SUMMER 2017
 

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   Summer 2017 Newsletter  in pdf format           
 

Board News

Our focus at the last board meeting was how to update our website. What information to keep, what to add and what to delete. It is a work in progress. We didn't realize how big a task this is.

Pet Friendly Retirement Homes in Canada  by Julie More

In the Spring 2017 newsletter we published the Retirement Homes and Pets article, talking about our pet policy survey in the Ottawa-Carleton area. That's great, but what if you live outside Ottawa? How do you find a retirement home where your pet is welcome?

I decided to do some research. I started off with Ontario. I contacted V!VA Retirement Community head office to find out about their pet policy and to see if all their retirement homes have the same pet policy.  

According to Sasha Zivkovic (Community Relations at V!VA Retirement Communities):

“Each community offers the same policy regarding pets. Please note, each of our communities offers a dog wash station that is senior friendly.”

There are seven V!VA Communities in Ontario:

V!VA Barrhaven: www.vivalife.ca/communities/ottawa/barrhaven

V!VA Mississauga: www.vivalife.ca/communities/mississauga/mississauga

V!VA Oakville: www.vivalife.ca/communities/oakville/oakville

V!VA Pickering: www.vivalife.ca/communities/pickering/pickering

V!VA Thornhill Woods: www.vivalife.ca/communities/thornhill/thornhill-woods

V!VA Whitby Shores: www.vivalife.ca/communities/whitby/whitby-shores

Waterside in Carleton Place:  www.vivalife.ca/communities/carleton-place/waterside

V!VA retirement communities allow you to bring your pet (only one pet) with you when you move in; however, if your pet dies, you would not be allowed to get another one. Dogs, cats, etc. are welcome, but no exotic pets. Their other restriction is that the pet weighs 25 lb. or less. There is no extra charge for your pet as long as you can look after him. If you are unable to look after him, the staff can do it for an extra cost.  

This is just the start of my research. Stay tuned for our next newsletter, in which we will be featuring retirement homes in other provinces.

Travelling in the Car with your Dog   by Julie More

Finally, winter is over. Summer is coming. Nice weather. Summer vacation. Yeepee! Your pup is looking at you, saying “I need to go on a holiday too. It's no fun being a stay at home pup. Woof, woofie, woof.”

Great idea you think. But how to get your pet ready for a road trip? Never fear. We have lots of ideas for you in this article.  

Going on a car ride with your dog is fun. Just think, they don't criticize your driving. They don’t care where you stop. Everything is an adventure for them. They never ask “Are we there yet?”

Get your pup to like the car by starting off with short fun trips, like going to the park that is about 10 minutes from your house. Slowly increase the distance. Dogs, like humans, love shopping. Take your pup to a pet store. If he is lucky, they may give him treats too. On the other hand, going to the vet is not a fun trip in your dog’s book. Squeeze your vet trips in between lots of fun trips.

It is a good idea to have a crate in your car for your pup, or use a car safety harness specially made for dogs. Both help keep your pup safe in the back seat. You never know when you may have an accident. Kelley, my golden retriever, can attest to that. We got into an accident, and thanks to her doggie seat belt harness, she was safe and did not get hurt. Otherwise the impact would have thrown her around in the van.

Now, going on a vacation requires packing essential items. Unfortunately, your dog hasn't learned the art of packing lightly. You will probably need twice as much space for his luggage as for yours.
 

Thank you Jill (co-editor of this newsletter) for coming up with this list:

 dog bowls for food and water

 fresh water (bottled is best for a long journey; some dogs are fussy about strange water)

 spare dry/canned food, in case you can’t find it en route

 useful medical paperwork (e.g. vaccination certificates), especially if driving into another country

 phone number of your vet at home

 towels to dry the dog if he gets wet, clean wipes for muddy paws

 dog brush or comb

 coat for wet or cold weather, if the dog usually wears one

 extra dog tag for collar with destination information on it (you may be able to find something suitable for temporary use in an office supply store)

 description and recent photo of dog in case he gets lost, including contact information

 blanket/mat for dog to lie on in the car or hotel

 good supply of poop bags

 long leash for exercising, ball/frisbee to throw

 first aid kit, medications (e.g. heartworm, fleas)

 favourite chew toys, for the crate or hotel room

 crate (best), or car safety harness for back seat

There is lots of information on the Web on this subject. Here are a few web sites I really like, with samples of what you can find there:

WikiHow:  http://m.wikihow.com/Travel-by-Car-with-Your-Dog

“.….. figure out how you want to restrain your dog in the car;  introduce your dog to the crate, if you are using one; exercise your dog before loading it into the car; avoid feeding your dog right before your trip; keep your dog's tags on whenever you are driving long distance; take breaks; don't leave your dog in a parked car on a hot day.”

