Pet Theft Awareness Day

Good Morning Everypawdy and TGIF !

Another week in February is over and it has brought us a very important day and that is Valentines Day.

It is a day that we spread love all over the world, spoil ourselves or our partners or pets with love and special gifts, so what are you going to spoil your pet with ?

My Valentine

February 14th is also Pet Theft Awareness Day which is meant to call attention to the importance of pet identification methods. It is a day to show how much the presence of an animal can enrich a family and also the responsibility that goes with it. It encourages those with pets to take steps to ensure the animal’s security and their own peace of mind.

In 1988 it was started by the Last Chance for Animals organisation, Pet Theft Awareness Day is aimed at educating animal owners to keep their pets safe from thieves. With almost 2 million pets being stolen annually in America the threat is real. That is why it is so important to have pets microchipped,  wear a tag with all your information as it will be easier to find your pet if G-d forbid it is stolen.

Below is a list of tips on how to keep your pet safe.

Tips on what to do if your pet is stolen.

Other important tips 

  • Keep your dog indoors when you’re not home. Outdoor dogs should be kept safely behind a locked gate. It only takes a couple of seconds for a thief to steal your pet from your yard.
  • Walk your dog on a leash.
  • Keep cats indoors. Indoor cats live safer, longer, healthier lives.
  • Make sure  your pets has a collar with an I.D. tags, and licenses. Microchips are also very important also.
  • Report suspicious neighborhood activities and/or missing companion animals to the police and animal control. 
  • Keep recent photos of your pets.
  • Spay and neuter your companion animals. Fixed animals are less likely to stray.
  • Please do NOT tie your dog up outside of restaurants, coffee shops or stores, and never leave any animal unattended in a car.
  • Please do NOT use “free to good home” ads to rehome your pet, they can fall into the wrong hands, if you cannot care for your pet anymore contact rescue organizations in your area.

PREVENT PET THEFT BEFORE IT HAPPENS!  Report any suspicious activity, or animal cruelty and neglect to your local police department and animal control office.

On this note we would like to wish all our friends Happy Valentines Day, we hope you have a wonderful day filled with love BUT also please keep us pets safe,

With a woof and love from Layla

Living with an abuser

TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday is here and we are having a heat wave and it’s hot that I am melting so Mom has all the fans going, a cooling mat and lots of cold water. We have not been out much because of the heat.


I am aware that many of you have read about Baby but I wanted to share with you what it is like to live in a Domestic Violence Relationship with a dog (pet) who is your furkid.

We adopted Baby from a shelter, she was the best thing that happened to me when I was in the relationship as I finally had someone who loved me unconditionally and gave me someone to look after plus so much more.

wearing one of the sweaters I knitted

My abuser did nothing for her but buy her some clothes, and I was fortunate to get money to buy her food although when possible I would share my chicken with her. She was a cute little dog, very good and walked off leash all the time. 


The major plus with having her was my ex never walked her so I was able to get out of the house and walk her alone which was a time for me to breathe and try to relax as much as possible without the verbal abuse. She loved those walks as much as I did as there was no tension in the air. 


My ex would hit her with a newspaper whenever possible for no reason, she would be locked out of the house in the heat for no reason (I many times was locked out with her), and I was threatened all the time that if she got sick there would be no vets and she would be put down only.


I was always relieved when my ex was at work as I would do everything to spoil her and keep her as happy as possible, fearing the time when my ex would return home.

When I decided to run, and like many, I could not leave her behind, and that is why I took my time leaving as I wanted to know that she would be safe with me wherever we went. I had even packed a tent just in case and I would have slept on the streets if I had to although we were fortunate. The rest is history and I have shared with you in many other blogs.

Layla for me is a blessing, when I rescued her I vowed our house would be happy, stress free and I feel sometimes out of guilt because what I went through with Baby I spoil Layla as much as possible and have in so many ways become her slave LOL but I have no regrets either.


Last weekend we finally managed to have a little adventure and went to Golden Gate Park with a friend, the weather was cool, I had my coffee and we just relaxed outdoors in the shade which was heaven. Layla of course wandered around a bit and then she did her park thing, lie down and watch the world go by. It was the best gift I could have had just being outdoors breathing fresh air.

What Layla does not know is that we are going for an evening picnic today to the park again and I am so looking forward to it. 


So once again I am telling everyone if you know someone in an abusive relationship, reach out, tell them you are there for them if they need it,  and even if they do not immediately take up your offer, them knowing you are there is very comforting for them.


Here is the link for the National Domestic Violence Hotline :
https://www.thehotline.org/

Be safe, take care and have a wonderful weekend Layla 

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

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

Helping Pets in need during the Lock Down

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 

Life is good in the Layla Neighborhood

Woof the weekend has arrived ! I wonder what Mom has planned for me as last weekend I had lots of fun.

Happy St. Roch’s Day which is today – who was he ? St. Roch, The Patron Saint of Dogs. It was the loving care a dog gave that led to St. Roch being named the Patron Saint of Dogs.


Yesterday, August 15th was Check Your MicroChip Day, to remind us all to make sure all our contact information is updated for emergencies and we hope everyone has checked theirs.


Last Friday Harry came to spend the day with us, he is an adorable Westie who like Layla spent most of the day sleeping BOL. She was really good with him, no arguing either HA till he decided to crawl into her box where she was sleeping, and suddenly a growl happened. He just backed away and she turned over and went to sleep. It was quite amusing and Harry’s Mom laughed with me over the whole thing. I hope he will come visit again as it was good for her.

On Saturday I caught up with housework, her weekly food, etc and then took the Madam and went to chill out in the park. It was a glorious day and great to be outdoors relaxing, Madam of course slept on the blanket and ran each time she saw one of her Uncles with treats.

Sunday was adventure day. In one of the neighborhoods they were having the Noe Valley Animal Fair. So backpack came out and off we went. It was a hot day so I made sure Madam had her cooling vest on also. There were goats, different species of birds, cats, rabbits and of course dogs. All the animals were up for adoption. 

LiLou the Therapy Pig was there also, she volunteers at San Francisco Airport and is a well known figure in our city.


For the children there was face painting, games, music and in a nutshell a fun family time for everyone.


Layla met a bunny close up for the first time and she was fascinated but very gentle, it was really cute.

On the way home we came through our park, sat in the shade under a tree relaxing like I love doing, cooled off while she wandered around for a bit, and then came home, where she ate and went to sleep. What a life !


The past couple of days have been really hot so we have been mainly indoors but last night we did something different and met a friend in the park at about 8 or so as it had cooled down and sat there for about 2 hours just chatting and relaxing. It was great to be outside in the cool weather and what was nice was there were quite a few people doing the same with their dogs.  So Layla also met some new dogs which was fun for her.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone,

With a woof and love From Layla 





Hide the Fireworks are Coming plus Give Away

Good Morning All,
Me the social butterfly has been really busy as always but it is keeping Mom and I young which is what i keep telling her.


I went to the vet last week as my eyes were really red and Mom was concerned, I hate that place. Anyway my favorite vet was there and she checked them and told Mom I have really bad allergies and dry eyes, so she gave Mom some ointment to put in my eyes and I think it is working cos I am less itchy. 


On Saturday we went to the Shih Tzu Meetup which is one of my favorite events as there are lots of dogs my size and they are all fluffy. It was loads of fun, the weather was fantastic and also being in a different park always makes things more interesting.


In the evening we met up with one of my favorite Aunts who was here in the city for 2 days. She is a very special lady as she runs a Fospice for pets by rescuing the seniors that have been dumped in shelters so that they can live the rest of their lives with love. You can read about her Sanctuary on her Facebook page.

This is the link to her Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/dreamsanctuary/

Sunday we just relaxed, Mom says she had no energy for anything so I took control and made sure we did lots of long walks. I am not interested in her being tired as I do not have a computer and need to check my pmail.

NOW as you all know 4th of July is around the corner, the nightmare for many pets because of the fireworks. It is so important that we, the parents keep our pets safe in the house and this is what I have found works for Layla.


I put a bed in the shower, water and some toys, making it comfortable for her if she needs it. I also keep music on, give her last walk at about 7 before the chaos starts and most important of all is I give her Hemp Oil. I am a firm believer of the Hemp Oil as it keeps her calm, relaxed and less worrying for me. 


The Hemp oil I use is from a company called Restorative Botanicals and swear by it. What I love also is that they have products for us also which makes a difference and when I am stressed out I drink their delicious coffee which keeps me calm. A must for us coffee drinkers.


This weekend we are going to Pride in San Francisco which is exciting although I hate the noise of the motor bikes so Mom will be giving me the Hemp Oil to stay calm, actually with age I am getting scared of many noises so this product is really easing my life in a big way.  

You can read all about them on their website :

https://www.restorativebotanicals.com/?rfsn=2263342.782237

GIVEAWAY TIME

So we decided to leave the BEST NEWS for last and that is Mom surprised me this week with some wonderful new treats, chicken jerky yummm and raw turkey necks to chew on especially on 4th of July which will keep me busy as I am inside more than normal plus what could be better than chewing away on something good.


What is the give away ??????? 


Freeze Dried Wild Caught Minnows. They are a single ingredient treat for both cats and dogs. This single source treat is perfect for pets on a limited ingredient diet, who have food allergies or stomach sensitivities. Minnows are easily digestible containing no grain, gluten, artificial flavors, additives, or preservatives. Sourced and packaged in the USA. 
I, Layla personally puts my paw of approval on them, they are delicious and I strongly suggest you enter to win as they are a must for the treat jar. I am also excited as once again I am sharing for both cats and dogs so everyone can enjoy.

You can find them on the link below and remember if you do shop there you have a discount of 15% with the coupon Layla15.

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/Default.asp?sscid=51k3_szat

We have been sponsored for this give away by the company. It is not open to Canadian residents only the USA.

All you have to do is enter on the link below :

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d1ec19c49/?

Before I log off here for the week we must NOT forget that 5th of July is the busiest day in shelters as they are saving and keeping all animals that have run away from the fireworks safe, so to all my fur friends everywhere, both domestic and wild, please be safe, try to stay calm and remember the stupid humans are to blame for us being scared on 4th of July.


Happy Pride to those that are celebrating this week and Happy Safe 4th of July Everyone.


With a woof and love from Layla 



Weekend has arrived and Give Away time

Goood Morning Fur Friends,


The weekend is arriving and I am so excited. 
Weather has warmed up in San Francisco, summer is around the corner and already all the fun weekend events are starting. 


Last weekend the weather was fantastic so on Sunday I took Layla to the 40th anniversary Easter in the Park Event. This event is organized every year at Easter by a non profit organization called The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. They are a non profit organization who have devoted themselves to community service, promoting human rights which includes respect for Diversity. You can read more about them on their website :  http:// https://www.thesisters.org/

Layla with some of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

It was a fun event, lots of music, laughter costumes of course and people and dogs. We sat back on the lawn listening and watching till Madam started to get antsy so after an hour or so we walked home and Madam fell asleep LOL.

So with that event last weekend and DogFest coming up this weekend the weekend outdoors life with events and parks is starting. I am so looking forward to it and I am sure Layla will be too when she see what she gains LOL.


With all this happening I decided to do a review of some new freeze dried treats as they are easy to carry and light and good for the munchies for Madam while we are out and about.  The treats that I have reviewed are from my favorite company Raw Paws Pet Food and the major plus is that they are for CATS also – yup, time to include the cats too. Of course, when we do reviews we do a give away and Layla has given her stamp of approval that these are the best of the best. 

