 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 to only show Sully sleeping or calmly laying down and catching 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 but 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 extremely important to understand the best way 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 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, they 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-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 marks the 3 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 minute read It was pitch dark when my alarm abruptly ended my REM sleep. Olive was softly snoring right next to me. Obviously dreaming of the new life she was spoiled with. Long gone were her days of being an abused breeder dog. I trudged out of bed and decided it was too early to even think about making a cappuccino. I thanked God getting up at this hour was not part of my normal routine. Today, I had been invited to join a very important rescue mission helping transport shelter animals to their new "FUR-EVER" homes. This was an opportunity I definitely didn't want to sleep through. At 5:30am sharp, just as the dawn was breaking, I arrived at a private aircraft terminal in Long Beach. Already on the tarmac was a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and a large SPCAla transport van. A tireless group of volunteers were quickly unloading dozens of plastic travel crates. The precious cargo inside: nervous canine first-time fliers. These lucky dogs had arrived from several over-crowded, high-kill shelters in the LA area. The more dogs coming into these shelters, the less time they have. And for these dogs, their time had run out. That is until a hero came along. That hero is Peter Rork M.D., Co-Founder and President of DOG IS MY CO-PILOT. Rork, "the pilot" put himself through medical school working as a commercial pilot. In addition he’s qualified to fly single engine aircraft, sea planes and is a certified flight instructor. After spending over 30 years practicing orthopedic surgery, he retired his scrubs and took to the friendly skies where the views can't be beat. Always a passionate dog lover, Rork makes "no bones" about his preference for dogs over humans. He teamed with Esq. Judy Zimet, who coordinates the details on the ground and formed DIMCP. I wanted to kick myself with my stiletto heel for the ridiculous shoe choice I had made. In the time it took for me to saunter over and join the sweating, hard working volunteers, the van had been completely unloaded. Fortunately, no sooner had it been emptied when another one filled with more "lucky dogs" pulled up right on its tail. Surrounded by rows of tagged plastic crates, I wondered what type of magic act it was going to take to somehow fit them all into this aircraft. On second glance I saw the inside had been completely hollowed out and Rork was strategically stacking crates with the precision of a Jenga master. "Give me large crates going to Spokane!" He called. It wasn't ten minutes until more than 35 dogs and cats had been positioned in the plane. "Ok! If that's all of 'em, I've gotta get out of here! This fog is rolling in fast and I don't want to be grounded!" Rork yelled while climbing into the plane! In addition to the inside of the plane being outfitted to carry pet crates, Rork also designed the outside to look like the Jet Blue of pet travel. It features the DIMCP logo as well as a sketch of Rork's black lab Doyle, in his flying googles, cap and scarf. Tragically Doyle passed away in 2017 but will serve as the mascot in infamy. On Sunday, August 5th, DIMCP celebrated a huge milestone and saved the 10,000th soul since its inception in 2012. The idea was simple, move animals from high kill overcrowded shelters to rescues/no-kill shelters in areas that have a demand. While numerous large dogs sit on death-row in LA, there are many families in Boise, Spokane and other areas looking for large active dogs to serve as hiking partners. To transport these animals by van would take over 18 hours and greatly limits the number of animals that can be saved. A typical rescue mission will transport anywhere from 30 to over 260 dogs from populated shelters in CA, AZ, NV, TX, LA & OK to states in the Pacific Northwest where they will likely be adopted. If not, they will be temporarily housed in no-kill shelters where they never run the risk of being put down due to over-crowding. As a "nervous-flier" -which is the understatement of the year, I wondered how who these dogs and cats handle air travel which, especially in small planes, is loud and often turbulent? Rork surprised me when he told me, the cats often meow for a time but the dogs are easy and they're usually lulled to sleep within 10 minutes. And having a small plane means remote destinations can be typically reached in 3-5 hours. Those hours are the highlight of Rork's day, since he loves having his "head-in-the-clouds!" To keep this operation going, takes the coordinated efforts of hundreds of volunteers, shelter staff, veterinarians and the team at DIMCP. In order to fly, dogs must be over 8 weeks old, have their rabies vaccine, be spayed/neutered and in good health. It costs roughly $150 to transport a pet but most costs are funded through generous donations and no one is charged a "transport" fee. On Sunday, August 5th at 7:07pm, DIMCP celebrated the biggest milestone since its inception in 2012: the transport of it’s 10,000th passenger. The “lucky dog” is an 8 year-old chocolate lab who was found roaming the streets covered in ticks and gravely ill. Fortunately, the abandoned dog was rescued and treated in the nick of time by DC Paws. While making a quick stop in Hobbs, NM, en route to collect the 10,000th pet, Rork was introduced to the dog and the rest is history. Rork has a huge soft spot for Labs and was searching for one since losing his beloved