Category Archives: Animal Stories

What to Know Before Adopting Your First Dog

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Guest Blog Post by: Kaytie Elizabeth Pascale, Writer

Happy adopted dog
Happy adopted dog.

Thinking about adopting your first dog? Congratulations are in order—it’s an adventure and a relationship with an animal that will provide a companionship that’s unmatched. However, making the decision to adopt a dog is a huge life decision, and before you finalize it, there are numerous things to consider and understand before committing to this journey.

Expenses

Before you make the decision to adopt your first dog, you need to determine a few of the basic costs, including the expenses of properly caring for a dog. One of the basic needs of any animal is food. Calculate the cost of food and research how much you’ll need to feed your dog as it gets older and bigger. Many people can overfeed their dog, which may lead to health problems in the future.

Vet bills and medical care are another expense you need to account for. You may want to look at the option and price out pet insurance, but make sure you budget for annual check-ups and vaccines, potential injuries and illness, and an increase in medical care as your dog ages and needs additional care.

In addition to the cost of basic needs, dogs need mental stimulation to keep them happy and prevent undesirable behavior. Be prepared to invest in toys that will keep them mentally stimulated and engaged during the day. You may also want to think about hiring a pet sitter to come to the house to play with them or take them on walks during the day if you work long hours. Another option to check out could be doggie day camp to give them the physical and mental stimulation and outlet they need, while also promoting social interaction.

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Can You Help This Dog See Again?

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Please Help Boston Terrier Get Cataract SurgeryDog needs cataract surgery

When any of our dogs have had health problems, we of course want to do whatever we can to give them the very best medical care. Can you imagine how you would feel if you learned your dog was going blind? Sadly, Our friends Brett and Hillary are dealing with this heartbreaking ordeal in their family. We have known Hillary since she was a young girl and were thrilled to see her get married to her loving husband and bring into their family two cute little Boston Terrier Dogs, Gin and Tonic. We recently heard that 3 year old Gin needs cataract surgery. Poor little Gin wants to play with her brother, Tonic, like she used to before her eyes developed severe cataracts.

We are reaching out to our readers to ask for your help. Hillary and Brett have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the expense of the cataract surgery. Please consider a small donation. I know every little bit will help.

Julie, Murry, and Blue Belle – DogBlog – A Dog’s Eye View

Can You Join Our Family and Help Gin See Again?

GoFundMe Page:  https://www.gofundme.com/helpginseeagain

Please pass it on to your followers. Gin and Tonic will love you for your compassion.  Blue Belle thinks it will be cool too!

Boston Terriers Gin and Tonic

Collar Safety Awareness Week

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Dog’s Speak Up for Collar Safety

By: Blue Belle Walton, Canine Contributor
DogBlog: A Dog’s Eye View

Dog Collar Safety

Hi there dog lovers, Blue Belle here, canine dog blog contributor, grateful rescued dog, and tail wagging happy member of a furever family.

My family wanted me to talk to you about a very serious issue. Today my mom gave me a new collar. She said that this could actually save my life. What is so special about my new collar? It has a feature that makes it come apart if I get my collar caught, so I don’t get strangled. My new collar is a PetSafe® KeepSafe® Break-Away Collar.  Isn’t it pretty.  I really like it.  My mom listened to a video interview from the women who created it.  She invented this collar after she lost her dog Chinook, to a collar strangulation accident.  How terrible!  You can see the video below.

Information about the PetSafe® KeepSafe® Break-Away Collar

The collar features a patented break-away safety buckle that releases when pressure is applied or it gets caught on something, allowing it to fall off harmlessly and reduce the risk of strangulation or injury to the pet. The KeepSafe collar also has a metal D-ring on each side of the breakaway buckle, which can be used to attach ID tags and can also be clipped together with a leash so pet parents can safely walk their dogs using the collar.

We didn’t even know that this was a risk, but my mom heard about the Educational Campaign to Protect Pets from Collar Strangulation Accidents . They call it Collar Safety Awareness Week. We think everyone should help get out the word. Mom said it is urgent to make everyone aware of this safety issue. So listen up, people. Please pass this along. I know your dog will thank you.

Collar Related Injuries

  • Over 19 million dogs wear collars everyday
  • More than 26,000 collar related injuries happen each year
  • 71 incidents per day
  • More than 50% of pet professionals have experienced a collar related incident in pets

Common Causes of Dog Collar Incidents

  • Play Biting
  • Deck Slats
  • Fences
  • Crates
  • Heating/Cooling Vents
  • Shrubs/Bushes

The first annual Collar Safety Awareness Week, October 18-24, 2015, is being launched to educate the public about the risks of strangulation and dangers of traditional collars as part of National Animal Safety and Protection Month.

PetSafe® Interviews Tenney Mudge, Inventor of KeepSafe Collar

PetSafe® Collar Safety Awareness

Blue Belle’s Message to All Dogs and Their Family’s PROTECT YOUR PET WITH A SAFE COLLAR.

Petsafe Collar Safety Awareness Week Infographic

Petsafe Collar Safety Awareness Week Infographic

Fantastic All Natural Dog Biscuits – Nutro Ultra Review

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We Took These Great Dog Treats on Our Vacation

Dog Treat Review By:  Blue Belle, DogBlog Canine Contibutor
A Dog’s Eye View

Canine Vacation - Road Trip

Canine Vacation – Road Trip

Blue Belle here, your dog blog canine contributor. There are two things I absolutely love – going for a ride in the car on a super vacation and snacking on yummy dog treats. My FurEver family took me on a great vacation to beautiful Washington State. We saw rocky mountains and stayed at our favorite pet friendly motel , The Aster Inn, in Cle Elum. We saw a cool waterfall at Snoqualmie Falls, and fields of flowers in the Skagit Valley. We even saw some funny looking kritters.

Nutro Ultra Dog Biscuits and Our Vacation

Nutro Ultra Dog Biscuits and Our Vacation

I must say my favorite part of the trip was eating the scrumpdillyicious dog treats from Nutro Ultra – All Natural Biscuits with Wild BlueBerry and Pomegranate. How did I get to experience such fine delights, you ask. Well let me tell you.

The doorbell rang, I barked (of course). Julie and I went to the door to see a delivery box left on the step. The parcel was from Chewy.com, one of my favorite websites for dog treats. We brought the package in before the stupid squirrels could even think of coming to investigate. I sniffed the box – ooh something smelled so good. Julie opened the box and sure thing, it really did smell good. It smelled like blue berries!

Nutro Ultra Wild Blueberry Dog Treats Arrive

Nutro Ultra Wild Blueberry Dog Treats Arrive

We decided they were the perfect treat to bring on our fun-filled doggie adventure to the great northwest. Every time we opened the package to snatch a treat, we would get a whiff of delicious wild blueberry and pomegranate. The aroma would fill the car and we would smile. So glad we chose to bring these treats on our fun and furry vacation. I totally think you and your pup will enjoy these flavorful dog biscuits, and if you can swing it, hop in your car and take your family on a trip to the Northwest.

Here’s what my dad, Murry, has to say about the biscuits: “I liked the dog treats because Blue Belle really loved them, and I like the smell of them.  They smell so good, I even wanted to eat them.  The Nutro Ultra Biscuits are easy to break apart, about the size of a quarter.  They really get the attention of your dog. One of my main concerns is feeding my pet good quality food and treats.  These treats have lots of antioxidants and a blend of three different kinds of protein, which is ideal for your dog.  So I would highly recommend them.”

Here is the scoop about the All Natural Biscuits Nutro Ultra

Link to Chewy.com Website – Nutro Ultra Biscuits

Nutro Ultra Wild Blueberry & Pomegranate Biscuits Antioxidant Blend Dog Treats, 16-oz

Nutro Ultra All-Natural Biscuits are made with super-premium whole foods to promote the health and well-being of your dog. The unique blend of nutrient-dense, superfood ingredients delivers superior functional benefits to your dog’s vitality. These Wild Blueberry & Pomegranate Antioxidant Blend Dog Biscuits don’t just taste great, they serve a function too. Because blueberries and pomegranate are naturally loaded with powerful, cleansing antioxidants, these treats help support your dog’s immune system, heart health and longevity.

Key Benefits

  • Helps maintain and boost your dog’s immune system
  • Supports healthy heart function
  • Farm-raised chicken, pasture-fed lamb and salmon ensure optimal amino acid levels
  • Packed with antioxidants to help maintain a strong immune system, a healthy heart and sharp mind
  • NO wheat, ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, soy, artificial colors or flavors or fillers
  • Made in the USA

 Ingredients

Whole Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Whole Oats, Oatmeal, Chicken Meal, Flaxseed, Lamb Meal, Salmon Meal, Blueberries, Pomegranate, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Oat Fiber, Dried Plain Beet Fiber, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Egg, Natural Flavors, Tomato Pomace, Dried Blueberry, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Pomegranate, Dried Spinach, Dried Carrot, Dried Cranberry (preserved with mixed Tocopherols).

READ MORE REVIEWS ON THE CHEWY.COM WEBSITE

Share your road trip experiences with us, we love to hear about dog friendly places.

Blue Belle’s Rescue Story

Awesome Designer Pet Food Bowls

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Meet Dylan Kendall, a professional cat rescuer!

Dylan Kendall, a professional cat rescuer

Dylan Kendall, a professional cat rescuer

In her spare time, Dylan helps animal rescues find homes for homeless four pawed creatures. More recently, she was able to trap a starving kitten by her home, who spent an entire night crying for help. All it took was a trap, some yummy cat food, and 10 minutes and the kitten would then forever be spoiled! She brought him inside and gave him time to rest for the night with a litter box, some food and water. He moved so fast, that we named him Rocket. Since he was given flea control the first night, defleaing took place the next day, as well as a much needed bath. Day by day, this kitten has grown to LOVE humans and fellow felines (as well as a 3 legged Chihuahua).

After 4 days, this is Rocket:

Rescued cat T-Rocket

Rocket will be needing a home, soon. We also have a litter of 4 kittens who were born in a manufacturing plant in Long Beach. Those kittens will also be needing homes. You can inquire at Dylan@dylankendall.com

Four Pawed Pet Bowls

But, you see, now Dylan needs your help. Dylan is a ceramist and a home accessories designer. She’s designed dog and cat bowls perched on 4 little paws. They are raised to help enforce healthy digestion. The only thing, is, she needs to successfully fund them on Kickstarter in order to bring them to market. You can pre order your pet bowls through Kickstarter at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dylankendall/four-pawed-pet-bowls If the goal is reached, the pet bowls can start manufacturing right away.

 Go ahead! Check them out!

4 Pawed Pet Bowls

4 Pawed Pet Bowls

Dog Adoption Story – Zolo

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Guest Blogger: Charles Redell

Adopted dog Zolo with Charlie and Alexis

The happy family today.

It’s hard to imagine now, as we plan a four-month road trip across Canada to write a travelogue/guidebook starring our dog Zolo, but when we first got him he wanted nothing to do with me and I wasn’t even sure I wanted him.

My wife Alexis was wanting a dog for a while. But my cat Jake was getting old and I wasn’t keen to upset his life. I’d carried him home cradled inside my jacket when he was just a handful of weeks old. After 14 years together, Jake was too big a part of my life to disrupt his routines that much.

Alexis was willing to wait but that didn’t keep her from searching Petfinder.com for dogs described as “shy” and “quiet” so that if I changed my mind, Jake wouldn’t feel threatened. It was a smart tack to take. Weeks of looking at those pictures worked magic on me. Pretty soon I was dreaming of having two sweet animals cuddled on the couch with me.

Zolo on his first night living with us.

Zolo on his first night living with us.

When Alexis first saw the picture of Zolo on Petfinder he was pretty hard to resist. Big, round dark eyes and tall pointy ears coupled with black and white coloring just like Jake’s drew us both in. That he was rescued on the streets of Taiwan and was a world traveler like Alexis and me, piqued my curiosity further. I was convinced to take a trip across Puget Sound to meet him because he required a quiet household.

When we got to The Big Dog Project, we walked into a house filled with animals of varying sizes and types. Happily for me, these included a few cats. After the uproar that greeted our arrival died down, Zolo was ushered out of his crate and we sat on the couch chatting and giving him a chance to check us both out.

It was immediately obvious that my dreams of cuddling up with him and Jake would not be realized any time soon. Although he completely ignored the cats winding around under his nose, he wouldn’t let my hand get close to him if a woman wasn’t petting him first. As a rescue from Taiwan, we were told he was likely used to being chased by the men there who apparently like to torment the country’s street dogs.

A panel from our webcomic about ZoloThe importance of this fact was not clear to his first family in the States. Brought home by them because they were not able to get pregnant, he was surrendered after only a month because he was meant to be the husband’s companion; a plan Zolo would never agree to.

We spent about an hour sitting with Zolo and taking him for a walk while being interviewed by the woman running the rescue. It was probably pretty obvious to her that, if she approved of us, there was no way we could leave without the little guy. Alexis’ heart had melted and I was obviously ready to try.

Thankfully she approved.

Those first few days couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Jake was none too pleased, though he was tolerant once it was clear he could still rule the roost with an iron paw. Meanwhile Zolo who’d come to us already crate trained, was oblivious to both Jake and me. He spent most of his time in his crate or running to be near Alexis.

After about 6 weeks with us, he started to let me in a bit. I remember the first time that happened. It was on our before-bedtime walk the night of my birthday party that year. He was so obviously happy to be away from the crowd and with just me. I knew we’d finally formed a bond.

I still had to have a lot of patience over the next couple of years to really build his trust. But since Jake passed last year, it’s not crazy to imagine us spending almost six months driving across a continent together. And I still have one sweet black and white pet who will cuddle with me on the couch.

Charles Redell is a writer in Seattle. Along with his wife and dog he’s planning to create a multimedia e-book about their trip across Canada this summer (http://zoloneurotico.com). They’re raising funds on Kickstarter (http://kck.st/10tu9tP) to help pay for the research. They hope you’ll support them with a donation in exchange for one of their great rewards.