Month: October 2025

Halloween is here

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TGIF!

October is coming to an end and although it means that Domestic Violence Awareness Month might be ending but it does not mean we must forget about Domestic Violence that happens daily all over the world and we must not forget the abuse the poor animals go through because of it. We must keep standing up for them and be their voices.

With our reminder of this awful daily occurrence below is a list those in this situation should try to remember to do, keeping a journal and having it all written down will make life easier when one runs as they will have proof. It is not easy to do but the more information you have the better.

We pray you will be safe and get away safely from the abuse.

Halloween is a fun holiday for kids but can be really frightening for pets and therefore we should take all the precautions to keep them safe.

Layla did not like to get dressed up as she is uncomfortable in a costume and her comfort comes first in my eyes although in the past LOL I did try so am sharing with you some of her pictures , Baby in her famous costume and Nili I have not yet decided what to do so am sharing a photo of her wearing a sweatshirt the other day her first outing with clothing.

This photo I love so much of Layla

Below is a list of how to keep your pets safe during Halloween as they are part of our family and need to be.

 

So as this is the last blog for October and another month is beginning next week we would like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween, do not OD on candies LOL and of course please keep your pets safe.

With lots of love from Nili

 

 

Pets in Shelters

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TGIF!! Friday and the weekend has arrived, phew.

 

We discussed October being Domestic Violence Awareness month in my last week blog and  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 survivors to have their pet with them in the shelter, so I am going to share my story here.

Listening to Mom tell her story as I am a doggy shelter survivor, Nili

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 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

  1. Allergies from pets
  2. 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.
  3. Shelters have curfews so if your pet needs to go potty at night you cannot take him/her out.
  4. Not all shelters can 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 there are shelters that are slowly allowing pets of have solutions for your pet who will be fostered, this actually became an important issue during COVID which opened the doors to some solutions.

I would love to hear your input on this subject and what is happening in your area ?

Have a safe weekend, Nili

 

 

 

 

 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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Good Morning,

October has arrived and with it the Month of Domestic Violence Awareness. This is a topic that is very close to my heart as I am a proud survivor.

 

I am one of the lucky ones that managed to get away with my little dog, hid at a friend and then moved to a new city where we were both helped.  If I had left her I know my ex would have carried on abusing her so the minute I could run, we ran.

Baby since has passed away, but she was my inspiration, my hero, my trooper and my lifeline through those dark days, and when she passed it was when I was finally in my own home so she knew I was safe, and could then open my doors to a new pup, and Layla arrived to live with me.  Layla wears a tag that says: Shelter Survivor which speaks for both of us. Layla as you know has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge so Nili wears the Shelter Survivor Tag as it speaks for me and for her as she was rescued from a shelter.

Today I am not going to talk about me, but “The Power and Control Wheel” of Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence. This gives us a better understanding as to what happens behind closed doors, and why so many victims stay in the relationships.

  1. Threats – The abuser will threaten to kill or abuse the pet during the relationship or if left behind. (I stayed in mine as to protect Baby.)
  2. Isolation – Refusing vet care for the pet. Isolating the victim that the pet also suffers as it is not socialized with other dogs. It is as if you are living in a cage.
  3. Emotional Abuse – Giving away or killing the pet to take away her source of unconditional love.
  4. Economical Abuse – Refusing to permit her to buy pet food or vet care
  5. Legal Abuse – Custody battles over pets. This is heart breaking as they file charges against the victim claiming theft if she leaves with the pet.
  6. Intimidation – Harming or killing the pet and then saying to the victim “Next time it will be you…..” They do this to family and friends who assist with the victim and pets getting away.
  7. Denying and blaming – Blaming the victim or the pet when something happens.

An abuser will want to control everything, and if he or she does not have that, we, the humans, kids or pets become the victims of his or her anger, although he/she will never admit it.

So when people reach out and talk about wanting to leave a Domestic Violence relationship but cannot leave their pets, these are some of the reasons and I from experience would have rather carried on suffering the abuse to make sure Baby was safe, than left her in a house where she would suffer.

Pets do not understand abuse the way we do and they should not have to suffer at the hands of an abuser of any kind as they give us the unconditional love and loyalty that unfortunately humans do not do.

October is also the National Month of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month so reach out to a Shelter and give a dog a new home, as I always say about Layla – from pound to princess.

Be safe, have a wonderful week, with a woof of love from

Nili

 

October Pet Holidays and Observances

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Month

 

      Adopt A Dog Month

      Adopt a Shelter Dog Month 

           Black Cat Awareness Month.

National Animal Safety and Protection Month.

National Pet CBD Month.

National Pet Obesity Awareness Month.

National Pet Wellness Month.

National Pit Bull Awareness Month.

Small Dog Awareness Month.

World Animal Month.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 

 

Week

 

Oct. 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week

Oct. 5-11: Animal Welfare Week.

Oct. 12-18: National Veterinary Technician Week.

Third week of October: National Wolf Awareness Week

 

One-Day

  • 1:  National Fire Pup Day
  • 1: National Black Dog Day
  • 2: Canine Companion Week
  • 4: World Animal Day
  • 4: Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
  • 4: Kindness to Animals Day.
  • 8: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
  • 9:  Catober Shelter Cat Birthdays for those that we do not know their real birthday
  • 10: World Animal Road Accident Awareness Day.
  • 10: Vet Nurse Day. 
  • 11: National Spoodle Day.
  • 16: Global Cat Day.
  • 18: National Fetch Day.
  • 21: National Pets for Veterans Day.
  • 22: National Make Dog’s Day.
  • 26: National Livestock Guardian Dog Appreciation and Awareness Day.
  • 27: National Black Cat Dayin the UK.
  • 28: Plush Animal Lovers Day. This day is dedicated to unstuffing toys
  • 29: National Cat Day.
  • 30: National Treat Your Pet Day.
  • 31: Halloween

 Have a wonderful October Everyone with a woof from Nili