Layla’s Wish for Christmas

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Hi everyone, are you getting ready for Christmas ?  What is on your wish list.

Mom and I discussed Christmas, the gifts people give and so much more but this year because of all the pets being dumped in shelters, abandoned on streets, I decided that my wish for Christmas would not be gifts but something more important. So I wrote a letter to Santa saying:#dont

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, with lots of laughter, food and family but am begging not for treats but that everyone thinks of all the poor homeless and shelter pets that are needing a home.

Please remember to keep us safe from all the not good stuff for pets :

With woof and love from

Layla

 

National Mutt Day should be Every Day

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TGIF!!!!!

I cannot believe we are already in December; this year has gone too fast I think but praying 2022 will be a good year for all.

Today is National Mutt Day – This special day is celebrated twice a year, Dec. 2, and July 31. The days help to raise awareness of the plight of mixed-breed dogs in shelters. There are millions of smart and healthy mutts in shelters just waiting for someone to give them a forever home.

There are so many sitting in shelters waiting for homes it is heart breaking and instead of buying from a breeder go down to the shelter and rescue one, mutts are the best, the love unconditionally and I personally think they are grateful daily for having that chance of a home.

Layla is a rescued mutt, and I would not change it for anything in this world and will always rescue.

As most of you know the past week has been Hanukkah, the festival of lights, for 8 days we light candles, eat latkes and donuts and oily food to remember the miracle of them thinking the oil would last for one day but it lasted for 8 days.  So as we celebrate that miracle, I each night when lighting the Hanukkiah I pray for a miracle for all the homeless dogs and cats sitting in shelters waiting to be rescued and adopted.

This is the recipe I make for Layla on Hanukkah but it can be made all year round also

Happy Hanukkah Everyone – May the miracle of lights turn into a miracle with finding homes for all the homeless pets

They do not have a voice, so we need to speak out for them to save their lives.

So, on this note lets all pray that shelters will empty and 2022 will be a better year for all those mutts in shelters

Have a wonderful week all, be safe and hug your furry babies

With love from

Layla

December 2021 Pet Holidays

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December has arrived, Christmas around the corner, below please find the December 2021 Pet Holidays for 2021.

Month :

  • National Cat Lovers’ Month

 

Days:

  • 2: National Mutt Day (again)
  • 5: International Volunteer Day
  • 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
  • Dec 10: International Animal Rights Day
  • 13: National Horse Day
  • 15: National Cat Herder’s Day
  • 15: Monkey Day
  • 17: Underdog Day
  • 24: Christmas Eve
  • 25: Christmas
  • 26: Kwanzaa Begins
  • 31: New Year’s Eve

We want to wish everyone a Happy Holidays, be safe and have lots of family fun,

Woof with love from Layla

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving is around the corner

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The weekend has arrived, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah around the corner plus with no rain in the forecast we are trying to get adventures in before the rain arrives.

So last week we went to the Embarcadero to look at the Bay, breathe some sea air and just be outdoors. It was chilly but sunny and a perfect day to be outdoors.

Madam was happy running around, watching the seagulls and Pidgeon’s and of course eating some treats because how could I let her starve. I had taken a coffee with me and it was just perfect, relaxing and just what the Doctor ordered.

Sitting on my Aunts lap

https://youtu.be/07zQskd54ZE

As we all know, Thanksgiving is around the corner, shops are full, everyone stocking up with food, sales are starting and the city is slowly going crazy. I have no plans for Thanksgiving this year, lying low which I love to do and just relax. I will make Madam some turkey for definite with veggies, so she does not feel left out.

Thanksgiving treats for Layla

Thanksgiving pet safety :
  1. Keep the food on the table 
  2. No pie or other desserts for your dog
  3. Yeast dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.
  4. Put the trash away so your dogs cannot find it
  5. Be careful with decorative plants.
  6. Quick action can save lives.

So on this note Layla and I want to thank everyone for helping her stay healthy, Dr Harvey’s, Vetercyn, Her vet Dr Gervais, Vet Vision Clinic and so many more who have spent the last year with us, BUT Layla would like to say a special thank you to everyone reading our blog, following us on social media.

BUT before we forget please please if you are shopping on Black Friday put on your list food, treats or toys for the pets that are in the shelters so that they can be spoiled also, thank you

Have a fun family Thanksgiving with lots of laughter,

With love from Layla

 

 

 

 

Layla went on an adventure

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TGIF !!!!!!!

Friday has arrived and they are expecting a sunny weekend phew as I would love to be out of house for a couple of hours with Madam.

I love adventures with Layla and every weekend I try to take her somewhere where she can run off leash and of course sniff new smells.

Last weekend we hopped on the Tram Line and went down to the Pier to see the sea lions and walk along the Pier and Bay. It was a beautiful day, just perfect and we had a wonderful time.

