#blog. #dogblog – Layla's Woof

May 2026 Pet Holidays, Awareness and Observances

Posted on May 1, 2026 by admin — 4 Comments ↓

May has arrived, I cannot believe we are nearly half way through the year it is going too fast for this old lady. With May comes new important dates which I am listing below.

It is first of May and freezing in the park, Nili

Month

Chip Your Pet Month.
National Pet Month
National Service Animal Eye Exam.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month.
Pet Sitter Safety Month.
Responsible Animal Guardian Month.

Week

May 3-9: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week
May 3-9: National Pet Month.
May 4-9: Puppy Mill Action Week.
May 4-10: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week.

Day

May 1: International Day of the Podenco.
May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day.
May 3: Mayday for Mutts.
May 4: Layla crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on this day 🙁
One of my favorite photos of her
May 9: National Dog Mom’s Day.
May 10: National Disaster Preparedness Day
May 14: Pick Up the Poo Day. (UK)
May 14: Bond With Your Dog Day
May 15: Do Lunch With Your Dog Day.
May 20: National Rescued Dog Day
May 29: National Dog Friendly Day. (UK)

Have a wonderful safe month of May with love from Nili

I had ice cream

Posted on April 20, 2026 by admin — 10 Comments ↓

Hi friends, we have had such a crazy busy week, but I had my first ice cream which was yum.

On Tuesday Ben & Jerry’s had their free one scoop of ice cream day, so Mom decided to take me. Aunty took us in her car and off we went. I stood in line with everyone else and was really excited as the smell of ice cream was so so good. We moved up in the line till we went inside and Mom got me a small cup of vanilla ice cream and a scoop for herself. I gobbled it up so quickly and tried eating the cup too BOL but Mom took it away from me. Mom and Aunt finished theirs and then we went to the park to chill out and they ate tacos while I ran around. Mom said I needed it as I needed to burn off the sugar.

Waiting in the car to go get my ice cream, Nili

I have been framed, Nili

I want to drive the bus, Nili

Gobbling my ice cream yum,, Nili

Other than that, because the weather has been so warm in between Mom’s work and errands we have been going to the dog park so I can play with my friends. I love chasing them, rolling in the grass and barking at everyone, it is so much fun.

So that has been our week, busy as always but am sad as they say it is going to rain this week so am going to be stuck indoors.

Have a wonderful week friends,

With a woof and love from Nili

April Pet Holidays and Awareness Month

Posted on April 3, 2026 by admin — 12 Comments ↓

April is here, Spring has arrived and so has our monthly calendar

Month-Long Observances

Active Dog Month.
National Canine Fitness Month
National Heartworm Awareness Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month.
National Pet Month. (UK)
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. (ASPCA)

Week-Long Holidays

April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week.
April 1-7: National Raw Feeding Week.
April 12-18: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week.
April 12-18: National Prevention Dog Biting Week
April 17-23: National Pet ID Week.
April 19-26: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week.

One-Day Holidays

April 4: World Stray Animal Day
April 4: Every day is tag day.
April 6: National Siamese Cat Day.
April 7: National Pet Insurance Day
April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
April 11: National Pet Day
April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
April 17: Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day.
April 18: Pet Owner’s Independence Day.
April 19: National Dog Parent Appreciation Day.
April 19: National Cat Lady Day.
April 19: Sylvester the Cat’s Birthday
April 21: National Pet CBD Day.
April 22: Earth Day.
April 23: Pet Tech CPR Day.
April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 24: Hairball Awareness Day.
April 25: World Veterinary Day.
April 26: National Kids and Pets Day
April 26: National Pet Parents Day.
April 26: International Search and Rescue Dog Day.
April 27: National Little Pampered Dog Day.
April 27: Free Feral Cat Spay Day.
April 29: International Guide Dog Day.
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.
April 30: National Therapy Animal Day.
April 30: National Tabby Day.

Happy Easter and Passover to all our friends

With a woof and love from Nili xxx

Spring is here

Posted on March 29, 2026 by admin — 14 Comments ↓

Hi Friends,

Spring has arrived and we already had a heat wave, it was so hot Mom put the cooling vest on me which was pawsome. It was cooler in the dog park than our home and can you believe it we even had a power failure so Mom packed a bag and we went to sit in the shade in the park, it was fun as a lot of my friends were there.

Nigel and I walking to the park, Nili

Playing with Sparky

So today am sharing my fun times in the park with you and we hope you enjoy the videos.

So as you can see am having so much fun plus as Mom says all this playing will help me get rid the last of the pounds I have to lose BOL so that I will have a sexy figure for summer.

