Make mine salad grass, please

I’m not sure what kind of the grass grows at the dog park, but Watson seems to love its taste and is fussy about which grass he eats. I have tried giving him different kinds of grass, but he favors only the long, skinny, pointy type. He won’t eat lettuce at home, so what gives?

Actually, I have noticed quite a few dogs eating grass which led to a discussion among the dog park gang about why dogs and cats eat grass. Most of us have observed them eating grass and then vomiting. We figured the animal was sick and that was the reason they ate the grass.

I decided to check it out and see what the experts say. It seems that veterinarians don’t have the answer either. One group of doctors at the University at California at Davis clinic recently did a study to find out why dogs and cats eat grass. To get the necessary data, they surveyed veterinary students, dog owners and cat owners.

They concluded that dogs and cats eat grass because it is a predisposition inherited from their wild canid and felid ancestors. One explanation is that eating plants serves a biological purpose. In the wild, animals were constantly exposed to intestinal parasites. Eating plant material increases bulk in the intestines that wraps around worms which are eventually purged from the intestines.

So, eating plants is fairly typical of dogs and cats. Plant consumption is not usually associated with gastrointestinal illness but may be a trait inherited from the wild ancestors; however, if your dog or cat appears ill before eating plants or vomiting persists, a medical checkup may be in order. Well, it looks like I’ll be harvesting pointy grass for Watson’s salad bar. I’m sure it’s tastier than arugula.

WHO’S WHO AT CAPS?

Rita Hand is the new president of the CAPS board of directors and we couldn’t ask for a better leader. Rita has volunteered for four years and has a keen understanding of our goals. She is an expert at walking dogs, answering phones, writing personals and scheduling dog walkers. Rita is a girl who knows her way around our shelter. Thank you from the bottom of all our furry hearts for your dedication and service. You put the “W” in wonderful because you are.

WHO’S NEW AT THE CAPS’ ZOO?

Dozer, a handsome gentleman who would never think of jumping on anyone, is a three-year-old black pit bull. He loves puppies and is absolutely crazy about taking walks. He was left by his owners to fend for himself. Fortunately, he was taken to CAPS along with a bunch of puppies. Dozer is looking for the special someone who will appreciate him for the gentleman he is. Please come out and meet Dozer; he is a lover!

We also have 11 frisky kitties who are too cute for words! Policy, however, prohibits adopting out puppies or kittens under the age of six months to a home with children under five years of age. This is to protect both the children and the animal.

CAPS’ NEWS AND EVENTS

CAPS’ garage sale is coming soon. We need your gently used appliances, furniture, tennis rackets, treadmills and miscellaneous items. We don’t need clothing. If you have items to donate, call Rita Hand at 775-423-6346 or 775-427-3376. Please leave a message if necessary, and Rita will return your call as soon as she can.

Flower Tree Nursery is raffling a 15-gallon tree of your choice. The raffle tickets are available at Flower Tree, and they are $1 for one ticket and $5 for six tickets. Be sure to get your tickets soon. The drawing date will be Sept. 6, and the winner doesn’t have to be present to win.

CAPS will be at Walmart on Sept. 19, along with Ki and Urtle at our Kissin’ Booth. Ki is the veteran of the kissing booth, and Urtle is the kisser-in-training. Come by and join their fan club. We have plenty of shirts and caps, so please check them out before or after greeting our canine volunteers.

CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89406. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. Please visit the CAPS website (www.capsnv.org) and Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are really likable.

Do you have questions, comments or a great story? Contact me jkwmil@outlook.com.

Kathleen Williams-Miller, a CAPS volunteer, contributed this week’s column.