Feel-Good Black Friday

Black Friday has never been about shopping for me. I like to spend the day after Thanksgiving as a recovery day not a shopping day. We spent Thanksgiving Day at my parents, where there were lots of little turkeys everywhere. 

Gracie, left, and Cujoe, right, were not exactly cooperative while posing for these pictures, but they were still much easier to photograph than these two turkeys, Olivia and Sadie.

Believe it or not that's the best picture I could get of them. 

 And the problem was not Olivia, as you can see.

With Cujoe and Gracie, the problem was not Cujoe. 

He was quite cooperative.

And so cute. 

Being at my parents meant we had to leave Wiley behind for a few hours. It would have been too stressful for him with the other dogs and little children. When we got home he was pretty excited, and then the bad, attention-getting, spiteful behavior began. Here he is with the cat's food dish, which he stole expressly for the purpose of sitting right in front of me with it, yet refusing to give it up.  

Anywayyyyy. . . on to the most important part of today. . .  Happy Birthday to Hubs, Wiley's dad. We had lots of overnight guests, so we had a nice birthday brunch for him before he headed off to Madison Square Garden to see the Arizona Wildcats, his favorite team, for the first time in person! 

That was his birthday gift, since his birthday was a big one this year. We won't say exactly what number he's celebrating since that might give my age away too. 

Wiley had no idea what to make of a flaming cake, but you can see him butting his face in with interest. Don't worry, I was very careful to keep him safe!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life! Thanks for all the encouragement and inspiration you provide.  And thanks for loving our pets so much. :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Next week the blog will be back to business as usual so keep your pictures and stories coming. Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

As people today reflect on all the blessings their lives have to offer, I share one of my biggest with you. 

 Not only I am thankful that Wiley and I found each other, but I'm also thankful I have the lifestyle and necessities to keep a pet. 

I can give him (and Jenny) a safe home, good food, quality veterinary care, and face time with me. Some people leave in the morning and don't get home until 12 hours later. I'm blessed to spend plenty of quality time with my furkids. 

I'm blessed to have a husband who didn't bat an eyelid when I told him I wanted to adopt one of the most neurotic and high-needs dogs at the shelter, or when I wanted to add to that insanity by bringing in a stray cat and kittens "just until we can find them homes." And now he loves his foster failure Jenny.

While we're talking about blessings, what a good time to share Katie's little blessing Owen. 

Yesterday I was able to visit Owen and his furry brother Rosco, whom we've shared a number of times before on the blog, for example right here.  

 I may have accidentally taken my turkey hats along, only to find out Owen's Mema had already made him a turkey hat. Two turkeys!

Rosco was so excited to see me, so it was a bit of a challenge to get him to calm down long enough to sit still on the couch with Owen.  

Katie had a trick up her sleeve though. Ice cubes!

Rosco really loves them.

But Rosco really loves everyone and everything!

And while we're sharing adorable kids in this turkey hat. . .

I have to share my niece Sadie, who decided to start celebrating Thanksgiving on Halloween this year.

Is it me, or does that turkey hat make everyone cuter?  

Hmmm. Must remember to test this theory at Thanksgiving dinner this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving from Wiley and me! Enjoy all your blessings, big and small, furry and human.  Email pictures of your pets enjoying the holiday at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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Feel-Good Friday: Just Desserts

If you are a regular reader of the blog you know that Wiley had quite a crazy and eventful Memorial Day Weekend, beginning with this crisis, and continuing with this experience. 

 After the day was winding down, and we knew Sadie was going to be okay, my husband and I decided that both Wiley and my older niece, Olivia, needed some ice cream as a reward for their patience and a balm for their anxiety.

We headed to an older establishment in my hometown, Spangenberg's Family Drive-In. 

 I had a tough time tracking down when they opened but the general consensus from my parents is that they opened sometime in the 1960s, which makes sense given that they are a real, old-fashioned Drive-In. 

 All my childhood ice cream memories revolve around "Spangey's" as we always called it. 

They make a custom doggy bowl, and Wiley was absolutely loving life.
 

Olivia rather enjoyed herself as well. 

 

I neglected to take any pictures of the Hubs and me eating our ice cream, since I figured we'd come up short in cuteness compared to Livvy and Wiley.

