animal life

Tri-State Area Pet News

Your pet. Our purpose.

Inside:

Its all about

Rescues!
Complimentary

December 2015/January 2016

Stay on Top During the Howlidays

& Through Out the New Year.
Best Wishes

from all the Fitter Critter Staff

95 Summer Street, Lee, MA 01238

413-243-0253 www.fittercritters.org

Rescue Me

The number of rescued dogs in the USA & other countries have rocketed in the past decade.
Pure-bred, mix breed, large & small dogs are finding their way into loving hearts and homes.
Why so many dogs?

1.We live in a disposable society; impulsive buying is prevalent, and dogs

are considered commodities. not always a family member.
2. People dont research the right breed for their lifestyle.
3. Irresponsible breeders create poor quality dogs with health problems. They
breed too many dogs and do not take responsibility for these puppies/dogs
for their life time.
4. Layoffs, cut backs, and illnesses or death require that lovely dogs of all ages
be rehomed.
5. The plight of southern dogs has become apparent. Due to lack of spaying and
neutering, wandering, and abandonment hundreds of neglected Southern dogs are
trucked North on a weekly basis. 90%+ of sheltered dogs in most Southern states,
are Euthanized, thousands die annually.

What is Rescue?

1. Shelters rescue and rehome dogs locally. Many NE shelters bring Southern
dogs to Northern Shelters to help find new families.
2. Pure-bred Rescue is available throughout the NE. (See Davey and Champs
story) Almost every AKC breed is available. Explore breed characteristics to
determine the breed that suits you and your families lifestyle. These are
wonderful, healthy and fabulous family companions. You can go to the AKC
website to check out information on various breeds. Then click rescue in the
North East to find the nearest breed rescue to you.
3. Mix breed rescue organizations are prevalent. Dogs may come from
Northern or Southern states. Dogs may come from outside the USA such as
Asia or Puerto Rico. (See Sophies story) Some Rescue groups focus on small
dogs and some on large dogs. Some do not care about size but help all dogs.
4. Shelter dog selectors are rescue volunteers that frequent high kill rate
shelters, usually in larger cities like New York City. These volunteers work
with reputable rescue organizations to identify highly rehomable dogs. Then
they locate the nearest pure-bred or mix breed rescue group to foster if they
can not or do not provide foster care services.

What is a Reputable Rescue Group?

Whether a Shelter or Rescue group all share the following qualities.

1. Most reputable Rescue Groups are non-profit organizations (501C3). They

are operated by volunteers with few or no paid employees. All donations are
applied directly to dog care because there are few administrative costs.
2. A Qualified rescue will require an application process, ask many questions,
and do a home visit before you are approved.
3. Good rescue will match the right dog to the right person(s). This means you
could be a super dog owner and like a certain dog but, the foster family may
feel another dog is a better choice. Respect their expertise.
4. Reputable rescue organizations will provide education and require you to
sign a contract when a dog is adopted. They will take the dog back the
lifetime of the dog. Also, you will be required to return the dog to that
organization if you cant keep the dog.

5. Dogs will have full health and behavior disclosure. If there are problems you
will be informed before adoption. Ask for this information.
6. Your adopted dog will have been recently evaluated by a veterinarian. It will
have current vaccinations and be spayed or neutered. This is included in the
adoption fee. Avoid any organization that cannot give you dated health
papers signed by a Veterinarian.
7. Foster care, or being in a Northern Shelter, is essential so the dog can be
properly assessed for health and temperament. Avoid adopting a dog that has
not had a professional evalutation. Some southern rescue groups take dogs
directly from shelters and cannot foster them. Hence these dogs are not care
fully assessed. In MA, dogs coming from the outside the area are required to
have a short quarantine period to assure proper health.
8. Quality rescue assures that you will meet the dog and want the dog before
adoption occurs. Avoid meeting your dog for the first time off a truck in a
parking lot. Assure this is the dog you want and it is a forever match.
9. Quality rescue assures the dog you select. A common problem is not getting
the dog you selected on the internet.

In Summary

Rescuing a dog is an incredibly rewarding

experience when done with a reputable
organization. Adopting a young or older
dog, rather than a puppy, allows you to
know exactly what the dogs characteristics are.
Some rescue dogs have been neglected
or abused but they love you more, knowing
you have helped them. Many rescue dogs
have never been abused or neglected. They
have been raised in loving homes but their
people have fallen on hard times.

Finally, if you have never adopted a senior dog please consider it. People worry
they may die sooner than a middle aged or younger dog. Keep in mind this isnt
necessarily true.

Enjoy being a responsible dog owner wherever

you find that love of your life.

Jody Chiquoine

Founding Member and Past President of North East Pyr Rescue

Owner of Fitter Critters, Canine Rehabilitation and Aquatic Therapies

We at Fitter Critters, in the past 15 years, have donated more than 500 rehabilitation and
aquatic treatments / services to Rescue Organizations and Shelters in our area. We will
continue to avidly support the Shelters and responsible Dog Rescue Organizations that
work diligently to help make this world a better place.

Animal Life

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 3

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Animal Life

During this season of givingI want to extend a special thanks to all

of the employees and volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to
our local shelters and rescues all year long. Please consider
adopting a pet and giving them a new home for the holidays.

New for 2016, Animal Life will be publishing the first week of every
month, starting in February. We will be expanding our coverage in
the Tri-State area and continuing our ongoing website enhancement.
Thank you to all our columnists, writers and advertisers who make
Animal Life possible each month. I look forward to another great year
as together we head into 2016.

Kim

R/C Airplanes & Engines, Helicopters,

Complete Parts & Accessories,
R/C Cars, Trucks, Boats, Estes Rockets,
Trains, Plastic & Diecast Models

I want to take this time to wish you all a warm and loving Holiday
Season and a Happy New Year! This edition is dedicated to all of the
pet parents who have adopted new family members and shared their
great stories with Animal Life readers.

Warmly,

Including Lionel Trains-Polar Express

Joe Sorrentino
109 Center Street, Lee, MA 01238

Happy
Holidays!

December 2015 animallifeonline.com

Kim Arre-Gerber
Publisher/Owner,
Animal Life

animal life
Your pet. Our purpose.

Publisher/Owner Kim Arre-Gerber, aladvertising@aol.com

Contributing Writers
Iris Bass
Karen Karlberg
Carol Lew
Yoanna Y. Maitre
Tobie Petkus
Mary Koncel
Krista Wroldson Miller
Leea Foran. The Canine Mind
Circulation, John Depaoli

Advertising Sales, Karen Karlberg, Lisa Betkoski

Cover photo by Jennifer Smalstig Addeo

For advertising rates or information call 413-459-5894

Mailing Address: 9 County Court, Pittsfield, MA 01201

www.animallifeonline.com

A Paw Print Division of Animal Laughter Studio. All original content copyright 2015 Animal Life. Original content
contained herin can not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

Saving
Bella

Getting out of my car I almost cant believe my eyes. Of course

I had gotten a quick glimpse of her precious mug staring out of
the passenger side of Nans van at the grocery store a couple
weeks back, but I wasnt able to visit with her then. Bella jumps
up and starts kissing me immediately. It has always been her
thing. Bella can give you a full doggie style tongue bath in about
6.2 seconds. Her little boxer nub is wagging furiously. Her coat
is soft and full. Her adopted mom, Nan, reports that she weighs
38.6 pounds now. To say that my heart soared when I heard that
would be an understatement of epic proportions.

Bella is a white female Boxer mix that came to the shelter so terribly
malnourished that we truly feared that she would not survive the week.
She weighed a mere 25 pounds and was unable to keep food down. Her
skin was stretched over her bones with no muscle tone whatsoever. Her
nails had grown into her paws and her teeth had been worn down into
nubs from trying to free herself from her crate. Dr. Ray of South Street
Vet put Bella on a regular regimen of B-12 shots, prednisone, the antibiotic Tylan and a diet of a mix of wet and dry Hills Prescription ID
food. After a long recovery period, Bella was finally strong enough to
go to her forever home. And that is where Nan and her son Richard
came in.
After losing their beloved fifteen year old dog to cancer, Nan was told
by a friend about Bellas plight. After only one meeting, they were in
love. They didnt mind the bi-weekly (now bi-monthly) trips to the vet
for Bellas shots. They understood that her separation anxiety was one
of the worst cases we had seen. They accepted that she would have to
eat special food for life. They were the angels that Bella needed. And
they had come.
Today, Nan bakes Bella treats in the oven from her kibble and wet food
since her diet is so limited. Bella is sensitive to protein and is extremely
limited in what she can actually eat. She has tried to protest her kibble in the past by spitting it out and eating only her wet food. Nan,
being one step ahead of our dear little Miss Bella, has started running
her kibble through a food processor, and then mixing it with the canned
food. I cannot imagine a more perfect home for our little princess.
Bella lays her head down at night with Nan in her bed. She curls up
next to her under the blankets. For a smaller dog, she ends up taking up
quite a bit of room and just loves to sleep on Nans side of the bed.
Quite often, she will maneuver her way onto Nans side; whether Nan
is on it or not. Thankfully though, she is on the smaller side, as she is
still under the false impression that she is a lap dog. Both Nan and
Richard agree that Bella is a bit of a home body, preferring her own
yard to extended jaunts through the neighborhood. She loves to play in
the side yard and has even claimed Nans zero-gravity chair as her own.
Bella is known to sun bathe on the patio while Nan gardens or tends to
yard work. And of course Bella goes everywhere with Nan, unless the
weather is inappropriate for her Highness to wait in the car during errands.
Nan considers Bella somewhat headstrong, stubborn and almost toddler-like. She is amused by Bellas quizzical head tilts that are often
her responses to Nans directives. She swears Bella is asking her Why
come? or some other queer little toddler-ism. Lovingly, they often
refer to her as the Empress, as Bella not only knows what she wants;
she often knows exactly how to get it. While we are talking, Bella sits
regally on Richards lap, surveying the room. I can see where the nickname comes from. Both Nan and Richard were pleasantly surprised
that although Bellas willful personality has been apparent from day
one, she has never once been aggressive to anyone despite all that she
had been through. While Nan does insist that she follow the rules of the
house, it appears that she still has wrapped them both around her little
paws, and that they love her unconditionally. It is a balance. She is
spoiled, but with rules.
We head out into the yard and Bella wants to play. Richard tosses her
a tennis ball. Bella ignores it. I have now witnessed the Empress in
action. She will play, but she will play what she wants to play. She is
running, and wagging her little tail so vigorously that her whole back
end is wagging with it. I suppose this might be where the expression
about wagging the dog could have originated. Both Nan and Richard
are beaming like proud parents as they watch her antics in the yard.
Their love for this little dog is so apparent. As I prepare to leave, I snuggle Bella one more time and scratch behind her ears. I couldnt be happier. Bella has her forever home and it is perfect.
Krista Wroldson Miller
Sonsini Animal Shelter

Animal Life

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 5

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We adopted an older dog from the shelter (we think hes about 7 or 8 years old).
He clearly didnt have much attention in his life. He doesnt know any basic skills
and doesnt even know how to play with toys. Our friends have told us hes too old
to learn those things at his age but we would like him to have a full life for his
remaining years. Is it too late to train him?

First of all, good for you for selecting an older companion! So many of the dogs at
this age get passed over. It is never too late to train a dog. He is still able to learn and
do anything he is physically capable of doing. As you live together over the next
few months you will be developing a relationship based on trust and respect. Before
you enroll him in a group class, or make a long list of skills you want to build, start
with a few important good manners like Sit, Stay and Come. Link his learning and
correct performance to a variety of things he cares about and use those as life rewards such as--SIT before putting on his leash, STAY before opening the door,
COME for a treat and lots of pets. You may also discover that he came with a few
bad habits. At his age it may take a bit more patience and perseverance to replace
those habits with new more appropriate behavior. If you need a behavior consultation to help you address any problems, be sure to choose someone with experience
training older dogs. Learning to play with toys may come slowly if he never had a
chance to play. Select a variety of toys and see his response--something hard for him
to chew on, a soft squeaky toy, a ball or toy for tossing/fetching, a Kong or other toy
that will hold some food. Introduce them slowly and be very interactive so it is as
much about attention and fun with you as it is about playing with the toy.
Leea Foran, CDBC, CPTA-KA is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and
Behavior consultant and owner of Foranimals, LLC in Lenox, MA. For more
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Animal Life

Charlene Marchand is a syndicated columnist for training, behavior, and health issues. She is
actively involved in canine rescue and sheltering, and is the co-creator and trainer for Columbia
County Sheriffs highly acclaimed A New Leash On Life Cell Dog Program.

December 2015 animallifeonline.com

Marketing:

Gives Rescue a New Meaning

Sophies Story

Hillary Clark B.S. Animal Science

Like most dogs raised for the meat market in

Korea, these dogs have had very poor lives;
theyve been caged outside in the elements,
sometimes five to ten dogs per crate.

In the USA, when we think of marketing a product, we are not thinking of dogs
as food! This is not true in Asian countries where dog is a delicacy that rivals a
pork chop. Sophie, a two year old female mix breed, was part of the Korean Dog
Meat Market & being prepared for slaughter, when someone heard her screams.
Sophies hind legs were crushed and broken in an effort to jam her into a stacked
crate far too small, it was hoped shed fatten for the market and that the meat
would tenderize for later butchering.
Like most dogs raised for the meat market in Korea, these dogs have had very
poor lives; theyve been caged outside in the elements, sometimes five to ten dogs
per crate. Theyve been dirty, left without enough food and water, and not ever socialized. Getting these dogs into loving forever homes is a more involved process
than most adoptions. Fortunately for Sophie, Imagine Pet Rescue came to her aid.
Imagine Pet Rescue is a non-profit animal rescue located out of NYC, whose
mission is rehabilitating and rehoming animals from high kill shelters, hoarding
situations, and rescuing animals who find themselves fighting for their life
throughout the US. Theyve recently been involved with rescuing dogs from the
Korean meat market, and are the ones who gave Sophie a second chance at life
on December 6th 2014.
Sophie, who was non-ambulatory and unable to walk on all four legs, required
extensive reconstruction surgery and physical therapy to heal her broken and deformed hind limbs. She was in constant agonizing pain, emancipated, and had
chronic eye and ear infections when the shelter first homed her. The shelter raised
over $2000 towards Sophies surgeries which were both performed at her stay
with the rescues founder. The first scheduled surgery was performed in February
2015 with a second following in March 2015.
Sophies second chance continued, when her owner came across her touching
story on the urgent adoption list through the Imagine Pet Rescue organization,
and she was adopted into her forever home in Mid-March 2015, roughly 2 weeks
post-op from her second surgery. With her hind limbs extremely contracted rendering her unable to walk, Sophies owner, Karin, contacted Fitter Critters, A Canine Rehabilitation center located in Lee, Ma, looking for post-operative extensive
Rehabilitation to restore strength & flexibility while increasing Sophies overall
quality of life.
At our first initial consultation, Sophie was very deconditioned with extensive
muscle atrophy of her hind limbs. She was fully contracted in her hips and knees
and presented with a significant limp. At times she was 100% Non-Weight bearing in the hind; she walked on her front legs only. Her spine also had a hump,
from shifting her weight forward at the walk and stance.
In our program our primary goals were focused on extreme bodywork for contractures and to increase hip extension, increase knee extension and improve her
hock mobility. Gait retraining was started to encourage walking and proper paw
placement.
Sophie has been working with us at Fitter Critters for the last 7 months in our
active Rehabilitation program and is flourishing. She has improved in many ways.
Her contractures have significantly resolved. She has increased in flexibility,
strength, muscle size & tone. Most importantly she is now fully using her hind
legs. Her owner, Karin, reports to us on a weekly basis that she has exceeded in
all their expectations. She has settled in beautifully as a part of the family.
Now that the worst is far behind them, Sophies days now consist of lying on the
couch, and running free in the yard. She is keeping her mom on her toes with her
everlasting determined spitfire personality.

If you would like to make a donation to

Imagine Pet Rescue go to www.imaginepetrescue.org

Hillary Clark is the Operations Manager, Canine Rehabilitation Clinical

Specialist, and is a Certified Aquatic Therapist at Fitter Critters.

Animal Life

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 7

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Looking Beyond FIV

- Finding a Home for Mr. Whiner and Jonas
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or FIV, is a lentivirus and in the same class of viruses as HIV in humans. Typically, FIV weakens the
cats immune system. Although there are no specific symptoms of FIV, as a result of their compromised immune system, FIV positive
cats are more prone to infections, including dental disease.

