A visit to a pet cemetery is a glimpse of the timelessness of the human-animal bond

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Overlooking the river Seine on the outskirts of Paris is a green place of remembrance. Cats wander through, and people stroll quietly, occasionally stopping to read short stories etched in stone. It is the Cimetiere des Chiens, the world's first public pet cemetery, and it is proof positive that pets have an afterlife.

Dogs, cats, birds, bunnies and even a horse or two have been laid to rest here since the peaceful park's founding in 1899. Inscriptions on headstones bear silent witness to human grief at the loss of beloved pets:

Irreplaceable.

Ici repose Love (here lies love).

Tout notre amour (all our love).

You might be surprised to learn that famed canine star of the silver screen Rin Tin Tin is buried here. He was born in France, rescued as a 5-day-old puppy by a doughboy from a World War I battlefield and taken to America. After his death, his remains were returned to his homeland. Fans leave treats on his headstone.

Also memorialized (although they died before the cemetery was founded) are Moustache, the mascot of Napoleon's Grande Armee, and Barry, a Saint Bernard renowned for saving 40 lives and dying in an attempt to save a 41st person.

Not all of the pets buried here are famous or heroic. They are something even better: beloved companions of people from all walks of life. Here lie Rosy and Ulysse; Riki-Tiki, born in Moscow July 4, 1918, died in Paris Nov. 6, 1928; a pair of gray Persian cats named Pacha and Darius; Cavalier King Charles spaniels Rimbaud and Sissi; and dogs Rex, Caramel, Mick, Lisette and Belgrano. Aristocratic pets include Drac (1941-1953), beloved dog of Princess Elisabeth of Romania; Sully, who belonged to the Comte and Comtesse Alexandre Dumas; Marquise and Tony, the dogs of Princess Lobanov.

Among the statuary chipped with age, lettering faded almost beyond reading, are more recent monuments to pets now passed: Blacky, 1973-1991; Custom Built of Tintagel Winds (Tommy), a black Labrador retriever, 1987-2000; and Smicky, a Yorkie, 1997-2010. Fresh flowers and live plants decorate some of the sites, placed by visiting owners (pets may still be buried there) and the cemetery's caretakers.

Cimetiere des Chiens isn't just for animals who have passed away. Feral cats nap on headstones or stalk along the paths. Inside a small building with a cat door they can find shelter and food, and water flows from a fountain. A crypt for a cat named Mimi has three openings (each in the shape of a cat), no doubt so the cat's ghost can swoop in and out without requiring someone to open a door for her. The cats who live in the cemetery find the interior of Mimi's crypt a nice resting place as well.

People have buried pets with ritual and regret for millennia. Hunter-gatherer societies in eastern Siberia buried dogs with tokens of affection or in ways that suggested a special bond with them, according to a study published in 2013 in PLOS ONE:

"One dog skeleton was laid to rest in a sleeping position; others were buried with small ornaments or implements, some resembling toys. One man was buried with two dogs laid on either side of him, while another dog was placed in his grave wearing a necklace fashioned from four deer's teeth."

As I walked through the cemetery last September, it made me a little sad to think that for long-gone pets, no one is left who remembers them. But as long as visitors come here, their memories live on.

Q&A

Costumes for pets:

Yea or nay?

Q: I want to get a dinosaur costume for our dog for Halloween, but my boyfriend thinks he (the dog) will be embarrassed and it would be cruel to make him wear it. I think it would be cute and that he would love all the attention he would get (he loves people). -- via Facebook

A: People have strong opinions on everything pet-related, so it's not surprising that they are sharply divided when it comes to pets wearing clothes or costumes. We happen to fall into the "it can be fun" category. After all, our dogs and cats usually love doing things that involve being with us and being the center of our attention. That said, we have some tips to help make dressing up for Halloween a treat, not a trick, for your pet.

-- Be sensitive to his personality. It's true that some pets would rather hide under the bed than wear a costume, especially in public. If your pet is shy, old or excessively dignified, limit costume capers to a spooky bandana and put your dress-up desires into your own costume.

-- Comfort is a must. Never choose anything that restricts your pet's movement, sight or hearing or that seems to chafe against his skin or fur. If he spends all his time trying to get it off, that's a good clue that he's not enjoying wearing it. It's also a good idea to avoid any costumes with buttons, bows or other parts that your pet could chew off and swallow.

-- Be street-safe. If you're planning on taking him trick-or-treating, his costume (and yours) should be visible in the dark. If it's not, fancy up his costume with a collar and leash that blink or glow in the dark.

-- Be smart. Try the costume on your pet well in advance. You don't want to find out on Halloween that your pug refuses to go out dressed as a ladybug. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

New bill helps

Military dogs get home

-- Military working dogs not only save the lives of 150 to 200 servicemembers each year by detecting roadside bombs and other dangers, they also can help veterans deal with the effects of post-traumatic stress. Until recently, though, they faced an uncertain future after retirement, with no guarantee that they would be brought back to the U.S. or reunited with their handlers. The good news is that Congress passed the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a mandate for the dogs to be brought back to the United States after their retirement and gives handlers first right of adoption.

-- Janet Wilhelm was storing dog food in a bin in her garage when she slipped and fell, landing on her left hip and fracturing her pelvis in five places. The McKinney, Texas, woman couldn't move, and her husband wasn't at home. But Mabel, the black Labrador retriever the Wilhelms adopted three years ago, was on the job. Wilhelm grabbed Mabel's collar, and the dog began backing up, inching Wilhelm toward the house, a 20-foot journey that took an hour and a half. Wilhelm finally was able to reach a phone and call for help. Like the bumper sticker says, "Who rescued whom?"

-- A grassroots organization called Collide in New York City has a special purpose: It serves homeless people with pets. The volunteers help people and pets living on the streets with food, veterinary care and licensing. The organization's goal is to improve quality of life for both people and animals. A volunteer veterinarian provides checkups, vaccinations and medication if needed. Working with the Humane Society of NYC, Collide also offers access to a spay/neuter clinic for pets. During inclement weather, the organization offers emergency boarding services for pets so their people can seek shelter where animals might not be permitted. For information about helping, see collidenyc.org. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Pet cemeteries serve the living and the dead. A black cat makes his home in a Paris pet cemetery. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: A New York organization helps homeless people care for their pets. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

How to help physically challenged pets adjust and thrive

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Savanna was born to run. The retired racing greyhound loved going on daily walks ... until the day she fell over for no apparent reason. A veterinary exam, X-rays and an MRI brought home the awful truth: Savanna had osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. The recommended treatment was amputation of her right hind leg and chemotherapy.

Savanna was my dog, and choosing amputation for a 10 1/2-year-old former racer was one of the most difficult decisions my husband and I ever made.

Have you ever faced the decision to have a pet's limb amputated or eye removed, or wondered whether it was the right thing to keep a pet alive who had suffered a paralyzing injury? Pet owners who have faced these quandaries, myself included, are often surprised and delighted at how well their animals adjust to their new physical circumstances. Young or old, they usually adapt remarkably well to getting around on three legs, life without sight or rolling on wheels.

While people may flinch at the thought of amputation or enucleation (eye removal), that's because we compare it to how we would feel about losing a limb or an eye. Our pets, fortunately, don't have any preconceived notions about their ability to get around on fewer than four legs or how they'll manage without one or both eyes. They adapt rapidly, shifting their center of gravity, making greater use of their senses of smell and hearing (not to mention those sensitive whiskers) and just generally getting on with life.

You can, however, take steps to help your pet recover and learn how to get around. The key is to see him not as damaged goods, but as a regular dog or cat who simply needs a little help from his friends.

-- Amputation. Young dogs or cats may be up and around the same day or the next day following surgery, but older animals, such as my Savanna, may have a longer recovery time. Talk to your veterinarian about the best medications for pain relief. He'll recover more quickly if he's not hurting. For a large dog, get a body harness with a handle that will allow you to help him stand up and move around until he gets his groove back. If you have uncarpeted floors, lay down nonskid rugs for ease of walking. Keep his weight down to avoid putting stress on his joints. Visit tripawds.com for more information.

-- Blindness. The main factor in adjustment is how quickly vision is lost. A pet who loses vision slowly or at a very early age generally copes well, but one who loses vision rapidly or later in life may take two or three weeks to adjust. Walk blind dogs on leash and talk to them as you go so they always know where you are. Keep to the same route so they can use their sense of smell to recognize where they are. At home, feed blind pets in the same place every day. If they get disoriented, take them to the food bowl. It's a landmark that can help them regain their orientation.

-- Paralysis. When a dog becomes paralyzed, consider whether the condition is painful and whether the pain can be relieved. If the dog is not in pain, he can likely adapt well to life on wheels. Make household changes such as blocking stairs so he doesn't tumble down them as he's racing around. You may need to learn how to express his bladder so he is at less risk for urinary tract infections.

