Do Dog Owners Really Look Like Their Pets? Judge for Yourself

See photos of people and dogs who appeared on "Today" to test the doggie doppelganger theory.

When you and your dog start to look like each other, is that the sign of a close, healthy relationship? Or does it just mean that the two of you are spending way too much time together?

Whichever way you lean on the issue, it's clear that it happens. According to The Atlantic Magazine, there's even science behind it. In an article covering the phenomenon, Sarah Yager wrote this week that "Researchers around the world have repeatedly found that strangers can match photos of dogs with photos of their owners at a rate well above chance."

The Today show took the idea and turned science into something cute and charming by bringing five owners and their pets to New York to model their similarities for the nation. David Frei, who co-hosts the USA Network's broadcast of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, did the judging of which owner and pet looked most alike. You have to admire their moxie; while most people think that other people start to look like their pets, very few are willing to admit that they have started to share physical characteristics with their beloved Labradoodle. Even in dog-loving circles, telling someone that they look like their dog may very well be a faux pas.

So how true is the Doggie Doppleganger theory? The Today broadcast at least gives us a chance to do some casual testing. The website includes pictures of all five owner-dog pairings and gives you the chance to vote for the one that you think looks the most alike.

And then, there's the important questions: Do you think that you and your dog look alike? Do you think that you will, given time? And if so, is it something you'd admit in public?

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A Dog Owner’s Guide to Hiring a Nanny

My friend Sara works full-time from home. It allows her to spend more time with her children and husband. But she still needs help. So she got a nanny to come over on weekday mornings, and it’s been working great for the past six years. She also has two terriers. Her nanny gets along well with everyone, but it’s not always like that.

We dog owners think that everyone is as enamored of our dogs as we are. It’s one thing to enjoy a dog at the park; it’s another thing to spend every weekday with the dog, especially if you’ve never had a dog. So before you hire a nanny, here are some things to think about.

Not everyone likes dogs. Be up-front about the fact that you have dogs, and the kind of dogs you have. Don’t take it personally if some applicants are not interested in a position in a home with pets.Some people are allergic to dogs. Allergies can develop — or go away — with age, so if an applicant says she’s not allergic and then shows signs that she is, she may have an allergy she doesn’t know about. It’s a good idea to invite the applicant over to spend some time with your children and pets to find out if there are any allergies (as well as to see if everyone gets along).Not everyone who likes dogs knows how to care for them. If caring for your dog will be part of your nanny’s responsibilities, clarify that at the beginning. Training will be required, especially if the applicant has never owned a dog. Diligence on your part will help her to become comfortable with keeping the door closed, not leaving food on the kitchen counters, etc. She should go through the daily pet routine with you several times before being asked to do it herself.Be clear about responsibilities. If you’re advertising for a nanny, spell out which pet duties your nanny is expected to take care of, then honor the list. Review it periodically to assure that the list of pet duties hasn’t expanded over time from walking and feeding the dog to training it or cleaning up messes.

Check out this website for finding a nanny. They also have a good article for nannies whose employers have pets; it’s a good read.

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6 Big Mistakes Most Dog Owners Make

We all mean well (bless our hearts), but most of us make mistakes in the care, feeding and training of our dogs. Here are six common mistakes that we dog owners make. I know I was. Take a look and see if you are, too, and share your comments about these and other mistakes we fall into.

1. FEEDING TOO MANY CARBS

Left to their own devices, dogs would eat nothing but protein. Yet we modern dog owners give them acommercially produced diet of cereal kibble. It’s not natural, and dogs’ health statistics show it. Dogs are not omnivores; they’re carnivores. You can increase your dog’s protein intake by adding chicken, fish, pork or beef to his dinner. If you can’t stomach feeding raw meat to your dog (which is most like their natural diet), you can cook it. But either way, getting more protein into your dog will improve her health, increase digestibility and be more tasty. Your dog will love you for it!

2. LEAVING THE DOG ALONE WITH NOTHING TO DO

It’s irritating to come home to find the sofa torn open, or the cabinets chewed up, or a favorite pair of shoes shredded beyond recognition. But when we leave the dog home alone with no constructive outlet for his boredom and frustration, what do we expect? Dogs need something to keep them busy, especially when the house is quiet and empty. Tough chews, treat-dispensing toys and other “approved” toys and treats can help. Try freezing a rope bone, or filling a marrow bone with peanut butter. Or fill a treat-dispensing toy with carrots or small treats.

