Visit our website!

  • http://www.rescuepetsrule.com

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic

Animal Compassion Network is offering low-cost vaccine clinics over the next few months. This is a great way to keep your pet healthy when money is tight. Here are the services and cost:

• Rabies vaccine ( must have prior certificate to get 3-year vaccine; otherwise, you will get the 1-year vaccine): $10

• DHLPP or DHPP: $15

• Bordetella (kennel cough): $15

• FVRCP: $15

• FeLV (recommended if cat is indoor/outdoor): $15

• Microchip (with free registration): $15

Vaccines will be administered by Dr. Margaret Moncure, DVM, of the Appalachian Animal Hospital. The clinics will be held at Animal Compassion’s store, Pet Harmony. The store is located at 803 Fairview Road in Asheville.

The clinics will be offered from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 5/19/12, 7/14/12, and 9/8/12. They may offer another date in November, possibly 11/12.

Animal Compassion also offers low and no cost spay/neuter vouchers. In addition, you can pick up a single application of Advantix/Advantage for $15 for dogs and $5 for cats.

For more information, contact the Network through the store at 828-274-3647.

Rescue Mommy

Monday, May 14, 2012

Dispoz-A-Scoop

Tired of the “warm handshake” you experience when cleaning up after your dog? A few years ago, I found a great product called Dispoz-A-Scoop. It is fantastic!

The scooper bag is attached to a cardboard and metal piece. You simply shovel the waste into the bag. You can push the cardboard into the ground to close the bag, but it can sometimes be tricky to close it. I usually carry the bag by the cardboard piece to the nearest trash can.

The scoopers are 99 percent biodegradable. It is true. I found some Dispoz-A-Scoops buried in a cabinet. I am not sure how long they had been there. The decomposition process had begun. The plastic bag part was in tatters.

The product can be a little hard to find. The local PetSmart used to carry them. I bought a huge box from the mail order company, Drs. Foster and Smith. You can buy a box of 48 units for $24.99 or 96 for $39.99. Here is a link to their website: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/.

I know the product is a bit more expensive than a grocery bag or biodegradable plastic bags. For me, it is worth the extra expense because I HATE the warm handshake. It is gross! If you feel the same way, give Dispoz-A-Scoop a try.

Rescue Mommy

Friday, May 11, 2012

Kiawah - A Great Dog-Friendly Getaway

If you have been following this blog, you know that one of our favorite places to go is Kiawah Island, SC. We like to take Gracie with us when we travel, and Kiawah is a great place to visit.

Admittedly, the inventory of affordable pet-friendly properties is limited. You can expect to pay at least $25 per day as a non-refundable pet deposit. That fee is usually cheaper than boarding your pet, so we find it to be reasonable.

Kiawah has miles of paved paths on which you can walk or bike. Your buddy can join you on these same trails, which means you can explore the entire island together. Plan to meet a lot of dogs on Kiawah. It is a dog lover's paradise.

With 10 miles of beach, you have plenty of room to run along the shore. The beach is seldom crowded when we visit. You must keep your pet on a 6-foot long leash and clean up any "droppings."

Also, NEVER take your dog off leash. Alligators are a real danger on the island; we saw more gators on this trip than previous trips. Bobcats are there too. I read an article that coyotes have arrived as well.

You have two choices for lodging on the island: staying in a private home/villa or at the Sanctuary Hotel. The Sanctuary Hotel, a AAA five-diamond property, is not pet friendly. (It is not wallet friendly either.) We always rent a villa. It is a great deal, especially if you can find another couple to travel with you and split expenses. All of the villas have full kitchens with basic utensils so you can prepare meals at the villa to save money.

Kiawah is not the place for wild night life, unless your idea of wild life is gator sightings. You will find a lot of retirees and families with younger children. Sure, there are a few younger folks, but not a lot. A vacation on Kiawah is more about relaxing and enjoying quiet than partying.

