PetFolio Magazine

DOG WITHOUT A DOCTOR
FIXED INCOME AND DISABLED OWNERS SOMETIMES NEED HELP
By Sue Edmonton, Fall River Mills CA

Marissa lives on a limited income from disability payments and provides the best she can for herself and her best friend, Molly, a one-and-a-half-year old purebred dachshund. She’d planned on spaying Molly, and in fact had the surgery scheduled, when she learned Molly was pregnant.
All went well until Molly started labor. The dog seemed miserable—panting and dragging her tummy along the ground. She had contractions, but wasn’t acting as Marissa expected. Molly refused to eat or drink, and couldn’t relax. Marissa thought she seemed feverish. After three days, Marissa felt something was very wrong and she panicked. “I couldn’t let Molly die,” she says.
She started calling veterinarians. “I explained that I only had $41 until my next disability check came in. I told each vet how sick Molly was.”
One by one, veterinarians refused to see Molly. Some said they didn’t have time to see her right away—but all of them wanted cash up front. The amounts varied, all the way up to $500. “I didn’t have the money. I even told them if I had to give her up to save her life, I would do it.” After calling 17 veterinarians, Marissa was on the verge of hysteria. “I was desperate.”
Then her luck turned. “I called the Nevada Humane Society, and they gave me the numbers for the Shakespeare Animal Fund (SAF) and Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation (WARF). I called both places and they agreed to help.” Marissa received a commitment for $100 from the Shakespeare Animal Fund and $75 from WARF.
Although Marissa doesn’t remember who provided it, she ended up with Dr. Judson Pierce’s number. “When I called, he said to bring Molly right in. He told me the money wasn’t as important as taking care of my dog.”
Marissa rushed Molly to Dr. Pierce’s office, and he examined her immediately. “Molly didn’t look well— she was very thin,” Dr. Pierce recalls. He took x-rays and discovered she was carrying six pups. “She was so weak; she couldn’t have the puppies on her own. I gave her vitamins to build up her strength and tried to keep her calm.” Over the next two days, Dr. Pierce monitored Molly, while giving her small amounts of oxytocin, to stimulate uterine contractions.
Finally, on April Fool’s Day, Dr. Pierce delivered all six puppies successfully. “He saved their lives,” says Marissa. Molly and her puppies returned home the next day.
Dr. Pierce says he never turns away an animal in need. “God has blessed me with good health and certain abilities, along with my wonderful clients and helpers at the Reno Animal Hospital. In gratitude I feel compelled to try to help those He sends my way,” he said. “I let clients make payments. And some of the animal organizations help.” He hopes clients will keep their commitment to make payments, but not everyone does. “I know I’ve lost thousands of dollars over the years.”
Veterinarians aren’t required to treat animals on a pro bono basis and they have no obligation to accept payments. Under the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which Nevada adopted as part of its State law that governs veterinarians, in part II (E), “Veterinarians may choose whom they will serve. Both the veterinarians and the client have the right to establish or decline a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship and to decide on treatment. The decision to accept or decline treatment and related cost should be based on adequate discussion of clinical findings, diagnostic techniques, treatment, likely outcome, estimated cost, and reasonable assurance of payment.” Yet in part I (F), the ethics rules require that, “In emergencies, veterinarians have an ethical responsibility to provide essential services for animals when necessary to save life or relieve suffering, subsequent to client agreement. Such emergency care may be limited to euthanasia to relieve suffering, or to stabilization of the patient for transport to another source of animal care.
When veterinarians cannot be available to provide services, they should arrange with their colleagues to assure that emergency services are available, consistent with the needs of the locality.”
Whether Molly’s case qualified as an emergency under AVMA guidelines is debatable. However, Jennifer Webb, founder of SAF, says most people who call for assistance are frightened and under too much stress to really know. “We try to help them assess the situation. Usually they can’t do it on their own and need to have the animal seen by a veterinarian. Our job is to provide enough money to get the animal through the door. Then it’s up to the client to take care of the rest.” SAF usually operates “hand to mouth,” says Webb. “We give away every dime that comes through the door to help animals and the people who can’t live without them.” Webb notes that many veterinarians in Washoe County accept payments and work with SAF, but she felt uncomfortable naming them without their permission. “I don’t want them to be barraged.” Bill Hebert, the SAF volunteer who handled Marissa’s call said her situation was typical of those seeking help. “She didn’t know what to do, so I walked her through the process.”
Connie Nowlin says WARF provides financial support to pet owners in Marissa’s situation if it helps to keep the animal in the home. “There are no requirements, except to ask. We try to limit it to $100 but may go more on occasion for special circumstances. We don’t request repayment, but do not turn any down if it is offered.”
Marissa says she’s been persistent about telling her story to help those on disability and seniors without resources. “It’s sad that some vets turn people away. We’re just trying to get help for the animals we love.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: By press time, the dog’s owner had not been able to make the minimum payments arranged with Dr. Pierce for those costs and services not assisted by the donations from the medical aid groups.

You’ve seen them on Saturdays at the Farmers Market handing out sample packets of premium quality dog and cat foods and snacks—right next to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (SPCA) booth. When you chat with Walt and Sue Buckmaster of Pet Chef Express you find they know plenty about pet nutrition and supplies, and rightly so. Pet Chef Express has been providing free home delivery of pet-tested premium products to customers in northern Nevada for over four years.
Saturday, October 8, 2005, from 11:00am to3:00pm, marks an open house for Pet Chef Express in their new and more spacious location. Formerly housed on Longley Lane, Pet Chef Express’ new facility can be found at 8545 Double R Boulevard, Suite102, in Reno, NV. Patrons and all PetFolio readers are invited to come by with their best friends sporting their Sunday best leash.
“We’re very excited to show our new place, which is a storefront location,” said Sue Buckmaster. Guest appearances will include Jean Peters, author of the book, I Am Her Ears. The story illustrates the training and service that Gizmo, Peters’ hearing dog, provides her, and it’s written from little Gizmo’s point of view.
Guests will also include members of Paws to Read, whose canine companions help local kids with reading problems. Friends of the Library host the dogs’ visits to local libraries where kids read aloud to the attentive, playful, and non-judgmental pooches. Ten percent of the day’s receipts will be donated to Paws to Read.
Our local SPCA will bring adorably adoptable animals to the event, and if you end up taking a new best buddy home you can sign up for Pet Chef Express’ convenient free home delivery of their superior quality pet foods and snacks. Discounts will also be made available on bags of dog and cat foods.
Human snacks will be prepared, too, in the new locale’s kitchen area. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and soft drinks will be available.
Buckmaster also noted the convenience of such a site since it will allow Pet Chef Express to accommodate customers on site while still delivering free to the homes of what Sue called, “Our growing base of nose twitchin’, ear flappin’, tail waggin’ customers.”
Pet Chef Express’ new location will be open Monday thru Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Weekend hours through the fall and winter seasons may vary due to their participation in the many pet related events. They encourage customers to call first before stopping by on Saturdays and Sundays.
These hours allow the Buckmasters and their staff to deliver to more areas of our growing community. Sue Buckmaster stated, “We are in touch with our customers at least once each month, but if we see the need for our location to be run more like a store, we’ll enjoy the personal contact with our friends as well.”
Pet Chef Express offers high quality protein sources, like lamb, chicken, and catfish. Of the seven most common food allergens found in pet foods none occur in any Pet Chef Express product. Many dogs and cats who once suffered with food allergies now give the “tails up” sign of approval to their new diets.
“All our foods and snacks are made by a single small manufacturer,” said Walt Buckmaster, “and the company has a pet nutritionist they consult about the formulas and any improvements made.”
“The profile we keep on each animal and owner tells us how often we should deliver each product according to their pet’s continuing needs,” Sue Buckmaster said
For more information about Pet Chef Express or to celebrate their new location’s open house call Walt or Sue Buckmaster weekdays at 775-827-2021.

10 TIPS FOR BOARDING YOUR CAT
WAYS TO PREPARE FOR AN EASY TRANSITION
By Tricia Hunter, Cozy Cattery, Verdi NV

1 Always ask to see where your cat will stay. Check to see if the cage is clean, large, airy, and if bedding is provided. Notice if the setting could be stressful for your cat. Is a current business license posted? Beware of any facility that will not allow you beyond the front desk due to insurance restrictions! There is NO insurance that does not allow safely escorted tours.

2 Make reservations early, especially during peak summer months, Christmas, and other major holidays.

3 As you begin packing for your trip, talk to your cat and explain your plans, describe the facility and emphasize you will return and bring it home again. Cats that have been informed of their impending vacation are calmer and adjust better to boarding. Cats understand a lot more than most people realize!

4 Because your cat may be uneasy about your preparations, it may disappear outside or hide indoors. On the day you plan to bring it to the boarding facility, keep your cat indoors and confined where you can reach it. Frantic cat owners have had to cancel their boarding reservations and leave their cat to the elements because the cat slipped outside and they couldn’t find it at the time of departure!

5 Bring something familiar from home, such as a favorite toy, a small blanket or towel, or even a small piece of your clothing (such as a sock or tee-shirt). This helps make the adjustment for your cat to new surroundings easier. The item should be clean and small enough to allow room for the cat to move around. (Of course, all bowls, a cat bed, and the litter box should be provided.)

6 It helps to bring food that your cat is used to. Your cat will eat better, and this will avoid an abrupt change of diet that can cause diarrhea. Or you can indicate the flavor preference of the canned and dry food the boarding facility provides. Don’t forget to bring vitamins, medications, and/or any special treats.

7 If your cat is prone to carsickness, remove water and food the night before you bring your cat in to the cattery. After your cat settles into its private space, it will find fresh water and food to nibble when its tummy settles.

8 Please always transport your cat in a plastic carrier. Cats do bolt out of their owner’s arms due to an unfamiliar noise or movement. It is nearly impossible to find and catch a frightened cat! If you have two cats, bring them in separate plastic carriers. The tensions of the car ride can make them irritable and being shoved together can, and does, start cat fights with even the best of friends. Plastic carriers also are the best escape-proof transportation for your cat in the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation.

9 You might be surprised by your cat’s behavior when you bring it into the boarding facility. Cats are, by nature, solitary animals, and when placed in a new territory inhabited by other cats, they sometimes display some defensive hissing and growling behavior. However, by the next day, most cats sense the territorial boundaries, snuggle into their bed, and usually become quite affectionate and even playful.

10 Bringing your cat home again is another adjustment for it. Hiding out or carefully re-exploring the entire house are common behaviors. If your cat is allowed outdoors, it is a good idea to keep your cat indoors for a day or two as it settles into being “home” again.

BEYOND 9 LIVES
WHY CATS COME BACK FROM THE BRINK
By Cal Orey, South Lake Tahoe CA

It happened without warning on an autumn night. One moment my 18-year-old gray-and-white cat Gandalf was resting; the next moment he lost control of his hindquarters and fell to the floor with all four legs rigid.
He had no respiration, no heartbeat—no pulse. I decided to let him go in peace. Thirty minutes later, I raised Gandalf’s head and was greeted by a bleeding mouth and a very faint “meow.”
After an emergency vet visit, intravenous fluids, massive
doses of antibiotics, and a few prayers, the next day
my senior cat was alert and vocal. One day later, Gandalf was on the road to recovery and back home.
Like thousands of cats who have been ill or injured, Gandalf recuperated and survived. Despite these miracles, many cat people can’t explain the amazing lives phenomenon.

THE MULTI-LIFE MYSTERY
Why do cats seemingly have nine lives? Experts say the reasons are as varied as the circumstances. “The nine lives thing may have arisen as a result of people noticing how cats manage to endure all sorts of accidents, mishaps, and upsets—and still come out smiling (even if they’re limping),” says Arline Bleecker in her book, The Secret Life of Cats (Globe Communications Corp.).
Bleeker continues, “Nine has always been a mystical number like the Trinity of Trinities, the luckiest of numbers; and it’s possible the general aura of mystery and magic that has always surrounded cats simply wound up mythologized.”
Your cat, like Gandalf, may one day come near death and be rescued or revived. Cat survivors, like humans, are a mystery that often defies rational scientific explanation. You need only witness any near-dying feline to make this discovery yourself.

BOUNCING BACK TO LIFE
Nancy Scanlan, DVM, a Southern California holistic veterinarian, knows firsthand the telltale signs of a cat down to one life.
One man brought in his 12-year-old orange tabby Rufus. The prognosis was poor: severe respiratory disease. “Rufus developed pneumonia, the cat was very listless, not responding, and in a semi-coma. He wouldn’t eat, sleep, or take fluids. He was just lying there. It looked to me he was going to slip away any minute,” recalls Scanlan.
What did Rufus see? Did he really know he was about to die? We’ll never really know, but cat experts say cats may get a glimpse at a world beyond their reality—a place on the other side.
A near-death experience (NDE) is an event which often happens in a matter of seconds; that many cats, like humans, experience when they come close to dying, be it just after an accident or on an operating table.
Some folks believe felines, like us, can have a NDE and travel through the “white light filled tunnel.” Cats also, like us, may choose to come back, says Jill Kramer, author of Cat Love (Hay House, Inc.), when they’re pulled by the prayers of their distraught guardians. Could it be that cats, like humans, recognize they have unfinished business here on Earth? Kramer thinks so. She says, “They do not die when they come to the realization that they have not fulfilled their destiny in their cat bodies.”

THE SPOOKY HUMAN-CAT BOND
Cat caretakers can thank themselves for perhaps the most powerful instrument in keeping cats alive. Some vets believe the human-animal bond plays a big role in keeping cats alive.
Cats, like humans, need to be nurtured during a severe illness or injury. It helps them from being depressed. It makes them feel safe. And, the human animal bond can contribute to a faster recovery.
Rufus’ guardian sat with his cat for a long time, recalls Scanlan, “constantly petting the animal and saying, ‘You can do this’ and ‘I know you’re stronger than this.’ Rufus was not looking at his owner, nor lifting his head. Finally, the cat’s guardian left.
“One hour later,” Scanlan says, “Rufus rolled on his stomach. He looked up at me and meowed. I gave him water, he drank it. The next day he was acting like a normal cat. The following day he went home.”
Many people underestimate the spiritual connection between man and animal—cat, dog, horse, bird, or rodent.
What’s more, Kramer says, “Cats, being the magical, mystical beings they are, have chosen to incarnate on the Earth plane in order to provide companionship to humans.”
Unfortunately, I discovered one day that Gandalf, my rock of Gibraltar, wasn’t immortal. You, too, will arrive at that point someday with your own cat. But a positive attitude combined with some faith in the nine lives phenomenon could work miracles for you and your cat companion.

AT DEATH’S DOOR
In mid-October 1996, a 12-year-old black-and-white cat named Felix fell four stories down a light well in guardian Phillip Carlson’s San Francisco apartment building.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported the cat landed on its feet (thanks to the feline’s righting reflex), but still broke three legs. While the cat barely survived, San Francisco SPCA hospital’s special pet program paid for the bulk of Felix’s $2,000 plus surgery and hospital bill. Felix remained in casts for about three months, and the resilient feline cat lost one of his nine lives.

Cal Orey is the author of The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist—How His Quake Warnings Can Save Lives. To pre-order go to www.sentientpublications.com/catalog/earthquakes.php or www.amazon.com

COMMON KILLERS
Here’s a look at the most commonly seen cat near-death emergencies:

• Urinary obstruction in males
• Respiratory distress from cardiac problems
• High-rise syndrome: injuries sustained in falls from balconies or open windows
• Injuries caused by cars and trucks
• Metabolic problems in older cats
• Diabetic coma caused by drop in
blood sugar
• Severely ill from an underlying major disease (cancer, kidney failure)

Although the range of cat near-death
causes differ, the final common thread to
death is lack of oxygen to the brain.

DANCING WITH CATS
THE ART OF INTERSPECIES COMMUNICATION
By Cindy-Lou Dale, Brussels BELGIUM

Some domestic cats are able to make marks using paint which biologists prefer to explain away as an inborn form of territorial marking behavior, yet more recent evidence shows that some of these marks are aesthetically motivated and are genuine works of art.
In late 1997, I read an amazing book titled Why Cats Paint. This book is dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of feline art. Spectacular photographs of these feline masterpieces show cat art ranging from acrylic paint smeared over outdoor fences to tangled twine and dead mice.
Some personal background details of the feline artists are included, with discussions of how their kittenhood traumas relate to their artistic style and also a few tragic tales of cats dying for their art. Frequently the artist is photographed sitting next to his creation.
The authors do, as the title promises, manage to explore the questions surrounding the issue of why cats paint, to some extent. Cats use urine and feces in various rituals involving territorial markings, and feline hygiene. Some acrylic paints apparently smell similar enough to stimulate analogous behaviors in particularly artistic cats, which can sublimate those inner drives in order to produce art.
Now, the long awaited sequel to this best-selling book has launched; Dancing with Cats is here and is directed at millions of cat lovers around the world. It aims to encourage cat owners to tap in on the near lost art and historic tradition of cat dancing.
I spoke with Burton Silver, the New Zealand based co-author of Why Cats Paint and Dancing with Cats (Chronicle Books). Silver has been instrumental in organizing a number of cat painting exhibits around the world and is also the founding member of the Australasian League of Feline Art Critics.
You’ve written a book about dancing with cats—why would anyone want to? It’s a way for cat owners to enter into a more interesting and meaningful relationship with their cats. Once they’ve danced with their cat you often find they’ll speak of feeling that their cat is now a far more significant part of their world and some say they’ve entered into a kind of spiritual partnership. Secondly, there clearly are therapeutic values in it as it makes you feel great—it affects you both physically and emotionally.
Is cat dancing a new phenomenon? As far as I know it’s relatively new, but it appears to have been more common in the Middle Ages. It’s clearly referred to in the nursery rhyme, “Hey-Diddle-Diddle,” in fact, that’s what that whole rhyme is about.
Explain how you go about the physical act of dancing with your cat. You don’t dance with them in the accepted way; you don’t jive about with them for minutes at a time. I know that some of the photographs in the book can give that impression, but “dancing” is really the best term we have available to describe an interaction between a human and a cat where they move synchronistically with one another.
How do I know if my cat will dance with me? The question you should really ask is “Will I dance with my cat?” In short, you won’t know until you try.
What should I do if I find my cat is disinterested?
You have to accept that some cats, like some people, don’t dance. But a lot of the time cats won’t dance because people expect almost instantaneous results. They think they can stroke their cat a bit, then put on the music and their pussy cat will be boogieing with them in no time. It’s not that easy. You have to put hours of time into it. Also, some people are not able to relax and let go of their doubts. Cats are extremely sensitive to our moods and people who are even slightly skeptical can easily put the cat off.
How do I begin? The most effective start is the mirroring exercise where you attempt to mirror, or copy, your cat’s movements, just like we unconsciously copy another’s movements or expressions when we’re forming a relationship with them. When your cat sits, you sit. When it rolls over, you roll over, and when it washes, you wash—the same rhythm, the same posture, the same everything except of course we wouldn’t want you to actually lick yourself.
Is there specific music that cats will respond to? Some cats seem to be oblivious to music, whilst others react negatively, and then there are those that love it. Of those that do respond to music, many seem to have musical preferences and will clearly show they enjoy one piece of music over another by sitting and purring or sometimes moving their tails or heads along with the rhythm. Play different types of music for your cat and look for signs of irritation or enjoyment. There is an album of music composed by Biomusicologist, David Parsons, which is specifically designed for cats to dance to. He worked with Tibetan cat charmers in the Himalayas and discovered just what sounds and rhythms were most likely to stimulate cats to dance.
Are there other explanations for why cats dance? There’s a feeling among some animal behaviorists that cats may dance as a result of being confused by a sudden intrusion into their territory by people they’re familiar with. They think that the cat’s fright/flight reaction to the intrusion becomes momentarily confused with the delight reaction of seeing its owner, and may result in a series of confused hyperactive movements.
What does the future hold? For cat painting I would say more research into why cats do it—is it purely territorial or does it have an aesthetic basis, or is it both? For cat dancing, I think we’ve only just scratched the surface. Interspecies communication generally is moving forward in leaps and bounds and I’m sure as more and more people begin to dance with their cats, we’re going to see some really dramatic advances in this area.

Cindy-Lou Dale is a British journalist based in Belgium www.cindyloudale.com

DANCING WITH CATS
by Burton Silver and Heather Busch, along with note-cards, blank journals, and wall calendars is available through Chronicle Books online at www.chroniclebooks.com
$16.95.

Jasper, Junior, and I were brought together after the loss of my first cat back in 1996.
Though not yet ready for more pets in my life at the time, I went along with a friend to the local Massachusetts animal shelter and looked. After walking through the cat room and not being all that interested, a tiny pink nose caught my eye. There was this large cat hiding under a blanket with only his nose poking out. He had been there a week and was due to be put down since he was not considered all that adoptable. He had been on a farm and abused according to his cage tag. I asked to hold him and immediately fell in love and called him “Jasper,” a name that just came to me at that moment.
I had always talked about having a “Junior” in honor of my first cat, Bones, a gorgeous and loving red and white who had gone everywhere with me in life. While cuddling and reassuring Jasper, my friend brought in two kittens just off the highway, and all of about two weeks old. I turned and told her I would take the one that was most red. That was “Junior.” In the adoption room, Jasper and Junior bonded with one another, and though it was difficult for me to initially have Junior around, he had a way of making himself too lovable to resist.
Junior adopted a rug in the house and I had to go buy him a similar one in a smaller version. This became his suckle rug, which at the age of eight he still uses. He imprinted on me and I couldn’t help but love “the baby.” Jasper also loved his baby and it helped him in coming around. After the first few months, Jasper started to venture out at home around others and started to go to the pet shops with us on shopping trips. I wanted to show them as household pets as I had done with my first cat, but prior to that, they needed socializing. My first cat had been a “canine clown,” the only cat to visit nursing homes in Massachusetts with the dogs of the group. So, I started doing the same thing with these boys. Junior was a natural, and as active as he was, he was also great at just sitting on beds for those who could not really move or speak and allowed them to just cuddle. Jasper took a bit longer to come around in public. So, he was “adopted” by this one woman who kept him in his cage with the door open on her bed while I visited others with Junior. This went on for about two months and then one day there was Jasper on the bed being brushed!
They continued to visit nursing homes in Massachusetts while they showed to national titles in Cat Fancier’s Federation in 1998. They also started to attend Star Trek conventions in New England and around the East Coast with me from about 1997 to 1998. Jasper was made a Klingon costume by a friend in Idaho, and also had his own toy batleth (Klingon sword) that he could stand or sit and put his paws on. Junior was handed down the Dr. McCoy costume of my first cat, Bones, and also came along. Both entered the costume contests at any conventions I could get them approved to attend. The boys continued their nursing home visits and convention attending when we picked up and moved to Illinois for school. During the summer of 2003 they came along with me while I was conducting anthropological fieldwork in order to attend a convention in Baltimore and be interviewed for the documentary, Trekkies II. This was a follow-up film to the original documentary that my first cat Bones was in and the film is dedicated to—something that will always be appreciated.
Both Jasper and Junior have been there for me through not only all the good times, but the rough ones as well. During the last several months I have also had medical problems that are now fairly well resolved, but they were my main source of motivation through it all. They also have helped to make me some extraordinary friends, primarily in Trek, that have been there through all of this as well. Finally, with things in better order for me, the boys and I picked up once again and moved to Reno in order to pursue my research and teaching. Both boys have handled all the moving and changes so well and have been able to adjust and continue to provide motivation. Once settled in, the boys and I will be back at conventions and their volunteer visits. Just prior to some of my problems, the boys had been hired to do photos for pet ads, something else they will return to soon as well.

Daryl Frazetti is a local resident, writer, and cat lover who submitted this adventurous story to PetFolio. Thank you, Daryl!


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