Author: Just-Do-Something

Ah, Spring. For most people it’s a season of renewal and new beginnings. But it’s also the season when my email starts blowing up with messages from concerned animal lovers and advocates about big cats and cubs being exploited at fairs all across America. It happens at big state fairs and tiny community fairs. The busy Spring/Summer fair season means constant travel and misery for tigers and lions.

I’ve learned to dread fair season.

I receive heartbreaking calls about big state fairs with circus acts featuring adult tigers. Most fairs last about 10 days. That’s TEN days the lions and tigers are confined to their tiny transport cages, other than when they are being forced to perform three or four shows a day in front of gawking, noisy fair patrons. Temperatures hover around 100 degrees during many of these fairs.

Last year, the Nebraska State Fair hosted a traveling circus act with tigers and lions. The fair’s website boasts that the circus cats would be “on display all hours.” They even promoted the show as being located in their “Family Fun Zone.” Shame on them. Seeing tigers and lions forced to perform as entertainment and being on display 24/7 is certainly NO fun for the cats. And what message does it send to impressionable children? The wrong message that these majestic cats are ours to use and profit from however we wish.

The saddest calls I receive are from animal lovers begging me to do something to help tiny tiger or lion cubs being used for photo opps at fairs. Exhibitors exploit cubs as young as three weeks old by charging fair patrons to hold, feed or have their photo taken with a cub. Often there is a long line of fairgoers awaiting their turn. All day long and into the evening, the cubs have to contend with constant jostling, noise, lack of sleep, screaming kids and camera flashes. The cubs are usually so exhausted from lack of sleep – some even appear to have been drugged so they remain “calm” while being held — they can’t even hold their heads up. Many become very ill and suffer diarrhea and other maladies.

Last year the Florida State Fair had a 4-month-old tiger cub named Takara (pictured below) on display. She lived in a dog carrier inside a very small chain-link fenced cage for all 11 days of the fair. For $20, up to six people at a time could enter the cub’s cage to take photos and pet her.

When I heard about the awful situation, I contacted Florida State Fair management to express my concerns for this poor cub. I also went to the fair with a few other Big Cat Rescue volunteers to check out the exhibit and tiger cub ourselves, since this abuse was happening right in our own backyard of Tampa.

We were appalled at the condition of the tiger cub. She clearly seemed drugged; her behavior was well beyond sleepiness or lethargy. Her fur was matted and dirty. When the handler roughly pulled her out of the dog carrier and placed her on top of it, she barely opened her eyes. One of the volunteers I brought along was a veterinary technician and it was also her professional opinion that the cub was drugged. We were within inches of the cub and she was able to evaluate the cub’s eyes and behavior. There were also several spots of diarrhea in the sawdust surrounding the cub’s cage.

I believe stopping the abuse and exploitation of wild animals used as entertainment is the social justice movement of our time.

In this day and age, it is unconscionable for fairs to host exhibits where captive exotic cats are bred and used as entertainment, taken from their mothers shortly after birth so they can be used as lucrative photo props, forced to perform, and subjected to living and traveling for weeks at a time in small cages and semi-trailers.

So what can YOU do to help? The most important way is to NEVER pay to hold a tiger or lion cub and to NEVER patronize any fair or other venue that has a circus act with big cats. When demand for big cats and cubs dries up, the abuse will end too.

Susan Bass is Director of Public Relations at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida. Her primary role is expanding the reach of the sanctuary’s advocacy work and developing strategies and initiatives to bring the issues of big cats in captivity and in the wild to the forefront of the public and media. She can be reached at Susan.Bass@BigCatRescue.org.

You can find BigCatRescue.org on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube.

I started Shop for your Cause as a way to help small non-profits raise much needed money, as well as create a platform where highly engaged Member’s could help influence the world around them. After fundraising for the world’s largest environmental NGO – the World Wildlife Fund – I knew that there had to be new and innovative ways to help other, smaller, non-profits fundraise.

