This video is about an unusual, yet remarkable relationship. Animals truly have a lot to teach us.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Want to RESCUE animals for FREE?
If you are like me and want to rescue animals, but looking for a free and EASY way to do it, just click here EVERYDAY.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
If Only I Could Do That...
As my Mom is working on some exciting new activities for me, I am going to impress her with some tricks that I have been working really hard on. Check out Cindy to see what I mean: CINDY.
ALERT: Fight for Tax Break for Pet Care Costs
We all want to give our animal companions the best care we possibly can, but it seems that pet care costs are always on the rise—and these days, it’s harder than ever to stretch the family budget. That’s why the ASPCA supports H.R. 3501, which would amend U.S. tax code to allow qualifying pet care expenses, including veterinary care, to be tax-deductible.
This means that when you prepare your income taxes, money you spent on pet care that year would count as non-taxable income—and you can deduct up to $3,500 per year!
Pet care can be expensive—and in these trying economic times, families all over the country have been forced to give up their pets because of financial hardship. The HAPPY Act is important because it will help Americans provide their pets with the medical attention and quality of life they deserve, while also ensuring that more pets get to remain in their loving homes and don’t wind up on the streets or in the already overburdened shelter system.
This means that when you prepare your income taxes, money you spent on pet care that year would count as non-taxable income—and you can deduct up to $3,500 per year!
U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter has introduced the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (“HAPPY”) Act, legislation to allow individuals to claim tax deductions for qualified pet care expenses. The bill would allow any taxpayer who legally owns one or more domesticated animals to take an annual income tax deduction of up to $3,500 for pet care expenses, including veterinary care costs.
Pet care can be expensive—and in these trying economic times, families all over the country have been forced to give up their pets because of financial hardship. The HAPPY Act is important because it will help Americans provide their pets with the medical attention and quality of life they deserve, while also ensuring that more pets get to remain in their loving homes and don’t wind up on the streets or in the already overburdened shelter system.
Please help us support the HAPPY Act, H.R. 3501.
Click here to sign the petition: HAPPY Act
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
UPDATE - A "Sunny" Story
If interested in participating or learning more about Sunny's fundraiser Sunny Day: Shedding Light on Animal Cruelty, please click here: Sunny Day. Thanks!
The Key to a Long and Healthy Life: Exercise
Harley Loves Exercise. Whew! My mom and I just came in from a very fun and long walk. Lately, we have been walking further and further as the weather gets nicer. I'll admit I really need to walk and the exercise is undoubtedly priceless. We went far today, probably over a mile or two. We always have so much fun. We catch up on stuff and chat, mostly about her day, but it allows us to spend quality time together. Exercise is one of the most fundamental components to a happy life, at least thats what my mom always says. Many dogs and their humans prefer different types of exercise. For example, our friend Derby loves to go hiking and biking with his Mom and our cousin Freddie loves to go running with his Dad. In addition to our long walks, we sometimes go to the dog park, but we never go running, mostly because my Mom's knees aren't that great and my hips are very sensitive, so we walk.
It's a great trade, because humans really need exercise and dogs need the stimulation to burn off all that canine energy (thats usually stored up all day, while your human is at work). But the best part, is that my Mom makes me the best icey treats [see below]. Enough exercise is a vital and necessary component to a long and healthy life. As always my Mom wants to put her two cents in about walking, because I know how important it is to her.
Mom Knows Best. Harley is so right; walking and exercise is vital to both you and your dog's health and sense of wellbeing. Our late dog, Max, who passed away back in February (from natural causes) lived until 16 years old! An old age that is rare for his breed and size (he was a greyhound mix who was about 45 pounds). When Max was young he developed benign tumors, ear infections and all sorts of random health issues that should have put a toll on his health. It never did. When he was about 10 or 11 years old, the vet said that he may only have a year left or so. Boy was he wrong! No one would have guessed that our vivacious dog would have lived so long and beautifully. Was Max's vibrant longevity based on his zest for life, his strong will or some unknown secret?
Our Dear Friend Max and his Secret to a Long Life. Max was born to an abusive home in the early 90s and was adopted by my family when he was six months old. We didn't know much about Max's history, except that it probably wasn't pretty. Upon his adoption we did not know much about his gene pool or his health history or any conditions that he may [not] have had. Many people have the misconception that dogs are "healthier" or live "longer" when dogs are pure bred or you know the health history of the dog, but that is not necessarily true. Max was an excellent representative for adoption and mixed-breed dogs, because he was both and lived such a long and healthy life.
During the last few years of Max's life, he went through a lot of transitions because our family moved around a lot. Needless to say, he still received frequent walks, which at that time remained the constant in his life. Max loved to walk, probably more than anything. Some of my earliest memories were taking really long walks with my family and Max. We always walked. Walking always had a dear place in my heart for it was a way for us to catch up, chat and share ideas. Max walked up until the last couple of days of his life, he always wanted to walk and be outside. As you raise your dog, young or old, the most important thing to remember is to take frequent walks [and we do not mean bathroom breaks]. A combination of good exercise, a healthy diet and unconditional love is the secret to living a long and healthy life.
The Difference between Walking and Exercise. There is a lot of confusion on how much exercise your dog needs. Of course it is always best to consult your vet about what is best for your dog, but we wanted to make a few suggestions regarding this topic. First, nothing bothers me more then when I witness pet parents take their dog out to use the bathroom and think that this is "exercise." For example, if you walk from your kitchen to your bedroom this is most certainly is not exercise. Harley gets about 4 walks a day, which are not bathroom breaks. These walks range from 15-30 minutes depending on the weather. Then 2-3 times a week we give him extra, extra long walks (as he mentioned earlier in this post) or he goes to the dog park. Of course, weather is a major factor to consider and could determine how much exercise your dog receives, please click here and here.
Many people wonder how are we able to walk Harley so much. It's simple. We were both very committed to adopting a dog and therefore we arranged our schedules to accommodate his needs. There are many pet parents that are unable to accommodate in this way, which is more typical then our situation. Our suggestions are to find a dog walker, pet sitter or bring your dog to dog day care. If you feel that these suggestions are beyond your capabilities, make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise before you leave for the day and when you come home. Nothing is more depressing then seeing a dog go outside just to go to the bathroom and then dragged back inside to go sit around and do nothing. The problem is that then pet parents wonder why their dog has so much energy, is tearing up the house or going nuts when they aren't home? All I have to say is duh! If you choose to not stimulate your dog, provide sufficient exercise and socialization your pooch will be miserable and so will you. If you make the decision to adopt a dog, then you must understand the responsibilities that go along with the care of this animal. If you do not want to go on long walks, get exercise and participate in many dog socialization activities, then pet parenting is not for you. Finally, I must say that there is so much information on how much and what kind of exercise your dog needs. Please click here, here, here, and here.
Harley's Fantastic Cool-tastic Icey Treats
You'll need..
* ice cube tray or small plastic container
* fresh clean water
* One of the following: peanut butter, canned salmon (Harley's Favorite), small treats, food, milkbones, crunchy or soft treats etc... (please check with your vet and consider your dog's preferences, allergies and health before giving your dog any type of treat).
1. Fill up tray or plastic container with fresh clean water
2. Drop a small amount of one of the ingredients in the water
3. Freeze tray or container for a few hours
4. Exercise or go for a long walk (or anytime you want to reward your pooch)
5. POP out the icey treat and put into a dog bowl
6. Your dog will lick this cool snack until his/her little heart is content
VERY IMPORTANT: These treats are small and slippery, so please supervise your pooch (as you would with any treat/bone) during eating.
It's a great trade, because humans really need exercise and dogs need the stimulation to burn off all that canine energy (thats usually stored up all day, while your human is at work). But the best part, is that my Mom makes me the best icey treats [see below]. Enough exercise is a vital and necessary component to a long and healthy life. As always my Mom wants to put her two cents in about walking, because I know how important it is to her.
Our Dear Friend Max and his Secret to a Long Life. Max was born to an abusive home in the early 90s and was adopted by my family when he was six months old. We didn't know much about Max's history, except that it probably wasn't pretty. Upon his adoption we did not know much about his gene pool or his health history or any conditions that he may [not] have had. Many people have the misconception that dogs are "healthier" or live "longer" when dogs are pure bred or you know the health history of the dog, but that is not necessarily true. Max was an excellent representative for adoption and mixed-breed dogs, because he was both and lived such a long and healthy life.
