Sorry I’ve been away from the challenge for a couple of weeks. Lots of travel and lots happening in our lives right now. But, am back with this week’s 52  Snapshots of Life photo challenge’s week 46 topic – Veteran. I’ve also included a shot I took of Sophie, depicting Fall from last week.

The shot of Sophie, depicting Fall I shot today, in my makeshift studio with some fall-inspired things I’d purchased. I love these colors and that they have a bit of sparkle (give me a little bling and I’m a happy girl!).

The veteran shot was taken impromptu on a morning walk. I thought Jasper was looking especially dignified that day, and we passed by a house with an American flag outside. I took the picture and he is looking positively regal standing next to it, don’t you think?

Today, in light of what’s just happened in Paris, there’s a sadness attached to this photo. I love living in America and yet, it’s such a scary time we live in. No where is safe, really. We count our blessings every day. Sending hope and prayers to all those in Paris and all those who’ve lost someone they care about in Paris on Friday night. We hurt for you.

Thanking all of the veterans, human and canine, who sacrifice and some who’ve given their lives to protect our freedom. Bless you all.

Pet blogging friend and colleague, Christina Berry of The Lazy Pitbull, created this fun challenge. You don’t have to be a blogger to participate. Just snap or choose a pic you’ve taken that matches that week’s theme and post it on your social networks, with the hashtag #52Snapshots, so we can all follow along! For pet bloggers, this is a BlogHop, so hop on!

Gwen Stefani is making waves in fashion again! This time, it’s for our pets. The latest celebrity to enter the space, Stefani is doing it in her own inimitable style. This week, The Voice coach, in partnership with Petco, launched Harajuku Lovers clothing and accessories.

A punk rock trendsetter in her own right, Stefani brought her style to the masses with her whimsical L.A.M.B. line for women.

According to the Petco site, “The line features more than 30 trend forward products such as the cozy Union Jack Sweater, colorful Doughnut Toy, fashionable black and white Checkers sock and a snazzy Fedora Hat. From high-style apparel to emoji-inspired toys, there is something to fit every dog’s best look.”

Why the name Harajuku Lovers? Harajuku is a place in Japan known internationally as a center of Japanese youth culture and fashion. Every Sunday, teens dress up in various unique and extreme styles of clothing and roam the streets. Stefani made a video in 2009 called Harajuku Girls,  to introduce and celebrate the Harajuku style. It’s pretty fantastic and you can see it below.

Bark & Swagger captured a couple of looks from the collection for you. Modeling them are WallE and Pierre, a couple of cool fur kids, themselves. Enjoy!

WallE rocking out in a Harajuku Lovers colorful hoodie, complete with pink mohawk fashion accessory

Pierre looks oh-so-natty in his Harajuku Lovers fedora and houndstooth tie

“I have had so much fun working on the Harajuku Lovers pet accessories collection,” Stefani said in a statement obtained by Entertainment Weekly. “It’s playful, modern, and super kawaii [cute]. I couldn’t be happier with how well it turned out.”

Price for the pieces range from $6.99 to $19.99. “[Petco] had specific categories they wanted filled, and we just were trying to come up with things that seemed like they were so cute that they just kind of signified my style,” Stefani explained.

The collection arrived in Petco stores and online on Nov. 8 and, not surprisingly, it’s already selling out at warped speed.

As you can see, Harajuku is a big statement style. Its roots are entrenched in adventurous fashion girls, pushing the boundaries. We love that; every culture needs the adventurers to keep moving forward.

Lyrics from the Harajuku Girls video give the flavor of how these girls view themselves, as compared to fashion’s runway aesthetic, a more conventional fashion world in their mind:

“Where the catwalk got it’s claws
All you fashion know-it-alls
With your underground malls
In the world of Harajuku
Putting on a show, when you dress up in your clothes
Wild hair color and cell phones
Your accessories are dead on.”

Stefani has been busy in her love life, too. She just confirmed that she’s dating fellow Voice coach, Blake Shelton, sharing  a photo of herself with her new beau, and Pharrell Williams last Tuesday. “We are just trying to have fun,” she told radio host Carson Daly in early November, when asked about the relationship.

With Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton

What do you think of the Harajuku Lovers collection? Is it too out there or just right?

Alissa and Izzy

Genuine; creative; conscious; cool. That’s how I’d describe Peace. Love. Paws., a great gift and accessories brand and a holiday gift idea to how your love of your pets. I had to share! Like us, founder Alissa Gander is a true animal lover, who built her brand on the love she feels for her pets. Discover who they are, why I love them and how you can win some PLP pieces of your own!

Celebrating the love

Peace. Love. Paws. came to be when Alissa Gander was trying to explain what it felt like to love and be loved by an animal. She kept coming back to PEACE. We can relate, right? Now, Alissa is one impressive girl. Like a lot of us, she was a big animal lover from as far back as she can remember. But, while the rest of her siblings were finding their niches in the family hospitality business, Alissa was looking for a way to work with what made her happiest – being around animals. That desire to evoke that feeling of peace; those strong emotions we feel for our pets and to celebrate that love was the catalyst for her to create the company.

The PLP Dog is Peace tee

A designer and maker of cozy, soft tees, hoodies and a variety of cool accessories and jewelry, PLP pieces are a great way to proclaim the love you feel for your dog, cat or other animal with paws. Each design is carefully thought out, yet simple and straightforward, with a sentiment that rings true. “I wanted the designs to evoke a feeling, whether it’s funny, silly, happy or one of love,” Alissa explained. “When you look at a PLP piece, I want you to feel that.” She paired communicating that intention with a more modern fashion look, and Peace. Love. Paws. was born.

Where does Alissa get her inspiration? Her two dogs, of course! Alissa is mom not only to two beautiful human boys, Ace and Nelson, ages 2 and 3, but to two fur babies. Izzy, a Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix, is a feisty gal with great, big, wonderful ears. “I think dog’s ears are the cutest on the planet, and she has huge ears,” laughs Alissa. Bogey is a Black Lab/Pitbull mix and she describes him as “…one in a million. He’s my soulmate,” Gander enthuses. “Bogey and I are best friends. He’s so sweet, gentle, amazing. We rescued him from a small shelter here in Wisconsin, my husband and I worked with him, and he’s a happy boy now!” Don’t you love shelter animal success stories? They are some of the most heartening and rewarding, to break through the barriers of fear and mistrust to discover this amazing creature inside.

A lovely family. l to r: Nelson (waving), Bob, Izzy, Ace, Alissa & Bogey

Owning a veterinary practice while still in college…

It’s no wonder Alissa was honored recently as Winner of the 2015 Women in the Pet Industry Network‘s Solo Entrepreneur Award. She was doing amazing things as a youngster.

Alissa grew up in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, a popular tourist town. While in college getting a business degree, she began working in a local animal clinic, thinking she’s start laying the groundwork for finding a pet-related business she loved. Gander noticed that the existing management there were taking advantage of the vets, talked to them about it, and realized they needed help on the business side of things. Alissa began by assisting them with hirings but, shortly thereafter, she bought half of the business and started managing it. Not bad for a college student!

She fell in love with the industry and with working with people who love animals. During that time, she also started a pet resort ancillary business for them, which became very successful. After graduation, Gander sold the veterinary practice back to the vets who, after the lessons they’d learned from Alissa, were able to run it themselves. She retained ownership of the pet resort business and sold that a couple of years ago. I asked her if she keeps up with them. “I still go there; I’ll never go to another vet,” she emphasized.

One of the fun PLP greeting cards

I love these tees & hoodies!

The PLP garments, which include tees, hoodies and scarves are all super soft and cozy. The graphic designs inspire that heart connection we feels with our pets and the sayings come from a journal Alissa keeps where she jots down things she loves, ideas that come from talking to other animal lovers and spontaneous ideas of hers. These days, it’s easier. “When I go to trade shows or talk to other animal lovers, they always have such great ideas,” she shared. “It’s being around this community. Everyone shares, everyone loves their animals.”

For him or her, and the truth in my house!

What’s the newest design, in time for the holidays?

“I call it my ‘Certified’ Dog Lover Tote,” Alissa smiles. Does she mean certifiable? Because we all know how insanely in love we are with our babies!  The bag actually says Dog Lover, and is a very generously-sized, 16″ x 14″ cool design, that carries a lot. “I even put my little Chihuahua mix, Izzy, in the bag (with her head sticking out, of course), when she was too tired to finish a recent hike,” she described.

There’s a small zipper pocket, a magnetic closure and an adjustable strap. I love that it is made responsibility, following the Fair Labor Association guidelines.  That’s the thing. Alissa is very conscious about how her pieces are made and what message she is sending with each piece. I like that. It makes me feel like she’s one of us, and she is.

Stories from South Africa and the Peace. Love. Cause. initiative…

Intrinsic to Alissa’s vision of Peace. Love. Paws. is giving back. So, she created a wonderful aspect to her brand called Peace. Love. Cause. (PLC). How does it work?  “It’s another way I can recognize shelters, help to get their name out there and raise as much money as I can for them,” she emphasized. Any shelter can sign up to participate. Alissa checks them out for legitimacy and, if everything looks good,  they can then choose any one item on the site. For a full month, all of the proceeds from the purchase of that item go to the shelter. I introduced a shelter I love and volunteer for here in  Fort Lauderdale, called Abandoned Pet Rescue, to Alissa, and they will be the December PLC shelter. I’m so excited for them!

Alissa with a couple of the dogs from TEARS in South Africa

We see how things are here in our own communities with animal shelters, but most of us don’t get to experience what it’s like in other parts of the world. During a recent family trip to South Africa, Alissa visited an animal sanctuary called TEARS. It’s a pro-life, non-profit org that rescues and re-homes lost, abandoned and abused animals. It’s set in the middle of nowhere, on a mountain. They have to worry about lions, so the shelter walls are very high. “It was an amazing experience,” Gander shared. “Things are different there.  They don’t have the animal and rescue community we have here. I met Tinka, the woman who manages it. She was such a sweetheart! I brought them food and litter; she let me help out and play with the puppies. I love them so much and want to go back there!” You can find out more about TEARS here.

Alissa on Table Mountain in a PLP tee in South Africa

The Giveaway!

