A5 • Friday, December 28, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | CannonBeachGazette.com
When your dog is stressed at holiday time
A
re holidays stressful?
Stress is not necessarily
a bad thing; stress is sim-
ply what happens when an ani-
mal’s physiological state changes
from homeostasis. The cause may
be experienced as a positive thing
(eustress) or a negative thing (dis-
tress). The holidays, with tempt-
ing novel foods, unfamiliar peo-
ple, and unusual activities, bring
multiple stressors for dogs. Learn-
ing your dog’s language helps you
decipher his feelings and keep
everyone happier.
People often think a wagging
tail means a happy dog; in reality,
a wagging tail may also express
discomfort, nervousness, and
other distress.
The standard happy dog tail-
wag usually has a wide sweep,
and recent science suggests that a
tail sweeping to the dog’s right of
his rear suggests the dog has posi-
tive feelings about a person or sit-
uation whereas a left sweep sug-
gests negative feelings.
A small (not wide) wag sug-
gests the dog is friendly but tenta-
tive, as when meeting a new per-
Free guided
New Year’s
Day hike
Cannon Beach Gazette
For the eighth year in a
row, the Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department is
partnering with America’s
State Parks to offer free
guided First Day Hikes in
state parks across Oregon
on New Year’s Day.
Hikers can register for
the hike at the Oregon
State Parks store, http://
bit.ly/ParkStoreEvents.
The hike begins at 8 a.m.,
starting at the Elk Flats
Trail parking lot. The ter-
rain is considered moder-
ate for the 2-mile hike.
Contact
503-368-
5943, ext. 221, for more
information.
a tail also docks the dog’s abil-
ity to communicate. Ear cropping
bears similar risk. A dog’s ears tell
us a lot about how they feel and
can help us, if we correctly read
and heed the signals. Again, there
are breed-specifi c exceptions, but
generally if a dog moves ears side-
ward, pins them back, or fl attens
them, he is experiencing distress
and may be anxious, nervous, or
afraid; ears up and forward sug-
gest interest or alert.
Then there are tummy rubs.
A dog rolls over, presenting
his belly; obviously he wants a
tummy rub, right? Actually, often-
times that dog is concerned about
a situation, person, or other ani-
mal, and the belly exposure is
a signal of peace and a request:
“Please don’t hurt me.” Receiv-
ing this appeasement gesture,
the better thing would be to give
space. To read the roll over, look
for compaction versus expan-
sion. A dog seeking tummy rubs
will be open in body — legs and
tail fl ailed outward, possibly the
tongue. If the dog looks away,
holds any paws or limbs in toward
CANINE CORNER
RAIN JORDAN
& DAHLIA
son, while a very tight wag may
predict a coming fi ght or fl ight
response to a stimulus.
Generally, a tucked tail or a
very low tail (exceptions are dogs
with naturally low-slung tails like
greyhounds) suggests fear, worry,
or expresses “I’m not a threat” (so
long as nothing is done to make
the dog feel threatened).
A tail held at the dog’s natu-
ral or neutral position — generally
lower than the spine — suggests
the dog is relaxed.
A tail held horizontally sug-
gests attention or alert.
A high held tail may imply a
warning. (Context must be con-
sidered and exceptions recognized
for breeds with naturally high
tails.)
A tail held straight up may be a
portend of threat. You can see why
tail docking is not ideal; docking
his body, and/or tucks his tail,
it might be best to resist. Some-
times lip and nose licking, or ears
pressed back against the neck (in
breeds whose ears are not set in
that position naturally), also are
appeasement gestures.
A dog performing out of con-
text behaviors — licking, pant-
ing, scratching, yawning, or sniff-
ing, when not eating, exercising,
itchy, sleepy, or on an exploratory
adventure — is using displace-
ment as a coping mechanism, sig-
naling distress. Other signs of gen-
eral doggy distress include pacing,
hypervigilance, subtle and not so
subtle cowering, furrowed brows,
moving or turning away, often
with whale eye (that’s when the
whites of the eyes show as the
dog gazes at the stressor while his
head faces away), and moving in
slow motion.
Additionally, a dog that refuses
favorite treats is probably dis-
tressed. Dilated eyes are another
sign of distress, and a direct, pro-
longed stare, signaling intense
focus on a subject, may mean a
heightened risk of aggression.
Crisis Respite Center offers haven to get back on track
By PATTI ATKINS
Columbia Pacifi c CCO
On a side street in Warrenton,
there’s a safe haven for people
who are experiencing a mental or
behavioral health crisis.
The North Coast Crisis Respite
Center opened two years ago to pro-
vide a friendly, welcoming place to
help people derailed by mental ill-
ness get their life back on track.
Truly a community collabora-
tion, partners of NCCRC include
Columbia Memorial Hospital,
Providence Seaside Hospital, Clat-
sop Behavioral Health, Greater
Oregon Behavioral Health, Clat-
sop County Health Department
and Columbia Pacifi c Coordinated
Care Organization.
“Rather than try to treat patients
in the local emergency rooms, the
NCCRC is a 16-bed facility that
allows us to help people who are
facing signifi cant mental health
challenges, said Amy Baker, execu-
tive director of Clatsop Behavioral
Health. “We are able to provide
exceptional and compassionate
care for patients on a voluntary
basis. Patients can come and go as
they need and that allows them to
integrate into the community more
easily. Social isolation from com-
munity is terrible for one’s mental
health so having the freedom and
ability to integrate into the com-
munity is so important.
Some of our patients come to
us to step-down from another pro-
gram, like intensive inpatient psy-
chiatric programs and Oregon
State Hospital” Baker added. “Oth-
ers may come from hospital emer-
gency rooms, or from interactions
with police. We work with them to
develop the coping skills and sup-
ports they need to be successful in
the community.”
Behavioral health issues can be
very complex and sometimes dif-
Columbia CCO
fi cult to sort out. The NCCRC pro-
vides an individualized approach
to providing each person with
the help they need. That may be
access to treatment for addic-
tions, developing life skills, fi nd-
ing employment or counseling.
The center is staffed with a con-
sulting psychiatrist with decades
of experience.
“No one chooses to be mentally
M U N I C I PA L M E M O
Is published monthly by the City of Cannon Beach
163 E. Gower Street • P.O. Box 368 • Cannon Beach, OR 97110
(503) 436-1581 • Fax: (503) 436-2050 • TTY (503) 436-8097
DECEMBER 2018
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CITY MANAGER: Bruce St. Denis
Of Interest…
City Council Work Session
5:30 p.m.
DECEMBER 2018
16
City Council Special Work Session
5:30 p.m.
17
Design Review Board
6:00 p.m.
City Hall will be Closed:
20
Planning Commission
6:00 p.m.
Monday/Tuesday December 31st &
January 1st, 2019 in observance of the
New Year Holiday
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING,
December 4, 2018
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7:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
MAYOR: Sam Steidel
COUNCILORS: Mike Benefield,
Nancy McCarthy, Brandon
Ogilvie and George Vetter
15
Council met to discuss the following topics: Council
meetings, lodging tax revenues, emergency
management, the old Cannon Beach Elementary
School property, South Wind property, events,
downtown improvements, housing, Strategic Plan,
arts & environment, the City Hall/Police Station
project & foredune management.
•
City Council Regular Meeting
City Council Special Work Session
ill,” says Baker. “Sometimes you
just need a chance to take a break,
reset and get the services you need
to get going again That’s what we
offer here.”
NCCRC provides health care
for Columbia Pacifi c CCO mem-
bers who are on the Oregon Health
Plan. You can learn more at colpa-
chealth.org or on Facebook at @
ColumbiaPacifi cCCO.
MEETINGS
CITY COUNCIL GOAL SETTING RETREAT,
December 3, 2018
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Avoid scolding or punishing for
these signals; to do so removes a
dog’s options to warn or ask for
help, and these requests and warn-
ings are what keep a dog in com-
munication and out of feeling
forced to protect himself.
The holidays can be over-
whelming. There’s just so much
going on at once. Perhaps this is
why Thanksgiving and Christ-
mas gatherings can end up
scenes of unfortunate incidents
between humans: Bombardment
with multiple stressors can lead
to out-of-character behavior. In
canine behavior we call this phe-
nomenon “trigger stacking,” and
it can lead to a surprising bite or
warning of same even from the
most mellow, non-aggressive
dog. Knowing your dog’s triggers
and not putting him in situations
where he is surrounded by triggers
can help keep the holidays peace-
ful and happy for both of you.
Stack presents, not triggers.
Rain Jordan, KPA CTP, is a
certifi ed dog trainer professional.
Visit her at https://www.elevate-
dogtraining.com.
Adopted Ordinance 18-07; to extend the
Recology solid waste collection & recycling
agreement for two months to finish the new
agreement;
Conducted a public hearing of DRB decision
18-04; regarding the Community Church
landscaping & lighting application. Denied the
appeal of the DRB landscaping decision but
upheld the appeal of the DRB lighting decision.
City staff will work with the applicant’s electrical
to meet City requirements for lighting the
parking lot;
Appointed the following people to serve
second terms; Sharon Clyde to Budget
Committee; Mike Morgan to Design Review
Board; Stacy Benefield to Farmers Market
Committee; Charles Bennett to Planning
Commission; Carolyn Propst & Les Wierson to
Public Works Committee;
Approved the Intergovernmental Agreement
for the City’s participation in the Clatsop
County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards
Mitigation Plan;
Approved an agreement between the City
& Coaster Properties for the granting of
affordable/workforce housing incentives in the
construction of the Sea Lark Apartments;
Approved accepting Oregon Health Authority
grant funds for Cannon Beach Medical Reserve
Corps mass care pediatric supplies purchases;
Adopted the City Manager Evaluation &
granted him a 2.5% merit increase;
Approved making Monday, December 31st a
holiday for City for this year only.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION,
December 11, 2018
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Agreed to not change the new event
application form for the Chamber of
Commerce Sandcastle events as all parties are
satisfied with its content;
Public Works Director La Bonte’ reviewed the
street standards documentation with Council,
made changes to it & will review it again
at a future work session for adoption as an
Ordinance;
Community Development Director Adams gave
a presentation & led a discussion regarding
food carts. Council will not act on changing
the ordinance for food carts at this time but
will be reviewing the city permitted event
requirements, for a possible change to allow
food/merchandise vendors at City sponsored
events & fairs.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK
SESSION,
December 18, 2018
•
Lisa Petterson of SRG Partners, Inc, and
architectural firm presented an update of the
research & costs associated with building a new
City Hall/Police Station. Council will discuss this
again at a special work session on Jan. 9, 2019.
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
The Design Review Board met Dec. 20, 2018 &
discussed.
DRB-18-05 Martin North & the City of Cannon
Beach request modifications to enclose two
generators & a pump house. Approved
DRB 18-03 Inn at Haystack Rock Freestanding Sign
located at 487 S Hemlock Street Approved
DRB 18-04 Inn at Haystack Rock Freestanding Sign
located at 632 S Hemlock Street Approved
PLANNING COMMISSION -
The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet
December 27th at 6pm. To discuss the tree removal
amendment.
Monday January 21st, 2019 in
observance of Martin Luther King, Jr
Day
Beach Volunteers Wanted!
Do you enjoy being outside and sharing
your love of Haystack Rock? No experience
necessary – we train! Families welcome.
Please contact:
Lisa Habecker
Education & Volunteer Coordinator
503.436.8064
habecker@ci.cannon-beach.or.us