“I was supposed to euthanize Roxy because the original owners did not address her behavioral issues. She was a healthy, one-year old Rottie who had some behavior issues (OCD-she chased light reflections on the walls and ceilings, would jump after passing trucks, was scared of garbage pails, etc. and she wasn’t guarding them). Instead, I took her home and through behavior modification, trained her to be the beloved pet friend she is today. We can’t take every pet home, but the public needs to know that veterinarians like myself can help as many pet owners as possible to solve behavior problems before it is too late,” said Cohen.
As soon as she heard about the L.O.V.E. bus and the Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express campaign, Cohen, the WCBS 880 newsradio Healthy and Happy Pet reporter, became a part of it in a big way. Calling on her fellow New York area veterinarians and shelters and pet-loving media colleagues, Cohen has rallied the New York animal health community around her favorite topic ” treating pet behavior problems to prevent euthanasia. Cohen knows all too well the sad ending to so many pets given up for bad behavior issues. She cites that 88% of animals surrendered to shelters (and ultimately euthanized) are because of behavioral problems.
Cohen continues, “Most behavior issues can be controlled and the pet-owning population needs to know this and how they can fix the problems BEFORE the pets get surrendered. This especially holds true for aggression issues. Most dog bites are 100% preventable if the aggression is addressed in a timely manner. Even old dogs can be taught new tricks! And inappropriate cat behavior (scratching, biting, urinating) can be corrected also.
Cohen will welcome the Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express spokesperson and international veterinary behaviorist Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB and the L.O.V.E. bus along on Wednesday, August 15 at the Animal Care & Control of New York City’s shelter. Cohen will also host area veterinarians and shelters at the free pet fair on Friday August 17 at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 Dog Run. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.