Molly Mutt Dog Duvet

I spotted the cutest thing at Brother Wolf’s Re-Tail Store recently: the Molly Mutt dog bed duvet.

Made of 100 percent, pre-shrunk cotton, the dog bed duvet is a great idea. You stuff the duvet with old pillows, clothes, whatever you material you like. Instant dog bed!

The bed is very well made with piped edges and nice sewing. The fabric is thick and feels as if it will be durable.

I was a little disappointed to see the “Made in China” sticker. I thought I was buying a locally made product. However, it is a really well made duvet.

If you are interested, check out the website: mollymutt.com.

Rescue Mommy

Looking for Deals?

During the economic downturn, spending on pets actually increased. It seems we are willing to do without cable TV and other luxuries. We will not sacrifice an extra squeaky toy for Fido.

I love looking around for deals. I have had a lot of luck lately at TJ Maxx, of all places. I found Gracie’s Earthbath brand paw wipes for half the cost I pay everywhere else. I also spotted great deals on beds and kitty condos. They have expanded their selection of pet supplies in recent months. If you have a store near you, you should check it out.

Overstock.com and Amazon.com are also good sources. I found a variety of products on both sites recently, all priced below what I find in stores.

If you have found good deals, post a comment. We all need to stretch our dollars as much as we can!

Rescue Mommy

Bele Chere Warning

This Friday through Sunday, July 27 to 29, Asheville will hold a popular street festival called Bele Chere. Each year, a huge section of downtown Asheville is closed. Booths line the streets. Vendors sell food, crafts, and all sorts of things. Stages are set up around town so you can listen to music from various artists.

If you are thinking about attending the festival, be warned: leave your furry friend at home. Dogs are not allowed into the festival. You really should not bring them even if you could. The temperatures are always hot, making the pavement unbearable for sensitive paws. Food and other trash litter the streets and would end up in your buddy’s belly.

Drink plenty of water if you want to attend. Let your buddy relax at home.

Rescue Daddy

Pet Loss Support

It is always difficult losing a pet. Some people do not understand how deep the hurt can be. With good fortune, the parent of a human child will outlive that child. They can watch the child grow for decades.

On the other hand, we pet parents know that our time with our furry friends slips by like sand in an hourglass. If we are lucky, we might get 15, 16 years. We know this every time we bring an animal in the home. The relationship is destined to end in heartbreak, yet we do it anyway.

The grief can be hard to handle. You are not crazy. You are not “wrong” to feel this way about an animal. He or she was your friend, and you have a right to grieve.

Fortunately, there are resources available to help you cope with the grief. The local emergency animal hospital, REACH, has a great section on their website:

www.reachvet.com/node/691/

Here, you will find references to a few books they recommend. They have also posted links to helpful websites and local support group information. They included that heartbreaking “Rainbow Bridge” story at the bottom of the page. If you have never read it, have a box of tissue handy. A person would have a heart of stone not to cry from reading it.

You can enter “pet loss support” at Google and find even more information. You do not have to suffer in silence. Sadly, all pet parents eventually go through this.

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

Lessons Learned

I cannot help but wonder, “Is there something I could have done differently?” whenever I think about poor Maddy. If you have been through a similar experience, you know how you wonder this about pets you have lost. You have to tread carefully. The key is to learn from the experience and use those lessons to care for your living pets. Honor the memory of your departed friend by being an even better parent and cherish the good memories you have. Do not wallow in the grief.

So, as I ponder the “what if” question, I have a few lessons to share with you. I hope you too can use these lessons to be a better parent to your furry friends.

I should have taken the weight issue much more seriously. I knew it was not healthy for her to be so overweight. I tried over the years to switch to different foods. I should have tried harder, though. It is difficult with two cats to monitor food intake. It takes extra work - separate feedings, taking away food, et cetera. I should have done it.

I also should have been diligent about weight checks. I checked her weight occasionally. I should have dedicated myself to checking it on a regular basis as I worked with the diet food to get her weight under control. I should have charted her weight and food intake from week to week.

I did not do these things, though. If we are honest with ourselves, I am sure all of us can say we do not even do these things for our own bodies, much less our pets.

So, what am I going to do going forward with Kiki and Gracie? I am going to keep a close eye on their weight, obviously. Their current weight is acceptable for their body types.

It is time for Kiki to have a checkup, so we will do a full blood panel and compare it to her last one. Given her age, I should consider taking her to the vet more frequently, so we can catch issues early. She will not live forever, but I can give her a good life while she is here.

As for Gracie, I will continue with her exercise regimen and keep a close eye on her weight too. Her next checkup is due in the fall.

Am I beating myself up about Maddy? Obviously, I am a little. However, I know this for certain: Maddy did not suffer. She had a warm home in the wintertime and a cool home in the summer, filled with lots of comfy beds, kitty condos, and cat toys. She had lots of good food to eat (clearly). Born to a stray momma, her life turned out very well, and how can you be sad about that?

Rescue Mommy

Give My Love to Rose

On Saturday, Gracie and I visited Brother Wolf. While there, I heard a very sad story and hope that someone reading this will be compelled to act.

Rose is a Jack Russell terrier. Her story is the reason why everyone should adopt a shelter pet, or, if you must adopt that special breed you cannot live without, go through a respectable breeder. She came from a puppy mill. The good folks at Brother Wolf can give you the full story which will make you want to kill the humans who had her. You may be shocked at such strong words. Trust me; they are deserved.

The bottom line is this poor dog has been badly mistreated. She is fearful of humans – and for good reason. She is undernourished both physically and psychologically. She desperately needs a foster home, if you are not able to give her a permanent home.

I would love to take her, but Gracie has not improved enough with her social skills to bring another dog into the house. She would bully this already heartbroken dog, and that is the last thing poor Rose needs. Rose needs lots of nurturing so she can bloom like the sweet flower for which she is named.

Fostering through Brother Wolf is a great thing if you can do it. They provide food and medical care. You provide a safe, loving home. When she is ready, you will take her to adoption events, and, hopefully, she can meet someone who can give her the home she deserves.

For more information about Rose, please contact Brother Wolf at 828-505-3440.

Rescue Mommy

Pet Insurance: Yes or No?

Maddy’s recent illness was costly. We have been wondering whether or not we should purchase pet insurance. We are going to dig a little deeper and post an entry in the future about our decision.


In the June/July/August issue of the Bark magazine, they have an interesting article about pet insurance options. Unfortunately, they do not have a link posted on their website. You’ll have to buy the magazine. It is well worth buying, by the way. The magazine has lots of really great articles in addition to the one about pet insurance.

We will keep you posted as we research our options. We are not entirely sure pet insurance is a good value but want to take a closer look.

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

Tips for Managing Pet Records

When my previous two dogs fell ill with cancer, I learned how important it was to stay organized. After those experiences, I became better prepared for future situations. It helped with Maddy’s recent illness.

The first thing I did was keep separate files for each pet. I have copies of health records. If my pets have blood work, I get a copy of the results. I keep notes in each file of any medicines they are taking. The goal is to be able to yank the file folder out of the cabinet and take it with me in an emergency situation. I would have all the medical information at my fingertips.

If one of my pets is experiencing a serious issue, I keep a separate folder. In that folder, I have all the information about the issue – medicines they are taking, blood work, et cetera. I insert a legal pad in the folder and note information about when medicines were administered, how much food they have eaten, et cetera. I keep meticulous notes about everything. You would be surprised how helpful some of the information is to a veterinarian, particularly an emergency vet who does not know your pet.

On the legal pad, be sure to take careful notes whenever the veterinarian speaks with you. If you are in a stressful situation, you may forget key things. You may be overwhelmed with emotion. Take good notes so you can refer to them later after you have a chance to calm down.

This may sound like overkill. It works, though. It is hard to make rational decisions and answer your vet’s questions when your pet is lying on a table, sick. Take the time to organize your records will make the whole experience a little bit more manageable.

Rescue Mommy

How is Everyone?

As the saying goes, life goes on. Everyone is adjusting to life without Maddy around the house. Gracie seems to be the most impacted of all.

The first day or two after Maddy passed away, Gracie walked around the house. She smelled all the places where Maddy had been. It was as if she tried to figure out where Maddy was.

She is perceptive toward my moods. She has been extra snuggly. She is trying to be patient with Kiki, allowing her to sleep on the bed every night. I can tell she still hates it, though. She is happy to give Rescue Daddy an extra kiss too, but she is 100 percent my dog. It is all about making Mommy happy.

Kiki has been following us around the house more than usual. If she does not sit in one of our laps, she sits nearby. I am not sure if she misses Maddy or just wants to comfort us.

Whenever one of our furry friends passes, life is weird for awhile. If you are mourning too, please know that it will get easier. Focus on the happy times you had with your friend. Just keep swimming.

Rescue Mommy

Essential Books

I have written about this book before. If you did not take my advice and buy it, I highly recommend that you do.

The book is Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook (Third Edition) by Doctors Debra M. Eldredge, Delbert G. Carlson, Liisa D. Carlson, and James M. Giffin. They have a dog version too that you should have in your library if you are a dog parent.

The books are invaluable. I turn to them every time I have a question about something happening to my pets. With my dogs Perdy and Dino, the dog version explained some of the terms the vet used when discussing their conditions. With Maddy, the cat version helped me understand the possible outcomes from all the different problems she might be having.

I am an analytical person. I need information. I need facts so I can understand what is happening, and, hopefully, I can make good decisions not based purely upon emotion. Both books give me that much needed information. I strongly encourage you to add these books to your library.

Rescue Mommy

Happier Times

Animal Compassion Network volunteers had setup a few cages of kittens at a local pet store. I had just moved into my new house and wanted to find a companion for Kiki. I was “just looking.” How many of you have said that?

