All posts by The Dog Lady

Is the recession hitting your dog budget?

A recent post on MainStreet.com says pet spending will likely decline this year due to the economic crunch most of us are feeling.  While the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association had originally forecast we’d spend $43.4 billion on our pets this year, that number may prove optimistic as the year winds down.

Continue reading Is the recession hitting your dog budget?

Have you seen this dog?

  How many of you received this picture by e-mail, with an accompanying story about how Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor from his heroic activities in Iraq?  I have received it several times, and almost posted it, but decided to check it out on Snopes.com first.

According to Snopes, the dog pictured above is Spike, a retired police dog from Scottsdale, Arizona.  Spike is a Belgian Malinois, not a Boxer/Bull Mastiff mix, as the e-mail asserts.

If you want to check it out yourself, click here.

And don’t believe everything you read on the Internet!

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

 

 

Shelter Dog Rescued

What a great story!  (And perfect timing, since this is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month.)

Blackie, a 3-year old Labrador retriever mix was turned over to the Edmonton Humane Society last May when his guardians couldn’t afford the $3,500 surgery he needed to repair his back leg.  The people had paid for similar surgery on his other leg, but apparently just couldn’t swing it twice.  (Who could???)

Anyways, the shelter was afraid that a new adoptive family would be tough to find, given that the new guardians would have to foot the bill for the surgery.  They were just sure they’d have to put the dog down. 

But, lo and behold, the good people of Edmonton came through, donating enough to the shelter’s sick and injured animal fund to pay for the surgery.  Blackie had his operation at the end of August and has been recovering in a foster home.  He was put up for adoption today – no word yet on who the lucky adoptive family is.

I told you it was a great story!

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

 [Picture credit:  David Bloom / Sun Media]

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!  What will you do to celebrate?

Nearly 10 million animals enter shelters each year in the United States for reasons ranging from behavior problems to housing or lifestyle conflicts to expectations not being met.  Only about 25% of these animals are subsequently adopted, and although progress has been made, as many as 50% of shelter animals are still euthanized. 

So, other than adopting another dog for your family, which many of us can’t necessarily do, how else can you help?  Consider spending a few hours a week volunteering.  Shelters can always use dog walkers, dog bathers, cage cleaners, or any number of other helpers.

If you can’t spare even an extra hour out of your busy schedule, you might make a donation to your local shelter.  They can always use cash, of course, but will also appreciate food, towels, paper towels, cat litter, leashes/collars, food dishes, and newspapers.

Above all, before you adopt any dog into your home, make sure you are willing to make a lifetime commitment to him, so that you don’t add to the problem  – your dog must never become a shelter dog!

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!