In his condo in Mochas Mall at Berkshire

Humane Society (BHS), Mr. Whiner is
curled head-to-tail in his bed, sleeping the
afternoon away. Last month, the six-yearold male with a luxurious black coat and
deep yellow eyes was surrendered to BHS
when his owner had too many complications in her life to keep him. Hes so laidback, says Erin Starsja, Supervisor of
Feline and Small Animal Services. And a
real lover.
Not far away, at Purradise, BHSs satellite
adoption center in Great Barrington, Jonas
is giving face nudges and kisses to shelter
manager Danielle Hammell. According to
Danielle, hes another sweetheart, just looking for someone to snuggle with on a couch
or in a bed. Three months ago, Jonas, a
three-year-old male tiger, came to Purradise
after his owner could no longer care for
him.
Besides being affectionate, charming, and
irresistibly handsome, Mister Whiner and
Jonas share two other similarities: both cats
are FIV positive and both desperately need
a home.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or FIV, is
a lentivirus and in the same class of viruses
as HIV in humans. Typically, FIV weakens
the cats immune system. Although there
are no specific symptoms of FIV, as a result
of their compromised immune system, FIV
positive cats are more prone to infections,
including dental disease.
FIV is not highly transmittable from one
cat to another. The most common way that
it spreads is through deep wound bites
which are often the consequence of nasty
cat fights. Occasionally, however, a mother
cat can pass on the virus to her kittens in
utero or from her milk; although rare, sexual contact can also transmit FIV. FIV
poses no health risks to humans.
Erin estimates that between six and eight
FIV positive cats are surrendered to BHS
each year often without their owners
knowing that their cats are carrying the
virus. Both Mr. Whiner and Jonas were diagnosed after they came to BHS. As part
of our routine in-take at the shelter, all kittens and cats are not only given a health
exam and appropriate vaccinations but also
tested for FIV and Feline Leukemia Virus,
or FeLV.
Unfortunately, there is no cure or treatment for FIV, but the encouraging news is

that cats with the virus can still lead happy

and healthy lives. While some experts estimate their average life expectancy to be
about six years, other dismiss this number
and say that they can live just as long as cats
without the virus.
In fact, as both Erin and Danielle explain,
caring for FIV positive cats can actually be
less complicated and expensive than caring
for cats with other medical conditions, such
as kidney disease. Besides a good diet, exercise, and lots of TLC, the only special accommodations for FIV positive cats are
providing them with regular veterinary visits to monitor their health and eliminating
stress.
The latter is why its especially important
that Mr. Whiner and Jonas find their new
forever homes soon. As Danielle explains,
although they receive excellent care by staff
and volunteers at BHS and Purradise, shelters are extremely stressful for any animal,
creating an environment that could compromise the immune system of a FIV positive cat. Mr. Whiner and Jonas are also
more susceptible to other airborne diseases,
such as upper respiratory infections, that
occasionally occur in the confined spaces
of a shelter.
While placing any special needs cats can
be challenging, both BHS has been very
successful placing FIV positive cats into
new loving homes even if it takes a month
or several months. Like other FIV positive
cats, Mr. Whiner and Jonas would need to
be indoor cats and either be the only cat in
the household or share their home with
other FIV positive cats.
Asked why someone should adopt Mr.
Whiner or Jonas, Danielle offers a simple
response: They need a home of their own
They just want to be with people.
Are you that special adopter who could
open your heart and home to these wonderful cats? To learn more about them, call
BHS at 413-447-7878 about Mr. Whiner
and Purradise at 413-717-4244 about Jonas.
Or just stop by and meet them. Welcoming
a new furry family member into your home
is a great way to celebrate the holidays and
the new year.
Mary A. Koncel
Mary A. Koncel is the Community Outreach
Coordinator at Berkshire Humane Society.

Jonas is a 3 year old FIV positive cat. (feline immunodeficiency

virus) He is the sweetest cat in the world but needs a special home.
There is no cure for FIV, he will need supportive medical care,
indoors only, and has to be an only cat or live with another FIV
positive cat. Jonas will have a shortened life, the average age is 6
for an FIV cat. But he deserves to have the best life possible. We
are making a plea for someone to find it in their hearts to adopt
Jonas. The shelter life is the absolute worst place for an animal
with a weak immune system.

Advocates for Berkshire Community Cats

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Animal Life

If you provide care for stray/feral cats or your

indoor-outdoor pet cat needs to be fixed and you
live in Pittsfield, please contact us ASAP to reserve
a spot. We are only able to fix a limited number of
cats and its only for a limited period of time.

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 9

The Best Gift

for your Pet

While we frequently consider children

and other loved ones when preparing
our wills, very few consider their furry
family members. Fortunately, there's
never been a better time to consider
what will happen to your pets if you are
no longer alive or become unable to
care for them. Massachusetts has
adopted legislation validating pet trusts.
Because pets are legally still considered
personal property, they were previously
incapable of being named as beneficiary of a trust. The Massachusetts legislation, however, now permits pets to
be identified directly as beneficiary of a
trust, and supports the validity of such
trusts. Establishing a trust for a pet is
simply a way of making sure your pet is
provided for by selecting someone to
care for them and setting aside means
to fund their care. In addition, Massachusetts adopted a new Probate Code
which went into effect in 2012. The
new code eases the strict formalities
formerly required in estates and trusts.
This means that trusts in wills (testamentary trusts), and trusts that take effect while you are alive (inter vivos)

You become responsible forever for

what you have tamed.

will all be significantly easier and less

expensive to administer. These changes
make planning for pets easier than ever
before.

There are a few simple things

you need to consider when
planning for your pet:

1.Who will care for your pet?

Some key considerations involved in
selecting a suitable caregiver include
their willingness to assume responsibility for your pet as well as their ability to provide a stable home for your
pet. An alternate caregiver should be
identified as well in the event the primary caregiver is unwilling or unable
to serve when the need arises.

2. Who will serve as trustee of

the trust?
The trustee of your trust is the individual who manages the funds held in the
trust and makes sure the caregiver is
doing a good job. You may select a
family member or friend who is willing

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

to do the job without charging the trust,

or even the caretaker themselves in certain circumstances. Depending on the
amount of money held in trust, it may
be prudent to select professional
trustees with experience in managing
trusts, although they will charge for
their services.

3. How much money should be

placed in trust?
Consider the life expectancy of your
pet and project the annual costs of food,
veterinary bills, grooming, whether
your trustee will be paid and other special circumstances that may apply to
your pet. You should avoid over-funding your trust as this could lead to other
beneficiaries contesting the trust. If
contested, the Court may reduce the
amount in trust if it feels the amount is
vastly excessive, as it did in the case of
hotel heiress Leona Helmsley who left
$12 million in trust for her dog Trouble
(the Court reduced it to $2 million).
One thought on funding a trust is to
name the trust beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

4. Which type of trust is right

for me?
The type of trust that is right for you depends on your circumstances. A testamentary trust is simple and inexpensive
to include in a will. The testamentary
trust, however, only applies at death
and is subject to supervision by the Probate Court. The inter vivos trust is more
costly, but is private and not generally
subject to Probate Court supervision,
and it applies during your lifetime in
the event you are no longer able to care
for your pet, as well as following your
death.

Including pets in our estate plans is not

only a way to show compassion for
them in exchange for their unconditional love, but it is a responsibility we
take on when we assume their care.
And now its simpler than ever.
Holly Rogers

Holly Rogers specializes in estate planning and

probate administration and serves as Guardian
ad Litem for the Berkshire County Probate
Court. She is a1998 cum laude graduate of the
Suffolk University Law School. Attorney Rogers
practiced law exclusively in the Boston area before relocating to the Berkshires in 2007 where
she lives with her dog, Sherpa. For more information see HollyRogersLaw.com.

Celebrating Our

1st Year Anniversary

of the Canine Aquatic Gym!

Such a wonderful place and Alden you are amazing.You got my Rose to
love the water, even though she would rather fetch than swim. But at least
she is in the water.THANK YOU!
- Melissa Maxon

An amazing gift to find you when we did. I would have lost my marbles
with Tank without your help and he adores you, of course.
Happy Anniversary!
- Vicki Baird

Alden Beane
Rosseter Street, Great Barrington

10

Thank you for being in business Alden! Not only have you been a God
send for Maggie, you've provided me with much valuable insight and
advice, on how to take care of Maggie's bad leg.
Congratulations!
- Jennifer Haven

The Perfect Gift for your Favorite Dog Lover!

A Gift Certificate at The Canine Aquatic Gym

in Great Barrington

Keeping older dogs strong and mobile, and younger dogs happy & healthy.
Any $10.00 increment Value: Priceless!

10

out & about

Five years ago this month, my life

changed forever when two scraggly,
long legged, camelids arrived at their
new forever home: Scooby Doo and
Shaggy Too, as they are now called.
My former boss at the Berkshire Humane Society, John Perreault, jokingly
asked if anyone wanted to adopt a pair
of llamas that were coming to the shelter as a result of an abuse and neglect
case. I raised my hand and said I
will, and then called my husband,
Mark, to asked him for a barn for
Christmas. After explaining who would
be coming home for the holidays, he
said sure. Then I called my friends
at American Fence to come and put up
an additional 6 ft. high stockade enclosure around the new barn to make sure
the new llamas would be safe and secure. I also did some research on the
care of llamas and made arrangements
for Berkshire Ambulatory Veterinarian
Services to come and give them a
check-up and the necessary inoculations they would need. Dr. Matre told
me a year after that first visit, that she
was not sure they would make it because they were so underweight and
riddled with parasites.
A couple of weeks later on a bright
crisp day the two arrived at their new
home. They were unaccustomed to
grass under their feet, since they had
come from a pen with nothing but mud.
Scooby Doo started to kick up his heels
and run around his new backyard.

A Tail of Two Llamas

Shaggy started to munch on the Forsythia bushes, and kept on munching

till they were totally gone about 2 years
later.
It may have taken a while for Scooby
& Shaggy to get accustom to being
cared for by Mark and I, but it only
took us a few days to fall madly in love
with these gentle creatures. They are
so ethereal and give us a profound
sense of tranquility when you are near
them. One of our favorite time is
spending an evening on the deck
watching the llamas pronging (a type of
prancing) about and snacking on Cheerios.
When I tell people I have pet llamas,
one of the first thing they usually ask is
do they spit. I proudly
tell them, that llamas are a
social animal and will usually spit when they dont
have another llama around.
Our boys are a bonded pair
and while they may spit at
each other over who gets
the best spot in the barn or
the choicest hay they do not
spit at us. Well, maybe
Shaggy does when he gets
his shots.
We discovered after a couple of years of caring for
our llamas, that they would
be happier with a purpose so we
adopted a flock of chickens to give
them something to protect. I can attest

Karen Karlberg

that Llamas are excellent guard animals.

We live in the middle
of a wetland area surrounded by mink, coyote, fox and other
predators and nothing
has made it into the
barnyard to attack any
of our pets thanks to
these two 450 lbs. big
brown giants.
I would be remise if I
did not mention that
having two full grown
llamas can have its
down moments too. Like when they escaped their yard and galloped off down
Route 20, twice! The Escapees

needed a police escort and other helpful

neighbors to get the rascals home
safety. But I wouldnt trade a minute
of the adventures these lovely creatures have given me. We are truly
blessed with a happy ending.

Till next time, watch for animal signs

wherever you may roam.

Karen Karlberg resides in Becket MA

with her menagerie of rescued barnyard & domestic animals and her husband Mark. She is actively involved in
conservation efforts as a citizen scientist, town official, and an accomplished
artisan and nature photographer
www.kattailphoto.com

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Animal Life

11:52:29 AM

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 11

Angel:
D
A study in miracles

Angel is a study in miracles; a Facebook outcry from a shelter appeared all over
the Jack Russell community pages - please save, please pull, please help!
Brought to a shelter after someone found her after an apparent accident, this little five year old jack russell girl, rightly named Angel, had one rear leg missing
that she had chewed off and her other rear foot badly damaged with an open
wound that seemingly would not heal. With many rescue partners assisting in
getting her to Jacks Galore before she was euthanized, she landed on our doorstep
with the most wonderful smile and wagging tail. When given a tennis ball, she
dragged her rear legs behind running like crazy, bringing it back for you to throw
again. The will to live! Taken immediately to our fabulous South Street vet, after
x-rays and exam we were made aware that she had at some point been hit by a
car breaking her back resulting in extensive nerve damage. Angel now has no
use of her back end from the middle of her spine down, which makes her incontinent. The second thing we did was take her to Eddies Wheels in Shelburne
Falls who builds carts for dogs who require assistance walking. She was set up
with a pair of wheels that now allows her to walk for any length of time, playing ball, and straightening her spine which helps her good rear leg with its mobility. We then set her up in the kennels with dog ramps made by our dearest
friend Dave, with special carpeting on it she scoots through the dog door without a problem; and that she does whizzing in and out whenever she sees one of
us coming to greet her. We immediately set up a schedule at Fitter Critters in
Lee for twice weekly treadmill therapy and laser work. Their experience has
proven invaluable in her recuperation and the increased mobility in her leg and
strengthening spine. After just a month of proper exercises and massage, a 1
mile daily walk, and exercise work; with her cart she now walks extremely
well with pronounced front muscular strength and more often than not uses her
hind leg for traction. We spread the word that she was ready for her forever home;
but who would want to adopt a dog with such a handicap? Yet a jack owner
stepped up to the plate and has adopted Angel. Well aware of all the work involved , she will head down to Delaware before Christmas with her wheels in
tow, and a bag a tennis balls; she will have a tripod Jack pal, will continue with
water therapy and exercise in hopes that she will one day be a tripod. With the
joy that Angel has brought our rescue, with her enthusiasm and extreme will to
heal, she has truly given us our Christmas miracle. Whoever she meets will be
given joy, and show that life is what you make it.

Pauline Clark
Jacks Galore

Jacks Galore Matching you with the right rescue Jack.

Rescues and rehabilitates Jack Russell terriers to rehome into forever homes

www.jacksgalore.org

DLeaving Paw Prints in your Hearts D

Boyd to the Rescue!

Little Guild of Saint Francis is a small, no-kill shelter based out of Northwest
Connecticut. Although we pull dogs from all over, we are fond of helping out our
local animal controls and shelters. We found Boyd at Bridgeport animal control.
He was so new to them, he didn't even have a name yet, just a number. As we
took him out of his kennel, he was beyond happy to be able to stretch his legs and
enjoy some fresh air. We fell in love with him immediately and decide he would
be taking the trip back to the Little Guild with us. On the long ride back to West
Cornwall, we chose his name Boyd. We found it fitting considering he was the
biggest pit bull at Bridgeport pound. Later he would end up being called, Big
Boyd by staff and volunteers.
Boyd enjoyed romping around in the big fenced in yards with other dogs of all
shapes and sizes, as well as his alone time with his giant plastic ball that people
could hear his enjoyment with from a mile away. We found he was a giant mush.
As people would pass him in his kennel, he'd jump up to give them kisses through
the bars, volunteers adored him and staff couldn't help but fall in love!
As time went by, we found people had little interest in him. We kept telling him
that he was such a good boy and some amazing family would scoop him up. As
he was at an adoption event, we were able to find him a foster home, which had
2 other pit bulls in it. After some time, his foster had to return him simply because
of the fact that he was falling too in love with Boyd. A short time after he had returned to the Guild, his prayers of finding a permanent home (maybe even with
some playmates in it) were answered.
An amazing family and pit bull advocates drove to meet Boyd and spend some
time with him. After spending about 2 hours with him, they fell in love, as most
people did when they met him. The next day, Boyd was delivered to their home
to do a meet and greet with their 2 other pits, Cady and Gus. It went fabulous of
course! It was a hard day to say goodbye to Big Boyd but we knew he was in
great hands and great company. Throughout the next couple of weeks, we were updated on how Boyd's name was changed to Loki, the Norse God of Mischief,
which suited him very well. All of his new family were falling more and more in
love with him as each day passed. His family consists of Steve and Mo, and their
3 children, Madi, Rylan and Jilly, who Loki loves to cuddle under the blankets
with, as well as 2 lizards, Puff and Jerome. When he's not meandering around outside, finding dog toys long forgotten by the other dogs, he is inside sleeping in a
"pittie pile" with his other canine siblings. Loki has come so far from being a
number, to living and being loved in a home he can call his own. Both staff and
volunteers from The Little Guild have been so fortunate and happy to have been
able to love this big guy and find him a home that he truly deserves.

Little Guild of Saint Francis

For the Welfare of the Animals

Please support all of our local shelters and rescues

www.littleguild.org

Your Help will be greatly appreciated! D

Two Rescue Dogs with

Hearts of Gold

Help Rescue Brutus

Fight Cancer!

