Donate - WHS Paws in Motion!

Every year, the Winnipeg Humane Society has its annual fundraising walk, called Paws in Motion.  This fundraising event brings in 50% of the WHS's donations every year.  It takes them 6 months to organise it each year and thy always hope for a big turn-out with lots of sponsors and donations. Over 10,000 animals goes through their doors every year in need of shelter, medical care, and love.  They do everything the can to save as many lives as possible.  But they need your help.  The Winnipeg Humane Society relies on private and corporate donations to keep their doors open. 

Last year I went as part of a team, but at the time I didn't have Sophie.  This year I registered alone and will be walking the 3km around Assiniboine Park with my Sophie and over 100 other dogs and there people.  Some people bring cats in strollers and I heard that someone is bringing a donkey this year!  Before and after the official walk, there are demos, contests, a live band, various animal/pet related kiosks, and vendors to peruse.

Here are some photos I took of last years event:

As I said, this year I registered and am taking pledges.  If you know me (and see me regularly), you can donate in person.  For other who want to donate, I have an online website where I can accept secure donations. 

Please donate what you can, to help care for all the animals in need.  Any donation $10 or more can get you a tax receipt. 

http://www.winnipeghumanesocietydonor.ca/netcommunity/SophieandCynthia

scared pup

Not sure what's up, but I've noticed Sophie's been acting a little strange. Mostly today, but for a few days now. Two days ago a neighbor came into the yard, all the while talking to Sophie. I wasn't there, but my parents were and recaped this story to me. Sophie started shaking and dropped to the ground and softly growled. She was acting scared and unsure. Ok..., except she's never displayed this reaction with this person before or anyone really. Then today, I noticed that when I told her to go in her kennel or when I took her out to do her business, she started to shake uncontrolably. Not sure what has changed to make her so timid and anxious. I'll be keeping an eye on her and rewarding positive behaviors.

Keeping Kool

As the days become hot, I've noticed a change in Sophie's behavior and energy levels.  Last fall and all through the winter, she was go go go.  We'd spend a minimun 45mins each day at the off-leash dog park.  Some days we stayed for 2+ hours!  And she would just keep on going.  My little energizer bunny never seemed to tire, expecially if there were other dogs to play with or large open spaces to run in.  But spring and now summer has come early to Winnipeg, and with a vengence.  Not that I'm complaining.  Winnipeg is well known for it's brutely cold and windy winters, but our summers are great and this one proves to be amount the best.  Nice and hot without to much humidity - just how I like it.  But now that I have Sophie...well, she doesn't do too well in the heat.  The first major notice was when the temperature went into the 20s C (~68-72 F).  We would go to the dog park and after about 10 minutes Sophie would find some shade to lay down in. 

What!?!  My dog lay down at the park!?!  What twilight zone are we in!?!

Since there are very few trees at this park, I started staying close to picnic tables and instead of going for a walk, we'd play fetch or I'd let her mingle with other dogs.  That way she could got under the picnic table in the shade if she wanted to.  I've also been bringing her water to the picnic tables.  I've always had a water bowl in the car that I would fill after every outing, but now I carry it all with me in the park.  On top of all that, I also have to apply baby sunblock to her muzzle, ears, and belly, since they burn very easily.  Ah the wonders of having a white, short haired, brachycephalic dog.

I have been looking for ways to keep her cool, or if that's not possible, to cool her down.  So far, this is what I've come up with:

• Swimming  She isn't a big fan of water to begin with, so this is a hard issue to tackle.  Many dogs will swim in the ponds at the park, but Sophie won't even get her toes wet.  I'm currently looking for a secluded beach where I can teach her to swim.  In the mean-time, my neighbor gave me an old, hard plastic sandbox/kiddie pool.  On hot days I've been getting Sophie to stand in the water and let me wet her down.  She tolerates this at best, but she will go in willingly(-ish).

• Cooling collars  I've found 2 different types online. 
1. Polymer-filled collars or bandanas: You have to soak in cold water for 10 minutes to a few hours  before use (depending on brand), then it supposedily stays cool for a few hours to a few days (again depending on brand).  They are filled with non-toxic polymer crystals that can absorb up to 30 times their weight.  I have personally tried something like this, when I traveled to Honk Kong a few years ago, and I wasn't too impressed.  Plus, the constant saoking ahead of time can be a hassel.  All-in-all though, it is better than nothing.
2. Kool Collars: This product looks neat.  You fill it with real ice cubes and as the ice melts, it keeps the dogs chest keeping him cool.  For a dryer method, there are specially made ice packs.  Down-side, ice malts fast and needs to be replaced often.  Not easy if you're out for a long time.  Regardless, I've ordered this product and will report back my observations.   http://www.koolcollarstore.com/ 

3. Cool beds and Cool vests. Based on the same principles of as the polymer-filled collars.

What's in a name?

Before I met Sophie, her first owners called her Muggs.  Why, I can't say.  Perhaps they thought she had the face only a mother could love, and played up that idea but calling it her mug shot.  Whatever the reason, when I met her, I couldn't possible continue to call her that.  It just didn't suit her.  I knew I had to come up with a name for her fast, because I didn't want to confuse her by calling her different things.  And I didn't want to have her associate her new life with the name Muggs, so calling her that, ever temperarily, was out of the question.

Since she was so thin, I joked that I'd call her Skeletor, He-Man's arch-enemy, from the Masters of the Universe franchise, but I knew I couldn't actually go through with that.

The real contenders were Sophie, Zsa Zsa, and Daisy.

My mom ixnayed Zsa Zsa and I wasn't too fond of Daisy, so Sophie it was.  And I have no regrets with this choice and Sophie learnt her name within a few days.  I officially dubbed her Miss Sophie-Loren, after the beautiful and talented actress Sophia Loren.  My Sophie can be such a diva and attention grabber, that is truely fits.  Plus, both are absolutely stunning!

The Origins of Sophie

Last summer I was volunteering in the vet clinic at the Winnipeg Humane Society.  http://www.winnipeghumanesociety.ca/  I was to required volunteer 80 hours as part of my application process for the Animal Health Technology program I will be starting this fall.  I had already decided I wanted to adopt a dog, but needed to find the right now for me.  I was very interesting in getting a boxer, as I had recently fallen in love with this breed.  In fact I nearly adopted one, but someone else got him first.  So near the very end of my required time in mid-August 2009 (I ended up doing about 108 hours) a sickly white boxer pup was surrendered.  I saw her the day after, as she was getting prepped to be spayed.  After her surgery she was still groggy, but licked my hand.  It was instant love!  I immediately put my name down to adopt her. 

Her original owners had bought her as a puppy from a Petland store for $1000, which leaves me to believe she came from a puppymill.  Will people never learn?  Do NOT buy puppies from pet stores!  Based on her age, I think she must have been born late October or early November 2008, making her the perfect age to adopt...right before Christmas.  Again...NEVER buy a pet as a gift!  After only 7 months her owners surrender her, because she was too needy, barked/whined when alone, and wasn't trained.  She wasn't even house trained!  Research the breed to know what you're getting into. and take the time to properly train your dog!!!  All mistakes that happen all too often resulting in poor animals being surrender to humane societies or city pounds.

Also, I should note that her original name was Muggs.  That's right, Muggs.  Upon first laying eyes on this beautiful girl, I knew she was not a Muggs and changed it to Sophie.  It took her 2 days to forget her old moniker.

At 8 months, she was only 30lbs, a good 10lb underweight.  I could see every vertebrae down her spin and every rib poked out like she was starved.  I jokingly called her Skeletor!  Other than her sickly appearance, she had the most beautiful gold-coloured eyes and legs that looked too long for her.  And those loose jowls are sooo cute!

A few days later, the day before I was supposed to officially pick her up, I got a call.  She couldn't be adopted out yet, because she was heart worm positive, but I could foster her until she had a clean bill of health.  Of course I said yes, and took her home the next day.

For those who may not know, heart worm is a serious and potentially deadly disease in dogs.  Heart worm is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. The heart worm is a type of filaria, a small thread-like worm, that when reached adulthood (about 6-7 months) will migrate through the blood stream and reside in the pulmonary artery of the heart.  These parasites will continue to grow and breed, eventually killing the affected dog from a heart aneurysm.  It's a long and painful death. 

Prevention is so easy and treatment is long, painful and not always successful.  Sophie's treatment was 2 inter-muscular injections of an arsenic-based compound, 24 hours apart.  This slowly kills the heart worms.  Then for the next month I had to keep Sophie VERY quiet.  I wasn't even allowed to walk her, for if her heartbeat got to fast, the dead heart worms could go through her bloodstream and cause a clot.  This was a long month, but since she was already so sick, she didn't even want to do much.  Very uncharacteristic of a boxer pup!  Finally after just over a month, her primary test result came back negative and I officially adopted her on Oct 2, 2009

I can say that Sophie is now a very health and very energetic pup of 1.5 year old.  Within a few months of adoption, she gained 12lbs.  Although still on the slender/small side (based on her breed specifications), she is looking great!

Long day = one very tired pooch

Ok so this is my first post on this blog.  I promise to provide background info on Sophie and myself soon, but for now I thought I'd hit the ground running and jump right into blogging.  Specifically, today's events.

This morning I took Sophie to my local off-leash dog park to burn some of her energy.  We spent about 15 minutes playing a not-so good version of fetch.  Then we met up with a couple and their young dog, who immediately got alone with Sophie - like peas and carrots.  We all walked around the park for about 45 minutes.  Normally, Sophie stays away from water, but she miss-judged a jump and landed right into a mud puddle!  Sophie, being all white, shows any and all dirt.  She turned into a Dalmatian hybrid!  (She did look spotted, but the I towel-dried her, giving her this lovely grey tone).  Before we left the park, I also ran into a friend in the parking lot.  It was a first meeting between our dogs, which went very well.  My friend had also just rescued a second dog, who was there too.

I work at a pet supply store and the employees are allowed to bring their dogs in to work.  Since I was planning on bringing Sophie to work with me today, I went in early to wash her.  We have a grooming room there, and although the groomer is off this week, employees may use the equipment.  So, half an hour later my dalmatian was once again a sparkling white boxer, with soft, yummy-smelling fur.

Sophie was amazing at work today.  She was friendly with all humans that walked through the door, ignored most dogs, and settled down if I stepped in when needed.  Most of the time I keep her leash tired to my belt loop - just as a precaution on busy days.  Today she was off leash in store for about 1/3 to 1/2 of my 8 hour shift!  Of course it being the Saturday on the May Long Weekend made things rather slow.

By the time we got home, we were both exhausted!.  Sophie immediate found my bed and fell asleep while I soaked my aching feet and showered.  After some relaxing we're now both ready for bed.

Good night all!