Newsletters
K C DOG SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
November / December 2007
Missing the self appointed deadline for writing and sending out this newsletter is very frustrating for me! An ordered lifestyle and being on time has been the way of my whole life. So, yes, I do have an excuse, two in fact.
Firstly, I am extremely busy rehearsing for the Franklin Players end of year production - “Christmas Capers”; and secondly, having a bandaged left hand with four stitches is proving rather sore and cumbersome for typing.
Maybe, it is even age catching up - after the very late night rehearsals, I am still very busy with classes and house calls, which is proving rather exhausting.
My hand is not helping matters - still red and inflamed and if I move it in a wrong way I get a sharp pain.
I apologise for this late newsletter.
2007 has been an interesting year - my half century milestone; Teagan having major surgery to her hip and being caged for 9 weeks and my beloved Skare died. At least I had my acting and singing to keep me slightly sane!
I would like to thank all handlers and dogs for their continued loyalty to K C Dog School - many have been training for over 6 years, some even longer. Otto Insam is my “oldest” handler. He brought his first Newfoundland, Hannibal, to my very first training class - July 1994. Otto continues to bring all this dogs to training and is currently training Queensy. Every litter that has been bred by the Insams comes to a few Puppy Kindergarten classes before they go to their new owners.
“All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers, is contained in the dog.”
Franz Kafka
FINAL CLASSES
The final classes for 2007 will be on Saturday 24th November. Tuesday classes finish on Tuesday 4th December.
Puppy Kindergarten classes continue through December.
I will be away from Sunday 18th to Thursday 22nd November.
I will not be available on Tuesday 27th November as I am doing a shoot for a new TV series.
“Children growing up with pets they love and care for, seem to turn out to be good parents and perhaps more selfless mates.”
Roger Caras
TRAINING CLASSES 2008
Training classes for 2008 are as follows:
Tuesday classes start on 8th January
Saturday classes start on 12th January
During the World War 1 years, the British refused to call their favourite dogs German Shepherds - because they wanted no associations with their wartime enemies. Instead the breed was called “Alsations.” But when the political problems ended in the 1970's, so did the pseudonym.
TRAINING FEES
Training fees for 2007 will be R55 per lesson.
R440 for the 8 week courses (Beginners and Intermediate)
R220 for Puppy Kindergarten.
Handlers in Advanced classes can pay per lesson or at the beginning of the month for all the classes in that month. Any missed classes that you have paid for, can be caught up at another time/ on another day.
Any classes paid for in 2007 carry over to 2008.
Handlers who received the loyalty discount last year (handlers and dogs that have been training for more than
two years at K C Dog School) just need to add R5 to the amount that they have been paying.
Between the fall of the Roman Empire (when dogs lost their “job” as military messengers), and the Middle Ages (when dogs became hunting companions), canines faced extreme hardship in the name of survival. Many linguists believe that the expression “dog tired” and “die like a dog” were added to language during this period.
NEW YEAR GET-TOGETHER
Once again the end of the year get-together will be held as the New Year get-together:
DATE: Saturday 26th January
VENUE: K C Dog School, 92 1st Street, Parkmore/
Sandhurst Border.
TIME: From 5:00 onwards
There will be a lamp/rump spit braai at a cost of R45 per adult, R25 per child.
Everyone attending is asked to bring a salad or a dessert.
A dog that raises his paw to shake without being asked is sometimes exhibiting insecurity (unless he/she has been taught to give paw and they now do it out of habit.)
A CHANGE OF LUCK
New Delhi - A man in southern India married a female dog in a traditional Hindu ceremony as an attempt to atone for stoning two other dogs to death - an act he believes cursed him.
P Selvakumar married the sari-draped former stray named Selvi, chosen by family members and then bathed and clothed for the ceremony on Sunday at a Hindu temple in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported. Selvakumar told the paper he had been suffering since he stoned two dogs to death and hung their bodies from a tree 15 years ago. “After that my legs and hands got paralysed and I lost hearing in one ear,” he said in the report. The paper said an astrologer had told Selvakumar the wedding was the only way he could cure the maladies.
Dogs identifiable as Dachshunds, Hounds and Mastiffs appear in the ancient art of Rome, Athens, and Egypt.
HAPPY DOGS SWING RIGHT
Every dog lover knows how a pooch expresses its feelings.
Ears close to the head, tense posture, and tail straight out from the body means “don't mess with me.” Ears perked up, wriggly body and vigorously wagging tail means “I an soooo happy to see you.”
But another, newly discovered feature of dog body language may surprise pet owners and dog experts. When dogs feel positive about something or someone, their tails wag more to the right side. When they have negative feelings, their tail wagging is more to the left.
A study describing the phenomenon appeared in the March 20 issue of Current Biology. The authors are Giorgio Vallortigara, a neuroscientist at the University of Trieste in Italy, and two veterinarians, Angelo Quaranta and Marcello Siniscalchi, at the University of Bari, also in Italy.
“This is an intriguing observation,” said Richard Davidson, “It fits with a large body of research showing emotional asymmetry in the brain” he said.
Research has shown that in most animals, including birds, fish and frogs, the left brain specializes in behaviours involving what the scientists call approach and energy enrichment. In humans, that means the left brain is associated with positive feelings, like love, a sense of attachment, a feeling of safety and calm. It is also associated with physiological markers, like a slow heart rate.
At a fundamental level, the right brain specializes in behaviours involving withdrawal and energy expenditure. In humans, these behaviours like fleeing, are associated with feelings like fear and depression. Physiological signals include a rapid heart rate and the shutdown of the digestive system. Because the left brain controls the right side of the body and the right brain controls the left side of the body, such asymmetries are usually manifest in opposite sides of the body. Thus many birds seek food with their right eye (left brain/nourishment) and watch for predators with their left eye (right brain/danger).
In humans, the muscles on the right side of the face tend to reflect happiness (left brain) whereas muscles on the left side of the face reflect unhappiness (right brain).
“Dog tails are interesting”, Dr Davidson said, “because they are in the midline of the dog's body, neither left nor right. So do they show emotional asymmetry, or not?” To find out, Dr Vallortigara and his colleagues recruited 30 family pets of mixed breed that were enrolled in an agility training program. The dogs were placed in a cage equipped with cameras that precisely tracked the angles of their tail wags. When they were shown four stimuli through a slat in the front of the cage: their owner, an unfamiliar human; a cat; and an unfamiliar dominant dog. In each instance the test dog saw a person or animal for one minute rested for 90 seconds and saw another view. Testing lasted 25 days with 10 sessions per day. When the dogs saw their owners their tails all wagged vigorously with a bias to the right side of their bodies. Their tails wagged moderately, again more to the right, when faced with an unfamiliar human. Looking at a cat, the dogs' tails again wagged more to the right but in a lower amplitude. When the dogs looked at an aggressive, unfamiliar dog their tails all wagged with a bias to the left side of their bodies.
Thus when dogs are attracted to something, including a benign approachable cat, their tails wagged right, and when they were fearful, their tails went left. While some researchers have argued that only humans show brain asymmetry - based on the evolution of language in the left brain - strong left and right biases are showing up in the brains of many so-called simpler creatures.
By Sandra Blakeslee
“I am called a dog because I fawn on those who give me anything, I yelp at those who refuse, and I set my teeth in rascals.”
Diogenes
DOGGY FACTS
…. It was previously thought that dogs were colourblind, but now it has been established that they can in fact distinguish between different colours, although the colours don't appear as vivid to them as they do to humans.
…. Experiments have shown that dogs can locate the source of a sound in 6/100th of a second.
…. Dogs' eyes have large pupils and a wide field of vision making them really good at following moving objects. … …. Dogs also see well in fairly low light.
…. A dog's smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a human.
…. Dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with the ears.
While your dog is likely to wag his tail at a wide variety of living things, dogs will seldom, wag at an inanimate object.
HAVELOC SKARE
As mentioned earlier in this newsletter, my beloved Skare died on the 20th September. She would have been 13 years old on the 13th November.
She was an exceptional German Shepherd - a once in a lifetime dog. She was well known at the Puppy Kindergarten classes as the “Mommy Dog”. Numerous puppies were put at ease, or put in their place with her firm control.
Her superb temperament was admired by everyone and she gave a good name to the German Shepherd breed. Twice she defended me when I was attacked at home and in my car - I was left unharmed and Skare got the reputation in the neighbourhood as my vicious protector. For the rest of the time she was the sweetest, most loving dog to everyone. She never had a litter ( a big regret) but she brought up all my puppies just like they were her own, and even giving my cat a good tongue cleaning from time to time.
There is a huge gap in my household, we are all missing her so much. She struggled during her last few days and I know that she is now out of pain and happy with my other dogs and Mom and Dad.
They say memories are golden
Well, maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.
A million times I needed you,
A million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
No one could every fill.
If tears could build a stairway
And heartache made a lane.
I'd walk the path to heaven
And bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.
Rest in Peace my special girl.
“Heaven goes by favour. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”
Mark Twain
I would like to thank my assistants that have worked so hard during 2007:
Staci - my senior assistant trainer.
Tristan - who was an assistant trainer and has now sadly left to pursue his career.
Kristan - who does the secretarial work.
Monica and Carri - who help out when needed.
Lastly, I wish every handler and dog who is part of K C Dog School a restful holiday period.
Happy Christmas to those who celebrate Christmas;
Happy Hannukah to all the Jewish people and Happy New Year to everyone.
I look forward to seeing you next year.
July/August 2007
My dogs woke me up at 2:45, outside in the bitter cold, very light snowflakes were falling. By the morning, sadly only some ice lay on the lawn. At my friend's house on Linksfield Ridge the dogs frolicked around not sure what the white stuff on the ground actually was. It seems that the eastern areas of Gauteng had quite a heavy fall of snow. It must be very strange to our dogs - they are certainly not used to snow, not like their northern hemisphere counterparts.
My thoughts also went out to all the dogs that stay outside. I hope that at least they have a doghouse with warm bedding, so they can curl up and be warm.
“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.”
TIME AWAY
Over the long weekend of June 16th, I travelled to Windhoek, Namibia to judge their Championship dog show. Actually, I was the ONLY judge, doing all the classes on both days. On Saturday I judged Special Beginners, Beginners, Novice, Class A, Class B and the top obedience Class C. I started at 7:30 Namibia time and ended under floodlights at 7:45 that evening. On Sunday I judged the Agility classes finishing at 12:00. I left immediately to fly home, arriving back at 5:15. An exhausting, judging weekend. Just a pity that I didn't get to see the sights.
I stayed at a wonderful guesthouse - The Hilltop House. If you are in Windhoek, I can highly recommend it.
The next few weeks K C Dog School will be running on a skeleton staff:-
Saturday 30th July - Staci is away.
Saturday 7th July - I will be away (yes again) - I am travelling down to Durban to judge two Championship shows. One is very prestigious, the 100 Anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg Kennel Club - quite an honour to be asked to judge.
Saturday 14th July - Tristan will be away.
I have found that when you are deeply troubled there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” Doris Day
HOW TO TELL THE WEATHER
Go to your back door and look for the dog.
If the dog is at the door and is wet, it's probably raining.
But if the dog is standing there really soaking wet, it is probably raining really hard.
If the dog's fur looks like it's been rubbed the wrong way, it's probably windy.
If the dog has snow on it's back, it's probably snowing.
Of course, to be able to tell the weather like this, you have to leave the dog outside all the time.
Especially if you expect bad weather.
Sincerely,
The Cat
“A well-trained dog will make no attempt to share our lunch. He will just make you feel so guilty that you cannot enjoy it.”
Helen Thomson
HAIR OF THE DOG JUST BECAME REALITY
Amsterdam - After a long day hunting, there's nothing like wrapping your paw around a cold beer. So Terrie Berenden, a petshop owner in the Dutch town of Zelhem, created a beer for her Weimaraners made from beef extract
and malt. “Once a year we go to Austria to hunt with our dogs, and at the end of the day we sit on the veranda and drink beer. So we thought my dogs have also earned it,” she said.. Berenden got a local brewery to make the non-alcoholic beer, branded as Kwispelbier, and advertised it as “a beer for your best friend”. “Kwispel” is Dutch for wagging a tail. It is fit for human consumption, Berenden said, but at R15 a bottle, it's about four times more expensive than a regular beer.
(As you know I have been selling tripe droewors and dried tracheas, and the same company makes “Dogade” for working dogs. So when you have your Energade you can give your dog, Dogade. They come in three flavours - beef, bacon and chicken. If you want to try some for dog, please contact me and I will put in an order.)
“All animals except man know that the ultimate of life is to enjoy it.”
Samuel Butler
TEAGAN'S TALE
9 months of age, and looking like an adult dog. However, looks can be deceiving, as she still thinks and behaves like a puppy. I took the pool leaf catcher cover back to Aqua-net and they patched up the 13 large holes that were there. When it was fixed, I put it back on the pool and it lasted three days intact. On the fourth day, I came home to find two more holes. I finally got the message and removed the
chlorine floater from underneath the net! This time I got some thin wire and sewed up the holes myself. Keep your fingers crossed - no holes to date.
Cat's motto - No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it.
DOG'S PROPERTY LAWS
If I like it, it's mine
If it's in my mouth, it's mine
If I can take it from you, it's mine
If I had it a little while ago, it's mine
If it's mine, it must never have been yours anyway
If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine
If it just looks like mine, it's mine
If I saw it first, it's mine
If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
First dog - “Are you sure people have to have a licence?”
Second dog - “Yep, this plastic thing - M-A-S-T-E-R card.”
NOW IS IT A MUTT - OR MUTTON?
Tokoyo - No one was more surprised than Japanese film star Maiko Kawakami to hear that her fluffy poodle is really a lamb in disguise. The actress denied reports that she had been the victim of a scam by tricksters importing lambs from Australia and Britain to sell as poodles to thousands of unsuspecting rich Japanese women. News of the reported hoax reached as far as Britain, the US and Australia before police and Kawakami denied it was true. The British tabloid The Sun reported that the scam came to light after Kawakami complained on a TV talkshow that her new poodle refused to bark or eat dog food and that she was devastated when told it was a lamb.
“Is your dog a thoroughbred?”
“No, he's a B.F.M.”
“What's a B.F.M?”
“Beloved Family Mutt!”
FRESH BREATH BISCUITS
500ml rice flour
300ml chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 extra large egg
60ml fresh parsley, chopped.
250ml wholewheat flour.
Mix all ingredients together. Knead until well blended, using more wholewheat flour if needed. Roll out into 1,5cm thinkness. Cut out with cutters as desired or into squares.
Bake at 150 degrees C for 60-90 minutes.
“To a dog, the whole world is a smell.” Anon
DOGGY TREATS
625ml Wholewheat flour
125ml full cream milk powder
3ml salt
3ml garlic powder
90ml margarine or butter
1 extra large egg, beaten
5ml brown sugar
125ml cold water
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C
Combine all the dry ingredients.
Rub in the margarine until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the egg and add enough water for the mixture to form a ball. Pat out the dough to 1cm thickness and cut out biscuits or shape into a form. Bake on a baking tray sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray for 30 minutes.
“When most of us talk to our dogs, we tend to forget they are not people.” Julia Glass
ASTROLOGY GUIDE
Do you know which breed of dog is most compatible with your astrological sign? -
DACHSHUND - Capricorn
FRENCH POODLE - Libra
MALTESE TERRIER - Cancer
PAPILLON - Gemini
PUG - Gemini
YORKIE - Taurus
BEAGLE - Taurus
BOSTON TERRIER - Pisces
FOX TERRIER - Sagittarius
MINUATURE SCHNAUZER - Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio
BASSET HOUND - Capricorn
BORDER COLLIE - Aquarius
BULLDOG - Sagittarius
BULLTERRIER - Leo
COCKER SPANIEL - Cancer
SPRINGER SPANIEL - Aquarius
SIBERIAN HUSKY - Pisces
BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG - Libra
BOUVIER DES FLANDREW - Taurus
BULLMASTIFF - Scorpio
DOBERMANN - Sagittarius
GERMAN SHEPHERD - Aquarius
GOLDEN RETRIEVER - Taurus
GREAT DANE - Virgo
LABRADOR - Cancer
NEWFOUNDLAND - Leo
RIDGEBACK - Leo
ROTTWEILER - Scorpio
ST BERNARD - Libra
WEIMARANER - Sagittarius
From:- Cosmic Canines, The complete astrology guide for you and your dog. Marilyn MacGruder Barnewall
“A dog is a smile and a wagging tail. What is in between doesn't matter much.” Clara Ortega
OLD AGE HOME
Unusual and increased canine care is becoming popular in several countries. In Tokyo, the first canine old-age home devoted to senior dogs has been opened by vets and carers especially trained to look after the physical and emotional health of older canines. The innovative Soladi Care Home for pets not only uses the services of vets, but a team of younger puppies has also been brought in to help aging pooches feel younger and retain their energy. A loving owner will pay a fee of 98 000 yen (about R5 700) a month. For that sum, the dog will be checked and monitored by vets and the nursing staff. The dogs will receive round-the-clock monitoring and they'll be fed with specially fortified food to ensure they receive the best of everything.
The Japanese, a nation of dog lovers care for their dogs extremely well and feed them a healthy and balanced diet. This has led to many dos living to a ripe old age, hence the Soladi Care Home, which is a sort of wellness centre or canine spa. Here dogs also receive various treatments such as acupuncture, vitamins and aromatherapy. They are massaged and then encouraged to fraternise with younger, more agile dogs. The extra exercise regains their vitality and also seems to be excellent for their emotional well-being.
(I still haven't found out yet, whether this is a short term arrangement, or if the dogs spend the rest of their lives there. Personally, I would hate to send my old dogs away from their home that they love. At the moment, Skare is 12 and a half years old, and I would never send her off to an old age home. I tend to her needs in her own home!)
“A dog lives in the moment and always hopes for the best.”
DOING THE DOGA
The Swedes, also animal lovers, have instituted yoga classes for their dogs. These classes are called doga classes.
