Archive | June, 2010
Operation Blankets of Love
29 JunI don’t know about any other dogs, but I have a favorite blanket. It’s a quilt that GG made for my mother when she was a little human. It has all the little lights that you see when you look up at the sky at night and is very soft and snuggly. I like to curl up on it and nap, especially if it’s on the laps of my favorite humans. Blankets have a way of making me feel safe and warm, inside as well as out.
In 2008 a woman named Eileen Smulson, with the help of her dog Ginger, discovered the important relationship between blankets and dogs when she visited a shelter in Southern California. Eileen noticed a large amount of shivering dogs sitting on cold, cement floors. The shelter had a sign asking for blanket donations for the shivering pups, something they couldn’t provide with their budget. Within 24 hours Eileen started Operation Blankets of Love.
Blankets of Love serves over 10 counties in California as well as transporting supplies to Washington, Vermont, New Hampshire, Texas, New York, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, and Vancouver, Canada. So far Blankets of Love has collected and distributed over 200,000 items, some of which include blankets, comforters, grooming supplies, pet beds, towels, leashes, carriers, and pet clothes. They also hold adoption events in different communities to promote adopting homeless pets.
The gift of blankets is not only the gift of warmth but also the gift of comfort, happiness, and the feeling of being at home. All these things make pets happier which makes them more adoptable. “Our goal is to provide the best possible care for each animal and ultimately place them into new and loving homes… Our animals are more comfortable and feel better, this of course makes them more adoptable. No longer do our geriatric animals have to lie on cold concrete. Our puppies and kittens have blankets and bedding to snuggle and lay in and our sick and injured animals have soft, comfortable blankets and towels to soothe them to speedy recovery.” – Jan Selder the Director of Operations from the LA Animal Services-Valley Division.
There are many ways to helps Operation Blankets of Love. If you live in California there are many Blankets of Love drop-off areas listed here. You can drop off blankets, comforters, dog igloos, treats, pet beds, pet clothes, toys, crates and carriers, leashes, collars, and harnesses. If you don’t live in California, you can donate money through the Operation Blankets of Love website or host your own blanket drive for a local shelter of your choice. Shelters and rescues need blankets all year round.
Happy tail wags!
Sources: Operation Blankets of Love, People Pets
Sticking My Neck Out
25 JunI have mentioned many times that my mom likes to mix it up when it comes to my food and treats. There is some controversy as to whether or not variety is good for a dog; my mom feels it is good as long as we don’t go crazy about it. That usually means the main part of my meals, right now it’s The Honest Kitchen’s Keen, is the constant while the additions to my food (yogurt, vegetables, extra meat) are what changes a few times a week. After reading about the benefits of raw meaty bones on Doggy Bytes, my mom took a trip to The Loyal Biscuit and brought home some Primal chicken necks.
(photo source)
If you are thinking that my mom is crazy for feeding me chicken necks because you’ve always thought chicken bones were bad for dogs, let me clarify something for you. Cooked chicken bones, or any bones for that matter, are not for dog consumption because they become brittle in the cooking process and so they splinter far more easily. Raw chicken bones are completely fine as they are soft and easily digestible. Of course there is still the danger of choking which is why it is never a good idea to leave a dog unsupervised while they are enjoying their raw meaty bones.
Back to me! I was offered my first chicken neck on a plate in my front yard. I was not allowed to eat it in the house for fear I would make a mess and get chicken goop everywhere. The chicken necks smelled kind of yummy, but after a tentative lick I didn’t want any of it. It wasn’t until my mom removed the skin that I actually gave it a good nibble. It was quite good, but I was having a hard time maneuvering it. Again my mother stepped in by holding the chicken neck as I chomped away. This didn’t make her too pleased, but I definitely was! Well, for awhile.
After eating the neck completely (minus the skin), I went back into the house for a drink and then promptly threw up. While there can be reasons to be concerned when you’re pets vomit, this time there was no need for alarm. I will occasionally empty my stomach when I have eaten something that just does not agree with me; it usually happens right after and I only do it once. This was one of those times. It could also have been because my system is not use to that type of food and it just disrupted things.
For now my mom has decided to lay off the raw meaty bones for awhile and research a bit more. I hope she figures out something soon because while my stomach didn’t agree with the chicken necks my taste buds definitely did.
Happy tail wags!
Big Dog on Campus
24 JunLast month my mother was accepted to the University College in Rockland. Eventually she wants to get an associates degree as a Veterinary Technician, but starting in the fall she will just be taking general education classes. As the college is right in town, my mother doesn’t have to worry about moving or whether or not I can move with her. Oddly (to me at least) many college campuses don’t allow pets, other than fish, in dorms. Luckily for us furry beasties, that is starting to change. 
Recently, The New York Times released an article about how Stephens College has been allowing pets and their humans to live in a specific dormitory (named Pet Central). It was an idea that came to fruition in 2003 and hoped to help smooth the transition from home to campus life for students. Some students that are anxious about leaving home and being on their own in a new environment have found comfort in a four-legged (or no legged as some campuses allow snakes) friend.
Of course there are rules that have to be met. A majority of the time dogs on campus are not allowed to roam free in the dorm if the student is away; this is where kennels can be used. Some dormitories, like Stephens’ Pet Central, have on-site boarding run by students in the work-study program. Other colleges, like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology are cat only. At Eckerd College any on campus pet snakes must be nonvenomous and less than six feet long. Also any dogs and cats must be over a year old and have lived with the student’s family for 10 or more months before the students starts living on campus. In most colleges that allow pets they are only allowed in specific dormitories, there is usually a yearly fee the pet parent must pay, more than likely the pet is never allowed in class, and there are strict rules about noise (like barking).
In the fall of next year my mother will have to start taking classes on another campus that is almost an hour and a half away. She has yet to decide if she will travel that distance each week or just pack up everything, including my furry behind, and make the move. Hopefully we will be welcomed no matter what my mom decides.
Happy tail wags!
Source: The New York Times
Love. Adopt.
23 JunToday I’m going to give the blog spotlight to my buddy Leo. He and his mom, Angelica, are the other half of The Smiling Frog Pets, the Etsy business where my mom sells her dog clothes and pet toys. Most recently the shop has featured a new denim squeaky ball with a very important message on it: Love. Adopt. I’ll let Leo explain why this message is so important to him and his mom. 
First of all let me introduce myself. My name is Leonardo Miguel Ross, otherwise known as Leo or Leelee and I would like to tell you my story. I am originally from Louisiana and my mom found me on Petfinder. I was rescued by Chi.P.P. (Chihuahua & Pound Puppy) Rescue of Louisiana. My foster mom scooped me up just as I was brought in to a kill shelter.
My foster mom, Rocky is a hero in my eyes. She takes in tons of dogs; they usually have 50 at a time! I had many medical issues, still do, but they took care of me. My mom was shocked at how much the rescue owed in medical bills. Luckily they have a very caring vet.
I was brought to Maine along with around 20 other dogs in a van. The Golden Retriever Rescue Lifeline helps to bring the pups from Chi.P.P. to Maine. I got brought along even though I’m not a Golden. It was a long trip but I was so happy to see my new mom I peed all over her. She didn’t care; she started crying she was so happy to see me. When our eyes met we knew we had met before. So my life began as a Mainer and the most spoiled and loved little dog in the world.
My mom made the Love Adopt squeaky ball toys to help me raise money for the Chi.P.P. rescue. They are upcycyled from old denim jeans and have a fun squeaker. 100% of the profit goes to Chi.P.P. Help me to help them rescue more sweet pups like me. Please rescue; you’ll be glad you did! 
Happy tail wags!
Pooch Parade
22 JunLike I wrote yesterday, Saturday was the 1st annual Pooch Parade at the Summer Solstice celebration in my hometown. Being my first parade I was excited, but also a little nervous especially since there were a lot more dogs than I thought would be there. 
My nervousness was quickly quelled once my mom took out the treat pouch and let me have a snack. My grandfather, cousin Griffin, Angelica, and my cousin Lizzie were there to watch and cheer me on as I walked the block from the starting point to The Loyal Biscuit. Once we reached The Biscuit, we had to stop in front of the judges. Not only was this a parade, it was also a competition for the biggest dog, the tiniest dog, the cutest dog ever, the most creative costume, and the most unusual dog.
As the judges walked through the crowd I tried my best to be my absolute cutest. It helped that I was wearing such a cute costume. The competition was stiff on the costume front; one pup was a pirate, another was a fairy and a bunch of other pups were wearing festive bandannas and collars.
The cutest dog ever award went to a very adorable Boston. 
A Newfoundland won the biggest dog (I think everyone guessed that one!) and a little Yorkshire Terrier won tiniest dog. The most unusual dog went to the very pretty pooch dressed as a fairy.
And finally the cutest costume award went to (drumroll please)…
Me!
It was a wonderful end to a very fun day!
Thanks to Angelica and Lizzie for taking all the pictures for me and mom! And thanks to The Loyal Biscuit for the yummy prizes.
Happy tail wags!
Hey There Sailor
21 JunFor the past week and a half my mother has been in our bedroom buzzing away at that sewing machine thing she has. My nanny has been joking that she hasn’t been able to see the floor under all the scraps of clothing, pieces of paper, and thread trimmings let behind from the crafting flurry.
What was all the hub-bub about? Well, my mom had registered us in the 1st annual Pooch Parade being held at our town’s Main St during the annual Summer Solstice celebration that was this past Saturday. The parade was hatched as an idea to help fund next years Dock Dog competition and as an incentive to have people sign up there were prizes for the biggest dog, tiniest dog, the most unusual dog, and finally the most creative costume. Being half of the team behind The Smiling Frog Pets of course my mom couldn’t pass up an opportunity to make me a costume. And so my sailor dress was born. 
Everything used for the dress (and my pretty red bow) came from discarded human clothes that were no longer being used. The anchor embroidery, bow, cuffs, skirt and collar came from one red and one blue shirt of my nanny’s, the white top came from leftover scraps of a shirt my mother had used for another project, and the ribbon detailing on the collar was a ribbon that came from one of my birthday presents. I’m actually surprised my mom didn’t find away to reuse the thread from each shirt. As we are in a time where there is so much waste and even more want, it’s nice to use material that would otherwise end up as a waste and turn it into something that we need or want. 
Make sure you come back tomorrow to see what happened at the parade!
Happy tail wags!
I’m Seeing Starlets and Choppers
18 JunIf you’ve never heard of the company Biscuits by Lambchop, it’s time to perk your ears my way. First introduced to the company by the blog Pawcurious, Biscuits by Lambchop has been on my pup radar for quite sometime. The founder and “Chief Canine Confectioner,” Annette Frey, started experimenting with treat recipes after her pooch Lambchop developed different medical problems, one of them being food allergies. She wanted to be able to reward her four-legged friend with more than just affection. Eventually Annette came up with a recipe that met all of Lambchop’s dietary restrictions and still held up to his picky tastes. And so, Biscuits by Lambchop was born!
Free of soy, gluten, corn, dairy, rice, eggs, nuts, animal protein, and preservatives, the biscuits that are sold come in two flavors; Choppers (banana, coconut, and vanilla) and Starlets (apple, honey, and cinnamon). The Starlets are named after the companies “Official Spokes-dog,” Starlet. The treats are also low in fat, sodium, and phosphorus which is perfect for dogs that have pancreas, liver, and kidney issues.
Mom thought the treats would be great for me since I sometimes have my tummy problems. But she was also wary as I can be quite picky about my treats and don’t tend to enjoy those in biscuit form. I was wary because apples and bananas really aren’t my thing. So mom held off on buying some just in case I didn’t enjoy them. Luckily, Annette had an opportunity for some of the facebook fans of Biscuits by Lambchop to try a sample of each flavor. 
When the package arrived, not only was I excited to try these wonderfully smelling goodies, but I was tail-waggingly happy to see the Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps on the box! I don’t send much mail as it can be hard to use writing tools when you have paws, but I know my mom has been using them on every piece of mail she sends.
It seems my attention span has gotten me off topic again! So anyway, first up was the Starlets.
Mom said they smelled like apple pie and thought she might enjoy them if I didn’t. Unfortunately for her, I scarfed them right up. They were definitely crunchy but it didn’t stop my snacking. If a biscuit is too hard I will often spit it out and wait for my mom to break it into pieces. The Starlets required no additional breaking other than what my teeth could accomplish.
On to the Choppers!
Shaped cutely like a lambchop, these treats were a bit too unwieldy for my dainty mouth. They did require some breaking from my mom, but not because of hardness. With much enjoyment, the Choppers were quickly eaten up with the same relish as the Starlets; one might think even more so as I ended with some extra chop licking.
For training treats, I don’t think these would work for me. I only show motivation when I am given extremely high value treats (like liver or chicken jerky). However, I definitely enjoyed them as a snack (I love my snacks). They also stood up to their catch phrase of “sensible treats for sensitive pets” as I had no tummy problems from them what so ever. I’m pretty sure my mom will be making a purchase at Biscuits by Lambchop very soon. Hopefully of the Starlets. I’m pretty sure those were my favorites!
If you would like the buy either the Starlets, Choppers, or both, please visit the Biscuits by Lambchop website.
Happy, tasty tail wags!
Source: Biscuits by Lambchop
Bully
15 JunOne of my new favorite places to visit is the dog park that I have mentioned before. Because it is in a neighboring town, it can be a bit of a drive. Usually the 45 minutes spent in the car is worth it, but recently it wasn’t such a fun experience. Sometimes dog parks can be host to something known as a bully and I just happened to have my very first run in with one.
It was one of the rare occasions where I had the big dog side of the park all to myself. Even though I am under the 25lbs guideline, sometimes my mom will let my go in because the space is bigger and I really love to run. More often than not that is also where all the dogs, from Shih Tzus to Great Danes, are and it can get rather lonely being the only dog in the little dog area.
Anyway, I was busy sniffing around a bench when a Basset Hound, followed shortly by a Poodle, entered the park. I calmly trotted over to do the whole butt-sniffing greeting ceremony when all of a sudden the Basset Hound (we’ll call her Z) barked very loudly at me. Her mother explained to mine that Z barks to entice other dogs to chase her. The Poodle took the bait and off they ran. I, however, decided smelling one of the park’s trees was far more entertaining.
Eventually the Poodle and his father left, leaving just Z and I. Z remembered I was around and came over to say hello. I let her sniff me, but then I wanted no more interaction so I walked to another part of the park. Z would have none of that. She raced over to me and started barking again, over and over and over. She would not stop! I became very tense and afraid, I didn’t understand what the barking meant. I crouched down with my tail tucked between my legs, but still the barking was relentless. The last straw came when Z walked over to my side and tried to put her paw on my shoulder. I yelped and air snapped a warning. Just at that moment my mother swooped in after seeing my tail-tucking distress. She quickly scooped me up and attempted to take me to the little dog park. Even then, as I sat in my mother’s arms, Z ran around my mother’s legs and would jump to get at me. Z’s mother did nothing except yell out “Z stop that!” Obviously someone does not listen when their mother is talking! After securing me in the little dog park, I was happily sniffing around again while Z paced back and forth behind the fence until she and her mother finally left.
I do understand that Z was not trying to be hurtful to me, she only intended to get me to play. Some dogs, like me, are more easily intimidated than others. Maybe if Z’s behavior had been kept in check by his mother I would have been less afraid and more likely to engage in a game of chase (something I do like to do). It is always important to keep watch over your dog or dogs when you are at a park or any type of area where your dog is having contact with others. And if your dog is being bullied, don’t be afraid to leave the situation by either taking your dog to another part of the park or leaving the area entirely.
All in all it was a learning experience and didn’t completely ruin the dog park for me!
The dog park still makes me a happy pup!
I would love to know if anyone has ever dealt with a bully dog or dogs before.
Happy tail wags!
