What shots are needed for my dog? The Urbana Dog Park will
require that your dog is currently vaccinated for Rabies and registered
with the local animal control. This provides reassurance for pets and
owner if there is any interaction between dogs or with local wildlife.
In addition, the "Distemper"-combination vaccine (DHLPPCV)
will be required to keep all the dogs at the park safe from these preventable
diseases.
Is exercise important for my dog? Exercise is very important for dogs to
help with weight control, keep muscles and joints strong, and avoid
destructive behavior at home. Most dog breeds were originally developed
to work with humans and animals, whether herding, guarding, flushing,
retrieving, or tracking. Today pet dogs, like their human owners, rarely
get enough regular physical activity at home or work alone. Regular
physical activity keeps muscles and hearts strong, and provides the
mental and physical stimulation dogs need, especially when confined
for part of the day.
How much is too much? Most dogs can regulate their own exercise, slowing down when
over exerted. Water should always be available and activity discontinued
with any limping or excessive fatigue. Times to be careful are during
either extreme heat and humidity (when dehydration and heat stroke
can occur) or extreme cold (when frost bite can occur). Walking and
swimming are almost always safe exercises. As for humans, geriatric
dogs or dogs with heart or orthopedic problems (like hip dysplasia
or back pain) should consult their veterinarian prior to starting an
exercise program.
Dr.
Welle is a Veterinarian at All Creature's Animal Hospital in Urbana,
Illinois. She is one of the wonderful doctors at this animal hospital
that looks after our Shepherds. Please visit their new web site at http://www.allcreaturesah.com
Puppy Mills and Auctions
Almost everyone involved with dogs in the Midwest is familiar with "puppy
mills." Whenever a puppy mill bust is reported on the news, we
all become temporarily more concerned, then go back to our normal lives.
There can't be that many of them, right?
Missouri is the puppy mill capital of the world, with over 1,000 commercial
facilities licensed by the Missouri Dept. of Agriculture (MODA). We
can only guess at the number of unlicensed mills, and some estimates
put the number at 500.
The mills have money, and therefore a powerful lobby in Missouri for "agriculture
friendly legislation." Evidently puppies are a cash crop. Many
changes are occurring in the commercial dog industry, both good and
bad. The Missouri State Auditor publicly condemned the industry last
year after discovering some fraudulent activity; MODA inspectors are
being replaced. Laughably, the millers even held their own dog show,
issuing champion titles to nearly every dog that was, quite literally,
dragged across the floor. About four of the over one hundred dogs did
not win a "championship" award, in an effort to make it look
legitimate. Evidently their puppies won't sell for the slightly inflated
prices the others will.
Lately more people have become aware of dog auctions. They are fully
legal, and have been held for over 50 years. Weekly consignment auctions,
often held in southwest Missouri, give millers the chance to pass off
their non-producers onto other millers to try their luck. Since rescue
has become more of a presence at auctions over the years (albeit not
a welcome one!), most of these "worthless" dogs are fortunately
sold (or given) to rescue; it sure beats a bullet to the head.
These dogs are not old. The females are often 4-7 years old, the males
can be any age. To a puppy miller, they are livestock, and if a dog
is not worth feeding, it is culled. These auctions cater mainly to
the licensed puppy mills, and less to the unlicensed "back yard
breeders." It is the latter group that is becoming more worrisome,
particularly with German Shepherds.
Some of these are well-meaning individuals who are simply ignorant
about raising dogs, while most are solely out to make a buck. These
are the "breeders" who advertise in local newspaper classifieds,
some even accepting Visa! Dogs are often bred in barns, or chained
to dog houses with minimal human contact or health care. The conditions
are similar to puppy mills, sometimes much worse.
Surprisingly, the Amish have begun to participate in this new "crop," as
it is just a new type of farming. These backyard breeders often convince
the uneducated consumer that this practice is moral, while they are
making quite a profit! If people would realize that their local shelter
or rescue has many purebreds, these unscrupulous breeders
would go out of business!
Most of these dogs are AKC registered. Does that make them purebred?
Of course not. The AKC is a registry, not the doggie police, and they
use the honor system. Recently they implemented DNA testing, which
can be worked around as well. If the people submitting the records
are dishonest, the AKC can do nothing.
An
AKC maltese can weigh 15 pounds and have curly hair, while an AKC cairn
terrier can have floppy ears, a curled tail, and an under bite. There
is a line of golden retrievers (AKC registered, of course) that have
curly hair like poodles! These are the types of breeding stock that
produce the puppies for pet stores, particularly the large chains.
