WELFARE - Check Your Microchip: It may not be Registered

Having your pet microchipped has long been touted as a top means of protection should it go missing.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, however, more than half of microchips implanted in pets are not registered – rendering them pretty much useless.

“Did you know that 6 out of 10 #microchips aren't registered? Aug 15 is #ChecktheChipDay, reminder 2 check that chip!” the AVMA recently tweeted.

“Microchips greatly increase the chances that you'll get your pets back if they get lost or stolen,” says AVMA president, Tom Meyer.

“But a microchip only works if its registration information is accurate.”

Registering any microchip is sage advice but increasingly people are questioning the merits of chipping in the first place.

Microchips – encoded with unique information and about the size of a grain of rice - are embedded in a pet, usually by injection, just below the surface of the skin.

Should a pet become lost, a vet or someone with a scanner can read the radio frequency identification and assess the unique code embedded in the chip.

Ideally, that would provide information leading them to the current owner.

But in reality, say many critics, that doesn't always happen.

There is not a single company which has the monopoly on collecting and storing microchip information and this is one of the first complications.

Add to that, the reality many chips are not even registered and if they are, often times, information is outdated.

Different microchips have different frequencies and not every scanner reads every frequency, so chips can easily be missed.

That means the happy reunion pet owners hope to have delivered via microchip doesn't always happen.

There are times when pets whose owners cannot be found are euthanized or even adopted out to new families.

Olivia White has looked extensively at the merit in microchips in pets. And the U.S entrepreneur has found it is not a reliable way to ensure owners are reunited with lost pets.

She came across the conundrum several years ago when she read an email about a lost dog but says she “fell down a rabbit hole,” when she tried to track its owner via information linked to the microchip number.

Time and again she found issues with microchips can mean crucial information required to reunite a lost pet with an owner isn't accessed.

Cori Imbery, manager of HomeSafeTM, a system run by PetLynx, says there has to be a better way.

A microchip is one of many means of pet identification but given some of its shortcomings, alone it is not enough.

“You can't really rely on it,” says Imbery, owner of a mixed-breed named Sienna. “There are different microchip companies and the question of whether they will stay in business. Some have gone under and some have merged.”

“So, to put your faith in that one piece of identification is a little bit scary. Having a microchip is great but there are other ways. As a pet owner, I would want to make sure I have lots of options.”

More than a million Canadian pet owners agree and have chosen HomeSafeTM to increase the odds of locating a lost pet.

Pet owners pay a one-time, $39 fee (for the life of an animal,) to store information on the national, online, database.

Information, which could be everything from a photograph to physical description, tattoo details as well as microchip information, can be updated at any time and is managed by the pet owner rather than a third party.

If a pet is found, the finder can input specific details about the animal - from physical characteristics to identification - and the system will search for a match among registered pets.

“It is surprising to see what pet owners add to their pet record,” Imbery says.

“They store care profiles, contact information, addresses of the locations where they take their pet and pictures along with other valuable elements and descriptions that can help keep their pet safe.”

Still, many organizations feel microchips offer some unique advantages and rely on that technology.

“All of our dogs and cats are sent home to new owners with a microchip,” says Calgary Humane Society spokesman, Philip Fulton.

“Microchips don't fade like tattoos and can't be taken off like a collar tag.”

He said microchips are registered by the shelter but warns the onus – should the pet change ownership hands – is on the previous owner to transfer information linked to the chip to ensure it is kept current.

Looking for other options?

There are also numerous GPS devices available, ranging from about a hundred dollars to several hundred, as a way to keep track of a lost pet.

But several consumer reports speak of glitches ranging from a short battery life to limited geographical reach.

As for those microchips, animal welfare advocates largely agree it is advisable to get its status checked on a regular basis.

It's #ChecktheChipDay so check that chip.

Note: the author of this piece recently had her dog's microchip status checked at the vet only to discover there appears to be no chip. The rescue organization where she got the dog insists it was inserted but claimed they sometimes can work their way out of the pet's body. Just another reason to check your pet's chip.

By Nadia Moharib

Nadia is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

WELFARE - Is Tennessee Animal Abuse Registry First of Many?

In an effort to tackle the issue of animal abuse, the state of Tennessee launched the country’s first statewide animal abuse registry in January of 2016; animal advocates are hopeful other states will soon follow suit.

The registry publishes details that include the offender’s name, address and photograph for those convicted of animal abuse; first-time offenders will remain on the list for two years, second-time offenders for five. This is with respect to companion animals (not livestock) such as cats and dogs.

Those who make the list would be ineligible to adopt from shelters.

While registries exist in cities across the U.S., this is the first statewide registry. Similar bills are being considered in New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Those who oppose it argue that registries, much like sex offender registries, do not achieve lowered rates of offenders and that the act of shaming offenders by displaying their personal information may not act as a deterrent.

For proponents of registries, the main goal is to prevent convicted offenders from attaining, and hurting, more animals. 

For Calgary forensic veterinarian, Dr. Margaret Doyle, an animal abuse registry "would be great, but is a long way down the road" for Alberta, Canada.

Doyle said veterinarians in the province of Alberta currently have ‘an ethical, not legal, obligation to report suspected abuse to law enforcement’. She would like to see this made mandatory to aid in a better workflow among animal health professionals and law enforcement, and to see better inter provincial sharing of information; these are all steps that would have to precede a Canada-wide registry or even provincial ones.

In Calgary alone, the Animal Cruelty Investigations unit at the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) has an annual file load of 1300-1600 investigations, and unit peace officer Brad Nichols confirms that “while the numbers have not varied too much (over the last few years), the legitimacy and complexity of those investigations has increased substantially.”

The peace officers of this division are a big part of the public education piece in Calgary on animal abuse and neglect, but these officers also have the authority to seize animals, lay charges, as well as to draft and execute their own search warrants (an authority more peace officers or ground-level police do not have); this unit works very closely with the Calgary Police Services, with a strong work flow and sharing of intelligence and resources.

Nichols attributes this increase to a ‘more informed public’ and an increased awareness of public knowledge of the CHS division that has grown from two to five officers over the last 10 years. He would like to see some changes, including better definitions, to the Animal Protection Act, to help his team do their job better.

“Increasing the penalty sections in legislation would accomplish nothing. Courts are imposing average fines 5-10% of the maximum, so an increase would be of no consequence,” he explained.

“We are pretty lucky in Calgary as far as resources and I can proudly say that we have never closed a case without exhausting viable investigation techniques such as costly forensics.”

Nichols said they currently publish prohibited offenders, but an animal abuse registry would require the cooperation and pooling of resources among peace officers and police agencies.

Perhaps as technology continues to advance, better resource and information sharing among agencies and between provinces would become a less daunting task.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

BEHAVIOUR - Don't Forget Your Dog is a Dog

(3milliondogs.com)

As we continue to view our dogs less like animals and more like surrogate children, the trends and marketing fads associated with some of this so-called ‘humanization of dogs’ has even the most committed dog lovers wondering how far is too far.

Options for dog food – once wet or dry – have exploded into non-GMO, Gluten Free, organic and made with high quality cuts of meat; toy options of ball or stick have evolved into automated treat dispensers, ball throwers and virtual pet friends; knitted sweaters for the vulnerable minis have expanded into full-fledged fashion lines for pets.

For many urban dwellers this humanization is simply an expression of love, but when it comes to the training process it is key to remember that humans are humans and dogs are dogs.

According to Barbara Walmer, Department Head of Behaviour at the Calgary Humane Society, the tendency of pet owners to attach human emotions to dogs can be counter-productive in the training process.

“Sometimes people will attach high-level emotion to their dog’s behaviour. For example, they will say the dog is jealous or embarrassed - emotions that we do not know for sure an animal feels. Instead we need to look at the behaviours displayed and simplify our explanation for the motivations behind them.”

According to Walmer, poorly trained dogs may be the result of defying the KISS principle.

“Sometimes we make it much more complex than it needs to be. If there is a concern with an animal’s behaviour, we need to work with that animal to change their environment and enhance their ability to display different behaviours.”

Rather than become frustrated with regressive animal behaviour in the training process, like anything patience remains a key virtue; there is also a benefit to looking at training as a lifelong, gradual process rather than expecting perfection immediately following a puppy boot camp.

“Animals are constantly experimenting with their behaviour. If we are not actively helping them with their behaviour on a daily basis, their behaviour will change. It is never too late to work with your animal on their behaviour and help them acquire new or refresh old skills.

"The relationship with your dog is a journey not a destination. You can train your dog for its entire life and both of you will be enriched and have a stronger relationship for it.”

 

When it comes to the never-ending pet products on the market, Walmer said the essentials are a necessity and that enrichment toys or tools are beneficial.

“First, we would ensure they have the appropriate walking equipment including a leash and harness; the adequate training classes that are most suitable to the dogs’ needs; food, water and shelter requirements and then we would discuss enrichment toys. Depending on budget, the dog’s preference, and safety, there are enrichment options that you can purchase and also make at home. Enrichment is critical to a dog’s mental well-being and depending on their owners’ lifestyle, they may need more or less stimulation.”

While our humanization of four-legged friends has led to more options in the marketplace, a needs assessment appears to be the best way to distinguish a dog’s needs from the human want and unnecessary, gimmicky purchases.

And the most important items for the training toolbox continue to be love and patience, and an understanding that an expectation for a dog to behave like a human will result in frustration and counter-productive training.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

RESEARCH - Identifying Animal Abuse Injuries

A study recently published in Forensic Sciences may provide some criteria to help veterinarians differentiate between accidental and non-accidental injuries.

For forensic veterinarian, Dr. Margaret Doyle of the Riverbend Animal Clinic, it’s a step in the right direction.

“There is no forensic training in distinguishing accidental from non-accidental injury for vets,” said Doyle, who is the only practicing forensic veterinarian in Calgary, and has investigated hundreds of cases of animal abuse and neglect since beginning her work with the Calgary Humane Society Animal Protection Officers in 2010.

Much like a coroner, Doyle provides her specialty as a forensic vet to assist in legal investigations and to help inform lawyers and judges through autopsies, post-mortem and crime scene analysis in cases where animal abuse or neglect is suspect.

This study, “Characterization and Comparison of Injuries Caused by Accidental and Non-Accidental Blunt Force Trauma in Cats and Dogs”, has Doyle – who has given lectures on the topic of animal abuse and neglect and how vets can better recognize the signs - hopeful that more research in this area is on the way and will serve to educate animal health practitioners and lead to better resources for cases where abuse or neglect has been established.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The findings indicate that animals that suffered abuse had more head injuries, tooth fractures, rib fractures and claw damage; whereas ‘Pets involved in motor vehicle accidents tended to suffer skin abrasions or injuries involving tearing of the skin from underlying tissue, lung collapse and bruising, and hind end injury, the last possibly as a result of running away from a moving vehicle.’

According to Doyle, contrary to what the general public may believe, vets may be the last person to recognize abuse - as it’s difficult to imagine cruelty when you’re working with animals you feel so passionately about every day.

“We literally take our work home with us - there isn’t a vet who hasn’t brought an animal home to be monitored overnight – it’s hard for us to conceive of abuse to an animal,” she said, adding that she wants vets to have a network in place so they feel comfortable questioning a situation where they feel their animal in care may be in a situation of abuse.

In cases of neglect there are many that are simply not black and white, as there are instances when a pet owner may not be able to recognize or establish their pet was in pain versus outright neglecting their pet.

Doyle said currently in the province of Alberta there is only an ethical, not a legal, obligation to report cases of animal abuse and neglect.

While she is disappointed the province has not followed suit with several other provinces that make reporting such cases a legal obligation, she said as a clinical practitioner she is aware of the consequences mandatory reporting can have on a business – including staff being threatened by pet owners they have reported and the stresses that are associated with confronting animal owners in situations where abuse in suspect.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

WELFARE - Where are all the Cats?

An encouraging trend for cat lovers indicates that feline populations in shelters have been on the general decline in recent years.

While the trend is apparent in areas in both Canada and the U.S., shelters continue to report there is far more work to be done and some areas continue to face burgeoning cat populations – including the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) in Calgary, Alberta.

“The economy is hitting everybody hard, but in Alberta we are right in that oil and gas bubble where there have been massive layoffs and many people forced to downsize or move (out of province) to find work,” explained Sage Pullen McIntosh, spokesperson for the CHS.

The shelter ran an adoption campaign at the end of June, waiving fees for cats older than seven months to help free up space in their overcrowded cat corridors.

While Pullen McIntosh said that their intake was up 185 cats by June 28 of 2016, compared to intake at the same time in 2015, these numbers were not impacted by the early June Ft. MacMurray wildfire dubbed as ‘The Beast’; the shelter did provide emergency boarding for animals from the northern community hard hit by the raging fire, but has since reunited all animals but one cat with their owners.

From Jan. 1-June 28, 2016, the CHS has admitted 2,770 animals, of which 1690 were cats.

Pullen-McIntosh said the information they have gathered from people who surrender their pets (although stray and abandoned cat intake numbers have also risen) indicate job loss, moving and other effects of a downturn in the economy over the last year or so have been the biggest reasons for giving up their pet.

In other areas, however, the combination of improved adoption programs, public education and prevention campaigns and responsible pet ownership seem to be bringing overall shelter cat numbers down and adoptions up.

“We have definitely seen a steady decrease of cat populations in our shelters over the last few years… But overall reduction really isn’t that drastic. We still have much work to do,” said Mary Lou Leiher, who works as a program manager for Toronto Animal Services and is also the president of the Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO).

The AASAO is a unique organization that is an ‘affiliation of professionals committed to excellence in the management and operation of animal care, control and welfare organizations’.

Leiher credits the general reduction from AASAO member shelters, including the City of Toronto and the Ottawa Humane Society, to a number of factors, such as ongoing public education campaigns; successful prevention programs such as the City of Toronto’s CHIP truck for microchipping, licensing and rabies and the SNYP truck for mobile spaying/neutering programs; improved adoption programs through shelters; and the trendiness of choosing to adopt rather than buy from a breeder.

“Shelters have also changed their adoption practices. We understand it’s better to educate people rather than turn them down…people will just go somewhere else if you won’t work with them and then you’ve lost that connection,” explained Leiher.

“If you don’t like the answer, change the conversation.”

These stats of increased adoptions and lowered intake rates of shelter cats are further evidenced by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

According to Dr. Emily Weiss, this notion of ‘changing the conversation’ and working with families and individuals looking to adopt pets, rather than turning away people who may otherwise look to less favourable solutions to obtain a pet (puppy mills) has been key to the overall decrease in areas such as New England.

Weiss made note of the American Pet Product Association’s (APPA) pet owners survey where the data shows some significant changes in where people obtain their cats today compared to ten years ago.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

Patricia Cameron begins new role with Saskatoon SPCA

The Saskatoon SPCA welcomed Patricia Cameron as its new Executive Director Monday. 


With graduate degrees in both English literature and business administration,  Cameron has had a varied career, including success as an entrepreneur, more than a decade in post-secondary education (where she taught public relations, media studies, interpersonal and technical communications); 6 years in animal welfare (during which she was executive director of the Calgary Humane Society), and a role as executive director of Green Calgary.   

READ MORE: New Saskatoon Executive Director 

Cameron was chosen after a regional search and selection process. 

"The Board of Directors is pleased to announce this appointment," said Kevin Hovdestad, Saskatoon SPCA Board Chair. "Ms. Cameron will bring leadership and experience to the shelter. She has extensive not-for-profit and Humane Society experience." 

During her time at Calgary Humane, Cameron significantly increased revenues, expanded the organization's services and led CHS to national recognition for sheltering, humane education and animal protection. 

“I am delighted to be back in my home town, Saskatoon, and working with the great team at the Saskatoon SPCA.  It is an exciting time for the organization, and a wonderful time to connect again with the many amazing people I know from across Canada who have dedicated their careers and talents to the pet industry and animal welfare.”

Calgary Humane welcomes new Executive Director

The Calgary Humane Society welcomed Carrie Fritz as new Executive Director earlier this month. 

Carrie has been a Certified General Accountant since 1996 and a member of the CHS team since 2007. 

In her former role as CHS Controller, "Carrie demonstrated exemplary professionalism, an astute business sense, a knack for strategic thinking, a committed work ethic, excellent organization skills and a great attention to detail," said Deanna Steblyk, Chair of the CHS Board of Directors. "More importantly, she brings a true passion for the CHS mission to help as many animals as we can, a positive attitude and commitment to the well-being and success of her fellow staff." 

Carrie assumes the position from acting Executive Director Joe Coffin, who accepted the interim role in December 2013. 

READ THE NEWS RELEASE

It’s Ok to Look Away!

Barbara Walmer, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, KPA CTP, ACDBC
InfoStream Guest Author 

With the weather finally cooperating, people are increasing the amount of time they spend outside, and they aren’t doing it alone. Many people are now hitting the trails with their dogs either within the city or on day trips throughout the province and beyond. Increasing the amount of time we are on the go with our dogs means they have greater interaction with new dogs and people.

It is common for dogs, especially in new situations, to look about their new environment. However, it is important to recognize that while dogs can look around they don’t need to stare at other dogs or people. Looking away is an important calming signal that dogs use to diffuse conflict and confrontation. Staring directly at another dog or person, or sustaining direct eye contact, can lead to reactivity and is a situation we want to avoid. In order to address this we need to teach dogs that it’s ok to look and then look away.

You can start teaching the look behaviour by clicking your dog when he is looking at something that he is worried about or distracted by. The treat delivery is positioned back towards your body, allowing the dog to break eye contact and move their head back towards the handler. This can be repeated to allow your dog time to become comfortable with what they are unsure of, building a more pleasant association with the “scary dog or person.” 

The next step is to mark the dog for making the choice to turn their head away from the distraction. Rather than clicking the dog for looking at the dog or person wait until they make the choice to turn their head away from it, either towards you or the other direction, then click and treat. This way you are marking the dog’s decision to look away. Once the dog is looking at the distraction and looking away you can put the behaviour on cue, such as “Who’s There" or "Where’s the Puppy.” Long term, it is not necessary to click and treat every time they look at and away from something, rather click and treat them intermittently for it. As long as behaviour is reinforced it will continue.

Greening the Paw Print: Surfing the Tides of Change in the Pet Industry

In the urban animal industry, only one thing is certain: change. Technology, values and environment have evolved over the years and to remain successful and involved, organizations must also adapt. 

Patricia Cameron, executive director at Green Calgary, and former Executive Director at the Calgary Humane Society, understands the need to adapt and has the experience to help you get there. In her InfoStream Guest Author series, Patricia will evaluate the tools and thought processes necessary to strive in an ever-changing world.

“There is a tide in the affairs of men.Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.” – William Shakespeare

Back in 2001, the Ipsos-Reid study of Canadian pet ownership “Paws and Claws”  zeroed in on a pivotal change in the our relationship with pets:  the majority of pet owners saw their pet as a family member and treated them accordingly. 

Decades in the making, this historic shift has massive implications for pet owner behaviour, and by extension, for the pet industry.  Over the same time period  leading to this pivotal change, there was a rising concern about the interconnected issues of environmental well-being and personal/family health.   This concern continues to rise and to shape consumer choices.

Coupled together, perceptions of pets as family members and environmental concerns have created a “tide in the affairs of men” that is creating change  in all sectors of the pet industry.  

Change is always a two-edged phenomenon, with some loss and some gain.   The key question a business owner needs to answer is “How can I minimize losses and maximize gains?”   

I hope in these blog postings to help you ponder and formulate your own answers to  this  question, and surf the tides of change.   But heads-up – as former successful entrepreneur, former CEO of an animal welfare organization, and current CEO of a leading urban environmental charity,  I am not going to sugar-coat my perceptions.  There is too much at stake: the health and well-being not only of our businesses, but of our pets and other family members, of our communities, and of our planet.  These are all tied to what we produce and what we and our pets consume. So here goes.

Most of us are familiar with the SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.  Analyzing the pet “space” through SWOT offers a number of actionable insights and I am going to start the series on a positive note with Strengths.   

• COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE: Many pet retailers have done a great job of creating a friendly, pet-positive client experience. Like coffee merchants Starbucks or West Jet, savvy pet retailers and service providers create business environments  that offer up not only purchasing opportunities, but an entire consumer experience: for example, with bins of tasty treats, warm earth toned walls, flooring and fixtures, engaging toys, their own “in-house” pets, imagery of happy families and pets, friendly and caring staff.  The best of these environments foster comfort, pleasure, and trust, precious qualities for business sustainability.  It is amazing what tuning into the esthetics of your business can do to engage your community and have them coming back for more.
• COMMUNITY EMPATHY: Connection with the local community.   Impersonal national or international companies are less and less appealing to the high-income, well-informed consumer.   Savvy businesses in all sectors ensure they are visibly active in investing in and supporting the communities in which they operate.  Pet industry players have done so by hosting adopt-a-thons or on-site adoptions with local animal welfare groups.  Funding spay-neuter efforts is another positive step. The winning combination is partnering with a highly professional local group on a high visibility/ high impact initiative that engages both the community’s interest and heart.  With emphasis on the heart.   There is an art to engaging with non-profit partners, and some players in the pet industry have mastered this art.  
• COMMUNITY EDUCATION:  Pet industry organizations have a wealth of information to share with consumers. Best-of-breeder education efforts focus on meeting pet owners where and how they are rather than on how the pet owner “should” be.   Their materials are illustrated with compelling imagery of pets and people, content that is written in plain language, and offer actionable advice pet owners can put to immediate use.   Becoming a trusted source of information and guidance is a huge strength to those that achieve it because the pet world is awash in competing views, ideology, fear, and misinformation.  The formula for success is as follows:  Education that is simple and clear, actionable, absolutely trust-worthy, focused on the pet owner’s needs and interests, and are either compelling or FUN or both.

There is a flip-side to all three of these areas of potential strength: stores or offices that are cold, ugly, and unpleasant;  businesses that do nothing to “give back” to the community, or whose community is unaware of the great work they do; education efforts focused on an ideological agenda, selling products, full of inaccuracies or opinion portrayed as fact, or are text-heavy, boring, or difficult to understand.

What strengths does your business exhibit in these three areas?  What could you do to build on these areas of potential strength?