Dog News

March 26, 2012 by Mary Lou Davidson

Rottweiler Profile

by Lauren R. Tharp

Opinions of Rottweilers vary wildly. While many remember Alexandra Day’s Good Dog, Carl children’s book series, still more remember the breed as the “evil” dogs from The Omen.

The one thing everyone seems to agree on? Rottweilers make excellent guard dogs! Most commonly used as guard dogs, this breed is also commonly used for Police work, search and rescue, and sometimes as guide dogs for the blind. Officially recognized by the AKC in 1931, Rottweilers are currently the 16^th most popular breed in the United States.

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Large. Definitely large. Rottweilers grow to be 22-28 inches at the shoulder and can weigh 90-140 pounds!

Coat & Color: The Rottweiler’s coloring is so “classic,” you’re probably already familiar with it, even if you didn’t know you were looking at Rottweiler at the time. Their black coats with rust markings are so recognizable, it makes you say, “Oh, it’s one of those dogs…” As for the texture of the breed’s coat: It’s coarse, dense, and generally very straight. Rottweilers have medium-length hair with thicker “undercoats” on their necks and thighs.

Other: This breed sometimes has their tails docked (stubby tails). Tail docking for this breed is most common in the United States and New Zealand.

Life Expectancy: 8-12 years.

Temperament:

Rottweilers are so known for being difficult, that the AKC itself has accepted it as simply a part of the breed personality, stating, “An aloof or reserved [Rottweiler] should not be penalized, as this reflects the accepted character of the breed. An aggressive or belligerent attitude towards other dogs should not be faulted.” What’s that? “Aggressive or belligerent?!” Well…yes. Rottweilers can have that temperament. But Rotties can also be calm, loyal, brave, and hard-working. With extensive training and early socialization, this breed can make a lovely pet. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, your dog will too!

Wags:

Excellent guard dogs.

Grooming needs are minimal.

If you’re highly athletic and enjoy running or swimming on a regular basis, a Rottweiler will definitely be able to keep up with you. (They require daily exercise!)

Challenges:

Their reputation precedes them… Unfortunately, since Rottweilers have gotten such a bad rap over the years, many insurance companies have been refusing to insure homeowners with Rotties as pets. Check your policy!

They get bored very easily. This can lead to destructive behavior of the house-thrashing variety.

NOT for first-time owners. Rottweilers require a good deal amount of obedience training and socialization. They need an owner who is as confident, strong-willed, and hard-working as they are.

If you are looking for a Rottweiler, please check your local shelters or visit : Adopt a Rottweiler

March 7, 2012 by Mary Lou Davidson

Manatee County’s Journey to No-Kill: March Update

by Jean Peelen

It’s hard to believe that we are five months into the quest to become the first no-kill county in Florida. It has been five months of vision, dreaming, planning, and lots and lots of hard work on the part of rescue groups, shelters, volunteer photographers and their dog wranglers, and volunteer big dog walkers. But most of all, the hard work on the part of the staff of Manatee County Animal Services has been superlative.

I am awed by the turn-around in Animal Services. One of the most difficult things to do is to change a paradigm. It requires visionary leadership, encouragement, positive reinforcement, and requiring all staff to work to excellence. It also requires listening to staff, management, and the community about what works and what doesn’t work. They have accomplished all of this at Animal Services. God bless!

In September we were saving only 55% of the dogs and cats who came into Animal Services. All the rest were killed. Currently our save rate has soared to 77%. That is SO impressive!

Some special thanks to a couple of people who fly beneath the radar. Bill Hutchison, Manatee County Public Safety Director provided Kris Weiskopf and Animal Services with total support and leadership into this new age. Dr. Luke Berglund who has his own veterinarian practice at Beach Vet also acts as the vet for Animal Services. He has upgraded the standards of care at Animal Services, and has had much input into appropriate staffing for the best care of the animals. The dogs and cats that now are at Animal Services until they can be adopted have better care than ever.

Of course there are still issues that exist, and still obstacles to overcome to reach our no-kill goal of 90% animals saved. To be adopted, animals must be healthy. There is one big thing that is keeping our cats from being healthy. When one cat gets an upper respiratory infection, the infection spreads rapidly to other cats. In the past, most cats that got sick were killed. While that is no longer the norm, it is expensive to nurse cats back to health and while they are undergoing treatment they can’t be adopted and so take cage space at Animal Services.

County Commissioner Carol Whitmore put out a call several weeks ago for contributions to raise $20,000. Much of that would go to installing a new ventilation system in the cat rooms at Animal Services. This would greatly reduce the spread of infection among the cats. The rest of the money would go to improve the dog runs. Right now they are extremely basic and pretty small. The dogs get bored and of course that lead to distress.