I let Layla run on leash but free from my hands and she was so happy to have that freedom, lots to sniff of course and she was fascinated with the Bay sticking her face through the wooden fence checking everything out. It was adorable to watch her and with her age she loves these outings.

Waiting for the tram in her backpack

 

 

 

 

Watching the bay

See video : https://youtu.be/1juNpuQfD7E

 

Layla was at the Vet Opthamologist recently where they found she is having really bad environmental allergies with her eyes and they have put her on a new eye drop. When I heard the price of the medication I nearly had a heart attack – 400 dollars for a bottle WOW. The vet told me to order them from Canada so I did research and bought 3 bottles for 130 including shipping. Big difference and they arrived yesterday so hopefully these will work. They are called Nevanac but I am calling them eye gold. I am praying they will help her eyes and get rid of the redness and itching.

Otherwise she is really healthy for her age phew.

So that is what is happening in the Layla Neighborhood, Bossy Barker orders me around, I jump to attention and we are taking each day as it comes.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,  be safe

With a woof and love from

Layla

 

 

Remembering Baby

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November is here

 

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.

 

On Sunday we went to a Halloween Party in the Dog Park, it was fun seeing everyone, especially those I have not seen for so long, catching up and eating delicious food.

 

I decided not to stress Layla out with a costume this year but instead put on her, her tie dyed jacket made by a friend of mine and she went as a San Francisco dog from the 60’s. There were some cute costumes and it was a lot of fun, although Layla does not do well at events anymore so she was ready to go home within a few minutes.

Herkules the Mayor of the Park and Layla

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, see the photo below. It was the last event we did together as 5 days later she passed away from IMHA.

I found this costume at GoodWill and did not realize what it was till I got home and laughed so much

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.

 

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 Layla

 

 

 

 

 

November 2021 Pet Holidays and Observances

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Layla wearing a raincoat made from a broken umbrella

Month

  • Adopt a Senior Pet Month.
  • National Senior Pet Month.
  • Pet Cancer Awareness Month.
  • Pet Diabetes Month

Week 

  • 1-7: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.
  • 14-20 Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week.

Days

  • 1:National Cook for Your Pets Day.
  • 1:  International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day.
  • 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day.
  • 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day.
  • 17: National Black Cat Day. Also celebrated on October 27.
  • 17: National Take a Hike Day.
  • 23: Wolfenoot – This started in New Zealand, celebrates the Spirit of the Wolf and  helping where we can, and making the world a better, kinder place.”
  • 24: Border Collie Day.
  • 25. Thanksgiving Day

 

 

 

 

 

600 Million Dogs

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TGIF ! Happy Halloween everyone, please keep your pets safe indoors and of course away from the treats, especially your black cats.

This week we going to share with you about my new job. It is my dream job as I am working for an organization that is doing what I believe in, animal rights, spay and neutering your pets to stop the over population in shelters.

Thank you Catherine Hill for helping me put the wording together.

Who is the founder of the 501c3 nonprofit 600 Million Stray Dogs Need You?

600 Million Dogs founder Alex Pacheco has received many awards such as induction into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame, The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award, Sea Shepherd Crew Member of the Year; he co-founded PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and served as Board Chairman for 20 years.

Alex Pacheco

What motivated him to start 600 Million Dogs? In his words:

One of the experiences that motivated me was meeting Baby Bear — a pup I found on death row, while I was volunteering at a dog pound in Mexico. While in Mexico, I desperately wanted to help the swarms of starving strays who were everywhere.

The first morning, I found Baby Bear, alone and cowering in the back of a filthy cage. Shaking uncontrollably. His body covered with the dreaded skin disease mange. Half starved.

He was gentle and weak, as I lifted him … yet somehow, strong in spirit. He was so pitiful, I spent the entire day holding him, trying to ease his fear and loneliness — even though 50 other innocent dogs and cats were also going to die that same day. 50 whose suffering I would never get to ease.

Later in the day, Baby Bear was licking my face, but he suddenly stopped when he felt the sting of the needle going into his vein. The lethal “sky-blue sodium pent” drug was on its way to his heart, to end his life.

He looked me right in the eye, and his face spoke to me, asking, “Why? Why are you doing this to me? I thought you were my friend.”

Then his face fell heavy into my hand, and his soul was gone. I tried to man-up, but I couldn’t. Instead, I broke down and began to cry, while trying to hide it from the other workers.

As I slowly regained my composure, it sunk in — his suffering was even more heartbreaking simply because it was 100% preventable.

In anger I swore that no matter what it took, I was going to find a way to end this suffering.

What is the mission of 600 Million Dogs?

To permanently end the #1 cause of suffering for dogs and cats globally: overpopulation.

We are on track to accomplish this by developing special food that can spay or neuter dogs or cats without surgery. Super birth control food that can end the overpopulation problem without killing.

Our mission is to also save human lives by ending the world’s #1 cause of human deaths from rabies.  Our mission also includes ending the #1 financial burden of humane societies worldwide. No animals are harmed in our work, and all animals are adopted into caring homes.

More about 600 Million Dogs:

Imagine being able to Spay or Neuter Every Stray Dog in the World … by feeding them a cookie. We are developing super birth control cookies to permanently end the global #1 cause of suffering for dogs: overpopulation. The fastest way to stop the cruelty and end the suffering of stray dogs is to develop a lifetime-lasting, one-dose birth-control cookie that will spay or neuter without surgery. Our immediate goal is to bring our work and clinical trials into the U.S. to speed up our progress.

Unimaginable cruelty is inflicted upon strays in up to 60 nations with virtually no laws against cruelty. They are brutally beaten to death, thrown into garbage trucks to be crushed to death, poisoned, shot, electrocuted, fed rotten meat with broken glass in it (to make them bleed to death), etc. We must find the fastest way to end this: we must finish development of permanent Super Birth Control Cookies.

Our studies use birth control formulas that already exist; we are applying advanced technology to modify and super-charge them and to convert them into permanent-lasting birth control. We produce infertility by safely changing the gonads and causing early menopause. No animals are harmed. Our Pilot Pups are adopted into forever homes. Thus far there are no negative side effects. Help us keep the cookies non-profit and free to the poor of the world.

We believe this single project can prevent more animal suffering than any other single animal project in history. Up to 10 billion strays will be born in the next 10 years worldwide. The majority will suffer and die painful deaths. A global solution is needed. It is within reach. A Spay and Neuter Cookie could prevent the suffering of 10 billion strays every 10 years. We must do the same for cats, horses, etc. The exciting news: the science and technology already exist. Help is needed. Join us!

Please visit :  https://www.600milliondogs.org/

So now you all know what I am up to lately with Layla of course stepping up to the plate and speaking out also,

Have a safe Happy Halloween Everyone

With love as always from Layla

 

 

 

 

 

I have been Itchy

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!! We cannot believe we are in the middle of October and the year is nearly over. It has gone fast.

The past two weeks have been hell in our house as Layla got a flea bite, am not sure where but she started scratching like crazy, had hot spots and there was no sleep in this house.

There are no emergency vets in San Francisco anymore so it was a nightmare trying to ease everything with no vet help although I knew we had an appointment on the 7th which had taken me two months to get. There is also a shortage of vets in the city so many clinics are not taking on new clients. My favorite vet from my clinic has left but the vet I got to see is amazing also.

This is a city that has more dogs than kids and this is the situation we are dealing with.

So this is what I did, thank goodness I had some Apoquel which I started giving her and then started researching on line.

Layla takes an amazing senior supplement from a company called Vetericyn called ALL-IN Dog Supplement for seniors which my vet approved so I went onto their website to see what else they had. Voilia I found hot spot treatment and shampoo so I went shopping.

The products I bought were :

Vetericyn FoamCare® Medicated Pet Shampoo – this shampoo helped so much with her itching it was like magic after I bathed her.

https://vetericyn.com/

Vetericyn Plus® Antimicrobial Hot Spot Spray – easy to spray on and works wonders.

https://vetericyn.com/

Vetericyn Plus® Hot Spot Antimicrobial Hydrogel – This I put on after the Hot Spot Spray and it is amazing.

https://vetericyn.com/

I went to the vet on the 7th I took a shopping bag with me with everything to show her and she was really impressed. Her overall health thank goodness is good, her weight is good, her diet is good and my vet was really impressed that I am feeding her the Dr Harveys Allergy food (Turkey) mixed in with my home cooked food, so I was one happy Mom.

She did find that Layla had a skin infection from the fleas so put her on an antibiotic which is working wonders. I hate medicines but I also realized we needed to get rid of this infection as soon as possible.

Today, one week since we were at the vet Madam is eating like a pig, which is fantastic as her immune system is being replenished, she is back to being happy Layla and the itchies have nearly all gone. The only problem I have is getting her to take the medicine, she is a smart girl and knows I hide them in chicken so she will not eat the chicken when I give it to her LOL plus she hides in her box so I cannot get to her, so I have started blocking the box in the evenings especially till she gets her pill.

Never a dull moment here but I highly recommend their products which they have for other animals also, especially those that are outdoors a lot as they are just fantastic.

Vetericyn has sponsored me for this review by sending me a care package of their products for Layla for emergencies.

Their website is:

https://vetericyn.com/

For my readers they are offering a coupon of 10% off, valid till 12/31/21 Good for 2 times per customer – LAYLASWOOF

Have a safe weekend everyone,

with a woof and love from Layla

Mom punished me also with a groom and then a bath a week later with the anti itch shampoo, she deserves the stinky eye

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ran, 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.

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

Layla