A Dog’s Perspective – Living With Cancer

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Julie Walton

With the help of Gemini, Blue Belle shares her story.

Blue Belle Canine Contributor recovers from Cancer surgery.

My Little Bump: A Dog’s Take on My Mast Cell Tumor

Hey there, fellow humans and doggos! It’s me, Blue Belle, your favorite four-legged philosopher and Canine Contributor. Today, I wanted to chat about something that’s been a part of my life for a while now: my little bump.

It started a while ago, just a tiny little thing on my back leg. At first, I didn’t even notice it. I was too busy chasing squirrels (they never see it coming!), getting belly rubs, and napping in sunbeams. My humans, though, they noticed everything. Their fingers started exploring, and their faces got that crinkly, worried look they sometimes get.

Then came the vet visits. Oh, the vet! Not my favorite place, to be honest. All those strange smells, the cold examination table, and the poking and prodding. But my humans were there, holding my paw (or, you know, my head), telling me I was a good girl, so I tried to be brave.

They called it a “mast cell tumor.” Sounds like a fancy dog biscuit, right? But apparently, it’s not. It’s some kind of a “C-word” that makes my humans look extra sad sometimes. From what I can gather, it means there are some cancer cells in my body that are just a little too excited, causing this bump to grow. So, the vet made me go into a deep sleep, cut out the bump, and then I had to visit a specialist. My oncologist vet, Dr. Hume, is extra nice to me. I really like her. My humans say she saved my life because I got really sick and had to stay over night in their hospital for several days. Dr. Hume and my humans didn’t give up on me. I survived to tell this story.

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Dog Powered Scooter or Trike

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Julie Walton

dogpoweredscooter.com

I have seen people riding their bike holding on to a dog leash with their dog happily running along side their owner. I have always thought “that is dangerous”. Sure, the dog is out for a run, but how safe is it?

I received an email from a man in Oregon, Mark Schuette. He has invented an awesome way for your dog to go for a run with you, a dog powered scooter or a dog powered recumbent trike. Mark says it is best for medium to large sized high drive athletic dogs. It is also appropriate for blind and deaf dogs. Mark has also done a few trikes for handicapped people and wounded war veterans with service dogs.

Elephant’s Best Friend

Posted on August 30, 2025 by Julie Walton

Originally posted January 2009 about this super cool elephant dog relationship. Our dog, Maggie wished she had an elephant friend.

Maggie’s cousin Jessica (she’s a human) sent us a great email about an elephant and a dog. This is so cool. Tara and Bella are very close friends. Bella is a stray dog that found a home in an elephant sanctuary. They are absolutely inseparable. You have to see this amazing story found on CBS News – Assignment America. This Animal Odd Couple Story is a must see video.

Aren’t elephants amazing. Do you want to learn more about the Elephant Sanctuary? The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, founded in 1995, is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for the care of African and Asian elephants. Discover more information on the FAQ page.

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What to Know Before Adopting Your First Dog

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Julie Walton

Guest Blog Post by: Kaytie Elizabeth Pascale, Writer

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?

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Julie Walton

Please Help Boston Terrier Get 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!

Collar Safety Awareness Week

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Julie Walton

Dog’s Speak Up for Collar Safety

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

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.

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A Blog for Dogs and People Who Love Them

Category Archives: Animal Stories