So this is a bit of a departure for a blog post from me. I don't normally do "restaurant reviews" to share with you, but... the Beach Dog is something special!
If you ever visit Lincoln City, OR, don't forget to stop by this little restaurant. I know that many of you, our blog readers, are big dog fans (or animals in general!) The same goes for me. I knew we were going to like this restaurant from the first moment we walked in. The walls are covered (literally!) with photos of dogs. The TV plays a constant loop of dog shows like Lassie (with no volume, so it's non-intrusive). And you guessed it... the menu is made up primarily of sausages and hot dogs in many variations! Yummy stuff!
The owners of this wonderful place are Sonja and Roger and it's a family run operation. Sonja and son Jesse wait tables out front, and Roger and daughter Shannon cook in the back. They only have a few tables, so it's often packed with people waiting. The wait is worth it though, and they do a great job of managing things so you don't have to wait too long! (Call ahead and they'll add you to the list, or place an order to pick up!) They have been in business here for almost six years and are going strong with the #1 rated reviews for the town on TripAdvisor. (My personal review is one of the many 5 star ratings!)
While doggies aren't allowed inside, they are most welcome visitors. I've seen Sonja head out to greet a canine guest many times! They are only blocks from a great walking beach too (Taft) so you can always have breakfast or lunch and head out to play on the sand with your dog!
We already miss this place after moving to our new home in CA! We'll be back on many visits, I'm sure! I hope if you ever make it to the Oregon Coast, you'll include the Beach Dog on your itinerary. They'll love to see you, and your pooch!
Do you have a favorite restaurant that also loves your dog?
--Tammy
So I came across a very interesting business idea the other day. (I can't remember where I found this in my Internet ramblings.)
It seems there is a new gym in the San Francisco, CA area. And it isn't just a "normal" gym. Fit Bernal Fit is a gym where they actually encourage you to bring your dog with you! Their idea is that you don't have to feel guilty now about choosing your own health/fitness over your dog's. Instead of leaving your dog waiting at home for you to come back from your own workout, you can bring him along to the gym. You'll get your workout, and your dog will get his.
Your dog can hang out in the "dog lounge" with his other canine buddies while you use the gym. Or, you can choose to have your dog taken for a walk while you exercise. (Oh, and to come to this gym, you don't HAVE to have a dog - it's just set up to be friendly for people who do have dogs!) You can watch a montage video about Fit Bernal Fit at YouTube. It's fun!
What do you think? Would you choose a gym like this so your dog wouldn't miss out on activity so you could work-out? I like the idea, but I do think, for me at least, that part of having a dog would be the daily walks required. So, I wouldn't probably choose to go to a gym and let someone else walk my dog. Would you pay extra so your dog could come to the gym with you? (Photo from dreamstime.com)
--Tammy
We've talked in the past about trusts for your pets, and making plans for your pets in case you die before they do.
I came across an article recently that has another aspect of planning for your pets that I had not heard of. There are apparently now "retirement homes" for pets who have lost their owners to death or serious illnesses and cannot care for them. Several universities are offering to help people plan for their pets' futures.
At Texas A&M University they have the Stevenson Animal Life-Care Center. Pets will be able to live out their days after their owners die at this center. The cost of setting your pet up with this type of care is not cheap. One example in the article was Betty Kyle. She has paid more than $100,000 to the university to care for her animals if she dies. (She has many animals including donkeys, goats, and dogs.)
Another university, University of California - Davis, places animals in pre-screened homes after owners die. They also follow-up on the animals to make sure they are receiving good care in these new homes.
While it's not cheap to plan for your pets in this manner, I can see that it would be something many pet owners would really like to do for their pets. I don't think, for me, it is something I would consider at this point in my life, but boy, if I was elderly or facing a terminal illness, I'd sure want to know that my pets would be taken care of when I died. Donating to a university program to ensure this is a great way to set up their care!
