My dogs live here, they're here to stay.
You don't like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space-
this is their home, this is their place.
You will find dog hair on the floor,
they will alert you're at the door.
They may request a little pat,
a simple "No" will settle that.
It gripes me when I hear you say
"Just how is it you live this way?
They smell, they shed, they're in the way.."
Who asked you? is all I can say.
They love me more than anyone,
my voice is like the rising sun.
They merely have to hear me say
"C'mon, time to go and play!"
Then tails wag and faces grin,
they bounce and hop and make a din.
They never say 'No time for you',
they're always there, to GO and DO.
And if I'm sad, they're by my side;
and if I'm mad, they circle wide;
and if I laugh, they laugh with me;
they understand, they always see.
So once again,
I say to you come visit me, but know this too:
My dogs live here, they're here to stay.
You don't like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space-
this is their home, this is their place.
Albany was good, the dogs handled being in a dirt floor barn in a way to make their people proud.
Cindy and Harley did an awesome job getting his first Novice Obedience leg on Sunday and his Rally Novice Title! He came in 2nd place in Obedience and 4th in Rally. Way to go Cindy-all the hard work and practice you put in with him really shows.
Maddy was brave and managed 3 dogs in the ring, not at the same time of course:) She walked away with Jax's first official Rally Novice qualifying score and Athena's second one. Not bad considering there were birds in the barn and that wonderful smelling dirt every time they did a down. Jax was listed as a miniture Schnauzer in the catalog, but that didn't faze him and he walked tall for a little dog;)!
Anne-Marie and Jewel did an awesome job on Saturday, coming in 2nd place in the Rally Novice ring. Then she finished up a long, tough Sunday by getting her 3rd leg and Rally Novice Title! It was a thrill for a dog who has always been sensitive and not always eager to work. She did great and between her and Jax, they did the Staffy's proud!
Storm got her first leg on Saturday and if you ever think that you can't do this, ask to see the tape of her performance on Sunday. If she can do it, anyone can! Midway through the course, she decided we were done and it was time to box:0 After a couple well placed punches to my stomach, she decided (with a firm hint from mom) that maybe we weren't done and then continued on halfway behaved until we left the ring. Guess we'll be in Albany again in March!
Congratulations to everyone who passed there CGC test. Maddy & Jax, Debbie & Chip, Judy, Martin & Moose, Sarah & Bruno, Stacy & Storm, Jody & Vixen. Great job everyone.
Below is a link to a flyer about two dogs lost near Hagg Lake. This is from the Mixed Breed yahoo group, posted by Cindy.
One of the owners is someone who runs PAW Team, a group that
provides free vet care to pets owned by homeless people in Portland.
Wendy does so much for the community, and helping her get the word out
about her own distress is a small thing for me to do.
She believes that her dogs have been picked up but not reported found.
Since we have many members in Washington County, I hope you will spread
the word.
We will be having another Play Night from 6-8pm. It's just $5 per hour per dog and is a great chance for you to stay and watch your kids play with all of their friends. We will have a separate area for small/calm dogs with plenty of things for them to do too without getting caught in the chaos of the crazy kids:)
Dogs that haven't been to DogTown are welcome too, but you must bring vaccine records showing DHLPP (or equivalent), Rabies and Bordatella.
I wanted to let you know that Tony won't be there today due to the weather. We will be at class tonight though. Hope you all make it in safely! Michelle
There is also a great write up on CNN.com regarding the rescue and rehabilitation of these poor animals. I'm glad to see someone cared enough to try and save them and that the government allowed them to make the effort. When the Vick story first broke, one of my first thoughts was that all those poor dogs would probably be immediately put down. Nice to see that things can change. Here is the link to the story.
Brrrr…it’s cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.
1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.
9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect