Tag Archives: #pets

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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October has arrived, an important month in my calendar as it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month when Layla wears her purple harness to make a statement.


I am a proud Domestic Violence Survivor and this month we speak out about abuse, violence against women and children and by doing so we pray that if one victim reads our blog and it helps her we have done a Mitzvah. (Mitzvah is Hebrew for a good deed).

Domestic Violence has been going on for years, through the centuries, but it is only in the last 40 years or so that organizations started forming to help victims, give them a safe place, assistance with starting their life over and so much more.These women that work in the different organizations I call heroes as they do such amazing work they deserve a big shout out.


When we speak about it, we must not forget that many pets are stuck in the middle of Domestic Violence relationships and they do not have a voice so we need to be theirs. 


Many women stay in the relationships for their pets safety and I was one of them, I would not leave my pet behind as it would mean me abandoning my pet who was like a child to me. She had kept me going through it all so how could I leave her !


Unfortunately having a pet does make it harder as there are very few programs/shelters that accept pets and that is something that needs to be changed. As I always say if mothers would not leave their kids why should furmoms leave their furkids behind. 


If you know anyone in a relationship, reach out to them so that they know there is someone there for them, give them the below link :

Domestic Violence Hotline : https://www.thehotline.org/

You cannot force a person to leave the relationship but letting them know they are not alone, is sowing the seed in their brain that it is possible.


Please take care everyone, be safe and most of all remember it might be scary but in the long run life becomes easier, happier and you are free,

With a woof and love Layla 

Remember Me Thursday

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Good Morning friends,


Today is a very important day so without hesitation we decided that our blog should be up today and not tomorrow as it is Remember Me Thursday.

I have always rescued, and only believe in rescuing and that is why this day is extra special for me.

On this day the world will share and discuss the importance of pet adoption, and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues to be adopted . 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 as they do not have one.

Those orphan pets in the shelters need homes, they want a warm bed to sleep in, good food, toys but most of all they want to be loved by humans so every time one is adopted you are saving two lives, the pet and yours.


We can help by spreading the word, changing the minds of people to open their hearts also :


01. Adopt and open your house to an orphan pet

02. Go to Remember Me Thursday Events in your area


PLUS I think the most important of all is to show everyone all over the world that adoption is the only way to go as the adopted/rescued pets deserve a second chance.

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.  Thank you Helen Woodward Animal Center for permitting me to share this poem by Mike Arms.

Thank you for allowing me to share this poem


So let’s all get together, light a candle and save the shelter pets and give them the good life they deserve,


Thank you with love from

Layla   (my rescue from a shelter)

#seethelight

National Disaster Preparedness Month plus Give Away

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TGIF !!!!!!!


Good morning all my friends and how are you all doing ? 


Over here in the Layla neighborhood we are still indoors most of the time because of the smoke in the air and I told Mom it is getting boring BOL.


September is National Disaster Preparedness Month for everyone and although it is in June for pets I personally think doing it twice a year reminds us to make sure we are prepared.


This is such an important month as with what is happening all over the world we need to be prepared especially for our fur babies as they depend on us in every way to keep them safe.

We always remind everyone to check their emergency bags, make sure they are up to date and nothing has expired, check our pets microchips, documentation and that the bag is ready to be picked up and we can go.


While I was checking our bag I started thinking about things I felt were missing for Layla so we decided to do a review on some new products by Tropiclean to add to our bag.


I am always looking for natural products, no chemicals where possible and these are really amazing and happy to share with you all. I am going to confess that Layla is a Tropiclean dog LOL as I use most of their products on her as they are safe, and with her allergies work really well.


01. Flea and Tick Spot on Treatment, Layla is a roller in the park, nothing like rolling on the lawn and I always worry about fleas and hate all the chemical flea products on the market so I tried their flea and tick spot treatment which is made from Cedarwood oil, Peppermint oil and Almond Oil. Since I put it on her I have not seen any fleas and she is not scratching, phew. 

