Adopt A Husky, Inc.

"Saving one dog won't change the world, but surely the world will change for that one dog."

NEWS YOU CAN USE

                                                                             November/December 2007

Thank You All For a Wonderful Year!

On behalf of the 96 dogs adopted so far this year, we would like to thank each and every one of you for your help, support and effort in guiding all our dogs on their journey to their forever homes. 

We could not and cannot do it without YOU!

Thank you for making a difference in 96 lives.

Lodgepole, Neptune, Choctow, Sundog, Edgewood, Litella, Mayan, Cordelia, Normandy, Snickers, Cookie, Trinity, Velvet, Mackinac, Meringue, Mr. Bill, Soapy, Pahana, Bourbon, Spice, Belle, Jackson, Jubilee, Styx, Tiponi, Polar, Beatles, Innova, Beloit, Chatmac, Commodore, Kuchen, Shedaisy, Siera, Riley, Dixie, Holle, Kaela, Flint, Skycat, Vita, Pearl, Kaye, Valiant, Sawyer, Agere, Lacie, Utah, Talkeetna, Digi, Rosie, Carson, Wyse, Regis, Lenovo, Kathy Lee, Castaway, Josephine, Fisher, Arsenio, Mattie, Kotura, Nantucket, Jack, Excel, Sierra, Aurora, Alabama, Nutmeg, Rachel, Karma, Kitt, Langdon, Nassau, Nevis, Denali, Dorsey, Navassa, Kingston, Heath, Lacie, Jessie, Atticus, Sammie, Sam Adams, Marin, Igloo, Violet, Victoria, Marco, Princess, Ethan, Acer, Milo and Atari

Joey

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

IL/WI EVENTS

December 8 Paw Law- Pictures with Santa, Roselle, IL

December 16  Christmas Memories, Naperville, IL

January 26-27  Tails on the Trails, Lisle, IL

February 2  Great Lakes Family Pet Expo, West Allis, WI

HAPPY TAILS

Navassa (IL) Oct. 6 Kingston (IL) Oct. 6 Neveu (WI) Oct. 7    Lacie (WI) Oct. 7     Dorsey (WI) Oct. 7   Daisy (OH) Oct. 14      Kellie (OH) Oct. 18    Jessie (WI) Oct. 20   Atticus (WI) Oct. 20   Snow White (OH) Oct. 23 Bennigan (OH) Oct. 23   Eleuthera (OH) Nov. 11  Lucia (OH)  Nov. 11   Maya (OH)  Nov. 11   Ethan (OH)  Nov. 11     Bianca (OH)  Nov. 11  Princess (IN) Nov. 20   Marco (WI)  Nov. 23    Acer (IL) Nov. 25       Misty (WA) Dec. 1       Milo (WI) Dec. 1           Atari (IL) Dec. 4

Happy Holidays!

               Cheyenne                                    Luna (WA foster)                          Mordicai (aka Mitts)

                  Skye, Dallas, Rocky, Breeze, Maverick                                    Dickens

Announcing:  The Huskies and the Christmas Fawn

The much anticipated holiday story, guaranteed to tug at your heart. 

We proudly present this Adopt A Husky exclusive, written by our caring volunteer, Hal Young, who has designated all proceeds to Adopt A Husky.  We hope that you enjoy his heartwarming story as much as we have. 

Thanks Hal for your hard work on this book and for designating the proceeds to AAHI!!!!!!!

To learn more about the book or purchase your copy, please CLICK HERE.

Have you bought your copy? Read the book? Be sure to let Hal know how much you like it because we're SURE you have enjoyed it...you can email him at hal@adoptahusky.com (and maybe remind him that there seems to be the possibility of a sequel).

Foster Spotlight:  Simon, IL Foster

Could you be the home Simon has been looking for?  Would you like to read Simon's full bio, then click here.

Interested in adopting Simon or another rescued Siberian, please read our adoption process and fill out our online adoption application. 

Can't adopt, but would like to sponsor a Siberian in need?  Please email us at adoptahusky@adoptahusky.com for more information on how to sponsor one of our rescued Siberians. 

Top Ten Cold Weather Tips

Article courtesy of the ASPCA

Brrrr…it’s cold outside!  The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

2.  During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.

4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.

6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

8.  Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.

9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.

10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

Article courtesy of the ASPCA

Adopt A Husky Celebrities  

Check out the movie "Fred Claus" starring Vince Vaughn and look for the Furricane Siberian sled team.  Many of the dogs are former Adopt A Husky fosters, now owned by our very own IL volunteers, Jeff and Jenn.

Cheryl (IL vol.) and Macy (former AAHI foster) are helping Harper College promote reading by posing for one of Harper College's posters.  The book used was Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett.  It's an eskimo variation on Goldielocks and the Three Bears.   Click here to see the poster. 

Mikita - One Lucky Dog!

Reprinted from the LePar Animal Hospital newsletter with permission

No rescue dog is luckier than Mikita.  Less than two years ago he arrived at Ryan & Christine's home and was soon diagnosed with arthritis, liver disease, seizures and hypothyroidism.  Many owners would have considered euthanasia with an older new pet due to the time and cost of multiple problems, but Ryan & Christine could see Mikita wasn't done yet and were committed to helping him.

In April and July of 2006, he ruptured first his left, then his right ACL ligament requiring surgeries on both knees.  Hobbled by his arthritis and weak from continued seizure medications and bouts of hepatits, Mikita was in trouble.  Christine & Ryan decided to try underwater treadmill therapy to build up his strength.  Mikita was our first patient at Chicago Animal Rehab.  His response to treatments has been remarkable.  Through acupuncture treatments we have been able to stop his seizure medication.  The underwater treadmill has dramatically improved his strength and energy.  We commend Ryan & Christine's commitment to Mikita.  He is one lucky dog!

Mikita

Raisins and Grapes - WARNING!

Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , Ohio

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and
4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER
service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Poison Control.  The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine
production after a liter of fluids. At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to incr ease daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and
they still couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been
staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220.. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk.

Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to
immediate concern.

Why is Chocolate Toxic to Dogs?

Chocolate is a popular treat all year round. Care must be taken when animals are around, though. Chocolate can be toxic, and sometimes even fatal, for animals. Dogs are most commonly affected, due to their ability to find it and the common 'sweet tooth' they seem to have. It is important to remember that cats and other species are susceptible to the toxic effects of chocolate, too.

Chocolate is made from the fruit (beans) of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. (Caffeine is also present in chocolate, but in much smaller amounts than Theobromine.) Unsweetened (baker's) chocolate contains 8-10 times the amount of Theobromine as milk chocolate. Semi- sweet chocolate falls roughly in between the two for Theobromine content. White chocolate contains Theobromine, but in such small amounts that Theobromine poisoning is unlikely.

Quick Guide for Theobromine levels in different types of chocolate: From The Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th ed.

Unsweetened (Baker's) chocolate = 390-450 mg Theobromine per oz chocolate
Milk chocolate = 44-60 mg Theobromine per oz chocolate
Semi-sweet is a bit less than half of the Theobromine content as Baker's chocolate.

The toxic dose of Theobromine (and caffeine) for pets is 100-200mg/kg. (1 kiliogram = 2.2 pounds).

However, various reports by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) have noted problems at doses much lower than this - i.e. 20mg/kg. Translated to a "typical" scenario, and using the 20mg/kg as a measure of "problems can be seen at this level of ingestion", a 50 pound dog would have to consume 9 ounces (+/-) of milk chocolate to consume the 20mg/kg amount of Theobromine. Some dogs won't see problems at this rate. Some may. This is a much more conservative toxic level calculation than the "standard" of 100-200mg/kg, but better safe than sorry.
Signs are most commonly seen within 12 hours (or less) of chocolate ingestion.

Excitement / nervousness / trembling
Vomiting / diarrhea
Excessive thirst / sometimes excessive urination (at higher levels of Theobromine toxicity)
Muscle spasms
Seizures
Coma (rare)
Death (rare) -- likely due to heart rhythm abnormalities.

