Mr. Drager

Meet Drager.  That's MR. Drager to you and me.  Drager is a new friend of ours here on Cat Island and he is a Leonberger by breed.  For those of you not familiar with the breed, they hail from Germany and are a cross between a St. Bernard, Newfie, and a Great Pyrenees.  Are you getting the BIG picture here??  Leonberger loosely translates to "gentle lion" and that he is.  He likes to take out all of his toys and just play like any other 2 year old.  Drager weighs more than me, but still let's me run the show when I pet sit for him which is very decent, I must say.  I think we are going to get along just fine...

                                  

Halloween CAN be scary!

It's that time of year again when the leaves fall and it cools off and we can all enjoy going outside a bit more with our best friends.  Right around the corner of course is that beloved holiday... HALLOWEEN!  We go out and dress up like crazy folks and Lady Gaga ourselves all over the neighborhood until our bags are full of goodies then come home and dump it all out on the floor to see what we've got.  This is the point where I want all pet parents to be extra careful and make sure that what comes out of the bag gets back into the bag or into only a human mouth.  

Chocolate is very toxic for pets, dogs and cats!!  PetMD had the following article, and there's more if you follow the link at:

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_multi_chocolate_toxicity

So take a minute or two and read about how little it takes to do real harm and then relax and have fun with everybody this Halloween.

Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs

Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs

Dogs are known for eating things when they are not supposed to. This is especially true of puppies. Also, dogs have an excellent sense of smell, making it fairly easy to find any secret hiding spots for the chocolate. This can be a dangerous combination when there is chocolate around the house.

  

Chocolate is derived from the roasted seeds of Theobroma cacao, which contains certain properties that can be toxic to animals: caffeine and theobromine. If ingested, these two ingredients can also lead to various medical complications and may even prove fatal for your dog.

If you would like to learn how chocolate poisoning can affect cats, please visit this page in the PetMD Health Library.

Symptoms and Types
 

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased body temperature
• Increased reflex responses
• Muscle rigidity
• Rapid breathing
• Increased heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Seizures
• Advanced signs (cardiac failure, weakness, and coma)

The amount and type of chocolate ingested is also important, as they are the determining factors for the severity of the toxicity. The three types of chocolate that you must be aware of are:

1. Milk Chocolate – Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.7 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested; severe toxicity occurs when two ounces per pound of body weight is ingested (or as little as one pound of milk chocolate for a 20-pound dog).
2. Semi-Sweet Chocolate – Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.3 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested; severe toxicity occurs when one ounce per pound of body weight is ingested (or as little as six ounces of semi-sweet chocolate for a 20-pound dog).
3. Baking Chocolate – This type of chocolate has the highest concentration of caffeine and theobromine. Therefore, as little as two small one-ounce squares of baking chocolate can be toxic to a 20-pound dog (or 0.3 ounce per pound of body weight).

Causes

In the right quantities chocolate can become toxic for any dog. So be wary of feeding your pet anything that might contain chocolate and always keep it out of reach.

Pet Safety on Private Jets: Equipment

Quite a bit earlier on I discussed the importance of feeling free to ask your crew to cater specifically for your pet and make the flight fun for your pet. Last time I got down to the importance of a pre-flight briefing to make sure everyone knew what to do to best care for the pet on board in the event of turbulence or an emergency. A few simple preparations make all the difference. A few pieces of safety equipment can make all of the difference too.

All Sit 'n Stay Global cabin attendants carry pet flotation devices complete with handle on top. We also carry pet oxygen masks in 3 sizes that will accommodate pets using portable oxygen bottles on the aircraft or may be utilized by emergency first responders. These two items can make an immense difference in your pet's odds in an emergency. We are also certified in Pet First Aid and Pet CPR to handle small health problems that occur until we can reach a vet.

Let's face it, you make sure all of this is taken into consideration for every passenger you bring on the aircraft, why not for your pet as well? We all know your pet is an equally important member of your family, so let's treat them that way.