The Dog Planet Salon, situated in one of Stockholm's upmarket areas, offers pre-booked sessions, which cost 150 kronor (about R150) an hour and during which the owners and their dogs participate in the calming yoga together.
“Dogs begin in jest and end in earnest.” H. Bohn
DEEPEST SYMPATHY
Everyone at K C Dog School, sends their deepest sympathy to Nadine Drake who trains Olly the German Shepherd, on Saturday mornings. Her beloved little granddaughter, who was just over a year, sadly passed away last Saturday 30th June. She had a rare illness, which she managed to live with, bringing joy to everyone around her. A very sad time for all the family - our thoughts are with you.
“Intelligent dogs rarely want to please people whom they do not respect.” W. Koehler
PET FEEDER
Recently I was approached by the company GSS World cc asking me to take a look at an automatic pet feeder. This feeder would be ideal for cats and small dogs as it comes with a timer to control when the pellets are released. You can even record your voice to call the animal for the food.
Mike will be doing a test run of this feeder for his cats when we are away this weekend.
If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact me so that I can place an order. I have attached the information brochure. There are also other models available.
May/June 2007
As I write this newsletter I am dressed warmly for the cold spell that has suddenly hit Gauteng. After the beautiful weather of the last few weeks, this freezing cold is a surprise. Time to haul out the heaters, and to get the blankets and warm bedding for my dogs. Skare is now twelve and a half years, and Wrani is ten and a half. They deserve the extra comfort in their old age. Last year I bought them special Rogz Pod beds which they love and now I have added warm dry bedding and blankets for the cold. Triffyn and Teagan sleep in the other padded round beds - they have nice thick fur so are comfortable.
With this cold weather, please think of your dogs and make plans to keep them warm, especially the older senior citizens.
In the sixteenth century, Britain's reigning family, the Tudors, had a private island for their dog kennels. Its name? The Isle of Dog's of course!
`PET PATCH TO GUAGE STRESS'
Tokyo - Wondering if your dog or cat is stressed? Just stick a special patch on a paw and you'll be able to tell, according to a Japanese Company. The round, pin-sized patch purports to measure the stress level of dogs and cats by detecting excessive sweat secretion - believed to be a sign of stress. Applied to the center pad of a paw, it changes colour depending on how sweaty the pet is.
Dogs were first bred specifically for racing during the reign of Elizabeth 1 of England.
TEAGAN'S TALE
At 7 months, Teagan is nearly full height. She is big compared to some Border Collies, but over the years Borders have been bred smaller and smaller. It took me nearly six months before I found Triffyn's litter, and one of the reasons for taking him was the size of his parents - what I considered the “old fashioned” Border Collie. When I was looking for a female to mate with him, I once again spent a long time looking for a bigger female. It is time to get the breed back to a better size and hopefully Triffyn's four is a start.
One evening last month I had to go to a meeting for the Animal Behavioural Consultants. As I walked into the place my cell phone rang. I decided to take it as the meeting hadn't started and it was Mike. The call went something like this:
“Hi Mike”.
“ Kathy, are you alright?”
“Yes, why?”
“Are you at home? “No, I am just going into a meeting, what is the matter?”
“I've just phoned your home, and it rang and
it was answered. Suddenly then was a bang, thump, thud and silence. All I could think of was you running to answer the phone, picking it up and falling or passing out; I was worried about you!”
“Ah, Teagan answered the phone!”
The puzzle of the phone off the hook was finally solved.
Whenever I went out and left the dogs alone, on my return the phone in the hall was sometimes off the hook. I assumed that my assistant Evelyn was answering the phone, putting it down to get the portable and then forgetting to put it back on the hook. No such thing - Teagan doesn't like the telephone ringing, she goes up to it and knocks it off the hook to get silence. I tested this out letting the phone ring and not rushing to answer. Phone rings, Teagan runs and pushes the handset off. I now just have to teach her to say “woof” to the person at the other end!
Latest news, hot off the press….. does anyone know if pool covers can be mended? I came home today to be told by Evelyn that Teagan has been naughty (so what else is new????) I went outside to see three HUGE ripped holes and 4 smaller holes in my leaf catcher pool net (which I had only put on the pool last Friday). Triffyn has always liked the pool cover as he walks into the middle and splashes around the in water. So Teagan watched this and she also started splashing around on top of the cover. But today she discovered that underneath her a white pipe was moving around and vibrating and she needed to “kill it”, hence the holes ripped to get at the Barracuda.
Oh boy, Teagan is really trying every fibre of my behavioural knowledge…. to the ultimate limit.
(Don't laugh.)
Archaeological evidence indicates that dogs have lived on earth for more than twenty-five million years.
NEW DOG TREATS AVAILABLE
A new company called K9 Green Tripe has started selling different dog treats made from tripe. I recently bought some to try out and my dogs will stand on their head to get it. It is fantastic for training. I have now bought some to start selling, and depending on how it goes, I will keep stock.
Tripe dry wors R10 per packet
Tripe biltong sticks R10 per packet
They also dry out beef trachea - although it sounds terrible, it smells beefy (much nicer than hooves) and the dogs love it. It is chewy and takes time to finish (keeps Teagan occupied and out of mischief for at least 15 minutes!) There is one trachea per packet and costs R8.
Another product is DOGADE - this is an energade for dogs. You add powder to special water and it gives vitamins and minerals needed for working dogs (not sure if I want to give this to Teagan - she has enough energy!)
They come in three flavours - chicken, bacon and beef.
Finally, they produce “Doggy Ice-cream. This is a hoof filled with tripe mixture and frozen. I gave one to Triffyn and Teagan and I didn't hear them for a VERY long time.
The difficulty with this is keeping them frozen. At the moment I don't have them in stock, but will get them if there is a demand.
Please let me know if you are interested in any of these products. At the present I have stock of dry wors, dry biltong, and tracheas. You will have to order the Dogade and ice-cream. They do deliver, so it won't be too long to get them to you.
I can personally recommend all these products and they are highly recommended by Triffyn, Teagan, Skare and Wrani.
I also think the prices are reasonable.
Dog's rarely chew food - they simply swallow.
HINDU BURIAL
A Durban businessman has given his dog a Hindu burial. Sundru Pillay's Golden Retriever Rocky, was put down following a short illness. The dog was 13 years old. Pillay immersed the dog's ashes at the Divine Life Society of SA's Sivananda Ghat in a private ceremony at the Clare Estate Umgeni Hindu crematorium, following his cremation by a company that specialises in animal cremations. “It was a sad but beautiful ceremony” said Pillay. “ The priest recited a few prayers, we prayed for Rocky's soul to rest in peace and then I disposed of his ashes.” SA Hindu Dharma Sabha head Ram Maharaj said Hindus regarded all life as sacred “be it from the tiniest insect to the greatest man”. “Animals occupy a very special place in terms of the Hindu principle of prani daya (compassion for life)” said Maharaj. Pillay said the dog lived on gourmet dog food, had a weekly helping of ice cream and loved wolfing down steak-and-kidney pies.
Dogs have been included in world literature since the first century B.C. when the Roman writer Varro immortalized his sheepdog in a book titled - Rerum rusticarum libri.
VET'S CHOICE
I received notification of the problem with Vet's Choice the night before it hit the news. At first I thought it was a hoax, but realised how serious it was the following morning. It has been an horrific experience for everyone who feeds their dog/s this food. Two dogs training on a Saturday were on a drip, but fortunately they are both home and ok for the time being.
It is sad for the company because it is a very reputable company making the food under licence here in South Africa. It is going to take a long time for people to trust their food again. All I can say is, that when the food does come back onto the shelves, it will probably be one of the safest. I have spoken to a few people that I know at the company and they are doing major testing on every product to see that it is 100% safe. But will the public believe them?
Rin Tin Tin the German Shepherd film star received more than ten thousand letters a week from fans at the peak of his career. He also made an average of 4 films a year.
DOGGY DETECTIVES
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian movie pirates have put a bounty on the head of two sniffer dogs who busted a ring of DVD counterfeiters with a seizure of discs worth about R21,5 million. Media sources said yesterday that Lucky and Flo female Labradors deployed by authorities in their crackdown on pirated movies and music, carried out their first major operation this week. A newspaper said syndicate bosses had offered an unspecified reward for killing the dogs. An official of the Motion Picture Association said authorities were taking the threat seriously, and security around the animals had been beefed up. The dogs are trained to sit down when they smell plastic. Until now, the animals have been used mainly to check containers in cargo hangars.
Famous artists who included dogs in their paintings include Botticelli, Titian, Rubens and Goya.
MOUTH-TO-MUTT RESUSCITATION
Omaha, Nebraska - A man saved his drowning dog from death by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The dog had jumped into a partly frozen lake in pursuit of ducks and geese, but the water was too cold for her. Randy Gurchin, the Bulldog's owner, found her unresponsive and blue in the face and paws. He recalled his air force training, putting his mouth over the dog's nose, breathing air into her lungs and pushing on her check. After about a minute, 10 month-old Lucy began taking shallow breaths. A week after her ordeal, Lucy is back to normal, Gurchin said. “Once you get a pet, it's truly part of your family” he added. “You just tend to do whatever it takes to save its life.”
The first images of dogs in art appeared in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs.
“MAN'S BEST FRIEND”
The phrase “Man's Best Friend” originated in a court of law. Back in October 28, 1869, a man's dog named Old Drum was shot to death by a neighbour. Animals had no rights back in those days, but the man wanted justice and so he hired 3 lawyers to sue the man who shot his dog. One of these lawyers named George Graham Vest, is given credit for originally coining the phrase “Man's Best Friend” during his final summation to the jury. By the time he was finished with his speech, the jury only took 2 minutes to reach a verdict. The jury awarded the victim $5 (a very large amount of money back then). The jury also wanted the man to be sent to prison, but there were no laws governing this type of incident back then so the judge was not able to honour the jury's request for prison time.
This is a record of the final summation given by the lawyer….
Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son and daughter that he had reared with loving care may become ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him when he may need it most. Man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees and do us honour when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our head. The only absolutely unselfish friend a man may have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.
A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of a pauper as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert… he remains. When riches take wings and reputations fall to pieces, he is a constant in his love and the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his grave side will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.
The fossil record from sixty-five hundred years ago indicates five specific types of early dogs: sheepdogs; greyhounds, mastiffs, wolf like dogs, and pointers.
LIVER CAKE RECIPE
I have had a few requests for the liver cake recipe:
1kg liver - liquidize
8 tablespoons milk
4 eggs
10 - 12 tablespoons flour
Liquidize them together. Place the mixture in a shallow tin and cook about 23 minutes on 160 degrees until firm.
When cool cut into piece and store in the freezer. It keeps for a long time.
March / April 2007
The third month of 2007 already, I can't believe it. The year got off to a roaring start. Normally, the classes in January are fairly full as people come back from holiday and decide that it is now time to train that unruly pup. But this year, the first two 8 week basic home obedience classes were large enough to split between Staci and myself; the third start was a normal size; and the 11:00 starting class had 26 dogs which meant that it had to be split 3 ways with Tristan taking a class as well. This trend continues with puppy kindergarten - every week the class size is never less than 14 dogs, more likely about 20.
Over the years, there has definitely been an increase in awareness of dog training. From my small beginnings 12 years ago, K C Dog School is one of the largest private training facilities in Gauteng. It is also interesting to note that not only are owners coming from the immediate area, but they are travelling from Kempton Park, Kensington, Randpark Ridge and even Centurion.
“I am called a dog because I fawn on those who give me anything. I yelp at those who refuse and I set my teeth in rascals.”
Diogenes
`PETERNITY' LEAVE FOR OWNERS
You no longer need to be as sick as a dog to take time off work. Companies are allowing employees to work from home or take days off to look after unwell pets. Some have introduced “peternity” leave policies, giving staff paid leave to care for ill dogs and cats.
Other businesses, such as Hilifax Bank and the Bank of Scotland, allow staff to take time off work to deal with sick pets as long as they organize a stand-in. Royal Mail will consider allowing compassionate leave if a pet dies. Some firms, including the central London office of Internet search company Google, allow dogs in the office, realizing that workers are reluctant to leave them at home or give them to dog walkers. Research conducted by insurance company Petplan showed that 35% of its customers had taken time off work to look after pets or to help new pets settle in.
“All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers, is contained in the dog.”
Franz Kafka
TEAGAN'S TALE
Teagan turned 5 months on the 21st February. From a beautiful, small ball of fluff, she is now a long legged, ugly hooligan! She is going through the “5 months everything out of proportion” stage, and of course with major teething issues. Nothing is safe from her mouth and if it is where she can reach it, she takes it. Despite numerous rawhide chews and cow hooves, the portable telephone has many teeth marks on it, she loves my toothbrush (replaced it several times) and the toothpaste is full of tooth marks. The list of other things is too long. I had to make a trip to the hardware store to buy green plastic edge trimming which I have nailed around chair legs and the base of my bed.
Her favourite spot for playing is in the empty bath, and I often hear her clanking around in the bath playing with one of her toys. If she doesn't want to eat her chews or hoof, she usually hides them -either by opening the door of the washing machine and putting it inside; or scrabbling up a cushion on a chair, or my pillows, putting the item down and them pushing the cushions and pillows back. I now
have to check the machine before doing any washing; as well as checking for articles under my pillows and cushions (a bit like the princess and the pea!)
Her other favourite play toy is my Golden Chinchilla cat, Pye. She loves the fact that this toy moves, is very fluffy and gives a Meowwwwww when she pounces on it. It can't be too bad because Pye hasn't left home yet, and still comes walking past and rubs up against her. When he does paw at Teagan there are no claws, it is more like a boxing cuff to her head. But her beautiful Persian coat is rather straggly and usually wet from Teagan's mouth!
“The uglier the dog, the more he or she is loved.”
Martyn Lewis
K C DOG SCHOOL AWARDS
At the January get-together the following awards were presented:
DOG OF THE YEAR - won by:
Margie Brick and Dachshund, Bungles and
Christel Klima and Bernese Mt Dog, Taylor.
MOST IMPROVED DOG -
Jill Hayes and German Shepherd, Zita
PERSERVERANCE PRIZE -
Kathy Berman and Yorkie, Griffin.
Congratulations to handlers and dogs.
“I think every family should have a dog. It's like having a perpetual baby.”
John Brown.
AGILITY
As mentioned in the last newsletter, Willem Van den Berg has taken on agility training for K C Dog School. We are now joined with Dynamic Agility Academy run by Willem, and assisted by Audrey Lane.
Training got off to a great started with some old agility handlers and dogs returning, and new interested handlers and dogs starting. An interesting mixture of breeds - German Shepherd, Border Collies, Poodle, Lhasa Apsa, and two Bassett Hounds.
It looks like this agility training is going to take off.
“Puppies are nature's remedy for feeling unloved…. Plus numerous other ailments of life.”
Richard Allan Palm
CONDOLENCES
It has been a sad time for two families recently:
Otto and Erika, who have been training their Newfoundlands with me for 12 years, had the heartache of loosing their youngest, Healey. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Monday 5th March. We will all miss her sweet, loving nature and her beautiful looks.
Jack Bernard, owner of Border Collie, Trent (brother of my Teagan) said good bye to his fifteen and a half year old female Border Collie, Dee Dee on 24th February. Despite having a wonderful life, it is never easy to loose an “old” friend.
To Otto, Erika and Jack we all send our sympathy. May their memories bring some consolation to your heavy hearts.
“He cannot be a gentleman which loveth not a dog.”
John Northbrooke
PODGY POOCHES
The first slimming drug for dogs has been approved by the US medical regulator amid fears about growing levels of pet obesity. The “weight management” drug Slentrol reduces dog's appetites and their absorption of fat. In clinical trials dogs weight was reduced by an average of between 18% and 22%. Vets estimate that about 40% of dogs in Britain and US are overweight.
The drug will initially be sold in the US and will cost up to 1 pound a day. “This is a welcome addition to animal therapies as dog obesity appears to be increasing,” said Stephen Sundlof of the US Food and Drug Administration, which regulates pharmaceuticals. Slentrol is taken in liquid form and dog owners will be strongly warned not to take the drug themselves as it can damage human livers.
In trials on 550 dogs, no liver damage was observed; instead potential canine side effects are vomiting and diarrhoea. George Fennell, Pfizer's vice-president for “companion animal health” said “This is not a passport to abandon exercise or diets.” The drug has gone through full clinical trials normally associated with treatments of humans. The canine volunteers lost about 3% of their weight a month without their diets being changed.
Obesity is linked to a range of common dog problems seen increasingly by vets, including cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, torn ligaments, sores on elbows and back and arthritis. Some breeds appear to be particularly prone to gaining weight - Labradors, beagles and Dachshunds.
The problem has become so prevalent that some owners are unable to accept how fat their pets have grown. One owner of a Rottweiler said that her dog was not fat - the dog weighed 89kgs! Why don't owners just feed their dogs less and give them more exercise? The problem is that the lifestyle of owners and pets are intertwined. “The parallels between human obesity and canine obesity are striking.” Vet expert John Bauer said. “When we don't exercise enough, they don't exercise enough. And when we snack between meals, they probably snack between meals.”
Pfizer states - dogs aren't just pets, they're members of the family.
“The dog's most important job is still around. Like the legendary Cerberus, the dog still keeps many of us from the Hell of Loneliness.”
Tara/Kathy Darling.
WINE/BEER LOVERS
On Saturday 24th February, I celebrated my half century with a large “shindig”. I did all the catering myself and when the time came to buy the drinks, I went to Wholesale Discount Liquormart, Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall. I needed glasses, but they had none available and instead of going to another well-known liquor store, I bought some wine and beer there. The following Monday, I went back to the store as I had some bottles of wine, and six packs of beer left over. I was surprised at the attitude of the store manager who stated that they didn't do returns. Later when I phoned the head office, I was lambasted by another manager saying that if I had used their party service, I wouldn't have over bought (this was not mentioned when I was buying the wine and beer); and they do not do returns. His reasoning? - “if you bought a loaf of bread, ate half and tried to return the rest to Pick `n Pay, they also wouldn't take it back”. Excuse me, I not trying to return half bottles of wine and beer, but full bottles and six packs! Interestingly, I did buy some wine at Pick `n Pay and I returned them with no questions asked what so ever. (Also interesting to note that Pick `n Pay wine was the same price and in some cases cheaper than the Wholesale Liquormart.)
