North VT Winter 2015

What’s YourPet IQ?

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Winter IssuesWith Cats

What Is YourDog Really Thinking

Winter Wonderland 2016 Northern VT & NH

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4 LEGS & A TAIL FUN!What 5 Things Are Different?

Pom Pom on kids hat, Dog's Foot, Kid's Boot, Yellow stripe on dog's collar, Trees in upper right corner

A guy is driving around the back woods of New Hamp-shire and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: ‘Talking Dog For Sale' He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever sitting there. ‘You talk?’ he asks. ‘Yep,’ the Lab replies. After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says ‘So, what’s your story?’ The Lab looks up and says, ‘Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so... I told the CIA. In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.’ ‘I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running...But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some un-dercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.’ ‘I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.’ The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog. ‘Ten dollars,’ the guy says. ‘Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?’Because he’s a liar. He’s never been out of the yard!

So What Brand Are You Feeding Your Pet?

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Zignature, California Naturals, Wellness, Eagle, Nutrena, Poulin, Nutro

Ranger chilling out in S. Albany.Photo by Jim Mayor

Submitted by Wendell Nadeau

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn

Senior Editor: Scott Palzer

Office Manager: Beth Hoehn

Accounting: Elisa Speckert

Graphic Design:

Monica Reinfeld, Lacey Dardis, Kate Haas

Sales: Heather Young, Scott Palzer,

If you have a tale about a tail or a photothat will make us smile, we’d like to hear

from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is publishedquarterly and distributed free of charge

throughout Northern VT & NH.4 Legs & a Tail, Inc. is locally owned andoperated and acts as a moderator without

approving, disapproving or guaranteeing thevalidity or accuracy of any data or claim.

Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

4 Legs & a Tail Volume N.415

P.O. Box 841

Lebanon, NH 03766

603-727-9214

[email protected]

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail®

2. Finding Forever Homes, Locally owned Pet Food Warehouse teams up with Pronature Holistic and the Chittenden County Humane Society 4. Holidays and Pet Safety, Pat Jauch 5. Holidays with Animals, Mark your calendar for a Central Vermont Humane Society favorite6. Alternatively Speaking, Anne Carroll, DVM/CVA

Managing winter urinary issues in cats8. The Secret Lives of Dogs, Michael Walsh

Emotional sensors will help you understand your pups’ feelings10. The History of the Vermont Farm Show A look at one of the state’s most popular events12. Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!...My Knees Hurt, Garrett Levin, DVM, Diplomate ACVS

13. The Vermont Farm Bureau Turns 10015. A Canine Approach to Literacy, Steve Reiman

Helping children learn to R.E.A.D.

16. What is Your Pet IQ?18. Paddock Partners, Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill

Bran mash. Is it right for your horse?20. Cold Blooded Winter Emergency Kits, Samantha Bubar

Are you and your exotics ready for the cold weather ahead21. If You Love Something Set It Free, Mark Carlson

A little furry miracle comes home22. Love at the Hairdresser, Tanya Sousa

A green-eyed Romeo meets the love of his life

22. Dog Toxicant Xylitol Appearing in Peanut Butter, M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

Why it’s vital you read the label!23. Roll Out the Red Carpet for Tom Turkey, 2016 calendar winner finds a new home in Vermont24. When Missing Teeth Really are Not Missing, Just Hiding, Sandra Waugh, VDM/MS

Early discovery of impacted teeth can eliminate problems for you and your dog26. Grand View Farm, Lauren Anikis - From llamas to Gotland sheep, meet the animals of Grand View!26. New Year’s Resolutions for Pet Owners27. We Are What We Eat, DJ Nelson - A happy aquarium begins with good nutrition 28. Seizures, Catherine MacLean, DVM - The signs, causes and solutions of pet seizures

Pg. 28

www.4LegsAndATail.com 1Winter 2015

Pg. 16

Pg. 2

“Dogs, for a reason that can only be described as divine, have the ability to forgive, let go of the past, and live each day joyously. It’s something the rest of us strive for.” –Jennifer Skiff. Rescue dogs, in particular, are the per-fect example of these divinely forgiving creatures. That’s why Pet Food Warehouse has partnered with Pronature Holistic and the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC) to sponsor the adoption of pets looking for their second chance and forever homes. Pronature Holistic is a family-owned company manufacturing balanced, exceptional quality pet food, made with fresh, natural and organic ingredients just over the Canadian border near Montréal, Québec. Of all the dry food brands Pet Food Warehouse makes avail-able to its customers, Pronature Holistic is as regionally local as it gets. The company strives to provide quality food, honest and transparent communication and 100% satisfaction. Haven’t seen Pronature in

Finding Forever Homes:Pet Food Warehouse, Pronature Holistic and the

Humane Society of Chittenden County make great partners!

other states? Though Pronature is avail-able in over 30 countries around the world, Vermont is the only state in the United States to carry these products. We work closely with Pronature Holistic and respect their passion and dedication, so when the opportunity became available to change the lives of homeless pets, we jumped! The idea was to feature ‘hard to adopt’ animals, seniors, bonded pairs, or special needs. The partnership would not have been pos-sible without the generous funding from Pronature Holistic. The company com-mitted to sponsoring the adoption fees of one animal (or a bonded pair) per month from HSCC starting in June 2015. In con-junction, Pet Food Warehouse would pro-vide a $100 gift certificate to get the adop-tive family started with supplies and food. The Pronature Pals program began with our first adoptable dog, Mack. His life started in the Big Apple, but in March Mack received his freedom ride to Vermont and found himself awaiting a forever home at HSCC. Senior dogs have a harder time being adopted when there are so many young and healthy puppies avail-able. At 8 years old Mack needed a little extra attention to attract his new family. Through social media posts and in-store posters Mack found his forever home, a place to rest his head and live out his gold-en years.

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Coco & Angus - Thing 1 & Thing 2

Winter 20152 4 Legs & a Tail

With one successful adoption under our belt the Pronature Pals program took off! In July, a 13 year old cat name Edith found a loving home to give her as much (or as little) attention as she desired. In August, we sent Sika off to her forever home. She was the longest residing ani-mal at HSCC until she hatched her escape plan. September brought us a quirky duo with Coco and Angus, a bonded pair of Chihuahuas looking for a kid-free envi-ronment where they could take center

stage. They found that home and are hap-pily bouncing around as Thing 1 and Thing 2. October’s pal is Clara, a 4 year old cutie with a little bit of nervousness and a lot of love. Her forever home hasn’t been finalized yet, but we’re only halfway through the month! If you want to keep tabs on these Pronature Pals, follow along at www.pfwvt.com/pronature-pals.html . If you’re thinking about adding an animal to your family, consider all of your options. You may find the perfect companion in that elderly cat or dog, that overlooked black pet in the corner or a quirky pair that needs to find a home together. Each and every animal waiting for his day is filled with unconditional love, he just needs someone to accept it. Speaking of love, we are grateful every day for the hard work and perseverance of the staff at HSCC. Their commitment to the animals in their care is astounding.

Without places like HSCC and the charitable giving of Pronature Holistic many of these ‘hard to adopt’ Pronature Pals would still be waiting, patiently, to let go of the past and live each day joyously.

“We are extremely grateful for all of the support from Pet Food Warehouse and

Pronature Holistic. What a successful part-nership it has been so far! Our Pronature

Pal has been adopted every month since the beginning! We cannot thank them enough.”


Follow Clara On-Line.

Mack-Happy to have found his forever home.

4 4 Legs & a Tail Winter 2015

As the holidays approach, many animal welfare organizations are urging pet owners to take precautions to prevent unnecessary illness during this busy sea-son. Consider the following concerns: Avoid tinsel and plastic or aluminum icicle decorations. These can be eaten and lead to intestinal obstruction, dehydra-tion, vomiting, and possibly the need for surgery.

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Two Great New Year’s Resolutions That WillMake You Jump For Joy!

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HOLIDAYS AND PET SAFETYPat Jauch - Caledonia Animal Rescue, Inc.

Keep season-specific plant products away from your pets. Kidney failure has been know to result when cats eat lilies. Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting many result from the ingestion of holly, while mistletoe leads to heart and gastrointesti-nal difficulties. Be vigilant when storing chemicals, medications and cleaning products. Antifreeze can be deadly. Pills, whether for pets or people, should be secured out of reach. Hearing aids are popular with pets, so be sure to keep them in their prop-er place and store batteries where pets cannot access them, since they are highly corrosive and can cause serious internal distress. Candles should be kept safely out of reach and extinguished when you are not in the room. This can prevent burns to your pet or setting fire in your home. Trees present a variety of hazards. The water keeping the tree fresh can attract your pets, but left standing it can breed bacteria which can cause stomach upset, nausea or diarrhea, either from

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The final Central VT Humane Society event of the year, HOLIDAY WITH THE ANIMALS, will be held on Saturday, December 19 from 10am - 2pm. You can help spread good

will to shelter animals and fill their stockings. The shelter animals are dreaming of canned pet food, enrichment toys, pet safe ice melt, financial support – and, of course, being

adopted. For the full gift in kind wish list, visit www.cvhumane.com. HOLIDAY WITH THE ANIMALS is a fun, family-friendly time with food and festivities. Please bring donations and financial contributions to help shelter animals so they can enjoy the holidays, too.