It doesn’t have to be your dog in the picture. The point of the picture is to help someone get your dog to safety.

3. USING A BAD PICTURE IN A “LOST DOG” POSTER

Heaven forbid you ever lose your dogs. Doesn’t it break your heart when you see those “Lost Dog” flyers stapled to telephone poles around your neighborhood? What breaks my heart even more are the bad snapshots shown on the posters.

That picture you took with your phone of your dog sitting at your feet, in the house, at night, is not going to help your neighbors to recognize your dog when he’s loose. The dog will probably be spotted running from yard to yard, or along a roadway. So use a picture that shows your dog’s entire body, preferably running or walking, as seen from the side. HINT: The best photo might be a stock photo of a dog of the same breed who’s walking or running. Only you will know it’s not the same dog. To everyone else, it might mean the difference between recognizing your dog or not.

4. USING HO-HUM TREATS (THAT ARE TOO BIG) FOR TRAINING

Training treats are different from cookies or biscuits. A training treat should be a great smelling treat that your dog will do ANYTHING for. Examples include small bits of red meat, cheese, cubed hot dogs or vienna sausages. Training treats should also be small, so that the dog can eat them in one gulp, and not fill up after 5 minutes of training. When a dog has to stop and chew up a treat — or clean up pieces of it off the floor — your timing is thrown off. Experiment with different treats. Some dogs love cubed carrots. Others will do anything for a mini marshmallow.

5. SHARING MEDS

Some human medicines can be used to help dogs, but some are toxic to dogs. The most common cause of pet poisoning is non-steroidal anit-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Other medications can cause problems or be poisonous to dogs, too. Learn about them and keep a list in your medicine cabinet, or ask your veterinarian what to give.

6. NOT PROTECTING OUR DOGS

The dog park isn’t for everyone, or every dog. Some dogs are very sociable and LOVE the dog park. Others are fearful, anxious and completely miserable there. We make the mistake of thinking that because there are other dogs there, plus room to run, that our dog should and does love to go. But watch your dog’s reactions to other dogs. If he cowers, runs to you for protection, or spends most of the time hiding under the bench, it may be that he really doesn’t like it there. Another area where we should protect our dogs is when we’re on a walk and a person or dog approaches. We should definitely be confident and relaxed, but we should consider if an approaching dog is friendly before allowing it to get within contact range of ours.

If your dog is being harassed by other dogs – either on leash or at the dog park – remove your dog to a safer area. If your dog thinks that you will not protect her, it will impact the trust she feels for you. Not only that, she may assume a leadership role over you if the thinks that you are not a leader who cares for and protects the pack.

Fortunately, dogs are very forgiving, and there are few mistakes that we cannot make right. Give your dog a hug today and share your comments on the subject below.

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Now Here's an Idea: A Spanish Town Mails Dog Poop Back to Dog Owners

Officials in Brunete say there's 70 percent less poop left on the streets by scofflaws.

A small town near Madrid, Spain, has an innovative, really weird way to deal with people who don't pick up after their dogs: Delivering the poop back to the owners. 

It's no joke. In February, Brunete, a small town on the outskirts of Madrid with 10,100 inhabitants, recruited 20 volunteers to patrol the streets, looking for people who let their dogs poop and then walked blithely away, unconcerned with the fate of the pile. 

Then, the volunteers would strike, employing a two-pronged attack. First, they'd approach the offenders and casually strike up a conversation with them, probing for information. 

"They’d ask them what the dog’s name and pedigree was. With that information they could find out the address of the pooch’s owner from a registered pet database we have," Brunete’s town hall spokesperson told The Local.

Then, the volunteers would circle back, collect the poop, box it, and deliver it to the homes of the offenders. A cameraman would tag along to record people receiving their dog's poop in a box, along with a "fine warning." 

Did it work? You bet. The town estimates the amount of poop left on the streets has been reduced by 70 percent. Of course, recording poop on the street is not an exact science.  

