat Davis. “Volunteers are the heart of AFLAR, and we are always in need of new volunteers and fosters and donations to help us continue our life-saving work.”

Both AFLAR and C.A.R.L. are counting on other community members to support their organizations this holiday giving season.

“As a boarding facility that rescues hundreds of dogs each year, we’re always in need of assistance, whether it’s through giving monetary donations, fundraising, volunteering or donating food and supplies through Amazon Smile,” said Clark.

Shelters nationwide are overcrowded as many Americans cannot afford to own their pets. A recent report highlights that public and private shelters across the nation are expected to reach a three-year high in euthanasia rates in 2023. For example, around 51,000 dogs were euthanized during the first half of the year representing a nearly 40% increase from that same period in 2022.

In addition, pet-friendly affordable housing seems to be one of the most common issues when people surrender their dogs, particularly large dogs, followed by the cost of veterinary care.

“Our organizations relentlessly work to find long-term foster and forever homes for our dogs in addition to providing them with necessary medical care and training,” Clark said.

AFLAR boards its rescued dogs at the C.A.R.L. facility in Santa Paula and also has several adoptable dogs in foster homes. Davis says she constantly receives emails and phone calls from pet owners who can no longer care for their dogs but want to rehome them.

“There is a crisis in our nation with regard to shelter overcrowding. We work non-stop to save as many lives as we can,” said Davis. “That’s why we need ongoing support!”

Please consider giving your support to C.A.R.L. and AFLAR this holiday season. You can donate to C.A.R.L. and AFLAR or reach out to these organizations and sign up to volunteer. Both organizations rely on volunteers and donations and do not receive government, state or city funding.

All For Love Animal Rescue, Inc. (AFLAR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit all-volunteer animal rescue group, dedicated to saving abandoned animals from shelters in Southern California. We are an all-breed rescue but focus on dogs in the most need, primarily Pit Bulls, followed by seniors, Chihuahuas, pregnant dogs and those needing medical care or surgery. We rescue, rehabilitate, and find forever homes through adoption events, networking, and community outreach.

Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit all breed, no-kill dog rescue and adoption organization. Since 1996, C.A.R.L. has rescued and placed thousands of unwanted, sick, abandoned and homeless dogs. Dogs in our adoption program are placed in pre-screened, loving and secure homes. We make a lifetime commitment to all of our dogs.

•Trainer shares the secret to getting your dog to ignore other dogs and focus on you — and it’s so simple!

By Kathryn Williams

Want your dog to learn that you’re the most important thing in their environment? This trainer’s clever tip will do it…

We’ve all been there — you let your dog off leash thinking they’ll stick close to your side, and before you know it they’ve sprinted off into the distance to greet another pup!

If you try to call your fur friend back in these situations and aren’t successful, there could be many reasons why your dog’s recall isn’t reliable.

But rather than trying to fight to get your dog to come back to you, it’s best to arm yourself with the best puppy toys and treats and use these as your secret weapon to prevent them from running off in the first place.

“It’s not difficult to teach your dog not to run over to other dogs,” says Spivey.

“The mistake people make is they take the dog out and because it’s friendly they let it off the leash and then it just runs over to the other dog.”

Spivey says that in that moment the dog learns not only that you can’t stop it, but that the other dog or person it’s running over to may be more exciting than you.

Mila starts to position her body in the direction of her potential new friend, but Spivey gently waves a tug toy in front of her face and she quickly moves back towards him to play.

“By not allowing the dog to make those bad choices and having something positive for the dog to play with, very quickly the dog doesn’t care about other dogs,” explains Spivey.

This simple method of replacing what’s captured your dog’s attention with something that’s even more high-value will teach them that you are more interesting than anything else in their environment.

So next time your dog shows an interest in another dog or person, why not try bringing their focus back to you with a toy or treat?

You may just find it turns out to be one of the best ways to have more fun with your dog on walks!

• Santa Paws is returning to Ventura County Animal Services after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic! Join us at the Camarillo Animal Shelter, 600 Aviation Drive, on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, from 10:00am to 12:00pm for a festive professional photo session with the one and only Santa Claus!

Capture the magic of the season with your furry friends at the most anticipated holiday photo event of the year! Embrace the holiday spirit and come dressed in festive attire, casual wear, or even matching pajamas – it’s all about capturing those heartwarming moments!

To ensure a paw-sitively delightful experience for everyone, please ensure pets are on-leash or safely secured in carriers, are fully vaccinated, healthy, and exhibit good behavior around people and other animals.

Photo sessions are limited to the first 50 groups! We kindly ask all participants to arrive before 12:00 pm as we cannot guarantee portraits for latecomers.

We are asking for a $25 donation to the shelter, 100% of which goes directly to supporting the animals and programs that fuel our life-saving efforts.

