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August 2024 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint Coachable Canines True Story: How Training Keeps Your Dog Safer and More Content
Basic training entails teaching your dog to sit, stay, and heel
I was jogging past a neighborhood when a Great Dane suddenly burst out of a yard and ran straight at me. This dog probably weighed 135 pounds and stood 3 feet tall. I took the only escape route I could see — I jumped on top of a Suburban parked nearby. To my horror, the Great Dane, in full attack mode, stood on its hind legs and reached up to the roof where I was standing. When the owner finally heard me yelling, he came out and said, “Oh yeah, he chases runners,” as if it was no big deal. No big deal? What if I hadn’t been able to jump onto the roof of that SUV?
on a single command. Some dog owners have the
misconception that requiring a dog to heel is unkind. Instead, they extend the pet’s leash until the dog drags them through the
So, in honor of August being National Dog Month, I’m focusing on the value of training your dog well — for you and your pet.
Authoritative training is good for a dog’s mental health. A poorly trained dog tends to be more nervous and aggressive than one that knows its owner is in charge. Among our patients, an untrained dog whose owner begs it, “Please, please, I need you to be good for the vet,” is also the dog who tends to be scared — biting and growling at my technicians. Dogs who heel or sit at their owners’ command and respond when signaled to jump on the exam table are the happiest patients we see. Well-trained dogs also tend to lead safer, healthier lives. When I worked in a veterinary hospital in Phoenix, we were constantly caring for dogs that had been hit by cars. In some cases, the owner might open the car door and call the dog, and the pet would run right past them into a busy street. Here in Colorado, we often treat dogs for injuries from porcupine quills. The owner might call the dog to back off, but pets who aren’t trained to comply wind up with a face full of quills, causing both the dog and the owner a whole lot of grief. Training requires a pet parent to invest some energy and time. Owners must take their pets outside, walk with them, and work with them. It’s easier to just hand your dog a milk bone, and that might make them happy, but any dog would much rather get outside and go to the park.
door and chokes on its collar. Simply walking by its owner’s side would be less stressful.
On trails or in dog parks where leashes are not required, dogs need to be taught the social skills to respect others — humans and animals alike. Many runners and horseback riders dread meeting dogs on equestrian and hiking trails, fearing they will run at them aggressively or chase and bark at their horses. It’s fine for dogs to run and have fun, but they should return to their owners on command. Untrained dogs are also a hazard in dog parks, where fearful or aggressive canine behavior has sent countless victims to our offices. As we honor National Dog Month, consider investing the time and effort to teach your pet new skills and commands. Their improved behavior is certain to benefit you both!
–Dr. Jeff
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Enjoyable Activities for the Whole Family EXPLORING THE FARMERS MARKET Mission of Care
FOR OUR HEAD TECHNICIAN, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PETS
This time of year, we harvest fruits and vegetables in abundance, and farmers markets across the country are brimming with locally grown goods. Taking advantage of these wonderful events where local farmers and artisans sell the fruits of their labor is a great way to support local small businesses and explore all your area has to offer. Moreover, it is a perfect opportunity to share some wholesome fun with your family, as there are activities and attractions at farmers markets suitable for all ages. Learning Firsthand Your local farmers are a treasure trove of agricultural know-how. Many farmers will happily talk with you or your children about their favorite crop, what’s in season, and their recommendations for recipes that incorporate their produce. It’s a great way to grow your kids’ social skills and get them interested in gardening and farming. Scavenging for Samples There is no shortage of variety regarding the fruits and vegetables offered at farmers markets. Engaging your family in a scavenger hunt to discover various produce among the local farmers’ stands is a great way to broaden their minds and keep them entertained. Plenty of farmers will offer you and your kids samples of their wares, allowing you to try before you buy. Homeward Bound After enjoying the farmers market, you may want to take what you learned home. Starting a small garden and growing starter plants with your kids is a great way to bond and create lasting memories. Growing and caring for plants and vegetables is a wonderful experience for children and helps them connect more with nature. Do yourself and your family a favor: Explore the farmers market and discover the flavor of your local area.
For many years, Melinda Jean was on the front lines of emergency veterinary care in Phoenix.
As a technician for a 24-hour animal hospital, Melinda, or Moe, as she likes to be called, met emergency arrivals at the door, performing triage for patients from rattlesnake-
and dog-bite victims to parvo patients and pets hit by cars. “We even took in strays that the Phoenix Police Department found on their overnight shift,” she says. “It was crazy busy.” The best part of the job, Moe says, was learning to understand the patients, interpret their body language, and comfort them.
