While non-University residents may have to pay an extra-fee to receive ultra-high speed internet, the University provides its own network for students living in residence halls, and at all University computer locations.  What’s best is the charge is included with tuition.

Ashley Stover, a recent graduate of the University of Iowa remembers when she moved into the dorms her freshman year and booted up her computer.

“It was so much faster than what I had back home,” said Stover.  “My parents the old-school dial up modem, so it was really slow.  Not to mention it tied up the phone line too, so if I wanted to talk to my boyfriend on the phone, it couldn’t be while anyone else was on the computer.  The only thing I didn’t like about it was I got in trouble for downloading songs, but I can’t blame the University for that one.  I have since started to pay for my music when I got iTunes.”

Rules and Acceptable Policies

A row of computers at the ITC in the Main Library connected to ResNet

While the University network may be extremely fast, there are strict guidelines that users must follow when connecting to the network.  According to the University housing website, the following rules are the acceptable use policy.

• Student is responsible for all activity originating from this connection. Student must take reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized use by others of this connection, and his/her accounts, programs, or data.
• Students should not engage in activities that consume excessive amounts of network bandwidth.
• Student must not modify or extend Residence Hall network services and wiring. This applies to all network wiring, hardware, and in-room jacks. The only device you can connect is a personal computer. You may not connect servers of any type, hubs, or network printers.
• Residence Hall connections are provided for individual use only. Student may not create accounts on his/her computing system that provide campus network access for anyone else.
• Residence Hall connections are for University-related activities only. Student may not conduct a commercial business via the Residence Hall connection.
• Student may not run sniffers or any other software or hardware designed to intercept packets or to disrupt the security or operation of the campus network.
• Student may not participate in illegal activities such as software piracy—either the distribution of copyrighted software or illegal attainment of software or other copyrighted materials—from the Residence Hall connection.
• Student may not host chat lines from computers connected to this network.

Capable of high speeds

According to Jay Ford, Senior Network Engineer of ITS-Telecommunication & Network Services, the network is capable of some extreme speeds.

“I’ll give you four different scenarios and each one has a different speed capability,” said Ford.  “We have speeds up to 10 Gbps externally (to Chicago and Kansas City.)  10 Gbps mesh within the core of the campus network among key routing locations and data centers.  1 Gbps to and within most buildings, and 1 Gbps to most user jacks.”

With speeds this fast, it comes as no surprise that fiber optic technology is utilized within the network.  I discussed earlier how fiber optic works, and how local internet companies are implementing fiber optic, and the University is no different.

“We already use fiber heavily within the network,” said Ford.  “Fiber to edge user devices is not required because we can provide 1 Gbps on copper, which is much cheaper and better supported in user equipment.”

Ford also added that the University’s network is often times faster than Mediacom.

“Our standard user service is 1 Gbps, full-duplex and symmetric,” said Ford.  “Service offered by ISPs like Mediacom and Qwest is usually in the 3-20 Mbps range, usually full-duplex but often slower in one direction than the other.”

However the University does not plan charge users andoffer ResNet as an option for internet service to non-resident hall students like Mediacom does.

Kirk Baruth, Communcations Specialist at the University IT services, said the University pondered the idea, but decided against it.

“We’ve pondered it in the past on a few occasions,” said Baruth, “But delivering network connectivity to off-campus residences gets pretty far afield from our core mission. Instead, we maintain sufficient external connectivity so we don’t have a problem reaching ISPs that do provide residential access.”

While students at the university are not able to access the internet if they are not in a residence hall or the university-based computer, for those that do use the network on a daily basis, the speed of the network is on par and higher than anything else they can get for the price.

Cable-internet is the most popular form of high-speed internet, and there is only one provider in Iowa City – Mediacom.

However there are other forms of high-speed internet that are not cable-based, such as Qwest which provides users with a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) modem and service, or users can test out high-speed satellite internet, although it is much more expensive than cable internet or DSL.

I discussed in my previous story on how fiber-optic technology works — light is reflected through fiber-optic filaments and transmit data.

Cable-based internet uses your coaxial copper cable line that runs to from node to your house for your internet access. A cable modem connects to the Internet via a cable line, and to your wireless modem or computer using either an Ethernet or USB 2.0 cord.

Installation of Fiber-Optic Network

However, recently, Mediacom has installed a massive fiber-optic network that carries information from their main servers and routers out to smaller networks and nodes.  The last part of the information highway is still a copper coaxial cable however, but the fiber rich network allows for more efficient data transformation.

Phyllis Peters, Director of Communications at Mediacom discusses what Mediacom has done with regards to fiber-optic internet technology.

Because of the fiber-rich network that has been created, Mediacom was able to boost internet speeds of all their customers by 50% in 2009.  However, this is just the beginning for high-speed internet in Iowa.

“By the end of 2010, 50-meg speeds will be in half of our households,” said Peters.  “It will be available — you still have to have the one that wants it.  You do have to pay more, and we have to swap out your modem.  The key thing with the 50-meg or 105-meg speed is that’s the download speed.  With 105 your upload is 10, and with 50 your upload is 5.  Now If you’re using our 12 or 15-meg service your upload is one megabyte.  And the change from one-meg upload to five or ten is what many are saying is the most awesome feature.”

A New Age of Internet

“Again, we’re not just downloading things from the internet today like we were in the early days of the internet,” continued Peters.  “We’re uploading things too.  We’re uploading videos to YouTube, putting stuff on Facebook, uploading pictures to Flickr, so there’s no one else in the state that offers 5 and 10-meg upload speed.”

While many college-aged students use the internet for research for papers, or for casual purposes such as interacting with friends via Facebook or downloading music for their iPod, high internet speeds really become beneficial to those in the professional world.

“In Harlan, Iowa, a smaller town of maybe about 7,000-8,000 people, our fiber network connects right there at their hospital,” said Peters,  “So that radiologists and technicians can send huge files and huge amounts of data and all the new medical applications that need high speed broadband.  They can spend it to all the referral places that are within the Iowa Healthy System.  They couldn’t do that if we didn’t have fiber.”

“We had a video producer who could get more work done sharing videos with his clients all over the world in Toronto and California, that he could get more work done at home than he could at his business, because he had such a faster upload speed.”

Internet Will Only Get Faster

This all sounds great, but there must be suitable applications and routers for the high-speeds to impact the users.

This may be a slight problem right now, but as more and more people switch to higher internet speeds rather it be by choice and paying more, or still using the entry level internet that Mediacom has automatically increased, more and more applications will be programmed and designed to allow more efficient data transmission.

“There are still applications that we don’t have our hands on yet, as they are still being developed,” said Glen Reynolds, IP director at Mediacom.  “However we have our new routers that are much more robust and can handle the 50 or 100-meg input.  Every quarter we have to report as a company our financials and customer support, and every quarter we increase n high-speed internet, so that’s a real engine, but that tells you that people are leaving dial-up and DSL.”

Kyle Parkin, a senior at the University of Iowa discussed when he switched from dial-up to broadband.

“It was so much faster,” said Parkin.  “I was used to using AOL, and back around 2001 when we switched to broadband and it was incredible.  I could download stuff probably ten times as fast as before.  Now to hear they have increased the speeds even more, and 50-meg internet will be available, that is awesome for someone like me who downloads a lot of media.”

Some users may not care about higher internet speeds, as they only do simple things on the internet like check their email, or read the news.  However, the internet is evolving quickly, and soon the web-pages containing email, news, and other bits are going to be much larger in file size.

These customers saw their internet speed increase by 50% in 2009, but for those who use the internet for much more demanding purposes such as downloading and uploading video, web-design, or those in the medical field that Peters discussed, higher-internet speeds should be an important issue.  (All photos are non-copyrighted, and available for commercial use)

No one likes sitting at their computer waiting to get the desired result.  Whether it may be uploading a video to Facebook to show friends, or downloading medical records for emergency surgery, increased internet-speeds are something to look forward to.

Behind all the talk of megabytes, uploads, and downloads is the simple means of communication.  Faster internet speeds allow us to communicate with each other more effectively, and in different ways than before, such as high-definition webcasts,  which is a benefit for all parties involved. Take Our Poll

Google embarking on a new project is hardly something new, rather it’s something that seems to go hand-in-hand nowadays.

Fiber Optic Internet

Back in February, Google Inc. announced their plans to launch ultra-high speed internet via fiber optic cables in selected test market cities. Since then the response has been extraordinary. Thousands of communities have submitted applications to Google, in hope that the mega-tech corporation would choose their city as a test market.

“Google is launching an experiment to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations in the United States,” said Minnie Ingersoll, Product Manager on Google’s alternative access team.

That’s sounds great, but what exactly is a fiber optic cable, and what does this technology involve?

What is Fiber Optic Technology?

To simplify, fiber optic technology is a revolutionary way of transferring data via cables. Instead of using a copper wire to transmit data like traditional wires today, fiber optic uses mirrored light – that’s right light — to transmit data much faster and much more efficiently.

Fiber Optic technology uses light to transmit data. (Photo by Lawrence Lawry)

However, Google is not looking to build a nationwide network and become a major player in the internet service provider (ISP) game. Even though Google will not be topping any major ISP’s, this is still great news though for everyone — ranging from the tech-junkie, all the way to the college student who simply wants to be able to download movies off iTunes faster.

“Our goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone,” Ingersoll continued. “We want to see what developers and consumers can do with ultra high-speeds, like creating new bandwidth-intensive “killer apps” and services, or other uses we can’t yet imagine. We also want to test new ways to build fiber networks, and intend to operate an “open access” network.”

Jay Ford, Senior Network Engineer for the University of Iowa ITS-Telecommunication & Network Services, says that fiber optic provides the University with better data transformation than copper.

“It is much more efficient, yes,” said Ford.  “While we still a bit of copper, we have plenty of fiber optic wiring within our network, and it allows us to have a higher optimal flow and less network problems.”

Potential for Iowa City and Surrounding Communities

Iowa City and the surrounding communities saw this as an incredible opportunity, and UI student Karl Taylor started a Facebook group called “Nominate Iowa City for Google Fiber” which currently has over 1,000 members.

The Facebook group also links to the official Google Application site, and also created www.icabc.org — which stands for Iowa City Area Broadband Coalition. Both of these sites are aimed towards representing the Iowa City area and convincing Google to chose Iowa City as a test market.

According to Google, there are many factors that come into play in determining accepted test market cities.

“We’ll use our RFI to identify interested communities and to assess local factors that will impact the efficiency and speed of our deployment,” said Ingersoll. “Such as the level of community support, local resources, weather conditions, approved construction methods and local regulatory issues. We will also take into account broadband availability and speeds that are already offered to users within a community.”

“Above all,” continued Ingersoll, “We’re interested in deploying our network efficiently and quickly, and are hoping to identify interested community partners that will work with us to achieve this goal. We plan to consult with local government organizations, as well as conduct site visits and meet with local officials, before announcing our final decision.”

One thing that stands out to me, is when Ingersoll says, “We will also take into account broadband availability and speeds that are already offered to users within a community.”

It is no secret that Iowa City’s internet speeds are quite low, and as a state, Iowa has one of the lowest internet speeds across the nation. This may help boost the application of Iowa City, along with community support.

Since March 26, applications are no longer being accepted by Google, but during the six-week period in which applications were accepted, the turnout was great for Iowa City.

A map shows the turnout of applications submitted, and although Iowa City doesn’t have the largest area, the turnout was great given the population ratio compared to a city or region such as San Diego.