One cage held two older kittens: one black, one tortoiseshell. I asked to see both kittens in a separate room. The black kitten bounced around the room, a little bundle of energy. The tortoiseshell kitten wandered around on a table and did not seem as lively as the other one. Given Kiki’s laidback mood, I thought the tortoiseshell would be more compatible.

I christened her “Maddy.” I introduced her to Kiki by placing the cat carrier on the floor. Of course, Kiki hissed and growled at Maddy. I knew they should be supervised for awhile so I locked Maddy in the spare bathroom when I went to work.

Oftentimes, I would find Maddy curled in the sink basin when I returned. She was seven months old, long and skinny. This was back in the day when she could actually fit in a sink basin.

A few days later, I returned from work to find the bathroom door open. I must not have secured the door because Kiki shoved it open. Whatever differences they had, they sorted them that day.

Maddy was a contrast to Kiki’s refined attitude. She liked to stick her paws in the food and water bowls. Sometimes, she would take bits of kibble and wash it in the water bowls like a raccoon. She gobbled her food as soon as it was placed in the bowl. She was not as neat as Kiki. Sometimes, I could see the disgust written all over Kiki’s face as she eyed Maddy from across the room.

When Gracie joined the family, Maddy was the most welcoming. While she did not cuddle against Gracie and groom her, she did accept her presence better than Kiki has. They would sleep on opposite ends of the sofa. Maddy would hide underneath the bed with Gracie. For Gracie’s part, she would not fuss much whenever Maddy wanted to sleep on the bed with us.

She was a unique cat whose life turned out okay. She was born in a strange house to a stray cat who wandered in through a cat door. She had the good fortune to end up at a no-kill rescue group instead of a kill shelter. She spent eleven years in a safe home where her every need was met. She had plenty of toys and warm beds. She had our undying love and affection. Rest in peace.

Rescue Mommy

What Happened to Maddy?

This post is going to be long, so be patient.

Do you remember how excited we were that Maddy was finally losing weight? She has struggled for years, and the new food seemed to be doing the trick. Over the last few weeks, she seemed to feel better too. She was more social. She ran around the house, playing with toys. We were thrilled.

Well, about two or three weeks ago, her appetite began to wane. We did not think much of it because Kiki was not eating as much as normal. They had both switched completely to the new foods. Maybe the food was more filling the old food? Kiki’s appetite eventually stabilized while Maddy’s did not.

Then, Maddy stopped eating altogether. She also sneezed quite a bit. We took her to the vet, thinking she might have a cold and just felt bad. He suspected something else and drew blood for a CBC. The test results would not be back until the following Tuesday, though. Things went downhill from there.

On Sunday, June 24, I took Maddy to REACH, an emergency animal hospital in our area. We had a feeling that something was not right. They performed an array of tests and said she needed to be hospitalized. She was anemic and dehydrated. Later that evening, she crashed. She was unresponsive. She had a period of open-mouth breathing, which is never good. They gave her a blood transfusion, and she seemed to improve.

The rest of the week was spent shuttling her back and forth to the vet’s office. She spent parts of the week at both REACH and her vet’s office for monitoring. Then, we switched to days only at the vet’s office. She remained anemic but stable. She refused to eat, so we were force feeding her.

At first, the diagnosis was a blood parasite. The initial blood smear showed something that looked like mycoplasma haemophilus (formerly called Hemobartonella felis), a parasite caused by a flea bite. A more definitive blood test was ordered. It came back negative for all three forms of mycoplasma. This was good news for Kiki, since it is contagious to other cats in the home. It was bad news for Maddy, though, because we still had no clear idea what was happening to her.

An ultrasound showed an enlarged liver, so hepatic lipodosis was considered as the possible culprit. Being overweight predisposes cats to this condition. We could not confirm it, though, without a biopsy or needle aspirate of the liver. Until her anemia was under control, it was too dangerous.

We were prepared to force feed her and try some medicines for a time. As always, we looked to her for clues about whether or not she wanted to fight. She gave us the final answer on Saturday evening.

People always say the animals will let you know when it is time, and it is so true. On Friday evening, there was a moment when we were force feeding her that she “disappeared.” She was limp. We held her face and looked deeply into her eyes. She was alive and breathing, but her soul drifted someplace else for a few minutes.

On Saturday, her cold worsened. She had a green discharge from her nose and eyes. She stopped purring; she has always been a loud, purring cat. This was significant.

She moved a few steps around the living room and cried incessantly, even after we placed Gracie downstairs. When we tried feeding her, she swallowed some of the food but rolled most of it around her mouth. She was done.

It is devastating to make that decision. You question whether or not you are doing the right thing. In the end, though, it can be the last gift you give your friend. No one should suffer a slow, agonizing death.

We hope you are finally at peace, Maddy. Now, you can be as fat as you want without any worry about the consequences! Until we meet again….

Rescue Mommy and Daddy