So, if anyone is thinking of buying bulk liquor, I would advise you to choose a place that has better customer service than that place.
Beer or wine anyone? …. Maybe I just need to invite you all around to get rid of it!
“Most dogs don't think they are human, they know they are”
Jane Swan
RITZ SPA'S LATEST SERVICE
Austin ricochets around the Ritz-Carlton hotel room, bouncing from bed to chair and leaping high to lick the face of his personal masseuse. He's an energetic 4-year-old pug, so there is a lot of wriggling as his “privileged pup” pet massage begins. But soon his eyelids droop and his tiny muscles relax under the soothing touch of Darlene Davison, the Ritz-Carlton's spa director. Davison is the creator of the luxury hotel chain's latest indulgence - the $130 dog massage. (about R900). There is a 9kg weight limit and a non-refundable pet fee. For another $20 they will throw in gourmet dog biscuits, an in-room pet massage, a choice of nail buffing or nail polish, a souvenir photo, a brisk walk over Sarasota's scenic Ringling Bridge and a gourmet meal of organic stew and designer water served on a silver tray.
Americans spend about $38,4 billion on their pets annually. The trend in the last year is people enjoying things they can do with their pet. The hotel is working on more owner-pet pampering packages.
“So many get reformed though religion. I got reformed through dogs.”
Lina Basquette
GET WELL SOON
Jim Goodwin who has been training his German Shepherd, Nushka on Saturday for the past 5 years recently had back surgery. The operation was a success and he is now at home recovering. We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the training field very soon. (Well done to Margo, his wife, who has been bringing Nushka to training and managing so well.)
“A man may smile and bid you hail, yet wish you to the devil;
But when a good dog wags his tail, you know he's on the level.”
Anon.
MAN'S BEST FRIEND BECOMES SHRINK AND PHYSICIAN AT ONCE
If you are looking for a healthier life, get a dog. Scientists have long believed that the companionship of a pet can be good for you, but new research suggests that dog owners are physically healthier than cat owners. According to Dr Wells, dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, possibly thanks to regular walks with their four legged friends.
Wells said that dog owners appear to suffer from fewer minor ailments as well as fewer serious medical problems. She found that dogs also seem to aid recovery from serious illnesses, such as heart attacks. “It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being by buffering us from stress. The ownership of a dog can also lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the development of social contacts, which may enhance physiological and psychological human health in a more indirect manner.”
Another study found that the presence of a dog can help chronically ill children endure potentially painful medical procedures. With their heightened sense of smell, dogs also appear to be able to sniff out malignant melanomas, and the onset of low blood sugar in diabetics. Another study suggested that pets can help people with schizophrenia to feel calmer and more motivated.
“The censure of a dog is something no man can stand.”
Christopher Morley
HAPPY TRAINING.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. I hope that 2007 is a wonderful year - I wish you health, wealth and happiness!
December was going to be my time to rest and relax. Ha ha (she laughs), not with a new puppy in the house! Teagan arrived like a hurricane and hasn't stopped since (more about that later).
Sadly, after a fairly nice year, my faith in humanity was severely changed on Saturday 30th December. I nipped up to Sandton City to get a few last minute things for dinner. After leaving Hyperama I went to the lifts next to Clicks, as I got into the lift three young guys got in as well. I pressed for the roof parking and we went up. When the lift opened one of them got out with me but then suddenly turned saying that he was on the wrong floor. I continued walking to the pay machine. It was only a couple of hours later that I realized that my cellphone was gone. I was devastated, and then furious with myself for going to Sandton (I very rarely shop there), for going in the lift (I usually take the escalators) and for staying in the lift when they got in (I felt uneasy). To make matters worse, the cell was only a month old, a recent upgrade.
When I went to the police station on the Sunday to report the theft, I was behind two American women, and a Greek woman who had had their bags stolen around the same time as my theft. It seems that Sandton City was a thieves paradise that day. Trying to get a case number from the police as an eye-opening experience, and the way the overseas people were treated was embarrassing for me as a South African.
My main wish therefore for 2007 is that something is done about the crime in this country. Mine was a small incident, but crime is out of control and is sending such a bad image to foreigners.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Gandi
TRAINING 2007
Training for 2007 starts:
Tuesday classes - 9th January 2007
Saturday classes - 6th January 2007
“In a dog park, a person should be judged solely by their dog's behaviour.”
Anon
TRAINING FEES
Training fees for 2007 will be R50 per lesson.
R400 for the 8 week courses (Beginners and Intermediate)
R200 for Puppy Kindergarten.
Handlers in Advanced classes can pay per lesson or at the beginning of the month for all the classes in that month.
All credits paid for in 2006 carry over to 2007.
Anyone TRAINING two dogs in either Intermediate and/or Advanced classes gets a R5 discount for each dog (that is two dogs in training, not just if you own two dogs!)
The fees for Puppy Kindergarten and Beginners are set and no discounts given.
LOYALTY DISCOUNT
There will be a special discount for handlers who have been training for more than 2 years at K C Dog School.
There will be NO CHANGE in the training fees. You will continue paying the same amount in 2007 as you have been paying in 2006.
This is a special LOYALTY fee to say thank you for being part of K C Dog School for many years.
“So many get reformed through religion. I got reformed through dogs.”
Lina Basquette
TEAGAN'S TALE
I fetched Teagan from the breeder at the end of November, and Staci's mother, Monica came on the Saturday to puppy sit. By three that afternoon I got an SMS asking where the off button was!
Border Collies are generally hyperactive dogs, but Teagan is ADD and like the Duracell bunny, lasts six times longer! However, I can say that she is the sweetest, cutest, dearest puppy - WHEN SHE IS ASLEEP!
In the beginning my two old German Shepherds kept wondering when she was going back to her owners (they are used to having puppies come to puppy kindergarten, and then at the end, leave and go home). Triffyn was not impressed with this new thing that was now taking up a lot of my attention; and Pye my Golden Chinchilla cat, was ready to pack his bags and go home with Mike.
But we have all survived and when I look back later, I will no doubt laugh at her naughty ways.
One night I heard an alarm going off which continued all night and was still going the next morning. I phoned my neighbour (who was away on holiday) and told him that his alarm was going. Shortly afterwards, he phoned back to say that his friend has gone around and their alarm was fine, but it was coming from my garage. I went to look and it was my car. I raced inside to get my car keys, but couldn't find them. About an hour later I found them in the bushes in one of Teagan's favourite hiding places. She had put her paws on the entrance hall table and taken my keys. The rain during the night shorted the remote, setting off my alarm. It was rather embarrassing having to explain this to my neighbour.
Teagan has found that she has long legs, and loves to put her feet up and take whatever she can from counter tops (yes, as a Behaviourist I know what to do to fix that, but she somehow finds ways to get around them).
Sitting outside the other day, I looked at Teagan and noticed that the white tip of her tail was straight as if it had been cut. When I looked closer, it had been cut. I went indoors and found a big pair of scissors on the floor. She must have taken them off my worktable, they had opened and somehow closed on the tip of her tail and cut it. Thank goodness that she didn't cut her tail off!
“All of the good things that have come to me have come through my dog.”
Anon. (Only when they grow up, Kathy!)
CLASSIFIED ADS(as they appeared in a newspaper)
FOUND - Maltese terrier: 8 years old. Hateful little bitch. Bites.
FOUND - Dirty white dog. Looks like a rat…. Been out A while. Better be a reward.
FREE PUPPIES - Half Cocker Spaniel, half sneaky neighbour's dog.
FREE GERMAN SHEPHERD - 85lbs. Neutered. Speaks German.
“A dog's warmth provided the friendliest blanket.”
Anon
NEW YEAR GET-TOGETHER
Just a reminder that the annual New Year Get-together takes place in January:
SATURDAY 20TH JANUARY
VENUE: K C Dog School,
1st Street Parkmore/Sandhurst Border
TIME: From 5:00 onwards.
COST: R45 per person, R20 for Children
FOOD: Lamb/rump spit braai.
Everyone attending is asked to bring a salad or a
dessert (enough for 8 people)
Please pay as soon as possible so that I can order the meat.
“One of the best feelings in the world is coming home to a puppy”
Anon (They haven't met Teagan!)
TRAINING IN ZIMBABWE
During 2006 I did some spring cleaning and gave some clothes to my domestic assistant, Evelyn. Amongst the clothes were some golf shirts that no longer fitted me, with the K C Dog School logo and German Shepherd embroidered head. Evelyn's husband went home to Zimbabwe and one day he was walking down the street in Bulawayo wearing one of the shirts. He went into a store and when he came out a white man came up to him and asked him where his training school was situated. This man had a German Shepherd puppy and was desperate to take it to training. He spied Gilbert going into the store and waited patiently for him to come out. Imagine his disappointment when Gilbert told him that the training school was in Sandton, South Africa. Just a little far to travel to train a dog!
So, the K C Dog School logo has gone over the border and is advertising there.
“It is fatal to let any dog know that he is funny, for he immediately loses his head and starts hamming it up”
P G Wodehouse
DOGGLES
A trend this summer is high-fashion sunglasses - if you can outdo your best friend that it.
Because your pet might just be sporting the latest adornment for canines when stepping out of the kennel - dog sunglasses, or Doggles. And the international product, recently introduced to South Africa, is more than just a stylish accessory. Blue Cross Veterinary Clinic's Heather Raydn said the shades were largely meant for dogs with bulging eyes that easily pick up eye infections. Raydn said her own dog, a Boston Terrier, had picked up several eye infections because of the breed's protruding eyes.
“These glasses will protect their eyes, especially when you are driving and they stick their heads out of the window,” she said (I interject here - dogs SHOULD NOT be allowed to stick their head out of the car window.)
The product was also recommended for dogs with light-coloured eyes, which were generally weaker than brown eyes and easily harmed by the sun's rays, said Raydn.
Doggles come in black, copper and bright pink. They are UV-resistant, fog-proof and shatterproof. A pair will set dog owners back by R150 to R250, depending on the size of their dogs. Raydn said that while sales were yet to take off, there had been a big interest in the shades at the clinic. “Our clients are interested in new things like this because their dogs are not just dogs to them, they are children.”
“Every dog isn't a growler, and every growler isn't a dog.”
AGILITY
I am very pleased to tell you that I have managed to get an agility trainer who is interested in taking classes on a Saturday.
Willem Van den Berg has been doing agility for many years, is a senior agility judge, and runs his own agility school in Malvern. As this is too far (unless you are a really committed agility competitor), I spoke to Willem about the possibility of taking one or two classes at my house. There really is no agility training in this area (the nearest being Kyalami).
Willem is willing to start agility classes as soon as we know who is interested. The time will be 9:00 and depending on numbers and ability maybe a 10:00 class. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested so that we can make final arrangements.
Kathy - 011 783 3042 082 454 1750
“Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.”
Albert Schweitzer
LICENCE LIMITS
Alta Utah - Every January, dog lovers in this ski town start counting the dogs rumoured to have died or moved away with their owners, hoping to get a licence.
To protect the water supply, an ordinance limits the number of dogs in Alta to 12% of the human population with few exceptions even inside cars.
Property owners who live in Alta for at least six months of the year get first dibs on licences. Any leftovers are distributed at draws and they go next to part-time business or property owners, then lastly to seasonal employees.
But the beleaguered mayor can issue a few more dog licenses for good cause or compassion.
“It's the worst issue I deal with,” said Mayor Tom Pollard. “The day after I was elected I got my first call…. They disguised it as a question about garbage service, then finished with, “Can I have a dog?””
The scramble for dog licences in Alta can get a tad ghoulish. People are chatting about the dearly departed pet of Alta's former mayor, Bill Levitt, and his wife, Mimi. But the Levitts say they are got giving up the licence and have six months to find a new dog.
“They are better than human beings - because they know - but do not tell.”
Emily Dickinson
Teagan sends her love.
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