Tag Archives: #adoptdontshop

12 Year Journey with Layla

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TGIF!!! It is the end of the week, the sun has been shining so we have managed to have some dog park time, fun and of course lots of chicken LOL.

It is Layla’s Gotcha Day on the 31st, she has been with me for 12 years and I still say it was the best online love affair in the world.

Where and how did it begin ? After Baby passed I waited about 3 months and then started searching on PetFinder and PetHarbor for a new munchkin to share my life with me. I had a friend who was in LA at the time working, so he told me to look in the shelters there for a fluffy butt that I wanted, if I saw one his friend who is a rescuer would go and get her and he would bring her to me in SF.  So after 3 days of searching I saw her sitting in a cage in the Carson Shelter, her face said it all although she was a matted mess, I told Cindy that was the ONE, Cindy went on the Saturday to get her, called me to say she was on her lap licking her and that said it all, Cindy took her home and the following day Michael brought her to me and the rest is history.

We have gone through a lot together it has been a wonderful blessed journey and now my goal as she ages is to keep her as happy and healthy as possible which in a way seems to be working.

She gets home cooked food and I have now added some new supplements to her food which seem to helping a lot plus she is sleeping better at night which is fantastic.  Thanks to Dr Harvey’s amazing products she is on his :

  • Kidney Health : A herbal and mushroom supplement designed to help support your dog’s kidneys.
  • Contains Rehmannia Root, Organic Reishi, Organic Shiitake, Organic Poria and Organic Cordyceps (all edible fungi), Organic Astragalus Root which provide overall kidney support and health by tonifying the kidneys.
  • Contains Codonopsis, a herb that works to boost the immune system of the whole body as well as the kidneys. Codonopsis also supports urinary health.

Since she is on this she is not wanting to go out every hour to pee, sleeping better through the night as she does not need to pee as much and in a nutshell I have seen a big difference.

Since getting this in her food she seems to be more awake, full of energy and back to being bossy barker which is my favorite nickname for her LOL.

Golden Years : A proprietary Blend of Alfalfa, Kelp, Flaxseed, Brewer’s Yeast, Lecithin Granules, Spirulina, Garlic, Rose Hips, Fo-Ti Root, Bilberry Leaf, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf, Ginger Root, Licorice Root, Nettle Leaf, Rosemary Leaf, Burdock Root, Red Clover, Suma, Yellowdock Root, Calendula………………………..2.6 grams

Like most dogs, Layla sometimes gets an upset tummy and the probiotics she was getting were not working so I got from Dr Harvey’s his Runs Be Done which is fantastic and I love that it is Natural with no chemicals. It contains : Dr. Harvey’s Runs Be Done is a digestive supplement for your dog. Ingredients : Pumpkin, Bentonite Clay, Slippery Elm Bark, Apple Pectin, Plantain, Marshmallow Root, Fennel Seed, Banana, Ginger Root, Chamomile.

She of course gets Dr Harvey’s Raw Vibrance which gives her all the nutrients she needs I feel she is getting the best of the best food and supplements, there are others she gets, but the plus is all supplements are in powder form so easy to give to her as I mix them all in her food so she does not know she is getting them.

If you want to learn more about his products you can find them on his website : https://www.drharveys.com/

You have a 10% coupon when shopping on his site : Layla10

We were sponsored by Dr Harvey’s for this blog.

So our journey plods along, we growing older together, I am so blessed to have her by my side every day, barking orders, sometimes not sleeping through the night, but would not change it for anything.

To celebrate her Gotcha Day next week I am doing a surprise for her on Sunday and am keeping it that way till you read all about it next week where we will also share our favorite photos of her, I am really excited and curious also.

This is Layla’s weekly woof this week, exciting and happy as always, she is at the moment napping and I  have the Jazz on so the music keeps our house calm.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe

With a woof and love from Layla

 

 

 

 

January is the month of freedom.

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TGIF !! Rain has stopped, sun is out but it is still cold here.

Many of you do not know but January is the month of freedom for me, it is the month I ran from my ex, and it is the month I rescued Layla so it is her month of freedom also.

So, to celebrate our freedom, and the sun shining today, I took Layla on an adventure to our old haunt or should I say park. It is one I have not been to in ages, and it was wonderful to be there. It was bitter sweet as it was the park I used to go to with Baby who ran with me, and her ashes are buried in the park but it was great also, as it brought back so many good memories and being able to sit in the sun, relax, have a picnic with friends there it was the best medicine.