Shopforyourcause.com is an online affinity shopping mall, click-to-donate, and activist site. We help the every day consumer influence their favorite cause with each purchase they make at thousands of large retail stores. We also allow people to take daily actions, such as clicking for their cause. Each daily click to one of our webpages raises two pennies for their favorite charity. Aside from ways to fundraise, our Member’s can sign petitions, take pledges, and follow our blog to help positively influence the world around them. Animal rights and environmental organizations inspire most of our actions, but we want people to be able to help any cause they care about.

I have personally rescued many animals and am an avid outdoorsman, so I am able to spend my days helping influence the world around me in ways that I truly am passionate and care about. It is nice knowing that there is a large group of people who want to engage in causes that mean something to them.

I encourage everyone to use Shop for your Cause and help positively influence the world around them via their daily actions.

– Rob Smith
   Founder and CEO

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Come find and connect with Shop For Your Cause!

ShelterMe Producer, Steven Latham, talks animal welfare and crowdfunding with Sarah Timms, Founder and CEO of new nonprofit crowdfunding platform LoveAnimals.org.

Sarah: How did you get into producing films and documentaries?

Steven: I had a background in studio from the executive side from working at Paramount and Universal. In 2000 I quit my job at the studio to produce and direct my first film series, which I worked on with Barbara Streisand, called Living Century. The series told the stories of 100-year-old people who had lived through three centuries! It was so fascinating to work on. From then on, I decided to only work on projects that I think contribute to the national conversation on history, technology, animals, and other interesting topics.

Sarah: What’s it like to produce the ShelterMe series?

Steven: ShelterMe is my favorite of all the projects I’ve done. I felt like it HAD to be made. I saw a big deficiency in the way that shelters were being communicated about and perceived. The public wasn’t seeing the real story about how special shelter pets are. It’s been a privilege to travel the country and show how these animals add so much to our lives and why we need to inspire people to get involved with their local shelters.

Sarah: Tell us about your new episode of ShelterMe – New Beginnings.

Steven: New Beginnings is hosted by Allison Jenny and contains two stories. One story is about Wings of Rescue and their mission to fly 128 shelter dogs from over-crowded shelters to a community in Idaho where there was great demand for rescue pets. It is such an uplifting story! We filmed the flight in March, and since then we’ve flown over 1200 pets to safety in a number of different places in the Northwest. People can learn more about the program and support it though our crowdfunding campaign.

The other story is about a woman who travels around the country teaching shelters how to do playgroups. This simple idea becomes transformational. Her story is so inspirational, and gets dogs outside, playing, and adopted!

Sarah: How did you get involved with Wings of Rescue?

Steven: At ShelterMe, we focus on creating and using best practices. Literally anyone can duplicate our process, and they should! I talked to several groups and was most impressed with Wings of Rescue because they are organized, they’ve shown results and they are successful. They do transports responsibly and transparently. They do the paperwork and always know where animals are going and that the animals will always be well treated. Plus they don’t have any administration costs. They manage to fly a dog for just $88 – that’s $88 to fly a dog to safety and a new home. Every penny that is donated to our crowdfunding campaign pays to get a dog on a flight.

Sarah: Why did you decide to start crowdfunding for Wings of Rescue?

Steven: When we came across this story about saving lives through transport and learned that we could make a big impact, we wanted people to participate. We needed funds to rent the planes. This project was the perfect candidate for crowdfunding: because of the show people could see the transport process with total transparency – everything you see in the film is what you’re contributing to. Crowdfunding is a way for viewers to get involved and be part of it and see what they are funding. Furthermore, there is no overhead and no salaries – literally every penny goes to getting a dog on the plane.

Sarah: What did it feel like to film the first arrival of the dogs in Idaho?

Steven: Arriving was INCREDIBLE. Over 100 people were at airport waiting for the dogs. The anticipation! People were running onto the tarmac to meet the planes. You go from places where there are so many animals and not enough people to adopt them; animals become numbers despite the best efforts of staff and volunteers at over-crowded shelters. Then, we go somewhere where they NEED animals. They are loved and appreciated immediately! I shed a tear – well a lot of tears. I was with these animals from the time they were in kennels alone through to them being adopted and in a family. The spirit of ShelterMe is that you cry tears of hope! Change comes from inspiration, not desperation. We are trying to tell good stories AND empower communities locally.

Sarah: Is there one particular animal that has touched your heart since you started the ShelterMe series?

Steven: Champion the German Shepherd has a great story: he was found skinny, weak, and barely able to walk on the streets in Compton, CA. At five years old, he would get overlooked at the crowded shelter. We touched down in Idaho, and he was able to touch grass for first time. He is now living on a 688 acre ranch! He was so sweet and went through so much adversity. All the dogs are awesome and they’re all worth fighting for. They are worth bringing new ideas and opportunities to shelters to give them that chance at life.

Sarah: What is one action you would like people to take after watching New Beginnings?

Steven: I want people to participate with these transports! The story is so moving and now these animals have incredible lives! The only thing that is holding us back is money; we could literally save more lives with more money. Any amount will go to saving a shelter pets lives immediately! We currently run flights monthly and want to do more. On each flight we save over 100 animals, lets save thousands more. This is happening RIGHT NOW. See the story, get inspired and get involved to save lives.

ShelterMe New Beginnings is currently airing on PBS.

– Sarah Timms, Founder and CEO of new nonprofit crowdfunding platform LoveAnimals.org.
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The Top 5 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog

When you are looking to bring a new, adopted dog into your home, please think about our older dogs.

It is tempting to adopt a puppy because, well, how can you resist a puppy? But, if you stop to think about it, there are a lot of advantages in adopting an older dog. And, wouldn’t that make you feel even better that you gave an older dog a home?

Below are five reasons why senior dogs are easier to manage and should be adopted!

1. Older dogs are more predictable

Older dogs tend to be more predictable in their behavior patterns. You usually see what you get. While an adopted or older dog might be shy or timid, their behavior patterns are generally set and they tend to be more settled. With proper love and care, a shy dog can easily adapt into a warm and happy dog. Yet, with a puppy, they have has so much growing up to do that their behavior is less predictable in the short term.

2. Don’t you love your sleep?

With younger puppies, the likelihood of their sleeping through the night is slim to none. Their bladders are not fully developed and can usually last only four hours before they need to be let out of the house. However, with an older dog, the chances are pretty high that you can get a full night’s sleep.

3. Older dogs tend to be housetrained

When you adopt an older dog, there tends to be a lot less ‘clean up’ from the start. It is common knowledge that puppies go through the housebreaking process and will most likely leave their little marks all over the house. And, most puppies, are teething and like to play a little rougher so who knows what they will eat or chew.

With an older dog, they are usually house trained and less likely to rip up your furniture since they don’t have that abundant energy and have already been through that phase of their life. Don’t get me wrong; older dogs come with their own set of issues and/or old habits, but they are almost always housebroken.

4. Older dogs are easier to train

While some older dogs are a little set in their ways, most are easier to train. The older dogs are more relaxed and have a greater attention span. Therefore, they look and listen more readily. Think of taking an older dog on a walk opposed to a puppy. The puppy is all over the place and excited running back and forth whereas an older dog is less likely to run off and ignore you.

5. Older dogs are less likely to be adopted

The most important reason to adopt an older dog is that they are usually in the shelter longer. Most puppies are the first to go and the easiest to adopt. Therefore you are not only giving the dog a new home, but sparing him or her for life in a kennel or even worse. And, older dogs will so appreciate the benefits of a new, loving family whereas a puppy doesn’t yet know the difference. You and your older doggy will be the better for it!

There are so many reasons to adopt an older or senior dog, so please try to be open-minded when you are looking for a new dog for your home!

Lisa Fimberg is the owner of petpav.com, a pet social network that is like Facebook for pets. She also writes weekly articles on pet care and pet advice. Lisa is a huge advocate of adopting pets.

PetPav on Twitter!  PetPav on Facebook!

CARING FOR WILD OTTERS

Here I am sitting on the Isle of Skye where I work for the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF), a charity whose aim is to protect and help the 13 species of otter worldwide. It is a very varied and worthwhile job and I am responsible for the care of orphaned and injured otters, education and general day to day running of the charity. But how did I get into this?

It is a long story which took me from south of London where I grew up and on to Keele University, near Stoke-on-Trent. I have always loved nature and wild places and one of our university field trips was to Skye – I was hooked and decided that I definitely wanted to live on the west coast of Scotland.

