So far, she has done all the right things, especially for not really being a dog person. The first time, she stood still, was careful not to stare at the dog and backed away slowly. She yelled for help but no one came out. She ended up just going back the way she had come to get back to her house. The next time, the dog waited until she was on the road in front of his house and ambushed her, running out at her and barking. She had brought bear spray with her this time. The spray seemed to startle him and he backed off to his house but was still barking at her, so she didn’t think it disabled him any. She sprayed it from quite a distance, though (15 feet, maybe), and unfortunately sucked in some of it herself.

Other people, including children, have been threatened by the dog. Animal control has been called but they’re on the other side of Santa Fe County and by the time they get there the dog is inside and the people won’t answer the door. The dog apparently belongs to the homeowner’s live-in boyfriend. The homeowners association has been notified and has gotten a lawyer, but so far the people have ignored demands to confine the dog.

I suggested that she get an air horn to blast at the dog but am otherwise at a loss if animal control and the HOA have already been notified and even a lawyer and the threat of a lawsuit haven’t made the owners budge. I don’t want to get a call that she’s been bitten or worse, and I don’t especially like the idea of her getting a gun and blasting away at the dog (at the neighbors, maybe).  Advice?

I have come to know many of you and consider you friends. I’ve learned a lot from and been entertained by the comments to my various posts and hope that you have in turn found them useful, thought-provoking or at least entertaining. I have just finished cutting and pasting all of my PetConnection posts since I began blogging here in 2007–more than 102,000 words–and it has been a fun journey down memory lane. I had forgotten a lot, and now I’m happy to have a record of so many of the things my dogs and I did, the topics that have interested me over the past four years, and even some of the trips I’ve taken.

My colleagues here on PetConnection and on the blogroll, some of whom I’ve known and respected for more than 20 years now, have been the best anyone could hope for. Their intelligence, passion, grace and writing ability have been an inspiration.

I hope we’ll all keep in touch via Facebook or Twitter, or maybe I’ll see you over on VetStreet. Happy trails!

I had to take Twyla to the hospital this morning. When Jerry got up to feed the girls, he noticed that Twyla’s breathing sounded wet, and occasionally she was having a little trouble drawing breath. He didn’t think she should wait to be seen at our regular vet, so I drove her to the ER. Luckily, the timing and the traffic gods were with us, and we didn’t get stopped in rush-hour traffic and no traffic cops saw me zoom through a green light going 60 instead of 50. They took us right in–I had called ahead–and within a few minutes the veterinarian was telling me that Twyla was in congestive heart failure.

“You should know that once they reach this stage, the prognosis isn’t very good,” she said. “Do you want to proceed with treatment?”

I probably had a stunned expression on my face. “Of course.”

Later, she was giving me the estimate for two to three days of hospitalization, in something of a resigned tone of voice. I’m sure the voice in her head was thinking, “Well, now she’ll change her mind.”

She barely got the numbers out before I said “Fine.”

Then she smiled big.

Now I’m smiling, for a while, anyway, because Twyla is doing better. We might be able to take her home tomorrow.

No matter how many dogs you’ve owned and no matter how good you are with dogs, there’s no replacement for socialization and going out to partake of the big world. That’s why puppy kindergarten is so important for puppy development, not to mention great photo opportunities.

After lengthy waits for puppies from responsible breeders, two of my friends each ended up with puppies who were born one week apart: Olivia, a lovely and earlicious German Shepherd dog with a wise face, and Niles, an adorable, fluffy miniature schnauzer with natural ears. Their owners decided they should go to puppy kindergarden together. The puppies met before the first class when they got into the same car (different crates).

For these two puppies, there were no less than five women with them at their first day of school. I wanted to stand at the bus stop and wave at them as they left home to go to school. I don’t think anyone cried. Oh wait, I did. It was the perfect antidote to living with a beloved geriatric.

I have never been to puppy class before because I generally adopt adult rescues, and I have to say it was just about the cutest thing I have ever seen. Seriously. Dogs of every size, color and activity level seemed to be there, all in darling, sweet, miniature baby form with puppy breath, puppy faces, and sharp little puppy teeth.

The best part of class was play time. The instructor, a lovely woman from Patricia McConnell’s Dogs’ Best Friend, said that they would break the puppies into three play groups based on their personality and activity level.

“Some dogs like to play football, and some prefer to have tea,” she said.

She also said that over the course of the class some puppies would switch back and forth between those three levels and people shouldn’t worry about it. Don’t worry, be happy…it’s puppy school!

The football players, including Olivia, went outside where there was a wading pool with water. The average-activity puppies, which constituted the largest group and included Niles, goofed around in the large sectioned-off area of the main room. The two or three puppies who preferred to have tea went to the small sectioned-off area. It took a while for the tea puppies and the average puppies to get going.

Outside, the football players were rocking. There was a Labrador, and there was a wading pool with water – need we say more? Olivia didn’t go in the pool, at least not when I was looking, but she chased the lab around and was clearly having a great time.

Niles took a moment to get into the spirit of playtime. “Really, I’m supposed to go out there without you? And do what, exactly?” He eventually did get himself into the crowd, although it also may have come to him. One of the puppies skittered across the linoleum like a wind-up toy.

The tea party had a hard time getting started, as you can imagine. It’s hard to party hearty from between mom’s legs, but the people stood close together.

The first change was a puppy who came in from the footballers to the average group, but ended up playing too hard for the average guys and thus had to play on a leash. One of the average guys went for a cuppa tea. Eventually another dog was removed from the footballers, but so late in the game that she just stayed outside standing behind her people.

Next week everyone will know what to expect, but none of the dogs will be any less enthusiastic. After all, they’re puppies!

“We believe the increase is due to economic times,” Lisa Peterson, a spokesperson for the nonprofit group, which has been tracking pet theft for several years, tells Weekend Edition Saturday guest host Jacki Lyden.

“You have people who want pets … but can’t afford to purchase them or pay the adoption fees, so we find that they’re just taking them for themselves or to give them as gifts,” she says. “But then on the other hand, you have the criminal element that steals dogs and tries to sell them to unsuspecting buyers.”

Peterson says the top two ways dogs are being stolen are during home invasions and out of parked cars. She cites a case in Florida where criminals took a 55-inch television set and also Boo-Boo, the Yorkshire terrier, with all of his belongings.

Large-screen televisions can be replaced. Best friends can’t. The article discusses steps pet owners can take the safeguard their pets, including microchipping.

Cats behind bars: Inmates at a jail in Nebraska have new friends: cats. Excellent stress reducer. HuffPo‘s got the story, with an accompanying video report.

Thoughts on Pacifica: Outstanding post by BadRap, one of the most consistently thoughtful pet blogs out there.

New therapy reaps benefits: A pit bull in Reading, Penn. had his paws burned by spending hours on a black roof top on a roasting hot day, but thanks to a first-of-its-kind treatment, his ruined paw pads can be repaired. The groundbreaking therapy is based on stem cell research. Details at the Reading Eagle.

Veterinary client ethics: Your veterinarian explains that an upcoming procedure entails risks of complications. All you hear is blah blah blah procedure blah blah blah surgical blah chance of improvement.  When complications arise, do you have a right to yell at your veterinarian that the treatment wasn’t perfect? Pet Connection’s BFF Dr. Patty Khuly weighs in.

Picture of the week comes from our favorite photographer of all things horse: Sarah Andrew, the wonderful presence behind Rock and Racehorses.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: microchip, latimes.

1. There are so many varied species that owning an exotic animal can be an incredible learning experience.

Exotic pets are fascinating. With their unique behaviors and incredible social interactions with each other and with us, they really can teach us all sorts of new information. But this is a Catch-22. Before you embark upon the journey into exotic pet ownership, be sure to learn enough about the social, nutritional, and environmental needs of the exotic pet species you are considering so that you don’t end up with a pet whose needs are more than you bargained for.

2. Many exotic species don’t take up much space.

For many city dwellers that live in cramped, tiny apartments, a pet such as a dog or cat that requires a lot of space just isn’t an option. A small mammal (such as a hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, chinchilla, or rat) or even a reptile or small bird that can live in a fairly small cage, might be a more feasible choice.  Ask anyone who owns one of these smaller exotic species, and they’ll tell you that these pets can provide the same love and companionship that a larger dog or cat can offer.

