Animal lovers support creation of new monument to honor working, service and therapy animals

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sculptor Susan Bahary and a coterie of devoted animal lovers are leading the push for a new national monument to animals who serve. Their vision -- a National Service Animals Memorial honoring dogs, horses, mules, homing pigeons, dolphins, sea lions and camels, among others -- would be located in Washington, D.C. or its environs.

Conceived as a sculpture garden, it will honor the contributions service animals and their handlers have made throughout the nation’s history. It will include not only military and law enforcement animals, but also search-and-rescue animals and the many animals who provide assistance to veterans and people with disabilities, to name just a few.

The National Service Animals Memorial Act is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Already passed in the House of Representatives, it must now be passed in the Senate and signed into law by President Biden. It will establish Feb. 24 as National Service Animals Day and provide the impetus for creation of the monument, for which Bahary is the designated sculptor.

“The deeds and sacrifices of our service animals and their handlers have not yet been recognized with a national memorial in our nation’s capital, and they are so deserving,” Bahary says. “Millions of animals have served and sacrificed for us, preserving our freedoms and providing for our safety, security and independence. The memorial will be a beautiful testament to their contributions and will educate, honor, inspire and heal.”

Bahary, who is known for her ability to combine accurate form with lifelike expression, is acclaimed for her works honoring the human-animal bond and service animals. She created the first official war dog memorial in the United States, "Always Faithful," dedicated at the United States Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery on Guam in 1994.

Her works have included a life-size bronze of President George H.W. Bush’s service dog Sully for his presidential library and museum, and the monument "The Pledge," featuring a female soldier and her military service dog. Other commissioned works are located in museums, universities and military bases, as well as abroad.

Creating such a national memorial isn’t simple. Use of federal funds to establish the memorial is prohibited, according to the Congressional Budget Office, so grassroots efforts are necessary for fundraising, education and gathering political support.

Under the provisions of the Commemorative Works Act, any entity that receives a construction permit for a commemorative work must donate an amount equal to 10% of the memorial’s estimated construction costs to the nonprofit National Park Service Foundation. That donation and any project funds remaining after construction can be used to maintain the memorial.

The National Service Animals Monument organization (nationalserviceanimalsmonument.org), headed by Theresa M. Brandon, is raising funds to support the cost of the monument’s creation. It has also created an educational website to inform teachers, parents, students and interested people about the historical significance and contributions of service animals, from aiding people with special needs to serving in the armed forces. (Full disclosure: I am a volunteer member of the educational website committee.)

“Service animals do so much for people who need help with their daily lives, and the world is becoming more and more aware and appreciative of that,” says NBC Sports dog show consultant and television talent David Frei, who is also founder and former president of therapy dog organization Angel on a Leash. “These beautiful monuments and memorials that we are seeing in more places remind us of their extraordinary work, and I am thrilled to see the support of the people and the local governments helping to make it happen.”

Bahary recently received The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s 2022 Dogs’ Best Friend Award, which comes with a $5,000 donation. She accepted it on Nov. 19 at the National Dog Show and is directing it to support the mission of NSAM.

Q&A

OK to adopt pets

during holidays?

Q: I always heard it wasn’t a good idea to adopt pets during the holidays, but more and more, I see shelters offering holiday pet adoptions. Have times changed?

A: They have, and for the better. It’s true that we used to say it was a bad idea to give a pet as a gift and that the holidays were the worst time to bring a pet into the home, but the key to success is being thoughtful about the process.

Holidays are definitely a busy time, with lots of activities, travel and guests, but you may also have a more flexible schedule, with time off work and kids home from school. That can make it easier to help a new pet adjust to family life.

There’s the concern that a new puppy or kitten -- or even older pets -- will be destructive, chewing or clawing holiday decorations, but pets get into things year-round, not just during the holidays. With thoughtful pet-proofing and supervision, you can ensure that the environment is safe for them and that your decor is safe from them. You’d have to do that whenever you got a pet.

I’ve often heard the objection that kids will quickly lose interest in a pet because they’re distracted by other gifts and activities. As a parent and grandparent, I can safely say that kids are expert multitaskers: If they have really been wanting a pet, they’ll make time to play with and care for them.

Holiday pet adoption campaigns, sponsored by local and national shelters and humane societies, pet supply stores, and pet health insurance and pet food companies, are now the norm. Shelters work with potential adopters to help ensure the transition goes smoothly. The careful and well-planned gift of an appropriate pet can make the holidays merry and bright. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Amount of daylight

affects sleep cycle

-- Does daylight saving time affect your pet? Veterinarian Michelle Richardson, in an interview with KRTV in Great Falls, Montana, says you may notice animals becoming less active as days become shorter and darker. That’s because the pineal gland, a small endocrine gland located in the brain that produces the hormone melatonin, has the job of regulating sleep patterns. The pineal is affected by the amount of light and dark that animals (and people) are exposed to. Darkness stimulates melatonin production while light inhibits it. Fun fact: The word pineal refers to the gland’s pineconelike shape.

-- North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has the only endowed chair in pet gerontology -- the study of aging -- with an associated research program. Neurology professor Natasha Olby, a veterinary internal medicine specialist, holds the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair of Gerontology and says the program’s research into neuroaging and canine neurodegenerative diseases not only helps pets, but also provides a good model for understanding the effects of aging in humans. Olby and her team work exclusively with aging dogs who live with people in their homes. Those pets experience the same social and environmental factors that affect aging humans: air quality, including secondhand smoke; food; level of exercise; environmental chemicals; and family social structures. “One of the big challenges to modern society is to maintain health span as well as lifespan,” Olby says. “Now, with improved health care for pets, dogs are surviving for longer, and we come across the exact same challenge (as we do with people). I think it’s critically important that we don’t say, ‘They’re just getting old,’ but we pay due attention to the process, understand which things we can alter within the process and advance our understanding of aging, in general.” -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

What does that phrase mean? Find the right pet for your family

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We often hear the phrase that a certain dog breed is "good with kids." Collies, Labs and golden retrievers are among the breeds that share that reputation. But dogs who are patient, gentle and nonreactive; who are relaxed in the presence of children; and who have forbearance for shrill voices and fast movements have a combination of inborn traits and learned skills -- none of which necessarily come with being a member of a particular breed.

It's a myth that certain dogs are naturally good with kids. Early and frequent socialization to kids and manners training are musts for any dog, no matter the breed or mix. No dog of any breed is guaranteed to always be good with kids, and no dog should have to bear the burden of that phrase.

Why is that, and why do I call it a burden? Let's talk about what it means, doesn't mean, and could mean.

Too often, dogs described as "good with kids" are those who will let kids get in their faces, sit on them, pull their tails or ears, or otherwise abuse them without complaint. They don't growl or bark or snap when kids do those things to them. But that doesn't make them good with kids; it makes them abused. No dog should have to put up with that kind of behavior. It's a parent's job to teach kids proper dog manners and to supervise their interactions with dogs so that nobody gets hurt.

So "good with kids" doesn't -- and shouldn't -- mean "will put up with all kinds of abuse without biting."

Many dogs are kind and gentle with kids, but have a low tolerance for pain. If a child accidentally stepped on them, they might react with a yelp or nip without meaning to hurt the child. Lots of dogs love kids, but could easily knock small ones over in enthusiastic play. A thwack from a Great Dane's tail can send a toddler tumbling. A friendly cavalier may shy away from a kid rushing at them. So might a dog who wasn't raised with kids or doesn't meet them very often. Old dogs can be cranky from aches and pains. That doesn't make any of these dogs bad with kids, but it does mean that it's important to understand a dog's sensitivities, concerns and pain threshold, and that both dogs and kids need supervision when together.

Being good with kids is also something that a dog may have to grow into. Adolescent Labs, for instance, don't necessarily realize how big and powerful they are, says Lab lover Linda Rehkopf of Georgia. And looks can be deceiving.

"Kids and some adults too often think 'cute' is the same thing as 'gentle,' and that is false," Rehkopf says. But with maturity and good training and supervision, older Labs can be great with kids, she adds.

Training and socialization for dogs and kids should include showing young children how to pet dogs gently; teaching kids to let dogs approach them instead of sticking out a hand for them to sniff; accustoming dogs to sometimes-rough patting (not hitting!); and teaching dogs not to chase kids or nip at their heels, to name just a few. For more tips, see Mikkel Becker's advice on building a kid-dog relationship here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/kids-and-pets-how-to-develop-that-best-friend-relationship.

The bottom line is that no breed or mix can be trusted with children unsupervised, in any situation, all the time, simply because kids and dogs can be a volatile combination. It's impossible to know what one or the other might do in any given scenario. Dogs can't serve as babysitters or nannies -- Nana of "Peter Pan" fame notwithstanding -- and they shouldn't be expected to.

Q&A

Fun ways to

exercise cats

Q: How can I get my indoor cat to exercise?

A: Great question, and so important. Kittens are so active that we don't spend much time worrying about exercise for them, but adult cats like to play, too, especially if we make it part of their daily routine from kittenhood on.

Get your cat moving with a collection of cat toys: wand toys (kitty fishing poles), large peacock feathers that dangle enticingly, balls to chase and bat around, electronic mice that zoom around the room, and even the beam of a flashlight sent up the wall and down the hall. Toss catnip mice for cats to retrieve or stuffed animals that they can bunny-kick.

You're not always home, but you can provide plenty of play options that don't require your presence. Cat trees and tunnels are great for kitty cavorting and exploring -- as well as the occasional nap or hiding place. Place a cat tree in front of a window so your cat can climb up for a view. If a cat tree won't fit, attach a kitty ledge to the windowsill so your cat can watch the world go by.

Offer opportunities to "hunt." Take the amount of food you'd put into your cat's dish and portion it out onto little plates or bowls and put them around the house so he'll have to go looking for them. Or buy a puzzle toy or two that you can fill with food, and then let your cat work to get it out.

If possible, provide a safe outdoor space: a catio. You can build one next to the house that your cat can access from a window, or convert a screened sunroom to a feline jungle gym filled with climbing areas and safe plants. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Don't overlook

senior adoptees

-- November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and Best Friends Animal Society shares some of the many reasons to adopt dogs and cats with some gray hairs. Active seniors still love to go for walks, and couch potato seniors will be happy to snuggle with those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle. Most senior pets in shelters were once in a home, so they have great manners and can adapt quickly to a new routine. They may already be familiar with kids, be housetrained or have other skills. Mature pets are past the destructive phase, and are more interested in lying in the sun or playing gently with toys than gnawing or clawing furnishings. If you're not sure you're ready to commit, ask about fostering. That can help you decide if a certain pet is right for you -- and vice versa. Bonus: Through the end of the year, Embrace Pet Insurance is covering the adoption fees of cats and dogs adopted through Best Friends Lifesaving Centers and programs throughout the country, as well as all animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

-- Did you hear? A paper published last month in the journal Nature Communications found that certain reptiles and amphibians thought to be nonvocal did, in fact, make sounds. The 53 species in the report included representatives from four major biological groups: turtles; lungfish; tuatara, which are lizardlike reptiles from small islands off New Zealand; and caecilian, which are wormlike burrowing amphibians. (Read the full paper at nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33741-8.)

-- Medieval forerunners to veterinarians employed not only potions and poultices but also charms and rituals, according to an article in Smithsonian Magazine (smithsonianmag.com/history/the-veterinary-magic-of-the-middle-ages-180981040). Animals were an important part of medieval life, and scholars are studying the ways people worked to heal them. It seems their efforts included elements of science, magic and religion. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.

Meet the canine college mascots who are the pride of their universities

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

It’s football season, and everywhere you turn there are bulldogs and huskies representing college sports teams. Bulldogs seem to be the clear favorite, serving as mascots for Butler, Georgetown, the University of Georgia, Gonzaga, Yale and many more schools -- at least 42 altogether.

Yale, credited with being the first university to have a mascot, has been repped by a bulldog since 1889. Because of concerns about breed health, though, the college switched this year from the AKC-registered bulldog to a variety known as the “Olde English Bulldogge,” thought to have less extreme physical characteristics. Following a long line of dogs named Handsome Dan, the current mascot, number 19, goes by Kingman (after the late Yale president of that name) when he’s not on duty.

The husky is another popular canine mascot. Colleges claiming the husky as a symbol include the University of Connecticut, the University of Southern Maine, Michigan Tech, Northeastern, Northern Illinois University, St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and the University of Washington.

Northeastern adopted the husky as its mascot in 1927 in honor of the sled dogs -- Togo and Balto being among the best known -- and their drivers who delivered life-saving diphtheria vaccines to Nome, Alaska, through near-blizzard conditions. While UConn’s Jonathan, named after Jonathan Trumbull, Connecticut’s last colonial and first state governor, is a Siberian husky, the term “husky” doesn’t always refer to that breed. Dubs, the University of Washington mascot, is actually an Alaskan malamute.

But what about other dog breeds? Do they get a shot at being Big Dog On Campus? Here’s a look at some of the lesser-known or more unusual canine college mascots.

The saluki, a sleek and speedy sighthound, has been the mascot at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale since 1951. Salukis are believed to be one of the most ancient types of dogs, and that’s how they became SIU’s mascot, says saluki breeder and all-around dog expert Caroline Coile.

