PITTSBURGH
FALL 2026 Vol. 14 Issue1
FREE!
PetConnections WELLNESS THROUGH THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND
Do Pets • How Change Our Lives?
• Understanding FIV Raw Pet • The Food Diet is Trending Again
PITTSBURGH’S # 1 resource for everything pets!
h t 5 1 r u ary!! It’s O s r e v i Ann
petconnections.pet Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
1
from the publisher Volume 14 Issue 1
Welcome to the Fall 2026 Edition of PetConnections! Volume 14, Issue 1!
We are officially starting our 15th Year of publishing PetConnections magazine! Dear Pet Lovers, We appreciate our sponsors who make it possible for us to bring PetConnections to you quarterly.
r 15rtyh!! u O It’s ersa Anniv
We thank our contributing writers, and you - our readers, for picking up this issue of PetConnections and reading online!
CORRESPONDENCE pghpetconnections@gmail.com 412-738-4233 All Rights Reserved | ©2026 www.petconnections.pet
There many events listed for Fall and into winter that you may want to attend with your pets! “Animal Friends Black Tie and Tails” September 26th - see ad on page 6 HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE: This issue features an expanded Rescue & Shelter section, with articles and ads from various shelters and rescues locally and internationally.
PITTSBURGH PETCONNECTIONS QUARTERLY Published by All Life Media, LLC. Pittsburgh PetConnections was created in 2012. Our mission is to publish a high quality, informative publication focused on the Human-Animal Bond. We support local businesses and also assist local non-profit businesses for pets and people, to give back to our great Pittsburgh communities.
MAGAZINE PUBLICATION STAFF
Cover: Matt Muckle, our local celebrity drummer who advocates for adoption, is captured in the adorable photo while on tour, with one of a litter of Pit Bull puppies needing a home at an Arkansas animal shelter - Springdale Animal Rescue! Matt has been busy touring with local band, Six Gun Sally, who has been on the circuit with Foreigner and Lynyrd Skynyrd! I am also personally in the local music scene and industry as the lead vocalist of a Heart tribute band, Burning Heart! We plan a huge music bash next year to fundraise for people in need of emergency veterinary care! You can follow us on social media and our website, burningheartband.net, for upcoming events! Check out the additional content this issue with articles by our credentialed writers, Dr. Becky Morrow, Kristin Hermann, Bernadette Kazmarski, April Minech, Rachel McMichael, Faith Bjalobok, and more. See some of our stories come to life on our You Tube channel: Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine - YouTube. You can stay in the loop for local events, funny videos, and contests, by following us on Facebook at facebook.com/petconnectionsmagazine or visiting our revamped website at www.petconnections.pet.
Carla Mader, Publisher Pamella Solomon, Graphic Designer
Share your events, pet remembrances, or contest entries by emailing pghpetconnections@ gmail.com for a chance to be featured online and in print!
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Faith Bjalobok Kristin Hermann Bernadette Kazmarski Rachel McMichaels April Minech Becky L. Morrow, DVM MS CAWA
GET INVOLVED Support local shelters through volunteering, donating supplies, or attending events. Promote your business with our affordable advertising options! Directory listings start at just $199/issue, with featured listings at $299/issue, appearing both in print and online. Contact our sales team at pghpetconnections@gmail.com for details. About Us: PetConnections is published quarterly (March, June, September, and a special Holiday issue in December). Our print copies are restocked every six weeks at distribution sites, but our online reach is bigger than ever, with over one million impressions! Subscribe for your personal copy or explore our full-service pet media solutions to grow your business at www.petconnections.pet.
Photo by Matt Muckle
Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook (petconnectionsmagazine) for daily tips, articles, and real-time event updates.
2 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
Wishing you and your pets a fun and safe fall season! Warmly, Carla Mader Publisher
CONTENTS HUMAN ANIMAL BOND Because of My Dog EVENTS RESCUE & SHELTER Animal Friends
Humane Animal Rescue RESCUE & SHELTER Beaver County Humane Society PET HEALTH & WELLNESS Another Delivery from the CDS: Understanding FIV MAP BEHAVIOR & TRAINING Are We Being F.A.I.R. to Our Dogs? PET RESOURCE DIRECTORY KITTY KORNER Bringing Plants Indoors...with Cats CAT RESOURCE DIRECTORY EQUINE AFFAIRS Dressage Fundamental Eight Steps to Develop Riding Skills REMEMBRANCE Rusty Freya Underfoot Wigglebottom Nypaver
2 4 6 10 11
Small ad budget? Highlight a new service, product or business, affordably! We have you covered with our directory listings for your business . These are both in print and on our website directories. Contact our sales team or email us at pghpetconnections@gmail.com for more information on directories and advertising.
www.petconnections.pet
12 14 16 18 21 22 26 27
We would love to feature your Pet Remembrance. Please email your submissions to
pghpetconnections@gmail.com to have them published on line and in print.
www.petconnections.pet
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
1
HUMAN ANIMAL BOND
How Do Pets Change Our Lives? By April Minech
Gathering insight from those in the community about how their adopted pets have affected their lives and guided them to volunteer and support animal welfare Part1. Animals reflect our deepest values and offer an inspiring connection to life. Their simple presence eases our minds and creates social bonds that show us how to be resilient, loyal, and present in the world. Volunteering leads to a direct increase in the adoption rates and socialization of rescued pets while putting an indelible mark on our hearts. DIANE F. Diane started volunteering when she went part time at her job. She was a lover of all kinds of animals, domestic and wild. When she first started volunteering, she saw 2 kittens who had blue eyes. “When I talked to my husband and said if they had any other color of eyes, I wouldn’t care as much,” she says. He agreed and we adopted them. They were the nicest kittens ever, and when she mentioned it to the adoption team, they explained it was because they were in a foster home. ”I thought if I can make nice kittens for other families by fostering, that’s what I want to do That was the beginning of my fostering and it’s still going strong.” She has fostered over 600 kittens, plus 4 puppies and several mom cats. All of her pets are from Animal Friends. Six foster fail cats (3 are tripawds, as she affectionately calls them) and her dog Nick, rescued from a puppy mill.
2 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
KAREN L. “All my dogs were rescued, all seven of them,” shares Karen. After adopting her first dog, she knew adopting was going to be the way from then on. “Our latest is Girl.” She was 5 yrs old when they got her so they both had to get used to each other and her previous owner still stops by to see her. “I guess you can say we have an open adoption.” ANDEA C. Andea has had cats since she was a small child. After her cat Claire passed in 2019, she missed her terribly. “It took me several years to be able to have a cat again. She spent some time pet sitting to stay involved with animals, then last November a visit to the Bedford County Humane Society changing things. “Halo chose me,” and she smiles. “Claire will always have a special place in my heart, but Halo has filled a void.” She describes her as feisty, sassy and very affectionate. “I didn’t realize what I was missing until she crossed my path.” SUSIE N. When Susie grew up, her family could not have pets because her mom was allergic. She visited the local SPCA every day after school and walked the dogs and spent time with the cats. As soon as she was in college, she rescued her first dog, Alan. She rescued him 6 months old and he died of congestive heart failure at a year and a half. Susie credits him with sparking her love for flat-faced breeds and educating her about their health issues. “I began fostering right out of school and have had so many dogs come through my home. Fifteen years ago, I fell in love with and began adopting senior and
special needs dogs. I just have a soft spot for those that are less adoptable.” LINDA W. “We have rescued 12 senior/special needs pups over the past 23 years,” reports Linda. She is used to having 4 at once; some were only for a few weeks or months, but they love and spoil them all the same. Our vet said we give them a soft place to land. (in their final days) Our first was definitely not planned. Driving down the road and saw tents and people in front of a shopping center. I was curios what was going on so we drove over. Well, it was an adoption event. We had to pet all of the dogs and one black lab mix didn’t want my husband to go. So we fostered to adopt and on very short order we adopted her. She was a year old and heart worm positive. We haven’t had a smarter, kinder dog since. She inspired us to keep rescuing special needs/ seniors. A neighborhood cat would run down the hill to go for a walk with our girl.
155 East Pike St. Canonsburg, PA 15317
MICHELLE S. Michelle got her start volunteering at a pig rescue. “First, I’ve always loved animals, all animals.” What initially pushed her forward to volunteering was getting a job working from home. It felt weird to her not leaving the house during the week, so she found a local rescue, applied, and went for it. Luckily. they were willing to train; she could have chosen to be a horse feeder or a pig feeder. “I chose pigs. I’d had no experience with them and no idea about them and wanted to learn. It’s been 5 years and I still volunteer once a week.” Some days she struggles leaving home to go, but once there, if it’s a bad day, she says suddenly it’s not so bad anymore. Although some days it’s hot and miserable and some days it’s cold and raining she presses on. “I keep going back for more and more because it makes my soul feel full. My camera roll is covered in pig photos and I can tell you all of their names. I’ve created bonds with animals I never knew I could and moments and relationships I’ll cherish forever.” More stories of How Do Pets Change Our Lives to be continued in Part 2 in our next issue. Have an inspiring story you’d like to share? Contact me at aminechppc@gmail.com Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
3
SEPTEMBER ANIMAL FRIENDS BLACK TIE AND TAILS September 26- See ad on page 6!
OCTOBER ALLEGHENY COUNTY BARK OR TREAT Saturday, October 16, 12-2pm Hartwood acres BEAVER COUNTY HS BEASTLY HAUNTED TRAIL Fridays & Saturdays in October 7-10 pm
events
HOWL-O-WEEN Saturday, October 17, 8-5 pm Southside Works
NOVEMBER PITTSBURGH PET EXPO November 6-8 pm David Lawrence Convention Center ANIMAL FRIENDS BREWING FOR A CAUSE Saturday, November 16 , 2-6 pm Velum Fermentation PETAGOGY PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA Sunday, November 22, 11-2 pm PITTSBURGH SQUEALERS VEGAN CROCKPOT COOK-OFF Saturday, November 7 Food / Tours / Raffle Baskets
DECEMBER PETCO PHOTOS WITH SANTA PAWS December 6, 1-4pm
4 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
animals, often, they’re the last chance for people to evacuate. If there’s room, we take them.”
