My Friend Cookie

I hope it's OK with all my fans and readers, but I would like to take a week off from giving my advices and opinions and tell you about a very special girl named Cookie who has found her way into my heart.

Cookie is a pittie (just like me) at the Humane Society of Warren County (where I used to be) and she has been there a long time (just like me before I got my Furever Family).  Here's the most important part -- she is really tired of being at the shelter and does not like HATES her kennel (just like me!)  She needs everyone's help to find her way out of the shelter.  I'm helping her send out her S.O.S. so she can find her Real Family very soon.

I feel like I'm the right girl to tell you about what Cookie is experiencing because we have so much in common, and I know she just wants to feel like herself again.  I think Cookie is one of the most beautiful dogs I have ever seen.  She is beautiful inside and out, and if you could really see her when she is outside or on an outing with Jessica (her Good Buddy), she is full of charm and energy and personality.

But in the shelter these days she doesn't really seem like she is very interested in entertaining guests or chatting with passersby, at least not while she is in her kennel.  She has been at the shelter since September 2012 and she is bummed that it's taking so long to bust out.  People walk by her kennel and say things like "Look at that sad girl."  But that's not the real Cookie.  When her Good Buddy Jessica comes to visit (twice a week as faithful as the sun and the moon), Cookie blossoms into her real self.

  

Cookie loves all of her special humans at the shelter, but she has the most fun and adventures with Jessica.  She gets to go outside and play games and learn new things.  Good Buddies have lots of time to spend with just their one lucky dog, and Cookie really loves her Good Buddy time because it gives her a chance to be herself.  Sometimes Cookie enjoys just hanging out at the shelter and playing with her special toys.  Other times, she goes on car rides (and on very special days she goes to Wendy's for cheeseburgers).

There are some days that she is just pooped after doing so many fun things, and all she wants to do is lie in the cool, green grass.

 And after running and playing ... and running some more ... sometimes Cookie just likes to close her eyes and take a snooze.  

 Cookie will very honestly tell you that she would strongly prefer to be the only dog in her Furever Home.  She grew up with kitties, but since she has been at the shelter for so long now, and she doesn't always feel like her normal, happy self, she doesn't like cats as much as she used to.  I think she could get used to cats again, with no trouble at all.  I know how it feels to be so stressed in the shelter that you don't have patience for other animals.  I was the same way after I had been there for a long time.  But once I got to my real home, (and I could tell it was my Furever Home almost on the first day), I started being really nice to the other dogs and cats in the house.  Some dogs don't like other dogs, and some don't like kitties either, and that might just be Cookie.  I just wanted to share a few of my advices on how I felt when I finally knew I was never going back to the shelter.  It makes a huge difference when you know for sure it's your Furever Home and you start to breathe and relax and trust, and there's someone in your life that loves lives to give you belly rubs as much as you like to get them.  It's the best.

Cookie is a smart girl.  She is a quick learner and a lover of people.  When she is out of the shelter, she is vibrant, bright and animated.  She is a young girl with a long and happy life waiting ahead of her. She wants her own spot on a couch, she wants her own window to sit and watch the joggers go by, and she wants her own mailman to bark at (OK, well ... she'll probably have to learn not to do that).  She really wants her own family with her own spot in the family SUV, so she can go on real family vacations.

Cookie would like to invite you to a special bake sale being held in her honor at Walmart in Front Royal on May 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's called "Cookies for Cookie."  A bunch of Cookie's very favorite humans have organized this event to help more people get to know more about Cookie so that she can find her Furever Family very, very soon. 

There are lots of ways you can help my friend Cookie to find her Furever Family.  Maybe you are her Furever Family.  If you are, then come and meet her at 1245 Progress Road, Front Royal, VA  22630.  The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. everyday except Wednesday.  If you need a little time with Cookie to decide if it's a good fit, there's this thing called "Foster to Adopt."  (That's how I got my chance to use my disarming charm on  my "foster" parents ... it worked even better quicker than I thought it would).  Or you can share her pictures and her story in this blog post so that more people get to read about her, and then they will share, and pretty soon the whole world will know about my friend Cookie.  That would make me very happy.

