Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Mast Park, Santee

Mast Park is a great place for a long or short dog walk and even a little run time in the off-leash area. Located on Carlton Hills Drive, the park has a shaded cement walkway as well as an asphalt path that goes around the park. It is not as crowded as Lake Murray or Lindo Lake yet it has ample amenities for family entertainment, including a basketball court, sand volleyball court, playground, and picnic area with barbecues.

On a hot day, we take the cement path and stay under the trees. The park is a quiet place on weekdays where people come to read or walk their dogs. A few things to keep in mind if you walk at Mast Park:

Off-Leash Dog Park
  • Unlike Harry Griffin Park, many people seem to think the presence of an off-leash dog area means that they can let their dogs run along the trails without a lead. If you are walking dogs, be alert for dogs on the loose and act safely. 
  • The asphalt can heat up during summer, so check the temperature with your bare hand before walking your dog on this path. A dog's foot pad is not as sensitive as our bare feet, but they can be burned. If it is over 80 degrees, it might be best to walk on the pavement or grass.
  • The parking lot is small so you may need to find additional parking in the neighboring strip mall or along the street. Be careful entering and exiting the narrow driveway in the parking lot.

Mast Park is conveniently adjacent to a shopping center where you can eat lunch, get coffee, cupcakes, or check out a library book. The Santee Public Library, Janet's Cafe and Deli, and Essential Grooming are also located in this shopping center.
 
And of course, just around the corner on Mission Gorge Road is the Santee shopping district, which boasts everything from Lowe's Home Improvement to the Olive Garden. If you walk on Wednesday afternoons, stop by the Certified Farmer's Market just west of Magnolia.

Santee is a booming area. Some are calling it "East County's La Jolla." The yearly street fair draws as many as 50,000 people to listen to live music, enjoy carnival rides, and indulge in the decadent offerings from the many food vendors. Time will tell if Mast Park becomes more populated or if it stays a quiet oasis.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Guinea Pigs: What is an Emergency?

I spent most of yesterday helping a fellow guinea pig owner through a health crisis that ended badly. It was very sad to watch the owner struggle with the life and death decisions for a pet she had not owned for very long. She is still mystified by the speed with which the illness attacked her pet and how helpless she was to stop its progression, even after an emergency room visit, a pocket full of meds and round the clock hand feeding. This is a story I hear all too often.

As an adoptions counselor for a guinea pig rescue, it is my job to prepare new owners for what it is like to own a guinea pig. I do send them links to care pages and guinea pig forums, and a pre-adoption reference email that contains important links to bookmark. It is a fine line to walk between alerting the new owner to guinea pigs' fragility and frightening them away from having guinea pigs. Keeping a guinea pig healthy requires vigilance. Here are a few things to bear in mind: 

  • Guinea pigs are not like cats and dogs. They are much more fragile, prone to illness, and have more difficulty recovering from illnesses.  
  • Anything different is bad.  Guinea pigs are creatures of habit. Have you ever noticed how they seem to sleep at the same time of day, eat only foods they know, and expect treats at the same time every day? Any change in your guinea pig's behavior or eating habits is a red flag to you that something is wrong. 
  • Guinea pigs need to eat constantly.  Unlike cats and dogs, guinea pigs need to continually keep their G.I. tract moving. If they refuse food that they regularly eat, they are ill. If your guinea pig is not eating today, by tomorrow they will be very sick -- and the side effects of the G.I. stasis, where the gut stops moving and causes bloat, may be more life-threatening than the original illness.
  • Don't wait to get care.  By the time most owners notice their guinea pig sick, they are really sick, possibly dying. If you wait to ask for help, the chances of bringing your guinea pig back are going to be slim. The cost of medical care will increase in direct proportion to the length of time the owner waited to get help.
  • Medical care for guinea pigs is expensive.  Because they are considered "exotics," guinea pigs should only be treated by an exotics vet who has been trained in their care. If you use a 'dog and cat vet' who claims that they "see" guinea pigs, you will waste more time, money, and your guinea pig's health status will dwindle away while the vet untrained in exotics medicine runs expensive, meaningless tests. Do it the right way the first time, and choose a vet who knows what they are doing.
Here is a link that describes the common mistakes guinea pig owners make when dealing with illnesses: 

Even to the trained eye, some illnesses will go unnoticed. This is why you should weigh your guinea pig weekly, using a gram scale, so that you notice any drop in weight that may signify an illness they are hiding. Here is a great place to start reading about basic guinea pig care and how to prevent diseases:

Sometimes, despite the best care, prompt veterinary attention, and diligent home management of illnesses, a guinea pig will not survive. Their extreme fragility when ill belies the popular notion that these are good 'starter pets' (read: 'throwaway pets') for kids. However, sometimes they can remarkably beat the odds and recover. Our rescue has dozens of stories of guinea pigs who came in seriously ill yet recovered. They have tremendous spirit and can overcome illnesses, especially if they see that someone is caring for them and trying to help them not give up. It is very inspiring to watch them rebound from past neglect, abuse, or injury and turn into beautiful animals.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Short Scenic Dog Walks in East County

Sometimes parading your dog around the block gets a little boring. Of course, B.B. loves neighborhood walks. There are plenty of things to smell and urinate upon; and the narrow walkways provide ample opportunities for crotch sniffing of any passersby. However, B.B. is kind enough to accompany us to walking venues where there are interesting things for humans, too. Because Furry People has a busy schedule, we prefer these nearby scenic parks where we can take a thirty minute to sixty minute walk.

Lake Murray. We have been coming to Lake Murray since I was a child in the 1970s.
My grandfather used to take a large bag of peanuts and feed the squirrels. After he passed away, my grandmother would walk there every day. Many of us attributed her longevity to the daily "lakey-walkin'" as she called it.

A popular site for walking, cycling, jogging, rollerblading, and picnicking, Lake Murray is also open for fishing. Fishing permits are available and the lake is stocked with bass, bluegill, catfish, and trout. An asphalt walking path runs 3.2 miles from the entrance to the dam gate. The path is wide, with plenty of room for all kinds of activities.

In addition to the squirrels and rabbits,  many ducks, geese, and other birds call Lake Murray home. One can even spy the occasional Heron or White Pelican. Parking can be an issue; however, there is an elevated lot located on the slope above the main parking lot. For more information, visit:  http://www.mtrp.org/lake_murray.asp


Harry Griffin Park. Located behind Grossmont High School, Harry Griffin Park boasts a playground, an amphitheater, an off leash dog park, and gravel trails below the main grassy park. A popular dog park, the fenced-off area has separate enclosures for large and small dogs. 

The park is a favorite place for family activities, and the amphitheater is available for rental.  A series of free summer concerts starts on June 10. There is plenty of parking available. For more information visit the City of La Mesa website.

Lindo Lake.  A recent addition to our walking favorites, Lindo Lake provides an excellent opportunity for a short stroll along a lake brimming with wildlife. An asphalt trail around the lake stretches 1.5 miles. The recreation area includes an outdoor gym, ball fields, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and a recreation center.  Also located on the grounds is the Lakeside Community Center and library.

.

Great Blue Heron
Harlequin Duck


Here are just two of the lovely birds we spotted recently at Lindo Lake. There were also many duck and geese families as well as seagulls and a beautiful Snowy Egret. Squirrels are plentiful among the rocks that border the lake.

Throughout the year Lindo Lake has various community events. It is a great place for a relaxing stroll, a fitness walk, or a picnic and bird-watching. For more information visit http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/picnic /lindolake.html
 
East County contains a number of other small parks, including more off-leash dog areas at Wells Park in El Cajon and Mast Park in Santee. For more information on off-leash dog parks and reviews, visit http://www.dogpark.com.

Would you like to send your dog on a scenic walk? Contact us at sdfurrypeople@gmail.com or call/text 619-322-0133.