Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

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Unsketch – An Amazing Gift For the Pet Lover in Your Life

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When I was a kid we waited with anticipation for the stores to put up holiday decorations. Old school? Halloween decorations didn’t go up until October. Thanksgiving? November. Christmas? December. The last time I was in my local grocery store, Halloween candy and decorations are already up. I’m sure the day they come down, the Christmas decoration  will be up.

Which is why I have no hesitation in sharing with you, a great Christmas, or any special ocassion gift, for the animal lover in your life. Heck, why wait for a special occasion?

This post is sponsored. I’ve been compensated for sharing my thoughts and opinions about Unsketch, but rest assured, I will never share something we don’t love ourselves.

This gift is so amazing, you should go treat YOURSELF right now.

It’s an Unsketch.

I know what you’re thinking. What the woof is an unsketch? Well you can click over to their website, or you can let me tell you and show you!

Unsketch is a technology where your pet’s photo is scanned into the computer. It is enlarged, and looked at under various lights, to ensure the artist sees the nuances in the photo. Then using something called a scratchboard, bits and chunks of the photo are removed leaving you with a photo of your pet that looks like it was sketched!

I was initially contacted by Lara Hurst, who asked if I’d be interested in a custom portrait.  After checking out the website, I couldn’t wait to try it.

I chose to have a portrait of Delilah done, and I sent over two photos to Lara via e-mail. Lara e-mailed me back and let me know that one of the photos was perfect!

This is the photo Lara thought would work best. (It’s also one of my favorites.)

I expected the unsketching to take some time, but within a couple of days, Lara had e-mailed me a proof of the product.

When I first looked at it, I was uncertain because it seemed like there was something ‘off’ around Delilah’s eyes. I was nervous to say anything because I didn’t want to offend Lara. Eventually, I found what I thought was a tactful (if you know me…well…you know, this is how I like to be, but it’s not always how I am) way to ask about the eyes.

There was something that seemed off to me around her eyes.

Lara immediately responded and wasn’t offended at all. She WANTS you to be happy with the finished product. So she sent me another proof, which when I wasn’t focused on her eyes, I thought she looked very dark against the dark background.  Lara was so kind, and so easy to work with. She happily tried to pull more of the photo out to lighten Delilah up and then BOOM!

It was perfect.

I couldn’t wait to hold it, and see it finished. Lara said she’d send it right out, and even provided me with a tracking number. I thought it might take some time, but I had it in like two days.

Delilah Unsketched

Originally, I had kept it a secret from Hubby because I intended to gift him with it for Christmas, (good thing he doesn’t read this blog,) but that went right out the window the minute I saw it.

I’m not going to lie, I did get some tears in my eyes, it’s just so beautiful. Alright, alright, I know you want to see it too, so here you go!

This is Delilah “Unsketched” Photo courtesy of Lara Hurst at Unsketch

I chose to go with a 5×7 portrait, but Lara also offers them in 8″x10″, 11″x14″ and “20”x24″. When you check out the website, you’ll notice that these portraits are not limited to dogs and cats, there are also horses, and bunnies, so these are the perfect gift for any animal lover.

What better way to gift someone, and honor their beloved family member than with a custom portrait?

I highly recommend Lara and the Unsketching photos. Lara is super easy and accommodating to work with, and I think you’ll agree, the finished product is absolutely stunning.

So tell me, what do you think of the Unsketching idea, and which of your furry loves would you have Unsketched?

You Make Me Smile – September 10, 2017

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You make me smile, (or laugh), the sweet, funny, loving things my dogs do, that make me smile.

I’m not always fiesty, but when I am, I like to destuff toys.

Since partially tearing his CCL, Sampson doesn’t get a lot of playtime. But lately we’ve been trying him on something new, (more about that in a later post), and he’s been feeling a wee bit feisty at times.

Some days, he tries to play with Delilah a bit, but we typically put the kibosh on that. So lately, he’s taken to grabbing a toy and running a wee bit, then settling down and de-stuffing it.

That’s exactly what happened in this photo.

Sampson was excited I was home, grabbed a toy and before I knew it, there he was, lying on the floor with the glory of his de-stuffing surrounding him.

I looked over at him, and he looked so darn cute, I couldn’t help but smile.

I Write To Save Lives – Remember Me Thursday

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Unless you’ve been driving the Rover on Mars, or living under a rock, you know that a good portion of Texas is suffering from Hurricane Harvey.  Watching the stream (forgive the pun) of people who refuse to leave their pets behind is heartwarming and heartbreaking. I feel like in this day and age, one shouldn’t have to make such a choice.

Of course, there are still asshats who have tied their animals up, or left them in crates to die, but I’ve seen a good majority of people and organizations working to saving the animals.

Watching this all unfold on my TV and computer screen, I’m reminded of the Hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, August 29th and Rita, October 26th). In fact, the Lake Charles area of Louisiana which was severely impacted in those two Hurricanes, is also being affected by Hurricane Harvey, and began evacuating 12 years to the day of Hurricane Katrina.

Let’s Talk About Pet Adoption
Our sweet Delilah came to us from Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was in a high kill shelter, and I’m ever so grateful American Lab Rescue pulled her from there, and placed her in foster care, where she eventually found her way to our home, and more importantly, our hearts.  We can only guess her background story, but based on some of her behaviors, we are guessing she was either displaced because of either Katrina or Rita, or she was a result of a dog that was displaced from one of these Hurricanes.

Chocolate Lab

“Baby” Delilah – The only picture I have where she looks remotely like a puppy.

Now more than ever, it’s so important to shine a light on animal rescue.  There are millions of animals placed in rescue every year. Some, like Delilah, get lucky, but so many more don’t.  I won’t share those numbers here, because it breaks my heart to think about it.  My husband always tells me I can’t save them all, but damn it, I sure want to!

I’m ever so grateful to all the rescue groups out there, that walk the walk, and talk the talk when it comes to animal rescue.

I Write To Save Lives
One way I can help these millions who are homeless is use this blog, and my words to shine the light on these precious beings. This year, I literally am shining my light for animal rescue.

While I was at the BlogPaws Conference in Myrtle Beach,  SC, I stopped by the Helen Woodward booth, and spoke with the ladies from Remember Me Thursday.

I’ve known about the Helen Woodward Animal Center from my friend, Jackie Bouchard.  Who has been volunteering there for as long as I’ve known her.

Remember Me Thursday is a global initiative that takes place on September 28th, 2017.  On that day, people and organizations from all over the world will literally light up social media in a campaign designed to encourage more people to adopt shelter pets.

You can help us spread the word, by snagging one of these virtual ‘candles’ and sharing it on your social media channels.

Cat and Dog Virtual Candle

I love them. I love how they have dogs, cats, dogs and cats, rabbits.

If you check out their site, you can ‘light a candle’ in memory of one of your furry babies, and definitely grab a graphic and help me light up Social Media on September 28th!

The wonderful team at Remember Me Thursday was kind enough to provide us with a goodie box, full of items to help us spread the word about this great campaign.

Besides the great posters, there is a bandana for Delilah, and a Tee-Shirt for me.

We’re styling’ for Remember Me Thursday

And of course, we’ll be shining our light on September 28th! Will you join us?

 

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