By Katy Cable-TWR
a 5 minute read

Calling all teachers! Pay close attention because I'm going to give you my best kept secret for success in your classrooms this school year: A PET!

I had my eyes opened 12 years ago when therapy dogs were just being introduced for reading programs in select elementary schools. My then eight year-old daughter, Karley had been approached about training our pug Raisin for such a program. Three months later they became the youngest therapy dog team in the nation.

Each week Karley took Raisin to local elementary schools and worked with struggling "at-risk" students. While she (and Raisin) were beyond excited, I was as scared senseless. These were not the well-mannered children seated Indian-style in a circle calmly petting a dog, but boisterous, out-of-control kids, screaming profanities, throwing tantrums and chairs. These children were more than most behavioral specialists and seasoned teachers could manage, let alone a new therapy dog team as green as Kermit-the frog.

What I witnessed over that school year was nothing short of miraculous. Just having a dog in the classroom for these students to sit with, talk to, read to, and pet, completely turned them around. Behavior dramatically improved because they were motivated not to miss their "reading with Raisin" session.

By the end of the school year, every child was reading at or above grade level and best of all, confidence and enjoyment in school was off the charts. These children once labeled "problem kids" destined to fall through the cracks, were instead pronounced "success stories". And it was all the result of a free therapy dog program.

Just bringing a dog into the classroom brought more positive changes than you can shake a stick at! Just look:

1. Decreased Behavioural Problems:
In some of the schools we visited, behavior problems were an extremely serious issue. Typically, 3 out of 10 young students suffered from a behavior disorder bad enough to interfere with learning and development. Students had far fewer disciplinary actions after dogs were introduced. Their behavior greatly improved towards both their teachers and fellow students. Additionally, parents reported that children seemed more interested in school as a result of having the therapy dog visits.

2. Reduction in Truancy Problems
Many elementary schools we regularly visited had severe truancy problems. Typically the students with the poorest attendance records were also participating in our program. A handful of students previously missing 40 days of school or more, had nearly perfect attendance once the therapy dog program was introduced. Seeing the dogs was a key motivator to come to school each day.

3. Improved Reading Skills
Watching children practice their skills by reading to a dog was fascinating. Normally shy, embarrassed students, came alive choosing stories and doing their best to read to the dogs. The dogs never judged or made fun of them. Quite the opposite! They loved the attention. On top of spending time with a favorite therapy dog, students were also offered incentives. After reading 10 books, students earned a book of their choice “pawtographed” with a stamped paw print of their favorite therapy dog.
Karley was so inspired by the children's curiosity about her Pug Raisin, she wrote and published a heartwarming and inspiring story "Raisin, -A Doggie's Tale..." which taught children to be responsible pet owners and was the fictional story of Raisin's own "RUFF" beginnings. This book motivated the kids to meet their literacy goals and is currently available at the link below.

4. Social Development
Having dogs in the classroom was especially helpful in teaching students social skills. There was a notable decrease in discipline issues and tension in the classroom with the addition of the dogs. Students learned that their behavior and actions make a difference.
Students showed an increase in sensitivity and awareness for the feelings and needs of others—both animals and humans. Interestingly, young boys who, in our culture, often don't get the chance to practice nurturing skills the way girls do, became much more compassionate.

5. Teaching Responsibility
Having a dog or pet in the classroom may be a student's first opportunity to care for another living thing. With dogs or even smaller classroom pets, teachers can distribute chores among the class. Involving students in the daily care of classroom animals helps teach responsibility. Simple tasks such as filling the hamster's water bottle or measuring the cup of kibble to feed the rabbit each day, are wonderful learning opportunities. Often a child follows through in their own grooming as they see the importance of brushing their teeth and washing.

6. A Decline or End in Bullying
Bullying is a serious problem in so many classrooms, with children anxious about school for fear of taunting and abuse. Dogs can make a huge difference in the fight against bullies. Dogs visiting schools teach kids about compassion and fairness. Kids identify with animals, and show empathy for dogs. It was found that violent behavior in participating students declined by 55%, and general aggression went down 62%.

7. Help With Autism
Children with autism typically have trouble with concentration and interactions with others. Having a dog in the classroom helps with both socialization and focus. Autistic children were able to sit calmly and work for longer periods with the presence of a dog. The children were also far less anxious and rigid. When the children did get upset it was less likely to become a tantrum.

8. Allergy Alerts
Just as dogs can be used to detect drugs, bombs, and blood sugar levels, they can also be used to detect life threatening allergies such as to peanuts. Although schools often enact policies designed to help students avoid the problematic allergens, mistakes can happen. For students with severe allergies, these dogs can be life-savers and also provide peace-of-mind to parents and schools.

​Should any of you teachers wish to bring a pet or therapy dog reading program into your classroom you can expect more than just happier students. Shari Young Kuchenbecker, Ph.D., research psychologist at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, points out, “The child who cares for a pet knows that what he does matters, and so he’ll want to do more of it. The more successfully he feeds, walks, or emotionally bonds with the pet, the more confident he’ll feel.” In fact, studies conducted by the Waltham Centre have shown that children with pets have higher levels of self-esteem than those without pets.

I hope more teachers go out on a limb and utilize this new and innovative approach to learning. I would love to hear your feedback. ❤️🐾

To purchase "Raisin, A Doggie's Tale" click here (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1453699929/ref=cm_sw_su_dp_nodl)
For more information about Therapy Dogs visit:
Therapy Dogs International:
http://tdi-dog.org/
For More information about the No More Bullies Program Visit:
​http://www.handinpaw.org/pawsitive-living-and-no-more-bullies.php


​🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾

By Katy Cable - The Weekly Runt
​A 3 min. Read

There’s a new spiritual sanctuary in the heart of Los Angeles that’s got everyone howling! -Literally! This Cypress Park retreat has all the bells and whistles, bowls and crystals one would extract from a holistic center.

It features an enormous meditation room that feels as though you’re in the middle of a lush rainforest. A quiet, candle-lit massage and reiki studio with soft comfy pillows, a trickling fountain, crystals and a Buddha statue. Just outside is a large tranquil yard with shade trees, fountains, comfy seating and a lattice covered patio. The space also offers a retail shop featuring a variety of unique treasures.
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The unusual thing about this new haven is, it caters to people AND THEIR DOGS. Available services range from outdoor training hikes, doggie daycare and grooming, to reiki and crystal energy healing.

DEN (an acronym for Dogs, Exercise, Nutrition) has been a dream come true for owners Lindsay Velez and Victorious Solomon. After years of offering dog walking services, many requests came in from clients for nutrition, grooming, even reiki for their pets. Velez began creating her dream: A beautiful, serene center that included these new-age services not found anywhere else. The ideal space would mimic their home shared with three children, four dogs, and several canine guests.

It wasn’t easy finding the perfect space in the middle of a highly congested urban city. But, WOW! Mission accomplished! Once inside the wooden gates you’re transported to a mystical paradise. It’s easy to completely forget you’re in the heart of LA. Once the retreat opened, they hoped it would resonate with dog owners. After all, this new age one-stop-shop for pets was anything but typical.


Since it’s grand opening nearly a year ago, DEN has been wildly popular and gaining new devotees by the minute. Proof that people are loving this place to find Zen with their favorite spirit animals. Named “Best In LA” by Los Angeles Magazine, word is spreading not just among the influencers, healers, yogis and hipsters but anyone curious to have a new and different experience with their dog.

Hoping to relieve horrible PTSD and anxiety in my little “scaredy-cat” dog Olive, I dragged her and my reluctant husband to try a Zen Sunday Morning Sound bath, led by Kristin Korot. Since 2012, Korot has been around the globe bringing people together with wolves, goats, horses, dogs, plus farm and exotic animals through sound healings. She has so many amazing stories and testimonials of her healings. Clients who credit her from curing them from terminal cancer and other illnesses. It seemed too good to be true and I had to see for myself if there was any truth to all this mystic “woo-woo” stuff!

A spirited group of nearly 30 dogs in a variety of shapes, sizes and breeds took their places on pillows, towels and mats. No sooner did I start stretching out when my little black Olive got into a gnarly “cat-fight” with a small, white, fluffy dog over a particular pillow. Although the other dog’s mom apologized and took full responsibility, my nerves went through the bamboo roof. I wanted to bolt out the door with my tail between my legs. I dreaded the next hour.

My heart was beating out of my chest with nerves over what everyone in the room must be thinking. I knew Olive and the white dog were the test rats for this group. I was positive any minute we would both be asked to grab our black and white four-legged fighting beasts and leave until we could get some better manners. I thought we had exceeded the limit of what the Sound Bath master could accomplish in a one-hour session.

Korot began the session by walking around the room offering lavender oil and telling us how helpful this practice has been for those in need of healing. Animals are extremely in-tune to our anxiety and stress. This next hour promised to calm our minds and bodies.
-As well as our dog’s. It would help us form a stronger bond and connection with our pets. Especially rescue or shelter pets with anxiety, and PTSD. Plus dogs get the extra benefit of picking up even more octaves and tones from the sound bowls than humans can hear. I was cautiously optimistic.

While Korot went around the room, more dogs began to scuffle. Korot remained calm as she took a seat in the center of the room and began tapping the bowls. She explained the various healing tones and vibrations. I tried to unwind and relax but several dogs had far too much energy to lie quiet on a mat and breathe. Instead, they were barking while darting around the room, jumping over the motionless bodies on the floor. I had to stay “on-guard” should Olive go into defense mode.

I wrapped Olive’s leash tightly around my arm and tried to calmly pet her while she popped up to watch the activity. My husband was zero help. He’d been out like a light in a meditative trance before the first Tibetan bowl had even been tapped.

Soon Olive’s scuffle had been far outmatched by other spirited canines. Within five minutes she was completely relaxed and fighting to keep her eyes open. She had gotten comfortable laying on my belly, (something she never does, unless I have a slice of cheese pizza in my hand) All the barking and occasional dogs coming over to sniff and scope out our space, didn’t disturb her in the least. That was a true miracle.

After a few minutes, Korot changed the tones and even the most high-strung, energetic dogs became still and focused. The energy in the room was so calm and peaceful you could hear the soothing water flowing in the outdoor fountain and soft breathing of those who had drifted off.

An hour seemed to go by in a New York minute and all too quickly the session ended. It was truly remarkable. Just taking our space and sitting amongst each other soaking up the healing sounds completely transformed everyone in the room. -And especially the more spirited dogs.

Following the one-hour sound bath we were invited to enjoy snacking on a nice spread of fresh fruits, vegan donuts, juice, coffee and tea. It was a nice opportunity to meet everyone and discuss our experience. While many attendees had come because they were sound bath devotees, nobody had ever tried this WITH their dog.

Everyone agreed it was transformative. We all were believers now and we were all HOOKED! Even my husband, who wanted to attend this event like I want to have a root canal, remarked at how great he felt and what an amazing experience it was. He wouldn’t hesitate to come back again. Next time, no bribes would be needed!

We eagerly followed our rejuvenated pups to the large outdoor oasis for socializing and play. On this Sunday, it was being decorated to the nines for a special VIP party. I figured looking at the lavish swag bags and decor it must be a big celebrity. And I was right...Sushi, the social media sensation (@sushisaid) was celebrating a birthday fit for a king! -Or a white poodle with aqua blue ears and nearly 1 million social media followers.

If you’re looking for a cool, new unique way to calm your dog, recharge your own batteries and strengthen your bond, or just want to try something completely new and different, check out DEN. They have calendar of fun things going on everyday of the week! From organic spa treatments, training hikes, daycare, holistic healing seminars and soundbaths, you’ll find it here. And don’t forget lavish PAWties! They have that too!

I promise you, even the most anxious dog with the worst social skills will find a loving, welcoming place where stress melts like a CBD snow cone in July. You’ ll maybe find me stretched out in the corner with my husband and Olive as we recover from the many stresses of life!

​DEN Urban Dog Retreat, 3252 Arroyo Seco Ave., Cypress Park.LA, CA 90065 (833)DEN-PACK https://denurbandog.com/


​🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾

by Katy Cable, TWR
A 3 min. Read

What you put in your dog's dish is the single most important thing you can do for their health and well-being It's a major deal. You're either promoting health and healing or destroying it every time you feed your pet. This is so important and such a hot topic I've decided to break things down into small "kibble-sized" pieces.

I became a pet blogger because I saw a HUGE need for quick, simple, easy, tips that would often save pet parents "a house payment in vet bills!" These blogs are based solely on MY experiences, research, observations and testimonials I have received. I want to help you be a better pet parent by knowing the real deal and not making the same costly mistakes I did.

Now, just like the song "Do-Re-Me" from the The Sound of Music says, "Let's start at the very beginning..." When it comes to pet food it starts and ends with knowing how to READ A PET FOOD LABEL. Don't be misled by commercials, displays, fancy marketing, famous celebrities and all the hype around a particular pet food. Many companies are putting far more dollars into the outside of the bag than what's going in. My recommendation is pretend all pet foods you are considering are in "brown paper packages tied up with strings...." (Another SOM reference)Then just read the ingredients on the labels and who manufactures the food.

While the ingredient list alone won't tell you about the food's true sourcing, neither will the slick bag. You need to do your homework and research these companies. Find out who owns them; How many lawsuits and recalls have they had; Where are their ingredients sourced; and what kind of reviews do they have. A lot of trickery goes into pet food marketing and people are often horrified to learn what's really hidden in their pet's food. For an in-depth look at this information visit: http://truthaboutpetfood.com/

If you want to truly understand how the pet food industry works I encourage you to watch the incredible documentary film: PET FOOLED (http://www.petfooled.com/) and read my other pet food blogs. In a nutshell, you will learn pet food has become a great opportunity for big companies to make billions on their waste that cannot be used or sold in their human products. In an effort to control costs and sell garbage, they've created brilliant marketing campaigns convincing everyone from vets to pet parents that a bag of dry kibble is ideal, sufficient life-long nutrition for their pets.

But it gets so, so, SO much worse. A compete lack of adequate regulation and safety practices allows many substitutions with ingredients. -Often resulting in deadly consequences. As long as the ratios and ingredients are listed properly, it's basically: ANYTHING GOES! When their negligence is met with lethal consequences, they typically get away with paying out a few bucks and some bad PR.

Such was the case with the huge pet food scandal in 2007, This disaster, which killed thousands and thousands of pets, saw companies scrambling to do damage control. Not long after, new marketing was in place and it was business as usual.

More recently, Hills Science Diet had serious problems with 44 of their regular and prescription formulas containing toxic vitamin D levels. Bad enough it happened ONCE, but these serious incidents have happened repeatedly since February 2018.

Fortunately, small companies wanting to do things better, have sprung up and started taking a bite out of these giant's market share. This has resulted in forcing these big corporate pet food companies to offer healthier options such as: "grain-free" , "No GMO's" "organic" and containing higher quality ingredients.

But are they? In many cases they've just created new packaging, marketing campaigns and switched up some ingredients. Or, these pet food giants gobble up some of these smaller competitors and keep the packaging the same so you never know.

One example of this is the brand Castor & Pollux which promotes organic, farm-raised fresh ingredients: Typically, pet parents purchasing this food are horrified to learn that as of 2015, this once top-of-the-line pet-food is now owned and operated by Purina. It's no accident you will not see that information on the bag.

If you shop for pet food at the grocery store or a big box pet store, or if you turn on a TV you will see all the well-known brands. Understand that most are owned by Mars: Royal Canine/Nutro/Greenies/Eukanuba. Nestle: Purina brands. Smuckers (Natural Balance) and General Mills (Blue Buffalo.)

I also stay away from celebrity brands. I love Rachel Ray and Paula Dean but I highly doubt they are formulating and cooking pet foods. They likely don’t even use.their own pet products. Rather, they are paid handsomely to lend their names to promote a line of food typically owned and operated by one of these huge conglomerates. Again, check out the ingredients and the manufacturer/parent company first.

I pay close attention to small brands in big stores. I also visit independent pet retailers and check out what brands they carry. Here's why: If a pet food has a major deadly recall, (and just this year there were many.) A big box company or grocer may feel a sting, but a local retailer could very well go out of business. Smaller independent retailers simply cannot afford to risk their livelihoods and reputations. ‘

As you pull those bags, or cans off the shelf, (bring those readers so you can see the fine print) keep in mind, ingredients are listed by weight PRIOR to cooking. So when you see a label saying, "Chicken is the #1 ingredient!" If you plop that chicken on a scale then cook off all the water and fat, it loses between 50-75% of it's weight. Therefore, while it's great to feature chicken as the #1 ingredient, more important are the #2 and #3 ingredients.

Another tip is: look for more specifics: DEBONED, chicken, verses MEAT or POULTRY (-WAYYYYY to vague!) Worse yet is beef/chicken FLAVOR. While our pets are scavenging omnivores that eat a variety of things that would turn our stomachs, "by-products" "remnants" or "rendered meats" are also things I run away from. I also stay clear of any fish ingredients unless I completely trust the company's sourcing. Fish in particular can have high levels of mercury and may be rancid or contaminated. It's far too dangerous.

More and more people are fooled by the "grain-free" hype. Corn, Brewer's rice, white rice and potatoes are often even higher in carbohydrates and can be just as irritating to a dog. The ratios of carbohydrates to animal/poultry/fish proteins and the quality of the ingredients is of utmost important. -Also disregard that “grain-free” causes DCM in dogs. Lack of key nutrients may play a role but GRAIN is not necessary in a cat or dog’s diet! -PERIOD!

I look for humanely, sustainably sourced foods with 2-3 animal/fish/poultry proteins before I see carbs. I also choose low-glycemic carbs such as sweet potatoes, peas, and lentils over white rice and potatoes.

To finish off, I want to list ingredients to avoid at all costs. If you see these "no-no's" on your pet food label it will clue you in to the quality and care going into the food in general.

AVOID PET FOODS THAT:
❌List potato, soy, corn, rice or any other grain as the first or second ingredient.

❌Use two different types of listings for the same grain or starch. (i.e: corn, corn-gluten meal/potato, potato-starch)

❌Use any by-products, renderings, or unidentified fish, poultry or animal products. (ie: animal meal, meats, meat meal, fish meal, poultry by-products, poultry remnants, poultry by-product meal, animal fat, poultry fat.)

❌Contains known carcinogens: BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin, dyes or flavors.

❌Sugars such as fructose, sucrose, dextrose, cellulose, tapioca, corn syrup, molasses.

I think many of you will be quite surprised to see that some well-known and pricey foods are comprised of nothing more than inexpensive fillers and poor quality meat protein. Hopefully, you will also find some great new foods that offer much more bang (and health) for your buck. If you have any questions, or want suggestions, feel free to message me.

Whatever you choose, you can stretch your dollar and GREATLY increase your pets health by incorporating your own fresh fruits, veggies, and meats to your pet's food.⚠️

Happy Shopping and "BONE" Appetite! 😜🐾

⚠️ALWAYS add new foods ONE-AT-A-TIME and very slowly (10% or less per day) making sure pets can tolerate.

☠️ Never feed dogs: ☠️
onions/garlic/chocolate/alcohol/fruits with pits/raisins/grapes/currants/macadamia nuts/foods with salt-sugar-sauces/sugarless candies-gum-peanut butter or foods containing Xylitol/

Social media:
#susan thixton
@TAPF
@nulo
@petfooled
#kohl Harrington

🐶Watch my PET FOOD SERIES anytime on YouTube. Segments run approx 10 min. Also Message me your ??’s 😜

​🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾

By, Katy Cable-TWR
A 4 minute Read

This is by far the saddest and most difficult blog I've written as it deals with the hardest thing about being a pet-owner: Saying goodbye! August 16th marked the 4 year anniversary since we sent our darling Pug Raisin to run free at Rainbow Bridge. In that time I have learned a lot. I hope this blog helps you prepare and deal with that horrible yet inevitable day.

It was early August, two years ago when I took my 13 year-old Pug to the Vet. He was yelping and shaking his head in a strange way and I assumed he must be suffering from yet another ear infection. If only that were the case. Instead of confirming my suspicion, my long-time, trusted Vet took a look in Raisin's ears and found no sign of infection. She thoroughly examined my sweet little guy and found nothing. I then showed her video clips on my cellphone of his yelping and head twitching. She suspected a tumor and said with Raisin's age and medical history, doing MRI's and costly exploratory procedures would be inhumane. She then handed me the dreaded brochure which read, "When It's Time To Say Goodbye" containing home euthanasia information.

I broke down hysterically crying, as did the entire staff. As I was stumbling out the door, the Vet handed me a strong course of antibiotics and suggested giving them a try. At this point it wouldn't hurt and I had no other options. I stuffed one in a pill pocket and fed it to Raisin on the spot. By the time we arrived home, he was bouncing around eating and acting like his old self. His symptoms had disappeared. My prayers had been answered. I quickly called Vet with the terrific news: Raisin was back!

For the past year I had watched Raisin's health swiftly decline. Degenerative hemivertebrae issues which are common in Pugs, had taken their toll on Raisin and he had completely lost use of his hind legs. The chronic ear infections had damaged his hearing. His dry-eye had left him nearly blind. He suffered skin allergies, and had only a few teeth left in his mouth. Yet, even in his poor physical condition he was not in pain and happy as could be melted on a lap like butter. After all, Pugs were bred simply for the purpose of sitting on the laps of royalty.

We got Raisin wheels (which he never really enjoyed) and since he never did charge down the beach like I had hoped, I opted for using a Radio Flyer wagon or stroller for outings. I upped his daily dosage of Rimady and he had done fine. As tiring as his care was, as long as he was happy, comfortable and enjoying life, I was glad to do whatever my little fur-baby needed. Each day as I carried Raisin up and down the steps and helped him walk, at least one onlooker would chime in, "Why don't you put that old dog to sleep!" They just didn't understand.
​
However, I was in a personal panic over how Raisin was going to survive when we made the upcoming trip across the country to take our daughter off to college. Raisin was too old and immobile to join us, yet leaving him with his rescue family in a strange environment, without the family he loved and relied on, would probably cause him more fear and stress than he could tolerate. Horrible thoughts went through my mind about our daughter never seeing HER dog again. Or worse yet, getting the call he had slipped away while we were gone without having a chance to say goodbye or be with him in his final days. It would've haunted me forever to think Raisin had felt abandoned by his family in his last days. I prayed for solutions.

The next week I treasured every waking minute with Raisin. I wheeled him down to the bay in his wagon for short dips in the cool sea water. I paraded him in his doggie stroller down the neighborhood to visit all his friends. I fed him his favorite treats and gave him lots of warm baths, gentle massages and cuddles. I carried him with me everywhere I went, knowing my days with him were numbered.

Just as I had feared, Raisin's remission was short lived. A week later he was up all night trembling in pain and shaking his head. He didn't relieve himself in the morning and had no interest in food. His eyes looked tired and I knew he was done fighting. I gathered the family around and we made the heartbreaking decision to make the dreaded call.

The first few times I dialed, I had to hang-up because I was sobbing too hard to speak. Thankfully Dr. Annie Forslund at Southern California Pet Euthanasia, picked up the phone. She knew exactly how to handle a distraught pet mom and put me at ease. As luck would have it she was free that afternoon and, not wanting to prolong Raisin's pain, I made arrangements for her to come out as quickly as possible.

The delightful Dr. Annie Forslund arrived in her polo shirt with an embroidered logo of a dog with wings. She was beautiful, kind, gentle and angelic. I introduced her to my husband Rick and daughter Karley, who was stroking Raisin on her lap. I told her about all the work Raisin had done as an award-winning therapy dog, then showed her the book Karley wrote when she was just 12 years old, "Raisin, -A Doggie's Tale" which received nationwide attention. She could see how special he was and also recognized how much pain Raisin was in.

Dr. Forslund explained that she would start by inserting an IV catheter. Once Raisin was calm and we had said our goodbyes, she would come back in and do the procedure which would take less than a minute. She let us know she would wait in the next room until we alerted her we were ready. At that point I made a half-serious comment, "What if I'm never ready?" She politely replied, "Then I will ask you if you would prefer me to come back another time!" I so appreciated her compassion.

Raisin was so lethargic and out of it, Dr. Forslund had no problem inserting the catheter. We then moved out to Raisin's favorite spot on the couch and with the PGA golf game showing on TV, we each stroked Raisin and told him how much we loved him. We were all sobbing uncontrollably telling him how much we were going to miss him. I then called Dr. Forslund back in and while Raisin was dozing comfortably on my lap, and we continued to pet him, she covered his legs with a towel so we wouldn't have to witness the procedure, and told us if we were ready she would start administering the lethal injection.

Watching my little Raisin take his last breath and slip away to Rainbiw Bridge was gut-wrenching. When Raisin had gone, Dr Forslund excused herself in order to give us some time alone. On our cue she returned and covered Raisin's lifeless body in a pretty blanket and I carried him out to her car. Living at the crowded beach, the last thing I needed was a child running up wanting to pet a now lifeless Raisin. Fortunately I made it to Dr. Forslund's van without incident. I placed Raisin in a beautifully decorated doggie basket she had waiting in the back. She hugged me goodbye and offered her deepest condolences. Before she left with Raisin, she informed me his ashes and paw print would be delivered in two weeks.

For the next few days I laid in bed sobbing continuously, wanting desperately to be put-to-sleep myself. My daughter was leaving for college, and now my sweet Raisin had left me for the Bridge. I didn't want to live for those first few days. Thankfully, I had to go out and run some last-minute errands with Karley before she left and getting out of the house was just what we needed.

When we were returning home that afternoon, we noticed an enormous yellow Monarch butterfly following our car. At first we thought it must be a toy or decoration since it was bigger than any butterfly we'd ever seen. It literally followed us the entire ride home and then was a constant visitor in our front yard. I told Karley it must be Raisin's spirit telling us he's free. When Rick returned home from work that night I pointed out the huge butterfly and he commented, "I noticed that exact butterfly following you the other day when you were carrying Raisin's body out to Annie's van. I didn't think anything of it at the time except what a huge butterfly it was."

As painful as this experience was, I could clearly see the gift I had received. I was SO grateful we all had the chance to say goodbye and to grieve Raisin. We were able to be with him right up to his last breath and he left this earth, not on a cold table in the Vet's office, or a boarding facility but in his home surrounded by his entire loving family. We got to be there for him when he needed it the most. Not everyone is as fortunate.

One of the hardest things about being a pet-owner is saying goodbye. Many people don't know the option of home euthanasia is available and even more people struggle with how to read signs of pain and distress in their animals. Wherever you live, and regardless of your pet's age and health condition, I urge you to educate yourself on how pets express pain and also get some tentative plans made for when that dreaded time comes. Don't wait until you are under the extreme stress of a situation to seek out your options.

Talk to your vet, and/or pet parent friends BEFORE you need it. Raisin shuddered with fear every time he entered the Vet's office so I made my wishes known from the get-go. I was not going to put Raisin through arduous medical procedures and expensive tests only to prolong his life a few months. I would keep him comfortable until he was no longer expressing the will to live. If possible, when the time came, I wanted a Raisin to leave us in the privacy and comfort of his home. I'm so very thankful it worked out as beautifully as it did.

That being said, I still experienced extreme sadness, grief and depression that was beyond my wildest dreams. I knew the end was near and it still flattened me like a Mack truck. Some tools that helped me cope were:
1. Planting a tree in Raisin's honor.
2. Buying a Pug charm that holds some of Raisin's ashes. I wear it next to my heart.
3. Putting my favorite photo of Raisin on a coffee mugs and taking him with me wherever I go.
4. Framing favorite photos of Raisin.
5. I received a beautiful Memorial candle from Pet House Candles which I burn on the anniversary of his passing and his birthday. (Click Name to Visit Site)
6. I learned about pet loss grief/bereavement support groups
7. Although it took a few months before I could even look st Raisin's book, having his legacy in print, with funds supporting child literacy and pug rescue has helped so much. Raisin lives on forever in his book: Raisin, -A Doggie’s Tale...

🐾The number one best thing I did to heal was adopt Olive. I know some people need time (For months my husband refused to get another dog) but for me having another Pug (who's completely different right down to the color and gender) that I can love makes everything much, much better! No dog can ever replace another and Lord knows there is NOTHING I wouldn’t do to bring back Raisin happy and healthy. Since that's not an option, I will love and help other dogs in need. For me the best anti-depressant available is a dog!

You may be surprised that even after all that, I still find myself breaking into tears over FB posts, sad songs on the radio or seeing a pug that reminds me of Raisin. So I UGLY cry, wipe my raccoon eyes and thank God I was blessed to have such a wonderful dog for 13 years.

On every anniversary of Raisin's passing, I get an email from Dr. Forslund to "light a candle in Raisin's honor" on their memorial site, which I do. In honor of what would've been Raisin’s 14th birthday, I spread his ashes at all his favorite haunts and planted a Birch tree in our front yard. The tree has grown so much and seems to constantly attract huge Monarch butterflies.🌈

For more information, please visit:
Home Pet Euthanasia of Southern California
https://www.onefurallpets.com/

to order a copy of Raisin's book click here:
https://www.createspace.com/3469234

​
🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾

By Katy Cable-TWR
A 3 min. Read

It's the most wonderful time of the year: BACK TO SCHOOL!. The kids are no longer busy with vacations, camps, summer-school, internships or simply spending countless hours sitting around the house on their phones sucking up all your data! I figured back to school time is a perfect week to address one of the biggest mistakes pet owners make: NOT TRAINING THEIR DOGS TO BE GOOD CANINE CITIZENS.

Several of my close friends are dog trainers and puppy-raisers for Canine Companions. I also have friends who train and handle animals for TV and movie shoots. One important thing I've learned is
A GREAT DOG IS MADE NOT BORN.

Sadly, animal shelters are full of dogs who didn’t get a proper start in life or the right family to meet their needs. As a result they developed behavior problems. An unpredictable or out-of-control family dog is not only exhausting and difficult to be around, but worse, they can pose a huge danger to property, your family members, other animals or themselves.

I learned this first hand when our family was asked to participate in a new TV show for Animal Planet called "Who Gets The Dog". The concept was three different families share a shelter dog chosen as a good match for their lifestyle. The dog spends an entire day and night with each family while the show documents the visits. Lastly, a team of dog experts chooses who the best-suited family is to adopt the dog. The winning family is awarded the dog and a year's supply of dog food.

​We were looking for a small Pug or similar dog that was good with small children and didn't need a lot of space. I also have bad allergies and couldn't have some breeds. No sooner did we get the news from Pugs and Pals Rescue that we could adopt Raisin (our first Pug), we also received a call from the show. I declined their offer to appear but they twisted my arm insisting the dog they had was perfect and we would probably want to have this one as well. I again politely refused. The last straw was when they pleaded with me to please do them a favor as they needed just one more family to complete this episode. Poor Raisin went right back to his foster family for an overnight and the TV crew came out.

The minute the cameras were rolling, in bulldozed an enormous, shedding, ball of energy named SULLY. After knocking me flat on the ground Sully proceeded to run upstairs and unleash a good liter of urine on our new white carpet. I took one look at this huge furry dog and realized in an effort to make interesting television, they had pulled a total bait-and-switch. Sully went on to ransack furniture, tear up pillows and destroy pricey decor and it just got worse from there. My then 7 year-old daughter Karley loved the dog and it was too dangerous for us to let her walk him or go near him. I wanted this "DOG-GONE " and our darling Raisin back.

To begin what stands as the thee most exhausting stressful day of shooting in my entire life. We took Sully to our local dog beach to play some games. We no sooner got out of the car when the poor dog went completely crazy tearing down the beach chasing a bird. He nearly got flattened by a UPS truck and was so out of control it took 5 huge crew members to contain him.
-And it just went downhill from there. By the end of the day, I looked like a basset hound from allergies and sobbing.

I told the producers we were not interested in keeping the dog. He was not a good fit and it was terribly dangerous. I was so upset at both their negligence and the trauma it put on this poor animal and our well-intentioned family. The final blow was watching the show on TV only to discover they had further manipulated us by editing our segment only showing Sully sleeping or calmly laying down. They caught our reactions when he had been bouncing off the walls or trying to catch him before he ran out in the road and was flattened by a delivery truck. We came across as manic and Sully looked like a perfect pet anyone would be crazy not to want.

Fortunately the show was quickly cancelled. However, with the wonderful trend of people seeking relinquished shelter/rescue pets as well as those opening their hearts to senior, special needs or problematic dogs, it's crucial to understand how to rehabilitate and train animals who got off to a “ruff" start.

First of all: Expect some behavioral issues and address them from the get-go. The most common being housebreaking problems but other stress-related behaviors include excessive barking, chewing & destroying inappropriate items, escape attempts, jumping up on people and hiding.

The most important thing to remember when trying to eliminate undesired canine behaviors is that dogs learn desired behavior through positive reinforcement. Simply put, you must reward good behavior and ignore the bad. What DOESN'T work is any kind of physical punishment or yelling. This will simply add to your dog's anxiety and stress plus it can make your new family member fearful of you.

Training should begin the second your new dog comes home with you. Right from the first meeting you should begin addressing your dog by their name and using basic training commands like: "Come", "Sit", "Stay", "Down" and "Off!" If you're lucky you might be surprised to learn your dog can already follow a few. And when they do, give lots of love, praise and positive attention.

On the other hand, you might find that you need to do a lot more work. If your dog isn't getting the hang of basic commands, take it very slow, and work on just one command a day or for a couple of days (or weeks) before overwhelming them with others. Your dog doesn't speak English and repeating commands over and over and LOUDER and LOUDER won’t make your pooch listen any better or learn any faster. In fact, it will just set-back progress. I know first-hand how frustrating it can be so if you find yourself having issues, I recommend enlisting the help of a professional trainer who practices positive reinforcement to show you how to communicate more effectively and offer helpful tips.

Although I'm a huge fan of group training classes, when it comes to a new shelter or rescue dog, I often recommend having a trainer work with you in your home or one-on-one first to get the basics down. You will have much more success in a group class if you have waited until a trusting bond with your new dog has been formed. This might take more time, patience and work. Remember your dog probably had a life of complete chaos and fear prior to meeting you.

It’s also a good idea to assume your dog wasn’t properly socialized by their previous owners. They might be distracted by other dogs making training nearly impossible.

When I rescued Olive she was a frightened little breeder pup who had never lived outside a crate. She had never seen stairs, been on a walk, or had any loving experiences with humans. She was scared to death being put in a harness, driven in a car and led into a brand new home. In an effort not to completely overwhelm her, I enlisted the guidance of top-notched trainers who advised me to gently and slowly begin exposing Olive to all the sights, sounds, smells, and other living creatures in her new environment. When she got scared, I backed off and went at her timid pace. After nearly three year's with me she still has fear issues with crates, cars and water but she's come such a long way. She is just now learning more complex commands and often does them extremely SLOWLY. I typically wait and repeat commands while she tentatively moves. But I always give her lots of praise and love!

Do your best to make training fun for both you and your dog. Be a life-long learner and continue in classes, refresher courses, agility, therapy, nose-tracking work or other activities. Get suggestions from your vet, PetSmart or local pet store for fun classes, trainers or clubs to participate in. At the end of the day, you are learning and getting just as much out of it as your pooch is.

By addressing behavior issues immediately,many can be corrected and not turn into bad habits which follow your dog into their new life with you. Once you begin and a trusting bond has been formed, your dog is sure to be “Best In Class” and a great life-long learner. Here’s wishing all you students a successful school year!
​Pugs and Kisses🐾🐾💕

​🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾

By Katy Cable-The Weekly Runt / A 4 min. Read

I remember when I was young my dad, in an effort to get me to give up the Ding-Dongs and Oreos, told me about how “junk food” was made and that all kinds of bugs often got mixed in to these crummy processed snacks. Turns out, those very insects may have been the healthiest thing about my indulgence.

If you’d have told me just a year ago, there may come a day when insects become a major staple in our diets, I would’ve thought you were CRAZY! Now, I’m excited to share my experience and hopefully open your minds to joining the swarm of “insect eating”!

While visiting a popular beach town in Central Coast CA, I remember a street vendor selling crickets and grasshoppers dipped in dark chocolate. He also had tequila lollipops with a worm inside. It all seemed repulsive and I couldn’t believe people actually paid money to eat them. For me, this was just like a challenge that would get me booted off the island on a reality TV show.

At this year’s Vegas Pug Party, I had my eyes opened and my mind changed when I met Laura Colagrande, co-founder of Chippin Snacks. She kindly offered my little Pug Olive one of her apple, cricket, and flaxseed snacks. Olive, in all honesty, has never met a treat she didn’t like, devoured the little biscuit in under 10 seconds and begged for more.

Colagrande told me her story and I was intrigued. While studying design at U of Penn, she agreed to help her roommate, Haley Russell, a grad student at The Wharton School of Business, with a research project. The two examined using crickets as a viable alternative to meat for pet treats/meals and things have been hopping ever since.

🦗 WHY CRICKETS? 🦗

For starters, crickets pack a whole lotta punch! They’re an excellent source of omegas, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, they’re very low in fat compared to other proteins. Best of all, there’s no threat of e Coli, Staph or other pathogens..

HUMANELY SOURCED
That cricket chirp is their mating call. They live to reproduce. The process begins with crickets being cared for in numerous small farms which are all housed in warehouses. After the crickets have reproduced the temperature of their environment is slowly lowered until they reach a hibernation state. They are then frozen and ground into a powder. The cricket is never traumatized or feels any pain unlike nearly all other live animals used for food.

REDUCING YOUR CARBON PAWPrint🐾🐾🐾🐾
Did you know 80 % of water in the USA is used for food production? The natural resources used for the production of meat is staggering. I got “bug-eyes” when I llearned the statistics.

🐂 It takes roughly 2,000 gallons of water to produce 1lb of beef.
🐓 It requires around 560 gallons of water to produce 1lb of poultry.
🦗Now consider, it takes only 1 gallon of water to produce 1lb of edible cricket protein.

According to the Seattle Times, Americans eat more meat than ever before, nearly 223lb per person, per year! In 2018 America surpassed the all-time record eating over 100 billion pounds. The World Atlas names Australia and the USA as the world’s largest consumers of meat. With Americans owning 90 million dogs, pets in the USA consume more meat than 90% of the world’s countries.* That’s a lot of meat!

And that’s not all...
The global demand for meat is leading to environmental destruction. Livestock agriculture requires almost half of the earth’s total land. It’s wasteful AND TOXIC! For example, 55% of water used in the US is for factory farming. Runoff contaminates waterways with nitrogen and phosphates. The greenhouse gasses produced by livestock agriculture make up at least half of all man-made emissions. Methane, an emission, has a global warming potential that is 86 times more than carbon dioxide. The evidence is clear that animal consumption is the leading cause of reduced biodiversity, water pollution, and deforestation which are all causes of global warming.

WHAT YOU CAN DO...
Start with trying some cricket snacks. If you come to one of my events, I typically have samples. You can also find them at many pet stores, or order right here and use “WEEKLY RUNT” for a 10% discount. If you’re really adventurous you can purchase cricket powder and start experimenting. Try making your own meals and snacks. (Watch for my favs in an upcoming blog & show!😜)


​A FINE GATEWAY BUG
You may find crickets are your “gateway bug” into a whole new way of eating for YOU AND YOUR PET! Mark my words, insect protein is going to explode like ants at a picnic! A complete, viable protein that’s easy to farm, inexpensive and packs a lot of punch for a lot less water! Very soon all of us will be saying, “There’s a bug in my food!” And, “Please pass the crickets!”

BUGS, PUGS & KISSES, 😘🐾❤️
-Katy

CHIP IN & SAVE WATER

*https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-meat-consuming-countries-in-the-world.html

​
🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾

By Katy Cable-TWR
A 2 min. Read

To Bee Or Not To Bee! For years I've been hearing how our planet and our very survival is at great risk due to billions and billions of bees dying off at an alarming rate. As scary a thought as that is, I can’t understand it since I personally have seen no shortage of bees. As a matter of fact, quite the contrary. They seem to be buzzing around everywhere I look.

I'm deathly allergic to bees and just the sight of one puts me in a sheer panic! I'm often that crazy lady running around ballistically screaming and making a huge scene at the first sign of anything buzzing around me. And usually it’s just someone’s cellphone. Between my frantic behavior and my Chanel No. 5 cologne, I’m a total
“bee magnet” and they come after me like starving linebackers hitting the all-you-can-eat buffet! I've been stung on many occasions and because I'm allergic, my reaction gets worse with each subsequent attack! It’s so bad that I've been warned a sting on my face or neck could be deadly and I now carry an Epipen®️ to be safe. But what about our dogs?

Brachy (flat-nosed) dogs have a difficult time breathing as it is and a sting or any type of swelling to the face can be life-threatening. Now that the temperatures have warmed up, the flowers are in full bloom and we're spending more time outside, here are some important safety tips to both prevent and treat a bee-sting.

As the saying goes, "An ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure!" The first defense against bee stings is to try and avoid them in the first place. Don't leave your dog outside alone if your yard has plants that attract bees. Better yet, replace plants with varieties that don’t attract them. Roses are great options and mint is also a favorite.

Walk earlier in the AM or later in the PM when temps are cooler and bees aren't out in droves. If possible avoid going near certain flowers, herbs, shrubs and grasses that attract bees. Also stay clear of brushy bushes and trails.

Double check where your dog is going potty and lead them to safe places. Ditto for curious sniffing. Pet stores now carry lightweight clothing, caps, sunglasses and booties that might be a good option for outdoor hiking or even walks in bee prone areas. If you’re out hiking or in a place where you’re not able to race to a vet, I recommend carrying a bee emergency kit with you. I also advise keeping your dog covered up in lightweight clothing and booties.

🐝🐝TAKING THE STING OUT OF BEE STINGS🐝🐝

1. If an isolated bee pops out of nowhere and stings your dog, check and see if the stinger and venom sac are still attached. If so:
SLIDE A CREDIT CARD ALONG THE SITE TO GENTLY REMOVE THE STINGER WITHOUT pushing more venom into your dog's bloodstream.

2. IF YOUR DOG IS STUNG ON THE FACE AND/OR YOU SEE THE SIGHT IS SWELLING UP, ADMINISTER BENEDRYL & PREDNISONE IMMEDIATELY!

3. FOR PAIN RELIEF: MAKE A PASTE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND BY MIXING BAKING SODA WITH A SPLASH OF WATER. DAB IT ON SITE. You can re-apply this paste every 2-3 hours as necessary. CBD can also be applied topically and orally!

4. APPLY ICE AND GET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID FURTHER COMPLICATIONS.

BEE STING KIT:
🐝Prednisone Pill (5mg pill for 10-25lb dogs)
🐝Benedryl Pill (1/2 25mg pill for 15-25lb dogs)
🐝small pill pockets for administering pills
🐝Baking Soda (put a few tbs in a plastic bag
🐝small doggie bandana
🐝small ice pack
🐝small bottle of water
🐝credit card or hotel key-for removing stinger
🐝1 small baby aspirin (for pain)
🐝CBD Oil

​Nothing can spoil a good time in the great outdoors like a nasty bee sting, so these tips will allow you to "BEE" 🐝 SAFE! Pugs & Kisses! -Katy

By Katy Cable-A 3 min. Read

😎Here in So. Cal it seems we get more clouds, drizzle and chill in June than we do in February. Still, now that the summer is in high gear and our calendars are filling with fun outdoor activities, I felt it was important to share tips on how to help your dog keep their cool during hot weather.

I live a short walk from one of the most popular beaches for DOGS in Southern California. Every weekend there are loads of events and meet-ups going on. Unfortunately there are also many incidents that could have been easily prevented. It’s so important for everyone to be aware of safety tips and signs of overheating.

Pugs and other brachycephalic breeds (dogs with flat faces and short noses, such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Pugs, Pekinese, and Shih-tzus), older pets, dogs that are ill or have a chronic health condition, and dogs not used to warm weather are extremely susceptible to overheating so be mindful of the following signs:
Heavy panting or rapid breathing
Elevated body temperature
Excessive thirst
Bright or dark red tongue and gums
Excessive drooling
Glazed eyes
Increased pulse and heartbeat
Vomiting
bloody diarrhea

If you dog is exhibiting any of the above symptoms you need to to start cooling them down immediately and keep close watch on their behavior.

Take your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice any of the following SIGNS OF LIFE-THREATENING OVERHEATING:
Staggering, stumbling
Weakness and collapse
Seizures
Unconsciousness

Now that you’re aware of the warning signs here’s how to keep your pup from getting overheated in the first place.

⛱ BEACH SAFETY 101 ⛱
Before you head out for the beach, I recommend bringing an umbrella, tent or Easy-Up so you have a shady spot for your dog to retreat from the sun. You’ll also want to bring 2 large towels or blankets. It's good idea to have one for your dog to lay on as well as one you can soak and use to cool your dog off if they get overheated.

If the sand sand is burning your tootsies, you can bet it will burn your doggie's paws. Make sure you put them in booties or socks if they are too large a dog to carry across the hot sand.

​Fresh drinking water and a bowl are MUSTS! Always have fresh water to keep your doggie hydrated and also so they are not tempted to drink seawater or from pools of standing water which may be filthy. Also communal water bowls can provide a lot more than hydration in the form of parasites and nasty doggy germs. Have your own bowl of water handy.

Many people don't realize dogs are susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer. The most sensitive dogs are:
shaved
short-coated
light colored
and if course hairless dogs.

For those breeds, I recommend staying OUT of the sun on extremely hot days and during peak hours (10AM-2PM). The best protection is to dress your dog in a T-shirt, sun-shirt with UV protection or a cooling vest which shields from harmful rays and keeps dogs from overheating.

I also advise getting a sunscreen for your dog. Please note, make sure the sunscreen is a formula safe for dogs. Human sunscreens can contain ingredients (such as zinc) which are toxic if ingested. Be sure to cover your dog's nose, ears, belly, and inside hind legs.

Along with sun safety, you'll need to be equally prepared to keep your sweetie safe in the water. Surf Gidget the Pug, makes it look easy but Pugs, and several other breeds are not strong swimmers (actually they're genetically designed to sink like stones!) I would recommend a life vest if you're out at the beach, in a boat or on open water. Even with a life vest you must supervise your dog in the water. An unexpected wave, rip current, rapids or even stepping on a dead bee, sharp coral or jellyfish can be major hazards.

It goes without saying if your dog may be sick, is lethargic, has the runs, or is in heat, do not visit the beach, dog park or any other public dog area.

Hold off on visiting a dog beach or park until your dog is trusted to obey commands. If you are dog sitting, have a new shelter or rescue dog, this may pose too much risk until you are more familiar with your pet. Many people love letting their dogs run around off-leash (I'm one of them) but if your dog isn't consistent with following your commands I recommend for everyone's safety, you keep them on a leash until they’re better trained. It can extremely dangerous if your dog is racing down the beach and not aware of a potential dangerous situation.

And finally, just a few “Golden Rules” for the dog beach. Remember beaches depend on all of us to keep them safe and clean. Bring waste disposal bags, -and maybe a few extras for those who may not be as conscientious. Be the bigger person who picks up and takes care of keeping the beach safe and clean. So many people don’t.
It goes without saying if your dog may be sick, is lethargic, has the runs, or is in heat, do not visit the beach, dog park or any other public dog area.

Be attentive to your dog. This is not the time or place to relax with a good book or your nose in your IG feed. Be on the lookout. A fun run down the beach chasing a ball can quickly turn to an aggressive dog fight. If you notice play getting a bit rough and you’re concerned, call your dog and distract them with some one-one-one play.

If everyone adheres to some basic safety precautions we can cut down on a lot of injuries. Let's keep dog friendly beaches a fun place to make memories. Pugs & kisses 😘 See you at the beach.⛱ -Katy Cable & Olive

If you’re in the SoCal area I hope you’ll join some of the fun beach meet-ups and events. Click here for more info: https://www.weeklyrunt.com/events.html

By, Katy Cable -TWR
A 4 min. Read

It’s been a real “shake and bake” holiday! As if 4th of July fireworks sounding more like “bombs bursting in air” weren’t scary enough, here in SoCal we also had two of the largest earthquakes to hit in over 20 years. I figured this was a perfect time to remind everyone: NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE!

If you’re a pet parent, that also means preparing for them too! Unlike most other natural disasters, earthquakes are sneaky and, as we just saw, don’t come with any warning. Total devastation can happen in a split second.

Waiting until the last minute to have an emergency plan and supplies in place is not only foolish but may be deadly. So, BEFORE a crisis, while it's fresh on everyone's minds, I hope each and every one of you will take a few minutes and: Make a disaster plan for you AND your pets!

⚠️BEFORE THE BIG ONE HITS⚠️
Here are some important tips to keep pets safe in natural disasters and emergencies:

1. HAVE ALL YOUR PETS MICRO-CHIPPED and make sure they’re wearing ID collars when home alone. You'll increase your chances of being reunited with pets who get lost by having them micro-chipped; But remember, the “Good Samaritan” who finds your pet likely won't be able to scan for a chip, but they will be able to read a basic tag!
*Put your cellphone number on your pet's tag. It may also be a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your immediate area in the event you have to evacuate.

2. PREPARE AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR YOUR PETS: Include essentials such as:
🐾2 weeks of clean drinking water & non-perishable high quality dry pet food. Store in water-tight containers.
🐾Water purification tablets
🐾First aid kit
🐾Any medication your pet takes plus first-aid meds: (antacid/sm can pumpkin/Benadryl/baby aspirin) CBD oil (For Stress Relief)
🐾Crate labeled with photo of pet and ER contact #
🐾comfort toys/in crate
🐾booties or baby socks
🐾T-Shirt/warm coat/sweater/blanket/pillow
🐾reflective harness/leash
🐾Life preserver
​🐾Puppy pads/poop bags

3. KEEP EMERGENCY KIT SUPPLIES IN YOUR CAR AS WELL AS YOUR HOME. If you live in LA, there’s a good chance you may be in your car or out and about.

4. Make sure there's a sign on your door for emergency personnel that you own pets and where they typically hide in the house if scared.

5. Anchor televisions, bookcases and armoires securely to walls. Be mindful of heavy or delicate objects that may fall onto a pet or small child during shaking. Organize accordingly.

6. Entrust a neighbor with a key who can get your pets in the event of an emergency and you’re away. Be sure the person is comfortable with your pets and your pets are familiar with them. Show them where your pets are likely to be (especially if they hide when they're nervous) and where your disaster supplies are kept. I like to keep a backpack in a small travel crate.

⚠️If you have a pet-sitter: Make a plan well in advance. Also discuss a specific meeting spot to retrieve your pets should there be an emergency evacuation.

7. LOCATE A SAFE AREA IN YOUR HOME. If your family and pets must wait out a storm or an earthquake hits, identify a safe area where you can all congregate. Look for strong tables to duck under so you’ll be protected from falling objects and debris.

I highly recommend playing it SAFE! If there is a threat EVACUATE EARLY!! Don't wait for a mandatory evacuation order. Some people who have waited had to be evacuated by emergency officials and their pets were often left behind. The smell of smoke, rapidly rising water, or the sound of high winds or thunder may make your pet more fearful and difficult to locate or load into a crate or carrier. Evacuating before conditions become severe will keep everyone safer and make the process much less stressful.

IF YOU MUST EVACUATE, TAKE YOUR PET: This goes without saying. If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets. You have no way of knowing how long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able—or allowed—to go back and retrieve your pets. Pets left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost or killed. If you cannot get your pet, do not leave them chained, tied up or locked in a crate. At least give them the opportunity to escape.

Prior to the earth shaking, storm hitting or fire breaking out: check with hotels and motels outside your immediate area to find out if they accept pets. Ask about any restrictions on number, size and species. Inquire if a "no-pet" policy would be waived due to an emergency. Keep a list of animal-friendly places handy, and call ahead for a reservation as soon as you think you might have to leave your home.

For help identifying pet-friendly lodgings, check out these websites:

• Bringfido.com
• dogfriendly.com
• petswelcome.com
• tripswithpets.com

Contact your veterinarian's office. Ask for referrals or services in outside areas. Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in disaster emergencies (make sure to include their 24-hour telephone numbers.)

Check with your local animal shelter. Some shelters may be able to provide foster care or shelter for pets in an emergency. But keep in mind that shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched during a local emergency.

⚠️AFTER A DISASTER⚠️
Your home may be a very different place and it may be hard for your pets to adjust. The entire landscape of your neighborhood may have completely changed. Do these things to keep you and your pets safe:
​
⚠️Keep pets indoors. Put dogs on leashes and cats in carriers to protect them. Make sure they’re wearing fluorescent ID collars should they go missing at night. DON’T ALLOW PETS TO ROAM LOOSE. They could easily get lost or be injured by broken glass live wires and other hazards

⚠️Close off and eliminate any nooks and crannies where frightened pets may try to hide and/or escape. Tape up doggie doors, fireplaces, and windows. Familiar sights and smells may be gone and pets may be extremely fearful and/or disoriented. The last thing you need is to be looking for a lost pet.

⚠️Shut off gas. Stay clear of live wires.

⚠️Move/secure or clean up any dangerous items such as sharp tools, toxic products or glass objects.

⚠️Keep emergency supplies (see just above) in air-tight containers. Store in pet carriers and keep handy in the garage or under a bed for easy access. Also have supplies in your car.

⚠️Check your property for wildlife that may have been displaced and is seeking refuge. They could pose a threat to you and/or your pets.

⚠️Be patient with your pet. Prepare for some behavior problems after the event. Try and get them back into their normal routine as quickly as possible. Consult with your veterinarian if problems persist or you notice any major trauma health issues.

​I hope if the earth starts moving under your feet or or disaster strikes, these tips will protect both you and your beloved pets! Now go enjoy the rest of your happy summer! -Katy 💕

​🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾

By Katy Cable - The Weekly Runt
A 3 min.read

l interrupt my regularly scheduled weekly blog to bring you this special update on the latest "GRAIN-FREE" PET FOOD SCARE.

This weekend I attended an anniversary event at a popular pet store. As I left my house, I was bombarded with a flood of texts, calls and concerns about the latest news story:
“FDA investigates possible link between popular pet foods and heart disease...”

When I arrived at the event nearly every pet parent I met was feeding one of the brands mentioned and most were extremely concerned about the safety of their pet's food.

SO, before I address this, I invite you to COME, SIT, and READ...First off, I AM NOT WORRIED ONE BIT ABOUT THIS NEWS STORY! In my blogs about "grain-free" diets, (most diets actually) the FIRST THING I advise pet parents to do is "read the labels" Often, "grain-free" foods are higher in sugar/carbs and contain more corn, soy, rice and vegetable proteins than foods that contain grain. Therefore, a "grain-free" pet food can often be a LESS HEALTHY option. It's simply a marketing/packaging spin!

I believe "grain-free" is still the way to go. Dogs and cats don't need GRAINS! They thrive on animal, fish and game protein. They do however, need a variety of trace minerals and vitamins found in veggies. Meat is expensive, and labor intensive, so, pet foods often keep prices low by adding corn, rice and potatoes as MAIN INGREDIENTS. Better options are low-glycemic carbs which don't convert to sugar as quickly such as peas, lentils and sweet potatoes, but they're still NOT A SUBSTITUTE for animal protein.

I attended this event on behalf of NULO pet foods, for which I am a proud brand ambassador. Nulo was not listed in the findings and one of the reasons must be because NULO uses the highest amount of protein from animal sources, not carbs! The first 3-4 ingredients are meat proteins followed by "low-gylcemic" carbs to round out the nutritional platform.

The founder of the company, Michael Landa, is an All-American medal swimmer who knows a thing or two about nutrition and performance. He also created NULO to provide a wonderful food for his own Lab, Max. Labrador and Golden Retrievers are listed as the top breeds affected by this particular heart condition: DCM. Nulo has long been aware of the common health issues affecting our pets and formulated a food to hopefully combat these problems.

If you're feeding a brand listed in the reports, I still wouldn't worry. Here's why:

Whenever there's a study (or scare) or I'm researching something, the first thing I do is figure out, "WHO'S PAYING TO CONDUCT THIS RESEARCH STUDY" 9-out-of-10 times it can be traced back to someone with special interests with big pharma or a major corporation. Face it, lots of alternative sites, products and research have been shot down and attacked for posting holistic options for cancer, diabetes, and an array of other health issues simply because there's NO MONEY TO BE MADE and these healthy options are putting a dent in the profits of drugs, vets, and giant commercial pet food brands. The people at the very tippy-top of the food chain aren't concerned with your pet's health but PROFITS! -Plain and simple. For more information on how the pet food industry works check out my blog: PET FOOLED

First off, this research is weak at best. Let's start with the report:
"FDA INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL LINK BETWEEN DIET AND HEART DISEASE IN DOGS. The FDA is looking into a potential correlation between grain-free diets and a type of heart disease in dogs known as dilated cardiomyopathy...or DCM."

DCM is a disease of the dog's heart muscle that results in weakened contractions and poor pumping ability. It can lead to enlarged heart and congestive heart failure. Even death.

The article goes on to list the breeds most commonly affected as well as the type of foods (kibble, wet, moist, raw, unknown) and the brands fed.

The first thing that struck me was all the brands listed were relatively popular, high-end, quality brands. I find it strange there wasn't one mention of some of the worst, cheapest, grocery store brands listed. Brands which list: corn, soy, rice, and potatoes as the FIRST TWO INGREDIENTS.

Another point: The FDA researchers observed that most of these DCM cases were associated with dogs eating DRY, GRAIN-FREE, foods. Doesn't that make sense when typically, far more dog owners feed dry food and most options available today are marketed as "grain-free."

The report lists the top brands named in this DCM study but it doesn't include any information or statistics of what other pet foods were used. I highly doubt dogs eating the 2 top foods named (Acana & Zignature) were fairing more poorly than dogs on IAMS, or Kibbles-n-Bits. In fact, the Acana feeder is probably more educated on pet food, willing to spend more money on their pet's food and visits their vet more frequently for routine care. They may also be more prone to own the breeds of dogs more prevalent to get DCM. SOOOOOOOOO MANY QUESTIONS, SO LITTLE INFO.

My biggest takeaway of this scare was this portion:
"It's important to note that the reports include dogs that have eaten grain-free and grain-containing foods and also include vegetarian or vegan formulations. They also include all forms of diets. Kibble, canned, raw and home-cooked."
"Therefore, we do not think these cases can be explained simply by whether or not they contain grains or by brand or manufacturer." (THAT'S IN BOLD RED TYPE!)

So, there it is! The whole study and story is BOGUS HYPE! It's designed to put the fear of God into pet parents and sell news. I wouldn't be surprised if a big brand pet food company, feeling the pinch of some of these competitors taking market share, is behind the whole scare. They may be planning to bring a new prescription DCM formula pet food to market!

The article goes on to state:
"To put this issue into proper context, the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that they are 77 million pet dogs in the United States.
As of April 30, 2019, the FDA has received reports about 560 dogs diagnosed with DCM suspected to be linked to diet. (THIS TOO OUTLINED IN RED BOLD TYPE) Tens of millions of dogs have been eating dog food without developing DCM."

There's more to the article: DOG FOOD ADVISORY REPORT (That's the link for those of you who wish to research or read this more carefully.) My conclusion is the same as it's been since I started blogging and discussing "grain-free" diets way back in 2015 -before they were even A THING!

For nearly 18 years I've been working with sick, sensitive, shelter and rescue dogs (and PUGS!😜) I have witnessed healing and health due to simple holistic options and better diets that I had to SEE FOR MYSELF TO BELIEVE!

I now make it my business to do the research and investigation on matters concerning our pets health. I want to share my findings with you. I introduced miracles happening in dogs with deadly cancers due to ketogenic diets. I showed how CBD can reduce or eliminate seizures and anxiety and many other breakthroughs long before most people even knew what they were.

I'm honored to be a brand ambassador for many companies and products BECAUSE I CHOOSE to represent them and I personally use (AND LOVE!) their products. I have turned down many lucrative endorsements simply because I can't honesty stand behind what I wouldn't use myself or recommend to my loved ones.

Thank you for reading and being such a loving pet parent. Together we can make a difference and be part of a new movement advocating for our pets!

I hope you'll visit my site and sign up to receive my FREE weekly blog. Pass it on to your pet parent friends! You’ll find nearly 100 blogs on a variety of popular topics.

I welcome your comments or dialog and if I can be of any help, I hope you'll reach out! -Pugs and kisses!🐾❤️😘 -Katy


​🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