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?! :-)