It Is Just a Dog...

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand
phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust,
and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog", I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away
from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog",
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a man or woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog"
just smile...
because they "just don't understand."

by Richard Biby

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Contributing Editor VHD 

I am joining the Thoughtless Thursday BlogHop with Ruckus, MKClinton, and Love is Being Owned by a Husky

 

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2016/02/thoughtless-thursday-110-panda-express.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:#sthash.n4qF7OoU.dpuf

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2016/02/thoughtless-thursday-110-panda-express.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:#sthash.n4qF7OoU.dpuf

Drumroll Please: Introducing...

Aren't these just the cutest MINI replicas of Chloe and LadyBug????

My friend on Facebook made them for me and she did such an amazing job!!

She captured their expressions and their body features just perfectly!!

You will be seeing more and more of these little mini versions of Chloe and LadyBug!!

What do you think??

Seeing Beautiful!

We were made to enjoy music, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, to enjoy looking at the billows of the sea and to be thrilled with a rose that is bedecked with dew… Human beings are actually created for the transcendent, for the sublime, for the beautiful, for the truthful... and all of us are given the task of trying to make this world a little more hospitable to these beautiful things.

Bishop Desmond Tutu

BlogPaws WW: Chloe's Valentine Edition

You Can Help! Support #ShelterPetLove

Every single one of us can make a difference for a shelter pet TODAY!

Each year approximately 3-4 million pets are adopted from shelters and rescue groups, but many more healthy pets STILL need our help to find loving homes!!

Today, I am reaching out to you on behalf of The Shelter Pet Project, which is a collaborative effort between The Humane Society of the United States, Maddie’s Fund^®, and the Ad Council, to ask for your support.

The goal of The Shelter Pet Project is to make shelters and rescue groups the very FIRST place people turn to when they are looking for a new pet to join their family!!

Actress Bellamy Young, who plays First Lady Mellie Grant on ABC’s “Scandal,” in partnership with the Shelter Pet Project, stars in a new online video featuring her adopted dog Bean and adopted cat Sadie. The video helps break down some of the misconceptions that surround shelter pets and also helps to spread the word that pets in shelters are wonderful and very LOVEABLE!!

In the video, Bellamy says, “Adoption is very near and dear to my heart” and encourages those who are thinking about pet adoption to take the next step and experience a “love unlike anything you’ve ever known.”

Millions of people are looking to acquire a pet within the next year. Help spread the word to potential adopters that they CAN provide loving homes for shelter and rescue pets!!

I adopted my dog, Zippo, from our local Humane Society Shelter.  He was the BEST, the most loyal dog I have ever owned...and I have lived with dogs my entire life!  He was just the sweetest, most personable guy....sometimes, I really thought he was part human....he understood what I was thinking and feeling.  My heart broke the day Zippo left us.  Still to this day, I think about him all the time.  He was a very, VERY, special part of our family and we all miss him very much.

A short time later, we rescued LadyBug from the Delaware Valley Bichon Rescue Group.  She was a little timid at first and she had a few issues of her own, but Chloe and LadyBug have grown to love each other very much.  She shows US love every single day! 

Please do whatever you can to spread the word for these special animals who really need our help!!

Thank you so very much!!

https://www.facebook.com/ShelterPetProject
https://twitter.com/shelterpets
http://www.pinterest.com/shelterpets
http://instagram.com/shelterpetproject

Soooo...Pet Bloggers...Spend their money on???

Black and White Sunday: The Snack Edition

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Tick Epidemic...

Ticks can be as lethal as venomous snakes!!

We need to get the word out about ticks and the diseases they carry!

It will be summer soon!!

   Time for camping, hiking and spending more time outside. Don't let those pesky annoying

 ticks stop you. 

Here is a simple homemade solution!

Repellent for your pets:

For pets, add 1 cup of water to a spray bottle, followed by 2 cups  of distilled white vinegar. 

Ticks hate the smell and taste of vinegar, and will be easily be repelled by this ingredient 

alone.

 Then, add two spoonfuls of vegetable or almond oil, which both contain sulfur (another 

natural tick repellent).

To make a repellent that will also deter fleas, mix in a few spoonfuls of lemon juice, citrus oil, 

or 

peppermint oil, any of which will repel ticks and fleas while also creating a nicely scented 

repellent. Spray

 onto the pet's dry coat, staying away from sensitive areas including eyes, nose, mouth, and

 the genital

area. When outdoors for an extended period, spray this solution on two to three times per 

day.

For you and your family:

In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water. To make a 

scented 

solution so you do not smell like bitter vinegar all day, add 20 drops of your favorite 

essential 

oil.

Eucalyptus oil is a calm, soothing scent that also works as a tick repellent, while peppermint 

and citrus oils give off a strong crisp scent that also repel ticks.

After mixing the solution, spray onto clothing, skin, and hair before going outdoors. Reapply

 every four hours to keep ticks at bay, and examine your skin and hair when back inside to 

make sure no ticks are on the body.

 We must get the word out about the dangers of ticks and how to avoid them!

Thoughtless Thursday: The Random Issue

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-host Love is being owned by a Husky

"Don't think, just link!" 

 Grab the badge, link back to your hosts, and join the fun!