Saturday, August 29, 2015

Marshall the Miracle Dog

No one, not human or animal, deserves any kind of abuse. A dog named Marshall was abandoned, abused and starving. He was among 60 other dogs living on a property without food, water and shelter. During the time of his rescue by Animal Planet’s "Confessions," he had a badly broken front leg, bite marks all over his body and a tennis ball sized hole in the side of his face. The Humane Society of Missouri came to the dogs rescue, however Marshall’s injuries were so serious they required surgery before he could be put up for adoption. Marshall died on the operating table…but was resuscitated and the medical team was able to repair his face and amputate his infected leg.
Today, Marshall happily lives in his forever home with has new owner Cyndi Willenbrock. Cyndi has made it her mission to not let Marshall’s traumatic story go unheard, in fact, she has been able to use the events of his past to spread hope to young kids being picked on and bullied in school. Marshall not only warms the hearts of those closest to him, but has inspired a feature film, “Marshall’s Miracle”, staring Lucas Carroll, Shannon Elizabeth, Matthew Settle and Lauren Holly.
You can find Marshall on Facebook and Twitter. Here's a video of Marshall and his new Mom from HooplaHa  doing what he does best: teaching children why bullying is bad.



Please help Marshall spread his message of no bullying, no abuse.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Dog Day

Photo by Nancy Ross

It's true that "every dog has his day," only we today we can take that old saying literally. Today is National Dog Dog. Of course, your dog probably thinks that every day is his day and that's the way it should be. Dogs are our companions, our friends, our family members. Service Dogs, Police Dogs, Therapy Dogs, PTSD Dogs, Bomb-Sniffing Dogs, there is an almost endless array of things that dogs do for us. They will lay down their lives for us. They give us their unconditional love and endless devotion. They deserve to be celebrated.


Photo by Anne Willis Herring Hudson






The people at the free and private social network for neighborhoods, and App, nextdoor, have gathered some interesting raw data. They went in search of the most popular dog names and the most popular dogs.  The Most Popular Name for 2015 is Bella and the most Popular Dog is the Mutt.  This obviously wasn't a scientific survey but something fun that we can enjoy.  Here are there findings:









Here's what they found:


Top Dog Names in the Country
1.       Bella
2.       Lucy
3.       Max
4.       Daisy
5.       Bailey
6.       Buddy
7.       Molly
8.       Charlie
9.       Maggie
10.   Sadie

Top Dog Breeds in the Country:
Note: Overall Bella is the unanimous favorite name for all dog breeds... Besides Bella, below are the most popular names for each breed (breeds listed in order of popularity).
1.       Mixed breed - Lucy
2.       Lab - Bailey
3.       Chihuahua - Coco
4.       Golden retriever- Bailey
5.       Dachshund - Lucy
6.       Boxer - Rocky
7.       Shih tzu - Gizmo
8.       German shepherd - Max
9.       Yorkshire terrier - Sophie
10.   Beagle – Daisy



Monday, August 24, 2015

Dogs Who Get Excited when It's Time for Dinner or A Treat

Dogs are so sweet and funny but when it comes to meals or snacks, they're worse than toddlers. They bounce around, bark, jump, race through the house in sheer glee. Everyone who makes a meal wants it to be received with such enthusiasm, however, it's much nicer if your dog learns to sit and wait until dinner is in the dish, in place, and he has been told it's time to eat. Manners should be taught to pets as well as children.

Here are a few overly-enthusiastic dogs in video from HooplaHa;


Thursday, August 20, 2015

National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day!

This Saturday is National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day.  The American Association of Feline Practitoners (AAFP) is anxious to get this message out. I am, too.  You know I've written about this before. Owners bring their dogs to the vet but forget that cats need to see their veterinarian every bit as much.  

Please read this information. It's important to know why this needs to happen.  Share this with your cat-owning friends, too. Let's get this information out to EVERY cat owner!




Monday, August 17, 2015

Cats Practice Stalking

It's always fun to watch cats as they interact with each other as well as other species.  They usually exhibit prey stalking when they play with you with an interactive fishing pole type toy. Some cats prefer to see it fly like a bird while others enjoy it wiggling across the floor like a snake. There are also cats who enjoy both.

Our friends at HooplaHa have shared a video of cats exhibiting this behavior. They call it Cats Trying to Scare You and they do note how patient cats are while watching their prey. 

 I'd like to note that some of the clips involve cats outdoors which is something we don't recommend in the U.S.  There are far too many dangers outside including disease, other animals who might attack them, cars racing down the road, etc. Indoors with environmental enrichment keeps them healthier and they will live a whole lot longer.