My husband and I moved here in 1980 and we watched our very first wild otter on a cold spring morning on 8th March 1985. We weren’t looking for otters but were fossil hunting on the shore at Glasnakille, near Elgol, on the Isle of Skye. It climbed out onto a rock right in front of us and from that moment we were captivated.

At this time we were running wildlife holidays and so people knew we were interested and they would bring us injured birds and animals. In 1988 we found ourselves caring for seals during the terrible phocine distemper virus outbreak. This was the real start of our involvement in wildlife rehabilitation and we became a registered charity. We also had our first otter casualty in 1988, but little did we know where this would lead.

Next orphaned cubs began to appear. Rearing cubs is a long process as they normally stay with their mothers for 12-15 months and have to be released at the same age. It is essential to keep human contact to a minimum so they are wild for release. We now receive cubs from all over Scotland and northern England and so far we have treated over 170 otters. We also provide help and advice for people all over the world. In fact we have helped with cubs from ten of the 13 species in 16 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Chile, Belize and Bulgaria.

In 1993 we decided to concentrate on otters and set up IOSF. What makes otters so special? Anyone who has been privileged to see them in the wild knows what a joy this is – the way they leap and dive in the water, how cute they look when they roll on their backs like a dog to groom their fur, and the sheer fun they have when they play on mud or ice slides into the water. But they are also a great ambassador to a healthy environment. Because the otter lives on land and in water and is at the peak of the food chain it means that both habitats must be in pristine condition, which is important for all species including our own.

IOSF is involved in a lot of work both locally and internationally – scientific research, practical conservation and education and public awareness. Otters are so often over-looked by governments and conservation organisations and attention is usually focussed on high profile species such as elephants and tigers. So we want to draw people’s attention to what is going on with otters in the world. As part of this we have the International Otter Awareness Day which this year will be on Wednesday 27 May, and anyone who wishes to take part can contact us at the email below.

There are 13 species of otter in the world, from the tiny Asian small-clawed otter, which is the one seen most often in zoos, to the giant otter of the Amazon – up to 1.8m in length! All of these species are listed on the IUCN Red List which means that they are all threatened. In fact populations of nine of the 13 species are declining worldwide. Of course it is nearly all related to man. Otters in Asia are in particular danger and so we have formed the Asian Otter Conservation Network to help people working in the region to share experience and seek help.

I would like to tell you more about otters in future blogs but in the meantime I would like to share some photos of just a few of the cubs we have cared for over the years. It is this hands-on contact which keeps us focussed on why otters are so important.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

For more information on IOSF, please go to www.otter.org or contact me at Grace@otter.org.

Find IOSF on Facebook!  Find IOSF on Twitter!

– Grace Yoxon

PHOTOS
All copyright IOSF

It started with this:

One small picture of a tired, worn, stray dog. Nameless.

I see hundreds of these kinds of pictures every day.  I receive them in my e-mail, they are posted in Animal Advocacy forums, they are part of Animal Petitions, they are shared by shelters and rescues.

Maybe it was the lowered ears, the way she looked into the camera, or the fact that even though she was in a miserable predicament with who-knows-what kind of hard life she had come from, she was wagging her tail. Wagging.

Maybe.  Or maybe it was ALL of that.

On this day, as a result of this picture, regarding this dog – she was going to live a beautiful life, because I was going to save her.

I had to look on the map to find out where Downey, California was.

Nevermind that I have never networked to save the life of a specific shelter dog before.

When you first go to rescue a dog, you think you have all the time in the world – at least that’s what I thought.  I was happy when the shelter gave her a name (Eloise), and even happier when others started sharing MY shares for her.  I felt this was going to be a piece of cake, and Eloise would be out of there before I knew it.

However, as the first few weeks buzzed by, Eloise wasn’t generating ANY interest at the shelter.  This was bad, because there are many shelters that are in-and-out, meaning, dogs are admitted, and within a very short amount of time, if no-one comes to pull or adopt them, they are euthanized.  And unfortunately, Eloise had landed in just this kind of shelter.

I started calling the shelter a few times a week, to find out if Eloise had found a forever family.  Each time, the answer was “no interest”.

This caused me great distress.  I ramped up my sharing, and along with that, found myself on the phone and computer, researching Southern California rescues, fosters, groups and veterinarians, trying to drum up some interest in Eloise.

Nothing.

Except, something. Out of my non-stop sharing and updates, more people began to take notice of Eloise. And that turned into a small group of very supportive and devoted individuals rallying together from different states to make a difference for this one lovely dog who nobody wanted.

By week three, the shelter took notice of this small group of people who took turns calling the shelter to check on Eloise.  Our persistence paid off, and Eloise’s first Due Out date came and went (the Due Out date is the date a dog in a shelter is scheduled to be euthanized). They postponed it because they were now aware that so many people on social media were sharing her.

Didn’t think it would be this difficult.  Didn’t ever think we would need to broaden our search for a good home to across the country.  But, if that’s what it took, then that’s what it took.

There is so much to know about pulling a dog from a high kill shelter and transporting him/her via a network of caring people who volunteer their time, money, vehicle/airplane and life to doing this.  Some transports charge, others put you on a waiting list.  And then, if the dog’s time is up at the shelter, where do you board the dog until transport can start? And, if you are transporting to another state, what are the certifications, vaccinations and other paperwork needed to either accept the dog into another state, and into another rescue? And I thought it was overwhelming before these new discussions began.

But now I was not alone. I had Team Eloise beside me, literally, morning into late night, EVERY day, helping further the goal to get Eloise out of that shelter no matter what.

There was always a plan. Plans can change on a dime, and ours were no different. We would have a Plan A, but then that would change to Plan B, and then that would change back to Plan A with an addendum. And then the addendum fell through.

And then it comes, the final days before the next Due Out date.  This time, the shelter was firm.  We had two days. Two.

And on that first day of what would be Eloise’s last two days, we had a very unexpected blessing.

Two of us on Team Eloise reached out to the same Animal Rescue in California.  And both of us received a reply.

It was decided that I would call the Rescue, and that’s when it became too easy.  Just like that, they would go get Eloise, and take her into their Rescue.

It was like, “sure, okay, we’ll take her”.

I had to ask them to tell me again because it was so effortless.

And just like that, Eloise was rescued.

The very next day, Eloise made her freedom ride to the start of her beautiful new life.

Just like that.

If you are one of the ones who are lucky enough to come across pictures of urgent animals in need, I assure you, there are not many feelings that top being able to do something to save or better that animal’s life.  Even if you have never done it before, I recommend making the effort to reach out to see what you can do to help.

I realize that not everyone can or will make the effort.  That’s a shame, because you will miss out on an extraordinary experience. It’s amazing to be part of something so wondrous as being able to save or better a life. And frankly, it’s our job TO reach out in compassion and help where and when we can.

Championing for Eloise was my pleasure and privilege.  It was not easy.  It brought an ever greater awareness of the plight of so many Eloise’s that never leave  the shelter, which made saving Eloise bittersweet.

But (BUT), a lovely life was saved. I learned a lot. I met some absolutely fantastic people that not only made a difference in Eloise’s life – they made a difference in mine.

I still think of Eloise as #Eloise, and it still feels strange not to be sending out social media reminders on behalf of her. I will take feeling strange over knowing that Eloise is in a good place now.

If you think you can’t do something, right there you probably can’t.  However, if you TRY, you will find out that you CAN, and that’s a pretty good feeling.

Tonight, as I post this, I realize that this would have been Eloise’s last night of life. I am grateful to have been able to save her life. I am grateful that I am the kind of person to always JUST DO SOMETHING. I think, if Eloise was able to speak like me, she would be grateful too.

FYI

Pulling an animal from a shelter by a rescue group takes time and money, and many times, it’s volunteers to who do this. So much goes on behind the scenes that we never know about.  For Eloise, thank you to New Leash on Life Animal Rescue for offering to take her, at no cost to Just-Do-Something.org. They would not even accept us paying the adoption fee.

If you are able to contribute to the campaign we set up for New Leash on Life Animal Rescue, please do.  If you can’t donate, you can share! EVERYONE can do that.
HERE IS OUR CAMPAIGN:  Campaign for New Leash on Life Animal Rescue

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share, and share, and re-share again for Eloise.  It helped make a difference.

Can our animal friends benefit from energy healing too?

Energy healing in its many forms has become a very popular way for people to enjoy deep relaxation and enhanced wellbeing. If you are an animal owner and have experienced this sense of peace for yourself, you might have wondered if your animal friends could benefit from some healing too. If this is the case, read on, because I’ll be explaining a little bit more about how healing works and how it can benefit not only you but also your animal and the relationship that you share.

Albert Einstein said: “Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not Philosophy, this is Physics.”

Every living thing is made up of energy. We can measure it, and even photograph it (using Kirlian photography).

Kirlian photo of a Coleus leaf:





All animals (including humans!) are made up of millions of cells which are inter-connected and inter-dependent. Chemical and electrical messages (in the form of hormones and nerve impulses respectively) constantly flow around the body, co-ordinating all its functions and – when well – maintaining a state of balance and harmony. This is known as homeostasis.

If something disrupts this balance it results in disease. The body is an intelligent system and it generally knows how to restore its equilibrium. Although this is a natural process, sometimes our bodies can be overwhelmed, or get stuck in a condition of disharmony. When this happens we can benefit from support to help ‘kick-start’ the journey back to wellness.

Energy Healing works with the life-force energy, aiming to bring it to a level at which this natural healing process can function at its optimum. It enables the body to fully relax and raises its energetic vibration, allowing healing to take place on many levels: physical, spiritual, emotional and mental. This makes energy healing very powerful and yet it has no negative side effects.

Animals are particularly receptive to this sort of therapy as they are generally very open and accepting without the conditioned concerns that we humans often experience.

Energy Healing:

•  involves the transfer of natural energy
•  relaxes and re-energises
•  stimulates self-healing ability
•  is non-invasive — there is no physical manipulation or massage involved. Only a light touch is used

It can be used to support many issues including:

• the immune system
• cell repair
• detoxification
• enzyme function
• oxygen uptake
• absorption of nutrients
• wound repair
• pain relief
• balancing
• release of endorphins
• a sense of wellbeing and calm

Each of us may have a slightly different understanding of the term ‘wellbeing’. To me, it is not simply the absence of disease. I believe that wellbeing encompasses all layers of our being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The details of how this looks and feels may differ for each individual, but for me, it is about being able to truly enjoy each day to the full, being comfortable with who you are and feeling confident and capable to deal with anything Life brings.

Our modern world has come to believe that disease is a ‘mistake’ of some kind, and that it is to be feared and avoided wherever possible. In contrast, I believe that dis-ease has a purpose. It comes from the body’s response to something that isn’t working and, if we explore the nature of the disease, it can lead us to identifying a trigger and thus deal with the issue and make any necessary changes in order to return to the natural state of balance. This greater awareness also helps us in maintaining a good level of health and reducing or avoiding disease in the future.

The animals that share our lives can be a great support in this. They have so much to give and teach us. They are there for us with unconditional love and acceptance and they offer us comfort and a non-judgemental presence when we are upset. They can also often act as mirrors for us, helping to reveal stresses and discomforts in our lives. For this reason it can be very beneficial to share an energy healing session with your animal. Not only will it help you both to feel relaxed and promote wellbeing, it will also enhance the bond of love and trust between you.

One area in which this is especially helpful is when an animal is getting older, or has become terminally ill. Healing can support you and your animal through this time, helping you to share a special closeness and to make the most of the time you have together; through this challenging period, and beyond.

Robyn Harris
Energy Healing Therapist

For further information or to contact me with any questions, please see my website: listeninghandz.co.uk. Please also feel free to download my brochure on bereavement and loss.

Please visit us on our social media pages: Facebook!  Twitter!  Google+!

Note:Healing is a very good complementary therapy and is beneficial in any situation, however you should always seek veterinary advice if your animal is unwell in any way.

I want to tell you a love story.

And it does start with Once Upon a Time.

Once upon a time, a wonderful man and a wonderful woman met, fell in love, and got married.

It was a complete and total love, one that weathered life’s ups and downs.  The kind of love that showed others “we’re here for the long haul, wherever that takes us”.

Sometimes, that kind of love can be consuming. leaving no room for others.

But not this love.

Their loving hearts were so big, and they had so much to offer, that they decided to adopt.

Our family first met Harley in 2002.  With a head larger than his body, and his body not much bigger than a red squirrel. it was love (again) at first site.

In fact, anyone who met Harley fell immediately in love with him.  He was just that kind of dog.

Small and feisty, fiercely loyal, unwaveringly protective, and faster than a speeding bullet – that was the Harleyman.

There was rarely a time when Harley wasn’t around.  Where Mommy and Daddy went, Harley usually went also.

Sometimes this proved challenging, and sometimes this was annoying – especially since Harley wasn’t always simpatico with other four-legged family members.  But, he was always welcome.

Mommy, Daddy and Harley were certainly, without question, the Three Amigos.  It showed, it was cute, and it was love.

It was love during paper training.

It was love during home-alone anxiety.

It was love during loud noises.

It was love during naps.

It was love during “don’t say the CH word”. (cheese)

It was love during zoomies and racing figure-8’s on the lawn.

It was love during <name a hundred other things>.

It was love during Harley’s illness.

It was love during Harley’s blindness.

It was love during Harley’s old age.

And, it was love during Harley’s time to pass away.

Every decision for and about Harleyman was made with love.

It was a complete and total love, one that weathered life’s ups and downs.  The kind of love that showed others “we’re here for the long haul, wherever that takes us”.

And now again, it will be just the two of them.  This wonderful man and a wonderful woman met, fell in love, and got married.

This wonderful love that included a wonderful dog with hearts so big that no matter what life throws at them, they will always carry Harley exactly where they always have – with them.

Rest easy now, Harleyman. You deserve it.

We love you.

Please note that this Blog item was originally posted and shared on Valentine’s Day 2015, but due to a website problem, it was lost.  We’ve reposted it again!

Do you pause in the middle of the day to sigh, thinking of your honey’s warm, wet nose, and furry ears? It’s love, and we know it — dogs and cats make the best Valentines ever. There’s no need to get them chocolates, and they have no use for flowers. In fact, these gifts are actually dangerous for them. But do you know why? Here are five great tips that help will keep your pets safe this Valentine’s Day.

#1 To Give or Not to Give

Are you planning to gift a loved one a new puppy or kitten for Valentine’s Day? You may want to reconsider. Mull it over and do your homework — animals are not disposable, nor can they easily be repackaged, regifted, or returned if the recipient is not pleased.

#2 A Rose is Just a Rose

But then again, a flower or plant can also be a something that hurts your pets. The aroma from your Valentine’s Day floral arrangement may be too enticing for your dog or cat, and it only takes a nibble to cause a severe reaction. Even small amounts may lead to cases of upset stomachs or vomiting, particularly if the plant or flower is toxic. Be extremely careful if your arrangement contains lilies, as these lovely flowers are fatally poisonous to cats.

#3 Restart the Heart

If your dog or cat should ingest large amounts of chocolate, gum, or candy, s/he may go into cardiac arrest. Be prepared this Valentine’s Day by learning the proper methods for artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary respiration (CPR) on dogs and cats, both of which can be found here.

#4 Skip the Candygram

Sugar-free candies and gums often contain large amounts of xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to pets, especially dogs. If ingested, it may cause vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and in severe cases, liver failure.

#5 Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Theirs

Everyone knows that chocolate causes abnormally high heart rhythms in dogs, among other problems. But not everyone is aware that baking chocolate is especially toxic. While an M&M or two on Valentine’s Day may not do any harm, a dog or cat that snatches a large chunk of baking chocolate from the counter may end up in the ER. It is essential to keep ALL chocolates out of your pet’s reach. Yes, even that last raspberry-filled nugget from the assorted box of chocolates no one ever seems to want to eat.

Remember, ANY medical issue needs prompt attention, so keep your veterinarian’s number in a handy place that everyone knows about.

Do you have a Keep-Pets-Safe Valentine’s Day tip? Share it with us, so others can benefit!

Your tip may be the tip to keep a four-legged someone out of harm’s way!