This is a dog love giveaway! I’m so excited to be giving away a Peace. Love. Paws. True Love hoodie and a Dog Lover tote to one lucky Bark & Swagger reader! The True Love hoodie is one of Alissa’s favorites. The sketch, which she initially does herself before an artist realizes her vision, was inspired by her and Bogey and the love they share for each other. It’s a girl and her dog kissing. The fabric is a thinner one, so it’s great for everyday use, and its unisex with a generous, comfortable fit. And, the tote has a vintage vibe I love.

To enter is easy peasy! Join the Bark & Swagger Family (our email list) if you haven’t already. And, Like us  and Peace. Love. Paws. on Facebook and follow us and Peace. Love. Paws. on Instagram. That’s it! The giveaway will run from Wednesday, November 11 at 7am EST to Tuesday, November 17 at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random. Good luck, everyone!

Learn more about Peace. Love. Paws.

Do you have a favorite piece that signifies the love you feel for your pet?

This blog post is sponsored by Peace. Love. Paws., which means we were paid to create and feature this content. Regardless of the payment received, we only feature products and services on Bark & Swagger that we use, love and/or feel our readers would benefit from using. All sponsored posts on Bark & Swagger will always reflect our honest and unbiased opinions.

Her platform is empowerment. Emily Sciarretta may be in a wheelchair, but nothing keeps this fiery, determined and stylish go-getter from living life to the fullest and finding the sweetness in it. Afflicted in her late-20’s with four serious, congenital diseases that, eventually, took away her ability to walk, Emily had to learn a new way to live. For her, seven year old black Labrador mix service dog, Carmel, has made all the difference.  Sciarretta has made it her mission to spread the word about how the human animal bond changed her life and the powerful relationship between a service dog and their human.

She’ll have a prestigious platform on which to do that. Emily was recently named Ms Wheelchair New York USA. As an ambassador for the national organization, representing the state of New York, Sciarretta has been speaking at facilities where her message of personal strength can impact other paraplegics and quadriplegics, struggling with the loss of the use of limbs and how to make their lives work. “I want people to understand that, whether you’ve had an illness or a horrible accident, whether you’re a para or a quadriplegic, yes, your world has changed and it’s upside down, but your life isn’t over,” she emphasizes. “You have to do things differently, but you can go on; you can exceed whatever expectations you had, just in a different way.”

The organization that changed Emily life in so many ways is Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). Founded in 1975, they are a non-profit organization enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure the most successful partnerships. It is the largest non-profit provider of assistance dogs, and is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people.

Emily’s story

Little did she know, but Emily was born with Chiari Malformation 1, EDS Ehlers, SM Syringomyelia, Postural Orthostatic Tachardia Syndrome and Mitral Valve Prolapse. They are all congenital diseases, and several of her relatives have one or the other. “I was the lucky one to get them all!,” she exclaimed, with her trademark sense of humor.

Here’s what each of these conditions are and what they do in the body:

• Chiari Malformation 1: A condition in which the bony space enclosing the lower part of the brain is smaller than normal. Crowding causes the cerebellar tonsils to push through the skull and down into the spinal canal. The herniated tonsils block the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
• Ehlers~Danlos Syndrome – a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues, primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Connective tissue is a complex mixture of proteins and other substances that provides strength and elasticity to the underlying structures in your body. People who have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome usually have overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin.
• Syringomyelia~a disorder in which a cyst forms within the spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, expands and elongates over time, destroying a portion of the spinal cord from its center and expanding outward. As a syrinx widens, it compresses and injures nerve fibers that carry information from the brain to the extremities.
• Postural Orthastatic Tachardia Syndrome – an excessively reduced volume of blood returns to the heart after an individual stands up from a lying down position. The primary symptom is lightheadedness or fainting. In POTS, the lightheadedness or fainting is also accompanied by a rapid increase in heartbeat of more than 30 beats per minute, or a heart rate that exceeds 120 beats per minute, within 10 minutes of rising.
• Mitral Valve Prolapse – occurs when the valve between your heart’s left upper chamber (left atrium) and the left lower chamber (left ventricle) doesn’t close properly.

Do any of you have any of these or know someone who does?

“Tethered cord syndrome pulled my spine into the wrong place, anchored it there, and that’s why I stopped being able to walk,” Sciarretta shared. When did it start? “I was working, and one day got really dizzy and fell down. A customer caught me before my head hit the ground.  I had to go to the emergency room. I wasn’t speaking properly. I couldn’t even remember my name. It was pretty bad.  I was 28 at the time. After that, I was able to shuffle my feet to walk. Then, one day I stood up, and just fell down. My head connected with the wall. When I went to stand up again, one leg went in one direction and the other went in another.  I couldn’t walk anymore. That was 10 years ago.”  The conditions eventually required Emily to have two brain surgeries, in 2004 and 2005. Recuperating from the last one set the stage to change her life, even more.

