“He loves life,” says his owner, Al Baillif, of Escondido, Calif. “Even after all those surgeries and chemotherapy treatments, he’s at his best when it comes to revisiting the vet. It’s like he has no bad memories of the place, and he certainly loves the staff. He literally pulls me into the hospital to see his people friends.”

Owner Al Baillif & Josh

Bailiff, 58, a retired American Express executive, adopted Josh as a puppy and the dog enjoyed good health until 2004 when he was diagnosed via a cardiac ultrasound with an asymptomatic heart condition called aortic stenosis, which has never posed life-threatening tendencies.

But this tennis-ball lover was thrown a curve ball in January 2008. Josh was taken to his veterinarian, Dr. Karen Hackett, of VCA West Bernardo Hospital in Rancho Bernardo, Calif., for his annual examination and Bailiff mentioned the dog was somewhat lethargic. Hackett sensed something was wrong, and X-rays confirmed her concern, when a large mass was spotted in the dog’s abdomen.

Josh was referred to the San Diego Veterinary Specialty Hospital, where Dr. Sean Aiken removed the mass (soft-tissue sarcoma) the following day, and the dog recovered without complication.  Within weeks, chemotherapy was initiated by Dr. Brenda Phillips, of Veterinary Specialty Hospital, which Josh tolerated well.

But this was only the beginning of this incredible golden’s Big C odyssey.

“Josh is a once-in-a-lifetime patient,” marvels Phillips.  “But he can be thankful, too, that he has a very committed owner. They both have a resilient can-do spirit – a glass-half-full feel – all the time. “In other words: perfect patient, ideal owner.

Since the first surgery, four others have been performed to remove tumors (soft-tissue sarcomas) in his intestinal area, abdomen muscles, liver and a lung. Josh quickly recovered from each.

“Josh and I first met Dr. Phillips two weeks after the first surgery,” recalls Baillif. “She recommended chemotherapy because of the type of tumor removed. At first, Josh seemed to handle chemo pretty well. After two weeks, he developed severe diarrhea and began vomiting. I thought this was something he would need to live with while battling cancer, but Phillips’ reaction was very different. She said, ‘It’s unacceptable because Josh’s quality of life must also remain high.’ She altered his protocol and Josh’s reaction was positive.”

Phillips administered four additional chemotherapy/drug protocols since then and has carefully guided Baillif and Josh through a diagnostics trail of ultrasounds, blood/urine tests and X-rays.  “She is not afraid to try new treatments, but carefully monitors them,” explains Baillif. “If Josh begins something new, she will call frequently until she is convinced he is handling it. She gets other involved, too, if their expertise is warranted.”

Josh with Dr Brenda Phillips

Since Josh’s last surgery for a solitary lung mass in late 2009, three lung nodules have appeared and receive steady monitoring. After his most recent chemotherapy, two are gone and the third is smaller.

On a 1-10 scale for quality of life today, Phillips gives Josh a 10. He’s a solid, muscular, robust animal that lives to get up each morning, go for a walk, enjoy playtime and be with his owner.

“This is an unusual case,” says Phillips. “Josh has undergone a blizzard of tumors with each modestly presenting itself.  He is one of the most incredible healers I’ve ever seen. He bounces back in two to three days, where it might take another patient a week to 10 days.

“The other issue has been cost. Many owners might not have been able to afford this, but Al’s commitment to this dog and its quality of life are exemplary. He has this ‘let’s deal with it’ attitude that has allowed us to move forward with every challenge presented to him.”

With a refreshing candor and pinpoint observation, Baillif has charted the animal’s quality of life daily. For instance, he will tell you Josh has gone 887 days (through June 30) since first being diagnosed with cancer, with 96 percent of those being “normal” quality of life time. He’s had only 35 “less than normal” days, and that includes days of surgery or when he’s had a negative reaction to chemotherapy.

“His record-keeping is a huge assist for me,” adds Phillips. “No one knows his dog better than the owner, but Al has been incredible from that respect. Any small change and he’s on the phone or e-mailing me. “

Josh has always been a happy spirit, says his owner. “When he was a year old, he attended obedience training. After the program was completed, he was given an award. It wasn’t because he had mastered all of the commands, because he hadn’t. It was given to him because he was the most enthusiastic dog in his class. Josh demonstrates that same enthusiasm today while fighting cancer.”

Their daily regimen includes three walks, extending from 15 to 45 minutes, to beaches and parks.  “Josh lets me know how he’s feeling,” explains Baillif. “On one of the trails there is a fork in the road. If he wants to move on, he will. If not, he’ll turn and tell me that’s enough, and we’ll head home.”

If he sees a neighbor he knows across the street, Josh pulls Baillif over to say hello. Conversely, if a neighbor hasn’t seen Josh for several days, he/she will come to the house or call to make certain he is OK.  “Everyone loves him,” Baillif adds.

Josh loves vacations, too. The two have taken trips to Yosemite National Park; Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach, Calif.; Big Bear; Flagstaff, Ariz.; and the Grand Canyon. But Josh has let it be known, he prefers destinations with beaches. 

As for other dogs, Josh will lie down when meeting smaller counterparts, so as to be eyeball to eyeball.  “He has an uncanny ability to establish a comfort zone with them immediately,” says Baillif.

Bailey, a female Labradoodle, next door is so enamored with Josh that she leaves her stuffed animals at the fence for him to play with. Conversely, Romeo, a Great Dane with whom he conducts a speak fest on a 6-foot fence, is his lone adversary. Both are intact males.

Baillif prefers not to disclose the cost of Josh’s care. Suffice to say it has been thousands.  “I made the decision to prioritize my spending on what I felt was important. For example, Josh is far more important to me than new cars.”

He is effusive with praise for Josh’s veterinary Dream Team. “Their expertise is incredible,” he says, “but their level of commitment to the animal’s welfare is exceptional. They have made themselves available 24/7 should the need arise.”

In early June, Baillif, Phillips and Josh traveled to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Convention in Anaheim as one of the area’s featured “Animal Survivor “stories of the year.

But the final chapter of that story is hopefully in the distant future. For now, Baillif and the Dream Team are savoring the daily spirited romp of this gregarious golden’s “extra life,” as Baillif so happily characterizes it. 
          

 

photo courtesy of nina'sphotography.com

Preparation for world-class agility-team competition is no different than any other form of sport at that level–bring your A game physically and psychologically, says Daisy Peel, 32, of Sumner.  

Despite all of the mental management, for which patience is key, the last few weeks have been among the toughest ever for her since engaging in the sport a dozen years ago.

After competing in the 2010 AKC World Agility Team tryouts in Minnesota in early May, she was forced to wait more than two weeks before learning May 24 she made the select U.S. team that will be competing in the Federation Cynologique Internationale Agility World Championships in Rieden, Germany, Oct. 1-3. That marks the second time she has been named to the U.S. squad for the Olympic Games of the sport.

“Waiting that long was really tough,” she admits. “We tried (she and her two border collies, Solar and Jester) as hard as we could in the trials and made a few mistakes. But those happen in this sport and others. Waiting to get the word is stressful, since at this point there is nothing more you can do.”

