mspringer@gctelegram.com

As people walked past Brogue they couldn’t help but smile.

Holding his face in their hands, children and adults asked his owner, Carrie McLean of Black Forrest, Colo., more information about him.

Brad Nading/Telegram - Robin Currier, Stillwater, Okla., holds a hair dryer between her neck and shoulder while brushing out "Zepher," a miniature schnauzer, before showing Saturday during the annual American Kennel Club dog show at the Finney County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building.

Brogue, a 170-pound Irish Wolfhound, didn’t mind the attention. His gray, woolly tail wagged as people pet him.

Brogue was one of hundreds of dogs who competed in the American Kennel Club dog show over the weekend at the Finney County Fairgrounds.

The show, held annually in Garden City, featured hundreds of dogs that range in weight from 3-pound Chihuahuas to dogs as large as Brogue.

The show works like this: one winner is selected from each breed, then that breed competes in the championship group.

There are seven groups: sporting, non-sporting, toy, hound, working group, herding group and terrier group. And the winners from each group then compete in the Best of Show.

Owners, handlers and breeders spent time combing, fluffing, and walking with their dogs just outside of the show ring in the 3i building on Sunday afternoon.

Each dog has a registered name with the AKC and a call name, or what the owners call the dogs.

Brogue’s kennel name is Aust./Amer. Ch. Tirowen Lord O The Dance.

And Mirror’s AKC name of Ch. Karrahmel’s Promised Image. Mirror, a smooth collie, belongs to Shana Drago, a breeder, owner and handler from Wichita.

Mirror finished in the championship of her breed and moved on to compete with other dogs in the herding group on Sunday.

Drago, who’s been showing dogs for 20 years, said judges look for breed specific details in judging. And in collies, the details of the head and face are important, along with its gait and bone structure.

Brad Nading/Telegram - Rich Shaw, Brighton, Colo., leads "Zach" around a show arena Saturday while competing against other akitas during the dog show at the fairgrounds.

“We had a good weekend,” Drago said. “Dog show people are the best people in the world.”

She’ll attend about 10 or 12 shows this year, she said.

Ramona Haney, show chair, said the show consisted of three different shows held Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

About 650 dogs competed each day, she said.

The dogs in the show came from all over the United States. And some, like Brogue, even came from overseas.

McLean is Brogue’s co-owner. His other co-owner lives in Australia, and after Brogue won multiple shows there, his co-owner sent him to the U.S. to see how he stacked up to American competition.

She has Brogue for the year, then he’ll go back to his other co-owner in Australia.

Brad Nading/Telegram - "Andy," a Hungarian Puli, sits on a table as Carol Zamperini, Denver, grooms him Saturday at the fairgrounds during the dog show.

“He loves coming to shows,” McLean said. “Any day spent with your dog is a good day.”

Haney said overall show attendance is down this year because of the economy. She said nationally, the American Kennel Club has seen a decrease of 10,000 entries so far this year.

She cited gas prices, hotel stays and food as major expenses for the handlers, but said that the weekend show drew good dogs and good judges.

The dog show also gave Garden City residents a chance for entertainment.

Garden City residents Emily Robles, 9, Raquel Zarate, 12, Kevin Robles, 8, and Kevin Reyes, 11, said they never attended a dog show before Sunday.

They sat and watched each group and commented on which dogs like liked the best.

Kevin Robbles said he liked the English Sheepdogs. His sister, Emily, liked German Shepherds. Zarate liked the Huskies and all kids said they liked the Pulis.

“It’s pretty cool,” Kevin Robles said.

Friday’s group winners:

• Sporting: ASCOB Cocker Spaniel Ch Mardi Gras Strut The Stage
• Hound: American Foxhound Ch Devlon’s Fame And Fortune
• Working: Great Pyrenees, Ch.Pyrpressure L’orguel
• Terrier: Norwich Terrier, Norweim’s Wind River Gold
• Toys: Poodle; RNR Winner Takes It All
• Non-Sporting: Standard Poodle, Ch. Kaylen’s In A Perfect World
• Herding: Bouviers Des Flanders, B.Witchin Rocheuses Skor One For The Team
• Best in Show: Standard Poodle
• Top Junior Handler: Catie Wharton, Syracuse
• High Combined Obedience: Helen Smith, Newalla, Okla.

Saturday’s group winners:

• Sporting: Irish Setter, Ch. Herihunda’s Tablle For One
• Hound: American Foxhound;,Ch. Devlon’s Fame And Fortune
• Working: Akita, Ch. Dunes Bark at the Moon
• Terrier: Miniayture Schnauzer; Ch. Rockyhill Icees Rasin’ The Bar
• Toy: Shih Tzu, Wenrick’s Busy Bee N’ Palaquins
• Non-Sporting: Standard Poodle, JJ’s French Twist
• Herding: Old English Sheepdog, Ch. Bugaboo’s Georgie Girl
• Best in Show: Old English Sheepdog
• Top Junior Handler: Aubrey Richardson, Leavenworth
• High Combined Obedience: Helen Smith, Newalla, Okla.

