Shy Dog Adopted From Shelter

Dear Marie,
Last month I adopted an extremely shy dog from my city’s shelter.  The shelter people told me she was found as a stray by animal control and no one came to claim her.  They don’t know much about her other than she’s a little mixed breed dog and about two years old.I knew she was timid when I adopted her, but now that I've had her home for a while, I realize this isn't a case of being shy.  I think she is very fearful.  Her tail is always curled tight between her legs, she jumps at any sound and seems always to be looking over her shoulder.  I had some friends come to meet her and she ran into my bedroom and would not be coaxed out even with yummy treats.  She seems to like and trust me.  In fact, when I am alone, she sticks to me like glue.  I've almost tripped over her a couple of times.  What do you think is going on with her and will she ever come out of her shell?

Meghan 

Dear Meghan,
It is hard to say exactly what is going on with your little dog, but knowing she was out on the streets all by herself is a good indicator that she went through some harrowing experiences.  It is lucky that an animal control officer was able to rescue her and take her to a shelter before she was injured or killed. Try and imagine life as she has experienced it—she had a home and a family.  Most likely, she had a warm bed, regular meals, water, and attention.  She was safe and secure.  Somehow, she was separated from all of this.  Perhaps a meter reader left a gate open, or worse, her family abandoned her.  Regardless, her world was instantly turned upside down.  She may have had close calls with moving traffic, or she may have been chased by another loose dog, or even a wild predator.  It all must have been very terrifying. Then she was rescued—but from her perspective, that experience was in all probability, just as frightening as her initial ordeal.  A stranger picked her up, put her in a strange vehicle that almost certainly contained the sights and sounds of other animals, and drove her to a facility with dozens of loud, barking dogs.  She was poked and prodded by a veterinarian, was spayed, and then given a number of shots.  Kennel doors opened and closed continually with food bowls being put in and taken out by any number of people. It was all very overwhelming for your poor little girl.  But then you came into her life and became her rock of security.  It’s good to know that she was able to trust you like this.  Now it’s your job to make her know that she is undeniably safe and sound. Based on what you've indicated, you’ll need to take things slowly with her.  Don’t bring a lot of people into your home.  Instead, play some classical music.  Talk to your dog in a happy, confident voice.  This will let her know that you are not afraid of anything so she can feel more secure.  Spend as much quality time with her as possible.  Giver her lots of affection and treats.  If she is interested in playing, get some playtime in.  If she doesn't know how to play, try to teach her a few games.  Believe it or not, playtime is great therapy. As you see her become more confident, begin a few short activities outside of your home and yard.  If she enjoys being out of the home, increase the duration of these outings.  Long walks help relieve stress so when you get to this phase of training, you should see improvement by leaps and bounds. It is at this point that you can begin to introduce her to your friends.  Ideally, you’ll want just one person a day to stop by and they should always come with doggie treats in hand (or pocket)!  Don’t force your dog to visit, let her come to each person when she is ready. Sometimes it takes several months for a dog to fully comprehend that it is safe in a new home, but many dogs adjust in just a few weeks.  Just remember that it’s up to you to show her that she will never be alone again.

Cat Pees Outside of Litter Box

Dear Marie,

I am planning on having family over for an extended visit and I am terrified.  My four-year-old neutered cat has recently taken to peeing outside the litter box and the house smells horrible.  I would be extremely embarrassed to have stay-over guests under these conditions.  I’ve tried cleaning some areas that I’ve been able to locate with dish detergent, but now those spots just smell like dish detergent mixed with urine.  To make matters worse, I can’t find most of the spots where my cat is peeing.  I can smell it, but my nose just can’t pinpoint where it is coming from.  I have to do something about this before they arrive.  I can’t afford to rip the carpet out, but if I have to, I’ll get a loan and do it rather than having people over with this awful stench in the house.  Please, please help me.

Thank you.

Jackie

Dear Jackie,

I understand completely where you are coming from and this is certainly a stressful situation.  But take a deep breath (through your mouth, not your nose!) and let me outline what you need to do.

First, please take your kitty to the veterinarian.  In many cases when cats begin to urinate outside of their litter boxes, it means there is an underlying heath issue.  If you can rule out a health problem, then it’s time to examine the behavioral side of the predicament and then we’ll focus on clean-up.

Many cat owners find that if they trace back the timeline to the point where their pets began to exhibit inappropriate urination, that there was a coincidental event that prevented their cat from having access to its litter box, or there was a significant or traumatic event that occurred in the household.

If it was a significant or traumatic event of some kind (introduction of a new pet, family member, new furniture delivered, etc.), then you just need to provide your cat with a little extra stability for a short while.  Sometimes keeping your cat in a safe and familiar room for a week or two is all it takes to press the feline reset button.  Provide a litter box, food and water, and hang out in the room with your kitty as much as possible.  There should be plenty of sunshine, and even soft, classical music playing on a radio. 

If for some reason your cat’s access to the litter box was restricted, for example, if your litter box is in the bathroom and somebody closed the bathroom door, or your cat was closed off in a room without a litter box, then your cat may have had no other choice than to find another spot to relieve itself.  Once that happens, then your cat will believe it is OK to use that spot because his sense of smell will tell him that it is OK.

You need to have more than one litter box available to your cat.  The general rule of thumb is to have one more litter box than the total number of cats in your home.  Each box should contain his whole body with spare room.  If it is too small and he hangs over the edge, he'll miss the target and take notice of the fact that your flooring is where he is "going" which would then translate to flooring in general is a good place to do his business.

Unfortunately, our highly inadequate human noses can never pinpoint where the smell of urine originates from.  This is where you need to pretend that you are a CSI.  Purchase a small black-light and use it after dark in every room of your house.  Voila, cat urine stains will glow!

As you’ve discovered, you should not use household cleaners to get rid of odors.  If anything, they amplify the smell and make it that much more attractive to your cat.  Instead, use an enzymatic cleaner designed specifically for the task.  Every pet supply store has gallons of this stuff, in a variety of brand names, stocked and ready on their shelves.  You are definitely not the first person who has had this trouble.

Finally, make sure you clean your cat’s litter box regularly.  Cats are very sanitary animals.  They don’t want to step in soiled litter, would you?  So if you are thinking you just don’t have time, and it can last another day or two, just remember how much more effort is involved in cleaning up accidents on the carpet.  If you have a fastidious cat, it’s much better just to keep the box as pristine as possible.  Good luck.

Dog Spills Her Water Intentionally

Dear Marie,

We have an 8-month-old female Labrador Retriever.  In the last two weeks she is emptying her water no matter what we put it in.  We were using a large bucket from Home Depot with no problems.  She tore it up into pieces so my husband purchased a medium size aluminum tub.  She jumped in, played, spilled all the water and carried it around in her mouth by the handle.  I purchased an aluminum bucket.  She did the same thing.  I thought I had a great idea—I took one of the plastic buckets, put a brick in the bottom, filled it about 1/3 full of water, put the aluminum bucket inside of the plastic bucket and filled the aluminum bucket.  She managed to spill all of the water out and carry it around.  Then we tried the aluminum bucket inside of the tub with same results.  We don't have a water faucet in the part of the yard she is in that works so can't use whatever it is that attaches to the faucet.  Holly is large, weighs about 75 lbs.  Any ideas? Right now we just take water out every hour or so and offer it but soon we will be back to work and gone 3 or more hours at a time.

One other problem we are having is she, at time,s will wrap her legs around either my husband's, my daughter's or my leg and "hump" us and will bite when she does this.  We were told this is way she is trying to show her dominance.  What can we do to stop this behavior?  In every other way she is a great dog.  We take her for walks daily or to dog park daily.  We give her a lot of attention and love and she sleeps in her kennel in our bedroom at night.  She also took a 6-week obedience class.

Thank you.

Jan

PS I am 63 and my husband is 69 so we don't have as much energy as younger people.

Dear Jan,

At eight months old, your dog is just a big puppy.  She needs a lot of safe toys to chew and keep her mentally engaged.  There are some wonderful balls that can be stuffed with healthy, yummy treats, and this is just the type of toy to keep her from getting bored, while also allowing her to chew on something more appropriate than her water bucket.  KONG makes some great, interactive chew toys.  But there are many others that are available at pet supply stores.  Just make sure you get a high quality product that won’t break apart easily or cause injuries.

As a Lab, your girl is a water dog and with the recent unseasonable heat we’ve been having, it’s understandable that she is incorporating her water bucket into her playtime.  Stores are just beginning to bring out their Spring and Summer items. I would definitely purchase the biggest, plastic kiddy pool you can find so that she can splash and sit in it.  She will absolutely love the pool and will spend less time thinking her bucket is a fun distraction.  Even a big, strong dog can’t drag around a large pool filled with water, unless she is from Krypton.

I know your dog is sectioned off away from your faucet.  Still, if it is possible, allow her access, or extend your plumbing into the part of the yard where she stays and install a lick-spigot.  This is a product that is activated when a dog licks it, and thus, she will always have fresh water and you won’t even need to use a bucket or bowl.

To address the humping behavior very quickly—indeed this is a demonstration of dominance and must be corrected immediately, especially since she is also biting.  One of the quickest methods for correcting this behavior is to use an air horn.  I would suggest keeping one on your belt or in your pocket – and use it the moment she starts to grab your legs.  Follow it up with a loud, “No!”  And then put her in a crate for five minutes, without any attention whatsoever.  Labs are smart dogs so she will get the message very quickly.  If you have friends who are willing to come over and help with this training, that would be great because demonstrating that non-family members are also off-limits for this type of behavior is very important.

Remember, dogs just need to know the rules and with consistency, love, and patience, your puppy will grow up to be a well-mannered and trustworthy member of the family.

It's been a while...

Hey Animal Files People...
It's been a while since I've posted.  Too long, and I apologize for that.  I plan on getting active with posting again, and am happy to answer questions about animal behavior, urban wildlife, humane laws, and any other animal related question you may have.  Bring it on!

To begin, I want to thank all my readers who have adopted pets from shelters and rescues.  I get dozens of inquiries from readers every day asking me where they can adopt specific pets and I am always happy to refer folks to all the great rescues and rescuers and shelters that are looking for families for their homeless pets.  But to make things easier, I'm going to make a generic post here.  If you want to adopt a pet, there are two really good resources to use.  Just plug in all your parameters (your area and distance you are willing to travel, type of pet you want, gender, if that matters, etc.).  Here they are:
www.petfinder.com or http://www.adoptapet.com/
These two sites will get you squared away with the pet of your dreams.  Of course, always check your local shelters too, because they get new pets in daily and there is bound to be a little furry kid there who will tug at your heart strings.

Happy New Year Everyone!
:) Marie

Puppy and Kitten Trouble

Dear Marie,
Shortly before Christmas, we decided to adopt two pets, a kitten for my twelve-year-old daughter and a puppy for my 10-year-old son. We wanted to get a kitten and a puppy to make sure that the two would get along and that was actually a good call. They get along great and they don’t seem to know that they are the least bit different from each other, which is funny because the puppy is a German Shepherd mix and is huge! But that doesn’t stop them from playing together and snuggling together. It’s adorable. But here’s the problem. They are constantly getting into trouble. They run up and down the hall and into all the rooms while they are playing and things get knocked over and broken. Individually, the kitten is climbing and scratching all the furniture and curtains. The puppy is gnawing on everything and anything. It’s getting to be a financial burden at this point. The kitten is even chewing things! Last week he chewed right through my husband’s phone charger cable. I don’t know how things got so out of control, but my kids can’t seem to manage their pets and I am at my wit’s end. Please help us.
Jan

Dear Jan,
I can hear your frustration loud and clear and I am happy you are asking for help. Many people in your shoes would just give up their pets so it’s good to know that you are looking for a way to fix the problem without taking such drastic measures.

Now let’s get to the problem. Puppies and kittens are blank slates. They don’t know any rules but are very smart and able to learn - and it’s never too early to teach good manners. However, it does take a lot of time and a lot of patience.

First, enroll your puppy in basic obedience. Keep in mind that the class is more for you and your kids than it is for your pet. You will all learn how to be consistent with the rules and that’s what your puppy (and your kitten) need. Practice everything you learn in class at your home. Everyone in the family should work with both pets as often as possible.

Of course, you won’t be teaching your kitten to do the traditional dog routine, but you can train your young cat to play on a scratching post instead of your curtains and sofas. And this is accomplished by everyone in the family taking some time to play with him at designated cat-friendly area(s).

Remember, young cats and dogs need to chew on things. Give them both something acceptable to satisfy this basic need. Demanding that they don’t chew at all is not realistic. So redirect them to something appropriate. Chew toys are great for this. And if you have certain personal items that seem irresistible to your pets (phone charging cables, expensive shoes, etc.), it might be a good idea to keep those items in places your pets can’t get to.

Cats need to drag their claws across suitable surfaces. In addition to scratching posts, you can place disposable scratchers in most of your rooms. These are small, inexpensive items that are available at most pet supply stores and if you get the kind scented with catnip, your kitty will happily use them instead of your home’s furnishings.

Puppies and kittens have lots of energy. But it comes in bursts. If you notice that your pets want to play, that’s a good time to stop what you are doing to play with them. Find an area that’s safe for rough and tumble activities. Take your dog outside for games involving running and chasing. Have someone stay indoors with your kitten. That person should use a feather toy or something similar to engage the little feline. Take turns. Everyone should play with all the animals at various times. You’ll probably notice patterns to when your pets want to play. This will work to your advantage and you can get your pets into a routine that you can count on.

Like all babies, energy bursts don’t last very long and soon your little guys are going to want to nap or rest. As they mature, they’ll require less playtime though that doesn’t mean you should cut it out completely. Keep your pets active throughout their lives for excellent physical and mental health; but enjoy the quiet time that will come with your pets’ maturity.

Believe it or not, kittenhood and puppyhood don’t last too long and if you begin training now, you’ll have some pretty well-behaved pets in no time. Just hang in there and remember: consistency is the key to success.

Hawks in the City

Q. I was wondering if you could post an article on hawks in Garden
Grove. I am worried about people letting out little dogs and cats that
could get eaten. There is a hawk right outside my house now looking
for food, and I never knew hawks would be around a residential area.
Plus, he got real close to my back patio looking at my bird. I think
he wants to eat him. I think it is very important to be aware so
people can protect their pets. Everyone I spoke to around here did not
know there were hawks, and these are people who have lived here for 55
years.

A. You might be surprised to read this, but hawks (and owls, kestrels,
falcons, turkey vultures and eagles) have lived happily in all of the
residential cities of Orange County for as long as the cities have
existed, and long before that, too.

Often, you'll notice a lot of these beautiful raptors as you drive
along the freeways. They enjoy sitting at the tops of tall light posts
where they can observe the surrounding area in search of small rodents
and birds. They can also be spotted when they are bullied by flocks of
crows and other birds who don't appreciate having a predator in their
midst. These scuffles are usually very noisy; so when you hear some
noisy birds in the air, look up and most likely you'll see a hawk
getting ganged up on by a smaller, very brave birds.

Red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, Cooper's hawks and American
kestrels are some of the more common predator birds in the area. If
you're really lucky, you might see a beautiful Osprey in the spring,
when they sometimes nest in coastal parts of Orange County. Turkey
vultures, though not predators, can be spotted soaring in the skies.
Their long, two-toned wingspan is noticeable as they glide in big
circles, searching for roadkill. Golden eagles, which are often
confused with hawks, are rare in the cities, but are still seen on
occasion. If you'd like to get a good look at a golden eagle, your
best bet is to take a trip into the foothill areas of Orange County.
They are a majestic and beautiful sight to behold.

Large owls and hawks can indeed carry away small cats and dogs. This
is yet another reason why cats should be kept as indoor pets and dogs
should not be left alone in back yards all day and night.

Owners of pet birds should ensure that their feathered companions are
placed in fully enclosed aviaries when allowed to enjoy the outdoors.
Not only does this protect them from predator birds, but it also keeps
them safe from neighborhood cats and wild birds that could be infected
with parasites or diseases.

Hawks and other birds of prey are important to the ecosystem. They do
an amazing job keeping rodent populations under control, which in an
urban setting is really helpful. They rarely have an interest in dogs
and cats; however, this isn't an issue if pet owners make sure that
their pets are maintained responsibly.

Sadly, most of our local birds of prey seem to be having a tough time.
Ornithologists who have been studying local species have noticed a
steady decline in their numbers. Though there is a lot of speculation
as to why this is happening; drought and loss of habitat because of
wildfires and human activity are likely the main causes.

One species, the Cooper's hawk, seems to be adapting to all of the
changes – and thriving. This particular species has figured out how to
live well in the urban setting, and its population is growing. I
wouldn't be surprised if the hawks you've noticed in Garden Grove are
Cooper's hawks. From late September to March, Cooper's hawks from "out
of town" fly to the county because of the mild climate, so the species
becomes even more noticeable.

If you'd like to learn more about local birds, I would recommend
getting your hands on a field guide with color pictures and a pair of
binoculars. Once you spend some time watching these creatures, you'll
realize they are great and interesting neighbors to have.

Finders Keepers Does NOT Apply

I work in a very animal-friendly office. We don’t have an official bring-your-pet-to-work policy, but my coworkers occasionally do bring in their little four-legged friends from time to time and everyone loves those visits. A week rarely passes by when something animal related doesn’t come up. Last week was no exception. An office mate forwarded an email about a little found dog that needed a home right away because the nice person who rescued the dog from the streets could not keep it.

This was the second “found dog” in a relatively short amount of time that my friends at work wanted to assist in placing into a new home. I am thrilled they are all so happy to help an animal in need; but as good as these intentions are, they are also unlawful.

It might be hard to believe, but no one is allowed to keep a pet they find roaming, even if it is not wearing a collar or tag—and pretty much everyone I know has kept a found pet at some point in their life. The reason for not keeping a found animal is because every pet must be assumed to have a home somewhere and every effort should be made to return it to its owner.

Last year, through a series of mishaps, an acquaintance of mine lost her little poodle. He had been a therapy dog and visited children’s hospitals regularly; he was loved by a lot of people. Unfortunately, he was not wearing a collar and tag. For months, his owner checked every animal shelter and rescue in California on a daily basis. She also hired a pet detective agency. A number of witnesses saw the dog at a local school yard and observed a man putting the dog into his car. Nearly a year later, the dog is still missing and was never turned over to a shelter. Someone clearly assumed that since the dog had no identification, it needed a home. That assumption led to heartache.

Even if it seems like a dog or cat couldn’t possibly have a home somewhere, it must be turned over to the animal shelter that has jurisdiction over the area where the pet was found. I remember an occasion many years ago when I found a matted, filthy, starving, injured dog roaming the streets of Lake Forest. I brought him to the County Shelter where he received veterinary care and was reunited with his elderly owner who was overwhelmed with emotion to have her beloved dog back. He had been missing for several months after escaping when workers left a door open where he lived.

Anyway...back to my current story...The latest email that circulated at my office described the dog as a purebred—healthy, young, and sweet. Here's the thing: A sweet dog is generally a loved dog, which means someone, somewhere was out looking for him. It’s just not right to deny its owners the opportunity to get their dog back.

I know it’s not easy to turn a dog over to a shelter. But it’s the best possible outcome. Animals in shelters receive all needed veterinary care, are scanned for microchips, and checked for any other identification. If an owner cannot be located and the dog is a purebred, it can be transferred to a breed rescue organization that will find a good home for the pet; or placed in a home by the shelter itself. Further, by going to a shelter first, it will be spayed or neutered, will receive all needed vaccinations, and at most shelters, will also receive a microchip.

Shelters also offer some type of “hold” system that allows the person who turns in a found pet to adopt that animal in the event no owner can be located. This is actually a great deal because when one considers the cost for spaying or neutering, licensing, vaccinating, microchipping, and other vet care, the adoption fees are going to be far less than the grand total of those items if paid for outside of the shelter system.

This advice does not just hold true for dogs and cats. All pet animals that are found “stray” should be turned over to a shelter. That means rabbits, snakes, iguanas, exotic birds, etc. The “Finders-Keepers” rule didn’t work in Kindergarten and it doesn’t work now.