Davey (aka Mars) is an 18 month old love. The Franklin county Sheriffs office
captured Davey in the Greenfield area of Massachusetts. He was starved, had a
bad flea and worm infection. He had maggots in his sores on his back and butt.
They took him to a vet for immediate care. Northeast Pyr Rescue contacted the
sherrifs office and worked with Leslee Colucci, Shelter Director to take Davey
into our rescue. Thank you, Leslee, for trusting him to us.
He has been with us a couple of months while he healed and grew stronger. He
had a coat except on his naked butt when he came to us. What a site! These pictures are when he first left the vets office. Based on his condition he was starving in a crate or confined space for a time. We believe he was dumped. He had
no meat on his bones and lacked muscle.
He has spent time at Fitter Critters in Lee, Massachusetts. to build up his muscles as he gained weight. With the water treadmill and therapy exercises done by
his foster family (Tracy, David and Quintin Crosby) he has improved dramatically. He stands proud now with his hindquarters up, supporting himself the way
he should.
November 21st he will go to his FOREVER home. He deserves to be treated
like a king. His new mom is a certified massage therapist and will continue to
make him stronger. We will miss him but have rescues to do.
I'm nicked name Champ because I am fighting Sarcoptic mange and a skin infection. I have been like this for the last 6 months and my friends at NEPR have
just taken me in to care for me. It will be a long road to get me well. I am contagious so I cannot be hugged like I long for yet. That will be my Christmas
present. To be able to be hugged. Im just 13 months old so Im still a baby and
want to be cuddled.
Then I will start my treatment for Lyme and Anaplasma. Then I will be given
time to grow back my hair, gain weight and be happy. Eventually I will be
neutered and ready for the FOREVER HOME I deserve.
I did not deserve this, no dog deserves this. IT IS SO CRUEL!

If you would like to follow my progress you can find Northeast Pyr Rescue on
Facebook, or check me out on their webpage under available dogs. They will update my information there. When I am adoptable they will change my description on their page letting people know Im ready.

You can also make donations there to help NEPR care for me and my cousins.
www.nepyresq.org/page/getting-involved-5.html

NEPR Northeast Great Pyrenees Rescue

Rescue & Re-homing Education Consultation & Assistance

www.nepyresq.org

DLeaving Paw Prints in your Hearts D

Brutus is a kind and loving 11 year-old Basset Hound that was rescued by New
England Basset Hound Rescue. He spent his first eight years tied to a tree with no
medical care and little food. I saw him online and instantly fell in love with him.
He was blind from an untreated eye infection and his eyes were white and sunken
in. Without question, I adopted him! After my husband and I built him a ramp
with rails to get out the back door, we took him home where he instantly became
a part of our family.
Taking Brutus in, I was inspired to volunteer for the New England Basset Hound
Rescue as the Adoption Coordinator and help these beautiful animals find their
forever homes.
In the meantime, Brutus had to have his eyes removed due to pressure from his
previous infection. He adjusted well to the surgery and has been happy since.
Three months ago, he had to have his spleen taken out due to swelling and imminent rupture. My husband and I did not hesitate to pay the $2,500 to have the
surgery performed. Brutus then made a full recovery. Unfortunately, three weeks
later, he was diagnosed with Stage 3A Lymphoma. According to the Oncologist,
our boy is a great candidate for treatment and they're optimistic that it will put him
into remission for one to two and a half years. There is even a 5% cure rate! Of
course we are fighting this and are not ready to lose Brutus!
Brutus will be undergoing nineteen treatments that will cost us around $6,000 by
the time we are done. We have taken on multiple jobs to ensure that Brutus' spleen
surgery was paid for and that he will receive his chemo treatments moving forward. I am in love with this sweet boy and am not ready to part with him, as he
has plenty of life left. My husband and I are asking for any little bit of help toward
this life-saving effort and thank you for taking time to read Brutus' story.
If you would like to send your donation directly to Brutus' account
at the hospital, the information is as follows:
VCA Boston Road Animal Hospital
1235 Boston Rd.
Springfield, MA 01119
Phone: 413-783-1203

Please specify that the donation is for Jessie and Brutus Sullivan from Becket, MA

Thank you,
Jessie Sullivan
Adoption Coordinator for New England Basset Hound Rescue

New England Basset Hound Rescue, Inc.

All Volunteer Rescue

www.newenglandbassethoundrescue.org

Please support all of our local shelters and rescues

Your Help will be greatly appreciated! D

Adoptions
D

in the tri-state area

Friendship isnt about whom you have known the longest . . .

Its about who came and never left your side.

-Unknown

D Dog of the Month! D

Each week HADDADSUBARU will be sponsoring a Dog of the Week.
If that dog is adopted during that week, Haddad Subaru will pay $50
towards the adoption fee!

THIS WEEKS DOG IS:

Molly

I am Miss Molly, and golly I am in need of a new home. My first owner

was moving and couldn't take me and then after a time in a new
home I was a bit too much. I am the cutest hound with great floppy
ears and jowls! I enjoy spending time inside and if I am able to spend
time on the couch, chair or bed it's a dream day. I know a few commands and I may be pursued to perform them. I can be vocal when
there is alot of activity. I am sound sensitive and would appreciate a
more rural setting please. I would love to meet my new family and
start settling right in.

214 Barker Rd., Pittsfield, MA 314-447-7878

At the

Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter

Clarice

Clarice is a 3-4 year old American Fox Hound!

Foxhounds make great pets for active individuals, families, experienced dog handlers, people
living alone, and those who enjoy the outdoors.
Living in an apartment is not recommended for
Clarice because she will need vigorous daily exercise and a safe spacious area to run around.
Clarice is a sweet girl, loves all people and other
dogs, but we are not sure that she has ever lived
inside a house.

Sponsored by:

At the

Merrill Road,
Pittsfield

info@berkshiremm.com

Berkshire Humane Society

Sparky

I am new to the shelter. I am a young, male

Jack Russell, Terrier mix. I love to play with my
toys and run. Please stop in and see me to
find out more. I would love to find my forever
home for the holidays.
Sponsored by:

36 Pittsfield Road
Lenox, MA

At the

ycc01240@aol.com

Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter

Liberty

Liberty is a sweet girl, who loves endless amount

of attention! She is good with cats, dogs, and kids!
She would do well in any family! She is a domestic shorthair/mix, medium in size and just a lover.
Sponsored by:

36 Pittsfield Road
Lenox, MA
ycc01240@aol.com

Adoptions
in the tri-state area

Momma Mia

Please call

Berkshire Humane Society

413-447-7878

We are waiting for our

Fur-Ever Home
Lubey

Lubey, a handsome 9 month old

neutered Dalmatian MAY be available
to the right home with experience and
ability to work with training/behavioral
issues.
(This is a complimentary ad for a
VA. Rescue Group)

Milky

Milky is an eight year young neutered

male large Dalmatian. He is a GOOD
boy! Good with people, pets and children, housebroken, leash trained, playful, sweet and very smart. He weighs 75
pounds and does have a growth on his
back which is being vet checked. He had
all shots and would make someone a
wonderful family companion.

Hershey

It started when Police found me wandering the

streets of Brooklyn. I was friendly so they took me
to the shelter, but it was a kill shelter, too overcrowded for another black pit bull. He loves people,
he does not like other animals and would do best
as an only pet. . When I caught a cold (kennel
cough) they put me on a list. Do you know what
Euthanasia List means? Please HELP timing is
everything!!! I am only 2 years old, 64 pounds, and
I really need some leash training and a good kind
foster home now!!

Petey

Harriet Koss, Dalmatian Adoption, Inc.

917-670-3892 email: hckoss@aol.com

16

Animal Life

New

Family

The day I brought her home was the beginning

of our new family. She has filled a void in
my heart that I didn't know existed.

After this heartbreak my mother swore

off getting another dog. She just couldn't bear the thought of going through
another loss like this one. I was renting
an apartment at the time and pets were
not allowed, so I felt a void in my life.
When I bought my own place the following year, one of the 1st things I
wanted to do was get a dog. I wanted
my daughter (an only child) to have
someone to love unconditionally, to
teach her loyalty and responsibilty.
After getting settled in, we made a trip
to the Berkshire Humane Society, to
"just look" and start the application
process. My daughter has sensory issues so I needed to make sure that we
found a good fit, for the dog as well as
my daughter. Loud, rambunctious dogs
who jumped alot were out of the question, but she still wanted one who was
young enough to run and play with her.
On that first visit I sat with one of the
staff members and went over what i
could handle with my lifestyle. I work
full time and am a single mom so my
free time is limited. I needed to have a
dog that was already house broken and
good with children. I filled out the extensive application and I felt good
knowing that the questions were all
geared towards helping us find the best
possible match for our family. There
was no rush. We were told to take all
the time needed to find our forever dog.
That day i mentioned my affinity for

December 2015 animallifeonline.com

cocker spaniels and how my parents

had lost theirs the previous year, not
knowing that this one comment would
help bring us our new family member.
We left that day one step closer to finding a dog, and my daughter was so excited. At the same time she was
extremely sad to see all of the animals
who needed homes. She now had her
heart set on rescuing a dog so that there
would be one less shelter animal waiting for a family to take them home.
Within a week I heard back from the
Humane Society. They had just taken in
a cocker spaniel who seemed to be a
good match for us!! I went to meet Mya
first, without my daughter to see how it
went. As soon as she came around the
corner my heart melted. And that was
it. My daughter and I came and visited
several times to make sure that it was a
good fit for us as well as Mya. Every
time we saw her we fell a little more in
love. We knew that we wanted her and
went ahead with completing the adoption. We were told that she needed to be
spayed before we could bring her home.
The staff explained to my daughter that
by spaying and neutering the animals,
it helps keep the number of unwanted
pets down, so that there will be less animals in shleters.
The day I brought her home was the
beginning of our new family. She has
filled a void in my heart that I didn't
know existed. She has taught my