But out of all the cities that accepted applications, why would Google choose Iowa City?

“The Iowa City area is an advertiser’s wet dream,” said Taylor. “You’ve got a dynamic community of 18-25 year olds — the age bracket everyone wants a piece of. The area is home to a number of entities (corporate and otherwise) that work very closely with “big-name” spenders, like the Federal Government. Our approaches to education are of global notoriety. There’s a nice balance of traditional and modern American paradigms amongst citizens–there’s even a mixture of rural and urbanized environments.“

While Google has not made an announcement on the city(ies) that they have chosen as a test market, those from Iowa City and the surrounding communities must feel that they have a decent chance to be picked. While it will be doubtful to be the only city picked, Google may very well pick multiple cities as test markets, and Iowa City could indeed be one of the cities picked.

“I would love it if Iowa City was picked,” said Kelly Wadell a Computer Science major at the University of Iowa.  “Fiber Optic internet would allow us to tap into immense potential as far as the digital world is concerned.  The speed and efficiency of data transformation would be incredible to experience at your home PC.”

While we are left to play the waiting game on the official word from Google, residents of Iowa City and the surrounding communities should feel like they have as decent of a shot as any to be selected by Google.

Religion Among Biology Students

Both agree that, even among people who value science very highly, there’s a wide spectrum of belief. “There are plenty of biology students who are really religious, even ones who believe in evolution,” Ajluni said.  “It doesn’t have to be one way or the other, but it does influence the way you think. {Studying biology} has definitely added to my experience. Learning more about how the world works has influenced my outlook.”

Hashmi elaborates on his own personal beliefs. “Rather than science being against religion, it’s more of an explanation. In my view, that’s all science really is. An explanation, not a challenge.”

The Dividing Line

Ajluni believes that there are some things that cannot be explained by science alone, but doesn’t know where the line should be drawn. “I don’t know what science ‘should’ explain or what religion ‘should’ explain, but they both have their place.”

Hashmi stands on similar ground, albeit better defined. “Science can explain everything to the limits of what human beings can discover. Beyond the limitations of human explanation, that’s where religion comes in. “

A Moral Compass

Their views differ somewhat in the role that religion takes in modern scientific debates. Hashmi believes that religion provides a strong and useful moral voice.  “I believe that when religious people involve themselves in scientific discussions, they’re drawing the line for human limitations. Morally, I think that when very religious people get involved, they have a very valid point to make.” According to Hashmi, sometimes the urge to be advance the frontiers of our knowledge can cloud a person’s thinking.  “With research, sometimes people forget what we’re actually physically doing, and just think about what we can achieve from it. These people aren’t asking us to stop progress, they’re just asking if there’s not a less questionable way to achieve it. “

Ajluni thinks that religion plays a more ambiguous role in current scientific discussions. “{Religious commentators} are entitled to their moral opinions on what is right, but a lot of the time, these people just don’t know what they’re talking about in terms of science. Some of them have good arguments based on good data, but a lot of them don’t. “Ajluni is more focused on the ultimate ends than the means. “I wish they would look at the results, the possible benefits of research like stem cells or cloning. But a lot of the discussion is shaped by politics, more than any real health or moral issues.”

A False Dichotomy

Maybe the conflict between science and religion is a false one. It might be necessary to recognize that there is a disconnect between the study of science or religion, and the political issues that arise from those studies. Hashmi believes that the historical conflict between religion and science is really just the byproduct of power struggles unrelated to either discipline. “I actually think the strife between science and religion is politically-based. When Galileo said that the earth wasn’t the center of the universe, it was challenging the church’s authority. Since it was against their beliefs, it discredited them. It’s about power. It’s a way of challenging power, rather than anything fundamental about science or religion.”

The Iowa City community has been facing some huge issues concerning diversity.
First the idea of the high schools district lines being redrawn, and secondly a new Chief Diversity officer at the University of Iowa.
The Chief Diversity Officer will be the figure head of diversity at the University and something that all candidates agree on is the fact that they cannot solve Iowa’s issue with diversity by themselves.
“Don’t hire me and expect wipe your hands and say now this is your problem…cause it won’t work.” Said candidate Terryl Ross Director for Community and Diversity.
A big part of solving the diversity issue in Iowa City as well as the University of Iowa is having the community behind the issue.
Katherine Betts Assistant Director of Diversity Programs of Cultural Centers believes that the community plays a pivotal role in increasing diversity here at Iowa.
“The community must be accepting of diverse students…and I think that’s something that many students don’t feel in the community. I mean just look at the issues of our high schools.”
With the Iowa City community and the University of Iowa so closely connected if diversity is failing in one it is most likely failing in the other.
Rene Rocha a professor at the University of Iowa thinks that in order to change the diversity in the Iowa City community, kids must be introduced at a young age to different cultures.
Rocha believes, “that many students come from Iowa with this lack of cultural acceptance simply because they are not exposed to it in their hometowns.”
In order for the diversity problem to be solved officials believe that diverse students that come into the high schools or even the University must feel that they have some type of cohesiveness with one another as well as their environment.
Nicole Nisly the Interim Chief Diversity Officer believes this to be an important part of any successful diversity program.
“If students come in and don’t feel they have someone there to rely on, they aren’t going to stick around,” said Nisly “there has to be some level of acceptance and cohesiveness between the students and the community.”
The question then becomes who will become an example of a successful diversity program first the University of Iowa or the Iowa City high schools?
Nisly said, “It’s going to take a lot of time, nothing is going to happen overnight. The state is 90 percent white, its going to take a lot patience and persistence on everyone’s part.
And this is something Chief Diversity officer candidate Ross believes in also.
“We have to be prepared for the long run, sure there are going to be bumps in the road and the true test will be where we stand after we hit those bumps.”

