And They Call It Puppy Love........

It’s been a few days since I’ve written because we brought home an adorable pup on Saturday night- and she has kept me quite busy. We did go to the adoption event Saturday morning but they only had older, larger dogs, and while there were really cute pooches, I wanted a puppy. We ended up at North Shore Animal League in Long Island by that afternoon and there were so many adorable pups, it was ridiculously difficult to choose.

There were two rooms of puppies and we looked at every single one for about an hour. Then workers just wheeled in another set of cages with new arrivals and she was in that batch. She was a quiet, mushy, black lab that stared at us with those “take me home” eyes. Another pup, a boy also caught our eye and we considered bringing them both home, but North Shore only allows one adoption at a time.

I cannot say enough about North Shore. Good Day NY’s Brett Larson first referred me to North Shore because that is where he found his beloved pooch, Dexter. Dexter is just the kind of lab mix I wanted, and Brett said they had quite a few lab mixes. The people who work there are wonderful and you can tell they really care about their pets. They were kind and knowledgeable and worked with you to find what was right for your family. Plus, the place did not even smell! The pets are so well cared for and given attention. I have never been to a shelter that cared so much.

After you choose your pup (or kitty), you go through an application process and they do background checks. You need utility bills, vet referrals, personal references, etc… And they do deny people from adopting their pets. I love this aspect because they don’t let their animals go unless they are sure they are going to a loving home. Once the application is filled out, ID’s handed over, and references written down, you go to an adoption processing center where you wait while they check you out and decide of you can adopt. Then they call you back in and let you know if you can adopt.

It’s exciting…you walk back in and they say Congratulations! And you feel like you won the lottery. After that, you pay an adoption fee and sign some forms while the vet assesses your pet. Then you meet with the vet to go over the pet’s health and discuss pet care. Our pup was given shots, dewormer, and given a clean bill of health. Sadly, some of the pups had upper respiratory infections due to stress and weakened immune systems. Many of the pups come from the South so there is no way of knowing exactly what each of them has been through. North Shore recently rescued over 65 mill dogs that were slated to be euthanized, and brought them from Missouri to their Long Island location.

The sick pups could still be adopted, but were on medications. They would be fine, but it’s heartbreaking that in their little eight weeks of life, they were subject to so much stress. We’re not sure exactly where our pup came from, but she slept like a baby on our laps the whole first day and it seems like she was exhausted. All these poor pups have been stressed in one way or another.

So now without further ado, I present Django (Jango):

She is beautiful and loving and very playful. When they handed her over to me and I walked out of the long corridor, it was similar to leaving the hospital with a baby. The kids adore her and so do we. I’m so thankful we went to North Shore and I would recommend anyone go there — it’s a very special place filled with love.

10 Strangest Items Swallowed By Dogs

My mother’s Schnauzer mix, Sha Sha, eats just about anything. I didn’t quite believe just how often she would quickly snap up everything in her sight until a few weeks ago when she swallowed a quarter and a nickel in the blink of an eye. The vet advised my mother to watch her for the next few days as the coins would likely pass. It’s a very common issue among dog owners and it doesn’t only happen with puppies. The majority of dogs do grow out of the need to eat inedible objects. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what a puppy would eat so it’s best to be vigilant about where you dog is allowed to freely roam. Many dogs and puppies have been known to swallow seemingly unsuitable items, which you might not find in any way enticing or preferable, but they do. Check out this list of the strangest things swallowed by dogs as witnessed by the ASPCA :

10 Cold Weather Tips for Your Pets

The frigid temperatures around the country are not just inconvenient; they can be incredibly dangerous for our pets. It's important that pets are kept warm and protected from harsh temperatures. Experts say frostbite can set in in less than 15 minutes, and animals are not exempt from this despite their furry coats. While frostbite is bad enough, hypothermia is the most dangerous hazard when the weather gets this cold. Signs of hypothermia include “violent shivering followed by listlessness, a rectal temperature below 95°F (35°C), weak pulse, lethargy, and coma.” It can become fatal very fast. It goes without saying that every dog and cat needs to be indoors during cold temperatures like these. I would argue, however, that dogs and cats need to be indoors during any cold temperatures. If you are cold, they are cold, simple as that. Outdoors is no place for pets.

10 Most Common Medical Conditions That Send Dogs to the Vet

No one likes going to the vet, especially our dogs. Like many others, my dogs can sense when they are going way before we get there. They get nervous and hyper. Some dogs whimper endlessly at the vet’s office while countless others have fear-induced accidents right in the office. While regular check-ups and vaccinations are a necessary evil, we can try our best to keep our pups in optimal health thus avoiding another dreaded trip. Veterinary Pet Insurance compiled a list of the 10 most common medical conditions that send dogs to the vet. Some are unavoidable while others may be caught early on. Dr. Carol McConnell, DVM points out that many of the conditions that most regularly require vet visits “can be stopped early or successfully managed in partnership with a veterinarian. To prevent some of the discomfort that so many pets experience from common diseases, the place to start would be by checking them regularly for developing problems.” Check out the full list here at Babb

Some Puppy To Love

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