Statues and plaques honor dogs, cats and other animals who have contributed to human well-being

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Remember the story of Greyfriars Bobby, the little Skye terrier who stood watch over his master’s grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard for 14 years? If you visit Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh, among the sights you’ll see -- if you can get past the hordes of tourists surrounding it -- is a memorial to Bobby, honoring his loyalty and, perhaps by extension, the loyalty of all dogs. The statue is smaller than expected, but it draws crowds, who then overflow to the nearby churchyard where Bobby’s beloved owner, John Gray, lies.

Memorials to the love, loyalty and bravery of dogs, cats and other animals are found ‘round the world. Devotion cast in bronze or sculpted on a wall, they stand as inspiring tributes to animals who have been our companions, guardians, soldiers and helpers. As you travel, keep an eye out for their monuments, and whisper thanks to them for their affection, fidelity, valor and labor. Here are 22 to look for.

A number of memorials honor dogs and other animals for their military service. Dogs have delivered messages, laid telegraph wires, detected mines, dug out bomb victims and served guard or patrol duty. Horses and mules have pulled artillery, transported supplies and carried officers into battle. Other animals who contributed and died in wartime include pigeons, elephants, camels, oxen, cats, canaries and glowworms (which provided light to read maps or orders).

In London, the Animals in War Memorial recognizes all such animals. A curved stone wall, located on the edge of Hyde Park, bears their images. Alongside it are two bronze pack mules, a bronze horse and bronze dog.

"Four pounds of courage." That’s the description of Smoky, a Yorkshire terrier from Australia who helped lay communication lines in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, she entertained hospital patients and children in orphanages with her tricks. Smoky has seven memorials around the world: Brisbane, Australia; Lakewood, Ohio; the AKC Museum of the Dog in St. Louis; Hickham Air Force Base in Hawaii; Ohio Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame in Columbus; University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville; and the city of Eastlake, Ohio.

The United States War Dogs Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, features a bronze statue of a kneeling Vietnam War soldier and his dog.

The National War Dog Cemetery at Naval Base Guam features the famous Doberman Kurt and pays tribute to the Doberman pinschers and other dogs killed at the Second Battle of Guam in 1944. A replica of the memorial is at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville.

Other war dog memorials are at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California; the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio; the Marine Corps Memorial Garden at Camp Pendleton in California; and the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.

Visit New York City’s Central Park to see the statue of Balto, the lead sled dog whose team helped to deliver diphtheria serum to snowbound Nome, Alaska, during a deadly epidemic in January 1925.

Feline memorials honor cats primarily for companionship. Trim accompanied Capt. Matthew Flinders on his circumnavigation of Australia, and his statue is in Sydney just behind that of Flinders. Towser the Mouser is recognized with a bronze statue for ridding Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire, Scotland, of 28,899 mice over her lifetime of employment there. Hodge, Samuel Johnson’s cat, is portrayed sitting atop a dictionary near the famed lexicographer’s home in London. The inscription: “A very fine cat indeed.” And who can forget Dick Whittington’s cat, whose mousing prowess legendarily aided the 14th-century thrice-elected mayor’s success. The cat’s statue is located at the foot of London’s Highgate Hill.

Q&A

Cat bites

after petting

Q: My brother’s cat will come over to people purring, so we’ll pet her, and then all of a sudden she bites. -- via Facebook

A: That’s a common complaint of many cat owners. It’s one of the weird things about cats: As much as they love being petted, they can take only so much of it. Too much petting causes them to become overstimulated; that’s when they lash out with tooth or claw.

Some cats give little warning before nailing you. Others give several clear warnings before taking matters into their own jaws (or paws).

Signs that a cat has had enough stroking can be as subtle as a flick of the tail, twitch of the ear or shiver of the skin. The whiskers may rotate forward. When you see these signs, stop immediately.

You can work to increase a cat’s tolerance of petting. Sit down next to her instead of picking her up for petting. Don’t pet her while you’re doing something else that holds your attention, such as watching television; you need to be able to watch her body language so you know when to stop.

Start by petting less sensitive areas of the body: behind the ears, beneath the chin and at the base of the tail (the area where it joins the body). Some cats are easily set off by long strokes down the back, and the belly should be completely off-limits.

Try to gradually pet the cat for longer periods, always stopping just short of the point where she becomes uncomfortable. Giving a treat during the petting party can also help to increase the cat’s enjoyment and toleration of the experience.

