A few years ago, Jude Artenstein had a terrible accident. It was the kind that left her unable to fend for herself for several months, with both her right knee and right wrist out of commission. She had always thought of herself as a caregiver, someone who was always willing and able to help those in need. She didn’t know how to be helpless.

Along with the shock of discovering just how feeble her injuries made her, Artenstein made another surprising discovery – dogs, like humans, can sense and respond to distress. In particular, she discovered that her dog, Scout, was responding with incredible alacrity to her precarious situation.

“When I came home from the hospital, I couldn’t do anything,” she said. “I couldn’t feed myself, I couldn’t move my body. My life changed in an instant, and Scout, who was a bit of a puppy then, turned instantly from a puppy to a caregiver. He never left the room I was in; he was always with me.”

As Artenstein slowly made progress, relearning how to walk and become mobile again, Scout was by her side constantly. The day she took her first unassisted step in her living room, Scout “did circles in the room.”

“He really celebrated,” she said. “Before this, I wasn’t one of those people who talk about dogs in that way, but he was really excited.”

Scout’s remarkable response got Artenstein thinking. A filmmaker by training, she was brainstorming her next project – and during her time of recovery, she had plenty of time to contemplate it. She started reading about the history of dog rescue in America, with the intention of creating a documentary focusing on individual stories of rescue and redemption. The nature of filmmaking being the slow process that it is, however, made her restless. She needed something to do in the meantime, something that would allow her to channel her newfound appreciation for dogs and the way they contribute to human society. And that, in a nutshell, is how the Doggie Street Festival was born.

“Doing films is a lot of organizing, so the Doggie Street Festival was a bit of a natural outgrowth from that,” she said. “I thought we could invite all the nonprofits, all the shelters, and get everyone together and get the public out there. The first year we got tons of press and media attention, and San Diego as a whole was really supportive of the festival.”

Now in its fourth year, the festival doesn’t look like it will be losing any of that support any time soon. Each year, more than 100 dogs find homes at the festival, though Artenstein said it’s hard to quantify the number of dogs that benefit from it, since many people who attend the festival later go out and adopt a dog from a local shelter.

“We hope it creates a ripple effect,” she said.

One essential component to that ripple effect, Artenstein said, is education. The festival is designed to be fun, but more importantly, it aims to educate participants about every possible facet of being a pet owner. By bringing together about 35 rescue groups, veterinarians and shelters, the festival is able to offer a well-rounded pet education. Booths on pet care, training, behavior – even a booth walking new owners and their festival-adopted pet through the steps of becoming a new pet parent – are offered.

“We really hope the event getting people together will be hand-in-hand with education,” she said. “People can get exams for the dog they adopted right there, they can find out how to take care of them and they can learn any number of things. So, really, the festival would be serving a deeper purpose in that way. We set out to create this event that has high visibility, that’s very inclusive and that brings together the community, where we have education and information, and people can learn free of charge. It’s such a feel-good combination – the goal is to create an atmosphere where that would happen, and also dogs would go home.”

That deeper purpose may be taking effect, as the festival continues to grow and, due to this year’s larger venue, starts to widen its berth – this year, the festival is accepting cats for adoption as well. Artenstein, however, is careful not to accept any personal credit for its success, or for the hundreds of pets that have been adopted as a result of it.

“After the first year, I realized how much those who are involved in this kind of work do every day,” she said. “It’s an endless task. The shelters continue to work all year round, and I give them credit on a daily basis. I see this as tapestry and everyone that adds a paintbrush to it is being of service and helping. It really is a collective effort.”

This year’s festival will hold special significance for Artenstein. Scout, the dog companion whose friendship and service was the impetus for the first festival four years ago, passed away this February. Artenstein, who gets teary as she talks about her pet, is dedicating the event to Scout. This year’s event, meanwhile, coincides with another milestone. This month, she will launch her television series, “Pet Lounge,” also a project that would never have seen the light of day had it not been for Scout’s loyalty. During the time Artenstein was recovering from her accident and brainstorming her documentary, “Rescue Me,” she discovered she had so much material, she might have to create a “Ken Burns-style 20-part series.”

