WAG
From the desk of Bay Woof editor Mindy Toomay

Has it ever occurred to you that a lot of “old sayings” have been around so long because they make good sense? Case in point: When it comes to canine health, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

This issue of Bay Woof is a gold mine of wise counsel on the subject. Veterinarian Rachael Feigelbaum of San Francisco’s Pets Unlimited shares her holistic guidelines for happy, healthy dogs. Heidi Hill of Berkeley’s Holistic Hound describes the most useful and oft-requested natural remedies for dogs. Dr. Richard Spickard’s piece on canine chiropractic care explains how this hands-on therapy just might help your rickety dog feel spry again.

Of course, no matter how much preventative care you provide, there will be the occasional illness or injury – and that’s when veterinarians become indispensable. Sadly, sick and injured shelter animals often suffer hopelessly. Without loving families to foot the bill, they just don’t get the medical care they need. Not so at the San Francisco SPCA, where a whole department is dedicated to providing veterinary care to the shelter’s neediest furry residents. Read about one lucky little dog named Emma who is alive and thriving today because of The SF/SPCA’s Cinderella Fund.

And now a word about vet bills: ouch! We want to keep our doggies well, but sometimes our wallets get bruised in the process. If you’ve been hearing about pet health insurance and wondering if you should buy a policy to prevent sticker shock next time Spike gets sick, Kathleen Maher’s piece will answer many of your questions.

That’s not all, folks. Marta Williams’ article on intuitive animal communication can help you tune in to your pet, and Dana Mentink’s moving story about the important life lessons she’s learned from shelter animals might put you in a volunteering mood. Rounding things out, Herb Canine touts woofer wordplay and Lisa Ferreira turns in a Rover Report.

The ice is officially broken. Beast of the Bay ballots have started to come in. We can’t wait to hear about your favorite Bay Area haunts, so please join the fun by voting at baywoof.com/beastofthebay.

It just wouldn’t feel right to wrap up this column without mentioning All Saint’s Day or Dia de los Muertos or Halloween – as you prefer. Does the veil between us and the spirit realm dissolve for a day at the end of the month? Perhaps, and so we celebrate. Re-read the advice we published last year at and make sure your pets party unscathed.

Wishing you and your canine friends wellness,

– Mindy Toomay, Editor

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