The Mexico native said he crossed the border into the United States more than 20 years ago with just $100 and the desire to be the “greatest dog trainer in the world.” “When I was 21 years old, on December 23rd I went to my mom again, ‘Mom, I’m leaving,’” Millan, 48, shared on Monday’s episode of “Red Table Talk.” She wondered where he was going so close to the holiday and Millan responded, “I’m going to America … I have to go right now.” “So my dad saved $100, he gave it to me. He put it in my sock and that’s all I had,” the famed animal trainer shared. “I took a bus. It took, like, two days to get there.” Millan says things got scary when he finally reached the border and encountered people ready to take advantage of his desperation. He says there were people waiting to either kill him or sell him for organs. “Dead is more likely than jumping it,” he said of crossing the border. “It’s not a piece of cake. I’m respectful about it. I know I broke a boundary and a rule. But it was for a dream.” After being apprehended on more than one occasion, Millan finally crossed the border and by chance met a guy who would lend a helping hand. “The guy said to me, ‘I’ll charge you $100,’” Millan said. “That’s all I had. That’s a sign.” Millan said he trusted the man, who said he knew the path. The man was aware of all the potential obstacles, including when the border patrol changes. “Finally, we cross and we get to the gas station. The guy says, ‘I’m going to get you a taxi. And the taxi is going to get you to San Diego.’” By this point, Millan was out of money. Fortunately, the stranger gave Millan a break and paid the taxi driver $20, keeping the remaining $80 as payment. Once he arrived in Southern California, Millan immediately began searching for work. The reality-TV star says he found the Yellow Pages and called local kennels. “I knew that I had to start at the bottom and cleaning kennels is not a problem. Those are the jobs, we immigrants we get,” he said. But things didn’t last long at the bottom. He soon developed a dog-walking business in the Inglewood neighborhood of Los Angeles. He quickly developed a name for himself and the Los Angeles Times caught wind, which exploded his business. And in 2009, he became a US citizen. He also credits Jada Pinkett Smith, whom he’s known for 28 years, with helping him along his journey. He told her one day that he wanted to have his own television show, but that his English was limited. So, as a kind gesture, Pinkett Smith sent a tutor his way.
An Apopka golden retriever that became the face of Bush’s Baked Beans commercials died last week, the company confirmed Tuesday. His real name was Sam, and he was one of several dogs that portrayed the loyal companion in more than 20 years of Bush’s commercials. “The relationship between Jay and his beloved dog Duke is the embodiment of the BUSH’S brand,” the company wrote in a Facebook post. “While Sam has not worked with us in years, we are saddened by the news of his passing and are grateful to have had him depict Duke.” “We continue to be overwhelmed by fan interest and their love of Duke,” the post said. Meanwhile, a friend of the dog’s owner posted on Facebook that Sam had been battling an aggressive cancer and he had to be euthanized on Wednesday. “He was a very special dog to all who ever knew or had the pleasure of meeting him,” David Odom wrote. “He is and will be missed.”
With much of the country already sweating through the dog days of summer, a new company is offering four-legged friends a much-needed place to cool down. Air-conditioned houses for dogs are popping up outside of restaurants and stores across the country thanks to a company called DogSpot. “It’s just so hot,” said DogSpot founder Chelsea Brownridge. “That’s a reason we’ve been expanding in places like California, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.” DogSpot offers fully air-conditioned and ventilated mini-houses where dogs can stay while their owners eat a meal inside a restaurant or run a quick errand. The service for dogs operates similarly to the way Uber works for humans. Dog owners use an app to reserve a nearby house for their furry friend up to 15 minutes in advance. The owner can unlock the house via the app, and then also monitor their dog on the app through a webcam. The fee is 30 cents per minute or a $19.99 monthly membership. “The average stay is around 15 minutes,” said Brownridge. “Which is exactly what we designed it for, to be able to live an active life with your dog but allow the dog to be comfortable too." Brownridge created DogSpot after her experience living with her rescue dog, Winston, in Brooklyn. “He has a ton of energy so to get him out of the house on as many walks as possible was really important,” she said. “I started to realize how many times he couldn’t come with me outside because I’d just be going to a store or restaurant for a few minutes.” She added, “There are all these things you do every day in a walkable city like New York where dogs aren’t allowed to go inside." In cities not as walkable as New York, dogs may be left behind in cars by their owners. It takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car, even with its windows left slightly open, to reach 102 degrees on an 85-degree day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). On a 70-degree day, the inside of a car can be as much as 20 degrees higher, proving dangerous for dogs, notes the ASPCA. Some states and local governments have laws prohibiting leaving animals in cars in dangerous situations, like heat. Brownridge said she supports those laws amd wants to be "part of the solution." "We want to make [DogSpot] the safest, cleanest, best-monitored space to give pet parents the comfort of knowing their dog is safe," Brownridge added. Brownridge and her co-founder, Todd Schechter, said they worked to launch the company on nights and weekends while they both still had full-time jobs. They placed prototypes throughout Brooklyn and soon had a membership of around 1,000 dog owners. To address safety concerns, the DogSpot houses are only accessible to the owner of the dog currently using the house. There is also no anonymity, as DogSpot has each user's name, phone number, and credit card information on file. The houses self-clean after each use via UV lights and are manually cleaned each day. In the winter, the houses activate a heated floor. Two restaurants in Ferndale, Michigan, are among the first to use DogSpot houses as part of the company’s national expansion this month. “The vast majority of the response has been great,” said Shane Hudson, marketing manager for Kramer Restaurant Group, who brought DogSpot to two of the group’s restaurants last week. “It’s going to take a little while for people to start using them, but we’ve had quite a response.” “It reminds me of when Uber and Airbnb first arrived,” he added. “People’s first response is like, ‘What the heck are these things?’ but once people understand the technology and how it works, I do envision it will draw folks to our restaurants.” DogSpot's founders say they have received letters of invitation from officials in cities like Orlando, Florida, and Kansas City, Missouri as well. DogSpot plans to launch in Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., as well as Orlando and Kansas City. DogSpots will also be available in Chattanooga, Southhampton, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and Charleston, South Carolina this year. New features coming soon include the ability to play music for your dog inside the house and to talk to your pet if he or she needs comforting, DogSpot says.
A few weeks ago, Jen Walsh spent a day at the lake with her family. As always, her two-year-old Schnauzer, Hanz, went along with them. And, as always, the family and the dog played together happily. Jen would throw a stick or ball into the water, while Hanz would rush out, retrieve it and then bring it back. They repeated this over and over. Each time, Hanz came back ready for more; a bundle of energy and joy. After around an hour and a half, Hanz had been in and out of the lake more than twenty times to collect balls and sticks. He seemed content, but no one could have known the danger he was in. Just a short while later, Jen realised something was wrong with her dog. The last time he returned from the lake, he didn’t shake off the water as he usually did. Shortly afterwards, he slumped to the ground, looking “worn out”. With the dog’s condition deteriorating quickly, the family decided to rush him to the vet. On the journey he worsened further, and Jen knew they had to do something if they were to keep him alive. When Jennifer finally arrived at the vets, the dog was immediately hurried into care. Sadly, it was without success. The little Schnauzer had died. Only after he had passed, did Jen learn what had happened to her best friend: He had suffered from water intoxication, also known as hyponatraemia. Tragically, this kills thousands of dogs every year. It might not be very common, but it’s good to know what can happen and in what situations the risk is most extreme. The condition is brought on by excessive fluid intake, which causes the body to lose sodium. As a result, the body’s cells begin to fill with water and swell. If the cells in the brain swell, it can affect the central nervous system, which can be fatal. It’s important to remember that dogs can’t always determine when they need to stop drinking. This can occur when they’re playing in the ocean, a pool or drinking from a water hose. The first symptoms of water intoxication can be weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite or nausea and vomiting. Symptoms of water intoxication can include: Tiredness Confusion Excessive licking Loss of appetite Vomiting Bloated stomach Widened pupils and a glazed look In severe cases, difficulty breathing, cramps and loss of consciousness Smaller dogs that are high energy and love to play in the water are at higher risk, because they can absorb a lot of fluid in relation to their body size. It’s always important as an owner to keep an eye on your dog if they love playing in the water. Some dogs love to throw themselves into waves or completely submerge themselves, which puts them at added risk of taking in too much water. What to do if it occurs If you suspect your dog may be suffering from water intoxication, you should always contact a veterinarian directly. The Walsh family didn’t know that Hanz was in danger, and will certainly regret what happened forevermore. “This will never happen to us again, but I wish we had been warned of the possibility. It would have saved Hanz’ life. He was the best dog EVER,” Jen wrote on her Facebook page.
While there is no official record of the most commonly seen diseases that affect pet guinea pigs there is still a subjective opinion that is felt through the guinea pig community regarding common ailments of pet cavies. By knowing what is most commonly seen you can be better prepared to monitor for signs and symptoms that your guinea pig may be getting sick. Ileus Guinea pigs should always be eating and defecating. If you see your guinea pig hasn't touched his food and you are seeing less and fewer stools being passed your guinea pig may have ileus. Ileus is when gas builds up in the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines) and due to the lack of normal peristalsis and no food coming in it causes discomfort and the gas is unable to leave the body. This is actually a very life-threatening condition and your guinea pig should receive immediate medical attention to get the proper medications. Ileus can be caused secondarily by an underlying illness or stressor which in turn causes your guinea pig to stop eating. Things as simple as moving the cage, introducing a new guinea pig, an upper respiratory infection, and even ectoparasites like lice can stress your guinea pig out enough so that he doesn't eat and develops ileus. Ectoparasites If your guinea pig has hair loss and is itching or scratching he may have lice or mites. While the thought of having these things in your house, much less on the guinea pig you just played with, may make you itch all over they can be easy to avoid and treat. Lice, sarcoptic mange mites (scabies), and Demodex mange mites (Demodex) can all cause itching and hair loss. Lice and their eggs are usually seen in the bald patches behind your guinea pig's ears and the mites can be seen microscopically all over the body.
Guinea pigs can give these parasites to each other and can also get them from food and bedding. By freezing your food and bedding before introducing it into the cage you can kill off any potential parasites that may have been lurking in the packages. Uterine and Ovarian Diseases Spaying your female guinea pig is definitely recommended for more than just population control if she is housed with a male cavy. Females often develop uterine and ovarian issues including various cancers. Sometimes the uterus and ovaries can be removed even after the problem has been discovered but other times cancer has already spread to other parts of the body rendering it untreatable. A complete ovariohysterectomy can be performed by your exotics vet on your guinea pig at about six months of age to prevent uterine and ovarian diseases just as it would in a dog or cat. While some guinea pig owners are not able to justify the cost of the procedure others see the great benefit to having their guinea pigs longer and not having to pay for emergency treatment when they notice their pig is sick. Respiratory Diseases Guinea pigs are sensitive to cold air drafts and can easily develop an upper respiratory infection or worse yet, pneumonia. They can even get Bordatella bronchiseptica from your dog, cat, or pet rabbit. Simply keeping your cavies away from drafts will help decrease the likelihood of them getting a respiratory infection as well as washing your hands after handling other animals (guinea pigs at pet stores, your dog or cat if they are coughing or sneezing, and even your rabbit). Uroliths More commonly referred to as bladder stones, uroliths often form in the bladder of pet guinea pigs. They cause pain and discomfort and the urine is often bloody due to the irritation the stone causes. Stones are often found on radiographs being taken for a diagnosis of ileus and must be surgically removed. By keeping a close watch on your guinea pig by making sure is he eating and defecating, washing your hands before and after handling him, freezing his bedding and food before use, and keeping him away from drafts you can prevent the bulk of the most commonly seen guinea pig diseases. There are of course numerous other diseases that affect guinea pigs, therefore, an annual physical examination with your exotics vet is always recommended.
What is a pocket pet? Pocket pet is a term used to refer to a small pet mammal commonly kept as a household pet. The most common pocket pets are rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, degus, sugar gliders (a marsupial), fancy mice, fancy rats, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. Gary Riggs, DVM, spends most of his time working with exotic pets. So when it comes to advice on pocket pets—small animals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, chinchillas, and sugar gliders—he’s a good person to ask. Riggs is a veterinarian at three Ohio clinics, NorthCoast Bird and Exotic Specialty Hospital, Barberton Veterinary Clinic, and The Animal Clinic of Wadsworth. The most popular pocket pets are guinea pigs and smaller rodents, such as mice, rats, gerbils, and hamsters. Hedgehogs, chinchillas, and sugar gliders are also popular, Riggs says, though they require more specialized care and are illegal to own in some states and provinces, so check with your local government before attempting to bring one home. The bottom line for anyone thinking of getting a pocket pet is: Do your research first. Different animals require different care. Some questions to ask:
Do I have room for the animal’s cage?
What space and exercise needs does the animal have? Does she need to run or climb?
What does the animal eat? How specialized is his food?
When does the animal sleep? At night or during the day?
How much interaction does the animal like and need? Do I have enough time to spend with her?
How messy is the animal? How often am I going to have to clean up after him?
Because some pocket pets need to climb, they may require a larger or more complex cage with multiple levels, Riggs says. It also is important to remember that some pocket pets are comfortable being handled and are a good fit for owners who want to tote them around while others are not.
Knowing what your pocket pet eats is similarly important, Riggs says. Guinea pigs, for example, need Vitamin C supplements. Sugar gliders eat a variety of foods, including insects and produce. “It can be anywhere from a fairly simple diet with hay and pellets up to a very specialized diet,” Riggs says. As for the time question, some pocket pets tend to be messier and require more frequent cage cleanings. It is also important to be aware that, with some pocket pets, you may need to buy two. Guinea pigs often prefer to have another guinea pig in their cage, in which case you’ll want to avoid matching a male and female unless you want guinea pig babies! Spaying or neutering is an option for some pocket pets. Chinchillas, for example, need to be spayed or neutered, Riggs says. Guinea pigs are prone to reproductive tract problems, so they may need a hysterectomy. As for which pocket pets are going to keep you and your family up at night, chinchillas and hedgehogs are more nocturnal, Riggs says. Rats and guinea pigs are less so. Also ask yourself how long of a commitment you are willing to make. Rats live only a couple of years. Chinchillas can live up to 20 years, which is longer than most dogs. Veterinary care is another consideration. How often a pocket pet needs to see the vet varies by type of animal. According to Riggs, hamsters and guinea pigs often go to the vet two or three times per year. Others need only an annual exam. Guinea pigs and rats are more prone to dental problems, so they may require more frequent dental exams by a veterinarian. So what’s the easiest pocket pet to own in terms of maintenance? A rat, Riggs says. They like being handled, but their space needs aren’t as great, and it’s fairly simple to feed and clean up after them. Gerbils are also easy, Riggs says, especially if you don’t want to be as hands-on. “You can set them up with the wheels and tunnels,” he says. What is the highest maintenance pocket pet? A sugar glider, Riggs says, because it requires more time and space and has a more complex diet, not to mention it is illegal to own them in some states and provinces. So, do your research before bringing a pocket pet home, but once you do, enjoy your new family member. “They’re great pets,” Riggs says.
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There are different types of mushrooms that can have varied effects on pets such as, depression, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tearing, hallucinations, defecation, liver failure, seizures, drooling, urination, kidney failure, heart damage, hyperactivity and in some cases, death. Amanita phalloides is the most commonly reported severely toxic species of mushroom in the US but other Amanita species are toxic. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, mushrooms are a very complex group of fungi. Certain species of mushrooms, such as the types you find in the grocery store, are considered to be nontoxic, while other wild species can be very toxic. Some have been known to cause liver and kidney damage, while others result in severe gastrointestinal and even neurological effects. Because a toxic mushroom could be growing right alongside a nontoxic one, identifying what type the animal ingested can be tricky. Because of this, we advise that pet owners not allow their animals to ingest any wild mushrooms. And since we often cannot get a positive identification of the exact species involved, it is important to treat all wild mushroom ingestions very seriously.
Introduction to Pets in Divorce Proceedings When it comes to pets, the law is fairly clear on how pets are viewed – and that is pets are property. If you are a pet owner, it is more likely than not you view your pet as a member of the family, or even as a child. When a couple goes through a divorce, and pets are involved, it can be incredibly stressful and different laws will apply to the pets – even though the couple may consider the pet family. A small minority of states will consider the emotional attachment of pets during a divorce proceeding, but the majority of states will treat the pet as a piece of property. Like many issues in family court, it is better to settle outside of court so both parties can be involved with the decision making process. This will be especially true when deciding where the family pet will live. Pets in the Law Generally In the majority of states, pets are considered personal property.[i] During the divorce proceeding, there are a few ways of dividing up personal, or tangible, property but deciding how to divide the family dog is a little more difficult than deciding who is going to get the couch in the living room or the table in the dinning room. Despite this, the courts still consider dogs in this category. Often times in divorce proceedings, unless the property is incredibly valuable, parties go back and forth and chose items they want to keep.[ii] The parties do their best to keep things even, and divide each room of the house evenly in some way. When it comes to pets, especially families with one pet that is not an easy task. Even families that have two, or four pets, it is still difficult to determine where that pet will be going. For this reason, and many others, many animal rights activists have been fighting for the courts to recognize that pets should be treated differently than property, at least during a divorce or separation proceeding. To the majority of families with pets view their pets as part of the family, so deciding where the couch goes is inherently different than where the family dog will go. To read more on this story, click here:Pets in Divorce Proceedings
