Pied-billed Grebe

Be still.

You would be surprised what you see when you just stop. And look...pay attention to life around you.

From time to time, I like to remind myself to just...slow down and take in life. Its very easy to get caught up in things and, in a totally oblivious state, take for granted the unique life swirling about you. Case in point. My husband and I went kayaking (without the dogs) and sort of blowing through the river, not really taking in the beautiful life forms around us. We decided to just stop and take a moment...and what do we see? Something that looked like a duck...but not. We drifted along, following the little guy. He had the most unique way of submerging...just sort of slowly going straight down, almost as if he were being pulled straight down. Fortunately, we were able to get a good shot of him on video...we had to look him up and I found out what he was: a pied-billed Grebe.

Take a look at this cutey:

Turtle Rescue

I am looking forward to the time that I never have to rescue a turtle that has been hit by a car. It happens way too often. 

Approximately one year ago, we rescued a turtle that was hit by a car as he/she was attempting to cross the road. Yes, to get to the other side. I grabbed him and he didn't look so good. His shell was cracked and he was bleeding. I brought him to the hospital, had x rays taken and saw that he had a nasty crack in his shell.  The crack in his shell is easier to see in the photo at left...it's on the right side, middle of the shell. You can also see where some of the shell was rubbed off from the road. We brought him home and released him in our pond. That was one year ago. We finally saw him for the first time several days ago. Happily sunning himself with a couple of other smaller models. It was so nice to see that he survived. We've rescued a number of turtles but not all of them make it depending on the severity of their injuries. Anyhow, just wanted to share with you a happy success story! Keep wagging!

Yearly whimsical post featuring puppies

From time to time i like to talk and show dogs being...just themselves. In this case, I ran across video from when Big Tuna was about a year old and was playing with Mr. Bishop our older male English bulldog and Frodo and Ruadh, two wonderful pit bulls and Tonka, a mutt (I think). Anyhow, pay attention the overweight white bio mass of a puppy that resembles an on demand water heater. That girl can swim! 

Enjoy and keep wagging!

Car Travel and Your Dog (and Cats too!)

This is the time of year that people, cooped up for most of the very long winter, want to escape for the weekend. Which means driving someone. With you four leggeds. 

That ominous string music you here being queued up in the background doesn't have to be there. Sure, some dogs are a nightmare to travel with. Car sickness, barking, projectile vomiting on the windows....sometimes Dogs just don't travel well. But then there are the others that enjoy jumping in the car, ears flipping in the breeze, not a care in the world where they are headed, just that the pack is out and about. So yes, traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience, particularly if you prepare ahead of time and ensure your pet's comfort during the trip.

Make sure that your dog is used to being in a car before you take them on a long journey.  Begin by taking your pet for short trips and rewarding it with praise and a treat afterward.  Avoid feeding your pet just before short rides.

Car (motion) sickness can make travel difficult for both you and your pet. Signs of motion sickness include restlessness, drooling, vomiting and in extreme cases, speaking in tongues. If can remember, please do yourself a favor and don't feed your dog for 5-6 hours before long trips.  If necessary, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to relieve your anxious pet's discomfort.

Dogs should ride inside the car rather than inside a camper or in the bed of a pickup truck.  Restrict your dog's movement so that it cannot interfere with the driver.  Special harnesses and car seats are widely available.  Do not let your dog stick its head out the window, which can lead to eye injuries. You may recall in one of my videos that the buddy belt has a built in area to clip a seat belt into. If you don't recall, I'll help you by posting the video here:

Remember to stop for regular breaks every few hours to give your dog a chance to exercise, relieve him/herself, and have a drink of water.  Secure your pet with a leash before opening the vehicle door, and pay attention to pet restrictions at rest stops.

Never, never, never leave any animal in a parked vehicle in warm weather, no matter how briefly.  The inside temperature can skyrocket to a dangerous level in a few short minutes, even with the windows cracked open.  This can lead to heat stroke, brain damage, and death very quickly. Conversely, you don't want to leave them in a car when it is 2 degrees either. Just use common sense. 

Many lodging facilities accommodate pets, but be sure to check pet policies and make arrangements well in advance of your travel date.

Keep Wagging!