Category Archive for one question interviews
Posted by jenna on May 7th, 2009
In the categories: one question interviews, responsible ownership
Today brings us to the third installment of the One Question Interview series. Today’s answer is from Aurora Piacentino, Director of Operations at Liberty Humane Society.
Question: If you had the opportunity to communicate and teach one concept to all dog owners everywhere, what would it be and why?
Answer from Aurora Piacentino
Probably something you would expect from the Director of an animal shelter – the importance of spay/neuter in pet quality companion animals. I think that by this point, most people have probably heard that they should spay or neuter their dog, but most don’t know why. They might have some vague idea of health benefits or pet overpopulation, but those are concepts that most people don’t apply to themselves,
"My pet is healthy, why should I worry?"
"Too many animals? That’s why they have animal shelters, they find good homes for them!"
Pet owners should understand that keeping a dog intact, breeding dogs as well, comes with some very real health risks that can affect healthy adult dogs. With each heat cycle a female dog goes through her chances of developing mammary tumors and a horrific uterine infection, called Pyometra, increases. Pyometra often is diagnosed in later stages and most often requires expensive surgery, fluid therapy, antibiotics and other supportive care to treat. With pregnant dogs, there is always risk that complications could arise during birth – potentially risking both mother and puppies lives. Male dogs that are not neutered can also experience health issues directly related to remaining intact such as Prostate or Testicular Cancer. All of these conditions have the potential to not only significantly affect your pocketbook but to drastically reduce the quality and length of life of your companion.
Pet owners also need to understand that each and every litter born has an effect on their pet community. It simply does not make sense to bring more dogs needing homes into a community where there are already homeless dogs looking for families to adopt them. We do have animal shelters for those unlucky animals that find themselves without a place to call their own, but the dog owners in the community can help the cause by choosing to spay and neuter and thereby reducing pressuring the system, so to speak. It’s up to the animal shelter to provide information on low cost options, but the dog owner must take that next step and do the responsible thing. They have to cast aside fears that simple surgery will change their dog’s personality or physique (both notions that are completely false) and make the decision that they will be a part of the solution.
About Aurora Piacentino
Aurora Piacentino is Director of Operations at Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City, NJ. Liberty Humane Society is a private, non-profit animal shelter with a mission dedicated to fostering a community of compassion and respect, and providing animals in need with a chance at a lifelong, loving home.
For more information on Liberty Humane Society and to see the many animals in need of adoption, please visit www.libertyhumane.org.
Posted by jenna on May 6th, 2009
In the categories: nutrition and health, one question interviews
Welcome to the second installment of the One Question Interview series. Today’s answer is from Dr. Harvey Cohen, nutritionist and dog lover.
Question: If you had the opportunity to communicate and teach one concept to all dog owners everywhere, what would it be and why?
Answer from Dr. Harvey Cohen
Feed fresh unadulterated food to your dog. Avoid preservatives, chemicals, dyes, coloring agents, salt and sugar.
Keeping your dog away from chemical additives is the most important thing you can do to achieve optimal wellness. This nutritional choice, to eliminate chemicals from the diet, is so important that it is second only to love, when it comes to what your dog needs most for health, happiness and longevity. I believe if I could communicate to guardians everywhere the inherent dangers of the chemicals found in most commercial foods, we would see a tremendous decline in many degenerative diseases in our beloved companion dogs.
About Dr. Harvey
Dr. Harvey Cohen known to most as Dr. Harvey is a pioneer in holistic nutrition and the natural feeding of companion animals. He has been a tireless advocate of natural living for people and animals and has dedicated his life to teaching others the healthiest way to care for their companions. Distressed by the growing numbers of animals afflicted with cancer, allergies, skin problems, kidney disease, digestive disorders and arthritis, Dr. Harvey determined that the root of most of these problems is commercial pet food.
Since that time, Dr. Harvey has created foods, treats and supplements for dogs, cats, birds and horses, that use only healthy, chemical-free, all natural and organic ingredients. He has helped thousands of companion animals to regain their health and thousands more to maintain optimal wellness.
For more about Dr. Harvey, visit drharveys.com.
Posted by jenna on May 5th, 2009
In the categories: one question interviews, training and behavior
To kick off our new series of "One Question Interview" posts, today’s interview question is answered by Andrea Arden. Stay tuned over the next few days for more answers to the same question.
Question: If you had the opportunity to communicate and teach one concept to all dog owners everywhere, what would it be and why?
Answer from Andrea Arden, Dog Trainer and Author
I would hope to help people understand that we often do a great disservice to our canine companions by "killing with kindness." That is, inadvertently allowing dogs to indulge in behaviors that are ultimately to their long term detriment. Some examples are: over feeding, over coddling (resulting in a dog with fear and/or separation issues), not using tools wisely and kindly (such as a crate and a feeding and watering schedule) to help our dogs become fully housetrained, and allowing a dog to greet them frantically when they return home (and then reprimanding the dog for jumping on visitors).
From my experience, most people feel uncomfortable setting clear rules and boundaries for their dogs because they feel some underlying guilt for an almost endless list of reasons (i.e. Having to leave their dog when they go to work or school, not finding the time to take their dog for as many fun outings as they might like, not having a big enough apartment, etc.).
One of the kindest things you can do for your dog, other than providing them with adequate mental and physical stimulation, great nutrition and veterinary care, and of course much love, is to be a great teacher to them in regards to all they need to know to be able to enjoy their life to the fullest. Teachers of all sorts have to set boundaries to help their students. In the case of our dogs, start with a list of all the ways you imagine your dog might best enjoy his or her life. For example, getting to go for lots of walks, getting to play with visitors in your home, getting to go with you on trips and stay in other people’s homes, getting to play with other animals. Then make a list of how a dog would need to behave in each of these scenarios (for example being housetrained in your home and all other indoor environments, being well socialized with all sorts of people and animals, walking nicely on leash, greeting people by sitting, being calm when left alone, etc.). Then teach him or her everything he or she needs to know to have the best life possible! In this way you are truly being a kind and loving pet parent.
About Andrea
Andrea is a dog trainer and author in New York City. Her training philosophy emphasizes developing a loving, cooperative relationship between you and your dog.
Andrea has written four books including Dog Friendly Dog Training (IDG, 1999), Train Your Dog the Lazy Way (Macmillan, 1998), The Little Book of Dog Tricks (Howell, 2002) and On the Road With Your Pet (Fodor’s, 1998). She is the behavior columnist for The New York Dog magazine, has been the behavior columnist for Dog Fancy magazine and is a contributing writer for numerous other dog magazines.
For more about Andrea, visit andreaarden.com.
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