If you do long for some fun, Charleston is a 30- to 45-minute drive, depending upon traffic. You will find lots of great restaurants and clubs there.

To find rental properties on Kiawah, we have used these websites:

vrbo.com

homeaway.com

resortquest.com

kiawahresort.com

sweetgrassvacationrentals.com

beachwalker.com

A word of advice: if you do not rent directly through the Kiawah Resort (kiawahresort.com), you may not be able to access the resort's facilities, including the pools. The person or company from whom you rent the villa may or may not provide you with an amenities card; ask. Purchasing the card separately can be expensive.

Also, if you rent through the Resort, you are not guaranteed the specific villa you request.

Rest and relaxation awaits you and your furry friend on Kiawah Island. Maybe we will see you there sometime!

Rescue Mommy



Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Bark for Life

The American Cancer Society's Bark for Life walk occurs this Saturday, May 12, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Highland Brewery at 12 Old Charlotte Highway in Asheville.

Bark for Life aims to raise awareness and funds for the Society's fight against cancer. You can bring your furry friend and help raise money for the cause.

For more information about the event or to make a donation, check out this link:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/BFLFY11SA?sid=1003&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=41701

Rescue Mommy

Monday, May 7, 2012

Traveling with Gracie

This year's family vacation in Kiawah went very well. Gracie travelled better than ever. Of course, that would be "better" on her terms. She still freaked out at the first rest area stop. She was particularly upset when we stopped at a rest area that was too close to the busy highway.

She stopped trembling after a few minutes, though, and even raised her head and boldly looked around as we were travelling. These things may not seem monumental to you. If you are a follower of this blog, you realize how significant these seemingly tiny events are.

Did I find a new miracle pill for her? No, this trip was unmedicated, either with traditional or homeopathic medicine. For the last several months, I have focused more on desensitizing Gracie by taking her on car rides around the neighborhood or to the Biltmore Estate.

If you have a fearful pooch, be patient. Gracie has been a member of our family for almost three years. It has taken that long to get to this point. We calculate that, by the time she is 15, she should love riding in the car!

Rescue Mommy

Friday, May 4, 2012

Playing Tennis with Angel

Angel, the next door neighbor’s dog, has relentless puppy energy that is too much for Gracie. She bites her ears. She tugs on her whiskers, particularly her eyebrows. And, now that she is bigger than Gracie, she tackles her.

I have tried many different tactics and tricks to prevent Angel from pouncing on Gracie during every walkie. It is so bad that Gracie sometimes refuses to take our usual path. She is simply not in the mood for Angel’s hyperactivity.

Rescue Daddy suggested that I give Angel a toy as a distraction. I resisted the idea at first. I did not want Angel to earn a reward for her bad behavior. However, the bullying is too much. I relented and bought puppy-approved tennis balls.

The first day I offered the tennis ball, Angel carried it the entire time she was with Gracie. It was wonderful. She chewed on the ball instead of Gracie. Since then, the tennis ball has lost some of its allure. She carries it for awhile but eventually drops it and tries to play with Gracie.

If you have any tips, I would love to hear them. It could be another year or two before Angel loses some of her puppy craziness – or it could be even longer. After all, Perdy, my late Dalmatian, did not lose her puppy energy until she was 10 years old; even then, she simply calmed to normal dog crazy. Suggestions are welcome!

Rescue Mommy

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Talking Tom

You may already know about this app. I just heard about it last week. It is called “Talking Tom,” and, best of all, it is free in the Apple App Store.

The app is rather entertaining. Tom is a gray cat who will purr if you pet him, hiss if you smack him, and do other cute things. A dog will pass gas and annoy the cat. At certain points, your iPad will record what you say and repeat it in a voice that sounds as if you have just inhaled helium.

The person who told me about the app said his 18-month old daughter will play with Tom for hours. So, if you need a babysitter, maybe Talkin Tom could assist.

Rescue Mommy