Author: Pia

This post is originally from The Daily Wag at MarthaStewart.com and is written by our own Pia Salk. Like many well meaning people, Camillia once thought the only way to have a certain breed was to buy one. And she was entirely unaware of the abuses occurring in USDA-approved puppy mills. Chardonnay and Sir Lancelot were adopted by Camillia and Don, a couple in Texas. Camillia shared her experience adopting these lovely pups, who each endured years of abuse at the hands of unscrupulous breeders.

It was such a pleasure speaking with Camillia — it is heartening to meet a person who takes their commitment to companion animals so seriously. Camillia not only sought to educate herself on how best to introduce and care for her dogs, but she also allowed her eyes and heart to be opened to the bigger picture.

When I asked her what she’d like others to understand, she told me… read the full post here.

Pitbulls… what just happened as you read that? Did your hair stand on end with fear or did you fill up with a warm sense of love and comfort? Sadly, many among us have been conditioned by the myriad sensationalist pit bull-related stories put forth in the media. And whether you love the breed or not, it is important to know that the vast majority of these stories are misinformed, partial accounts that have come to represent a minority of incidents. The fact-based reports and statistics on this breed offer an entirely different picture. For starters, you may be surprised to learn that in the 1940’s and 50’s pit bulls were affectionately referred to as “America’s Nanny Dog.” Their stability, natural affinity for humans, and good nature with kids had many American families “employing” pit bulls to watch over precious new family members. And if any of you has had the good fortune to know a pittie personally, you’ll agree that their ongoing wish to make their love and affection known with kisses likely kept these kids “well groomed” to boot!

But the impressive history of this now-maligned breed does not stop here. Their praises could be sung by every municipal chorus and there would still be more content upon which to write an opera!

Pit bulls have not only been trusted to care for human infants, but also, large companies, and even countries, have branded them as “spokes-beings” for their products and causes! Their professional portfolio includes serving as the face for Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and they were America’s choice to convey loyalty and integrity on WWI and WWII campaign posters to enroll troops. In today’s market, if pit bulls had agents they’d land all sorts of coveted gigs.

President Woodrow Wilson’s best friend was not only a pit bull but he was also a… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth. In her own work, Pia often credits the animals as being “the real therapists.”

Even though this post is a tribute to a very special therapy dog who has just passed on, I can say with utmost certainty that he remains very much alive in spirit, and still hard at work healing hearts! Rescued mutt Baxter went from a life in which no one loved him to one in which he loved everyone. He became a therapy dog who specialized in giving comfort to patients in their final days at the San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine. And having learned from the best, Baxter’s human mom, Melissa Joseph, shared his mission, and intends to continue his legacy in everything she does. “I never really got how I could impact the world until I got Baxter,” Melissa says.

Melissa chronicled Baxter’s heartwarming encounters in her book, Moments with Baxter. I had the pleasure of speaking with her today, and she told me, “I don’t feel like he was mine alone. I feel like I got to be part of a remarkable phenomenon.” Baxter passed away at the age of 19 on October 16.

My “moment with Melissa” was in many ways also a “moment with Baxter:” Together, they were a six-legged team working as one. Melissa shared a recent event that revealed not only the positive impact Baxter had on his hospice friends but also Melissa’s keen sense of the best way to connect with people in times of need.

Baxter was visiting the hospice on the day that a 36-year old woman who had battled breast cancer was to be transported home to die with family. The woman had come to love Baxter and had shared with staff that his visits literally removed her pain: Pain that she consistently rated at 8 out of 10 in intensity before his visits and at 0 following them. As the gurney was wheeled towards this woman’s room, Melissa asked if she could place Baxter on it. This was against the rules, the attendant told her, but Melissa continued to lift Baxter, respectfully assuring the attendant that this would be an important “moment with Baxter.” When Baxter arrived in the room on the gurney, the patient laughed and cried at once. She removed her oxygen mask and barked, “Move over, Baxter!” The newly enlightened attendant wheeled them around the hospital grounds for a playful final ride together. Everyone present was grateful for taking part and reminded of the importance of such moments.

Melissa adopted Baxter when… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth. In her own work, Pia often credits the animals as being “the real therapists.”

Hello friends! It is the end of a long, emotional few days — but ones that have me reflecting on the value of our fellow creatures, humans included. My recent adventures began with efforts to secure the safety of one previously unlucky dog whose time was up at a Los Angeles municipal shelter. It is these efforts that have served to remind me of my connection to other humans and the power of collaboration. Georgie, a gentle Rottweiler-pit bull mix, was slated to be put to sleep one morning early this week. I had been circulating his photo and plea for adoption for weeks, but no one had stepped up. Many rescue groups wanted to help but were too overwhelmed with multiple animals in the same circumstances.

Georgie needed an advocate, and for whatever reason, he crossed my path. I was trying to help him, but as my efforts were not yielding any results, I felt discouraged and so very sad for Georgie. I sent a final plea and soon found I would not have to give up on Georgie!

The despair that threatened to overwhelm my efforts was replaced by the strength of good friend — the kind of strength that keeps us on-task and moving toward our goals. Adrienne provided me that strength, as she often does, and I love her for it. She helped me assemble a team of people to help Georgie, each one providing a step in his journey toward a forever home. Thanks, my friend!

So I guess today, while I am sharing… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth. In her own work, Pia often credits the animals as being “the real therapists.”

When we are each out and about looking for meaningful gifts or just choosing between brands at the grocery store, it is quite natural for the sensitive individual to opt for a brand that supports a cause over one that does not. This is typically indicated by a colored ribbon of some sort on the packaging.

While I am all for companies taking part in bigger-picture issues, I am aware that these efforts are also in the service of boosting product sales- which is certainly fair. That said, I wonder how many of us read the small print or really know what the donation is in fact going towards.

The good news is that we have choices when it comes to what our dollars support. I strongly believe that we each ‘vote with our dollar.’ So I much prefer to vote for things in keeping with my ethics if possible. But that is not always an easy task as it involves staying informed and asking questions that we may not even know to ask…

…Click here to read the rest of Pia’s article on The Daily Wag!

Pia blogs regularly for The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com. She is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, an expert on the human-animal bond – and she is Adopt-a-Pet.com’s spokesperson.

I frequently get asked my professional opinion about whether I think people go “too far” in their consideration of their pets — people who plan their vacations around their companion animals, buy them holiday gifts or refer to them as their children. In my opinion, the question itself is a problem. I think it can be dangerous to label the behaviors of others as if there were universal rules about what is acceptable and what is “too extreme.” Labeling another’s values as “good,” “bad,” “right,” “wrong,” or “too extreme” is futile in most cases, and only serves to divide people. Many people feel their furry (or feathered, scaled or otherwise) friends are kin in the same way a human child or relative is. Frankly, I see no problem with this — quite the contrary. It says a lot about commitment and personal responsibility for someone to take the life of another in their care seriously. To value another life regardless of difference (e.g. species) is at the very root of peace. And to rank someone else’s worth is its antithesis.

I’d even go further to say that not making certain sacrifices to accommodate one’s companion animal is far more problematic than the reverse: It is one of the primary reasons our shelters are overfilled with former family pets.

There is an instance in which someone can go “too far”… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth. In her own work, Pia often credits the animals as being “the real therapists.”

Hard workers who are committed to helping our county’s shelter animals come in all shapes and sizes. The Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary (D.A.W.G.S.) in the Texas panhandle is proof positive of that! This very special animal rescue group is run almost entirely by children. One historic spring in 2003, school teacher Dianne Trull was talking to her students about pet over-population and one child earnestly inquired, “Why do the dogs have to die?” Luckily, Diane was able to grasp the power in that moment. Unwilling to tell her students that they were powerless to help these homeless animals, she instead took it upon herself to empower these young leaders. As Diane puts it, together, her students, her family and she set out to “change how the world works.”

And change the world they have indeed! Both for themselves and for the more than 5,000 dogs and cats they have so far placed in loving homes. And they have done all of this in spite of tremendous obstacles.

Diane’s commitment, and that of her students, was tested early on when the community forced them out of their existing shelter and had them move over 500 animals during a blizzard to another nearby location. Regardless of season, the weather in Dalhart continues to pose some of the most greatest challenges; wind speeds up to 70 mph and temperatures that can range from 70 degrees one day to below zero the next. That’s not to mention the tornadoes and hurricanes that frequent the area.

However, Diane is reluctant… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth.

As a psychologist — one deeply aware of the powerful connection between humans and animals — I wanted to share some little-known information about another “believer,” who provided therapy from a small Vienna office at the turn of the previous century. You may know him best as the father of psychoanalysis: a cigar smoking Austrian by the name of Sigmund Freud. But what you may not know about this mental health pioneer is that he employed not only a couch as a therapeutic tool, but he also typically had one of his dogs present during client sessions. While Freud’s own affinity for dogs was perhaps the initial reason for having them present as he worked, he soon witnessed the therapeutic benefit they bestowed upon clients.

Freud was partial to chows — a dog who, like the pit bull, is now often maligned by erroneous media reports. Sadly, this often results in many chows landing in already overcrowded city shelters. If only our current sensationalist media outlets could look to history on occasion and glean some wisdom from great thinkers such as Freud, perhaps fear-based actions could be minimized.

For one thing, Freud noticed that a dog’s presence acted as a calming influence on his patients. Children and adolescents in particular seemed better able to disclose painful information with a dog nearby, but adults benefited in a similar way as well. It seems that the mere presence of a dog in the room lowered the barriers of resistance all humans erect to avoid painful subjects, and so facilitated the therapeutic process. What Freud surmised from these observations was that the unconditional regard of a dog was healing. The steady canine presence in the face of what a human might experience as painful or embarrassing provided containment and a safe place of reassurance.

Freud often referenced one chow in particular, Jofi, whose response to clients offered him clues to a client’s emotional landscape. Freud noted that Jofi would settle farther away from clients who exhibited anxiety and stress, but remained close to those who seemed depressed — close enough to be touched by the client if he/she so chose.

Jofi could also indicate the end of a 50-minute session… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth.

This post is originally from The Daily Wag at MarthaStewart.com and is written by our own Pia Salk. At the beginning of this year, the nation watched on pins and needles as a stranded dog was saved from drowning in the overflowing Los Angles River. Nature doesn’t discriminate among those she affects, and thankfully, neither did the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The dog rescued in that brave effort has become known in the many follow-up stories in the media as Vernon, after the area where he was found. Over 1,000 people have inquired about adopting Vernon. [Update: Vernon, actually named “Spikey” was claimed a few days later by his elderly owner at the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority animal shelter in Downey.]

While I am truly heartened by the public outpouring of support for Vernon, my mind naturally drifts to the millions of “Vernons” whose lives are equally endangered on any given day in city shelters. Each has a story of his or her own, and each hopes to survive long enough to end up safe and happy. But without the kind of drama and attention like that surrounding Vernon’s plight, they don’t have hundreds of potential adopters lining up to take action.

As I continued to catch clips of the rescues coverage, I was pleasantly surprised- and again proud- that… read the entire post here.

This post is originally from The Daily Wag at MarthaStewart.com and is written by our own Pia Salk. As of now, the City of West Hollywood has taken a landmark stand for shelter animals. In a compassionate and historic move led by council member Jeffrey Prang, this progressive city council voted to give shelter animals a fighting chance. The recently passed ordinance prohibits pet stores from selling cats and dogs other than those who have been rescued from shelters.

And frankly there is no need for pet stores to access animals from anywhere but the shelters. On any given day at a city shelter or rescue group, there is no shortage of purebred and mixed puppies and kittens just waiting to be loved! But while helping to rescue innocent adoptable pets is certainly reason enough for such legislation, it was initially prompted by an investigation revealing that a West Hollywood pet store was selling dogs supplied by inhumane puppy mill breeders. The same store was also importing puppies illegally for resale, a breach of federal law. Sadly, these are common ways in which pet stores get their kittens and puppies.

Shockingly, the store’s suppliers were USDA approved. The reality is that USDA standards are…read the full post here.