Dogtime:  http://dogtime.com/reference/dog-travel/66-driving-with-dog

“The most important pointer is to make driving in a car a pleasant experience, from the moment you start spending time together.”  

Love That Pet:  https://www.lovethatpet.com/dogs/travel/cars/

 “With careful planning and the right safety equipment, hitting the road with your canine companion can be fun and hassle free.” ….. “More often than not, dogs make for willing and eager travel companions.” 

ASPCA:  http://www.aspca.org/search/node?search=car travel tips

A list of articles about pet travel (and many other topics as well).

Take some extra time training your dog to love car rides, and you never know, he may reward you by helping you teach your teenager how to drive safely!
 

Kelley (my golden retriever) loved to ride in the car. We took her everywhere since she was a pup. When Beckie (my daughter) started to learn to drive we took Kelley with us, of course. The poor pup was almost car sick the first time Beckie drove because her braking, accelerating and turning were pretty rough.

During the next few weeks and months, as Beckie’s driving got better, Kelley relaxed in the back seat. Every once in a while, when Beckie took a corner too fast, Kelley would poke her head between the seats as if to say “Hey, watch it, kid!”

One day Beckie said to me that her driving must be getting much better because Kelley had been relaxing in the back seat and hadn't told her off. Once, when she took the corner too fast, she turned around and apologized to the dog.

All my friends with teenagers who were learning to drive wanted to borrow my dog 

Summer Safety Tips   from www.akc.org

Hot weather can make us all uncomfortable, and it poses special risks for your dog. Keep the following safety concerns in mind as the temperature rises, and follow our tips to keep your dog cool.

If your dog is outside on a hot day, make sure he has a shady spot to rest in. Doghouses are not good shelter during the summer as they can trap heat. You may want to fill a child's wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in.

Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a hot day. The temperature inside a car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

Always provide plenty of cool, fresh water.

Avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days. Take walks in the early mornings or evenings, when the sun's heat is less intense.

Try to avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt or sand, which can burn your dog's paws.

Dogs that are brachycephalic (short-faced), such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Japanese Chins, and Pekingese, have an especially hard time in the heat because they do not pant as efficiently as longer-faced dogs. Keep your brachycephalic dog inside with air-conditioning.

General Health

Make sure your dog's vaccinations are up to date, especially since dogs tend to stay outdoors longer and come into contact with other animals more during the summer months.

Keep dogs off lawns that have been chemically treated or fertilized for 24 hours (or according to package instructions), and away from potentially toxic plants and flowers.

Keep your dog well-brushed and clean.

Fleas and ticks, and the mosquitoes which carry heartworm disease, are more prevalent in warmer months. Ask your veterinarian for an effective preventive to keep these parasites off your dog.

The AKC Pet Healthcare Plan can help with the cost of providing quality healthcare, including preventive medicine, throughout your dog's life.
 

Beach Tips

Make sure your dog has a shady spot to rest in and plenty of fresh water.

Dogs, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin, can sunburn. Limit your dog's exposure during the day and apply sunblock to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside.

Check with a lifeguard for daily water conditions. Dogs are easy targets for sea lice and jellyfish.

Running on the sand is strenuous exercise. A dog that is out of shape can easily pull a tendon or ligament, so keep a check on your dog's activity.

Do not let your dog drink seawater; the salt will make him sick.

Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog's coat, so rinse him off at the end of the day.

Not all beaches permit dogs; check local ordinances before heading out.

Water Safety

Most dogs enjoy swimming, but some cannot swim, and others may hate the water. Be conscious of your dog's preferences and skills before trying to make him swim.

If you're swimming for the first time with your dog, start in shallow water and coax him in by calling his name. Encourage him with toys or treats. Or, let him follow another experienced dog he is friendly with.

Never throw your dog into the water.

If your dog begins to paddle with his front legs, lift his hind legs and help him float. He should quickly catch on and keep his back end up.

Don't let your dog overdo it; swimming is very hard work and he may tire quickly.  

If swimming at the ocean, be careful of strong tides.  

If you have your own pool, make sure your dog knows where the stairs or ladder are located. Be sure that pool covers are firmly in place; dogs have been known to slip in under openings in the covers and drown.

Never leave your dog unattended in water.

