Time to SLOW down

Between a full-time job, running a rescue (with the help of amazing people), being a wife, step-mom, dog & cat mom to 5, keeping the household down and with the Holidays fast approaching, I needed a minute to just stop and smell the roses.

Life is good and I mean like really good. The rescue is great and becoming more of a success than I ever thought could. My job rocks and I enjoy going each day. My husband is hot so that’s a plus and my step-son is like the coolest kid ever! Plus, I’m going to Mexico in less than a month so what do I have to complain about!

Well, then I suddenly woke up from my fairy tale by Barnabee’s excruciating cough. Then I start to think, when is the last time I’ve spent some quality time with Barnes, aside from our good morning kisses and evening snuggles but some good quality time. It dawned on me that time is going by quickly and Barnes is only going to be here for a little while longer so I need to put down the computer, put down the cell phone and give him my undivided attention. Let me tell you, he was stoked!

B loves his hair brushed and cut so that’s exactly what we did. Usually, I prefer my salon to be outdoors with the overwhelming amount of hair that comes off my 100lbs dog but seeing we live in Minnesota, that wasn’t an option. We would freeze our butts off so the living room it was. I trimmed up his paws that were similar to a gremlin foot and shaped up his ears. I tell him that with his short ears he looks like a “spring chicken”. Then we brushed his whole body until we had a pile of hair the equivalent to April (my black cat).

Winter is so hard on Barnabee and to think this could be his last breaks my heart. His body is getting older, he’s getting stiffer and walking to get a drink of water has become a chore. They say you know when you’re ready but do you really?

What I do know that right now isn’t the right time. He’s wagging his tail, giving me kisses and greeting me with his big ole’ B smile still. He goes to the bathroom outside, he’s eating and drinking and loving every moment still with us (besides when the cats drive him nuts or Deuce is being a pain). He’s loved and he’s happy, that’s all that matters. 

So going forward, I am going to slow down and enjoy the time I have left with Barnes. I love the quote “Blessed is the person to have earned the love of an old dog” and I truly am. Now it’s time to go, I have a hot date with a 14 year old “Mutt”! ;) 

It's been awhile!

Hi, it’s me – Bethie! The writer of this blog. You may have forgotten about me because of the neglect my poor blog has received. The neglection of my blog doesn’t reflect the care of my poor animals although since starting the rescue they think my computer has become a new family member that has my full-time attention and they are a bit jealous (and confused to why it doesn’t bark or meow).  

We are on month THREE of Grey Face Rescue & Retirement and I feel as though we have been up and running for year. I’m exhausted and my brain is about to explode but I am so completely in love with what I do (shout out to my husband and step son as well – in love with you both as well!).  

I learn something new every day and I’m going to emphasize the everyday! Today, I learned that looking for a space that will allow us to not only utilize as an office and meeting space but to store 100’s of pounds of dog food along with treats, kennels, toys, bowls, bed and everything else needed to keep our senior dogs happy AND have the ability of letting dogs come to the building if need be… is difficult. Oh ya, it must be cheap too and big to store all our stuff. Piece of cake, right?  Not exactly. This is something we need now too but there’s another obstacle… donations.

Which comes to the next thing I’ve learned. Donations aren’t a walk in the park – that’s for damn sure! You would think that when you start a non-profit for something you are really passionate about people (friends and family) would just throw money at you, right? Nope. That’s not how it goes. You have to earn it by hosting fundraisers, selling merchandise, having a silent auction or you can follow in my foot steps and drowned everyone’s Facebook in pleas to donate to Grey Face. I’m curious to how many people have blocked me from their News Feed. I don’t blame them… I’m annoying but I’m consistent, passionate and have the mindset if I fill up their News Feed with cute senior dogs that need their help then just maybe they will give us a dollar. DO NOT FOLLOW IN MY FOOT STEPS because it’s not working and I’ve most likely pissed some serious Facebookers off from their daily creep session (I get it, I’m a creep too – it’s often I find myself on my co-workers, Grandma’s, Best Friend’s page and totally forget how and why I’m there).

One thing I do suggest… NETWORK! Befriend all those crazy weird animal advocates and join the army of misfit dog and cat lovers that speak a different language then the rest of the world. We’re the kind of people that live each day for slobbery wet puppy kisses (smelly dental diseased kisses in my case). We’re having full on conversations in our highest pitched voices with dogs that don’t understand a thing we’re saying (so you think).

Something my husband has requested I work on is that when I get home from work I kiss him first prior to finding all 5 of my animals, give them big hugs, quality pets and hairy kisses then with my furry mouth attempt to give him sloppy sixths (sevenths if we have Deagan). Can you blame him?

Until next time… possibly next month J

What I have learned about the Rescue Biz

Since launching Grey Face Rescue & Retirement, I’ve had my ups, my downs, smiles, tears and a new found late night bedtime which means lack of sleep. This isn’t a “hobby” nor a day or evening job. This is a 24/7, around the clock, working your ass off VOLUNTEER job – when you’re the President. I currently work a 40-hour a week job plus am apart of AAF of Central Minnesota so time is limited but that hasn’t stopped me. Here are a few things I’ve learned thus far:

1.       Time Management: This is key – especially for individuals like myself. I’m balancing a full-time job, AdFed, a family, 5 animals, friends AND Grey Face. If only there were more than 24 hours in a day I would do one hell of a job but for now, I think I’m doing ok.  God bless my husband for listening to me vent about the massive amount of papers to file for our 501(c)3, crying over meetings that weren’t encouraging, extreme happiness over meetings that went fantastic and the fact that after working 8 hours I go straight to my office for another 4-5 hours every evening. Therefore, I am nearly invisable to him but he understands this is a dream and he’s supportive. He deserves a medal or a vacation or a lifetime supply of beer… SOMETHING. The guy is a saint.

2.       There will be good times AND bad times: There will even be times where you consider giving up or feeling as though “I don’t think I can do this”. I’ll admit – I’ve thought that. There is A LOT that goes into a rescue and I’m only 3 months in! It’s only going to get harder from here and don’t worry, I’ll blog about what I’ve learned 1 year, 3 years and 5 years into the world of rescue but for now, this is what to expect at the beginning.

3.       Don’t expect too much: I’ll admit it, I thought my family and friends would be throwing money at the rescue and the support would be endless but not all people are rescue people nor animal people. Hell, the Facebook page has been up and running for a couple months and about ¾ of my Facebook friends list hasn’t even “LIKED” it (I just keep telling myself that they don’t check their “Liked Page Suggestions” – or whatever it’s called). Donations are HARD and you end up begging but it’s part of the job.

