A record-breaking 4,500 dog-lovers attended Bark in the Park 2008 in Forest Park. The weather was ideal with temperatures in the high seventies making the walk and country fair a perfect family fun event.

The Walk for the Animals, led by 2008 Mascot Jamie, his family Amy and Todd Ribick, and KSDK's Cindy Preszler and her husband, took several thousand dogs (and their companions!) on a winding pathway through beautiful Forest Park. Highlights of the Bark in the Park Country Fair included the always popular performances by Purina’s® Incredible Dog Team.  Pet owners also had the chance to make a doggie work of art with their dog’s paw on the Purina® One Hope Network’s Paws for Hope canvas. Children swarmed to Build-A-Bear’s Inflatable Fun Area where they were free to go wild in the jump house or zip down the large slide. The Heartgard® and

Frontline® Family Fun Adoption Center encouraged children to adopt stuffed pets and learn about bringing home and caring for their new pets. SeaWorld® and Busch Gardens® hosted interactive appearances giving animal lovers of all ages the opportunity to interact and learn more about exotic animals like a lemur, tegu alligator, penguin and more.

Dog-lovers entered pet contests like Best Dressed and Best Trick and the most popular, Doggie-Derbies. Kids met and petted the Animal Ambassadors from Longmeadow Rescue Ranch like Mama Llama and Mini Moo.

Mark your calendars! Bark in the Park
May 16, 2009

See Results of the Top Fundraising Teams!

A Big, Wet, Sloppy Thank You to our Title Sponsor:

Peruse this year's selections of stunning designer purses and purchase a chance to win your very own at Purses for Pooches & Pals held at the Humane Society of Missouri's St. Louis City Center on Macklind Avenue.

Help for Reactive Dogs
The Humane Society of Missouri Behavior Helpline frequently receives inquiries from owners with dogs that bark, lunge or even growl at other dogs and people.  These owners are often uncomfortable, embarrassed or even afraid to take their dogs in public.   Their frustration can lead them to give up their beloved pet, or resort to rough training methods that only worsen the behavior and may make the dog aggressive.  What can be done to help these dogs and their owners?

The Humane Society of Missouri Behavior Department is pleased to sponsor a weekend workshop designed to give reactive-dog owners important tools to safely manage, and in some cases decrease, their dog’s reactivity. 

 

Click to Calm-Healing the Aggressive Dog
with Emma Parsons

A two-day seminar designed to give you the necessary tools for managing a reactive dog.

Saturday, July 26, 2008
 Sunday, July 27, 2008

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER NOW!

Important note:  All dogs should be examined by a veterinarian for medical problems before assuming the problem is strictly behavioral.  Many dogs with severe aggressive behavior should also be evaluated by a veterinary behaviorist to decide whether medical therapy is necessary. 
 

Humane Education Learn About Finned, Furry & Feathered Friends

The Humane Society of Missouri’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch is expanding its services to animals and people announcing the opening of the L Double R Tack Room and Gift Shop and two new animal care barns - Healing Bay Barn for rescued animal intake and care and The Playhouse to house rescued pigs, goats, sheep and fowl.
 
The tack room and boutique gift shop features horse and farm animal gift items for kids and adults as well as bridles, halters, grooming supplies and training tools. All proceeds support the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of horses and farm animals at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch.

Is it OK for my dog to eat grass? 
 
We have a four-year-old, male dog who is our child! He has this habit of frequently eating grass. Our veterinarian says he is healthy, and we shouldn't worry because some dogs just eat grass as a habit. Do you have any suggestions?

Grass eating by dogs and cats is considered normal by most veterinarians. Dogs in the wild do the same thing to supplement their diet with vegetation. I would only be concerned about access to grass that has been treated with herbicides, insecticides, or fertilizers that might cause illness. If chemicals have not been used on the grass, your pooch can graze away.

“Is it OK for my dog to eat grass?"
Healthypet.com. American Animal Hospital Association.

Dogs and Thunderstorm Phobia
 
Does your pooch bury his head into your side every time it thunders? Does he dive under the bed whenever rain starts to fall. From your point of view, this may seem like cute and endearing behavior, but it's a sign that your dog is terrified of storms. Some owners are willing to simply put up with symptoms of storm phobias like hiding, trembling, whining, drooling, and pacing. In more severe cases, however, panicking dogs have been known to chew furniture, tear drapes, break windows, and more during thunderstorms. In either case, the behavior is a sign of a terrified, unhappy dog.

Causes
Storm phobias are one of the most common behavioral problems dog owners face, but their cause is not entirely clear. Behaviorists are not yet sure what part of the storm frightens dogs most, whether they're reacting to lightning flashes, the sound of thunder, wind blowing around the house, or the sound of rain on the roof. Some dogs even start to pace and whine half an hour or more before a storm. They may be reacting to a sudden drop in air pressure or the electrical charge of the air.

What to do
Your best bet for helping your pup overcome his thunderstorm fears is to talk to your veterinarian. He or she can help you develop a program to gradually retrain your scared dog by gradually, gently helping him adjust to storms through behavior modification. Technically called "systematic desensitization," this involves exposing the storm-phobic dog to some gentle reminders of a thunderstorm, such as a very soft tape recording of thunder or a flashing light, and rewarding the dog with lots of treats, attention, and other positive reinforcement only if there's no evidence of anxiety. Over time, the intensity of the stimulus is increased, and only calm behavior rewarded. You should get professional guidance, either from a veterinarian or a veterinary behavior specialist, before you begin this process. If you introduce frightening stimuli too quickly or don't see signs of fear your dog may be showing, you could possibly end up making the phobia worse.

If gentle, patient retraining doesn't help your pooch, there are some prescriptions that can. Your veterinarian can prescribe one of several anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications to help your dog remain calm during storms. You can also make sure your dog has a warm, safe "den" to retreat to when the weather gets too scary. You can try padding a crate with blankets or clearing a space underneath your bed. Just make sure that it's somewhere your pup can get out of whenever he wants. A panicked dog can do a lot of damage to his crate and himself if he's confined.

Most important, though, is that your treat your dog gently and kindly when he is afraid. Don't cuddle and reassure him, because that will reward his scared-dog behavior, but definitely don't punish him for it either. Instead, just be calm and provide him with a safe, familiar place where he can feel secure and ride out the storm.

“Dogs and Thunderstorm Phobia"
Healthypet.com. American Animal Hospital Association.

If you have questions about phobias or other behavior-related issues, contact the Humane Society of Missouri Behavior Helpline at (314) 951-1540 or e-mail our behavior department.