Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Insite Brazos Valley

Friday, March 1st, 2024

Thank you to Insite Brazos Valley for their write-up about Search Dog Network in the upcoming issue.

Kim poses next to a poster of the upcoming Insite magazine featuring her and K9 Seamus.

September – National Service Dog Month

Monday, September 25th, 2023

This month we want to highlight service dogs – to explain what the are, and what they are not, and briefly cover laws addressing rights and responsibilities of the person and the service animal.

A service dog (or miniature horse!) has been trained to assist a disabled individual. This could be a physical disability; visual, speech, or hearing impairment; mental disability; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); developmental or intellectual disability. The tasks or work the animal is trained to do must be directly related to the disability. Texas law does not consider emotional support dogs to qualify, as they are not specially trained. An example of a task might be retrieving medication and/or water if the person is unable to do it because of a medical condition, or alerting about low blood pressure.

Under Texas law, service animals are legally permitted to accompany their person to all public places, including restaurants, schools, hospitals, stores, theaters, government buildings, public transportation, and so on, even if pets are not allowed.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, business owners may ask individuals with service dogs only two questions regarding their service animal: Is the service dog required due to a disability, and what type of work is it trained to do? The ADA states you may not ask questions about the disability, or request any documentation or certification about the disability or the animal.

A service animal is permitted to live in housing even if other pets are not allowed. However, there are some responsibilities. Dogs must be under control with a harness or a leash and not aggressive, or else they may be asked to leave a business. There is no “registration” for a service animal.

A business, organization, or person that denies a disabled person with a service animal public access to a business may be charged with a misdemeanor, fined up to $300, and/or required to do 30 hours of community service. The penalties are the same for someone who falsely represents their animal as if it is a trained service animal when it is not.

Before petting any dog, always ask if it’s ok.

Reference

Visiting with AAN-BV at First Friday, Bryan Tx

Tuesday, August 1st, 2023

Occasionally, Search Dog Network will train with or receive a request for assistance from the Amber Alert Network – Brazos Valley. The AAN-BV is a local resource, formed in 2003, that works with law enforcement, the local media, and the statewide Amber Alert Network in order to reduce the amount of time needed to respond to a report of an abducted child. AAN-BV can also assist with missing child and missing adult cases that do not qualify for an Amber Alert. (There are specific criteria that exist in order for an Amber Alert to be issued. More about that below.) The AAN-BV can work on publicity and organizing appropriate resources, while law enforcement focuses on the investigation.

“Our thought process is, even if it is not an Amber Alert, it is still imperative that that child… that they’re returned to where they’re supposed to be,” said Fleeger. “Because everybody matters.”

The AAN-BV also offers a program–the Brazos Valley Child Abduction Response Team (BVCART), formed in 2010–through which agencies in the seven-county Brazos Valley train together at least annually for better and faster response in the case of an abduction. Search Dog Network is a member of BVCART.

Chuck Fleeger at the AANBV table

Chuck Fleeger, retired College Station PD assistant police chief and now Executive Director of the AAN-BV, is often at downtown Bryan’s First Friday event to raise awareness. You can usually find one or two SDN team members with him. Pictured left are Chuck and K9 Seamus; K9 Rue is in the photo below right.

Regarding Amber Alerts: according to this web site, following is a summary of the criteria that must be met in order to issue an Amber Alert:

  • There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.
  • The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
  • There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
  • The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.
  • The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.

You can read more details about the requirements at the linked website above.

The most important message we want to share is, if your child is missing, please know that there is NO WAITING PERIOD to report a child missing! Call 911! Here is a link to a list of other tips provided by the AAN-BV.

If you’re able to visit downtown Bryan for First Friday, stop by and say hello!

Guest post: Tips for summer travel with your pets

Sunday, July 16th, 2023

Are you traveling soon? Dr Kim Stewart, DVM, has given us permission to share an article previously posted on her clinic’s web page.

In case you are planning summer travel with your pets, here are some tips I hope will help.

1.    Get Your Pet a Wellness Check Before You Leave

Let us know if you plan to take your pet on a trip. We can ensure your pet has a clean bill of health. Your pet may need extra vaccinations or health certificates to travel, depending on your destination. Make sure you go over this with us. And while you are here, ensure your pet’s microchip (see point 2 below) is working.

2.    Microchip and Register Your Pet

If you have not gotten your pet microchipped and registered, get this done before your trip. It takes very little time to get done, and it is worth it to save you and your pet the heartache should your pet get away from you while you are traveling. Additionally, have your pet wear a collar and name tag with your cell phone number. 

3.    Check for Local Veterinarians

Before you leave town, check out your destination for emergency veterinarians to see if they will treat your pet during your travels if the need arises.

4.    Keep Your Pet Secure While Traveling

According to a AAA survey, over 80 percent of drivers admit that they recognize the dangers of driving with an unrestrained pet, but only 16 percent use pet restraints.

If a car crashes at just 25mph, an unrestrained dog can be projected forward at a force equal to 40 times its weight. A large-size dog weighing 75 lbs., for example, can achieve an impact force of 3,000 pounds in a car crash, which could be a lethal blow for both a passenger and the pet. 

If traveling in a car, put your pet in a safety restraint or carrier secured to the seat with the seat belt. For example, dog restraints use the vehicle’s built-in lower anchor and tethers for children (LATCH) systems. These are found only in the second and third rows of cars. Cats need to be in a carrier placed on the back seat and secured with the seat belt.

Don’t travel with your pet in the front seat; they can be a distraction to your driving. Also, if an airbag deploys while your pet is in the passenger seat it could injure or kill.

5.    Never Leave Your Pet in the Car Alone!

It is extremely important to not leave your pet alone in the car, even for a brief pit stop. The temperature in a car can heat up rapidly. For example, on an 85-degree day, even with the windows opened, your car can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. So, take your pet with you.

If you are driving and need to stop for food, you can visit drive-through restaurants and take your food to a park, or a rest stop where you and your pet can enjoy your meal together (keeping your pet on a leash of course). You can also search the web before your trip for pet-friendly restaurants.

6.    Always Keep Your Pet on a Leash or Harness or in a Crate or Carrier

We don’t want to see any of our pet parents suffer the heartbreak of losing their pet while on vacation. Even if your pet is well-behaved, keep them on a leash or harness if you take them out of the car. A leash can protect them from traffic and other animals.

Cats can be a bit trickier. Even if you don’t take your cat on walks with a harness and leash as a routine, it is best to train them to wear one if you travel with your cat. If harness and leash training isn’t possible, always keep your cat in the car until you reach your destination. 

7.    Give Your Pet Rest Stops

Plan frequent rest stops so your pet can get out of the car to exercise and eliminate. As mentioned above, if you have a cat, don’t let it out of the vehicle if it is not on a leash. You can give them breaks in the car to use the litter box, drink water, etc. as long as you leave the windows up and doors shut so they cannot escape. Make sure to bring a litter tray with disposable tray liners and litter.

8.    Pack Enough Food and Water for Your Pet

Pets do best when kept on the same diet. Grocery stores along your route may not carry your pet’s brand. So, better to make sure you take enough food for your whole trip and take enough water. Also, don’t forget to pack food and water bowls.

9.    Avoid Car Sickness

If your dog or cat experiences motion sickness from the car, you can help them by taking steps ahead of the trip.

Start by taking short trips with your pet to get them used to travel. Use positive reinforcement to help them become less anxious about traveling in the car. You can even break it down to as easy as bringing them into the car, turning on the engine, and then getting them out of it and giving them a treat until you can build up to short trips. Familiarity with travel may help prevent car sickness.

