32 —- Sunday, July 11, 1999 — North Shore News

Humans’ names: Grant Okane
and Sandra Scarborough.

Pets’ names and ages: Soda
and Engiish are 34-year-old
American cocker spaniel sis-
ters. Sandra got the dogs as
puppies, and now they're an
important part of the family.

if you would like to appear
with your pet in Pet Pause,
please write to Terry Peters c/o
the North Shore News, 1139
Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver,
BC, V7M 2H4. Or send e-mail
to <photo@nsnews.com>.

‘NEWS photo Paul McGrath

north shore news

pETs

THERE are few things
that I find mere relax-
ing and enjoyable than
hiking through the for-
est with my two canine
companions.

With my rwo dogs at my
side, I tecl a special kinship
with nature as I stroll through
the wilderness. I begin to
dream of the days of the
homesteaders who built and
lived in modest log homes.
The remains of these homes
can sull be found along the
edge of the Seymour river.

However, living in today’s
urban environment has made
it casy for us to stray from
those natural cutdoorsman ...
oops, outdoorsperson roots.
Yet when most of us get a
whiff of that fresh cedar-filled
forest, we burst at the seams
with exuberance as we set out
for the hike of all hikes with
our dogs.

scene won't seem so
idyllic if you don’t know what
you’re doing and have not
prepared in advance. There are

_ a few things that you need to

know if you are one of those
weekend warriors, to ensure
your dog’s safety and your
own.

First of all, if you do not
hike with your.dog on a re;
lar basis, don’t attempt a killer
hike right off the bat. If your
dog's daily exercise routine is a
walk around the block or a
romp ai the local dog park,
you may end up carrying your

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canine
connection

dog most of the way back on
your hike. If your dog is older
or unfit, pay a visit to your vet-
¢rinarian to get a check-up and
an OK thar your dog ean par-
ticipate

Dogs" muscles and cardio-
vascular systems get out of
shape the same way people’s
do. Your dog may seem excit-
ed and energetic on your walk,
but on a big hike, he or she
will run out of steam.

Start to get your dog in
shape with short, easy hikes
that last anywhere from forty-
five minutes to one hour.
Gradually work up to thar all-
day excursion over a period of
six weeks. This allows your
dog to increase its physical and
cardio stamina and toughen
up its paw pads safely.

This wil} also allow you to
increase your endurance to
participate in the hike safely.

Even though I hike regu-

juntaineeri

larly and run 5 kilometres a
day with my dogs, I still take
precautions on a long hike. I
make sure | have plenty of
clean fresh water for myself
and my dogs. I offer it to
them often to keep them from
overheating and dehydrating.
Don’t rely on a stream as a
source of water for you or
your dog. Drinking from these
natural water sources can
result in contracting giardia, a
parasite that can cause severe
abdominal distress in both
dogs and humans.

i also carry a few dog
cookies or doggie power bars
to help keep their blood sugar
in check.

Since Harley, my German
shorthair pointer, is prone to
paw pad cuts, I always carry a
first aid kit containing water-
proof adhesive tape, gauze,
adhesive pads, antibiotic oint-
ment, tweezers and a disinfect-
ing solution called Hibitanc.

T also strap a tick collar
onto my dogs to help kee
those hideous insects off. Ticks
carry the harmful Lyme dis-
case, which can lead to debili-
tating arthritis-like symptoms
and eventual lameness. Again,
speak with your vetesinaian to
see ifa Lyme vaccine is night
for your dog.

Check your dog often for

ticks. They like to cling to the
underside and behind the ears
of dogs. If you spot one,
remave it by grasping the head
of the tick with your tweezers,
as clase to the dog’s skin as
possible. Slowly vet firmly pull
it out. Then squish it!

1 usually hike with my dogs
on a leash and have them wear
bear bells. If you choose not
to, please let common sense
prevail Stay within designated

oundaries, Don’t Iet your
dog disturb any wildlife, be it
raccoons, deer, birds or ‘fish.
Some raccoons carry rabies —
no need to elaborate there.
Your dog may be stabbed or”
kicked by an angry deer. If
your dog disturbs a nesting
bird, it may abandon the nest.
Besides, i it’s illegal to allow
your dog to pester wildlife.
Most species of bear are not
inclined to attack but it is easi-
er to avoid an encounter if the
bear hears you firsr.

Being prepared, using com-
mon sense and respecting the
animals of the forest will
ensure that outings with your
dog will be a success. And as
always, clean up after your
dog, even in the forest.

— Joan Klucha is the

owner/certified trainer of
Sterra K9 training on the
North Shore.

You look straight intc your pets’ eyes. You tell
them to be good. That you'll be back in a few days. Tney
look back at you with those big loving eyes that say,

“No problem!”

Then you gethome.

Avoid this mass destruction with VIP boarding ser-
vices at Blueridge-Cove Animal Hospital. We give pets the -
attention they need with special play periods and lots of . ©
exercise in our large outdoor runs. Plus, your felines will.
iove lounging irs our comfy cat condos.

And when you come to pick them up, we'll give you a
report card to let you know how they enjoyed their. stay,
as well as any health problems we may have noticed. If
they stay with us for more than three days, we'll even
give them a nice warm bath.

So next time you go out of town,

whether it’s for a day® :

or a month, give us a Call. After afl, you reaily like that

265 Riverside Drive
North Vancouver

Gusi off the Uj Levels at the
Sone Nathows Bridge)