Associated Press - Jesse, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois and a member of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department K-9 Unit, works in a demonstration of subduing a suspect in a vehicle Feb. 17 at the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department Academy in Sacramento, Calif.

To absorb more than $30 million in losses, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department had to focus almost exclusively on answering 911 calls, but police dogs and their handlers survived the cuts. It’s a scenario that is playing out among the thousands of K-9 teams across the country that have survived deep budget cuts to stay on the job.

In part that’s because dogs are winning the popularity contest. In a few towns where K-9 dogs were cut, citizens rallied to raise money to keep the animals at work. They’ve even had help from celebrity friends like Ozzy Osbourne, who donated a K-9 dog to the Muncie, Ind., Police Department in September.

But there are other advantages to keeping animals on the job. They protect the officers they work with, do jobs that people can’t and use bites, not bullets.

“When you look at the tremendous savings in man-hours that are achieved by using trained dogs to search for suspects or victims or narcotics or explosives, it’s very easy to recognize the fact that they are the probably the most cost efficient tool we have,” said Officer Bill Cassell of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Dogs can run faster, get into tighter spots and look more menacing than most humans. Plus they have stronger noses, better hearing and better vision, at least under low light conditions.

“They are so valuable, so important to what police officers do,” said Pamela Reid, vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Behavior Center in Urbana, Ill.

In San Diego, police eliminated 12 dogs from its K-9 corps to save around $500,000 of the $15 million it had to cut. But the department still has 27 dogs on the force in a city where a use-of-force panel recommended more K-9 units because of the number of people being shot by officers.

That was 20 years ago, and things have changed, said Assistant Chief Bob Kanaski.

“I don’t expect to see a rise in officer-involved shootings,” he said. “We’ll miss the dogs, no doubt about it. We’ll have to use different tactics to slow things down until we get the dogs there.”

Cleveland, Ohio, reduced its K-9 unit in 2004 when the department lost 252 jobs, but the dogs were all reinstated, said Tom Ross, recording secretary for the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association.

To a street officer, the benefits of a dog are immeasurable, Ross said. “If they (suspects) think you’re going to let that dog go, it’s going to influence their decision (to run or surrender),” Ross said.

No K-9 in the country has more job security right now than Nitro, the lone K-9 at the Aberdeen, Wash., Police Department.

Nitro was laid off in May as police struggled to wring every last cent from a shriveling budget, Chief Robert Torgerson said.

Associated Press - Jesse stands with his handler, deputy Brian Amos, at the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department Academy in Sacramento, Calif. Facing more than $30 million in losses to it's budget, the Sacramento County has been forced to cut spending in all areas except for the K-9 units.

But the German shepherd was back two months later because the department received $14,000 in donations from around the country and a $43,000 check from the philanthropic Tamaki Foundation in Seattle. That was enough to buy a new dog vest, the department a new K-9 car and guarantee Nitro four more years on the job, Torgerson said.

“It was great. We were blessed,” Torgerson said.

The Bloomsburg, Pa., Police Department laid off their three dogs one year ago, Chief Leo Sokoloski said, when town fathers chose to eliminate them instead of the department’s 26 sworn and civilian personnel. It saved $5,000 to $6,000, the chief said.

A lot of people heard about it and sent money. Several thousand dollars came in.

“But in the interest of fairness to the good will of the people, we sent the money back with gratitude. The council’s decision was not to reimplement the program,” Sokoloski said. “We decided it was prudent to wait and see if the economy gets better.”

A K-9 dog costs between $10,000 and $20,000, and must be trained along with its handler, said Sacramento Deputy Brian Amos. Even so, dogs are the “cheapest employee that any agency will ever have,” said Russ Hess, director of the United States Police Canine Association.

“He only works for the love and his food,” he said.

Every department in the country is cutting everything they can, said Jeff Meyer, the publisher of Police K-9 Magazine in Lakewood, Colo, but you don’t see the public support for other programs the way you do the dogs.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s foundation has donated money to that city’s police department for K-9s and equipment. He also donates a dog to all the cities where the Steelers play each year.

The 22 K-9 teams with the St. Paul, Minn., Police Department became mini celebrities when their unit was featured in an Animal Planet series.

“It was one of the first opportunities for people to see what police dogs do, not only here, but across the country, every day,” Sgt. Paul Dunum said.

Dunum said he is constantly amazed by what the dogs do. One of the best things is winning over people.