Madam Roller : https://youtu.be/pRLmpF6cn5k


I also want to add that they have flea and tick prevention products for your house and yard.

02. Oxymed Soothing Pet Wipes, love these as they are easy to put in my purse or have in my emergency bag and they help with itching and hot spots. They are made with purified water, glycerol, mild coconut cleanser, oatmeal extract and fragrance.


03. Waterless Dog Shampoo, it is deep cleansing and no rinse formula. It smells of Berry and Coconut so Madam smells very fruity.  The ingredients are purified water, mild cleanser, hydrolyzed plant protein, organic blend of while plum extract, cucumber extract, avena sativa oatmeal.  It also does not affect spot on flea and tick treatment either. This is a great product to have in my emergency bag as it does not need water and for those that go camping I feel it is a must also.


04. Tangle Remover, this is important to have for those dogs that get matted. It is a no rinse formula and for Madam who hates water this is just perfect.  Like the waterless dog shampoo it does not affect spot on flea or tick treatment.The ingredients are Purified water, hydrolyzed plant protein, organic blend of chamomile extract, kiwi extract, mallow extract, awapuhi extract, proprietary cationic emulsion, fragrance and vitamin E. Another one I will be putting in my emergency bag.


What I love about the Tropiclean products are they all made in the USA and are cruelty free. Plus for all cat parents they have fantastic cat products too.

Their link is : https://tropiclean.com/

I have been sponsored by Tropiclean and this Give Away is open for participants over the age of 18 and in the USA only.

Enter on the widget below :

:http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d1ec19c52/?


Layla woofs good luck to everyone entering as she has put her paw stamp of approval on all these products and now she is going back to bed.

Have a wonderful long weekend everyone Be safe with a woof and love from Layla 

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

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TGIF !!!!!!!


Good morning friends, another week has gone by and this year is going so fast we cannot keep up.


The air quality has been really bad here in San Francisco because of the fires so we have not been out that much, short walks and I think both Layla and I need some real outdoors so tomorrow I might risk it a bit and take her to the park for an hour. 


Today, 28 August is a very special but sad day although for me the memories make me smile too.

It is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a day that we remember all our pets that are no longer with us and are waiting over the Rainbow Bridge. So I am going to share with you some of the pets that are in my heart and have been part of my life.


I was blessed to grow up in a home with many different pets. We had Ceaser, a mutt,  who to this day when I think back about her I chuckle as she was scared of heights and used to go up to the second floor of our house and then howl till my Mom carried her down. She was the size of a Boxer and heavy LOL.

We had in the sewing room/playroom budgies who I loved till they escaped out of the window and were not found, their names were Fritzie and Freddy. In that room were also our little white mouse called Pinky because of her tail and Hammy our Hamster who lived next door to Pinky, we used to close the room door and then let them run around free every day.


In our bedrooms we had Goldfish and two Terrapins, oy. My great aunt told me we had to feed the Terrapins bugs and worms from the garden and she used to collect them and bring them to me to feed them, they were called Ron and Eth after a British comedy.

When the fish and terrapins passed away we buried them under an apple tree we had in our garden and from that day on my Grandmother would not let us eat the apples.


When we moved to Israel we found on the streets a mutt who we called Whiskey, who became a princess. She was living with us during the 1973 war so one of us kids were responsible for carrying her downstairs to the bomb shelter every time a siren went off. 


In those days there were no special regulations for dogs like today and when we left Israel and went to Europe, Whiskey flew back to South Africa where she was met at the airport by a Pet Hotel and stayed with them till we got back. I remember my Dad feeling bad that she had to be crated so he had a big big crate made for her although she was a Chi Mix. It was enormous.


Whiskey lived a very good life with us in South Africa, she would sit on a chair every morning and wait for her piece of cheese from my Father. I still chuckle over this one when going into the dining room and there she was on a chair.

When I went back to Israel I decided to get a cat, well I adopted a cat, thinking Sasha would be cute and small but Sasha grew to be a large cat but I loved him. He kept me amused all the time. A couple of years with Sasha and I rescued Shula, a Persian cat who was afraid of everything but after a couple of months she ruled the house. She was pregnant when I rescued her so decided to keep the kitten also, my Pichevkes (Hebrew for nick nacks). She was my baby and I adored her. All three cats used to get boiled fish every Friday night and were spoiled rotten. 


Sasha passed away at the age of 14, Shula at the age of 11 and Pichevkas at the age of about 9. 


I then came to the States where I adopted Baby, whom you all know about, she was my hero and ran away with me from the Domestic Violence Relationship, was the first to be in a  DV shelter in San Francisco and kept me alive in so many ways. Baby passed away about a year after I left the shelters, she was 6 years old after she contracted IMHA which has no cure.
When she passed away a good friend of mine said to me that She had come into my life for a reason, she knew I was safe so she left me so that I could adopt a new dog.


That is when Layla who is my Boss came into my life and my life would be so empty without her.


I unfortunately do not have many photos but all the memories are etched in my brain, and today being Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day I am smiling now thinking about all of them.


So let us all share some memories, thank all those pets over the Rainbow Bridge for being part of our lives, teaching us so much and I do believe one day we will all meet up again.


Be safe everyone,

With love and woofs from Layla

Praying for the fire victims

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


Good Morning friends,


Layla would like to apologize about not blogging last week but Mom decided to have a break from the laptop and actually it was really nice as we had lots of Mom and Me time together and nothing else. 


This past week we have really been staying indoors because of the poor air quality from the fires burning in Northern California. It is so sad to see what is happening as there has been no rains and everything is dry. The fires were started by lightning which happened last Saturday night and it was a crazy night.  So at the moment Mom is working sharing all information possible on our Facebook page to help save the animals, including the wildlife.

 https://abc7news.com/wildfire-live-updates-cal-fire-to-give-update-czu-lightning-complex-fires/6381687/?fbclid=IwAR1faK1w8oHwi6sEwla09ePvnT0R129eonpyhxs4YmVFZJ1LTjiEUQ5h3sQ

This is the time that I say Facebook does something good as when a disaster happens someone starts a page with all the information and everyone posts, gets together to help out with trucks, cars and whatever else is needed. It is one way for the word to get out fast and I call them all heroes.


So let us all pray for all those in the path of the fires and that this nightmare will end soon.


We are reminding everyone today to make sure your emergency bag is ready, your microchip is up to date, and that you are ready to go if necessary.


Please be safe 


With love from Layla

Helping Pets in need during the Lock Down

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!!

Friday has arrived, first Friday in August and we decided to dedicate our blog this week to an amazing organization that has just started,  a Free Pet Food Pantry in San Francisco, in one of the areas where the residents have been hit hard economically.


This organization is called the Latino Task Force. I am sure you will ask who they are ? 

They formed as a clearinghouse of COVID-19 information and resources for the Mission District community. The group has more than three dozen community-based organizations, along with City Government partners, that are working together to meet the needs of immigrants, families, elders, homeless, LGBTQ, youth, and other Latino populations who are experiencing challenging times during the pandemic.

It’s an all volunteer organization that provides boxes of food to 7,000 people a week. SFDOG is working with the San Francisco SPCA to distribute dog and cat food as part of the services operating at the Mission Food Hub three days per week. They are recruiting volunteers to hand out food and raising funds to keep purchasing food for families to feed their pets.


You can see the links for the Latino Task Force and SFDOG below.

This is the link  :     https://www.ltfrespuestalatina.com/contact

This is the link :     https://sfdog.org/blog/help-san-francisco-families-feed-their-pets


The SPCA and Pet Food Express (An amazing pet store where I shop all the time) contributed food to kick off the pantry. And they will purchase food through the SPCA at their corporate partner rate on an ongoing basis. They are at this moment  testing the pantry on a three-month trial, which could be extended and expanded to other locations. As it stands with the Mission Food Hub, they can only distribute pet food that is shipped directly from the manufacturer.

