SE Minnesota’s Premier Animal Magazine summer 2015

wags, whiskers, hooves and fins

IT’S A ZOO OUT THERE Visit reptiles, farm animals, wild animals and eagles this summer

THE RETRIEVERS Bringing lost dogs home

GREAT DANE SANCTUARY

DOCK DIVING DOGS www.thewagazine.com To our pets, the grass really is greener in the neighbor’s yard. Proud Supporter of the Paws & Claws Humane Society Our exclusive Boundary Plus® Technology provides your pets more of your yard to enjoy We had our Invisible Fence® Brand system installed 10 years ago and during that time and greater protection from escape. have trained 5 dogs on the system. Living in a somewhat rural environment it’s not unusual for us • M aximum Space to Safely Run and Play – to have deer, turkeys, a variety of birds and even The only professionally installed solution where your pet’s boundary begins a woodchuck run through our property. Our dogs at the buried cable, maximizing your pet’s play area. are Springer Spaniels so they love a good chase, • E x c lu s ive No-Escape Technology with Perceived Endless Boundary – but have without fail stopped at the property line Addresses a main concern with traditional pet fences in that traditional every time. I believe that this is due to the quality technology creates a boundary limited in size; Boundary Plus® Technology of the system and the training our dogs have creates a perceived endless boundary. received. Invisible Fence® Brand has kept our dogs safe at home! • with leading animal behaviorists. - Ann and Todd, Mantorville, MN

Invisible Fence of Southern Minnesota 507.280.9791 | 800-578-DOGS (3647) www.InvisibleFence.com ©2015 Invisible Fence, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SE Minnesota’s Premier Animal Magazine

wags, whiskers, hooves and fins

9 13 27 30 what’s inside... summer 2015

YOUR PHOTOS RESCUE IN THE BUSINESS IN THE BUSINESS 6 13 9 16 Pets on Parade With Great Danes It’s a Zoo Out There Pet Stop Reader-submitted photos Comes Great Responsibility Visit the reptiles, farm Underground dog fencing Rescue and sanctuary for animals, wild animals and eagles that’s more train than pain one of the biggest breeds of southeast Minnesota BY BOB FREUND BY BOB FREUND BY AMY BRASE

summer 2015 SE Minnesota’s Premier Animal Magazine on the cover

wags, whiskers, hooves and fins LIVING WITH PETS LIVING WITH PETS 22 READY, SET, SPLASH! 27 30 DOCK DIVING The Retrievers Beauty & the Beast Dogs love it, their people love it, Bringing lost dogs home Celebrating the Funny Looking Dog everybody gets wet BY MARLENE PETERSEN BY C. G. WORRELL BY KL SNYDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIODAN PHOTOGRAPHY www.thewagazine.com DOCK DIVING DOGS

VET CHECK BOOK REVIEW TRAINING HAPPY TAILS 19 31 32 42 Pet First Aid “A Matter of Breeding” and School for Dogs Members of a Particular In case of emergency “My Boy, Ben” Training classes reach far beyond Kingdom BY LENA HEWITT BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER teaching sit and stay A series of hamsters + BY AMY BRASE a flying wiener dog + one understanding mother = lifelong love affair with animals 5 FROM EDITOR BY MARY KETTL you’ll 38 NOSE FOR NEWS 39 RESCUE DIRECTORY always find... 41 GET THE SCOOP 41 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

www.thewagazine.com | 3 What’s Happening at the Stores?

June 1-13 ……… Mauri Super Premium Pet Food Days at both stores June June 8 ………… Mauri Demo Day at both stores (while supplies last) June 10 ……… City-wide Rabies Clinic at the South store from 12-4 pm June 13 ……… Dr. Appell Vaccine and Wellness Clinic at the South store 2-4:30 pm 2015 June 13 ……… GroomingTails open June 14-27 ....… Blue Buffalo Pet Food Days at both stores June 15 ……… Blue Buffalo Demo Day at both stores (while supplies last) June 20 ……… Pony Up fundraiser for RideAbility at the South store 11am-3 pm June 26 ……… Blue Buffalo Demo Day at both stores (while supplies last) June 27 ……… K-9 Carnival June 27 ……… Dr. Appell Vaccine and Wellness Clinic at the South store 2-4:30 pm June 27 ……… GroomingTails open

Rochester Feed & Country Store NORTH LOCATION: 3155 Wellner Dr. NE, Rochester • 507.289.1396 SOUTH LOCATION: 5 11-1/2 St SE, Rochester • 507.285.5547 • rochesterfeed.com FROM EDITOR | SE Minnesota’s Premier Animal Magazine

wags, whiskers, hooves and fins SUMMER 2015 Volume 3 Issue 2

PUBLISHERS Kelvin Andow Kate Brue Ellington Starks

EDITOR Ellington Starks You can’t teach this. Budder has an innate desire to fetch the ball.

DESIGNER our Budder, a Springer Spaniel, has been ball crazy. Every morning Kate Brue Since he was a pup, before breakfast, we play fetch in the backyard. When I come home from work, the same. He’ll toss the MARKETING/ ball at my feet with a bob of his head, then crouch down like a soccer goalie, trying to anticipate which PHOTOGRAPHY way I’ll throw it. The kid is a timing genius, snatching the ball right out of its trajectory so he can return it to me, so I can throw it again. I act like a spectator, clapping and cheering when he executes a Sports- Kelvin Andow Center-worthy maneuver. SALES CONSULTANTS A few years ago, we added water. It was the the dog park at Leashes & Leads. And there was a dock. Ann Indykiewicz Ker-plunk went the ball. And without hesitation, Budder was airborne off that dock, emerging from the water with ball in mouth. Mike Quiggle We treat him to the throw-the-ball-off-the-dock experience as often as possible, and I don’t think the WRITERS boy knows a greater pleasure in life. After witnessing him do what he was born to do, I feel like we would Amy Brase be denying him something if we didn’t throw that ball. Bob Freund Can you believe there is a canine sport for dock diving? Our cover story showcases this slice of sum- Lena Hewitt mertime perfection, and it turns out that any dog can do it. Some do it for competition, and some do it Mary Kettl for fun. On p. 22, you’ll meet several who are making a splash. Terri Schlichenmeyer Many canine sports take advantage of a dog’s built-in ability. In dock diving, it’s fetching and swim- Marlene Petersen ming. In nose work, it’s scenting abilities. Agility, rally obedience and canine freestyle showcase a dog’s KL Snyder speed and relationship with his owner. CG Worrell Any canine can sample these sports via classes in southeast Minnesota (see p. 32). Nobody expects your dog to turn in to Diva the dock-diving Rottweiler (see her in her pink tutu in our cover story), but you can the wagazine is published give your companion a unique form of exercise, the chance to perform a job and a much-needed outing quarterly by with you. the wagazine L.L.C. Budder lives to play ball, and I love that the activity requires me. What does your dog live to do with P.O. Box 9073 you? This summer, try something new with your pooch. You can tell us about it at the following events, Rochester, MN 55903 where we hope to meet you and your dog: Yearly subscriptions $20 © the wagazine L.L.C. All rights reserved. No part of YAPPY HOURS: June 7 & 21, July 5 & 19, August 2 & 16, Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill this publication may be ARF IN THE PARK: July 18, Eagles Club reproduced without written permission from the publisher. DOWNTOWN DOGS: August 2, Peace Plaza Printed in the USA.

For advertising information: Happy Summer! Ann Indykiewicz 507-398-4870 [email protected] Please join us in welcoming Ann Indykiewicz to our team! Article information, ideas and comments: If you are interested in or have any questions about advertising, Ellington Starks contact Ann at 507-398-4870 or email [email protected] 507-271-8107 [email protected] www.thewagazine.com See p. 16 to learn how to WIN A FREE PET STOP UNDERGROUND DOG FENCE! Find us on Facebook: the wagazine www.thewagazine.com | 5 { Perfect for...Perfect CAT SELFIE! Po loves screens. lookingatgadget 6 | ~ ~ sitting onornearmeourswing. real dog,Wallace.lap dogwith, Both “Red” sheisa chicken whothinks the Pyrenees rescued stray. Great isour6-month-old Layla In Loving Memory... Deb

Hanna and Amy Liebl Amy and Hanna | wagazine | summer2015 PETSONPARADE ~

Joy Ion, Rosepoint Chain Lightning, was an amazing Rough Collie who brought joy joy brought who Collie Rough amazing an was Lightning, Chain Rosepoint Ion, to all the people he visited as a therapy dog through Seasons Hospice. He had had He Hospice. Seasons through dog therapy a as visited he people the all to an amazing life in four short years, earning rally and agility titles, passing his his passing titles, agility and rally earning years, short four in life amazing an CGC at 9 months old and becoming a registered therapy dog at just over 1 1 over just at dog therapy registered a becoming and old months 9 at CGC year old. Rock solid and sweet in nature, he knew when to be silly and when he he when and silly be to when knew he nature, in sweet and solid Rock old. year needed to just be there for someone. Sadly, his flame burnt bright and far too too far and bright burnt flame his Sadly, someone. for there be just to needed fast when an illness that proved difficult to control took him in November. My My November. in him took control to difficult proved that illness an when fast little angel earned his wings. wings. his earned angel little { ~ ~ We together. do everything she willbetwo years summer. oldthis HernameisOkleeand Minnesota. This ismy in fall andIlast Doberman Kelley Chonis-Ruszczyk Kelley

“If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.” Lucy ismy sweet catwho lived be21 to year. andpassed away past this

~ ~ Want to see your pet in print? { Jennie Brass of Foxy’s Art Box Art Foxy’s of Brass Jennie {Send photos to [email protected]. year. ILOVE him. seehimaboutoncea to get I only He’s my brother’s, inMichigan—and This isBarney, my nephew, of. sort ~ HoundandLab. Basset Addison’s Disease.Sophieisamixof Houndwhohas isaBasset Molly Sandy Vesledahl Sandy

~ ~

Deana Sandy Vesledahl Sandy ~ ~ Presto, 3(above bottom). Border Collies,Ashenpaw, 11, and Border Collie.Shejoins my current Sheisoursecondrescued sports. herupforversatility sets that incanine fostered! Shehasagreat personality oldandwas she is7months amazingly Border CollieRescue ofMinnesota, Phoenix (above usfrom comesto top) ready addanew to ourcrew. dogto 4-year-old Rough Colliewe were lossofIon,ourbeloved the After ~ Howie play! to learned just

Jennie Brass of Foxy’s Art Box Art Foxy’s of Brass Jennie

Kelsey Grierson Kelsey Here are my two boys, Roscoe left and Jasper. They are saying “Hi Mom, can I have a treat?” ~ Terri

Our horse BonBon and our sweet Sam ~ Amanda Taylor

Malcolm, 3, is a Black Lab/Am Staff. We rescued him in 2013. He is a big goof and loves to give hugs. His sports are lure coursing, weight pull and dockjumping. Shaylee, 6, is a Yellow Lab. She loves lure coursing, dockjumping and catching snowballs in the winter. ~ Sherry Olson-Justice 9-year-old Katy was a stray and has settled in to a very content lifestyle. She is the purrrfect curious kitty! My beautiful Bella Luna (aka Bells) ~ Sue Steinbach (top) just turned 6! She is a Tortie with lots of tortitude and I love her so! www.facebook.com/TortieBella My brother cat, Wally, (bottom) who is happily owned by my mom Deb. Adopted last year from Paws and Claws. ~ Sarah Q

Here are some of our pets. Our 3 Min Pins are Daisy, Buddy, and Runt. Our pig is Harley. The Boxer with the glasses is Rainy. The other Boxer is This is our little spitfire, Chip the Chiweenie (cross breed of Chihuahua Izzy. ~ Destini Lockwood-Sandlin and Weiner dog)! He is very energet- ic and constantly moving around or playing. He likes to go on walks, but not when there is snow on the ground! 10-month-old Beagle, Augie, is loved Once again, Stinky the cat, “assisting” The only thing Chip loves more than and adored by his doggy mama. in the production of the Summer issue treats is cuddling with his mom before ~ Kelly Olsgard of the Wagazine! Thanks Stinks! he falls asleep. - Shelby Muller ~ Kate Brue www.thewagazine.com | 7 Yukon Quest and Iditarod Dog Mushers feed their dogs raw meats from Big Dan’s, SO WHY WOULDN’T YOU?