Money, Dunum said, can’t buy that kind of good will.

Dog agility competitions make great TV, with pooches racing around an obstacle course, jumping through hoops and dashing through tunnels. If you’ve seen it, though, your reaction probably wasn’t, “What about cats?”

But that’s exactly the thought that Kim Everett-Hirsch of Portland, Ore., had before launching her first cat agility competition in 2005. “I thought there was no reason cats can’t do it.”

At that first competition, there were 30 cats, none of whom had ever seen the obstacle course before. And in the building next to the cat show, there was a motorcycle show.

“These people came on over,” Everett-Hirsch said. “They said, you gotta be kidding. So they paid admission.” And as the cats came out and got the hang of it, she says, “They were standing up cheering them, ’go girl go!”’

The jumps, tunnels, stairs and weave poles used for cat agility will look familiar to anyone who’s seen the dog version of the sport, but the smaller size of the obstacles isn’t the only difference. Dogs are expected to perform each obstacle on command, in an order that isn’t obvious from the course layout. For cats, the obstacles are arranged in a circle, and the handler leads them around the course, making a game of it with a toy on a stick or a laser pointer.

“A cat’s a little different,” says Everett-Hirsch. “They’re running the show. You have to make them want to do it.”

Although the sport hasn’t been going very long, there’s already conventional wisdom about what breeds are best-suited.

That didn’t stop Donna Hinton of Richmond, Texas, a serious competitor who has big Maine Coons instead of a lithe, short-haired Abyssinian. For her it’s not about the breed, it’s about the individual.

“You need a cat that has a good attention span, that’s toy-driven,” she says. “I’ve had some that decided ’I tried it, it’s not my cup of tea.’ You can’t make them do it.”
Success is also very much about the handler’s skill and relationship with their animal. “You have to be in tune to your cat,” says Hinton. “You have to be three feet ahead and anticipate their moves.”

Since that first show in 2005, the sport has been gradually growing, with 10 competitions in the past year. It’s also spreading to other countries: this year for the first time there will be a competition in Hong Kong and in mainland China. This season will also be the first in which the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) will start granting titles to the highest scoring competitors.

Anyone can enter a show and try out agility with their cat, says Jill Archibald, CFA’s agility coordinator. It doesn’t need to be a purebred, and it doesn’t need to have trained in advance.

While experienced cats and handlers may finish a course in under 10 seconds, everyone gets three chances, for 4 1/2 minutes each try.

“Each time they come back, usually the cat has more of a clue what they’re doing and the handler figures how to place the toy to get the cat to respond,” she says.

The only preparation you need is that your cat has to be comfortable in strange places. Get it used to going out, for example to pet stores that allow animals. You can also prepare it by taking it to cat shows, even those that aren’t offering agility. Any cat can participate in the “household pet” class.

One benefit of agility, like any kind of training, is how it affects your relationship with your animal.

“What ends up happening is that you and your cat start understanding each other,” says Archibald. She says of her Japanese Bobtails, “They like interacting with me that much more now. If I walk out of the room and call their names, they come. They’re very responsive to me now.”

And it’s a great way to see your cat being a cat, demonstrating its natural speed, intelligence, and — what else — agility.

“When you get a cat that enjoys it, nothing’s more beautiful than putting a cat down and it hits the stairs and knows what it’s doing,” says Hinton.

Link of Interest

http://agility.cfa.org/

John Robinson, chief ornithologist and manager of Scotts Birding Center of Excellence, says there are three components to making your backyard an oasis for feathered friends:

1. Vegetation provides shelter

Having a variety of shrubs and trees in your yard makes it bird friendly. Birds use trees, shrubs and plants to hide from both the elements and their natural predators, as well as to roost or nest in. Additionally, the right types of vegetation also provide fruit or seeds for the birds to eat.

White pine, arborvitae, spruce, juniper, cedar, holly and other broadleaf and needle evergreens provide essential protection all year as well as food. Hedges of serviceberry or viburnum provide food, shelter and nesting spots. Flowers like columbine and trumpet vine attract hummingbirds with their sweet nectar.

2. Quality food nourishes

Not all bird food is created equal. Look for blends that were researched in the field and created to attract the types of birds you want to see in your backyard. Avoid filler material like milo, wheat or cracked corn.

