Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Shelter Me - Helping Make a Difference

Who doesn't want to help... help family move (you're welcome, Twiggy and Onyx)... helping friends with a shoulder to cry on... and, most of all, helping rescue pets? 

This weekend, you can help. You can do something so simple, and help so many, it will make you smile. 

As my good buddy Romeo the Cat says, "All ya all know that Halo is the sponsor of "Shelter Me," a PBS documentary featuring incredible stories about shelter pets given a second chance. The first episode just came out on DVD and Redbox has agreed to donate 100% of rental proceeds to the Halo Pet Foundation for all rentals through April 29. SUPER exciting. And, 100% of money raised by Halo Pet Foundation goes TO PETS! Halo (the pet food company) absorbs all admin costs so it truly makes an impact through grants and other programs to help shelters! "

Now, who can't get behind that? Go on...get out there. Rent this movie. Need more incentive... well, okay...but really, what other incentive do you need?

Wild Dogs Commuting to Center City

Saw this amazing article on dogs that have learned how to commute from place to place. It was on Facebook but actually came from The Sun Co. in the UK. The story is about dogs commuting from the suburbs in Moscow, to center city, where they have learned to beg for scraps. 

"Each morning, like clockwork, they board the subway, off to begin their daily routine amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

"But these aren't just any daily commuters. These are stray dogs who live in the outskirts of Moscow Russia and commute on the underground trains to and from the city centre in search of food scraps.

"Then after a hard day scavenging and begging on the streets, they hop back on the train and return to the suburbs where they spend the night.

"The dogs have also amazingly learned to use traffic lights to cross the road safely, said Dr Poiarkov. And they use cunning tactics to obtain tasty morsels of shawarma, a kebab-like snack popular in Moscow."

Time for a BlogPaws Update

by Yvonne DiVita

You're coming, right? To BlogPaws, I mean? To THE event of the year? Oh yeah, it's an event, all right. It has pets galore (I hear through the grapevine - her name is Rebecca Flick - that we have a ton of dogs attending already and there are a whole lot of new registrations coming our way every day... I bet that means another 10 -20 dogs! WOOOHOOOO!), it has great speakers, it has brands that just wanna have fun (sung to the tune of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun") and it has a ton of bloggers hoping to meet those folks they talk with everyday on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and in their blogs.

What's new this year? Well now, I can't actually tell you that. WE have some surprises in store. And when I say surprises, I mean... real surprises. For some key people in the pet community. One thing I can announce, which we announced a week ago, I believe, is that the amazing David Frei, who's Angel on a Leash will be getting a donation from us this year, will be Emceeing our Nose-to-Nose Awards. How kewl is that? I can't wait to meet him, in person, in the flesh! 

Helping Save the planet

by Yvonne DiVita

You may wonder how my next words help save the planet but the truth is - we are all in this together. By "all" I mean those of us who are human, and those of us designated with the lable "animal" ... we are all in this together. The planet was not made for human life, only.

What is being human about? Shouldn't it be about caring? About compassion? About sharing and generosity? Shouldn't being human teach us something... about the needs of our environment and how it affects OUR daily lives, regardless of where we live? Should being human and being intelligent (according to some sources, I have to wonder how many of us are really intelligent) allow us to view the entire world from the perspective of tomorrow?

Tomorrow, those of us who are left (our children and grandchildren) may well wonder, "Why did my ancestors ignore the plight of so many wondrous creatures? How could the so-called smart ones allow abuse and suffering - knowing that the people who cause that kind of terror to "animals" will have no worries causing similar abuse to humans - perhaps starting with women and children?"

Love Ringo Starr

"With a Little Help from My Friends" (originally titled "A Little Help from My Friends") is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, released on the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967. The song was written for and sung by the Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr as the character "Billy Shears". It was ranked No. 311 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. (as noted on Wikipedia)

The song, and Ringo Starr, has always held a special place in my heart. And, maybe the words of the song mean more to me than to others because I've gotten where I am, With a little help from My friends. BlogPaws, my pet commuity and conference, gets its power, With a Little Help from Our Friends.

It's with that spirit in mind today that I share this info from one of the bestest of the best, BZTAT of BZTAT Studios, an artist extraordinaire, an all around fantastic animal supporter ( fond of cats... to the utmost), and just a good person. 

Friends Don't Make Friends Wait in Hot Cars

It's not too early to start talking about this. Summer is not far off and I dread the news reports of dogs left in cars - with dire results. I've always thought veterinarians should mail out a notice, like the one here from The Preventive Vet, and remind folks not to risk the consequences.

What do you think should be done to make this message stronger and have it go viral? Sharing this image is one way to start... and helping your vet get the word out, is another. I think a sign like this should be in every veterinary office in the country... all the time, not just in summer. Maybe a kind artist should create something similar to this image, and hand out several hundred to shelters - to give new pet parents. 

I know there are a lot of ways to spread the message. What will you do in your hometown?

"I Hate Heat Stroke" - An infographic by The Preventive Vet

Great Ideas

We see a lot of things via BlogPaws. Brands and new companies and start ups and just plain talented bloggers come to us with announcements about stuff they've invented or created, and we're amazed at the sheer innovation happening in the pet community.

Lately, one particular product caught our eye and we've noticed a bunch of bloggers have written about it - because it's worth knowing about: Pup Protector! I was introduced to it by Trevor, the founder, and I really think he's onto something! 

Spoiling the dogs

We do it. Every weekend. We make eggs for breakfast... for ourselves and the dogs. We have created expectations. Chester, my handsome coon hound, is always first in the kitchen... with the look in his eye.

How, I ask you... HOW do they know when it's a weekend?

Happy Spring!

Now that spring is here... it's time to rejoice! Hit the back yard! Throw the ball! Chase the squirrels!

Ok... our dogs don't do the ball thing. They just look at us like, "You threw that really well. Now what do you want to do?"

"Go, go get it!" we'll say.

"Me?" Emily and Chester will both say at once. "You want ME to get the ball? Why did you throw it away if you wanted it?" With those confused looks in their eyes...

Sigh.

Wordless Wednesday: Ghost Stories