As you might have noticed, despite Wiley's best efforts to clean up every delicious speck of ice cream, his efforts fell a little short and his nose showed traces of his treat.

Saturday was a trying day, but the ice cream seemed to lift everyone's spirits. 24 flavors of soft serve will have that effect! So, cute kid, cute dog, delicious looking ice cream. I feel I have fulfilled my end of Feel-Good Friday. Now go take a picture of your pet with something in its mouth and send it my way at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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Pheel-Good Phriday: CHASE UTLEY

So, it's Feel-Good Friday, and Wiley, my hubs, and I are Philadelphia Phillies Phans. I've been waiting to share this since I started the blog.  My favorite player, Chase Utley, is a strong presence in the animal rescue world.

I'm not a PETA fan but the message in this image is one we can agree on.

 He and his wife Jen started The Utley Foundation in 2011, but they started raising money all the way back in 2008 through Utley All-Star Animals events, after Jen began volunteering at the Pennsylvania SPCA.

 At first she just wanted something to do, but as she saw the increasing numbers of victims of animal cruelty, she realized there was something to do. 

 

Not only have the Utleys raised millions for education about prevention, but they also are deeply and personally involved.

 Jen and Chase sponsored and personally attended an assembly at Anna B. Pratt Elementary School in West Philadelphia. 

 This school has a history of its own schoolyard turning into a place for late night dog fights. In fact, Philadelphia has some of the highest rates of dog-fighting in the country, and the number of reported cases of animal cruelty in Philadelphia has tripled over the past few years.  The Utleys worked with these young elementary school students to develop a mural that focuses on the positive ways to interact with animals.

 Jen Utley says, “We are reaching kids at the age when they still love animals.  They see that their best friends show nothing but love and loyalty and turn to them for protection.” 

 

Source: http://ejcamp.com/category/sports/

How inspiring to find people using their celebrity for something positive, but also getting personally involved. The school assembly is just one example of many events they host and attend throughout the year.  It's easy to write a check as a millionaire. The Utleys put themselves out there for those who are deeply in need of persuasive and powerful advocates. 

Now you can see why Wiley and I are such big fans!

Please get your rescue stories in to the blog! We need them; we are running low. I have enough for next week and that is it! If you like the content help me keep it going.  Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com

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You can read more about the Ulteys and their charity work through these articles or by clicking the link to their foundation in the blog post.

http://www.suburbanlifemagazine.com/articles/?articleid=447

http://stubbydog.org/2011/11/homerun-for-animals/

Abby

Abby's rescue story is extra happy, so prepare yourself.   Of course, like many rescue stories, it starts a little sadly when Tracy's family lost their beloved pet to the Rainbow Bridge.  Their mini-schnauzer  went over the bridge at age 14, and Tracy decided when looking for a new dog she would try to find one who had the energy and enthusiasm to keep up with her 8 year old son. 

She called the Gloucester County Animal Shelter in New Jersey, or GCAS, and asked if they had any dogs who liked to fetch and run and might be a good fit for her family. 

 ***First, let me say this: GREAT JOB TRACY.  She did exactly the right thing by thinking of the behaviors she was specifically looking for and then consulting a shelter to see what they had available.  If more people did that we wouldn't have so many unwanted pets.

 Abby is a yellow lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback. She was and is the perfect companion for Tracy's family, but 14 months ago she gave them a real scare.  Her back legs became paralyzed! 

Tracy called her vet, who was closed but directed her to a specialty emergency vet in Cherry Hill. Tracy feels like this was meant to be (and if you read the blog regularly you know I believe in Pet Destiny).  This vet diagnosed Abby with FCE, or Fibrocartilaginous Embolism.  I must confess I didn't know what this was so I looked it up. You can read about it here.

Anyway, the vet said there were two options: put Abby down, or try water therapy.  Well. . . . didn't I tell you Abby's story had an extra happy ending?  8 months after she began water therapy Tracy says it is almost as if she never had FCE.  She runs and plays and "almost keeps up with a 14 boy." 

We are so happy for Abby and for Tracy and her family. We aren't finished talking about Tracy's family either. We still have to share the story of her daughter's dog, and I'm very much looking forward to that. Thanks to Tracy for sharing her story. Remember all you need is a rescue dog, a few pictures, and a little background. Share them with me at pabibliophile@gmail.com and I'll do my best to make your dog a star. ;-)

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