•Pet Science

Growing up, I watched my mom always leave the lights on for our cat and dog whenever we left them home alone. She insisted she did this for their comfort, but my dad always said it was really for hers. There’s just something about leaving your beloved animals in a dark, empty house that feels wrong, but how do they actually fare?

Carly Fox, senior veterinarian at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York City, reveals whether our pets actually need the lights on when left to their own devices.

Should I keep the lights on for my pet?

Contrary to your impulse, your pet doesn’t need good lighting when alone.

“You can absolutely leave the lights off,” Fox writes to Inverse in an email. She does add that you should, however, leave the blinds or curtains open for your pet to get any natural light filtering through. While they don’t need a fully lighted room, there’s no reason to go out of your way to plunge them into total darkness.

Pets are also equipped for waning light. “Just like people, dogs are diurnal,” Fox writes. “That means they get the majority of their sleep at night and are most active during the day.” They take their cues from the changing light outside. Keeping a dog in constant brightness could actually impact them negatively, according to Fox.

Cats, on the other hand, are crepuscular, which means they’re most active at dawn and dusk while sleeping throughout the day. They also tend to be somewhat active at night, so darkness isn’t foreboding to them.

What’s most important, Fox writes, is “keeping things consistent, if possible,” so as long as you’re not throwing the odd night rave or making your home into a cave for days at a time, your pet will be fine. She adds that pets do need natural sunlight during the day, and artificial light is no substitute.

How well does my pet see in the dark?

We know that our pets outperform us when it comes to senses like smell and hearing. Even if eyesight isn’t their forte, cats and dogs “see much better in the dark than people do,” Fox writes.

Both dogs and cats have abundant rods, the photoreceptor that picks up dim light, in their retinas. While they may lose out in the cones department, leaving them numb to about a third of the visible color spectrum, their stacked rods and superior night vision make up for it. Both types of fur babies also have a tapetum, which is a reflective layer in the back of the eye off which light bounces, allowing the retina to receive more light than is available. The tapetum is also the reason your cat or dog may look possessed in certain photos you take of it because light reflects off it.

Cats also have dilating pupils that can go from slits to marbles in a matter of seconds, letting them modify how much light their sensitive eyes take in. Fox also writes that cats have a more sensitive tapetum than dogs, as well as more rods.

Fox also recognizes that leaving pets alone in the dark could encourage destructive behavior, particularly in those with separation anxiety. “Perhaps it’s not the dark that is the problem for them, but rather what the dark signals,” she writes. Even if you’re simply going to bed, your pet may perceive this as abandonment, which speaks to larger behavioral issues that may need to be addressed.

Even if you get an ominous feeling looking at the outline of your dog sitting in a darkening house as you shut the door before leaving, know that your dog is looking back at you with a much clearer image.

•The majority of first responders don’t have comprehensive training in how to handle animals, said Dr. Elisa Mazzaferro, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, even though they may likely encounter them at the scene of an accident.

Helping an injured pet can be daunting because the animal may be in pain and aggressive.

“It is important to remember that even the most friendly, well-trained animal can potentially bite when afraid or when injured,” Dr. Mazzaferro said. “Humans should approach the animal with caution and put a blanket or towel gently over the animal’s face and head to help prevent bite injury.”

Each year at the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium (IVECCS), there is an on-site first-aid class for first responders. Firefighters, K-9 officers, and others attend a day-long presentation with emergency veterinarians and criticalists as part of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society’s (VECCS) mission to promote emergency care for pets.

by Coco Lederhouse

Augusto DeOliveira “The Dog Daddy”, has gone viral on social media for his ability to control dogs. However, numerous behavioral science organizations, including the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB), are warning owners that aversive training methods can be dangerous.

His dog training practices have caught the attention of concerned animal welfare groups, trainers, veterinary behaviorists, and pet owners. On September 13, the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) issued a statement expressing serious concerns regarding DeOliveira’s training practices and warning of the damaging effects that his methods could have on dogs.

“The training methods we see in the videos are using physical force or correction,” said Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, president of the ACVB and medical director at Insight Animal Behavior Services in Chicago. While aversive techniques may appear to stop a “bad” behavior, she explained that the effectiveness of the intervention isn’t determined by what happens in the moment, but if the behavior is changed over time. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior issued a position statement in 2021 on humane dog training that advises against aversive training methods.

Several other organizations, including the Animal Behaviour and Training Council and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raised concerns about DeOliveira’s group training sessions in London earlier this summer.

Similarly, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Pet Professional Guild Australia issued a statement in response to DeOliveira’s training techniques.

Both George and Dr. Ballantyne warned of trainers who use outdated language like “dominance” or “alpha.” Dominance theory, based on the perceived dynamics of a wolfpack, has been debunked even in wolves,

”How do cats purr? New finding challenges long-held assumptions.

Fibrous “pads” in the vocal cords allow cats to make low-frequency sounds, which they don’t seem to consciously control.

One of the most delightful sounds to a cat lover is their feline friend’s rumbling noise when they get a little scritch behind the ears. Yet how cats produce their contented purrs has long been a mystery.

A new study may finally have the answer. Domestic cats possess “pads” embedded within their vocal cords, which add an extra layer of fatty tissue that allows them to vibrate at low frequencies, scientists report today in Current Biology. What’s more, the larynx of these animals doesn’t appear to need any input from the brain to produce such purring.

“Purring has historically had a complex, nonscientific explanation,” says Bonnie Beaver, a veterinary scientist at Texas A&M University who wasn’t involved in the study. Nonscientific, she says, because although scientists had devised various theories to resolve the mystery, few were ever tested. The new study, Beaver says, is a good step forward.

Domestic cats are small, with most weighing about 4.5 kilograms, and researchers had puzzled over how these animals manage to generate the low-frequency vocalizations—typically between 20 and 30 hertz (Hz)—involved in purring. Such frequencies are usually only observed in much larger animals, such as elephants, which have far longer vocal cords. And whereas big cats such as lions and tigers are capable of loud roars, domestic cats are only able to produce low-frequency purring.

Most mammal vocalizations, including other cat noises such as meowing and hissing, are produced in a similar way—a signal from the brain causes the vocal cords to press together, and the flow of air through the larynx causes the cords to knock against each other hundreds of times per second, producing sound. This process, known as flow-induced self-sustained oscillation, is a passive phenomenon: Once the vocal cords start to vibrate, no further neural input is required to keep them going.

But in the 1970s, scientists proposed that purring was different. The so-called active muscle contraction hypothesis holds that domestic cats actively contract and relax their laryngeal muscles about 30 times per second in order to purr. The idea, based on measurements of electrical activity in the laryngeal muscles in purring cats, caught on and has been a common explanation for cat purring ever since.

The new study challenges this.

The team was able to produce purring in all of the larynxes—a “great surprise,” says lead author Christian Herbst, a voice scientist who holds dual appointments at the University of Vienna and Shenandoah University. Without any active neural control, all eight larynges produced self-sustaining oscillations at frequencies between 25 and 30 Hz—suggesting purring doesn’t necessarily require active muscle contractions.

Looking at the anatomy more closely, Herbst and colleagues turned to unusual masses of fibrous tissue embedded in the cats’ vocal cords. Anatomists had noticed these masses before, but nobody knew what their function might be. It’s possible, Herbst says, that these “pads” increase the density of the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate more slowly and making it possible for cats to produce low-frequency sounds despite their relatively small size. Anatomically, he says, the process works similarly to “vocal fry”—a droning vibrato sometimes added to the ends of words—in human speech.

The new experiment instead suggests that purring, like meowing and hissing, is a passive phenomenon that plays out automatically after cats’ brains provide the initial signal to purr, the researchers conclude. That explanation “is much more in line with what we know about how vocalizations are produced in other vertebrates,” says Karen McComb, an expert in animal behavior and cognition at the University of Sussex who wasn’t involved in the study.

However, David Rice, a biomechanical engineer at Tulane University who has conducted research into the mechanics of cat purring, isn’t fully convinced. He says there’s no guarantee that living cats’ vocal cords behave the same way as the surgically removed cords from the study. Just looking at excised larynges, he says, is “akin to removing the mouthpiece from a wind instrument and analyzing its sounds in isolation.”

Every morning, weather permitting, a little before 8am, local senior citizen, Bobby, arrives with his folding chair and a pocket full of Milk Bone Soft and Chewies.  He knows each dog by name and they know they will each get one treat and a heartfelt pet for saying hello.  Each knowing dog will bound out of their “guardian’s”  (as Bobby calls them)  vehicle and race to their friend in the folding chair where they can greet each other eye-to-eye. Bobby truly enjoys starting each morning with dozens of “kisses”.  It is a joy to watch. 

• Protect pets from Halloween hazards

You may love Halloween tricks and treats, but your furry friend most likely needs extra oversight during the celebration.

Dr. Canaan Shores, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, sees dogs and cats through the hospital’s urgent and convenient care service at its Veterinary Medicine South Clinic, 2100 S. Goodwin, Urbana. He answers questions pet owners may have about how to prevent or respond to close encounters of the scary kind.

What are the most common Halloween hazards you see?

“Ingestion of several types of candy can definitely pose a hazard to pets,” says Dr. Shores. “The most common would be exposure to chocolate, which can cause neurologic signs, cardiac signs, or gastrointestinal signs, based on the type of chocolate and amount ingested.

“In general, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic. Cocoa powder and baking chocolate are the most toxic.

“Other candy-related concerns include xylitol, a sweetener found in some ‘sugar-free’ candy products, and excessive fat intake, especially from eating large amounts of chocolate.