"We didn’t have volunteers tallying up the poo before and after the campaign; our results are based on what neighbors have told us," the town hall spokesperson said. "We're not sure either whether the volume of poo has gone down because they're more afraid of getting their dogs' excrement delivered back to them than of being fined."

It's a very weird thing to do, to be sure, but it's only slightly more weird than the town's first idea, which was this: It drove small, remote-controlled pieces of plastic poop around, accosting people enjoying their day. Some contained the message: "Don’t leave me, pick me up!"

Here's a video of both techniques in action:

Here's to you, Brunete. 

Via The Local

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Dogs & Home Owners Insurance Concers

We all complacently look the other way when they instituted breed bans on Pitbulls because it wasnt our breed… but guess what, it is!  Although Pittbull BSL has been repealed here in Ohio, insurance companies didn’t repeal their position on “dangerous dogs”.  A disturbing new trend is starting to arise in the insurance world.  As the insurance industry gains more and more power they are turning on their insureds for the sake of a buck.  What we need to remember is they do not have their customers’ best interests at heart and are in the business of making money, period.

Dogs have become a very sticky subject with Insurance Carriers for the simple fact that there have been increased dog injury claims within the past 5 years.  While most standard homeowners and renters insurance policies cover liability for dog bites, up to the policy limits.  Even if you have a dog with no bite history it may be considered to be within one of the aggressive dog breeds the majority of insurance companies  will decline to write your home owners policy or cancel you when they find out you have a dog that falls in that category. The following dogs are considered aggressive: Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Presa Canerio,  Doberman Pinscher, Chow Chow, Great Dane, St. Bernard, and Akita. The few companies that will write your home owners policy will most likely exclude the dog and offer no coverage for dog injuries to others.

Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky are “strict liability” states (there are 30 total plus the District of Columbia) meaning a dog owner, harborer or keeper liable for an injury to a person or the property of a person, including a person’s dog. 

An umbrella policy is an affordable alternative for providing liability coverage that a regular homeowners policy does not cover.  It also extends the maximum payable coverage for dog bites up to a million dollars.  While shopping for insurance make sure you ask if the carrier you are considering affords:

Protection for your Saint Bernards?Are all canine-inflicted injuries covered?What are the umbrella policy’s deductibles?

You many have to make a few calls to the companies themselves because the agent may not know.

I worked as an insurance claims adjuster for many years.  I have first hand knowledge of how unscrupulous the insurance industry is and how they handle dogs in the underwriting department.  When you get your homeowners policy documentation, READ the fine print!

We encourage dog owners to do their homework and look for agents that represent these companies for renters and home owner policies. Know of others? Please share your favorite insurance resources.

State FarmFarmers InsuranceUnited Services Automobile AssociationChubb GroupAmicaAuto-Owners Insurance

DogBite Law

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Dog Waits by Home for Owners to Return -- for Three Years

Chen the Chow was abandoned, but he wouldn't believe it. Now, he has the home he deserves.

Three years ago, Chen the Chow's owners abandoned their house in Atlanta. They abandoned Chen the Chow, too, but he didn't know it -- or he refused to believe it. Since then, he's been living outside the empty home awaiting their return, according to 11alive.com. 

"He was waiting and waiting for his people to come home," Lisa Renstrom of Chap's Chow Rescue said. "He absolutely would not leave that house. The people on either side would throw rocks and try to chase him away. He would not leave." 

Neighbors saw the dog every day outside the Gwinnett County home, and they didn't like it. He slept in the carport. He wandered the yard. He scavenged for food in a nearby Kroger grocery store through the woods, but he always came back to the house. He would not leave. 

Finally, one of the neighbors told Renstrom about the dog, and she took action. Over a period of weeks, she gained the trust of the dog by offering food. Then she took him into her care at Chap's Chow Rescue and set about finding him a forever home. 

It didn't take long. Ben Rupp of Ohio had been scouring sites looking for a new dog. He had just lost his own Chow of 13 years, named Goldie. Ben believes the dogs looked similar, and he felt a connection. He immediately booked a private plane and flew to Georgia. 

"His features are very similar to my old dog," Rupp said. "The pictures and the story, it all came together."