People see the AKC papers and think they are getting a purebred dog,
only to be disappointed later.
The public has fallen under the illusion that AKC papers mean quality,
and when they realize it is merely a registry, paying $800 for a puppy
with hip dysplasia can be hard to swallow.
A new trend has begun in auctions: the selling of "imported dogs." Last
February, over 100 dogs were imported from Canada (yes, they have mills
too) to a Missouri auction. These dogs fetched top dollar, as they
were "proven producers." Twelve Bernese Mountain Dogs sold
for $47,000. A single Yorkie sold for $3,500, and she was missing a
lot of teeth. A month later came an auction full of Irish imports,
complete with wine tasting. (Was the wine served in Dixie cups?) Auctions
bring out the true greed of the commercial dog industry. A blind and
deaf female dachshund sold for $125. She was in heat. An Italian Greyhound
with three legs sold for $235, since he was an aggressive breeder.
Dogs are held up by their scruff, ears, or hind legs. A dog is judged
for its breeding potential, and teeth, eyes, and functional limbs are
considered optional. As long as the dogs will still come into heat,
they are valuable.
Perhaps most disturbing is the emotional state these dogs are in.
Many are terrified of humans. They have never seen carpeting or even
grass, and walk like they are on a strange planet. Some hide in corners
or under furniture and tremble. Physically, we can put them back together,
by treating the ear infections, skin conditions, and urinary tract
infections. Many of their remaining teeth must be extracted. Their
paws are often swollen if they have been living on wires. These will
heal over time. It's the broken spirit that makes rescue worthwhile.
Having a dog that trembles in fear that learns to eat out of your hand
is the neatest thing. Watching them play with a toy for the first time
(without being scared of the squeak!) makes you realize how bad life
must have been. Witnessing the sheer ecstasy as they root and snuggle
in their first blanket is priceless. Yet, the most rewarding thing
is to pick up these sick, scared babies and tell them "no one
will ever hurt you again." That is what puppy-mill rescue is about.
Please note that most dogs that come
through rescue have never known a day of abuse in their life.
They were merely dumped by their families at humane societies,
pounds or shelters when they "got too big," became
inconvenient, or otherwise were not able to be cared for
by their families.
Featured
Online Shops
The Painted Pet
Head shots as small as 5x7 can be painted from your photo with
great detail as well as full bodies as small as 8x10. Most people
custom order an oil on canvas painting in a 12 x 16 with a background.
To find out more, visit The Painted
Pet at:
If you decide to make a purchase from The
Painted Pet between now and the end of 2003, please mention
that you found out about The Painted Pet from
the Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog
Rescue's web site and 10% of your purchase will
be donated to the Central
Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue!
Stained & etched glass collection of original designs by
glass artist Judi Miller-DeBroux, featuring expert custom laser
engraving, award and trophy designs, and original art for the
home at:
If you decide to make a purchase from River
Country Artisans between now and the end of 2003, please
mention that you found out about River
Country Artisans from the Central
Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue's web site and 10%
of your purchase will be donated to the Central
Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue!
Product Profiles The following are products that people
have found helpful or fun. The Central Illinois German Shepherd
Dog Rescue does not endorse or receive any
monetary benefits from profiling these products.
The Corner Dog Bed is not round! In
fact it is perfect for an apartment where space is limited. It fits
perfectly in a corner behind a recliner (where many dogs like to lay
anyway!). It is very cushy and durable and can be purchased at ePets at http://www.epets.com/epcornerbed.html
The Halti works on the premise of
a horse's halter. The idea is that where the head goes, the body will
follow. Our volunteers have tested both the Halti and the Gentle Leader.
Each has its advantages. The Halti fits the German Shepherd better
due to the general slope of most German Shepherd muzzles. The Halti
therefore avoids their eyes. However, an intelligent breed, like the
German Shepherd is quick to learn how to remove the Halti under the
supervision of an inexperienced Halti user. The Gentle Leader is much
less likely to be removed due to its tightening clip, however, can
be less comfortable for the dog when it pulls on its lips and can get
very close to their eyes. The Halti can be purchased through Foster & Smith at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=12&pCatId;=875 and
at many small local pet stores. The Gentle Leader is more widely sold
and can be found at most pet stores that sell collars and leads.
