Did You know? Coyotes are growing in Florida

I was going to discuss doggy jealousy, but after coming across an article out of Connecticut, I decided to talk about coyotes.

And not this kind.



Fairfield, Connecticut has been dealing with, of all things, coyotes attacking and killing their dogs.

In the latest attack, a beagle was killed earlier this month, but two other beagles were almost attacked in their own backyard.

Now, when I think of coyotes, I think out west -- the midwest, Arizona, Colorado, those places. I don't think New England enclaves.

But with a little light Internet reading I learned coyotes have expanded, and are adapting everywhere -- from suburban New England, to Los Angeles, CA, and even in Florida.

Coyotes in Florida probably first appeared around 1925, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife, and are now in almost, if not all Florida counties. They can live in any habitat, and while they normally eat small animals, from time to time -- they'll pick off a domesticated animal or two. As people continue to move into wildlife animals, they coming into closer contact with wild creatures. Florida may not have seen as many attacks as other parts of the country, but we should be vigilant, not only of coyotes, but of other wild animals that might find a small dog a little too tempting (alligators and black bears, anyone?)

Coyotes are elusive creatures -- difficult to trap. They tend to hunt between dusk and dawn, when temperatures are cooler, though they can be active during the day if the weather is right. It also depends on whether they have plenty of food.

While it used to be that coyotes would hunt alone, reports from recent attacks show coyotes will from time to time hunt in small groups.

And in Florida, aside from a few native species, there is not a lot out there that can kill a coyote. So we need to be smart. Know your surroundings. Don't let your pets out unsupervised. If you live in wooded areas, make sure you have something that will scare them. Coyotes are generally timid around humans. If necessary, coyotes can also be hunted without a license.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a whole section on coyotes and for living with wildlife. If you have further questions they are a group agency to contact.

I'm obsessed with making sure Lulu is well-protected when she's outside, and she's in my sights at all times.

Is your dog prepared for a storm? Getting your pet ready hurricane season

Hurricane Season in the Atlantic officially began today, and we've already had two named storms. This is expected to be a "nearly normal" year, according to the National Hurricane Center, but it doesn't mean we won't see a major hurricane make landfall. And it only takes one.

In 2004, I was generally okay. I lived with my brother, so if I needed to be at work for more than a day (which happened in two of the four hurricanes to hit Florida that year), I knew I had someone to take care of my cats. This year is different though. Not only do I live alone -- I have a dog, and a cat. A dog who really shouldn't be by herself for more than 12 hours.

So for the last couple of weeks I've been thinking about things I should do to prepare her in the event I have to be at work for a while, or if I need to get her out of here. They are things you should think about too:

THINGS TO DO NOW

Where will Lulu stay if I need to be at work for the storm? My cat can go for days without me, if necessary. Lulu can't.

I have a few options:
1) Send her to my parents' house. This is easy to do during the summer, since they are teachers. But once school starts, this won't work all the time.
2) Get a friend to dog sit (preferably one with a yard).
3) Find a boarder that boards during storms. Since she doesn't like to be left alone with strangers, I'll probably have to put her through doggy day care first so she can get used to the place.

I am working on this plan now, and if I were you, I would too.

Get Lulu's paperwork in order. Already done, it's all in one folder. I will need a water tight container though, that way it doesn't get wet. Glad and Ziploc have big containers that seal well.

Documents needed:
1) Vaccination info (while you're at it -- is this up to date? Some boarding places and shelters won't let you in without it)
2) List of veterinarian phone numbers
3) Microchip information if you have one
4) Insurance info if you have pet insurance
5) Up-to-date picture of your dog (just in case)
6) Anything else pertinent to the health and safety of your dog -- perhaps a list of dog food your pet needs if you have to leave him/her somewhere?

You should also make copies of these so you have them.

Where is your nearest pet-friendly shelter? I likely won't ever be at a shelter, but in the case it happens, I know where mine is. To find the pet shelter by you, check with your state/county's emergency management office. In Florida, there's a website, Florida pet friendly.com, which has a list by county HERE.

Get trained in pet first aid. The American Red Cross actually offers classes in this. To find one near you, go to the website.

BEFORE A STORM 

Gather the following:
1) Your paperwork
2) Enough food to last a week
3) Travel dishes. If necessary, whatever you need to serve canned food.
4)Water. The rule for humans is one gallon per person, per day. How much does your pet drinks? Maybe not that much, so maybe half a gallon per pet, per day.
5) Treats. It may seem strange, but trust me, your pet is as nervous as you, if not more. Treats are a welcome distraction, and bring a touch of the familiar.
6)A favorite toy. Does the same as the treats.
7) Favorite blanket, pillow, towel, bed, etc.
8) Puppy pads, litter or newspaper -- because walking the dog may not always be possible.
9)Bags, paper towels, etc. for clean up.
10) Whatever medications you may need, and first aid stuff too.
11) Crate, cage, leash or whatever you use to transport the pet in the event you have to go.