“The final type of toxicity worth mentioning is raisin ingestion, which can cause severe kidney disease.”

What is a common Halloween hazard that is not candy?

“A big concern associated with Halloween is behavioral problems with pets,” he says. “With strangers—and bizarrely dressed strangers at that!—frequently coming to the door, there is an increased risk of bites and scratches. There is also the risk of pets escaping from a home and running away.”

How can owners best protect their animals from these hazards?

“You can minimize pets’ exposure to candy by keeping the candies in a sealed container out of reach of the pet. Because of the various toxicity risks, it’s best to avoid offering any type of candy to pets. Instead treat your pet to a product made for dogs or cats.

“To prevent some of the behavioral hazards, I advise limiting a pet’s exposure to strangers and frequently opened doors,” continues Dr. Shores. “Keep your pet in a different part of the house, behind closed doors.

How does the most common hazard wreak havoc on our dogs?

“At high doses, chocolate can cause disease of the nervous system, such as seizures. At lower doses, the cardiovascular system can be affected, leading to a very high heart rate and/or blood pressure,” explains Dr. Shores.

• National Pet Wellness Month is the perfect time to provide our pets with the attention they require, including scheduling their annual veterinarian visit. Most of us have adopted them as members of our family, and it’s only natural we treat them as we would our human relatives.

Just like humans need vaccines, dental care, bloodwork, and regular checkups with their doctors, our pets need veterinary wellness visits every six months to a year.

Your pet’s veterinarian is trained to detect the subtle clues that can indicate a problem or illness, like changes in breathing, heart rate and vision, and even minor swellings. These clues could be signs of something more serious or life-threatening, and it’s always better to take a preventative approach with your veterinarian who knows your pet’s health history.

The wellness visit is also important to make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccines, especially for rabies protection, and infectious bacterial diseases like leptospirosis and those that cause respiratory infections.

• According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 56% of dogs are considered overweight or obese. With extra weight comes several health problems and concerns that can shorten a dog’s life.

The Association states that overweight dogs are more likely to suffer from arthritis, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, and cancer.

How can you prevent your dog from gaining weight or being overweight? Surgical Veterinarian and Mobile Veterinary Surgical Services Owner, Jennifer Hoch, said first check on your pet by feeling their ribs.

She said you should feel an hourglass shape and while you don’t want the ribs poking out, you should be able to feel the ribs.

If you can’t feel the ribs, your dog might be overweight. She said it’s best to check with your vet.

Either way, Hoch said there are two things you need to be attentive to, your pets’ activity level and food consumption.

“If you have a pet that’s getting regular activity, then that’s not just going to make their body healthy, but it also stimulates their mind and it will also improve their behavior at home,” said Hoch. “They are going to be less destructive and they’re going to be engaged in other things, so it makes them a better well-rounded pet at home.”

Hoch said she does surgery on pets every day, many of which are ACL repairs, and a majority of the surgeries are from the overuse of muscles or overweight pets.

She said regular, low-impact exercises, like leash walking, swimming, playing fetch, or going to the park will do. The fresh air will do you and your pet some good.

She said active play like throwing a ball, stick, or frisbee for your pet to retrieve is a great way to get them moving.

Hoch said don’t wait all week to get them moving and then over-do-it on the weekends with a big hike or long walk.

Adding in walks and playtime during the week will help them be ready for big hikes and long walks on the weekends. She said if they are not used to being active, they can over-exert themselves, which can cause injuries.

If you do take them out for a bigger exercise event, Hoch said to be sure and keep an eye on them as they are working out. If they want to stop, lay down, or are slowing down or limping, it’s time to wrap up the exercise.

“Some people don’t have the availability maybe with their schedule, or have physical limitations, to take their pets out, so there are also other ideas like rehab facilities, underwater treadmills and there are actually people in town that have mobile dog gyms that they can come to you and exercise their pets in air condition for you,” she said. “There are lots of different things that should fit anyone’s lifestyle.”

• A 2-year-old girl who walked away from her home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula alongside two family dogs was found in the woods hours later sleeping on the smaller dog like a furry pillow, state police said.

“She laid down and used one of the dogs as a pillow, and the other dog laid right next to her and kept her safe,” Lt. Mark Giannunzio said Thursday. “It’s a really remarkable story.”

Troopers used drones and police dogs in the search while local police and citizens from both Michigan and adjacent Wisconsin helped look for the girl in the remote wooded area.

• A new animal welfare law that took effect in Spain outlaws the use of animals for recreational activities that cause them pain and suffering but allows bullfights and hunting with dogs.

Spain’s first specific animal rights legislation is intended to crack down on abuses. The law particularly targets the mistreatment of domestic animals, introducing fines of up to 200,000 euros ($212,000).