Thank you David from SFDOG for allowing me to share your photos
Thank you David from SFDOG for allowing me to share your photos


I am putting it out here if you manufacture pet food/treats and would like to donate I am sure it will be welcome. Thank you.

Our pets are our family, I always joke that Layla eats better than me but then she is my furkid so there is no question about that, and as I am watching pets unfortunately being dumped at shelters as families cannot afford them at this moment it is a reminder that there are solutions, amazing people out there who are helping in whatever way possible and we must learn to reach out and ask for help.


So Layla and I want to thank these fantastic volunteers for all the amazing work you are doing, you are our heroes this week.


Do you have a free pet food bank in your city ?


To all our furfriends, please be safe, wear masks and remember you are not alone, we are unfortunately all in the same boat today.


With a woof and love from

Layla 

Boss vs Slave

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Good Morning friends,


Layla is slowly on the mend and oy vey is she a little bossy one, it is either her way or no way so I now know she is on the mend.
This past week I have battled with the vet clinic to transfer prescriptions over to a pharmacy near my house so that I do not have to take public transport to pick them up, the pharmacy is across from my house which makes life so much easier. The major plus is the prices of the medications are a third of what I have been paying, what a difference. I picked up one today that cost me like 5 dollars and I paid at the vet about 30 dollars, it all adds up in the end.


She has become very smart and knows what time she gets her meds so she now hides in her box at those hours so I cannot get to her. It is funny and frustrating as she is a real little Madam and her slave, that is me, is exhausted with the fighting over it LOL. So I found a solution especially for the evenings,  one of my neighbors in the building knocks on the door, she runs to the door and I catch her, meds she gets then HA, I thought I had outsmarted her with that till she realized the game and last night did not move. I am not sure whether to laugh or cry when she does that as I am trying so hard to stick to the medication schedule. The good thing is my vet told me another week and I can stop them and keep an eye on her and if she starts in pain again then start again. I also have the Hemp oil for emergencies thank goodness and feel that works better for her plus the muscle relaxer she is taking. She is becoming Miss Piss and Vinegar again, ordering me around and expecting me to do what she wants only, which is a good sign but tiring.


I have also taken her to the park each day this week which has been great for both of us, I sit far away from everyone social distancing as best as possible plus using her carrier for her to lie in and I feel I need to stop with that as she is getting used to it and now not wanting to walk at all.  Drastic changes and a bit of tough love is needed here for her.


This weekend is 4th of July and the damn fireworks, I hate them so much and people have been setting them off for the past 3 weeks after 11 at night so I am not getting much sleep. I have got to the point and this sounds awful but I do not care if those that do it get hurt as they are upsetting all the pets in the area plus the Oakland Zoo spoke on the news the other day saying the animals there are freaking out.


I am putting below how I keep Layla safe during the fireworks plus all the information how to keep our pets safe.


Remember : 5th of July is one of the busiest days in the shelters as so many poor pets have escaped from the fireworks so please please keep your pets safe.


Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone, I know it won’t be like in the past because of the lock downs but lets make it as pleasurable as possible and don’t forget to wear masks.


Are you doing anything special this weekend ?
Woof with love from Layla 

Pet Appreciation Week

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TGIF !!!!!!!!! 


Summer has arrived here in San Francisco and it has been hot, breaking certain records in some of the areas so between lockdown, curfews there are heat advisories and warnings of fire danger. It is really sad with what is happening and I pray that this year will end soon and 2021 will be a better year.


Every June, the first full week in June we celebrate Pet Appreciation Week, that means from Sunday the 7th till the 13th we celebrate. This holiday was created in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Why we should celebrate Pet Appreciation Week.


