THE GERMAN SHEPHERD SENTINEL
OCTOBER 2005 NEWSLETTER
OF THE
GSDC OF GREATER RALEIGH
Pat Embrey, Newsletter Editor
1390 Sanders Road, Benson, NC 27504
PH: 919-934-6232, E-Mail: VonRillca@aol.com
Website: www.gsdcofgrraleigh.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Board Policy on Dogs at Club Sponsored Events
2. No October meeting but Picnic Information
3. September Meeting Minutes
4. Canine Flu Virus
5. Co-ownerships
6. Pet Preparedness
7. A Simple First Aid Kit for Pets
8. You know you’ve waited too long for a mate when….
9. Why we love pets
10. Age Equivalency
BOARD POLICY ON DOGS AT CLUB SPONSORED EVENTS
The GSDC of Greater Raleigh welcomes your German Shepherd at our events, including meetings. However, the following rules must be followed:
1. Anyone with an aggressive dog (one that growls, snaps, or is in any way aggressive towards other dogs or people) must be muzzled.
2. Dogs will be free of loose hair and external parasites (fleas or ticks). Please brush your dog prior to bringing it to the meeting as we must clean up the room after we are finished.
3. For the safety of all members, guests and their dogs, it is strongly recommended that all dogs be kept up to date on their vaccinations. ALL dogs that are old enough, MUST have a current rabies shot.
ATTENTION – NO MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2005 BUT DON’T FORGET
THE ANNUAL PICNIC ON SATURDAY,
OCTOBER 15, 2005.
More information coming soon.
As I am sure most of you know by now, we will not be having a regular meeting in October on the 5th, however, we will be having our Annual picnic on Saturday, October 15th and will be in touch with you shortly as to where it will be located, who is attending?,, what you will bring? Etc.
GSDC of Greater Raleigh
Meeting Minutes
September 7, 2005
Program: Jeannie Gray, founder of Helping Paws, and her husband Jim brought their greyhounds (in costume!) to demonstrate the therapy dog program they founded. Helping Paws has won NC Volunteers of the Year and the Wake County Volunteers of the year awards. They have a 5-month training program that will take the dog and owner/trainer through CGC and Therapy Dog Certification which Helping Paws requires to visit hospitals and to work with children. Molly Stone, an animal behaviorist with the SPCA, is the trainer for Helping Paws. Charge for the class is ~$85 for members, more for non-members. Helping Paws has a list of 16 facilities that they don’t have dogs for and welcome anyone interested to contact them to do an evaluation of your dog.
Business Meeting: Show news was reported on by Bill Pfeiffer. They are still working on the premium list and ads for the review (to appear in Dec. issue, must be in by Oct. 1). A group is going to the Nationals in Concord on Nov. 1 to help with the temperament test. Bill has 1 ticket left for the dinner ,$38.50 if anyone is interested. Reporting on the Paws Legislation, Bill urged members to contact their Senators to let them know that it needs to be fixed.
Mary Bjelica is working on the October picnic and will contact us with a date. The original date we had chosen is the date of Dog Olympics at the Vet school, Oct. 1. There will be a regular club meeting October 5, but no meeting in November or December. We are still looking for a location for the December dinner and hope to announce that information soon.
Second reading: Jon & Melody Poli
Treasurer’s Report: Sara reported that last month charges were paid for the meeting room and gifts for speakers. Also flowers were sent to our Webb tech Pete who was hospitalized last month. The club voted to donate $100 to CAR, the Companion Animal Recovery arm of the AKC to help with the care of animals that were victims of Katrina.
Sara is working on getting the banner made for the club in time for the Nationals.
Brags: Deeda reported that her dog Mickey was a winners dog on Sunday.
CANINE FLU VIRUS
A New Deadly, Contagious Dog Flu Virus Is Detected in 7 StatesBy DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. and CARIN RUBENSTEIN
Published: September 22, 2005
A new, highly contagious and sometimes deadly canine flu is spreading in kennels and at dog tracks around the country, veterinarians said yesterday.
The virus, which scientists say mutated from an influenza strain that affects horses, has killed racing greyhounds in seven states and has been found in shelters and pet shops in many places, including the New York suburbs, though the extent of its spread is unknown.
Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine who is studying the virus, said that it spread most easily where dogs were housed together but that it could also be passed on the street, in dog runs or even by a human transferring it from one dog to another. Kennel workers have carried the virus home with them, she said.
How many dogs die from the virus is unclear, but scientists said the fatality rate is more than 1 percent and could be as high as 10 percent among puppies and older dogs.
Dr. Crawford first began investigating greyhound deaths in January 2004 at a racetrack in Jacksonville, Fla., where 8 of the 24 greyhounds who contracted the virus died.
"This is a newly emerging pathogen," she said, "and we have very little information to make predictions about it. But I think the fatality rate is between 1 and 10 percent."
She added that because dogs had no natural immunity to the virus, virtually every animal exposed would be infected. About 80 percent of dogs that are infected with the virus will develop symptoms, Dr. Crawford said. She added that the symptoms were often mistaken for "kennel cough," a common canine illness that is caused by the bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria.
Both diseases can cause coughing and gagging for up to three weeks, but dogs with canine flu may spike fevers as high as 106 degrees and have runny noses. A few will develop pneumonia, and some of those cases will be fatal. Antibiotics and fluid cut the pneumonia fatality rate, Dr. Crawford said.
The virus is an H3N8 flu closely related to an equine flu strain. It is not related to typical human flus or to the H5N1 avian flu that has killed about 100 people in Asia.
Experts said there were no known cases of the canine flu infecting humans. "The risk of that is low, but we are keeping an eye on it," said Dr. Ruben Donis, chief of molecular genetics for the influenza branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is tracking the illness.
But with the approach of the human flu season and fears about bird flu in Asia, there is much confusion among some dog owners who have heard about the disease.
Dr. Crawford said she was fielding calls from kennels and veterinarians across the country worried that they were having outbreaks.
"The hysteria out there is unbelievable, and the misinformation is incredible," said Dr. Ann E. Hohenhaus, chief of medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York.
Dr. Hohenhaus said she had heard of an alert from a Virginia dog club reporting rumors that 10,000 show dogs had died.
"We don't believe that's true," she said, adding that no dogs in her Manhattan hospital even had coughs.
Dr. Donis of the disease control centers said that there was currently no vaccine for the canine flu. But he said one would be relatively easy to develop. The canine flu is less lethal than parvovirus, which typically kills puppies but can be prevented by routine vaccination.
Laboratory tests, Dr. Donis said, have shown that the new flu is susceptible to the two most common antiviral drugs, amantidine and Tamiflu, but those drugs are not licensed for use in dogs.
The flu has killed greyhounds at tracks in Florida, Massachusetts, Arizona, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas and Iowa. Tracks and kennels have been forced to shut down for weeks for disinfection.
In Chestnut Ridge, north of New York City, about 88 dogs became sick by early September, and 15 percent of those required hospitalization, said Debra Bennetts, a spokeswoman for Best Friends Pet Care, a chain of boarding kennels. The kennel was vacated for decontamination by Sept. 17.
About 17 of the infected dogs were treated at the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, N.J., where one died and two more were still hospitalized, a staff veterinarian said.
The Best Friends chain owns 41 other kennels in 18 states, and no others have had an outbreak, Dr. Larry J. Nieman, the company's veterinarian, said.
In late July, at Gracelane Kennels in Ossining, N.Y., about 35 dogs showed symptoms, said the owner, Bob Gatti, and he closed the kennel for three weeks to disinfect.
About 25 of the dogs were treated by an Ossining veterinarian, Glenn M. Zeitz, who said two of them had died.
"The dogs came in very sick, with high fevers and very high white blood cell counts," Dr. Zeitz said, making him suspicious that they had something worse than kennel cough.
A spokesman for the New York City Health Department said that there were "a few confirmed cases" in New York but that the city was not yet tracking the disease.
Veterinarians voluntarily sent samples to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine, which was the only laboratory doing blood tests.
CO-OWNERSHIPS
I was approached at the last meeting about co-ownerships and co-ownership contracts so I will tell you what I have found. If any of the members who are interested in learning more about this go to the search engine www.dogpile.com and type in Canine Co-ownership contracts, there are a multitude of sites mentioning co-ownerships and copies of contracts. I found the following information in my archives, that might bear reading:
This article was sent by John DeHope back in 2000 and is an excerpt from an article that was in the May 2000 edition of Dog News written by John Mandeville. The article is titled “Co-ownership—Still A Minefield”. This is the section that I thought all German Shepherd breeders would be interested in.
From the article.
“Incidentally, you are responsible for all those dogs you co-own insofar as the AKC is concerned. This most definitely includes that co-owned bitch puppy you shipped across country at age 12 weeks, 7 years ago and haven’t seen since. You know, the three litters that bitch produced that you signed the papers on? Well, when AKC’s inspectors come knocking on your door, you are responsible for having complete breeding records on that bitch including the disposition of all pups she’s produced. And when you don’t have those records you will fail AKC’s inspection. This means a stop will be put on all activity of all dogs you own/co-own, as any number of serious fanciers are finding out the hard way. If you Fail, you are permitted to get your records in order for re-inspection. The bad news is there is a $250.00 re-inspection fee you must pay to get back in the breeding and exhibiting game.
Interesting!!!!
-----------------PET PREPAREDNESS-------------------------
In light of the terrible things that happened to the people and pets in Hurricane Katrina, the following article is very timely.
I thought this was worth having for all us who have "four-legged children":
Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared.
Step 1 Get a Rescue Alert Sticker
This easy-to-use sticker will let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes 1) the types and number of pets in your household; 2) the name of your veterinarian; and 3) your veterinarian's phone number.
Your local pet supply store may sell emergency pet alert stickers for your home if not they should be easy to make with paper and vinyl sheet protectors..
Step 2 Arrange a Safe Haven
Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. If you do, they may be at risk of injury or even worse. Red Cross disaster shelters will not accept pets because of health and safety regulations. So it is imperative that you have determined where you will bring your pets ahead of time:
- Contact your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities.
- Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
- Identify hotels or motels outside of your immediate area that accept pets.
- Ask friends and relatives outside your immediate area if they would be willing to take in your pet.
Step 3 Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits Keep an emergency kit handy for your pets. This kit should contain the following:
- Pet first-aid kit ** and guide book
- Canned (pop-top) or dry food
- Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are
perfect)
- Litter or paper toweling
- Pet feeding dishes
- Extra leash
- Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires (Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit—otherwise they may go bad or become useless.)
- Bottled water
- A traveling bag or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
- Flashlight
- Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
- Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)
Step 4 Choose “Designated Caregivers”
This step will take considerable time and thought. When choosing a temporary caregiver, consider someone who lives close to your residence. He or she should be someone who is generally home during the day while you are at work or has easy access to your home. A set of
keys should be given to this trusted individual. This may work well with neighbors who have pets of their own—you may even swap responsibilities, depending upon who has accessibility.
When selecting a permanent caregiver, you’ll need to consider other criteria. This is a person to whom you are entrusting the care of your pet in the event that something should happen to you. When selecting this "foster parent," consider people who have met your pet and have successfully cared for animals in the past. Be sure to discuss your expectations at length with a
permanent caregiver, so he or she understands the responsibility of caring for your pet.
Additionally, you will want to provide a trust for your pet's financial future. Unlike a will, a trust
provides for your pet immediately, and will apply not only if you die, but if you become disabled. You may designate your permanent caregiver as the trustee, or choose a separate person to be the trustee of the funds that you have set aside for your pet's care.
Contact your attorney or the ASPCA at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4554, for more information on trusts, wills, and how much money to set aside for your pet's needs in the event you are unable to care for them.
Step 5 Evacuation Preparation
If you must evacuate your home in a crisis, time is of he essence. To minimize evacuation time, take these simple steps:
- Store an emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible.
- Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pet's ID tag should
contain his name, telephone number, and any urgent medical needs.
- The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted in the animal's shoulder area, and can be read by scanner at most animal shelters.
- Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become
disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
Consider your evacuation route and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.
Step 6 Geographic and Climatic Considerations
Do you live in an area that is prone to certain natural catastrophes, such as tornadoes, earthquakes or floods? If so, you should plan accordingly.
- Determine well in advance which rooms offer safe havens. These rooms should be clear of hazards such as windows, flying debris, etc.
- Choose easy-to-clean areas such as utility rooms, bathrooms, and basements as safe zones.
- Access to a supply of fresh water is particularly important. In areas that may lose electricity, fill up bathtubs and sinks ahead of time to ensure that you have access to water during a power outage or other crises.
- In the event of flooding, go to the highest location in your home, or a room that has access to counters or high shelves where your animals can take shelter.
For additional disaster information, email us at info@aspca.org.
A SIMPLE FIRST AID KIT FOR PETS
Include in the kit the name and phone number of your veterinarian and make sure that an after hours emergency veterinary clinic number is also in the kit.
