I have been meaning to write this e-mail for some time. Whole Dog Journal has done such a tremendous job of providing high-quality, informative articles this year. In particular, I was most impressed with the article about dental care and the vaccine article featuring Dr. Ron Schultz. Your writers did such a top-notch job of researching complex topics and providing fair and accurate information and opinions. As a veterinarian myself, I sometimes read such articles with an overly critical eye, but I could find nothing at fault with either of these. In fact, I was so ecstatic with the dental care article that I had my entire staff read it, so they could see from a dog-owner’s perspective why high quality dental care is so important.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about Editor Nancy Kerns’ experiences with her new dog, Otto. Even her confessions that her husband isn’t following all the rules of positive training is wonderful to hear, as many of us can relate to the same type of frustrations!
Another favorite was your interview with the runner-up winner, Laurie Williams, from the TV show Greatest American Dog. I look forward to more great articles in 2009. Your perspective on health insurance is one I want to hear. I highly recommend it to all clients (especially new puppy owners) but I try to be vague about which company, as I think (like foods) there isn’t just one that fits all pets.
Pat Miller’s article on “no-kill” shelters (“What’s Wrong With ‘No-Kill’ ”) in the January 2009 issue disappointed me a little, but I appreciate her perspective nonetheless. I have been a supporter of No More Homeless Pets KC for some years, and they have very specific, business-like goals to help attain their goal of having Kansas City be a no-kill community by 2012. While I’m not a particular fan of Nathan Winograd’s, I read his book, Redemption, with interest (that is, after getting past my initial fury at his abrasive writing style). The main message I took away from his book is that there is more that animal shelters can do to end needless killing, but people have to stop hiding behind excuses and change the mindset of the sheltering system (no space = euthanize).
I worry that we risk jumping to the conclusion that “no-kill” is too mired in distrust and unethical actions to support. We can’t move forward when we point fingers and play the blame game. We all agree that we need to end the killing of homeless animals; let’s embrace the concept of no-kill and support TNR (trap, neuter, and release) programs, comprehensive adoption programs, an active volunteer base, partnering with rescue groups and foster homes, medical rehabilitation, behavior socialization, and low-cost spay/neuter.
I share some of Miller’s reservation about keeping animals in cages for extended periods, and I’m not sure what the answer to this will be. I think there is a place for pharmaceutical intervention in some shelter animals (i.e., anti-anxiety medication), but this is not something I’ve heard much about – perhaps we will hear more in the future?
By the way, as a veterinarian who does quite a bit of behavior work, I really would like to see more mention of the importance of involving a behavior vet when one is grappling with a behavior problem (especially anxiety-based problems).
J.C. Burcham, DVM
Olathe Animal Hospital, Olathe, KS
I would like to congratulate you on “What’s Wrong with ‘No-Kill’ ” (January 2009). I am so glad that someone has finally told it like it is. I wish more magazines that were about animals would bring this to light. As an animal control officer, I realize that not all animals can be adopted. As much as I love animals and hate to have to euthanize them, I realize that there are not enough homes for all the cats and dogs that are unwanted. Many places that say they are no-kill are guilty of false advertising. Unfortunately, my shelter does not receive some donations because I tell the truth. My shelter has to put down the animals the “no-kill” shelters don’t take; I have to do the dirty work of others who claim to be more humanitarian. I don’t think it’s humane to keep dogs and cats in shelters indefinitely; it can inflict severe mental distress on them.
Thanks for helping people see that some of these “no-kill” places are pulling the wool over animal lovers’ eyes.
Judy Burrier, Animal Control Officer
Independence, Ohio
I have enjoyed Otto’s progress as I’ve gotten to know him through Whole Dog Journal. On the other hand, I am distracted and distressed when my enlightened animal journal blithely affirms sexist ideas. In “Our Dog” (December 2008), author Nancy Kerns says of her husband, Brian, “Guys do things differently,” and “He wants the dog to do guy things.”
I get it that Brian and Nancy are different in their approaches to Otto. However, to generalize, stereotype, and globalize the behavior of each onto an entire gender damages all of us dog owners. My sister, for instance, is a person who hollers “No!” at a dog, swatting him if she thinks it’s appropriate. She believes it’s not only a dog’s right but duty to lick plates clean. And she does the back-of-the-pickup thing, too. She is a woman, not masculine at all. She just happens to be totally different from me in her dealings with dogs.
Brian doesn’t treat Otto the way he does because he’s a man, but because he’s Brian. Instead of presenting assumptions about treatment of dogs based on gender, please give us humans the option of individualism and diversity.M
Mariah Poole
Oneonta, NY
Good point! Well said! – NK
