By Jen Lutz-Paolella

Most cat parents can to relate to that dreaded day they face with their feline friend—you know, the day you bring your cat to the vet. The night before, you begin detailing your strategy. You plot and stress over every step. As your eyes begin rolling into the back of your head, you wonder if it’s really necessary. The trigger which sent my cat into a hasty retreat was the sound of the carrier door hinges creaking from the porch. In an instant he was blending into the carpet, and crawling more quickly to hide under the bed than he would towards a pound of catnip.  A flashlight revealed his location far back against the wall, and the rest was far from a picnic.

After several trials, we now have an annual 10-step plan for cat-in-carrier success that even the U.S. Secretary of Defense would endorse. Perhaps these common challenges which cat parents face are factors that contribute to the latest reports on cat guardianship and the frequency of their veterinary visits. According to the “2012 AVMA U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Source Book,” a staggering 44.9% of cat parents did not take their cat to the veterinarian once in 2011. This statistic causes experts to wonder: Why the decline?

Ensuring that your cat visits the veterinarian at least once a year is very important for optimal health and life expectancy. The AVMA reported that the number one reason that cats were not brought to the veterinarian for the entire year was because “the cat did not get sick or injured” (53%). Here are some important things to consider:

• Cats instinctively hide their symptoms of pain: Even though your cat is a domestic pet, the rules from the wild kingdom still dominate: Cats that exhibit signs of pain are seen as more vulnerable to predators. Although your cat appears to be fine at home, an annual exam with your veterinarian will provide reassurance that physical and emotional health are ideal.
• Physical exams don’t tell us everything: Diagnostic testing once a year can provide very useful information about your cat’s biological health. Cats are very susceptible to urinary tract, dental, and renal disease, especially as they age. Monitoring these values to detect early stage conditions will greatly help.

The other reasons that caregivers did not take their cat to the vet in a 12-month-period were the following:

Financial concern: 21.5%

Cat did not need vaccines: 17.3%

Too hard to transport: 3.2%

Other: 4.1%

The good news is that the majority of cat parents say they value their cat as being “members of the family” as opposed to “property.” Our pets are our family; surely it’s worth it to endure the all-too-often inconveniences of getting our cat into a carrier and making the journey.

By ensuring that your cat sees your veterinarian a minimum of once a year, you are offering the best health care possible, saving yourself from more costly visits during the later years, and most importantly, adding to the years that you and your cat family member are able to spend together.

Jennifer Lutz-Paolella is a freelance medical writer with extensive experience in the veterinary industry including: consulting, education, marketing, and sales. She is an advocate for animal health and welfare, and lives in Chicago with her husband Tony and their cat Ti.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), each year more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs. One in five require medical attention (and of this group, roughly half are children).

No dogs are born aggressive biters, but poor training, lack of socialization, neglect, abuse, and other negative factors can turn them into one. In honor of National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 19-25), Foothills Animal Shelter has shared these tips for making sure your dogs and children are safe and well-behaved:

1. Socialization in many different scenarios is beneficial for future interactions with people and your pet (in the park, with men/women/kids, with other animals, on a walk, etc.).

2. Taking your dog or puppy to a professional trainer is an excellent way to help socialize your canine around other people and animals. Additionally, they will learn what is expected of them and how to behave.

3. Be sure to have your pet current on their rabies vaccination (it’s the law and it protects your pet from possible wildlife interactions).

4. If your dog doesn’t do well in social settings, don’t place him/her in those situations. Use common sense and know your pet’s limitations.

5. Proper supervision with pets and kids is extremely important to remember. At minimum, a good rule of thumb is to keep any child under the age of 10 supervised with pets.

6. Teach your child not to go up to strange dogs. If your child is with you and you see a dog, you can teach them to always ask the guardian of a dog if they may be petted. There are some circumstances that it’s simply not wise, no matter what an guardian says (in a stressful environment, if a dog seems anxious, etc.).

For more information on dog bite statistics and prevention, visit the AVMA website.

