up - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-28T21:19:15Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/upPaws Up for Pets: Stuck inside? Perhaps it’s time for playful getaway with your pethttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-stuck-inside-perhaps-it-s-time-for-playful-getaw2020-09-01T17:53:38.000Z2020-09-01T17:53:38.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960962062,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960962062,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960962062?profile=original" /></a>Costa d’Este Beach Resort in Vero Beach offers humans a free stay if an accompanying pet pays a rate starting at $184 a night. <em><strong>Photo provided by Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p>Raise your paw, er hand, if you are feeling a little stir-crazy. Got a dose of cabin fever due to the worldwide pandemic that seems to hover over Florida?</p>
<p>The silver lining for many stuck at home since mid-March is having a safe companion who never disagrees on which Netflix show to binge watch next. Yep, I’m referring to our dogs and cats, who have sacrificed oodles of me-alone-at-home nap time to cuddle and console us during our many moods.</p>
<p>Paws up for pets, for sure. At this stage of the coronavirus, opportunities are growing for us with pets to engage in safe activities and to take short getaways to pet-welcoming places. If you are ready to sport your mask, bring plenty of gloves and hand sanitizer, the</p>
<p>Visit Florida team may have a fit for you.</p>
<p>Visit Florida represents more than 13,000 tourism industry businesses throughout the Sunshine State. Recognizing that pet adoptions have surged by more than 300% since April, this group is promoting “fur-babymoon” adventures for people and their well-mannered pets.</p>
<p>From the Panhandle down to the Florida Keys, opportunities exist for you and your pet to safely paddleboard, take beach strolls, hike, sail, rent pet-friendly Airbnbs and dine outdoors.</p>
<p>One of the most fetching options includes free stays for people at the Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa in Vero Beach. The catch?</p>
<p>Their accompanied dogs must pay daily rates from $184 a night.</p>
<p>“We put a playful spin on a traditional hotel package from the dog’s perspective,” explains Jessica Milton, regional director of public relations for Benchmark Global Hospitality. “This is a small hotel with 94 rooms, so you won’t be walking into a massive resort. The hotel has plenty of safe things to do outside and definitely will pamper your dog with a beachside dog massage, water bowls and toys your dog can take home, use of a plush doggie bed in the room and even a doggie menu that includes Muttballs.”</p>
<p>Lisa Radosta, DVM, a veterinarian who operates the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service in West Palm Beach, recently spent a month living in a pet-friendly hotel while her family’s new house was being completed. Their old home sold quickly, so the entire family, including Maverick, a Labrador retriever, and a cat named Chewie were hotel dwellers.</p>
<p>“We chose the hotel based on the fact that they took pets and that we would have enough room (a suite) for us and both pets,” she says. “Factors to consider when traveling with your pets these days definitely include the ability to have space for the pets, a place to safely walk pets and pet-friendly restaurants and attractions nearby.”</p>
<p>Equally important is knowing your pet’s temperament and adaptability to being in new places with new sights, sounds and smells.<br /> When they arrived, their normally easygoing Maverick had issues with the hotel elevator. But having a veterinary behaviorist for a pet parent helped as Radosta steadily built up Maverick’s exposure to elevator rides.</p>
<p>“My husband and I are pretty fit, so we took the four flights of stairs up and down as much as possible to give Maverick a break from the elevator,” she says. “We learned that he needed treats before he got on the elevator and tolerated the ride much better if I asked him to lie down. He rides the elevator just fine now.”</p>
<p>If you want to bring your pet on a day trip or overnight at a hotel, vacation rental, RV campground or cabin in a park, Radosta advises making a pros/cons list with your pet’s needs and personality in mind.</p>
<p>Some pets are genuine homebodies, who prefer staying at home under the care of a professional pet sitter who is practicing CDC health and safety guidelines. Dogs feeling stressed may chew or damage hotel furniture or bark excessively.</p>
<p>“You can’t come and go as you please on vacation, because you have to go back to the RV or hotel to take care of your pets,” Radosta adds.</p>
<p>Know your pet’s likes and dislikes.</p>
<p>“Going out with your dog is really fun — for you! Is it fun for your dog?” she says. “If not, take some time to get your dog used to going to the beach or getting on the kayak before you expect him to spend significant amounts of time in that activity.”</p>
<p>For well-socialized pets, however, such trips are viewed as added adventures spent with their favorite humans. Never before has the unconditional love unleashed on us by our pets felt so good.</p>