The Big Question: Why isn't chocolate toxic to humans?
Humans can break down and excrete Theobromine much more efficiently than dogs.

If you suspect that your pet has ingested chocolate, please contact your veterinarian for advice and treatment.

Article courtesy of Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM - www.about.com

Volunteer Spotlight: Ed and Donna, IL Volunteers

Name:  Ed and Donna 

Hometown:  Ed was born in Salisbury, NC, and grew up in Woodstock, VT and Ft. Lauderdale, FL before moving up to Chicago.  Donna was born and raised in Chicago.  We lived in Tinley Park, IL for 10 years and have called Algonquin, IL home for the last 13 years. 

Family (including pets):  We have 3 sons, Eric, Jonathon and Shawn.  They live in Louisiana, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, respectively.  Our three furgirls are:  Crystal, 12-1/2 year old Siberian Husky adopted from Kay’s Animal Shelter in Arlington Heights, IL; KD, 5-1/2 year old Siberian Husky adopted from a breeder friend (KD was returned to her because the couple were getting divorced and neither one wanted her); and Charades, almost 9 year old Siberian Husky, our first foster failure.  Charades was one of the Malmo, MN dogs. 

How did you get involved with rescue?  We filled out volunteer forms at the Husky Hike in 2004, attended a volunteer meeting the next month in June and started fostering in July, and we’ve been actively volunteering ever since!! 

What is the best thing about volunteering for AAHI?  It’s hard to pick just one thing; it’s a combination of being able to save another dog’s life, the wonderful people you meet and the friends you make, and being a foster home (we are fosterless at the present time, but we know that won’t last for long). 

Favorite AAHI moment:  Foster failing Charades in December 2005.  She has brought a lot of joy to our lives!! 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of Siberian rescue?  Ed - reading, crossword puzzles, Civil War buff and model railroads.  Donna - volunteering at a resale shop, dancing, search and find puzzles, crocheting and arts and crafts. 

If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?   Alaska, because of the beautiful scenery!!! 

What’s the last good movie you have seen?   “Fred Claus,” although we were disappointed that there was no mention about the AAHI dogs in the credits (yes, we stay and watch the credits). 

What would you say to fellow AAHI volunteers and to those people thinking of volunteering with AAHI?  To our fellow AAHI volunteers:  keep up the good work.  It’s fun working with all of you folks.  To those thinking about volunteering:  don’t just think about it, do it!!  You’ll be very happy you did, and besides the dogs are counting on ALL of us.

Thank you Ed and Donna for opening your home to AAHI's foster dogs and for volunteering your time to help save Siberian lives!!!!!!! 

Our condolences to Scott, Sarah, and Rachel on the loss of Pacman, who succumbed suddenly this week with previously-undetected tumors of the spleen and liver.

CONGRATULATIONS TO . . .

THANK YOU TO . . .

• all of our recent adopters on the addition of a furry family member and to our fosters that have found their "furever home!"
• Becky (WI vol.) on foster failing Dorsey!
• Gail (WA) and her adopted dog, Lena (former AAHI foster)!  Lena earned the Companion Dog and Rally Novice titles. 
• Noel (IL) on Skye's (former foster) Novice Agility Certificate and on Breeze's (former foster) Novice Agility Certificate and Novice Chances Certificate!
• the AAHI mushers and their dogs (many adopted from AAHI) for their accomplishments at two recent races Dirty Dog Dryland Derby and Can't Depend on Snow!

• all of the AAHI volunteers that have volunteered at recent events, transported dogs and helped with home visits and adoptions!
• all of AAHI's supporters: without you, we wouldn't be able to help Siberians in need!
• Lois (WI), Ed & Donna (IL), Mary Beth (IL) and Mike (IL) for helping with this newsletter!
• Hal Young for writing the book The Huskies and the Christmas Fawn and for designating all proceeds to Adopt A Husky!
• the AAHI volunteers that sent in holiday photos to be used in the newsletter!

To print this newsletter in PDF format CLICK HERE.  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.