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6A Daily News – Saturday, November 17, 2012 healthPetsactivities & When you go on holiday, where do your pets go? BY DAVID AARON MOORE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (MCT) Though Grandma may welcome the kids with open arms as fami- lies travel for holiday visits, bringing along the family pet may elicit a different response. So what do you do when your canine buddy or feline pal can't join in the holiday fun? Here are some options: BOARDING Boarding is particu- larly popular among dog owners, but pet lovers say to book early as slots in kennels and veterinar- ians' offices fill up early. "I will take Gus (a bull mastiff) to Doguroo," said Stuart Krauss, a resident of Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. "He likes to play and enjoys the company of other dogs, so the social environ- ment for him when he goes there is a lot of fun." Doguroo is one of many facilities in metro Atlanta that offer a vari- ety of boarding and care services. "We are a full-service dog care facility," said Doguroo co-owner Eileen Kelly. "We've also partnered with Petwell Veterinary Service, which is in the same building we are," she said. Kelly's company, like many others, requires boarding candidates to visit in advance to deter- mine their compatibility in a canine group envi- ronment. Quality facili- ties also require proof of vaccines. howling wolf in him Q: We have two Westies that are brothers and now 6 years old. Whenever a siren goes off or an airplane flies overhead or even when we play certain music, one of the dogs will howl over and over until the noise stops. The other dog just ignores the noise or else will actual- ly bark at his brother as if to tell him to be quiet. We thought that perhaps it was a problem with the one dog's ears. The vet said that the dog was fine and that "some dogs just do this." What's your opinion? A: This fascinates me as it shows how the domesti- cation process in pets from wolf to dog is not quite fin- ished in some individual animals no matter how un- wolflike they look or act. Wolves can bark like a dog, but usually only once or twice. Repetitive barking is unique to dogs and most likely was unknowingly selec- tively bred into the dog thousands of generations ago because it provided a method of signaling an alarm. A wolf's primary form of communication is the howl, but most likely early dog keepers did not find this trait use- ful to them so any dog that howled excessively was not bred and thus did not get to pass this trait on to future generations. However, it is obvious that some dogs still possess the instinct to howl and others do not. Nobody quite knows why. You have two brothers there and the one dog seems as puzzled by his sibling's howling as you do. Usually dogs that still have the howling instinct will not howl as a form of communication as wolves do but only in response to certain environmental sounds. This behav- ior, though not thoroughly understood, shows how dogs perceive frequencies of sound that are out of our audi- tory range. Westie still has some Animal Island: MCTfile photo Finding the right solution for your pet during holiday travel can be stressful. unlike dogs, don't gener- ally like to get out and play with other cats. "But we do have the option of a daily 'happy hour,' if the pet owner wishes, so their cats can have exercise and inter- action with a human," she said. "Like the cats, the dogs also have time to get out. They can play in a covered run and are let out to use the bathroom — generally twice daily — or when needed," she said. PROFESSIONAL PET SITTERS Boarding needs of a dog are different from those of a cat. "We board both dogs and cats," said Lauren Lough, a veterinarian assistant at Briarcliff Animal Hospital. "Cats, Pet sitters can be found through mutual friends or on websites such as www.petsitters.org. "I have a longtime pet sitter I've worked with for many years," said Norcross resident Laura Mason, the owner of an American tabby and a border collie. "She'll come by once daily — or twice for a slight additional charge, if I request — to make sure my animals have proper food and water," Mason said. "She'll take the dog for a walk, clean the cat's litter box and spend quality time with them. It works well for me and my two pets because I know they're safe at home and they're happy not having to be in a completely different environment." FRIENDS A good friend who gets along well with a pet may be the most eco- nomical option. There are multiple bonuses: You know the person, and the pet knows the individual, as well. 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Lic 754681 Call the Bickley Boys Your Partners in Comfort is kept, how much the pet eats and drinks daily, and whom to call in the event of an emergency. TAKING THEM WITH YOU At the end of the day, your vet's statement of "some dogs just do this" is about all that there is to say about this behavior. ——— Q: We finally got our power back and my two para- If you do take Fido and are traveling by plane, talk with the air- line about charges and potential hazards during transport. Air flight can be potentially traumatiz- ing, and many airlines require sedation for the pet. If you're driving, it can be fun, or a night- mare, pet owners said. Cats generally don't enjoy car rides, unless socialized from youth. If you're traveling in a car with an older, inexperi- enced cat, keep the cat safe in a kennel. Don't forget to bring a small portable litter box. Generally, dogs see road trips as a fun out- ing. keets seemed to have gotten through it OK. Since we had no heat in our house for a week, do I have to be worried that they may have gotten a cold or some other illness? We kept them wrapped up in a blanket and they seem just fine, but I always thought pet birds needed to be kept warm to keep them from getting sick. A: Bacterial infections and different viruses make birds sick — not cool temperatures. Being exposed to cool temps for a long period of time can lower a bird's resistance to fighting off different types of bacteria, thus the bird can get sick this way, but it has nothing to do with the temp itself. This is why it is so important that birds have a spotless cage to live in and drinking and feeding dishes that are clean to prevent the birds from coming in contact with the bacteria in the first place. FOR THE LOVE OF PETS Pet keepers who lost their homes due to superstorm Sandy went to great lengths to be sure that their pets were well taken care of, and so many did whatever was in their power to find alternate housing for them. I overheard many people who do not keep pets mut- ter that people like us were a bit odd for going out of our way for an animal in such a time of crisis. They have no idea how these animals could be so important to some people. We humans crave consistency in our lives and will It looks like you did a fine job in this stressful time. ——— "I always make sure I bring along doggie treats, chew toys and a pallet," Krauss said. "Sometimes soothing music can add to the experience. I've found it helps keep my dog calm. The important thing is to try and make them feel as much at home as pos- sible, even though they're not." Another important consideration is if you're planning any overnight stays at a hotel. 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