Oh My Dog!

obsessed with dogs

It’s Friday… Friday… gotta get down…

It’s been five years and that song still gets stuck in my head literally every Friday.

It’s funny, actually. I posed this Q on Twitter last week: Do you think dogs get songs stuck in their head?

I don’t know, but I do know that when I love a song, I play it so many times. They’re always around. So, do they have Uptown Funk running through their heads? Are they tired of Happy playing on a loop, too, but you just can’t stop clapping along… because you’re… happy?

These are the types of things I think about… Welcome to my brain!

Anyway, a few BIG things going on around here:

  1. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in researching grain free… benefits, drawbacks, etc… for our Wellness food trial. The next installment comes on Monday, and I’ve learned some interesting things that I can’t wait to share. Just need to put my thoughts together. But, I’ve found some fascinating stuff from vet school research on things like grain free foods and cancer. Stay tuned for Monday. That’s my weekend project!
  2. The pool is open! The pool is open! You guys might remember that when we were house hunting, a pool was a “must have” because we really wanted the dogs to be able to swim, and there aren’t any community places for them to do so. Our realtor might have thought we were a bit crazy, but we ultimately found a house with a great yard and a not-quite-full-size pool. Perfect! Well, yesterday, the pool guy came and opened the pool. There’s a little tear in the lining he has to come back and fix, but it’s basically ready. Although, it’s freezing, so we can’t actually swim yet. But, that gives me some time to prepare. I’m ordering them life jackets. I don’t think Cooper needs it, but Emmett’s lost so much muscle mass as he’s gotten older that I’d rather be safe with him. His oncologist actually recommended he start swimming before he even knew we bought this house just so the dogs could swim! Anyway, if anyone has a life jacket brand or style they love, please share! Also, a weekend project to research and purchase something! (Taken from inside due to aforementioned freezing… as evidence by my phone reflection. Also, ignore the dying plants. I’m a well-known, most-wanted plant murdered. I’m working on it. Kind of?)
    The pool is open!
  3. Now for THE BIGGEST NEWS {{drumroll}} Guess where I’m going next week! Guess!!! This is so exciting and so big I have to announce it in all caps to signify my joy: I’M GOING TO BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY IN KANAB, UTAH!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I’m bouncing out of my chair. So, as you guys have probably noticed, I’ve posted a handful of posts about Best Friends initiatives and events, along with that nifty little Best Friends badge in my side bar. Well, LUCKY ME, as part of working with them, they’re bringing me and a handful of other bloggers and freelancers out to the sanctuary next week. I’m seriously bursting out of my skin with excitement. Also, there’s a chance to chat with the co-founders (on. a. HIKE. omg. am I dreaming?) and I’d love to gather up some questions that you guys have that I can ask and then share with you afterwards. What would you like to know about Best Friends? About their operations? Or the animals there? Anything is game, I think, so post in the comments, and I’ll bring notes for our discussion.

Whew! So, there you go! I don’t leave until the middle of next week, which gives plenty of time to write my post about Emmett’s food trial, research and buy life jackets, and PACK for Best Friends! Holy moly, I’m so excited!

Leave your Qs (about grain free or Best Friends) in the comments, and if you have any of those life jacket suggestions, please do share!

Have a wonderful, fun, relaxing weekend!

If you suspected your neighbor of dog fighting, what would you do?

You’d call and report it, right?

Tragically, that isn’t what happened this week, right here in Houma. 

A 130-pound dog – being reported as a pit bull – attacked and killed a four-year-old girl inside her apartment. The dog was initially reported as “staying” at the apartment with a second dog, reported as a six-month-old pit. On the news last night, the dogs were reported as “family pets.”

When a dog kills a child, it’s a heartbreaking, devastating tragedy. What a horrific loss for that family.

There are few specific details and several pieces of conflicting information (between the printed news and television news) about the attack.

But they all circle back around to one point: It’s an ongoing investigation because there have been allegations that the dog was trained for fighting. Why a small child had to die for people to step forward…

This, of course, isn’t what I had planned to post today, but the whole thing is just so sad and so unfortunate. 

I’m heartbroken over the loss of that little girl’s life. I’m going to keep a close eye on this as it develops because, in reading through comments and reactions online, there’s a very vocal “ban them all” conversation emerging.

This area certainly isn’t a hallmark of animal welfare, but this incident serves as a reminder: If you see or suspect any type of abuse, neglect, dog fighting, etc., report it! This occurred in a populated apartment complex. As details emerge on this one, I’m going to write a letter to the paper, and if something like this happens in your area, that’s a step I’d definitely recommend. Join in the community conversation as much as possible – and as much as reasonable.

Hug your pups.

Update: Some previously unreported facts have surfaced. The dog was a stud who belonged to the woman’s boyfriend. He was at her apartment to mate with the 6-month-old female who was in heat. This NEVER should have happened around a small child, among other problems with this scenario. What a heartbreaking disaster that could have been prevented.