Even with given these historical upsets, gender is still a topic that’s very entrenched in the modern system of higher education. There remains a clear division between the majors that men and women choose.  Math and hard sciences are still seen as men’s work, while liberal arts and communication draw more women. How can these divisions still exist as more and more women seek college degrees? And what is it like to be a male student in an increasingly female-dominated undergraduate population?

Any males reading this article should pay close attention to the words of Douglas Buchan and Jared Proctor. They are two of 57 males in the college or nursing at UI, a department with 697 total undergraduates. As women continue to gain ground on men in the world of academia, the collegiate experiences of Buchan and Proctor will become closer and closer to the norm.

Socialized into No Man’s Land

How can the gender gap within college majors remain steady even as the proportion of women to men keeps increasing? The answer probably goes far beyond biology. “There are a couple of biological differences between men and women. Psychologists have looked for like 200, and out of those 200 they find five or six,” said Sociology Professor Steven Hitlin. “Men are better at spatial relations- type of things. Of course, men play with toys when their boys that help teach them that kind of stuff. Women are a little bit more verbal by the time they are adults, but they’re also reinforced for that. For the most part, we’re pretty similar, and it’s all a bunch of stereotypes.”

Most CEO’s are male, most social workers are female. Because of this, we raise our boys to grow up to be CEOs and our girls to be social workers. Because the next generation of CEOs will be mostly men, most of the children raised to be CEOs will be boys. Because these stereotypes have been entrenched for so long, we end up applying “masculine” or “feminine” qualities to a profession no matter how arbitrary the label might be.  “You start confusing the position… with the gender who’s in that position,” Hitlin said. “A lot of this is unconscious, but it shapes the way you perceive the world.”

To transcend these gender roles requires some combination of strength, self-assuredness, and nose-thumbing defiance.   “I am a free thinker that is open to looking at opportunities beyond their face value, “Proctor says. “{I} feel that I see the world from a different, less-tainted, viewpoint.” Having experience with independent women may also make it easier for Proctor to work in No Man’s Land. “I was raised by a single mother from a young age and that has helped me to move beyond a lot of gender biases. I feel a little more in tune with women than most men, and I don’t have any hesitations {about} being around women as co-workers or superiors.”

Proctor’s Zen-like musings are nicely counterbalanced by Buchan’s no-nonsense approach. “I don’t care about stigmas,” Buchan says, “and I don’t put up with BS either.”

Why Work, Anyway?

There also seem to be differences in the criteria that men and women use to evaluate job opportunities. While there aren’t many biological differences between men and women, there’s one big one that affects how we choose our careers. That undeniable, concrete difference is the ability to bear children. “Women, I think, in our country are socialized to want to be mothers. Sometimes, then, women choose career paths that allow them to juggle children and work,” Hitlin said. “Other countries have different ideas about who should stay home more, making it easier for both men and women to stay home without a penalty going back into work. Society could make it so that it’s easier to have kids and go back {to their careers}, in which case women might not have to choose their jobs the same way.”

According to Hitlin, men tend to choose their careers based off of the monetary rewards available. “Men are more likely to select into the jobs and majors that are better paying, and for whatever reason, we reward math and science more,” said Hitlin. “Math and science are things that men are told they’re supposed to be good at all throughout their lives, even though women do better in school. So men go into these majors, and they get these higher-paying jobs, and men have more status and money.”

Thus, people who don’t want their lives to revolve around work might be drawn to traditionally female majors. “I love that I’ll be free to practice medicine and still be able to carry out a life with a strong family focus,” Proctor says. “As long as I can pay my bills and provide for my family I’ll be happy.”

The Classroom’s Odd Man Out

There are differences between the behavior of males and females in the classroom from the very beginning of their academic careers. “Boys get more attention, good and bad. Boys seem to think they’re more entitled to attention. They’re less concerned about what people think of them,” Hitlin said. “By the time you’re in college, that stuff has been around for a long time, and it’s going to seem natural.” But, in a situation where men are in the vast majority, the tables could turn. If the topic of discussion is considered an area of female expertise, women will talk more and men will get crowded out.

Being the only person who’s different in an otherwise homogenous classroom is going to affect your educational experience, no matter what criteria you use. “If you know that you’re the only person from Iowa in the class and everyone else is from Illinois, you’re going to feel a little different,” said Hitlin. “It’s just a very human thing; we tend to notice who’s like us and who’s not.”

Proctor thinks that the overwhelming gender gap in his major might affect the type of communication going on in the classroom. “I feel that instructors in the field, at least at an entry level, seem more attuned to women,“ he said, mentioning that “it can be a little difficult for men to grasp at first.

Buchan had similar sentiments. “In the pre-nursing classes I have had, the teachers … spent class time with fluff and feel-good bogus. We spent two lectures going through the lecture hall introducing ourselves,” Buchan said.  “The girls in the class were fine with it while they texted away. The guys in the class, all four out of a hundred of us, were mumbles and grumbles about the waste of time.”

Buchan also acknowledges that being outnumbered by women makes him alter his interactions with his peers. “Really there is a challenge in watching what you say, what you do. You can’t be ‘One of the Guys’ in a group of females. But this isn’t unique. Females have been doing this since they entered the job market.”

Proctor also makes it clear that, even with the difficulties he faces, he has it easy by comparison. “I really feel that gender biases have only really been hurtful to women in the past, and that women entering a ‘man’s’ field have the real challenges or preconceived notions to hurdle.”

There may even be a few upsides to being the only swinging bachelor in the nursing program. “You can’t be surrounded by women all day and not get a better feel for how they act,” Buchan says.  “Plus with all the whining and moaning about husbands and boyfriends, you get a good long list of things not to do.”

Putting Up With Our BS

The gender gap in college majors is never just going to disappear overnight. Women were not welcome in institutions of higher learning before 1848.  It’s taken over a century for the college enrollment levels to swing in women’s favor. Not only is that, but the division of labor by gender as close to a universal human phenomenon as you are likely to find.

So, as always, change will be slow and laborious. But always remember, you and I are the ultimate source of the BS that Proctor and Buchan refuse to put up with.  By being more aware of the social forces that push the genders in different directions, we can work alleviate the burden associated with taking that big step across the gender gap. By educating ourselves and maintaining open minds, we help ensure that the female engineers and male nurses of our future will have to put up with less BS than their contemporary counterparts.

For a look at some more major-specific issues, click here.

When you are in the process of purchasing a puppy or a dog, sometimes it is good to hear what others have to say about their own experiences. Here are a few stories to help you gain some perspective as to what dog and resources might be right for you.

Erin McMahon and Jaxson

Erin got Jaxson, her miniature dachshund from Grundy Center at Century Farm Puppies. She decided to go with a

breeder because she wanted to try and raise a puppy at eight weeks at least once in her life. Another reason she wanted to find a breeder is because she wanted a miniature dachshund and those are hard to come by unless you come across particular breeders.

When she began her puppy hunt, she looked at a lot of different places, mostly around Dyersville, Iowa. She found that most of those breeders only had one litter at a time and many puppies were already sold before she could see them.

After she brought Jaxson home, she didn’t notice any major health issues until he started vomiting frequently. She took him to the veterinarian and it turned out he was eating food that didn’t agree with his digestive system. Other than that, he had no main health issues.

Erin abhors puppy mills and thinks they are a terrible thing.

“I am appalled that these people will do anything to dogs to make a little extra money with no concern to the dog’s health,” says Erin. “I have never had personal experiences with puppy mills, but I have seen a dog that was at a puppy mill. She had no teeth, was scared to death at any sudden movements or loud sounds, and she had a number tattooed on her stomach. Sad!”

Erin does have some advice for those who are looking to buy a new furry friend.

“Make sure you know everything there is to know about the breed of dog you are choosing and make sure it is a breed that fits your lifestyle,” she says. Certain breeds need certain things and you will probably not be able to change that.”

Erika Tahmasebi and Lucy

Erika Tahmasebi, a University of Iowa alumni who graduated in 2008, took a different route when finding her true love, Lucy, a maltese-shih tzu mix. Lucy is short for Lucille Lucius Vorenus Bluth and she is now 4 years old.

Lucy caught Erika’s eye when she gazed at her through the glass window at Petland one day in March of 2006. Erika used to go to the humane society to play with the animals and would always get upset and leave in tears. Her friend took her to Petland to play with the animals there, thinking she wouldn’t feel guilty when she left.

The second she set her eyes on the little maltese-shih tzu mix, she feel in love and purchased her that night. She says there was something about her that made Erika had to have her. The fact she was from Petland made her think twice about purchasing her.

“My whole life I have been against puppy mills and had always gotten my animals from either breeders (the dog I had as a child, Sophie, a Scottish terrier) or humane society (two cats, Oliver and Kirby),” Erika says. “I think puppy mills are disgusting and when I think about all of the wonderful and perfectly fine dogs at shelters without homes, I feel incredibly guilty for choosing an animal from a store. That being said, I love my dog more than anything, and I absolutely do not regret purchasing Lucy. But I know my future dogs will be from either an animal shelter or breeder– most likely a shelter.”

Lucy did not have any health issues and Erika feels very lucky about that. She advises other puppy-seekers to go another route than she did.

“Please don’t go the route I did. The first place you should look to find a pet are the animal shelters in your area,” she says. “Do your research on what kind of dog(s) you not only want but fit your lifestyle. If you have no yard, don’t get a large, active dog. If you want a friend to go running with, don’t get a poodle. Your dog should be a part of your family– he or she will love you unconditionally, so make sure you are prepared to do the same. Thousands of dogs abandoned every day by irresponsible pet owners, so please make sure you are ready for a commitment before you bring an animal into your home.”

Amy Braun and Loki

Amy Braun, the pet counselor from Petland in one of the previous stories, wanted a breed that most pet shops don’t carry. She wanted a pit bull, a breed that many fear because of its “dangerous” nature. She currently has one dog, Loki, who is a mix between a pit bull and a mastiff/Chesapeake bay retriever.

Her first pit bull, Killian, was from Animal Control in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“I wanted to feel comfortable living by myself and nobody was going to mess with me. I wanted a pit bull because they are huge and nobody will mess with them,” she says. She does think that pit bulls are some of the sweetest dogs underneath all that stigma.

She let a friend take care of her dog, Killian while she was in Germany for a year and after many attempts of trying to reach her friend, she found out her dog died three days before returning to the United States. Apparently her friend allowed another friend to watch the dog and she had gotten into some antifreeze. She was taken to a vet the next morning, but didn’t survive.

When she returned to the states, she went on the dog hunt again. She wanted another pit bull, but had trouble finding one. All the breeders she looked at seemed sketchy except those that lived in Louisiana, Idaho or Ohio. Luckily she knew what to look for when searching for a breeder. She noticed that many of the puppies weren’t checked over by a vet or didn’t include any papers according to the Web sites. They also didn’t come with warranties and the breeders didn’t ask Amy any important questions that she expected.

“For a solid pit bull I was planning on paying $1000-1500 dollars,” says Amy. “Pit bulls for $200 are sketchy. If you are selling them for that cheap, there has to be something wrong. Most pit bulls run $700-1500.”

She ended up finding Loki, her current dog, from Cedar Valley Humane Society in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Loki is a mix and wasn’t what Amy was looking for at the time, but she fell in love with him. He didn’t have any major health issues. Loki does have a chronic ear infection in one of his ears, but compared to all the other things he could have, Amy considers it to be nothing.

Amy is appreciative of the way Cedar Valley Humane Society handled everything when she was adopting Loki.

“Before they send your puppy home with you, they make sure the dog is kept up to date with vaccinations,” says Amy. “They fix the puppies if they aren’t fixed before they go home with you and are excited to send a puppy home with a new owner.”

As a pet counselor, Amy has offered many helpful tips to people seeking a new pet. Her advice when thinking about purchasing a new dog is to:

“Sit down and make a list of what you want in a dog. Go through everything. Do you want him to be super intelligent, super playful, really friendly with people, a protector dog, etc.? Different breeds fit different desires. Does your lifestyle match up for the breed? Really do your research.”

Please take a look at the slideshow of some of these adorable  lil’ doggies! (Photos were contributed by dog owners).

So what should you take away from these other people’s experiences?

Different people are better with certain breeds. Research what specific temperaments would be a good match for you and don’t base your decision on how a dog may look. You may think a Golden retriever is gorgeous, but if you live in a tiny downtown apartment and can’t take him/her on walks, you are going to run into some trouble.

Not only should you research the breed, but where you intend to get the dog from. Meet with an animal shelter, breeder or pet store owner a few times before you make your decision. Ask questions about the facilities. Make sure they ask you questions. Pay attention to how they treat the purchase – is the puppy they are something they are trying to get rid of and get their cash or do they take a genuine interest in the puppy’s wellbeing with you?

It is rewarding when you find the dog that is right for you. With all these new tips and things to watch out for, I wish you only the best when searching for a new furry companion!

Click on the following links to read more about Puppy Shopping and Puppy Health Issues.

*Disclaimer: The dog photographed above is not a puppy mill dog and is only used for purposes of visual enhancement of the story. Photo by Nawaar Farooq

Health Issues Associated with Puppy Mill Dogs
by Nawaar Farooq

According to the Iowa Voters for Companion Animals, puppy mill dogs are often subject to terrible conditions that can lead to many health complications in their lives. Some of these conditions include:

• overcrowding in small wire cages or makeshift enclosures
• stacking of crates so that dog excrement falls from higher crates to lower ones
• no nurturing human contract, socialization, or veterinary care
• exposure to climate extremes in buildings with poor ventilation and temperature control
• rarely taken out of cages except for breeding purposes
• bred every heat cycle until their bodies wear out or they develop other health issues
• “disposed of” when they can no longer reproduce – sometimes they are shot, abandoned, or in rare cases, relinquished to animal rescue organizations.

Veterinary technician Jesse Henderkoff from Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails Veterinary Clinic in Iowa City has seen many dogs in her day and knows what signs to watch out for when purchasing a new pup. She gave me a rundown of some common problems that puppies face, especially those that are bred and raised in puppy mills.

Henderkoff lists the following issues as symptoms and conditions you should watch out for when buying a new puppy:

• BREATHING COMPLICATIONS: An elongated soft palate will interfere with a dog’s breathing. As the surviving mill dogs grow older, they are more prone to developing respiratory ailments and pneumonia.

• CONJUNCTIVITIS: The membrane that lines the inner sides of the eyeball up to the cornea is called the conjunctiva. If it becomes infected, you’ll notice a discharge from the corner of the dog’s eye. The discharge may be clear and watery or opaque and thick. Typically this is the result of a bacterial infection. Your veterinarian can give you the best diagnosis.

• GIARDIA/PARASITES: Though an infection with Giardia is not initially fatal to your dog’s health, it can develop into a very serious condition. These parasites are found in dirty or contaminated water. Since the Giardia organisms interfere with the normal absorption of your dog’s food, this can result in malnutrition, weight loss, and other serious symptoms. In addition to this, due to the frequent diarrhea that most dogs experience when infected with Giardia, a dog may also become severely dehydrated.

• HEART MURMURS: A heart murmur is one of several types of abnormal sounds your veterinarian can hear when listening to your pet’s heart with a stethoscope.  Normally, two distinct sounds are heard when listening to the heart of a normal dog. This is normally caused by a turbulent blood flow. Hearing a heart murmur during a routine physical examination will often be the first hint to your veterinarian that your pet has heart disease. This is not something to panic about, but you should get checked out regularly.

• HIP DYSPLASIA: In dogs, a femur that does not fit correctly into the pelvic socket, or poorly developed muscles in the pelvic area. Large and giant breeds are susceptible to hip dysplasia, and a few smaller breeds suffer from it. In dogs, the problem almost always appears by the time the dog is 18 months old. Dogs might exhibit signs of stiffness or soreness after rising from rest, reluctance to exercise, bunny-hopping or other abnormal gait (legs move more together when running rather than swinging alternately), lameness, pain, reluctance to stand on rear legs, etc. Some dogs do recover, although it can be problematic as the dog gets older.

• KENNEL COUGH: Also known as canine tracheobronchitis, kennel cough refers to a highly contagious class of viral and bacterial ailments which spreads rapidly among dogs in close quarters, such as in a pet store or veterinarian. Both viral and bacterial agents play a role in the complex, much as in human bronchitis, making the syndrome difficult to diagnose. Once kennel cough has been contracted, the treatment course is much as it is for humans with similar infections. Antibiotics are prescribed if bacterial causes are determined, as well as a week or so of naptime in a freshly scrubbed room away from other dogs.

• LUXATING PATELLA: The patella is the bone we know as the knee cap. A groove in the end of the femur allows the patella to glide up and down when the knee joint is bent back and forth. In so doing, the patella guides the action of the quadriceps muscle in the lower leg. The patella also protects the knee joint. In some dogs, because of malformation or trauma, the ridges forming the patellar groove are not prominent, and a too-shallow groove is created. In a dog with shallow grooves, the patella will luxate (jump out of the groove) sideways, especially toward the inside. This causes the leg to ‘lock up’ with the foot held off the ground. Smaller breeds of dogs have the highest incidence of patella luxation.

• NEUROLOGICAL/SOCIALIZATION DISORDERS: Due to the frequently poor breeding conditions in puppy mills, puppies bred there often suffer from health and/or social problems. Puppies raised in a cramped environment shared by many other dogs become poorly socialized to other dogs and to humans. Dogs are then transported over long distances in poor conditions, sometimes resulting in animal stress and death.

• OVERBITES/UNDERBITES: Puppies and dogs with overbites and underbites may need to have dental surgery because the Constant contact between upper and lower incisors can cause uneven wear, periodontal disease, and early tooth loss.  Many times the tips of the teeth are shaved off or the problematic teeth are removed altogether.

• PARVOVIRUS: Parvovirus is a viral disease of dogs. It affects puppies much more frequently than it affects adult dogs. The virus likes to grow in rapidly dividing cells. The intestinal lining has the biggest concentration of rapidly dividing cells in a puppy’s body. The virus attacks and kills these cells, causing diarrhea (often bloody), depression and suppression of white blood cells — which come from another group of rapidly dividing cells. In very young puppies it can infect the heart muscle and lead to “sudden” death. Vaccinations usually are given at around 2-3 weeks and after the first series of shots, puppies are given boosters every 2 weeks until they are around 13 weeks old.

• UNHEALTHY COAT: What a dog looks like on the outside is likely an indication of what is going on in the inside. If a dog’s coat is matted, dull or has an unkempt appearance, chances are that the animal is unhealthy and should be looked at by a veterinarian. The dog may need more fatty acids and nutrients in its diet than what it is getting.

These are just some of the symptoms and conditions that puppies and dogs from puppy mills might exhibit. Other puppies born in normal conditions may have these conditions as well, but these are just some of the most prevalent ones found in puppy mill puppies. There is no reason these dogs and puppies should be subject to these conditions. The new legislation regarding puppy mills should be very beneficial in curbing many of these commercial breeding facilities where dogs are produced for quantity and profit.

Click on the following links to read more about Puppy Shopping and Experiences of Dog Owners.

Photo by Nawaar Farooq

How many times have we gone to a pet store and seen the perfect little puppy look up at us with those inviting eyes saying “Please take me home?”

I know I’ve been there. I go to the pet shop and I want to play with at least four puppies, two of which I normally contemplate taking home with me. In fact, one time I did do just that.

However, there are many things to consider when buying a puppy. They aren’t just something you can toss to the side when you get bored with them. They need attention and care, just like us.

When you are considering getting a puppy, you should know about where you are buying from. Many people think they know the right answer when the go looking for a pet. Purchasing puppies and dogs without having any idea of their background and history can be dangerous and you might wind up with a dog from a puppy mill.

What is a puppy mill, you ask? A puppy mill is pretty much like a farm for dogs, and not one of those cozy, homey ones. It is more like one of those giant cattle farms where the cows are mass bred to be slaughtered for your dinner at night. Not a very pretty sight. What’s especially scary is that Iowa has the third largest number of puppy mills in the nation with more than 400 facilities.

To be an educated puppy buyer, you must know where you can get dogs. There are three main places that most people look. These include pet shops/commercial kennels, breeders and animal shelters.

After talking to many people about where they buy their puppies and talking to people who sell puppies, I’ve come up with a list of things you can expect when you go to each of these places seeking a pooch. Keep in mind that all of these can be viable resources if you do your research and pay attention to some vital signs.

BREEDERS

Many people like seeking breeders when looking for a new pet. Breeders can be tricky. Some breeders are essentially mass breeding through puppy mills and they have Websites that look amazing. People can get fooled by these Web sites and assume that these are reputable breeders. However, really they are just puppy factories waiting to ship out many litters to whoever will take them.

So how do you tell if your breeder is a good one that you can trust? Here is a list of things you should look for when getting a puppy from a breeder according to pet counselor Amy Braun from Iowa City.

• Good breeders ask a lot of personal questions. They might ask who you live with, how many hours you work,
  

  Photo by Nawaar Farooq

  what your housing is like and what kind of guests you normally have. They want to know this so they know that the puppies they are offering go to good, safe homes where they will have a good life. If your breeder doesn’t ask you questions about yourself, stay away!

• Good breeders will often provide a warranty or guarantee of some kind. The best breeders will offer lifetime guarantees, but even if you are offered one for a year or a few months, it is a good sign.
• If for some reason you absolutely cannot keep your dog, a good breeder will take back the dog, even if they didn’t actually breed the dog. Many good breeders are also involved with rescuing whatever types of dog they breed. This isn’t a surefire way to tell if your breeder is a good guy, but it definitely earns them some points.

If you are getting a purebred puppy, Krista Mifflin from About.com says there are a few things that should be included and that you should pay attention to. These are:

• A pedigree that goes back a few generations (usually three)
• Any titled champions within the first two generations (parents/grandparents of puppy)
• OFA certified hips and elbows
• Eyes have been CERFed and don’t have genetic abnormalities
• Care and grooming information
• Right of refusal, if you need to give up the dog for any reason
• Puppies should be healthy and socialized with humans that adjusts well to others being around

Porter Jack, a beautiful dog up for adoption at the Adoption Center, Photo by Nawaar Farooq

ANIMAL SHELTER/CITY ADOPTION CENTER

Another option when purchasing a new pup is to go through a local animal shelter. Iowa City has one called the Animal Care & Adoption Center.

Maggie Winegarden, a temporary animal center assistant at the City of Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center has been working there for two years and thinks animal shelters are a great resource when looking for a new pet.

“These animals already exist and are in need of a home,” she says. “Breeders and pet shops encourage more litters when there are already many animals in need of a home.”

Why not adopt a dog that already exists instead of constantly trying to produce new ones?

Here are a few of the other reasons she gave as to why people should look to animal shelters when looking for a new furry companion.

• These animals already exist and are in need of a permanent, loving home.
• Breeders and pet shops encourage more litters, which can lead to more dogs ending up in the shelter or with people who can’t take care of them. -
• Puppy mills are rampant in Iowa. When you go to a breeder or pet shop and don’t do your research, you may end up with an unhealthy, unsocialized dog that will cause you more problems in the long run.
• When you get a dog from the animal shelter, you have a history of where they are from and a good idea of what their health is and any behaviors they exhibit. Their temperament is thoroughly tested. When you get really young puppies it is harder to tell sometimes. You can’t usually tell a puppy’s personality until they are about 6 months old.
• Volunteers at the adoption center constantly work with puppies to be socialized (if they are not already) and are taught basic commands. You usually can’t assume that when buying from any breeder or pet shop.
• The adoption center also offers financial assistance for spaying/neutering to prevent having any unwanted litters.

Please view the following video to see some of the current dogs up for adoption at the adoption center in Iowa City:

PET SHOPS/COMMERCIAL KENNELS

Another option that you can look to (but might want to be wary) of is purchasing a puppy from a pet shop. There have been rumors that many commercial kennels take puppies from puppy mills and because of that pet shops have received a bad rap. Of course, this isn’t always true, and with any situation, it is the consumer’s responsibility to do their research before taking on such a hefty responsibility.

I have purchased a puppy from a pet shop and haven’t had any issues so far, but I was as careful as I could be when I did.

There are local pet stores and franchise pet stores. Both can have a great pet waiting for you inside and some can have sick animals. You should never buy a pet on impulse, no matter how cute they are. Instead, make sure you get the breeder history (if possible), so you know what breeder the puppies came from.

Pet Counselor Amy Braun used to work at Petland in Iowa City. She knows about the stigma attached to Petland and its rumored association with puppy mills.

“ With how much they are talking about puppy mills in the news, it leads the viewer to believe that puppy mills are around every corner,” she says.

Amy doesn’t believe that is the case and supports buying puppies from pet shops like Petland.

“Just because we are a pet store doesn’t mean we have puppies from puppy mills. Puppy mill puppies have health issues and aren’t socialized with people. Our puppies are well groomed and in general they love being around people and other dogs. We have warranties to back up each puppy. We will pay for veterinary bills regarding hereditary issues that occur within the year [up to the puppy’s’ cost]. Puppy mill puppies generally have hereditary issues, Petland puppies usually do not. You can also exchange puppies if necessary,” says Amy. “We would be completely out of business if we weren’t doing right thing.”

You can expect higher prices at pet shops. They have to make a profit, after all. If you do buy a puppy from a pet store, you should be offered the following:

• Initial vet records and check-up
• Warranty of some kind
• Microchipping in case your pet gets lost

Take a look at what Allie Brunn, the general manager of Petland has to say about her pet shop in the video below (I apologize for the shakiness, I didn’t have a tripod with me):

Hopefully that has given you some insight as to what to look for when you are on the hunt for a new pet. Just remember to do your research and don’t buy the first puppy you see. Each of these places can help find a healthy puppy/dog a new home, but it is up to you as a smart consumer to decide which resource is right for you.

Click on the following links to read more about Experiences of Dog Owners and Puppy Health Issues.

Earth Day Meeting

The event, held on April 22 at the Iowa City Public Library, featured four local guest speakers and felt more like PR for the Iowa City Sierra Club than an event that was supposed to inform the audience of what they can do to help.

Including the guest speakers, 22 people were in attendance, scattered through a meeting room that was set up to seat well over 50.

The topics ranged from a history of Earth Day, energy conservation and a student perspective on environmental causes. The event ended 30 minutes earlier than scheduled, concluding with a poem, read by North Central Junior High Student, Amy Shun.

Not a word was spoken regarding the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The most interesting speech was delivered by Abbie Gruwell, an intern at Sustainability at Iowa.

Regarding recycling and maintaining a healthy eco-footprint, Gruwell said, “This is the issue of my generation. At this point, it isn’t even an option … we don’t get to choose, it just has to be done.”

She added that students do show initiative to recycle if given the option. I couldn’t help but wonder if she’s ever been on campus the weekend after finals when myriads of recyclables are tossed into dumpsters and furniture abandoned on curbs.

Gruwell also attended the Copenhagen Climate Summit held earlier this year. I wondered how much the jet fuel calculated into her eco-footprint.

Cynicism aside (I had just spoken with anti-recycler, Mike Sammons) Gruwell spoke of great ideas for Iowa City: Namely, a bike-exchange program that would allow students to rent bikes from the Bike Library for a specified amount of time.

During the meeting, Conservation Chair of the Iowa City Sierra Club, Jim Baker, (who made it clear that, yes his name is Jim Bake and no, he is not a convicted televangelist) applauded Environmental Advocates, the longest lasting environmental group in Iowa City for its 30 years of dedication to such issues as; yard pesticides and curbside pick-up for recycling.

Outside of the Meeting Room

Upon conclusion of the meeting, we filtered outside, where Iowa City was hosting RiverFeast. Could there be a more appropriate day for local businesses to peddle food to residents while disposing high volumes of Styrofoam, paper and plastic utensils?

To put the cherry on the sundae, many of the items were set adrift in the April breeze, sent to drift aimlessly through the community. On Earth Day!

I couldn’t help but wonder how those at the meeting genuinely felt that they were making a difference when, the moment they left the meeting room, they were confronted with the waste of their community.

For more on Iowa City Recycling, check out Recycling: A Waste of Time? and Reckless Abandon: The Sad Truth of Recycling in Iowa City