We Love Treats!

Treats in the mail! Yippee!
Kelly and I want to give a big BOL Thank You to St. Louis Senior Dog Project for sending us these goodies! We recently won a contest, and couldn't be more delighted when our prize arrived. I got an awesome navy t-shirt and Kelly got some extra-delicious natural treats from Treats Unleashed . Wow, did she love them.


Let me tell you, these treats looked and smelled fresh from the bakery amazing. Here's Kelly sniffing them right through the envelope. (Kelly's on the windowsill where she sleeps most of the day. What does she think she is, a cat?)













I love the good work this place does. In case you're not familiar, the St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a non-profit organization to rescue dogs (of all ages, but especially 5 years old and up) and to promote the adoption of older dogs.
Here are a few of the senior dogs for adoption and check out their Dog of the Week blog.

Monday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Monday's Pet Roundup!

*How's your dog beating the heat? According to Dogster fans, with wading pools, ice cubes and of course A/C! Kelly doesn't overly-adore her new doggie pool, but she seems to feel much more comfortable after a quick dip.

* Although most of us wouldn't describe a dog shelter as chic...Blogpaws reports on new boutique shelters that offer more upscale pet selection experiences, more like a retail store. Cute, healthy, adoptable pups and kittens are selected from larger shelters and offered at the boutique shelters.The good news is that it helps get pets adopted, and is designed to help put the puppy mills out of business. The bad news is that the older and less "desirable" puppies and kitties still remain in the shelter.

* Now's a good time to consider sponsoring a family through the Animal Rescue New Orleans, a no-kill shelter, Pet Retention Program. Many people have lost their jobs as a result of the oil spill in the Gulf, and every little bit helps enable them to keep their pets fed and healthy... until better times.

* On the topic of tough financial times, here's a related--and touchy --discussion on Get Rich Slowly about giving up pets when in financial crisis. The author (a pet parent and pet lover) poses the question "How long do you keep a pet, even when you can't afford it?" Where do we draw the limits when it comes to spending on our pets? Most of us pet lovers say there's no limit, our pets are part of the family. What other factors play into this decision? This article examines all sides of the issue.

* The above author's vet also provided helpful information on some organizations that are available to help pets and families in need:
-- The PAW Team (Portland Animal Welfare Team) provides free vet care to the pets of people who are homeless or in extreme poverty.
--FIDO (Friends Involved in Dog Outreach) offers a number of programs to assist dog owners, including Animeals (meals-on-wheels for cats and dogs) and a Dog Food Bank (for dog owners in financial need).
-- Cat Adoption Team, which provides a cat food bank.

* For those who want to get even more involved, Petfinder gives us 10 steps to start a pet food bank.

What about you? Do you have a trick to help your pet beat the heat?
How do you feel about boutique shelters? And what can we do in tough financial times to be able to keep our faithful friends?

Monday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Monday Pet Roundup!

* Rachel Baum from Bark: Confessions of a Dog Trainer shares how pet parents often anthropomorphize their pets. I can relate! Isn't Kelly really feeling sad when I leave her home alone? Or hungry when she sees me eating a cheeseburger? Maybe that's why she gets what she wants!

*Love this story in Dogster: For the love of dogs blog about Chloe the pug who rescued his feline friend from a koi pond!

*I just "met" Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll dog. So sweet! Visit him here on Joyful Paws "dedicated to animals whose spirits teach us to live life with a purpose."

* I actually had a dalmatian who fleas seemed to run away from. But most cats and dogs are going to encounter fleas at some point. This post from Pawcurious shares some valuable information on flea control.

*Do you ever wonder about Schnoodles, Goldendoodles and Maltipoos? Here's a thoughtful article over at Pet Connection. I also liked this article "Time to stop littering" about spaying and neutering.

*We all know the benefits of adopting a shelter or rescue pet. But sometimes the connection doesn't last. Petfinder has launched a new program, FurKeeps, designed to KEEP pets in homes.

*A video to make you smile. Petopia has posted this YouTube video for Pedigree dog food featuring beautiful dogs catching treats in the air. The little fuzz-ball at the very end is so cute!

Why do pet adoption organizations ask so many questions?

Scrolling down the rows of adorable photos on Petfinder’s website, I came across a reddish-brown spaniel, about 9 months old, with silky ears and soulful brown eyes. I had to have that dog!

Before I could adopt Kelly, however, I had to pass an interview conducted by Kelly’s Rescue Mom. I anxiously sat on the couch as she scrutinized my home and examined my daily routine. Here are some questions you, too, may be asked when you’re ready to adopt that one special dog:
1. Could you provide veterinarian records?
While it doesn’t matter if your current dog had fleas or your previous dog once hurt its paw, adoption organizations want to see that you sought proper treatment for your pets. They’ll also want to ensure vaccinations were kept up to date. This information will show that you provided good care for your pet, and will care for the new dog as well.
2. Do you own your home?
Some adoption organizations require you to own your own home. Others will ask to see a copy of your lease and the pet policy, if you are a renter. They may ask to talk to, or receive a written consent from, your landlord. Making sure the dog is allowed at its new home helps ensure it won’t have to be returned (or worse, abandoned) later.
3. Do you have a fenced-in yard?
You’ll need a safe area for your new dog to run and play. You may even be required to have fenced in yard before you can adopt a dog. A representative will come to your home to verify this. In addition, they may visit to see if your home is safe, and big enough for the breed dog you are considering.
4. Do you work full time?
Adopting a dog is more difficult for those who work outside the home full time. Many organizations will not adopt to families where no one is home during the day. Others will only adopt older dogs, not puppies, in that situation. Families with staggered or flexible schedules, where one adult is home most of the time, or where an older, responsible child is home in the afternoons, will have an easier time adopting a dog.

5. What are the ages of your children?
Every adoption organization will ask about the members of your household and ages of the children. The SPCA will not adopt puppies less than 6 months old to homes with children under 4 years old. Some dogs are not a good match for young children.

While they may seem firm, these questions help place a dog in the right home, with the best care possible. And, with typical adoption fees ranging from $100-$350, you’ll want to be sure the dog is the right match for you and your lifestyle, too.

And the happy ending for us--we adopted Kelly, and she's a joyful and loving member of our family. Good luck finding your fur-ever friend!
(This first appeared on Guideposts.com, July 2009)