'Dogtoberfest' celebrates power of pets

COEUR d’ALENE — Pets and people keep Marty Becker on the run.

It’s ‘the bond” — that special connection between folks and their furry friends — that helps fuel that drive.

Becker, known as “America’s Veterinarian” and from Bonners Ferry, was a special guest at Saturday’s Dogtoberfest fundraiser for the Kootenai Humane Society adoption center at the Coeur d’Alene Pet Resort.

“I just love people and pets and don’t think of myself as a celebrity,” Becker said in between signing his books, visiting attendees and admiring dogs. “I’m here to celebrate the bond and the healing power of pets.

“There’s only one greatest pet in the world, and everybody has it.”

Becker appears on “Good Morning America” and “The Dr. Oz Show” — that’s where he got his title — and has had more than 8 million copies of his 22 books sold.

“When I say my prayers, I say that I want to help pets, people and problems,” Becker said.

He loves to pamper pets.

One of his key messages for owners to save on vet bills is more frequent bathing, saying that will reduce skin problems.

“Dogs need to be bathed once a week,” he said, adding that he noticed multiple dogs with such problems at the fundraiser. “They’re a dust mop on four legs.”

Daily oral care and keeping animals at or near their ideal body weight are also critical to good health, he said.

He used his daughter Mikkel Becker’s pug Bruce as an example.

“Everybody thinks he’s a puppy, but he’s 8 years old,” said Becker, who also practices veterinary medicine at Lakewood Animal Hospital in Coeur d’Alene.

Becker said he wants to make going to the veterinarian “fear-free” for owners and their animals. Regular vet exams helps in that regard.

“There’s no substitute for annual vet visits,” he said.

Becker said keeping your pets healthy pays dividends due to an array of benefits the animals can bring, ranging from elevating moods to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

When owners are scratching their head about issues their pet is going through, Becker recommended vetstreet.com.

“All of the information there has been created or reviewed by veterinarians,” he said.

Sue Jones of Worley took her great dane Sisco to Dogtoberfest to meet Becker and donate dog food to the KHS. Sisco was entered in the costume contest with a Mardis Gras outfit.

“It’s good for the dogs to socialize,” she said. “He really doesn’t like to dress up, but he tolerates it. He’s a good sport about it.”

Jamie Rosteck of Sandpoint brought her 9-month-old German shepherd Jack for some training with Mikkel, who is also an author and videographer. Despite a lot of activity around the business, Jack showed promise with the training, Rosteck said.

“He’s pretty social,” she said. “I’ve been trying to get him to shake. He did pretty well and this was a good first step.”

Becker, who was raised around a variety of animals on a dairy farm, has a heart for animals in shelters needing a loving home.

“There’s nothing wrong with them,” he said, adding that they just need a chance.