In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from October 9th, 2021, Kate and Don discuss Don’s article, Understanding, Identifying, and Coping with Canine Stress, published in the July 2021 issue of BARKS from the Guild and at  https://barksfromtheguild.com/article/understanding-identifying-and-coping-with-canine-stress/

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from November 6th, 2021 Kate and Don discuss the change in the seasons and how reduced daylight, lower temperatures, snow, and ice, and the holidays affect our pets. Tune in and learn how you can keep your pet safe and happy in the cold, dark, icy, and festive months of winter.

Cold Weather and Holiday Tips for Pets - http://bit.ly/ColdWeatherHolidayTips

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from October 30th, 2021, Don talks with Kelly Adams and Mike Trafton of the Eastern Area Agency on Aging (EAAA) about the Furry Friends Food Bank and the 14th annual fundraiser sponsored by Green Acres Kennel Shop, The Woof Meow Show, and ForceFreePets.

Click here to donate to the Furry Friends Food Bank –  https://www.greenacres-donate.com

Click here to learn more about the Eastern Area Agency on Aging – https://www.eaaa.org/

Click here to learn more about the EAAA Furry Friends Food Bank – https://www.eaaa.org/furry-friends-food-bank/

Click here to go to the Friends of the Furry Friends Food Bank Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/GAKS.FFFFB/

Website: https://www.greenacres-donate.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GAKS.FFFFB/

Phone: 207-941-2865 Address: Main Office – 240 State St., (Twin City Plaza) Brewer, ME Website: https://www.eaaa.org/ & https://www.eaaa.org/furry-friends-food-bank/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easternaaa/

Address: 1653 Union St, Bangor, ME 04401-2204 Phone: (207) 945-6841, x103 Email-Email Don

Website-Green Acres: https://www.greenacreskennel.com/ Facebook-Green Acres: https://www.facebook.com/GreenAcresKennelShop/ Website-The Woof Meow Show: https://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/ Facebook-The Woof Meow Show: https://www.facebook.com/WoofMeowShow/ Website-ForceFreePets-https://forcefreepets.com/

Facebook-ForceFreePets-https://www.facebook.com/ForceFreePets

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from October 30th, 2021, Don talks with Kelly Adams and Mike Trafton of the Eastern Area Agency on Aging (EAAA) about the Furry Friends Food Bank and the 14th annual fundraiser sponsored by Green Acres Kennel Shop, The Woof Meow Show, and ForceFreePets.

Click here to donate to the Furry Friends Food Bank –  https://www.greenacres-donate.com

Click here to learn more about the Eastern Area Agency on Aging – https://www.eaaa.org/

Click here to learn more about the EAAA Furry Friends Food Bank – https://www.eaaa.org/furry-friends-food-bank/

Click here to go to the Friends of the Furry Friends Food Bank Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/GAKS.FFFFB/

Website: https://www.greenacres-donate.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GAKS.FFFFB/

Phone: 207-941-2865 Address: Main Office – 240 State St., (Twin City Plaza) Brewer, ME Website: https://www.eaaa.org/ & https://www.eaaa.org/furry-friends-food-bank/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easternaaa/

Address: 1653 Union St, Bangor, ME 04401-2204 Phone: (207) 945-6841, x103 Email-Email Don

Website-Green Acres: https://www.greenacreskennel.com/ Facebook-Green Acres: https://www.facebook.com/GreenAcresKennelShop/ Website-The Woof Meow Show: https://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/ Facebook-The Woof Meow Show: https://www.facebook.com/WoofMeowShow/ Website-ForceFreePets-https://forcefreepets.com/

Facebook-ForceFreePets-https://www.facebook.com/ForceFreePets

Every year millions of dogs and cats of various breeds, sizes, and ages are cared for by boarding facilities, pet sitters, friends, and family members. This could be for multiple reasons: traveling for business or vacation, extended work schedules, or a family emergency or illness. While many pets, dogs, in particular, find a stay at a boarding facility fun, despite the best efforts of pet care professionals, not all pets do well away from home. When this occurs, a pet care professional is responsible for informing you of this situation; they want your pet to have a low-stress and enjoyable stay and go home happy and healthy.  While many factors require consideration before boarding your pet, temperament, health, and age top the list.

Most boarding facilities provide more comprehensive care for their guests than the typical hotel does for humans. That is why the process of booking a reservation for your pet is not as easy as booking a hotel room for yourself online. A reputable boarding facility will ask questions about your pet's vaccinations, temperament, play style, health, food preferences, and medications. A boarding facility provides a place to rest and sleep but is also responsible for; meals, mental enrichment and play, housekeeping, physical handling, routine medication if needed, and sometimes grooming services. If a pet becomes unwell, those services may include transportation to the veterinarian. If you or your designated representative is not available, the boarding facility and their veterinarian may need to make medical decisions for your pet.

Your Pet's Temperament

Just as people have a wide range of temperaments, so do pets.  Some will be constantly happy and look forward to meeting every new, living thing they encounter. At the opposite extreme, some will dislike and even fear anything new and may never open up to other animals or people. Even a change in environment, such as moving from a familiar home to a boarding facility or home of a friend, whether filled with other critters and people or not, can be overwhelming for some pets.

A fearful pet is not a "bad" pet; they are just animals struggling in a difficult situation and require patience and understanding. Unfortunately, a frequently anxious or fearful pet is unlikely to enjoy being cared for anywhere outside of their home. No matter who cares for your pet, they must be able to handle them regardless of the pet's mood. While any animal can have an intemperate moment and bite, pets that are fear aggressive are more likely to pose a bite risk. Therefore, they are probably not a good candidate for a boarding facility or a pet sitter. It is a pet parent's responsibility to disclose this information and to find a suitable alternative.

A reputable professional may be able to work with you to help acclimate your pet to staying away from home. However, please be aware that this is a prolonged process and must start weeks, if not months, before leaving your pet.

Your Pet's Health and Age

Most pets are relatively healthy during their younger years, but underlying health issues may arise as they age.  It is essential to do a mental and physical assessment of your pet every time you board them to ensure that they are in good health. If, at any time, you have concerns, or are made aware of health issues by your veterinarian, contact your boarding facility and have a conversation with them regarding these issues. Concerns can be anything from increased water consumption or decreased appetite, hints of dementia, increased stiffness in joints, or reactivity and aggression. The boarding facility may suggest or even require that you have your pet examined by a veterinarian before boarding, but that is a better alternative to receiving a phone call and having to consult and make decisions over the phone while you are hours away

 The boarding facility will need to be able to easily and quickly contact you at any time if something arises and emergency healthcare is necessary. If you will be unable to be reached while away, you need to have a friend, family member, or veterinarian designated to act on your pet's behalf. They must be available and able to be reached quickly and easily. While a caregiver for your pet may have you sign a contract giving them authority to act in your pet's best interest if you are unreachable, the preferred situation would always place you as the person in charge of any life-altering decisions regarding your pet. Illnesses can come on suddenly, and life and death decisions may need to be made quickly to prevent your pet from suffering. An alternative is to have your attorney draft a healthcare directive for your pet. If you choose this option, be sure that your pet's caregiver and veterinarian have a copy.

While the boarding facility staff and pet sitters should be knowledgeable on pet first aid, common health issues, nutrition, pet play dynamics, and normal and abnormal pet behavior, they are not veterinarians. Therefore, if you or your veterinarian believe that your pet needs any of the following; continuous medical observation, the administration of an IV for medications or hydration, frequent temperature checks, physical assistance to relieve themselves, or wellness checks several times throughout the night, your pet will be best served by being at home in familiar surroundings or with their veterinarian or an individual with a similar level of knowledge and experience.

The owners and employees of pet care facilities are in the profession for their love of animals. However, there is nothing more difficult for them than to watch a pet suffer either emotionally or physically while in their care.  Please help both them and your pet by maintaining an open line of communication regarding the care of your pet while you are away.

 Cat Behavior – Make Your Life Easier – Get Your Cat to Love Their Carrier – http://bit.ly/Cats-Carriers

Canine Behavior – Understanding, Identifying and Coping with Canine Stress – http://bit.ly/Canine-Stress

Please Be Cautious When Choosing Who Cares For Your Pets – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/2016/04/11/pet-care-services-please-be-cautious-when-choosing-who-cares-for-your-pets/

Traveling – Do you take the dog along or leave him with someone? – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/2016/04/11/traveling-do-you-take-the-dog-along-or-leave-him-with-someone/

Pet Care Options When You Go Away: Pet Sitter, Neighbor, Boarding Facility – http://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/2015/09/01/pets-who-cares-for-them-when-you-are-away/

Selecting A Pet Care Provider – Yes! A Trend Towards Kinder and Gentler Professional Pet Care – Green Acres Kennel Shop's "Pet-Friendly" Philosophy – Part 1 – http://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/2015/04/02/yes-a-trend-towards-kinder-and-gentler-professional-pet-care-green-acres-kennel-shops-pet-friendly-philosophy-part-1/

Things to Consider When Leaving Your Pet in the Care of Someone Else –

Things To Consider When Boarding A Pet-Part 1 (2018) – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/2018/07/08/podcast-things-to-consider-when-boarding-a-pet-part-1/

Things To Consider When Boarding A Pet-Part 2 – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/2018/08/09/podcast-things-to-consider-when-boarding-a-pet-part-2/

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from August 28th, 2021, Don interviews Debra Bell from Bell’s Furry Friends Photography, discussing how Deb came to specialize in the photography of people and their pets. We also discuss the 12th annual Holiday Pet Portraits, a joint event of Green Acres Kennel Shop and Bell’s Furry Friends Photography that benefits the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank.

