A Call To Action!

Catch some air at Action Paws Dog Agility Training Center!

Come one, Come all, Come big, Come small!

No, it isn't the opening lines of a Dr. Seuss book! At Dublin Animal Hospital, we are issuing a call to action - and challenging you to get out and do something fun with your dog this summer!

Not only will you have a very thankful four legged buddy, but we are willing to bet you'll catch yourself having a great time, too!

Maybe you're burned out on trips to the dog park? Getting tired of the same old sights and sounds on your daily walks? Action Paws Dog Agility Training has the cure for the status quo! If your faithful friend doesn't happen to be of the Border Collie variety, don't count yourselves out. From Golden Retrievers to Chihuahuas, any healthy dog can do agility. Meldona, owner and trainer at Action Paws, teaches agility classes from Beginner to Advanced experience levels to dogs and their handlers. And while she does have students who compete - it is not a requirement to take a class. She encourages agility as not only a fantastic way to get active with your dog, but also as a very unique bonding experience.

When Donette was bitten by the agility bug and began bringing her Chihuahua mix, Fiona, to Action Paws, she knew that it would be a great way to build Fiona's confidence up.
What she did not anticipate was that her son, Andrew, would want to get involved with his dog Winston. Now agility lessons are a family affair, with Andrew and Winston always striving to outdo Mom and Fiona!

Now Donette enjoys the unexpected benefit of bonding time with her pre-teen son as well! Andrew isn't the only kid who has fallen hard for agility. Sisters Teri and Jackie, with their buddies Snickers and Bolt, love coming to Meldona's classes each week.

In order for kids to take part in agility classes with their dogs, they must be able to follow instructions, stay focused in class, and be committed to putting in the work. Children are permitted to take agility classes with their dogs at Meldona's discretion.

 Still think agility isn't for you? Maybe you're afraid your dog is too shy - or even too outgoing to focus on agility! In Meldona's class, the dogs' dispositions are as varied as their size. For the shy dog, agility can be a confidence booster. For the social butterfly, a tool to build obedience and focus skills.




No cheating, Jack!



Shy guy "Jack" decides that he wants the treat more than he dreads the heights!



Every dog starts out at the Beginner Level, and positive reinforcement in the form of treats is used to encourage dogs to try out some of the more forboding equipment. At the Advanced Levels, dogs are darting in and out of weave poles, through tunnels, and over obstacles like they were born to it. And one would even swear they were smiling all the way through!

Agility really is a "contact" sport!

We've established that agility is for small dogs, big dogs, shy dogs, and loud dogs. It's for people who want to compete, and for people who want to share a special bond with their four legged friend. Agility is for adults, and agility is for kids. Is agility for you?

Do you have fun ideas for getting active with your pet this summer? We'd love to feature them on our blog!
Email: jenn.dublinanimalhospital@gmail.com

Good Kharma

It's officially Summertime!
The warm weather seems to have settled in for good, and if the wind will only stop trying to blow us right over the mountains, it's a great time to get outside and enjoy this beautiful place we call home.
Many people choose to add a dog to their family for just such a purpose - a loyal friend and companion to join us in our outdoor adventures. Someone to insist we get up for that morning jog when we're having trouble pulling ourselves out of bed.
At Dublin Animal Hospital, we know that getting active with your dog is not only fun and rewarding, but essential to your dog's physical and mental health. Unfortunately, all too often our clients are forced to leave their four legged buddy at home while they hike, run, or enjoy a comfortable picnic in the park. Why?
Because while Fido might be the picture of domesticated perfection inside of his house - the minute he gets out things quickly unravel.

Barking, pulling at the leash, lunging at other dogs, and behaving like an overall menace, until you are counting the seconds it will take you to reach home.

Does this sound familiar? If so, take heart - you aren't alone!
Sit. Stay. And enjoy the story of Kharma - a true diamond in the rough who needed just the right family  and a very special trainer to help her shine.

When Dr. Lena Roeder and her husband, Marcus, decided to add a new member to their family, they knew they wanted a dog that would fit easily into their active lifestyle - camping, hiking, and joining Dr. Roeder on her daily runs. After contacting HO-BO Care Boxer Rescue, they were introduced to a 10 month old female they decided to call Kharma - and fell instantly in love.

Kharma had a bit of a checkered past, including a bad habit of jumping impossibly high fences - which had more than once landed her a visit to the Humane Society. But the Roeders were confident that with time, love, and sufficient exercise, Kharma could overcome her less endearing habits and settle right into her new home.

She seemed to be on the path to doing just that - and after a brief adjustment period became lovingly attached to her new family, which included family dogs Owen, Racer and Penelope.

But soon the Roeders began to see another side to Kharma. Extremely insecure, Kharma would become impossible to handle when people came over - including the Roeder's own children visiting from college! Her physical size and deep, barrel chested bark made her an intimidating spectacle for visitors. Like so many dog owner's facing this same dilemma, the Roeders began to feel as though having company was more problem than pleasure. Not only that, but taking Kharma anywhere was proving nearly impossible. Instead of enjoying her daily run, Dr. Roeder found herself constantly tense, worrying that someone would be around the next turn and set Kharma off. This was not the life she'd envisioned for herself or her dog. They needed help, and they needed it fast.

For 24 years, Rick Walkley has dedicated his life to the education and training of dogs and their owners. In 2008 he started Focus Dog Training in Colorado Springs. His mission?

One trainer, One dog, One goal.

Rick Walkley, Focus Dog Training

Rick's impressive career experience and tutelage under some of the world's most renowned dog trainers has given him the expertise to develop a unique training program which is tailored to meet the needs of each individual dog he works with. Unlike some traditional training centers, Focus Dog Training  does not use a set criteria for every dog that comes through. Many of Rick's clients come with relatively simple goals - for example, they want their dog to reliably sit, stay, and come on command. Elderly owners no longer able to adequately exercise their dog may need Rick to train their pet to run on a treadmill. Some of these goals can be accomplished in relatively few sessions and do not require the standard six weeks' worth of classes offered by traditional training programs. Other dogs, like Kharma, have more extensive needs. Dogs suffering from insecurity can be aggressive toward not only other dogs - but people as well. Training can not only considerably improve the quality of life for both dog and owner - but can actually save the life of a dog prone to insecure aggression.

According to Rick, the number one mistake made by dog owners with regards to training is simply the lack of training! Many people believe that the purpose of training lies solely in puppy socialization or when a dog becomes out of control. The truth is, every dog can benefit significantly from Rick's program. In fact, Rick recommends beginning as soon as you bring your new puppy home.

The Roeder's goal for Kharma? To finally banish the insecurities that were keeping her and their family from leading an active, happy, and full life.

They were amazed to see a difference in her after only one session with Rick! In the proper hands, Kharma proved to be a willing and enthusiastic student - but it would take some time for her to be fully rehabilitated. After talking with the Roeders and gaining an understanding of what their ultimate goals for Kharma were, Rick put in four weekly training sessions where she learned not only basic commands, but learned to perform them reliably - off lead. In addition to this, Kharma underwent five days of more intensive training sessions one on one with Rick. During these sessions, he helped her to become the confident, obedient dog that he knew she could be.

The impact of her time at Focus Dog Training on Kharma's family has been profound. Even at home, Kharma's relationships with the other dogs and humans has taken a drastic turn for the better. The Roeders can now enjoy having guests over - without Kharma's loud objections. And perhaps best of all, Dr. Roeder now has a running companion that shares her love of being outdoors and exploring favorite trails together. She no longer has any fear of other runners or animals crossing paths with them, and she and Kharma can simply relax and enjoy one another's company.

And Kharma?

She has the happiest ending of all. Love, Family, and a Forever Home to call her own. 



Does your dog need Focus Dog Training? The short answer is -- yes!

Any dog, of any age and obedience level, can benefit from Rick's training program.

Contact Rick today to learn more: email rick@focusdogtraining.com, or call

719-291-1685

All of us at Dublin Animal Hospital wish you and your four legged family a fun filled summer!

What are you and your pet doing this summer?

Email us at jenn.dublinanimalhospital@gmail.com

We'd love to feature your fun summer activities on our blog!

Help a friend in need! http://www.hobocare.com/

From Mystery to Miracle: Yeager's Journey

As with human medicine, veterinary medicine is never an exact science. When a patient comes to Dublin Animal Hospital with symptoms that cannot be easily explained, the veterinarian faces the considerable challenge of finding the right treatment when they can't be sure of the diagnosis. In every veterinarian's career, there is a particular case that stands out. For Dr. Katie Phillips, a German Shepherd named Yeager is one.


Yeager with his favorite veterinarian, Dr. Katie Phillips

 Leslyn and Don Groccia are long time clients at Dublin Animal Hospital, and they always make sure that their three dogs and two cats get to see Dr. Katie Phillips. "When Dr. Phillips treats our animals, we really feel like she is caring for them as though they were her own", Leslyn explains. 

She recalls the evening in 2008 when she noticed her German Shepherd Yeager was suddenly limping on one of his front legs. She thought at first that he must have played too hard with the other dogs - but thinking it better to be safe than sorry, she took Yeager to the emergency clinic.

After examining Yeager and taking some X-Rays, the veterinarian on duty diagnosed him with a sprain and applied a cast to the injured leg - instructing the Groccias to follow up with Dr. Phillips within a week. But only a few days later, Yeager wouldn't eat. Even more alarming, they could see blood seeping from beneath his cast - they rushed him to see Dr. Phillips.
When Yeager arrived at Dublin Animal Hospital, Dr. Phillips set about removing the cast on Yeager's leg. She was shocked to find the skin underneath was covered in deep bruises. Upon shaving the leg for a closer look, the skin began to break and tear. While it was almost immediately clear that this was not, after all, a sprain - Dr. Phillips was at a loss to explain what could be wreaking such havoc on Yeager's body. Her only clue was a tiny puncture wound at the top of his leg - so small that it might not have been visible had the leg not been so swollen. Dr. Phillips wondered - could Yeager have been bitten by a poisonous snake or spider?

While the cause of his symptoms weren't immediately clear, Dr. Phillips did know that Yeager would need to be hospitalized in order to be properly cared for by the staff. He would need fluids, antibiotics, and very careful treatment of his wounds. A special kennel area was prepared for Yeager - one that must be constantly sterilized to prevent infection or further damage to his tissues.

Day after day, Yeager's health continued to decline. The bruising spread from his leg to his abdomen, as the poison in his system spread and ate away at the skin tissue. He required numerous procedures to remove dead tissue so that his body could attempt to heal. During his nearly four week long hospital stay, the technicians and veterinarians kept constant watch over him. His bandages needed to be changed daily, and this had to be done under general anesthesia to prevent Yeager from suffering too much pain.


Yeager during the worst of his ordeal, undergoing tissue repair

The Groccias visited with Yeager at the hospital and fervently hoped their beloved dog would somehow pull through.
Dr. Phillips' prognosis was hopeful, but guarded. The damage to his system had been so extensive - would her efforts be enough to save him?

Finally, a breakthrough - the poison appeared to have spent itself, and Yeager was beginning the long process of healing. Much to his family's delight - he was even ready to return home! Each day for several months, he would have to return to the clinic for bandage changes, and much to everyone's relief - every bandage change showed that he was indeed healing and growing new, healthy tissue.

Leslyn remembers Yeager being so familiar with the hospital by this point, that immediately upon arriving he would trot straight to his special kennel! Yeager had become quite the celebrity - easily charming the entire staff with his sweet personality. While we all hoped he'd be back to his normal self as soon as possible - he was certainly not a patient we minded seeing every day!

And, five long months later - he was back to his old self. Leslyn says that she knew Yeager was "Yeager" when he finally started playing with his sister Chloe again!

To look at him today, one would never guess how close Yeager came to losing his life. If not for a quick thinking, fast acting owner and the dedication of his very special veterinarian, he most likely would not be here today. While it is still not completely clear what happened to Yeager, the most plausible explanation is that he was, in fact, bitten by a spider. And not just any spider - Yeager's symptoms most closely match the devastation caused by the venom of a brown recluse.