Travel

By Air – Many airlines will not ship animals during summer months due to dangers caused by hot weather. Some will only allow dogs to fly in the early morning or in the evening. Check with your airlines for specific rules.

If you do ship a dog, put ice packs or an ice blanket in the dog's crate. (Two-liter soft drink bottles filled with water and frozen work well.) Provide a container of fresh water, as well as a container of frozen water that will thaw over the course of the trip. 

By Car – Keep your dog cool in the car by putting ice packs in his crate. Make sure the crate is well ventilated.

Put a sunshade on your car windows.

Bring along fresh water and a bowl, and a tarp or tent so you can set up a shady spot when you stop. Keep a spray bottle filled with water to spritz on your dog to cool him down. 

By RV – A dog's safety should not depend on the air conditioning and generator systems in an RV or motor home. These devices can malfunction, with tragic results.

If you leave your dog in an RV with the generator running, check it often or have a neighbor monitor it. Some manufacturers have devices that will notify you if the generator should malfunction.

Never leave an RV or motor home completely shut up, even if the generator and AC are running. Crack a window or door or run the exhaust fan.
 

Never, ever leave a dog unattended in a vehicle in the summer months. Heatstroke and death can occur within minutes in warm temperatures.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke can be the serious and often fatal result of a dog's prolonged exposure to excessive heat. Below are the signs of heatstroke and the actions you should take if your dog is overcome. 
 

Early Stages:

•     Heavy panting.

•     Rapid breathing.

•     Excessive drooling.

•     Bright red gums and tongue.

•     Standing 4-square, posting or spreading out in an attempt to maintain balance.

Advanced Stages:

•     White or blue gums.

•     Lethargy, unwillingness to move.

•     Uncontrollable urination or defecation.

•     Labored, noisy breathing.

•     Shock.

If your dog begins to exhibit signs of heatstroke, you should immediately try to cool the dog down:

•     Apply rubbing alcohol to the dog's paw pads.

•     Apply ice packs to the groin area.

•     Hose down with water.

•     Allow the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water.

•     Offer Pedialyte to restore electrolytes.

Check your dog's temperature regularly during this process. Once the dog's temperature has stabilized at between 100 to 102 degrees, you can stop the cool-down process.

If you cannot get the dog cooled down and you begin to see signs of advanced heatstroke, take the dog to the veterinarian immediately.

http://www.akc.org/content/dog-care/articles/summer-safety-tips-for-dogs/

article reprinted with permission from the American Kennel Club

”Going to the Dogs” Fundraiser

Come and bring your friends to our annual “Going to the Dogs Dinner and Race Night” fundraiser on Sunday, September 24th at 5 p.m., at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

We are still looking for volunteers to get donations for our silent auction, distribute posters, help with publicity, and help on the day of the event. Please email [email protected]  and let us know what you are interested in helping with.

Thanks      

Park Clean-Ups

During the morning we hand out bags and gloves to dog owners. They are the ones who do all the work picking up the garbage etc. Their reward is a much cleaner park, and their dogs get dog cookies. RDOC would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful dog owners who help keep our parks clean.

Garage Sale

Our second annual garage sale will be held on Saturday, May 13th at Betty's house (24 Elderwood Trail, Stittsville), starting at 8 a.m. Items can be dropped off at Betty's house on Friday, May 12th.

Kids Page

Don't forget to visit the latest edition of the Kids Page on our website. Just click on this link: http://www.responsibledogowners.ca/kidspage/activitypage-summer2017.html

We have a new quiz for you, another page to colour for our contest, 2 tricks to teach your dog (“Speak“ and “Quiet”) and a little article about keeping fish in an indoor aquarium.

Thank You

We would like to thank our committee for proofreading this newsletter. We really appreciate your help. A special thank you to Kit Watson for the final proofreading of the newsletter.  

Jill & Julie (newsletter co-editors).
 

Dates featured in this newsletter

“Going to the Dogs” Fundraiser - September 24th at 5 p.m., at Rideau Carleton Raceway
 

Park Clean-Up Schedule
  Conroy Pit Park – Saturday, May 6th from 9-10 a.m.

  Stittsville Park – Saturday, May 20th from 9-10 a.m.

  Bruce Pit – Saturday, May 27th from 9-10 a.m.

  Heritage Park, Orleans – Saturday, June 3rd from 9-10 a.m.

Garage Sale - Saturday, May 13th at Betty's house (24 Elderwood Trail, Stittsville), starting at 8 a.m.

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