The page is still in the puppy stage but as we have time between ball sessions and room service we will work on getting it up and finished!

Stop by and say Hi !

http://www.facebook.com/friendlygrove

According to the report over at VIN “Liberia has six to 12 cases of rabies in humans per quarter, all traced to dog bites. (By comparison, one case of human rabies was reported in the United States in all of 2007.)”

The Veterinarians Without Borders set up the first Rabies Vaccination clinic ever held in the country and vaccinated 201 dogs !  They also had a chance to visit remote villages and provide livestock education to owners.

“The Vets to Liberia Project is on track to raise awareness and funding to establish veterinary services in country that will enable Liberia the ability to produce its own food and protect its resources and human health.”

While many great programs visit Liberia and other countries like it to deliver aid, food, supplies, etc.. This is one of those programs that will help Liberia’s farmers raise their own food and protect it’s citizens!

Thank you Vet’s without borders !

It is crazy to think of living in a place where a veterinarian does not exist, can you imagine ?  We are so fortunate to have the incredible resources for our animals that exist in the United States.

Learn More about Veterinarians Without Borders

My personal favorite is a 1/4″ wide, soft leather, 6′ long lead with at least 3 fixed rings.  I love this style as I can easily fix the length of the leash using the rings, it can become a harness, a collar and leash in one if needed and it is fitted to swing over your shoulder when not in use.

Hands Free leashes, such as the Buddy System (pictured above) are gaining popularity with avid walkers/runners.

The folks over at LarzPetGear have designed a line of leashes and collars ” to allow you to take your dog(s) for a walk without doing them any harm. It is a “user friendly, dog friendly” product. Our leads help modify your dog’s behavior, while protecting its neck from “Soft Tissue, Esophagus, Trachea, and Skeletal Problems”.  The leash with the built in collar is suppossed to reduce pressure on the dogs esophagus and also prevent harsh corrections which could damage both walker and dog.

The Flex lead comes with alot of safety concerns  and must only be used with dogs who are leash trained and owners who can physically use the lead.  And should only be used by owners who can please not let the dog wander around at full extension to tangle with my lead or allow your 2 pound dachshund to run under the mouth of my 100 pound mastiff!  Sorry….anyways…IF  your dog is not a puller or dasher and it is safe for YOU check out the  Lasso Security Leash from Dogmatic Products is a multi functional flex lead which has won several safety and design awards.

Gentle leaders which attach to the muzzle of the dog have never been a fav of mine, could be cause I have big slobbery dogs with dewlap that a gentle lead would never cover but even when my clients bring them in they remind me too much of a muzzle and I just don’t feel comfortable with them.  But if they work for you and your dog..great!

Leash attachments or accessories are numerous but most common is the built in doggy poo bags such as the Bow Wow Bag from prairie Mutts.

So, there’s a few leash highlites, now go take your dog for a walk and feel free to let us know if you have a favorite leash we should feature!

Enjoy your day !

According to the IDTag website:

IDTAG.com is the latest and most advanced pet identification tag available today.  Each IDTAG.com pet tag is linked to an online platform using a unique serial number, making the engraving of “stagnant” owner information obsolete.  Instead, your pet’s description, photos, videos and health information is stored in your personalized secure online profile along with the primary, secondary and tertiary emergency contact information of your choosing.  With access to your online profile, you can keep your pet & contact information up-to-date in “real-time”, from anywhere at any time.

If your pet is lost: One call or click of the mouse and a lost-pet bulletin with photos and descriptions of your pet will be sent to any of our over 13,000 shelters within 50 miles of your pet’s last-known location as well as over a dozen lost pet websites. This instant broadcast of information saves precious seconds during a loss and gives the peace of mind that you are giving your pet the protection it deserves 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

If your pet is found- anyone recovering your pet can simply call our toll-free number or log onto www.idtag.com. By entering the serial number on your pet’s tag, the finder can retrieve the necessary information for your pet to be returned. Through a personalized login to www.idtag.com, you can update and maintain your pet’s information and photos as well as your contact information at anytime from any location. IDTAG.com gives you the flexibility to keep your critical contact information accurate to the minute, even as you travel.

Cost is reasonable at $6.95 a year plus the initial cost of the tag.  I like the idea of a pet amber alert but I would check the shelter listing for your zip code to be sure teh shelters in your area are indeed on the list.

Hopefully it is a service you never need!

At the Pilgrim Congregational Church in North Weymouth, worshipers come in all ages, walks of life, and breeds.  Their weekly Sunday service for dogs is named “Woof n Worship” – how cute is that!

Rev. Bickford says the idea came to her as a way to bring people back to church and to help those in the congregation become closer.

“Things are so tough on everyone right now that we forget to thank God for the good things and find the miracles of everyday life. Our animals always bring that. If you can’t pay the oil bill or had a bad day at work, your dog doesn’t care. He just thinks you’re wonderful. Dogs listen, they don’t talk back, and they give unconditional love. . . .

“I really see that as part of God’s blessing here on earth – to remind us what to be thankful for, and to find joy.”

Bickford also hopes the dog-friendly services – and future puppy play groups – will attract more people to her church, which has a congregation of about 80 people.“ …read more ….

We wish the people and dogs at Pilgrim Church much success with their efforts!

It is very important that you take your pets safety into consideration this weekend!

Be prepared to have a safe, confined space for your dog especially if loud noises could startle your pet into running off!

Keep pets safely indoors from dusk till dawn.  Do not let your dog hang out with you outdoors while you light fireworks!

Dogs could either run towards or away from fireworks, the loud noises and bright flashes can easily disorientate and confuse your dog.

If your concerned about your pets anxiety you probably should speak with your veterinarian about possible medications to help Spot this weekend.  If your unable to schedule an appointment with your Vet before the 4th you might consider using Bach Flower Rescue Remedy for Pets to help alleviate anxiety.

Have fun this weekend but be safe !

Bella’s dad brought us an amazing gift today (besides Bella!), two amazing photos of doorways in San Miguel, Mexico. The photographs are by photographer Arturo Torres and they are incredible.

We are just overwhelmed with the gifts!  Bella’s dad told us the gifts were because he feels “at ease” and doesn’t have to worry when he leaves Bella with us, while I don’t think the gifts were necessary I do understand exactly what he means!

Having a couple 4 legged children myself, I really do understand the nerves and worry that comes when you have to board your pet or even leave them at the vet’s office.  Honestly, I worry more when I leave my pets at the vet clinic than I do when I have to board them!

Finding a place that both you and your pet are comfortable is difficult but once you do it is great!  We are just so lucky that the most amazing people find us and we get to spend our days and nights with the best  four legged furry friends!

Have a great weekend and remember to be thankful!

The winning race-themed dog photo will be featured on the No. 18 Pedigree Toyota Camry that Kyle Busch will drive during a race in Phoenix on Sunday, Nov 15th.

Entry deadline September 12th

Visit http://tsc.nascar.com/pedigree/ for more info

Good Luck !

In a way it is dog related in that a healthy planet helps dogs too;)

He is keeping a blog and photo diary of his trek at his website Jack and The City Lights – he can only upload every couple days or when he finds  an open wi-fi stream   But the wait is well worth it as his photos are awesome and writing enthralling but I might be a wee bit biased…just a little….

I hope he finds meaning and creates memories of a lifetime.  He is my half brother and due to typical divorcing couples and custody battles that envelope and poison families,  I didn’t get to spend much time with him after age 10 and just recently began re-connecting…it will be interesting to watch via his blog how his journey goes…even though he is kinda grown up now, he is still just a little boy in my mind so it worries me like crazy that he is out there but makes me proud at the same moment.

If your interested in following a young man’s journey across this great country and more check out the site !

These astonishingly realistic animals are hand-made in Italy using the original patterns and models created by Riccardo Chiavetta in the late 1970s and early 1980s for Jockline, an Italian firm that came to be known the world over for its highly realistic—often life-size—plush renditions of dogs, cats, and other animals.

Today, in Italy, the family that made the original Jockline animals is doing so once again, with the same uncompromising artistry and craftsmanship. A highly skilled artist is responsible for each animal and personally sees each one—from the tiniest mouse to life-size polar bears—through all the exacting details of the production process.

Several breeds are available and some look so real it is a little freaky and others look silly! Prices range from $49 to over $1,000

Just when you thought you had seen every pet lover gift there was!

Have a great day!