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All the good news about animals, wildlife, and the earth Best Friends March/April 2005 TSUNAMI On the front lines Do Animals Think in Pictures? Plus • Feline Fear Factor • Life After Stupid Pet Tricks • Ode to the Oddballs BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 1 from the editor God & the Tsunami By Michael Mountain Our work for the animals is a work of the soul. How should we explain the twin mysteries of evil and suffering? “ ” t’s a cry of helplessness in the face of catastrophe. Where was God in the tsunami? Or indeed in Rwanda … or during the Holocaust … on September 11th . . . or in the suffering of just a single creature brought in to an animal shelter? The question has been around since the dawn of consciousness. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do they happen at all? It’s also the fundamental issue for every religion and philosophy, from Christianity to Buddhism: how to explain those “twin mysteries of evil and suffering.” After a huge volcano exploded at Krakatoa, off the coast of Sumatra, in 1893, Islamic religious leaders told their people that the Almighty was angry with them for allowing false religions into their lands. (As it turned out, those sermons sparked a series of uprisings that led to the ousting of the Western powers and the eventual birth of the nation of Indonesia.) Unexplainable catastrophe and religious belief have been linked throughout history. Another huge eruption, this time in the Mediterranean 3,500 years ago, was the likely cause of the 10 plagues described in the Book of Exodus as divine punishment on the Egyptian persecutors of Hebrew slaves. In the 10th century, the plagues that swept Europe were seen by millions of people as the unfolding of the Day of Judgment, leading up to the expected end of the world. And today, in the aftermath of the recent tsunami, the same questions: Why us? Why at all? Does it all point to the fact that we humans have strayed from the path? Or is it simply proof that there is no divine hand at all guiding the affairs of humankind? I In earliest traditions, the gods were simple representations of the natural world in which people found themselves – creators and destroyers, elementals that gave life and then, just as capriciously, swept it away. As human personality developed, the gods grew, too, coming to represent powers of love and war, beauty and revenge, and all the complex new facets of the inner world of human nature. People set out to appease those gods with offerings and sacrifices that might satisfy their appetites, divert their anger, and subdue their power over us and within us. For the ancient Greeks, “tragedy” was not just another word for disaster; it was the drama of humankind’s noble but usually futile struggle against those forces that embodied nature – especially human nature. In due course, as the understanding of a single, universal God took hold, so did the problem of explaining the evils of the world. The biblical Book of Job tells of a righteous man being struck down by every conceivable form of misery. His torments cannot be explained away as simply the result of his sins. So eventually Job challenges the Almighty to explain Himself – which He duly does, emerging “out of the whirlwind” with a barrage of rhetorical questions. “Where were you,” He asks, “when I laid the foundations of the Earth?” God, as we meet Him here, is presented as primarily occupied with bringing order to the universe, and not directly involved in micromanaging human affairs. Early Christian theology generally interpreted evil as being either punishment Continued on page 56 2 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Best Friends M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 0 5 M A G A Z I N E contents 2 4 5 12 14 18 22 24 28 30 41 42 44 46 48 54 From the Editor • God & the Tsunami Mysteries of Life • iWhale seeks iPod • Hiding in plain sight • Mummy fraud • How about a wax? Oddly Enough • Dog’s best friend • Odd couple … Odd coupling • Cuddle-fish • Oddly but briefly Reviews & Updates • More fur flying! • We hope this battle takes forever • No skin off Nessie’s nose Thinking Globally • News and photos from around the world Talking with Animals • Picture this! Do animals think like autistic children? No More Homeless Pets • News briefs Media Watch • Cartoon wedding means cash for critters • Naked truth revealed about naked chef • Wacky Web pages The Earth • Canyon song: Natural wonder in the Southwest Best Friends Animal Sanctuary • News from the sanctuary • Ode to the oddballs • Special adoptions • Life after stupid pet tricks The Animals’ Bookshelf • Spring break Ambassador to the Animals • Curtain call! How Act Three of the No More Homeless Pets drama is set to play out Animals in History • Feline fear factor On the Radio • Connections, credit, & opera Members & Pets • Cinder’s tale: Long but worthwhile journey • Your mail • Your memories On the Light Side • That sound is King Tut rolling over • Python “popcorn” • Designated herder • He huffed & he puffed & he filed an appeal • Ass-tronomical savings • Lite News BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 6 Tsunami From disaster … heroes 25 On the Wild Side The lost tigers of China BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE Editor: Michael Mountain Managing Editor: Steven Hirano Senior Editor: Julie Richard Assistant Editors: Estelle Munro, Rebecca Preston Sanctuary Editor: Elizabeth Doyle Research: Anne Zepernick, Julie Hildebrandt Photos: Clay Myers, Troy Snow Graphics: Arnie Bishop, Parvin Panahi Cartoons: Marc Brown, Steven Hirano Advertising: Ashley Tillman, Denise Kelly Distribution: Denise Kelly BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY President: Michael Mountain Sanctuary & Animal Care: Faith Maloney Rescue Programs: Francis Battista Spay/Neuter & Adoption: Gregory Castle No More Homeless Pets: Bonney Brown Treasurer: John Fripp ADVERTISING OFFICES: Los Angeles: Ashley Tillman (818) 986-3006 New York: Denise Kelly (212) 592-0743 Best Friends magazine is published by Best Friends Animal Society. Located at Angel Canyon, in the majestic red-rock country of Utah, Best Friends runs the nation’s largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals, and is also home to a host of wildlife who find refuge here. Best Friends operates a low-cost spay/neuter program, sponsors a network of members in rescue, foster care and humane education, and works with humane groups nationwide to bring about a time when there will be No More Homeless Pets. The society is supported primarily by memberships and donations, and subscriptions to this magazine. Your contributions are taxdeductible. B E S T F R I E N D S M AG A Z I N E is published by Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741. Subscriptions are $25 (6 issues per year). Standard A postage paid at St. Joseph, Michigan. Vol. 14, issue 2 © 2005, Best Friends Animal Society. All rights reserved. Cover photo of Faith by Clay Myers. 5001 Angel Canyon Rd • Kanab, UT 84741 Tel: (435) 644-2001 • Fax: (435) 644-2078 e-mail: editor@bestfriends.org www.bestfriends.org 3 mysteries of life A strange, lone voice can be heard echoing through the Pacific. It’s unlike any other, causing marine biologists to scratch their collective heads. Tracing the movements of whales in the northern Pacific with radio signals, a single whale was discovered to be singing at a frequency of around 52 hertz. (Most whales call at 15 to 20 hertz.) The calls don’t match any known species of whale. Nor does the creature follow the migration patterns of any other species. The whale has been roaming the ocean every autumn and winter for a dozen years. As the big mammal gets older, the calls have deepened slightly but are still recognizable and distinguishable. iWhale Seeks iPod They prayed, gave offerings, built temples to honor and please. And it seems that they weren’t above a little fraud, either! New high-tech digital x-rays have revealed that a mummified cat from Ancient Egypt contains only twigs and cotton and never actually held any feline remains at all. “The person who bought the mummy probably used it as an offering to the goddess Bastet, who possessed the head of a cat,” said William Pestle, anthropology collections manager at the Chicago Natural History Museum. But it’s unlikely the purchaser knew it was a fake – that wouldn’t make Bastet very happy. Pestle notes that the switch makes sense for the time period, around 500 B.C.E., because between the 25th and 26th dynasties, mummy standards began to “fall off.” Mummy Fraud Photo: Piers Allison How, exactly, does an animal hide in a heavily populated country? That’s the question that’s popped up along with a new species of monkey photographed in India. The new member of the macaque family is rather large (for a monkey), with a relatively short tail, and was found in India’s Arunachal Pradesh in the country’s northeastern region. With over a billion people in the country, it’s surprising that a new species could emerge that had previously gone completely undetected. And if that’s not enough of a mystery itself, there have also been reports of hitherto unknown species of deer and a Chinese goral (an animal related to the goat) reported in the same area. Now that researchers have found the Arunachal monkey, t h e y ’r e trying to determine if it should be regarded as an endangered species. 4 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Hiding in Plain Sight How About a Wax? What’s up on Mars? Something (or someone?) has been regularly cleaning layers of dust from the solar panels of the Mars Opportunity rover vehicle while it’s been snoozing through the Martian night. This outer-space “carwash” has helped boost the panels’ power output back up to their maximum 900 watt hours per day. By contrast, the power output of the Mars Spirit (hanging out on the other side of the planet) has dropped to just 400 watt-hours per day because the panels are so clogged by the heavy dust. It’s probably the wind, but NASA can’t explain exactly what’s happening. They call the mystery “exciting,” and whoever or whatever is responsible has the agency very thankful. A NASA spokesperson says the “unexplained cleaning events have kept Opportunity in really great shape.” Photo: KRT/M.D. Madhusudan Photo: marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov Photo: Amanda Cavazos oddly enough Dog’s Best Friend! Baby Owen was found alone and dehydrated by wildlife rangers near the Indian Ocean. When he was taken to the park, he spotted a male tortoise of similar color. Now they sleep and eat together; Owen shadows the tortoise wherever he goes, and even licks his face. They’ve become inseparable. Odd Couple . . . An orphaned baby hippo has befriended a 100-year-old tortoise at a Kenyan wildlife sanctuary. AFP/File/Peter Greste As if the giant Australian cuttlefish weren’t odd enough simply by their appearance, now it seems that their behavior is a little loopy, too. Male cuttlefish are the first known animal cross-dressers. With competition for the ladies fierce at four females to each male, girls can get rather p i c k y. So what luck is a smaller cuttlefish going to have in elbowing larger rivals out of the way? Nature has provided them with a helpful trick. Males hide their masculine fourth arms and change color to mimic the mottled skin of females. That way, they can sneak past the horde of better-built rival suitors straight into the arms of an unsuspecting gal. And high numbers of them succeed. With researchers playing voyeur, three out of five cuttlefish were successful in getting the girl. A female partner rejected one, and a big bully cuttlefish unfortunately discovered the other. The only drawback to the cunning courting is that sometimes other male cuttlefish get a little confused and try to mate with one of the boys in disguise. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 www.marinewallpaper.com Dolphins have the reputation of being the “angels of the sea” for the countless tales of rescuing humans in distress. But the smart cetaceans also have a heart of gold when it comes to man’s best friend. When a sudden wave washed Heidi the dog into the mouth of a river as she was standing on a spit with her person, the dog surely looked like a goner. Her person was distraught as he saw the strong current sweep the dog into the sea, where several waves flipped her over and over. Then he was terrified to see a fin emerge from the water. Sure that a shark was about to make a meal of his pup, the man was even more surprised to see a dolphin emerge and begin swimming in front of Heidi, turning her toward the shore. For half an hour, the dolphin swam near the dog, rising out of the water a few times until the dog was dumped by a wave onto the beach. Marine mammal experts say they don’t recall another incident where a dolphin actually rescued a dog, but it doesn’t surprise them at all. Dolphins have been known to take a great liking to canines they see on land and often try to invite them to come out to play. A Bengalese tiger and an African lion have had an interspecies romance at the Novosibirsk Zoo in Siberia, and the result is a healthy tiger-lion cub. The “liger” has a full lion’s mane and a striped tiger body, and is apparently doing well with her mother. The two parents share nearby caves at the zoo and nobody has quite explained how they got together for the romance. Officials insist that the birth is entirely accidental and not the result of any scientific A liger at the Shambala Preserve in California for experiment. orphaned and displaced big cats. . . . Odd Coupling Cuddle-Fish 5 reviews & updates From rescue groups respond toHeroes Disaster... the tsunami Animal The first reports seemed so positive: The wave that had swept through Southeast Asia had somehow spared the animals. Wildlife sanctuaries reported that creatures of all kinds had made their way to the hills ahead of the disaster that they’d sensed was coming. Next came the stories of animal heroes: elephants and dogs rescuing children from the rushing waters. But then came the reality on the ground. Much of the wildlife on land did, indeed, make an initial escape. But marine creatures had been washed ashore, and sea turtle hatcheries were lost. And domestic animals – dogs, cats, goats, sheep, and cattle – shared the same fate as humans. Those who survived were suffering from aching hunger, severe thirst, wounds, and threats of disease. With aid coming so slow to starving and overwhelmed people, little was left for the animals. Just as charities leapt into action to help people, there were those who turned their attention to helping the animals, too, collecting money, vital medical supplies, and food for groups on the ground. Rescue teams and veterinarians made their way to the region. As the call went out to animal lovers worldwide, veterinary organizations flew staff to the disaster area. What they encountered was overwhelming. One could only grasp a few individual stories at a time: the two dogs who had failed to keep up with their fleeing owners; a cat who was left behind in a flooded house; the dolphin and her calf spotted by a man who was searching for his wife in Khao Lak, Thailand. Like other humane groups, Best Friends launched an emergency appeal, distributing funds to many groups on the ground. Some have been able to send back reports. But these are only a few of the stories. There are many more where teams of volunteers are working to provide vital aid and care to the surviving animals. 6 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Andaman Islands Kartik Satyanaraya of Wildlife S.O.S., New Delhi, took a team to the Andaman Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, between India and Thailand. Day Two Day One (January 1) A grim start to the New Year. The rescue team began their work at Marina Beach, where a completely flattened landscape met them. All the fishermen’s huts and boats were washed away. Only debris fields remain. They saw scores of dead animals half buried in the white sand and a group of starving dogs feeding off dead goats. Human survivors are still in shock. Many are searching among the debris for their animals. Finding their pet dog or cat is now assuming a larger-than-life meaning. A local man told the team that several injured animals were lying in Nalangrai and the Kovalam estuary. The team rushed there, giving first aid to the injured dogs, cows, and goats that had run to safety earlier than the humans. Our alert veterinary assistant noticed a brown blob being washed ashore. It was a tiny mixed-breed dog miraculously alive, terrified and shivering. The doctors promptly treated him for shock, and the local people adopted him. The team moved to Padupettai, a lone temple left standing silhouetted against the sky in acres of debris. It had become the villagers’ refuge. A woman came running to the doctors. Her bullock was left for dead, but her son loved the animal so much that he went to find him, to say prayers and mourn. When he found the bull, it was blinking, still alive. Overjoyed, they had dragged it to the temple, where the team seemed sent by God. The doctors gave the bull fluids and antibiotics and treated him for shock. He will recover, they say. The other villagers were so excited at the luck of having vets arrive that they began dragging out their surviving animals to be seen. Day Three In Singarathoppu village, the team finally found a reason to laugh. A dog had survived when the wave had thrown him into an empty pot, which then bobbed him to safety until he was caught in the upper branches of a tree. The surviving villagers broke the pot but “Ramu” had the lip of it as a collar till our team extricated him from it. Day Four Day Four The team has split into three groups. The days are longer for us now. Sometimes feeding and treating animals goes on till midnight, and the truck or a hut becomes a bed for the night. Dr. Cyril, from Team Three, rushed to the famous Velankanni church to rescue an olive ridley turtle that had been washed ashore. By the time our rescue team reached the spot, local people were trying to kill the “bad omen,” which had come along with the misfortune of the tsunami. In the local language the villagers say, “Aamai varukidavum Aamain varukidavum onnumeai.” Day Six Biologist Kartik Satyanaraya is chairman of Wildlife S.O.S., New Delhi. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 7 Associated Press, US NAVY/JACOB J. KIRK The story was different as they went to Sonarukuppam. Only dead animals had washed up from the wave. The team moved on to Thirumullaivasal, where the village was divided between those who raised goats and fishermen. Forty goats were treated, but drinking water was not available. Twenty-two dogs were fed with bread and milk in plastic bags, and cats came running to try the food. The feeding will be done each day to help the surviving animals till human activity is restored. reviews & updates (“The place where a turtle comes and the king’s henchmen come are the same.”) The tsunami had created a shallow creek, with water almost reaching the waist. Dr. Cyril had to wade in and tow the turtle to safety. It was severely dehydrated and had a wound in the abdomen. It couldn’t be left, so Dr. Cyril traveled back to the base camp 95 miles away. They gave it fluids and treated the wound, then kept it comfortable by putting it in a bathtub filled with seawater. Many of the turtle hatching grounds were destroyed, and in many places, people that were starving were digging the nests to collect the eggs. that five veterinary camps and temporary animal shelters should be set up at Little Andamans, Katchal, Car Nicobar, Nancowry, Trinket Island, and Campbell Bay. If our funds hold out and we continue to receive tsunami relief donations, then it was felt by all that work should be undertaken simultaneously. All animals treated must also have vaccinations. India Pradeep Nath of the Visakha SPCA sent in these comments in the early days of the flood. We are located on the East Coast of India. Among the amazing news right after the flood were the endless stories of dogs here alerting the residents and fishermen. People could see that they were very uneasy, and that gave sufficient warning for them to be alert. We are working to feed the beach dogs and establish a relationship between the humans and the stray animals, so more people can care for the dogs. Most of the affected animals initially were goats and cattle. Cat deaths were rare, and while some dogs were killed, most sensed the danger and ran away. Most of the goats died because they were close to the sea grazing on beach grass. The goats that survived had many leg injuries and were vomiting from having swallowed so much seawater. Our team is treating them for dehydration throughout the villages. It is not easy to reach many of the villages, as they are very inaccessible even with four-wheelers. The conditions are extremely tough. . . . Stories of dogs providing early warning signals continue to be interesting. One of my colleagues was asking me why there were dogs barking in a very unusual way just days before the Tsunami happened. Another resident also remarked on the same strange behavior in her dogs. Day Fifteen Day Eight The condition of the olive ridley is still not great. Two local boys have appointed themselves protectors of the turtle and guard him during the day. On Little Andaman Island, most surviving animals are orphans, as their owners were killed in the tsunami. The animals that had run for safety into the jungle are returning to find no food or water and no humans to take care of them. More help has arrived. Three vets representing Friendicoes-Seca, Wildlife SOS, and One Voice arrived in Port Blair, bringing 220 pounds of vital medical supplies. Jet Airways has helped by waiving excess cargo charges. The authorities informed the new arrivals that they could not immediately help on some islands. The indigenous tribal people don’t welcome foreigners, and for security reasons, they must not visit those islands until January 27. Despite their disappointment, they immediately set to work treating 300 animals in areas near Port Blair. The first animal treated by the joint team was a dog that had run away with his family. When the wave retreated, it pulled the dog with it, and he had a fractured leg. The vets treated him, and he’s recovering at the relief camp with his owner. After a detailed discussion, it was decided Day Fourteen Port Blair: There was a ship going out to Little Andaman at 8 a.m. each day, but now it appears regular transport has broken down. We think we can get a boat, load fodder, cooked food for dogs and cats, and medicines, and go to Little Andaman. People have reported sightings of salt water crocodiles. As the land level has gone lower, many new interlinking shallow waterways have developed, and the crocodiles are moving through them. A 12-foot croc is considered average! They came along with the tidal waves and stayed there because of the easy availability of dead animals and people. We may have to catch them and relocate them to their original habitat. Dr. Prabhakar is OK but very tired, having worked in South India round the clock for 25 days before coming here to Port Blair. He is, however, ready to continue working and will go to Little Andaman. Currently he is sleeping in an upright sitting position in his chair opposite me as I type this. I will try to borrow somebody’s computer to send photos and more information. Day Thirty-One A dog had survived when the wave had thrown him into an empty pot, which then bobbed him to safety. 