4th of July..not so happy for pets...

Many dog owners feel that July 4th is the worst day of the year for their dogs. On the days leading up to this holiday, Veterinarian offices across America are packed with dog owners looking for salvation. That salvation is usually in the form of drugs to calm their jittery dogs during the noisy fireworks. The Humane Society has confirmed that July 4th is a very busy time for them as well, as more dogs are found wandering loose than on any other day of the year.



Here are 7 tips to keep your furry child happy and calm:



1. Give your dog lots of exercise earlier in the day.



2. During noisy fireworks, keep your dog inside, preferably with human companionship. It’s never a good idea to bring your dog to a fireworks celebration.



3. Put on the air conditioning, it will help drown out the noise.



4. Put on some soothing music, as a comfort and also to help drown out the noise.



5. Make sure your dog has a “safe place” in which to find sanctuary from the noise. When frightened of sounds they’re not familiar with, dogs often prefer small enclosed spaces.



6. Keep the curtains and windows closed.



7. Play with your dog, do something he loves to do.



Peace and Pet Love Ya'll!

Theo needs a home!

Meet Theo...I rescued Theo from Orange County Animal Services when he was literally being walked to the euthanasia room. Unfortunately Theo had a raging case of Demodex Mange and even though he was barely three month's old, no one wanted him. Luckily he was added to the list of several other dogs that were about to loose their life that day. You see there are many volunteers all over the USA that go into high kill shelters and take photographs of animals that are on death row. They then post their photos and stories all over social media sites and of course e-mail lists. The hope is for rescue groups to pull these animals from the various shelters and get them to safety. Through fostering programs and other rescues that have physical shelters many animals can be saved. I received Theo's XXX URGENT e-mail just in time. I took one look at that face and knew I had to save him. Poor Theo didn't have much hair, he was mostly bald with open sores, especially on his face and neck. I got him home and gave him a nice soothing bath. Theo was so sweet, I wanted to just make it all better. Within 2 weeks his coat started coming back, and he was feeling much better. Theo has been with me for 3 month's and he is now 6 month's old; Theo needs to find his new family. He is fully vetted, gets along with other animals, loves to go to the dog park, and snuggle with me. Theo is a bit shy, but once he gets to know you he will be your best friend forever.

Our Stress, Depression, Joy...Can Dogs Tell?

After a hard day at work, you come home and find that your dog had quite a day himself – at your expense. He took a vacation from his potty training, made mincemeat of your shoes and slobbered all over that blanket your grandmother knitted for you.

You get angry and your dog gives you the classic hangdog, guilty look. He knows you're mad. So does that mean your dog can sense your emotions? The answer is not as clear. Your reaction made it clear you – the pack leader – are upset, and your dog is desperate to appease you (he probably doesn't know or care why you're angry).

But what if you're stressed or sad about something else, not involving your dog? He may sense something is wrong, but again, may not know why.

Examples of dogs sensing our emotions:

Almost every dog owner has found out that when they are really sad, their dog acts differently toward them.

• He may approach them with a concerned look and, quite out of character, hunker down next to them, presumably to provide some support. It is as if they are saying, "I know there's something wrong, I don't know what but I'm here for you anyway."
• Fear-aggressive dogs are more often aggressive to people who fear them. By observation, they pick up from a person's demeanor that they are not comfortable and capitalize on their weakness. Perhaps it is because the person has a pained expression; perhaps because the person is a little tenuous; or perhaps the dog reads fear from the large diameter of the person's pupils. For whatever reason, under-confident dogs "know" when a person is afraid of them and will move forward on them, perhaps to attack.
  
  
• Top trainer William (Bill) Campbell is well known for his "jolly routine" approach to treating fear in dogs. Most people think that this involves being jolly with your dog, but actually that's not so. The real jolly routine means that all the people in the house should behave in a happy, jolly manner with each other. The dog, sensing their apparent happiness, figures out that nothing bad is going to happen and relaxes. The fact that the technique works is testimony to the fact that dogs are influenced by our emotions and behavior. When we're "up," they're "up."
  
  
• Many dogs slink away and hide or sulk when their human "parents" argue. A major fight between adults really seems to take its toll on some dogs who seem to know that there's trouble afoot. The appearance of the dog's behavior is as if he understands discord and does not want to be around it.
  
  
• If an owner comes home and finds their home trashed by their dog, the guilty party will often be found hiding, perhaps with a hangdog look. Owners believe their dog is feeling guilty about what he has done and I tend to agree. If you accept the guilt explanation, you must also accept that the dog is projecting your feelings of disappointment or anger. Hard line behaviorists naturally would disagree with this interpretation, preferring to believe that the dog simply associates his owner, the damage, and his own presence with past punishment and acts submissively. This would be all fair and well, but I know dogs that have never been punished who still act in this way. Sure, their owners may have been disappointed and disheartened by the damage, but that's about it. The dogs must have read this disappointment because they sure weren't responding to punishment of any form.
  
  
• Some naughty dogs do not appreciate their owners hugging or kissing each other. They seem to know that the people concerned are experiencing some pleasure and they want to be part of it. So, they try to leverage themselves into the situation by shoving, pushing, pawing, and jumping. This behavior looks like jealousy but many mainstream behaviorists disagree, preferring explanations like possessiveness, which sounds very similar to jealousy to me, or conflict-induced behavior, because the dog "cannot predict what will happen next."
  
  Examples of dogs seemingly picking up on our emotions are endless but still the scientific proof is not there. The case against animals having the ability to glean our mood and mindset is based on lack of evidence to the effect that it happens rather than conclusive evidence to the contrary.
  From an evolutionary point of view, it would be very strange if dogs did not have the ability to sense mood and that it suddenly occurred for the first and only time in the human animal. It would also not make sense to have a pack animal like a dog not realize when he was getting into trouble with another dog or when his behavior was having the desired effect. If dogs feel what we feel, then they would be happy when we're happy, sad when we're sad, and on the lookout (or hiding) when we're angry. All of the above appears to hold true.....PEACE AND PET LOVE YA"LL

You can do it!...Foster a Shelter Animal...Save a Life...

What is a Foster Parent?

A foster parent provides a temporary home for kittens, puppies,dogs, cats, or other animals in need. The length of fostering can vary from a few days to several months depending on the amount of care or behavioral modification that is needed. The devotion and care given during this time allows the animal a second chance to be adopted by a loving home. The rewards of being a foster parent are many. They include offering an animal a second chance and the added benefit of receiving the love and attention right back from the animal you nurture.

Why are Foster Parents Needed? Temporary foster families are needed for a variety of reasons. The three most common reasons are:

Limited shelter space—The number of animals received at a shelter is sometimes overwhelming and adequate housing is not available. Foster homes provide shelters with an additional option until a space becomes available.

Treatment and care after an illness or injury—Foster parents provide sick and injured animals with the additional time,medication,and space they need to recover. This may include time to recover from emotional, fear, or stress based situations that the animal may have encountered in the past.

Extremely young animals—Young animals, such as kittens and puppies, which are not yet weaned, require special attention. One of the greatest rewards of nurturing these young animals is knowing that you are giving them a great start in life.

Without the additional time and care provided by temporary foster families, many of the animals that fall into the above three categories would be euthanized.

Ok, now that I have explained WHY fostering is so important, I'm putting you to work..

My very good friends from Underdog Rescue (A SMALL DOG RESCUE GROUP) is in desperate need of foster parents.

Underdog takes care of all the Vetting, grooming, etc. whatever the animal needs. If you can't afford food, they will pick up the tab for that as well. All you have to do is provide a safe environment and lots and lots of love. It's a NO BRAINER..If you have any interest please visit the Underdog Rescue website and fill out a foster application.

The following dogs are available for fostering IMMEDIATELY:

Male Chihuahua
Female Chihuahua
2 tiny Rat Terriers that are husband and wife- they don't like cats
Shasta- American staffardshire Terrier - finishing heartworm treatment
Stan-Schnauzer x
Ollie Schnauzer x
Big Boy -large Doxie X
Lafayette- Terrier/Chi looking dog- she doesn't like chickens..haha I guess that means she can't stay with you Wes..
Scooter- cute corgi x small

Please open your heart and Foster today!!

Peace and Pet Love!

Dog-Gone...How to prevent a Dog/Cat-Napping

Just before walking into a Starbucks, a woman ties her Hound Mix to a newspaper machine outside the store. She grabs a coffee, pays for it and walks out. Total time: about 5 minutes.The dog is gone without a trace. She never sees him again. Unfortunately, this is not a made-up scenario to highlight a growing problem. "This happens frequently," notes Linda Fields, a journalist who founded FindFido.com, a nonprofit pet locater site, where people can post pictures and notices of lost pets.

Dog theft is a crime that is hard to measure in statistics. Some have put the number of total pet thefts at 2 million a year. (Because pets are considered property, the numbers are lumped with other property crimes). However, it is often hard to discern whether a pet was stolen or simply wandered off and got lost. In her experience, Fields estimates that about 10 percent of the 1,460 dogs listed on http://www.findfido.com/ were stolen.

According to National Pet Recovery, a private pet recovery company, about 41 percent of the cases reported to them involved a stolen dog. About 47 percent of lost dogs were those allowed to run loose. Whatever the numbers, dogs are stolen for several reasons:

1)Money. This may take the form of an outright ransom, but the usual method is to wait for a reward to be posted, then call the dog's owners and say they found him wandering around.
2)Dog fighting. This may seem unusual because most stolen dogs have sweet temperaments – otherwise a thief may be deterred. Unfortunately, dogs are either "conditioned" to fight by cruel training methods, or used as "bait" to train other dogs to fight.
3)Cult rituals. Often done for kicks, black dogs (and cats) are at particular risk around Halloween.
4) Laboratory Testing. Animal rights and welfare people also say that stolen dogs often wind up at laboratories across the country. Under a procurement practice called "random source collection," the U.S. Department of Agriculture licenses individuals to sell animals to laboratories. There are two types of licenses: Class A and Class B. Class A are breeders. Class B are individuals who obtain dogs and other animals from various other sources. The USDA investigates to ensure the animals are legally obtained. However, animal groups contend that pets are being stolen and sold for profit by Class B licensees (called "bunchers"). A bill, HR 594, is under consideration now in Congress to eliminate Class B licenses. I highly suggest to everyone to watch the HBO Documentary (Dealing Dogs) this will for sure open your eyes to just how EVIL people can really be, especially when it comes to COLD HARD CASH!!!

Sometimes theft is no more complicated than an angry neighbor who takes your dog to the pound when you're not around.

Tips for keeping your pets safe

1) Secure your yard. Ring it with a fence and make sure the gate is closed (and preferably locked).
2)Don't leave your dogs/cats outside when you're not around.
3)Never leave your dog/cat unattended. It takes only a moment to untie him and lead him off.
4)Be aware. Make sure your neighbors are aware of the problem of pet theft. Let your neighbors know if you are expecting people on your property if you are not around, so they know to call the police if someone unexpected shows up.
5)Never allow your dog/cat to roam free in the neighborhood for everyone's sake.
6)Never leave your dog unattended in a car.
7) ID Tags/Micro-chipping. Always make sure your pet wears a collar with his ID tags, and for sure you might want to consider implanting a microchip under his skin. Shelters and veterinary hospitals use microchips to identify lost animals and reunite them with their owners.
8)Keep recent photos of your dog/cat. Take photos from different angles that clearly show coat type and coloring, close-ups of the face and any exceptional physical characteristics.

