The best pets in town are of course your own pets! Which is part of why we didn’t go any farther than just down the hall to find a few profiles of why we love them so, along with information on how to maximize both that love and our pets’ health and happiness.
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The story below is an excerpt from our March/April 2015 issue. For the full story download our FREE iOS app or view our digital edition for FREE today!
You can bring a box of chocolates in to work and get a little attention. Doughnuts work pretty well, and a new baby even better.
But you want a guaranteed instant crowd, people coming from all over the building with max oohs and aahs, even from guys?
Walk into work with the new puppy in your arms.
Our president, Steve Beyer, proved that a few weeks back when his wife Linda dropped by three days in a row with new-dawgie Bear. People don’t seem as inclined these days to touch other people, but there was a line each day to put a hand on Bear’s fuzzy little head and get up-close with his honest little eyes.
Point being: People love and keep pets at levels never seen before. (The Census does not track such, and the two primary counters of pet ownership present conflicting figures, but 70-83 million dogs and 74-96 million cats is a lot of Fidos and Fluffys.)
And what age groups are most ownership-prone?
Well, the just-married-let’s-get-a-pet theory holds up well, as 58 percent of 18-24-year-olds own a pet, according to research firm Mintel.
The theory on the other end – empty nesters tend to go back to pets – doesn’t hold up as well, as ownership remains at about 50 percent through the middle-year age groups, then drops to 46 percent for 45-54 year-olds, 41 percent for 55-64 and 32 percent for 65-plus.
Our office is populated with representatives of all of those age groups, and in each there is at least one pet owner, and all have nuggets of knowledge and advice for successful ownership. A few samples:
Teague
Breed, age: Border Collie / Whippet, 7 years old
Master of: Ruth Herdman, graphic designer (25-34)
Got his vaccinations at: Botetourt Veterinary Hospital, “As soon as we pull into the parking lot Teague gets so excited. He can’t wait to see all of his friends, and he never forgets where the treat container is.”
Favorite place outside: “The trails at Greenfield. It’s beautiful with abundant wildlife and pasture area. He can run to his heart’s content.”
Food: Purina ONE Sensitive Systems. It’s a well-researched diet that recognizes the importance of appropriately proportioned ingredients and the necessary nutrients for a healthy dog. The sensitive system blend offers dermal and digestive support.
The background: Teague came from the RVSPCA at 9 weeks. It was love at first sight. He was in a litter of three and the last remaining, waiting there for me.
Best trick: He has many, but he loves his left and right turns. He knows both directions and will spin whichever way you ask.
Favorite treat: ABOUND Natural dog biscuits.
Favorite Toy: His DogZilla Red ball. He’s had it since he was two and never leaves the house (or a room in the house, for that matter) without it. It’s his job, to manage that red ball and he takes it super seriously.
He loves: A warm bath. As soon as the collar comes off he walks right into the tub, begging to be pampered.
Quirkiest Trait: He is obsessed with having his legs rubbed. Anyone with crossed legs is an easy target; he’ll go stand over top of their feet and paw at them until they are “trained” into rubbing the backs of his legs.
Random Fact: He’s got his Champion title in the competitive dog sport of Flyball
Best Doggie Advice: “Let them run. Happy dogs are good dogs and happy dogs get to run and play. Exercise is key to a well-mannered companion.”
Apple (Original name Appleonia)
Breed, age: Grey calico, about 7 years
Master of: Lauren and Jeff Wood, digital editor (25-34)
Gets her vaccinations at: Valley Animal Hospital, where “they always take care of her as if she were one of their own,” says Lauren.
Favorite spots in the house: “On top of the covers between my wife’s legs when we sleep at night, the back of the couch tickling my neck with her tail, or the storm door where she can stare intently at birds in the backyard that she’d never know what to do with if she actually caught, since she is a lifelong house cat who absolutely hates getting her paws dirty and once ran away from a field mouse that got inside,” says Jeff.
The background: Apple was adopted from Angels of Assisi when she was a little over one year old. “She chose us,” Jeff says. “Of all the cats we looked at, she was the only one who approached us on her own. The others hid under the furniture, including her sister and two brothers. Apparently she was rescued from a hotel room along with dozens of other cats. She was scrawny when we first met her.”
Best trick: “Acting like she doesn’t want attention even when she’s craving it and always knowing when her humans need a good cuddle.”
Favorite toy: “When she was younger it was either the feather on a rope or the laser pointer, but these days it’s the carpeted stairs and upstairs hallway. She’ll run faster than an Indy car in the hallway, and on the stairs dig in her claws and flop down like a slinky.”
Jeff and Lauren’s Best Cat Advice: “Consider adopting if you can. So many animals at shelters are starving for affection. If you show just a little love and kindness they’ll send it right back 1,000 times over.”
Taliesin
(in tribute to the Green Spring, Wisconsin estate of the great Frank Lloyd Wright), but I call her Tali so she doesn’t get too pretentious. My pets are always named after one of my art idols.
Breed, age: Calico, 5 years
Her human serf: Patty Jackson
Got vaccinations and receives all veterinary care at: Veterinarians to Cats, Roanoke, Dr. Connie Canode
Favorite place outside: Tali is strictly an inside cat and seems pretty unimpressed by outside dirt, fleas, and miscellaneous dogs in the neighborhood.
Favorite Inside Place: whichever piece of furniture you would least want to receive an application of cat fur.
The background: Tali is a rescue, located through Petfinder.com; a great resource because you can locate pets anywhere in the country. She and four siblings were found at four weeks in a dumpster. Only three survived. They were fostered by Cat’s Cradle of the Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg. The kittens were fed with a dropper until they were healthy. I saw that face and spiky kitten fur and knew I had to call about adopting her. A call on a Friday night was followed by a trip north the next day. The organization checks references to assure their pets are going to a good home, so you do have to wait a couple of days to take your pet home. Two friends went along; Sue ended up adopting a full-grown cat.
Best trick: Well, cats don’t do tricks, unless it serves their desires, but the best one is “Hide & Seek” with the pet sitter. I am lucky to have a great next-door neighbor and friend who is happy to pet sit for me when I travel. After almost having a heart attack when she couldn’t find Tali anywhere one day, she started hiding treats whenever she came over, often in unexpected places (inside candles, etc.) Tali never saw Sue hide the treats, but always found them all.
Favorite treat: Temptations Dentabites Chicken flavor or Greenies from PetSmart.
The Best Cat Advice: Socialize your new kitten with family members and friends on a regular basis. Your cat will learn to be friendly and not fearful of much – except the vacuum cleaner.
Bear
Breed, age: Black, Labrador Retriever, 13 weeks .
Master of: Steve and Linda Beyer
Got his shots at: Cave Spring Veterinary Clinic , Linda says, “they are a friendly and caring staff”
What keeps our puppy happy: “Bear loves being outside! Especially walks around the neighborhood and the trails up Mill Mountain right outside the front door; and he already knows he wants to take me the long way,” says Steve.
The background: Bear is a direct descendant of the Beyers’ previous big dog, Maxx. We were blessed with his love and loyalty until the age of 10.
Best trick: Can already sit on command and does 360 spins each morning asking for breakfast
Favorite toys: Any toy that squeaks! Bear also loves fetching any sort of ball. He especially enjoys when we get down on the floor and play with him, he actually jumps into our arms after retrieving and cozies in for a big hug!
The Beyers’ Best Doggie Advice: Be prepared to give them a lot of love and attention. It’s really not much different from raising children! Invest the time required to raise a happy, healthy, friendly dog. Keep an eye on what they put in their mouths.
Grizzly
Breed, age: English Chocolate Lab, 6 years
Master of: Caroline McKean & Chad Corbett
Got his vaccinations at: Roanoke Animal Hospital.
Favorite place outside: In the snow! Aside from that anywhere there is mud or water – the Roanoke River, our family farm in West Virginia, Smith Mountain Lake, and our swimming pool.
The background: Grizzly is from Bellingham, Washington, and we got him when we lived in Seattle. Chad wanted a dog that looked like a bear, hence the name. When Chad picked him up, the snow was so deep, the puppies had burrowed tunnels.
Best trick: Stand on his hind legs, turn in a circle and balance a treat on his nose – all at the same time! Can also surf; he learned with us, when we lived in Hawaii.
Favorite treat: Blue Buffalo Salmon Biscuits from Nature’s Emporium or Tractor Supply.
Best Doggie Advice: Exercise your dog daily! A happy, tired dog is a healthy, well-behaved dog.
Maverick
Breed: Yellow tabby
Gets His Checkups at: Veterinarians to Cats
Favorite Outside Activity: Controlling the varmint population.
Claim to Fame: Follows the Golden Rule better than most humans (including me). Loves all his neighbors. Visits several regularly. Helps them garden. Puts a smile on many faces.
Favorite Treat: Salmon from Fresh Market
Denise and Marc Koff’s best cat advice: Are you kiddin’? He is in total control.
Bentley & Bailey
Breed, age: Maltese. Bentley (9); Bailey (5)
Master of: Jerry & Doris Tice
Got the vaccinations at: Furry Friends
Favorite place outside: My neighbors across the street – they are my dogs’ adopted grandparents who dog sit while we are away and check on them during the day. Bentley and Bailey protect and mark their yard as well – their second home.
The background: Bentley was purchased from a local breeder. We got Bailey at 18 months from a lady whose granddaughter had allergies which doesn’t make sense because they are suppose to be hypoallergenic dogs. I believe it was because she can be aggressive with strangers and has bitten one of my other neighbors. But after 10 minutes of being around you, she is the sweetest dog ever…everyone wants to take her home. Side note: Bentley actually bit my Mother-in-law.
Best trick: Bentley can roll over… not too exciting, but better than Bailey who only knows the command sit and maybe shake.
Favorite treat: Rawhide…they will chew for hours.
Best Doggie Advice: Make sure you know what you are doing when potty training. Bentley was our first indoor dog and we failed miserably.
Groomer: Mostly Doris’s Basement Doggie Parlor. Jerry doesn’t pay to get his hair cut (there isn’t any there to cut!), so why should we pay for dog haircuts?!
Lil’ Girl
Breed: Crazy Black Cat (domestic), age 5 years
Master of: Julie Mayer
Favorite place: woven laundry basket from the Farmers Market
The background: Lil’ Girl is a rescue from the local SPCA; the only survivor of a litter found in a dumpster.
Best trick: Lil’ Girl will play “fetch”, just like a dog – her favorite item? Ponytail elastics or hair ties.
Favorite toy: Catnip mice from Nature’s Emporium
Background: The SPCA has been extremely helpful and full of information. I remember when they told me that black cats are known for having a lot of personality…boy, was the SPCA right! I