In Loving Memory: Barbara R. Alexander

In Loving Memory

Longtime Central Ohio Kennel Club member and American Kennel Club Delegate David Galloway presented Barbara with the AKC's highest honor--The Lifetime Achievement Award.   COKC members and the board of directors decide who to nominate for this prestigious award.  Barbara was active for decades in the sport of dogs.

Below is her obituary and memorial service information.  I will share some of my memories of Barb in a post following the service.  Here is a link if you would like to sign her guest book or you are welcome to post a comment below with link at bottom of this post.

 http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary-print.aspx?n=barbara-r-alexander&pid=180670340

Barbara R. Alexander, of Dublin, OH, died on July 14, 2016 at Kobacker House at the age of 87. She was born in Los Angeles County, California, the only child of Lynn Ransdell and Thelma Burkhalter Ransdell. She grew up in Lafayette, Indiana and attended Purdue University where she met and married Frank Stuart Alexander, Jr. Frank and Barbara moved to Columbus in the early 1950's and raised their three children. Barbara was charming and vivacious. She was a loving wife and mother. She was a nationally known breeder/exhibitor of Yorkshire terriers, having served as Treasurer and Vice President of the national breed club, Yorkshire Terrier Club of America. She was a Lifetime Member of Central Ohio Kennel Club, serving as Board Member, Officer and Delegate to the American Kennel Club. She served as Award Chairman of the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Owner-Handler Association. Barbara was a contributing member of The Sierra Club, The National Conservancy, The World Wildlife Fund, Common Cause, Emily's List, and The National Organization of Women. Barbara was preceded in death by her eldest son Frank Stuart Alexander III. She is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Frank Stuart Alexander; daughter, Janet Alexander Finn (Michael Lawrence Finn); son, Steven Craig Alexander. (Li Zhang); grandchildren, Bethany Lynn Alexander, (Brian J. Darfus); Brendon James Alexander, Nina Alexander Snoke. (Corey Joseph Snoke) and Kristen Alexander. She is also survived by her three great-grandsons, Cooper Joseph Snoke, Gabriel Alexander Snoke and Braven Alexander Darfus. The family will receive friends and family at the RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High Street, Worthington, Ohio on Saturday, July 30 from 2-4 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 4 p.m.

Rest in Peace Dear Friend!

Gale

A "Heartworming" Dog Story

Hi Folks!

Hope this finds you well and getting ready for the big 4th of July weekend here in the States!  Please, please leave your dogs at home in the delightful air conditioning/shade/quiet solitude while you enjoy the festivities.  The heat, hot pavement, loud noises, big crowds aren't as fun for your dog as they are for you.  They don't know they aren't getting shot at and picnic food isn't good for them either.

That said, somewhere I have an article that is at least 10 years old that says virtually the same thing as a post I shared today on Facebook from fellow dog person Barbara Bedsted... please click on the link below the diagram for the complete article.  So this is not new, earth-shattering news...

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2008/05/billion-dollar-heartworm-scam.html?m=1

I have known hundreds of dog people and their dogs/kennel management styles, etc.  I have only even ever heard of ONE dog contracting heartworm and it was a rescue I was told about.  Now I am certain that if left untreated it is an awful thing to go through, but pumping your dog full of unnecessary and unbelievably inflated priced "preventatives" is bad for everyone but the manufacturers and sellers.  There was a point where I was spending $100 once for basically cheap ivermectin wormer and that wasn't retail price (for only 3-4 dogs a few months worth.)  I have many vet friends that I adore and I don't want to hurt how they make a living, but here is the truth in it's simplest of terms---

There is no "preventing" heartworm.  Even if you do the heartworm meds,  the ivermectin will take care of any possible larvae that the dog has already contracted through a mosquito bite.  So, it is retroactive.  The larvae take 3 months to develop in to anything worth killing, and 6 months to become a problem,  so instead of monthly drugs, once every 3 months is fine to medicate if you feel you need to do so.

What irks me and always has, is that even if you go for the ridiculously overpriced monthly concoction and stayed on it a year, your vet will insist on an annual blood test (was around $30/dog) before giving you more pills.  Really?  If it works, why?  If you miss giving it even one month, you have to do another blood test???  The blood sucking analogy is not lost on me or hopefully you.

Also, if you live where there aren't many mosquitoes or your dog is never outside, especially during mosquito hours (dawn/dusk) they have a better chance of getting struck by lightning then getting heartworm.   Also, the mosquito has to have bitten an infected animal to even be able to transmit heartworm.

When our family had a working kennel and at times 16 dogs/puppies there was no way that we could afford to have everybody on the standard protection protocol.  But, I was a leary of totaling going without treatment because if anyone really could get it, that would be our luck.

So, many years ago I was given a tip (now widely available online) that has saved us a ton of money, albeit still drugging up the dogs unnecessarily (not puppies or bitches that were bred.)  All but one of our dogs lived well into their teens and the other was a golden with cancer.  We had mosquitoes, but nobody got heartworm.   I was treating every month, then I went to every few months.  We don't have mosquitoes in Winter (another huge waste of drugging--only needs done in Summer months.)

This protocol has stood the test of nearly two decades, but I am only passing it along as an alternative as I am not a Vet (and incidentally, never played one on TV):  

1.   Go to TSC, Farm and Fleet or wherever and get Bovine Injectable Ivermectin.  I bought one $35 bottle, refrigerated it and never wound up using it all in many years.  It is generally locked up in a case....  Get a small dose hypodermic needle too. 

2.  Get some braunsweiger (sp) or something that consistency.   Ball it up and make an indentation in it. 

3.  Every 3 months:  Fill the needle with .1 cc (that is point one cc) for every ten pounds.  Drip that into the indentation (it will only be a few drops), seal it up and the dogs will suck it down.

There, they will be wormed in the process as well as treated for heartworm.  You just spent pennies on the dollar.  Plus, you can feel guilt-free about it!

Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!


Gale