If you’re on the fence about getting a dog, here are 10 reasons for your to consider getting off that fence. But remember, be 100% sure that you’re ready for a dog before you adopt. I’ll start. No particular order. #1) A reason to get up in the morning. When I was a little girl, my mom told me, “I don’t have time to get sick or hurt. I have to take care of and love you.” That’s why I’m a pup mommy. #2) You learn what unconditional love is. No judgment on how you […]
In the last month, I’ve read four posts in different FB groups I belong to where people are crushed with grief having lost their dogs, one as young as 9 months, to the dreaded medical emergency, commonly known as bloat, or the medical term gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV. What makes this more earth shattering is that bloat is pretty much preventable, and yet most people are completely unaware of what this medical and surgical emergency is all about until it happens to their dog. I’ve owned dogs for over 30 years, and bloat can […]
Did you know that 70% of dog owners do not do any research on dogs before they adopt one? Did you also know that nearly two-thirds of pets adopted were returned within the first two months. Choosing a puppy is a balancing act between your head, your heart, and your instincts. Let me tell you the short story of Nabucco. This is my purebred German Shepherd, Nabucco, whom I adopted in March, 2020, on Friday the 13th. A contractor who was remodeling my backyard deck held up his iPhone one day and showed me a […]
This is the story about a dog who died a needless death at the hands of an out-of-control killing facility known as the New York City Animal Care and Control (NYACC). Just the name “animal care” is an oxymoron. Run my Risa Weinstock, CEO, this shelter may not have one of the highest kill rates in the country, but when it chooses to kill, it doesn’t discriminate between healthy dogs, seniors, and medically challenged. But the euthanasia taking place in this specific case violated not only the stray hold law, but the law of morality. […]
You’ve watched a bazillion YT videos about happy dog-owning people. You find yourself being urged by your dog-owning friends to take the plunge and get a dog. But before you do, answer Yes/No to these eight questions. If you have more yes’s, you’re ready. If you have more no’s, DON’T Adopt! Question #1: Are you ready for a baby? Are you ready for a child? A puppy is a 4-legged baby; a dog, a 4-legged child. If you are not ready mentally, emotionally, physically for a baby or a child, then please do NOT adopt […]
So you’re thinking of starting a pet sitting business or doing pet sitting as a side gig? What are the questions you should be asking the owner of the dog if you decide to do this? Because the questions you ask are what is going to make you in demand. As the owner of four pups, if I hired a pet sitter, I would expect the person to ask me these questions, with the main question being, what is your contact information? For the other questions, I’ve broken them down into five categories. Or, if […]
Not everyone who dearly wants a dog is a child or “young” adult. Our parents/grandparents also crave the companionship and love of a dog. If you’re a senior, or know someone who is, here’s my list of considerations seniors should think about before looking for the right dog to adopt. Let’s take them one at a time. Vision/Mobility The last thing seniors need is to trip, or lose their balance and fall, because they can’t clearly see the dog. Toy/small dogs are usually the 1st choice for seniors, but they’re not necessarily the right choice. […]
For many dog owners, there’s only one answer. Yes. But not so fast. It’s not so much a question of if, but when, if you want a healthy dog. In one of the Facebook groups that I belong to, a member asked the community if she should neuter her German Shepherd. It was amazing to me, as one who has always spayed and neutered my dogs, the number of commenters who replied ‘no’ and that they had no intention of doing so. And for those who neutered their dogs, they said they noticed no difference […]
Is there ever a time when you, in all good conscience and sleepless nights, know that giving up your dog is the best thing you can do for your dog and yourself? The short answer is yes. I did. Her name was Lexus. She went to a better home. But my decision still haunts me to this day. This is Lexus’ story. Lexus was a female Doberman Pinscher. I adopted her as a puppy shortly after my 93-year-old mother, who had been living with me, passed away. I already had two Boston Terriers, but always […]
There are hundreds of social media videos and articles about the German Shepherd Dog (GSD), what great dogs they are, how they’re good with children, how protective they are, their work in the military and police forces. But how many of these videos and articles address the characteristics and traits that are found in successful German Shepherd owners? German Shepherds are the 4th most surrendered dog to shelters across the country. And why do you think that is? My point of view — people getting in over their heads and not realizing how much work […]
Do you have a new puppy in the house, or will be getting one soon? You probably have a list of items that you need — leash, collar, crate, toys, cleaners, etc. but here’s a list of items that people frequently overlook and that aren’t always found on the “getting a new puppy” websites. Microchip When getting a new puppy, make sure you have it “micro-chipped” and that you get the certificate from the vet or the breeder. Over three million dogs enter shelters each year as strays, but less than ~19% are returned to […]
This is the second of a two-part series about adopting a shelter dog. In Part 1, I took you through what to expect when you arrive at the shelter. In Part 2, I take you through what to expect when you bring your shelter dog home. Whether you’re an experienced dog owner who has decided to get another dog to replace a long-departed best friend, add a second dog to your home, or are a new dog owner who needs some coaching, here are some tips I hope you find helpful. On the Way Home […]
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). […]
With this post, I’ll be touching on a subject people don’t necessarily like to think about but is so very important – what happens to your dog if something happens to you. What is your game plan should you become unexpectedly ill, injured, need rehab? Whether this is for a few days … a few weeks… a few months, who is going to take care of your pup if you’re absent from home, or within your own home but incapacitated. You must think about these things. Especially if you are single, or a couple […]
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 […]
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