january/february metro pet magazine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY ‘09

Free to Readers

Exciting Newsfor 2009! Pg 34

BRINGING HOME BABY 6LANDSCAPING FOR PETS 16GET THE SKINNY ON OBESITY 20

JAN/FEB 2009 • MetroPetMag.com 3

In Every Issue4 Welcome Pet Lovers

Happy New Year! Read all about our exciting news.

10 Dog HoroscopesDo you really know your dog?

14 NewshoundSniffing out leads on kids and their pets.

23 Online Photo Contest This month’s winners of themetropetmag.com contest.

28 Cat HoroscopesHow well do you know your cat?

32 Ad Index

33 Chip’s Corner How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

MetroPet Resources13 Sydney’s Pet Spa 17 Heart of America Invisible Fence22 Homestead Pet Resort & Spa, LLC26 Mariposa Veterinary Center

Feature Articles6 Bringing Home Baby?

Is your family really ready?

8 Dog WasteRemovalOur responsibility to the environment.

12 Yoga for Animals...Really?

16 Landscaping for PetsAre your four-legged friends making a mud pit out ofyour backyard?

18 New Year’s Resolutions for Your PetDon’t forget about your furry or feathered companions.

20 Get the Skinny on ObesityHow do you deal with your overweight pet?

24 The Love ConnectionPets helping people.

30 Scooping is for the BirdsA creative new idea for your neighborhood and parks!

34 Exciting News for 2009Where will you see and hear MetroPet this year?

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

20

Happy New Year!2009 is here!!! I can’t believe we are in a new

year!

2009 is starting out with a bang. MetroPet isexcited at the places you will hear and see us in2009. Yes, you read that correctly, you will bothhear and see us in unique places in 2009.

On the Radio! MetroPet has partnered with the Wilks Broadcasting

group to provide pet owners with timely informationand resources. So you will be hearing us on the radioand in streaming ads. You will hear MetroPet news andevents on Mix 93.3, 94.1 KFKF, Star 102 and Q104. Wewill also be providing content for pet pages at eachradio station’s website. On these sites you will find a featured article, pet horoscopes, alink to events and much more. So, if you’re listening to the radio and you hear MetroPet— don’t be surprised! For more details about this partnership, see articles on pages 10and 29.

At Events! MetroPet has also partnered with Pat Riha Productions. We will be attending several

shows in early 2009. These shows include: • The Metropolitan Lawn and Garden Show at The American Royal Center on February

6 to 8, 2009

• The Mid-America RV Show & The Mid-America Boat Show at Bartle Hall, Kansas CityMO Convention Center on February 13 to 15, 2009 and February 20 to 22, 2009.

• The Pet Expo, at the American Royal Center on April 18 to 19, 2009. But why are these shows important to our readers? Because pet owners will be attend-

ing, and we will be able to reach them with our new magazine! In addition, several ofthese shows have pet related events. Check them out at patrihaproductions.com. Formore details about these shows, see article on page 4.

Please continue to support our advertisers! In these financially tryingtimes, it is even more important to spend money wisely The advertisers inMetroPet provide quality services which enhance our lives with our pet compan-ions. Getting this kind of value for your dollar, is money well spent. Please men-tion MetroPet when you call or visit our advertisers.

Have a great new year and enjoy the great articles in this issue!

Barbara Riedel, Publisher

P.S. This magazine is free to you — because of our advertis-ers support. Please thank them and consider the use of theservices and products they provide. Happy New Year!

4 MetroPet Magazine JAN/FEB 2009

Publisher’s Message Staff andContacts

PublisherBarbara Riedel

[email protected]

Editor/ProductionManagerDan O'Leary

[email protected]

Layout/GraphicDesign

Alison [email protected]

Web MasterJon Dunn

[email protected]

Advertising [email protected]

Contributing AuthorsSarah Dixon

Pat HennessySuezanne Law

Barbara Bowen MillerPat Riha

Lori Stiles

PhotographerDan O'Leary

Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065

Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433

Fax: 816.941.4655

Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPetMagazine express the opinions of the individual authors and donot necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPetMagazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily consti-tute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine.

Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for considerationfor publication to [email protected]. All materials are sub-ject to editorial review.

© 2008 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Requestreprint permissions at [email protected].

MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI MarketingServices, all rights reserved.


Bringing Home Baby?

by Suezanne Law

Are You Really Ready?

DOG’S-EYE VIEWI have been replaced. I don’t understand why. Not long ago, we were a

happy family, my people and me. Ever since I can remember — my wholelife long, and maybe even longer — we played and took sunshine walksand snuggled together on cold winter evenings. They fed me and cared forme and called me friend; and in return I listened to their secrets, sharedtheir joy, and licked away their tears.

Now it’s over, and I am confused and scared. That new wriggling thing inthe room I can no longer enter takes my people away from me more andmore. Is it a person, too? I don’t think so. It doesn’t look much like a per-son. It smells strange — though I am not to get too close. And the noise itmakes sounds nothing like the sweet, gentle murmurs of my people whenthey talk to me.

Except they don’t anymore. Now if they notice me, they speak sharply andsometimes they yell. And the way they say my name — I cringe when I hearit, and it used to fill me with such excitement. There are no more games,no more adventures, no more cuddles. Sure, they feed me — mostly ontime — but do they really care? The secrets, the joy, the tears — these areshared now with that new wriggling thing in the room I can no longer enter.I am not their friend.

Was it because I jumped up to see the wriggling thing when they camehome? (Usually they share new things with me.) Or because I pawed andnosed and whined when they were resting? (They’ve always invited me to

NationalDogs&Storks

ProgramNow at Shawnee Mission

Medical CenterAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 800,000 Americans seek medical helpeach year because of dog-bite injuries, and half ofthose injured are children. Worse, 66% of dog bitesin children aged four and younger are to the headand neck. Many expectant couples worry about howthey can safely bring their new baby into a familythat already includes four-legged ‘kids’. But with alittle preparation, mixed-species families canbecome stronger rather than becoming statistics.Dogs&Storks is here to help.

The national Dogs&Storks program provides prac-tical education during pregnancy by teaching expec-tant families to understand canine body languageand to cope with their dogs’ sensitivities and atten-tion-seeking behaviors. Dogs&Storks educators, allof whom are professional dog trainers too, are alsotrained to provide continued support after babyarrives.

Dogs&Storks classes at Shawnee Mission MedicalCenter begin January 11th and will run throughout2009. For more information or to register call theASK-A-NURSE Resource Center at 913.676.7777.Online registration is also available by visitingwww.shawneemission.org.

burrow in before.) Was it my commiseration when thenew thing was howling? (I couldn’t see the moon — butI’m sure it was there.) Or was it because my curiosityfinally got the better of me and I sniffed my way into thatroom? (I was so close to understanding — wouldn’t youhave growled too, with the answers right there, justunder your nose?)

I’ll never know why. With no preparation, no reason, andwith scarcely a word of regret, you see, I am being sent away.I used to be their friend. Now I have been replaced.

PEOPLE’S-EYE VIEW —MEGGIN’S STORY

In September of 1996 I brought homemy first baby. She was 85 pounds, blackand white with ice blue eyes, and twoyears old. I was working as an adoptioncounselor at our local shelter whenNikko found me. She was to be eutha-nized that day and I couldn’t stand tosee that happen to such a beautiful,intelligent, loving dog — so I adoptedher. I brought her home and after manytrials and tribulations (and muchdestruction of property) we becameinseparable. She went everywhere withme, slept with me, was my best friend.

I met my husband and was married in2001. We had our first son in October2002. When the baby was about 10months old and starting to crawl Nikkobecame very territorial. She beganmaking me nervous when he wouldcrawl near her, sometimes baring herteeth at him. I had no idea what to doand prayed that she would just adjust tohim. We had paid little-to-no attentionto helping her adjust to our new fami-ly member.

One evening while my husband wasat work, my son crawled over by herand grabbed her ear. She turned andsnapped — and barely missed hisface. I immediately knew that some-thing had to change quickly. I calledmy mom in tears, as I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Nikko. How can you just“give away” your best friend? Nikko had already been abandoned once and landedat the shelter — how could I abandon her again? But my mom had always referredto Nikko as her “grand-dog,” and she agreed to take Nikko for me. The followingweekend, I put Nikko in the car and drove the two hours to my mom’s house. Pullingout of her driveway and leaving my baby was one of the hardest things I’ve ever hadto do.

SEEING EYE-TO-EYEFor some people, the addition of a new human

family-member marks the first time that they seetheir four-legged “kids” in their true light – asanimals. Their claws seem unexpectedly sharp-er, their teeth more keen, and theirdemeanor alien and sud-denly invasive to ournewly human-centricview of life. For, thedanger is very real, andthat is frightening.

