Who gives a hoot about the stereo or TV if someone breaks into your home and steals your dogs?

Skippy and Gizmo/submitted photo

Such was the case in Oro Valley when burglars took off with Skippy and Gizmo, two purebred Yorkshire terriers.

Oro Valley police have no leads on the Feb. 19 burglary, which also included unspecified electronics. We don’t know if any stereo or TV was involved, but we do know the thief or thieves also stole the pooches’ two dog carriers.

Skippy, age 6, is black and tan and weighs around 4 pounds while Gizmo, no age given, is salt and pepper and about 8 pounds.

The pet carriers are navy blue with soft polyester sides and measure 20 inches high by 18 inches wide by 23.5 inches deep.

The Animal Cruelty Task Force is helping to spread the word on this theft with a news release that notes the following:

It is possible that someone in southern Arizona knows of the whereabouts of these dogs without realizing it. Often stolen animals will simply materialize in a new home overnight with little or no explanation. If you happen to know anyone who happened upon two Yorkshire Terriers in crates like those described above, please contact 88-CRIME, an anonymous tip-line run by the Pima County Attorney’s Office. Tipsters have three options for reporting information anonymously:

Talk: 882-7463. (Collect calls accepted.)
Text: 274637, enter “Tip 259” plus text message
Visit: www.88crime.org

Sawyer Says: Nab them.

What do you think?

What would you do if someone stole your pet?

The most glorious gleam I ever saw in someone’s eye is when a fellow riverbed dog-walker described how she just killed a rattlesnake.

Rattlesnakes sans fangs are used in training/Ryn Gargulinski

She smashed in its head with a rock, she said, a big rock. A very big rock. Smashed it numerous times. Did I want to go see?

“If you grew up in Arizona,” a native told me, “you know what a thrill it is to kill a rattlesnake. Those things are a menace.”

Lots of things are menaces, but that doesn’t mean I go around killing them. Well, maybe cockroaches. And mosquitoes. And flies. Just the little things without too many guts.

Technically, rattlesnake season is every season in Tucson – one snake handler said for every one snake you see, there are 12 you don’t see. Now that it’s warming up, more snakes will be coming out to play.

At least 150 people are bitten by rattlesnakes in Arizona every year, according to statistics from the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. We can cut down our odds, and those of our pets, with a few nifty tips.

Phoebe with snake trainer Web Parton refusing to go near snake/Ryn Gargulinski

Be observant. Catching a snake off-guard by accidentally stepping on it is a surefire way to get bit. Rattlesnakes dig sunning themselves on rocks or hanging out in wood or rock piles. They also like to hide in tall grass off the beaten path, preferably where your dogs enjoy romping.

Get your dog trained. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is one place you can go to get your dogs trained to avoid the rattlesnake. Sawyer and Phoebe both went and, while they did not enjoy the shock collar used in training, I told them we’d all enjoy it much less if they were ever bit by a rattlesnake.

Rattlesnake avoidance training at the Humane Society costs $70 per dog for a 2.5 hour class. Classes run through spring and summer at 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays. Dogs 10 months to 10 years eligible. Upcoming dates include March 12 and 26, April 2 and 16. Register online at hssaz.org or call 321-2704 ext. 147.

Veterinarians say the cost to treat a snake bite can easily top $1,000.

Even though Phoebe has twice alerted us to rattlesnakes after her training, it’s still a good idea to keep dogs leashed and out of heavy rattlesnake zones.

Be smart. Don’t go sticking your hand in holes or stepping where you can’t see the ground. But even the most careful walkers have a chance of getting bit – like my friend who has since recovered but nearly lost her leg. Another rule is to always wear long pants, boots and carry your cell phone and a stick to poke around when out in rattlesnake territory. Yes, walk loudly and carry a big stick – or go ahead, grab that rock.

Rattlesnake bites are best treated at the hospital or vet, depending on your species.

Sawyer's "I'm staying away from snakes" face with Web Parton/Ryn Gargulinski

What do you think?

Have you ever smashed in a rattlesnake’s head?

Have you or your pets ever been bit?

Our pets may be smart, but they may not know everything – like what to do during a fire.

Fire photo Ryn Gargulinski

Chances of our furry, feathered and scaly friends surviving a blaze will soon be increased, thanks to a slew of donated pet oxygen masks.

The donation comes from Tucson Pet Care Network, a group of local animal care professionals which aims to give pet oxygen masks to every fire station in the Tucson metro area.

Four masks are going to Northwest Fire District Fire Station 38, 8475 N. Star Grass, on Wednesday, March 3.

“Many people consider pets members of the family,“ said Northwest Fire Capt. Adam Goldberg in a news release, “and the devastation of losing a cherished pet is often much greater than the trauma of losing a house or possessions.”

You got that right, Captain.

Designed to fit the noses and snouts of dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, birds and other small animals, pet oxygen masks could mean the difference between life and death if our beloved pets were ever trapped in raging smoke and flames.

“We’ve already donated some masks to local fire stations,” said Tucson Pet Care Network Chairperson Kate Titus, “but we want to make sure there is one on every truck that might be responding to a fire.”

Individual members have donated to fire stations near their homes, and the Northwest delivery marks the first donation by Tucson Pet Care Network.

“We’ve also had a few vets get in on the action,” Titus said. Both Dr. Tim Ireland from Encanto Pet Clinic and Dr. Ann Campbell from Plaza Pet have purchased and donated masks.

The Network has five more masks to deliver, most likely going to Tucson Fire Department stations.

“We’re well short of that goal and need the public’s help to make that a reality,” Titus said. “Outer-lying areas have the most need, but there is a need in Tucson proper as well.

We discovered the need for the masks from a group called Bark Buckle UP (www.barkbuckleup.com ) and their promotion, Bark 10-4, for fire awareness month in October. They worked with SurgiVet, manufacturer of the masks, and Smith Medical, distributor of the masks, to make them available for public sponsorship and distribution to fire houses in the community. The masks are sponsored by 100 percent donation and there is no tax or shipping costs. The masks are delivered directly to the firehouses. It’s easy for the public to get involved. The masks are just $25 for a medium mask or $65 for a set of three masks in small, medium and large.

To help Tucson Pet Care Network with its efforts or to learn more, visit TucsonPetCareNetwork.com.

Side note: In addition to the network’s chairperson, Titus owns A Loyal Companion Massage Therapy. Sawyer and Phoebe both swooned over her pet massage techniques, which she outlines during free workshops.

Sawyer Says: Thank you, Tucson Pet Care Network. Pet oxygen masks are a great idea, even though I hate things on my head. Heck, I even chewed off that lampshade thing they put around my head when I had stomach stitches.

What do you think?

Have you ever seen a pet oxygen mask in action?

Have your pets every survived a fire or other life-threatening circumstances?

A walk down our midtown neighborhood path stopped us in our tracks the other day.

TC file photo as I didn't have my camera ready on the stalking day

Sawyer and Phoebe stopped first and began to growl. Their growls were aimed at a young coyote relaxed in the ditch, a mere few feet from the nearest backyard.

The coyote was cool, calm, collected and barely blinked – even when the growling began.

Once leash lunging kicked in, however, the coyote stood up slowly and moved equally as slowly down the path in front of us.

We see coyotes quite frequently around the Rillito riverbed. But this one was smack dab in the middle of the subdivision. And he didn’t run away.

The first thought, of course, was rabies.

But the coyote’s eyes were clear and no foam was frothing from his mouth. His coat was rather clean, not matted and mangy. He wasn’t acting aggressively – but incredibly calm.

Sign in parking lot at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum/Ryn Gargulinski

He must have been a decoy.

The coyote continued down the path in front of us towards the riverbed, looking back every so often to make sure we were following. Once he hit the riverbed, he scooted off into the brush – probably to tell the pack, sorry guys, his mission this time was a bust.

Coyote lore says one will act as a decoy to get pets or other animals to come play with it. Once the other animal is wholly engaged in the play, the coyote will run off, getting the animal to follow.

The poor saps that follow then soon find themselves surrounded by a whole pack of coyotes, as the decoy brings them home for dinner.

