Happy Memorial Day To Our Veteran & First Responder Dogs!

May is a busy month for celebrations including: Cinco De Mayo, Mother's Day and Memorial Day. We chose to focus this year on the celebration of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day, originally called Dedication Day, began after the Civil War to honor fallen soldiers by decorating graves with flowers. Dogs have been used in the military since approximately 600BC, however the US Military officially adopted them into the service on March 13, 1942 with the formation of the Army K-9 Corps. Dogs were used in previous wars, including the Civil War, but it was not until WW2 that structured training began. Today there are over 2,700 dogs on active duty in the US Armed Forces, many of them deployed over seas.

While Memorial Day is a time for solemn reflection and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service, it is also a meaningful opportunity to recognize the specialized K-9 companions, both veterans of the field and first responder dogs, who serve alongside their handlers. Here are several ways to honor these dedicated animals and support the organizations that care for them:

• Raise Awareness - raising awareness about the history of these dogs helps ensure their legacy isn't forgotten. Share stories about the bravery of these dogs with others;
• Handlers - The bond between a handler and their dog is incredibly deep. Celebrating the dog often means supporting the human at the other end of the leash.
• Fostering - Look into & support organizations that help find forever homes for retired dogs, ensuring they spend their final years in comfort;
• Specialized Charities - Donate to specialized charities that provide initial training, and/or medical care and end of life services for retired working dogs;

A Note on Etiquette - if you see a working dog or a veteran dog in a vest during a Memorial Day event, always ask the handler before approaching or offering treats. Many of these dogs are still "on the clock" even during ceremonies!

~~May Dog Observances:

Specific May Dog Holidays

• May 1: National Purebred Dog Day.
• May 3: May Day for Designer Breeds.
• May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day.
• May 9: National Dog Mom Day (2nd Saturday).
• May 9: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.
• May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day.
• May 16: World Dog Day (3rd Saturday).
• May 20: National Rescue Dog Day.

Month-Long Observances

• National Pet Month: Celebrates the benefits of pet ownership.
• Canine Arthritis Awareness Month: Focuses on joint health for older dogs.
• Pet Cancer Awareness Month: Raises awareness for cancer in pets.
• National Service Dog Eye Examination Month: Offering free eye exams to service dogs

Happy Memorial Day!



Big Crowds - Big Fears For Pups

Even the friendliest dog can get overwhelmed by a large crowd of strangers. Many dogs tend to feel anxious in crowds, and struggle to deal with a large amount of unfamiliar people. Their natural instinct is a large amount of people signals trouble. If you take your pup to a Memorial Day, or any other day, celebration with big crowds you will need to keep an eye on your pup!

Signs of potential fear or discomfort to look for:

• Watch Body Language: Look for "whale eye" (showing the whites of their eyes), tucked tails, or lip licking. These are signs your dog needs a break;
• Supervise Children: Memorial Day often involves kids running around. Ensure all interactions are supervised, and give your dog a "no-child zone" to rest in;
• Remain Calm: It is important for you to remain calm and project confidence. Dogs can feel your tension through the leash, your voice and awkward movements. The way that you are personally navigating the crowd will impact how well your dog does.

Quick Emergency Reference:

• Excessive Drooling/Red Gums

--Potential Cause: Heatstroke

--Action: Move to shade, apply cool (not ice) water to paws.

• Vomiting/Stretching

--Potential Cause: Choking or Blockage

--Action: Check airway; head to emergency vet immediately.

• Shaking/Hiding

--Potential Cause: Noise Anxiety

--Action: Move to a dark, quiet room; stay calm to reassure them.

Franklin

Major General William Buel Franklin was a high ranking union general who fought in the Civil War. Memorial Day is all about honoring our past heroes, so we felt it was only appropriate to pick our Franklin, in honor of General Franklin, as "Dog of the Month."

Our Franklin is as sweet as they come. One look into those big, beautiful eyes, and your heart melts. He is an adorable Shih Tzu, about 2 years old and 16 pounds. He is very friendly and welcoming, and he gets along well with other dogs. He loves to receive attention and affection and some belly rubs.

This darling boy will surely bring lots of joy to a new family. If you believe you are a great match for Franklin, please put in an application today.

In the meantime enjoy our song of the month!



--Click on Frnaklin's picture to see his video

Bryan

From the moment this little guy arrived at the shelter, we knew that this sweet boy had a heart full of love. Now he has found his forever family and has already settled right in. Seeing Bryan so content snuggled up in his new mother's arms, it's like he has always belonged to this family. It is everything we could have hoped for. Congratulations Bryan, we are so happy for you!

Caylee

We are celebrating here at the shelter, our darling girl Caylee has been adopted! This little girl came from a background of horrible neglect, but the moment she got to the shelter she charmed everyone with her gentle spirit, loving eyes & affectionate personality. We took care of her medical needs and now she is on her way to a wonderful & safe life. We are so happy for you Caylee, you will live out the rest of your life with unconditional love and affection.

Sunny & Sally

We had a big Easter surprise at the shelter, Sunny & Sally, our mother-daughter pair, got adopted together. These two adorable dogs have hopped their way into a loving forever family. We recognized the strong mother-daughter bond held by these two when they arrived at the shelter and knew they could not be separated. We are thankful for their new family also recognizing this bond. Now these two little hearts belong together forever!

- Does your dog need advice about human behavior that only a trained dog advisor can answer? Ask Amber!.

Amber is one of the editor's dogs who, of course, is a Shih Tzu Rescue Alumni:

• Dear Amber,

I sit in front of my human and give a big "I want a treat" smile, but sometimes my human does not respond. How else can I let my human know that I am hungry and want a treat?

~~Treatless

• Dear Treatless,

Our humans often think that treats overly spoil us or will make us chubby. I have learned, however, that if you show that you will work for your treat, our humans cannot resist. Ideas include:

• The "Happy Dance": Bouncing, spinning, and quickly tapping your paws is a full body expression of excitement and anticipation;
• Tricks: Do the tricks that you have learned in front of your human; rollover, sit-up, play dead and/or giving a high five. These tricks might work better if performed in front of the treat jar;
• Scratching: Scratching or biting at yourself often shows humans that you are frustrated or bored and need a "pick-me-up" treat;
• The "Guide": Leading your human towards the location where treats are kept.

Keep in touch and let us know what works best for you!

~~With pearls of wisdom & a perfectly fluffed tail, Amber

Send us your fun dog questions for Amber and we will feature them here!