Now for your enjoyment, and education if you want to study the body language of each of the cats, is the video.


Monday, August 10, 2015

Are You Ready to Party? BOUNTY is!

This is too much fun to pass up - a rare Sponsored post from me!  C'mon and join the fun!!

Our pets are a huge part of our families and sometimes, they make messes that are just as big. If you’ve ever had to train a new puppy or had your cat spill water everywhere, you know exactly what we mean! Bounty is hosting a #Furgiveness Twitter Party on August 17th to help you discover and appreciate new ways to forgive your pets faster. So come celebrate with America's #QuickerPickerUpper, pet experts, and pet parents nationwide – it’s sure to be a blast! RSVP for a chance to win Visa gift cards with prizes up to $100.*

Be sure to check out this video before the party!

Pet Experts

@dobbiehouson, @petxpert, @thefurmom, @darafoster, @dogloversdigest

RSVP Steps

Step 1.

Click on "Add Your Link"

Step 2.

Enter your Twitter URL www.twitter.com/yourtwitterhandle in the URL Field

Step 3.

Enter your Twitter Handle @yourTwitterhandle in the Name field

Step 4.

Enter Your Email Address

________________________________________

Date: August 17, 2015

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST

Sponsor: @Bounty

Open To US

* To ensure eligibility in the gift card giveaways, all participants must follow @Bounty and include #Sweeps OR #Contest in their tweets. See URL below for complete list of rules







1. ladyt64  212. @sweepingmommy1  
2. @guettel78  213. @angiedepue  
3. Connie Tucker  214. @ranadurham or @ranajeree  
4. @runitbymom  215. @sweepgoddess  
5. @zhak  216. @MindiEden  
6. @LynnHoo  217. @shadow62310  
7. @ggallagher71  218. @nhdarling  
8. @ReviewsSheROTE  219. @dvice1  
9. @mellanhead  220. @stoopidgerl  
10. @mulysa32  221. @funfitnessfood  
11. @ballenger1313  222. @justwin4once  
12. Ivette  223. @chrucas2  
13. Leslie Garcia  224. @aecharlebois  
14. @courtdemko  225. @katyayani_29  
15. @hildredche  226. @chichijunk  
16. @ohslowdown  227. @my4boysand1  
17. @lesliebonton  228. @shopannies  
18. @adorablesweetp1  229. @tall_person13  
19. @bebeeluv  230. @tinawoo21  
20. @DITS21  231. @moooondog  
21. @dragonflyame  232. @Lunarsupplies  
22. @RobinAbrams67  233. @rm0radeejay  
23. @velvetwhip  234. @usnamom2014  
24. @Richa_Kaul  235. @stephanienola  
25. @cdehart1985  236. @leilanixann  
26. Amber Chandler  237. @TheHippieHut  
27. @motherearth2000  238. @sarahbeara6  
28. @capucine_rose  239. @cdehart1985  
29. @weezy3284  240. @1hbit  
30. @Janellcp  241. @Dana_Stargazer  
31. @technogirl82  242. @DobieHouson  
32. @blday850  243. @misti911  
33. @ItsMeDe  244. @leyn16  
34. @poisonsix9  245. @diamondcarol27  
35. @meme544  246. @chinadolls1021  
36. @ooulio1231  247. @funmusikgirl  
37. @cjjmesser  248. @chinadolls1021  
38. @deegee13  249. @slr8  
39. @angie00718  250. @tweetdesiree  
40. @AnnaZed  251. @matzsmith  
41. @amyorvin  252. @Debbiedoodad  
42. @firegirl2000  253. @bookishgal28  
43. Sonya Allstun  254. @SeymaShabbir  
44. @ythpstr81  255. @wuffythedog  
45. @jilliann68  256. @LIChevyMetsGrrl  
46. @charlene41356  257. @1practicalsoul  
47. @thefirstleon  258. @snarky_1  
48. @ElizabethReese9  259. @myangeleryn  
49. @bekahchica  260. @taughtbyjah  
50. @armywifey0530  261. @JalapenoMama  
51. @kendra407  262. @fowler121600  
52. @elfette  263. @saralogan1990  
53. @lilshortie262  264. @urdchan  
54. @Cardenasr310  265. @ASDsupportNC  
55. @Ruy977  266. @anitakayduvall  
56. @DONOVANKISER  267. @AmberTerry7  
57. @whatlaynesays  268. @ASaveHaven  
58. @SPN_Mom or @SPN_MomJail  269. @brawlinbabyjail  
59. @marshflitter  270. @rblbsh28  
60. Bradlee Wilson  271. @belinda78_b  
61. @critterboo  272. @Tomekawelch  
62. @hotscorpiogirl8  273. @mariachen88  
63. @soul5loops  274. @bdonahue2012  
64. @arod1945  275. @jeannajohnson46  
65. @lmcherin  276. @gottchacha  
66. @nikkibankert34  277. @lsatrav  
67. @sweetsillysara  278. @ElenaIstomina  
68. @jayjayjay1114  279. @PapsisBeavers  
69. @tes283  280. @Xenokitten  
70. kalee  281. @teteajaf  
71. @northwoodsorgan  282. @avrilsgranny  
72. @puffinldj  283. @fmd518  
73. @shannondvs322  284. @kymom13  
74. @delimama66  285. @thomasmurphy40  
75. @Makeuplove2  286. @beesis26  
76. @beta272  287. @zeeCatsicles  
77. @danadenay  288. @JustToDaRnCute or @JustToDaRnCute2  
78. @10lawyers  289. @aes529  
79. @carolmcburgess  290. @yarbr012  
80. @mjmama8  291. @traceycooper8  
81. @lindsey1114  292. @swtthing3  
82. DeAnna Keller  293. @yesenias91  
83. @Callie1981  294. @mulysa32  
84. @babygirl92699  295. @wickednikki81  
85. @Hollyhobbie6351  296. @58mpeg  
86. @acm05  297. @doodle_xo  
87. @scover  298. @tbird_bier  
88. @RendezvousWmoms  299. @cheryl888888  
89. @pjc6165  300. @stillblondeaaty  
90. @GrOvEbUg  301. @catchmyparty  
91. @sunflower101398  302. @ImQueenin  
92. @ShenoaSays  303. @petxpert  
93. @loraineye  304. @clarissa_xplain  
94. @b1dina  305. @reinaheather  
95. @Vickync  306. @oodsme  
96. @CraziMomOf2Boys  307. @NuPur_ghosh  
97. @gee426  308. @rescuegal  
98. @dsickles87  309. @itastedit  
99. @lisacat_1  310. @lilanniesworld  
100. @sweetums82  311. @Zuzuz_Petalz  
101. @HoustonLani  312. @AtTheMapleTable  
102. @passion4toys  313. @crystalkastl  
103. @raeree1  314. Healthy influences  
104. @obeezer  315. @RobynsWorld (co-host)  
105. @spongehead102  316. @H3artonF1r3  
106. @cougarchica  317. @BrokenTeepee  
107. @alonay45  318. @dragonflyame  
108. @wildflower00  319. @gannyofshy  
109. @jeremyoly  320. @_SallyannP  
110. @Jennifer8202  321. @melinda74  
111. @lucyscrochet  322. @ILonaB1980  
112. @Amandas6359  323. @AmunetsMom  
113. @christydenton1  324. @ZerinaGrace or @FaithFoodFamFun  
114. @jjolene710  325. @Pinklacedpoppy  
115. @chibizerov4  326. @Shippydoll  
116. @LoriBerson90  327. @tatzgrrly  
117. @BillDee8  328. @pinkfugu  
118. @krusen69  329. @stephennpa  
119. @RAS070  330. @birdiebee52  
120. @3sonshavei  331. @brittbee1189  
121. @mlklingen  332. @PJGurganus  
122. @mybutterflies  333. @chartreux312  
123. @MAKEUP2MELTDOWN  334. @HGuerrio  
124. @christine856  335. @FurkidParent  
125. @ListsFreak  336. @mk6228  
126. @MamaQueen1  337. @AC927  
127. @CHARLEYTINER  338. @redfuzzycow  
128. @trrg12  339. @marnietoddg  
129. @V2KMGS  340. @A__Martin  
130. @luckyme1962  341. @lovin_life08  
131. @foodhistorian  342. @lily_p86  
132. @smackyamama  343. @jgreenhood  
133. @pleadinpearls  344. @kristinnw  
134. @ls77782015  345. @melomee1108  
135. @twodartmom  346. @chary1113  
136. @Diamondbaby4u  347. @sassybbpinktaz  
137. @3sonshavei  348. @cmerry  
138. @germaira  349. @lguyton1028  
139. @sportytechmama  350. @BenSculpt  
140. @kittylover1313  351. @roozerbrewz  
141. @stephan94848598  352. @kocouture  
142. @cakeupfacexo  353. @liligermomma  
143. @sooptomistic910  354. @Jesstinger  
144. @Kilmorna65  355. @jenna_designs  
145. @sarcasticmuch21  356. @cposen  
146. @ashtonlee2333  357. @sohamolina  
147. @DaPryz  358. @susan1215  
148. @luvmykids72  359. @KayHaley110813  
149. @makeupdiva111  360. @Chynadoll2love  
150. @noopurke  361. @Anastasia_Fall  
151. @celticlady1953  362. @allysmama729  
152. @lvnnyates  363. @GoddessAiko  
153. @bdisimone  364. @cheryl_rica  
154. @billybadbird  365. @mommy3sons  
155. @iamcapturingtm  366. @velvetwhip  
156. @KColeman072104  367. @urdchan  
157. @tatertot374  368. @LorriJeanne  
158. @peace_love_curl  369. @shappie112  
159. @WVfrugalChick  370. @DowellNichole  
160. @mom321  371. @SeattlePlaydate  
161. @Myzenfulplace  372. @SweepMama75  
162. @FivemenandaLady  373. @mitadav  
163. @versatileer  374. @lbrubens1  
164. @CassieLaMonaca  375. @rusthawk  
165. @reesesums  376. @PinkHippo13  
166. @MissAneleh  377. @dolphin4176  
167. @MomLuvsSPORTZ or @n210ss  378. @amilewidesmile  
168. @kkschwarz2009  379. @maryclean  
169. @eseattlemama  380. @angelftw2  
170. @drbert  381. @deb198  
171. @astonger  382. @ar_delight  
172. @lisakubin3  383. @ardy22  
173. @Slehan  384. @Anonymousities  
174. @HappyMamaNikki  385. @williamgossage  
175. @JustOrdChaos  386. @haz2win  
176. @Kathle_Williams  387. @lulu_brown24  
177. @lecrona  388. @rickaei  
178. @RendezvousWmoms  389. @bredanielle0602  
179. @greenlightgo912  390. @COLLIFORNIA  
180. @middlefairy  391. @lou1derful  
181. @correyhope  392. @YourLifeAfter25  
182. @Beachbum2be  393. @grapet7  
183. @ashendricks80  394. @HollyThomas61  
184. @buzzardsZ888  395. @cmesker  
185. @mellycons  396. @daniellegosha  
186. @mya98604  397. @someluckydog  
187. @ryazmom  398. @LaurieNykaza  
188. @Ohiomommy14  399. @bdisimone  
189. @jenrenh  400. @Austieb7  
190. @TonyaAtki  401. @kimbreid  
191. @Socstar35  402. @hmhkaufman  
192. @SOCCERCHICK504  403. @LindaOBrien7  
193. @wendyrc81  404. @etuesdays  
194. @scrappiedoodle  405. @chrucas2  
195. @sjhendrix06  406. @mummadear  
196. @kramikami  407. @savemrespendles  
197. @mishlovesj  408. @Mrs_Sendejas  
198. @nicholemckinnon  409. @FountainKricket  
199. @HudsonJenna  410. @yoda1librarian  
200. @velvetwhip  411. @dinade  
201. @KaylaKing30  412. @odouglass11  
202. @pgillesp1  413. @tammyschweitz57  
203. @fizees  414. @saleago  
204. @azsurferchica  415. @groogruxking40  
205. @dawnmonroe83  416. @rayraycartucci  
206. @annbeebe5  417. @vickiecouturier  
207. @LADYLEANNEG  418. @acadianathrifty  
208. @simplyandreah  419. @benz1171  
209. @CandaceGalan  420. @learning_2_save  
210. @ppirwin  421. @asimplefreak  
211. @disneyfan40  

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

Pets and The Iraq War Veteran with PTSD

I'm sure all war veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but it is only with more recent wars that the problem has a name and there is treatment. When people are geared up for war, living on adreneline, it's hard to get out of that condition. Expecting land mines wherever you walk, snipers around every corner, even sleep isn't restful after our soldiers come home from war.

One of the ways in which many veterans are helped, along with therapy, is a service dog trained to help someone with PTSD.

Thanks to the nice people at HooplaHa, here is a Chicken Soup for The Soul video introducing you to Iraq War Army Veteran, Stephen Simmons, his PTSD dog, Puppi, and his family's cat, Burma. Together they run and hike in the mountains in Oregon, doing what Stephen calls Adventure Therapy that he created for himself. He discovered that beneath the depression, he really did care what happened to him. "Adventure therapy has given me immense hope for the future, and a new-found determination to overcome my situation."


Monday, August 3, 2015

Golden Giggles

Some days you just need a laugh and what's more adorable than a puppy?  How about 21 Golden Retriever puppies romping in a meadow? Running full out, stretching their little legs and thoroughly enjoying themselves.  

I thought a video would be a fun way to start the week.  We can thank the people at HooplaHa for this fun time with the Golden puppies. It makes me wish I could sit there and play with them.  How about you?