I'm Not The Only One

I am not the only dog with a blog of my own.  Lots of my friends have blogs too.  I love reading them with Mom.  I know you will too.  Here are some of my favorite blogs by and about dogs and other critters.

Take Paws: The official pet travel blog of GoPetFriendly.com.  Their latest post is announcing their weekly Friday Pet Photo Challenge.

Healthy Pet Food Guide:  Written by my friend Paul at Nature's Select Pet Food.  Mom and I read their latest post on Dogs and Thunder.  I HATE thunderstorms and we get a lot of them here in Arkansas. 

Best Bully Sticks Healthy Dog Blog: Best Bully Sticks are some of my favorite treats.  And I love their blog.  This week, they introduced a new treat that I can't wait to try - Pet Greens Snacks.  Yum!

Just Meowin':  Written by my friend Brewskie Butt, who is a cat, but I love him anyway.  His latest post is one of my favorites because it talks about an issue very important to me and Mom - pet adoption.  Stop by and read "It Really Sucks Being an Only Pet."

4PawsforAbility:  4 Paws for Ability is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to place quality service dogs with children with disabilities and veterans who have lost use of limbs or hearing; help with animal rescue, and educate the public regarding use of service dogs in public places.  Their blog keeps you up to date with all of their programs - like their 7 day cruise for 4 Paws families.

Aspen the Yorkie:  Aspen is a Yorkshire Terrier, just like Austin.  She writes a great blog with pet care tips and advice.  We loved her recent post on the Calm and Happy Cat Pheromone because anything that keeps our cats calm is a good thing!

The Critter Connection:  I discovered guinea pigs this year and absolutely love them.  I wish Mom would adopt one but she says 4 dogs, 9 cats, 2 raccoons, 1 possum and an aquarium full of fish are enough.  So I have to get my guinea pig fix by reading this blog.  Their latest post about what mites can do to a guinea pig almost made me cry.

Kansas Humane Society Blog:  Meet Ember. And Peaches.  And Grace and Martha.  And all the others looking for forever families at the Kansas Humane Society.

A Humane Nation:  Few are in a position to speak for the animals like Wayne Pacelle.  His most recent post is about the campaign against gestation crates.  I'm not sure what they are exactly, but I know I don't like being in my crate.  When Mom explained these to me, it sounded BAD. 





 

There's No Place Like Home

I want to tell you a story about a little dog. This dog was a good little dog. Yes, he chewed on shoes and piddled on the floor. But he didn't mean it. He was just a puppy after all. He wanted to be good. But the man and the woman who lived with him and his 4-legged mom said they had too many dogs already and that the little dog was too much trouble. So they took him to the animal shelter. The little dog was put in a small cage with no friends to play with and no one to pet him. He had food and water and sometimes he got to go outside and walk around, but most of the time he was in the cage - alone. It was very scary! Sometimes the people who worked at the shelter would come and get a dog for a walk - and the dog would never come back. The little dog heard that they were put to sleep. Sleep was good, but somehow sleeping and never coming back didn't seem right. The little dog worried that might happen to him and he was afraid. Sometimes, people would come in to the shelter and take a dog from the cage. These dogs also never came back. But the little dog heard that this was different. These dogs were going to new homes where they would be loved and be part of a family. The little dog wished every night that someone would take him home.

One day a man and woman came in to the shelter. They stopped at the little dog's cage and talked to him. The little dog sniffed at the woman's fingers as she reached through the cage. She asked if she could hold the little dog. When she picked him up, the little dog reached up and kissed her on the chin to say thank you for taking him out of the cage. The woman cuddled the little dog, looked at the man, and said, "I want him." That's was all it took! The little dog couldn't believe it. Someone was going to take him home.

In case you haven't figured it out, the little dog was me and the story is how my Mom and Dad found me at the shelter. I was lucky. I have lived here for 15 years and I am loved and cared for every day. I have food, and a bed, and toys, and playmates - I even have a cat. Mom helps me write this blog and holds me and takes me for walks and plays with me. I have a great life. But there are thousands of dogs and cats who aren't so lucky.

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  So this month, I am asking you to think about adding a furry friend to your home.  If you have room in your house and your heart for one more thing to love, please visit your local animal shelter and adopt a dog.  Go to your local shelter, find the perfect dog for your family and give another little dog a forever home. 

In honor of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Mom has helped me with a new design for my store.  And if you purchase one this month, we will donate 10% of the price to local animal shelters.  Visit http://www.cafepress.com/travelwithbob/9405409