Dublin Dog is a North Carolina-based company that makes dog collars, leashes, and tags. We recently ordered a no-stink collar for Gracie. We LOVE it!
When Gracie splashes in the ocean, her collar naturally is soaked. You must wash it and hope it dries by the next morning, or bring another collar for her to wear. We decided to give the no-stink collar a try.
The material appears to be rubber. After a romp in the surf, we simply wiped the collar clean. It held up well to the salt and sand of the beach.
If you are interested, check out their website at www.dublindog.com. They make really cute collars. We also ordered a Celtic cross dog tag that looks really cool. Enjoy!
Rescue Mommy
Friday, October 12, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
What Will You Pay?
During the month of October, Brother Wolf has a great deal for adoptions of cats or kittens. You can name your own price. That’s right. YOU determine what you want to pay for the adoption fee.
The fee is already a great deal, since your new friend has already been spayed/neutered and has received the necessary immunizations. They have a lot of cats and kittens, though, who really need homes. This promotion should help more of these animals find homes.
If you have been thinking about adopting a cat or kitten, give Brother Wolf a call. Their web address is www.bwar.org. You can take a peek at available cats and kittens. Keep in mind that they usually have even more animals that do not appear on the website.
Rescue Mommy
The fee is already a great deal, since your new friend has already been spayed/neutered and has received the necessary immunizations. They have a lot of cats and kittens, though, who really need homes. This promotion should help more of these animals find homes.
If you have been thinking about adopting a cat or kitten, give Brother Wolf a call. Their web address is www.bwar.org. You can take a peek at available cats and kittens. Keep in mind that they usually have even more animals that do not appear on the website.
Rescue Mommy
Monday, October 8, 2012
Big Adventure
We were in desperate need of a little break. The ragweed was in full bloom and making me completely miserable. We decided to spend a few days at Kiawah Island, SC.
We had a blast. Gracie did so well with the car rides. On the trip down, she was a little anxious. However, the return trip was a breeze. She really loves her new car seat.
The weather was hot, hot, hot! We spent some time splashing in the ocean. It is so nice to see Gracie enjoy splashing in the water as she chases birds and tries to get attention from anyone who passes by. We recorded some video of her ocean adventure. If we can figure out how to post it, we will share.
Unfortunately, all vacations must come to an end. Too bad we cannot win the lottery. Then, every day would be a vacation!
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
We had a blast. Gracie did so well with the car rides. On the trip down, she was a little anxious. However, the return trip was a breeze. She really loves her new car seat.
The weather was hot, hot, hot! We spent some time splashing in the ocean. It is so nice to see Gracie enjoy splashing in the water as she chases birds and tries to get attention from anyone who passes by. We recorded some video of her ocean adventure. If we can figure out how to post it, we will share.
Unfortunately, all vacations must come to an end. Too bad we cannot win the lottery. Then, every day would be a vacation!
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
Friday, September 28, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
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.
Monday, September 24, 2012
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.
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.
Friday, September 21, 2012
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.
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
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