“The more I talked to people [about the documentary], the more I started understanding there was so much to know, so many sides and aspects to pet rescue,” she said. I thought it would be great to do a TV show, where I could deal with a multitude of topics and deal with them more rapidly. With a documentary, you need to settle on a theme and totally investigate that theme. If you cover the amount of topics we’re going to cover in “Pet Lounge,” it would never end.”

At the time, the show sounded like a great idea, but, as Artenstein put it, “how many hours are there in the day?” The idea sat on the back burner – until now.

So what should viewers expect to see on “Pet Lounge?”

“Everything. What’s great is that I can tell the adoption stories, the ones I wanted to tell in “Rescue Me,” but I can also cover topics that I think are fascinating, like the history of dog-related topics,” she said. “The possibilities are kind of endless. I want to do fun subjects, and I want to try to run the gamut. I’m going to cover not only dogs, but every kind of companion animal you can think of – rabbits, snakes, cats, everything. But I’ll try not to do stuff that’s already being covered, or at least to do it in a different way. The format gives me the ability to go deeper into certain topics, so I’m hoping to pick a single topic and cover it in depth on some episodes, and on others do a multitude of topics.”

The possibilities, indeed, are seemingly endless. And Artenstein is careful not to forget the path that brought her here.

“It’s funny how life is. If I hadn’t injured my knee, I wouldn’t have done Doggie Street Festival, and if I hadn’t done that, I would in no way be equipped to do “Pet Lounge,” she said. “What I can bring to the show is the so many things I have learned doing the festival. “Pet Lounge” is really the beneficiary of four years in the field. These animals are able to give us this connection to nature, and it always amazes me, the endless list of ways they help us and save us, and still they’re waiting on us to save them. It’s a pretty tragic situation, but having said that, we also know so many people who are trying to rectify the situation and help out. That’s the goal of “Pet Lounge” – to empower people to make a difference. Empowerment is the key to success, so if we do an episode on adoption, it will be about showing the problem but also showing the people who are helping to solve the problem. Hopefully it will give the viewer an insight into what you can do in your community.”

“Pet Lounge” will air on Cox Cable and Time Warner on Channel 4 beginning May 19 at 1 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. Check your local TV listings for more information. The fourth annual Doggie Street Festival will take place June 10 at Robb Field in Ocean Beach from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year will also mark the first annual Los Angeles Doggie Street Festival, taking place on June 24 at Westfield Century City Mall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.doggiestreetfestival.org.

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READ MORE
• Doggie Street, Where Dreams Come True!

• Pet Lounge, Best in Show!

Tame Your Dig-Minded Dog

I don’t own a lawnmower. No desire. I did the “big yard, riding lawn mower” experience back a decade ago when I lived in a little town called Emmaus, Penn. Each week, I prayed my mower would cooperate so I could give my five acres a buzz cut. More often than not, a mechanical snafu would make the weekly task even more tasking.

Happily, I am sans lawnmower at my house in Oceanside. I’m big on being a lazy yard keeper. No grass for me. Just low-maintenance shrubs, colored rock and artificial turf for my fenced backyard.

But like many of you, I have a hairy roto-tiller – a four-legger who answers to the name Chipper. Until I had the artificial turf installed, this 60-pound Golden Retriever/Husky mix took great delight in dashing out the doggy door into the backyard to bury her latest prize. Sometimes it was a brand new squeaky toy. Other times, she grabbed a tennis ball. She selected the corner of my backyard and started digging – with the frenzy that would make a school of gophers gulp in envy. She dug deep and then plunked her toy or treat into the hole and proceeded to re-fill it by nosing the pyramid of dirt. Then she tried to get past me like a football fullback to scurry into the house and adorn my white tile with her muddy paws. Oh joy.

Far too many dogs put the “d” in dig. Understanding this canine motivation is the first step in protecting your prized roses, your herb garden and your lawn. Thousands of years ago, dogs did not know where their next meal would come from, so after a kill, they would bury any uneaten food to hide it from scavengers. They returned to this “canine pantry” when they were hungry again. The dirt also helped to keep their food fresher longer by protecting it from sunlight. The modern dog is just following that ancestral urge – doesn’t matter that you feed your dog every day. It’s hard to take that “must stash food for a hungry day” mentality out of your dog.

Another reason dogs dig is to burn off energy and relieve boredom. These are signs that your dog needs to be exercised more often – and more vigorously. Take long walks in the morning and evening and vary the routes.

You can’t take the “dig” out of the dog, but you can re-direct this innate desire and save a few petunias in the process. Fortunately, we have a master gardener (and pet lover) in our own backyard. Judy Macomber, of Vista, is also publisher of Pet Lovers Publications (www.petloverspubications.com) and occasionally offers classes on achieving pet-gardening harmony.



She offers these creative, compromising ways to tame your dig-minded dog and maintain a beautiful backyard:

• Create a mini “doggyland” by devoting a portion of your backyard to your dog. Buy an inexpensive plastic kiddy pool, fill it with dirt and hide a few dog treats and toys for your dog to discover. Or put about one foot of water and create an instant doggy pool. Encourage your dog to bob for balls and replace the water each day to keep it fresh.

• Treat your dog to his own made-in-the-shade spot in the backyard by taking an old picnic table, sawing the legs in half to make it lower in height. This gives your dog the option of lounging under the picnic table for shade or sitting on top for sun.

• Stash your delicate flowers and herbs in hanging pots out of paw’s reach. Designate a small section in your backyard to grow greens like alfalfa, barley or wheatgrass if your dog likes to nibble on grass.

• Spritz your garden with what she calls “pepper pooch.” Mix two tablespoons of cayenne pepper and 6 drops of dishwashing soap in a gallon of water. Place this solution in a spray bottle and apply it to your plants. Schedule this spraying when your dog is not around. Wait at least 10 minutes for it to dry before you allow your dog in the backyard.

• Fill in the holes where you dog has dug and place heavy rocks on top of these spots. Dogs usually prefer soft dirt to carry out their excavations.

I offer this bonus tip: Give your dog a less-destructive indoor alternative by showing him how to can bury his favorite bone or toy under a blanket or behind the sofa. This tactic worked like a charm on Chipper.

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Founder of Four Legged Life.com and creator of National Dog Party Day, Arden Moore is an animal behavior consultant, best-selling author, professional speaker and certified pet first aid instructor. Tune into her Oh Behave! Show on Pet Life Radio and enroll in her pet first aid classes. For more information, please visit www.fourleggedlife.com, www.petfirstaid4u.com and www.petliferadio.com.

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Download PetSaver App

Got a smart phone? For $4.99, you can download the PetSaver App that provides instant access to pet health and safety with the push of a button and the swipe of your finger. Enter the code word: ARDEN.

It's time to party like a pup, America! The second annual National Dog Party Day - created by Arden Moore, founder of Four Legged Life - takes place on June 22! We are unleashing fun at three party sites: New York City, Miami and San Diego with net proceeds benefitting these grrr-eat charities: Spay and Neuter Project, Bideawee and Paws 4 You Rescue.

Book this date, bring your dog and get ready to paw-tee with a purpose! Games include K9 Karaoke, Snoopy Says and much more. Tickets are $25 apiece and attendees take home gift bags valued beyond $60 and have the opportunity to win mega prizes!

What are you waiting for? Space is limited and proceeds help three pawsome charities. Click here to the party site you plan to attend: New York City, San Diego or Miami. Sponsorships are still available! Learn more by visiting National Dog Party Day. Support this cause by becoming a Facebook Fan of the National Dog Party Day by clicking HERE and tell your pet pals!

Short-Term Stays with Foster Parents Make a Long-Term Difference for Animals

It’s 3 a.m. and a sleepy mom wakes and goes to the kitchen to warm some bottles. Karen Kelley is no ordinary mom — she’s a San Diego Humane Society “foster mom” to four tiny puppies, who were found in a parking lot at just 8-days-old.

Sick and weak, this litter of puppies was covered in dirt and their feet, tummies, and noses had sores and ulcers. When they arrived to the San Diego Humane Society, the pups were immediately bathed, fed, examined by a veterinarian and were provided overnight care while awaiting an open foster home the next day.

Kelley began fostering Jeff, Nick, Drew and Justin when they were 9-days-old. By 3-weeks-old, almost all of their sores had healed, and they were steadily gaining weight. As a result of around-the-clock care from the SDHS Foster Program, Jeff, Drew, Nick and Justin developed into healthy pups with loving personalities, and it wasn’t long before they all found new homes.

SDHS’s Foster Care Program is a nurturing, rehabilitating and often life-saving service for baby animals, mothers with litters, animals with minor medical needs or, those animals in need of extra-special time and attention.