Sit back and relax and enjoy your next trip on a private jet with your best friend in the cabin with you knowing that he or she will be both safe and have fun. When we serve Fido his favorite dish, he'll never know we ever gave any of this a thought. It will be our secret... right down to the Frosty Paws!

Fido's Favorite Feast

Pet Safety on Private Jets

Upgraded Safety Protocols for Pets on Private Jets | Private Jet Daily

Upgraded Safety Protocols for Pets on Private Jets
By David CastilloSeptember 1, 2010
[Sit 'n Stay press release] — Carol Martin, head of Sit ‘n Stay Global LLC, and leading pet travel expert, announced new guidelines for flying with pets aboard private jets. The procedures will help cabin crews and owners deal with the unique situation of having pets in the cabin of their jets.

“One of the nice things about traveling by private jet is sharing the trip with your best friend. This can also mean considering some new pre-flight and in-flight procedures to protect your pet while on board. Not to mention taking care of your investment in the aircraft.” Martin said.

A few of these considerations start with a pre-flight briefing that includes bracing positions for your pet depending on size and location in the cabin. Another requirement is a size appropriate car harness attached to your pet’s designated seat with a blanket draped over the seat to secure your pet during turbulence. The blanket helps protect that nice buttery leather from Fido’s claws which he will use for traction and also aids in evacuating an injured pet. These are just a sample of issues to be covered before your flight to make sure your flight is safe and relaxing. Just as too many pets have been lost in cargo holds of commercial aircraft, too many have died or been injured unnecessarily in the cabins of private jets because they were improperly secured in the cabin.

She added, “Our business is providing cabin crews that are trained, not only in the highest safety, culinary and service standards of private flight attendants, but also how to insure the flight goes smoothly with Fido along.”

Sit ‘n Stay Global is a national pet “nanny” and pet sitting organization that provides discreet, secure and loving care to each client’s best friend on board the aircraft, at the destination or in the client’s home.

For more information visit us at: www.sitnstayglobal.com or give us a call at: 843-441-0947.

K9 Cancer Walk Estes Park

Adventures in Pet Sitting

 

Wow! Last weekend Jim and I walked in the Morris Animal Foundation 2nd Annual Estes Park K9 Cancer Campaign Walk and had a blast. Of course the setting was spectacular, but the race was like few we had ever seen. Everyone lined up at the starting gate in an orderly fashion and when told to START there was none of that aggressive shouldering for position. We all just started walking quietly forward for about 500 feet before the first walker broke ranks and stepped to the side to pee. That was all it took. A 4 mile walk took hours for all of the "relieving" and sniffing and stopping to swim in the lake... Couldn't help but smile and realize that these dogs really knew how to run a race and how to compete in life. Go ahead and stop to pee if you have to, sniff and admire your surroundings and for Heaven's sake dip your toes in the cool clear water on a warm day and say ahhhhhhhhhhhh. None of them were mindful that they were walking with Cancer or their Pet Parents were walking in memory of a loved one that had gone on before them. We raised over $30,000 last Saturday to help make sure that we put an end to that early robbing of our best friends from our lives. In the meantime, we had one helluva good day!!

http://www.sitnstayglobal.com/

http://www.sitnstayglobal.com/



Check out the new home of Sit 'n Stay Global, LLC!!!

Lots of new info for you and your pet. Plus an online Pet Shop via Amazon with virtually everything you might want or need for your BFF. Best thing is, we donate 4% of all of our profit from the Pet Shop to the Morris Animal Foundation (which you can also learn about on the site) so good goes around. Our pet health page has links that you will want to stop by whenever Fido coughs up something unknown and you want to know what's going on. Stop by, bookmark us, friend us, and pass on the news. We are so much more than just your best ever Pet Sitter!!