It came together for Renstrom, too. Although she had grown fond of Chen, she said goodbye to him on the tarmac. The loyal, faithful dog, who spent three years alone waiting for his owners to return, who refused to believe he had been abandoned, now has the home and the owner he deserves. 

Via 11alive.com. 

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German Shepherd Stands Watch Over His Owner's Grave -- For Six Years

In Argentina, a dog named Capitan remains his human's best friend, eternally.

A German Shepherd from the Cordoba province of Argentina is setting a new bar for eternal loyalty -- he's kept vigil at his owner's grave every day, lying down in front of the tombstone at night. The dog, named Capitan, keeps a steady watch, never veering far from his duty as man's best friend. 

He's done it for six years.  

“During the day he sometimes has a walk around the cemetery, but always rushes back to the grave,” said Hector Baccega, the cemetery’s director, according to CBS Seattle. “And every day, at [6 p.m.] sharp, he lies down on top of the grave and stays there all night.”

But there's more to this story about a dog who doesn't understand the point, or the need, of saying goodbye. To be sure, Capitan displays an impressive ability by standing guard over his owner. But he displayed an otherworldly one in simply finding the grave in the first place, because nobody took him there. 

Reportedly, his owner, Miguel Guzmán, passed away in a hospital and was taken to a funeral home and then to the cemetery. None of the family members recalls the dog being present at any of those sad places. In fact, nobody even noticed that the dog had disappeared from the home after Guzmán's funeral. 

“The following Sunday we went to the cemetery,” said Guzman’s wife, Veronica, according to CBS Seattle. “Capitan came up to us, barking and wailing, as if he were crying.” 

“We had never taken him to the cemetery, so it is a mystery how he managed to find the place,” she said. 

The dog followed the family home that day but quickly returned to stand watch. Baccega, the cemetery’s director, said the dog had arrived alone one day and wandered around the grounds for a while before finding the grave by himself. 

And there he sat with his master. 

“I’ve tried to bring Capitan home several times, but he always comes straight back to the cemetery,” said Damian, Guzman’s 13-year-old son. “I think he’s going to be there until he dies, too. He’s looking after my dad.”

Via CBS Seattle

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Justice at Last: Owners of Dog Shot by Deputy Awarded $620,000 by Jury

The friendly chocolate Lab bounded happily towards the cop, who in turn pulled out his gun and blasted a hole through her shoulder.

Justice, and then some! At Dogster, we've been writing about too many cops shooting too many sweet and truly innocent dogs over the last couple of years. We rarely hear about any repercussions other than maybe a wrist slap for good show.

So imagine our surprise when we heard that a Frederick County, Maryland, jury awarded a couple $620,000 in damages for the shooting of their affable chocolate Lab, Brandi.

Brandi was only trying to be friendly when the deputy shot her. She may lose her leg because of the wound. (Image from YouTube video)

The incident occurred in late 2010, when Brandi came bounding around the house to say howdy to sheriff's deputy Timonty Brooks. I sincerely doubt you've ever seen a dog who looked quite as affable. (I watched the dashcam footage, and there's no way Brandi should have been considered a threat. I'm not embedding it in this post because it might be disturbing. But here's a link to the Washington Post piece that contains the video, should you want to go there.)

Brooks and his partner had been serving a civil warrant on the son of Roger and Sandra Jenkins. The dogs were barking, and Roger Jenkins told the officers that he'd go put them away. Apparently Brooks somehow took that as a sign that they were aggressive, so when Brandi came out to greet him, he shot first, asked questions later.

The bullet struck Brandi in the area where the front leg connects to the shoulder. She went limping away, tail still almost wagging, looking kind of stunned about what just happened.

"It was very terrifying, because it was like one of your kids being shot," said Sandra Jenkins.

Brandi is 9 now, and never recovered physically from the incident. Her leg is badly damaged, and the Jenkins say it will likely be amputated in coming months.  

Brooks, who "felt bad about the shooting since Day 1," according to the sheriff's department, was clearly way too trigger happy. If you watch the dashcam video, it's lucky he didn't also blast the couple's lumbering St. Bernard as well. In the footage, Sandra Jenkins runs after that dog, trying to get him away from Brooks.

The department has subsequently undergone training regarding dealing with dogs.