Confidence is probably the common denominator in any animal's ability to live a normal life with a disability. Veterinarian Robin Downing fondly recalls Frankie, a pug-mix she adopted who had been paralyzed after breaking his back. She anticipated that he would need several weeks to adapt to his wheelchair. "We put him in the chair the very first time, and he wouldn't let me get him out of it," she says.

Q&A

Potty problems can

have several causes

Q: My silky terrier will use the outdoors to potty unless she gets upset with me, like when I go out of town or have to run a lot of errands during the day; then she will urinate in the house. What can I do about that? -- via email

A: We talked to silky expert Sandy Mesmer, and she says the breed can be difficult to housetrain. They are creatures of habit, so if you "let" them mark a spot in the house, they will almost always want to go back there.

The first thing you need to do is to take your dog to the veterinarian to make sure there is no physical reason for the peeing, because silkys can be susceptible to bladder stones. If she gets a clean bill of health, it's time to go back to potty training 101. To do this, maintain a strict potty schedule, just as you would with a puppy. Go outside with her to make sure she actually urinates. If she doesn't perform, put her in her crate for half an hour and then try again.

Here are some additional suggestions.

-- Film your dog while you're gone to see if she is suffering from separation anxiety. Pacing, whining, drooling, stress panting and, yes, peeing in the house are signs that she is distressed or depressed during your absence.

-- If the problem is anxiety-related, play calming music, use calming scents such as lavender or dog-appeasing pheromones, and make sure she has brainteasers such as food puzzles to keep her occupied while you're gone.

-- Have a pet sitter or dog walker take her out. They can help ensure that she potties outdoors as well as ease her loneliness.

-- If she's friendly with other dogs, consider leaving her at a doggy daycare when you're not at home. -- Mikkel Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Dog treated for

rare disease

-- Darwin the dog developed an ulcer near his tail that was first diagnosed as a bacterial infection and treated with antibiotics. When it got worse, his owner, Florida resident Efram Goldberg, did some research and became concerned that Darwin might have a rare, life-threatening tropical disease called pythiosis. He took Darwin to the University of Florida's Small Animal Hospital emergency and critical care service. After performing several biopsies, the veterinarians confirmed his suspicion. Veterinary surgeon J. Brad Case amputated Darwin's tail and removed the ulcer on his hip. Goldberg is passionate now about raising awareness about the disease among pet owners and veterinarians. "Most veterinarians see at most one case of pythiosis in their career," says UF clinical assistant professor Justin Shmalberg, DVM.

-- We knew we liked singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris, and it's not just because of her amazing pipes. Harris started a dog rescue called Bonaparte's Retreat, in honor of her late dog, who spent 10 years on the road with her. The nonprofit organization takes in dogs from Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control who are scheduled to be euthanized and finds homes for them. Find out more this month on the "Shelter Me: Partners for Life" documentary series airing on PBS.

-- You've heard of chick lit and crime lit, and now there's kitty lit. No, not litter -- literature. Students at Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children in Shoreline, Washington, practice reading aloud at the Seattle Humane animal shelter in Bellevue. Their audience? Shelter cats. The reading program, called Kitty Literature, gives the children, who range in age from 5 to 10 years, an opportunity to practice their speech to appreciative listeners. The kids also get a chance to play with the cats, which is good socialization and can help them become more adoptable. Now that's a win-win! -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Whether they lose a front or rear leg, animals can adapt well to life as a "tri-pawd." Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Darwin's case helped University of Florida veterinarians learn more about an unusual disease. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

Find your perfect pup by asking the right questions

By Kim Campbell Thornton

If you're buying a puppy for the first time, or if it has been a few years since you last acquired one, you might be unsure of where to begin. A lot has changed in the puppy-purchasing world in the past decade. Whether you are looking for a purebred pup, a "designer" dog or one from a shelter, you are no longer limited to your local classifieds, breeders, shelters or rescue groups. You may see available pups through social media, Craigslist, Petfinder.com, online pet stores or fliers at your veterinary clinic or pet-supply store, to name just a few.

What hasn't changed is the importance of asking the right questions before you plunk down hundreds or thousands of dollars for a puppy who will, in a perfect world, live with you for the next 10-plus years. Before you fall in love with the first cute pup you see (or even better, before you look at puppies), get good answers to the following questions.

-- What are the potential genetic or developmental problems that can affect this breed or crossbreed, and what is the incidence of these problems in your lines? What are the strong and weak points of the health, temperament and conformation of the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents? A reputable breeder will answer these questions honestly and thoroughly. Be doubtful of breeders who claim their dogs don't have any problems. That may be because they don't test for them.

