HAPPY HOWL-O-WEEN TO ALL YOU SPOOKY POOCHES!!

IT'S FINALLY HERE.... HOWL-O-WEEN!!!

WISHING ALL YOU SPOOKY LITTLE POOCHES A FUN AND SAFE HOWL-O-WEEN!

Phoebe loves her Martha Stewart witchy-poo costume!

Uh-Oh, Goblin Alert!!!

Be sure to link up with us on the blog hop below!!!

Phoebe anticipates lots of Yummy Halloween treats!!



Hey, what is that skull head staring at???

 Isis and Phoebe want all their friends to stay SAFE on Howl-o-ween.  Be sure to follow these  Halloween safety tips !

Isis looks cute in her sparkly witch hat!

How do you like my Spider Lady dress?

Oh no, Isis left me alone with the Goblins... and that scary Skull head!!  Help me.

TODAY WE ARE LINKING UP WITH THE HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR BLOG HOP - JOIN US!!!

 

The Halloween Spooktacular Blog Hop is hosted by our friends at Barking From The Bayou, Oz the Terrier and Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows.  Lync up on this “FANG~TASTIC” hop!















 

 

 

October Is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month! Part Three

ADOPT A SHELTER DOG THIS MONTH!! 

Bloggers have been promoting Adopt A Shelter Dog month throughout October, helping shelter dogs everywhere find Furever homes!  In support of Adopt A Shelter Dog Month, I've dedicated weekly posts to helping Pawsome dogs who are very much in need of loving homes.  It's still Adopt A Shelter Dog Month, so please help by sharing the stories of these two special dogs!

In my October 3rd Adopt A Shelter Dog post, I introduced you to Charon, a sweet, affectionate Pit Bull mix that had been at the shelter for 6 long months.  I was elated to learn that he had been adopted days later, but I was crushed to find out he was returned to the shelter the very next day!  Why??  He was returned because he was not housetrained -  SERIOUSLY?!    Did his adopters even give him a chance?  They returned him 24 hours after giving him a home simply because he wasn't potty trained.  That is just cruel.  Many dogs that end up in shelters have never been housetrained, probably due to owners that didn't take the small amount of time & effort needed to potty train.  Poor Charon has been living in a cage for 6 months.  Isn't it reasonable to think perhaps his potty training has lapsed a bit, if he was ever trained to begin with?  What does it take to buy a wire crate and spend 2 or 3 days potty training - is that too much to ask?

Sweet Charon whose been living in the shelter for 6 long months, was adopted but then returned to the shelter after only 24 hours just because he wasn't housetrained!

So here I am, spotlighting Charon for adoption once again.   Charon is a 6 year old neutered male Pit Bull mix who perks up at the sight of a bright yellow tennis ball!  He came to the shelter as a stray, and quickly became a favorite among staff and volunteers!  He loves water, playing fetch and being with people.  Charon's ID number is A3450205.



Charon loves the water and playing with a ball!  What a great friend he'll be.

Next I'd like to introduce you to Cascade, a 6 year old Australian Shepherd mix whose brindle coat is just beautiful.  Cascade is a spayed female who has been at the shelter since June.  She is a very mellow, sweet dog.  She walks beautifully on leash and loves walks.  She has such a lovely disposition, this is one sweet dog!  Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but when I look into Cascade's eyes I feel like she is sad, probably wondering how she ended up there and why her family never came for her.  She would be a wonderful companion!  Cascade's ID number is A3477998.

Cascade is a sweet, mellow girl who really needs someone to love her!

In a recent post, I listed 8 key questions you should ask before adopting a dog.

Charon and Cascade are available for adoption at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC).  Cascade is at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center in the Scottsdale Arizona store. Charon is available at the Mesa, Arizona shelter location.

PLEASE SHARE THEIR STORIES, AND HELP GET THESE SWEET POOCHES OUT OF THE SHELTER AND INTO FUREVER HOMES!

NOTE: If you are interested in adopting these dogs, please contact MCACC (602) 506-7387 and provide the dog's Identification number above. It's possible that these adoptable dogs may have already been adopted by the time you get to the shelter, but there are hundreds of other wonderful animals in search of loving homes!

 

THIS IS A Thoughtless Thursday BLOG HOP!!

 





WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Just Some Howl-o-ween Fun!

On this Wordless Wednesday I thought I'd just share some fun Howl-o-ween pics I took of Icy and Phoebe.  If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen these.  I hope you enjoy them!

THIS IS A BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!!