He is truly, one lucky boy.

And we're lucky to know him.



From Iraq With Love: Coney's Story

Those of us lucky enough to have experienced the love of a dog understand that they are more than just a pet - they truly are a part of our family.

Families are built in many different ways, and every pet's story is special. Whether we found our furry friend in a shelter, from a breeder, or as a stray - they wind their way into the tapestry of our lives and through the landscapes of our hearts so completely that we can hardly remember a time before they were with us.

Sometimes, the story of how a pet and a family find one another is so extraordinary that it must be told - and the story of Coney is most certainly one of those.

Marty Burke was serving his second tour as an Army Tank Commander in Amarah, Iraq when a stray dog found her way onto the base. The soldiers quickly came to love the sweet dog and welcomed her company. When it became apparent that the dog was pregnant, however - Marty was concerned. They weren't exactly down the road from a Veterinary Hospital - what if the dog became ill, or could not care for her puppies? He knew he wouldn't be able to walk away if that happened - he would have to find a way to help.

When the puppies were born, Marty's worst fears were realized. Whether she was too young, or too ill - the mother did not care for her puppies beyond their first few weeks. One by one they disappeared, and Marty was unable to discover what had happened to them. Saddened by the loss of the puppies, and shortly after, the death of their mother, Marty continued in his duties and looked forward to the day he would return home to his fiancee, Hannah.

One cold night, Marty was heading to work when he heard a strange sound in the dark that seemed to be coming from behind an abandoned freezer. Following the sound, he discovered a tiny, shivering puppy - the sole survivor of the litter! Without hesitation, he scooped up the pup and brought her to work with him. At three weeks old, malnourished, with a malformed front paw, the puppy would most likely not have survived another night alone in the cold - and her odds of surviving beyond that were less than zero.

From that night on, the little puppy became his constant companion. When his shift was over, he would place her in a bomb shelter while he slept, going to retrieve her on his way to work the next night. He nursed her back to health on what he affectionately dubs "Army Milk" and other remnants from his MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). He even thought of a name he liked for her - 'Coney'.

As Coney grew and recovered her strength, Marty was beginning to realize that he couldn't leave his new friend behind. Homeless dogs in Iraq face countless perils - the constant threat of starvation, other wild dogs, and the efforts of the Iraqi people to rid the streets of strays by shooting or poisoning them. He appealed to his fiancee Hannah - what would she think of this fine mess he'd gotten himself into? For Hannah, the answer was simple - she had to find a way to get this little dog home for good.

"Did you say $4,000????"

Hannah's initial research was discouraging, to say the least. She and Marty would need over $4,000 to finance the puppy's trip to Colorado! How in the world would they ever manage to come up with such a large sum? Just as things seemed hopeless, she found a program online through the SPCA - "Operation Baghdad Pups". Created for situations just like Marty and Hannah's, this program raises funds through donations to bring dogs like Coney to the United States. Within a week, Hannah had the funds they needed to bring the puppy home!

Marty was overjoyed by the news - and perhaps even a little jealous that Coney would be seeing Hannah weeks before he would! The details were mapped out by the SPCA - first Coney would be picked up in Amarah by a security company contracted for that purpose and driven to Baghdad. From there she would make the long journey to New Jersey, where she would remain in quarantine until she had passed a health inspection.

A mere three weeks after Hannah had begun her quest to bring Coney home, she found herself entering the cargo area of Denver International Airport. A group of workers sat in a circle with a lively, three-pawed puppy dancing merrily in the center of her new fan club. She knew of only one puppy who had three paws and the power to enchant everyone she met - this must be Coney!

Hannah and Coney knew right away that they belonged together, and when Marty arrived home several weeks later, Coney was absolutely overjoyed to see him. Their family was at last complete.

Families are built in all sorts of ways. In the middle of the desert, in the center of a war zone, a very lucky little dog found hers.

Coney would not be where she is today without the people who helped her along her 7,000 mile journey home. Marty and Hannah would like to say a very special thank you to the wonderful people of the SPCA and the "Operation Baghdad Pup" program. 

Click here to learn more!

Hannah, Marty, and Coney

Ollie's Tale

This is the story of a cat named Ollie.
We don't know much about Ollie's life before the tragic events that brought him to us, only that we are thankful he was found and that he is lucky to be alive. On a summer Saturday afternoon, the first of Ollie's 'angels' was driving home from running errands. Something on the side of the road caught her eye - what appeared to be a black cat, obviously injured, lay there. Getting out of her car to take a closer look, she smelled the acrid stench of smoke and burned flesh and realized this cat was in far worse shape than she'd first imagined. As carefully as she could, she moved the pitiful creature into her car and hurried as quickly as possible to Dublin Animal Hospital, where her daughter works as a technician.

Ollie during his long healing process

Here at the hospital, things were winding down from a typical, busy Saturday. Dr. Heather Rollence had just finished performing an emergency surgery on one of her patients when Ollie was rushed in. At first glance, she too saw a black cat, clearly gravely injured, being brought into the treatment area. It wasn't until the smell hit her that she realized - this cat had been on fire. The technicians immediately set to work gently cleaning Ollie up as well as they could, so that Dr. Rollence could better assess the extent of his injuries.

What she found shocked and sickened her - this had been no accident. Ollie had lacerations over his body, and one foot was badly mutilated. Whether these injuries were inflicted by his attackers, or by his frantic attempts to escape them, remains unknown. Dr. Rollence and the technicians did all they could to make him comfortable, but as she left that day she couldn't help wondering what fate awaited her newest patient.

Over the following weeks, Ollie underwent multiple surgeries and painful treatments for his burns. Every doctor and technician at Dublin Animal Hospital worked tirelessly to save this sweet boy. One of his legs was so badly injured that it had to be amputated. Throughout his ordeal, he never ceased to amaze the hospital staff with his patience, strength, and gentle personality. After all he'd been through and suffered at the hands of human beings, he seemed to sense somehow that we were here to help, not harm him.

Dr. Rollence could see that her little patient was improving day by day, and was continually amazed at his capacity to heal. His fur, once blackened by fire, was now returning to a luxurious creamy white. His eyes became bright with life and curiosity as he daily watched the hustle and bustle of the hospital and its other patients. As he healed, she desperately hoped that he would find a loving home of his own.

Finally, Ollie was ready to leave the hospital. He needed to be in a place where he could learn to move about on three legs, and adjust to living in a home again. But where would he go? He still required regular treatments at the hospital, and needed a home with people who would know how to care for his special needs. In a decision based more on a sense of obligation than desire, Dr. Rollence decided to take Ollie home with her - for awhile at least.

Ollie in "his" shower stall

Little did she know how much this little cat had already worked his way into her heart. Once Ollie was established in his new hospital room (her spare bathroom's shower stall!), he began to improve in earnest. Her three boys delighted in caring for and playing with Ollie, and soon he was ready to move freely about and explore his new home. Even her elderly cat, Susie, while not exactly thrilled with the notion - at least accepted him with resignation.

Ollie present day - looking very majestic!

Now, nearly a full year after he was so brutally abused, Ollie has gone from a critically injured stray to a beloved member of the Rollence family. He has truly found where he belongs. Fully healed, he spends his days basking in the sun and periodically trying to convince Susie that she really isn't too old for playing after all. Most of the time, she disagrees. 



Always ready to play!



While Ollie's story is one of courage, strength, and beating all the odds - it is also a story of extraordinary love and compassion. How one very special doctor gave a second chance at life to a very special cat that so many others would have given up on.

Congratulations to our Raffle Basket winners!!

On March 31st, we had the pleasure of awarding two very special clients with a very special gift basket each!

The winners were drawn from the group of clients who had a dental for their pet (one dog, one cat) in February, or scheduled on in February that took place in March. The baskets were full of goodies from the pet boutique "Ruffing It" located at Powers and Stetson Hills!

And the winners are . . .

We hope your furry friends are enjoying their fun treats!

Once again we'd like to express our sincere appreciation to all of our client family who got their pet on the right track to a healthy mouth during Dental Health Month!