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Hospital Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm • Sat 8am-Noon Boarding Pick-ups and Drop-offs: Mon-Fri 6am-6pm • Sat-Sun 7am-7pm Boarding phone: 507-289-PETS (7387)

8 | wagazine | summer 2015 IN THE BUSINESS | It’s a Out There Visit the reptiles, farm animals, wild animals and eagles of southeast Minnesota By Amy Brase

If you love animals of all kinds, then you’ll love visiting these destinations around southeast Minnesota and meeting new furry and not-so-furry friends.

www.theradzoo.com 3297 N. County Road 45, Owatonna REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN DISCOVERY ZOO Weekdays 10 -5, Saturday 9-6, Sunday 12-5 Lizards, scorpions Do feed the animals. Jamie and Melissa spent years as and pythons, oh, my! Animal feedings are on professional animal keepers at Teens & Adults: $9.50 You’ll forget you’re in Saturday 3–4 p.m. and Sunday premiere zoological institutions Kids 3–12: $7.50 Minnesota when you visit the 2–3 p.m. Tortoises feast on such as Busch Gardens, the Kids 2 and under: FREE RAD Zoo, home to a wildly salads while lizards indulge in Jacksonville Zoo and Disney’s Seniors 65+: $7.50 diverse collection of animals. crickets. Lucky guests may even Animal Kingdom before Miltary & Family: $7.50 These aren’t your typical pets get to see “Big Al” or one of the opening the RAD Zoo in 2009. MN Teachers & Librarians: FREE and this isn’t your typical zoo. pythons swallow a large rat. There are cool things to learn Have fun and feel safe. and all sorts of critters to touch. “We’ve never had an injury to Sticky-toed geckos, googly- any of our guests,” says Jamie eyed chameleons, even a Pastika. “We just want to en- tarantula. You’ll see chattering courage an appreciation for this parrots and more in natural- type of animal and create an istic recreations of their native educational, fun experience.” environments. Be a party animal. When Meet Bieber’s Boa. Justin is the last time you attended Bieber’s former pet lives at a birthday party where the the RAD Zoo. His name is guests got to feed worms to Johnson and he’s an albino Boa Meet the owners. The lizards and take pictures with a Constrictor. Perhaps the bigger Pastika family (Jamie, Melissa python? The RAD Zoo has a star is 12-foot long alligator and daughters Brianna, Kayla birthday pavilion for parties, or named Big Al who will turn and Journey) is passionate it can come to your home with

Photos courtesy of Reptile & Amphibian Discover Zoo. & Amphibian Discover courtesyPhotos of Reptile 70 this year. about reptiles and amphibians. a select group of animals.

The RAD Zoo is home to over 150 kinds of animals from all over the world exhibited in naturalistic recreations of their native environments.

www.thewagazine.com | 9 www.redbarnlearningfarm.com 27251 State Highway 30, Hayfield RED BARN LEARNING FARM Summer Weekends: June 14/15, July 12/13, Aug 16/17 Weekdays: Check online calendar for availability The Red Barn Learning Get personal with Ages 2 and up: Farm is eight acres pygmies. Hang out with $6 plus tax of hands-on learning alpacas, pygmy goats, fainting with the largest petting zoo in goats and pot-belly pigs. Pizza! Pizza! The spring/ southern Minnesota. Spend a See 15 varieties of farm animals summer curriculum is “Farmers few hours pretending to drive a in one place. Other residents Grow Great Pizza!” Learn about tractor, dressing up like a farmer, include chickens, ducks, geese, how farm products are used to exploring the silo, climbing on turkeys, sheep, cows, donkeys, make one of America’s favorite straw and feeding the animals. ponies, llamas, barn kitties foods. Help plant herbs and and bunnies. vegetables in the pizza garden Meet the farmers. Brian and attend a Wood-fire Pizza and Brenna Scanlon dreamed of Take a group. Make a Night on the Farm. sharing their farm in a way that reservation for a 2-hour visit would educate and bless families with a group of 10 or more Party on the farm. Round and be a shared vision for their on weekdays. up the little cowboys and own children. “We are pas- cowgirls for a birthday at the sionate about making sure our Get the goods. The seasonal barn. You’ll have use of the visitors understand the connec- farm store is full of homegrown entire facility, including a picnic tion between farm and food,” goodies and hometown crafts. shelter, barn, petting zoo and says Brenna Scanlon. “The joy Enjoy naturally-grown produce, play areas. Choose a wagon ride on people’s faces when they visit frozen free-range chickens, and or pony rides for each child. our animals never gets old.” other items from local artisans.

The Brase kids and friends visited the Red Barn Learning Farm in the spring. courtesyPhotos of Amy Brase.

www.co.olmsted.mn.us/pw/parks/ oxbowpark/zollmanzoo 5731 County Road 105 NW, Byron • Daily 10–4 ZOLLMAN ZOO AT OXBOW PARK No admission fees, but donations are welcomed dedication to Olmsted County is set to open by the end of June parks and for his steadfast belief 2015. “It’s going to be a place Meet the residents. in compassionate animal care where kids can run free and More than 30 species of wild and environmental education. explore nature,” says Clarissa animals native to Minnesota Josselyn, Oxbow Park naturalist. live in this country setting. “We hope that it will be really While the otters are always a fun and connect kids back to guest favorite – you can watch nature instead of video games.” them swim underwater – there Themed areas will entice chil- are also wolves, elk and dren to find their way through a porcupines. Many have physical maze of grasses, hunt for toads, injuries that have left them turtles, and salamanders in a non-releasable while others pond, play in a geo-dig sandpit, are zoo animals from other make music with a pebble harp, facilities. Follow the meandering build forts with sticks, and roll boardwalk and feed a handful Explore indoors. The down the rolling hill. That’s of grass to the goats, enjoy free Oxbow Nature Center houses right – a hill designated just for entertainment by the prairie common snakes of the region, rolling. A solar system – with dogs and gaze at the buffalo as well as displays and artifacts. each planet created from a herd before settling in for a The center offers educational different material – will show picnic along the Zumbro River. and recreational programs too. the actual distance between our planets. A bird board will Honor the man behind the Play in the new encourage children to compare zoo. It’s named after Dr. Paul playscape. The Path of their wing span to their flying

Zollman, in recognition of his Imagination Natural Playscape friends. Park. at Oxbow Zoo courtesyPhotos of Zollman

From bears to birds to bison, you won’t be bored at Zollman Zoo.

10 | wagazine | summer 2015 www.nationaleaglecenter.org 50 Pembroke Ave., Wabasha • Hours: 10–5 NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER Adults (18–61): $8 • Seniors (62+): $6 • Students (4–17): $5 Children (3 & Under): FREE • NEC Members: FREE See America’s ma- jestic eagle species in the wild along the Mississippi Take a guided tour. Take a River. Meet eagle ambassadors 4-hour coach bus tour to view Angel, Harriet and some of bald and golden eagles in the their feathered friends who live Upper Mississippi River Valley at the center due to injuries. with expert naturalists. Cost is $25 for members, $35 for Try it. Climb inside an eagle’s non-members. nest and learn about young eagle development. Test your Check out what’s new. Remember to bring: strength against an eagle’s. “We recently launched a new Cameras and binoculars. Discover just how they soar so exhibit called Masters of the gracefully. Sky,” says Eileen Hanson, Amy Brase is a writer with three director of public relations. “It animal-loving kiddos who love See it. Live eagle programs features the diversity of raptors these destinations (and a dog with staff naturalists at 11a.m., that can be found in the area who wishes he was invited, too!). 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Learn about and teaches about how and the cultural aspects, biology, why they migrate. It’s a hands- ecology and natural history of on exhibit with actual raptor eagles. Watch the eagles tear specimens. Guests can use a apart fish and other fine cuisine videoscope to take a closer look At the Eagle Center, you can get to enjoy during the program. at wings and feathers. close to the giant national bird. Photos courtesyPhotos of Amy Brase. Eagle Center. courtesyPhotos of National

ZOLLMAN ZOO AT OXBOW PARK

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I am proud to be MINNESOTA’S MEDIA SPOKESPERSON FOR Sophie RESCUE DOGS and very honored to be the COME STAY WITH Chloe voice for all of the dogs US AND BRING that deserve a better life and a 2nd chance. YOUR 4-LEGGED I have been selling real estate in the area for the past FRIENDS! 10 years and looking forward to finding homes for all the homeowners with both 2 & 4 legged family members!

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12 | wagazine | summer 2015 RESCUE |

WITH GREAT DANES COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

Rescue and sanctuary provide temporary and permanent home for one of the biggest breeds By Bob Freund

n the far northwestern reach of MAINTAINING THE DANES Wisconsin, a small group of dog The Rescue and Sanctuary are located lovers has created a last home for some together about a mile west of the city of lucky Great Danes. All of these large, Siren,Wis. Ann Heinrich of Siren, founder Isometimes majestic, canines will live of Great Dane Rescue, last year donated out their remaining days at a complex on five acres of land as a home base for the a former farm near Siren, Wis., with their non-profit organization and its operations. food and shelter provided. They come from “I’ve had Danes for over 40 years,” says places throughout the United States. Heinrich, 72. “I’ve owned them; I’ve shown Some are ill; some have been aggressive Great Dane Rescue of Minnesota & them (in dog competitions).” Today, she in the past for one reason or another. Some Wisconsin operates the Sanctuary as a surrounds herself with them in her mobile will be there for months, some for years. second facet of its mission to shelter Great home on The Dane Farm, where she lives. But count them as lucky, because their Danes. While rescue organizations typically They can nap on the sofa, sprawl out on the home at the Great Dane Sanctuary often is find permanent home for pets, few support living room floor or rest in a recliner. the alternative to a more immediate demise, a special refuge for unadoptable animals “I try to rotate them, so that every two

Photo by Dave and Rhea Miller. Dave by Photo whether or not it actually is deserved. like Great Dane Sanctuary. days or nights there is a different group of

www.thewagazine.com | 13 Left to right: Ann Heinrich donated the land for the sanctuary and manages the property and up to 18 Great Danes. Walter is one of the resident Danes.

dogs staying with me. I don’t want them to he died. He was a typical majestic gentle into biting. “Ninety-nine percent of the feel like they’re unloved,” Heinrich says. giant,” Pecina says. time, these are just normal, wonderful dogs, Heinrich also is the main manager for The Gracie has been with them for five years. and that’s why we feel they deserve a chance Dane Farm. She and another employee keep “She is a very loving dog who also happens at life.” Rescue organizations won’t accept kennels clean, prepare meals for as many as to be the smartest dog we’ve ever had. Both them because of liability, but Great Dane 18 Great Danes and wash between four and Danes have brought great joy into our lives.” Sanctuary does accept them. eight loads of blankets a day. Pecina urges pet lovers to look into Wittenmeyer co-founded the unusual Last summer, volunteers gutted the three- rescue organizations when picking a dog program with Heinrich. “We both sepa- car garage on the property and turned it into for adoption. rately had always felt a need for Great Dane a shelter for both the rescue and sanctuary Sanctuary,” she says, dogs. It is big enough to hold 14 kennels, Like Heinrich, she also has a long history but it also is too small. “We need another with dogs, having worked as a certified building that is three times the size of this,” canine massage therapist in Colorado. Heinrich says. She currently operates a dog boarding But the site does contain enough space business in her home of Boyceville, Wis., to allow the large dogs to run. They can north of Eau Claire. roam and explore about three of the five But the long-term commitment to feed acres making up the farm. Part of the and shelter the Sanctuary dogs also adds to acreage is wooded. financial strain for parent company Great Dane Rescue of Minnesota & Wisconsin. THE RESCUE THE SANCTUARY The Sanctuary produces no regular income, Great Dane Rescue of Minnesota & The Great Dane Sanctuary offers a perma- except whatever it can garner from grants Wisconsin takes in unwanted dogs, gives nent home for Great Danes that cannot and financial gifts. Great Dane Rescue has them veterinary care and prepares them be adopted. “These dogs are either too old income from dog adoptions, and it must for adoption into permanent homes. The or too sick or have behavior issues,” says absorb the remainder of costs. numbers available for adoption vary. In mid- Sanctuary president Meg Wittenmeyer. “We pretty much constantly have April, the organization had five Great Danes “Great Danes, because of their size, if they something going on to raise money for the on the list, with three being considered for are not adoptable, the only recourse is Sanctuary, which needs $3,000 a month to placement. Nine typically would be the euthanasia.” The Sanctuary provides another pay its bills,” Wittenmeyer says. maximum available. alternative for some dogs. Jennifer Pecina of Rochester was among Biting is often the fault that brings them DO FENCE ME IN those adopting from the Great Dane Rescue. to Sanctuary. “We have one dog that was Heinrich wishes for a “much, much, much “We are certainly grateful for the rescue, as basically court-ordered to come to the bigger facility” to take in all Great Danes they allowed us to welcome two Great Danes Sanctuary or he had to be put down,” needing a home. But, before expanding, into our home to love,” she said. “We were Wittenmeyer says. The dogs at the Sanctuary there may be other pressing needs. blessed to enjoy Oscar for three years before might have been provoked or mistreated “We’re desperately trying to raise money Photos by Dave & Rhea Miller. Dave by Photos

14 | wagazine | summer 2015 Photos courtesy of Great Dane Rescue of Minnesota & Wisconsin. & of Minnesota Rescue Dane courtesyPhotos of Great

Left to right: Duke has his choice of trails at the sanctuary. The garage-turned-shelter can hold about 14 kennels.

to put up chain link fence,” she says. “With this many dogs here, we need something More about Great Dane Rescue of Minnesota much more secure.” A campaign now is & Wisconsin at www.gdromn.org underway to raise the money. More about the Great Dane Sanctuary at www.danefarm.org Bob Freund is a writer based in Rochester. Both the rescue and the sanctuary have Facebook pages.

ABOUT GREAT DANES You Are Invited To THE DANE FARM GROWTH: Danes usually have their height by 18 months old. A male Dane may be 3 to 4 years old before GRAND OPENING he is physically mature. July 18, 2015 - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. LIFESPAN: 7-10 years Celebrate with us at The Dane Farm in beautiful rural FEEDING: An average Dane puppy Wisconsin. Make plans and reservations early, as the area might eat 10-12 cups of a premium fills up fast with summer tourists. RSVP requested! dog food daily. Once they are mature, they will eat substantially less. Ribbon cutting, Deed Transfer, Door Prizes, Champagne!

COLORS: The AKC lists 9 standard The Dane Farm colors, including black, white, 8238 Waldora Rd, Siren, WI 54872 black & white, blue, brindle, fawn, www.danefarm.org • www.gdromn.org harlequin, mantle and merle.

www.thewagazine.com | 15 | IN THE BUSINESS

Underground dog fencing that’s more train than pain By Bob Freund | Photography by Kelvin Andow

ricka Tung’s Chocolate In practice, the dogs learn to stay technology. He hoped to carve out Labrador Retrievers inside the fence more by “train” than a niche with a Pet Stop innovation can romp and race over pain, he says. that was simple, but had potential to much of their five-acre When he installs a system, Barnett be popular: rechargeable batteries. Eyard in southwest Rochester. She first assesses the dog (or cat, if ap- Many competitors powered gives Luna, 10, and Moe, 7, plenty propriate) on site and then instructs the receivers in their pet collars of apparently unfenced room to its owner about how to train the pet with costly batteries that were roam, despite a busy street nearby. for best response and safety. Barnett not standard types. That meant But a containment fence does tailors the training to distractions spending about $70 a year to change enclose about two-thirds of her yard. that might trigger the dog’s instincts, batteries every two to three months, It is buried in the ground beneath such squirrels. “I won’t put in a fence the entrepreneur estimates. their paws. “They always obey it,” if I don’t meet the dog,” he says. “I thought, ‘This (rechargeable she says with confidence. “They The training might begin with battery) is something people will cannot even be tempted by their boundary flags and a “beep” sound appreciate.’” favorite thing – tennis balls!” that the pet learns to recognize; it The businessman also was drawn Her hidden pet fence is one then moves to the collar signals. In by Pet Stop’s “Made in America” among hundreds installed by Pet the end, “it is positive reinforcement sourcing for all elements in its Stop of Rochester in its past four that keeps the dogs in,” the Pet Stop fencing systems. seasons of business, says Jeff Barnett, owner says. That combines gentle Barnett promotes his business owner of the locally based company. discipline with a reward, usually in as the only underground pet fence the form of treats. company that is based in Rochester. YARD TRAINING His office is in his home on the city’s Buyers install the underground BANKING ON southwest side. fences for a number of reasons, but BATTERIES AND Pet Stop fence systems typically especially to protect their pets. “I LOCAL APPEAL range between about $1,100 to wanted to preserve the view … and Barnett, a Rochester resident since $2,000 in cost. The company still make sure they (her dogs) were 2004, worked five years in sales and also services and sells equipment safe,” Tung says. installation for Invisible Fence at compatible with similar fences from They trigger a charge of electricity Northfield, Minn., before joining other manufacturers. It also offers an in a collar worn by the pet when it Pet Stop Dog Fence Co. To date, indoor system. gets close to the perimeter wire. Pet “I’ve personally installed over 1,000 Barnett uses what he sells. The Stop’s electronic fences often are set systems,” he says. family’s dog, Pismo – named for up with two intensities: A weak, Among Pet Stop’s attractions Pismo Beach, Calif., a former warning level with sound alert in a was chance to work with Pet Stop hometown – plays behind a hidden zone approaching the fence, and a president John Purtell, the executive Pet Stop fence. sharper, immediate shock in the zone who had founded industry leader For more information, go to within a few feet of the fence line. Invisible Fence Co. in 1976. www.petstopofrochester.com It’s not a punishment, Barnett Barnett opened his Rochester says. “The correction is designed to franchise in November 2011, bank- Bob Freund is a freelance writer based startle (the pet), not hurt it,” he says. ing on local appeal and some useful in Rochester.

Owner Jeff Barnett with Bill and Peggy Morgan and Bailey, a 10-year old-Labradoodle and Grace a 12-year-old Shih Tzu. Jeff uses a machine to bury the underground wiring.

16 | wagazine | summer 2015 Small animals, birds and exotics

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www.thewagazine.com | 17 YES, WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS.

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18 | wagazine | summer 2015 VET CHECK | Pet FIRST AID In Case of Emergency By Lena Hewitt

deally, injury and illness observation. “In general, any through all the layers of skin, to kill a cat, and ibuprofen is happen during normal head injury resulting in loss of meaning the underlying muscle toxic to the liver and kidneys.” business hours, in plain consciousness, weakness, dif- is not exposed,” Hodge says. For deeper wounds, apply a view, with a known cause, ficulty walking, vomiting, seizure “Gently clean the wound with cold compress and gentle pressure and accompanied by an activity or change in behavior room temperature water to to help stop the bleeding en route explanation. In reality, our furry needs to be seen immediately,” remove obvious debris. Hydrogen to your vet’s office or the emer- Ifriends tend to get into things says Dr. Denise Hodge, DVM, peroxide can be used, but keep in gency vet. “If bleeding persists, when we’re not looking; can’t Affiliated Emergency Veterinary mind that it might sting so apply continue to apply pressure and/or tell us what’s hurting them; Services in Rochester. “Absent it with care.” Topical antibiotics a snug—not tight—bandage to and always seem to find trouble of those symptoms, continue to such as Neosporin can be used wrap the wound,” Hodge says. on the weekend, at midnight, watch for those signs and check two to three times a day as long and amid rather mysterious that your pet’s pupils remain as your pet doesn’t lick it off. BITE circumstances. For those reasons, the same size and that the pupil “Watch for signs of infection, WOUNDS we’ve consulted the experts to constricts when the light is shined which include redness, swelling, If you own a dog or cat, chances provide you with tips on first- into the eye.” pain, and pus,” says Dr. Mark are they have caught the business response care. Wenner, DVM, Cascade Animal end of another animal at one CUTS AND Medical Center in Rochester. point or another. Because bite HEAD SCRAPES “And never give any over-the- wounds can often be deeper than INJURIES Perhaps the most common counter pain medications to your they first appear, both Hodge and Often caused by falls or being hit injuries, superficial cuts and pet without first consulting a Wenner advise against treating by a vehicle or other object (such scrapes are also the most easily veterinarian. They are all toxic: them at home. as toys, bats, golf clubs, etc.), treatable. “These types of abra- aspirin will cause stomach bleed- “This injury shouldn’t be head injuries require constant sions do not extend completely ing, one Tylenol caplet is enough managed at home because it has

www.thewagazine.com | 19 a high potential for infection and calm as possible, and support the depending on what was ingested,” Furthermore, weakness in any abscess development,” Hodge says. foreign object so it doesn’t move Hodge says. Contact your vet or limb or multiple limbs can indicate “Bite wounds are also deceiving. while in transit to the vet.” emergency vet to see if at-home a spinal or neurologic injury. Those over the chest or abdominal inducing is OK. cavities may look very superficial INSECT BITES “Hydrogen peroxide can WHEN IN on the outside but can penetrate AND STINGS be used to induce vomiting DOUBT into the chest or abdomen and “If your pet is stung by an insect, at home,” Wenner says. Whatever the illness or injury, cause severe internal injuries and the site is swelling, and he or she “You can also call ASPCA there is one course of action that potentially life-threatening illness.” seems to be in pain, apply a cold Animal Poison Control at will always be appropriate— Apply pressure and head to the vet. compress,” Hodge says. “Any bite, 888-426-4435. There’s a charge consulting your vet. “The truth sting or other allergic reaction that for the hot line, but it’s an is that because pet size varies and PENETRATING results in facial swelling, hives, or excellent service and well worth there are huge differences among FOREIGN vomiting should be seen by a vet.” the price.” species, there is no single good OBJECTS For any allergic reaction, call your answer when it comes to at-home One of the scariest injuries is a vet for proper Benadryl dosing as LAMENESS care,” Wenner says. “The best penetrating wound caused by a it’s weight dependent and will vary If you notice your pet advice I can give is to call your foreign object such as a stick, from pet to pet. limping, limit exercise and apply veterinarian or the emergency vet arrow or other sharp item. As a warm or cold compress. “Any when you have concerns. Don’t with bite wounds, these injuries TOXIN lameness where the pet seems very wait until morning.” require vet care. INGESTION painful or doesn’t want to fully “Do not remove the object as According to Hodge and Wenner, bear weight on a limb should be Lena Hewitt is the managing editor this can cause life-threatening hem- owners think inducing vomiting seen by a vet as soon as possible, of EXHIBITOR magazine and orrhage if the item has lacerated is the best course of action when as this could be an indicator of owner of three dogs that have all or impaled a blood vessel,” Hodge pets eat something they shouldn’t. fracture, dislocation, or tendon/ experienced the cone of shame. says. “Keep your pet as quiet and “It’s not always appropriate, ligament injury,” Hodge says.

PET FIRST-AID KIT Use these common household items to assemble your own pet first-aid kit.

✔ Antibiotic Ointment WIN A ✔ Antihistamine (contact your vet for dosage and note it on the box) PET ✔ Bandaging Supplies (gauze pads, bandage tape, TELFA pads, and adhesive tape) FIRST-AID KIT ✔ Cold Packs ✔ Hydrogen Peroxide ✔ Saline Eye Wash Do you have a ✔ Tweezers pet-emergency ✔ Poison Control Help Lines: story to share? Drop us a note at (Pet Poison Helpline, www.petpoisonhelpline.com, 855-764-7661, $49 fee; [email protected], ASPCA Animal Poison Control, 888-426-4435, $65 fee) and we’ll add your ✔ Veterinary and Emergency Veterinary Phone Numbers name to a drawing for a FREE PET FIRST-AID KIT! ADDITIONAL RESOURCES “Emergency First Aid for Your Dog” by Tamara Shearer “Pet First Aid” by American Red Cross

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www.thewagazine.com | 21 | COVER STORY

READY, SET, SPLASH! DOCK JUMPING Dogs love it, their people love it, everybody gets wet By KL Snyder Photography by Dan Mussell, Briodan Photography ince the dawn of dogs and lakes, the former have (www.briodan.smugmug.com). been jumping into the latter. Millennia of splashes later, Purina’s 1997 Incredible Dog Challenge made Sthe game official. Such a frolic is dock jumping, a dog sport on the

Cochiti handled by Diane Salts. upsurge, that canines put up with wearing swimsuits and humans hardly notice the parfum de wet Fido.

22 | wagazine | summer 2015 Linda’s leaping Labs, Lita, 11, and Daisy, The chic Diva has a pink tutu, too, but THE SPORT OF DOCK JUMPING 10, don’t jump as far as they used to, but hasn’t taken up ballet. Yet. Dock jumping, aka dock diving, aka dock they get as excited as ever. “As long as they’re dogs, is making a global splash. DockDogs®, having fun, we’ll continue.” established in 2000, has affiliates in the U.S., Canada, UK and Australia. The first club to GIVE A DOG A JOB join DockDogs, DockDogs Northern Stars The soggy sport satisfies working dogs’ ambi- (DDNS), is based in the Twin Cities. tions and challenges the vigor of bounce- DockDogs features three disciplines: Big off-the-walls canines. In dock jumping, high Air, a long jump; Extreme Vertical, a high drive is an asset sought by handlers who jump; Speed Retrieve, a jump-fetch-swim are often willing to accept the challenge of race. Canines launch themselves off a dock taming rowdy rescues. Linda estimates that a covered in traction-aiding material such as third of DDNS jumpers are rescues. artificial turf. Rules state that jumpers be at Before he achieved DockDogs stardom, least 6 months old and handlers at least Remi was a problem pup. The German 7 years old. Shepherd/Lab mix had confounded five foster caregivers and was slated for eutha- WHAT BREEDS DO BEST? nasia when Tom Dropik agreed to give the “All breeds do best,” says Linda Ruiz, dock rambunctious boy a temporary home. Tom, dog devotee of 10 years and past DDNS the first president of DDNS, had lost his president. first dock diver, Tucker, a few months earlier. Doggy diversity held sway at the DDNS Tom and Remi’s temporary arrangement BEAU pool at Pet-A-Palooza 2014. Before the was temporary indeed. “My foster idea lasted Beau came to Gregory’s Gift of Hope competition, canines—some contestants, about three days,” Tom says, “and then Animal Rescue (www.ggohinc.com), New others just testing the waters—lined up for because of the personality and athleticism I Richmond, Wis., as an abused 4-month-old jumps. There were Border Collies, a Basset saw in him, became an adoption plan.” puppy. He had to drag himself around Hound, lots of Labradors and mixed breeds. Now for the fifth straight year, Remi is because his back legs were fractured. His And Shepherds—German, Dutch, Belgian, ranked first in the world in Speed Retrieve. jaw had been broken, too, and had healed Miniature Australian. In 2014, he was ranked second in Iron Dog. unattended and not quite right. Golden Retrievers, Chesapeakes, a Nova Iron Dogs compete in all three disciplines. Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, a Boykin Best of all, Remi’s success hasn’t gone to his Spaniel, Weimaraners, an Australian head. He’s a great family dog, Tom says. Cattle Dog. A Boston terrier and a Whippet and a MORE DUNKIN’ DOGS Rhodesian Ridgeback. You’ve met Lita, Daisy and Remi. Here And a Rottweiler in a pink bathing suit. are some other members of the DDNS Some teams compete with intensity; canine crew. others play just for the fun of it. Either way, the play’s the thing. “The sport is all about DIVA having fun and building teamwork with Many dock dogs jump au naturel, but the your dog,” Linda says. “How far dogs jump Rottweiler in the pink one-piece prefers doesn’t matter. What does is, are you and haute couture. your dogs having fun?” “Diva is – well, a diva,” says her owner, Danielle Hansen. “Pink and sparkles are her

HAPPY LANDINGS signature colors.” courtesyPhoto of Katie Chevrier. Dock diving is one of the safest canine Diva, also “water crazy and full of energy,” sports. Although the leaps dazzle, the entered her first competition in June 2013 Shelter volunteer Katie Chevrier adopted splashdowns don’t jolt limbs and joints. and has already won titles in all three the Chocolate Lab/Springer. “He was such “We’ve never had an injury in Minnesota as disciplines, ending 2014 as an Iron Dog a lover, I couldn’t see him going to another far as I know,” Linda says. “We’re careful and World Champion. home,” she says. safety conscious.” Swimming pools aren’t Diva’s only milieu. Upon his recovery, Beau let her know he’s The soft landings make it an ideal game She participates in rally, obedience, agility one of those dogs whose high energy needs for senior dogs and help extend careers. and weight pulling and is learning herding. a channel, and when she introduced him to

Top Photo: Award-winning Diva, owned by Danielle Hansen, prefers haute couture. She dives in a pink one-piece. Bottom: Beau overcame broken legs and abuse before being adopted by shelter volunteer Katie Chevrier, who introduced him to dock diving.

www.thewagazine.com | 23 “How far dogs jump doesn’t matter. What does is, are you and your dogs having fun?” “- Linda Ruiz “ The “Jump for Freedom” was a Dock Dogs® national canine aquatics competition in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Clockwise from upper left: Copper handled by Whitney Marie Holt. Madison (Maddie) handled by Dan Mussell (Photo by Jan Mussell). Rosie handled by Joan Pippen. Austin handled by Linda Weaver. Diva handled by Kylan Juhl (Danielle Hansen owner). Luta handled by Sapa Carlson. Jake handled by Roberta Mecklenburg. Diva handled by Danielle Hansen.

24 | wagazine | summer 2015 water, it was delight at first splash. Except to Wisconsin. and travels to far flung competitions. You Beau, who will turn 3 in July, launches That was 2013. Last year the game lured can see his teams’ accomplishments at himself off the dock (and over the couch Sherry, Bryan, Shaylee and Malcolm to www.sportmutt.com/featuredathletes.htm and onto the counter) with grace and gusto. Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and You’d never guess he has pins in his back legs. Illinois. “This year,” Sherry says, “we’re going JUMPING INTO THE GAME to Kentucky.” Requisites for the canines are swimming MALCOLM ability and prey drive. In dock jumping, the A high-drive dynamo Pit Bull, Malcolm had TUCKER prey can be a bumper or a toy that floats, but been adopted and returned several times Before he was a champion DockDog, Tom’s it can’t be food or anything that’s alive or ever before Sherry Olson-Justice agreed to take Black Lab, Tucker, picked apples. has been alive. him. That was in 2013, a year after she and Humans also have a role and it’s more than her yellow Lab, Shaylee, had joined DDNS. chauffeuring dogs to events. “Dock jumping is a team sport that you and your dog work together to succeed at,” Danielle says. “We’re there to keep control of the dogs and give direction on what they’re supposed to do.” It takes a person, too, to apply dog’s war paint and nail polish (pink for you-know- who) and help pup slip into swim wear. Beginners, though, need not worry about dog duds. That will come. What’s more impor- tant now is handlers’ attire: anything that can take a soaking. A strong throwing arm is an asset, says Sherry, who practices her pitching because Photo courtesy of Tom Dropik. Tom courtesyPhoto of Big Air requires the handler to hurl the toy. To get started in dock diving, contact

Photo courtesyPhoto of Sherry Olson-Justice. When Tom discovered dock diving on DDNS (www.dockdogsnorthernstars.com). ESPN’s 2000 Great Outdoor Games, he The people are friendly, helpful and enthusi- Now Sherry’s husband, Bryan Justice, knew Tucker could play. Tucker, then 5, astic, and do they ever have fun. handles Shaylee, and Sherry handles had proven his upward mobility by Okay, but does the fun override the stink Malcolm. Sherry is DDNS vice president, stripping apples from tree branches eight of soggy canine? and Bryan serves on the board. Dock jump- feet off the ground. “Oh, most definitely,” says Danielle. ing can grow on you. Apple harvesting did translate to the pool, “You’re not having a good time if you don’t Here’s another example: When she started, and at the 2001 Great Outdoor Games, go home smelling like a wet dog. Spectators, Sherry intended to participate just for fun. Tucker won the bronze medal, just the start too.” No competitions. of his brilliant career. Except local events, but no traveling. Tom Dropik is a DockDogs guru/trainer/ KL Snyder loves dogs and loves to write, too, At least not out of state. handler who has a corporate sponsor, Stihl, especially for The Wagazine.

Opposite Page Left: Shylee and Malcom, owned by Sherry Olson-Justice and Bryan Justice, have traveled to several states to compete. Right: Tucker and his owner Tom Dropik have been competing together since 2001. They even have a corporate sponsor in Stihl.

DOCKDOGS NORTHERN STARS SUMMER SCHEDULE DOCK JUMPING ORGANIZATIONS JUNE 20 Several organizations, each with its own rules, sanction events. Dam Festival, Little Falls, Minn. JUNE 27 DockDogs has affiliates around the world. Its Minnesota club, DockDogs Northern Stars, has 40 to Pet-A-Palooza, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon 50 members, not counting dogs. www.dockdogs.com and www.dockdogsnorthernstars.com. Heights, Minn. JULY 18-19 North American Diving Dogs, a new (2014) organization whose motto is Sit...Stay...Fly!, offers RiverTown Days Festival, Hastings, Minn. diving dog titles recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). www.northamericadivingdogs.com. JULY 24-26 Slice Of Shoreview, Shoreview, Minn. Ultimate Air Dogs started in 2005 by former Detroit Tigers pitcher Milt Wilcox, holds competitions AUGUST 14-16 sanctioned by the United Kennel Club (UKC). www.ultimateairdogs.com. Brown County Free Fair, New Ulm, Minn. Splash Dogs sponsors events mainly in the western U.S. www.splashdogs.com. SEPTEMBER 12-13 Afton Apple Orchard, Hastings, Minn.

www.thewagazine.com | 25 Get to Know Your Best Friends in Real Estate...

Natalia Sylvia Nate Trina Jenna

Natalia Baker, Realtor Nate Norrie, Realtor Jenna Martindale, REALTOR®, CNHS, RCC with Chocolate Lab, Stella with Lab mix, Baldwin with Lab mix, Bandit and Yellow Lab, Bella 507-993-1792 507-316-2400 507-993-7036 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.edinarealty.com/Natalia-baker-realtor www.edinarealty.com/nathan-norrie-realtor www.RochesterMinnesotaHomesForSale.com

Sylvia Rogers, REALTOR®CRS, GRI, ABR, CNHS, ASP, SRS Trina Solano, REALTOR®, CNHS, GRI, SRES with Collie mix, Sophie and Australian Cattle Dog, Willie with Black Lab, Tar 507-535-7039 507-261-4030 [email protected] [email protected] www.SylviaRogers.com www.trinasolano.edinarealty.com

1301 Salem Road SW, Rochester, MN 55902 LIVING WITH PETS |

THE RETRIEVERS

Bringing Lost Dogs Home By Marlene Petersen

t’s one of the worst moments a dog owner can face: the beloved The Retrievers’ offers their time and services at no charge as a public four-legged member of the family is missing. Anxious and service, relying on donations to fund recovery efforts. often untrained on how to conduct an effective search, families frequently meet with mixed success. But now, thanks to a LOOKING HIGH AND LOW volunteer group in Minneapolis known as The Retrievers, dogs Iare coming home. Far beyond placing flyers around town, The Retrievers find lost The group was founded in March 2014 by Devon Thomas dogs by setting live, humane traps; maintaining trail cameras and Tredwell, Jen Eidbo, Greg James and Jessica Peterson. The Retrievers’ feeding stations; and offering phone consultations and tutorials on mission is the same today as it was a year ago: “We help families bring its website. One of the co-founders even invented a special enclosure their missing dog home and ensure the safety of stray dogs,” says that has proven more successful than some commercial traps. co-founder Devon Thomas Tredwell. “We do this to bring peace and “For one case involving a missing puppy mill dog in the north- closure to families and to prevent the death of dogs on the loose.” woods of Minnesota, Greg James invented an enclosure trap which The four founders originally worked together as volunteers for was much bigger than the commercial small trap that the family was Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM), a Golden Retriever using to try to catch [their dog, Missy]. We sent the trap up north, rescue, where they discovered a need for their specific skills in recover- and the first night it was deployed, Missy was caught. Word spread ing lost dogs. about ‘the Missy Trap,’ and we began getting requests for trapping “After working individually on a few searches for lost RAGOM non-RAGOM dogs.” dogs, we formed a team of volunteers that would be ready to respond Although the group primarily provides services within the state with established processes, equipment and techniques whenever a of Minnesota, The Retrievers offers consultations and advice to RAGOM dog went missing,” says Tredwell. “We realized we could those farther away, including one Oregon family whose Husky help many more dogs if we had an independent group. We now have had been lost for almost seven months. After consulting with about a dozen people on the team, including those in training.” The Retrievers and building its own Missy Trap, the family found As the only volunteer lost dog team in this part of the country, its dog within days. Photos courtesy of The Retrievers courtesyPhotos of

The trailcam is instrumental in showing who is visiting the trap. In the third and fourth photos above, a Papillon is lured into a trap with bacon and rotisserie chicken. The Papillon’s owners were located but sadly did not want him back. He was adopted by the family whose house he visited daily during his time on the loose.

www.thewagazine.com | 27 Left to right: Natalie Wicker and Jessica Peterson secure the top of the Cash Trap. Greg James aims the sensor beam so it hits the reflector on the other side of the trap. When the dog steps through the beam, the gate drops and latches shut. A cargo net is used on top of the Missy Trap to prevent dogs from climbing out. This Golden Retriever was lured into the trap with a food bowl in the back of the trap. The gate was triggered when he approached the bowl and broke the sensor beam.

ENDING THE SEARCH to it. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. He was apparently too anxious and never found an area where he felt safe enough to settle in.” Unfortunately, not all of The Retrievers’ cases go smoothly; sometimes Sadly, the long, difficult search ended tragically when a Rochester even getting started can be a challenge. resident called and said she had found Jackson’s body in the backyard “Often, the hardest part of this job is steering owners and volunteers of her home near Indian Hills. toward the most effective tactics,” says Tredwell. “What brings a lost dog home most often is awareness—an entire community who knows about the dog and is watching for him. But so often, instead of passing out flyers or putting out intersection signs, people just want to walk around and look for the dog. Unfortunately, this tactic has a very low success rate.” Even with the best tactics and most dedicated volunteers, the search can take weeks and still end in tragedy, as was the case with a missing Rochester dog, Jackson, this winter. “At the point when I got involved, the family had already set out a live trap,” recalls Tredwell, “but it was not being monitored by camera. I brought a Retrievers trap and cellular trailcam, which takes a photo Every bit of data helps, including paw prints and maps of sightings. when it is activated by motion, then sends it via email to our team within a minute. We also put one of our cameras on the family’s trap.” The family and other volunteers worked with The Retriever team “It’s always crushing when a search ends this way,” says Tredwell. to create and monitor a Facebook page, saturate Rochester with signs, “Retrievers’ team members grieve alongside the families of deceased and document sightings using Google Maps. These tools revealed that dogs. We console each other too, because sometimes it’s our own the dog was travelling all over Rochester, never settling in one spot, teammates who find the dog’s body, and that’s a hard sight to something crucial to a successful trapping situation. Eventually, a family see—harder still to break the news to the family. The only silver member spotted the dog in Bear Creek but wasn’t able to catch him. lining is that the dog was found, and the family can be free to begin “We had to try to slow him down,” recalls Tredwell, “so I asked sup- their healing process.” porters in Rochester to put out feeding stations at their homes in the hopes that he might stumble across one and make a habit of returning Marlene Petersen is a Rochester freelance writer.

For more information about THE RETRIEVERS or to make a donation that will help more lost dogs come home, visit www.theretrievers.org or follow The Retrievers’ cases on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheRetrieversLostDogTeam.

28 | wagazine | summer 2015 Stop by and smell the flowers! Serving Rochester’s Pet Families for 26 Years

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www.thewagazine.com | 29 | LIVING WITH PETS

AND THE BEAST BeautyCelebrating the Funny Looking Dog By C. G. Worrell

hey pop up on my social media her pearls. “Oh, my,” she drawled, “What the last burr. Then I scoured the flowerbeds feed everyday: postings from an unusual looking dawg. I’ve nevah seen for the thorny weeds and burned them. friends and family, splattered with anything quite like it.” (Southern belle for Huckleberry is my court jester, faithful photos of their children. Inevitably, “What the heck is that?”) companion and home-security system all Ta facial expression (or two) stands out in the rolled into one. crowd, and I can’t help but laugh. “Man, that’s But like any dog, she has her share of bad one funny looking kid.” habits. She’s a noisy barker (Just doing my job, Perhaps I should post more photos of my lady); an unrepentant sock eater (Mmm, the funny looking dog (FLD) so she can share the smelly ones taste like nachos); and a shameless gift of laughter as well. beggar (Can I have second breakfast now?). Her worst habit, however, is doing the CANINE MASH-UP humpty-dance on our cats. Either Huckleberry After the death of our beloved Rottweiler is very confused or she’s trying to advance (lymphoma, age 10, may she rest in peace), interspecies rights (Hey, man, love is love, my husband and I argued for months about right?). The cats disagree; they usually set her what puppy to get next. I wanted a Standard straight with a swipe of their claws. Poodle; my macho husband rooted for a black Lab. We compromised on a chocolate Labradoodle. What we ended up with is Huckleberry: a big, hot mess of wiry fur that billows in the wind and sprouts from her head like demon horns. People in the park inevitably scratch their heads: “Is it an Irish Wolfhound?” “A Giant Schnauzer?” “A Bouvier des Flandres?” My husband wishes he could say yes to any of So here’s to you, Huckles, and all the other the above because the prissiness of the word FLDs of the world. Your goofy grins and Labradoodle makes him cringe. Instead he knotty coats will never grace the ring of a smiles and shakes his head. “Nope, she’s just Westminster Dog Show, but you bring a lot of

my funny looking mutt.” joy to our hearts. Worrell. courtesyPhotos of C. G.

Biologically our “designer dog” is the offspring DOG GONE WILD C.G. Worrell is a freelance writer and part-time of a squatty yellow Lab (mom) and a regal Although Huckles could easily snag a veterinarian at Heritage Pet Hospital. Standard Poodle (pop). But she looks more congeniality award, she’ll never win a beauty like a cross between a werewolf and pageant. Like Bob Dylan, she has a bad hair a Wookie. day everyday (even with brushing). Yes, I could have her shaved, but I adore Show Us YOUR RIDDLE ME THIS her untamed locks. Or at least I did until the Funny Looking Dogs! With her manly goatee, pantaloons of day she wandered into a patch of Devil’s Weed Let’s celebrate the FLDs that we know dreadlocks and a monkey tail riding high in our backyard. Dozens of sticky tentacles and love. Send your photos to in a perpetual question mark, our FLD is a glommed to her fur. I spotted the poor dog [email protected], and we’ll walking conundrum. A charming lady from flailing and bucking like a bronco. After two print them in our next issue. Mississippi met Huckles one day and clutched hours of combing and scissoring, I removed

30 | wagazine | summer 2015 BOOK REVIEW |

“A Matter of Breeding” by Michael Brandow, foreword by Dr. Marc Bekoff c.2015, Beacon Press, $18 / $20 Canada, 288 pages

dog walkers, Michael Brandow a job, that was fine because they Docking tails and cutting ears is met plenty of pooches. He saw were all mutts anyhow. almost never necessary. Brandow canine fads come and go. He But then dogs became status explains how those cosmetic issues saw scads of Shiba Inus, Beagles, symbols, complete with indi- are increasingly being rejected. Frenchies, each “dog du jour” vidual breed clubs and fusses over But “A Matter of Breeding” replaced by another in short curly tails versus high tails, and isn’t just informative; it’s also an order, each with a different “stan- black coats instead of brindles. outraged rant against dog shows, dard” for their breed. But those But the dirty little secret? the pedigree industry, breeders physical traits weren’t always in Purebred dogs are hardly that; and owners of purebred dogs. the dogs’ “own best interests,” most were mongrel-bred at some Eventually, it feels incessant, and though they’re mandatory in the point in their ancestry. that tends to overwhelm and even The curl at the corner of your show ring. When you bring a dog home numb a reader. It also can detract couch is one of the best dogs Measurements, coat color, with you, you naturally expect to from the book’s main point. you’ve ever had. head size, paw shape, they’re all have many happy years with him. And yet, though it’s not easy He’s smart, he’s friendly and he required for purebred dogs – even Here, author Michael Brandow reading, I do think this book is loves the kids. He watches over when genetics and health demand sounds the alarm: happy years worthwhile. Just beware – it could you, he makes you laugh and you otherwise. might not be possible. start a few arguments. Depending can’t imagine life without him. It didn’t begin that way, says For a dog lover, that’s horrifying, on where you sit, with mutt or So what kind of dog is he? The Brandow; in fact, “breeds as we as is this: purebred Bulldogs have unmix, your side in “A Matter of answer is complicated, as you’ll see know them are… new inven- major, human-made health issues. Breeding” could land someone in in this book. tions…” Dogs used to be just The low-slung look of modern the doghouse. Like most Manhattan-based dogs and if a mutt could do German Shepherds isn’t natural.

“My Boy, Ben: A Story of Love, Loss and Grace” by David Wheaton c.2014, Tristan Publishing. $18.99 / $19.95 Canada, 264 pages

Years ago, there was always a Fall reminded him of taking David Wheaton puts Ben’s demise dog or two at the Wheaton house- Ben afield for hunting. Winter about halfway through this story. hold. As the youngest of four kids, was spent skating on a nearby I wasn’t expecting that, and it was Wheaton cherished those dogs as pond, with Ben loping along a pleasant aspect since it gives his favorite playmates. behind. In the spring, as soon readers a leisurely chance to see As an adult and a world-travel- as the ice melted to reveal one what happens next.

Photos courtesy of C. G. Worrell. courtesyPhotos of C. G. ing tennis pro, Wheaton dreamed of Minnesota’s lakes, Ben was in What happens next was the of having a dog. One day he it. Summers were spent at the second surprise. Bring a box of received a note from his mother family’s cabin, exploring nearby tissues and settle in. For the in- that mentioned a dog she hap- woods and swimming. veterate Lab fan or anyone who’s pened to notice. But as Ben aged, Wheaton every truly loved a dog, “My The pooch, a Lab from a kennel tried to remember one thing: at Boy, Ben” could be a once-in-a- He was a once-in-a-lifetime dog. in Iowa, had an easy-going de- the beginning of loving a dog, lifetime book. From the moment you brought meanor and was textbook perfect, you know there will always be an him home until the day he left, with a wedge-shaped head and end. His and Ben’s, he hoped, was The Bookworm is Terri you never had a minutes’ problem. soft brown eyes. years away… Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been He was easy to teach, easy to trust, A few months later, they picked There are two big surprises reading since she was 3 years old easy to love and, unfortunately, up Ben. inside this book. and she never goes anywhere with- too easy to lose. You’ll never forget In the upper Midwest, says I don’t think I’m ruining any- out a book. She lives on a hill in your once-in-a-lifetime dog, and Wheaton, there are four distinct thing by telling you the first one: Wisconsin with one pampered little in this book, Minnesotan David seasons, and each had a memory unlike other books that finish pooch and 13,000 books. Wheaton tells you about his. attached to his years with Ben. with the death of a dog, author www.thewagazine.com | 31 | TRAINING SCHOOL FOR DOGS Training classes reach far beyond teaching sit and stay By Amy Brase

very dog needs a job. CLASSES FOR SMART, says Annalissa Johnson, owner of Good Dog It might be as an agility DIFFICULT AND BORED DOGS Camp. “Or they’re having issues with the dog competitor. It might be as the Why try a class with your dog? Beyond and their child (or are trying to prevent those buddy who calmly lies by a the practicality of a good dog who sits and issues).” child as he learns to read. It stays upon command, classes improve the Good Dog Camp’s classes are unique in Emight be respectfully greeting every neighbor relationship and bonding between dogs and that they are all one-on-one. “I’m working on the block and retrieving wiffle balls for owners, help combat boredom and help with just the owner and dog. Everything I kids practicing t-ball. owners to better understand how to work teach is geared to the dog that in is front of Regardless of the job, this golden tidbit of with their dogs. me. I want to help give people the best dog wisdom is reflected in the plethora of canine “I just love both Tricks and Agility classes,” they’ve ever had.” classes and training opportunities available says Tina Hince, canine coordinator at Sara Reusche is the owner of Paws Abilities to pet owners. Whether it’s learning simply Leashes and Leads. “It’s neat to see the dogs Dog Training. “My favorite classes to teach to come—perhaps the most important but think through different things and then to are Beginning Reactive Dog Rehab classes often under-learned command—or see the light bulb come on as they learn to because they’re so rewarding in terms of the training to be a therapy dog who visits senior pick up their toys, sit pretty or roll over for progress that the students and dogs make. citizens, the possibilities are endless. the first time. Dogs really like agility because People often sign up for this class as their last it’s like obedience in the fast lane.” hope before euthanizing their reactive dog,” Allow your mind to roll over with she said. possibilities. Could your puppy learn to do “I feel like the classes are about half train- search and rescue work? Do you have dreams ing class and half support group, and I love of letting your dog run off leash on the being able to give owners new hope for their beach? Maybe you just want your puppy to difficult dogs.” go potty outside. A wide range of classes suit every need and desire. Amy Brase is a writer whose dog has benefited “Most people are looking for a reliable from puppy and obedience classes, as well as a off-leash recall or wanting to work on behav- session with Annalissa from Good Dog Camp. ioral issues such as dog-to-dog aggression,”

32 | wagazine | summer 2015 A SAMPLING OF CLASSES

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN PREP 10-14 days. As your dog is safely COURSE. This class is named after integrated into the pack, he will be the American Kennel Club’s (AKC’s) taught to become the calm, happy dog Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. you’ve always wanted. In addition to As a next step after obedience, this practicing house manners, training in is a great class before progressing obedience and behavior modification, to sports or therapy work. The ten Annalissa will take your dog on field addressed areas include loose-leash trips, teaching him how to handle any walking and appropriate reactions situation in any environment. to distractions. Paws Abilities Dog Good Dog Camp Training, Good Dog Camp BRINGING A NEW BABY HOME. OBEDIENCE. Considered a “must-do” Good Dog Camp by many. Your dog will learn essential commands like sit, down, stay and come. Leashes & Leads Training FOR NEW PUPS ON THE BLOCK Get started on the right paw! These classes help teach your dog to come when you call, walk politely on leash and socialize appropriately with people and other dogs.

PUPPY PRESCHOOL. If your pup is between 7–16 weeks, this 2-hour, one- Camp. courtesy Dog Photo of Good on-one session in your home offers crate and house training tips, handling FOR CORRECTION exercises, first aid knowledge, and If you’re constantly apologizing for recommendations for games and toys your dog as he barks, growls or jumps that boost mental development. OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Field on everyone who comes to the door, Good Dog Camp trips to fun places like a baseball this might be the type of class for you. field, shopping center, pond and Gain confidence in managing your dog PUPPY 1 & PUPPY 2. Introduces restaurant train your dog to be and lower both of your stress levels. socialization skills and basic reliable in real life situations. obedience commands. Paws Abilities Dog Training REACTIVE DOG REHAB. Leashes & Leads Training Beginning or advanced. COURTEOUS K9. If your pup fails Paws Abilities Dog Training BEGINNING OBEDIENCE. to respect guests’ personal space, Paws Abilities Dog Training constantly begs at the dinner table, LEASH PULLERS’ ANONYMOUS. and strongly dislikes the crate, If your dog is pulling you down the HOUSETRAINING. Good Dog Camp this is the class for you. street, this class will fine-tune your Leashes & Leads Training dog’s leash manners. Paws Abilities Dog Training FOR GOOD MANNERS GOOD DOG BOOT CAMP. An It’s every owner’s dream – a dog who opportunity for your dog to stay and ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING. blesses everyone he or she meets. train in trainer Annalissa’s home for Good Dog Camp

Above: Puppy Class at Leashes and Leads. Middle: Obedience Class at Leashes and Leads. Right: Annalissa with Good Dog Camp.

www.thewagazine.com | 33

necessary skills to pass the therapy FOR SPORTS TRAINING dog test. Leashes & Leads Training Perhaps you’ve seen it at the fair or on television. Dogs weave effortlessly around poles, over teeter totters,and FOR SOCIALIZING through an obstacle course of jumps. It’s exciting, competitive and a great PUPPY PLAY GROUPS – Socialization supplement to formal obedience is so important! Whether your dog is training. pint-sized, shy or just a puppy, there’s a group where he or she will fit right in. RALLY OBEDIENCE. Also called Paws Abilities Dog Training “Rally-O” by enthusiasts, this dog (and human) obedience sport combines characteristics of sports FOR PRIVATE LESSONS car racing, dog agility and traditional obedience into a new, fun sport. All three featured training centers Leashes & Leads Training offer private instruction on site or in your home. relationship between dog and handler. Paws Abilities Dog Training TRAINING RESOURCES BEGINNING K9 NOSE WORK. Encourage your dog to use instinctive PAWS ABILITIES DOG TRAINING scenting abilities. This class is chock- www.paws4u.com • 507-624-0190 full of confidence-building games and Locations: is a great way to exercise high-drive Rochester – Rochester Feed and or excitable dogs. Country Store Paws Abilities Dog Training Kasson – K-M Regional Veterinary Hospital and Surgical Center

Photo courtesyPhoto of Leashes and Leads. CONFORMATION. Designed to Byron – Byron Dog Daycare and prepare beginning competitors for the Grooming (Em’s Playplace) TASTE OF AGILITY. An-8 week show ring, this class works on proper Minneapolis – Agile Canines sampling of what’s involved in agility gaiting, stacking and presentation. Training Center training, a dog sport in which the Paws Abilities Dog Training, handler directs a dog through an Leashes & Leads GOOD DOG CAMP obstacle course in a race for both www.gooddogcamp.com time and accuracy. 507-261-3913 Leashes & Leads Training FOR SERVING LEASHES & LEADS DOG TRAINING CENTER THERAPY DOG PREP. This is not www.leashesandleads.com FOR MAXIMUM FUN the test itself, but the course will 507-282-2710 You didn’t get a dog just because prepare you and your dog by covering you wanted to make life harder. Your common hospital and nursing home All training centers require dogs canine companion loves to play just policies, visiting etiquette, training to be vaccinated as much as you do. Why not have fun requirements, and how to handle BEFORE participating in classes. together? various situations. Available to non- aggressive dogs who have earned For more Rochester area TRICKS. A mentally stimulating class their Canine Good Citizen certification. classes, visit: that will teach you to use your clicker Paws Abilities Dog Training Petsmart: www.petsmart.com properly as your dog learns a repertoire of fun tricks. Leashes & Leads 2-DAY THERAPY DOGS 101. Petco: www.petco.com Discover the various roles and Ruff Break: www.ruffbreak.com CANINE FREESTYLE. opportunities for therapy dogs, receive Minnesota Dog Training: A choreographed performance educational materials, become familiar www.minnesotadogtraining.com organized with music, illustrating the with medical equipment, and practice

Above: Rally Class at Leashes and Leads. Middle: Tequlia, a Long-haired Chihuahua, demonstrates the handstand trick at Leashes and Leads.

34 | wagazine | summer 2015 Interested in helping your pet live their best life? Find out how Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine can help today!

(651) 388-1103

Red Wing, MN

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Now Offering st Adult Stem Cell 1 EXAM Treatments FREE To help with osteo-arthritis, STEM CELL ligament and tendon TREATMENT injuries and other chronic FREE CONSULT New clients only. inflammatory diseases. One coupon per household. No cash value. One coupon per household. No cash value. Veterinary Clinic, LLC Coupons can be combined. Offer expires 9/30/15 Coupons can be combined. Offer expires 9/30/15 6214 14th Street NW Byron Convenient Scheduling Times... Open Days, Our UNDERWATER TREADMILL Located in Evenings & Saturdays! is great for dogs who can’t get the exercise they need due to being overweight, recovering from surgery, illness or injury. Let your dog try it today! 10% OFF Complete health care services for your pet: Underwater Treadmill • Wellness Exams • Surgical Procedures Conditioning Package • Preventative Care • In-House Laboratory New clients only. • Digital Radiography • Canine Rehabilitation One coupon per household. No cash value. Coupons can be combined. Offer expires 9/30/15 • Dental Care and Conditioning

www.meadowviewvetmn.com Call Today for an Appointment 507.424.2120 Know anyone that got a new puppy or kitty recently? Remember to send them to Meadow View Veterinary Clinic and tell them to let us know you referred them. We offer a $10 credit on your account and $10 to spend at Leashes and leads.

www.thewagazine.com | 35 “there’s no place like Dogs Downtown, “there’s no place like Dogs Downtown, “there’s no place like Dogs Downtown...”

Photo: Maximus Decimus Meridius, Australian Shepherd Presented by

eet Max. He can’t wait for the biggest downtown Rochester event of 2015. It’s called Dogs Downtown, and it’s August M2nd from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on the Peace Plaza in downtown Rochester D o w n t o w n R o c h e s t e r M N . c o m / DogsD o w n t o w n for more information. What better way to reward human’s best friend than with a day downtown with his four-legged friends...and two legged humans. Dogs Downtown. It’s the least you could do. Show us how excited your furry-friend is. Post pics of your pooch on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #DogsDowntown.

wagazine ad 2.indd 1 5/20/15 4:36 PM

DOG WALKS: As needed/requested. We offer a daily Group/Pack walk; Fun and Free Socialization. Free pickup and return by Van or Bus-Sonja’s Doggy Park Express!!!

IN HOME PET SITTING: Keeps your pet in familiar surroundings, One on One attention, Follow familiar routine, Less stress for older/anxious pets, Medications or Special Needs care given. Mail, Trash, Plants, etc…

LOVING CARE: If you have us care for your Little Ones, They become part ‘Our Little Ones’ too!

Camp Companion is hosting the 4th Annual UnCorked fundraiser on June 26 from 4 PM to 8 PM at Pet Waste Removal Service Salem Glen Vineyards and Winery, 5211 60th Avenue, SW, Rochester. • Weekly Service Camp Companion promises an unforgettable evening. Sip exquisite, • Bi-monthly Service locally made wines while you take in the sights and sounds. • One Time Service Servers will be strolling around offering our now-famous appetizers. • Easy Monthly Billing Experience the music of RE-AGENTS. Sway to the rhythm, relax to the melody or dance to the beat of the golden age of music. Visit several local artists who will be displaying examples of their talents to admire and to purchase. The Doo Crew eliminates the most unpleasant Don’t forget to bid on the silent auction items! aspects of dog ownership. For a surprisingly low price, we will find, scoop and haul away all All of the proceeds of this fine event will go toward saving the those nasty “canine calling cards!” lives of homeless cats and dogs on our area. Camp Companion is an all volunteer organization committed to controlling over- population by TNR (trap-neuter-return), helping homeless cats and dogs through fostering and adoption, and raising awareness of the plight of homeless and shelter Serving the Austin & Rochester areas since 2000 cats and dogs in our community, our region, and nationally. Tickets can be purchased from the Camp Companion website 507-438-6415 at www.campcompanion.org. www.doocrewmn.com If you have any questions, you may contact Sara at 507-732-7639.

www.thewagazine.com | 37 N SE for NEWS...

Rochester MN CAMP COMPANION’S PINE RIDGE RESERVATION Kennel Club, Inc. SPAY CLINIC www.rochestermnkennelclub.com BY THE NUMBERS: As the area AKC-affiliated, all-breed dog club, the RMKC 2 days in April supports the canine community and owners by offering fun and 141 animals came through educational events for the public, including the K-9 Karnival 95 of those were spayed or neutered during Rochester Fest (June 27) and its own AKC All-Breed 13 volunteers, including Dr. Lauren Dinsmore, KM Regional Dog Show and Obedience and Rally Trial (September 12-13, Vet Clinic and Dr. Sarah Mehrkens, Zumbro Falls Vet Clinic, Graham Arena). Monthly meetings include a business meeting worked tirelessly and occasional educational topics of public interest.

MEETINGS: Second Monday of each month, open to the public LOCATION: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rochester TIME: 7:00 p.m.

Reflections from Michele Quandt, Camp Companion director: “I think all of us went for the animals but in retrospect realize that we may have gone away with a imprint on our hearts of the youth that we met. As our morning started I think all of us were surprised at the amount of young people who came in with their dog following behind. At first we saw reserved faces sitting back, and as we engaged them we took this opportunity to befriend, educate and hopefully inspire. As the day went on these young people became part of the team, and we were all thrilled on day two when many of them came back to volunteer. Camp Companion volunteers have already discussed returning in October.” 10,000 Facebook Likes The Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud, Minn. reached its goal of NO MORE LICENSE FEES 10,000 Facebook likes in celebration of its 40th anniversary this year. “Not bad for a small animal shelter in central Minnesota!” said Marit Rochester’s animal ordinance was updated in April to repeal Ortega, manager of fund development. the use of pet licenses. Instead, pets must have an ID tag or microchip. Animals found at large without identification are “Facebook has been instrumental in helping us save more lives. To subject to seizure by Animal Control and reclamation fees date in 2015, animals are in our care for less than 9 days on average through the Rochester Animal Control Shelter. until they find a home, and that includes the time needed for us to spay and neuter them all first. We are proud to report a 94% adoption rate Per Chapter 106A.05: “It is unlawful for any person to keep, to date in 2015.” harbor or maintain a dog, cat or ferret over the age of four months unless it has an ID tag, to be worn at all times, that has Visit the page at www.facebook.com/tricountyhumanesociety. on it the owner’s name and contact information, including a valid “Together we are making a difference for animals, one like, share telephone number, or unless it is micro-chipped with the micro- and adoption at a time.” chip data contact information kept up to date.”

38 | wagazine | summer 2015 RESCUE DIRECTORY |

Foster-based rescue focused on GREYHOUND PETS OF AMERICA MN MARTIN COUNTY HUMANE RESCUE owner surrenders. gpa-mn.org SOCIETY (Fairmont) [email protected] mchsofmn.org DIRECTORY CHICKEN RUN RESCUE 763-785-4000 [email protected] Chickenrunrescue.org Rescuing /placing retired racing 507-238-1885 ACT V RESCUE & REHABILITATION [email protected] greyhounds. Cares for the homeless animals of actvrescue.org The only urban chicken rescue of its Martin County at the Carl Nettifee [email protected] kind provides abandoned chickens HEADING HOME K9 RESCUE Animal Shelter, finding placement with love, shelter and vet care, and headinghomek9rescue.com, for them in new homes. ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY adopts the birds, as companion petfinder.com/shelters/MN333.html, Five locations: Buffalo, Coon Rapids, animals only, within 90 miles of the facebook.com/HHK9MN MIDWEST PUG RESCUE - Golden Valley, St. Paul, and Woodbury Twin Cities. [email protected] MN DIVISION animalhumanesociety.org Dedicated to rescuing homeless mnmidwestpugrescue.com 763-522-4325 COCO’S HEART DOG RESCUE and unwanted dogs with a soft [email protected] Adoption, surrender, education cocosheartdogrescue.org spot for former puppy-mill dogs, We rescue and provide safe programs, pet training, a free [email protected] senior dogs, big black mixed and loving homes to behavior helpline, boarding, low-cost Foster-based rescue that has breeds, special needs and those abandoned, surrendered, stray spay/neuter, cruelty investigation/ saved dogs and cats from and neglected pugs and find rescue and pet loss services. sick and injured. unfortunate circumstances, them new ‘fur’ever homes. AUSSIE RESCUE OF MINNESOTA, INC. rescuing more than 800 dogs and HIAWATHA ANIMAL HUMANE aussierescuemn.org cats in 2.5 years. SOCIETY (Lake City, Wabasha, MINNESOTA BOXER RESCUE [email protected] Kellogg, surrounding) mnboxerrescue.rescuegroups.org 763-441-4377 DOBERMAN RESCUE MINNESOTA www.hahumanesociety.org [email protected] Rescuing Aussies and Aussie mixes. dobermanrescueminnesota.com [email protected] 763-647-3437 [email protected] 651-448-0396 Rescue, rehabilitate and re-home BASSET BUDDIES RESCUE, INC. 651-256-2294 Takes in local stray and unwanted displaced and unwanted Boxers. bassetbuddiesrescue.org To promote responsible pet animals, places them in foster homes, [email protected] ownership and eliminate the abuse, and adopts them out into loving, MINNESOTA COMPANION RABBIT 262-347-8823 abandonment, neglect and deaths of forever homes. 501c3, volunteer SOCIETY To rescue, foster and place Doberman Pinschers. organization. mncompanionrabbit.org adoptable Basset Hounds in loving, 651-768-9755 permanent homes. ENGLISH SPRINGER RESCUE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GOODHUE Volunteer, nonprofit organization AMERICA, INC. COUNTY (Red Wing) dedicated to improving the lives of BROWN COUNTY HUMANE springerrescue.org hsgcpets.org companion rabbits. SOCIETY (New Ulm) [email protected] [email protected] brownchumanes.org 507-271-8107 651-388-5286 MINNESOTA GREYHOUND RESCUE [email protected] Foster care placement organization Nonprofit, limited-admission, low- Minnesotagreyhoundrescue.org 507-359-2312 for Springer Spaniels. kill shelter taking in all strays from [email protected] Protection and welfare of animals Goodhue County and other areas as 507-272-3467 through education, sanctuary, FELINE RESCUE INC. (St. Paul) well as owner surrenders when space Dedicated to finding responsible adoption and promotion of felinerescue.org is available. homes for Greyhounds who are no responsible ownership. [email protected] longer used by the racing industry. 651-642-5900 ITALIAN GREYHOUND RESCUE CAMP COMPANION, INC. (Rochester) No-kill 501c3 shelter, foster, OF MN/ND MINNESOTA HOOVED ANIMAL campcompanion.org outreach, and education for stray, Kristin (MN): [email protected] RESCUE FOUNDATION [email protected] abused and abandoned cats until Michelle (ND): [email protected] mnhoovedanimalrescue.org 507-951-7801 they are adopted. iggyrescue.org [email protected] Trap-Neuter-Return for farm and Foster-based rescue and rehoming 763-856-3119 feral cats.Adoption program for GEMINI ROTTWEILER AND service, and an IGCA affiliate. Non-profit organization dedicated cats and dogs with adoption events PITBULL RESCUE to rescuing, rehabilitating, retraining every Saturday at different pet gemini.petfinder.org LUCKY’S PLACE and re-homing horses and other stores in Rochester. [email protected] luckysplace.org hooved animals in need. 320-598-3087 [email protected] CARING FOR CATS (St. Paul) We are dedicated to saving the lives 320-241-1829 MINNESOTA SHELTIE RESCUE caring-for-cats.org of these misunderstood breeds, and No-kill, non-profit cat rescue. mnsheltierescue.org 651-407-8485 offering them a second chance at a [email protected] All-volunteer, no-kill, non-profit forever home. LUV A CHIN JAPANESE CHIN 612-616-7477 shelter for cats and kittens in North RESCUE (Twin Cities based, Finding the best and last home for St. Paul, funded 100% by donations. GREAT DANE RESCUE OF MN & WI nationwide foster network) Shelties in need. gdromn.org www.luvachinrescue.org CATS MEOW DOGS BARK RESCUE [email protected] [email protected] MINNESOTA WISCONSIN COLLIE kelvarmair.petfinder.com 715-222-4848 507-641-4428 RESCUE [email protected] All-volunteer rescue for Great Danes Rescuing, rehabilitating, and mwcr.org 651-343-1964 in Minnesota and Wisconsin. rehoming Japanese Chins in need. [email protected]

612-869-0480 NORTHWOODS HUMANE SOCIETY RETRIEVE A GOLDEN OF SOUTHWEST METRO ANIMAL Dedicated to finding new hope (Wyoming) MINNESOTA (RAGOM) RESCUE and new homes for Collies in need northwoodshs.org ragom.org swmetroanimalrescue.org of homes. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 651-982-0240 952-946-8070 952-368-PAWS (7297) MOWER COUNTY HUMANE Serving Chisago County and Rescuing and re-homing Golden Non-profit organization committed SOCIETY (Austin) surrounding communities by caring Retrievers and Golden mixes in MN, to the rescue of abandoned, abused mowercountyhumanesociety.org for animals in need and helping them IA, ND, SD and western WI. and stray domestic animals. [email protected] find a home. 507-437-9262 RUFF START RESCUE STEELE COUNTY HUMANE No-kill shelter staffed entirely by ONE OF A KIND PET RESCUE ruffstartrescue.org SOCIETY (Owatonna) volunteers. www.ooakpr.org [email protected] steelecountyhumanesociety.org 507-400-3100 763-355-3981 [email protected] MORRISON COUNTY ANIMAL Foster-based, no-kill, non-profit 507-451-4512 HUMANE SOCIETY (Little Falls) rescue. SAFE HAVEN PET RESCUE Foster home based rescue helping mcpets.org (Rochester) stray and abandoned animals in [email protected] or PAWS AND CLAWS HUMANE safehavenpetrescue.org greater Steele County. [email protected] SOCIETY (Rochester) [email protected] TRI-COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY 320-632-0703 pawsandclaws.org 507-529-4079 tricountyhumanesociety.org We take in unloved and unwanted [email protected] Committed to finding safe, loving and [email protected] animals to place in forever homes. 507-288-7226 secure homes for lost, abandoned 320- 252-0896 To promote and provide humane and stray companion animals. We believe in the human/animal NATIONAL BRITTANY RESCUE AND protection and shelter for abandoned bond and exist to support Central ADOPTION NETWORK or lost companion animals, seek S.A.F.E. SANCTUARY (FARIBAULT) Minn. by practicing and promoting nbran.org adoptive homes, provide public safesanctuary.org quality adoption services and [email protected] education regarding the societal [email protected] education programs. 605-224-2964 problem of animal overpopulation, 507-334-7901 Rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes promote responsible companion animal Foster-based, no-kill rescue WAGS & WHISKERS ANIMAL Brittanys in need. care, and advocate the spaying and RESCUE OF MN neutering of all companion animals. SAVE-A-BULL RESCUE wagsmn.org NORTHERN LIGHTS GREYHOUND saveabullmn.com [email protected] ADOPTION PAWS=PRECIOUS ANIMALS Dedicated to the rescue, Volunteer 501(c)(3), non-profit animal NLGA-MN.org WORTH SAVING rehabilitation, and re-homing of rescue organization dedicated to [email protected] pawsofjackson.com American Pit Bull Terriers and other saving the lives of homeless animals 763-754-9754 [email protected] Bull breeds. and educating the community on Dedicated to finding responsible 507-841-1834 responsible pet ownership. homes for retired racing Greyhounds Working together to save as many SECOND CHANCE ANIMAL RESCUE and educating the public about animals as possible in the Jackson secondchancerescue.org WASECA COUNTY ANIMAL Greyhounds as pets. County area. 651-771-5662 HUMANE SOCIETY Foster-based dog and cat rescue wcahs.petfinder.com NORTHSTAR GREAT PYRENEES PET HAVEN INC. OF MN organization dedicated to rescuing, [email protected] RESCUE OF MN PetHavenMN.org caring for and adopting out homeless 507-201-7287 northstargreatpyrs.com [email protected] dogs and cats. 501c3, no-kill organization that [email protected] 952-831-3825 helps homeless animals of all types 612-379-0010 Created in 1952 to rescue, rehome SECONDHAND HOUNDS in numerous counties in South Dedicated to providing rescue/ and advocate for companion animals. (Minnetonka) Central Minn. rehoming, breed education and fun Secondhandhounds.org activities for Great Pyrenees and PRAIRIE’S EDGE HUMANE [email protected] WINONA AREA HUMANE SOCIETY their owners. SOCIETY (Northfield) 952-322-7643 winonahumanesociety.org prairiesedgehs.org 507-452-3135 NORTHSTAR SHIH TZU RESCUE [email protected] SHIH TZU RESCUE OF MINNESOTA facebook.com/ 507-664-1035 shihtzurescuemn.org NorthStarShihTzuRescue Serving Rice County. Mission to All-volunteer organization with a LOST AND [email protected] promote the value of animals mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and FOUND PETS 612-209-4502 through care and education rehome Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu mixes. Report lost and found pets of We rescue Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu Southeast Minnesota: blend dogs, evaluate them in foster RESCUED PETS ARE WONDERFUL SMALL DOG RESCUE OF facebook.com/SEMNLost.Found homes and then match them to their rpaw.org MINNESOTA perfect family. [email protected] smalldogsminnesota.org Report lost and found dogs of Minnesota: facebook.com/LDoMN 763-757-8204 [email protected] NORTHWOODS ANIMAL RESCUE To rescue companion animals and All-volunteer group committed SANCTUARY & ADOPTION CENTER find them loving forever homes. to the rescue, rehabilitation, “NARS” (Andover) and placement of dogs STOP OVER-POPULATION northwoodsrescue.org 20 pounds and under. SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS

40 | wagazine | summer 2015 GET THE SCOOP| July 18 Great Dane Rescue of MN & WI Sanctu- August 22 Doggy Dash, Normandale ary Grand Opening, 1pm, Dane Farm in Siren, WI, Park, Bloomington, PetHavenMN.org GET THE SCOOP gdromn.org/info/events JUNE SEPTEMBER July 19 Yappy Hour at Wildwood Sports Bar and June 6 Doberman Rescue Minnesota meet and Grill, 3–6pm, wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com September 4 Great Dane Rescue of greet, 11am–1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Elk River, MN & WI Brat Stand Fundraiser, 11am, dobermanrescueminnesota.com June 19 Doberman Rescue Minnesota meet and North Oaks Von Hanson’s Meats, greet, 11am–1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Forest Lake, June 6 English Springer Rescue America “Meet the gdromn.org/info/events dobermanrescueminnesota.com Springers,” 11am–1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Plymouth, September 12 English Springer Rescue springerrescuemidwest.org July 19 The Dog Pro Workshop: Continuing America “Meet the Springers,” 11am– Education for Rescues, Shelters, Fosters and Dog June 7 Yappy Hour at Wildwood Sports Bar and 1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Plymouth, springerres- Enthusiasts. 10am-6pm, Twin Cities Obedience Grill, 3–6pm, wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com cuemidwest.org Training Club, Minneapolis, prettygooddog.com/ June 7 Bark at the Park, Target Field, dog-pro-workshop September 12 6th Annual Slobberfest, Rochester PetHavenMN.org Feed & Country Store, rochesterfeed.com/slobberfest July 25 English Springer Rescue America “Meet June 12-14 Paws and Claws Annual Rummage the Springers,” 11am–3pm, Chuck & Don’s, St. Paul, September 13 Best Friends Animal Society Strut Sale, Olmsted Co. Fairgrounds, pawsandclaws.org springerrescuemidwest.org Your Mutt annual fundraising dog walk, 5K run and June 13 Minnesota Pet Expo: Exhibitors, rescue festival, 8am–1pm, St. Louis Park, http://bestfriends. July 25 Dog Days of Summer, a free fun-filled groups, discounted vaccinations and microchip- org/What-We-Do/Events/Strut-Your-Mutt family event for members and friends of Alimagnet ping, free nail trims, agility and obedience demos, Dog Park. Proceeds from the event support park September 19 Super Adoption, sponsored by Res- pet products, giveaways, 10am–6pm, Minneapolis improvements, 11am–3pm, Alimagnet Dog Park, cued Animal Coalition of SE MN, Olmsted County Convention Center, minnesotapetexpo.com alimagnetdogpark.org/dds.php Fairgrounds, Rochester June 20 Pony UP, horse rides, $5 suggested July 25 2nd Annual Appreciation Picnic September 27 Blessing of the Animals, Assisi donation, all donations go to RideAbility, at the Doberman Ranch, Noon, Buffalo, Heights 11am–3pm, Rochester Pet & Country Store dobermanrescueminnesota.com South, www.rideability.org July 26 Basset Buddies in the Montgomery Look for the FALL issue June 21 Yappy Hour at Wildwood Sports Bar and Kolacky Days Parade, Noon, Montgomery, Grill, 3–6pm, wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com of the wagazine in bassetbuddiesrescue.org June 26 Camp Companion UnCorked, 5–8pm, early SEPTEMBER 2015! July 30 PAWS2RELAX, spend a lunch break Salem Glen Winery, campcompanion.org with a furry friend to take the stress out of the June 27 Pet-a-Palooza,10am,MN State Fairgrounds, day, Noon–3pm, Historic 3rd Street, Rochester, INDEX TO ADVERTISERS http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/pet-a-palooza BACBunleashed.com Affiliated Emergency Veterinary Service...... 18 June 27 Great Dane Rescue of MN & WI Brat Stand AUGUST Big Dan’s Trucking, Inc. & Pet Food...... 8 Fundraiser, 11am, North Oaks Von Hanson’s Meats, The Bluffs Pet Clinic of Red Wing...... 35 August 1 Great Dane Rescue of MN & WI Brat gdromn.org/info/events Camp Companion - Uncorked...... 37 Stand Fundraiser, 11am, North Oaks Von Hanson’s Cascade Animal Medical Center...... 8 June 27 June Dog Jam, High flying Disc Dogs Meats, gdromn.org/info/events 10th Annual Competition, 9am, Lincolnshire Park, Councelor Realty, Alissa Adamson...... 11 mndiscdog.com August 1 Doberman Rescue Minnesota meet Crossfit...... 8 and greet, 11am–1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Elk River, Dogs Downtown...... 36 June 27 K-9 Carnival, sponsored by Rochester Mn dobermanrescueminnesota.com Doo Crew...... 37 Kennel Club. Vendors, animal communicator, dog Edina Realty...... 26 August 2 Yappy Hour at Wildwood Sports Bar and games, meet the breed, microchip clinic. 9am–3pm, Fluff and Buff...... 18 Cooke Park Grill, 3–6pm, wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com Grandeville at Cascade Lake...... 12

JULY August 2 Downtown Dogs, 1-5pm, Peace Plaza, Heritage Pet Hospital...... 17 DowntownRochesterMN.com/DogsDowntown Invisible Fence...... IFC July 5 Yappy Hour at Wildwood Sports Bar and Irie Kennels...... 21 August 8 English Springer Rescue America “Meet Grill, 3–6pm, wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com Kelvin Andow Photography...... 12 the Springers,” 11am–1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Savage, The Loop...... 29 July 11 Great Dane Rescue of MN & WI Brat Stand springerrescuemidwest.org Meadow View Veterinary Clinic, LLC...... 35 Fundraiser, 11am, North Oaks Von Hanson’s Meats, August 8 Doberman Rescue Minnesota meet and Northern Valley Animal Clinic...... 29 gdromn.org/info/events greet, 11am–1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Coon Rapids, Pet Stop...... BC July 16 Pints for Paws, Summit Brewery, dobermanrescueminnesota.com Quarry Hill Park Animal Hospital ...... 21 PetHavenMN.org Raws for Paws...... 21 August 10 Golf Tournament to benefit Paws & Riverwood Veterinary Housecalls...... 18 July 18 ARF in the Park, a BACB Unleashed signa- Claws Humane Society, 1pm, Rochester Golf and Rochester Civic Theatre...... IBC ture event, 11am–4pm, Eagles Club of Rochester. Country Club, pawsandclaws.org Rochester Feed and Country Store...... 4 Find out whether your dog is the next PUPPY August 16 Yappy Hour at Wildwood Sports Bar Sonja’s Dog Walking/Pet Sitting ...... 37 PICASSO. You and your pet can create keepsake and Grill, 3–6pm, wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com Tilly’s American Travelers RV Resort...... 11 pieces of art to take home. We invite artists, crafters, Turncrest Stable...... 18 painters, that feature canines in their artwork, to August 16 Doberman Rescue Minnesota meet and Wildwood Sports Bar & Grill...... 17 also join us at this signature event. Contact Pam, greet, 11am–1pm, Chuck & Don’s, Forest Lake, Zumbrota Veterinary Clinic...... 12 [email protected] dobermanrescueminnesota.com

www.thewagazine.com | 41 | HAPPY TAILS Members of a PARTICULAR KINGDOM A series of hamsters + a flying wiener dog + one understanding mother = lifelong love affair with animals By Mary Kettl

y friend Clark died last the house that would willingly drink out of Randy proved to have even less common sense summer. This is not the the toilet. than the hamsters. way I would usually start a And yet, despite her unease, over the He didn’t bark or bite; his response to funny story, but Clark was a years my mother let us have hamsters, stress was to grab something—pork funny friend. a dog, and, later, a bunny named Al. chops, toilet paper, pantyhose—and He was a draft horse, a great blond Belgian I had wanted a horse from about run with it until apprehended, at Mwith a bushy My Little Pony haircut, movie- the age of three, but being descended which point he would swallow the star eyelashes and a face as long as my torso. from generations of school teachers evidence, only to spew it out in His hobbies included pulling a wagon and without a trace of agricultural back- spectacular but somewhat less usable passing gas, usually at the same time, which ground—as pioneers, these people condition later. made our camp hayrides an unexpectedly crossed the plains pushing A.V. carts Living with Randy made us edgy large source of unregulated greenhouse gas bearing overhead projectors and mimeograph but incredibly tidy. We learned never to leave emissions. Clark was not my horse, but I machines—there was no way we were going to toys, book reports or shoes we liked on the knew him for nearly 20 years. have livestock on Elk Street. floor, which may explain why my sisters are I sometimes resist the term “animal lover” Instead, I had a brown-and-white seen clutching armfuls of Barbie dolls in all because it makes me think of a certain type of hamster named Smokey, followed their school pictures. lady, the kind who dress small dogs in elegant by two more identical hamsters, also It has been two decades since we had this sweaters and matching clutch purses and take named Smokey. dog, but any mention of him still makes my their birds on vacation with them. The first hamster came with a little mother a little brittle, and to this day none of No one would call me The Horse paperback book, “Training and Caring for us can leave a cupcake unsupervised, for fear Whisperer or The Dog Whisperer, or your Hamster,” which I read and reread several that a small brown rocket will fly through the even Dances With Dogs, but I have times, as if I could teach one of the Smokeys air and swallow it whole. had several companions who, with their to fetch, or perhaps prepare him for a We never got another dog after Randy, and abundance of facial hair and enthusiasm for service career, like a seeing-eye hamster. there was no further talk of horses until I grew eating things they find on the ground, were Besides napping and running on up and bought one myself. I have told my members of the animal kingdom. the exercise wheel, none of my hamsters mother that I have a horse, and even offered to Most of these friends have been dogs seemed interested in learning any tricks besides show her pictures of Scout, but she is always and horses, although my friend, Lisa, and stuffing their cheeks with sunflower seeds and politely noncommittal. She doesn’t mind that I I sometimes hitched teams of kittens to a toy then spewing them out in spectacular fashion, have friends named Clark and Abe, Scout and buckboard so we could play “Little House a skill that hardly seemed helpful to others. Dusk, Randy, Corky, and Buddy and Ben; she on the Prairie.” The Smokeys were kind and understanding just doesn’t want to meet them. The most generous thing my mother ever in a rodenty sort of way, but I still longed for a She is glad I am happy—and relieved that did was allow me to have pets as a child. She horse, so when I was 11 my mother agreed to no one will ever eat her Christmas lights did not like animals—my Aunt Susan used compromise by getting a dog. again—but she doesn’t understand that it all to chase her with a pet turtle, which is what We got a Dachshund, which is not a real started with a hamster named Smokey. children did in the 1940s before television was dog, but a cartoon dog made up of parts of invented—and we suspected she would rather other dogs. Wiener dogs are notoriously high Mary Kettl is a teacher, writer, and summer we form a lasting friendship with a can of strung, and although I read “Training and camp horse wrangler. She lives in Rochester with pumpkin pie filling than have any creature in Caring for Your Dachshund” several times, her spouse, Julie, and their gifted dog, Ben.

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