Tag Archives: #dog

Hanukkah has arrived

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Hi Friends, we hope you staying warm as it has been crazy cold here brr, the coldest in over 100  years. Our week has been crazy this week  so this weekend Mom has decided we are having a slow weekend but might do the Santacon.

Wearing my new jacket before going out last night, it was cold brr, Nili

On Sunday Chanukkah starts, it is celebrated for eight days where we light a candle every night. Do you know the story of Chanukkah? I am sharing it for those that do not know it so you will understand why it is celebrated for eight days and what we eat.

Hanukkah is celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt against Greek-Syrian rule, focusing on the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil burning for eight days, which symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, religious freedom, and Jewish perseverance. It’s known as the Festival of Lights, marked by lighting a Hanukkiah for eight days, eating oily foods like latkes, sufganiot (jelly doughnuts) playing the dreidel  (spinning top) and giving gifts. Children get Hanukkah Geld which is chocolate coins.

Below is a recipe for latkes for dogs so that they can share in the festivity also plus it is a healthy treat and Layla loved them and am going to make them for Nili this weekend so she can enjoy them also.

Safety tips for Hanukkah

I went to a Chanukkah party last weekend, got from friends a Ross Gift card, so on Monday I went shopping for myself and came home LOL with new clothes for Nili so she has enough now for the cold winter and Mom got nothing. She also got a bag of treats, a pink squeaky lambchop toy so she is all set now.

My new clothes and toy, I am a lucky girl, Nili

Happy Chanukkah to all our friends that celebrate, enjoy the holiday and see you next week on the blog

With a woof and love from Nili and Mom

I am wearing my bandana which says Happy Hanukkah, 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

Vet Experience

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TGIF!  Weekend has arrived and they are expecting a heat wave here in San Francisco so we are going to be indoors quite a bit as to not overheat. We have had a cold summer with drizzles and suddenly it has decided to warm up and Mom is happy but I am not, too hot for me grrrr. Thank goodness I have my cooling vest which helps a lot.

As you all know two weeks ago Nili was sick and we went to the vet clinic that Mom has been going to for over 15 years. She always loved them but this time she got fed up. I am going to break down the story here which upsets me as it was one of the best clinics to go to but since it has become private, owned by the vets that work there, has all the modern day equipment,  open 24/7 so much has gone wrong also and we have decided to move to another place, smaller but friendlier.

These are the reasons / red flag that made me do it :

 

  1. When Nili was sick, I made an appointment with our regular vet who knows Mom but was not there so we saw a new vet. A young guy, and during the exam he had another vet there too so we are wondering if he was a student or not, I have no issues with that but feel vets should listen to the dog Mom not force things on her. While checking her he said she needed fluid shots, nausea shots plus dog diet food to help her lose weight. I was astonished that he was deciding all this without discussing with me. Nili had just finished a cup of water so she was not dehydrated, she had been eating so I knew she was not nauseas. Telling me to buy diet food is not an option as I do not believe in them plus in a nutshell he was telling me to have her get a flu shot. I was in shock over it all but kept quiet as I did not want stress at the clinic for the sake of Nili. He also mentioned probiotic dog food which although I hate kibbles decided to give her instead of medications plus so much more. He wanted me to buy the cans but I put my foot down and got the kibble which I must admit helped her. In a nutshell I came home with no answers to my questions but being sold as such things I did not need.
  2. The final straw with this clinic was on Monday I called them to make an appointment for her Leptospirosis vaccine, I told them on the phone that I wanted a vet tech to do it as it is a lot cheaper and they told me they would call with time and date. By 6 that evening I had not heard from them so I called them back, the customer service told me the following : There is no vet tech appointments, He then had the audacity to tell me that for an extra $55 I could have it done with a vet and as I have credit there to cover it there would be no problem. That is when I got really angry and told him he has no right to tell me what to do with my credit, so his reply was well he would give me other places to go. I told him about an article I had read about vets thinking more of money than pets and felt that is what is happening at his clinic, he was not happy that I said that, I also told him I blogged and would talk about it here today, and then put the phone down.
  3. On Wednesday they called me again, LOL, telling me that they had place for a vet tech at the price they had quoted me $98 but I told them thanks as I had made an appointment at another clinic. I know the reason she called me was the other clinic had called them for all Nili’s files so that they would have everything before I went today.

