Puppy Dogs Need Friends Too!

Our pups are little social butterflies. When we go for walks (a few times a day) they are always making new friends (dogs and people). In fact,  I think my little D'Angelo has more friends than I do. The kids in our neighborhood run to see our dogs. Our pups eat up the attention and beg for more. 

On one of these walks, our pups met a new friend named Chocolate (pronounced cho-co-LA-tay). Chocolate is one of the cutest little Chihuahua's I have ever seen. He instantly took to D'Angelo like they were long lost soul mates that have reconnected again. They are so cute together and love each other so much. 

Little Chocolate (cho-co-LA-tay). He is D'Angelo's Best Friend!

Chocolate lives one street over from us and visits us frequently (as I work from home now). Choco loves D'Angelo so much that he sneaks out of his house every chance he gets to come over and see Baby D. I'll find him in our front yard or sitting on our front porch waiting for us to let him in. 

Now, these two boys love each other more than two males should but I don't care. So what that D'Angelo's bisexual and his favorite color is hot pink. ;-)  I love my little man just the way he is and wouldn't change him for anything in the world. He loves the ladies, he loves the men, he loves them all.....He's my Loverboy!

Chocolate is over our house so much now that he is like family to us. I am now Auntie Tina to him. :-) 

Here are some cute pics of one of D'Angelo and Choco's play dates. Sweet babies.....

D'Angelo and Chocolate just starting to explore the backyard - side by side.

Woo hoo! Let's play chase! :-)

What's over here by this peach tree? We must check it out...still side by side.

Still exploring the back yard....together. Check out the look on D'Angelo's face (smiling ear to ear)!

Oh, we think we are tired now. Let's go inside and rest. Let us in mommy. :-)

Socialization is very important for dogs. It keeps them happy, healthy and well-rounded! So, schedule a play date with your dog's furry friend. Dogs need friends too! :-)

Five Paws for the Barkery Bistro

I love doggie bistro's. I don't think there are enough around. So when I find a great one I like to let others know about it. The Barkery Bistro is located in downtown Greenville, SC on Main Street.

It is the cutest little shop for pets that I have ever seen. The shop owner's dogs (Bentley and Duncan) are a daily fixture and greet you with puppy dog kisses when you walk in.

The warm and inviting decor sucks you right in. Their bakery display counter will make your pets mouth water. Yes, your pets are always allowed and even encouraged to visit with you.

They have some of the cutest and most unique items for pets around (dogs and cats). It is truly an awesome place!

If you don't live in Greenville, SC and still want to experience it, you can. They have an online store. Click here for their website.

Here are just a few items that your doggies will bark with excitement for....

Puppy Crack - Sometimes Addiction is Not a Bad Thing!

Ceramic Dog Bowls

Bowser Beer - Beefy Brown Ale and Cock-a-Doodle Brew (No Alcohol)!

Dog Bone Crystal Collars

Doggie Ceramic Treat Jar

Sunday Smiles

Happy Sunday everyone! For anyone who has a dog (and has been fed from the table one time or another) will get a kick out of this! I laughed so hard watching this! Enjoy! :-D







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Scared Half To Death!!!!!

Our Little Dante...Precious Baby! :-)

I have mentioned before that we foster animals in need from time to time. Right now we are fostering 2 kittens that showed up on our front porch over 4 months ago and never left. We had 6 kittens and adopted out 4 to loving homes. Yay! :-)

We have grown quite attached to the two kittens we still have. We would keep them (as permanent members of the family) but Sadie and D'Angelo aren't very fond of cats. I gave up my home office for the kittens (they have to be separated from the dogs). I bought all kinds of toys for the kittens, made a kitty condo and fixed their new room up right. I know how playful, curious and bored kittens get and wanted them to stay entertained.

One product that I bought for the kittens was this thing called "Kitty Play Cube" made by Sport Pet Designs. You can purchase as many of them as you'd like and make a little play land (with tunnels, etc) for your kitty. I purchased mine from Walmart (you can also get them from Target, Walgreens, Amazon.com). They were great - inexpensive, could add to them. I love them and the kittens did too.

What I wasn't ready for was that it almost took one of our kitten's life yesterday. Our 2 kittens ripped the thin fabric cubes apart the night before (unbeknownst to us). Dante got tangled up in the cubes and the ribbing of one of the play cubes and it wrapped around his neck so tight that you couldn't even see it when you looked at his neck. I walked in while his was choking.

When I could finally get the fabric ribbing loose enough to fit scissors under it without cutting Dante's throat, he wasn't moving. He was almost gone - limp and lifeless. His eyes were popping out of his head and his tongue was sticking out of his mouth. We cut the ribbing and we started CPR. After a minute or so of CPR he gasped for air and basically came back to life. He almost died...I mean seriously ALMOST DIED!!!!

Thank the Lord that I just learned Pet CPR. I did a blog post a little over a week ago (for my Pet Safety Week) with the words, "Hopefully you won't ever have to use this but in case of an emergency it is always good to know how to save a beloved pets life with Pet CPR." Little did I know that it would be ME that needed to use it. God works in mysterious ways indeed! :-)

Dante wasn't well - he was stumbling around, shallow breathing and looked like he was blind. I rushed him to the vet as fast as I could.  Once I got to the vet's office they checked him out and did x-rays on him. Apparently animals that go through strangulation can accumulate fluid in their lungs. The x-rays showed that his lungs were very inflamed but that there wasn't any fluid in them. Whew! Our vet gave him a steroid shot to help his lungs heal and so fluid wouldn't accumulate in them. She told me to keep a close eye on him for at least 12 hours because pulmonary edema, cardiac stress and neurological issues can surface hours after the trauma.

I found a great site that explains pet strangulation - what to look for and what to do if it happens. Click here to learn more about it.

Here are some pictures of the kitty cubes that I had to cut away from Dante. The one on the left is the one that Dante and Dottie tore up the night before. Some of the tearing is from me trying to get Dante out of them. He was pretzeled all in them. The fabric is very thin and lightweight. A rambunctious kitten can shred this product very quickly (so I found out the hard way). 

Here are the cubes that I cut Dante out of.

 

This is the ribbing that can strangle kitties.

This is the actual ribbing that I cut from Dante's throat.

If you happen to have this product in your home right now I would seriously consider throwing it out immediately! If you do decide to chance it and keep the product then I would closely supervise your animals with it at all times. Any sign of the cube being torn - throw it out immediately!  I threw all our kitty play cubes out yesterday. I was so freaked out that I also took all of their toys out of their room. I put some back in last night but only the big toys that they can play with when I am not around.

I bought them toys that look like little fishing poles with cute things hanging off them. The kittens love them but I got scared after yesterday that the kittens could hurt themselves if they were unsupervised. Now, they will only be able to play with certain toys when my husband or I are in the room. I feel bad about doing that but I would feel worse if they died from these toys.

Now, I have always known about making sure your window blind cords are out of reach of animals and babies. Alex and I wrap our blind cords up and put them on the top of the blind where they can't fall back down. We also have the blind raised in the "kitty room" because they get into everything at this age and we can't be too safe. Just things to think about if you have pets or children.

I took most of the day today and got on every website I could that sold these kitty play cubes and wrote a very descriptive review about the product. I want to do everything I can to warn someone else so it doesn't happen to them. Sadly, I found reviews on certain sites that said this product killed their cats the same way it almost killed Dante. I was horrified and saddened.

I read reviews if I am purchasing products online but don't usually research inexpensive products that I buy in stores. I thought nothing of it when I was in Walmart and put the play cubes in my cart. I am a dog person (although I love all animals) and know so much more about dog products. I haven't had a cat in forever so I wasn't aware of the dangers of new products on the market. After this incident, I think I will be reviewing EVERYTHING from now on!