<p><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>If You Go...</strong></span><br />Taking COVID-19 precautions into account, numerous pet-welcoming places and activities are available in the Sunshine State. To learn more, go to <a href="http://www.VisitFlorida.com">www.VisitFlorida.com</a>.<br />To learn more about Dr. Lisa Radosta’s practice, visit <a href="http://www.flvetbehavior.com">www.flvetbehavior.com</a>. Radosta is the co-author of From Fearful to Fear Free. The book spotlights the national Fear Free program created by veterinarians to reduce fear, anxiety and stress in pets at home, in the car, at veterinary clinics and during outdoor activities.</p></div>Paws Up for Pets: New books offer tips, insights and games to pet lovershttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-new-books-offer-tips-insights-and-games-to-pet-l2020-04-01T16:30:00.000Z2020-04-01T16:30:00.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960939662,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960939662,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960939662?profile=original" /></a><em>Making a treat puzzle for cats is fun and easy, if you follow the book’s instructions. <strong>Photos provided</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p>Kids and pets rule. There, I declared it. When given the opportunity, kids and pets can bring out the best in all of us. And we need the happy, healing magic of this “pawsome” duo now more than ever.</p>
<p><br /> As we all contend with this coronavirus pandemic, I’m betting that you and your family are probably going a bit stir crazy at home and looking for ways to productively spend your time together. You can’t spend a weekend at Disney World. Or catch a movie at your favorite theater. Or even chow down at your favorite pizza joint.</p>
<p><br /> I share my home with my spouse and our two dogs, Kona and Bujeau, plus four indoor cats, Casey, Mikey, Rusty and Mort. We are limiting exits out of our home to pick up takeout food or essentials at our supermarket.</p>
<p><br /> And, like you, we are using hand sanitizers, spending lots of time hand washing and practicing other heightened hygiene habits.<br /> So, I’m on a mission to bring out the wonderful kid in all of you, regardless of your age. In the pages of my just-published pair of books, A Kid’s Guide to Cats and A Kid’s Guide to Dogs, I offer all pet lovers lots of tips, insights, fun games and DIY projects to boost that bond you have with your pets and your family members.</p>
<p><br /> My books feature running sidebars with “comments” unleashed from Pet Safety Dog Kona and Pet Safety Cat Casey to readers. These shelter alums are also certified therapy pets, who travel all over the country to assist me in our pet first aid and pet behavior classes.</p>
<p><br /> Casey, my comical, confident orange tabby, for example, explains why cats are branded finicky in his response: “It’s true that we’re more selective about what we eat than our canine chowhounds. Perhaps one reason is that cats have only 473 taste buds (dogs have 1,700!), so we like food that has a lot of flavor, which usually means it smells strongly, too, like fish. Yum!”</p>
<p><br /> In one of Kona’s sidebars, my sweet and smart terrier mix shares this canine insight: “Woof! Hello! Hola! Did you know dogs are multilingual? We speak Dog, of course, but we all know some human words. In fact, I speak five languages: Dog, English, Spanish, sign language and a little Cat.</p>
<p><br /> “Arden taught me sit and come in English, Spanish and sign language, so she can communicate with me without saying a word if we are at a busy, noisy place. As for Cat, I know to approach my feline sibs when they’re purring and to back off if they hiss!”</p>
<p><br /> Here are some tips to share with your pet-loving family from the pages of these books published by Storey and available on Amazon.com:</p>
<p><br /> • Cats are good for your health. Petting your cat can release calming brain chemicals, lower blood pressure and slow your heart rate. <br /> • Dogs are better at reading human body language and postures than people are at interpreting canine body language. So, choose your words, tone and body language carefully when “chatting with” your dog.<br /> • A cat’s tongue features spiky barbs that aid in grooming, lapping up water and scraping meat from a bone.<br /> • Fend off boredom in the house by creating a makeshift mini-obstacle course for your dog. Balance a broom on two piles of books or a couple of large cans and encourage your dog to hop over it. With your dog on a short lead, have him weave between a line of objects on the living room floor, such as paper plates, books or small pillows. <br /> Here are a couple fun do-it-yourself projects to create:<br /> • Give new life to an old, hard-sided suitcase by transforming it into a cozy bed for your dog. Decorate the interior lid with your dog’s name and use the pocket to hold a favorite toy. Stuff a pillow into the larger side of the opened suitcase. To keep the lid from closing, attach a block of wood or a strap of fabric to the back of the suitcase with heavy-duty glue. <br /> • Create a treat puzzle toy for your cat. Cut two or three holes along the length of a toilet paper tube — just a little larger than the size of the treats. Decorate the toilet tube with a funny cat face using crayons. Fold down the sides of one end to close the tube. Drop in a few cat treats into the tube and fold the other end shut. Call your cat over and encourage him to paw at it to release the treats. <br /> My wish for all of you is to recognize the many benefits our cats and dogs give us every day. It goes without saying, that pets do a body good.</p>
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<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960939685,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960939685,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960939685?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p><br /> <strong>Win an autographed book from Arden</strong><br /> Want to get your paws on my new books? In two or three sentences, email me how your cat or dog makes your life better. Send a photo of you with your pet if you wish. I will choose a winner for each book, A Kid’s Guide to Dogs and A Kid’s Guide to Cats, and announce the winners in next month’s column. Send email to: arden@ardenmoore.com. Deadline to submit is April 14.</p>
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<p><em>Arden Moore, founder of fourleggedlife.com, is an animal behavior expert and host of the Oh Behave! show on petliferadio.com. Learn more at <a href="http://www.ardenmoore.com">www.ardenmoore.com</a>.</em></p></div>Paws Up for Pets: Adopted cat makes smooth leap from circus to forever homehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-adopted-cat-makes-smooth-leap-from-circus-to-for2020-03-03T20:00:00.000Z2020-03-03T20:00:00.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960920864,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960920864,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="7960920864?profile=original" /></a><em>Arden Moore’s newest pet, Rusty, is an adopted cat who used to perform on stage with animal trainer Samantha Martin and the Amazing Acro-Cats. <strong>Photo provided by Suzanne C. Grim</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p>With the exception of my orange tabby, Casey, whom I selected from a shelter five years ago, every cat and kitten in my life since childhood has shown up unexpectedly.</p>
<p><br /> This is in contrast to the dogs I’ve adopted. Each one — except Cleo, who was found wandering the streets with no ID tags or microchip — was thoroughly vetted by me and temperament tested before being welcomed into the family.</p>
<p><br /> For those of you who have cats and dogs, does this sound way too familiar?</p>
<p><br /> So, why am I surprised that I flew home from a major conference for shelter workers and cat rescuers in January with a new orange tabby kitten named Rusty?</p>
<p><br /> This is no ordinary kitten. Sure, like far too many young felines, he had a crappy beginning. He was found as an orphaned, hungry kitten in a dumpster in Georgia. He needed two medicinal baths to rid the fleas covering his body. He had to be bottle fed and kept warm in a makeshift incubator to regain his health and strength.</p>
<p><br /> But talk about a cat comeback. By 6 months, this loves-to-learn, sweet little guy was performing on stage with renowned animal trainer Samantha Martin and the Amazing Acro-Cats in New Orleans for three weeks in December.</p>
<p><br /> In mid-January, Martin brought Rusty and some other members of her feline troupe to The Acatemy conference in Dulles, Virginia, where we both were speakers. My talk was on “Fear Free Pets” — how to use low-stress handling on kittens and cats in homes, veterinary clinics, shelters and in vehicles. I also taught a veterinarian-approved cat first aid/CPR class with the help of pet safety cat Casey, who has been my teaching assistant for nearly five years.</p>
<p><br /> Martin and I have been friends for many years. She has a knack for finding talent in strays and shelter animals. Her go-to training tools are a target stick and a clicker, plus plenty of treats and positive-reinforcement praise.</p>
<p><br /> Clicker training involves “marking” a desired behavior like a sit or sit up with pressing down on a metal clicker as soon as the act is done and then immediately handing over a treat and eventually pairing that act with a phrase, such as “Good sit.”</p>
<p><br /> Targeting involves using a long stick with a round end to direct an animal to move from one place to another. In the case of Rusty, it meant he sat on a mark on stage before a sold-out audience and then leaped through a hoop and landed on another platform. Again and again.</p>
<p><br /> So, at the conference, Martin shared her dilemma. She already has a pair of talented 2-year-old orange tabbies in her troupe and needed to find a home for Rusty that would continue to challenge his brain and fuel his desire to learn.</p>
<p><br /> “Arden, I know all that you do with Casey all around the country,” she began. “I know that Rusty would be a great addition to your classes and your home. I just don’t want him to go to a home where he would sit around all day and be bored.”</p>
<p><br /> That was all it took for me to say yes. It is rare to adopt so young a kitten who has so many talents and social skills. Another bonus: Rusty really loves other animals. He quickly made friends with Casey as well as my dogs, Kona and Bujeau, and our senior cat, Mikey.</p>
<p><br /> About 10 days after adopting him, I brought Rusty to one of my Pet First Aid 4U classes — along with my seasoned team of Kona and Casey. Students were able to practice proper hand placement on Rusty to perform simulated kitty CPR and even wrap his front leg in our how-to-bandage-a-bleed demo. Yes, he purred the whole time.</p>
<p><br /> He also came racing my way when I whistled.</p>
<p><br /> So, what are the plans for this young, gotta-perform feline? I will continue to expand his trick repertoire and expose him in positive ways to all types of scenarios, such as riding in a pet stroller, walking on a leash and meeting people of all backgrounds and accepting being held.</p>
<p><br /> When he turns 1, I hope he will join Kona and Casey and become a certified therapy pet who will entertain kids in schools and animal shelters, as well as residents in memory care centers.</p>
<p><br /> Rusty is no ordinary kitten and my promise to him is that he will live an extraordinary life.</p>
<p><br /> Please share how you came to adopt a special cat or dog and how that adoption has enriched the pet’s life and your own. Send them to me at fourleggedlife@gmail.com.</p>
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<p><br /><strong>More about the Amazing Acro-Cats</strong><br />This circus troupe of domestic cats — plus a groundhog, a few rats and other small animals — was founded by animal trainer Samantha Martin. The group also includes the Rock Cats, a feline musical band. Based just south of Atlanta, the Amazing Acro-Cats tours and performs throughout the United States. This is a nonprofit group that donates to animal shelters and lives its motto: “Saving Cats One Click at a Time.” Find more information and show dates at <a href="http://www.circuscats.com">www.circuscats.com</a>.</p>
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<p><em>Arden Moore, founder of fourleggedlife.com, is an animal behavior expert and host of the Oh Behave! show on petliferadio.com. Learn more at <a href="http://www.ardenmoore.com">www.ardenmoore.com</a>.</em></p></div>Paws Up for Pets: Have a new dog? Trainer can help you smooth the transitionhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-have-a-new-dog-trainer-can-help-you-smooth-the-t2020-01-28T20:16:09.000Z2020-01-28T20:16:09.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960918867,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960918867,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960918867?profile=original" /></a><em>Shay Maimoni, founder of Loxahatchee-based Woof Dogs, has trained dogs for many roles, including police, service and therapy. With him here is Asia, a 6-year-old Dutch shepherd who is a trained patrol and drug detection dog. <strong>Photo provided</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p>Whether you recently adopted a puppy or rescued a dog from an animal shelter, brace yourself for the first year you share with that canine. I dub it the Wonder Year.</p>
<p><br /> You wonder where your sanity went. Unfortunately, fast-growing pups do not come with owner’s manuals. Shelter adoptees often need time to adjust to life inside your home.</p>
<p><br /> Yep, expect shoes to be chewed, potty piddles to dampen your rugs and plenty of puppy mischief to occur. And, kiss goodbye your uninterrupted sleep at night as your pup’s bladder develops and he works on his bathroom etiquette skills.</p>
<p><br /> But these disruptions and destructions are worth it. With the right training, your canine pal will blossom into a well-mannered dog you are proud to take on walks and trips and hang out with at home.</p>
<p><br /> During this time of year, a lot of pups and dogs are trying to adjust in homes after being adopted during the holidays. The best gift you can give your new pet is to invest the time and patience to school him on the basic doggy commands like sit, stay and leave it, as well as hone his social skills in meeting other dogs and people and walking politely on a leash.</p>
<p><br /> That’s why I reached out to Shay Maimoni, head dog trainer and founder of Woof Dogs, where his team’s motto is, “We speak your dog’s language.”</p>
<p><br />Born in Israel, Maimoni didn’t grow up with a dog. But while he served in the Israeli Navy and then the Air Force, his officers noticed the natural affinity he had working with the military dogs in training.</p>
<p><br /> “I asked a lot of questions to the canine handlers on the base and after feeding and walking the dogs, I got to get into dog training and the head of the base told me that I was a natural at it,” says Maimoni.</p>
<p><br /> He moved to Florida, and for nearly two decades he has trained all types of dogs, including police dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, aggressive dogs as well as friendly family dogs that needed to learn doggy manners.</p>