This morning, Nili and I went to get her shot, what a difference, what a great family vet clinic, everyone was smiling, welcoming and the vet was fantastic. Did not push anything on me,  discussed chunky monkey’s weight, what to do and in a nutshell I have found the place to go now. Actually, all my friends rave about this clinic and they are so right. I always say a first impression says it all.

Waiting for the bus to go to the ver, Nili

Mom can we go home please, it is nice and cool here but I do not like vets, Nili

One of the many reasons I am sharing this with everyone is I want pet parents to know there are always other options, and it is sad that some clinics are so money motivated, causing many pet parents to avoid them plus dumping their pets as they cannot afford the vet expenses. I am not wealthy, on a fixed income, am blessed to have certain coverage for Nili but I still must watch what I am spending as to not go over my annual budget for vets where possible and if a clinic is checking my finances as such I am not interested in working with them. Their loss not mine and Nili and my gain having found a fantastic new one.

As always Nili keeps me amused so am going to share our video of the week, as she is such a clown.

Please be safe and have a wonderful weekend, with lots of  memories,

Love Nili  aka chunky monkey and Mom

 

 

 

What a week

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Good morning, friends, we hope you have had a good week as mine has been a busy crazy one and phew thank goodness it is weekend time.

I have been very naughty eating the mud in the park which made me sick, Mom took the hood off my head as the dogs did not want to play with me when I wore it so I went crazy being hoodless and ate some mud, which is not good as it is full of fish fertilizer and it upset my tummy big time, yes I paid the price of being naughty and Mom did not sleep for at least 4 nights. She was giving me probiotics, bland food, no treats but nothing was working so on Thursday she took me to the vet for a check up as she felt she was losing. I was eating and drinking but nothing was staying in my tummy and as she said to the vet I suppose it is a good way for me to lose the weight that I have to lose BOL. The vet laughed with her and told her I had not lost anything.

Sitting on the windowsill at the vet clinic waiting for the vet, Nili

 

So after a thorough check up including tests which came back negative the vet sat down with Mom and suggested a vet kibble, now you all know how anti kibble Mom is but this time can you believe it she agreed and am munching on them plus she is giving them to me as treats but not getting more than the vet told Mom to feed me, she is on a strict regime with me.  The vet and Mom think I am allergic to rice and chicken and that is why my tummy was not settling so we are taking each day as it comes but I must admit today for the first time in a week I am feeling a lot better.

 

Today, Friday was one year since I arrived home from my foster family, but we could not celebrate cos of my tummy issues and Mom explained to me that is the price I am paying for eating the mud, she has promised me a cookie when I am healthy.

My first photo on Nili in the house sitting on a pee pad chewing a treat

 

So this week has been a crazy week with my upset tummy and we have not done much, we are recharging our batteries this weekend as it is miserable outside and drizzling, next week we will take each day as it comes slowly cos Mom says she is getting old BOL.

My first time in the indoor crate and it is cozy, Nili

 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe and stay cool,

 

With hugs and love from Nili

 

One Year today

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TGIF!! We are celebrating today Nili’s Gotcha Day, it is one year since I rescued her from LA Animal Care and Control. How time has gone so quickly and I am sure Layla is smiling over the Rainbow Bridge or giggling as she watches Nili get up to mischief.

I remember the day I saw her online on Facebook, her name there was Gladys and all I could picture was me standing in a dog park calling Gladys, I am sure half the park would have laughed at me but as per my tradition I gave her a Hebrew Name : Nili – which means forever Israel. I love the name because it is short and easy to pronounce.

The face I saw in the cage and knew she was mine

 

I have been reading Nili’s intake papers from Animal Control as I was curious to know more about her and this is what I found, her intake was on 6 July 2024, and she was a stray/OTC.  What I have learned about OTC for stray pets is that it was brought to the Shelter by a person who found her and I would love to thank that person for saving her from the streets. She was not microchipped so they could not find her family but is microchipped now so she is safe. She was a perfect weight when they took her in, had no wounds but a scab on her head which has since gone.  They also wrote that she was born in 2021 so she is 4 years old today.

I think Nili is a Fireworks runner because of the date of her intake but am not sure, the most important is that she will never be alone on the streets again.

One of my favorite photos of her taken by Jonathan of her looking at Animal Control from the car saying bye bye I am on my way home

Nili went from LA to Palm Springs where she stayed with some friends of mine till we could find a lift to bring her to SF, where she is now a San Francisco dog living the life of a princess.

Guarding the oven waiting for her salmon treats

Since her arrival she has grown so much, her confidence is amazing, she is fearless in many ways playing with big and small dogs in the park, very food motivated which is one of my biggest problems as she eats anything and everything off the streets but is learning slowly not to do it. She got up to mischief the other day in the park, some guy left a pizza in an open backpack on the ground and guess who found it and stole a piece, LOL, she came running to me with it in her mouth and hid under the bench to gobble it up, I laughed but went over to the guy and suggested he close his backpack and put it on the bench so no other dog would get some.

https://youtube.com/shorts/fN1fGTBdl7w?si=Je7MrM-KIbmD2MR2 

She loves howling when sirens go off, she has a partner in crime with this and we just laugh, see the video below.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-0-TboXgbek?si=Vpef9sie99HpQi7v

So, to my darling devil Nili, Mom loves you, I count my blessings daily that you are part of my life and keeping me on my toes all the time with your antics but if you are happy I am happy and life is too short to make a big deal over things.

I love when she sleeps on her back under her blanket, the Diva

Happy Gotcha Day !!!!!!

Lots of love Mom and Angel Layla

 

 

A week in the life of Nili

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Woof hello my friends,

Friday has arrived. Mom says it is Friday the 13th so she is lying low BOL as she is superstitious and does not want to take chances but has promised me park time phew or I will drive her crazy BOL.

The past week has been cold, windy and really gloomy, the sun poking it face in here and there but not enough for long park time so I told Mom we should share with yu my fun times in the park so you can see how  much fun I have with my friends while our parents freeze and yell at us not to eat the mud, it is so much fun seeing them freeze and yell while we play.

Waiting for my friends to arrive, Nili

Some of the videos where you can see she is fearless when it comes to size of dogs LOL.

https://youtube.com/shorts/bgUoAlKqHbc?si=x2wTUhU6ik7X3lbZ

https://youtube.com/shorts/2_-cNfZufhc?si=ea42nKKNG7XVaOl3

https://youtube.com/shorts/vyj2fp9mQZU?si=UJYSdasJI1r5da16

My diet is going well, and I have lost weight, thanks to the good food from Mom and the exercise I am getting so my summer figure is ready for my bikini BOL and Mom says I am slim and sexy now so all the male dogs will want to play with me.  Thank you to Yumwoof for the good healthy food, which has helped a lot plus the Real Mushrooms mobility chews for keeping my joints in shape. With 4th Of July around the corner it is worth stocking up on their Relaxing Chews also which help me stay cal when I get scared, helped my Angel Sister Layla also, so they are a must have for emergencies in your house. (They are for cats and dogs)

YumWoof  : You have 5% off if you enter the coupon code YUMNILI –   https://yumwoof.com/?ref=nbmzrsze  

Real Mushrooms:  You have a 10% off  if you enter the coupon code LaylasWoof  –  https://shop.realmushrooms.com/?ref=488

Sleeping after dinner and the park

Don’t forget if you use the coupons Mom gets paid a small amount which will help her buy me more treats as that is my pocket money.

Have a safe wonderful weekend, take lots of photos for memories,

With a woof and Love from

Nili

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping your young dog healthy (my recipes)

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TGIF ! Friday has arrived, it is hot outside and today we going to discuss what I am doing to keep Nili healthy from a young age so as she grows older she stays healthy and hopefully slim as well as I am still struggling with her weight.

I might be chunky but my bandanna fits me, Happy Pride Everyone, Nili

 

As most of you know I do not believe in kibbles but with the rising prices of produce I unfortunately am feeding her once a day a 1/3 of a cup of kibble but the rest of the day she gets home cooked food and treats, plus of course supplements.

 

So, I decided to share her what she is eating, my food/treat recipes to help you find solutions and to avoid mass produced food and treats where possible. It is working out to be cheaper this way and I am blessed she is a small dog, so it is easier, plus I cook in bulk and freeze in portions.