Emily meets Carmel, Frank and Bastien

In an absolute meant to be moment, while Emily was in a nursing home recuperating from her second brain surgery, the darnedest thing happened. A lovely woman named Marelene came to visit her with her therapy dog. They got to talking, and Marelene told Emily she had to reach out to Canine Companions for Independence; that it would make a huge difference. Never one to procrastinate, Sciarretta asked a nurse to wheel her over to the computer to investigate. “I realized right there that I had to get a dog from this place because, not only did I know it would change my life, but I believed I would meet someone through the organization,” she confided. “This feeling came to me so strongly, as I was sitting there at the computer. It was one of those moments you can’t explain. Lo and behold, I met Frank a year or so after I got Carmel.” Frank, who has Spina Bifida and is also in a wheelchair, and Emily married last year, with both Carmel and his service dog, Bastien, participating in the ceremony. How lovely is that?! And, of course, there were special collars and leashes created for the occasion.

What is involved in acquiring a service dog through Canine Companions?

Getting a service dog of the caliber of Carmel isn’t easy. It’s a long and intricate process that takes about two years. First, you have to formally apply; the organization wants to make sure you meet the requirements of those who need a service dog.  The application process lasts between 3 – 6 months, on average, before an one can be accepted into the Canine Companions’ program. If accepted, the candidate moves to the waiting list, which can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 ½ years.  Once accepted as a candidate, Canine Companions trains the students how to effectively work an assistance dog during a short and intense two-week period called Team Training. “At the end of that training, they start pairing you off with your dog,” Sciarretta described. “I wanted Carmel, and I was working with her in the classroom.”

Emily got her wish and was paired with Carmel about five years ago. Like all of the Canine Companion dogs, Carmel came knowing 45 commands. Emily taught her about 15 more. “Carmel can pick something up as small as a quarter and bring it to me,” she explained. “She opens my mail. Not only did she change my life when I was having seizures, but once they calmed down, I was able to go out. Before Carmel, people would look at me in my wheelchair with pity. Now, they were looking at Carmel and paying attention to me with my dog, not looking down on me. If I’m in a lot of pain, she knows it. She’ll come over and kiss my nose. I get really bad backaches. Sometimes, she’ll come over and press her body where that pain is; she just knows.”

Canine Companions has a breeding program, volunteer breeder caretakers that provide homes for the breeder dogs and whelp the puppies and volunteer puppy raisers across the nation for socialization and obedience training, before they start their formal training.

All Canine Companions dogs and services are provided free of charge because they’re funded by private contributions. But, it’s expensive to raise and train these dogs, to the tune of about $50,000 per service dog over the course of 18 months. You can learn more about Canine Companions for Independence here.

Educating consumer facilities and the public

Many people claim their dog is a service dog to get the perks. We know this, but may not think of the ramifications until we talk to someone who truly needs a service animal. Emily has talked with many hotel managers, who don’t know how to distinguish a service animal team from someone claiming to be. She sees a real need to educate the hotel industry, as well as the public, on things only someone who is living it knows about what to look for and what the laws are, via the American Disabilities Act (ADA). She is making plans for that during her reign as Miss Wheelchair New York USA.

I wanted to provide some basic info for you on what a service dog is. Thank you to fellow blogger, Bunny Allen, who was kind enough to give me permission to use her infographic. Allen has MS, and her medical alert/mobility service dog, Carma Poodale (who does the actual blogging on her site, Carma Poodle), helps to keep her safe. Bunny advised that not all service animals wear distinguishing vests. Carma wears only a tag. And, sites that claim to offer a registry are scams. They take money and send merchandise like vests to customers, but they don’t ask for verification of disability. These sites are helping those who make false claims they have a service dog, providing them with gear that, to an uneducated eye, can be very misleading.

What is Emily’s style?

This is, after all, a style blog, so I had to ask Emily about her own personal style. She told me that part of empowering herself was to get back to her some of the things she enjoyed in her life before she got sick. Back then, Emily was a singer. She’s good, too! Sciarretta has been making appearances locally to get back into the swing and has also received modeling offers (yes, she’s pretty, too). A clothing line for the elegant outdoors woman called Camo Queens, has enlisted Emily as a model for its new line and she’s loving it!

A still from the Camo Queens shoot

She also participated in an NYC photo shoot for Raw Beauty, an innovative visual arts project designed to celebrate the lives of women with disabilities and, as they describe, “redefining beauty and unleashing potential for all women.” The photography exhibit is a collaboration between photographers and women living with various types of disabilities that showcases their beauty, power and passion. It debuted September 20, 2014 at ACA Galleries in New York City. The funds raised from the launch went to support the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.  The exhibit continues to tour the country.

It’s all part of Emily’s master plan to show others in her position, by example, that they can do things they may not have thought possible.

So, what is her personal style?  “If I had my druthers, I’d never be in a pair of jeans; I love dresses and gowns,” Emily exclaimed. “I love wearing things that are unique and colorful. I love pins; I have some of my Grandma’s. And, I love mixing it up with different styles.”

The beautiful couple, here with Carmel and Bastien.

What is Carmel’s style?

And, that takes us to the ever-growing collection of beautiful collars and leashes that Carmel possesses, thanks to her mom’s sense of style and friend/designer Sharon Romero of Around the Collar.  Bark & Swagger featured the brand last year and we’re fans, too! “I love Sharon,” Emily exclaimed.  “She’s a fantastic person and I love her work. I have six matching collars and leashes of hers for Carmel; ones for different seasons and occasions.” Of course!  And, they’re beautiful.

