Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Shana needs help! - siberblogger's Blog - Blogster

Shana needs help! - siberblogger's Blog - Blogster

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

What this economy is doing to our pets

Pet ownership has changed over the years.No longer is there Britney Spears of the world going into a LA pet boutique and dropping $3000 on a Yorkie. Do something like that now and suffer the ire of PETA. Even our new president is being affected by the recent developments in the economy. He has realized that you cannot simply enter a pet store and 30 minutes later walk out with a new family member. The president has said that trying to find a new dog for his children is tougher than finding a Commerce secretary. He has been trying to model what a responsible new potential pet owner should be like during a recession, or any other time for that matter. During this recession we must take in consideration the needs of all the family members and wait until the household is calm before bringing a new pet into the family. He is also showing setting a good example by getting a pet from a shelter or rescue group.
Although the president’s choice of a new family pet, and whether it will be a labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound has been all over the media, more importantly is the unstable future of our natin's pets in a time when there are those who can not pay for their bills.In our nation’s hayday, it was common to see stories that made us to giggle and shake our heads about how people would spend exorbitant amounts of money on their pets. They believed that their dogs actually appreciated the posh bottled water that was served to them in a crystal doggie glass. Stories of million dollar doggie trust funds, thousand dollar doggie hotels, pearl necklaces, and other examples doggie decadence covered the papers daily.
Now that our economy has sunken to new depths, stories about our beloved pets have changed and have become much more daunting and deeply troubling. The media all across our country have been reporting about local animal shelters becoming filled far beyond their capacity, often times being forced to euthanize a greater number of otherwise healthy pets simply because of space constraints. Still others have abandoned their pets in foreclosed houses or chained up in back yards of abandoned properties, left to fend for themselves, often times un able to reach food and water slowly starving to death at the end of a lead. The LA times even made pets and the economy their features story of the New Year. Pets are quickly becoming the luxury that can no longer be afforded.
This downslide comes on the heels of a previous upswing in adoption rates. For nearly a decade shelters and rescues have been seeing a steady rise in the rate of adoptions a starke difference from the overwhelming intake and decline in new adoption applications. There is no real way of knowing if we have seen the bottom of this staggering trend or if there is more despair to come. One thing is for sure, it is not getting any better.
Any progress made in the past of educating the public on the need to adopt from shelters instead of purchasing from a puppy store means nothing if our failing economy causes people to not be able to afford to own a pet or take care of the pets that they already have in their home. Vet costs alone have been a major factor in family’s decisions to give up their beloved pets. With the average vet visit costing in the range of $200 a visit, people often have to decide whether they can spend this month’s credit card payment and unless they find a way to reduce their credit card debt, they often have little choice but to give up their pet.
Another sign of the rapid decline of the luxury pet market was the cancelation New York’s Pet Fashion Week. With all this negative news on the pet industry it is noteworthy to say that our pets have numerious benefits. Vets across the nation have said that pets are an excellent way to lower blood pressure which helps justify spending the money spent on them.
The only way for many people to avoid having to make tough decisions such as of paying bills of buying food for Fido, is to get themselves in a position to weather the economic storm. For many people this could mean entering into a debt reduction program or other ways of lowering their household expenses. Often time’s bankruptcy is not an option for these embattled pet owners who do not want to deal with the court system, paying attorney fees nor having the black mark on their credit for up to ten years. Often times credit card counseling, which is run by the creditors, is not a viable option since in most cases the payments are no less and sometimes more then what they are paying at the moment. Again this makes the owner struggle with pet food not to mention vet bills as mentioned earlier.
Whatever solution you may decide, should you find yourself in this same situation, ensure that you educate yourself on the differences between the programs and fully understand the pitfalls. In most cases speaking to someone who can assist you in settling your debt can be helpful and is suggested over going it alone.
This debate over pets and the economy will likely go on for as long as there is an economic crunch in our nation. The underlying issue is that we either need to deal with the debt we have and survive this crisis, or resort to what many have and abandon the family pet. Where will this trend end? Will the next crisis cause us to decide whether to feed our kids and pay for medical insurance or leave them on the side of the street to fend for themselves.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Detailed history of the Siberian Husky breed

The Siberian Husky were bred and raised by the Chukchi people of Russia, for thousands of years. This tribe of Siberian nomads needed dogs that could offer fast, efficient transportation over the enormous frozen Tundra. Known for their gentle nature, Siberian Huskies often served as soft, furry beds for the children, hence the phrase "three dog night". Powerful and agile, this average size dog was able to swiftly cover extensive distances on a nominal amount of food.

The Siberian Husky andr the Chukchi people developed a special relationship derived from mutual need and nurtured by shared respect. In the virtual isolation of the tundra, they thrived together for centuries before the outside world discovered and fell in love with this magnificent dog. Although the Siberian Husky of modern day has changed since entering this country in the early 1900s, the breed still maintains many of the qualities that made the Chukchi sled dog such a prized possession.

The first Siberian Husky was introduced into the United States in Alaska by a trader in 1908. They were used for pulling sleds. These dogs started winning Alaskan races almost instantly. The word was spreading about this superior strain of sled dog in Siberia.

The first Siberian Husky team made its appearance in the 1909 All Alaska Sweepstakes Race. Charles Fox Maule Ramsay and his team imported a large number of Huskies to Alaska that year. Driven by John "Iron Man" Johnson, they won the grueling 408-mile race in 1910. Siberian Huskies, particularly those bred and raced by Leonhard Seppala, captured most of the racing titles in Alaska over a ten year span, where the rugged terrain was ideally suited to the endurance capabilities of the breed. Leonhard Seppala and became famous for his outstanding racing Siberians. One particularly famous lead dog of Seppala's was Togo. from about 1917 to 1925 Togo was Seppala's permanent leader, although Seppala frequently used him as a lead dog even before 1917. Togo was the most famous and most traveled dog in Alaska, with many racing victories to his credit. He was scrappy, fast, and brilliant.

Togo was instrumental in saving many lives in the Alaskan village of Nome. In January 1925, doctors realized that a potentially deadly diphtheria epidemic was poised to sweep through Nome's young people. Unfortunately for them, the only serum that could stop the outbreak was nearly a thousand miles away, in Anchorage. The only aircraft that could quickly deliver the medicine had been dismantled for the winter. Officials, In desperation, turned to a much lower-tech solution: moving the medicine by sled dog.

The serum was transported by railroad from Anchorage to Nenana, the train stop closest the trail that led to Nome. Yet, the distance from Nenana to Nome was still more than 670 miles, and the serum had to be transported across rough, potentially deadly terrain. Battling temperatures that rarely rose above 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, more than 20 mushers took part, battling winds that sometimes blew strong enough to knock over sleds and dogs. Reporters brought news of the race to a world suddenly transfixed by the drama in the far north.

Led by Togo, Leonhard Seppala's team ran 91 miles, the longest and most dangerous leg of the relay, including a treacherous stretch over the unpredictable ice of Norton Sound. Togo faithfully led his team into a gale force winds, on the way to the handoff to the next musher. Seppala's team covered more than 260 miles, out from Nome and back, in the serum run

On February 2, 1925, just six days later, Gunner Kaassen drove his heroic dog team lead by a husky named Balto, into the streets of Nome. Balto’s furry face soon became known around the world. A year later, in honor of the epic trek, admirers erected a statue of Balto in New York City's Central Park. The statue is inscribed with the following:

“Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice across treacherous waters through arctic blizzards from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in the Winter of 1925. Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence”

Balto was suddenly a world-famous celebrity; for two years after the serum run, the dog and some of his teammates traversed the continental United States as part of a traveling show. After his death in 1933, Balto’s body was preserved and displayed at Cleveland's Natural History Museum. In 1995, a popular animated movie about Balto was released, adding to his fame.

Many of today's Siberian Huskies have pedigrees tracing back to Seppala's great racing dogs, including Siberians used primarily for showing and Siberians used primarily for working.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I had a baby loose the dog!!!

So I sit here with my morning coffee wondering, why do so many people give up their beloved members of the family just because they had a baby. Oh I know, I hear it all the time. We don't want the dog to hurt the baby. Like you didn't have this dog, this loved companion, before you decided to have the baby. Like you did not have nine months to decide how to handle the upcoming issues of a dog vs baby.

OK enough of my frustrations, here are some answers for those of you who find yourself in these types of situations. First of all. Is your dog spay/neutered? This can elevate a lot of issues that you might be having with mild aggression and alpha tendencies.

South Florida Siberian Husky Rescue Inc. gets a number of calls each month dealing with this very issue. You or your family is expecting a new baby; however, you already have a "child," the family dog. The dog has been a member of the household since puppy hood and is very attached to you. He often attempts to wedge himself between you and visitors when the visitors get too close. He seems "jealous" of visitors and you are worried how he will react to the baby. Will he be depressed? Not eat? Sulk? Get destructive and spiteful? Are you wondering if these concerns are legitimate? What can be done to prevent problems before and after the new baby arrives

The nature of canines - wolves and dogs - is that of the family group. It is normally two dominant adults and related individuals of various ages. Usually only the two dominant adults breed, yet all members of the pack help to care for the mother and pups, bring meat back to the mother and pups, and guard the pups. Subordinate females may "baby-sit" and even help nurse the puppies. Domestic dogs do not commonly bring food back to a mother and pups but may guard a bitch during pregnancy and while she is lactating, as well as guard or watch over the puppies. Pet dogs relate to you and other family members as if they were members of the family. Ideally, your baby will be accepted by the dog as an offspring included in this family unit. In fact, dogs are more likely to protect an infant from strangers or visitors than they are to be "jealous." Most problems that arise between a dog and child occur when the child reaches the crawling and walking stages, at about 10mths/a year or so. Nonetheless, you should be aware that there is a potential for problems occurring and insure your baby is safe. The most serious potential problem is for your dog to fail to recognize the new baby as a human being that should be included in the family unit. Obviously, a baby will not be perceived as another dog. Also, since the baby does not look, smell, or sound like a "human being" to the dog if it is not familiar with infants, the dog may interpret the baby as prey.

Most dogs are curious about babies, especially if the dog has had little or no exposure to infants or a long time has elapsed since it has seen a baby. If you have seen your dog react to other babies, either in your home, on the street, or in other people's homes, be aware of your dog's typical reactions and take whatever precautions necessary. Most dogs adapt quickly and easily to the presence of a new baby. However, since the consequences can be so serious, assume that your dog will react negatively and take every safety precaution possible, regardless how your dog has reacted in previous encounters with babies. Babies can be accidentally hurt as a dog attempts to play with or investigate the infant. An extremely active dog, for example, can accidentally injure a baby while jumping up on the owner or cause an accident while running around. These types of problems can be avoided if your dog is obedience trained. Dogs with a history of aggression toward people require special caution. An aggressive dog that reacts to visitors, mail carriers, and other dogs can injure a baby if the child happens to come between the dog and the object of its aggression. Dogs that become aggressive when approached while eating or in possession of a bone, toy, or other favorite item or that become aggressive if startled or when awakened require very close supervision in the presence of a baby. The most potentially dangerous situations are predatory responses. Extra caution should be taken if your dog has a history of predatory behavior like chasing and/or killing small game, especially if it has been bred for this purpose. This tip has special importance if the dog has had little or no exposure to infants. It is also important for you to realize that exposure to and interaction with small children is not the same as exposure to and interaction with an infant. Just because your dog plays in a friendly, gentle manner with children, do not assume it will react the same way to a baby. Infants are very different from children. Children are usually, although not always, interpreted by dogs as people; infants may not be. Please understand that a few infants are severely injured by dogs each year and, in fact, some are killed. The number of infants killed by dogs is very small, not more than 10 per year throughout the entire United States, and, in contrast, many thousands of infants in the U.S. are victims of automobile accidents, burns, drowning, choking, suffocation, and poisoning. Although the risk is small, there is cause for concern about a dog's reaction to your baby and precautions will help insure that your baby does not become a "statistic."

All interactions between your baby and dog should be monitored very carefully. This monitoring should continue until your dog is paying no attention to the infant or is completely friendly toward the baby. Never leave a baby or small child UNATTENDED with a dog for ANY REASON. Help your dog learn that the baby belongs in your family by exposing the dog to the baby in a very gradual and controlled manner. The exposure should be positive so the dog does not associate unpleasant situations with the baby so the dog does not feel anxious or aggressive in the baby's presence.

The following suggestions should help your dog to adjust to your new baby:
1. Getting Ready for the Arrival : Preparations should begin months before the baby arrives. If your dog does not know how to sit, stay, lie down, or come when called, it should be taught to do so. If your dog already knows these commands but is unreliable, practice these obedience exercises with the dog until it is reliable. Even if you consider your dog "pretty good," that may not be good enough and could lead to your having a false sense of security. Imagine how your dog, if excited, will react when you bring the baby home. Can you depend on it to reliably sit and stay or down and stay and not rush toward the baby? If you have had some experience training a dog, you might try obedience procedures at home. Otherwise, it would be best to take your dog to a good, humane training class. Your dog should associate the various obedience commands such as sit, stay, and come with pleasant experiences. Although your dog may need to be corrected occasionally, force methods should be avoided. After all, the goal is for the dog to like both the owner and the baby, not simply for it to obey because it is frightened or afraid of being punished. Once your dog learns the basic sit/stay and down/stay commands, you should continue to work these commands at home. You should start requiring that your dog sit/stay or down/stay as you do things that resemble "baby activities" around it. For example, pick up a doll, cradle it, rock it, and walk back and forth. Periodically, reward the dog with tidbits, petting or praise for remaining in a sitting position while this is going on. The doll should also be wrapped in baby blankets and shown to the dog, which must learn to control itself and to refrain from moving. Because dogs respond with interest to strange sounds, it is a good idea to accustom your dog to the recorded sounds of a baby crying, babbling, or making other normal "baby" sounds (a child’s play talking baby doll is ideal). Ideally, if the opportunity is available, expose your dog - in a controlled manner to ensure the infants safety - to real babies of friends or neighbors. This procedure should be considered only if the dog is reliably trained and controllable. The dog should gradually be exposed to babies until it can remain relaxed in their presence. This may require several sessions. If your baby is born in a hospital, your dog will remain at home. You can use this interval to familiarize your dog with the baby's smell by bringing home blankets or clothing (hats, onesie, shirt) the baby has worn. On the subject of diapers: It would behoove you to keep soiled diapers in a tightly closed container. One of the functions of a mother dog is to lick up the urine and feces of puppies to keep the sleeping area clean. Quite frequently, female dogs will ingest the feces of a human baby and may go to great lengths to clean up after the child, including raiding diaper buckets! This is not an abnormal behavior but a normal aspect of canine maternal behavior. It will also help if the mother wears baby powder, baby lotion and possibly bathe in the same baby shampoo that you will be using on the baby. If you are getting a nursery ready - put a baby gate up in the doorway of the room. Only allow the dog in when you say its OK. Make your dog apart of the arrival of the new baby. You’ll find that after the baby gate is up awhile, that should it be down without your presence the dog will learn to respect that room as the baby’s room.

2. Bringing Your Baby Home: When mother and child come home from the hospital, it is best if mother greets the dog without the baby present. The baby should be held by the father, preferably outside the door or in another room while the mother and dog greet each other for at least 5 minutes. This way, you can avoid reprimanding an excited dog that merely wants to greet the owner and that may jump at the baby in an attempt to get near the mother. The mother is going to have some unfamiliar smells on her from being away from the house for a couple of days plus dogs can smell that ‘something’ is different with ‘mother’. Owners should allow some time for the dog to get used to the smells and sounds of the baby, which to it are the presence of another creature in the house. Later, when the level of excitement in the household has decreased and the dog appears relaxed, the baby and dog can be introduced to each other. One parent should attend to the baby and the other to the dog. The dog should be in a sit/stay or down/stay and on a leash. If there is any concern that the dog may leap at the baby, a halter or muzzle should be placed on the dog.

3.The First Several Days and Thereafter: Remember, your adopted dog should not have unsupervised access to your baby - EVER. You will want to be especially careful when the baby is screaming, crying, or waving its arms and legs. These actions can elicit a predatory, investigatory, or play-leap reaction by the dog toward the infant. It is wiser to either put the dog in another room or put the dog in a down/stay several feet away from the baby. Unfortunately, dogs frequently begin to "act up" after a new baby arrives. It is unclear whether these behaviors occur because of "jealousy" or simply because the dog is being deprived of its usual and expected amount of social attention and affection. You will want to start reducing the attention that you give your dog 2 or 3 months prior to the baby's arrival. This will help the dog accept that it is no longer the "focus" of your attention. When the baby comes home, you should ensure that your dog gets sufficient attention. One tip that can be helpful is that whenever you begin to do something with you baby, you can put the dog in a sit/stay and periodically reward it with a tidbit. This procedure allows the dog to associate pleasant experiences with the baby and gives the dog extra attention when the baby is present. If after the first several days you are still concerned that your dog might harm your baby, a screen door or gate could be fastened at the entrance to the child's room. This precaution allows you to hear the baby but eliminates your dog's access to the room. Also, keep in mind when you take your infant to visit friends or relatives that the dogs encountered there may not be accustomed to an infant in their homes. Baby-sitters should be cautioned not to bring dogs with them to the home of an infant. Tragic incidents have occurred when adults mistakenly believed a dog was in the backyard or securely confined away from a baby. Dogs may push open doors and actively investigate the strange sounds and odors of an infant.

As a new parent, although you should be aware of potential problems, you should not worry excessively about the potential problem of your dog injuring your infant. Most dogs adjust to new babies easily, quietly and without incident. If you follow the steps in how to prepare the dog for the new arrival, are observant of your dog's behavior, and take precautions to introduce dog and baby to each other gradually while your dog is under control, you should be able to avoid accidents or troublesome incidents. When the above is done with patience, love and understanding, your dog will soon become your child’s best friend. My husband and I own 3 wonderful huskies; all that were accustomed to the baby’s arrival and who’ve all shared almost every experience as our baby has gotten older and is continuing to grow.

Monday, March 23, 2009

I am so excited!

I am very excited about a new fundraising event that is being worked on. it is a celebrity bowling fundraiser which will benefit our Siberian Huskies that are up for adoption. It will be a great event featuring Mrs. Florida and her friends.

For just fifteen dollars a person you can bowl for two, enjoy pizza and soda, music and fun. We will also be holding raffles and other fun stuff. Our adoptable huskies will also be there so you can see and pet them.

If you want more information about this husky fundraiser go to the husky rescue website.

How can you be so cruel?

"How can you be so cruel?" This is a statement that I hear more times than not when people stop to look at my Siberian Husky. You see, I live in southern Florida. I also love the Siberian Husky breed. I own two. One I got from a pet store. The other one is an adopted husky. I also volunteer for the South Florida Siberian Husky Rescue Inc.



What most people do not realize is that Siberian Huskies have an undercoat. This undercoat is a white, soft fur that insulates them. This is the primary reason they are able to withstand the extreme cold of Siberia and Alaska. Their coarse protective fur lay on top of this undercoat creating a layer affect. This insulation works both ways however. Not only does it protect them from the cold, but it also protects them from the heat.



Wolf, my male husky can be often seen sunbathing. There has been many a time that I had to call him in from outside after he has spent more than a half hour basking in the sun.

The key is, if you feel it is too hot outside for you, then it is probably too hot for your dog.