So, you want to help? Donate toward the new ventilation system and dog run improvements. You can send a check to No-Kill Manatee, P.O. Box 1992, Holmes Beach, FL 34218.

February 19, 2012 by Mary Lou Davidson

Pet Friendly Bradenton Condominiums

Our friend Debbie Capobianco, Bradenton’s most dog-friendly realtor shared this new list of developments that do allow pets. Most of these descriptions include details about weight restrictions.
Oaks Condo These villas are located off of 59th St West, in a centrally located area in West Bradenton, close to beaches, shopping, dining and hospitals. The lush landscaping in this community is one of the many great features. They allow one pet up to 20lbs

Waterway Condo This waterfront community is located off of Cortez Road in West Bradenton and is very close to the beach, A lot of these condos come with a boat slip. Very active club house and a lot of amenities. They allow one pet up to 25lbs

VIZCAYA CONDO This is a beautiful gated community close to IMG Academy and Country Club. It is centrally located to everything Bradenton has to offer and only a short drive to downtown Sarasota as well. They allow 2 pets up to 25lbs each.

Villas at Wild Oak Bay This is located inside the area where IMG Country Club and golf course is, off of El Conquistador Parkway, some of these units do have bay views. They allow one pet up to 25lbs.

Palm Court These villas are located in the IMG Country Club area, they are beautiful attached villas, some have their own private pool, along with a community pool. They range from 2 bedrooms to 3 bedrooms. They allow one medium size dog, no weight is specified.

Palma Sola Harbour Condo This waterfront community is located off of Cortez Road, very close to the beach. Some of these units have water views and boat docks. Very active community, with a lot of amenities. They allow 2 pets up to 25lbs each

Tidy Island This is a one of kind community located on it’s on island, many of the units have direct bay views. It is a 24 hour manned security gate, with a lot of amenities. There is no restrictions on pets, or size. You can have as many as you want!

Lakebridge Condo This community is located very close to IMG Academies, home of the international athletes. These town homes spread out between 2- 3 floors, and the community offers a lot of amenities. They allow 1 pet under 25lbs.

TURNBERRY WOODS AT CONQUISTADOR These very large villas offer a lot of space, located off 34th Ave West, close to IMG Country Club. It is a maintenance free community with a lot of amenities, including a club house and community pool. They allow 1 pet up to 25lbs.

Bay Hollow Condo This complex is located right before Tidy Island, some of the units have their own boat docks, there are a lot of amenities including a fishing pier, greenbelt areas, community pool. They allow 1 pet up to 35lbs.

Highland Lakes This charming small community offers villas and a community pool and club house that is very active. It is located right off Cortez Rd. You can walk to the Publix shopping center right up the street. They allow 1 pet up to 100lbs.

Mount Vernon This 55+ community has many villas on the water, it is a very active community with a club house and community pool. It is located right of Cortez Rd and is very close to the beach. They do allow one small pet, no weight is specified.

Southwind at Five Lakes This community is located very close to IMG Academy, off of 34th Ave West in central Bradenton, it has 2 community pools and a tennis court. It is completely maintenance free. They allow 2 pets up to 25lbs each.

Lakeside Village Townhome These newer town homes are located on 34th Ave West right off Cortez Rd. It is a gated community, with a community pool. It is very convenient to shopping and dining and about 7 miles from the beach. They allow 2 dogs up to 30lbs total.

Bay Point at Cortez This complex is located just to the right of Super Walmart, which is open 24 hours. This gated community has a community pool, and is only a short drive to the beaches. They allow 2 pets up to 25lbs each.

Harbor Pines Condo This is located across the street from IMG Academy, on 34th Ave West. And very close to State College of Florida. The community has a community pool and tennis courts. They allow 1 pet up to 35lbs.

Palms of Cortez This is a gated community located on 51st St West, right off of Cortez. The community features include, a club house, work out room, billiard room and community pool. Very close to beaches, shopping and dining. They allow 2 dogs, no weight restriction specified.
If you are looking for a property in Bradenton area, be sure to give Debbie a call for some help. She’ll help you scout out just the right place for you and your pup.

February 8, 2012 by Mary Lou Davidson

Manatee County’s Journey to No-Kill

by Jean Peelen

What an exciting month January was for this initiative. First, and foremost, Manatee County Animal Services increased the number and percentage of animals saved to 75%. That is just amazing—a 20% increase in saved dogs and cats since August. I give so much credit to Kris Weiskopf and the entire staff of Animal Services. They have been able to change the entire paradigm out of which they worked in the past. They were the dogcatchers, and now they are the dog and cat heroes. Quite a change, huh?

I only wish that the rest of the animal control agencies in the State could take a page from Manatee’s books. A bill has been introduced in the Senate and House that might move this state closer to no-kill. It would require animal control agencies to keep a list of rescue groups and allow the rescue groups to take animals from the shelter to get them adopted. The Florida Animal Control Association has taken a stand against that possible law. How backward is that? Unfortunately, the Association is stuck in its own history—stuck defending its practice of killing the majority of dogs and cats that come into their clutches. Guilt can breed anger, defensiveness, and attack.

Thank goodness our Animal Services people chose the path of learning and new vision instead. And thank goodness for the leadership of Carol Whitmore (County Commissioner) and Bill Hutchison (Manatee County Public Safety Director). They set the vision and provided the leadership that inspired Animal Services.

But guess what? It is the community that is bringing it home. The rescue groups, the shelters, the foster parents, the photographers, the big-dog walkers, the spay/neuter clinics, the feral cat caregivers, the vets who lower their prices for rescues, businesses like Walgreen’s, the media: all have a part in making this work. And it is working.

What a joy to be part of this collective effort.

And the joy is spreading. I think that Hillsborough County soon will follow in our footsteps to become no-kill. Last weekend they hosted an afternoon with Nathan Winograd, the founder of the no-kill movement. It seems to have inspired at least one of the County Commissioners to introduce it to their County Commission. I’ll just bet their Animal Services people are nervous! Change is drastic and difficult. I know our Animal Services will support theirs on their way to no-kill.

Kudos to everyone – the effort continues.

January 31, 2012 by Mary Lou Davidson

Adopt a lifelong friend this month in Manatee

Manatee County Animal Services will offer a Half Off Halftime special for the month of February, offering dog adoptions for $45 and cat adoptions for $35, price includes spay orneuter, vaccinations, health check, current rabies certificate/tag, and microchip.

The special is a $45 savings for dog adoptions and $35 savings off cats.

“Enjoy the end of football season and the Super Bowl with a new pet from Manatee County Animal Services,” said Animal Services Chief Kris Weiskopf. “Help us help the animals by adopting today.”

This adoption special is another step in the County’s plan to become a no-kill community.

The special is available at both Animal Services locations: in Palmetto, 305 25th St. W., open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and in Bradenton at 1002 B., Manatee Ave. W., open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Preview available animals by visiting www.mymanatee.org/pets
For more information, call (941) 742-5933.

January 9, 2012 by Mary Lou Davidson

Breed Profile: Bulldog

by Lauren R. Tharp

There are several varieties of bulldog: The American Bulldog, the French Bulldog, and the English Bulldog. The latter could be considered the “winner” of the bunch as it is the most famous and has earned the right to be referred to simply as “Bulldog.” The Bulldog is the mascot to 39 American universities, the official mascot to the United States Marine Corps, and is a popular character in cartoons—including Spike from Tom & Jerry and Hector the Bulldog from Looney Tunes! First recognized by the AKC in 1886, the Bulldog is now the 14^th most popular breed in the United States.

Stephen Huneck Gallery

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Bulldogs are medium-sized with adult dogs weighing in at 50-60 pounds and adult bitches weighing 40-50 pounds.

Coat & Color: Short-haired with glossy straight hair close to their bodies. They are available in the following colors: Brindle (They come in all varieties of brindle, but red is the most common and generally most desired), solid white, solid red, fawn, fallow, and piebald.

Other: The name “bulldog,” or rather “bull dog,” comes from the bulldog’s original occupation of being used in the sport of bull baiting, a blood sport in which the dog was pitted against a chained up—but very angry!—bull in a fight to the death.

Life Expectancy: 8-12 years.

Temperament

While the above may lead you to believe otherwise (“They fought will bulls and won?!”), bulldogs tend to be more courageous than they are vicious. Kind-hearted and dignified, these dogs are well-suited to urban and apartment living. This dog can be described as a “lifelong puppy” and will never lose their early enthusiasm for life. A family dog to their core, bulldogs should never be left alone for extended periods of time or their loneliness can drive them—and you!—mad, leading to destructive behavior.

Pros

Require very little exercise and, in fact, tend to do better without it.

Gentle with children if socialized early. Will become an instant “member” of the family rather than just a “family pet.” You may even forget it isn’t one of your actual children!

Bulldogs make excellent watchdogs.

Cons

Craves constant companionship/attention! If left alone, bulldogs can become very destructive.

Require moderate to heavy obedience training (depending on each dog’s individual personality). The phrase “stubborn as a bulldog” doesn’t come out of thin air! Bulldogs can become willful and challenge you for dominance if you don’t show them who’s boss early on. But you’d probably think you were a pretty tough guy too if you came from a line of bull conquerors!