Sabastion - Pet of the Month - April 2013

Sabastion's name is a little bit different, kind of like him.  He is a sweet Westie dog who has found a perfect companion in Bob.  Their story begins in 2007.  Sabastion was born in April. The breeder was unable to sell him and so for 6 months, he lived in a cage and had no training.  A couple adopted him, but found out that he had to be in his kennel all the time because of his behavior issues.  At the same time, Bob had some difficult times he was going through, and in the middle of it, his Sheltie died.  In a chance event, Bob went to this couple's house to help plan a benefit for a mutual friend.  They met every week for six weeks, and Bob fell in love with Sabastion on the spot.  He would bring a treat for him each night and whisper to him as he left "I would take you home in a heartbeat if I could..."  As the six weeks drew to a close, Bob was sad to know that he wouldn't get to see Sabastion any more.  As he gave him his treat and whispered to him, the couple told Bob he needed to take him home.  Sabastion was depressed as soon as he left.  He needed Bob as much as Bob needed him.   After only a couple accidents at Bob's place, Sabastion caught on and will do whatever Bob says.  Sabastion goes with Bob everywhere - they love to go fishing on his boat, go for walks, and to the dog park.   Sabastion isn't Bob's dog, he is his child!  They are a perfect match!

Pet of the Month - Lexi Grendler - March 2013

Lexi is an American Cocker Spaniel, who was born in Idaho to parents who were both great bird hunting dogs. She was adopted by Frank and Peggy and has spent the majority of her 7 1/2 years here in Iowa. She is an exceptional hunting dog, and goes pheasant hunting with Frank about twenty times a year in Iowa and South Dakota. She was selected to participate as the only American Cocker Spaniel in the recent Pheasants Forever parade this past month in Minneapolis. As brilliant as she is as a hunting dog, she is even sweeter as a pet. She is smart, loving and a little spoiled - she loves kids and Halloween is one of her favorite days. She is thrilled to see all the kids as they trick or treat at their door. She found her perfect forever home.

Pet of the Month - February 2013 - Max and Des Luzaich

Once upon a time, there were two cats named Desiree and Homer, who lived at the Cedar Bend Humane Society and who desperately wanted a home. Michelle stopped by to visit one day, and she has always wanted a cat, but thought she had allergies. She immediately fell in love with Desiree, and told her husband, Jon, that he needed to meet this special cat. In July 2010 Jon and Michelle went to visit. They sat down in the cat room and Desiree (Des) jumped on Michelle’s lap. Homer decided he wanted to be a part of this action and he jumped up and nudged Des out of the way. Homer didn’t respond to his name, but as soon as they said Max, he looked at them. They both are sweet cats with easy dispositions and no fighting between them. The staff at CBHS encouraged them to take both cats home to keep each other company during the day. They have been an amazing addition to Jon and Michelle’s home. The wrestle, play and snuggle together and are so lucky to have found their forever home and are living happily ever after!

 

Pet of the Month - Chester Ketter

Chester is a hero, plain and simple. As soon as he was adopted into Allison's home, he saved her life. Allison first met him as a stray on the streets, he was smelly and hungry. No one claimed him and 10 days later, he was adopted into his forever home with Allison.

Chester had this odd habit of trying to bite Allison's chest - for no reason. In early May of 2007, Allison was laying down and Chester came over and took his paw and hit her chest really hard. This time it really hurt. Allison noticed a lump and thought it was from the hit - but it didn't go away. She knew right away that it would be breast cancer. That is how Chester saved Allison's life - she has now been cancer free for 5 years, and Chester has no need to bite or hit her anymore. He is a crucial part of Allison's critter family, and will forever be known as a hero.

Pet of the Month - December 2012 - Tank Nelson

Meet Tank! Tank is a Black Lab/Rottweiler mix who is 10 years old. When Tim picked him out, he noticed the size of his paws and knew that Tank would be a good name for him!

Tank loves to take walks, go for rides in the car or truck, people and dog watch from the window, be social and get attention from people.

Tank's parents, Tim and Stephanie started to notice some problems with Tank's mobility in the spring of 2011, but attributed it to his age or the medication he was on. Then it got really bad - he couldn't make it up much of an incline, stairs, small hill in their yard, etc. They took him to the vet in the summer of 2011 for his yearly checkup and he weighed 170 pounds! It was time for them to make a few changes! He had gradually gained weight because of treats, not measuring food and occasional people food. Tim and Stephanie did the hard work of measuring food, limiting the amount of unhealthy treats and instead gave him mostly carrots which took him a while to get used to, and cutting out all people food. They brought Tank in for monthly visits to the vet to get weighed and each time Tank had lost a lot of weight and he started getting around a lot better!  Tank currently is down to 103 pounds!  He is able to do more of the things he loves to do. 

Tank Before

Tank After Weight loss

Pet of the Month - November 2012 - Mason Stuber

Mason is also known as the miracle cat.  He was up for adoption at Cedar Bend Humane Society, and when Dave walked in, Mason picked him.  Darla visited next and Mason's fate was sealed.  He found his forever home with them.  While he was just a kitten, they noticed that he was wheezing and panting when he would play.  They brought him in to the vet and he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) which means that the ventricles in his heart have thicker walls, which makes the heart have to work harder to pump blood.  He is now on twice daily medicines and lives life like a fairly normal 4 year old cat.  He lays in Darla's lap for his pills and takes them without a fuss.  He still plays some, but mostly wants to lay down in a pile of toys and be played with.  He does play with the other cats that share his home and he gets a lot of extra cuddling and love.  Many indoor cats who have HCM don't have warning signs and don't get the treatment they need.  It is the number one cause of spontaneous death in indoor cats.  Mason is an important part of Dave and Darla's home and they are thrilled that he has survived the odds.  

A Safe Halloween for Your Pets

As the anticipation of a fun-filled Halloween draws near, don't forget to keep an eye on your furry members.  Halloween can be a dangerous time for any pet.  The following are some tips to ensure a safe and happy holiday.

Minimize the amount of time your pet spends outside alone on the days preceding Halloween, the day of, and for a few days after.  This is especially important for black cats.  There are numerous accounts of malicious pranks involving animals that can result in injury or even death.

Do not share your Halloween "loot" with your pets.  Items such as candy wrappers and lollipop sticks can be harmful if ingested, and chocolate can be poisonous.  If your pet does eat something inappropriate call your veterinarian to determine what should be done.  

Keep Jack-O-Lanterns with lit candles at a safe distance from pets.  Curiosity or a wagging tail could easily cause a pumpkin to get knocked over and potentially start a fire.  A lit candle could also singe an animal's fur or cause serious burns.

Many people love to dress-up their pets, but your pet may not feel the same way.  Some animals love the attention, but others are already nervous with the Halloween festivities, and a costume only exacerbates the situation.  Even the nicest animal can become aggressive if his/her breathing, vision and movements are restricted.  If you decide to dress-up your pet, choose an appropriate costume, and avoid using hair gels or paints as they can cause health problems if licked off and swallowed.  

Consider confining your pet to a separate room when trick-or-treaters start arriving.  Strange people in strange costumes can frighten animals and cause them to react in various ways.  Animals may feel the need to protect the house and its occupants and respond by barking or biting, or your pet may try to escape when the door is opened.  Make sure proper identification is on your pet's collar to make for a quick return in case your pet does escape.

There is no doubt about it, Halloween can be a stressful time for your pets.  As much as you would like to include them in your holiday activities, remember that pets don't understand what all the excitement is about.  Look at Halloween from a pet's point of view.  For more information on keeping your pets safe this Halloween, contact your family veterinarian.