Before you read today’s column, take a look at your dog and realize how grateful he is for you providing him with a comfortable home, a warm bed, plenty of food and water and lots of love.  You can’t even  imagine your best friend  lost and ending up in a shelter.  Confused, lonely and scared.   You certainly can’t even imagine abandoning your dog at a shelter.  But the sad truth is that according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA ), approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized .  Shelter intakes are about evenly distributed between those animals relinquished by their owners and those picked up as strays.   These numbers are troubling.  These numbers are unacceptable for a civilized society in 2013.

Enough about the problem.  What is the solution ?  Perhaps the solution is not so easy  but what I would really like you to consider today  is fostering.  You can save lives by providing a temporary home for a shelter dog until it is adopted.   All too frequently as shelters fill up, they have to make painful decisions on which dogs are put on “the list.”  Unfortunately, it’s a numbers game; over capacity.  Sometimes a dog may need only a short term stay in a foster home until it is transported to his forever home. By providing the dog a home for a couple of weeks , you free up space in the shelter for another dog so that he is “safe.”  Other foster dogs may stay with you for a couple of months.  Your home, your time and your love are invaluable in developing the dog’s confidence and ability to trust again.  There is nothing more satisfying than “springing” a dog from a stressful shelter and seeing  the joy on his face as he gazes out the car window and hearing  that first sigh of relief when he steps into your home and realizes that he can finally sleep without fear.   So be a part of the solution. Buy a crate, fluff up a bed , and fill a dish with some food and water.  Open your heart and your home to a foster dog.  You won’t regret it.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month

 Admit it.  You leaned over to give your dog  a big kiss and ARRGGH…..bad breath !   Not only Is bad breath unpleasant, but it could also signal the presence of a more serious problem .  More than 85% of dogs and cats over the age of four show signs of oral disease.  The problem starts when bacteria builds up on the teeth and begins to form plaque and tartar, the precursors to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Left untreated, periodontal disease  can contribute to tooth loss and more systemic  health complications if the bacteria travels to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and nervous system.  To screen for dental problems, check  your dog’s mouth for bad breath, tartar build up, decaying teeth, or gums that are swollen, bleeding , receding or abscessed.  A yearly vet visit will help keep your dog’s teeth and gums in check.  Your vet may recommend a cleaning under anesthesia at a certain age as tartar begins to build up with age.  You can help delay dental problems by brushing your dog’s teeth with a  commercial toothpaste 3 times per week.  It’s best to start brushing his teeth in the puppy stage so he gets used to brushing as a normal part of life just like nail trims and brushing out his coat.  With an older dog, start by choosing a toothpaste made just for dogs that is both palatable and digestible.  Start by having him smell the toothpaste and eventually lick the toothpaste.  Gradually work toward having the dog let you put the toothbrush in his mouth for a short period of time.  It’s important that the dog does not feel anxious and restrained so you should attempt to pair the toothbrushing with a positive experience like a special treat or a massage.   Now is the time to start maintaining that great doggie smile !

Lisa Beals, Co-Owner

Camp Bow Wow Carmel

Pet Appreciation Week

The second week of June is National Pet Appreciation Week! Show your pup some love by treating them to a day of play with all their friends. Check out this great article on how regular exercise (like doggie day camp) can help improve your pet's quality of life:

Why Dogs Need Camp Bow Wow®!

Today it is estimated that 40% of American dogs are overweight. Regular exercise improves blood flow to the heart, and oxygen to the lungs, builds strong muscles, increases joint mobility, increases energy levels and helps to control weight. Exercising your dog can enhance their quality of life, decrease risk of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart attach and strokes and extend their lifespan and the time that you can enjoy them being part of your family. Exercise also improves a dog’s mood, and decreases the risk of dog depression. It is especially important to keep aging pets agile and fit as they may not be inclined to exercise without your encouragement.