Baby RIP who died suddenly of IMHA at the age of 6

Lafayette Park is a beautiful big park in the city of San Francisco. It is beautifully kept, the view of the Bay from the top is just amazing, the old trees standing upright are stunning, the green lawns are just beautifully kept and sitting there, listening to the children playing and laughing down the hill in the children’s section is magical. There is nothing like listening to kids laugh and play, pure happiness. Thank you Robin and Roger for this wonderful time.

Where we sat on the hill with a view of the Bay

The lawn where Baby’ ashes were buried

The place Layla used to play when we used to come to this park

Layla wandered around, I had to watch her so she would not hurt herself, but she had so much fun and came home, finished her dinner, and went to sleep. A healthy sleep as I say as she had so much fresh air today it was the best of the best.

I am hoping the rain has stopped finally for a bit so that we can get out more, visit different parks and get lots of fresh air which is so important for both of us. I also notice that if she is out and about she is hungry and gobbles down her food which makes me happy and relaxed.

So that was our adventure this week, who knows what we will do next week but there is never a dull moment here plus Layla loves riding on the bus so it is exciting for her.

I had to pee on the way out so I marked my spot, Layla

Stay safe and warm everyone, have a wonderful weekend

With love from Layla

 

Today is a Special Day

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TGIF!! Friday is here and that means weekend, time to put our feet up and relax.

Layla is still hobbling around so have kept her on bed rest as much as possible this week and her energy level is going through the roof LOL but am doing my utmost to prevent her from walking. I have taken her to the park once or twice to get fresh air but she starts walking so I bring her home although she loves sleeping there LOL.

Wearing my granny jacket cos it was cold but zzzzzzzzz

I phoned my vet today to discuss with her what is happening, and she was so great and told me to relax as Layla is a senior and it could take time for her paw to heal and that I am doing well with what I am doing. We have put her on Galliprant for a week which is an anti-inflammatory and pain killer which hopefully will help her paw, but it is making her sleep LOL, phew.

Now why is today a special day?

Today is National Dog Day is recognized worldwide on August 26th annually. We celebrate all dogs and encourage adoption.

 

It is so important to encourage adoption as there are so many dogs in shelters waiting for homes. It hurts me so much to see all the rescues and shelters posting photos of dogs needing homes and breeders still breeding to make money, we need to put a stop to all breeders till shelters and rescues are empty. I understand there are people that want pure bred dogs BUT you can adopt one from a breed rescue organization or from a shelter as there are so many there.

 

So why we celebrate dogs lets turn today into a day of adoption and celebrate the freedom of those caged dogs who need homes.

 

On this note we are asking to spread the word, help emptying shelters and giving all beautiful dogs a home and freedom.

 

Stay safe everyone, have a wonderful weekend

With love and woofs

Layla

July 21st is No to Pet Store Puppies Day

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TGIF!!! Friday has arrived, that means Mom will be less on the computer and more with me, woof.

Last weekend we went to the TriPawd Meet Up, it was so much fun, lots of amazing dogs, their parents and of course lots of treats. I also got blessed by one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence which made Mom very happy.

 

Thank you Mark Swanson for letting me share some of your photos

Thank you Mark Swanson for sharing some of your photos

Today, 21st of July is No to Pet Store Puppies Day, a very important day as need to draw the public awareness of puppy mills and their connections to pet stores that sell puppies, kittens, and rabbits.

This is a National Problem and Abusive as thousands of dogs spend their lives in Puppy Mills with no medical attention or proper care of any kind. Female dogs are bred like machines with no break in between each litter and when they cannot breed anymore, they are dumped.

This is not a life it is abuse

Puppies from Puppy Mills or backyard breeders may suffer from behavior, congenital and hereditary problems as a result of irresponsible breeding practices.