Deb has been taking photos of Don, Paula, their pets, and their Green Acres team for years. In the following link, Don has shared an album of photographs taken by Deb that mean the most to him. Take a look, and you will see why Deb has been voted the Bangor Region’s Best Pet Photographer year after year.  http://bit.ly/FavPhotosByDebBell

For the 12th year, Debra Bell from Bell’s Furry Friends Photography will be offering Holiday Pet Portrait sessions at Green Acres Kennel Shop. Both indoor and outdoor sessions are available on Sunday, October 18th, from 8 AM to 5 PM. Indoor sessions will be available on Sunday, October 31st, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Session details can be found below.

We expect sessions to fill fast, so reserve your spot today by calling Green Acres at 207-945-6841 or email Deb. ( FMI – http://bit.ly/HolidayPetPortraits )

Double or Field Session, $160 – Includes a 40-minute session for pets and people, a $20 donation to the Furry Friends Food Bank, a 5X7 gift print and gift bag, a personal image review session with Deb and a bonus holiday social media image.

Single Session, $80 – Includes a 20-minute session for pets and people, a $10 donation to the Furry Friends Food Bank, a 5X7 gift print and gift bag, a personal image review session with Deb, and a bonus holiday social media image.

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from August 14th, 2021, Don talks with Suzan Prendergast and Kathryn Ravenscraft from the Bangor Humane Society about the 28th annual Paws on Parade. They talk about the mission of the Humane Society, how the pandemic has affected their operations, and how you can participate in Paws on Parade on Saturday, October 2nd starting at 9 AM at Husson University. FMI - https://donations.bangorhumane.org/event/paws-goes-to-woofstock/e336617

Address: 693 Mt. Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401 Phone: (207)-942-8902 Website-https://www.bangorhumane.org/ Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/BangorHumane

Address: 1653 Union St, Bangor, ME 04401-2204 Phone: (207) 945-6841, x103 Email-Email Don

Website-Green Acres: https://www.greenacreskennel.com/ Facebook-Green Acres: https://www.facebook.com/GreenAcresKennelShop/ Website-The Woof Meow Show: https://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/ Facebook-The Woof Meow Show: https://www.facebook.com/WoofMeowShow/ Website-ForceFreePets-https://forcefreepets.com/

Facebook-ForceFreePets-https://www.facebook.com/ForceFreePets

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from July 24th, 2021, Kate and Don are again speaking with Joey Weichmann & Leslie Durocher about Vital Essentials pet food. Last week, we talked about the company. This week, we are looking at the many products available from Vital Essentials.

We start by discussing the  Vital Essentials Raw Bar, which is essentially a selection of freeze-dried appetizers and snacks for dogs and cats. Then we look at their comprehensive line of freeze-dried treats, including their number one seller, freeze-dried minnows. Lastly, we review Vital Essential's complete meals for cats and dogs, the available proteins, and the formats available as frozen raw and freeze-dried.

If you want to learn more about the company behind Vital Essentials, checkout last week's podcast.

Green Acres Pet Nutrition Resources Page – http://bit.ly/GAKS_Nut_Home

GAKS Philosophy on Pet Nutrition – http://bit.ly/GAKS_Nut_Phil

Pet Nutrition –Vital Essentials® Pet Food – https://bit.ly/VitalEssAtGAKS

Video The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/Video-Dr-Richard-Patton

Book Review – Ruined by Excess, Perfected by Lack – The paradox of pet nutrition by Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/RuinedByExcess-BookReview

Vital Essentials Pet Food-Part 1-The Company-24JUL21 – https://bit.ly/WfMw-VE1-17JUL21

Podcasts-Two Conversations with Animal Nutritionist Dr. Richard Patton – https://bit.ly/WfMw2wPattonAPR21

You can listen to The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://bit.ly/AM620-WZON or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show. You can download this show and others at http://bit.ly/WfMwPodcasts, at Don’s blog http://bit.ly/Words-Woofs-Meows and the Apple iTunes store.

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from July 17th, 2021, Kate and Don talk with Joey Weichmann & Leslie Durocher of the Carnivore Meat Company, the makers of Vital Essentials pet food. While the Vital Essentials brand launched in 2009, the company has been producing raw food for pets since 1968.

In this first of two episodes, we talk about: the company, its mission, how they source its raw ingredients, how diets are formulated and manufactured, and the quality certifications they have received.

Be sure to tune in to our next show in this series when we discuss Vital Essentials wide variety of complete meals, snacks, and treats for cats and dogs.

Green Acres Pet Nutrition Resources Page – http://bit.ly/GAKS_Nut_Home

GAKS Philosophy on Pet Nutrition – http://bit.ly/GAKS_Nut_Phil

Pet Nutrition –Vital Essentials® Pet Food – https://bit.ly/VitalEssAtGAKS

Video The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/Video-Dr-Richard-Patton

Book Review – Ruined by Excess, Perfected by Lack – The paradox of pet nutrition by Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/RuinedByExcess-BookReview

Podcasts-Two Conversations with Animal Nutritionist Dr. Richard Patton – https://bit.ly/WfMw2wPattonAPR21

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from July 17th, 2021, Kate and Don talk with Joey Weichmann & Leslie Durocher of the Carnivore Meat Company, the makers of Vital Essentials pet food. While the Vital Essentials brand launched in 2009, the company has been producing raw food for pets since 1968.

In this first of two episodes, we talk about: the company, its mission, how they source its raw ingredients, how diets are formulated and manufactured, and the quality certifications they have received.

Be sure to tune in to our next show in this series when we discuss Vital Essentials wide variety of complete meals, snacks, and treats for cats and dogs.

Green Acres Pet Nutrition Resources Page – http://bit.ly/GAKS_Nut_Home

GAKS Philosophy on Pet Nutrition – http://bit.ly/GAKS_Nut_Phil

Pet Nutrition –Vital Essentials® Pet Food – https://bit.ly/VitalEssAtGAKS

Video The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/Video-Dr-Richard-Patton

Book Review – Ruined by Excess, Perfected by Lack – The paradox of pet nutrition by Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/RuinedByExcess-BookReview

Podcasts-Two Conversations with Animal Nutritionist Dr. Richard Patton – https://bit.ly/WfMw2wPattonAPR21

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from Don talks with Roxane Dubay, a Public Health Educator/Tobacco Specialist from Bangor Public Health and Community Services, and Dr. Mark Hanks, a veterinarian from Kindred Spirits Veterinary clinic in Orrington, about second and third-hand smoke, nicotine, vape and e-pens, marijuana and the hazard these products pose to our pets.

An article on Don's blog at http://bit.ly/Pets-Nicotine-APR21 provides additional information and links on this topic.

103 Texas Avenue Bangor, Maine 04401 Office: 207-992-4531 Fax: 207-945-3348 www.BangorPublicHealth.org  [email protected]

Tobacco Smoke, Vaping, Nicotine, and The Risk They Pose to Our Pets – http://bit.ly/Pets-Nicotine-APR21

Cited References

1Bertone-Johnson ER, Procter-Gray E, Gollenberg AL, et al. Environmental tobacco smoke and canine urinary cotinine level. Environ Res. 2008;106(3):361-4. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17950271. Accessed Nov 11, 2012.

2Reif JS, Bruns C, Lower KS. Cancer of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Pet Dogs. Am J Epidemiol 1998; 147:488–92. Available at: http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/147/5/488.short. Accessed Nov 11, 2012.

3Reif JS, Dunn K, Ogilvie GK et al. Passive smoking and canine lung cancer risk. Am J Epidemiol 1992 Feb 1;135(3):234-9. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1546698. Accessed Nov 11, 2012.

4Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Risk of Malignant Lymphoma in Pet Cats; Am J Epidemiol 2002; 156:268–73. Bertone ER, Snyder LA, Moore AS. http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/156/3/268.full

5Matt GE, Quintana PJE, Hovell MF et al.  Households contaminated by environmental tobacco smoke: sources of infant exposures. Tob Control 2004;13:29-3. Available at: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/13/1/29.short. Accessed Nov 11, 2012.

Other Resources

• Stop Smoking – For Your Health and Your Pets' Health – AVMA website – https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Stop-smoking-for-your-pets-health.aspx
• Animal Poison Control Center – https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
• US FDA – Be Smoke-free and Help Your Pets Live Longer, Healthier Lives – https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/be-smoke-free-and-help-your-pets-live-longer-healthier-lives
• E-CIGARETTES AND PETS DO NOT MIX – https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/e-cigarettes-pets-mix/
• CDC – Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults – https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

• Bangor Public Health & Community Services – Tobacco, E-Cig, & Vaping Prevention – https://www.bangorpublichealth.org/community/tobacco-ecig-vaping-prevention/
• com – https://mainequitlink.com/
• org – https://breatheeasymaine.org/
• Smoke-Free Homes Pledge – https://breatheeasymaine.org/smoke-free-homes-pledge/
• MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence website – https://ctimaine.org/

You can listen to The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://bit.ly/AM620-WZON or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show. You can download this show and others at http://bit.ly/WfMwPodcasts, at Don's blog http://bit.ly/Words-Woofs-Meows and the Apple iTunes store.