The dashcam video is likely behind the large award - $20,000 more than the Jenkins were seeking. You can see a snippet of the video on this WJLA report. (You won't see Brandi getting shot.)

Maybe this award will help trigger-happy law enforcement officers think twice before reaching for their guns when faced with something like a wagging Labrador retriever - or any dog who is not a clear threat. What do you guys think?

Sources: Washington Post, WJLA-TV

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An Interesting Idea in Chicago: Licensing Owners, Not Dogs

Er, I hope humans won't actually have to wear the license tags.

Respected dog writer Steve Dale reports in Chicago Now that a Chicago alderman has proposed licensing dog owners instead of dogs.

“To their credit, the  Chicago Aldermen seem to understand that one breed (or combination of breeds — such as Pit Bull-looking dogs — whatever that means) aren’t the issue — it’s irresponsible and reckless dog owners who are the problem.”

There’s been no discussion to his knowledge of how this change would happen, or what it would entail, but one idea behind it seems to be that owners would know up front that they’re accountable for their dogs’ actions and well-being. It’s a no-brainer to most dog lovers, but definitely not to all.

The aldermen say they know how important it is to keep the fees affordable, so money should not be any more of an issue than it is with licensing dogs.

Dale thinks the idea is brilliant, in part because the city has a better chance of enforcing the licensing. In most communities, the majority of dogs are not licensed. People are generally easier to keep track of than their pets, so the annual fees may be easier to collect when they’re directed toward humans. But would those who don’t pay now really pay if the law changes? Could there be a sliding scale for those who truly can’t afford any more expenses? And would the people who don’t care about their dogs’ actions really be changed by this?

It’s an interesting idea, for sure. I can see arguments on both sides, but I’m going to let you chime in on this. What are the pros and cons, and if you were to be part of the committee that decides what will go into this change in law, what would you want to see included? Mandatory education? Passing a test, as you would for driving a car or hunting? Is that too heavy-handed of the government, or should it have happened long ago? Can’t wait to see how you weigh in on this, Dogsters!

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China City Bans Dogs, Forces Owners to Part with Best Friends

Photos from an earlier "culling" of dogs in China. Here a woman begs "animal cops" to spare her beloved dog in Beijing in 2006, before the Olympics. (Photos: Reuters, via sirius.2kat.net)

Dogsters, how would you like it if your city or town found dogs to be too dirty and too much of a health hazard, and forced you to give up your dog?

Sure, your city has set up a 13-acre center in a rural area where you can leave your dog off forever in hopes he will be one day adopted by a rural family – if the government can get that program off the ground. Oh, and if your dog isn’t so healthy? Don’t worry about the government going broke on veterinary care. Your dog will be killed.

This is the situation facing thousands of dog owners in Jiangmen, a port city of nearly four million people in Guangdong province of China. According to the China Daily, between August 10 and 25 dog owners must “resettle” their dogs. Starting August 26, a “cleanup” campaign will confiscate any remaining dogs.

“We do not want to kill all the dogs in the city’s urban areas, but we want to create a better environment for the city by banning dogs,” a government spokesman said in the China Daily.

Realizing she won't win, she gives her beloved dog one final embrace

Despite so many people in China adopting a Western attitude toward dogs and keeping them as companions, this is still a country where dogs are looked upon by many as meat, especially southern China. Last month 15,000 dogs were slaughtered for a food festival in this area.

In addition, Maoist propaganda stating that dogs were trained by Westerners to attack Chinese have made many older Chinese fearful of dogs. Some cities, including Shanghai, have implemented a one-dog policy to limit the number of paws in public. And rabies has been on the increase, creating even more fear.

So the setting is ripe for a situation that will rip dogs and owners apart in the Guangdong province.

A tragic situation too many people in China have faced and will continue to face

I feel so sorry for the dog lovers of Jiangmen. How about you, Dogsters? As I asked earlier, what if this happened in your own town? What would you do? To what lengths would you go to keep your dog at your side?

If it were to happen here in San Francisco (one of the most dog-friendly cities in the world, so not likely), I would take my dog away somewhere and get out of the murderous clutches of the local government. If that meant giving up my work and uprooting the family, I would do that before giving up Jake to the authorities. But it’s probably not so “easy” to do this in China.