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By Tatiana Garrett

Violence is a virus, and animals are the Penicillin.

It’s nothing new to look at the violence epidemic in the same way that public health experts look at virus transmissions. We know the problem spreads like a cold—one violent occurrence triggering another until we see a rash explode across the face of a city. Why can’t the cure be looked at in the same light? How do we unlock the empathy and compassion within us all so it can spread like wildfire?

I believe wholeheartedly that pets can unleash the human potential to cure violence. To be humane is to be compassionate. You don’t even have to have a pet to garner these lessons.

I’ve gone into Cook County Juvenile Detention with dogs and seen incarcerated youth open up by identifying with an animal that had been abused. After some gentle petting and gazing into the eyes of a trusting and non-judgmental dog, imprisoned youth have opened up and engaged in discussions about wrongful abuse of power and the importance of helping children and animals that do not have the power to stand up for themselves. I’ve listened to the young men glean inspiration and talk about hope for their futures and things they want to do differently when they get out.

Animals touch the human spirit and unlock some pretty great things. You don’t have to take my word for it: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even has an entire page on the health benefits of pet guardianship. Studies have shown that petting the soft fur of a cat (or dog) lowers your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and increases the chemicals in your brain that make you happy. Having a furry face to come home to that will give you unconditional love also makes you less lonely. In particular, dogs need to be taken for walks and walking is good for human health. Dogs increase opportunities for socialization and exercise. Not to quote Legally Blonde, but “Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot [people].” Yes, correlation is not causation and people can have pets and still be jerks, but the message is that in general, pets help spread empathy and compassion.

If pets can truly be a catalyst to unlocking compassion—thereby acting as a violence vaccine—what can we do with this knowledge to work against violence?

• Spread Positive Stories – The media is full of tales of violence. Make a conscience effort to spread positive stories (like this one) more than you share the negative ones. Media outlets can easily see which stories are viewed the most, and if there is more of a demand for “feel good” stories that herald good deeds more positive tales may make headlines.
• Encourage Youth – There are lots of young people out there that aren’t dealing drugs and being bullies. Whether it’s your kids, nieces, nephews, or a teen in your neighborhood, offer words of encouragement and praise the good deeds that children do. The Anti-Cruelty Society offers an anti-violence after school program for Chicago high school kids. Refer teens to programs like that or support a program yourself by being a mentor, volunteer, or donor.
• Adopt a Pet –If you adopt a dog, consider working your way up to Canine Good Citizen certification and then volunteering to bring the positive effects of pet contact to those that cannot have a pet (hospitals, hospice care, incarcerated youth, and more).
• Be Nice! – Empathy can spread just as quickly as violence so choose to infect others with kindness. I’m not endorsing the insurance company, but Liberty Mutual created a couple commercials that show some simple ways kindness can be infectious.

In what other ways do animals teach compassion? Share in the comments!

By Darlene Duggan

Gone are the days where a shelter is simply a clearinghouse for homeless and stray animals. Today, shelters have become complex, multi-faceted organizations that boast impressive live release rates, quality husbandry and animal care, and services for the community beyond animal relinquishments and adoptions. One of the most important roles shelters play is in preventing animals from entering the sheltering system in the first place. And, in my opinion, this may be one of the most important jobs.

As any passionate shelter staffer will tell you, the goal of our jobs is to put ourselves out of business. That is to say, the day there are no homeless pets will be the pinnacle of our careers. So, what are the ways that shelters are trying to prevent relinquishment? Here are a few:

Behavior and Training Classes: One common reason for surrender to a shelter is behavior problems. To combat this statistic head on, many humane societies have added comprehensive behavior and training classes for the community. Regardless of whether they adopt a shelter animal or not, people can head to their local shelter for Dog Training 101 and beyond. In addition, most shelters and rescues also offer in-house behavior and training plans for shelter animals to begin their education and make them more desirable for adoption. Think of it as a “jump-start” program for pets!