What do you think? Would you ever save up to donate a large amount of money to take care of your pet if you died? (photo from istockphotos.com)
--Tammy
In this week's Wednesday Wisdom e-note, I wrote about the many kid and pet keepsakes my family has hung onto over the years. There's a whole basement full of this stuff!
Sorting through it as I've worked on a graduation scrapbook of memories for my youngest daughter has made me ask myself, "Which of these mementos is really, truly significant and meaningful to me?" In other words, which are the "sacred objects" worth saving?
Norris Burkes, a chaplain who serves in both civilian hospitals and with the Air Force Guard, writes a syndicated column that runs in our local Fort Collins, CO, newspaper. In his Feb. 20, 2011, essay, Burkes writes about the ordinary items that he realizes are "sacred" to him. You know, the ones he would save in case of a house fire. He names a pocketknife, his 1979 Baylor class ring, and, of course, his Bible as his top rescues. He says he'd also grab his trumpet, but not because he likes the instrument so much. He'd save it because his wife went to great lengths to get it for him and, for Burkes, the trumpet represents his wife's love for him.
Burkes tells us that sacredness isn't limited to religious beliefs. Rather, sacredness is contained in the ordinary things we have imbued with meaning and love.
I have many, many "sacred" items that are symbolic of the love of my family. And, as for my pets, I have favorite photos, my ClayPaws® prints and some clippings of each pet's fur that are most meaningful for me. Interestingly, I've realized that these keepsakes are more important to me than their actual cremains. I've kept them all these years, but this spring, I may scatter them in the yard and let them go.
What "sacred" objects have you kept to keep you connected to the pets who've passed on? (The print in the photo is of my daughter Kaia's crawdad, Garfield.)
--Laurel
Related articles you might find helpful:
I took this picture of my kitty, Luna, because I found it so funny... however, it really isn't funny!
When I worked at the Argus Institute at Colorado State University, we saw all kinds of emergencies come into the hospital. Almost always, they called on one of the counselors that worked there for emotional support in these difficult cases.(I am not a counselor - I was the admin assistant and communications coordinator. I took the calls often and helped get the right person involved, set up rooms, etc.)
I recall one specific emergency that really shook me up. An elderly woman came into the main waiting room. I happened to be up there when she arrived, so I saw the whole thing unfold. She was carrying her cat wrapped in a towel and was obviously very upset.
It turns out that her cat had climbed into the open clothes dryer in her home. She didn't know the cat was there, and turned on the dryer. By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. She brought the cat to the hospital, but unfortunately, the cat had already died en route. It was such a sad tale. She was understandably distraught. She felt guilt for letting this happen to her cat. The counselor talked with her and helped to calm her down. We made a ClayPaws® print for her, but she still had to leave the hospital without her cat. Never an easy thing to do, but it seemed, even harder in a situation like hers. What had happened to her cat was an avoidable household accident.
We were always VERY careful to close the dryer when we were doing laundry. It's a warm place that is enticing to kitties! But, on the day I took this picture of Luna, I must have gotten distracted and walked away with the door open. Sure enough, she just HAD to jump in. Luckily for me, and for Luna, I saw her before anything bad happened. But it would have been easy for me to miss seeing a black cat in the dryer!
Are you aware of the dangers around your house that could potentially harm your pets? How do you make sure that you keep your pets the safest that you can? We all know that accidents happen, but we can all try to prevent them too!
--Tammy
During the 20 years I was a veterinary grief counselor at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, I talked with hundreds of pet parents AFTER their pets had died. Though Tammy isn't a counselor, but in her role as administrative assistant for the Argus Institute, she also talked with many pet parents calling for support after a pet died. Almost all of these pet parents had one thing in common.
They had regrets.
Some regretted that they had waited too long to euthanize their pets. Others regretted that they had euthanized their pets too quickly, without really thinking it through.
Some had regrets about how they had said that last, hard good-bye. Others regretted where their pets had been put down.
Many people regretted not including their children in the decisions about their pets' treatment and eventual euthanasia. And, one woman I talked with, regretted that she had tried to do the "right thing" by asking her ex-husband to be with her that day. He had arrived at the veterinary clinic with his girlfriend---the one who had broken up their marriage---and both of them had obviously had one too many glasses of wine! Needless to say, their presence during her dog's final moments made a difficult situation much, much worse.
Regrets are horrible companions. They intrude on your thoughts, tie your stomach in knots, and sometimes, depending on their impact and significance, alter the course of your life.
Most of us don't want to repeat the situation that caused us to have regrets in the first place.
So, in an attempt to avoid those situations, we might also avoid seeing the reality that lies before us. Attempting to avoid our feelings can make us behave in more daring or risky ways. Avoidance can also make us more timid and cautious about making decisions or confronting a problem.
At the VetWisdomCafé, we want to help you break out of any denial or avoidance patterns you may have and live life with your pets more consciously. That's why we're proclaiming 2011 the year of NO REGRETS!
We're passionate about encouraging you to find the best ways to truly enjoy life with your pets while you have them.
And, when you must face the end of those sweet relationships, we're also passinate about helping you prepare to say good-bye.
We know from years of experience and thousands of conversations with pet parents that it's best to prepare for that final good-bye BEFORE your pet dies.
Why?
Because, when you can find the courage and strength to face the reality of your pet's situation, you can do your homework, make the plans that are right for you, and provide your pet---and your family----with the kind of good-bye you all want and deserve.
This kind of preparation usually results in one very good thing....
No Regrets!
We hope you'll continue to join us this year at the VetWisdomCafé and tell us the ways you've found to truly enjoy life with your pets. We also hope you'll share the ways you've found to prepare yourself for life without them.
Visit us often at www.veterinarywisdomforpetparents.com to see the new resources and articles we'll be posting about Life with Pets without Regrets. You'll also find information and more about our community on Facebook, Twitter, and in our monthly VeterinaryWisdom® newsletter.
So, let's start the new year right now...what's your greatest regret about how a pet you loved died? (photo from bigstockphoto.com)
--Laurel and Tammy
Related articles you might find helpful:
8 Tips for Making Decisions for Your Pet
Five Comfort Conversations to Help You Cope With Pet Loss
In Portland, Oregon, near where I live, there is a new dog park. It's called Fido's Indoor Dog Park. It's big - over 13,000 square feet, and it has a ton of great features.
It has doggie dens, for overnight care, a self-wash area (for dogs), private meeting rooms for owners who need alone time while their dogs socialize, a coffee shop, wireless Internet, and a doggie pool.
Wow! Such luxury for your pooch. This place is like the Ritz. The pool is only for dogs, so don't go jumping in with the canines. They even have lifeguards on duty in case a pooch has trouble! Portland is all about being green, and this indoor park is no exception. The fake grass is made from recycled products, a natural cleaner is used, solid waste is put into biodegradable bags and plans are to compost the "poop pile".
Using this particular dog park isn't free. It can cost as much as $275 a month for full use of the place. But you can also pay for just one visit at a time for around $10 each. Expect to have to show your pet's veterinary records on your first visit too.
What do you think of this indoor dog park? Is it something you want/need for your dog? It seems appropriate for a place like Portland. It is often quite rainy and grey, so having an indoor place to take your dog is a great idea! I think I'd use it (if I had a dog... and if it wasn't a 2+ hour drive to Portland!)
--Tammy
As summer is starting to wrap up and kids head back to school, I thought it appropriate to share a very interesting idea I read about!
Synonymous with summer days were ice cream trucks. I remember as a kid getting excited to hear the music of the local truck working its way up your street. Well, now the ice cream truck is for dogs, not kids. (Wait... didn't I just write about a restaurant for dogs. What is going on here?!) A truck in London, near Regent's Park, is specifically geared toward summer treats for dogs!
A team of scientists checked out the treats and determined that the treats were great for animals, and safe. The flavors are "Dog eat hog world" - gammon (pork) and chicken sorbet topped with a biscuit. Or canine cookie crunch - mixed dog biscuits and ice cream.
Oh! And instead of the more traditional ice cream van tunes? This one plays the tune of Scooby Doo. Fitting, no? Also, the profits from the sales of these doggie treats are going to a good cause. Berkshire Search and Rescue Dogs will benefit.
Would you buy a dog ice cream treat for your buddy? I like the idea, and I would certainly buy a treat, especially knowing that the money is going to a good cause! (full story and photos here.)
--Tammy
Don't worry - I haven't turned food critic on you overnight! This new restaurant is for the dogs!
In Sydney, Australia, Chew Chew has opened its doors and it is a meeting place for dogs and their owners. The menu is just for canines and felines only! Humans can join their pets in the cafe, but they have to bring their own food/drink. (There is a human cafe next door.)
The pet friendly menu includes such delicacies as beef steak and mushrooms, fish soup, goat's yogurt jelly, and lamb bones. (They do carry-out orders too!) The owner and chef says she had always dreamed of having a pet restaurant. Her menus are based on Japanese nutritional principals.
What do you think of this idea? Would you take a pet to a restaurant exclusively for them? I have to say I find this to be a rather odd idea, if a very enterprising one! I don't know if I would do this with my cats, but I'd definitely be more tempted if I had a dog. Though, I think it might be more tempting yet if it had both a pet and a human menu! (full story and photo here.)
--Tammy
No, I haven't gone crazy! I know it's birds that are supposed to tweet.
But, Mattel has invented a toy that will get your dog hooked up to Twitter and allow them to have their own page.
The collar attachment is called Puppy Tweets. It randomly generates one of about 500 canned tweets when it detects barking or movement. It will then automatically post an update to your dog's Twitter page. Mattel is quick to point out that this is just a toy, however. It isn't actually "translating" your dog's barks into words. It is random!
Puppy Tweets is supposed to hit pet stores and toy stores in the fall of this year, and will retail for $29.99. (Image from Mattel.)
What do you think about Mattel's idea? Will you buy one for your dog and get him or her hooked up on social media?! I honestly can't imagine doing this. I have a hard enough time keeping myself organized on social media pages like Twitter and Facebook. I can only imagine if I got my cats going on something like this too!
--Tammy
If you think that the department store Santa's have it tough with sneezing and crying children...you ought to see what it's like for Santa when the "children" are barking, nipping, and sometimes even peeing! This past week-end, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region held their annual "Santa Paws" event in which people donate money to have their pets pose for a picture with Santa Claus (this year Santa was Steve Dudek--an El Paso County Sheriff's Deputy).
There was Conan, "a rambunctious black Labrador puppy who loved to jump up, refused to sit down, and spit up on the floor. Twice. There were four mammoth-size dogs who tried to make a run for it while Santa was holding their leashes. "They made a sleigh out of me" Dudek laughed. Overall, this Santa was happy to volunteer his time and reveled in the joy that animals bring to our lives (see story at Gazette.com) - photos included!)
I love to read stories like these...how about any of you? Have you ever had your pet pose for a picture with Santa or posed for any other special holiday? What about birthdays? Do you celebrate them and if so...how? I'm interested in hearing your stories! (photo is of Laurel's dog, Bear)
--Dana
If you are considering adopting a dog, October is the month to do so! American Humane is promoting October as the time to save a homeless dog. "Rescue a shelter dog... and get a loyal sidekick for all of life's adventures".
Shelters always have many dogs who need to find homes. Especially now, during a time when people are having money difficulties, many pets wind up in shelters. These dogs (and cats!) need to find their own homes and families to love.
Even if you aren't in a place to adopt a dog in October, there are other ways to help your local shelters. They always need donations - money and time! Most shelters have webpages these days, and they often post wish-lists of things they need for the animals.
Our local shelter here in Oregon, is in trouble. They don't have the funding to continue to stay open and help homeless animas. We have found that the communities around here are doing a lot to try and help. Many local restaurants donate portions of their proceeds to the shelter. We have learned which do this, and we will do our part by patronizing the ones that do.
Would you ever consider adopting a dog from a shelter? Or have you already? I know that, for me, if or when Mike and I decide to adopt a dog (WAY down the road), we will certainly adopt a dog from a shelter. I can't think of all those pups (and older dogs too) needing homes and think of any other way to get a dog!
--Tammy
Well, as you know, I have relocated to the Oregon coast. I have now been an Oregon resident for one week (plus a couple days). Two weeks ago today, we had movers, cleaners, and carpet cleaners at our house! We hired a rental truck and the movers packed it for us. (Thank goodness we had their help! We would not have gotten everything in there that they were able to. As it was, we had to leave some stuff behind... including our giant "cat tree"!)
Through all of this moving process, one of our biggest worries has been the cats. We had to make a very hard decision regarding our Miss Girl. (We did euthanize her. I'll go into that in another post. It was the best and hardest decision.) We also had to figure out how to get our three boys (Ben, Oscar, and Henry) safely to Oregon, with a minimum of stress for humans and cats!
The trip usually takes about 20 hours by car. With a moving van, towed vehicle, follow-behind vehicle, four humans, and three cats, it took about 30 hours total. We did the drive in three days, with scheduled evening stops. We made reservations before leaving in hotels that accepted pets. (Super 8 motels are good about accepting pets for a small amount extra.) With those reservations made, we then proceeded to figure out how to crate them for the trip.
We have three soft-sided carriers for the cats, but they aren't very big. They wouldn't allow them much room to wiggle. For such a long drive, we knew we needed another plan. I looked into buying larger, dog crates, but they were VERY expensive, so I fell back to an idea I'd heard somewhere along the line. Laundry baskets, and bungee cords. It worked - cheap, effective, and easy to use. Also - we will use the baskets for other purposes now rather than just having to find storage space for the expensive crates!
Here's what I did: Hunted down some cheap laundry baskets. Target worked great for this! They had their "dorm" life stuff on sale, and the baskets I found were only about $2 each. They were also smaller than most laundry baskets. I bought 6 baskets, and several bungees. By putting two baskets together and using a bungee (or two for our Houdini cat, Oscar) we were able to have the cats safely in the car - each with their own space. They could stand, turn around, etc. And each set up wound up costing only about $9 total (instead of the $80 or $90 each a crate would have been!) **I wouldn't recommend this laundry basket method if your animal will be spending any amount of time where escaping from the baskets could be a problem. They ARE NOT fool proof ways to contain an animal. It worked for us to carry them safely from car to motel, and back. (All three cats fit in the backseat of our car - a Hyundai. Henry and Ben are pictured - Oscar hadn't gotten loaded up yet!)
The cats were amazingly quiet for the whole trip. Henry is just about the only one that "sang" very much and it wasn't all that much! Once we headed out on the first day of the trip, they settled down and slept in their baskets. After about 2 hours of driving, we decided to see how they did out of the baskets. My friend Andrea (who came along for the trip, as well as Mike's dad) and I undid the bungees with all the car doors closed! The cats came out a bit to kind of see what was what. Then each of them found a comfy place to curl up. Ben chose to stay in his now open basket. Oscar liked the floor of the car. Henry roamed around the most, but usually wound up in the lap of whoever was the passenger. Ben also decided that he loved Andrea and spent a lot of time cuddling with her! We had a portalbe litter box, and water and food available, but they didn't eat or poo until we were stopped in a motel.
It was truly an amazingly easy trip. I worried so much about how the cats would do... needlessly it seems! They have continued to adjust in our new place, and are doing well! They LOVE being able to go out on our balcony with us.
So... travelling with these cats wasn't so bad. In fact, it was kind of pleasant to have a fuzzy buddy to curl up in your lap while riding!
And just for your enjoyment - a shot taken from our balcony and one of the nearby shore. We look over Devil's Lake State Park, and it's about 1/2 a mile to the shore from our place!
--Tammy
News of the weird!
There is a toymaker in Japan who is claiming they have invented a device that can translate your dog's barks into language that human's can understand! (For now, this invention is only for Japanese dogs.)
It is called a "Bowlingual" and it was developed with a veterinarian and an acoustics research laboratory. You put a wireless microphone on your dog's collar and it transmits the sounds your dog makes to the Bowlingual device.
From there, the device "translates" the noises from your dog into "human language" using special algorithms. It is only available in Japan currently, so the display uses Japanese characters, and special emoticons. You can even check in with your dog while you are away - the device has an answering machine!
At the end of August, the Bowlingual will be available for sale in Japan for around $220.
You can read more about the Bowlingual here. There is also a promo video to watch, however, there is no translation to English! What do you think of this? If something like it were to be available in English (or your language!) would you consider trying it out for your dog?
--Tammy
Complimentary and alternative therapies for pets...they can be quite a mixed bag. Some pet owners swear by them, while others have found little benefit. So...what's the real deal here? The answer will probably annoy you...it depends. It sounds wishy-washy but it's true. It depends upon the animal; his/her particular medical issue; and of course...the clinician who provides the alternative medicine.
There are many competent, knowledgeable, and well respected veterinarians who offer complimentary/alternative therapies. Some are experts in their field such as Dr. Narda Robinson at Colorado State University's Veterinary School and Dr. James Gaynor- a pain specialist at Animal Anesthesia and Pain Management Center (www.nopetpain.com). For these types of clinicians, we would refer patients and clients in a heartbeat (when appropriate).
However, it is important to spend a little time doing research before diving into this alternative form of veterinary care for your pets. Once you start looking, you will see that there's a whole lotta cool stuff out there and there's a whole lotta weird stuff out there (don't you like my scientific terminology?) No matter what, you should at least talk to your own veterinarian and find out what he/she thinks.
At our pet hospital, we have seen for ourselves how amazing laser therapy and acupuncture helps animals with arthritis (one of our doctors was certified in veterinary acupuncture). We've also heard stories of clients who have spent a lot of money on questionable procedures without getting much benefit for their pets. As I said...it just depends.
So...what do you all think? Have you used complimentary/alternative therapies for your pets? What were they and how did your pet respond? I'd love to hear your stories! (photo from bigstockphoto.com)
--Dana
Pets only? That's a new concept in flying!
In July, Pet Airways is going to debut. Their service is set to take-off on July 14, and it will serve New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Denver (to start with). Pets will travel in the main cabin of the planes, not in the cargo hold (which happens on many "traditional" airlines).
The airline will have attendants who are specially trained to handle your pets with care. Simply purchase your pet's ticket, and then drop them off at the pet lounge at the airport. Your pet will have a climate-controlled cabin ride with fresh air circulating. Once the flight reaches the destination, you will then pick up your pet at the Pet Lounge there. If you aren't able to get there the same day as your pet, you can board them at the PAWS Lodge.
You can visit PetAirways onlineand book reservations now at introductory rates. (Their schedule for flights is minimal at least to start with, so you'll have to take care to plan your pet's trip carefully!) What do you think of this idea? Would you ever consider purchasing a separate flight for your pet? For me, I think I might do this! We have one cat (Miss Girl) who is a VERY bad traveler. If we needed to get our cats across country, I think I'd have Miss G ride in style in the air (while very sleepy, hopefully!) while the rest of us drive cross country to meet up with her! It would take some careful planning, but it might save all of us (her included) a lot of stress! (Story from UPI.)
--Tammy
I read an interesting article last week. It was about people who are choosing to feed their pets totally vegan diets, rather than typical pet foods, which include meats.
Vegan is different than vegetarian. Vegans do not eat anything that comes from animals. This includes eggs and dairy products. The article profiled several vegan pet-owners who had decided that they could not ethically feed their animals meat and animal products since they, themselves, would not eat these things. They believe that "their cats' and dogs' diets should reflect their own beliefs about the treatment of animals and environmentally sustainable diets".
In the story, veterinarians talked about whether feeding pets a vegan diet could be healthy. One veterinarian said that it is possible to do this in a healthy way for the pet, but it isn't a simple process. He urged pet-owners to really consider the work involved before making a switch to a vegan pet diet. Also, apparently a vegan diet would be easier for a dog to adapt to than a cat. Cats apparently have stricter diet requirements and if offered a vegan diet will probably try to supplement the protein they need by hunting on their own!
This was a really interesting view of a vegan diet for me. I'd never really thought about how pet food might affect someone who doesn't eat any animal products. Knowing that there are animal products in your pet's food could really cause some ethical concerns if you are truly strict, as a vegan diet is.
What do you all think? Would you be concerned about feeding your pet animal products if you didn't eat them yourself? Or would you be OK with them having animal products? Do any of you already feed a vegan diet to your pets? How do you make sure that it is healthy and balanced for them?
(Photo from Dreamstime.com/Matthias Nordmeyer)
--Tammy
Have you ever wondered what pet groomers do with all the fur they trim off of your pets?! I had never even considered this. But, groomer Linda Bruinsma decided she had enough of just dumping this fur into landfills, and she figured out a way to make better use of the trimmed off fur.
Linda did some research and learned about an organization called Matters of Trust. This non-profit takes on surplus materials and tries to turn them into environmentally friendly products. They use leftover animal hair to make "Oil Spill Hairmats". These are used to help collect oil (petroleum) that has been spilled in accidents in water. They accept donations of leftover hair from groomers, pet owners, human salons, etc.
Linda currently ships her trimmings, along with other groomers, once a month to Matters of Trust. She says it is worth the cost to her (about $60 a month) to help the environment in this way. (Full story here.)
Do you have ways that you recycle or help the environment while you're doing things for your pet? It's important to be aware of these unique alternatives! If you have other ideas, please share with us in the comments! (Photo from PeoplePets.com)
--Tammy
Who among us has not dealt with a playground bully at some point in our lives? It's like a rite of passage into adulthood (sometimes these bullies persist throughout adulthood). It turns out that dogs are not immune to this challenge. Meet Oscar... a sweet-tempered and somewhat shy German short-haired pointer mix. Get this though - he absolutely HATES doggy daycare but LOVES going to see the vet! What's that you say? He actually enjoys going to the doctor? What sort of canine madness is this?
Poor Oscar gets picked on at doggy daycare. During playtime and "recess," he gets bullied by other dogs. They back him into a corner, steal his toys, lunch money, and generally intimidate him. Once he got into a tussle with another dog and had to come and see us for a paw laceration. We all felt so sorry for him that he ended up getting the red carpet, celebrity treatment. He probably felt that he had landed in doggy Nirvana.
I guess it's only natural for us to root for the underdog (literally, in this case). We can all relate to Oscar's plight. We know that he needs to learn on his own how to deal with bullies, yet we don't want him to change his sweet ways. It's the exact same feeling I get when talking with my 7-year old son about bullies at his school. They've always been around and always will be.
What about you? Have you ever had any of your dogs at daycare? Did things go smoothly? Which one is your dog most likely to be... the bully or the victim? Oscar needs some support! (Photo from istockphoto.com)
--Dana
So, how many of you took a walk last night with your... cat?! Yes, that's right - your cat, on a leash, walking with you! It isn't a common sight! However, it is apparently becoming more and more popular. (full story here)
In the past, most cats were either fully outdoor cats, or they were indoor/outdoor. They were allowed to be out and about and get their exercise. Nowadays, though, people are more often keeping their cats inside only. (My four are now indoor only. It was hard to get Ben to adjust as he was used to being outside when he wanted to be!) Turns out that pet professionals are recommending to people to protect their cats by keeping them indoors. And some are now recommending training your cat to walk on a leash to get them the outdoor time they want and need.
My cat, Oscar, LOVES to go outside on the lawn. When I lived in the country, I would let him go on the lawn without a leash - but I stayed out there with him to make sure he didn't take off. Now that I live in a busier neighborhood, I don't trust him without a leash. We go out occasionally, with Oscar on a harness/leash combo. BUT, he will NOT walk with me with the leash on. I have to carry him to the grass, and then he rolls around, eats grass and is happy. When it is time to go in, he has to be picked up and carried to the house. So, leash-walking is not a good option for us! I'm sure that our neighbors are amused to see me out sitting on the lawn with my cat on a leash though!