JAN/FEB 2009 MetroPetMag.com 7

But preparation and traininggo a long way towards creating apeaceful coexistence between thetwo-legged kids and the four-legged. Introducing dogs early-on to all of the new sights,smells, and sounds a baby bringscan help to lessen their intensecuriosity and slow their drive toinvestigate. Living new routines— from diaper changes to mid-night feedings to naps in theafternoon — and teaching thedogs what is expected of them inthe process helps to decreasetheir insecurity and to short-cir-cuit the trial and error processby which dogs learn. And prac-ticing these new skills beforeBaby arrives helps both parentsand dogs gain the foresight andconfidence necessary to handlemost anything to come.

“I was lucky enough to havethe option of sending Nikko tomy mother’s,” says Meggin, nowchildbirth and parenting educa-tor for Shawnee Mission MedicalCenter. “But looking back I wishI would have worked with hermore. Dogs are members of ourfamilies — not just pets — andthey deserve to be treated with

respect for all the love they give us.”She continues, “I make it a point on the first

night of childbirth and parent education class-es to make sure that expecting parents includethe conditioning of their animals in theirpreparations for bringing home Baby.Including pets and making the transition easyfor them is less stress on everyone involved.”

Suezanne M. Law is acanine-human relationshipcounselor and accrediteddog trainer. She opened

Sympawtico Dog Training,LLC to better tailor her

training curriculum tothe needs of her com-munity. Visit her at

www.sympawtico.com.With thanks to Meggin Finkeldei.

“Dogs are members of our families— not just pets — and they

deserve to be treated with respectfor all the love they give us.”

Dog Waste RemovalOur Responsibility to the Environment

HOW DOG WASTE AFFECTS OUR ENVIRONMENTLeaving an accumulation of dog waste on the ground is the

main contributor of water pollution. Each time snow meltsor it rains the bacteria run-off from dog waste washes intostorm drains. This water is untreated and moves directlyfrom storm drains into our rivers, streams, and lakes. Thepromotion of additional bacteria in our waterways harmsthe health of wildlife, fish, and humans.

HOW DOG WASTE AFFECTS OUR HEALTHHuman contact with harmful bacteria and parasites nor-

mally occur with activities such as children playing outside,gardening and dogs walking in their own waste. The chanceof coming in contact with harmful bacteria increases whenexcess dog waste contaminates our yards. The waste andbacteria from your dog’s daily routine can easily be trans-mitted from their paws onto you and your family. Most com-mon of these bacterial infections promotes illnesses withsymptoms very similar to the flu that includes fevers, mus-cle aches, headache, vomiting and diarrhea.

THE IMPACT OF PET WASTE IN THE KANSAS

CITY METRO AREAUnfortunately for the Kansas City Metropolitan area many

of our local waterways do not meet state water quality bac-teria standards for recreational use. These tests were per-formed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). TheUSGS is an organization whose mission is to serve the Nationby providing reliable scientific information to understandthe earth; manage water, biological, energy, and mineralresources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. Thesource of this information is located atwww.marc.org/water. In a recent study of streams andcreeks in the Kansas City region, the USGS determined petwaste was the source of approximately one-quarter of thebacteria in our waterways. A devastating future of increasedbacteria could kill fish and wildlife such as birds, dear, etc.that depend on streams and lakes for their natural survival.

by Lori Stiles


In the ever increasing world of environmentalissues, we are learning that in order to help ourecosystem there is an increasing need to live likewe have to; not like we want to. Deep routed inthis mindset is an uncomfortable feeling ofchange for some people, while others embracethe opportunity to “give back” to the environmentthat has been available for us to enjoy.

CITY ORDINANCES AND HOMEOWNERS

ASSOCIATIONSNational organizations, Cities, and even Homeowner

Associations are beginning to enforce rules and ordinances fordog owners to pick up aftertheir pet. The majority of citiesin the United States are imple-menting Ordinances thatrequire regular cleaning ofyour yard or impose a fine any-where from $50.00 to $600.00for offenders. However, onecity (Englewood, Colorado)has recently imposed anOrdinance that requires home-owners to pick up waste after72 hours or face a $1,000.00fine or a year in jail, or both!Most individuals believe thiswould be hard to police, butauthorities said they can usethis new ordinance to deal withpeople who don’t pick up aftertheir dog for months “or ever.”Most offenders are turned inby their neighbors who are


tired of seeing and smelling the offensive waste by undepend-able pet owners.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?The obvious is to pick up pet waste from your

yard on a regular basis. It’s not fertilizer, and thelawn mower doesn’t make it magically disappear.There’s no excuse that can validate leaving petwaste in the yard especially when it comes to yourhealth and our environment. If you do not havetime for this task, search for a professional poop-er scooper. If you choose to clean the yard your-self, professional dog waste removal equipmentwill make this responsibility much easier.

Lori and Alan Stiles founded Scoopy the PooTM in 2005.Scoopy the Poo provides professional dog waste removalservices. Scoopy the Poo has also designed equipment usedby Professional Pooper Scoopers. This equipment is nowavailable for sale to the public. For additional informationabout services and this equipment go to www.scoopy-thepoo.com or contact Lori or Alan at 816-412-9000.


Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The Yapper With fleet-footed Mercury as his orher Ruling Planet, the Gemini Dog is one of theZodiac's fastest runners and, not surprisingly, anyGreyhound born under the influence of this sign islikely to enjoy much success at the race track. It isimportant to note that the only time an owner willbe absolutely sure of the whereabouts of theGemini Dog is when they are attached by a leash.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Home-Lover The Cancer Dog can settlealmost anywhere. Taken to a new home, they willimmediately view it as the place in which life will belived out. Possessing a true nesting instinct, thiscanine will establish their corner and then set aboutfilling it with treasures which will be protected.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) The Boss-Dog The Leo Dog is a charming andrewarding dog, much easier to live with than might beexpected. This is largely due to one exceptional andredeeming quality...the Leo Dog has a deep-set faithin humanity. Dogs which have been praised honoredfor bravery...or those pampered by royalty...are, moreoften than not, governed by the Sign of Leo.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Helper The Virgo Dog will never be found sleep-ing on a hard floor and is sensitive to discomfort inmuch the same way as the fairytale Princess was tothe irritating pea. The Virgo Dog tends to spend agreat deal of time in the garden, communing withnature as he or she weeds, digs and generally makesa mess.

Canine SignsAquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18) The Friend The happiest Aquarius Dog is onewho has been given as much freedom as possible for this dog adores to be allowed offthe leash. Social interaction is where the Aquarius Dog really comes into his or her own.The home of this dog is likely to be full of his or her friends and acquaintances...not allof whom will necessarily be of the canine persuasion.


Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Shop-Steward Usually, other dog owners con-sider the Libra Dog a pleasant and well-controlledanimal who is never connected with any misfortunesthat may beset their own pets. The female Libra Dogmay not be so easy. She will be so afraid of offend-ing any male that shows an interest in her that shewill not know how to say “No.”

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Paragon Moreover, in the midst of a “rant andrave” for any reason, this canine will most probablysimply fall asleep. Both genders of this canine willpossess a deep interest in mating. Unfortunately,neutering or spaying does not seem to helpmuch...particularly in the female.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Social Climber The Friend This canine needsfresh air as other dogs might need constant de-fleaing. Cooped-up or confined, the Sagittarius Dog(much like the archer which is symbolic of the sign)will know exactly where to aim so that he or shecauses the most discomfort to others with the leastpersonal inconvenience.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)The Social Climber Many of the world's most hand-some dogs have been born under this Sign andalmost every Capricorn Dog approaches perfection in

form and build, regardless of breed. The one flaw ofthis canine might be an overly-long nose coupledwith an underslung jaw.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)The Interpreter If an owner does not live by the seaor have a pond in the garden, then it will be neces-sary to fill the tub for the Pisces Dog. Ideally, this dogwould like to live on a floating home...anything froman ocean liner to a narrow boat. Marooned on dryland in an ordinary house, they will make the most ofanything wet that can be found.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Leader of the Pack This dog will never be a “yes-dog,” not even after months of training. The battle forindependence begins the moment this little puparrives in the home. It is futile for an owner to attemptto assert superiority over the Aries Dog...they willstop at nothing to undermine an owner's position.

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20)The Strong Silent Type Everything this dog surveysis considered to be a personal possession...from hisor her feeding bowl to visitors in the home. It wouldbe best not to allow this canine to actually see anyguests depart, since the Taurus Dog perceives newpeople as personal possessions and may put upquite a fuss before letting them go.


YOGA BENEFITSYoga provides many benefits for people — stress relief, cardiovascular and respiratory

support, pain relief, immunity building, etc. Our animals get many of the same benefits frompracticing yoga and they are naturals at it. Yoga is designed to improve balance throughphysical stimulation and integrate the functions of the body. The word “yoga” is derivedfrom Sanskrit and means to join together and direct one’s attention.

When we are young we are able to do somersaults and kick our heels up over our heads.Later in life our mobility becomes limited due to injury, heredity and the inevitable agingprocess. Caroline Myss once said, “Our biography becomes our biology.” So, true it is. Butwhat we can do to improve ourselves, be it our posture, circulation, metabolism, etc., is topractice the ancient art of yoga. And we can include our beloved animal companions.

Our animals can actually serve as our teachers. They have had centuries of practice andit is part of their nature to bend, stretch and relax. After all, where do you think theDownward Facing Dog pose came from? Not only will we learn by example, when follow-ing our canines or felines in yoga, but we will learn a lot about them in the process as well.Felines, you say — you mean cats can do yoga? There is a pose named after them too, calledthe Cat Pose (or Bidalasana).

Yoga for dogs, called Doga (or sometimes Ruff Yoga), has been around for a while andstarted on the east coast. Many Doga instructors run classes similar to basic (human) yogawith people performing poses with their dogs beside them. Some Doga classes incorporatestretching for the dogs. Use caution because the canine anatomy doesn’t bend like thehuman anatomy and you don’t want to cause injury to your companion. Our dogs are natu-

rals at many of the poses and somehave been modified for them. They willeasily perform these poses with posi-tive reinforcement — did you saytreats? They will only bend as far asthey are capable when doing it ontheir own. This will give you an idea asto their balance and give you some-thing to work toward (becoming pro-gressively better at each pose). Insome cases you may get an indicationof an area that could be affecting themand want to keep an eye on it.

MEOWOGAYoga for cats, which I like to call

Meowoga, can be an interesting expe-rience. Who better than a feline knowshow to stretch and relax? How did the“cat nap” get its name? They even havean internal mechanism for calmingthemselves (double jeopardy — whatis purring?). If your cat doesn’t like totravel, you are not alone. You canlearn Meowoga by working with shel-ter cats and take that knowledge hometo try it on your own cat.

Yoga for Animals

by Pat Hennessy

After all, where do you thinkthe Downward Facing Dog

pose came from?

Really?SIGN UP FOR DOGA

CLASSES!Jan 19 - Feb 9

At Tails R' Waggin in Overland Park, KS

Call 816-522-7005 to register— space is limited

GET COMFORTABLEIt all starts with finding a peace-

ful place and getting into a com-fortable position with your animalcompanion. Take a deep breath in,hold it, and then let it go (clearyour mind). Now you are on yourway. After some meditation youbegin to slowly move into a pose,hold it yourself to experience it,then invite your companion to giveit a try (treats are a great motiva-tor). Work for a fewminutes on eachpose and observehow she does with it(that will be usefulinformation goingforward). You canmove on to other

poses, always observing, and finish up with some additionalrelaxing techniques for balancing body, mind and spirit.

If you want your dog to work his way to becoming an expert“Dogi,” or your cat to become and expert “Meowogi,” then youcan begin to teach them the names of the poses as they learn todo them. It is fun and easy to play “the yoga game,” and younever know, they may teach you a few new poses along the way.Some day you may be able to do them in harmony.

ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCETo enhance the experience you may add a candle or mister for

aromatherapy, however, be mindful that our animal companionsdon’t prefer the same scents that we do so avoid sweet smellingfragrances and go for more “earthy” ones. If your dog or cat isstressed, you may want to include pheromones (a chemical thattriggers a natural response, usually for pets it reminds them oftheir mother at birth) or flower essences (the diffusion of aflower’s essence in liquid creating an appeasing effect from theplant’s properties). An additional enrichment to the experienceis soft and soothing music in the background during a Doga orMeowoga session.

RELAX AND GET BALANCEDClear your mind and learn, with your animal companion, how

to relax and tune your mental and physical well-being. I don’tknow who the richer of the two will be, while you are bothbecoming balanced and connected. What a dance!

Doga and Meowoga are available in the KC metro area.

WHO? Sydney’s PetSpa

WHERE? 13656 Roe Ave Leawood, KS66224 • 913.239.0110www.sydneyspetspa.com • e-mail: [email protected]

HOW LONG IN BUSINESS?2 years

WHY ARE YOU DIFFERENT?Sydney’s is advertised as one of the finest all-inclusive pet service

facilities in the area. Sydney’s offers a multitude of services, includ-ing daycare, dog and cat boarding, grooming, wash your own, vet-erinary care (by appointment only) and boutique. Each pet atSydney’s is pampered and given structured opportunities to social-ize with other pets.

BENEFITS OF SYDNEY’S PET SPA

Sydney’s strives to provide such an enjoyable, restorative, ener-getic day for your pets that they are ready to curl up and veg outwhen you get home as you are.

REASONS CUSTOMERS COME BACK! Every pet and client that comes through the door is greeted with

a smile and a name. Each pet is treated like family. Returning dogscan hardly wait to get through the doors to start playing with theirpals. Owners feel relieved seeing their dog run through the doorsin excitement to be back. The folks at Sydney’s are fond of saying,“If your pet could talk, they would be begging you to come back!”

See our ad on page 31.

METROPET RESOURCE

Contact N2paws for more information about classesand locations. Doga is currently being offered at TailsR’ Waggin, in Overland Park, KS. Meowoga and Dogaare offered at Pet Connection, in Mission, KS.

Pat Hennessy, is the founder ofN2paws, LLC, an organization thatprovides companion animal carethrough behavior education, energywork, and positive training methods.Pat is a certified TTouch Practitioner,CPDT, and member of the IAABC,IAATH, and AWA. You may contactN2Paws via email [email protected],phone 816-522-7005, or visit the website www.n2paws.com

...You can begin to teach them the namesof the poses as they learn to do them. Itis fun and easy to play “the yoga game.”


that they cover at nightwith a sheet. Sometimeshe stays in Riley’s room,sometimes in the livingroom, and sometimes inthe computer room. “Welike to move him aroundso that he doesn’t getbored,” reports Riley.“We also like to let himlook out the window tosee the birds outside —as long as the sun doesn’tshine directly on him.”Cockatiels like Piper canlive for 15-20 years, sohis family is committed totaking good care of him.They keep his cage veryclean, and they clean his

mirrors, too. “Cockatiels love to look at themselves in the mirror,” Riley reports.And they hand-feed Piper because, Riley says, “Hand-fed cockatiels are usuallyfriendlier than those who don’t have human contact early on.” And what birdwouldn’t be friendly with a family like Piper’s?

How:“Cockatiels do best when they are around the company of their human family,”

says Riley. And being with humans is one of the ways birds like Piper can learn totalk and whistle. But if you would like for your bird to be able to practice learningwords and phrases even when you’re not around, Riley says that’s possible, too!“One way to teach them words or phrases is to get a mirror with a special record-ing device that repeats words to them. After awhile, they will catch on and startspeaking or singing the phrase.” Riley says that male Cockatiels are more vocalthan females. As for Piper, Newshound suspects that the phrase Piper most wantsto learn to say is, “Thanks, Riley, for being such a great friend!”

Who:Riley Toombs, 13, and Piper, a 7-

year-old Cockatiel

Where: Riley reports that Cockatiels

originated in Australia and areminiature Cockatoos. Piper washatched at a breeder’s home in theUnited States, however.

When: 6 years ago, Riley’s mom, Linda,

picked out Piper for him becauseof the wonderful experiences shehad as a child raising a Cockatielof her own. “I’m glad that shepicked him because he has been sofun to be around,” says Riley.

What: Riley likes to spend time teaching Piper to

talk and whistle. “He says, ‘Who’s the pret-ty, pretty, pretty bird?’ and ‘Piper’s pretty!’”says Riley, “and he whistles a cat-call whenmy mom comes into the room.” Then hegrins and adds, “She taught him to do that.”Riley also enjoys letting Piper out of hiscage to fly around and explore in the housea bit.

Why:“Cockatiels are usually sweet birds who

like to interact with their human families,”Riley says. “It’s good to give him time out ofthe cage as long as the dogs aren’t around.”The family keeps Piper in a large, cozy cage


by Suezanne Law

Newshound searches the area, sniffingout leads on kids living well with their

pets. Here’s this month’s top story!