Finally, it’s always a good idea to take the cat in for a vet check to make sure nothing physical is causing the behavior. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Eyes are window

to canine health

-- A dog’s eyes are more than orbs with which he sees that tennis ball coming. They can offer clues to his well-being. Healthy eyes are bright and shiny. They don’t shed excessive tears, and the whites are really white, not yellow. A yellow tinge to the whites of a dog’s eyes can be a clue to liver damage or other serious illnesses. The lining around your dog’s eyes should be pink, not red or yellowish. Any kind of irritation on or around your dog’s eye is reason for a visit to the veterinarian. Eye injury is an emergency.

-- You can’t really take this cat snowshoeing -- unless he rides in a backpack -- but he is smart and good at learning tricks. Named for his white-tipped paws, the snowshoe was created by crossing American shorthairs and Siamese to achieve a cat with a pointed coat pattern, white markings on the feet and an inverted white V on the face. A snowshoe with perfect markings is rare. The cats come in two color combos: seal point and white, and blue point and white. People-oriented, affectionate and easygoing, Snowshoes get along well with kids as well as other pets, including dogs.

-- Do you talk to your dog in a high-pitched tone of voice, maybe more slowly than you would to a person? In infants, a high pitch and slow tempo are known to attract attention and promote language learning. Turns out that puppies are also responsive to this type of speech. Adult dogs, on the other hand, aren’t any more receptive to it than to normal speech. Researchers found that people tend to use this type of speech anytime they think they won’t be understood, whether they’re communicating with Fido or another person, such as someone from another country. -- 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.

How safe is your pet when riding in the car? Here's what you should know

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Lindsey Wolko had just adopted a new dog. She had crates in her car for her other dogs, but no way to secure Maggie, so she stopped at her local pet retailer to purchase a safety harness for her. A couple of months later, when she had to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident, Maggie, wearing her harness, was badly injured.

Whether they are riding loose or are confined in a crate, car seat or harness, pet passengers can be hurt or killed in the event of a sudden stop or collision. They can suffer bruising, contusions, sprains or lacerations -- some of the injuries reported to Nationwide, which has claims data on 585,000 insured pets -- and more serious injuries such as broken bones and internal trauma, says emergency and critical care veterinarian Gretchen L. Schoeffler, DVM, at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Veterinarian Marty Becker has seen too many avoidable accidents involving pets riding in cars. He recalls being stopped at an intersection during a thunderstorm.

"I saw a flash of lightning, heard the clap of thunder and then watched a frightened medium-size dog freak out, jump out the open window of a car, and get hit and killed in front of me. If the dog had been secured in a crate or with a seatbelt restraint, it would still be alive."

Simply securing a pet in a crate, carrier or harness isn't necessarily enough, though. Crates can break apart on impact, or be crushed if they are held in place with a seatbelt. The force of a collision can propel pets out of a crate or carrier or cause paralyzing injuries to pets restrained by harnesses without crash protection qualities.

Wolko's experience galvanized her to investigate ways pets could be safer inside vehicles. She became involved in the pet travel gear industry, studied the manufacturing process and founded the nonprofit Center for Pet Safety, which has established crash-test standards for pet travel products and certifies those that provide tested crash protection.

"We're an independent entity," Wolko says. "We don't take funding from manufacturers."

To help keep your dog or cat safe in the car, we've gathered six expert tips.

1. Place a small pet carrier -- soft or hard-sided -- in the footwell behind the driver's or front passenger's seat. If you have an SUV, crossover or station wagon, place larger crates or carriers in the cargo area of your vehicle.

"There's actually video demonstrating that in a collision if they're in the back seat or the back of the vehicle, they're much more likely to be airborne than if they're in the footwell," says feline veterinary specialist Elizabeth Colleran, DVM.

2. Never transport pets in wire crates.

"They explode. They bend, they morph, the pieces come out, the plastic pan shatters into very, very sharp pieces," Wolko says.

3. Anchor carriers with strength-rated anchor straps.

4. Avoid using zip line-style products or harnesses with long extension tethers. It may be easier for your dog to move around, but it can increase his risk in a crash.

5. Teach your pet to ride comfortably in a crate, carrier or harness. Harnesses, in particular, can seem restrictive to dogs.

"Most owners will need to train their dogs to accept it and to be comfortable being strapped in," says Natasha Audy of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, whose 13-month-old German shepherd, Richochet, wears a Sleepypod Clickit Sport harness.

6. Choose a crate that is no more than 6 inches longer than your pet. A snug fit reduces the chance of injury. Pets should have enough room to stand up and turn around.

Q&A

Canine coughing

can be serious

Q: My dog has been coughing lately. Is this something I should worry about? Does he need to go to the vet? -- via Facebook

A: We all need to cough sometimes, but a persistent cough in a dog is a concern. Coughs can have several causes and may call for veterinary treatment or different management.

A deep, dry, hacking cough that becomes worse after activity may suggest canine cough, also known as kennel cough. This is a highly contagious viral or bacterial infection. Tell your veterinarian if your dog has been boarded recently or was otherwise in contact with many other dogs at once.

A wet cough can suggest fluid or phlegm in the lungs. That's usually associated with pneumonia. This is a real concern, especially if your dog is very young, very old or immunocompromised. Pneumonia can be bacterial or viral, or is sometimes caused by fungi or parasites. Dogs can also develop what's called aspiration pneumonia if they inhale an object or throw up and accidentally suck in some of the vomit. Both canine cough and pneumonia are usually treatable with antibiotics.

Your dog may have something stuck in his throat if he's making a high-pitched gagging cough. It may not be visible to you and may require a veterinary look-see with an endoscope to identify and remove the object.

If a deep honking sound is coming out of a small dog such as a Chihuahua, toy poodle, Maltese, Pomeranian or Yorkshire terrier, he may have what's called collapsing trachea. This usually occurs when the dog pulls against his collar. Try walking him with a harness to ease the pressure on his throat.

Coughing can also signal congestive heart failure in breeds prone to heart disease. Get to the veterinarian right away for treatment and medication. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Flu season for dogs?

It's year-round

-- Dog flu is still around, and it has also been found to spread to cats. The highly contagious -- to dogs -- infection is caused by the H3N8 and H3N2 strains of the influenza A virus. Canine influenza spreads when infected dogs cough, bark or sneeze, or dogs come in contact with contaminated objects such as crates, food and water bowls, or collars and leashes. Typically, cases are mild, but some dogs develop severe cases of pneumonia. Take your pet to the veterinarian if he is coughing, sneezing, has a nasal discharge or fever, or is having trouble breathing. Canine flu can occur year-round.

-- Does your cat like chewing on your houseplants? Cats may be hypercarnivores (super meat eaters), but they have a taste for greenery as well. Save your plants and satisfy your cat's munch mania with an indoor garden of her own. Wheatgrass, which you may not have known when you have it added to your smoothie, is also called cat grass. Plant or buy a pot of it for your cat's delectation. Start a new pot when the grass starts to turn brown. You can also try growing catnip or catmint. Your cat will love you for it!

-- Meet the Entlebucher. The smallest of the four Swiss mountain dogs, he stands 16 to 20 inches tall and weighs 45 to 65 pounds. Wearing a short, thick, tricolor coat, this sturdy and enthusiastic herding dog is a good family companion, farm aide and canine sports star. Teach this hard-working brainiac to help with household chores such as picking up toys and laundry or bringing you the television remote, or compete in dog sports such as agility or nosework. With proper socialization, he's good with older kids, but should learn not to herd them by nipping at their heels. -- 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.

Finding a breeder and buying a puppy calls for research ability, interviewing skills and patience

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Buying a puppy seems like a simple process. Puppies are available from private individuals, pet stores, shelters and online sellers.

But where you get your puppy can determine whether you have a good experience or a bad one. A study published in the May 15, 2013, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that puppies obtained from pet stores were significantly more aggressive and fearful than those obtained from noncommercial breeders and were more likely to develop separation anxiety.

Buying a puppy from an online seller is also risky. Internet scams abound.

French bulldog breeder Carol Gravestock in Durham, Ontario, Canada, recently received a phone call from a family conned by an unscrupulous online puppy seller. The sophisticated setup referred the buyers to the website of an existing breeder and used photos of a real, available puppy from that breeder's website. They gave the buyers a cellphone number to call, claiming to be out of the country and unable to answer the phone at their home. The buyers sent a deposit and transport fee, and then received a call saying the seller needed more money for shipping fees. At that point, Gravestock says, the buyers realized something was wrong.

"They contacted the airline -- no reservation. They finally contacted the real breeder associated with the website, who had no idea what they were talking about. The funds are gone, the actual puppy is not available, the family is devastated and feeling stupid."

This type of scam -- and others -- occurs in every breed, not just French bulldogs. Sometimes the dogs are touted as being from "rescues" or "shelters."