Many of my fondest childhood memories involve dogs. From the time I can
remember, we always had at least one
or two dogs. From Boy, the beagle who
taught my sister to walk by allowing
her to hold onto his collar, to Tasha, the
German Shepherd/Husky mix who
shared almost all of my childhood with
me, dogs have been with me every step
of the way. We had many beagles over
the years starting with Boy, and then
Misty, Patches, Penny, and Muffin, who
had an appetite for my mother's unmentionables! Tasha was there thru all
of my adolescence, and she was my
confidante and best friend. My mother
became ill when I was around 10 and
Tasha was there for me everyday, when
my mother couldn't be. When i was in
high school we got Dusty, a cockapoo
and one of the smartest dogs i have ever
known. Sadly he passed away after suffering for a few yrs with diabetes and
old age. Baby Lou was an English
cocker spaniel whose owners were
moving and leaving him behind. He
had been left tied outside, scared and
completely covered in filth and matted
hair. My parents took one look at him
and brought him home. He was the
most loyal, loving dog, and never left
our side. When my sister and I had children of our own, he became their
guardians by never letting them out of
his site. Sadly he passed away when
my daughter was around 7 or 8.

Our

daughter patience, responsibility, forgiveness, and unconditional love. She

has also wormed her way into my
mother's heart (and my father's although he will never admit it)!!! The
woman who was not going to have any
more dogs "babysits" Mya every day
while I work. And when my daughter
has a sleepover at Grandma's, so does
Mya!! The road has not always been
smooth. With a rescue you not only rescue the animal, but all of their ingrained
behaviors as well. My dog absolutely
LOVES to get into the trash and shred
any paper towel or tissue she can find.
She also hides socks. Everywhere. So
we don't ever have a matched set!! But
these are small things compared to what
Mya has given to my family. The love
that my daughter and her share cannot
be matched. The lessons that Mya is
teaching her, as well as the memories,
will last a lifetime. My daughter will be
able to look back on her childhood and
her fondest memories will include Mya.
The love and lessons that I had learned
from my childhood dogs is now being
passed on to my daughter. And that Is
what I have always wanted for her.

Thank you Mya for being my

daughter's best friend!

Rebecca Stanard

If you think you love dogs, youll meet your match in Greg Mahle. This Ohio man
has traveled more than a million miles, finding homes for tens of thousands of dogs
from impoverished areas across the South. Learn how Mahle has embraced the
unique bond between dogs and humans and brought immeasurable joy to everyone
he encounters.

- Parade Magazine

Rescue Road by Peter Zheutlin

Peter Zheutlin is a freelance journalist and author whose work

has appeared regularly in the Boston Globe and the Christian
Science Monitor. Mr. Zheutlin has also written for The Los Angeles Times, Parade Magazine, AARP Magazine and numerous
other publications in the U.S. and abroad. He is the author of
Around the World on Two Wheels: Annie Londonderrys Extraordinary Ride (Citadel Press, 2007) and Rescue Road: One
Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs and a Million Miles on the Last
Hope Highway (Sourcebooks, forthcoming October, 2015). He
is also the co-author, with Thomas B. Graboys, M.D., of Life in the Balance: A Physicians
Memoir of Life, Love and Loss with Parkinsons Disease and Dementia (Union Square Press,
2008), with Robert P. Smith, of Riches Among the Ruins: Adventures in the Dark Corners of
the Global Economy (Amacom, 2009), and, with Judith Gelman, of The Unofficial Mad Men
Cookbook: Inside the Kitchens, Bars and Restaurants of Mad Men (SmartPop/BenBella Books,
2011) and The Unofficial Girls Guide to New York: Inside the Cafes, Clubs, and Neighborhoods of HBO's Girls (SmartPop/BenBella, 2013). Prior to starting his writing career, Mr.
Zheutlin practiced law and taught legal skills at the University of Virginia and Northwestern
University law schools. Mr. Zheutlin is a graduate of Amherst College and Boston College
Law School and resides in Massachusetts with his wife, author Judith Gelman.

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ailments and most veterinary medical specialties. We use the highest standards,
purest chemicals and the latest technology.

Monday - Friday 10 am - 5:30 pm, Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

OPEN Most Sundays 11 am - 3 pm

Lenox Commons 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA

413-637-0800 www.chezpet.com

help is here for pets & vets!

call for more information, or visit compounding at

www.LvipRx.com

also discover
our all-natural
pet products!

Animal Life

5 Walker Street
Lenox, MA
413.637.4700
888.796.1222
open mon-fri 9-6
sat 9-5

Delivery to your home or office!

independent / local / family owned & operated

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 17

?
?
18

Animal Life

share the love

HADDAD

?A

SUBARU

Open Mon-Thu 8am-8pm; Fri-Sat 8am-6pm

652 East Street, Pittsfield, MA (413) 997-7272

www.HaddadAuto.com

December 2015 animallifeonline.com

Poochinis

Staci A. Barrett, Owner

Accepting most major credit cards

Fully Insured
Member of PSI and ASPCA

  Always
 Available

18Years of Experience Gift Certificates

Dawn Gardina, Owner

518-325-4150 518-821-3959

165 Water Street, Lee, MA 413-243-2626

poochinipetsalon@gmail.com
poochinipetsalon.wix.com/home

Happy Hounds
Mobile Grooming
Emu oil and oatmeal based oils to soothe-dry & itchy skin.
Paw & pad massage with bees wax ointment for dry & cracked pads.
All products are natural. Hypo-allergenic and Eco-friendly

Call us
today!

Salon for Dogs & Cats

WALK-IN
413.446.8676

Jessie Sullivan happyhoundsmobile@yahoo.com

D TOYS, CARDS, UNIQUE GIFTS C

located at Copake Lake,

Craryville, NY

Barking Beauties

Top Dog Styling

Bubbles & Brush
Dematting
Transportation
dog walking
a La Carte items
special services

D ALL ORGANIC-NATURAL
DOG
& CAT
FOOD C
 




Dog Wash Stations!

SELF
SERVE

NAIL TRIMMING

call for date & times

$7 per cat or dog

59 Main Street
Lee, MA

413-243-1220
www.Meowandgrowl.com

D ASK ABOUT OUR DELIVERY SERVICE C

Do You Have the Ultimate Dog?

Nail Clipping

Shamrock Professional Dog Grooming

Paula & Tom Phillips 10 Lyman Street, Pittsfield, MA

413-443-9700

Walk-ins WELCOME for: Nail clippings, Ear cleaning, Trimming of hair between pads

www.shamrockdoggrooming.com

Provides. . .

Food for needy dogs & cats

Reduced rate spay/neuter
Assistance with basic
veterinary care costs


 


Call 518-781-0362
or

 visit www.petpartnersberkshires.org



A 501(c) (3) Non Profit Organization

D LEASHES, COLLARS, BOWLS C

grooming

Open Tue-Fri 8am-5pm,Sat-8am-3pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

(860)435-8353

9 Academy Street, Salisbury, CT 06068

Full service dog grooming-all breeds

Walk-In nail trims
Self Serve Bathing Station: All tools provided,
just bring yourself and your dog!
Frequent Fido Cards-Get your sixth wash FREE
Boutique filled with unique dog items for dogs
and the people who love them!
High Quality Raw (Oma's Pride & Nature's Variety)
and dry (Blue Buffalo & Nature's Variety) foods.
Special Orders Available Upon Request
Chris & Jennifer Tompkins, Owners/Groomers
Amanda Hohman-Manager

SPECIAL NOTE

From the Publisher

Due to popular demand, 2016 Animal

Life will start printing the first week of
the month. Because of the current
printing schedule, there will be NO
JANUARY ISSUE. The 1st issue of
the year will be printed FEBRUARY
5th, 2016. Thank you for your support.

