RESIDENT HONORED IN THE FIELD OF DOG TRAINING The 2009 award winners were honored at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers’ annual Educational Conference and Trade Show held in Oakland, Calif., in October. Recipients were selected based upon criteria established by a committee composed of volunteer APDT members. The Dr. Robert Curran NewTrix Video Award is designed to honor the recipient who creates a short video that describes a training concept or issue. This year’s theme was innovative ways to teach clients how to exercise their dogs. This year’s recipient is Emily Larlham of San Diego. Larlham began her career in dog training at the San Diego Humane Society, taking care of the quarantined and unadoptable dogs and rooms full of puppies. After teaching classes at the Humane Society and South Bark Dog Wash, she began her own dog training business, Dogmantics Dog Training.  Larlham has combined her degree in fine art media and her passion for training dogs to create a free dog training channel, “kikopup,” on YouTube.  Here she gives tutorials on teaching dogs complex tricks as well as modifying behavior. Larlham recently held seminars in Madrid and Barcelona on her clicker training methods.  For more information visit the APDT Website, www.apdt.com. VETERINARY CANCER GROUP OPENS IN SAN DIEGO Dr. Mona Rosenberg, founder and chief of staff at Veterinary Cancer Group, has announced that the firm has opened a third location in Southern California to better serve its referring veterinarians and cancer patients. This newest Outpatient Oncology Facility in San Diego is headed by San Diego resident and Veterinary Cancer Group’s own Jarrod M. Vancil, DVM (practice limited to oncology). The new office is conveniently located in the Kearney Mesa area of San Diego at 5040 Convoy St., Suite B, San Diego, CA 92111. Veterinary Cancer Group’s San Diego Outpatient Oncology Facility will offer a full range of services, including the latest chemotherapy protocols, immune system support and internationally recognized clinical trials. The group’s goal is to bring the same cutting-edge, progressive and compassionate care that it has provided patients in Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange County to cancer patients and their families in the San Diego community. The San Diego office will be open for appointments from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Appointments will be also available on Thursdays on an emergency basis. The office can be reached via phone at (619) 414-5056. For more information on Veterinary Cancer Group or the San Diego office, visit www.vetcancergroup.com. NEW CLUB FOR WATER – LOVING DOGS Do dogs swim naturally? Taking to the surf or paddling like a duck seems natural for many breeds known for their waterproof coats and webbed feet. Other dogs cringe at the thought of getting their paws wet merely walking on moist grass. You don’t have to own a special breed to be able to enjoy splashing around. However, safety is key, as not all dogs are natural swimmers. If you love water and want to share the fun with your pooch, San Diego’s year-round temperate weather is ideal. Lara Schindler, trainer with Happy Dog Happy Owner, has launched a new meetup group open to anyone with a dog that likes water. The new Water Loving Dog Meetup Group offers San Diego dog owners the opportunity to socialize with others interested in water-based activities as well as implementing positive training techniques with their four-legged family members. To register, visit www.meetup.com/The-San-Diego-Water-Loving-Dog-Meetup-Group. Schindler is an ABC certified dog trainer, honors graduate of Animal Behavior College and is pet first aid certified through the American Red Cross. As owner and founder of Happy Dog Happy To learn more about Happy Dog Happy Owner’s mission, training philosophies and services, call Schindler at (619) 889-8606 or visit www.happydoghappyowner.com. DRSFOSTERSMITH.COM OFFERS SHIPPING DEALS Check out our Website for our new shipping prices!  Free shipping on thousands of new items, plus a new $5.99 flat shipping price on all other products, regardless of price or weight.  Unprecedented shipping rates within the pet product industry.  And our customers are responding… orders are flying in! drsfostersmith.com.   SELECT DOG BREEDS BANNED FROM MARINE CORPS BASE The most decorated canine war hero in United States history was a pit bull, but now this breed is no longer welcome on Marine Corps installations. The rule, which was signed Aug. 11, 2009, prohibits purebred and mixed breed pit bulls, rottweilers and canid/wolf hybrids aboard Marine Corps installations. Residents who already own one of these breeds were given 60 days to apply for and meet the guidelines of the “grandfather” clause waiver. The waiver is only open to currently registered dogs and would only apply until Sept. 30, 2012. To meet the waiver’s provisions, owners must receive approval for the waiver from the local installation commander, and the dog must pass a “nationally-recognized temperament test, administered and interpreted by individual(s) who have been certified in technique and evaluation of the test results, at the service member resident’s expense. Such tests include Canine Good Citizen (AKC) and the Delta Test (Delta Society).” Local trainers are offering additional classes and discounted classes to help dogs prepare for passing the Canine Good Citizen test, a 10-part test that includes accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, walking on a loose lead, walking through a crowd, sit and down on command and staying in place, coming when called, reaction to another dog and to distraction. EINHORN INSURANCE COMBATS DISCRIMINATION Many dogs are discriminated against regardless of their personal history and temperament. A dog can be and often is “blacklisted” and its owners denied insurance coverage based on their dog’s breed. Akitas, Alaskan malamutes, chows, Dobermans, German shepherds, Great Danes, huskies, pit bulls, rottweilers, Staffordshire terriers and other lineages are often labeled as dangerous and unable to receive coverage under a homeowner or renter’s policy. While running a successful dog walking business, Dori Einhorn became aware of this issue. Desiring to support dog lovers further, she decided to change careers. Einhorn, along with her husband Eric, founded Einhorn Insurance specializing in helping clients obtain insurance policies regardless of their dog’s breed. As proud owners of a pit bull themselves, the Einhorns understand the prevalence of breed discrimination. They found that most insurance companies would not consider giving a homeowner or renter’s policy to them. Not having adequate insurance coverage can be risky and potentially costly. Dori explains, “Thirty-three percent of all home claims are dog related, so it’s very important for the dog to be covered… These claims are not all from dog bites. You can have a super-friendly dog that jumps on someone just to say hello and that person falls and injures themselves.” Any dog can cause injury, so having sufficient coverage that includes them in your policy is important. Dori works with more than 30 rescues in California, helping people that have adopted a dog to obtain insurance policies. Loving dogs as they do and knowing the importance of insurance, the Einhorns provide coverage for dogs at no extra charge. They even offer auto insurance policies that will pay some of your pet’s veterinary bills if they are hurt in a car accident. Visit www.einhorninsurance.com to find out how they can help you and your dog be safe and insured. HUMANE GROUPS WILL MERGE BY END OF YEAR The North County Humane Society and SPCA and San Diego Humane Society and SPCA have announced plans to merge. The merged organization will pool resources to increase life-saving programs and strengthen the human-animal bond The board and management leadership of North County Humane Society and SPCA (NCHS) and San Diego Humane Society and SPCA (SDHS) have announced that they have reached an agreement to merge and are now completing the steps required to accomplish this merger before the end of 2009. Following a successful due diligence process, NCHS will merge with SDHS, and the combined organization will be called the “San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.” NCHS’s North County facility on San Luis Rey Road in Oceanside will operate under the name “San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, North Campus.” “This merger will bring additional resources to advance animal welfare services provided by the two organizations,” said Julie Banks, NCHS executive director. Other benefits of the merger include: • More treatable animals’ lives will be saved in our respective communities as a result of the merger. • The merger will bring additional resources to bear on animal welfare services provided by the two organizations. • Increased services for individual pet owners when they are faced with the challenges and difficulties of separating from a beloved pet. • Create a more compassionate community by bringing forward and enhancing lifesaving education programs for both children and adults. • Work together to ensure that both owner-relinquished animals and stray animals receive the same standard of veterinary medical care as owned pets in our community. Dr. Mark Goldstein, DVM, CAWA, and president of SDHS, will serve as president of the new SDHS organization. The SDHS senior management team will oversee the staff and operations of the new organization. Banks, executive director of the current NCHS, will become part of the new SDHS following the merger. In addition, two members who now serve on the NCHS board of directors will be appointed to the board of trustees of the new SDHS organization. “Together, we can do more. Our shared missions of serving animals and the community have brought us together for the good of the animals and people in our community in our work to strengthen the human-animal bond,” Goldstein said. For more information about SDHS, visit www.sdhumane.org; for NCHS, www.nchumane.org . BEST TOOLS TO COMBAT H1N1 IN PETS News out of Iowa reports that we’ve seen the first confirmed case of H1N1 flu in a family’s cat. This is the first time H1N1 has been reported in a cat, though it is well-known that other influenza strains can be spread from humans to animals. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) reminds people to be vigilant in observing their pets. If they show signs of illness, such as a runny nose, sneezing or wheezing, loss of appetite, and lethargy, it is important to take them to a veterinarian, no matter what the species. “The current influenza vaccines for animals don’t prevent the contraction of H1N1,” says spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein. “However if an animal becomes ill, antibiotics can be prescribed to combat secondary infections,” Luckily, the cat recovered. Remember, if someone in your home becomes sick, practice good hygiene, keep infected humans away from pets, be vigilant and don’t hesitate to seek veterinary treatment if your pets are showing signs of illness. For more info, please contact Ana Bustilloz at [email protected] or 323-730-5300 x252 or 323-707-1271.