 

I am an affiliate for some of these products so if you decide to try them we would appreciate you using our coupons which would help pay my bills.

 

Dog Food – Ground Beef or Ground Turkey

1 lb of the meat (whichever you decide, and ground chicken can be used also

1 cup of Oat flour

2 Eggs

1 cup of YumWoof Dogfood Perfect Dog Food Mix (this has all the nutrients needed to balance the food)

I mix all together, heat the oven to 350 Degrees, lay it flat on parchment paper on a cookie baking pan, bake it till ready. Switch off oven and let it cool down, I then cut and put in ziplock bags and store part in the fridge and part in the freezer.

You can find the YumWoof Perfect Dog Food Holistic Mix on this link below and have 5% off with the coupon YUMNILI.

https://yumwoof.com/?ref=nbmzrsze

 

Salmon Treats

These are soft treats as I use them to stuff her Yomp Ball or Kong and she loves them plus it keeps her busy.

  • 71/2 ounce can of salmon
  • Egg

½ cup of the YumWoof Perfect Dog Food Mix

1 cup of Oat flour to bind altogether

I mix all together, heat the oven to 350 Degrees, lay it flat on parchment paper on a cookie baking pan, bake it till ready. Switch off oven and let it cool down, I then cut and put in ziplock bags and store part in the fridge and part in the freezer.

You can find the YumWoof Perfect Dog Food Holistic Mix on this link below and have a 5% off with the coupon YUMNILI.

https://yumwoof.com/?ref=nbmzrsze

Supplements

Nili might be young but I firmly believe that the younger we start with supplements the healthier she will be when older, so this is what I give her:

Nili gets the Real Mushrooms Daily Dawg, Mobility, Relax,  and Immune Supplements. They are all healthy, no chemicals phew so I have no worries plus she gobbles the chews down with no problem and all Organic

You can find them all on this Link :  https://shop.realmushrooms.com/?ref=488

You have 10% off with the coupon LaylasWoof

 

And finally I must not forget to mention the Yomp Ball, which I love as it cleans her teeth while trying to get the treats out, it keeps her busy, which is good for the brain and she cleans it out each time. It is also hardy and does not break that easy and Nili being a hard chewer this has been a game changer.

You can find it on this link, Yomp Products

https://shopyomp.com/collections/all?platform=grin&link_id=1782778&token=JjkBK6hlw2hexUsKSfehrmSXqdKTOgBq&contact_id=da921bab-143b-4d60-9190-357718a3f8ff&attribution_window=60

You have 15% off with coupon LaylasWoof

 

 

I got punished with a bath yesterday, I hate water, Nili

I am always open to any other suggestions if you have, sharing is caring and that is how we all learn, have a wonderful weekend and be safe and cool,

With a woof and love from Nili

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer has arrived

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TGIF!! Hi friends, I hope you all are going to have a great weekend with adventures and fun like me, it is so important to make memories Mom says as when we become angels like my sisters Layla and Baby Mom will have lots of memories to make her smile.

Last weekend I went to the Shih Tzu meet up where there were lots of friends like me to play with. It was so much fun and what was the best was it was a different dog park which means lots of new smells to roll in which of course I did BOL so I came home stinky. I went on the bus there and Mom was so proud of me as I sat nicely and rode with no fear, Mom was also happy the bus was not full and she did not have to carry the backpack which I hate.

On the bus being a good girl, Nili

Hmmm something smells good should I roll, Nili

Meeting new friends, Nili

 

Did you know that riding the bus takes you to different places which means lots of new smells and dogs and that for me is a real adventure so I cannot wait to do more of them. I told Mom that summer has arrived, so the time has come to go out more and she agreed although she says it means her carrying lots of water for me, treats of course and BOL her coffee too, but it is worth it.

 

This weekend they are expecting HOT weather so we will be going out to the park, maybe a different one, and spending time outdoors so I can relax on the lawn in the sun, wearing my cooling vest of course, and just enjoy the outdoors. If I am good Mom says she will take the mask off too although I can drink through it but not eat oy vey.