A zip lock bag or plastic snap lid container will hold everything, include the following items:
- A roll of gauze bandage to make a muzzle if needed, an emergency leash, and to use as a bandage or even as a tourniquet in case of bleeding.
- Some sterile gauze squares
- Self sticking bandage so tape is not needed.
- A pair of scissors
- Tweezers to remove thorns or porcupine quills
- An antihistamine, like Benadryl for stings and allergic reactions
- A corticosteroid ointment for rashes and bites
- Sterile eye wash
- Peroxide, to clean wounds and to use to cause a dog to vomit
- Unflavored kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol for diarrhea or loose stool, for most dogs use a tablespoon at a time for up to 3 treatments.
- Vaseline and a book of matches – put Vaseline around the head of an imbedded tick, then use a hot match to get the tick to back out a little sooner. Then use the tweezers to remove said tick.
YOU KNOW YOU'VE WAITED TOO LONG TO FIND A MATE WHEN:
--you think stripping is something you do to a terrier.
--you meet a guy named Bob and instantly visualize purple and gold rosettes.
--you think nothing about loudly discussing studs and bitches in a fancy restaurant.
--the first thing you notice about a guy is what breed of dog he has.
--your biggest turn-off is a guy with an obnoxious untrained dog.
--you have ever ruled out a guy as a prospective date based on the breed of dog he owns.
--you dismiss all the guys your mother introduces you to as "not breeding quality".
--you never could stick to a diet to impress a guy, but you can do it to get through that TDX track.
--your only nice jewelry features either dogs, dumbbells, or rosettes.
--you have a video on how to artificially inseminate your dog but last watched a dirty movie in junior high school.
--when you talk about "scoring" you mean how you did at last weekend's obedience trial.
--your dog has more letters after his name than the last ten guys you've dated, and actually completed obedience school.
--you start using operant conditioning techniques to get what you want from your boyfriend, and you hide your copy of "Don't Shoot The Dog".
--you think that maybe your current guy has potential if you use the proper combination of positive reinforcement and the occasional well-timed ear pinch.
--you "people watch"! at the mall by making mental lists of the conformational faults each by-passer has to contribute to the gene pool.
--you think if you ever did marry and have children that you wouldn't have to buy a playpen because you already have an extra x-pen. And why buy a crib?? Crates are cheaper and they're enclosed on all sides.
--you give all of your married friends child-rearing advice based on your extensive background in dog training.
--your mother's worst fear is that you'll have a child and make it wear a pinch collar.
--your mother's second worst fear is you'll get married and your dog will be in the wedding party.
--you actually have friends whose dogs HAVE been part of the wedding party.
--when your cousin tells you how much her wedding costs you think how many show-quality puppies that could buy you.--all of your friends always include your dog in any invitation they issue to you. Of course, you reciprocate because you only have doggy friends left....the others have stopped inviting you places because you insist on bringing the dog!
--when you read the personal ads you skip past the vital statistics and rule out any that don't say "animal lover".
--you know your dog's cholesterol but not your own.
--when you lament to your friends about chronic yeast infections, they don't know you're talking about your dog's ears.--you last had a professional portrait done for your high school graduation, but you just spent 50% of your dog's purchase price having his done by the best canine photographer in the country.
--you and your dog use the same kind of hairbrush, and you never can keep straight whose is whose.
--you spend 8 hours grooming your dog for a show the day before, and 1.25 minutes pony-tailing your hair the morning of.
--you think that people with bad bites shouldn't be allowed to breed.
--your mother is ecstatic to see you browsing the aisle with the hair coloring, after hounding you for three year to try highlighting.... only to be disappointed when she finds you are looking for peroxide to "touch up" your Clumber's drool marks.
--when someone mentions single bars , you wonder if they are talking about utility or agility jumps.
--when you go "clubbing", you have your choice of the all-breed club, the specialty club, the obedience club, or the tracking club.
--you once made earrings out of old rabies tags, and all your friends wanted a pair.
AGE EQUIVALENCY
By
Sophia Kaluzniacki, DVM
This chart applies to German Shepherds and other like-sized breeds whose typical lifespans are in the 10 to 12 year range. Charts for small breeds (longer lived) and giants breeds (not as long lived) would be different.
SHEPHERD YEARS HUMAN YEARS
9 Months 12 years1 Year 16
2 24
3 30
4 36
5 41
6 46
7 51
8 57
9 63
10 68
11 73
12 78
13 84
14 90
15 96