tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48750814917349872442024-02-18T22:52:52.145-08:00The Leash and the Litter boxLeashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-81220979134897491582016-01-29T05:26:00.001-08:002016-02-06T06:33:57.958-08:00Made Just a Little Lower Then the AngelsFor those who know, caring for loved ones can be tiring and at times without anybody's fault, hurtful. But there is a light to all of this and I would like to share it as I have worked with people and animals.<br />
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We are like our animal friends in one aspect. We get hungry and thirsty. We are demanding and want our needs fulfilled at this moment. We have instinct. We also have a Spirit. God has given us more things, like a Soul. He has given us intelligence to reason to understand and to create. We are told to be stewards of all living things on the earth as well as the earth.<br />
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I worked with an Alzheimer's Patient who was fortunate enough to be one who laughed and joked and as my father used to say, "ornery". Always kidding and being stubborn about eating lunch or taking his medicine and laughing about it, he would talk to me about everything and I would try to follow along, kidding and joking with him. This man was a jewel. He showed me how wonderfully we are made.<br />
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Each day, as the cognitive and reasoning part of this man was taken from him, I realized that special gift God gave only to us. I was thankful that in spite of this disease's progression on us, it doesn't take our Soul away. We are still wonderfully made. We do have a bond with our animal friends, but it doesn't bother me because God loves all His creation. God loves us by the proof of what He did just for us; His Son.<br />
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A devotional and just my two cents.....................Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-52242330189879349402015-10-07T06:52:00.000-07:002015-10-07T06:52:07.377-07:00Five Things Your Dog Wants from You<span style="color: #e06666;">5 Things Your Dog Wants from You</span><br />
by VETDEPOT on MAY 11, 2015<br />
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If your dog could dream up the perfect life, you might think it involves a lifetime supply of treats and endless trips to the dog park. While these things may be on your dog’s wish list, most canines crave simple things that make them feel loved, happy, and stable. Below are five things your dog really wants:<br />
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1. Guidance: No dog wants to be yelled at for using the rug as a potty spot or chewing up your favorite pair of shoes, but canines don’t instinctively know not to do these things. Setting consistent boundaries early in life and committing to training will not only boost your dog’s confidence and happiness, but it will also strengthen the bond you two have with each other.<br />
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2. Stimulation: Dogs may not be able to ask for it with words, but they need both physical and mental activity to ward off boredom and undesirable behaviors. Regular walks, hikes, runs, or games of fetch are all great options to get your canine companion moving. Training sessions, agility activities, and puzzle toys are good ways to keep your dog’s mind sharp.<br />
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3. Consistency: Your dog doesn’t want to tag along on your emotional rollercoaster. It can be confusing if you come home one day in a great mood and super grumpy the next. While it’s natural for your days to differ and your moods to change, try to keep your reaction to your dog the same. Dogs need a leader who’s cool, calm, and collected. Consistency applies to a lot of other areas of dog ownership too, including feeding schedules and house rules. When you keep things consistent, you’re giving your dog the best chance to thrive.<br />
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4. Socialization: When dogs are exposed to a variety of people, other canines, and situations, they’re less likely to feel fearful or aggressive. If possible, start this exposure at a young age and keep it consistent. Keep in mind that even with the best attempts at socialization, every dog is different and may not have the same level of comfort around other dogs and people. Tailor the socialization to your pup’s individual needs. For canines that don’t do well at the dog park, opt for walks or agility classes instead.<br />
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5. Attention to health: Your dog may not know the meaning of a healthy body weight or arthritic joints, but he does know what it’s like to feel good and energetic. Keep up with your canine companion’s health by committing to regular vet checkups, opting for a healthy dog food, keeping up with flea control, and not neglecting things like dental care. A healthy dog is a happy dog.<br />
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- See more at: http://blog.vetdepot.com/5-things-your-dog-wants-from-you?utm_source=Email_marketing&utm_campaign=Tuesday_October_6_2015&campaigner=1&utm_medium=HTMLEmail#sthash.n8WKKORH.dpufLeashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-60191448441662503682014-10-10T14:11:00.000-07:002014-10-10T14:11:46.771-07:00I had a sandwich and something to drink at the Atlanta Bread Company Thursday with some new colleages and friends. Two fairly new (about two years) companies in the pet sitting, dog walking and horse care area have been doing business in Pelzer and the southern Greenville area. We talked for about an hour or so before we all had to leave and do evening pet sits and walks. It's great to have fellow pet sitters to talk with as this business can be somewhat lonely because of the lack of human contact. Pets are great to relax you and to lower your blood pressure and have fun with, but it is a good respit to come home to or call another human being and talk for awhile.Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-74739228827108360002014-10-08T07:49:00.001-07:002014-10-08T07:49:13.727-07:00Twenty-three Speakers in Videoed Conference/seminar for two weeks Sept/Oct.I have just finished participating in an online, free, 2 week seminar/conference about the various aspects of pet sitting. Topics included things like Burnout, Ways to ease the Administrative burden and really "do what you like", having the enjoyment and fun in your work, franchises, make what you are worth and pet first aid. All of the speakers have very successful businesses and I got some ideas and have gotten motivated through what they had to say. Mostly, these speakers validated many of the thoughts I have had over my twenty years of pet sitting through trial and error. This was very satisfying to me as it confirms I have been on the right track all along. Also for those who have smaller businesses, there was plenty of information we could use and implement.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYfltHZv4gyzVqG4bUzJ4j7254qpQcjcNgEf6LI884bfAhFS6BeyBysVc_xvhAUXl4X-Xk48AEe41PGP8W8HK234Rn3tKGp_IhmgwVpxqjk9LBKhtGmWa8GR0m4MAdhkw51DZVMtZMF-S/s1600/102a.jpg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYfltHZv4gyzVqG4bUzJ4j7254qpQcjcNgEf6LI884bfAhFS6BeyBysVc_xvhAUXl4X-Xk48AEe41PGP8W8HK234Rn3tKGp_IhmgwVpxqjk9LBKhtGmWa8GR0m4MAdhkw51DZVMtZMF-S/s1600/102a.jpg.jpeg" /></a></div>
The themes that seemed to permeate all the video interviews were 1) take care of yourself first 2) learn to say "no" 3)Keep in contact with your clients 4)Ask for help and hire 5) You are worth more than you think<br />
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All in all, this was a great way to continue to learn about the pet sitting business and all the "new" things that have come about since I first started in 1994. If there is a chance to participate in free seminars that you are interested in, remember, no matter how experienced you are, there is at least one thing, idea or thought you should be able to take away with you.Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-28374663526007710282012-03-23T05:19:00.001-07:002012-03-23T05:19:34.166-07:00Find a professional pet sitter at petsit.com/find<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-dpYXW2ZHzo?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-6410809741219037642011-06-05T06:31:00.000-07:002011-06-05T06:37:50.209-07:00Pet First Aid: Snakebites & Your Pet<a href="http://www.petsit.com/snakebites-and-pets">Pet First Aid: Snakebites & Your Pet</a><div><br /></div><div>Check out the above site.</div><div><br /></div><div>Snakes and pets don't mix. The best way is to leave all snakes alone and keep your dog safe by staying away. Just in case, here are some tips for first aid. Then take your pet to the vet immediately; don't wait.</div><div><br /></div>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-54023669723665428712011-05-31T07:25:00.000-07:002011-05-31T07:25:42.099-07:00Balloo's BRAC Sunday's Standard, 2011<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6jJTrMaAKEc?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-91563378098417373562011-05-31T07:04:00.000-07:002011-05-31T07:09:44.416-07:00Balloo's BRAC Saturday's Standard in May 2011<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m6Ag2zLjT38?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>BALLOO 2011 Fletcher Agility Trial in May<br /><div><br /></div></div>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-83699424646411746742011-03-27T07:04:00.000-07:002011-03-27T07:09:08.049-07:00Out For A Walk?<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial; color: #333333"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b> Teaching Fido Not to Pull on the Leash</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333">There are many things that tempt your dog when you’re out for a walk, like new smells and other animals. Your dog will try to get where he wants to go, even if that means pulling you along with him! If he pulls on the leash and you allow him to, you’ve reinforced him for pulling, and your pup got what he wanted. Once you’ve allowed him to do this, he’ll do it again. American Kennel Club® Canine Good Citizen® Director and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Mary Burch, Ph.D., offers the following two techniques to stop your dog from pulling on the leash.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Technique #1</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When Fido starts to pull on the leash, stop in your tracks. Stand still and don’t move forward with the dog.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Wait right there where you are. Your pup will pull, but he’ll eventually stop.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When he does stop pulling, praise him and move forward again.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Anytime he starts to pull, repeat the procedure and stop where you are. It won’t take him too long to figure out that you’re not going anywhere as long as he pulls on the leash.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Technique #2</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When your pup begins to pull off in his own direction, briskly turn around and begin walking in the opposite direction. Fido will have to come along, and most likely he’ll hurry up to keep up with you.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When Fido begins to follow in the direction you are walking, praise him. If you’re at the beginning stages of training your pup, give him a treat. This will train your dog to watch you when you’re out for a walk and not pull on the leash.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #333333">Additional tips on how to train your dog can be found in "Citizen Canine," the official new book of the <span style="color: #cc6633">AKC Canine Good Citizen® Program</span> sponsored by The Hartford.</p> <br /><p></p>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-8672267829172323512011-02-04T17:33:00.000-08:002011-02-04T17:46:37.274-08:00Grab Fido and Head to the Beach!<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 20.0px Arial; color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dogs love trips to the beach. It has it all -- wide open spaces for running and playing, water to</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">swim in, sticks to chew and fetch, and fascinating smells to discover. As a dog owner, the</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">beach comes with special challenges and rewards. You'll experience the great joy of walking on</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the sand with your dog, watching your puppy get tuckered out by a day of playing and</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">swimming. But you'll also need to find a beach that's dog friendly and make sure that you and</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">your pup follow certain important rules of etiquette.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Dog Beaches</span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not every beach allows dogs, especially near and in big cities. Some beaches allow dogs but</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">require that they be on a leash during their visit. While most beaches in the U.S. and Canada do</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">not allow dogs, there are hundreds of dog-friendly beaches on each coast. The key is to do your</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">research before you go and find a place where your furry friend will be welcomed.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">West Coast,</span> you'll find a number of dog-friendly beaches. In California, head to Kings</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beach in Lake Tahoe, Long Beach in the Long Beach area, Pacific Grove in Monterey, and</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Laguna Beach or Corona Del Mar in Orange County. San Diego has four dog beaches</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Coronado, Imperial Beach, La Jolla, Ocean Beach), and the Bay Area has Half Moon Bay,</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pacifica beach, and Pescadero beach. Oregon has dog-friendly beaches in Cannon Beach, Coos</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bay, Depoe Bay, Newport, Rockaway Beach, Yachats, and many other seaside towns. In</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Washington state, visit Bainbridge Island, Blaine, Everett, Federal Way, Ocean Shores, Edmonds,</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Port Angeles, and the beaches of the San Juan Islands.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">East Coast </span>offers dog beaches up and down the seaboard. In Florida, head to Amelia</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Island's Fernandina Beach, Dog Island, Fort Myers, Key West, Pensacola, Miami, Naples, and the</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">three dog beaches of Tampa Bay (Dunedin, St. Petersburg, and Tampa). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">The Carolinas offer dog</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">beaches at Cape Fear, Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, Charleston (four beaches), Edisto Beach,</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Myrtle Beach (Murrells Inlet), and on Hilton Head Island.</span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Further north</span>, you can visit Brooklyn beach, Long Island's Montauk beach, Cape May Point,</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Manasquan, and Newport. Southern Rhode Island has four dog beaches (Charlestown,</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Narragansett, South Kingston, and Westerly), and Cape Cod offers eleven, including Barnstable,</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chatham, Sandwich, Truro, and Wellfleet. In the Boston area, check out Manchester beach.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There are also two dog beaches on Marthas Vineyard. Maine offers beaches at Bar Harbor,</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kennebunkport, and South Portland.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Etiquette at the Beach</span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you're headed to a beach that allows leashed dogs, be sure to follow the rules. Keep your dog</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on a leash at all times. When people disregard leash laws, local municipalities are more likely to</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">close the beach to dogs altogether, ruining the fun for everyone.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If your beach allows off-leash dogs, be sure your dog will respond to your verbal commands. In</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">other words, your pup must be able to come when you call it, even if it's engaged with another</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dog or investigating a great-smelling bit of beach debris.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bring poop bags with you and be vigilant about cleaning up after your dog. No one enjoys a</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">poopy beach! This is another reason why beaches are often closed to dogs. Do your part to</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">keep your beach dog-friendly by being<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;"> a responsible dog owner.</span> Many beaches impose fines on</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">people who don't clean up after their dogs.In general, keep your dog from being a pest. Don't let it</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">race up to small children who might be afraid. Don't let your dog shake itself dry next to</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">sunbathers and picnickers. Keep your dog from visiting other beach-goers, especially if they're</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">eating. And if you can, visit the beach with your dog in the early morning and evening, when the</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">beach is less crowded. By taking a few precautions and keeping courtesy in mind, you and your</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dog can have a fabulous time at the beach and be welcomed by everyone. Once you find a</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">great dog beach, you'll want to do your best to keep in dog friendly, so you can your pup can</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">visit again and again</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">from:camping.com, articles and info, camping with pets - 1823</span></b></p>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-69544690871784004932011-02-04T05:59:00.000-08:002011-02-04T06:04:52.255-08:00Poison to Your Pup - Human Food That's Bad for Dogs<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 20.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>It's hard to resist a wagging tail and a pair of big, brown, begging eyes. And while certain human</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>foods are palatable for dogs, it's important to know which are not, because unfortunately, the</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>bad ones can severely harm and even kill your dog. The following list of bad foods and their</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>dangers may seem dire, but if you familiarize yourself with these harmful human foods, you'll be</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>better equipped to keep your dog healthy and happy.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Enemy #1: poultry bones. Bones and dogs go hand-in-hand, so it can be easy to forget that only</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>the bones from hoofed animals are right for dogs. Poultry bones - everything from chicken thighs</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>to turkey drumsticks - splinter and can puncture your dog's gastrointestinal tract. These bones</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>are dangerous to dogs of all sizes, and the decline and death that results can take several days.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Instead of giving your dog bones from the table, buy specially marked dog bones at the store.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Enemy #2: chocolate. The general rule of thumb with chocolate is that the darker it is, the more</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>dangerous it is. You also need to take into account the size of your dog and the amount of</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>chocolate eaten. A small dog who eats a bar of baking chocolate (very dark chocolate) may be</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>in serious trouble, call your veterinarian immediately in this case. On the other hand, if your 100-</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>pound dog eats one milk-chocolate candy, it will probably be fine.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that's toxic to dogs. Combined with chocolate's</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>caffeine, which speeds up the heart rate, this human delicacy can lead to vomiting, diarrhea,</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>hyperactivity, seizures, and coma. Also, because dogs process chocolate more slowly than</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>humans, your pup may seem fine after eating the bar, but could still become very ill over the</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>course of the next twenty-four hours. Cocoa powder is also very dangerous. Milk chocolate and</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>white chocolate, which contain less cacao, are less dangerous.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Enemy #3: onions. For you, onions are foods that spice up nearly any dish, but for your dog,</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>they're deadly. Onion poisoning develops symptoms slowly. It can be caused by one large dose</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>of onions or a small amount eaten steadily over the course of several days. All onions are</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>dangerous -- fresh onions, dried onions, cooked onions, and even onions on pizza.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Onions (and garlic, to a lesser extent) contain a toxin that causes haemolytic anaemia, in which</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>the dog's red blood cells burst while they're circulating through its body. Initial symptoms include</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>vomiting and diarrhea, followed by lethargy, dark urine, and trouble breathing. The full affect of</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>the poisoning won't be felt until a few days after the dog consumes the onions. Again, both the</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>size of the dog and the amount of onion eaten are important factors.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Enemy #4: fatty foods. A neighbor hosted a wedding at his home recently and was puzzled to</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>find that his dog was weak and restless afterward. The veterinarian diagnosed pancreatitis</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>caused by wedding guests giving the dog fatty treats. This dog had to spend a night in the animal</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>hospital, receiving fluids to help her inflamed pancreas. Pancreatitis ñ and its sister condition</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach, can be caused by fatty foods of all types,</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>whether they come from the table or from a garbage can. Both often require hospitalization.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Enemy #5: macadamia nuts. We think of them as tasty Hawaiian treats, but these nuts contain a</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>toxic substance that causes paralysis, tremors, swollen limbs, and horrible joint pain.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Other dangerous human foods:</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Raisins and grapes - can cause severe diarrhea and acute kidney failure.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Bread Dough (with yeast) the yeast continues to "rise" or expand within the dog's belly. This can</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>be fatal in both dogs and cats.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Moldy Food - this can cause an array of nasty reactions including seizures, coma, and death.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>Even in very small amounts, it easily causes diarrhea, which isn't pleasant for anyone.Looking</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><b>for more information and other great articles about camping with pets? Visit </b><span style="color:#663366;"><b>PetCamping.com</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Arial; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial"><b>from: Camping.com, articules and info, camping with pets -1411</b></p>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-48026237991785409822011-01-05T05:22:00.000-08:002011-01-05T05:25:32.158-08:00"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gives me the gift of a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all parts of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."<div><br /></div><div>-Author Unknown</div>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-44072383226737245792010-12-28T12:01:00.000-08:002010-12-28T12:03:09.408-08:00From the Sayings of Smudge, the Cat"It is better to wait until the gate opens then jumping over it. This way you know that you have been invited in."Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-36939898429281185552010-12-28T11:51:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:52:20.729-08:00From the Sayings of Smudge, the Cat"Don't lick out the can. You will get more food from the dish."Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-45028410729732117352010-12-28T11:49:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:51:14.484-08:00From the Sayings of Smudge, the Cat"Meow sparingly, so that your human will understand you better."Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-3573611714912970272010-12-28T11:46:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:49:03.128-08:00"The Greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too." - Samuel ButlerLeashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-40541583132992076122010-08-10T10:23:00.000-07:002010-08-10T17:08:37.872-07:00Before the Pine Tree Died<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie87oXePDNeqFLhtIQygVJVqxwasowXkTMwh_LTlcoLZj9ipcWNezqhiuYM9986RF-Kw-ts1okGz_Z8gwy-k28TYYK1QtwR61OjT5RXcrhfceh07DJOuRnyCabuUmw0Zb2XdFd3HWdAIyf/s1600/Scan+102220003.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie87oXePDNeqFLhtIQygVJVqxwasowXkTMwh_LTlcoLZj9ipcWNezqhiuYM9986RF-Kw-ts1okGz_Z8gwy-k28TYYK1QtwR61OjT5RXcrhfceh07DJOuRnyCabuUmw0Zb2XdFd3HWdAIyf/s200/Scan+102220003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503936465259448818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaX6c6LPqJWpdvPVZ3nA2FyL1HNckgfwl6JaSrx3ZRlKTXSJTdn0w2LWeSKOxO4kwf_hO3zrdYpFDe-65Eu0UeLWaXdBgUOaVVsRa5k6wsw1vWsbfWmJR0A4kRkdca09ZOXWVLEhLx2e4i/s1600/Scan+102220002.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaX6c6LPqJWpdvPVZ3nA2FyL1HNckgfwl6JaSrx3ZRlKTXSJTdn0w2LWeSKOxO4kwf_hO3zrdYpFDe-65Eu0UeLWaXdBgUOaVVsRa5k6wsw1vWsbfWmJR0A4kRkdca09ZOXWVLEhLx2e4i/s200/Scan+102220002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503936458924770322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs_0vbIIELOBvQ7ryW9Ciwgow7lgZCMHBB0WssUt-Zr5JPQ1LGX8a4b3EenhwQ-FIxoq688vOEYDD10JBWsnMVwZpDFkxruH2KHR13dS92Z-6U2Ie87PClghcyJcgdxn_oe_kEgEvS38v/s1600/Scan+102220001.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs_0vbIIELOBvQ7ryW9Ciwgow7lgZCMHBB0WssUt-Zr5JPQ1LGX8a4b3EenhwQ-FIxoq688vOEYDD10JBWsnMVwZpDFkxruH2KHR13dS92Z-6U2Ie87PClghcyJcgdxn_oe_kEgEvS38v/s200/Scan+102220001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503936455819313506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbwFxFD9VT1VACLHFigdoTrA1aCSc-ZAPInwbU7-mGwRVI-4SK022TV8avkkoYvszgIS6UfWLHNp6DxulVr6dC-LoFsVDtfaRJr9SssMxCTZLo5FtPG9RM9bn2W8r974cYaQExrV2WHHO/s1600/Scan+102220000.