Get your home and yard pet-storm ready. Sure, you board up the windows (don't duct tape the windows, it does nothing), bring in the patio furniture, trim the trees, clean the gutters, etc. Also, cover pools, turn over any containers that may get filled up with water (bird baths, buckets, planters, plastic pools). Bring outdoor pet food/drink containers in, and the dog house too if you can. You don't want dogs to drink the water when the storm is over. And this water will breed mosquitoes and other bugs in the days to come. It may also harbor bacteria that will make them sick. Rain water isn't the real concern here though, so much as flood water.

DURING THE STORM

Stay in your safe havens. These are places without windows, preferably. Also avoid turning electronics on if you can.

Mind your children. Know how to calm your pet if they start to get nervous, or worse, freak out. If you have a pet who is nervous or upset from the storm, they may not have as much patience for a rambunctious child. They have to know that the pet needs to be left alone, or treated gently at the very least.

AFTER THE STORM

Do NOT give your pet tap water. Even if your home has water, it may need to be boiled before its drinkable. Don't use that water for drinking or bathing until you know it's safe.

Do NOT let your pet out of the house unsupervised. Even if a quick glance of your backyard shows no major issues, it's not safe to let your pet out until you know there's no place they can get hurt. What about downed power lines, exposed cables, pieces of wood, metal, shingle, glass that came off something during the storm that ended up in your yard? Are there any places where the pet might take a lap of water? Any bedding, dishes, or other pet items that came in contact with any flood water needs to be thrown out. Don't let the pet touch it.

More tips can be found at the National Hurricane Center website, and the ASPCA website.

Honoring military dogs -- What you can do to help these doggy heroes

Monday was Memorial Day. We honored the men and women who died to keep us free.

Lets not forget the the dogs who sacrificed too.

Beagles are not typically used as military dogs because of their overdeveloped sense of smell, but German and Dutch shepherds and retrievers are used to detect bombs and booby traps, alert troops to snipers and other suspicious people, and find the wounded in hard to reach places.

A memorial is expected to be unveiled next year in Washington for military dogs. The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument will feature bronze statues of the dog breeds that have helped our troops do their jobs since World War I.

Right now the team behind it is collecting donations. If you would like to donate, head over to the website. 

Meanwhile, there is a bill in Congress to change the way military dogs are classified. Right now they are classified as equipment. The bill would change that to "canine members of the armed forces" and also to make it easier to adopt retired military dogs. The bill has support in the House, but needs help in the Senate.

If you want to help, check out this article from the ASPCA.

Diva Dog: Getting good pictures of Lulu the beagle, and other dogs too

You know, when we first got Lulu, even when I first started this blog, I had no trouble getting pictures of Lulu. She saw the camera, would sit down and give me a smile.

 

See what I mean? That was before she even left the shelter.

Nowadays though, getting her to take a picture is a struggle. She turns her head, turns around, even runs in the other direction. I don't know if she is just sick of having to picture taken all the time or what.

This was a much better picture when I started.

So I've been looking up tips for taking better pictures of her. There are some great sites with info out there already. The two I like best are Dogster and Pet Travel Experts.

Both offer the following advice:

• Get down to the pet's level
• Focus on the eyes
• Get the pet's character -- candid shots
• Don't use a flash if you can help it

Some other good ideas: 

• Use treats -- which works great for beagles, since there are treat crazy
• Do whatever it takes to make your dog stand out in the picture -- simple backgrounds, well-lit.
• IPhones and other cameras can take good pics of your dog:

You will need to get as close as you can without spooking your dog. The zooms really ruin the pics. You'll also need to make sure the lighting is good. If you want, you can just put the camera on video and then take freeze frames. It works well.

You don't need to get an expensive camera. Point and shoots work well. Many have kids and pets features that take good photos. But both blogs have good info if you're looking for some more advanced equipment.

Just remember -- patience is key, and especially with a beagle. Watch your animal and be prepared to hit that shutter button.

Happy shooting!

Rescuing beagles -- The work to save these dogs across the country

This weekend we took a trip to SPCA/Humane Society of Central Florida in Orlando. My parents decided to look for another dog, since Lulu was now mine. And they found one -- a long-haired dachshund. But there were three adult or senior beagles waiting patiently for new homes. In all cases, the beagles were given up because the owners were told they could not keep them.

All over the country, animals are being given up because owners can no longer keep them. These animals have a chance to find homes, and they have volunteers who treat them well. Only their hearts were broken.

Other beagles endure a worse nightmare -- abandoned, abused, neglected. And even worse, some never even see the light of day. Shut up in lab cages, beagles are often the dog of choice for testing products like makeup, household cleaners and drugs. In fact, it was surprising that Lulu had a reaction to her rabies vaccination last month because beagles are often used to test the vaccines.

Why are beagles so prized for animal experiments? Beagles, generally, are docile, forgiving creatures. They can take a lot of abuse.

Fortunately there are groups out there that take these lab beagles in. Most notable among these is the Beagle Freedom Project. They work with the labs to get these dogs out, rehabilitated, and into good homes. Most recently, they rescued 10 dogs from San Diego.

They also rescued 40 dogs from a lab in Spain. You may have seen the video of the dogs seeing sunshine and grass for the first time ever.