Twenty Years of Rescue
“We Promise to Fight for the Animals”: The Volunteers Risking Their Lives to Rescue Cats and Dogs Near Ukraine’s Frontline Every day, volunteers risk their lives to feed, rescue, and evacuate animals from active war zones in Ukraine. Since the conflict began, ROLDA Heroes, a network of local volunteers, veterinarians, and frontline rescuers, has helped more than 60,000 animals caught in the crossfire. Over the past four years, these rescuers or more appropriately ROLDA Heroes, have been risking their lives to save animals from war. ROLDA, an international charity, provides financial support, medical aid, and supplies with the help of American donors. Around 60 tons of food and supplies has been sent, including veterinary medicine, has been sent to more than 40 rescuers and shelters. ROLDA founder Dana Costin regularly delivers aid and joins evacuation missions in Ukraine’s Donbas region. On a recent trip, a shelter was struck by a Russian drone with devastating consequences. Thirteen dogs died, seven animals required surgery, and countless others were treated on site. “I was heartbroken. The extent of the damage, the lack of resources — it’s overwhelming,” Dana said. “Irina cannot abandon animals who are suffering. Without her, they would likely perish alone, injured, and starving, caught in a conflict they cannot understand.” On another mission, Dana joined Ruslan Horbal, head of rescue operations for Animal Rescue Kharkiv, just 5.5 kilometers from an active combat zone. Amazingly, this time the pair evacuated 36 animals, but the danger of such actions is very real. “Regardless of bullets and bombs, we promise to fight as hard for the animals as the Ukrainians are fighting for their homeland,” Dana said. “These missions don’t transport just
This year, ROLDA marks its 20th anniversary. Since launching in 2006, the charity has helped 100,000 animals and continues to focus on conflict-zone rescues alongside its shelter work in Romania. With a branch in the United States, ROLDA is working to grow awareness of this important work and to expand a network of local volunteers and donors. Ultimately, the charity plans to build a new shelter, the PawzUp Centre, on the Romania–Ukraine border. This represents a cage-free space with a veterinary clinic and adoption and therapy center. This is a landmark project which would set a new benchmark for animal care around the world. ROLDA has secured the land but needs to raise roughly $5.4 million to complete the project. “Helping 100,000 animals is a monumental milestone,” Dana said. “Ongoing conflict, rising costs, and growing numbers of animals in need are testing us in many ways, but our teams keep rescuing animals who have nowhere else to go. None of our work would be possible without our community’s compassion and commitment.” American supporters can donate to ROLDA at ttps://rolda.org/ukraine-pet-connection/. ROLDA – United for Vulnerable Animals Worldwide is an international animal welfare charity with branches in the US, UK, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, and Australia.
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
5
PLAY CHANGES EVERYTHING At Animal Friends, enrichment isn't extra. It's essential.
What looks like play is often something much more powerful. Whether it's a dog following a scent trail, a cat watching birds from a perch or a rabbit exploring a tunnel, each activity is thoughtfully designed by our behavior team to reduce stress, build confidence and help animals thrive. Simply put, fun isn’t frivolous. It’s fundamental to healing, growth and healthy, happy lives.
On Saturday, September 26, Black Tie & Tails: It’s All Fun & Games celebrates the transformative power of play and enrichment to raise funds that give animals in crisis the and second chances they deserve. And this year, your support can go even further. PLAY IT FORWARD: A GAME-CHANGING CHALLENGE Two extraordinarily generous, longtime supporters of Animal Friends have contributed a combined $200,000 to create the Play It Forward Match Challenge. For every dollar you give, an additional 50 cents will be added until the full challenge fund is met, increasing the impact of every donation. Your gift will help provide the care, resources and support that animals and the people who love them need most.
SCAN HERE to Purchase Event Tickets, Check Out our Online Auction or Give to the Play It Forward Match Challenge Every Dollar Donated is Matched 50¢.
6 6Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org | 562 Camp Horne Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15237 | 412.847.7000
HELPING FAMILIES ENRICH THEIR LIVES WITH THE RIGHT HOME Just as enrichment helps animals thrive, the right home enriches the lives of the people and pets who share it. Whether you're preparing to sell or planning your next move, small details can make a big difference. A welcoming entry, clutter-free spaces and a well-maintained home help showcase its full potential, while an experienced REALTOR® can guide you every step of the way.
This message brought to you by
412.915.0038 | 724.941.3340 | BonnieLoya.com
Ricotta Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
7
7
8 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
9
Leave the Leaves: Helping Pennsylvania’s Wildlife this Fall
Each year, our fully licensed Wildlife Center admits more than 4,000 animals across 140 species. From orphaned mammals to injured birds of prey, every patient receives individualized care and the best possible chance of returning to the wild. And you can help, right in your own backyard.
Small choices, BIG impact. As you tidy up your yard this fall, consider leaving some of nature’s “mess” behind. Fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones, and other natural debris provide food, shelter, and insulation for wildlife throughout the colder months—and return valuable nutrients to your soil as they break down.
Make your yard more wildlife-friendly this fall: Leave some leaf litter and native plants rather than clearing everything away. Add wildlife-friendly plants such as elderberry, dogwood, or Eastern Red Cedar. Skip the chemicals. Avoid pesticides and other treatments that can harm wildlife. Share your yard’s bounty. The Wildlife Center welcomes untreated, chemicaland pesticide-free leaves and acorns to enrich the habitats of animals in our care.
10 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
Our patients use natural materials to explore, forage, hide, and practice behaviors they’ll need once they return to the wild. Have extra leaves or acorns to spare? Bring them to the Wildlife Center any day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Help Us Care for Wildlife All Year Long
Three Foxes, One Wild Future
Caring for wildlife through the colder months takes specialized care, equipment, food, enrichment, and dedicated staff. You can help make this care possible by joining the Wild Bunch, HARP’s community of dedicated wildlife supporters.
Three young red foxes at HARP’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center are preparing to return to the wild this fall.
With an annual contribution of $500 or more, Wild Bunch members help care for hundreds of orphaned, injured, and sick animals each year.
The trio arrived separately from across southwestern Pennsylvania. One was separated from his family at just four weeks old and was dehydrated and suffering from sarcoptic mange. Another was a true orphan after her entire family was killed by traffic. The third survived being struck by a car and arrived dehydrated and showing signs of a severe concussion. Today, all three have made full recoveries and are sharing an outdoor enclosure, where they’re honing their foraging and agility skills. They’ll soon enter the final stage of release preparations, with the hope of returning to the wild in October.
Members also receive exclusive invitations to wildlife patient releases, a Wild Bunch tote bag, and a seasonal Wildlife newsletter. Join the Wild Bunch and help protect the incredible wildlife that makes Pennsylvania so special—this fall and all year long.
East Side 6926 Hamilton Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15208
WIldlife Rehabilitation Center 6000 Verona Rd. Verona, PA 15147
Red foxes play an important role in our ecosystem, helping keep populations of small mammals and other prey species in balance. With local populations impacted by sarcoptic mange in recent years, every healthy fox returned to the wild matters.
North Side 1101 Western Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233
11 humaneanimalrescue.org/wildbunch Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
PET HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Another Delivery from the CDS:
Understanding FIV Becky Morrow, DVM, MS, CAWA
What is FIV, and how does it affect cats?
Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is a cat-only retrovirus. It does not infect people, dogs, or other non-feline species. It is sometimes compared with HIV because both viruses affect immune cells, but that comparison has also caused unnecessary fear and stigma for cats with FIV. FIV is its own feline infection, and a positive test does not predict the same course for every cat After working with thousands of cats, we noticed that many FIV-positive cats seemed no different from cats without FIV. They lived normally in our homes, did not appear to transmit the virus to their peaceful feline companions, and often never showed clinical signs of immunosuppression. At the same time, cats with severe dental and inflammatory diseases historically blamed on FIV were often FIV-negative. Those observations led us to ask whether the same pattern appeared in a much larger population. Using records from primary-care veterinary hospitals, we compared 30,034 FIV-positive cats with 60,184 FIV-negative cats matched by age and sex. If FIV commonly caused widespread, progressive disease, we would expect to see major differences across many categories of illness. That is not what we found. Conditions historically blamed on FIV were not strongly associated with FIV status. FIV-positive cats did have higher odds of some diagnoses, especially hematologic problems such as anemia, along with a moderate increase in dermatologic
12 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
diagnoses such as ear infections, flea-associated dermatitis, and abscesses. However, these conditions can be associated with the cats’ outdoor lifestyles and not necessarily related to FIV infection.
How is FIV transmitted?
FIV is very different from feline leukemia virus, or FeLV. FeLV can spread through prolonged close contact, including grooming, nursing, and shared food or water bowls. FIV, on the other hand, is transmitted primarily through deep bite wounds. That is why FIV is most commonly found in intact adult male cats who have lived outdoors, defended territory, fought over mates, or developed abscesses from cat bites. This is also why the risk in a stable, peaceful group of cats is much lower than many people think. Cats who groom one another, eat near one another, or occasionally swat without causing injury are not the cats driving FIV transmission. The greatest risks are ongoing aggression, deep bite wounds, intact males, and unstable outdoor populations.
What does a positive FIV test mean?
Most routine FIV screening tests look for antibodies. In an adult cat, a positive result usually means the cat has been infected with FIV. A positive test does not tell you that the cat is currently sick. It does not tell you that he will become sick soon. It does not mean he should be euthanized.
And it does not mean he cannot be adopted or enjoy a good life. This is one of the most important messages for pet owners, shelters, and community cat caregivers: FIV status should not be treated as a verdict. It is one piece of medical information.
Can an FIV-positive cat live with other cats?
In a stable home where cats are compatible, neutered, and not fighting, the risk of transmission is very low. Studies of naturally infected cats living peacefully with FIV-negative cats have found no evidence of transmission over years of cohabitation. The risk is not zero, however, because a serious bite can transmit the virus. Household decisions should take into account the cats’ temperaments, history of aggression, health, and ability to live together without injurious fighting.
Manny’s Story
One cat who brought these findings home for me was Manny. He was FIV-positive and came to us with a large
wound that had remained open for approximately a year. We repaired it using a skin flap, and within two weeks, the incision had healed normally. Only weeks later, Manny suffered a devastating dog attack and we took him into our rescue. He required repeated surgeries, extensive wound care, and weeks of bandage changes. When prolonged hospitalization began to wear on him, I brought him home in a protective onesie. My other cats accepted him, and Manny completed his recovery and earned a permanent place within our family. Manny recovered completely and remained my affectionate—and eventually slightly overweight—couch potato for many years. He ultimately died from kidney disease in old age. The Cat Distribution System may send us cats with scars, stories, and sometimes positive test results. Cats like Manny remind us that a test result does not determine whether a cat can heal, be loved, or enjoy a long and happy life. With compassion, common sense, and good science, an old street fighter can still become a beloved couch cat—and the beginning of a very good story.
