This is the first in a two-part series about adopting a shelter dog – knowing what you’re getting into and can expect. In this post, I’ll take you through what to expect at the shelter, and in Part 2, if you find the right dog, what you can expect when you get it home and how to prepare. What Kinds of Dogs are at the Shelter? There are literally all kinds of dogs at shelters, and by shelters, I’m referring to the city or county public shelters usually know as Animal Care & Control (ACC)....
A recent post in a Facebook group that I belong to caught my attention. A owner lost her two beautiful German Shepherd Dogs to moldy dog food. She and her partner came home and found the first dog had already passed in his crate, covered in bloody diarrhea, while the second dog needed to be rushed to emergency, where less than one day later, due to liver failure and quality of life, he was humanely euthanized. While still in shock, the owners went through everything that could have possibly killed their dogs. They took the...
If you think that only first-time dogs owners make all the mistakes, rest assured that is not the case. I saw this post recently on one of my social media feeds. In short, the owner of two Bernese Mountain Dogs, aged three years and one year, wants to rehome younger of the two. Why? Because the older dog, who is recovering from double elbow surgery, and going to physical therapy can’t handle the puppy exuberance the of one-year-old. But, wait! There’s more! After the initial rehoming post, the owner has now paused the request, because...
For every dog who is not afraid of fireworks, or thunder and lightning for that matter, there’s a dog who is afraid, who may pant heavily, look for someplace to hide, panics and gets destructive, or just plain runs. Here are some quick tips and tricks I’ve learned in how to handle dogs and fireworks (or other loud noises) from close to 35 years of owning dogs. Tip 1: Know where your dog is at all times This can be somewhat difficult especially if you have pool parties, barbeques, and other fun going on, and...
Summer is here and where I live, it’s currently 97 degrees. For many of us, we’re planning, or have planned, our summer vacations and getaways, including our four-legged best friends. So here are some tips about traveling/vacationing with your dog. Whether you’re an experienced or first-time dog owner, take a scan through just to make sure you don’t forget anything. First Aid Kit Toys and Toys e-collar for hiking Make sure your dog is micro-chipped. And if you adopted your dog, make sure the micro-chip is registered to your name and not the previous owner.Be...
Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is now behind us. As we march on to the 4th of July, that means fun in the sun with your four-legged buddy. Whether it’s hiking, jogging, camping, or just going for a walk and throwing the ball, you and your pup are all in for a great summer. But, along with the fun, you have to keep an eye on your pup (just like with children) especially when those temperatures start to soar. If you’re new to being a dog owner, or if you haven’t had a...
This is the first in a three-part series for people who are thinking of surrendering, a.k.a. getting rid of, their dog. Whatever terminology you want to use. In Part 1, I will try to help you decide whether you should part with your pup because of its aggression. Full transparency. I speak from experience because in my almost 35 years of owning pups. I have rehomed two pups because of their aggressive behavior and lived with one until its death, trying to manage it. A shelter’s euthanized dogs. So, if you’re having significant problems with...
I’ve owned, loved and cared for dogs for over 30 years, and I want to help you form and have the same special relationship with your pup that I’ve had with all of mine. And that includes dealing with the problems that occasionally crop up that leave you wondering “am I the only one with this problem” – no you are not. Let’s talk. But first, know this. If you surrender your dog to a shelter that’s run by your city or county, know that this kind of shelter is a kill shelter, because that’s...
No One Came What do these dogs have in common? They were all dumped by their owners at a shelter. They were all euthanized. From Left to Right: Honey, 14 yrs old. Yes, you read that right, dumped at 14 years old. Why? Because a child acted out at a family gathering and the dog nipped, probably out of fear. Knotty, 2 yrs old. Dumped because he’s fearful. Rip Roy, 1 yr old. He was heartworm positive, and too much trouble. Milo, 2 yrs old. The owner never bothered to train him and he was...
Adoption is forever – If you’re not prepared, don’t do it This short video, that a friend of mine shared on Facebook, has haunted me and struck a nerve. The video is about 4 minutes, but is very powerful, and has over 39 million views. The ending is unexpected and the film says more about adoption in three minutes than some films, speeches and websites can say in paragraphs and pages. If you know someone who is seriously considering adopting a pet, please share this video. So many people who want to adopt pups, start out with...
When pet toys kill Noel had just turned seven years old in October 2019. Given recent events, it seems like a lifetime ago, when this purebred snob went rescue at an adoptathon in my local PetSmart. I was still reeling from the loss of my Boston Terrier, Chipper, from brain cancer, when a friend and I spotted a litter of puppies, and I took the dive. His name was “Starry Night” at the time, but before I would adopt/not adopt, I needed approval from the boss, my German Shepherd Czarina. She sniffed him, looked at...