Keep all your proof-of-ownership papers (adoption, breeding contract, bill of sale) in one place to prove ownership.If the unthinkable happens, don't panic. Call the police if you believe your dog /cat has been stolen, then begin your own search. Search the area, talk to neighbors and passersby. Walk or drive slowly through the area several times daily. Hand out copies of recent photographs.You should also post notices with pictures of your dog throughout the neighborhood, in newspapers ( SHT allows a free posting for lost or found pets) and with radio stations. The Internet has become a more widely used tool to track down lost pets in recent years. There are a number of free sites on which people post images and exchange information.

Three sites of these sites include:
http://www.petfinder.com/
http://www.missingpet.net/
http://www.findfido.com/

I hope these tips help you to keep your pets safe and sound, it's beyond heartbreaking when a pet disappears and you NEVER find out exactly what happened to them.

Peace and Pet Love!

I kissed a dog...and I liked it....

The old saying, a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, likely comes from the observation that a canine will ceaselessly lick his wounds until they heal—or until a veterinarian fits him with a plastic lampshade. Reflecting on the adage, I instantly remember a relevant fact: a dog's mouth is filthy. Suppose your dog has been eating fecal material, taste testing a dead animal, licking your shoe or simply chewing on a stick that has been decomposing on the ground - your dog could have a slew of harmful bacteria cultivating within his mouth. While alternating between licking the kitchen floor and his private parts, a dog's idea of a winning lotto ticket is a partially decayed squirrel. If the prize can't be released from the pavement for a victory lap, an old-fashioned wallow and roll will do nicely. Later in the afterglow, his thorough squirrel-juice-removing tongue bath is rewarded by a couple of cat box tootsie rolls. After a day like this, it seems doubtful a dog's mouth could be any cleaner than a human's (with the obvious exception of Colin Farrell).

There is good evidence that most beasties present in the dog's mouth are species-specific, meaning they are relatively incapable of causing human illness. We are not exactly impervious to canine microbes, but short of a massive exposure, people with normal immune systems are reasonably resistant. A notable exception is the canine roundworm, Toxocara. Present in the majority of puppies, the eggs of this intestinal parasite are jettisoned into the pup's feces and can quickly end up on the more attractive end of the animal. If ingested by a human, the eggs hatch into larvae that wander aimlessly through your internal organs, never becoming adult worms—a condition called visceral larval migrans. Unless a huge number are swallowed, however, you are unlikely to have symptoms or even know it happened. Still, you'd be wise to use the same caution with a puppy's lips as you might with Mr. Farrell's.

The safety of whom you choose to kiss depends on your concern—infectiousness or mere pollution. The human probably wins Most Likely to Disease, but the canine scores Overall Disgusting. But, if I had to choose, I'd rather get kissed by my doggies any day...

I'm the happy victim of walk-by-lickings on a daily basis.....

Peace and Pet Love

Forget the shrink..I'll take some Pet Therapy..thank you very much...

There are many terms used to describe ways in which animals can help rehabilitate and heal people with special needs. These include 'pet therapy,' 'pet facilitated therapy,' or 'animal-assisted therapy.' Pets can help people with a variety of mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Fish, birds, pocket pets, rabbits, cats, dogs, and horses have all been employed in pet therapy.

What qualities do companion animals have that make them so therapeutic?

Warm and fuzzy: Animals are warm and fuzzy and alive. Being able to hold and pet another living creature can provide a great deal of comfort. You really don't need another human to COMPLETE you.

Nonjudgmental: Pets are nonjudgmental and do not criticize. So what if those jeans make your ass look big? So what if you didn't recycle? So what if you've been divorced 4 times? Your pet will think no less of you. Pets accept us the way we are...warts and all.

Trusting: Animals are often very trusting and can help build trust in ourselves and others. By watching them we learn we also are dependent and must sometimes rely on others. Not too much of course, but perhaps let your guard down just a bit.

Unconditional love: Pets can often tell when their owners are sad or upset and respond in an attentive way. It is really quite amazing how they can pick up on a person's emotions. Personally I have 5 dogs , and let me tell you when I'm upset they are stuck to me like glue. It's truly amazing, their their capacity to love

Listen: Pets are great listeners. They do not interrupt, or talk over you. They do not feel obligated to share their opinions. They are interested in any and everything you have to say, can you say the same for your human partner?

Help us feel needed and important: It helps to know we are needed. Adopting an animal from a shelter can certainly help you feel that way. A pet's welcome upon coming home from a hard day's work, or even a short errand can be the best part of the day. We may have had a horrendous day at work, or unfriended by a facebook friend, but our pets are happy to see us. And they help us feel needed as we provide them with food, water, grooming, and exercise.

Comedians: Some pets, whether they try to or not, can be real comics. We enjoy watching them and joining in with the play. We allow ourselves to act much sillier in front of our pets than in front of our friends. Pets do not play to be competitive, but just to have fun and be goofballs right along with you. I'm certain my crew think I'm nuts, but they won't judge, they just give me that LOOK ..haha

With these qualities, pets can act as co-therapists for a variety of people with special needs.
Developmentally disabled, children with Down's syndrome and other developmental disabilities can benefit from interactions with animals. Many special education classrooms have a variety of animals, and may have visiting pets as well. The pets can help them learn about nutrition, gentleness, following instructions, and how to care for other living things.

Mentally ill and persons with psychological disorders. The Quakers initiated the use of pet therapy for the mentally ill in the 18th century. Hospitalized patients with a variety of psychological diagnoses who have pet therapy respond well and are less anxious. Pet therapy in a Mental Health setting helps build rapport between the therapist and the patient. When the patient sees the therapist with a pet, the therapist already is viewed 'safer' in the eyes of the patient. The animals can also sense the needs and respond to people with mental illness in ways the therapist cannot.

Physically handicapped or Terminally ill patients. Pets can assist the physically handicapped in a variety of ways. Therapeutic riding is being used for persons with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and others with diminished motor control. It helps to improve their posture, balance, mobility, and function. It also provides significant emotional and cognitive benefits.
Physically handicapped pets have been terrific role models for persons with physical disabilities. They help the person understand, 'if a dog can do it, so can . People with terminal illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, and organ failure, and those who are bedridden are less likely to suffer from depression if they have animals around them. The animals bring a level of comfort and support unique to them.

So I say..save your money, get off the antidepressants and go get yourself a Companion Animal.....This advise is FREE my friends.

Peace and Pet Love!

Real Estate has gone to the DOGS!!

I know the housing market is a mess and foreclosures are at an all time high, but what if I told you that you could snag an amazing custom-designed Spanish-style mansion complete with arched windows, terra cotta tile floors and custom-trim work for just under 10K?

Think it's too good to be true? Well, for you, it probably is, but that's just what you can get for your favorite four-legged friend.

Dog mansions have become the newest trend in pampering your puppy. And I'm not talking about those old-school basic wooden boxes of the past - These new dog houses are beautiful custom-made petite pooch palaces that might just rival your own home.

Doggie Mansions is a Palm Beach-based "real estate firm" specializing in the creation of luxury homes for man's best friend. Each Doggie Mansion is custom built from the ground up, using the highest-quality materials and top notch craftsmanship.

The company's 'top dog' veteran real estate broker, Donald Gorbach, explains, "If you live in a Mediterranean-style estate with stone columns, marble floors, a barrel tile roof and beautiful landscaping, that is what we can recreate for your dog. If you prefer a beach house with white-washed shutters that is what we will build. The whole idea is to integrate your taste and style into the home we create especially for your pooch."

Other popular styles of dog homes include the Key West-style cottage, Hamptons-style beach house, the urban brownstone and the New England-style colonial. Each mansion can be built in various sizes depending on your dog's needs and owners have all the architectural options of a regular home including barrel-tiled roofs or architectural shingles, stone, tile or marble floors, hand-painted faux-finished walls, an outdoor deck or porch, operable windows and doors, sky lights, plants, rugs, lamps and other pint-sized furnishings.

Families with multiple pets can opt for a "Doggie Duplex" or two-room estate with separate entrances for each pet. Most amazingly, all mansions include interior and exterior lighting fixtures, a/c or heat, and are wired for electricity. The houses can also be outfitted with a flat-screen TV/DVD player (where your pooch can watch anything from Lassie to Underdog), Bose SoundDock and plenty of toys and games.

I'm not sure about you, but this time being in the dog house doesn't sound so bad. No pun intended, but this really isn't too far FETCHED...this is Sarasota after all.....

Available at: Doggie Mansions

Peace and Pet Love!!

Is your Pup getting a bit Long in the Tooth....

It starts when you spot a single grey hair in the mirror...Then suddenly you turn around and your belly's gotten bigger, your joints hurt, you can't quite get up as easily, and that new young perky Pug at the park referred to you as Old Yeller. And then she barked louder because she thought you couldn't hear her.

Aging happens to everyone. And unfortunately for your pup, there's no quick fix of plastic surgery, high-priced wrinkle cream, hair dye, Porsche purchases or dating someone 20 years younger.

Older dogs, just like older people, have special health needs. As your pets age, changes occur in the way their body functions, so it makes sense that you may need to give them a little more attention.

People generally feel they've hit that dreaded 'Golden Age' when they face their first senior discount and suddenly start receiving the AARP magazine - some time between 55-65. But when does your pooch become an official senior? In general, 'elderly' means over eight years old for a medium-sized dog, and over five years old for a larger dog.

The dietary needs of your dogs tend to change as they age. A senior dog will naturally be less active and so he may need less energy from his diet. Further, research has shown that the body composition tends to change in elderly dogs, also reducing his caloric needs. Senior dogs can also experience decreased immune system function and increased intestinal problems. What can I say - 'getting old can be a REAL bitch.'

I have come up with a few tips to keep your "old feller" healthy and happy for as long as possible...

1. Establish a relationship with the BEST Veterinarian you can find. For most older dogs, it is advisable to make an appointment with the vet every six months. Your vet should be someone whom you trust and with whom you feel very comfortable.

2. Become informed about the conditions common to older dogs and the therapies used for them. Be alert to symptoms, bring them to your vet's attention promptly, and be prepared to discuss treatment option

3. Feed your older dog the best food you can afford; consider feeding a home-prepared diet and two small meals daily rather than one large one.

4. Don't overfeed your dog. Obesity will create health problems and shorten their life.

5. Consider the use of dietary supplements such as glucosamine/chondroitin for arthritis.

6. Give your senior dog adequate exercise, but adjust it to their changing abilities.

7. Attend to your dog's dental health. Brush their teeth daily and have them cleaned professionally whenever your vet advises it.

8. Tell your vet you wish to have your dog vaccinated only once every THREE years, as currently advised by the major veterinary associations.

9. Be diligent in controlling fleas and ticks, and keep your dog and his environment scrupulously clean.

10. Make your senior dog as much a part of your life as possible, and do all you can to keep them interested, active, happy and comfortable.

Of course, MOST of these tips apply to all ages, pets...etc...

Peace and Pet Love!

Doggie Day Spa...Home Edition

You could spend the big bucks spoiling your special Pup at a decadent doggy spa for one super-luxurious afternoon of puppy pampering alongside doggy celebs like Tinkerbell Hilton, Daisy Simpson and Bit Bit Spears - or you could invest in a few key home spa essentials for your pooch and have 'spa day' any day of the week.

I have everything you need to create the dog spa experience at home. Not only can you save a little money, but it's also a way to spend quality time with your favorite furry friend while getting in some relaxation time of your own (and everyone knows that Tinkerbell can be a real bitch anyway)!

So crank up the new age mood music, lay down a few towels, light some candles, slather on the green mud masque (the masque is for you - not your pup) and get ready for a night of perfect pampering for you and your pooch in the comforts of your own canine-friendly casa.

Spa Dog Botanicals Urban Dog Spa Kit
This pure botanical spa set is sure to get any pooch pampering party started. This natural premium product pack combines therapeutic-essential oils and botanical extracts to make sure your furry friend looks spa radiant. The bountiful basket includes the Adventure Dog Sudsmade Shampoo with eucalyptus, patchouli and other natural bug repellants, the Knotty Dog Detangler that creates a soft, shiny coat and the Sweet Orange Spray to help moisturize and invigorate your pup's coat while leaving it smelling sweet. Available at Amazon

Gingham & Terry Duckie Bathrobe
Give your dogs the ultimate in spa comfort with this adorable and cozy yellow and white gingham bathrobe. Freshly bathed dogs will love warming up in this hooded bathrobe made of ultra soft, absorbent white cotton terry. The back of the robe features a cheerful rubber ducky applique made of puffed vinyl. Velcro tabs and a gingham belt provide a secure and comfortable fit. Available at Amazon

Jentle Pet Spa
Water-loving dogs will dive into the Jentle Pet spa by MTI Whirlpools. The super luxurious doggy Jacuzzi features five-point massage jets, hot & cold temperature controls, shelves for shampoo, a hair-trapping suction device, and a special cleaning system. The Jentle Pet spa accommodates pooches that weigh up to 57 pounds and comes in 50 cool colors! Available at MTI Whirlpools

So go and get your Day Spa Dog-on..
Peace and Pet Love

My Rescue Dog is Smarter than your Honor Student!

I like to consider myself a bit of a "Tour Guide" for pet adoption. I can tell you pretty much any and everything about most of the Animal Rescue Groups in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. I have made it my mission to have as much information as possible, so I can help save lives and educate the locals on the resources available to them.

Ok class pay very close attention...today I will be focusing on "Sarasota County Animal Services" or the POUND as some of you like to call it. We are incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful place for our (strays) or owner give-ups to go. First and foremost SCAS belongs to you.... SARASOTANS, our tax dollars pay for this amazing facility.

What people don't understand is that SCAS must take any and all animals that come through their doors; strays, cruelty cases, owner give-ups(and there have certainly been more than I care to think about as of late). They don't have the LUXURY of turning pets away when they're busting at the seams. Just to clarify, ALL other rescues in Sarasota, DO have that luxury, they can say yes or no whenever they choose. The reason being, they are privately funded. AGAIN, SCAS is a County run shelter. BIG DIFFERENCE!!

Today there are over 37 dogs and 60 cats being housed at SCAS, the shelter is literally overflowing. If anyone is interested in adopting a pet...PLEASE go out to SCAS. I promise this is a beautiful facility, not dismal or depressing. In fact, I encourage you to come out and volunteer your time and walk some dogs or cuddle some cats. I love going out there, it's very serene and you get quite the work out walking the dogs. It's also a great family affair, SCAS is very children friendly, as long is there is someone over 18 to supervise.

So what did we learn today? Get your booty's over to SCAS and ADOPT a shelter pet or volunteer your time, or you don't get to pass my class!!
Check out the sweet angels that need a home: ADOPTABLE DOGS AND CATS

Sarasota County Animal Services
8451 Bee Ridge Rd
Sarasota, FL 34241-6302
(941) 861-9500
Adoption Hours

If you would like to adopt an animal, or volunteer your time....
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 12 noon - 2 p.m.

Peace and Pet Love!

See Spot...Buckle Up!

You and your pup are hitting the open road. The wind is flying through your hair and his fur, adventure and the smell of doggy biscuits are in the air, and you're ready for anything - well, anything except for your curious canine suddenly running through the car, jumping on your lap, hitting the steering wheel and lunging towards a tempting driver-side squirrel (or sexy Pekingese).

Sadly, hundreds of dogs are killed or injured every year because loving owners allow their pampered pooches to roam freely throughout the car or truck. And while you may not think about it, your unrestrained furry friend faces the same dangers as all passengers who don't buckle up, including being ejected like a rocket.

Although experts do not suggest using your car's built in seat belts, there are a wide range of options for keeping your pup safe, including mini seat belts, harnesses, car hammocks and booster seats.

Sure, we know Britney may not realize the importance of car seats but then again she doesn't realize the importance of underwear, either. So put away the razor, grab some undies and check out the cool car seats and other safety items made especially for your canine.

Roadie Elite
Be one of the first to have a *Roadie Elite! Researched and independently tested, Ruff Rider's Roadie Canine Vehicle Safety/Training Harness keeps the dog you love safe while riding, braking or turning and affords the best protection in extreme situations. It easily attaches to any vehicle's seat belt system. It includes a built-in short walking lead for all-around use. Every Ruff Rider Roadie is vet approved & exceeds S.A.E. tensile strength standards for human seat belts. Available at: Ruff Rider.com

Canine Zip Line
This ingenious design allows your dog freedom to move around while keeping her safely restrained. Just connect the zip line to the passenger handles on either side of the vehicle, then clip in your dog. The harness and leash (included) are handy for taking your dog to and from the car and make rest stops a breeze. Harness can also be clipped to a seat belt for added versatility. Available at: fetchdog.com

Jump Seat
We’ve come a long way since the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy now drives a Volvo. And Toto rides shotgun, strapped safely into her comfy, lined Jump Seat. Made for dogs up to 30 pounds, the Jump Seat includes a washable, padded liner and a seat belt tether. Collapses easily for storage. We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore. Available at: Fetchdog.com


Champion Canine Truck Restraint
The CHAMPION Canine Truck Restraint provides a solution, an easy and safe way to transport up to 3 dogs in the back of your truck. This innovative new product features an adjustable strap of heavy duty 2" nylon webbing with 3 heavy gauge welded D rings. The strap ends with 2" round rings that attach to tie down hooks on the truck with the 2 included 3/8" x 4" spring links. Available at: Champ K9.com

This is especially important in our neck of the woods YEE HAW! trucks... trucks and more trucks. Nothing makes me more crazy than seeing a dog flying around in the back of a pickup truck, this is beyond dangerous. Florida really needs to adopt the TETHER law, like California. Peace and Pet Love.....

Only the Lonely...Can Play

Okay, we know that if we were really well adjusted, mature individuals we'd be happy to spend time alone - enjoying our own company and thoughts...but after about ten minutes of alone time we quickly realize that our thoughts are mostly that we want company.

Let's face it, we're social animals and so are our pups. But while most people can entertain themselves by spending a few hours in front of the tube, it's not like your pooch is hooked on who Bret Michaels will kick off next (no, I'm not ashamed of loving "Rock of Love" - okay, maybe a little).

The point is that no one likes saying goodbye to those big, sad puppy dog eyes but in today's world of the single pet parent or the two working pet parents, we sometimes have to leave our pets alone. Luckily, there are several ways to keep a latch-key puppy free from daily boredom and separation anxiety.

Help your Fur Kid beat the boredom by providing plenty of toys so that he can play while you're away. Experts suggest rotating the toys so they keep their appeal. Interactive toys are especially good for providing mental stimulation.

Dog Tornado Puzzle
This Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado will challenge your dog! There are four layers to this turning spinning puzzle! Each layer has a cutout on each side. The top layer is the cover. Each additional layer has 4 insets for you to put treats in. All of these layers turn. Your dog has to line the cutouts up with the insets to get the treats out! Available at: Best Friends General Store

Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude
Busy Buddy toys is a line of chew toys for dogs, designed to "keep your pet busy with good things to chew!" Each Busy Buddy™ toy is made with a different and unique chewing experience in mind and helps redirect potentially destructive chewing behavior into positive playtime. The Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude features a random bounce and treat dispensing, making this a fun toy your dog will play with over and over. Available at: Smart Pak Canine

Hide-A-Bee Plush Puzzle
The Hide-A-Bee Puzzle Plush is a plush toy in the shape of a bee hive with three 2-1/2" diameter holes in it. It comes with three squeaker bees (about 5" long) that you hide inside the hive. Your dog's mission--and we think he'll decide to accept it--is to stalk those buzzy bees and pull them out of the holes in the hive.
Available at: Lucy The Wonder Dog

These toys are designed to challenge your dog, stimulate its problem solving ability and an outlet for its energy. These Brain Activity toys/games are easy to get out and fun to use for both you and your dog. Don't leave your other pets out of the fun these are great for cats, rats, and all pets. Remember, these are interactive and NOT a chew toy.

Hair of the Dog!

After a long, hot day there's nothing better than throwing back a few cold beers with some good friends. And if you ever thought about toasting a brew with your very best friend - I say go ahead and let your pooch get his drink on!

Okay, before you start emptying a Michelob Ultra into your pup's bowl - remember that human beers are not safe for dogs. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that your pooch has to be left out of the party!

Phoenix-based husband, wife, and daughter team, Bob, Jenny, and Jessica Brown have created a premium beef-flavored beer that your pooch can finally wrap his paw around. In January 2007 the Brown's began making a peanut butter flavored pretzel treat for their 3 busy dogs, Chewy, Casey, and Dax. After creating the perfect snack, named Spoiled Rotten Dog Treats, they pondered the perfect drink. "Then it hit me," Brown said. "What goes best with pretzels but beer?
The Brown's set out to create the ultimate liquid refreshment for their beloved dogs.

The following month their Bowser Beer had sold out at the Super Pet Expo in Virginia. After looking for manufacturers, 3 Busy Dogs settled on a Florida company.

Bowser Beer is a non-carbonated, non-alcoholic (someone's gotta be the designated walker) beer made especially for your pup. The ale starts with artesian water and choice malted barley. It's brewed in 500-gallon copper kettles and features all-natural beef drippings. Plus, it's fortified with glucosamine and vitamin e (as if beer isn't healthy enough on its own).
The beer sells for $19.95 a six-pack and is available on the Company's website.
For an extra charge, beer labels can be custom made with a picture of the customer's pet.(What an awesome gift idea) Color me there... CHEERS FLOPPY EARS!!! Available at
3busydogs.com

DIETING HAS GONE TO THE DOG'S!

Has one too many lazy winter days left your pooch packing a bit of a paunch? Is your hound looking a little round? Does his belly rival Buddha's (or maybe John Goodman)?

Well, we've always been one to embrace our canine's copious curves, but if your portly pup's more Perez than Paris then your dog may need some weight loss help.

Obesity is on the rise for canines. The reasons are simple: too much food and too little exercise. Just like humans, packing extra pounds can negatively impact the functioning of the lungs, put extra strain on the heart and create severe joint problems. Just a few extra pounds affect your pup's daily activities such as walking, standing and even sitting and can shorter their life span.

The good news is that I have the insider's track on new fitness equipment and healthy foods to help pudgy pooches beat the bulge and live longer, happier lives.

Doggie Driver
You may be a couch potato but now your dog doesn't have to be. Doggie Driver is a tennis ball launcher that swings like a normal golf club driver, providing hours of healthy exercise and enjoyment for your pup. Doggie Driver will launch the ball up to 100 yards. Available at PetGadets.com

Springer Bicycle Jogger
Get outdoors and enjoy some good ol' Florida Sunshine with the Springer Bicycle Jogger. The bike attachment enables you to hit the open road with your dog safely: allowing riders to keep both hands on the bike, while keeping your dog at a safe distance from the wheels. The springer is equipped with a "Safety Release," which allows the dog to break away instantly if it ends up on the wrong side of a tree, post, etc. Available at PetGadgets.com

Dog Treadmill
Establish a regular exercise routine for your best friend. Treadmill training can give a dog a great workout regardless of weather or environment, allowing owners to maintain a consistent exercise regimen. It provides increased muscle definition, toning, improves vitality, increases life span and can help curb destructive behavior or excess energy often associated with the lack of regular exercise. Available at PetGagets.com


Light or Lowfat Dog Food
You are what you eat so if you want to be lean, you've got to eat lean. Many dog food Company's offer a dog food that has fewer calories and fat and increased fiber to help dogs keep their weight down. It also provides great taste as well as the complete and balanced nutrition adult dogs need. Available at any local Pet Smart, Pet Supermarket, or Petco

Pet Insurance is the BOMB!!!