“That area of Southern Illinois is known as Little Egypt,” she says, “so they wanted an Egyptian mascot, hence the saluki, an Egyptian dog. They seem like a great mascot for a track team -- not so much for a football team.”

A bluetick coonhound, Smokey (the 10th of that name), leads the University of Tennessee’s Volunteers onto the football field at home games and howls when they score. The first mascot, Blue Smokey, won his place in 1953 when he barked and howled on hearing his name called as students voted for their favorite dog.

North Carolina State University teams are known as the Wolfpack, but a live wolf as a mascot wasn’t a good option. Instead, they found a dog that resembled a wolf. Tuffy III, son of Wave (aka Tuffy I), is a tamaskan, a type of dog first bred in Finland by blending German shepherds, Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies.

At Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, retired racing greyhounds Vic and Tory patrol the campus during the week and attend special events in their green uniforms.

Golden retriever Goldie II, who took over the job of mascot last year, does more than promote school spirit for the University of Tulsa’s Hurricanes. This “Golden Furricane” is a therapy dog who makes the rounds among stressed students during finals, visits alums at retirement homes and supports local pet adoption events. She’s a natural at tail-gating.

Cori is a Labrador retriever who retrieves the kickoff tees at University of California, Davis, football games, taking over for now-retired Pint, a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. In her off-hours, she’s a spokesdog for the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

At Texas A&M, Reveille, or Miss Rev, is the 10th rough collie to serve as the school’s mascot, and she’s known as the First Lady of Aggieland.

Go, team!

Q&A

Why is my cat

destructive?

Q: My cat lives to tear up my stuff. She’s always scratching the furniture, eating houseplants and knocking things off shelves. She’s 2 years old and has lots of toys. Help!

A: With their sharp claws and teeth and active curiosity, cats -- especially young ones -- have the potential to be destructive. They exercise paws and claws on prominent pieces of furniture; taste-test plants (and then upchuck the greens); and bat a paw at that knickknack your Aunt Ruby gave you just to see what will happen. Sometimes cats are just being cats, but often a little sleuthing will help you figure out why they behave in destructive ways.

Consider setting up a “cat cam” to see what goes on when you’re not at home. It can help determine what time of day your cat is most active or if something’s going on that triggers her destructive behavior. You may discover that another pet chases or teases her, causing her to jump up where those breakables are, or soothe her injured feelings by scratching the sofa or nibbling on a plant.

She may not find her toys entertaining enough. Offer new ones with brainteaser capabilities. A window perch with a view of squirrels and birds outdoors is another option. Institute 3 to 5 minutes of playtime with her a couple of times a day. She’ll enjoy the attention as well as the physical and mental exercise. Place a tall cat tree next to the item she enjoys scratching, and reward her with treats and praise for using it.

A veterinary exam may also be in order. Cats who eat plants or lick or chew fabric or carpet may have a gastrointestinal disorder. If she gets a clean bill of health, you may just have to give her time to outgrow her youthful enthusiasm. -- 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

The best things

about black cats

-- What are the best things about black cats? Ebony-colored felines are glamorous and chic, wearing their fur with a sophisticated swish of the tail that makes them stand out from the crowd. They are classics who go with any decor and wardrobe belonging to the people who love them. They add instant style to a boring room. Best of all, black cats bring good luck and happiness according to beliefs in England, Scotland and Ireland. A black cat on a Scottish doorstep brings prosperity, and brides in Britain’s Midlands welcome the gift of a black cat, said to bring contentment and good fortune.

-- Animal lovers touring Edinburgh Castle in Scotland may run across a small, beautiful garden dedicated to the dogs of regimental officers serving there. The cemetery, which can only be viewed from above, dates to 1840 and is the final resting spot for officers’ pets and regimental mascots. Look for it within the castle walls near Mill’s Mount, where the One O’Clock Gun is fired. Take a minute to remember someone else’s beloved dogs as well as your pets who have passed on.

-- Cancer is a common problem in dogs and cats. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately 25% of dogs will develop cancer at some point in their lives. That figure rises to nearly 50% for dogs older than 10 years. Less is known about the rate of cancer in cats, but certain cancers, including lymphoma, are more common in cats than dogs. Possible signs of cancer are abdominal swelling, bleeding from the mouth or nose, difficulty eating or breathing, wounds that don’t heal, persistent diarrhea or vomiting, sudden weight gain or loss, unexplained swelling, heat, pain or lameness, or a mass or tumor. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.