The retractable Leash Saddle (designed
to fit Flexi Leads) is the perfect way to carry those bulky, enormous,
poo-bags necessary for long walks with a German Shepherd! Our volunteers
often get stopped on the street and asked about our nifty bag that
attaches to our Flexi leads. The Leash Saddle can be purchased from
Critter Beach at http://www.critterbeach.com/general/general2.html
If you are walking one large dog, we've found that the All
Belt Flexi Lead (all ribbon, all the way) is the best way
to enjoy the freedom of a Flexi without the accompanying robe burn
is your pet does a quick 180 past you to visit your local fleeing
rabbit. (Our volunteers have received robe burns before- nothing
can set a normally calm dog into action like a fast moving rabbit
or squirrel!) Note: NOT TO BE USED WITH A HEADCOLLAR. All Belt Flexi
Leads are available at many local pet stores and online pet product
retailers.
If you are up to the challenge of walking two large dogs, the PetWalker
Plus Two-Dog Leash available at Petsmart at http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441778482 can be your answer. Another option is to buy a coupler that
fits at the end of your leash and connects the collars of two dogs.
That Tripler is not recommended for large breed dogs. This product
is also available through PetSmart at http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_2.shtml Note:
NOT TO BE USED WITH A HEADCOLLAR
The Snapback, available from SitStay
at http://sitstay.com/store/equip/eq2.shtml is
excellent for helping you with a headstrong dog they may not necessarily
need a head collar but still has a little pull in him. This is really
just a bungi that you hook between your leash and your dog's collar.
Note: NOT TO BE USED WITH A HEADCOLLAR
The Rinse Ace Pet Shower Deluxe hooks
onto your shower's downspout with a removable hose so that you only
need to see it when you use it. It has a side button that allow you
to turn off and on the water where you use it. Our volunteer testers
have also found this button in such a location to easily allow a person
to hold a finger over the water flow while depressing the button therefore
allowing them to continually monitor the water temperature that is
reaching their pet. This item can be purchased through PetCo at http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?sku=0673804039 as
well as at many other pet stores.
Adopter Profile:
The following is the story of how Payton
found a home. Jessie and Dan (Payton's new mom and dad) originally
applied to adopt a dog through the Central Illinois German
Shepherd Dog Rescue. They ended up meeting
Payton before an adoption match could be found through this rescue.
Now Payton has a wonderful home and his mom and dad, even though
they ended up not adopting through this rescue, are happy that there
are rescues available to help this wonderful breed find loving homes.
This
is Payton (formerly known as "Shadow"). He is a beautiful, purebred,
black German Shepherd. We (Jessie and Dan—Payton's
new mom and dad) adopted him from the Muscatine, IA Humane Society.
We found him through www.petfinder.com.
He is three years old and was surrendered due to rental/financial problems.
We agreed to adopt him and on the day we were supposed to pick him
up.
The shelter called to tell us he was heartworm positive. If we didn't
want him, they would have to put him down. He is such a great dog—the
thought never crossed our minds not to take him—so we made an
appointment at our vet. The shelter happily waved the adoption fee,
and Payton came home from the clinic today. He's been wonderful! (Can
you believe he waited in a shelter for five months?) He loves our 12-year-old
German Shepherd mix, Jack, and our cat, Poe. Jack and Payton squeeze
on one dog bed together and lay on the couch nose to nose. Thankfully,
we have a large sectional, so the human members of the family get a
corner!
I (Jessie) can't imagine how many
dogs like Payton are in shelters or rescues. I know that any family
willing to invest a little time and money, and a lot of love will receive
a loyal, loving family member for life. As an added bonus, he's already
housebroken and past the puppy destructive/chewing phase. Jack (our
German Shepherd mix) has cancer, and when the time is right, we will
search the shelters and rescues for a dog in need.
I hope people will read this and not buy a dog from a puppy-mill
when there are so many wonderful dogs waiting for a forever home.
— Jessi & Dan and
their pets: Jack, Payton and Poe
Allie's Story
We fell in love with Allie the moment we laid eyes on her. Floppy
ears, a beautifully masked face, and a gruff little bark. She was absolutely
irresistible and since we purchased Allie from a police officer who
appeared very knowledgeable about German Shepherds and eager to help
Allie adjust to her new home, five hundred dollars for a puppy the
breeder claimed normally sold for one thousand dollars seemed like
a steal. Unfortunately, we were mistaken and our journey with Allie
hardly turned out as expected.
We quickly learned that bringing a German Shepherd into one's home
requires a lot of dedication and patience. We read books on German
Shepherds; however, we clearly had no idea what a dog like Allie needed
and deserved. In the year Allie lived with us she grew into a large
dog requiring a lot of stimulation and attention. She became excessively
protective of us and failed to adapt to new people and/or situations.
Allie also appeared to suffer from anxiety when left to play by herself
for any length of time and had trouble focusing during training sessions.
The well-behaved police dogs we often watched on the television shows "Cops" and "The
Animal Planet" were a far cry from the German Shepherd that dwelled
in our home.
Desperate
for help and realizing that Allie deserved more, we started researching
German Shepherds on the internet, in additional books, and referenced
two veterinarians. The veterinarians guessed Allie possessed a condition
similar to ADD or supposed she suffered from an anxiety disorder. We
attempted new training techniques with Allie, spayed and medicated
her but nothing seemed to transform her into the dog we originally
imagined for our family. We also tried contacting the breeder but since
his number was unlisted we ended up sending a detailed letter explaining
our concerns and asking for assistance. We gave him an email address,
phone number, and street address. We even offered to pay for the long
distance call but our plea for help was ignored and we were left to
deal with Allie on our own.
With both my husband and myself very busy, a new baby, and other animals
to care for we did not have adequate time to properly stimulate and
train Allie. We knew Allie deserved more and began screening families
interested in adopting her. We quickly learned that most people were
as uneducated about German Shepherds as we were and Allie's protective
and puppy-like behavior intimidated many of the people who came to
meet her. Fortunately, after many interviews and several changed minds,
Allie has a new home that is much better suited to her needs.
We still love Allie and accept complete responsibility for our mistakes
with her, but also hope our mistakes serve as a cautionary warning
to any future and potential German Shepherd owners. German Shepherds
are beautiful dogs and can make wonderful additions to a family but
one must educate themselves on the breed and work with and purchase
the dog from a honest and caring breeder to give themselves and the
dog the best possible opportunity for a long and happy relationship
together.
In addition, if you are ever considering breeding your own
pet,
read Should
I breed my dog?
Keep Sending Us Pictures!
If you have adopted from us — send us your pictures
to
We would like to post them on the Alumni
page!
Webside Chat by the Central Illinois German Shepherd
Dog Rescue's Webmaster
We have had several requests by other groups and individuals to link
their organizational or personal web pages to us. If you would like
to link to the us, please download the image below and use the following
html code to link to the Central Illinois
German Shepherd Dog Rescue
<a href="https://www.gsdhaven.org"><img
src="gsdlinkbanner1.gif" width="202" height="75" alt="German
Shepherd Dog: The Intelligent Choice. Central Illinois German Shepherd
Dog Rescue" border="0" vspace="10" hspace="10"></a>
In Memory of....
Misty,
Our Vice-President's very special puppy and honorary
German Shepherd (schnauzer mix), recently passed away after
two decades of unsurpassed loyalty. Misty was a one-man dog for our
VP's entire adulthood. She saw him through the best and worst of times
with unconditional love and acceptance, often kept him going with snuggles
on cold nights. Misty will never be forgotten, and the clicking of
her nails will be missed terribly. Twenty years is a wonderfully long
time to keep your best friend. She is now dancing in green fields with
our other beloved pets, until it is time for them to meet again.
At
the time of the founding of the Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog
Rescue (CIGSDR), Elizabeth's (rescue president) obedience dog was a
German Shepherd Dog named Sadie who was in the process
of rehabilitation from a terrible person advertising themselves as
a breeder. Sadie had been left in a garage with about 14 other GSD's
and almost no human interaction. At 8 months old, she was working hard
to trust any human. Since the public often saw Sadie at Elizabeth's
side, many people began to ask questions regarding rescuing various
needyShepherds. Having recently moved to the Champaign-Urbana area
from up north, Elizabeth went looking for the area breed rescue organizations.
Not finding nearly as many as there are up north, she felt obligated
to start one. Sadie needed to be put to sleep in June 2003 due to continued
ear infection complications and now lives forever in our hearts.
— Elizabeth Riddle, Central
Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue
Visit our In Memory of.. page to
find out how you can remember your German Shepherd Dog or German
Shepherd mix that has passed away while at the same time helping
those dogs looking for forever homes at the Central
Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue.
Approximately 8-12 million
companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide
every year and approximately 5-9 million are
euthanized (60% of dogs and 70% of cats). — Annual
Shelter Statistics, ASPCA
The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
answers the question Why
Spay or Neuter? (PDF—15K). This
low-cost surgery keeps your animal healthier
and helps fight pet overpopulation.
Check
this out...
Try the ASPCA's "Is
your Home Poison Safe?" Interactive
Quiz on the ASPCA web site.
