The Animal Rescue Site Needs Help

The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Please pass it along to people you know.

Dog Haiku By Anonymous

I lie belly-up
In the sunshine, happier than
You will ever be.

Today I sniffed
Many dog behinds -- I celebrate
By kissing your face.

I sound the alarm!
Paper boy -- come to kill us all
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I sound the alarm!
Garbage man -- come to kill us all
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

How do I love thee?
The ways are as numberless as
My hairs on the rug.

My human is home!
I am so ecstatic I have
Made a puddle.

I Hate my choke chain
Look, world, they strangle me! Ack!
Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack!

Sleeping here, my chin
On your foot -- no greater bliss -- well,
Maybe catching rats

Look in my eyes and
Deny it. No human could
Love you as much as I do.

The cat is not all
Bad -- she fills the litter box
With tootsie rolls.

Dig under the fence -- why?
Because it is there. Because it's
There. Because it's there.

I am your best friend,
Now, always, and especially
When you are eating.

The top 10 most popular dog names of 2009

Finding the perfect name for a puppy is not always easy. Before getting your puppy, did you think of the perfect name, only to realize it just doesn't fit? It may even take a few weeks after adoption to finally decide what you want to name your dog. This is a little off, but what if we named children the same way? "Honey, we really should pick a name for the baby!" "I know, I know, let's just wait 'til she gets older to see what her personality is like." Dogs are kind of at an advantage here, they get a name that's unique to them. If you're still trying to think of a name for your dog, here are the top 10 most popular dog names of 2009.

Most Popular Female Dog Names

1. Bella
2. Molly
3. Lucy
4. Maggie
5. Daisy
6. Sophie
7. Sadie
8. Chloe
9. Bailey
10. Lola


Most Popular Male Dog Names

1. Max
2. Buddy
3. Rocky
4. Bailey
5. Jake
6. Charlie
7. Jack
8. Toby
9. Cody
10. Buster


On DogTime they list the 100 most popular dog names, both male and female. Max and Bella are the most popular dog names for 2009.

Purina's Weekly Photo Contest

In Purina's weekly photo contest you can win bragging rights, the feeling of accomplishment, and the knowledge that you have the cutest dog, ever. That's right, NO prizes from Purina - by submitting your photo you will be granting Purina rights to publish it on all Purina properties, emails, websites and so forth - absolutely free (as in, no compensation to you)! If that sounds like a good deal, take Purina's weekly photo challenge today.

This week, Purina is looking for pictures of your dog playing with toys. Next week, who knows? So get out that camera, and snap, snap, snap. Go ahead, you know you want to.

Wagging In a Winter Wonderland Contest

Wagging In a Winter Wonderland Contest, Bah Humbug.

Purina has a pet contest where you can write in your "pets own words" what the holiday season means to you. They want an essay under 100 words, submitted no later than January 15th.

So, what's the problem?

It's the prizes. I know, I know - how can I be critical of free stuff, right? It's just that some of the prizes don't seem very prize-like, at least, not if your a dog. If I were to win the Grand Prize, I do get to choose between 5 different prizes. Four of them involve flying coach airfare (who knows where I would end up, in cargo?), and then staying in a hotel. That may be fun for people, news flash to Purina, that's not really my idea of a good time!

The only redemption of this pet contest, is that Purina does provide one pet friendly option as a Grand Prize. It's the "Wipe Your Paws Home Makeover Package" in which they will pay to fix up my room! I could really use a brand new bed, with fluffy pillows, and...

If you want to enter the contest, it's at:
Wagging In a Winter Wonderland Contest

Nationwide pet poetry contest

This pet poetry contest is only for children, that is 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to be exact. The American Pet Products Association (APPA), with a membership of nearly 1,000 pet product manufacturers, wants to encourage enthusiasm about pet ownership.

Your child can submit a poem to express how much their pet means to them. All poems must be under 100 words, and submitted before the January 15th deadline. Fortunately, entries can be sent easily online at the Pets Add Life site.

Judges will choose two poems for each grade, for a total of six grand prize winners. Each winner will receive $250 worth of pet products, and a $1000 scholarship to your child's classroom. The $1000 can be used for books about pets, a field trip to the zoo, or some other animal related activity.

Petrol Dog Drink

Petrol dog drink contains reverse osmosis water, natural flavoring, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacin, biotin, and L-Carnitine. It's described as a treat, rather than a replacement for water - yet, the makers of Petrol say that dogs prefer it over water by 4-1. Petrol has set up a Facebook page where you can submit a photo of your dog, and appears to be active on Twitter as well.

America's Best Dog Trick Contest

Do you have a funny dog, a video camera, and internet access?

Great.

Enter America's Best Dog Trick Contest to win cash and prizes! You need to have the video uploaded to the Zoom Room Facebook page by January 15th, so if you want to participate - hurry! Zoom Room promotes positive reinforcement training, and only wants to see dog tricks that are the result of caring, positive based dog training. Winners will be posted on Facebook, the Zoom Room website, and notified by email before February 8, 2010.

Dog can't hold it's licker!

This was kind of funny, a sign that says "Dog can't hold it's licker!"

It was on the English Fail Blog, which features photos as proof that we don't know how to spell. In this case, it's not a case of misspelling - it's that they just don't get the joke. Now, I would have been really worried if the dog sign said, "Dog can't hold it's liquor!"

Of course, instead, the sign says licker, as in big wet puppy dog kisses. That makes a big difference!

Cancer In Dogs And Cats - Herbal Supplementation May Help by Gary Le-Mon

I'm posting this article by Gary Le-Mon with the permission of the author. Gary Le-Mon is a herbalist, and his ideas for treating cancer in dogs may be away from the mainstream. I do appreciate natural health, and like hearing from many viewpoints. Though, any medical treatments should be discussed beforehand with your mainstream or holistic veterinarian.

The condition of cancer in dogs and cats carries special nutritional requirements which are not 100% known. What we do undsterstand is that a pet with cancer will undergo many physical changes as the body suffers the effects of cancer. Without intervention, including herbal supplementation, a pet will experience drastic muscle wasting and often significant weight loss.

It is essential for cats and dogs to consume plenty of fluids either through direct drinking of water or through their diet. Many cats, even when healthy, do not ingest a lot of water and so it is essential to add moisture to the pet's diet through canned foods, fresh foods, partially soaked dry kibble, or gravies.

In addition to water, dogs and cats need to maintain a high level of calories, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, many dogs and cats with cancer, especially as it advances, eat even less food or the cancer physically affects the pet's ability to eat or absorb nutrients. Less food means weight loss and unfortunately, a pet's diet quickly becomes unbalanced as it subsists on small portions, table scraps, or whatever a caring pet owner can get into it.

While Western medicine has come to rely on surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy to temporarily stave off cancer, for most cancer in dogs and cats these methods buy precious little time. Anywhere from a month or two to a year and a half is common, depending on the kind of cancer and severity.

These methods are not wrong, but they aren't always the best method. In fact, chemotherapy can depress or even destroy a pet's immune system leaving them vulnerable to illness and death. Herbal and natural remedies can help provide the missing link of nutrients that are necessary to keep a pet healthy and to help revive its immune system.

Clinical trials validate that supplementation with herbs has helped a pet live longer than expected and more importantly, helped them enjoy a good quality of life. Dr. Richard Clemmons, an Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Florida, says various studies have shown that the supplement cat's claw has been used to bring about the successful remission of tumors, like brain tumors. Cat's claw comes from the Peruvian rain forest and the locals have long used it for the treatment of cancer.

Other natural elements have been shown to be effective in cancer treatment. Dr. Shawn Messonnier, author of The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs, says that burdock root has become an effective addition to supplementation for cancer patients. It eliminates any unwanted toxins from the body like environmental toxins or chemotherapy.

Other herbal treatments for cancer in dogs and cats include slippery elm to help soothe the digestive tract, sheep sorrel to act as a powerful anti-oxidant, turmeric root to act as an anti-inflammatory, and Turkish rhubarb root for an astringent and cleanser of the digestive tract.

There are many accounts of how these herbs work to help the body heal itself. While they may or may not send cancer into complete remission, they are a powerful natural addition to any cancer treatment regime. They provide an extra arsenal in treating your pet's cancer that many holistic veterinarians stand behind. Of course, as with any supplement, always consult your veterinarian or qualified health care provider before use.


References: oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=22&s=69&ss=550&id=6002neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/AltMed/Cancer/Cancer_AltMed.htmMessonnier DVM, Shawn. The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs. New World Library, 2006 Cancer in dogs and cats



About the Author
Gary Le-Mon is a master herbalist specializing in natural health care for dogs and cats. His formulations include TripleSure, a non-toxic natural flea control plus DentaSure, an all-natural teeth whitener for dogs and cats plus many more.

Would You Buy A Dog Online?

Most of us are aware that puppy mills have a strong Internet presence, after all, they wouldn't want potential customers on their premises - now would they? Witnessing the poor conditions that exist in these type of operations isn't going to score any points with dog lovers. So, they try to do business over the Internet, offering to air ship puppies everywhere. That's not all. Selling and giving away puppies has become a large and lucrative business for scammers worlwide. It might go something like this - you read a classified ad, from someone with an expensive breed that wants to find a good home for Fido. They seem so genuine, so nice, so caring. One little detail - you just need to pay for shipping, can't you just Western Union the funds? Once you do, you'll never hear from them again.

These people have no shame, and it's not an unusual scenario. It's happening all the time, because people fall for it. You're best protection against it, is Don't Buy A Dog Online. Look locally at rescues, shelters, and if you must, find a reputable breeder in your area. If for whatever reason, you are compelled to buy a dog online, Never Ever use Western Union. Do your research and know exactly who you're dealing with. Here's a scam alert about Global Pet Relocators that I found on Dog Time. The article is interesting, what really wowed me, was all those comments! There are so many dog lovers getting ripped off, and the comments on that article are just the tip of the iceberg. Don't let this happen to you!

Hip Dysplasia and your Dog by Dr. Jack Stevens, DVM

Your pet's health is important to you. After all, they are part of your family! Sadly, dogs of all ages are subject to hip dysplasia; however, in most cases, the symptoms do not begin to show until the middle or later years in a dog's life. This disease primarily affects large and giant bred dogs, such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Saint Bernards, although it can occur in medium-sized breeds as well.

Hip dysplasia is caused by a laxity of the muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments that normally support the joint. Most dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips, but due to their genetic make-up (and possibly other contributing factors) the soft tissues that surround the joint develop abnormally causing the subluxation (a partial dislocation of bones that leaves them misaligned but still in some contact with each other.) This "dislocation" and the subsequent "reshaping" of the hip leads to the symptoms associated with this disease, which may or may affect both the right and/or left hip. Symptoms of hip dysplasia in your pet can include:

* Walking/running with an altered gait;

* Resisting movements requiring full extension of their rear legs;

* "Bunny Hopping" gait;

* Showing stiffness, pain in their rear legs after exercise, or first thing in the morning;

* Difficulty climbing stairs;

* Limping;

* Unwillingness to participate in normal daily activities;


Many pet parents attribute these changes to normal aging, but once treatment has begun, they are pleasantly surprised to see a more normal, pain-free gait return.

While researchers agree that hip dysplasia is a genetic disease, they also believe obesity can increase the severity of the disease in genetically-susceptible animals. Lack of consistent, muscle-building exercise can be another risk factor.

Veterinarians typically diagnosis canine hip dysplasia by combining:

1. Clinical signs of arthritis and pain;

2. Complete physical exam;

3. X-rays


If your pet is showing outward signs of arthritis, there are usually easily-recognized changes in the joint (visible on x-rays.) Additionally, your veterinarian may be able to feel looseness in the joint, or may detect pain when they fully-extend your pet's rear leg(s).

Roughly one half of all dogs evaluated by their vets have no physical signs of the disease, but are being evaluated for their "hip health", as they are intended to be used for breeding. Breeders want to ensure their animals are at a "low risk" for transmitting the disease to their offspring. There are two different testing methods that can be performed: the traditional is OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) testing; the other, relatively newer, technique is the PennHip method.


Once diagnosed, canine hip dysplasia can be treated surgically; your veterinarian will determine which procedure, listed below, is best for your pet, based on his or her age, body size, and severity of the hip joint's deterioration:

1. Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO)

2. Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis

3. Total Hip Replacement

4. Femoral Head and Neck Excision


Check with your veterinary pet insurance provider regarding their policy with the above-mentioned surgeries, as they can be costly.

Medical management of hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis has improved tremendously in recent years, thanks to innovative drug therapies. However, because hip dysplasia is primarily an inherited condition; there are no preventative products on the market today. Through proper diet, exercise, supplements, anti-inflammatories, and pain relievers, pet parents can decrease the progression of degenerative joint disease, but the looseness in the joint will not change significantly. Below are suggestions from experts in the medical management of the disease:

1. Weight Management: Helping your pet maintain their recommended weight is perhaps the most critical part of this equation; surgical procedures and medical therapies have far better outcomes if you pet is not overweight; more than 50% of the pets in the U.S. are overweight, making it reasonable to assume that many of the dogs with hip dysplasia/osteoarthritis are also overweight. If your pet is overweight, ask your veterinarian for recommendations regarding a lower calorie dog food and an exercise program;

2. Exercise: Exercise is equally important in losing and/or maintaining your pet's appropriate weight. That exercise should provides good range of motion and muscle building, but minimize "wear and tear" on your pet's joints. Leash walks, swimming, and slow jogging are ideal low-impact exercises. Remember, it is important to exercise daily; regular exercise in shorter sessions is always better than long work-outs on weekends. Again, your veterinarian can recommend an exercise program appropriate for your pet fi you have questions;

3. Warmth and good sleeping areas: Keeping your pet warm may help him/her be more comfortable; you may consider keeping your home's temperature a bit warmer. Also, an orthopedic foam bed helps many dogs with arthritis; those with dome-shaped, orthopedic foam distribute weight evenly, reducing joint pressure; (they make getting in and out easier for your pet, too!) Remember to keep the bed in a warm spot away from drafts;

4. Massage and physical therapy: Your veterinarian can demonstrate how to perform physical therapy and massage on your pet to help relax stiff muscles and promote a good range of motion in their joints. Begin by petting the area and work up to gently kneading the muscles around the joint with your fingertips using small, circular motions; gradually work your way out to the surrounding muscles. (Moist heat may also be beneficial);

5. Making daily activities less painful: Going up and down stairs is often difficult for our arthritic pets; it can make going outside to use the bathroom difficult. Many pet parents invest in ramps, especially on stairs leading to their yard, making it easier for their pets. Ramps can also make car travel easier for arthritic dogs.


By following these recommendations, you can minimize your pet's discomfort from and the progression of hip dysplasia.

Pets Best Insurance is located in Boise, Idaho and provides pet insurance for the healthcare of dogs and cats. Jack Stephens, DVM is the president and co-founder of Pets Best and was the original founder of pet health insurance in the United States.

Learn more about the history of pet insurance at Petsbest.com.




About the Author
Pets Best Insurance is located in Boise, Idaho and provides pet insurance for the healthcare of dogs and cats. Jack Stephens, DVM is the president and co-founder of Pets Best and was the original founder of pet health insurance in the United States.

Learn more about the history of pet insurance at Petsbest.com.

Dog House PDF Plans

Shopping on Tradebit.com, I happened upon PDF plans to make dog houses. There are two files that quite honestly - are really not that great. They lack directions and the pictures are way too small. I purchased them for only a dollar, along with resale rights, but frankly, I just don't like them enough to sell. So, I uploaded them to MediaFire, and thought I would just give them away. If you would like to look at them, they are as below.

DogHouse1
DogHouse2

The rest of this post is just a nonsensical rant, so be forewarned, if you're tempted to click the back button, now's probably a good time.

Why do people leave their dogs out in the cold? I've been worried about two Pit Bulls that live near my house. I don't care how tough your dog is, it's getting chilly, and it's not pleasant to live outside in the rain and cold. I've noticed they are always outside, alone. No shelter. I wanted to talk to my neighbor about this, but I get the feeling the dogs are going to eat me if I open the gate. You know, the same dogs I feel sorry for? Ha Ha. Everytime I see the pawrents, they are too far to stop - it's a couple with a newborn baby. It's likely these people do love their dogs, maybe it's just overwhelming now with the baby? The dog house plans I purchased, I had it in the back of my mind to perhaps make houses for them. Honestly though, I'm struggling myself. I think what I'll do is buy a blanket at a thrift shop, and throw it over the gate with a note. I don't know.

Turn Your Talent Of Photography And Love For Pets Into Profit!

Most households in North America own at least one pet, and most people care for their animals as much as they would for their own child. People spend thousands of dollars a year on their pets to pamper and spoil and them. If you enjoy photography and love animals just as much as their owners do, you could be making money by combining these two things into a rewarding business.

All you will need is a room set up as a studio, good quality cameras, lighting equipment, tripods and of course film. You could also have different back grounds and props to make the picture more interesting, or fit certain occasions. To get the best picture you will want to get down to pet level and use toys and treats to get the pets attention. When you get the animals attention, you should have a squeaky toy, or flash that will make the animal look strait at you and perk up it’s ears.

Since cats are particularly hard to get to cooperate, you will want to schedule longer appointments for them in order to become comfortable around them. You should be knowledgeable in animal psychology and also a people person, since most pet owners will be present and a lot will want to be in the photographs with their pets.

If your photography skills aren’t the greatest you can take classes at your local community college to ensure you will be providing your customers with what they want. To attract customers you could make enlarged copies of some good pet photographs you have done and post them up at your local library, veterinary office or coffee shops. Make sure to include a phone number and your name so they can get a hold of you! You can also establish yourself by creating a small portfolio with pictures of your own pets, as well as the pets of family, friends and neighbors. You can then turn this into a flyer and distribute in people mail boxes. Of course you can always publish an add in the Yellow Pages as well. Offering weekend and evening hours will also attract more customers.

Most pet photographers charge a basic rate of $5 to $10 per person or animal and then charge between $40.00 and $175.00 per package of photographs, depending on the number of photos, number of poses, etc. You can also sell pet photos at art fairs for about $20 to $200 per picture (as long as you have written permission from the owner), or sell your pictures as cards, or note book covers.

Daffy's Drive To Help Military Dogs

The SOS Club of Georgia (Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen) is organizing a drive to supply military dogs with goodies for the holidays. If you want to provide a present under the tree for a special dog that has been very good this year, it's easy to donate through the SOS Club. They have already collected 1000 pounds of treats, dog food, and grooming brushes, now they are just trying to raise the shipping costs to send the package to Iraq. Tom from Daffy's sent the following email, you can go directly to their site for more info.

It is a great thing that the military does for us every day, but there are, from what I understand, 45 kennels and over 300 dogs in Iraq that risk their lives every day as well. We are shipping over 1000 - 1500 lbs of dog supplies, brushes, treats, etc. over there this year so each dog has something. Hopefully on Dec. 19th. We are also going to do this many times next year.

We are also including police dogs as well. They need supplies, treats, gifts, and most of all, our thanks and support. Dogs are not throw aways. We use them to basically save men and womens lives in the military and the police. They do as they are told. We need to tell them that we love them and appreciate them as well.

We are leaving a box open just for letters if anyone wants to email one to us for the military dogs and their handlers in Iraq, we will send them along with our stuff. You can email your letters to support the troops at thesosclubofga@yahoo.com.

Letters/donations can be mailed to:
SOS Club
PO Box 1640
Lilburn Ga. 30048

To ship this is going to cost us over $1500.00, donations are greatly appreciated. Thanks as always and lets keep ALL those who risk their lives for us in our prayers this Holiday season and every day.

Thank you to our military, and G-d Bless America!

Petco Contest For $50 Gift Card

Petco is giving away a free $50 gift card every day through December 31, 2009. You can enter once a day, but there's a limit of one gift card per household. To enter, go to Petco.com and fill out the entry form online.

There is one small catch, when you enter the contest, you're automatically signed up for the Petco newsletter. If you don't mind that, you could be $50 richer and buy a nice gift for your dog.

I've seen some dodgy contests online where they want you to do surveys, or what not. This is not one of those, it's a legit contest being promoted by Petco, and some lucky dog's going to win...every day.

Hollywood Dog Grooming 101

Dog grooming is about more than just grabbing a bucket and some soap and scrubbing down your pooch. Today's dogs and owners have an entire selection of grooming options available to them that go way beyond a simple bath.

Even once you get past the basics of bathing and a hair cut there is oh so much more available to pamper your pet. These days our dog's have become individualized members of our families, not just an animal that hangs out in the backyard their whole lives.

We have brought them into our homes and now we give them gourmet foods, homemade dog treats, orthopedic pet beds and of course, let's not forget the designer clothes. There are even massage parlors, pet hotels, pet spas and entire stores designed around pets now. Imagine, what our ancestors would think if they could see us now?

So beyond a simple shampoo and trim but not so far as the super star treatment, what should you add to your dog grooming routine? First and foremost, if you don't know what you are doing, then get some information before you begin. Some places offer grooming classes and you can always get dog grooming tips from your local veterinarian. The important thing is that you never attempt any dog treatment without prior knowledge and information on how to perform it correctly and with the correct products.

Once you have a little training under your belt, choose an area to start and remember that you don't have to groom everything in one day. Start slow and do a little at a time. When you become more comfortable with the grooming routine, you can attempt additional grooming projects at the same time.

Tear Stains

For example, you could start with the red "tear stains" under your dog's eyes. Many people assume that it is always a red yeast bacteria infection. However, this condition can have many causes and needs to be properly diagnosed to be treated correctly.

Nail Trimming

Once you have tackled cleaning out your dog's eyes, you can move on to trimming your dog's nails. For many people this chore seems like one that is more for aesthetics but it's actually quite important that you keep your dog's nails maintained at a healthy length to prevent painful side effects.

For example, it is not uncommon for a dog that spends a lot of time in the house to catch an overgrown nail on the carpet and tear the nail. This is quite painful and can lead to infections. When a dog is kept inside most of the time, they do not wear their nails down and will require trimming.

There are multiple nail trimming and grooming tools available for you to choose from when maintaining your dog's nails. Once again though, I must caution you to make sure you know how to properly trim them before beginning. If you trim in too far, you will cut the quick and cause your dog pain.

There are tools that will actually cut or trim the nail like a pair of nail clipper only for dogs and there are also scissor type tools. My personal favorite is the new dremel type grinding tools that are available. They allow you to take a little off of the nail at a time and do not crush or pinch the nail like some clippers can.

Cleaning Ears

Cleaning your dog's ears is something you may find yourself doing more often that other grooming tasks, especially if your dog spends time outdoors or is a working dog. Ear mites are a common problem that will require you to keep there ears clean and a few drops of ear treatment. I also find that my dogs will itch there ears just because they are dirty. So every time Rodeo comes home from a cow roundup, I clean his ears, because I know if I don't he will be scratching like crazy.

Breath Bone Anyone?

You love your dog but you just can't handle those "doggie breath" kisses anymore. I completely understand and I have been around dogs where I have thought, what have you been eating? There are those who are seriously dedicated and brush their dog's teeth everyday. I try to find more natural solutions such as pressed bones or dental bones which will help clean the plaque and tarter off of their teeth.

However, if you are sold on the toothbrush idea, you need to know that they make a specific dog toothpaste and you should never use human toothpaste on your dog!

The point is, that if you see something that is an obvious grooming issue for your dog, take care of it. It doesn't matter if it's on the list or not. You know your dog and what they need so don't be afraid to use your own common sense judgment. It's all in the details... Just remember, A well-groomed pet is a healthy pet.



About the Author (this article was re-printed on CoCo the Blogging Dog courtesy of Mike Houser): To read more pet advice on how to add years to your pets life or even to have some of your own pet questions answered, head on over to my new site - Online Pet Answers

Fido Friendly 25 Days Giveaway

Fido Friendly is a dog magazine that I'm in no way affiliated with, but discovered on Twitter. You can win free prizes for your dog every day through December in what is known as the Fido Friendly 25 Days Giveaway. The only prize I've tried to win thus far is the Caroline’s Doggy Sudz, but they've also given away a designer collars, collar-harness jewelry, and dog treats, and you are eligible to enter every day.

Every day Fido Friendly will announce a new winner, and it's free to enter. They do require that you fill out a short form that asks your name, address, how many dogs you have, what do you feed your dog, and how you heard about them. Good luck to all!

Meditative Dog Walking

One of the greatest gifts that we can give ourselves, is the permission of being fully in the moment. For many of you that have tried meditation, this may seem like common knowledge. If so, you can skip down to the last half of this post and read about meditative dog walking. If you've never meditated, here are my thoughts. At first I thought it was all a bunch of hippie nonsense, but decided to try it anyway. I was amazed at how it made me feel. As someone that often worries, the aspect that's most healing about meditation, is to consciously be in the moment.

That's my weak spot. I'm driving somewhere, and thinking about what I'll do when I get there. I get there, I'm thinking about what I'll do when I leave. When I leave, chances are I'll be thinking about G-d knows what. Probably some future event two weeks down the road, that may or may not happen. The goal for me is to take that feeling of being in the moment, and incorporate it in routine daily activities. It relieves a lot of stress to not have to re-play the past constantly, to overly obsess about the future, but to just deal with the present time.

To meditate while walking your dog, doesn't mean going into a trance, it means being fully aware of everything around you. By meditative dog walking, it means being fully in the moment, just like your dog is. When your dog goes out for a walk, chances are he's not feeling guilty about getting in the garbage last week, or wondering if you're going to buy him Beggin Strips the next time you go grocery shopping. Your dog is in the moment, that's why he doesn't miss anything. He'll notice blades of grass, the feel of the ground, smells in the air, and enjoy that walk as if it's his last.

You can actually learn a lot from a dog. Concentrate on your breathing, inhaling deeply and slowly. Practice being fully in the moment, and let thoughts of the past and future go. Take delight in your dogs joy, feel the air and sunlight on your skin, and the ground beneath your feet.

Keeping Your Dog While Going Through a Foreclosure

Times are hard. With the hit to the job market, many people have fallen behind on mortgage payments. While foreclosure is a stressful life changing event, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to lose your best friend. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, here are some tips that may keep you and your pet together during this economic downturn.

* If you're planning to rent, you can take your pet with you. While most rentals will require some type of pet deposit, you shouldn't have any problem finding a pet friendly rental in your area. With a quick search online you can find entire websites dedicated to assisting pet owners find rentals where pets are welcome.

* With the economic crisis, animal rescues have responded by building up foster care networks. It's likely that you can find one in your area that can find a temporary foster home for your dog until you get back on your feet. You can search on Petfinder.com to quickly find rescues that will help in your area.

* Your veterinarian may be able to provide you with short term low cost veterinary boarding. If you explain the situation, they may even offer an easy payment plan to fit your budget.

* There are animal organizations that can help you to find financial aid assistance for your pet. The HSUS has compiled a state by state listing of organizations that may be able to provide you with temporary foster care, pet food, and veterinary care.

While it's not easy to go through a financial crisis such as a foreclosure, keeping your dog with you can provide a real sense of comfort.


HSUS financial aid listing for your pet by state

Dogs Can Get Swine Flu?

Sick of hearing about the swine flu? Yeah, me too. I think I actually had it, but I'm not sure. For anyone that complains right now of flu type symptoms, they just label it as swine flu. That's probably so they can say it's more widespread than it actually is, which would help justify the endless hype and emergency declaration. It seems like the last week it hasn't been in the news as much, or perhaps I'm just starting to tune it out? Now they are warning that you can give the swine flu to your dog. Researchers say that your pet is not a risk to you, your dog cannot give you the swine flu, but you can potentially give your dog the swine flu.

Now when your sick with the flu, curled up in bed, you have one more thing to worry about. When your dog tries to comfort you by snuggling, make sure you don't sneeze on your dog! A few weeks ago a cat in the United States was diagnosed with a confirmed case of swine flu, and now two dogs in China. In all cases, it was determined that the pet had been infected by their caretakers. It's possible that there are a higher number of dogs with swine flu, as this has not been something that veterinarians have been looking for. I do want to repeat, scientist are saying that your dog CANNOT give you the swine flu - however, you may be able to give it to your dog.

If you're sick take precautions to avoid spreading it, just like you would do with any family member.

Polar Bear Plays With Sled Dogs

First of all, Happy Birthday to my friend Lady Diana! Today I have something a little different, amazing pictures of an encounter between a polar bear and sled dogs. This is the email I received...


Polar Bear: I come in Peace

Norbert Rosing's striking images of a wild polar bear coming upon tethered sled dogs in the wilds of Canada's Hudson Bay.


The photographer was sure that he was going to see the end of his dogs when the polar bear wandered in.






It's hard to believe that this polar bear only needed to hug someone!


The Polar Bear returned every night that week to play with the dogs.

May you always have love to share, health to spare, and friends that care.