February 2022_Lisa.pptx

ISSUE
44
Gouves Club members’ monthly e-mag
PAWS FOR
THOUGHT
February 2021
What are Lick
Mats?
Shelter
Situation
Banana, Yogurt
and Oatmeal
Cookies
Dogs in History:
Dog Behaviour:
Why do dogs
chase their
tails!
The real dogs of
Eight Below
…plus all our regular features and
more!

Features
3
Dog Behaviour:
Why do dogs
chase their tails? 8
What are Lick
Mats?
Oatmeal,
banana &
yogurt cookies
Dogs in history
The real dogs
of Eight Below
A Doggy’s
Bedtime Prayer
10
12
18
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We’re so happy to have you in
the Gouves Shelter Members’
Club! You’re support will
make a real difference.
The aim of the club is to build
up a regular income so that our
volunteers are able to focus on
the well-being of the animals
and the long term improvement
of the shelter facilities.
Anyone sponsoring one of our
dogs or cats is automatically
enrolled in our club, but it’s
also open to anyone else who
can contribute a minimum of 5
Euros per month.
In return, you receive our
monthly online magazine,
packed full of news and
information from the shelter,
interesting articles and
members offers.
Because the magazine is
created by volunteers – and
with zero costs - we can
guarantee that 100% of your
donation goes directly to the
shelter.
From everyone at the shelter, –
THANK YOU!

THE SHELTER IN NUMBERS
• 141 dogs currently at the shelter
• 63 cats currently at the shelter
• More than 15 dogs rescued last month
• More than 38 emergency treatments at the vet
• 200 dogs and 200 cats fed, and taken care of,
every single day!
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This month we have been reaching out to different
organisations in hopes that we can get either one time help or
continuous donations. We will also start to advertise a bit,
which is something we haven’t done much before. Although
we try to reach out and try new things, we still want to keep
the Gouves Shelter image the same.
We have never been the most dramatic or attention seeking
shelter. What we want to do, is show everyone the harsh
reality, but without any additional drama, rescue world has
enough of that as is. We have gotten a lot of tips about what
kind of videos might work and appeal to people. The most
common tip is rescue videos or videos of dogs in horrible
conditions. While we do have rescues and animals can come in
devastating conditions, that’s not what we want to
emphasize. When we are on a rescue mission, our goal is not
to make great videos, but to help the animals as soon as
possible. We don’t want to have gruesome photos and videos
in our pages all the time, we would rather show what our work
can do as a result. How animals, no matter what they have
gone through, can overcome their past and have great new
lives as beloved family pets.

THE SHELTER IN NUMBERS
• 141 dogs currently at the shelter
• 63 cats currently at the shelter
• More than 15 dogs rescued last month
• More than 38 emergency treatments at the vet
• 200 dogs and 200 cats fed, and taken care of,
every single day!
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We want to share some good news as well about Mr. Manolis.
His recovery has been a bit slow, but he is now feeling quite
well and is back to his new normal. With much more time in
his hands, he has the opportunity to see his family and friends
more, balancing time with helping the stray cats and taking
care of himself.
Of course he also helps us with legal things and continues to
fight for better animal welfare laws. We will keep you
updated also on these matters and we hope that the next few
years will bring a lot of positive changes. Or at least some,
things tend to change very slowly here.
We wish you all to have a great February and we hope that as
the summer gets closer, you will be planning your visits to the
shelter as well
Thank you so much
Gouves team

Dog Behavior
8
Why do dogs chase
their tails?
The image of a dog chasing their tail is one that’s been depicted
time and time again, but have you ever stopped to wonder why
they do it?
If you’re a dog owner, you’ve probably witnessed your pup chasing their tail
on occasion. Sometimes it may be just the odd, quick chase and other times
your dog may resemble a tornado, whirling around and around in hot pursuit
of their tail.
When it’s only occasional and doesn’t seem to be doing your dog any harm,
it’s usually harmless behaviour. However, if the tail chasing appears to be
obsessive then there could be a health issue.
There are numerous reasons why your dog may chase their tail, from
boredom to something more serious like an injury. It’s always best to consult
a vet first to rule out anything health wise, but six of the most common
reasons why they exhibit this behaviour are as follows:

Boredom: Sometimes dogs chase their tail simply because of boredom. This
may be because they’re left alone most of the day or aren’t getting enough
mental or physical stimulation. Tail chasing offers a way to entertain
themselves for a little while, and allows them to expel some of that built up
energy. Boredom is easy to fix. Increase their daily activity by adding more
walks to their routine and bring in some physical and mental games
Puppy playfulness: Puppies love to discover more about their world with
their mouths. So, a possible answer to why dogs chase their tails could be
simply because they’re a puppy! As they grow, they learn new things about
themselves and discover their anatomy in a sense. Also, puppies are incredibly
playful so they may just see their tail as a fun toy to chase but don’t worry,
they’ll likely grow out of this behaviour.
Fleas and ticks: Sometimes their tail can become really itchy as a result of an
infestation, and they might chase their tail to try and bite it and relieve some of
the itching. You can check their skin for evidence – you may notice small, dark
brown to black specks in their coat (flea faeces) and in some cases, there may
be bald patches too as a result of excessive licking or scratching
Attention seeking: If they feel like they’re not getting enough attention from
you, most dogs will pull out all the stops to try and get a reaction from you,
which may include behaviours such as tail chasing. To your dog, any press is
good press so even if you reprimand them, they’ll see this as a win because
they’re getting a response from you. It’s important to ensure you’re setting
aside time out of each day to spend time with your dog; our four-legged friends
are sociable creatures and need plenty of attention!
Medical conditions: Tail chasing can be due to an underlying health condition,
such as seizures, pain, an infection or even cancer. If your dog is chasing their
tail a lot, it’s best to rule out any medical issues first, so always get in touch with
your vet who will be able to examine them and find the root of the problem.
Anxiety: Repetitive behaviours such as tail chasing can be a source of comfort
for dogs and if it’s served as a stress reliever once, they may begin to do it
whenever they feel nervous. Anxiety can be caused by a number of factors
including:
• Small living areas (such as a kennel or a crate).
• Aggression from another pet.
• Lack of opportunities to socialise.
• Previous frightening experiences.
• Physical or emotional abuse in the home.
If you suspect your dog’s tail chasing may be a result of an anxiety related
compulsion, you should contact a behaviourist who can advise on how best to
help your pup.
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What are Lick Mats and why do you need them?
Lick mats are becoming all the rage these days as owners work to
have mentally stimulating options at home for their K9 companions.
Some of you may be thinking, Well, what the heck are they?!
Here's a basic guide to help you learn what they are, how to use them, and some
handy tips and tricks to get you started.
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What is a Lick Mat?
A lick mat is a grooved mat that encourages the act of licking. Usually made of TPR
rubber or silicone, most lick mats have individual patterns and textured surfaces that
create a grazing maze. These textures and patterns help lock food in so that your
dog actively licks at their meal or treat, as opposed to the normal chomping and
gobbling.
Most have suction cups on the underside so you can stick them to the floor or a
vertical surface.
I recently read about them so bought a couple to see what my dogs thought of
them – and they love them! They even know the words ‘Lick Mat’ now. They
come running into the kitchen when they hear the sound of me pulling the
mats away from the work surface!

Why use a Lick Mat?
Using a lick mat encourages the act of licking, which releases pleasure
endorphins in your dogs brain. These endorphins can help calm dogs
down in stressful situations. Lick mats can:
• Alleviate stress.
• Provide mental stimulation.
• Can be great calming/ positive reinforcing tool for activities like nail trimmings
and baths (see below where we used our lick mats to create positive
association during our dogs' Rexspecs training).
• Encourage slower eating habits.
• Create mental stimulation for dogs on restricted exercise.
Where to get them.
Try your local pet store or search on Amazon, which was where I bought ours
from, together with some Doggy Peanut butter which they absolutely love!
What can I spread on them?
Virtually anything your dog likes. Here’s a few ideas:
• Wet dog food.
• Plain Greek yogurt.
• Natural peanut butter (xylitol free)
• Gelatinous bone broth
• Pure pumpkin puree.
• Cottage cheese.
• Veggie purees (e.g. green bean or carrot) • Mashed banana
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If your dog is on medication, you can try hiding it in the lick mat. If you buy several
mats, you can also prepare them in bulk and freeze them, then just pull one out
when you need it. You can even microwave them! The possibilities are endless
and they have certainly been a big hit in our house!
Rozi and Tash were delighted to pose for
photos for the magazine with their new lick
mats!
Even strong toys can be damaged or destroyed by strong or determined chewers.
PLEASE ALWAYS supervise your dog during use and play.

Nefeli’s Corner
Words of wisdom from a chubby and happy
rescue
Wagging tail for 9 years
This month I have my birthday! Of
course we can’t know for sure
if it’s my real birthday, since my
mom wasn’t there when I was
born, nor do we know anyone
who was and quite frankly I have
completely forgotten which day it
was.
But what I do remember are all
those years after being born.
All those crazy and funny
experiences I got to see with my
family and friends. All those
moments where I met new people,
that would turn into lifelong
friends. All those experiences,
that some might never have,
from the mountains of Crete to
the exhibition halls of Finland. All
the trainings, trials and shows. All
the mishap and mayhem we have
caused, usually with my 4 legged
friends, sometimes with 2 legged
ones as well. And all of those
memories contain laughter and
love.
There has also been some sad
and rough times. Times when I
was all alone, times when I went
hungry most of the days, times
when people kept passing by
without caring, no matter how
much I wagged my tail or smiled
at them.
Times when I saw friends for
the last time, moments when I
said goodbye to old friends
taking their last breath in this
world.
Times that I cherish, no matter
how rough they were.
Because those times make you
appreciate all the good in your
life and quite frankly we all have
so much to be thankful for.
Those times made me who I am,
as much as the good times did, if
not more. Those times helped me
to be the happy and chubby girl, I
am and to share the love and
care wherever I go.
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Born: 2013
Time at shelter: 6 months
Adopted: 2013
Passion: Food
Goals in life: To spread
happiness and love and to kiss
as many noses as possible.
Nefeli is a full breed Greek Tail
Wagger, and the most positive
dog you could wish to meet.
She has travelled to more than
10 countries doing tricks in dog
shows and expos, spreading the
sentiment:
“Adopt, don’t shop”
The funny and goofy parts of life makes it worth living, but the
rough parts could make living worth it for someone else. When you
know what hardship is you can help others. I often stop and wag my
tail to someone being alone. I usually take a small moment and give a
kiss to anyone who seems lonely. I keep finding the people who need
a hug, and just stay there on their laps for a moment, or brighten
their day by doing some tricks.
There is a smile in my face because I truly enjoy life and I want
others to feel the same. To share the love, kindness and happiness to
anyone and everyone. That’s what I have been doing for the past 9
years and plan to continue for years to come.
Keep your eyes open because opportunities
to change someone’s day are all around us
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You will need:
▪ 1 3/4 cups old fashioned
oats (rolled oats) divided
▪ 1/2 banana cut into 4
chunks
▪ 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
▪ 1 egg
Instructions
▪ Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
▪ Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease
baking sheet.
▪ Place 1 ½ cups of the oats in chopper or small food
processor. Process until ground to a flour texture. Pour
into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
▪ Place banana, yogurt and egg in chopper or small food
processor.
▪ Process until well combined, scrape down bowl and
process some more, if needed.
▪ Pour mixture into bowl with oat flour. Add the remaining
¼ cup of (unground) oats.
▪ Stir together.
▪ Scoop 1-tablespoon portions and roll into balls.
▪ Flatten with the tines of a fork in a criss-cross pattern.
▪ Bake for 15 minutes for a softer center.
▪ Let cool on baking sheet.
▪ Store in air-tight container for a few days or in the
refrigerator/freezer for longer.

DOGS IN HISTORY:
The real dogs of Eight Below
In 2006, Disney released “Eight Below”,
a film that tells the story of a pack of
abandoned sled dogs and their struggle
to survive the hostile Antarctic
landscape. What you may not know is
that this film is based on the Japanese
film “Antarctica” (1983), and that both
of these films are based on the true
story of the ill-fated 1958 Japanese
expedition to Antarctica.
The Japanese Antarctic Research
Expedition Program (JARE) had
established a research station in 1957
on East Ongul Island. The Syowa
Station, as it was called, was to host a
team of researchers for the first
over-winter expedition. There was a
team of 11 researchers, supported by a
team of 15 dogs. The dogs, all males,
were Sakhalin Huskies (in Japan the
breed is known as Karafuto-ken). The
dogs were there to pull sledges to and
from the base.
The idea was for the team to spend an
entire year at the base, with another
team to replace them the following
year. Unfortunately, the relief team’s
boat became stuck in ice too far from
the base to be of any assistance. The
researchers, and their dogs, were
stranded. The researchers were soon
evacuated by helicopter, but the 15
dogs had to be left behind.
The dogs were left tied up, with enough
food to last them for a few days.
Although the JARE was criticised for
abandoning the dogs, it seems that
evacuating the dogs would have been
an unacceptable risk to the human
team and their rescuers.
A team of researchers returned to the
research station in 1959, and found
seven of the dogs dead, still chained
up. Unexpectedly, the other dogs had
been able to break free and leave the
base. The team stumbled upon the
dogs Taro and Jiro not far from the
research station.
Taro and Jiro were brothers and the
youngest members of the husky pack
at three years of age. Somehow the
pair had survived the harsh Antarctic
environment for 11 months. They
hadn’t even resorted to cannibalism,
leaving the bodies of their pack mates
untouched and unspoiled. To this day
it is uncertain how the survived. It is
speculated that they learnt to hunt and
managed to catch penguins or seals,
eating just enough to survive for all
those months.
Taro and Jiro were rescued and taken
back to Japan where they were
greeted as heroes by the public. The
Karafuto-ken breed’s popularity
skyrocketed, and they remained
popular up until the 1990s.

Jiro continued to work as a sledge dog at Syowa Station until his death by
natural causes in 1960. Taro was returned to Sapporo, his hometown, and
lived at Hokkaido University until his death in 1970. Both dogs were
embalmed. Jiro’s body can be seen the National Museum of Nature and
Science in Ueno District, Tokyo (see image bottom right), and Taro’s body is
on display at the Museum of National Treasures at the Botanical Garden of
Hokkaido University. There is a monument dedicated to the brothers and the
rest of their pack at the base of Tokyo Tower, erected by the Japanese
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Film-maker Koreyoshi Kurahara immortalised the tale of Jiro and Taro in his
1983 film “Antarctica” (Nankyoku Monogatari”). The film depicts how the pack
might have been able to escape their chains and struggle to survive the
Antarctic winter, based on the data available to the film’s director. “Antarctica”
was extremely popular and was nominated for several international awards. It
features a beautiful score by Vangelis, and hauntingly beautiful imagery, such
as scenes of the dogs gazing up at the flickering light of the Aurora.
“Eight Below” was Disney’s take on the story. The story is Americanised, so
the team stationed in the Sotuh Pole is now American, with a pack of eight
huskies (both Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies) forced to contend
with survival in Antarctica. The film is somewhat “Disneyfied”: far more of the
dogs survive than in real life (six out of eight survive the film). Nevertheless,
the film tells and effective, inspiring, and even tender story of courage and
companionship, and is well worth watching if only for the fantastic canine
actors. You can find it on Amazon Prime Video.
The real dogs
of eight below.

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ESSENTIAL SOUL FOOD

AN EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS ONLY OFFER!
WHAT’S YOUR DOG’S BREED?
Many rescue dog owners would love to know what kind of mix
created their beloved friend – and now with this fabulous
members-only offer, we can help!
Embark, the leading dog DNA testing company, has agreed to
cooperate with us and give all our club members a fantastic
discount!
To claim your $20 discount, use voucher code PUPS20 at
checkout.
We’re sure you’ll be fascinated by the results. If you have a
dog from our shelter, please share your results with us. We’d
be fascinated too!
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MEMBERSHIP
UPDATE
Currently we have 238 Club Members, bringing us in
1986 Euros per month. This amount of money
enables us to feed around 132 dogs!
To feed the shelter dogs costs around 4000 Euros
each month and this year we’d really like to gain as
many members as possible, since it is the best way
to provide a steady income.
Many dogs have sponsors, but for those that don’t,
your support makes is possible to feed more of
those waiting for sponsors and homes.
Thank you
for
supporting
Gouves
Shelter!

OUR MISSION &
2021 GOALS
The long term goal of any animal shelter should be
to close down. Our dream is to live in a world
where all pets have responsible owners who neuter
them so that one day, there will be no more strays.
We believe that the key lies in educating the
current and the next generation of pet owners, and
in neutering programs.
Until we reach that goal, our aim is to be financially
secure enough to be able to help every sick, injured
or abandoned animal that finds it’s way to our gate
and to provide the best care possible to all animals
at the shelter until we can find them the good
homes that they all deserve.
OUR 2021 PLANS FOR THE SHELTER ARE:
Due to the current financial situation, our 2021
improvement plans are on hold and we hope to
restart them once we are in better financial shape.

DOG OF THE MONTH
Rusty
Sex:
Age:
Humans:
Dogs:
Cats:
Male
+/- 10 years old
Amazing
Great
Not suggested
Health issues:
None
Rusty came into the shelter in the fall of 2020. Rusty is an older boy, our
´grandpa´. With his aprox 10 years old, he already has a life behind him.
But that doesn´t mean he isn´t ready to go for a bright future!
Rusty and his male buddy Chico were strays many years ago. They were
being fed at a local hotel and the manager even built them a comfortable
fenced ares to keep them safe from the streets and people, and also
avoid people to be scared of them. Because they are big boys, so people
could be impressed and intimidated by their size. They lived at the hotel
almost their whole lives. But than the hotel went bankrupt and the boys
had to leave.
The manager contacted the shelter for help and emphasized that these
friends should stay together despite the bad situation of the hotel.
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Rusty might not be the
youngest, but it will
surprise you that he is
still full of energy. He
loves to goof around in
the playground, chase
his furry friends and
play with toys.
He thinks he´s still 4,
and that´s realy okay!
In March 2021 a big tragedy happened; one morning Chico was found
death completely unexpectedly. He had a sudden heart attack, and Mr.
Manolis found him in the early morning. Ever since Rusty lost his sparkle
and his best friend. He needs something to light it up, and what couldn´t
be better than a forever home?
Give him a chance, a one of a lifetime opportunity and offer him that
warm sofa. That would really brighten up his future.
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KEEP TRACK OF YOUR DOG WITH OUR
FANTASTIC MEMBERS ONLY OFFER!
We’re delighted that Gouves Shelter Club members are eligible for a
whopping 15% discount off Tractive GPS tracking devices!
Never worry about your dog getting lost again, since you can track
their every movement! With Tractive you can see immediately where
your dog is going with your smartphone!
I can honestly say that since we got our tracker for our Cretan rescue
dog, Rozi, we have been so much more relaxed with her on her walks.
Even when she catches the scent of something and disappears, we
know we will find her using the really user-friendly app.
It even lets us see where she is when we’re not at home – just to
make sure she’s still there – and there’s a handy buzzer you can
activate to help locate your dog when you can’t see them.
Just go to tractive.com and use the voucher code GSCP15 to get your
15% discount – and some peace of mind.
Rozi the rescue dog
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Tractive offer - Lisa

A Doggy’s Bedtime Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep,
The king-sized bed is soft and deep,
I sleep right in the centre groove
My human beings can hardly move.
I’ve trapped their legs. They’re tucked in tight
And here is where I spend the night.
No one disturbs me or dares intrude
Til morning comes and I want FOOD!
I sneak up slowly to begin,
And nibble on my human’s chin.
For morning’s here, it’s time to play.
I always seem to get my way!
So, thank you Lord, for giving me,
This human person that I see.
The one who hugs me and holds me tight,
And shares their bed with me all night.

YAPPY EVER AFTER!
Tilda is a girl that came to
the shelter with her
puppies. She was trying
so hard to take care of
everyone, that it took
months for her to gain
weight and be healthy. But
finally she did and soon
after she had her lucky
break. A lovely family
stepped in and offered her
a loving home!
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THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
SUPPORT
Stay Safe
CONTACT US
gouvesshelter@gmail.com
www.gouvesshelter.com
Facebook.com/gouvesanimalshelter
PayPal: gouvesshelter@gmail.com
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