Animal Care Clinic San Luis Obispo Veterinary Hospital

Written by Stephanie Ruggerone, Practice Administrator

After months of anticipation our family finally received the fantastic news that Recco, the beautiful Golden Retriever we raised from the age of seven weeks, was preparing to formally graduate as a guide dog with a new life partner.  Many puppies that begin this journey vary from the path for a variety of reasons and become what is known as “career change” dogs.  We have raised many puppies for Guide Dogs of America, have had a number of career changes and, were hoping for another graduate so we were thrilled with the news!

As much as we wanted Recco to learn this important work and be a successful guide dog the news is exciting, scary and sad at the same time.  You are so excited to finally hear the good news and can’t wait to see your puppy again and met the new team at the graduation ceremony.  At the same time you are nervous that your puppy won’t remember you or perhaps his new owner won’t like you.  Then comes the final realization that Recco would not be coming home to us as a career change and this new step in his and our lives is permanent.

We were told that Recco had been matched with a “seasoned” guide dog user named Karen.  The term seasoned simply means his new partner had previous experience using a dog for mobility and Recco would not be her first guide dog.  The school also notified us that Karen was a “Golden Person” and had been waiting for a Golden Retriever to replace her prior dog, for a year!  Of course we were thrilled to learn she really wanted a Golden and were doubly excited to hear Recco and Karen were a “match” from the first time they met.

Guide Dogs Of America takes every consideration into matching up the guide dog with the needs of the visually impaired handler.  They consider size, speed of walk, living style, home and work locations as well as the type of daily routine the guide dog will be expected to become accustomed too.  Even when every possible alternative is taken into account, the first match of dog and owner may not ultimately be the best.  It is not unusual for trainers to have several dogs in mind for the same applicant.  A trainer took Recco to Karen’s home for a “test drive” and the match was sealed as soon as Karen and Recco went for their first walk together.

Inexperienced guide dog applicants must spend 28 days living at the dormitory at Guide Dogs Of America learning the skills of navigating with a dog and developing the bond necessary for successful guide work.  Because Karen is so experienced she qualified for what is called “in home training”.  She and Recco were still considered part of the class of eight students residing at the school, however she and Recco had a trainer come to Karen’s home to practice mobility skills together in her own environment.  This can be very beneficial for that student who finds it difficult to spend 28 days away from family and work responsibilities.

Fast forward to graduation day!  While we were told a little about Karen when Recco was matched and we were advised there would be a graduation to attend, we really had no idea who we would be meeting.  The anticipation was almost too much as we waited to meet Karen and be reunited briefly with Recco.  Puppy raisers are given a mini orientation on what to expect during the graduation ceremony and how to respond to seeing their puppy after six months of training.  It is so important to focus on the team and not just the dog – after all; a successful team is the ultimate goal of the entire GDA program.   We are all aware these wonderful animals are not ours and want so much for their new owners to know how much we loved them and how much we want their new life with this dog to be perfect.  At the same time, imagine how the graduates feel knowing their new partner will be seeing the ones they grew up with, not knowing the raisers and somewhat apprehensive of how their dog might respond during this reunion.  The same concerns the puppy raiser has, the graduate also may have…will they like me?  Will my dog still understand he is my partner?  So we all met each other with a whole lot of excitement coupled with a little trepidation.

For us the reunion could not have been better.  Karen is simply the perfect partner for Recco!  She was open and friendly from the beginning and after only a short period of time I felt like I had known her for years.  Karen is a beautiful lady, easy going and so fun to continue to get to know.  We are blessed that she is open to having us as part of her friendship circle.  I was so proud to sit beside Karen and Recco on the graduation stage.  Proud of Recco that he proved to have the willing attitude to learn to guide and proud of Karen that she could transition to another dog and make a new bond with Recco.  As I sat there beside them, Recco placed his head on Karen’s lap while speeches were being made.  The tears welled up but I kept them at bay.  These were not tears of sorrow but tears of joy for the life Karen and Recco were staring together and the bond between them that was evident for the world to see.

There will be bumps in the road.  This holds true for all of us so I know Karen and Recco will have their share of trying times.  I firmly believe that trying times are what make us better people and I know they are always better when someone stands beside you.  Karen has her husband, Mike on one side and Recco on the other.  There is mutual love and I hope and believe this partnership will last for many years.  Go Karen & Recco!

(Karen’s husband, Mike, is scheduled to receive a new guide dog himself in late April.  We plan to be there to see him proudly graduate with his own new guide.  After all, this is extended family.)

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

I returned back from my volunteer experience with the 2012 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ECG and blood work program last week.  My return was bittersweet, as I immensely enjoyed my time spent, though it was nice to return to my home and company of my own dog.  I cannot say enough about all of the people I met involved with putting this massive event on and of the new friends I have made.  I was tremendously impressed by many of the volunteers and their dedication to this event.  All of the volunteers I met became involved after volunteering once and then became hooked!

Kimberly, myself, Cassandra, Jan

One of the phrases I heard repeated by multiple people was, “we’re here for the dogs!”  The care and compassion shown by those that I worked with is undeniable.  The ECG and blood work program is one of several steps the dogs must go through to be cleared as healthy in order to race.  There are a few shout-outs I must make, without which this program and my experience would not be what it is today.  Cassandra Winslow and Kimberly McCreedy worked as an incredible team to lead our group of volunteer vet techs!  They coordinated timing within our group and with the mushers, to make the process with each team flow as smoothly as possible and set an amazing example.  Our Head Vet Tech, Jan Bullock, was our constant behind the scenes team mentor and really brought it all together finishing strong as we checked microchips on the race start days.  Head Veterinarian, Dr. Stewart Nelson, has been involved now for 17 years.  His dedication and teamwork with the mushers has helped bring this event leaps and bounds in terms of sled dog health.

The number of volunteers, both local and who travel from out of state, is truly astounding.  The Iditarod is an event I have been fascinated with for many, many years and I was blown away at the coordination involved that I witnessed.  Volunteer roles range from the simplest of tasks to those that require people with a high-level of specialized skills.  There is a position out there for anyone ever interested in taking part in “The Last Great Race.”

Many of our vet tech group with Dr. Nelson and Jan Bullock

As the race progressed I sat at home in California watching online stories of the mushers out on the trail.   It was so fun to cheer on those whom I felt I had made small connections with whether they are with mushers or dogs.  Of course congratulations are in order for Dallas Seavey, the 2012 winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  He is the youngest to win the Iditarod in 40 years of the race.  Aliy Zirkle came in second, after leading most of the race all the way to the Bering Sea coast.  Ramey Smyth placed third in the finish.  All of these mushers are true athletes.  Their incredible care for their dogs is what spurred these mushers to finish so strong.  There are still many teams left to finish and the next few days we will see them cross the finish.

Many coworkers commented to me on how amazed they were on how strong and alert the dogs appeared after finishing 1,000 miles in Nome!  I hope that I have been able to introduce the Iditarod to some people and show the level of care the dogs receive.  If you’ve ever had any doubts, all you need to do is see how happy these dogs are to do what they love to do!  All I can say is that I am truly proud to have been a small part of the 40^th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race!  This experience has truly changed my life.  I look forward to returning next year, and making the Iditarod something I will be involved with for many more years!

If you are interested to learn more about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, check out the Iditarod website.  Learn about volunteer opportunities, support the race, watch videos and share with others!  Check out more of my photos on the Animal Care Clinic Facebook!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we’ll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!  Hopefully you’ll find the information is some of these articles useful and interesting!  Since this week is International Assistance Dog Week, all of these recent stories about dogs that have been an assistance dog in one way or another.

The "Owney" Forever Stamp

•”These are Dog Days at the Post Office” – Legendary postal service dog gets his own stamp

Learn about why “Owney” the dog is getting his own Forever Stamp with the U.S. Postal Service.  He was one of several dogs that carried letters and packages in the days of the Old American West.

•”Canines Trained to Help People with Diabetes” – Canines get new lease on life as diabetic-alert dogs

The nonprofit CARES, or Canine Assisted Rehabilitation and Education Services, is a relatively new organization that trains dogs to act as alert systems for people with diabetes. These dogs are able to smell when their human partner has low blood-sugar levels, before those humans know.

•”The Human-Canine Bond: Can Play Cure PTSD in Dogs

Just as people can get PTSD from traumatic situations dogs put through situations like war zones, violent crime scenes and abusive homes can suffer from a similar condition.  Just as pets have been shown to help people get through, so have humans been shown to help dogs get through.

•”Dogs Get Chance at New Life” – 2 rescued dogs win spots in police-dog training program

Two lucky dogs have been chosen from the Franklin County Humane Society to be dogs in training candidates for a Virginia Police Dog program.

•”Honey, Stop the Car: Monuments that Move” – Smokey the Terrier

Smokey was a Yorkshire Terrier that was a hero of World War II.  His help kept American soldiers from being put in danger.

Rocky has a new lease on life after his military service and losing the use of his hind legs.

•”Military Dogs Enjoy Brighter Future After Service” – There’s New Life After War For Military Dogs

Military working dogs were once euthanized after their service was over, but now their handlers are putting pressure on the military to adopt them when their duties are over.