3. Some people are allergic to hairy pets.

Although many people would love to have a dog or cat as a pet, they often cannot because they or their family members have allergies to the dander that hairy pets carry on their fur.  These seemingly unfortunate people can still have a loving pet, however, if they choose a reptile (such as a lizard, turtle, tortoise, or snake) that has neither hair nor dander on its skin.  If they are not allergic to feathers, they might also choose a bird. So don’t despair if you’re allergic to hair!

4. Most exotic pets don’t need to be walked.

For many busy pet owners who work long hours, owning a dog that needs to be walked every few hours is not an option because they can’t get home to do it and don’t have the finances to pay a dog walker. The good news is that most exotic pets don’t need to be walked. While they do need time out of their cages to be socialized and to have a good quality of life, most birds, small mammals, and reptiles can adapt to our busy human schedules when it comes to “time out of cage.” In general, as long as we make some time to interact with them on a daily basis, the time we make available for most exotic pets can be flexible.

5. Some people only want pets that will live a long time.

People comment all the time that they could never own a pet because they’d get so attached to the pet that they couldn’t bear losing it. Of course, no pet – exotic or otherwise – lives forever. However, certain species, such as larger birds and some reptiles, can live for 20-40 years in captivity. Certainly, these animals must be taken care of properly: fed appropriate diets, housed according to species’ needs, and receive regular medical check-ups to live to their genetic potential. But for many people who have grieved over the loss of a relatively shorter lived pet such as a dog, cat, or small mammal or tiny bird, the prospect of having a potentially very long lived pet can be very appealing. Once again, this is a double-edged sword in that before you rush out to buy or adopt that reptile or large bird, you should seriously consider whether you have the lifestyle, finances, and future provisions available to support a pet that might outlive you!

Photo credit: amsccanton.com, blogginpet.com

The new role for dogs as testimony enablers can, however, raise thorny legal questions. Defense lawyers argue that the dogs may unfairly sway jurors with their cuteness and the natural empathy they attract, whether a witness is telling the truth or not, and some prosecutors insist that the courtroom dogs can be a crucial comfort to those enduring the ordeal of testifying, especially children.

The new witness-stand role for dogs in several states began in 2003, when the prosecution won permission for a dog named Jeeter with a beige button nose to help in a sexual assault case in Seattle. “Sometimes the dog means the difference between a conviction and an acquittal,” said Ellen O’Neill-Stephens, a prosecutor there who has become a campaigner for the dog-in-court cause.

Service dogs have long been permitted in courts. But in a ruling in June that allowed Rosie to accompany the teenage rape victim to the trial here, a Dutchess County Court judge, Stephen L. Greller, said the teenager was traumatized and the defendant, Victor Tohom, appeared threatening. Although he said there was no precedent in the state, Judge Greller ruled that Rosie was similar to the teddy bear that a New York appeals court said in 1994 could accompany a child witness.

At least once when the teenager hesitated in Judge Greller’s courtroom, the dog rose and seemed to push the girl gently with her nose. Mr. Tohom was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life.

Is the mere presence of a cute dog who offers comfort an unfairly prejudicial influence on a jury? Interesting question, isn’t it?

The dog park question in Vancouver: It’s a never-ending recurrence: the tension between the rights of dog owners and non-dog owners in public spaces. The latest setting is Vancouver, British Columbia. The story comes from the Globe and Mail.

Beware of counterfeit medication: How many times have we warned against buying bargain medications from online retailers because of the risk of them being counterfeit (and even worse, harmful)? The latest troubling anecdote appeared in the Daily Kos. Marge Wright tipped me to the link discussing the fatal poisoning of a dog in Centreville, Virginia, due to probable bogus knockoff medication packaged as Frontline. EPA and FDA both know about it. Still, every year dogs and cats die because the truth never goes away: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The ten or twenty bucks you think you’re saving aren’t worth your pet’s life.

Heartworm supply shortage: Speaking of medication, VIN News confirms the shortage of Immiticide that has been looming since last year is reaching an even more serious levels.

Little known kitteh fact? CathyA forwarded this link to me (as well as the heartworm link above), and I don’t have a reason to dispute it…though I can’t confirm it, either. When cats are stressed, their right ear is hotter than their left. Anyone want to test this one out and report back?

Fun infographic! Thanks to the Pet365Blog, via Dogster, for this fun infographic: Dog vs. Human anatomy facts.

Video of the week comes from my pal Miz in Sacramento: Herm vs. the stairs. What’s that?  I only cited it because it shows a little bitty dachshund? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Is that a dachshund? Really? I didn’t know.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Image credit: Rosie, Kelly Shimoda for NYT.

After feeding the dogs tonight I began cleaning the kitchen — wiping down counters and putting dishes in the dishwasher. The news was on TV and I was thinking about tomorrow’s classes at Kindred Spirits. I was multi-tasking, as is normal.

But then something caught my attention. Nothing in particular; just something out of the ordinary. I looked towards the dogs and saw Bashir pawing at his mouth in a panic. He began running and I realized he was in trouble. I called him to me and even in his panic he came. I opened his mouth and saw he was already blue.

I pinned him between my knees as I opened his mouth and reached down his throat. Nothing. I reached under him, grabbed my hands under his upper belly, and lifted sharply. Pop! A chunk of meat came flying out.

He began gasping right away and while trying to gain his breath, reached towards the chunk of meat. Blasted dog. I’m trying to wrap my head around what just happened and he wants to re-eat the meat. I took it away.

Minutes later I realized my good dog almost died. He could have died right then and there. Oh, I couldn’t have handled that. No way; not now; not like that.

Although years ago I was a registered veterinary technician, that was a number of years ago. However, a few years ago we began offering the Red Cross Dog (and also the cat) first aid courses. All of Kindred Spirits’ trainers were the first class.

Today, tonight, I’m glad we did that. I probably would have remembered what to do anyway, but I’m glad I refreshed my skills because it had to have helped me remember what to do.

Bashir is fine. He never lost consciousness and began breathing again without assistance. He’s at my feet now as I write this. Thankfully.

Photo: My good dog, Bashir. By Liz Palika.

The new law makes it a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. Repeat offenders face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Just one more step in the right direction…

Dog massacre in China rescinded: A proposed rule that would have effectively removed nearly all dogs from Jiangmen, China has been reversed because of public outcry, according to England’s The Independent. Still, authorities in the city could hardly be called dog friendly.

Originally the city had planned to clear “illegally-raised dogs” from its downtown area after a spate of canine attacks led to a higher incidence of rabies. Dog owners were ordered to bring their pets to special stations where they would be either put to sleep or given to new owners in the countryside. Dogcatchers were readying to team up with police to search for “illegal dogs”, with any strays destined to be killed on the spot.

However, there was outraged reaction among local residents, with large numbers criticising what they said was inhumane treatment of otherwise innocent canines. “The key problem is to educate people to raise dogs in a civilised way rather than simply ban dogs,” local resident Wang Yubin said.

And although city officials have backtracked from a full-scale canine massacre, the rules are still pretty harsh.

From now on, pet dogs are banned from public places such as parks, squares and shopping malls. Residents who take dogs to public venues “would be advised to leave”. And in the case of attacks, dog owners would be responsible for all medical bills, lost wages and other compensation, a report on the official Xinhua news agency said.

If you own a dog in Jiangmen, you have about three weeks to get your dog licensed with local authorities. One nagging problem: nobody’s sure how residents will do that. *sigh*

I’d take away the guns: I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason why animal shelters in Los Angeles double as armories. Details at the LA Times.

Meet Pennsylvania’s new first pups: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett introduced the press to the state’s new First Dogs. Penny (short for Pennsylvania) and Harry (short for Harrisburg, the state capital) are 11 week-old Airedales. They’re also quite cute. Thanks to our pal Amy at Philly Dawg for the link.

Post-conference coverage: Since last week’s successful No Kill Conference at The George Washington University, the pet blogging world has been buzzing. Brent Toellner of KC Dog Blog has great rundown of the conference with some of his thoughts. Shirley at YesBiscuit wrote three different post-conference posts, the first of which is here. The comment thread the real draw, though. Media coverage included the Toledo Blade. Finally, Ryan Clinton, the driving force in Austin, Tex., is featured in a guest post on Nathan Winograd‘s blog.

A new day in Florida: Meanwhile, great news out of Manatee County, Fla: a new commitment to become a No Kill community.

The power of social media helps Willow: The most heartwarming stories involve the power of love to strengthen the human-animal bond. So it is with this remarkable story of Willow. Born with deformed back legs that made normal walking impossible, Willow was adopted by a woman who did everything possible to give her a better life, including telling her Facebook community about her beloved kitten. That’s when Willow really started to benefit from the kindness of strangers. The details can be found on Canidae Pet Food’s blog.

Bad news from Scotland: One of the great legends of the companion animal world is the the tale of Greyfriars Bobby, the Skye Terrier who epitomized the concept of a pet’s loyalty. One big problem: Time Magazine says it was a hoax.

Cats and raptors: I remember Edward Lear’s classic poem “The Owl and The Pussycat,” but I don’t think it was supposed to look like this video of the week.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Image credit: First, nydailynews.com. Second, independent.co.uk.

Then there was the lunchtime talk on Saturday, given by Seth Godin. Seth is one of the best speakers and thinkers out there these days. If you’re not familiar with him, I urge you to read his books, particularly “Tribes.” Additionally, if you ever get a chance to see Seth’s presentation in person, please don’t pass it up. He’s worth every second. Seth talked about how our methods of communication, and therefore how we interact with each other have been revolutionized in the past decade. He challenged the No Kill 2011 attendees to not wait for someone else to take the initiative in transforming their city’s shelter philosophy, but to be that visionary. There may only be one Nathan Winograd, but there is always room for the next Bonney Brown or Ryan Clinton to step up and grab the initiative. Why didn’t I blog Seth’s speech? I was too busy paying attention. His slide show alone is worth the price of admission. Also, I was eating lunch.

That brings us to the most important conversation of the weekend for me. Sunday morning, I joined Christie and Shirley Thistlethwaite (of YesBiscuit! fame) for breakfast at a downtown hotel. Shirley’s work on the ongoing tragedy in Memphis alone makes her an indispensable voice in the No Kill blogging community. It’s been more than a year since I composed a news roundup before checking in to see what Shirley’s up to first. She’s always working hard, staying current, and challenging the powers that be to protect the dogs and cats that are still being killed at an alarming rate from sea to shining sea.

Christie, Shirley and I talked about Seth’s charge to the conference, particularly in light of what is taking place in Memphis. Dogs and cats are dying, and it’s expected the webcam that afforded Shirley the glimpse into the horrors at the Memphis Animal Shelter will be shut down. My question was who is (or would be soon) taking the lead on the ground? I suggested that someone needs to “fire on Fort Sumter.”

Before the Civil War started, the question of slavery was on everyone’s tongue. The rumors of an impending showdown bubbled for years.  Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” woke the nation to the horrors of what slavery really meant to the degradation and destruction of innocent human beings. Still, until Fort Sumter was fired upon and the the war began in earnest, the issue wasn’t going to be decided. That one event finally lit the fuse. In Memphis, in New York state, and other regions of the country, innocent animals are being slaughtered daily, and we’re waiting for the battle to be joined. I’m a journalist, and I’d like to hope that over the sweltering weekend in Washington, I witnessed the kindling of a renewed fight against the forces of inertia, laziness and expediency. But if nobody steps up, this golden opportunity to make a difference is squandered. We can’t afford that, and most importantly, dogs and cats everywhere can’t afford it. They’re not just numbers. They’re furry balls of love, and their fate sits squarely in the hands of the people who listened to Seth Godin’s challenge on Saturday to stand up and take a chance.

Nathan, Ryan, Christie and other speakers sketched out the requirements for the next generation of leaders. Now it’s up to the No Kill 2011 attendees to heed Seth Godin’s challenge. They must create their own road maps. The resistance against change is intense and intimidating. Success will require much more than a love of animals. It demands a steadfast refusal to compromise.

Real No Kill progress from the new generation of shelter directors will depend on imagination, determination, compassion, and a stubborn resolve to not allow killing as an option. Only time will tell, and I’d suggest the place to watch today is Memphis. Has Shirley’s bright spotlight spurred real change? Will someone answer Seth Godin’s call? Will we see the next great success story to follow Austin, Charlottesville and Reno?  If so, we can pronounce this past weekend a triumph. If not, more animals will pay the price.