Peel, a member of the 2007 AKC World Agility Team, has discovered plenty about herself while climbing the competition ladder. Probably the most important thing, she says, is “learning that my self- worth is not about placing in the ring. While winning is nice and that’s what I strive for, it’s about the special bond one develops with his or her dog in the process. And the strong relationships you build with other competitors.

“You have to believe in your dog and appreciate the process, whether that is working out on the treadmill or lifting weights in the quiet of home, or working your dog through a challenging course at a local, national or world event before hundreds of cheering spectators.”

A chemistry major at Oregon State University, Peel was inspired by a dog-agility show she viewed on Animal Planet in her dormitory room. “I didn’t have a dog and knew nothing about agility. But I said, to myself, ‘I am going to be on Animal Planet some day.’”

Within a few months, she moved off campus into an apartment and adopted Gonzo, a red-and-white border collie, then began obedience classes and later agility instruction. She was hooked.

A year later, upon graduating from Oregon State, she moved to Portland with her then boyfriend and now husband, David, and they rescued another dog, Fly, to keep Gonzo company and satisfy Peel’s yearn for more training. Fly and Peel made it on Animal Planet in the AKC Agility Championship Finals several years later.

While teaching high-school chemistry in the Portland area, her agility involvement became even more deep-rooted. Eventually, she began teaching agility classes, simply to stay involved and to sharpen her skills. And she has been on a fast track since.

Her two super-star border collies today, Jester and Solar, have piled up numerous wins and major placements. Jester became the first AKC 26-inch jump champion in 2007, a title Solar matched this year. Solar will be her teammate in the world meet in October.

Jester was her partner on the 2007 AKC Agility World Team that competed in Hamar, Norway. “I was a first-time handler and Jester, a first-time dog, there,” she explains. “I was not prepared for what we stepped into and did not have the big picture in mind. Others tried to tell me what to expect, but until you’re there and do it, you are not totally ready.”

Lesson learned, Peel acknowledges. “That taught me the importance of learning how to compete under pressure and control your emotions. “

On a recent blog, she discusses competition at the early May U.S.A. team tryouts. “One of my goals was to go and really live up to the mental-management idea of focusing on controlling the quality of my participation in events, since I cannot control events themselves. I don’t know why it is that I can do this at nationals, but not as easily at tryouts. Maybe because tryouts represent a gateway to something I really deeply want.

“. . . I am proud of . . . meeting that goal this past weekend (May 8-10).  . . . I made some errors, my dogs made a couple of errors, but I honestly enjoyed each and every run, as well as the runs of my competitors, and I had fun. I made a promise that I would never shoot for something like the world team again if I didn’t have fun on the journey.”

Peel was inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s bestseller “Outliers. “ “because it really hit home with me that nobody makes it on their own. Upbringing, culture, friends, supporters, situation, opportunity and other factors all play into one’s total experience,” she affirms.

The agility whiz teaches 15 obedience and competition classes weekly and vies in approximately 20 agility trials a year. And she finds time to hike and exercise with the dogs, too. “Not only does that keep them in shape, but it strengthens the bond between us, too,” she says.

Border collies offer her everything she wants out of a dog. “They have a deep desire to learn and please and a personality that ranges from mellow to hyper. It’s a breed that you have to keep busy and not allow to get bored,” she explains.

Jester, 6½, is 19½ inches tall and 38 pounds; Solar, 3, measures 21 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds.  “The breed’s size and weight work well for me, since I’m 5-3,” she explains.

Asked if success in the agility ring is a 50/50 proposition between handler and animal, Peel replies, “It really falls more on the handler, from the early socialization of the dog to its continued development and the trainer’s ability to communicate effectively throughout the trial.”

Peel credits her personal coach, Linda Mecklenburg, an Ohioan, for much of her success. “Her coaching and keeping me focused on the big picture have been critical. She can spot little flaws in my handling others might miss.” While much of the communication has been via phone and e-mail, Peel attempts to travel at least once yearly to Ohio for one-on-one training.

Mecklenburg, involved in dog agility since 1990, is one of the pioneers of the sport. Recognized as one of the sport’s leaders and premier instructors, she is a 12-time member of the U.S.A. team at the FCI Agility World Championships.

Maximizing clear, positive communication in the race against the clock on agility course, explains Peel, requires pinpoint use of body language and verbal commands. And, she adds, performance is not enough. “The attitude must accompany the performance.”

She had been seeing a physician and was taking anti-anxiety medications for the disorder. Then, her physician suggested a “service dog” might help alleviate her fear to drive, go shopping or even go into a nearby fast-food outlet for a quick meal. 

“I tend to get obsessive when researching things,” she explains, “and that’s what happened when I began combing the internet for leads of organizations with expertise on dogs’ ability to help individuals with this problem. “

She discovered Heeling Allies in Seattle and Darcie Boltz, owner-training director who also owns a degree in health psychology. Rubino’s parents and her in-laws live in the Puget Sound area, so this seemed like a potential fit while her husband was about to leave for Kyrgyzstan.

Heeling Allies trains Mental Health Service Dogs to provide assistance to individuals with psychological impairments, just as Guide Dogs provide assistance to those with visual impairments. The psychological afflictions range from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and major depression to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Boltz offers a comprehensive Mental Health Service Dog board-and-train program, as well as private lessons.

“With three small children, I was painfully aware that I was creating a negative impact on my kids’ lives,” explains Rubino. “Being a military family, moving and family separation is always a factor.”

After a phone visit with Boltz, Rubino says “I felt hope for the first time in years, as she talked me through the process of choosing and training the perfect dog for me and my needs. Ryan and I talked it over before his deployment and felt the benefits of adding a Mental Health Service Dog to our family was a good move.”

Boltz encouraged Rubino to write a letter of support to send to friends and family, since money is a barrier in obtaining a medical-alert dog. The recipients of letter responded with overwhelming support, enabling her to move forward.

“None had been aware of my issues,” she explains. “I had worked so hard for so many years to hide my fears and anxiety by creating excuses to avoid social situations and many other activities.”

Training and room-and-board costs $3,000 monthly. None of Boltz’s clients has yet to find a medical-insurance company willing to pay some of the costs, despite the fact service dogs have proven to help reduce medical costs for their human partner.”

After Rubino obtained financial support, Boltz immediately began searching for the right dog to match her needs.  Enter Blue, a 1-year-old black standard poodle.

“At first, I was a bit nervous about a stranger choosing the right dog for me,” adds Rubino. “Ryan and I envisioned a small dog at the outset, but Darcie seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to dogs and pairing them with their owner.

“Blue has been a dream come to true. He wakes me up in the morning and when my youngest son cries, he reminds me to take my meds twice a day and provides a calming presence during the day.“ His wake-up call is a strong nudge from beside the bed, and the med reminder is triggered by an alarm setting attached to Blue’s collar. Immediately after it sounds, he is trained to come to Rubino and nose her hand steadily.

Blue remained with Boltz for 3½ months of room-and-board and training, then segued into Rubino’s home for additional training and bonding. For the past several weeks, Boltz, Rubino and Blue (equipped with a service-dog-in-training vest) have ventured into Costco, grocery stores, outlet malls, etc., for training and confidence building.