How you can help stop this practice and reasons why NOT to buy from a Pet Store:

  1. Do not shop at a Pet Store that sells puppies
  2. Check out this website http://NoPetStorePuppies.com see if your State regulates commercial breeders.
  3. Convince your family and friends not to shop at Pet Stores that sell puppies.
  4. If you want a puppy, go to a Rescue Organization to adopt a puppy as there are many that need homes.
  5. Some Pet Stores have Rescued Puppies so shop at that store and adopt a pup from them.
  6. Puppies from Pet Stores have health problems as they are not bred carefully.
  7. Behavioral Issues as the staff at a Pet Store is not trained and therefore will not see those problems.
  8. They are not socialized as puppies at Pet Stores are taken away from their litters too you and therefore are not developed socially.
  9. Puppies from Puppy Mills or backyard breeders may suffer from behavior, congenital and hereditary problems as a result of irresponsible breeding practices.
  10. Lack of Information – Pet store staff will not have all the correct information for you about the puppy.
  11. Housetraining, pups from Pet Stores do not have the correct instinct from doing their business next to the food and water as they have lived in cages all their lives.
  12. If you are looking for a pure bred puppy, the Pet Store might not have the documentation to prove it is pure bred and therefore you have spend hundreds of dollars on a puppy which is not what you wanted in the end.

So, let’s all take the pledge and adopt don’t shop and open our home to a pup that has been dumped in a Shelter.

Have a safe weekend and please stay indoors from the heat,

With a woof and love from Layla

 

 

My Mother’s Day Letter to Mom

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TGIF !

Hello, my friends and how are you?  This Sunday is very important as it is Mother’s Day and I am blessed to have an awesome Mom, so I dictated  her a letter.

Dear Mom,

Happy Mother’s Day. I tell you every day with my wagging tail what an awesome Mom you are and how blessed I am to be with you and grow old with you.

We have our up days and down days, but you are always there for me, take good care of me, make sure I eat, drink, poop and pee and what more can a fur kid want but that. It is the unconditional love you shower me that I am so grateful for.

You keep me safe in my backpack when we go on the busses, you make sure I get good walks even when you are tired, you take me on adventures to different dog parks, the promenade to see the sea lions and sea gulls, dog events where I get spoiled with lots of treats, and so much more, we are always doing something exciting so our lives are not boring.

 

I am so blessed you adopted me from that lousy shelter, you always tell people that I have come from pound to princess, and I know you think I am a Diva but that is because of you and I would not change anything in this world.

So, woof woof woof thank you for everything, you are the bestest Mother on earth and I am one happy dog,

With a woof and love from Layla

 

This Sunday is not only Mother’s Day, but it is also Mayday for Mutts,” a day to celebrate our mixed breed pups (as well as seniors and special needs dogs) and kick off a month-long promotion of shelter and rescue adoption.

 

So as Mom calls me her Shmutter Mutter BOL, who is joining us to kick this promotion off this month, there are so many mutts desperate for homes.

To all the Moms that are Moms to fur kids, Happy Mother’s Day, have a wonderful day and we hope you all get spoiled,

Woof with love from Layla

 

 

 

April is over and May is arriving

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Woof all my friends,

Can you believe it is the end of April, this year is going so quickly. We had a busy last weekend which was pawsome but tiring.

On Saturday we went to DogFest. It is an annual Dog and Kid event held in the park not far from where we live. It is an annual fund raiser for one of the Elementary Schools in our area. A fun filled day, chaotic with lots of booths selling dog products and other items.

Layla with age is not doing well at events anymore, she has become afraid of all the chaos plus her sight is going so with all the people and dogs I carried her on my back in her backpack. She is happy sitting in it and very relaxed They were handing out samples of different treats which she was very happy to snack on especially the different jerkies LOL.

I was very surprised that there was only one Rescue Organization there this year as there is normally all of the Bay Area Rescues, but I think a lot of people are still getting back to normal lives.

On Sunday we went to chill in my friends’ garden which was great. Layla loves going there as she is alone wandering around, sniffing, and exploring plus she feels safe as there is no one else there. It was wonderful sitting outside in the sun, drinking tea and chatting. It was a fantastic morning and just what I needed.

Saturday is a very important day in the National Pet Holidays, it is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. I have always adopted from shelters as they need homes and will not support Puppy Mills or Breeders. I am aware that people will argue that there are some very responsible breeders, but you cannot change my mind as too many pets are dying in shelters because of the over population.

So, Layla is woofing to everyone please #adoptdontshop and open your home to a shelter pet. They have been let down by humans and deserve a second chance. Share this with your friends, family or co-workers to go to a shelter on Saturday and adopt a new fur kid.