01. Because appreciation means love which they shower on us.

02. Because they do not judge us and understand us.

03. It is a good and extra reason to shower them with something different and special.

04.  Without them our lives would be stressful as they keep us balanced and healthy by loving us unconditionally.

05. Plus of course they are smart, cute and keep us on our toes.


How can we pay them back :


01. Give them extra special delicious treats by baking/cooking something for them which they have not had in the past.
02. Try taking your dog out for a longer walk or extra time in the dog park, lock down permitting of course.
03.  If possible try arrange a playdate for them especially with so much closed at the moment it would be extra special.
04. Dedicate more playtime with them than you normally do.
I must admit, every morning when I open my eyes and see fluffy muppet Layla curled up under the blankets sleeping is even better than coffee as she makes me laugh so much sometimes so I am really going to make sure this coming week she has some surprises.
What are you planning to do for your pet ? We cannot wait to hear.


On this note, Madam is sleeping after spending a couple of hours in the park today, Gidget is here too and sleeping next to her,

Have a wonderful safe weekend all

With a woof and love from 
Layla 


Easter is here

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Woof friends,
How are you all doing ? 
Are you bored like me ? Mom poor thing is trying to keep me busy and I think I am driving her crazy sometimes BOL but that is what fur kids are supposed to do.  Do you agree with me ?


While I am writing the blog today am listening to a live Melissa Etheridge concert on Facebook which keeps me relaxed daily and of course Layla is sleeping. I must admit the one plus with the lock down is I am catching up on shows etc on Facebook and it keeps me occupied as I am tired of TV.
This weekend is Easter which means lots of chocolate, please keep your pets away from them. My thoughts go out to all the parents that will have to do Easter Egg Hunts inside the house.


Here is the list of what we must be careful of to keep our fur kids safe :

And we have one other thing to remind everyone of and please please don’t do this, thank you.

Be safe friends,  have a wonderful Easter

And last but not least, today 10 April is Hug your Dog day, that means Layla will be demanding a lot more hugs today,

With a woof and love from Layla 




April has arrived

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!! 


April has arrived and with it has come lock downs, Spring, and of course Easter and Passover. So where do we start.


Our lock down is going good, we are indoors more than normal, trying to find things to keep Layla occupied as unfortunately all my dog sitting jobs have been cancelled. So she has a new quirk to sit on the bed and moan for attention all the time which is not making my life easy as I ignore it part of the time and then feel guilty also. 

Our dog parks closed this week, they are focusing more on the enclosed ones than the one like ours that has no fencing although ours has a kids playground etc which they have closed but are not making a big deal about us sitting on the lawns as long as there is 6 ft between us. Many families are there enjoying the warm weather which we have at the moment and I the past two days have been going also with a blanket and coffee, getting that fresh air is so great plus good for Layla also. She does not wander far so I have no worries with her.


Outdoor recreation is still allowed like walking, hiking, biking and running without limitations as long as people follow social requirements.

With the lock downs I am reading more and more how unfortunately Domestic Violence cases are rising, something that upsets me very much because we all complain about the lock downs but are blessed that we are free of violence not like those that are stuck at home with an abuser. My prayers and thoughts go out to all of them. If you hear of anyone in trouble and you can please reach out or give them the National Hotline Number so that they call. Remember they sometimes do not have access to a computer so having the number on hand will help them.

https://www.thehotline.org/help/


Advocates are available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in more than 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential.  

Another cause we must not forget is April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.


We must not forget that like Domestic Violence with the lock down many animals may be being abused by an abusive human and as they are more in the house the abuse could be worse. Please if you see any animal abuse or hear of any please call your local Animal Control or the Police. 


I feel in these times we must be more aware of our surroundings, neighbors and reach out where possible as you could be saving a life.


Passover is next week, I cannot believe it and that holiday as many of you know symbolizes the freedom from slavery of the Jews from Egypt, and for me it also symbolizes especially with what is happening in the world today, freedom for Domestic Violence Victims and Animals from Cruelty situations.


So on this note we are asking everyone to be aware, keep your eyes open for any abuse if you are out on an essential errand, stay safe and healthy,


With a woof and love from Layla 

PS: For our all our Jewish Followers