Homemade Dog Treats Recipes

One day I decided I was going to follow some homemade dog treats recipes and make treats for my dogs. It has to be cheaper and better for them, right? Probably, but…………………………………………………


I found a bunch of homemade dog treats recipes online, picked one, drug out the flour, yeast, eggs, molasses, peanut butter, cream cheese, oatmeal and whatever else was included in that disgusting mess. It was way too much for my kitchen-aid so I mixed by hand. And mixed, and mixed. Finally the instructions said, knead for 10 to 15 minutes. Say what? I wondered how the dogs would feel about raw treat dough. Those homemade dog treats recipes were turning out to be quite labor-intensive!


15 minutes later the dough was sufficiently kneaded. After an hour break I came back to a rapidly growing mound of dough on the cutting board. After taming the mess I formed it into small loaves and baked it. The homemade dog treat recipes said to roll the stuff out flat and use a dog bone shaped cookie cutter to make twenty thousand small cookie treats. Yeah right, nice small loaves worked out much better, besides I was fresh out of the dog bone shaped cookie cutters.


When the final product finally came out of the oven, all the dogs had long disappeared. I looked at the loaves, looked fine to me. After the loaves cooled I cut some slices off to give the dogs. Three of them turned their noses up, one refused to wake up. Now I understand why my mother became martyr. I said fine, wrapped the loaves in aluminum foil and froze them, for one day they would certainly emerge from the freezer to hungry, appreciative dogs.

I spent a short time contemplating dogs and their rude behavior. Wondered if they had any shame, if they ever felt guilt or humility.They were in the kitchen watching me slave over their dog treats, following homemade dog treats recipes found online, only to snub my efforts as useless and possibly an insult to them personally. I have to keep reminding myself those are human feelings, dogs have no such feelings. Ok, maybe Lassie did, either that or she (he) was a very well trained dog, something else we are lacking here.

Dogs, the gimme critters of the world, appreciate homemade dog treats?

Fat chance. I had just defrosted two loaves of my pride and joy, my male Great Dane, Gunner, was standing in the kitchen wondering where all the food was, I cut off a piece and gave it to him. At first he spit it out on the floor, then sniffed it, picked it up, then spit it out again.

Enter our Maine Coon Cat, who immediately scooped up the rejected treat and ate it.

What? Then the dog was very interested in what the cat had just eaten. Feeling braver now having at least one fan of my cooking, I gave Gunner another piece, he looked at the cat, looked at me, then ate it.

Soon after all four dogs were in the kitchen wanting to know what Gunner had just eaten. Finally, my pride was returning. Eventually all of the loaves of treats were gone. Next trip to the store I happily purchased some store dog treats.

If you decide to cook for your dogs, bless your heart. Now knowing what the dog treat manufacturers have to go through they have my undying respect and those treats are worth every penny for those coveted morsels.

Search and Rescue Dogs of 9/11

As we mark the 10^th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in US history, let’s take a moment to remember and commemorate the search and rescue dogs of 9/11 too. Nearly a thousand Search and Rescue dogs and their handlers spent days searching the site of the World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon for any sign of life, and months going through rubble at the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, looking for human remains. 

Search and Rescue dogs are trained to detect sweat and other musky odors trapped people emit, and these canines can tell the difference between live and dead bodies. Their sense of smell is estimated to be about one million times more sensitive than a human’s and they can detect vibrations at 250 yards that we can barely register at 25 yards. 

The dogs came from FEMA’s Search and Rescue team, and from all across the US, Puerto Rico, Canada and even from France. After a week, there were no more survivors to be found, and the dogs turned to looking for body parts to help identify those who died in the tragedy. This is heartbreaking work for both handler and dog. To keep these brave dog’s spirits up, handlers would stage ‘mock rescues’, during which someone would deliberately hide, and the search and rescue dogs were able to make a successful ‘rescue’. Some dogs worked the debris for more than three months. 

Here is a letter from a Search and Rescue handler Paul Morgan, who, with his dog Cody, was able to search out several bodies in the rubble September 12^th.

This site has several pages and a year book of dogs and their handlers who worked the disaster sites.

And here is the story of a dog who rescued his blind owner from the North Tower of the World Trade Center before it collapsed.

The search and rescue dogs were given thorough veterinary care during the days and weeks after the attack. A group of rescue dogs studied against a control group showed the dogs who had spent time in the rubble did not suffer serious health problems, as their human counterparts would. One vet theorizes that the dogs longer noses helped filter out the toxic chemicals everyone at the sites of the disaster inhaled.

USA Today gives the details of a ceremony on September 11, 2011 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ to honor the Search and Rescue teams who devoted so much time, effort and compassion to the recovery effort. The elderly heros of 911 will walk in a procession with current Search and Rescue teams, but, sadly, the event is by invitation only.

Search and Rescue handlers spent as much as $10,000 a year of their own money, not to mention missed work, in order to volunteer their efforts. Their recognition has been a long time coming.

Top 10 Peeves Dogs have with Humans

Gunner on his
Dogcheapsleeps.com
bed.

Top 10 Peeves Dogs Have With Humans

1. Blaming your farts on me….. not funny… not funny at all !!!
2. Yelling at me for barking. I’M A FRIGGIN’ DOG

3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway?

4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose. Stop it!
5. Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you’re not home.
6. The sleight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! Whoooo oooooooo what a proud moment for the top of the food chain.
7. Taking me to the vet for "the big snip", then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back!

8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven’t quite mastered that handshake thing yet.

9. Dog sweaters. Hello ??? Haven’t you noticed the fur?
10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth. You’re just jealous.

Make it up to your pet by ordering him or her a comfy bed like Gunner’s above. Any size, any color, custom made if necessary, with four inches of solid foam inside, waterproof, vinyl covering. It will be the last pet bed you ever have to buy. We also have replacement covers, crate and X-pen pads and whelping pads.

Pet Urine Odor Removal

No one likes to have to deal with dog or cat urine odors, and the problem of pet urine odor removal is a common one among pet owners.
When your dog urinates where he or she is not supposed to, there can be many reasons. Puppies may not have completed their training, older dogs may have health problems. Cats are very complex creatures and make take offense to a new member of the household, especially if it is another cat, or you may not be keeping the litter box clean enough to suit their finicky little nostrils.
There are quite a few sites on the Internet, both recommending products, and giving you home remedies for pet urine odor removal. One of the most common is vinegar and baking soda. Mop up as much urine as you can, then soak the area with a mixture of 1/3 cup white vinegar, 2/3rds cup of water and a little soap. Soak up that combination as well as you can, and then apply fresh water and absorb as much of that as you can with a clean cloth. Sprinkle baking soda over the area and vacuum up 24 hours later.
Whew, that’s a lot of work!
And the smell may come back, because the urine salts are still in the fabric and humidity can bring them back to life. You can try peroxide, but test it first on an inconspicuous area of your rug, to make sure the peroxide doesn’t discolor it. You can also try adding a couple of drops of Listerine to the vinegar and water solution above. In the meantime, you can relocate their preferred ‘bathroom’ spot to a more acceptable space like the yard, cat box or newspapers by putting the urine soaked paper towels there. This will let your pet know that eliminating waste isn’t bad, but there is a better place to do it.
To help with the problem, you can give your pet a clean, comfortable place to lay: a Dogcheapsleeps.com bed. Our beds are waterproof (urine-proof!) and wipe clean with water or a water and bleach solution, or you can hose them off. Odors don’t soak into the padding as they do with non vinyl materials, which naturally helps with pet urine odor removal. Four inches of solid foam inside will keep your pets off the cold floor and cushion the joints of older animals. This is an especially good idea if your pet is older and suffers from a leaking bladder. The dog leaks urine while sleeping, and is just as unhappy as you are when he or she wakes up to find their bed wet.
If you do have a cloth bed, chances are the manufacturer will tell you to throw it in the washer to clean it as a pet urine odor removal method. If it is urine soaked, you can try putting a box of baking soda, or a splash of vinegar in your washer. Be careful how hard you wash it, though, because the cheaper the bed, the more likely you will end up with sawdust or chopped up foam clogging your washer.

Woman punches bear to save her dog

A Juneau, Alaska woman recently saved her dog from a bear attack by punching the bear in the nose.

Caveat: Black Bears are common in Juneau, which is nestled into a mountainside and surrounded by dense forest. They are frequently seen in town because they forage there for food when supplies of their usual diet, like berries, are scarce.

Last week, Brooke Collins discovered her dachshund, Fudge, in the jaws of a bear, which had been known to call to see what Brooke left in the garbage cans. Dogs and bears can get into confrontations, but they usually end harmlessly. Indeed, Fudge has chased bears away from the house before without injury.
After Brooke, a hairdresser, hit the bear in the snout her boyfriend scared the bear away. She’ll keep Fudge inside while tending to her wounds and will continue to check the area before letting her other dog outside.
Collins has lived in Juneau most of her life, and knows how to take precautions around bears. Note: Don’t assume all bears are wimps! People can be fatally injured by bears. Don’t mess with them!
Editor’s note: This must have been very satisfying. I long to drop kick the coyotes who made off with my two cats…..

I Rescued a Human Today

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY by Janine Allen

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.
I would promise to always be by her side.
I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog’s professional dog trainer. Janine’s passion is working with people and their dogs. She provides demonstrations for those who have adopted shelter dogs, lends email support to adopted dog owners that need information beyond our Training Support Pages, and aids shelter staff and volunteers in understanding dog behavior to increase their adoptability. Copyright 2011 Rescue Me Dog; www.rescuemedog.org

Pomeranian Dogs: Let’s go to a Pom Party!

One of Dogcheapsleeps.com’s friends, Chuck Geiger, lives in Fresno, and loves him some Pomeranian dogs. As he says on his Facebook page, no home should be without a fuzz butt!

Chuck has owned Poms for 18 years and has tons of information on raising and caring for them, and he promotes adoptions of Pomeranian dogs who need forever homes. If you are looking for a Pom, visit Pom Party at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pom-Party/146858962068463?sk=info. The number of cute little faces on there will fill your heart!

Whenever you buy a product from Dogcheapsleeps.com, we will donate $10 to the animal welfare organization of your choice. While Pomeranian Dogs Pom Party doesn’t have a formal organization, Chuck lists plenty of groups who are non-profits who could really make a difference with your donation. Check it out!

Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

True story: back in the 80’s, Bob, a friend of my then-husband’s, came to visit and announced, “I have a great idea. Pet medical insurance!” We laughed at him. Now, many years later, it is a reality, and sometimes a lifesaver, for people and their pets. Is pet insurance worth it?

A study by the Kroger Company, the grocery giant, revealed that one in ten pet owners would be willing to spend more than $3000 in medical care if their pet could be saved. Fifteen per cent pegged the figure at between $1000 and $3000 and a further 61% said they’d spend between $100-$1000 to treat their pets. And those results were tabulated in our current economy. Is pet insurance worth it for most pet owners? It seems so.

Dog owners surveyed said they feared a diagnosis of cancer the most, followed by orthopedic problems or injuries, and finally, their pet getting hit by a car. Cat owners worry about kidney disease, cancer and injuries from fights with other animals.

And yet, only 4% of dog owners and 2% of cat owners have pet medical insurance. Sixty one percent said they’d consider the purchase if it cost under $20 per month. Half of those surveyed said they’d be interested in adding their pets to their own health insurance, if such a thing were possible.

With at least $13 billion spent on pet health care in America, Bob’s idea might be something to consider. To find a plan, consider examining the brochures in your veterinarian’s office. He or she is likely to honor a plan they feature! And for more information on what to know before investing in a health insurance plan, and to help you find your own answer to the question, “Is pet insurance worth it?”, see WebMD.

Ear Mites In Dogs and Cats

Alcatraz, our rescue cat from Maine Coon Cat Rescue is a character. He meows loudly and often, and thinks he should be fed about a dozen times a day. On the other hand, he is affectionate and gets along with all the other cats and dogs.

He has been scratching his ears, but we didn’t really pay attention until his ear flap (the part that sticks up) started to swell and he wouldn’t let us touch it. It became hot also. We ended up taking him in for treatment and to have the hematoma in his ear flap (the swollen part) drained. By the time we were able to take him in, it was quite swollen. The doctor drained it, gave him a cortisone shot and some ear mite remedy and gave us some advice regarding ear mites in dogs and cats.

Ear mites are rather contagious, so we now have to treat all the other animals. Yes, ear mites in dogs can quickly turn into ear mites in cats if you have both. If you suspect something, or if you have just gotten a new pet, look in their ears. Ear mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye, but you will see a reddish-brown discharge coating the ear canal.

If you don’t treat this, it will only get worse, possibly turn into an infection or cause a hematoma. In any case, imagine the torment of tiny little bugs crawling around inside your ears and you can understand why your pet will be uncomfortable or in actual pain.

Fortunately, ear mites in dogs are treatable. The easiest treatment is with Revolution, which you can buy at a pet store with a vet or grooming facility attached to it. (We are assuming your pet is in good general health otherwise.) You must know your pet’s weight and purchase the product accordingly. It’s simple to apply the contents of the little tube to the back of your pet’s neck, first parting the fur, so it goes directly onto the skin. Reapply again in about a week. This should not only kill the ear mites, but also fleas, ticks, and heartworm. The second application is to kill the ear mite eggs.

You should also put a few drops of mineral or olive oil inside the ear, rub the ear to move the substance around in the canal, and when wipe it away with a cotton ball. Do not use a Q-tip, lest you damage the delicate workings of the inner ear, or push the exudate further down the ear.

You should probably also clean floors with a bleach solution and wash bedding to make sure. A Dogcheapsleeps.com bed can just be wiped with the bleach solution, which is certainly helpful with the problem of ear mites in dogs. Check your pet’s ears from time to time to confirm the mites have not come back.

The worst possibility is surgery and that will run between $800 and $900 from most vets. They make an incision, draw out all the fluid and insert surgical staples to hold the ear closed. Don’t let the problem develop this far!

If you have a light infestation and can’t afford vet care or Revolution, drop a small amount of mineral oil in your pets ears. This should smother the mites. Not guaranteed, however.

Dogs can be trained to alert diabetics

If you grew up anywhere near Chicago, you know the name Ron Santo. He was the Cub’s third baseman and long time broadcaster, and he died at the age of 70, in December of 2010, of complications of bladder cancer. What you may not know is that he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 18 and was told he would live to be only about 25. During his long baseball career, he never let the disease slow him down, but eventually he ended up with both legs amputated below the knee. 

In the wake of his death, his widow Vicki, a resident of Scottsdale, AZ, (close to Dogcheapsleeps.com’s headquarters) struggled to find the right way to honor her husband’s memory. Until, taking a new dog for training, a young man asked her if she were taking the dog in for training to diagnose a diabetic. 

It turns out dogs can be trained to alert diabetics! A dog attached to a diabetic that is having a problem with high or low blood sugar and can alert the patient or family members faster than a glucose testing monitor can do.

Vicki remembers the many times their dog, Joker, communicated to her that Ron was having problems. “Now that I look back on it, even when it was a small thing, Joker would find me to help Ron.”

The National Detection Dog Training Center says dogs have 220 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared with the 5 million for people. The dog smells the chemical reaction that takes place when the diabetic’s sugar is dropping.

For more information, see Alert Service Dogs, and to read Vicki Santo’s entire story, see The Daily Herald, a publication serving suburban Chicagoland.

For more information on Juvenile Diabetes, see the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. To help, you can Walk to Cure Diabetes in many cities across the United States.

Prepare your pet for a natural disaster

The recent earthquake to hit the East Coast took everyone by surprise, including pet owners. (Disclaimer, I lived 25 years on the East Coast and never felt a tremor, now that I’ve moved to the West Coast, things are quiet out this way.)

It’s certainly not the last time disaster will strike, so let’s go over how to prepare your pet for a natural disaster:

Make sure each pet that will fit in one, has a carrier, and is accustomed to being in it. If your pet is too large for a carrier, make sure you have a sturdy leash, and muzzle, if necessary. You should have leashes for your smaller pets also.

Print out a copy of your pet’s medical records and vaccinations and tape it to the carrier.

Gather up pet food, bottled water, can opener if necessary, food dishes, medications, litter, litter box and any other supplies your pet may need.

Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with a tag stating your name, the pet’s name and your phone number. Any rabies tags or license tags should be on the collar as well.

Find out which hotels/motels in your area take pets, or check with boarding kennels, vets or friends.

Survey your home and choose the best place to confine your pets in an emergency situation. Bathrooms, utility rooms, or kitchen is best. You’ll want to keep your pets away from windows, but also keep them in an easy clean up area. Never leave your pet outside in a disaster. Dogcheapsleeps.com has waterproof, vinyl beds that wipe or wash clean with a hose. Not a bad thing to have in a disaster.

If you have to go to a shelter, your pets will not be welcome, so you may have to leave them there with ample supplies of food and water. A better idea is the kennel, vet or friend you contacted earlier. If you have to leave your pet, make sure there is a notice outside your home, alerting emergency personnel to the pets.

 When the disaster is over, give your pet plenty of love and understanding while it recovers from trauma. Do not bathe, change the diet or introduce new elements into its surroundings. Keep dogs on leashes when they go out for the first few days. Let them have plenty of uninterrupted sleep. 

What not to feed your pets!

Everybody knows not to feed your dog chocolate, but did you know tuna is doing your cat no favors?
Dogcheapsleeps.com has found quite a few items on the DO NOT FEED LIST, and even more on the list of foods to think twice or make the occasional treat.
What not to feed your pets:
Alcoholic beverages to any pet, any time. Same goes with pot and cigarettes. If you love your pet, you won’t find it funny when they have a reaction to these substances. They could also die, which is really unfunny.
Bones: they can splinter. Even big steak bones. Unless you like funding your vet’s children’s college fund, it’s not worth it.
Chocolate, Caffeine, Tea: the theobromine content is toxic to dogs. The following is offered as an anecdote and is not medical advice. Two days after I got my dog, while I was at work, she climbed up on the kitchen table and ate a bar of chocolate my son got for Easter. Wrapper and all. I phoned the Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s emergency line. They told me she’d be ok if it was milk chocolate because the theobromine is diluted with the other substances, but never, never leave dark chocolate or cocoa out when a dog can reach it. She lived and we learned a lesson about leaving food out.
Corn on the cob: your dog can bite and swallow a piece of the cob, which can lead to an expensive intestinal blockage.
Grapes, raisins and currents, mushrooms and macadamia nuts: have a toxin that can damage the organs and cause death.
Green tomatoes or raw potatoes: another toxin. Baked potatoes are ok once in a while.
Hops (part of beer): have a compound that triggers panting, rapid heart rate, increased temperature, seizures and death.
Over the counter medicine: ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be fatal and they are found in many pain or allergy medicines.
Onions and garlic: Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Onions are worse than garlic, but applies to raw, cooked and powder.
Yeast dough: it can expand in the stomach and cause gas, pain and possible rupture of the stomach.
Xytitol (artificial sweetener). Can cause low blood sugar, which can result in collapse. In high doses can cause liver failure. This means no candy, no gum.
NOT A GOOD IDEA:
Avocados: why would you waste an avocado on a dog anyway? This includes guacamole.
Cat Food (for dogs) High in protein and fats. If you know a way to keep the dog out of the cat food, please share it with us immediately.
Fat: can cause pancreatitis.
Fish: any fish, but especially tuna fish, can cause a thiamine deficiency. Cat lovers can feed the occasional bit of tuna as a treat, but it is not a healthy meal to feed your cat every day.
Milk: causes diarrhea. Ask me how I know.
Garbage: if your dog is rooting in the garbage you either throw out some great stuff, or your dog is severely underweight. My shelter dog stopped digging in the garbage forever when she gained ten pounds.
Pits and seeds: can obstruct the stomach and bowels.
Raw Eggs: have an enzyme that can obstruct the absorption of Vitamin B.
Raw Meat: try telling your pet the meat could have e-coli. Use common sense.
Rhubarb leaves: toxic to your pets and to your family. Eat the stalks if you like them.
Salt, sugary foods: not often, not much. Ham is very salty, which can lead to your pet drinking too much water, which can lead to a condition called bloat….
Table scraps: this is the hardest for pet owners to give up, especially if you’ve tacitly approved begging at the table. Not a nutritional balance for the animal. Try stopping some people.
If you think your pet has consumed something it shouldn’t, keep the number of your vet’s office handy along with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center – (888) 426-4435 – where you know you can find it in an emergency.


There are a vast number of companies that make all types of pet food, and they do a better job than we can do by giving pets any part of our human diet. Here in Arizona, Pet Food Depot has a large selection of pet food, and knowledgeable staff. If you are out of town or out of state, try giving them a call anyway.

What is a Potcake?

While doing research for a future blog post, I was very surprised to find that the island of St. Lucia has a pet rescue organization.

In my many trips to the Caribbean it was my impression that while pets are widely tolerated, they are not given much value. For instance, it is not at all unusual to see dogs and cats in restaurants, bars and stores, but most run freely without leash or collar.
But as I looked a little harder, I found the not only does St. Lucia have an animal rescue organization, so does every major and some smaller islands in the Caribbean. In the Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas, stray dogs are called potcakes, because there was a time when their main food was the caked-on food at the bottom of a rice or grits pot.

The Humane Society International has a page listing the animal rescue organizations of the Caribbean. There is also an organization called The Greater Good, that helps shelters with donations of free food. When you go to the page about animals, you can click on a link that will spur greater donations.

And don’t forget, any time you purchase a product from Dogcheapsleeps.com, we will donate $10 to the non profit animal welfare organization you designate.
I borrowed this from The Potcake Foundation’s website:

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

2. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

3. Don’t be angry with me for long, and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments; but I have only YOU.

4. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

5. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

6. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet I choose not to.

7. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

8. Please take care of me when I grow old. You, too, will grow old.

9. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me, please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

10. Let my last memory be of your kind face, gentle voice and of your loving arms holding me.

Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God’s critters. We do not have to wait for Heaven to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and it has four legs!

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face or a kitty in your lap purring or the soft nicker of a horse as you enter the barn.

R.I.P Smokey

Remembering Smokey

One of the best things about pets is the instant connection you can make with them, and the unconditional love you feel for each other. One of the worst things about pets is that you almost always outlive them.
If you have read our Dogcheapsleeps.com blog or website, you know we have many dogs and cats here, and Smokey was one of our rescue cats. He was about four, and he was on his way to the humane society when the girls at our bank called here, knowing we would give him a home.
During his years here, he was quiet, loving and undemanding, and probably would have been one of the last members of our family to be profiled, except that we lost him this morning. We noticed him lying along the baseboards in one of our offices, and something just looked wrong with his foot. Jeanie rushed him to the vet, and the vet said his back leg had been shattered at the joint. We don’t know how, whether by a car in the parking lot, one of the dogs accidently stepping on him (unlikely) or perhaps something in the warehouse fell on him?
It doesn’t matter. A specialty orthopedic surgeon would have run several thousand dollars, and there is no guarantee the surgery would have worked, or that Smokey would ever have been out of pain. He is out of pain now, but will never be out of our hearts.
Please see our page on what to do in a Dog Health or Pet Emergency. And Petloss.com might help too. After a while.

Assistance Dogs Week

Did you know this week, August 7-13th is International Assistance Dogs Week?
We’ve all seen dogs with vests or tags identifying them as assistance dogs for the handicapped. Assistance dogs are allowed anywhere the general public is allowed. While it is not mandatory that they wear ID, they do so because people who pet them can distract them from their duties.

This week is designed to recognize the loyal and intelligent dogs who serve, as well as those to take on the task of training them. Celebrate Service Dogs features a video that not only shows some of the training service puppies undergo, it also shows how an assistance dog can help in unconventional ways. You’ll laugh and you may have a lump in your throat when you are finished watching.

The International Assistance Dogs Week website can tell you more about events in your community.