TikiChat

Driving Tips from Matti

2011-08-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

2011-03-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

People have asked how they can help the people and animals in Japan that have recently suffered from a terrible tsunami and earthquake.

If you would like to read more about animal rescue organizations doing hands-on work in Japan right now and how you can support them, please visit: http://network.bestfriends.org/golocal/eastasia/16856/news.aspx

If you are wishing to support those providing rescue and aid to the people of Japan, Hawaii, the United States West Coast, your local community or looking for volunteer assistance opportunities in your area, please visit: http://www.redcross.org

Additional information on how you can support the tsunami relief efforts in Japan can be found here: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/11/five-ways-you-can-help-earthquake-and-tsunami-victims-in-japan/

Ben Bear went to the Rainbow Bridge

2011-02-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

TikiHut's Ben Bear Tom, CGC

November 1, 1998 - February 9, 2011

Ben Bear went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday...
We all miss him terribly, but look forward to seeing him and all of our other furry friends again. . .

The Honor of Knowing Yogi

2010-10-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a story that really exemplifies what rescue is all about through the experience of a rescuer and an abandoned senior dog. Unfortunately, there are too many "Yogi's" out there these days. . .

Thank you Sharon for all that you did for Yogi.

_______________________________________

Rescue seems to leave us with lots of questions about some of our fellow humans. This situation was no different. How could you? That’s the question I couldn’t come up with an acceptable answer for, and never did.

When I arrived home Thursday evening I had an email saying an old Alaskan Malamute had been abandoned at the Petco near Concord Mills. He was walked to the back of the store and tied to a shopping cart with a plastic bag of food and a bowl. I immediately called the store and was told the dog had been transferred to animal control earlier that day, and that he wasn’t a Mal, but rather an Akita. The groomer there explained that once they discovered the dog they went back to view the store surveillance tape and saw her walk in and then exit the store 6 minutes later. He didn’t even have the dignity of a name.

One of our volunteers, Linda, helped get the information passed to the Akita rescue community. Animal control was holding him to satisfy the stray hold. On Monday we were able to get photos and video clips of the dog at the shelter. He was in bad shape, moving very gingerly, but trying. He had severe GI and eyes so cloudy I wasn’t sure he could see. I left with the information and a clock ticking on him for euthanasia at the shelter—a facility that gasses, unfortunately.

By the next morning I had decided the old boy deserved a chance and no less than a humane euthanasia if it came to that. I so hoped it wouldn’t. I have navigated serious long term health problems with my personal dogs and provided hospice care to them. It looked like a tough road ahead, but I wanted to try. I called the shelter in the morning and told them we were hurrying to put up a temporary place for him and I would be there asap. We also arranged for him to have a rabies vaccine while the humane society Vet was there seeing their dogs. Also, Michelle called from Heart of Dixie Akita about mid-day to check on him and I told her what my plan was. She said there were some other Akita folks, Joann Dimon, trying to assist and look for him a senior sanctuary or placement. My heart soured as his band of friends was growing.

When I arrived at the shelter one of the officers came out and said “it doesn’t look good”. I asked what was going on, and he said the dog had not stood all day. My heart just sank and we proceeded to the back to strategize on how I could best load him. They offered to put him to sleep right then—I said no for two reasons. I wanted him to have the benefit of seeing a good Vet and did not want him gassed—he deserved so much more, they all do.

By the time I pulled around to the back of the shelter, he was sitting in a slump. I thought he had walked—he hadn’t and they carried him. He was literally dripping a trail of urine and feces. The officer picked him up and put him in my van. I drove as fast as I could safely back home to a waiting bath for him. He didn’t fight, he was so lethargic and spent, he couldn’t.

I had e-mailed his photos and videos to my Vet and connected with her by phone in the evening to develop an overnight plan. I honestly wasn’t sure he was going to make it through the night. Hopefully he felt better being clean and about 1:00 a.m. he ate a few bites of chicken for me. Although he wasn’t acting painful, I know he had fallen on the slick wet floors at the shelter, so he also got a tramadol for pain, an Imodium for the diarrhea, and subQ fluids to try to rehydrate him. He hadn’t been able to reach the bowl at the shelter and was very dehydrated. We both dosed off about 1:30 a.m. He slept pretty soundly except for another GI upset. At 5:00 a.m. he awoke thirsty and a bit hungry. I fed him a little and prepared him for his 11:00 a.m. appt. with the Vet. When he vocalized it was the sweetest howl. We set up the bottom of a plastic crate with pads and blankets for the ride as he was having a very difficult time raising his front end as well. He rode well and seemed to like the cocoon of the crate and not having to brace himself as much.

He was such a good boy for the exam. He couldn’t stand and it was difficult to tell if he had orthopedic problems or neurological or both. He knuckled all four paws under and couldn’t seem to place them correctly to stand. He was very thin and his muscle mass was almost non-existent. He had urine scolds on his stomach and on his feet to the point of bleeding. They drew blood and we began to talk about a plan to get him mobile again since he had been able to stand on Monday afternoon. They did a blood smear in the meantime that showed no microfilaria—one victory. His lungs and heart sounded okay—another victory! I was concerned though as his teeth began to chatter, a pain signal, and he was super sensitive to touch. Then his lab results came back. Everything started to fall apart. He was in kidney failure and also had high liver values. The room started to spin for me as I was looking forward to bringing him home and working on getting him walking. Now we had internal organ functions failing and a brave boy that couldn’t walk. I needed time to think and sat for about an hour with him considering everything. It’s a road I had personally been down before. My Vet and I both felt there was very little chance that the neglect he had suffered at the hands of his cowardly owner, and the time at the shelter could now be reversed. About 3:30 I finally decided, after another talk with my Vet, that the kindest thing was to let Yogi pass with dignity. He was talked to with kind voices, handled loving and gently by the staff and passed surrounded knowing he was handsome and good in every way. I told him I was sorry and that there were other’s of which their good thoughts he occupied, and prayers he received. How could someone leave an animal at the greatest hour of need? How?

Thank you to both Michelle Wild and Joann Dimon of Akita rescue for calling to support me, as well as my fellow Malamute colleagues. I was honored to know this brave dog, Yogi, if even for a short time. We cared about you boy. Run free, whole, and healthy again, precious boy!

Sharon Huston

Alaskan Malamute Rescue of NC

P.S. A candle has been lit to honor Yogi:

http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/personalcandle.php?ID=82512

Pet Pride Day 2010 - CANCELLED!

2010-10-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

UPDATE - Friday 10/22/10: Pet Pride Day has been CANCELLED this year due to Sunday's rainy weather conditions and concerns for the health and safety of the animals.

Hi! Some of the TikiFriends and one or two of the TikiKids will be at Pet Pride Day 2010 in San Francisco on October 24, 2010. At Pet Pride Day, you can see the Halloween Pet Parade with lots of pets in their Halloween costumes, demonstrations with talented animals, find and adopt your new best friend and much more. For more information, please visit www.petprideday.com.

Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning

2010-07-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a really informative posting from Mario Vittone about the dangers of not recognizing the actual signs of a person drowning due to most of us being conditioned to expect someone to be dramatically flailing, splashing and yelling for help if they're in distress. Unfortunately, drownings are almost always quiet and deceptive events and look nothing like what we've learned from the movies and television.

This also highlights the need for parents and other people caring for young children (in and out of the water) to be constantly monitoring their activities and that if you can't hear the kids, than you need to be checking up on them.

Click on the posting's title to get to Mario's main posting where there is more helpful information in the article's discussion thread.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

by Mario Vittone on May 19, 2010

The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the owners who were swimming between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just standing, neck-deep on the sand bar. “We’re fine, what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. ”Move!” he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not ten feet away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears, “Daddy!”

How did this captain know, from fifty feet away, what the father couldn’t recognize from just ten? Drowning is not the violent, splashing, call for help that most people expect. The captain was trained to recognize drowning by experts and years of experience. The father, on the other hand, had learned what drowning looks like by watching television. If you spend time on or near the water (hint: that’s all of us) then you should make sure that you and your crew knows what to look for whenever people enter the water. Until she cried a tearful, “Daddy,” she hadn’t made a sound. As a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I wasn’t surprised at all by this story. Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, splashing, and yelling that dramatic conditioning (television) prepares us to look for, is rarely seen in real life.

The Instinctive Drowning Response – so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC). Drowning does not look like drowning – Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, described the instinctive drowning response like this:

Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. Th e respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.

(Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006)

This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble – they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the instinctive drowning response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long – but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.
Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are n the water:

Head low in the water, mouth at water level
Head tilted back with mouth open
Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
Eyes closed
Hair over forehead or eyes
Not using legs – Vertical
Hyperventilating or gasping
Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
Trying to roll over on the back
Ladder climb, rarely out of the water.

So if a crew member falls overboard and every looks O.K. – don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them: “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare – you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents: children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.
___________

Mario’s Note: Thanks to all of you who have posted and linked and Tweeted and shared this article. As soon as I get home (July 7th) I’ll upload a short video along with a pool safety checklist. Thanks again for all the support.

disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Coast Guard.

Come visit some of the TikiHut kids at Meet Your Friend At The Zoo Day!

2010-05-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

Great Picture of Yoshi and his Mom!

2010-04-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

'Sorry for the lack of updates. It's been busy at the TikiHut lately!

For some content, here's a really happy picture of Yoshi and his Mom!

Do you want to adopt a pre-qualified pet?

2010-03-12T11:37:00.000-08:00

Times are ruff for specialty-breed rescue groups
By Melissa Bell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 11, 2010

Rosemary and John Yun were looking to adopt.

For months, the Ellicott City couple waited. They filled out applications asking about their neighborhood, their jobs and their daily routines; prepped their home before an agency checked in on
them; asked friends to provide references; and visited with foster families where they were told they were not the only couple in contention. They hoped they wouldn't be disappointed yet again.

Finally, one day last fall, the phone call came: Benji, a mix terrier, could join the Yun family.

The Yuns, who are now adopting a child from Korea, would joke that looking for Benji "was just as hard as finding a human baby," said Rosemary, 38. But the dog was worth the trouble. "He's so smart;
he's super cute; he's just a great dog," said the biotech company manager.

The Yuns needed to find a small dog that had short hair and was nonallergenic and house-trained, but Rosemary worried she would not be able to find one at a local shelter. She didn't want to buy a dog, fearful that the animals are bred in awful conditions before being sold online or to pet stores.