It bans the buying of pets in stores or online, but gives stores a grace period to find homes for their animals. In the future, it only will be legal to purchase pets from registered breeders. The new rules allow pets into most establishments, including restaurants and bars.

The law bans the use of wild animals at circuses and gives owners six months to comply. It allows zoos to keep using the marine mammals in their dolphin shows until the animals die.

Bullfights are regarded as part of Spain’s cultural heritage. A proposal to include hunting dogs in the law prompted an outcry in some rural communities, and the government backed down.

The law also aims to introduce mandatory pet insurance and registration as well as training for owners.

•Puppies are so adorable that you may feel tempted to adopt two instead of just one. Even though having two puppies may seem like a good idea, raising them together can cause long-term behavioral problems.

Harmony Diers, a veterinary technician at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that while these problems are not a guaranteed outcome of raising two puppies together, nor are they breed specific, littermate syndrome is more common than not when raising two puppies from the same litter, or even two close in age from separate litters.

“Littermate syndrome refers to a specific set of unfavorable behaviors that two puppies might exhibit if raised together immediately after weaning from their mother, like anxiety or fear,” Diers said. “This syndrome occurs when a pair of puppies raised together develop such a close bond with one another during important socialization stages that it hinders their ability to bond with their new owner.”

The socialization stage, or when a puppy is between 3-12 weeks old, is when a puppy’s senses mature, encouraging them to explore their environments and socialize with others. It is also the stage when puppies become aware of their relationship with humans.

“Puppies ultimately learn how to react to things they encounter in their world during the socialization stage,” Diers said. “If bonded closely with their owner, an individual puppy will look to their owner for an answer on how they should react, either to be praised for appropriate reactions or to be redirected away from inappropriate ones.”

For example, if you adopted a single puppy and that puppy chewed on a shoe, their decision to behave that way in the future — or not — would depend on your response to their interesting choice of “snack.” However, if you have two puppies, they might mutually agree that shoe chewing was a great choice without waiting for your response, reinforcing the undesirable behavior.

“A pair of closely bonded puppies tend to be ‘in their own world’ and will likely look to one another for how to respond to new stimuli rather than looking to their owner,” Diers explained. “This gives them the opportunity to feed off of one another’s fear and anxiety, which can develop into unhealthy behaviors.”

Lamm’s cat-eye visualizations look washed out and not as vibrant. Red, for example, looks “just kind of like a dark color,” Kornreich describes. Cats can better detect vibrancy on the blue-yellow end of the spectrum than the green-red end, which has everything to do with the types of cells in their retinas.

• Canine Adoption and Rescue League will be holding their 23rd Annual Pooch Parade and Pet Expo this year at Ventura Harbor Village on the large grass area. The Pooch Parade and Pet Expo will be on Sunday, September 24th, from 10 to 3. Dress yourself and your dog as your favorite Super Hero or sidekick. There will be booths there for all interest and a dog demonstration, Dee Jay playing your favorite tunes, dog adoptions, silent auction, contest and more. Participate in the walk itself or come and support our life-saving efforts and check out the vendors. At the heart of the Pooch Parade lies the parade itself. Witness the delightful sight of dozens of dogs and their owners strolling along the Ventura Harbor Village Promenade. Pet owners are to be a part of this memorable experience by registering to walk in the Pooch Parade with their four-legged companions. It’s a fantastic opportunity to proudly introduce your furry friend to the world while supporting dogs in need.

Visit the Ventura Breeze booth and have an opportunity to win free dog grooming by Dee-Dee’s Dog Spot.

Check out yhe website for more info on the event: www.poochparade.org.

• What’s four-legged, furry, and often serves up a quick little mood boost?

by Sally Anscombe

That’s right, a dog. It turns out even short, friendly interactions with canines can be good for our health.

I started pondering the power of dogs during one of my daily strolls around my neighborhood. Almost invariably, I’ll run into at least one person walking their dog. If I get the OK to pet the pooch, it’s a joyous moment of cooing and sloppy kisses.

I always walk away from these canine exchanges feeling just a bit more relaxed, and happy. And that got me wondering, could these short interactions with other people’s dogs actually be good for me?

“Absolutely. I think it is safe to say that animals are beneficial to our mental and physical health,” says Nancy Gee, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Gee says evidence is accumulating that levels of the stress hormone cortisol drop in people after just 5 to 20 minutes spent interacting with dogs — even if it’s not their pet. “Also, we see increases in oxytocin, that feel-good kind of bonding hormone,” she says.

And it’s not just humans that benefit from these brief exchanges. “What I love about this research is that it’s a two-way street,” Gee says. “We see the same thing in the dogs, so the dogs’ oxytocin also increases when they interact with a human.”

