Thursday, January 29, 2015

Caring for a senior dog: What you need to know

By Juliana Weiss-Roessler
Cesar's Way



Senior dogs are often overlooked at rescues and shelters in favor of the next generation of bouncy, yappy puppies. But if you’re a pack leader to a pup in his golden years, you know that’s a shame, because older dogs still have a lot of love to give — and they can still have lots of personality and spunk even if they don’t have as much energy as they did in their younger years.

Senior dogs also typically require less exercise, suffer from fewer behavioral issues, and come to you already potty trained. For these reasons, they are a particularly good choice for those adopting their first dog.

But just because senior dogs are easier in many ways doesn’t mean that they don’t also have some special care requirements that younger dogs don’t. Here are a few senior dog care tips if you’re a first-timer at adopting or fostering one of these old-timers.

Rule out medical causes for behavioral problems
Senior dogs are less likely to suffer from many issues caused by pent-up energy since they have less to expend. But that doesn’t mean they never experience behavioral issues. The first place to start with a behavior issue, though, especially if it has a sudden onset, is at the vet. It may be an early sign of a medical issue, and catching it faster can make a big difference for your pup.

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/senior-dog/Caring-for-a-senior-dog-What-you-need-to-know#ixzz3QDykaxBZ

Stress Busters

 Why it's good to be tall...

Are you sure this is my bed?

Can I keep it?


I can't wait till they deliver the new stove.
We need a new box!


Bake for 20 minutes, then turn over...


Everybody needs a good sleep toy...


Frankly, I don't think it's funny...


I'm ready for my walk...


I love my new human.  I think I'll keep it...



Always check before putting on your shoes...

Afghanistan Veteran Reunited With Bulldog After She Was Given Away


December 8, 2014
Good Morning America

Sometimes true love trumps all, as was the case with John Russo and his beloved American bulldog Bones.

Given to Russo as a Christmas present in 2008 from his mother, Bones stayed with Russo’s ex-girlfriend when he joined the Army and left for basic training and a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009.

“We were broken up before I left, but she was taking care of her [Bones], so I thought,” Russo told ABC News. “Then I got home and realized she had surrendered her.”

Russo attempted to contact his ex, but found out her number and address had changed. Russo tried to find Bones, but didn't have any luck. As an animal lover, he often checks humane society websites just to see the animals there, and he had an unbelievable spotting last week.

“I had a feeling that day and I went on the website and there she was,” Russo said of Bones.

The 5-year-old bulldog had been safely sheltered and up for adoption at the Flagler Humane Society in Palm Coast, Florida.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Lucca - Meet One of America's Furry War Heroes



From Yahoo! News

What has three legs, a Purple Heart, and fur all over?

Meet German Shepard mix Lucca, a Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient (albeit unofficial) credited as a war hero for her work sniffing out IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lucca, who lost a front paw while serving on the front lines, is the subject of new book “Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca.” And along with her first handler and current owner, Gunnery Sgt. Chris Willingham, this furry war hero recently sat down for an interview with “Power Players.”

Willingham is part of a special unit of dog handlers within the Marine Corps and was first assigned to be Lucca’s handler when she was still a young, untrained dog. The two quickly became a pair and trained together for a year before being deployed to Iraq, where Lucca quickly put her sniffing skills into action.

“In our first week in our first big mission … Lucca went up and indicated there was an explosive there and that was the first time she saved my life,” Willingham said. “It was a really validating moment from all the hard work and training we put in together, to the moment she actually found an IED on an operation, so it was a great, great day."

While active in the Marine Corps, Lucca was identified as a piece of equipment would be, with the ID designation K458. But to the troops she protected, she was known as “Mama Lucca.”

“She is a Marine,” Willingham said. “She's treated just like a Marine. When she got injured, she was medevac’d just like a Marine. They get top notch veterinary treatment -- their medical care, their health care, their dental care -- it's top notch. We treat these dogs outstanding, their part of our team, and Lucca probably knows more about me than anybody else, except my wife."

Click here to watch the video interview or read the full article.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Baby, 10-Year-Old Pit Bull, Saves Family And Its Dogs From Fire

BABY IS A HERO!  This is an incredible story!


A 10-year-old pit bull named Baby rescued a family and its dogs not once, but twice, during a house fire.

On Tuesday, Rhonda Westenberger and her sister, Evelyn, were sleeping when their Wellston, Okla., home of 17 years began filling with smoke and flames, KOCO reports.

Immediately, their pit bull, Baby, began barking and pounced on them until they woke up.

"There were flames shooting down the hallway," Westenberger told KOCO in the video above. "If Baby hadn't woken Evelyn up, I don't think either one of us would have come out of it."

Read the full story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/baby-pitbull-fire_n_2688270.html