Vito playing in yard

Vito getting serious lying down indicating he has found a bloody knife

 

Vito Corleone 

     This past month we all felt more than a few booms from thunder storms.  Please be reminded that most dogs are sent into frenzy at the sound of thunder. So please keep your dogs indoors or crated so they do not run away and become lost.

   As I drove into Margaret Blair’s yard to do an interview on her dog Vito, one of her dogs had run away after hearing the sounds of thunder. Margaret’s dogs have acres of land upon which to take cover so she spent 24 hours to find her dog. To many of us the thought of a lost dog raises a lot of fears because of the dangers that exist in the mother lode.

    Vito, a good size German shepherd dog greeted me as I drove into Margaret’s acreage. Vito on first look is a very handsome dog standing about 3 feet at the shoulders.  According to Margaret, in the shepherd tradition, Vito is very smart. Margaret breeds German Shepherds and early on selected Vito to be a tracking dog. Then she also added to his resume, a cadaver dog.

    While the word cadaver does not exactly bring pleasant pictures to mind it’s a job that is very important.  Many times a year people have gone missing under suspicious circumstances.  Vito is trained to search for the person. His highly sensitive nose can smell blood or decomposing bodies. He recently helped in finding a body in the mother lode that had been covered up and decomposed over a period of months.

    Vito is also a tracker dog. In these circumstances Margaret may be asked if Vito can be used to find people missing.  Here in the mother lode every year there are people who take a quick hike off the trail and end up lost. Vito is trained to search for them. Recently Vito was called on to help locate three people lost in Big Trees Park. It only took him a matter of minutes but he located the three, saving the hikers and their families a great deal of anxiety.

   Margaret says there is a distinct difference in a tracker assignment and a cadaver assignment. They are two specific tasks. Vito becomes aware of which task he is being assigned by the vest Margaret puts on him.

  Margaret points out the importance of each role.  For an example, the dogs brought in after tragedies such as 9-11 in New York. There were both tracker dogs and cadaver dogs searching in the rubble. The tracker dogs were searching for survivors while the cadaver dogs were searching for those who died.   These dogs know their roles and do not get confused.

    Vito works with several law enforcement agencies in the local area. When Margaret receives the call she puts Vito’s vest on, and day or night, off they go.

    Vito loves his work but he also loves to just hang out on Margaret’s acreage. She has several other dogs to keep him company. Vito enjoys his playtime but when called into duty he is ready to work. 

  For his endeavors he is happy to be told he is a good dog and, of course, a dog treat is always welcomed.

Kahana

 Kahana Sleeping

 Kahana Posing for Camera

Kahana hanging out in yard

Kahana

 

     I just came inside from the yard. It’s been hot here so wish to remind everybody to keep your dogs home during these hot days. I know all dogs love to hop in the car to go for a ride.   But this heat can kill them in minutes when left in a hot car with the windows cracked open.

    I would like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to a friend whose dog, Sierra, passed away. I don’t think there’s anything short of the death of a family member that can be as tough as the death of a pet. As I write this, our friend is looking to replace Sierra with another dog of the same breed. I totally understand her feelings but having owned many dogs, each one is unique and can never be replaced. A new dog however can mend a broken heart quickly. It only takes one nudge from a dog’s nose to help push the pain of a pets’ loss aside.

  Now let me introduce you to Kahana, a 150 pound, 10 year old Saint Bernard residing in Pioneer. Like many of us she is a San Francisco Bay Area transplant. She arrived in the Mother Lode in August 2009 when her owners Donn and Vikke Keith retired here. Suddenly she went from being a restrained city dog to an open country dog. To her that was a great change. She got out of the car and immediately started running around in the open space as fast as her giant paws could carry her.

  However her new found freedom was short lived when the Keiths realized that in the forest a dog unfamiliar with the area can get lost easily but, there is also a leash law.  Thus, she was put on restriction as to where she could and could not go. Still being on restriction in the Mother Lode offers new opportunities that a city dog doesn’t have. She gets to interact with the wildlife now. In the city its birds and the occasional squirrel in the country she interacts with deer, raccoons,  squirrels, possums and, yes, skunks.  

  Kahana began her life with the Keiths as their son’s dog. Their son Donovan raised her but over time left home and could not take Kahana with him.  So Donn and Vikke sort of inherited her. These days she spends her life content to watch wildlife.  The deer seem to sense she is no real threat.  She sleeps a lot but does like to sit and watch the world go by. There is one deer with two Fawns in particular who comes close to her (about 3 feet) and Kahana just lies there watching the deer eat. Kahana’s  food bowl is outside and she sleeps as the raccoons help themselves to her food.

 

    Kahana is a very gentle dog and one of her greatest desires is to be loved.  She likes greeting people but like many large dogs she thinks she is a petite little thing. Should she step on your foot, you know immediately she is not petite!

    Rescuing people, although a trait of the breed is not something Kahana is interested in. Instead she would rather gulp down a dog treat and nap. All in all, Kahana  loves being a dog of the Mother Lode.

                                         Small dogs are accomodated

                                             Indoor Play area for dogs 

                            Every dog that comes is happy

                   Some dogs just love posing for the camera

                                              Paradise Doggie Day care 

     The hierarchy of the American family is parents, children, dogs and then cats. Although if you are a cat owner you know that cats come first in any family.

   As more families become two income families with both parents working, many dogs are being left at home by themselves.  With our dogs being so very important to us, doggie day care places are becoming more prevalent.

  Amador County is blessed to have such a place; The Paradise Doggie Day Care Center, located in Sutter Hill where the old Harley Davidson dealership had been. Owners, Tine and John Kellogg, run not only the doggie day care but a Walker Hound rescue service as well.  Also in the center is an excellent do-it-yourself dog bathing facility, with a step up bath tub, soap, towels and blowers.

  The Doggie day care originated because of the rescue service. Tine who was busy with the rescues, was out buying groceries and carrying one of her dogs in the van.  She wished for a place to leave her dog while shopping. So, the idea was put in motion and in October 2010 The Paradise Doggie Day Care Center opened.  Once the business opened it took off. Tine and John soon found themselves caring for as many dogs as they could handle, never turning any away. People bring in their dogs daily for the hours they work, or while running errands. Others, vacationing in the area, drop their dogs off while sightseeing.

   The center allows dogs a chance to socialize with other dogs in a supervised environment. Tine and John’s service includes picking up dogs and bringing them to the center or taking them to the vet for a visit. At any given time they have 10-15 dogs in their constantly supervised play areas, one for small dogs, one for larger dogs.

  While John and Tine are caring for the dogs at the center, they may get a call that a Walker Hound is in trouble and needs to be rescued.  One of them gets into the van and heads out to pick up the dog. These trips often involve driving hundreds of miles for the rescue.  The new rescue is brought back to Amador County to be placed for adoption.

 Tine and John (a retired highway patrolman) are a part of The National Coon Hound Rescue (Walker Hound). If you go into their business, chances are you will notice more than one coon hound lying on one of the couches they have in the play area. These dogs featured in the book the Red Pony by Steinbeck are valuable hunting dogs. They are used for treeing animals but don’t hurt them. They are good hunters but very gentle dogs and excellent pets.

   Tine explains that most Walker Hounds have instincts to be good hunting dogs but still need to be trained. The lack of training results in numerous dogs being given to shelters because they don’t perform to the owners expectations.

    For Tine and John the work that they do requires great energy but more than that, it is a labor of love.  If you would like to contact them, their number is 209-223-3900. Dogs require love and John and Tine provide more than enough for each dog in their care.

Miss Bellina

 Bella Smiles for the camera

                                              Miss Bellina

     “Diabetes.” The mere mention of that word scares people. At best, diabetes often means the end of some of life’s greatest pleasures. At worst it can be a death sentence. It may come as a surprise that diabetes is a disease that many animals have as well. Up until recently, in most cases with dogs, it was a death sentence which brings me to Miss Bellina.

    Miss Bellina is an eight year old pure bred French toy poodle owned by Cherylann, owner of Bella Imagio Skin Care and Day Spa in Pioneer. Miss Bellina for most of her life has been in perfect health having high energy. All of a sudden, about a year ago, Cherylann began noticing significant changes in Miss Bellina’s health. She started to gain an abnormal amount of weight. For some dog owners weight gain is not unusual as dogs tend to manipulate their owners into giving them all the food they can.  Cherylann overlooked the weight gain but then Miss Bellina was diagnosed with a bladder infection.

   After the bladder infection there were other changes. She became real lethargic and her hair started thinning. At that point Cherlyann became concerned that there was more happening. The first thing that came to mind was that she had been given treats from China and was suffering from Fanconi syndrome (an illness caused by toxins).

     To narrow down what the cause could be, Miss Bellina’s diet was changed. She had been on a high Carb food so Cherylann switched her dog food to a higher protein diet.  Suddenly Miss B started to drink more water and became close to incontinent.

    Cherylann immediately rushed her to the doctor and had blood work done. The results came back and the Vet informed Cherylann that Miss Bellina was a diabetic. In the not too distant past that was a death sentence for a dog, but now Diabetes can be treated.

   Cherylann was sent home with medicine to help Miss Bellina.  Miss Bellina receives two shots each day of insulin. Miss Bellina does not mind the shots and Cherylann makes a point of not giving her the shots in the same place (generally between the shoulder blades) repeatedly. Because this treatment is fairly commonplace it is not expensive and the insulin can be purchased at any pharmacy. Each vial she buys lasts three months (in larger dogs the amount of insulin required may be more but it is still not costly.)

    The whole process is very simple. To keep Miss Bellina’s blood sugar low she first monitors it with urine test strips every three days. Like humans if the blood sugar is kept in line the rest of the dog’s health remains good.

    Today looking at Miss Bellina, it is impossible to see she has any health issues. Miss Bellina spends her time at Cherylann’s side.   When Cherylann is working at the Spa, Miss Bella greets the customers coming into the spa. The two are best friends who both intend to live a long life together.

   Cherylann would like to remind everyone who is a dog owner to watch for signs of Diabetes.  And, know, if their dog is diagnosed with Diabetes that, just as in humans, the Diabetes can be controlled through diet, exercise and insulin. As with everything else we do for our dogs, a little love and attention can also help.

Bella

                                         Bella in snow

                            Bella Loves fetching snowballs

Bella 

   Having once published a newspaper I am used to getting complaint letters, but I thought this column would not offend anyone. To my surprise I received the following letter regarding last month’s column on Baxter:

    “I appreciate a fellow canine getting some press but I beg to differ on Baxter. (Bullish Baxter, April) In fact I beg for anything and I'm quite good at it. Better than Baxter, that's for sure and I know him as well as any dog would want to, better actually. I wouldn't call him handsome or cute. Try eating in the same room with him. I did and now if he's in my store I'm not. He might be short and stocky (I'm being far too kind here) but he has a temper and under bite that he is evidently quite proud of. And as for catching or chasing snow balls, he is fortunate to find them before they melt. Baxter should stick to sniffing rest stops although I could out-mark and out-smell him there too. Treat him if you must but check me out. I'm the pretty one.  Sincerely, Bella, The Real Hardware Dog”  

   Upon receipt of this letter, I felt it only fair for Bella to have equal time for her story. I contacted Brent Parsons, Bella’s loyal owner.

    Bella, a German Shepard, was adopted as a puppy, ten years ago.  She was supposed to be Brent’s wife’s dog, but Bella had other ideas and immediately attached herself to Brent. Where Brent goes Bella goes.  She can be found five days a week at the Pioneer Hardware Store. Bella enjoys mingling with the customers and playing hide and seek. The only thing she doesn’t like at the store is Baxter. Baxter is a good friend to her anywhere else but Bella will refuse to go into the store if Baxter is there.    

  Bella and Baxter will, however, ride in the same vehicle when Tom (Baxter’s owner) and Brent go fishing.  Bella spends her time at the lake finding old bones she buried the previous year while Baxter is busy finding his scent from a previous visit.

  . When there’s snow on the ground, Bella fusses until she has coerced Brent into a game of “fetch the snow ball”.  It is Bella’s passion. If Bella had her way the game would last all day. But once the game of fetch is over, Bella heads into the store and rests behind the counter.

    Bella likes a nice steak bone but bring her a rawhide bone and she buries it in the store hoping Brent won’t find it.  She has been known to even steal toys from the dog next door and hide them in the store.  Customers are often surprised when searching for a piece of hardware and end up pulling out a rawhide bone or a ragged stuffed hedgehog.

  . Bella hopes you will come by for a visit.  She accepts dog biscuits but if it has snowed, be prepared to throw a snowball or two for her to fetch.

Baxter

                                                                  Baxter Posing

                                                     Baxter greeting customers

Baxter

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself”-Josh Billings.

     This brings me to Baxter, an off white, eight year old half pug, half bull dog that loves his companion Tom Cahoon. Tom acquired Baxter via an advertisement on Craig’s List about eight years ago.  

    Baxter resides in Pioneer and greets customers entering Pioneer Hardware.  Baxter spends two days a week on his white rug beside the counter with Tom. Baxter enjoys greeting customers with one of his toys just in case they want to engage in a little play. But if that doesn’t happen, Baxter is always ready to point out where the dog treats are.

    While Baxter enjoys spending time at the hardware store, he also loves to travel.     Baxter has been coast to coast several times on excursions with Tom. Baxter can go hours without a break while Tom has a range of 3 hours. Sniffing around at each rest stop offers a variety of scents for a dog.   Baxter is built low to the ground so he is close to the action. For Tom a rest stop takes about three minutes.   For Baxter it’s a new sensory experience and takes about 30 minutes being very careful not to miss a scent.

    Baxter’s memory is better than most. Tom stopped overnight in Evanston, Wyoming at a Best Western Motel.  The next day they pulled up stakes and continued the 2000 mile journey.  On the return trip Evanston was a place for a break.  Tom decided to pull over at the same Best Western where they stayed a few days earlier. After Baxter had finished his investigation, he led Tom to the room they stayed in just days before.

     During winter, Baxter enjoys playing fetch with snowballs. Tom throws a snowball into a snow bank and Baxter is off to retrieve it. Baxter digs through the fluffy powder until he finds the hardened snow and rushes back to Tom.   By then Tom has made a second snowball and throws it. Baxter drops the ball just retrieved and heads off again for the fun of digging out the next snowball.

     When visiting the Pioneer Hardware store be sure to take time to say “hi” to Baxter. He’ll be glad to greet you and show you the treat jar. In return he’ll offer to play tug of war with his favorite toy.

Cleo

                                                 Cleo with her Pooh Bear and David

                                                                       Cleo

                                                  Cleo Hanging out on the Sofa

                                                                       Cleos Home

Cleo

     Dogs are creatures of emotion. They can be a person’s best friend, opening up their hearts to people that even mistreat them. This brings me to Cleo, a Doberman, approximately 6 years old, residing in Pioneer.

     I first met Cleo at the Deer Ridge Inn and knew she was a dog with a story. She had just hopped into the driver’s seat of a vehicle and sat poised to drive away. It was a picture moment. Her guardian, David Clifford explained to me that she had been used as a breed dog at a puppy mill. They had come upon her via a relative who knew that Cleo was up for adoption by a rescue organization in the Bay area.

    Watson Clifford and David Clifford came to mind as possible guardians because they had two Dobermans previously, one of which recently passed away.  The Cliffords, like most dog owners recognized the emptiness created in the house and in their hearts after a dog’s passing.   The Rescue group was contacted, but before they place a dog with a guardian, they do a complete home inspection to make sure the match of guardian to dog be a good fit. In Cleo’s case it was a perfect fit.

    Cleo is a dog whose stature carries respect. Her coat is so black that it glistens in the sunlight. Her body would be compared to an athlete that works out every day. It was easy to see why a puppy mill would pick her as the female dog to breed. She was perfect in size and stature. Puppy mills are abusive in many ways but none worse than the dogs not receiving the love and attention they require.

  As I entered the room Cleo knew that she was going to be the subject of the conversation. Her first action after I sat down at the table was to come lay her head in my lap to say “Hi”.  She sensed I was safe.  Abused dogs are very aware of their surroundings and any person nearby.  Once she had accepted me into her house she went back and lay on her couch.

  Dogs who are abused find safe spots in their environment and for Cleo; hers is a faded blue worn couch. She laid there with her Pooh Bear, keeping her dark brown eyes on us as we sat at the table.  David explained to me that this had become her couch immediately upon her arrival. At one point they thought because it was so worn they might replace it but Cleo would have none of it. As they moved the couch towards the door she sat on it and refused to budge. So it stayed. To her it meant safety.

    The Pooh Bear had been confiscated from under the Christmas tree one year. The bear was meant to be a gift for a granddaughter but Cleo laid eyes on it, grabbed it from under the tree and took it back to her couch.  The bear is another item that to her means safety.  She, unlike most dogs does not play with the bear but cuddles with it. Cleo treats her bear as a good friend. I sensed she feels no harm will come to her with her friend beside her.

   These days Cleo lives a life of luxury. She still carries some of her baggage from being mistreated at the puppy mill. She has a phobia of one set of stairs in the house refusing to go up them.   She does use other stairs in the house. She also refuses to be around spraying garden hoses. At the sight of a spraying hose, she runs back into the house to the safety of her couch and her friend Pooh Bear.

  Cleo is very attached to David and Watson. As I got ready to leave, David tried to get her to go outdoors for a picture. She went outside for a second then ran back onto her couch.  She has a very good home and was making sure that she was going to remain there. Abused dogs, once they find a safe place do not want to leave it and her safe place is on her couch with her Pooh bear and guardians nearby.