Doyle. What a happy coincidence! This special dog, who Rork ingeniously named “Hobbs,” has found his new “fur-ever” home with none other than Rork himself. “I don’t know what his name was before, but his name is Hobbs now. I have two other rescues at home and we’re all going to have a great time!” And although DIMC is saving thousands of innocent pets, (ruff-ly 2,500 per year) the work is hardly done. The heartbreaking fact still remains that pet overpopulation is a huge problem. ✅Currently there are 8 million healthy, adoptable pets sitting in over-run animal shelters. Usually they're surrendered or abandoned. ✅Every 3 seconds a perfectly wonderful, innocent, helpless dog is euthanized due to over-crowding. Every animal sitting in a shelter is there because of human neglect. These animals have no voice and no say in their destiny. But you can help. Be part of the solution by doing the following: 🐾If you own a pet: Spay/Neuter and Microchip them. 🐾Adopt a shelter or rescue pet. Never use backyard breeders or puppy mills. 🐾If you can't have a pet look into fostering or temporarily fostering one. 🐾If you can't foster, volunteer some time to help a local shelter or rescue. 🐾If you don't have the time to volunteer, donate or sponsor needy pets. 🐾If you are not in a position to donate financially, use your social media to:, “LIKE” 👍🏼“FOLLOW” “SHARE” “Tweet" and # "Hashtag." As the sun began to rise and the fog quickly rolled in, tears welled up in my eyes at the miracle I was witnessing. Gliding up towards the sky was a plane filled with "precious cargo" on a one-way flight to their new "furever" homes. I was so happy for these sweet souls and the new lives they were about to embark on. In my opinion: Every dog deserves a loving home but not every home deserves a loving dog! ❤️🐾 If you can help with a donation or would like to find out more: http://dogcopilot.org/ https://spcala.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 This is a painful blog to write but an important one. My story begins while waiting for a job interview at a high-kill shelter. It was a position I was excited about and thought I stood a good chance at landing! As I paced the lobby, I watched what I thought was perspective dog owners walking potential new family members around the courtyard. What I witnessed next still brings me to tears as I write this. A well-dressed couple arrived in a luxury car that cost more than most homes. They emerged wearing designer clothing from head to tippy-toe carrying a senior dog also outfitted in “canine couture.” As they approached the reception window I overheard them say, “We’re moving and can’t take the dog. She’s gotten too old.” The woman working at the shelter “intake” window asked for a fee to relinquish the dog and said this was an overcrowded, high-kill shelter. Due to the dog’s age, the chances of her being adopted were slim to none. The couple was completely unaffected hearing of their dog’s certain fate and couldn’t discard this precious pooch fast enough. They tossed both the dog and a wad of cash through the window without a second of remorse. -Or so much as a pat goodbye. Hearing that heartbroken dog howl and whine as she was abandoned, is a scene I will never be able to erase from my mind. I couldn’t hold back my tears listening to a stereo of crying dogs in cages. I realized that all the dogs I’d seen in the courtyard that afternoon were not adoption candidates but were actually being relinquished. I knew right then and there I couldn’t work in this environment. We live in an “out with the old, in with the new” culture. We value shiny, new things and quickly replace anything the minute an UPGRADE or newer version hits the market. We’re all too interested in what’s trending with “millennials” yet disregard all the experience and wisdom held by those eligible for “Medicare.” And the same holds true with our dogs. Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing so many people surrendering older dogs. For some, it's the mounting medical expenses. For others it's the care they need. And, tragically, sometimes it’s the simple fact that the pet is now just too old. Whatever the case, that loyal companion that always had your back, loved and adored you, now needs your care and attention more than ever! As a dog ages, their sole purpose becomes being your faithful companion. (Pugs in particular are bred for that sole reason.) Providing unconditional love is what they DO! Having nobody to love compromises their immune systems terribly. -As our shelters and rescue groups see all too often. I realize I’m singing to the choir! The fact you’re reading this blog tells me you would sever your own arm before discarding your aging pet. But there’s so much more that can be done. Here’s how you can help. ❤️Let’s be advocates for adopting senior pets and start promoting all the advantages❤️ 1. Shelters and rescues charge far less for senior pets and those with special needs. 2. With some pets considered “senior” at only 5-6 years old, many “older” pets can still live long, happy lives. 3. Most older pets are already well trained and know commands. However, you can definitely teach “old dogs new tricks” and can still train them later in their life. 4. Senior pets are quite capable of transferring affection and you’ll be regarded as their hero. 5. Older pets are quite content with a slower-paced, simple lifestyle. They don’t have the same energy levels or require nearly as much exercise. If you’re considering adopting an older pet or if you currently have one that’s “getting up there”, here are a few helpful tips: 1. Pets age as quickly as Hollywood ingenues: about 7 dog years to 1 human year. It’s important to have more frequent vet checks. This way you can hopefully catch any problem while it’s less risky and expen$ive. Your vet can also be helpful in recommending supplements and medications to ease issues and give your pet a good quality of life. 2. Dogs thrive on familiarity and routine. Any change to this can be a huge stressor. Don’t make your dog age even quicker by adding more stress to their life. For instance, when planning your vacation, it’s perhaps better to leave your dog home with a trusted familiar pet-sitter rather than put them through the stress of travel. Do your best to keep their familiar routine. 3. Keep things accessible. Be mindful of stairs, slippery floors, and other hard to navigate surfaces. Keep food, water and potty areas in well lit, easily accessible places. Be mindful of re-arranging the house and moving everything around. This will be stressful for your dog, especially as their senses decline. 4. Don’t neglect dental care! It all starts in the mouth. Billions of bacteria can flood into the bloodstream and attack every organ in your dog’s body. Don’t forget to have their teeth checked and cleaned and if you’re not doing it already: BRUSH THEIR CHOPPERS! It’s not too late to start. 5. Senior/mature dogs have different dietary needs than a growing or more active dog. As dogs age, their sense of smell and taste diminish. Teeth can be sensitive (or, in the case of many pugs, -GONE!) Your once happy eater may become bored with current food. Now may be a good time to switch from dry kibble to canned, fresh, and/or raw foods. At the very least, try switching to a less carby, senior or mature formula of food and READ THOSE INGREDIENTS! (See video below for tips and discuss options with your vet.) 6. Exercise is important but modify activity. Those all day hikes and 5 mile runs along the beach, may need to be replaced with a slow walk (possibly with your dog in a stroller or wagon) and some play in a pool. However, it’s crucial to keep your dog moving. Try using CBD* and other natural supplements for muscle pain relief. 7. Know the signs of pain. Dogs are stoic. By nature they don’t want to appear vulnerable to predators and they can endure ungodly amounts of pain without you having the first clue something’s wrong. Here’s a few possible indicators that your dog may be in pain: *Be mindful of any changes in their eating, sleeping, activity, peeing and pooping routines. *No enjoyment from treats, play or other pleasures. *Unusual lethargy *Your dog has begun isolating. *Your normally tame dog has acted aggressively. They may try to bite or growl to avoid being touched if in pain. *Limping or favoring one side or area of their body. *Shivering, drooling, panting, when it’s not particularly hot or cold. *Yelping or whimpering when moving or touched. **Listen to your GUT! If you feel something isn’t right don’t delay! Get them checked! Nobody EVER said, “Gee, I Wish I’d waited longer to get my dog in to the vet!” I've been privileged to watch a few pugs go from young puppies to ripe-old seniors and there’s something extra special about older dogs. Just like an infant they’re totally reliant on you for their care. And while giving to them, you will be the one to receive the most precious gift in life. You will see and feel unconditional love in action. Your heart will expand. You will become a much more humble compassionate person. You will become a hero. For while you’re just one person in this great big world, to your dog, you ARE the entire world and YOU make their life worth living. ❤️ Dedicated to all those who have loved and cared for wise-old dogs! *To learn more about CBD/to order click here: www.weeklyrunt.com/blog/cbd-re-leafweeding-thru-the-hype 🐾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 minute read The dog days of summer are here! Time to get out, get away and have some fun! Last week I went over important safety tips for traveling with your pet, this week, Part Two, includes planning a trip and pet-friendly vacation ideas for any budget! Most of us consider our pets family members and many would love nothing more than to include them on our vacations. In order to make it a fun, safe, memorable IN-A-GOOD-WAY here are some important tips: Prior to making your vacation plans: 🛳Think honestly about your time, budget, and what your priorities are for this vacation. A quiet get-away to re-charge or a busy family trip to re-connect. 🐶Evaluate how safe and prepared your pet is for traveling. Depending on the type of adventure you are planning, the best option may be to leave your dog with a pet-sitter. Or, if you are including your pet, a relaxing short drive to a dog-friendly campsite might be a better idea instead of having an elderly dog or fearful new pup accompany you on a long airline flight to a new destination. Or maybe you are interested in a bit of both. A fun trip that caters to dogs by providing pet-friendly activities and amenities as well as other family-fun options. Read on for some of my favorite destinations to explore. Whatever you're looking for, one of thee very best dog travel resources I have found is: bringfido.com This terrific website includes everything you need to plan and enjoy a wonderful vacation with your pet virtually anywhere in the world. Filled with pet-owner reviews, and every amenity and service you may need from dog-friendly accommodations to emergency vet care to dog-friendly activities. For hotel reservations, check out All The Rooms with great pet-friendly accommodation options and tips. As a pug owner, I am against airplane travel if at all possible. Flat-nosed dogs have difficulty breathing and can overheat easily. With all the possible issues that can occur on a plane, it's just not worth the stress and possible heartbreak should something happen. Sometimes air travel is the only way to go therefore, refer to last week’s blog for life-saving important tips. ✈️ As luck would have it, living here in So Cal, some of my favorite getaways are just short car rides away. Whether you have children and are doing a family trip or a more relaxing adult retreat, these can be perfect spots. From the glamour of Beverly Hills, to the beautiful beaches it would be hard to find a better travel destination than right here in my own Southern California backyard of Long Beach. Not many places offer the year-round excitement, diversity and options. Long Beach is both centrally located right in the middle of LA and OC and is less crowded and expensive than many other destinations. It offers great public transportation into various parts of LA, as well as an airport. Just a short drive to Disneyland (and other attractions) and plenty to do if you want a day to stay put. Regardless of what you choose to do Long Beach is a great bet! Not only is it extremely dog-friendly, boasting 10 off-leash dog parks and the only off-leash dog beach in LA county: Rosie's Dog Beach. There is plenty to do with the family AND Fido. There are several wonderful outdoor shopping areas including the quaint Shoreline Village, Retro-Row, Downtown Pine Street, and the popular Belmont Shore. Most offer an array of cafes, bars, coffee houses and restaurants with dog-friendly patio dining. Most stores are also welcoming towards pets. With perfect weather year-round, you can rent a bicycle and pedal down the bike path which lines the beach from Belmont Shore to Shoreline Village. In addition to bikes, you can rent kayaks, SUPS, Duffy electric boats or even 30ft. sail boats and have a day on the water. -Or pretend you're in Venice, Italy and take a gondola ride through picturesque Naples. Over the summer there are an abundance of free outdoor concerts in the park, moonlight movies on the beach, and street fairs you can attend with your dog. Although summer is a fun time to visit, after Labor-Day rates go way down as do the crowds. The great thing is, the weather is still perfect year-round. After a sunny day playing in the salt water and sand, your pooch can be royally pampered at one of the many pet spas and boutiques. Don't miss Pussy and Pooch on Second Street in Belmont Shore. Although wonderful places to visit year-round, after Labor Day rates go way down as do the crowds. There are plenty of dog-friendly hotel and AirBnB options which will likely be less pricey than staying in the heart of LA or OC. And again, being in the center of everything gives you easy access to anywhere you're interested in visiting. Again, visit All The Rooms for ideas. I have to laugh, but it seems to be my experience that the finer the hotel, the more responsive they are to pets. My dogs receive first-class treatment at many 5-Star resorts, yet they're forbidden from staying at most budget motels. In addition, I've noticed my canine was definitely cleaner, smarter and better-mannered than most the other guests at these haunts. -Well, RULES are RULES😜! It wouldn't be a trip to SoCal without a visit to "The Happiest Place on Earth" as well as some of the world's other leading amusement parks. Disneyland, Universal, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flaggs, and nearly every other theme park and attraction are just a short (ok, maybe not in the summer traffic) drive away. Or pay a visit to something different like the OC Fair, or one of the many museums. Unless you're Doug the Pug, most theme parks and attractions do not allow pets. However, they do have nearby kennels, day-care and boarding facilities. Disneyland has a kennel on-site and right next door to the park entrance. The kennel is typically open both one hour prior to the park opening and after it closes. The great thing is it's highly rated, clean and safe. It's convenient, and you have flexibility to go visit, play, or walk your pet during your day. -In fact it's encouraged as the kennel does not provide care or play. They do not feed, exercise or engage with pets in the kennel. If your focus is Disneyland and getting the most of your visit there, I recommend leaving your pet with a nearby pet-sitter or boarding facility that provides play and interaction. Consider Camp Bow-Wow or PetSmart PetsHotel where your dog can socialize, get exercised and have some fun. You'll also find local daycare/boarding options on bringfido.com (The Disney resorts do not allow pets so you will have to make other arrangements if you are staying at a Disney property. The trams allow dogs to ride from the parking lots to the theme parks.) Once you've checked the happiest place on earth off your list don't leave before visiting LA. Walk down Rodeo Drive. See the stars on Hollywood Blvd. Dine outdoors in a beautiful cafe, spot celebrities at the Grove then go see a taping of your favorite TV show. You can take a studio tour, max out your credit cards at the world’s best boutiques from Robertson to Melrose to the garment district downtown. Do something off-beat and unique, check out my homepage: The Weekly Runt for fun activities like a free DOGA (yoga with your Dog) class, Yappy-Hour or an outdoor hike. Should you find yourself in a situation where you want to enjoy an outing or overnight sans dog, I recommend Doggie Day Camp or the PetsHotel at select PetSmart locations. A loving, trained staff offers excellent care at affordable prices and can be readily found throughout the nation. If you want to get-away from the city, some of my favorite destinations for dog-friendly vacations just outside LA are: Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is a beautiful, relaxing paradise for all of us. We enjoy long walks, popping our dog in the basket and going for bike rides, and then the dog often joins us for al fresco meals. We've brought our dog out golfing, to the driving range or let them nap in the room while we hit the amazing spa or pool. There's a fun kids camp and family friendly events like dive-in movies at the pool and making s'mores over the fire. Although it can be far too sweltering hot during the summer and fall, another favorite dog-friendly destination (November-May) is La Quinta Resort and Spa. I love the beautiful Spanish-architecture and historic grounds. The expansive property features numerous pools, world class golfing, tennis, and spa treatments. There are several quaint restaurants with patio dining and nearby you will find wonderful shopping destinations where everyone is happy to see a well-behaved dog. There are numerous dog-friendly parks, and outdoor piazzas for quaint shopping and dining. If you want to escape the heat, head to the snow. I've have had some fun adventures up in the local mountains. Playing in the snow is a perfect change of pace for my "beach-dog." Even during the summer months, you can get out on the lakes, hike in the great outdoors and enjoy the fresh mountain air. Try not to feel bad if you don't have the time, budget or adaptability to do a full-blown getaway with your canine. On my Homepage I have listed some fun local events going on. You can have a ball on a free "stay-cation" right in your own neck of the woods. Not from this area? Check your vet's office, groomers, pet stores, Facebook, Meet-Up sites and local news for fun things happening near you. Or better yet: start your own. I hope you have an unforgettable and wonderful summer filled with happy memories. I would 💝💝💝💝 to see your great getaway photos and to include them on this site. 🐾🐾Happy Tails to you!🐾🐾 -Katy  SAFETY TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH YOUR DOG By Katy Cable-TWR A 3 minute Read Although summer is well underway, for many, vacations are still in the planning stages or coming up. If you have a dog, you're likely debating whether or not to include them on the trip or leave them behind. It's funny, when I was growing up, unless you were going camping or to the family cabin, the idea of taking your dog on a vacation, was unheard of. -Especially a trip involving air travel and hotels. Well, now it's quite common. In fact, more than half of all US pet owners (59%) and just under half (41%) of travelers in the U.K. Include their pets in their vacation plans.+ However, it's very important to know your pet and be realistic about taking them on a vacation. While it's a fun getaway for you, it's a whole new, and possibly frightening, stressful situation for many of them. Dogs thrive on a structured, consistent routine and a vacation will be anything but. Make sure bringing your pet isn't more for your enjoyment than theirs. It may cause more anxiety than it's worth thereby ruining what could've been a good time. On the other hand, with proper planning and and some extra efforts, you and your pet will share new adventures and memories to last a lifetime. If you've chosen to take your dog, prior to racing out the door, I recommend doing these helpful things. Whether you're traveling by plane, train, RV or auto, being prepared and planning is key. First up, this is a great time to download that bringfido app and locate emergency pet clinics and other pet resources both at your destination and along the way. Double check your accommodation's and airline's rules on pets. Locate the pet rest areas along your route and in airports. Finally, just like you will be packing your bags, you need to pack all the essentials for your fur baby as well. You'll want to bring:
Traveling By Car:🚘 While it may be tempting to hop in the car, roll down the windows and let your pup happily ride shot-gun with their head out the window and their ears blowing in the breeze, these are among the worst choices for your pet's safety. The only more dangerous choice would be to travel with your pooch loose in the back of a pick-up truck; in the event of an accident, an unrestrained pet is at serious risk of injury. Pet Car Safety 101: Proper Restraint You wouldn't allow your children to ride in a vehicle unrestrained, and you shouldn't allow your pet to do so either. In the car, I recommend keeping your dog in a crate, as it is by far the safest method. That being said, it's important to properly restrain the crate in your vehicle as well, so you'll want to choose one with tie-down straps and a metal safety anchor. Remember that putting your pet into a crate, carrier or secure harness is for both their safety and yours. An unrestrained pet can be a very dangerous distraction while driving. I learned this the hard way with Olive jumping out of her car seat and into my lap hoping to grab one of my McDonald’s french fries. Thank God one didn't fall onto the floor leading her to jump by my feet and cause an accident. Also, while trying to calm her from the commotion of FRENCH FRIES 🍟 I was preoccupied and not driving safely. Thankfully it was in the slow-moving drive-thru line and I learned an important lesson without injury. In an accident, an unrestrained pet can also turn into a projectile, which is life-threatening for your pet and other passengers, who could be struck by the pet. You'll want to choose a crate or carrier that fits your pet snugly, with enough room to be comfortable but not excess room (which poses a risk to your pet in an accident.) Your pet should then be secured into the back seat or cargo area of the vehicle -- not the front passenger seat. Airbags can be deadly to pets if deployed in an accident. RV Travel With Pets🚐 More than half of all RV owners travel with pets; and it's one of the best ways to go! However, just like in a regular vehicle, your pet should be safely restrained and not allowed to roam freely about the interior while it's moving. You should also be very cautious about leaving your pet in the RV while you're away. Just like in a car, temperatures can quickly soar and become deadly. Even leaving the air conditioning running is not a guarantee. It's too risky in the event of a a power failure or other emergency. If you must leave your pet alone in an RV, there are temperature-monitoring devices available that will send a signal to your cell phone if the temperature gets too hot or too cold. To be sure your dog doesn't escape, you'll also want to securely fasten a leash and collar or harness on them before heading out. A pet gate can be used as a barrier if you plan to stay in one place and leave the door open. Traveling by air: ✈️ Air travel has become such a pain! It's a major stressor for most humans, so just think what it does to dogs! Airports are often extremely loud, crowded, frantic places where tempers are short and lines are long. We know what we're in for but a dog does not. Forget the element of flying, the airport alone can completely freak out a dog long before you ever board the plane. Air travel is also very risky, (especially for brachy/flat-nosed dogs, senior dogs, dogs with medical conditions and puppies) so I don't recommend it. If you must travel by air, which is often the case, it's crucial to do your homework first. 1. Consult with your vet and confirm your pet is OK for air travel. Elderly dogs, anxious dogs, dogs with certain medical conditions and young puppies are extremely vulnerable. Also, depending on where you are traveling they may need medical paperwork with proof of immunizations and veterinary exams. 2. Always book non-stop flights and look for deals on more "pet-friendly" airlines. Try traveling during less busy, "off-peak" days/times. 3. Make sure your dog is very comfortable in their carrier before heading to the airport. Before your scheduled flight, your dog should view their carrier as a safe place. Purchase it well ahead of time and get them used to hanging out in it at home. Make sure your pet is comfortable traveling in it on car trips as well. 4. Confirm your flight 24 hours before departure to insure there hasn't been a time change or some other alteration to the itinerary. 5. Get to the airport early on so you'll have plenty of time to walk around, acclimate and exercise your dog before boarding. 6. Make sure your dog is micro-chipped AND wearing a secure collar and ID tag. Also keep a photo of your pet on your mobile device for ID purposes in the event they are lost. 7. If at all possible ONLY fly with carriers that will allow your pet to stay with you in the main cabin. There are a plethora of reasons why it's extremely dangerous to fly pets in cargo. So much so that it is prohibited for some breeds of dogs. If you have no choice but to travel with your pet in cargo be certain to: Invest in a good-quality carrier. Defective or flimsy carriers are the culprit of most the problems with escaped or injured pets during air travel. A suitable carrier will be TSA-approved, have secure, durable metal doors (not plastic), and tight locking bolts on the side. Make sure you pack the crate with a comfy blanket and secure a water dish inside. Securely label the outside of the crate with contact info/destination and photo of your pet with a cable tie. Even more dangerous than the cargo hold itself is what can happen to your pet before and after boarding. This is the riskiest time for a pet during air travel. Dr. Laurie S. Coger, told USA Today: "Most injuries, escapes or deaths occur on the ground … Heat stroke, injuries due to crates being dropped or broken, or other mishaps are most likely during loading and unloading … The reason many airlines restrict travel during hot or cold times is the lack of climate control while waiting to board the plane. … Tarmacs can get blazing hot or dangerously cold, putting a pet sitting in an airline crate at great risk. Some airlines have climate-controlled pet areas where pets are held until they board. Always ask what an airline's procedures are for pets that a re waiting to board, and for when they are unloaded." While the pet cargo area is temperature and pressure controlled, conditions can change drastically and quickly. Often temps can fluctuate 30-50 degrees. Add that to a caged, stressed-out pet and you have a recipe for disaster. Reduce your pet's anxiety with natural remedies. Never sedate or tranquilize a pet for air travel. It's far too risky. If your dog needs to be tranquilized to fly, they really shouldn't be put through the experience. If your dog must be sedated, make sure they are with you in the cabin so you can monitor them during flight. All pets can benefit from natural calming agents to help reduce anxiety during a trip. I WILL NOT TRAVEL w/out CBD by Treatibles. Both Olive and I down a biscuit (or 3😜!) and pass them out in-flight. Everyone’s happy and nobody leaves the flight feeling drugged, dopey or intoxicated. ZEN by Lick's or Jackson Galaxy Solutions. Give these orally before, during and after travel. You can also use pet-blended essential oils and calming scents in their crate and travel bedding. I hope you enjoy a wonderful and safe adventure! I'd love to see your pics and hear all about it! Pugs & 😘 kisses! -Katy +AAA travel stats WESTWAYS(May 2017)  By Katy Cable, TWR A 3 minute read With the 4th of July just over, it's important to know that more animals go missing and/or get injured over this holiday than on any other day of the year. With that in mind, I had planned to write about what steps to take should your dog be lost, or if you find a dog, and ironically life imitated my editorial calendar. I was recently working in a brand new PetSmart store when a woman came in asking to use the self dog wash for what I assumed was her FILTHY, fawn Pug. I raved about this little cutie when the woman said she had found him roaming on a busy street. She was relieved when I informed her of my background working with Pugs and relinquished him to me for help. Shivering, skinny, banged up and dirty, I fell in love with the little Pug the second I saw him. I picked up his bony little body and promised him he would be safe. He wasn't wearing a collar and his back was covered with infected wounds. The poor little pug was so infested with fleas that after 30 minutes of continuous washing and five flea baths, the white grooming tub still looked like someone had spilled black pepper all over it. The woman who found him said she had been asking around the neighborhood to see if anyone recognized him. There were no "lost dog" signs posted or notifications on social media or at the shelters. He had no micro-chip or ID tag, so I assumed he would be in need of a loving new home once he was healthy. I'll be honest, this little Pug, reminded me of my beloved Raisin. He had the same docile, loving temperament and the same perfect smooshy face. A big part of me wanted to say, "finders keepers!" and take him for myself. After all, he was in deplorable condition so I assumed he was either a bait dog used for dog fighting or a breeder stud since he wasn't fixed. Once he was cleaned and dried I put him in a darling harness and immediately called one of the rescue groups I work with, Pug Nation Rescue LA. This pug was in bad shape. His wounds were infected and he was covered in yeast. He had a painful ear infection and he was skin and bones. I assumed he must have parasites as well and didn't want to expose my own Olive to a possibly sick dog. While Pug Nation prepared an isolation room, I called my family and asked them to secure a safe spot since I was bringing home a new addition. My daughter instantly fell in love with the little pug and named him Louie. We shot cute pics and posted notices on social media, -not tipping my hand with too much information. I fed him a healthy dinner of turkey & sweet potatoes which he devoured in all of 30 seconds, then I took him out for a nice walk around the neighborhood. Louie was happy and enjoyed all the love & attention. A few blissful hours later it was time to turn my new friend over Pug Nation. I was sad because I had now grown very attached to my sweet Louie. Pug Nation assured me they had a foster home waiting with a volunteer who could care for Louie until he was available for adoption. They had a long list of hopefuls who were waiting for a darling new pug to adopt. As much as I wanted to put my name at the tippy top of that list, I had Olive. I will never forget how desperately I wanted a pug and how thrilled I'd been when I got the green light to adopt my pugs. I wanted to "pay it forward" and give somebody the same opportunity. I knew Louie would be treasured and that's what mattered. At the crack of dawn the next morning, I got a call from Louie's (real name Leroy) owner. They had been worried sick. Her young son had not shut a door securely when they left for the day and Leroy had snuck out. He had just been given a bath and wasn't wearing his collar. When they returned home and couldn't find him they went immediately to a shelter and were so relieved to see the posts and know he'd been found alive. They made a donation to Pug Nation and collected their baby. I will admit, as mad as I was with their negligence, I've done the same thing myself on more than one occasion. My hands were full and I raced out the door without checking if it had been securely shut. Thankfully, in my case, I've noticed my Velcro pug Olive right on my heels and she's micro-chipped so I've avoided a lost dog. The best advice I can offer is to try and prevent your pet from going missing in the first place. Here's a few important steps you can take: ✅First and foremost. Get your pet micro-chipped. Have it scanned and checked periodically when you visit the vet to confirm it's reading. ✅Confirm ID tags have correct contact info and are easy to read. ✅Keep records on in a zip drive and carry updated photos of your dog. Use a close-up, full body and a full body next to another object to gage the size of the dog. ✅Double (and over the 4th) TRIPLE check all doors, windows, gates and "escape-routes" are secure before leaving the house. Put your dog’s collar on them before leaving them home alone. ✅Remind children to be diligent about closing doors, windows and gates. ✅Take your dog to a boarding facility or hire a pet-sitter if your dog exhibits severe separation anxiety. -Or if you cannot be with them during stressful times such as Fourth of July. If dogs are fearful they can scale a 16ft wall and accomplish other miraculous feats. -Don't take chances! WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG IS MISSING: If your dog has gone missing, quickly make up a flier showing good, clear, recent pictures of your pet. Don't use the shot with funny costume or glasses. Have one picture with another object by the dog to get an idea of their actual size. Leave tear-off strips with your contact # at the bottom to post around nearby neighborhoods. I would use bright yellow or neon paper. Free fliers can be made and printed as well as shared online. They are available in both English and Spanish at: HeLP (www.helpinglostpets.com) 🐾Include the Pet's Name 🐾Where/When it Was Last Seen 🐾Any Identifiable Markings or Characteristics ✅Notify Animal Control Services ✅Contact the Police Station ✅Post flier on all your social media platforms. Here's a few good ones: 🐾 Facebook: Lost And Found Dogs in your community. ROMP (Return Our Missing Pets) Community/Shelters/Rescue Groups in your area ✅POST FLIER and INFO on: 🐾Craig's List (both "Lost" and "Found" sections) *(Be cautious about posting any type of "reward" if found. Lots of scammers looking for a quick buck off someone's misfortune.) 