Thank you for getting to know Cookie a little better.  She is a very sweet girl.  We're kinda like soul sisters.   

Please Just Call Me A Dog

Dear Annie,

If you could choose something to tell people about yourself, or about pit bull-type dogs in general, what would it be?

Signed,
Curious

Dear Curious,

Wow, I'm flattered and bewildered all at the same time.  I'm not really sure where to start.  I think first of all I would like everyone to know that I am not perfect. 

I am still learning good doggie manners.  I work on them all the time, and I'm a good girl, but I still have my weaknesses.  For example, I guard things.  I don't know why, and I am getting much better.  I don't do anything about it, I don't make a noise, or show one bit of aggression.  I just guard.  My food, my bed, the gate at the dog park, my toys, the pot roast in the crock pot, whatever seems important to me, I guard it.  Until one of my parents catches me doing it, and then I stop because I am "reminded" that I'm not supposed to be doing it.  I don't like it when I get  The Look or when my mom makes that funny noise that means "stop right this minute."  My mom says it is called "resource guarding" and I have to stop doing it.  Lots of dogs do it, but it doesn't make it right.  I don't do it as much as I used to, and I've almost broken the habit, but it has taken a long time.  It's very hard to break bad habits.   

I think it must be really hard for people to break bad habits, also, and I think people are in the bad habit of saying things about pit bull-type dogs that make us look bad, even when they don't realize that what they are saying might be harmful.  My least favorite thing for people to say to me is "Annie, you are the most well-behaved pit bull I have ever met."  Arrrrgggghhhh.

It's not that I'm not well-behaved, thank you very much, but what are they comparing me to?  What would be music to my ears is "Annie, you are the most well-behaved dog I have ever met."  Now that's what I'm talking about.  My parents did not have to train me any special way because I am a pit bull, they just had to teach me basic doggie manners and how to share and how to trust.  How I turned out had nothing to do with my breed, it had everything to do with the fact that I am a good dog.  And I am a dog that didn't get a really good start in life, so all this learning business had to come a little later in life.   

When someone tells me that I am the "best pit bull" they have ever met, what are they saying about my friend Cookie who is still waiting at the shelter?  Cookie is a very good dog, and she loves the outdoors and will never turn down a good game of fetch.

She loves the outdoors.

And she loves to get her belly rubbed.

It makes her smile.

My mom has a friend who recently said that when she hears someone say "she's the nicest pittie I've ever met," it sounds the same as if they were saying "she's the nicest felon I've ever met."  Now I know things come out wrong sometimes, and no one who has ever tried to pay us a compliment by saying this has ever intended it to come out wrong, but it sends a message to those who really don't know our breed very well that this "good pittie" is not the norm. And that's just not the truth.

So now, you wanna see some more really great pictures?  Our shelter has these really wonderful photographers (named Sue, Anna Marie and Franzi) and they spend time with all my brothers and sisters at the shelter and take pictures of them that make them look like movie stars.  Here's just a little sample of their work ....

This is Bella.  She came to the shelter as a stray and has Good Buddies who are teaching her to walk like a lady on a leash and other basic and important manners. I'm kinda jealous how she gets her one ear to do funny things.  I think it gives her a style advantage.

This handsome young boy is Dakota, and while we don't look alike, we actually are a LOT alike.  Remember, I told you about my parents having to teach me about not guarding things I love?  Well, this boy is going to be working really hard with his Good Buddy on basic manners and obedience to overcome some guarding/herding tendencies of his own.  Good luck, Dakota, I know you are going to be fine.  You just need to get your mind on other more important fun stuff.

This is Grace and she is simply beautiful.  Her Good Buddies are Joe and Amber and they are the answer to her prayers.  Grace really doesn't like the shelter, and it makes her anxious (boy, do I know that feeling).  This Saturday, Grace gets to go to the place where I get my nails done for a total beauty treatment.  She is going to get her furs all cleaned and brushed, her nails trimmed, the whole works.  I can't wait to hear how much she likes it. 

This is Genesis, but her best friends at the shelter call her Ginny.  (See her ear ... I am sooooo jealous!)  She works with 2 Good Buddies, and she is doing great, learning manners, and charming her Good Buddy Tom with kisses on his cheek.  That's the way to do it, Ginny ... keep up the good work!

And this is Karma.  She is a very young girl with lots of energy and enthusiasm.  Her Good Buddy is teaching her basic manners as well as impressing upon her that nibbling on fingers (even gently, as a puppy will do) is not a good way to make new friends.  Now tell me, if you saw this picture of Karma in the kennel, would your heart have fluttered like it did just now, or do you agree these pictures really tell you more about the individual dog?   

I love these pictures, and yes, most of them are pit bull types.  But they are ALL dogs. 
I love these pictures because they save lives.  And so do you when  you share them, and for that I thank you.

See you next week. 

How Much Is That Doggie In The Window? (Ask Annie 4-27-2013)

Dear Annie,

Can you help me understand why so many people say it is not a good idea to buy a puppy from a pet store?  I have 2 dogs that I bought as puppies from a pet store.  I feel so sorry for them.  Don't they need to be rescued, too?

Signed,
Animal Lover

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Dear Animal Lover,

Thank you for asking this question.  You have asked a very important question and I have taken some extra time to gather information about pet stores and puppy mills. It wasn't that I am not sure how I feel about pet stores -- I'm very positive that I dislike them very, very much.  I am just so passionate about it that I wanted to be sure to give you as many facts and information about it as possible, and also do a very good job. 

First of all, the reason I hate really dislike pet stores is because virtually all pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills.  (My mom won't let me use the word hate, even when I want need to.)  Puppy mills are terrible, terrible places and they do terrible things to dogs and puppies.  Here is a little information on why puppy mills are so bad (it is really not going to be easy to read what I am going to write about puppy mills, but it is true, and it's important to me for my readers to know about it):

A puppy mill is a crude, outdoor breeding farm that mass-produces puppies for sale to pet stores, and regularly supplies dogs to laboratories and animal brokers. If one of these breeding farms is breeding more than 3 females dogs at a time, it is considered a puppy mill.  Dogs in puppy mills are farmed as "livestock" and they are viewed as a cash crop.  Expenses are kept down to maximize profits, and the puppies and the momma dogs suffer for it.

In puppy mills, large groups of puppies "live" together in small crates, and their crates are stacked on top of each other, forcing the dogs in the bottom rows of crates to be urinated and defecated on.  Not only do the poor puppies on the bottom rows get very dirty and even sick, the constant standing in urine causes discomfort (or worse) to their paws.

Being an adult female dog in a puppy mill is a life sentence of torture.  The adult females are chained together with male dogs for weeks at a time to facilitate breeding.  They are forced to become pregnant over and over again, doing the hard work of carrying and delivering litter after litter, and they never get to live a normal life.  They are killed or auctioned off when they are no longer able to produce a profitable litter of puppies for the puppy mill.

Puppies are generally taken from their mothers at about 7 weeks of age.  They are sold to brokers who pack them in crates and ship them to the pet stores who have purchased them.  The conditions during transport are often so bad that not all of the puppies survive.  Those that do survive are often infected with contagious viruses, respiratory ailments and parasites.  Since the puppy mills and pet stores are trying to always watch their profits and keep themselves in the "black," the puppies (even the sick ones) often go without veterinary care.  Since the parents of these puppies were not well cared for either, the puppies in a pet store (i.e., from a puppy mill) are usually not healthy, and often have health issues related to overbreeding, and are at high risk for behavioral and temperament problems because of inbreeding.  They are almost never properly socialized because they lack proper, positive contact with humans. 

You know one of the strangest things about puppy mill/pet store puppies?  They often end up in shelters.  Yes, that's right.  They rarely get the attention they need to become well-adjusted, and since they are not properly socialized, the person who spent upwards of $1,000 for the "doggie in the window," they are often returned to the store where they were purchased, but more often are dropped off at shelters.  

By their very existence, puppy mills doom other animals. The marketing of approximately 1 million puppy mill animals each year prevents many people from adopting animals from pounds and shelters. It also undercuts the spay/neuter efforts of animal advocacy organizations.

SHOULD YOU BUY A PUPPY FROM A PET STORE?  NO!!!!  As long as pet store customers purchase puppies, puppy mills will have a market. If you purchase a puppy, another animal will take it’s place. The mothers of the pups will continue to suffer.  And the circle will never end. Puppy mills will continue to do what they do for as long as unsuspecting people continue to buy puppies at the pet store.  Don't fall for their marketing tactics ... they are going to tell you that the dogs they are selling come from "reputable breeders," and they will try and persuade you with well-rehearsed sales tactics, but please don't fall for it.  It's not true.  No matter how believable they sound.  Reputable breeders don't sell to pet stores.  

Here's something I just found out about:  When you buy a puppy online, in reality you are often buying from a retailer who gets their puppies from a puppy mill. 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME GOOD NEWS?  About one-fourth of the dogs at shelters are purebred dogs and puppies, and most of them are there for reasons other than  "dog behavior" issues.  They are healthy and well-socialized and they are waiting for you to adopt them.  You will usually get to hear about the dog's temperament, likes, dislikes, health issues, and other important background information, either because the former owner shared it with the shelter when the dog was surrendered, or the caring shelter staff has spent time with the dog, and gotten to know him personally.  They have great human contact and our shelter even has play groups for their dogs.  In our shelter, we have the Good Buddy Program, and it's a sure bet that if you adopt a dog that has had a Good Buddy, you are going to get lots of input about the dog. 



HOW DO YOU HELP SHUT DOWN PUPPY MILLS?  Don't buy a puppy from a pet store, OR online.   

It seems to me that not only is it a good thing to rescue/adopt a dog from a shelter, it's the best chance for getting a Really Good Dog.

ADOPT, DON'T SHOP!

What's Wrong With Those Shelter Dogs?

Over the past 2-3 months I have had the unexpected pleasure of being involved very closely and directly with the dogs at the Humane Society of Warren County, as the leader of the Good Buddy Program.  I hesitate to call  myself the "leader," but rather think of myself more as an organizer, or facilitator, to a group of selfless and talented volunteers who understand the temporary interruption that these dogs are experiencing and they want to help them through it.  And help them through it they do, with flying colors.

Because of this program, and the volunteers who make it work, dogs come into the program, and they get adopted -- with a very high success rate.

Tucker - Adopted

Caliber - Adopted

 It is undoubtedly the most challenging and rewarding volunteer undertaking of my life, and the question is already echoing in my head "who rescued who?" when it comes down to how much this work and my involvement with this wonderful group of dogs and people are transforming my life.  I dedicate this blog post to those volunteers who make this program work, and to the dogs, who need to be heard, through our voices. 

Sasha - Adopted

So, the question is asked, and asked often, "if these dogs are so wonderful, they why are they in the shelter?"  It's a question I used to ask as a younger and less experienced human being, so I don't judge those that ask it.  It just means more to me now than ever to bring the question out into the open and answer it.  Because there are hundreds of answers, but then only one answer.  Stated another way, there are hundreds of reasons why a dog might end up in a shelter, but it is rarely because the dog did anything wrong.


What does go wrong that make them "homeless shelter dogs"?

Beowolf - Adopted

Someone buys a small puppy and then it gets big.  Really big.  And eats too much, costs too much, is too hard to handle outside, needs too much space.  Dogs don't usually end up at the shelter because they did not get as big as expected.

Piper - Adopted

Training issues are a big reason dogs end up at the shelter.  Someone buys a dog because the dog is cute, or reminds them of Lassie, or Petey, or Benji.  But then they are surprised that the dog is not also as "smart" as those dogs on TV, or the cute little dog on the commercial.  It is a very unrealistic expectation to believe that a dog (even if it's not a puppy) will already know how to behave in his new home without being taught.

Enzo - Adopted

Some owners have to have a certain breed because they like how the breed looks.  However, many dogs, Shih Tzus, Westhighland White Terriers, Poodles, all have to be groomed regularly to maintain that "look," and this is also very expensive.
 

Hunter - Adopted

Sometimes dogs are surrendered to the shelter because their lifespan turns out to be longer than the owner expected. Yes, it's true, and I have seen it happen in my extended family, so as horrific as it sounds, it happens.  Some people really do believe that the average total lifespan for a dog is 5-6 years.  Barring health problems, and depending on breed, a dog can live for as long as 15-20 years.


Some people feel "cheated" when that purebred Rhodesian Ridgeback they just paid hundreds of dollars for has too many flaws and will never be "show" material.  Disappointed, and possibly even angry, they surrender the dog to the shelter.

Boss - Adopted

Sometimes dogs are surrendered because of a "lifestyle mismatch."  I know someone quite well who continues to insist that she must have a Westhighland White Terrier.  Over and over again, she gets one, and then gets rid of it because it's too "high energy."  Surprise!!!  Westies, for all their cuteness and adoreable-ness are sporting dogs and they like to be in motion.  Almost all the time.

The daily care and feeding of a dog is non-optional, and when a dog "belongs" to a child in the house, and then the child loses interest in caring for the dog, often the parents take the dog to the shelter, either to "teach the child a lesson" or because of work constraints, they feel they are left with no other choice.

Coco - Adopted (and her puppies)

Many times, a family gets a dog (not from a shelter) and fails to have it spayed or neutered, either because they don't understand the importance of it, or they want their children to experience the "miracle of birth."  The puppies are born, and quickly become an inconvenience and a huge expense. To the shelter they go. 

New baby, new house, new landlord, health issues, new job, military deployment ... the list goes on.  But you get the picture.  Nothing mentioned so far could be considered the dog's "fault," and in a few cases, it's not necessarily one human's "fault," either.  Life isn't fair, and many indviduals and families put a different emphasis on the importance of their dog's place in their family.  Some dogs are not considered family members at all.

Harry - Adopted

BSL (Breed Specific Legislation), as ineffective as it is, forces many perfectly good (PERFECTLY GOOD) dogs to end up in shelters.  It is an ongoing battle, and it appears the tide is beginning to turn for the better.

A dog is often brought in to the shelter as a stray by Animal Control or a concerned citizen.  They need to learn basic commands, housebreaking, leash walking, but they are often still good dogs.


Sometimes a dog is brought to the shelter as the victim of abuse or neglect -- a problem created by a human, not the dog. In the end, these dogs often make the best additions to a new family because they have gone from a neglectful home to a loving home and they "get it."

Jezebel - Adopted

There is a saying that says you can't pick your family members, but that's really not true ... not when there are always wonderful dogs waiting to be adopted at your local animal shelter.  
 

Lucy - Adopted

Brandy - Adopted

Cid - Adopted

Athena - Adopted

Bones - Adopted

Tessie - Adopted

Ask Annie (April 19, 2013)

 It's good to have my that my parents have their taxes done and now I'm back doing the things I love ... and this is one of them!

One of my readers asked a question about how to help a high strung dog deal with anxiety. She said her family has a lot of anxiety and the dog seems to pick up on it, he is restless and seems on edge a lot.  Her name is Jackelyn and I think she must love her dog a whole lot to be concerned about his anxiety.  

So, here is what I can tell you, based on what I know about it.  

Dogs exhibit anxiety for many reasons, some because of environmental stressors and many times because of separation.  Sometimes they are anxious because they are bored. 

 It's very important to remember that a tired dog is a happy dog. 

Panda

Also, did you know that your dog is very perceptive of your emotions and how you are feeling?  Some say that a dog can hear your heartbeat from 5 feet away.   

You say that there is a lot of anxiety in your home, but with no further details, it’s hard for me to know if this is an ongoing issue, or whether it is temporary or permanent.  

 Dogs are pretty adaptable and just need to know that they are part of the family.  We need our time to shine and be the center of attention within the family, and and we need a chance to work off our energy (after all, we are dogs). 