<p><br /> He continues to expand his knowledge of dogs and is an in-demand speaker at dog training and behavior conferences. Recently, he launched a dog trainer school at Woof Dogs for people interested in entering this profession.</p>
<p><br /> When it comes to working with aggression in dogs of any size, Maimoni follows three rules:</p>
<p><br />“Ignore fear, encourage curiosity and correct aggression immediately,” he says. “Never pet a dog if he is afraid or shows signs of fearful aggression. Use praise and treats to encourage desired behaviors and if a dog lunges at another dog or a person, correct that dog immediately with a leash and collar.”</p>
<p><br /> Because no two dogs are alike in temperament or attitude, Maimoni customizes training for his clients.</p>
<p><br /> Among them is Ellen DeRogatis of Delray Beach. Ten years ago, she hired Maimoni to help her train Bonaparte, a bichon frisé affectionately nicknamed Bones. Her beloved dog died recently and DeRogatis is back for training tips for her bichon frisé pup named Cassidy.</p>
<p><br /> “What Shay does in dog training is just magic,” says DeRogatis. “When Shay worked with Bones and me, my dog listened to him immediately. He understands dogs and taught me. I had the most excellent pet in Bones and I owe that to Shay. Now, he is working with me and Cassidy. He makes it easy to learn.”</p>
<p><br /> The happy and fast-growing Cassidy is learning sit, down and come, as well as resisting the urge to leap up to greet guests in the home DeRogatis shares with her husband, Brad Keller.</p>
<p><br /> For her, training Cassidy is worth the time and the financial investment.</p>
<p><br /> “Training enables you to have a pet you can really enjoy without the worry of the dog damaging your things, jumping on guests or doing annoying things,” she says. “Shay is teaching Cassidy and me about being consistent and repetitive in our training sessions.”</p>
<p><br /> Maimoni shares his home in Loxahatchee with UT, a Belgian Malinois; Harley, a German shepherd he rescued from being chained in a backyard; Auggie, a Dutch shepherd; Lychee, a senior Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and Onyx, a Staffordshire bull terrier.</p>
<p><br /> With his dogs, training is always part of the daily routine. Maimoni has used all the tools, including his training techniques plus the use of CBD oil to tame thunderstorm phobias in Auggie and improve mobility in 14-year-old Lychee.</p>
<p><br /> “With dogs, it is generally all about giving guidance and building trust so that they feel comfortable around you and then are open to learning,” he says. “I feel very fortunate to be able to devote my life to training dogs and their people.”</p>
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<p>For more information on Woof Dogs’ one-on-one, in-home training, group classes and its doggy boot camp, please click on <a href="https://woofdogs.com" target="_blank">https://woofdogs.com</a>. If you are interested in becoming a dog trainer, learn more at <a href="https://edu.woofdogs.com">https://edu.woofdogs.com</a>.</p>
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<p><em>Arden Moore, founder of fourleggedlife.com, is an animal behavior expert and host of the Oh Behave! show on petliferadio.com. Learn more at <a href="http://www.ardenmoore.com">www.ardenmoore.com</a>.</em></p></div>Paws up for Pets: County sets ambitious goal for adoptable animals: Zero left overhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-county-sets-ambitious-goal-for-adoptable-animals2015-07-29T14:03:03.000Z2015-07-29T14:03:03.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960587900,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960587900,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="7960587900?profile=original" /></a></strong><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960587900,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a>Rich Anderson, executive director of the Peggy Adams Rescue League, with Manny — one of the large dogs seeking a forever home. <strong>Photo courtesy Michelle Christmann</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p>Sometimes, zero can be the most powerful number. It can be a mighty big challenge to achieve zero, but determined animal advocates here in Palm Beach County are teaming up to count down to a very special zero.<br /> Circle the date — Saturday, Sept. 12 — on your calendars, pet lovers. That’s the date to head to the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach to select your best pet from among hundreds of adorable puppies, frisky kittens, well-mannered senior dogs, mellow adult cats and more critters to be showcased by two dozen local animal rescue groups at the second annual Countdown 2 Zero adoption event.<br /> Last year, the inaugural event landed 300 shelter animals permanent, loving homes. This year, the organizers want to exceed 500 adoptions en route to a more ambitious goal.<br /> “Our goal is to make sure we are saving the lives of every adoptable animal in Palm Beach County within the next nine years,” declares Rich Anderson, executive director and CEO of the Peggy Adams Rescue League. “Countdown 2 Zero is our county initiative. Peggy Adams, in partnership with the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, has a goal to make Palm Beach County a no-kill county for animals by 2024.”<br /> Currently, the county is able to find homes for about 80 percent of adoptable dogs entering its shelters but only 35 percent of cats. <br /> “That is sad because last year the county shelter had to euthanize about 4,000 cats,” notes Anderson. “This is where spay/neuter programs are becoming so critical and we are increasing our spay/neuter efforts to reduce the number of kittens born each year.”<br /> Helping our county to achieve a home for every adoptable shelter pet is Lois Pope, whose foundation, the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, happily agreed to again present Countdown 2 Zero.<br /> “I am thrilled to once again be the presenting sponsor of Countdown 2 Zero adoption event, as every animal deserves a forever home,” says Pope, a philanthropist and longtime animal advocate. “This special day will have hundreds of adorable pets waiting in line to find a loving home. I’m so happy to be a part of this event, where hundreds of precious animals will have a chance at a new life.”<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960588493,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960588493,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="538" alt="7960588493?profile=original" /></a><br /> When you head to the Countdown 2 Zero event, take it from me: Resist seeking your next BFF (best furry friend) by cute looks alone. When I adopted Chipper a decade ago, I wasn’t considering a husky mix weighing 60 pounds. I had my sights on a non-shedding puppy who would never exceed 20 pounds. But then I read Chipper’s bio online. It said she was 2 years old and had been adopted twice and returned. The biggest complaint about her: She was too energetic. But she thrived as one shelter’s behind-the-counter meet-and-greeter and was friendly to any cat she met (which was a bonus because I had two cats at the time). <br /> After spending two hours with her at the mobile pet adoption event and interacting with her, I knew she was the one for me. Our activity levels were in sync. She was smart and eager to learn.<br /> Sure, she is a super shedder and I vacuum nearly daily, but she has enriched my life in so many ways. She enjoys taking marathon walks with me and thrives as my canine teaching assistant for my pet behavior and pet first aid trainings. She is always the first to greet me when I come home.<br /> So, come to the free event with an open mind. The best match for you may be a hidden gem. Don’t dismiss that gray-muzzled dog or a serene senior cat. You may think you want one pet, but end up adopting a sibling pair.<br /> “We encourage people to think about adopting an older animal because those of us who have had puppies, know how challenging they are,” says Anderson. “With an older pet, you know his personality right away. We also encourage you to consider those types of cats and dogs who tend to take longer to find homes for, due to no fault of their own. I’m talking about black cats and what I describe as square-headed large dogs.”<br /> Final “homework” before you head to the Countdown 2 Zero event: Take the online Meet Your Match adoption personality test offered by the Peggy Adams Rescue League. Find out what type of cat or dog — personality-wise — is best suited for you by visiting <a href="http://www.peggyadams.org/meet-your-match">www.peggyadams.org/meet-your-match</a>.<br /> To learn more about this mega-adoption event, visit <a href="http://www.countdown2zero.org">www.countdown2zero.org</a>. Chipper and I hope you find the purr-fect or grrr-eatest pet who will be your BFF for many years to come. <br /> <br /><em>Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Each week, she hosts the popular Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting <a href="http://www.fourleggedlife.com">www.fourleggedlife.com</a>.</em><br /><br /></p></div>Paws Up for Pets: Call of the wild gets busy signal from our modern petshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-call-of-the-wild-gets-busy-signal-from-our-moder2015-03-04T15:59:11.000Z2015-03-04T15:59:11.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561264,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561264,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="202" class="align-left" alt="7960561264?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-4"><b>Win an Arden book!</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> <em>Got pet? In celebration of the release of my newest pet books, I am giving away a personalized, autographed copy of Fit Cat and Fit Dog to a couple of <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561286,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561286,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="202" class="align-right" alt="7960561286?profile=original" /></a>readers of The Coastal Star.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em> How? Easy. Simply email me (Arden@fourleggedlife.com) and tell me, in 100 words or fewer, how your dog or your cat has made your life better. And, if you like, attach a photo. Deadline to submit is March 18.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em> We will pick a cat and a dog winner and share the results in the April issue – no fooling! </em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p> Far too much focus has been placed on the ancestry of our dogs and cats when it comes to deciphering why our pets do what they do. In truth, our modern-day pets share far more similar wants and needs to us two-leggers than they do to wolves and lions who prowled the planet centuries ago when there was no electricity, no highways and certainly no pet-welcoming hotels.</p>
<p> Chances are high that the canines and felines under your roof are fully vested 21st-century pets enjoying plenty of perks. Admit it: Our pets influence us in what we buy, where we live and how we decorate our homes. </p>
<p> The cats in your grandparents’ day likely lived outdoors and slept in barns or trees and existed on a diet of mice. Today’s felines are apt to live exclusively indoors with access to lots of comfy napping spots, fortifying commercial food and regularly scooped litter boxes. </p>
<p> The dogs a few generations ago roamed the neighborhoods, rarely saw veterinarians for wellness care and most likely ate table scraps. Dogs in 2015 tend to sport personalized collars, engage in organized sports like agility or dock diving and head to a designated spot on your bed at night. I’m betting you even tolerate your dog’s snoring more than your partner’s!</p>
<p> As for me, I happily share my home with four rescues, a pair of dogs named Chipper and Cleo, and a tabby duo answering (sometimes) to the names Murphy and Casey. They inspired me to focus my newest pet books (No. 25 and 26, if you’re counting) on catering to today’s pets.</p>
<p> The books, published by Firefly, were just released and are aptly titled, <i>Fit Cat: Tips & Tricks to Give Your Pet a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life</i>, and <i>Fit Dog</i> (bearing the same subtitle). Think of these books as your customized guide to all things C.A.T. and D.O.G. </p>
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<p><b>A few feline insights</b></p>
<p><i> Invest in litter box hideaways.</i> Achieve a win-win for you and your cat by furnishing discreet litter boxes tucked inside decorative end tables or other pieces of furniture. Just remember to scoop daily.</p>
<p><i> Throw on the towel.</i> Keep yourself safe — and your cat calm — by wrapping him in a thick bath towel when he is injured or sick and needs to be transported to the veterinary clinic. Do not attempt to scruff him by the neck to pick him up to place him in a pet carrier because the action is likely to escalate his anger and he can swat or bite you.</p>
<p><i> Save money by recycling everyday items as cat toys.</i> Here’s a fun freebie most felines love: Toss a plastic bottle cap into an empty bathtub and watch your cat go after it like a feline hockey star.</p>
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<p><b>Some dog tips and tricks</b></p>
<p><i> Do be down in the mouth.</i> Check your dog’s gums weekly. Most dogs sport pink gums, a sure sign of health. However, the gums in ailing dogs can turn white, blue or bright red.</p>
<p><i> Speak your dog’s “language.”</i> The best way to engage in a meaningful two-way “conversation” with your dog is to speak less and stop, look and listen to what your dog is trying to tell you. If your dog is tilting his head, he may be indicating that he is fully focused on you. But if he tilts excessively or for long durations, he may be suffering from an ear infection.</p>
<p><i> Jazz up obedience training sessions.</i> Dogs, just like us, are eager to learn from teachers who make it fun. </p>
<p> So, expand from the basics like “sit” and “stay” and teach your dog some cool tricks like turning off the wall light, bringing you the tissue box or even tidying up his toys. I provide step-by-step instructions on how to do these tricks in this book and plenty more.</p>
<p> As author of these two books, I am honored to be your guide for you and your 21st-century pet. Our pets have us at <i>meow</i> and <i>bark</i>. They delight us. They fascinate us. They love us. And their physical, mental and emotional value is simply priceless. </p>
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<p><i>Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Each week, she hosts the popular Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visitingFour LeggedLife.com.</i></p></div>Paws Up for Pets: Trust can direct portion of estate to caring for pethttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-trust-can-direct-portion-of-estate-to-caring-for2014-07-02T15:30:00.000Z2014-07-02T15:30:00.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960516292,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960516292,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="527" alt="7960516292?profile=original" /></a><em>Judith and Stephen Beiner created a trust to care for Max in the event they died before the dog.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> For more than three decades, attorney Stephen Beiner has specialized in family and matrimonial law, but lately, his expertise is now happily going to the dogs — and cats, parrots and other pets.<br /> As a name partner with Beiner, Inkeles, Horvitz based in Boca Raton, Beiner credits Max, a Shih-Tzu-poodle mix he adopted from a Broward County shelter, with inspiring him to expand his legal practice to fill a needed void in Palm Beach County: pet trusts.<br /> “In my file cabinets at our law offices, there must be more than 1,000 wills and trusts I’ve prepared for my clients,” notes Beiner. “I interview each client in depth, asking about their children, grandchildren and any special children or individuals they want included in their trusts. But it never occurred to me to ask about pets until my wife, Judith, and I adopted Max.”<br /> Three years ago, Max, now 5, unleashed his canine charm on Beiner at the shelter. When Beiner picked up Max out of the cage to hug him, Max delivered a friendly dog kiss to his cheek. That’s all it took for Beiner to be smitten and since that day, their friendship has only grown stronger. <br /> “Max gives me abundant, continual love every day and I have a responsibility to Max to keep my promise that if, God forbid, my wife and I should die before him that Max won’t be abandoned again and won’t end up in a shelter again.”<br /> In Florida and the other states, pets are still considered chattel (personal property) in the eyes of the legal system. As such, a person cannot legally leave any or all of his estate directly to a pet. <br /> “You can’t leave money to a dog, just like you can’t leave money to your living room sofa,” <b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404313196876_28933"></b>he says.<br /> However, the immeasurable value of pets as cherished members of families is shifting legal sentiment. In recent years, legislators in Florida and 32 other states enacted laws that allow for the creation of care trusts for surviving pets whose owners become hospitalized, incapacitated or die.<br /> Without legal instructions spelling out the fate of pets who outlive their owners, far too many become abandoned or surrendered to shelters where, if not adopted, they are euthanized to make way for new arrivals. <br /> Beiner did not want this to happen to Max. So, he drew up a legally binding pet trust that spells out specific care instructions for Max, including his meals (featuring organic ground beef and grain-free commercial dog food), his five daily walks and much more. He set aside funds, named a primary pet guardian, two back up guardians and a trustee.<br /> “The trustee is in charge of managing the funds, investing the funds and supervising the pet guardian to make sure Max is walked and fed as promised,” he says. “I have found that I have a lot of clients who feel about their dogs and other pets as my wife and I do about Max.”<br /> Word about Beiner’s “legal beagle” pet trust expertise is spreading. His typical pet trust document numbers about 40 pages and includes identifying the pet’s veterinarian. He is attracting clients from other law firms that do not yet offer pet trusts.<br /> “I even had one person who heard about me and the pet trusts tell me that she doesn’t have a pet, but said she felt I sounded like a person with a heart because of how much I care about Max and she said that I was the type of person she wanted to have as her attorney,” says Beiner.<br /> The bottom line: Pet care trusts give pet lovers peace of mind in knowing that provisions will be made to provide a quality life for their surviving pets.<br /> “With a pet trust, what you are conveying to your pet is that ‘I will protect you. I will always be there for you and if I can’t, I will make sure that someone will be there for you and you will never be abandoned,’ ” says Beiner.<br /> And, yes, his pet trusts even cover species whose life spans can easily exceed 40 years: horses and parrots.<br /> Learn more: According to the ASPCA, more than a half-million pets are euthanized annually because their owners died or were transferred to nursing care facilities and did not leave any legal-binding care instructions for their pets. <br /></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404313196876_28398" class="yiv7789062690MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404313196876_28399" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;"> Learn more about pet trusts by contacting Beiner at his law office at</span> <a id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404313196876_28943" target="_blank" href="http://www.beinerlaw.com" name="yui_3_16_0_1_1404313196876_28943"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404313196876_28942" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;">www.beinerlaw.com</span></a> <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404313196876_28941" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;">or (561) 750-1800.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong><br /> <br /></strong> <em> Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Each week, she hosts the popular Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting <a href="http://www.fourleggedlife.com">www.fourleggedlife.com</a>.</em></p></div>