Happy New Year!

Graying With Grace

Tomorrow is the last day of 2011. One of the things that means is before all of us see the last day of 2012, we will be a year older. If we are in the second half of our lives, we may be discovering some gray hair, stiff joints or other age related characteristic. Here's Astrid, peering out of her big brown eyes through rings of gray. Astrid just turned approximately age 7 a couple of days ago. She's aging gracefully, aging well. And how is Astrid's mom doing? I'm aging with gratitude that I have Astrid.

Fashion Paws...Yule Is Cool

It's official! What we have known for a long time has recently been confirmed by a reliable fashion source. This holiday season, Christmas fashion is 'in'. So pet moms and pet dads, pet sisters and brothers...get out your Christmas and other holiday fashions. Dogs have always known when it comes to fashion, Yule Is Cool! 

Fashion Paws...Oh, The Parties!

Even being homeless didn't stop this little reveler from enjoying the party! A Christmas open house at Carolina's Veterinary Hospital last weekend gave him a chance to strut his holiday finery. He is being fostered by the facility while he awaits his forever home.

A perfect host, big or small he greeted them all.

The gala event featured the big man in red with Miss Astrid not missing the opportunity to pose.

Rounding out the day with a stop at her fave cookie bar, we found even the plastic dogs in glittering attire!

After relaxing outside of Caribou Coffee with her mom and dad enjoying an espresso while she ate her cookie, she took one more opportunity for a photo in her Christmas finery.

Stand Up For Senior Pets...Take The Pledge

Today may be the last day of November which is Adopt A Senior Pet month, but it should not be the last day that we stand up for senior pets. For various reasons ranging from the economy to the death of the pet parent, senior dogs sit in shelters across the country. They wait for their second chance to be loved and to give love. Let's not forget them. Take the pledge today, but in your heart make it a pledge to keep the promise of a home for senior pets alive every month and to mention them often in your Facebook and Twitter posts and other opportunities. 


Pictured here is Fred. He is an adult dog waiting at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ.

Fashion Paws...Go Big, Go Bold

As has become tradition on Thanksgiving Day after her mom and dad have had their dinner, Astrid visits the local Starbucks. To be more accurate, she enjoys a few moments outside the coffeehouse near the bench while her mom and dad enjoy one of their Christmas coffees. Then she enjoys a fun stroll around the shopping plaza, looking at the decorations and people watching at the few shops that have opened their doors for business. Striking a pose in front of the plaza's Christmas tree, Astrid drew several comments such as "oh my, what a cute dog" and "I love your scarf!" Her fashion advice for this season is go big, go bold. Dressing up might be work, but it's worth it when the 'AWWWwwwww'(s) come your way.

Dogs Can Get Diabetes Too

November is the month to join in the campaign to raise awareness for and help stop diabetes. Whether you know someone who has the disease or you are interested in helping you and your family avoid getting it, the American Diabetes Association website is a valuable resource. A member of our family that we don't often associate with diabetes but is as vulnerable is our dogs. The website A Dog Owner's Guide lists the causes, symptoms and lots of ideas to help keep your dog from developing diabetes.

Suddenly Senior

Look who has turned all 'senior' on us! Or maybe not. Astrid should be in the neighborhood of being 7 years old. She came to live with us in 2006 at the approximate age of two. Being a large mixed up breed, some put her into her senior years around 7 to 9 years. This is 'Adopt A Senior Pet' month. Astrid...she's mine but the shelters are full of senior dogs that would make perfect pets. There's lots of good reasons to pick a senior dog....here's 10. 

Fashion Paws...BIG is Beautiful

When it comes to dogs, big is beautiful. Sure, all the cute clothes only come in tiny sizes but being big has it's advantages too. Go to any fabric store and you will see why. The most eye catching and colorful fabrics have large patterns! In this picture, Astrid makes it obvious. The bigger you are the more you can show off dazzling patterns and colors. 

5 Fun Things You Can Do For FREE To Help Shelter Dogs

1) Play 'Pet Trivia'. Purina will donate 25c to adopt-a-pet.com for each right answer.

http://www.pureloveforpets.com/

2) Play ' let's pretend' with 'Twitter A Critter'. Pretend you are picking out a new dog. Pick size, color, etc. Click on fetch. Up will come a multitude of dogs to choose from. First, reassure the three dogs sitting next to you that this has nothing to do with them. Next, pick your favorite dog on the screen. Don't fret over your choice because you can come back and do this over and over again all day. Twittering a critter will bring to the attention of thousands dogs that are waiting for their forever homes. A Twitter account is required, but you've been meaning to start one for your own dogs anyway, right?

http://www.adoptapet.com/twitteracritter/

3) Answer the daily trivia question (right or wrong!) at Free Kibble's 'Bow Wow Trivia' and 10 pieces of kibble will go to feed a hungry pet in a shelter. 10 pieces won't go far, you say? Over 64 million pieces of kibble have been donated so far…that's a lot of kibble.

http://www.freekibble.com/

4) Put a free downloadable widget on your website from Petfinder. The picture of a needy pet will change constantly and bring the clickee directly to the Petfinder page.

http://www.petfinder.com/widgets-banners/

5) Help kids find ways they can promote kindness to animals.

http://www.pleasebekind.com/candotohelp.html