The latest and very special one commemorates Emily’s title and the ever-present companion who helped get her there. “I wanted her to have a special collar for the event in July,” Sciarretta explained. What she’s referring to are the national championships for Ms Wheelchair USA, taking place in Ohio in July, when Sciarretta’s reign ends. Emily and Carmel will be there, representing the state of New York. And, Carmel will be wearing a gorgeous Around the Collar set, featuring metallic gold, with blue and clear crystals, celebrating both the colors of New York (gold and blue) and the colors of Canine Companions (yellow and blue). Isn’t it stunning?

And, of course, Frank will be there cheering her on. This time, he’ll be with Drew, his new 2 year old yellow Lab mix service dog who just graduated from CCI November 6th. His beloved Bastien passed earlier this year, a very difficult time for Frank. We know how close we get to our fur babies. Imagine the deep bond between a service dog and their human, when that person relies on that dog for so much?

But, Drew officially took his place with the Sciarretta family and he is a gorgeous boy. “He makes me laugh so hard,” Emily said. “He’ll come over and kiss me so much, he gives me a facial!”

Frank & Emily at Dogfest, with Drew and Carmel

Emily Sciarretta continues to share her joy and passion for life, and those who’ve come into contact with her are better off for it. She and Frank both look at the positive side of life and don’t let their circumstances get them down. And, that smile! Emily has a radiant smile she wears often. Some of that hopefulness is in her character and the wonderful relationship with Frank. And, some of it she attributes to her best furry friend, who’s seen her through so much. As Emily likes to say about what service dogs are doing for their humans, “They’re changing our lives, one wag at a time!”

Leaving you with a beautiful piece about the couple and their lives, done by Fios 1 Heroes of Long Island; interview by Jodi Goldberg.

To learn more about Emily.

For more info on Miss Wheelchair USA.

Do you know an inspiring person in a wheelchair? What’s their secret to a fulfilling life?

Do you have any animal shelter stories? Maybe about one you love? After moving to Fort Lauderdale, I decided I was ready to get involved with a local shelter to help walk dogs and do what I could to brighten their day. A new friend suggested Abandoned Pet Rescue, South Florida’s never kill shelter, a term I hadn’t heard before and learned was different than a no kill. Never kills keep animals their whole lives, if need be, and only euthanize if the animal is in pain and can’t be cured; in other words, if their quality of life is awful. The first time I went there, I knew I was hooked. This shelter is the little engine that could and they are saving lives with hard work, love and not much else.

APR is an all-volunteer facility that houses over 300 animals, mostly cats and dogs. Some were found wandering the streets, some were pulled from the municipal kill shelter and some were just plain dumped on their doorstep. Hard for us, who love our animals so dearly, to imagine how or why people do these things. But, thank goodness for shelters like APR to take them in and care for them, give them a safe haven and love, until they find their forever homes.

Susie Hansen, one of the first people I met there, oversees the shelter and is the only original board member left (she’s the Treasurer). By day, Susie is the accounting person for a McDonald’s franchisee. By night and weekends, she is tirelessly working to help the animals in her care.

Nine pounds of love is changing my life

APR is where I met the two Chihuahuas I’ve been posting about on Facebook and Instagram. I fell in love with this father/daughter duo, who’d arrived as Mai Tai and Mimosa, as they looked expectantly out from their cage, eager for any shred of attention and love. They’d been rescued from an extreme breeder hoarding situation and I got lucky that first day, when I asked to walk them.

Anabelle

Albie

You’ve seen their pictures; can you blame me? These four and five pound Chihuahuas hadn’t been out for a walk yet, and I was told they’d probably never been walked or ever felt grass under their paws. I was so excited to be the one to introduce them to this favorite canine activity!

It was such a beautiful thing!

I carried them across the street to a nice grassy area and sat down. The little boy sat like a statue for about ten minutes. Then, he gingerly got up, took a couple of steps, then starting hopping up and down, running around and playing with unabashed joy! His ears were erect, his eyes were shining and he had the most beautiful smile across his face; it was probably one of the most profound experiences I’ve had. The little girl is a princess; she daintily sat herself down, walked around, happy, but too regal to embarrass herself with such overt behavior. LOL

To make a very long story short (some of you may know the story from my social media postings about these babies), I was given another honor; that of renaming the babies and I also made it my mission to find a loving home for Albie (short for Prince Albert) and Anabelle (said princess). When a promising adoption up north in New Jersey didn’t work out and I couldn’t find another good option, I took the pups in and am now fostering them. Sophie, Jasper, Anabelle and Albie are all still getting used to one another (it’s only been 4 days), but it looks promising. Ask me in a couple of months and, who knows, I may have become a foster fail (for those who’ve never heard this expression, it means we’ll have adopted them). 🙂

Albie (foreground) & Anabelle in my NYC apt

That brings me back to APR. I’ve fallen hard for them, too. I’ve gotten to know some of the people who’ve dedicated themselves to being there every day, like Barbara, Linda, Debbie, Marina and many others, keeping this little engine that could running. Yes, there are other very deserving shelters out there in the world. Maybe yours. But this one is mine, and they have their big annual fundraiser coming up this Saturday, November 7. I”m putting it out there to please give.

They are introducing a special buy a tile program called Imagine A Future…Build It Now, and will erect a dedication wall at the shelter. With every tile purchased, you save lives and help provide the food, bedding and other essentials necessary to care for these animals. Each tile is a blank canvas to express a sentiment about a much loved pet that becomes part of the mosaic of this wall of hope. The tiles are very stylish; made from grey Metropolitan Quarry stone, and cost $100 each to purchase. There is a limited number of them, so if you’re interested, don’t delay.

But really, to make a difference and pay it forward, all you need to do is give whatever you can. Go to APR’s site to donate. If you’re in the Fort Lauderdale area, you may want to attend the fundraiser. It’s called Arts & Auctions for Animals and takes place in a very cool artist loft space (many of the committee members are artists and some are donating their pieces). The poster above will take you to the purchase tickets page. Some of my colleagues in the pet space have generously donated auction items, like Peace. Love. Paws. and Brothers Pet Nutrition, and local business owner friends like Sophil Gems and Acacia. It’ll be a fun night of good people, food, entertainment, a silent auction and a great cause.

Adoptables

Here’s a gallery of some of APR’s adoptable dogs. Aren’t they beautiful? If you’re interested in any in particular, each picture is linked to that dog’s profile page.

Terry

Polly

Fiona

Fiona’s daughter, Fontina

Candy

Lilly

Maya

Roxy

Brownie

Bronx

When I go into APR, I see all of those expectant faces. They don’t understand why they’re there; why they were treated so badly or abandoned. Just making their day a little better by showing up and spending time with them is already making a difference. Would you help, too, by giving whatever you can?  Thank you, Bark & Swagger Family!!

Do you have a favorite shelter in your area? Tell me about them!

Who doesn’t love the Peanuts gang? I got to meet Snoopy and a gaggle of adoptable puppies at the ASPCA the other day, a lovely way to draw a close to Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. The ASPCA arranged with Twentieth Century Fox Film, the makers of The Peanuts Movie, out this week, for the most famous Beagle in the world to pay a visit.  What we didn’t know was that Ruby would wander in and make our day.

Because larger dogs are harder to adopt out, the ASPCA launched a special promotion last Friday whereby, if you adopt a dog over 30 lbs, they would deduct the dog’s weight from their normal adoption fee, and each adopter would go home with a free leash and pet ID tag. Arthur Hazelwood, Senior Director of the Adoption Center, brought in the sweetest mix, Peach, who was surrendered by her family back to the ASPCA, after having lived at the shelter for years. Peach is 8 years old and great with everyone.

Peach

When Snoopy showed up, the place cheered; I mean adult media people and all! Peach took her photo opp; she even gave ol’ Snoop a kiss!

When Peach was ready to go, they brought in the puppies. These kids were sooo cute, they had all of us cooing and aww’ing and, of course, playing with them, along with Snoopy!

And, then Ruby showed up, a vibrant, Miss Personality, wrapped in a three-year-old body, flaming red hair and enough wattage to power a planet. Ruby stole the show! Her dad let us know she was a Peanuts fan and was excited to meet Snoopy. Shy, at first, she eventually was coaxed to give Snoop a high five.

But, when her attention turned to the three bundles of furry cuteness, what self-respecting three year old could resist? Here’s where it got really interesting, as Ruby navigated engaging with Snoopy with immersing herself in puppy love.

Ya think she’s having fun? Sheer, priceless joy. Ruby, now fully warmed up, found the courage to give Snoopy a cuddle, too.

A great time was had by all, the important message of Adopt, Don’t Shop was delivered, the ASPCA launched their adoption promotion and one very charming little girl left with a big story to tell. She even got to do an interview for my Pet Life Radio show. You’d never know it was her first, the way she was reaching for that mic. A star is born!

The Giveaway!

Our takeaway was a cool gift bag of Peanuts swag! If you’re a fan or you know one, the winner will get an adorable Charlie Brown tee shirt, size L,  an awesome Peanuts trucker hat, a color one sheet on the film and it’ll all be in an official The Peanuts Movie bag. Check them out!

How to enter

Just make sure you’re on our email list, so you’re a part of the Bark & Swagger Family! Then, Like us and the ASPCA on Facebook, Follow us and the ASPCA on Instagram! The giveaway will run from Tuesday, November 3 at 9pm EST to Monday, November 9  at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

Did you do something special around Adopt A Shelter Dog Month? Tell me about it!

Couple Hilary Sloan and Noah, with Ella Bean, and Suzanne Donaldson, aka Mrs. Sizzle, and Edie.

Do you prefer buying from socially conscious brands? I do. I like when brands I trust are doing their part in the world to help others. It’s like paying it forward.

I just went to this great Howl-oween fundraiser for the Humane Society of New York the other night, where some of the dog stars of Instagram gathered to draw attention to adopt, don’t shop, when adding a furry member to the family. It was organized by healthy, human grade dog biscuit brand, Maison de Pawz, and held at the tony Longchamps store on Madison Avenue. Many of the brands lucky enough to be included in the silent auction, give back as part of their corporate culture.

A favorite of mine, the pet carrier Bark n Bag, was one of those companies who donated to help raise funds. We recently gave a beautiful carrier away on Bark & Swagger. If you missed out, stay tuned until the end of this post, when you can enter our giveaway to win!