Rusty

Any of you who have been with us for a while have seen Rusty before. I met Rusty around this time last year when his family went on a trip and needed a pet sitter. They had met me walking another dog on the beach and seen that Rusty and I just hit it off. Rusty had a heart and soul of gold, which only fits as he was a Golden Retriever. He was a great furniture guy. He loved the bed. He loved the couch. There wasn't much that Rusty didn't love. He was a huge companion and kept me from getting homesick when I was away from my home by laying his head in my lap when watching tv and snoring so I knew I wasn't alone. He acted like he didn't like thunderstorms so he had an excuse to stay very close to me and protect me. He always kept an eye on me in the pool and protected me from other dogs.
Sadly, I won't have the chance to do any of these things with Rusty again. We lost Rusty last week to Cancer. Rusty was young and healthy and it took him quite quickly. May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Tell a friend about Rusty. Then go to the Morris Animal Foundation website posted below and learn about the amazing work they are doing to end canine cancer in our lifetime. Let's not lose one more dog to this senseless disease, not one!

www.morrisanimalfoundation.org

On the Road With your Pets

With summer around the corner and vacations in the makings, many of us will be including our pets in our travels. Having just returned from a week on the road with our 2 dogs, I ran across a great resource to help make ours....and Fido's....vacation more enjoyable, and most importantly, safe.

When visiting our local AAA for maps and info regarding our trip, I spotted a book entitled Traveling With Your Pet, and of course I had to have it! It is chock full of state-by-state information including Pet Friendly Lodging, Campgrounds, Parks, as well as Emergency Animal Clinics! The AAA club has really done their research, and offers some great suggestions from packing Fido's suitcase to what to do if you lose a pet while traveling.

We all look forward to our well-deserved vacation time, and including our pets in our plans is becoming easier and less-stressful with great resources like this one!

"Bone" Voyage

Thunderstorm Anxiety, Yikes!

Yes, this picture is Buddy and Shiloh assuming the Thunderstorm Position in our house. Now just imagine this scene enhanced at 1:00 a.m. with 2 adults in the bed who were sleeping soundly. Ahhhhhh, it’s Spring and the flowers are blooming and the weather is warm and it just feels good to be outside again. There is one downside… Thunderstorms. Any of us who have dogs who suffer from thunderstorm anxiety know how much we dread that first rumble.
Thunderstorm anxiety can be mild; trembling, hiding under the bed or in the tub or shower. Thunderstorm anxiety can also be a lot more dramatic though; soiling in the house, destroying the furniture, crashing through walls and digging in an effort to flee their fear. Particularly in this situation you must take control for your dog’s safety and for the sake of your home.

Next time a storm is brewing, try engaging your dog in one of his or her favorite activities. This can help your dog associate having fun with the approach of a storm and keep him or her distracted rather than focusing on fear. If fear does override fun at some point, see if your dog can find a safe place in the house where he or she is comfortable and reward her for going there. Many dogs like to go to the tub, or the shower or into a crate that is draped with a blanket to block out lightning. It is a good idea to put a portable fan near the safe place for “white noise” to drown out thunder and crank up some soothing music on the stereo. If your dog does not choose a safe place, try creating one for him or her.
Remain neutral when dealing with your dog. It is tempting to drop to your knees and just hug and kiss your dog and go on and on about how it will all be ok. This often serves to reinforce the fear reaction and tells the dog that this really is a scary experience so we better always hunker down when this happens. Hopefully it needs not be said, but never punish your dog for any fear behavior.

So what do you do if you try all of this and still have a dog that dissolves into puddles when a storm approaches? There are some natural therapies available to start with.

Melatonin, which is sold over the counter and used by humans for insomnia, has had particular
success in calming canines without putting them to sleep. Most articles noted a dosage of 3mg for an average size dog and a dose is effective for a few hours so may be administered well before a storm.

Flower Essences, most notably Rescue Remedy or Calming Essence can actually foster emotional healing without causing side effects.