There will be a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, too!

Central VT Humane Society

being stale or because fertilizers invade the water. Ornaments, particularly those made of glass, can shatter, causing mouth and/or internal injury. The wires used to hang ornaments also do damage to inter-nal organs if ingested. Be sure to secure any indoor trees to prevent them from falling, particularly if you have a cat that is a climber! Maintain your pet’s normal diet throughout the holiday season. Appetiz-ers with exotic ingredients (and onions, grapes), desserts (particularly choco-late), and fatty or spicy meats should be

avoided, substituting normal pet treats instead. Chewing gum containing Xylitol is also a no-no for pets, so be sure that it is disposed of properly. Alcoholic bever-ages should always be kept from your pets since they can cause respiratory failure, weakness and even coma that can become fatal. Your pet will enjoy the holidays far more while feeling well, and you will avoid unnecessary vet visits or emer-gency medical bills. Enjoy your holidays together and remember to allow plenty of time for exercise!

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As the wind blows, you slosh thru the wet snow and it feels like the cold is getting into your very bones. Yes, its winter in Vermont! As a kid your mother may have warned you to wear a hat and scarf so you don’t “catch a cold”. In modern times we think

we know better, that germs cause illness, not the weather, right? But Chinese medi-cine put large stock in the effect of envi-ronment on our bodies. They mapped out daily and seasonal shifts that occur biologically and used those rhythms to identify areas of imbalance and treat dis-ease. They also described how weather could be the trigger that brings forth an illness in a patient. The type of weather involved gave clues to the nature of the weakness, which helped treat the disease and allowed strengthening to avoid future problems. While outdoor exposure could have the most impact, humidity, temper-ature, and atmospheric changes affect us and our pets whether inside or out. Cats with urinary issues are a per-fect example of this phenomenon. Veterinarians are fully aware that as the daylight gets shorter in the Fall and Winter, we see more cats with bladder infections and male cats that “block” and can’t urinate at all. But why would this be? We know that too little water intake, bladder stones, infections and stress are associated with bladder problems, but these have no seasonal links. Some out-door cats could suffer more stress cooped up in the winter, but this issue affects cats that never go outside just as often as those that do. There simply is no Western expla-nation, but alternative approaches that address seasonal impacts on the body can provide a different perspective and more treatment options for what can be a very frustrating, reoccurring issue for cats and their owners. Why are urinary issues so common, and so difficult to treat in cats? Western medicine can identify and treat bladder stones or infections, but stops there. The root issue, often diet related, creates the opportunity for excess bacteria or stones. Throw in a stress, especially in the win-ter and viola, you have inflammation and urinary symptoms and are at the vet’s office. With all the pharmaceuticals and prescription diets used for these cats, Western medicine ignores the root issues, and therefore sees a tendency for repeat-

Alternatively Speaking:Managing Winter Urinary Issues In Cats

Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA

ed urinary flare-ups. The discomfort implies a urinary infection, yet antibiot-ics are not effective long-term. Providing a meat-rich, moist diet and addressing any stress is where the focus needs to be. Emma’s case is a good example of how important hydration is for uri-nary issues. A few winters ago she began going in and out of her litter box more than usual, passing little urine despite repeated attempts. A urine test showed blood, bacteria and despite eating a wet diet she had an extremely high urine con-centration. Normally the kidneys let any extra water leave the body via the urine. Without enough ‘extra’ water, the urine is more concentrated, and that is a problem since salts that stay dissolved in watery urine will turn into solid crystals in con-centrated urine. These can cause irrita-tion, allow bacteria to thrive, and bladder stones may form. What a cat eats can also promote crystals in concentrated urine. Emma did not like to drink water, and with the season change her bladder flared up. She was started on antibiotics along with two herbal formulas. We also began to try to get her to drink more with a kitty water fountain. After a few days she was feeling back to normal. Her fol-low up urinalysis showed no more blood, but still a good amount of bacteria, white blood cells, crystals and her urine was only a little less concentrated. Because she was back to her happy self after fin-ishing antibiotics, we tried to stop the herbs. Within a day, all her symptoms were back. We resumed her herbs with a cranberry support and no antibiotic and she was fine within a day. Two weeks later we tried to stop again with the same results. By February her urine test showed no change, so we added a Chinese herb that addresses crystal formation. This did resolve all the crystals and white blood cells in her urine even with the concen-trated level. With more water in her food, her urine was a normal dilution and by April she was off all the herbs and supple-ments. She has had water added to her wet food ever since, without any return of issues. Why did we not simply continue antibiotics for Emma, after her initial prescription, even though she had ongo-ing bacteria elevations in her urine? The main reason was that it was not needed. The bacteria were not causing her prob-


lem, their presence was simply evidence that her bladder was not healthy. From a Chinese perspective, antibiotics used repeatedly as a sole therapy can per-petuate the root cause of bladder prob-lems. Herbal formulas address these root issues, and are very effective treatments for bladder disease. With Emma, the herbs made her com-fortable and we had the time to adjust her diet for long term success. But some-times the situation is more immediately urgent. This is most often true when a male cat has a bladder problem. Boy cats have a narrower passageway for urine compared to girls, which can spasm shut from pain or clog with crystals and infec-tion matter. Being unable to urinate is a medical emergency and can be fatal within a day or two. Because of this, male cats have to be monitored more closely for proper urine habits. Their treatment is the same as for girls if caught early, but once they can’t urinate, then resolving the immediate crisis is the focus. Often this involves placing a urinary catheter under anesthesia to allow urine flow until inflammation and infection can be resolved. However, if the problem is just a spasm and not a physical plug of debris, sometimes they can be treated medically. This was the case for Wes, a kitty very sensitive to stress. He was eating a dry diet, and several years ago in the Fall he began staying in the litter box longer than usual. His owner noticed that he was pass-ing very little urine, and then would bolt out of the box and lick himself. We exam-ined him and found his bladder was very full despite all his attempts to go to the bathroom. We treated him with acupunc-ture and a relaxing aromatherapy, and within minutes we were able to empty his bladder with some gentle pressure. He was hospitalized and treated with herbs, homeopathics, antibiotics and acupunc-ture and showed no signs of needing to urinate frequently. He went home on the same and was slowly changed over to a canned food diet. He blocked again once in October off his herbs, but responded again to the same treatment. Wes’ owner is diligent in monitoring is urinary hab-its and in times of stress gives him herbs, homeopathics, and increases water in his diet. He made a full recovery and other than one mild flare up that was managed at home, he has been free of any bladder issues. He is currently not on any therapy other than his moist diet. For both Wes and Emma, their suc-cess was due to close monitoring. Cats do not show symptoms as clearly as dogs when they do not feel well. Small changes in their normal routines are important signs of trouble. Certainly if they are visit-ing their litter box more often, or urinat-ing in odd places, see your veterinarian immediately. A complete physical and

history will check for any cause of stress that may have triggered the issue. A urine test can evaluate for crystals, concentra-tion, white blood cells and blood. Xrays can check for bladder stones. Antibiotics may be part of the therapy, but in our experience they are not always needed and certainly most cats do best if the other root issues are addressed. A natu-ral wet diet is a great management tool for urinary issues, but not fast enough to deal with a cat in the middle of a crisis. Acupuncture, herbs and homeopathy address inflammatory issues quickly, soothing discomfort and sometimes can ‘unblock’ cats without surgery. Since we would all prefer to keep our feline friends from suffering from blad-der issues in the first place, prevention is the best approach. Cats on all dry food typ-ically have urines so concentrated they are classified as borderline dehydrated, mainly because the water they drink goes to the digestive tract to hydrate the food instead of their tissues. So for a species prone to bladder and kidney issues, pro-viding a fluid rich diet is a great place to start with prevention. Next is to identify sources of emotional stress. These may seem small, such as schedule changes, vacations, new pets or guests, and even outdoor cats that may indirectly stress an indoor cat. Changing foods quickly, espe-cially from wet to dry, can cause a bladder issue in a matter of days in a cat already

primed for that issue. Be aware of these possible pitfalls especially in the winter months and talk to your veterinarian about ways to help keep your cat feeling safe and secure so his or her bladder does not get inflamed as a result of stress. A lit-tle prevention and vigilance for how your kitty is acting can go a long way to keep this winter filled with happy days purring by the fire, not in the hospital.

Dr. Anne Carroll is owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she practices both conventional medicine and sur-

gery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese

acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Her associate Dr. Betty Jo Black brings classical homeopathy to the prac-tice. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at

www.chelseaanimalhospital.com


The Secret Lives Of Dogs:Emotional Sensor Helps Owners Understand

Their Pups’ FeelingsMichael Walsh - Yahoo News

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A dog’s tail wagging could be worth a thousand words, and with the help of a new gadget, we’re a little closer to translating its message. Believing a dog’s tail is a window to the canine soul, founders of New York-based tech company DogStar Life, cre-ated a smart device to help owners decode the messages transmitted when pups wag their tails to better understand the emo-tional lives of their furry friends. TailTalk is a lightweight sensor that sits on a dog’s tail and documents the peaks and valleys of the pup’s feelings throughout the day, according to the cre-ators. “It basically combines an accelerome-ter and a gyroscope, much like the Fitbit, but it’s picking up on the way the tail is moving,” DogStar Life COO and co-found-er Mike Karp said, in an interview with Yahoo News. “The idea is to capitalize on all the research that’s been done in the last two to three years on what tail movement

means, and translate that into emotion.”DogStar Life launched an Indiegogo cam-paign recently to raise $100,000 to further develop the technology and prepare the hardware for production.