-- What health clearances do the puppies' parents have? Whether you're buying a purebred or a hybrid (designer) pup, the breeders should be able to show you up-to-date proof that both parents are free of hereditary ailments. Depending on the breed or cross, these may include but are not limited to Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or PennHIP hip clearances; and OFA elbow, knee, eye, thyroid or heart clearances. Check the Canine Health Information Center (caninehealthinfo.org) to find out which clearances your breed should have. If you're buying a hybrid (one breed crossed to another breed), the breeder should have appropriate clearances for each breed. Hip, elbow and knee clearances are issued only once in a dog's life, but eye, heart and thyroid exams should be performed annually.

-- How old are the parents? Health clearances are not issued to dogs younger than 2 years old because those dogs are not yet fully mature and health problems may not be apparent.

-- Do you guarantee a puppy's health? A breeder who is confident in the health of her dogs will offer a guarantee against genetic defects for up to two years after the puppy is purchased. With exceptions such as epilepsy, which usually appears later in life, genetic problems typically surface by the time a dog is 2 years old.

-- How do you socialize your puppies? Choose puppies raised in a home with plenty of human interaction. They will be more confident and adaptable throughout life.

-- What does your sales contract include? Look for the following basics: the sale price; the pup's birthdate and parents' names; details of health guarantees; return policy; and any breeding restrictions, spay/neuter requirements or other agreements related to the sale. A great sales contract states that the breeder will take the dog back at any time in his life and that the breeder has first right to the dog or will provide assistance in placement in any situation in which you cannot keep him, such as a divorce, illness or death.

Making the right match when selecting a breeder and puppy calls for strong research and interviewing skills and plenty of patience to wait for the right one, but the effort pays off in puppy love for life.

Q&A

Hormone drugs

affect pets

Q: I noticed recently that my female dog's private parts were swollen. After some detective work, my veterinarian figured out that it was a reaction to my hormone cream. How does that happen? -- via Facebook

A: If your pet loves to lick, hormone products can make him sick. There have been reports for several years now that pets (and children) are inadvertently ingesting topical hormone sprays, creams and gels. Dogs and cats are affected when they lick or rub against the treated area or get petted after the product is applied by hand. Signs include fur loss, mammary or nipple enlargement, a shrunken penis in males and bloody discharge or a swollen vulva in females.

Estrogen and testosterone aren't the only hormones that cause problems. A psoriasis cream called Dovonex, which contains a synthetic form of vitamin D (itself a hormone), can cause unusual thirst, appetite loss and severe vomiting or diarrhea if pets lick it off the skin or chew on the tube.

To protect pets, wear disposable gloves when applying gels or creams, and toss the gloves in an inaccessible trashcan when you're through. The same goes for disposing of hormone patches. Apply creams or gels to areas your dog is unable or unlikely to lick, such as the inside of the thighs. If you're using a spray, wear clothing that covers the treated area. Even if you wear gloves to apply the product, wash your hands with soap thoroughly -- for as long as it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" twice through -- before touching pets, children or food, including pet food.

Before you apply any product, prescription or otherwise, read the label or package insert to make sure it's not toxic to pets or children if ingested. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Keep cats safe

from toxic plants

-- What's one of the times when cats beat out dogs? When they eat toxic plants. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center received more than 9,000 calls in 2013 about animals eating plants. That's up from almost 8,000 in 2008, and cats led dogs in the number of exposures. Nearly 1,000 plants are known to be toxic to pets, so it's important to pay attention to what you have in your home or yard. If you are a gardener or simply love potted plants or floral arrangements, remember that the more beautiful a plant is, the more likely it is to be toxic. Lilies, in particular, can cause kidney failure and death in cats.

-- Would-be veterinarians and animal lovers with an appetite for drama won't want to miss the show "Vet School," which premiered in September on Nat Geo WILD. It follows first- and fourth-year students at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine as they learn to give injections, repair bone fractures, handle squirmy patients and deal with the emotional ups and downs of their chosen profession. Look for it on Saturdays at 10 p.m. EST, or binge-watch it at channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/vet-school/.

-- Petting reduces stress and lowers the incidence of upper respiratory disease in shelter cats. That's according to a study published in the October 2015 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Cats in the study were petted, played with and groomed in four 10-minute sessions daily for a 10-day period. Cats who didn't receive positive attention from people were more than twice as likely to develop upper respiratory disease over time and showed more signs of stress. Our takeaway? Shelters need more volunteers to pet cats. Who's in? -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Cuteness and convenience of purchase aren't the only considerations when looking for a puppy. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Go behind the scenes at veterinary school and find out what it takes to succeed. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2