How Can I Help?…Day Three Hundred, Fifty Six

November 21, 2011 By Jodi

Sampson did something very cute today and I was formulating the post in my mind, but I’ve changed direction and will share that story tomorrow.

Tonight, there are two dogs that are in desperate trouble and really need all the help they can get.

In Minnesota there is Lady, a foster dog of one of Blogville’s own, Mel Freer. Lady slipped her collar on Friday night and has been on the run ever since. To complicate matters, Lady is a fearful dog so anyone that sees her and tries to catch her may only succeed in scaring her further.

Lady

If you need more details, you can find it here.

The other dog in desperate need of your help tonight is in Connecticut, Sasha is a 3 year old Labrador Retriever/Hound Mix.

Sasha’s story is a sad one, living on her own in the streets for at least six months, she was finally captured but she went unclaimed at the pound. Her original rescuer rescued her again from the pound and housed her at the shelter where she keeps her rescued dogs. Unfortunately the shelter can no longer keep Sasha and she must be out of there by December 1st.

Sasha

Sasha has been evaluated and is an extremely sweet girl, however due to her time on the streets she needs to go to a quiet home with a fenced in yard as she is a runner. She will also need to learn some coping skills, Our Companions will provide training for Sasha. Free. Of. Charge.

I know what you’re saying, “I don’t live in Eagan, Minnesota or in Connecticut” so how can I help?”

We need to get the word out about these two special girls so here is how you can help. Share the links.

Either share this blog, or go to Mel’s blog and Petfinder and tweet it, stumble it, facebook it, e-mail it whatever you can think of. Then ask other people to do the same, the more people we have talking about this, the better chance we have of helping these two beautiful girls have a wonderful and loving Thanksgiving.

Thank for reading and thank you for sharing.

If you would like more information about how to find a lost dog, click here. You might want a cup of tea and box of tissues with you because it’s a beautiful story.

Communication….Day Three Hundred, Fifty Four

November 19, 2011 By Jodi

I was noticing today some different ways my dogs communicate to us.

Delilah barks when I am in the kitchen preparing her meals, she is communicating her need to be fed.

When the water bowl is empty the dogs will use their paw to scratch the bowl, communicating their need for water.

When Sampson wants attention, he will put his head on my knee and look up at me with his big, soulful eyes.

When someone he loves comes to the house, Sampson will “Roooo” his joy and prance up and down in anticipation.

When the dogs have to go out, they will run to the door and if we aren’t quick enough, they will bark or run back to us and then back to the door.

When they want to come in from outside, they bark “Hey open up.”

When Delilah is bored…..

She brings me her bone and wants me to hold it while she chews it. 🙂

Who says dogs can’t communicate, you just need to learn to understand what they are saying.

Antlers…Day Three Hundred, Fifty Two

November 17, 2011 By Jodi

Ever since I read about Shiva and her antler over on Rescued Insanity, I’ve been itching to get one for Sampson and Delilah. Okay, mostly Delilah because she LOVES to chew things up.

Sara knew how much I wanted to try them so when she placed her first orders for the retail area of The Mellow Mutt, she ordered antlers.

The Retail Area at the Mellow Mutt

One Friday on our way home from daycare, each of the dogs got an antler. Antler’s in mouth, they rushed out to the car and laid down for the entire ride home, not moving until I stopped the car. Normally when I stop the car, the dogs wait in the back until I open the hatch, and give them the release word.

I do this mostly to keep Delilah from darting out of the car and running into the neighbor’s yard, to scarf around for any crumbs the birds might have left on the ground.

This particular Friday though, I barely opened the hatch before Delilah jumped out of the car and tail wagging, head held high made a beeline for the door and directly into her crate where she noshed and gnashed on the antler.

Seriously, she made so much noise I had to look in on her. What I saw scared the living daylights out of me. She was chomping away and it looked like she was trying to SWALLOW the antler. I knew I had to take it away.

Not always being the brightest of dog owners I did have the sense to grab a treat I could exchange for the antler.

“Hi pretty, want to give Mama the antler in exchange for this tasty biscuit?” I cooed.

She fell for it. I gave her the biscuit and took the antler away. She figured it out as soon as the biscuit was gone and followed me into the kitchen where I placed the antler in a plastic baggie. As I did this I noticed the antler was tinged with pink. Yes, much like her Sister from another mother Shiva , she chewed so enthusiastically she made her gums bleed. I told Hubby I will have to find out how long you let the dog chew the antler.

So tell me. Do you give your dogs antlers? Do you have an aggressive chewer? Has a dog ever SWALLOWED an antler? Is that even possible, what would happen if they did would they need surgery? I can’t imagine passing an antler!