Chloe Kardoggian & Ella Bean hang out in their Bark n Bag Traveler Weekender

Yes, I love that Bark n Bag because the carriers are made well, comfortable and functional, but I also love that they routinely donate carriers to a host of animal shelters around the country, as well as 10% of the company’s net profits. Brand founder/CEO, David Fine, walks the walk; he is on the board of Broadway Barks, a wonderful organization that brings top talent from Broadway shows together to help raise money for shelters and hosts a big adoption drive at its annual Broadway Barks event. Bark & Swagger covered Broadway Barks in the past. Fine’s own rescued pup, Foster, an adorable Chihuahua, came from The Humane Society of New York.

Cubby in her glamorous, Going to the Met confection

While more and more brands give back, the adorable doggy stars of Instagram are pounding the pavements to help draw attention to adopting. And those in the house last night were rocking some seriously creative Howl-oween fare. Senior rescued Chi, Chloe Kardoggian (@chloekardoggian), rocked an El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) suit, specially hand-drawn by mom, Dorie Herman – so beautiful! You’ll remember Amy & Danny Cox took top prize from the Tompkins Square Park Halloween contest honoring that holiday, as well.

Pint-sized, rescue Ella Bean (@ellabeanthedog) wore a rocker grrl moto jacket and cool shades; Gizmo (@newyorkdog), went as Frida Kahlo because mom, Lisa, works at the famed The Strand bookstore where Frida is a fave.

Gizmo (aka @NewYorkDog) with mom, Lisa, expresses herself a la Frida Kahlo

The hostess with the mostest and founder/owner of maison de pawZ, Mei Zien, wore a colorful vintage kaftan with a floral headpiece, accompanied by her gorgeous American Eskimo dog, Tyler, in solidarity with Chloe as a Dia de los Muertos doggy (drawn by Dorie). Also rocking an authentic, cultural costume was Cheeky, of Dog & Co. Mom, Melinda Montney, picked up a traditional kimono in Japan and created this very cool Japanese-inspired hair bun with flowers, which Cheeky kept tossing off.

Style arbiter and friend, Suzanne Donaldson, aka Mrs. Sizzle, showed up looking New York sharp with her adorable pup, Edie, patiently donning her little bat ears and wings for the occasion. Fashion photographer, Chantal Adair, better known as The Dog Styler (@thedogstyler), was snapping her top picks of the evening in a cool metallic blue top. And, some gorgeous pups up for adoption from the Humane Society of New York, of course, couldn’t miss out on the hot event (who could blame them?). Thanks to Anne-Marie Karash, Associate Director and Rebecca Mitrisin, both of the Humane Society of New York, for being such great chaperones for the pups – two adorable Dachshund/Beagle mixes and an American Eskimo, Roger, who was a spitting image for Mei Zien’s Tyler.

Cheeky, of Dog & Co, in her authentic kimono, purchased in Japan. Nice!

Anubis in a regal Egyptian costume.

Nina Rappaport with Holly of @hollyhappyhavanese; Elle Durin with Mochi of @mochiandthecity

Maddie as Groot with mom, Kelly Jones

Riley channeling his inner rap star, as Eminem, wearing his studded Poochieboots

Christina with Pebbles of @flintstonespups as love angels

Anyone for a fruppachino? Starbarks, that is!

ZZ models her western wear-inspired costume

While humans munched on yummy hors d’oeuvres, delish treats went to the dogs, provided of course, by maison de pawZ. Mei held a couple of flavors up to my nose for a whiff, and I swear they smelled better than some of the stuff I buy from the bakery. Lucky pups!

A bevy of  brands turned out to donate to the auction, including Longchamp, LazyBonezz, Barkbox, Martha Stewart Pets, Found My Animal, Evermore, Hilarious Hound pet photography, Puppy Parties NYC, the amazing photographer, Sophie Gamand, and these cool, new brands, Poochieboots and DEN Dog Beds.

Christina Megill with a DEN Dog Bed she donated to be auctioned.

The sold-out event was a resounding success, raising money in the four figures, with guests taking home a lovely collar from luxury brand, LazyBonezz, to remember the night. I wonder how Jasper will feel about tooling around Fort Lauderdale in a metallic gold, zippered style? Can you say metrosexual? LOL

With the holidays just around the corner, where giving is a given, why not seek out brands that pay it forward, knowing you’re supporting those that give back?

The Giveaway

If you missed the event last night and the opportunity to bid for this great carrier, here’s another chance to own that same Bark n Bag, the Traveler Weekender! To enter, make sure you’re on the Bark & Swagger email list. Then, just follow us on Instagram, Like us on Facebook and do the same for Bark n Bag and you’re entered!

A beautiful Dachshund/Beagle mix, already a perfect poser, up for adoption at The Humane Society of New York

The bag’s details are:

• Inspired by antique trunks used for extended trips by stagecoach, train or steamships.
• Puts a new eco-friendly spin on old world charm. The fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles, bamboo rafters and an organic cotton absorbent liner.
• Dimensions are:

Small: 16″W x 9″H x 9″D. For pets up to 14″L x 7″H. Maximum weight: 8lbs
Medium: 18″W x 10″H x 10″D. For pets up to 16″L x 9″H. Maximum weight: 16lbs
Large: 20″W x 11″H x 11″D. For pets up to 18″L x 10″H. Maximum weight: 22lbs

The giveaway will run from Sunday, November 1st at 9pm EST to Saturday, November 7th at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random. 

