Wordless Wednesday: Supervising the cleanup

We were supervising and providing security while Dog Dad kept our race track clean during the storm. It took several trips but we were there to make sure the job was done right.

here

Wordy Wednesday: Snow Dancing

Mom was fascinated with how the snow was dancing in the air on Monday of the long weekend. She couldn't quite get the pictures she wanted of the snow dancing in the air never quite wanting to touch the ground, but she did seem to take joy in catching pictures of how it landed on us.

here

Wordless Wednesday: Enjoying the Heat

Stole Katy's bed so I could enjoy the heat.

Wordless Wednesday: The Power's On

Bailey's had this strange attraction to the power strip lately. He really does seem to think he can draw power from it.

However, he has found another source of power that is helping him get stronger. He and Katy have started massage therapy and it is working wonders. We found a massage therapist at Paws in the Park and decided to check her out. We'd talked about doing it for years, but sadly something always came up. This time with Bailey's health issues we decided it was a priority. Then we discovered she lives in town, which made it seem even easier to commit the time to do.


Bailey has become very bow legged and walking almost on the sides of his paws. He's also lost significant muscle strength in his back legs that occurred sometime around our failed rescue attempt. He's had chiro for years, but nothing had stopped the progression. After his second massage session, his bowing has decreased significantly. His front legs have straightened dramatically. I hope to get some pics to show his vet the progression. He was too tired last night to submit for pics and I wanted to post something this morning.

We are also learning stretching exercises. As someone who needs PT exercises myself it never occurred to me to think that my dogs might benefit from stretching exercises as well. In the first session DH and I learned how to stretch both Bailey and Katy to help keep their legs more limber. Katy, especially has seen a difference with the stretching.

Our second session was with an intern who suggested we try making some beef broth from bone to help with Bailey's joint issues. I've made beef and chicken broth as starters for us over the years, I've never thought of the benefits for the dogs. I won't add all the veggies I do for ours, but I will look to getting a soup bone this weekend and making up some broth. She suggested freezing them into ice cubes to store the broth. Bailey loves ice cubes, so this could be a nice treat for him as well, especially with the hot summer months coming up.

here

Wordy Wednesday: Adopt a Dog Month

October is the Humane Society's Adopt a Dog Month and as Bloggers we've been asked to promote adoption. What better advertisement do we have than our own beautiful dogs.

I encourage those of you who have specific needs or interests in a breed or type of dog to look into breed rescue. There are many valid reasons for wanting a specific type of dog and that doesn't necessarily exclude you from rescuing a dog. My goal for this post is to get people who have those needs or interests to consider breed adoption. There are many already advocating for local shelters. However, there is a place for breed rescue, too. It opens the door to those who have a desire for a specific breed and are willing to consider adoption over working with a breeder. Those potential adopters shouldn't be discouraged, shamed, or pushed into considering animals that may not be what they want or need. It is great for people to consider their options, however for those who are committed to finding a certain breed, providing a homeless purebred dog with a home is better than turning people away from adoption and having them seek out a breeder instead.

One thing I'd like to offer as we go through this month is that we find positive, healthy ways to discuss pet adoption. The choice to adopt a homeless pet is an important one. Setting one group against the other is not a great way to encourage people to make new choices. I find all too often when I bring up the topic of breed adoptions I get lots of resistance from those advocating for mixed breed adoptions. There is a place for everyone at the table. However, when you push people to do something they aren't going to do, you just shove them towards finding a breeder. You aren't converting them to consider a mixed breed adoption. There are ways to have a healthy discussion about what people are willing to do. However, in my experience it all to often becomes a hostile discussion that ends with you aren't a real advocate of rescue.

Recently, we were faced with the hard choice of needing to consider bringing another pet into our home as we watch another heading to the Rainbow Bridge. I spoke with a family member who has been a pet owner for years thinking that of all people in my family I could discuss the issue with, she'd be the most open to me working with a breed rescue. After all she has a specific breed of cat that she has used a breeder to get because she likes to raise her cats from kittens. She will not consider another breed of cat. It has to be this specific cat or nothing. I don't judge, we each have our needs. However, when it came time to get a dog, she adopted a mixed breed from a local rescue. I respected that choice, too. Again we all make the choices that work for us. However, when I told her our plan to return to Bailey and Katy's breed rescue she let loose with what to me sounded like a script that comes all to often from people who preach mixed breed rescue. Pure breds aren't rescues. You only rescue when you take a mutt. I should just go to the local rescue and get what they have.

This is just not a productive reaction to people who are choosing adoption over breeders. We are supposed to be advocating adoption. As long as we are using a reputable adoption source that is what should matter. What type of animal the person chooses to adopt is personal. Hopefully if the person is using a reputable rescue that group should help he/she make a choice that is a good fit. There are times when the rescue isn't doing due diligence and then it can help to have a friend who can look with honest eyes and ask the questions a rescue should ask about how this dog fits into the family. However, that needs to be done with respect and sensitivity. The best interest of dog and family should be the point, not your personal feelings about the choice the owner is making.

I do hope breed rescues continue to grow and expand across this country. I know they are not available in all states and regions. Our rescue is a regional breed rescue that covers three states. It would be great if the American Kennel and other dog breed groups would work towards organizing and supporting individual breed rescues across the country. It would provide more opportunities for animals and adopters to connect. People who have specific interests in the breed often find it challenging to find available dogs as they sift through lists of dogs in the area. Breed rescues provide ways for people interested in dogs with specific qualities, characteristics, and abilities to connect. When we go to fundraising events I always enjoy visiting with the breed specific groups to find out more about their groups and how they are advocating for their breeds. The local Dachshund group has the best fundraising booth of any of them at the events we attend twice a year.

Blog Paws is hosting the Hop here.

Wordy Wednesday: We Thought We Missed the Snow Freaks Invasion

We came online Sunday reading about how Frankie and Ernie's Snowmen had escaped and were invading homes across Blogville. After doing our normal critter checks we did an extra check for snow freaks and we were in the clear.

Then out of the blue we caught this creature trying to sneak up the stairs. It seems he heard there was great snow here last year and while warm now, Mom regularly keeps the house air conditioned when necessary so he thought he'd be fine here.

We were ready to attack, but Mom thought he was soooo cute, she rescued him and thinks he will get along wonderfully with her collection of snowmen that come out every year at Christmas.

Blog Paws is hosting the Hop here.

Wordy Wednesday: Dealing with Rascaly Rabbits

Rabbits have been a challenge for us. Last winter they moved into the bushes in the front yard and made an icky mess pooping all over the front walk.

Sure he looks harmless enough, but he and his family are home wreckers. Don't let his cute charming features fool you. Don't use the sweet bunny names that people associate with Peter Cottontail, Easter treats, and other sweetness. This creature left alone in your yard is a problem.

This Spring they moved into the back yard perennial garden, but we've made that less hospitable. While we don't have regular access to the front yard, we've made it clear the back yard is ours. At first they thought picking the overgrown perennial garden would thwart us. Well, we just made paths through it and now with regular checks we are keeping public enemy number one at bay.

Bailey has provided mostly spotting services. Katy has been amazing at flushing and herding the bunnies to the exits. She has discovered most of their covert spots that were previously safe zones.

Now we know there are civilized bunnies out there. There are Bunny Bloggers right here in Blogville. Those are not the rascally rabbits to which we refer. These are not the rabbits that break into your gardens and cause havoc all over your yard. We fear talk of a union with the squirrels and chipmunks.

Blog Paws is hosting the Hop here.