Carolina Mountain Dog

Free Help for Fearful Dogs, Asheville, Jan. 18

Pet Behavior Aid will hold a free information session for owners of fearful dogs on Wednesday, January 18, from 6 to 7:30 PM.

Topics include how to help your dog gain confidence, learning how to understand signs of anxiety and when to step in, how to prevent fear from becoming aggression, and fundamental techniques to help your "wallflower" blossom. The session will be held at the Asheville Humane Society Adoption and Education Center, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville. Humans only, please.

For more information, visit www.petbehavioraid.org or call (828) 707-0644. This session is sponsored by Pet Behavior Aid, an organization dedicated to to increasing the retention of companion animals in their homes in Western North Carolina.

Photo credit: Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Stop the Barking-Free! Asheville, Jan. 14

Pet Behavior Aid will hold a free session to help dog owners deal with barking. If you tried everything you know to do do to stop your dog from barking so much, then this session is for you. Learn the different types of barks, what they mean, and creative ways to stop the barking.

The session will be held on Saturday, January 14 from 11 AM to 12 PM at the Asheville Humane Society Adoption and Education Center, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville. Humans only, please.

For more information, visit www.petbehavioraid.org or call (828) 707-0644. This session is sponsored by Pet Behavior Aid, an organization dedicated to to increasing the retention of companion animals in their homes in Western North Carolina.

New Year, New Advertisers

We're pleased to welcome several new local advertisers as we begin 2012. You'll see their ads to the right of blog posts under the heading, "SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS." And we hope you will do just that -- show them your support! Just click on each ad and you'll be taken to the advertiser's website. Here is a little about them:
Patton Avenue Pet Company
A "new breed of pet supply store" in Asheville that features high quality products, many of which are locally sourced.
Bed and Biscuit Pet Spa
WNC's premier dog and cat boarding facility, in an idyllic setting in Black Mountain.
Best Bites for Pets
A free delivery service for the Asheville/Hendersonville/Brevard area focused on only natural food, treats and more.

Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

"Paws on a Mission" Brings Joy to Hospital Patients

Paws on a Mission is a hospital-based pet therapy program that operates at Mission Hospital in Asheville. It is a wonderful program any time of year that brings joy to patients in 19 hospital areas and waiting rooms on three Mission campuses as well as The McDowell Hospital.

During the holidays, Paws on a Mission is especially welcome, particularly by children at Mission Children's Hospital. Check out this heart-warming video to see how much these pets mean to the kids.

Free Happy Dog Healthy Dog Online Summit, Nov. 8-12

Many dogs spend quite a bit of time alone at home during the week and end up developing behavior issues out of anxiety, boredom and loneliness. A majority of dog owners report feeling guilty about it but don’t know  what to do. Unfortunately, leaving a dog home alone is a fact of modern-day life for dogs and their owners.

If you are one of those owners, you should find the "Happy Dog-Healthy Dog World TeleSummit" to be of great interest. This free online event focuses on dogs alone and their owners and it runs from Nov. 8 through Nov. 12. Sponsored by HappyDogConnections.com, the summit brings together a panel of expert dog trainers, behaviorists, wellness practitioners and veterinarians who will be participating via audio or video. Each speaker will be recorded and aired for 24 hours. You can listen to any or all of the speakers without charge. The event takes place entirely online. You can also purchase a VIP package that includes the recordings and transcripts for all of the speakers.

For more information or to register for this free event, just click here.

Helpful Info for Buncombe County Dog Owners

Need to know about licensing requirements, low cost rabies vaccinations, spay/neuter, animals that are lost or found, or any other information about domestic animals? Here are several useful sites to check out:

Asheville Animal Services
If you live within Asheville city limits, go here for information about spay/neuter requirements, dog licensing, and what to do about nuisance domestic animals.

Buncombe County Animal Control
Buncombe County residents outside Asheville city limits will find information here about county spay/neuter requirements, low cost rabies vaccinations, restraint of animals, animal cruelty, wildlife and more.

Asheville Humane Society
Asheville Humane Society operates the Buncombe County Animal Shelter and the Adoption Center, both located on the Animal Care Campus off Brevard Road, near the Farmers Market. Go here for information about adoptinos, lost and found, directions to the Campus, and other helpful information.

Humane Alliance
If you need to have your dog spayed or neutered at a low cost, visit the site of Humane Alliance of Western North Carolina. This is our area's high quality low cost spay/neuter clinic, and it is also a training center for spay/neuter clinics around the country.

Puppy Photo Contest at Exceptional Canine

ExceptionalCanine.com is a website for active dogs and their owners that covers the benefits of the dog lifestyle, with tips on how to care for an energetic pet and attend to its needs. The website is currently sponsoring an "Exceptional Puppy Photo Contest" with a gift basket valued at $600 awarded to 10 exceptional puppies. The basket will include such goodies as Eukanuba food, Kong and Nylabone toys, and more.

To enter, go to http://www.facebook.com/ExceptionalCanine and "Like" the page. Then upload a picture (color .jpg file no larger than 1 MB) of your exceptional puppy (must be 2 years old or younger to be eligible). The more votes your puppy gets, the better your chances of winning. Winners' photogenic pups will also be featured on the Exceptional Canine website and Facebook page.

The contest ends on August 29. Visit http://www.exceptionalcanine.com/home.html for additional information and to see what Exceptional Canine is all about.

Pet First Aid Class-Hendersonville, April 26

The American Red Cross Pet First Aid class can help pet owners keep their pets safe and care for them in an emergency. At the class you'll learn such skills as CPR, choking actions, stopping bleeding and other important emergency skills.

A Pet First Aid class will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at 5:30 PM at Wag Pet Boutique, 231-A N. Main Street, Hendersonville. The cost is $30 and includes one of two available reference guides (one for dogs or one for cats). Additional books are available for $10 if purchased with the class. The Red Cross even has dog and cat manikins to assist in the training. No pets are permitted in the classroom. A $5 discount coupon for the class is available at Wag.

For more information about this class or scheduled classes in the future, please call the Henderson County Chapter, American Red Cross, at (828) 693-5605, or visit www.hcredcross.org. Register by phone with a credit card, or stop in at 203 2nd Avenue East to sign up for the class. Please note: Advance registration is required.

Pet First Aid, Low Cost Shots, April 16, Asheville

Animal Compassion Network (ACN) and The American Red Cross are partnering to present a Pet First Aid and CPR Class, along with a Low Cost Shot Clinic, on Saturday, April 16 in Asheville.

The $35 Pet First Aid and CPR Class will be held from 10 AM to 1 PM at The American Red Cross, 100 Edgewood Road in Asheville (at the corner of Merrimon and Edgewood). It includes comprehensive instruction for emergency treatment of pets, demonstrations, and a first aid book. Pre-registration is required for the class. To register or for more information, call Cappy Tosetti at (828) 712-0983 or (828) 258-3888, ext. 214, or send an email to: tosettim@usa.redcross.org .

After the class, a low-cost shot clinic will be held at ACN's Pet Harmony store, 803 Fairview Street in Asheville (behind Province 620 restaurant) from 2 PM to 5 PM. Rabies shots are $10, other vaccinations are $15, and microchips are $18. Shots will be administered by Dr. Margaret Moncure of Appalachian Animal Hospital. Cash, checks, and MasterCard and Visa will be accepted.

Can Your Dog Become a Therapy Dog?

The more we learn about dogs, the more we understand their value -- not just to us as pets, but as members of society capable of helping others. One way dogs can give back is to become volunteer therapy dogs. This gives them a sense of purpose because they have a "job" -- and it is also a wonderful experience for the dog owner, who is the dog's partner in providing therapy.

There are a number of ways therapy dogs can help society. For example:
- they can visit classrooms and assist children with reading
- they can bring a smile to the face of kids who are in hospitals
- they can brighten the day of a resident at a nursing home.

Not all dogs are suited to become therapy dogs. Some programs require therapy certification.

The following programs operate in the Carolina mountains. Contact each directly for more information by clicking on the name to be directed to the organization's website.

Paws with a Purpose - Asheville area

Paws 2 Care - Upstate SC area

SC Dogs Therapy Group - Anderson, Seneca, Clemson area

For more information about therapy dogs in general, contact:

Therapy Dogs International

Intermountain Therapy Animals

Therapy Dogs Inc.

Photo: Paws with a Purpose

Asheville Pet Expo, Apr. 2-3

The first annual Asheville Pet Expo will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center (across from the Asheville Airport) on Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3. Pet owners are invited to shop for products and services all in one place.