SPIRITED COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, A PERFECTLY SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

Legends of witch trials and ghostly hauntings abound in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia!  At the center of Colonial Williamsburg is The Revolutionary City, a historic and educational re-creation of life in Colonial Williamsburg during the American Revolution, which lasted from 1775 - 1783.  Colonial Williamsburg definitely ranks as one of our favorite dog friendly travel destinations. 

Ghostly specters are supposedly still seen in historic Colonial Williamsburg.  Photo Source: Colonial Williamsburg  Tour and Ghost Walk web site

The city looks and feels very authentic.  American “Colonists” not only dress in period costume but wander the town in character, re-enacting scenes from life during the era and engaging tourists in 1700’s conversation!  One such gentlemen approached us, eyeing our Siberian Husky, Icy, curiously “That’s a fine looking animal you have there, sir!” and proceeded to make us an offer to purchase her for 100 quid!  We had some really fun banter with him, explaining that our precious FurKid was NOT for sale at any price!   

Spending Halloween or Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg is certainly fun and educational, but some of it’s history can be downright scary!

American "Colonists" discuss & debate the issues of the day

One of our favorite activities was a guided candlelight Tavern Ghost Walk.  A small group of us met late in the evening in front of one of the historic taverns to begin the tour.  Our guide fascinated us with bizarre ghost stories, where people have sworn they’ve seen and heard ghosts that still haunt the old buildings.  It turns out the historic Revolutionary City, with many of it’s original buildings still in tact, has quite a haunted past!

Oh, Daddy, I told you not to practice witchcraft here!  The Colonists do NOT like that!

As we walked thru the Revolutionary City by candlelight, listening to our guide recount stories of the ghosts that supposedly still haunt the taverns and historic buildings, our dog Icy started to become antsy.  This was very out of character for her, but we chalked it up to being in a strange place, walking around in the darkness of night.  

As our tour wound down people left the group, slowly making their way back to their hotels.  After a few minutes we realized there were hardly any people left on the cobblestone streets of the Revolutionary City.  It was eerily quiet and dark.  Icy was becoming more and more agitated. 

Suddenly, Icy started barking wildly for no apparent reason, lunging at one of the deserted historic taverns!  It was so eerie, it made us a little jumpy ourselves.  We quickened our steps and hightailed it back to our hotel! Our dog friendly hotel was on premises inside the revolutionary city, so thankfully we didn't have far to go. 

When we made it back to our hotel room we breathed a sigh of relief – Whew!  That was weird.  It took a few minutes for Icy to calm down, but she soon settled down on her blanket and fell fast asleep.

What made Icy act so weird??  Was it just the cold night air and the unfamiliar darkened streets?  Or had she sensed something else, perhaps something from the spirit world that only she could sense?  Hmmm…. I guess we’ll never know for sure!

Not only is Colonial Williamsburg a great pet friendly vacation spot, it's also a wonderful travel destination for kids. It's fun and interesting for the whole family and the kids will learn what life was like during the American Revolution.  I especially like Colonial Williamsburg as both a Halloween vacation spot and a Christmas vacation destination for the whole family. Including the dog!

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Visit my ETSY store, Nature and Critters for one of a kind items! Printables, Wall Art, Products like this beautiful OWL MUG, cozy Unconditional Love DOG MOM sweatshirt, and more! 

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Have you ever visited Colonial Williamsburg?  Please tell us about it in the comments!

Sharing is Caring! If you enjoyed this post, we would really appreciate a social media share! 😍

LET'S FOLLOW EACH OTHER ON PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM!

You might also enjoy these articles:

Have a spirited Halloween in dog friendly Salem, Massachusetts

Great Dog Friendly Travel Destinations in the U.S.

Dog Travel Essentials

Dog Halloween Costume Tips

Is Your Dog Ready For Halloween?

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays here in the U.S., and it's not just for kids!   Americans are expected to spend well over $7 billion on Halloween costumes, candy and decorations this year.  The National Retail Federation estimates that we'll spend $350 million on Halloween costumes just for our pets!  Now I call that the Howl-o-ween Effect!  Ha!  I feel vindicated; I'm not so crazy just 'cause I have a closet full of Halloween costumes ...for my dogs! I'll bet most of you do too.  Am I right?

I Vant To Bite Your Neck and Suck Your Blood!  OK, How About If I Just Like Your Face?

So, is your dog ready for Howl-o-ween?   

Does your dog have a costume yet? What is your dog going to dress up as?

Have you had your dog spend time wearing her costume so she gets used to it before wearing it on Halloween?

Phoebe in one of her many costumes

Have you helped your dog get used to all the crazy costumes she'll see?  Forget baseball hats and umbrellas; masks, crazy clothing, and objects like swords, wands, and who knows what else can be very scary for dogs.

