FILE--Jake, a four-month-old golden retriever who doesn't have hind legs, gets around the neighborhood in Scarborough, Maine, in this March 30, 2000, file photo. A Web site's photo contest has supporters of Israel and Palestinians battling in cyberspace over a picture showing a terrified Palestinian boy huddling behind his father before being killed. The New York Times reported Friday, March 2, 2001, that for the first three weeks of MSNBC's ``Year in Pictures 2000'' contest, the photo was the clear leader but it slipped to sixth after a widespread e-mail campaign by Israeli supporters who urged people to vote for other photos, including this one. (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach)

Rovin' With Rover: Teach Old Dog New Tricks With The Help Of Travel Web Sites Devoted To Pets
By Sandy Berger

As a pet owner you may be forced to bring your darlings along when moving great distances. Or you may feel that you just can't leave Rover behind when you take that long-awaited family vacation. Traveling with pets can be a pleasant experience for both you and your pet -- if you plan ahead. There are even vacations and tours created specifically for adventuresome pet owners and their creature companions. No matter what circumstances, have Rover or Kitty at your side for the journey, your computer, and the Internet can make your trip run more smoothly.

Dog may be man's best friend, but when it comes to rovin' with Rover, the Internet is sure to be your next best friend. Using the Internet for research and planning before your trip can assure that your vacation is pleasurable and relaxing. Web sites for traveling with pets are abundant and informative. You'll find free directories for lost pets, information on lodging, as well as airline travel requirements and more.

Pets Traveling by Air

In my recent flights I have been somewhat amazed by the number of pets that board the plane with their owners. There seems to be an abundance of soft, airline-approved, carry-on kennels called Sherpa Bags going through the security checks and onto planes. Small pets can be transported in the passenger cabin as carry-on luggage as long as the container will fit under the seat. Some airlines charge up to $50 extra to accommodate pets even in a kennel under the seat.

If your pet is larger and has to travel on the airline, you will need to arrange for an approved crate. These crates are available for dogs from two pounds to two hundred pounds. Many airlines also charge a fee, typically about $75, to check animals in cargo holes. A certificate of health is almost always required, even for domestic travel. So be sure to contact the airline beforehand to make the necessary arrangements.

Note there is often a variance in rules from airline to airline and even from month to month. In May of 2000, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines discontinued checking pets as baggage during the summer months because of the dangerous heat in the cramped cargo holds. A good rule of thumb is to avoid flying with pets when temperatures are below 40 degrees or above 80 degrees at either your departure city or destination.

Two very useful sites offering air travel checklist covering such topics as special identification tags, leash use, layovers, etc., are Traveling with Pets and Tips for Traveling by Air with Pets.

Pets Traveling by Car

When you load the family (including Rover and Kitty) in the minivan heading to Florida for a week of sun and fun, advance planning can be the difference between a delightful vacation and a disastrous one. The Internet is a bountiful source for your travel planning.

Most Internet sites advise keeping your animal contained with a pet seatbelt or secured carrier. Doggie car harnesses are specially designed with an extra loop to be used with the standard seatbelt. Containing your pet serves several purposes. In case of an accident, your pet is not thrown about the car, and a restraint also prevents the animal from causing an accident by jumping into the driver's line of vision or lap. A restraint also prevents the pet from getting loose when the door is opened.

Other sites on the Internet will help you find medical insurance and ID tags and will allow you to look up information on veterinarians in the area of your destination. A convenient checklist is offered for pets traveling by car at Traveling with Pets.

Pet-Friendly Accommodations Did you know that there are over 25,000 hotels, inns, campgrounds, ranches, and resorts that welcome pets? If you are traveling more than a day's ride, you may need to find one of these accommodation sites that accept pets. Again, vacationing with pets can be rewarding if you take the time to do some research in advance. If you want your pet to stay in your room with you, there are some questions to ask when making your reservations:

• Do you accept pets?
• Are there are any pet fees or deposits?
• Are fees per pet or per room?
• Are they daily or one time?
• Is the deposit refundable?
• Are pets limited to certain type rooms?
• Are there any areas that I can't go with my pet?
• Do you offer anything special for pets?

Some places cater to pets offering pet sitting, walking, welcome gifts, and even room service items. Remember that policies change often. The hotel that you stayed in last year may not allow pets this year.

The Internet has some great sites that have done most of the work for you. Simply visit these sites and get the answers to the above questions. The Pet Travel and Leisure site offers a pet travel guide that covers everything from quaint bed and breakfasts that welcome pets, five star hotels that provide pet sitting while you shop, parks and beaches that allow you to bring your dog, and even restaurants that allow you to dine with your cat or dog.

The most extensive site is Petswelcome.com with their listings page for thousands of hotels, B&Bs, ski resorts, campgrounds, and beaches that are pet-friendly. Their Travel Info section gives information on how to take your pet anywhere. You can get information on pertinent pet travel, a boarding kennel database, emergency info, pet sitters, and advice on air travel.

Another free online directory to pet-friendly hotels worldwide is available at Travelpets.com with featured bed and breakfast accommodations plus great links to other pet-oriented locations. Get instant access to pet-friendly lodging in the US including vacation rentals, cabins, inns, condos, cottages, resorts, and lodges at Petfriendlytravel.com http://www.petfriendlytravel.com. Listings are by states. Many of these sites provide links to the country's major airlines with information on pets.

Internet Lost and Found offers free directory listings for lost and found pets and other items worldwide. Their database is searchable by city/country/type of items lost or found.

Join a Pet Travel Club

Consider joining a pet travel club prior to your vacation. The Takeyourpet.com site claims to be the largest pet travel club in the US. Its pet-friendly lodging directory contains over 20,000 properties, and its travel resources list thousands of animal hospitals, shelters, roomers, kennels, and boarding facilities.

The AAA also has a guide for accommodations that accept pets plus great tips for traveling with your pets. Check with your local AAA office.

Suppose you want to go hiking or canoeing with your dog. There is a special tour company for owners and their canine companions called Rovin' with Rover (Apologies to this site; we liked their name so much we "borrowed" it for this article.)

Rovin' with Rover organizes tours and activities for owners and their canine companions such as canoe trips in a state park, covered bridge tours, trips to Niagara Falls, and even an annual "Howloween" bash complete with optional leashes, mandatory cleanups, and a canine costume contest topped off with a bonfire and hayride. This group even sponsors a Walking Club. Especially helpful at this site were their links to other pet-friendly sites, such as a directory of lost and found animals, ASPCA, Pet Loss/Grief, etc.

So no matter if Rover or Kitty are by your side because you are moving house, flying overseas, or headed to the state park to spend some time with your "best friend," both you and your pet will have a better experience if you have planned ahead. Why not let the Internet be the new trick you learn for your old (or new) dog.

Posted on Sat, Oct. 19, 2002
West Nile Infects Four La. Dogs
JANET McCONNAUGHEY
Associated Press Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) -

Four dogs with encephalitis-symptoms had the West Nile virus, state officials said in one of the first signs the disease may be becoming more widespread in animals.

Three of the dogs died, state veterinarian Martha Littlefield said Friday. They had symptoms that included seizures, trouble walking, "stargazing," and flinching at a gentle touch.

The virus may not have caused the disease, but veterinarians should consider West Nile as a possible cause of brain or central nervous system trouble in dogs, Littlefield said. Mostly spread through mosquito bites, West Nile virus has infected 2,768 people in 34 states and Washington, D.C. so far this year and killed 146 people, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

It has also infected more than 110 species of birds, including the bald eagle and the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane.

Horses have also been susceptible. The American Veterinary Medical Association has estimated at least 40 percent of the horses infected with West Nile during a 1999 outbreak died.

But the disease has been rarer in dogs and cats. Officials at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reported last month the deaths of a 3-month-old wolf and an 8-year-old dog were linked to West Nile.

The American Veterinary Medical Association's Web site reported three cats who died in 1999 and 2000 were believed to be infected. "The biggest thing right now is that so many people have been told it's not a big deal in dogs, so a lot of veterinarians don't look for it," Littlefield said.

None of the dogs in Louisiana was old or otherwise ill, she said. The youngest was a 5-month-old German shepherd. The oldest, a 6-year-old Dalmatian, has recovered.

DOG CARE: AFTER YOUR DEATH

Perpetual care for pets is part of a growing trend, right along with pet custody lawsuits, grief counseling books and pet health insurance, says Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University.

"Animals for many people are members of the family," Beck says. "In a way, including a pet in a will or making arrangements for their care after an owner dies is comparable to providing life insurance for children. Just like parents care for their children, they want to make sure their beloved pets are well provided for."

Purdue's Peace of Mind program asks that the pet owner pledge a minimum of $25,000 per pet. After the owner dies, the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine works with its network of veterinary alumni to find a suitable home for the pet, and the pledge covers the animal's lifetime routine medical needs. Any remaining money is invested in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Since Purdue's program was created in 1996, 39 pets (26 dogs and 13 cats) have been enrolled by 13 individuals who have pledged a total of $1.3 million. One donor recently increased his pledge, which will double the current total.

Kansas State University has a similar program, operated through the University's Foundation in conjunction with the Veterinary College. Like Purdue, KSU requests $25,000 minimum for lifetime care. The owner and the school work together to create a document that represents the care and home life desired for the pet after the owner's passing.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas offers the Pet Survivors Life Care Program. The pet owner arranges for a gift to the SPCA in an estate plan, funded either by life insurance, real estate, appreciated securities, or a bequest in a will. A minimum payment of $10,000 ensures that a pet will be placed with a loving family, and given lifetime monitoring and health care by the SPCA Quality Control Department and veterinary staff.

Some of the other veterinary schools in the United States have similar programs, though they vary in format. For example, some programs place animals in university facilities where they live with veterinary students. Beck says how the programs are implemented may differ, but the concept of caring for pets after their owners die is on the rise.

Beck says in addition to preventing anxiety, programs such as Peace of Mind can be healthy for the pet owner and animal.

"It's important to not deny animal companionship for older people because they are less mobile and isolated," Beck says. "With these kinds of options, an older pet owner won't feel guilty about bringing a companion animal into their home late in their lives."

Planning ahead not only will prevent the pet from being homeless, it also will prevent tension among other family members who may not want to adopt the pet. Without such programs, Beck says, some devoted pet owners might choose to have their pets euthanized when they die because of a lack of options.

For more information about Peace of Mind programs:
**Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine at (800) 830-0104
**Alan Beck, (765) 494-0854, :abeck@purdue.edu
**Purdue Peace of Mind program: http://www.vet.purdue.edu/devel/giving.html
** Kansas State University Couple Gain Peace of Mind By Arranging for Care of Six Basset Hounds: http://www.vet.ksu.edu/depts/development/Gifts/mcnulty.htm
**KSU Perpetual Pet Care Program at (785) 532-4013

Most days, the life of Tallahassee firefighters isn't nearly as exciting as it's depicted in movies and the TV show "Third Watch."

Sunday was not most days.

Responding to a call from neighbors that a house in the 2800 block of Chumleigh Circle was ablaze, firefighters from TFD Station 9 were able to perform a carry-the-lady-out-of-the-burning-house-and-save-the-little-doggies-too kind of rescue.

When firefighters arrived at the home in the Royal Oaks subdivision, firefighter Tommy Aldridge said the roof was "fully involved," which is firefighter talk for burning up.

"We were considering not entering the house, but someone said the lady was probably inside," he said. After they kicked in the front door, Aldridge led the way into the house, hosing back the flames while Capt. Rufus Graddy and firefighter Frankie Mohr looked for the resident.

They heard the woman "hollering for help" from a bedroom and Graddy picked her up and carried her from the room. "She was just lucky," Aldridge said. "Forty-five more seconds into it and she would've been dead. As soon as we got her out, the roof collapsed in the room she was in."

The woman, who had burns on her hands and side, insisted on returning inside to retrieve her dogs. Firefighters were able to rescue the three dachshunds, who were in a cage in the kitchen near the front door, Aldridge said.

"It was a good one," Aldridge said of the rescue, downplaying his part saying, "I was just the guy in with the nozzle."

But Capt. Morgan Lisenby isn't afraid to heap on the praise as he prepared to compose commendations for the firefighters. "They got in there and saved the lady's life" he said. "If you looked at (the house) you'd be astonished that anybody made it out."

Preliminary investigation indicated the fire probably started outside, when a charcoal grill tipped over, setting the deck on fire. The flames then went up the side of the house and into the attic, Lisenby said. Fire officials were not able to provide the woman's name Sunday.

Daring rescues "don't happen that often," said Lisenby, but when they do "that's what firefighting is all about."

Rosanne Dunkelberger is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat.She worked as a reporter for three years after graduating from the University of Florida in 1978, then detoured for several years into public relations and motherhood before returning to her reporting roots at the Democrat in 1998.

1. infection of kittens from mother prior to birth
2. ingestion of cysts from contaminated feces
3. ingestion of raw meat which contains cysts

• FRESH feces is NOT a source of contamination
• a blood test for Toxo in the cat can mean exposure within the last several yrs
• if a cat has shed oocysts (eggs) in the past, it is unlikely to occur again
• Toxo in people may cause no clinical signs

• raw or undercooked meat
• contaminated soil (and, therefore, vegetables)
• contaminated water
• not washing hands after contact with possible contaminated items

• Toxo titers may indicate a recent or past exposure to the parasite
• toxo titers are as important in susceptible, cat owning persons as they are in cats
• a positive titer is not diagnostic for the disease

• the oocysts (eggs) are not infectious when they are first passed from the cat
1. they must sporulate first
2. sporulation takes 5-7 days
• a positive Toxo titer in a cat does not mean the cat is sick because of Toxo
• oocysts are usually shed only 1 time
• recurrent shedding does not usually occur
• other potential sources of infection include:
1. soil
2. water
3. meat
• susceptible individuals and their cat should have Toxo titers tested
• washing hands easily prevents Toxoplasmosis

9/27/00
People pay to pamper pets
By RACHEL SAMS
Tallahassee Democrat
From the moment they come into the world, squalling and squirming, your life is never the same. They love you unconditionally, depend on you and bring you joy. And you provide for them, sparing no expense to ensure that they are healthy and happy. We're not talking about Dick and Jane. We're talking about Spot and Fluffy. And you're willing to pay to take care of them: Americans spend $20 billion annually on their pets, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance of Anaheim, Calif. That's an, um, ruff equivalent of the gross domestic product of Costa Rica. It's because most of today's pet owners view their animals not as amusing fur balls but as companions and members of the family. They want a variety of choices in products, services and medical care for their pets -- just as they would for any other member of the family. Pet owners today are "more educated, more affluent and have higher expectations," said Colin Burrows, chief of staff at the small animal hospital at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. "If your eye is bothering you, are you going to see a general practitioner? No, you're probably going to see an ophthalmologist. The public is expecting the same thing for their pets." Look around Tallahassee. An animal hospital here, a pet supply store there -- and pet salons everywhere. Forget pet rocks. In Tallahassee, pets rock. And business is booming. Historically, said veterinarian Otfried Guhrt of Paws & Claws in Shannon Lakes Plaza, "animals were seen as something you utilize -- a dog would protect the family or take care of sheep or cattle. Nowadays, an animal is seen as much more of a companion. People are more aware of animals' needs." More preventative care Veterinary medicine -- as well as the pet retail and service industries -- is expanding to meet those needs. In the past, a trip to the vet meant one of two things: It was time for shots, or your pet was really sick. Now, veterinary medicine includes more preventative care and fields of specialization. Guhrt offers dermatology and behavioral consultation in addition to more traditional veterinary services such as vaccination and surgery. Behavioral medicine is a new field, Guhrt said, but it is growing rapidly -- and it isn't just for pets. "Because the bond between animals and humans is getting closer and closer, a lot of people have a tendency to treat a dog like a human being, and that can create problems," said Guhrt. "You not only have to change the dog's behavior, but you have to change the owner's, too." Veterinarian Lavonne Congdon of Los Robles Animal Hospital on Thomasville Road has been practicing acupuncture for more than a decade. Demand for the service has increased threefold or fourfold since she began practicing, she said. She most frequently uses acupuncture to treat arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems, as well as neurologic problems such as intervertebral disc disease and nerve paralysis. "More and more people are choosing a more natural approach in their own health care," said Congdon. "They want this for their pets, too." Acupuncture sessions done twice a week can range from $36 to $56 each, Congdon said. Permanent implant procedures -- in which metallic beads or other materials are inserted into tissues at certain points of the body to treat chronic arthritis pain in small animals as well as epilepsy in dogs -- can range from $150 to $700. Insurance to toenail polish As more services have become available, veterinary bills have gone up, prompting some pet owners to invest in pet health insurance. Some employers nationally even have begun offering pet health insurance as part of their employee benefits. Still, said Michelle Desai, who does marketing and public relations for Veterinary Pet Insurance, less than 1 percent of U.S. pet owners have pet health insurance. Two-thirds of American pet owners take their pets to the vet more often than they themselves go to the doctor, said Desai. The company, which has been in business for 20 years, has issued more than 1 million policies. The same pet owners who are investing in their pets' health are also spending on their pets' food, grooming and amusement. As in many other retail sectors, pet megastores have sprouted up, offering everything from food and toys to training classes and grooming. PETsMART Inc. opened in Phoenix in 1987; today the company has more than 530 stores, including one on Capital Circle Northeast in Tallahassee. "Grooming isn't just a cut anymore," PETsMART spokeswoman Esther Caceres said, adding that many pet owners opt to treat Fifi to toenail polish and a bandanna. "They come out looking good -- like a person looks when they come out of the salon." Grooming is another fast-growing business, said Sandy Witschy, owner of Bloomingtails Pet Salon. When she started grooming in Tallahassee more than a decade ago, only a handful of groomers were in town. Now, the Yellow Pages has 26 listings under "Pet Grooming." Caskets and monuments When Laurie Dayhoff's first dog died, she went to a funeral home and bought an infant casket for her pet. Now, Dayhoff owns Custom Pet Monuments on Apalachee Parkway, which sells granite and marble monuments, caskets and cremation urns -- all for pets. Many pet owners put their pets' special blankets or toys in the casket with them, Dayhoff said. "There are lots of people out there who consider their pets beloved members of the family," she said. "That's the most rewarding part of this business."

Rachel Sams covers Tallahassee's business community for the Tallahassee Democrat. A native of Greenwood, Miss., Rachel has interned at The Greenwood Commonwealth and The Baltimore Sun. Rachel, a 2000 graduate of Johns Hopkins University, joined the Democrat in June 2000. Write her at rsams@taldem.com.