Don’t get me wrong – through the smiles and the frowns, I am SO happy with my life and the path that Grey Face is going to take me. I’ve met AMAZING people along the way thus far, worked with awesome rescues, felt so much support and have had lots of encouragement. It’s truly a challenge but I feel as though I’ll learn a lot along the way. Cheers to just the beginning and years of savings seniors. 

Don't Let Old Age Slow You Down!

Is your dog slowing down? Are they having a hard time getting up and down the stairs? Did their happy-go-lucky personality slowly turn into the world’s cutest couch potato? If so, they might not be receiving the supplements they need.

Barnabee was slowing down and his health was becoming a concern. At 13 years old, everything is concerning to me but we seek every option to keep him happy, comfortable and healthy until the time comes where we have to say good-bye.

After starting my adventure with Grey Face Rescue &Retirement, I reached out to rescue groups in Minnesota asking for advice and the items they felt were necessary for Senior Dogs. Katie Jo, bless her heart, from Secondhand Hound’s Hospice Program, reached out and informed me that supplements are a senior dog’s #1 need. In the meantime, I’ve been giving Barnabee Fish Oil pills, a suppressant for his coughing and was on a sodium-free, boiled rice and hamburger diet. All seemed to be working ok but not as well as I would hope. Katie recommended WapitiLabs Senior Mobility. You can purchase them from Amazon. She had mentioned that dogs have entered their hospice program not even able to walk and after a couple weeks on these supplements they were running. I thought, WOW – I need to try these for B.

Let me tell you, it’s been a world wind! B is running, yes… running! I don’t think I’ve seen Barnabee run since he was a puppy. He has energy. He’s getting up and down great and walking around the house. It feels great to see his health improve so quickly and so tremendously. He’s really happy and you can tell by his big puppy-dog smile.

If you or someone you know has a senior dog struggling from old age, I highly recommend these supplements. It’s been nearly night and day for Barnabee and a blessing to see him comfortable, happy and healthy. 

Grey Face Rescue & Retirement

It’s here… it’s finally here – Grey Face Rescue & Retirement. I’ve waited my whole life to open a rescue. I’ve always wanted to help animals but there were limitations. Such as, I could NEVER be a Vet Tech – I am WAY too emotional. I cry when the Vet Techs (bless their souls) hold Deuce down to clip his nails (it takes two of them and muzzle). I thought about working at a Shelter but I can barely walk into the place without adopting an animal that I think working there would be terrible for not only my pocket book (my animals cost an arm and a leg) but also my marriage. My poor husband can barely keep up with 5 animals, let alone any more. I’ve also been told that I wouldn’t “fit” in a shelter setting – I don’t know what that means but I trust them.

With the influence of very successful and amazing rescues and shelters in the St. Cloud area along with my favorite show Pit Bulls and Parolees – I thought a foster-based rescue is exactly what I wanted to do. Ok, I accomplished that, a foster-based rescue but who am I going to rescue? Cats? Dogs? Fish? Horses? Monkeys? Well, dogs, of course (hopefully someday we will take in senior cats but at this time, only dogs) but do I take in ALL dogs, special need dogs, puppies, seniors, black dogs? This question took a while… but once it came apparent I knew it was the right choice. B (Barnabee) is the most important thing to me. He is my 13 year old “Mutt” that has the world’s largest heart, so goofy and so full of love AND he loves no more in this world then me.

You can read the story of how we got B here but since he’s been at MY house for the last 2 years, we’re inseparable.  B’s one and only flaw is that he gave Josh the misconception of what dogs are really like. B made Josh think that all dogs are calm, sleep all day, can go hours without being let out, didn’t need much exercise but preferred to be petted for a good 10 minutes. He thought dogs didn’t bark, didn’t chew on things and didn’t jump on the furniture. All you had to do was give them a scoop of food in the morning and night. Boy, was Josh wrong and Deuce made that VERY clear. I could go on and on about how much I love B and how much he means to our family but this isn’t what this blog is about.

It’s about Grey Face Rescue & Retirement - Grey Face Rescue & Retirement is a non-profit, foster-based rescue dedicated to giving senior animal’s stability and security when the norm becomes unfamiliar.  We provide high quality care & love to senior animals.

Grey Face is to represent all those senior dogs that have grown their fair share of grey hair that cover their muzzles. Grey Face Rescue & Retirement will provide comfort to senior dogs that are no longer able to stay with their original owners by no fault of their own. Their previous owner could be enduring a tragedy such as a medical condition or death within a family. Or they could simply be a poor excuse for an animal caretaker (because we won’t refer to them as family) and give up their senior dog because “it doesn’t get along with the new puppy”, “they just don’t have time for it”, “10 years after we got the dog we have now developed an allergy”. All are real life, douchey, excuses. But have no fear… that’s why Grey Face is here!

LIKE our Facebook page and DONATE today to help find these old souls their forever retirement home. 

A Devil Dogs Love

SAPPY POST ALERT – but I can’t help it! There are days where I question my love and compassion for Deuce especially lately. We have just recently began leaving Deuce out of his kennel during the day and at night. Unfortunately, he’s not taking to his new found freedom. We have been coming home from work with poop and diarrhea, everywhere. It’s ALWAYS by the side door where we let him out.

Before you ask the obvious question, YES we do let him out before we leave for work and YES we do let him out before bed.

After a couple hours of googling and asking my knowledgeable Facebook friends, we’ve come to the conclusion that giving Deuce that much room to “control” was giving him anxiety and he wasn’t ready for the responsibility of watching over the entire house. This is fine! I can understand that. We have now been baby gating him in one room to control a smaller area. Let’s hope this continues to work (knock on wood).

Here’s the sappy part – When I was playing catch with Deuce last night, it made me realize how much LOVE I have for him. He is truly an amazing dog. I’m guilty of calling him “devil dog” and portraying him as a killer and in all honesty – he isn’t the friendliest to others BUT it’s because he has a true passion for Josh, Deagan and I.

My big masculine scary Pit Bull follows me EVERYWHERE in the house, tucks his tail between his legs and hide in a corner when he’s in trouble (we don’t even have to yell, he just knows), cuddles in our bed, snuggles with Deagan and wags his tail like no other when we walk in the door. Have I mentioned how smart he is? He’s a genius of a dog when he wants to be of course.

Deuce truly has made an amazing impact on our lives and we’re only 1 year into our time with him. We have MANY more years of love, passion and complete craziness with our devil dog. I’m looking forward to see what’s in store for Deuce. 

Register to Rescue

Couples preparing for marriage are so fortunate these days. We receive beautiful gifts, attend amazing showers and parties in our honor and when all is said and done; walk away with a good chunk of money (although, weddings these days cost an arm and a leg). Throughout my 20-something months of engagement I was SO confused why we receive gifts for getting married. I know it’s tradition that the Bride and Groom don’t live together until marriage but unfortunately, Josh and I don’t follow tradition. We’ve been fortunate through our 5 years together. We own a house, we have great jobs, we have 5 healthy (for the most part) animals and a happy 8 year old boy that gets spoiled with iPods, toys and games. Sure, we could use extra money to pay off the outrageous amount of debt we have or buy a new car but those are not necessities to our life. We can continue to make monthly payments on student loans and wait to purchase that new car when the Chunkmobile finally dies. So, we thought to ourselves… how can we help those less fortunate?

Two HUGE organizations that are near and dear to my heart are The Alzheimer’s Association and the ASPCA. Although, I support ANY animal rescue organization but as a child I always wanted to be an ASPCA officer.

As I am surfing online for way to volunteer my time and skill set to help animals after the wedding I came across the most amazing opportunity to donate towards a cause that I love! ASPCA has come up with a “Wedding Campaign” where guests can donate in your honor. This had me nearly in tears because what an amazing idea.

Future Brides and Grooms – if you are as passionate about animals as I am, you need to join the Wedding Campaign with the ASPCA. Let your guests know that you are supporting something AMAZING. So what if you only raise $100.00… That’s $100 more than they had before. Plus, you are creating awareness for this awesome program benefitting animals in need.

So donate today, in honor of Josh, Deagan and I along with Wilma, Leo, April, Deuce and Barnabee to end cruelty to animals and give those animals in need a second chance!

è DONATE HERE: Gondeck Wedding Campaign

 

It's either Wilma or Me!

Ok, so Josh never did give me the ultimatum of him or Wilma but some days I'm sure he would like to. Wilma is a talker... a very loud, obnoxious, vocal, so loud it's nearly screeching talker. It's not at one specific time of the day either. It's all.the.time! She meows the entire morning before we go to work, the whole time we're home on lunch and a majority of the evening. Josh has even left for work early to get away from the meowing. Daily, I tell Wilma she's lucky she's cute because otherwise she would probably spend a majority of her life in the basement (although, we can STILL hear her from down there). Don't get me wrong, the basement isn't some hole in the ground, scary, gross place. It's actually the cats "sanctuary" equipped with 4 litter boxes, endless amounts of food and water, scratching post, and tons of floor to puke on.

If you read my post a couple weeks ago when Wilma first joined our family, you would have learned that she is completely deaf! Therefore, Wilma can't hear how LOUD she is meowing. She meows for 3 simple things: attention, food and simply just saying hello! Wilma ALWAYS wants food and could eat all day. Although, I always keep a full bowl of food in the basement, Wilma wants soft food. This was my mistake. When Wilma first arrived in our home, the meowing started instantly so to keep the meowing to a minimum I fed her soft food every morning and every evening. Well, soft food is costly and I ran out! DON'T EVER RUN OUT OF SOFT FOOD!

I'm thinking to myself how can I help Wilma lower the volume of her screeching meow and keep her from meowing constantly without constantly feeding her soft food. Well, after some research I will be trying some techniques posted on the ASPCA website.

• If your cat meows to say hello, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to do much to change things—you have an especially vocal cat who is telling you how glad she is to see you!
• If your cat is meowing for attention, teach her that you’ll only pay attention to her when she’s quiet. Resist the urge to shout at her or give her any form of attention, even angry attention. Instead, be patient and wait for a brief moment of silence. Immediately give her the attention she craves. If she starts to meow again, walk away, and only return to her when she’s quiet. If you’re consistent, she will catch on.
• If you believe your cat cries out of loneliness because you spend too much time out of the house, consider having a pet sitter come partway through the day to visit and play with her. Please see our article Enriching Your Cat’s Life for other ideas to keep your cat entertained while you’re away.
• If your cat meows at you for food, stop feeding her when she cries! Feed her at prescribed times so she learns that it’s futile to ask for food at other times. If that doesn’t work, buy an automatic feeder that you can schedule to open at specific times. At least then she’s more likely to meow at the feeder than at you! This is especially useful if your cat wakes you up in the morning to be fed—she’ll switch from bothering you to sitting and watching the feeder, waiting for it to open. For more ideas on dealing with a cat who’s active in the early hours of the morning, please see our article Nighttime Activity in Cats.
• If you’ve recently placed your cat on a diet, consult with your veterinarian about high-fiber diet foods or supplements that can help your cat feel satisfied with her reduced intake.
• If your cat isn’t prone to gaining weight, consider leaving dry food out for her all the time so she never has to feel hungry. If you feed a high-fiber diet food, your cat can feel full without taking in too many calories. Check with your veterinarian before trying this.
• If your cat is meowing to get you to let her inside/outside, consider installing a cat door so you don’t have to serve as her butler. The ASPCA recommends that cats be kept exclusively indoors to protect them from danger and disease. If you have a cat who’s accustomed to going outside and you want to keep her in, she’s likely to go through a period of meowing at doors and windows. There’s no easy way to get through this, but as long as she never gets outside again, she will eventually adjust to her life indoors and stop meowing so much. Please read our article onEnriching Your Cat’s Life so you can keep her happy by enriching her indoor world. Another option is to build an outdoor cat enclosure so she can spend time outside but remain safe. Our article,Preventing Your Cat from Getting Outside, has more information on this subject.
• If your female cat isn’t spayed and she periodically meows excessively, she may be in heat at those times. Female cats in heat typically become increasingly affectionate, rub against you more, purr, roll around on the floor--and meow a lot. This lasts 4 to10 days. An unspayed female cat who isn’t bred by (doesn’t have sex with) a male cat will continue to come into heat every 18 to 24 days throughout the breeding season (roughly February through September in the Northern Hemisphere). Indoor cats may continue to come into heat all year round. The best way to reduce excessive meowing caused by the heat cycle is to have your cat spayed.
• If your male cat isn’t neutered and he periodically meows excessively, he may be hearing or smelling a female cat in heat. He is likely to pace and meow relentlessly throughout the time the female stays in heat. Unless you can completely prevent him from being able to detect females in heat, the best way to reduce excessive meowing in an intact male cat is to have him neutered.
• If your cat is elderly and has just started meowing excessively, make sure to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for medical conditions, sensory deficits and cognitive dysfunction. Medication may alleviate her discomfort.

What NOT to Do

• Do not ignore your cat when she meows. The one exception is if you know for certain that she’s meowing to get you to do something she wants. In every other instance, it’s safest to assume that something’s wrong—she may not have access to her litter box, or her water bowl may be empty, or she may be locked in a closet. Always make sure that her needs are met before assuming that she’s just being demanding by meowing at you.
• Do not scold or hit your cat for meowing too much. While these punishments may send her scurrying at first, they are unlikely to have a lasting effect on her meowing behavior. They may, however, cause her to become fearful of you.

The Festival of Cruelty

If you haven't heard of it, consider yourself lucky because it's the most horrific and disgusting case of animal cruelty that is actually celebrated in Yulin, China. It's the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. The Festival of Cruelty. 

Thousands of dogs and cats, many of them stolen pets, are captured and transported over long distances under horrific conditions to Yulin, a city in China's Guangxi province. There, they're held in crowded cages without food or water until they are killed. Often, they are beaten and their throats are slit in front of other terrified animals. Most Chinese citizens reject this practice, and we’re committed to supporting them in changing their laws.

Last year, thanks to overwhelming international pressure, Yulin authorities announced that they would not support the festival. The result was a subdued event and fewer dogs slaughtered. More recently, the authorities have claimed that the festival wouldn’t happen this year, but preparations for a mass dog slaughter are underway despite this statement.

Please, sign HSI's petition now to show Chinese officials that the international community is outraged by this carnage!

Join the hundreds of thousands of other advocates who have taken action against the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. Please sign the petition NOW! 

https://action.hsi.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=104&ea.campaign.id=38221

A Love Like No Other

WARNING: Sappy Post but I can’t resist. There is no greater love then the love you have for your children, furry and non-furry.

This morning, I sat in my bed with Deuce at my feet curled up, April next to him, Barnes on the floor right by us, Wilma to my left and Leo cuddled right on top of me thinking how amazing life is and how the love of your animals can truly be the greatest blessing.

All three of my cats were found as strays, about to live a life with no shelter, food, or love but all of a sudden they became a family member and life changed for not only them but us as well. It may be an “animal lover” thing but I can feel the massive amounts of love from my cats each and every day, Leo especially. He’s a total Mama’s Boy! April just wants to be held ALL the time. She will sit on your hip like a toddler, it’s the weirdest thing but I love it. Wilma is not much of a cuddler when it comes to humans but she warming up to our morning cuddling sessions.

Prior to us adopting Deuce, he had NO idea what love was. When he arrived in our home, he didn’t cuddle, he didn’t like to be pet, and he didn’t know what a humans love felt like. Now, he is the world best cuddler (and bed hog). He will sit nicely as you pet his head and remove his eye boogys. He’s truly been a blessing in disguise for our family.

Last but not least, my big boy, Barnes. He is the sweetest thing since sliced bread (I always say that even though it doesn’t make sense). He is honestly the most affectionate, loving and sweet dog you will come across. If his big smile doesn’t brighten your day then I don’t know what will. As he ages and becomes more fragile I don’t take one day for granted with him.

Of course there are days where I wish I lived in a home without massive amounts of hair, or didn’t have to scoop four litter boxes, or get up at 6:00 AM to feed everyone and let them out potty but those days are minimal. Life is better with a companion (or 5). Just like a child, they are truly a blessing. Leo, April, Wilma, Deuce and Barnabee all complete our family one way or another - if it’s there naughty behaviors, screeching meows, annoying habits or odor, we love them. We wouldn’t be the Gondeck Zoo without them.

Shit, literally!

It’s been quite a shitty week, literally and it’s only Wednesday! Between the stresses of starting a new job, getting my wedding invites out, sending out a large amount of packages for my jewelry business and taking care of everyday things such as the house, animals, family, etc. Deuce has had the runs all week.

Huge, gross, smelly, gag worthy shits ALL OVER! It started on Monday morning, right before I left for work, when I found a couple (mind you, he was in his kennel for about 7 hours) runny craps in there. Therefore, since I had no time to clean, Deuce got to spend the day roaming the house. We occasionally let him roam the house during the day while we’re at work but more times than none, we come home to something chewed up in a million pieces. Well, nothing was chewed up when I came home Monday evening… puke, pee and crap EVERYWHERE! It looked like an atrocious vandalism scene where kids think it’s funny to put dog feces all over.

Picture this, vomit all over our ‘L’ shaped couch, running, almost watery poop on the hardwood floors – that actually after cleaning it up still stained Joshy’s beautiful hardwood floors L also, urine, that resembled a flood filled our laminate hallway. It was horrible! Plus, we had the windows closed in 80 degree weather so not only did the feces from the main level bake all day but the shit that I left in his kennel BOILED for 8+ hours. Could you imagine the smell? I gagged walking into my house and damn near vomited when I walked upstairs. Deuce spent the majority of his evening outside until it was time to return to his kennel for bedtime while we spent the evening trying to get rid of the absolutely disgusting smell that filled our house.

The first thing I thought of Tuesday morning when I woke up was, “I hope I don’t have to clean up shit this morning!” I let Deuce out of his kennel and brought him out potty when I noticed that the entire side of his white body was BROWN! UGH! I grabbed paper towels and ran up to the kennel. SHIT… everywhere! What the hell! I am gagging while picking up these massive amounts of turds out of his kennel. Keep in mind, I am NOT a gagging, feel sick when I see vomit, scared of poop type of person. I worked in a bar for 5 years and cleaned up massive amount of vomit. I was the go-to girl for puking incidents but the smell of this kennel explosion was more than I could handle. Finally, I decided, we’re just throwing the blanket away.

Deuce spent the day in his kennel with no blankets and apparently when Josh went home from lunch there was more poop. When I came home from work there was more poop. That evening, on our side door rug there was poop. So. Much. Poop. Well, obviously something is wrong so I turn to Facebook (because who doesn’t when they have a question). Surprisingly and not surprisingly, I received lots of remedies to control a puppy with an upset tummy. I knew I had some great animal geniuses out there! They asked, “Did he eat anything different recently?” Why yes, he did!

After Josh’s Bachelor Party on Saturday, he brought home the bone from the pig they roasted. It was a huge bone full of pork that had our dog’s names written all over it. He split it in half and gave a bone to each dog. After a few hours, we through the bones away and the dogs were happy, and full. Well, we forget that Barnabee is built like a shit brick house and can eat anything under the sun without getting sick or having an upset tummy. Deuce on the other hand is our more sensitive puppy who can’t enjoy the little things in life like a giant pig bone.

We came to the conclusion that the pig bone was just too rich for Deuce’s non-brick shit house body and his tummy didn’t agree with the yummy pig fat and meat. To calm his tummy, we mixed his hard food with some rice, boiled hamburger and potatoes to help calm his tummy. The verdict, we woke up this morning (Wednesday) with NO POOP in his kennel! We’re not in the clear yet but it’s a start.

Moral of the blog: Watch what “treats” you feed your dog! Those treats may be glorious for the hour or two of devouring it but not-so glorious for the 2-3 days after. Just like a child, you hate to see your animal sick. You feel so helpless. Keep in mind, as well, these accidents your dog may make do not call for reprimanding. These are uncontrollable actions caused by YOU not thinking before giving your dog a “treat”. Lesson learned.

Welcome, Wobbly Wilma!

Meow - Welcome to the Gondeck Family, Wobbly Wilma! Why the funny name? Well, her name is Wilma and she walks a little wobbly... (you are probably thinking "Poor Kitty"!) Don't. It's make her special, unique and sometimes a pain in our butt. See, Wilma is also completely deaf so therefore she can't hear her VERY loud screeching meow at all times of the day and night. Wilma also has Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia. If you can't say it then just call it "Wobbly Cat Syndrome"... get it, Wobbly Wilma? I can't take credit for the clever name. What's Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia? 

Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia is a non-progressive, non-contagious neurological condition that results in walking and balance issues. A kitten, like Wilma, is born with "CH" the part of her brain that controls her small motor skills is under-developed. CH cats may also experience head tremors, the uncontrollable shaking of the cat's head when she is trying to focus. Wilma walks fine, for the most part but we see this syndrome affect her most when she's trying to concentrate. She's a head wobbler. She is constantly whipping her hair back and forth (like she's in a Willow Smith music video). Fortunately, Wilma has a mild condition and it won't worsen with age. 

Wilma is fitting in purrfect with our family and keeps us constantly laughing with her silliness. I could live without the screeching loud meow but we'll live. She loves loves loves dogs! She is always up in there face or laying with them... she even licks them like crazy! Deuce didn't know how to handle a cat actually liking him at first but then he learned to be gentle. Barnabee gave Wilma a firm warning that he's old and doesn't like to be touched (I'm sure that's not but he said but it's true). Now she stays clear of his face.

It took a while for my feline pack to accept her but it's a slow and steady ride. I have a Mama's Boy for a cat and the other is a complete b**** so with that, I think things are going well. 

I will continue to keep you all updated on Wilma's progress :) Deagan and I lover her SO much but Josh is taking a little more time to adjust. 

Gondeck's for a Cause

This past weekend, my lovely soon-to-be Gondeck Cousins hosted a beautiful Bridal Shower in my honor. It was nothing short of amazing and I am so blessed to be joining a fabulous family.

You may be asking yourself why I’m writing about my Bridal Shower on my “pet” blog. Well, because my cousins requested that each guest attending bring a donation for the Tri-County Humane Society. How great is that? When I first received my invite and saw that they were requesting donations for the Tri-County Humane Society in my honor, I cried (p.s. I’m a really emotional person). They know me so well that they knew I would love to give back to my favorite place (and where 3/5 of our animals are from). Mind you, all my cousins also have as many animals as I do so my house full of furry children does not take them by surprise but instead we can discuss how many litter boxes we have in our home and what vacuums work best for pet hair. You know, the normal conversations that crazy animal people have. 

Thank you to my wonderful, amazing, soon-to-be cousins (although, I feel like we're already family) for hosting a beautiful shower and thank you to all my cousins and sister-in-laws who donated for a cause that means so much to me. 

I am that much more excited to be a Gondeck! 

Happy Adopt-iversary Deucey!

April 30th, 2015 we celebrated Deucey’s Adopt-iversary! It was exactly 1 year to the date that we adopted our naughty boy but it’s been one of the best decisions for our family. 

It’s been a journey to say the least. What I thought was this cute little white Pit Bull turned out to be a very scared and distrusting puppy that not only HATED men but every time you raised a hand he instantly thought he would be reprimanded physically. In general, if you raised a hand he instantly went into defensive mode because he couldn’t bear to be hit, beaten or harmed anymore. I was scared, yes because at times he would get aggressive but more or less my heart hurt for the fact that he thought are intensions were not to love him but hurt him. 

I knew it would take times, lots of time for Deuce to ever trust us (or any humans) again and it did. It took months for Deuce to understand that we were here for the long run and weren’t going to give him up or hurt him like his other homes had. 

Enough of the negatives because these days Deuce is the happiest and most wiggliest dog in town! That tail goes 100 miles per hour at the site of his humans. He loves to cuddle and I mean LOVES. It’s true when they say Pit Bulls think they are lap dogs because Deuce sure does think he’s 7 pounds verse 70. He loves his brother Deagan although at times he can be a little too rough. They are both learning every day how to play with each other but it doesn’t stop the love they have for each other. Josh has also gotten quite fond of Deuce. I would say they are buds. Deuce doesn’t pass up a chance to cuddle with Josh on the couch. 

When it comes to Deuce physically, like I mentioned he’s a whopping 70 healthy pounds of PURE muscle. He literally has a 12 pack on his chest (it’s awesome). He stands about two feet high. He’s finally grew into his one goofy ear… kind of. Now it just kind of sticks up. 

Deuce has the silliest personality. He LOVES car rides. Seriously, if I let him out the door and I have a window open, he will jump through the window to get in my car. I’ve even drove around the block a couple times with him in the car just because he’s spoiled rotten. He loves to play fetch and with him toys but he doesn’t share well. He loves doggy daycare at both NC’s Doghouse and Le Dee Dogs, also, the local dog park. He wants to play… all. the. time! He knows how to sit, shake, lay down, kennel and bang-bang although when we have a crowd he likes to pretend he has no idea what I’m saying! He’s still learning how to walk on a leash but we’ve improved. 

Deuce has two feline siblings, April and Leo. April (our Diva) and Deuce have a love-hate relationship… they love to hate each other. Leo and Deuce wrestle constantly. I’ve tried to stop the madness but they have too much fun so I let them be in hopes no accidental bites or scratches happen. Then there’s Barnabee, our 13 year old German Shepherd x Lab that wasn’t too fond of having a puppy in the family. He was very content with being the only dog but he’s been VERY good at sharing the attention he receives with Deuce. Deuce is definitely that annoying little brother but there are times where I catch the two playing so it can’t be THAT bad. 

I feel as though Deuce has made me a better person. He’s taught me so much! I’ve learned that puppies are similar to babies but can run fast, bite hard and destroy EVERYTHING. Ok, it’s not THAT bad but he has taught me patience. Also, that not everyones past can reflect their future. He had proven that Pit Bull are amazing animals. He learned to love and trust again without holding a grudge against the only people he is suppose to trust in. Thank you, Tri-County Humane Society for blessing us with such an amazing companion. He has truly fulfilled our family!

