After We Say Good-Bye

By Jon Bastian
Cesar's Way

It’s a sad but unfortunate fact that dogs do not live as long as humans, so it’s also inevitable that every dog lover must say good-bye to their beloved pet at some point. However, gone does not mean forgotten. Recently, we asked Cesar’s fans how they have memorialized their pets.

The answers were numerous, but there were many similar themes. Here are some of the most common ways that you have kept your pets’ memories alive.

Ashes

It’s quite common for people to have their deceased pets cremated, but there are a large variety of ways that people handle the ashes afterwards. For some, scattering them in their dog’s favorite place, like a special spot in the yard or a hiking trail, is the method of choice.

One family’s experience is typical and moving. They explained how they “hiked up to Vivian Creek with Vinnie's ashes. We placed him on this rock outcropping facing the valley below, next to a waterfall.” After setting some flowers on the ashes, they “watched as the wind start(ed) to slowly carry him away. Now he is part of this place he loved. A beautiful final resting place for the best dog ever.”

Special urns and memory boxes are very common, with some unusual variations. Cesar fan Julie McMaster reports that, after their dog Heidi passed, they “had a small portion of her ashes sewn inside a custom teddy bear, for the sake of our two young children. It is embroidered with her details and a lovely quote, and whenever they miss her they can cuddle the teddy and feel close to her.” The rest of her ashes are in an urn that looks like a rock, in the back garden under her favorite tree.

Trees

Others prefer to create living memorials with the ashes. Linc Turner explained his ritual for his dogs. “They each get their own dogwood tree planted, with some of their ashes placed in the hole, white flowers for the boys, and pink flowers for the ladies.”

Planting trees is a rather common form of memorial, as well. Rafael Uribe reported to us, in Spanish, that he saves the hairs from the tip of the dog’s tail, and plants a sapling for each of them. Misty Selling Dueck planted a tree in honor of her dog Scout. She told us, “The kids sit by the pretty tree when they want to remember him.”

Giving

A number of people have used their pet’s passing as incentive to help others, through businesses, foundations and charities. Brian Arnold started the Cyrus Foundation, named after his Doberman. Their mission is to help people with final expenses, from vet bills to memorials.

Working mostly from veterinarian referrals, in addition to helping with those expenses, Brian explains, “I drop off teddy bear urns and small pendants the day of so that they don't have to go home empty handed. My memorial to Cyrus is to continue to spread the "dog love" that he so selflessly and patiently taught me about.”

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/senior-dog/After-We-Say-Good-Bye#ixzz2eWUhkrJH

Pit Bulls: Responsibility

Cesar Millan

 A Letter from Cesar Millan:

A month ago today in Little Rock, California (a small town located forty miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles), a woman named Pamela Devitt was out for a jog when she was attacked and killed by a pack of four dogs.

Of course, the dogs were immediately identified as pit bulls in the headlines, whether they were or not. So far, only one dog’s photo has been released, and it is clearly a pit bull mix — but the problem with most news stories about people being attacked by dogs is that every dog becomes a pit bull in the headline.

This is nothing new and only the breed changes. At various times in the past, it would have been Rottweiler, German shepherd or Doberman pinscher. However, in the tragic case of Pamela Devitt, authorities have gotten one thing absolutely right, and it offers a bit of hope that things may be slowly changing when it comes to anti-breed prejudice.

Three weeks after the attack, Alex Donald Jackson, the owner of the four dogs, was charged with murder by the LA County district attorney — possibly a first for the area, according to prosecutors. They decided to do so because, since January of this year, there had been at least three reports to police about his dogs attacking other people.

Ultimately, the courts will decide Jackson’s fate and I’m not going to discuss his case specifically. However, this incident should be a reminder to dog lovers everywhere that, ultimately, we are responsible for our own dogs’ safety and behavior, and we are the ones who should face the consequences if they should ever attack someone.

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/the-scoop/cesarsblog/Responsibility#ixzz2WUnCUpfT

Solving the Stray and Unwanted Dog Problem

By Cesar Millan

This week, a story was in the news that broke my heart and really showed me the problem with the way we treat stray and unwanted dogs in this country.

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a memo came out that police officers were no longer supposed to bring stray dogs to animal shelters, because they were too full. Instead, they could either adopt the dogs, take the dogs outside of town, or they could just shoot the dogs.

