Sit. Stay. Read.
obsessed with dogs
The daffodils are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the sun is shining (or, it would be if it weren’t for all these April showers)! All those signs point to one thing: It’s spring cleaning season! Spring cleaning for pet parents requires a special kind of thoroughness that those without pets probably can’t even imagine. …
Did you know: An elephant’s skin measures an inch or inch and a half thick. Despite its thickness, an elephant’s skin is so sensitive, it can feel a fly land on its back. What does that have to do with dogs? Well, nothing, really. But it has an awful lot to do with writing about …
Our dogs are more than “just pets.” They’re family. They bring joy, comfort, and unconditional love into our lives every day. Whether they’re wagging their tails, licking our faces, or snuggling next to us on the couch, their affection is pure and heartwarming. Of course, they have little (no?) control over their lives. We decide …
Ten years ago this week, I stuck my final chemo needle into my belly, depressed the plunger, and burst into tears. I shoved the needle in my sharps box, and danced around Emmett, Lucas, and Cooper screaming, “I’m finished!” They thought I’d lost my mind… Eleven years ago this week, a doc told me that …
One of our family’s core values includes getting outside. Long walks in a quiet forest. Playing in a field. Stomping in a stream. Exploring and exercising. Breathing fresh air. And our dogs have always been an integral part of that outdoor experience. Now, closing in on Cooper’s thirteenth birthday, we find ourselves making accommodations and …
Newt, my sweet black cat with sparkling green eyes, turns 11 this year. How the time flies… According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), cats reach middle-age at 7, become seniors at 11, and geriatric from 15 on. As Newt prepares to transition from mid-life to her senior years, I’ve been focusing on …
Hello, friends! If you’re landing here for the first time, we likely haven’t yet met. And knowing who I am is important in the context of this post. (BTW, I’d love to meet YOU, too, if you’d like to intro yourself and your family in the comments!) I’m Maggie, mom to Violet, age 5; Astrid, …
Who determines the value of a life in a desperate situation? When it comes to cats and dogs, sadly, so many find themselves at the mercy of the over-crowded, under-funded, exhausted shelter system. Shelters do their very best; I believe this to be absolutely true. Unfortunately, for high-need animals–those with severe injuries or illness–there aren’t …
I have to be honest: Writing about degenerative myelopathy in dogs (DM) isn’t at the top of my “fun to write” list. It doesn’t even appear on that list. I wish I didn’t have to write this post, but here we are. And it’s important. Why DM? For one thing, it’s a scary and overwhelming …
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! * insert all the leaf emojis and PSLs! * The air feels crisp. Everything smells like apple and pumpkin and bonfire. School busses putter down the street picking up kiddos with fresh haircuts and still-clean shoes. Cooper loves his long walks in the crunchy leaves, and it …
It’s that time of year again! Time to curl up by a crackling fire. Pour yourself a warm cup of tea (or glass of wine). Pull a dog or cat onto your lap. And settle into a good book. Ahhh, I love fall reading! When I think of seasonal reading, summer is always for light …
Do you love a pup with chronic stress who gets worked up often, or a chill guy who only stresses when it’s truly warranted? Everyone experiences stress. Stress helped keep our human ancestors and our dogs’ wolf ancestors alive. In fact, stress simply is a part of being alive. For each of us and for …
This just in: Dogs don’t come hardwired for human living! Okay, okay. It’s not “just in.” We should know this, but it seems to surprise a lot of well-meaning folks. Dogs simply don’t come to us knowing that we don’t want them to eat from the trash can (but it smells so good!) or dash …
If you are looking for tips on how to give a dog a pill, chances are you have a pill ninja for a pup. Otherwise, you’d just lift your dog’s lip, open his jaw, drop the pill in, and move on, right? That’s how the vet tech demos giving your dog a pill. That’s how …
Hello, friends! Have you seen the images from the Webb Space Telescope? I’ve been following along on astronomy Twitter (who knew that was a thing!?!), first, as the initial set of images were released, and now through the discussion about what’s been discovered. In case you’re not as nerdy interested as I am and haven’t …
*Many years ago, we lived for a while in a small town in south Louisiana. While there, I wrote a whole series of essays about our experiences that I never posted anywhere. I’m cleaning out some digital storage and am going to start posting some of them, along with other stories that have yet to …
A couple weeks ago, my husband and a group of volunteers joined an employee from our parks department to take water samples from a creek in a nearby public park. John joined this group of volunteers last year, and twice a month, they visit parks to check the water quality and pick up trash along …
Oh, winter. Why do you feel so long when the days are so short? This post is inspired by Modern Mrs. Darcy, my favorite book podcaster. Every year, she shares this post to call to mind all the things that bring joy and life to these dark days of winter–and the posts go up at …
Please note that this is only our experience. It’s anecdotal, not vet med. I am a writer, not a vet, vet tech, nurse, medical doctor, nutritionist, or anything practical whatsoever. Do not take this as medical advice, mk? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This site uses affiliate links, which means that I …
I hold my pen wrong. My grip evolved uncorrected, and now, in my 40s, there’s nothing I can do about it. The muscle memory is too strong, the habit too ingrained. If fact, the bone on the fourth finger of my right hand malformed because of my grip. And that’s fine… except that I decided …
Hi, friends. It’s been a while. I hope you’re well. It’s a mixed bag over here. My long absence from this space has two main culprits (though, really, just one… just me…). I mentioned in my 2021 journey post that my only goal for this year was to write my book and secure an agent. …
Ahhhhh, summer reading! Is there anything more delightful than lounging outside on a beautiful summer evening with a good book in hand? If there is, I haven’t found it yet! This year, we’re emerging from a particularly rough time, and I wanted to focus on books that add a lot of value. For the first …
This is an example of a WordPress post, you could edit this to put information about yourself so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many posts as you like in order to share with your readers what is on your mind. Do it. This is an example of a WordPress …
This is an example of a WordPress post, you could edit this to put information about yourself so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many posts as you like in order to share with your readers what is on your mind. Do it. This is an example of a WordPress …