I am happy to report that Dante is doing great. He acts like it never happened and is back to his frisky kitten ways. However, he is super lovey dovey with us. He keeps giving me kisses and puts his paw on my face (as if to say...thanks for you and daddy saving my life). It is so precious! :-)

Alex and I are still traumatized by yesterday's events. It all seems so surreal (like I was watching it on TV or in a movie). Life is so precious. It can be taken from you in a blink of an eye or you could get a second chance like we did. We are very blessed indeed! :-)

Helping A Friend In Need.....

Happy Monday everyone! My husband sent me this video and I thought it was too cute not to share. We all need a little help every once in a while. Enjoy! :-)

A lover of ALL Animals.....

Photo Source: www.pitbullsontheweb.com

I am an animal lover...dogs, cats, birds, mice, turtles...you name it. I can't stand injustice of any kind. I guess that is the Libra in me. It hurts me horribly to hear of animals being abused, neglected, etc.

I often thought about getting into Animal Legislation to help strengthen the laws against people who hurt animals. They need to pay for their crimes. I truly believe that it is the owner who is at fault and not the animal. Now, there are always exceptions (animals that were previously abused before going to a good home). Each situation needs to be addressed individually.

I have been an "animal rescuer" for as long as I can remember. All of my animals - my entire life (besides Patti) - have been rescues. My husband and I (and myself before we met) have fostered many animals as well. I think God sends them to our doorstep or has them cross our path in some way because he knows that we will take good care of them and find them great homes (sometimes our home).

I remember a specific animal years ago that I rescued (which I named Niko). He was a mixture of black lab/pit bull. He obviously had been horribly (and I mean horribly abused) when he showed up in my front yard one dark summer night. He was more pit bull than black lab (had the coat of a black lab with the body of a pit bull). I took pity on him and brought him into my home. I had Patti at the time and he got along wonderfully with her. He was a gentle giant. Niko was one of the sweetest dogs I had ever come in contact with. In the beginning, he would pee himself at the slightest noise made, he would cower and shake when you walked into the room and always kept his head down. It broke my heart. How could someone abuse such a beautiful animal because he was part pit bull? I didn't understand it then and to this day still don't understand it. Niko lived with me for a few years and became a very normal dog. He gained confidence from love, structure and positive reinforcement. Not once in those years that I had him did he ever do one mean thing. He would kiss Patti and try to snuggle with her all the time. It was so precious.

In the past year or so a friend of mine and animal rescuer, brought to my attention that different cities and states around the country are regulating "breed specific laws" and banning dogs (good and bad) because they are of a certain breed. Now some of you may not agree with me but I think this is the biggest load of crap! The dog is not the problem, the owner is the problem. In the words of Cesar Millan, "Fix the way the person interacts with their dog, and you often fix the behavior problem....It's not about fixing the dog, it's about teaching the owner to be consistent, to be considerate, to build trust, and develop a true relationship with their dog." Amen to that Cesar...amen to that!

I would like to help bring awareness to the issue at hand. Breed banning IS NOT the solution. I wish that we could ban bad owners and that laws were made to do just that. In a perfect world bad owners would have to pay the price of abusing an animal....they should go to jail, have to pay fines, do community service and get mandatory psychiatric help. Here is a great site to help understand what I am talking about (warning: some graphic photos).

New pet owners should research the pet they want before getting it...no impulse buying, adopting, etc. They should also read up on how to properly take care of an animal, take into consideration their lifestyle and surrounds first (if the pet would fit in properly), how often they travel or work, do they have or want to have children and the list goes on. It is a big decision and not one to take lightly. An animal (pet) is not a disposable object nor is it a lawn ornament. It is a lifetime commitment...a gift from God.

That's my two cents...do with it what you will! :-)

Happy Birthday Patti Marie!!!

Patti Cakes wearing her PAWty hat that mommy made her!

Today is my baby Patti Marie's 11th birthday! Wow, time flies when you're having fun. :-)

Patti Marie (4 months old)

I remember when I first got her. She was 8 weeks old and weighed 1/2 pound. She was (and still is) the cutest thing I had ever seen in my life. I am not one to purchase animals when there are so many in shelters that need loving homes. In fact, Patti is the first and only puppy dog that I ever purchased. It was love at first sight and she has been my sweet and loyal baby ever since.