“The babies definitely take a lot of work,” says Kelley. “But it is all-the-more rewarding when you care for an animal from its very first days and get to watch them grow up.”

The Foster Care Program relies on volunteers like Kelley to give special animals the special care they need. As “kitten season” draws near, even more foster care volunteers are needed. “Many people assume they wouldn’t qualify to be a foster volunteer, and are surprised when they hear that we provide all necessary training and supplies,” said Kelley. “Anyone that has the time and a lot of love can be a foster volunteer.”

Individuals in the foster program go through an orientation as well as training classes on the animals they will be fostering. The San Diego Humane Society provides foster volunteers with the necessary training, supplies and support needed to care for their foster animals, including food, bowls, bedding, toys, litter, medication and any veterinary services. Being a foster volunteer is a rewarding and fulfilling task, requiring time, education and commitment.

Karen said, “It’s such a joy to witness their growth and see their different personalities emerge. My family loves being a part of this –we all do.”

Benefits of Foster Care

Certain animals may have difficulty adapting to life in a shelter and can greatly benefit from spending time in a home.

The foster experience is rewarding for both the animal and the volunteer.

Animals benefit from the comfort of a home environment, plus they receive much-needed socialization with both people and other pets.

Foster volunteers find the experience very fulfilling and take great joy in watching a young animal grow up or helping to nurse a sick animal back to health.

While San Diego Humane Society Foster Volunteers contribute thousands of hours of service per month, there is always more that needs to be done. To discover the amazing reward of witnessing the “thank you” in the eyes of countless baby and recovering animals first-hand, please visit www.sdhumane.org or email Volinfo@sdhumane.org.

Living in southern California we don’t often think of dealing with disasters but we have our own versions; fire in the fall months and flooding in the spring. No matter the source or type of crisis situation, you need to have a plan for evacuating your pets – including your rabbit companions.

Be prepared. Make a plan. Make a backup plan in case you aren’t home so a friend or neighbor can help with your animals. If you evacuate, do not leave your rabbits behind! Don’t worry about them being overly stressed by the move; it doesn’t matter. This is a matter of life and death and evacuating them to safety is a must.

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Keep these tips in mind and prepare your fire evacuation plan now:

• Purchase a carrier for every rabbit or bunny pair. The best is the hard-sided plastic carrier that will be sturdy enough to contain them for some time if needed. If you do not have a carrier use these alternatives: laundry basket with a towel in the bottom, empty box, a gym bag or backpack, plastic storage tote or as a last resort, a pillowcase from your bed. Whatever it takes - get your rabbits out of the house.
• At the first hint of problems in your area, assemble your rabbit’s carrier and have it near your rabbit’s living area. All you do is load the bunny, grab and go.
• Keep frozen water bottles on hand to tuck into your bunny’s carrier to keep him cool if needed. Extras can go into a cooler with a small supply of veggies.
• Keep extra pellets in the freezer and gallon bottles of water in your car. This is the minimum you need to feed your bun while evacuated.
• Make plans ahead of time with friends or family to evacuate to their home. Work out an alternative in case you can’t get through to the first location. Discuss in advance, bringing along your rabbit companions and how you will house them.
• If you don’t have a place you can go, check out evacuation centers; schools, sports stadiums, fair grounds, etc. will commonly house evacuees and their pets. In times of crisis, many hotels will relax their ‘no pets’ policy.
• Once evacuated:
• Use these options to temporarily house your rabbit:
• Place a large towel on the floor of the tub; add bunny’s litter box and a plastic bowl for water. Pull the curtain or slide the glass door closed. To keep air flowing, turn on the overhead vent.
• Put bunny and her litter box on the floor of the shower stall.
• Take bunny’s x-pen and set up in kitchen or other area just out of traffic. You can double over pen walls to use less room.

If you find yourself in trouble during an evacuation, try contacting San Diego House Rabbit Society at hrs@sandiegorabbits.org or telephone 858-356-4286. We will know where to evacuate, vet hospitals offering free boarding, sources of food or supplies, and volunteers willing to take in rabbits on a temporary basis. If you lose your home, many shelters and humane societies have programs to house your pet for a period of time to allow you to get settled.



Plan ahead and be safe!