My special memory in November

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TGIF ! Phew it is Friday and I am really looking forward to this weekend, to kick back and relax, I need it. Madam on the other hand is full of energy so am sure my relaxing will be walking her also plus weather permitting park time.

Mom got me some bones this week from the butcher to compensate for her crazy week and I got so excited as I love them and was barking to get one when I saw the bag. I was being a brat BOL.

 

Nili in the park today, she was so funny, she carried the last of her bone from the morning with her and lay in the sun chewing on it till she got up and then aww it got lost (I found it and put it in the garbage)

I decided not to stress Nili out with a costume this year but instead put a bowtie on her, which she tried getting off LOL it was really cute though.

Halloween always brings back bitter sweet memories for me as I remember the last time Baby dressed up for Halloween, our first one in San Francisco, she dressed as a fire hydrant which I had found at Goodwill and did not realize what it was till I got home. It was the last event we did together as 5 days later she passed away from IMHA.

Her famous costume

It came on suddenly, from one moment running in the park and within 24 hours she was listless lying on her bed refusing to eat or drink. I at the time lived around the corner from the vet so I ran her there and by the time they figured out after tests what was happening, there was very little we could do for her, she spent her last night at the clinic, went into a coma and I held her in my arms as I let her cross the Rainbow Bridge. It was one of the hardest days in my life and I miss her in so many ways to this day.

 

So today I decided that the blog would be a memorial for my little trooper, my rock, who went through so much with me but we survived it all and once we were free, in our own home she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I say to this day she left me safe and allowed me to rescue a new fur kid which I could open my heart and home to so along came Layla.

I do not have many photos of Baby as in those days there were no phones with cameras so am sharing one of my favorites of her

Everyone please hug your fur kids, make memories and remember we are all blessed to have them share our lives with them.

 

Have a safe wonderful weekend

With a woof and love from Nili

 

November 2025 Pet Holidays and Observances

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Hello November, you have arrived, one more month till the end of the year WOW woof. As always Mom does her list of Pet holidays and Awareness so she does not forget to celebrate on those days, so here we go.

Walking into the park on one of the last good days before winter

Month

  • Adopt A Senior Pet Month
  • National Pet Senior Month
  • NationalPet Cancer Awareness month
  • Pet Diabetes Month
  • NEAM – November Epilepsy Awareness Month

Week

  • 2-8: National Shelter Appreciation Week
  • 9-15: Human Animal Relationship Week

Playing with my boyfriend BoBo

One-Day

  • 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day.
  • 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
  • 7:  National Canine Lymphoma Day
  • 12:  National World Animal Enrichment Day
  • 15: National Shop with Your Dog Day.
  • 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day.
  • 17: National Black Cat Day.
  • 17:  National Take a Hike Day
  • 18: National Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Awareness, Research and Education Day.
  • 23: Wolfenoot. This annual holiday, started in New Zealand, celebrates the Spirit of the Wolf and “is about celebrating our pack – human and animal – helping where we can, and making the world a better, kinder place.”
  • 23: Thankful for my Dog day
  • 24: Thanksgiving
  • 30: World Pet Day.

Cuddling with Teddy on a cool day, Nili

Have a safe wonderful November, stay warm with lots of cuddles and hugs,

Nili

 

 

 

 

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 

 

 

Remember Me Thursday

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Hello to all my friends,

Saturday is a special day for Mom, it is her birthday as I am speaking for my sister Layla also wishing Mom a very happy Birthday, I am so blessed to have been adopted by her and spending her special day with her as my sister is over the Rainbow Bridge makes it even more special.

I have always rescued a pet and that is why today, 25th of September is Remember Me Thursday is so dear to me.

What is this day?

Remember Me Thursday is on the last Thursday of September every year when we speak out for the orphan pets in shelters wanting homes, they are innocent and, in many ways, we are to blame.

This is a day when we all get together campaigning for them as no innocent orphaned pet should have to die in a Shelter because someone dumped them there.