Keeping cool in my cooling vest with BoyBoy another good friend of mine walking towards me, Nili

Have a wonderful safe week all, we expecting rain here grrr, chat next week on my blog again,
Nili

Today is Valentines Day

Posted on February 14, 2026 by admin — 12 Comments ↓

Hello friends,

Today is Valentines Day or as Mom calls it chocolate day, and she told me she is going to spoil herself with a chocolate. I think I should be spoiled and not her but hey she does deserve it sometimes.

Mom and I had a long chat this week about Valentines Day and how I do not need anything as I am a spoiled brat but how the animals in shelters need to be loved also so we decided to put a package together of goodies and we going to drop it off at one of the shelters.

Those animals do not deserve to be in shelters but in warm homes with lots of love but we humans are to blame for that so as Mom says those caring humans who are speaking out for them must make sure also that they are spoiled on Valentine’s Day with love.

We are asking all our friends to please go to a shelter and donate food, treats or toys so that the animals can feel special love also. What could be better than seeing the smile of a dog or cat being spoiled like we are, it is a blessing.

Did you know today is also Pet Theft Awareness Day which is to highlight the rising, often underreported, issue of pet theft, with approximately 2 million dogs stolen yearly in the U.S. This day focuses on educating owners to prevent theft by microchipping, securing yards, and never leaving pets unattended.So please keep your pets safe.

So on this note I want to know who wants to be my Valentine?

I will share my treats with my Valentine, Nili

Please be safe and have a wonderful Valentines Day with woof and love

From Nili xxx

Happy Gotcha Day Layla

Posted on January 31, 2026 by admin — 26 Comments ↓

Dear Layla,

I am writing this letter to you over the Rainbow Bridge as it is your Gotcha Day and I will celebrate it like I do each year but with sadness also as you are not with me only in my heart and I cannot hug and kiss you the way I would love to do.

I miss you barking at me each time I said we were going bye bye, tail wagging so excited and happy.

I am so proud to have been your Mom, and was so blessed to have spent so many years with you, growing old with you and enjoying our adventures and fun together.

I am once again going to share your Gotcha Story here so that others will realize rescuing is so worth it and that is why I speak out for rescues, as like you, they all need a home with a warm bed to sleep on.

I remember when your sister passed away, I waited about 6 weeks and then decided my home was too empty without the pitter patter of paws, so the search was on. I ran around to all the shelters in the city but could not find a little fluffy at the time, which is what I wanted.

So Uncle Michael introduced me to Aunt Cindy by email, told me that he would be in LA for a week so I had a week to search online for a new fur kid and he would bring her home to me.

I sat 24/7 on Petharbor and Petfinder and was nearly giving up when I saw you sitting in a cage in the Carson Shelter. The look on your face said to me take me home. I immediately emailed Aunt Cindy with your information and photo and she went to the Shelter on Saturday to fetch you for me. I remember her calling me from there telling me she had a smelly matted mess kissing her, that sealed the deal.

You arrived on Sunday evening, the 31st of January 2011, I had got the house ready for you, bought you a new pink bed and was so excited. Yes, you were smelly and dirty but I did not care as for me what was important was you were finally home, safe and sound with a nice warm bed.

Your dumping papers said you had been an outdoor dog; you bit when groomed and in a nutshell everything negative a person can say and OH What A Lie. You were the opposite. I am ashamed to even say what your name was in the shelter.

I waited a couple of days and then met a friend of mine, a vet, Dr. Phil in the dog park, he looked at you, checked you and said I had won, and he was so right.

I was so lucky to celebrate your last Gotcha Day with a big party, pink bacon cake, lots of treats and all your friends, it is a special memory that I think of all the time.

You passed away on 4 May 2024 at the age of 18+ and you are not suffering anymore, missed every day and I have saved and will not let Nili play with your pink poodle which was your first toy you got from me.

Happy Gotcha Day my little angel, I hope you have a wonderful time over the Rainbow Bridge today,

Big hugs, kisses and love from Mommy and Nili xxx

January is my month of freedom

Posted on January 26, 2026 by admin — 16 Comments ↓

TGIF !! 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 was her month of freedom also.

So, to celebrate our freedom, and the sun shining today,, so to celebrate I took Nili on an adventure on Tuesday with a picnic for me. It was a wonderful time and something I really needed.

I am hoping it wont be raining this coming week so I can take Nili somewhere else and get lots of fresh air which is so important for both of us. I also notice that if she is out and about in new places she is tired when we get home which makes my life easier.

Nili also wants to share she got a haircut this past week so she is looking clean and cute with short hair plus I can see her eyes LOL.

Do I look cute, Nili

So that was our adventure this week, plus we have lots of park time, plus last weekend she had a sleepover with Leon so who knows what we will do next week but there is never a dull moment here with the energizer bunny.

Please everyone stay warm and safe and make sure your pets are inside

With a woof and love from

Nil

I am enjoying life, Nili

Posted on January 17, 2026 by admin — 14 Comments ↓

TGIF!!!!!!!!! Good morning, Fur friends, we hope you are all safe and staying warm.

It is one year since I started going to the dog park; we have been going daily as the sun was out and it was really warm and I am playing off leash, chasing my dog friends and Mom is really proud of my progress but she is not happy with me eating the mud, but it is yum BOL.

We go to the park at least twice a day when the sun is out, at times when Mom knows my friends are there, I run like crazy into the park and of course search for any treats that might have fallen the day before, and then playtime. If there is no one there that I like I just lie in the sun and enjoy the fresh air. Mom has tried taking toys with her, but I am not interested BOL.

Playing with Sparky, Nili

Oy and I must not forget Mom took me on my first adventure this week to another park, it is a beautiful park, one Mom fell in love with, and I ran and ran and ran up and down the hills in the park, so much fun and new smells of course. Mom said to her friend they should have taken coffee so we going to do it next week again weather permitting.

Running in Jefferson park, Nili

So that has been our week, busy as always, Mom leaving me alone when she runs errands which I don’t like but love the treats when she gets home BOL as there is a price to pay for leaving me here. I am also learning to ride in my pet carrier which is built under Mom’s shopping cart so will be starting to go on the errands with her soon and as Mom says I will not be able to eat off the streets which shhhh I still do.

Testing out my carrier under the shopping cart, this is fun

Our life is busy, but happy and I am one lucky rescued dog living the best life now and pray others have the same luck as me.

Have a wonderful long weekend.

With love and licks

Nili

January 2026 Pet Holidays and Observances

Posted on January 3, 2026 by admin — 10 Comments ↓

Month

National Train Your Dog Month
Unchain a Dog Month.
Walk Your Dog Month

One Day

2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day.
14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
19: National Conservation Dog Day.
22: National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day.
24: Change a Pet’s Life Day.
24: Peanut Butter Day. !
29: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
29: Tuxedo Cat Appreciation Day.
31: Layla’s Gotcha Day

i am carrying on my sisters tradition of checking the pmail on the Christmas Trees in the street, Nili

We hope you have a warm safe January with hug and woof from Nili

New Years is around the corner

Posted on December 28, 2025 by admin — 12 Comments ↓

What a week, I need a break from all. Last Saturday we were without power for over 12 hours and trying to keep a pup busy in the dark is not easy, I was exhausted by the time the power came back on, then the storms this week have been a nightmare and Nili has not been settling down at night because of the heavy rain and winds, Tuesday was really bad. I tried to go to the park when the rain stopped but each time we got there it started all over again so we have been cooped up inside most of the time. My energizer bunny is overloaded with energy, and I am exhausted from doing short walks with her to burn off the energy. She is playing with her toy, or should I say killing the squeakers, but she needs more stimulation than that. I live in a studio so there is not that much place for her to run so when possible I open the door and let her run and chase her toys in the hallway. It is a locked building so she cannot get out into the street phew.

Sleeping like a baby after a CBS treat

New Years Eve is around the corner. The pet’s nightmare as I call it as so many are afraid of the stupid fireworks and that means pets getting lost.

I have made sure Nilis’ microchip and tags are all updated with emergency numbers, so we are prepared for the nightmare plus stocked up on CBD treats to keep her calm. I wish they had it for me also LOL. I got CBD treats, chewable from https://treatibles.com/ a company I had used with Layla and they are really keeping her calm plus she thinks she is getting a treat LOL and has made her stormy nights calmer and she is sleeping well plus she has also become afraid to go out all of a sudden, she sees the harness and hides, so giving her a half in the morning relaxes her and has made it easier to get her out of the house, once out she is fine.

This has totally confused me and I am working on this issue, am always open to ideas and input if you have some for me.

New Years Eve, one of the nights I hate when everyone gets drunk and sets off fireworks everywhere that it is scary. My heart goes out to all the animals that are in shelters shivering already from fear, and then have to endure the fear of fireworks with no one around to comfort them. I wish we could just empty those shelters and all animals would have loving homes.

How do you keep your pet safe during fireworks? This is my second New Year with Nili and hopefully she will be ok, I do not go out so I will be with her the whole night.

Unfortunately, we always must remind everyone of safety tips for their pets:

And most of all everyone please remember this when out partying:

So, on this note we want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, may 2026 be a good year for all of us with lots of love, laughter, health and happiness and most of all Peace on Earth.

Woof with love from
Nili