There is also anti-nausea medication for pets. For example, Cerenia® is a veterinary nausea medication for pets. If you think your pet may need anti-nausea medicines, ask us during your wellness visit before your trip.

10. Take a Pet First Aid Kit

You can never be too prepared. It is good to have a first aid kit, any medications they might need, and anything else you can think of that you might need in a pinch. Here is a list of items to help put together your emergency or first aid kit:

  • Emergency Contact Card: phone numbers for your veterinarian, a 24-hour emergency clinic and Animal Poison Control Center which is: (855) 764-7661 (a $75 incident fee does apply, but it can be the difference between life and death). 
  • Blunt-tipped scissors
  • Bandages
  • Sterile Eye Solution
  • Latex or rubber gloves
  • Plastic syringe for administering medications
  • Medications for your pet
  • Tweezers
  • Styptic Powder: Styptic powder is used to stop mild bleeding, particularly if a nail has been broken or cut too close to the quick. Miracle Care Kwik-Stop styptic powder for dogs, cats and birds includes benzocaine, which helps ease pain.
  • Digital Thermometer
  • Calming chews or treats.

Final Words

These ten travel tips will help you safely take your pet wherever you go. If you want to take a trip but leave your pet at home, we can help there too!

Pet Boarding in College Station, Texas

We offer a convenient solution by providing pet boarding in our safe, clean, and comfortable environment.

Our professional and friendly staff takes great care of our pet guests. We understand that each pet is unique, and we will make every effort to ensure that your pet is safe, happy, and healthy during his or her stay. We’ll treat your pet with compassion and care and provide individualized tender loving care until you return.

We hope that you and your pets have a great rest of summer.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kim Stewart
College Hills Veterinary Hospital

Can you do this with your dog?

Saturday, July 1st, 2023

Sometimes, there may be a need to carry a search dog out of the field. Maybe the dog received an injury from running into a fence line that was not visible, stepped on something sharp, or got injured while searching at full speed. Unfortunately, it can happen during our regular training or worse, on a search, so we want to be prepared to get the dog safely to help if necessary.

In the video below, Katie and Tim are practicing carrying search dog Aziva and lifting her over a barbed wire fence. Practicing this technique helps us all (including the dog) be more comfortable and prepared, should trouble arise.

Summer Camp!

Saturday, July 1st, 2023

For years now–I’m not sure how many dog years, but at least several human years–Search Dog Network has enjoyed going to summer camp! There are two camps that we try to attend, and we thought you may be interested to read about these.

The week of June 19th, Waggie Pet Zone held the first session of their Kid Zone Summer Camp. Team Rocky visited one day to do a little demo and have some fun.

Team Rocky will visit again for the upcoming session, July 10-14.

The week of June 25th, Team Koda visited the Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice Summer Camp. For this camp, we usually talk about the role that search dogs can have in a criminal investigation, and if the weather permits, we do a demo. For this year, it was pretty hot outside, so Team Koda did the demo indoors. SHSU has another session the week of July 9th, and Team Rocky will attend.

Hot Weather is Here

Thursday, June 15th, 2023

Dr Kim Stewart, DVM, with College Hills Veterinary Hospital, has given us permission to republish some content that she wrote for the Veterinary Hospital. With temperatures around 100 degrees this week, we want to make sure all of our animal friends stay safe.

Keep Your Pets Safe!

Summertime is always fun in Texas. Families are firing up the BBQs, swimming, or perhaps spending the weekend going river-tubing.  There are tons of activities to keep you and the family busy this time of year. However, with temperatures in the 80-95 degrees range and high humidity for months at a time here in College Station, pets can quickly become overheated faster than you may think. For this reason, we are giving you hot weather safety tips for your furry friends so they are kept safe and can enjoy the whole summer too! 

Dangers of Hot Weather and Overheating

The first thing to understand is how easily a pet can get overheated in hot weather. We see too many pets brought into our hospital this time of year from overheating. This can happen at home, during a hike, or even on a short car trip. These are things to watch out for that can signal an overheating problem for your pet.