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
13
Ad Locator
Map
ANIMAL FRIENDS ad on pages 6-7 / map A ASGARD RAW PET FOOD ad on page 3 / map B BEAVER COUNTY HUMAN SOCIETY ad on pages 8-9 / map D CHARTIERS CUSTOM PET CREMATION ad on page 29 / map E CHEYENNE VETERINARY WELLNESS & SURGICAL CENTER ad on page 15 / map F
D
K
COVENTRY STABLES ad on page 27/ map G DENISE MARASCO HOWARD HANNA ad on page 15 / map H
A B N
GRIN RESCUE ad on page 15
J
L
HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE ad on pages 10-11 / map J
J P
F
E
LARRY’S LAUNDROMUTT ad on page 15 / map K REBOUND PET REHABILITATION ad on page 3 / map M
H O
G
I
M
C
UPSWING CANINE BEHAVIORAL SERVICES ad on page 17
DID YOU KNOW? PetConnections has evolved into a full-service specialized pet media company, providing services for advertising in print and digital marketing platforms to help our sponsors grow their businesses. Contact us for information on advertising or sponsoring! PetConnections is published quarterly as follows: March, June, September, and special Holiday issue in early December! Our print copy distribution sites will be replenished every 6 weeks. Our online presence has always been much greater than in print with now over a million impressions!
Pittsburgh PetConnections | Summer 2026 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026 14 14
To subscribe to your own personal copy of PetConnections, please contact us.
• Full-Service In-Store and Mobile Grooming, schedule now before the holidays are here • Full & self-service washing • Healthy pet foods and supplies
“Pittsbur gh Original ’s Dog Wash!”
HAVE A GREAT REAL ESTATE DAY! Denise C. Marasco REALTOR® (C) 412.977.5673 Call or Text DeniseMarasco@howardhanna.com denisemarasco.howardhanna.com
DOWNLOAD MY PERSONAL MOBILE APP d sell homes I help people buy an ....just like this! r me so keep an ear out fo
Search for Homes Find out your Home’s Value ...and More!
- Full- time Local Realtor® - Over a Decade of Experience - Complimentary Buyer Consultation - Free Seller’s Market Analysis
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
15
BEHAVIOR & TRAINING
Are We Being
F.A.I.R. to Our Dogs?
By Rachel McMichael CDBC, CBCC-KA, FDM
B
efore we ask our dogs to change, perhaps we should take a closer look. There was a time, long ago, when I too thought a beautifully trained dog was one who did exactly what they were told. A good dog listened, complied, and waited for the next instruction. But you see, the longer I have worked with dogs, the less impressed I have become with obedience simply for obedience’s sake. In fact, I find the idea that a welltrained dog should exist in a state of perpetual compliance antiquated and totally unnatural. I still train dogs. I teach recalls, leash skills, boundaries, impulse control, cooperative care, and all kinds of behaviors that make living together easier and safer. I absolutely want my dogs to respond when I need them to, but I also want them to be dogs. Dogs did not ask to live in our homes. They didn’t choose us, our schedules, our neighborhoods, our expectations, or the strange rules we have created for what makes a “good dog” (and believe me, everyone’s idea of this differs). We brought them into a world designed almost entirely around humans and then gave them a remarkably long list of things they are expected to understand. Don’t ________. Fill in the blank with almost any perfectly natural dog behavior: bark, dig, jump, run, sniff, chase, explore, investigate. Then, when they struggle, we tend to ask,
16 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
“How do I stop this?” I think there is a better question to ask first: Am I being F.A.I.R. to this dog?
F.A.I.R. means looking at four things: FUNCTION, AGENCY, THE INDIVIDUAL, and REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. F: FUNCTION
All behavior happens for a reason. That doesn’t mean your dog does things to purposely ruin your day. It simply means behavior works for the dog in some way. A dog barking at someone approaching the house may be trying to make that person go away. A puppy stealing socks may have learned that
doing so causes a human to leap off the couch and begin a fantastic game of chase. One dog pulling toward another dog may desperately want to say hello, while another displaying nearly identical behavior may desperately want more distance. If our only goal is making an unwanted behavior disappear, we may never bother to understand what is underneath it or what is driving it. Sometimes we even punish dogs for simply noticing their environment. A dog curiously looks at a cow, watches another dog, turns toward a sound, or stops to investigate an interesting smell, and we immediately want their attention back on us. Looking isn’t inherently misbehavior, and neither is sniffing. Dogs gather information about their world differently than we do. I don’t want a dog who has learned that noticing something without my permission is dangerous. I want a dog who can notice something and, when necessary, disengage because I have taught them how.
A: AGENCY
Think about how many decisions your dog gets to make in an average day. It isn’t many. We choose when they eat, when they go outside, where
they walk, where they sleep, who comes into their home, which dogs they meet, when play begins and ends, and often even when someone is allowed to touch them. Most dogs have remarkably little control over their own lives, even when they are deeply loved. Agency doesn’t mean letting dogs run the household or allowing unsafe behavior. It means recognizing the places where we can safely give them some choice. Maybe your dog gets to choose which direction you go on a sniffy walk. Maybe they can move away when they’ve had enough petting. Perhaps veterinary or grooming care includes opportunities to pause. Maybe the dog who doesn’t want to greet a stranger doesn’t have to simply because the stranger “loves dogs.” When we allow dogs to make appropriate choices, they give us information about what they enjoy, what worries them, what they need more time with, and when they’ve had enough. We just have to be willing to listen.
I: INDIVIDUAL
There is no generic dog standing in front of you. There is YOUR dog. Your dog comes with genetics, breed tendencies, age, developmental stage, previous experiences, physical abilities, preferences, fears, motivations, and personality. A six-month-old puppy doesn’t have the emotional regulation of a mature adult. A dog bred for generations to notice movement may find moving animals extraordinarily compelling. A fearful dog cannot simply decide strangers are safe because we would prefer them to be. Your last dog isn’t the measuring stick for this one, even if they were the same breed. “But my other dog never did this” is something I hear often. Of course they didn’t. They were a different dog! Training should help the individual dog in front of us build the skills necessary to navigate life successfully. It shouldn’t be a process of sanding away every inconvenient part of that dog until we have created something quieter, smaller, and easier for us to control. The idea is to grow our dogs, not shrink them.
R: REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Sometimes the dog isn’t failing; sometimes we’ve simply asked too much. We take a young puppy to a crowded festival and expect them to calmly walk beside us for hours. We expect an adolescent dog who has spent most of the day without meaningful activity to quietly settle all evening. We ask frightened dogs
to tolerate strangers reaching over their heads because someone assures us that “dogs love them.” We expect dogs to ignore wildlife and livestock, welcome visitors, surrender things they value, tolerate handling, get along with every dog they meet, and walk at our preferred pace without investigating the world around them. Then we’re surprised when they can’t. Many of those skills can absolutely be taught. The question is whether this dog, at this point in their life, in this environment, with the skills they currently possess, can reasonably do what we’re asking when we’re asking it. I want dogs to learn to walk safely on leash, but I also want them to have walks where they get to stop and investigate whatever fascinating message another dog left on a blade of grass. I want them to disengage from wildlife or another dog when necessary, but I don’t need them to believe that simply looking at those things is forbidden. I want dogs who respond to their humans because we’ve made doing so valuable and worthwhile, not dogs who are afraid to make a choice without permission. There is an important welfare difference between a dog who can do what we ask and a dog who has learned that doing anything else isn’t safe. None of this means that dogs don’t need boundaries. They absolutely do! Management is necessary, and safety sometimes means a dog simply cannot have the choice they would prefer in that moment. Living successfully with another species requires compromise on both sides. Being F.A.I.R. isn’t about permissiveness. It is about remembering just how much power we already hold in this relationship. We choose Fall 2026
where our dogs live. We control their food, movement, access to the outdoors, and much of their social world. We decide what natural behaviors are acceptable and which ones need to change. They did not sign up to be subordinates whose purpose is to simply obey us. They are animals that we deliberately invited into our lives. I feel that carries an obligation to care about more than simply how well they obey us. I want training to give dogs more: more skills, more confidence, more opportunities, more access to the world, and a better ability to communicate and coexist with the humans who love them. The next time your dog does something frustrating, embarrassing, inconvenient, or just plain weird, you can certainly ask how to change it. But I hope we can learn to ask something else first. What is the Function of this behavior? Where can I safely offer Agency? Who is this Individual dog standing in front of me? And are my expectations actually Realistic? We ask dogs to make an extraordinary number of compromises simply to share our lives. Before we ask them to make one more, we really owe it to them to make sure we’re being F.A.I.R.
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
17
PET RESOURCE DIRECTORY
ANIMAL EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS NORTH: GREATER PITTSBURGH AQUARIUM SOCIETY www.gpasi.org
SOUTH HILLS PET RESCUE 724-622-0434 southhillspetrescue.org
XCEL CANINE TRAINING CENTER 412-833-2504 xcelcaninetraining.com
EAST: HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE 412-345-7300 animalrescue.org
EQUINE BOARDING, LESSONS & TRAINING FACILITIES
THE PITTSBURGH ZOO & PPG Aquarium pittsburghzoo.org
HAR WILDLIFE CENTER 412-345-7300 animalrescue.org
THE NATIONAL AVIARY nationalaviary.org
SW PA PUGS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 724-763-2790 swpapug.org
ANIMAL-RELATED WRT, PHOTOGRAPHY & RETAIL
Greater Pittsburgh Area: SPAAR seniorpetandanimalrescue.org
APRIL MINECH CUSTOM PORTRAITS /PET INSPIRED ART www.ladybugdelightz.etsy.com NORTH: KIM LENZ, BEHIND THE LENZ PHOTOGRAPHY 412-983-0981 facebook.com/ Behind-the-Lenz-127787624032093/
HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREENE COUNTY 724-627-9988 greenepet.org
AGWAY - SOUTHERN STATES NORTH: Mount NeboAgway Sewickley, PA 412-364-4430
SOUTH: KARA JONES PHOTOGRAPHY kjones.smugmug.com
AQUARIUM SOCIETIES
NORTH: ANIMAL FRIENDS 412-847-7000 thinkingoutsidethecage.org BEAVER COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY 724-775-5801 beavercountyhumanesociety.org FRANKIE’S FRIEND RESCUE 724-889-7011 frankies-friends.org PENNSYLVANIA GREAT DANE RESCUE, 724-869-9185 HOPE HAVEN FARM SANCTUARY 412-366-1187 hopehavenfarm.org SOUTH: ANIMAL CARE & WELFARE 412-244-1372 animalcareandwelfare.org DROOPY’S BASSET RESCUE 888-9 GET DROOL droopysbassetrescue.com WASHINGTON AREA HUMANE SOCIETY 724-222-7387 washingtonpashelter.org ANIMALSAGAINST THE ODDS Rescue/Rehab aato.rescueme.org
MANON’S FARM 724-705-7912 | 724-621-0260 SYDMOR EQUESTRIAN CENTER 724-969-0510 sydmorstables.com
PEARL PARROT RESCUE pearlparrots.com
ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS
SOUTH: COVENTRY EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 412-96-2130
GUARDIAN ANGELS PUG RESCUE 724-537-3466 facebook.com/ guardianangelspugrescue
BUZZY PHOTOGRAPHY 412-371-5212 anita@buzzyphoto.com
PAWS ‘N CLAWS EYEWEAR PawsnClawsEyewear.com
NORTH: ROCKIN’ HORSE STABLES 724-601-4706 rockinhorsestables.com
Greater Pittsburgh Area: GREATER PITTSBURGH AQUARIUM Society gpasi.org
EQUINE FEED & SUPPLY
BeaverAgway Beaver, PA 724-775-0535 MarsAgway Mars PA 724-625-2340
BIRD & SUPPLIES
SOUTH: Eighty FourAgway Eighty Four, PA 724-222-0600
NATURAL INSPIRATIONS PARROT CAGES naturalinspirationsparrotcages.com
EAST: LigonierAgway Ligonier, PA 724-238-6207
DOG TRAINING
WEST: ImperialAgway, Imperial, PA 724-695-7388
NORTH: AKIN Family Dog Training (Lilian Akin) 412-732-8091 akinfdt.net GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA: HAPPY PETS TRAINING/CHRISTINE FLINT 412-373-9583 happypetstraining.com Success Just Clicks, successjustclicks.com GREATER PGH AREA: UPSWING CANINE BEHAVIORAL SERVICES 724-213-2553 Upswingtpc.com DOG TRAINING CLUBS South: DOGWORKS TRAINING CENTER AT THE CANINE CLUB 412-220-8100 thecanineclub.com GOLDEN TRIANGLE OBEDIENCE TRAINING CLUB 412-653-6880 gtotc.com KEYSTONE CANINE TRAINING 412-833-2211 | keystonecanine.com
18 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
EQUINE TACK STORES NORTH: SHADY ACRES SADDLERY 412-963-9454 shadyacressaddlery.biz SOUTH: LOWRY’S WESTERN STORE 724-228-1225 lowryswesternshop.com EQUINE VETERINARIANS Dr. Brian Burks, DVM Fox Run Equine Center 724-727-3481 foxrunequine.com HOLISTIC PET PRACTITIONERS PET CHIROPRACTOR NORTH: Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, Beaver Animal Clinic 724-774-8047 beaveranimalclinic.com GREATER PITTSBURGH: Dr. Michael Savko, DC, CCSP, CVCP 724-261-7915 drchirovet.com
EASE ANIMAL MASSAGE 412-447-8490 easeanimalmassage.com WHOLESTIC EQUINE & PET SERVICES 205-492-1000 HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERS FOR GUARDIANS EAST END: Judith Levy, Coaching/Energy MODALITIES 412-726-2659 judithlevycoaching.com HOLISTIC VETERINARIANS DR. DOUG KNUEVEN, DVM, Beaver Animal Clinic 724-774-8047 beaveranimalclinic.com DR. QIANG LI VCA Castle Shannon 412-885-2500 PET BURIAL, MEMORIAL & CREMATION SERVICES SOUTH: CHARTIERS CUSTOM PET CREMATION 412-220-7800 ccpc.ws JEFFERSON MEMORIAL CEMETERY & FUNERAL HOME 412-655-4500 jeff ersonmemorial.biz GREATER PITTSBURGH: THOUSAND HILLS PET CREMATORY 724-355-8296 thousandhillspetcrematory.com SUNNY ACRES 412-292-6701 sunnyacres.6@gmail.com PET GROOMING NORTH: ALL ABOUT DOGS 724-925-1577 allaboutdogsgrooming. info SOUTH: AUNT KIMMY’S PAW-LOR 724-299-3457 HAPPY TAILZ PET SPA 412-759-7620 Happytailzpetspa.com LARRY’S LAUNDROMUTT 412-534-4052 Larryslaundromutt.com EAST: CAT AROUND TOWN CAT GROOMING 412-466-7877 (PURR) cataroundtown.com GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA: Zoom N Groom (Sonya Patterson) 724-225-4827 WOOF GANG BAKERY & GROOMING (412) 815-8076 woofgangbakery.com
PET FRIENDLY BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS BACTRONIX 412-375-7886 bactronix.com GOOD NATURE ORGANIC LAWN CARE 888-LAWNSAFER whygoodnature.com GIANT EAGLE WATERFRONT 420 E Waterfront Dr, Homestead, PA 15120 412-464-6600 J & D WATERPROOFI NG jdwaterproofi ng.com SALTY PAWS DOGGIE BAR & BAKERY 412-251-0294 saltypawspittsburgh.com VILLAGE SHOPPES SCENERY HILL Elves Lair Christmas & Gifts, JAN’S TEA SHOPPE, 2nd Street Coffee Roasters, Velvet Envelope, Westerwald Pottery, Two Old Crows sceneryhillpa.com
EAST: THE GETAWAY AT GLEN HIGHLAND FARM Glenhighlandgetaway.com SOUTH: AMERICAN DESTINY Real Estate Services 412-983-2220 adr-usa.com
THE DOG STOP - BANKSVILLE RD. 412-343-1171 thedogstop.net PAMPERED PAW RESORT 724-413-3135 pamperedpawresort.com EAST: PITTSBURGH PET CONCIERGE 412-856-8505 petconcierge.org
AMORE 877-716-6840 amoreapartments.com PET GROOMING SCHOOLS
DOGGONE AWESOME PET SERVICES, 724-212-0427 doggoneawesomepetservices.com
NORTH: PA ACADEMY OF PET GROOMING 412-759-7620
THE DOG STOP - MONROEVILLE 412-373-3355 thedogstop.net
PET REHABILITATION
THE DOG STOP - EAST END 412-361-0911 thedogstop.net
REBOUND PET REHABILITATION 412-508-2285 Reboundpetrehabilitation.com
THE DOG STOP - EAST: STRIP District 412-315-7050 thedogstop.net
PET MINISTRIES
COUNTRY LANE PET HOTEL 412-824-7991 countrylanepethotel.com
Greater Pittsburgh Area: FRAGASSO FINANCIAL ADVISORS 412-227-3200 fragassoadvisors.com
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 412-835-6630 westminster-church.org
WOOF GANG BAKERY & GROOMING 412-891-6418 email eastlibertypa@ woofgangbakery.com
J & D WATERPROOFING HOME IMPROVEMENT 724-746-8870 jdwaterproofi ng.com
PET RESORTS - BOARDING, DAYCARE, GROOMING & TRAINING
PET RETAIL/SUPPLY
CAMP BOW WOW CampBowWow.com
EAST: PETAGOGY 412-362-7387 petagogy.com
CAMP BOW WOW PITTSBURGH Southwest 710 Trumbull Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15205 412-276-WAGS (9247)
PETLAND EAST SIDE VILLAGE 412-363-PETS petlandvillageofeastside.com
OXYMAGIC 412-781-4110 oxypgh.com REDFORD PHOTOGRAPHY redfordphotography.com SUSAN G. KOMEN PITTSBURGH 412-342-0500 komenpittsburgh.org EAST KENNY ROSS SUBARU 724-864-5100 kennyross-subaru.com Unique Home Solutions uniquehomesolutions.com SOUTH: SOUTHPOINTE CHAMBER southpointe.net PET-FRIENDLY LIVING
WALKERS PET HOTAIL 724-327-7297 WalkersPetHoTail.com
Greater Pittsburgh Area: ASGARD RAW DOG AND CAT FOOD 412-408-3355 asgard-raw.com
CAMP BOW WOW HIGHLAND PARK 1325 Washington Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-362-PLAY (7529)
BASKETS OF NATURE 724-831-9437 basketsofnature.com
NORTH: DOG STOP - NORTH 724-935-DOGS (3647) thedogstop.net THE DOG STOP - SEWICKLEY 412-766-DOGS (3647) thedogstop.net
GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA: JUDY SMITH TEAM REALTOR – BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY 412-274- 7618 thepreferredrealty.com/ real-estate-agent/2242288/judysmithteam/details/
LUCKY PAWS PET RESORT 724-728-1484 luckypawsresort.com
PINCH PROPERTY SERVICES 412-445-8550 PinchPropertyServices.com
HOUNDS TOWN USA 412-232-5285 houndtownusa.com
SOUTH: FUZZY PAWS PET VILLA 724-746-3899 fuzzy-paws.com
Greater Pittsburgh Area: NANCY A. RUFFI NG, DVM 412-801-1071 |entlejourneyvet.com VETERINARY PHARMACIES
GREATER PGH AREA PETVET 365 PET HOSPITALS www.petvet365.com NORTH: BEAVER ANIMAL CLINIC 724-774-8047 beaveranimalclinic.com FRANKIE FRIENDS VETERINARY SERVICES 724-889-7011 frankies-friends.org/low-costveterinaryservices 724-889-7011 VCA NORTHVIEW ANIMAL HOSPITAL 412-364-5353 vcanorthview.com
CAMP BOW WOW Pittsburgh North 2327 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-931-WAGS (9247)
CAMP BOW WOW PITTSBURGH EAST 1610 McClure Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15146 724-733-CAMP (2267)
VETERINARY HOSPICE & MOBILE SERVICES
VETERINARY HOSPITALS
SOUTH: CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 412-277-1096 christumc.net
BARTMAN PLUMBING 724-258-9125
EAST: PITTSBURGH PET CONCIERGE 412-856-8505 petconcierge.org
Greater Pittsburgh Area: MURRAY AVENUE APOTHECARY 412-421-4996 MAApgh.com
WAGS AND WINE wagsandwine.com
MATT ARCH FOUNDATION connectarian.com
SOUTH: YOUR CRITTER SITTERS (Raylene Hoover) 724-448-7330 yourcrittersitters.com
DIG IT COLLARS dig-it-store.com
SOUTH: CHEYENNE VETERINARY WELLNESS & SURGICAL CENTER 412-884-3162 cheyennevets.com FIX UR CAT (724) 416-3265 fi xurcat.org VETERINARY SPECIALTY & EMERGENCY SERVICES NORTH/SOUTH/EAST:
TRIXIE’S DOG FASHIONS trixiesdogfashions.com
PITTSBURGH VETERINARY SPECIALTY AND EMERGENCY CENTER, INC. 412-366-3400 724-809-2000 pvs-ec.com
O2 DERM PET TOPICAL GEL O2Dermpet.com
BLUE PEARL PET HOSPITAL NORTH 412-366-3400
KITTYCAT PARKOUR 412-612-5016
BLUEPEARL PET HOSPITAL SOUTH 724-366-3400
PET SITTERS
BLUEPEARL PET HOSPITAL EAST 412-810-6732
NORTH: FURRY FAMILY PET SITTING 412-999-9524 furryfamilypetsitting.com WESTERN PA NO BOARDERS PET AND ANIMAL CARE Home & Farm Sitting 724-219-7801 noboarders-petcare.com Fall 2026
GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA: PETS AFTER DARK mypetafterdark.com 855-AFTRDRK (238-7375)
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
19
HOLISTIC PET
The Raw Pet Food Diet is Trending Again By April Minech
Exploring the Benefits of Feeding a Raw Diet Every owner wants more years with their pets, and that starts with what we feed them. Many choose pet food by labels and what’s pictured on the bag or can, because the “food” itself both in smell and appearance – seem healthy. But that’s not always the case. Turns out, label tricks can allow companies to mislead consumers, and studies have found pet foods often contain ingredients not listed on their label, or missing those they claim to use. According to The Farmer’s Dog, pet food production in the U.S. is held to alarmingly low safety and quality standards, which are hidden behind loose labeling and marketing regulations. While the picture on the bag suggests that the pellets inside were made with a gorgeous roast chicken breast, the reality can instead be diseased chicken parts, mixed with starchy fillers, and processed at temperatures known to produce carcinogens.
20 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
Healthy foods are determined from processed kibble. Social media influencers, boutique pet food by what’s in the bow, not brands, and holistic veterinarians pictures of it on a bag
have also played a major role One trend has taken the pet nutrition world by storm: raw diets in popularizing the raw food movement. for pets. Advocates claim it’s the key to a healthier, longer life. While critics may warn of potential health Benefits: Dental Care As many dog owners hazards, there are many benefits to know (depending on how relaxed consider. your dog is), brushing your dog’s Pet owners are increasingly teeth can be an exceptionally drawn to the idea of feeding tricky exercise and feels sometimes their pets a diet that mimics impossible to reach certain parts of what animals eat in the wild. The their mouth. However, the process concept of a raw diet — often of biting and tearing raw meats known as BARF (Biologically and raw bones has been found to Appropriate Raw Food) — centers keep dental disease at bay. Chewing around feeding raw meat, bones, raw meaty bones can help reduce organs, fruits, and vegetables. tartar buildup, promoting better This shift in feeding philosophy oral hygiene. It’s one of the reasons stems from a desire to provide “natural” nutrition and move away some holistic vets recommend raw diets which mechanically cleans teeth. For additional professional oral care, you can always consult a pet dentistry for guidance. Shiny Hair/Coat One of the first things pet owners notice after switching to a raw diet is the improved condition of their pet’s coat. The high levels of fatty acids and proteins in raw Continued on page 28
BRINGING PLANTS IN from the outdoors for winter is a great way for you to enjoy a little greenery during winter months and save on gardening next spring. But anything you bring into your home is subject to inspection by your cats who are especially famous for eating houseplants and doing a little digging. We don’t really know why cats, obligate carnivores, chew on grasses and green things. It may be to help cleanse their mouth and digestive system and add fiber to their primarily protein diet to aid in elimination. It may just be because it’s there and they’re bored. This can turn unpleasant to deadly without some preparation. Kittens and older cats or cats with somehow impaired immunity or metabolicmillnesses are at most risk. Before you bring plants indoors: • be aware of the potential toxicity of each plant • note potted plants and hanging baskets grown in commercial potting soil, and plants you’ve fed with chemical fertilizers • check for pests and diseases and only treat plants with safe, non-toxic methods • keep them out of your cat’s reach if they indulge in a little too much plant material. Indoor winter home for plants I move houseplants outdoors for the summer. Often bedding plants are thriving in the autumn and can be brought indoors for winter continuing your enjoyment and saving both time and money next spring when you can start with grown plants. I have my indoor and outdoor plants’ winter homes ready and prepare the plants in autumn. Kitties are thrilled with the additions to their indoor enrichment. Potential toxicity In the wild animals tend to know what is and isn’t toxic in their environment, but indoors they encounter greenery they know nothing about but are willing to find out. It’s a natural reaction for animals to taste new things in the environment, and some cats truly enjoy chewing away at your indoor jungle. You can’t really punish them for following what seems to be a natural impulse and a physical need. Some plants are deadly, like lilies in which ingesting even a small bit of any part of the plant— including the pollen—can cause fatal liver failure. Other plants have some level of toxicity but the cat would need to eat a huge amount for toxic effects, a bite or two is
KITTY KORNER
Bringing Plants Indoors...with Cats okay if it stops there. Some plants are completely free of toxicity but still have their warnings. Research every plant you bring into your home so that you know the risk to your cat. See Resources below. Chemicals in the soil Not only the plants may be toxic to cats but also the soil. Most commercial potting soils have chemicals built in and purchased potted plants and hanging baskets are usually grown in chemically fertilized soil. You may have used plant growth sticks, pellets and liquid chemical fertilizers or sprayed with pest control products. Even if time has passed since you used the product these can leave behind a residue on the plant and in the soil. Some cats find loose soil and think it’s a cool new litterbox and other cats may actually eat the soil. Sleepy cats climb in and curl up for a nap. In all these ways your cat stands a chance of a potentially toxic dose of the three main fertilizers, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and other trace minerals right away or built up over time. Chewing and digging or regularly interacting with the soil can give them a dose even through the skin or from bathing. Infestations and diseases Even a totally natural soil base may pose a problem because soil-dwelling insects and even fungi may hitch a ride indoors. Spiders, aphids, even bees and stinkbugs, are naturally camouflaged along the stems or undersides of leaves preparing for overwintering on the plant or in the soil as the temperatures drop then awaken with the warm indoor temperatures. I’ve also found mushrooms and other little fungi growing on my plants’ soil. To avoid plant and soil toxicity it’s best to wash the pot it’s in and repot with new soil when they come indoors. Use a potting soil without chemical additives and avoid any added chemical fertilizers. I find organic compost-based potting mixes at all the garden centers I visit that work well to feed your plant over the more dormant winter months. Rather than using chemical insect killers, cut away and discard in the trash infested branches and use insecticidal soaps to take care of insects and keep the plant clear of them. If kitty overindulges... Even if a plant doesn’t contain toxins,
eating the leaves or stems can still cause a serious medical condition. Feline teeth are not intended to chew long fibers in stems and leaves, and their gut is not intended to digest them, which can lead to gastric upset, vomiting, gagging and even choking, and diarrhea, and that can lead to serious dehydration and inappetence if not a need for surgery to remove something that won’t move through their digestive tract. Most cats will be fine with a little exploration, some can become very ill. If your cat overdoes it, and again kittens and older cats or cats with somehow impaired immunity or metabolic illnesses are at most risk, you need to make the plants totally inaccessible, remembering that cats can leap and will climb on top of things to get to a plant. If not, you should find another home for your plants. Resources Your veterinarian and local shelters often have toxicity lists and veterinary resources exist on the internet. Thoroughly research all plants you bring indoors so you are fully informed. Both sites listed below are live hotlines answered by veterinarians and have extensive information about toxicities on their websites ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER (888) 426-4435, www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/ A consultation fee may apply. PET POISON HELPLINE 855-764-7661, www. petpoisonhelpline.com Affiliated with the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center, $89 fee.
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
21
CAT RESOURCE DIRECTORY
CAT RESOURCE DIRECTORY 2026 Homeless Cat Management Team Clinic Schedule Through December: FREE CLINICS (ferals only) Our clinic is located at 207 Allegheny Street, Tarentum, PA 15084. All appointments include surgery, pain medicine, rabies vaccine and flea treatment. CLINIC REGISTRATION BY PHONE: Call 412-321-4060 and leave a message. Please include your name and phone number in your message. Someone will return your call and complete your pre-registration. HCMT is all volunteer and this may take some time. Clinics fill up quickly and it’s best to call at least two weeks in advance of the clinic you want to attend.
LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER AND OTHER VETERINARY RESOURCES
This information is provided for reference only and subject to change without notice. Please contact the organization or agency before using their services.
TNR And Low-Cost Spay/ Neuter Pittsburgh Area Homeless Cat Management Team HAS MOVED!! E-mail pre-registration is always required, no walk-ins. Email cathomeless@gmail.com to register. You will receive an email confirming your registration. JULY TO DECEMBER 2026 NOTE: dates may be added and are subject to change. No Charge: Ferals Only All ferals MUST arrive in a trap & will receive: Spay/neuter, rabies vaccine, distemper (FVRCP) vaccine, pain relief, treatment for fleas, ticks and ear mites, (if necessary), and mandatory ear tip. July 18 In loving memory of Dick & Nancy Lawrence & family pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge August 1 SNIPP of Indiana, PA August 15 Anonymous Family Foundation August 29 Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue & Alley Cat Rescue, Inc. September 26 In loving memory of Minnie, Tamara & Fuzzy October 10 Paws Across Pittsburgh October 24 Janice Pechan & Marilyn Chapla November 7 In loving memory of Alberta Brown Butler November 21 In loving memory of Richard & Dee Choldko & in loving memory of Boppo December 19 Trash Cat Rescue FAST TRACK: PETS & FERALS September 12 December 5 Pricing as of January 2026: Feral Package: $60 Male Neuter, Rabies & Flea Treatment: $60 Female Spay, Rabies & Flea Treatment: $75 Combo FIV/FeLV Test: $30
FVRCP Distemper Vaccine: $12 FeLV Vaccine: $14 De-worming Treatment: $12 Microchip: $30 More dates may be announced and dates are subject to change. Check www. homelesscat.org/clinic-info for the most up to date information. City of Pittsburgh Free Spay and Neuter for City Residents Visit website for more information: https://pittsburghpa.gov/ publicsafety/spay-neuter LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS AT SHELTERS IN ALLEGHENY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES Action for Animals Humane Society 386 Route 217, Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650 https://www.afashelter.org/ low-cost-spay-neuter/ CALL THE SHELTER AT 724539-2544 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. We do not schedule appointments by email or online. Effective 07/24/24, our prices are as follows:* Neuter Services for a Male Cat: $60 Spay Services for a Female Cat: $90 ($40 additional fee if pregnant) Starting January 1, 2026, a 3% fee will be applied to all credit card transactions made at the shelter. Angels For Animals Veterinary Service & Shelter 4750 West South Range Rd., Canfield, OH 44406 https://www.angelsforanimals. org/spay-neuter Spay & Neuter: 330-549-1111, PRESS #2
22 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
BY EMAIL: Email cathomeless@gmail.com with your name, number of spots you need and which date you are registering for. You will receive a confirmation email ONLY if you are registered. NOTE: Dates may be added and are subject to change. Dates are set for the clinics, but at publication it’s not yet determined which clinics are Free or Fast Track. Check www.homelesscat.org/ clinic-info for the most up to date information.
Animal Friends https://thinkingoutsidethecage. org/vet-clinic/ services/#spayneuter Cats: Female or Male $87 Includes brief exam, injectable pain medication and an e-collar – vaccines are an additional fee. Feral/Outdoor Package: Female or Male $78 Includes brief exam, injectable pain medication, rabies, FVRCP, ear tip and flea treatment. Cats must be feral and in a humane trap to receive this service. Trap rental is available through scheduling spay/neuter. Beaver County Humane Society 3394 Brodhead Road, Center Township, PA 15001, 724-775-5801 https:// beavercountyhumanesociety. org/tnr-and-owned-catsurgery-prices/ Owned Cat: Three packages range from $65.00 to $150.00, all include Surgery and 1yr Rabies Vaccination (must be 3 lbs. and 12 weeks of age), initial FVRCP vaccination, Nail Trim, Oral pain meds for females post-surgery, E-collar, more with higher priced packages Feral Cat: Three packages range from $60.00 to $110.00, all include Spay/Neuter Surgery (includes injectable pain medication), Rabies Vaccine, Nail trim, Post Op Pain Meds for females E-collar, more with higher priced packages, eartip is mandatory. ALL FERAL CATS MUST BE IN TRAPS FOR SAFETY – A $25 FEE WILL APPLY IF NOT IN TRAP. If no feral cat surgery appointments populate in the calendar, that month is either fully booked or the schedule hasn’t been released yet. Please continue to check the feral cat scheduling page for openings. Beaver County Humane Society also offers trap rentals, $30 deposit.
Butler County Humane Society 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew PA 16053 724-789-1150 https://butlercountyhs.org/ clinic/Free spay/neuter, *some specifications and limitations apply*, visit website for more information and application Humane Animal Rescue https://humaneanimalrescue. org/veterinary-care/spay-andneuter-services/ North Shore and East End facilities: 412-345-7300 Feline Spay/Neuter: $147 Includes rabies, FVRCP and microchip TNR: $109 Includes rabies, FVRCP, Advantage Multi and ear-tip. Cats must be feral and in a humane trap to receive this service. Humane Society of Westmoreland County 139 Humane Society Rd, PO Box 1552 Greensburg, PA 15601 (724) 837-3779 https:// westmorelandhumanesociety. com/vet-services/ Indiana County Humane Society 191 Airport Road, Indiana, PA 15701 (724) 465-7387 https://incohumanesociety. com/ Spay-neuter voucher program provides vouchers to help offset the total cost of the surgery for cats and dogs. Visit website for application: https://incohumanesociety. com/wpbhd/wp-content/ uploads/2023/08/ SpayNeuterVoucher2023.pdf Washington Area Humane Society 1527 Route 136, Eighty Four, PA 15330 https://www. washingtonpashelter.org/ low-cost-spay-neuter/ Monthly spay/neuter clinics for owned pets.
Feral spay/neuter surgery dates are offered May through early October. LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER AND VETERINARY CLINICS
These are independent clinics that offer services on site during regular business hours.
Alleycat Spay & Neuter Clinic 15549 State Route 170, Suite 10, East Liverpool, OH 43920 330-892-8985 https://alleycatvet.com/spayneuter-services/ Owned or feral: Spay $60.00, Neuter $50.00 Owned cats by appointment Feral drop-off without appointment Additional services available, dog surgeries also available. Catnip Acres 1159 Morris St, Waynesburg, Pa 15370 https://catnip-acres.com/clinic Clarion Paws (Serves Clarion, Forest and Jefferson County) Current Location: 11348 Route 322, Shippenville, PA https://www.clarionpaws.org/ spay-and-neuter-clinics.html Monthly clinics listed on website, submit an application Pets: $85 surgery, rabies, flea/mite treatment, pain medication, extra services available. TNR: email at clarionpawsinfo@ gmail.com Feline Friends of Ellwood City (CATS ONLY) Facebook: Feline Friends of Ellwood City Low cost spay and neuter for cats. Check Facebook page for schedule.
Fix ‘Ur Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic (Recently moved to Washington PA) 222 Hall Avenue, Washington, PA 15301 Call (724) 416-3265 for an appointment. https://www.fixurcat.org/spayneuter-2/ Female or male $80, rabies and pain medication included. Ferals: $65, Left ear will be tipped (required) as part of this package. INCLUDED: Rabies vaccination, One day of pain medication, RCCP 4-way vaccine, Senergy (fleas, basic worms), Ear mite treatment if needed, Pregnancy termination if needed. Download and complete application, mail in for appointment. Other services and wellness clinic available. Frankie’s Friends 740 5th Avenue, New Kensington, PA 15068 (724) 889-7011 clinic@frankies-friends.org Spay/neuter for pet/feral cats Spay-$80, Neuter-$70 includes Rabies Vaccination, Pain Medication, Advantage II Flea Treatment, Ivermectin Ear Mite Treatment, Antibiotic Injection Feral cat spay/neuter walk-ins— check for availability No appointment needed, one per person, cat must be in a trap. Monday-Wednesday Drop-off 9:30-10:00a.m. Spay-$75, Neuter-$65 Includes rabies, flea treatment, ear mites if necessary. Other services and dog services also available. https://www.frankies-friends.org/ veterinary-clinic Lawrence County AnImal ReIief Fund (CATS ONLY) P.O. Box 8515. New Castle, PA 16107 www.lcarf.com Monthly clinics spring through fall. 724-510-4952 For clinics in Ellwood City please call Wendi at 724-674-8297. North Hills Spay/Neuter Clinic and Fixin’ Wagon (mobile unit) 3967 William Flinn Hwy, Allison Park, PA 412-213-7353 Open Monday-Friday. NO WALKINS: If you have trapped a cat that you would like to bring in, you must call our clinic ahead of time for approval to be seen the same day. Pet/TNR Spay $105, Neuter $76, visit website for details and scheduling Also offers low cost vaccinations and basic medical treatments https://spayaz.com/locations/ pittsburgh-north-hills/ Fixin’ Wagon (mobile unit) 4284 William Flinn Hwy, Suite 103, Allison Park, PA 15101 724-201-9413 Our mobile unit travels within a 2 hour radius of Pittsburgh, PA. We also host clinics at our office in
Allison Park, PA. Basic package: $100 Friendly/rescue cats: includes Rabies 1 year vaccine, FVRCP vaccine, 1 dose of flea treatment (selamectin), 1 dose of ear mite treatment, Nail Trim (if friendly/ indoors). Feral/outdoor cats: Rabies 1 year vaccine, FVRCP vaccine, 1 dose of flea treatment (selamectin), 1 dose of ear mite treatment, Ear Tip , Complimentary dose of Profender (topical dewormer) *In order to receive the feral package, the patient must be in a trap or transfer cage and must receive an ear tip. Feral walk-ins: Each trapper is limited to 3 cats in traps per day. There are NO exceptions to this policy.If you are caught circumventing this system by having other people bring your ferals, you may lose access to our feral walk-in program. There is a limit of 10 feral cats per day, per location. To find out when we’re going to be in your area, click on a county to find available dates and scheduling information. https://www.fixnwagn.com/ wheresthewagn https://www.facebook.com/ fixnwagn Penn Hills Spay/Neuter Clinic 1644 Frankstown Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15235, 422-244-1202 Open Monday-Friday. No longer offering walk-in services for ferals Pet/TNR: Spay $105, Neuter $76, visit website for details and scheduling Also offers low cost vaccinations and basic medical treatments https://www.spayaz.com/ locations/pittsburgh-penn-hills-pa/ Spay It Forward 533 Rugh St.. Greensburg, PA 15601 https://www.spayitforwardclinic. com/feline-spay-neuter Spay $105, Neuter $90 Friendly/rescue cats: includes surgery, pain medication, rabies & FVRCP vaccination, flea & ear mite treatment as needed. Feral/outdoor: above and profender dewormer and ear tip. Additional services available. LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER AND TNR ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS IN ALLEGHENY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES These are organizations that do not have clinic services onsite but organize mobile clinics or transport to clinics.
Cat Crusaders Alle-Kiski Valley TNR support, rescue/adoption “Cat Crusaders” on Facebook, private group, ask to join https://www.facebook.com/ groups/721970658170977
Community Cats Networking Butler County Facebook: Community Cats Networking Mobile clinics, TNR support and rescue/adoption Fixin’ Fayette Transporting cats to Fix ‘Ur Cat for spay/neuter surgery 724-600-9570 “Fixin’ Fayette” on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ groups/404758481158215/ Fluffy Jean Fund for Felines (Washington PA) Packages at $65 and $85 female or male. Call Faith for Available Dates and Appointments (724)941-5683 press 1 E-Mail: faith.b2@verizon.net http://fluffyjeanfund.weebly.com/ Operation Spay/Neuter Butler, PA (for Butler County residents only) http://operationspayneuter.com/ 724-287-SPAY (7729) operationspayneuter@gmail.com Income-based spays and neuters for dogs and cats at participating veterinarians and mobile spay/ neuter unit. Orphans of the Storm PO Box 838, 11878 Route 85 East Kittanning, PA (724) 548-4520 https://www.orphansofthestormpa.org/spay-neuter-program Monthly clinic dates, working with local veterinarians Spay/ neuter begins at $65, prices vary by income. (Includes surgery, pain meds, rabies booster & flea treatment, if needed. Other services such as wormings offered at discounted pricing. Other services and dog services also available. Pet Search P.O. Box 1653 Washington, PA 15301 http://www.petsearchpa.org/ Call 774-228-7335 for clinic information SNIPP: Spay and Neuter Indiana PA Pets Westmoreland/Indiana Counties, Alle-Kiski Valley Low cost clinics $75 for females; $65 for males, check Facebook “Snipp Indianapa” for dates and availability https://www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=61550868595306 Spay Neuter Your Pet—SNYP 720 Atlantic Avenue, Franklin, PA 16323 814-671-9827 Stray Solutions Animal Rescue Serving Butler County 724-290-4933 Sunshine Farm Cat Rescue 125 Crolls Mill Rd., Slippery Rock, PA 16057 724-944-9822 https://sunshinefarmcatrescue.org/ Works with local shelters
veterinarians to provide spay/ neuter services Tails of Hope 2450 Hoezle Road, Hermitage, PA 16148 724-646-1540 TNR of Warren P.O. Box 2477, Warren, OH 44484 www.tnrofwarren.org Frequent TNR and pet cat clinics, low-cost with proof and other starting at $40 feral with eartip. Find Local Low-cost Spay, Neuter and Veterinary Care on the Internet Searchable indexes by state or region Alley Cat Rescue https://www.saveacat.org/statelow-cost-spayneuter.html Alley Cat Allies https://www.alleycat.org/ resources-page/low-costveterinary-care-directory/ North Shore Animal League https://www.animalleague.org/ get-involved/spay-usa/ Spay USA http://www.spayusa.org/search. php United Spay Alliance https://www.unitedspayalliance. org/state-local/program-locatormap/ EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE 24/7 Avets Specialty & Emergency Trauma Center 2674 Monroeville Blvd, Monroeville, PA 15146 412.373.4200 https://www.avets.com/ Butler Veterinary Associates Inc. and Emergency Center 1761 North Main Street Ext, Butler, PA 16001, USA (724) 283-2345 https://www.butlervet.com/ Cheat Lake Animal Hospital 286 Fairchance Road, Morgantown, WV 26508 (304) 594-1124 https://www.cheatlakevets.com/ MedVet Pittsburgh Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Care 2810 Washington Rd., McMurray, PA 15317 724.717.2273 https://www.medvet.com/ location/pittsburgh/ BluePearl Pet Hospital Pittsburgh North North Hills 807 Camp Horne Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412.366.3400 https://bluepearlvet.com/hospital/ pittsburgh-north-pa/
Fall 2026
BluePearl Pet Hospital Pittsburgh South Washington PA 1535 Washington Rd. Washington, PA 15301 724.809.2000 https://bluepearlvet.com/hospital/ washington-pa/ Veterinary Emergency Group/ VEG Pittsburgh East End 6244 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412.690.0511 https://veterinaryemergencygroup. com/locations/pittsburgh-pa/ DAYTIME AND AFTER HOURS URGENT VETERINARY CARE Animal Urgent Care Center 4201 Wood St #1 Wheeling, WV 26003 304.233.0002 Check website for hours. https://animalurgentcarecenter. net/ Geary Veterinary Services 308 Bessemer Road Suite 300, Mount Pleasant, PA, 15666 (724) 542-4954 Check website for hours. https://www. gearyveterinaryservices.com/ Kalyani Indiana Emergency Veterinary Hospital 1540 Indian Springs Road, Building B, Indiana, PA 15701 724 471 2575 Check website for hours. https:// kalyaniindianaemergencyvet.com/ Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care 560 McNeilly Rd, P ittsburgh PA 15226 412-998-9030 Mon.-Sat. 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.. https://riversvet.com/ Safe Haven Veterinary Hospital Specialty and Urgent Care 13085 Perry Hwy, Wexford, PA 15090 (724) 591-8393 Urgent Care: Mon.-Fri. 8am to 6pm https://safehavenpethospital.com/ urgent-care/ URGENTVET
Non-life threatening conditions after hours care
Upper St. Clair 100 Siena Drive Upper Saint Clair, PA 15241 484-866-9100 After hours 365 days https://urgentvet.com/location/ upper-st-clair-pa/ McCandless 8872 Covenant Avenue McCandless, PA 15237 412-286-2255 https://urgentvet.com/location/ mccandless-pa/
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
23
EQUINE AFFAIRS
Eight Steps to DEVELOP
Riding Skills
Tracking up, stretching over the back into the bit. Established on the 20 meter circle.
Dressage Fundamentals By Kristin Hermann
1
RELAXED, RHYTHMIC, AND ROUND, OR THE 3 R’S ON A TWENTY METER CIRCLE.
2
OFF-THE-WALL RIDING TO PUT YOUR HORSE STRAIGHT.
I use the 20 m circle to train the rider to ask the horse to work over its back and into the bit in both directions. I call it the “training wheel of training.” Developing the skills to ride and influence the horse starts on the circle with bending equally in both directions. Every horse has a side it prefers to bend, and you discover this when riding circles. In addition to the bending, the technicalities of getting a horse relaxed, rhythmic, and round are the most challenging of the dressage basics! When the rider can maintain the three R’s in both directions on the circle, the lesson moves to straight lines. However, riding is not only about the horse, as the new rider often says, “this is harder in this direction.” Yes, indeed it is. And that is when I say, “Are you ambidextrous?” So, to become the rider you want to be, get to the gym and work out equally in both directions, like we expect our horses to do.
On the straight lines, riding off the wall as opposed to along the wall, the rider learns to keep the horse rhythmic, relaxed, and round, but now also straight. Through this process of putting a horse straight away from the wall, a rider learns to coordinate their aids, which develops their riding skills. “Ride your horse rhythmically forward and put it straight” is often quoted. Horses do not willingly go straight! The rider puts them straight. When you put the horse straight, the horse’s shoulders either fall in or out. Thus, learning to maintain the three R’s and ride the horse straight is challenging. It is quite a feat to keep the horse’s shoulders aligned with the hind end in addition to its head and neck while flexed at the poll and accepting contact without losing rhythm.
3
RRR, STRAIGHT AND NOW LEG YIELDING.
4
SITTING TROT ON A TEN-METER CIRCLE, FEEL FOR THE CORRECT POSTING DIAGONAL COME-UP POSTING.
Once a rider can maintain the connection to the bit over the horse’s back on circles and straight lines, I introduce leg yielding or lateral work. Asking the horse to leg yield or step sideways is easy if all other prerequisites are established. The challenge is asking the horse to move sideways while keeping the shoulders aligned with the hindquarters as the horse stays seeking the contact and flexing at the poll. Every horse is going to step up and lift the head as the haunches step under. Thus, additional riding skills and coordination develop as the rider learns leg yielding.
Beautiful stretch over the back taking a full stride.
24 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
Progressing from the three R’s, straight lines, and then leg yielding, the rider moves to the sitting trot and ten-meter circles. My riders learn how to sit while riding a ten-meter
circle and, in the process, learn to feel for the correct posting diagonal at the same time. We do not look for the diagonal; we feel for it. Riding is feeling! Plus, learning to feel for the inside hind leg for posting has a dual purpose, since it’s the same inside hind the rider needs to activate to ask the horse to go forward. Riders typically post the leg yield and sit the 10-meter circles. So now, the rider is starting to combine relaxed, rhythmic, and round on the twenty-meter circle, straight lines with leg yielding, and sitting trot ten-meter circles, feeling for the correct posting diagonal. What is nice about this system is that the basics of Training Level are established, as the rider dabbles at a higher level to develop their riding skills.
5
DOTTING THE I’S AND CROSSING THE T’S
Learning to do all these things seems simple, but it isn’t. In addition to the Three R’s, straight lines, leg yielding, and sitting ten-meter circles, while learning to feel for the diagonal, a rider has to learn to change their seat position from rising to sitting trot and not lose the connection over the horse’s b ack, meaning on the bit. Developing these skills is like dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s, adding more detail and clarity to the riding process. Not to mention riding smooth transitions in and out of the gaits, as well as within the gaits. First, we develop the flow of walk, trot, and canter on the bit, with stretching the top line spliced, then straight lines, leg yielding, and sitting trot on ten-meter circles; then we dot the I’s and cross the T’s!
6
TEN-METER CIRCLES AND SHOULDER-IN.
Once the above basics are established, we start with the Shoulder-in. The Shoulder-in can be complex; it has been called the ‘mother of dressage.’ Learning to ride a shoulder-in develops even more sophisticated riding skills since it is so convoluted: Move the shoulders in a direction the horse can’t go! Learning the shoulder-in begins to solidify a rider’s ability to coordinate the aids. Relaxed, rhythmic, and round on a twenty-meter circle, straight lines on the bit working over the back, leg yielding, ten-meter circles feeling for the correct diagonal, and now shoulder-in. In the pursuit of learning shoulder-in (or anything else), it’s OK to not get it right on each attempt. However, we won’t learn how to ride a shoulder-in by not doing it. So with persistent practice and guidance, we keep weaving in and out of the shoulder-in, good or bad, as we learn to develop the skills to do it with the horse connected over the back.
7
RIDING THE WAVE ~ CANTERING
If a rider can sit the ten-meter circles and ride a shoulder-in, it improves their ability to ride the canter. Of course, the canter is a different ball of wax, with its wavelike forward-and-back movement, unlike the trot, which is up and down. And because the horse can canter two different ways, either ground covering or more uphill, the rider needs to know the difference and be able to ride both. Thus, all riders learn to canter in both a full seat and a light seat. This is a complete rider, being able to ride in all three seats ~ posting, sitting, and two-point or a light seat. Teaching the canter in the light seat develops the rider’s shock absorbers in their legs: hip, knee, and ankle instead of gripping with the leg.
8
STRETCHING DOWN AND OUT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER EVERYTHING.
Cantering riders elbow have to follow forward and back if riding on contact. One benefit of training the horse to stretch is keeping its muscles elastic throughout the top line. All riders learn to stretch from day one if the skills are there, by feeling for flexion at the poll to give to the bit or chewing the reins out of the hands. Dressage riding is a journey, and riders get frustrated since none of this falls into our lap. Training a horse that is an average of ten feet long with a vertical rider in the middle of its back doesn’t even make sense! Lol… We sit in the middle of its back and have to communicate to the head and neck through the extension of the rein as we simultaneously feel for the hind end’s rhythm and coordinate both ends through the horse’s back! As Charles De Kunffy’s quote states, “The legs energize, seat modifies, and the hands verify.” Riding is not easy, but when we get that feeling or an “aha” moment, we return and try again to repeat the feeling…
SUMMARY
~ Relaxed, rhythmic, and Round on a circle in both directions, get the horse on the bit working over the back into the contact. ~ Take these skills and apply them to ride straight lines, “off the wall riding,” to put your horse straight. Keep the horse’s shoulders straight and aligned with the hindquarters so it steps equally over its back into the contact. ~ Then leg yielding combined with ten-meter circles, sitting the trot, adding feeling for the correct posting diagonal. ~ Splice in the Shoulder-in after the sitting trot ten-meter circle on the bit is established. ~ Now combine the three R’s, straight lines, sitting trot, ten-meter circles, shoulder-in, and come up posting on the correct diagonal. ~ Riding the Wave ~ cantering, learning the two seats at the canter: a light seat and a full seat. The first is to encourage the horse’s back to lift at the canter, and the rider’s joints are flexible before sitting in a full seat as the horse accepts the contact over the back to the bit. ~ First we establish the flow of riding, and then we learn to dot the I’s and cross the T’s, such as riding a smooth transition. Dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s is where the rider refines their skills. ~ Now start to build. Ride smaller circles, do more lateral work to strengthen the horse from behind, and refine the rider’s aids for “advanced” work. Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
25
EQUINE AFFAIRS
L
FROM
Hoof to Heart
THE RECIPROCITY OF HEALING by Faith Bjalobok Ph.D. Fellow Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics Founder of WAARF
2626Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
ast week I visited Mending Hope Acres in Bent leyville. I have rescued horses and other animals for decades and interacted with numerous rescues and equine therapy programs, but Mending Hope Acres is unique. Their focus on healing is grounded in mutuality and reciprocity. The horses themselves are rescued from the cruelty of the slaughter pipeline. They are then treated and cared for as sentient beings deserving of kindness and respect and given a second chance at a good life. Once the horses have healed from their past mistreatment, they offer healing and emotional support to the individuals who interact with them. The goal is to provide both a more enriched and better life.The founder Jennifer Celedonia original goal was to rescue horses from the slaughter pipeline and give them a chance at a better life. Jenn slept in the stall with Charisma, a blind 10-year-old Standardbred when she first arrived from Oklahoma. They have since installed special fencing to accommodate her blindness. Atlas a 12-year-old Standardbred had raced in Canada before entering the slaughter pipeline. Copper was purchased at the 84 auctions. Trooper had raced for 10 years and pulled a buggy for 16 years before he was placed in the slaughter pipeline. Trooper arrived with a severe leg infection but thanks to Dr. Balzar from Little Creek Veterinary Farm he was diagnosed and successfully treated. He is now happy living his life. Sir Waffles and Beauty are two ponies fortunate enough to have their second chance at a good life. For more information on the horses’ stories go to Mending Hope Acres Facebook. The page contains videos along with their stories. You will especially enjoy Sir Waffles’ video. Mending Hope Acres now has 9 horses and 2 ponies, but the story does not stop there. Jenn who works in hospice care and her two lead volunteers, Holly Denke and Kristin MacCartney are aware of the emotional and psychological benefits of the horse human bond and have expanded their outreach to rural individuals including veterans who can benefit from interaction with horses. The awareness of the benefits and value of equine therapy has grown in recent years. Recently, Americans with Disability Act recognized miniature horses as service animals like dogs. The decision to only recognize miniature horses is based on the consideration of their size, not any therapeutic difference with horses, because federal law allows service animals in all public places. Horses are known to be effective in helping individuals with anxiety, PTSD and autism. The therapy usually is based on ground activities like petting and grooming rather than riding. Jen told me how she recalled getting off the
Today, do running pilates twice a week, as an school bus Iand to meet herand pony inaged the woman, I am still riding. However, cleaning stalls, moving bedding and hay, and lifting water buckets my whole life has wreaked field. Although Jen remains committed to her havoc on my body! But I am still trying. I put my legs up on stools to stretch my hips,goal I have posture aid when sit to teach, and I adjust my back and arms when I drive! I am continually conscious that my toes original to asave horses from Ithe slaughter point straight ahead when I walk, my shoulders pipeline, the expansion of that goal to include lifted, and my head held high. (Right, this is tough not to look down when we walk.) Only when we correct posture can our arms and legs correctly signal the horse effortlessly and allow our bodies to equine therapy forhave rurala individuals is what makes move in harmony with the horse. Riding teachers cannot fix the aspiring rider; we can only point things out ~ Mending Hope Acres unique. Mending Hope Acres It is up to you! provides hope for both the rescued horses and those individuals who interact with them. It is a place with reciprocity and mutuality in healing. On the Saturday before I visited multiple individuals had come to interact with the horses. The President of Centered Riding for many years visitors included a veteran and an individual who and international clinician Peggy Brown came had recently lost a pet. Both to theCoventry horsesEquestrian and theCenter twice for clinics riding position and biomechanics. She is well visitors benefited emotionallyonfrom the interacknown for riding in a bone suit. As Sally Swift tion. Mending Hope Acres and its founder says, “you ride with Jen your and bones and feel with her dedicated volunteers have created place of were sponsored by your muscles. a “ These clinics Equestrian Association healing grounded in kindnessThree andRivers compassion for the horses as well as the individual who come to interact with them. In his Lectures on Ethics, the 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant argued: “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals” Based on Kant’s argument we can be assured that Jen and her volunteers are people with a good heart. The author at the beginning of her dressage journey, all rounded in the back. I changed it and learned how to sit up when I ride!
age
Custom Pet Memorial votivee M Using your photos I create a lasting gift for yourself or a loved one.
Learn how to ride & train with clarity. All horses & riders benefit utilizing simplified gymnastic training or ‘dressage’. Visit our Facebook page “Home School Your Horse” for training tips.
412-296-2130
Bernadette E. Kazmarski, artist www.PortraitsOfAnimals.net
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections petconnections.pet
27 29
HOLISTIC PET
The Raw Pet Food Diet is Trending Again Continued from page 20 meat can contribute to shinier fur and healthier skin. Natural fats and added fish oils reduce skin inflammation, flaking, and dryness which leads to less chronic itching and fewer allergy flare-ups. The combination of animal proteins also reduce shedding over time. Enhanced Energy and Leaner Muscles Many pet owners report increased vitality in pets fed on raw diets. The high protein content supports lean muscle mass, while the absence of fillers like corn or wheat can improve energy levels and digestion. Processed foods with fillers take a lot of internal work to break down. A raw diet uses less metabolic energy on digestion, leaving more energy for daily activity and movement. Also, Healthy raw fats burn slowly which provides a steady stream of physical stamina instead of quick spikes and crashes Raw meat contains intact proteins -complete amino acids-that are easy for the body to use for repairing and building muscle tissue. And did you know cooking pet food at a high heat can damage protein? Raw food keeps these nutrients fully intact. Digestion/Stool Fresh whole foods and natural probiotics support a healthier balance of gut bacteria. Eliminating processed grains, starches, and artificial fillers prevents common stomach irritation and bloating. High digestibility reduces foul-smelling gas and
28 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026
stool odors. Bowel movements are smaller and happen less often because the body absorbs more nutrients and leaves behind fewer waste fillers. The consistency is firm and well-formed when the diet is balanced. It may sometimes have a slightly chalky texture or crumble at the end due to natural bone content. Although not very glamorous, stool consistency and color can speak volumes about a pet’s diet and health. Monitoring stool can help pet parents determine how well the raw diet is tolerated and if any adjustments are needed. What to expect when starting a Raw Food Diet When starting your pet on a raw diet, expect temporary digestive adjustments, changes in bathroom habits, and strict hygiene requirements at home. Your pet may experience mild diarrhea, soft stool, or gas during the first few days as their gut microbiome shift. Pets often drink less water from their bowls because raw food contains natural, high moisture content. Safety and Preparation Rules There are bacterial risks so it’s important to learn how to handle the food safely. Raw meat can carry pathogens like Salmonella, meaning strict sanitation is required to protect human and pet family members. Proper clean up habits
are a must. Thoroughly wash your hands, disinfect prep surfaces, and use dedicated cutting boards or separate bowls. Guidance on safe handling is outlined by resources like VCA Animals Hospital online for more information. Local Resources Asgard Raw Dog Food (from their website) is the only USDA and FDA registered and inspected raw dog food manufacturer in Pittsburgh. We pride ourselves in our commitment to quality, ensuring the maximum health of pets. And providing affordable and balanced meals. Our meals are made on-site with human grade proteins and contain absolutely no byproducts, no preservatives, no hormones, no GMO’s, no antibiotics, and no grains or unnecessary fillers. Greater Pittsburgh Raw Feeders is a community of raw feeders based out of Pittsburgh, PA. We welcome anyone who has an interest in raw food for their dogs, cats or companion animals. Iron City Raw Dog Food Co-Op is a regional cooperative active across Pittsburgh, Ohio, and West Virginia that helps connect raw feeders for group orders. Sources: https://www.prodograw.com https://www.thefarmersdog.com/ https://perfectlyrawsome.com https://vcahospitals.com/
Rusty
REMEMBRANCE
REMEMBERING
2/25/11 - 9/17/24
20th Year Anniversar y
Fall 2026
| Pittsburgh PetConnections
29
30 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2026