Another ploy is for one coyote to distract a pet while another one – or several – circles around from behind for the kill.

What do you think?

Have you seen coyotes play the decoy games?

Do you ever see coyotes in your neighborhood?

If you thought Black Friday drew hordes of people waiting in line, you should have seen free spay and neutering Friday at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

"HOW many showed up?"/Ryn Gargulinski

The Society expected about 30 to 40 people to show up for the Feb. 12 event, scheduled to begin at 7 a.m.

Nearly 300 pets were waiting by 5:15 a.m., according to a news release from HSSA.

Sawyer Says: Wow.

Some folks were in a line, while others packed the surrounding property. One woman actually camped out overnight, starting her wait at 7 p.m. the previous evening.

Society staff was able to accommodate 87 dogs and cats last week and put more than 200 others on a waiting list.

Due to the overwhelming demand, the free spay and neuter day on Feb. 26 will NOT be accepting new clients but will be used instead care of pets on the waiting list.

If you, too, want to be put on the waiting list for future spay and neuter surgery events, visit www.hssaz.org and go to the waiting list link.

Future free surgery days will be scheduled once more money is available in the LifeSavers Spay & Neuter Fund. If you want to donate to help this obviously overwhelming need, visit www.hssaz.org and go to the spay and neuter donation link.

If camping overnight to get your dog or cat fixed is not for you, please also keep in mind that the Humane Society offers discounted surgeries by appointment – without the crowds and wait.

Remember: HSSA offers low cost spay and neuter surgeries to the public for an average of $75 to $95 (price based on weight of animal). Other veterinary clinics charge an average of $300 for the same surgery. You do not need to be put on a waiting list to get your pet spayed or neutered. Simply call 881-0321 to set up an appointment.

Sawyer Says: Pay the $95 or so to avoid the mayhem. And don’t wait too long, as spring is a fine time for breeding.

The Society calculated some dandy figures.

Animal offspring by the numbers:

300 – animals that showed up for free spay/neuter day Feb. 12
1,500 to 2,100 – number of offspring those 300 pets could produce in three months

420,000 – number of offspring potentially produced by one unaltered cat and her offspring in seven years
67,000 – number of offspring potentially produced by one unaltered dog and her offspring in seven years

0 – reasons to not get your pet spayed or neutered (as per Sawyer).

What do you think?

Would you wait in line overnight to save $100?

If your pet is not yet fixed, why not?

Graffiti is not limited to streets signs and underpasses – someone sprawled graffiti on a puppy.

Nugget was found sprawled with graffiti/submitted photo

The puppy, a three-month-old female since named Nugget, was found near Skyline and Camino Largo in San Tan Valley when someone called Pinal County Animal Care and Control to report a stray, according to a news release.

“Someone had written a two-word expletive on her fur in wide black permanent marker,” the release said.

In addition to what was most likely a phrase containing the f-word, Nugget had three large, tumor-like lumps: two on her back and one on her belly.

“It would be highly unusual for a three-month old puppy to have cancerous lumps that look like this the release quoted Ruth Stalter, director of Pinal County Animal Care and Control. “The vet believes the lumps were caused by trauma.”

“She’s already stolen our hearts. She’s a very loving dog who appears to have suffered from neglect or abuse,” Stalter said. “If she is determined to be healthy, she will be put up for public adoption.”

Pinal County authorities urge anyone with info on Nugget’s owners or abuse to call 866-7618. You may remain anonymous.

Donations for Nugget or any other animals impounded at Pinal County Animal Care and Control may be made by mailing contributions to Pinal County Animal Care and Control at 764 South Eleven Mile Corner Road, Casa Grande, AZ 85122. Nugget’s X-rays were $200 and her additional medical treatment will include surgery to remove the growths, spay and follow up care.

Sawyer Says: Do you like animals better than people yet?

What do you think?

What’s the sickest place you’ve seen graffiti?

Just when you thought PETA could not get more ridiculous – it does.

Rough rendition of robot rodent/Ryn Gargulinski

The mouthy animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wants notable Pennsylvania groundhog Punxsutawney Phil replaced with a robot rodent.

PETA people say the fanfare and captivity is jarring and unpleasant for a real-life groundhog and an animatron would fare better under the circumstances.

The Associated Press reports:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it’s unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and bright lights that accompany tens of thousands of revelers each Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, a tiny borough about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. PETA is suggesting the use of an animatronic model.

But William Deeley, president of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, says the animal is “being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania.” The groundhog is kept in a climate-controlled environment and is inspected annually by the state Department of Agriculture.

We are not sure where PETA’s preposterous claims will end, but we can guess how far they will go.

What if some households have kids that are scaring the dogs or pulling the tails of the cats? We’d better get some robot kitties and canines on the list.

And say a reptile owner misses a day of feeding the proper food – live rats – for his snake. Give the guy a robot boa.

What about rats as snake food in the first place? That seems cruel and unusual, no? Let’s make it a robot boa that eats up robot rodents – except for the robot rodent in Pennsylvania, who will be filling in for Punxsutawney Phil.

Heck with it, we may as well just replace all animals in zoos, wildlife preserves, fish tanks and dog parks with the robotic kind so we don’t have to worry about mistreating them.

Sawyer Says: We should also go for robot owners to replace those that don’t take their dogs on enough walks.

What do you think?

Is Groundhog Day all in fun or just a tricky way to abuse animals?

“(Punxsutawney Groundhog Club President William) Deeley says PETA isn’t interested in Phil from Feb. 2 on, and is looking for publicity,” the AP report said. Do you agree?

The terrible twosome’s wacky habits

Sawyer and vacuum/Ryn Gargulinski

Vacuums are tops when it comes to cleaning up after our pets. But many pets, like Sawyer, certainly don’t agree.

Sawyer barks, paws at and tries to attack the thing when it comes out every Wednesday to suck up a week’s worth of dog hair and debris. Phoebe simply runs in the other room or hightails it outside.

Saywer’s hatred of the vacuum most likely comes from one of three reasons:
It’s big, noisy and disrupts his naps.
It’s big, noisy and he thinks it’s a monster from which he must defend me.
It’s big, noisy and “eats” all the food he purposely and constantly spills all over the orange shag carpet.

In a dog training class at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Companion for Life Center, the instructor told us how to make our dogs less adverse to the evil vacuum.

We are supposed to leave it out, unplugged, in the middle of the floor for days on end. Each time our pet goes near it, we should call the pet over and pet him. We should coo at him, coo at the vacuum and give the pet a treat.

We should keep up this training, to get our pet to see the vacuum is just a harmless yet practical tool, until he no longer hates it.

Then we should turn it on for short periods, each time getting the pet to come over, get a treat, and see the vacuum is not going to suck him up and send him into a black hole in outer space where there are no Beggin’ Strips.

I tried this sequence briefly.

Sawyer and his friend the vacuum/Ryn Gargulinski

I left the vacuum out, unplugged, in the middle of the floor for days on end.

We then tripped on it, got tangled in its cord and eventually put it away, wholly forgetting about the rest of the experiment.

Guess Sawyer will have to learn to live with the vacuum on his own. Or I’ll just have to learn to live with him barking at and attacking it.

Related note: The best vacuums for pet hair I’ve found are Bissell, which I initially bought because there’s a cute white dog on the box that kind of looks like Mr. Angel. Marketing at work.

Related note II: Sawyer also goes nuts and attacks the Swiffer mop, except the floor is wet beneath his paws and he often slides in mid-attack. When he does get close enough, he goes for the mop’s “jugular,” or the big bottle of cleaning fluid attached to the mop stem.

The terrible twosome’s wacky habits is a feature that highlights the strange habits of Ryn’s dogs Sawyer and Phoebe. If you have a strange pet habit to share, please e-mail to rynski@tucsoncitizen.com,

Sawyer thinks the vacuum will eat his food/Ryn Gargulinski

Haul from just the living room/Ryn Gargulinski

What do you think?

Does your pet like to attack vacuums and mops?

Has he ever eaten a feather duster?

What cleaning tools are essential for every household with a pet?

