Life With Dogs

Monday, 2 December 2019

Therapy Dogs All Dressed Up For Thanksgiving Will Tide You Over Til Christmas

Therapy dogs already bring so much joy to people year-round, but this holiday season some special therapy dogs in Florida are spreading that joy even farther across the internet. An amazing picture of seven therapy dogs seated around the table for Thanksgiving is going viral (for obvious reasons.)

The group of therapy dogs from Therapy K9’s of Southwest Florida all gathered at a home in North Port for Thanksgiving. Obviously a photo needed to be taken to commemorate this occasion, and it wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill group picture. Each dog is dressed in a Thanksgiving outfit and what’s more amazing is they’re all sitting (seemingly) still and looking towards the camera!

If you’re wondering why the pups aren’t all clamoring to get to that turkey in the middle of the table, it’s because it’s plastic and they know better.

Here are the featured models from left to right: Simba the 10-year-old Corgi, Whysper the 18-month-old English Cream Golden Retriever, Legion the seven-year-old Labrador, Isabella the two- year- old Golden Retriever, London the three-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Ziva the six-year-old Golden Retriever.

Trish Gorry, who brought her beloved Legion to the “meal,” humbly told The Palm Beach Post how the photoshoot was so successful.

“It didn’t take long. It was ‘one and done.’ Several people took pictures so we could get it in one sitting. It was kind of incredible.”

She initially shared the picture on Facebook earlier in November, but it gained traction closer to the holiday.

It’s hard to choose a favorite outfit or dog in this amazing picture. Simba looks so dapper in his top hat! Maybe we should bring that style back? I’m a pretty big fan of London’s bonnet too.

Therapy dogs from Therapy K9s of Southwest Florida do a lot. They visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, group homes, and libraries. Sometimes they make social visits and sometimes they educate with programs like fire safety. They even visit prisons and help PTSD patients. They’re such good boys and girls!

Getting Your Pups To Sit Still For A Photo

This task is always a challenge. There are a few things you can do to maximize your chances of getting a good pup picture:

Play First: Dogs that are in a good mood from play and also a little conked out will sit still.
Get Their Attention With Food: This seems obvious of course, but holding a favorite snack near the camera will catch their eye!
Avoid The Camera Flash: This may startle or confuse your dog and probably won’t yield a good photo.

I’m not sure what you all think, but I say this is absolutely the classic to replace “Dogs Playing Poker.”

H/T: MyTwinTiers.com

Featured Image:@Trish Gorry/Facebook

The post Therapy Dogs All Dressed Up For Thanksgiving Will Tide You Over Til Christmas appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

from iHeartDogs.com https://ift.tt/2swAEBK https://ift.tt/2Ldm7Bk

Adoptable Dog Spends Second Thanksgiving In Ohio Shelter

Thanksgiving is a favorite among holidays because it’s so family-focused. We see and embrace our loved ones and express our gratitude. We spend the day basking in the love we’re blessed to be surrounded by. Sadly, not everyone has a family to gather with. In fact, dogs living in shelters don’t even have anywhere else to go.

An animal shelter is not the ideal place to spend the holidays, but that’s exactly where a black dog named Boomer (short for Boomerang) found himself Thursday. It’s where he’s lived since he was brought in as a stray on October 23, 2018.

Boomer is about 7 years old. He’s already spent two Thanksgivings at the Richland County Dog Warden’s Office & Shelter in Mansfield, Ohio. When you do the math, that makes close to 30% of Boomer’s total Thanksgivings. That’s far too many!

The shelter shared in a Facebook post how sad the little guy was the day before Thanksgiving, though the picture does a good job expressing that point too.

“Our poor guy Boomer is pretty down in the dumps today. This will be his second Thanksgiving without a forever family and in the kennel atmosphere.”

Ugh, my heart. Those droopy eyes just say it all.

So far the Facebook post has over 2.8 thousand shares, and let’s hope the extra eyes on it increase his chances of getting adopted.

The only time this sweetie has been outside of the shelter since he was admitted was during his time working with Bradford Vet Tech School. What he wants is a permanent home and a forever family.

If you’re looking to adopt a middle-aged cutie from Ohio, why not this one? Boomer is neutered, up to date on all his shots, and heart worm negative. The shelter says he prefers to be the only animal in a home. He’s calm and loves tummy rubs too!

By Boomer’s 1 year mark at the shelter, he was the longest resident there. Ohio resident April Friend shared in her Facebook group “My Dog Shelter Friends @ The Richland County Shelter” how desperately she wants to see Boomer happy and adopted.