Have a wonderful weekend, be safe

With a 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

Remember Me Thursday

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What is so special about this day.

 

It is a day when the world will share and discuss the importance of pet adoption, and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. 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.

I joined in today with the International Zoom Meeting held by the Helen Woodward Animal Centre, it was fantastic and so wonderful hearing stories from different rescues organizations in different countries.

During the pandemic and lockdown so many people adopted dogs from shelters and now that life is going back to normal they are dumping the dogs back at the shelters so unfortunately the shelters are over loaded with dogs, rescuers are doing their best to save them all but they are desperate for fosters to help.

 

Those orphan pets in the shelters need homes, 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 a life.

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

  1. Adopt and open your house to an orphan pet
  2. 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.

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.

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

Thank you with love from

Layla   (my rescue from a shelter)

 

Puppy Mill Awareness Day

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TGIF phew the weekend has arrived.

Tomorrow is a very important date in our calendar, Puppy Mill Awareness Day.

It is held on the third Saturday in September to encourage those looking for a new dog, to adopt, not shop. An observance dedicated to improving the lives of dogs, the day spreads the word about the poor conditions of puppy mills.

We need to educate people so that they will realize where their puppies come from and the life the mothers of the puppies have.

What is a puppy mill?

It is a place where dogs are kept in cages in the dark, with no medical care, not enough food or water and are treated like baby making machines with no life.

Missouri is considered the leading puppy mill state in the country. Over time, puppy mills have spread to other states, the highest concentration is in the Midwest, but there are also high concentrations in other areas, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and upstate New York.

Dog farming is a large part of the economy for many Amish communities. Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Holmes County, Ohio, and Shipshewana, Indiana are home to thousands of breeding dogs that will spend their lives in puppy mills. This might surprise you given the reputation of the Amish, and is a side of the Amish community of which most people are not aware of and would never knowingly support.

What is a dog auction?

Not many people have heard of a dog auction. Dog auctions are common in the puppy mill industry, and are particularly common in Amish communities. A dog auction is the same as a livestock auction; it is simply limited to selling dogs as well as housing and breeding equipment.

The dogs sold most of them suffer from chronic untreated painful conditions such as ear infections, rotten teeth, urinary tract infections, sores on their feet, mastitis, and more.

Layla speaking out for all those suffering

These dogs have never felt the warmth or love from a human in their lives and need a lot of patience once adopted to adjust to their new lives.

One of the important reasons for speaking out about Puppy Mills is because of the lives the poor dogs live, but also to stop pet stores for selling puppies which most of the time come from Puppy Mills.

So we are speaking against Puppy Mills or any breeder as there are so many dogs waiting in shelters to be adopted and being euthanized because of lack of space. Enough is enough.

To all our readers please do not shop but adopt, save a life as they save ours, and a dog does not have to be pure bred to be perfect, mutts rock and in my house mutts are what I rescue.

Be safe and please spread the word

With a woof and love from Layla

 

They just amaze me

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Last Saturday we went to the 10th Tripawed Meet Up in our dog park. These dogs just amaze me and I always say we humans can learn from them.

Some of the dogs at the event

Madam watching what is going on

Most of the dogs are rescues and unfortunately have been dumped in shelters because of their disabilities but it does not bother them as they are happy dogs, some hopping on two legs, others with three legs and they just playing around, begging for treats and absolutely adorable.

It was a great day to have a picnic in the park with all dog parents, with lots of laughter and forget all the world problems.

This Saturday, August 21st is International Homeless Animal Day – Every year on the third Saturday of August, International Homeless Animals Day is celebrated to draw attention to the issue of pet overpopulation.

To raise awareness spay and neuter clinics are held, adoption fairs are held, unfortunately because of Covid a lot of these events will not be happening but we can all do something to stop the over population of pets.

We must remember that worldwide there is an over population of pets and if we do what I listed below these poor homeless pets will not face euthanasia and will live happy healthy lives in homes.

How can we help with over population of pets :

  • Spay and Neuter
  • Foster a shelter pet
  • Microchip your pets
  • Become an animal rescue advocate

So Layla is begging everyone to spay and neuter your pets, do not buy from breeders but open your heart to a homeless pet who desperately needs a safe home,

Thinking of all the homeless pets

Be safe everyone, with a woof and love from Layla