A Brief Biology of Cannabis

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 20, 2017

Cannabis sativa is believed to have evolved in the Steppes of Central Asia in an area that is now Mongolia and southern Siberia. Two additional strains, C. indica and C. ruderalis, are also native to Asia. It is a dioecious plant, meaning it appears as separate male and female forms, although hermaphroditism (expressing characteristics of both sexes) does occur. The highest concentration of psychotropic compounds comes from the flowers of the female plants. Cannabis produces a wide range of chemicals known as cannabinoids, of which tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most recognized and understood. When taken into the body, THC has a psychoactive effect (causes a “high”), whereas CBD does not. Both compounds, and potentially many other cannabinoids that are less well known, affect the endocannabinoid system, which consists of a group of specialized receptors in the brain and peripheral nervous system, and is found in all vertebrates. Because endocannabinoid receptors are so widespread throughout the body, numerous and diverse health benefits of Cannabis have been proposed, and because the receptors are closely associated with the nervous system, toxic effects usually appear as neurologic symptoms.

See article Marijuana: If It’s Legal, Should You Give It to Your Pet?

Marijuana: If It’s Legal, Should You Give It to Your Pet?

By

Robert Reed, DVM, MSES, MPA

-

March 20, 2017

by Robert Reed, DVM, MSES, MPA

The passage of Prop 64 made it legal for Californians to possess marijuana for personal use and rekindled interest in a topic that has been on many people’s minds for some time. With increasingly widespread acceptance of marijuana as a medicine for humans, they wonder if it can be used to benefit their pets. In fact, many Cannabis containing products have already reached the pet market claiming just that. While this article does not fully address the validity of those claims, it should provide some history to help explain why we ask the question.

Reports suggest that Cannabis use goes back 12,000 years, which if true, would make it one of humanity’s oldest cultivated crops. Plant remnants have been found in archaeological sites that date back to 3000 B.C. in Siberia and to 2500 B.C. in China. The oldest written record of Cannabis comes from China in 2727 B.C. The plant appeared in South Asia between 2000 and 1000 B.C. and Cannabis became widely used in India. It was later carried to Europe through the Middle East—ancient Greeks and Romans were familiar with it—and it showed up in Britain during the 5th century after the Anglo-Saxon invasion. Cannabis seeds were found in Viking ships that date to the 9th century. It first appeared in the western hemisphere in the 16th century when Spaniards imported it to Chile, and in the early British colonies in the 17th century.

During most of its long history, Cannabis seems to have been universally valued for both industrial and medicinal uses. Apparently, it wasn’t until late in the modern era that people began to believe anything negative about it. The idea of marijuana as an evil drug is a fairly recent construction, and for most of the 20th century conversations around Cannabis focused mainly on how to control it rather than understand it, with laws that seemed to reflect societal fears and political values more than medical research and historic evidence (see sidebar “A History of Cannabis in America”).

Regardless of the motivation behind existing laws, we hope to believe they exist to protect us and our pets from harm. And, in reality, we have little concrete data on which to support an overhaul of current regulations. Medical professionals, including veterinarians, are trained to base decisions on information that comes through documented research. Unfortunately, evidence of proven medical benefit to pets from Cannabis is still lacking. That isn’t to say that benefits don’t exist, only that research proving them has not been published. We have a lot more information on how to address the toxic effects of marijuana than we do on its therapeutic uses, and we don’t expect new information any time soon. Veterinary researchers are prohibited by federal law from possessing the material required to investigate it, and from promoting any findings that endorse the medical use of Cannabis (see sidebar “Agencies Regulating Veterinary Use of Cannabis”).

As long as they steer clear of actions that could be construed as abuse, pet owners in legal possession of marijuana are not prohibited from giving it to their pets. Unfortunately, veterinarians can offer very little specific guidance. The present lack of helpful data and the existence of clearly defined regulatory restrictions put us in a difficult spot. We want to do our best for both our patients and our clients, but even if a veterinarian believes marijuana can provide medical benefit to your pet, he or she is not allowed to tell you.

Current market dynamics suggest the number of Cannabis containing products for pets will continue to increase, and on-line testimonials from happy pet owners are readily available. The best advice I can offer is to arm yourself with as much reliable information as you can collect, and to proceed with caution (see sidebar “Key Points in Understanding Cannabis Use in Pets”).

VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital located at 71-075 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA. 760-346-6103. Visit
www.vcaranchomirage.com

Additional Resources

Medical Marijuana & Your Pet, The Definitive Guide by Robert J. Silver, DVM, MS

Available online at: http://potforpets.info/

Pages: 146 pages; color, ISBN: 978-1-4834-3734-7 (sc), ISBN: 978-1-4834-3733-0 (e), Publication: October 31, 2015

Le Chien Masquerade Party

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 19, 2017

This year, from March 18th to the 25th, the 12^th annual Fashion Week El Paseo™, the largest fashion event on the West Coast, lights up Coachella Valley. Top designers—some known globally and some local, emerging designers—are on hand to showcase their latest designs, drawing more than 13,000 spectators to the week-long event. Among the star-studded line-up of designers holding exciting runway and trunk shows is Olga Yuditsky, with her unique and edgy dog fashion line, Orostani Couture. Canine fashion show Le Chien Masquerade Party, held on Sunday, March 19^th and hosted by Palm Springs Life Magazine, is again a top draw at this premier fashion event.

Benefiting the Humane Society of the Desert, Le Chien Masquerade Party features puppies and hounds accompanying fashion models on the runway. For 55 years, the Humane Society of the Desert has given thousands of animals a second chance at life, and proceeds from this fashion show help support their efforts in a big way. While some of the show’s participants are professional models, walking with trained dogs, “Some of the dogs on the runway are actually the fashion models’ own pets,” says Susan Stein, creative producer/director of the event. “Also walking the runway this year are ten of our donors and their own beloved dogs.”

Held in The Harsch Investment Properties Tent at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert, more than 500 people gather to admire the fashions of the featured designer, Orostani Couture. Preceding the fashion show are cocktails, a silent auction, music and entertainment. The show’s finale includes a live auction with extravagant and lavish items up for bid, as well as one lucky dog that will go home with the highest bidder with the biggest heart.

Le Chien fashion show grows increasingly popular each year, as more and more dog owners make it a practice to outfit their canine companions for both style and function. And it would seem that the sky’s the limit on the choices for chic pet fashion trends.

Check out all the fun events at Fashion Week El Paseo™, the premier West Coast fashion event of the season, sponsored by El Paseo Jewelers. In addition to the Le Chien Masquerade Party, this week-long extravaganza includes a fashion show with Michael Costello and Project Runway designers; The Best of Saks Fifth Avenue designer runway show; From El Paseo to Everywhere, a fashion show featuring looks from 10 boutiques on El Paseo; and the 2017 Fashion Week Finale fashion show with designer, CD Greene.

For pet lovers and fashionistas alike, Fashion Week El Paseo™ has something for everyone.

Visit fashionweekelpaseo.com for tickets and reservations.

It’s Cat “Season”

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 19, 2017

Female cats that have not been spayed can go into “heat” at puberty. “Heat” is the term for when a female cat is sexually receptive and ready to mate. Normally, sexual maturity starts around six months old. Some cats, like Siamese cats for example, may go into heat as early as four months old.

Cats have multiple cycles during breeding season. Cats usually are in season from January through August/September. However, indoor cats can sometimes go into heat all year long. Heat lasts about seven days, then the cat goes “out of heat” for 1-2 weeks and starts all over again until she becomes pregnant or breeding season ends.

The easiest way to prevent pregnancy is to spay your female cat. Spaying is a routine operation with few complications. A cat can be spayed at eight weeks old as long as she weighs over two pounds.

Why spay my cat?

Approximately 3.4 million cats enter U.S. animal shelters every year and annually; 1.4 million of those cats are euthanized.* There are health benefits to spaying your cat before her first heat, too. Spaying before her first heat reduces the risk of breast cancer and eliminates the risk of uterine or ovarian cancer.

* Statistics from ASPCA.org

Does Your Dog Know Where Home Is?

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 16, 2017

So, what do you think? Does your dog know where home is? The answer is both yes and no.

I hear dog owners say all the time that they walk their dog the same way every day, just in case the dog ever gets out, so it will know how to get back home. There is logic to that, but if your dog becomes frightened, it may run for miles without stopping—one thing after another continually scares the dog, keeping it in that blinding, panicked state of mind. When the dog finally finds a place it feels safe, it could be miles away from its own neighborhood. Even if it isn’t miles away, your dog may stay hidden for a while until things quiet down and the dog feels it’s safe to come out.

If you’re worried about your dog getting lost, there are some things you can do to better the odds that your dog will make it home safely. The most important thing you can do to help your dog is socialize, socialize, socialize. A dog that has been exposed to different sights and sounds won’t be easily spooked by the normal hustle and bustle of the outside world. If they aren’t spooked, they will have a calm and open mind, and the scents the dog passes through each day will actually be memorized by the dog’s brain, much like a computer. Then when the dog goes back home, it will re-read the scent trail back home. Dogs in a fearful state are literally running blind—their brain is spinning out of control and is not open to memorizing those scents.

I also hear people saying they make their dogs stop at the corners and sit; again, in the hope that if the dog gets out, it will know to cross the street at the corners and watch for traffic. This “safety” theory may sound logical to a human, but it’s been proven untrue and here’s why. About 15 years ago, a study was conducted on how dogs cross streets. Researchers put a camera on several dogs and let them loose in a controlled neighborhood. Every dog, including the ones that were trained to stop and sit at corners, all crossed in the middle of the street. Why? Because, in the middle of the street, traffic is only traveling in two directions. At corners, traffic is moving in four different directions, and it was much harder for the dogs to detect the movement of the traffic and find a safe moment to cross. It makes perfect sense when you look at it from a dog’s point of view, right?

You can help your dog get to know its environment—the neighborhood, the town, or the city it lives in—by driving around with the windows down a little, so the dog can pick up on the scents as you travel. As you move through the area, the dog is familiarizing itself to these scents and, again, storing them away in the brain.

When I lived in Santa Cruz, I would visit my mother in Sacramento, a three-hour drive, all freeway travel. My dogs always had the same, telltale response a couple of exits before the one leading to my mother’s house. They knew we were getting close, and their only clue was the scent of the area. The scent cued their response, literally waking them up from sleep and making them very excited to see their grandma.

Some people believe animals have a sixth sense and that if they’re lost in an unfamiliar area, you can actually guide the dog back to you by visualizing the way home. That may sound crazy to you, and whether animals really have this sixth sense remains unproven, but I can tell you it once worked for me. My cat went missing after we moved to a new place and was gone for three days. I was reading a book on the psychic ability of animals, and a chapter on lost animals recommended that I picture the way home in my mind, so I did. You can call it a coincidence, but my cat came home the next day, exactly the way I’d pictured. We may never prove the existence of animal psychic ability, but I was certainly delighted to see my cat again and it made a believer out of me.

What we do know for sure is that a dog’s nose is an amazing thing, and it can track him back across the country if need be. We’ve all heard those stories, and it’s happened too many times to dispute it. So use that nose to keep your dog safe by helping him learn where home is.

Walk your dog in several different directions away from your house so he learns the scents associated with different pathways home. (He’ll thank you for the change in routine, too.) When driving with your dog, crack the window a little to allow scents to come in, so he gets familiar with scents further away from your home. Take your dog to obedience training so he is less likely to escape in the first place. Finally—and most importantly—socialize your dog, exposing him to as many sights and sounds as you can so he will be a calm, confident dog in any environment.

Valerie Masi, owner of Best Paw Forward, can be reached at 760-885-9450
or visit www.bestpawforwarddogtraining.com.

Help, My Cat’s Going Bald!

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 15, 2017

All cat owners know that cats shed … everywhere. If you own a cat, you’re resigned to finding hair in your clean laundry, on your bed, on the couch and—always—all over your best suit. Shedding is normal and healthy, but sometimes a cat loses more hair than it should, resulting in actual balding. This condition is known as cat alopecia. If your cat is losing hair more rapidly than you think she should, pay serious attention, because hair loss is always a symptom of an underlying health condition, and some of them can be serious.

What Causes Alopecia?
The list of possible causes of alopecia in cats is long, from allergies to anxiety, so you need to be alert to possible symptoms of any of the following:

Flea allergy dermatitis: Allergy to the saliva from the flea bite.
Food allergy: Allergy to a protein in food.
Inhalant allergy: Allergy to an inhalant such as cigarette smoke.
Notoedric mange: Mange caused by spider-like parasites.
Ear mites: Tiny spider-like parasites that live in and around the ears, causing intense itching.
Psychogenic: Compulsive over grooming.•
Pyoderma: Bacterial infection of the skin.•
Abscess: A serious collection of pus located in the tissue, most often caused by a cat bite.
Hyperthyroidism: Usually caused by a benign tumour of the thyroid gland.
Stress: Surgery, new pet, new baby, illness etc.
Cushing’s syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism): Excessive levels of cortisol in the blood, either caused by the adrenal glands or the administration of steroids.
Ringworm: The most common contagious fungal skin infection in cats.
Feline Acquired Symmetrical Alopecia: Believed to be a hormonal disorder.
Drug reaction, either topical or injected.
Seborrhea: Condition that causes the skin to flake and become oily.
Stud tail: Hypersecretion of the glands located at the base of the tail.
Sunburn