  • Excessive panting
  • Excessive drooling
  • Erratic pulse
  • White or pale gums that seem dry.
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Confusion, low energy, or sudden lack of coordination
  • Rectal temperature of more than 103°F

If you see any of these symptoms, do not hesitate! The sooner you act, then the faster you can bring your pet’s temperature down. Quickly find access to cool water and wet your pet down. Provide them with plenty of fresh, clean, cool water to drink, and call your vet to see if you should bring them in. You can always contact us for guidance on what you should do.

Overheating Prevention Tips

The easiest way to handle overheating is to stop it from happening in the first place. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.

  1. Never leave your pet in the car, even if you think it’s going to be just for a little while; this can be fatal! Per the Humane Society, a car can get up to 120 degrees in just 30 minutes when it’s only 85 degrees outside! 
  2. Keep your pet hydrated by always having plenty of clean, fresh water to drink. If you take your pet on a hike or road trip, ensure to have enough water and a water bowl for your pet. Watch the humidity. Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs. Panting takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they cannot cool themselves. Their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels very quickly.
  3. If your pet is outside, make sure they have protection from heat and sun with plenty of shade and cold water. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don’t obstruct airflow. Note: A doghouse does not provide relief from the heat; it makes it worse.
  4. Keep off the hot pavement as much as possible. Hot pavement can cause overheating and not to mention burned paws!
  5. Do not shave your pet. Some people think that shaving their pets in the summer will help them stay cooler, but this is not true. Pets’ coats have several layers that are essential to their comfort in the heat. When they are shaved it robs them of this natural cooling system which can lead to discomfort, overheating, and other dangers like sunburn or skin cancer. However, grooming your pet is okay. Grooming will help make their fur more manageable.

Summary

Remember that pets can be more sensitive to hot weather and humidity than we are. They cannot tell you when they are getting too hot and overheating. So, it is up to you to take preventative measures to keep them safe from hot weather and know the signs of overheating so you can act quickly. Contact us for more general pet care info or to schedule a visit.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kim Stewart, DVM
College Hills Veterinary Hospital
College Station, Texas

IPWDA Certifications

Saturday, April 9th, 2022

Congratulations to Team Seamus for passing the IPWDA certifications this weekend for HRD-Land, HRD-Shoreline, and HRD-Water; Team Finn for HRD-Land; Team Booth for HRD-Land, HRD-Shoreline, and HRD-Water; Team Rocky for Wilderness Search – 40 Acres; Team Gunner for HRD-Land; Team Rey for Wilderness Search – 40 Acres; Team Gator for HRD-Land; and Team Rennes for Wilderness Search – 40 Acres.

Brazos Valley Gives 2020

Thursday, October 1st, 2020

Search Dog Network is gearing up for the Brazos Valley Gives campaign for 2020. Would you like to donate “matching funds?” Here is a summary of what that would mean:

* Donations would not be made online, they would be made (or pledged) directly to SDN, as early as October 1st, and as late as October 27th.

* “Matching funds” are intended to motivate other donors to contribute, so that their donations are “doubled.”

* Donors contributing “matching funds” can be recognized on our SDN web page, on the Brazos Valley Gives web page, on our FaceBook page, OR donors may remain anonymous.

* Organizations receiving $3000 or more in matching funds will be put in a drawing, eligible to receive $1000 more in donations from the event sponsors.

* SDN remains a 501c3 organization and a receipt for tax purposes will be sent for the amount donated. This page lists our current needs.

* Please email info@searchdogs.org to set up matching funds, or visit the Brazos Valley Gives web page for a regular donation October 1st – October 27th.

Helping to bring closure

Tuesday, September 29th, 2020

Search Dog Network assisted the Wortham, Texas Police Department in August. Canine Remi located the remains of the man, who had been missing for nearly a month. Here is a link to an article about the search.