Behavior Hotlines: Some shelters with behaviorists on staff are opening behavior help desks where anyone can call and receive free behavior advice. Check out the program offered by the Capital Area Humane Society for a good example.

Surrender Counseling and Scheduled Intakes: Many shelters (even open-door shelters) are scheduling intakes to ensure adequate time to get information from caregivers. These scheduled sessions also serve as an opportunity to discuss alternative options for the person and their pet.

• Financial difficulties? Shelters can point the client to low cost veterinary options or even pet food pantries.
• Behavior issues? Shelters can recommend training classes, behavior hotlines, or other behavior resources.
• Housing crisis? There may be temporary care facilities able and willing to take the pet.

The HSUS’s Pets for Life program bridges the gap between communities and resources available to care for their pets. These types of programs are popping up locally too. In my Chicago community, Pets are Like Family is stepping in to provide services for pets and families to avoid pet relinquishment. Shelters are stepping in to help make pet guardians aware of their options before deciding to relinquish their pets.

Lost/Found Listings: While there are many online resources dedicated to posting lost and found animals, shelters post lost/found listings as well. Some shelter management software makes this task very simple and listings are linked to stray intakes. When the unfortunate situation of losing a pet does arise, it’s a real service to the community when shelters manage these lost and found reports and also reduce the shelter intake by doing so.

Pet Food Pantries: Many shelters will offer pet food pantries to the public. They will either specifically accept donations for the food pantry or will give away any donations they are not able to use for the shelter animals. Most groups have requirements for participation: recent job loss, household income falls below poverty levels, or fixed-income seniors to ensure the food is going to those who truly need it.

Pet Friendly Housing Lists: Some shelters will maintain a listing of pet-friendly housing (both rentals and purchases) options available in their area. Some realtors have taken the lead and created organizations specifically for this issue (such as the Pet Realty Network and Realtors to the Rescue). These third party realty groups are additional resources shelters can use to advise clients before relinquishment as well.

More often, we are seeing shelters getting ahead of the homeless pet problem in their community by participating in preventing relinquishment. Here’s to the day when we are all out of a job!

Darlene Duggan worked for many years behind the scenes at The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago overseeing volunteer programs, problem solving shelter issues, and laboring tirelessly for the welfare of animals. Her bi-weekly column, The Shelter Voice, explores the complex concepts surrounding animal rescue and welfare usually reserved for discussions amongst those at the very front lines of the industry. 

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By Kathy Mordini

Who’s looking out for the dogs in Iowa’s puppy mills

Debra Pratt’s puppy mill, one of Iowa’s most notorious, was finally shut down as of the last weekend in April. The dogs were auctioned off at the facility in New Sharon, Iowa. As the last of the dogs left the facility, animal advocates in the Midwest have been left with more questions than answers.

The auction itself, which was held at the puppy mill instead of an offsite location, was disorganized and fraught with confusion. However, it was what rescuers saw at Pratt’s mill that was even more disturbing. From the animal debris on the property to the condition of the kennels, the sights, sounds, and smells were jarring to even the most experiences rescuers.

“There were tufts of fur and bones peeking out of the top soil, sporadically littered across the farm,” says Amy Heinz of A Heinz 57 Pet Rescue and Transport. Her group had been at an Amish auction the previous day and thought they had seen the worst then. “There were little dog bodies left like garbage to decompose and disappear as if their lives had no meaning.”

“This was one of the worst we’d seen,” since Molly Marino of the Chicago English Bulldog Rescue. Her organization saved 23 dogs through the auction. “The ammonia stench was so bad the experienced rescuers were vomiting and had to leave the kennel. The dogs were stinky, covered in sores, full of skin infections, ear infections, tail infections, and eye ulcers.”

“There were so many; hundreds of dogs living in such horrific conditions,” added Heinz. “My mind was almost paralyzed trying to comprehend, or justify, or make any kind of sense as to how this could possibly be allowed in the State of Iowa, by the USDA, and just the simple laws of humanity and our innate sense of right and wrong.”

Growing concerns

Problems at the Pratt mill were not new. The USDA had found repeated violations during inspections going back several years that have been documented on the USDA’s Animal and Plant inspection site (APHIS). As far back as three years ago, the operation had been sited for poor ventilation, lack of proper care for the dogs, and veterinary issues. Although certain problems had started to escalate according to USDA reports, the mill continued to operate.

Then in late March, there was another inspection. Instead of just one inspector, three came to the property. That inspection resulted in a 19-page report highlighted by an unheard of 25 violations from one inspection. Those violations provided detailed information on health issues for the dogs that had been ignored, severe matting, poor kennel conditions, lack of veterinary care, and more–all clear violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

It appears that that inspection may have been the end of the road for Debra Pratt’s puppy mill business.  The auction was held the end of April.

Removal of dogs from the mill

“We think it was a deal between her and the USDA—a quick thing that she had to get out—no one talked about the terms between the two,” says Nancy Harvey of the Iowa Voters for Companion Animals. She was there to observe and help pull and transport dogs for other rescues. “We do know that there were rescues that came in and pulled at least 100 dogs out of her place in early March, well before the auction.”

Many of those dogs also had serious health issues and authorities were contacted at that time. Although Harvey was shocked by what she saw on sight, she wasn’t surprised. Her organization was very familiar with Debra Pratt’s puppy mill and the continued bad reports.

“Our organization has a wall of shame for really horrible puppy mill people,” says Harvey. “Inspectors will take pictures of the dogs that are suffering and not doing well. One of her dogs was featured on the wall of shame. We knew that her puppy mill definitely stood out as very bad, with horrible inspections over and over.”

Who’s watching the mill?

As a USDA licensed breeding operation, Pratt’s puppy mill was subject to USDA inspections, which could have resulted in that organization pulling her license. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) does inspections at state-licensed facilities, but not those licensed by the USDA unless a formal complaint is filed. IDALS issues USDA licensees an operating permit, but has no regular oversight of them. Sometimes local humane organizations or law enforcement step up and investigate, closing facilities down.

“There are no checks and balances and no one is watching the USDA,” says Harvey. “We have tried to get local law enforcement to take action on this business and others based on the reports. We need more for probable cause to get a warrant for the sheriff to be allowed on the property. There often isn’t enough time or a good way for us to get that documentation.”

A couple of other things stand in the way of local enforcement. Iowa has a strict “Ag Gag” bill. Under this law, anyone who gains employment in an agricultural facility under false pretenses and records what is going on without permission of the farmer is guilty of a criminal offense. If you’re caught and convicted, you face serious misdemeanor charges greater than anyone accused of animal abuse will face.

Who foots the bill?

Another issue is costs as well. These dogs were auctioned off and the operator made money. However, if law enforcement officials had stepped in and closed the operation down, the local community may have footed the bill to house and vet the animals and connect them with rescue. Farmers in Iowa face fines when livestock is found in this condition, the same should hold true for companion animal operations.

“In a perfect world, the USDA would have shut her down, and organizations like the Humane Society of the United States or APSCA would set up kennels and shelter to help with the rescue operation. They would help with vetting and expenses” says Harvey.

“What happened here was that the mill operator auctioned the dogs off and may have made money on the situation. The rescues bid to rescue the dogs and now are paying veterinary bills to get the dogs back to normal. It’s just wrong.”

Disarray and confusion at the mill

Victor.

Everyone I spoke with has talked about all the confusion at this auction. Usually dogs are numbered and tagged and there is some paperwork for a health certificate that would at least have records of vaccinations. That wasn’t the case here.

“There was mass confusion on site at the auction,” says Harvey. “Dogs were not tagged or document and Pratt was sitting in a tent giving vaccinations. They finally called in a veterinarian to the site. It was the most disorganized auction I’ve ever seen.”

There are also questions that came up during the day as well. Heinz’s rescue had bid on a small dog that they named Victor. He looked rag-tag, but fine when they bid on him. By the time the rescue claimed him after the auction, his face was bloody and his jaw was broken to the point it couldn’t close. They’ve set up a Facebook page to keep Victor’s story in the public eye. Donations are also needed.

“The other thing that has us very concerned is that we don’t think all the dogs have been removed from the property,” says Harvey. “There was an old mobile home with moms and newborn or very young puppies. Those dogs didn’t go up for auction. We’ve been working to find out what happened.”

Other dogs that didn’t drive up the price ended up being sold for $10 or so. Harvey pulled a couple of Chihuahuas and has passed them to a friends rescue. In the meantime, the rescues that won dogs at auction are getting them spay/neutered and getting other medical issues handled by veterinarians. Then, the socialization begins since many of these dogs have not had a kind human touch.

Documenting cruelty

The rescues that have pulled the dogs have been closely documenting abuse and other issues. Most are more than willing to work with investigators if charges are pursued. Heinz and another rescuer met with Charles Stream the new county attorney in the area in the days after the auction to follow up on the remaining dogs.

He called the manager of the Oskaloosa Shelter and asked her to drop everything and head to the property with the sheriff. Unfortunately, they didn’t go until the next day. By the time she went the following day, Pratt wasn’t answering her door and there had been ample time to remove any remaining dogs.

According to several people interviewed for this report, requests were made to IDALS and several other prominent animal welfare organizations—state, regional and national—to send representatives to this auction to oversee how the animals were handled. The hope was also that they would document any violations, health issues, and/or public safety concerns.

According to USDA records, Iowa has the second most licensed puppy mills after Missouri. As far as animal welfare laws are concerned, Iowa ranks 48 out of 50 states. Illinois ranks in the top five.

To learn more about the groups working to make a change in Iowa, check Iowa Friends of Companion Animals (IFCA) and Iowa Voters for Companion Animals. IFCA investigates and works on educating the public and lawmakers about puppy mills and the Voters organization works on new legislation for Iowa.

Chicago’s fight against puppy mills

In Chicago, The Puppy Mill Project continues to educate consumers about the connection between puppy mills and pet stores and Internet pet sales. The organization is working to tighten laws and has worked with several pet stores to stop selling puppies and move to an adoption model.

The organization’s annual Mother’s in the Mills benefit this Saturday at John Barleycorn’s at 149 West Kinzie in Chicago. The Puppy Mill Project holds their benefit on Mother’s Day weekend each year to remember the mother dogs left behind in the mills. This year’s event will honor Sonja Raymond and her family, owners of Chicago’s oldest pet store Collar & Leash. The store stopped selling puppies and kittens on April 1 and now hosts adoption events.

Kathy Mordini is an animal lover who has counted rescue pets as a member of her family since she was a child. As a writer, she is passionate about advocating for homeless pets and the rescues that give these pets a second chance. She also volunteers for The Puppy Mill Project. Read her pet rescue columns on the Examiner and her pet care columns on Doggy Woof.

Here are four tips for taking care of this hairy situation:

1. Brush your cat often. Regular grooming can greatly reduce the amount of fur your cat will swallow by removing loose and stray hairs (plus it’s great bonding time!). Brush your cat well and then run a damp paper towel over her from head to tail to pick up any remaining loose hairs. For more tips on how to do it right, check out our Guide to Feline Grooming.

2. Add some more fiber to your cat’s diet. Fiber helps your cat pass hairballs more easily through her digestive system. Supplement your cat’s diet with more fiber by adding 1 tablespoon of wheat bran, 1 teaspoon rice bran, or 2 teaspoons canned pumpkin to her normal meal. Or you can grow some indoor grass, which gives your indoor kitty something fun to nibble on and provides a healthy dose of additional fiber.

3. Butter her up. Okay, don’t cover your cat in butter. But do consider feeding your cat a half-teaspoon of melted butter once a day for a few days in a row—the fat provides lubrication which helps hairballs pass through your cat’s system. Because butter is not exactly the healthiest of remedies weight-wise, don’t do this for more than a few days at a time, and if your kitty is overweight, consider a different remedy.

4. Use a special hairball product or laxative. Talk to your vet about products that may help your cat, such as a commercial tablet or mild laxative. There are quite a few available just for cats, and your vet may decide it is an appropriate course of action.

Any more tips for getting rid of hairballs? Share in the comments!

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By Tracy Ahrens

Thanksgiving night 2007 I shared a bite of pumpkin pie and whipped cream with my Brittany Spaniel, Speckles. Shortly after, he went into respiratory distress and I was rushing him to an emergency veterinary clinic 40 miles away.

I knew that he had a paralyzed larynx and partially collapsed lungs. I knew that respiratory distress would be a sign that he would be facing death. It all happened too soon after diagnosis.

I kissed his cheek, my tears wetting his fur while he was under sedation that night in the emergency clinic. As he was euthanized, I told him that I loved him and would see him again some day. That night I left without him, driving home alone.

The next day I faced cleaning my car of his vomit and fur. I cried hopelessly at these remnants of 12 years of companionship. He was not just a dog. He was my boy, my joy––an inspiration.

Anyone who loves a pet and loses that pet knows the pain that follows. You slowly heal and remember the good times. I have Speckles’ ashes on a bookshelf in my living room, along with a photo of him and a clay mold of his paw. I also wrote and published a book of stories about our relationship over the years.

The reality is, I still cry at times over missing him––tears ignited by the oddest situations. The number one trigger is seeing another Brittany. I always drop to my knees when I meet one, showering them with hugs and kisses.

For two or three years I couldn’t walk through a dog toy aisle in a store without crying. Speckles had two wicker baskets full of stuffed toys that I donated to a local animal shelter after his passing.

A surprise trigger came the spring after he died. I was raking leaves out of ornamental grasses in my backyard when I spied a tuft of his soft, orange fur. I held it between my fingers and cried.

Many times I had combed his long ear hair and feathery thighs. I’d let the fur blow in the wind for birds to use as nesting material. This particular tuft lingered and when I picked it up, I felt Speckles all over again.

A friend recently posted on Facebook how she opened a box of items that belonged to her dog who had passed. The scent of her dog emanated from a collar and made her cry.

My mom found a small amount of her cat Spike’s orange fur after he died of cancer. She sandwiched it in a frame with one of his pictures and that picture sits on her sewing table where she can “talk to” him often. She also refuses to remove an old shoebox from the headboard of her bed that Spike used to sleep on during the night.

My cat, Desemona, loved little felt mice––retrieving them after I threw them, carrying them through the house in her mouth while talking to them and batting them about on the kitchen floor. After she died, I placed her ashes on my bookshelf with her three little mice. I could not part with the mice, just as I could rarely separate her from them.

Speckles loved a large stuffed moose from the time I brought him home at three months of age until his death. I still have that moose, 18 years after he entered my life. The toy is missing its bottom lip, antlers, tail, ears, an eye and has been mended countless times; but, I cannot throw it away. Speckles slept with that moose and it has brought comfort to my current dog, Trucker, and my cat, Jack, who loved Speckles like a brother. The moose rests in a wicker basket with Trucker’s toys.

I believe that these triggers, though they spark pain and peace, are our pets’ angelic ways of letting us know they are okay and waiting to see us again. They are calling cards to say, “I love you.”

Speckles with his big stuffed moose.

Tracy Ahrens is a veteran journalist, author, artist and mom to three rescued cats and one dog. See her web site at tracyahrens.weebly.com and add her book, “Raising My Furry Children” to your collection, raisingmyfurrychildren.weebly.com.

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By Devin O’Branagan

Anthropomorphism: Attributing human characteristics to an animal.

I write fiction that is often from the perspective of a dog or cat, and I revel in anthropomorphizing. It’s a lot of fun for me as the writer, and my readers enjoy my imaginative exploration of fur critters.

Recently, I decided to ask my friends on Twitter, Facebook, and my own writers’ forum to share with me their furbabies’ human-like behaviors. This is what they said:

- Kassie Busby––My cat likes kisses and when you won’t give him any he takes them. Literally grabs your face, pulls your face in, and then gives you kisses. Such a sweet boy.

- Lorri Griffin––I came home to a cow ear placed carefully on my pillow just like a mint in a fine hotel. I thought that was a sweet gesture from my dog, though a little gross!

- Susie Harrison Wells––Our Dachshund laid on her back and let my son put a diaper on her.

- Valorie Marks––When I was sick with the flu Tyler came in and put his paw on my back and patted it very gentle like and then he just kept his paw there until I was able to get up. Always amazed me with things like that.

- Lauren Vucinich––My furbaby didn’t leave my side 15 years ago when I had a major surgery! That was the best. I miss my June Bug.

- @CritterKin––My dog never missed a Knicks’ basketball game and would cheer along with me when they won.

- @picnf––My cat, long gone now, would touch my cheek with a paw while looking into my eyes.

- @DarklyDragon––My cat Isis tiptoes onto the bed when she thinks I’m asleep!

- @Lost_Cause44––My cat talks back to me! Does that count?

- @GreenEyedLilo––My cat Lily sometimes “hugs” people she likes and wants to “hold hands” with me.

- Angie Clark––My cat Tosca opens doors.

- Prudence Halliwell––Mine opened the kitchen window while we were out and someone burgled us! [Yikes! Puts a new spin on the concept of cat burglars... - Devin]

- Karen Wingert Mittan––You could be right in the middle of playtime with Mojo, but ask him if he wants a bath, and he will instantly drop his toy and look horrified.

- Krista Walsh––Kiri throws tantrums like a kid, which lead to screaming contests. Usually results in a lot of laughs on my side.

- Kelly Schatz––I found out this weekend that Jagger likes to play on children’s playground equipment. Especially the slides!

- Paula McGerr––Our cat Lucky used to use the toilet. He would balance on the seat and do his stuff. I was quite surprised the first time; still don’t know how he learned to do it. He was a rescue cat who lived to the ripe old age of 22.

- Shari King––If we go into a store, or visit vendors at a show, Tempo will find something he wants, and just look back and forth from me to the item he wants until I get it for him. Then he is so excited. It’s quite cute how he has me trained.

- Jenny Bolter––Years ago when my daughter was only about 10, my aunt’s dog Jedi knew she had a bad leg. Instead of just laying on her leg when he curled up with her, he gently moved it with his nose, careful not to put his weight on her it, then he’d curled up by her resting his head on her tummy. I thought that was the sweetest thing ever.

- Dean Manning––I have a very polite Shih Tzu. When Sassy gets her bacon treat in the morning, she will let out a couple of grunts. It sounds a lot like “thank you.”

Speaking of talkers, here is my own story: I had a puppy named Talisman (yes, just like Ms. Tali in my books). This Tali was a Red Merle with sky blue eyes. From the time she was born, I constantly said to her, “I love you. I love you.” When she grew up she would look at me with those all-too-human eyes and actually say, “I wuv you.” Really. It was astounding.

And speaking of love, @rebeca_monster responded to my question about her furbaby’s human-like behavior with one word:  “Love.”

Yes, human or animal, we share the great capacity to love. Big, profoundly awesome, magnificent, miraculous love.

Copyright © 2013 – Devin O’Branagan – All Rights Reserved

Photo of Arlo by Connie Ceberek and used with permission.

Devin O’Branagan is a bestselling author who writes novels about uncommon heroes. Her genres include young adult urban fantasy, paranormal thrillers, comic mysteries, and fiction about dogs and cats. She is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and many of her writing projects support animal rescue. Her books have been published by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books in English, Heyne Verlag in German, and Dogan Egmont in Turkish. All of her books are available in both print and eBook formats. Visit her website at DevinWrites.com, and check her out on Facebook and Twitter.

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