To attract colorful birds, Robinson recommends Scotts Songbird Selections Colorful Bird Blend, which was developed by ornithologists. This mix is made from 10 high-quality ingredients that are blended in a specific ratio designed to attract more colorful birds. Results may vary by region and/or season, but Colorful Bird Blend has been proven to attract up to twice as many than with ordinary wild bird food. The mix is also less attractive to blackbirds, grackles and cowbirds, which are often considered a nuisance.

Another good option is Scotts Songbird Selections Wild Finch & Small Songbird Blend, which was scientifically mixed to attract goldfinches. Field research done across the country by Robinson, his team, and university partners, shows that while results may vary by region and/or season, this mix can attract up to two times the amount of finches as other types of ordinary wild bird food. Additionally, it also attracts other interesting small birds such as nuthatches, chickadees and native sparrows.

3. Water quenches thirst

Putting out a birdbath, especially one with a trickle or fountain, makes your garden a very popular spot in any season. Whether you put a decorative birdbath in your backyard or simply place a large clay saucer on the ground or on top of a tree stump, make sure it has a rough surface and a shallow bowl. If you have a pond or stream, place flat rocks in them for bird perches. Birds require fresh water, so clean birdbaths often and replace water every couple of days.

For more information and additional ideas on how to create a bird habitat in your own backyard, visit www.scottswildbirdfood.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent

“Human behavior is a major factor in dog bites,” explains Dr. Mark Stickney Director of General Surgery Services at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “Children are commonly bit by dogs because of their fast, uncoordinated and unpredictable movements that can frighten dogs and make them feel threatened.”

Because of this, children under the age of five may unknowingly antagonize a dog  into biting them.  Boys between the ages of five and nine years old are actually the most likely to be bitten by a dog.

“These bites, which typically occur on the face, head and neck, are rarely fatal but they are obviously painful and can lead to infection if not properly cared for, and disfigurement in extreme cases” says Stickney.

In addition to fear, other common causes of dog bites include aggressive play, territoriality over food or a special toy or perceived territorial boundary, an aggression behavioral problem and pain.

“A wagging tail does NOT equal a friendly dog,” warns Stickney. “Never approach a dog you do not know and always ask an owner’s permission to pet their dog.”

When you do approach an unfamiliar dog with the owner’s permission, move slowly and let the dog sniff your hand before touching it. You also want to avoid petting the dog’s face, head and tail.

“Never bother an eating or sleeping dog or one that is caring puppies,” states Stickney.  “If you wake a dog abruptly you may scare them, and their territoriality over food and babies may also cause them to bite.”

While children are most likely to be bit by a neighbor’s or a friend’s dog, adults are most likely to be bitten by their own dog.  Although the best way to prevent a bite is to alter your own behavior around dogs, there some precautions you can take with your own dog.

“Dogs that have properly socialized and received obedience training are less likely to bite people or other animals,” notes Stickney. “Also, neutered and spayed dogs are less likely to bite.”

If a dog does threaten you by growling, remain calm and stand still or slowly back away till it leaves.

“If a dog knocks you down to attack you curl into a ball and protect your face with your arms and fists,” advises Stickney. “If the dog bites you get treatment at a hospital and make sure the dog is current on its rabies vaccinations.”

While dog bites can be harmful to people, they can actually be just as harmful if not more harmful to other pets.

“Carefully monitor interactions between new dogs and cats,” states Stickney. “It is best if animals meet each other on neutral ground, not in the area one considers its territory.”

If your pet is bitten by another dog, you will want to take the pet to your veterinarian immediately.

“Bite wounds in animals are usually worse under the skin then they appear on the surface and commonly become infected,” warns Stickney. “As when an animal bites a person you will want to ascertain the rabies vaccination status of the biting animal.  You will also need to know if the bitten animal is current on their rabies vaccinations as well.”

Dogs play an integral role in many people’s families.  They are cute and cuddly and for the most part very sweet.  However, it is important to remember that dogs are animals and will react with animal instincts when threatened or frightened.  Taking these precautions when interacting with a dog or when your animal interacts with a dog will help keep it a positive experience.

ABOUT PET TALK…

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.

For The Associated Press

When Maj. Randall Baucom received word that the Army was sending him to Iraq in 2006, he immediately began to worry about what he would do with his two mixed-breed dogs.

Buster and Little Girl, a 70-pound male and a 40-pound female, were about a year old and a bit rambunctious, said Baucom, who was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.

Associated Press - This photo released Maj. Randall Baucom shows Maj. Baucom two dogs, Little Girl and Buster. Baucom received word that the Army was sending him to Iraq in 2006, he immediately began to worry about what he would do with his two mixed-breed dogs.

“I didn’t want to put them in a kennel for 15 months,” he said. “I don’t know what kind of dogs I would have gotten back if they would have been in a kennel for 15 months.”

He was relieved when he found Guardian Angels for Soldiers’ Pet, a volunteer organization that helps men and women in any branch of the armed forces find temporary homes for pets. It is one of several pet foster programs that offer such free help to military personnel.

The organizations help reduce the stress on troops preparing for overseas deployment, said Specialist Stephanie Dortch, who works in the soldier readiness processing center at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Ind. Dortch called the volunteers “awesome. They’re sacrificing a lot to have these pets and eventually give them back to their owners.”

One volunteer, Gary Marshall, considers it a chance to give back to the troops defending the country.

“We thought it would be really nice to help out somebody in the military – to provide a nice home for their dog,” said the Santa Paula, Calif., resident.

Marshall and his wife, Angie, recently opened their home to Kelli, a 2-year-old German shepherd owned by Matthew Snyder, who is stationed with the Army in South Korea. Only their 8-year-old yellow Labrador retriever was apprehensive, Marshall said.

“He didn’t know quite what to do with this dog,” Marshall said. Now, the two have fun playing together, he said.

Initially, Snyder’s mother, Kristie Bruce, was taking care of Kelli and Snyder’s other dog, but Bruce had to give them up when she was laid off from her job. She is grateful to the foster families for stepping up.

“It was a blessing for both of us,” said Bruce, who lives in Simi Valley, Calif. “You know how moms are – they don’t want to disappoint their kids.”

The Marshalls have sent photos and messages about Kelli to Snyder.

“(Gary is) much better at it than I was,” Bruce said. “Matthew is loving it.”

Many volunteers send regular reports to the pets’ owners, said Steve Albin, founder of NetPets in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

“It boosts their morale to see their pets doing so well,” he said.

Albin started arranging pet fosters after Sept. 11 when many military members were quickly being deployed overseas. Before that, it was not uncommon for military personnel to be forced to leave their animals at Humane Society shelters if they were unable to find people to care for them, he said.

His organization has provided homes for more than 12,000 pets, he said.

“We’ve fostered horses, rabbits, tortoises, small exotics down to hermit crabs,” Albin said.

Although foster families do not receive payment for caring for the animals, the pet owners typically pay for food, veterinary care and other day-to-day expenses, he said.

Associated Press - In this photo taken on Jan. 12, 2010, "Kelli," a two-year-dog German Shepard, belonging to U.S. Army member Matthew Snider, not seen, who is currently stationed in Korea. "Kelli" is temporary hosted at the home of Gary Marshall in Santa Paula, Calif.

A typical fostering with Guardian Angels lasts three to six months but can extend to a year or longer, said Jessica Semon, spokeswoman for the organization, headquartered in Hot Springs, Ariz.

Often, military personnel will remain in touch with the foster families after they’ve retrieved their animals, Albin said, and some rely on the same families during subsequent deployments.

Although Susan Hagrelius is willing to foster anyone’s cat through the Operation Noble Foster program, Aeyne Dizicksa has “first dibs,” she said. Hagrelius is currently caring for Dizicksa’s cat, Sweet Magnolia, for the second time.

The women, who met in 2002, have exchanged Christmas cards and notes over the years. Dizicksa sent Hagrelius, who refuses to take money for food and litter, a cuckoo clock from Germany and a prayer rug from Kuwait.

Hagrelius enjoys the cat’s company, but looks forward to the day that Sweet Magnolia is reunited with her owner – because that will mean that Dizicksa is out of harm’s way.

“I’m relieved when she comes home,” said Hagrelius of Cary, Ill.

In the meantime, she hopes Dizicksa, an Army reservist, is comforted knowing that her beloved pet is in good hands.

For Baucom, knowing that Buster and Little Girl were being cared for in a private home gave him peace of mind during his overseas duty, he said. And when he came home in 2008, the return of his pets made a huge difference. “They helped me integrate faster,” he said. “They were my support system. I never felt alone.”

Links of Interest

http://www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org/

http://www.operationnoblefoster.org/

http://www.netpets.org/

“Cat Scratch Disease, in human beings, is caused by the organism Bartonella, which is spread from cat to cat by fleas” said Dr. John August, professor of feline internal medicine at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “The Bartonella organism infects the red blood cells and the cells lining the blood vessel walls.”

Many cats who are exposed to fleas appear to be infected with Bartonella organisms, without any clinical signs.

“When fleas feed on cats, which is called having a ‘blood meal’, the Bartonella organism grows inside the flea” said August. “The flea will eventually pass the blood meal as feces, and the ‘flea-dirt’ contains the Bartonella organism.”

If flea-dirt is located on a cat’s nail and then the cat scratches a person, the contamination is transferred within the scratch.

“Most people diagnosed with Cat Scratch Disease do not have any clinical signs” noted August. “Some may develop illness of a wide variety, including fever and lymph node tenderness in the area closest to where the scratch occurred. The lymph node soreness and fever may last for several days, although some people develop enlarged lymph nodes that can last for weeks or months.”

In a typical case of Cat Scratch Disease, a person will visit the doctor after feeling feverish, lethargic, and having headaches and lymph node tenderness.

“If there is an infection in the scratch, it will not be noticed until five to ten days after the scratch occurred” said August. “It is not until seven to ten days after noticing an infected scratch that you will start to experience lymph node discomfort, and at that time you may start feeling sick.”

Cat Scratch Disease can occur after the mildest of scratches. CSD cases are most often seen in children, because they tend to play with kittens, which are more likely to scratch and have fleas.

“Cat Scratch Disease becomes a serious problem when someone with a poorly functioning immune system is scratched and infected with the Bartonella organism” said August. “CSD can cause serious problems which affect the brain, eyes, liver, spleen, and bones. People who have contracted HIV should be cautious around cats of unknown background, because Cat Scratch Disease can cause serious disease in those individuals.”

In temperate climates where fleas are common, about 25 percent of cats are thought to be infected.

“The best method of prevention is to keep fleas off your cat” said August. “The only way that Bartonella organisms can be transferred between cats is through fleas, therefore try to use a very good flea control; especially in kittens. Another way to help keep children from getting the disease is to teach them how to play responsibly with kittens.”

When a child contracts Cat Scratch Disease it can be worrying for a parent who is unfamiliar with the disease. Symptoms of fever and swollen lymph nodes often cause parents to think that their child has a more serious disease. The good news is that people rarely get Cat Scratch Disease more than once.

“Many people with Cat Scratch Disease will recover without any help from antibiotics, but for others, antibiotics shorten the length of the illness. Those with serious disease such as AIDS may require intensive treatment” said August. “Still the outlook is very good; within the last month there have been advancements with more sensitive and accurate ways of diagnosing cats who might be infected. Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University have recently commercialized new types of diagnostic testing to determine if cats and dogs are infected.”

ABOUT PET TALK…

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.

For The Associated Press

Cynthia Frank is one of a growing number of pet owners using social networking sites to show off their animals and connect with other pet lovers.

Since she and her husband separated, Frank can’t be with her dog, Scout, every day, but she can share news about her and get updates on Dogbook, a third-party application of Facebook.

“It left a big hole in my life when she went to live with my husband … then we got connected on Dogbook,” said Frank, 58, of Silver Spring, Md., who also maintains a profile of her cat, Cinnamon, at Catbook. “The fun part is that I can send little messages to Scout,” which are read by friends.

Frank says she can give the pup virtual hugs and scratches behind the ear. She’s also been able to hook up with old friends and their pets through the applications, including a woman she went to high school with and her cat. “It makes me feel like I’m more connected,” Frank said.

Associated Press - This photo released by Poolhouse shows their Dogbook Facebook application.

At Dogbook, canine owners can create Facebook profiles for their animals, find dog parks and products, and tag their dogs in photos. Major advertisers on the app include Purina, Toyota and Coke.

Geoffrey B. Roche, co-founder of Poolhouse Enterprises, which produces Dogbook and other pet pages, said the idea came to him a few years ago at the dinner table, and took off quickly. Now, there are about 2 million users on Dogbook and about 1 million on Catbook, he said.

The sites work, he thinks, because people see their pets as more than just animals.

“The dog goes way beyond what was just a dog. It becomes a family member,” he said.

“This is a great way to keep track of pets’ lives.” Users “are as excited to show you pictures of their dog as much as their kid, if not more,” he said.

Dogbook’s recently launched iPhone application passed 80,000 downloads after just two weeks.

Brandee Barker, a Facebook spokeswoman, said Dogbook has nearly 800,000 active monthly users, followed by about 175,000 on Catbook, 31,000 on Horsebook, 3,900 on Rodentbook and nearly 1,900 on Fishbook.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to provide a platform for people to connect and share about anything that might interest them, and clearly people are very passionate about their pets,” Barker said. “So, I think it’s a natural extension.”

Facebook doesn’t allow pet profiles on its main site, where it tries to foster “the real-name culture” and keep up security, Barker said.

Other social networking sites, including Twitter and MySpace, also allow people to post updates and create profiles for pets. One popular cat page at Twitter goes by the handle “Sockington” and boasts more than 1.5 million followers who receive Sockington’s (or Sockington’s owner’s) random thoughts. At MySpace, there are thousands of pet pages and nearly 200 pet-related applications listed in its applications gallery.

Associated Press - Features of the Dogbook application include photo uploads, list other Dogbook users who are near you and locates nearby dog parks no matter where you are in the world.

Pet-related businesses are using social networking sites to reach and educate customers. For example, PETCO has more than 15,000 fans on Facebook, and joins conversations on Twitter in which customers ask each other and the company questions and share advice on products.

Natalie Malaszenko, director of e-commerce for PETCO, said establishing a relationship with customers is good for business. “It helps us to have an insight and a seat at the table in the life cycle of their pets,” she said.

Karen Pudelski, a dog and cat owner from Harvest, Ala., who owns a pet sitting business on the side, said she had been going on Dogbook and Catbook only every few months to update her pets’ profiles, but now has become a more regular visitor because of the iPhone application.

The sites are a great way to find pet-friendly businesses or dog parks, she said, or just chat with other pet lovers.

“It’s a great way to connect and meet new people who are just like you … animal lovers, or a way to find a play date for your pet,” said Pudelski, 43.

Pudelski, who has two daughters ages 13 and 21, said she has fun posting to her pets’ profiles, and virtually throwing a bone or sending a dog toy to business clients.

“My kids laugh at me — I have pictures of the dogs in my wallet but I don’t have pictures of them,” she said.

Links of Interest

http://apps.facebook.com/dogbook/

http://apps.facebook.com/catbook/

http://www.poolhouse.ca

http://www.petco.com/

So here’s the story:

By KATIE STOCKSTILL

The McPherson Sentinel

MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — Jeff Smith has to make his rounds on foot because the mud on the path to his pasture is more than his truck can handle. Every three hours, he checks his herd of 27 heifers for signs of new life and struggling soon-to-be moms. When problems arise, Smith stays and helps – sometimes spending most of his night in a cold, wet field.

Smith, like several other cattlemen in McPherson County, is in the midst of calving season. A multi-week, sometimes multi-month, period where heifers- first-time mothers- and cows- seasoned mothers- give birth to their new calves.

The wet and cold can be hard on mothers and babies so it’s up to Smith to create suitable conditions and a helping hand, when needed.

Bringing calves into the world is time-intensive and sometimes stressful but the results a healthy, active calf are well worth all the work for Smith and the hundreds of other cattlemen in the state who are and will bring new calves into the world.

“I’ve been doing this for about 20 years now. I actually enjoy doing this more than I do the rest of my farming,” Smith said.
Smith and his wife Holly, who works full-time as a veterinarian in Hutchinson, are responsible for helping the couple’s 120-some cows and heifers deliver their calves. The Smiths can go some days with no new calves and find three new calves in the pasture the next.

Once calving season begins, the couple shares the duties of checking the herd every three hours or so.

“We have to know who is calving, which one to watch,” said Jeff, who estimates his calving season will last about two months.
When the weather is wet, like it has been for most of the Smith’s calving season this year, the couple lays straw in the pasture housing the heifers to provide a dry and somewhat warm space for the mothers to give birth.

One of the most important duties of producers during calving season, Holly said, is ensuring that heifers have a dry place to have their calves. Allowing calves to lay in mud and wet increases the calves’ chances of contracting an umbilical infection.

If the new mother can feed and dry her calf in the first few hours, the calf has a good chance of surviving the cold and wet. If the Smiths find a heifer that isn’t cleaning, warming and feeding its calf, Jeff said, the couple will take the calf from its mother and provide it a meal and warm bed. The structure of a calves coat allows them to stay warm in even the coldest conditions, as long as their coat stays dry.

“Getting that first warm meal of colostrum is essential,” Holly said of the protein and antibody-rich milk that comes from the mother cows. “If (the calves) don’t get it in the first six hours after birth they just won’t be as healthy.”

The Smiths also practice the Sandhills Calving system, which entails moving the herd to a new section of pasture each week. The practice helps reduce the spread of disease and research shows it helps improve bonding between mother and baby.

The Smiths run both registered and commercial Herefords, which means the weight and birthdate of each calf is recorded and kept on record. The calves are tattooed and receive ear tags with identification numbers.

The Smiths’ detailed record keeping allows them to map the lineage of each animal and helps them track the outcomes of genetic pairings.

Jeff admits helping to bring new calves into the world still excites him and makes the long, cold nights more tolerable.

“It’s fun to watch and see the outcomes of my pairings,” Smith said. “I can see what works and what didn’t work like I expected.”

The calves born on Smith’s farm will stay with their mothers till the fall when they are weaned, many of them staying on the Smith farm for the duration of their life.

Smith’s cows those that have had at least one calf know the demands of motherhood and have few problems delivering and caring for their newborns. But each year, Smith has a heifer that just doesn’t take to motherhood. When that happens, Jeff and Holly have to be there to step in a become the surrogate parent.

“Some heifers just have problems adjusting to motherhood,” Jeff said.

The Smiths do everything they can to save sick or injured calves but with about 125 new calves expected, the Smiths know they will lose a few to illness and injury. Improvements in vaccinations and calving techniques have greatly reduced cattlemen’s loss rates, Holly said.

As of Jan. 1, roughly 1.55 million cows and heifers had delivered calves. February and March are some of the most common for calving. Rough winters, like the one cattlemen are experiencing now, will have many thinking about delaying their calving period next year.

But some producers, like Dale Baerg, have opted to move their heifers’ due date to the spring. After delivering calves in the cold and snow, Baerg made the decision to turn his bulls out later in the year, therefore pushing back the due date for his heifers to March.

“I got tired of pulling calves out of snow drifts,” Baerg said. “If you do get a blizzard or cold snap in March, it’s pretty short and usually not as severe.”

Cattlemen can move their calving season to a warmer months with little effort. Moving calving season forward does take time. Baerg’s move to a March calving season has helped improve the success rate for Baerg’s 30-head mixed-breed herd.

“Last year we batted a thousand,” Baerg said.

“The biggest advantage for having a pet first aid kit would be so that you can concentrate on what you can do for your pet constructively rather than looking all over the place for something that might ‘work’ but is less than ideal,” notes Dr. James Barr, clinical assistant professor, Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine.

“The preparation of a pet emergency kit will allow you to mentally prepare for a problem,” says Barr. “A waterproof plastic bin is the perfect container as it will keep the items in it from being ruined so that they will be available in an emergency.”

Barr explains that ideally pet first aid kits should be kept at home and in your car.  Then you can help your pets in case they are injured at home or one that might have been injured in the street.  He notes that one of the most common injuries of pets is being hit by a car.

“There are commercial first aid kits available for pets,” Barr notes, “and some of the essentials would include:  cohesive bandage/ACE bandage, assortment of bandages, burn gel, instant cold pack, emergency blanket, gauze pads, roll gauze, medical vinyl gloves, hydrogen peroxide, triple antibiotic packets, alcohol wipes, antiseptic wipes, slip-style leash, lubricating jelly, safety pins, bandage scissors, one-inch adhesive tape, tongue depressors, tweezers/forceps, and hand cleaning wipes.”

He suggests that a deluxe pet first aid kit would also include sterile eye/skin wash, sterile gauze pads, roll conforming gauze, 10 ml and 30 ml oral syringes, cotton swabs/applicators, digital thermometer, tick remover, and sting relief wipes.

“Be sure to include the phone numbers for your local veterinarian and emergency hospital that is open after hours in your area,” Barr says.  “Additionally, the Animal Poison Control Center is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at (888) 426-4435.”

“First aid is not a substitute for veterinary care,” Barr stresses.  “First aid implies there is at least second aid and the second aid should be your veterinarian.”

Depending on the emergency situation, a restraint may need to be used when working with an injured pet.  “One must be very careful with injured pets because they are unable to communicate with us and us with them, they are often afraid.  That fear is translated into aggression and pets can injure even the best meaning bystander because they are in pain,” explains Barr.

He notes that you should not try to restrain the pet at all, if possible, but in times of respiratory distress (difficulty breathing) it becomes critical that the pet not be stressed.  Holding pets sometimes creates more stress.  This should be balanced with the recognition that the pet be prevented from harming themselves further.

“A pet with spinal injuries needs to be restrained much the same way that a person should be restrained after what is suspected to be spinal trauma,” Barr states.  He notes that instead of being on their back, it is helpful to have the pet on its side, taped to a rigid board so that its head and legs cannot move around.

In cases of poisoning, Barr explains that choosing to cause the pet to vomit the offending poison should not be standard procedure to treating poisoning of a cat.  There are circumstances when this is a bad decision.  You should always contact your local veterinarian or the pet poison hotline for instructions.

Barr says that if you, as a pet caregiver, are tempted to dispense human medicines to your cat or dog you need to know that any product containing acetomenophin should never be given to a cat. It is poisonous to them.  Most of the over counter pain relievers, especially ibuprofen and naproxen, should not be used in dogs as they are very irritating to the stomach.  Please, call your veterinarian with any medication questions.

Pet medical emergencies can be trying times, but with prior preparation, the situation can be less stressful.

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.

The heavily favored Scottish terrier won best in show Tuesday night and seemed to be an easy choice. Her team waited quite a while for this victory — it took a little longer, too, because of a startling protest inspired by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Shortly before judge Elliott Weiss picked Sadie, a pair of well-dressed women walked into the big ring at Madison Square Garden and held signs over their heads that said “Mutts Rule” and “Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs’ Chances,” the latter a slogan popularized by PETA.

Associated Press - Sadie, a Scottish terrier, takes part in the terrier group Tuesday at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York. Sadie won the group.

The crowd of 15,000 gasped at the sudden protest, booed the women and then cheered as a half-dozen security guards ushered them away without incident.

PETA members Dana Sylvester and Hope Round were charged with criminal trespass, police said. They acted on their own, the organization said, but it supported them.

The interruption lasted about a minute and came between judging of a Doberman pinscher and brittany. Moments later, 4-year-old Sadie climbed the best in show podium where one of the women had stood.

“I thought it was well-controlled by our people,” Westminster spokesman David Frei said, without elaborating. Frei, the host of USA Network’s coverage, is a veteran of the show world and a longtime advocate of therapy and rescue dogs.

Sadie was a big favorite coming into the show, which is for 2,500 purebred dogs. There have been previous PETA protests at Westminster, but none nearly so dramatic. During every day of the show, the public-address announcer at the Garden reads an announcement urging people to visit shelters and adopt their dogs.

PETA contends the focus on purebreds leaves many mutts homeless. In a statement, vice president Daphna Nachminovitch said “euthanasia becomes a sad necessity.”

Sadie earned her 112th best in show ribbon. The last time a show dog came to Westminster ranked No. 1 in America and actually won was 2001, when a perfectly primped bichon frise called J.R. did it.

“She was perfect,” said Sadie’s handler, Gabriel Rangel. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Also reaching the final ring were a brittany that recently had two litters, a whippet that can run 35 mph, a Doberman pinscher headed into retirement, a white toy poodle who overcame his anxiety around crowds, a Canadian-bred French bulldog and a puli that twice won the herding group.

Her tongue out and her tail wagging, Sadie was right in step with Rangel. She is owned by Amelia Musser of Mackinac Island, Mich., and sports the champion’s name of Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot.

Rangel kidded that his relationship with Sadie was like a marriage. “I’m happily married,” he said, “as long as I say, ’Yes, honey.”’

Sadie became the eighth Scottie to win at Westminster, second most to the 13 wins by wire fox terriers. She was the record 45th terrier to win in a show that began in 1877.

Judge Elliott Weiss picked the winner. He’d already seen Sadie — he chose her as the winner of an event in North Carolina last September.

Sadie became the first Triple Crown winner of dogdom. She took the National Dog Show in suburban Philadelphia in November and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in California in December.

She also did well last year at the world’s largest show — Crufts, in England, draws nearly 25,000 dogs — when she was judged as the best Scottish terrier.

This was Sadie’s third try at Westminster. She got spooked by strange sounds at the Garden two years ago, and last February had a potty accident on the green carpet.

Dogs from 173 breeds and varieties entered this show. Sadie takes over as Westminster champ from Stump, the 10-year-old Sussex spaniel who’d come to New York as an underdog.

Sadie was set to go on the talk-show circuit Wednesday and make a visit to Donald Trump. By night, maybe she’d see herself.
“She likes to watch TV,” Rangel said. “We have dinner together at the hotel and watch Animal Planet.”