Tails of Hope, a dog rescue group in Mount Airy, Md., provided a solution. Though the search was time-consuming, the Yuns adopted a dog that matched their criteria.

While animal rescue programs have been around since the 1950s, it has only been in the past decade that organizations have cropped up for nearly every breed and those breeds' mixes. The groups foster
dogs to ease crowding at local shelters and offer would-be pet owners more options to adopt.

This month may be the best time to find the right pet. Each spring, after the joy of getting a dog as a Christmas gift shifts to the reality of taking care of it, new owners drop their dogs off at
shelters in droves. Worse, the current economic downturn has forced many families to turn their dogs over to rescue groups. And even the record snowfall led some pet owners to decide they could not
provide for their dogs during the difficult weather, instead surrendering them to shelters, rescue volunteers said.

"The influx of dogs is just tremendous so far this year," said Joanne Hale, the director of MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue. By the end of February, the group had taken in 27 dogs, and Hale expects that
number to hit 150 by the end of the year. Last year, the rescue group took in 60 dogs.

The rescue groups are usually a loose network of volunteer pet owners who have fallen in love with a certain type of dog. They foster dogs found in the shelter system, rescued from puppy mills or dropped off by owners who can no longer care for them. And they look for the perfect permanent home for the animals.

"We're eHarmony for dogs," said Sarah Ruckelshaus, director of Mid- Atlantic Border Collie Rescue, whose group has a 98 percent success rate at finding a happy "forever" home. "We're really looking to
match up the dog's personality, temperament and energy needs with the family."

The adoption process is strict to ensure the match will stick. Jenny Eisen grew up with the Danes her mother adopted through the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League, and she volunteered for the
group. But even she had to submit to a two- to three-month adoption process when she decided she was ready for her own dog. Eisen, a nurse who lives in Arlington, said a volunteer brought over a Dane
to see how it would interact with her two roommates and in her townhouse.

Eisen said some people are reticent to adopt a rescue dog because of the stigma that something must be wrong with the dog for its owners to give it up. "Most people are worried that if they get a dog from a rescue league the dog will have all these issues," said Eisen. "But in actuality they have a pretty rigorous screening process for the people and the dog, so you know what you're getting into."

Though puppies do pass through the rescue organizations, it is much more likely to find a dog that's 1 year old or older. Kimberly Pollard, a lobbyist in Richmond, wanted a pug after falling in love with her neighbor's dog, but she worked full time and could not rush home every few hours to potty-train a puppy. She found Levi, a 3-year-old pug, through Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue. "A puppy is great," Pollard said, "but if you get a dog a year or two older, they're already trained. And older dogs need homes. That's two benefits right there."

The past 10 years have seen a sharp increase in demand for purebred dogs due to popular culture: Pug sales spiked after one played a role in the movie "Men in Black" and its sequel; Chihuahua fever can be credited to the film "Legally Blonde" and Taco Bell commercials. But purebred dogs often require specific care and can have particular health issues, said Joan Schramm, public relations coordinator for Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League in the District and Maryland. Great Danes, for example, can suffer from joint problems and heart ailments. Rescue organizers cite a lack of knowledge as the single biggest contributor to the rise in specialty breeds up for adoption.

"They look so cute on the screen," she said, but when owners cannot provide the necessary care, the dogs are sent packing. Schramm is not looking forward to the release of "Marmaduke," a movie about a Great Dane that is scheduled to open this summer. "Six months later," she said, "we'll be inundated with dogs."

The high demand has driven many disreputable sellers into the business, said Hale, the bulldog breeder. Foreign importers, puppy mill owners or backyard breeders pay "$1,000 for a litter of puppies, and sell them for a $3,500 a pop."

While plenty of the volunteers have more than a few choice words for dog breeders, the organizations do not discourage people who want to buy a puppy or a show dog. The American Kennel Club's Web
site offers a checklist on what to look for in a good breeder: someone who would be willing to take the dog back if the purchase does not work out, someone who does not have plenty of available
dogs and someone from whom the dogs do not seem to shy away.

"Just do your research," Schramm said. "Buying a dog off Craigslist is not such a good idea."

Flying Chihuahuas!

2009-12-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

Flying Chihuahuas!
by Sue Manning, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Chihuahuas have been flying out of California since other states learned about the glut of little dogs in the Golden State. A group of 25 dogs has already arrived at the humane society for Greater Nashua in New Hampshire, thanks to "Grey's Anatomy" actress Katherine Heigl, Kinder4Rescue in Studio City and American Airlines.

A group of 43 will leave for New Hampshire Monday or Tuesday, said Kathy Davis, interim general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services, who took part in a news conference Friday to announce Project Flying Chihuahua. They were supposed to leave Saturday morning, but bad weather in the east caused a delay, she said. The Nashua shelter found homes for the first 25 and had a waiting list of 100 people, Davis said. Heigl's foundation has paid the discounted airfare for all 68 dogs so far, she added, and new donors for more flights were being sought.

Virgin America will be flying a group of Chihuahuas to New York City from San Francisco on Tuesday, said Gail Buchwald, senior vice president overseeing the ASPCA adoption center in New York City. They will be processed and should be available for adoption on Dec. 29, she said. Buchwald said she didn't know how many to expect, but each dog will be escorted by a volunteer and Virgin will provide travel for both dogs and humans. The airline is also expected to offer a week of half price trips to passengers willing to escort an animal to New York, but details have yet to be finalized, Buchwald said. A call to a Virgin America representative was not immediately returned Friday.

Some sent by SUV 
Dozens of dogs have been sent by Oakland Animal Services to nearby states like Washington, Oregon and Arizona, but most of them were delivered by SUV, director Megan Webb said, because there wasn't enough money to fly the dogs to more distant states. The Chihuahua crisis in California developed as Hollywood featured the dogs in movies like "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "Legally Blonde," they became constant companions to the rich and famous, backyard breeders saw a chance to make hundreds of dollars a dog and the recession forced some dog owners to abandon their pets.

California shelters soon found that Chihuahuas made up 30 percent or more of their dog populations. Meanwhile, Buchwald said, there has long been a severe shortage of small dogs in the east. Officials on both sides of the country are optimistic they can work out the imbalance. Davis said finding homes for 68 barely made a dent in Los Angeles shelters, but it was a start.

'Plenty more' to relocate "
We have plenty more where those came from and we're more than happy to send them home for the holidays. If there's a Santa Claus out there, we're ready and waiting for you." In the last 12 months, animal shelters in the city of Los Angeles have taken in 4,700 Chihuahuas, 1,000 more than the 12 months before that. Los Angeles has over 300 Chihuahuas in its shelters now, Davis said, and they are taking in about 340 a month. "The majority of them are healthy. They do need some socialization. Some we're finding haven't been well treated in the homes they've been in. They need some TLC," Davis said. It would seem plenty of people in the east are ready and willing to deliver just that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

The TikiHut Kids and I would like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

We are all extremely thankful and appreciative to all our family and friends for their support, whether it's helping take us out on our daily walks, sponsoring a foster Akita's expenses, educating others on what Akita Rescue is all about, giving tummy rubs to offering some of us a new home to share with you.

— Matti

Holiday Safety Tips For Your Akita (and other pets!)

2009-11-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

Here's some really good holiday safety advice from Kathy D's Akita Rescue Western New York (ARWNY) blog for everyone that has an Akita or other companion pets:

I found this great list on the internet, so rather than re-write it, I'm just going to post it here — its FABULOUS ADVICE for the upcoming holidays to keep your pet safe — read it in its entirety, its well worth the read:

• Many holiday plants can lead to health problems in dogs and cats. Among the plants to keep out of reach are holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies.

• Snow globes often contain antifreeze, which is poisonous to pets.

• Pine needles, when ingested, can puncture holes in a pet's intestine. So keep pet areas clear of pine needles.

• The extra cords and plugs of holiday lights and other fixtures can look like chew toys to pets. Tape down or cover cords to help avoid shocks, burns or other serious injuries. Unplug lights when you are not home.

• Anchor Christmas trees to the ceiling with a string to keep it from falling on pets.

• Do not let pets drink the holiday tree water. Some may contain fertilizers, and stagnant tree water can harbor bacteria. Check labels for tree water preservatives and artificial snow, and buy only those that are nontoxic. Some folks use screens around trees to block access to electrical cords and gifts.Very important: do not put aspirin in the water (some folks do this thinking it will keep the tree or plant more vigorous). If a pet ingests the aspirin-laced water, his health or even life can be at risk.

• Pets, particularly cats, can be tempted to eat tinsel, which can block the intestines. Hang tinsel high and securely to keep it out of reach of pets.

• Keep other ornaments out of reach of pets. Ingestion of any ornament, which might look like toys to pets, can result in life-threatening emergencies. Even ornaments made from dried food can lead to ailments. And remember, shards from broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and other parts of the body.

• Put away toys after children open their gifts. Small plastic pieces and rubber balls are common causes of choking and intestinal blockage in dogs. Ingested plastic or cloth toys must often be removed surgically.

• Avoid toxic decorations. Bubbling lights contain fluid that can be inhaled or ingested, snow sprays and snow flock can cause reactions when inhaled, styrofoam poses a choking hazard, tinsel can cause choking and intestinal obstruction, and water in snow scenes may contain toxic organisms such as Salmonella.

• Keep candles on high shelves. Use fireplace screens to avoid burns.

• Hi-tech shooing: A timely product I'm not sure I'd recommend, but if you have any experience with it, let me know. The StayAway canister from Contech Electronics uses a motion-detection device to sense when a pet approaches some off-limits area (countertop, table-top, candles, fireplace mantel, holiday tree), then activates a burst of compressed air and a one-second warning screech.

Other low-tech methods: place sticky mats, crunchy aluminum foil or bubblewrap on or around the area; tie balloons around the area; put some pennies in empty plastic drink bottles and balance the bottles on the bottom branches of the holiday tree or plant so that they'll noisily tip over if a cat or other pet jumps at or on the tree.

• Holiday guests and other activity can be very stressful and even frightening to pets. It can also trigger illness and intestinal upset. Make sure pets have a safe place to retreat in your house. And make sure they are wearing current I.D. in case they escape out a door when guests come and go.

• Reduce stress by keeping feeding and exercise on a regular schedule.

• Always make time to care for your pets. Some folks get lax about walking their dogs, and a few resort to letting pets out on their own. This puts the animal in danger, while also leading to nuisance complaints and dog bite incidents. Remind pet owners not to take a holiday from responsibly caring for their pets.

• When pets are stressed by holiday activity or during travel, they may require more water. Dogs typically pant more when they feel stressed. Keep fresh water available for them to drink.

• Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower essence available in most health food stores, is a natural stress reliever that many folks keep on hand at home and in travel kits. It can often help both people and animals recover from injury, fright, illness, travel fatigue, chocolate ingestion and irritation. Put a few drops in the dog's water bowl or portable water container. For stressed or injured animals, rub a drop on their ear or put a drop on the towel in their crate or carrier. Flower essences are free of harmful effects and can be used along with conventional medicines.

Another safe, nontoxic Rescue Remedy-like product is Animal Emergency Trauma Solution, available from www.greenhopeessences.com, where you can also get Flee Free to combat fleas nontoxically. Other flower essence sources include anaflora.com and perelandra-ltd.com.

• Do not let guests feed your pets human food. There are many holiday foods, including fatty meats, gravies, poultry skin, bones, chocolate and alcohol, that can cause illnesses from vomiting and diarrhea to highly serious pancreatitis and other toxic reactions. In addition, candy wrappers, aluminum foil pieces and ribbons can choke pets.

• Keep pets away from gift packages as well as your gift wrapping area. Ingested string, plastic, cloth and even wrapping paper can lead to intestinal blockage and require surgical removal. And pets have been severely injured by scissors and other items left on floors and tables.

• Keep pets away from the garbage. Use pet-proof containers.

• If you suspect that your pet has eaten something toxic, call your veterinarian and/or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI- HELP.

• If your pet ingests glass, broken plastic, staples orother small, sharp objects, call your veterinarian. In the meantime, you can give your dog supplemental fiber in the form of whole wheat or other high-fiber bread, canned pumpkin or Metamucil, any of which can help bulk up the stools the help the foreigh material pass through the dog's digestive system. Dosages depend on the size of the dog. For Metamusil, try a teaspoon for a small dog, a tablespoon for a big dog. For pumpkin, feed one-quarter to two-thirds of a cup. Some folks recommend feeding the dog cotton balls to help pass the foreign objects, but others in the veterinary field caution against this since cotton balls can compound the problem.

• By the way, now is a good time to double-check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and other safety devices and replace batteries. Safety, of course, is the key reason, but here's another good reason. When batteries run low, the devices often emit alert or alarm sounds at frequencies that can be painful and frightening to many pets. If you're not home when the alert/alarm sounds, your animals will have to endure that sound until you return, which can be traumatic. So always keep fresh batteries in those devices.

• Holiday sweets with chocolate are not for pets. Depending on the dose ingested, chocolate (bakers, semi sweet, milk and dark) can be poisonous to many animals. In general, the less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it could be. In fact, unsweetened baking chocolate contains almost seven times more theobromine as milk chocolate. Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increased thirst, urination and heart rate can be seen with the ingestion of as little as 1/4 ounce of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog.

• Keep your pet on its normal diet. Any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals that have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. Boiled or grilled meats and fresh vegetables can be offered as a healthy alternative.

• Don't give pets holiday leftovers and keep pets out of the garbage. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages. Greasy, spicy and fatty for spoiled foods can cause stomach upset and moldy foods could cause tremors or seizures.

• Alcohol and pets do NOT mix. Place unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot reach them. If ingested, the animal could become very sick and weak and may go into a coma.

• Keep aluminum foil and cellophane candy wrappers away from pets. They can cause vomiting and intestinal blockage.

• Be careful with holiday floral arrangements. Lilies are commonly used and many varieties including Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can cause kidney failure in cats. Safe alternatives can include artificial flowers made from silk or plastic.

• Common Yuletide plants such as mistletoe and holly berries can be toxic to pets. Should a cat or dog eat mistletoe, they could suffer gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested.

• Poinsettias are over rated in toxicity. They are considered to be very low in toxicity, however, they could cause mild vomiting or nausea if ingested by your pet.

• Christmas tree water may contain dangerous fertilizers, which if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria and if ingested a pet could end up with nausea and diarrhea.

• Decorate your tree with animal safe ornaments such as dried non-toxic flowers, wood, fabric or pinecones. If ingested, ribbons or tinsel can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction. This is a very common problem with kittens.

HOLIDAY FOODS AND BEVERAGES THAT ARE TOXIC TO PETS

• Alcoholic Beverages: Alcoholic beverages can cause alcohol poisoning. If ingested, the animal could become very drunk and weak, may become severely depressed or may go into a coma.

• Yeast Dough: Uncooked yeast dough, if ingested (most cases are with dogs) can rise in the stomach and cause severe pain. Pets who have eaten bread dough may experience abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, disorientation and depression. Since the breakdown product of rising dough is alcohol, it can cause an alcohol poisoning. Many cases like this require surgical removal of the dough. Even small amounts can be dangerous.

• Chocolate (bakers, semi sweet, milk and dark): If ingested, chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increased thirst, urination and heart rate. This can be seen with the ingestion of as little as 1/4 ounce of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog. Chocolate poisoning does not seem to be a problem in cats, although it is possible if enough would be ingested.

• Nicotine: Tobacco products can be fatal to dogs and cats if ingested. Signs of nicotine poisonings often develop within 15 to 45 minutes. Symptoms include excitation, salivation, panting, vomiting and diarrhea. Muscle weakness, twitching, depression, coma, increased heart rate and cardiac arrest can follow.