The Beagle Freedom Project is a non-profit out of California, and if you want to help them out, you can get in contact with them to foster a dog, or donate supplies.

There are beagle groups across the country, and all over the world that you can help with though.

Petfinder is a great reference if you're looking for groups in America or Canada. You can also use beagle.rescueshelter.com to find groups in other countries.

Since I'm from Florida, here's a list of Florida rescue groups for beagles:

First Coast Beagle Rescue -- Jacksonville, FL
Southeast Beagle Rescue -- Tampa, FL
Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue -- Tampa, FL
Ziggy Beagle Rescue -- Palm Bay, FL

If you know of any other beagle rescue groups out there, don't hesitate to leave a comment. You can also talk to us on Twitter, via @LifeWithBeagle, or Facebook on Lulu the beagle's official Facebook page.

Lulu the beagle becomes a hot dog: Summer, your dog and health issues to watch for

It's Florida in May. It's hot. Very hot. But the other day I decided it'd be a good idea to take Lulu to the doggy park anyway. It'd been a while since she'd been out socializing since I've been busy with some personal changes, and she enjoys it.

A lot.

There weren't many dogs out, but she did meet some new dogs and got to run around a bit, but it wasn't long before I noticed she might have been getting hot.

Lulu rarely goes into the pool, and when she does she never stays for a long period. This time, however, she just walked around it, I guess trying to keep her feet cool. So I decided to take her home.

And in the car she panted like a fiend, even with the air conditioning on.

According to Pet WebMD (yes, there is such a thing), a symptom of heat stroke can be heavy, fast, and/or erratic panting. But she showed no other signs: no heavy drooling or frothing at the mouth, he tongue and gums looked fine, and she didn't feel hot to the touch. And eventually she cooled down. 

More and more people are taking their dogs to doggy parks, and in the summer that means looking for the signs that your dog may have a problem. VPI Pet Insurance.com recently put out a release on what dog owners should do to prevent your dog from having a heat problem at the dog park. Aside from watching for the signs and keeping the dog hydrated, you should also maybe not go to the park between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (we went to the park around 3:30). This way the dog is out of the sun when it's at its highest point.

But heat exhaustion/stroke is not the only problem pet owners should be aware of at the dog park. VPI's list also includes:

• Sprains and Soft Tissue Injuries
• Lacerations and Bite Wounds
• Kennel Cough/Upper Respiratory Infection
• Insect Bites
• Head Trauma
• Parasites
• Parvovirus

VPI compiled this list based on last year's dog park-related medical injuries. Sprains and soft tissue injuries are the most common -- the more the dog is outside, the more likely it can get hurt. All kinds of illnesses can come from insect bites, including lyme disease from ticks and heartworm issues from mosquitoes.

The best advice is to have an eye on your dog at all times when the dog is outdoors, and make sure to check the dog when you are finished being outside. 

Don't forget -- you can follow us on Twitter via our Life With Beagle account, or on Facebook, just like the page for "Lulu the Beagle."

FACTOID: What exactly are the DOG DAYS of SUMMER? According to Wikipedia:

"Dog Days" (Latin: diēs caniculārēs) are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dog days of summer are most commonly experienced in the months of July and August, which typically observe the warmest summer temperatures. In the Southern Hemisphere, they typically occur in January and February, in the midst of the austral summer. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in close proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather.

So the "dog days" actually have nothing to do with an actual dog. Good to know.

Dog TV: Does it work? Lulu the beagle gives it a try

Whew! Moving is over. Lulu and I have spent the last week transferring all my stuff to a smaller apartment.

Lulu did not enjoy it. But she's feeling more at home now.

Right before Lulu and I moved though, we decided to check something out. It's called DogTV, and it's being billed as the first cable channel exclusively for dogs. It says it's specially-designed to appeal to them. They show short videos of things like dogs playing together, running through corn fields, that sort of thing.

Right now it's only available in California, but it's also online. Check out one of the videos here:

I do have pictures of Lulu watching the videos -- but I haven't found the cable to my other camera yet.  As soon as I find it I'll add pictures.

I played several videos for her on the laptop, putting the laptop down at her level. She watched for maybe a minute, and then went off to do something else.

Now, I knew Lulu wasn't big on TV. She certainly doesn't watch Animal Planet. And my friends left Telemundo on for her once ("don't you want your dog to be bilingual?" they said.). But DogTV says these videos are specially designed so that dogs can enjoy them better.

Coincidentally, the New York Times did an article this week on DogTV. It had some good information on how this can be used to help dogs with anxiety issues -- if the dogs are interested in paying attention. Not every dog will.

Some of the videos on DogTV have things like muted door bells going off and muted vacuum cleaners doing their thing. Experts in the NY Times article say that could help dogs ease their fear and anxiety from those items and the noises they make. Wonder if DogTV will consider muted lawn mowers, because Lulu really doesn't like those.

Check out the NY Times article here. The first ten articles are free each month.

Don't forget we are on Twitter and Facebook now. Follow us on Twitter @lifewithbeagle. And like Lulu the Beagle on Facebook.