As we’ve just wrapped up Adopt A Shelter Dog Month, let’s agree to make adopting our go to choice. Make every month Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. As actress Joanne Worley, President of Actors and Others for Animals and a friend/longtime customer of Bark n Bag , said, “My little rescue dog, Harmony, is a constant reminder to me of how important it is to take care of our animal companions and friends.” Let’s do our part to help take care of the animals of the world.

Hope everyone had a great, safe  Howl-oween, and can’t wait to see the creations on display next year!

What did you do for Halloween?

Kabuki meets ghoul with Theresa Wong’s Day of the Dead costume, with Bebe, as Batman

This blog post is sponsored by Bark n Bag, which means we were paid to create and feature this content. Regardless of the payment received, we only feature products and services on Bark & Swagger that we use, love and/or feel our readers would benefit from using. All sponsored posts on Bark & Swagger will always reflect our honest and unbiased opinions.

The big winners – Amy and Danny Cox with Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead.

A pup pack, all dressed as sheep, being herded by their humans, dressed as sheepdogs? A majestic black Great Dane, shining as a knight in silver armor with his warrior princess? A couple dressed in mardi gras meets muertos, with their three ghoulishly grand turned out Chihuahuas? It must be the Thompkins Square Park Halloween Pet Parade, which featured my picks of the best Halloween pet costumes this year!

It was quite the experience this year! This annual event, now in its 25th year, was co-hosted by Ada Nieves and actor/fashion designer, Stephen Lyndon Kramer Glickman, and was sponsored by Purina Beggin’. 10,000 attended, most with their pets, with close to 400 costumed contestants throwing their pointed, sequined or other festive hats in the ring to win the coveted prize of best costume of the year.

Which was the lucky one to capture the thorny crown? Dia de los Muertos was the big winner, created by my friend, Amy Cox. It was, by far, the most intricate and cohesive costume ensemble. Amy worked on her Day of the Dead piece de resistance for months, making everything herself, including her three Chihuahua’s designs.

“I shipped a box that weighted 137 lbs to the hotel for this,” she declared. I asked her what this holiday means to her, and here’s what she said. “Dia de los Muertos is a holiday where, especially in the Latin community, it’s a celebration of life. For those who’ve passed onto heaven, it doesn’t mean they’re not here with us. So, it’s a celebration of them. We spend a lot of time in Mexico where I do animal rescue, so I thought I’d bring some of that spirit of life to NYC, which I feel is a very lively place, too. It’s a holiday that is very colorful and spiritual, and I really enjoyed bringing all of the elements together.” Amazing job, Amy!

Another highlight was the adorable ensemble Dorie Herman, mom to Instagram dog star, @ChloeKardoggian, cooked up with some fellow Instagram notables. The group, including Cookie of @ps.ny, Ella Bean of @EllaBeantheDog, Mochi of @MochiintheCity, Royce of @RoycetheFrenchie, among others, dressed up as a herd of sheep, with their humans dressing as sheep dogs. It was super creative and Bark & Swagger met up with them as they were getting ready and Periscoped them walking, en masse, into the event.

Here are highlights of my day at the Parade!

Dog stars of Instagram strutting their stuff as a herd of sheep

Chloe Kardoggian with mom, Dorie, flanked by Cookie of @ps.ny, and Mochi of @MochiintheCity.

Chloe Kardoggian as an adorable sheep in the herd

Cookie of @ps.ny, dressed by mom, Olia, is ready to march as one of the herd of sheep

Ella Bean of @Ellabeanthedog, is playing it cool in her shades as one of the herd of sheep. Stay tuned for mom, Hilary’s, own pet fashion line.

Mochi of @MochiintheCity is looking extra adorable in her sheep costume.

Holly of @HollythehappyHavanese cleverly dressed as a pup shopaholic. Note the attitude she already possesses.

Three precious Chihuahua-centric Little Pigs

The fabulous Anthony Rubio, as Bravo’s Andy Cohen, accompanying bestie Sarah Jessica Parker, portrayed by the beautiful Kimba, in a ravishing rendition of Sarah’s Met Gala couture creation. Bravo!

Rob Robb with Bogie in an Anthony Rubio-designed rendition of Ben Affleck’s Batman costume.

A space-aged warrior princess with her silver armored black Great Dane steed

The adorable @therealpupdaddy was in the house

Lion meets Tiger

Remember those jewelry box ballerinas? Gia Marie and mom, Victoria, rock it.

Oscar, the mobile server farm dog

It’s Back to the Future!

Even the Pope has a cruiser. The Pope Mobile.

Hope you got a good taste of the creativity, time and passion for their pets those who attended this year showed. It was exhilarating to see and so much fun to participate in. With the way this parade is growing, I think they’ll need a bigger venue soon!

Stay tuned for more fabulous pet fashion stories!

What are you dressing your baby up in this Halloween? Tell us your most unusual pet costumes!