“I update Ryan regularly on our progress,” adds Rubino, “and he says he can tell the difference in my voice when we are talking on the phone.  He has become a big fan of Blue’s, even though they have never met first-hand. “

In stores, Blue serves as Rubino’s Velcro dog, being literally attached to her side and providing the needed room to maneuver through aisles. “People automatically give us a wider berth, and when it does get crowded, Blue presses up against me, which turns my attention to him rather than the crowds.  I had forgotten what this type of freedom felt like.”

Blue passed his American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test in March and his public-acccess test in early April.

“Blue and Lara Lee have progressed very nicely,” explains Boltz. “Often it takes six months or more of intensive training for a dog to become proficient in all areas of Mental Health Service Dog training.”

After her husband returns from the Middle East, the family will return to Nebraska, where he will be stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Neb.

Whenever Rubino has a question relating to Blue, she knows that Boltz is just a phone call or e-mail away. “Her advice and support have been key to making this all work,” adds Rubino.

In 1989, 20-year-old Trina McDonald was assaulted and raped three times while serving with the U.S. Navy in Adak, Alaska. Since leaving the service later that year, she has suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disease, which eventually triggered alcohol and drug abuse and an eventual “meltdown.”

“I was a mess,” admits McDonald, 40, of Puyallup, who has been “totally clean” since 1999. “I learned that to battle the anxiety and depression associated with PTSD I had to become my own best advocate.  And I have been doing that with the Veterans Administration since then.

Through years of therapy, she refused to be taken down by bureaucratic denials and delays in her case.  She received assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs personnel in Seattle and Dr. Ellen Li, assistant residency training, Seattle VA Medical Center and a member of the University of Washington School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences staff.

While treating McDonald since 2003, Li has encouraged her to move forward and has been an advocate for her to obtain an assistance dog. “She has written people on my behalf, including Darcie, and been instrumental in the VA agreeing to help fund a service dog for me,” explains McDonald.

Exactly how much funding will be forthcoming remains uncertain, but Boltz and McDonald are targeting early May for beginning her service-dog training.  She prefers being paired with a middle- to large-size breed like a Labrador retriever or German shepherd.

“I’m like a little kid before Christmas who knows he’s getting a bike, but he’s uncertain what kind,” smiles McDonald. “I’ve been looking at one dog-rescue web site after another for my new partner, and I e-mail Darcie with my finds almost daily. I’m certain she’s getting sick of seeing e-mails from me.”

For the first time in 20 years, McDonald is on an emotional high with anticipation that a dog will soon be opening emotional pathways for her that she has feared to embark upon. 

Mental Health Service Dogs are also known as Psychiatric Service Dogs. They are not pets, rather working dogs trained to assist individuals with disabilities. As service animals, they must be granted access rights to anywhere the general public is allowed to occupy.                                                                  

“One problem my clients might potentially face,” explains Boltz, “are questions and maybe even occasional contempt from someone saying, ‘I don’t see anything wrong with you. You don’t have any physical problem that should require a service animal.’ When the dog owner informs that individual what his or her needs are for the dog that often resolves the matter.”

To qualify for Heeling Allies, a client must provide documentation that he/she has been formally diagnosed with a mental impairment or psychological disability by a qualified health-care professional and produce a letter from that professional stating how and why the client would benefit from owning a Mental Health Service Dog and that the potential client is capable of providing a dog with exceptional care. 

It hasn’t happened yet, but Boltz assures all clients that should months or years later a dog needs to be surrendered, she will willingly take it back.

While she has found dogs for the bulk of her clients, Boltz will accept a client’s pre-owned, untrained Mental Health Service Dog providing it passes an aptitude and behavior evaluation. “I ask a lot of these dogs in training, so I want to be certain that they can respond accordingly,” explains Boltz.

The bulk of the dogs – they cannot be older than 3 — come from area shelters.  And for some clients, small dogs can be just “as powerful and practical” as larger counterparts. A dog’s ability to handle a complexity of tasks and its aptitude are top priorities in her selection process.

“Each case is so different,” she adds. Anxiety, childhood, mood, personality and substance-abuse disorders are among the wide array of potential cases she might see.

“When I have finished working with them, these dogs want to please and know their job. It then becomes imperative that the client is totally focused on what he or she needs to do to maximize the dog’s skills,” Boltz says.

After the initial in-house, one-on-one training by Boltz and gradual introduction to the new owner, the trio (Boltz, client and dog) spend time interacting in public, testing the ability of client to cope with elevators, crowds, smells, loud noises, different floor surfaces, tight spaces, etc., for which the dog has already been proofed with in-house training.

Funding scares 50 percent of her potential clients off. The $3,000 monthly fee might eventually range from $9,000 to $20,000, with the median being $12,000, before the animal and owner are totally ready to enter society as a functioning team.

Some dogs are in training for much longer, depending upon the severity of their handler’s mental impairment and the complexity of the tasks the dog must learn. “Blue was an exception to the rule. His training took half the amount of time it would have normally taken us to train a dog to do what he does,” adds Boltz. “We always joke that Blue was a service dog in a past life.”

Boltz, who spent a year developing her creative training regimen, rates her No. 1 strength as matching dog and client. A certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator and a graduate of Bastyr University with a degree in health psychology, she brings a strong  judgment mix to the table from the standpoint of client and canine.

She says on her website,”Animals, especially dogs, have an innate ability to reach to the depths of the human spirit in a way other humans simply cannot. I have seen a dog soothe and bring a smile to the face of a person who was in tremendous emotional pain. Assistance Dogs enable people to live fuller, happier and healthier lives. Training serves an important purpose, but a dog’s ability to heal has nothing at all to do with training, and everything to do with its purely magnificent spirit.”

Boltz is not a member of the regional nonprofit The Assistance Dog Club of Puget Sound or the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. The two will conduct a major workshop, “Assistance Dogs at Work,” Sept. 25-26 in Seattle. 

(For more information on Heeling Allies, visit the web site, www.mentalhealthdogs.org.  Another superb resource on psychiatric service dogs is “Healing Companions: Ordinary Dogs and Their Extraordinary Power to Transform Lives,” by Jane Miller, New Page Books, $16.99. A review of this volume, by Ranny Green, can be found on the Picks of the Litter link on this web site.)

 Not so! It’s a whole new ballgame. Times are a changing.

 The nation’s premier dog registry, sometimes labeled as elitist by mixed-breed dog owners, is inviting these same critics and their dogs to its companion events effective April 1. Think of it as March Madness extended. It’s the newbies vs. the notorieties in name only.

No one has a clue how quickly it will take these aspirants to make their mark in AKC obedience, agility and rally competitions, alongside the nation’s premier purebreds.

The premiere event in Washington state matching purebreds and mixed-breed teams is the indoor Washington State Obedience Training Club obedience and rally competition April 3-4 at Magnuson Park in Seattle.  About 10 percent of the entry is mixed breeds (34 of 336), an encouraging number for the first outing. The next area event is April 16-18, when the American Manchester Terrier Club hosts AKC agility trials at the Argus Ranch Facility For Dogs, in Auburn.

Yet another trials opportunity for mixed-breed agility teams comes May 21-23 at Argus Ranch Facility For Dogs, presented by the Seattle Kennel Club.

  
Anne Goldenberger, of Kirkland, and her multi-titled, 10½-year-old border collie-something mix, Zoe, who she adopted from the Seattle Humane Society nine years ago, is among the WSOTC entries.
             

“I am very excited the AKC has opened this door for us to compete,” says Goldenberger, president of the Washington chapter (29 members) of the Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America, “especially coming on the heels of Zoe earning her recent United Kennel Club Utility Dog title.”
              

Zoe came with aggression issues, but Goldenberger carefully segued her from basic home obedience work into more socialized settings with competition. “She has blossomed through the years, and I have always wished we could show alongside the same friends with train with,” says Goldenberger.
              

“Years ago, I questioned if Zoe would still be alive when the day came that AKC would invite mixed-breeds to compete in its performance events.  I’ve had many people tell me that she is that once-in-a-lifetime dog.
             

“We don’t get the best scores in the world, partly because I am a klutz and partly because I am still learning how to train dogs. So it’s not really about our exceptional performances as much as it is just the sheer joy she takes in doing her work. Her sparkle is beginning to fade a bit as she edges into her double digits, but it’s still there if you look closely.”
              

As sort of a celebratory, goodwill gesture, Goldenberger has organized a four-member “dream team” – two mixed breeds and two purebreds – to compete in the obedience trials. “We hope to emphasize the unity and teamwork between all dogs and their handlers, especially now that mixed breeds are competing for the same titles in the same classes as purebreds,” explains Goldenberger. The others are a Belgian Malinois mix, Belgian Tervuren and a German Shepherd.
              

According to Doug Ljungren, assistant vice president AKC Canine Partners, eight of 28 AKC obedience events (28.57 percent) in Washington state through August are open to Canine Partners, compared to 20 percent nationally.
            

Conversely, 65 percent of AKC agility events nationally have invited mixed breeds. “Many of the agility dogs compete in events held by other organizations, which allow mixed breeds,” explains Ljungren, “therefore it is more readily accepted. There are not many obedience events offered by other organizations, plus many of AKC’s obedience events are held by conformation clubs. This combination has resulted in slow acceptance.
           

“The Canine Partners Department feels confident that acceptance of the program will grow. Many clubs had already applied for their spring events at the time AKC decided to allow Canine Partners into all events at the option of the club. I am sure there are clubs that did not want to hassle with modifying their application. There is also the uncertainty of exactly how is this going to work.  Will there be unexpected problems? The uncertainty most like made some clubs reluctant.”
              

Kelly Maier, of Monroe, already an AKC agility team member with Pearl, a Boston Terrier, will bring her 4 ½-year-old Boston Terrier-Rat Terrier mix, Tucker, into the AKC ring for the first time at the late April trial in Auburn. 
              

“We’ll be competing against some of the same dogs we’ve already gone up against in United States Dog Agility Association competition,” says Maier, an artist. “I signed up Tucker for AKC competition the first day it was posted.
               

“I’m excited and confident to see what he can do. He is a good jumper, runs smoothly and has the moves of a Whippet.” Maier and the 20-pound Tucker, which she adopted from a Yakima shelter at 10 weeks of age, have been competing together for 3 ½ years.”
               

Because this is their first AKC trial, Maier and Tucker must begin in novice competition. Under the USDAA banner, the team vies in Masters, which is equivalent to the Excellent level in AKC.
              

Maier says the added opportunity to compete in AKC agility trials is a giant bonus for longtime USDAA teams.  “We average six to seven trials a year with USDAA. AKC will probably offer us two to three a month.”
             
The AKC officially embarked on the Canine Partners program last year, committing to the April 1 launch. But that version is vastly different than what you’ll see this month.
                

The initial AKC proposal called for mixed-breed teams to participate in “stand-alone” sanctioned agility, rally and obedience trials, separate from regular purebred competition.
                

Quickly, however, many member clubs let AKC hierarchy know about their reluctance to conduct separate classes for purebreds and mixed-breeds, at the same time expressing an interest in a program where both would compete together.
              

And AKC execs listened. Management asked for input from its 11-member Delegate Obedience, Tracking and Agility Committee. All 11 voted to remove the stand-alone restriction. Next, the matter went to the AKC board of directors, who voted to concur and open up companion-event competition.
             

The only caveat, however, is that each club has the option to accept or reject mixed-breed entries in its obedience, rally and agility trials.
            

For mixed-breed dog owners, the program works like this:

 
Apply online by April 30, and the registry fee is $25. Afterward, it becomes $35. Online enrollment gives dog owners their listing number withinminutes, enabling them to enter events the same day.
           

The Canine Partners listing application is available both online and on paper. Go to www.akccaninepartners.org to sign up.

 
The registry offers additional program benefits, all noted on the registry’s web site.

To search for mixed-breed events, in your area, go to the Obedience/Agility/Rally tab on AKC Events Search and click “mixed-breed classes.”

Lori Wilson of Carthage, Mo., guided Champion Starline’s Chanel, a 2-year-old female Whippet to the coveted best-in-show title Sunday, judged by Clay Coady of Paradise Valley, Ariz. Chanel, the No. 4 dog in the nation in the latest all-breed standings, moved smoothly to her 12th best-in-show win and 60th hound-group title.  The two won the hound-group title  Saturday as well.

“She showed beautifully today,” said Wilson. “Nothing seems to ever faze her. She was on when she needed to be against a very good field of dogs. “
 Lori Wilson of Carthage, Mo., holds Champion Starline’s Chanel,
a 2-year-old female Whippet,that took the Best-in-Show title Sunday,
March 14 at the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show.  Others are, from left,
judge Clay Coady, ring steward Julie Hamasaki and Seattle Kennel Club
President Tom Godwin.

Chanel, who is owned by Lori and Carey Lawrence of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is being campaigned heavily this year. Chanel, who gets her play-time exercise by chasing tennis balls, won the hound-group title in February at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, the first Whippet in 29 years to accomplish that feat.
 
When asked what she rates as Chanel’s winning features, Wilson responded, body type, smoothness, gait and temperament. “She gives me everything she has at each show,” the handler explained. “It’s never been a roller-coaster ride with her performance.”

Stacy Duncan, of Woodinville, and Keegan (Champion Poole’s Ide Got Water), a fun-filled Irish Water Spaniel, topped the Select Seven final field Saturday, judged by Chris Walkowicz, of Sherrard, Ill., and went on to take a Group 2 in the Sporting Group Sunday. Duncan and Keegan placed second in group at Westminster in February, as well. With Saturday’s successes, Keegan bumped his record to five bests-in-show and 49 best of  breed wins.
 
Keegan was the No. 1 Irish Water Spaniel in the nation last year, a major feat, since he was only shown at 39 all-breed shows. Keegan also earned a Rally Novice title in 2009 after three straight qualifying scores the week of the Irish Water Spaniel National.
 
Describing Keegan’s performance at the two shows, Duncan said, “In true Irish style, he did not disappoint. With a smile on his face, he took each challenge presented to him over the course of the weekend like a champion.”
 Stacy Duncan, of Woodinville, and Champion Poole’s Ide Got
Water (Keegan), an Irish Water Spaniel,were awarded Best-in-Show
at the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday, March 13. Looking on,
from left,are judge Chris Walkowicz, ring steward Julie Hamasaki and
Seattle Kennel Club President Tom Godwin.

“Anyone who watches Keegan show can see he truly loves being a show dog. Keegan finds those moments in the ring where he can show his strong personality with an extra bounce or joyful leap. My job is let him have a great time, but keep him focused and controlled at key moments. We managed a wonderful balance of work and play in the ring both days.”

Duncan lists the dog’s attributes as “a pleasing face, a goofy personality, beautiful coat and structurally sound.”

Obedience-trial results:
                                                                   Saturday
High in Trial: Sharon Colvin, Lake Forest Park, Webshire’s X-Pecta Freeze (Golden Retriever), 198.5.

High Combined: Sharon Colvin, Lake Forest Park, Webshire’s X-Pecta Freeze (Golden Retriever), 198.5 and 198.5.
                                                              

                                                                   Sunday
High in Trial: Laurie Weaver, Redmond, Topbrass Spirit of Johnny Jo (Golden Retriever), 199.5.

High Combined: Karen Hagensen, Spokane Valley, Wash., Sydney Von Mystique (German Shepherd), 191 and 194.
    
 

Junior showmanship results:
                                                                  Saturday
Lauren Wickwire, Corvallis, Ore., Clumber Spaniel.

                                                                  Sunday
Danica Eiswerth, Vancouver, B.C., Afghan Hound.
                                                        
     
    

If you’re like me, a good dog book is both a treasure and a resource. Add some age and the intrinsic value becomes immeasurably greater. While general-interest volumes appeal to many, vintage breed-specific counterparts (German shepherd for me) are especially coveted by collectors.

The smell, the feel, the incredible art: It doesn’t get any better than that.

Serious collectors are still buying these days, but the recession has taken a bite into highly respected dog-book companies such as Dog Treasures in Coatesville, Pa.; Dog Lovers Book Store in New York City; and Dogwise Publishing in Wenatchee.

Dogwise Publishing, which sells newer volumes at major dog shows nationwide (including the Seattle Kennel Club show March 13-14 at Qwest Field Event Center) has seen sales drop 20 percent, according to Larry Woodward, owner. The company produces how-to books and DVDs on health, training, breeding and exhibiting as well as selling recently produced reference and training volumes.

All have web sites; Dog Treasures, owned by Leonard Brook, showcases its products in East Coast antique and dog shows, and Dogwise, owned by the Woodward family, sells at major dog shows nationwide. Dog Lovers Bookshop is a web-site business only.

Dog Treasures, Brook claims, is the largest web site in the world for dog-related antiques. It has books, art, paper ephemera, photographs, objects and advertising. “Our goal is to cover the complete spectrum of canine collectibles, with an emphasis on condition and quality,” he says.

“From a profit standpoint, art brings in more than books, but since I took a good portion of the Fretwell (Francis Fretwell) collection on consignment last year, I have placed a major emphasis on books.”

The late Fretwell, of Moore, S.C., had what was believed to be the largest privately owned collection (15,000 volumes) of dog books in the world. Owner of Monfret Kennels, which bred champion Standard Poodles, Fretwell was former president and governor of the Poodle Club of American and the Italian Greyhound Club of America, plus serving as a delegate to the American Kennel Club for decades.

The books – first editions from the 1500s to the present – include the works of dozens of famed authors and cover virtually every breed recognized by the AKC through the 20th century. Offerings also focus on judging, grooming, exhibiting, breeding, animal behavior, training and children’s dog books.

Fretwell’s library was built by acquiring the collections of others and meeting dealers worldwide in his travels. In an April 2002 AKC Gazette story, he said, “There is no next prize, just something I haven’t heard about yet. But I won ‘t say I have everything I want.”

“While I have some terrific titles,” says Brook, “my timing wasn’t the best. The economy went sour just about the time the Fretwell collection was made available to me. Hopefully, things will turn around soon.”

A 20-year rare-book dealer, Brook has only done dog shows for five years. “My first dog show was at the Meadowlands (New Jersey) and it was fantastic. But it seems that I peaked that weekend and dog shows haven’t been as productive for me since.”

He transitioned to a web site several years ago with hundreds of titles purchased from garage sales, dealers, thrift shops, etc., and then added the coveted Fretwell volumes.
Some of his regular high-end customers have grabbed rare Fretwell collection titles when posted on the web site. The recession hasn’t impacted them to the degree it has the general public, Brook says.

Best breed-book sales have been Collie, Irish Wolfhound, Dachshund and Scottish Terrier, he said.

Brook doesn’t see a major difference in customer preferences of dog items in his travels. “The one thing that really stands out is my art sales at Atlanta antique shows. That market goes for vintage framed art from $150 to $1,200.”

Costs of items on the Dog Treasures web site range from $5 cigarette cards to a $5,000 painting. “We have something for every dog lover,” adds Brook. “For instance, we have a first-edition Terhune for $300 or a reprint for $30.”

Dog Lovers Bookshop, owned by New Yorkers Margot Rosenberg and Bern Marcowitz, opened in 1994 as a brick-and-mortar operation near the Empire State Building in Manhattan, but escalating rent and the internet drove them to an internet-only business in 1998.

“We still have a fantasy of reopening a book store,” says Rosenberg, “but I suspect that’s all it is, a fantasy. But why not have a dream? We never want to lose that special feel and smell of an old book. As the love of dogs bridges generations, so do books.”

Dog Lovers Bookshop offers used, out-of-print and antiquarian volumes from publishers worldwide, with special emphasis on university and small presses. The web site is A 1 for viewer friendliness, with content organized by breed, species and topic. Most of the stock is in English, but like Brook’s inventory, many titles are in foreign language.
Marcowitz adds, “We have a special affinity to fiction and art, and a passion for illustrated children’s books, both fiction and nonfiction.

“Digital is slowly taking over the book world. If I want a tree or print book with personality I must turn to an older volume. The good ones are becoming scarcer each year, so consequently now is the time to grab old dog books. The price of most is extremely low. “

Dog Lovers Bookshop lists approximately 5,000 volumes in its inventory, and selectively adds to that total year-round. Most come from estate sales, church bazaars and other New York area dealers.

Rosenberg says, “Old books are a form of comfort food, as much as for their intellectual and instructional value. They not only have character but exude history.”

Like Brook, Rosenberg and Marcowitz report requests for breed books ranges far and wide. “It’s whatever the caller owns now or as a child,” says Rosenberg. “The most common calls go something like this, adds Rosenberg, ‘When I was a kid I read a book that . . . ‘ Then the caller will describe the book and I’ll try to identify it. That book becomes his or her link to the past. That’s something you can’t find on an e-book.”