To protect yourself, avoid buying a puppy sight unseen from online sellers. Be wary if you're told that the person is out of the country and available only by cellphone or email.

"Google it," Gravestock says. "Nine times out of 10, that phone number or email address will come up across multiple sites, sometimes with warnings attached."

Other red flags include puppies offered for unusually low prices or sellers who ask you to wire money or send it by Western Union.

Health is another consideration. No matter what you've been told, purebred, cross-bred (hybrid) and mixed-breed dogs can all fall prey to genetic diseases. Both of a puppy's parents should be at least 2 years old and free of hereditary health problems such as hip dysplasia, heart conditions, deafness or eye disease. Reputable breeders will tell you upfront about possible health problems in the breed and what they've done to reduce the risk.

Confirm that a pup's sire (father) and dam (mother) have appropriate health certifications by looking them up on the website of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (offa.org) or the Canine Health Information Center (caninehealthinfo.org).

Meeting a puppy's parents, or at least the mother, is a plus. When you purchase a puppy sight unseen, it's impossible to know what the parents are like or whether the pup was raised in a home environment with plenty of human attention and socialization to normal life experiences. But if the parents have nice temperaments and aren't shy or aggressive, it's likely that your new puppy will share those positive traits.

When you want a specific type of dog, seeking a knowledgeable breeder and meeting his or her dogs in person is the best way to find a puppy. Benefits include early housetraining and socialization of pups and up-to-date health clearances on the parents.

Finding the right puppy from the right breeder doesn't offer instant gratification, but it's a safer, smarter way to go. Just remember that good things come to those who wait.

Q&A

Feline aggression

a common problem

Q: My cat is aggressive toward people who visit our home. Is there anything I can do to help solve this problem? -- via email

A: Surprisingly to many people, aggression is the second most common behavior problem seen in cats, right behind not using the litter box. Cats who threaten or attack strangers -- either human or feline -- do so for a variety of reasons. Most often it's because they're fearful, but cats can also be territorial (especially after changes in the household) or irritated by repetitive touching, such as petting.

Aggressive cats hiss and puff up to what looks like double their size. If cornered, they may scratch or bite. Your cat will probably never be an affectionate greeter of guests to your home, but you can take steps to help her chill out in their presence.

The first is to get her checked by your veterinarian, particularly if this is a new behavior. Certain conditions can cause cats to become irritable or aggressive. They include hyperthyroidism, hypertension, osteoarthritis and cancer.

If your cat gets a clean bill of health, never force her to interact with strangers. Have a safe room, stocked with food, water, toys and a litter box, where she can retreat before their arrival. For many cats and people, this is the optimal solution.

You can also use desensitization and counterconditioning to help your cat be more accepting of the presence of guests. For instance, a guest who will visit often can toss treats in the cat's direction (being careful not to look directly at him) or offer interaction with the cat's favorite toy, also without giving the cat direct attention. It's also a good idea to ask guests to ignore the cat, letting him approach (or not) on his own terms. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

New app lets

cats take selfies

-- Candid Catmera? It's not a typo. An app created by Brooklyn-based Current Studio lures cats with pictures of fish, mice and other goodies on the screen of a propped-up tablet device. When the cat touches the screen, click! His image is captured and then shared by proud cat people (we all know that cats don't have owners). The goal, besides bragging rights about feline photography prowess, is to keep cats entertained during the day when they're home alone. And it's for a good paws, er, cause: $1 of each $1.99 purchase goes to the SPCA of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

-- If the Havanese were human, he'd be dressed to the nines, strutting proudly in the Sunday promenade and puffing on a fine Cuban cigar. A member of the bichon family of dogs, the Havanese was developed on the island of Cuba. Fun-loving, cheerful and good-humored, his idea of the perfect day is spending it with his people and going someplace enjoyable, ideally where other people will see and appreciate him for his entertaining demeanor. He has a happy, friendly temperament and a soft, abundant coat that may be any color or combination of colors.

-- How cold is too cold for pets to be outdoors? According to a chart by Pet Plan Insurance, dangerous weather conditions begin at 25 degrees Fahrenheit for small and medium-size dogs. Temperatures of 20 degrees or lower are life-threatening for small dogs. Life-threatening temperatures for all pets start at 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain and sleet add to the risk because when pets get wet, it's more difficult for them to maintain normal body temperature. Senior animals and those younger than 6 months are at highest risk in cold, wet weather. Pets at least risk are northern breeds or heavy-coated dogs acclimated to cold weather. -- 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.