This “kill, adopt, or dump” policy was unbelievable to me. Here we are, one of the greatest countries in the world and this is what we do with our dogs? As Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” I know I wasn’t the only one outraged, and there were a lot of protests against the Harrisburg police department. But I’m sure they’re not the only ones with this policy, just the ones that became public.

In this election year, we hear the candidates always talking about how we should and shouldn’t use taxpayer money. I would say that one terrible use of taxpayer money is what we pay to euthanize 4 to 5 million unwanted dogs and cats in this country every year. In this economy, that is money that could be so much better used, both for the good of animals and humans.

Read Cesar's full blog post by clicking HERE.

Amazing Photos of the Most Unlikely Animal Friends

From Cesar's Way magazine:

Scientists have debated for years whether dogs are capable of love and other supposedly human emotions. Researchers have discovered that these are core emotions controlled from the lower part of the brain, which is common to other animals. And it has been shown that both dogs and humans have rising levels of the hormone oxytocin when they’re engaged happily with each other.

Click HERE to visit Cesar Millan's website to read the rest of the story and to view more gorgeous photos of unlikely animal friends.

Hero Dogs of 9/11

From CesarsWay.com

Ten years after that fateful day, a rescue dog named Abby is enjoying her retirement

At first glance, Abby the black Lab doesn’t look her age. There are very few gray hairs on her muzzle, and she’s as alert and intelligent as she ever was. Watch her on her daily walks with Debra Tosch, though, and you can see the decline. The back legs are starting to go, and she just can’t move the way she used to. At 14, Abby is an elderly dog in the twilight of her life.

But what a life she’s had!

Abby’s a retired search-and-rescue dog, and she and Debra, who was her handler, worked in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. They also worked California’s deadly La Conchita mudslide in 2005. Just two days before she retired, on her 11th birthday, Abby searched for survivors at the scene of a train wreck in California. And she’s one of the few dogs still living who hunted through the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center desperately seeking signs of life after the September 11 attacks 10 years ago.

Read the full story on the Cesar Millan's website.

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

We often hear about heroic warrior dogs that courageously go into battle alongside their human counterparts and assist in the most dangerous missions, including the most recent operation that took down Osama Bin Laden. But what about the everyday companion dogs that are left at home when their soldier owners go off to fight? One organization is making sure that those dogs are not forgotten.

Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet was established in January 2005 by founders Linda Spurlin-Dominik and Carol Olmedo after they had learned that many soldiers were unable to find local caretakers for their pets and were relinquishing their dogs to local shelters due to a deployment. Some get adopted, while others are euthanized due to age or overcrowding.

The two Arkansas residents decided that something had to be done to help these pet owners keep their animal companions safe and cared for while they were away serving their nation. Spurlin-Dominik understood the needs, as the daughter of the late Coy H. Spurlin, who served during World War II in the “Battle of the Bulge,” and the widow of John T. Dominik, a Vietnam Era Army Veteran. She has been involved with supporting the military community, veterans, their families, and their beloved pets for more than three decades.

Read the full article on the Cesar Milan website.

Nutritional Know-How by Cesar

This is a great pet nutrition article by Cesar Millan that is also featured in the October issue of Cesar's Way Magazine:

Nutritional Know-How: A to Z

Before You Adopt a Dog

October is Adopt-a-Dog Month! Here is a great article by Cesar Millan with tips and suggestions for those considering adopting a dog:

http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/yournewdog/Before-You-Adopt

In Loving Memory of Daddy the Pit Bull

Cesar Millan, all his family and friends, his staff and volunteers, and dog lovers all around the world today will mourn the passing of one of the most loyal, trusting, well-balanced, and influential pit bull ambassadors the world has ever known. Daddy, Cesar’s longtime friend and partner in canine rehabilitation, died peacefully surrounded by family on Friday the 19th of February. He was sixteen years old.

See Daddy's Memorial Page on the Cesar Millan website.

We have lost one of the greatest ambassadors for the Pit Bull breed our country has ever known.

"Daddy" was the finest example of what a Pit Bull truly is.

How sad that our news media and law enforcement only seems to focus on the negatives with this breed and continue to label them as "vicious killers" -- and insist upon trying to ban them from society.

To me, it certainly doesn't take the brains of a rocket scientist to figure out that any time you have a vicious dog, no matter what breed, an irresponsible "human" is to blame.

We have a decorated War Hero, Sgt. Stubbs, and a movie star, Petey, from the Little Rascals -- both were Pit Bulls -- as well as countless others who have performed services to their communities, including saving human lives.