• Coffee (ground, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans): Contain caffeine which is a stimulant and depending on the dose ingested, stimulation, restlessness, increased heart rate, tremors, or seizures could be seen.

• Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts can cause muscular weakness, depression, vomiting, disorientation, tremors, abdominal pain and muscle stiffness in dogs. The effects can last 1-3 days. This has not been reported in any other species.

• Grapes and Raisins: The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is aware of recent reports of dogs alleged to have developed kidney failure following ingestion of large amounts of grapes or raisins. There has also been one case of renal failure occurring in a cat who ate raisins. Veterinary toxicologists at the APCC are currently investigating these cases in an attempt to determine the causative agents or disease processes. At this time the exact role of grapes or raisins in these cases is unclear.

ALWAYS Be Prepared!!!!

Your pet may become poisoned in spite of your best efforts to prevent it. You should keep telephone numbers for your veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary service, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) in a convenient location. If you suspect that your pet has ingested something poisonous, seek medical attention immediately.

Hachiko - A Dog's Tale With A Twist

2009-11-24T12:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a very interesting interview from Don Cross's Akita breeders helping owners blog at http://akitasites.net/phpblog/index.php.

Don interviewed Kathy Coffman of Baycrest Akitas to get some really neat, behind-the-scenes insights. Kathy is one of the co-breeders of Forrest, who is one of the handsome Akitas in the new Hachiko movie starring Richard Gere.
_______________________________________________

Don: With the fast coming opening of the movie Hachiko. I wanted to give the visitors to Akita sites a little more dog side view of the making of the film than the trailers and movie reviews. I contacted Kathy and Ed Coffman of Baycrest Akitas, who are Co-breeders along with Cornelius Campbell, Monumental Akitas, of "Forrest" - registered name Baycrest Run Forrest Run, who is owned by Joseph Capaldi.

Were you ever on set during filming?

No we were supposed to be invited but never really got the chance to go.

How did Forest put up with the repetition of retakes?

We cautioned the trainers in advance of sending the dog that "they" (the dogs) were going to learn quickly but the trainers most likely were not going to get the dogs motivated enought to do repetitive actions. The cautions that Deb and I issued to the trainers were almost identical (even though neither of us really knew this until much later).

After the dogs were trained we were told by the trainers that these dogs were indeed very different from the other dogs they had trained and their training methods were altered and akin to the training they used when they trained the wolves for a previous picture.

I think it was very fortunate that each of these three dogs had very different temperaments. It is my understanding that Layla was the outgoing active willing girl who worked for her tennis ball. Clapton/now Chico was just a big goofy boy (you'd probably get more precise information from Deb Anibal on their differing temperaments). Forrest, on the other hand, is a real "ho hum" dog; he is lazy, slow and unaffected by most things. If I were to make an educated guess I would say Forrest was probably the most challenging dog of the three.

ALL of these dogs were trained by hand signals that differ greatly from the more common ones we know from the obedience and performance rings. Just as an example - to get Forrest to rise from a sitting or lying position you need to kick your right leg out crossing over your left leg - and he will instantly stand (IF you can get him to look at you). LOL

We were told we would be provided with a CD of all the hand signals and tricks they had learned - and we were told we might be able to replicate some of the tricks but not all of them - we never got this CD despite many requests for it. :o(

How much travel was involved? How many months did the filming take?

We sent Forrest to California to Boones Animals of Hollywood in June 07 and were told we "should" have him back by Xmas 07 at the latest but hopefully by Thanksgiving 07. That didn't happen - the picture took far longer to make then was orginally anticipated and weather did not co-operate. It snowed when it wasn't supposed to and didn't snow when they thought it would. Requiring them to catch almost all four seasons to make the picture appear to cover the many years of lifespan of Hachiko. We finally got Forrest back in Sept/Oct of 08.

The dogs spent several months in California living with the trainers then went on location to Providence - they returned to California with the trainers and then returned to Providence in the spring/summer to finish filming. Forrest was returned to us from Providence just a couple days after the final scenes were shot.

Here is a link showing just what the trainers and the dogs did when they weren't filming.
These pictures were taken by Mark - photography is something he's very proud of:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10189535@N02/page14/

Yoshi's Weekend Adventures - End of Summer Party, bacon! and more parties!

2009-09-14T00:46:00.000-07:00

Lucky Yoshi! Another weekend trip to the beach and this time he got a nice yummy piece of bacon fresh off the grill from the local tavern owner... and then he got to go to another party that same day! Hey, how come they don't give me any bacon when I visit the beach?

Here's today's story from his mom:

Hi you two… Here are some pics of our dear Yoshi at the ‘End of summer Bash’ we had this past Saturday, on the water… Of course, as always, Yoshi was the main attraction… he even ate a Seattle Mariners barbecued hotdog with us!… (no worries - just one and also just a bit of BBQ chicken minus the sauce). He is so wonderful in settings like this; after the initial sniff around he just settles in and is quite happy and content just lying there, being a part of the action.

Here's a photo of Yoshi with his new best friend (my brother, Jimmy) and just a few others (sans Yoshi) to give you an idea of our view…

Yoshi played on the private beach in the sand and we all had a wonderful time.