Do you have a plan to keep candy well out of reach so your dog doesn't ingest something toxic like chocolate?

How will you handle your dog while all those spooky little goblins ring your doorbell all evening long?

Many pets end up in shelters due to the craziness of Halloween.  Do you have a plan to ensure your dog will be secure during trick or treat hours and parties?

Halloween is an excellent time to MICROCHIP your pet if you haven't already!  Most shelters provide very low cost microchipping.  It's fast, easy, and permanent.  Don't let Halloween turn into a nightmare for your family by losing your furry BFF!

Keep your Halloween angels safe!

  

ADOPT A SHELTER DOG MONTH: 8 Questions You Should Ask Before Adopting A Dog

If you’ve decided to adopt a shelter or rescue dog, congratulations! You’ve made a decision that will save a life.  Choosing a dog is a commitment that will last the rest of the dog's lifetime.  Choose unwisely and you and your new furry BFF might not make a successful love connection.  As you head to the shelter, ask these 8 questions to ensure the dog you adopt is the right one for you! 

HOW BIG?

Most dogs are full grown at around 18 months old.  You'll want to know if the dog is already full grown, and if not ask about how big he's expected to get.  Most of the time a shelter or rescue can only estimate how big a dog will get when full grown.  Find our if there are any restrictions on the size or breed of dogs allowed where you live.  

Think about what size dog is right for you.

WHAT BREED OR BREED MIX IS HE?
Ask about the attributes of the breed(s) so you know what to expect.  Energy level and tendencies of the breed are import.  If you’re looking for a hiking or running companion then a high energy dog such as a Border Collie might be the right companion for you.  If you prefer a mellow dog that doesn't need much exercise, a Siberian Husky would not be a good fit!    

WILL SHE SHED?

What's your tolerance for shedding? Just because a dog has a smooth coat or very thin hair that does not mean she won’t shed.  If you want a dog that sheds very little or not at all, ask if the shelter has any non-shedding breeds or dogs that are mixed with a non shedding breed such as the Poodle, Maltese, or Bichon Frise.   

Is shedding a concern?  Dogs like Phoebe don't shed one bit!  We think she's a Havanese mix.

IS HE PEOPLE FRIENDLY AND DOG FRIENDLY?
Sometimes shelter staff and volunteers won’t know for certain, but at many shelters and rescues they can tell if a dog likes people and other dogs.  They do this by behavior assessing the dog and interacting with him on a daily basis.  If they have play groups for the dogs they’ll be able to tell if he’s dog friendly or if he displays aggression towards other dogs. 

I HAVE ANOTHER DOG AT HOME, WOULD YOU DO A MEET AND GREET?

Sometimes people who already have a dog worry about bringing another dog into the home.  Ask the shelter to arrange a meet and greet with your current dog and the one you want to adopt to see if they get along.  If they can’t accommodate, make sure you can bring the dog back if he doesn't get along with your current dog(s).

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTION FEE?

Ask what’s included in the adoption fee and what additional costs you might incur.  Most shelters and many rescues will have the dog spayed/neutered and include that in the adoption fee.  Vaccinations required up to the dog’s current age, such as Rabies, may also be included.  If you’re adopting a puppy, vaccinations and spay/neuter may need to be done later, at your cost.

Icy and Phoebe are both very dog friendly, so they became BFF's very soon after we brought Phoebe home to join our family!

DOES SHE HAVE ANY MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT YOU KNOW OF?
Ask if the dog has been treated for any illness or injury at the shelter, or if they are aware of any medical  issues.  If so, ask about follow-up care, prognosis, and potential costs.  Kennel Cough and other respiratory illnesses are common in a shelter environment.   Some shelters will send you home with necessary medications for minor ailments.   Ask if the dog's illness is contagious and what precautions may be needed if you have other dogs at home.  Ask about known behavioral concerns as well and how best to handle them.

WHERE DID THIS DOG COME FROM?

You can ask whether the dog was a stray picked up on the street, an owner surrender, puppy mill or hoarder rescue.  Most will probably be strays with little background information, but ask if there is any information on the dog’s history that might be helpful.

Asking these 8 questions will help you make the best decision about which dog is right for you, and you’ll know what to expect as you bring your new best friend home with you!

What other questions do you think are important to ask when adopting a new pet?   Please leave us a comment!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Getting ready for Halloween!

 Little Witchy Phoebe is Mixin' up a Brew,  

 Bat Tails and Cat Tails make a  delicious Halloween Stew!!

 

 



THIS IS A BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!