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbwFxFD9VT1VACLHFigdoTrA1aCSc-ZAPInwbU7-mGwRVI-4SK022TV8avkkoYvszgIS6UfWLHNp6DxulVr6dC-LoFsVDtfaRJr9SssMxCTZLo5FtPG9RM9bn2W8r974cYaQExrV2WHHO/s200/Scan+102220000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503936442686957890" /></a><br /><div>By Sharon Graves</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>A mini-ecosystem was never discovered<div><div>Until Sharon bought the house and uncovered</div><div>A wondrous place only found </div><div>In the hills of Southern mountains.</div><div><br /></div><div>Three pines there were standing tall</div><div>Not the prettiest ones of all</div><div>But underneath them cool and damp</div><div>Wildflowers grew, undisturbed plants.</div><div><br /></div><div>What were they? No one cared</div><div>Until Sharon happened to spare</div><div>Leaves of green</div><div>That she assumed were weeds.</div><div><br /></div><div>June came and surprise was on the way</div><div>When something pink began to display</div><div>On that weed of green leaves</div><div>that started to produce colorful sheathes.</div><div><br /></div><div>The flower grew and revealed who it was-</div><div>A Pink Lady Slipper from the mountains above</div><div>My little house in the foothills below</div><div>What a blessing it bestowed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I looked everyday, taking photos</div><div>Among the scrubby pines and weeds of my "Eco"</div><div>Two, three, maybe four seasons she displayed</div><div>Her pretty slippers in June days.</div><div><br /></div><div>One pine tree died and then was cut</div><div>Now there's death, heat, and much dry mud</div><div>Will my pretty flower survive?</div><div>No more able to safely hide?</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I see the leaves of green</div><div>That once I had assumed were those of weeds</div><div>June will be here again next year</div><div>Flowers will bloom somewhere near.</div><div><br /></div><div>And maybe I will see a flower revealed</div><div>A pink lady slipper just for me.</div><div> </div><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-90162039177783058332010-06-01T13:55:00.000-07:002010-06-01T13:55:01.813-07:00Balloo's qualifying Open Standard Run<object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/sFDMYz9KaJM/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sFDMYz9KaJM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sFDMYz9KaJM&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-71236768018849965192010-06-01T13:32:00.000-07:002010-06-01T13:32:48.227-07:00Sharon and Casey's Standard qualifying run at Fletcher<object style="background-image:url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/yC3mpAjIEjw/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yC3mpAjIEjw&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yC3mpAjIEjw&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-63832006768145034692010-06-01T13:27:00.000-07:002010-06-01T13:27:19.665-07:00Sharon and Balloo my two year old at Fletcher, NC<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-65IwG3QV08&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-65IwG3QV08&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-35378856191011230122010-05-22T11:25:00.000-07:002010-05-22T11:46:34.897-07:00Balloo's dog agility beginnings<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbf6fiLux94ZkYkioDcKtwAHlgUP18L7E0fIMISK3MAtPak8PoazFrig1ade-4HIykm9ovzuo2pH1so-t8Mg0oIXXmIGJAtJbGGU4pc6Oh9Xb2jCwpQMo_6vRJyOCrKP_tSyLycQ6G1Mn/s1600/Scan+101420001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbf6fiLux94ZkYkioDcKtwAHlgUP18L7E0fIMISK3MAtPak8PoazFrig1ade-4HIykm9ovzuo2pH1so-t8Mg0oIXXmIGJAtJbGGU4pc6Oh9Xb2jCwpQMo_6vRJyOCrKP_tSyLycQ6G1Mn/s320/Scan+101420001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474166474860759074" /></a>This is Balloo after the weave poles running with me with my red shoes. Balloo always beat me running, so I have found short cuts to keep up with him. He is fast!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCLqPP89vkh9nuXf2oWeP8dd6N49LBtKgYz9o5Yfs-NhmlAl80_r4dYt5IxNDZ1aQV8pHwvgmDrZa3nKTjom-Y8tlwPXL3mykcNfwrRtrl6_UxMM2jalPb19gGnf1yrdCJUM8xGdOH24i/s1600/Scan+101420000.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCLqPP89vkh9nuXf2oWeP8dd6N49LBtKgYz9o5Yfs-NhmlAl80_r4dYt5IxNDZ1aQV8pHwvgmDrZa3nKTjom-Y8tlwPXL3mykcNfwrRtrl6_UxMM2jalPb19gGnf1yrdCJUM8xGdOH24i/s320/Scan+101420000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474163128842916674" /></a>You all may have to lie down on your side to see this, but I decided to post it anyway so that you can see my two year old, Balloo running the poles. He loves them.</div>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-30888310599576310722009-11-05T06:08:00.000-08:002009-11-05T07:59:06.460-08:00Casey Gets His First Double Q Toward His Master Champion<div><br /></div>Here is Casey with four paws off the Dog Walk in Columbia, SC fall of 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj3IRlOI0F94AayjgEnOynNUfrRV3ZuJez7bWkMWrpF1JRYPiPtwp7MUZWFQG_YLaxDiaAhb6DV94ayAKp-_qfH5NY8vEvtX0nsDZIcTbZK5IbV0elaKsgX96JD-eGt8r7LF_wM5UeiVT/s1600-h/_S165616.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj3IRlOI0F94AayjgEnOynNUfrRV3ZuJez7bWkMWrpF1JRYPiPtwp7MUZWFQG_YLaxDiaAhb6DV94ayAKp-_qfH5NY8vEvtX0nsDZIcTbZK5IbV0elaKsgX96JD-eGt8r7LF_wM5UeiVT/s320/_S165616.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400622145262302194" /></a><br />Casey through the tunnel toward the dog walk.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsAw5e4xktBAO8wef6kNAG0bfmMcB-b3emt5PLVsImteKlq4L1T4NKupZkxLlcXxeHOYAxIWC3eN4V1re7mOcvkFBqWzyAJwNOBlv0H3AMVyxplhIyu2gYyFpeUdvF4oikWR7NBjQFVVc/s1600-h/_S165613.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsAw5e4xktBAO8wef6kNAG0bfmMcB-b3emt5PLVsImteKlq4L1T4NKupZkxLlcXxeHOYAxIWC3eN4V1re7mOcvkFBqWzyAJwNOBlv0H3AMVyxplhIyu2gYyFpeUdvF4oikWR7NBjQFVVc/s320/_S165613.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400622143394634130" /></a><br />Casey over the hurtle heading toward the final jump. Yeah, Casey!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNPPMSGp3Tn6KnNCa6w_O6WzSBlNXiDpZT3kLGaQIerFlvdYvaxaihaJcnK-Qt4bC0c0TGaDZ97cb1tg8TDald3D2-7g3i_v6JIJY38wBjbQTvGw7R1y1Ithyphenhyphenls_AaezODn3ulc6mWJfU/s1600-h/_S165611.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNPPMSGp3Tn6KnNCa6w_O6WzSBlNXiDpZT3kLGaQIerFlvdYvaxaihaJcnK-Qt4bC0c0TGaDZ97cb1tg8TDald3D2-7g3i_v6JIJY38wBjbQTvGw7R1y1Ithyphenhyphenls_AaezODn3ulc6mWJfU/s320/_S165611.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400622133949780306" /></a>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-69276738144514856952009-10-30T08:05:00.000-07:002009-10-30T08:55:38.601-07:00Canine Influenza or H3N8Canine Influenza is a highly contagious disease caused by a flu virus in dogs, which spreads by direct contact with infected dogs to other dogs and by coughing or sneezing. It has been reported here in the US since 2003 and is currently in 30 states including all the east coast states except Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island. Outbreaks have been reported in kennels, shelters, vet clinics and dog events. All dogs are susceptible to it and those that show no signs of the flu can easily be carriers.<div><br /></div><div>Humans can also spread the disease to dogs by handling infected dogs, not only by their hands, but on their clothes. This is why all those who deal with dogs in any manner; groomers, vets, assistants, pet sitters, trainers, handlers, rescue groups, shelters, breeders, etc. should be aware of handling dogs and dogs with symptoms of the flu. Humans will not contract Canine Influenza.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a series of two vaccinations taken two to four weeks apart that will help in protecting your dog. Of course, there is nothing like keeping your dog healthy by providing good food, water, plenty of rest and exercise. A trip to your vet for more information is strongly suggested. If you must board your pet, make sure the facility is clean and well maintained. Also ask if they have an influenza outbreak management plan.</div><div><br /></div><div>To learn even more: www.doginfluenza.com</div><div> www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-canine-flu-question-and-</div><div> answer.html</div>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-54260895107273483572009-10-19T07:53:00.001-07:002009-10-19T08:02:18.326-07:00Pet Sitting Story continues<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Can we play some games on your computer? Danny and Eric almost asked at one time.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Put your clothes and things up in your room. I need to save and quit my finished</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">newsletter.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Rushing, noisy footsteps hit the wooden floors as the boys went upstairs to throw their</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">knapsacks on the beds to get to use the computer. Aunt Sharon got supper ready while</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">the boys played a war game. It took a bit of persuasion, but the boys finally got off the</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">computer to eat and then get ready for a day of pet sitting.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Tomorrow will be very busy, started Aunt Sharon. We not only have the pet sits to do,</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">but also these notices to hand out that I’ve written about Hurricane preparedness; what to</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">do and where to take your pets. I don’t want any pet to be left behind. So that you boys</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">can help me out, I have spoken with my clients for this weekend. Everyone has given me</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">permission for you to be on their property and care for their pets.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Aunt Sharon then laid out the schedule for the morning. General needs to be fed, watered</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">and exercised first.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">A Chesapeake Bay Retriever mix, General didn’t really like the water, but he loved the</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">boys. A big brown dog , General would run around the house and whine when he couldn’t</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">go with Eric or Danny to play basketball or hang out with them and their friends.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Sometimes, when mom insisted that General be walked, the boys would put on their inline</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">skates and with General on a long leash, would allow him to run and pull them down the</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">street. Being a young retriever, General needed to do some “work” to keep him happy</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">and healthy. Also it tired him out.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Continuing, Aunt Sharon finished the list. Jake needs his walk and some treats.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Mountaineer and Geee need to be brushed, given a hay bail and a few Llama treats.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Phoenix needs her breakfast and litter pan cleaned, and Spencer also needs his breakfast</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">and stall cleaned. We need to give everyone water.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">This all needs to be done again in the evening, except for Mountaineer and Geee, They</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">will be OK until tomorrow, as long as we make sure they have enough water.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">After breakfast the next day, Aunt Sharon placed all the client folders for the day in her file</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">carrier and checked to make sure she had all the keys that were needed. She then placed a</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">pile of Hurricane Preparedness brochures with a rubber band around them on top of her file</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">carrier as a reminder to give them to clients stores and shops around the area.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Let’s go boys, Aunt Sharon called as she slowly came up the stairs from the den to the</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">hallway. General is waiting.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">General was ready to go for his morning run when Eric and Danny got to their house. The</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">sky was clear and the day promised to be sunny. After the boys put on their inline skates,</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">General was fitted with a leather harness and a six foot long rope was attached to its ring on</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">the top.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">I’ll go first, said Eric. Away went General and like a water skier, Eric held onto the end of the</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">rope. Speeding around the circle, Danny skated as fast as he could behind them. Then it</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">was Danny’s turn.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Usually about the second time around, it happened. From behind the house with a private</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">fence with a locked gate, came a flash of tan and a playful bark. It was Harley and his owner</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">was sure to follow............</p>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4875081491734987244.post-1736795554230594312009-09-14T15:52:00.000-07:002009-09-14T16:04:34.802-07:00A Pet Sitter's Story<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"Hurry up! I’m winning!" yelled Eric.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"Wait, I can’t get my arm through the strap," replied Danny.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"I’ll take tiny inch steps. You better catch up quick."</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"You better take bigger steps than that or I’ll be waiting for you all night to get there."</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Eric and Danny raced each other down the road to a house three blocks from their home. Both had their knapsacks full of clothes and things for the weekend. They were going to stay at Aunt Sharon’s and help her with the job they both loved.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">It was cool and so they both wore jeans with T-shirts, light jackets and sneakers. They nearly looked like twins.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"Hello, anybody home," they called jumping on the porch of a neat pretty cape cod house. A closer looked revealed that these boys weren’t twins at all. Eric who was the oldest had red hair and freckles and Danny had light brown hair and looked more like his mother, but both were the same height and liked the same kind of clothes.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"I’m in the office, come on in."</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Danny and Eric walked through the short hallway and down the stairs into the den that looked like a library with cozy chairs inviting them to sit down, put their stocking feet up and relax. Aunt Sharon was sitting on a big soft brown corduroy sofa near the fireplace with her lap top, She had her left foot in a blue wrapping bandage propped up on a green stool. Two days ago, she had twisted her ankle walking her Shetland Sheepdog, Cissy, and so the boys were there to help her. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">How are you feeling today, Sharon. asked the boys. Aunt Sharon couldn’t get use to the boys calling her “aunt” and so she gave them permission to call her by her first name.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">I’m much better, thank you. This sturdy wooden cane of your great grandfather’s helps me to get around the house. I’m catching up on my business work.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Both boys knew all about Aunt Sharon’s business. She was the pet sitter of their neighborhood and some of the surrounding areas in Newport News. Most families had at least one dog, cat, bird, fish, or even Iguanas or ferrets. Aunt Sharon did them all, including two Llamas that lived near by. Also, there was a pony named Spencer, not too far away that had his own small stable painted red with white trim and a split door so that the top could be open. It was built behind the owners garage.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Neighbors would call Aunt Sharon several days before they went away on vacations, holidays or business trips. If they were new, she had a “meet and greet” session with them to get important information about the pet along with emergency numbers and permission to be on their property. Aunt Sharon had all the information stored securely on a business pet sitter’s web site and she had limited hard copies in her office, which at this moment were in piles on the floor , on the sofa and on her desk. The most important thing of course, was to meet the pets...........</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">(This story will continue. Any helpful comments would be appreciated. Thank You.)</p>Leashes and Litterboxeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07011605738328613117noreply@blogger.com0