Tessie

Let’s just say that your house is full of activity and kids and just busy-ness from two working parents with kids and lots of responsibilities and chores and activities and more to do than you have time to do it.  Where does your dog fit into the family?  Does your dog get to go for a walk everyday?  This is not only important for your dog’s daily life, it is essential to her well-being, and can be a huge contributor to stress.  

Bella

In many ways, it is important to put yourself in your dog’s place. Try and imagine how you would feel if you had to stay inside your house, except for short potty breaks, everyday, all day long.  How do you feel when you have gotten out for a brisk walk or jog, or a workout at the gym?  Your dog feels the same way!  For families who have a fenced-in yard, it is easy to fall out of the routine of walking your dog, but a daily walk is vital, especially for a dog that is prone to anxiety.

Does your dog have a job?  Does he get to solve puzzles?  This is a great area to explore, and can be accomplished with a little imagination and things you have around your house.  Here are a few ideas:

Rocky

Get a box (judge how big or small by the size of your dog) and fill it with crumpled packing (or other non-toxic) paper.  Add bits of dry kibble or your dog’s favorite treat (maybe some chunks of cheese) and let her figure out how to get to all of those yummy morsels.  He will have to tip the box, rummage through the paper, sniff, scratch, tear and most of all use her brain to get what she wants out of the box.

Does your dog have a Kong? If not, he is in for a treat.  My mom and dad fill my Kong with layers of yummy stuff and when I am finished digging all that stuff out of there, I am exhausted and usually fall asleep when I am done. Here are some ideas of what you can layer in your dog’s Kong (and don’t let this stop you from letting your imagination go wild, because your dog is going to love whatever you fill it with): 

• dry kibble
• cheese chunks
• pieces of cooked carrots 
• cooked peas
• broken pieces of doggie treats
• pieces of cooked chicken

Once you have the Kong almost filled with the layers of yummy stuff, top it off with canned dog food or peanut butter and watch your dog go to town.  (You’re gonna want to give it to him in a place where it’s OK that he makes a slobbery mess, but it’s sooo worth it!)

Another idea that will prolong the “job” of emptying the Kong is to freeze it.  You might want to have 2 Kongs on a rotation so that one can be freezing while the other is being ravaged emptied.  

Lacey

My mom has read about others who buy beef bones at the pet store, empty them out of all the gross chemical laden stuff that comes inside of it when you buy them, and then stuff the hollow bones with the yumminess of your choice.  Like I said, let your imagination run away and you will have one very happy(ier) dog. 

One game you (or your older kids) can play with your dog is the “cup game.”  Put 2 or 3 cups upside down on the floor and put a Very Tasty Treat under one of the cups, but don’t tell your dog where it is.  Challenge your dog to find which cup has the treat, and then he has to figure out how to get to it.  Do it over and over again, each time changing the location or order of the cup containing the treat. 

Many of my friends that suffer from anxiety wear thundershirts.  If you haven’t heard about them, here’s where you can read more about this wonderful invention: http://tiny.cc/vwrqvw 

Here is a picture of my friend, Cookie, in her Thundershirt.  Cookie loves it and it helps her very very much.

Cookie

 You can put your dog into a thundershirt if you know she is getting ready to experience a certain stressor such as thunder, fireworks, or the vacuum cleaner.  If your dog is generally anxious, at least in the beginning of seeking solutions, you can let him wear it most of the time.  It will make him feel secure.  I have never used one, but I know they have worked wonders for my friends and I also know they use them at the shelter for the dogs who need them.

Similar to the theory behind a thundershirt, does your dog have a crate?  A place to call his own, where he can retreat whenever he wishes?  When used properly, a crate is a wonderful part of a dog’s life.  It’s a cozy little place where a dog can go to feel like nothing can harm him.  His very own den filled with his very own scent where he can go and get away from it all. 

Snuggles

 I hope I have given you some helpful information, and I am really happy that you follow my column.  There are lots of books out there about ways to help your dog overcome anxiety.  My favorite two experts on the issue are Jean Donaldson and Sue Sternberg. 

Your dog is lucky to have a guardian like you who cares so much that you look for answers to his issues.