We often are asked “Why do I need to get the rabies vaccine if my pets never go outside where they can be exposed to rabies?” The simple answer is any indoor pet can get loose and run out the door. In addition, rabid animals do not act like normal animals and there are accounts of [...]
Summer is a great time filled with swimming, hiking, and playing in the yard with our faithful friends. As the summer comes to a close and parents send their children back to school, it is important to remember that our four legged friends may feel lonely after having their best buddies home all summer. As [...]
Deaf Dog Awareness Week was created to bring awareness to owning a deaf dog. Deaf dogs make great pets, and some people will argue, listen more than their dog that is not deaf. Watch Joe’s Dog Pack Story. Dogs can become deaf in many of the same ways that humans can: injury, old age or [...]
It is a sunny summer day, the perfect day to get out of the house and enjoy the weather. Many well-meaning owners take their pets along for a ride while running errands, only to end up at their veterinarian with a critically ill pet. It is important to understand hot car safety. Veterinarians hear it every [...]
Officer Jeff Portock, one of the officers in the Pottstown Police Department’s K-9 Unit, began his career in the United States Air Force, where his training and work with explosive detecting dogs began. I was delighted when he agreed to share his wonderful story about Cliff with me - a military dog and his [...]
Splish Splash … if there is a puddle, pond, creek or just raining outside my Maggie, a Labrador retriever celebrates!! She splashes through puddles on our walks and sticks her nose in the air to smell the rain. Her favorite activity is retrieving sticks in the local creeks. She is a true water dog. [...]
In Part 2 of our series, we are focusing on one of the highest skilled canines, the police dog. The police dog and his handler together make up a K-9 unit. The majority of police dogs are German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Belgian Malinois. The key attributes of successful police dogs are intelligence, aggression, strength, and sense of smell. Only [...]
Three-part series on working dogs that make the world a better place. Part One: Assistance Dogs Assistance dogs not only provide a specific service to their handlers, but also greatly enhance the quality of their lives with a new sense of freedom and independence. Below is a description of each type from Assistance Dogs International [...]
All dogs even nice ones can bite. It is proven each year as millions and millions of dog bites are recorded. The best way to prevent it is through education. Each year during the 3rd week of May, we focus on dog bite prevention. In Montgomery County alone there are a reported 1500-1600 dog bites annually. [...]
You walk down the street and see a service dog coming with their handler. Though it may be tempting to treat a service dog just like a family pet… here are some tips from PetMD to make sure you are using the proper etiquette. Speaking to the Service Dog Team That's right, the service dog [...]