What if your pet becomes sick or is critically injured and needs care that is expensive and you can't afford?

What can you do?

This is a common problem that Veterinarians face. And trust me, it is not a problem that they enjoy. Veterinarians would rather work on making your pet better, not deal with the financial issues that involve good pet care.

So, what can you do if your pet has a problem that you can't afford? I'll give you some tips.

1. Credit cards and checks. If this is an option, ask the clinic if they accept checks and credit cards. This can help in some situations.

2. Care credit. Ask if the hospital accepts "care credit". Care credit is a line of credit that you can apply for on an emergency basis and it can give you immediate access to a credit card with a credit line (often at a fairly reasonable rate). I had to use this option a couple of years ago.

3. Most vet hospitals will give you time to make calls to family and friends or to visit a bank machine to come up with the required resources or deposit.

4. Consider other options. It may be that you can cut corners in some manner now to get you to a local shelter or humane society that may provide less expensive treatment or offer billing for additional tests.

5. Finally, if unexpected expenses are a hardship for you, the very BEST thing you can do for your pet is to get pet insurance early, before your pet has a problem. Get it when your pet is young and healthy and the premiums are reasonable. Also, consider taking advantage of the preventative care options that some companies offer.

Yes, I frequently recommend that you should at least consider pet insurance. I do this because I've seen the lives of many pets saved because their owners had the financial ability to do the best for their pet.

Today I encourage you to take a minute to educate yourself about pet insurance and learn how it can save you money and give you peace of mind knowing that you will be able to provide the best medical care for your dog.

So take a few minutes to learn about the many benefits of pet insurance and get a FREE quote. Go to: petinsurance.com

Take the extra step today and get an instant quote for your dog, you'll be glad you did.

I hope these suggestions help you.

PLEASE STOP THESE ATROCITIES AGAINST HELPLESS ANIMALS!!

This is a subject that I am incredibly passionate about. Many of my friends are very much aware of the fact that I rescue animals from Georgia and North Carolina. If you are able to watch the video that I have included in this post, you will understand why. I simply cannot let this continue without one hell of a fight. I cannot believe in 2008 that ANY state is allowing the GASSING, SHOOTING, DROWNING, ELECTROCUTING, of helpless animals. This is an OUTRAGE! This CAN be stopped with your help. We must all unite and make these phone calls and write letters, and whatever else we can do to put an end to this. ALL animals deserved to be HUMANELY euthanized. This is complete BS!! The following is a letter from COMPANION ANIMAL NETWORK

Dear Friends of Animals,

Clinton supporter North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has failed to request the introduction of legislation which would override the Commissioner of Agriculture's recent removal of the state's own board's recommendation to end the killing of pets by carbon monoxide gas under the excuse that"aggressive dogs are safer to kill by gas." Most of this country uses injection to euthanize even aggressive dogs, including 67 of North Carolina's 100 counties, but the Ag. Commissioner's people appear to be claiming that aggressive dogs in the 37 counties which DO use gas are more vicious than those in the 63 which do not. It is not worth commenting.This kind of false excuses by politicians is what has caused so many voters to not vote.I urge you to watch the video at:http://www.companionanimalnetworktv.org/Videos/yadkin_county.movand see the gassing being done TODAY in Yadkin County and 36 other counties in N.C. (63 use inject able). It takes 2-3 minutes to load. This video will be shown tomorrow night in NYC on Time Warner Queens Ch. 34 at 8 PM, and in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Hampton's in Long Island where the move stars live. It will then go into reruns for many years to come, airing twice every year on all our cable systems. Our television program is carried by Cablevision, TimeWarner, and RCN Cable. Though this video is on our website, I had chosen not to watch it until last night, in preparing it to be broadcast on the show. IT SHOOK ME TO THE CORE !! IF YOU REFUSE TO WATCH THE ATTACHED VIDEO YOU WILL NOT BE MOTIVATED TO DO WHAT YOU WOULD OTHERWISE DO, AND YOU WILL BE JUST AS MUCH TO BLAME FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS MONSTROSITY !!After watching the video please call N.C. Gov. Easley at 919-733-4240 and919-733-5811, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler at 919-733-7125, and Chamber of Commerce Pres Lew Ebert at 919-836-1407 and tell them that you will boycott N.C. goods and will spread the word about the practices N.C. If Gov. Easley's office tells you that the Agriculture Commissioner is a separately elected office, tell Mr. Easley that the governor can cause the introduction of state legislation banning gassing.In Georgia, even though a law was passed banning gassing of animals, the State Assemblyman who passed that law has sued the state for refusing to enforce it 10 years after enactment. States which still allow gas must be federally banned from doing so. I have spoken with the attorney doing that law suit. Also, please ask the Democratic and Republican Platform Committees to include a ban on all gas killing of animals. I, for one, an uncommitted voter, have decided to NOT vote for Obama nor McCain unless and until one or the other addresses this issue by agreeing to nationally ban gas killing of animals. I intend to reach both campaigns.This email needs to be mass distributed nationally, being sent to blogs,other media, yahoo groups. Please forward it to everyone you know. The power of the Internet and television to force change has been proven over and over.& nbsp; Please help us end this monstrous practice NOW! If this was happening to you or me every day which passed by would matter. Just think of the southern summer heat inside those kill boxes, with dozens of pets stuffed in them like toys, pinned against one another unable to move even a paw. Just think of the horror, the anguish, the fear, the TERROR !!!
Garo Alexanian,Companion Animal Network

I DIED TODAY..A MESSAGE FROM BEYOND THE RAINBOW BRIDGE!

I died today.You got tired of me and took me to the shelter. They were overcrowded and I drew an unlucky number. I am in a black plastic bag in a landfill now.

Some other puppy will get the barely used leash you left. My collar was dirty and too small, but the lady took it off before she sent me to the Rainbow Bridge.

Would I still be at home if I hadn't chewed your shoe? I didn't know what it was, but it was leather, and it was on the floor. I was just playing. You forgot to get puppy toys.

Would I still be at home if I had been housebroken? Rubbing my nose in what I did only made me ashamed that I had to go at all. There are books and obedience teachers that would have taught you how to teach me to go to the door.

Would I still be at home if I hadn't brought fleas into the house? Without anti-flea medicine, I couldn't get them off of me after you left me in the yard for days.

Would I still be at home if I hadn't barked? I was only saying, "I'm scared, I'm lonely, I'm here, I'm here! I want to be your best friend."

Would I still be at home if I had made you happy? Hitting me didn't make me learn how.Would I still be at home if you had taken the time to care for me and to teach manners to me?

You didn't pay attention to me after the first week or so, but I spent all my time waiting for you to love me.I died today.

"Pets in the City"

"WOW" I'm BLOWN AWAY! I cannot believe the insane support I received from this community when I began to embark on my very 1st FUNDRAISER! With the assistance of my FABULOUS friend Beth we were able to get together a HELL of a party in just 10 days...that's right 10 days. Beth had the idea to have a party coincide with the "SEX AND THE CITY" movie premiere. You see we have both been HUGE fans from the beginning. I told her that I thought she was crazy..there is NO WAY IN HELL we can pull this off in 10 days..well boy was I wayyyy wrong.

1st things 1st..we had to have the VENUE..well let me tell you ZORIA was on board from the very beginning, no questions asked. SIDE BAR..ARTHUR YOU'RE FABULOUS!! OK, then we had to have fun stuff for people to do..my friend Carol Prokap of PRP Wines did a tasting of incredible wines, and my friend Kane the owner of EUPHORIA BAR donated one of his oxygen bar's , which was sooooo refreshing, and of course you can't have a "Sex and the City" themed party with out the COSMOS! That's right the very gracious SZAMBELAN Vodka donated all you can drink Carrie Cosmos. The Tarot Card Reader Desiree Rahill was loads of fun,and we had the most gorgeous Flower Arrangement donated by TIGER LILY.

I have to tell you the people in Sarasota "ROCK"! I want to take this opportunity to thank and recognize those businesses and individuals that stepped up to the plate for the ANIMALS!! I want everyone to remember these names when you're considering spending your hard earned money on; entertainment, wine, vodka, clothes, spa's, tanning, limos, restaurants, teeth whitening, etc. Animal lovers need to know they are buying goods, services, whatever, from people that actually DO CARE about animals...

I cant wait for next year..well of course..did you think I wouldn't make this a YEARLY EVENT... and I promise I will give everyone more than 10 days notice!!!

THANK YOU.....
ANA MOLINARI
PINEAPPLE HOLISTIC DAY SPA
MIDTOWN DENTAL
HORSE FEATHERS
FOXY LADY
LOTUS
ARLENE OAKES
DAIQUIRI DECK
ANIMALS BY NATURE
URBAN OASIS DAY SPA
CORINNE NORTH-FULLER
SUSAN ROOSA

CAROL PROKAP
MIKE KRADLAK
RICK CULPEPPER
MOM&DAD
GRANNY
LARRY'S EXECUTIVE LIMOUSINES
MASSAGE MATTERS
DEREK SMITH
KEN&LINDA SLAVIN
ELYSIAN FIELDS
ZORIA
TIKI TAN

CLEAN STEP LINENS
TIGER LILY
SZAMBELAN VODKA
US TENT RENTAL
LTM PARTY
EUPHORIA BAR
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...MY FABULOUS FRIEND BETH HARRIS..FOR WITHOUT YOU MY LOVE THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED!!

BLACK DOG...BLACK CAT!!

Is it true no one loves black dogs? Well...it isn't "no one" that loves black dogs, but there does seem to be an issue with the adoptability of black dogs. According to statistics "If you have two similar dogs - one black, one light colored side-by-side with similar temperaments, both well behaved, both house broken and friendly, the light-colored dog will be adopted before the black dog".

Why are black dogs less adoptable?

It is hard to know for sure. For one, dark hair is a dominant trait. There are more brunettes than any other hair color. In fact, in people, they estimate that 100 years from now, there will be no red-headed people in the country. Is the same true in dogs? It is hard to know for sure but that seems to be the case on a smaller scale. There may be more black dogs to choose from.

In addition, many shelters are in older facilities. The lighting is often suboptimal. Most people that go to shelters to adopt will find a dog by making a connection with a dog. That usually starts with eye contact. Dark dogs in dark cages are harder to see. It is possible because they are hard to see that eye contact is not as obvious and frequent.

Regardless of the cause - I love black dogs. I think they deserve every chance at a good home as any other dog.

NOW AS FOR BLACK CATS.......

People are crazy AND Superstitious....In Western history, black cats have often been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens: in other cultures they are considered to be good omens. Whatever the case.. I have surmised that Black cats ARE mysterious, elegant, and overall FABULOUS!!!

So...if you are looking to adopt - don't overlook the black dogs OR cats. If you can't see them very well, ask someone to take the dog or cat out of the cage so that you can see him or her better and interact.

For more information on this very fascinating subject please check out BLACKPEARL DOGS, a wonderful website dedicated to helping BLACK DOGS AND CATS!!!

I know you are all very jealous of my beautiful black boy Shakespeare..that's why I had to taunt you with his picture:)