NewshoundSniffing out leads on kids and their pets


Keeping a mixture of bird seeds (crushed or small),lentils and calcium powder in the cage is a good idea tokeep them healthy. Other than that, feed them once a daywith between a teaspoon and a tablespoon of fresh vegeta-bles (bok choy works particularly well) and DO NOT givethem a water dish. Uros usually won’t drink standing waterunless they are extremely dehydrated and a water dish willraise the humidity of the tank and cause breathing problemsand tail-rot. They get all the moisture they need from theirfood.

Suezanne M. Law is a canine-human rela-tionship counselor and accredited dog trainer.She opened Sympawtico Dog Training, LLC tobetter tailor her training curriculum to theneeds of her community. Visit her atwww.sympawtico.com.

Hey, Kids! If you have a good leadfor Newshound, send an e-mail to:

[email protected]

Camp Bow Wow® Olathe1150 W. 151st Street, Suite D, Olathe, KS 66061

(913) [email protected]

Join us on Saturday, January 17th toget your Valentine’s photos by LilPals Pet Photography.

• All Day Play, Snooze The Night Away®

• Large Indoor & Outdoor Play Areas

• Spacious Cabins with Comfy Cots

up the grass. The dry creek bed offers an attractive base for thefence and further prevents hard to reach weeds from growing upunder the fence.

THE POUNCING CATIf you have an outdoor cat that love birds and rabbits, plan a

yard that does not offer cats perches from which they can pounceon ground-feeding birds or reach bird feeders. Vegetable garden-


Landscaping for PetsIt’s so cute, untilthey get bigger!

It seems simple enough. Let your new puppy or kitty outthe backdoor of your house into your beautiful and

often expensively landscaped backyard. At first they stumblearound, rolling in the grass and sniffing at everything withan air of discovery. It’s so cute, until they get bigger.

THE BACKYARD MUD PITMany a homeowner has seen their lush lawn turned into a

mud pit by an excitable dog, racing back and forth along afence line or digging holes faster and deeper than a ground-hog. Loveable kitties may revert to their natural huntinginstincts, dragging the carcasses of songbirds and babybunnies onto the porch. In these and many other instances,a little pre-planning will help you minimize your pet’s dam-age to your backyard oasis.

Most dogs love to run, especially if there is a neighbor dogin the next yard. In a matter of days, dogs can strip grass tothe roots by constantly running back and forth over it,resulting in a muddy mess the next time it rains or thesprinkler system comes on. To prevent this, Scott Hulen ofR & S Lawn Service recommends putting in a “dry creekbed” of up to 2’ or more in width along the fence line. Usingriver rock setting in a shallow trench on top of weed pre-venting fabric, dogs can still “run the fence” without tearing

by Pat Riha

Many a homeowner has seen theirlush lawn turned into a mud pit by anexcitable dog, racing back and forthalong a fence line or digging holes

faster and deeper than a groundhog.

ers should fence off their plants to prevent your pets from sam-pling the fare. We once had a Basset Hound that successfullykept the squirrels from eating our tomatoes by hitting theplants with her head (until it turned green) and eating thetomatoes.

BACKYARD HAZARDSThe use of lawn fertilizers, insecticides and weed killers can

also pose hazards for your pets. While most of these chemicalsdesigned for home use are safe if used properly, read the appli-cation instructions closely to understand the drying time need-ed before your pets our children can safely use the yard. Someant baits or slug baits may entice dogs to eat them, so be care-ful with their placement and use. Professional lawn mainte-nance companies should be questioned about the chemicalsthey apply, and once again, the drying time before you and yourfamily can safely use the yard.

THE JUMPERThe alternative to putting up fencing for landscaping is under-

ground pet containment fencing. Some dogs like to jump fenceswhile others can actually climb them. This can be curtailed byusing “invisible fencing.” These solutions include a wire that isinstalled several inches underground around the perimeter ofthe area you would like to keep your pet in or out of. This wireworks like a radio antenna carrying a frequency signal throughit. A receiver collar is placed on your pet that picks up the sig-nal and gives a correction when theycross over the fence boundary.Training includes the owner and a cer-tified trainer. This training teaches thepet the boundaries. After a fewattempts to cross the fence line, thepet quickly learns its invisible bound-aries. Items such as a doghouse, rackof wood or storage items are strategi-cally placed so the pet can not usethem to climb on and use as a meansof escape.

With a little planning, your back-yard can be a garden paradise forboth you, your family and your pet.

Pat Riha owns Pat Riha Productions, amarketing and production company. Hiscompany produces a wide variety of eventsincluding the Metropolitan Lawn andGarden Show, the Mid-America RV Show, theMid-America Boat Show and the KC PetExpo. Pat Riha Productions was selected byEXPO Magazine as the producer of the BestNew Show, Consumer Show category for theproduction of the 2005 Kansas City PetExpo. The show, held at the American RoyalCenter, celebrates the joy pets bring to ourlives and our responsibilities to our pets.

WHO? Heart of America Invisible Fence

WHERE? 11133 Locust Street Kansas City, Missouri 64123 • e-mail: [email protected]

HOW LONG IN BUSINESS? 23 years

WHY ARE YOU DIFFERENT?We have more experience than any other Invisible Fence dealer in the Kansas City

Metropolitan area. We have more certified trainers, designers and technicians than anyoneelse. Our head trainer has 23 years experience training dogs and cats on the Invisible Fencesystem. Employees are trained in “Perfect Start” dog and cat training, system design andinstallation. Heart of America Invisible Fence is the only company that has a convenient storefront office for walk in business and emergency warranty service.

BENEFITS OF HEART OF AMERICA INVISIBLE FENCE99.5% success rate! Money back performance guarantee. Lifetime nationwide electronics

warranty. Keeping dogs and cats safe at home. Peace of mind. No unsightly physical bound-aries. Can be used in communities where standard fences are not allowed. Turn-key service.

REASONS CUSTOMERS COME BACK! Superior service, technology, training and support, that gives you superior results. 70% of our

business is the result of “satisfied” customer referrals.


METROPET RESOURCE


Heart of AmericaInvisible Fence


The celebration of a new year has been going on for centuries dating backto Babylonian times. The notion of resolutions is loosely based on Janus,

a mythical Roman figure, who is depicted with two faces: one for looking backat past events and one for looking toward the future. The month of January wasactually named after Janus. The New Year begins at different times for differentcivilizations: western societies, like the U.S., recognize the solar calendar basedon 365 days around the sun and eastern societies, like China, recognize thelunar calendar where the New Year is based on the first full moon after the sunenters Aquarius. Regardless of when the New Year is recognized, the custom ofcelebrating the passing of time crosses cultures. It is an occasion to reflect onyour accomplishments for the year ending, bid it good riddance, and set goalsfor what you want your new year to bring.

COMMON RESOLUTIONSIt is common for us to make resolutions about saving money, losing weight,

or cleaning out clutter. While we make lists forourselves, we must not forget our furry orfeathered companions. You may think, “Well, Ijust got them several new toys for the holiday,”but that is very short term. They do love theirtoys, but if asked what they would like to havemore of (besides food); the answer would be“time with you.” If you were planning on sav-ing more money, wouldn’t you put aside a littlebit each week in a savings account? Then youneed to consider some things you could dowith your animal companions each week. Notonly will it be supporting their mental andphysical well-being, but it will be good for youtoo!

PLAN ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR PETWhen you sit down to fill out your calendar

for the year with birthdays, anniversaries andappointments that would be a good time towrite down a day each week for a special activ-ity with your animal family member. Make surethat you commit individual time to each animalin a multi-pet household. Some ideas include:

• Do more active things

• Take a long leisurely walk (or try a newlocation if you currently walk in yourneighborhood). Dogs assess their environ-ment with their noses and this would real-ly allow them to indulge by checking outnew scents. You can even take your cat ona walk around a small area (using a catharness).

• Play games (fetch a ball with your dog,chase the string with your cat, hide a nutor treat inside a toy for your bird).

• Train your dog or bird to do a trick (thisgives you interaction time with them andgives them an opportunity to earnrewards — always use a special treat fortraining, one that you don’t give anyother time).

by Pat Hennessy

New Year’s Resolutionsfor Your Pet

While we make lists for ourselves,we must not forget our furry or

feathered companions.

• Change their daily diet to a higher nutrient based diet (moremeats and vegetables and less grains)

• Offer higher quality meat-based treats (and save some reallyspecial ones for training opportunities)

• Add veggies to your pet’s diet as a treat or with a meal(steaming fresh or frozen vegetables for your dog or cat willhelp them better absorb the nutrients — good choices aregreen beans, peas, sweet potato). Rinsed fresh veggies aregreat for birds.