The Veterinarian’s Tests
If you notice excessive hair loss in your cat, get her to the vet right away to make sure that she’s not having any life-threatening health issues. To discover the cause of the hair loss, your veterinarian will pay careful attention to the location, size, and shape of the hair loss, your cat’s medical history, and her general health. The vet will need to know how long and where the cat has been scratching/itching, if she has recently been prescribed any medication (topical flea/worming products, injection etc.), and whether she’s experienced any other changes in her daily routine.

Some diagnostic tests your veterinarian may perform include:

Fungus culture: To look for ringworm.
Trichogram: A microscopic exam-ination of the hair root, in which broken tips indicate that the hair loss is self-induced.
Food elimination trial: A food trial which usually lasts between 8 and 12 weeks, during which you must adhere to a prescribed diet and refrain from giving your cat any other foods, vitamins, minerals or chewable medications. If the allergy clears up, then a food allergy is the likely cause. After the trial, the cat will be placed back on his regular food to see if it is safe to conclude that the food was the cause of the allergy.
Specific blood tests to check for hyperthyroidism and Cushing’s syndrome.
Skin scrapings: These are studied under a microscope to look for mites.

How Will It Be Treated?
Treatment of alopecia depends on the underlying cause, of course, but it may include any of the following:

Ringworm: Lime sulfur dips and/or anti-fungal drugs.
Food allergies: Switching to a new, low-allergenic diet.
Hyperthyroidism: Radioactive iodine to destroy the tumor or surgery to remove it, followed by lifelong replacement of thyroid hormones.
Cushing’s syndrome: Gradual withdrawal of corticosteroids if it is veterinary-induced, surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland if a tumor is involved, or surgical removal of both adrenal glands if a pituitary tumor is the cause.
Inhalant allergy: Avoidance of the allergen, if possible.
Notoedric mange: Clipping, weekly lime sulfur dips, and topical treatment such as Revolution brand medication.
Ear mites: Removal of the exudates, followed by an insecticide such as Revolution.
Psychogenic: Behavior modification, including keeping your cat in a stress-free environment and drug therapy (if other methods fail).
Pyoderma: Antibiotics and clipping the affected area.
Abscess: Draining of the abscess and prescribed antibiotics.
Feline Acquired Symmetrical Alopecia: Prescribed hormone therapy (although not all veterinarians recommend this).
Drug reaction: Switching or discontinuing medications.
Seborrhea: Shampoos, omega-3 fatty acids, and prescribed antibiotics.
Stud tail: Anti-seborrheic shampoos and neutering.
Sunburn: Severe sunburn may be treated with topical or oral steroids.

While finding cat hair all over you and your house is perfectly normal when you’re a cat owner, don’t overlook a cat who is losing hair more rapidly than normal. Have your veterinarian give your cat a thorough check-up to determine whether your cat is suffering from an underlying, treatable condition that can put a stop to the excessive shedding. With the proper treatment, your cat will get back her normal, beautiful, shiny coat that signals that she’s healthy and happy.

Rebecca Diaz, DVM is the owner of The Cat Clinic, a feline-only veterinary clinic located at 67870 Vista Chino, Cathedral City, CA, www.catcitycat.com,
760-325-3400

Mosquito Season is Upon Us! What is the risk to pets?

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 14, 2017

photo credit: CDC.gov — Aedes aegypti mosquito can infect pets with heartworm

Dengue and chikungunya and Zika … oh my! In the last year, we have heard quite a lot about exotic diseases transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that are now transmitted locally in some parts of the United States. Zika virus is the media darling and has received the most attention. What we don’t hear a great deal about is how these potentially life-altering viruses affect our furry friends. One of the mosquito species that can infect humans with these viruses was detected in the city of Coachella in May 2016. Since then, the invasive mosquito Aedes aegypti has been detected in Indio, Cathedral City and Palm Springs.

Here’s what you need to know about your pets and the invasive Aedes mosquito viruses:

Currently NO cases of local mosquito-transmitted dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have been reported in California.
While cats and dogs can become infected with dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, there are NO reports of pets developing disease symptoms.
Aedes aegypti CAN infect pets with Dirofilaria immitis, commonly known as heartworm, a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs and, to a lesser extent, in cats.

Heartworm can also be transmitted to pets by two of our native mosquito species—Aedes vexans and Culex quinquefasciatus. The latter can also infect humans with West Nile and Saint Louis encephalitis—both viruses can make people very sick, but dogs and cats rarely develop symptoms.

Here’s what you need to know to protect both you and your pets from mosquito-borne diseases:

Reduce standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs—

Empty water-filled containers in your yard.
Change outside pet water bowls daily and bird baths every five days.
Report neglected pools or standing water to your local vector control agency.

Protect yourself—

Avoid walking your dog at dawn and dusk, a favorite biting time for mosquitoes.

Wear repellent.
Dress in long sleeve shirts and pants.
Repair damaged screens so mosquitoes can’t get in the home.

Finally, talk to your veterinarian about heartworm prevention and mosquito repellant for your pets. Human insect repellants are not recommended for pets, because they are likely to ingest the insecticide when they self-groom. You can keep both your family and your pets safe from mosquito transmitted diseases with simple prevention!

Report mosquito activity and standing water in the Valley to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District at 760-342-8287 or cvmosquito@cvmvcd.org. Learn more at cvmvcd.org.

Like Cats & Dogs

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 13, 2017

We all know or have seen examples of cats and dogs living together in harmony—or, in some cases, observing an extended cease-fire. Still, many dogs and cats are not good candidates for living with the other species. And even if they are, peaceful coexistence often requires careful planning, introductions, and ongoing management. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Good canine candidates for living with cats:
Puppies or adult dogs that have successfully lived with a cat before. Laid-back, relaxed, friendly dogs. Dogs that are not very predatory (i.e., don’t chase cats or squirrels when outdoors).

Good feline candidates for living with dogs:
Relaxed, laid-back cats and kittens. Cats with dog experience. (Not-so-good candidates? Shy, skittish—particularly given to running—and de-clawed cats. De-clawed cats are more vulnerable and are likely to behave aggressively when cornered.)

Introducing the two:
-Have the dog on leash, ask her to sit, and treat her near the cat. Also treat the cat. If the dog can sit and take treats, allow her to meet the cat. Good signs are gentle investigation and respect for the cat’s defensive signals. Bad signs are instant attempts to chase, straining at the leash, whining, and barking. If this goes well, drop the leash and supervise closely. If the dog is friendly or cautious, don’t get involved except to praise and reward the dog for good manners. Interrupt chasing and give a time-out by removing the dog from the room. Watch closely for the first few weeks. Supervise all interactions until you see a positive pattern in their relationship.
-Have a dog-free room (use baby-gates, cat doors) as well as high places the cat can access but the dog can’t. The cat needs places where she can regroup in peace and then venture forward into ‘dog territory’ at her own pace. Make sure food, water, and litter are accessible in this area. Never force the cat to be close to the dog by holding her, caging her, or otherwise restricting her.

Lori Wainio-Carman, VSPDT, professional dog trainer and owner of Dream Dogs, has been successfully training for over 20 years. 760-899-7272, www.dreamdogs.com,
www.Positively.com

Rescued

By

Miriam Wiegel, Publisher, Pet Companion Magazine

-

March 12, 2017

Photo: Karen Lifshey — Matzah playing with toy for first time.

The Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) is a unique program run by the Los Angeles-based non-profit Animal Rescue, Media, and Education (ARME). BFP negotiates with laboratories across the world to secure the release of dogs and other animals and gives them a chance at a normal home life after everything they have endured for vanity and scientific curiosity.

Once safe with BFP, each dog is examined by a veterinarian and treated for any and all wounds, injuries or illnesses, and the BFP volunteers spend countless hours showing them all things dog. Walking on a leash and potty training are unknown and new endeavors. As are wildflowers, cars, hanging plants, rain, wind and all the new noises and smells that freedom brings.

Awareness of animal testing has grown through the years, as evidenced by the numerous cruelty-free products that are now available to consumers. But, the business of lab-bred dogs—the archaic practice of animal testing and the release protocols in place for animals used for testing—still have a long way to go. BFP is willing to go the extra mile, and does. Co-founder Shannon Keith co-authored the Beagle Freedom Bill to advance legislation to mandate their release, and in 2014, Minnesota became the first state to pass the bill. In the years that followed, California, Connecticut, Nevada and New York all passed similar bills into law. At the time of this article, Illinois is pending.

In an effort to reach more people who want to shop cruelty free, BFP created the Cruelty Cutter App. This free app includes an impressive list of cruelty-free products, and has a unique barcode scanner that allows you to scan products with your cell phone and confirm if they are indeed cruelty free.

Beagle Freedom Project FAQs:

Q. How many dogs are used in labs, and how many of them are beagles?
A. About 70,000 dogs are used in research experiments every year, and of that number, approximately 96% of them are beagles.

Q. Why beagles?
A. Beagles, as a breed, are naturally very docile and trusting of humans. Research laboratories buy them from companies who purpose-breed beagles in order to amplify these inherent traits, so that they are easier for lab technicians to handle.

Q. Does Beagle Freedom Project rescue animals other than beagles?
A. Yes! Beagle Freedom Project will rescue any animal from laboratories willing to release. To date, we have rescued all breeds of dogs, cats, goats, horses, pigs, rats, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and even fish from labs.

Q. Where do the animals BFP rescues come from, and how does the organization obtain them?
A. The rescue varies from lab to lab. BFP reaches out to every lab in the U.S. asking to assist with post-research placements. Some facilities voluntarily work with BFP through animal care technicians and others are compelled to do so because of the Beagle Freedom Law. Often rescues are sensitive and cannot be publicly announced because the labs threaten to kill all future dogs and animals if they see their victims on our website.

Q. How can people adopt BFP’s rescued laboratory animals?
A. People who want to adopt BFP’s rescued laboratory animals can fill out an application on our website to be considered for placement.

Q. What can adopters expect when dogs come out of labs?
A. Every dog is different, but some of the universal traits of a newly released survivor is that they behave like puppies in full-grown dog bodies. They are not house-trained, leash-trained, understand no words, do not have a name, and are completely unfamiliar with toys, furniture, and being outside at all. Every foster is given an exhaustive tip-sheet and given 24-hour support in helping the new dog acclimate to this better life.

Beagle Freedom Project conducts many rescues each month. Visit their website (www.bfp.org) to learn how you can help support their mission and read about past rescues. Learn more about the Beagle Freedom Bill at www.bfp.org/petition/

For more information:
Beagle Freedom Project: www.bfp.org
Bogart’s Facebook Page:
facebook.com/BogartSavedByTheBeagle FreedomProject

Meet Bogart of the Beagle Freedom Project

By

Alicia Bailey

-

March 12, 2017

When you meet Bogart, you meet a cool as a cucumber beagle living the lush life with a brother named Boots and humans who just can’t stop kissing him. He loves it; don’t let him tell you any different. He will work for treats, but anything else … well, he’ll think about it while he snoozes on his favorite blanket. On the couch, of course.

It’s hard to believe that Bogart had any other life before this one, but he did. His name was 5989418 and he was a laboratory research beagle. Bred specifically to be sold to a research lab, Bogart lived his entire life in a cage, never walking on grass, never feeling sunlight on his face, never experiencing the loving touch of a human companion.

Cosmetics, household cleaning products, human drugs, industrial chemicals and many other products are tested on animals. According to BeaglePro.com, the FDA requires such testing, but acknowledges that 92% of drugs that successfully pass via animal test then go on the fail or cause harm during human clinical trials. Beagles are considered “ideal” for these purposes because of their naturally docile nature.

In 2012, the Beagle Freedom Project (see article about BFP) rescued Bogart along with nine other beagles from a research facility. The dogs in Bogart’s rescue group had rotted teeth, wounds, and stitches all over their bodies. Animals are typically given to the rescue with no historical information on the type of testing they have endured, leaving only room to speculate what they endured living in the lab.

Kelly Selcer Phoundoulakis was volunteering for the Beagle Freedom Project when Bogart’s rescue mission took place and watched the dogs take their first steps out of their cages. “They go bananas! It is incredible to witness these dogs getting their first taste of freedom, acting silly, curious … it’s bittersweet, just amazing.” It wasn’t long before Kelly decided to adopt Bogart; she noticed that during her volunteer shifts, Bogart would watch her with his big eyes and start thumping his tail. “That did it, he won my heart.”

Bogart has his own Facebook page where he documents his new life (i.e., tons of adorable photos) and shares information about how to take action in your community. Learn more about the Beagle Freedom Project, make a donation, read stories of recovery, download the Cruelty Cutter App, or sign up to get involved at www.bfp.org.

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