Me and my lovable rescued pit bull mix, Brad Pit.

What have I been up to (the one thing I will admit to, anyway) for the last 3 months? Well, without the need for my medical bag – just my medically trained mind – I morphed into an investigative reporter to get the real poop on pet insurance companies. I wanted real answers to these two questions: should you buy pet insurance and what should you buy? The first question returned an automatic yes and I bought (surprisingly so) my first pet insurance policy! But which type of policy and which company to choose would turn out to boggle the minds of those (my staff and I) supposedly in-the-know! No wonder so many of you are confused and/or disappointed with polices you have purchased – it’s a minefield loaded with restrictions, limits on coverage and what-if case scenarios.

Initially – after looking at ten companies – we narrowed our focus down to these three: Petplan, Embrace and Pets Best.  We found many similarities at first and later, major differences were uncovered, as we interviewed these companies over the phone and purchased a policy from each one.

I jumped in first, enrolling my pit bull mix-up, Brad Pit, with Petplan; Janet – our indispensable hospital manager and long time licensed veterinary tech –  signed up her dog Cookie with Embrace; Inez, our sweetheart groomer, purchased Pets Best for her newly adopted dog, Tigre. Yep, the same dog we were fostering at our Clinic – they had a 3 month love affair going right under our noses!

My hat and stethoscope is off to Janet, who painstakingly studied each contract and directed my attention toward problematic areas. What follows is everything we learned and what you need to know before you enter the mind boggling world of pet insurance. We have done a lot of necessary homework and now it is your turn to compare, ask questions, and take action!

Pet insurance is no longer an option – it’s a necessity if you want to make sure your pet receives state of the art medical care without maxing out your credit cards!

Let’s make 2010 the year of affordable veterinary care. As a responsible pet parent, I challenge you to work an additional $25 to $35 into the monthly budget. So, if you become the unlucky pet owner faced with a $1,000 vet bill (happens every six seconds in the U.S.) don’t worry – just get your pen ready (or go on-line) and fill out your claim form!

Let’s begin…

First off is my humble apology. For the past twenty years that I have been in practice, I have largely ignored pet insurance. Why? Unfortunately, my first experience with pet insurance was a bad one and I formed a rather negative view. It was the late 80s and pet insurance was the new kid on the block. Clients complained that company X (a start-up in California) was paying less on claims than expected and taking months to reimburse them. On my clients’ behalf, I started wrestling with the insurance company for higher payouts because no one could understand their complicated benefit schedule. Fast forward to 2009… the pet insurance neighborhood has wisely matured and veterinary medicine has made remarkable advancements in state-of-the are technology, surgery and medical treatments.  Sadly, many pet parents can ill afford to take advantage of all the medical wonders we can offer.

Now for the $2,900 question: Why would a veterinarian buy pet insurance for her own pet? Answer: In the last four years, my dog Rosie (yes, it’s true – purebreds have more problems than mutts ) has needed an MRI to diagnose an infection in her spine, eye surgery by an ophthalmologist, and most recently, an urgent visit to an emergency hospital on a weekend to find out why she had stopped eating.

The good news first: bad tummy ache or in medical jargon, acute gastroenteritis, and Rosie is feeling much better. Now the bad news: a routine abdominal ultrasound revealed that Rosie has a tumor on one of her adrenal glands, presumed to be malignant. Making matters worse, I did not have insurance to defray costs incurred over the last four years – nearly $3,000, and that was with generous professional discounts! Don’t worry – Rosie will get the care she needs, but that vacation I wanted to take went off to dreamland. Lesson learned the hard way, which is apparently how I learn most things.

OK now…this is going to be a long read, so be prepared to take your time, a needed potty break, or go grab a cup of Joe. Just be sure to read it ALL and please leave your thoughts in the comment section.

We found that the major difference between the top three pet insurance companies we reviewed was how they paid on chronic ongoing conditions.

• Dollar limits per condition: Pays out a specified maximum amount covered for each diagnosed condition. Once the maximum amount has been paid out the condition will no longer be covered. This type of policy can provide a good compromise for those unable to purchase comprehensive protection offered by lifelong polices.
• Time limits per condition: Ongoing illnesses are classified as pre-existing whenever the policy renews. The condition may still be covered but the reimbursement amount is reduced. Presumed to be a better option than dollar limits.
• Lifelong: Provides the most comprehensive protection for you and your pet – full coverage for both short term and long term illnesses. Pays out the maximum dollar amount on the policy purchased and that amount will be reset each year on renewal. With Lifelong coverage, any ailment your pet is diagnosed with will receive treatment indefinitely as long as you continue to renew your policy each year.

So what’s not automatically covered?

Pre-existing conditions – It is standard for pet insurance companies to deny coverage for the treatment of pre-existing conditions. Having said that, it’s always best to disclose any problems your pet has upfront, as future claims may be invalidated if you’re found not to be completely honest. It’s best to apply for pet insurance as soon as you adopt. Puppies and kittens are most likely not to have any pre-existing conditions – hence you never need to worry if a claim will be paid!

Note: There is a mandatory waiting period (usually 14 days) from the time you enroll until your coverage begins. Also, all previous medical records will be reviewed in an attempt to prevent fraudulent claims submitted for pre-existing conditions. No cheating allowed!

Hereditary or congenital conditions – There is a lot of wiggle room here. Some companies will cover these conditions as long as they were not discovered prior to the purchase of your policy and therefore treated as pre-existing. Read the fine print.

Routine checkups – Some pet insurance policies will cover an allocated amount for routine pet care. Those companies that do offer coverage for routine health care costs (vaccinations, parasite control, spay/neuter, dental cleanings, annual check-ups) seemingly do not pay out well for unexpected medical costs. It’s best to avoid the temptation to buy routine coverage. Instead, budget for the known costs of basic pet care and buy polices that will afford you comprehensive coverage for the unexpected illness or life threatening emergency. 

The ‘devil is in the details’ – read carefully and familiarize yourself with these terms and watch for red flags:

Age restrictions: Eligibility for enrollment is based on age of your pet. Breed can also affect age limits. For example: a new policy may specify full coverage for mixed breed dogs up to age 8 years; purebred dogs up to age 6 years; cats up to age 10 years.

Pets Best states no age restrictions.

A representative at Petplan told us the age limit may be lifted in 2010.

Pets that are too old for full coverage may be eligible for accident type coverage.

_______________________________________________________________

Select breeds: The following breeds (some we’ve never heard of!) could face policy restrictions, age limits, or higher insurance rates:

Aidi, Akbash Dog, Appenzeller Sennenhund , Argentine Dogo / Dogo Argentino, Beauceron, Bernese Mountain Dog, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Boerboel, Bulldog (all Bulldog breeds), Bull Terrier, Ca de Bou / Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Canary Dog /Presa Canario, Cane Corso , Cão de Fila de São Miguel, Chinese Chongqing Dog, Clumber Spaniel, Coonhound , Deerhound /Scottish Deerhound, Doberman Pinscher, Dogue de Bordeaux /French Mastiff, Dutch Sheepdog / Schapendoes, Entlebucher Sennenhund, Fila Brasileiro /Brazilian Fila , Gran Mastin de Borinquen, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees / Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Griffon Brabancon, Irish Wolfhound, Kangal Dog, Landseer, Leonberger, Maremma Sheepdog, Mastiff (all Mastiff breeds), Mioritic Sheepdog, Newfoundland, Ovtcharka, Rottweiler, Scottish Terrier (Scottie), Saint Bernard, Shar-Pei, Staghound , Tibetan KyiApso, Thai Ridgeback, Tosa Inu.

These breeds display a higher degree of severity of disease and as such different terms and conditions may apply.

Pre-existing condition: Refers to a condition, injury or illness that was present – or which manifested itself – prior to the effective date of the policy. Coverage for any pre-existing condition was excluded under all the policies we reviewed.

It’s best to contact the insurance company prior to purchasing a policy if you’re not sure your pet has a pre-existing condition. For example, with Embrace, if your dog tore her right cruciate ligament (a common knee problem which requires surgical repair) before you bought your policy and later ruptures her left cruciate ligament – the new left cruciate tear is considered a pre-existing condition and will not be covered. Insurance business can be tricky stuff!

Per Incident limit: Refers to the maximum amount that will be paid for a single incident. Some companies will have a per-incident limit for the lifetime of the policy (as long as your pet lives) referred to as a lifetime limit. Companies may offer a range of lifetime limits to choose from. Pets Best offers lifetime limits ranging from $42,500 to $100,000 with corresponding per-incident limits from $2,500 to $14,000. For example, if you choose Pets Best Basic Plan with a lifetime limit of $42,500, there is a corresponding per-incident limit of $2,500. If your pet becomes ill with diabetes, then the maximum available reimbursement for any diabetes treatment would be $2,500 for the remaining life of your pet. RED FLAG: When treating chronic conditions, this could result in a total lack of coverage whether or not you renew your policy with Pets Best. Remember, pre-existing problems will not be covered if you later change insurance carriers.

Other companies, such as Petplan and Embrace, have no per-incident limits and will reimburse for a single incident up to the maximum annual policy benefit. For example, if you had Petplan’s Gold plan with a $20,000 maximum annual policy benefit, then you could be reimbursed up to $20,000 for a single incident. However, if you max out coverage for your policy year – no further coverage can be provided until your policy renews.

Benefit schedule: Insurers can use an itemized list of reimbursement amounts for specific medical diagnoses and treatments. This makes it very difficult to know what amount of any claim will be reimbursed and what amount you will pay out of pocket (remember company X!). Petplan, Embrace and Pets Best do not use a benefit schedule; instead, they reimburse you up to the limit of your policy. This has been a major improvement, leaving inferior insurance companies in the dust!

Chronic Conditions: Any condition that is likely to reappear and/or is not likely to be cured, such as allergies, some gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and so on.

Embrace offers restricted continuing care for chronic conditions that last more than one policy term. Its maximum reimbursement you can receive in any given year for chronic conditions is 25% of your policy maximum. For example, your cat is just diagnosed with kidney disease. If you choose a policy with a $2,000 annual limit (too low in my opinion – I recommend at least $10,000 of coverage) a full $2,000 could be applied to treat the kidney disease. RED FLAG: However, when your policy renews in the second year, your cat now has a chronic condition and coverage for her kidney disease will only amount to 25% of your annual limit. So, with a $2,000 policy, only $500 will be reimbursed for care and treatment in all subsequent years. The remaining $1,500 is available for all new conditions, which again will be considered chronic in the following year.

Pets Best will cover up to the per-incident limit for the lifetime of the policy – so there is a cut off point on coverage. If your per-incident limit is $2,500, you can expect a total payout for the care and treatment of kidney disease not to exceed this limit over your pet’s lifetime. Also, with their lifetime $42,500 policy – you now have $40,000 worth of coverage when you renew your policy. Contrast lifetime limits with lifelong coverage – which do you want?

Only Petplan offers full lifelong coverage – any chronic condition the pet develops will be covered for the life of the pet so long as the policy is renewed annually and it will be renewed back to the full amount the of policy limit.

Congenital condition: Any condition or disorder that is present at birth or is recognized anytime after birth. Congenital disorders can be a result of genetic abnormalities or occur during fetal development. When discussing congenital, hereditary, and genetic conditions it becomes confusing when comparing different companies. For example, Pets Best lists patellar luxation (knee cap displacement) as a congenital condition which is therefore excluded from coverage. However; Embrace lists patellar luxation as a breed-specific condition (hereditary or genetic defect) which is covered as long as it’s not pre-existing. If you are paying attention you have just blurted out loud; “How can a problem be considered genetic (born with it) and not also be considered pre-existing at the same time?” Well, if the problem was never noted in your pet’s medical record prior to the effective date on your policy – it did not exist! Fortunately for your pocketbook, your vet failed to discover the problem on physical exam or the problem had not yet started to show any symptoms. Petplan also covers congenital conditions as long as they are not discovered as pre-existing conditions.

Hereditary condition: Refers to a condition, defect or disease, which was transmitted to the pet genetically from its parent(s). The condition, defect or disease may not be manifested until later in life. Some common examples are orthopedic problems such as Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Osteochondritis Dissecans, and Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease; an eye disease leading to blindness called Progressive Retinal Atrophy; a blood disease called Von Willebrand disease; and Cryptorchidism – failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum. Pets Best does offer coverage for what it considers to be hereditary conditions, but coverage is limited and the pet must have been enrolled before their 2^nd birthday. Both Petplan and Embrace cover hereditary conditions as long as they aren’t pre-existing. Note: it is unlikely that the hereditary condition, Crytorchidism, would qualify for coverage, as it can be detected by veterinary exam as early as eight weeks of age, making it a pre-existing condition.

Take Note: The incidence for hereditary problems occurs far more often in purebreds than the good old fashion mongrel. Purebreds demand higher premiums and earlier age enrollment, making mutts a more affordable option.    Save your money and save a life – Adopt!

Select your own veterinarian. Be aware that some companies require you to select a veterinarian from a network. I advise against joining a network since I feel strongly that everyone should be allowed to choose their own docs!

Annual check-up by veterinarian: Preventive health care measures such as annual exams and laboratory testing may be required to maintain your coverage. Petplan requires an annual health check, dental exam and any treatment normally recommended by the vet to prevent illness such as an annual heartworm test and preventative medication if indicated. For renewal of older pets*, an exam, blood test and urinalysis two months prior to the date of renewal is required. Embrace only requires an annual check-up performed by a veterinarian. Pets Best does not require annual check-ups. Personally, I don’t understand Pets Best position as routine check-up’s are an important part of health care!

*Dogs 8 years or older OR 5 years and older if a select breed; cats 10 years or older.

Emergency and Specialist care: Emergency visits and care provided by specialists such as orthopedic surgeons, oncologists, ophthalmologists and internal medicine doctors should be included in any policy you purchase, or pass on it! Companies may vary their rates on co-pays for this type of coverage or have some restrictions. Please inquire before you purchase your policy.

Alternative care: considered as acupuncture, hydrotherapy and chiropractic. Will only cover alternative treatments when administered by a licensed veterinarian. Policies that cover alternative care may or may not cover equipment purchase or rental. I recommend you get a pre-certification before treatment so you know if it will be covered and how much will be reimbursed.

Dental care: (excludes routine dental cleaning) Basic policies with Pets Best and Embrace* will cover orthodontic care such as tooth extractions only if caused by accident or injury like a hit by car. Therefore, a company may or may not consider a broken tooth due to chewing on something hard as an accident or injury. Petplan will cover orthodontic care such as a tooth extraction for any reason deemed necessary by your veterinarian.

*Embrace does have the option to add a Drug & Dental plan at extra cost which would treat dental problems and extractions due to other reasons besides accident injuries.

Cancer treatment: includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Years in business: Petplan was founded over 30 years ago in the United Kingdom and was launched in the U.S.A. in 2006. Pets Best and Embrace are newer companies in operation since 2005.

Licensed in the State of California: An insurer may or may not be licensed within the state it operates. If it is not, the insurer cannot participate in the insurance guarantee funds created by California law. Therefore, if the insurer becomes insolvent and is unable to make payment to you as promised, these guaranteed funds will not pay your claims.

Embrace is issued by an insurer that is not licensed by the state of California. Both Petplan and Pets Best are licensed by the state of California.

For quick, easy comparisons, see the chart below:

* indicates advantage compared to other company(s)

Additional Considerations

Ask if prescribed medications are covered under the policy you are considering. For example, Embrace will only cover take home medications if you purchase their Drug & Dental plan.

You should check and see if a pre-authorization is needed for treatment that may lead to substantial veterinary fees or if pre-certification is needed for certain types of procedures such as MRI or CT scan.

If your pet is diagnosed with a condition that could lead to other medical problems – such as hyperthyroidism – your policy may not cover kidney, heart and high blood pressure problems if hyperthyroidism is considered to be a pre-existing condition. This gets complicated, but it’s a good question to amuse policy writers and expose less scrupulous insurance carriers!

Understand the policy you are purchasing. For example, Petplan offers benefits for boarding and kennel fees (for an additional cost) under their Silver and Gold plans. However, these fees are reimbursed at reasonable costs up to the maximum annual benefit only if  you are in the hospital as a result of sickness, disease, or bodily injury – not when you’re away singing; It’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

And lastly, here are some important points to consider. Classic pet health insurance is intended to protect you from expensive unexpected pet illness and injuries. Don’t purchase it hoping to get your money back – do you buy car insurance and hope to get into an accident so your insurance company can foot the bill? Of course not! If your pet did not become seriously ill or injured in any policy year – be happy and know that someone else was not so lucky. Also, realize that providing good health insurance coverage would not be possible without a sizeable number of loyal policy holders making a large pool of funds available.

So, the payment you make next month might help to cover the $5,000 medical bill for the naughty pup that ate his owner’s underwear which required emergency surgery and post-op care in ICU for a life threatening intestinal obstruction. Be glad it wasn’t your pup and rest assured that if the worse happens, you too won’t bear the financial burden – in addition to a sleepless night.

As a safety net, the pet insurance industry has evolved over time to meet the needs of worried pet owners afraid that they might not be able to afford costly medical care or surgery. More often than not, my staff and I witness the difficult financial struggle our devoted clients must undertake in order to follow our best care recommendations. We hate to watch worried pet owners fret over unexpected medical expenses when they are struggling to put their kids through college or tell us there has been a job loss in the family…

No pet lover should ever have to say no to treatment that could be life saving or prevent needless suffering. The cost of monthly pet insurance could be as little as two movie tickets and a heaping bag overflowing with popcorn! So, skip the pricy movie theater and watch a home movie snuggled up with your favorite hunk of fur popping your own corn for pennies. I know your pet is worth that small sacrifice and so much more!

PS: Watch for my next post when I disclose my # 1 pick for pet health insurance and how you can automatically donate to a Homeless Pet Sponsorship Program just by entering a referral code when you enroll.

PSS: Wanna guess and win? Post your guess in the comment section on which company made my #1 pick (and reason for selection) and win one of my three e-books – your choice!

Stay tuned, stay healthy…and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Since I am especially distrustful of medical advice based on studies funded by drug companies pushing their newest wonder drug, backed by financial partners within the medical establishment — listen up! It’s time to read between the lines…

Warnings like this use unfounded fears as motivation:

Up to 8% of clinically ill dogs may die from complications of canine influenza, H3N8.

Notice “up to” and “may die” — that’s a lot of wiggle room for a hyped-up claim. And yes, this statement was the shocking headline on the hand-delivered eight page glossy brochure secretly left on my desk — spotted with impressive graphs, charts, and other interesting data. Strangely, no prediction of a fatal dog epidemic has been made by any ‘expert’ not on Schering-Plough’s payroll.

In bold italics is another twister to the statement:

“The AVMA believes there is urgent need for an effective canine influenza virus vaccine to improve the health and welfare of animals and reduce the financial impacts of canine influenza.”

First of all, improving the health and welfare of animals says nothing about reducing the risk of death or serious complications by the virus. You could also improve the health and welfare of your dog by feeding a better diet! The second implication in this statement, reduce the financial impacts, warns that flu outbreaks could result in loss of business revenues by pet related businesses forced to close their doors temporally to prevent further exposure. Ahhhh — too bad. But this Doc doesn’t follow the money.

Now read the fine print disclosure: Schering-Plough’s newest vaccine darling has been licensed as conditional by the USDA — meaning the data submitted supports a reasonable expectation of efficacy. Since the AVMA has decided to call this conditional vaccine effective, it would be wise to check their stock portfolio. The Canine Influenza Virus-H3N8 (CIV) vaccine will be up for regular licensing in one year unless evidence (provided by an emerging population of dogs soon to fall victim to vaccine junkie vets) shows that it is ineffective and/or results in a higher than acceptable number of adverse reactions. Will your dog be the guinea pig to test its effectiveness and risks?

What you need to know: CIV H3N8 belongs to a syndrome of canine respiratory illnesses and cannot be easily distinguished from garden variety kennel cough!  So, will your vet know if your dog gets the new doggy flu or good old fashioned Bordetella bronchiseptica? Well, since Bordetella (the vaccine given to prevent kennel cough) is just one of 20 different infectious pathogens responsible for kennel cough — probably not. So, out come the common prescription of cough suppressants, antibiotics (if indicated), and rest.

CIV and kennel cough pathogens cause similar symptoms:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Nasal discharge
• Eye discharge

Now for some fact finding:

Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) was first reported in March 2003 in Florida — when racing greyhounds became mysteriously ill. This virus appears to have mutated from an equine virus to infect canines. Here’s the likely scenario: racing greyhounds on race tracks in contact with horses (add in the stress of being raced for profits!) provided a ripe opportunity for the equine virus to jump species. Similar to the bird flu and swine flu — a phenomenon well documented. Reality check: Flu viruses are most likely to make you sick and deaths from complications are rare. Those most susceptible to viruses are the young (immature immune systems) or those that cannot mount an effective immune response — poor health due to illness and other stresses on the immune system.

Does that make you or your dog a sitting duck for flu viruses? NO! You can take active measures to improve immune function and fight off viral attacks. Start with the best diet you can afford — good health starts with good food! For all my diet recommendations, browse articles posted under Nutrition: Facts and Fiction.

Next, add proven immune boosters like medicinal mushrooms.* Powerful mushroom combo’s containing Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and The Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) have earned a respectable place in my preventive medicine cabinet.

Here are two of my favorites:

Host Defense by New Chapter

RM-10 by Garden of Life (also contains antioxidants known to boost immune response)

*strongly recommended as part of a natural arsenal against cancer

And for my book club fans — here’s a fantastic book about how mushrooms can heal our world: Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World by Paul Stamets. Anyone interested in natural solutions for global pollution, deforestation and environmental health challenges will find this book an invaluable resource.

You can also increase protective efforts by adding antioxidant combos with supplements that contain the “ACES”: beta carotene (provitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E and Selenium. Remember that plants are natural sources of immune boosting antioxidants. Colorful veggies (orange carrots, yellow squash and green broccoli) and fruits — most notably the berries (blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry) offer many natural health benefits. Food as medicine is Nature’s best bargain for health!

Take home point: Closed environments are required to spread canine influenza virus and other contagious respiratory pathogens — making shelters, boarding kennels, breeding facilities, and pet shops the most likely targets. The dog that sleeps on your bed, plays in dog parks and romps around the neighborhood is not considered to be at risk.

Word to the wise: Become an informed health care consumer — not easy money from those who stand to profit the most, Big Pharma and the doctors they seduce. Digging for the truth about the new flu vaccine, pet health advocate Jan Rasmussen interviewed several vaccine experts and reported: respiratory vaccines have dubious effectiveness and known propensity to adverse reactions. More info on Jan’s blog: Truth 4 Dogs. You can always count on Jan to blow a lot of whistles!  

In conclusion, my dogs won’t be getting the new doggy flu shot, nor will I be standing in any swine flu shot line. We are popping mushroom capsules and eating wholesome foods with an extra helping of fruits and veggies. I am also washing my hands a lot more and avoiding people as much as possible .

Our system of health care fails miserably in the art of keeping patients healthy — in others words, keeping them out of hospitals, doctor offices, and emergency rooms. Employing prevention tactics — the practice of not getting sick — has never received the medical attention it is begging for. Our present day health care system is really more of a sick care system.

Institutionalized Western medicine is a “one size fits all” method of health care that fails to shoulder any blame on the patient for his or her state of health. This must change for two reasons. First, loading up on junk foods and a myriad of other bad health habits has birthed a nation of Sickos and we can ill afford the skyrocketing costs of high tech medical interventions as is evidenced by our current health care crisis. Secondly, repeat patient visitors fail to realize that a doctor’s prescription is not a cure — it’s symptom management. Most prescription drugs should be the last resort, never the first!

Future generation of Sickos.

Why do Americans suffer an outrageously high price tag on health care compared to other countries? Could it be that we have the winning combination of lazy drug-happy Sickos who lack motivation to improve their diets, stop smoking, and curb other bad health habits coupled with our ‘for profit only-not health’ insurance? I toss this into the health care debate on Capital Hill: In addition to making greedy insurance companies more responsible for payouts and coverage for all, I vote for self-made Sickos to pay higher health care premiums — just like bad drivers pay higher insurance rates. People that cherish better health should be rewarded with lower rates, making health care more affordable for them and for the have-nots. Let’s call it the Stay Healthy Plan. And no, I will not be running for public office — I am a grassroots type pushing for social change on many levels.

I believe that getting well and staying healthy is our personal responsibility — not that of your doctor, the government, or the insurance companies. Take a serious look at how your lifestyle choices could make you the next statistic for heart disease, hypertension, cancer, obesity, diabetes, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lifestyle choices are the basic things we do everyday — Eat, Sleep, and Exercise. The typical American eats the wrong foods, is sleep deprived, would rather read People Magazine than 8 Weeks to Optimal Health, and recants the motto: Just say NO to exercise.

Personal note to me: An assault on my good health would no doubt receive a consultation by an MD knowledgeable in methods of health restoration — replacing the prescription pad with a cocktail of safe effective botanical medicines and targeted nutrients that have healing properties. My doctor is impressed — not brainwashed by TV drug company ads — with the body’s innate wisdom to heal from illness and imbalances when given the proper raw materials and rest. The emerging real doctor of the future practices what has been termed Integrative Medicine. The leader of this movement, Dr. Andrew Weil, is the founder of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at http://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/.

However, if I am found to be suffering from an acute appendicitis, become the victim of a drunk driver or dangerous Golden Retriever — call 911. Modern day magical medicine excels in crisis management — life threatening trauma and disease. And while it can make a frozen heart beat again and cheat death … its magic wand will not restore your health.

Why are you hearing this rant from a vet? Because some of you look sicker than the pets you bring to me! And when you start to embrace the importance of nutrition and exercise, you will better follow my recommendations for the patients (your beloved pets) I endeavor to keep healthy. Seeing sick pets is a drag — and I get especially high and mighty when the most common problems I treat are on my LPP list: Largely Preventable Problems. Better diets, targeted nutritional supplements with proven efficacy, and routine physical activity can prevent — and be treatments for — such problems as obesity, dental disease, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, arthritis, and yes, even cancer.

FYI: My overdue cancer care guide — as promised several months ago — is to be finished December 2009: Natural Chemo — proven strategies that can prevent and help your dog battle cancer.

In the meantime … I hope you will join my book club. If you are battling a medical problem, Cracking the Metabolic Code by James LaValle is a must read. I gave this book 5 stars on Amazon***** Or maybe you are ready to take some small steps to better health. If so, get started with 8 Weeks to Optimum Health and let Andrew Weil ease you into making better choices with simple weekly assignments. His suggestions will become a no-brainer as you graduate to health 101. And be sure to share the broccoli with your dog!

More information on both books:

Book Description for Cracking the Metabolic Code:

Doctors traditionally prescribe a pill for every ill. But for most people, these single solutions don’t work. The truth is, most chronic health problems, including stubborn weight gain, unbeatable fatigue, intestinal distress, high blood pressure, creeping cholesterol, and high blood sugar, are not found in simply one organ, but in several parts of the body (often times in twos and threes). This is the result of years of slow, subtle challenges to your metabolism, which is as unique as you are. Your lifestyle habits, stress level, prescription drug use, relationships, as well as the genes you inherit and the environment in which you live — in effect the sum total of your life experience up to this day — determine your personal metabolism and, in turn, your current state of health.

Using a step-by-step, easy-to-implement system of diet, lifestyle strategies, and state-of-the-art nutrients and supplements, Dr. James LaValle will help you create an individualized program for reclaiming your metabolism and health.

About the Author

James B. LaValle, R.Ph., C.C.N., N.D., is a nationally recognized pharmacist, author, educator, industry consultant, and clinical practioner in the field of natural therapeutics. He is co-founder of the Living Longer Institute, an innovative, integrative, healthcare facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. LaValle is coauthor of "Smart Medicine for Healthier Living", "Drug-induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook", and the Nutritional Cost of Prescription Drugs".

Book Review for 8 Weeks to Optimum Healing — A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body’s Natural Healing Power:

Weil has designed an easy, step-by-step program for wellness. The book’s audience is the over 40 crowd. Weil’s philosophy is that "most bodies come with warranties for eighty years of productive…trouble-free service, if basic requirements for preventive maintenance are followed."

This book is meant as a guide to such maintenance. Its strength lies in its design, which uses small, easy steps to achieve big changes. For instance, Weil suggests eating broccoli just twice in Week 1, then builds on this to create a complete change of diet by Week 8. Recipes reinforce the message and make it palatable in every sense. Weil also stresses the importance of the holistic approach and includes a simple mental/spiritual component in each week’s program.

As a physician, Weil is careful to substantiate every claim, and he debunks some of today’s more extreme alternative health theories. He also includes chapters outlining the special needs of seniors, children, and people at risk for cancer or cardiovascular disease.

About the Author

Andrew Weil, M.D., a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, has worked for the National Institute of Mental Health, is the founder of the Center for Integrative Medicine in Tucson, Arizona, and is director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. He is the author of seven previous books and has made two television programs for PBS. He lives near Tucson.

After four years of pounding Denver with every logical argument and reliable statistic explaining why breed bans are bad public policy and purely discriminatory, the ground is starting to shake. The biggest shock wave has emanated from the civil lawsuit brought against the city three years ago — a growing financial burden to the city budget scarier than any bully type dog!

Eric Christensen/IsaakHook Images

Me and my bully mix, Brad Pit — Outlaws of Denver.

The ban echoes pit bull paranoia etched in fear-based thinking — ignoring factual information that disputes any logical reason to legislate a breed of dog as dangerous. You can find statistics, data and the gruesome history of Denver’s brutal breed ban on DenverKillsDogs.com.

Just two days before my scheduled flight to the Dark City, I was informed that Denver only wanted to hear from its own constituents — no “outsiders.” Here is the notice I received: Denver city council is not taking seriously any e-mails from outside the area. If you are a Denver resident, make sure to put something about being a Denver resident in the subject line.

What about ex-Denver residents forced to chose between their beloved dog or their home? Or thousands of concerned citizens who signed the Boycott Denver Petition? And what about angry dog owners who have vowed not to move to Denver or open a business there because of the breed ban? I guess we should all go fly a kite…

If testimony from Sergeant Heidi J. Tufto, a previous Denver resident and one of many who fled the city, was not enough evidence to convince city council members of the breed bans’ ridiculous assault on dog owners, I don’t know what other “evidence” Denver is seeking to determine if dog owners have any rights at all. Here is the gripping letter Heidi wrote…

Dear Denver Legislators -

I want you to know that I moved from your "fine" city several years ago specifically due to the breed ban and merciless slaughter of family pets. I moved to Aurora and when they enacted their breed ban, I sold my two homes in that city and moved from there as well – even though I could have "grandfathered" my two beautiful dogs. This year alone, I have purchased more than 450,000 worth of property – all outside of your city and tax base – even with the current economic issues. You have lost a valuable patron, a community volunteer, an active duty combat Soldier and first responder, and a generally outstanding resident.

I ask that you focus all of your currently misused resources toward issues that will help to change the face of Denver in a positive fashion. Instead of hunting down harmless pets, perhaps you could better enforce your spay and neuter policies and reduce the general number of unwanted animals. I suggest sting operations where you contact any of the thousands of people selling puppies and kittens in the Denver Metro area to ensure that these animals are properly licensed for breeding. They shouldn’t be too hard to track down, as they are clearly advertised in the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. Reduce the total number of animals in your shelter, and ensure that ALL dogs and cats who are not show animals are spayed or neutered if living in Denver city limits. Now that is a cause I can rally behind. As an added bonus, spaying and neutering typically helps to reduce aggression in all breeds. Nice bonus, eh?

It is proven that breed specific legislation does not work. Why persist in persecution and genocide of a particular breed of dogs? If this were a people and not a breed of dog, there would be worldwide pressure on you to stop the killing. Discrimination is discrimination — and it is never acceptable. Please educate yourselves on the other legislative options available, such as a strict dangerous dog law that encompasses all breeds and will better protect the public.

In the meantime, I will reside in a relatively safe area with my two beautiful dogs, Lumpy and Bo. They have a lot to offer your city, as Lumpy is a Canine Good Citizen and a Certified Therapy Dog who was a much-loved and welcome favorite at the Children’s Hospital in El Paso.

Lumpy is a former fighting dog who wants nothing more than to show her compassion and depth of character to sick children — not eat them. It is a shame for all parties concerned that she cannot do what she does best and shine as an ambassador for her breed.

I invite you to call me, write me, or contact me in any way. I will gladly give you the opportunity to meet my beautiful Lumpy dog whose only fault was being born a pit bull who was abused, fought, thrown out and left for dead — but who recovered, forgave us all, and lives to love everyone. The same beautiful dog who you have decreed must die simply because she exists.

I will and do not spend any of my money in the cities of Denver or Aurora. I find my entertainment and necessities elsewhere and will continue to do so until such time as the ban is repealed.

Sincerely,
Heidi J. Tufto
303-859-XXXX

Wake up Denver! You have already heard from Heidi, a sergeant of our military forces and other responsible citizens severely penalized by your ineptness to enact an effective dangerous dog ordinance. Furthermore, as a result of your deafness, the city is bleeding taxpayer dollars in a costly legal war waged by outraged citizens forced to move from their Denver homes and treated like criminals!

Other than expert testimony refuting the validity of breed bans given by the professional veterinary community, numerous respected animal welfare organizations, and research data complied by the National Canine Research Council, what more “evidence” are you looking for, Denver? I am afraid the adage: “You can’t fix stupid” applies.

Update I received from Councilwoman Carla Madison: “I can clarify to you and anyone else you talk to that we are not looking to repeal the ban but put a Responsible Pit Bull Ownership Act in place.”

What is the Responsible Pit Bull Ownership Act you ask?? Denver’s new and improved version of breed discrimination. You can own a pit bull only IF: you apply for a special permit and pay a fee, your dog can pass a temperament test, completes a training class, and you buy increased homeowner insurance. What a load of bully crap!

Notice to my fellow warriors: On August 25th, I stood proudly among the victims of Denver’s brutal breed ban with empty collars and leashes in hand refusing to be ignored. As one of the “outsiders”, I could only imagine the horror of living in a city that uses police force to search private homes, apprehending the friendly family dog for its last ride to nowhere.

Rob Keith/IsaakHook Images

Joining my fellow protesters at Denver City Hall. August 25th, 2009.

For me, Denver will always be remembered as a city cloaked in darkness — hiding under home rule status to impose its own laws. Its own sense of justice. Its own punishment. The Wild Wild West of Denver is looking for a new sheriff. Justice has yet to be served.

Dear Rovers: You have proudly answered the Call to Action and inspired change. And I have had the privilege of fighting with the best of the best. Thank you for the honor of being your General!

For readers of this blog, do not let breed discrimination come to your city. You must watch your city council. Don’t let Denver happen again!

]]> http://30minvetconsult.com/blog/2009/09/03/farewell-to-denver/feed/ 8 http://30minvetconsult.com/blog/2009/04/22/is-your-vet-going-the-extra-mile-for-your-dog/ http://30minvetconsult.com/blog/2009/04/22/is-your-vet-going-the-extra-mile-for-your-dog/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:52:32 +0000 Dr. Terifaj http://30minvetconsult.com/blog/?p=72

Did you know that your vet can quickly find the most up to date medical treatments or get extra help with a challenging case by joining VIN (Veterinary Information Network) for a reasonable monthly fee of only $55? If your busy vet can’t keep up by reading all the monthly journals (guilty as charged!) this information timesaver could be a lifesaver for your dog or cat! VIN offers an extensive online database and questions are answered by experts in the specialty fields of dermatology, internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and more.

And for those who surf the internet for pet health information — watch out for cyberspace know-it-alls! Too many times, I’ve seen clients attempt to make a web diagnosis or were suckered to buy hyped-up products promising to cure every known ailment to dog-kind. Aside from wasting time and money — your dog could suffer from not getting proper treatment. Looking for an alternative or more holistic approach is fine as long as you first know specifically WHAT problem you are attempting to treat…

So, next time you get the urge to play snoop dog detective on the keyboard, start with Veterinary Partners (brainchild spin-off of VIN) — a database that has compiled a vast amount of reliable information by veterinarians in their chosen fields of expertise. You can search this public database for free.

Here is an example of what you will find when you select Dog — as the species you want information on — and type ‘demodex mites’ into the search box:

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=630

Let Veterinary Partners be your first source of web based pet health information. Remember to bookmark:  http://www.veterinarypartner.com.

Jamie Downey, publisher of The American Dog Magazine, is committed to stopping the rise of breed discrimination and abolishing breed bans. In the Winter 2009 issue (President Obama on the cover) she published an article I wrote: Vet Warns Dog Owners to Stay Out of Denver, CO.

Now Jamie has made this generous fundraising offer: Buy a subscription to The American Dog magazine and Jaime will donate 100% of the proceeds to The Point, ROVERlution’s ad campaign in Denver!

If you have already subscribed — you know you have received an excellent value at the bargain price of only $20.

Each issue is loaded with information from respected dog experts from all over the country: veterinarians, professional dog trainers, lawyers, and animal welfare advocates. You will also enjoy the personal success stories of those who are making a difference in the animal welfare movement — from fighting animal abuse to stamping out the puppy mill industry.

Please do not pass up this special offer from Jamie — you can GIFT this fine magazine to one of your dog loving friends (or family members) and HELP us fight breed discrimination. Support the magazine that supports many animal welfare issues!

You must order BEFORE March 15th to receive the Spring issue. Look for the box that reads animal charity special code (top of subscription page) and write in: BSL

Order Here:

http://www.theamericandogmag.com/subscribe.shtml

Eric Christensen/Hook Images

For adoption information on Jewel, or one of our other foster dogs, please contact Founders Veterinary Clinic.

The Spring issue will be on newsstands next month! FYI for my fan club: I will be featured as part of the LA Dog Scene — pictured with Jewel. She is a gorgeous pit bull boxer mix that I am fostering for adoption.

So, don’t wait! Now is the time if you have not yet subscribed or want to gift a friend. There is NO better way to spend 20 bucks and make a difference!

Only education and mass public awareness will bring down the brutal breed ban in Denver and copycat cities all across America. The American Dog Magazine is paving the way for better dog laws and the welfare of all America’s dogs.

Thank you for taking action …

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."

Thomas Jefferson

Eric Christensen

Woody exploring the ranch — 2006.

I have given up traditional gift giving — spending lots of cash on things I think someone will enjoy, but doesn’t really need. Instead I will share this story in the hope of giving you something of myself and what I believe is the true spirit of this holiday season — being grateful for what we do have and helping the less fortunate. Here goes …

In 2001, I spotted a little slice of paradise — a deserted farmhouse on 20 acres in a little town called Desert Hot Springs. Built in 1954 (the year I came screaming into this world) and still in its original beauty — concrete floors, knotty pine walls, custom made doors, and crank out windows. No heat and no AC — probably considered luxuries in those days.

It was built by a hardy husband and wife team (transplants from the Midwest) doing most of the work themselves. After finishing the modest one bedroom, one bathroom (tiny shower stall for one and no bathtub!), they started building two large barns that would later house hundreds of chickens — launching their careers as chicken farmers. They were the Zimmerman’s and landed a contract with another new startup — the Colonel from Kentucky.

While I looked up and saw the beauty of open skies surrounded by 360 degree views of mountains and a chance to escape my hectic life on the weekends — my mother, complained about all the repairs the house needed, the depilated barns, and the rodents she called disease carrying rats. Nope — she did not want her adventurous daughter out in the middle of nowhere. Not safe, not smart, and too much work! Disappointed by my mom’s lack of vision, my enthusiasm was tempered long enough to for me to negotiate a bargain price. It would be mine, all mine for only $235,000 — rats, scorpions, broken pipes, tumbleweeds, and all.

After the house became livable, it was not long before I discovered a no-kill shelter called Save-a-Pet about a mile away and two streets over. I probably could have found it without seeing the sign just by following the orchestra of barking dogs I would hear every morning around 6am — feeding time. Knock knock … “Hi, I am a vet and come out here on the weekends.” That brief introduction welcomed me with open arms by the manager I’ll call H. Asking a shelter if they need any help is like inviting a hungry homeless person to dinner.

I was totally out of my comfort zone. These dogs did not have a worried owner at the other end of the leash waiting in one of my exam rooms. There was no one to worry about their health and welfare. No one cared to play with them. No one had valued their companionship. While they waited and hoped for freedom — home was an outside pen during terribly hot summers and freezing cold winters. These castaways fought for attention whenever anyone walked by, desperate to be noticed. I watched in despair with clouded vision, unable to stop the tears when hopeful dogs lunged at the fence and fought amongst themselves for the prime spot near the gate hoping someone was coming for them. These dogs remained at the mercy of a few kind volunteers who paid them some attention when they were not overworked by cleaning out kennels, feeding 100 dogs and cats and answering the phones.

Some, of course, got homes. But others would become full-term lifers — sentenced to live out what time they had left until sickness or advancing age made them too much of a burden. This is the problem with no-kill shelters.  Unless there is an action plan in place to work with the dogs (obedience training, socialization, and daily exercise) — they become more and more difficult to adopt since a typical shelter environment is a breeding ground for behavior problems and what has been called, cage crazy.

Why am I telling you all this? I hope that will become obvious as my story unfolds. By a twist of fate — during the Katrina disaster in summer of 2005 — I got an urgent call for help. The billionaire T. Boone Pickens generously charted a private jet to fly rescued canine victims of the hurricane out to southern California and someone with connections routed that transfer to the Palm Springs airport. And you guessed it — H had committed to taking 80 homeless Katrina dogs! “So, Dr T, how many dogs can you put up at your dog ranch? I need to make room at the shelter for the Katrina dogs that are flying in next week.” (I was housing a few stray dogs that had wondered onto the property and the chickens had long ago departed — hence I now had a “dog ranch”).

Plain and simple — I am a bleeding heart for any dog in need. “OK, H, bring me ten of your dogs.” Mayhem broke out as wild, caged up dogs now had a full acre to run in. Some jumped the 4 ft fence while others dug out under the sandy soil — after 2 weeks only a few remained. H was able to round up the escapees, but I could not risk taking the runaways back.

One of the remaining dogs caught my eye and concern. He spent most of his time away from the other dogs (and people, too!), hiding under the large native mesquite bushes. He would not even come to out onto the patio at mealtime and someone always went looking for him to leave a plate of food nearby his campsite. When I mentioned this odd behavior to H, he told about the mystery dog he named Woody. Woody had been dumped at the shelter as a puppy, not yet old enough to be weaned and had to be bottle feed. H remembered the little black puppy fondly as he and Woody were newcomers to the shelter nearly 11 years ago!

Oh My God! — I never even noticed Woody on any of my visits — no one did. He was the generic looking black dog huddled at the back of this prison cell with 6 other inmates. Fat chance someone would want that dog — scared to death and so easily frightened that he would bite. Locked away and forgotten until Katrina handed him a get-out-of-jail card and free pass to my dog ranch.

Several weeks went by before Woody began to venture out. As I pulled up one late Saturday afternoon around dusk, the dogs ran out to greet me and I was pleased to see Woody out on the patio. Next comes the moment I will never forget. One of my ranch dogs (a friendly stray we called BW simply because he was black and white and easily ID’d by the reference) eagerly approached me with a Frisbee. As I casually sent it flying, Woody trotted after it. No sooner did I get the words out of my mouth — “Oh, how cute! Look at Woody, he wants to play!” — seconds later I was a witness to a crime scene. But unlike most bystanders, I flew into action when BW effortlessly nailed Woody to the ground, tearing into his neck full force. Woody let out cry I had never heard before — and I knew in that moment if I didn’t get BW off him (and 3 other dogs that had joined the gang fight) I was going to be an eye witness for the prosecution — murder one!

I needed to buy time until my screams for help would alert the caretaker. I did what most people would never do — but for me there was no other option. Because I knew Woody had beaten the odds (orphaned  pup in a shelter exposed to deadly viruses like parvo and distemper) surviving puppyhood only to suffer the neglect of an adult shelter dog that no one wanted — he sure as hell was not going to die like this on my watch! I jumped on top of Woody using my body as a shield until help finally did come. That stunt got me a ride to the emergency room where I was treated for multiple bite wounds, a severe laceration to my left arm (compliments of BW), and shock. Woody underwent surgery to repair a deep wound to his neck — which by the grace of God — spared injury to major blood vessels, keeping him from suffering a fatal hemorrhage that night.

Fortunately, in time, I regained full use of my left arm. But the emotional scars of that night remain and the why of the attack by a dog that had never attacked another dog in the three years he was with me (but did later attack a second dog) cannot be answered. At least not by me.

Over the years, I have witnessed many dog fights — most are just that. Few dogs attack with the intent to kill. They usually just make their point and move on. I am embarrassed to say I had never made that distinction. Lesson painfully learned and passed on. But wait a minute! This is not where the story ends … life was just beginning for Woody.

After a few months of rehab, Woody made it clear that he simply was not going to trust anyone but me. He did not want to be adopted — he was home. I simply agreed. He deserved his forever home and lived the happy life for his remaining years. In those three years he ate real food, explored the world on daily walks, loved to take car rides, and had his very own bed — one in my office and one at the foot of my bed. Yep, he was my dog and Rose graciously shared me.  

This year Woody celebrated the ripe age of 14 years. Sadly, he had only really lived the last 3 of those years—the ones we shared together.  It was my first experience to have earned the grateful loving devotion of a dog who knew he had been rescued not once, but twice. In 2007, Woody was diagnosed with cancer and was not expected to live more than a few months. We faced a new battle this time, but Woody’s strong spirit told me he wanted to fight, and so we did. He beat the odds again and lived another year! My War on Cancer is dedicated to Woody and all dogs battling this illness.

On December 8, 2008 I kissed by beloved warrior goodbye. PLEASE do not send your condolences — for I am comforted by the experience of giving life to a dog that was in a hopeless situation. Had Woody not been the benefactor of a tragic twist of fate, he would have remained at that shelter indefinitely — alone and afraid, with no one to grieve his passing. Instead, he had a hurricane to thank and a dog that nearly killed him, leading him to a new life.

In honor of Woody and the thousands of dogs (and cats) that have become castoffs by a society that does not yet fully accept its obligation to provide a safe haven for our adoptable pets — I pledge stronger efforts in the New Year and I, too will push for promised Change in this country:  

• I question the individual “rights” and “freedoms” of breeders and ask them to respond: Why continue to breed when we are warehousing (and killing) thousands of adoptable pets each day in animal shelters?

• I will continue to encourage my clients NOT to buy from pet stores! Puppy mills are for-profit-only businesses that care nothing about animal welfare or breeding quality.

• I fully support and will continue to work with responsible rescue groups who have reasonable adoption programs.

• I ask that dog lovers get over their pure-bred mania mindset. If your heart is set on one particular breed, please work with a rescue group committed to that breed. Just Google your favorite breed and add the word rescue — you will be amazed at your selection.

• I will remind you that a dog is a dog and I have met the best — mutts! Mutts also tend to live longer and have fewer health problems — just ask any vet. I am in favor of starting Adopt a Homeless Mutt Month!

Please support the efforts of those who work tirelessly to rescue our unwanted pets. To truly understand the dedication by animal advocates and their rewarding accomplishments, I hope you will treat yourself and your friends to this inspirational book, Pieces of My Heart by Jim Willis.

More about Jim and his writings or click here for Amazon.com.

Thank you, Woody, for showing me what truly matters. And thank you, Jim, for putting it all onto paper for us to remember and enjoy.

I have asked the publisher of the American Dog Magazine, Jamie Downey, to send a copy of the Jan 2009 issue to city officials in Denver, CO. The upcoming winter issue will be on newsstands nationwide Jan 1st thru Apr 1st, 2009.

The winter issue will include an article I have written on the dangers of Denver’s breed ban entitled, Vet warns dog owners to stay out of Denver, Colorado.

The magazine will be sent to Mayor Hickenlooper, all twelve city council members, Doug Kelley, the Director of Animal Control, and city attorneys.

This fine magazine supports many animal welfare issues and offers excellent articles on dog health care. It’s a win-win for dog lovers and the fight against unfair breed discrimination.

With your support, The American Dog Magazine will send copies of the Jan 2009 issue to named city officials in Denver, CO.

Please send a short thank you to Jamie for her support to overturn Denver’s breed ban at:

www.theamericandogmag.com

Eric Christensen

Dr. Paula Terifaj gets a loving kiss from one of her bully patients.

Dear City Officials,

Please rid our city of pit bulls so I can feel safe again.  And oh, by the way…

Could you also keep drunk drivers off the streets, stop people from running red lights, and ticket all drivers that can’t remember we have speed limits? These irresponsible people put my life at risk everyday.

I would also feel a lot safer if gang bangers did not have guns and terrorists did not hate Americans. Let’s take away their guns, bombs and secret weapons. Just think how many thousands of innocent lives we could save!

And while we are making our neighborhoods safe again, could you please hunt down and lock up all the pedophiles, rapists and serial killers. Who needs these human predators lurking around?

But let’s take the easy route first, shall we. Round up all the pit bulls and kill them. After all they are just dogs, they can’t fight back. And there are no laws to stop breed discrimination — only people are protected against unfair acts of discrimination. Guilt by association is fine if we are talking about dogs. Innocent dogs will die, but so what. Our streets will be safer for all of us. And it’s pretty simple too. After you make dog ownership a crime, just let the police do all the dirty work. Any dog looking like the breed in question will be hauled off and jailed by animal control. Sentenced without a jury and caged on death row. Our neighborhoods will be safe again.

Don’t listen to any dog owner who cries about how the dog grew up with their three wonderful children and loves to sleep on their beds at night. Others will beg you to hear how special the dog is and recount heart warming stories while they prepare to call a moving van. And no doubt a few more protesters will adamantly defend their constitutional rights by re-stating the 9th and 14th amendments. This time government has gone too far. They say the bells of freedom have stopped ringing. These American freedom fanatics have joined an army of dog rebels called ROVERlution to defend their rights to keep their dogs!

But wait a minute — statistics don’t lie. If you read about my untimely tragic death odds are that I have been killed by a dangerous drunk driver at the wheel of a car. Or perhaps fatally wounded by the bullets of a madman, a carjacking or while visiting my ATM. Worse yet I was the murdered victim of a vicious human predator. Shame on you for not doing more to protect my life! But you need not feel guilty if you couldn’t rid our city of pit bulls. There is a 99.99% chance I was not killed by a mad dog. In fact, fatal dog attacks are rare. More people have been struck and killed by lightning.

Being the fortunate recipient of a sound and rational mind, I don’t let perceived fears make decisions for me. I am not entertained by Nancy Grace and her hysterical news reporting. And I certainly don’t get my facts straight by watching the 5 o’clock news. I do however have a healthy respect for the driver with road rage, lunatics with guns, and the criminally insane. So, to reduce the odds of me departing ahead of schedule, I have cut out unnecessary driving, I limit time spent in public places, and I make sure to keep all  doors locked with a dead-bolt. In fact, I feel safest behind bolted doors, curled up on the sofa reading The New Yorker with my dog pal who loves to snuggle.

And if you pride yourself on making informed decisions,  refuse to react to eager reporters who "sell the news", are able to think like a rational human being, and understand the fight against laws of injustice — then Rover and I would like to invite you over for tea. Just promise you won’t tell my devoted dog pal that her breed has been defamed, persecuted and abused by the human race. She has such fondness for these strange creatures — it would surely break her heart.

Eric Christensen

Tanner 2003 — 2007

Breed discriminatory laws are sweeping our country and Denver, CO is only one hot spot. Other cities in the states of Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas (to name a few) have adopted similar legislation. Insurance companies have jumped on this breed bandwagon — placing restrictions on homeowners or refusing to provide coverage if certain breeds of dogs are owned.

If you have been thinking that breed discrimination is not your problem, wake up and smell the illegal dog lying on your living room couch! As a veterinarian, I have added breed discrimination to my list of warnings for dog owners. I now caution my clients (who own one of several dog breeds that have been blacklisted by insurance companies and cities around the country) whenever I am introduced to their American Pitbull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Chow Chow, Akita, Great Dane, German Shepard, or Doberman. In my state of California, I have personally witnessed the pain of breed discrimination first hand, compliments of Mercury Insurance Company.

For a heavy dose of reality, read what happened to Tanner:

In 2007, Mercury refused to pay a claim when it was discovered that the policy holder owned a dog that a company representative determined was a “pit bull”. The dog was a mixed breed, (a fact that any dog expert would attest to) and so I promptly wrote them a letter of objection arguing that Tanner, the dog in question, was in fact a mongrel by pure definition. In addition, I said I would testify to the fact that in my three years of working with this dog, he had never displayed any signs of aggression.

So, what happened? My client’s daughter was walking Tanner (a playfully strong 80 pound lab bully mix) when his strength overpowered the leash hold of the dog walker (10 year old weighing 80 pounds). When Tanner paid an unwelcome visit to a neighbor’s dog, a scruff broke out and the neighbor was bitten in the hand as he separated the dogs. The dogs were not injured but the neighbor got nasty, real nasty. He got a lawyer and filed a lawsuit claiming he would be out of work for 6 months and wanted to be compensated. He said the injury to his finger (it was his pinky) prevented him from using his keyboard to type.

In the end, Mercury paid the claim and then threatened to cancel the policy unless my client provided them with Tanner’s death certificate. I stood there numb with disbelief while my panicked client was distraught over the prospect of losing her homeowner’s insurance, complaining she could not afford to buy insurance from eight other companies that had quoted her higher rates, since this claim put a “black mark” on her record. I refused her request to euthanize (in this case murder) Tanner and told her I would find a rescue group to foster him for adoption. She was open to the idea. Two days later and for reasons I will never understand or accept, she took her marching orders from Mercury and handed them Tanner’s head on a platter.

I was stunned by the news. I was sleep deprived for weeks —Tanner’s handsome face visiting me at night whenever I tried to close my eyes. I had believed BSL could not get me in California. Oh No! BSL was in other states and other cities — like Denver, CO where I have carried a torch for the last four years. Now I was face to face with the same evil. I had seen the devil. And the devil won.

It’s been one year this month since Tanner lost his life to corporate breed discrimination. I could not write about it then — the wound was too raw, my emotions too unstable. Even now, I have had to reach for the courage to write about it. I’ve had to accept the outpour of more tears and gut wrenching rage.  Please use the heartache and outrage you too may be feeling to protect other dog owners and dogs from a similar situation as Tanner’s. Tell this story to anyone who will listen. Tell them to read their homeowner insurance policy for dog breed exclusions in the fine print. And watch out when it’s time to renew your policy — many carriers have amended existing policies to include breed restrictions.

FYI: insurance carriers are regulated by the state insurance commissioner* — so restrictions can vary according to which state you live in. In California, there are only two insurance companies dog owners will want to do business with: Farmers and State Farm. More than 20 other large insurance carriers (interviewed by a top agent of Roverlution.org) had breed restrictive language in their contracts. Even if you own a poodle, please send your business to insurance companies that do not discriminate against dog owners.

* Contact and write to the Insurance Commissioner in your state telling them you are against breed restrictions and find out which state representatives support your views. They can introduce legislation to prohibit insurance discrimination. If legislation is pending you can encourage your state representatives to support it!

Note: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin (not an all inclusive list) have state laws in place (or pending) which prohibits the denial of insurance based on dog breed ownership. This shows progressive action by these states!

After you study your homeowner’s policy, watch out for your city council. More and more cities have placed the topic of breed restrictions on their agenda. You must watch to see if your city representatives are meeting to discuss your dog. And before you consider a move or vacation, first check to see if you own a blacklisted dog. Bottom line: Both state law and city ordinances must be examined prior to a visit or move. Dog owners are not free to move about in the new America!

Breed discriminatory laws have become a modern day death sentence for any dog caught in the legal crossfire of ignorant lawmakers and biased insurance companies. See other posts on this subject.

Stay informed. Get involved. Or watch more of your freedoms evaporate and just maybe your dog, too.