Now, the therapy dogs used in research are screened for things like friendliness, good behavior and responsiveness to their handler’s cues. And of course, not everyone’s a dog person, whether because of temperament or allergies or other factors. “Pets are not a panacea,” Gee says. “They’re not necessarily going to be great for every single person. But for people who really get it, who really connect with the animals, they really can make a big difference,” Gee says.

Dog ownership has also been linked to positive health outcomes, including better heart health and increased physical activity. But Gee acknowledges that some of the evidence is mixed. She attributes that in part to differences in methodology and the fact that studies of pet ownership can’t prove cause and effect, since you can’t just randomly assign one person a dog as a pet and another a horse.

Research on the health benefits of human interactions with animals – especially with dogs – has exploded in recent years, thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Waltham PetCare Science Institute. Though the field is still young, Gee says the quality of the evidence is improving all the time, including more randomized controlled trials looking at short interactions. “We’re seeing really nice effects,” she says.

For example, there’s some evidence that brief bouts of puppy love may help us think better. Gee collaborated on a randomized controlled trial of 8 and 9-year-old school children in the U.K. She and her colleagues found that kids who had twice-weekly, short exchanges with dogs in the classroom had less stress and improved executive functioning – the cognitive processes that allow us to do things like plan, stay on task and block out distractions. And she says those benefits lingered..

“Animals, and dogs in particular, live in the moment. They’re experiencing their environment with wonder and awe all the time, and they’re not bringing up what happened to them earlier in the day or what they’re thinking about in the future. They’re there right now,” says Mueller.

• Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) is thrilled to announce their participation in Clear The Shelters, the nationwide pet adoption event organized by NBC Universal. This one-day pet adoption event will be held on Saturday, August 26th, 2023, from 11:00am – 5:00pm at both the Camarillo and Simi Valley Animal Shelters. Shelter Director, Jackie Rose, says “The goal of Clear The Shelters is to find a loving home for every available animal in our care!”

To assist residents with the initial cost associated with adopting a shelter animal, VCAS will be waiving all pet adoption fees, though a small pet license fee may apply. Adoption gifts provided by Hill’s Science Diet, VCA Animal Hospital, and Assemblymember Steve Bennett.

Eventgoers are encouraged to preview shelter animals online at www.vcas.us/pets to see who they may be interested in adopting. Shelter officials estimate there will be over 300 animals to choose from at this event, including dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, rabbits, and other furry friends. “With the shelter running at 110% capacity, Clear The Shelters could not have come at a better time!” Said Marketing Manager, Randy Friedman.

VCAS wishes to remind everyone that promotions do not guarantee the adoption of a shelter pet and that all interested parties must participate in the full adoption process to ensure the best possible matches are made.

• National Dog Day is on August 26, so celebrate your furry friends in the best ways possible way. Dogs have been with us for at least 14,000 years. Take them for a nice walk, treat them their favorite food and toys. A great opportunity to adopt a dog.

Dogs are a man’s best friend for a reason, so why not celebrate them? These furry friends range in all different shapes, sizes, and breeds. There is a dog out there for everyone! Whether you like big dogs or small dogs, every pup should be celebrated on National Dog Day.

This holiday was created in 2004 by Colleen Paige, a Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert and animal advocate. She created this day so that all dogs can be celebrated and also to draw attention to the number of dogs in shelters and to encourage adoption to those who have yet to find a place to call home. August 26 is significant to Colleen because it is the day her family adopted her Sheltie when she was 10 years old.

Since the first celebration in 2004, National Dog Day has grown and is now celebrated across the world. In 2013 the holiday was written into New York legislation and can be seen on the New York State Senate’s website.

On August 12, Shih Tzu Amelia held a Paw-ty to celebrate her 13^th birthday. She invited all of her dog friends who were told they could bring their humans. Pizza, salad and drinks were served plus a dog cake and a human cake.

Amelia lives at Portside Ventura Harbor so when mom Chris takes her for a walk she gets to enjoy the harbor and the boats sailing by.

• On Aug. 12 (12-4pm) there will be dog adoption event at Rincon Brewery (4100 Telegraph). Dogs will be at the event brought by their foster parents. The adoption fee is $350 for adult dogs and $450 for puppies. It covers spay/neuter, microchip, deworming, defleaing, all core vaccines, a wellness check and training to help transition. They were rescued off the euthanasia list and are incredible dogs who are extremely well behaved looking for their forever home!

• The Role of Preventive Medicine

As our pets age, we may notice changes such as arthritis or the presence of growths on their bodies. By taking a preventive medicine approach, we may be able to mitigate these things or detect them earlier.

“When I think about what aging gracefully may mean, I think of a dog or cat that is not hindered by obvious pain and mobility problems, significant chronic conditions, or anxiety/stress,” says Dr. Gene Pavlovsky, “whether these are absent or just well-managed.”

Dr. Pavlovsky says, “We know that obesity contributes to conditions such as osteoarthritis and diabetes. By giving your pet proper nutrition and preventing excessive food intake, you can keep your pet at an ideal body weight throughout life.”

Even concerns such as growths on the body can benefit from a preventive approach. “The true value of preventive medicine lies in early detection,” states Dr. Pavlovsky. “If a pet owner presents their pet to the veterinarian at the earliest sign of a problem, the condition may be diagnosed, treated, and cured in many instances.”

Other crucial preventive medicine measures include year-round flea/tick, intestinal parasite, and heartworm prevention, vaccines, veterinary exams, and a proper diet.

What about Joint Supplements?

With so many supplements being marketed to pet parents, it is hard to know which ones are actually beneficial. It is important to note that these supplements are not regulated like prescription medications. There is a significant lack of data about safety and efficacy to guide veterinarians and owners alike.

Dr. Pavlovsky advises, “In general, if an otherwise healthy dog or cat, regardless of the age, is consuming a commercial diet that is balanced and complete and designed for their life stage, no supplementation is needed.”

Omega-3 fatty acids, however, are backed by research and may be helpful in reducing inflammation in pets with osteoarthritis. Still, with any supplement, it is essential to consult your veterinarian about quality and safety.

Just like people, pets need exercise to promote heart health, optimal body weight, muscle tone, and joint mobility. “Hydrotherapy and other physical therapy modalities can be a very helpful part of the treatment plan for pets that suffer from joint pain,” says Dr. Pavlovsky.

He also recommends regular low-level exercise as opposed to infrequent high-intensity exercise. Maintaining a regular exercise regimen for our pets will contribute positively to their overall health.

Many pet owners find that their pets have rather pungent odors to their breath. What they may not realize is that at least 75% of dogs and cats over age 3 have periodontal disease. This condition often leads to problems much bigger than just bad breath.

“Effective dental care for pets should include regular professional dental cleanings done under anesthesia as well as at-home dental care. Tooth brushing done at least every other day is most effective,” says Dr. Pavlovsky.

However, he recognizes that regular tooth brushing of some pets can be quite challenging. “If frequent at-home care is not possible, then certain diets designed for dental health, dental treats/toys, and water additives could be helpful,” he advises. “Pet owners should always consult their veterinarians for options for their pet dental care plan.”

“Owners are best positioned to make decisions regarding their pets’ health and to know what’s best for their pet,” Dr. Pavlovsky says. “We as veterinarians serve as advisers, and pet owners should not hesitate to tap into their veterinarians’ expertise in guiding healthcare decisions.”

As a team, veterinarians and owners work together to help each pet age gracefully, using an individualized approach. This strategy takes into consideration the specific needs of that breed and that pet and complements the preventive medicine approach.

“When I think about what aging gracefully may mean, I think of a dog or cat that is not hindered by obvious pain and mobility problems, significant chronic conditions, or anxiety/stress,” says Dr. Pavlovsky, “whether these are absent or just well-managed.”

In pets as in people, prevention truly is the best medicine.

• Dogs may stay in ‘Better Health’ if they have a pet friend at home, study finds.

By Kaitlyn Huamani

A recent study that involved over 21,000 canine subjects outlines the social and environmental factors associated with longer lifespans for dogs

The key to keeping your beloved dog healthy could be adding another furry friend to your home.

A recent study by the Dog Aging Project found that dogs who get routine social interaction from living with another canine are associated with “better health” outcomes than dogs with access to less socialization.

Having other non-canine pets in a household was also linked to better health outcomes for dogs, according to the study published in the journal Evolution, Medicine & Public Health. Of the dogs the researchers examined, those who lived with another companion animal were rated “significantly healthier than dogs with fewer household companions.”

Dogs with non-human companions were also reported to have significantly fewer disease diagnoses than dogs without furry friends of their own.

Dogs who became best friends at shelter and climbed walls to stay close get adopted together.

The research team, which consisted of scientists from Arizona State University, the University of Washington, and other prominent medical institutions, drew their conclusions from detailed survey data on over 21,000 dogs.

The researchers also looked at how environmental factors — like the stability of a neighborhood, the total household income, and the age of a dog’s owners — impacted dogs’ lifespans and overall health.

Dogs in households with greater financial and neighborhood stability and older owners were reported to be in better health than dogs in more unstable environments with younger owners.

Still, the study found that the strength of these financial factors pales compared to the effect of social companionship and support. The researchers reported that the impact of socialization is five times stronger than the effect of economic factors.

“We were really encouraged by the findings because it means there are things we can do to help improve the health of our animal companions, as well as us, without resorting to medical interventions,” said Brianah McCoy, a lead researcher of the study, in an interview with FOX. “Having a friend around really matters – which I am sure we can all relate to.”

The study was designed with the Dog Aging Project, a scientific organization dedicated to researching how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence aging in dogs and their owners.

Because of the correlative nature of the study, the researchers can’t make specific recommendations to dog owners to ensure better canine health.