After 13 years at the emergency hospital, Moe and her husband, Jamie, moved to Colorado in 2021 with two of their three
sons and Moe’s mother to be closer to Jamie’s parents. After a six-month break, Moe decided to return to work. “I just really enjoy working with animals, and I’m not one who can sit home for long,” she says. While Moe values her experience in emergency care, she appreciates the importance of preventive care for pets’ well-being. “Doing regular checkups is really important,” she says. “Dogs and especially cats are really, really good at hiding symptoms until it’s almost too late. The sooner you know about problems, the better you can manage them in the long run.” Growing up in a small town in southern Arizona, one of Moe’s earliest animal-care memories is using a heat lamp to warm a crow’s egg her father found and brought home. The hatchling survived and greeted her each day when she returned from school. When the crow was ready to fly, “we took him down to the river and turned him loose,” she says. At Surface Creek, she handles many aspects of patient care, from preparing vaccines and helping doctors keep appointments on schedule to training new hires and purchasing supplies. “The bottom line,” she says, “is that I take care of animals.”
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POTENT PLANS Safeguard Your Pet in Natural Disasters
Few hazards are more perilous for animals than catastrophic storms and wildfires. Hundreds of pets were abandoned or killed in Hurricane Ida in 2021, and more than 1,000 pets perished in the 2022 Marshall Fire in Colorado. As disaster relief organizations learn more about the risks to pets during natural disasters, a central fact is becoming clear: The animals most likely to survive are those whose owners understand the most common threats and do everything they can to guard against them. Lack of planning. Owners being caught off guard is one of the biggest causes of pet fatalities. Pack an additional emergency kit for your pet, including food, water, cat litter, litter box, leashes, harnesses, or carriers. Pets often panic and struggle to flee during an evacuation, so carriers and leashes must be sturdy. Lack of shelter. Many shelters and hotels cannot accept pets. Look into pet-friendly hotels and motels along your evacuation route and make reservations if needed. Also, make a list of friends, shelters, veterinarians, relatives, or boarding facilities that might care for your pet in an emergency. Include any items you need to board your pet in your disaster kit, including medications, feeding schedules, and a veterinarian contact.
Separation from owners. Tuck current
photos of your pets into your kit so that you can help rescue workers identify them if you are separated.
Place secure collars with identification tags on your pets, and consider having them microchipped for identification. Animal welfare groups also provide stickers for the door or window of your home to let emergency workers know pets are inside. Finally, talk with your neighbors about checking on each other’s pets. A researcher into the 2022 Marshall Fire in Colorado was evacuating her home with her two cats when she noticed a dog alone inside a neighbor’s house. Fortunately, she was able to reach the owner and rescue the dog. She said she could have saved other neighborhood pets, too, had she asked in advance for owners’ permission.
Clients Spreading the Word
N ePwo lSi cCi eVs C
UnNtiloFtiucrether Due to a staffing shortage, SCVC will be closed on the first and third Saturday of the month. We will continue to be open on the second and
Cathy Meskel Bob McLaughlin Catherine Lemond Sharlene Mills Diane Romarine Kim Briarwood
• At the time of scheduling a
dental or surgery appointment, a $250 deposit will be required. This deposit will be applied to the procedure bill. If you need to cancel the appointment, and you give us at least 24-hour notice, the deposit will be refunded.
• Due to the increasing cost of
fourth Saturdays. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
credit card processing, there is now a 3% service charge added to all clinic services and products. If paying with cash, check, or PIN debit, there is no charge.
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1 inside this issue Teaching Your Dog Obedience Skills Benefits Both of You
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Fun Farmers Market Activities for Families
Meet Moe, Our Head Veterinary Technician!
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Disaster Planning to Protect Your Pets
New SCVC Policies
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Meet Moose, the Great Pyrenees With a Hero’s Heart
A FLUFFY GUARDIAN ANGEL How a Dog Saved Its Foster Family From Disaster
When a Virginia family of five decided to temporarily foster a dog in 2023, they weren’t expecting it to be a life-changing event. But they might not be here today if it weren’t for the Great Pyrenees named Moose that they took home for the weekend. Christopher Cushna and his partner, Sheila Janes, were looking for something fun and unique to
do with their three children when they learned about the Paws Around Portsmouth program. This program allows people to foster dogs from the local Humane Society for a short time. They fell in love with big, fluffy Moose and decided to take him on a field trip around town. The family visited their own music shop, where Moose met potential adopters at an event sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard. The friendly dog later accompanied them to a farmers market, a community band concert, and a flea market, where they met a woman who wanted to adopt him. Moose returned to the family’s houseboat for the evening since the adopter could not bring him home that day. As everyone slept, Moose suddenly woke Christopher and one of their daughters, Anya. Though everyone figured the energetic dog wanted to go outside, he was persistent, and they quickly noticed a neighboring
houseboat engulfed in flames. As the fire began to spread, the family evacuated safely just minutes before the fire reached their boat. “If Moose hadn’t gotten Anya and Chris up, we would not be here, as we were all sound asleep, and the fire spread very quickly,” Sheila said. The family lost their houseboat and everything inside, but thanks to Moose’s heroic act, they are alive and grateful today. “What I like to think about is that we saved Moose from the situation Moose was in, and Moose saved us on the boat,” Christopher said. Moose’s life-saving actions made big news, and a local woman adopted him. Now, the hero dog is living his best life on a 5-acre farm, complete with a swimming pool. For this family, who had no idea just how transformative a doggy day out could be, Moose will always be their knight in fluffy armor.
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