My Dearest Max, 2008
Max's secret was not necessarily his breed or gene pool or maybe it was a combination of both, however we believed that Max lived a long and beautiful life due to the amount of exercise and love that he received regularly throughout his whole life. Even weeks before he passed he was still getting his typical 4-5 walks per day.During the last few years of Max's life, he went through a lot of transitions because our family moved around a lot. Needless to say, he still received frequent walks, which at that time remained the constant in his life. Max loved to walk, probably more than anything. Some of my earliest memories were taking really long walks with my family and Max. We always walked. Walking always had a dear place in my heart for it was a way for us to catch up, chat and share ideas. Max walked up until the last couple of days of his life, he always wanted to walk and be outside. As you raise your dog, young or old, the most important thing to remember is to take frequent walks [and we do not mean bathroom breaks]. A combination of good exercise, a healthy diet and unconditional love is the secret to living a long and healthy life.
The Difference between Walking and Exercise. There is a lot of confusion on how much exercise your dog needs. Of course it is always best to consult your vet about what is best for your dog, but we wanted to make a few suggestions regarding this topic. First, nothing bothers me more then when I witness pet parents take their dog out to use the bathroom and think that this is "exercise." For example, if you walk from your kitchen to your bedroom this is most certainly is not exercise. Harley gets about 4 walks a day, which are not bathroom breaks. These walks range from 15-30 minutes depending on the weather. Then 2-3 times a week we give him extra, extra long walks (as he mentioned earlier in this post) or he goes to the dog park. Of course, weather is a major factor to consider and could determine how much exercise your dog receives, please click here and here.
Many people wonder how are we able to walk Harley so much. It's simple. We were both very committed to adopting a dog and therefore we arranged our schedules to accommodate his needs. There are many pet parents that are unable to accommodate in this way, which is more typical then our situation. Our suggestions are to find a dog walker, pet sitter or bring your dog to dog day care. If you feel that these suggestions are beyond your capabilities, make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise before you leave for the day and when you come home. Nothing is more depressing then seeing a dog go outside just to go to the bathroom and then dragged back inside to go sit around and do nothing. The problem is that then pet parents wonder why their dog has so much energy, is tearing up the house or going nuts when they aren't home? All I have to say is duh! If you choose to not stimulate your dog, provide sufficient exercise and socialization your pooch will be miserable and so will you. If you make the decision to adopt a dog, then you must understand the responsibilities that go along with the care of this animal. If you do not want to go on long walks, get exercise and participate in many dog socialization activities, then pet parenting is not for you. Finally, I must say that there is so much information on how much and what kind of exercise your dog needs. Please click here, here, here, and here.
Now get off the computer and wrap your paws around a healthy exercise regime for both you and your human!!
Harley's Fantastic Cool-tastic Icey Treats
You'll need..
* ice cube tray or small plastic container
* fresh clean water
* One of the following: peanut butter, canned salmon (Harley's Favorite), small treats, food, milkbones, crunchy or soft treats etc... (please check with your vet and consider your dog's preferences, allergies and health before giving your dog any type of treat).
1. Fill up tray or plastic container with fresh clean water
2. Drop a small amount of one of the ingredients in the water
3. Freeze tray or container for a few hours
4. Exercise or go for a long walk (or anytime you want to reward your pooch)
5. POP out the icey treat and put into a dog bowl
6. Your dog will lick this cool snack until his/her little heart is content
VERY IMPORTANT: These treats are small and slippery, so please supervise your pooch (as you would with any treat/bone) during eating.
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR VET BEFORE EXERCISING YOUR DOG. NEVER OVERDO ANY TYPE OF EXERCISE. PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR DOG'S HEALTH, PREFERENCES, BEHAVIOR AND ABILITIES BEFORE IMPLEMENTING AN EXERCISE ROUTINE.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Waggin' Tails Friday: A "Sunny" Story about Hope, Love and Karma.
Every Friday we would like to share a positive and uplifting story about our furry friends. We invite all of your suggestions for an animal story, as long as they are happy! We know that many times, animal stories do not have a happy ending. So, contrary to that problem, we are striving to change this by honoring the humans and animals that do good the world and put a smile on your face or a "wag in your tail!"
Hope. In the beginning Kelsey was your average, hardworking student and part-time restaurant employee. She was a true animal friend, animal lover and dog parent. Little did she know that her life would change on an average day, on an average shift, in a not-so-average way. During one of her shifts at the restaurant, her and her fellow employees heard a loud "splash!" Running out to the river and under the 80 foot bridge they saw a helpless and stunned dog swimming anxiously in the cold water. Everyone started to wave the dog in and encouraged the frightened pooch to swim toward them. Kelsey called animal control. When they finally retrieved the dog out of the river, she started licking everyone and seemed relieved. Kelsey immediately claimed that she would adopt Sunny and bring her to her forever home.
Love. Perhaps it was destiny, fate or just a lucky day, but what brought this pair together was not average. According to many sources, USA Today, NY Times, BNET, The Star, and HSUS millions of dogs [and cats] are improperly and inhumanly killed around the world. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, roughly 9.6 million animals are killed annually in the United States. Many of these fates occur at the shelters due to space issues, however many animals do not make it to the shelter and are not "humanely" killed. This would have been Sunny's fate, except she was in the "right place" at the "right time" and so was Kelsey. Sunny was brought to her forever home and quickly bonded with her new canine sister and family. Kelsey quickly started to receive trouble from her landlord because Sunny was apparently a "vicious breed." As mentioned in the previous post, pits get so much negative attention and even though this dog was saved and gratefully kissed everyone that was involved with her rescue, she was still considered a "vicious breed." Even with all of the heat from her landlord, Kelsey vowed to be Sunny's forever mom and promised to do whatever it took to ensure Sunny's safety and well-being.
Karma. This story happened earlier this summer, without much explanation or leads on who the criminal was that threw Sunny off the bridge. When Sunny was rescued her nipples were protruding and had a swollen belly, which indicated that she recently had puppies. As many backyard breeders, they force the female to mate, take her puppies and then dispose of the mother. This seemed to be the fate of Sunny, with of course a happy twist. But just recently Damon D. Bledsoe, 39, was found guilty on many (99) charges of animal cruelty and is currently in custody in Louisville, KY.
Immediately upon reading this story I cried. This was a combination of both happiness and angry tears. This is a story of a true animal hero. A story that touched my life, where I had to reach out and thank Kelsey personally for her heroic act [and also to send kisses to Sunny]. I am grateful for people like Kelsey and other folks that do the right thing and work to protect animals above all odds, even when it's difficult. Upon Sunny's rescue, Kelsey is dedicated to teaching the community about pit bull awareness and responsible pet ownership, such as by hosting a fundraiser: "Sunny Day: Shedding Light on Animal Cruelty." There's a lot of work that needs to be done on behalf of animals, but for now, this is one story closer that brings me hope that there is good in the world. Thanks Kelsey and Sunny!
Love. Perhaps it was destiny, fate or just a lucky day, but what brought this pair together was not average. According to many sources, USA Today, NY Times, BNET, The Star, and HSUS millions of dogs [and cats] are improperly and inhumanly killed around the world. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, roughly 9.6 million animals are killed annually in the United States. Many of these fates occur at the shelters due to space issues, however many animals do not make it to the shelter and are not "humanely" killed. This would have been Sunny's fate, except she was in the "right place" at the "right time" and so was Kelsey. Sunny was brought to her forever home and quickly bonded with her new canine sister and family. Kelsey quickly started to receive trouble from her landlord because Sunny was apparently a "vicious breed." As mentioned in the previous post, pits get so much negative attention and even though this dog was saved and gratefully kissed everyone that was involved with her rescue, she was still considered a "vicious breed." Even with all of the heat from her landlord, Kelsey vowed to be Sunny's forever mom and promised to do whatever it took to ensure Sunny's safety and well-being.
Karma. This story happened earlier this summer, without much explanation or leads on who the criminal was that threw Sunny off the bridge. When Sunny was rescued her nipples were protruding and had a swollen belly, which indicated that she recently had puppies. As many backyard breeders, they force the female to mate, take her puppies and then dispose of the mother. This seemed to be the fate of Sunny, with of course a happy twist. But just recently Damon D. Bledsoe, 39, was found guilty on many (99) charges of animal cruelty and is currently in custody in Louisville, KY.
Immediately upon reading this story I cried. This was a combination of both happiness and angry tears. This is a story of a true animal hero. A story that touched my life, where I had to reach out and thank Kelsey personally for her heroic act [and also to send kisses to Sunny]. I am grateful for people like Kelsey and other folks that do the right thing and work to protect animals above all odds, even when it's difficult. Upon Sunny's rescue, Kelsey is dedicated to teaching the community about pit bull awareness and responsible pet ownership, such as by hosting a fundraiser: "Sunny Day: Shedding Light on Animal Cruelty." There's a lot of work that needs to be done on behalf of animals, but for now, this is one story closer that brings me hope that there is good in the world. Thanks Kelsey and Sunny!
Kelsey and Sunny 2009
If you are interested in Kelsey's fundraiser "Sunny Day: Shedding Light on Animal Cruelty" contact me at HarleysMission@gmail.com for more information.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Can You Help Me? IMMEDIATE FOSTER/ADOPTION PARENT NEEDED
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Please forward this to anyone you know who has a soft spot for animals. They might know someone who knows someone who can help... It does happen!
This girl is a sweetie! stats: approx. 2-3 years, spayed, vaccinated, healthy! on flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. Breed? Husky and Shepherd? Besenji/shepherd? heinz-57? She's 55 lbs.
We need a foster for her ASAP. She is: gentle, affectionate, smart, eager to learn, super peppy, pretty, good with kids and little dogs, she tried to make friends with my big dog (my big dog gets crabby so we nixed it). Gives her belly for pets, and will put her head in your lap!
She is not food aggressive, not destructive (no boredom chewing, etc.), she needs training, but she is eager and smart.
She was reportedly being crated 24-7 only to be taken by someone who then left her outside most days all by herself, she was running all over and was sighted by neighbors near several major roadways within a mile or two of where she was "living".
She's very nice and really appreciative!
If you can help please contact Linda at Landrylin@aol.com or go to www.betterlifepets.com and select "contact us."
Thanks!!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I love the dog park!
When my mom says "dog park" I know that this means something real special. As we pull up, I am overwhelmed with delicious smells of dog butts, dog hair and drool. I love that initial jump out of the car. Only to reach the fenced gate, to watch all of my new friends greet me with wagging tails and long tongues nearly touching the ground. I love going to the dog park. Nothing like running freely with my own species and letting loose for a change. I love being home, but gosh just a day at the park does a body good.
I noticed when we are at the park, my mom seems pleased, happy that i'm having a good time, but I can tell she is nervous. That's my mom, always nervous. She gets nervous because of germs and she is unsure of the other dogs at the park. Maybe they are aggressive, maybe they won't like me or maybe I'll hump them. She sure does hate humping (but I love it)! I try to tell her not to worry, after all I'm a likable guy and of course I know when to stay away from the aggressive, mean dogs.
This is me and my mom, isn't she the best?
This is my serious, pensive picture, or maybe I saw a bird that I wanted to chase.
Let's face it, we dogs always love going to the park. But of course our parents are skeptical at times: germs, diseases, aggressiveness, humping. I don't blame them, but its important for us to let our energy out, let loose and exercise. Exercise is fundamental to our health and wellbeing. If you can't go to the dog park, then make sure your human gives you plenty of good exercise. It's so important. Below are a few safety tips that my mom and I came up with to keep you and your human safe at the park:
Harley's Helpful, Handy-Dandy Dog Park Checklist
1. Plenty of fresh, clean water (for you and your human) and a travel bowl
2. Sturdy leash
3. Quality collar that has all of your important information (your dog-wallet)
4. Camera
5. Sunscreen for both your human and for the pooches that have sensitive skin or light colored fur
6. A watch (don't loose track of the time, its important that we get plenty of time at the park, but not too much
7. Cell phone (never know where there could be an emergency)
8. Hand sanitizer (human's can never be too clean)
9. Biodegradable poop bags
10. Attentiveness: You must watch your pooch at all times, its very important to be careful.
Click on these links for resources on dog park etiquette and safety precautions:
This is me after a long day at the dog park {{sigh}} so sleepy ...
Disclaimer: remember to please consider your dog's health, temperament and behavior before going to a dog park. Ask your vet if going to the dog park is a good choice for you and your human.
Disclaimer: remember to please consider your dog's health, temperament and behavior before going to a dog park. Ask your vet if going to the dog park is a good choice for you and your human.
Monday, September 14, 2009
To My Dear Friend: The Pit Bull
Dear Pit Bulls and Pit Bull Mixes:
Why is your breed hated in this country? Why is the pit bull used in dog fighting and other violent and cruel acts? Why do "iconic" figures like football players, rap artists and the like mistreat you and put you on the cover of their albums? Why are mothers and children afraid of you? Why does the media sensationalize your shortcomings or wrongdoings?
The ideology of the "aggressive dog" is perceived by mixed-media messages, uneducated politicians and misinformed citizens. The pit bull is a super sweet, loyal dog, owner-pleasing, love machine who was historically bred for "bull" fighting which was quickly deemed as inhumane and unkind toward dogs. Click on history to learn more about the historical background of the breed. The Bad Rap organization in California has worked to "decriminalize" the breed and work to alleviate societal misconceptions. In addition to this outstanding organization there are other folks that are trying to pass on the message about pit bulls, such as hosting pit bull education classes at local shelters where they share valuable information to individuals in the community that may or may not know
anything true about the breed.
I started volunteering at my local animal shelter about 2 years ago. To be quite frank, I never had the opportunity to interact with pit bulls or pit mixes. Due to the overpopulation problem and the typical irresponsibility of many pit bull parents, I quickly met many pits. And boy was I surprised. Just like you, I had heard so much "mumble jumble" about pits and their "aggressiveness" and their "lock jaw" and this and that, but never had the opportunity to get to know one. To my satisfaction they were amazing, so sweet and playful and incredibly athletic.
My childhood dog was a lazy greyhound mix, who spent 99% of his time sleeping, especially at the ripe ol' age of 15, so being around these athletic dogs was shocking to say the least. My first pit bull friend was Bandit, who was locked in the shelter for over 6 months! He was amazing. I had never see a dog so athletic, muscular and sweet. The tricks that he could do were outstanding: sit, lay down, fetch, catch, crawl...I mean his abilities were endless. Well, little Bandit was stuck at the shelter for a very long time, until a loving volunteer adopted him. He was lucky in the end, although not many are. But, needless to say before you judge a pit bull do some research, just like you would any other breed.
If I can't stress this enough, be an "informed consumer", do not believe everything that you read and hear, where is your information coming from, is it reliable? Is the source educated and experienced in working with a particular breed? Or ask someone that knows what they are talking about, there are many people that work with dogs that know a lot about them, or just ask your vet.
Pit bulls are no different than other dogs, they are just dogs, albeit they are strong, athletic and loyal, but really they are just dogs. I have provided some helpful resources for the curious mind or for the pit bull parent. See below.
This posting is dedicated to a dear animal friend who was only 1 years old, when she was euthanized at the shelter. Suzie came into the shelter last year because her previous owners did not take the time to train this vivacious pup. When they finally realized this was a problem it was too late. Suzie was approximately 75 lbs., super hyper, untrained and committed to having a good time. To make matters worse, her owners did not know how to deal with her strength and playful nature and kept her locked in their hot garage (in Florida no less!) You can only imagine how much energy this young girl had! Suzie was surrendered at the shelter and lived their for a few months before her life was cut short at only 1 years old.
This is for you Suzie and for all the other pits out there that just need responsible pet parents.
R.I.P Suzie 2008
These are only a handful of useful links. Please contact me at HarleysMission@gmail.com if you have any further questions or comments.
Click Here For More Information: Training, Rescues, Myths, Training, Pit Bull Crisis
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