Lisa Scarsi

Speaking out at our annual Luv-a-Bully March celebrating Pit Bull Awareness Day on October 25th, Brea CA.

With the credit crunch making us all look for ways to economize, I interviewed Dr Terifaj for some money saving tips on veterinary care.

Paula talks about how you can spend less at the veterinarian without compromising your dog’s health. Who knows that better than a veterinarian herself? Find out when you must go to the vet, when you can wait, and how to find a vet that provides good value.

So, to make sure you keep your dog healthy (and you just may save some money, too!), listen to my interview with Paula here:

http://www.dogcastradio.com/node/23054

Julie Hill, Host of DogCast Radio
www.DogCastRadio.com  

Jan Rasmusen with Jiggy (left) and Chiclet (right).

When Jan Rasmusen nearly lost her beloved dog Jiggy, she dared to ask questions. Why did Jiggy get sick? Could his illness have been prevented?

Some of her answers will shock you and may just save your dog’s life…

Puzzling questions and dogged determination led Jan to wage an all out investigation into important dog health care issues. Her fact finding detective skills and natural wit gave birth to her award winning book, Scared Poopless—the straight poop on dog care.

Jan wrote the book, hopeful that what she had experienced and learned from her research could prevent a health crisis for other dog lovers. In my opinion, Jan has earned her whistle blowing reputation as a full time consumer advocate for dog owners around the globe.

With Chiclet’s help, Jan produced this priceless video. Entertaining and enlightening is the best way to describe this talented writer and producer. Fame is a Bitch is packed with witty humor and a wake-up call for all dog owners. Experience and enjoy this three pound adorable bitch—things will never be the same in your dog house!

Don’t read this without a box of Kleenex on hand. Ok, I warned you. Now here goes: Last week my staff and I said our final goodbyes to Rufus. It was an unexpected goodbye—not the one we had planned. No adoption papers were signed. No cheering. No happy tears. None of that. Our final goodbye would leave us all sobbing.

We waited for someone to want him. We promised the Big Guy (as we called him) that someone special was coming. We packed his suitcase with hope for a better life. We tried to be patient and we waited some more. And then Rufus got sick.

At first it seemed like nothing more than a simple case of gastroenteritis—fancy medical term for puking and diarrhea all in the same day or the same moment. Out came the usual prescription: bland diet, probiotics, and a few days of rest. After three days, Rufus was eating again and poops were back to normal. No big deal—we treat 2 to 3 cases of “garbage gut” every week at the Clinic. They get better and most of the time we never discover the culprit. Food poisoning (bacteria or a toxin) or the flu (nasty virus)—we have all been there.

But then my well trained staff with their eagle eyes reported a few days later that something just wasn’t right with the Big Guy. I quickly ordered blood tests and X-rays of his abdomen. Then the shocking news: a tumor on his spleen had ruptured, causing internal bleeding. What the hell? Other than a few days of feeling punk, there were no solid clues that even a skilled medical mind could follow. No time to practice some medical magic. The cancer thief was right under my medical nose—leaving me helpless as a doctor and in panic mode: Oh God … NOT again! NOT fair! NOT my Big Guy!

Getting Rufus geared up for his daily hike—wearing the backpack that Cesar Millan often recommends.

Suddenly “Dr Terifaj” and “staff” (the Big Guy’s caretakers) were gone. Transported like a beam of light from the starship Enterprise. We went from planet veterinary hospital to land of grieving pet owners. We left clients waiting in the lobby while phone calls were made to summon all our team. Everything just went haywire. It was a scene all too familiar to us. Now we—Rufus’ real family—were huddled over his limp body telling the Big Guy how much we loved him. Now it was our faces wet with tears. Flowers were the only thing missing from this impromptu funeral.

Oddly, we are going to miss our disciplined walks in the park—Rufus’ exercise schedule along with Cesar Millan’s written instructions still hang on the same refrigerator magnet. No one has the heart to take them down.

Life did not play fair for Rufus, or did it? Was he waiting for his own backyard to romp and play in or were we? Did he miss sleeping next to his master’s bed at night or did we miss that for him?

Here is what we do know for sure: He was never hungry, thirsty, or cold at night. He had humans who cared about him and over time he managed to find his own special way into all of our hearts. And not even the bravest among us can walk by his empty kennel with a dry eye.

What painful lesson did Rufus teach us? Simply this: Don’t lose sight of each precious day while planning for an uncertain tomorrow. For while we were busy making plans to find Rufus a new and better life, he was busy gathering his family around him to tell us all goodbye…

Rufus is still looking for a “forever home” he can call his own. Founders Veterinary Clinic is taking applications for his adoption.

viewers than our expected 8pm western show time. Curious phone callers bogged down our receptionist with calls about Rufus. Now the cat—or should we say dog—was out of the bag!

Harbored inside the walls of our veterinary clinic for three long years…finally, the outside world was to learn of our struggles with Rufus. The response was incredible. Dog lovers as far away as Australia praised our efforts—leaving thank-you notes for Cesar Millan on my blog. Our clients bragged to their friends that their vet was on the Dog Whisperer—giving us local celebrity status. Now, if only a producer would call—I’ve got a great idea for a reality TV show about vets!

RUFUS UPDATE:  Rufus has made amazing progress—Cesar would be proud of our team effort to rehabilitate him. But now we need your help. Help Rufus to find lasting human companionship—a master who will adore his spirit and give him his own bed to sleep on. We are ready to pack his suitcase!

PLEASE try out your matchmaking skills and forward this email to all your friends and family. Or could this handsome hunk be the man you are looking for?

Read the full story about our 911 call to Cesar here:

My dedicated staff and I worked diligently to get him back on the road to good health. Six months later, that sick puppy had matured into a rambunctious 75 pound Rotweiller mix and was spinning out of control. In fact, he became so protective of us (his new family) that he lunged at visitors and growled.

All our attempts to find Rufus a loving home were sabotaged by his bad behavior—after three long years we were literally at a dead end. Feeling frustrated and sorry for Rufus, I told my staff that living inside the walls of a vet hospital was NO life for any dog. Something more had to be done. We contacted rescue groups asking them to foster Rufus and even offered financial help—no luck. Then fate took over: he bit the hand of one of our clients who attempted to pet him. Tearfully, I informed my staff of the need to put Rufus down—he was in the red zone and we had simply been in denial.

While I struggled to come to grips with this painful decision—the need to put down a dog that I saved three years earlier—my staff made a desperate 911 call to Cesar Millan and nervously waited for an answer. We knew that Cesar would be Rufus’ last and only chance to live the life we saved!

We were admittedly stunned when we received a call back asking us to hang on for another 3 weeks. Incredibly, Cesar and his devoted staff moved quickly to prevent us from having to make the agonizing decision to euthanize him. Rufus was off death row—the Dog Whisper was coming!

First, the camera crew and support staff arrived. It would be another three hours before Cesar himself walked right in and introduced himself—asking his famous question, How can I help you? So, what happened next?

Tune in on Friday, May 23 and watch an amazing and transformational episode of the Dog Whisperer! You can find The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel (check your local listings for time and channel number).

Our staff has been following Cesar’s instructions to the letter for the past four months. Rufus’ social skills have shown remarkable improvement and he is now ready to find the right “pack leader” who will continue to enforce Cesar’s three golden rules: Exercise, Discipline and Affection.  Rufus has truly earned the right to have the loving home he so desperately needs and wants!!

For adoption information on Rufus, click here.