She tasted:
The Free Run Chicken Recipe – I should make her run for these too, The Free Run Turkey Recipe,  The Free Run Duck Recipe, Grass Fed Beef Recipe 

All of them are : Grain Free and Gluten Free with no preservatives, additives or fillers. AND are made in the USA with no hormones or antibiotics.
To read more about their fantastic products here is the link :

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/default.asp

Plus don’t forget with the LAYLA15 coupon you get 15% off your order. 

Raw Paws Pet Food also offered to donate the above treats to one of our favorite Rescue Organizations and we chose Muttville Senior Rescue. 

Who is Muttville :

Muttville’s mission is to change the way the world thinks about and treats older dogs and to create better lives for them through rescue, foster, adoption, hospice, education, and advocacy.  The tragic truth is that every day, dogs in good health with wonderful personalities are euthanized. Why? They’re older. And because they’re older, they’re not considered adoptable. Muttville saves senior and special needs rescue dogs; finds suitable homes for those dogs that are adoptable and offers end of life care for those that are not. These are not just shelter dogs; every day, dogs are moved from loving homes to concrete cages because their guardians have died or moved or simply can’t care for them anymore. If we had our way, no dog would spend its last days in a cold, dark shelter. There is so much love and joy in these dogs! Bringing these special dogs into a home is not only good for the dogs, but such loving, mellow dogs transform the quality of life for the people who adopt or foster them.

You can read more about them on the link : :https://muttville.org/

WOOOF let the give away begin and good luck everyone.

This give away is open for the USA only and persons over 18 years old.  All you have to do is click on the rafflecopter link below and it will take you to entry form.

We were sponsored to do this give away and are so happy to be doing it as Layla woofs these treats are worthy of sharing.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone 

With a big Woof, Love and Licks from Layla

Rafflecopter Widget Link to enter :

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d1ec19c48/? 

Spring is in the Air

TGIF !!!!!  Woof Happy Friday all my fur friends and I hope you are all looking forward to the weekend the way we are.

We have had a busy week but also celebrating that the sun is shining and with the Daylight Savings we are now able to get to the park when I finish work. WOW what a concept, to feel the warm sun on your face after all the cold rainy weather. Not sure how long it will last but we are enjoying it immensely.

On Tuesday I took Layla for her annual check up. Growing old means being more careful, keeping double eyes on all and in a nutshell making sure she is getting all the correct nutrients in her food which I as a Jewish Mother is always worried about. They had done blood work on her a month ago as she had lost 1.5 lbs and I was really concerned BUT the happy news is she is back to her normal 15 lbs and nothing to worry about, she got a clean bill of health. I am so relieved over this as I know now I must be doing something right.


I spoke to the vet about her not wanting to go out after 7 in the evening and the vet told me not to worry, because of her one eye going blind she might be afraid of the dark so just to let her do what she wants and if she needs to go out she will tell me, which is what she normally does. 


Now as you all know I cook for Layla, and one of my biggest worries is that her food is not properly balanced so I am always doing research, checking and have come across the most amazing supplements which even my vet said she can see the difference in her since I have been giving them. Plus they are made in the USA which is the most important of all.

What are they :

01. Raw Paws Hip and Joint Support for Dogs and Cats : Organic hip and joint supplement is beneficial for all pet life stages from puppies and kittens up to seniors! This joint supplement is a healthy blend of green lipped mussel powder, ginger, turmeric curcumin, pumpkin and ceylon cinnamon. Giving this daily supplement offers natural arthritis relief without the nasty side effects from pet arthritis medicine! 