Even some of Michael Vick's dogs have gone on to become therapy dogs in hospitals and nursing homes. However, none of these dogs made the front page of our local newspapers or the feature story on the evening news. It's always the unfortunate Pit Bull who fell into the wrong "human" hands that make headlines. How unfair to this breed to be so "one-sided."

Cesar Milan's "Daddy" showed the entire world what a true loving disposition these dogs have as well as the achievements they have accomplished.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Cesar and his family for the loss of their beloved Daddy.

Little Junior will have some mighty "Big Paws" to fill, but I'm sure he's up to the challenge and will soon become our next Ambassador for the Breed.

Cesar Millan on the Magic of Fostering a Dog

This is a FANTASTIC article from the Cesar Millan blog on fostering:

Being fostered is a wonderful opportunity for a dog to prepare for his forever home. He will have more one-on-one time with humans, and he can experience more of the world around him instead of being limited to the confines of a shelter. It can significantly increase his chances of fitting in with his next family.

And of course, his foster parents can make sure his new family is the right fit by helping them to understand his energy level, any issues that are being worked on, and any special needs the dog has.

Fostering isn't just good for the dog – it can do wonders for the human as well! A dog needs daily exercise, and that helps us to get up, get out of the house, and experience simplicity. Dogs help you to appreciate the world around you. They smell the ground so intensely. They look at the trees as though they are seeing them for the first time. It helps us to remember the wonders that we take for granted. So if you're stressed or anxious, it goes away for that moment when it's just you and the dog. People say I do magic, but it's the dogs that do magic. In an instant, they can help you feel calm. They just come in and make it happen without a word.

But I think it's important that you don't form too much of an emotional attachment with the dog. Remember, you are preparing the dog to detach himself from you and live with another human. If not, it can be damaging to his relationship with his new family. He can move on, but it will just make it harder for him. The way I think this can be achieved is by switching dogs. They use this system to train dogs for the blind. If people stay with a dog for a month and then get a new one, the dog doesn't become confused. When he is in his forever home, he will know he is with his new pack! As a professional, I have to do this with dogs I work with. If I am going to help a dog that is not mine, I can't connect all the way. I need to let the owners finish it!

Stay calm and assertive!

Cesar Millan

Click HERE to read this article on Cesar's Way!

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month

From Cesar Millan's Blog:

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and I can't think of a better way to honor a dog's life than to give it a balanced and loving home in its twilight years. I've spoken before about the benefits of adopting a senior dog: they have a much calmer energy, require less strenuous exercise and less often, and are most often already housebroken. They can also be invaluable tools for attempting to balance other dogs in your pack. Nothing beats a senior dog when it comes to showing younger dogs how it's done! Daddy has filled that role for me for many years, and I hope that I can expect many more.

Adopting a senior dog is a noble decision in another important way, too. In many shelters and rescues across the country, senior dogs are the first to be euthanized. Between an adorable, young puppy and a seasoned old veteran, the decision is almost always made in favor of cute faces and tiny, tumbling bodies. Most people don't want to deal with the extra care and commitment that comes with adopting an older dog, despite the many advantages. So by adopting a senior dog, you may be saving a life. That's no small accomplishment!

Read the entire article at:
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/editorials/editorial_52.php

Thunderstorm Tips

A thunderstorm can be a nightmare for dogs that fear loud noises. Thunderstorms can strike with very little warning, at any time of day, and last for hours. The shock from a sudden clap of thunder can be devastating. So how can your fearful dog overcome his anxiety when the weather turns against you?

Click here to read Cesar's tip for thunderstorms.

Recession Proof Your Dog: Tips from Cesar

Owning or adopting a dog can be expensive under any circumstances. Between the price of food, medical expenses, pet paraphernalia, training, and boarding, monthly budgets can shoot skyward with the addition of a four-legged friend to the household. But even in this time of economic crisis, you can find ways to care for your loyal companion without breaking the bank!

Read Cesar's 11 Tips:
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/features/recession.php

Pet Tips for 4th of July

Happy July 4th!!

Did you know that more pets are lost on Independence Day than any other day?

As we get ready to celebrate our nation's birthday, Cesar Millan's blog offers some great tips on how to keep your pet safe during the holiday.

Please visit:
www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/quick_fireworks.php

Have a wonderful and safe July 4th!

Jo Ann & "Gang"