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Faith is a Natural Dog

Faith is a Natural Dog

This dog is simply amazing and inspiring!  She proves that nothing is ever impossible!  Bless you, Faith!

Vote for Penny 2!

Okay, bloggers, here is the update on the St. Louis Metro Pet Photo Contest.  They were having issues with their voting app.  Here is what you need to do to vote for Penny:

1. Head to the Stlmetropet Facebook page.
2. "Like" the page.
3.  Find Penny's picture and click "Like."

Voting ends December 1st!  Please show your love to Penny and vote, vote, vote!  Don't forget to share with your friends as well.  Thank you for your support!

Problems for Penny

Loyal blog readers,

I wanted to let you know that there appears to be an issue with the St. Louis Metro Pet Magazine photo contest.  The links do not appear to be working.  When I tried to view Penny's picture, it states "Out of Subscription."  PLEASE KEEP TRYING TO VOTE!  Head to the Stlmetropet Facebook page and look for Penny's picture.  Then, just click on the "Like" button.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Blanket Blunder

When we rescued Miracle (the kitten), we never intended on keeping her.  We thought that we would just nurse her back to health and send her to a loving forever home.  After just one week, it was clear that that home was ours.

 

Since our bundle of joy was unexpected, we do not yet have the funding to get her de-clawed.  In an effort to keep the couch scratch free, I placed one of my favorite, old blankets across it.  I suppose I should define what I mean by “old.”  The light blue backing is ripped and the stuffing is falling out.  I believe this thing has been around for as long as I have (28 years).

 

Never did I imagine that this blanket would almost be the death of one of our fur babies.

 

My husband and I allow Theo and Adriel to roam free upstairs  because they are the oldest dogs (10 and 6, respectively) and the best behaved.  We know that they are not going to chew on any power cords or leave little “presents” for us to discover later.

 

Upon arriving home from work, I let Theo and Adriel outside.  Then, I do my work out and let the other babies out of their crates.  This particular day, I received a phone call after letting the other fur kids outside.  I heard Adriel snarling and assumed that she had gotten into a scuffle with Miracle.  For some reason, Miracle thinks she can eat dog food.

 

I hung up the phone and began to look for Adriel to make sure that she was okay.  I couldn’t find her.  I tried to remain calm as I went from room to room, opening the door and calling her name.  Then, my mind began to play tricks on me.  Could she have scooted past me when I went out the front door to get the mail?  Was she half way down the street by now?

 

That’s when I noticed Miracle slowly stalking toward the couch.  I crouched on the floor and looked underneath.  Nothing.  That’s when I noticed movement on the side of the couch.

 

There was Adriel, stuck.  The culprit?  The ratty old blanket that I just couldn’t bring myself to part with.  More of the gauzy backing had separated from the top piece and had wrapped itself around Adriel’s neck…twice.

 

My heart was pounding rapidly.  I needed to free Adriel safely and quickly.  First, I removed her collar, thinking that is how she got stuck.  But, when the collar was gone, she was still stuck.  Her breathing appeared to be normal and she was not flailing.

 

I spoke soothingly to her as I raced to my husband’s desk to retrieve a pair of scissors.  Carefully, I cut the binding strands and freed my baby.  I cuddled her for a solid ten minutes.  I was very aware of the fact that I could have lost her.

 

From now on, I am going to be VERY cautious about the types of items that I leave out around my fur babies.  I never would have believed that a blanket could quickly become a death trap.

 

I encourage you to take a good look around your house as well.  If you see any items that could be potential hazards to your pets, remove them immediately.  No blanket could ever mean more to me than my dogs.  It has since gone to “blanket heaven” courtesy of the Waste Management workers.

 

Vote for Penny!

A few weeks ago, I saw a flier advertising a pet photo contest for the soon to be released St. Louis Metro Pet Magazine.  Having five dogs, the decision wasn't easy.  In the end, my husband and I decided to enter Penny, our three-legged fur baby.

We know that Penny has an amazing story that deserves to be told.  She is unlike any other dog in the world.  And her spirit is unbelievable!

You can imagine my excitement when I opened an e-mail today stating that Penny's photo has been selected to be a part of the contest!  Now, I need YOUR help.  To vote for Penny, simply click on the following link:  Vote for Penny. 

Please vote for Penny so that she can spread her message of love and acceptance!  We appreciate your support!

Delightfully Different

From the moment that I laid eyes on Penny, I knew that she was different.  Her severe overbite is quite hard to ignore.  And her deformed front paw turns heads everywhere we go.

When my husband first met her, he told me (and I quote), “She’s ugly!”  But, I completely ignored him as I watched Penny hopping around our living room like a bunny.  It was too late.  She had me wrapped around her little “stump.”

My mom also scoffed at my newest addition.  “She just looks…different.”  That is when I realized my mom was right.

Penny is most certainly different from any other dog that I have ever met.  While she has what some would consider to be “defects,” Penny acts just like her four-legged, normal snouted fur brothers and sister.  She happily jumps on and off of the furniture when playing.  She races Cole (our 21 pound Min Pin) around the back yard and often beats him!

Her spirit is simply amazing.  She has survived being abandoned and left in a shelter to die.  She greets everyone she meets with a wag of her extra-long tail and what can only be described as a smile on her face.

Penny has taught me that being different is wonderful.  And in doing so, I have gotten to meet other fur parents who fell in love with those that are “different.”  Rosie, is the most touching example.  She was a Chihuahua that was the product of backyard breeding by an animal hoarder.  Unfortunately, she was born with almost no hair, an elongated snout and front legs whose bones had fused together, forcing her to crawl on her "elbows."

But, Rosie was also born with the most beautiful blue eyes.  And these eyes saw nothing but goodness and hope.  Upon being rescued, she was soon adopted by a wonderful woman.  She saw saving Rosie as the perfect opportunity to show the world that looking different was a gift and nothing to be ashamed of.

Poor Rosie had her share of health problems due to her previous living conditions.  Sadly, Ms. Rosie passed away this October.  But, her memory lives on through her website:  www.everythingrosie.com.  Rosie’s mom continues to spread the word about the importance of adopting animals from shelters instead of heading to a breeder.  She also strives to teach people to report animal abuse so that others, like Ms. Rosie, can have a second chance at life.

From visiting Rosie’s site, I soon found out about Bunny, the miracle puppy.  She was born with a primary cleft palate, and without eyes!  Unfortunately, many people would have thought Bunny to be “useless” and a “mistake.”  But, Bunny’s rescuers saw a special dog that simply needed love.  Bunny now thrives at the special needs dog rescue, Pulling for Paws. Check out this fantastic pooch on her very own Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bunny-the-Miracle-Puppy/361605037279954

Yet another unique pooch is Emma, the Chihuahua.  This little cutie was born with a cleft palate. To the naked eye, it appears that she is missing part of her nose.  And since her nose is deformed, her tongue can always be seen.  Still, Emma has grown up to be one sensational pup.  She is even in the running for the Guinness Book of World Records for "World's Smallest Dog Model."  Check out her Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfEmmaCleftPalateChihuahua and her official web page at: http://elizabethhart.com/friendsofemma.html.

To me, Penny is just as inspirational as Rosie, Bunny and Tess.  Special needs dogs are just that:  special.  And owning one will change your life forever.

 

Decorating with Dogs

The air is cooler.  The leaves are falling.  It is official:  fall is here!  And along with fall comes one of my favorite hobbies, decorating!

 

My husband and I love Halloween.  We have a small orange Christmas tree that we hang our spooky ornaments on.  And I have amassed quite the stuffed animal collection over the years.

 

However, my dogs also enjoy this time of year (especially Christmas) because new “chew toys” magically appear.   Best of all, these “toys” are on the floor, ripe for the picking.  I’ll admit, I have lost several of my decorations to my fur babies.  And while I was upset at the time, I understood why they did it.

 

How can you explain to a dog that these soft, plush animals that closely resemble their toys are off limits?  I refuse to ban my fur kids from the living room during the months of October, November and December.  I rescued each dog because I wanted to love them and I certainly cannot do that if they are confined to roam around the kitchen.  Plus, that is not teaching them to correct the deviant behavior.  And my dogs will ALWAYS matter more to me than holiday themed plush.

 

To end the chewing fandango, we used an empty Nature’s Miracle spray bottle.  We thoroughly cleaned the bottle and then filled it with cold water.  Next, we took a red Sharpie and labeled the bottle “Water” so as to not confuse it with the actual Nature’s Miracle. 

 

When a dog approached a decoration, we simply fired off a warning squirt.  We always aim for their back, NEVER their face.  Our intention is to change their behavior, not scare or intimidate them.  And since our dogs hate to be wet, this technique works beautifully.  After just a few squirts, our dogs learned what items should be left alone.

 

Since my birthday is on Christmas Day, you can imagine what the inside of our house looks like in December.  I’ll just say that the Grinch would hate us the most (and need a huge sleigh to steal our stuff).  I have four large Winnie-the-Pooh plush that stand about three feet tall.  For the past two years, my dogs have decided that these look like great items to tinkle on.

 

What perplexed me the most was the fact that they did this year after year.  And the water bottle trick would not deter them.  I then came up with an idea.

Upon bringing any plush items into the house, I immediately spray each item with Nature’s Miracle.  This product is used to eliminate pet odors and staining when they have accidents in the house.

 

After placing the items throughout the house, I then release my dogs.  Much to my surprise, they simply sniffed them and walked away.  They didn’t try to chew or mark them for the entire month.

 

I was amazed!  I think it may have to do with the fact that each time they had an accident in the house, we would squirt them with water and then immediately clean up the spot with Nature’s Miracle.  I truly believe that dogs are smart enough to connect the scent of Nature’s Miracle to the memory of being squirted.  So, in correcting one bad behavior, we discovered that we were actually correcting two!

 

Needless to say, this trick has saved many a decoration.  I hope that these tips will help you to enjoy the upcoming holiday season with all of your fur babies!

Troublesome Training

Life with the fur babies is not always wonderful.  Sure, it is easy to dress them up and post thousands of photos on Facebook.  But, what happens when an issue emerges?

 

This is the current fate of Peppe (our Chinese Crested).  When we adopted him, he seemed like the perfect addition to our pack.  He is sweet, gentle and very loving.  My husband and I were able to dial the affection down just a bit so that he no longer trips us when we walk from room to room.

 

However, he has begun to "go potty" in his crate...every day...and every night.  The odd thing is that he is also using the restroom outside.  Very strange, indeed.

Matt has been wonderful enough to clean up Peppe's crate each time.  Then, we would be quick to give him a bath and slather him with coconut oil.  But, this is routine was wearing very thin on Matt's patience.  That is when he uttered these scary words:  "I just don't know about Peppe."

I was heartbroken!  I didn't want to give Peppe away.  He is a member of our family.  Yet, at the same time, I could understand my husband's frustration.  Why is he going inside where he sleeps?

Like any good mother, I scoured the Internet looking for answers.   I discovered that many rescue dogs have never been fully house trained or have only been partially so.  I then had "the talk" with my husband.

Did Matt truly love Peppe?  Was he willing to work with him to break this yucky habit? Or was this behavior the final straw?

Unfortunately, we have been spoiled by our other fur babies that were super easy to train.  But, just like children, each one is different and learns in different ways.

Matt came up with a unique idea.  We would go to the local dollar store and purchase five towels.  Then, if/when Peppe soils one, we simply remove the dirty towel, place it inside a special bin until it is washed and then place a new towel in his crate.

And you know what?  This is actually working (unlike when we tried using a blanket)!  Peppe is clean, happy and loving life.

Plus, this experience taught me something:  we are truly a family.  We take the ups with the downs and work together to find solutions to get through tough situations. 

Watch This: Dogilates - The Best Workout For Your Pet! at BaxterBoo

Watch This: Dogilates - The Best Workout For Your Pet! at BaxterBoo

This video is hilarious!!

Fur vs. Flesh

It appears that a great division is forming within our nation.  No, it has nothing to do with politics.  The chaos is being caused by...fur parents!

This term has become quite popular within the last few years.  And there certainly is no lack of propaganda.  I own a t-shirt that reads "Dog Mom" and proudly display a magnet on my car that reads the same.

But, not everyone is happy with this term.  Who, you may ask?  Those that have human children.  To them, fur parents are two steps away from being carted off to a padded room.

Clearly, we are crazy because we speak to our pets (like they do to their babies) dress them up (like they do to their children) and make them a part of our families.

Quite honestly, I have never felt the dire need to be mother, like so many women claim to have had.  The idea of waking up at all hours of the night to feed and change a baby just doesn't appeal to me.  Don't get me wrong, I am certainly glad that my mother wanted to, but, it isn't a part of my life plan.

So, the battle begins. Many people seem to think that fur parents are not able to have children and are compensating with animals.  Really?  I don't remember reading anywhere in the Constitution where it states that all married couples MUST have children.  Yet, we are judged as "freaks" for exercising our right to not create a life.

More ridicule comes when we refer to our animals as "fur babies."  I don't see why this term is so offensive.  We take care of our dogs just like any human takes care of its' child.  We take them to the vet for check-ups; we buy them food and treats; we provide a loving home where the dogs are safe.

But, because we did not birth our dogs, we should not call them "babies" or ourselves "parents."  Interesting.  I remember the time that Adriel began yelping for no apparent reason.  Any time you tried to touch her or pick her up, she would let out a blood curdling sound.

Matt and I were scared.  I cried because more than anything, I just wanted to hold and comfort her.  Yet, my touch seemed to only bring her pain.  We took her to our vet where she was given an antibiotic.  However, in three days, she continued this bizarre behavior.

Of course, she decided to do this on a Sunday evening when all of the local vets' offices were closed.  Without hesitation, we carefully loaded her into the car and drove for an hour to Hawthorne Animal Hospital.  Even after the $100 check-up and medicine, she was still yelping.

