One of the miracles of the crazy place that is my home, California, is how in a couple hours you can go from a spot where the heat is so oppressive you can barely breathe to another where you get out of the car and reach for a sweatshirt. I live in the former, but the dogs and I recently escaped to the latter.
It's safe to say that there is no dog-friendly spot within 300 miles of my home I haven't heard about and likely visited. Dog lovers trade news of such spots the way food lovers talk about restaurants, in whispers shared only between friends, lest someone not deserving of the experience go and "ruin" it for all. People who don't pick up after their pets, don't bring their own towels for cleanup, aren't careful with carpets and furnishings -- these people are dangerous to those of us who love to take our pets along.
I myself am oh-so careful. One of my dogs once threw up on a bath mat at a favorite inn. I bought a new one before I left and know that we are still welcome there, in the cabins and on the blackberry-lined path that leads to a wide sandy beach.
I love being out with my dogs. Their joy is always infectious; their energy lifts my spirits. This trip was the first time the younger retriever, Heather, had experienced the ocean. She came from the Texas hill country just before Christmas and has had no trouble adapting to swimming in that most ubiquitous of California water features, the swimming pool. I don't have one, but fortunately enough dog-loving friends and relatives do to keep her and the other retriever, Benjamin, wet all summer long.
The Pacific gave her little pause, either. She threw herself into the surf with Ben in hot pursuit, swimming strongly out until their bobbing heads looked like so much driftwood in the chop. While Benjamin swims to retrieve, happily and without hesitation, Heather swims for the joy of it. She whines when we drive over water we will not visit, and has to be ordered back to firm ground when she is allowed to swim.
This trip, I indulged her as much as I could.
My oldest dog, Andy, a Shetland sheepdog, has no interest in swimming and takes refuge behind me when the retrievers come out of the water and shake off the spray. He is of a breed that believes water is to be consumed and otherwise avoided, and he takes his genetic imperative seriously.
The first time I threw a stick into the water for Benjamin, Andy turned to look at me with an expression that seemed to say, "That was stupid. Who do you think is going to get that now? Not me!" His look turned to one of amazement when the big dog ran past him and hurled himself into the lake.
Andy now accepts that the retrievers go into the water, but he doesn't pretend to understand their obsession with it.
But even Andy was happy for the change of location. He explored his new surroundings and rested outdoors, his nose pointed firmly into the ocean breeze. Even better, he wanted to play, which in a 12-year-old dog is something to be cherished.
And cherish it, I did. I know it is possible to vacation without pets, but I also know that for me it wouldn't be half as relaxing. I miss them, and I miss how I feel when I'm around them.
Thank heavens there are people like the owner of the place where we stayed who understand and who make trips like ours possible.
PETS ON THE WEB
The Basking Spot (www.baskingspot.com) is a well-organized and attractively designed site any reptile and amphibian fan should bookmark. Once you see it, you're going to be visiting it often. The site contains information about species and their proper care, listings of associations and events, and an extensive publications overview that encompasses everything from club newsletters to books and academic journals. The Internet resources area includes a comprehensive list of newsgroups and list-serves, and if you want to explore further, you'll find links well worth a click. A fantastic site.
PET TIP
Windows open to catch the slightest hint of a breeze, doors opening and closing with the whims of active children -- summer is a carefree season indeed. But all those comings and goings, open windows and doors make summer a prime time for bird escapes. Don't take a chance. Make sure your bird's feathers are properly trimmed to limit flight, and don't allow even a clipped bird the opportunity to take wing outdoors. They might manage enough loft to land out of your reach. If you don't know how to trim your pet, let an avian veterinary clinic or reputable bird shop handle the job. A bad job of it will cause more problems than it prevents.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: I'm a little worried about the dust factor in clumping cat litter. It can't be good for cats, right? But the litter makes cleaning up after three cats so much easier. Your thoughts? -- J.B., via the Internet
A: Rumors about clumping cat litter have been floating around for some time and can be traced to an article in a now-defunct magazine in which a cat breeder argued that the stuff had caused an intestinal blockage that killed her kittens. Thanks to the reach of the Internet, her concerns are still worrying cat lovers. But there's little need to fear. To the contrary, some have argued that clumping cat litter is responsible for saving the lives of many cats.
According to "CatWatch," a monthly newsletter put out by the Cornell Feline Health Center, preference polls indicate clumping litter is a hit with cats. Cats who may avoid the litter box otherwise find clumping litters agreeable. Since a cat who won't use the box is a prime candidate for becoming homeless, it's easy to argue the benefits of clumping litter. The cleanup issue is no small consideration either, for clumping litters have made possible new box designs and tools that make keeping a cat far easier.
As for the health issue, no scientific study exists that confirms a danger with clumping litters. Even anecdotal evidence is virtually nonexistent: Discussions on the 5,000-plus member Veterinary Information Network reveal no problems. If clumping litter were the danger some say it is, veterinarians would know it and be talking about it. They're not.
If you want to err on the safe side, however, avoid clumping litter for kittens until they're out of the "taste everything" stage. But realize you'll be acting out of personal preference with no basis in scientific fact.
Litter dust does cause problems for asthmatic cats, but choosing low-dust brands and avoiding hooded litter boxes should make things easier. Talk to your veterinarian for more information if your pet has breathing problems.
Q: I was wondering how do you know what type of exercise a dog needs. Can you just take them for a nice walk, or do you need a large yard or space to run around in? -- W.D., via the Internet
A: The amount of exercise a dog needs depends on the age of the dog and the breeding, but in no cases is confinement for life in a yard -- no matter how large! -- in the best interests of a dog. Socialization is as important to a dog's mental health as it is to our own, so outings are always important.
As for exercise, the lack of it is one of the biggest contributors to the behavior problems that drive dog owners nuts: digging, chewing, barking and others. All that pent-up energy has to be spent somehow. We have all these dogs who come from working heritages -- hunting, sledding and herding dogs bred to be active for hours at a time -- and then we stick them in a back yard and wonder why they're hyper.
Young dogs of active large breeds and mixes need at least a half-hour of high-energy exercise three times a week to keep them fit and calm and to relieve them of the stresses of modern living. Jogging, playing fetch and swimming are all important to your pet's physical and mental well-being. If you're not up to that level of energy, consider a smaller or more sedentary breed. Toy breeds find the keeping up with humans on a walk to be aerobic, and breeds such as basset hounds are quite content to live a more couch-potato existence: lots of naps and occasional walks for socializing.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Write2Gina(at)aol.com.
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