Marcowitz characterizes that special dog book as “a form of Valium” for the purchaser. “I doubt that books as we know them are going to disappear. We will just go through a period of adjustment with digital readers.

“As they become more scarce, tree books will become more precious. Every time there is a Hurricane Katrina, fire or flood we lose a few more old volumes. And because many people don’t know how to properly take care of a book, you lose even more. Many 20th-century volumes were printed on high-acid paper, which reduces their longevity. It’s the book world’s equivalent of global warming.”

The couple has received so many questions on caring for old books that they wrote “The Care and Feeding of Books” in 2002. The frontispiece is their late German Pointer.

Charlene Woodward launched Direct Book Service in 1986 as a special-order retailer in Seattle. When ordering dog books for clients, she saw a potential market niche. Her husband, Larry, joined the operation as the CEO in the late 1980s and the couple, searching for a smaller town and larger warehouse, moved to Wenatchee in 1992.

Larry’s brother, Bill, and his wife, Judy joined the firm in 1995 and have been road warriors 40-plus weekends a year at dog shows nationwide. Today the firm has 12 fulltime employees.

Recognizing that historically important books on dogs had been allowed to run out of print by other publishers, the Woodwards formed Dogwise Publishing in 2000. “Our focus is on creating humane, understandable and scientifically sound information for people who enrich their lives by working with, playing with and loving dogs,” the Woodwards say on their web site.

To augment that site, they have a 9,000-square-foot warehouse in Wenatchee open to the public Monday through Friday, where they store thousands of dog-oriented products, including new and used books.

Bill Woodward acknowledges the economy has affected the firm’s business the past two years. “We were traveling 45,000 miles a year and have cut it back to 35,000,” he says.
Larry Woodward points to other factors in the sales decline, namely competition from giant Amazon, the internet, dwindling entries and attendance at dog shows nationally and fewer major publishers willing to publish dog books.

Some of Dogwise’s inventory comes from those attending shows. “We often have people coming to our booth, saying they have dozens of dog books from a deceased family member and don’t know what to do with them,” explains Bill Woodward. “Because we have a tight schedule and aren’t in any one town too long, we encourage them to bring them to the show the next day and we’ll determine which books we’re interested in purchasing. When we have spare time, we comb book stores, too, looking to buy. “

Shows have enabled the Woodwards to build a strong nationwide customer base. “It’s a chance to meet dog owners one-on-one, find out their needs, have them sign a want-list and educate them about our web site. If we don’t have the specific title they’re looking for, there’s a good chance it will be in our Wenatchee warehouse,” says Bill Woodward.
“Occasionally,” adds Larry Woodward, “a customer will tell us about a good book we never heard of. If we give it a read and like it, we may carry it.”

From the first show at Puyallup more than 20 years ago when Charlene and Larry Woodward piled several dozen books into the back of a Toyota Camry to the truck-trailer combination today that travels cross-country with 3500 items, Dogwise has grown into a major player in the industry.

Publishing is a top priority for the company, emphasizes Larry Woodward. “We won’t take on a breed book, but with our solid group of respected authors, we can offer the dog-owning public plenty of new choices each year.” Dogwise has published approximately 50 titles the past decade; he would like to average four to eight new offerings annually.

“Audio books have never worked for us,” he says. “Now that DVDs are priced more reasonably and are somewhat easier for the author to produce, I see that becoming more popular. But the e-book may be the future of the industry, he believes. Amazon recently began selling Kindle versions of several Dogwise titles, and Woodward is enthused with the early sales figures.

“It’s an industry in transition,” concludes Larry Woodward. “But people will always own and love dogs and we’re challenged to stay ahead of the curve to answer their needs.”

Web-site addresses:
             Dog Treasures: www.dogtreasures.com
             Dog Lovers Bookshop: www.dogbooks.com
             Dogwise Publishing:  www.dogwise.com

Photo credit: Mary Bloom

Within a couple of weeks, Paladichuk, a talented junior handler, is hoping the third time will be the charm at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the premier event of its kind, in New York City. She will be competing against more than 100 of the nation’s top juniors for the sport’s top prize under the bright lights and on the green carpet before a capacity crowd of 18,000 in Madison Square Garden, hoping to become the fourth Western Washington teen since 1982, to claim that award.

“It’s a tough place to show,” she said. “The crowds are large and there is not a lot of room to move around in the grooming area. And, of course, you feel the excitement and stress, too.

“The first year (2008) I was very nervous and had a surreal feeling. Last year, I knew what to expect and was a bit more prepared. I made the final cut in my group, which was very exciting. This time, I am hoping to do even better.”

Paladichuk is an assistant to professional handlers Shea and Tiffany Skinner, of Stanwood, and travels with them to every event. Paladichuk and Tiffany Skinner will fly to New York three days before the show begins (Feb. 15) to acclimate Gleason and two dogs Skinner will be handling to the crowded Manhattan setting.

Paladichuk will travel to England in March, representing the U.S. in the International Junior Showmanship World Finals, after notching her biggest win ever in early December at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, Calif. Next to Westminster, it’s the most prestigious junior title out there.

But it was not without plenty of frustration and challenge.

Traveling with the Skinners, they were diverted from their normal Interstate 5 route by a snowstorm in the 30-mile Grapevine section north of Los Angeles

“With that show, you really need to be in line outside the arena Monday night to claim a good grooming position when the grooming building opens at 3 p.m. Wednesday. We travel in a box truck with all the crates, grooming equipment and food, and were 20^th in line when we finally pulled in,” she said.

There were 3,920 dogs entered with about that many handlers, groomers and owners trying vying for space in the grooming building. “It was crazy, and we were only able to find a position in a high-traffic area,” she added.

Last year, in celebration of the AKC’s 125^th anniversary celebration, the show adopted an open format, allowing all exhibitors to enter and compete for championship points. In addition, 133 breed clubs hosted specialties, prompting a huge entry.

The approximate 120-entry junior field competed Saturday. When Paladichuk was selected as the winner she was stunned and “beside myself.”

“It wasn’t long before my cell phone was ringing off the hook,” she recalls. “I checked it later, and had 46 unread text messages and others had posted my win on Face book. It was a night I’ll never forget.”

The only member of her family involved in showing dogs, Paladichuk says her chief influences in the ring have been the Skinners and a friend, Kim Bullard, of Lake Stevens. “They have been there when questions arose about handling and grooming. And they’ve been there when I needed emotional support.”

The Woodinville teen has learned to gradually put pressure aside in the show ring and make each performance fun. “I still stress out at big shows,” she admits, “but as I’ve grown in this sport, I have tried to learn to have fun with it, too.”

To achieve anything, she concedes, it takes a lot of dedication and hard work. “I tend to be a perfectionist, which is both good and bad in dog handling and grooming.”

When questions arise, she says professional handlers are generally very eager to answer them or provide advice.

An outstanding student at Woodinville High School, she began missing many classes because of her handling commitments. As a junior, she transferred from Woodinville to the Insight School of Washington, an online program that allowed her to study while on the road and accrue necessary credits for graduation. She is on track to graduate in June and will begin college in the fall, planning to major in business management.