8 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 “ ” Sri Lanka Robert Blumberg reported on the work of his team, based in Colombo. January 5 Most animals fared relatively well from the initial impact. It is the aftermath that is of great concern. Many animals are desperate for food and water. The dogs were fighting over food put out, and some were drinking seawater, which was resulting in foaming at the mouth. We must be careful to squash any rumors that this is from rabies. One van returned to Paiyagala to vaccinate animals. There are many stories of rabid dogs circulating. One member of our group got a donation of 65 pounds of meat scraps from Keel Grocery Store and mixed it with rice for general feeding to try to keep things calm. Another member of the group did an assessment of livestock issues in the area, interviewing farmers. There are serious farming issues that will dwarf even the cat and dog problems. The salt water has killed A surviving kitten meets a new friend. This photo and several others on these pages are from Noah’s Wish, a U.S. rescue group that had a team of four people in Sri Lanka for 10 days in January. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 9 Getty/Spencer Platt January 8 reviews & updates the grass where the extensive farming is done, so there is nothing for the animals to eat. Bad news: There are reports from Arugam Bay, on the east coast, of several thousand dogs running amok from hunger, biting people, exhibiting aggressive behavior, some with rabies, etc. We spoke directly with the Pet V Care vet on the scene. While the numbers and incidents may be exaggerated, there is an issue. The general feeling is that the number of dogs was certainly more than just in the hundreds. People are afraid to go out at night for fear of being attacked by dogs, and sleep is difficult from the sounds of barking and dogfights all night. The Pet V Care vet reported that he had not personally seen the suspected rabies cases, but the clinical symptoms described fit. Hopefully it will be from drinking salt water. We don’t know yet. trickle down to the dogs through people being able to share more. The immediate response needs to include rapid mass vaccination. The initial local response team, including the Pets V Care vets, is exhausted and running out of steam. We’ve been out every day for the last two weeks with usually two to three units out at the same time. Our local volunteers have spent countless hours organizing things: buying supplies; preparing food; delivering, arranging and tracking donations and paying expenses; liaising with outside groups. But everyone in our small group has a “can-do attitude.” Fortunately the cell phone system is now up and running, both in Colombo and throughout much of the disaster area, allowing for efficient communications and coordination. making perhaps six or seven stops per day at schools, temples, and shops in a mile or two stretch. We met with a military commander who can pave the way for us in the eastern areas. We’ve purchased additional megaphones since they really bring people out. Three-day Land Rover trip to Trincomalee on the east coast. There are many refugee camps ranging in size from 25 to 500 people. In areas where people are accustomed to having dogs, the dogs were living in the camps with their people, sharing their food. In other areas, the dogs were roaming and scavenging as usual. The Sri Lankan military helped catch strays for vaccinating, and several soldiers expressed interest in adopting one, but were concerned about rabies and litters of puppies. Our work is cut out for us! Yesterday we had three mobile units out – sponsored by WSPA [World Society for the Protection of Animals] and HSI [Humane Society International]. The WSPA team proposed a program with immediate, shortterm, medium-term, and longer-term plans to provide both disaster relief and transition into a comprehensive program including sterilization via mobile clinics. In general, the existing dogs are in good shape, but many are hungry. As food aid is now starting to flow to people, it should January 11 “ Last report dated 11 Jan. – sorry for delay in sending another. I’ve just been too tired after running on four hours of sleep per night for the last couple weeks! We’ve now vaccinated about 2,500 dogs, not counting today. We’ve also been vaccinating cats. In many cases, even house cats aren’t always tame but just come and go. Three of the Noah’s Wish Team are with us now, assisting with the vaccination program as well as surveying to determine stops for the next days. IFAW [International Fund for Animal Welfare] is preparing to establish a vaccination effort centered near Galle in the south, and we are coordinating with them. We are going to focus on saturating the hard-hit southern area. The goal is to vaccinate about 10,000 dogs in the next few weeks. The number of animals vaccinated per day varies depending on whether they are free-roaming or pets. We’ve started using two vehicles in some cases, leap-frogging to announce that we’re coming, and then the following van arrives and vaccinates. We’ve been having good response with only 30 minutes’ notice, January 14 Arugam Bay: There are still problems reported by our contact. A decision has been made to put down dogs – at the urging of the French Red Cross stationed there in consultation with the local authorities. It has not happened yet because they’ve been unable to obtain the needed poison. We’ve decided to send several teams back there to do saturation vaccinations. But the bridge to the area is gone, so vehicles must be left on the mainland side, and we must cross on a very small ferry. The alternative is a three-hour jungle track, which requires two Land Rovers – one to pull the other free when it becomes stuck. January 15 January 31 Apologies for the long delay – we’ve been working flat out every day and by 11 p.m. just too zonked to pull together a report. We’ve just been running around Colombo doing the logistics support, so the folks in the field are really tired! I know you understand that the animals come first. One brown dog has become a community dog and people are caring for him. We saw this same effect throughout the villages that our team visited. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 10 ” Red collars are put on dogs to show that they have been vaccinated. Photos on these pages taken by Wildlife S.O.S., Robert Blumberg, Noah’s Wish, and news services. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 11 Reuters Photo Archive/ ARKO DATTA The animals of Southeast Asia, like the people, still need all the help they can get – especially as media attention moves on to other things. The scale of the catastrophe is such that food, water, and medical care will be needed for years to come. Best Friends will be continuing our Tsunami relief fund throughout the year to provide help not only to the groups you’ve read about on these pages, but to many others also working on the ground. If you can contribute once, or as a monthly donation, please go to the donations section of the Best Friends website at www.bestfriends.org/donations and follow the instructions. Your Help Can Save Lives reviews & updates The Fur’s Flying! After getting a bad rap from Congress over their standards of pet care, airlines are trying to revamp their poor pet-care image. In an effort to attract animal lovers, United Airlines is offering “United Pet Class,” letting their air miles earners rack up bonus points if their pets fly with them until May 27. Whether transporting pets as “shipped baggage” or in better style in the cabin, registered Pet Class customers can earn bonus miles when they purchase a round-trip ticket as long as their pets accompany them on at least one segment of the itinerary. But Midwest Airlines isn’t leaving United to lead the pack in pet perks. They have their own air miles plan – this one for Fido or Fluffy themselves. In a first of its kind perk, the airline has introduced “Premier Pets,” a program that offers customers who travel with their pets a free round-trip transport after an animal’s sixth one-way trip. Pet owners have three years to qualify for the free pet transport and they can earn up to three free pet trips per year. They’re facing a nasty legal battle from a recent federal lawsuit filed against them by Transgenic Pets LLC, a Colorado company that is also hoping to produce hypoallergenic cats. Transgenic alleges that the idea was theirs first, and that Allerca founder Simon Brodie breached a whole slew of agreements, patents, and trade secrets in setting up his company. Transgenic founder David Avner, an emergency room physician, claims he met Brodie when he was searching for financing for his company. He says he revealed trade secrets (meaning, the way to produce hypoallergenic cats) because he thought Brodie was a serious potential investor. The suit claims Brodie signed a nondisclosure and non-use agreement last year, and that the two discussed setting up a company to get their deal in motion. Then, Avner says, Brodie suddenly withdrew his financing, started Allerca instead, and began using Avner’s business and marketing plans. Avner says Allerca has even contacted Transgenic’s research lab and “cat supplier.” With the technology not even tried and tested (despite orders and deposits already being taken), it seems that before the first hypoallergenic cat makes his way into a new home, perhaps even before the first cat is born, the courts will have to decide just who is going to be the “daddy.” Courtesy of United Airlines The first litter hasn’t even been born. In fact, it’s not expected until sometime in 2006. But worldwide press coverage has led Allerca, the company that says it will produce the world’s first hypoallergenic cat, to increase its prices from $3,500 to $5,000 per kitten for U.S. clients, and $8,500 for international customers. (Those shipping charges must be brutal!) But Allerca may not be able to meet the demand that they say their cats have generated. They claim they’ve received over $50 million in “expressions of interest” and firm reservations in the first eight weeks after their announcement. The company may need that funding. 12 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 www.nessaexpedition.com We Hope This Battle Takes Forever! Another Braveheart-like war scene could very well play out in the Scottish highlands this summer if a Loch Ness Monster hunter doesn’t back off – and fast. Nessie fans are up in arms over an American submariner’s plans to collect tissue samples from the secretive sea monster this spring. Dan Taylor is no stranger to the legendary loch. He first visited 35 years ago with a homemade submarine to trawl the depths for a glimpse of the fishy girl. He made 50 to 60 dives in Loch Ness but, alas, turned up no sightings – although he did manage to capture some unusual sonar readings. Now, with improved technology, Taylor intends to return to the lake in a new submarine dubbed, of course, Nessa. This one will be equipped with a harpoon that uses hollow-pointed spears to grab flesh from living creatures. Taylor says he intends to use the skin “samples” to analyze Nessie’s hide. Highlanders are not happy – and they’re threatening to use wildlife legislation to stop the invasion. Gary Campbell, president of the Inverness-based Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club, is appalled by Taylor’s plan. “He thinks it’s OK to take a homemade submarine onto one of Scotland’s busiest waterways and shoot off spears at any living creature that appears on his sonar,” Campbell said. “We will be organizing a proper defense of Nessie.” No Skin Off Nessie’s Nose When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping ...with the Best Friends credit card Thousands of members and supporters are using the Best Friends Credit Card. If you’re not one of them yet, please sign up. A half of one percent of the money you spend on purchases using the card is donated to Best Friends. There’s no cost to you and it’s a great benefit to the animals. Call or write Best Friends for more information. Join the Experts Online! Spend some time each week with leaders of the No More Homeless Pets movement. And discover how to save the animals in your community. Pose your own questions or just follow the discussion. Come to www.bestfriends.org and follow the link to the No More Homeless Pets Forum. • March 7 – 11: Taking Good Care of Pets and the Earth. What can be done when coyotes are going after pets? What if deer are eating your landscaped plants? Can you find environmentally friendly cat litter? Environmental and animal advocate Sally Mackler of Humane USA answers questions about how to be kind to the earth and wildlife while also helping homeless animals. • March 14 – 18: Pocket Pets. Rats, guinea pigs, sugar gliders and other small creatures sometimes need rescue, too. But would you know how to help them? Small exotic animal specialist Dr. Mark Burgess of Southwest Animal Hospital helps us look out for the little guys. • March 21 – 25: “Why Do They Do That?” Cultural differences in the way we relate to animals. Merritt Clifton of Animal People has traveled widely and visited humane groups around the world and across the U.S. He answers your questions about different cultures and the way they relate to animals. • March 28 – April 1: Adoption Ads that Really Work. Elizabeth Doyle of Best Friends shares her writing tips and her years of experience about what works and what doesn’t. Send in some of your adoption ads, and Elizabeth will show you how to rewrite them. • April 4 – 8: Getting Stuff Donated. Claire Ives of Best Friends gives her top tips and answers your questions on how to get things donated – everything from pet beds to medications. • April 11 – 15: Understanding Feline Leukemia and FIV. Julie Levy, DVM, of The University of Florida has studied these viruses extensively, and will answer your questions about how they are spread, the accuracy of tests, and the prognosis for cats who test positive. • April 18 – 22 & April 25 – 29: These two weeks, we’ll take a break for the No More Homeless Pets conference. Give Your Best Friends the Very Best in Care Give them Prime of Life™ for • Increased energy & endurance • Greater resistance to illness • A longer and healthier life dogs and cats of all ages with the perfect combination of antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. It maximizes their natural immune systems. (Antioxidants protect cell membranes from the damaging effects of free radicals, and even reverses damage already done.) Our dog Sheila is thirteen years old. About a year ago we thought we were going to lose her – she didn’t have much energy, she slept all the time. She was on other vitamins but we decided to try Prime of Life. We were amazed at how she perked up after about one month. Prime of Life is a lot different from most vitamins you can get over the counter. – Judy Wiskirken, Walla Walla, Wash. My two Siberian Huskies, Jack and Blue (both 5 years old), and my English Bulldog, Gracie (6 years old), all take Prime of Life as well as other Best Friends Health supplements. They’ve got a lot of energy, they’re very healthy, and they’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I would recommend it. It gives me peace of mind, because you never know if they’re getting everything they need in their food. – William Ragan, Buffalo, N.Y. Available in easy-to-feed liver-flavored chewables that dogs love yet are soft enough to break up and mix in cat food. Prime of Life™ enhances the health and well being of Full forum schedule at www.bestfriends.org The Best Friends Wishing Garden May we plant a special wish for you? The Best Friends Wishing Garden is just outside the Welcome Center at the sanctuary. Each wish is written on rice paper that nourishes the earth and is then planted with a flower seed. Just send in your own special wish and we’ll sow a seed of good fortune for you. And thank you for helping to make Best Friends a dream come true for all your furry friends here. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Order today! Send a check or money order for $10 plus $3 shipping and handling for 100 ™ chewable wafers of Prime of Life. Prime of Life • Best Friends Store PO Box 149, Kanab, Utah 84741 or call 800-864-1661 or order online 13 thinking globally Pipe Dream? Siberia: Animal welfare groups are appealing to the Russian government to reroute a planned oil pipeline to give the Amur leopard a fighting chance to survive. Human settlements and forest fires have already pushed the cat to the brink of extinction. With only 30 still roaming free, there are more in captivity than in the wild. Russia has approved a plan for a pipeline bringing oil from Siberia to a new terminal on the coast, opening up export routes to East Asia. The pipeline will pass through the leopards’ only remaining range. Animal protection groups point out that several other terminals are available. Iraq: Iraqi police dogs received desperately needed aid after an Army Reserve captain launched a plea to help the 12 undernourished German shepherds and one black Labrador. The dogs, which are not the U.S. military’s working animals but the Iraqi interior minister’s bomb-sniffing dogs, were being trained for bomb-detection and as attack dogs. The animals were undernourished and had been eating only table scraps and garbage. Captain Gabriella Cook, a Las Vegas police officer commanding a unit that arrived in Iraq in December to train Iraqi police, sent e-mails to friends back home begging them to send dry dog food for the animals. When a newspaper reported the story, the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society began receiving donations of cash and dog food. Then Hills Pet Nutrition stepped in, organizing a continuous supply of its Science Diet food for the 13 Iraqi police dogs as well as for U.S. military dogs. K-9 Cops Get Rations Animals with a history of medical conditions will be a little bit better protected in emergencies, thanks to Rescue Facts. The company has begun manufacturing medical information packets just like the kind that are available for drivers to slip into their seat belts. The packs are the animal equivalent of a medical alert bracelet. The emergency information includes medical conditions, allergies, and medications taken, along with owner/guardian information, and consent for vets to treat the animal in the event of any injuries. The pouch and four-inch-square card can fit onto a dog or cat collar. The company will sell the kits through their website at www.rescuefacts.com as well as in pet stores and vet offices. Just the Facts Switzerland: They haven’t saved anyone from death on the snowy mountain slopes in 50 years, but the rescue dogs at the famed St. Bernard Hospice have now themselves been rescued. In keeping with a 300-year-old tradition, the dogs are bred and cared for by monks. But the cost of feeding them has become prohibitive, and their usefulness in undertaking mountain rescue has been replaced by modern technology. So the monks decided to find new homes for them. One requirement: Adoptive homes should be close enough to the hospice on the Alpine pass to Italy for the dogs to be able to come back in summer as a tourist attraction. But a group of Swiss bankers and animal lovers has set up a foundation to provide for the dogs so they don’t need to be re-homed. The group also plans to open a St. Bernard museum in 2006. The foundation, named Barry after a famous St. Bernard rescue dog born in 1800, will keep the pooches at a nearby kennel for most of the year, though some will return to the hospice between June and October, when the Alpine pass is open. The dogs at the St. Bernard Hospice have rescued more than 2,000 people since the 17th century. Saving the Saints www.bergoiata.org www-tradoc.army.mil Australia: The company Peptech has launched the world’s first pet contraceptive that eliminates the need to neuter dogs. Suprelorin releases a hormone into a male dog’s bloodstream that reduces testosterone levels and renders him infertile. The drug is administered through an implant under the dog’s skin, leaving the dog intact but unable to breed. Suprelorin has been approved for use in Australia and New Zealand, and Peptech plans to bring it to U.S. and European markets. Infertility Drug 14 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 The company states that trials showed that Suprelorin is also effective in controlling populations of elephants, lions, cheetahs, monkeys, dolphins, seals, koalas, and kangaroos. Veterinarians are cautious in welcoming the drug. They note that the process is reversible and that surgical neutering also reduces aggression and the risk of various cancers in dogs. European Special Area of Conservation. Originally, the U.K. had proposed to list only 200 such sites, but conservationists appealed to the European Union, saying that many more would be needed to protect endangered wildlife. It will now be a criminal offense to carry out damaging works such as road-building, tree clearance, or pond drainage at any of the sites without government permission. Associated Press/AP Photographer Denis Poroy It’s the Law Nutkin’s Reprieve: A panel of three Superior Court judges has ruled in favor of a little gray squirrel who had moved with her family to Pennsylvania from South Carolina, where squirrels as pets are legal. When her human mom c o m p laine d to the local game commission about illegal hunting on their new property, a wildlife official cited her for having a squirrel as a pet. They wanted to confiscate Nutkin but admitted that he was so old and so tame that they would exterminate him rather than set him free. After $5,000 in court costs and a two-year legal battle including appeals, Nutkin’s death sentence was lifted, and he can remain with his family. Illegal Videos: The first person to be tried under a 1999 federal animal-cruelty statute, Robert Stevens, 61, was charged with selling videos of pit-bull fights in Virginia. The law bans the interstate transfer of videos showing animal cruelty. Stevens sold the tapes to undercover officers. If found guilty, he will be facing up to 15 years in prison. Pooch Protection: In a new city ordinance, San Francisco spells out exactly how dogs should be treated: Dog food must be “palatable and nutritious”; water must be changed at least once a day and provided in a non-tipping bowl; and doghouses must be big enough for the canine to stand up and turn around in, and have a raised floor and dry, clean bedding. Endowment Price Is Right! He’s famous for ending his show with the mantra, “Have your pets spayed or neutered,” and now Bob Barker, longtime host of The Price Is Right, has provided a $1-million animal rights law endowment to several universities. The fund will pay for teaching, research, seminars, and lectures to train a generation of lawyers, judges, and legislators. France: Sweeping progressive changes to animal testing in the cosmetics industry that the European Union adopted in 2003 could be derailed. France has applied to the European Court of Justice to annul the ban in the cosmetics industry. The Cosmetics Directive bans any new cosmetics that have been tested on animals if alternative test methods were available, bans the import of all new animal-tested cosmetics from 2009 on, and prohibits any animal testing for cosmetics in the European Union from 2009 on. But if the French government has its way, animals will continue to be used and killed for new cosmetic products. The case has already been heard and a judgment is expected sometime this summer. Sacré Bleu! Ban Passed Israel: A ban on force-feeding geese has gone into effect. With heavy pressure from animal rights campaigners, the law was passed despite government fears that it could ruin Israel’s standing as the world’s fourth largest exporter of foie gras, a paté made from goose liver. The government denied a last-minute request for an additional grace period on the ban. San Diego, Calif.: These “illegal immigrants” are among 90 red-headed and lilaccrowned parrots rescued by customs officials at the Mexican border. They were discovered in mid-December, and after 40 days in quarantine, they got a car ride back to the state of Oaxaca, to be released where they were thought to have been captured. This flock is among the lucky ones. Thousands more that are smuggled in each year end up being sold at flea markets and pet stores for up to $800 each. Best Friends recommends that members and readers adopt birds from rescue groups rather than buying them from pet stores. Check the website at www.bestfriends.org for more information on bird adoption. Smugglers Stopped United Kingdom: Thousands of acres across the land have been given special European status to protect animal and plant life. Six hundred sites, containing many different kinds of habitat, are now designated as Conservation Tripled South Korea: In the face of mounting criticism from other countries, the government is cracking down on scientific experiments that inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on animals. New laws that will go into effect in 2006 will limit the number of organizations licensed to carry out experiments on animals and require them to get clearance from the government for planned tests. Also, domestic pets will have to be registered in an effort to curb the growing number being abandoned. Leash and poop scoop laws will also be put into effect. A Brighter Future BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 15 thinking globally Three of ten wolves from the Czech Republic released in a wolf wildlife park in southeastern France. The park is to be inaugurated in April. AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau Demonstrations in front of one of New York City’s most expensi of red-tailed hawks, who had nested there since 1993. As a resul down and agreed to rebuild the nest. AP Photo/Patricia Aridjis An inmate holds a parrot at the Islas Marias penal colony in the Marias islands off Mexico’s Pacific coast. The prison had been turned into a nature reserve, but has been reopened due to overcrowding elsewhere. 16 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Ultralight pilot Richard van Heuvelen leads a group of six young whooping cranes to the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge on the final leg of their southern migration from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. The trip took 64 days and covered 1,200 miles. AP Photo/Steve Nesius AP Photo/Richard B. Levine ive condos when the board evicted a family lt of nationwide protests, the board backed Hundreds of California sea lions sunbathe at Pier 39 in San Francisco. This week marks the 15th anniversary of the pinniped presence on the docks, which has become a local tourist attraction. Right: Julie, an English setter, joins Midwest Airlines chief Tim Hoeksema to announce a new program that gives pets a free round-trip ticket for every three domestic round-trip flights they take with their guardians. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 17 AP Photo/Morry Gash German car engineers are being outsmarted by small furry animals, like this toy marten, nibbling through ignition cables and cooling hoses, causing thousands of breakdowns a year from short-circuits and overheated engines. AP Photo AP Photo/Ben Margot talking with animals Picture This! Do animals think like autistic children? Joe was happily sleeping on his back, basking in the sunshine, when the doorbell rang. It wasn’t merely that the sound woke him – he suddenly leapt up, body tense and alert. He froze for a moment and then, before the door was even answered, tore away to hide under the bed. Joe had the same reaction every time the doorbell rang. It could simply be the postman dropping off a package or perhaps a neighbor coming by for a chat. Regardless, the visitor was never for him. But that didn’t matter. Just the sound of that doorbell was all it took for a normally placid animal to flee. How could a harmless “ding dong” cause such terror? What on earth was going on in Joe’s head? In her new book, Animals in Translation, Dr. Temple Grandin (with Catherine Johnson) gives unique insight into how animals think. And she believes the way they process information – in pictures, sounds, and smells – is very similar to how people afflicted with autism view the world around them. Autistic herself, Dr. Grandin knows all too well the difficulties in truly understanding how an autistic person relates to the world. Thoughts take the form of pictures rather than concepts, and it can be brutally difficult to convert those mental images into language to communicate effectively. Grandin believes that animals, too, view life in pictures, using their heightened senses to negotiate their way through life. Understanding that gives us an extraordinary insight into why the animals around us do what they do. Much of her work today is for the benefit of the millions of animals who pass through slaughterhouses each year and whose terror can be relieved to some extent by things that most people would never think of. “They’ll be afraid of something like a piece of paper on the floor,” she explains, “of a little chain hanging down ... of a reflection.” With Animals in Translation, Dr. Grandin gives all of us the path to better communication with animals by using the mysteries of autism to decode animal behavior. Best Friends editor Michael Mountain sat down with Dr. Grandin to talk about her book, her experiences, and what animals are trying to tell us. 18 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Michael Mountain: You say there are similarities between how animals and autistic people experience the world around them and that you yourself are autistic. Are you saying that the language of animals isn’t one of words and concepts but rather one of pictures? Temple Grandin: Yes. One thing that’s similar between people with autism and animals is that neither thinks in language. I think in pictures. If you said to me, “Think about teakettles,” pictures of teakettles start coming into my head. It’s like doing a Google for images. Animals can also think in smells and sounds. They can think in touches. It’s sensory-based thinking rather than language-based. They can take these smell pictures and sound pictures and associate them together into categories to form simple concepts. M.M.: So many of us go around being largely unaware of our surroundings, but when dogs and cats go out for a walk, they notice everything; they’re sniffing everything, and they’re intrigued by everything. We go hurrying out – maybe we are just going to the store – and we miss everything that’s happening, but they take it all in. T.G.: They’re going to be just fascinated by it all. A dog’s main sense is smell. Just think about it – a dog goes and visits a local fire hydrant. Well, he’s going to know who’s been there and made his mark, what their rank is, and how long ago the other dog made a mark. He’s going to know if there are any females in heat. There’s a lot of information on that fire hydrant when you think about it. It’s sort of like people going to the local coffee shop and hearing all the gossip that’s going on in town. A dog goes and visits a local fire hydrant for his information. M.M.: You say that autistic people have more natural fear and anxiety than most people, and that the same is true for animals – that fear and anxiety are much more of primary importance for them. T.G.: Fear is the main emotion in autism. It’s also the main emotion in animals like horses and grazing animals. As a species, horses are more fearful than dogs because horses are prey-species animals. M.M.: So what are the things we need to bear in mind to help them to not be so afraid? T.G.: We need to desensitize animals to new experiences. A very common thing is for people to say something like, “My horse is fine at home, but he went berserk at the horse show.” Well, there are a lot of scary things at a horse show – like bikes, balloons, and flags. Those are the three big terrors, and we need to get horses desensitized to those things at home first. The fear memory only happens if you really scare the animal with the thing. It’s sudden. But, if you introduce the balloons and flags gradually, then you’re not going to create a fear memory. The best way to train a horse to tolerate these things would be to decorate his pasture with balloons and flags and let him walk up to them voluntarily. New things are attractive if the animal walks up to them voluntarily. They’re scary if you’ve cornered the animal and shove them in his face. The worst thing you could do is wave a flag in the horse’s face while he is in a stall. If you do, then you’re going to have a terrible time trying to ride him with a flag. Just let him approach those things gradually. If you want to train animals to tolerate different vehicles, different people, introduce things gradually. The trick is you want to expose them to a whole lot of different things and not create a fear memory in the first place. M.M.: Many of the animals who come here to Best Friends, particularly dogs, have been abused or abandoned. They’ve had some negative experience in their lives. And they may have developed some fear or aggression toward a particular kind of thing or person – like maybe any man who’s wearing a hat. The dog may have been abused by someone wearing a hat. Is that the sort of picture in their minds that you’re talking about? T.G.: Yes. The animal gets a certain picture. They can put things in categories such as men are bad and women are good, and that may be based on the sound of voices. But they can also become afraid of certain articles of clothing. If a dog was abused by a man who was wearing loafers, he might become afraid of loafers because the dog would have been looking at the loafers while being hit. There was a dog that got hit by a car, so you’d think the dog would be afraid of cars. But no, he’s afraid of cracks in the pavement because he was looking at a crack in the pavement right at the time that he got hit. This brings up a really important thing. We need to figure out what it is that an animal is afraid of, and these fear memories are stored as pictures, as sights or sounds. There was another animal I knew who was afraid of the sound of nylon ski jackets making a swooshing sound because he had been abused by somebody wearing a nylon ski jacket. So whenever he heard that sound, he’d panic. If you can figure out the actual thing that’s causing the fear and eliminate it, sometimes you can get the animal over his fear really quickly. M.M.: Does this mean that you can never take the animal out to the same kind of pavement, or wear the same hat, or that you BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 “ He was afraid of nylon ski jackets making a swooshing sound. ” 19 talking with animals must get rid of all of the nylon ski jackets? T.G.: You can never erase the fear memory. You can work with the animal and desensitize the animal to the point where maybe he can tolerate nylon ski jackets. But the more high-strung, the harder it is to desensitize him. The only way you can get rid of the fear memory is to put a lock on the file. It’s like a computer file that requires a password. You have to put a lock on it. If the animal is high-strung and nervous, the lock isn’t very strong and it can still pop open. You can desensitize the animal, but you can never erase the fear memory. Nature doesn’t let you erase the fear memory. If you have an animal that’s highstrung genetically and has been abused, it’s very hard to get him to behave normally again because he just stays traumatized. M.M.: One of my dogs, Pudgie, is an old Sheltie. And before he came here to the sanctuary, he spent seven years on a chain and was de-barked. He behaves very strangely altogether. When we go for a walk here in the canyon, there are no people around, and he doesn’t have to contend with traffic or anything, but he’ll suddenly want to bolt back home for no apparent reason. Or he’ll decide he doesn’t even want to go for a walk, or that he’s afraid of going this way but not that way. You have to take him on a leash for the first couple of minutes and then let him off, and then he’ll go and run around. Obviously, something is being triggered in his head from back in those seven years. There are so many things that may be going on that we just have no clue about. T.G.: Well, obviously if the dog was tied up for seven years, you’ve got fear memories being triggered. If you know the whole handling history, then I can start getting in and asking a lot of detailed questions to try to figure out what he’s afraid of. If not, then I’d start making a list of the places he was at when he bolts. Maybe it’s something he sees that’s triggering the fear memory. Maybe it’s something he hears. You have to be a real detective to track these things down, and they can be really difficult. Let me tell you a very common one that happens in horses that you can sometimes fix. You’ll have a horse that acts really scared when you use a certain type of bit. For example, if he was abused with a jointed snaffle bit and you change to a one-piece solid bit, oftentimes the horse will be OK because that’s a different feeling picture. The jointed snaffle feels completely different than the solid one-piece bit. And so now you’ve eliminated the thing he’s afraid of. Now let’s say the thing he’s afraid of is looking at hubcaps on cars. You’re going to have a hard time getting rid of hubcaps on cars. But you can work to desensitize that. The fear probably won’t ever be totally eliminated, if that’s the thing that he was looking at right when something really bad happened. M.M.: You talk a lot about the importance of pets and other animals being properly socialized. T.G.: Yes, an awful lot of dogs today are not getting socialized to other dogs. We’re getting dogfights where they just fight and don’t stop fighting until they really injure each other. We need to socialize puppies. But we also need to socialize adolescent dogs to adult dogs. And it has to be done off-leash, out in a dog park so they can really learn some dominant hierarchies and learn some give-and-take of social behavior. Another problem you can have is an animal who just stays inside all of the time from birth and never gets exposed to any novelty. I saw a bad situation with a cat that just went absolutely berserk and bit a lady really hard when it saw a dog for the first time. Animals need to be exposed to new things. But they have to be exposed gradually. You teach him that there are lots of different things out there and they’re OK, and you don’t have to be afraid of these things. But if we don’t do that, then we can get situations where an animal comes into a new situation and just explodes. And let’s make going to the vet a nice experience. Let’s make riding in the carrier a nice experience. If the carrier is just associated with going to the vet, then the animal is not going to want to go. Maybe the first time you take the animal to the vet, you stop at the vet’s front doorstep and feed him a treat. And also, you want to make sure at the vet that they’re not slipping and sliding around. Because when animals slip, it makes them really panic. M.M.: You also mention that it’s better to stroke animals than to pat them. T.G.: If you just pat an animal, they sometimes interpret it as hitting. You want to stroke them the same way a mother’s tongue would stroke them – a kind of firm stroking motion. And don’t do little tickle touches. That tends to alert. M.M.: One of the other fascinating things about animals that you write about is how the pictures that animals get in their heads far outstrip anything a human can do. Again, it’s a parallel with autistic people, particularly ones with special talents. You discuss how squirrels can store away nuts by the hundreds and know where every single one of them is. They have a complete picture in their head. It’s like some autistic children who can do these extraordinary math sums in their head. A lot of dogs today are not getting socialized to other dogs. They just fight and don’t stop until they really injure each other. 20 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 “ ” Best Friends Animal Society T.G.: The autistic savant and the animal are both using sensorybased thinking. A bird just needs to be shown a migration route once, and he can remember the route. It’s remembered in smells along the way. It’s a very, very detailed memory. The thing about animals and people with autism is that they’re into details. Animals take the details and piece the details together – little smells, little pictures go together to form a concept. It’s bottom-up thinking rather than top-down thinking. And top-down is the way most people think. M.M.: I’m not autistic, but I do get automatic associations in my head. A piece of music, for example, will always be associated with the picture of the place where I first heard it. I hear a particular symphony, and I’m right back at that place. Is this in any way similar to what you’re talking about? T.G.: I think it is because it’s a memory that is stored in the area of sensory-based memories. You hear that piece of music and now you see yourself back in the car or wherever you were when you first heard it. That’s the same way I think. For example, if I see asparagus, I associate it to when I was a child and the neighbors grew asparagus in their garden. That’s what I see. If you’re going to teach a guide dog about intersections, you have to show him many, many different intersections. If you only teach him on one intersection, he’s not going to know what to do if the crosswalk’s not painted. So you’ve got to show him painted crosswalks, ones that aren’t painted, stop signs, with the lights, no lights, show him lots of kinds, and now he gets lots of different intersection pictures in his head, and then he’ll know what to do when he goes to a strange new intersection. M.M.: There’s a professor at the University of California who’s been analyzing thousands of dog barks, and you say that music and sounds, generally like pictures, are very important in the world of animals. T.G.: I think music is how animals communicate. Animals are very sensitive to tone of voice, as are people with autism. I don’t pick up subtle eye cues, but I do pick up the tone of voice of a person, and I can tell by their tone if they’re happy with me or they’re not happy with me. Animals are extremely sensitive to that. In a sense, that’s music. Basically, animals use their auditory sense to communicate. M.M.: What do you think we can learn from the animals today? T.G.: I think there are a lot of things we can learn about cognition. There are some very interesting experiments now showing that animals really can think. They’re not going to do nuclear physics, but they definitely can think. Some people describe thinking as being able to solve a problem under new conditions. Birds are very good at that. There was an experiment with crows, where a crow figured out how to bend a piece of wire so she could reach down in this little tube and snag a treat out of the tube. That’s solving a problem under new conditions. Blue jays, if you give them ice cube trays full of sawdust, will hide their little worm treats in the sawdust. But if another jay is watching, and they know that other jay is watching, then they’ll change where they hid them when that jay’s not looking. There’s a lot more thinking going on there than people give animals credit for. One of the problems I have with some philosophers is that they think that if you don’t have language, you don’t really have thought. I think that’s totally ridiculous. A Special Conference Presented by No More Homeless Pets Conference April 22 – 24, 2005 Portland, Oregon How can your community bring an end to the killing of healthy homeless pets? Cities, counties, and entire states across the country are doing it. ... And yours can, too! Meet the people who are creating a new world for homeless pets at this landmark gathering of experts from across the country, as we explore strategies to develop no-kill communities. Adoptions: How to get more animals out of the shelter and into good homes – guaranteed! Spay/neuter: The best programs from around the country, and how they can work for you. Fundraising: Keys to getting the funds you need. Promotion: Get the attention of the media and reach your target audience. Plus: Saving feral cats, working with animal control, dealing with difficult people, attracting volunteers, and much more. Best Friends Animal Society phone (435) 644-2001 ext. 129, fax (435) 644-2087 e-mail: nmhp@bestfriends.org www.bestfriends.org For more information, contact Sanctuary Workshops How to Start an Animal Sanctuary June 5 – 11 • September 18 – 24 November 13 – 19 An intensive, week-long workshop at Best Friends. Includes outreach programs, fundraising, community relations, spay/neuter programs, and hands-on sessions with the animals. Attendance limited. Cost: $500, includes lunches, two dinners and materials. Dog Behavior & Handling Workshop September 8 – 10 This in-depth workshop will give you the tools you need to relate to dogs in a shelter, sanctuary, and/or rescue setting. Learn about dog behaviors, safety, assessments, how to create a behavior plan and more. Attendance is limited. Cost: $195, includes lunches, a dinner, and materials. For more information, call Cathie Myers at (435) 6442001, ext. 317. Or e-mail humane.ed@bestfriends.org. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 21 no more homeless pets news Pups in Lights The casting call went out, and hundreds had a chance to audition. But it was two unlikely rescue dogs who made it to the big time. Broadway discovered two new stars when Argyle and Fred landed coveted canine parts in the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, set to open in April. Argyle is a 10-month-old collie who had spent his short life locked in a Bronx basement, and Fred is a foxhound mix who was given up to the ASPCA. Dogs from shelters all across New York City were invited to audition at the open casting calls. All were waiting to be adopted; many were recovering from abuse or neglect. Bill Berloni, who has trained dogs for more than a dozen Broadway shows (he cast the canine lead in Annie), auditioned the wannabes. The show already has five dogs (all from shelters), and three more will be added to round out the numbers. Berloni doubles as director of animal behavior and training for the Humane Society of New York, so he likes to recruit from shelters. The dogs will live with Berloni in his big Connecticut home, and move to his fashionable Manhattan digs when performing. And once their days in the limelight are over, they’ll have a permanent retirement “chez Berloni.” Other dogs and cats in New York may not become Broadway stars, but thousands of them will be benefiting from the Maddie’s Fund grant of $15.5 million over the next seven years that the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals has just won. The umbrella group of the city’s animal welfare organizations has worked hard for over a year to qualify, and the funds will be earmarked to increase pet adoptions and fund low-cost spay/neuter programs. Looks like the Big Apple is on the way to its goal of becoming a no-kill city! AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews When a feral cat gave birth to kittens at the legislative office building in Atlanta, Georgia, she not only served her kittens well, but also alley cats and barn cats statewide. The kittens, born directly across from the state capitol, were promptly dubbed the Capitol Cats. The state Department of Agriculture held a press conference to introduce them – and to promote its Dog & Cat Sterilization Program and the special license plates that help fund it. Typically, mature feral cats cannot be placed in homes, since they’re not used to being around people. Instead, they should be trapped, taken to the vet to be spayed or neutered, and then returned to where they came from, so they can be watched over and fed. It’s called trap/neuter/return (TNR). If kittens are rescued early in life, they can be socialized around people and then placed in good homes. “Our Department of Agriculture, which regulates all animal shelters and rescue groups in Georgia, did exactly the right thing,” noted Rebecca Guinn of Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets in Atlanta. “The kittens are getting firstWith cities the world over rate care from adopting the no-kill model, the the Society of Selango SPCA in Malaysia is Humane Friends, hoping to jump in line with the which will foster international movement. them until they The SPCA has launched an are ready to be ambitious campaign to make adopted. And the country stray-free by 2010. the mother has Step One: Get the public on been spayed and board with spay/neuter. To that released back into end, they’ve opened the very her home territory first low-cost spay/neuter clinic at the capitol. A in Southeast Asia. And they’ve fixed almost 1,800 animals in huge and unextheir first year. pected victory for TNR!” Capitol Cats Vote for Spay/Neuter Campaign of Hope The Scilly Islands are a littlepublicized paradise off the southwest coast of England. One of their few social problems: colonies of feral cats roaming the windswept islands. But a veterinary nurse and a volunteer from a cat protection group on the mainland have flown to the islands to train local people on how to get a handle on the problem. Project Scilly Ferals will train them in trap/neuter/return methods, and the cats will be taken to a clinic on St. Mary’s Island to be fixed before being returned back home. 22 Fixing Paradise desex and the city Look for this and other billboards all over the Los Angeles area to promote the latest Best Friends spay/neuter campaign. Throughout March, participating veterinarians are offering a discount on spay/neuter services, and Best Friends will send a special gift package to everyone who takes advantage of the promotion. Visit www.desexandthecity.org or call (818) 377-9737 for more information. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 The 2004 Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive hit another all-time record. A total of 313,123 dogs and cats found good new homes during the eight-week campaign, way over the goal of 300,000 adoptions. Eighteen hundred animal shelters and rescue groups “joined paws” with the Helen Woodward Animal Center and the Iams Company to find homes for orphaned pets, not just in this country but around the world. Adoption partners included rescue groups in Yalta, Cyprus, Nigeria, Romania, South Africa, and the Ukraine. Home 4 the Holidays began in 1999 when adoption guru Mike Arms, president of the Helen Woodward Animal Center, worked with 14 San Diego area shelters to find homes for 2,563 orphaned pets. Since the drive began, participating shelters have completed 878,000 adoptions worldwide. Home 4 for the Holidays 2004 continued breaking records – and breaking the old wives’ tales that the holidays are a bad time to adopt pets. “More families bring new pets into their homes during the holiday season than any other time of year,” said Arms. “Home 4 the Holidays gives them a chance to adopt their new best friend from an animal shelter or rescue group. During the holiday season of love and family, one great gift is to save the live of an orphaned pet.” Record Adoptions! Meet Them in St. Louis It was a true parade of super heroes when more than 6,000 costumed dogs and 79,000 of their faithful human friends turned out for what St. Louis, Missouri, billed as the World’s Largest Pet Party. Of course, there were lots of “best costume” competitions at a pet parade that has evolved into a main event over the past 12 years. All proceeds of the fancy dress parade will go to benefit homeless animals at the city’s Open Door Animal Sanctuary. Spay on eBay Well … if a cheese sandwich and a kidney can go up for sale, why not? For the first time, animal lovers will be able to help eliminate pet overpopulation by bidding for it on eBay. The auction, developed by PAWS Shelter for Animals in Kyle, Texas, and SnapSM, an online marketing company, is selling the spay or neuter of a stray animal (along with a commemorative calendar) for $49.99 on the popular website. The group thought it was a great way to reach out for support in central Texas, where PAWS operates a low-cost mobile spay/neuter clinic. You can find a link to the auction on the PAWS website at www.pawsshelter.org. Stray dogs and cats are such a rarity in Germany that dogs from Poland are in high demand. German animal lovers adopted over 470 dogs and cats from overpopulated and dilapidated Polish shelters over the last two years. New European rules that permit free travel for pets within European countries have made it much easier for loving families to reach out and help homeless pets in neighboring countries. Polish Pets Emigrate Abandon Ye No More! In the Singapore SPCA’s new ad campaign, it’s not the pets who are lost, it’s their people! So the ads feature photos of the “lost” people, with the animals asking, “Have you seen this man? If you see him, please tell him that I promise never to chew his magazines or pee on the carpet again.” The ads clearly stand out from your garden-variety lost-pet notices. The group hopes the campaign will help stem the tide of abandonment by making people think what it feels like to be in the animals’ “shoes.” BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 23 AP Photo/Tom Gannam media watch Cartoon Wedding Means Cash for Critters She’s amused and entertained singletons for years. Now Cathy, the famed comic-strip character, has finally put her neuroses behind her and stepped down the aisle with Irving. But since the “older” couple already had so much of what they need, the items listed on their gift registry all benefited Pet Orphans of Southern California. The big day has racked up big bucks for the charity. With a month to go before the wedding, the online gift registry had amassed about $10,000. Cathy creator Cathy Guisewite volunteers for the group and has promised that each person who contributed during the campaign will receive a thank-you note from Cathy and Irving, and an autographed copy of their wedding photo. If only Melania and The Donald had followed suit! 24 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Britain’s cherubic Naked Chef has been feeling a little too exposed under the klieg lights of headlines both in print and on the airwaves. Jamie Oliver is young, hip, and ubiquitous. He pals around with Brad Pitt; he has a TV cooking show; he sells cookbooks and his own line of cookware; and his famed London restaurant, Fifteen, was the subject of a TV documentary for taking young adults off the unemployment lines and training them to be top-quality chefs. With national acclaim and all that fame, it’s no wonder that supermarket giant Sainsbury felt they had landed a big one when he signed on (for big bucks, of course) as their spokesperson. But haute cuisine isn’t always the best match for mass marketing. When Oliver filmed a commercial for Sainsbury’s salmon, he starred in a warm and fuzzy “Golly, gee, isn’t this good stuff!” tour of a Scottish salmon farm. But there was a teeny-weeny problem: The Marine Harvest farm where the commercial was filmed (and which supplies the supermarket) has been fined in the past for its practices, and still fails Scottish environmental standards. British salmon farming in general is taking the heat in a debate over whether intensive fish farming is ruining the nation’s sensitive marine environment. In the commercial, Oliver plucks a fresh fish from the loch’s “cold” water – which he tells viewers ensures that the fish is healthy – before dashing off to a party to sample the local delicacy. The media were quick to point out the irony that Oliver was willing to eat this farmed salmon in paid commercials, but he refuses to dish it up to his customers. Only Naked Truth Reveals Naked Hypocrisy of Naked Chef wild salmon is served at his restaurant. But hypocrisy seemed the least of his problems. The campaigners who picketed his bistro were a much bigger headache. And the row erupted even further when several of the country’s other celebrity chefs jumped into the fire. None were more vocal than Clarissa Dickson Wright of Two Fat Ladies fame. She called Oliver a “whore” into the tape recorders of delighted reporters. The fight flamed through both the broadsheets and the tabloids, along with, oddly enough, a host of fishing magazines. But it didn’t stop there. It even made it to Oliver’s own website, where readers made their opinions of the Naked Chef’s endorsement known. And no one, it seemed, was asking for an autograph. Wacky Web Pages The Oscars may be the big news in Hollywood, but for animals the Internet is the place to be. The winner of the first Detusche Welle’s International Weblog Awards was China’s The Dog Newspaper, which took home the top prize of Best Weblog. The international jury concluded that the weblog can be seen as a parable because it “projects the daily life of dogs in China and the West to human life. Dog rights translate into human rights.” If you like your web pages a little lighter, the top 10 obscure, quirky, or just plain weird websites have been selected from the millions lingering out there in cyberspace. Koko, the signing gorilla who understands English, made it onto the list for The Gorilla Foundation site. We’re not sure how that qualifies as quirky or weird, but on the definitely entertaining side, Weebl’s Stuff (www.weebls-stuff.com) was named one of the most popular sites of 2004. It’s no wonder, since its manic animals animations brightened many an office worker’s afternoon doldrums. www.chimneycorner.com www.weebls-stuff.com on the wild side The Lost Tigers of China One woman’s world-class effort to save them erched on a two-foot-square concrete platform, Hope surveyed the five acres of grass and sandy soil sprawling out before him. He reached out a tentative paw, about to take a step, but the moment it hit the ground, he pulled back, alarmed. Concrete was the only surface he’d ever known. Hope, a South China tiger, is one of about 130 of this rare subspecies of tiger in captivity. With two other varieties already extinct and the five remaining critically endangered, the South China tiger is among the world’s most threatened animals. Hope was born at the Shanghai Zoo. Only 20 to 30 South China (also called Amoy) tigers exist today in the wild. They once inhabited all of central and southern China, but those days are long gone. As Hope sat eyeing the new landscape, his tiger pal, Cathay, sidled up beside him. Also born at the zoo, she, too, was only accustomed to concrete. Their handlers (or rather “non-handlers,” since their goal is to limit the tigers’ human contact) stood by bemused. How could they not love the warm dirt and lush grasses? They should P By Julie Richard be reveling in the freedom of being able to run and stretch and sink their paws into real earth. But for the moment, the humans seemed more excited about this brave new world than the tigers were. Then someone had a bright idea and tossed a basketball into the enclosure. Spotting her most treasured possession, Cathay streaked after it – right into the sand and grass. She stopped for a moment, startled at the odd new texture and then, deciding it wasn’t so bad after all, went careening after the ball, knocking it away, pouncing on it again. Hope watched his friend for a few moments and then leapt into the action. The concrete floor was forgotten. Born in early 2003, the two frisky friends are the first draftees into an equally young plan, Save China’s Tigers, to rescue the Amoy tiger from the brink. It was the brainchild of a private citizen – a woman who is not a biologist or conservationist, simply a cat fanatic. Big cats, little cats, it doesn’t matter to Li Quan. Born in China in the year of the tiger, she graduated from university, emigrated to BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 25 Courtesy of Save China’s Tigers on the wild side the West, picked up a master’s degree at the Wharton School of Business, worked in the fashion industry, and married American investment banker Stuart Bray. Quan first became interested in the effect of conservation when she went on a leopard-spotting trip to Zambia. “In China, there are reserves designated by the state, but it doesn’t mean anything for the local people,” she says. “There aren’t any real protections there. When I was in Africa, I thought, this is what conservation should be. It should be about conserving the whole habitat. I thought if we could bring this model from South Africa to China, bring ecotourism and the tourist dollars that would help locals make a nicer living than their traditional livelihood, then we could really do something to conserve the tigers.” Quan began to study up on both the Amoy and the conservation methods being practiced in South Africa. Back in China, she got in touch with the governmental department in charge of wildlife conservation. They helped her draw up an action plan. But they acknowledged that their preserves weren’t well protected, and no one there knew how to “rewild” the animals. So Quan hit on the idea of bringing the tigers to Africa, where they could learn to survive in the wild and then be taken back to a habitat that had been redesigned with adequate protections in China. The Chinese government agreed and Quan’s husband contributed millions of dollars to purchase land, build the facilities, and hire experts. Hope and Cathay were the first of their charges to arrive, followed by Tiger Woods and Madonna, who made the journey just a few months ago. All four are learning the ways of the wild. The project is not without its critics. At first, the experts told Quan to forget about the Amoy. Its gene pool was too small to be viable. Then the argument shifted to her methods. Quan was introducing a non-native spe26 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 All Photos Courtesy of Save China’s Tigers cies to Africa; the tigers would be learning to hunt prey that wasn’t indigenous to their own country; and there were concerns about where the tigers could safely live upon their return. Quan acknowledges that in an ideal world the tigers should be rewilded in China. But that’s simply not possible. And the tigers are not being reintroduced to the wild in South Africa and left to forge a new habitat. While they will be allowed to roam freely within the confines of the preserve, all are fitted with radio collars and observed constantly to check on their progress. When they are fully ready, they will all be returned to China. As for their ultimate survival back home, Quan knows that their habitat is the most vital cog in the wheel. She’s already brought a team of experts to China to identify suitable sites for a preserve. One will be chosen later this year, and the Chinese government has promised their cooperation in giving the local people the skills they’ll need to promote ecotourism rather than poaching. Although she tries to shrug it off, it’s clear the attacks launched at her are hurtful. “I thought that people who care about wildlife would love to work together,” she says. “But I came to the realization that that’s just not true. I learned that I couldn’t count on those people. They’re fighting me, fighting against my supporters, and they’ve been fighting among themselves. So I thought that if I wait, try to win their support, the Chinese tiger will be doomed.” But many other leaders in the conservation field do support her. And they’re banking on her determination and feistiness to make it work. No one, not even Quan, knows for sure if it will yield success. But one thing is certain. Without her attempt, there will be no future at all for the Amoy tiger. No one else in the conservation field is working to save them. Quan, at least, is willing to try and giving it her all. And if the project does succeed, tiger lovers, not to mention the tigers themselves, will be eternally grateful. For more information, log on to www.savechinastigers.org or write Save China’s Tigers, 66D Royal Mint St., London, E1 8LG, U.K. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 27 the earth Canyonthe Southwest Song Natural wonder in ich magentas, deep purples, eye-popping yellows, blazing oranges, and brilliant whites. They’d be the envy of any manicured, palatial garden. But these are nature in its untouched glory – the spectacular wildflowers of the Canyonlands region of the “desert” Southwest. Their magnificent hues and shapes enhance the rugged landscape and brighten our souls. Some of the flowers grow along bubbling creeks, clinging to the base of the wet sandstone known as weeping rocks. Others grow straight out of the desert and can survive periods of drought and extreme heat. How do they do this? The magic that you see above the ground conceals the power below: deep roots that draw moisture from apparently hard, dry rock. Some years, the wildflowers hold back their intensity. Other years, they go, well, wild! This winter has been particularly wet in the Canyonlands. So we’re expecting a spectacular spring bloom. Some great places to see these flowers are Zion National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Angel Canyon, the home of Best Friends. R By Clay Myers 28 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Photos by Clay Myers Clockwise from top left: Broad-leafed cattail, Rocky Mountain beeplant, Hopi blanketflower, spiderwort, mushroom, thistle, Tansy aster, and Eastwood’s paintbrush. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 29 best friends animal sanctuary It doesn’t get much better than being a puppy on a promenade through Best Friends Dogtown in your very own stylish stroller. Puppies at the sanctuary are carefully guarded against any possible infection. Their feet are not even allowed to touch the ground outside of their own play areas. Well, after you’ve knocked over the water bowl, chewed up the blanket, and tugged on your puppy buddy’s ear, it’s time to take on the outside world. And the donation of a stroller means that Dogtown’s youngest citizens can now take turns cruising the neighborhood and seeing the sights. The stroller belonged to an exuberant bulldog named Emma, who had changed the lives of the Bruce family in Dublin, Ohio. Emma was incontinent and had been through the revolving door of adoptions many times when the family took her home. She was diagnosed as “a medical train wreck,” with a life expectancy of a year or so. “But that didn’t faze her,” Lin Bruce told us. “She was too busy playing tug-of-war with stuffed animals, chasing tennis balls, and begging for car rides.” The feisty bulldog girl lived for seven years and loved rides in her stroller. When she finally passed away, the family packed up Emma’s unused medical supplies, toys, and blankets, along with the stroller, and sent them to Best Friends. “Use these gifts in Emma’s honor, love, and spirit,” wrote Lin. “God bless you, and God bless Emma.” Cruise Control Floating Cinnamon Bun If you’re out at Quail Lake Reservoir, about 60 miles from the sanctuary, and you happen to see a floating cinnamon bun, say “Hi” from all of us! He may look like a cute little dinner roll, but he’s actually a ruddy duck who spent some time at the sanctuary. Some folks were out in their boat when they heard a loud “bonk” and realized a diving duck had come up for air, straight into the bottom of their boat. Afraid he might have injured himself, they brought him to Best Friends for a checkup. He was a little stunned, but soon recovered. After a short stay at our Wild Friends licensed rehabilitation center, he was taken back to his pond on a crisp, early morning to rejoin his other ruddy duck friends. “Pets at Best Friends, I hope each one of you gets adopted.” The animals at Best Friends started their new year off right with a giant surprise box from the kids at The Waterford School in Utah. The box was filled with more than 40 letters written to the animals, along with fleece blankets the students made. The blankets went to dogs and cats, while the colorful letters were hung in the animal areas. Everyone got something! New Year’s Surprise Sammy’s Second Chance With just one day left to live, Sammy made it out of his shelter just in time! Phyllis Millerburg of Kitten Rescue, a group dedicated to saving street kittens and cats, found 12-year-old Sammy at a shelter. He’d been abandoned because he gets crystals and urinary tract infections on a regular basis. Sammy’s problem is easy to manage – he just needs a special diet. And here at the sanctuary, we have a room for cats who have chronic urinary tract problems, just like Sammy. And just like him, that’s the only reason many of them were given up. But they’d be very easy pets to have at home. So Sammy is living in a room full of friends who really understand him. This green-eyed boy is a little shy, but he welcomes being petted if you take just a moment to get to know him. 30 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 In our last edition, we reported that Iran has its first animal shelters – one for cats, one for dogs. Soon after that, we were delighted to welcome their founder on a visit to Best Friends. Fatemeh Motamedi opened the Center for Animal Lovers, a shelter for dogs in Kooshkezar and for cats in Karaj, using her and her husband’s own money. Two Iranian vets regularly offer their services, and 18 young university students are frequent volunteers. Fatemeh (pictured with Best Friends’ Michael Mountain) came to Best Friends when she discovered that her own daughter, who lives in Seattle, is a member. “I had to push through my shyness,” she admitted. After all, she’s traveling by herself in a foreign country. “But I am so curious [about] what you are doing here.” Everyone loved having her here and staff member Parvin Panahi put on an Iranian feast in her honor. For more information, e-mail fatemehmotamedi@hotmail.com. Iran’s First Animal Shelters Kindness Is Always in Style What an ordeal this gal suffered on her way to the sanctuary! A couple on their way from Texas to Utah saw her as a wretched heap on the side of the road – brown fur mixed with sagebrush. She could lift her head, but could not stand. So they made a detour to Best Friends. Her first checkup suggested she’d been dragged behind a car. Her back legs are healing well, but one of her front legs has nerve damage, and she may or may not have to lose it. Either way, she’ll do fine! Since she’s such a sweet dog and so very beautiful, we’ve named her Chanel, after the famous French designer. And now that she’s settling in so happily, this fashionable girl can tell you that there’s one thing that never goes out of style: kindness. Honey Bear Boogie Honey Bear walks funny and her back legs don’t move quite like most kittens. But staff people here are dancing the merengue behind her because Honey Bear couldn’t walk at all when she first came to Best Friends. As a tiny kitten, Honey Bear was bitten by a dog. “We started physical therapy within a day after she was bitten,” said veterinarian Dr. Laura Henckel. “And she’s regained a lot of the use of her back legs. With the research being done now on spinal cord injuries, we know nerve pathways can often regenerate – although she’s incontinent, which will probably not improve.” But Honey Bear bounces around the Incontinental Suite, and then rolls over in her “Play with me! Play with me!” pose. Irresistible! “Welcome. Now Spay This One!” When Susan Brenteson came to do an externship at Best Friends, she might have expected to be spending her days with a note pad, just observing the work at the clinic. Instead, she was handed a mask and put to work doing spay and neuter surgery. Chop, chop! No time to waste. The animals never stop coming in. Susan is a fourth-year veterinary student at the University of Minnesota. She performs plenty of spays and neuters in school and knows what she’s doing. Lots of fourth-year students do externships, working in a real-life setting. “I chose Best Friends because it’s no-kill and because of the size of the clinic,” she said. “The Best Friends clinic is a busy one, spaying feral cats, neutering local pets, treating all the animals at the sanctuary, and more.” Over two weeks, working side by side with the Best Friends vets, Susan performed over 20 spay/neuters. “It’s been a nice surprise,” she said. “I’m having a great time.” BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 31 best friends animal sanctuary at the sanctuary Once they were just cast-offs. Now, thanks to you, these oncesad faces are living “happily ever after” at Best Friends, the nation’s largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals. You can do it! Echo, an “educational” hawk, cheers on Best Friends’ Carmen Smith, who is working to get her wildlife rehabilitator’s license. Nice sanctuary. Can I have a home now? You’ve got it! Confection the stray kitten went off to a brand new, loving home just about as quickly as she came in. 32 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 “Biskut here. Can I help you?” O.K., so she doesn’t really take calls for the Best Friends Network. But her person does. And getting to bring your animals to work is one of the real perks of working at the sanctuary! Nice strong shoulders these kids have! An Oakley School student visits the sanctuary on a field trip. Emmy the cat says these school groups are the best! They say I’m perfect just the way I am. Scooter, a pig with special needs, who scoots to get around, finds friendship and plenty of sweet hay at the sanctuary. Boy, our job is tiring! Rummy Blue takes a moment to sympathize with his caregiver. Hmm. Who’s taking care of whom? Is it attention time again? Looks like it! Grover, Fletch (on his hind legs), and Jiminy just can’t wait to say hi to staff and volunteers over and over each day. Misty dawn on the Best Friends pastures. Dozens of displaced horses and burros take refuge here, their home-until-they-find-a-home. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 33 best friends animal sanctuary Odeand quirky and may be just right for you! to the Oddballs They’re cool By Elizabeth Doyle You already know that Best Friends is a great place for dogs and cats who are “between homes.” And you know it’s a great place to find a horse, a rabbit, or a parrot. But, judging from Raisin the pig’s expression, it’s about time she and her pals got a look-in on these pages. So here’s a quick tour of some of the more unusual cutie pies at the sanctuary. They all have their own tales to tell, and they’d all make great pets – in the right home. group didn’t have a way to separate its pigs from its dogs. Worried about the dogs? Wrong guess! One of the dogs attacked a goat, and that scared the group into finding a new place for both the pigs and the goats. So Raisin and her fellow oinkers came to Best Friends. Potbellied pigs are wonderful animals and need a special kind of home. They’re extremely smart, can learn tricks, and are easy to housetrain. People who love them swear by their pet pigs! Just remember: They can get huge. And check your local zoning laws. Some towns still consider pigs “farm animals.” All over the country, there are pig sanctuaries for these highly intelligent animals who get tossed from their homes for size or zoning reasons. So Raisin urges us: As with cats and dogs, always adopt your pigs. Don’t buy them from a store or breeder! Little Rascals But maybe you were looking for someone a little smaller? Gandalph the goat would like to plead his case. Gandalph spent the first part of his life tethered outdoors to a rope. Snort, Snort, Snort So what’s a handsome pig like Raisin doing so far from her original home? Potbellied pigs have a huge problem with being bred and sold to people who don’t realize they can grow to 200 pounds. And it can take three years for a potbellied pig to be full-grown, so people may buy a one-year-old, thinking she’s full-grown when she’s not even close. That’s how Raisin found herself in the hands of a rescue group. And things became even more complicated for her when the rescue 34 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 That’s terrible for a playful goat! Next, he was adopted to a family who had a pet sheep. The two of them got into an argument. Gandalph thought he’d won … until he found himself out of a home. Goats can certainly be a handful. In fact, most of the goats who come to Best Friends were given up just because they … behaved like goats. If you’ve ever petted a goat and had her munch on your sleeves, then you’ve had a little taste of what you’re in for. They’re mischievous and energetic, like to get into everything, and are definitely not your obedient little lap dog. They will eat your landscaping (so say goodbye to the mower), need strong fences, and are always full of comedy and trouble. But they’re also loads of fun and form real bonds with people. Often, they’ll bond with other farm animals, like horses, so they can make nice companions for them. (When a sad and frightened horse came to Best Friends many years ago, our veterinarian prescribed putting him together with a goat. It worked like a dream!) Matilda’s person had to go into a nursing home, which is why she came to Best Friends. Some of the other hens were once destined for the cooking pot until someone (sometimes it’s one of the children) wants to save them. So you are doing a good deed when you adopt a chicken. And they’ll deliver you lots of nice eggs in return. They make perfectly nice backyard pets (but check your zoning laws before adopting). Give them a good space and shelter in a part of the garden you don’t mind them eating. No need to live on a farm! Wings of Peace But perhaps you were looking for someone more graceful? Sasha is just one of many doves looking for a home. A pet dove? It’s a thought that hasn’t even occurred to a lot of people. But doves actually make lovely pets. They don’t need as much attention as, say, a parrot. Yet, they will come to know you as a friend. (They’re quite friendly, which is how we get the expression “lovey dovey.”) It’s true they don’t talk, nor will they spend a lot of time climbing all over you, but they have a lovely cooing sound that many people find soothing. And their tranquil, angelic appearance only adds to their therapeutic presence. Naturally, doves need the same care as any other pet bird. They need to be protected from predators by an aviary and they need an indoor living option when the weather gets unbearable. They also like to be adopted in pairs. Sasha was one of dozens of doves who came to Best Friends because a pet store was about to “set them free” when they didn’t sell. These are domestic animals, not like the doves you see in the wild. They were raised in captivity and would not have survived on their own. Indeed, one of the worst dangers to doves raised in captivity is being “set free” at weddings and ceremonies. It certainly makes a lovely picture, but it’s a death sentence for the birds (which hardly fits the peaceful symbolism intended!). If you know someone who absolutely must set some doves free at a ceremony, ask them to hire the kind that have been trained to come back to be set free again at another event. Cluckers What’s the best thing about a pet rooster? That beautiful morning song! What’s the worst thing about a pet rooster? Same thing! Chadwick lost his home because the neighbors were upset by the noise – the same noise that so many people adore. Like beauty, it’s all in the ear of the beholder. Of course, that isn’t the only reason roosters lose their homes. Often, people are hoping that chicks will grow up to be girls so that they’ll lay eggs. Needless to say, they only get their wish about half the time! And when the boys grow up, they can become quite territorial and start to fight. They’re also protective of their wives and may treat you like the competition. (Watch out for those spurs!) On the other hand, roosters (and hens, too) are pretty easy to take care of. They have that lovely song that makes so many people feel like they’re waking up to an all-American country morning. And even though some, like Chadwick (pictured here), can be a little ornery, many will learn to love you and even eat out of your hand. Hens are mellower, and, of course, they don’t crow in the morning. And many, like Matilda, are looking for homes. How come? They’re mischievous and energetic, and definitely not your obedient lap dog! “ And So Many More So those are just a few of the animals you might not expect to find at Best Friends. There are many more: Pekin ducks, pet pigeons, geese, mules, the occasional guinea pig. So there, Raisin. We’ve told everyone about you. Maybe you’d like to give us a smile now. What’s that? You are smiling? That’s what you look like when you smile? Oops – our mistake! BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 ” 35 ecial ’re Sp We eeds r, or n s olde p getting i s page tra hel x o be o n t hi imals n, a little e rstanding t u’d he an icatio o e of t d und nment. If y e, Each aily med m ro i ng a n me d r the train home envi f them a ho so in a d, o 1. one o aroun table again out giving 4 -200 r b 35 ) 6 4 Best comfo now more a tuary at (4 n t he les” o rg / atthe ke to k all the sanc li ab adopt iends.o ec pleas ecial r re “sp www.bestf mo r e ar e b s i t e a t The ions /. s we adopt Friend ry /special ua sanct Oh, please don’t look so sad, Bartleby. We’re sure someone will want you! Bartleby is a chocolate Lab who’s usually full of energy and fun. His family said they’d pick him up from the shelter when he got hauled in as a stray. And Bartleby waited and waited ... staring each day out the bars of his cage. And after two months, they never came! Poor fellow. So he’s at Best Friends now and looking for a new family. He needs a nocats home and a teeny-tiny bit of medication. The mellowest old gal you’d ever want to meet! Penny is the most calm, sleepy purr monster you could ever put on your lap. She’s not a baby anymore. She’s 10, and that crisp white coloring makes her sensitive to the sun. A delicate lady. But she is gentle, never skittish, and longing for a home. She was the only pet her family couldn’t find a home for when they moved to England. Won’t you give her a look? Tawny loves everybody! And that says a lot, when you think about what this girl’s been through. Before Best Friends, she spent her entire life on a chain tied to a ladder. Her only toy was her water dish, which she threw up in the air and tried to catch again. If it went too far ... she couldn’t get it. Tawny is two years old, great with cats, good with some dogs, and great with all people. Any takers for this handsome girl? 36 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 You have to meet this guy to appreciate him! Charcoal is so smart. He explores the cat rooms with confidence, his ears twitching at every sound. Life is just a big adventure to him, and he investigates it with good cheer. But please stop and pet him once in a while! He responds to affection with great enthusiasm. Charcoal is two years old, and don’t tell him, but he has feline leukemia. It’s OK; lots of cats have nice lives with this condition. But he’s never had a home. Nilla looks like she’s stuffed with fluff. But this innocent hug-muffin must be tougher than she looks! First, she was an Arizona stray who got attacked by a porcupine. Ouch! Skinny, hungry, and all prickly, next the poor little thing got hit by a car! Thank goodness she got all fixed up and came to Best Friends. But she still doesn’t have a home. She’s two years old, playful, food possessive, likes some other dogs, but not cats. Will someone say yes to those pleading terrier eyes? Just imagine how beautiful Emmett would look in your home! Of course, he isn’t scenery. He’s an active, highly intelligent fellow who wants to learn new things and have a full-time relationship with you. Cockatiels need plenty of time and attention. He’s not the kind of bird you keep in a cage to look at. Instead, he’s your new best friend, like it or not! And Emmett would be an exciting one. Those good looks sure don’t hurt anything, either! A real strong character, this one! George is a big, solid cat with loads of fluffy fur. He’s the king of his own life and has very strong opinions about most everything. Imagine that he was a stray at one time – how humiliating! His generous self-esteem definitely requires people around to appreciate him. George is very affectionate ... when he’s in the mood. If he feels ornery, he’ll nip. But that’s just George! He’s five years old, perfectly healthy, and looking for someone who’ll say “I love strong-minded cats!” BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 37 best friends investigative report Life After Stupid Pet Tricks By Tomato the Cat – Best Friends Investigative Reporter Most cats are embarrassed to see members of their own kind humiliating themselves in order to win their 15 minutes of fame on David Letterman’s Stupid Pet Tricks. So I was not surprised to learn that the original creator of Stupid Pet Tricks is, of course, a dog person. Merrill Markoe’s new book, What the Dogs Have Taught Me, and Other Amazing Things I’ve Learned, is a testament to how dogs have convinced people to perform stupid human tricks in the name of what they have slipped into modern culture as “unconditional love.” I spoke with Ms. Markoe about her own dysfunctional relationships with dogs. Special Investigative Report Tomato the Cat’s In life, there are certain moments that may never come again. This, I believe, is one of those moments for you. Tomato the Cat, founder of the Best Friends TLC Cat Club for kitties with disabilities, began his investigative reports in order to bring journalistic integrity to this magazine. Although he went over the Rainbow Bridge in 1998, he keeps writing anyway, explaining that he’s only used up one of his nine lives. High recognition came in August 2000, when Tomato received a letter from the Pulitzer Prize Board, informing him that he was the winner of a Pulitzer Award in the special category of “Purr Prize for Service to Man’s Best Friend.” “ Tomato the Cat: How did you come up with the notion of Stupid Pet Tricks on the Letterman show? Merrill Markoe: Well, it was millions of years ago when the show started. I presumed and correctly show that everybody has at least one stupid thing they do with their dog. Tomato: What was the stupidest pet trick that you ever had on? Merrill: Almost everything dogs do of their own will turns out to be pretty stupid. I always like it when the “trick” is something the dog is already doing. Like when you turn the vacuum cleaner on and he bites the vacuum cleaner and you call it a trick. Tomato: Why is the vacuum cleaner a natural enemy of all dogs? Merrill: I guess they find it irritating that they don’t get to leave dog hair on everything. In any case, my dogs are slowly but surely helping me get rid of all carpet. Tomato: You write about “What the Dogs Have Taught Me.” So what have the dogs taught you? Merrill: That when someone says “no,” it doesn’t really mean “no.” If you just stay nearby and make an assortment of cute faces, you pretty much get what you want. If necessary, grovel. Tomato: You mean that in dogspeak, “No” means “Wait 30 seconds and try again.” Merrill: Exactly. Second big thing: If there doesn’t seem to be any food, it doesn’t mean there isn’t any food. Just keep looking. There will be some food. Tomato: You’ve also got good advice for people trying to give their dogs a shower. Merrill: Many years ago, I used to lure Stan into the shower by putting chicken skin on the drain. On the other hand, I’ve got a dog now named Puppy Boy and you can open the shower door and point and he walks right in. Tomato: You’re making it out like Puppy Boy is very cooperative. But one of your confessions is about a friend of yours, Paul, whose marriage is breaking up when he comes over to visit you, and he sits down and he’s desperately sad. And Puppy Boy comes over and he says to Paul: “I am Puppy Boy, and I can see that you are very upset for some reason. But, I have something on my mind. It is an idea so big that I can hardly hold my head up from the enormous weight of it. It is more than an idea, it is an urgent message.” Continued on page 40 ” 38 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Conversation with My Dogs By Merrill Markoe (Excerpted from her book What the Dogs Have Taught Me) Me: Okay, you two, listen carefully. In the future it is neither necessary nor desirable for you to greet me every single time I walk in the door. Unless a minimum of two hours has passed, the previous greeting is still in effect. In other words, if I come in the door, and you greet me, and then several minutes later I go out the door, only to return in a matter of seconds, you do not have to greet me again. Lewis: Ha-ha. Good one. Me: I am serious. Maybe it would be best at this point to discuss the purpose of a greeting. Tex: What is she talking about? Lewis: Play along. We don’t eat for about an hour. Me: A greeting is what you give someone you have not seen in a while. A while is a period of time more than two hours. Try another example. I come in the door after a day of work … Tex: I would be so glad to see you that I would rush up and hurl myself at you. Then I would get up on my back legs, knocking you over, causing you to drop whatever you were carrying … Lewis: Listen to what you’re saying, bro. You know we’re not supposed to get up on her. Me: Very good, Lewis. Thank you. Lewis: Which is why the approach I take is to circle closely, using body blocks. Throwing my whole weight against her legs so that she falls over and drops everything. Same exact result. I never have to get up on her at all. Me: You’re missing the point. All that is required from a greeting is a simple show of enthusiasm. Eyes filled with a certain amount of joy, a bit of tail-wagging. That’s it. Tex: What did she say? Lewis: Just go with it. She likes to hear herself talk. Me: Now that we’ve defined a greeting … Lewis: And by the way, I like to make mine last until she’s down on her knees, if not flat on her back … Tex: I’ve seen your work, buddy. You’re an artist. Me: Let’s try one more exercise to see if you are getting the point. Okay. Imagine this, I decide to take out the garbage. I walk to the door … Lewis: I’m right there with you. Tex: I beat you there. Lewis: The hell you do. Me: I exit. About eight seconds later I come back in the door. What would be your response? Tex: I’d be so thrilled to see you that I’d run up to you, hurl myself at you, then I’d get up on my back legs and … Lewis: Dolt. You don’t listen. We just went through this a second ago. It’s circle and hurl, circle and lean … and hurl. Circle and hurl. Me: Stop! Listen to me! The point was that you do not have to greet me again. You just greeted me seconds before. I’m sorry if this seems confusing but I’d like you to just blindly accept this rule and obey it. Do not greet me every time I come in the door. Lewis: So you’re asking us to be rude. Tex: No, no, I hear you. Tell me if I’ve got it straight. You go out the door, and then you come right back in. We do not get up on you. No. We circle and hurl, circle and lean and hurl … Lewis: There you go. Step on her feet and trip her. Tangle her up, and lean on her and at the same time circle … Tex: I can definitely do that. Lewis: Where is she going? Tex: Looks like the bedroom. Whoa. She closed the door. How long is she going to be gone? Lewis: I don’t know. All I know is suddenly we’re very alone. Tex: How long has it been since we saw her? Lewis: I don’t know. A month? A year? Tex: Wait! The door is opening. Oh my God! She’s back! Lewis: Dear God, thank you! She’s back! Welcome back! Tex: Come let me get up on you and give you a nice big kiss. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 39 best friends investigative report Continued from page 38 And anyway, your Puppy Boy proceeds to dump this deflated, sopping wet, drool-soaked soccer ball on your poor friend’s lap to try to get him to throw it across the room for him. Paul, of course, who is now sobbing, completely consumed with grief over the breakup of his marriage, takes no notice of Puppy Boy. So the dog becomes more insistent: “Look, in life there are certain moments that may never come again. This, I believe, is one of those moments for you. Throw the wet, flat thing now! Or live a life of regret. “I mean, I can’t stop you if you’d rather just listen to yourself talk. ‘Wife, wife, wife, she did this, she did that.’ For heaven’s sake, listen to me, you whiney, hen-pecked [blankety, blank]. Just look in my eyes and play along. “Pick up the big flat wet thing. Pick it up! PICK IT UP NOW!!” Merrill: Well, that’s exactly the way Puppy Boy always is. We just got home from a trip last night, and we were sitting there having dinner after many, many hours of travel, and he was doing the same thing. He’s always just seconds away from a game. And the game is always throw this for me, I’ll bring it right back, and then throw it for me again. He stares at you, then he stares at the thing he puts in your lap, and then he stares at you, and he stares down at the thing, and back and forth, back and forth like that, and he just stays there and waits, and waits. And then if you still don’t pick it up and throw it, he repositions it. Like, “Oh, I see that you haven’t noticed that there’s a thing in your lap.” So he pushes it a little closer to you, he moves it a little further up on your arm, and then he sits there and keeps staring, and he never stops. He does this at night when you’re sleeping. If you peer over your shoulder, you have your back to him, and he’s sitting behind you, and there’s a thing behind you on the bed, and he’s staring at it. Tomato: What else have you learned from dogs? Merrill: I’ve learned that there’s always something to eat in the lower third of any room, and that a lot of things that you wouldn’t consider edible are indeed edible, if you just know exactly what portions. For instance, the last pages of books turn out to be really edible. And certain portions of the shoe. Not all of the shoe, just certain parts. And certain parts of table legs are edible. Tomato: You also explain that dogs have a sickness known as Greeting Disorder. Merrill: That was the significant behavioral pattern of my dog Lewis, who had this thing where when you walked in the door to my house, he would greet you to within an inch of your life. The part that I didn’t write in the book is that after he greeted you and you’re lying on your back and floating in a pool of his saliva, then he is still so happy to see you that he would go down into my living room, which is a couple of stairs down from the entry hall, and have sex with my couch. Tomato: Well, you obviously have a beautiful and attractive couch, who is as yet unmarried. Merrill: He had a very significant, long-term relationship with that couch. Tomato: But you should at least consider having it spayed. 40 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 ©MARC BROWN/BFAS Coming in July! Summer Raffle And you can help to make it bigger and better than ever. prize? raffle nate a u do Can yo se contact: , plea If so ty Walden Animal Socie Aileen iends ad t Fr c /o Bes el Canyon Ro 01 Ang 4741 50 UT 8 Kanab, -2001 ext 165 g r 5) 644 (43 riends.o @bestf ileenw a The Famous Best Friends the animals’ bookshelf Spring Break By Sally Rosenthal Fall Guy by Carol Lea Benjamin. William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2004. Hardcover, 257 pages, $23.95. The Cat Who Came in from the Cold: A Fable by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. Ballantine Books, 2004. Hardcover, 192 pages, $15.95. The Dog Walker by Leslie Schnur. Atria Books, 2004. Hardcover, 312 pages, $23.95. I have long suspected that poet Dorothy Parker, known for her acerbic wit, was on to something. When asked by a fawning reporter if she liked writing, Parker, according to legend, responded that she hated writing but loved having written. Although I usually don’t fret too much about writer’s block and deadlines since most of my writing pops into my head while I am doing something mindless, such as cleaning out litter boxes or washing dishes, I must admit to having trouble coming up with an opening line for this column. As I waited one bitterly cold evening recently for my guide dog, Boise, to answer nature’s call, I briefly considered and then rejected “Call me Ishmael.” Herman Melville had already used it for Moby Dick, and I thought other literature majors would catch me in the act of plagiarism. Then, it dawned on me why I was having such difficulty finding the words to discuss and recommend some books for springtime reading: I was as cold, if not colder, than Boise’s nose on that winter night. As most magazine pieces are written many months prior to the issue date, I knew my problem lay in the weather rather than in myself. Spring seems a long time away to me right now, but, by the time you read this, you just might be in need of a good book for a spring vacation – or one to while away a day indoors, safe from April showers. If so, I would suggest checking out the books below rather than resorting to Moby Dick. If you, like me, enjoy mysteries, my pick of the litter is Fall Guy by Carol Lea Benjamin. The latest installment in the Rachel Alexander series, this novel about a New York policeman’s death and buried secrets from the past took me by surprise – literally and figuratively. An unsolicited review copy arrived in my mailbox a little while ago. Because my tastes run to mainly British detective fiction, I was not familiar with Benjamin’s series about a Greenwich Village private investigator and her rescued pit-bull partner. My oversight, but don’t make the same mistake yourselves. Benjamin’s characters, plots, and settings are realistic and gritty. In addition, I was truly impressed by the author’s portrayal of her female detective and her dog Dashiell who, besides being her partner in crime solution, does pet therapy and is a search-and-rescue trainee. Dashiell is all dog, and the way he fits seamlessly into the novel is the best reason for dog lovers to get acquainted with Benjamin, who is also a dog trainer and service-dog handler. Those of you who prefer fiction with a feline twist will welcome The Cat Who Came in from the Cold by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. Not to be confused with the British classic of the same name by Deric Longden, this new work from one of my favorite writers about all things animal is a surprising departure from his previous works. From the author who helped place the subject of animals’ emotions squarely on the table for discussion with such books as When Elephants Weep comes a re-working and imaginative take on how the first cat in India chose to become domesticated. In this slim volume, Masson contemplates how cats sought out human company and chose domestication by telling the tale of Billie, Masson’s fictional feline protagonist. As readers might expect, the author is right on the mark when it comes to seeing the world and human behavior through a cat’s eyes. Although the dialogue does not flow as smoothly as the narrative and descriptions at times, this is only a small distraction in an otherwise engaging work. All cat lovers will find The Cat Who Came in from the Cold intriguing, but those who fall into the “indoor-only” camp might disagree with Masson’s belief that cats need to balance their connection to humans with outdoor independence. Masson is not the only author to try his hand at fiction related to animals. First-time novelist Leslie Schnur, in The Dog Walker, has turned out a book that is rather a mixed bag. This tale of a New York publishing house refugee turned fill-in dog walker seemed promising when I discovered it at the bookstore, but, truth be told, it initially failed to hold my interest. In addition to a slow start, this novel is filled with characters who are less than appealing or fully formed. The protagonist, a dog walker with more than a slight penchant for snooping through her clients’ homes and belongings, left me with a creepy feeling and little empathy. What saved this book for me was Schnur’s on-target observances of canine behavior and needs, and how people often fail the dogs in their lives. This humane education aspect of the novel and better character and plot development in the last two-thirds of the book make it one that might appeal to others more than it did to me. After all, to each her own. And I’ll let you in on a secret: I liked Moby Dick even less than I do cold weather. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 41 ambassador to the animals Curtain Call! How Act Three of the No More Homeless Pets drama is set to play out By Francis Battista “Hey,” Jimmy says to Jane, “where are you going with Buster?” “Well, he’s not really my dog, ya know. He belonged to my exboyfriend who moved out and, well, I can’t afford to keep him … my audition schedule gives him no time and it just doesn’t seem fair, so I’m taking him to the humane society over on Ridge Street.” “But, aren’t you worried about Buster since that’s a kill shelter?” asks Jimmy. “It’s OK. They told me they were an open admission shelter. Who told you they were a kill shelter?” “That no-kill shelter over on Boulevard.” “But the humane society told me that the place on Boulevard is just a limited admission shelter. I’m confused.” “Me too. Why don’t you keep Buster and I’ll help pay for his food and he can come to the park every afternoon with Daisy and me.” “Sounds good to me.” ACT ONE: Saving people from dogs. The first act was long and dreary. Without humane societies to protect animals, animal control was purely a matter of public health and safety. Late in the 19th century, many humane organizations began to step into the animal control role in an attempt to introduce some measure of kindness. But when animal control was contracted out to the local humane society, the mission of the humane society was compromised. After all, whose agenda was being served: public safety or animal welfare? The big victories of the humane movement in the 1960s and into the 70s had to do with championing the more humane lethal injection over the horrific decompression chamber as the main means of killing. A clean death at the hands of (at best) a caring technician, it was argued, was better than the risk of an uncertain life on the streets. The term “euthanasia,” or mercy killing, was used to reinforce this view and pad the reality of what was happening. Footnote to Act One: Many of the current opponents of no-kill solutions came of age in the movement in those years and seem to have been frozen in time. imited admission? Open admission? Kill? No kill? Welcome to the new world of animal rescue, where things are not always what they seem and the admonition “caveat emptor” definitely applies. As the no-kill movement has taken root across the country, with rescue groups springing up all over the place, many humane societies have responded to the demands of their members to give up the dogcatcher role. People say they want their donations spent on saving as many animals as possible – like on spay/neuter and adoption programs. As a result, many humane societies, large and small, have adopted no-kill policies, meaning that when they accept an animal into their system, they commit to finding that animal a home. On the other hand, many other humane societies argue that by caving in to the emotional demands of under-informed donors to go no-kill, they are just passing the buck to shelters that are prepared to handle the necessary but unpleasant responsibility of putting surplus animals to “sleep.” They add that shelters that call themselves “no-kill” are casting themselves as good guys and the others as the bad guys. So, in retaliation, these traditional humane societies have coined the term “open admission” for themselves, and use the words “limited admission” to refer to no-kill shelters. Bottom line: It’s all about money. Money follows the heart, and the heart of the animal-loving public is with no-kill alternatives to population control by death. This may seem like a tempest in the teapot of animal welfare. But it also represents the beginning of what may be the last act in the drama of homeless pets in this country. 42 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 L ACT TWO: Stop the killing! Act Two opened with the daring emergence of the no-kill movement, which was, and remains, a grassroots initiative. Largely it was a tug of war between the humane “professionals,” who dominated the movement in the mid-1980s, and a growing legion of upstart interlopers. These newcomers challenged the status quo and captured public imagination with the idea that the lives of homeless dogs and cats were worth any inconvenience that they might cause city governments, the humane establishment, and our own families and finances. No-kill shelters were not a new idea. They had been around for a long time, but were more a reflection of the people who ran them than of public demand or policy. Some were very good, some not so good. The humane establishment tended to lump them all together and argue that they were simply “warehousing” animals and sopping up funds that could be better spent at professional humane societies. But as the no-kill movement grew, the 1980s saw an across- the-board elevation in the status of animal companions. Animal hospitals, pet food companies, and retail outlets began to mirror their human counterparts because more people were prepared to pay for the health and happiness of their animal friends. And the public began to take notice of what was happening behind the closed doors of the humane societies. (In one famous case, the Peninsula Humane Society in California invited a local TV station to come in and witness the reality of puppies getting the lethal injection.) Spay/neuter, adoption programs, foster care, feral cat programs, and long-term-care sanctuaries pushed the main action out of the traditional shelter environment, with more and more people refusing to accept the old logic that “euthanasia” is the only option. Local rescue groups began to pop up everywhere. And by the end of the 1990s, virtually every pet supply chain like Petco and Petsmart was hosting adoption days for rescue groups at least every weekend. Be Part of Best Friends! As a member of Best Friends, you’ll be helping those animals most in need, and you’ll receive each bimonthly issue of Best Friends magazine. YES! I want to be part of Best Friends, and read all the good news about animals and animal lovers. ❒ Subscribing Membership ❒ Supporting Membership ❒ Sustaining Membership ❒ Guardian Angel $25 a year $45 a year $100 a year (or $10 a month) $240 a year (or $20 a month) ACT THREE: No more homeless pets As a new century dawned, the argument was essentially over and the animals had won. Yes, four to five million household pets are still dying in shelters across the country each year, but that is down from the 18-million range at the beginning of Act Two. So now we are all involved together in the push to the finish … the last act. As this final stage develops, look for new, creative initiatives that are already beginning to tackle the problem at its roots. Watch the world’s largest pharmaceutical corporations as they vie to produce cheaper and easier chemical birth-control methods. Look for movements in popular culture that affect the way people relate to animals. Notice how young people are getting involved from all segments of the community. Just generally, watch for the unexpected. We all know that there is only one acceptable way for the curtain to come down on this “three-act drama” – with no more killing of homeless pets. P.S. Expect a standing ovation from all the animals for all the players in our drama. (And it’s fine to tell your friends how it all ends. It really won’t spoil the show.) Amount enclosed: $_____________ ❒ Check/M.O. ❒ VISA ❒ MC ❒ AmExp ❒ DISC Card no.: ____________________________________ Exp. date:____________________________________ Signature: ___________________________________ Your name:__________________________________ Address:_____________________________________ City: ________________________________________ State:___________________ Zip: ________________ Phone: ______________________________________ This is a gift for: Name: ______________________________________ Address:_____________________________________ City: ________________________________________ State:___________________ Zip: ________________ Phone: ______________________________________ BMS 5001 Angel Canyon Road Kanab, Utah 84741 • (435) 644-2001 e-mail: info@bestfriends.org www.bestfriends.org BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 43 animals in history Feline Fear Factor Being afraid of Fluffy may just be a mental illness Not all people think cats are cuddly bundles of fur. For some, they are beasts that strike fear into their very soul. Justine Hankins, of the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, investigates cat phobia. hat do Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Mussolini, and Hitler have in common? One or two things spring to mind, obviously, but tyranny and a thirst for world domination are not what concern us here. All are reputed to have suffered from ailurophobia – the fear of cats. That’s not to say that they didn’t much care for cats or held felines to be inferior to, say, dogs or horses; allegedly, they were palm-sweatingly, spinetinglingly, stomach-churningly terror-struck by pussycats. I say allegedly because the vast library of cat lore doesn’t tend to trouble itself with footnotes. I have no idea if anyone really knows (or cares) how Hitler or Mussolini felt about cats, or where the story about Alexander falling into a swoon at the sight of a cat originated, but ailurophiles seem irresistibly drawn to the idea that cat aversion is an indication of a brutish, insensitive temperament. “Artists like cats; soldiers like dogs,” as Desmond Morris once said. Evidence to back up these historical whispers is hard to come by. One person who has looked into the matter is Katharine MacDonogh, author of Reigning Cats and Dogs: A History of Pets at Court Since the Renaissance (St. Martin’s Press, 1999). She writes, “No record exists of Napoleon either liking or hating cats.” And I believe her because the book is extensively indexed and MacDonogh is, in fact, a historian, rather than someone who just happens to like cats a great deal. So why is the tale of Napoleon being turned into a quivering wreck by a cat regurgitated so often? MacDonogh sheds light on this, too. “Cats have been endowed with a magical ability to detect the overweening ambitions of dictators, many of whom have consequently been accused of ailurophobia on the flimsiest evidence.” As compelling as the idea may be to some cat lovers, the connection between ailurophobia and ruthless ambition is tenuous, to say the least. Indeed, some very nice people are terrified of cats, so much so that even a picture of one can induce panic. The bad news for ailurophobes is that cats seem to be drawn to people who don’t like them. This isn’t, as some may suspect, because they’re wicked little creatures. There is a perfectly logical explanation for this seemingly perverse behavior. Cats don’t like to be stared at, but people who are fond of cats tend to look directly at them and may even start gesticulating and making silly puss-puss noises. The cat phobic, on the other hand, will remain still and silent and try to ignore the animal, which puts the cat at ease and makes for an inviting lap. 44 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 W The good news is that fear of cats, like other phobias, can be overcome. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often very effective, as is hypnotherapy. Melanie Phelps, a hypnotherapist based in the U.K., specializes in treating people with phobias, including fear of cats. “The reason for phobias is most commonly a bad childhood experience,” she says. “It might not be something they’re consciously aware of, but somewhere along the way they’ve learned that cats are scary and dangerous. It’s a fight-or-flight instinct that’s been triggered inappropriately.” So, a child may be drawn to a cat or kitten by its cute, cuddly, toy-like appearance and then get a nasty shock when the bundle of fur turns into teeth and claws; or the parents may transfer their own anxiety about cats onto the child. According to Phelps, three to five sessions is usually enough to tackle simple phobias. The difficult part is plucking up enough courage to seek help in the first place. Famous Ailurophiles Abraham Lincoln’s cat, Tabby, was the first of several White House cats. Sir Isaac Newton, the scientist who first described the principle of gravity, also invented the swinging cat door for the convenience of his many cats. Edward Lear was known for writing the famous limerick “The Owl and the Pussy Cat.” Lear was devoted to his cat Foss, whom he laid to rest in his Italian garden. Florence Nightingale was devoted to Bismarck, a large Persian cat. The Prophet Mohammed loved cats. The story is told that one day when he was being called to pray he noticed his cat, Muezza, sleeping on the folds of his sleeve. Rather than disturb the sleeping cat, Mohammed cut off the sleeve of his robe. French artists Renoir and Monet loved cats and put them in several paintings. Sir Winston Churchill always refused to start dinner until his orange tabby, Jock, was present at the table. Jock also attended wartime cabinet meetings. A 13th-century Egyptian sultan left his entire fortune to the needy cats of Cairo. For many years after, homeless cats received a free meal daily. St. Gregory the Great said he had no worldly goods except a cat, whom he liked to hold in his arms and stroke while he was meditating. Although Edgar Allan Poe used cats as symbols of the sinister in several of his stories, he himself owned and loved cats. Pope Leo XII was well-known for his affection for Micette, who was born in the Vatican. Raymond Chandler had long conversations with his black Persian, Taki, and called her his secretary because she sat on his manuscripts as he tried to revise them. Charles Dickens’s cat was well known for snuffing out Dickens’s candle in order to gain his attention. Cardinal Richelieu reserved one of his rooms for cats, where they were fed special treats twice a day. When he died, the cats were provided for, along with their caregivers. Famous Ailurophobes (Warning: Some of these items may upset you.) William Shakespeare fans will be unhappy that the majority of the bard’s literary references to felines are vilifications. Like in All’s Well That Ends Well: “I could endure anything but a cat. And now he’s a cat to me…” Empress Wu-Chao hated cats so much that she had them banished from her palace – perhaps with some justification. After all, a lady-in-waiting whom she had sentenced to death issued a curse that in the after-life she would turn herself into a cat, and the Empress into a rat. Pope Gregory IX denounced the black cat as diabolical and gave his official blessing to worldwide persecution of cats, setting the course for five centuries of cat hatred and torture. Pope Innocent VIII made a point of noting, when condemning witches in the Bull of 1484, that their cats should be burned with them. King Louis XIV lit fires when he was a bratty boy king and then ... well anyway, we don’t need to describe it. It’s said that he later reformed from this horrific behavior. Although author Hillaire Belloc had a cat, he wrote: “I do not like them…when one hears them praised, it goads one to expressing one’s hatred and fear of them…” Dancer Isadora Duncan lived next door to a countess who ran a cat sanctuary in Neuilly, France. With felines constantly invading her garden she gave orders to her staff to round them all up and drown them. Noah Webster described the cat as a “deceitful animal and when enraged, extremely spiteful.” Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his staff orders to shoot any seen on the grounds of his home in Gettysburg. Henry III is said to have been like a lion when persecuting the Protestant minority in France, but the presence of a cat turned him into a chicken. He would faint if a cat came near him. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 45 on the radio Connections, Credit, and Opera Predicting Disasters Rupert Sheldrake, Ph.D., studies telepathic communication and the “morphic fields” that link people and animals who have close bonds with each other. We talked with him when reports were coming in of animals who seemed to have had advance warning of the great tsunami in Southeast Asia. B.F.: Is this something you think we humans have lost, that we never had, that we’re crowding out because of all the stuff of daily life, or what? R.S.: I think that these abilities are actually much better developed in so-called traditional people. There was a report about the Stone Age tribal people who live on the Andaman Islands. Originally, people felt they would have been destroyed by the tsunami. But it turned out they’d retreated to higher ground in the jungle before it struck, which might suggest that people in a traditional society were able to pick up something. B.F.: You describe how all of life and the earth and everything may be connected on some very fundamental level. R.S.: Well, yes, I have a theory called “morphic fields” that suggests each species has a kind of collective memory. And also that people who are bonded with other people or animals have a field that connects them, which is how they influence each other at a distance. I think that’s the basis of telepathy. But premonitions are much more mysterious. For me, telepathy is rather straightforward compared with premonition. A premonition that depends on some influence from the future doesn’t really fit into my own theories – or indeed anyone else’s. We just don’t understand it. And yet, I think the evidence shows something like that is happening. The only way that we’ll find out what’s going on is by studying it and by paying attention to the evidence. We certainly won’t learn anything by pretending this doesn’t happen and just trying to dismiss the whole thing. B.F.: How can we develop these senses better in ourselves? R.S.: One is by paying attention to them. And if we have animals, seeing what we can learn from their sensitivity. Between people, the most common kind of telepathy in the modern world, by far, is telephone telepathy. Knowing when a particular person is going to call on the telephone. Most people have had that experience. I’ve done a lot of experiments that show that this does seem to be a real ability. I think it’s on the increase in the modern world, simply because we use telephones so much. It even happens with e-mails. I’ve summarized it in The Sense of Being Stared At. So I think the best thing to do is, instead of just dismissing it, just to pay attention to it. Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home has been adapted for a TV series to be broadcast in the U.S. later this year. Dr. Sheldrake’s latest book is The Sense of Being Stared At. Best Friends: How do animals seem to know that some natural disaster is about to happen? Dr. Rupert Sheldrake: Well, no one really knows. We do know that animals often have premonitions of disasters. I’ve documented this in my most recent book, The Sense of Being Stared At. All the recent earthquakes, including the Seattle quake of 2001, have had animals behaving oddly up to several days in advance. And in the Alps, there is quite a lot of evidence that before avalanches, the mountain animals come down and get out of the way. They seem to know when it’s going to happen. Obviously, in the course of evolution, animals that can get out of the way of disasters are going to survive better than those that don’t. So, there are very good reasons in natural selection for these abilities to develop. B.F.: You talk in your books about how animals get premonitions … maybe sense of smell, sensing the earth’s magnetic fields, things like that. What do you think is going on? R.S.: With earthquakes, it could possibly involve detecting electrical changes near where the earthquakes happen. But that wouldn’t apply to tsunamis, where the earthquake is underwater and a long way away from where the tsunami strikes. And there are certain kinds of disasters that animals react to in advance, which are not natural. During the Second World War, a lot of dogs and cats in England gave their owners warning of German air raids, at least half an hour before the bombing began, when the planes would still have been 150 to 200 miles away. And, it couldn’t just have been hearing. The wind was often blowing in the wrong direction. The same happened in Germany and even in the recent American air raids in Baghdad. So, this suggests to me that there is an element of precognition involved. Excerpts from recent Best Friends radio shows. Check the news section of www.bestfriends.org for how to receive the show. 46 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Bentley’s Credit Card Best Friends: How come your dog, Bentley, gets to have two credit cards, and here at an animal sanctuary, with about 650 dogs on any given day, none of them has a credit card? James Corn: Probably a combination of two factors. The first is that American Express can’t seem to get their act together. They target the college kids with unsecured credit card debt so when the kids get out of college, they have plenty of debt but no jobs, and now they are targeting pets. The other part is that Bentley has great credit. B.F.: So is Bentley in debt now? J.C.: No, he’s always paid his credit card bills. Citibank finds him to be an excellent preferred customer. He’s had a Gold Card from Citibank for about 11 years. B.F.: How did this all come to pass? J.C.: I think it all stemmed from a Hilton Frequent Guest Card that he got in Gaithersburg, Maryland, from a Hilton Hotel. He was traveling with me in 1993, when he was about three years old. And when I checked in, I asked if he could come with me. B.F.: Now Bentley has both an American Express card and a Citibank card. And you’ve tried to get him to give them up, but no one will listen to you. J.C.: I’ve spent nine years with American Express trying to get them to close that card. I ended up with customer service reps, and they said the card is not in my name, the name is Bentley’s, and that I was the secondary card holder. And they said that they couldn’t make any changes unless they spoke to the primary card holder. I told them for 43 minutes that Bentley is a dog, and they kept saying, well, we need to speak to him. It just never stopped! So after I had spoken to a number of supervisors, I finally called Channel 7 News in my area for some help. They came out here, they interviewed Bentley, they took photographs of his veterinarian records, his pawprints, and stuff like that, and they contacted Amex, and they said he certainly is a D-O-G, dog. But Amex couldn’t talk to them, either, because of “privacy concerns.” They kept insisting on speaking to Bentley. We just weren’t getting anywhere and then finally they were kind enough to send me a letter, confirming the fact that I was not the primary card holder, that I was not financially responsible for the card – that Bentley M. Corn was. B.F.: Sounds like an invitation to a spree at the local mall! J.C.: Well, that’s exactly what happened. Once I got it in writing that I was not financially responsible for this card, I said, “Listen, we’re going shopping. I’m going to buy $2,000 worth of toys, I’m going to donate them to the local school, and when the bill comes in, it’s never going to get paid.” So, we just figured out that we would end up in court sooner or later. B.F.: Well, we hope that all goes well. J.C.: Just remember, when it comes to American Express – you can leave home without it! Polly Sings Opera Bruce Adolphe presents the weekly “Piano Puzzler” on NPR’s Performance Today. He joined us, along with Polly Rhythm, his Amazon parrot. Best Friends: Polly is 37 years old? Bruce Adolphe: He’s about that age. The first two or three years I had him, he learned a tremendous amount of singing and talking, and he does jazz and opera and quotes all sorts of things. I write music, and in fact, I use him occasionally as a judge, because when he starts singing and chortling, I know that, well, I can’t tell for sure whether he likes the music or if it’s just he knows that I like it! I have a small studio where I work, and the former bathroom is connected to it, and he’s got this giant built-in cage, and he’s not usually in it, but when I’m writing, he’s there. And he sings a lot, so sometimes I have to move him out of the area because it’s hard to write music when somebody’s singing at the top of their lungs. B.F.: Especially if it’s a completely different tune. How does he fit into the family? How do you all get along? B.A.: Well, he’s very easy to get along with in terms of talking and singing. But he’s not so easy in terms of handling, except for me. I can pick him up, and he’s a very cuddly pet, and he likes to chew on my clothing and play with my ear. But, almost everybody else he will bite. They bond very strongly to one person usually. And, he’s very friendly to everybody in terms of communicating but not in terms of letting them go near him to pick him up or anything. He loves to sing with my wife and my daughter, who is six and is very musical. She plays a violin and sings, but her singing has been greatly influenced by the bird. And because the bird sings so well, my daughter has learned how to do some coloraturas and arpeggios and trills. We’ve actually had visiting us, all sorts of great singers (this is New York here), and we’ve had people from the Met and City Opera come over specifically to sing with him many times. B.F.: Well, speaking of opera singers, we’re going to listen to Polly now singing along with the “Queen of the Night” aria from Mozart’s Magic Flute. Who’s he singing with? B.A.: Natalie Dessay. You can listen to Polly singing Mozart on at www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/ bestfriendsradio/index.cfm. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 47 members & pets Cinder’s Tale Long but worthwhile journey By Charlotte Brewster he call came in to Heber City Animal Control. When officers responded to the animal abuse report, they found a small puppy tied to a stake in the yard, being shot at with a gun. Charges were filed, and the puppy was taken to the shelter. She was nearly catatonic by the time she arrived there. Lynn Baird, the shelter attendant, quickly realized that on top of everything else, Cinder, as she named the mottled black-and-white dog, was deaf. And since there was no way that she would survive in a shelter environment, Lynn decided to take her home and foster her. Two weeks later, Cinder took her first steps out from behind the sofa. But she still collapsed in a heap on the floor – motionless and submissive – whenever something frightening happened. And just about everything was frightening, especially the sight of a leash. But after eight months of foster care, Cinder was ready for a permanent home. Luck was on Cinder’s side. Lynn found an older woman who was willing to adopt Cinder with all of her quirks and issues. She had a fenced yard, so that made the leash problem a non-issue. It seemed as though this was the happy ending everyone had hoped and prayed for. A year passed. And then, to the shock of the folks at Heber City Animal Control, Cinder was returned to the Mike and Izzy Semrau with Cinder shelter. Her person had just 48 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 T died of cancer, and the family was not able to deal with Cinder and her disability. They felt that they had no choice but to take her to the shelter. Cinder was very confused, upset, and back to her old ways – a frightened adult dog who could not communicate with others and could not be leashed. It was no small feat to lift Cinder up from her dead-dog position every time she collapsed in fear. Lynn was no longer working at the shelter, but the officers called her anyway. She had moved to a place with no fenced yard and on a busy road – not a good place for a terrified, deaf dog. So Lynn called Summit County Friends of Animals, who agreed to take Cinder into their fosteradoption program. Next, an amazing couple, Jim and Gail Higman, volunteered as Cinder’s new foster family, taking her every weekend to their nearby Furburbia adoption center in Park City, Utah. Although the little cattle dog remained sad and confused in her kennel at Furburbia, she was at least starting to respond to Jim and Gail. About a month later, Izzy Semrau came into Furburbia. Izzy and her husband, Mike, had just moved to Park City and were ready for a new dog in their lives, as they had lost their faithful companion a year before. A deaf herding dog was definitely not what Izzy had in mind, but she found herself drawn to Cinder above all the other dogs. She left the store, but quietly came back later – yes, Cinder was still tugging on her heart. After much discussion and research back home, Izzy and Mike decided to give it a try. The first week was very tough. At first, they simply couldn’t communicate with Cinder at all. Then, Mike started special training with her. Finally, the intelligent cattle dog began to understand what her new family needed her to know. She now has a special collar that sends different vibrations so she knows what Izzy and Mike are saying. And that’s how Mike and Izzy can “call” Cinder, since she cannot hear them. She has also learned several hand signals for “sit,” “come,” “down,” and she is working on “stay.” She is a happy dog and walks with Mike down to Main Street every day – on the leash! Here at Summit County Friends of Animals, we call her Cinderella. After all, she certainly has a home fit for a princess. Charlotte Brewster serves on the Board of Summit County Friends of Animals in Park City, Utah. If your dog or cat is slowing down, it could be from joint pain. Do something about it – give your best friend Advanced Joint Support™! Advanced Joint Support™ can prevent or reduce chronic joint inflammation no matter what your pet’s age. It improves flexibility, takes away the pain, and makes it easier for your pet to move. And movement is vital to good overall health. Available in easy-to-feed liver-flavored chewables that dogs love yet are soft enough to break up and mix in cat food. Advanced Joint Support™ is our bestselling supplement, and here’s why: My poor old cat was a stray for a long time before I adopted him. His joints were so bad he could hardly walk. I’ve tried a lot of supplements, but your Advanced Joint Support is the best. He can get up and walk around the house with hardly a limp. The other night for the first time he jumped onto the couch without any trouble. – Claudine Blake, Colton, Oregon My golden retriever, Kaydee, has been on Advanced Joint Support for a while now and it has improved her more than any prescription the vet has given to us. Kaydee has arthritis in both hips. The vet tried her on a couple different medications that made her groggy and unbalanced, yet her hips worsened. We had to start carrying her up stairs and helping her get up from a resting position. This supplement has changed my dog’s life. In fact, we were considering having Kaydee put to sleep prior to starting her on it. Within a month of starting her on Advanced Joint Support, she improved so much we couldn’t believe it. She now runs, plays, jumps up on the bed, and does not appear to have any discomfort. She moves with ease instead of pain. This is a miraculous cure for dogs with hip problems. Kaydee is now 9 years old and doing wonderful. I plan to keep her on this supplement indefinitely. – Mary Hart, Grand Rapids, Michigan Bruno, my 10-year-old English springer spaniel, has arthritis and painful joints. Advanced Joint Support Chewables have turned him into a newly energized “puppy.” He’s more comfortable in the evening, sleeps better, and has more energy during the day. All three of my dogs are not food motivated but they will do back flips for those liver flavored tablets. – Holly Jabusch, Longview, Washington Stay at Best Friends in the beautiful Angel Canyon Cottages. Suites with beautiful views. Discounted rates for Best Friends Members! Call 435644-2001 A gift to the animals in your will or trust will help to ensure that the wellspring of kindness that you are nourishing today will never run dry. How Your Love Can Live On Through the Animals Order today! Send a check or money order for $12 plus $3 shipping and handling for 100 chewable wafers of Advanced Joint Support™ . The Best Friends Store P.O. Box 149, Kanab, Utah 84741 or call 800-864-1661 or order online A gift annuity takes advantage of favorable tax treatment that’s available only to charitable organizations and their donors. Ask your financial advisor about investing in a gift annuity. And ask Best Friends about setting up a gift annuity that will benefit the animals. Call (435) 644-2001 and ask for the treasurer. And How You Can Make Money by Giving It to the Animals BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 49 your mail BROWNIE Each year, we face the problem of unwanted Easter rabbits. We believe that the message to not buy rabbits as Easter gifts can become an integral part of American views on companion animals. Two years ago, the Columbus House Rabbit Society began the “Make Mine Chocolate!” campaign. Ceramic pins in the form of chocolate bunnies symbolize the campaign’s goals of discouraging the casual purchase of rabbits and educating people about the special needs of these often-fragile creatures. Wearing the pin provides the opportunity to share our message. These informal conversations are supported by a card that is distributed with each pin, and by business cards that can be handed out to interested people. Both the pin card and the business card list important facts that should be considered before bringing a rabbit home. We would like to invite your House Rabbit Society chapter or humane group to partner with us on this important campaign. As partners, we can reach every community in America and change the way the general public thinks about companion rabbits. Together, we can improve the lives of thousands of domestic rabbits nationwide. For more information about the “Make Mine Chocolate!” campaign, please visit our website, www.makeminechocolate.org, and review our brochure. K ARALEE CURRY COLUMBUS HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY KARALEE@COLUMBUSRABBIT.ORG In the January/February issue there is a small blurb and cartoon about the Louisiana SPCA rabbit rescue in New Orleans. Not mentioned is how the House Rabbit Society helped and we did, too. All the rabbits were spayed and neutered before adoption. A big thanks to Danielle Collins of the NGAHRS for coming over to help. And to my vet, Dr. Rich, who did many of the exams, spay/neuters for nothing. All in all, it was many folks working together. JUNE BOOTH LA SPCA, NEW ORLEANS, LA. 50 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 EASTER BUNNIES I was saddened to see “favorite little monster” Brownie had passed away. I have laughed at him with the pit bulls numerous times and now … moist eyes. Perhaps the angels can change him – probably not! I don’t even think St. Peter could! JACK LIGHTFOOT TIGER, GA. My husband and I moved to Page, Arizona, from California because of Lake Powell. We love exploring the many canyons in our boat, whereas without the lake these canyons are just about inaccessible to all but the very hardy hikers with lots of time. Rainbow Bridge, one of the natural wonders of the world, has been seen by millions because of Lake Powell. The canyons are beautiful without the water in them, but in our opinion, they are spectacular with the crystal clear water and dancing lights reflecting off the canyon walls. LAKE POWELL & GLEN CANYON Thank you for having the courage to present the article on Glen Canyon Dam. This article reflects a viewpoint one rarely sees in print – outside of professional, academic land-use studies. The dam was and is an ill-conceived mistake built on a porous, inappropriate geological soil base. It has caused great destruction not only to irreplaceable native artifacts and glorious canyons, but also to the Grand Canyon ecosystems – something never seen elsewhere on this planet. It’s always seemed ridiculous to me that this dam nightmare continues to exist, solving none of the water and power demands the region demands – in a sustainable manner. MARY LOU FITZGIBBON AMERY, WIS. MISS PRIMROSE & THE BEST FRIENDS NETWORK In this time of extreme drought, Lake Powell has shown its importance and has done exactly what it was built for: to provide water and power for the millions of people in all the states that use the Colorado River water. Lake Powell was built in a wilderness area to supply a tremendous need for water, power, and recreation for millions of people – not unlike Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, which has built a small city in the beautiful wilderness of Angel Canyon for domestic animals. We would never wish away Best Friends because it is so needed and so important to the animals we love. Don’t wish away our Lake Powell, it is important and very needed. DARLENE & TIM VAN HEMELRYCK PAGE, ARIZ. In October, I contacted you from