Cancer Relay

Last weekend North Platte held it's annual Relay for Life to fight against cancer. Paws-itive Partners members made donations, bought luminaries in honor/in memory of loved ones and some members walked the course to show support for the cause. Although Relay for Life is to help with the fight against cancer in humans, it made me think of the pets who have also had to fight cancer. Just as in people, early detection is critical. Here some early pet cancer warning signs to be aware of:
persistent, abnormal swelling

• sores that do not heal
• loss of weight
• loss of appetite
• bleeding or discharge from any body opening
• offensive odor
• difficulty eating or swollowing
• hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
• persistent lameness or stiffness
• difficulty breathing, urinating or deficating.

Due to improper breeding prcatices certain breeds of dogs are genetically prone to cancer. The high-risk dog list includes Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs and Boxers. In order to discourage improper breeders, always avoid purchasing animals that have been mass bred in puppy and kitten mills.

Professional Tasters

In November, Paws-itive Partners will have a booth at one of the local Christmas Craft Sales. Ours will be a dog bakery (barkery) with homemade biscuits, doggy donuts, hand-dipped nibblers, etc. We have a few months to prepare but I thought it was a good day to start experimenting with recipes. It's 100 degrees, very humid and the air conditioner is running continuously. Not the smartest day to bake but Jas, Maggie, Brandy, Pennie and Annie are glad. The dogs don't usually go in the kitchen when I'm baking, and they aren't counter surfers, but when I make dog treats they are very alert. There must be something special in the recipes that tip their senses. The Dog Farm has an aroma of whole wheat, cheese, garlic and peanut butter. Each time the oven timer rings the dogs take their position in the kitchen to sample the products. They are my "quality control specialists" and they take their jobs very seriously!

I think Tyler, Thea, the dogs, puppies and crow have moved on from North Platte because I haven't heard from Tyler for several days. Our city's animal control officers were getting calls about them every day and I think those have stopped too. It's nice to know that citizens took time to report their concerns for the animals. Unfortunately, as poor as their accommodations were, the animal's care met city ordinances. After the Tyler-and-Thea-saga and other recent situations in North Platte, my next cause might be to get involved in changing laws. :)

My New Friends

If you live in North Platte then maybe you've seen Tyler and Thea. They're the homeless couple with a crow perched on the handle of their grocery cart, a cardboard box with 10 3-week-old puppies and 4 adult dogs following!!! The family's car broke down in Idaho so they abandoned it and rode the rails to North Platte. Authorities in North Platte removed them from railroad property late Tuesday night.
My last few days have been full of mosquitos, trips to the river banks, searching transient camps, looking in Dumpsters, etc. I've been stared at by passersby and seen more tattoos than in my lifetime.
Tyler and Thea didn't know how Momma Dog Betty got pregnant, but they did knew they didn't want more puppies. That's where Paws-itive Partners came in. I'm happy to report that Leroy the rottie/pitbull, Monkey the coyote/shepherd and Lulu the shepherd-mix are now spayed and neutered.
There have been many conversations with Tyler and Thea to convince them to surrender the dogs, puppies and Merlin the crow. They are adament they won't. There's no question Tyler and Thea love their fur and feather family. All the animals are very sociable -Leroy's even been taught to flash a big smile. :) At times, Tyler and Thea have gone hungry so their pets could eat. They have blankets for the puppies, but not for themselves. I guess I'm okay with the lifestyle Tyler and Thea have chosen for themselves. But, there's not one cell in my body that condones this for the pets! It's very wrong!
The past few days have been interesting and quite a learning experience. God speed to Betty, Leroy, Monkey, Lulu, Merlin, dear puppies and Tyler and Thea!!

48 Hours

Hi Friends,
I've received some emails asking for more details about my last couple days of dogging. Let's say, it's been interesting!!! I hope to blog about the activity this evening or tomorrow.
Thank you for asking. :)
Jo

Summer Time Fun

The pack enjoyed time at the Interstate Lake this afternoon. From the top photo, down:

+ Brandy is on the trail of a rabbit scent.
+ Jasmine swimming.
+ Pennie tuckered out after running and swimming.
+ Maggie and Jas searching in the grass for whatever Brandy was looking for.
+ Granddog Kirby retrieving and swimming.

The dogs had a great time and wore themselves out. Everyone's back home and sacked out on the floor napping. It's certain that no one will ever market a candle aroma named Wet Dog!