“I have been showing dogs since I was 11,” she adds, “and missed out on a lot of things normal teenagers get to do. I have immersed myself in junior showmanship and 4H and need to widen my scope at this point in life. So, I’m hoping to attend college, enjoy it and figure out what I want to do with my life beyond that.”

She is not ruling out a career as a professional dog handler but wants to establish other options as well.

Paladichuk’s early involvement in dogs came chiefly through 4H. In fact, there’s a rich legacy there. One of her club mates was Anders Thoreson, of Snohomish, the 2006 Westminster junior winner.

“He set the bar pretty high for juniors from around here,” she acknowledged, “but it’s within reach.”

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion”. —Unknown

Fort Lewis’ highly trained Stryker Brigades are the public face of the giant local military base when it comes to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
However, some of the most unheralded members of the United States’ troops are its four-legged forces, a steady flow of which are treated and cared for at Joint Base Lewis/McChord by a 12-member Veterinary Treatment Facility team.

The dogs, primarily German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois and their handlers, are deployed worldwide but these days the Middle East is in the cross-hairs of many assignments.

“These breeds,” says Lt. Col. Kelvin Buchanan, commander Pacific Northwest District Veterinary Command, “have all the attributes you’d want in your partner, aggressive, smart, intuitive and athletic.

“They move quickly and allow us to accomplish our mission with more speed and safety than a human alone.”

The number on base varies considerably with deployments, adds Cpt. Melissa Hehr, officer in charge of the McChord Veterinary Treatment Facility. Recently there were 50-plus, under Special Forces, Rangers and Transportation Security Administration (air marshals or officers assigned to a commercial airport) command.

The Defense Department’s Military Working Dog Program, based at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, lists a working-dog force of approximately 2,300, according to Army Col. David Rolfe, program director, including “a couple hundred” in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With an acute sense of smell and keen sound awareness, most of the animals are trained for explosives detection, a constant problem in both war zones, and sentry duty. In other words, detect and detour.

The Military Working Dog Training Program teaches basic obedience plus advanced skills, namely attack techniques and sniffing for specific substances from explosives to drugs in a 120-day program.

“But the initial training program is just as much about working with the handler as the dog,” Rolfe emphasized in an American Forces Press Service story.  “Each must operate with a high trust of the other.”

When the dogs and their handlers arrive at Lewis/McChord, it’s the Army Veterinary Corps’ duty to make certain the animals are healthy and deployable, says Buchanan.  Lameness and minor injuries are among the common ailments seen in the hospital.

Before heading to Lewis/McChord from an overseas base, they undergo thorough physical exams, explained Hehr, “and upon reaching their home station, the dogs are examined for signs of infectious disease or illness, their medical records are reviewed to follow up with any problems that may have occurred overseas, and as a prophylactic measure, they are treated with a broad spectrum de-wormer.”

If a dog is injured in a foreign country, it is treated there by Army Veterinary Corps personnel, with follow-up major care provided at a United States base, if needed.

The Veterinary Corps lists four categories of canine readiness:

• Good to go. No limiting medical issues.
• Limited deployability. Limited to six months deployment with the Air Force and one year with the Army.
• Temporarily non-deployable. Still undergoing treatment for a previous injury and not physically capable of serving or the medical prognosis is undetermined.
• Non deployable. Medical condition prohibits the animal serving in the near future. These are usually cases where the dog has a medical condition that limits its abilities during deployment, or it requires medications or treatments that it would not be able to receive while deployed.

While the dogs and handlers are based at Lewis/McChord, most serve Military Police patrol duties and drug searches of the barracks. They also are used for special ceremonial events in the area, like a visit last fall by Vice President Joe Biden and the large memorial service at the Tacoma Dome in early December for the four slain Lakewood Police Department officers. Others are specialists in explosives, cadaver and missing-people detection. Depending on the assignment and the training, some work on-lead, others off.

Because of dramatic weather changes between this area and the Middle East, handler/dog teams are sent to Arizona and California bases for two weeks to acclimatize to the conditions they will be facing abroad. “It’s easier on the animals returning to the cooler weather here, than going in the other direction,” Hehr said.

Asked if she felt more intensity caring for a highly trained military dog than a family pet, Hehr replied, “The welfare of all animals is very important to their owners or handlers. But when you know some of these dogs are saving others’ lives you place a very high priority on caring for them.

“And when you hear a story first-hand about how the dog on your exam table saved others’ lives by finding explosives planted on a vehicle or beneath it, it really validates its importance in the war effort.”

The Army Veterinary Corps lists 700 veterinarians from all of the colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States, including more than 200 board-certified specialists.  It provides services to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps in more than 90 countries, and is delegated to perform food safety and security inspections for all of the armed services.

All attend a 12-week Officers Basic Leaders Course at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, in preparation for their first assignment. It is not a regular Army basic-training course, although participants are taught to fire a weapon, treat battle injuries and an assortment of other challenges.

Most first assignments are in the United States for 18 to 24 months. Second deployments are either overseas or to a veterinary field unit that can be deployed abroad.

As Iraqi Security Forces assume added duties and prepare for eventual U.S. withdrawal. Army Veterinary Corps members, including some from Lewis/McChord, are offering them basic medical training for Military Working Dogs, including nutrition, proper weight and grooming techniques.

Instruction also includes how to trim the dogs’ nails, clean their teeth and ears, hair trimming and the importance of clean drinking water.  Additional emphasis is given to proper paperwork and microchipping each animal.

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K9 Northwest goes over paperwork for the dogs they are preparing to bring home.

By Ranny Green

When it comes to saving dogs’ lives, animal rescue has no boundaries for Ginger Luke of Seattle and Melissa Lingk of Tacoma.

Both receive their share of angry e-mails for bringing in animals from far outside the Puget Sound area, fostering them and then finding “forever homes” for them.

Luke, founder of nonprofit Ginger’s Pet Rescue, oversees a tight network of 160 foster homes (which includes a core group of 40) but is always seeking more. “Many of our rescues are small dogs,” she emphasizes, “which are not in big numbers in local shelters. There is not a day that goes by when I don’t get a call or an e-mail from a California shelter asking if I can take more dogs which are destined to be euthanized within a day or two.”

Ginger’s Pet Rescue has found homes for more than 1,800 dogs since January 2006 but the demand is seemingly growing. Many arrive with several health issues and are mid-age and older. In other words, not prime adoption candidates.

“They don’t choose to be ignored, left outside alone all day, never groomed and fed poor quality food,” she adds. “Sure, we end up cleaning up someone else’s neglect but how can you say no to these innocent creatures?”

Last month, Ginger’s Pet Rescue was focused on finding homes for several dozen dogs rescued from Southern California wildfires. These were animals that were left behind or simply ran during the wildfires, ending up in shelters or on the streets of a nearby community. Most were not microchipped nor had ID tags.

“Each came to us with a story,” said Luke, “which we will never know.  They were traumatized and in poor condition with eye, skin and breathing problems.  We’ve had some enormous vet bills trying to restore their health and make them adoptable.”

But the chore facing Luke and her corps of volunteers isn’t simply repairing these animals’ physical maladies. Their psyche needs plenty of work, too. Imagine being displaced from the comfort of your home by a fire, then being on the move for days, eventually being moved to an overflowing animal shelter, then being trucked north to an entirely foreign environment. That’s enough to totally rattle anyone’s psychological barometer.

The key to a success, Luke says, is a committed army of foster-care volunteers. “These are truly compassionate people who provide food, care and shelter in their homes until a permanent home can be found. It’s not a job for everyone, but it’s a very fulfilling one for many.”

The crated animals are brought north in a truck, usually with 30-plus per trip. They are met in this area by volunteers, where all of their paperwork is examined closely and medical needs are determined.  Via web-site notices (www.gingerspetrescue.org), she attempts to have enough foster-home volunteers in place to accommodate every incoming animal.

“I feel like a ‘Dear Abby’ for dogs some days,” she admits. In fact, while interviewing her at the Rickshaw Restaurant, one teary-eyed woman came in with a printout sheet containing a photo of her pit-bull mix that was in need of an immediate home. The dog, however, had behavioral issues with other dogs, which stopped Luke right there.

Ginger’s Pet Rescue has no paid staff, but one of her volunteers does animal-behavioral analysis, and Luke assured the pet owner she would discuss the matter with her.  “This happens every day,” she said.

Dog rescue isn’t about me, she emphasizes, it’s about the needy animals. “We don’t have time politics and bickering. We need to direct all of our energy into helping these dogs.”

Does she ever worry about burnout among the volunteers? “You bet, ever day,” she replies.

“The bottom line is every dog deserves a second chance.  They didn’t choose to be put in the situations they’re in.  My commitment to them is finding a loving home for each.”

Last month, Luke found an incredible benefactor who is donating the use of a lighted and heated warehouse in South Seattle for use as a staging area for incoming dog transports. This will allow the Ginger’s Pet Rescue team to do all necessary documentation and clean all animals before sending them to foster homes.

The same individual purchased and insured a rescue van and equipped it with 40 crates for the organization.  “The dogs hit the jackpot, and we are so indebted to him,” added Luke.

Ginger’s Pet Rescue 2007 operating costs were $86.593 ($6,395 for dog rescues and $30,088 for veterinary bills). They soared to $243,527 in 2008 (dog rescues costing $125,690 and veterinary expenses $46,822).

Lingk’s new Tacoma-based K9 NorthWest sprung into action quickly in October, journeying to Ennis, Texas, after a nationwide alert was posted among animal-rescue organizations that Camp Wolfgang, a German shepherd sanctuary, was suddenly closing in the midst of a financial collapse.

The site housed approximately 200 dogs, any of which not rescued within two weeks, would likely face euthanasia.
Five organizations responded, but K9NorthWest was the last one in. The Tacoma team, which drove nonstop each way (3,000 miles) returned with 26 dogs, including several German shepherd mixes, an Akita and German shepherds of all ages.

“Many of the more adoptable dogs were already taken,” Lingk conceded, “but this wasn’t about that. It was all about saving these dogs’ lives and getting them a new start. In fact this was somewhat of a new frontier for us. We have concentrated chiefly on training since we began.”

Because Camp Wolfgang management gave K9 NorthWest mixed signals about its firm closure date, K9 NorthWest was forced to change plans at the last minute and made the trip with a three-horse trailer piled high with crates for the animals.
The dogs, which were housed in outside runs, appeared to have received little socialization, Lingk said. Hence, the foster volunteers face challenges aplenty from housebreaking to obedience training.

“Most had ear mites, hot spots and weepy eyes,” she added. “Some even came with bloody feet” after one to four years at Camp Wolfgang.

Add to that some are “terrified of the dark,” Lingk said. “I have never seen that before, so that’s going to take some work, too.  Others have a tendency to steal objects left nearby and hide them in their bed. Who knows whether they were ever given toys or playthings in their runs, so this may be new territory for them.  There is no destruction involved. We will keep these dogs in foster homes as long as it takes to get them physically and psychologically fit for permanent rehoming.”

The Camp Wolfgang rescue has served to put the young K9 NorthWest organization on the area animal-welfare map. “That was not our purpose,” Lingk emphasized, “but it has helped build relationships with other organizations” and produced considerable media attention, too.

To contact Ginger’s Pet Rescue, go to www.gingerspetrescue.org.

To reach K9 NorthWest, go to www.k9northwest.com.

A dog is considered overweight, according to veterinarians, if it is 5 per cent to 19 percent above its ideal weight. An obese dog is 20 percent or more over its ideal weight.

For the first time in a half century of dog ownership, I am caught in this battle of the bulge with a 7-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi rescue named Trudy that was a whopping 38 pounds when we adopted her –  10 to 13 pounds more than what the standard calls for.

Daily walks, small servings of low-calorie dry food the first several months produced very little weight loss.  A complete physical exam following her adoption didn’t reflect anything abnormal other than a need to shed those unsightly pounds.

Trudy is a prime target for future respiratory, skin and coat, immune system, osteoarthritis and cruciate/intervertebral disk-rupture problems. No matter how you add that up, it comes up to a shorter life span.

Frustrated by my lack of success in reshaping Trudy, it was time for another conference with our veterinarian last summer.  The result: We switched foods again, this time to a veterinary formula weight loss restricted- calorie dry product fed twice daily in small amounts.

Within two months, she dropped two pounds and I was feeling upbeat. But we’ve hit the proverbial wall since and she’s holding steady at 36 pounds.  We will beat this I keep telling Trudy, who disdains my message while putting her nose down skimming the kitchen floor for table scraps from the last human meal.  Sometimes I think her name should have been Hoover or Kirby, after the vacuum cleaners that suck up everything off the floor.

I know what you’re thinking: She must be getting some people-food handouts. Not from me – and I am assured by others they haven’t succumbed to her melting-heart pleas either. Her go-to-bed snack is a couple small rice-cake bites.

Her new restricted-calorie diet is supposed to help trim fat while maintaining muscle and promoting a gradual weight loss.

It is designed to help maintain steady blood-sugar levels with a carbohydrate blend of grain sorghum and barley.

It also contains beet pulp, which is the material remaining after sugar is extracted from sugar beets.  It is an important source of fiber designed to help the dog maintain intestinal health and enhances its ability to absorb nutrients.

“Dogs should lose 1 to 2 percent of their initial body weight per week,” says Dr. Stephen Swoboda, an Iams technical-services veterinarian from Eagle, Idaho.

“Getting there is the hard part,” he explains. “You must work with your veterinarian to establish a diet and exercise program that begins in moderation and builds from there.  On walks, start with 5 to 10 minutes out daily and increase that to 20 minutes two to three weeks later as your dog’s endurance and breathing pattern allows.”

Swoboda advises when checking weight-loss, restricted calorie label breakdowns, look for protein levels of 22-26 percent, fat 5-8 percent and fiber 3-4 percent.

So how does an owner determine if his/her dog is fit and healthy?  Swoboda replies, “You should be able to feel its ribs without pressing hard; its stomach should not sag; and you should see a defined waist when standing directly over it and looking down.

Oh, Trudy, we have a ways to go!