After this party, (yes, we were social butterflies this weekend!), we went home and then were invited across the street for a front-yard, 8-year old's birthday party with about 100 people in attendance (about 60 parents and 40 kids between 3 to 10 years of age). Again, Yoshi was the main attraction and indeed in his element. He even outshined the jumpy tent they had at the party and we stayed for about 2 hours… At one point while Yoshi was laying down and he literally had 11 girls (4-7 years old) surrounding him; they were laying beside him and ‘loving’ him…it was quite a sight – all the girls had pastel summer party dresses on. I tried so hard to get someone to take a picture but although promised; no one did... it was very chaotic (as I am sure you can visualize) but Yoshi loved each moment. Sheba not so much, but she was a trooper. We got home - Sheba was glad. I think Yoshi would have been content to go back over for a few more hours…LOL

The best part and truly the heartwarming part of this story was when Yoshi was busy being "loved on" by the little girls as described above, one of the dad’s yelled out for Zander (the autistic 5-year old) who was on his tricycle and I guess the dad thought he was about to tip over. The dad yelled, "Zaaaaannnnnnndddddeeerrrrrr!” quite loudly and rushed over to him (Zander) in one fell swoop. In a split second, Yoshi (unsure of the dad’s intent; I believe thinking the dad may be trying to harm his dear buddy Zander), leapt up, was on his feet and dashed over about 15 feet to Zander.

Yoshi first "nosed" the dad; when the dad paid no mind to this, he then kind of body slammed him (not too hard; just enough force to simply get the dad out of his way!)… and then, ever so gently and sweetly, Yoshi sniffed at Zander (who had started to cry when he initially heard the dad yell) before giving him several Yoshi Kisses… Zander stopped crying upon receiving the Yoshi kisses (afterwards he told me he was so happy that Yoshi kissed him; as he knows “yoshikisses’ are handed out infrequently) and hugged our Yoshi – it really was amazing… the startled dad (who weighed all of about maybe 120lbs) had thankfully backed up with his hands up and afterwards said, “Well this must be Yoshi who I have heard so much about."… Boy, how true it is...what they say about Akitas protecting and guarding children… don’t you just have the chills and love our boy even more?...
I actually got a bit teary eyed witnessing this…"

Yoshi meets the neighborhood

2009-09-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

I guess this is the first story from Yoshi's collection of ongoing adventures. Many thanks to Yoshi's Mom's for sharing them with us.

And here we go...

...Yoshi is indeed quite the attraction in the neighborhood...My brother has even brought some of his friends over to meet Yoshi – hard to impress my brother, but he is happy to have Yoshi as his favorite nephew! The feeling is mutual as Yoshi loves him as well.

There are three kids across the street who daily await his arrival. One is autistic and is learning (with some prompting from me) the proper way to treat an animal, so Yoshi is really an unofficial therapy dog. Yoshi loves the kids and does his crying/whimpering thing later on in the evening if by chance the kids are not out when we walk – he lays in the entry way facing the door – and whimpers as if to say “I miss them and want to see my friends, mom!” I have met about twenty neighbors because of Yoshi. He is so very good at just getting loved on and then making himself comfortable.

Yesterday, there were two 13-year olds who looked liked hooligans, but turned out to be really great kids and loved Yoshi and learning all about the Akita Breed. We talked for about a half hour. One kid was going home to go online to look up more information and to check out the WA Akita Rescue Group and TikiHut Akita Rescue.

When I was talking to another neighbor down the road this past weekend, Yoshi was laying down and a cat literally walked five feet in front of him (brave cat)...Yoshi was certainly watching intently but as soon as I said "leave it” (Best command ever), he did...the neighbor, as I, were dully impressed. The cat was quite relieved, I am sure!...

[For those of you joining us for the first time, Yoshi is a graduate from the TikiHut Foster Care program and was adopted by his new Mom and big sister, Sheba, during Spring 2009.]

Mary's Pizza Shack Fundraiser

2009-08-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you who visited Mary's Pizza Shack in Walnut Creek today for lunch or dinner so that 20% of your bill could be donated to help animal rescue groups (including TikiHut Akita Rescue)!

Many thanks also to everyone at Mary's Pizza Shack and the organizers of this fundraiser!

mmm... pizza!

Tillman, the skateboarding Bulldog!

2009-08-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a bunch of cool videos of Tillman, the skateboarding Bulldog (he also snowboards and surfs, too! Wow!): www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtRaz1cO-Ls

You can read more about Tillman, see his pictures and find out what he's doing at his website: www.gotillman.com

Tillman also has a fellow skateboarding buddy named Tyson (www.skateboardingbulldog.com).

Tillman and Tyson have been skating for a while now, so this might be old news to some, but it's still nice to read stories and see fellow dogs manipulating their humans into allowing them to do amazing things.

I personally prefer lounging by the pool and enjoying the sunshine or taking a nap in my comfy bed...

Fundraiser at Mary's Pizza Shack!

2009-08-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

Animal Rescue Fundraiser at Mary's Pizza Shack in Walnut Creek on Tuesday, August 25th!

Join us for your favorite soup, salad, pasta, pizza and more to support Animal Rescue Organizations (Second Chance Animal Rescue, RocketDog Rescue, TikiHut Akita Rescue) at Mary's Pizza Shack on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009.
____________________________________________

Dear Friends and Family:

Please join us for lunch and/or dinner at Mary's Pizza Shack in Walnut Creek for an Animal Rescue Fundraising Event. Forward this information on to your friends, family members, coworkers and classmates. Ask them to participate with you or for you if you cannot attend.

