30 Reasons Why It's Nice To Be A Dog

Greta & Dewey Present "30 Reasons Why It's Nice To Be A Dog"

-Author unknown

(1) No one expects you to take a bath every day.

(2) Your friends never expect you to pay for lunch, dinner, or anything else for that matter.

(3) When it's raining, you can lie around the house all day and never worry about being fired.

(4) If it itches, you can reach it (*Rebound Hounds edit: If you're a tripod and have trouble scratching your itch, your parents will help you).

(5) And, no matter what itches, no one is offended if you scratch it in public.

(6) It doesn't bother you if your favorite television show is a rerun.

(7) You can wear a fur coat and no one thinks you're insensitive.

(8) April 15th means nothing to you.

(9) People at drive-through windows never charge you for treats.

(10) Your friends don't think less of you for passing gas.

(11) A rawhide bone can entertain you for hours.

(12) No one gets mad if you fall asleep while they're talking.

(13) As an adult, it's okay if you haven't amounted to anything.

(14) The older you get, the more people respect you.

(15) You can sleep late every day.

(16) If you grow hair in weird places, no one notices.

(17) You never get in trouble for putting your head in a stranger's lap.

(18) There's no such thing as bad food.

(19) You don't have to worry about good table manners.

(20) Someone else combs your hair.

(21) People think you're normal if you stick your head out the window to feel the wind in your hair.

(22) You're always excited to see the same old people.

(23) Having big feet is considered an asset.

(24) If you gain weight, it's someone else's fault.

(25) Everything smells good to you.

(26) A garbage can is a fast-food stop.

(27) No one tells you to wipe your nose because it's wet.

(28) No matter where you live, you own the place.

(29) Your mate never complains because you whine.

(30) Puppy love can last.

Save Dogs' Lives - Become A Transport Volunteer!

You don't have to adopt a dog to save a life. For many homeless dogs, the primary barrier between an uncertain future and a loving family is simple geography. Rural areas and states with large numbers of puppy mills like Missouri and Pennsylvania typically have more dogs in need. For these pups to have a chance at being adopted, they often need to be transferred to shelters and rescue groups in other states.

This is where volunteer transport networks come in. By donating just a few gallons of gas and bit of time, you can help shepherd a dog to safety. Even though the destination may be hundreds of miles away, transports are broken into manageable legs. For instance, a recent Dachshund Rescue of North America transport from Albany, Georgia to Philadelphia was broken into 15 legs of about 70 miles each. Thanks to a dedicated team of Dachshund-loving drivers, five canine "passengers" - Angel, Charlie Prince, Trixie, Zip and Maggie Mae - were all united with loving forever families.

If you are interested in participating in dog transports, check out one of the links below or contact rescue groups and shelters in your area to see how you can help. It doesn't take much to give a deserving dog a new leash on life!

Transport Groups & Organizations (keep in mind that this is not a complete list - there are many more!)

Dogster Railroad (forum with people from all 50 states)www.dogster.com/forums/Dogster_Railroad

Hero’s Waggin Train
www.heroswaggintrain.com

Boxer Canine Underground Railroad
http://ladywind.com/rescue/boxercur.html

Baseji Underground Railroad
http://midtown.net/bur

Bulldogs' World Rescue Railroad
www.bulldogsworld.com/railroad.html

Chihuahua Rescue Transport (US & Canada)
www.chihuahua-rescue.com

Canadian Chihuahua Rescue and Transport
www.ccrt.net

Eskie Railroad (American Eskimo dogs)
www.heartbandits.com/Pages/Railroad.htm

Grayhound Underground Railroad
www.gemgreyhounds.org/gur.htm


Yahoo groups (again, this is not a complete list - there are more!)

Dachshund Rescue of North America
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DRNAexpress

TRUCK-N-PAWS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TRUCK-N-PAWS

Pet Transport Net
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/PetTransportNet/

Dog Rescue Railroad
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dog_Rescue_Railroad/

Rescue Transport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueTransport

All Breed Rescue
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/allbreedrescue

Biker Babe Transport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BikerBabeTransport

Dog Transport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DogTransport

Rescue Angels on Wheels
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueAngelsonWheels

Illinois Animal Transporters
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IllinoisAnimalTransporters

California Rescue RR
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaRescueRR

PacWest Dog Cooperative
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PacWest-Dog-Cooperative

HUGS (Help US Get Safe)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Help

IMOM-Xpress
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IMOM-xpress

Photographer Melissa McDaniel Spotlights Deaf Dogs

Melissa McDaniel is a Philadelphia-based professional photographer with a passion for animal advocacy. She is known for her evocative portraits of shelter dogs and she donates a significant portion of her income to grassroots rescue groups.

Most recently, Melissa has been criss-crossing the country to photograph dogs big and small for her forthcoming books Rescued In America and Deaf Dogs. At least 30% of the proceeds will support animal rescue organizations and Melissa's goal is to sell enough copies to raise $300,000 or more.

For Melissa, the book projects are deeply personal - her own Border Collie/Lab mix, Sadie, was born deaf and surrendered to a shelter as a result. On her photo book projects website, Melissa explains how adopting Sadie motivated her to speak out for deaf dogs:

"...she was saved, but unfortunately, many deaf dogs aren't as lucky. In the U.S., thousands of deaf dogs are put to sleep each year simply because they are deaf. I wanted to bring awareness to this fact, to help dispel some myths that surround deaf dogs, and at the same time, promote the adoption of rescues."

Judging by the incredibly poignant photos on Melissa's blog, Deaf Dogs promises to be a phenomenal book. Copies can currently be pre-ordered at a 15% discount for $42.50. You can personally select the beneficiary of your purchase from a list of 16 shelters and rescue groups, too. I plan on ordering Deaf Dogs now to give at Christmas (hooray for advance planning!).

To hear more about Melissa McDaniel's experience living with a deaf dog, check out this excerpt from from a recent interview:

What challenges have you faced raising a deaf dog?
Not as many as you would think. I use hand signals with her. Dogs need to be able to read cues from others in the pack and so, are very visual animals and can learn hand signals quickly. Sadie picked up the command for "sit" in just a minute or two. She's very bright and has always been very easy to train.

Also, deaf dogs benefit from having a fenced in yard - at least my dog does because she needs a ton of exercise and really needs to run, so having a place where I can have her off-leash safely, to let her play with other dogs and play fetch, chase bugs - her favorite activity - has been extremely beneficial.

Having a deaf dog isn't for the lazy. If she is digging in the yard, or doing something else I don't want her to do, I need to walk over to her to get her attention, since yelling her name obviously wouldn't work. There are a few other minor differences, but in general, she's just like any other dog, and I'm hoping the deaf dog photo book will help show what great companions deaf dogs can be.

What misconceptions do people have about deaf dogs?
People believe deaf dogs aren't trainable. They believe they are aggressive. They believe they can't be a part of a normal family because they are easily startled. They believe they aren't worth saving. They believe they should be put down.

How many deaf dogs are euthanized?
The exact number isn't known, but it is believed to be in the thousands in the U.S. alone. Many dog associations advocate the culling of deaf dogs - the biggest group being the Dalmatian Club of America, which actively promotes the culling of deaf puppies.

As long as breeding practices that produce deaf dogs are allowed to continue, large numbers of deaf dogs will continue to be born. Many of those dogs, called "lethal whites," are born blind, too, or with severe sight problems.

You Can't Keep A Good Dog Down

Introducing Chilli and Juliet, two extra special pooches who are available for adoption at the shelter where I work! At 11 years young, Chilli (top) is quite the little performer. He loves to be the center of attention and will gladly show off his repertoire of tricks. Don’t let his age fool you – Chilli is a spry fellow who learns very quickly. He is currently mastering the art of dancing on two legs in a circle! If you’re searching for a small dog with an oversize personality, Chilli is your man...

Juliet is a leggy beauty with a gentle air about her. She weighs in at just over 10 pounds and we estimate that she is around three years old. Juliet's gentle nature would make her an ideal canine companion for a family with young children. She has an adorable habit of burrowing into blankets and making cozy nests for herself. In fact, she is currently curled up on my couch right now, slumbering away peacefully.

Both of these delightful dogs share the same medical condition: luxating patellas. Although the name sounds frightful, this condition is common among small/toy breed dogs and it typically isn't very debilitating. When a dog is diagnosed with patellar luxation, it means that their kneecap (the patella) slides out of place, usually toward the inside of the leg. Luxating patella ranges from grade I (least severe) to grade IV (most severe). In grade I, the patella sometimes slips out of place but returns to its normal position on its own. In grade IV, the patella is constantly out of place and cannot be returned to its normal position.

Chilli has a very mild luxating patella in his right rear leg. To the untrained eye, it's barely noticeable. Juliet is more seriously affected - she has grade III luxating patellas in all her knees. Although she is doing well for now, she may need surgery in the future in order to stay comfortable and pain free. For a more comprehensive explanation, including a diagram of the canine knee, click here.

Regardless of their tricky, misbehaving patellas, each time I'm with Chilli and Juliet I'm reminded that you just can't keep a good dog down! Neither one knows that they have uncooperative kneecaps. Instead, they're just like shelter pooches everywhere - hopeful that they'll find a welcoming home sooner than later with a family to love them, flaws and all. If you think you might be that special someone for Chilli or Juliet, please drop me a line at reboundhounds@yahoo.com

Tripods Are Ready, Willing & Able

If there was ever any doubt that three-legged dogs can lead active, fulfilling lives, this video of Serena the tripod should prove otherwise!



Serena is a regular agility competitor. Her human, Amy Breton, has great insights to share about caring for a tripod dog. Here is a blog post she wrote last summer:

Three-Legged Pets Are Amazing! (Rules To Keeping Your Disabled Pet Able)

Serena, my dog, only has three legs. She didn’t always have three legs; but one day cancer took one of her legs from her. After her surgery I pictured what every pet owner fears…that my best friend wouldn’t have as good of a life as she did when she was four-legged.

One month later, my tripod made her comeback in agility as a three-legged dog. She stole the show and proved to every four-legged dog that she was a force to be reckoned with. Three years later, she has one champion title and continues to earn points towards a second title.

If your pet just recently experienced an amputation, or if you are facing such a decision right now, you should know that having a pet with three legs doesn’t mean they will have a poor quality of life. From my own experience, the human has a harder time with the amputation then the pet.

Most diseases or injuries that require a pet to have a leg amputation are painful. By removing the painful limb, the animal can start to heal. Most pets will be up and walking on three legs about 8-12 hours after surgery. Although I work in a veterinary clinic and have dealt with many amputees, the initial shock of seeing my own dog as a three-legged dog is something I will never forget. Once Serena was fully recovered from surgery, I followed some simple steps to ensure that she would be as happy as any “normal-abled” pet.

1. Keep your tripod a healthy weight. This is one of the most important things you must do as an owner. If your tripod is overweight, even by a couple of pounds, it will mean more stress on the remaining three limbs. Many owners want to over-indulge their tripods with food because they feel bad for them, but don’t forget your tripod thinks having three legs is normal! Obesity is a serious problem for many four-legged pets, but it is even a bigger problem if they have three legs.

How do you know if your pet is overweight and what can you do about it? Check out these websites:

www.petobesityprevention.com

vetmedicine.about.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.peteducation.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.petplace.com (search keyword: obesity)

2. Once your tripod has recovered from surgery, start exercising! Be sure to talk to your veterinarian first to ask about what kind of physical activity and how much is appropriate for your pet. Tripods can still pounce, wrestle with their dog and cat friends and go for hikes in the woods. Too many owners think that their disabled pet isn’t allowed to exercise. This causes a decrease in muscle mass and makes it harder for these animals to get around.

3. Talk to your veterinarian about a formal physical therapy program. It’s important to build up muscle mass on the remaining three legs. If your dog was not an active dog prior to amputation, then it is very important that he becomes an active dog now. Physical therapy centers have trained individuals that use techniques and tools, such as underwater treadmills and exercise balls, to help keep your three-legged pet active.

4. Don’t overly baby your disabled pet. Immediately after surgery you can spoil your pet silly, but then you must take steps to make life as normal as it was prior to the amputation. Many owners will reinforce attention-seeking behaviors, causing the pet to act out for the owner’s attention. One example is a Labrador who, after an amputation, trained his owners to sleep on the floor with him. If they tried to sleep in a bed, he would start howling and crying until they came back to the floor. The owners had slept on an air mattress for over six months because they had overly spoiled their tripod!

5. Ask for help. Your pet isn’t the only tripod out there. It’s normal for your three-legged pet to be a little slower, but most everything they use to love doing they should be able to do. There are many joint supplements and pharmaceuticals available to help your pet be just as active as they were when they had four legs. Halo makes an all-natural hip and joint supplement that contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which builds collagen and helps maintain cartilage. If there’s something your pet use to enjoy, but seems to struggle with now, ask your veterinarian for advice. There are many support groups and tripod owners to help you!

It’s important to realize that an amputation doesn’t mean your pet will live a life of lying around doing nothing. On the contrary, most disabled pets go on to live very active lives. Just ask Faith. She is the famous two-legged dog that walks upright. Faith has led a very active life walking around on two legs. Check out her amazing pictures and video on her website:

www.faiththedog.net

For more information on amputations please check out:

www.petplace.com (search keyword: amputation)

Pterodactyl The Hemophiliac Puppy Has A Forever Family!

We have wonderful news to share: Pterodactyl the hemophiliac puppy has been adopted by our marvelous friends Sarah and David! Despite his diagnosis of Hemophilia Type A, Sarah and David have welcomed Mr. Pterry into their hearts and home with optimism and unconditional love. Talk about compassion in action! Best of all, we all live near each other so we can visit on a regular basis.

Michael and I got to see Pterry just last week and he is growing by leaps and bounds. These photos are from his first excursion to the beach. He is still in that delightful puppy phase where every fresh sight and scent is a novelty. Based on his abundant eagerness, you would never guess that this charming pup nearly didn't make it past his ninth week. We are so grateful that he has a committed family and a second chance...

For more insight in regard to canine Hemophilia, check out www.mydogfluffy.com - a website about a similar mixed breed pooch in Florida with the same condition. And of course, stay tuned for more Pterodactyl updates over the coming months. Michael and I are Pterry's self-appointed "godparents" so you are bound to hear more about him!

Greta And Dewey's Summer Adventure

Earlier this month we took a road trip up to the Sierras and spent several amazing days exploring the Eldorado national forest. During our excursion we launched our new used canoe, the "Stinky Pockets" which is named after Dewey in a roundabout way :-) The dogs seemed to really enjoy our time on the water and they both took a lot of naps in the canoe. We also made an exciting discovery: three-legged Dewey can swim! He doesn't seem to enjoy it very much, but our little guy definitely has a very determined dog paddle.

Tripod Is Man's Best Friend

Pete Kurimai shares a unique bond with his newly adopted dog, Jumper: they are both amputees. Pete and his wife Mary didn't set out to adopt a tripod dog when they went to the SPCA Tampa Bay earlier this month. The couple were still grieving the loss of their beloved 13 year old Dachshund, Katie. Once they spotted Jumper, a three-legged Mini Pinscher mix, however, it seemed like fate had intervened.

"When I saw Jumper, I knew he was the one," Pete told the Seminole Beacon. "He didn't have one leg and I didn't have one leg.

Pete lost his right leg below the knee over a decade ago due to complications from diabetes. Jumper's amputation was more recent. The 6 month old pup was hit by a car before arriving at the SPCA. While many people would be hesitant to take home a disabled dog, Pete feels a special kinship with his tripod.

"Jumper's a good dog. He's been hoping and jumping all over the place. That's why we named him Jumper. He won't replace the memory of Katie, but he replaces a part of the hurt of losing Katie."

Donna Bainter, the Behavior Manager at Tampa Bay SPCA, is touched by the connection between Pete and Jumper. "It's great when you see how a dog benefits a person and a person benefits a dog," she explained to the Seminole Beacon. "That's our ultimate connection."

Get To Know Archie, A Special Blind Dog Who Is Available For Adoption

Mr. Archie is a charming chap who would love to make your acquaintance. You'll have to excuse his funny haircut - we had to shave him down because he arrived at the shelter covered in foxtails and burrs. This sweet little guy is a Shih Tzu mix even though he doesn't look very much like one at the moment. He was found wandering around as a stray, lost and disoriented, and picked up by a team of kind-hearted firefighters who brought him to the shelter where I work. Judging by the rough shape he was in, it appeared that Archie had been on his own for quite a while. It's truly miraculous that he managed to survive at all...

Although Archie is estimated to be only around three years old, he has advanced cataracts that have rendered him completely nonvisual. Being blind doesn't put much of a cramp in this pooch's style, however! Archie loves to snuggle and he will express his satisfaction with little grunts of appreciation. He also likes to go out for walks and experience new smells and sounds. He gets along well with many other dogs too! In short, Archie is a delightful dog who would make a wonderful companion. If you are interested in learning more about him, drop me a line at reboundhounds@yahoo.com

"Love is a language which the blind can see and the deaf can hear." Donald E. Wildman

A Dog's Bill Of Rights

A Dog's Bill of Rights

I have the right to give and receive unconditional love.

I have the right to a life that is beyond mere survival.

I have the right to be trained so that I do not become the prisoner of my misbehavior.

I have the right to adequate food and medical care.

I have the right to fresh air and green grass.

I have the right to socialize with people and dogs outside my own family.

I have the right to special time with my people.

I have the right to be bred responsibly, if at all.

I have the right to be foolish and silly, and to make my person laugh.

I have the right to earn my person's trust and to be trusted in return.

I have the right to be forgiven.

I have the right to die with dignity.

I have the right to be remembered well.

Celebrating One Year With Our Tripod!

Exactly one year ago today, on August 11, I met Dewey for the first time at the animal shelter where I used to work in Washington. I had just returned from vacation and was settling back into my office when a coworker asked if I had seen the little dog that looked “just like Greta.” At this point, I had no intention of adopting a second dog, but of course my curiosity was peaked. I asked another colleague in the admissions department if we had recently received a Dachshund and she replied “Oh…you mean the one with three legs?” Well, you can probably imagine the look of surprise and interest that crossed my face! After learning that Dewey was a tripod, I knew I had to meet him.

The photos above are from the day I first saw him. As you can see, the poor little guy was in really rough shape. He wasn’t neutered and had a bad case of fleas, terribly overgrown toenails, bald patches on his ears, and a mouth full of rotten teeth. All that was known about him was that he was picked up as a stray in Spokane with a collar reading “Duke.” From the look of things, he had been fending for himself for quite a while.

Many people say that animals choose us, and it was most definitely true in this case. As soon as I cracked open the kennel door, Dewey jumped right into my arms and clung on for all he was worth. All of my resolve melted and I was instantly smitten! Several days later he came home as our foster dog…

It didn’t take long for us to realize that the name Duke just didn’t fit our new pooch, and plus, I didn’t want to continue any associations with his sad past. So in the course of just a few days, Duke became Dewey, Greta gained a brother, and we discovered the amazing world of tripod dogs!

One year later, Dewey is thriving. He had major dental surgery last fall, including 11 extractions, and the fur on his ears has returned. He now knows how to sit, lie down, shake your hand, and roll over (well, almost!). He’s still an expert scavenger – probably the lingering effect from his time on the streets – and is able to find and consume anything remotely edible. With each passing month we learn more and more about his funny little personality: how he snorts like a piglet when he yawns and smiles ecstatically when his ears are scratched. Dewey’s antics are endlessly endearing, and just when I think that I couldn’t possibly love him any more, I do. It must be the same way for all of us…

I am always interested in hearing how people met their rescue dogs, so drop me a line with your story by emailing reboundhounds@yahoo.com I will send a free copy of Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets And The People Who Love Them to the author of my favorite "happy tail!"

Felt Friends

We love artfully rendered pooches of all shapes, forms, and fashions, so it's not surprising that we're currently obsessed with needle felted dog sculptures. These petite canines are made by crafters who take raw wool roving and use a special barbed needle to sculpt it into shape. Essentially, the sculpture is created by poking the wool over and over until the fibers lock together as a solid unit. With the right materials (and a generous dash of talent), you can create needle felted sculptures of just about anything - horses, trolls, hedgehogs, humans - although we're partial to dogs! Here are some examples of our favorite wool pets:

This playful Greyhound was created by the ladies behind Dog Face Girls in Tacoma

The three pups above were custom made by K. Stahler. She can craft a similar likeness of your pooch based on photos - check out the Kay's K9s website for details. Best of all, a portion of all proceeds are generously donated to the Ontario SPCA!

Artist Karen Clothier (one of our Rebound Hounds friends!) created this fuzzy puppy as a commission. Her needle felted dog sculptures take anywhere from 12 - 25 hours to complete. They may be tiny, but they require a serious amount of work! Visit Karen's Etsy store for more examples...

Update About Pterodactyl The Hemophiliac Puppy & A Call For Help

Last month I introduced you to Pterodactyl, the little Shepherd/Pit Bull puppy who survived a life-threatening hemorrhage after his neuter surgery at the shelter where I work. In the weeks since, "Pterry" has become a regular among the Rebound Hounds pack; in fact, he's happily napping beneath my chair this very moment!

It turns out that Pterodactyl has a severe form of hemophilia. He suffers from Factor VIII deficiency (hemophilia type A), which is an x-linked recessive disorder, and one of the few sex-linked traits found in dogs. It occurs in many different breeds, but German Shepherds are most commonly affected. Many animals (and humans) with more mild types of hemophilia experience few symptoms. Pterry, however, is severely affected. He may experience prolonged bleeding once his baby teeth begin to fall out. The slightest trauma could induce a massive hemorrhage. He's also prone to lameness caused by internal bleeding into his joints and muscles. There is no cure for hemophilia - transfusions are the only treatment.

Despite this grim prognosis, we strongly believe that Pterry deserves a chance. He will have another bleeding episode some day, although it's impossible to predict when it might happen. It could be tomorrow or not for a number of years. In the meantime, Michael and I are determined to provide this sweet boy with a decent puppyhood. Pterry has been bunking at our house for the last few days and he's giving us a real run for our money! Since we're accustomed to senior dogs, it has been a true revelation to have a puppy underfoot. His urge to play is irrepressible, and nothing is off-limits: toilet paper, notebooks, cushions, computer cords. He still hasn't given up on Greta and Dewey as playmates even though they have met his attempts with more contempt than enthusiasm. Every time one of the elder hounds issues a grumble of complaint about his pouncing and frolicking, Pterry just takes it as encouragement! One thing they can all agree on is a good rawhide, and we have been placating the dogs with many of them lately. Long walks have also helped to keep everyone happy. Last night we hiked in the redwoods for several miles; Greta roughed it in her stroller and Dewey and Pterry trotted along happily, eager to smell every interesting tree trunk and patch of moss in their path.

Several days ago we put a call out to our friends and family with the hope of finding an adopter for Pterodactyl. Although many folks are interested in helping him find a permanent home, no one has been able to make a definitive commitment yet. Now it's time to make the appeal here: If you know of anyone near the San Francisco Bay Area who would like to adopt this special needs puppy, please let me know ASAP!

Meanwhile, as we wait to find Pterry's forever family, it's immensely gratifying to watch him relish the most mundane aspects of daily life, whether it's charging up a set of stairs or flopping down for a spontaneous nap. He is as precious as they come, and it's a joyful experience to see the world through his eyes.

What You Need To Know About Canine Cataracts

If you share your home with a senior dog, there's a good chance that your old timer will encounter vision impairment at some point. Cataracts often appear in geriatric dogs and are one of the leading causes of canine blindness. A cataract is an opacity on the lens of the eye. Although these opacities may start small, they usually progress to the point where the entire lens is clouded and all functional vision is lost (this was the case with our Greta, shown above). For affected animals, seeing through a mature cataract is comparable to looking through white frosted glass.

Cataracts can develop as the result of disease, trauma, genetics, and old age. The majority of dogs diagnosed with diabetes will develop cataracts. This is because the glucose concentrations in the lens increase as a result of the diabetes. Eventually the extra glucose is converted into sorbitol, which in turn leads to an influx of water to the lens. The added water contributes to a breakdown of the lens fibers and facilitates the formation of cataracts. If your dog receives a diabetes diagnosis, it's imperative to seek veterinary guidance about the accompanying vision concerns.

Canine cataracts can be treated by surgically removing the clouded lenses and replacing them with artificial ones. A veterinary ophthalmologist can evaluate your dog and let you know if s/he is a good candidate for surgery (for Greta, we decided that she's been through enough medical ordeals for one lifetime, so we're not pursuing cataract surgery). The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologist' website has a nationwide directory of providers.

If you suspect that your pooch may be developing cataracts or another vision disorder, here are several signs to be aware of:

• A tendency to bump into things
• Reluctance to use stairs or jump on or off furniture
• Hesitancy in unfamiliar environments
• Bluish, gray or white color change inside of the eye (in many instances discoloration may be due to a benign geriatric condition called Nuclear Sclerosis which does not impair vision, but it's still advisable to have a vet examine any animal with discolored eyes)

For more information about canine cataracts, click here.

Heartwarming Story Of The Week: "Canine-do Attitude Drives 2-legged Dog"

This wonderful story about Dare, a 2-legged puppy mill survivor, recently appeared in the Dever Post. I hope that you all enjoy it as much as we did!

Canine-do Attitude Drives 2-legged Dog
By Adam Schrager

Among Tami Skinner's three Shelties, it's easy to pick out the youngest. He's not just the smallest or the one knocked down by his brothers while playing catch in her backyard. Three-year-old Dare has a more obvious distinction. He has only two legs — the front and back limbs on his right side.

"People ask me all the time, 'How does he walk?' " said Skinner. "He just walks. He just goes because nobody's told him he can't."

He has adapted to life with half the capacity of a normal dog without giving up anything in the process. For example, he leans against a wall to drink his water and eat his food. He uses the ground to help balance any bone he wishes to chew. And when he plays with his brothers, he'll get tired from running a little quicker and lie down to rest before using his two limbs to push himself up and get back in the game.

"I've never treated him as a disabled dog," Skinner said. "He's special, but he's not disabled."

Skinner likes to tell people that Dare stands for Daredevil. But the truth is that Colorado Sheltie Rescue, which saved him, wanted to dare people to see his face and hear his story before they would deny the reality behind the puppy mill where he was born. His back left leg was chewed off before he was a week old, and his front left leg was caught in a cage, fractured in multiple places and dislocated at the elbow. After receiving no medical treatment for weeks, he was given up by the breeder because no one would buy him.

"I can't even imagine how much pain he was in," Skinner said. "(Yet) he has the attitude 'I can do anything (other dogs) can do.' . . . He has a spirit you cannot deny."

From the moment she adopted him, Skinner knew Dare's purpose transcended simply playing with a tennis ball and that her obligation to him transcended carrying him outside to go potty.
They became an animal-therapy team through the American Humane Association and travel the Denver metro area to bring support, comfort and inspiration. At the King Adult Day Enrichment Program, Rochelle Rotruck dropped her pottery clay — which she had been kneading to help joints stiffened by multiple sclerosis — to embrace her "grand baby." He visits the Denver facility weekly.

"He gives you an incentive to try and do better no matter your disability," Rotruck said, holding Dare on her lap. "Like the day I was feeling sorry for myself because of my (joints), and then Dare came in and I forgot all about it."

Every other week, Skinner takes him to the Fletcher-Miller School in Jefferson County for special-needs children. She reads to the class, and Dare sits on kids' laps — and when he starts licking faces, there's not a frown to be found.

"He's just like them," Skinner said. "He accepts them for who they are and doesn't treat them any differently because of their disabilities."

Once a month, he visits an amputee clinic at Presbyterian St. Luke's, where patients share stories about the loss of an arm or a leg.

"A lot of times, we can accomplish more than we thought we could," said Dr. Howard Balan, a psychologist who facilitates the group. "(Dare) tries and tries and tries, not knowing he should stop trying. I doubt Dare has these obstacles in his own mind, while we humans, we can put these obstacles right in front of us."

Skinner says the overall message Dare can share is this: In a world where there are all sorts of reasons to complain about our lot in life and to stress out about trying to solve our problems, if a two-legged dog can figure it out and live a happy life, so can we.

"I look at him and think, nothing I have ever experienced in life, ever, has met up with what he has experienced in life," she said. "And he's happy, wrestling, playing with his brothers like nothing's wrong, so why am I being a sourpuss?

"Get on with life, enjoy it. You only get one."

The Rebound Hounds' Summer Reading Suggestions & Book Give Away!

With the dog days of summer officially here, there's no better time to stretch out your paws in a shady spot and enjoy a good book. Here are our summer reading suggestions for dog lovers everywhere:

Since The Bark is our favorite canine magazine, it came as no surprise that we fell head over heels for Dog Is My Co-Pilot: Great Writers On The World's Oldest Friendship, a 2004 book of essays collected by The Bark's editors. The anthology is arranged into four sections - Beginnings, Pack, Lessons, and Passages - and features wonderfully compelling essays by Caroline Knapp, Pam Houston, and Margaret Cho among others. From Stephen Kuusisto's unique and touching account of meeting his guide dog Corky for the first time, to Ann Patchett's lovely ode to her rescue pup Rose, Dog Is My Co-Pilot is the type of book that will keep you up late, happily turning pages.

My one criticism lies with the small group of contributors who chronicled their purchase of dogs from breeders. Alice Walker's essay was (surprisingly) the most offensive to me; even after evoking images of the slave trade and acknowledging that "it didn't feel right to pay money for a living being," Walker went ahead and bought a black Lab puppy anyway. Fortunately, Catherine Ryan Hyde's short story about an Argentine immigrant who opposes his neighbor's treatment of his $2,000 purebred Doberman watchdog, is good enough to compensate for the minority of flawed essays in Dog Is My Co-Pilot.

For the kids in your life (and the young at heart), we recommend How Willy Got His Wheels - the uplifting true story about our paraplegic friend Wheely Willy. After the little Chihuahua is rescued by Deborah Turner, she works tirelessly to help him regain his mobility. How Willy Got His Wheels won the 1998 Best Children's Book Award from the Dog Writers Association of America, and has earned rave reviews from parents for teaching empathy and kindness.

We first discovered animal behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell on the Public Radio program "Calling All Pets" and have been ardent fans ever since. McConnell is brimming with information and insight, and her brilliant book The Other End of The Leash is a must for anyone who shares their life with dogs. The chapters are organized by senses including sight, sound, and smell with the purpose of explaining the differences between canine perception and human perception. McConnell shares the science behind our differing interpretations of nonverbal cues like eye contact (a show of confidence and affection for us, but a display of aggression for our pups), without being dull or dry. After reading The Other End of The Leash, you'll be amazed by your dog's ability to decode your confusing human body language!

To inspire everyone to delve into some canine-minded reading this summer, we are giving away a copy of Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets And The People Who Love Them. Edited by Mary A. Shafer, Almost Perfect features 11 inspirational true life "tails" about special needs pets. To win your free copy, email us at reboundhounds@yahoo.com to share the rescue story of your less than perfect pet. Greta and Dewey will select their favorite entry for the blog and the winner will receive a copy of the book. Ready, set, read!