Category Archives: Rescued Dog

#rescued dog, #dogpark, #dogtreats #dogs

Thanksgiving thank you letter

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Happy Friday Everyone !


Our Thanksgiving tradition is a letter to everyone plus Layla from me for being wonderful with us the past year, so here it goes :


Dear Layla,


2020 has been a hard year for us. The Covid19 arrived and with it meant lockdown which meant no more play dates with all your friends but you have benefitted by having me to yourself all the time and being extra spoiled where possible.


You have been an amazing little girl, I am so proud of you for dealing with it with me,  keeping me more on my toes but I must admit I sometimes sound tired I am loving our quality time.


This year has been a trying year in general sweetness, you hurt yourself and was on bed rest for nearly a month with lots of medications but thank goodness with love and perseverance you have healed and back to being piss and vinegar.


You are aging like Mom and with it comes new aches and pains, you now have ulcers on your corneas but like everything else Mom will make sure you heal from them. Between your eyes and mine we are quite a couple LOL.


We lost Uncle Matthew suddenly in September, he was my rock, kept me sane during the trying times, and losing him has made things a bit harder for Mom but she is doing her best to keep herself balanced and not stressed and you are doing an amazing job by helping with your licks and cuddles and of course waggy tail. I am so grateful for that big time.


We thank everyone who has helped us through these trying times, Shanti Project – you are all amazing, Shalom Bayit – all of you are amazing and so many more especially Pets Unlimited who have wonderful vets and have taken such care of you, been patient with me and my emails and helping me in so many ways to keep you healthy. Without all of you I am not sure where I would be.


And last but not least we must thank Aunt Barbara and Uncle David for all the hugs and pets which are treasured by you plus Uncle David thank you for loaning us your garden once a week for fresh air and time for Layla to run off leash.

And of course a special thank you to Aunt Alice for spoiling Mom and taking me one Sunday on an adventure.


We would like to thank all the great companies that have sent us their products for reviews from Hemp Oil, Supplements, Anti Itch shampoos and of course treats – they have all been loved by us in so many ways and we are really grateful.


So through the hardships there have been some treasured moments also.
I love you little Madam, you are my Boss and very Bossy also but would not change it for anything in this world.


Lots of love as always,

Your crazy Jewish Mom


Before we end this blog this week we want to remind everyone to please keep your pets safe over Thanksgiving and I know we all love to spoil them make sure the goodies are safe.

We are including the turkey treat recipe that I make for Layla on Thanksgiving so she is not forgotten LOL. I do not add the rice anymore. I bake it like a meat loaf, then cut into little squares and keep in fridge, freezing some for another day.


AND of course to all our followers thank you for reading our blog, laughing with us,  sharing your stories, we have become a family and we appreciate it very much.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone, Be safe, don’t overeat LOL.


With a woof and love from Layla 

National Senior Pet Month

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Happy Friday everyone !!!


This month is National Senior Pet Month and am going to talk about living with a senior as Layla is 14 years old and aging.


Since she was ill in June I have noticed many changes in her which I am learning to adapt to but there are days that I find it hard as it is taking its toll on me also. 


We have been going through the past month or so her allergies so I against my will as I try not to give her medications put her on Apoquel as she was tearing at herself and thank goodness we have avoided hot spots, phew. I am also bathing her weekly which is helping with the scratching. 
Another issue I am dealing with is her not wanting to sleep. She is up and down all night  and if I can get her to sleep 6 hours without interruption I am happy, she is getting CBD oil to calm her down which seems to be helping. I need sleep at the moment LOL.


She otherwise is acting herself but a new issue is her barking at me when she wants to go out so off we go at all times of day and night, and Madam when she wants to walk we can walk which I do not mind but I do not like doing the side streets at night as it is not safe and that is where the arguments start LOL.


Today she is going to the vet, phew I managed to get an appointment as someone had cancelled as her left eye is very red, we have tried medications but they are not helping so the vet wants to check it out again.


Last Sunday, a good friend of mine took Layla away from me for a couple of hours to give me a break, they went to a different dog park, she took the backpack with her just in case but Layla did not want it. It was hard for me to be without her but on the other hand it gave me a break which was really needed as it helped me relax which I needed to do. She was very happy to see me when we met up again.  Thank you Alice as always.


She also got spoiled this week with a parcel of South African treats by a company called ROAM, they sent her freeze dried venison, Crocodile jerky and Cape Ostrich jerky and she is loving them all. In South Africa you can buy Ostrich or Buck Jerky in all the stores and it is delicious.


And she got a new bed, the reason is she sleeps under the bed LOL so wanted her to sleep on something so I bought her a crate bed which fits under there perfectly so she now has her fourth bed. I am hoping with winter coming she will be warmer and it will help her to sleep.


So that is what is happening here, we are both aging slowly and learning to adapt to it all.


Stay safe everyone 

With a woof and love from Layla 

October is over but our voice will never be silenced

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!!
I cannot believe November is around the corner, this year is going too fast but hopefully it is a good sign and our lives will go back to normal soon. This hibernating is getting too much.


With October ending it is the ending of Domestic Violence Awareness Month although we must keep speaking out, using our voice for those that are being abused, whether humans or pets as they need our voices. 


The end of October means Halloween which is not being celebrated this year the way it normally is, my heart does go out to the kids that are missing out but am sure parents are relieved there will be no sugar rushes and fighting over candies.


Halloween can be dangerous for our pets so please look after them, make sure they are safe and do not get into anything toxic.

Plus please keep your black cats safe from the lunatics.


Happy Halloween Everyone, Take care and be safe,

Layla and Me 

Pets in Shelters

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Happy Friday to all our friends, the week is over and the weekend is beginning phew.


As most of you know I am doing at the moment a workshop to become a Domestic Violence Advocate and as this month is Domestic Violence Awareness month I want to discuss having a pet in a shelter.


This is a subject that I have seen discussed on many groups on Facebook, and how important it is for a survivor to have her pet with her in the shelter so am going to share my story here.


I was fortunate to be able to take Baby into the shelter with me towards the end of my stay, before I moved over to another shelter and then transitional housing.


It was fantastic having her with me again and I was really blessed but people also need to understand Shelter policies also so I do understand why shelters say no. They are not being selfish but in a way practical and this is why :


01.There are children in shelters who are going through trauma and might be afraid of pets 

02. Allergies from pets

03.  The shelter staff are overloaded already so if you are running around sorting out your life you are adding another burden to the staff as your pet is in your room.

04. Shelters have curfews so if your pet needs to go potty at night you cannot take him/her out.

05. Not all shelters can you give you a single room so you might be sharing with someone who does not like pets.


When I was in the shelter with Baby I took her out just before the curfew started, I had my own room which made it easier but her food and water was in my room, she was not allowed in the public areas because of the reasons I listed above, when we did go out she was on leash and was on leash when we got back till we got to my room.


This is food for thought and that is why in so many ways I feel there should be some kind of program for the pets to ease it for everyone and I do know that some shelters are slowly opening their doors to pets.


Would love to hear your input on this.


Last Friday Layla and I with friends went for a picnic in Golden Gate Park. It was a beautiful evening, relaxing, good food and lots of laughs. It was just what we needed and a beautiful start to a weekend.

What I did for Layla’s food was instead of taking her home made food I took with me Freeze Dried Kibbles which she thinks are treats from Raw Paws Pet Food – she loves them. The flavor I had was Beef and then I had with me as a treat their Freeze Dried Minnows which she cannot get enough of.

You can see their awesome products on their website plus you have a coupon for shopping : Layla15 – Happy Shopping

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/


This weekend our plans are to go to the Shih Tzu Meetup which I am really looking forward to as it is a different park and I love that park as it is so big you can do social distancing.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe

With a woof and love from Layla

Living with an abuser

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday is here and we are having a heat wave and it’s hot that I am melting so Mom has all the fans going, a cooling mat and lots of cold water. We have not been out much because of the heat.


I am aware that many of you have read about Baby but I wanted to share with you what it is like to live in a Domestic Violence Relationship with a dog (pet) who is your furkid.

We adopted Baby from a shelter, she was the best thing that happened to me when I was in the relationship as I finally had someone who loved me unconditionally and gave me someone to look after plus so much more.

wearing one of the sweaters I knitted

My abuser did nothing for her but buy her some clothes, and I was fortunate to get money to buy her food although when possible I would share my chicken with her. She was a cute little dog, very good and walked off leash all the time. 


The major plus with having her was my ex never walked her so I was able to get out of the house and walk her alone which was a time for me to breathe and try to relax as much as possible without the verbal abuse. She loved those walks as much as I did as there was no tension in the air. 


My ex would hit her with a newspaper whenever possible for no reason, she would be locked out of the house in the heat for no reason (I many times was locked out with her), and I was threatened all the time that if she got sick there would be no vets and she would be put down only.


I was always relieved when my ex was at work as I would do everything to spoil her and keep her as happy as possible, fearing the time when my ex would return home.

When I decided to run, and like many, I could not leave her behind, and that is why I took my time leaving as I wanted to know that she would be safe with me wherever we went. I had even packed a tent just in case and I would have slept on the streets if I had to although we were fortunate. The rest is history and I have shared with you in many other blogs.

Layla for me is a blessing, when I rescued her I vowed our house would be happy, stress free and I feel sometimes out of guilt because what I went through with Baby I spoil Layla as much as possible and have in so many ways become her slave LOL but I have no regrets either.


Last weekend we finally managed to have a little adventure and went to Golden Gate Park with a friend, the weather was cool, I had my coffee and we just relaxed outdoors in the shade which was heaven. Layla of course wandered around a bit and then she did her park thing, lie down and watch the world go by. It was the best gift I could have had just being outdoors breathing fresh air.

What Layla does not know is that we are going for an evening picnic today to the park again and I am so looking forward to it. 


So once again I am telling everyone if you know someone in an abusive relationship, reach out, tell them you are there for them if they need it,  and even if they do not immediately take up your offer, them knowing you are there is very comforting for them.


Here is the link for the National Domestic Violence Hotline :
https://www.thehotline.org/

Be safe, take care and have a wonderful weekend Layla 

Running from a Domestic Violence Relationship

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TGIF !!!


As you know October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I am sharing my story today again as it is 10 years since Baby passed away and feel, she being my hero should be remembered.


It is easy to tell victims to run but it is a complicated process and can be very difficult especially if your abuser controls the finances so something I always tell victims is hide somewhere in the house or outdoors if safe, a small bag with your documents and whatever cash you can save. Put in that bag whatever your abuser will not not notice is missing as to not cause anymore friction in the house. 

If you can and a friend or family are aware of the situation talk to them about helping you get away if you do not have a car and try to carefully plan whatever you can ahead which will help making the hard decision a little bit easier.


Please note that there is a shortage of rooms in shelters so try have a back up plan so that you do not land up on the streets and try find someone to take your pets that they will be safe. An abuser will not hesitate to harm your pets if you run and they are our furkids so we need to make sure they are safe.


Baby was my hero, she had kept me alive during the relationship, because of her I was able to go for walks and so much more. She kept me alive and thank goodness I had her in my life. 

When I ran I was fortunate to have a friend who picked me up from the house with my dog and hid me at her place till I could get out of the city. I did not have money as my ex controlled the finances so whatever I had was very limited but I sold jewellery to help me buy a ticket to get out of the city where I was living.


Upon arriving in San Francisco I found that shelters did not allow dogs so a wonderful Domestic Violence Organization stepped in to foster her while I was sorting myself out. Since I ran things are changing and slowly pets are being included and the DV organizations are talking more about pets and assisting those that have them.  


She joined me in the shelter about 2 months after I got there, stayed with me in  transitional housing and then we finally moved to our own home, a place to live happily with no drama, a peaceful happy home. 
About 3 months after we got into our own home, she suddenly contracted IMHA and within 48 hours passed away, 5 October 2010. It was one of the hardest days in my life as my angel had gone and I was left alone trying to sort my life out. 


My home was empty, lonely and I felt that it was not fair that when I finally could give her everything she left me but as a friend of mine said to me : She came into your life when you both needed each other (she was a rescue) and left you when you were safe so that you could open your home to a new furkid.


Three months later it happened and I rescued Layla and the rest is history.
So what I have decided to do is to give back and at the moment I am doing a workshop to become a Domestic Violence Advocate so that I can hopefully help others, pets included and be their voice.


If you know anyone that is in an abusive relationship, reach out, offer help and then let them decide what they want to do, BUT if they know that you are there for them and their pets it will hopefully make the decision a lot easier.


Take care everyone, be safe and remember you are not alone,
With a woof and love from Layla

The Domestic Violence Hotline : https://www.thehotline.org/

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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October has arrived, an important month in my calendar as it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month when Layla wears her purple harness to make a statement.


I am a proud Domestic Violence Survivor and this month we speak out about abuse, violence against women and children and by doing so we pray that if one victim reads our blog and it helps her we have done a Mitzvah. (Mitzvah is Hebrew for a good deed).

Domestic Violence has been going on for years, through the centuries, but it is only in the last 40 years or so that organizations started forming to help victims, give them a safe place, assistance with starting their life over and so much more.These women that work in the different organizations I call heroes as they do such amazing work they deserve a big shout out.


When we speak about it, we must not forget that many pets are stuck in the middle of Domestic Violence relationships and they do not have a voice so we need to be theirs. 


Many women stay in the relationships for their pets safety and I was one of them, I would not leave my pet behind as it would mean me abandoning my pet who was like a child to me. She had kept me going through it all so how could I leave her !


Unfortunately having a pet does make it harder as there are very few programs/shelters that accept pets and that is something that needs to be changed. As I always say if mothers would not leave their kids why should furmoms leave their furkids behind. 


If you know anyone in a relationship, reach out to them so that they know there is someone there for them, give them the below link :

Domestic Violence Hotline : https://www.thehotline.org/

You cannot force a person to leave the relationship but letting them know they are not alone, is sowing the seed in their brain that it is possible.


Please take care everyone, be safe and most of all remember it might be scary but in the long run life becomes easier, happier and you are free,

With a woof and love Layla 

Remember Me Thursday

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Good Morning friends,


Today is a very important day so without hesitation we decided that our blog should be up today and not tomorrow as it is Remember Me Thursday.

I have always rescued, and only believe in rescuing and that is why this day is extra special for me.

On this day the world will share and discuss the importance of pet adoption, and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues to be adopted . We all come from different countries, religions but one thing we all have in common is the fate of the pets in shelters so we need to be their voice as they do not have one.

Those orphan pets in the shelters need homes, they want a warm bed to sleep in, good food, toys but most of all they want to be loved by humans so every time one is adopted you are saving two lives, the pet and yours.


We can help by spreading the word, changing the minds of people to open their hearts also :


01. Adopt and open your house to an orphan pet

02. Go to Remember Me Thursday Events in your area


PLUS I think the most important of all is to show everyone all over the world that adoption is the only way to go as the adopted/rescued pets deserve a second chance.

We want to say a special thanks to Mike Arms, President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, for creating this day to draw the attention of the orphaned pets sitting in shelters and by lighting a candle will draw people to their fate of euthanasia.  Thank you Helen Woodward Animal Center for permitting me to share this poem by Mike Arms.

Thank you for allowing me to share this poem


So let’s all get together, light a candle and save the shelter pets and give them the good life they deserve,


Thank you with love from

Layla   (my rescue from a shelter)

#seethelight

Happenings in the Layla Neighborhood

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TGIF !!!!!!!!

Today in the Jewish Religion, and Mom being a Jewish Mom we start our New Year 5781 which means lots of yummy food so I am going to be very good all day to make sure I get some.


We are celebrating the Holiday at home as we are still on lock down, 6 months already so I am going to be doing some of the cooking here, not all as I am one person and Madam cannot eat some of the foods although she would love to.


Like most holidays in all religions there are traditional foods and I am going to share here the symbolic foods you will find on the table :
01. Apples and Honey : Honey symbolizes sweetness for the New Year and in the old days the Jews believed that apples held healing powers so we dip the apples into the honey.

02. Round Challah – Because the world is round and the round challah symbolizes the world.

03. Pomegranates – Symbolizes plentiful for the New Year

04. Fish Head – Symbolizes Head of the Year 

05. My favorite at the end of the meal is coffee with Honey Cake


In the Temple you will hear the Shofar which is a rams horn blown like a trumpet on the New Year (and other holidays). It has four sounds which the Rabbi says and the Shofar is blown with a specific sound.


Our New Year starts at sunset and ends the following day at sunset but only outside Israel do they celebrate two nights.


So that is what we are celebrating this weekend.

Other than that what is happening in the Layla Neighborhood let’s think LOL. Layla and I spent some time in the park this week, we had one good air day which was beautiful so we sat outdoors enjoying it and she was so happy to be out and seeing some other people and of course doggy friends. A friend of mine has just rescued a dog who is just the cutest and we got to meet her.

I have started part time dog sitting for a really cute little dog who Layla really likes so she now has a friend visiting which is good for her. His name is Baxter and he is a rescue and just adorable.  It is so great to be working again and hopefully more dogs will be needing dog sitters again.


On top of that I am finally doing something for me which I have wanted to do for years, I have started an online workshop to become a Domestic Violence Advocate, this means I will be finally able to give back and help those that are fortunate to get away like I did.

So as you can all see we are always busy here, life is good in our neighborhood and we want to wish everyone a Happy Healthy Sweet New Year.


With love from Layla 

שנה טובה ומתוקה

We Must Not Forget

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Friday has arrived, and this Friday is a solemn day which we must not forget and make sure it never happens again.


Today is 9/11, when innocent people died just for being American, let us remember the countless lives lost and selfless acts by the brave responders on September 11, 2001 — both human and four-legged.
There were 300 specialized canine search and rescue teams in the days following the attack who worked tirelessly searching to save lives. These four-legged heroes shone in the face of  this incredible tragedy. 


 I often feel that without dogs it would be harder to find survivors. They are amazing creatures and we are blessed to have them in our lives.


We must not forget and not let it happen again.


Fast forward to 2020 and what is happening all over the world is frightening and the fires on the West coast are horrific and an eye opener as to how we should work on climate change and start protecting our earth. 


On Wednesday 9 of September I woke up to darkness, orange sky and nothing else. I looked outside thinking it was 4 in the morning but my  clock said 8 and I could not believe it. San Francisco was in darkness all day – the air was bad, and it was really eerie. The smoke from the fires had settled in our city, we had no daylight that day and everyone just stayed indoors. You can see the photo of our park at 11 in the morning taken by a friend of mine and the one from out of my window to get an idea what we went through. 

thank you Deanna Jones for your photo


I also had to take Layla for her annual check up, all good but my major question from the vet was her not sleeping at nights, wanting to go out at 3 every morning. We came to the conclusion that she has turned night into day and day into night because we are so stuck inside because of the virus and the bad air lately. We joked that she should get chicken soup every night to make her sleep.  He also feels she might be starting arthritis so we are trying Gaberpentin at night to see if that will settle her pain wise. I hope it will as we both slept last night and it was amazing.


So that is what is happening in the Layla neighborhood, just going day by day and seeing how much we can be outdoors when possible.

Please keep safe everyone, our prayers go out to those that are being evacuated from the fires and that all the animals will be safe.


With love from Layla