Just visit the TikiHut website at: www.tikihutakitarescue.com/tikihutgifts.cfm to download and print out the Dine & Donate Flyer. Remember to print out two flyers if you are coming to Mary's for both lunch and dinner!

When you place your order for Dine In, Take Out, Delivery or when purchasing gift cards, present the Dine & Donate Flyer and 20% of your bill will be donated to these great charities! Remember to buy Gift Cards now for all those upcoming birthdays, holidays, thank-you's and other special occasions!

A Mary's Pizza Shack Menu is also available at the same webpage to help you decide which mouth-watering items you want to order.

We'll see you there! Remember to bring your Dine & Donate Flyers!

MARY’S PIZZA SHACK
2246 Oak Grove Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
925-938-4800
www.maryspizzashack.com

Coming soon - Yoshi's Adventures!

2009-08-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

This is my foster brother, Yoshi! Isn't he handsome?

Before he came to stay with me at the TikiHut, Yoshi wasn't so happy as he ended up in jail because his previous owners tied him to the fence at the animal shelter and just left him there.

He is now living in a wonderful home with his sister, Sheba and his terrific Mom, Colleen. Yoshi has been getting into lots of little adventures with the public (Mr. Social loves meeting people and children!) so his Mom thought it might be neat to share some of the stories to let people know how nice it can be to share a life with an Akita (or two).

Please check back with us as we continue to add more stories about Yoshi and other wonderful Akitas like him.

Have a great day!

Buying Stuff

2009-08-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Here's an educational and fun link from our friends at Get Rich Slowly that reflects what a many of us are doing these days and what a lot of us should have been doing. . .

Don't Buy Stuff

Makes a lot of sense to me and I'm just a dog!

I'm Back!

2009-08-02T09:19:00.001-07:00

Sorry, it's been a while since my last update. I've been really busy!
I hope to post more frequently now that I have a bit more free time.

You can also visit the TARA website to see what else we're doing and the new guests staying at the TikiHut.

Foreclosure Pets

2008-01-29T15:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a good overview of more "collateral" damage from the housing foreclosure crisis that's occurring throughout the country: Abandoned Foreclosure Pets

There seems to be a lot more people looking for a place to send their pets these days. With most of the animal shelters and rescue groups being full with homeless pets already, it's a bad situation made worse.

This is bringing out the worse in irresponsible people that just abandon their pets when they leave their foreclosed homes, with their left-behind pets locked inside or tied out in the yard without any food or water. . . more tangible proof of how irresponsible and/or just plain ignorant some people are and how the lending institutions pretty much were giving mortgages out to anyone that could walk into the office and sign the papers. . .

For people and organizations looking for help with their foreclosure pets, the American Humane Association (AHA) has posted some helpful information at their website:
http://www.americanhumane.org/protecting-animals/shelter-professionals/resources/foreclosure-pets-grant.html

Laika, the first dog/earthling to travel in space...

2008-01-17T22:02:00.000-08:00

...unfortunately her experience was a one way trip.

Here's more information about Laika's story and a new book written about her from her perspective: http://laikaspace.com/

And you can read an excerpt from the book here.

Wow... what an outstanding achievement, but an extremely sad ending to the story.

It sucks that Laika was just a propaganda tool in the space race. These days, I don't think anyone could get away with designing an global-orbiting vehicle without any re-entry ability and no plan for crew recovery.

Second thought. . . with all the budget cuts these days. . .

A New Year's Wish for all the dogs out there...

2008-01-02T23:10:00.001-08:00

Here in this house......

I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there'.
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness,
and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house...
There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand,
I can enjoy the warmth of the words.
I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house...
I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.
I will be loved because I am who I am, not someones idea of who I should be.

I will never suffer for someones anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house...
I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...
knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.
No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.

My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.
I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house...
I will belong.
I will be home.

(author unknown)

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

Hey, Happy New Year everyone!

'Kind of looking forward to starting off the new year. Feeling kind of blah today though after thinking about my grandpa and missing him...

Here's a story about him: http://www.sfbg.com/39/40/news_harry_tom.html

Anyways, hoping you're having a good day as we start off the new year.

Greenies!!!

2007-12-28T17:11:00.001-08:00

Who likes Greenies (www.greenies.com) ? I do!

What are your favorite treats or tasty things to digest?

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you!

2007-12-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

Like the title says. . . a belated Merry Christmas and wishes for you and your family to enjoy a happy new year!

None of that "happy holidays" crap. . . it just doesn't sound right.

Something to think about before "gifting" someone with a puppy. . .

2007-12-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

"Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
Knew he was cold, but didn't care about that

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter

Away to the window I flew like a flash
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Claus - with eyes full of tears

He un-chained the dog, once so lively and quick
Last year's Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick

More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all."

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear

The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing that we missed

A dog should be family, and cared for the same
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight
"You weren't given a gift! You were given a LIFE!"

2007-11-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

Hi!

Welcome to my new blog! Feel free to share your opinions and comments. There are no limitations to the discussions (for now), but I like talking about myself, people that shower me with lots of attention, Akita Rescue and doggie and human treats!