Carlson 0930PW Extra-Wide Walk-Thru Pet Gate with Pet Door

Sold at Amazon.com

About $40

29-44 inches wide, 30 inches high

I have one area of the house where Gracie is not allowed to visit: the hallway leading to the guest bathroom. Kiki’s litter box is in a nearby room. Her food is in the bathroom. Both places are highly tempting to Gracie. Whenever Gracie is upstairs unattended, I place a child’s gate in the hallway. Gracie could easily jump it, but she knows not to do it.

Climbing over the cheapo child’s gate is a pain, though. I spotted a very nice pet gate in a pet supply catalog. It had a door you could open as well as a little opening at the bottom. The idea was the little opening could be used by a smaller pet while the large door would be closed. It seemed like the perfect idea.

It was a bit expensive though. Then, I spotted a similar gate on Amazon.com. Priced at $40 and shipped for free, the Carlson pet gate seemed like the thing for me. Well, it was not.

For starters, it was a colossal pain to install. Rescue Daddy and I both walked away from it a few times lest our tempers get the better of us, and we sling it into the yard. The gate has pressure tension spring thingies that pin into the wall (think shower curtain rod). Well, if you overextend them as you try to get a tight fit, the springs eventually get to the point where they simply will not turn any further.

Supposedly, when the springs are properly extended, the gap between the gate’s door and the gate will close, allowing you to then use the gate properly. We cannot get the gap to close, so we use an old sock to secure the door. Classy.

As for that little opening for a small pet…even though I carefully measured Gracie, she must have either slipped through the opening or jumped the gate. I found her standing on the wrong side of the gate one evening, wagging her tail and smacking her lips after devouring Kiki’s cat food. (Thankfully, it was not the litter box.)

The next night, I tried closing the little door and tying the big door shut. I left Kiki in the bathroom to eat her food. When I returned from the laundry room, I found Kiki sitting in the bedroom. I examined the gate. Kiki had head-butted the gate until she could squeeze through the opening and escape. You cannot win with this gate.

I am glad I only spent $40. If I had paid full price for this thing, I would be seriously mad. I still use the gate because I paid money for the darn thing, and it would cost too much to send it back. I definitely would NOT recommend the gate to anyone else, though. You have been warned.

Rescue Mommy

Solvit Tagalong Pet Booster Seat Jumbo

Sold online at PetSmart, Amazon.com, Doctors Foster and Smith, other vendors

$50-$70, depending upon vendor and current sale

I have been thinking about this purchase for awhile. It is no secret that Gracie hates riding in a car, so I was afraid this would be a total waste of money. Lately, she has been peeping out the windows during car rides, though. I wondered if she might enjoy a better view.

I spotted this car seat on PetSmart’s website. That weekend, they offered free shipping and 20 percent off travel products. Purchases made through PetSmart.com can be returned at the store. I decided to gamble. I ordered the “jumbo” size after measuring both Gracie and the seat in my car.

To my surprise, Gracie actually likes the car seat. She hopped into the seat as soon as it was assembled. She has even slept in it after I removed it from the car. She thinks it makes a great bed.

How about in the car, though? Well, her first ride was as it normally is – she was nervous. The return trip, though, was a little better. I think she liked being able to snuggle into the car seat.

The “jumbo” size gave her plenty of room to stretch. Gracie weighs between 17 and 19 pounds, so take that into consideration when you see the pictures at the end of this post.

The seat itself seems very sturdy. It was not too terribly difficult to assemble if you carefully read the instructions. The framework is a thick plastic material that seems durable. The imitation sheepskin and canvas covers are nice, but the sheepskin-like material seems too thin. The cushion was thin as well and had a polyester bottom that meant the cushion slipped at the slightest twist from Gracie. Also, the strap that secures the dog to the car seat seemed too fragile.

I made some modifications. I bought a bed pillow, covered it with a pillow case, and placed that in the car seat. It does raise Gracie a tad higher than the other cushion, but she has better padding. I think she will be more comfortable on longer trips.

I also use my own safety harness. I thread it through the seat belt and extend it so it is long enough to secure Gracie to seat, yet not too long to be a safety hazard. (I purchased it at Petco ages ago; it has a loop through which you insert the seat belt and a hook to connect to Gracie’s harness on the other end.)

One last comment: I read a review somewhere that said the seat was difficult to install. Have you ever installed a car seat for a human child? Well, it is not quite that difficult but pretty close. You must thread the seat belt through the bottom of the car seat, which is a bit cumbersome. It secures the seat, though, so it is worth the effort.

I definitely recommend this seat if you are looking for this sort of thing. Oh, my goodness – does this mean I am officially a crazy dog person??

Rescue Mommy

I have added a new pillow to the car seat in the pic shown above.

Note difference in Gracie's position from this pic to the one on the bottom,

which has the original cushion in the seat.  As you can see, she

sits lower in the seat with the original cushion.

Ms. Gracie Goes to the Office

On Friday, Gracie became the first dog to stay all day at our office. We are in the midst of a big and very stressful software upgrade. We needed an infusion of fun, and Gracie certainly provided it.

I did not announce that she was there. I left people discover it on their own, usually by whistling for her. It is amazing how light the mood became when Gracie bounced into the room. Some people even made a point of dropping by a few times during the day just to pet her.

She did surprisingly well. She is sometimes nervous in unfamiliar situations. She was a little nervous when three people surrounded her, but that was the only time. She was even brave enough to venture to a couple of offices on her own and visit with my co-workers, even jumping into one person’s lap.

She has been invited back for future visits. Hopefully, she will be even more relaxed on the next visit. And, with any luck, she will bring the same feeling of happiness to the office again. We need it!

Rescue Mommy

P.S. Tune in tomorrow to the Rescue Pets blog, and read Gracie’s thoughts about the visit. She told me she will post some pictures too.

Puppia Dog Harness

Puppia Dog Harness


Sold in pet boutiques and at Amazon.com

Paid around $22 for medium size at a pet boutique, $17 at amazon.com

We had large dogs before Gracie came into our lives. As a result, all of my “equipment” was way too big for her. One of the first pieces of essential equipment I bought was a harness.

I purchased a basic, nylon harness. It worked fine and was made well. Gracie tends to pull on the lead, though, especially during the first part of the walk. I did not like the way it seemed to chafe underneath her front legs.

While browsing around the local Three Dog Bakery, I found the Puppia harness. I LOVE it!! It is the best harness.

The harness is made from a mesh material that seems to be very breathable. It has enough thickness to be sturdy yet not overheat the dog. The clips are plastic; however, it is tough, thick, durable plastic.

Gracie has used Puppia harnesses for 3 years now. I have not experienced any issues with breakage. I have noticed slight stretching, but nothing that makes the harness unsafe. I just tighten the straps a bit to compensate for stretching.

She wears a tan-colored harness nearly every day. I have replaced it once. It had started to fray around her chest. I suspect it was my fault because, when I clipped the tag for the harness, I cut the piping too. Despite several repairs, the fraying could not be mended permanently. The mesh and other parts of the harness were still in good shape, though.
As I mentioned, I found the first harness at Three Dog Bakery. I have spotted the harness at other pet boutiques; I have not seen the Puppia harness in national chains, though. I have even found it on Amazon.com, where it is much more affordable and in a wide variety of styles.

You can find a similar (and sometimes cheaper) style at national chain stores, including Wal-Mart. The imitation harnesses do not seem to be made as well as the Puppia harness. In one case, the fabric felt very stiff which would lead to chafing. In another, the fabric was too thin. I could easily see Gracie ripping it on the first walk.

Yes, it is a bit more expensive than a basic harness. I do not mind paying more, though, for quality, and that is what you get with a Puppia harness.

Rescue Mommy

Note: Gracie weighs about 19 pounds. I purchased a size medium harness for her. It would be a good idea to know your dog’s measurements before you shop for any harnesses or collars. The neck area is particularly important with this harness, as a size small was too narrow for her.

The front of the Puppia harness

The back of the harness

Ah, Nuts!!

My dad decided to try one of those health food cereals that resemble twigs, gravel, and tree bark. He hated it and gave the bag to me. He knows we try to eat a healthy diet.

As I transferred the cereal into the storage container, a few pieces of it fell onto the kitchen floor. Like a little vacuum, Gracie sucked up the pieces before I could stop her. I quickly inspected the cereal and was dismayed to see it contained slivers of almond.

I knew that certain nuts were toxic to pets. I also suspected she had only consumed one little sliver, so I doubted she would be harmed. For good measure, I hopped onto the computer and searched the Internet for information about toxicity. Here are the links I found:

http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-health-toxins/Nut-Dangers-to-Dogs.aspx

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/211105.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Grapes,-Nuts,-and-Your-Dogs-Health---Foods-that-Fido-should-Avoid&id=20315

I also called REACH, the local emergency animal hospital. Since it was only one sliver, they were not concerned.

Some of you may think I am a nut myself. Yeah, I probably am overly cautious. However, it is important to remember that some nuts are highly toxic. As you will see from the links, macadamia nuts in particular are very, very dangerous.

I must also take Gracie’s size into consideration. Gracie is not a 100-pound Labrador Retriever. A little goes a long way with small dogs. Given the staggering financial and emotional costs of pet treatment, a little dose of caution is a good thing.

By the way, the cereal was HORRIBLE.

Rescue Mommy

Petco Stainless Steel Bowl Recall

I was browsing several pet supply websites on Saturday. I noticed a small notice about a recall of stainless steel bowls sold at Petco and wanted to alert you.

It seems the bowls could potentially contain radioactive material. The link below details which bowls are involved in the recall and tells you to return them to the store for a refund:

http://www.petco.com/petco_page_pc_stainlessbowlnotice.aspx

If you recently purchased a stainless steel bowl at Petco, you should definitely take a look at the link.

Rescue Mommy

Mega Adoption Weekend

If you are looking for the love of your life, plan to attend the Mega Adoption Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16. Sponsored by PetSmart Charities, the event will be held at the PetSmart on Bleachery Boulevard, off Swannanoa River Road. The hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and other animal rescue groups will be there with lots of dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens who are looking for their forever homes. In addition, a $20 micro-chippping service will be available. There will also be raffle prizes and other things.

Gracie and I have attended the event in the past. Usually, a local photographer takes photos of your pet for a donation to one of the rescue groups. We have also spotted booths from a few vendors.

You might see us there. Gracie will be the little JRT who is saying, “NO!! NO!!! NO!!!!”

Rescue Mommy

Let Go of the Dream

I read a really interesting article in The Bark magazine. Laurel Saville talks about how much fantasy and reality can differ when it comes to our furry friends:

http://thebark.com/content/waking-my-dream-dog

If you have followed my blog, you know I have struggled with some of the same issues she mentioned in her article. I bet some of you have as well. It is an interesting read. Enjoy!

Rescue Mommy

Veterans Need Your Help

It was a cold January morning three years ago. I was exhausted. My dog Dino had cancer and was having a bad episode. We spent Saturday night/Sunday morning at the emergency vet hospital. I was running late for the short walkie we took every morning.

When we stepped outside, I immediately smelled wood smoke. It was a bit unusual for someone to be burning that early or even in January, but you never know about people. As we approached the gate to our driveway, I looked up. Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky. My first thought was my parents’ house was on fire.

I could hear the sirens of the fire trucks. I returned Dino to the house, jumped in my car, and raced up the road. To my horror, I rounded the last curve before my parents’ driveway and saw my grandparents’ house on fire. It was too late for the fire department to save the house. It was fully involved – with my grandfather trapped inside. My grandmother had frantically tried to save him but could not.

Even though it has been three years, memories of that day haunt me. Every time I smell wood smoke, the images flash in my brain. When I am under a lot of stress, I become hyper-vigilant about little things, like whether or not I unplugged the coffee maker. It is getting better than it was three years ago, but I doubt you ever really recover from that kind of shock.

If I get that upset over one event in my otherwise blessed life, what must our soldiers feel? These brave men and women have witnessed unbelievable horrors in their service to the country. When they return, many of them struggle to cope. Some turn to therapy dogs to assist them with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many stories have been written about how these dogs give soldiers a chance at regaining some small piece of their previous life.

Imagine my shock last week when I read that the Veterans Affairs Administration does not pay for dogs who assist patients with mental health issues. According to an article I read last week on CNN’s website, the VA is conducting a study to determine the efficacy of these dogs. What do the soldiers who are suffering now do while the government conducts the study?

Fortunately, organizations have taken it upon themselves to assist veterans by providing them with therapy dogs. Before donating or volunteering, be sure to research the organization. I have read that several inexperienced trainers have popped up offering therapy dogs, so do your homework.

At the end of this post, I have listed links to two stories about therapy dogs as well as a link to Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that trains service dogs. If you would like to help, I am sure they would appreciate your donation.

Rescue Mommy

Links:

http://www.apa.org/news/psycport/PsycPORTArticle.aspx?id=knightridder_2012_09_05__0000-4183-PM-VA-says-no-service-dogs-warranted-for-war-stress-sufferers-0905-20120905.xml

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/01/health/mental-health-service-dogs/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/

Talk to the Animals

The other day, Gracie and I were in a pet store. I picked up a winter coat and hold it up to Gracie, trying to determine if it would fit. I told her that I was not fond of the color but liked the style of the jacket. Since she would wear the coat on daily walkies, I surmised the color would be fine, very utilitarian. I asked her what she thought and discussed some other things about the coat.

When I looked up, I noticed the lady behind the counter was staring at me, trying to determine if I was talking to her. I told her Gracie and I was discussing the coat. She looked at me as if I had two heads. Whatever.

Rescue Daddy and I talk to Kiki and Gracie all the time. As a result, they understand a lot of what we say. I read a recent study that suggested dogs have the vocabulary of a two-year old human child. I believe it. Gracie definitely understands “porch,” “basement,” “goodie,” “walkie,” “tinkle,” and other words. Even though she joined our family when she was an adult dog, she learned these words because we talk to her all the time.

I encourage you to talk with your pet. (If you are too embarrassed, you do not have to do it in public.) They are little sponges. They will learn so much from you – and you will get a free therapist! If they tire of your endless prattling, trust me; they will walk away. Kiki does it all the time, usually after sighing heavily.

Rescue Mommy

A Tale of Two Vet Visits

As I wrote last week, we decided to give another vet a try. On Friday evening, I took Kiki for a checkup. What an interesting experience!

I confess that, like most cat parents, we have been remiss in regular visits for them. We have taken the cats about every three years or so, instead of annually as we have with the dogs. As a result, Kiki is not used to visiting the vet and tends to be a bit…well, you will see.

She was EVIL. They tried every trick they knew to calm her so they could perform the exam. They placed a blanket over her, attempting to sooth her while avoiding an attack. It was like tossing a rattlesnake in a bag. It just made her angrier. She emitted otherworldly noises that sounded like something from a horror movie about demonic possession. It was truly terrifying.

Despite my reluctance to sedate animals, I was the one who first brought up the subject. The vet agreed and prescribed a mild sedative for her. We will try a dose before the next visit because some cats actually become even more excitable with this drug. That’s the last thing we need! We will keep you posted about how that goes.

Gracie’s visit was the complete opposite. She was very nervous, even shaking a bit in the waiting room. She raced around the exam room. She leapt 4-feet into the air, trying to land on the exam table. She kissed the vet and the vet tech. In other words, typical Jack Russell behavior!

Overall, I was really pleased with the visits, even Kiki’s failed exam attempt. The staff was very nice. I appreciated that they discussed the charges in detail before we even started the exam. They tossed in some “free” tests if you did certain things. Yeah, I know the tests are not “free,” but other places would have charged for those tests as well as the ones we ordered.

When it comes to our furry kids, we must be open to trying to new things. So far, I am quite pleased with the change.

Rescue Mommy