 

As Mike Arms, President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center says : We all come from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, but together, we can raise our voices and share one life-saving message and literally save millions of pets on this one day.”

You can read more about it on their website:

https://remembermethursday.org/about/

How can we shine a light on:

  1. Attend a Remember Me Thursday event near you. – You can find the events near you on Google or on the website above.
  1. Hold a pet food plus other pet related items fundraiser for your local shelter.
  1. Check to see if one of your shelters in your area are having an adoption event.
  1. Speak out, encourage friends and family to adopt and open their homes to an orphan pet.
  1. There are so many ways we can all help, so let’s take one step forward today to do it.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our friends a Happy, Sweet, Healthy New Year as our New Year 5786 started on the 22nd of September and our prayers are that the New Year will bring homes to all the orphaned pets.

With love and woofs from Nili

 

 

 

A day in the life of a rescued dog

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TGIF! Weekend has arrived and that means time to kick back, relax and forget all the errands and tasks for two days but spend quality time with Nili.  I need to start doing this the way I did with Layla as it is only fair to her. Yup am having a guilty conscience at this moment LOL. So I decided to share with you what a day with Nili is from early morning till we fall asleep at night and how she keeps me on my toes, plus her training that she is getting, which is helping a lot, thank you Dani.

Nili my growling alarm clock, wakes me up at about 5 every morning and does not keep quiet till I am awake and searching for clothes plus to get her out. This for her is the best time of the day as I am sleepy and she is a bundle of energy but off we go. I normally walk her for about 3 blocks for her to potty, sniff and of course burn off energy. Once done and I by then am desperate for coffee, we come home. I normally let her run into the building to burn off more energy, but she will make a bee line for the front door, sitting with a wagging tail waiting for me.

I then take her harness off and feed her breakfast which is air dried kibbles, carrots, blueberries, apples and some coconut oil. She gobbles her breakfast down and then starts squeaking toys or takes a nap. While I drink my coffee finally LOL, she will sit at my feet growling and barking for attention and of course treats but have cut back with them because of her diet.

Breakfast time

 

While I work during the morning she will let me know if she needs to go out which of course we do and then once she is settled, I get back to whatever I am doing. I normally give her YOMP toy or Kong with veggies in plus a bit of salmon which keeps her busy for about a half hour. Then it is nap time for her. If we have been out longer than planned and it is hot I will give her some chopped up watermelon, carrots, blueberries and apples instead.

Yomp time yummmm

In the late afternoons around 4 or so I take her to the park to run and play while I sit back and watch her with my  coffee. She loves that time especially if all the treat people are out although most know she cannot have treats because of her diet.  I am battling to keep her on her diet plus now buying everything for her to munch on that is not more than one calorie which is not easy. If it’s a biscuit she gets a quarter. She is not starving but I do not want her to be obese and the 2 lbs she needs to lose. When we get home from the park in the evenings she gets her dinner, which is the same as breakfast and then the kitchen is closed for her.

Nili and Monkey, I just love this photo

Our last walk at night is around 9 pm when we walk about 4 blocks, she has time to potty, smell and check the p-mails. The other night while walking we came across a racoon which was as big as her, she barked like crazy while he looked at her as if to say what do you want. She thought she was so smart walking home tail wagging it was quite funny.

 

I then brush her out, make sure there are no matts, clean her teeth and she gets half a greenie and it is bedtime. Nili sleeps in different places each night but am relieved she settles down and goes to sleep.

 

So that is what our days are like, of course we do different things on weekends, but she gets lots of exercise, playtime in the park, and most of all she is not starving and goes to bed with a full tummy.

 

Rescuing a stray, is not easy in some ways, but I would not change it for anything, she keeps me on my toes and for a senior that is enough LOL.

 

Have a wonderful weekend, be safe

With a woof and hugs from Nili

National Disaster Preparedness Month

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Woof hello Everyone,

This is Nili here telling Mom what to write as I am carrying on my sisters Laylas Legacy.