What brands are the best/worst for pet cleaning tools?

Sawyer dug up some tasty kibbles and news bits on dog biscuit cooking, pet first aid and safety, and a new pet care professionals networking group on the East and Southeast sides of town.

Dog biscuit/Ryn Gargulinski

Sawyer says: It all sounds delicious.

Top Chef – Scooby-Snack Style classes for kids
Sat. Feb. 13, 2 to 4 p.m. – Register by Feb. 10
Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Companion for Life Center
3465 E. Kleindale Road

Your kid can learn to cook by training making dog biscuits at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Top Chef Scooby-Snack Style is a new program open to kids ages 9 to 12 who want to learn basic food preparation skills – and test their results on dogs at the shelter who will gobble up the treats.

Cost is $5 per person, free for kids already enrolled in the HSSA Hand-in-Paw Kids Club. Register by Feb. 10 online at www.hssaz.org or call 321-3704 ext. 142.

Pet life-saving and first aid classes
Tues. Feb. Feb. 16, 6 to 10 p.m.
Sat. March 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and other dates; register in advance
Humane Society of Southern Arizona main campus
3450 N. Kelvin Blvd

Lifelike animal mannequins and classroom instruction combine for some savvy first-aid classes that may one day help save your pet’s life. Four-hour classes include training in animal CPR; gathering info to help your vet; disease and hazard prevention; and how to handle an injured animal without getting bitten.

Cost is $45 per person, register in advance online at www.hssaz.org or call 321-3704 ext. 125.

New pet care professionals networking group
First meeting:
Wed. Jan. 27, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Rita Ranch Car and Dog Wash
7850 S. Rita Ranch Road - in Rita Ranch west of Nexus on the north side of the street

Pet-related businesses on the East and Southeast sides of town are welcome to join a new networking group, according to Becky Molina, manager of the Rita Ranch Car and Dog Wash who is heading up the group.
She said benefits of networking with the group may include:
* A strategic marketing alliance – we get to advertise and market more for less by sharing in marketing costs as a group
* Networking with other like minded professionals
* Serving as a round table to help each other by serving as a sounding board for advice, feedback and guidance
* Establish credibility as individual businesses and as a group
* Contribute to the community with fundraising events, which would create good will about our group in the community
* Be a consistent referral source for each other

The first meeting will include brainstorming on how the businesses can help each other grow. For more info, attend the meeting or contact Becky Molina at becky@ritaranch.net

What do you think?

Have you ever fixed your pet a home-cooked snack or meal?

Do you know animal CPR?

Are you a member of any networking groups – do you find them helpful?

What other pet skills would you like to learn?

The heavy rain last week actually filled up the Rillito riverbed with more than just sand and debris.

Rillito River was really a river/Ryn Garguilnski

The thing actually had water. Lots of water.
Enough water for splishing, splashing and making us wonder how the heck is that dog named River.

River has been living in the riverbed since November, eluding all attempts at capture from a group of big-hearted volunteers.

The Rescuing River blog post of Jan. 22 confirms River weathered – and survived – the worst of the storm.

1/22/10 Whew!
Thank you to all of you who have asked about River! Just to let you know, she is okay and was spotted at Dinner Time! It was a nerve wracking night and day, to wake up and see the wash flowing, but hey we should have known, she would be okay! One more night of bad weather, but a little less worry!

Another post on Jan. 23 confirmed not only was River still alive, but she has learned how to eat the food out of their traps without setting off the traps.

By Jan. 24, the rain – and riverbed water – had subsided, leaving behind a soggy mess without much danger of being swept away (although the mud nearly sucked off my shoe and had Sawyer immersed up to his armpits).

Keep up with the River dog blog at: http://rescuingriver.blogspot.com/

Sawyer Says: That’s one tough dog. I wanted to play with her when I saw her about two weeks ago but she didn’t seem to want company. So I took that opportunity to drink from her water bucket.

Sawyer Says: Muddy gunk makes for fine play/Ryn Gargulinski

Dry areas remained near the banks of the Rillito/Ryn Gargulinski

What do you think?

Would your own pet be able to survive actual water in the riverbed?