Patti & Momma at the park

We had the best day ever! First thing this morning, we all went to the Falls Park (downtown Greenville, SC). The pups had a blast. In fact, they had so much fun that they were literally smiling the whole time we were there. It was adorable!

After the park, the pups came home and crashed all day. They were so tired! I made the pups a special dinner to celebrate Patti's b-day. Mommy boiled some chicken, cut it up and molded it into their bowls (was supposed to be like a b-day cake). Patti has severe allergies so I couldn't make her a puppy dog birthday cake like I have done in the past.

Puppy B-day Dinner

After dinner it was time for presents. Our pups absolutely LOVE presents. It's like they know that the gifts are special - just for them. They will even take the gift bags, pull out the tissue paper and then pull out the toy. They look up at me as if to say "Thank you so much mommy. I love it and you sooooo very much!" As you can tell, my puppy dogs light up my life. They are my sunshine. They complete me.

Here are a few pics of puppy presents and them enjoying them. Now if you are like me then you know that you can't just buy one-(1) toy. You have to buy everyone a toy so they don't get their feelings hurt 'cause they don't understand why they didn't get one. So bonus for everyone! :-)

Birthday presents for everyone!

D'Angelo, Sadie and Patti enjoying their toys!

Patti enjoying her birthday toys!

Macy enjoying Patti's B-day toy!

"I will just nibble on it a little bit momma" says Patti

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet, precious Patti Marie! Mommy loves you! :-D

Making Your Own Pet First Aid Kit

Accidents happen (and usually at the worst times). I like to keep things on hand so when they do happen I don't have to frantically run around or go to a store to get things that I need to make my puppy dogs better. If it is a true emergency then you wouldn't even have time to go to a store - you would have to react immediately (timing is very crucial for certain things).

Sometimes you can avoid an emergency room visit by having these things on hand. I know first hand about that. One evening, D'Angelo decided to eat a whole plate of dark chocolate chips cookies that he snuck off our table. You are probably aware that dark chocolate is the most toxic of all chocolate to dogs. He is such a small dog and he ate so much that something had to be done immediately. I frantically called the Animal Emergency Hospital in our area and they said there was no time to get him there before he possibly died from toxicity/poisoning (we lived 30 minutes from the emergency hospital). They told me that I was going to have to do the procedure that they would do if I wanted to save his life. They instructed me to give him Hydrogen Peroxide in specific dosages and at certain intervals so he would vomit the chocolate cookies before they could harm him. I have never seen an animal throw up so much in my life nor had I ever been so happy about vomit before. Poor little D'Angelo - he had a very rough night but wound up being just fine because I had the items on hand and because I reacted so quickly to the situation. Crazy things like that can happen to the best of us and when we least expect it. Okay - so back to the Pet First Aid Kit.

I started buying first aid items for my pups and created what I like to call the "puppy medicine bin". It's very simple, I use a Sterilite 16 Quart Clear Container w/ lid (can be purchased at Walmart, Target, etc or online). You can use anything you like for your Pet First Aid Kit - have fun with it. Since I am a label nut, I made a " Puppy Dog Medicine Bin" label for it so I wouldn't mix it up with the human medicine bin.

Now the next step...what to put in it? First start with the basics like: Pet Sterile Eye Wash, Antiseptic First Aid Lotion, Bayer Baby Aspirin , Benadryl Tablets (consult vet first for specific dosage), Pepto Bismol Tablets (for stomach aches; also check with vet for dosage amt), Gauze Pads, Q-tips, Vaseline, Syringes, Hydrogen Peroxide (to induce vomiting - please consult a vet first before using), a can of dog food, a zipper closure bag of dry dog food and/or a bag of Pill Pockets to help them get medicine down, an Elizabethan collar (a.k.a. E-Collar) so they won't lick or bite their wound and the list goes on.

For a full list of what to put into the Pet First Aid Kit please click here or even here. You can find find the items at your local pet store like Petsmart, Petco or you can order them online at sites like Doctors Foster and Smith.

Before you buy all kinds of over the counter (human) medicines for your pet, please check with your vet regarding what animals can and can't have. Also, dogs can have things that cats can't and vice versa. I know that dogs can have Benadryl, Baby Aspirin and Pepto Bismol. However, (can't remember which one) either Pepcid AC or Imodium AD is not good for animals at all. Also, Tylenol is deadly to animals as are many other human over the counter drugs so please be careful and always ask your veterinarian first before giving your beloved pet any medicine. When in doubt - don't give anything at all.

Don't forget to make a smaller first aid kit or make the one you have mobile so you can take it in the car with you when you travel with your pets. You could possibly save your sweet fur baby's life. Stay safe and happy! :-)

Pet CPR

Okay, so I have been on a safety kick these last few days but I believe you can't ever be prepared enough for an emergency. I am devoting this week to Pet Safety with information and tips to keep your fur babies safe, healthy and happy. 

Hopefully you won't ever have to use this but in case of an emergency it is always good to know how to save a beloved pets life with Pet CPR. Please watch the video below to learn how.

Pet Oxygen Rescue Masks

Photo Source: Invisible Fence Pet Oxygen Mask Donation Program

Do you ever wonder what would happen if your home caught on fire? Not something that crosses your mind very often but a very scary thought indeed.

About 7 years ago, I was walking in a neighborhood while visiting family and I noticed smoke coming from this house. I then heard dogs barking in a panic and my heart almost fell to the ground. The house was in a blaze. We had a neighbor call 911 and all I could think about were those poor dogs inside, possibly being burned alive or dying from smoke inhalation. So what does any animal lover do in a situation like that? They throw caution to the wind and bust down the front door. Which wasn't easy might I add because it was one of those decorative wrought iron doors. All I could think about was if this were my house and my fur babies I would want someone to do this for me. My puppy dogs are my world!

The fire started in the garage from a faulty electrical outlet. I know what you are thinking "That wouldn't happen to me. My home is built sturdy." Well, the owners of this home wouldn't have thought that either - custom built home (I am guessing a price range of $ 700,000). Yeah, you think quality when you hear those numbers but still - a faulty electrical outlet.

My friend and a neighbor tried putting out the fire with water hoses before the fire department got there. The fire almost reached the car parked in the garage. If that would have happened then the house would have blown sky high and everything in it (doggies and all).

I was able to get the puppy dogs out safely but they had obviously inhaled a lot of smoke. Once the fire department got there they tried to give the dogs oxygen but the human masks didn't fit (were too big for animals). Human masks just don't work. The dogs wound up being okay but had to be taken to the vet for special treatment. Needless to say, I never forgot that experience.

Photo Source: Petmask.com

Recently I came across various companies that you can purchase Pet Oxygen Rescue Masks for your local Fire Dept. If you are unsure what Fire Department services your neighborhood then call your local Fire Chief's office or the local Fire Dept Headquarters and they can get that information for you. These masks have saved numerous pets lives that would otherwise have died from smoke inhalation.

Photo Source: Petmask.com

All of this started after firefighters mentioned their frustration from seeing countless animals die of smoke inhalation and fire related injuries. The masks were originally developed for veterinary use but have evolved into rescue masks for firefighters. What an awesome invention! :-)

Some companies that provide the masks or that have donation programs are as follows: PetsAmerica.org, Invisible Fence (donation program), WagN' O2 Fur Life and Pet Mask.com (Help Save A Life). Please check out their websites for more information and videos on how the Pet Oxygen Rescue Masks work.

The Pet Oxygen Rescue Masks aren't just for smoke inhalation. They work for any kind of animal trauma as well. Read here how a Pet Oxygen Mask helped save Zoe's (Chihuahua) life from a hit and run car accident. 

Photo Source: Petsamerica.org (Zoe the Chihuahua)

I called my local Fire Department today and was told that the station that would respond to my home doesn't  have the Pet Oxygen Rescue Masks on their trucks. I will be donating a few sets of Pet Oxygen Masks very soon. Each Fire Dept needs more than one set since they have multiple fire trucks that respond to different emergencies at the same time. Over time I would like to donate several sets to different fire departments in my area so they all will have them for animals in need.  

