Blog the Change Day: Taking the Plunge

We can’t think of a better day than today to take the plunge with our very first blog post. We’ve been inspired by so many of our anipals to “Be the Change,” helping anipals who need it most while having loads of fun and sharing great tips and stories along the way. 

So in honor of Blog the Change Day  we sniffed out some great causes we want to share with our anipals. We also had an interesting event happen this afternoon that couldn’t have happened on a better day.

We were driving through the neighborhood with our pal Jenny who owns Canine Academy and Playschool when we spotted a young man bent over his dog. We stopped the car and asked if everything was ok. He answered that he was concerned the dog was too hot so they stopped in the shade to rest. This was a friend’s dog he was taking care of, he said, so he wasn’t aware how the heat can affect a dog very quickly... even while doing something that seems harmless like a nice, afternoon walk.    

Only it was 90-plus degrees outside and the pair had already been walking for about 20 minutes. 

So the happy ending is... Jenny sprung into action, getting the young man and dog inside her nice, air conditioned vehicle. Then we took them the few blocks back to Canine Academy -- which also conveniently has a grooming tub. We cooled the dog down with cool water and placed cool wet cloths on her feet and around her head. 

Luckily, our new friend had done the right thing to start with by stopping to rest in the shade.  And the activity wasn’t extremely rigorous. But it still provided a useful, potentially life-saving lesson about how quickly our fluffy friends can overheat. For more about having a fun, safe summer with your four-leggers, About.com shares these useful tips. 

These ducks know how to stay cool

Upcoming events and causes

Since we’re in Atlanta, here are a couple of great ways to help in our own backyard and one global one too!

Mostly Mutts Animal Adoption

Check out some new pals at Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue 

dog adoptions this Sunday, July 18 at Pet Supermarket at Ansley Mall. 11:30 a.m. - 4 pm., 1544 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta.  Mostly Mutts also has dog adoptions every Saturday at PetSmart on Barrett Pkwy just west of I-75, from 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Pawsta for a Purrpose dinner and silent auction

Spay/Neuter SOS (Society of the South), is hosting a three course dinner and silent auction, in a gorgeous venue of Historic Acworth, Ga., on Friday, August 13. Tickets are only $45 per person in advance (or $40 per person, when 2 or more tickets purchased at once). Price includes a full dinner, dessert, and the first glass of wine or beer. Checks can be sent to: 2774 N. Cobb Pkwy. Suite #109, Box #189 Kennesaw, GA 30152 (payable to Spay/Neuter Campaign). To donate silent auction items please email spayneutersos@gmail.com. 

Dog Days of Summer Pet Food Drive

Our BlogPaws pals are the brains and brawn behind the next Be the Change for Pets challenge! Go to the Be the Change for Pets Facebook page, print a flyer and take a picture of it with you and your food donation for the Dog Days of Summer Pet Food Drive. Then donate to a local shelter or pet food bank. The challenge runs July 19 - July 31.