Winter Edition - Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County

Max
If you’ve ever known a person who had
a less than desirable moniker, then you know
how important names can be. Our pet’s names
are no different. HSVB&IRC receives animals
in a number of ways. In some cases the pets
have been turned in due to their caretaker’s
housing or medical issues, in which case we often
know the pet’s name. In others, the animal
may come to us with no history.
Experts advise keeping the same name for older pets who
came from a positive environment, as they may not respond to
a new name. For younger animals and those without a name
history, a new name is appropriate. HSVB&IRC Dog Behavior
Specialist Connie Ellis says, “If the pet comes from a cruelty
situation, a name change may be in order.” She also acknowledges
that, “Sometimes the adopter, for whatever reason, may
want to change the pet’s name.” If this is the case, she advises,
“A natural transition might be to use both the old name followed
by the new name and eventually dropping the old. An
example might be a pet named “Pleasure” who the new owner
Bella
Sebastian Thrift Shop Expands
PAW PATTER
What's in a Name?
Renovation work began
at the Sebastian Thrift Shop
in July to expand the existing
store into the adjacent
display space had been tight
for some time at the popular
store on SR 512. According
to Thrift Shops’ Operations
Manager Annette Barcus, “The work rooms were moved into the
room could be created. Walls were moved and relocated, and
nice new dressing rooms were constructed. Since there was a
limited budget, a lot of the work was done by Humane Society
volunteers. They painted walls, reworked shelving, and did a
wares, and linen departments have all been expanded.
Annette said, “This renovation could
not have worked so well without the
wonderful team at the Sebastian Store.
Manager Patti Blackwell did a great job
of planning and organizing the project
with the tremendous team of volunteers.
We would also like to thank Jo
4
now wants to call “Ginger” – until the pet
begins to recognize the new name, it would
be called “Pleasure-Ginger.”
Experts all tell us that animals respond
better to one or two syllable names. When
naming a dog you should avoid names that
sound like the standard commands of “sit,
stay, down, come – for example: “Kit” (sit)
or “Faye” (stay). Also, always remember the
social aspects of a name that you’ll be using or calling out in
public. Never give an animal a name with derogatory, inappropriate,
or illegal connotations such as “Stinky” or “Killer.”
HSVB&IRC Humane Education Director Janet Winikoff cautions,
“Never reprimand an animal using his or her name. If you yell
at a pet using the name, he or she will be less likely to come
when called; always use the name in a positive context.”
Be patient and soft-spoken to your new pet and give her
time to adjust. In fact, waiting a bit and studying your pet may
help you choose the best name. Sometimes the pet will tell
you his name!
Cali
Molly Harley
Alphabet Soup for Dogs
When I started out training
dogs, I felt it was important to
have some credentials or cer-
selected have led me to a slew
of initials after my name. The
original designation was Certi-
"Abby" Koroly – Nosework for Dogs
tion Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) changed
Knowledge Assessed.
In 2011, the need for behavior professionals came to life
Knowledge Assessed. This focuses on fear, phobias, and aggression.
Since I work with many of these problems, I was happy to
ibility and recognition for dealing with the behavioral problems
that cause so much tension in human-canine relationships.
the CCPDT. This newest recognition is a training skills assessment.
In the skills exam I had to train the dog or teach the
sional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA)
Cissy Sumner, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA