My Fire Hydrant

My little, skinny sweetheart! Newly adopted last June from Small Paws Rescue.

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know that I work in Consumer Relations at Iams. October 1 starts my favorite time of year: Iams Home 4 the Holidays!!

This adoption event is the heart and soul of our company. We partner with Mike Arms and the Helen Woodward Animal Center along with over 3,500 shelters and rescues world-wide to get orphaned pets adopted into furever homes. We’ve done this since 1999, and over the years we’ve helped over 5.8 million orphaned pets get adopted. This year’s goal is 1.5 million!

Not everyone can adopt a pet, so this is our second year for the Bags 4 Bowls program. We will be donating up to 5 million meals to animals in need, but the number of meals depends on “audience participation” (this means YOU). This blog post is an example of audience participation. It’s part of a blog hop. For every blog that joins the blog hop, we will donate 100 bowls of food!

Over the next 3 months, we’re going to be doing all kinds of fun projects that will result in food donations. If you can’t adopt, here are some ways that YOU can also participate:

• Become a fan of the Iams Facebook page, and use our Petmail to send a customized adoption announcement or a seasonal greeting to your friends and family. For every card created, we will donate meals to shelters in need.
• Now that your a fan of the Iams Facebook page, look at the photos, videos, and wall posts and “like” the ones that appeal to you.  For every “like” we will donate meals to shelters in need.
• When you shop for Iams food, look for specially-marked bags that mention Iams Home 4 the Holidays. For every bag purchased, we will donate meals to shelters in need.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and generate some food donations!!

The Saucy Pooch, one year after adoption.

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This week, in support of Petfinder‘s Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week, I am posting adoptable Small Paws Rescue pooches every day. Don’t you need a Fluffy Friend?

What a sweet little gentleman! Huck is a very friendly, very laid back and a wonderful senior kind of guy. He loves to run around outside and explore, so he needs a fenced in yard. He has some cataracts, but he walks well on his leash and he’s house broken. He’s a very easy dog, who is not a picky eater. And there’s a really adorable video of him that will make you fall in love–with him!

Huck needs a home!

This week, in support of Petfinder‘s Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week, I am posting adoptable Small Paws Rescue pooches every day. Don’t you need a Fluffy Friend?

Meet Rocky. He’s a sweet 7-year old boy who just wants to be loved. He’s a happy little guy who gets along well with other dogs, but would also do well as an only dog. He love to snuggle and cuddle.

He has a frozen knee due to an old injury but it doesn’t bother him and doesn’t require medical attention. And he’s also diabetic. He gets 2 insulin shots a day–and he doesn’t mind getting them one bit.

Rocky also has diabetes and receives 2 insulin injections per day. The cost of his insulin and syringes per month is approximately $25-30 dollars. Syringes cost about $10 per month and the insulin is $50 per bottle but it lasts a long time! (2 months or more) He is not bothered by this routine at all. In fact, when you say come and get your medicine, he runs down the hallway like he is going to get a big, juicy hamburger!

Rocky is fully house trained and crate trained–which is an advantage of adopting an adult dog. When he needs to be taken outside he goes to the door and gives it a little tap. If you don’t respond, he’ll lay down in front of you and STARE at you until you let him out!

He’s a cleaver little gentleman, and would be a wonderful addition to your home.

Cooper and Mason

Since this is Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week AND ALSO Deaf Pet Awareness Week, it seemed appropriate to check in with my friend, Michele–who shares her life with less adoptable pets, deaf Boxers.

Last year, Michele was dealing with the news that her Boxer, Cooper, had been diagnosed with Stage III Mast Cell Cancer. And also adjusting to adding a 4th Boxer to her pack — Mason — because Michele failed Foster 101. Both Cooper and Mason are deaf.

Michele tells me, “In the past year, Mason has learned over 20 signs but his favorite sign is ‘good boy.’ People who see us walking always ask about him and his deafness when we sign; they say they would have never thought a dog could communicate through sign. I also still get calls from people who have deaf dogs. And also from people who realize their old dogs are going deaf. And I think my old girl is losing her hearing some too — she startles a lot more as she is getting older — but she knows the signs, so we communicate.”

Michele goes on,

Geddy, Mama Michele, and Mason

So a little over a year has passed since our lives were touched by a new Boxer in the house, can I just say it’s been a whirlwind!

Bailey, Cooper, Geddy and Mason are all sleeping on my bed as I write this update.  Sleep is what Cooper does most of his days now.  The vet is completely astonished that we still have him in our lives and he is doing as well as he can.  The cancer has spread to some organs but he seems to be still happy when he’s awake and will take any opportunity to lie on my lap…. Which of course no matter what weight loss he has had, he’s still a BIG boy!

Our Bailey has had two tumors removed from her this past year, both were benign which is a blessing, however she had her shoulder injured last fall with a run in with our crazy pup and her arthritis has really kicked in.  She still runs the roost and is the Queen around this house!

Geddy is still our sweet boy and has enjoyed Mason the most since we got him.  They are the best and worst of friends… we call it the love hate relationship as Mason gets the most pleasure out of torturing Geddy!

Then there is Mason…. Or as we like to say, the DEMON SPAWN!  Oh yes, I have to say he’s tested my patience this past year!  He’s every Boxer owners nightmare with bad behaviors… he’s mouthy, he loves to destroy toys… he’s torn up any toy I can find, which includes the ones that say SUPER TOUGH or UNCHEWABLE!  That makes me laugh when I bring them back the next day.  He was a challenge to get him crate trained, to not chew on everything he could in our house and walk on a leash without wanting to chew it up also!

He also is my youngest son’s best friend, who will wait by the window every day without fail 5 minutes before he gets off the bus.  He will fall asleep with him at night and slowly creep out of his bed once he’s asleep as to not wake him up and he has the sweetest face anyone could imagine. He has a special sense about him when the older dogs are not feeling good, always “trying” to be on is best behavior or giving them extra kisses on the head when they are laying down.  He is so smart, sometimes too much for his own good, but he has learned so many signs, he knows the routines when we leave or go to bed and although he was this little guy when we got him, he towers over all the other dogs with his gangly “pup” legs!  He is a blessing and as I look over on the bed, his head resting on the back of my Cooper, I realize he’s brought new life into Cooper as well and may just be what’s helping us keep our house full of Boxers!

Mason

Both Mason and Cooper were classified early on as “less adoptable dogs.” How lucky for them that Michele saw their potential. And how lucky for Michele and her family. These two sweet boys are well-loved members of Michele’s family. They just communicate with their human pack members in a slightly different way.

Not less adoptable. Totally more adaptable.

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If you’re interested in more information on what great pets deaf dogs can make,
visit Deaf Dogs Rock.

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This week, in support of Petfinder‘s Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week, I am posting adoptable Small Paws Rescue pooches every day. Don’t you need a Fluffy Friend?

Gentle Petunia

I featured Little Petunia last year during Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week. She is a sugar-challenged dog: She’s diabetic and gets one injection each morning.

She’s a very clever older girl. Her eyesight is not so good, but once she learns her way around the house it’s not a problem.

Like many older dogs, she comes to you already housetrained. She likes her crate. She enjoys riding in the car and walking on her leash. She enjoys the company of other dogs. She’s also gentle and loving. She’s a blend of Bichon and Maltese. And (added bonus!) she knows how to stand on her hind legs and do the Bichon wave!

This little girl enjoys people. She’s and affectionate bundle of fluff who only wants to be petted and loved. Seriously, how can you resist that sweet face? Is Petunia the dog for you?

This week, in support of Petfinder‘s Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week, I am posting adoptable Small Paws Rescue pooches every day. Don’t you need a Fluffy Friend?

OK, so this little guy has a small problem with his liver–so his condition is managed with medication and a special diet. Not to difficult to handle because the medication is not expensive, and Cole likes the special diet he needs to eat.

Cole is a kisser and a lover. He likes women, but he loves men. He gets along very well with other dogs, and will need another socialized dog in the family. He’s only 2 years old–so he’s still very young. To be honest, his foster family is still working on his housetraining.

Even though Cole has some challenges, he will make someone a very wonderful furbaby. Maybe that someone is YOU!

Ms. Snowball 6

This week, in support of Petfinder‘s Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week, I am posting adoptable Small Paws Rescue pooches every day. Don’t you need a Fluffy Friend?

Snowball is another little Fluff who has been on the Petfinder wall for over a year. She’s a special girl. She’s blind. She’s just a bit shy, until she gets to know you. She needs for someone to schedule her potty times, because she doesn’t know how to ask to go out.

And she’s also known as Snowball6–Bichons, being white and fluffy, can be commonly mistaken for snowballs.

Snowball used to have a family, but they had to give her up for adoption. While she waits for her new home, Snowball is being fostered in Colorado with a Small Paws volunteer family.

Snowball knows how to walk on a leash, but she also enjoys a fenced-in yard. She is house-trained. She’s very loving. And because she’s a senior gal, she’s very mellow.

Do you like to stay at home? Snowball will be very happy to keep you company! This sweet girl is just waiting for you to fill out the adoption form and bring her home to become part of your family!

This week, in support of Petfinder‘s Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week, I am posting adoptable Small Paws Rescue pooches every day. Don’t you need a Fluffy Friend?

I mentioned Southpaw last year–and he’s still on the Petfinder board looking for a home!

SouthPaw

This sweet boy is very playful and an excellent snuggler. He enjoys playing with his toys. His blindness does not stand in the way of a walk on a leash, if you will help to guide him. He has a HUGE personality! He enjoys the company of other dogs–but he needs to get comfortable with them first due to his blindness. And play, play, PLAY! This little man is a playboy!!

He is quite simply the most adorable gentleman pooch you may ever meet. He’s a little tiger in a Bichon/Poodle body, with peach-tinged hair and a delightful face.

Southpaw is sight-challenged: he has cataracts. But the dogtors say that this can be fixed with surgery. This has not stopped Southpaw from learning his way around his foster home and having a good time. You’ll notice in his photo that he also wears a belly band. Southpaw is slightly incontinent.

He loves to snuggle with his human, but he also will play or nap by himself. He enjoys sleeping under the covers! This boy has got it all!

Don’t you need a playful cuddler?