Richmond SPCA Blog

Working dogs demonstrate intelligence and devotion to duty during "Dogs with Jobs" camp

One of the newest additions to the Richmond SPCA's lineup of summer programming for children is "Dogs with Jobs," and the first session, held the week of July 6-8, captured the attention of the 27 campers who attended. Staff who could take a short break from their work often filled the back of the Track & Training Center to catch a glimpse of the fascinating working dog presentations. The dogs and handlers who presented in July will return to the Richmond SPCA for another sold-out session the week of Aug. 17; however we have an all new roster next week, Aug. 10-12, and there's still time to register your kids to see presentations from agility dogs, acting dogs, service dogs and more. 

Here's a look at the guest speakers and their amazing working dogs who made the first Dogs with Jobs session such a success. 

Officer AJ Jackson explains how tracking dogs are trained and used by the Richmond Police Department. During this three-day session in July, Critter Campers learned about the variety of working and service dogs and how they perform their jobs. Each day featured four presentations from guest speakers such as Officer Jackson.

Officer Jackson and his pal Hopper demonstrated their bond along with the many skills that are required of tracking dogs. 

 
Hopper, a tracking dog for the Richmond Police Department, searches to find a scent among the crowd of campers. 

 
Hopper receives his reward – a squirt of canned cheese – for "finding" camper Devlin Montgomery. Devlin volunteered for the demonstration and gave his hat for Hopper to get his scent.  

Liberty, a black lab mix, works with Hanover County Fire & EMS on their search and rescue team. As an Urban Search & Rescue dog, one of Liberty's main duties is to search for people who remain alive and stuck in rubble after a building is destroyed. 

Vernon Frayser and Liberty perform Search & Rescue for Hanover County Fire & EMS; they also enjoy meeting with children and demonstrating their teamwork. 

Carol Maupin, who specializes in training obedience dogs, lets her dog Topper show off for the crowd of kids. Topper is a Belgian Shepherd Tervuren who followed Carol's commands through different obedience trials to showcase his skills. 

Topper retrieves and returns a tool to his handler and trainer, Carol, demonstrating his willingness to retreive most anything. 

The Richmond Police Department's K9 Corps brought Vadar to teach the campers about patrol dogs. Sergeant Bohannan explained …

Liberty visits with a group of campers. 

Officer Robin Robinson with her dog Bo, who is a narcotics detection dog. 

Bunny Wilks (far right) and Ephriam Seidman train puppies and prepare them to be Guiding Eyes. This yellow lab, Vera, will be a service dog for the sight impaired when she gets older.

Hunter is a working dog employed by Loyal Pest Control to detect termites. 

Susan Markam explains freestyle frisbee competition as her dog Ripper waits eagerly to begin the demonstration. 

Ripper is shown in a mid-air catch of a disc thrown by Susan. 

Susan Markam poses with Ripper, who is training for frisbee competition, and Hurricane, a retired champion disc dog, and the campers who attended Dogs With Jobs in July. 

Photographs by Sarah Babcock, Lisa Clarke and Tabitha Hanes. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

Critter Camp 2011 underway with Canine Capers and Feline Fun

Wow. After two full weeks, the Richmond SPCA's Critter Camp 2011 is off to a great start and we are having lots of summer fun at the Robins-Starr Humane Center. Campers ages 5-11 have attended Canine Capers (dog camp) and Feline Fun (cat camp), with well over half of the campers opting for an ALL DAY option so that they could enjoy plenty of dog AND cat activities. The wide variety of crafts and games and cooking projects was rivaled only by the creativity of the campers doing them. Enjoy our first-ever photo blog below — and don't hesitate to contact us if you (or someone you know) would like to hear more about our summer programs!

Canine Capers campers started out the week by baking yummy treats for their four-legged pals at the Richmond SPCA. Discussions about proper canine nutrition and the value of training treats accompanied this particular activity and the campers were VERY popular when they visited the kennels that day. 

Canine Capers campers had a daily craft time — and these bobble-head figurines were one of the most popular options.

Emma was a very skilled painter and happy to show off her work of art!

Nice work Kasie!  Looks like a beautiful black lab to me!

Feline Fun camper Keith spent the week learning all about cats and how to care for them. This was his favorite kitty, and she was thrilled to get a little attention and TLC.

"Mom, can I have this kitty please?"  Kaitlyn was determined to bring this little one home as her new family pet. Too bad her mother is allergic to cats. The socialization that campers like Kaitlyn are able to provide our young kittens during their one week of camp will help these cats later in life, no matter where they go or who adopts them. And our campers love helping out. It is a win-win situation for sure!

Walden really loved spending time with our shelter pets. Making toys for them to play with was especially fun!

The kittens LOVED all the creative new toys invented by the campers and were happy to spend time "testing" them with their new best friends. 

Walden painted a beautiful portrait of her dog. Some of the campers painted portraits of our shelter pets as well and then donated the portraits to go home with the pets when they are adopted. Nice work campers!

All campers went home with wonderful Critter Camp t-shirts that they decorated themselves. And most had other campers sign the back of their t-shirts as well, making each and every one unique. It will be a fun memento of their week at the Richmond SPCA!

Our junior counselors were awesome and helped make camp the success it was. Thank you ALL for your help! In this photo, some of our campers and junior counselors posed for an end-of-week photograph.

Snack time! The campers in the Feline Fun camp had a blast making a litter box cake. While it might not look tasty to some, it was in fact really, really good! Sometimes, it's just about having (silly) fun.

Kendall and Savannah learned about the importance of spaying and neutering. They really enjoyed viewing actual surgeries and having a chance to ask Dr. Ivey lots of questions. I think we may have some future vets on our hands!

Note that both Canine Capers and Feline Fun (and all of the activities above) will be repeated later in the summer. We will also host camps for older campers with a variety of themes for those interested in dog training, veterinary medicine, and/or animal crafts. Visit our website (www.richmondspca.org/camp) for more information and to enroll. Sessions are filling quickly, so don't delay. 

Come join the fun at the Richmond SPCA!

Photos and captions by Phyllis Harris, coordinator of humane education at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be  used as your screen name. 

Resolve to make 2011 the best year ever for your four-legged friends

Happy New Year to Richmond pet parents!  Now is the time to make some resolutions regarding the health, safety and happiness of your pet(s).  It’s not too late to make 2011 the best year ever for the four-legged members of your family.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Health

• Food: resolve to put your pet(s) on a diet if they need one.  According to experts, 80% of our pets are overweight or could stand to lose a few pounds — and they can’t do it on their own.  Measure food amounts closely and avoid feeding too many “treats” or scraps from the table.  Or if you are using treats for your training purposes (hooray for you — see below), reduce the amount you feed at meals accordingly.
• Exercise: resolve to get your dog more exercise in the New Year.  Almost all of our dogs (my own included) would be happier and healthier with more regular walks or more frequent games of fetch.  Resolve to make these part of your weekly schedule and everyone will benefit. 
• Vet Care: resolve to help your pet(s) stay healthy in the New Year.  Catch up on shots and vet visits if you have fallen behind on those, and make plans to schedule them as your veterinarian recommends.  Be sure you have heartworm and flea/tick prevention plans in place and that they happen every month when they are scheduled.  Your pet will thank you for keeping him healthy and itch-free in 2011.  For information about low-cost veterinary services provided by the Richmond SPCA, visit us here: www.richmondspca.org/wellness .

Pet Safety

• ID Tags : check your pets' ID tags to be sure they are up-to-date and legible.  And if tags have gone missing (or you never had them), NOW is the time to mend your ways.  ID tags on a well-fitted collar are the single best means of ensuring your pet will get returned if he or she ever goes missing. 
• Microchips: be sure all of your pets have been microchipped and that their microchips are appropriately registered.  Collars and tags (however well-fitting) can be removed or can slip off, so having a microchip becomes an important second step toward getting them returned in the event they should ever get lost.  For information on walk-in microchipping services provided by the Richmond SPCA, visit us here: www.richmondspca.org/wellness .
• Licensing: resolve to get your pet licensed in the city or county where you live.  The cost is minimal and the funds are used within your local area to support the good work of the city/county animal control agency.
• Yard and House Check: imagine that your pet has gone missing (i.e., escaped from the house or yard when your back was turned) and examine the area closely to see where or how they could possibly have gotten out.  Finding holes in the fence (or under the fence if you own a small terrier) BEFORE your pet escapes is always a better plan than wishing you had noticed them AFTER the pet discovers them.  And while you’re at it, check the house and yard for anything that might represent a safety risk for your pet.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Pet Happiness

• Cleanliness: check all of your pet areas (litter box, beds, crates, etc) to be sure they are clean and comfortable for your pet.   When washing dog linens in your washing machine, add ½ cup of Nature’s Miracle to the bleach dispenser to eliminate any lingering odors.
• Grooming: take whatever steps you need to take to be sure your pet is groomed for health and comfort.  Weekly brushing may be adequate for some dogs, but long-haired breeds will probably require more than that.  Be sure nails are trimmed and teeth are cleaned regularly – or get help from your veterinarian or groomer to get these things done. Again, just a little time avoiding problems will be a lot easier than fixing them later.
• Quality Time and Training: resolve to spend more quality time with your pet(s) in the New Year.  Ask your own pet(s) what quality time would look like for them (i.e., more walks, more agility or trick or flyball training, more classes, more play sessions, more cuddling, etc.) and then do your best to find time to fit it in.  If you need help with behavior issues, don’t hesitate to contact the Richmond SPCA via the behavior helpline (804-643-SPCA or behaviorhelpline@richmondspca.org).  And if you want information on all of the fun classes and seminars we offer, visit our web site here: www.richmondspca.org/classes.

Do Your Part toward Ending Pet Overpopulation

• Spay or Neuter your Pet: there are still millions of animals across the United States in need of homes, including dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes and breeds and ages.  Do your part to reduce this number by spaying or neutering your own pet(s) and encouraging others to do the same.  Need help with spaying and neutering?  You can find more information here: www.richmondspca.org/clinic.
• Volunteer: consider volunteering your time at a shelter or other humane organization in 2011.  The Richmond SPCA would never be able to do all that we do without the help of our amazing volunteers.  If you are already one of them, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!  If you are not, please contact us to find out more about how you can help (www.richmondspca.org/volunteer).

Happy New Year to all!!

Sarah Babcock is the chief of education and training at the Richmond SPCA. To read Sarah's biography or those of our other regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

From the bottom of our hearts

The Richmond SPCA Education & Training Department would like to take this holiday opportunity to thank

…all the people who take their dogs through our classes,
…all the people who attend our lecture classes,
…all the people who celebrate their child’s birthday with us,
…all the people who bring their dog in for behavior consultations,
…all the people who purchase training aids and literature from our retail shop,
…all the people who benefit from our children’s summer camp,
…all the people who seek further education for their club or small group,
...all the leaders who bring their scout troops to visit and help,
…all the people from our school systems who bring their children for a tour of our facility, 

Not only do the efforts you make help to further educate your pet, your children and yourselves, but the donations you make for those services help find homes for pets without.  For that, we are very, very grateful.  We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. 

Marie Tripton is the senior behavior and training specialist of the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before submitting a comment, please review our commenting guidelines.

Take your canines back to school

All the kids are back in school. Maybe it's time to consider the same for Petunia and Marmaduke…?

• Did you know that dogs and puppies LOVE taking classes at the Richmond SPCA, because our training methods are humane and based on reinforcing good behavior, instead of setting the dog up to fail and practice unwanted behavior?
• Did you know that socialization in the first 16 weeks of life may be the most important thing that you can possibly provide for your new puppy --- and that we can help with that socialization through our Good Start Puppy classes?
• Did you know that young dogs are like little sponges and can learn almost anything if you start early and know how to avoid the stumbling blocks associated with canine “teenagers”? Did you know that our Surviving Adolescence class addresses just those issues?
• Did you know you CAN teach an old dog new tricks and in fact, we LOVE doing just that?
• Did you know that the Richmond SPCA offers over 35 classes each week and that new classes start every 8 weeks or so?
• Did you know our most popular class, Canine Manners, is offered both during the week and on weekends as well?
• Did you know we now offer four levels of agility classes, agility spotlight classes, two levels of flyball, two levels of our popular Choose to Heel class and a variety of tricks classes via our Making Fido Famous program? Did you know that 15 of our staff and student dogs will soon be featured in commercials to air this fall?
• Did you know our classes are open to everyone, whether they adopted from our facility or not, that our class sizes are usually very small, that our prices are extremely competitive and that class information can be found here?
• Did you know that we can answer many behavior and training questions via our behavior helpline (behaviorhelpline@richmondspca.org and 804-643-SPCA) for free? And if you want help developing a training plan or addressing a behavior issue, did you know that you can schedule a one-on-one consult with one of our behavior experts for just a $20 donation?

What’s that? You didn’t know all that?? Well…now you do. :-)

Did you know that your dog is counting on you for continuing education? Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help AT ALL. Happy training!!

Sarah Babcock is the chief of education and training for the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines.  Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name. 

Inspiration comes in many forms

This summer the Richmond SPCA has received a lot of support from children and teens who have spent their coveted free time raising funds for orphaned animals. Their efforts, which have ranged from lemonade stands to pet food collections, have brought to mind my first foray into the world of fundraising. It all started with the “Horse Fund,” which grew out of the hopes and dreams of a generation of animal-loving cousins who shared long summer days and a deep wish to own a horse.

 

No strangers to the pleadings of children with too much time and imagination, our grandparents Grace and Ray Erhardt struck a deal. If we cousins could raise the money to buy a horse, he could be kept at their Hanover County home. Over time the fund, which was kept in a vase over the fireplace and counted with great fervor at the start of every visit, grew as our collective interest in horse riding declined.

 

What to do with all of that money?! After much deliberation it was decided that we would "Adopt a Living Thing" at Maymont. We became the protectors of our very own Mallard duck, and I can still remember the magic of wondering which duck was “ours” during frequent trips to the park.

 

Adopting our Mallard brought our family a lot of joy, and the gratitude with which our donation was received led me to a lifetime of volunteer service and a career that I’m very proud of. I hope that the young people who have labored on behalf of the orphaned animals at the Richmond SPCA this summer are equally inspired!

 

Maya Erhardt is manager of community development for the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here.  Before submitting a comment, please review our commenting guidelines.

Communicating with canines through rewards

"What’s that Lassie?! Timmy’s in the well!!"  

Dogs are not born understanding English and we, unbeknownst to Lassie’s family, are not born understanding dog.  Although we can come to a common understanding of some terms with appropriate training and practice. 

Many of us train our dogs daily.  We train them that reaching for the leash means we’re going for a walk.  We train them that opening the cupboard means dinner is about to be served.  We teach them that our sitting on the sofa means lap time.  The key method we use to train these terms is consistent rewarding repetition.  People are naturally very skilled trainers. 

Unfortunately many of us fail to use the same method when training more helpful skills like sit when people approach, stay when the door is opened, or come when I call you.  Instead of showing our dogs what we would like them to do, we get excited, flail our arms and raise our voices when they don’t do what we like.  I can’t imagine how un-intelligent we would be if this is how our public education system worked.  And yet we persist in noisily pointing out their errors instead of finding better ways to help them understand.  Learning almost never happens in a straight line for people or animals.  Dogs will make mistakes.  Our responsibility as their educators is to ensure frequent, successful, reward-able behaviors.  Frequent mistakes may indicate that you have not yet found a successful way to communicate what you want – not what you don’t want.  If you find your dog responds only infrequently to your requests, talk with one of our reward-based trainers at  (804) 643-7722 or e-mail behaviorhelpline@richmondspca.org.  We are happy to provide some new ideas to help you and your dog communicate more effectively.

And, for what it’s worth, sounding out words for your dogs repeatedly and more loudly does not make your point any clearer to them than it would for anyone else who doesn’t speak English. 

Marie Tripton is the senior behavior and training specialist of the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before submitting a comment, please review our commenting guidelines.

Hinkle's apt assessment of officer-involved shootings of canines

Our regularly scheduled Frivolous Friday Felines will be up soon, but first, something more serious. In today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bart Hinkle’s commentary column shines a harshly revealing light on the all too common unwarranted killings of family pets by police officers. The number of cases in which officers shoot and kill dogs is shocking, and Hinkle’s column illustrates the a number of factors that contribute to this problem, including the lack of training to respond to companion animals and the lack of accountability when lethal force is used.

Virginia Should Take Steps to Forestall Doggycide, by A. Barton Hinkle, July 9, 2010

The incredibly disturbing video Hinkle references in the opening of his column can be found here on Reason Magazine’s website. 

Outdoor Dog Etiquette

Outdoors with Your Dog: Social Etiquette at the Dog Park, River, and other dog-friendly places

Summer is here.  For many dog lovers, warm weather and sunny skies means more time outdoors with your four-legged friend.  Here are just a few tips to ensure that you and your dog, as well as passersby have the most enjoyable experience possible.   

• Always make sure you bring plenty of water. A hydrated dog is a happy dog.

• Bring poop bags. No one wants dog poo on their shoe.  Clean up after your dog or the next pile might be on you!

• No Flexi leads! This is a big no-no at the river.  It is extremely important to keep your dog leashed at all times, but while at the river, please leave the retractable leash at home.  There are runners and bikers galore.  The last thing anyone wants is to have the thin cord of a flexi leash wrapped around their legs while they’re trying to get a little exercise.

• Bring treats: The perfect time to reward a great behavior is when you and your dog are outdoors together where there are plenty of distractions.  Practice sit, stay, or shake to help your dog master some of the tricks he/she already does in the comfort of a quiet home.  Or, if your dog is a little wary of strangers, become a “treat dispenser” with tiny bits of treats as a person walks by.

• Prevention: Protect your pup from heartworms or fleas.  Flea and heartworm prevention medicine can eliminate a slew of costly vet visits. Also, make sure your dog is up to date on his/her vaccinations.  It’s the law, and it could protect them from wildlife or any other unvaccinated animals that could be carrying harmful diseases.

• Have fun: Be sure to bring one of your dog’s favorite toys.  With so much to see, and so many smells, even the most mild-mannered mutt might be tempted to sniff out some mischief.  Always keep an enticing or interactive toy handy for your furry friend to stay busy with while you’re busy or socializing.

The most important thing of all might be to make sure your dog wants to go out into the sunny and social atmosphere with you.  Just because you like his company while you go on a jog, hike, or social outing doesn’t mean your dog will enjoy the adventure.  While you're outdoors, make sure your dog is having a tail-wagging good time.  Chances are if Fido is standing off to the side with his tail tucked, he’d rather be at home gnawing on his favorite toy or curled up in his favorite sleeping spot.

*Many items great for outdoor experiences with your dog are available for purchase in the Lora Robins gift shop at the Richmond SPCA.  Best of all, all proceeds from your purchases directly benefit the homeless pets in our care!

Abby Waller is the retail and front desk coordinator for the Richmond SPCA. To read biographies of our other bloggers, please click here. Before submitting a comment, please review our guidelines.

Critter Camp teaches lessons of compassion

Summer has finally arrived; your kids are out of school and the temperatures are rising.  If you’re trying to find fun and educational outlets for your children then your solution is as close as the Richmond SPCA.  We offer a Critter Camp that is designed for children ages 6 to 10 and consists of a one-week session dedicated to education and fun.  Each day is themed and allows participants to learn more about how we care for animals at the Robins-Starr Humane Center.  Some of the many children’s activities during camp include dog training, basic animal care and safety, and vet care.  This camp gives animal lovers the chance to enjoy a hands-on week in our state-of-the-art facility.  Critter Camp is also very convenient; it lasts for 5 days, Monday through Friday, and you get to pick between morning (9 a.m. to Noon) and afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) sessions. Camp is $150 per child, per weekly session. There is space for 20 children in each session.

We want to make Critter Camp a possibility for everyone and we’re giving you a chance to help.  You can make a donation to our Camp Scholarship Fund, which ensures all children will have the opportunity to learn compassion and love for all living things.  Education is important at an early age and combined with our fun camp children will be eager to learn the proper way to care for animals.  Please consider donating so that children interested in this camp will be given the chance to participate. 

More information about Critter Camp can be found on our website at www.richmondspca.org or by calling Phyllis Harris at 804-521-1327.

Lisa Clarke is the volunteers and community relations assistant for the Richmond SPCA. To read biographies of our other bloggers, please click here.