Hi I’m Bonnie Markoff, inviting you to join me at Animal Care Clinic’s annual Open House and Wine n’ Beer Gala, as we raise money to support Guide Dogs of America, the American Cancer Society, and Brighten a Corner. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of our hospital and learn how we care for your pets and how you can help to keep them healthy. Enjoy fine wines and beers, artisan cheeses and sausage tasting. And don’t miss our unique silent auction where you can buy a day with the vet, a private lesson from Dodger’s pitcher Ted Lilly, and much more. We hope to see you there! Cheers!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we’ll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week: With the tragedy following the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan there have been many stories recently focusing on search and rescue, radiation, and ways to donate. Well below you can find it all in one place!

Check out this podcast by the AVMA with an update on the Japan disaster!

Disaster Preparedness

In light of the Japan tragedy that is ongoing many are thinking more about how they can prepare for any possible disasters.  Here in California on the central coast, earthquakes are probably on the top of the list.   Natural disasters come when we least expect them and the best way to come through safely is to be prepared ahead of time and to have an outline of a plan on what to do.  There are several resources you can look for information:

•American Veterinary Medical Association – Their website page on the Japan disaster under the news section has links for everything from disaster preparedness and emergency response guides, podcasts, videos, travel warnings, and radiation safety coming from various government sources.

•FEMA Information for Pet Owners – This web page has information on how to plan for pet disaster needs, how to prepare to shelter your pet, what to do during a disaster, and what to do after a disaster.

•AAHA HealthyPet.com – This pet owner resource has a couple of great articles with information on what questions you should be asking ahead of time and links to other resources as well as how to care for your pets during emergencies.

Places to Donate for Relief

•American Veterinary Medical Foundation – The AVMF has a Animal Disaster Relief and Response Fund.  According to the AVMF this fund is “designated to support state and national disaster relief efforts. Grants are provided for immediate disaster needs, but more importantly, to help provide training, disaster preparedness and response planning to ensure those organizations, states and or communities are disaster ready.”

•Entrepreneur.com – This site had an article on “How to be Entrepreneurial with Giving.”  We cannot vouch for all of the organizations listed in this article, however it mentions many different organizations that are either directly donating or collecting donations for Japan.  As always be cautious before donating to an organization you are not familiar with.

Notable News Stories

•“In a battered Japan, dogs search for human survivors” – This article talks about how many search and rescue teams traveled to Japan using dogs to find human survivors.  Many of these teams came from the United States and quite a few originally from California.

•There have been many stories on groups working to rescue animals ranging from pets to livestock to wildlife amidst the Japan disaster.  Below are some touching stories, with heart-wrenching photos and video, about working to rescue animals and the reunions that follow.

-”Rescue Operations in Japan Target the Country’s Furry Friends“

-”From Porpoise to Pets, Animal Rescue Efforts Intensify“

-”Japan’s pet survivors face post-tsunami struggle”

-”Helping pets in post-disaster Japan”

-”Video of Loyal Dog in Japan Reveals Canines’ Social Roots”

•With the impending danger and ups and downs at the nuclear power plant in Japan, the concern over radiation exposure has been a popular news story.  Most of what we have heard is regarding radiation found in food and the worry of a radiation cloud traveling towards the United States.  In the article “Pet Owners Worried about Radiation Cloud,” a UC Davis veterinarian discusses the risks to giving your pet potassium iodide tablets.

• “Joy as Dog, Owner Greet after Tsunami” – This most recent story is heart wrenching about the dog that survived for 3 weeks at sea floating on a roof!  Everyone should watch the video on this amazing story!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we’ll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:  Veterinarians in public service

•“Canine handler aids Japan rescue effort” - Firefighter/paramedic Gary Durian of Yorba Linda is one of six canine handlers who arrived Saturday in Japan.  Durian and his dog, Baxter, will spend time in northern Japan working on search and rescue efforts.

• U.S. Team bound for Japan in animal-rescue effort – A New England crew from the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Yarmouth Port is on their way to Tokyo today.  They will be meeting with animal rescuers, veterinarians, and government agencies to assess the problem of displaces pets and livestock and the need for supplies, clean water, and shelters.

•“Lompoc man a military vet and local veterinarian” - Dr. Raghavan Sampathkumaran has recently returned from returned from Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan where he was caring for army dogs that worked sniffing bombs and as guard dogs.  His role has also involved inspecting the army food supply.

•“Vet Emergency Response Team Mobilised” - The New Zealand University sent the new Veterinary Emergency Response Team to Christchurch to care for animals after the earthquake.

•“Veterinarian shares skills with Haitians” – Joe Snyder of Myrtle Point, Oregon recently spent some time in Haiti giving the people there a crash course in animal care.  This could be life saving to prevent disease in a country where there are virtually no veterinarians and animals are a life-hold to the people that own them.

•“Animal rescuers on stand-by” – No significant reports have been made by an animal search and rescue team after the earthquake in New Zealand.

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

You may already know that two of our own staff members are currently raising puppies for Guide Dogs of America, but did you know that dogs can be used to help autistic kids, U.S. soldiers/veterans, and even sniff out cancer?! As a part of my job in the veterinary industry, as well as my interests in pets and medicine, I’m always trying to keep up with the latest news. I’ve been seeing quite a few articles recently that talk about pets and their many different ways they are used to service both people individually as well as our community as a whole, and wanted to share some of these really cool stories! Please click the links below to read the original articles and comment or let me know if you have heard about any other really cool stories!

In recent years there have been several stories documenting how dogs have helped autistic children to connect with others around them. They learn about feelings and needs and help to reduce stress. Meet Wyatt, the Rhodesian ridgeback and his owner Janice Wolfe who is taking the steps forward to help many more children in this USA TODAY article, “Rhodesian ridgeback stands tall as service dog for autism.”

Dogs are also helping those people currently serving in the military across seas and back home. Just as dogs have a calming effect with autistic children, they can help alleviate stress of soldiers deployed across seas. The News Tribune in Tacoma, Washington had an article about two dogs that prepared for a mission to Iraq.

Just as the healing effect’s of dogs in the armed forces have been shown, they are now being advocated for veterans after they have served in the military. The Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act has currently been referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. You can follow the progress on GovTrack.us. Check out this article on USA TODAY “Man’s best friend could soon be veteran’s best medicine.”

Auburn University researchers have developed a custom harness that will allow dogs to be guided remotely. This could be used for dogs to take on dangerous tasks in military and security operations and provide benefits for helping disabled people. I found this article really fascinating on Discovery News called, “Dogs Guided Remotely by Stealth System.”

We all know that one of dog’s best senses is their sense of smell. Dogs are used in search and rescue in events like avalanches and fallen buildings to sniffing bombs and drugs. But you probably have never heard of a dog that could sniff out cancer! Well, think again! Several dogs in Turkey are being trained and their sense honed to do just that. Check out this really cool article, “Canine Cancer Detectors Introduced in Turkey.”

I know that there are so many other avenues that dogs, and even cats, are being used to help others. As I find other current news stories I’ll try to share them with you as well. If you would like to learn more about dogs in service or think your dog would make a great service pet, let us know! Guide Dogs of America is always looking for more great puppy raisers. The Delta Society trains and screens volunteers and their pets to share their healing powers in places like, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers and many more. Of course nothing takes away from the amazing benefits of owning a pet and the human-animal bond!

Four employees of Animal Care Clinic (Bonnie Markoff, Travis Morris, Ashley Ventimiglia, and Nicole Gunkel) took a trip to Mexicali, Mexico in what we deemed a “fact finding mission.” Our own Gustavo Rayas along with our new friends from the Mexicali vet school, Tomas Renteria and Julio Mercado, have a vision to improve upon the curriculum and to raise the small animal hospital to AAHA standards. We were shown hospitality by everyone we met! Tours of the university owned small animal veterinary hospital and veterinary school were given on day one, followed by a presentation to a group of students by Dr. Markoff and Ashley on “Practicing Excellence” and a discussion of goals for our future involvement together on day two. ACC was excited by the people we met and are looking forward to a cooperative exchange and future involvement in Mexicali!

University run Small Animal Veterinary Hospital in Mexicali

Written by Gustavo Rayas, RVT

Ever since I graduated veterinary school in Mexico, I have had the dream to come back and help my school to improve and develop. Then six years ago Dr. Markoff and I were talking about an idea to visit my vet school in Mexicali. We started brainstorming about what we could do to help them. My biggest goal was to train them in leadership skills, management, and confidently developing working protocols. These are areas we work on to achieve at Animal Care Clinic to a high level and not previously focused in Mexico. When my good friend and classmate, Tomas Renteria was promoted to dean of the veterinary school, a great opportunity presented itself. Tomas shares with me a vision to work with and improve the vet school in Mexicali.  I went back to Bonnie and presented my idea again, and this time, we ran with it.

In July of 2010, a group of school officials came to visit Animal Care Clinic during our annual Wine Gala/Open House and also to see Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. This opened up personal relations between Animal Care Clinic and the Mexicali vet school.  After further discussion, we agreed to focus my goal by working on bringing the school up to American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) standards. These standards encourage the best management practices, medical procedures, and customer service in animal hospitals in North America.

Team Animal Care Clinic/Mexicali during our first visit to the Mexicali vet school.

Dr. Markoff discussing our future involvement with Tomas Renteria and vet school staff and students.

This November, Dr. Markoff led a small team of Animal Care Clinic employees to scout out the vet school and their small animal veterinary hospital. The trip was very successful and our team members were excited by our idea after seeing the current facilities and meeting students and staff members.  The future plan is for Animal Care Clinic to act as their formal mentor.  We will follow the AAHA Mentoring Program step-by-step in order to establish a good relationship and learning environment.  We hope that our working relationship with our new friends in Mexicali will lead to not only us helping them, but new experiences and personal growth for our own team.  We will keep you posted with future updates and look forward to what the future brings!

