Canine Cancer Awareness

Recently Dr. Karin Sorenmo, Head of the Oncology Department at Matthew J. Ryan Vet Hospital at Penn appeared on a local news show and talked about cancer in pets and some of the warning signs. If you want to hear it from one of the best in the business, click on the link below.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/station/as-seen-on/Canine_Cancer__What_Pet_Parents_Need_to_Know_Philadelphia-107509958.html

Remember, knowledge is power so even though it is a difficult subject, it is always better to know more. Canine Cancer Awareness Month may have come and gone (it was November), but unfortunately, the disease doesn't adhere to a calendar.

Be Careful Where Belly Rubs May Lead

Sometimes in life you just have to go where it leads you. When a friend of mine sent me an email saying that she had met the director of the Animal Cancer Foundation while waiting in line for a towel at the beach club (where she was over Thanksgiving), I knew that this was a person I was supposed to meet. So I sent her (the director) my web site info and a few days ago, we exchanged a nearly two hour phone call.

We have many connections, not the least of which is our mutual friend, but also golden retrievers (she is the former Director of Golden Retriever Rescue on Long Island) and of course, cancer in dogs. We are not sure where this new relationship is going--I do maintain that there is a dog cancer book in me still begging to get out--but I am passing on her recommendation for the book highlighted in the above video.

Apparently this very good writer met a woman who was all about dogs and they ended up moving to New Mexico and starting a sanctuary for small dog with special needs. I am not sure how many dogs he currently shares his life with, but I am told that it is a considerable number. Considerable enough to constitute a pack and that is what is book is about. Living with a pack as a member of the pack.

It is also the inside story of animal rescue from an experienced journalist and some very eye opening insights into dogs as quasi-humans. I pass on the video because I am struck by his last line about how he got where he is today: "I walked through a door marked rub belly frequently and never looked back."

Sounds like the beginning of a worthwhile endeavor.

Music to Shop By

Hit the mall humming!! Too cute....

Looking for Spokesdog

The Philadelphia Water Department is looking for a spokes-dog. Yes, you read that correctly. The issue to be addressed is poop and the problem is that left behind, it has the potential to run into the water supply, especially in hilly neighborhoods where the contest is being conducted.

"You wouldn't let your dog poop in your pool," said Joanne Dahme, spokeswoman for the Water Department. "But if you don't pick up after your dog, after the next rain it could wind up in the river."

It turns out that in the "spokes-dog" neighborhoods, (Roxborough, Manayunk and East Falls for those in the region), unlike the rest of the city, the sewer pipes are separated. Household waste goes directly to the sewage treatment plant; storm water--and everything in its path--goes right to the river.

While the Water Department dumps many chemicals into that water to guarantee that it is safe to drink, it only does so to the water that passes through the treatment plant. Which leaves a whole lot of potentially contaminated river for those who row, fish or just walk along it.

So for the benefit of everyone, pick up after your pooch or better yet, if you live in the qualifying region, enter your pooch to win a $200 gift certificate to a doggy supply shop as well as the right to bark at all offenders.

It's a shame--Sam would be great at that last part.

A New Tour of Duty

This is Buzz Miller, a dog and cat's best friend. Really. Sorry the photo is small but trust me, his heart is large.

Not only does he own an amazing "department store for pets" near my home (Buzzy's Bow Wow Meow--check it out on line) but he is constantly sponsoring pet related seminars, taking kids to visit animal shelter s for service projects, collecting supplies for shelters, you name it Buzzy does it. In the past two years, he has facilitated the adoption of 400 animals through the store.

Now he and his wife Judi have started a non-profit organization called PACT (People/Animals Companions Together)to take their passion even farther. One of the group's first initiatives is to recruit local foster families to care for the dogs of service men and women while they are deployed. The fostering may be as long as an 18 month commitment.

They already have a bunch of families willing to take on the job. One of Buzzy's unique twists on this concept is the notion that the foster families will not only correspond with the soldier while they are deployed, sending pictures of the dog and updates on his/her activities, he also promises that foster families will be able to continue the relationship with the pet once the owner returns.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that I am a member of the Board of Directors of PACT, and couldn't be prouder to be associated with such a wonderful organization.

Miraculous Eli

This is the most remarkable story, courtesy of Thoroughbred Times, about a donkey, Eli, who after being treated with stem cells, was able to stand even though he had been completely paralyzed! The video above is of Eli getting to his feet himself.

The drama begins when Eli, a pet donkey, was attacked inexplicably by his long time companion, Watson, and had his spinal cord traumatized. Watson apparently grabbed Eli by the scruff of his neck and shook him furiously.

In any event, the donkey rapidly began to decline, ultimately losing the ability to urinate, defecate and stand. As you might know, the equine's ability to survive is completely tied to his being able to stand. The donkey was rushed to Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California, where the owner opted to try an experimental stem cell treatment, figuring she and Eli had nothing to lose.

Eli was injected with the first of three stem cell treatments on May 25. He responded by improving within 48 hours, and was actually able to stand in his stall on June 8 with the help of two vet techs. He relapsed, as is common after the first treatment, and on June 11, received his second treatment. He continued to improve until about twelve days later when he began to relapse again and received his third treatment.

On July 2, Eli was able to roll onto his sternum, unassisted and the video above was made on July 31 when he was able to stand by himself. Eli has since been released to his owner and continues to improve!

Needless to say, this development is incredibly exciting not only for equines but because of the implications for human spinal trauma. Stem cell therapy has not been tried in humans. One important piece of info that comes from Eli's case is the knowledge that adult stem cells, (even from donors, which Eli's were) do not cause adverse reactions.

Just something to remember when you are choosing political candidates in the future. Please do not stand in the way of this exciting and important field of research.

Secretariat

I saw Secretariat last weekend and loved it. OK the story has been completely Disney-ized and racing sequences are a bit forced, but the general idea that a horse can take us all to places where we like to be is one that I heartily endorse. Diane Lane was great and it was a nice touch to have the real Penny Chenery appear in some crowd shots.

Of course, they tie it all up rather neatly in a Triple Crown package, but you did get the sense of pressure that every owner, trainer and jockey is under when they race at that level. Although it seems like the whole world is watching--in Secretariat's case they were--it usually is just the horse world that is so focused on your every move.

And there really is a Belmont Ball, the night before--I have been there--but it is held in the city and Belmont track is not exactly a hop skip and jump away so the scene where Diane Lane contemplates the track in her ball gown is a bit over the top. But who knows? Maybe she stayed track side and make the trek to the city not vice versa.

In any event, it got me thinking about the potential of a Barbaro film and I don't think it is going to fly at this point because of the lack of happy ending. What we need for it to fall into a Disney like package is for one of his siblings to redeem him and then what a story that is.

Until that happens, however, there are too many unknowns in the story. It is hard to make a movie about a horse that could have won the Triple Crown when it took twenty years to make one about a horse that did.

In any event, go see it. I don't think you will be disappointed.