(Sources: The Telegraph, CRIEnglish.com)

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Dogs Dying in Japan’s “No-Go” Zone; Frantic Owners Unable to Help

A dog waits helplessly in the no-go zone, where people can't get in to save their pets (Image from Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support video below)

The 20-km exclusion zone near the Fukushima nuclear power plant has been off limits to most people for more than two weeks now. Before that, many living at evacuation centers (where pets are not allowed) were going back and tending to their dogs and other pets frequently, and rescue groups were doing what they could. But according to reports, the zone was cut off with little to no warning on April 22, leaving loved pets to fend for themselves and their heartbroken people unable to help.

“At evacuation centers, there are many people who were told the same way and could not even prepare for evacuation, nor could they take their pets with them to evacuate. Those people are so worried about their pets living without them, their heartache is so severe that they can’t sleep for nights; they can’t even eat [and] many of them are emaciated. Please help those of us who are worried about our animals and our pets,” Fukushima resident Meiko Yoshida said in an SOS video plea to the Japanese government.

According to Japan Animal Earthquake Rescue and Support (JEARS), there are 5,000 to 10,000 domestic animals in the exclusion zone. They’re alone, scared, and hungry. Many have already died. This video tells the tragic story.

You can let your voice be heard to try to change this heartbreaking situation. JEARS has a helpful web page that offers several options.

Even though people are  banned from entering to look for pets, feed them, or rescue them, some brave souls have been trying to help. The newly released video below was taken by a small, intrepid rescue team that recently sneaked into the no-go zone, hoping to rescue a few dogs, and feed others they couldn’t take back with them.

It’s worth watching to see the current state of affairs. These are very kind people, taking risks with their own health, talking to dogs, doing what they can. One scene ends with a man telling stranded dogs: “Everyone, stay strong… We’ll come back again.”

Warning: There is a disturbing and graphic scene from about 4:00-6:00 on the video below. Avoid it if you are sensitive. The rest of the video is sad enough. (Note: The distracting text in the middle of the video does eventually go away, as does the beeping of the Geiger counter.)

Update 5/10: Great news! People are going to be able to start rescuing their pets as of today! The pressure of JEARS and all its supporters seems to have done the trick. Read more about this heartening turn of events on our new Dogster post.

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Cats who refuse to be pilled may take emotional toll on owners

When it comes to giving pills to pets, dog owners tend to have it easier. Put the pill in a little bit of peanut butter or cheese and most dogs will think they’re getting a treat and won’t argue with the owner.

When it comes to cats, it’s usually not quite that simple. Rumor has it there are some cats who will allow their owners to pill them easily, but if my personal experience and that with veterinary clients is any indication, they’re few and far between.

There are several options for pilling a cat, from quickly shoving the pill deep into the cat’s mouth to using a pill gun to pill pockets to crushing up the pill and mixing it with a small amount of food (caution: the latter may not be appropriate for all types of medication, check with your veterinarian to be sure).

Many medications are also available in liquid form, which may make dosing easier for some cat owners. Some can even be compounded into tuna or chicken flavored liquids. Another option may be transdermal delivery: the medication is compounded into a cream that is rubbed on the inside of the cat’s ear.

And of course, there’s always the ever popular kitty burrito method (although I’m sure cats would disagree about its popularity).

In theory, all of these sound great. But there are some cats who simply won’t cooperate. And unless you’ve had one of these cats, you may not understand the emotional toll this can take on the owner.

I recently talked to a friend whose 16-year-old cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and needs to take medication twice a day to regulate thyroid function. She can’t pill the cat, he won’t take pill pockets, and he refuses to take the liquid form of the medication in his food. She tried the transdermal version, to no avail. She kept trying, for several weeks. At this point, the cat runs from her whenever he sees her coming. He no longer sleeps on the bed with her, or sits next to her when she reads or watches tv. The bond between the two of them is completely broken. My friend is stressed and upset, and so is her cat.

The cat is not a candidate for radioactive iodine treatment, nor is he a good candidate for surgery. The medication is the only viable option to control his disease. My friend is at the end of her rope: she feels like she’s killing her cat because she can’t medicate him, and most of the time she feels like she doesn’t even have a cat anymore since he wants nothing to do with her.

I told my friend that she has another choice. Making a treatment decision can also mean choosing not to treat. She can choose to stop giving her cat the medication, and restore the relationship with her cat. She will need to understand what will happen physiologically to a hyperthyroid cat with no treatment. She will need to accept that this will most likely shorten her cat’s life. She will need to monitor her cat closely for even subtle changes, and she will probably eventually need to be ready to make the euthanasia decision.

She’s afraid to tell her vet that she wants to stop treatment. Understandably, this may not be a popular decision with some vets. Vets are trained to heal and cure. But most vets also understand that they’re not just treating their patient, they’re treating the bond between patient and owner. And when treatment interferes with the bond to the extent it did for my friend, shouldn’t they discuss this alternative with their clients?

I had to make this choice with Buckley, and I was fortunate that I had my vet’s complete support when I decided to stop treating her restrictive cardiomyopathy. She was on multiple cardiac meds, and for several months, she happily took them with pill pockets. Once she started to refuse the pill pockets, the only way I could have gotten the meds into her was through force.

Buckley was the kind of cat who, at a mere seven pounds, needed multiple veterinary assistants to restrain her to get anything done. I don’t think she ever had an exam that didn’t require at least mild sedation. There was no way I could have pilled her, nor would I have wanted to put a cat with heart disease through the twice daily stress of it. I also knew that she would come to dread contact with me, and I knew I couldn’t have handled that.

I made the choice to stop her heart medications knowing full well that it would shorten her already much too short life even further. But I also knew it was the right decision for her, and for me. She lived for another month after I stopped her meds, and except for the last few days of her life, her quality of life was good.  If anything, our bond became deeper, knowing that our time together was limited.

If my friend chooses to stop treatment for her cat, she will most likely shorten her cat’s life, too. But what she will gain, in my opinion, far outweighs what she will loose. She will get the loving relationship with her cat back.

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‘Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual’ popped out a little early … so go buy now!

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Dr. Becker on ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ with help for allergic pet owners

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Video: Dog Avoids Snow by “Walking” on Owner’s Shoulders

What an endearing duo and smart dog! The music, Maurice Jarre’s wonderful Lara’s Theme, leads me to believe that this might be somewhere in Russia. The description, “Lija poodle like walk through the park, but … she doesn’t like coldplay and wet feets,” also gives way to the idea that this is probably not from an English-speaking country.

I only hope Lija gets off her man’s shoulders when it comes time for dog business.

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Swiss Dogs to Die if Owners Don’t Pay Taxes

André and Margrith Fankhauser are Swiss breeders who agree with the village's decision to kill dogs whose owners don't pay their doggy taxes. "When you do not pay the tax on the vehicles, you are withdrawn the plates," says Andre. (Photo: Laurent Crottet, Le Matin)

No, the headline above is not from Medieval times. It’s happening right now in the village of Reconvilier, Switzerland. The message from local official Pierre-Alain Nemitz and other village officials: Pay up our dog’s annual taxes, or the dog dies.

The village, with 2,245 people and 280 dogs, charges a $50 yearly tax for dogs. Nemitz cites a law from 1904 that permits Reconveilier to kill dogs if owners don’t pay the tax, according to an AP story. Of course, Nemitz says, other less permanent measures would be taken first, including setting up a payment plan. But if it comes down to it, the dog of the tax delinquent could be history, says Nemitz.

“I understand affection reach to a dog, but our town is poor and the rules are the same for all,” he said in an article in Le Matin.

“A lethal injection is sentimentality,” Némitz said in an earlier article in Le Matin, when discussing a problem the village had with dogs 30 years ago. “We took them to a knacker’s yard, shot them in the head, and it was done…Euthanasia is for humans, and in our era, we’re not going to dilute the truth.”

As you can imagine, he and his family have received plenty of threats since his proposal. But not all local dog owners there are infuriated by the tax-collecting plan. “When you do not pay the tax on the vehicles, you are withdrawn the plates,” dog owner and breeder André Fankhauser said in Le Matin. Apparently a vehicle’s plates are equal to a dog’s life in this breeder’s eyes.

I probably don’t have to ask you what you think, Dogsters, but I will anyway. What’s your opinion of the tax man being the doggy grim reaper? What would you do if this happened where you live?

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