Here are some additional entries for the December dog photo contest that I’ve received over the last week or so. Here’s a link to the first round of dog pictures posted (http://thoughtsfurpaws.com/dogs/fun-friday-dog-photo-contest-entries/) 

Enjoy all the cute dog pictures everyone, and don’t forget to let me know who you think is cutest in the Comments section!

Shilo and Shasta

Shilo anb Shasta II

Rush

Another Dakota

Another Dakota II

Baxter

Scout

The Famous 4 B's

Delaney - over the Bridge a month ago...

TJ

Of  course my Uncle had to bring his new Golden Retreiver puppy Howard to the Thanksgiving feast yesterday. I first introduced you all to Howard on the blog before Halloween. He is growing up so quick – he’s 33 pounds already and is a total maniac! I desperately wanted to steal him from my Uncle but no change of that happening…

 Man was it hard to get a STILL shot of him, he’s gets the zooms ALL THE TIME, and is constantly running, playing bitey-face with whatver is in front of him, and just plain being a menace. But he’s the damn cutest Golden Retriever menace I’ve ever seen. So “here’s Howie…!!!”

Front View of Howie

Bitey-facing my sister

Here's my toy! Look!!

Bitey-face AGAIN

Chewing away...

Greetings! Wag, Wag, Wag

Mouth open - insert toy

Pooped out after playtime, FINALLY!

Chewing Away...

Hi! I'm Howie! Wag, Wag, Wag

We at ThoughtsFurPaws want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. Be sure to eat lots of turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie! We will see you tomorrow:)

Love,

Benson, Gibson, Sasha, Theodore and Jaime

Once again, this isn’t wordless, but I had to tell the story. The first kitty in these pictures is a stray who started showing up at my best friend’s house the very same night they had to relinquish their adopted dog to the shelter due to his destructive nature. (Long story but it was a totally legit relinquish) They nicknamed the stray “Coincidence” because they thought it was a sign from the dog that he will be okay and that he was sending another stray their way to take in.

The second pic is my friend’s two perma-kitties, Little and Jazzy. Enjoy

"Coincidence"

Jazzy and Little

Thanks to American Humane for these wonderful holiday travel with pets tips.

Some pets love traveling — while others find it extremely stressful. However, with increased awareness of the risks inherent in traveling with animals, owners can prepare and minimize undue stress on their pets. These travel tips from the American Humane Association can help ensure that holiday trips, and travels year-round, are safe and enjoyable for people and their pets.

1. Properly identify pets with ID tags and microchips — Make sure your pets have ID and current rabies tags and are microchipped. To be extra cautious, give your pets an additional tag with the address and phone number of where you will be staying for the duration of the trip, in case they get lost after you arrive.

2. Train pets to travel in their crates — Whether you’re heading to your holiday destination by plane, train or automobile, getting your pets used to their crates will make the entire traveling experience less stressful. Even when away from home, pets still view their crates as a safe haven from stressful situations.

3. With a crate, size does matter — Crates should be large enough for pets to stand and turn around in comfortably. Remember to keep water inside the crate or allow for breaks every three hours so that your pets can drink and stretch.

4. Never leave your pets unattended — Just as you would never leave a child unattended, never leave your pets alone in a car.

5. Be prepared — Take your pets’ health records with you, just in case they need to see a veterinarian during your trip. Be sure to ask your veterinarian if she recommends heartworm prevention or treatment for fleas or ticks for the area in which you are traveling. Keep pet dishes in your car, as well as extra water and pet food, in case of car trouble or bad weather.

6. To fly or not to fly — As a rule, puppies and kittens, sick animals, animals in heat, and frail or pregnant animals should not travel by air. If a pet is too large to fly in the cabin with you, perhaps a stay at a boarding kennel would be a safer choice. You should also plan ahead because many airlines have restrictions regarding pets, and your pets may need a health certificate to fly.

7. Visit your veterinarian — Your vet may prescribe a sedative to help reduce your pet’s stress level while traveling. However, sedatives are not always safe for pets so be sure to give your vet the details of how your pet will be traveling and how long the trip will take.
 
8. Boarding is an option — If your pets are too large to fly in the cabin with you, or if a long car ride might be too stressful for them, boarding your pets at a kennel may be a safer choice. Or you could hire a licensed pet sitter to take care of your pets in the comfort of your own home.

9. Try to keep pets on the same “schedule” — Stop when you would normally let your pets out at home and at feeding times.

10. Plan lodging ahead — Research your route, make reservations and carry a list of pet-friendly lodging along the way. Also, ask for a room on the ground floor so it is easier to walk your pets. Don’t let your pets stay in the car.

So far, here are the sweet pups entered in the December Dog Photo Contest. Let me know in the Comments who you think is cutest! And don’t forget to enter your dog – just email me no more than two pictures at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.

Dakota

Dakota II

Luke

Mike

Pinta

Pinta II

Our Friend Snickers

Sophie

Sophie II

Tazz

Tigger

Tigger II

Name Unknown

In today’s economy, many shoppers will be looking for pet lover gifts for the best value for everyone on their wish list, including that furry member of their family.

In fact, according to a national PetSmart survey, 95 percent of pet parents give their pets a gift or special treat during the holiday season. PetSmart expects nearly 155 million pets may receive gifts this year, meaning many of you are searching for the perfect pet gift for under the tree. Well ThoughtsFurPaws to the rescue: I’m teaming up with PetSmart to offer another fantastic ThoughtsFurPaws Contest Giveaway this month. One lucky reader will receive a Good Dog Mailbox Dog Stocking, filled with the following products:

Plush Toy in Prize Package

 
§  Rein-Dog Costume with Lights
§  Plush Snowman with Rope
§  Plush Christmas Squeaker Mat

This exciting prize package is perfect for the holidays, and you can keep all the prizes for yourself or even give some of them away, as they make perfect pet lover gifts! Thanks so much to PetSmart for offering our readers this AWESOME package.

Now for the rules: All you have to do is email me at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com and tell me how you have helped the animal welfare cause in 2008. Write a paragraph or write a book – I don’t care. I just want to know what you have done — whether it’s volunteering at a shelter or adoption event, transporting animals, or whatever —  to help our nation’s unfortunate pets this year.

The winner will be announced on December 14th. PetSmart will send the package directly to the winner! Good luck – and don’t forget to send your entries to thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.

Hooray! The Contests are back at ThoughtsFurPaws! I’m bringing it back to life with the December Doggie Photo Contest, running today through December 14th.

Send me your best dog pictures, funny dog photos, silly and sappy snapshots, cute Fido photos, or whatever doggie photo you think is best, and you could be one of three winners. 

Winners will receive a prize package packed with $50 worth of  holiday-themed toys and treats. Please limit entries to two per email address, and send to thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.

Contest ends December 14th, winners will be announced that day! Good luck – and keep the photos comin’! I’ll be posting them as I get them for you all to see so you can tell me who you think is cutest!

Imagine 50 Basset Hounds running around a 10-acre park like wild dogs…carousing one another, playing and wrestling, taking unauthorized swims – it’s a sight one will rarely have the chance to see. But that’s exactly what Ohio Basset Rescue’s (OBR) BassetFest 2009 was.

Held in Delaware, Ohio at Columbus Dog Park, OBR’s efforts reach all the way to Cleveland, New York and even further for that matter. Local foster parent and Cleveland pet rescue enthusiast Ashly Smith, who lives in North Olmsted with her two Bassets and two additional foster Bassets, attended the event along with foster parents and potential adopters from all over Cleveland and other parts of Ohio.

BassetFest 2009 was a great success according to organizer and OBR owner Amy Barnes. With raffles, games, prizes, and fun events like a costume contest, and with adoptive families and potential adopters all showing up, it was a chance for OBR to raise funds, screen adopters, and let current foster parents come together to celebrate the short-legged, long-nosed hovering canines that are so beloved by many.

Smith, who ended up bringing one more foster Basset home to Cleveland, said she fosters because of the rewards. “Knowing that I am helping save the life of an animal, and helping them cope with their more often than not violent pasts and learn to trust again is why I do it,” she said. “Seeing that change in them brings out so many others…it’s amazing.”

Smith, who lovingly refers to her Bassets as “howling short-legged wonder dogs,” has been fostering and placing dogs for OBR for about a year now. She personally gathered $150 for the cash prize raffle for the event, of which the winner turned around and gave $100 right back to the organization.

BassetFest 2009 was a howling success, raising about $5,000 for the organization and adopting out four dogs who desperately needed homes. Like so many other rescue organizations across the country, OBR is filled to the brim. Additionally, multiple adoption applications were filled out that will hopefully turn into successful adoptions.

To learn more about OBR, to become a foster parent, or to see the dogs available for adoption, visit www.ohiobasssetrescue.org.

A LONG time ago I wrote a post on the misperception of pit bulls. It seems that I have ruffled some feathers recently. Please take a look at the original post, and then these comments I posted below and tell me what you think.

Original Post: “The Misperception of Pit Bulls.”

Comments:

It appears that you are likening pit bulls to inanimate objects, which they are most certainly not.

As said in other posts, pit bulls are very emotional and loving dogs. But not all emotions are good. If a dog is very emotional, it can be very loving at times, or very angry or scared at others.

Pit bulls can act on their own. You don’t see guns chasing cats or cars. Cars don’t get aggressive and attack you when you walk by someone’s yard.

You also said, “. . . no one should blame a good dog ruined by the hands of ignorant people.” That is true, however, not all dogs are ‘good.’ While guns and cars all act the same way (or rather, not at all), dogs have different personalities and emotions.

You CAN train SOME dogs to not bite or act aggressive if it is frightened or threatened.
You CAN’T train ANY dog to never be frightened or angry.

 ”He will become mean because he’s afraid. It’s amazing what an abusive environment does to a dog-any dog. ”

This is a true statement. Depending on their environment, a dog will react and behave accordingly.

“Ultimately the irresponsible owner is the catalyst for any attack the dog may make. ”

This statement, however, is not true. Any dog, with any owner, responsible or not, can suddenly become aggressive or violence. Especially a mother dog with a litter of puppies.

A dog’s instincts are much more powerful than a humans, and instincts are a VERY deciding factor in how even a well trained dog will act.

———————————————————

It is commonly known and well-researched that dogs become a product of the atmosphere they were raised in. If you raise them to be mean, they’ll be mean. If not, then they should obey.

Tell me what you think about this person’s comments please…I’m curious to know how others feel about my statements, which align with those of animal welfare organizations across the country. Thanks for participating in these discussions.