Health and well-being is what we all strive for and our NewYear’s resolutions generally mirror that desire. We owe it to ouranimals to achieve it for them as well. As we turn the pages ofour calendars there should be a paw-minder to do that littlesomething special for them. All of our animals bring us such joy,but there is a wonderful quote about dogs that sum it up best:

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. Youare his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful andtrue, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthyof such devotion.” — Author unknown

Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws, LLC, anorganization that provides companion animalcare through behavior education, energy work,and positive training methods. Pat is a certifiedTTouch Practitioner, CPDT, and member of theIAABC, IAATH, and AWA. Contact N2Paws via [email protected], phone 816-522-7005, orvisit the website www.n2paws.com

• Spend more time bonding.

• Meditate (listen to some soft music and relax with youranimal next to you, in your lap, or on your shoulder)

• Practice yoga (you can actually do this with your animalcompanion!)

• Do some mindful touching on your dog or cat (gentlemassage or TTouch®, a light touch method), it will relaxyou both.

• Learn one new skill — just for fun (with the added bene-fit of exercise).

• Agility (following an obstacle course with speed & accuracy).

• Freestyle (dancing with your dog).

• Rally (following a course where each station designatesan exercise to perform with unlimited communication andvarying skill levels).

• Tracking (following your dog as she tracks a scent to findan article).

• If you prefer a low key activity, try one of the “bonding”ideas above.

IMPROVED HEALTHAnother way to honor our animal companions is to make a res-

olution to find ways to improve their health. You can becomemore educated about pet food and treats by learning what makesgood ingredients. Things you may want to consider:



Is your feline flabby or your pooch plump? Chances are you have an over-weight or obese pet. Researchers conservatively estimate that one in fourpets is either obese or overweight. More recent statistics report obese oroverweight pets at closer to one in every three pets.

Who is responsible for this epidemic? To be frank, we are. We are over-feeding and over-treating our pets. Simply stated, we feed them too much.Too much food (pet or human), too many treats and snacks, too many tablescraps, you name it — we feed our pets too much of it. Though there aresome other risk factors for obesity such as genetic or breed predispositionand some medications can increase the risk for obesity, we are ultimately incontrol of our pet’s diet and exercise.

Eight years ago my Pomeranian, Bonnie, was overweight. She is a thick-coated dog so change in physical appearance is hard to detect. Some otherphysical cues did surface however, and I still did not connect them to herbeing overweight. She had developed a limp in her rear hind leg, a sign ofjoint problem. She also panted hard when she walked, even when not walk-ing briskly.

Bonnie was five pounds overweight. Not too bad you say? Wrong. Bonniewas obese according to the statistical line in the sand (veterinarians qualifyan obese dog or cat if they are 20% more than the breed’s ideal weight), andclearly her weight was already causing her some problems. A change of dietand more exercise was a permanent change, not just steps to immediately

resolve her weight problem. With her weight undercontrol, the physical issues reversed — no morelimping and no heavy breathing.

HOW DOES YOUR PET MEASURE UP?To determine if your pet is overweight or obese,

examine the physical attributes of your dog or cat.For thin-coated dogs and cats at an ideal weight,the ribs should be fairly easy to see and you caneasily feel the ribs with your fingers using very littlepressure. From the side, you should see an abdom-inal tuck and from an overhead view, the waist is aslight hourglass shape. For thick-coated dogs orcats, you need to feel for the ribs, abdomen, andwaist. I cannot tell if Bonnie is overweight just bylooking at her; I have to dive into her thick coat tofeel for her ribs, waist, and abdomen.

In addition to your home assessments, it is advis-able to take your pet to the vet to establish yourpet’s ideal weight and compare to its currentweight. It is easy to weigh a small dog or a cat athome using your home scale. Weigh yourself with-out your pet and then weigh yourself holding yourdog or cat; subtract the first weight from the secondweight. Tracking your pet’s weight every three to sixmonths can help keep an eye on weight-gains orlosses.

MY PET IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE —NOW WHAT?

Acknowledge the problem. You and your wholefamily must acknowledge that your pet is over-weight or obese. Royal Canin, a pet food manufac-turer, discovered that many pet owners are unwill-ing to acknowledge that their pet is overweight orobese either because the obesity has not yet causedany problems or because the owner is in denial thata few extra pounds is a sign of an unhealthy pet.

Comply with the change. An important successfactor in your pet’s weight loss is your complianceto a lasting change in diet and increased exercise.While it is important to reduce weight as an imme-

by Sarah Dixon

Get theYou and your whole family must

acknowledge that your pet isoverweight or obese.

SKINNYOBESITY

on

diate goal, a successful plan will include thesustainability of maintaining a caloric intakeand energy output. Diet and exercise is direct-ly under your control.

Reduce the calories and increase the exer-cise. Reducing your pet’s daily calories andincreasing exercise are the cornerstones of anydiet regimen. If you are already feeding thecalorie requirement for the weight that yourdog or cat should be, simply reducing howmuch you feed is not advisable since reducingthe amount fed also reduces the needed nutri-tion that your pet receives. Fasting and reduc-tion of food may cause lean muscle loss andfrom a behavior perspective your pet’s hungermay lead to aggressiveness.

High-protein diets have been used with greatsuccess for weight loss. Protein rich foods(named animal protein is best) have severalbenefits to help your dog or cat reduce weight.Protein improves satiety, preserves lean tissuemass, and makes it possible to increase theloss of fatty mass. (Diez, 2006) Prescriptionweight-loss products reduce calories, but thisoften comes with increased fiber. Fiber is indi-gestible. Its purpose in these diets is to reducethe caloric value filling up the dog or cat. Adecrease in the digestibility of certain nutrientssuch as proteins and minerals is an inherentdisadvantage to this type of diet.

Cats fed a high-protein (named animal pro-tein is best) diet burn more calories and gainless weight than cats fed a high-carbohydratediet even with the same caloric intake. Manycat foods are full of corn-gluten meals andgrains; try to avoid these.

In addition to reducing caloric intake, strict-ly measure how much you are feeding. Use thestandard measuring cup used in cooking toproperly divide the portion. For example, I hadone client explain to me that he fed his over-weight dog a cup of food at night and a cup offood at morning. However, his “cup” was a 32ounce cup from the QT convenience store.

If you have more than one dog or cat eatingfrom the same bowl at the same time, youshould consider separate bowls with scheduledfeeding times. It is much easier to manage howmuch is eaten and by whom when the bowlsand the dogs are separated.

Be wise with the type of treats and snacks yougive. Some treats can have as many as 100kcals(kilo-calories) per treat. When your dog or catonly requires 400kcals daily, eating one treatwith 100kcal is 25% of their total allowance.

Use the food you’re feeding as treats since the calorie information is located onthe bag of food.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL WITH OBESITY?Scientists are uncovering the complex relationship between obesity and the

associated diseases. Among the recent findings, scientists find that obesity is achronic inflammatory condition that is thought to play a role in chronic diseaseslike osteoarthritis. Furthermore, tissue damage linked to obesity increases theoxidative stress that obesity causes. One of the most common chronic diseases


affecting our pets is diabetes. Insulin resistance is a common element in obesedogs and cats — an effect of oxidative stress. Reduced insulin sensitivity mayprovide a direct link to decreased lifespan. (D.P Laflamme, 2007)

PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINEAs with most medical matters, prevention is the key when it comes to good

health. Obesity leads to several health problems and decreases the lifespan ofour pets. Regular monitoring of your pet’s diet and weight is the most effectivemeans to address your pet’s health. Only you have direct control over what and

how much your pet eats.

Sarah Dixon is the founder of Pet Food & NutritionConsulting. PFNC’s mission is to educate pet owners about petfoods, diet, health, and nutrition. Sarah has over seven years ofindependent research in the pet food industry, including fouryears of one-on-one consulting. Sarah enjoys working with petowners and businesses about pet nutrition. She can be reachedat [email protected] or visit her website at www.petfood-nutritionconsulting.com.

WHO?

Homestead Pet Resort & Spa, LLC

WHERE? 3233 Chautauqua Road, Holton, KS 66436Phone: 785-872-3200 • Fax: 785-872-3220www.homesteadpetresort.com • email:[email protected]

HOW LONG IN BUSINESS?December, 2008

WHY ARE YOU DIFFERENT?Homestead Pet Resort & Spa is a pet boarding

facility like no other. We are your pet’s homeaway from home, a canine playground set up soyour dog has as much fun on vacation as you do;a feline sanctuary where your cat will be as con-tent as if at home.

BENEFITS OF HOMESTEAD PET RESORT& SPA

We care for dogs and cats of all sizes, ages,most breeds, and temperaments. Come for a dayof play. Boarding stays may be short-term orextended. Homestead Pet Resort & Spa is staffed24/7 and pets are never left unattended. Whileyou are away, your pet will have a great vacation!

Homestead aspires to create an environmentwhere pet owners have assurance that their lovedones are well cared for, as if they were staying athome. Our staff actually sleeps in the playroomswith your pet to provide round-the-clock super-vision. Pets will be crated at night only at theowner’s request. The Homestead facility is state-of-the-art: clean, secure, spacious, and most ofall, a healthy environment.

We also offer valet services! We will pickup and drop off dogs and cats within a100-mile radius of Homestead Pet Resort& Spa.

REASONS CUSTOMERS COME BACK! The special treatment their pets receive at our

Home away from Home.


METROPET RESOURCE


ENTER THE ONLINE PHOTO CONTEST AT

WWW.METROPETMAG.COM

Mojave — Mojave, a.k.a “Mojo.” Heis 12 weeks old in this picture. He maylook innocent but looks can be deceiv-ing with this little Bengal! He may be ahandful but he is well worth it.Submitted by Karen.

Lexi & Cali — Both where rescuedfrom a shelter. We could not be moreblessed. Submitted by Candi

Oliver — I was riding my bikewith my camera in my backpackand he chased me down as if tosay, “Hey you with the camera,get a load of this face!” I had tostop and indulge him. Thanks toOlivers’ nice owners for lettinghim model. Submitted by Lisa.

Online Photo Contest


Like any good marriage, the relationshipbetween Pets for Life certified therapy teams andthose they have helped is best celebrated not forthe singular need which brought them together,but for the individual and cherished intimaciesthat are continually born out of that need. 2009marks the 25th anniversary of this relationship ofcompassion, healing, and hope. This is the Petsfor Life story.

STARTED IN 1984…the small boy at

Marillac sat huggingPeaches, whispering inher ear the concerns hekept from everyoneelse…

In 1984 William D. andHarriett Snyder sat watching a60 Minutes segment aboutan animal-assisted therapyand activities program inEngland. At that moment,Kansas City’s Pets for Life, Inc.was born. Within days theSnyders and a few friendsbegan visiting nursing homeswith their pets. At first theyfocused on visits to elderlypatients living in nursinghomes, but as the Snyders andtheir volunteers identified fur-ther need in the community,the organization grew andexpanded. Now Pets for Life has over 150 activepet and volunteer teams. They visit hospitals,rehabilitation facilities, shelters for domestic vio-lence, facilities for troubled youth, correctionscenters, and hospice facilities. They are affiliatedwith the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education AssistanceDogs) Program which connects pet and volun-teer teams with children for the purpose of help-


KIP: THAT DAMNED DOGKip and Jane visit patients in a local Alzheimer’s community. They frequent

the area where the residents are living with the more advanced stages of thedisease. Most of the people they visit are non-verbal, and the ones who dospeak tend to repeat themselves and talk to the pets as if they were acquain-tances from the past. It can be quite a challenging place to visit because mostof the residents don't invite them over or ask to pet Kip. Jane often takes theinitiative, and sometimes the “visit” consists of her simply placing Kip wherethe patient can see him, and trying to get her to open her eyes or perhaps

focus her attention on Kip's softeyes for a moment or two.

As they got off the elevator tobegin a recent visit, Kip and Janeheard a familiar voice. It was Kay,who often sits in a wheelchair inthe common area. Kay talks a lot,and she is always very loud andoffers graphic descriptions of herpain, discomfort, and anxiety. Sheoften complains that nothing any-body does helps her at all. Herbehavior tends to alienate thosearound her: fellow patients, vol-unteers, and even the staff. Onprevious visits Kay had yelled atJane, “Get that goddamn dogoutta here!” Kip and Jane usuallytried to steer clear of her.

Upon hearing Kay's voice, Janeautomatically headed away fromher, but Kip had other ideas. Hehad stopped and was lookingright at Kay. Jane could tell Kip

wanted to approach Kay, so she let him. Kay was in the middle of a long andloud complaint, but Kip walked right up and put his head in her lap. Suddenly,the woman looked down at him and said, “The dog is listening! He under-stands how bad I feel! Look, he cares about what I'm saying!”

Kip and Jane stayed with Kay for a few minutes, and Kay stroked Kip’s head.Kip seemed content to just stand there with his head on her leg.

Of course, the next time Kip and Jane got off the elevator, a few weeks later,Kay once again didn't want that “goddamn dog” anywhere near her. But forone day, for those few minutes, Kay knew that Kip listened and cared.

by Suezanne Law

Love ConnectionThe

They are special animals: these dogs of all breeds and sizes — many from areashelters — and the cats, bunnies, and even guinea pigs or birds who work thistherapeutic magic. But they are regular companion animals, too, who live inhomes with their families. And when they walk through the doors of the facilitiesthey visit, they are celebrities. Rightly so: residents look forward to the visits all

ing them improve their reading skills. And theyparticipate in the E.L.L. (English LanguageLearners) Program, by which they help childrenwhose first language is not English practice read-ing, too.

WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS…the stroke patient had not moved her

head or limbs for three weeks, but thenshe saw Beau — and, smiling, reachedout to stroke his head…

The Pets for Life organization is unique in themany different types of facilities they serve, thewide age-range of their clients, and the variety ofconditions they seek to alleviate. Volunteers workwith facility staff to determine the individualneeds of that facility and those in their care.Their work has included comforting and encour-aging depressed patients who have not respond-ed to other stimuli, but who may smile happilyand speak — often for the first time in months— to their four-legged visitor. The mere pres-ence of an animal has given patients with physi-cal impairments the incentive to move their bod-ies therapeutically just so that they can strokethat soft fur. And volunteers have witnessed hun-dreds of instances of demonstrable improvementin clients’ mental, emotional, and physical statesdue to their pet assisted therapy visits. What’smore, staff at the facilities they serve report thatmany patients continue to do well — often fordays afterward.

VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH PATIENTS…the Alzheimer’s patient remembered

that every Tuesday was Pets for Life day,and put out a bowl of fresh water for hisfour-legged friends…

Volunteers work with their own pets in the Petsfor Life program. The pet’s veterinarian must certi-fy the health of the animal, who must be current onall necessary vaccinations and other healthrequirements. Pets must have no prior history ofaggression or biting. Human volunteers study a vol-unteer manual and must pass an open book test onthe organization’s policies and procedures. Theymust also demonstrate a clear understanding oftheir roles as volunteers in various healthcare set-tings. And finally, they and their pets must pass thePets for Life Temperament Test, in which a series ofhandling, socialization, and obedience skills aremeasured. The object of this test is to ensure thatboth pet and human can cope with the sometimesfrightening environment of the hospitals, nursinghomes, and other facilities in which they may vol-unteer. JAN/FEB 2009 • MetroPetMag.com 25

The organization’s pet and volunteerteams serve 75 facilities in theKansas City Metropolitan Area.

week. Everyone remembersthe pets’ names, and gener-ally the human volunteersfade to the background. Butthe people are special, too,and fading to the back-ground is okay with them.They supervise and observeand assist. They know theirpets have a way of comfort-ing people who are hurting.They know their pets “get it”in ways that humans oftencannot. And so together,these volunteers, their pets,and their clients celebratethe intimacy of each hope-filled moment and the lovingconnection that transformsthose moments into friend-ships — for Life!


Who Is Pets for Life?The purpose of Pets for Life, Inc. is to enhance the care and treatment of peo-

ple in local hospitals, nursing homes, shelters for domestic violence, mentalhealth programs, treatment centers for youth, and corrections facilities throughthe use of certified therapy teams of pets and volunteers. The organization’s petand volunteer teams serve 75 facilities in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area,including facilities in Harrisonville, Cameron, Raymore, and Smithville. Theyserve Clay, Cass, and Jackson counties in Missouri, and Johnson, Miami, andWyandotte counties in Kansas.

Volunteers NeededThe program is very much in demand, and Pets for Life has a waiting list of facilities which

have requested their services — but more volunteers are necessary.

If you are interested in working with your pet to become a Pets for Life volunteer team,please plan to attend an open house event sponsored by Personable Pets Inc. Dog Trainingand Sympawtico Dog Training, LLC and hosted by Tails ‘R Waggin. Meet some of the therapydogs, talk with volunteers, and watch as these teams demonstrate some of the skills necessaryto pass the Pets for Life Temperament Test. Volunteers will also supply information about thetypes of facilities they visits, and will share stories of some of their therapy experiences.

Date & Time: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 1-3 p.m.

Location: Tails ‘R Waggin, 6976 W. 152nd Terr., Overland Park, KS66223

This Event for Human Volunteers Only — please leave your pet athome. For more information visit the Pets for Life web site at kcpetsforlife.com or call (816)-363-3665.

WHO?Mariposa Veterinary Center

WHERE? 13900 Santa Fe Trail Drive, Lenexa. KS66215 • Phone: 913-825-3330www.mariposavet.comemail: [email protected]

HOW LONG IN BUSINESS?We celebrated our 1 year anniversary November, 2008!

WHY ARE YOU DIFFERENT?Mariposa Veterinary Hospital brings integrated veterinary

medicine to families in a warm and inviting facility. Our build-ing was constructed using a straw bale design, with passivesolar and natural lighting throughout the facility. Our digitalradiography system eliminates the need for processing chemi-cals and silver recycling. Non-toxic paint and surfaces wereused whenever possible. The outside landscaping uses native

plants, and rain gardens for water conservation.

BENEFITS OF MARIPOSA VETERINARY CENTER

We believe in compassionate medicine, offering the best bal-ance of care of patients and to educate their owners. MariposaVeterinary Center offers a full-range of services including:Acupuncture, Allergy Treatments, Balanced ImmunizationProtocols, Chiropractic Care, Critical Care, Dentistry, DiabetesManagement, Digital Radiology, General Surgery, HospicePrograms, Microchipping, Nutritional Counseling, PainManagement, Weight Management and Well Care Services.

REASONS CUSTOMERS COME BACK! Our clients tell us they appreciate the feeling of understand-

ing and compassion when they are going through a difficulttime. Many feel that Dr Chappell is not only their veterinarianbut also one of the most caring people they know. Mariposa’sslogan is “Caring for Pets, People and the Planet.”

See our ad on the Inside back cover.

METROPET RESOURCE

Photo by Kathy at Fitzke’s

Photography

www.fitzkephoto.com

Cell: 913.638.7681 • Home

Studio: 913.837.3586

Learn More About Pets for Life


American Red Cross First Aid/CPRTraining for Dogs and Cats 2009

1st Qtr Schedule(Dates and times subject to change.)

January:1/11, Sunday, 10:00am to 3:00pm1/25, Sunday, 10:00am to 3:00pm

February:2/15, Sunday, 10:00am to 3:00pm

March:3/8, Sunday, 10:00am to 3:00pm3/22, Sunday, 10:00am to 3:00pm

Location: Barkville Pet BoutiqueCost: $40 per person. Please register in advance.

For information contact Sarah Dixon at 816-527-8087 or Diana Park at 816-452-6267.

Dog and Cat NutritionClasses February, 2009

These presentations, by pet nutritionspecialist Sarah Dixon, focus on nutri-tion and diets for dogs and cats. They will be held each Tuesday night inFebruary, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Classes are free but you must register inadvance.

Topics:• Better Nutrition, Better Health — February 3• What You Need To Know About Home-Prepared Diets —

February 10• A Review of Diet Options: Dry, Wet, and Raw Pet Foods —

February 17• Nutritional Supplements — February 24

Location: Barkville Pet BoutiqueCost: Free. Must register in advance.

For details or to register, contact Sarah Dixon at 816-527-8087.

Red CrossFirst Aid & CPR

Dog & CatNutrition Class


Gemini (May 21 - June 21)Cat On A Hot Tin Roof The actions of thisfeline will always be erratic. He or she advancesin short, quick flits which stop as suddenly asthey started. Then, this feline will be off at a tan-gent from his or her original direction.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Crazy Cat This feline uses the home as aplace to sleep away the daylight hours. Whennight arrives, the Cancer Cat truly comes intotheir own...out on the prowl and singing to theneighbors when the Moon is full. Indeed, thesefelines do so love the sound of their own voices.This cat is no fighter and will usually back awaytimidly from any confrontation...much like theinfamous Cowardly Lion from the “Wizard of Oz.”

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)The Top Cat To a Leo Cat, home is his or hercastle...the place where minions are entertainedand advisors are consulted. Home is where thisfeline performs to large audiences and evenhosts state banquets...all at the expense of hisor her owner and, usually, inconvenience. Ahouseful of other people’s cats can be some-what distressing (to say nothing of the smell).

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Kitten Cat It is essential that the Virgo Catbe served their meal in the same place, at thesame time every day. They will also react in a neg-ative fashion to any sudden change in diet, andharsh smells (such as air fresheners or cleaningagents) will often bother and offend the Virgo Cat.

Feline SignsAquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18) The Hip CatThis cat is driven by such a primitive urge for self-protection beyond the immediate envi-ronment that it is not unusual to hardly ever see him or her. The garden next door willalways prove to be more exciting and the Sagittarius Cat will launch from one frantic activ-ity into the next glorious adventure...so much so that often the only sign of this feline maywell be a glimpse of fur disappearing into the distance.


Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) The Copy-Cat If the owner is caring and sensi-ble, drastic weight gain can be avoided and theLibra Cat can remain as hale and sylphlike asany of their feline cousins. Libra Cat will invari-ably blend-in with their surroundings. Therefore,an owner should not be surprised if their tabbyLibra Cat appears to match the carpet.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) The Cat’s Pajamas If the owner offers food andnot heat then, in the eyes of the Scorpio Cat, thatowner has failed. This all comes about becausethe Scorpio Cat finds it well-night impossible toexpress true feelings.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) The Stable Cat This cat will never be a very notice-able addition to the family...acting more as a passingguest who drops in occasionally and then drops outagain almost before he or she has had time for ameal. The Sagittarius Cat can be a truly sincere cat,capable of bestowing a considerable amount ofaffection...when they are actually present to do so.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan 20)The Cat Burglar Possessed of a strong mater-nal/paternal instinct, the Capricorn Cat will viewall the world’s inhabitants as their “children.”

This feline often enjoys doing things that are outof the ordinary, such as sleeping in the bathtubon hot days or drinking water directly from thefaucet.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) The Ship’s Cat The Pisces Cat would likely bethe first to admit that he or she is not the “be alland end all” of the feline species, but is quitecontent to assume the position of a small cog inthe larger family group...filling in odd corners forpeople rather than trying to take over as so manyother cats are inclined to do.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)The Stray Cat The occasional empty feedingbowl may well be the most anyone will see of theAries Cat...or perhaps a tail disappearingthrough the cat-flap. The holidays will be the raretimes when this cat chooses to remember theypossess an owner and will decide to hangaround for a moment or two.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) The Earth Mother If it were not for the fact thatthis feline will spend most of his or her life deadto the world (rather like an inconveniently-placedball of fur), the Taurus Cat would be the almostperfect cat.

IT IS UP TO USMost of us have forgotten a bag for scooping at least once. There are even

those days when the one bag you have is not enough. Lately I’ve noticed the citysidewalk easement is becoming ano-scoop zone for some dog own-ers. Then there are some who justdon’t bother. Whether from lazi-ness or ignorance, it just doesn’thappen. Thankfully, that is becom-ing less common. There is stillplenty of guilt to go around. Peoplemay complain about dogs, but it’sreally the human part of the equa-tion that creates the problem.Scooping is a human issue, not acanine one. The dog may make thedeposit — but it’s the human thatshoulders the responsibly of takingcare of the dog. As scoopingbecomes less of a problem, alldogs and their families benefit.

A NEW SOLUTIONHere is my stab at solving that

issue for dog owners. I created myown inexpensive poop bag stationfor the sidewalk in front of my

house. My creation costs around $25, vs. the commercial versions that start atseveral hundred dollars. I hung a simple wren house on a maple tree next toour sidewalk. The wren house had several things going for it. The hole is theperfect size to pull rolled bags out one at a time. The front latch for cleaningmakes it a snap to open to put a new roll in. Local discounters have a readysupply of rolled bags anyway. I just buy them in bulk. Nothing to it!

I like the look of the simple wooden birdhouse. It blends into a garden set-ting. Why not try it for yourself? The creative possibilities are endless. Get thekids involved! Let them paint or decorate their house. The wren house is small,easy to mount anywhere, and an attractive alternative to other bag dispensers.It creates a friendly, fun solution to a problem most neighborhoods face. I used


these for the city easement, but it would work in abackyard garden as well. Imagine how easy thiswould be in neighborhood common areas! Youdon’t need the trashcan that drives up the price ofcommercial versions. Any public trash will do thetrick.

A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVEThe commercial pet stations can be expensive

and their bag supply can get pricey. They may besturdy, but hardly blend into an otherwise pictur-esque neighborhood park. If you have around$500 to install a top of the line dog station and thecash flow for at least 4 cents a bag to refill it, youcan have one installed. Or, for around $25, youcan use this simple solution for your neighbor-hood to achieve the same purpose.

by Barbara Bowen Miller

Front access makes thishouse a snap to use!

Commercial versionsare better suited tohigh traffic parks.

Scooping is forthe Birds’ (Houses)

WHY PLACE A SCOOP STATION?It’s fun, easy, respectful, and reminds walkers

that someone else is depending on them to cleanup after their dog. I believe that goes a long waytowards solving a problem. It has been a funexperiment in my neck of the woods. I’ve metmore neighbors since walkers will actually makea point of walking by to get a bag. Putting thebags out is just half of the solution. Getting peo-ple to use them is the critical part. As part of myexperiment, I put my birdhouse up with bags atthe ready but no sign. No one used it. When Ipenned, “help yourself” on the roof, trafficbegan picking up. (Pun intended) Neighborsoffered to bring replacement bags. It startedsidewalk conversations. Even had a localreporter snap a picture of it. In the peak sum-mer months the record use was 90 bags in aweek. In our quiet neighborhood, that was proofthat my little birdhouse had been a popular stop.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE SCOOPINGThere are some lingering common myths to

battle. Too many people still think that a doggiedeposit will simply disintegrate in the dirt orgrass. Technically that’s true. Eventually it will.However, if its winter, those little poopsicles justlay waiting for spring temps. That’s when you’llfind them with your nose. In the summertime, itwill likely kill the grass it’s covering. It is abreeding ground for germs and parasites. At theminimum, there is a high probability its will endup decorating someone’s shoes.

The bag station also serves as a gentlereminder: to take the bag is to agree to use it.Provide the solution (bags) and set expectations


in a positive manner: “Thanks for scoop-ing!” Nasty signs about dogs don’t work.We’ve all sinned at some point. Share thesolution.

Several years ago, my company wasasked to help scoop for the annual Dog‘N Jog with only 2 weeks notice. The pre-vious scooping crew used a golf cart tozip through the mile route and still strug-gled to keep up. I knew my fledglingcompany had little hope to keep up with

Commercial varieties maybe sturdy, but hardly blend

into a neighborhood.

A wooden birdhousecan blend into its

surroundings.

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Mail To: MetroPetPO Box 480065 • Kansas City, MO 64148

Aussie Pet Mobileaussiepetmobile.com • Pg. 33

Brookside Pet Conciergebrooksidepet.com • Inside Front Cover

Camp Bow Wow Olathecampbowwow.com/olathe • Pg. 15

Dog’s World of Fundogsworldoffun.com • Pg. 27

Heart of America Invisible Fence816.941.7700 • 913.722.9948 • Pg. 5

Invisible Fence of Kansas Cityinvisiblefence.com • Pg. 23

Homestead Pet Resort and Spahomesteadpetresort.com • Pg. 25

K9-Instinctsk9instincts.com • Pg. 15

Mariposamariposavet.com • Inside Back Cover

N2 Paws N2paws.com • Pg. 11

Pawz at Playpawzatplay.com • Inside Front Cover

PetAutoSafety.competautosafety.com • Pg. 17

Pet Food and Nutrition Consultingpetfoodnutritionconsulting.com • Pg. 21

Pete And Mac’s www.petemac.com • Back Cover

Precious Pets Memorial Center preciouspetsmemorialcenter.com • Inside Back Cover

Scoopy the Pooscoopythepoo.com • Pg. 9

Sydney’s Pet Spasydneyspetspa.com • Pg. 31

Sympawticosympawtico.com • Pg. 33

Tails R’ Waggintailsrwaggin.com • Pg. 28

Woof ’s Play and Staywoofsplaystay.com • Pg. 19

Wilks Radio GroupKMXV-FM, Mix 93.3 • mix93.com • Pg. 10, 29

KFKF-FM, 94.1 • kfkf.com • Pg. 10, 29KCKC-FM 102.1 • star102.com • Pg. 10, 29KBEQ-FM 104.3 • q104kc.com • Pg. 10, 29

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close to a thousand dogs. We went right to Plan B! The HumaneSociety of Greater Kansas City kindly provided volunteers to helpwith scooping. Scoop bags were included in the registrationpackets and handed out at the event. Pet owners simply droppedoff the used bag in the trash bin by the Humane Society’s raffletable to qualify for door prizes. On the race route, the Plaza main-tenance crew placed barrels in the middle of the street. Thereagain is the implied “here’s where you put your used bags.”Engaging the dog owners in the solution dramatically reduced ourworkload!

TRY IT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!Lately I’ve been tinkering with new designs to adapt for the high

volume commercial rolls. Try my wren house idea in your neigh-borhood. If you do use, please share a picture! I’d love to seeyour own personalized solutions. Sharing our lives with dogs canbe such a joy. Anything to make it easier makes it better for all ofus. If we want a dog friendly city, we can all make a differencewith simple solutions.

Barbara Bowen Miller is the owner of Brookside Pet Concierge. 816-694-9296 • www.brooksidepet.com

See ad Inside Front Cover

It’s fun, easy, respectful, andreminds walkers that someoneelse is depending on them to

clean up after their dog.

Chip

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Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day isyoung, we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’reinside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?Border Collie: Just one. And then I’ll replace anywiring that’s not up to code.Dachshund: You know I can’t reach that stupid lamp!Rottweiler: Make me. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toysin the dark.Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change thelight bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I?Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please! German Shepherd: I’ll change it as soon as I’ve ledthese people from the dark, check to make sure I haven’tmissed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol tosee that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation. Jack Russell Terrier: I’ll just pop it in while I’mbouncing off the walls and furniture. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I’m sorry, butI don’t see a light bulb!

Cocker Spaniel: Whychange it? I can still pee on thecarpet in the dark. Chihuahua: Yo quiero TacoBulb. Or ‘We don’t need no stink-ing light bulb.’ Greyhound: It isn’t moving. Who cares? Australian Shepherd: First, I’ll put all the lightbulbs in a little circle...Poodle: I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear andhe’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, mynails will be dry.

HOW MANY CATS DOES IT TAKE TOCHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

Cats do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs.So, the real question is: “How long will it be before I canexpect some light, some dinner, and a massage?”

All of which proves, once again, that whiledogs have masters, cats have staff!

See each breeds answer below.


What Would Your Dog Do?HOW MANY DOGS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?


Exciting Newsfor 2009

KMXV-FM, Mix 93.3 • www.mix93.com

KFKF-FM, 94.1 • www.kfkf.com

KBEQ-FM 104.3 • www.q104kc.com

KCKC-FM 102.1 • www.star102.com

JUMP! to the 2009Mid-America Boat & RV ShowCool Dog Productions presents JUMP!

The Ultimate Dog Show. The “cool” dogsare highly conditioned, top-flight ath-letes skilled in high-flying, high-energyacrobatics, frisbee catching, and dock-diving. It's non-stop entertainment thatwill keep you on the edge of your seat!

Most, if not all of the dogs, have beenrescued from shelters across the coun-try. Dogs and other animals end up inshelters for a variety of reasons that they have no control over. They needour help. Remember, shelters are a great place to meet your next bestfriend.

Cool Dog Productions, is all about the dogs. Every one of them is special.Be sure to see this amazing exhibition at both the RV and the Boat Show.

The Kansas City Mid-America Boat Show is the BIGONE and in 2009 it’s two weekends not one —February 13 to 15, 2009 and February 20 to 22,2009. This is the Midwest consumers’ show for thebest deals on cruisers, runabouts, ski & wakeboard boats, fishing boats,pontoons and personal watercraft. This is a SELLING show and the dealersare primed to offer you the best prices on the newest models available thisspring.

The Kansas City Mid-America RV Show is the largestconsumer show dedicatedto the RV'ing lifestyle inthe Midwest. The showwill be held in conjunction with the Boatshow on February 13 to 15, 2009 andFebruary 20 to 22, 2009. With over 200 unitsspread out over Halls A, B & C in Bartle Hallat the Kansas City Convention Center, theShow offers the RV'ing enthusiast a look atthe newest products and services on the mar-ket. Whether you are in the market for a pop-up camper, truck camper, travel trailer, 5thwheel trailer, motor home or custom motorcoach, you will find it and the best prices atthe Mid-America RV Show.

MetroPet has partnered with the Wilks Broadcastinggroup to provide pet owners with timely information andresources. So you will be hearing MetroPet on the radioand in streaming ads. Yes, you will hear MetroPet newsand events on Mix 93.3, 94.1 KFKF, Star 102 and Q104.

MetroPet will also be providing content for pet pages ateach radio station’s website. On these sites you will find afeatured article, pet horoscopes, a link to events andmuch more. So if your listening to the radio and you hearMetroPet — don’t be surprised!

Visit the MetroPet booth at both shows!

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