Money Matters

The current economic times are tough; more so with six dogs. One of the highest recurring expenses we have is the monthly flea and tic treatment. We use Frontline Plus and have been buying it from our vet. While our vet does have a good competitive price I spent last night comparing prices on the internet.

I chose to look at one product, Frontline Plus Blue (23-44 pound), 3 month supply. I would have thought the prices for the exact same product would be very close. In fact the price ranged from $22.99 to $53.99.

The $22.99 price as of today is from: Thriftyvet.com. Shipping to my house in CT is $4.00. A very close second is $25.00 from: Vetmedsforpets.com. Shipping for orders over $40.00 is free making this actually cheaper.

Over 30 on-line sites were searched. Don't just go to the first ones that pop up on your search and don't believe it when it says, Cheapest or Best price. There are likely better if you look.

Check back for more price checks.

Animals Amaze Me

A Break From Tradition

Each week on ABC News with Charles Gibson they have a "Person of the Week" feature that runs on Fridays. This past Friday the Persons of the Week were about the people who created and support the Wish Upon A Hero site. The idea was born from wanting to support charities but not knowing where the money went and the desire to support individuals as well. Here people post their wants and needs and others may elect to grant a particular wish.

It's a great idea. The ABC news story highlights the success. Its even more powerful in today's tough times. Please check it out.
www.wishuponahero.com

Thanks

Penny -The Grand Dog

If our daughter and her boyfriend have a dog, doesn't that make her our Granddog? I think so even though I am too young for a grand anything...

Penny is a dynamo. She has many of the qualities of other Grandchildren. She comes over when we say and leaves when we are done. She is a great dog and is one of the few dogs that our terminally shy dog Sissy will play with. And she's cute too.

Lyme

You've previously been introduced to Hobo. He is one of our older dogs. Having older dogs we realize that every new day is a gift. One day I noticed that Hobo could barely get up our one step into the back door. It got to the point where I helped him up and down so he could go to the bathroom. That evening things just seemed worse. I was sure that we were nearing the end of our time together. I held and petted him while we called the vet.

We got into the vet first thing the next morning. All sorts of tests were done including blood work to test for Lyme disease. The good news is that it was Lyme and Hobo responded immediately to his prescribed drugs. All the dogs are treated monthly with flea and tic protection. But if a tic gets in and is infected with Lyme..

If your dog suddenly gets limp, comes up lame, seems suddenly old, has sudden joint pain consider Lyme and get your dog tested. The fact that you don't see a tic is no guarantee- get them tested. Deer tics are small and in long haired dogs nearly invisible.

Off to the Park

Saturday March 7th. Great weather. Well almost. A huge thaw and the local dog park was a HUGE mud pit. Not that any of the dogs were complaining. Sunday the 8th. Rather than return back to the pit and the subsequent required bath I opted to go for a walk at a regular (non-dog) park.

What a great day and the park was packed. So many great dog intros- they love it. Met several people who were new with dogs, new to introducing dogs to other dogs and kids and people. I asked several if they had ever been to the local dog park- none had. One went so far as to say she was afraid there would be pit bulls there. I assured here there would and labs and retrievers and shepherds etc. For the most part people who go to dog parks, are responsible owners, who have socialized theirs dogs. My experience is that the dog park is a 97% positive experience. Would enjoy hearing from others about their dog park experiences.

Why, Jack?

I've been asked why I posted such an ugly photo of Jack. Here is another photo. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have.

Dog Log Cafe Sissy's Final Tail

I usually get attached to a new dog immediately. Without exception there is some connection. Not so with Sissy. At about the one year mark of fostering her we received a call from the Humane Society that we needed to do something- either return her or adopt.

For several months after bringing Sissy home, Xena was her only K-9 friend. Every weekend, weather permitting, we would take all the dogs to the dog park. Most of the dogs love it. Not Sissy. Her fear kept her at arms length from all the other dogs who tried to befriend her. But when she and Xena would take off running, perhaps after a real or imaginary squirrel, Sissy was in heaven. If she could play with just Xena, she was in heaven. Problem of course is that Xena wants to play with everyone. After a while Nikki and Xena and Sissy began to all play.

There was still the problem with us, me and Sissy. She would not allow me to approach if I was standing though she would tolerate me while sitting. In fact after a year she would come up to me in the car while going to the park and nudge me for some affection. She tolerates women much better and allowed our daughter's boyfriend to approach and to pet her while standing.

With all our lack of trust and lack of public displays of affection there was no way I was going to return her and have her go back in that cage. I knew, no matter how short the time, that she would have lost everything she gained. She and Xena and Nikki are good friends. A new beagle has entered our lives, Penny and they too are friends. Sissy and I are also making progress both while sitting and standing. It will improve with time.

Next installment- Penny.

Dog Log Cafe Number 6 Sissy- The Intro

We often walk the dogs around the neighborhood or in different parks. When other people and dogs see us coming it is often a bit of a shock. People are hesitant to allow an introduction- I'm sure out of fear. It can be a bit intimidating to see five or six dogs coming at you- pulling to get closer. Typically these are dogs and people without issues.

Of course Sissy has issues. Our custom when we do an intro is to introduce all the dogs at once. These intros typically cause three dogs to start barking. Xena barks to say, 'hey let's play'. Jack barks because he is insecure and that's what he does. Nikki barks because two other dogs are barking. Ryuu the Beagle is smiling and wagging and Hobo could not care less. He just wants to get a sniff in and go about his own little world.

So at the intro Sissy pulled away, cowered but reluctantly followed us in the fence. She was on high alert, spinning around as different dogs attempted to smell her. Some barking, some yelping- all fear. After five minutes or less the other five dogs were over the newness and the novelty of another dog. This just went on with their normal lives.

Next blog- the state of Sissy today.

Dog Log Cafe Number 6 Sissy

I recall being at the Humane Society one weekend day and seeing a dog all the way in the back of her cage, frightened to no end. She stayed like this no matter who walked by. Complete terror. Though we had five dogs already and had some success at helping other dogs in need as I looked at this dog I could not think of a way to help; I could not imagine what we would do.

A week or so later we received a call from the Humane Society asking if we were interested in fostering another dog. One with shyness and fear issues. We agreed to look and it was this same dog, named Sissy. In her current state she was not adoptable, would not come to anyone and showed nothing but fear. Her history was a little uncertain. She was probably a year to a year and a half old and had already had a litter of pups. She came from a shelter in North Carolina with her last remaining pup. (we are in CT) It was possible she had always been a stray.

Again I looked at her in her cage and could not imagine the way in which we would help her- yet we agreed.

I took her for a walk around the property prior to putting her in the van for the ride home. She stayed at the very end of the leash, as far away as possible. I believe she shook in fear the entire drive home. It was my hope that our other dogs would be the answer for Sissy and they had been in the past. Next entry - the introduction to the rest of the pack.