Cottage Dog - Spring 2011

Spring 2011Vol. 2, Issue 2

DOCK DOGSTake the

Plunge!

AFGHANISTANKabul

Meet

COTTAGE DOGSCanada’s

Newest

TravelsChibley’s

AboardPICTON CASTLE

the

fromto

PuperazziCALGARY’SPet Expo

at

Bad Dog?Take ourQUIZ FIND OUT

Good Dog,

Get free pet health advice and connect with your veterinarianFind and adopt the perfect pet for your homeKeep a secure log of your pets’ health recordsFind missing pets with the Lost & Found featureFind local veterinarians in your area

Spring’s just around the corner, and soon our thoughts will turn to those annual rituals this season brings with it, not least of which is getting the

cottage ready for summer. To celebrate that wonderful sense of renewal – spring is a fresh start in so many ways – we’ve done a little freshening up of our own as CottageDog continues to expand.

Along with the continual fine-tuning of our design and layout, we’ve added a few new regular features to keep things fresh and exciting. A personal favourite is our feature on DockDogs, a thrilling summer sport involving dogs performing amazing feats as they leap off cottage docks into water. CottageDog owners know you’ll never witness a pooch having more fun anywhere! And it gets better: we’ll in fact be following DockDog events throughout the coming months, providing contest details as well as results (not to mention exciting photo-spreads) in or-der to promote these shows throughout Canada and into the US.

And as a nod to the fact that many dog owners are also cat lovers – and as part of our Year of the Cat celebrations (see more inside!) – this issue launches Chib-ley’s Travels, the continuing saga of the world’s best travelled cat aboard the tall ship Picton Castle. To top it all, you’ll be able to follow these exciting events – along with regular updates on these and other CottageDog projects and sto-ries – on our new “App”, available soon from Apple’s App Store. Talking about interactive… you can get up close and personal with your favourite dog mag at the upcoming All About Pets Show being held in Toronto from April 22nd-24th, and again at Woofstock on June 11th-12th, two wonderful pet events we’re help-ing sponsor.

To ensure you’re kept informed of all the many wonderful projects we’re working on, be sure to subscribe to CottageDog (either online or see our ad in this issue), or pick up your copy from Chapters and Indigo bookstores, across Canada. You can also follow us on our website (www.CottageDog.com) and our fun-filled and amazingly popular Facebook page, where you can pitch us stories and upload your best pooch-photos (while we can’t use them all in this mag, we can certainly use the best of the rest on our websites).

Finally, as we continue to grow, we want to hear from you: our affiliation with some of Canada’s top dog resorts and college courses can help connect you with life-changing career opportunities, as well as some pooch-pampering (drop me a line and ask me about my Greathound Bus Service!). Also, we’re seeing a tre-mendous growth in interest in pet-friendly travel, and so encourage you to send us details of your cottage rentals and accommodation opportunities… we’d love to include them in our Getaways and Barket Place advertising sections.

Until then… carry-on having fun in full CottageDog style!

K.L. Brooks Publisher

A Note fromthe Publisher...

Publisher:K. L. Brooks

Editor:Bryan Dearsley

Contributing Writers:Pam ConstablePam DoyleVince Grittani Sue GuthrieKaren Larocque

Lori McFadyenDr. Jason McLeod, DVMJodi McMurrayErika PhillipsKerry Vinson

CartoonistsVince GrittaniJerry King

Photo Credits:Scruffy Dog Photography (Cover) Kelly Hollinshead, Shutterbug Pam DoylePam Constable

Layout Artist:Craig Belanger

Ad inquiries:Lisa Brooks - [email protected] Knight - [email protected] Erika Phillips - [email protected] Halifax, Atlantic Canada -

Megan Scheffers - [email protected] Montreal, Quebec Canada -

Suzanne Bernardin - [email protected]

Publisher Contact:CottageDog Publications1393 Brunel RoadHuntsville, ON P1H 2J3

Publication Agreement #:42035032

To subscribe visit us online at: www.CottageDog.com or send CDN $26.99 plus HST ($30.50 taxes in) to: CottageDog Publications1393 Brunel Road Huntsville, ON P1H 2J3

Reproduction of any part of this publication without expressed written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

BRING YOUR DOG

A FESTIVAL FOR DOGS!The St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood (Front St. & Church St.) Toronto

DON’T MISS NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST FESTIVAL

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Over 200 Vendors & Exhibitors

Fashion Show

V.I.P. Lounge

Stupid Dog Tricks & Other Contests For Your Dog

Ms. & Mr. K9 Canada Pageant

Woofstock®

Saturday June 11th & Sunday June 12th, 2011 10am to 6pmSaturday June 11th & Sunday June 12th, 2011 10am to 6pmInfo: (416) 234-WOOF • www.woofstock.ca • email: [email protected] • Visit us: @woofstock

thestar.com

38 Operation Starfish: Leo’s Journey to Cottage Country. The NEWEST CottageDog from Kabul

42 How to Buy Your Own Pet-friendly Cottage

46 How to be a Better Dog Walker

50 The CottageDog Behaviour Quiz: Good dog/bad dog?

60 Sweeteners and Dogs Don’t Mix

InsideIssueThis

3210 Dock Dogs take the Plunge

18 The Year of the Cat

20 Chibley’s Travels Aboard the Picton Castle

24 Puparazzi: Calgary’s Pet Expo

28 Doggy Royalty: The Westminster Dog Show, New York

32 From Kabul With Love

BRING YOUR DOG

A FESTIVAL FOR DOGS!The St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood (Front St. & Church St.) Toronto

DON’T MISS NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST FESTIVAL

FOR DOGS!

Over 200 Vendors & Exhibitors

Fashion Show

V.I.P. Lounge

Stupid Dog Tricks & Other Contests For Your Dog

Ms. & Mr. K9 Canada Pageant

Woofstock®

Saturday June 11th & Sunday June 12th, 2011 10am to 6pmSaturday June 11th & Sunday June 12th, 2011 10am to 6pmInfo: (416) 234-WOOF • www.woofstock.ca • email: [email protected] • Visit us: @woofstock

thestar.com

10

Bits& Bites

Do we treat our pets better than people?Let sleeping pets lie?

It’s a long-held belief that many humans, given a choice between human company or that of their pets, would choose the latter. Don’t believe us? Well, a recent study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases suggests that sleeping with pets could put people at risk of contracting parasites, viruses and other pathogens. But does that stop you from letting Fido or Pusskins making a cozy nest at the bottom of your cottage bed? Didn’t think so. The same study in fact suggests we’re just as likely to infect animals… betcha never thought that was possible? As further proof that we seem to enjoy treating our furry friends as much as we do our family (let’s face it, when was the last time you let a two-legged com-panion curl-up at the end of the bed?), an increas-ing number of owners now take pet-food production into their own hands. For example, many owners have taken to grinding chicken, beef… heck, even emu!... and preparing cooked dishes from organic ingredients. Why? Most do it for their belief in the health benefits of organic food and good old fash-ioned home cooking.

Says internationally acclaimed dog expert Cesar Milan: “Organic has become a new fashion, a new style of living. And if the human becomes aware, if he eats organic, he wants everyone around him to be healthy, too. Especially the one that is always there for you,” said dog expert Cesar Millan. Supporting Milan’s claims is the fact that sales of pet foods that are organic or natural are expected to increase three times as fast as pet food overall. We rest our case…

C’mon, I think deep down you knew this would happen… the #1 most popular dog in North America just so happens to be the per-fect cottage dog. For the 20th year in a row, the American Kennel Club has named the Labra-dor Retriever its most popular dog, followed by the German Shepherd and Yorkshire Terrier. And despite the inclusion of the group’s dog registry next year to include three new breeds – Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Norwegian Lun-dehund and Xoloitzcuintli – we someone can’t help feeling the Retriever’s going to hang onto that top dog spot.

World’s Most PopularCottage Dog…

Labrador Retrievers like Rocky are North America’s #1 breed. (Photo: Tanya Gadoury, Ottawa, Ontario)

- 6 - CottageDog - Spring 2011

A chance meeting in a gym just five years ago not only brought Brock and

Marta Picken together, it was also the start of what was to become one of

the most successful online TV blogs in Canada. And, best of all, the couple’s

fitness-focused show included a couple of real stars – their two puggles, Buf

and Henry.

Since being introduced to Fit For Two TV, Buf and Henry have developed

a large dedicated following of their own. A visit to their blog site will enter-

tain for hours as viewers watch such wonderfully named episodes as Would

You Eat A Puggle for Dinner and Puggles Eat Birthday Cookie. Hilarious

stuff… as are the bios of each of the dogs.

To find out more about Buf and Henry, visit their website at

www.youtube.com/user/PuggleTails.

Fit For Two… Puggle Tails

Dear Staff :

I have here your last three issues of CottageDog, which I

came across in two Bracebridge, ON, locations in the last

few days. From what I can tell, I’m missing only the first two

prior to your Oct./Nov. 2010 issue. Do you have any spares

of these that you could send me? I would certainly be willing

to pay for them.

Despite some grammatical errors, I find this an excellent

magazine. I’d offer to be your proofreader but have visu-

al sensitivities and my eye work is very limited. I was very

pleased, however, to see Kerry Vinson’s story, although he

used the word “lying” – here in Muskoka, where I’ve lived

for 12½ years, I’m constantly hearing people using “laying”.

It drives me wild! We don’t lay down, we lie down. I’ve lived

in seven cities and three provinces and never hear this error

with such frequency as here in Muskoka.

Beautiful magazine, I wish you much success with it.

Sincerely,

(Miss) Monica Katchin

Bracebridge

A Reader Writes…

Have something good – or bad – to say about CottageDog?

If so, we want to hear from you! Address your comments

to: CottageDog Publications, 1393 Brunel Rd., Huntsville,

ON P1H 2J3, or send an email to [email protected].

CottageDog - Spring 2011 - 7 -

Ready to spoil your pooch by giving them a real cottage treat?

Then how about a cute little cottage of their very own, one that’ll

not only make your dog happy, but will make you smile every

time you see it?

Look no further than the wonderful creations of Kids Crooked

House Ontario, manufacturers of whimsical crooked playhous-

es for kids… and dogs, as the company’s ultra-cool playhouses

are well suited for our four-legged friends, too. Originally out of

Maine in the USA, Kids Crooked Houses can now be found in Ga-

nanoque, ON, where Canadian founders Brian Wooding and Ted

Glover build their unique houses with pride.

Kids Crooked Houses also make excellent gifts, and are great

promotion and fundraising tools when painted with a company’s

logo and colors, or even a family name or crest. And they also make

ideal pump houses or storage areas for your cottage retreat. For fur-

ther details, contact [email protected], or visit

www.kidscrookedhouse.com.

The Ultimate CottageDog Play HouseBits& Bites

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Here’s an Internet site you’re going to want to bookmark

– and one ranking right up there with our very own www.

CottageDog.com.

The Toronto Pet Daily (www.torontopetdaily.com) is a

fantastic resource for pet-related news… each and every day

of the week. The website is a fantastic resource for the latest

in breaking pet-related news, events, and many other things

to do with our furry friends in and around Toronto. Need

a hand with your pets? The site also includes the Toronto

Pet Services Directory that lists dog walkers, groomers, pet

photographers, dog trainers, and much, much more. Other

categories encompass doggy daycare, pet bereavement, pet

food and supplies… even poop and scoop services!

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And the Winner Is....

1st Place WINNER - hand-painted double feeder“I think we are safe until he starts to drool”Debra McIlroy, Baysville, Ontario

2nd Place WINNER - $50 Bark & Fitz Gift Card“Looks like we should have bought a bigger cottage, Dear”Dana Sheahan, Toronto, Ontario

3rd Place WINNER - $50 Bark & Fitz Gift Card“Marley --SIT. Good boy! Now, spit out the mailman.”Jenn Faya, Toronto, Ontario

Caption Contest

“I think we are safe until he starts to drool”

Last issue, we asked readers to submit a caption for the cartoon on the right in order to win a fantastic Bark & Fritz prize! We were overwelmed with entries, and it took the CottageDog team hours arguing over the winners. But we did it, and here, then, are the lucky prize winners...

D ockDogs has been making a splash for over 11 years in the United States and is now also in Eng-land, Japan and Australia as well as 32 affiliated clubs in North America. It is without a doubt the

fastest growing canine sport in the world.

After seeing it on TV a few times, I was able to experience and watch my husband’s Aussie participates in a National DockDogs competition in September of 2007. As a result, we all fell in love with the sport and partic-ipated in many events the following year, which involved quite a bit of travelling to Toronto. During that year our passion grew, wonderful friendships were formed and, at the end of the 2008 season, a group of Dock-Dogs enthusiasts decided they wanted to help me share their passion for this great dog sport in order that more people, whether they be participant or a spectator, could experience the exciting world of DockDogs.

And so, in January 2009, 1000 Islands DockDogs was born, and in just two years has grown and evolved with tremendous success in Eastern Ontario. Membership has grown from just 34 to over 128, and 2011 will be our 3rd season and is already proving to be our biggest and best one yet, with four events in Kingston, Brockville, Ottawa and Gananoque already booked.

What’s it all about?

A DockDogs event consists of any dog over the age of six months and their handler (minimum age seven years), a 40-foot dock, a 40-foot pool of water… and the dog’s favourite floatable toy. Everyone is more than welcome to participate and to give it a try by competing in one or all four disciplines: Big Air, Extreme Verti-cal, Speed Retrieve and Speed Swim.

Big Air (BA) is the long jump equivalent for canine athletes. Big Air dogs catapult themselves off the end of the 40-foot dock into a 28,000-gallon pool of water to retrieve their favourite floatable toy. As they run down the dock, dogs can reach speeds over 20 mph, and the jump distances are then measured from the end of the dock, to where the base of the dog’s tail enters the water. Currently, the BA World Record stands at 28 feet

Dogs take the plunge in exciting cottage sport

Making asplash…

By Karen Larocque

Phoebe, Beagle, Stephanie Hounsell, Fort Erie, Ontario


lasI n 0 d0 s01

DockDogs

Dogs take the plunge in exciting cottage sport

11 inches and is held by a Coonhound Mix named Country.

Extreme Vertical (EV) was introduced in 2005 and is the high jump portion of a DockDogs event. In this event, the dog launches upward and tries to grab or knock down a bumper suspended over the water from rigging set eight feet out from the edge of the dock. The starting height is just four feet and is adjusted in two-inch increments for different dogs and levels of ability. The current EV World Record is eight feet – yes, that’s eight feet out and eight feet up!

Speed Retrieve (SR) is the speed element – simi-lar to drag racing for dogs except the dog races against the clock, not a competitor. It was intro-duced to the DockDogs world in 2008 and involves a run, jump and swim for the dog. The clock starts when the dog leaves the starting line, which is 20 feet from the pool end of the dock, and stops when the dog grabs the duck suspended at the end of the pool. Speed Retrieve is a race against the clock, and the current SR World Record is 4.62 seconds.

Speed Swim (SS) uses the same rules as Speed Retrieve – the difference is that there is a 12 inch wide white line at the end of the dock that is used as a starting block. The object of this discipline is for the dog to jump from the end of the dock and swim to the toy at the end of the pool. It is a timed

frommpetfood.ca

Bond, Australian Shepherd, Mark & Karen Larocque, Maitland, Ontario.

Tangent, Yellow Lab, Ken Pollard Edmonton Alberta

event. Unfortunately, this discipline is not offered at many events, but if it is, give it a try – it’s a great way to build the drive for Speed Retrieve.

Making the big time

Each club awards every participant a ribbon at every event, and everyone gets a chance to make the finals, win ribbons, prizes or money and earn regional points. DockDogs keeps track of the dogs’ best jumps from every event in their database. They also calculate the lap dog standings (dogs under 17” at the withers), vet-eran dog standings (dogs over eight years of age), and legend dog standings (dogs over 10 years of age), and at the National DockDogs Championships each year these special dogs are able to compete in these classes.

With new training concepts available, DockDogs now has a number of talented dogs willing to do just about anything for the ultimate reward – their favourite toy. And let’s face it, what could be easier than throwing a toy for your dog to build that fabulous bond and relationship? All DockDogs did was add a dock and water!

Training for DockDogs is quite simple: it starts with one concept at a time and does not require a lot of time or money. It’s all about toy drive, fun, and love for water. Their toy needs to be the only thing they think about, and essentially they’ll do anything to get it (including jumping in a pool of water). Retrieval is the next step. Get your dog used to going into the water to retrieve their toy, and then slowly work your way up to jumping off a dock. Once you have mastered this, you will want to tackle the distance. This involves drive, speed and the ability to start the jump from the very end of the dock, which is the best possible launch spot.

Next comes the speed and angle of the dog’s launch, elements which really work together. A lot of dogs don’t use the entire dock and have slower speeds, but increase the distance of their jumps because they are able to get what is called “pop”, or the proper angle, to make a great jump. Of course, there are other elements that contribute to the success of your dog’s jump, such as the accuracy and distance of the handler’s throw. Unfortunately, your dog is less likely to have a great jump without a great throw – they go hand in hand.

Jelly, Bulldog, Marilyn Corbett, Caledon, Ontario


b

Karen LarocqueKaren Larocque is President of 1000 Islands DockDogs.

Heather McLeod is an official DockDogs trainer and part of the 1000 Islands DockDogs team. She will offer training and tips, both on and off the dock, and is also the proud owner of Diesel, Canada’s first Super Elite Dock-Dog, jumping 25’ 11”. He was also the top ranked Cana-dian Big Air Champion in 2008 and 2009, and is the top Ranked Border Collie Worldwide (visit her at www.ruff-sport.ca). 1000 Islands DockDogs will also offer training time at each event for anyone interested, and someone will always be available to answer any and all questions, or help participants in any way.

No matter how your dog jumps, every 1000 Islands DockDogs event is always surrounded by a 100% posi-tive environment and zero discrimination, so anyone can come out, register a dog, and give it a try. All you need is a dog that likes the water and loves their toy! Partici-pating in any DockDogs event can be one of the most in-vigorating and rewarding things people can do with their dogs. There are many unique aspects to DockDogs, but by building a strong relationship, trust, and confidence between you and your dog, you will be on your way to be-coming a successful DockDogs team.

1000 Islands DockDogs is thrilled to join the Dock-Dogs family as one of Canada’s newest affiliated Dock-Dogs club! The group already has five events in the works, so 2011 is going to be a very busy and exciting year for us and we can’t wait to get started. Please check out www.1000islandsdockdogs or www.dockdogs.com for more information, or email me [email protected]. See you on the dock!

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DockDogs

TrainingBig Air - Extreme Vertical -

Speed Retrieve

One on One, Board & Train, Weekly Classes, Worldwide DockDog and Affiliate Incentives, Funday Fridays, Weekend

Workshops, Rentals, Events & CompetitionsContact [email protected]

416-749-1669www.ruffsport.ca

Weekend Camp45 Minutes North of Toronto

June 3-4-5

Diesel, Border Collie, Heather McLeod, Weston, Ontario

Cheyenne, Golden Retriever, Heather McLeod, Weston, Ontario

Events

Date Event Contact

June 18 & 19 Urban Paws in Kingston, Ontario 1000 Islands DockDogs Event

July 1-3 Riverfest in Brockville, Ontario 1000 Islands DockDogs Event

July 8-10 Belleville Waterfront & Ethnic Festival in Belleville, Ontario

1000 Islands DockDogs Event

July 16 & 17 Dog Days of Summer in Scugog, Ontario

Ontario DockDogs Event

July 20-24 Red Deer Westerner Fair and Exposition

Alberta National DockDogs Event

July 21-23 Take the Plunge in Ottawa, Ontario


July 29-Aug 1 Alberta Kennel Club Classic at Spruce Meadows, Alberta

Alberta National DockDogs Event

August 12-14 Mutts About the 1000 Islands in Gananoque, Ontario


August 20 & 21 Carrot Fest in Bradford, Ontario DockDogs Event

For more information and an up to date list of events, please visit www.dockdogs.com and click on events.

Guiness, Nova Scotia Duck Toller, Melissa Doren, Mississauga, Ontario

Duncan, Chocolate Lab, John & Terri Chaston,

Hamilton, Ontario


Enjoy 8 issues a year of CottageDog for only CDN $26.99 plus HST ($30.50)

BigwinIsland

Canine Culinary

+ WINDeerhurst

Getaways

Muskoka-Made

Bushsplash

July 2010

What to do with the Family

Cottage?

PAWSCottage Dogs

with Therapeutic

August/September 2010

ItchyDog Days

of Summer

Dog

PaddlingAlgonquin Parkin

Rosseau village,

Gone To The Dogs!The Road Ahead:

Life after Loss

October/November 2010

Bear Story:

TAILof a

charitablePiCATso!

Ignoring the signs!

Feathers Alive:new life

into an old artBreathing

Canine’s GuidetoSKIING

COLLINGWOOD

GINGERMemoriesof aChristmas

PUPARAZZIDOGCESAR

MILAN

UNCONDITIONAL

Sherman

Family Ties

LOVE:Strengths

December 2010Vol. 1 Issue 4

Winter 2011Vol. 2, Issue 1

CosyCottageGoes to theDogs

Yourcottage dogWINTERIZEHow to Snow go...

Skijoring’sfun!

COMBATPost-traumatic

DisorderStress

Dogs

Spring 2011Vol. 2, Issue 2

DOCK DOGSTake thePlunge!

AFGHANISTANKabul

Meet

COTTAGE DOGS

Canada’sNewest

TravelsChibley’s

AboardPICTON CASTLE

the

from to

PuperazziCALGARY’SPet Expo

at

Bad Dog?Take ourQUIZ FIND OUT

Good Dog,

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Or register online using Paypal, Visa or Mastercard at:www.CottageDog.com

NEW FEATURES FOR THIS YEAR:

Don’t miss the 18th annual

ALL ABOUT PETS SHOW

• NEW! Dock Dogs in the Pet Valu Dog Demonstration Ring

• NEW! You won’t want to miss the amazing K9 performers “All About Dogs” in the Pet Valu Dog Demonstration Ring.

• NEW! Meet Brad Pattison host of TV reality show “At The End of My Leash”

• NEW! World of Dogs sponsored by Royal Canin

• Royal Canin Championship and Household Cat Show produced in co-operation with Club Meow-wow and sanctioned by the Canadian Cat Association.

• Centre Stage sponsored by Milk-Bone featuring educational seminars, Pet Fashion Show sponsored by Merrick Pet Care, hosted by Doggie Q and the Reptile Show.

• Pet Adoption Area sponsored by Legacy Valuing Tradition. Also meet Jazz from 1-2 daily in the Legacy booth.

• Total Pet Care Stage sponsored by Global Pet Foods

• Ask the Trainer, World of Birds, Pet Grooming Showcase and over 150 vendors with Show Specials and services

OTHER FEATURE ATTRACTIONS:


ALL ABOUT PETS SHOWApril 22-24, 2011

Easter’s Family Pet FestivalInternational Centre,

Mississauga (6900 Airport Rd. & Derry)Free Parking

For more details please visit www.allaboutpetsshow.com

or call 1-289-878-6809

Purchase your tickets online and save at www.allaboutpetsshow.com

ADMISSION:

Adults: $12Seniors (60+): $8Youths (6-17): $8

Children under 5: FreeFamily Pass: (2 Adults & 2 Youths) $35

SHOW HOURS:

Friday: 10am-6pmSaturday: 10am-6pmSunday: 10am-5pm

The first 1,000 visitorseach day to the show will

receive a FREE valuePet Coupon Book!

Jazz is both a show horse and a therapy horse who visits nursing homes across Ontar-io. Jazz recently placed in the top 10 in the American Minia-ture Horse Registry Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He can jump and do obstacles and is a must see!

ALSO FEATURING:

Jazz, the Miniature Therapy Pony

SHOW SPONSORS.. .

Shove over rabbits… CottageDog is celebrating the Year of the Cat! That’s right, you heard us. Just be-

cause we’re a dog magazine doesn’t mean we can’t, from time to time, honour our furry feline friends, too. And this issue of CottageDog is certainly no exception.

To get things going, we’re following the exploits of Chibley, our seafaring connection aboard the tall ship Pic-ton Castle. Chibley’s got to be the world’s best travelled cat, and we catch up to her after she jumps ship and goes AWOL for a few days while sailing the southern extremes of the Atlantic Ocean. (See story page 20.)

A little closer to home – and definitely a tale for landlub-bers – is the wonderful story of Care for Cats, a long-term project that will respond to Canada’s current cat overpop-ulation crisis – in a good way, naturally. The group aims to do this by creating and distributing impactful public education programs and support materials, encouraging community collaboration across all pet industry sectors, and providing accurate resources. Formed in 2011, the Year of the Cat is the group’s first project and was initi-ated in acknowledgment of the fact that the problem can’t be completely solved in a single year.

“The Year of the Cat is a Canada-wide initiative intend-ed to get rid of the myths and give only the facts,” says Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien, a Hamilton veterinarian and feline

specialist, as well as the official spokesperson for Care for Cats. “There’s even physical proof that dogs receive better care than cats.”

O’Brien refers to the 2008 Business of Urban Animals Survey (BUAS) commissioned by PetLynx Corporation for the International Summits for Urban Animal Strate-gies. The study provided statistical proof of what people working in animal shelters and veterinary hospitals have known for decades, says O’Brien: “Cats are not generally valued as much as dogs. In almost every category covered by this survey, dogs received better care.”

According to the survey, of the 8.5-million cats in Can-ada half do not receive regular veterinary care and 54 per cent of cat owners who had not spayed or neutered their pet reported that they were “unlikely” to have them fixed in the following year. (The full survey can be viewed at www.tsuas.com.)

“The message we need to get to the public is not only about the importance of spaying and neutering cats as a means of population control,” O’Brien said. “We also have to try to change attitudes about the intrinsic value of cats in our society.”

SPCA branches across Canada are working collab-oratively with Year of the Cat initiatives, including a cat

Cattails: The Year of the Cat

New initiative aims at aiding our feline friends

Photography by Scruffy Dog Photography


awareness month campaign and adopt-a-thon in May, a National Cat ID Week from Sept. 23-Oct. 2 and another adopt-a-thon in December.

Key messages being delivered to communities across the country include:

• The importance of spaying and neutering to curb cat over-population and improve cats’ health and well-being;

• Effective methods of delivering spay/neuter financial assistance programs;

• Improving existing Trap/Neuter/Release programs and introducing them to new communities;

• Increasing animal shelter ‘Return-to-Owner’ rates through identification, registration and licensing;

• Educating individuals about cats and creating an awareness of the importance of routine veterinary care for cat health.

For more information Year of the Cat initiatives, visit www.careforcats.ca. b

Dr. Liz O’Brien is official spokesperson for Care for Cats, a new initiative that will respond to Canada’s cat overpopulation crisis by encouraging community collaboration across all pet industry and public sectors.

Chibley’s TravelsA sea-faring cat aboard the Tallship Picton Castle


Welcome aboard, me hearties! As part of our cel-ebration of The Year of the Cat – a nationwide

campaign spearheaded by Care for Cats in response to the over-population of felines – CottageDog Magazine has asked the Captain and crew of the tall ship Picton Castle to keep tab(by)s on the exploits of the ship’s cat, Chibley (or, as the world’s best travelled feline would have it, Picton Castle is Chibley’s ship!).

Second only to Captain Daniel Moreland in the amount of time spent on the ship – and in rank – Chibley has sailed around the world four times, been to the Great Lakes twice, made numerous voyages on the Atlantic coast of the US and Canada and the Caribbean, and spent a year sailing around the Atlantic basin. But of all the wonderful places she’s visited, her favourite is Lunenburg. When a landlubber, Chibley loves patrolling the Lunenburg wa-terfront, lying in the sun on the lawn of the Fishermen’s Memorial or exploring the smells at the Dory Shop.

* * * * *

Captain’s Log – March 2011: We just sailed from Luderitz, Namibia, bound across the beautiful South At-lantic Ocean on the final leg of our fifth world tour. No crewmember was as pleased as Chibley to get under sail. Luderitz is built on rocks and surrounded by rocks, sand… and sand dunes. We motored in slowly in the kind of thick o’fog that makes Nova Scotians feel right at home! But as the radiant land heat burned it off, I was struck with how completely arid the landscape was. It was like one of those NASA photos of Mars – dry as a bone, and pretty desolate.

First Mate Chibley certainly didn’t like the place. We embarrassed her by attaching a long string tied from a post on deck to her collar, keeping her onboard like some convict. Why? Well, herein lies a salty tale…

Like any good sailor, Chibley loves to explore and make new friends. But as her Captain, I felt that the enticing aroma of fish (you or I would call it a stench) coming from the fishing boats bobbing in the harbour might prove too much for her to resist. Rather than risk losing her as a stowaway on another vessel, I curtailed her freedom.

Chibley has disappeared in port before. Five years ago, while at harbour in Reunion, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, she disappeared for four days – that’s a long time for any crewmember to be AWOL. You can eas-ily spot Reunion about 50 miles out to sea, two towering peaks on either side of the island disappearing into the clouds, the highest peak rising nearly 11,500 feet above

Photo

grap

hy by Picto

n Castle


sea level. Taking in all sail, we slowed down so we could enjoy the amazing scene before us.

If you’re ever planning on jumping ship like Chibley, you couldn’t do much better than Reunion. It’s a large Is-land with over 645,000 people and every outdoor sport you can imagine – canyoning, paragliding, hiking, horse-back riding, kayaking, and my favorite, people watching while sitting on a nice, white, sandy beach with a nice bottle of red. I had the crew clean the ship top to bottom so we looked prettier than ever. Seaman Bruce was the ‘Brasso King’, making all the brass sparkly, and all the liv-ing spaces got a good tidy up to ensure we were present-able.

Once in port, I ordered all hands on deck as I squeezed us into a tiny gap that acts as a throughway into the in-ner harbour where we will dock. With Danie at the con-trols going slowly… slowly… and Lynsey in the skiff with some line handlers ready to drop lines on the dock and push the bow around – and Chibley watching over them to make sure they get it right – I maneuvered carefully past the narrow entrance into the inner harbor, then spun us around and back into the little space readied for us. I then broke the crew into shore watches. Those off-watch headed to Internet cafés, laundromats, ATMs, hotels, restaurants and any roadside stand selling cool drinks. It must have been then that Chibley disappeared…


After her third day missing, I sent out a search party, beginning with the endless cavernous warehouses. Most were locked, and much of the search took place by flash-light, peering in windows, shimmying under fences and otherwise lurking around suspiciously.

Then, on the afternoon of day four, Chibley sauntered down the wharf toward the ship as if nothing was awry. I scooped her up with the same urgency a mother would a lost child, unsure whether to hug her or scold her. Where the heck had she been without my permission? Did she get catnapped? Was she partying and meeting boys? Short of strapping a tiny camera to her, these are questions we’ll never be able to answer.

I’ve now got Picton Castle on a course for home, and we’re due to arrive at Chibley’s home base in Lunenburg, NS, on June 18. She’ll be glad to take a nap amongst the spare canvas sails in our warehouse or the bright sun and wood shavings at the Dory Shop, or enjoying the sights and smells of the waterfront. But not for long… two weeks later she’ll be setting sail again, this time for a summer jaunt around Newfoundland. b


PUPARAZZI!Calgary’s Pet Expo a howling success

It was hugely apparent that dog really is man’s best friend as over 12,000 people poured into the Big Four building at Stampede Park to attend the 11th Annual Pet Expo held in Calgary on March 26th and 27th. With 76 exhibitors and several seminars and shows on the main stage, dog lovers had all the bases covered. The Due South Dancer and Drill team showed off their choreographed precision work and later did some K-9 square dancing, all to the delight of the crowd. The Calgary Longshots displayed their dogs’ ability to do agility and fly ball.

“It’s all about fun,” Deb Golding, a member of Due South said. “Everybody gets to play. We’ve even had people with knee replacements joining in the fun.” Golding’s purebred German shepherd Walker was having a great time, too, as he tried out Spot On K9 treadmills.

The event was a tail-wagging success, with several exhibitors handing out free goodies and event goers had a chance to win thousands of dollars in door prizes.

Words & Photos By Pam Doyle

Jessica Cummings, Velma and Jen Kaiser with Actions Speak Louder Dock Dogs, Ken Pollard

Burnese mountain dog Emily watches Carol Selkshinitz

Cooldog.ca’s Sherri Olsen, Ben, and Rayna Bergerman, of

Inspired Learning Centres

Alberta Bulldog Rescue’s Winston kisses Dawn Korkie in a kissing booth

Lore Bruder with corgie Bonnie

Kruger with pals from Springbank Pet Resort


Electra, an Alberta Guide Dog puppy in training, with foster

mom, Marg Andrusky

Ride Dogs Ride Inc.’s Glen Garland and super cool pup Davidson

Tara Connors and Cubby, from the Xolo Rescue League

Luann Killoran with her corgi, Brazil

Token, a German shepherd with Due South

Bonnie and legs

Calgary Longshots schnauzer Zina jumps an agility hoop

Lindsay Thomas’s schnauzer Digger


Biker dog apparel from Ride Dogs Ride, Inc.

Joyce Kao, with Pound Rescue of Okotoks, holds pup Diesel.

Walker tests Spot On K9 Treadmills

Deb Golding holds Drummer Boy

Calgary Longshots’ Taylor Bissell with her dog Whisky.

Southern Alberta Working and Herding Dog Assoc., (SAWHD), president Judy Snowden runs

Drummer through a body agility course

American cocker spaniel Dazzle, owned by Ellen Kovar, is a Canadian

champion


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We’ve always loved watching the Westminster Dog Show on television. It seems to be shown in December in Canada, about 10 months after the show itself, but it’s perfect

Christmas entertainment even if it is out of date by the time it reaches us. The Westminster is not just any dog show, it’s the ultimate dog show, with not just good dogs, but the best dogs. And so we decided to put it on our bucket list, our list of things we wanted to see before we kicked the bucket. This was the year we did it.

Our first surprise was that it was wasn’t hard to do. We bought our tickets online but found out later we could have bought them at Madison Square Gardens on the show days themselves. The venue is central, on the New York subway line, easy to find, and easy to access – once up the es-calator you’re surrounded by dogs. The next surprise was that you can touch the dogs! Not all of them, of course, but those that are being walked here and there in the busy benching area… some are up on benches taking in the scene, some undergoing the most amazing grooming processes (oh, those poor Poodles, those great heaps of Old English Sheepdog!). Others are visible resting in their crates. And, because they’re all such very good dogs, none are barking. It’s noisy, but the noises are human noises, excited chatter, the hum of hundreds and hundreds of hair dryers.

Doggy RoyaltyA Dream Visit to New York’s

Westminster Dog Show

By Sue Guthrie

Photography by John Ashbey & Sue Guthrie


The judging rings are also surprisingly accessible. We had been told that seats for the judging would be hard to get, that all the good ones were owned by season-ticket holders who came every year. Consequently, we expected to have to sit far away watching dogs as little specks in the distance. No. The good seats are reserved, but you can sit in them until the legitimate ticket-holder shows up – fortunately for us, these people seemed to come mostly in the evenings.

Up close and personal

On the floor of the arena, between the judging rings, are open areas in which you can walk and stand. I worked my way into good positions several times, standing close to the Dobermans (glossy beyond belief, and generally still and alert), the Huskies (coats brushed out into impos-sibly white clouds tinged with gold or grey, loving their moment in the limelight), the Irish Setters (high stepping across the ring, feathery fur fanning beautifully), and the Duck Tollers (much more serviceable, sturdy, bouncy, in-tent).

From a little further away I enjoyed the Border Collies as they scuttled into the ring in an urgent group, full of purpose and unpredictable motion. Then the German Shepherds who crouch, trembling with intensity, looking outward into the crowd from deeply worried dark faces. My personal Best in Show? Ta da! The Borzois! Oh, talk about glamour and dignity, not to mention grace. The Borzois rippled across the ring in long, slow strides like a snowstorm across a Russian plain. The Borzois did not look out at the crowd, nor did they appear to enjoy the ring or the applause. In fact, they looked as if they found the whole experience demeaning.

Later, I sought out my favourite Borzoi (a vision in grey and white) in the benching area. Naturally, no Borzois are on display to be handled and petted by the general pub-lic. I found him in his huge crate covered with a blanket which I took the liberty of lifting slightly. He was lying still, obviously exhausted from the stress, and had taken great care to remove every piece of dog food from his bowl and spread it over the floor of his crate so that his owner would know of his displeasure.

Human categories at the Dog Show are these: 1) Own-ers who, like owners of famous race horses, show up for photographs after the judging; 2) Breeders (who are often owners, too), busy and friendly in the benching area as they also sell puppies; and 3) Handlers, for whom I have an entirely new respect. Handlers, for all I know, may also

be owners or breeders, but some who worked with many different dogs in different competitions were obviously professionals. Clearly they must develop some relation-ship with and knowledge of each dog they handle.

Handlers earn their keep

Observed from ringside, there is a hugely serious amount of effort going forth from the handlers as they watch the judge’s every glance, using treats to bribe their dog into that perfect position for the moment the judge looks their way. Running the dog is an art, too; I realized at one point that the beautiful, high-stepping, heads-up, pacing across the ring is the product of the handler run-ning at just the right speed holding the tension on the leash at just the right level – not enough to cause the dog

discomfort, but enough to keep it pacing elegantly. (Try that with a Bull Mastiff. I confess there were moments of amusement with the lumbering dogs, as well as the small-er dogs with their tiny legs.) Each handler had support people at ringside with spray bottles of water (at least I assume it was water), larger grooming aids, the essential treats, and bags full of supplies that might be needed.

And apart from the owners, breeders and handlers, there are the groomers (they could also be any of the other categories but, like the handlers, are often simply hard-working specialists). The groomers work patiently for hours on patient dogs. Their equipment is beyond description and in some cases even includes colouring agents of various kinds. I remember one groomer who, while working on a very tiny dog, had a permanently run-ning hair dryer strapped to his waist, manoevering it as required with subtle hip tilts while he back-combed.

We went to the final judging for which we had to sit in our real seats, very remote indeed from the ring where Best in Show happens with a lot of fanfare and hoop-la. We watched the event on the giant television screen pro-vided and cheered when the Scottish Deerhound won. A large, dignified dog with wiry fur… although far from a cute or cuddly choice, she certainly seemed worthy.

“Talk about glamour and

dignity, not to mention grace.

The Borzoi ripples across

the ring in long, slow strides

like a snowstorm across a

Russian plain.”

Sue GuthrieSue Guthrie retired to Huntsville with her husband Rod, taking their shared bucket list with them. Apart from the Westminster Dog Show (check), a trip to India (check), and hiking along Hadrian’s Wall (check), the list includes some things still not done. They miss their departed bor-der collie but have many visiting canine friends in whom they take a keen interest.

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She was a small honey-colored pup, thin and dirty

and rooting in the garbage for food. She was far too

young to be alone and wandering in a village in the middle

of a war zone. She had a terrible case of worms and shied

away from people. Her mother was probably long dead,

and if a kind soul had not spotted her, scooped her up and

sent her to us, she probably would have perished, too.

Her name was Peanut, although until that moment

she had no name and was one of hundreds of thousands

of homeless, hungry small animals who haunt the city

streets and villages of Afghanistan. It is a harsh coun-

try, marked by desperate poverty and years of conflict,

where the dominant ethos is one of survival. It is a coun-

try where children are brought up to fear and revile dogs

as dangerous and diseased, where clerics preach that it

is religiously unclean to touch dogs or bring them inside

a house, and where families hardened by war and want

have little resources or compassion to spare for pets.

Dog fighting is a popular gambling sport in this male-

dominated culture. Big fighting mastiffs are well fed and

carefully kept, dogs who guard sheep and camel herds are

prized by nomadic farmers, and wealthy families some-

times import German shepherds or other exotic breeds

as status symbols. But local stray dogs that have no com-

mercial value or purpose are shunned and ignored at best.

They live in the shadows of towns and villages, waiting for

garbage to be dumped. Often they die slowly of hunger,

disease and untreated injuries.

Peanut was one of the lucky few. The sympathetic for-

eigner who spotted her had a phone number to call and

a place to take her, a small shelter and rescue program

in Kabul, supported by the Afghan Stray Animal League

since 2004. There the Afghan staff vaccinated her against

rabies and distemper and parvo virus, and gave her medi-

cine to get rid of the worms. She had rice with meat sauce

to eat every day, a wooden sleeping house with a blanket,

and a dozen other pups to play with in a large outdoor

pen. Nobody threw stones at her, and she felt safe for the

first time in her life.

The next challenge was finding Peanut a home. There

were few Afghan families who could afford to keep a pet or

who understood the responsibilities that entailed. Most of

Peanut’s journey…From Kabul to Canada in a heartbeat

By Pam Constable

Photo

grap

hy by Pam

Co

nstable


those interested in adopting dogs wanted them to be large

and aggressive property guards rather than family com-

panions, and they chained or caged them alone outside.

Few were interested in small female pups that needed

affection and protection, or understood the benefits of

spaying them. So we sent around a photo of Peanut on our

website and a group of American friends, called the Puppy

Rescue Mission, did the same, in an effort to find her a

loving home abroad and raise the funds to send her there.

There is a dog for every person, and a person for every

dog. Peanut’s person turned out to be Laurie, an animal

lover from Queensville, who saw the photograph of the

little brown hound with the big sad eyes and instantly fell

in love. Like many people who have adopted needy Af-

ghan pups, she was a little worried at first about whether

Peanut would arrive safely and adapt to life in a modern

country. Would she like the food? Would she bring any

diseases or strange behavior with her? Would she get

along with Laurie’s other pets or see them as dangerous

rivals? Tribal Elder from Jalalabad

Pups hanging out by the wood stove


There was also a momentary feeling of guilt, knowing

that there were so many other dogs in local shelters who

also needed love and affection and a place to call home.

But the difference was that in Afghanistan, a little pup

like Peanut had little chance of survival, scavenging for

garbage and trying to fend off larger animals. There was

no place for a dog like her, and there was a good chance

she might be caught and abused by street boys looking for

a live object to torment, or killed by health officials who

put out meat laced with poison to control rabies and keep

down the stray dog population.

Another troubling issue for a potential adopter was the

cost – several thousand dollars to ship a dog from Afghan-

istan to Toronto or an American city. This was enough to

feed and vaccinate and shelter hundreds of other dogs –

and also money that could be spent instead to help needy

Afghan families or children. On the other hand, that sum

was a fraction of what many wealthy pet owners in the

West lavished on their pedigreed animals, and the rescue

of a small dog by private donors who gave a few hundred

dollars each took nothing away from the millions of dol-

lars that had poured into Afghanistan from international


charities and governments around the world to help its human population.

There was also something uniquely meaningful about helping a puppy from a distant war zone. Afghanistan was a battle ground where many Canadian, British and American soldiers, as well as diplomats and international aid workers, had rescued homeless or suffering dogs and cats. Sometimes they literally grabbed them away from boys who were tormenting them for fun by tying them up, kicking them like balls, or cutting off their ears and tails.

The foreign soldiers, raised in more affluent cultures where many families kept pets, found an outlet for their affection and protective instincts and someone to love in a harsh, hostile and often dangerous environment. Some-times they were able to send them home, with help from the Puppy Rescue Mission or other charities. Often, how-ever, they were forbidden to keep them because of mili-tary rules, and for various reasons they were not able to adopt them. In these cases we did our best to find them other homes, sometimes keeping them at the shelter for many months in the meantime.

For Laurie, it was a case of love at first sight. She saw Peanut’s photograph on the website, read a brief descrip-tion of her struggles to survive in the streets and decided Peanut belonged in her home near Toronto. She had a thousand questions, but no doubts. She was eager to get her new pup home, but even after the money was raised for her trip and Peanut was put on a flight to New York, her journey was complicated by the winter weather and airline restrictions on cold weather travel for pets. In the end, Laurie had to drive to Buffalo to pick her up. All the dog’s papers were in order, and they crossed the border

smoothly. Peanut curled up and slept the whole way to Queensville.

After a week of introducing Peanut to her home and as-sortment of other pets, Laurie sent this email to those of us who had helped arrange Peanut’s rescue and journey home: “What a little sparkle this one is! There is a pres-ence and a confidence about her that one does not usu-ally see in puppies,” she wrote. “We are still blending, but there is more calmness. I’m still in the process of work-ing out routines and supporting the wisdom of our ani-mal family, but the transition is exceeding expectations.” At the vet’s office for a checkup, she added, “everyone thought the little Peanut the dearest of dogs. She melted everyone’s heart.”

Peanut is one of hundreds of dogs and cats who have been rescued from Afghanistan over the past seven years, often by Western soldiers, diplomats and aid workers with the help of The Afghan Stray Animal League, and sent to permanent happy homes in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

One of them was a white shepherd who was hit by a truck outside the Canadian embassy in Kabul and left with paralyzed legs. Someone called us and we sent a driver to pick her up. We named her Maple and kept her at the shelter for months. Gradually, with a lot of encour-agement, she learned to walk again and became a strong and healthy dog. Last year Maple was adopted by a family in Long Island, New York, where she loves going on long romps in the local dog park.

Another was a dog named Leo, a shaggy male shep-herd mix, who caught the attention of some friends at the embassy. He was hovering in the shadows near the guard

Waiting patiently to be sent home with the soldier who adopted him

Tribal Elders seated in their turbans at a political picnic in badakshan province


booths, and he seemed to be trying to protect a female dog who was about to give birth in the street. A woman from the embassy called the shelter to come and rescue them. That night the pregnant dog disappeared and may have been injured, but Leo reached the shelter safely and was soon flown to Toronto, where he is now a guest of the CottageDog program.

The Afghan Stray Animal League is grateful to Laurie, Albert, Lisa, and all its other friends and supporters in Canada as well as the United States who have helped with donations, supplies, arranging flights and airport pick-ups, and finding homes for these needy dogs from the Af-ghan war zone. To find out more about our work or make a donation, please go to www.afghanstrayanimals.org or email [email protected].

Pam ConstableText and photos by Pamela Constable, an animal lover and journalist from the US who has been helping find shelter, veterinary care and permanent homes for needy dogs in Afghanistan for the past seven years. For more information about this project, go to www.afghanstraya-nimals.org.

b

Sham, a sweet shelter dog who was adopted two years ago by a wonderful family in Georgia

Introducingthe NEW

Peanut& Friends


Chewy

Maple

Sabot

Dana

s

Operation StarfishInternational efforts… and a whole lot of heart… find Leo a new home

I am acutely aware I have missed my calling. Well, that’s as far as the manifestation of my calling as

profession. My connection with animals is a part of who I am, raging inside my DNA since birth. In fact, my first memories are of the animals I have known and loved.

I can tell you of the cats I fed in Dubrovnik, the puppy in Montenegro I let sleep in my hotel for the night, the cat that charmed me at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, the horse who stole my heart in Jordan or about the tiny kit-ten who showed up on my doorstep in a blizzard 10 years ago and who never left. The landscape of my life is paint-ed with memories of animals, companions, and teachers. Each one paving the way, every one of their acquaintances opening my heart a little bit more to the possibility of a dog named Leo.

No one should be surprised by how the story has end-ed, least of all me. But I am! Where did it begin? In July 2010, I returned to Kabul, Afghanistan, for the third time to work with the Canadian International Development

Agency (CIDA) at the Canadian Embassy. It was a short assignment, a blur really – 9.5 hour time difference, jet lag, intense work days, altitude all contributed to the haze. The only thing I can clearly recall is Rabies. Yes, that’s the name someone at the Embassy lovingly named him and it stuck. Rabies. The dog that resembled a min-iature lion ruled the street the Embassy is located on. He was cared for and fed by the guards and staff and spent his days lying by the Embassy entrance waiting for affec-tion, or sleeping soundly at the feet of the guards, or in his favorite spot, right in the middle of the road. And when I say sleep, I mean dead to the world. Colleagues would sometimes ask, “Is he alive?” On more than one occasion the guards had to drag him off the street since he would just tempt the fates as trucks came rolling through and swerved around him. Occasionally, he’d wake to defend his little piece of the street from other dogs or a wander-ing cat. I tried to maintain emotional distance; I was, after all, only in Kabul for two weeks and had my own dog and two cats to return to. And so I left.

By Jodi McMurrayPhotography by Kelly Holinshead


Back to Kabul

In December I returned to Kabul for a year. As I pre-pared to leave Canada, there were a few jokes made about how many pets I’d return with. I chuckled but knew there was no way I was coming home with more. Finding homes for the three I already had while I was away and then leav-ing them in the care of others was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. Swollen eyed from tears, as I left there was no way on earth I was going to bring the possibility of more heartache into my life!

I arrived in Kabul on December 23rd and there he was… Rabies. My heart filled with joy as he ran over to me, tail wagging and ready for a belly rub. And he wasn’t alone this time. There was a black and white female across the street watching him. She was opposite to him in every way, submissive and wary, and wouldn’t dare venture too close. Clearly this girl had been harmed. I named her Luna. I also re-named Rabies. Leo seemed so much better suited… the little Lion, the King of Hearts. Over the next few weeks I saw Leo and Luna many times a day, and Luna would eventually come within a foot of me but would nev-er allow herself to be touched. With Leo, she would run and play and curl up next to him. He protected her and she was the only dog he’d allow on the street. One day I noticed Luna was pregnant, and sure enough the next day she delivered puppies. She took the puppies off our street and made a den for them somewhere we couldn’t follow. She returned everyday to eat and play with Leo and then would return to her hiding place. At dinner one day I not-ed I hadn’t seen Luna and the military men who normally kept me apprised of the dogs lowered their heads. No one wanted to tell me. A car had hit Luna as she was cross-ing the street back to the Embassy that afternoon and was

killed. They searched high and low for her puppies but were unsuccessful. Heartbreak found me.

For the next few days, Leo would lay on the street, curled up in a ball. He wouldn’t greet me or play. He was clearly mourning the loss of his friend. Seeing him suffer through two days of rain, curled in a ball on the muddy ground, was the final tug on my heart. I made a commitment that day to take responsibility for him, though I had no idea how! He wasn’t allowed on the compound, and the local shelter was full. I did manage to move him to a part of the Embassy grounds that were walled and guarded. It wasn’t ideal but it seemed safer than the street. Except he es-caped all the time, and I’d spend many days wrapping my scarf around his neck as a leash and walking him back to the compound. I understood why he wanted out; it was a rocky wasteland without foot traffic, lots of attention and nothing to guard. This simply wasn’t going to work. But what were the alternatives?

“The landscape of my life

is painted with memories

of animals, companions,

and teachers, every one of

their acquaintances opening

my heart a little bit more

to the possibility of a dog

named Leo.”


The boy and the starfish

The internal and external voices were loud and clear: “You can’t save them all, Jodi.” “He’s a street dog, he’s happy on the street.” “It’s just a dog.” All of these com-ments fueled my conversations with myself – what was I thinking, I already had three pets! “You are so going to be the crazy old woman with too many pets,” I told my-self. “How can I afford to send him home? And what if he doesn’t get along with Lily, Piper and Jasper, then what?”

I can’t tell you when those voices were quieted. I don’t think they ever were. I think my heart just got louder. Memories of the story of the boy and the starfish, his ef-forts to throw them back in the ocean and make a differ-ence to just one, haunted me. “Sure made a difference to that one…” became the mantra of my heart. One evening, my heart decided. I didn’t need to know all the answers, I just needed to take one step, do what I knew in my heart was needed.

So I sent an email to Pam Constable, the founder of Tig-ger House in Kabul, asking how could I make this pos-sible. Within an hour, four volunteers in four countries had Leo’s journey to Canada sorted out and I had every detail and all the inspiration I needed. The next few days were filled with logistics, vaccinations, crate training, and lots and lots of angst on my part. Amidst it all, angels ap-peared. Voices and actions of support amongst colleagues, friends, and volunteers appeared. Leo made his journey from Kabul to Islamabad to Toronto and finally arrived in Muskoka on February 26. I miss seeing my little lion rule the street, but I know he is now out of harms way and is enjoying the comforts of a home, and beautiful acres of land.

Operation Starfish is now complete… b

Jodi McMurrayJodi McMurray works for the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan. Her beloved Leo now resides in Muskoka, patiently and happily awaiting her return to Canada.


MUSKOKA ANIMAL CENTRECAPITAL CAMPAIGN

With intake numbers like these, the Ontario SPCA Muskoka Branch is bursting at the seams! The existing animal shelter is no longer large enough to accommodate the needs of the communities we support. With assistance from the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Stimulus Fund under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, and from our supporters, construction of a new facility on Hwy 118 West, Bracebridge will be completed in 2011. Your gift to the capital campaign will help to improve the quality of care rescued animals receive, giving them a better chance at a new life.

Help Raise the Woof by making your donation today!

Did you know that the Ontario SPCA, Muskoka Branch rescued and provided care to 696 cats and 179 dogs last year?

This is a 16.6% increase over the last two years.

To learn more about naming opportunities, off-leash dog park and other shelter amenities or to make your donation please call (705) 645-6225 or visit our website at www.muskoka.ontariospca.ca.

So you want to buy a cottage?CottageDog’s Top Five Things to Consider Before Taking the Plunge

So, you’ve got a good thing going because you and Fido have managed to spend every summer at your

best friend’s cottage. Then, suddenly one winter, your friend tells you he’s getting a divorce and he’s going to have to liquidate. You’re in shock, not because of the di-vorce (which you knew was inevitable anyway), but be-cause your friend is going to have to sell his cottage to settle. All you can think of now is where you and Fido are going to spend your summers?

While this scenario may sound a bit drastic many a cot-tager has had to face such things due to the legal hatchet of divorce court. However, this article is about obtaining the cottage dream, not losing it. It’s about moving from the role of guest (with dog) to owner (with cottage dog) after biting the bullet and finally buying your first cottage.

Hopefully you’ll consider a few of the following tips, avoid the unnecessary stress that often accompanies purchas-ing real estate and find yourself standing at the end of your very own dock, throwing sticks for Fido in no time at all!

#1. Be adventurous… look beyond the shoreline

One of the biggest mistakes potential cottage buyers make is to only explore that which is familiar, choosing a location because it’s the lake their buddy or a family member has a cottage on. Then, a year later, they end up regretting the decision because their cottage has become the lake’s favourite drop-in centre. When looking at cot-tage properties, take your time and consider looking at lakes in areas you never visited.

By Vince Grittani

Photography by Greg McInnis For info on this MLS listed property see Chestnut Park - Huntsville, Lake of Bays


[email protected] • CELL 705-571-5757

WWW.MEGANMCLEOD.COM* DollarValue Sales as per MLS

MEGAN McLEODSpecializing in Waterfront Properties

BROKERCHAIRMAN’S AWARD WINNER EVERY YEAR SINCE 2005

#1 AGENT ON LAKE OF BAYS 2009*

LAKE OF BAYSHUNTSVILLE OFFICE

Specializing in Waterfront Properties

LAKE OF BAYS $2,795,000 Spectacular new build, 225'frontage, 2+ acres, 2-slip boathouse, 4,100 sq. ft, 5 bdrms,4 baths & main flr master suite. Chef’s dream kitchen,Muskoka rm + amazing ‘outdoor kitchen’. Lwr lvl walk-out.

LAKE OF BAYS $1,599,900 215' frontage, double-slip boat-house w/1,000+ sq. ft sun deck & 4,100 sq. ft cottage w/spectacular wide open lake views! Dbl car garage, hot tub,extensive decking, 2 stone fireplaces & spacious lwr lvl.

BIG ROCK SPARROW LAKE $1,449,000 Amazing lakeviews, S.W. exposure & 170' frontage w/access to Trent-Severn system. Great rm w/stone fireplace, fabulous kitchen,4 bdrms, 4 baths & 3,100+ sq. ft. 90 mins to the GTA.

WOODLAND HEIGHTS, HUNTSVILLE $1,299,900 Beau-tiful 5,500 sq. ft retreat with 5 bdrms, 5 baths, Muskokaroom, great room and spectacular views over Pen Lake.3 car garage. Close to golf and 40 miles of boating!

LAKE VERNON BEAUTY $1,295,000 Gorgeous TimberFrame, 215' frontage, southern exposure, 2.77 acres ofprivacy & spectacular views. 6 bdrms, 4 baths, 3,722 sq. ft,Muskoka rm, great decks, dock & hot tub. Detached garagew/living quarters.

LAKE OF BAYS $1,195,000 Gorgeous vacation home,235' frontage, south exposure & spectacular lake views.4+ bdrms, 3 baths, 3,800 sq. ft, smooth rock shoreline &almost 2 acres of privacy. Come discover this gem!

LAKE OF BAYS $949,000 Spectacular southern views ina desirable area. 345 ft of sandy shoreline & 11 acres tobuild your own personal family compound. 2 separatelydeeded lots with easy year round access.

LAKE OF BAYS $929,000 Lovely 4 bdrm, 2 bath BC cedarPanabode cottage offers a private & peaceful setting withamazing lake views. New master suite add’n, sun deck overwaterfront bunkie & great dock. Incl. all appl’s & mostfurnishings.

LAKE OF BAYS $849,000 453' frontage, S.W. exposure,2.82 acres of prime land & gorgeous views. Hydro is in,site development permit, cleared for driveway & buildingenvelope. Build your dream vacation retreat this summer!

RETIRE IN STYLE $875,000 Gorgeous exec home set on aprivate 1.63 acre lot in Woodland Heights, Huntsville. 5bdrms, 4 baths, 3,450 sq. ft of beautifully maintained livingspace, includes everything! Golf, ski hill & boating nearby!

LAKE OF BAYS $649,000 Turnkey cottage just mins fromDorset offers 105' frontage, 4 bdrms, wood burning fireplace& new kitchen, windows, wood flrs, drywall & siding.Sun room + detached garage. Just move in & enjoy!

PENINSULA LAKE VIEWS $409,500 Beautifully maintainedend unit offers 2 bdrms, 2 baths, 1,518 sq. ft, 2 fireplaces& sun rm w/gorgeous views. This Deerhurst condo incl.appl’s & furnishings. World class golf, tennis, spa & boating!

#2. Distance matters

The location you choose will be affected by how much free time you have to spend away from the city. Perhaps you’re a teacher or another professional with a large block of holiday vacation. Maybe you only take mini “breaka-tions”, three or four days at a time. Consider whether you’re able to get away every weekend or just once a month. The answer to these questions will influence what is known as the “butt” factor. How long are you able to travel in a car with the family and a drooling dog, espe-cially if you’re looking to get away every weekend? Gener-ally speaking, the further you travel from an urban, centre the more bang you’ll get for your cottage-buying buck.

#3. Know what you want

Anxious purchasers often buy a lakeside property for the purpose of pulling the kids around on a wake board only to discover, after they close, that they’ve bought on a powerboat restricted lake! Avoid disappointment and

begin your hunt by making an activity list of the things you feel would make the ideal cottage life. Visualize a typi-cal weekend from the moment you arrive until you leave. From the type of boating you prefer to the way you enter-tain; from your love or hate of chores to your desire to get away from it all. This will help narrow down the location and type of cottage you see yourself owning. Maybe it’s on an island or perhaps in a dense cottage neighborhood. Once you’ve thought this through you can start looking at actual physical locations, and remember, no two lakes are the same. Some are busy while others are so isolated you can hear the beavers splashing on the other side of the lake… and sometime the neighbour’s dog.

#4. Fix-it or leave it

Another important consideration is your ability and desire to be a “do-it-yourselfer”. Cottages have many scheduled and unexpected chores that may be foreign to you as an urban homeowner. Septic tanks, uninvited ani-mals, ice flows, excessive snow fall, fallen trees or blocked culverts in the driveway are just a few of the factors that create chores for the weekend job jar. Often, depending on where you’re located, getting someone in quickly to fix the things isn’t possible. If home repairs aren’t for you, purchasing a new cottage or even constructing from the ground up may be a better way to go.

#5. Considering the guest work

You also need to think about the “social” responsibili-ties that come with cottage ownership. Are you looking to get away and be alone, or are you a constant entertainer planning on inviting guests up every weekend? This will influence the number and type of sleeping quarters need-ed, not to mention cooking and dining arrangements. Nowhere is it truer that everyone ends up in the kitchen when at the cottage.

~ Draw is May 22nd, 2011 ~

Vince Grittani Vince Grittani (aka The Weekend Guy) is a TV personality, playwright, cartoonist and illustrator, theatrical producer, writer and realtor. First a camper then a cottager, Vince is now a full-time resident of Muskoka with Iago, his fourth beloved Bearded Collie.