Our vet thought she may need a cat scan.  We were terrified.  Luckily, the vet prescribed prednisone, of all things, and Adriel's pain was gone!

Doesn't the above story sound just like what a child's parent would do?  If your child is sick, don't you worry?  If his/her condition worsens, do you not take them to the Emergency Room at the nearest hospital to try to get them the best treatment possible?  Us fur parents may not be so different from the human kind after all.

I think where people believe we cross the line is when we choose to dress up our animals.  I will agree that I do not think animals need to wear clothing 24/7.  But, I see nothing wrong with dressing them up for Halloween or Christmas.

Every year, Petsmart holds a costume contest the Saturday before Halloween and offers a photo opportunity in front of a spooky background.  How is this any different from taking photos of your child all dressed up for Halloween?  Keep in mind, my husband and I are NOT actually going around the neighborhood trick-or-treating with our dogs.  We like to dress them up FOR the trick-or-treaters that stop by.

Petsmart also offers a photo with Santa every weekend in December.  My husband and I have a collection of "ugly" dog sweaters that we like to make our dogs where.  It is a funny commentary on the old style family Christmas photos.  Once again, how is this any different than dressing up your child and taking him/her to the mall to wait in line for your photo opportunity with the man in red?

I used to be embarrassed of how many dogs I have.  But, then I discovered that there are actually a lot of people out there just like me.  The more dog centered events that Matt and I attended, the more we met people who felt the exact same way about their pets as we do.

And we found out that we are actually part of a very large fur parent population.  It is wonderful to feel the love and support from fellow animal lovers at these events.  A sort of animal support group, if you will. 

Have you also noticed the emergence of specialty shops for dogs?  Treats Unleashed and Three Dog Bakery come to mind.  They sell everything from homemade treats to healthy food and everything in between.  Plus, pets are encouraged to come in to the stores.  And one of the new strip malls in St. Louis, MO welcomes pets

Yes, we love to brag about our fur babies and their many talents.  Let's face it, if you owned a three-legged dog that could jump over a pet gate, wouldn't you brag about her, too?  This is no different from a parent whipping out photos of their child or talking about their latest finger painting.

Play dates and birthday parties are staples in a child's life.  Why does this concept suddenly become strange when animals partake in these events?  Animals need to be socialized.  And why wouldn't we celebrate the birthday of the pets that are such a huge part of our lives?

So, why all the hostility?  We are not trying to diminish or mock the importance of people parents.  We are simply asking to be acknowledged as parents in our own right.

Limiting Love

It was never my intention to own five dogs and a cat.  But, whenever I see an animal in need, I can’t not help.  Somehow, my husband and I always find room for one more.

I also never said it was easy.  My husband and I are certainly not millionaires.  And vet bills don’t ever seem to get cheaper.  Still, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

That being said, I was very upset to find out that counties and cities place limits on the number of animals that you are allowed to own.  I understand that the powers that be are trying to prevent noise pollution, but, that can be attributed to a careless owner.  We are always quick to nip any excessive barking in the bud.  Who wants to hear a pack of dogs barking for hours on end?

Yet, we still have a neighbor who lives down the street that allows its’ dog to bark continuously.  And the dog is small and kept indoors!  I must say, it does drive me crazy.  I can’t fathom how the owner can put up with it.

Then, there is the fear of over breeding.  However, the counties and cities also include that the animals must be spayed/neutered.  And I agree with this wholeheartedly.  I cannot tell you how many kittens have been discovered in our town within the last three weeks.  We do need to control the pet population, as Bob Barker always suggested.

But, my real issue is with the word “hoarding.”  To me, hoarding occurs when you have an outrageously large number of animals, say 15 or more.  There is no way that a person can afford to take care of that many animals.  The food bill alone would be enough to cause someone to go bankrupt.  Dog food is not cheap!

And I also tend to think of hoarders as abusive.  They do not see to the needs of their animals, physical and social as well as their basic needs.  Then, fights between the large groups of animals occur because life becomes a survival of the fittest.  This is certainly no way for an animal to live.

However, there are some hoarders that simply love animals.  My husband and I were watching a show about the Animal Task Force in Florida.  Two officers approached the home of a woman who was hoarding 13 dogs.  But, the dogs were all being well cared for.  They had plenty of food and water and were even kept inside the house.  There were no signs of abuse.  Just an abundance of love.

The woman claimed that she was simply trying to foster dogs that were about to be euthanized at the local shelter.  She had no intention of keeping them all and was in the process of finding them forever homes.  I could totally relate to this woman! 

My heart breaks whenever I see dogs at charity events wearing the “Adopt Me” sign.  I want to take them all home with me where I know that they will be given the love and attention that they deserve.

The officers told the woman that she had two weeks to find homes for the dogs or the dogs would be taken back to the shelter and she would be fined (and possibly face jail time).  Within the two weeks, she managed to find homes for all but four of the dogs and I believe that she owned two of them.  This is an example of a good hoarder.  She meant the dogs no harm, but to give them hope and a second chance at life.

I feel that if you have the means to support the animals and they are spayed/neutered and well-behaved (no dog fighting rings or late night bark fests), that you should be allowed to own as many animals as you wish.  This is the United States of America where we pride ourselves on having freedoms that are denied to the citizens of other countries.  Yet, the government seems to continue to whittle away at these freedoms by constantly placing limitations on them.

What agitates me even more is that some people appear to be exempt from the rules.  Why?  They are famous!  I read in one magazine article that Mariah Carey owns 22 Jack Russells.  Twenty-two!  How do you get away with something like that?  Bribe the city officials?  Bribe the police officers?

Then there is Paris Hilton.  She recently posted a video of her seven dogs on Instagram.  They were all sitting in their “doggie mansion,” as she called it.  And it truly was!  A chandelier was dangling above their heads.  A sweeping staircase led up to a second level that was decorated in a princess motif.  I have to admit, it looked nicer than my house!

So, why are these ladies able to get away with breaking city ordinances?  I once inquired of our local government what it would take to be able to raise the limit of how many dogs we can own.  I was told that our house would have to be re-zoned as a kennel.  A kennel!  Then, our taxes would skyrocket due to the re-zoning.

Of course, many people simply say, “Adopt as many as you want.  Who’s going to find out?”  But, I would prefer to go about it the legal way.  And I am positive that I would not be able to pay the fine that I would receive and could NEVER be able to make the gut wrenching decision of which dog to “get rid of.”

However, when volunteering at an adoption event for a local rescue group, I met a woman who told me that she currently had 14 dogs in her house.  She was very secretive about it and said, “My vet gives me the dogs that nobody wants.  I take care of them while he tries to find them a home.  This way, they stay out of the humane societies and are not in danger of being euthanized.” 

As it turns out, there are many of these secret “underground dog railroads” within the area.  No one is trying to break any rules.  They are simply trying to save lives.

The government does not place a limit on how many children a family can have.  If they did, the Duggars would be in serious trouble!  We would revolt and tell the government that they are being unconstitutional.  So, why are those that are choosing to have animals instead of children being penalized?

I have seen plenty of people who have had a large number of children that were not truly able to care for them.  So, what does the government do?  They offer food stamps and other provisions to help ease costs for such families.

Unlike dogs, humans have the ability to reason.  If you know you cannot support six children, why do you continue to have them?  Then, these families become a burden to the entire nation as a portion of our tax money goes to help meet their basic needs.

I hope that other fur parents feel the same.  We need to stand together and speak for those that don't have a voice.  The government should not place a limit on love.

 

Posh Purebreds

I love to watch the American Kennel Club Dog Show on Thanksgiving Day.  In fact, it has become a staple in our Thanksgiving Day traditions.  My Grandma wouldn’t miss it for the world.

And while I think it’s amusing to watch the dogs parade around the ring, I am also reminded of the snobbery of the event.  This made me think about purebreds in general.

Some people insist on only adopting purebred dogs.  They MUST have papers that show a ridiculously extensive blood line that can be traced all the way back to the dog that stepped onto Noah’s ark.

But, I wonder, what exactly do these papers prove?  Okay, so you know who your dog’s great-great-great grandmother was.  Who cares?  A dog’s lineage has absolutely nothing to do with the dog itself in terms of how he/she will behave as a pet.

I think it would be wonderful to have such papers only to be able to trace potential genetic diseases, such as diabetes, that could come to affect the dog.  Beyond that, it is all mere puffery.

My Grandmother used to be that way.  She only wanted to adopt Poodles.  And of course, they were all registered with the AKC and had papers.  After the passing of her last poodle, she adopted a purebred Shih Tzu.  Once Benji passed, Grandma swore that she would never get another dog.

It just so happens that my husband and I did a brief stint as foster parents for a local rescue group.  At the time, we were fostering this sweet, long-haired Chihuahua named Tiggy.  She had the perfect temperament and the most beautiful coat that I had ever seen.  I knew that she would be perfect for my Grandma.

Sure enough, Grandma was smitten.  And, she didn’t even ask if Tiggy had papers.  She could care less if Tiggy is a purebred or a mixed breed.  All she knows is that Tiggy is the love of her life and her truest companion.

Similarly, our Chihuahua, Domino, is known as  a Blue Merle.  This has to do with the coloration of his coat.  Also, his eyes are sky blue.  He is the most adorable dog and turns heads wherever he goes.  But, the American Kennel Club views his unique coat and eyes as “defects.”  Therefore, Blue Merle’s are not recognized by the AKC and are not allowed to enter into AKC sponsored events.

So, racism is now being extended into the dog world?  People are actually discriminating my dog because of the color of his coat and eyes?  Through much research, my husband and I have discovered that the Blue Merle’s tend to develop hearing problems and have a high risk for blindness in old age.  Don’t most dogs end to lose their hearing and have mild vision problems as they age?  Humans certainly do.

But, the real issue is the coloration of his fur.  While none of my dogs are “show dogs,” I am still greatly displeased by such snobbish behavior.  Dogs should be loved and appreciated for their spirit and personality.  Not treated as outcasts for the way that they look.

Perhaps this is why so many dogs remain in shelters and humane societies throughout the country.  They are being judged because they are not deemed “perfect” in someone’s eyes.  My fur babies are the poster children of abuse and rejection.  Adriel has a tongue that is longer than her head, causing her tongue to always hang out.  Penny has a severe overbite, deformed front paw, strangely large ears and a decidedly long tail.

Because these dogs look different, they are viewed as “undesirable,” “unlovable.”  When nothing could be further from the truth.  Both Adriel and Penny are attention divas and instantly warm up to new people and dogs.  Adriel is even a certified Therapy Dog who brings joy to others through touch therapy.  People love to see her tongue sticking out.  And children simply adore these two.  Plus, they have the best temperaments that I have ever seen in a dog.  These dogs were made to love.

I’d like to think that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would extend his “I Have a Dream” speech to all of the creatures on this earth.  As a nation, we should not be teaching our children that animals who look different from “the norm” is a separate concept from people that look different than us.  It is one and the same.

We need to stop these misconceptions from spreading.  We must lead by example and show that ALL animals are deserving of love.  In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “The greatness of a society and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.”  

Powerful Pooches

I never thought that my husband and I would come to own a three-legged dog.  But, something about Penny just drew me in.  Every time I went back to www.Petfinder.com, I bypassed all of the puppies and “normal” looking dogs and kept staring at Penny.

 

How did her front left leg turn out to be the way that it is?  Why did three of her legs manage to form properly, but not the fourth?

 

From my previous post that introduces you to Penny, you will remember that we thought she would need special care.  We were blown away when she preceded to jump on our furniture, bed, kitchen chairs, etc.  Clearly, we knew nothing about three-legged dogs.

 

And I don’t believe that most people do.  We just attended the Belleville Humane Society’s Races for Rescues walk on Sunday.  Instead of taking our whole pack, we decided to split it in half and just bring three (way more manageable than six!).  But, we never leave home without our pet stroller.

 

I’m sure that many people thought we were being cruel by making Penny walk and placing Adriel and Domino in the stroller.  But, Penny was loving every second of the walk.  She was hopping like a bunny through a carrot patch.  Her ears were flopping up and down like crazy and we thought that she might actually take off flying!

 

Everyone that saw her was amazed.  She was even out walking other four-legged dogs!  “Look at her leg!”  people would say.  And of course, “Awww, that poor dog!”

 

Why are we so quick to label three-legged dogs as being “disabled?”  Nothing about Penny’s stumpy leg or severe overbite prevents her from doing anything that a “normal” dog can do.  In fact, her front right paw is much larger than her other paws because it has become stronger since she uses it so much to compensate for her other leg.  We lovingly call it the “super paw.”

 

As we watched Penny continue to bound down the walking trail, I said to Matt, “It’s amazing that she knows how to walk on three-legs.”  To which Matt replied, “Well, she was born that way.  To her, this is how “normal” dogs walk.”

 

So true!  Penny has never known any different.  Unlike the three-legged Husky dog that we saw at the walk.  He undoubtedly lost his leg due to a medical condition.  But, even with one of his back legs missing, he was keeping up with his owner, who was briskly jogging.

 

Recently, I also came across the story of Two-legged t-rex.  The dog is a Chiweenie who was born without front paws.  Instead, he has two little numbs on the ends of legs.  Again, my  initial reaction was, “That poor little thing!  How does he survive?”

 

I should have known better.  Upon checking out the Youtube video on the dog’s Facebook page, I saw that he was no different from Penny…or Theo, Adriel, Cole, Domino or Peppe.  He was able to walk around by using his back legs propulsion and his front legs for support as he scooted around his owner’s living room.  There is even footage of him playing fetch in the back yard!