For a 2016 Media Kit, please send

request via email: aladvertising@aol.com

this side of purradise

Two thousand and fifteen was a tough

year for Lenox resident Jay. After having spent several previous years battling illness himself, he was blindsided
in August by the death of his husband,
Rick, just a week before what would
have been the anniversary of their having spent 31 years together. Other family tragedies and the demise, very soon
after Ricks passing, of the next to last
of the nearly 10 variously rescued shih
tzus the couple had shared their home
with, made for an exponentially mournful autumn. What to do? Adopt a cat, of
course.
It had become a joke, whenever Jay
and Rick drove by Purradise and spotted their friend Sheila gardening out
front, that Rick would refuse to stop the
car, warning that unless they drove on,
theyd go home with a cat. Rick didnt
dislike catsin fact, their first pet was
a Himalayan, Mario, who lived to be
21. But to add a cat to a family of shih
tzus didnt seem quite the right mix.
Now, though, that only one shih tzu remainedChloe, likely also mourning
the loss of both her human and her last
canine housemateJay was eager to
drive right in to Purradise and bring
home a cat.
There was a curious double condition,
however. A hairdresser by profession,
Jay loves to groom long fur (thus his at-

Regrouping

traction to shih tzus)and he is com- dental work done, due to the risk of any
mitted to providing a home to mature ill effects from the general anesthesia.
animals that tend to
Jay decided to
be overlooked by
go ahead with
others seeking to
the adoption,
adopt. And so, he
anyway, first
called
Purradise
bringing Chloe
manager Danielle to
to BHS to test
say quite seriously,
whether the cat
Im looking for an
and dog would
old, hairy cat. We
get alongnot a
dont get that reproblem. Nemo,
quest very often,
now renamed
she said. When he
Angelo, went
dropped in, none of
home
with
Jay, Angelo, and Chloe.
the feline residents
Jayand as can
at Purradise quite
be seen in the
clicked with him
photos, he and
but then Danielle
Chloe settled
introduced him to
into the shared
the website of the
space with nary
mother shelter,
a spat, eating
Berkshire Humane
side by side, sitDinnertime on Angelos
Society
(BHS).
ting
on Jays lap
first day home.
When he came
together, and
across the photo of a roughly 10-year- piling into bed with him. As Jay told
old smoky Persian then named Nemo, me, I dont think Chloe thinks hes a
it was love at first sight, and actually cat; or he, that Chloe is a dog. To them,
meeting Nemo at the Pittsfield shelter they are the same.
did not dissuade himdespite Nemos
Hes had dogs with a cardiac condihaving needed a fairly severe clipping tion, so the murmur was not a deal
to remove matted fur, his needing major breaker. In fact, when an ultrasound redental work, and his having a heart vealed that Angelos health was not as
murmur that might forestall getting that dire as first suspected, he went ahead

Winter Care of Community Cats

Iris Bass

with the tooth extractions, which Angelo sailed through problem-free. Although his fur is still a little patchy and
short from his original clean-out-themats clipping at BHS, this handsome,
owl-faced boy can look forward to the
best do in townwell, perhaps in a tie
with Chloesonce his full Persian
coat grows back in.
Jay and Chloe are still adjusting to
their losses, surrounded in their home
by so many memories, but between
Jays tending to this old, hairy cats
physical needs and Angelos immediate
bond with both man and dog, the healing of hearts has begun. Says Jay,
Theres truly a reason for everythingAngelo came here at the right
time.
This series follows the special humanfeline bond at Purradise, the Berkshire
Humane Society Cat Adoption Center
at 301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413-717-4244),
berkshirehumane.org. Open Wed., Fri.,
& Sat. 104 p.m.; Thurs. 10 a.m.6
p.m.; and Sun. noon4 p.m.

Iris Bass, coauthor of the Cat Lovers

Daily Companion, shares her Lee home
with five shelter cats.

Winter is the most challenging time of the year for cats who live outside. Its harder for them to find food and water,
and proper shelter. If you have cats in your neighborhood, consider helping them. Heres how you can do it:

Provide them with food and water on a regular basis. Its a big help when they know where to get food, and they really need those calories. When its extra cold, dry food is best because wet food freezes quickly. Water will freeze more slowly if its in a larger bowl, but watering twice a day is a good idea too. Animal DREAMS has a food pantry for outdoor cats, so give a call if its difficult for you to afford to
feed outdoor cats who visit you.
If you think they do not have a place to shelter, create one for them. You can call Animal DREAMS for advice or if you have access to the
internet, Alley Cat Allies has a great website that includes ideas about shelters. Whatever shelter you offer to them, some of the most important features are creating a wind block, and proper insulation; straw fluffed up so they can burrow in it is the best. Straw is much better
than blankets, hay or anything else that will get wet and freeze. Some kind folks let cats into their houses or basements on the coldest days.
Friendly cats appreciate that, and sometimes even feral cats will take a person up on that good deal!
Think about getting the cats fixed in the spring if theyre not already. We welcome you to call Animal DREAMS. If Animal DREAMS cannot help you with
the entire project, we can help in other ways; information about spay and neuter options, the loan of traps, trapping advice.
Carol Lew, TNR Coordinator
Animal DREAMS 413-997-2287

20

Animal Life

December 2015 animallifeonline.com

So You Want to Buy a Purebred Puppy?

So you want to buy a purebred puppy,

and you dont have the first clue as to
how to find one? Back many years
ago I volunteered to take on the responsibility of doing breeder referrals
for our Kennel Club. This entailed a lot
of hard work and it became a challenging task. Quite frankly, it was frustrating because I spent hours on the phone
educating prospective puppy buyers,
and later learned they purchased a dog
from the Mall. Its the reason why I
stopped doing breeder referrals! But
my hope is that someone out there will
appreciate my advice, so here it is.
If you want a well-bred dog, I dont
condone going onto an animal-related
face book site or Craigs List to find a
purebred. Yes, they will be less expensive, but as the saying goes, You get
what you pay for.
First, I recommend doing research on
different breeds in order to make an
honest decision on which one will fit
into your lifestyle. You can do this the
old fashioned way & read books, or
you can take the quick approach and
surf the net. The American Kennel
Club website has a warehouse of information, and I would suggest starting
there. Youll be able to find not only
every breed recognized by the AKC,
but a list of breeders in every state for
each breed of dog. The AKC website
is akc.org.
Once youve made a breed choice, jot
down questions you want to ask the
breeders, and start calling them. The
first question you NEVER want to ask
a breeder is how much a puppy cost,
since it will immediately turn them off.
That should be one of the last questions
you ask. You might start the conversation by saying something like, Ive

done some research on (your

breed choice), and I know
this breed will fit into
my lifestyle. You
might also tell
them a little about
you & your family.
You should then ask them
about their breeding program? At this point the
breeder should tell you
how many years he/she has
been breeding, and what
theyve accomplished with
their dogs, i.e. titles, championships, etc. They should tell
you what genetic testing
theyve done on their breeding
stock, and they should tell you
that both the sire & dam have
not only been deemed healthy
(free of parasites, up-to-date on inoculations, etc), but they have done the
necessary pre-breeding care and testing. Breeders will usually give the first
set of inoculations and worming to their
puppies too. If they arent forthright
with this information, ask these questions. You might ask them how many
litters they have each year, and most
important ask if they breed any other
breeds of dogs. If the breeder has more
than 3 litters a year or breeds more than
3 different breeds, I would stay away
from them. They maybe a puppy mill!
Any breeder worth their salt will ask
you many questions and be prepared to
answer them honestly! They may ask
questions about whether or not you
have a fenced in area or if not, how do
you plan on exercising the puppy? A
breeder doesnt want to hear that youre
just going to open the door & let the
dog out! You might feel like youre

MEMBER FDIC MEMBER DIF

going through the acquisition of the

century, but they just want to make
sure your going to be a safe, forever home for one of their babies.
Be prepared to have sticker
shock at the cost of a purebred
dog that has been bred by a reputable breeder. Puppy prices
have considerably increased
throughout the years. Breeders incur mega expenses before a litter is even on the
ground. Some of the expenses incurred will be
showing a dog to prove
its worth, genetic
testing to ensure
offspring wont befall to
inherited diseases, and
temperament testing. There
are a number of breeds that need
Cesarean sections due to the fact that
whelping naturally may endanger the
dam or the offspring. And then there
are other breeds that need to be artificially inseminated in order to become
pregnant. Both C-sections and AIs are
quite expensive procedures!
If a breeder tells you they wont have
a litter of puppies for awhile, you can
either ask to go on their list or ask them
to refer you to other reputable breeders. Once you and the breeder feel
like you have a comfortable fit with one
another, the next step is to ask if you
can visit their kennel. Some breeders
have elaborate kennel facilities, and
others are smaller scaled. One is not
better than the other. The main objective is to make sure you are purchasing
a puppy from a breeder who ensures
their dogs and puppies are in a clean,
healthy environment.
One last thing . . . Once you purchase

a puppy, the breeder will expect you to

sign a contract with them. This contract protects you, the breeder, and most
importantly the puppy. There might be
clauses in this contract that state you
will spay/neuter your puppy and/or will
attend puppy/obedience classes. If
youre leery about this contract, have
an attorney go through it first before
signing. Breeders will also load you up
with many articles to read about puppy
care, and they will usually send a puppy
home with the food its been fed, and
toys. And a reputable breeder will
ALWAYS give you AKC registration
papers once you purchased a puppy.
There is NO reason why a purebred dog
shouldnt be purchased without getting
this important piece of paper since its
proof that they are a purebred! If the
breeder feels the puppy shouldnt be
bred, he/she will check a box which indicates a limited registration. This type
of registration disallows the puppy to
be shown in conformation or to be
bred. Although, it does allow the
puppy to compete in other venues such
as obedience, agility, or rally trials, etc.
The breeder will also give you a 3-5
generation pedigree of your puppy.
I could go on and on about this subject
and I am sure Ive missed a bunch of
things. At least Ive given you some
things to think about and a good start to
finding that purebred puppy!

Good Luck!

Gloria McClay

Gloria has been a member of the Great

Barrington Kennel Club since 1981. She is
a former breeder/owner/handler under the
kennel name Glorial Schipperkes & Rottweilers. Gloria is the author of the book,
Dog Sense and owns/operates Canine
Connection (Cheshire, MA)

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Animal Life

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 21

veterinarians
Elizabeth Tullett
DVM

Dr. Sharon Lynch, Veterinarian

Fred Davis III, CVT

Certified in
Veterinary Acupuncture

Comprehensive Veterinary Services

Low Cost Individual Attention
Caring & Compassionate

Hours:
Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat. 8-12

289 Dalton Avenue

Pittsfield, MA 01201

413-443-4949

Washington State Road, Washington, MA 01223 www.hilltownsvetclinic.com

www.allenheights.com

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ahf^hiZmar%iarlb\Zema^kZir%[hZk]bg``khhfbg`'

Bilmar Small
Animal
Hospital




Open 7 Days
a week

Full Service Hospital


 
Drop Off Service

Housecalls







Looking for housecalls?




Call Dr. Blanchard for details

413-528-1180 Fax 413-528-1763



Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.

Claire Blanchard
Donald Gulick
Hanan Caine

Emily Newman




776 Main St., Great Barrington, MA



Hours: 8:30-5 Mon.-Fri, 8:30-Noon Sat.


  Call for appointment




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TreatingVKHHSOODPDVDOSDFDVDQGWKH
cattle, horses, goats, sheep, llamas
and
alpacas at your farm or home
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Happy Holidays

House Calls
on
Tuesday!

VCA All Caring Animal Hospital

Conventional & Holistic Veterinary Medicine

& Acupuncture
440 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA

413-528-8020
www.vcaallcaring.com

animal life go-to directory

boarding

rescues & shelters

92 Cook Road, Sheffield, MA 01257

Honor S. Blume 413-229-0035
www.bowmeowregency.com

413-447-7878 www.berkshirehumane.org
214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA

BowMeow Regency

A Daycare, Boarding & Grooming Facility for Dogs.

Ginas K-9 Bed & Breakfast

Quality care pet sitting in my safe, comfortable home

349 Farm Road, Copake, NY 12516
Gina 518-329-4675

Happy Dog Kennel & Day Care

Boarding Day Care Training

Covering, Alford, North Egremont, Hillsdale

Old Chatham, Chatham and more!
Nora Hayes 413-528-0877

The Playyard

Day Care Boarding Training

88 County Rt. 21, Hillsdale, NY

www.theplayyard.com
Susan & George Clark 518-325-9807

grooming

Berkshire Humane Society

413-446-3345

Dalmatian Rescue
(917) 670-3892
hckoss@aol.com

Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter

Open Tues.-Fri. 12 to 6pm, Sat. & Sun. 12 - 5pm
Closed Mondays

413-448-9800 www.sonsinianimalshelter.org
63 Downing Parkway, Pittsfield, MA
285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, W. Cornwall, CT
860-672-6345
www.littleguild.org

NE Basset Hound Rescue, Inc.

BensDotters Pet

Quality Foods & Supplies, Raw Diet Specialists.

940 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA

www.BENSDOTTERS.com

413-528-4940

Chez Pet

Premium foods and treats. A neighborhood pet

supply store with everything you need for
a healthy pet. Special orders welcome.
Lenox Commons, 55 Pittsfield Rd., Lenox, MA

413-637-0800 www.chezpet.com

Meow Growl

59 Main St., Lee, MA www.Meowandgrowl.com

volunteer
DART

NE Pyreness Rescue
Purradise

Open Wed. & Fri. 10am - 4pm, Thurs. 10am - 6pm,

Sunday 12 - 4pm

301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA

413-717-4244 www.berkshirehumane.org

veterinarian services

Allen Heights Veterinary Hospital

Dog and Cat Grooming
Amanda Bevens, 289 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA

413-443-4949

Berkshire Ambulatory
Veterinary Services
Yoanna Y. Maitre, DVM

All organic-Natural Dog & Cat Food

Self Serve Dog Wash Stations!

413-243-1220

(508) 243-3622 MA

Berkshire Disaster Animal Response Team

Reducing risk for pets during disasters and more!

Corrine McKeown, Director www.WMDART.com

Mobile practice providing quality medical and surgical care

for horses and farm animals. Vaccination, strategic deworming,
Coggins & health certificates, custom dentistry (hand & Powerfloat), castrations, dehorning, & more. Serving MA & NY
by appointment.

www.berkshirelargeanimal.com

413-637-2223

North County Veterinary Hospital

Dr. John C. Reynolds, Dr. Laura A. Eiszler

& Dr. Lindsay M. Cermak, DVMs

838 Curran Memorial Hwy, North Adams, MA

413-664-4570

John C. Reynolds, DVM, Laura A. Eiszler, DVM,

Michelle P. Looney, DVM, Melinda M. Payson, DVM,
Carmen A. Swinson, DVM, , Lindsay M. Cermak, DVM
Hours: Daily Mon-Fri. 8am to 8pm,.Sat. & Sun 10am-5pm
www.pittsfieldvet.com

413-499-1580

pet times

A listing of upcoming events in

the Tri-state area

December 19th, Saturday

Shamrock Dog Grooming

Christmas Photo Event

Noon to 3pm

Little Guild of St. Francis

(toll free) 877-528-0637

www.nepyresq.org

pet stores

Harriet Koss

413-446-8676

Email: happyhoundsmobile@yahoo.com

24 Hour Emergency care, animal chiropractic and dental care.

Bluebird Farm Animal Sanctuary

Dawna Hartman, Intake Coordinator,

68dawna@gmail.com, www.nebhr.org

Natural & Hypo-Allergenic Products.

Specialized treatments. Nights & Weekends
Jesse Sullivan

Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital

Open Tues.- Sat. 10am to 4pm, Thurs Eve. 5 - 8pm

Sun. Afternoon 1 - 4pm Closed Mondays

Happy Hounds Mobile Grooming

All breeds welcome, Cats too!

veterinarian services

Animal Life

$10 Donation. All proceeds going to

the Animal Support
Project, supporting animals & their owners through
tough times since 2006.
10 Lyman Street, Suite 10, Pittsfield
Call for information: 443-9700

December 20th, Sunday

Little Guild of St. Francis

Holidays at the Guild

11am to 5pm

Refreshments will be served.

Gifts of toys, food, and treats for the animals are
greatly appreciated.
.
285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT
860-672-6346
www.littleguild.org

January 10th, Sunday

Berkshire Humane Society

Coffee Hour presents

Non-lethal Management of Suburban

Wildlife Populations
Allen T. Rutberg

Tufts/Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine

February 7th, Sunday

Berkshire Humane Society

Coffee Hour presents

Living with Coyotes

John Baguranis The Coyote Project

As always, the speaking series will take place in either our classroom or Family Dog School training room 2:00pm. Reserve
your spot by contacting Mary at 413-447-7878, ext. 128 or mkoncel@berkshirehumane.org. And yes, well have thoughtful
conversation, those delicious desserts, and the infamous t-shirt
raffle for those who reserve a spot!

December 2015 animallifeonline.com 23

BENSDOTTERS PET
940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 413-528-4940
Convenient Location with Ample Parking
Z'

Monday-Friday 10a-6p Saturday-Sunday 10a-4p

WWW.BENSDOT
O TERS.COM

Wishing everyone safe

e and happ
py holidays!
Dont forget were clo
Don
cllosed from Decem
De
ecember 25th th
t rough January 1st.