 

Yesterday Mom went to have lunch with friends at one of the non-profits she belongs to, a part of this organization is PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) which I am a client of and they have a food bank for us brats. Mom found there for me 3 new toys, some yum healthy treats and some great dog food which she so approves of so am all set here. I had so much fun with the toys which are really loud squeakers and woke Mom up this morning playing with one, it was 5 am and she was not happy BOL but when I want to play I will play. (See the video below)

So in the Nili Neighborhood life is busy, I am keeping Mom on her toes big time and enjoying my life to its fullest. I am one lucky rescued dog, from the streets as a stray to a wonderful loving home with everything I want plus so much more.

Have a wonderful weekend with love and woofs from

Nili

 

I am very busy

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Good Morning Friends,

This is Nili sharing my life with you like my Angel Sister Layla used to do. I have had a busy time, an adventure and so much more.

We went to a Chihuahua meet up on Saturday to visit Layla in her resting place, as it was a year since she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. For me it was the first time there and it is a very beautiful and peaceful place although we did not see the ducks in the lake. It was hot day so I lay down on the rock next to the lake while Mom stood there looking out and thinking about Layla. Mom was depressed so I tried keeping her smiling by getting up to mischief which for me of course was fun. I was wearing my Foxtail Mask as there are a lot there, met other dogs wearing them also, and as Mom calls me a Bee Keeper as that is what I look like, BOL.

Resting on the rock next to the lake

Walking along among nature

 

Otherwise, I have been spending a lot of time playing in the park, playing with my friends, howling at the sirens when an ambulance or fire truck goes by, plus keeping Mom on her toes running after me when skateboarders go by, I hate those things and even chased one with another dog in the busy street escaping from the park. Mom was not impressed and kept me on lock down on my leash as punishment plus warned me next time I do it she will not let me off leash in the park anymore.

 

So that is what I have been up to plus of course looking out of the window watching the world go by especially the dogs going for walks when I bark at them if they bark which does not make Mom happy.

 

I am very busy all the time, in or out of the house, and life is good, I cannot complain.

 

Have a wonderful safe weekend friend, make lots of memories,

With a woof and love from

Nili

 

 

 

 

My first real adventure

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TGIF! Hi friends, I am sure my sister will be very proud of me as I went on my first real adventure last Sunday which included a train ride, car ride and then lots of fun in a new dog park.

On the first Sunday of every month the Chihuahuas of San Francisco meet up in Stern Grove Dog Park. Mom has been going on and off since my sister Baby was on earth and then with Layla and now me. I know I am not a chihuahua, but we are always welcome and it is loads of fun.

Mom wanted to take me on the train in the backpack but I hate that contraption so she took me on the train without it. The train was scary and I am sorry there no photos but Mom was busy keeping me calm, not getting off and making sure I lay down to keep my balance. I moaned here and there and I have decided that it is no fun but as Mom says I have to get used to it if I want to go places with her. Mom calls it tough love.

Uncle Mark picked us up from the train station and took us to the park, the car was ok but I do not like them that much. When we got to the park the fun started and so much fun and food for both humans and us dogs. I barked, sniffed all the dogs and then saw the big dogs so I started chasing them, don’t tell Mom but Huskies are my favorite dogs to play with woof woof. Mom then took me for a long walk or should I say I ran along the park to the Lake where my sister’s (Layla) ashes are to say hi to her and Mom wanted to sit in the peace and quiet there with her memories but I wandered around and saw the ducks, which I wanted to chase but they were in the water. It is so beautiful there and now I understand why Mom spread Layla’s ashes there.

Mom says I look so tiny compared to the trees BOL

The ducks and turtles on the rock

Watching the ducks

 

On the walk back to everyone I ran, stuck my head down gopher holes BOL, sniffed a lot and just ran around happy as Mom was relaxed and happy also.

Hmmm Lots to smell

 

We did not take the train home, Aunt Suzanne gave us a lift which was pawsome as we got home quicker so we could nap which Mom needed. Of course that evening we went to the dog park for an hour and then called it a day.

Waiting to go home

 

This Saturday night starts Passover, the Jewish Holiday so Mom tomorrow is going to finish getting the house ready, she has promised to take me to the dog park to play with my friends especially as the sun is shining, and otherwise nothing exciting is happening.

 

To all our friends I want to wish you Chag Sameach, Happy Passover and don’t eat too much oy vey.

 

Lots of love

Nili