On November 1st Wynston was attacked by an off-leash Boxer while we were on a walk. I’ve been keeping our Facebook friends updated, but of course I also want to pour my thoughts and feelings into writing as my boy recovers. Here’s an update on Wynston since the dog attack.
How to Include Your Dog in Thanksgiving
My dogs are included in all of my life’s celebrations. In the category of celebrations is, of course, Thanksgiving! With this delicious holiday right around the corner, I want to share some ways in which you can include your dogs on Thanksgiving Day!
Introducing a Kitten Into a House Full of Animals
With much enthusiasm and less hesitancy than I planned, I can now say I’m the mom to six animals! I have three dogs and three cats. Recently I adopted a new Siamese kitten named Leila. For months Matt and I had been wanting to add a kitten to the family. Why a kitten and not an adult cat? Well Sadie, our six year old Calico, was having some issues with anxiety from moving into our new home. While her anxiety did get better, Matt and I still felt like having a kitten to look after would help Sadie a lot. She’s a very motherly, nurturing cat. I was finally ready to bring another feline into the home after my loss of Edison in 2013.
Initially I had this idea of how introductions would go once I brought the kitten home. I thought I knew which animals would act certain ways but boy was I wrong. I was so. wrong.
10 Tips for Effectively Potty Training Your Chihuahua
Lack of potty training is one of the main reasons that dogs end up in shelters. This is very avoidable if you go about potty training correctly. As a dog mom, I know it’s probably the most important training time for your dog. Whether you rescued an adult dog that needs training or adopted a new puppy, every pet parent needs to effectively potty train their dog. None of my small dogs were potty trained when I rescued them and it was a different process with each one. Using positive reinforcement methods, you can potty train your Chihuahua quickly with a minimal margin of error. Here are 10 tips for effectively potty training your Chihuahua or other small dog.
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How to Help a Fearful Dog
I scour the euthanasia list from our local county animal shelter every night. Since both locations of Maricopa County Animal Care & Control are kill-shelters, about 40% of the animals who come in each year are put to death. It’s horrifying and sad, but the East Valley shelter alone takes in almost 150 animals a day. Each. Day. The Maricopa County facilities need a lot of help. Many people turn the other way because they are “kill shelters.” Well in reality, they wouldn’t have to euthanize so many animals if there was more funding, help, and foster/rescue homes. Oh yeah – and less idiots surrendering their dogs.
I’ve been involved with MCACC for about nine years and I just recently rescued a dog off of the euthanasia list. I came across her photo online on 11/22/15. She was an unknown breed, put at risk for euthanasia due to “fear.” She was set to die the very next day. As much as this angered me, I immediately had her “pulled” from the list. The shelter was right, she was extremely fearful. And I was going to have my hands full. [Read more…]