(www.weekendguy.com)

The important thing to remember is to try and consider all possible eventualities before signing on the dotted line. This will help you visualize the ideal property before you even begin your search. Otherwise, you may end up wast-ing endless weekends driving around in frustration as you search for the perfect retreat. Unlike looking in the city, desirable listings can be miles apart.

A final note. If the concept of owning a cottage is totally foreign to you, one of the best ways of learning the ropes is to rent, usually in more than one location. This will help you to get a better sense of what you want while you ease yourself into the cottage lifestyle… hopefully without any unnecessary grief or anxiety. b

10 Years of Real Estate Marketing Experience

Todd AdairDirect: (705) 787-8584Office: (705) 645-5281

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NORTH COUNTRY REALTY INC., BROKERAGE

205 Manitoba Street, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1S3

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Walking

Everyday, hundreds of dogs across Canada venture out into the unknown for their daily exercise rou-tine. Many are handed over to hired ‘personal trainers’, otherwise known as dog walkers, for this

beneficial therapy.

Fortunately, most dog walkers take their job extremely seriously. Some have a knack for their charges, tak-ing every precaution to ensure things are done right. Others may have taken the odd seminar or perhaps read a book or two on the topic, such as Turid Rugaas’ famous book, Calming Signals: What Your Dog Tells You.

Sadly, however, there are many people that enter the dog walking business without any knowledge of canine behaviour. While they may take their jobs seriously, they’re lacking a few key ingredients necessary to keep Rover and Spot safe. For example, do these dog walkers know how best to treat a dog bite? Are there any spe-cific precautions one can take to avoid conflict? How do you handle potential liabilities if accidents happen or if injuries occur. What are some of the legalities that dog walkers should be aware of, and what exactly is their responsibility?

The sad tale of Geronimo

I remember a story I heard about a dog perhaps aptly name Geronimo. Geronimo was a very large dog, black and weighing in at 120lbs. He was also boisterous and had a very loud bark. Sadly, he was a very misunderstood dog, a fact which eventually led to his getting less than great reviews at local parks.

Before leaving for his daily exercise routine, a choke collar was placed around his neck, a leash attached to it and an abundance of nagging and rough handling doled out. The dog walker would show and, taking his cue from the owners, copied their way of handling Geronimo and off they went on their walks. As the days

the dogProfessional dog walkers

need training, tooBy Erika Phillips


passed, Geronimo associated the pain of being corrected or punished with his attempts at being friendly – his over-tures toward other dogs were always met with a tug on the leash and a stern “No”. After a while, Geronimo figured that making friends was bad and that everyone, people and dogs alike, were basically not very nice. He associated dogs and people with pain, which he obviously didn’t like. After all, he simply wanted to say “Hi”.

As Geronimo grew in size, so to did his frustrations. He was becoming increasingly wary of strangers and other dogs. One day, while walking down a busy street, a little girl broke away from her mother’s hand and ran over to see Geronimo. Sensing the tightening of the leash and the fear in the dog walker’s reaction, Geronimo, as quick as light-ning, lunged and knocked the child down.

The child’s parent phoned the police and Geronimo was placed in quarantine. Even though he didn’t bite the child, he was nevertheless deemed a dangerous dog. The parent threatened to sue the dog walker as well as the owners, and the whole sorry episode became a nightmare for everyone

Back

to theContinuing Education for Dog ProfessionalsAPack cademy

Ontario’s first Continuing Education Program for Professional Dog Walkers Workshops offered multiple times throughout the year on topics such as:

œ Dog behaviour & body language œ Managing group dynamics œ Professionalism & networking œ Proper socializing for puppies & dogs œ Avoiding aggressive interactions

œ Legal liabilities issues

As a member of the , not only will you be receiving certified education from top professionals in the field, but additional benefits such as special offers from Academy Partners and networking opportunities.

Workshop I: May 28th (1-5pm) & 29th (10am-2pm) Cost: $200 Location: Downtown Toronto Instructor: Kerry Vinson (BA Psych)Information & Registration: 705-424-5971 or [email protected]

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involved. Geronimo was ultimately considered difficult and, to avoid further problems, was euthanized by his owners.

An ounce of prevention

Who was responsible for this tragedy? What role did the dog walker play in Geronimo’s development and eventual demise? How could this have been avoided? What can be done to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again?

If you’re a dog walker looking to expand your skill set, consider looking into an advanced training program here in Ontario through the Back to the Pack Academy. This program will be offering ongoing educational workshops towards continuing education specifically for dog walkers. Learn valuable information about canine behaviour, body language, how to avoid conflict, how to deflect potential problems, as well as how to work with and understand ‘difficult’ dogs.

This program will be launching soon, will offer a certifi-cate of completion and will be taught by some of the lead-

ing animal behaviourists in the country, recommended by veterinarians, kennels and other professionals in the field.

Ultimately, as can be seen in the sad case of Geronimo, every professional needs to be educated in his or her field. To ensure you’re the very best you can be – and to prevent such tragedies from happening again – look into gaining further professional training. It will help protect not only

you, but also the dogs in your care… as well, of course, as the public in general. b

Erika PhillipsErika Phillips, an international animal behaviour consultant currently living in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario, has been practising undisputed scientific based behaviour methods for nearly 20 years. (www.thecontroversialcanine.ca)


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bad dog?Good dog, Take CottageDog’s CosmoPAWlitan-style Quiz to find out just how well behaved your pooch is

By Kerry Vinson


Let’s face it, most of us treat

our dogs like we do our kids

(sometimes even better!). But have

you ever wondered just how well your

dog stacks up when it comes to its be-

haviour? For example: Does Molly pull

hard on her leash? Does Max growl at

you? Does Bailey refuse to let you near

his food bowl? Such behaviour could

be a warning of problems down the

road if they’re left unaddressed.

To help you find out where your pre-

cious pooch stands in terms of behav-

iour – good, acceptable, bad – Cot-

tageDog asked me to devise a quiz to

enable you to rate your dog’s behavior

and determine any potential problem

areas needing fixing. Why? Over the

past decade I’ve done extensive re-

search into canine behaviour, and am

acutely aware that a dog’s behaviour

is the number one reason that their

owners give up on them, surrendering

them to a shelter, or worse.

In order to see the number of dogs

this happens to be reduced dramati-

cally, I’ve put together the following

‘scale’ to help ensure your relation-

ship with your pet is a good one... and

a long one.

Photo

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hy by Scruffy D

og

Photo

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The questions should be rated as follows: 1 point for “Never”; 2 points for “Sometimes”; and 3 points for “Always”:

1) Does your dog pull with maximum force on the leash when you’re walking him/her?

2) When you tell your dog to stop pulling, does he/she ignore you?

3) Does your dog generally ignore your requests or commands?

4) If another dog approaches while walking, will your dog growl or lunge at it?

5) Has your dog ever growled at you or other family members?

6) When someone comes to the door, does your dog bark uncontrollably?

7) If you let your dog off leash while at the cottage, will he/she run off and not respond to the recall command?

8) If your dog is off leash at a dog park, will he/she come to you when called?

9) When interacting with other dogs at a dog park, does your dog ever get too aggressive during play?

10) Does your dog refuse to relinquish something in his or her mouth that he/she shouldn’t have?

11) Will your dog display any food guarding behavior when eating?

12) If your dog’s behaviour becomes aggressive, will he/she pay attention when told to stop?

Calculate your dog’s score as follows:12 points – Awesome! Congratulations on a perfect score… and give the dog a bone!

13 to 21 points – Good, but could be better… Fido needs a little guidance, so contact a trainer for enroll-ment (or a refresher course) in obedience class.

22 to 30 points – Hmmm… the services of a reputable canine behaviourist are needed.

31 to 36 points – Uh-oh! Your dog’s behaviour issues need to be addressed NOW before it’s too late!

Never Sometimes Always

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3


Please be aware that I’ve tried to keep the quiz as straightforward as possible, and there’s always some de-gree of variability in interpreting a score on such a scale. When I assess a dog’s behaviour for a court case, it’s a formal process that can take several hours, with the focus on objectivity and the research based principles of learn-ing theory. Although dog training isn’t rocket science, ca-nine behaviour can be more complex than most people realize. For example, if your dog consistently ignores your basic commands (as in question #3), then attending an obedience class is most likely what you need. On the other hand, if the answer to question #12 is “Sometimes” or “Al-ways”, then you should be looking for advanced help.

Although we’ve tried to take a lighthearted approach to the subject of dog behaviour problems, as I mentioned earlier it can be a serious issue. As the owner of four large guarding breed dogs, I’m personally aware of the impor-tance of always being on top of their behaviour. In my book, it’s never acceptable for your dog to display any type of aggression to you, members of your family… or anyone else, for that matter. As my dogs are genetically hard-wired to be territorial and bark at strangers, I have taught them to obey my command to cease their guard-

ing behaviour and accept any visitor I introduce them to. The fact that I live in the middle of a forested acreage sur-rounded by a secure fenced area allows me to have such a group of dogs. Over the years that I’ve been in the dog behaviour business, I’ve been surprised by the number of people I’ve come across who are unable to stop their dog from barking aggressively when someone comes to the door. If you live in a city or suburban environment, this can cause problems.

Owners need to be aware that there’s a distinct differ-ence between behaviour modification programs offered by a bonafide dog behaviourist, and obedience training. For example, dogs that display aggression (the number one serious dog behaviour problem) have often done quite well in an obedience class setting. With a wealth of (often conflicting) advice on the Internet about dog behaviour, a good rule of thumb is to avoid trainers or behaviourists who propose a punishment based methodology. Ample research into learning theory indicates that positive rein-forcement based training and/or behaviour modification offers a higher degree of success. If you’re not sure who to contact for help, ask your veterinarian for advice.

Kerry VinsonKerry Vinson (B.A. Psych) writes on dog behaviour issues for veterinary publications and pet magazines in Canada, and has been designated an Expert Witness in the area of canine ag-gression, testifying in several high profile court cases in Ontario. He has appeared nationally on Canada AM, CBC’s Doczone, The Outdoor Life Network, and Discovery Channel, and lectures at Colleges in Southern Ontario. He lives in the Northumberland Hills east of Toronto with his four dogs (three German Shepherds and a Caucasian Ovcharka) and can be contacted through Animal Behaviour Consultants at (905)352-3353.

b


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Gotta stay at Trigonelle B&B.

They’re PET FRIENDLY, have

woods to wander, chipmunks

to chase, and I get to sleep with

you in my very own dog bed.

Can’t wait! Woof! Woof!

Great food

Long walks

Visit the ski village

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We’re going to Tremblant ! !

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» Relax, Renew and Reconnect at our Muskoka Family Resort on Peninsula Lake between Huntsville and Algonquin Park

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Stanford Hotel is an exceptional place to stay; we are conveniently located 3.2km from the airport and close to many amenities. We offer reasonable rates for both short and extended stays.

We welcome all family members including your four legged friends, all furry friends are welcomed with a treat baggy…your family is our family.

Discover all your favourite activitiesincluding our local cycling trails andthe linear park. Healthy breakfastsand home made products served intranquil, natural surroundings yearround. Nous parlons le français et lepitou. Woof, woof arf !

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In Trent Hills Municipality, 10 minutes away from shopping & sight seeing.

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Looking for a relaxing, soul cleansing retreat?

Why not come to Adam Farm Stone Cottage

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Rehab & Modification for Canines using positive methods.

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Serving the Georgian Bay Area and BeyondBy International Animal Behaviour Consultant Erika Phillips

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There’s nothing like pre-vacation anticipation, particularly the Muskoka vari-ety. The zen-like state that awaits, trading concrete for Canadian Shield and parks for wilderness. Your gear would be loaded already if it weren’t for those puppy dog eyes following your every move, eyes you watch with guilt, knowing they are bound for something less. The simplest thing would just be to load Fido in the car and make sure your four legged family member doesn’t miss any family time.

Lots of accommodations label themselves pet friendly, but just because they welcome your dog doesn’t mean your dog will feel welcome. A barking pet is par-ticularly disruptive in a hotel, the space is very limited for big dogs and potty breaks may entail cramped elevator rides.

The Cottages at The Diamond ‘In The Ruff’ offer the royal treatment for your active pooch. The three bedroom Normerica post and beam cottages spaciously accommodate all. Appointed in an uncluttered modern take on Muskoka, the fully furnished vacation homes afford plenty of space for dogs to maneuver without stepping on everyone’s toes. Your pups can keep you company on the deck as you barbecue or they can frolic in the adjacent grassland where it’s easy to keep an eye out. The waterfront cottages are an idyllic playground where dogs are welcome to swim and hang 10 at the beach with the rest of the family.

The shared ownership cottage development of just 15 homes creates a quiet community nestled between Nutt Lake and The Diamond ‘In The Ruff’ golf course and is surrounded by woods and groomed hiking trails. Pulling into the driveway of the golf course is like stepping into the unfolding brushstrokes of a Monet can-vas. Gardens ripe with colour garnish impeccably manicured grounds; its nine fairways sculpted from a gentle terrain of sky bound pines. A Quebec inspired red roof tops a cozy clubhouse conducive to relaxed conversations and the laughter of a life less serious. The atmosphere everywhere is one of welcoming.

“This is perfect,” says Kathy Lockwood, who has been a happy cottage owner along with Claire Forster for three years. “It’s quiet and there are activities avail-able for those who want to partake. When I go on holidays I want to decompress, read and play golf. I can’t complain about the luxury I’ve got.”

The challenging yet unintimidating layout of the golf course is as easy to walk as it is on the eyes. Careful consideration has been given to make your round as enjoyable as possible. An all natural garlic spray is used on the course to help con-trol the bugs and maximize comfort. Tee times are spaced 10 minutes apart and

Fourseasonsfor four legs at the

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starters will hold groups back to ensure enough of a gap between groups for a steady but unhurried pace.

In the winter, the golf course turns into a snow sport playground with groomed cross country ski and snow-shoe trails. Nutt Lake is transformed into an ice rink for hockey, a relaxing skate or a friendly game of curling. Af-terwards, warm up in the cottage in front of the fireplace or enjoy the outdoor fire pit. Your dog is welcome to set the pace on the paths, whether they’re snow covered or more suited to running, cycling or hiking. The property’s central location in Muskoka means you’re only a short drive to a variety of attractions, boutique shopping and eateries to satiate the foodies.

Choosing The Cottages at The Diamond ‘In The Ruff’ for your vacation lifestyle will net you five splendid weeks of Muskoka time with two fixed summer weeks, a tough to find offering in the fractional cottage market. The turnkey nature of shared ownership investment means you arrive with your clothes, toys and food to spend quality time cre-ating memories that matter, not doing chores.

“When you’re buying a fractional it doesn’t come

with all of the maintenance and upkeep of full cottage

ownership and the capital investment is less,” says Gail

Young, a cottage owner with her husband John. “After six

months of looking into fractional cottage ownership, we

chose Diamond for the single cottage design, the quality

of the product itself, the central location in Muskoka and

the two fixed weeks compared to one week offered by

other properties…The reason we bought here is that there

was nothing we were disappointed by.”

And your furry friends won’t be disappointed because

they’ll be along for the fun. More than just pet friendly,

The Cottages at The Diamond ‘In The Ruff’ is pet practi-

cal. You’ll be comfortable bringing your dog, big or small,

and your pet will love to be an integral part of the variety

of activities at this amazing four season resort communi-

ty. Call 1-877-643-3343 today and book your tour—dogs

welcome!

Aditorial

Xylitol Sweet as Chocolate and Much More Toxic

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is gaining in popularity for use in many products such

as candy, chewing gum, oral hygiene products including toothpaste and even in low carbohydrate foods. It is also being used as a sugar substitute in home baking.

Unfortunately, there is great concern with xylitol when consumed by dogs. It is rapidly absorbed into the blood-stream and triggers an increase in the release of insulin from the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone whose primary duty is to aid in transporting sugar from the bloodstream into various tissues and organs that either require it for

energy production or for storage and use at a later time. This rapid increase in insulin release from the pancreas may lead to an equally rapid decrease in blood sugar, a condition known as hypoglycemia. If blood sugar levels drop too low, weakness and lethargy ensue. If a danger-ously low hypoglycemia occurs, then a dog may exhibit vomiting and begin to seizure, convulse and possibly even fall into a coma or die.

Xylitol is extremely toxic. In fact, it is 100 times more toxic than chocolate consumption to a dog (little is known of the effects on cats). As little as one or two pieces of

Vet’s Corner

By Dr. Jason McLeod, DVMDr. Jason McLeod is a companion animal veterinarian who resides in Muskoka. He is the owner of Algonquin Animal Hospital in Huntsville and Bracebridge Animal Hospi-tal in Bracebridge. A graduate of the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, Jason shares his love of life in Muskoka with his wife Megan, young son Marshall and a menagerie of pets he is servant to. His house includes 4 cats that dictate when his fam-ily rises in the morning, which furniture they are allowed to relax on and when meal times will be. His house literally vibrates with over 250 lbs of jovial canine and feline royalty.

Please see algonquinanimalhospital.org or bracebridgeanimalhospital.org for more information.



chewing gum can cause serious toxicity in a 20 lb dog. Ad-ditionally, higher volumes ingested may have serious liver effects (hepatotoxicity) and these effects are usually not seen for over 24 hours. A small number of dogs may not go through a noticeable hypoglycemia but may still have considerable liver damage, thus it is extremely important to seek medical attention if a canine consumes xylitol.

Clinical signs and rapid changes

Due to the rapid onset of toxicity, testing for xylitol in the blood is not commonly utilized. It helps if own-ers know that a possible ingestion of a xylitol-containing product occurred, although not all owners may be aware. Often the clinical signs and rapid changes seen in a pet are what tip a veterinarian to the presumptive diagnosis.

There is no antidote or specific therapy for xylitol toxic-ity. Treatment of affected individuals is through emergen-cy care including intravenous fluids and administration of glucose – a sugar that is rapidly absorbed into the blood-stream and helps normalize blood sugar levels. Advanced cases may require further treatment to combat seizures or other side effects.

The drastic increase in the number of products contain-ing xylitol has steadily risen in the last few years. This has resulted in a sharp increase in cases of toxicity and hypo-glycemia seen by veterinarians and reported to toxicology centres. Raising awareness to the considerable threat of this apparently innocuous sugar substitute should help owners to prevent our precious companions from being adversely affected. Just remember, if you have any suspi-cions, seek veterinary medical attention immediately as time is not on our side in dealing with xylitol toxicity.

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HUNTSVILLE869 Hwy. #60 • (705) 789-5181

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BRACEBRIDGE17 Ball’s Drive • (705) 645-5090

bracebridgeanimalhospital.org

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b

DOWN

2 Type of cottage boundary

3 Sculling device

4 Doggie do-do human’s do

5 Fine brush

6 Autumn lock down ritual

7 Go and get

8 Cottage pier

10 Treat it well or it may come back up to haunt you

13 Aquatic apparel

14 Alvin was a member

16 Scavenger recreational area

18 Straw Hat Players

23 Campfire fare

27 Athletic meet…doggie style

29 Reflective of market value

32 Goldilocks’ nemesis

33 Sleep but never drive on it

31 Never serve in July like the English

35 Ozone’s revenge

Paw~zzledWritten & illustrated by Vince Grittani

ACROSS

1 Essentials’ shop

5 Aromatically offensive nuisance

7 Legal lifesaver

9 Company

11 Undersized cabin

12 “J” powered

13 Speak, Spot! Speak!

15 Good with fish or Fido’s identifier

17 Friday night challenge

19 Boat access

20 Ideal direction

21 Bearing diagram

22 Canine freeloaders

24 Epidermal irritator

25 Vessel port

26Cinematic teaser or cottager’s hauler

28Considered an illegal throne room now

30 How dogs dry

34 Kids car mantra

Stay tuned for the next issue for all the answers - 62 - CottageDog - Spring 2011

100

CAGE FREE YEAR-ROUND DOG CAMP

FrogHunting!

DragonflyRacing!

ChippyChasing!

DOG PARKS FOR EVERY SIZE, AGE AND NEED!

GreatHound PetBus Shuttle: Toronto/GTA/Muskoka705-789-9181 (Huntsville)www.happytails.on.ca

Spa baths Recommended!

Documents

Cottage Dog - Spring 2011