Quality of Life

TGIF!!! The weekend has arrived and with the weather still being warm I plan to go to the park as much as possible plus we are going to a dog event on Sunday.

Layla had her 6-month checkup last week where with the vet I discussed her quality of life as she is over 15 years old, in so many ways healthy but since her fall her anxiety has gone through the roof and she barks all the time. Her paw thank goodness has healed.

The vet replied to my answer like this which relaxed me a lot as I do not want her to suffer with age.

  1. She is eating and drinking – phew
  2. No accidents in the house – phew
  3. Her tail is wagging – phew
  4. Her heart and internal organs are all good – phew
  5. Barking (I had sent a video to the vet to see) – can be from anxiety and the start of Dementia. She prescribed Gabapentin which I have started giving her and she is now sleeping through the nights.
  6. During the day she gets a calming supplement which is working so she is a lot more relaxed now also which makes my life a lot easier. Vet approved.

So in a nutshell this is what my vet said: She is doing good, her quality of life is good and I should not think about it but focus on making memories, enjoying each day with her and keep her brain working all the time.

So, I have put that question on the shelf and enjoying each day as it comes as I am blessed to have her in my life.

My question this week is what are your thoughts of quality of life? I would love to hear from you,

Be safe everyone, our prayers and thoughts are with all those in Florida, both humans and animals.

Have a wonderful weekend,

With woof and love from Layla and Me

 

Remember Me Thursday

Remember Me Thursday is a day to honor all pets who never found a loving home, I am one of the blessed Dog Moms to have found one (rescued from the Carlson Shelter).

It is a day when the world will share and discuss the importance of pet adoption, and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. 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.

One of the important ways of spreading the word around about Remember Me Thursday is to draw the attention to those wanting a pet and stop them from buying but instead adopting from a local shelter or rescue organization.

I do not believe in buying a pet, will not do and will fight against the Puppy Mills and other Breeders till all the shelters are empty and all the pets have homes. I have watched over the years how pet owners speak about rescuing but go out and buy for themselves a pure bred dog when they could be going to a pure bred rescue organization to adopt from instead. I thank goodness live in a city where pet stores are not allowed to sell pets but if I know of one, that one would not get my money.

How to get involved with this special day :

01. Find an event near you – there are events being held in California – Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego – their event is being held online this year via Zoom.

02. Hold a pet food donation event

03. Educate children about rescue and not buying from a breeder. (I as a teacher have taught all my pupils about rescue and taken some to rescue events)

04. And for me the most important one is to share all over social media to bring awareness to everyone.

05. Be the voice for the orphaned pets

So Layla is calling on everyone to adopt a pet, give them a home, so that they will be one of the lucky ones sleeping in a bed tonight and not in cold shelter with all the noise and stress around them.

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.

So let us shine the light on all the orphan pets in all the shelters and rescues all over the world and help them find a home.

Thank you with a woof and love from
Layla

 

Are you prepared ?

TGIF!!! Phew weekend has arrived and thank goodness the weather here is cooling down, San Francisco has had such a heatwave I thought we would melt, global warming is slowly starting to happen here and all over the world. Are we all prepared for these changes?

September is National Disaster Preparedness Month and what else will happen this month? Are we really prepared in our house for one? What do we really need? It worries me as I wonder what if I am not home when an earthquake happens. Will Layla be, ok? Do any of you think of this?

I recheck once a month our emergency bag but I then say will I have time to pick it up and run when an earthquake hits, is too heavy, have I overpacked, it might sound crazy but would rather be safe than sorry.

So this is emergency bag :

Water / flashlight / batteries / radio / change of clothing / food for Layla and me / her supplements and medications / poop bags / dog treats / blanket / toy for her / first aid kit / copies of documents / cash / usb drives of all my computer files / my beach canopy that I could use as a tent and other sentimental items of mine.  It sounds a lot, but I still wonder if it is enough. I also have a collapsible pet carrier to put her in so she will feel safe plus her backpack to carry her out of the house (although with her age she is not comfortable in it) but it is safe, and she does not walk on the sidewalks in case there is debris and could get hurt.

I also say that I can live off bread and water, but her food is extremely important.

So, when all these disasters hit us, and however much we are prepared we all lose material items which for me is as I say, something that can be replaced, but the lives of the animals and birds cannot so it is so important to do as much as possible to protect them.

On this note I am asking everyone to be safe and check your bags.

Most important our pets are family and should not be left behind to fend for themselves as you are serving them a death sentence.

Have a great safe week,

With a woof and love from Layla

 

 

 

 

September is National Responsible Dog Ownership Month

TGIF !!!!!

Friday has arrived, it is a long weekend for relaxing and spending quality time with Layla and I am sure you will all be spending time with your families, Enjoy !!!!! Stay cool and make sure you all stay hydrated.

September is National Responsible Dog Owners Month,  which is a really important reminder for all of us who are dog parents.

The reason for this is to help us raise healthy happy dogs and it is a good reminder for all of us.

Some of the basics of responsible dog ownership include:

  1. Regular Vet Exams : Keeping them up to date on all their vaccinations
  2. Keeping them fit and not over weight. Feed them a healthy diet only and if possible no kibbles.
  3. Putting dog care in our monthly budget
  4. Making sure their microchip and tags are all up to date
  5. Keep your pets inside so that they do not suffer in summer or winter
  6. Spay or neuter your dogs as there are so many in shelters looking for homes.
  7. Be prepared for Natural Disasters
  8. Lots of love and playtime
  9. Spoil them rotten.

It is so easy to do the above as they are our fur kids and depend on us to live a healthy happy life.

Shnoozing in the park

What do you do to keep your dog happy?

Have a safe weekend

With a woof and love from Layla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2022 Pet Holidays

 

September has arrived, Fall is around the corner and we must not forget the Pet Holidays of this month.

Days 

  • Sept. 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
  • Sept. 5: Canine Enrichment Day.(UK)
  • Sept. 8: National Dog Walking Appreciation Day
  • Sept. 9: Happy Dog Day.(UK)
  • Sept. 11: National Pet Memorial Day
  • Sept. 11: National Hug your Dog Day

Sept. 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day

  • Sept. 13: Scooby Doo Day
  • Sept. 17: Puppy Mill Awareness Day
  • Sept. 17: Responsible Dog Ownership Day
  • Sept. 18: Love Your Dog Groomer Day. (UK)
  • Sept. 22: Remember Me Thursday Day
  • Sept. 23: Dogs in Politics Day
  • Sept. 23: Adopted Dog Day.
  • Sept. 28: World Rabies Day
  • Sept. 30: National Puppy Mill Survivor Day.

Week

  • Sept. 18-24: National Dog Week
  • Sept. 18-24: National Deaf Dog Awareness Week
  • Sept. 19-25: Adopt A Less Adoptable Dog Week

Month 

  • Animal Pain Awareness Month
  • Happy Cat Month
  • National Disaster Preparedness Month
  • National Pet Insurance Month
  • National Service Dog Month
  • National Responsible Dog Ownership Month
  • World Animal Remembrance Month

September is also the Jewish New Year so we want to wish all our Jewish Friends a Happy New Year, Shana Tova

With Love from Layla