Volume I Issue 9 Animal Rescue Friends (ARF) May 2012

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Nominate your dog or cat to be

Mayor of Idyllwild! Nominate your cat or dog, conduct its campaign, and get

your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues out to vote!

Here is how the election will work:

Residents of Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley, and Mountain Center

may nominate their dogs and cats for office, becoming their pets’ cam-

paign managers.

Candidates and their managers will campaign, and candidates’ photos

and statements will be featured in the Town Crier just prior to the

three polling days, June 11, 12, & 13.

Each dollar placed into a candidate’s ballot box will count as a single

vote. A run-off election will be held if necessary.

Idyllwild’s first mayor will be inaugurated on June 30 and honored

with a reception, will be in the Idyllwild July 4 parade, and will be in-

vited to many community events throughout the year.

Nomination paper (page 11), photo, campaign flyer, and $10

nomination fee are due by May 19! See pages 10 and 11 of this

newsletter for all the important details.

A non-profit organization

P.O. Box 719, Idyllwild, CA 92549 (951) 659-1122

idyllwildarf.com

Paypal donations may be made on the ARF web site

President: Maria Lehman Secretary: Janice Murasko

Vice President: Andrew Kelley Treasurer: Mary Lou Prosin

In this issue:

Pg 2: Anza Rescue

Pg 3: Sadie Says

Pg 4: Dog Bite Prevention Week

Pg 5: Adoptees of the Month

Pg 6: Baxter’s Buddies

Pg 7: Rescued Pet Pics

Pg 8: Warm Weather Danger

Pg 9: Spring Grass Warning

Pg 10: Mayor of Idyllwild Rules

Pg. 11: Mayor of Idyllwild Nomina-tion Form

Mayor of Idyllwild

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President’s Message

Anza Rescue Brings Tears of Joy, Sorrow The call came in that every animal rescue and shelter fears…an animal hoarder needs your help. Forty-plus dogs and cats living in dismal unhealthy conditions. The owner fell ill. Animal control will be called. Without a second thought, preparations be-gan. Driving through the dust of the rocky dirt road, our caravan loaded with empty crates, and filled with love, was on its way. The sign in the yard said “Doggie Heaven.” A glint of hope? We smiled. And then the breeze brought us the heavy scent of urine before we even got out of our cars. The constant levels of barking that said “Please help us” seemed to pull us through the door. And we cried. Choking back our tears, hearts breaking, and at times gasping for air, we strived to make a difference. In these horrid, filthy condi-tions, every bark only meant “Please take me. Take me.” The bravest came forward first, to sniff the outstretched human hand. Many fol-lowed, some hid, most continued to bark, still unsure. And the choices had to be made. A hard task, as was pushing all emotions, sounds, and conditions aside, to be dealt with later and in private. Evaluations such as interaction with humans and other animals, approachability, and will they be adopted were factored in. Did we fall in love with all of them?

Of course, but then we had to remember, we would be just like their owner if we took them all. As each set of eyes watched when one of their pack left the room in a crate, our hearts broke a little more. We had no idea who was best buddies with whom. And as our hearts still linger with those left behind, we often wonder if anyone cried as their best buddy was taken and not them. And why. The amount of the community effort from Idyll-wild, Anza, Garner Valley, and other locations left only two dogs that were not saved when the prop-erty was sealed seven days later. Our special thanks to Elaine, Casey O’Connor of the Golden Carrot who continued to feed, bathe and care for the remaining animals until they were rescued, as well as Ellie, Dave, Mardi at Love on a Leash, and all those who have graciously assisted in our en-deavor to make sure our Anza Gang is healthy and socialized. Some are blind, three had to be neutered, two had fly bites on their ears, several had ear infec-tions, and they all had skin conditions. They all had a diva day at Mardi’s at Love on a Leash and visited the vet. When we look into each of their eyes now, they trust, as we promise every one of them, as with all of our ARF orphans, that they will be forever loved and safe. We promise. -Maria Lehman

Anza Rescues...Ready for Adoption!

Betty, a young brindle pit who

doesn’t realize she’s a pit!

Charlie Brown

(L) and Chip,

teacup Chi’s,

are father and

son.

See the rest of the rescues on page 7

epinephrine for reactions to insect stings and bites, 1/10-1/2 ml per pound for dogs and 1/10-2/10 per lb for cats; Kaopectate for diarrhea, 1 ml per lb every 2 hrs for both dogs and cats. THE NEXT CLINIC IS MAY 18. Please remember that heartworm prevention is a year-round responsibility. We see increasing numbers of heartworm disease in dogs who receive preventive medication only in the warmer months. The clinic also has vaccines for rattlesnake venom and lyme disease. We appreciate appointments made ahead of time so we can be sure we have on hand what your dog or cat needs. Call 659-1122, press 2 for the clinic line, then # if you want to bypass the emergency information, listen for the beep and record your message. Thank you!

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ARF Wish List It is so easy to help ARF in its mission, even for those who are short on time and just can-not volunteer. ARF has a “wish list” of items that are vital to its daily operations. Please consider picking up one or more of these items and dropping them off at the ARF House. Your donation will be greatly appreci-ated! dry adult dog food, canned dog food, laundry soap, bleach, cleaning supplies, dog treats,

chew bones, electric clothes’ dryer For those who have a little time to spare, volunteers are needed for spring yard clean up, gardening, future dog run construction/set-up, walking dogs or taking them on short hikes. Please contact ARF at 951-659-1122.

Sadie Says

Human Meds for Pets: Yes? No? It is sad to talk to someone who has watched a family pet die because it has accidentally ingested or been given drugs, herbs, or over-the-counter medications meant for humans. A common-sense guideline to prevent an acci-dent is to not leave your medications out anywhere a cat or dog might be able to reach, even when they’re in a closed container. Caution guests not to leave their medi-cations on a nightstand or counter. Here are some particularly deadly drugs for your pet: Nsaids (ibuprofen), anti-depressants, acetominophen (Tylenol), ADHD drugs, cold and sinus medications, anti-diabetics, vitamin D derivatives, benzocaine, caffeine, al-cohol, iron supplements. The following drugs are safe in situations where you can’t get to your vet but should be used ONLY with a vet’s ok: buffered aspirin for pain, ok for dogs but not cats – 5 mgs per lb every 12 hours; Benadryl for allergies and itching, ½ mg per lb every 8 hrs, ok for cats and dogs;

Dramamine for motion sickness, up to 50 mgs every 8 hrs for dogs and 10 mgs for cats; hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting after poisoning, 10ml every 15 minutes for cats and dogs;

Iverhart Recall Information Iverhart heartworm prevention medication, lot #110482, has been recalled because it has been found to be ineffective. Iverhart’s web site states: “Routine product testing has determined that the ivermectin (an active ingredient) has failed to meet our required stability specifica-tions. Consequently, some dogs dosed with the identified lot may not be fully protected against heartworm disease. Since only the ivermec-tin is affected, protection against other internal parasites covered by the product is not compromised. Additionally, no heartworm-related ad-verse events or illnesses have been reported to-date with this lot of product. “ To the best of our knowledge, Sadie’s Clinic did NOT admin-ister this particular lot of meds.

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May 20-26: Dog Bite Prevention Week

Setting Up Safe Interaction for Children and Dogs

The picture-perfect family...parents, kids, and a dog. But sadly, this picture can be marred when the dog bites a family member, guest, or a stranger. And unfortunately, most dog owners fail to acknowledge that ANY dog is capable of biting, especially when it is in pain or frightened. Children are often the victims of a dog bite, but the good news is, there are ways to guard against this. For the safety of your dog and the children it will encounter, your dog should never be put in a position where growling at or biting a child be-comes the only option. In respect to the relation-ship between a dog and children, there are three things to keep in mind. The first is, of course, the opportunities for interaction, the second is the be-havior of the child, and the third is the behavior of the dog. You are able to control the environment in which your children and dog interact through thoughtful management. A dog who is easily ex-cited by running children should be on a leash when outside during play time, and the dog who is surrounded by over-zealous, loving toddlers might be best kept in a crate or another room with a favorite chew toy when constant, very attentive parental supervision is not possible. Not only do parents need to train the dog, they also need to train the child! Children need to learn how to approach and interact with a dog in a respectful, safe manner. No one should pet a dog on the top of its head. Doing so blocks the dog’s line of vision and could cause the dog to react. Pet dogs on their sides or scratch them on their chests or under their chins. Children should also learn how to feed a dog a treat (by tossing it or delivering it on an open palm), and they should be able to interpret a dog’s body language. They should know that when the dog turns away, tries to leave, licks his lips, yawns, licks their faces over and over, or shows a half moon of white in his eye, he is not enjoying the interaction! And no matter how badly kids (and adults!) want to believe their dogs love their hugs and kisses, they need to face the fact that they don’t. Dogs

prefer a scratch on the neck or chest to hugs and kisses. Preparing and educating children to interact properly with the family dog is for naught if the dog has received no training. Even if there are no children in the home, training the family dog to deal with youngsters is important because the odds are it will encounter children at some point or another. The cuter the dog is, the more likely it will draw the attention of a child. As Doggone Safe co-founder Teresa Lewin says, "You can't prepare the world for your dog, but you can prepare your dog for the world." Dog owners are morally and legally responsible for the well-being and behavior of their dogs. This responsibility includes training the dog to interact safely with people it encounters. Got a puppy? Get it accustomed to what it is certain to experience when meeting people out-side the family. Give it hugs, pull gently on its ears and tail, and tug gently on its fur all over its body. At the same time, feed it goodies from your hand. Pairing touches with a treat can make even rough handling a positive experi-ence. One of the most basic and useful behaviors an owner can teach his dog is to sit. Sitting on cue gives the dog predictability and control in situations with new people. It also reduces the chance that the dog will annoy or injure some-one. The optimum situation when out walking with the dog would be for it to sit automatically when approached by someone new. The more behaviors the dog has on cue, the better the be-havior in just about any situation. The bottom line for any responsible dog owner is this: a dog needs to be trained. Train-ing a dog is not only the best way to ensure a peaceful household, but it is one of the best ways to avoid costly, and often tragic, dog bite situations. The bottom line for everyone, those who own dogs and those who don’t, is this: learn how to interact safely with dogs. Never approach a dog without the consent of its owner, and even then, approach the dog with caution.

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L

A

C

Y

G

I

R

L

Help them find a home

Adoptees of the Month

For years, probably 6 or 7, hill residents talked about a creature they thought was a dog. Some called it "Hobo". The animal had been seen only fleetingly. It was hard to tell because it was so matted from head to paw, nose to tail. Was there even a tail? People left food out but most had given up trying to lure it in, cap-ture it to be turned over to ARF back in Jane Stonehill's day. In the last couple of months, neighborhood friends who had been feeding the dog, finally managed to gain its trust...enough so it could make the trip to Mardi's Love on a Leash. With great patience, the dreds were removed...and there she was...a tail that could wag, eyes that sparkled...a beauty of a girl, now officially named "Girl". She is fed, perhaps a little too much now, and brushed everyday. She's been to Sadie's Clinic where she received a clean bill of health. Now she's ready for a real home with a real family. She awaits in her old neighborhood for just the right people to take her there. All of Idyllwild thanks David and the rest of the neighbors for seeing the beauty in the beast who roamed the woods.

Lacy was 3 years old on March 24. She is an indoor-only cat who lived with four other cats, three dogs, and two adults. She is spayed and has all her vaccinations. She was rescued when she was six weeks old. She loves to chase the feathers on a string. She is an amazing jumper and provides hours of entertainment. She loves to have her head rubbed and will cuddle with you from time to time. Lacy is a great cat and her family was truly saddened to give her up. Lacy can be visited and loved while you read a book at Ink Bookstore, next to Mountain Paws in Idyllwild.

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Baxter’s Buddies Who are Baxter’s Buddies? They are his fellow ARF adoptees and their stories. Each month, Bax-ter will share the story of an ARF rescue, adopted into a loving, forever family.

This month I bring to you the story of Bow, a re-cent ARF rescue. Bow’s dad, Thom Muller, is a man of few words, but I did get him to share a bit about his newest family member. I asked Thom how Bow came to be a member of his family, and he said, “My friend Andrew (Andrew volunteers with ARF) called and said Bow was a good little dog. So I went (to ARF) and my other ARF dog, Dolly, said it was okay.” With Dolly’s blessing, Thom brought Bow home to join his fam-ily. Thom said he came to know of ARF through his Dolly’s groomer, Marti, and Bow is not his first dog adoptee. He also said that his dogs are his family and he loves them both. I also asked Thom if he had any words of en-couragement or a recommendation for those who might be considering a pet adoption. His answer was simple and clear: Just do it!

“I rescued a human .”

-Any adopted animal

Dolly

Bow

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Oma’s Restaurant

& Bakery 54241 Ridgeview Drive, Idy

951-719-0506

Trudy is back in the kitchen!

Anza Rescues, Awaiting Adoption

‘Lil Stevie (L) nearly blind and Whisper are long-haired

Chihuahuas and as sweet as can be! Sydney is a senior mini-Aussie

who is very, lovable and friendly.

Is there room in your heart and your family for one of

these beautiful rescues?

Luna is a young,

female tabby.

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DANGER!!

YOUR PET’S LIFE DEPENDS UPON YOUR GOOD JUDGMENT

THE LAW: It is considered abuse to leave an animal in an unattended car, in the heat, with windows cracked, even for a short period of time. This is a crime punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. A peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer may take whatever measures necessary to remove an endangered ani-mal from a car, even if that car is locked. CA Penal 597.7 THE FACTS: An outside temperature of 72 degrees can cause unhealthy conditions for your pet within one hour in a closed car. An outside temperature of 85 degrees can become 102 degrees within 10 min-utes, and 120 degrees in 30 minutes, inside a car with the windows cracked. A healthy dog can withstand these conditions only a short time before suffer-ing brain damage or death. WHAT YOU CAN DO: In warmer weather, please do not keep your pet in an unattended car, even with the windows cracked. It takes only minutes to cause significant harm. If you’re a visitor and plan to hike or walk around town, you can board your dog if you meet requirements at Ben’s Mt. High Grooming, 25880 Hwy 243, (951)659-2158. If you see an endangered animal in distress in an unattended car, call 911 or the sheriff’s hot line, 951-776-1099. Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends (ARF)

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Responsible dog owners routinely protect their pets from heartworm, fleas, and ticks, but often overlook another serious cause of canine ill-nesses: grass seeds. Mountain residents, in par-ticular, need to pay special attention to this poten-tial problem. The seeds of certain grasses, including fox-tails, cheat grass, and wild rye, are covered with fine bristly appendages called awns that can bur-row into your dog’s body, leaving bacteria along the way. Grass awns can cause problems from ear infections to swollen feet to pneumonia. The tiny barbed awns angle away from the pointed tip of the seed. Once a tip is caught up in fur, it moves only one direction-deeper. Once in the body it can migrate to any area, including the eyes, nasal passages, ears, and even tooth roots. What are the symptoms of a buried grass awn? Externally, there will be a non-healing sore that may ooze puss. Internal embedding of an awe might produce symptoms including sneez-ing, licking of the paws, head shaking, or pawing of the ears, depending upon the location of the awe. Other signs might be shortness of breath,

exercise intolerance, coughing, weight loss, and lethargy. Because awns are not sterile, they can spread infections as they travel. Eventually the infection finds its way to the surface and creates a small opening in the skin that drains puss. Not all situations are life threatening, but if the awe migrates into the heart or lungs, the infection can cause pneumonia or other serious illnesses. A surface awn can be removed with a long for-cep, but internal awns require exploratory sur-gery. Awns cannot be seen on x-rays or through CT scans, but can be sometimes been seen with an ultrasound where a dye is injected into the fis-tural, or tract. Antibiotics provide temporary re-lief, but cannot reach the infection at its source. How can a dog owner reduce the odds of his dog coming into dangerous contact with these grass seeds? The solution is one fire depart-ments and insurance companies like very much...weed abatement! And keep your dog on a leash when hiking to make sure it avoids con-tact with grasses. And if it’s on a leash, you’ll be more likely to see if, or when, it does connect with the dangerous growths.

With Spring Comes Dangerous Grass Seeds

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Candidate Nomination Procedure Any resident of Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Mountain Center, or Fern Valley may

nominate his/her dog or cat to be mayor of Idyllwild.

To nominate a dog or cat, a pet owner must do the following:

1. Complete:

A. the candidate information sheet (pg. 11)

B. the candidate questionnaire (pg. 11)

2. Create a 8.5”x11” candidate campaign flyer, hand drawn or created on computer, which includes candidate’s photo* (submit one copy-make others for your own campaigning purposes).

3. Submit a photo of the pet (digital is good-send to janicemurasko@yahoo.com)

4. Submit $10 nomination fee (to cover election expenses)

All listed above (1-4) must be submitted by May 19 to one of the following

locations: ARF House (26890 Hwy 243), the Town Crier office, or mailed to P.O. Box 719, Idyllwild, 92549.

All candidates will receive a gift bag, courtesy of ARF.

Important Dates May 19: Nomination deadline. All paperwork, photo, & $10 must be submitted. May 21-June 13: Campaign! Get creative! Posters, buttons, hats, yard signs, flyers in store windows! Please do NOT begin displaying campaign materials until May 21. Absentee ballots: Since this is an official unofficial election (and a fund raiser!), mail-in absentee votes (in the form of checks made out to ARF) will be ac-cepted if placed into the ballot box on balloting days. June 6: All candidates’ photos and their statements printed in Town Crier. June 11, 12, 13: Polling in front of the post office. Each candidate will have a ballot box (provided by ARF). Each dollar placed in a ballot box will count as one vote. ** June 21, 22: Run off election if necessary June 30: Inauguration and reception at the ARF House. July 4: Idyllwild Parade...Newly elected mayor will be in the July 4 parade!

*Need assistance with your flyer? Help is available for computer challenged campaign

managers. Email janicemurasko@yahoo.com or call 951-659-1122.

All proceeds will assist ARF in its mission to aid the health and well-being of dogs and

cats of our mountain community.

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Candidate Information Candidate’s (pet’s) name ___________________________ dog___ cat___ M/F

Campaign manager’s name (that would be YOU): _______________________________

Mailing address: ______________________________________________________

Phone (____) __________________ email _________________________________

Candidate Questions Please try to answer in just two or three sentences at most.

1. Why is it best for this mountain community to have a dog or cat as mayor, as opposed to a

human?

2. What are your ideas for making Idyllwild even more pet friendly?

3. Why are YOU the best candidate for mayor?

Please return this completed page with one copy of your campaign flyer, your (candidate’s)

photo*, and $10 by May 19 to one of the following:

ARF House, 26890 Hwy 243, Idyllwild

Town Crier office

PO Box 719, Idyllwild, 92549

*If you’d like to submit a digital photo (preferred), please send it to janicemurasko@yahoo.com