What do you think about taking a cat out on a leash? I'd love it if I could get one of mine to actually walk with me, but I doubt that's going to happen! Would you ever try to train your cat to walk with you?
(The photo is actually my Oscar boy out on his leash!)
--Tammy
Hope you had a wonderful break for the holiday!
Back to work today and I came across a great article! Not only is this an environmentally friendly idea, it's funny too!
It seems that an inventor came up with the brainstorm to put his hamster to work. For his masters degree in industrial design, he came up with a hamster powered paper shredder! The hamster runs on his wheel, as hamsters are wont to do, and the paper runs through the shredder, providing clean paper for his bedding! Pretty ingenius, if you ask me. It takes about 45 minutes of hamster running to shred one piece of office paper, so fast, it's not!
The inventor of this shredder said, "I wanted to come up with a product that would capture people's imagination while addressing issues of topical concern such as climate change, recycling, and identity fraud. The hamster shredder provides a solution to all of these things because it relies on the hamster to generate power, destroys confidential documents, and turns paper into bedding."
I personally love this idea! It's a bit silly and whimsical. But, really... a pet that "works" by doing something it would do anyway? What could be better? I think I'll ask my bosses if we can each have a hamster/shredder cage at our desks here at World by the Tail, Inc.! Sure, it will take three years to shred our scads of paperwork, but we'll be helping the environment while doing it. And we each get to have a pet at our desk too! :)
(Photo from telegraph.co.uk)
Tomorrow, Friday, June 20, is National Take Your Dog to Work Day!!
It is cases like this that I find myself wishing I had a dog!! My cats would just NOT cooperate in coming to work with me! Having a dog would be a lot of fun in that I could drag him or her around with me! (And the dog would like enjoy being "dragged around"!)
Working where I do, a dog could accompany me to work IF it was well-behaved! We had a little office mascot who came to work with my co-worker every day for a long time. He doesn't come anymore and we miss his doggy presence in the office. (That's Remi on the left!) Last week, one of our owners brought her cockapoo, Beau, with her! It was really nice to have him here!
Does your work allow pets in the workplace? Will you bring your dog along tomorrow? I'd love to hear about your experiences if you do! (Or pictures even!!)
I love mutts! If I ever have a dog again, it will likely be a mutt! (Probably a rescued one at that!)
Have you ever wondered what kind of dog you really have? Sometimes it is easy to tell that you have certain breeds mixed in. Sometimes, it's not so easy! 
I read recently in an email from PetPlace.com that there is now a way to find out what kind of dog your mutt really is! There is a new DNA test for your dog! It is apparently an easy test to do - just swab your dog's cheek and mail in the test. 6 weeks later you can know what mix of do you have!
You can learn more about these tests at www.dog-dna.com. If you do this test on your dog - let us know what you find out! Did your dog turn out to be a completely different mix than you thought? Or were you right on? Does it matter to you if you know or is it OK for it to remain a mystery?
Now, I know from personal experience that music can have a calming effect on me. But, did you know that it has a similar effect on our pets?
While out and about, browsing on the Internet, I came across an article from January on MSNBC. "Pets enjoy the healing power of music". In this article, the author talks to a harpist who is playing specifically for animals. She says, "The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instruments next to human voice." She has produced a CD of music for ill pets as well. She also conducted a study in Florida where she said that her music helped to lower heart rates and respiration. 
Well, even before reading this article, I knew that music was a good thing for calming pets! We've tried it with our own pets here at World by the Tail! I hadn't heard of this particular harpist, but we carry a number of CDs specifically made for pets and their owners! Check it out! Maybe there is one that will help you and your pet!
If music helps humans relax, I truly believe it will help pets too! Maybe part of the factor is pets will relax if they know their humans are relaxed!