• On Saturday July 29, from 11-3 Bark in the Park will be held at the Community Center Park located at Carmen &Burnley in Camarillo. It will benefit Daisy Lu Ranch Ventura County’s only senior dog sanctuary. (www.daisyluranch.org).

Vendors, food and fun. Suggested donation $25.00.

Aiden Youngerman, a compassionate and driven 7th grader from Cape Charter School, is on a mission to make a heartwarming difference in the lives of senior dogs with his upcoming fundraiser.

Daisy Lu Ranch stands as a sanctuary for elderly canines who often face challenges finding new homes due to their age. The ranch offers a safe and loving environment where these senior dogs can be fostered or adopted without any financial burden on prospective pet parents. However, with the rising costs of veterinary care and maintaining the ranch, resources have become scarce, making it increasingly difficult to provide the senior dogs with the medical attention and care they deserve.

The funds raised during the event will be allocated to cover the medical expenses of the senior dogs at Daisy Lu Ranch, ensuring they receive the necessary treatments and medications. Moreover, a portion of the funds will be dedicated to upgrading the ranch’s facilities, including new fencing and other amenities to enhance the dogs’ living conditions.

•The dog days of summer

By the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine

There are a number of seasonal hazards our pets need to navigate during the dog days of summer, from thunderstorms and extreme heat to pesky parasites. Assistant Professor Kristi Flynn with the College of Veterinary Medicine discusses what pet owners should be on the lookout for the rest of the summer to keep their pets happy and healthy.

Dr. Flynn: Pet owners can prevent harm to their pets by keeping a few basics in mind. While it is fun to have our dogs with us, stop to consider if the experience will be appreciated by your pet before heading out to spend time with family and friends this summer. If your pet is not comfortable around loud noises or lots of new animals or people, then bringing them to a street fair or brewery is not likely a good fit for them — and that’s okay! If you do bring your pet, be sure to plan ahead and have plenty of water for them.

Early mornings or dusk are usually better times to take dogs out when midday is hot. Dogs do not cool as efficiently via evaporation as people do, so hot and humid conditions can become dangerous quickly. Be especially careful with brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs and Boston Terriers. Surfaces can become hot enough to burn paw pads. One tip is to place your own palm on the pavement to determine if it is too hot for paws.

Before taking your dog for a jog, determine if it is safe to do so. That is up to the human. If your dog’s tongue is beginning to widen out at the end when panting, they are getting too warm and you should seek a comfortable area to allow them to cool off.

Remember, fear is an emotion, not a behavior. Providing your dog with support and comfort when they’re experiencing fear will not make them more afraid in the future, but acting cold and ignoring them certainly can. Find a quiet place in the house, play music and reach out to your veterinarian to see if medication could help your pet feel more comfortable during storms.

Always monitor your pet to make sure they’re not drinking too much lake water or swimming past when they are getting tired. If you want to get your dog comfortable with water, don’t push them and let your pet determine what they are comfortable with. Blue green algae is also something to be aware of, as this toxin is quickly lethal for pets who ingest it — if the water looks suspicious at all, avoid it.

When the air quality is concerning, try to limit time outdoors for your dogs as you would for yourself. Also, as dogs are out more in warmer months, there is also an increased risk of a dog getting away and being lost or injured. Remember, leash = love.

• Dog owners in the French town of Béziers will be required to carry their pet’s “genetic passport” in a trial scheme to reduce dog excrement on the streets.

Local mayor Robert Ménard, a former journalist and co-founder of Reporters Sans Frontières, says inhabitants and visitors are fed up with faeces on the town’s pavements. He plans to introduce a two-year experiment to trace and fine those who fail to clear up after their pets.

Under the planned scheme, dog owners will be required to take their pets to a vet or ask one of the town’s veterinary specialists for a free saliva sample, which will be genetically tested and a document issued. Those subsequently stopped without their dog’s genetic passport will be fined.

Ménard first proposed collecting DNA from the estimated 1,500 dogs in Béziers in 2016 but his request was rejected by the local administrative court as an attack on personal freedom.

He said the new genetic passport measure was submitted to the local prefecture earlier this year and no objections to its implementation were raised this time.

Ménard told French radio: “I can’t take any more of this [dog] mess. The state has said nothing against this scheme this time and thinks the same thing. This has to be done and not just in Béziers … We need to penalise people so that they behave properly.

Ménard added: “There will be a certain lenience for those who are not from Béziers. If they pick up their dog dirt we won’t bother them. We’re not xenophobes. Foreigners aren’t the problem, it’s the locals who are not cleaning up.”

In 2015 it was reported in the UK that Flintshire County council in north Wales was considering using a DNA database to clamp down on dog mess, while the Isle of Wight and Hyndburn in Lancashire have also discussed using genetic testing.