Preventing Behavior Problems

Exercise relieves boredom that can cause behavior problems such as destructiveness, separation anxiety, and barking. Exercise gives your dog a way to channel their energy in a positive way. Active dogs are typically happy, well-adjusted dogs. For good health and wellbeing of your dogs, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A regular routine of exercise and playtime may be exactly what your dogs need to maintain its health for many years. Pet obesity is a serious problem as it puts pets at risk of diseases such as osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. Extra weight can also worsen existing conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, hormone imbalances, and joint diseases. Put simply, carrying around the extra pounds will shorten the life of your pet. Veterinary Pet Insurance reported that last year they reimbursed policy holders over 14 million dollars for claims related to obesity - around 7 % of their total claims. . If the number of calories consumed by the pet each day is more than is used for normal body functions and during exercise then extra calories are stored as fat. Usually all that is needed for weight loss is reduced calorie intake and increased exercise.

Campers of the Month: Max and Bella Ray Chapman

The Campers of the Month for June are Max and Bella Ray Chapman. Max and Bella Ray enjoy spending the day at Camp Bow Wow Carmel while their owners are away at work. Max enjoys romping the outdoor areas with his fellow campers, and Bella Ray prefers to lounge in the indoor areas. We love you, Bella and Max!

Mardi Dawg!

Come celebrate Fat Tuesday with your camper!

Show us your beads! All campers arriving with a guardian wearing Mardi Gras beads must only pay $22 for a full day of camp...

AND stop in between 7am and 10am to select a random piece of "King Cake" for your camper! The camper who selects to lucky treat is King for the day, and gets his/her full day of camp free on Mardi Gras!!!

Obesity in Pets

Just like people, pets become "a little too healthy." Obese pets can have serious health problems including arthritis, heat and respiratory problems, and shorter life spans. Your pet is overweight if you cannot feel his ribs or backbone when you lightly run your hands over him. Although it is hard to ignore the pleading eyes of your adoring pet, it is best to turn away and not give in to his pleas for more food.

In order to avoid over feeding it is best to use the feeding guides only as a recommendation. Pet food packages will often recommend how much to feed your pet. However it really depends on your pet's age, activity level, and size. It is always best to use your own judgment.

Try not to use the "free-feed" method. In other words, resist leaving food out for your pet all day long. This can be a big contributor to overeating.

It is also important to provide your pet with plenty of exercise. Take him our for an extra little walk or play with her in the house for a little bit each day. Every little bit helps.

Make sure you check severe weight loss or gain with your vet. If you think you are feeding your pet adequately but he loses weight, or your pet suddenly starts gaining weight, it is best to consult your vet.

Older and overweight pets may need to be switched to special diets. There are lots of high-quality pet food formulated especially for senior pets, as well as plenty of low-calorie diets. You may want to consult with your vet for recommendations.

Most importantly with the holidays approaching, resist the urge to feed your pet table scraps.

National Dog Day

August 26th is National Dog Day. We wanted to wish you all a Happy National Dog Day and to tell you how this day came about!


National Dog Day always falls on August 26th.

National Dog Day has two goals: to honor dogs, and to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse. It's an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives.

This day is intended to honor dogs for all that they do for us. In addition to giving love and companionship, dogs help us out in countless ways. They are watchdogs for our safety. They lead the blind. Dogs aid in search and rescue, and they seek out bombs and drugs.

The second goal of National Dog Day is to rescue dogs in need. On occasion, dogs need us to save them from homelesness and abuse. The goal of the National Dog Day foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs a year. Lend a hand to help a dog in need today, or any day.

National Dog Day was created by the National Dog Day Foundation. Their motto is "Saving 10,000 Dogs - One Day at a Time".

National Dog Day was founded in 2004.

National Dog Day is against any kind of "breed ban". Dogs should not have to lose their lives because of the atrocities they have been forced to endure at the hands of man. And while we feel that American's have the constitutional right to purchase a pure breed dog, we strongly discourage buying from pet stores, backyard breeders, the internet, newspaper ads and puppy mills, and rather encourage those seeking new canine companions, to verify that they are buying from a reputable breeder, educate themselves about their dog's breed and better yet - visit their local shelter or pure breed rescue group for a new furry family member that will be forever grateful.

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/August/nationaldogday.htm

http://www.nationaldogday.com/about.htm