Photo Source: Petmask.com

Please consider looking into and purchasing some Pet Oxygen Rescue Masks for your local Fire Department. If you are feeling really generous then you (or your employer) might even want to donate money for other Fire Departments across the United States (bonus - all donations are tax deductible). What a great way to give back to the community and help save precious fur babies in the process! :-)

P.S. - Don't forget to purchase some Pet Fire & Safety Alert Window Decals too. They make great gifts for your friends and families with animals.

Puppy Love

A friend of mine knows I love fun, whimsical and unique things. She also knows I LOVE Chihuahua's. She bought me the cutest salt and pepper shakers I have ever seen....Kissing Chihuahua's. They are beyond adorable!

The funniest thing is that the black and tan ceramic Chihuahua looks like my D'Angelo and the white Chihuahua looks like his girlfriend, Paige. What are the odds of that?

I found tons of other whimsical doggie salt and peppers shakers online. You can shop for your favorite breed here.  They also have some for cat lovers and everything in between. So go shake things up! :-D

Go Green In Style

I am all about recycling and trying to help protect the earth. Everywhere you go nowadays you here "Going Green", which I think is great. I came across this great concept for dog beds. It's called Molly Mutt. You take old clothes, blankets, pillows, comforters, etc from your home and instead of throwing them away in some landfill, you recycle them into some of the most adorable pet beds ever. Molly Mutt makes the cutest dog duvets around that you can use with your stuff sack or your existing dog bed for a fabulous makeover in just seconds.

My dogs love their pet beds but sometimes they need to be cleaned. By purchasing a few different covers (why not, they are so affordable), you will always have a gorgeous pet bed even on laundry day - not to mention a new fabulous look. It's also great if you have a pet bed in every room (like I do) or if you get bored like me and like to change things up from time to time. The duvets (which start at $20) are so affordable that you can do just that.

Molly Mutt dog duvets cater to dogs of all sizes and for people like me who have multiple dogs. The duvets come in different shapes (rectangular and round) and an array of stylish fabrics. Have a kitty instead? They also have pet beds for your feline friend too called Molly Meow.

If you would like a comfy, stylish, durable and totally washable dog duvet then Molly Mutt is for you. So treat your pooch to some fabulous fashion and help save the earth at the same time. Visit their website here. Happy shopping!

La Florida

We went to Florida this past week for some much needed R & R. Patti Marie grew up as a beach dog in Florida. She and I would watch the sunrise and set on the beach almost everyday. Those were the days! :-)

We rescued D'Angelo, Macy and Sadie in South Carolina. Until recently, they haven't ever been to the beach. They are little mountain dogs. We took them with us to Florida (wouldn't be a vacation without them). They LOVED the beach! D'Angelo had a blast running through the water and playing in little tiny waves (he is a little low rider ;-) Here's my precious family enjoying some sand, surf and sun.

South Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Cheers To A Great Cause

I love wine and a great cause. Now I can enjoy both at the same time. The Dog Lover's Wine Club is a California-based winery that supports shelters and rescue organizations.

When suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick's house was raided in 2007, 51 dogs were rescued - 22 of those dogs have been and are being rehabilitated by Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. The Dog Lover's Wine Club is honoring these rescued dogs with its Vicktory Dog Wine Collection. Each of the 22 wine bottle labels features one of the rescued and rehabilitated pit bulls. A portion of all sales is donated to Best Friends Animal Society for campaigns to help strengthen laws against and penalties for dog fighting, and for campaigns against legislation to ban specific breeds of dogs.

You can purchase any Vicktory bottle label or all 22 bottle labels here. What a wonderful way to honor these precious animals that were dealt a bad hand. With the help of each bottle purchased these dogs now have a chance at a new life in a loving home as wonderful companion animals. So raise your glass and "salute" a great cause!

P.S. - The Dog Lovers Wine Club also has tons of other wine labels of other rescued dogs. You can also create your own custom label. How cool is that?! :-)