Leo is BLOCKED!

Who would of thought… my free male kitten that I found in a boat would cost me nearly $1,000.00? Well, he did. If you forgot who Leo is, he’s our 2 year old Orange Tabby cat. He was our 1st pet so he has a special place in our family plus he’s like the coolest cat you’ve ever met. 

To piggy back off of my last post, just when we though everything was going good with Leo, matters went south AGAIN! The poor guy was squatting again and this time I knew it was serious. 

We called the vet and made our way back to Becker Vet Clinic for what I thought may indeed be surgery. I walked into the clinic crying, not only because my sweet boy was in so much pain but I was scared to death of the financial repercussions of bladder surgery. Our Vet, bless him, had to deal with me a sopping mess. 

Welp, to my surprise, the Vet came up with a alternative (and much cheaper) solution to removing Leo’s bladder stones. He would place a catheter for 24 hours to flush those painful little nuggets that were blocking Leo’s pork-link (family term for wee-wee). It would require over night care as well as follow-up medication and prescription food but hey – it was half the price! 

The following day after placing the catheter we received a call that Leo was peeing again - YAY! I was actually excited that he peed this time!! We were given the OK to bring him home where we’ve been nursing him back to health. We have a long road ahead of us but our sweet Leo is all worth it. 

Always Ask For a Second Opinion

After coming home from vacation for nearly 4 days, I found that my sweet boy, Leo is squatting all over the house (looking like he’s peeing but not). I instantly am angry because who wants cat pee all over their house! After googling WHY a cat may be doing this, I found that this could be a serious matter. I reached out to a local vet that was open after hours (after 5:00 PM) and they said that I should bring Leo in immediately because he would potentially be backed up (which is common in male cats) and may need immediate surgery. So obviously I rushed him to the vet in a panic. 

Shortly after arriving I was brought to a room for Leo’s examine. Leo was extremely uncomfortable, making noises I’ve never heard before. He didn’t enjoy their company what so ever. They could feel that his bladder was full so took him in the back room for a urinalysis. I could hear Leo SCREAMING and SCREECHING in the back room and when the staff returned to the room, they were carrying a towel full of blood. When I asked who’s blood was on the towel, the staff assured me it was theres which is also VERY out of Leo’s character because he truly is the sweetest and calmest cat. Then came the BOMB placed upon me… the vet had informed me that they will be closed the following day and they are unable to perform the “emergency” surgery that Leo will need because he has high pH levels and signs of crystals. Mind you, this assumption to have emergency surgery is based off a urinalysis and an examine, not an X-ray. Therefore, since they were not going to be open on a Wednesday and unable to perform the surgery, they recommended I go to the St. Cloud Emergency Vet Clinic to perform the surgery with an estimated cost of $1,200.00 (does not include the exam and urinalysis I had received at this clinic). I would have to pay for ANOTHER exam once I arrived along with an office visit, the surgery and 3 days with a catheter and 3 days rest at ANOTHER vet clinic. 

I was instantly ANGRY! Why would they have me rush to their clinic if they couldn’t perform the surgery anyways? Why wouldn’t they send me directly to the ER in the first place if you thought it was a blockage? Well, they received my $112.00 that could have been spent at the ER. 

$1,200.00 was definitely an eye opener and sticker shock. I needed to go home and discuss with my fiancé. Obviously, I would do anything for my cat but holy crap… that’s a lot of money. Leo’s primary vet is at the Becker Vet Clinic and it’s someone that I enjoy very much. I came home and decided that I am going to wait until morning to bring Leo to his primary. 

I monitored Leo all night and he actually did piddle a bit in his litter box and he was comfortable and no longer squatting. Therefore, we will rest and head to Becker Vet Clinic bright and early in the morning.

Wednesday morning I loaded Leo in the car and headed South to Becker (about a 30 minute drive). Instantly, his vet was able to get us in. He felt his bladder (which is VERY small) and noticed it wasn’t hard and not full at all. I had left Leo there until the “other” vet was able to send over the urinalysis so I went back to work. 

Welp, the call came… it was a bladder infection… NO SURGERY NEEDED! Thank you, Becker Vet Clinic!! Leo did have signs of crystals but they were not formed and we could prevent them from forming. So with a prescription of medication and a special diet, Leo was sent on his way back home and happy as hell :) 

So note to EVERYONE, always get a second opinion when your animal is needing “emergency” anything and surgery of course. Thank you again to Becker Vet Clinic. They are absolutely awesome. Leo is happy and healthy at $250.00 verse $1,200.00 AND being cut open.

Thank you, Banfield

Although, all of our animals visit different Vet Clinics in the St. Cloud, Minnesota area. We are VERY fond of Deuce’s Vet Clinic, Banfield Pet Hospital. When deciding on a provider for our new puppy, Deuce we explored MANY options. We based our decision on recommendations from Tri-County Humane Society and whom would give our puppy the best care. Of course, we were looking for affordability too. 

After scoping out our options, we chose to dedicate a year to the Puppy Wellness Plan at Banfield Pet Hospital. We chose the Early Care Package due to Deuce already being neutered when we adopted him. The Early Care Package with the Puppy Wellness Plan consists of two comprehensive physical exams, routinely recommended vaccinations, diagnostic testing, fecal exams, deworming treatments and unlimited free office visits. The free office visits SAVED US when it came to Deuce, our continually sick puppy. 

We battled Upper Respiratory Infection, Juvenile Cellulitis, an Absessed Tooth, Aggression, Ear Infections, his hatred for nail trimmings and just recently his constant nail biting so as you can tell… the free office visits were a saint! We pay $30 a month for the Puppy Wellness Plan which with the amount of visits, it’s paid for itself. Mind you, not every puppy gets incredibly sick like Deuce BUT the staff is absolutely amazing (we visit the clinic in Waite Park, Minnesota) and the convenience of dropping the dog off for their visit is great. They are also open evenings and weekends which was very helpful for us since my fiancé and I work full-time. 

We do utilize other Vet Clinics in the area when it comes to our cats or Barnabee but Banfield has just worked the best with Deuce. They have watched him grow and gain 40 lbs in the last couple months. They have taken excellent care of him and have been very informative to us as well. 

Thank you, Banfield for being GREAT!

http://www.banfield.com/

Ear Infections Stink!

Ear infections — they are gross, smelly and annoying but unfortunately dogs and cats get them. 

How can you tell your animal has an ear infection? Well, the constant itching should give it away quite quickly but if not, you can smell them. My dog will scratch his ear, shake his head and you can see scratches from his nails which make the ear really red. These are all common symptoms that your animal has an ear infection. Ear infections are caused by bacteria and yeast built up on your animals ear. 

Like I’ve mentioned before, I am NOT a professional but I write on remedies that have helped my PERSONAL animals. With 4 animals (6 prior) going to the vet can be costly and not always necessary in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I have a special vet for each of my animals and when serious issues arise we take advantage of amazing Veterinarian professionals but such things like a simple ear infection — I first try a home remedy. 

What you need:

Ear Cleaning Solution (ask your vet or check your local pet store)
Cotton Balls
Q-Tips (I use the thicker baby safe q-tips)
Ear Relief Drops (I use Auro with the dropper)

First, I use the Cleaning Solution in their ear to clean out at bacteria build up. After I squirt it in their ear, I will massage and then take a cotton ball to get the excess cleaner. I then use a q-tip to get all the “junk” out of their ear (might need a couple). I then squirt some Ear Relief Drops deep in their canal (not too deep but deep enough that they won’t shake it out). I then spend about two minutes rubbing and massaging the ear so that relief drops get in their good. Obviously, do again on the other ear. I would recommend doing both ears even if you think the infection only lies in one. 

If your dogs ears don’t get better within two to three days, I would recommend taking them to your Vet. There could be an underlying issue such as ear mites (common in puppies). 

I can’t stress enough. I am not a professional but just a girl with a lot of experience with animals ;)

Be the Leader

For Christmas, my boys gifted me with one of the most amazing gifts… a dog training book (or it could possibly be a hint to get Deuce under control) and it’s amazing. It’s titled “The Only Dog Training Book You’ll Ever Need” by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz – Top Dog Trainer and Cofounder of Canine University.

Unfortunately, I feel as though I may have a lot of habits to break with Deuce after reading this book but I will most certainly will work towards making him a well behaved Pit Bull. 

First and foremost, Bielakiewicz states that you need to create guidelines with your dog. Being a strong leader is the first step toward ridding your dog of behavior problems. Following are some guidelines on how to be strong, fair leader.

1. Nothing in life is free. Make sure you give your dog a job. Teach him/her to Sit for dinner, Lie Down before doors are opened for them, etc.

2. Humans go first through doorways and up and down stairs. This prevents your dog from escaping out the front door or knocking you down the stairs. Teach your dog to Sit and Stay until he is released through your door.

3. Down/Stay sessions for five to twenty minutes at a time help teach your dog self-control and give her a constructive job to perform around distractions and company.

4. No dogs on the beds or furniture. Young dogs should sleep in a crate or in their own bed, not in bed with you. Your bed is the highest, most special place in the house and should be reserved for you only.

5. Don’t repeat a command more then once. If your dog doesn’t respond on the first try, he does not get what you were offering.

6. Ignore your dog if she nudges you for attention. Leaders give attention on their own terms, not when their dogs demand it.

7. Ignore your dog if he is constantly pushing toys at you, Leaders initiate play and decide when the game starts and ends. This keeps a dog on his toes because he never knows when the fun begins.

8. Follow through. If you’ve asked your dog to do something but she does not respond, make sure you help her to get into the right position rather than repeating the command.

9. Provide consequences. Ignore what you don’t like; avoid yelling at your dog for barking or jumping, for instance. From your dogs perspective, any attention is better than none, and speaking to the dog often be mistaken for reinforcement.

You can find this book online and at a store near you. Order yours today.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/2430719?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227001125643&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=53082165288&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=52145918454&veh=sem

http://www.wag.com/dog/p/the-only-dog-training-book-you-will-ever-need-from-avoiding-accidents-to-banishing-barking-288135?site=CA&sku=BAP-003&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_W&utm_campaign=GooglePLA&utm_content={adtype}&ca_sku=BAP-003&ca_gpa={adtype}&ca_kw={keyword}&CAWELAID=1327352946&kpid=BAP-003

Welcome, Princess April O’Neil

Meet the biggest pain in my @$$, Josh’s least favorite animal and Deagan’s little love. Why do we all have such different opinions on April? Well, mine started when I spoiled her rotten as a baby and carried her everywhere. April these days will following me everywhere around the house, pawing at me and meowing until I hold her on my hip like a baby and carry her while I complete my household responsibilities. If that isn’t annoying, I don’t know what is! Josh dislikes her for practically the same reason but not because she wants to be held but because she’s ALWAYS in your way. She’s under your feet constantly. When we open the fridge, she’s right there! Deagan loves the attention! He loves April and the love she gives him. April is VERY loving and loves to give and receive affection but it’s to a point where it’s annoying to Josh and I but to the point where Deagan thinks it’s great. 

Although, we rant about how annoying our Princess is, we do absolutely love her. Each and every one of our animals makes our family complete. I mean — our house just wouldn’t be the same without any of them even if they drive us nuts!

We adopted April from the TriCounty Humane Society in November of 2013. Deagan and I were going to “look” at kitties but we actually had every intention of adopting. I saw the cutest, long haired, fluffiest, black kitten and I had to have her. She was so adorable! Of course, Deagan and I put our deposit on her and went home to BEG Josh to let us adopt her. It didn’t take long to convince him due to reminding him that his cousin Holly did say — cats need playmates and two is better then one. Josh said yes, and we were on our way to pick up Princess. Unfortunately, when they were examining her prior to us bringing her home they found out she had fleas so there we were… kitty-less and had to rush home and wash all our clothes because we didn’t want to give fleas to the other animals at home. We had to wait three gruesome days before we could pick up Princess and take her home. 

Josh made one exception to adopting Princess and that was that her name HAD to be April O’Neil. I thought it was the CUTEST and it stuck, Princess April it will be. 

For the first couple days, we let April stay in Deagan’s room and took turns introducing the cats and letting April explore the house while Leo stayed locked in Deagan’s room and getting used to April’s scent. It was so scary when we would put them together because Leo would ATTACK April and the poor girl would meow so loud. After patience and weeks of introducing they finally did get to a point where they become BFF’s. 

April is a true blessing to our family because she makes us a whole and Leo would be lost without her. Animals make a family a whole and even though we complain about April, we absolutely love her. 

Thank you, TriCounty Humane Society for spaying April and giving us the opportunity to adopt her :)

Also, thank you Becker Vet Clinic for giving April her vaccinations.

Leo, My Man

I feel as though I am neglecting my cats since they haven’t made their appearance on my blog. We have two cats in our household that are both rescues.

Leo is our 1 year old male Orange Tabby. Leo was found by himself in a shed when he was just a baby. Josh’s cousin posted a photo on Facebook saying she found a baby kitten in her shed by himself and needed to find a home for him. I instantly said, “Yes, please!” Josh was sleeping when the post went up and I did ask him if he was okay with us adopting this orange kitty and he faintly said, “sure”. At that exact moment, I ran to Walmart and bought everything I needed for a baby kitten. When I returned from Walmart, Josh had asked why I had a litter box, litter, food, cat toys and bowls. I simply said, “we’re getting a kitten!” He was extremely confused (but not mad) because he doesn’t remember agreeing to a kitten but I reassured him that he did agree and the cat was ours. A couple hours later, we met up with Josh’s cousin in the Mimbach parking lot and received the new member of our family. We decided to surprise Deagan with his new kitten and was he ever excited! His eyes lit up and he was instantly in love. We let him name him and that’s how we got Leonardo, Leo for short. It didn’t take long until Leo was the most spoiled cat in Minnesota.

With this being our first pet and a rescue, we were in search of a Vet Clinic to treat Leo with his vaccinations, neutering and declawing. I called many places, looked at reviews and compared pricing. We decided on Becker Vet Clinic in Becker, Minnesota (about 20 minutes from our home). We brought Leo for his exam and instantly fell in love with the staff. They were so nice and welcoming that I felt comfortable taking my new “baby” to the doctor.

Leo since has become quite the man of the house and very much keeps to himself. Deuce and him like to rough house to the point of it making me nervous but they seem to enjoy each others company. Leo and Barnabee keep to themselves and get along just fine. Leo will comfort Barnabee when he’s in pain or struggling from old age. Leo and April are weirdly close and we are still trying to figure out if they are lovers or brother and sister. They spend their time playing, wrestling, bathing each other and cuddling.

The best thing about Leo is the fact that you can be anywhere in the house, call his name and he’ll run to you immediately. It’s almost like he’s a dog (but can listen a lot better then our dogs). Also, he’s definitely a ‘Mama’s Boy’. His favorite thing to do is snuggle with me at any time I am relaxing. If I’m laying in bed, he’s laying in bed with me. If I’m on the couch, he’s snuggled up right next to me. If I’m in the bath, he’s sitting outside the tub on the floor. He’s just a great companion and we lucked out with adopting such a easy-going cat. April on the other hand…

Vet: http://www.beckervetclinic.com/

Happy 1st Birthday, Deuce!

Happy Birthday, Deucey! Sunday we celebrated Deuce’s 1st Birthday. I can’t believe my cute baby puppy is a year old. Boy, he sure has changed from the little dog I adopted last summer. It sure has been a rough and tough year with Deuce but at the end of the day we wouldn’t take any of it back. Although we have some hard days where he makes me want to pull my hair out, he sure does have a big heart and truly loves our family. 

At 1 years old, Deuce weighs 65 pounds. He knows how to sit, shake and lay down. When he wants to participate he knows stay but in most cases he doesn’t have the patience. He loves to go for walks and play fetch. He hasn’t quite grasped the concept of drop which makes playing fetch extremely frustrating but I’ve learned a few tactics to trick him. He loves his kennel and every time I pull out a treat he’s up the stairs and in his kennel on his own. Deuce is not yet able to spend the day roaming the house due to some bad decisions he’s made such as tearing the bathroom garbage all over the house, chewing up remotes, ripping apart our couch, and gnawing on the bottom shelf of my ladder shelf. Therefore, he will remain in his kennel until we are able to trust him. He loves food and all food. 

My favorite thing Deuce does is when he gets excited he runs REALLY fast back and forth or in circle with his butt dragging on the ground. He looks completely psychotic but I laugh so hard every time he does it. My other favorite thing is how he always cuddles with Deagan. He absolutely loves and adores Deagan to a point where it melts my heart. He always wants to lay on Deagan (although he forgets that he is 65 lb. and Deagan is 50 lb.). I also love how Josh loves him. There are days where Josh can scream and yell at Deuce but at the end of the day guess which two are cuddling on the couch… Josh and Deuce. 

Deuce has not only taught me so much about being a dog owner but he’s taught me so much about being a Pit Bull owner and a trusted companion after living his first couple months in fear. He’s taught me patience. He taught me that sometimes it’s ok for things to happen. He’s taught me not to be so uptight and more understanding. He’s taught me things not only to utilize towards animals but towards people and my own life. 

Well, Sunday Deuce decided to dig a hole to China in our backyard (blog coming once I find a solution), needed two baths and decided to wipe his butt on my bathroom rugs so spoiling him was not top of my priority list but after supper I did give the dogs eggs soaked in bacon fat. Let’s just say they absolutely loved it and we loved the fact that there wasn’t any side effects such as gas or diarrhea. 

Happy Birthday, Deucey! We love you!

Beyond the Myth

“Beyond the Myth is a film about dogs commonly referred to as "pit bulls” and those who love and defend these breeds. It explores the contributing factors behind the public’s generalized fear of “pit bulls,” and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of breed discriminatory laws, as carried out in three cities that ban pit bull-type dogs: Denver, Miami, and Cincinnati-along with San Francisco, which requires the animals to be spayed and neutered.“

This documentary examines the negative media coverage of the Pit Bull and its consequences, including multiple city-wide bans across the United States, mass euthanasia, and the perpetuation of the belief that the breed is inherently violent.

This is a must see if you are a Pit Bull lover like myself. This movie opens up your eyes to how people really discriminate the Pit Bull breed. It makes me so mad and frustrated that people discriminate towards the breed verse the owner especially without the knowledge and common sense of not just the breed but dogs in general. This video proves the bias that lies within our media especially when it comes to specifying an animal is a Pit Bull verse any other breed. 

The movie was written by Libby Sherrill and can be purchased on their website at www.beyondthemythmovie.com or on Amazon.

Joys of being a dog owner in MN

One of the first warm days in Minnesota only screams one thing in our household… time to clean up as much dog poop from the Winter as possible. It becomes VERY embarrassing after the snow melts and the hundreds of piles of poop are clearly covering not only the front but backyard as well. 

I’ve done the math. We’ve had about 3 months of Winter, that is about 90 days (give or take a day or two) and I have 2 dogs. If they poop once a day or 90 days that’s 180 piles (piles can include like 3 turds) of dog poop in my yard and we’re only into January! Today, Deagan and I filled 3 grocery bags with poop and that’s not even close to all of it. 

During the Summer, we use daily and prefer Fleet Farms Cadet 32 in. Hands-off Poop Scooper. It’s only $9.99 and it does the job just fine and it is very convenient. The Winter is more difficult to use the Poop Scooper because the poop is frozen to the snow so I prefer the old fashion way, a glove and my hand.