Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Oh wait… napping and being lazy is part of each and every day for the pets here (punctuated by walks and hikes, but mostly the easy life).

This holiday was no exception.

Here is a recent “action shot” of Argos. The camera is blurry from the crazy activity.

Before…

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

'scuse me I am trying to rest here...

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Not A Creature Was Stirring

This is great program giving a ‘second chance’ to shelter dogs and veterans who could benefit from a service dog. And really, don’t we all benefit?

Happy Holidays.

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Camp Bow Wow Offers Second Chances To Shelter Dogs And Military Veterans
Nation’s Largest Pet Services Company Partners with Freedom Service Dogs to Raise Funds for Training of a Service Dog

(New York, NY – December 14, 2011) – Camp Bow Wow, the nation’s largest pet services company, in conjunction with its non-profit organization, the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, announces the launch of “Operation Freedom Tail,” a philanthropic initiative aimed at raising funds for Freedom Service Dogs.

Through the efforts of Camp Bow Wow’s numerous Colorado franchises, the company hopes to raise enough funds to pay for the training of a service dog which will be paired with a Colorado-based disabled Veteran.

Freedom Service Dogs works exclusively with shelter dogs, therefore giving second chances to both the dog and its Veteran partner. With the increase in the number of Veterans returning home from military endeavors, there is a greater necessity for Service Dogs than ever before; the number of Veterans with disabilities in the United States is currently estimated at 5.5 million.

Dan, a Vietnam Combat Veteran diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will be matched with a Service Dog being trained with the funds raised by Camp Bow Wow. Dan has been struggling with PTSD for over 40 years. Recently, he met a few Veterans who are also living with PTSD, all of whom had been paired with Service Dogs. Hearing their stories and learning about the positive results that the Veterans are experiencing each day with their furry companions has inspired Dan to become involved with Freedom Service Dogs in order to positively counter his affliction.

Camp Bow Wow is accepting cash donations to “Operation Freedom Tail” between December 15, 2011 and April 15, 2012 via the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation Website, or at any of the Colorado Camp Bow Wow locations. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation will also be matching funds dollar-to-dollar up to $10,000 of the total funds raised.

“We are excited for Camp Bow Wow to be part of the Freedom Service Dogs program,” said Sharan L Wilson, Executive Director of Freedom Service Dogs. “It is highly significant to have such an influential pet services company help with this initiative – not only to raise money for training a service dog for a Veteran, but also bring awareness to the program itself.”

“We are proud to launch ‘Operation Freedom Tail’ to help raise funds and awareness for Freedom Service Dogs and the meaningful work of this organization,” said Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow. “We believe that through our efforts, we will help to create a life-long friendship between the trained dog and Veteran, while helping a shelter dog find a wonderful home!

For additional information about Freedom Service Dogs and its disabled Veteran program, please visit: http://www.freedomservicedogs.org/programs-disabled-vets/operation-freedom-disabled-vets/

For additional information about Camp Bow Wow or to find out about Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies’ military discount, please visit: www.campbowwow.com, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

A Win-Win for Dogs and People

Today I am spotlighting my sister’s work. She is a graphic designer who, for the last two and a half decades, has worked in publishing, designing books. As much as I love books, I have to admit I was first in line for an e-reader. Much to the chagrin of my sister.

But seriously… no more shipping charges, no more overflowing bookshelves, and so light and easy to carry several books on a trip. It is hard to resist the lush color and photography that pop out of the book apps on the iPad, too.

And penguins! Who can resist penguins?

For the e-book, Our Amazing World: Penguins, Kris collaborated with Dr. Wayne Lynch, a former emergency room doctor, science writer, wildlife photographer and author of many books, including a penguin book written in 1997.

Here is the latest penguin book, first of a series titled “Our Amazing World” that will feature animal and travel topics.

I didn’t know what to expect – I figured 10 to 12 pages of gorgeous photos and captions, but was quite surprised to find 65 stunning pages, with photos of all types of penguins, from around the world. Even penguins in forests and deserts(!).

Each page has a caption and then a more in-depth description ‘below’ (swipe the page downward) the photo. There is a lot of penguin information here.

This book is great for the penguin-lover and penguin-newbie. This book is also great for kids, students, photographers, and budding photographers, like me. Something to aspire to, even if I never travel to these beautiful, faraway locations.

Share the Penguins!

Great gift idea (and no shipping charges)
This 65-page full color ebook is available on iTunes for just $2.99. Great gift for yourself, friends and family!

Are you a blogger?
There are a limited number of review (promo code) copies available. Please contact Kris to discuss obtaining a review copy.

Disclosure: I purchased this app for this review. (No promo code for me.) Kris is my sister, but I am not financially affiliated with her, this book, or Matchbook Digital LLC.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Psssst! Penguins!

Argos, in particular, requires cushy comfort wherever he is. Want to calm him down in a new situation? A loud gathering? A boat on the water? Throw a bed down. Ahhhhh! He goes right to it, and gets comfy. He was even gifted his very own special bed by my friend.

Not to worry – we have several pet beds, but not one in every room. I lug the beds around depending on where we are going to settle for a bit. But sometimes I forget. Sometimes we are in a room… without a dog bed.

Argos acts insulted, sighing heavily a few times, pacing around, doing some turns before giving up and laying on the carpet. Oh, the things he must endure. Argos will stay in a room with a dog bed instead of joining the rest of us without a dog bed. Until he can resist it no longer.

Because of this, he sometimes gets beat for the best spot, as what happened the other day. Purl wasted no time getting in on the comfy-ness.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Early Purl Gets the… Comfy Bed

For me, fall is always the time to reconsider – to learn something new, get organized, take a new direction. Sometimes all three. I will be updating and changing lots of things in the coming weeks, which is both daunting and exciting.

For now, check out another cool use for SAND (besides Purl’s discovery of how FUN it is to dig in!).

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

In Search Of…

A little uncharacteristically, Sophie hopped right on the new bed as soon as I opened the box. Usually, it is the cats and the Greyhounds who take over all pet beds with their various sleeping arrangements.

Purl requested to be the chief tester however, to put the bed through testing.

Nice. I can sleep on it.

And… look! It is also a toy!

Then I found that the label had been chewed off.

Sophie reclaimed the new comfy bed, now that it has passed through Purl Testing.

Continued…

Part 2 (my review) of the Eco Nap bed

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Purl Tests Out A New Bed

Yellow Ball as Her Binky

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Teva’s story continues

We have snacks. We have fresh water. Lots of chat time. And dog cookies – must have dog cookies.

My pet clan is staying home, but we’ll be back soon.

As much as I want to pack you, Quincy, not gonna happen.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Road Trip!

A peek at a typical Quincy Day

Just minding his own business. Or is he?

Just a regular morning. Or is it?

Look closely...

When bored of the Invisi-cat Shield, there is always the Invisi-cat Couch.

Note: the black fabric is *supposed* to be attached to the underside of the couch. :-/

Bengals are known for their love of water. We fill up a sink or tub for him to play in, but of course the pet water dish is the most fun of all.

Every morning I find water, toys and 'stuff' in the dog water. I wonder why.

Let’s take a closer look. Apparently, the water tastes better if you give it a good swish or two.

Oh, how the kitties love their cat climber. It is a gym on a pole.

This cheap cat climber was the best investment ever. Hours of fun. And...

Since the cats run full tilt at this thing many times a day, I didn’t even look up as I was eating breakfast. But then I heard crashing and thrashing.

...apparently a way to get up on the teeny tiny valance rod, walk across, and lose your balance.

This makes for a very tired kitty.

Yep. All in a day's work.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

All in a day’s work