 

Dogs have such strong spirits.  They persevere through the most horrific situations and prove to the world just how tough they are.  And they do it all while wagging their tail as if to say, “Okay, world.  Is that all you got?  I can handle it!”

 

Humans can learn so much from these inspiring creatures.  Dogs teach us that it’s not about what we don’t have, but how we use what we do have.  So, the next time you come across one of these unique pooches, save your sympathy and watch as these dogs tackle life with courage, strength and love. 

Cliche Costumes

Fall is my favorite time of year.  And even though I hate scary movies, I love Halloween.  Since I am the mother of six fur babies, I also greatly enjoy dressing them up in costumes.

 

Every year, my husband and I attend Bark in the Park, Canine Carnival and Celebrate Spot.  Each of these events offers a costume contest.  We try to come up with unique concepts that have not been overdone.  One of our favorite creations was the infamous “rally squirrel” from the St. Louis Cardinals. 

 

We already owned a squirrel costume and we found a dog Cardinal’s jersey at the Cardinal’s Dug Out store.  So, we simply put the jersey over the squirrel costume and…voila!  Rally Squirrel!  My husband got so excited at Bark in the Park because people kept coming up to him and asking if they could take Theo’s (our long-haired Chihuahua/rally squirrel) picture.

 

Naturally, we thought we would be a shoe-in for first place.  As Matt walked Theo around the staging area, people went crazy.  “It’s the rally squirrel!” they cheered.  Imagine our extreme disappointment when we didn’t get first place…or second…or even third!

 

Guess what won first place?  Yep, the old Dachshund-dressed-as-a-hot dog routine.  We have seen this combination at every single dog event that we attend.  We get it!  It’s a wiener dog dressed like a wiener.  Clever.  Now, get over it!  There is no originality to this concept at all.

 

Second place was given to a very cute dog dressed as a pilot, complete with doggie goggles.  That was adorable.   But third place was a complete joke.  It was a dog in a purple t-shirt that had a picture of Minnie Mouse on it.  Seriously?  And this dog was already a co-mascot for the event!  I don’t think it should have been allowed to enter the costume contest.

 

As I was looking through the costumes at Petsmart the other day, I noticed something:  there is hardly any variety!  You see the same costumes year after year.  The cow, prisoner/”bad dog,” cheerleader, angel and “rufferee” always surface.  I was excited to see that Disney is stepping things up by offering complete Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore costumes.  Great if you have as many dogs as I do!  Sesame Street has also come out with at least five different costumes of their most beloved characters, including Big Bird.  But, these costumes also come with a pretty price tag.

 

So, as I perused the less expensive costumes, I became very disappointed.  This year, some of the “costumes” are screen printed t-shirts.  Check out the police officer, doctor and French maid costumes in the store.  You will see what I mean.  I actually have a police offer costume and it is so much cuter.  There are actual felt handcuff attached to the felt belt along with a stuffed night stick.

 

Why are there not more creative options?  I remember dressing Adriel up as a Flapper from the 1920’s.  She was darling!  Everyone at the event agreed, yet, she didn’t even place in the contest.  What gives?  I am also beginning to question the judges’ judgment.  What does it take for a dog to win?

 

At the Canine Carnival in 2012, I saw the most creative costume.  There was a dog that was covered in Polaroid photos of him with his family.  A brown piece of cardboard hung from around his neck with a small tube sticking out of the front.  I had thought that he was a camera.  What I could not see (due to the shirt covering the dog’s body) was the fact that the dog had three legs.  He was a tripod!  I loved it!  Not only was it a super creative and outside-of-the-box idea, but, I loved how it embraced the fact that the dog had a disability.  I was very happy that he won first place.

 

Since I am a very proud dog mom, I will tell you that Adriel did manage to win the Best Dressed Golden Paw Trophy at the 2012 Celebrate Spot event.  She was an angel with this amazing little halo that actually was suspended above her head!  I think her tongue birth defect helped greatly.

 

Still, I would love to see more originality in the dog costume department.  As dog parents, we need to come up with concepts that truly showcase our dogs’ personality.  So, please, put the hot dog costume back on the rack and look to your pooch’s spirit for inspiration.

 

Perturbing Petsmart

My husband and I love to shop at Petsmart.  We have the Pet Perks card (of course).  They have such a wide variety of items, like dog clothing!

Each October, they hold a special Halloween bash.  For $10, you can bring in your costumed pooches and have their photo taken in front of a spooky scene.  You will also receive a collectible Halloween themed frame to proudly display your picture in.  And the best part?  Half of the money raised from the sales of the photo frames goes to help homeless pets.  Score!

We have taken our dogs for the past two years and have had a blast!  They even hold a costume contest in their training room.  But, I have to admit, last year's photo shoot was anything but fun.

The staff had no idea how to work the digital camera that they had been given.  We were the first people in line and had to have the photo re-taken....six times!  We had all five of our babies with us and by this time, they were very restless.  They like to move and we NOT thrilled about having to sit still again.

When the photo was finally printed, it looked like an amateur had taken it.  The picture was zoomed out as far as it could go, so the Halloween backdrop looked like a huge piece of decorated cardboard (which it was).  Plus, you could see some of the isles in the store.  Not exactly the family portrait I had wanted.

Upon a recent trip to procure a third collar for our kitten, we noticed a large cardboard display for their Halloween events.  Sure enough, there was the photo event.  But, something had changed.  Now, the sign reads:  "Come and take your own photo of your pet in front of a spooky scene."  What?  You have to bring your dogs AND take the photo?  I could do that at home for free!

That got me thinking.  "Are they still going to be offering the exclusive photo frames?" I asked my husband.  He decided to ask a sales associate.  After talking to three separate people, the answer:  No.  They have done away with the frames.

I am officially bummed!  I honestly looked forward to that every year.  And I know that this event makes a lot of money for Petsmart.  So, why are they scaling it back?  The associate did remind us about the costume contest, but, we never win and don't want to make our fur babies have to sit in the store forever.

While my sadness about this fandango is beginning to fade, I am worried about one thing:  the Christmas photo with Santa.  Will this be done away with, too?  Shame on Petsmart for not understanding that to some people, their pets are their children and they want to commemorate adorable holiday moments with unique photos.

Prohibited Pets

My husband and I love to attend charity walks.  We have many that are close to our hearts.  Naturally, we also love to take our fur babies with us.  Typically, we are the “talk of the walk,” so to speak.  It is a bit unusual to see five dogs in a huge pet stroller.

 

While double checking the itinerary for PurpleStride 2013, there was a large note at the bottom of the screen in bold print.  It read:  Pets are prohibited at all Pancreatic Cancer Action Network events.

 

What?  We have been attending PurpleStride for 3 years and have taken our dogs for 2. The volunteers used to hand out purple bandannas specifically for dogs.  So, why the sudden ban on pooches? 

 

We have been to enough dog events over the years to realize that not everyone pays attention to their dogs the way that we do.  My husband and I bring a backpack filled with items that we might need:  doggie sun screen, treats, Paw Stick, water bottle with drinking tray, etc.  But, many in attendance place their dog (s) on a long leash and hardly watch what they are doing.  We have heard and seen several dog fights.  On the other hand, we have seen very responsible owners that have the leash/muzzle combo on their pooches and who NEVER leave them unattended.

 

I realize that the problem is not just whether or not the dog owner (s) are responsible.  A great deal of it has to do with children.  This also bleed into the responsible parent issue.  Allow me to share our very scary child/dog incident:

 

Matt and I had loaded the fur babies into the stroller and were happily walking around Cricket Park for the Missouri Humane Society’s annual Bark in the Park event.  We loved looking at all of the dogs and vendors.  It was almost time for the costume contest, so we decided to grab a seat early and start dressing up our babies.  Once the babies were dressed and placed back in their stroller, Matt and I began to talk.  We were not looking at the stroller because we were sitting right next to it and knew that we had it zipped shut.

 

That’s when we heard the sound of a zipper.  I whipped my head around in time to see a little boy opening the front zipper to the stroller to get at our dogs.  Matt jumped up and told the boy, “No!” and quickly closed the flap.  Where were this boy’s parents?  How could you leave your child unattended in an area that is filled with dogs?  Dogs that you don’t know.  Big dogs that could easily hurt a small child.

 

I was shocked and scared.  Our dogs are very well behaved, but, they have all been abused.  Theo was even abused by children.  But, try telling that to an angry parent whose child has just been bitten by said dog.  Do you really think that they will want to hear that it is their fault for not watching their child?  Of course not!  The dog is demented and needs to be euthanized!

 

Thankfully, none of that happened.  We calmly explained to the boy that he needs to ask to pet one of our dogs and we will be sure to pick out our friendliest pooch.  That is when Matt came up with a great idea.  He purchased a small padlock that fits very nicely through the bottom two zipper holes.  When we head to an event, the front flap stays zipped and locked, leaving only the flap on top to contend with.  And I doubt that there is a toddler tall enough to reach the top of the stroller.

 

That being said, flash forward to PurpleStride.  We sadly left our dogs at home and made the journey to Forest Park.  When we met up with the rest of our team, I noticed something:  THERE WERE DOGS PRESENT!  I was furious!  Had the e-mail been wrong?  Had I left my dogs behind for no reason?  That’s when I saw the sign, bold as brass on one of the event gates: NO PETS ALLOWED (SERVICES DOGS ACCEPTED).  Let me tell you, these dogs were definitely NOT service dogs!  And having a certified therapy dog, I know what types of identification that service dogs need to have:  special tags, special vests with service dog patches, etc.

 

And none of the owners were told that their dogs could not stay!  What gives?  If you are going to make a rule, then you need to be fair across the board and say, “I’m sorry, not pets allowed.”  It was on the e-mail that all participants received.  What I wonder is if the number of dogs comes into question.  If I would have just brought Penny, would the volunteers have said anything to me?  You can rest assured that if I rolled up with all five in the stroller, I would have been told to leave.

 

While I will continue to support pancreatic cancer research, I will forever be disenchanted with the enforcement of rules and policies at the PurpleStride event.  Hopefully, more dog owners will stand up and voice their unhappiness as well.

Penny Turns Two

Penny Eats her Birthday Cookie

Little Dog On The Prairie

Would you have guessed that underneath this covered wagon is a cute, female doxie with a wheel chair??  Too cute!

Branded Beagles

While checking my daily Facebook new feed, I discovered something horrific.  What I thought was going to be a cute video of Beagles playing in the grass turned out to be one of the saddest videos that I have ever seen.

 

A group of Beagles was recently rescued from a  United States laboratory.  A laboratory!  They each had a federal government i.d. number tattooed behind their ears!

 

I have never been more ashamed to be an American.  I remember occasionally reading the label on my make-up and noticing that it said, “We do not test our product on animals.”  Quite honestly, I thought it was a government regulation.

 

Then I find out that it is our government that is allowing this heinous behavior.  Why would you ever test anything on an animal?  Especially a dog!  While I love all animals, great and small, I do not have a problem with testing medical treatments on rats.  Probably because they are, well…rats!

 

But dogs?  They are meant to be companions.  The one friend that you can always count on to love you unconditionally.  They are NOT science experiments!

 

What also greatly disturbs me is that this is reminiscent of the Holocaust.  The Jewish people in Germany were tattooed with i.d. numbers.  Inhumane “experiments” were conducted on them as well.  If we, as the United States of America, thought this was bad enough to go to war over, why are we doing the exact same thing only to our animal population?

 

Thankfully, none of the Beagles appear to be harmed.  None have any body parts missing or “altered.”  But these poor pups first experience with humans will haunt them forever.

 

I cried as I watched the rescue group let the dogs outside for the first time in their lives.  At first, they huddled in the back of their crates.  Why in the world should they trust humans?  I’m sure that they probably thought another “test” was about to be inflicted upon them.

 

Slowly, but surely, one brave Beagle stepped out onto the grass.  Seeing that their fellow friend was safe, the other dogs quickly followed suit.  The Beagles finally had their freedom.

 

Freedom.  We, as Americans, pride ourselves on having this luxury.  Yet, we seem to deny freedom to so many.  And now, we are subjecting defenseless animals to life in a box.

 

My dog, Adriel, was rescued from a breeder where she had been kept in a cage her entire life.  Due to being on the cage flooring, she never developed her leg muscles.  Adriel cannot jump like other dogs.  I have to pick her up and place her on the couch, bed, etc.

 

Domino, my Blue Merle, was an owner return.  His previous owner was an older woman that had two other dogs, whom she confined to a small space.  When I first brought him home, he would just run in tight, small circles.  This is called “circling.”  Because he had been in such a small space, he was not used to being able to have room to roam.  He, like the Beagles, had never been outside.

 

I cannot fathom why our government is taking part in this despicable process.  The sickening thing is that I am sure money is involved. At least there are some rescue agencies out there who are not afraid to fight for those that do not have a voice. 

 

To see the Beagles enjoying their first taste of freedom, click on the following link:  http://cutedogpix.com/savedbeagles/

Brazen Breedism

My husband and I love to attend dog events.  We love to show off our fur babies.  But, no matter which event we attend, we always run into the same issue:  breedism.

 

Yes, I have created my own word for this horrible act.  Breedism is the act of judging a dog based solely upon the dog’s breed.  Often, the basis for this judgment stems from a stereotype about that specific breed.

 

Case in point, we own three Chihuahuas.  When we bring our dogs to events, like Bark in the Park, people always ask us the breed of our dogs.  When we tell them “Chihuahua,” we hear, “I could never have one of those.  Aren’t they always yapping?”  Or my personal favorite, “They like to bite ankles, don’t they?”

 

Matt and I have trained our dogs to not bark excessively.  And Theo, Adriel and Domino have never bitten a single ankle.  So, why do Chihuahuas get such a bad rap?

