Did you ever wonder where your pup came from? Former CNN producer and Dogland author, Jacki Skole, did. Her rescue, Galen, sparked a desire to revisit her journalistic past and she set out on a journey to discover Galen’s roots. What Jacki didn’t expect was what she’d learn about the shelter system in America, about the South and its complex relationship with its dogs. Dogland: A Journey to the Heart of America’s Dog Problem explores the serious issues facing American shelter dogs and the heroes advocating for them. It’s a page-turner and this is a giveaway! Read on to learn more about the book… [Continue Reading]

The beautiful Sunny, who started it all   Gentle, kind, appreciative, calm…these are just some of the adjectives you might use to describe a senior dog. What you may not immediately think of is high risk. Senior dogs in shelters often represent the highest risk population, where nearly 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. It’s very encouraging that, over the past few years, organizations like The Grey Muzzle Organization, authors, even Instagram dog stars like Marnie the Dog and Chloe Kardoggian are drawing more attention to the joys of adopting seniors. Today.com writer/editor/producer, Laura T.… [Continue Reading]

The fashionistas sitting pretty on the red carpet   We honor our pets all year long, but since 2007, did you know there’s also a Pet Parents Day? I didn’t. It was apparently founded by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), and while it’s an unofficial national holiday, I think how we feel about our pets deserves a proper day of recognition, don’t you? So, in honor of Pet Parents Day, I thought sharing a milestone event my friend and fellow pet blogger, Carol Bryant of Fidose of Reality, created last week was pet perfect! Who’s getting re-married?!… [Continue Reading]

  Today is National Pet Day, and in honor, I’m sharing a new film by my friend, Larry Kay and my friends at Halo Pets. It’s called  P.I. Woof: From the Shelter to the Rescue, and this, the first episode, is called Smellbound. It’s a really cute story with a great message, and it shows how a dog from the shelter has potential many don’t see without training. On this day, we honor our pets (like we do every day), and in P.I. Woof, Kay began with the premise, What if we trained shelter dogs like movie dogs? He’s been making… [Continue Reading]

Dan Taylor & Harley   It was all about dogs making a difference. The American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards Gala Luncheon at Mar-A-Lago the other day filled me up with inspiration and admiration for the dogs, their humans and all they do. We were celebrating the dogs who were chosen by the public as the 2015 Hero Dogs, in categories like Military Dog, Search & Rescue Dog, Emerging Hero Dog and others. And, lucky us, some of them were there. Come inside the opulent Trump-owned club with me, meet these amazing animals and hear their… [Continue Reading]

  This is the one they’ll never forget. The dog who was found, against all odds, two years later and from clear across the country. Harry, an 11-year-old senior Shepherd mix, was found standing steadfast over another dog’s body and refused to leave. It took Fort Lauderdale’s Abandoned Pet Rescue (APR) volunteers, Phil and Pam Voss,  two weeks to get him and, for the next two years, Harry lived at APR as Cesar. He was safe, well-cared for, but the lights were off in Harry’s eyes. “He was just existing,” described Susie Hansen, an original board member, who runs the shelter.… [Continue Reading]

Noah, feeling the almighty, powerful rock star he is   Do you have a blind dog or know someone who does? What about a blind shelter dog?  It’s Love Your Pet Day and, if ever there was one, this is a great gift of love for a blind dog.  I wrote about Muffin’s Halo a  year and a half ago, after discovering the product at an industry conference. It’s inventor, Silvie Bordeaux, created the product out of love for her at that time 13 1/2 year old toy poodle Muffin, who went blind due to cataracts. “I… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links Gypsy Once I met my shelter dog, I was hooked. Jasper and Albie are teaching me more patience. Ani taught me to look beyond the exterior to the beauty inside a tough, frightened little girl. All grew my heart so big with love, that in a moment of bliss with our pups on the couch the other night, I exclaimed to my husband, ‘They’re a wealth of riches!’ What’s better than being surrounded by these beautiful souls who love us and who we love so much? It’s Change A Pet’s Life Day, and… [Continue Reading]