Fun Friday

My content this week has been on the heavy side, so I wanted to lighten things up and get you in the holiday spirit.  These are two videos that I was sent from multiple people.  They both make me smile and even giggle a little. 

The first is our First Dog, Bo Obama, taking us through the white house.  Amazing how we have seen him grow up in front of our eyes.



The second is a cute video of a dog and baby, the dog might be imitating the baby or vice versa or they may be having their own conversation!



Have a great weekend and don't forget to do something special with your dog!

The Movie "Shadow Trade"

This morning Dogster had a post I am re-posting here about the movie "Shadow Trade".  It is a documentary on the Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand, the foundation is working hard to stop the illegal dog-meat trade.  I will warn you that the video included in this blog has some images that are hard to see, but they are the reality of what is happening.  I also want to point out that Thailand is a third world country and many people have no choice but to take whatever job they can to support their family.  I hope you can help this film by helping back it, but if you can't, please forward this to anyone that is a dog lover, like it on Facebook and re-post on Facebook.  We can raise awareness and that is as much of the goal as raising money.

One of our favorite charities, Soi Dog Foundation, is working hard to end the illegal dog-meat trade in Thailand. But accomplishing heroic rescues is simply not enough -- to spare stolen pets from the butcher's knife, there's an urgent need to raise global awareness of the terrible fate of Thai dogs who fall into criminal hands.

(A truck loaded with dogs intended for the meat trade was intercepted by the Soi Dog Foundation.)

An efficient way to do that is through the powerful medium of film. London-based Environment Films is producing a documentary for Soi Dog Foundation called Shadow Trade: The Price of Loyalty. To complete the project, the filmmakers have created a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGogo, which ends in a few days.

Backing a film made possible through crowdfunding is a uniquely rewarding experience -- but it's doubly rewarding when the movie's mission is to help dogs in desperate need and dire circumstances. "The dog meat trade must end," is this film's to-the-point slogan. We couldn't agree more. And the filmmakers promise that any extra funds that are raised will go toward helping the dogs themselves.

(Soi Dog Foundation suspects many of the dogs were family pets who were stolen and rounded up into cages.)

As the Shadow Trade IndieGogo campaign winds down, show you care by becoming a backer. If that's not in your budget, please help spread the word by giving Trade of Shame a "Like" on Facebook. The dogs of Thailand will thank you.

 

Help Little Ted Find A Home

Here is another great dog looking for a home.  I met Ted on Monday night, his current guardians took him in after he was found tethered to a cinder block in the middle of North Hollywood.  He was chipped and when the service contacted his listed owners, the man said that he and his girlfriend had adopted Ted when he was 4 months old and now they are broken up, the girl moved and he didn't want the dog any longer so he tied him to a cinder block where someone could find him.  Sad and cruel!

So now Ted is with a kind couple that are giving him food & water, shelter, and love, but they already have a dog.  Unfortunately, this situation will not work for them for many reasons, so they are desperately trying to find a forever home for Ted.

We know a little bit about Ted, he is about 1 1/2 yrs., knows sit, down, stay, roll-over, and shake, is extremely food motivated and is a very affectionate dog.  We do not know how he is with kids or cats.  Based on what he has shown his current guardians it appears that he has a little separation issues, so he will chew things when you are gone if not set up correctly and he has some dog issues, he is showing some aggression.

I believe the best situation for him is to be in a home as an only dog with a person or couple that is willing to put the time and effort in for training and exercise.

Ted was a true delight to work with, he is so smart and eager to please and just a cute little guy!

If you are interested in Ted or know someone that is, please give us a bark or call 213.321.6319

Though I am happy to do my part, it is so sad that in a matter of a couple of weeks I met two dogs that have been abandoned by their humans.  At the same time, I am so moved at the compassion and love that strangers have found in their hearts for these two amazing dogs.

Please help me spread the word.

Help Tricky Find A Home

I had the pleasure of meeting this amazing dog named Tricky.  Believe it or not, Tricky lives on the street in an industrial area of Downtown.  The equally amazing people that found him and have continued to take care of him have been forced to keep him on the streets as they cannot get him into a car and he gets scared when walking too far away from his "home".  We are hopeful to get him indoors soon, but the trust had to be built slowly.  Also, there is another issue, we know so little about Tricky, we have no idea how he will behave indoors or with cats.

The couple that found him would like nothing more than to keep him, however, they have a few cats and very small apartment.  Tricky is a large Shepherd mix, so they are doing what they feel is best for Tricky, and trying to find a good home.

Tricky is a beautiful, friendly and smart dog.  I believe he belonged to someone at some point and was trained.  He knows a few of the basics, sit, down, heel, and shake.  In the hour that I worked with him, he was so willing to work and learn.  It took a few moments for him to warm up to me, but for a street dog that is pretty amazing.

His size and beauty are something to admire, especially when he runs.  He would be an excellent dog for a hiker or runner.  He is going to need a home where he can get the proper physical exercise and mental stimulation.

If you are interested in Tricky or know someone that is, please give us a bark or call 213.321.6319.

After A Long Weekend

It is good to be back after a long weekend away.  I had a great Thanksgiving with friends, but I had to miss out on time with my dog.  I missed him SO much!  It was very apparent that the feeling was mutual as I picked him up this morning from the kennel. 

There are times that humans go and do things that K-9's cannot or should not depending on your dog.  I happened to spend my Thanksgiving in Death Valley camping and though Neville could've come to campsite, he was not welcome in the National Park.

Most everyone there obeyed this, but there were a handful of people that I noticed with small dogs carrying them in certain places that I know dogs were not allowed.  Anyone with a big dog obeyed all the signs, but I also believe that is because we have no choice.  Why is it that little dog owners get to do a lot more with their dogs than we do with our big dogs?

I think some of it is simply they don't get seen, what people do not see, they will not address.  Afterall, it is easy to carry a little Pomeranian in somewhere, it is barely detected.  If I walk my 40lb dog in somewhere he shouldn't be, it is noticed immediately.   I think if the rule is no dogs, then big or small there should be no dogs.  Otherwise, revise the rule to no big dogs.

The reunion this morning made up for it all.  I love it when he is so happy he sings!  I think I may have jumped around as much as he did when we finally made it home.  Now we are onto the being mad at me phase, this will be the rest of the day.  But I will make it up to him!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The next few days will probably be busy with prepping your big meal and preparing for visitors or getting yourself ready to go somewhere, local or far away.  In all this shuffle, don't forget your dog.  There is more than just Thanksgiving itself, there is Black Friday.  I know many of you plan on leaving the house early in the morning and shop all day.  Just make sure you make the proper arrangements for your pooch.  They will still need their potty breaks, exercise and affection from you.

In all the excitement of the holiday, don't forget all the safety tips.  Keep your dog away from the food and decorations.  If you are putting up a tree this weekend, be sure to watch your pooch with the tree decorations, many look like toys and they are of course very dangerous for dogs (and cats).

Whatever you do, where ever you go, have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving and don't forget to do something special with your dog!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Your Dog - Part 2

Returning for the third year in a row, below is part 2 of my two part Thanksgiving Safety Tips for your Dogs.  This focus' on the food and all the do's and don'ts when it comes to your dog.

 

This is a wonderful time of year for us humans and it can be for our four-legged friends as well.  But it also can be scary and in some cases dangerous.  I know this is a holiday for sharing and being thankful, but we shouldn't share everything with our dogs (bark for a list of items for your dog to avoid).  Dogster has put out a great list of tips to help us out for the holiday and I really found it to be useful.

Stuff Your Turkey, Not Your Dog

It's easy to want to give your dog a big fat bowl of turkey, mashed potatoes, and whatever else you think she might enjoy. But that's a bad idea. Overindulging in fatty foods can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis. A few strips of turkey on a dog's normal food is fine, but don't overdo it, no matter how she may plead with her "I'm STARVING" eyes. Keep in mind that turkey skin can wreak havoc with a dog's digestive system, so make sure she gets skinless, boneless turkey.

Stuff Your Dog's Kong, Not Your Dog

Here's a great way to keep your dog busy and happy during your meal. Put a bit of your dog's regular food in a Kong, and then stuff a little boneless turkey, sweet potatoes, gravy - just a tad, mind you - in the Kong. It's not much food, but it will keep him occupied for a long time.

Make no Bones About It

Cooked turkey bones can be a danger to your dog. They're sharp, and potentially very dangerous. You may not know a dog has a turkey bone lodged in your dog's digestive system for days. Don't leave plates with bones lying around. Ditto for the turkey carcass. Hungry dogs have been known to run off with the remains of a carved turkey. It can happen in the blink of an eye. You notice the turkey is gone. You notice the dog is gone. With luck, you find their hiding place before anything happens. Put plates in an unreachable area if you can't dispose of everything properly right away.

Know this Sage Wisdom

Sage and some other herbs have essential oils that can cause tummy upset and central nervous system depression if a dog eats them in large quantities. Most dogs aren't going to nosh on a fistful of sage, but keep herbs out of reach just in case.

Don't Cry Over Onions

Onions are toxic to dogs. They can lead to a dangerous form of anemia that may not be detected for days. Make sure your dog stays away from the pearly whites, and yellows, and reds.

Don't Give Her the Raw Deal

Unless your dog is already on a raw diet, we wouldn't recommend plopping a piece of raw turkey in her bowl (the change from her regular food might cause an upset stomach). But more importantly, keep your pup away from the uncooked dough for bread or rolls. What helps make dough rise? Heat. If a dog eats raw dough, what's it like for the dough in the dog's stomach? Warm. The dough rises in the dog's stomach, and if the dog has eaten enough, the swollen dough can cause pain, vomiting, and bloating -- conditions that can send you to the doggy ER on Thanksgiving.

Don't forget that chocolate is also toxic to dogs, the most toxic being baking chocolate, the least being milk chocolate. 

I hope these tips have helped!  Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!


Don't forget to do something fun with your dogs.