 

Perhaps, people have seen too many video clips on “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”  Maybe they have come to know a Chihuahua who is “yappy.”  But, this does not mean that ALL Chihuahuas behave in such a manner.

 

But, Chihuahuas get off easy.  I truly feel sorry for the Pit Bulls.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say, “You know those Pit Bulls.”  And honestly, I just want to punch these people in the face.

 

Dogs are born into this world as creatures that are set to do one thing:  love unconditionally.  Unfortunately, some dogs are often born into abusive homes, raised by cruel breeders or adopted out to a less than desirable person.  None of this has anything to do with the dog’s actual breed.

 

Pit Bulls tend to be viewed as guard dogs.  Countless movies have shown them to be the protection of mob bosses and gang leaders.  Not a proper portrait of the breed.  Is it any wonder that people have such a distorted perception of these poor pooches?

 

So, ignorant people who refuse to do research and learn base their judgments upon these stereotypes.  Whether Hollywood creates these or not, we are more than happy to pass them on.  To our family, our community, our children.

 

Is it any wonder that some children are absolutely terrified of dogs?  While I am not suggesting that children be raised to think that every dog is a sweet puppy (we have had children try to stick their hands in our dog stroller), but they should not be made to believe that all dogs are evil and out to eat them.

 

The deplorable conditions that Pit Bulls have faced are the very reason why some have become aggressive.  This actually happened to my Chihuahua, Theo.  He was abused by his previous owners to the point where no one in animal control could handle him.  He was placed in his “cell” where he snarled and snapped at anyone who came near him.  Needless to say, he was quickly scheduled to be euthanized.  He was seen as “dangerous.”

 

But, one woman had the courage to see behind the barred teeth and constant growling.  She saw what no one else could see:  Theo’s pain.  So, this woman sat with Theo for 2 hours, talking calmly to him, trying to gain his trust.  Within that time, Theo allowed the woman to pet him.  The staff at the Humane Society were amazed.

 

Theo’s life was saved all because one woman took the time to get to know Theo.  He was not a bad dog.  He had just been the victim of an abusive family.  And now, he is the best trained dog that I own.  He knows how to sit, stay, leave it, and shake with both paws (he’ll switch paws when you say, “Switch!”).  Theo loves his other fur siblings and meeting new people.  Unfortunately, he is still not a fan of children (I wonder why).

 

Dogs will adapt to their environment.  If they are being threatened or beaten on a daily basis, chances are pretty high that they will become aggressive.  This is purely a defense mechanism.  If you were being abused every day, would you just sit there and take it or would you eventually find the strength to fight back?  How can people blame these creatures for fighting for their lives?

 

How many Pit Bulls and other dogs have died needlessly because of sweeping generalizations?  Too many than I care to think about.    This cycle cannot continue.

 

What if one human being served as the representation for all human kind?  Would this person place humans in a positive or negative light?  How can we be judged based upon the actions of one person?

 

It is bad enough that racism still exists in 2013, but to extend this cruel behavior to defenseless dogs?  Something needs to be done to erase these damaging stereotypes from existence.  People need to use the technology that runs rampant throughout the nation to educate themselves about dogs and their behaviors instead of playing Candy Crush.

Festive Fall

It’s that time of year again!  Dog events are popping up on calendars all across the country.  Fall is the perfect time to parade your pooch in the great outdoors.  The leaves on the trees are beginning to turn beautiful colors, the air has a slight chill in the morning that turns into a lovely breeze in the afternoon.  What could be better?

 

Here are a few of the dog-centered events that are occurring in my area:

 

Races for Rescues

 

This event is hosted by the Belleville Area Humane Society and is being held at Belleville West High School.  There will be a 5k run and fun walk for you and your furry friends.  The run/walk beings at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 6th.  Entry fee is $20 and includes a t-shirt.

The top 3 runners in each 5k age division will receive medals.  The top overall winners in the male and female divisions will receive trophies.  And new for 2013, you can run with your dog and receive a prize!  There are three categories:  Small - 25 lbs or less, Med - 26-50 lbs and Large - 51+ lbs.

All proceeds from the run benefit the Belleville Area Humane Society.  If you have any questions, e-mail: raceforrescues@gmail.com or call Shelly at: (618) 410-6376.

 

 

Canine Carnival

 

Looking for a carnival for your dog?  You have found it!  This event will be  held at Tilles Park in Ladue in St. Louis, Missouri on October 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The day is filled games, contests, food and fun!  Owners can have their pooch’s paw dipped in dog-friendly paint and then placed on their official Canine Carnival t-shirt to create a one-of-a-kind memento of your special day together.  Games are set up throughout the park for your dog to play and win prizes!  One of my fur babies, Theo, won a big box of dog treats.  He was very excited!  There are also performances by the Purina Incredible Dog Team.  And don’t forget to sign your pet up for one of the many contests such as:  Best Dressed, Best Kiss, and Best Trick!  Vendors are also on hand selling everything from custom collars to personally designed dog clothes.  On site adoptions are also offered.

 

All proceeds from this event benefit the APA (Animal Protective Association of Missouri).  Head to www.apamo.org to learn more!

 

 

Celebrate Spot

 

This event is very special, indeed.  Not only does it showcase your wonderful dogs, but it also supports breast cancer research!  The event will be held on October 13th in the Upper Muny Parking Lot in St. Louis, Missouri.  The morning kicks off with a 5k walk beginning a 9:00 a.m. and a 1 mile walk beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Once the walks have concluded, everyone heads over to the food tent to receive their FREE lunch.  Then, the games begin!  Every year, one special dog is honored for helping his/her master through their difficult battle with cancer.  While emotionally charged, the event is fun for the whole family.  Doggie yoga is offered before and after the walk, along with a station to create your very own custom collar for your dog.  And don’t forget to bring a costume for the Best Dressed event.  My little Adriel won in 2012 for being…what else?  An angel!  

Don’t miss this year’s first ever First American Fido competition!  Only 12 dogs will be selected to compete for the title of American Fido.  Head on over to the Celebrate Spot Facebook page to cast your vote!  I would LOVE it if you would vote for my special three-legged dog, Penny!  She is going to be performing her amazing trick of jumping over a 3 foot pet gate.

 

All proceeds from this event benefit ywbcp & Director's Discovery Fund, Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes Jewish Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

 

St. Louis Pet Expo 2013

 

This annual event is for animal lovers everywhere!  Dogs, cats and bunnies are all allowed into this pet and family friendly indoor expo.  The Pet Expo is the largest expo for everything pets.  More than 150 exhibitors are lined up wall to wall and include anything that you can think of!  Vets and animal chiropractors are also on hand to answer any of your questions.  

This year, Shorty Rossi and his dog Hercules from "Pit Boss" will be at the expo!  Onsite adoptions are also offered along with your chance to donate to animal rescue agencies from throughout the area.

The expo will be held on  October 26th at from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the St. Charles Convention Center.  Visit http://www.stlpetexpo.com/ to learn more!

