You're Only As Old As You Feel

DixieLee

Hey Y’all!  It’s DixieLee.  

Mama was worried about Zeva so she asked me to do some research for her.  When I showed her what I found, she said I was a Good Girl and asked me to write a blog about it.

You see, Zeva is getting old.  I know, we all are and none of us likes it.

 Mama saw stuff.  Saw changes in Zeva that bothered her.  She thought Zeva might be getting something called “Dementia”.

 

Dementia is something that can happen to older dogs, just like it can happen to older peoples.

The biggest thing was that Zeva would just stare into space and not listen when Mama called.

 

I found that staring into space and not listening are things that dogs do when they get dementia.  Staring into space is also something that dogs do when their eyes get old.

Mama has said that Zeva has needed glasses for a long time now, and it’s not like Zeva listens when Mama calls most times.

Here are some other things I found out about dementia in dogs that I am going to share with you. 

        

1.     Confusion

2.     Anxiety

3.     Aimless wandering

4.     Peeing in the house

5.     Lack of interest in playing

6.     Sleeping more

If you are having these symptoms, your human should take you to see your Vet because there are things you can do to help.

We looked at the list and decided, Zeva probably isn’t getting dementia after all.

Zeva has always been a little absent minded, not confused but if she were a human, she would be blond.

The only time Zeva is anxious is when there is a thunder storm or someone is making fireworks go boom.

Her wandering isn’t aimless, it’s usually because she finds so many things interesting.

She can hold her pee for hours!

Every morning she insists that Mama play games.  Doesn’t matter that it’s Mama breakfast time.

Sleeping is Zeva’s favorite thing to do when she is not going for walks or playing.

Mama will talk to Doctor Katrina when she sees her for our regular check up and she will keep an eye on things but all seems good so far.

One thing I learned from this, writing a blog is hard work.  No wonder Zeva takes a nap when she is done!

Be good boys and girls,

Love,

DixieLee

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com 

          

It's A Jungle In Here

Always curious DixieLee

You would think that once dogs (and cats) got domesticated and started living in houses that we would be safe from danger. Not so.

There are many dangers to pets in every house.  When DixieLee came to live with us, she was always getting into things.  She was good at getting into the trash which is very dangerous for dogs.  Besides lots of food that are bad for dogs, there are things in the trash like cellophane wrappers, paper towels and aluminum foil that can make a dog super sick or even died.

DixieLee is super smart so it took Mom lots of tries to find a trash can she couldn’t get into.  She also figured out how to open the cabinet door and get into the dog food bag!  Putting childproof locks on the cabinet worked.  She also put locks on the cabinet under the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom where we keep cleaning stuff.

We learned to keep the lid down on the toilet too.  We don’t use that blue stuff but we do clean it with bleach and it’s better to be safe all the time.   If you live in house with a kitten, it’s a good idea to keep the lid down so they don’t fall in and drown.

DixieLee wasn’t a super chewer but she does like Dad’s socks.  All kinds of every day things like wires and electric cords, children’s toys, batteries, coins rubber band are dangerous so it's best to keep them out of reach.  And if your house has valuables like some jewelry, keep that stuff locked away in a drawer.  It would be awful if something got so chewed got ruined!

When we go outside we stay in our pen so we can’t get to dangerous chemicals that Dad keeps in the garage like gasoline, antifreeze, pesticides and car cleaning stuff but he still keeps them high on a shelf.  We also make sure that any lawn stuff and plants are pet safe.

We live where it snows A LOT so we make sure to use a salt that is pet safe.

Be careful when you bar-b-que or use your fire pits too!

Decks and balconies are fun places but a dog can get hurt they slip through or get caught between the railings.

 

Pets, ‘specially young ones, are curious and can get into real trouble so it is up to your humans to make sure they live in a safe home.

Take care and be safe,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

Halloween is too Scary!

Wearing our Halloween kerchiefs 

We like doing tricks to get treats!  I think all dogs do. But not all dogs like when humans do trick or treat on Halloween.

Sure, some dogs like to get dressed up in costumes but some dogs don’t.  DixieLee and I don’t like to be dressed up.  We like pretty collars and even kerchiefs but say no to anything else.

Our job is to protect our house.  We get overwhelmed when lots of peoples come to our house on Halloween night.  And it’s not just that there are lots of them, they don’t look like friendly peoples, some look very, very scary!

And then there are the “treats”.  In our house, we get treats that are sort of healthy.  On Halloween, most treats are not so healthy.  In fact, some of them are so bad they can make a dog died.  Lots of peoples buy chocolate candy and chocolate is poison to dogs!

Chocolate isn’t the only treat that is bad.  Some candy is made with Xylitol, a make believe sweetener.  Xylitol is poisonous to dogs and cats!  Treats that peoples think are healthy, like raisins, can make dogs really sick too.  So if your humans give chocolate or other treat to the peoples who come to the door, make sure they keep it out of reach.  Even though we know certain things are bad for us, they can be awfully tempting.

Empty candy wrappers are also tempting but if you eat them the foil and cellophane can get caught up in your belly and make you so sick you could died or at least have to go to the vet and get an operation.  Everyone knows that operations are not fun so it is best not to eat stuff you shouldn’t.

There are things we don’t eat that are also dangerous for pets at Halloween (and other times too).  Candles make a house look spooky but they can cause a big fire if they get knocked over by a super excited tail.

Childrens like toys called Glow Sticks.  Glow sticks and glow jewelry are fun toys for children to carry on Halloween.  If you live in a house with cats, tell them that glow sticks are really pretty but that they should not chew on them.  The stuff that makes the glow will make you sick!

DixieLee and I going to stay in the bedroom and listen to pretty music on Halloween and let Mom and Dad deal with the scary peoples that come.  We can trust them to do a good job one day out of the year.

Have a happy and safe Halloween,

Zeva

P.S.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Paper and Poop

When DixieLee came to live with us five years ago, I didn’t like it. 

I liked being the only dog.   Mom and Dad thought it would be good for me to have another dog to play with. I loved going to daycare and dog park and playing with the other dogs so having someone to play with all the time did sound like a good idea until I met DixieLee.

Of all the dogs I met, she was the most unfriendly.  I know she had a bad life and I tried to be understanding.  

At first she had to eat in her crate because she thought I was going to steal her food.  I tried to tell her we had more than enough food but she didn’t listen.  Seriously, Mom buys extra big bags of food and the man in the brown truck brings more even before we run out.  It’s like magic!

It’s been five years now and DixieLee and I are totally BFFs.  I teach her stuff and she teaches me stuff.  I taught her how to lick her lips when she wants a cookie.  It doesn’t work all the time but Mom and Dad think it’s cute and if we both do it, they usually give in.

She taught me how to eat paper.  Since she came to live with us, she has stolen paper towels off of the counter or from the trash, taken them to her crate and eaten them.

DixieLee says that paper towels sometime smell like food and so they must be food.

Mom went back to work recently and it gets a little boring around the house so I decided to try eating paper towels.  Still don’t see the attraction but it is something to do.

Mom is not happy. She said that eating things that are not food is bad for us.  Eating paper can mess up our poops and then we would have to go to the Vet and we would not like what the Vet needed to do to make us good again.

Mom told Dad to be more careful and to make sure that the penny can is on top of the trashcan so that we (really DixieLee since I don’t do trash) can’t get into it without sounding the alarm.

Looks like it’s almost time for lunch and I need to get to the cabinet to supervise Dad while he feeds us. 

Being a helpful sister,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Don't Forget Us

It has been a week since Hurricane Florence made so many people have to run away from their homes.  We are so sad seeing that some peoples left their pets behind.  Thankfully there are other peoples who went in and saved them.

We have talked before about having a Pet Emergency Evacuation Plan.  It’s not super easy but with planning it’s not so hard to take dogs and cats and birds in your car and drive to safety.  We talk about making sure you have enough food and water and other things your pet will need but what do you do about horses or other farm animals?

Not everyone who has a horse or cows have trailers and not many horses will fit in the back seat of a car.  And where would you put all the hay and stuff?

 That doesn’t mean you should just leave them behind.  There are many things you can do to make sure they are safe too.

What to do depends on what the emergency is.  There are “emergencies” that don’t mean you have to leave your house but are still dangerous.  At these times you need to know if your animals are safer in a barn or out in a field.  But, if it is not safe for you to stay, it isn’t safe for your animals either.

The Humane Society website has lots and lots of information about what to do in the different kinds of emergencies.  If you have a large animal or know someone who does, please share the information with them.  No one wants to see their animals hurt but may not know what to do.   Knowing what to do ahead of time can avoid needless suffering.

We hope you never have an emergency evacuation but please take a minute to make sure you know how to protect your pets if you do.

Stay safe,

Zeva

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

Hi, My Name Is.........

Most of my blogs are about dogs because, well, I’m a dog so I can talk from experience but because at Paw Pals Boutique we make gift baskets for all pet, this blog is about other types of pets.

There was a stray cat that liked our neighborhood so she would come by our house every day. She finally adopted a family that lives on our street. We don’t get to see her much any more because she likes her new family and has turned into a house cat.

DixieLee and I were talking about her the other day. We called her Midnight because she is a beautiful all black cat. We are wondering what her new family named her. The next time Mom sees someone from her family, we’ll find out but in the meantime we searched out the most popular cat names for 2018 to see if she gets one of them.

According to Healthy Paws, here are the top ten:

Stella, Oscar, Gracie, Finn, Daisy, Jack, Chloe, Simba, Mia and Loki.

Nala, Oliver, Luna, Milo, Bella, Leo, Lucy, Charlie, Lily and Max were also really popular.

We have lots of friends who have horses as their favorite companions so we looked to see what are the more popular names for horses.

Saddle Box finds Bella, Alex, Lilly, Alexia, Fancy, Sugar, Lady, Tucker, Dakota and Cash are really popular.

People also like the names Jasper, Misty, Smoke, Cheyenne and Breeze.

We like to know the names of our friends so let us know what your name is and what kind of pet you are.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

Eau de Stinky 2

I’m in the dog house.  Mom is wearing her not happy face so I think I’ll just hang out where she isn’t.

Everything was going just fine.  We all went for a big walk and, like usual, when we get back to our yard I get to go off leash.  I like when I get to go off leash because I can investigate more places.

Just as I got to the top of the little hill, I smelled something interesting so I ran for it.  Just what I thought, I nice big pile of poop.  I think it was from a coyote.  There are lots of wild animals living in the woods around our town.

I don’t like when they cross our yard but they are sneaky and do it when I am sleeping so I can’t stop them but maybe, just maybe there is a way to catch them.

If I smelled like a coyote, they wouldn’t know it was me and I could sneak up on them and chase them away.  So, I rolled and rolled in the pile until I was covered all over with their scent.

Coyotes might like the smell, but Moms don’t.  Oh boy, was I ever in trouble.

This wasn’t the first time I got myself in this particular kind of trouble so you would think Mom would remember that I told her that it was what dogs have done since early, early days.  We cover ourselves with the scent of prey so that they don’t know it is us sneaking up on them. She wasn’t buying it.

So, just like last time, I got washed and dried and now I really smell yucky.  Mom used some of the stuff we get for our Spot’s SPA Gift Baskets.  Humans like the smell and it makes fur more fluffy.  I guess I’ll look at this as a “product testing” session.

DixieLee loves to roll around on grass and rugs.  She does it all the time but never in poop so she doesn't get in trouble.

Here comes Mom now.  I think I’ll find another room to be in for a few minutes.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe go to pawpalsboutique.com

Camera Shy?

If your Mom is like ours, she is always trying to take pictures of you when you are doing something “cute”. 

DixieLee is okay about having her picture taken.  She is always doing something funny but lots of times she moves too fast to get a not blurry shot.

Me, I prefer my privacy but it is important that your humans have some good pictures of you just in case you go missing or get pet-napped.

Every day we see lots of posts on Facebook and flyers in store windows of pets that have gone missing.

A “good” picture is one that shows lots of you so peoples can get a sense of how big you are and what colors you are all over.  A “good” picture is a recent one.  I know I look way different than I did when I was younger.

A good description of you to go along with your picture is also important. It should tell how big you are, how much you weigh, how old you are (I know, girls don’t like to tell those things but they are important to know) and tell where you were last seen.

Your humans should call the local rescue/shelter and police department.  Sometimes peoples take lost pets to shelters or call the police to say there is a stray in the area.  Getting your picture to the shelter and police is good too.

We hope you never get lost or pet-napped but if you do, having a good picture and having your humans act quickly, will be a big help in getting you home safe and soon.

Smile pretty!

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, visit pawpalsboutique.com

The Stare... What You Need to Know

Puppies stare at their new humans because they are so happy to have someone who loves them.  They may also be afraid the human will disappear.

Puppies soon learn that staring at a person can get them to say“how cute” or some other nice thing.

A smart dog will soon learn that there is a difference between staring and The Stare.

When used properly, The Stare can be one of your bestest tricks. After you have perfected The Stare, you can add The Tilt for added effect. 

But one step at a time.

Dogs easily communicate with other dogs but to communicate effectively with humans, you must perfect The Stare. The Stare is how you get your humans to give you what you want. I use The Stare when I want a cookie, to go outside, to go for a walk or if lunch is late.

When I want something I sit so that when Mom looks, she is instantly hit with The Stare. If she is watching the TV or working on a project, I first have to get her to look at me. When used correctly, The Stare can make a human turn to look at you. Once you have connected with their eyes, you keep The Stare steady until they speak.

Mom will say something like “what?”. Then I shift The Stare to the cookie jar, the door, the leash rack or the dinner bowl. Don’t shift too long because you don’t want your human to get distracted and forget you need something. This works most of the time.

I like to shift The Stare to the clock when I want to remind Mom that she is late with a meal or with my before bed cookie. I know, making her feel guilty is not a nice thing to do but I could starve to death waiting for a TV show to end or for her to finish a knitting thing.

The Stare also works when humans are asleep. It takes a little longer but they do respond eventually. I don’t like to use The Stare when Mom is sleeping but sometimes I need her to wake up and tell DixieLee to move so I can get space on the bed.

DixieLee has finally realized the power of The Stare.  She as added a Tail Wag to The Stare for emphasis.  She used The Stare on Mom twice yesterday (once when Mom was sleeping) and it worked like a charm.

Remember to use The Stare wisely. If used too often, your human could become immune to it. The good thing is, if they do become immune, it’s only for a little while.

Blogging is hard work so I think I will go use The Stare on Mom and get myself a cookie.

Keep practicing,

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

Summer Safety Tips

It was cold for so long we wondered if it was ever going to be summer. Happily the weather has gotten nice so we can spend more time outside. We love watching Mom and Dad put plants and flowers in the ground.

DixieLee really wants to help. She is a very good digger but they aren’t using any of the holes she’s dug so far but that’s okay. She says she’ll just make more, just in case.

Hot weather is nice but we have to be careful. Most peoples know not to leave their pets in the car cuz they can get died but there are lots of other things peoples need to be careful of in the summertime.

1. Bugs! To me this is huge. Bugs like ticks, fleas and mosquitoes are very dangerous to pets. We don’t like to have to wear chemical stuff but these little critters can make you very sick.

You need to look out for bees, wasps and spiders too. One of the dogs who lived with Mom and Dad before us got bit by a spider and her face got too fat. Mom had to rush her to the ‘mergency Vet. They gave her some medicines and she got better but I bet she was scared.

2. Water. I don’t particularly like water and DixieLee doesn’t even like to go out when it’s raining but lots of dogs love to swim. Swimming is okay as long as you are careful. The water in a river can be moving fast and even a little pond can be deep. If you like chasing sticks or floats make sure you don’t get too tired.

Remember that not all water is good to drink. If you are lucky enough to go to the ocean, don’t drink that water and swimming pool water is definitely a NO NO for drinking. Swimming pools have chemicals in them.

Boating can be fun! Just make sure you are wearing your life jacket at all times.

3. We talked about how hot cars can get. Sidewalks get hot too! If your human can’t keep their hand on the sidewalk or road for minutes, it is too hot to walk on. A nice grassy field or park is a better place to walk on hot days.

4. Dogs and cats can get sunburned so don’t spend too much time in the sun. Walk or play where there are lots of trees to give you shade. Make sure you drink plenty of good clean water when you are outside.

5. Bar-B-Ques and Picnics. Oh Boy! I love the smell of hamburgers or steak cooking on the grill and I know how to look so adorable that I’m sure to get a scrap or two from somebody. Mom has strict rules about begging at the table but most of our friends don’t know that one.

Gaining weight isn’t the only problem. Favorite Bar-B-Que foods like corn on the cob can cause tummy troubles and onions are super not good for us.

We also have to be extra careful not to get our teeth around any bones.

All this talk about fun is making my want to go outside. I think I’ll go tickle my toes in the nice cool grass.

Have a fun filled and safe summer.

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutqiue.com today.

A Real Bargain

Some peoples think that they should be able to go to a shelter and get a good dog for free. After all, shelters are full and there are so many homeless animal, they think that the shelters would want to give pets away.

Different shelters in different parts of the country charge different money. Sometimes special needs or senior dogs cost less because they have a harder time getting adopted. Puppies usually cost most because everyone thinks puppies are better to have. I don’t think that is always true. For example, senior dogs are a good match for senior peoples.

There are lots of reasons shelters need to charge money to adopt a pet.

1. The shelter is a home and everyone knows that it costs money to live in a home. The shelters have to pay bills like regular peoples.

2. Even though lots of shelters have volunteers who feed and walk the dogs, some body has to be the boss. Bosses and other employees who take care of the day to day operations need to be paid. These are the people who make sure the animals are taken care of properly and that they get adopted to good homes.

3. Pets need to eat and food costs money. Some pets need special food which costs more.

4. And don’t forget toys! Pets need toys and beds and dishes and leashes and collars and stuff, just like dogs who live in houses.

5. One of the most important thing for an owner to do is to keep their pets healthy and shelters have to do that too. All of the pets need to have shots and be checked to make sure they don’t have heartworm or ticks or mites or any other buggies. They should also be tested for stuff like lyme disease and other diseases.

If a pet has heartworm, or lyme or something bad, then they need to have medicine until they are better. All of that costs money,

6. Some pets enter the shelter in really bad shape. They have been mistreated so bad that they need medical treatment to get better. They may need things like x-rays or antibiotics or other medical things to help them heal.

7. Most shelters make sure that pets are spayed or neutered. More puppies or kittens would only mean more need for shelters. Although many shelters have vets who give reduced rates, surgery and medicines are still expensive.

8. And most shelters microchip all pets before they get adopted. They know how easy it is for a pet to get lost and end up in another shelter.

So, when you pay to get a pet from a shelter, you are giving that shelter money so that it can take in another animal and give it good care until someone comes along to adopt them.

For all the love and affection that shelter pets give, I think you are getting a real bargain.

Love,

Zeva

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

Snoopy, Toto, Lassie, Benji.... What's Your Name?

You all know my name is Zeva but you may not know how I got my name.

When my Mom and Dad first met me, they thought I was very pretty and very smart.  A very pretty actress named Cote dePablo played a character named Ziva David, on TV.  Ziva was a very smart NCIS agent.  So, I got named after her.... only we spell my name differently.

My sister's name is DixieLee.  She got her name because she is a Dixie Dog. A Dixie Dog is a dog that is rescued from high kill shelters in the South and brought North.  She was originally named just plain Dixie but she didn't like that name.  First of all it was "just plain" and Dixie is a place, not a name.

We thought about it and decided that DixieLee was a much prettier name and gave her more of a connection to her Southern heritage.

My friends Bumo and Miu are both from the Himalayan mountain regions of Tibet so their Mom gave them Tibetian names.  Bumo means girl and Miu means doll.  Their names fit them well.

Our friend Beauregard is a very special dog so his Mom named him after her very first dog who was also very special.

There are lots and lots of ways to choose a name for a pet.

Lots of pets have people names or people nicknames.  Some of the most popular dog names are Max, Buddy and Charlie for boys and Bella, Lucy and Molly for girls.

Some favorite cat names are Tigger, Lucy and Molly.  Lots of cats are given names that reflect their appearance or personality.  Names like Shadow, Smoky and Midnight or Comet and Dash.

There are some things that might help people choose a good name.  First, pets respond better to names that have one or two syllables.  Some dogs, especially championship dogs, have really long names.  Their papers may say their name is His Royal Highness Reginald III, his humans probably call him Reggie.

Also it should be a nice name.  How embarrassing it would be to be playing at dog park with a bunch of new firends and have your human yell out "Come here Dog Breath"!  I would run away for sure.
People should choose a name that will grow with their pet.  Even if the puppy is the smallest of the litter, Tiny is not such a good name for a Great Dane or Newfoundland.

Let us know what your name is and how your humans chose it for you.

Love,

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Looking for a super special gift for your favorite fur friend?  Take a look at the super special gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com

Home Sweet Home

Our friend Lise just ‘dopted a baby. His name is Lucas and he is a  Morkie (Yorkie and Maltese mix). Lise needed to ‘dopt a new baby cuz Missy, her 15 year old baby, crossed over Rainbow Bridge.

We haven’t seen Lucas yet but Dad went to the airport with Lise to pick him up. Yup, he flew all the way here by himself. I would have been extra scared but Dad said Lucas didn’t think it was a big deal. He was sad to leave his Mom but was excited about having a new Mom and a forever home of his own.

He came in a crate that had a place for his water and food. Dad said it is a nice crate and will be a good place to go when he wants some alone time. When you have a sister like DixieLee, you know how important “alone time” is. Lucas has two sister cats and two brother birds so I’m sure he will like having his own special place.

Not all dogs have crates but I think they are important. It’s nice to have a quiet place to nap when Mom and Dad are not at home:

I made a list of some other things every dog (and cat) needs when they go to a new forever home.

1. Food and water bowls. Of course they need to have extra good food that goes in the bowls and fresh water all the time. And don’t forget they need treats. Lots of treats.

2. Bed. We are allowed on the bed and furniture but we also have our own beds. Well, they aren’t real beds but extra soft blankets in our crates to snuggle in.

3. Collars and leashes. Pets should wear their collars all the time because that is where their tags go. One of the first things a dog should learn is how to walk nice on a leash. If they walk nice, their humans will like taking walks with them.

4. Identification. Town tags and rabies tags attached to a collar are super important if a pet gets lost. Pets should also have a micro chip. Micro chips are teenie tiny so you don’t even know you have one but if you get lost, they are very helpful in getting home faster.

5. Grooming supplies. I don’t totally agree about grooming supplies cuz I hate baths but I do like having special towels to get wiped off from the rain and snow.

6. Toys. I saved the most important thing for last. Actually it was a toss up between toys and treats but good toys are super important. They are so important that I had Dad take a cuddly Zanie toy to Lucas when they went to the airport. Lise says he carries it around all the time. She said it is almost as big as him but he will grow into it.

If a human has all of these things ready when they bring home a new pet, they will have almost every thing they will need. They will only have to remember to add lots of hugs and kisses every day and then they will really have every thing.

Just so you know, we have gift baskets designed especially to welcome new pets to their forever home.  They are To The Rescue for dogs and Kit Kat Kit for cats.  You can see them on our website. 

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  To see all of other pet gift baskets, go to pawpalsboutique.com I think you'll like what you see.

LOST AND FOUND

I saw a notice on Facebook today about a dog that is missing and his humans are trying to find him. I am worried about him because I know he is super scared and wants to go home but maybe he doesn’t remember the way.

That’s why his humans posted his picture on Facebook and asked everybody who lives sort of near him to help him.

I hope getting lost never happens to you but if it does, here are a few things your humans can do to help you find your way home faster.

1. Make Posters. In SUPER BIG letters it should say “LOST DOG” (or CAT, cuz cats can get lost too).

The poster should have a big picture of you, in color, big enough to easily see from not close. Some peoples put a couple more pictures to show different angles or close ups of marking.

Don’t forget to add telephone numbers so peoples call and give updates of sightings etc.

2. Hang the posters all around town on poles and ask if you can put them in places like stores where lots of peoples go. The more peoples who see the posters, the more peoples who will know you are lost if they see you.

3. Leave posters or fliers at houses around the area where you were last seen. Leave them in doors and on car windshield. (NOT in Post Office Boxes… that’s a no no).

4. Post a notice on Facebook and other social media places and ask others to share the notice. Again, make sure there are photos and a phone number and tell where you were last seen.

5. Call the Police, Shelters and vets. These are good places for peoples to bring found animals when they don’t know how to get in touch with the owners. Pets can wander far so check with shelters etc. a little far away.

6. Place an ad in the local newspaper. Lots of peoples read the newspapers.

Getting lost is a very scary. If you do get lost making sure you have good identification can get you home faster. An up to date tag from your Vet and/or the Town where you live are good. Your people can get a tag with your name and their telephone number on it at most pet stores.

And if you don’t have a micro chip, get one right away. Some dogs, like DixieLee, can slip their collars but a micro chip is put inside you so it can’t get lost. It doesn’t hurt at all to get one.

Your humans have to make sure it is registered and up to date. When we moved, Mom called the micro chip place and updated our files.

Most Shelters and Vets have a little machine that can read the micro chip and find out where you belong.

So, the best thing is not to get lost but if you do, make sure your humans know the ways to get you back home safe and fast.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the Bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

Being Top Dog

I didn’t wake up one day and find myself as Chief Canine Officer of a pet gift basket company. It took years of hard work and lots of learning.

I started my life in a non-kill shelter in South Carolina. When I was just a baby, I was put in a van with my litter mates and other shelter dogs and driven to New England where my chances of being adopted were better.

My picture was put on petfinders.com along with thousands of other dogs looking for forever homes. I got lucky when my Mom saw my picture and called the rescue people. I was so little and kind of scared. Mom and Dad were really nice and before long we were a real family.

I had a big job to do. Being the dog of a family is a very responsible position, especially when you are adopted into a family where other dogs used to live until the crossed over to Rainbow Bridge.

I got to go to Mom’s Studio everyday with her. I watched how she worked at the gift basket business. Peoples seemed to like getting gift baskets and I knew that pets liked to get gifts too so why not start making gift baskets for pets.

Mom liked the idea and we made a special section in the Shoppe just for pet gift baskets. We would think about what kinds of things would be liked best. Toys are always fun and of course, treats,

My job can be challenging but it is also very rewarding. One of the percs is that I get to taste test the treats and play with the toys we consider using.

When DixieLee came to live with us I trained her good and now we are even more selective in what toys and treats we put in our gift baskets. Like, now we only buy treats that are made in the USA.

We have grown over the past six years and I am looking forward to helping more pets received high quality gift baskets from the peoples who love them.

To see our large selection of gift baskets for dogs and cats, just go to pawpalsboutique.com You’ll be glad you did.

Love,

Zeva, Chief Canine Officer

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