Pet Art: Anita Edwards Handcrafted Jewelry and Wall Art

The bone moves in this doggies mouth!

We get the chance to see lots of talented artists at art fairs and festivals in the Atlanta area, and we find ourselves drawn to some of the pet-related products and designs. So over the next few weeks, To Dog With Love will feature some of our favorites, starting with an artist we met last weekend at the Virginia Highlands Summerfest.

Jewelry designer Anita Edwards creates whimsical animal jewelry and wall art -- hand cut with a jeweler's saw from sheets of sterling silver, brass and copper. Her creations are hand-finished and hand-assembled, and even have moving parts. She says her goal is to bring you art that will make you smile, and we can't help but smile at these fun creations.

Here's a look at Anita's booth at Summerfest.

Anita's jewelry collection includes pins, earring and pendants. She's has many breeds represented and will also create custom pieces from your photo...

                                               From this...                 To this!

Anita says she is a life-long animal lover. Her father, a wildlife biologist, introduced her to animal rescue by constantly bringing her homeless animals he had found in the woods.

As an adult, Anita has surrounded herself with dogs and cats and works with her local humane society as a pet-facilitated therapy volunteer. Her current loves are a terrier mix puppy, Zoe, and two big-boy, fat cats (Anita's words!) Stan and Ollie.

That's a photo of Zoe in the upper right-hand corner.

For yourself or a gift for your favorite pet-lover, we love these adorable creations!

Now, let's hop on over the the Saturday Pet Bloggers Hop!

Ticks and Dogs: Tips from DogAndTicks.com

Deer tick

This week we learned about a resource for pet owners that's all about ticks, tick prevention and treatment for tick-borne diseases in dogs. And since we're right smack-dab in the heart of tick season -- it runs from April through November -- we think DogsAndTicks.com is a worthy resource for all owners of pets who may be exposed to ticks.

There's lots of useful information on the site including information on how to protect your dog from ticks and how to recognize signs of tick diseases in dogs.

Western black-
legged tick

We particularly liked these handy Tick Prevention Tips which include important safety tips as well as these tips on how to remove a tick from your dog.

How to remove a tick 
If you find a tick on your dog, remove it right away:

• Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
• Grasp the tick very close to the skin with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. With a steady motion, pull the tick's body away from the skin. Avoid crushing the tick to prevent infection.
• After removal, clean your dog's skin with soap and warm water.
• Throw the dead tick away with your household trash or flush it down the toilet.
• Never use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish or other products to remove a tick.

Years ago I remember hearing about using a hot match or petroleum jelly to remove a tick, and it seems that's not only an old wives tale but also a bad idea. 

For more information about tick diseases and tick-bite prevention, check out DogsAndTicks.com and consult your veterinarian. 

Ticks can be found anywhere, from deep woods to urban parks. Cosmo says, be sure to check your dogs for ticks every day, especially during tick season.

Recipe: Chicken Veggie Meatball Treats for Your Dog

At a recent Havanese play day, the dogs were treated to lots of homemade goodies baked especially for them.  These were one of Cosmo's favorites, and mine too. Nice and dry on the outside so they are easy to handle, but moist and meaty on the inside for optimal pup enjoyment! 

Doggie Chicken/Veggie Treatballs

Thanks Sharlene for sharing this recipe:

Ingredients
2 cups of chicken, cooked and cut up into chunks

1/2 cup applesauce unsweetened

1/2 cup veggies - can be green beans, spinach, zucchini, etc. These were made with green beans.
 
1/2 banana

Preparation

• Cook the green beans.
• Place all ingredients in blender or food processor to make a paste-like consistency. Drop by teaspoon or smaller drop for smaller dogs. In this batch, Sharlene used about 1/4 to 1/2 tsp because, she says, "I knew the dogs would be pigging out on treats!"
• Dehydrate for 3 to 5 hours depending on size. They should be dry on the outside and moist on the inside. Store in refrigerator and freeze if they won't be eaten within a week.

Since I don't have a dehydrator, I looked for an alternative. Sharlene suggested it might work in an oven at about two hours on low 200-250ish heat. These treatballs are all precooked so it's just a matter of drying on the outside, moist on the inside. I found a few other tips online for dehydrating in an oven.

I haven't tried to make these myself yet, since I imagine I may get a better result with a dehydrator.  A quick search also showed a wide range of dehydrators available. Does anyone have a favorite dehydrator and have you found them useful? Please comment below!

Now, grab yourself a Treatball and let's go to the Saturday Pet Blogger's Hop!

Pet Blogger Hop / Buckle-Down Collar and Lead Winner

It's been a busy week in To Dog With Love land... with Paws for Japan Day, Petfinder's Birthday and Dog Bless You, among other things. And, today's the day we announce the winner of the Buckle-Down Collar and Lead giveaway.

Drum roll please...


The winner, picked at random, is Wrigley Schnauzer! Wrigley left the comment, "I like the Born to Raise Hell collar because that is my motto!"

Congrats to you Wrigley. And for some reason, your comment makes me want to break out in this song... Straighten Up and Fly Right my Schnauzee pal!

First, a little jam with Natalie Cole and the late, great Ella Fitzgerald. Their jam starts at :40.

Want to listen to the whole song! Warning: you'll be snapping your fingers to this the rest of the day! Here's the Natalie Cole version in honor of her father, the amazing Nat King Cole.

Now, let's go to the hop, oh baby!

Get Your Holiday PawPawty ON!

The monthly fundraising PawPawty on Twitter typically supports one animal shelter a month. But this month we're doing something a little bit different. We're raising funds for the six shelters who are being supported by the second annual Santa Paws Drive. So come on down and have some fun and help the anipals who need it most! The Pawtying lasts until 2 p.m. ET tomorrow (Dec. 12)!  Just follow the #pawpawty hashtag on Twitter or go here for more info. 


The six Santa Paws Drive shelters include three in the United States, one in Canada, one in the UK and one in Tenerife:

• Animal Rescue League in Laurel, MS
• Big Dog Ranch Rescue in West Palm Beach, FL
• Harmony House for Cats in Chicago
• K9 Tenerife, located off the coast of Africa
• Southern Ontario Animal Rescue in Canada
• Chestnut Cat Sanctuary in the South of England

Santa Paws drive is taking donations until Dec. 20, because shelter pets deserve some holiday goodies too and the elves need time to deliver them! You can donate through our Santa Paws Drive widget in our sidebar or go here to get more info. 

AND, to put you in a holiday mood, here's a preview of our PawPawty playlist. Cosmo Havanese will be in the DJ booth tomorrow from 10 - 11 a.m. ET! Pawty ON!

                            

AND, since it's Saturday, it's ALSO time for the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop! Come on down and hippity hop!