 

 

 

Running Scared into Halloween

 

The Coalition for Animal Rescue and Education (C.A.R.E.) is hosting its annual benefit - Run for Rescues.  The event offers a 5k run as well as a 1 mile fun run.  Registration is $20 per person.  Prizes will be offered for the Best Runner Costume and Best Dressed Companion Dog or Cat.

This event kicks off at 9:00 a.m. at the Arnold City Park on Bradley Road in Arnold, Missouri.  To register, visit: https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=19642

All proceeds benefit homeless and abandoned animals.

 

 

 

So, leash up your pooches and head to one of these pawesome events!

Dog Park Petition

My husband and I attended a very unique event in March.  It was the St. Louis Senior Dog Project Reunion.  This event encouraged anyone who had adopted a dog from this organization to come out and enjoy a day of fun at one of the local dog parks.  And we did exactly that.

 

The dog park was in a nice, quiet part of the neighborhood.  It was beautifully landscaped and had a double gated entry to ensure the safety of the its dogs.  There was a water spigot at one end of the park along with four plastic water bowls.  If your pooch was parched, you could simply turn on the faucet and your dog could drink to his/her heart’s content.

 

Adriel (one of our fur babies) loved running from one end of the park to the other.  She played with little dogs, big dogs and soaked up as many belly rubs from the other dog owners as she could.  It was a truly wonderful day.

 

That is when I realized that my town needs a dog park.  Every day on my way home from work, I see at least one person walking a dog.  On the weekend, that number easily doubles.  But, they are doing just that:  Walking on the same sidewalk on the same path in the same direction as always.  While I love walking my dogs, I have to admit, that would get a little boring.

 

Plus, the sidewalks run parallel on either side of main street.  Why is this a problem?  One of my dogs, Cole, is afraid of cars.  He was found as a wandering stray in St. Louis by the St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  While on a walk one evening, I could not believe how “bad” he was behaving.  He refused to walk on the sidewalk closest to the street and ended up pacing (tangling me up in his leash) whenever a particularly noisy car or motorcycle went by.  That’s when my husband gently reminded me, “He was a stray.  Remember?  He probably does not feel safe around cars.”

 

How could I have been so foolish?  If I had been in Cole’s situation, I’m sure that I would have reacted exactly the same way.  The goal as a stray is to stay alive.  And avoiding cars is a key way to achieve that.

 

So, I began to think, where else could we take our dogs so that they can romp around in the fresh air?  We are blessed with a large back yard, but it would be nice to interact with other fellow dog lovers.  And Theo does not like having other dogs on his territory.

Yes, there are other dog parks in the area.  However, the park in Belleville requires that you be a resident of the city and pay a membership fee.  There is even a keypad on the gate of the dog park so that only members can get in.   In O'Fallon, there is a very lovely dog park, but it is a very long drive to get to the park location.  Plus, the sign indicates that the city would like you to be a resident as well to use the park, although it is free.

That left me with the same question:  Where can we take our dogs to safely play and interact with other dogs?

 

I decided then and there that I would do something about this.  Surely, Cole is not the only dog in my town that feels this way.  And truth be told, I am not a fan of walking my fur babies by the street.  I'm sure that other Freeburg residents do not like the idea of having to drive for 25 minutes to get to the park in O'Fallon and then walk for another 15 before actually arriving at the park.

Building a dog park in Freeburg would be the perfect solution.  Adding one to the large park that is already in existence would be easy.

 

But, I have learned that there is much planning that goes into a project like this.  Thanks to the American Kennel Club, I had a place to start.  Their pamphlet, “Establishing a Dog Park in Your Community” was very informative and laid out all of the steps that I need to take to  (hopefully) make the park a reality.

 

I started small by asking my friends on Facebook if they liked the idea of a dog park in town and they loved it!  I then went out to the local park with my husband and took pictures of possible locations for the park.  Now, I am currently creating a Powerpoint presentation (24 slides and counting!) to someday, present to the Village Board.

 

In the next few weeks, I will be posting a notice in the local newspaper, handing out fliers to the local vets and groomers and be staging a live petition drive at various locations throughout the city.  But, I wondered, how would I get signatures from my friends that used to live in Freeburg, but have since moved away?  Luckily, I stumbled upon the www.change.org  website.  This website allows you to begin and electronic petition for your cause.  It will even track how many signatures you obtain.  Plus, you can personalize your cause by adding photos and updates about the project.

 

I would love your support!  Please click on the following link to sign the virtual petition:

https://www.change.org/petitions/i-want-to-petition-the-freeburg-village-board-to-want-to-build-a-dog-park-in-freeburg

 

So, I will press on for now!  That’s one small step for man, and one huge leap for our four-legged friends!

Callous Cruelty

When I opened up the recent edition of the Missouri Humane Society online newsletter, I was horrified.  At the very top of the page was yet another story about someone burning a dog.  The graphic photos showed that the dog (named Zeus) was burned on his eyes, legs and body.  He had no pads left on his paws.

 

Would you believe that the owner had the gall to surrender Zeus to the Humane Society?  The owner claimed that “Zeus got loose.”  Yes, when my dogs have gotten loose, they have always returned with burns all over their bodies.  Seriously?  Who could believe this person?

 

I truly cannot fathom what sick, twisted, demented individual would want to burn a dog, or any animal for that matter.  Does this make the person feel macho?  How are you “more manly” for picking on a defenseless animal that trusts you with its life?  Lording physical power over someone does not make you a stronger, sexy individual.  In fact, quite the opposite is true.  You become a heartless bully that seeks only to bring others down.

 

And how can you take your frustrations out on a dog?  My dogs provide comfort and bring me joy.  After a trying day at work, I look forward to going home and being covered in sloppy kisses.  I cannot wait to see their tails wagging like crazy at my arrival.  They are always happy to see me and love unconditionally.  Why on earth would I want to knowingly hurt them?

 

I am greatly concerned about this rise in dog burning incidents.  What is going on in the minds of the individuals that are performing these cruel acts?  How do they justify the behavior to themselves?  This is reminiscent of Trooper being tied to the back of a pick-up truck and drug for miles down the interstate.  She was mad at her ex-husband and took it out on his puppy.  So, what exactly did this heinous act prove?  If she was really mad, couldn’t she have just tried to take all of his money in court?  Why resort to abusing a puppy that has no say or control in the divorce matter?

 

If you cannot or no longer wish to take care of your dog, PLEASE, give the dog to someone else.  Turn the dog in to your local humane society or animal shelter (preferably a no kill location).  Or, if worse comes to worse, please just abandon your dog unharmed.  He/she will have a better chance of surviving or being rescued by someone without physical injuries. 

 

Burning, kicking, stabbing, shooting, throwing, hitting, dragging or any other despicable act that you can think of is NOT A SOLUTION.  To me, this just proves how un-manly/womanly you truly are.  You are not a human being deserving of happiness.  You are a monster that needs to be stopped and have the same callous cruelty that you inflicted upon the dog/animal done to you.

 

END THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE!