Carolina Mountain Dog

Welcome!

Welcome to Carolina Mountain Dog! This is a "blogazine" for dog lovers who live in or near the Carolina mountains (or wish they did). Please read the About page for more details. Be sure to check the  sections above for additional information. Bookmark this blog with our shortcut URL: www.cmdog.com Please tell your friends to visit!

ReTail Scene: Spring's Here! Get a T-Shirt!

We've all been anxiously awaiting Spring... and now it's here. What better way to usher in warmer weather (thank goodness!) than with your very own doggie t-shirt. Choose from t-shirts with photos of doggies in the mountains... or the Carolina Mountain Dog masthead... or the slogan, "Save a Dog's Life. OPT TO ADOPT!"

You can even get a cool t-shirt for your doggie with the OPT TO ADOPT! slogan. Check out all the cool stuff -- hats, mugs, and more -- at our store: www.cafepress.com/cmdog.

A portion of all sales from this store will be donated to shelters and animal welfare organizations in the Carolina mountains.

CANINE CRUISIN': Fun Park for Dogs in the Upstate

If you live in or are traveling to the Upstate, you'll find a place near Greer where your dog can play all day. "Six Wags of Greer" is a privately-run dog park that features 3 very large fenced in play areas for small, medium, and large dogs -- complete with benches, toys, shade, and a running creek. It also includes two separate play areas for dogs that might do better playing alone, and one of those areas is outfitted with agility equipment.

You pay $5 for an "all-day pass" for your first dog, and $2 for each additional dog. It's a bargain even for a few hours of fun. The park is well-maintained and open 7 days a week from 7 AM to 8 PM. If no one's at the small shack on the property, just leave your money in the mail slot.

Six Wags of Greer is located on Highway 14, between Landrum and Greer, about 4 miles beyond the intersection of Highway 11 and Highway 14, heading towards Greer. The park will be on your right. Visit the CANINE CRUISIN' page for more photos of the park.

Search and Rescue Dogs

Along with the many wonderful things we know about dogs, let's not forget the amazing canines in North and South Carolina that function as part of search and rescue teams. These highly skilled dogs are trained in search tactics and are used for tracking and trailing. Contrary to popular belief, search and rescue dogs come in all breeds and sizes.

These dogs work as part of volunteer teams supported by the North Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association, South Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association, and South Carolina Search Dogs, all of which are non-profit volunteer organizations. In fact, they typically respond at no charge to assist local, state and federal agencies in searching for lost or missing persons, including children, Alzheimer patients, boaters, downed aircraft, mountain hikers, or others in need. Consider supporting these organizations -- some day a search and rescue dog might help save you or someone you know!

Dogs with Dentures

This is a commercial that is actually promoting a product from Pedigree called Dentastix -- but it's hard to resist laughing at these dogs with dentures!

 

Is a Holistic Vet Right for Your Dog? (Part 2)

In Part 1, we discussed various forms of therapy provided by holistic vets.

Part 2 is a list of holistic vets, all members of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, located in the Carolina mountains.

North Carolina
Asheville
Laurel David, DVM, Asheville Veterinary Housecalls
828-254-2221
Andrea Fochios, DVM, People and Pets Acupuncture
828-254-2773
www.peopleandpetsacupuncture.com
Erin Husted, DVM, Charlotte Street Animal Hospital
828-232-0440
www.balancedpets.webs.com
Boone
Susan Mast, DVM, Appalachian New River Veterinary Association
828-264-5621
Brevard
Ann Holshouser, DVM, Riversong Veterinary Clinic
828-862-8450
www.riversongvet.com
Columbus
Robert Fitch, DVM, Angela Mitchell, DVM, Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital
828-894-6064
www.bonniebraeveterinaryhospital.com
Kristine Woodaman, DVM, Integrated Veterinary Healing
828-863-4318
Franklin
Thomas Todd, Jr., DVM, Noah's Ark Companion Animal Hospital
828-524-6121
www.noahsarkvet.us

South Carolina
Travelers Rest
Jeanne Fowler, DVM, All About Pets Vet Services
864-834-7334
www.holisticvetsc.com
Aiken
Charlie Timmerman, DVM, Aiken Veterinary Clinic
803-648-6886
www.aikenvet.com
Maria Glinski, DVM, Care Center
803-649-4965
www.k9rehabcenter.com
Shelly Onderdonk, DVM
803-649-5015
www.sodvm.com

Is a Holistic Vet Right for Your Dog? (Part 1)

Holistic medicine has grown in popularity in recent years because it considers the whole being and often includes treatments that are generally viewed as "alternative" medicine. While holistic veterinarians can provide traditional treatments, they are also typically skilled in specialized areas such as acupuncture, behavior modification, herbal medicine, homeopathy, augmentation therapy, and chiropractic.

In Part 1 of this post, we'll briefly discuss some of these areas of holistic medicine. In Part 2, we'll provide a list of holistic vets in the Carolina mountains.

The following information is adapated from the American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association (www.ahvma.org).

Holistic medicine
Holistic veterinary medicine is interested in treating the "whole" dog -- physical, behavioral, medical history, dietary, emotional, and environmental factors. The holistic vet considers "the environment, the disease pattern, the relationship of pet with owner" and develops a treatment plan that "uses a wide range of therapies for healing the patient."
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is "a technique for relieving pain and for improving the function of organ systems by stimulating acupuncture points on the surface of the body." Veterinary acupuncture aims to strengthen the body's immune system.
Herbal medicine
Herbal medicine uses plants and plant extracts to treat conditions and diseases. Medicines used may include Western herbs, Chinese herbs, and Ayervedic herbs from India. "Herbs have healing powers that are capable of balancing the emotional, mental and phsical dimensions of animals."
Homeopathy
Homeopathy works on the principle of "like cures like." Homepathic remedies "contain vibrational energy essences that match the patterns present in the diseased state within the ailing patient."
Augmentation therapy
Also known as orthomolecular medicine, augmentation therapy uses supplemental minerals, vitamins, and nutrients to treat conditions and diseases.
Chiropractic
Employed to treat "a broad spectrum of conditions in animals," veterinary chiropractic uses "hands-on specific adjustments" to alleviate problems.

Part 2 will list holistic veterinarians who are members of the AHVMA and are located in the Carolina mountains.

Spay/Neuter in the Upstate

Spaying and neutering cats and dogs is proven to be the best way to reduce animal over-population, which continues to be a serious problem in the Upstate. For an excellent overview of some of the myths and realities of spay and neutering, read this document from the ASPCA.

There are a number of spay/neuter clinics in the Upstate South Carolina area. Check with your local humane society or veterinarian for the clinic nearest you. These include:

Animal Allies
Low-cost spay/neuter clinic
http://animal-allies.org

Greenville Humane Society
Spay/neuter clinic
http://www.greenvillehumane.com/pages/spayandneuter

ReTail Scene: Create Your Own Custom Dog ID Tag

Our friends at Dog Tag Art offer hundreds of cool original designs produced on high-quality personalized dog tags. (These tags are so good they're guaranteed for life.) Now they've come up with a way for you to take your own favorite photo or any artwork and put it on your doggie's tag.

It's easy to make your own tag -- just click here or click on the Dog Tag Art button under "Good Buys" on the right. That will take you to the Dog Tag Art home page. Go to the "Create a Custom ID Tag" tab at the top of the page and follow the simple instructions for uploading and personalizing your tag.  In seconds you'll create your very own one-of-a-kind ID tag and it will be sent to you within 24 hours of your order. How cool is that!

POOCH PATHS: Lake Powhatan, Asheville, NC

Lake Powhatan is a small lake with a sandy beach within Bent Creek Experimental Forest. The lake is a particularly great spot for the month of March because the lake and accompanying overnight camping area is closed until April 1. That means you and your doggies have the run of the place (including the beach) since cars, campers, and swimmers aren't around. You also don't have to pay any fee, which is required after the lake opens.

The lake and the surrounding roads and trails make for a great outing. You can walk, jog, or bike ride on the paved roads (it's moderately hilly but not too bad), or you can hike on the many trails near the lake and in Bent Creek. Your dog will love splashing around on the bank or running in the sand. During the off-season, many people let their dogs run free, although when the lake is open, dogs must be leashed.

The lake is easily accessible via the entrance to Bent Creek, which is right off the Blue Ridge Parkway at the North Carolina Arboretum exit, Route 191 (Brevard Road towards Asheville). Follow the signs to Bent Creek/Lake Powhatan. Go past the Hard Times Trailhead on the left (which itself is a great spot to pick up numerous trails). The road then forks and the entrance to Lake Powhatan is on the left. You can park outside the gate to the right and walk up the hill. Follow the signs for swimming and fishing to get to the lake. Walking around the empty campground, which is largely shaded, is also a nice stroll. During the off-season, the gates are closed to vehicles but foot traffic is allowed.

Visit the POOCH PATHS page for additional information and directions from I-26.

World's Tallest Dog!

The world's tallest dog is a Great Dane named "Giant George" from Tucson, Arizona. Guinness World Records recently made it official -- in fact, they sent someone to measure the big guy.  Giant George stands 3 feet 7 inches tall and weighs in at 250 pounds. He measures over 7 feet when he stands on his rear paws. Giant George eats 110 pounds of dog food each week and sleeps in his own queen size bed.

And you thought we had some big dogs in the Carolina mountains!

 

Everything for Dogs in Asheville and Hendersonville

Know where the dog parks are in Asheville? Is there anyone who can scoop the poop in your yard? Do any vets offer alternative medicine? Where are the best places to hike with your dog in the Asheville/Hendersonville area? Where is there a campground that actually caters to dogs? 

You'll get the answers to these questions in the new 2010 Edition of the Asheville Doggie Guide -- everything for dogs in the Asheville, Hendersonville, and Black Mountain, NC area!

This handy pocket-size guide includes adoption organizations, animal services, dog bakeries and boutiques, boarding facilities, dog-friendly campgrounds, doggie daycare, dog parks, grooming services, dog photographers, poop pick-up services, dog therapy, hiking trails, dog training, sitters, vets, and more, plus adoption information, safety tips, and pet rules and regulations for Buncombe and Henderson Counties. It has hundreds of listings -- names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and websites -- saving hours and hours of research time! You will refer to it often. There is no other resource available like the Asheville Doggie Guide.

Pick up your copy today at Three Dog Bakery, 21 Battery Park in Asheville (a block away from the Grove Arcade). Or order the guide online via this special offer:

The publisher's list price for the Asheville Doggie Guide is $19.95, but you can get your copy of the guide for $13.95, a savings of $6! You'll get a $6 rebate when you purchase the Asheville Doggie Guide directly from the publisher! Learn about this special offer here.

Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation, Waynesville, NC

Like many counties in Western North Carolina, Haywood County is continuously dealing with dog and cat over-population. Sarge's mission is to take adoptable pets from the county shelter and give them the loving care they need until their forever family adopts them.

Sarge's saves animals lives in Haywood County by placing them in local foster homes while they try to find permanent homes for them. The organization would eventually like to open an Adoption Center with quarantine space, comfortable pens, outdoor runs, a cattery, and areas for training and grooming. Sarge's Foster Program enables the organization to save many dogs and cats right now.

Sarge's currently holds adoption days on Wednesdays and Satrudays from 12:30 - 5:00 PM at their facility at 1659 South Main Street in Waynesville, NC. Sarge's encourages adopters to visit, and also needs volunteer assistance and donations. To learn more about Sarge's and to see animals available for adoption, visit: http://www.sargeandfriends.org/

ReTail Scene: Blaze-N-Skyy Boutique, Asheville, NC

 
When you're in and around Asheville, check out Blaze-N-Skyy Boutique and Wellness Center, located at 30 Battery Park Avenue (about a block away from the Grove Arcade). This unique store has quality dog apparel, accessories, earth-friendly shampoos, organic and specialty pet foods and treats, and more. Owner Adelaine Lockwood is a dog lover through and through. She is a friend and foster parent for Asheville Humane Society and does a lot to support the local animal welfare community. Call (828) 253-2850 for information and hours.

If you can't make it in, visit Blaze-N-Skyy's online store: www.blazenskyy.com.

Your Own "PetCast"

If the weather's been driving you crazy, take heart. Spring is coming soon (not soon enough!). In the mean time, you can rely on an online service that will not only provide you with the local weather, but also with a page of useful information that's customized to your pet.

Go to www.weather.com/pets, enter some brief information, and get your own "PetCast" with the local weather, as well as a dog "comfort index," a report of mosquito activity in your area, tips from the "dog care clinic," a park locator, a dog walking calculator, a list of local pet events, videos, and more.

Driving Dogs

You've got to see the new Subaru commercials that just started appearing on TV: They feature dogs driving a Subaru Forester! You can watch the ads on National Geographic Channel's "Dog Whisperer Marathon" on February 15, and during the Westiminster Dog Show (Feb. 15 and 16 on the USA cable network.) One of the best of the bunch is included below.

Subaru reports that half of Subaru drivers own a pet, so why not appeal directly to the dog-owning audience? Subaru also has a relationship with the ASPCA, one of several charities the carmaker supported during its "Share the Love" sales event.

Subaru isn't the only auto company that recognizes the power of the pack. Honda offers the Element with a special "dog-friendly package" that includes a rear car kennel, pet bed, stowable ramp, and more. There's even a website that rates dog-friendly cars: www.dogcars.com.