02.  Raw Paws Mineral Rich Organic Sea Kelp Daily Supplement for Dogs and Cats : This excellent natural source of iodine supports glandular functioning such as thyroid health and metabolism. With an improved metabolism, the overall health of your pets will improve by an increase in energy and decrease in inflammation and infection. Sea Kelp promotes oral health by reducing buildup of plaque and tartar for healthy teeth. Being the #1 source of natural trace minerals, sea kelp helps to strengthen the immune system, promotes a healthy skin and coat, reduces itching and fortifies the blood for an overall healthy, vibrant life! Sea Kelp also has 60 different vitamins, minerals, and trace elements as well as 21 amino acids. Made with zero artificial ingredients.

And I think the most important for our pampered pets are the TREATS which Layla is addicted to now. They sent me :

01. Chicken Jerky for dogs only  02. Freeze Dried Green Tripe which is for both Dogs and Cats 03. Freeze Dried Duck which is for both Dogs and Cats .

Layla is at this moment in Treat Heaven, every time she hears a bag she thinks its treats.


A Give Away (see the Rafflecopter Widget below) of a basket with Chicken Breast Jerky (8 oz), Freeze Dried Duck Treats (4 oz), and Freeze Dried Beef Green Tripe Treats (4oz).

For those that are interested in shopping a coupon :

All you have to do is go their website and type in : LAYLA15 and get 15% off your order.There is no expiration date on this coupon but it is a one time use only.

To read more about them and shop this is their website link : https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/Default.asp?sscid=31k3_bjjd8

Raw Paws Pet Food has sponsored me for this review plus give away which is only open for the USA.

Woof to all our fur friends that are entering, as you can see I love sharing with my cat friends also, so good luck. I am off now to beg for some more treats from Mom.

Have a wonderful weekend, Layla

The Rafflecopter Link for the Giveaway :

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d1ec19c47/?




Poison Prevention Awareness Month.

March has arrived and the rains are still here. When will they stop. The good news is that California is out of drought the last I read but the grounds are so soaked that they are not absorbing the rains anymore. One muddy mess in the dog park LOL which Madam does not like.

March is also an important month as it is Poison Prevention Awareness Month.

Please keep us safe !

This is so important and it reminds us how important it is to keep our pets safe from anything toxic which leads to illness and sometimes death. So Layla decided that this week our blog is going to focus on this subject to make sure that all our fur friends are safe both in the house and outside. The way we child proof a house and garden, we should pet proof the same way.

01. Plants can be poisonous especially azalea, oleander, castor bean, sago palm, Easter lily or yew plant material eaten by an animal can be fatal.


02.. Cleaning products – those are dangerous and should not be lying around in the house. Please store them in a place that your pets have no access to. I personally only use Apple Cider Vinegar in the house for cleaning, etc as that way I know if Layla walks on the wet floor she is safe.


03. Medications – never give your pets medications unless directed by a Vet. Keep all medications locked away so they cannot find them.


04. Chocolate is a BIG NO. 

05.  Household products like coffee grinds, play dough, fabric softener sheets and more are all toxic to your pets.


06. Automotive products – please do not leave them lying around the garage and if something spills make sure to clean up.


07. Flea Meds – all pets have different reactions to these so please check with your vet before you administer them to your pets.


08. Always read all instructions / cautions of any product before using it in your house, garden or on your pet. 

09. Keep your pets inside or away from any insecticides  Also keep your pets away from fertilizers on the grass or in the garden. All of them can be toxic. Plus make sure you store these products in a place that is inaccessible to your pets.


10. Do not use products for dogs on cats and vice versa unless it says you can. 


11. If you are uncertain about the proper usage of any product, contact the manufacturer and/or your veterinarian for instructions.ASPCA National Animal Poison Control CenterSuite 361717 Philo RoadUrbana, IL 61801

Phone : (888) 4-ANI-HELP


I am aware we do these reminders all the time but I feel by reading the above, remembering we are keeping our pets safe, no extra vet bills or expenses and most of all we have a happy healthy home.


So now that Layla has woofed all this she is going back to bed LOL,
Be safe and have a great week, With love from Layla