Rain, Rain Go Away

It has been a very dry summer. Some places have had so little rain that they are having a drought. Today it is raining and raining and raining. Lots of peoples are happy but me and DixieLee aren't.

We don't like droughts but we don't like getting wet either. We usually like to go outside and play in our yard, but on rainy days like today we would rather stay inside and sleep on the big bed.  We just don't like to get our paws and butts wet. Wet paws and wet fur is so yucky!

Mom and Dad have fluffy towels to dry us off the second we get back inside but it still is not fun getting wet. I think they snuggle us with a towel so quick so we don't shake off the rain in the house.

Even when I have to pee I hold off as long as I can. Lots of times I can out last the rain. If I really, really have to go, I run out and run back in as fast as I can, which is pretty fast.

On rainy days I envy cats because they have special places where they can pee indoors. I'm a big girl and I don't EVER pee in the house but for you little puppies who don't like to go out in the rain you need know that peeing in the house is a big no no.

Little puppies need to go outside when their human wants them to even if it is raining. There are things humans can do to make going out in the rain less yucky if you let them know you don't like getting wet.

Humans can get some boots and a rain coat or they can hold a roof thingy called an umbrella over you. The roof/umbrella thingy doesn't help with the wet paws and buttsbut it does keep rain off the coat.

It's really important to make sure you remind your humans to give you a treat for going out to pee in the rain. Treats make everything better.

Looks like the rain has stopped for a minute. Time to run outside for a quick pee and then back on the big bed for the rest of the day. I love watching the rain fall as long as I am inside and dry.

Stay warm and dry.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. Check out the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe at pawpalsboutique.com 

I'm Always Thinking

The other day one of our friends asked me where I get my ideas for our gift baskets.  If you have been to our site you know we offer lots of different baskets for all kinds of reasons.  I told her that I get ideas from things that I see happen in my world.

Like the time I was thinking about when a dog or cat gets rescued how nice it would be to get a pretty “welcome to your new home” basket filled with important things like a dinner bowl and some toys and treats.  I call that gift basket “To The Rescue”.

One of my very favorite ones is our “Santa Paws” gift basket.  The Holidays are a very busy exciting time in our family.    Mom spends lots of time getting and wrapping gifts for our human family and friends.  She always remembers to get gifts for us and our furry friends too.

There are lots of people who like to give Holiday gift baskets from Laurel Mountain Basket Co because they are very busy and gift baskets are so easy to give.   We know the people who get them really like them too.  Since gift baskets are so easy to give I thought it would be a good idea to offer Holiday gift baskets for pets too.  After all, pets like to get gifts too and gift basket filled with lots of toys and treats are so fun to receive.  

I also get ideas from talking with our clients and asking what they like.  Most of them like toys and treats, which would be my best choices too.  One of the things that is super important to our clients is that the treats we use are made in the USA.  We know several people in New England who make dog treats so we know that the treats are not only made in the USA, they are also fresh.

We also have clients who want us to make up gifts especially for them.   They tell us what they want and we are happy to help.  Like the time the lady wanted us to make a gift basket for a horse who just became a Mama.  Yup, we got to make a fun gift basket filled with things the Mama would like.  Did you know that they make cookies for horses too?!?

I’m always looking for new ideas so if you have any ideas that you think would be a good gift basket for a pet or if you have a special gift you want us to help with, just let me know.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  To see our full line of pet gift baskets go to pawpalsboutique.com 

How Much Is Enough?

Mom thought that I was asleep in the other room so she didn’t know that I overheard her talking with DixieLee.  If you have been following my blog, you know that DixieLee is an abandoned dog that we rescued several years ago and that she recently has had a rough couple of months.  First she had a liver infection and then, when we went to doggie day care to have fun, she got kennel cough.

Mom told DixieLee that she knew that she was getting good food and shelter but she hoped that she also was getting enough love.  Dog that are in shelters get good food and shelter and I know that the humans who work at shelters love animals and spend as much time with them as they can but it’s not like having their own family where someone loves them for who they are.  Having your own humans who love them is super important.

Some people think that dogs love anyone who feeds them.  That’s sort of kind of true but it’s not the whole true.  Dogs are pack animals.  We need to have others in our lives.  Other dogs are good but when we leave our birth moms and litter mates to go live with humans, we form a pack with them. 

Sometimes it’s just one human.  I know lots of dogs who live with one human and love it.  They get all the attention and all of the treats.  I know other dogs who live in houses that have other pets and lots of humans.  They think they have it pretty good too cuz there is always someone to play with or to beg treats from.

No matter how big or little the pack is, dogs are affectionate beings.  All we want is to love our pack members and be loved by them.  We are also very protective of our pack members.  I don’t like it when someone I don’t know gets too close to Mom cuz it’s my job to protect her but once Mom says it’s okay, I know she’s got it all under control so I can relax.

I don’t know how much love is supposed to be enough but I do know that DixieLee and I know that Mom and Dad love us super much.  I just wish every shelter dog (and cat) will someday get a good home with plenty of food and lots and lots of love.

Your very loved friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant Self-promotion.  For the biggest selection of pet gift baskets anywhere, check out pawpalsboutique.com 

Finding The Perfect Pet

In last week’s blog I said that, after the loss of a special pet, adopting another is the best way to honor that pet.  I still believe that is true HOWEVER choosing a pet is not like shopping for a dress.

I’ve talked with shelter dogs and they say that being chosen and then returned to the shelter because they were “not a good fit” is worse than not being chosen at all.

A pet is going to be the member of your family for, hopefully, a long time.  10 to 15 years.  That’s a long time.  So, please think about the type of pet that would fit best in your family BEFORE you take one home.

Here are a few tips on how to choose the perfect pet.

1.  Look at your family and think about how a new pet will fit in.  Every breed has a different personality.  Our family has two adults who could live with lots of different dogs.  A family with children, especially young children, needs to be more considerate of the age and breed.

2.  How much can you spend?   We don’t like pet stores very much and they often charge much more than reputable breeders.   We like the idea of adopting from a shelter but shelters cost lots to run so they have to charge a fee too.  A “free to good home” ad on Craig’s List may seem like a good idea but it may not be a bargain in the long run.

The cost doesn’t stop there. Since you already had a pet, you know taking care of a pet is expensive.  There are food and vet bills and training and grooming costs and of course the toys and cookies.

How much can you spend also means time.  Certain pets need more attention than others.

3.  What is your lifestyle?  We have a pretty laid back household with a good yard to play in but we still need to have walks and interact with our humans.  Walking together is good exercise for everyone but it’s much more.  We get to socialize with other people and animals and make our bond with Mom and Dad stronger.

There is a lot that goes into choosing the right pet.  Breed, size, age, and disposition are just the beginning.

Mom found me on Petfinders.com.   Sites like Petfinders.com can help you narrow down just what you are looking for in a pet.  There are also breed specific sites that can help you find your next best friend.

DixieLee was abandoned and found by one of Mom’s friends.  DixieLee, like many abused and abandoned animals, needed lots and lots of TLC.  It took a long time to build trust but now she knows she is in a safe and happy home.  Mom says it was worth the effort because DixieLee is a special dog.

Not every household could deal with the issues DixieLee brought with her.  Many would have brought her to a shelter where she may even had to be died because she was unadoptable.  Not because she was a bad dog but because she had the misfortune of having bad people in her life.

I hope you always have a special pet in your life and if you take the time to choose wisely, you will.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets anywhere, check out pawpalsboutique.com