The Power of Love

Saved from Euthanasia, this dog was so scared. What had happened to cause so much fear is unknown. Patience finally won over to give this dog the love she really wanted and needed.

'Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened'

California
Featured Adoptable Pet:

A121560
Yuba County Animal Care Services
Olivehurst, CA
compliments of Petfinder.com

A dog's tale: From being abandoned at the side of the road to the Rose Parade

Stanley's story is yet another sad one with a very happy ending.

As was reported last year in the news, it was a dreary Christmas Eve back in 2005 for a big brown dog whose owners dumped him on the street a few blocks from the shelter. The shelter was closed for the holidays, so he wandered alone for three days, no food or water, until he was picked up by Animal Control as a stray.

A few days prior, a friend of the owners had contacted a rescue volunteer from Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Chessie) Relief and Rescue, a national rescue organization, to see if she could get this dog into rescue. When she called the owners to tell them she had found a spot for him, she was informed that the husband gave the dog to "a farm." The volunteer watched the local shelter website, and the dog appeared amongst the impounds a few days after Christmas.

Wheels were set in motion, and transport arranged. A volunteer from Westside German Shepherd Rescue pulled him from the shelter and drove him to where he would meet the Chessie Rescue volunteer that would drive him to San Diego. The Chessie Rescue person knew his name, his age and his former living situation.

When they met, she called the dog by his name -- Stanley. The look on the dog's face was one of pure elation that someone finally knew who he was. He instantly relaxed, and rode the entire way with his head gratefully resting in her hand. The Chessie Rescue volunteers in San Diego took him to the vet, had him checked, vaccinated, neutered and removed dew claws with nails that had grown into the pads from being untrimmed for years, causing an infection.

Stanley is a handsome purebred Chesapeake Bay Retriever with a beautiful coat and green eyes. He was 3 years old, friendly, smart and willing and ready to learn to be a terrific and fun-loving companion. Stanley's former life of being relegated to the backyard alone was behind him. He was fostered by Craig Haverstick of San Diego, who decided to make his adoption permanent in January of 2006.

Craig and Stanley are great companions. It was Craig's dream to own a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Stanley now participates in Dock Dog jumping events, and is a Surf Dog champion. The crowd loves his antics. He stands up in the pool, refuses to come out, dives for toys, and sits up to shake hands with admirers. They travel the country for these events.

This past year, Stanley was again chosen as one of the finalists to ride on the Natural Balance float in the Tournament of Roses Parade 2012. It's the world's heaviest float, carrying over 6,600 gallons of water and is certified by The Guinness Book of World Records. If you missed it, this float featured surfing dogs.

It was a real pleasure to meet Stanley.

Regardless of what type of dog you are looking for - including a purebred, you can find a warm heart and cold nose waiting for you at a rescue or shelter. There are rescues for many of the breeds. And dogs waiting for your loving arms and home.

Save a life - don't buy a pet - Adopt.

Why Children Need a Pet

Woman creates aromatherapy blend to ease anxiety in dogs

The sound of a doorbell is enough to send some family dogs into a tizzy.

A West Dundee businesswoman has developed an aromatherapeutic blend she says is designed just for canine calming.

“The symptoms of stress that dogs tend to show are things like scratching, drooling, chewing, and panting,” said Vickie Rae Thorne, who’s been working with aromatherapy for almost 20 years. “The way canine calm works is it can take the edge off.”

It was a car accident that first led Thorne to seek pain relief. She found aromatherapy beneficial. Then, 12 years ago, when a dog kennel owner approached her about ideas to help calm the canines, Thorne considered ideas. She also founded Earth Heart, Inc., which sells aromatherapeutic products.

“Since dogs are scent oriented, I thought it would work,” said Thorne. “With aromatherapy, there is a physiological effect, if it is placed on the skin, or inhaled.”

Thorne researched the stress, separation anxiety, and related behaviors of dogs, but emphasizes she does not consider herself an expert in canine behavior. She’s more interested in offering her experience and knowledge with aromatherapy and its application as a suitable method of soothing dogs.

“I think working with positive rewards and things that are gentle are effective,” she said. “I came up with a blend that would help dogs calm down but not go to sleep.”

In addition to the calming effects of her formula, its pleasant scent also masks animal odors at places like the kennel, she explained. Applications are best applied for the first time during a non-stressful period, Thorne recommends. That way, the animal won’t associate the scent with a negative experience.

But it’s not the end-all to other methods of making a difference for dogs under stress, she added.

Consideration of dogs’ instincts also can elp owners determine their own actions.

“People need to remember that dogs work,” Thorne said. “They have jobs. When they bark at the door, they are letting you know that something is out there and they want to let you know they are protecting you.”

source:Chicago Sun Times

Dear God

TO: GOD

FROM: THE DOG

Dear God: Is it on purpose our names are the same, only reversed?

Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a Dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the 'Chrysler Eagle' the 'Chrysler Beagle'?

Dear God: If a Dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad Dog?

Dear God: We Dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, ele ctromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog.

1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.

4. The sofa is not a 'face towel'.

5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.

7. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying 'hello'.

8. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table .

9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.

10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.

11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.

12. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.

P.S. And please God, be extra good to the humans who adopted me and saved my life.

'Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened'

California
Featured Adoptable Pet:

A121560
Yuba County Animal Care Services
Olivehurst, CA
compliments of Petfinder.com

Would you leave your friend behind?

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?", the man asked.

'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open. "Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump," said the man.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

'What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," he answered.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?
Nope. That's Hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."

Before buying a pet, consider saving a life instead - adopt from a shelter. They are not "used" or "less than perfect" animals; they are perfect little furry angels with open hearts looking to share love.

California
Featured Adoptable Pet:

A121560
Yuba County Animal Care Services
Olivehurst, CA
compliments of Petfinder.com

It's Just A Dog

This morning when I was walking my dog in the park, he snatched something from the ground and swallowed it before I could stop him. Even though he is on a 5 ft leash, he sniffed that small tidbit from the ground even before I even know existed.

Someone I was walking with, remarked "It's just a dog, he'll be all right." I was surprised to hear that comment, as the other person was also walking a dog, and this remark is usually heard from someone with a different idea about dogs.

When I returned home, still thinking about the comment, I did a little research on the things that can be very harmful for a dog to eat.

What I discovered was that many people do not understand the dogs digestive system does have its limitations, similar a human's, and sometimes even more so. Whereas a human usually chews their food more thoroughly before swallowing, dogs gulp their food and discovered snacks without chewing it. It can enter their throat and digestive system in a potentially harmful size.

Cooked bones can block the dogs digestive system. Poultry bones such as chicken and turkey can get stuck in their throat, and because of their sharpness can cause damage on the way to their stomach and as they pass through.

Certain spices are toxic to dogs. And without knowing how a food was prepared, food on the ground could be as poisonous to them as if they ate a brand name poison. In one area, dogs were eating poison that had been placed near bushes to kill rats. The dogs did not survive either.

I have been accused of being overly protective of my dog; however, he depends on me for his safety and well being. He is more than just a dog to me. He is a companion who is happy to see me, every time I walk in the room. He shows me affection by wagging his tail and bouncing with joy when I talk directly to him. (That's how he got his name - Tigger. Like the Winnie the Poo character.) He gives me a happy reason to get up in the morning. Because of him, I have met new friends in the park, everyday when we take walks.

I asked some of my friends who share their lives with dogs, how they feel when someone says"he's just a dog". Here are a few responses:

When someone says it's just a dog I wonder how much they truly care about their dog or any dogs and put them into a category of "it's just".

Someone who says " it's just a dog", has never allowed themselves to feel unconditional love.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", may not understand that dogs have feelings. They know when they are welcomed. They can have their hearts broken, just like we can. You can see evidence of this is from visiting dogs in the shelter. Especially those who've been abandoned or left behind. You can see dogs that cower, tails down, ears down when they hear their human is ranting, scolding, and displaying anger - even when it is not directed at the dog. It's worse when it is directed at the dog.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", is someone who will abandon their dog or dump them at the shelter, because they are not willing to take the time to find a home that is pet friendly.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", is someone who will feed their dog just anything and then be angry with a dog if they get diarrhea or vomiting.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", is someone who won't take the time to correctly train their dog, and yells at the dog or hits it when the dog does something wrong. These people don't take any responsibility for the things their dogs do because of the lack of proper training.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", is one who thinks that dog fighting should be legal sport.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", is one who thinks that spay/neuter is an inconvenience and all dogs should have as many puppies as the human wants them to have, without consideration as to what it does to the dog, the population or our shelters.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", is one who has never allowed himself to feel the true companionship that a dog provides.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", has never accepted that the fun of play with a dog that cannot be duplicated with any human. It is unique to the dog.

Someone who says "it's just a dog", are more angry than concerned when their dog is sick or hurt. Like it's the dogs fault.

There's so many other ways that a person who says "it's just a dog" shows that they have either a limited understanding or limited love for a most amazing creature. These amazing animals can give sight to someone who's lost theirs; arms to someone who can no longer use theirs; companionship to the elderly in assisted living homes or someone who is home bound; protect and serve our military and police forces, and protect us by finding bombs and dangerous persons.

These amazing animals can find drugs, detect cancer, alert their humans of danger, find someone who is lost, and bring joy that cannot be measured.

The next time you hear yourself or someone say "it's just a dog". Ask - what exactly does that mean? You may learn something about yourself or someone else.

Regardless, the dog may be thinking "they're just a human. They only have two legs and can't run as fast as I can. They always seem to be in a hurry and miss many of the small joys in their path. They place conditions on love, and hold onto grudges that kill their spirit.

They know the right things to do, and many times ignore the best solutions for their life. They limit how far they go. They forget how much can be heard without music or the tv blaring. They sit too long when they could be playing, or just visiting everything in nature. They forget how to share, and let someone else have the stick from time to time. I believe that they do the best they can, and sometimes forget, that I am more than just a dog."