Written by Stephanie Ruggerone

November brought two exciting “events” to ACC employees.  Dr. Evans received her long awaited guide dog puppy, “Payton”, and Practice Administrator Stephanie Ruggerone’s guide dog puppy, “Recco”, represented Guide Dogs of America at a four day Las Vegas fundraiser!

Jennifer Evans and new Guide Dog puppy, Payton (currently 11 weeks old).

“Payton” is an adorable female yellow Labrador retriever proving to be extremely full of energy and running poor Dr. Evans ragged.  She is a real love bug and staff is sometimes finding it difficult to follow the guide dog rules, as they would like to hold and play with her all day.  Come on by and meet little Miss Payton or maybe you saw her in the San Luis Obispo Holiday Parade on December 3^rd.

“Recco” was one of approximately thirty guide dogs, and the only Golden Retriever, to saunter down the strip, spend a day lounging on the 18^th tee of the Angel Park Country Club and smooze with over six hundred donors at the Paris Banquet Hall in Las Vegas.  The Guide Dogs of America annual golf tournament and awards banquet is a major fundraising opportunity for the school and brings donors from all over America and Canada.  It was indeed an honor to be asked to represent puppy raisers and the dedicated work involved in bringing a well-trained dog to assist someone sight impaired.

At eleven months of age, “Recco” is showing many qualities needed to become successful in harness.  His Vegas adventure began with a long bus ride from Sylmar, CA. to Las Vegas.  Imagine a charter bus filled with twenty-five people and fifteen dogs!  Legroom was at a premium but the dogs were all on their best behavior.  The Paris Hotel & Casino was our home base and graciously even created a special “relieving” area for our dogs near a side exit.  A 7:30 AM potty call isn’t exactly easy when going from the 5th floor (for some the 33^rd floor!) to the lobby, across the casino and out to the relief area.  In the early AM many visitors wondered why all the dogs appeared to be walking like they were “dogs on a mission”!   After arrival we had some free time and decided to walk the strip.  Easy enough you might think, except when you are walking dogs wearing bright yellow jackets and weaving in and out of huge crowds of people, many of us being just slightly intoxicated.  It took us approximately two hours to walk from the Bellagio past the Mirage and to Treasure Island!  We must have been stopped at least fifty times to explain the dogs and allow for some petting and answer questions.  But that is exactly what it was all about, educating the public on these precious gifts to the blind.

The noise and heat from the Mirage Volcano were apparent to us, but Recco hardly twitched an ear.  He actually took initiative to weave through the crowds without my direction and remained focused even when bombarded with people touching him while he was heeling.  We just don’t have this type of activity and distractions in San Luis Obispo so it is amazing that Recco took so much in stride.

Gary Ruggerone (Stephanie's husband) with Recco and Watson in Las Vegas.

The golf tournament also presented a few new experiences for Recco.  Each tee is assigned a dog or two and we were stationed at the 18^th hole.  Recco can officially claim to have been fully trained with regards to loose rabbits!  Now these were not your normal run and hide rabbits, these guys are used to people and bold as brass.  I am sure a few of them had a great time just taunting the dogs all day long.  Add to the rabbits, several covey of quail, flocks of pigeons and flying golf balls and they had their share of visual distractions.  We also found out golf carts were not made to hold two people AND two guide dogs.  Somehow we made it back to the clubhouse without falling or jumping, out of the golf cart, leaving all the wildlife on the tee, and making friends with 100 or more golfers.

Saturday evening brought the banquet, the highlight for most donors.  Recco and other dogs were asked to sit still for what seemed like hundreds of photos and again were asked to remain calm and collected while being pet and talked to for hours by total strangers.  Even for dogs who love people, this can prove stressful but Recco again proved he has great guide dog potential.

Traffic noise, casino bells and buzzers, bright disco type lights, loud music, “unstable” people, not to mention having very few places to potty can really stress a dog out!  Now multiply that by four for a puppy raised on six acres in San Luis Obispo and it is understandable that Recco, and all the other dogs, came home a bit tired.  We all had a wonderful time and hope that we were able to spread information about Guide Dogs to others to ensure these programs, supported entirely by donations, continue in the future.

Recco will be with us for approximately six more months and due for his one year of age evaluation at Guide Dogs of America in January.  We will keep you posted on his progress and his upcoming evaluation score!

Animal Care Clinic Staff

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

December is here along with all our winter holidays!  I’d like to take a moment today to wish everyone a fabulous December!  As a group each December, our entire team likes to highlight an individual charity group and offer a unique way to give a nice gift while also helping a benefitting cause.  We had such a good experience with “Women At Risk, International” last year that we decided to stick with them again this year.  ”Women At Risk, International” unites and educates women to create circles of protection and hope around women at risk through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects.  These women and children are individuals who are at risk for human trafficking sexual slavery.  You find more information about this group, their call to action, their programs and how to get more involved at their website, WarInternational.org.

We are currently offering beautiful egyptian hand-blown glass ornaments for $15 each.  Proceeds benefit “Women At Risk, International.”  There areornaments of different colors, shapes, and sizes.  They would be lovely to adorn your own home or tree and also make great gifts.  Please come and visit us to pick out your ornaments!

Written by Marissa Greenberg, DVM

Marissa and Cramer

Many of you read Dr. Evans’ article about fostering pets until they find their “forever home.”  Dr. Evans’ foster kittens came from one of the local shelters, but there is also something called breed rescues and they are often in need of foster homes.  Let’s face it, though many of us like mixed breeds, there are those of us out there who have a particular breed they are fond of or prefer.   Or we may like a certain breed but don’t want to purchase one from a breeder.  Breed rescues focus on rescuing a certain breed of dog or cat out of shelters.  They then place these animals in foster homes until they find permanent homes.  Breed rescues also receive pets from homes where that particular breed may not have worked out very well for the owners.  They often advertise the pets they have up for adoption on petfinder.com, where you can search for a particular breed, or through their own websites.  This allows people who are searching for a particular breed of dog, but aren’t interested in going out and purchasing a puppy, to find dogs in need of forever homes.

As many of you know, I have an Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) named Mico.  But what you might not know is that he is my third cattle dog!  My first was named Tallou, and my family adopted him when I was in high school from a friend who couldn’t keep him anymore.  I fell in love with the breed!  I then adopted Slink from our local animal shelter while I attended Cal Poly.  When I went to vet school at Washington State, I met a fellow vet student who was also an ACD fan.  In fact, he and his wife had started their own ACD Breed Rescue organization called Heeling Hearts.  They worked very hard to find ACDs that had ended up in shelters and got them out and into foster care.  These dogs came from all over WA and adjoining states, as well as from across the country.  I was fortunate to provide foster care for several wonderful ACD’s, and was even more fortunate to be able to watch them go to their new owners. By getting these dogs out of the shelters and into foster homes, we were able to learn more about each dog’s personality in a home environment, which helped to place them in the right permanent home.  I thought it would be difficult to say goodbye to these dogs after opening my heart and my home to them.  But, I was always so excited to meet their new owners, and knew that they would bring someone else as much joy as they had brought me in the short time they lived with me.  And whenever one went to a permanent home, it meant that I had the opportunity to foster another.

Tango

Like most breed rescues, Heeling Hearts has a selective process to be sure that these dogs are placed in homes appropriate for the breed.  If you are interested in a particular breed, contacting a breed rescue would be a good way to gain more information about it and see if it might be the right one for you.  Or if you already share your home with a pet, but think that you might provide a good foster home, consider looking into breed rescues.

Recco and Stephanie

Written by Stephanie Ruggerone, Practice Administrator

Many of you are already aware of Animal Care Clinic’s association with Guide Dogs of America, as a portion of the donations received at our annual Wine Gala Open House benefited this wonderful organization.  What you may not know, is just as it “takes a community to raise a child” so it also takes the help of many people to properly socialize and raise a puppy to be the eyes for a blind individual.  While I may be the official “puppy raiser” for “Recco”, my sixteenth guide dog puppy, the entire clinic as well as our clients are instrumental in his education.  Successfully learning to remain calm and quiet, following commands given by a variety of people and exposure to life’s sights and sounds would never be accomplished without all of you!

Stephanie and Recco at work

Recco recently returned from a week of evaluations at Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar, California; and I am happy to report he passed with flying colors.  All puppies must be returned to the school several times during the “raising” period to insure they are developing into the type of dog that can handle the stressors of guide work.  At 6-months of age he was evaluated to determine if he should be considered for the school’s breeding program.  This recent evaluation was performed at 9-months of age and he was observed for his reactions at a busy indoor mall as well as for his response to obedience commands.  His hips and elbows were x-rayed to rule out dysplasia and he had exposure to unfamiliar dogs in the community runs and kennel.  His next evaluation is scheduled for his 1-year birthday in late December.  We are also honored that Recco has been chosen as one of several “puppies in training” to attend the Guide Dogs of America annual gold tournament and awards banquet being held in Las Vegas next month!

Our Dr. Evans is scheduled to raise a female yellow lab for GDA.  Her puppy was born recently and can be seen on the “puppy cam” at the Guide Dogs Of America website.  I will let you know how Recco does in Las Vegas; perhaps he will bring home a jackpot!

written by Marissa Greenberg, DVM

I’ve been given the opportunity to be a guest lecturer at Mrs. Anna Bates’ brand new veterinary science class at San Luis Obispo High School. Mrs. Bates and I attended Cal Poly together, and she is now a very popular teacher in the Agriculture Education department at SLO High. When she started planning this class, she asked for my input on how to make it fun and exciting for the students. We have enjoyed working together to come up with ideas for this class. I’ll be visiting their class several times this trimester to give lectures or demonstrations. On my first visit, I brought my dog Mico with me to demonstrate some of the equipment we use to monitor anesthesia at Animal Care Clinic. On my second visit, I demonstrated sterile techniques used during surgery. Future visits will include lectures on wound healing, first aid, suturing, and bandaging, just to name a few!

By visiting the classroom, I hope to spark interest in the veterinary profession in these young minds. I also hope to educate them on other professions that are available to them if they don’t want to be a vet, but still want to work with animals. I also hope to help them realize the importance of their science and math education. In addition, I hope to share with them how much of my job is about working with people, not just the animals. The Agriculture Education Department and Future Farmers of America (FFA) do focus on teaching communication skills, and I hope that I can emphasize the importance of these skills in the veterinary profession as well.

I’ve been thinking about exercise and diet a lot lately (see why in the next paragraph.) This Monday I saw 5 dogs in a row that were physically fit, and I found myself truly amazed. At least 70-80% of the pets we see each day are overweight. Those that are not carrying extra pounds are rarely getting enough exercise to be truly fit – in fact, our patients that are not overweight are often sick! This is thought to be a reflection of our society. American is the most overweight country in the world. We love our pets dearly, and part of spoiling them seems to include over-indulgence – to their detriment.

I decided I needed to get into better shape this year, and so have coerced several friends to join me in training for a marathon as a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a lymphoma survivor myself, I am excited to be raising thousands of dollars for this group. Animal Care Clinic is holding an Open House, Wine Tasting and Silent Auction TOMORROW from 2-6pm. Please come by and support our marathon efforts. We will have displays on nutrition and weight loss, dentistry, surgery, animal cancer and much more – and you can taste wines from some of the favorite central coast vintners. So take a “paws” in your day to learn a little and support the “cause.” We look forward to meeting you!

by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

As we prepare for our big Open House and wine tasting Gala on April 6, 2008 I am reminded to warn you that grapes have been shown to be toxic to dogs. While this is a relatively recent discovery, we do know that some dogs will develop kidney failure in response to ingestion of any form of grapes. Dogs should not eat table grapes, raisins, grape skins or even a glass of wine! I have known many dogs who ate table grapes regularly without trouble, so apparently not all dogs are susceptible – but to be safe, if your dog consumes grapes (or indulges in a little vino,) you should seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.

For you non-canine readers, we hope you will join us on Sunday April 6, 2008 between 2 and 6pm for a fundraising Open House/Wine Tasting Gala/Silent Auction. A small cover fee will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association, and will give you full access to wine tasting from Wild Horse, Baileyana, Salisbury, Claiborne and Churchill and Niner Wineries plus savory delights from Nuccis and Old Country Deli. Educational displays will be set up throughout the hospital and you will find an amazing Silent Auction featuring Barrel Tastings, Magnums of local favorite wines, mouth watering delicacies, musical adventures…and even some animal related items! You will not want to miss this chance to help us fight cancer one step at a time!

by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

Happy Easter weekend and welcome to spring! I have taken on a crazy project and I think it is time to go truly public with it. Several friends from ACC and I, all of whom are not runners, have decided to train with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to run a full marathon in June! We have been working hard and will run 23 miles this week! We are doing this to improve our own health, but more importantly to raise money for this wonderful society. The money we raise will help fund cancer research which will benefit people, AND ANIMALS, with all kinds of cancer. It also goes to patient support programs. As a lymphoma survivor myself, I can tell you I would not be alive today without organizations such as this!

To help us raise money, Animal Care Clinic is having an Open House, Silent Auction and Wine Tasting Gala on Sunday April 6, from 2-6pm. This is your opportunity to get a full tour of our hospital, meet our staff and see displays showing how everything works at ACC. Along the way you will have opportunities to taste wines from Wildhorse, Baileyana, Per Bacco, Niner, Salisbury and other vineyards. Some wonderful items we be available in our silent auction. We are asking for a $25 donation (unless you already have or would like to donate more!) and all proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you cannot make it to the event and want to support us, give us a call for more information. Thank you!!

by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

San Luis Obispo’s Relay For Life is going on today at Santa Rosa Park. In honor of this American Cancer Society fundraiser, I thought I would tell the story of Riley. Riley was an 8 year old Australian Shepherd with a vital career as an agility dog. One morning his “mother” called me. He seemed a little quiet and not real interested in his food – he was just laying around with his head on the floor. This was so out of character for Riley that I suggested he be seen right away. Riley’s gums were very pale– an indicator of bleeding or shock. A few blood tests and an ultrasound later, he was diagnosed with an actively bleeding tumor in his spleen – hemangiosarcoma. He underwent emergency surgery to have his spleen removed and recovered beautifully. We knew that this tumor would return quickly (usually within 1-3 months) if we stopped treatments. Therefore, Riley underwent chemotherapy. He had treatments every 3 weeks and did quite well during therapy. Six months after his emergency episode, Riley joined me in the survivors lap at Relay For Life. Seven days later, his tumor recurred and was bleeding, and he was euthanized.

Cancer can be chronic and debilitating, or it can sneak up on you with great surprise. Riley’s mom was lucky to have the time to spend with him after his diagnosis. Come join us today at Relay For Life – we are team Paws For the Cause – you can learn much more about cancer in people and animals!

by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

If you and your dog are out and about on Saturday, June 2, we have the perfect activity for you! You can have one of our doctors wash your dog at Animal Care Clinic’s annual fundraising dog wash! Our community service team, “Paws For the Cause”, will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Relay for Life is a 24-hour team event that raises money for cancer research and patient support. Relay is not only the American Caner Society’s biggest fundraiser, but also an excellent forum to honor cancer survivors and remember those we have lost to this horrible disease. Animal Care Clinic has participated in Relay for the past 7 years! Paws For The Cause has a goal of raising $10,000 and our dog wash on June 2 should provide at least 10% of that goal! From 10am-2pm we will wash your dog in exchange for a donation to the American Cancer Society. While your pooch is pampered, enjoy some amazingly delicious home baked goodies. You can even pick up a treat for your dog, donated to the cause by The Barkery. We also owe a big thank you to Mission Linen Supply for donating all the towels and laundering!

Come join us at San Luis Obispo’s Relay for Life on June 30 at Santa Rosa Park. Come learn about cancer in people and our pets. The survivor’s celebration begins at 9am. You can come visit “Paws For The Cause” all day long!

If you can’t come on June 2, but your dog needs a bath, come check out our self-service dog spa during our normal business hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-6, Sat 9-3, and until 8pm on Mondays.

by Marissa Greenberg, DVM

Animal Care Clinic is up to another community service activity – and we want every one of you to join us!

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s celebration of cancer survival that also serves as a great fundraiser and educational event. This is a 24 hour relay. That means that our team, called Paws For The Cause, will be taking turns walking around the track at San Luis High School for a full 24 hours next weekend. The idea is to simulate a day in the life of cancer patient: a patient on chemo can’t just go home at night and take a rest; they are in the fight 24-7.

My favorite part of Relay is the opening survivors’ lap. The entire event begins as a celebration of those who have successfully beaten this disease or who are currently in the battle. At 10am on 6/24/06, hundreds of cancer survivors will together start off Relay by walking the first lap. I hope that every cancer survivor reading this will join me in the opening lap. It is truly uplifting and inspiring. Bring your caretakers, as they will be honored also. If you do not have the distinction of being a cancer survivor, please come to the ceremony anyway. This is an opportunity to cheer on a group of very brave souls, to see that cancer can be beaten, and to learn about the joys of conquering our stumbling blocks.

In the evening there is a luminary ceremony. You can purchase luminaria to honor survivors or to remember those we have lost to cancer. The names of the honorees will be read and the luminaria lit. These luminaria provide the light that we walk to in the middle of the night. This is another time you will not want to miss. The ceremony begins at 9pm, at San Luis High on 6/24.

If you wish to financially support our team, purchase a luminary or register as a survivor, please call us or visit the Relay website at www.cancer.org.

by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

I hope you are reading your paper early today, because we are having an open house and would love to meet you. Come down to Animal Care Clinic between 9am and 2pm today and let us show you around! You can start by meeting our newest doctor! Marissa Greenberg has joined us this week as our fourth veterinarian. She is a graduate of Washington State University and earned her undergraduate degree right here at Cal Poly. Dr Greenberg is a very progressive and compassionate veterinarian. She has a special interest in pain control and internal medicine. I think you will also enjoy her kind heart and fun sense of humor. Our entire facility will be open to tours today. You can enter the surgery suite and see what it is like to “scrub and gown” for a procedure! You can see how our dental equipment works and even give it a try! You can watch live ECG’s and ultrasound studies – you will actually be able to see an animal’s heart beating on
the ultrasound screen! You can also tour our pet lodge and spa. We are also hosting a blood drive and bone marrow registration (for people only!). Please come by for this vital function. As we enter the summer months,blood is in short supply and we desperately need donations. You’ll get a free Papa Murphy’s pizza for donating. The bone marrow registry is very easy – just a small sample of blood is needed (which can be taken from your donation). I would not be alive today were it not for the marrow transplant program at the City of Hope. Please come register so you can help save a life. We value our clients, patients and the readers of this column tremendously and would truly like to thank you in person. Please come see us today. You’ll be glad you did.

by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP