Scary Blog Hop and Halloween Pet Safety

Sir Wags-a-Lot aka Cosmo Havanese may not be too spooky this Halloween but his Knightliness brings you a bit of dogged advice about Halloween Pet Safety this Blog Hop Saturday.

First, be comfortable in your costume. Cosmo says he's quite comfy but not all pets tolerate dress-up. Make sure your pet has room to move normally, can see and breath (of course!), and watch for any parts that can be chewed off or ingested.

Sir Begs-a-lot has perfected the eye for treats.  Chocolate and candy can be harmful and even deadly to pets. Keep the Halloween goodies secure and out of pets' reach.

Sir Sleeps-a-Lot may be a relaxed pup most of the time, but lots of doorbell ringing and squealing ghosts and goblins can put any pet on edge. Be sure to keep your pets in a safe, secure place so that no one slips out the door by accident. 

And, while most of the year it may be safe for Sir Plays-A-Lot  to zoom around the house in a blur, Halloween candles are dangerous for playful pets. Keep candles WAY out of reach or consider some other kind of illumination this Halloween.


Happy Safe Halloween!!!  MWUAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Get in the mood with some Halloween tunes and trick or treat on down to the Hop!!

IH4TH: Help a Pet Find a Furrever Home 4 the Holidays

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas... and it’s not even Halloween yet! But if you’re like us and getting into the holiday giving mood already, here’s a great program from Iams and the Helen Woodward Animal Center. 

Since 1999, Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH) has partnered with thousands of animal organizations dedicated to finding forever homes for orphaned pets.

I met these cute pups Kurt and Friedrich at a

Mostly Mutts Pet Adoption. Pups like these
can make  your hills come alive with the
Sound of Music, ah ah ah ah! Join us for another

Mostly Mutt's adoption event this weekend
at Woody's Cheesesteaks in Atlanta. Yum!

Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, IH4TH has helped 4.6 million families experience the joy of pet adoption.


Currently there are more than 3,700 animal shelters enrolled in the program, including Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue, who have adorable pups like Kurt and Friedrich (at left) for adoption every weekend. 

Since IH4TH kicked off just three weeks ago, more than 152,000 pets have been adopted and 78,519 bowls of food have been donated.

You can add another 100 bowls to that total right now, because this week only, for every adoption-oriented blog post entered into this blog hop, Iams will contribute 100 bowls of food to an Iams Home 4 the Holidays shelter in need!

The Facts

• Iams Home 4 the Holidays runs from Oct.1, 2010 to Jan. 4, 2011
• This year’s goal is to adopt 1.5 million pets
• 1.3 million pets were adopted last year alone
• Information on how to get involved, how to find a participating shelter in your area and other important tips for new parents can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iams or on IamsHome4theHolidays.com

New This Year: Bags 4 Bowls Food Drive

Reducing pet homelessness through adoption is Iams core mission, but if adoption isn’t in your plan this year, here’s another way to help.

Adoption Angel Meaghan's pup

Beryllium (pronounced Brrr-ill-EE-um)

• Follow the Adoption Angel’s stories on Facebook.com/Iams and “LIKE” photos, videos and posts. For every like received, Iams will donate a meal to a homeless animal.
• Purchase specially marked packages of Iams dog or cat food during the campaign and Iams will donate one bowl of food.

The Iams goal is to give 5 million meals to homeless animals. 

And since Cosmo Havanese is an overachiever, stayed tuned for a special Cosmo will be offering for every pal who tweets a special hashtag to support the Iams Home 4 the Holidays Bags 4 Bowls food drive!  Cosmo’s anipals Boris Kitty and Teenys Friends just finished a similar program and raised 70,000 bowls of food between them in just one week. WOW!

And remember, bloggers who write a post about animal adoption and link up to this week’s blog hop, will help donate an additional 100 bowls of food!!

Check out our pal Pet Care Bev for the details. 

Blog Hop and today's science lesson: The Wet-Dog Shake

We typically don't cover physics lessons on our pet blog, but this one was too interesting to pass up.


You know that shaking motion dogs do to dry themselves off? Ever try to do that yourself with much success?  It seems you might as well stop trying.


According to the "Wet-Dog Shake" study conducted at Georgia Tech, that special oscillating motion that dog do to dry is just one more way that canines, and other animals, are somehow superior to us humans.


Andrew Dickerson, a graduate student and one of the authors of  the study, says humans can't possibly shake fast enough to dry, but that's not the reason the study was conducted.
He says in a recent NPR interview, "the original thought was that we could use what we find in this research to design a more efficient washing machine or design something that we haven't even thought about yet."


Whatever the reason, we found the following clip fascinating to watch. Dickerson's team used a high-speed video camera and fur-particle tracking to help determine how many shakes per second animals of various sizes perform to dry themselves.

The smaller the animal, the more shakes per second, or hertz (Hz).  So while a tiny mouse oscillates at 27 Hz, a Labrador Retriever records 4.3 Hz. By my calculations, that means Cosmo Havanese oscillates somewhere around 6 Hz . Any way you look at it, that's a whole lotta shaking going on.

And now let's shimmy on down to the Hop! 

Hop on over the Halloween PawPawty!

Once a month it's Blog Hop Saturday AND time to PawPawty! To warm you up to pawty, here's our special Howloween #PawPawty playlist! 


MWUAHAHAHAHA!

PawPawty runs from 2 p.m., Saturday, October 16 to 2 p.m., Sunday, October 17. So come on over to #PawPawty on Twitter and join the fun! ...And help the charity we're supporting this month, Orphan Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Neenah, Wis.

Halloween PawPawty fun brought to you by Cosmo Havanese as the Knight of the Woeful Countenance!


Now let's go the Hop!

Blog the Change: Mostly Mutts and Disc Dog Roxy

We recently had the privilege of meeting Roxy, an amazing disc dog who performed at a fundraiser for Mostly Mutts animal rescue at The River Club in Roswell, Ga.


What's even more amazing is that Roxy is a rescue dog who was returned FIVE times before Jac Greenlee discovered her at Mostly Mutts! Jac knew Roxy needed a purpose -- a reason to jump and play with her human teammates. Here, Roxy competes and WINS a USDDN (United States Disc Dogs Nationals) championship title! 

And here's a little clip of the action we enjoyed at the Mostly Mutts fundraising event. 

Just goes to show, every dog can have his day if he finds the right owner! Jac and Roxy, you ROCK!


AND, you can see Jac and Roxy in action this weekend at the USDDN Disc Dog Nationals and World Finals in Cartersville, Ga.!


You can find your own rockin' dog any weekend at a Mostly Mutts Adoption event. This Saturday, October 16, we'll be at a special Mostly Mutts adoption event from 1 - 4 p.m. at Canine Academy and Playschool, 10th Street and Monroe Drive, at the corner of Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Locations and times for other Mostly Mutts adoption events in the Atlanta area are here.

We're bringing this story to you today in honor of Blog the Change Day, a day designated to spread the word about  the great things our pals are doing to help the anipals who need it most. 


Thank you Kim Clune of This One Wild Life and Amy and Rod Burkert of GoPetFriendly.com for bringing us Be the Change for Animals and a way to collectively show the power just one change can make!


Want to know what other others are doing to Blog the Change? Check out the special link list below to see the impact we are making one act at a time. 

Halloween Costumes and PawPawty Fun!

Just in time for this weekend's Halloween themed #PawPawty on Twitter, Cosmo is modeling some of his favorite Halloween costumes. Please help us decide which costume Cosmo should wear this year! 

#1 The Great Pumpkin (Cosmo wore this one last year.)

 #2 Four-Eyed Monster (The folks at PetSmart gave us this one at BlogPaws)

 #3 Knight in Shining Amour (Practicing his Knight of the Woeful Countenance look)

Which costume do you like best? Please leave a comment and help us decide!
And don't forget, #PawPawty starts this Saturday at 2 p.m. ET and the fun and giving continues for a full 24 hours! This month's charity is Orphan Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Neenah, Wis. Read more about how to play along with us at PawPawty.com!

Blog Hop Saturday and a Flying Havanese!

It's Saturday and it's Blog Hop day! So enjoy the flying Cosmo Havanese one more time. And we've added the exclusive video from the very same agility run! Enjoy!

Listen to the groans and approvals from the peanut gallery... priceless!

And now, let's go to the HOP!!

Dog Walking Shoes and Fashion Fun

Waiting for my plane during a recent trip to Michigan was made much more enjoyable when I found this boutique on the way to my gate at Detroit Metro Airport. The Stylish Paw is full of surprises for dogs, cats and humans.  

I was especially delighted by a pair of shoes, which took me on a trip down memory lane to the 1980s when I last wore anything designed by Michael Simon. 

Think bold prints, boxy shapes, and animal-themed sweaters, those that I put in the category of suitable for wearing to dog shows, if you must...

While I was reminiscing about Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy in the Breakfast Club, I pulled a few sweaters from eBay for your 1980s enjoyment.

More on those further down, but first take a look at these slip-ons I found at The Stylish Paw. They are perfect for a dog walk in town or a day as a spectator at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. 

Subtle enough that I had to bend down for a closer look to confirm the embellishment was indeed a doggie face with fringe for ears, these shoes are whimsical enough to amuse on any day, for any occasion! 

The boutique is full of items you won't find at your average pet store, much less anything you'd expect to find in an airport shop. 

At Detroit Metro, you'll find the Stylish Paw by gates A66 and A18. 

And now for more Michael Simon fun!!

That's what I'm talking about!! Dogs and bones galore... and all packed into one nice knit package that's boxy enough to hide any figure flaw OR any sign of anorexia. And if you're lucky, this one may still be available on eBay!! 

If you like shoes, what's not to LOVE about wearing a shoe-embellished sweater! Like I always say, you can never be too rich, too thin or have too many pairs of shoes, especially in KNIT!!  Find this one on eBay too!

And just in time for Halloween... this ghost sweater is perfect for your neighborhood Halloween parade or guaranteed to frighten your co-workers!! Get this one here on eBay! 

Disclaimer: I know nothing about the people who are selling these items on eBay, much less their fashion sense. Search for Michael Simon on eBay on you'll find even more fabulous finds from the last century. 

But wait!! Here's one more. A Michael Simon beaded dog purse on eBay. It says it was purchased at Neiman Marcus. Is that possible??!!

Here's the latest Michael Simon collection AT Neiman Marcus! No WAY!!! More fitted, toned down animal-print... kind of a St. John meets Chanel influence, but at a fraction of the cost. Not quite my style, but I still long for my black-and-white checked, fringed Michael Simon cardigan with linebacker shoulder pads. *Sigh*

Wordless Wednesday: Agility Wheeeeeee!

Cosmo says, "Wheeeeeee!!!!!" 

I say, "Oh, noooooooooo!!!!!" 

Check out these photos from last weekend's agility trial. Warning: Do not try this at home!

Cosmo attacks the teeter with gusto. So far, all looks good.

Cosmo sure is a happy boy, driving to the end of the teeter and heading to the all important yellow zone.  He must place a paw in the yellow contact zone at the same time or after the end of the plank has hit the ground.

Oh, nooooooo!  Cosmo flies off the edge of the plank before it touches the ground. Immediate "F" (for flyoff) for us!

Cosmo was fine, and continued to run the rest of the course with gleee!! But there's a good reason for this rule. Dogs are not meant to fly -- though someone forgot to tell this to Cosmo -- and the contact rule was developed with safety in mind. 

It's back to contact training for us... though Cosmo would rather be flying. Wheeeeeeee!

Photos by In Motion Photos

Social Media Tips for Non-Profit Charities on Blog Talk Radio

Cosmo and I took a little time out from an agility trial yesterday to participate in a discussion about social media and non-profits with Rick Rockhill on his Palm Springs Savant & Co radio show. 

We had a great time chatting with Rick yesterday about some of the ways we've used social media to help non-profit organizations raise money for animal-related causes.

Mavis at Mostly Mutts
is still looking for her
furever home

We shared stories about Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week and Mavis, pictured at left, Pedigree's Write a Post, Help a Dog campaign, PawPawty, Be The Change for Pets and more!  You can hear it all by clicking on the widget above or by listening here. 

Kim Smith from the Petco Foundation opened the show with some great stories and useful tips too. Read more in the press release.

Rick Rockhill, Natalie Malaszenko
from Petco and me with Cosmo
at BarkWorld in August

We met Rick earlier this year when he was a speaker on behalf of Natural Balance Pet Foods at the pet social media conference BarkWorld Expo. Rick shared some fun pics and stories about the conference on his Palm Springs Savant blog. Not surpisingly, Cosmo Havanese spent most of his time working the crowd, and Rick, for treats! 

Dog-Friendly Atlanta: A stroll through Winn Park

Sometimes a dog and his people just need to take time out of their busy lives and take an afternoon stroll through a lovely park, with fields and streams, and a few squirrels too!

We started our stroll at the Iris Garden entrance of Winn Park, nestled amongst the winding streets of Ansley Park, just minutes from Midtown Atlanta. 

You'd never know the busy business district is just minutes away!

Can you spot the wild Havanese in his native habitat?!!

It's Cosmo Havanese! Stopping to cool off in a clear, cool stream.

The pond is a lovely place to stop and relax...

... and watch the gold fish swim, the mighty oaks reflected in the clear pond water. 

What's caught Cosmo's eye? A squirrel, of course! 


This post comes just in time for the first day of National Walk Your Dog Week, October 1-7, founded by pet lifestyle expert and animal behaviorist Colleen Paige and sponsored by the Animal Miracle Network. Paige created National Walk Your Dog Week to bring awareness to the increasing problem of canine behavior issues and canine obesity in America. 


So what are you waiting for!! Get off the sofa and take your doggie for a walk, right now! It's good for both of you! I'm heading out the door with Cosmo just as soon as I hit "Publish." Ta-Da!


See you outside.