As many of you know, we recently bought an adorable puppy.  CLICK HERE

We registered him with the AKC and I saw that they offer pet insurance.  So it got me thinking... Does anyone have insurance for their pet?  Is this something that we should get??

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This has been an ongoing discussion between Rey and I for quite some time.  We did a lot of research on finding just the right breed for our family.  Well, we finally found him!!!  We decided not to tell the kids and surprise them.

He came all the way from the Big Island on the 10:00pm flight, Thursday night.  While the kids were asleep, Rey went to pick him up at the airport.  When they came home, I instantly fell in love.  He was so friendly and so full of love.  We played with him until 1:00am the next morning.  Rey slept with him in the family room since our new pet was probably freaked about the flight and now in a new surrounding.

The next morning, we took him into our Sage's room and placed him on the bed.  He immediately began licking Sage's face.  Sage woke up and to his surprise he just met his new best friend!  Sasha and Sierra woke up shortly after and were so thrilled!  All morning, all you could see and hear were lots of smiles and laughter.  No one wanted to get ready to go to school!  

Our new addition to our family is SPIKE (Sage picked his name).  He is a pure breed French Bulldog and only 5 months old.  He is so loving and mild mannered.  Spike loves to be cuddled and is always ready to give lots of kisses.  Because of his pug face, he snores when he sleeps which is the cutest thing ever!  Since we had him, he has not barked once (thank goodness! they are not noisy dogs).  Spike loves being around us and we enjoy his company as well.  I'm so happy that we made this decision because he brings such joy!

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So what do you do on those kind of days? Steal mum and dad's bed... Of course!!

Lazybum

Lazy

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You know that wonderful feeling of taking warm blankets out of the dryer on a cool fall morning and feeling how soft and cozy they feel on your skin?

Well, it seems Sly must like it too. He watched me do just that, padded around on the freshly dried blanket, and before I knew it, decided that a spin in the dryer might be a good thing for HIM!

Where The Warm Blankies Come From

Take Me For A Spin?

Next time someone says "take me for a spin," don't assume they mean in your car!

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Pet Health Library Veterinarian Approved Cats | Dogs | Horses| Fish | Rabbits | Reptiles| Ferrets| E

http://www.petmd.com/

PetMD is the largest global source of pet health information in the world today. Part of a global network of veterinary professionals, PetMD’s content was created by veterinarians for consumers and veterinarians.

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Pictures from Persacon, the anime convention myself and the roomies went to in Huntsville, AL back in June. We were costumed as our characters from the Flash MMORPG called Dofus.a

Today at 8:50 AM was the official start of my fall break--today, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I'm going to a show in Columbus tonight, to Southern Enchantments tomorrow, and then HOME!! I miss those little rascals waiting for me there.

IMG_0790

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Show us your favorite way to stay warm.

Scoop up one of these:

Lap Warmers

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What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

This QotD sounds familiar. My answer hasn't changed much in the past two years, although the aforementioned fiancé is now my husband, and he'll now drink teas other than peppermint. Spiced chai, no milk, and lots of honey is a favorite of his, but I take it sans honey because I'm strange and don't much care for sweet tea in hot or iced form. I'll also add that having a purring kitty on one's lap is another fine addition to rainy day activities.

We had some pretty serious afternoon downpours both yesterday afternoon and the day before. Lucky for us that they each occurred after we had returned home from Rosh Hashanah services for the day, but we did miss out on Tashlikh. Who needs to travel to a body of water when the road is looking distinctly river-like right outside your door? M and I might still go do our own version out at the duck feeding area near the botanical garden. I wonder what might be the implications of ducks and geese gobbling up the breadcrumb "sins" we cast into the water. Pretty wacky stuff, ritual, but Homo religioso (as we are somewhat whimsically denoted by those scholars that view spiritual tendencies as neurobiological imperatives, evolved as surely as the ability to distinguish color or develop language) seems to thrive upon it.

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We are watching Mocha for the week, or shall I say that Darrow and Beckett are watching Mocha. The two of them have been tending to her every need. I think she actually missed them while they were at school. I made sure to have classical music on all day so she would not feel alone when I left. The kids and and "their" dog enjoyed an afternoon snack in the yard together. 

Sent from my iPhone

Afternoon Snack

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Finally got a link to the pictures from the Wag'nTrail 08!
 
So here's a good copy of it, and a link to see the rest of the participants if you want!

Wag'nTrail 08

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Xylitol is deadly to Dogs !
        You may be aware of the risks of Xylitol to dogs.
        (an artificial sweetener used in diabetic foods, mints, chewing gum,
        Sugar free pudding,  etc.) 

        The  risks of xylitol ingestion with dogs:- (as little
        as 2 pieces of gum can cause death in a 20 lb dog). 
        
        Xylitol causes mass insulin release in dogs, leading to severe, acute hypoglycemia.         
        Symptoms in as little as 20 minutes, or as late as 12 hours: ataxia
        (staggering gait), depression, lethargy, confusion, seizures & death.
        Even if they survive the hypoglycemia, many dogs experience liver
        failure and death 3-4 days later. There is no antidote or "cure." The
        only option is to try and stay ahead of it by giving mass amounts of
        Glucose to combat the effects of the Xylitol until it finally
        metabolizes out of their system in 12-24 hours. Also, to check liver
        enzymes a few days later to see if your dog is experiencing fatal
        Liver failure - no real cure or treatment, just supportive care.
     
Xylitol tastes just like sugar, but with fewer calories, so there has
        been an explosion of products in the US with Xylitol added. 
        Strawberries & Raspberries are natural sources of xylitol.

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Urban Bean

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Clark

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O Hai!

I know I haven't been on Vox much the past couple of days; I'm just pecking out a quick post at work. We had switched our phone, cable and internet provider over to one company that offers a really good all-in rate. Everything seems to be working fine except my home internet. The connection seems fine, but none of the browsers are working. I've fiddled around without success. Mr BA gets home tonight from Toronto, so hopefully he'll be able to fix it.

So, let me tell you about my day yesterday. It started around 4 a.m., when I realized that Hector, our greyhound, was having violent diarrhea in the house. This was the result of him eating about about a half-pound bag of raisins that he somehow manged to steal off the kitchen island. So there I was, at 4 in the morning, cleaning digusting, sticky, raisin-studded poop from all over the floor. Meanwhile, Alex, the retarded whippet, is thinking, "oh, yum! Raisins and poop--two great things that taste great together!"  I had to shut him up in his crate, which he protested loudly. Of course I had to take Hector out repeatedly, and then it was time for me to get up and go to work anyway. Ugh. what a morning.

I came back home around 2 to wait for the cable guy. When he showed up, Hector--the dog that has never so much as looked crossly at a stranger--decided that Cable Guy was somehow threatening to his mummy. Maybe it was the big tool belt, or maybe it was just that Mr BA wasn't home. But he follwed the guy around everywhere, growling, and kept between me and the guy the whole time. He snapped at his toolbelt, and when he bent over he actually lunged at his face. Oh my god. I was so mortified. I kept apologizing and scolding Hector, telling him he was a bad dog. I tried to shoo him upstairs but he absolutely refused to budge (Usually I just have to look at him and  say "upstairs" and point, and up he goes). I tried to drag him, but he weighs 85 pounds. I can't imagine what was provoking this behaviour--the guy was totally normal, non-threatening, not weird in any way. 

Once the guy left--in one piece and not about to sue my ass, thank god--I decided to go out on our second storey deck to hang laundry. I saw that the door had been left open. Our cleaning woman was there in the morning; I figured she must have forgotten to shut it tightly. When I got out, I realized that Hector, at some point during the morning, figured that the deck would be a good place to have more raisin diarrhea. But that wasn't the end of the horror. Oh no.

As I said, the deck is on the back of the second storey.

The wood is getting old and weathered, and the spaces between the planks are quite wide.

We park the car directly under the deck

Do you see where I'm getting at with this, my people?

 I actually had to clean a massive splatter of dog shit (with raisins) off the roof and hood of the car.

Sigh.

Of course, when I related my day to Mr BA, he was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. Fucker. He owes me big time.

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Jennifer adopted Bubba when she was in college. She loved having him around, but admits that it was pretty irresponsible of her to think that she could handle the costs and of a dog while in school, not to mention being able to dedicate the time to take care of him. When you are studying, going to class, working part-time and keeping up with your college social life, when do you spend time with your furry friend?

What do you think?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/09/24/dorm.life.pets/index.html?iref=newssearch

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Never mind the silly headline, listen to this: they're gonna DNA-test dog shit (pardon my French), in order to fine the owners, who didn't clean after their pets. We're living in some kind of an apocalyptic novel. The full article (heb).

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reflected kitten

licking the window

Mr. Bonsey Bones

Luna Tunatic

Senior Bones in profile

Compliment of the day:
Lavender, You are a good pet owner
Thanks You Me! I try very hard.

Mr. Lavender has given me a two cat limit, I have three.
We take the best care of our lovely kittens that we can. They are each wonderful cats in their own way and they are all little shits. They do not get along. I did not capture a good photo of Helios, she is my 15lb orange and white tabby, she is a total cranky bitch and I love every ounce of piss and vinegar. We have had her for 9 and a half years. Then there is Mr. Bones, he is old. I found him almost dead in someone's garden on a photowalk one day, and I could not let him die alone. I knew he was a neighborhood stray as we used to feed him on the back porch. I brought him home a few weeks after the passing of my other  cat Twilight (XO, I still miss her, she died when all the pet food was being recalled Grrrrr) Mr. Bones is much better now, he gained a few pounds and has trained us quite nicely. His back legs are pretty messed up, he cannot jump or climb, he can barely walk. He Rows when he wants up on the couch and we pick him up, he lounges on the couch all day. And we come to Luna(tic), I fell victim to the "free kitten" sign. She climbed up to my neck and would not let go, she found a home. She LOVES to play, if anything moves it is her prey. I love them all so much.
Since we lost our sweet twilight last year during the cat food recall thing, we decided to make our own cat food. Helios lost a few pounds and became less cranky, Mr. Bones began to heal, and luna is coming up on two years and is barely mellowed. We use all organic local ingredients. Expensive, but our cats are healthy and we know they are not eating poison.


Now I would like to wish HOMEBODY A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
May today and the next year bring you Joy, Love, happiness, candy, hugs, goodness, kindness, light, cupcakes, purrs from kittens, safety, comfort, sweetness, music, dance, cotton candy, poetry, and much much more!!!
I have an old book that used to be my great grandmothers, it is called "Fortune Telling Birthday Book" she wrote peoples names and years they were born in this book, I was the last name she recorded inside before she passed. I have taken over, recording my own friends and family inside. Your Birthday Fortune reads:
you have an abundance of natural ability and with your mind made up, can accomplish much. You are impulsive and your intuition is more apt to be correct than your careful reasoning. You like social life and have many enjoyable interests outside of your home.

Enjoy Your DAY!!!

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My buddy K (Shiba Inu breeder) sent me pics of her latest little protegé, Basil. Only a few months old and Basil has managed to get 3rd place out of 40 baby puppies for "Baby Puppy Sweepstakes"!! You can see why... This little guy is one gorgeous Shiba! Way to go Basil!

Bored

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Pet Sitting Montreal, Quebec

http://www.mypets...

Do you consider your pet as a family member? Are you always traveling? Do you spend long hours at work? Are you worried your pet is not getting enough love and attention? My Pet’s Best Friend is the pet care option for you.

The time is quickly arriving for holiday vacation time. =Start looking for places who board doggies in a great and stimulated environment.
www.mypets-bestfriend.com offers boarding in a family environment
here are some tips when you look for a place:
Boarding Your Dog

MPBFdisplay

Boarding Your Dog

If it's not possible to bring your dog along on your vacation, you'll have to arrange for his care while you're away. One alternative is to have a reliable friend, family member, or neighbor come to your home several times a day to feed, water, exercise, and spend time with your dog. You could also hire a professional pet-sitter to perform these duties.

Another solution is to board your dog at a reputable kennel. Prices and services for kennels vary, but whether you choose your vet's office or a lavish "bed-and-biscuit" resort with complementary grooming and aromatherapy, keep these considerations in mind.

• Trust your senses (as well as your common sense) when visiting a kennel as a possible "vacation" spot for your dog.
• Make sure that the whole kennel, outdoor and indoor runs included, is clean and orderly.
• Make sure there are no offensive odors. There should be adequate ventilation. A well-run kennel should not stink of doggy odors.
• Make sure the temperature is adequate, not too warm and not too cold.
• Ask to see the outdoor running area. It should be close to spotless and made of gravel or concrete.
• Ask how frequently the areas are cleaned.
• All responsible kennel owners and operators will ask you about your dog's vaccinations and will require proof of certain shots.
• All responsible kennel owners and operators will show you each area in which the dogs are kept.
• The outdoor runs - and the whole kennel should be very secure. Many dogs will attempt to break out, so talk to the kennel owners about this if you're worried.

Some last tips...

Bring along your dog's bed or favorite toys. When you leave, be positive and upbeat. Tell your dog "Here we are, Fido--it's your summer vacation. Good boy/girl!!" Do not apologize to your dog, he will sense your discomfort and become upset himself. Keep the goodbyes short and sweet.You may return and find that your dog enjoyed his "vacation" just as much as you did!

unknown author

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