Music Therapy, particularly the tones in harp music, seems to speak to and calm some dogs. Can’t hurt the dog parent too much either…

Tellington Touch Body Wrap: The Tellington Touch is a gentle approach using massage therapy to influence your dog’s behavior that started with horses. Massaging their ears can be very calming during a storm. Another method that has enjoyed substantial success is the body wrap. Linda Tellington-Jones demonstrates it in her book: Getting in TTouch with your Dog, and it involves wrapping cloth around your dog in a particular fashion to give him or her a sense of security and calm. This has had such success that there are now many sites online that sell Anxiety Wraps or Thunder Shirts for dogs that are easy to slip on to your dog and give them a remarkable sense of security.

If all of this fails, don’t give up yet! Give your vet a call and have a good talk. There are some pharmaceutical remedies available that might just do the trick or that are longer lasting for those of you who work all day and need something you can administer in the morning when storms are predicted. Hang in there, we all have our quirks. You stand by your dog on this one and you are a good human. I bet you still can’t count how many times your dog has had your back!

Muggs

I'm back on the road the next 3 weeks pet sitting for these 2 hapless mugs, Sophie and Sebastian. I mean, how can you not look at these faces and just crack up?? A lot of people wonder exactly what happens when they leave their babies. The goal is to have their life continue as if nothing has happened with all of their routines in place. Dog's and cats are very particular about their routines and get pretty stressed when their people leave and their whole routine is changed. Having a pet sitter come in immediately solves the routine problem. Sophie and Sebastian's parents did a great job briefing me ahead of time on what a typical day is like around here and covered lots of contingencies too. Naturally, Sophie and Sebastian spent the first day trying to give me a whole new briefing... No deal Lucille. Like kids with a sitter they will try to tell you they always stay up until midnight and eat steak off the good china. They are also working with a trainer and I am going to keep that schedule up while their parents are gone so who knows, maybe we'll get some good training tips?? I'll let you know. I knew we had bonded when we all fell asleep watching tv the first night. Gently Boxer snoring lulls you to sleep like nothing else! We'll keep you posted on how it's going so check back with us.

Beware the... Mulch?????

Oh for the love of Peat (pardon the pun, couldn't help myself). Buddy here again. Back to tell you about something else we can't eat. Will this list never end??
You might recall from yesterday's post that pets should not eat a list of things that are just fine and dandy for humans to eat. On that list was a big one: Chocolate. Well, turns out some brainiac (yes, I checked with Mr. Colbert on that word too) decided to put a cocoa derivative in MULCH to make it smell real good and repel cats. Helllloooooo. Where do dogs dig, and roll, and pee, and dig some more, and "gee that smells good I think I'll eat some of this stuff," snack? Now it appears to be my responsibility to spread the word not to spread this kind of mulch as it can kill your beloved pets. Now THAT'S serious! Please read the following article for the details that were a little over my head but that you will need so you know what kind is dangerous. Even if you know about this, please pass this along to all friends with pets. Maybe we will tell some folks who already know, but maybe we will end up saving even one fellow four legger. Now THAT'S a good day!



Over the weekend, the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. The dogs loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog (Calypso) decided the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's web site,

this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that "It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it."
*Snopes site gives the following information:http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp *

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores contains a lethal ingredient called 'Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells li ke chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks.

Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

**PLEASE PASS THIS ON**

Beware the Raisin!

Hi, Buddy here again to talk about one of my most favoritist subjects (I checked with Mr. Colbert, yes that is a word): FOOD! As you know from past posts, I love food. I'll eat pretty much everything and I have a lot of friends who are just like me. Dogs evaluate life with their nose. We are pretty much just one big heart and nose wrapped up in a lot of fur. Pretty simple, there ya go. If I see my parents eating it, well it is absolutely certified as food. So I was a little curious the other day when my Mom dropped a raisin on the floor and practically did back flips fighting to get to it before I did. Dog rule number 4: once it hits the floor... it's mine! So what is this about? Turns out she had read this article that follows and was just trying to protect me. Who knew or even guessed that such a tiny thing that does no harm to a human when eaten can take down a big guy like me? I really wanted that raisin, but I sure do love my Mom for knowing about these things. Pass this important information along to anyone who has a dog please!!!! It is not that widely known and can save some of our lives. Hold out for the sweet potato treats, they're bigger anyway. Bone apetit!







Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , OH




This week I had the first case in history of raisin
toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was
a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix
that ate half a canister of raisins sometime
between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He
started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking
about 1 AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't
call my emergency service until 7 AM..

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND
grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't
seen any formal paper on the subject. We
had her bring the dog in immediately. In the
meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet,
and the doctor there was like me - had heard
something about it, but.... Anyway, we
contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison
Control Center and they said to give IV fluids
at 1 & 1/2 times maintenance and watch the
kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.
The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was
already at 32 (normal less than 27) and
creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal).
Both are monitors of kidney function in the
bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and
started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values
at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine
over 7 with no urine production after a liter of
fluids. At that point I felt the dog was in acute
renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a
urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight
as well as overnight care.
He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet
and his renal values continued to increase
daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a
diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting
medications and they still couldn't control his
vomiting. Today his urine output decreased
again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was
at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his
blood pressure, which had been staying around
150, skyrocketed to 220 .... He continued to vomit
and the owners elected to Euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners
who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please
alert everyone you know who has a dog of this
very serious risk.
Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could
be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes
or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any
exposure should give rise to immediate concern...
Onions, chocolate, cocoa, avocadoes and macadamia nuts can
be fatal, too.

Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends
who do. This is worth passing on to them.

Words To Save Your Dog's Life

I came across this great article in the April Issue of Body and Soul magazine. A very well written piece by Dixie Laite that keeps it simple and gets right to the point. Take a few moments and do you and your BFF (best furry friend) a favor and read this. It makes such sense but never occurs to you in the heat of the moment. Now that it is Spring and we're all getting out more with our pets, let's make sure it is all good fun!


Body+Soul
By Dixie Laite

My dogs are such good listeners, letting me prattle on about my weight, the deficit, Hugh Laurie. But as important as those topics are, the words I really want them to pay attention to are two life-saving commands.

"DOWN!" Returning from a romp in New York City's Central Park, my friend Alice stopped to reattach her dog Jet's leash when the tennis ball he'd been chasing rolled into a busy street. Jet thought, Don't worry, I've got this one, as he bolted into traffic to rescue it.

Alice bellowed, "Down!" and Jet immediately dropped into position while cars pummeled his ball into oblivion.

"I believe the most important thing we can teach our dog is 'Down,' says Kevin Behan, author of Natural Dog Training. It's one of the first commands he teaches. "Most people yell a dog's name in a crisis, which is often a mistake," Behan says. That just makes him excited but gives no direction. "There's no instinct in a dog to come when called if something thrilling beckons on the horizon," Behan explains. But the "Down" command aligns with a dog's "natural response to lie down as a means of coping with danger," he says.

"LEAVE IT!" This is the other command you need in your lexicon, according to certified trainer Sherry Woodard from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kenab, Utah. It's critical, she says, in case Sparky "picks up something dangerous, starts to drink from a toxic puddle, or even gets in a squabble." Woodard promises teaching the command isn't hard:

* Prepare a pouch with treats.
* Place a boring, unfamiliar item (like an unopened can of human food) on the floor.
* As your dog starts to sniff it, say "Leave it" happily while popping a treat into his mouth.
* Change the item to something else he won't want, and repeat. Each time have the dog move farther to reach the treat.
* After using five different items at ever-growing distances, you can start putting down more exciting things. (Don't use ordinary stuff your dog would likely find on a walk, like a tissue. The goal is that eventually your dog will turn to you every single time he hears "Leave it!") You can change the reward to a toy, but always praise lavishly.

Keep the lessons short, and stop if your dog seems overwhelmed. Training will help your dog gain confidence, Woodard says, as well as stay safe and live longer.

Hear that, Lulu and Dr.Waffles? Think of all the fascinating conversations -- and House marathons -- we have ahead of us.

From Body+Soul, April 2010


Words To Save Your Dog's Life

Buddy Comes Un-Stitched

Free At Last!!!!!!
Got my stitches out and am free to hit the water again. We Golden Retrievers love to swim and it has been very confusing as the warm Spring weather sets in down here in South Carolina and my Mom wouldn't let me go swimming. Man, I'm all about a little dip in the river every day during our walk. Swim a bit, chase a few tennis balls, chase a few more tennis balls... you just can't much beat it. Thanks again to all of you who have been following my surgery and recovery. I think this is the end of that saga. I am feeling great and because I am Buddy, each day is a new day and a great day and a day to go out and have FUN! Let's all try that tomorrow ok?

Dog Camp! WoooHoooooo

Saw this info in USA Today and thought I might pass it along to any of you who live in a place where it is not so easy to get out and just "play" with your bff (best furry friend) and enjoy nature. I mean, could you pick a better travel companion?? Just don't plan to share the toothbrush with your roomie on this one...

Camp for Dog Owners and Pets!


Have yourselves a Hoo-Ha this summer!!

Have a Happy Easter...but do watch out for those Easter-related pet hazards!

Easter is a welcome holiday for many....especially since it falls so close to the onset of Spring! But much like the Christmas season, there are several Easter-related items which have potential hidden dangers to our furry friends. Please refer to a great article entitled Easter Hazards in Dogs on one of my favorite websites http://www.petplace.com/. Pet Place is a fantastic resource site for all pet owners....I "play" there often!

Happy Bunny Day!

Healthy Dog Snacks!!! Who Knew?

While we are on the subject of quality food for our dogs, let's remember to pay some attention to what we give them for treats too. We all love to spoil our dogs, but too much of a good thing can lead to obesity which shortens their life span and leads to arthritis quicker than anything. Let's give them a fighting chance on every level and give them good snacks too. Mini-carrots are terrific and apple slices are also pure and natural and they love them. I was looking for something that lasted a little longer and had that chew factor and came across some sweet potato dog chews similar to rawhide while cruising online one rainy Sunday.
Has anyone else tried these wonders? Bam! Love at first bite. We’re talking crack for dogs here. Like any true addict, Mongo must have more. But wait, this time I notice the price… we’re talking crack prices too! What to do? I tried these homemade Sweet Potato Chews and they were great, the dogs liked them just as much, and they were easy to make.

Dog Treat Kitchen Sweet Potato Dog Chew


They actually taste great as a people treat too. Wanna boost the fun-factor at your next gathering? When everyone has had a glass or two, casually dip your hand into the dog treat jar and pull one out and just start munching... Sure way to liven up any get-together! Buddy says: "Bone Apetit!"

Finally... Food!

Hi, Buddy again. Finally, we're going to share some information with you about a subject near and very dear to me... FOOD! I love food. Any kind of food. Cat food, dog food, human food, you name it. Even if it isn't technically "food" I love it. Turns out food is very important if you are a dog with cancer or if you are a dog who would prefer to avoid cancer if at all possible. What we eat is very important! The goal is to get back to what we would have eaten more naturally out in the wild like all the ancient Golden Retrievers before us. Turns out they didn't eat flour and sugar and all of that stuff. They ate meat and greens and fruits and that was about it. There are some wonderful raw diets spelled out on the internet for you (my Mom can point you to a few) and if you don't feel like cooking there are some great grain free kibbles out there now that are a great way to get started. My Mom feeds me a bowl of this great kibble and chops up some carrots and broccoli and apples in it and I just gobble it up!!! I am a lucky man to be sure. If there is one place you invest in your pet's health and happiness, the food you feed them is the most important decision you will make! Check out the link below for a good quality grain free food, or search "grain free pet food" for more options.
"Bone" Apetit!
Buddy

Taste Of The Wild Pet Food
http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/

Canine Cancer Hits Home, Recovery

Hey, Buddy here. Still a little lazy today, and kinda seeing double. Things went really well yesterday. I was very brave, of course... I am Buddy! The doc says she "got it all" which seems to be really important. Be sure to look at some of those articles my Mom referenced because if you catch this m-e-l-a-n-o-m-a thing early they can get the growth and a good margin of tissue around it and make sure that you can keep on keepin' on. Today Mom is adding a link to this really cool foundation that is doing a lot of research on cancer in dogs; The Morris Animal Foundation. You can learn more about canine cancer there or if you have some extra money after buying squeeky toys and treats you can even send them some and maybe help them find some ways to fight this nasty thing. They do work with cats and horses and wildlife too, but we all know the really important work is with dogs!
So thanks for all of your well wishes, and even cards!!! I feel really loved and love you all right back. I'll keep you posted on things I learn on how to beat this thing so keep checking back. Time for another nap now.
Buddy.

Morris Animal Foundation
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/

Canine Cancer Hits Home

Hi, Buddy here. Something's up this morning... Not getting my morning food. Love my morning food! Where's my morning food??? Mom says we are going to see the nice doctor because I have a m-e-l-a-n-o-m-a on my belly and it has to come off. It is kind of near my hoo-hoo, which I am very fond of, so I hope they are careful in there. Mom says I will get extra Frosty Paws tonight so it is all good, after all, I am Buddy! Will let you know how it all goes later, wish me luck! In the meantime, Mom has posted a link so you other Pet Parents can read up on Pet Melanoma and know what to look for.


Petwave.com
http://www.petwave.com/dogs/dog-health-center/skin-disorders/melanoma.aspx

When Pigs (and Pets) Fly... Pets and Jets

It's all pretty cut and dried when our furry family members travel on a commercial flight in a crate or in a carrier in the cabin. More and more folks are choosing to fly private now not only for their own comfort and convenience, but for the added benefit of being able to bring their best friend on board with them. How many of you have ever gotten a briefing from your crew on bracing positions for your pet in the event of an emergency? Have you ever given it some thought?
Kay and I are both licensed and experienced flight attendants who can shed a little light in this area. Probably your safest bet is to have an appropriately sized carrier stowed in the cabin with you, with blankets and pillows in it for padding and a strap to attach it to a secure fitting in the cabin. Do not stow this in the back of the luggage compartment which is tempting. Trust me, in the event of an emergency, you do not want to have to start rooting around in the storage area for the carrier. Place a lovely linen cloth over it and maybe some fresh flowers and you will never know it is there if it spoils the ambiance too much for you.
Be sure to consult with your crew on the best bracing positions for you and your pets if you should encounter sudden turbulence. Bracing positions will vary depending on the size of your pet and location in the cabin. The goal is to keep your pet from flying around in the cabin and contained in a small area. You may also consider bringing along the harnesses they make for cars to secure your pet to a seat if it gets "ruff" and please put a blanket under your pet as they will want to dig into that wonderful buttery leather with their claws, I can assure you.
Take a few moments to think through these things when you board and you can then relax and enjoy the wonderful service you and your furry friend so richly deserve.
And speaking of service;
No, it is not crazy to ask the crew to cater what your pet prefers and have your pet served. They like to be a part of the experience too! We actually find it kind of fun to serve our furry guests. Just like everything else in life, their gratitude is unconditional and makes us feel good too. Woof!

The Great and "Playful" OZ

Introducing Sit 'n Stay's newest member, Oz....our 4 month old Australian Shepherd (on left). Oz is shown here with his new-found friend, Sage, a Miniature Aussie. These two "rough and tumbled" nonstop for hours, until they collapsed in a heap from exhaustion! Oh, the joys of puppy hood!

Pet Field Trips

Today was kind of rainy here on Hilton Head Island which Sammy and I found pretty boring. What are you gonna do???? FIELD TRIP. We loaded up in the car and headed over to Bluffton to one of our favorite pet shops (All Four Paws) and had a great time shopping and trying out all of the squeekers. Sam makes friends wherever he goes, of course, and even paused for a pose with his new friend Roni who is one of the owners of the shop before continuing his evaluation of the best squeeker. The winner? The one that sings.

The Min-Pin Showdown

Meet Buddha (Boo), an Aussie and Roy, a miniature pinscher. The missing pooch in this photo is Chico....a min-pin like Roy, only a bit larger in size and cinnamon in color. There is never a dull moment when sitting for these guys, no way! I had the privilege to witness the infamous "min-pin showdown", as described to me by "Mom" on many occasions. It went something like this: Roy comes tearing through the doggy door from outside, slides around the corner into the hallway and stops dead in his tracks....for at the other end of the hallway...waits Chico! They lock eyes, and begin the ever-so-slow crawl to the center, and the inevitable dual once they meet! Eyes narrowed, Chico picks up one paw at a time, moving in slo-mo, sets it down. Roy, making the same moves inches closer. But wait....Roy averts his eyes...he's getting nervous...Chico is winning the stare-down! Who will pounce first?! This process goes on for what seems like an eternity, until at last, Chico jumps Roy, and they devour each other in what sounds like a flesh-tearing, blood-wrenching battle! Only then do I realize that they are devouring each other with kisses!

So I wonder, is this behavior unusual? They were almost stalking each other like I've often seen cats do! Is it breed-specific? Size, gender, geograpic location? Maybe we can just blame it on the altitude! Nonetheless, it was yet another entertaining Adventure in Pet Sitting!

Sammy Time

Back hangin' with my good friend Sammy. Sammy teaches me so much. He is sad to see his parents leave, but then he slips right into his old routine with Auntie Carol. Definitely teaches me the old lesson of "love the one you're with." We are having a blast. I finally sat down to do some work. He came to me after a bit and just sat and stared at me. Have you ever been stared-down by a Chihuahua? So I stopped what I was doing, took his bed and a cushion outside on this beautiful day and sat on the deck to listen to the ocean. He was right! We had been missing SO much. A huge leaf flew by. Then a gecko skittered by and we narrowly escaped being trampled. Sweet swirls of yellow pollen circled around us (followed by little tiny Chihuahua sneezes) and the sun warmed us gently. We could hear the waves rolling in as low tide approached and the gulls crying their hello. The Coast Guard even did a low fly-by to check in and we could hear and feel the "thump-thump-thump" of their rotors beating their greetings.
So if any of you are sitting indoors with a fine animal looking lovingly up at you reading right now...
Go out and see what they know you might be missing. It is too cool out there!!!!

Beautiful Belle

Today we lost an important and beloved member of our Sit 'n Stay family. Belle was our chief scout, always watching and always alert. We never had a squirrel in our offices, not once. Tonight she is running the Grand Mesa once again along side wild horses with boundless energy, as it should be. As a tribute to Belle, we pause to consider this wonderful description of "the journey" that we are fortunate enough to share. Good night, sweet Belle.

The Journey

By Crystal Ward Kent
Copyright 1998, All Rights Reserved

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey — a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.

If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.

Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life’s simple pleasures — jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joy of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears.

If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower — except when heading home to the food dish — but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details — the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape; we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons brings ever-changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flicker and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life’s most important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie — with a cat in hot pursuit — all in the name of love.

Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound.

You will learn the true measure of love — the steadfast, undying kind that says, “It doesn’t matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together.” Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.

And you will learn humility. The look in my dog’s eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will not be just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be — the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a path you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet’s time on earth is far too short — especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for awhile, and during those brief years they are generous enough to give us all of their love — every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.

The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead — young and whole once more.

“Godspeed, good friend,” we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.