TailTalk will connect to the company’s DogStar app to update owners on their pets feelings

TailTalk transmits the emotional data to a companion app for iOS and Android via Bluetooth. Ideally, the information will enable owners to emphasize the


environments, people, toys and so forth that bring their pets the most happiness, while avoiding stress inducers. Left wagging, Karp said, usually indicates negative feelings like anger or aggression, while right wagging typically indicates positive feelings like happiness or excitement. But their tails convey even more subtle cues to other dogs. Yannis Tsampalis, CEO and co-found-er of DogStar Life, told Yahoo News that the product should not make anyone feel guilty; rather, it should empower an owner to improve his or her pet’s quality of life. “If you know that your dog is really unhappy during the day, it’s probably in

the best interest of both of you to have a dog walker or dog sitter come over,” he suggested. “We feel that pet parents are wonderful, but if they had more data, they can probably make better decisions and create a stronger bond between them and their dog.” Tsampalis, who previously worked in smart accessories for Verizon Wireless, and Karp, who worked in data for sev-eral organizations, decided to join forces shortly after meeting in September 2014 while pursuing MBAs at Cornell Tech in New York. They started DogStar Life by combin-ing Tsampalis’ passion for the rapidly growing field of wearable technology and Karp’s love of dogs. “It was extremely exciting for both of us,” Tsampalis said. “Mike had grown up with dogs in his life. ... I consider wear-

ables to be the new wave of computing — there’s a tremendous amount of opportu-nity and a lot of untapped territory.” Early on in the project, Tsampalis and Karp spent a lot of time talking to dog owners and veterinarians to under-stand what was most important to them, because they did not want to be swayed by their own biases. “And one of the things that always came up was the health and happiness of their dogs,” Tsampalis said. The key to understanding a dog’s happiness, they said, is its tail. Pamela Perry, a veterinary behavior resident at Cornell University, said tail wagging does not automatically indicate happiness. It signals behavioral nuances that dogs understand but humans do not always recognize. “Fortunately, there are ways to moni-tor and record dogs’ body language, and ongoing research offers a more detailed understanding of how our pets express themselves,” she said in a press release. Karp explained that most of the research done so far involves still pho-tography, but he hopes the release of the product will enable further research, which will be reinvested in the hard-ware. The team at DogStar plans to pre-pare TailTalk for delivery in mid-2016 for Indiegogo backers.

TailTalk is a small smart device that is placed on a dog’s tail.


History Of The Vermont Farm Show The Vermont Farm Show was formed by the old Vermont Dairymen’s Association and Maple Sugar Makers’ Association meeting. In 1930, Memorial Auditorium in Burlington was a few years old, and the Dairymen’s and Maple Sugar Makers’ winter meetings were held there. Orlando Martin was Secretary of the Dairymen’s Association. He published a program containing a few advertise-ments and sold exhibit space to a half dozen dairy and farm equipment peo-ple in the basement of the Auditorium. Income from advertising and exhibit space covered program speaker expens-es, printing expenses of the booklet and shared in program expenses for the Wives and Daughters of Vermont Dairymen. In late 1930, Orlando Martin asked Harold Dwinell, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets, to exhibit in the basement of the Auditorium. Commissioner of Agriculture, Edward H. Jones, considered it an opportunity for the new Division of Markets. 1930 sugar makers were just begin-

ning to use glass for packing syrup; potato growers experimented packing potatoes in 15 pound bags;and poultry farmers were beginning to use egg cartons. Mr. Dwinell displayed special glass syrup bot-tles; potatoes in special burlap peck bags; eggs in 3x4 and 2x6 cartons colored and marked; and Macintosh apples in baskets of peck size. . Mr. Dwinell discussed a products com-petition with Commissioner Jones and prominent Vermont agriculturists. The consensus: “Let’s go!” Soliciting active farm organizations soon had $100 from Farm Bureau, Grange, Horticulture, Society, Potato Growers Association, the Maple Sugar Makers’, Dairymen’s Associations, and a few indi-viduals. The Vermont Farm Products Contest was launched in 1932, three years before the first Vermont Farm Show. About 50 entries were displayed outside the ropes of the fighting ring in the Burlington Memorial Auditorium basement. Extension Service, Experiment Station and Department of Agriculture person-nel were judges. Family members of exhibitors, rela-tives and friends, came to see how their entries made out. Meetings of the dairy-man and sugar makers were the largest ever. Potato growers, then Poultry and apple growers asked “Why can’t we have a program?” Discussions led to the belief that there should be a new overall orga-nization to operate the whole affair, all Vermont farm enterprise organizations could participate. UVM Agricultural College Dean, Joseph Carrigan and Commissioner Jones pulled the agricultural enterprise organizations in Vermont into a council to hold a large mid-winter show, Ed Jones was the moving spirit in bringing it about. Mr. Carrigan, Commissioner Jones and Harold Dwinell can rightfully be called the founders of the Vermont Farm Show. Their efforts led to the formation of the Vermont Union Agricultural Council, organized to unify agricultural organiza-tions in conducting a winter agricultural meeting, in which member organiza-tions could participate. Its chief objective was the Farm Products Show and a com-mercial and educational exhibit of farm and home equipment and supplies. The first Union Agricultural Program was held in Burlington January 1935. Council members were the Vermont Dairymen’s Association, Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association, Vermont Poultry and Egg Producers’ Association,

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Keewaydin Farm in Stowe was named the 2015 Vermont Dairy Farm of the Year. Family mem-bers, Les, Claire, Suzi and Dan Pike , operate a 141-head registered Jersey Farm which has been in the family since 1921. (photo credit: Peggy Manahan/UVM Extension) Since 1961 this coveted award has been presented annually to an outstanding dairy farm by University of Ver-

mont (UVM) Extension and the Vermont Dairy Industry Association in cooperation with the New England Green Pastures Program. Nominated farms, all exemplary dairy operations, are evalu-ated on herd, pasture and crop management; production records; pasture quality; conservation

practices and contributions to the dairy industry and the local community.

The Vermont Farm Show is again proud to partner with the Vermont Foodbank- so even though parking and admission to the Farm Show is

free, we are asking all those attending to donate a canned or boxed good to the greeters as you walk in the front

door of the Miller Building.The response was wonderful last year,

and we hope to again fill theshelves at the Foodbank.

Vermont Certified Seed Potato Growers’ Association and Vermont Horticultural Society. Executive delegates were the President and Secretary of each organi-zation, the Commissioner of Agriculture and the Director of the Extension Service, with Director of the Bureau of Markets as general manager. The 1935 meetings were a success, member organizations participated in the program and with an educational exhibit. All exhibit space was used by commercial concerns. In 1938, The Vermont Agricultural Extension Service noted that the Vermont Farm Products Show was having a pronounced effect throughout the state in stimulating the production of quality hay. During 1937, hay instruction had been added to the agricultural curricu-lum statewide. 65 samples of hay were judged at the show in 4 classes, Timothy, Timothy-Clover, Alfalfa and mixed hay. In conjunction with the show, the 5th Annual Rural Electrification Institute was held nearby, the theme, “Electric Power as a Farm Business Proposition.” The Union Agricultural Meetings and Farm Products Show grew through 1946, except in 1943 and 1944, when war-time restrictions prevented the event from being held. Gas rationing started in October, 1942, severely limiting travel. The agricultural fairs were back in 1945. Sugar was rationed until June of 1947, spurring maple production for home use. By 1947, there were 11,206 dairy farms in Vermont. Memorial Auditorium in Burlington had been leased to the Veterans Administration. So, the Union Agricultural Meetings and Farm Products Contest were moved to Barre Municipal Auditorium, and held there until 2012. Even before Thunder Road, the Barre “Aud” was exciting as the home of the state basketball championships and The Vermont Farm Show. Downtown mer-chants planned sales, local churches held special dinners and suppers, and provid-ed meeting spaces. Parking was at a pre-mium in Barre during the snowy 1950›s. In 1957, the Vermont Farm Show, Inc. was officially incorporated. Official bylaws were revised and adopted May 15, 1979. Barre’s central location near the newly created interstate highway brought visitors from south and north to the midwinter show. In Barre, the show and meetings were held in February, but since the early 80’s the show has been on the last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of January. The 75th Farm Show had over 10,000 visitors per day. The Political Pull, a milking con-test, pitted state legislators against each other. In 2011, the Political Pull became the Capital Cook-Off and moved from the milking parlor to the kitchen. Three teams from the Vermont House and Senate agriculture committees and VAAFM, compete in an “Iron Chef”-style challenge and create a dish from a bag of

Vermont-based ingredients. This coin-cided with Consumer Night. Vendors with Vermont made products, offered free sam-ples and made sales to hundreds of visi-tors. Due to space and parking constraints, the Show moved to the Champlain Valley Exposition grounds in Essex Junction, in

2012. Over 150 exhibitors participated in 2015, with more requests for space than is available inside. We credit that boom to the growth in Vermont’s diversified agri-cultural sector, which has generated new products from farmers in large and small markets and new markets for those prod-ucts. Don’t miss this year’s Vermont Farm Show January 26-28. For more informa-tion on the web www.vtfarmshow.com


As the winter approaches and the snow falls on the mountains, we look forward to spending time outside with our dogs. Whether you enjoy Alpine or Nordic skiing, injuries - to both us and our best friends are not unusual. One of the most common orthope-dic injuries that is seen in dogs is known as an “ACL” or cranial cruciate ligament tear. The knee is a joint that is formed by 3 bones; the femur (“thigh bone”), the patella (“knee cap”), and the tibia (“shin bone”). The bones are all held together by ligaments. The two major ligaments that join the femur to the tibia are called the cranial cruciate ligament (anterior cru-ciate ligament in people) and the caudal cruciate ligament (posterior cruciate liga-ment in people). The knee joint also has two meniscus (“shock absorber”) called the medial and lateral menisci. The major role of the cranial cruciate ligament is to prevent the knee from hyperextension and internal rotation. The cranial cruciate lig-ament and the medial meniscus are struc-tures in the knee joint most commonly damaged in dogs. Cranial cruciate ligament disease can affect dogs of all sizes, breeds, and age. Rottweiler, Newfoundland, Staffordshire

Terrier, Mastiff, Akita, Saint Bernard, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and Labrador Retriever breeds have a higher incidence. Poor physical body condition and exces-sive body weight are risk factors for cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Simply an ath-letic dog landing “wrong” when running or jumping in the snow or on ice or a col-lision with a person or another dog could result in a traumatic cranial cruciate liga-ment rupture. Consistent physical condi-tioning with regular activity and monitor-ing of food intake to maintain lean body weight are factors within our control that can help prevent some of these injuries. Dogs typically present to the veterinar-ian with either an acute or chronic history of weight bearing to nonweight bearing lameness (limping) of the hind leg. A thor-ough history and physical examination is needed to diagnose an ACL tear. Gait analysis and good palpation is required to localize the area of injury and determine if it is caused by orthopedic or neurologic dis-ease. A cranial cruciate ligament rupture will cause instability (“cranial drawer sign” and “positive tibial compression test”) of the knee joint on palpation. Radiographs (x-rays) of the knee will often reveal joint effusion (“water on the knee”) and cranial or forward displacement of the tibia (“shin bone”), but can also evaluate the degree of arthritis present. Depending on the amount of instabil-ity and physical examination findings, it is possible to differentiate between a partial and a complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Surgical stabilization of the knee joint is the gold standard and the best treat-ment for a complete cranial cruciate liga-ment rupture. Surgery is the only way to permanently control the instability pres-ent in the knee joint as it addresses knee instability and eliminates the pain. The goal of surgery is not to “repair” the cra-nial cruciate ligament itself with a graft unlike in human knee surgery. Due to biological and mechanical influences, the cranial cruciate ligament has no abil-

Ruff Ruff Ruff! …My Knee Hurts!Dr. Garrett Levin, DVM, Diplomate ACVS

ity to heal once tearing begins regard-less of the degree of severity. There are a number of surgical techniques available today. The most common techniques include Extracapsular, Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (“TPLO”), and Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (“TTA”). In addi-tion, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery (often performed by board certi-fied veterinary surgeons) and evaluation of the knee joint (as performed in people) will allow for a faster recovery and use of the leg postoperative. A description of the common surgical techniques can be dis-cussed with your primary veterinarian in order to make a decision which is best for your dogs size, activity level, age, skeletal conformation, and degree of knee insta-bility. A conservative treatment approach consisting of exercise restriction, medi-cation to control pain and inflamma-tion, and physical rehabilitation can be considered with a partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture. However, it is common to see a partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture progress over time and eventually become a complete cranial cruciate liga-ment rupture (using the analogy of the partially torn shoelace that eventually completely tears). Knowing that a partial cruciate ligament rupture will most likely progress, surgical stabilization is often rec-ommended sooner than later in order to prevent ongoing muscle atrophy, menis-cal damage and arthritis that can develop as a result of chronic lameness. Premature uncontrolled or excessive activities risk complete or partial failure of any surgical repair and healing pro-cess. Proper postoperative care will be explained to you in detail by your dog’s surgeon before and after surgery. As with people, physical rehabilitation can speed your dog’s recovery and improve final out-come. Rehabilitation should start imme-diately and usually includes passive range of motion, balance exercises, laser treat-ment, and controlled leash walks. Long term prognosis for animals for surgical repair of a cranial cruciate ligament rup-ture is excellent. Enjoy the winter season and be safe when you hit the mountains and back-country with your four legged compan-ion.

Dr. Garrett Levin is a board certified surgeon at Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists (BEVS) in Williston, Vermont. Dr. Levin is trained in the Tibial

Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgical procedure for treating cranial

cruciate ligament rupture. He performs a range of minimally invasive surgeries

including arthroscopy. Please visitwww.bevsvt.com/blog for videos

and additional blog topics.


The Vermont Farm Bureau is cel-ebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, serving and advancing Vermont agricul-ture. Unlike the 50 Cent song, they have taken their 100 birthdays, and every day in between very seriously. It was established in 1915 as a grass-roots organization for its individual mem-bers. A group of County Farm Bureaus had formed in Vermont previously, and bring-ing them together as one group helped to solidify its emergence. The Vermont Farm Bureau is the state’s largest non-profit trade association of agricultural producers. More than 4,000 member families in all fourteen counties have joined together to solve problems common to the agri-cultural community. While members join at the county level, a membership gives you access to all the benefits of the County Farm Bureau, the Vermont Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation; the world’s largest agricultur-al advocacy organization with over 6 mil-lion family members nationwide. Their 100 years of experience on issues relating to agriculture here in Vermont has made them widely con-sidered the “Voice of Agriculture” in the Green Mountain state. This respect for the grassroots policy development process, and emphasis on every member’s input, has propelled the Vermont Farm Bureau into playing a critical role in shaping public policy locally and at the state and national levels. You don’t have to be a farmer or forest-er to join Farm Bureau. If you want to help save family farms and preserve Vermont’s rural character, the Farm Bureau is one way to help. They encourage all friends of farmers, foresters, horticulturalists, private property owners and agribusiness to support the organization that speaks

“It’s your birthday -We gon’ party like it’s yo birthday

We gon’ sip Bacardi like it’s your birthday”lyrics by 50 cent

for agriculture in Vermont. But most impor -tantly, if you are interested in helping preserve and strengthen an integral part of Vermont’s working landscape, Farm Bureau is the place for you. Their mission is to serve and advance Vermont agriculture. The Bureau works around the clock to spread awareness of Vermont’s food production, consumption and the entire chain of control of what we feed our fami-lies and resident of Vermont, including Waste Management. They offer a scholarship to a Vermont Student at the University of Vermont each year. as well as produce an Agricultural magazine each quarter for its members, or by subscription. Please join 4 Legs and a Tail in con-gratulating The Vermont Farm Bureau for 100 great years (that is 700 in dog years), of hard work.

Vermont Farm Bureau Turns 100



A Canine Approach

to Literacy

Steve Reiman

Numerous members of Therapy Dogs of Vermont have been involved with the R.E.A.D. program over many years bringing their certified therapy dogs to schools and libraries to improve the lit-eracy skills of children. The dogs snuggle up to the kids and listen carefully while never correcting them as they read. They call no specific attention to themselves but quietly express love and consolation. It has been obvious that many young-sters have loved reading to the dogs while their reading skills have been greatly improved. When children meet R.E.A.D. dogs, it is sometimes their first encounter with unconditional acceptance. One librarian wrote “For the past ten years your READ program has greatly enriched the reading experience of hun-dreds of children at our Library. Families

Pepper enjoying a good book.101 Dalmations?

have told us what a difference this pro-gram has made, encouraging children to practice their reading in a quiet, soothing environment. The dogs and their han-dlers bring such compassion and warmth to their interactions with kids. Our com-munity is fortunate to be part of this amazing program.” The TDV Members that started the early reading programs are Karen Odato who started the reading program in the Randolph area. Brenda Altman started the reading program in the Manchester area and Cathy Messina who started the reading program in the Williston area.Some of the many dogs in this program

include Frosty and Friends, Sophie, Micro the Maltutor, Gypsy Rose, Tiger Lily, and Pepper. What a joy it is to know that TDV dogs are helping students in our commu-nities while also unleashing smiles.

Steve Reiman is the Founder of Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Therapy Dogs of

Vermont (TDV) is a non-profit organiza-tion of highly-trained dogs and their

volunteer handlers. Our handler/canine teams work on the emotional health of

hospital patients, students in educational settings, residents of nursing/retirement

homes, and correctional facilities. www.TherapyDogs.org


Continued NEXT PAGE

What is Your Pet IQ

1. What is the most popular pedigreed cat breed?PersianRussian blue

SiameseMaine coon

2. Which of these pets communicate by chirping?Hermit crabCorn snake

GoldfishRabbit

3. If an animal’s coat is “Piebald” or “Pied” what does that mean?SpottedTabby

All whiteSolid color

4. Which of these birds are a popular parrot?CanaryFinch

ParakeetAll of the above

5. What percentage of U.S. households has a pet?1634

6287

6. What are Sea Monkeys?Brine shrimpFish lice

Tongue wormsSpider crabs


7. Which of these dog breeds is considered “hypoallergenic?”HavanesePortuguese Water Dog

Answers On Page 25

PoodleAll of the above

8. Which of these pets has become an invasive species in the Unites States?European rabbitBurmese python

CockatielSugar glider

9. Where do golden hamsters live in the wild?Central AmericaWilder, VT

African savannaMiddle East

10. What is another name for a Siamese fighting fish?GoldfishTetra

BettaMolly

11. Which of these senses is the most acute for a dog?SightHearing

SmellTaste

12. What historical figure was the first to introduce Japanese Akitas to the U.S.?Ben FranklinMarilyn Monroe

Helen KellerBernie Sanders

13. When does a cat purr?When it’s scaredContent

In painAll of the above

14. What is unique about the many cats that live at writer Ernest Hemingway’s Key West home?

They are deafThey have no tail

They go swimmingThey have extra toes

15. Calico cats are almost always __________.MaleFemale

16. It’s okay to give your pet acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol)?TrueFalse

GMAD’s president Sharon MacNaircomforts baby goat Paddock Partners

Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill

Bran Mash, Should We Feed it?Dear Heidi, With the colder weather and all of the changes it creates this time of year, I wonder how to take the best care of my horse. My friend says she feeds “bran mash” to her horse. Is that a good thing? What does it do? What exactly is it? SusanneHello Susanne! Thank you for your question. It is a good one, especially at this time of year. We all want to do what is best for our horses and to keep them the safe year round. It is true that the extreme baro-metric changes can prove challenging for horses, and who wouldn’t want to feed them something yummy and possibly warm for these cold damp nights. A bran mash is typically a mixture of bran (you can easily get it from your feed dealer), and the grain that you typically feed your horse. This is usually done at a 4:1 ratio. Reduce the grain portion that your horse would get typically to one quarter, and add 4 equal parts of bran. Poor hot water into the mixture and let it steep for 15-30 minutes. REMEMBER, NEVER feed dry bran, it swells in the system and can cause serious issues. Be sure that you add enough water so that after steeping, you can form a wet ball of bran in your hand, if it falls apart you may need to add more water. The idea has always been that the steeping process releases some enzymes that may produce a natural laxative. The reduction of grain is to reduce the pos-sibility of tying up (as this was typically done on the night before the day of rest), and reducing concentrates in a time of stress (a barometric change constitutes stress), reduces the chance of laminitis and colic. Often times it is really nice to add fresh peelings from carrots or apples, some people like to add molasses and we can go on from there. Be careful though, as some horses don’t do well with added

forms of sugar like molasses, and apples can cause colic. I have seen people add peppermints, I find that disturbing as I would never give my kids or myself sugar when I am trying to reduce stress or colic. I used to feed my whole 30 horse barn bran mash when we were closed on Monday to reduce the concentrate in the horses system for the day off. It was really nice to hear them in the barn enjoying this meal, and slurping away. All of that being said, and the main reason I don’t feed bran mash any-more, is the difficulty that we add by changing the horses’ feed on a sudden basis. Remember, the horse uses bac-terial digestion. The bacteria are not equipped to digest bran on a once a week basis. I found that when I was feeding a weekly bran mash I had some horses who were classified as “hard keepers.” When I stopped feeding bran mash, my hard keepers became normalized, and I didn’t have that problem anymore. Another minor but important fact is that bran has a poor Ca:P (Calcium to Phosphorous ratio), something to consider when feed-ing. As nice as the bran mash concept is, think long and hard about whether the nice feeling for you outweighs the change of diet for your horse. Sure, on cold and windy nights I would love to go through the barn and feed them something warm, just like I would love to blanket my horse when I need a sweater, but we are here to provide the best and SAFEST care for our horses. With the studies that are out these days it looks to me like perhaps a bran mash doesn’t do what we hope it does. Perhaps if we spend time and groom our horses a little extra, we provide the comfort that we are hoping to give. By grooming your horse you are separat-ing the hairs in the coat so they can pro-vide better warmth, added comfort, and proven health benefits, while at the same time getting attention and love from the owner. Humans comfort through their tummy, a horse is comforted by having a schedule they can count on, and receiv-ing reliable and healthy feed.

I hope this helps!

Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill is the owner of First Choice Riding Academy in Enfield,

NH. She is a graduate of Westmoreland Davis International Equestrian Institute, as well as UNH. Although Heidi’s passion

is teaching and training she is also an L-Graduate with distinction. Heidi

incorporates cavaletti and jumping inevery horse/rider’s training plans.

www.firstchoiceridingacademy.comWinter 201518 4 Legs & a Tail


Cold Blooded Winter Emergency Kits

Samantha Bubar - Barre, VT

space for each reptile. In each kit, I keep paper towels and soft fabric, both help with insulation and keeping the reptile comfortable.40 hour heat packs: I ordered these online from a website that sells feeder insects and shipping sup-plies for reptiles. In a pinch you could use hand warmers, though they won’t last as long, they will keep the enclosure warm for a period of time. It is also helpful to have a thermometer to correctly monitor the temperatures. Make sure that when adding a heat pack, to wrap it in some-thing before putting it in the enclosure with your reptile to prevent burns from direct contact. Note: If you’re going to be around while the power is out, you can place the wrapped heat pack in the reptiles normal enclo-sure, with a towel over the top of their tank to ensure that the heat stays contained. This may keep the reptile more comfort-able. Temporary food and bottled water: I have found the canned or freeze dried feeder insects work best in an emergen-cy kit. While these aren’t the best option nutritionally for your reptile on a daily basis, they will work in a pinch. For water and food containers, I use appropriately sized plastic lids. Depending on the type of reptile, you may have to add other supplies to your kit as necessary. I have an extra misting bottle and extra heat bulbs in my kit, as well as some extra calcium and favorite treats.

Samantha Bubar of Barre, Vermont lives at home with two leopard geckos, three

bearded dragons and a rat.With a degree in English and a passion

for animals, she spends most of herfree time writing, reading and

caring for animals. She writes a weekly blog, Training Dragons,

www.trainingdragons.wordpress.com

As the colder months approach, we like to plan ahead for the brisk tem-peratures. As Vermonters, we pull out our hats and mittens from the dreaded “winter storage” so many of us have. We drag win-ter jackets from the back of our closets and pull out the flannel lined pants we all have tucked away. We pull out the tiny jackets our dogs hate. We cover our beds with extra blankets. We have our furry pets and ourselves prepared for the upcoming change in weather, but what about our cold blooded companions? My first winter with a reptile, one leopard gecko, went fairly well. Sure, she stayed on the warm side of her enclosure and was less active- but who could blame her! After all, the frequent drops below zero had me doing the same thing in my own apartment! We both made it through most of the winter incident free, with the exception of one power outage that turned into an impromptu “bring your gecko to work days.” Later that night after some research and planning, I decided to put together an emergency kit. I now have two leopard geckos and a bearded dragon, and each has their own kit. I keep the kits near each enclosure, so that in case of emergency, they can be ready in seconds. These emergency kits could be used in case of prolonged power outages or in case of fire or flooding. However, we do experience some minor power outages that last only a half an hour to an hour. In those cases, I find it is easier to leave the reptile in their enclo-sure and monitor the temperature, some-times covering the enclosure with a towel to keep the heat from escaping. If the outage is only minor and you’re going to be at home to monitor tempera-tures, it may be less stressful to try and contain the heat, rather than move your reptile. But, if the power were to go out for more than a day or you needed to relocate quickly because of fire or flash flooding, it is certainly a relief to have a plan in place so you aren’t in a panic while try-ing to get yourself and your pets to safety. While not a professional, I hope that my experiences and ideas can help other reptile hobbyists. Here are a few sugges-tions for things that may be helpful in put-ting together an emergency kit for your reptilian companions!A temporary enclosure for each rep-tile: I use disposable Styrofoam coolers. They help insulate and provide a sturdy

If You Love Something Set It FreeMark Carlson

Some readers may remember the old 1970s phrase ‘If you love something set it free; if it comes back it’s yours, if not it was never yours to begin with.’ Sometimes, without any forethought or planning on our part, things have a way of working out for the better. And all it takes is to do the right thing. This story is about a neighbor of mine, Crystal Rienick, a high school literature teacher who works in Valley Center. Crystal and her husband Jameson have a perky, active 8-year old Miniature Pinscher named Pippin. Crystal, a lovely, ebullient and free-spirited woman who loves all animals considered getting a sec-ond dog as a companion for Pippin. About two weeks before Christmas, she was driving home from work, pass-ing through Escondido, when she saw a Chihuahua running loose on the street. Being a dog lover, she acted immediately to rescue the frightened dog. “So, of course,’ she said, “I flipped a U-turn and spent fifteen minutes trying to coax him over to grab him. He had no tags, and when I took him to our vet, they found no chip. I took him home and he immedi-ately began to sniff and pee on everything I owned. I could overlook this, however, due to the amazing fact that he and Pippin hit it off instantly.” Crystal brought the Chihuahua over to meet us, that is, Jane, myself, and our Yellow Labradors Musket and Saffron. She said in a grave voice, “We have a prob-lem.” She put the dog in my hands. “Okay,” I replied, knowing of Crystal’s sense of humor, “but what’s this ‘we’ stuff?” She explained about finding the dog on the street and intended to try and find its owner, but it was obvious she was already smitten with the little canine. For the next few days, while on Christmas break she fell under the new dog’s charm. “I posted ‘Found Chihuahua’ signs the next morning in the area where I’d found him, but when I heard nothing after two days I decided I to take him to the local Humane Society because if I didn’t take him right away I was going to keep him forever. “I had already fallen in love with him and had named him Pickle.” “I learned I could pay the adoption fee up front and if the owners didn’t claim him, he would be ours; neutered, micro chipped and vaccinated.” Yet fate intervened. “Pickle was with me on the way to the shelter. As I was cross-ing Citrus Avenue my phone rang. ‘Hello?’ It was a little girl who said she saw my signs and believed I had her dog, whose name was Spikey.” The girl described Pickle in perfect detail. When Crystal said the name Spikey he responded and she felt a little chill in

A Little Furry Miracle Comes Home

her heart. “‘Where do you live?’ I asked her. Citrus Avenue, she told me. Almost within sight of the shelter, Crystal turned around and drove to Citrus where she found Spikey’s little owner waiting with open arms. The little dog was ecstatic to see her. “She thanked me and I made my retreat before the tears started.” That might have been the end of it, but Crystal had been bitten hard by little Pickle’s tiny beating heart. “I began my quest for a second dog. Pippin and Pickle got along so well. He was so damned snuggly and affectionate. I wanted that, too. I began obsessing on Petfinder and the local shelter sites until I knew all the dogs by sight. I gravitated to Min Pins and Chihuahua mixes trying to recreate the compatibility with Pippin combined with the snuggliness for me.” Christmas was approaching and she knew time was short. Once she and Jameson were back at work acclimating a new dog to the house would be almost impossible. She wanted to be home to help smooth the way. Three possible dogs were located at that same humane society shelter she had intended to take Pickle. “On Christmas Eve I broke out my lap-top to show my family the pictures.” Crystal, not one to leave any stone unturned, scrolled down the page to see if there had been any postings since she’d last looked a week before. “And what to my wandering eye did appear, than Pickle himself! It was him, I knew it instantly. Same markings, same colors. But now his name was Mr. Moose.” “The shelter was closed on Christmas Day so I had to wait until the 26th.” Unable to sleep, Crystal worried if the lit-tle Chihuahua would still be there when the shelter re-opened. “We packed up Pippin and off we went. The place was packed, and as we waited we told our story to other hopeful pet adopt-

ers. People were stunned and excited for us. Finally we went out to the interaction yard. And there he was. Pickle, without a doubt! He was very underweight, but he knew me right away. The shelter staff told me he had been left there just three days after I had returned him to his ‘family.’” It didn’t take long for the new pooch to feel at home. Crystal told me a few days later, “He has peed 23 times, only once in the house, eaten too much, and has been sleeping wrapped in blankets on my lap for hours.” Crystal did the right thing and the mir-acle came back home to live with her.

When not visiting his in-laws in South Royalton, Mark Carlson spends much of his time in North County, CA with his wife, Jane and his Labrador Retriever, Saffron. He is an award writer and an aviation his-torian, with numerous articles and books

including his latest, Confessions of a Guide Dog. Legally blind, he travels and works with Saffron, and is a member of

several aviation, maritime, and veteran organizations. www.musketmania.com

Originally published in San Diego Pets Magazine


All the stations were filled at the hairdresser’s that day. The door was left open to let in whatever breeze would come, although it was sweltering air. Along with one fresh breath of breeze, a slate gray, teenage cat with a white bib and double paws sauntered in. He padded in confidently to the first chair and circled a bit while the woman perched there cooed compliments. He stayed a few moments then moved on in an unhurried manner to the next woman. “Whose cat?” I asked Leni as he prepared my long red curls for a color touch-up that would take about an hour and a half. “Stray. He’s been here all day coming in and out. He doesn’t stay long,” Leni told me. I watched the cat visit the woman just before me. He concluded with a respectful rise and curl of his tail before making his way to me. I was careful not to give him more than a passing glance. Was it my imagination that he was staying at my chair longer? “I think you’ve got a friend,” Leni mused. “I think you’ll end up taking him home.” “I have a cat. I don’t need another one,” I set my mouth firmly. A half hour into my appointment, the grey teen was still sitting by my chair. I couldn’t help but sneak a peek and saw the green eyes looking at me with a nearly indescribable look of content-ment and adoration. I met his eyes and was rewarded with a flurry of squints, blinks, and chin lifts. “That cat writes love sonnets with his eyes,” I laughed. “You’re weakening,” Leni said nonchalantly. “No. I have a cat already. I don’t want another cat.” The woman in the last chair clucked and wiggled her fingers to my suitor, but he remained at my side. She finally gave up. I tried not to look, but a few times in the next hour I did let my eyes wander. Each time, the young male regaled me with those love sonnets written only with eyes and a little body language. “He is cute,” I conceded as Leni finished blow-drying my hair and pulled away the protective apron. When I stood, the cat stood too, rubbing against my legs and pushing himself off his front paws in a feline wheelie. “Oh! You are a Romeo,” I told him, and reached to pick him up – only for a moment. The instant he was at my shoulder, he plunged his face and front paws into my long newly coiffed curls and began kneading furiously and – yes – drooling a bit. Without a word, I managed to pay Leni, cat still buried blissfully in my hair, and left with a cat in my arms who seemed to have waited all his life just for me. The last sound I heard was Leni’s boisterous laughter and the purring of one who chose me, then graced me with sonnets for the next sixteen years – written only with love-filled green eyes.

Tanya Sousa is a published author of many magazine articles and several children’s picture books. Most recently, her environ-mental novel, The Starling God, made the short-list for the national “Green Earth Book Awards,”

in the Young Adult Fiction category. www.RadiantHen.com www.forestrypress.com

Love at the Hairdresser’sTayna Sousa - Orleans, VT

Dog Toxicant Xylitol Appearing in Peanut ButtersBy M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM - Vermont Veterinary Medical Association

Every dog owner knows the challenge of medicating a dog with pills that taste bad. Most people hide the pill in cheese, deli meat, or peanut butter. What you need to know is that many peanut butter manufacturers have started using xylitol to sweeten their product. Xylitol is toxic to dogs. Xylitol is a sweetener that until now has been used primarily in sugar free gums and candies, baked goods, desserts, tooth-paste, and other oral care products in the United States. It is increasingly found in some over the counter items that are pre-scribed by veterinarians including certain antihistamines, fish oil, melatonin, and Vitamin B12. Beyond its use as a sweetener, xylitol also can be used to preserve moisture and is used in non-food products such as shampoos and lotions. Humans can consume xylitol with no problem but because of differences in metabolism, it can be toxic to dogs. (Xylitol is toxic to cats too; we just don’t see as many toxicities because cats tend to be choosier about what they eat.) The number of xylitol poisonings in dogs is on the rise. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control center reports that since they started tracking calls in 2007, the number of cases has more than doubled to over 3,727. The actual number is likely much higher since some veterinarians have treated enough cases that they no longer need to call the center for guidance. When dogs ingest xylitol, it causes a rapid increase in insulin which can cause a serious drop in blood sugar. This can lead to vomiting, weakness, stagger-ing, and seizures within 30-60 minutes of consuming even small quantities of xylitol. It can also lead to liver failure. If you suspect your pet has ingested a xylitol containing product, call your veterinarian immediately. Do not attempt to remedy the situation at home. Prevention includes keeping pets away from xylitol containing prod-ucts. Known companies that add xylitol to peanut butters include Go Nuts, Hank’s Protein Plus Peanut Butter, Krusch Nutrition, Nuts ‘n More, and P28. Because xylitol can appear in other products and under other names, be on the lookout for any ingredient that includes the letters “ xyl” and keep those products away from your pets.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 340 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate

animal care and quality medicine. Winter 201522 4 Legs & a Tail


Roll Out the Red Carpet for Tom Turkey There’s no hobble and no gobble, but this Tom Turkey is settling into his new home in Vermont just fine. After traveling nearly 2,000 miles, this dis-abled Labrador-mix was welcomed with open arms after his year-long stay at the Humane Society of Western Montana. Tom Turkey, named for his birth-day close to Thanksgiving, suffers from a neurological disorder that affects his ability to walk. When he and his two siblings, Green Bean and Pumpkin Pie, were brought to this ‘big sky’ shelter, the Humane Society of Western Montana, they were just five weeks old. With his chances of adoption slim, Tom’s big break came after he was named a winner in the 2016 HandicappedPets.com calen-dar contest.

With his worldwide notoriety, Tom caught the eye of Tracey Fowler of Mendon, VT. Though she had never met Tom, she fell in love with his warm, brown eyes and was excited to adopt. Ironically, her German Shepherd, Hayden, was also a disabled dog and finalist for the calen-dar. For the friends Tom left behind in Montana, the farewell was bittersweet. “I can’t imagine a better home for him. I’ve learned so much from him; deter-mination, positive attitude and limi-tations; and the things that can help those limitations, like a cart.” explained Lora O’Conner, the shelter’s Executive Director. The generosity of those who only knew Tom from a website was instrumen-tal for his trip the Green Mountain state. “All I can say is, Thank You, from the bot-tom of my heart,” said a grateful Tracey Fowler. “There are no words for what peo-ple have done to make this happen.” According to the shelter’s Director of Development, Emily Adamson, “At the beginning, a lot of people questioned why we keep these dogs alive. But if you look at Tom and you meet Tom - he’s happy. The cart is what helps him get around, he doesn’t know any different and he’s not in pain.” While we are so excited that Tom Turkey will be a 2016 HandicappedPets.com calendar dog, one thing is for sure...he couldn’t have found a better home. Welcome to Vermont!

Hayden, enjoying winter last year in VT.

Tom Turkey, eager to make new friends in Mendon, VT


When Missing Teeth Really Are NOT Missing, Just Hiding

Sandra L Waugh VMD. MS

Teeth that are not visible in the mouth are often presumed to be missing, that is, not present at all. And it is true that not all dogs have 42 teeth from the beginning. It is not true that just because a tooth is not visible in the mouth that the tooth is not there and therefore of no concern. Teeth that have been created but fail to erupt are called impacted teeth and they can cause havoc. Let’s go back to the beginning, when a puppy is born but has no teeth. Special cells are present within the jaw bone that will, at the proper time, create a tooth. The tooth is grown within a sphere of cells which surround that tooth as it is created. Within the sphere of cells is also fluid, which is created by the cells. When the tooth erupts, the crown becomes visible and the sphere of cells that created the tooth is broken, the fluid leaks away, and all traces of this very special tissue is gone forever. If the tooth fails to erupt then this sphere of cells is not broken and can continue to fill with fluid. This sack full of fluid is called a dentigerous cyst. Because it is con-tained within the jaw bone it can put pressure on the bone and teeth and be locally very destructive to the jaw bone and to teeth. Two cases follow. This first is a 6 year old Boxer. The owner noticed a swelling in the front of the left side of the lower jaw. The dog also suffered from excessive gum tissue (gingival hyper-plasia) which covered the teeth making counting the teeth very difficult.

The teeth are hard to see because the gum is overgrown. The missing tooth should be visible at the yellow arrow.

The Xrays will tell the tale.

The cyst had destroyed the bone around four incisors, the canine tooth and the first two premolars, all of which were extracted. All of these teeth were also by the pressure, with loss of the size of the root. To prevent more bone destruc-tion, the sphere of cells that created the cyst were also removed. The cyst had been present for a considerable amount of time before the swelling in the jaw was noticed.

Impacted tooth (red arrow). This is the first premolar in the lower left jaw. The lower first premolar is the most commonly impacted tooth.

Continued NEXT PAGE


The second case is a 4 year old Pug with a swelling in the front of the right side of the lower jaw. The canine teeth are under the green arrows, the incisors are under the red arrows, and the swelling is outlined by yellow arrows. There should be 6 incisors. One seems to be missing but can be seen on the Xray. Again there has been destruc-tion of bone around the three right incisors and down the root of the right canine tooth. But wait, there are two more impacted teeth, the first premolars on both sides of the lower jaw. And the one on the left also has a cyst around it (double red arrow). In this dog the three lower right incisors and the first right and left lower premolars were extracted, as well as the sphere of cells that created each cyst.

Intra-operative photo-graph. The impacted tooth

(yellow arrow) is visible because the bone over the tooth had been completely

destroyed.

It is even possible to have extra copies of teeth that are impacted, although this is much less common. Dogs are supposed to have 42 adult teeth. Even though in some breeds missing teeth are com-mon, any dog with less than 42 teeth with no history of tooth extractions should have Xrays taken of the teeth. Early discovery of impacted teeth can save neighboring teeth and prevent bone destrution.

Dr. Waugh is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

She also holds a Masters Degree from Washington State University of Veterinary Medicine and is owner of Windsor Veterinary & Dental Services.

PET IQ Answers9. Middle East10. Betta11. Smell12. Helen Keller13. All of the above14. They have extra toes15. Female16. False (It can cause severe illness or death)

1. Persian. 2. Hermit crab3. Spotted4. Parakeet5. 626. Brine shrimp7. All of the above8. Burmese python

HOW DID YOU DO?More than 10 correct - Congratulations! On your next Facebook post, include the fact that you are a 4 Legs & a Tail expert.

4-9 correct-Not bad, but you may want to consider reading 4 Legs & a Tail cover to cover.

1-3 correct- Call the 1970's and consider adopting a pet rock.


nate from Kent, England. Their wool is springy and crimped, making it softer and better for making articles such as socks. Their flock is kept safe by a llama named Alaska. Llamas are naturally curious and bond well with a flock of sheep. If they see something amiss near the flock they will go investigate it. If it turns out to be a threat, they will let out a warning call and herd the flock to one area. Once the flock is all there, the llama will make sure they stay safe until the threat has been taken care of. This farm is also home to 3 pigs for clearing woods and pas-tures, chickens for eggs, a border collie for herding and a cat. While the farm has had its share of difficulties, the family, animals, and neighbors are all happy with the outcome. Visit www.grandviewfarmvt.net to learn about their fiber art classes or private retreats.

Lauren Anikis is a Junior at Lebanon High School and lives in Plainfield, NH. She interned this summer as a writer &

photographer at 4 Legs & a Tail.

Take a turn off the beaten path and just keep driving. Soon you’ll come to Grand View Farm. Tucked away far off the dirt roads of rural Vermont, this city born family decided to come and make a country kind of life. Being the first family in 50 years to get the farm functioning fully, the Goodlings experi-enced some difficulties reopening it. The barns were not capa-ble of holding animals, the fields had not been hayed in years, and the gardens, apple trees and fencing had all been neglected. But with a lot of hard work and the support of their neighbors, they managed to get the farm into working condition. One of the biggest helpers with the fields are the sheep. These sheep keep the pastures mown and are an excellent source of wool. Most of the herd are Gotland sheep. These sheep come from Gotland Island in Sweden. However, importing sheep is illegal, so they must import semen and breed the goats through artificial insemination. The ewes range from 81%-93.75% Gotland Sheep and the two rams are 95.3% and 94.5%. Their wool is naturally curly and coarse, and used mostly for scarves and shawls. The Goodlings also keep Romney sheep, which origi-

Grand View FarmLauren Anikis

Our pets provide us with so much unconditional love that we should find ways to improve our relationship with them in the coming year. One way is to include them in our New Year’s resolutions. At the top of almost everyone’s resolution list is to exercise and lose weight. Why not let your pet help you keep that prom-ise? Like their humans, many pets are overweight or obese. Increasing walks and play time will not only help weight loss, but it can help prevent medical and behavior issues. (A tired dog is a good dog!) Studies show that dogs kept close to their opti-mal weight will live on average two years longer and have fewer health problems than their obese counterparts. Saving money is another popular resolution. Pet owners can save money by keeping pets up to date on vaccinations and para-site prevention. It costs less to prevent disease than to treat it. Likewise, if your pet is injured or ill, don’t procrastinate: delay-ing veterinary care not only results in unnecessary suffering for your pet, it can lead to higher expenses. Consider investing in pet insurance or a pet health savings plan as the New Year begins. No one ever expects Fido to slip his lead and get hit by a car but it can happen, and having a fund set aside for pet emergencies can help prevent “economic euthana-sia”.

Volunteering is on many people’s resolution list. You can keep that promise by volunteering your time at your local ani-mal rescue or shelter. Walking the dogs, playing with the cats, or even fostering an expectant mother are always appreciated and can be a fun way for you to introduce your children to volunteer-ing. Finally, a great resolution for all pet owners is to discuss all aspects of their pets’ care with their veterinarian before acting on information found online. “Dr. Google” can provide a lot of misinformation and bad advice. Your veterinarians are the true health experts, and are happy to answer your questions and con-cerns.

New Year’s Resolutions for Pet OwnersM. Kathleen Shaw, DVM - Vermont Veterinary Medical Association

WE ARE WHAT

WE EATDJ Nelson

We are hearing about nutrition/foods lately. Diagnosed as diabetic a few years ago, it has left me thinking about foods and how our bodies break down foods, not only in myself, but in our Pets also. My weight went down, my blood sug-ars are regulating, and my joints hurt less since dramatically decreasing processed foods. I don’t exercise as much and I do still have that piece of cake or cookies (but they are homemade). A big thing I have noticed is how my body works with a nice variety of good quality foods. “We are what we eat.” If we eat pizza all day every day we won’t turn into a pizza, but our bodies react to it. We feel sluggish, as we age our joints hurt more, if we sud-denly after months of eating just pizza had something else, our bodies would react badly, not being used to breaking it down. Our bodies and our pet’s bodies need to have a well-rounded diet to keep digestion and immune systems working properly. We are seeing changes in dog, cat, and bird foods addressing some of these issues. I talk about pet nutrition with cus-tomers daily. I have been told of a big chain store that sells live fish, the fish always seem to be sick or many dead fish are seen in their aquariums. In our store the fish look nice, colorful, plump and swim happily. I figured I would check out the situation and allegations against this huge retailer. The systems they use are fantastic sys-tems. The filters can handle the load of many fish, the flow rates on these systems are decent. So systems check out fine. Where are they getting their fish? Some other stores get them from the same places. Other mom and pop stores buy-ing from the same places are not having these same issues. So if they are coming in healthy and the life support is excel-lent, what could be the issue? Water qual-ity, perhaps? What else could it be?? Then I considered one big culprit in the issue of ailing and dying fish.

Nutrition!! They feed vacation feeders as a sole source of food. Vacation feeders offer food to fish by breaking down gradually, and the fish pick the pieces. Ingredients used to bind the feeder together are like a plas-ter based material and aren’t healthy. I feed my in-store fish as well as my

fish at home a variety of high quality foods. Not all flake foods are equal in qual-ity or ingredients. There are many excel-lent brands, just ask your local Pet Store aquatic specialist. We feed two times a day and switch up the foods. In the morn-ing we feed flake or pellet food (depend-ing on the type of fish) at night we feed a frozen food. There are many different types of frozen foods for freshwater and saltwater fish: Mysis shrimp, Blood worms, Super Brine, Community blend, Cyclops, and many more. As a treat we feed freeze dried foods, my favorite is Tubifex worms. Press some up against the glass and it sticks, the fish will come up and eat mak-ing it nutritional and interactive. When feeding a frozen food, fish go crazy, defi-nitely entertaining. For Saltwater fish we mix Seachem Garlic Guard in with the frozen. This Liquid Garlic acts as an appetite stimulant for those finicky fish, helps the immune system on all fish, and is safe for invertebrates, cor-als etc. Since the fish get a varied diet they are more vibrant in color, more active and most importantly, healthier.

Frozen foods come in Flat packs, cubes or pods. - In Flat packs the food is frozen in a sheet. You have to break or cut out the portion and let it thaw. - With Cubes the food is frozen into cubes. Just pop a cube right into the aquarium or into a container to let it thaw. - Pods, new from Omega One, are a con-venient way to feed frozen foods. You let each container (pod) thaw, rip off the cover, and pour into the aquarium. So much easier.

Flake/pelleted foods:With so many varieties of fish, it is dif-ficult to cover all of the proper flakes to feed here. For example; live bearing fish (mollies, platies, guppies, sword-tails) should have more vegetable pro-tein in their diet, and the diet for South American Cichlids is different than for African Cichlids? This is where vis-iting the aquatics specialist in your local mom and pop pet store comes in.

Stop into your local pet store for some frozen or freeze dried foods and you will start seeing a difference. The enjoyment of watching your fish go crazy over it will happen immediately.

DJ Nelson has worked in the pet indus-try for almost two decades and is the

owner of AquaRealm Aquarium & Pets in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He works with

Reptiles, Birds, Small Animals, Fresh/Saltwater fish, and Dog & Cat Nutrition.

Since proper care is constantlychanging, educating customers about

their pets is most important.www.aquarealmaquarium.com

and Facebook


SeizuresCatherine MacLean, DVM

Grantham, NH

Seizures are not something that every pet owner will see, but for those that have seen their pet have a seizure it can be a very scary experience. I’m going to dis-cuss the type of seizures cats and dogs can have, what to do if your pet is having a sei-zure, and possible treatment options. When most people think of seizures,

they think of a Grand Mal seizure, where the animal is convulsing on the ground with stiffness/contraction cycles (tonic/clonic action), paddling, defecating, uri-nating, etc. These seizures are scary, but not the only type your pet can have. There are two other classifications of seizures owners don’t always recognize. These are partial seizures and psychomotor sei-zures. Partial seizure activity originates from one specific part of the brain and therefore only affects a certain area of the body. This type of seizure may present itself as twitching, excessive blinking, etc. Partial seizures can progress to Grand Mal seizures. Psychomotor seizures often appear as behavioral abnormalities. They can present as involuntary circling, howling, snapping, etc. This may be followed by a Grand Mal seizure. When speaking to your veterinarian about seizure like behavior, they may ask what happened after the seizure, the post-ictal phase. This phase helps veterinar-ians distinguish between a true seizure or some type of cardiovascular event or fainting. It can last from a few minutes to several hours, and your pet will be expe-riencing disorientation and sometimes appear to be blind. The post-ictal phase can be even more disturbing then the sei-zure itself. During this time owners need to be very careful. Our first thought is to comfort them, but as animals come out of seizures and are disorientated, they will not recognize people they love. This is when owners get bitten or scratched. Why do seizures happen? Sometimes they occur due to an infection in the animal’s brain (more common in ani-mals less than a year old), sometimes the cause is not known and they are labeled as epileptics (usually animals between 1-5 years of age), and other times it’s due to a tumor(common in animals over five years of age). Other causes can be toxins, trauma, hypothyroidism, etc. In animals over five, the most common causes are meningiomas which grow off the inside of the skull and press on the brain. These types of tumors are diagnosed with either a MRI or CT scan. Surgical removal may be an option. What should you do if your pet has a seizure? If it is a Grand Mal seizure, I tell owners to make sure their pet is in a safe place (not at the top of the stairs or on a piece of furniture they could fall off of), remove other animals and children, and time the seizure. If it lasts more than three minutes, you need to start cooling your pet with ice packs or cold cloths on the ears and paw pads, seek immediate veteri-nary attention. If your pet has more than two seizures in 24 hours (even if they are less than three minutes), seek veterinary attention. If the seizure lasts less than three minutes, after the seizure is done

record the date and time, note any abnor-mal behavior beforehand, such as twitch-ing. Next, the post-ictal stage will occur. Again be careful, you can get bitten dur-ing this phase no matter how sweet your pet normally is. If your pet has a seizure, notify your veterinarian so a note can be made in your pet’s medical history. They may advise you to bring your pet in for a work-up. I tell my clients to record date, time, and length of each seizure no matter how long between seizures, sometimes we can find patterns. Treatment varies with the patient. Many veterinarians will start with blood work to rule out underlying causes. If blood work is normal, depending on the age of the pet and the owner’s willingness, further diagnostics may be recommend-ed. Based on the seizure history, medica-tion may be started. The most common medications used are phenobarbital and potassium bromide. After your pet is on medication, monitoring is involved to make sure your pet is on the appropriate dose and not having any side effects. Up to 30% of cats and dogs will not respond to traditional medications. Other seizure medications available from the human side can be used, but are not commonly used due to cost and inconve-nient dosing schedules. One alternative, acupuncture, has worked for one of my patients. Sadie Mae first had Grand Mal seizures back in 2012 at two years old. Blood work ruled out underlying abnormalities. The owners didn’t want medication, so they sought out acupuncture to treat Sadie Mae’s sei-zures. Sadie Mae has seen me since 2013 and we’ve managed her seizures with acupuncture alone. She goes 7-9 months between seizures. When one occurs, we treat her with acupuncture several times and she is good for another 7-9 months. The owners are happy to not treat Sadie Mae with medication and she seems to enjoy her sessions. There is nothing fun about a seizure. Remember to keep your pet in a safe place, be careful you don’t get hurt, write down the seizure, and contact your veteri-narian. Many animals that have seizures can be managed and live normal happy lives.

Dr. MacLean completed her Bachelor of Science from Penn State University, her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Atlantic Veterinary College, and

her pet acupuncture certification from Chi Institute. Her areas of special interest include general practice and acupunc-

ture. She opened Sugar River Animal Hospital in 2013, and she has been prac-ticing veterinary medicine since 2010.

Dr. MacLean’s family consists of her hus-band Matt, her daughter Katarina,and their three pets: Jack and Misty,

two cats, and Arrow, a dogWinter 201528 4 Legs & a Tail

4 LEGS & A TAIL FUN!What 5 Things Are Different?

Pom Pom on kids hat, Dog's Foot, Kid's Boot, Yellow stripe on dog's collar, Trees in upper right corner

A guy is driving around the back woods of New Hamp-shire and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: ‘Talking Dog For Sale' He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever sitting there. ‘You talk?’ he asks. ‘Yep,’ the Lab replies. After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says ‘So, what’s your story?’ The Lab looks up and says, ‘Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so... I told the CIA. In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.’ ‘I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running...But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some un-dercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.’ ‘I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.’ The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog. ‘Ten dollars,’ the guy says. ‘Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?’Because he’s a liar. He’s never been out of the yard!

So What Brand Are You Feeding Your Pet?

GAZTUNIER

IIOAACLNRF TUNALRAS

NSSEELLW

ELAGE

NANETUR

LIOPUN

ORTUN

Zignature, California Naturals, Wellness, Eagle, Nutrena, Poulin, Nutro

Ranger chilling out in S. Albany.Photo by Jim Mayor

Submitted by Wendell Nadeau

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