New Hampshire asking for help regarding my mother-in-law’s cat, Miss Primrose. Mom was in the hospital and not expected to come out. I didn’t know where to turn and the local places where she might have found shelter were full to overflowing. You kindly called me back with a list of places I had not already tried, and asked permission to put Miss Primrose’s story on the Internet. I received many inquiries. One rescue organization even called from Boston and was very supportive. A couple of ladies saw the Best Friends Network message and contacted us to see if they could help. About this time my motherin-law passed away, so my husband drove Miss Primrose to Maine to meet the people who were interested in adopting her. It is a wonderful placement for her. The vet there was able to cure her of a problem that had kept her on prednisone for so long. She is now a healthy and loved indoor kitty. Letters & Photos Photos intended for publication must be addressed to Best Friends magazine, not simply to the sanctuary. Letters sent by e-mail and intended for publication must include your name and address. While there is only limited space in the magazine, many of the photos sent in each month appear in the Members & Pets section of the Best Friends website at www.bestfriends.org. This is Fritzie, who will not sleep anywhere without her Teddy. JOAN EDES, CHICAGO, ILL. Candy, Gidget, Mac and Sassy at Gidget’s birthday party. LINDA HOULE, WALLINGFORD, CONN. Our little monster, Yogi. RACHEL TERRY, K ERNERSVILLE, N.C. Thank you Best Friends for letting Mommy and Daddy adopt me. Louie is my name and I am the love of their lives. Everything’s coming up roses. FROM ANNETTE AND DAVE LOPEZ LAS VEGAS, NEV. I was adopted from an Animal Rescue Center on Staten Island at 10 weeks. I only weighed 2 pounds and was very sick. Now I’m a very pampered kitty and very loved. I wish all my furry friends well. LOVE AND MEOWS, LELU LORD, STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 51 your mail We hear from them about every other week, reporting on her progress. Primrose is part of their permanent family and I am very grateful to them and to Best Friends for their care of Miss Primrose. CAROL CRABTREE HOLLYWOOD, FLA. Thousands of members of Best Friends are part of the Best Friends Network. There’s more information about it on the website at www.bestfriends.org. Guardy or just said what they loved about her. We served Guardy’s favorite cookies – oatmeal raisin. We belong to a spiritual community, and our teacher, Yogi Bhajan, had given Guardian her “spiritual name,” an honor usually reserved for humans. As a young female, it was appropriate that Guardian, a darling little mixture of sheltie and shepherd and who knows what else, found her way to a yoga camp in New Mexico. Seeing her beauty and sweetness, I just had to take her home to Virginia. We had been wanting to have a child for 11 years, and I felt that this puppy had some connection with a child that would come to us. Our son was born the year after Guardian came to us. They are totally dedicated to each other. SHAKTA KHALSA VIA E-MAIL I go to feed the horses? Lock the dogs in a crate? It’s not just one shelter or rescue group; there are at least half a dozen that give me an amazingly difficult time, plus home checks, four reference checks, and vet checks. And then there are the shots. With four dogs at home, it’s costly for me to have the vet do it when I can buy them for $1.95 a shot. I know how to give a shot, so I do my own. But that means forget about adopting a dog from any of those groups. My dogs are like children to me. I have paid thousands of dollars to treat medical conditions. Yet I cannot adopt a dog because I refuse to keep them on a lead on my own property or put a padlock on my dog fence. So why would I not go to the local breeder and just buy a dog? I can buy one for $300, yet the adoption fees at some rescues are more than that – and for a dog who possibly has a problem history that I will need to overcome. I do understand where these people are coming from and their desire to make sure the dogs they’ve rescued aren’t going to be mistreated. So I try to be patient, but this is bordering on the absurd. Why in the world would the average person ever adopt rather than buy? I fear a lot of dogs and cats are dying each year while near perfect homes are being ignored. K ERRY CLAIR VIA E-MAIL HAPPY & SWEETIE Your story on the children and teacher in Dalhart, Texas, was a shot in the arm for me. The children are heavenly, doing the work that rarely gets accolades since the animals they serve cannot hand out plaques or speak out on their behalf. I have been a teacher/counselor (high school) in New York’s Board of Education. Many a discussion has surrounded the question of whether it is a teacher’s job to teach morality and ethics in classrooms and that such is the parents’ obligation. The way young people are living their “Hollywood” dreams and chasing the money game, no matter how they obtain it, parents are not living up to this obligation. So, thank goodness for teachers like Diane Trull and her family. To me, they are the real heroes of our century. FAY FORMAN NEW YORK, N.Y. THE NO-KILL KIDS OF TEXAS Bev and I both enjoyed the story on Happy in your Holiday Newsletter. We have Sweetie, our “One Eyed Love Bandit,” an 11-year-old American cocker, who is also blind and deaf. We adopted her some three years ago. She had been used as a breeder for eight years. On the way, a vet in Davis County removed one of her eyes. In our home, sounds don’t change or conflict, and furniture doesn’t move, and so Sweetie gets along just fine. We believe she hears some. She knows where each of us is and follows us around, and knows when mealtime is. BEV AND VINCENT VIA E-MAIL A PARTY FOR GUARDY Last summer we had a party for our 14year-old dog, Guardian (nicknamed Guardy). We wanted to honor her while she is still with us, not wait until she is gone. It was a sweet and fun-loving celebration. Everyone who came told a story of a special time with BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 Re. “The New Humane Movement” (Jan. 2005). One thing I would like to add is how difficult some shelters make it for a person to adopt a pet. At my local shelter, I need to fill out a two- to three-page application asking how much money I make and what my husband and I do for a living. Then I have to agree to padlock my dog gate. I live over a quarter of a mile off the road. I own 31 acres of land and am bordered by another 52. The nearest house is my brother’s, about 5 acres away. Why in the world do I need to padlock my dog fence as a requirement of adoption? I also have to agree never to let my dogs off leash. I have four horses here and have to agree not to allow the dogs near them. These dogs are with me 24/7. What should I do when AM I REALLY A BAD HOME? Greetings from Sandy. (I don’t think he’s too happy with the cap and scarf.) JOY MURPHY CARLSBAD, CALIF. 52 your memories Kidd: He was bought at age three for our then 12-yearold daughter, Shannon. He was our first horse and part of our family from day one. Kidd was the kindest and most trusted horse ever. He would nuzzle his muzzle in your hair, lick you like a dog. Teddy and Paula Lucich San Pedro, Calif. Rusty and Maxie: Rusty the cat lived to be 16 years old and Max got to be 17 years old. They were great friends and often slept together. They were great companions for us. Leo and Rosamond Walbert Seven Hills, Ohio In memory of Zeke: A wonder f u l best friend with the warmest smile and biggest heart imaginable. He will be loved and remembered always. James L. and Daphne Quinn Cedarburg, Wis. Dear sweet Yoda: You were the finest of companions, and your loss is immeasurable. We will miss you! Good night, teddy cat. Dawn and Terry Locklair Stuarts Draft, Va. Miss Kitty: Our bright eyed and beautiful Miss Kitty left this world after a long struggle with CRF (chronic renal failure). She was our Little Missy and a true beauty queen. Although our hearts are broken, we thank the Lord above for all the precious memories of our angel Kitty’s love. Until we meet again, Your loving family, John and Michelle Groncki Bubba Louie, Patches, Freckles and Hemi Roy, Utah Shea: With your gorgeous blue eyes and sweet wonderful personality, we will miss you always. You loved to get the morning newspaper and swim in the pool, including going under water to get a toy! Most of all we will miss Christmas, as you wanted to open every present, including ours. You will never be replaced. Merleene Watson and Kourtney Miller St. Petersburg, Fla. Your memorial notices and donations to the sanctuary are deeply appreciated. We publish all memorials on the Best Friends website and send you a copy. Once placed, no name, no memorial, is ever removed. Here in the magazine, “Your Memories” is a selection of those memorials: photos, poems, and stories of your most memorable moments with a pet who has passed over the Rainbow Bridge. So please send in your funny stories and anecdotes, your memories, and your memorials. Include a photo, too, if you have one. And if you’d like your best friend to rest in the peace and beauty of our memorial park here at Angel Canyon, or you would like a special memorial placed in his or her name, please write or call for information. Thank you and bless you. Angels Rest Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Kanab, Utah 84741 angelsrest@bestfriends.org (435) 644-2001, ext. 118 Angels Rest B Max: We adopted each other when you were four and we shared another 10 glorious years. You were my big, sweet, gentle bear and my best pal. Always and forever… Betsy Sussman Paoli, Pa. In memory of Ernie: who passed away in my arms after a too short life of only eight years. He was my baby boy whose kidneys failed him – but he never failed me. David and Sharon Duff Winter Park, Fla. e kind to animals, Be kind to trees, Be kind to the earth and everything on it, Be kind to children and one another, …and God will be kind to you. And that’s a promise! Signed, GOD BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 53 on the light side That Sound Is King Tut Rolling Over! circle, as he is known in hieroglyphic form) learns one must always listen to mom when Mr. McGregor (Duck + Vertical Line + Jar Stand over Mouth + Jar Stand + Lasso over Mouth + Sitting Man) catches him trespassing. All of Peter’s friends make an appearance in the translated tale. Flopsy (Horned Viper over Lion + Lasso + Square over Door Bolt + Pair of Reeds + Sitting Woman) is there. As is Mopsy (Owl + Lasso + etc., etc.). But recreating Peter’s tale in hieroglyphics wasn’t without its translation nightmares. Peter’s species of rabbit, lepus cuniculus, was unknown in Egypt and had to be replaced with lepus capensis, a desert hare well-documented in ancient texts. If you just must have a copy of the hieroglyphic version, the British Museum Press is set to print the story in April. open overnight. Meanwhile, Paco, her threefoot-long ball python, decided it might make a good place to hibernate. Paco’s person was frantic when he went missing – until an employee at the repair center called to ask whether she had intended to include the snake in the package. Paco was fine, although animal control officers who took charge of him before his journey back home did note that he seemed a little quiet. Python “Popcorn”! Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit has been translated into ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics by a curator from the British Museum. Peter Rabbit (or Hare-Beneath-a-Semi- A New Jersey electronics repairman got a little more than expected when he opened the box containing a DVD player sent in for repair. Unpacking the carton, his hands came across something thicker than the power cord under the packing popcorn. That would be Paco the python. The snake’s long journey began when his person couldn’t get her new DVD player to work. She packed up the carton but left it Designated Herder A Macedonian shepherd thought he’d give his grazing sheep a little treat when a vineyard owner offered him some leftover pressed grapes for the flock. But after feeding them the bounty, then leaving for a couple of hours, he returned to ©MARC BROWN/BFAS 54 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 find the sheep staggering around the field. The cause wasn’t nefarious – no poisoned grapes. Merely a case of severe intoxication. The sheep were so drunk that they were unable to walk, so the shepherd had to hike five miles to a local village, rent a truck, and drive his flock home to sleep it off. (the defendant) of cruelty to wolves. In sworn testimony, Mr. Wolf asserted that he had knocked and yelled for Curly the pig to open her door, but she wouldn’t. So, thinking Curly was sleeping, Mr. Wolf thought he would climb down the chimney to rouse her. To his surprise, he dropped down into a cauldron of boiling water, causing severe burns to his fur and emotional distress. Curly countered that she had good reason not to open the door to Mr. Wolf, considering that at the time he had already tried to blow down her brothers’ house. Further, she testified that she had merely put the cauldron on to make some tea and had no idea he would be sneaking down the chimney. The schoolchildren acted as plaintiff and defendant, attorneys and jury. But a real-life Florida judge oversaw the proceedings. The verdict? The jury didn’t buy the wolf’s story, given his prior bad acts, and found against him – and then ordered him to pay all of Curly’s legal fees. Great taste, less serious Lite News Pricey Headstone! A cat’s headstone has been auctioned off at Sothebys in London for $400,000. A historian discovered the grave marker, which also happened to be a rare medieval limestone relief of St. Peter, when he was passing by a house. It stood in the front garden, marking the place where the elderly homeowners’ beloved Winkle lay. When Winkle’s widowed mom was informed that the carving could be a cash cow, she decided to auction it to buy nice things for her grandchildren – and a new rocking chair. The stone fetched 10 times more than it was valued at. Meanwhile, Winkle will get a nice new stone, this time with his name on it. Bat TV: Soviet TV sets weren’t known for their technological excellence, but they make great bat caves! A group of disabled people in the Czech Republic has converted 50 Soviet-made television sets into bat shelters, with each one capable of housing a dozen bats. The sets inundated the local market in the 1980s and stood out for their poor picture quality and solid plywood cases – strong enough to survive very bad weather. He Huffed & He Puffed & He Filed an Appeal Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Apparently nobody, since he just got hit with some seriously hefty fines. When a group of fourth graders were learning about the justice system, their teacher decided to teach the ways of the world by holding moot court. Needing a case that could be easily understood, she chose The Big Bad Wolf vs. Curly the Pig, in which B.B. Wolf (the plaintiff) accused poor Curly Ass-tronomical Savings! Most cities face a cash crunch. But the town council of Treviso in Italy is taking a nibble out of theirs. Fed up with paying over $100,000 every year for tractors to mow the grass on the side of the town’s highways, the town voted to rent six donkeys instead – at a cost of only $2,000 total. Motorists need not fear running down the roadside crew. They will only be munching in areas that are fenced off and removed from traffic. K-9 Couture: A police force in Britain’s Northumbria region has issued boots to its dogs to protect their paws. It’s the first force in the country to use the $50 Bark-n-Boots for their canine officers. The department says the expense is well worth it to prevent their “assistants” from being harmed at crime scenes, where there is often broken glass. Minty Fresh Leather? A Brazilian company has a unique way of keeping Fido’s breath clean and fresh. They’ve launched chewing gum for dogs with the slogan: “Your pet’s dog breath will soon be gone.” The gum looks like a bone and is made of edible leather. BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 55 Editorial Continued from page 2 for sin or the inevitable result of the Fall. But as the Enlightenment dawned, in the 18th century, people began to challenge that dogma, arguing that if God is benevolent, He must be weak; and if He is all-powerful, then He obviously isn’t very benevolent. Another earthquake, this time shaking Lisbon, Portugal, in 1755, reinforced this growing view. How could the deaths of thousands of people be explained away as some kind of arbitrary punishment? The twin problems of evil and suffering continued as Topic A for the philosophers of the 19th century. Arthur Schopenhauer considered all existence to be driven by a blind, compulsive, irresistible striving that he saw as the ground of all being and the source of all misery. Schopenhauer was especially horrified by the plight of animals, whom he saw as exemplifying this helpless compulsion. Here was nature, red in tooth and claw, driving innocent creatures to tear each other to pieces. And this, surely, was evidence of the cruel futility of all life. In the 20th century, people turned more and more to science to explain the causes of plagues and natural disasters. But while science and technology could help bring relief from sickness and pain, they could also be used to create more catastrophe than anyone had dreamed of in the past. So, the question became not so much where to find God in a natural disaster, but more how to relate to the concept of a loving, caring, benevolent deity in the face of these new dimensions of horror that people were now inflicting on each other – not to mention on the natural world around them. So, where is God in the evils that beset the world today? For most of us who are caught up in the work of rescuing and caring for innocent life, that’s a question best left to philosophers and theologians. There’s too much to be done, and time is better spent on providing relief than questioning the ways of nature or trying to figure why some people can behave so callously. Still, caring for animals, like any other true work of charity, is essentially a work of the soul and of the spirit. And in the final analysis, spirituality is not characterized by what we believe or how we pray. Those things may help us to lead a spiritual life, but they are not its essence. People seeking the world of the spirit often go looking for it in books and courses, philosophy and theology, or exercises in prayer or meditation. But throughout history, the world’s great teachers have shown us that the fundamental spiritual value is, very simply, kindness. In being kind, we reach out beyond ourselves to lift the pain of others. So all acts of kindness – even simply thoughts of kindness – are themselves the prime antidote to evil and suffering. Kindness is the essence of love. And if, at heart, the nature of God is love, then God’s presence is to be found wherever those acts of kindness and caring are taking place. Since the day after Christmas, when the earth moved below the Indian Ocean, we have received reports not only of deep anguish, but also of great compassion. There was the cry of a young mother to a neighbor who was trying to save her. “Don’t A better world though kindness to animals. That’s why Best Friends is working with our members all across the country to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets, and when every companion animal who’s ever born can be guaranteed a loving home. The sanctuary, at the heart of the Golden Circle of Southern Utah, is the nation’s largest for abused and abandoned animals, home on any given day to about 1,500 homeless dogs, cats, and other animals that come from shelters all over the country. Beyond the sanctuary, the work of Best Friends reaches far and wide, helping people set up spay/neuter, shelter, foster, and adoption programs in their own neighborhoods. In our home state, Best Friends manages a model campaign, working with shelters and humane societies statewide to bring an end to the killing of healthy homeless pets. And across the nation, the Best Friends Network of members and rescue groups works to help set up No More Homeless Pets campaigns in local neighborhoods. You can become part of the Best Friends Network on our website at www. bestfriends.org. Best Friends is supported through the donations of our members. Thanks to the generous hearts and hands of people like you, we can ensure that animals who come into the care of Best Friends will never again have to be alone, hungry, sick, afraid, or in pain. God’s presence is to be found wherever acts of kindness are taking place. worry about me,” she shouted, knowing full well that without that help she would soon drown. “But please help my daughters.” There was the man, searching grimly for his family, who stopped to help a dolphin stranded with her own family. And hearts and hands have been reaching out all over the world in the knowledge that we are all one people, one family, one creation. “ ” And that means there is a simple answer to the question of where to find God when such misfortune takes hold. Wherever people are reaching out to each other, to the animals, to any living being, with comfort and aid and a helping hand, that’s where kindness, love, and therefore the presence of the spiritual are to be seen. That presence may often seem small and fragile in the face of so much suffering. But in nurturing those in distress, we nurture the presence of love itself. And perhaps, one day, that presence of kindness and love will have grown to the point where it is understood to be the most powerful of all the forces in nature. 56 BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 ...And They All Live Happily Ever After “ one of the horses here at Best Friends, and this is my story. I was a hunter/jumper horse, living in California, leaping majestically over hurdles and showing off for the crowds. OK, I never exactly made it to the Olympics, but I was pretty good! There was just one problem. A horse can only do that sort of thing for so long, and then a 20-year-old fellow’s got to take a break! Then it turned out that not only were my jumping days over, but nobody had a plan for what to do with me. There was even talk of “putting me down.” That didn’t sound like a plush retirement! Thank goodness there was room for me at Best Friends. Now, that’s the kind of retirement I had in mind! Fresh air, sweet hay, other horses to talk to. It’s the lazy life I’ve been waiting on for years. And everyone here appreciates me, not as an athlete but as a mellow, easy-to-get-along-with guy. So that’s my story. It started out a bit sad, but thanks to the wonderful people like you who support Best Friends, I’m living “happily ever after.” God bless you. Hi, I’m Rhett Butler, ” 5001 ANGEL CANYON ROAD • KANAB, UTAH 84741-5001 (435) 644-2001 • www.bestfriends.org BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2005 57