“This dog has been at the Shelter WAY too long. This dog might be the most chill dog EVER. He literally just wants to chill. He is very sweet and so calm. He is around 6 years old and deserves a wonderful home and a wonderful family. He seriously wouldn’t ask for much. I want to see him on a soft bed chillin, because that would be heaven for him. He does LOVE his belly rubbed. He deserves the best, and does not deserve to be here!!”

Let’s make sure this guy doesn’t spend any more family holidays without a family! Learn more about adopting Boomer here.

H/T: Cleveland19

Featured Image: @R.C.D.W.OfficeandShelter/Facebook

The post Adoptable Dog Spends Second Thanksgiving In Ohio Shelter appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

from iHeartDogs.com https://ift.tt/2sx2VrP https://ift.tt/33GEkhk

Sunday, 1 December 2019

She Drove 1,500 Miles To Adopt The Dog Who Spent 4 Years In The Shelter

You may remember the sweet pup we featured last month who had been dumped at the shelter on Christmas Eve in 2015. Well with the help of those of you who shared his story, his future adopter read his feature on iHeartDogs and knew she could be the one to change his life.

After waiting patiently for his forever home, Bernard finally got his happily ever after! In what seemed like fate, Kathy Ahern came across an adorable face on her Pinterest feed that tugged at her heart. Once she read Bernard’s story, she had an overwhelming urge to help the poor pup who had spent most of his life in the shelter.

With recently losing her two beloved dogs, Chubsy and Fluffy to old age, her heart was beginning to open up to the thought of welcoming another dog into her life. Though Bernard’s story sparked a special interest, she took some time to simmer on the thought of actually adopting him.

Bernard was in a shelter in Texas that was about 1,500 miles away from her home in Florida, so this decision would consider some serious thought. Even with considering the logistics of this journey, she could not stop thinking about sweet Bernie.

Kathy was not sure why, but each time she looked at Bernard’s sweet face, her late dog Chubsy would come to mind.

“It’s like I could see Chubsy in his eyes. I felt like Chubsy was telling me I needed to do this.”- Kathy

After a week of contemplating this decision, she finally made the call to the Bulverde Area Humane Society.

At first the shelter was a bit hesitant to send Bernard to a home that was so far away. They had all grown to love Bernie like their own over the last 4 years, so they wanted to make sure he was always close enough to receive help if needed. After the shelter operator spoke with Kathy in length about her love of animals and dedication to her dogs, he knew Kathy was the perfect match.

Soon after that phone call, Kathy set out on a 4 day long adventure to bring Bernard home. Once she finally arrived at the shelter and met the dog of honor, every single mile and obstacle was worth it.

Below is a snippet of the last installment of Brainstorming with Bernard, which was a blog created in an effort to raise awareness of Bernard’s time at the shelter, written in “Bernards voice”:

“Today’s weather is warmer; or is that my heart that feels warmer? I’m a bit confused so I look around to see if I can figure out what is going on.

THERE!

There.
Right.
There.
That.
Lady.

My big, brown eyes spot her eyes and I see nothing else around me. She is like an angel and she is walking towards me! I can feel love radiating from her! Is she REALLY coming towards me?
SHE IS!
My heart is melting. I truly believe that this is my person. I can feel it! Okay, hang on, she really wants to see me!

I’ll be back to tell you how it goes.”

Bernard has now been in his home for a couple weeks and is finally starting to settle in. Bernard has definitely shown evidence of his life at the shelter, as he doesn’t quite understand play time with toys or the juicy steak treat his new mom offers him, but Kathy is giving him all the time and patience that he needs.

Kathy even brought a dog trainer into her home to help her better understand Bernard and help him settle in well with his other furry siblings. There is no doubt that Bernard hit the jackpot with this loving home!

We cannot wait to watch Bernard continue to blossom in his new home. Thank you to Kathy for going out of your way to change Bernard’s life, and to the staff at the Bulverde Area Humane Society for refusing to give up on this lovable pup!

H/T: news4sanantonio.com
Image Source: BulverdeHumaneSociety/Facebook

The post She Drove 1,500 Miles To Adopt The Dog Who Spent 4 Years In The Shelter appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

from iHeartDogs.com https://ift.tt/2rMwRjf https://ift.tt/384ep6G

Acts Of Animal Cruelty Are Officially A Felony In The U.S.!

If you’re an avid reader of iHeartDogs.com, you’ve probably read your fair share of stories about unthinkable animal cruelty. Dedicated people across the country have been fighting to impose harsher penalties for acts of animal cruelty. This week, they were rewarded with a historic new legislation.

Following its passage in the Senate, a bill making acts of animal cruelty a felony was just signed by President Trump. It’s official!

Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) who co-sponsored the bill called the bill’s passage a “major victory.”

“Passing this legislation is a major victory in the effort to stop animal cruelty and make our communities safer. Evidence shows that the deranged individuals who harm animals often move on to committing acts of violence against people. It is appropriate that the federal government have strong animal cruelty laws and penalties.”

About The Bill

Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, as the bipartisan bill is called, criminalizes certain acts of animal cruelty. The House of Representatives approved the bill in late October 2019. The bill passed in the Senate unanimously on Nov 5, 2019.

The PACT Act will officially make it a federal crime for “any person to intentionally engage in animal crushing if the animals or animal crushing is in, substantially affects, or uses a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce.”

The Bill’s Reception

A lot of people are celebrating this momentous occasion! In a statement, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Kitty Block, offered praise about the new law.

“PACT makes a statement about American values. Animals are deserving of protection at the highest level. The approval of this measure by the Congress and the president marks a new era in the codification of kindness to animals within federal law. For decades, a national anti-cruelty law was a dream for animal protectionists. Today, it is a reality.”

The head of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, Sara Amundson, also expressed joy and relief following a long fight for justice.

“After decades of work to protect animals and bearing witness to some of the worst cruelty, it’s so gratifying the Congress and president unanimously agreed that it was time to close the gap in the law and make malicious animal cruelty within federal jurisdiction a felony. We cannot change the horrors of what animals have endured in the past, but we can crack down on these crimes moving forward. This is a day to celebrate.”

Animal cruelty is a serious issue. If you witness any acts of abuse, report it. Learn more about what to do here.

H/T: ABC

The post Acts Of Animal Cruelty Are Officially A Felony In The U.S.! appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

from iHeartDogs.com https://ift.tt/2LchPKz https://ift.tt/2qTaucb

Puppy Stolen From Car In 2017 Was Just Reunited With His Dad Who Never Gave Up Looking For Him

A 4-month-old puppy was stolen just two days before Christmas in 2017. Schiele was a tiny Belgian Malinois rescue pup from Puerto Rico. He and his dad lived in South Florida but they had been staying in California when Schiele went missing. Schiele’s dad, Rian Maercks, had left the puppy locked inside his Tesla with the windows up and the air conditioning on. Maercks quickly ran inside a store to pick up a grill. He thought he was doing his best to keep Schiele comfortable for a few short minutes but their world quickly changed.

Shattered Glass And A Missing Puppy

Maercks’ rear driver’s side window had been shattered. Sadly, Schiele was nowhere to be found.

“I looked at my front seat, and I expected to see this beautiful puppy sleeping, and he wasn’t there,” Maercks told wsvn.com.

Maercks described his lost pup as one of the most intelligent and loving dogs he had ever met. He offered a $2,000 reward but he began to lose hope as the days turned to months. Schiele’s desperate dad was doing everything he could to bring his furbaby home safe. He even offered money to anybody who shared Schiele’s wanted poster on Facebook if their sharing led to Schiele’s return. The post had been shared nearly 500 times.

“The whole energy of my house has changed without him. It’s not the same,” Schiele’s distraught dad told nbcmiami.com. “I feel the lack of his presence all the time. I haven’t really slept in three days – I just want my son back.”

Maercks told wsvn.com that he was “madly in love” with Schiele and he sincerely hoped he would find his way back to him. He reportedly has no family besides his dogs. The holidays were hard for Maercks ever since, but then a miracle happened.

A Miracle Happened Right As Two Years Approached

Schiele’s dad received a phone call this past week from the local animal shelter. They called to let him know his precious baby had been found! Someone had dropped him off at the shelter and he was ready to be reunited. Schiele appeared to be well cared for despite the circumstances.

“I thought he was either dead or abused or all kinds of thoughts passed through my mind, so I’m really happy to find he’s a healthy and beautiful happy dog,” Maercks said. “I’m just really happy to see that he’s not dead. He doesn’t look malnourished or beaten.”

There’s no telling what Schiele’s life was like for the past two years. However, Maercks is taking time to get reacquainted with his boy. Surely there are lots of snuggles and treats involved!

h/t: wsvn.com
Featured Photo: @RianMaercks/Facebook

The post Puppy Stolen From Car In 2017 Was Just Reunited With His Dad Who Never Gave Up Looking For Him appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

from iHeartDogs.com https://ift.tt/2LchOGv https://ift.tt/34EigoO

Fox Personality Dana Perino Shares What Helped Her After Her Dog’s Passing

No, our dogs don’t live as long as we do. And yes, we all know and understand this when we become dog parents. But it doesn’t make losing a dog at any age any easier. Saying goodbye to our babies is always tough.

Fox News personality Dana Perino received some uplifting words on the topic after her dog Henry died in 2012.

The person who provided the words of comfort was Charles Krauthammer, as she told his son Daniel Krauthammer when he appeared as a guest on her show “Dana Perino’s Book Club.” Daniel was there to discuss the book his father wrote, “The Point of It All: A Lifetime of Great Loves and Endeavors,” a collection of columns, speeches, and essays.

“When my dog Henry passed away, your dad happened to be up here in New York. I saw him and I told him or he had heard about it and he said, ‘We ask ourselves, why do we do this to ourselves?’ Because, you know, they’re not going to live as long. And he said, ‘Because dogs make us better people.’ Yeah, I’ll never forget that.”

I think we’d all take the way our dogs impact our lives in their short time over not having them at all.

Perino’s Late Dog Henry

Perino shared on Twitter the day Henry the 14-year-old Vizsla died. It was March 25, 2012.

“Said good-bye today to #HenryVizsla. He had a wonderful 14 yrs & gave twice as much love as he got. RIP, dear Henry.”

@DanaPerino/Twitter

Obviously, he was extremely important to her. An excerpt from Perino’s book, “Let Me Tell You About Jasper,” shows the huge impact Henry had on her life.

“Henry was a witness to my transition from the young woman of twenty-six to the more confident woman of nearly forty. So much in my life had changed in those fourteen years, but Henry was the constant for Peter and me. I didn’t know who I would have been without him.”

After Henry’s Death

Through sharing and honoring his memory, Perino was able to cope with the loss of her beloved pup.

She now lives with a beautiful brown Vizsla (breed preference, evidently) named Jasper. Perino frequently tweets photos of him. He’s also her muse and has inspired writing and even appeared on TV with her.

Perino continues to emphasize the value of the relationship between dogs and people.

“If politics is causing you any kind of strife in your life, the one thing you can always find common ground with people is dogs.”

I can’t find anything wrong with that argument.

H/T: Fox News
Featured Image: Screenshot, FoxNews.com

The post Fox Personality Dana Perino Shares What Helped Her After Her Dog’s Passing appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

from iHeartDogs.com https://ift.tt/2R4cFEp https://ift.tt/2szkRSR

Friday, 29 November 2019

Job Looking After Two Golden Retrievers In A Luxury Town House Somehow Still Available

Looking for work is not the most thrilling task. Finding the right opportunities can be tough. It’s not often the perfect opening falls right into your lap. Lucky for you dog lovers out there looking for work: that perfect opening is here!

A job listing that’s somehow still available seeks someone in London to care for a beautiful home and even more beautiful Golden Retrievers full-time.

“A busy couple are looking for a live-in housekeeper at their 6-storey town house in Knightsbridge. They are both international business people who travel frequently and have 2 dogs. This is an informal property and they need someone to keep on top of the house while they come and go and to have sole responsibility of the dogs in their absence.”

The dogs’ names are Oscar and Milo. You’d be taking them on twice daily walks and managing their care. The listing specifically emphasizes a passion for dog care and past experience in this would also be a plus.

You would also have to do some basic housekeeping duties, including cooking, laundry, food-shopping, and cleaning. You live where you work, and room and board is covered. I don’t think you’d find a living situation much better than that on Craigslist!

So even though you get to live in a nice home rent-free and spend your day with two beautiful Goldies, you also get paid between £30,000 and £32,000 (about $38,500 and $41,000) per year. According to USA Today, the average salary for a job like this here in the states is around $21,000. This job sounds like a top tier opportunity!

It’s a Monday through Friday job with occasional weekends. I don’t think I’d mind the extra hours of pup time.

The listing was posted on October 15th, so if it isn’t gone by the time you read this I’d be shocked. If it is still there: To apply you just have to create an account on the staffing website Silver Swan Search.

Qualifications For A Dog Care Job

It’s not required to have a high school diploma, but the majority of employers will want to see that as the minimum degree attained.

Most employers tend to also prefer candidates with previous experience taking care of animals. You can always volunteer at a shelter and take any necessary classes and training with them. Aspiring pet-sitters can also take courses through the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

Most importantly: employers always want to see a candidate with a true passion for dogs. If you’ve read this far, you’re probably that someone.

H/T: Insider
Featured Image: Congerdesign via Pixabay

The post Job Looking After Two Golden Retrievers In A Luxury Town House Somehow Still Available appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

from iHeartDogs.com https://ift.tt/37Oq1ug https://ift.tt/2sxNHmJ