Remember Me Thursday

Happy Thursday Everyone!!

Some of you might already know, but today is Remember Me Thursday, a day that has been set aside to bring awareness to all the animals who have been and currently are sitting inside of shelters and rescue groups across the country (and world) just waiting for their forever home to come and pick them up!

All across the nation today, people are coming together virtually or in person for candle lighting ceremonies!

Even though lots of cities and counties are now turning towards the "no kill" shelter movement, over 3.4 million animals are still euthanized each year...just waiting...(Source: The Humane Society of the United States 2013) :-(

Just look at those adorable faces!! ;-)

Here are some of the adorable pups that Domeek has worked with, in the past, at shelters!

Considering that there are over 164 million different pets in the US, but only 30% of them come from rescue facilities, we need to start to bring awareness to all the pups and kittens that are spending each night in a shelters and not in warm and loving homes!

Can you help and get this movement rolling?

The Helen Woodward Animal Center invites you to take part and spread the word - from Facebook to Twitter to Pinterest! :-D I encourage you to take a few minutes, light a virtual candle, and dedicate the rest of today to all those shelter animals lost and waiting!

I just lit my candle...will you join me? :-D

PeeS...for those of you who don't follow me on Twitter, due to the incredible generosity of a few people, I have surpassed my fundraising goal!! WhooPee!! All the pups and kittens at the Humane Society will be sooooo grateful! Thank you all!

Wordless Wednesday - We...Just...Can't!!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!! I hope that you are having a pawesome week so far!

So, normally I follow the rules of the whole "Wordless Wednesday BlogHop" but this week, I just can't! I'm sorry! I have too much to say, well Domeek says that this is normal for me, but bare with me!

While we were at Bark in the Park last weekend (huddled under the semi-shelter of a tree), we happened upon a volunteer from the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. This poor woman was being sent out in the downpour to tell everyone about an upcoming fundraiser and event that they were hosting and trying to find people and pups to sign up! Well, as you all know, I wasn't going anywhere fast...so she had a captive audience with Domeek and I!

Needless to say, after a few minutes, we were both excited and happily signed up!

Walk 'n Wag is an annual 5K walk/jog and festival that the Humane Society puts on at Hellyer County Park in San Jose. The park not only has 354 acres, a creek, hosts tons of half marathons, but also has a fantabulous dog park that lots of people and pups love! :-D

Borrowed from the HSSV website

Now, there are a ton of rescue groups and shelters in the San Francisco Bay Area that all need love and support...but let me tell you why the Humane Society of Silicon Valley totally and utterly rocks ;-) :

1. Some of my bestest friends in the entire world found their forever homes through the Humane Society of Silicon Valley!

2. HSSV finds homes for over 3,000 animals each year...that's a load of pups and kittens that needed lovin'!! 

3. HSSV takes in an additional 1,000 animals each year from other rescue groups in the area that need help!

4. They believe in helping out the community! 

• They provide spaying and neutering for over 7,000 animals each year.
• They offer discounts to military families and seniors in the county that want to adopt a new family member.
• They teach humane education to over 8,000 kids per year and have even created a program aimed at the underserved youth in the area!
• AND they provide free pet food to families in need that want to keep their pets in their homes!!

These are just a few of the pawesome facts about the Humane Society! :-D Feel free to buzz along their website or Twitter to discover more fab information about them!

Now, the real question becomes...how can you help out?!

Well, let's see...you can spread the word about them, their event, or even your own local Humane Society on social media (cause, that's just easy!!)!

If you live in the area...you can always join a team or register as an individual and walk alongside us!! ;-) The more the merrier after all!!

Of...if you feel incredibly generous and want to help out...

You can support Domeek and my 5K!!! 

(Click on the link to read our personal story!)

We only have 11 days before the event, but are trying to raise as much money as possible for all those pups and kittens that need fantastic homes and all of the other wonderful programs that the HSSV offers to the community...but remember that we can only do so with your help!! ;-)

Either way, Domeek and I will be at Hellyer Park on October 5th with our bells on...ready to cause some ruckus on that journey!! 

Thanks to everyone's support and we can't wait to show you the photos!! :-D

Bark in the Park...

For the record, I did not Bark in the Park this year!

Instead, I:

sniffed...

One of five nice minutes...

grumbled...

hesitated...

hid...

acted pathetically...

and became soaked!!

That's right my friends! I did not get to meet a ton of new doggie friends, I did not get to watch or learn the art of Flyball, and I did not get to eat tons of tasty treats! Instead, I had to wear my raincoat, run from tree to tree, and hope that the rain gods stopped pouring water on us - they did not listen!! We were at the park for 2 hours and we only got a few minutes of clear skies before the heavens opened and rain poured down! :-(

I do not like the rain...I practically refuse to move in the rain...which meant that Domeek got covered in my muddy paw prints, but I just told her that's what happens when you show up in a light covered jacket! ;-)

Sadly Bark in the Park, an event that has never seen rain, got rained out on Saturday!! When we were leaving almost all the vendors were packing up, most had lost quite a bit of their edible products...I offered to help out and eat them, but they all politely refused!

It was soooooo sad! Oh well, Domeek says that there's always next year!

I just hope this isn't an omen for the rest of Fall

Pet First Aid Twitter Party

Happy Wednesday Everyone!! :-D

I'm opting out of the regularly scheduled Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop today due to the unforeseen yet amazing information that I received last night on my very first Twitter party! :-) I saw a couple of you tweeting, but just in case you missed any and all of the crazy tips let me catch you up!

First up, let me tell you, those Twitter parties sure are confusing to begin with! Holy cannoli, I haven't concentrated that hard in a really long time! ;-) 

We spent quite a bit of the event discussing tips and suggestions to do with evacuations and natural disasters. Since I live in California, the possibility of earthquakes is always on my mind (especially after being in the 1989 quake...haha, not me, but Domeek), but we received a ton of information on tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms, and earthquakes!

Here are a few general key points that the attendees brought up:

• Familiarize a friend/neighbor/relative with your pets in case of a sudden absence or inability to return home during a disaster.
• Designate a room or closet as a "safe room" and put all of your evacuation/pet first aid/supplies there!
• Set aside an old duffel bag or suitcase and place all supplies inside, for quick and safe evacuation (I have three: 1 small for the car, 1 small for the house, and a large evacuation kit...anally retentive much? Haha).
• If you evacuate, do so early. Natural disasters are frightening, so this will appease your pets and minimize stress.
• Make a list of all pet-friendly shelters and hotels, that are outside of the disaster zone, and their requirements.
• If you don't have a kennel available in a pinch, zip tie together two laundry baskets for makeshift kennel.
• Keep all pets in sight and be calm, animals read their humans' energies! 
• Have an evacuation plan prepared ahead of time and Practice, Practice, Practice!

I've always been petrified of tornadoes, so I was incredibly interested to hear these tips!

• Have a kennel at the ready; many animals have been found (after a tornado) safely inside their kennel!
• If caught unaware, place kennels underneath heavy furniture and away from windows.
• Make sure that you and your pet practice listening and responding to a tornado warning, especially since the warning signals can be very frightening to hear.
• Consider training your dog or cat to go to a specific "safe" zone when they hear a tornado warning siren.

Of course, there were a lot of discussions regarding general pet first aid as well! Since Dr. Emmo was the sponsor of the party, I learned quite a bit about their first aid products that sound amazing! 

• I always forget, but a great reminder about keeping hydrogen peroxide on hand and in your first aid kit: 1 tablespoon per 25 pounds of pet, repeated every 10 minutes, in case they ingest something bad!
• Put toxic chemicals and household products away from pets, if you live in a high wind or earthquake area, consider using childproof locks on cabinets as well (we do!).
• If you are traveling with your pets, remember to keep up-to-date photos on hand (either hard copy or on your cell phone) in case of an escape! 
• Never pull a string out of the mouth (or the tush) of a pet, it can cause internal injuries...this goes for Christmas tinsel as well!
• To easy your pet's anxiety, make sure to place a personal item with your scent on it, inside of their crate/carrier.

Overall, this was an incredibly interesting and time worthy event, so I'm glad that Domeek was able to attend! If you're interested in hearing more, just search #Pet1stAid in Twitter and read all about it! :-D 

Dr. Emmo is giving away their First Aid Travel Packs to everyone interested, including: 2 oz travel containers of both wound care wash and wound care gel, all you have to do is pay $3 in shipping charges. They are also offering 30% off all orders between now and September 30th, with the coupon code: pet1staid at checkout. :-D It's never too early to get an evacuation or emergency kit together...this might be a great start! 

I was so impressed with the doxies from You Did What With Your Weiner and their car emergency kit...you might want to check their list out too! :-D

So, do you have any tips or suggestions to add and do you have an emergency plan prepared?! 

Have a great day everyone!! :-)

PS. Just in case you forgot what I looked like! ;-)

It's Snowing In August!

Happy Sunday Everyone!!

Wowwee, I had the greatest time with cousin Pippi yesterday! We hoped on over to Petco just before lunch and there were already tons of dogs playing and walking around. Luckily Daly City was pretty cool, so the snow lasted a lot longer than if it was near my home.

First we took some time to meet new friends! It's always best to do a quick meet and greet when you get somewhere!

This was Pippi's first experience in snow too...hehe, a bit trepidatious!

My first thought "Um, WTD...no! You go play in that wet white stuff!"

Then, after a bit of coxing, I tried it out! I have just one word that describes snow...Cold!

But eventually, I got used to it...I even started walking away from Domeek, saying "Hi" to other pups and people, and at the end, I ran after a ball!! :-D

All in all, it was a good, but cold day! Domeek doesn't think that Pippi or I will have a problem with walking through the snow in Tahoe at Christmas either...but I definitely think that a jacket of some sort will be necessary! ;-) 

Thanks to Petco for hosting such a fun event!! Did any of you get out to one?

Ooooooo, the Blogville Calendar Contest is up and running now!!! There's so many awesome photos this year, I hope that we can raise a ton of money!! :-D Unfortunately you can only vote once a day, per IP address, buuuuuuut I'd love to get some of your votes!!

Just scroll to the bottom of the post and find my (or your favorite's) name!!

Thanks in advance guys! :-D

Patriotic Goose Style

Happy Friday Everyone!

Wowee, I'm so glad that everyone sounds like they survived all those horrible bangs and kabooms! Man, this might have been my second Fourth of July, but I sure don't remember all that noise! Dang!! ;-)

Last year Domeek made me a very cool looking patriotic vest to wear on the Fourth, however, it lacked in the actual usability factor (every time I pulled on my leash, it fell off and I went running...muahaha!). So this year we decided to play things a bit safe and easy. Domeek totally borrowed Sebastian's DIY idea and created a fantabulous tie!

Check it out! ;-) It was so lightweight that I didn't even care that I was wearing an (gasp!) accessory!

Of course, this meant that I had to pose for the obligatory Holiday photo...urg, thank dog for the chicken treat or this would have never happened! ;-) Hehehe!

Luckily we ventured off to Cousin Pippi's house for the annual BBQ...woohoo!!! There was soooo much food, sadly though I didn't get many people treats. Domeek brought some nummies from home, but it's just not the same! :-P

Thankfully it was waaaay cooler near the Bay, so Pippi and I happily lounged in the garden for most of the afternoon! Ah, that's the life!

And, even though I easily wore a special outfit for the day, cousin Pippi did not want to...not one little bit!!!  Hehehe!

Pippi says, "Heck No, Back off dudes!" ;-)

Eventually, someone got a lei around her neck...but she took it off the second she got a chance!

Then, this happened! Boo!!

Darn it! Oh well, I got more treats! ;-) Pippi just needs to train her peeps a bit better!

Well I hope that you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Domeek just got a new pool for the backyard, so I'm sure the weird bathy thing will be in my future...hm...lucky me...

Happy July Fourth!!

WooHoo, not only is it Independence Day...but it's also a long weekend!! :-D

Happy Fourth of July to all of my US friends - to everyone else, Happy Thursday Everyone!!

Just a quick post to say, have a fun, nummy, and safe holiday!

Jimi Hendrix - The Star Spangled Banner


Please enjoy one of my very favorite renditions of a great classic! :-D

Wordless Wednesday - Bloopers

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!! :-D

So last night Domeek and I were conducting a photo-shoot for tomorrow's review and, let's just say, me and my siblings weren't feeling that cooperative! ;-)

And...she didn't even get a photo of me (literally) jumping out of the kitchen sink!! Hehehe, needless to say, Domeek was not happy with me...something about dangerously too high! Whatevers!

Have a great Wednesday and make sure to drop by tomorrow for my review!! :-D

A Million Plus One Dogs ;-)

"A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk."  ~O.A. Battista

Happy Sunday Everyone!!

Well, this morning Domeek and I woke up super duper early, dragged ourselves to the car, and drove up to San Francisco's McLaren Park for the Million Dog March!!

We got there a half an hour before the event started...and there was already a crazy crowd!

My registration number was 749, so even though I haven't heard the final count, you can guess how many pups were there this morning!!

I took the opportunity to have a little meet and greet time with my fellow competitors before the "race" actually started!

Around ten o'clock, the Emcee announced that it was time to get up to the Start line...

but we were so close to the front that it was hard to see how many competitors were behind us! They began to play the Rocky theme song...the cow bell was rung...and we were oooooofffffff!!

The course was three miles long and consisted of gravel, cement, grass, steep hills, water, narrow trails, and lots of people and dogs to walk around! ;-)

This was the crowd ahead of us...

...and this was the crowd behind us!!

Not only were there fabulous smells to sniff, but there were also spectacular sights to be seen by the humans (even with the typical San Francisco fog)!

Since I'm not the greatest distance walker, Domeek and I were both a little worried that I might not be ecstatic with the terrain and length, but I am happy to state that I paced myself well, and stayed with the group the entire course!

Check out my twin!!!

It was only right before the last two turns that I started to slooooow down...I kept looking at Domeek hoping that she might pick me up, but she told me "Nope, we're almost there...you can do it!" So, I sucked it up and carried on!

Turn One...

Turn Two...

Finish Line!!!!

Thank Dog...I made it!!!!!

One hour to the minute after starting the race, I was practically sprinting to the finish line! ;-)

After a long drink, a couple of treats from vendors, and a quick pee break...Domeek and I took one last photo and then headed over to Peet's for coffee, where I immediately fell asleep and power napped until we arrived back home!

It was an incredibly fun Sunday and, even if we didn't break the Guinness world record, it was still amazing to see all those dogs and their humans, getting along, and out together on a fantastic walk!

Hope that you all had a fabulous day too!!