By Renee Krejci

Vaccinating your pet can prevent deadly yard disease

For guardians of pets who like to romp around outside, Colorado vets are stressing the importance of vaccinating their pets, as we head into “yard disease” season. Leptospirosis, an easily transmitted, highly contagious form of bacteria, can cause fatal kidney failure in an unvaccinated pet. The bacteria is not transmitted by bite, but is usually contracted through urine left by the infected animal. Wild animals like rabbits, squirrels, skunks, and raccoons commonly carry the contagious bacterium. It can enter a host through open wounds, tear ducts, the nose, and mouth. The disease-causing bacteria can survive in a yard for months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reports that even humans can suffer effects of the infection. Common symptoms in pets include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness, and muscle pain. Vets say the infection can be treated with antibiotics, but a
preventative vaccination is the best way to avoid it.

Guilty dog’s life spared

If Rolo the German Shepherd could talk, he might be shouting, “Free at last!” The 5-year-old dog of Arvada-resident Laura Hagan will be allowed to go home soon, after withstanding more than six months of incarceration and facing the possibility of doggie death row.

Hagan’s neighbor Kathy Hardin testified that on July 1 of last year, Rolo lunged at her and bit her twice on the buttocks while she tried to protect her young son. The defense argued that Hardin suffered a scratch, not a bite, and that Rolo was startled by the woman’s scream. A city judge ruled that Rolo should be destroyed because he is dangerous. Hagan fought to overturn the decision, and Rolo was forced to wait it out at Action Kennel & Grooming in Arvada, where Hagan visited him nearly every day.

On Feb. 26, Hagan was found guilty of owning a dangerous dog and allowing him to run loose. The guilty charge carried with it a 90-day jail sentence, which is suspended for one year if Rolo behaves. Rolo and Hagan must also continue training for 12 to 16 weeks, with monthly progress reports. Hagan is building a six-foot wooden fence, which must be inspected by the city as part of her sentence. She must also have $100,000 in liability insurance and notify the court if she moves. Rolo has achieved great fame during his trials and appeared on the Today Show on Feb. 29.

At the trial, Hagan accepted responsibility for Rolo’s actions and apologized to her neighbors. As of the court date, Rolo was still housed at Action Kennel, but should be allowed to return home soon.

For more information and court transcripts, visit RoloDog.com.

Walk to save lives with DDFL Furry Scurry

Want to help animals while having fun and exercising with your four-legged friend? Register for the Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL) Furry Scurry taking place Saturday, May 3 at Washington Park. The two-mile walk and fun run is one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers with money raised going toward the more than 25,000 animals DDFL cares for each year. This year’s fundraising goal is $850,000. Registration for the walk is $50. After initial registration, participants can create their own webpage on the DDFL website to receive pledges. Participants receive prizes based on their pledge amount—everything from Furry Scurry gear to an iPod Nano.

For more information and to register visit DDFL.org.

Spotlight on:
Kathy Deitsch, author of Doggone Green

Cedar, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and her guardian, Kathy Deitsch, have a plan to help the environment one dog—and poop mound—at a time. The two have written a book, Pets Gone Green, which is full of tips to help people take better care of their animals and the environment at the same time.
“Cedar’s a dog who really loves to serve,” Deitsch says, noting that Cedar participates in pet therapy for the elderly every week. “She just wanted to do more; she loves the earth.” Deitsch wrote most of the book from Cedar’s perspective, using her own voice only to explain research and more technical jargon.

“What we’ve come up with in her language is simple and fun, not preachy,” Deitsch explains. “Sometimes she asks me to talk when it gets complicated.”

The first topic on their agenda is something that shouldn’t be complicated—what to do with your dog’s poop. Deitsch says many people don’t think to pick it up because they think it fertilizes the grass.

“We learned dog poop is an issue of clean water. Bacteria travel to streams and rivers, then storm water lines, and it’s never treated like our waste,” she says. “There’s a lot of E. coli in dog poop.” The bacteria can be especially harmful if you have children who play in the yard. The two suggest putting the dog poop in a biodegradable bag instead of a plastic grocery bag, which sits in a landfill for ages. Other options include getting a miniature doggie septic tank for your yard or simply flushing the waste down the toilet so it’s treated like human waste. She said that cat poop has more dangerous parasites and is best sent to the landfill. Dietsch recommends using a plant-based, biodegradable cat litter that is low in dust and not harmful to the environment. Eco-friendly options include litter made from corn, wood pulp, orange peels, recycled paper, and sterile sawdust pellets.

Deitsch says she doesn’t want to give away too much of the book, but she did let us know a few more helpful hints for going green with your pet.

“Check out what’s in your pet’s food,” she says, noting that you need to learn how to read a label and be prepared to pay a little more for quality food. Also look into what types of products you and your groomer are using on your pet.

“People just don’t realize there are so many chemicals in products, whether they be people or dog products,” Deitsch says. “Those over time have a cumulative effect on our bodies.” For more tips, be sure to check out Pets Gone Green, scheduled for release on Earth Day, April 22.

If interested in purchasing the book, visit PetsGoneGreen.com.

Dogs used to help domestic violence victims

For accredited domestic violence and drug and alcohol therapist Victoria Youngblood, every day is “take your dogs to work day.” Her rescued dogs, Dulce, Cobre, and Suerte, come with her to her office at Genesis, a therapy and treatment center located in Colorado Springs. “They’re here from whenever I get in until whenever I leave, at least eight hours a day,” Youngblood says. “Wherever I go, the dogs go.”

In addition to educating her clients about animal behaviors, she also uses the dogs in her therapy sessions.

“With women who are victims, my dogs have a lot of empathy,” she says. “They will sit with them and get the victims more comfortable [when they pet] them.” She says she does not let the dogs near the perpetrators. “The dogs don’t go near people unless I give them permission.”

Youngblood is the only bilingual animal cruelty therapist in Colorado. When someone is charged with animal cruelty or violence, he or she is referred to Youngblood, who performs an evaluation and makes a recommendation to the court. The accused may then undergo therapy and then mandatory training at a local kennel. “They learn what behaviors are normal for a better relationship with the animal and how to enjoy the animal instead of always being angry with them,” Youngblood says. “It’s a fairly new way of helping animals. They’re just as much victims of domestic violence.”