September is National Disaster Preparedness Month; it is very important as we must be prepared for any type of Disaster especially with climate change happening all over the world and not knowing what can happen.

Because we live in San Francisco where earthquakes happen, we have a bag ready for emergencies with everything Mom can think of so that we do not have that worry if we must run out of the house. Since I have come to live with Mom, and having been a stray in my past life, Mom has added to the list a carrier for me so she can put me in it and not have to worry about me trying to run away or hurt myself walking on the debris in the streets. The plus with this carrier is that expands so that I will have room to stretch out plus Mom can put a water bowl or food in it. She would keep it closed for carrying but once in a safe place she would expand the sides and front. It also has a strap in it so she can strap me in, and I cannot run. It would give her peace of mind.  Thank you Mr. Peanuts for this amazing carrier, you can see their fantastic products on their website :

The bag I have to carry Nili, it expands so when on the ground I can open it up on all sides so it is bigger and more comfortable

https://mrpeanutspetcarriers.com/?rfsn=7819747.8b3521&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=7819747.8b3521

I am practising to stay in the bag for an emergency, Nili, when I carry it the sides are folded in and it looks like a normal pet carrier

This is what is in our bag which Mom has and it on wheels so it is easier for her to pull as it is heavy: Boxes of Water, Food for both of us, Treats, Flashlights with batteries, sleeping bag for Mom, toys for me of course, Leash and harness with ID tags on,  and BOL some coffee for Mom, and most important a first aid kit for both of us. We also have a wallet with cash in just in case ATMs are not working so I feel Mom has covered everything.  If you think she has forgotten something, please tell Mom so she can add it to our bag.  I also keep my phone charged so that it will be charged if I must grab it and go out. Most important and was reminded all vet documents and of course your personal documents also (copies are also great)

Layla and I shopping for items for our disaster bag

 

We are discussing this subject this week as Mom says it is very important to be prepared for all so that we can be safe as we are family, the furkids of the family although I am the only kid here.

Have a wonderful weekend, be safe

With hugs and love from Nili

September 2025 Pet Holidays and Observances

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September has arrived and with it a new list of Pet Holidays and Observances

Enjoying the park while the sun is out, Nili

Month

  • Animal Pain Awareness Month.
  • Happy Cat Month.
  • National Disaster Preparedness Month.  It is so important to be ready for a disaster
  • National Pet Insurance Month.
  • NationalResponsible Dog Ownership Month.
  • National Service Dog Month.
  • Pet Memorial Month.
  • Pet Sitter Education Month.
  • World Animal Remembrance Month.

 

Week

 

  • 14-20:  Adopt a less adoptable pet week.
  • 21-27: National Deaf Dog Awareness Week.
  • 21-27: National Dog Week.

 

Days

 

  • 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day.
  • 5: Canine Enrichment Day.(UK)
  • 5: National White Cat Day.
  • 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
  • 9: Happy Dog Day.(UK)
  • 9: Tuxie Appreciation Day.
  • 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day.
  • 13: Scoobie Doo Day.
  • 14: National Hug Your Hound Day.
  • 14: National Pet Memorial Day.
  • 17: National Pet Carbon Monoxide Safety Day.
  • 18: Love Your Dog Groomer Day. (UK)
  • 19: National Meow Like a Pirate Day.
  • 19: National Cat DNA Day.
  • 20: Responsible Dog Ownership Day.
  • 20: Puppy Mill Awareness Day.
  • 21: National Cat and Dog Gut Health Awareness Day.
  • 22: National Walk ‘n’ Roll Dog Day. 
  • 23: Dogs in Politics Day. (also known as Checkers Day). 
  • 23: Adopted Dog Day.
  • 25: Remember Me Thursday
  • 27: World’s Largest Pet Walk.
  • 27: Old Yeller Day.
  • 28: World Rabies Day.
  • 30: Pet Tricks Day.(UK)
  • 30: National Puppy Mill Survivor Day.

 

Happy September Everyone and for our Jewish friends Happy New Year

 

With a woof and love from Nili