The Asheville Pet Expo will include educational sessions, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more. Pet products vendors, groomers, veterinarians, rescue organizations, trainers, boarding/day care facilities, dog bakeries, and other vendors will be available.

The Expo runs from 9 AM - 5 PM on Saturday and 11 AM - 5 PM on Sunday. Adult admission is $7, children 6 - 15, $5 each, and children 5 and under are free. (Cash only.)

For more information, visit: http://ashevillepetexpo.com/

New! Asheville Doggie Guide in Kindle Format

The Second Edition of the Asheville Doggie Guide is now available as an eBook for Kindle for only $5.99. Kindle eBooks can also be viewed on an iPad or iPhone using the free Kindle app available in the Apple App Store.

The Asheville Doggie Guide, published by Carolina Mountain Dog in assocation with the Asheville Humane Society, is chock full of useful information for WNC dog lovers. Covering Buncombe and Henderson Counties, the guide is the most comprehensive up-to-date listing available of pet-friendly accommodations, adoption organizations, dog bakeries and boutiques, boarding facilities, dog-friendly campgrounds, doggie daycare, dog parks, emergency services, groomers, dog sitters, dog therapy, hiking trails, pet stores, veterinarians -- hundreds of listings with names, locations, phone numbers and website addresses.

The 160-page Asheville Doggie Guide includes a bonus section of material that represents the best of Carolina Mountain Dog. You'll find pages and pages of information reprinted from this blogazine listing favorite Canine Cruisin' locales, Pooch Paths and lots more.

Get the Kindle version of the Guide for just $5.99 here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SHJEH6
Purchase the regular eBook edition (file download) or printed version here: www.ashevilledoggieguide.com.

The Neighbor, Hendersonville-New Pet Sitter

There's a new service in Hendersonville that does just about everything: pet sitting, house sitting, dog walking, overnight stays, waste pickup, administering medication, emptying litter boxes, and even taxi service to dog appointments.

Cheri calls herself "The Neighbor" and she will not only pet sit and house sit, she'll also act as your personal assistant -- being available for on-site appointments, running errands, and so on -- if that's what you need. The Neighbor is fully insured, pet first-aid certified, and services a broad geographic area that includes southern Buncombe and Hendersonville counties.

For more information, visit http://www.myhomeandpet.com/ or call (828) 423-4684.

Quality Dog Photography on Sale

Suzi Camarata is a professional photographer with an impressive portfolio and the ability to capture a dog's spirit. She recently relocated to Asheville with Charlie, a female pit bull mix that Suzi found along a road. Suzi promptly set Charlie up for a photo session (that's Charlie on the left) and decided it would be fun to offer other dogs the same treatment.

To introduce dog owners to her photography services, Suzi is offering $75 off a portrait session (regularly $150) that is booked by February 28. If you mention "Charlie" you'll also get a free print.

You can contact Suzi via email: suzi@camarataphotography.com, or call her at (617) 429-3128.

Pet Trading Cards

Carolina Mountain Dog just discovered an unusual website/community called Toki Poki. For a "lifetime membership" fee of $30, a member receives 50 trading cards customized to your dog, shipped free plus an online pet profile. In addition, Toki Poki offers a lost-and-found service; if your pet is lost, they'll provide you with an instantly generated poster, as well as send a lost pet alert to your community and veterinarian.

Toki Poki says its pet trading cards have a purpose: You can hand them out to family, friends, and neighbors so they get to know your pets, meet other pets in your neighborhood and online, and maybe start a pet trading card group. Toki Poki also puts together packs of cards for sale on its website. The cards area a way to promote an organization or interest group and potentially raise money.

As a kid, I remember treasuring baseball cards with my favorite players (of course I also liked the bubble gum), so I guess it's not a crazy idea to have a trading card featuring your favorite furry friend!

 

Spread the Word! Half-Price Neutering in Feb.

February 22 has been designated "Spay Day 2011" by the Humane Society of the United States. In honor of Spay Day, Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic is offering neutering of male dogs on Friday, Feb. 4th and 18th at half-price -- just $35 each. Male cat neutering will be offered on Friday, Feb. 11th and 25th at half-price -- just $20 each. These prices are available for Buncombe County animals only and include a rabies vaccination if one is needed.

Neutering male animals is the only permanent way to prevent animal over-population, which continues to be a chronic problem in the Carolina mountain area. Neutering has been proven to keep pets safer and more healthy. Neutered dogs are less aggressive and are not as prone to marking territory. It is against the law in Buncombe County to own a dog or cat that is not neutered or spayed.

Appointments are required. Call (828) 252-2079 for an appointment or for more information. Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic is one of the country's leading spay/neuter facilities and is located at 25 Heritage Drive, off Leicester Highway in Asheville.

Interested in Dog Breeds?

While many dog owners are partial to just plain mutts (or to put it more politely, "mixed breeds"), there are hundreds of dog breeds, each with unique characteristics. It's helpful to know about these characteristics if you're thinking of adding a dog to your family that is a specific breed. Sometimes, knowing about a breed can even be beneficial if you have a mixed breed, because your dog may exhibit the characteristics of its dominant breed.

A good source of information on breeds is Animal Planet's online "Dog Breed Selector." This tool guides you through an interactive process to help you select an appropriate breed, or you can pick a breed from the list and view information about its history, temperament, charactertistics, upkeep, and more.

Check it out at: http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselectorindex.do

New in Asheville: The Dog Door

Certified dog trainer Kim Brophey recently opened The Dog Door at 15 B Broadway Avenue in Asheville.

The Dog Dor is a Behavior Center that offers professional dog behavior consulting services by appointment, as well as walk-in/private training, from 5 to 6:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

The Dog Door also houses the new Doghugger Outfitters, which offers natural and eco-friendly dog supplies, toys, chews and treats, tools, collars/leashes, beds, crates, outdoor gear, and anxiety/hyperactivity treatments. The facility provides a dog welcome center/rest area and indoor lounge during store hours and runs puppy socials.

For more information, visit: www.dogisreal.com/

ReTail Scene - Lucky Dog Delivers, Asheville

Lucky Dog Delivers is a new delivery service for dog and cat owners that delivers high quality pet food and other products, free of charge in the greater Asheville area.

Deane, owner of Lucky Dog Delivers, says the service grew out of her need to find high quality special food for her Bernese Mountain Dog, Zephyr. While Zephyr is gone now, Deane and her two "canine testers," Rico and Lucy, personally choose every dog food product , ensuring each is "nutritionally advanced and as close to what nature intended as possible." In fact, all of the dog foods sold by Lucky Dog Delivers are on the Whole Dog Journal's list of approved dog foods.

Lucky Dog Delivers offers pet food, treats, and supplements, along with select toys and accessories, even cat litter for the kitties in the household. You can set up deliveries as needed or take advantage of "Recurring Delivery" -- especially convenient if you need dog food delivered on a regular basis (maybe along with a special Treat of the Month). In addition to offering a unique service for dog and cat owners, Deane pledges to donate 9 percent of the company's profits to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and Asheville Humane Society.

For more information or to schedule a delivery, check out the company's website: www.luckydogdelivers.com

 

Asheville Humane Society - Grand Opening - Sep. 14

On Tuesday, September 14, the Asheville Humane Society will hold a grand opening celebration for the new Nancy Hiscoe Clark Adoption & Education Center. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 11 AM. The center will be open for public tours from Noon to 8 PM and everyone is invited.

The Asheville Humane Society's Adoption & Education Center is part of an "Animal Care Campus" that also includes the new Buncombe County Animal Shelter. The Adoption Center is conveniently located at 14 Forever Friend Lane in Asheville, off of Brevard Road (Route 191) and behind Deal Motor Cars. It is at the corner of Brevard and Pond Roads, near the WNC Farmers Market.

The move marks the relocation of the 25-year old Asheville Humane Society to a state-of-the-art facility with open spaces, fresh air circulation, cat sun rooms, puppy play areas, and dog exercise areas. Included in the facility is a new store and a spacious education room designed with a separate entrance, so it can be used by the community for meetings, classes, and special events.

The Adoption & Education Center's adoption hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 12 PM to 6 PM. Strays or surrenders should be brought to the Buncombe County Animal Shelter, located next door to the Adoption & Education Center.

To view animals available for adoption, visit: www.ashevillehumane.org, or call (828) 761-2001.