Sunday’s group winners:

• Sporting: ASCOB Cocker Spaniel, Ch. Mardi Gras Strut The Stage
• Hounds: American Foxhound, Ch. Devlon’s Fame And Fortune
• Working: Rottweiler, Ch. Briaroaks Caliente V Barste TT
• Terriers: Border Terrier; Ch. Meadowlake Whristler At Amberly
• Toys: Japanese Chin, Tidal Raves Jitterbug
• Non-Sporting:  Dalmation, Ch. Hispots Cause For Applause
• Herding: Old English Sheepdog; Ch. Bugaboo’s Georgie Girl
• Best in Show: Border Terrier
• Top Junior Handler: Kelli Denton, Shawnee
• High Combined Obedience: Helen Smith, Newalla, Okla.

To purchase photos from The Garden City Telegram, go to our photo Web site, GCTelegramPhotos.com.

Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is more than aware of this need. In fact, they have a blood bank that maintains an on-call list of available blood donors for “fresh draw” components such as platelets and also purchases and maintains a stock of other frozen/refrigerated components.

“It’s important to have a supply of different blood components available at all times because we are both a primary emergency facility and a large referral facility,” explains Mary Radcliffe, Blood Bank Coordinator at Texas A&M’s  Small Animal Clinic ICU. “We see high risk, critical cases which often require immediate treatment.  These types of patients may not even survive a 24-48 hour delay in receiving a particular component.”

Volunteer blood donors are crucial to the supply the clinic has on hand.  Privately owned dogs and cats serve as blood donors, and a friendly personality is a must.

“My dogs do search and rescue operations and are also blood donors.  It does require a time commitment because you have to bring them in to the clinic if you are available when there is a need for your dog’s donation, but it is definitely worth it,” notes Jaime Greenway, a veterinary technician at Texas A&M University Small Animal Clinic. “It makes me feel good that my dogs are not only helping to find people, but are also helping other people’s pets as well.”

Both dogs and cats must be between one and six years of age, spayed or neutered and in good health. Cats must weigh at least 12 lbs and dogs must weigh at least 55 lbs.

“Before accepting a dog or cat into the program they are blood typed and then if they are suitable, they come in to the clinic for a complete physical examination and blood draw to rule out any medical problems,” states Radcliffe. “They remain in the program for approximately two years and may donate once every three months.”

Right now there are 12 dogs and one cat that participate in the program.  All typing, testing and annual physical exams and vaccinations for the donors are done at no charge to the owner.

“Between the commercial blood bank supplies which we purchase and our volunteer donors we generally mange to cover our blood needs, but holidays are always a particular concern.  This is due to the increased caseload as so many other facilities are closed,” remarks Radcliffe.

While the majority of the blood bank program’s needs are currently being met, many of the donor’s owners are students who graduate and move away with their pets.   Also, as pets get older, they may have to “retire” from the program based on age or they may develop medical problems unrelated to being a donor that may force them into “early retirement.”

“I am always accepting new applications for the program,” states Radcliffe. “Interested people in the Bryan/College Station area can contact me at mradcliffe@cvm.tamu.edu.”

There are a variety of veterinary blood bank programs around the country from universities to private clinics and commercial businesses. If you are interested in volunteering your pet forone of these programs, contact your veterinarian for more information about what is available in your area.

ABOUT PET TALK

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

mspringer@gctelegram.com

Dog lovers in western Kansas will get a chance this weekend to see the 19th sanctioned American Kennel Club dog show at the Finney County Fairgrounds in Garden City.

Brad Nading/Telegram - Tina Star, Paradise, Texas,left, and other handlers move boxer breed dogs around a show ring for the judge during one of the categories at last year's American Kennel Club Dog Show at the Finney County Fairgrounds.

The three-day show is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Friday through Saturday, with rally and obedience in the West Pavillion.
Confirmation judging is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday at the Finney County Exhibition Building.

Confirmation judging includes how well each dog stacks up to each breed’s description, said Ramona Haney, the show’s chairwoman.

Haney said dogs throughout the United States will be in attendance, including Minnesota, California, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Connecticut, as well as Kansas.

Group judging will start at 1 p.m. each day, and is followed by the best in show competition, which is the last event of the show each day.

Haney said the show should end by 3 or 4 p.m. each day.

“If you want to learn about dogs, learn different characteristics of dogs, this is a good opportunity to do that,” Haney said.

There will be about 650 dogs in the show each day, Haney said.

The event is free. There also will be vendors selling dog jewelry, dog supplies and dog accessories such as coats, as well as a concession stand on the grounds.

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.