Patti Lawson

Just like the demise of the sole family medical doctor, small veterinary practices are disappearing. Vets are expanding their practices with new facilities, state-of-the-art technology, additional vets, and larger staffs. But despite the many improvements, a human touch may be lost in shuffle. Bigger is not always better.

If you notice that your vet's level of service isn't the same as it used to be, it might be time to change vets. Here are some warning signs to consider if you and your pet find yourselves in this situation:

- Is there a long wait and/or increased fee to see your vet?

- Does the staff lack a personal touch? Do they treat your concerns properly by returning your calls and relaying telephone messages correctly? Do they become confused as to you and your pet's identities?

- Are there new charges for things like calls to have blood test results explained, or asking your vet a question if you're there for a routine service that doesn't require his or her presence?

Giving a pet as a gift on any occasion is almost always a bad idea. While puppies are perennially popular impulse holiday gifts, a puppy or adopted older dog is a lifetime commitment that should not be entered into lightly. That cute puppy under the tree on December 25 may be a big headache by the end of January for an unprepared gift-getter. Even for experienced potential pet owners, the holidays are the absolute worst time of year to adopt a new dog. No matter what your best intentions, a puppy will get lost in the shuffle of holiday festivities. Also, the winter weather and early darkness is not conducive to acquainting your dog with the outdoors.

But just because you aren't going to have a new dog wearing a holiday gift bow on its chest doesn't mean the holidays need to be dog-free. Use this charitable season as an opportunity to help homeless dogs this year. There are thousands of worthy local organizations for dogs in addition to the national ones we all know about. Do a little research and find a local group that could use assistance during the holidays. Here are some great suggestions of how you can get your "dog fix" by helping the ones that need it most:

- Volunteer at your local shelter over the holidays. Call and find out what you need to do to become a volunteer and what is needed most at this time of year.

- Donate to an organization such as Sunny Days Rescue Relief. This organization provides money and supplies to shelters in need.

Sam has no real job, yet he gets plenty to eat. He's is not on unemployment; he does not receive welfare or any type of Social Security benefits. Sam pays no rent and doesn't own a house, but he sleeps in a comfortable bed every night and it's not at a shelter. He doesn't go to a free clinic or get Medicaid, yet he has excellent medical care and is in very good health for someone who is 91 years old.

Sam is an old dog who can teach all of us some new tricks-and how a village raising a dog just might be the answer to a myriad of woes we face in this disastrous economy. As Thanksgiving approaches, taking a look at the life of this very special dog will show us how to be truly thankful.

Sam was born 13 years ago one in a litter of many puppies with a purebred Redbone coonhound mom. Trouble was, unlike most of his siblings, Sam was considered unfit for training to be a hunting dog and was never taken along on the training trips. Early mornings before dawn, the dogs would be loaded in pickup trucks to go out in the woods to train, with a stop first at the Dalton General Store for breakfast. Sam would run behind the truck eventually making it to the store, but he would always be left behind.

As the puppies grew, one by one they were sold or given away. Sam, however, was the only pup in the litter without a future. When the training trips were over, he chose a different path. He found his own way in the world, eventually showing up at Arthur Tessneer's barn.

That was 13 years ago and today Sam has created a fine life for himself that revolves around the Tessneer family and the Dalton General Store in Lake Lure, N.C.

Halloween is around the corner, and people everywhere are looking forward to being scared (almost) to death and dressing up in silly and frightening costumes. The same is not true for dogs, however. The mischief and pranks for which the holiday is infamous present a myriad of potential safety challenges that can take dogs and their owners completely by surprise. If you want to include your dog in your Halloween celebration, make it an event that is safe and enjoyable for both of you. Here are some tips:

1. People love Halloween candy and so do dogs, but while candy is a great treat for us, dog owners need to make sure that it's not accessible to their animals. Most owners know that chocolate is poisonous for dogs, but so is almost everything else that you'd find in a trick-or-treat bag. Artificial sweeteners, raisins and other candy items can mean serious health hazards or even death for dogs. The wrappers can be ingested and cause choking. Keep healthy, natural-ingredient dog treats on hand for your dog and other dogs that might show up at your door.

Hurricane season is upon us once again, and all dog owners should have a disaster plan in place for their pets. I've never been through a hurricane with my dog, but I did experience a house fire with her, and it was horrific. I'd never even considered having a plan in place in case of a fire, let alone a hurricane or other natural disaster, but that night I vowed to never be without one again. If you are the victim of a natural disaster or a house fire and don't have a plan, you may not have a chance to escape without some tragedy.

Get ready before disaster strikes. Pay attention to weather reports, and don't take chances with your life or your dog's life. Have a place secured where you can go with your dog when a hurricane or other weather disaster is approaching. If you decide to ride a storm out at home, have supplies ready. Make sure you have a room where you will be safe and have food, water, medications and any other necessary item for your dog, including a favorite blanket for comfort. These things should always be ready in a safe place and not gathered in a frantic moment or two before the event.

At a minimum, the following should be part of your safety plan:

1. Post pet rescue alert stickers at the exterior doors of your house.

2. Practice an exit drill that includes your dog. The No. 1 reason dogs perish in house fires and hurricanes is because they're left alone confined in a room or a kennel. Put your dog's collar on with identification tags attached, and take the dog out of the house on a leash.

3. Keep your dog's leash and ID collar in the same place all the time. This makes it easy to find in an emergency. Consider purchasing a flame-retardant reflective vest with room to hold your dog's information and extra collars with all necessary tags attached in case of a need to evacuate your house swiftly. These vests can also serve as flotation devices, which are priceless when flooding occurs. Get one for each of your dogs and have them ready when needed.