The Scramble THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE FOR WCAC

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1 The Scramble OCTOBER 2015 Contributions to the Scramble are welcome. Deadlines are: December for January issue March for April issue June for July issue September for October issue Send to: Toni Ginnetti 207 N. Greenwood Ave. Park Ridge, IL Board of Directors Officers Synoma Hays, President Susan Raatz, Vice President Susan Frankel, Secretary Lou Bogart, Treasurer THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE FOR WCAC Even before they officially incorporated in July, 1990, Windy City Agility Club s founders were teaching and training dog agility. In the last 25 years, the club has helped countless teams master the sport or just have fun nurturing the bond between dog and human that is the essential component of agility. Through the years WCAC has been represented at local trials and national competitions while always being a welcoming club of supportive members whose friendships have grown alongside their bonds with dogs. Those traits remain, but changing times have affected the other foundations of the club. Changes have taken place in many quarters, from the national level at the United Kennel Club [UKC] to the local landscape with more and varied training options. Financial troubles for the club have grown as membership has declined and active training participation has waned. Now, WCAC faces an uncertain future. Directors Paul Glombowski Loretta Marchese Nancy Reyes Nancy Muklewicz Continued on page 6 Kate Witas Dolores Valerio Kathy Vaughan ``I wonder what s ahead.

2 OCTOBER 2015 Page 2 BRAGS AND WAGS Agility involves scaling A-Frames and mastering weave poles. But what does it take to be a good ``barn hunt dog? Ask Susan Raatz and Aliss South! Their agility dogs have a nose for finding rats as in the dog sport of barn hunt! Susan s dog Grover achieved the novice title while Aliss s dog Neskaya achieved the open title. [The rats are protected in this sport!] And kudos to Nancy Muklewicz and her poodle Shadow, who earned his first CPE ribbons at age 10! Neskaya on the hunt! ON BOARD WITH A NEW WCAC BOARD The annual election of the Windy City Agility Club board took place this month, with several new officers and directors installed. Assuming the presidency is Synoma Hays, who had served last year as vice president. Susan Raatz, who had been a director, takes the position of vice president. Remaining for another term as secretary will be Susan Frankel while Lou Bogart continues as treasurer. New directors include members Loretta Marchese, Nancy Muklewicz and Kate Witas. They join Paul Glombowski, Kathy Vaughan, Nancy Reyes and Dolores Valerio who continue terms on the board. Many thanks and good wishes go to the retiring board members, including former president Anna Ogawa and directors Barb Krynski and Christa Leyendecker. We salute you all and wish you success in the coming months.

3 OCTOBER 2015 Page 3 BREAKING AND ENTERING IT S THE [GOOD] LAW The weather may be getting cooler now, but it is always vital to remember that a closed up car is not a safe place for your dog. And it is also becoming an increasingly unlawful practice. At least 16 states including Illinois have animal cruelty laws aimed at punishing acts of leaving pets alone in locked vehicles. But Tennessee went a step farther this summer, enacting what is believed to be the first of its kind ``good Samaritan law protecting anyone from civil penalties for breaking into a locked vehicle to rescue an endangered animal. Tennessee state Rep. David Hawk [R] championed the law after learning of a situation in which a dog died and another was seriously injured because it took too long for police to respond to the trapped animals. New York is considering enacting a similar law. The 16 states that currently have some protective laws for animals left in hot cars include Illinois; Arizona; California; Maine; Maryland, Minnesota; North Carolina; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Dakota; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Vermont, and West Virginia.

4 OCTOBER 2015 Page 4 IT S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN It s true! Pumpkin is great for your dog! [NO, REALLY!!] Canned pumpkin the easy way to feed it is high in fiber, low in fat and cholesterol, and a great source of beta carotene, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc and vitamins A and C. While the amount of these nutrients is small compared to what pets get in prepared foods, the fiber in canned pumpkin is very beneficial to dogs and cats digestive tracts. That s good to remember if your dog gets an upset stomach or a mild bout of diarrhea or constipation [of course, always check with your vet on persistent conditions.] Canned pumpkin is a good aid in treating cat hairballs, too. A small dog only needs a couple teaspoons while a giant dog can handle more [although vets caution that too much might lead to loose stools.] Dogs and cats usually take to eating it easily because of its taste and texture. It s a good idea to keep canned pumpkin on hand, and now is the season when it s readily available but a word to the wise: reports say the cool and rainy spring and summer took a toll on the pumpkin crop locally, and canned pumpkin might take the hit! Here s a recipe that incorporates pumpkin if you d like to try a homemade trick-or-treat! PEANUT BUTTER & PUMPKIN DOG TREATS 2 1/2 C. whole wheat flour 2 eggs 1/2 C canned pumpkin 2 TBLS peanut butter 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together ingredients in a bowl, adding water as needed to make the dough workable. Dough should be stiff and dry. Roll dough into 1/2 inch thick roll. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Bake until hard, about 40 minutes.

5 OCTOBER 2015 Page 5 ``DOGS WELCOME A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned to visit on his vacation. He wrote: I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?" An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote: SIR: "I've been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will vouch for you, you're welcome to stay here, too."

6 OCTOBER 2015 Page 6 WINDY CITY S FUTURE Continued from page 1 The club held a general membership meeting in August to lay out the financial situation, concerns about membership participation, and whether there was a willingness to continue the club s existence. Then-vice president Synoma Hays outlined all scenarios, including the need for greater participation from members in the club s operations, from board operations to finding more instructors to more and new avenues of marketing and promoting the club. Those who attended voted to maintain the club, and several agreed to run for vacant board positions and help in establishing new committees to target ways to help the club survive. For now WCAC continues, but the future is still murky. The costs of running the club, from rental costs to insurance, are constant even as longtime member and board trustee Nancy Reyes has gone above and beyond the call to help by discounting and even forgiving some rental fees at For Your K9. In the days ahead, WCAC will only be as viable as its membership wills it to be. There are many ways to help from volunteering to help at upcoming CPE trials at For Your K9 to joining new committees that will work toward improving the road forward. New ideas are welcome, too. So is the simple act of telling others about WCAC as an affordable option to start or continue training with their furry best friend in the wonderful sport of dog agility.

7 OCTOBER 2015 Page 7 TEN REASONS IT S GOOD TO BE A DOG! 1. No matter where it itches, no one is offended if you scratch. 2. No one ever expects you to pay for lunch. 3. No one expects you to take a bath every day. 4. Others comb your hair and manicure your nails. 5. No one thinks you re crazy if you chase your tail. 6. You never have to worry about table manners. 7. It s not improper to look at a friend s behind. 8. No one cares if you have hair growing in weird places. 9. Your family is happy to see you when they have a bad day. 10. If you gain weight, it s someone else s fault! WCAC NEWS Class prices will increase starting next year. Starting with the January session, member fees will be $85 and non-member fees $115. Guest training fees will increase to $20 for members and $25 for non-members. The board agreed to hold a pot luck party on the last day of classes this year, Dec. 3. More information will be coming as the date nears. The full agility floor will be available for the upcoming final session of this year.

8 Here comes Halloween.and those ``scary [and cute] canine goblins!

9 OCTOBER 2015 PAGE 9 ``TICKED OFF: THE SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE The joys of being outside with our dogs can come with a price and among the worst is ticks. There are topical preventatives available, but the chemicals and organics and home remedies unfortunately don t carry 100 percent guarantees. Most ticks are more nuisance than danger but the fact remains the incidents of Lyme disease, carried by the Deer tick, have grown across the country. The information library of pet supplier Doctors Foster/Smith gives this checklist of symptoms that could mean your dog has been infected: a fever of 103 to 105 degrees recurrent lameness or lameness that shifts between legs a stiff or abnormal gait swelling, warmth or pain in the joints swollen lymph nodes sensitivity to your touch lethargy or depression loss of appetite vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, abnormal fluid buildup, increased urination or thirst. Blood tests will uncover Lyme, and antibiotics are the course of treatment and the sooner the better. WEBSITE WATCH This company offers an alternative to E collars with adjustable-fit ``onesies that protect surgical areas. They even have a ``potty cover, so no need to remove the whole shirt when nature calls. Want some heartwarming reading? Check in periodically with this website and smile.

10 Class Schedule and Upcoming Events THURSDAY EVENING INDOOR CLASSES [Revised Calendar] (Held at For Your K9, 1975 Cornell Ave., Melrose Park) Session I: January 8 through March 12 (Jan. 8 and Feb. 19 canceled) Session II: March 19 through April 23 [no off week] Session III: April 30 through June 11 Session IV: June 25 through Aug. 6 Session V: Aug. 20 through Oct. 1 Session VI: Oct. 15 through Dec. 3 [No class on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 2015] Class Times: Beginner 6:45 to 7:30 P.M.; Intermediate 7:45 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.; Advanced 8:45 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. (flexible) WCAC BOARD MEETINGS Meetings are at For Your K9 Inc. usually on the second Friday of each month. Members are always welcome. Quiet and well behaved dogs are also welcome. For more information, call Ask any Board member (names are on the cover page), or visit our website at Windy City Agility Club reserves the right to cancel classes, trials, meetings and events or change dates, times or location without notice. Club members may request copies of WCAC board meeting minutes from the board secretary. Windy City Agility Club c/o Toni Ginnetti 207 N. Greenwood Ave. Park Ridge, IL INSIDE THIS ISSUE; WCAC s Future Brags and Wags Your New Board Breaking and Entering The Great Pumpkin It s Good to Be A Dog WCAC News Symptoms of Lyme disease