🐾FidoFinder https://www.fidofinder.com/ 🐾PetHarbor http://petharbor.com/ 🐾Pawboost https://www.pawboost.com/ 🐾NextDoor https://nextdoor.com/ 🐾Patch https://patch.com/ 🐾Any local/community papers in your area. Check sites often to look for postings. ✅Post a large sign in your front yard. Put signs in the windows of your cars. ✅Canvas your area posting and handing out fliers. Give fliers to your neighborhood postal worker, FedEx, UPS delivery drivers, dog walkers, groomers, vet's, realtors and your neighbors. Post fliers at all major intersections, post offices, police stations, fire department, pet stores, CVS stores, Target, grocery stores and all places people frequent often. ✅Enlist the help of the TV news WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A DOG: ✅Use caution Approaching: Fearful, anxious, neglected dogs can be aggressive. You don't know this dog so be extremely careful. The dog may not have been immunized and could have parasites, fleas or other problematic conditions. ✅Call Animal Control or 9-1-1 if it is a large or aggressive dog or if it is in immediate danger. ✅If the dog is mild tempered, and has no ID, take them to the nearest veterinary clinic or animal shelter and have them scanned for a microchip. They will direct you from there. They will take your name and contact info. if you are relinquishing the dog to their care. They may have additional questions if the owner comes forward. Or, you should get the first option to adopt the dog should they not be claimed. All shelters/rescues have slightly different protocol on holding periods, fees, adoptions, surrenders, and other timelines. ✅If the dog has not been turned over to a rescue or shelter, or if you are waiting for their owner to retrieve the dog, keep them in a secure safe place away from other pets and children. ✅Check neighborhood for signs and ask the people listed above to notify you if they hear of anyone looking for a missing dog. Make them aware and provide your contact info. ✅Photograph the dog and post on social media using the sites/steps listed above under: “Lost/Found Dog” Hopefully we can get any lost dogs returned promptly and safely to their homes! Have a SAFE and wonderful summer. Pugs and kisses😘🐾 -Katy 🐾🐾To Receive my FREE weekly blog just click below:  By, Katy Cable - A 4 min. read Growing up and now living at the beach in So Cal, surfing is a staple of our lifestyle. Rain or shine, young and old jump on their boards. Before, after (and sometimes even DURING 😜) school or work, the Wedge is as crowded as Starbucks! Even our dogs get in the action! And while it’s not uncommon to see a lab riding on a surfboard, a little Pug surfing, -that’s a phenomenon! Surf Gidget the Pug, does just that! If you’ve been lucky enough to witness this wonder-pug shredding the waves, you’ll likely never forget it! Known as “the pug in pink” with her custom pink surfboard, matching wetsuit, life vest and hat, Gidget defeats the law of gravity (and her Pug DNA) that dictates she sink like a stone in H2o, and has become a world champion SURF DAWG! I’ve just had the thrill of a lifetime accompanying Gidget on a whirlwind trip to Galveston, Texas where she appeared as the celebrity guest at the Ohana Surf Dog Contest and surf clinic benefiting the Galveston Island Humane Society. I could put a bone-in rib- eye steak on the end of a surf board and my pug Olive wouldn’t go near it, so it was hard to believe any Pug would actually ENJOY surfing. But that is exactly the case with Gidget. I was absolutely amazed! Through flight delays, sweltering heat, late nights, early mornings and a full schedule of appearances, Gidget was a perfectly mannered Pug. It wasn’t until she was kept at the water’s edge for photos instead of getting to surf with the other dogs, that she began to wail at the top of her lungs like a pig being slaughtered. Once released, she began jumping on any board she could find in an effort to get out in the waves and surf. And surf she does! Gidget rides waves forward, backwards and sideways effortlessly. She’s relaxed and happy walking the length of her board, turning, shaking her cute curly tail, and cruising in to shore. Once there, she quickly jumps back on the board wanting another go. The beautiful long beaches of Galveston, with fine white sand and gentle waves provide a perfect setting for beginning surfers. -Both human and canine. And who better to demonstrate and give a few pointers than Surf Gidget The Pug herself. Most who came out for a lesson, took to the sport quite easily and were riding waves in less time than it takes for me to find my car keys. Gidget was thrilled demonstrating to those teaching their dogs how to surf. She enjoyed riding tandem (with both humans and dogs) and always remained calm even when they lost their balance and wiped out! The weekend’s events were just a fun adventure for Gidget. Her pro-competition season runs through the end of September. Gidget will “hang 12” with the world’s top dogs on open face waves as large as 4-5ft. (Safety is first priority, and with Gidget weighing less than 20lbs, she avoids larger waves and conditions that could be dangerous.) In just a few years, this 5 year-old pug has become a worldwide surfing star. She holds a room full of medals and trophies for wins at top surfing events including the Purina Pro-Plan®️ Ultimate Surf Dog Challenge where she competes with dogs double her size and weight. Gidget was originally living a calm, quiet life in Maine but her family realized they couldn’t care for this darling spit-fire puppy. Alecia Nelson, Gidget’s pug mommy, literally JUMPED at the chance to adopt her! In an effort to bond with Gidget and release all her excess puppy energy, Nelson, an avid athlete herself, immediately started training her in dog agility. It worked! Gidget flourished as an athlete. Nelson, who herself grew up surfing the beautiful beaches of Malibu, put Gidget on a SUP board when she was just 9 months old. Gidget’s agility and balance made her a natural and she loved being out on the water. Nelson returned to her hometown of So Cal, when Gidget turned 2. The first thing she did was take Gidget to the famous Del Mar Dog Beach, put her on a surf board and see what she thought of riding waves. -And the rest is history. Surfing became her most favorite activity. It was love-at-first-wave, and the world ADORES Gidget! She’s been featured in dozens of magazine articles and TV shows. A favorite was having Cesar Milan’s son Andre, teach his pug, Sugar how to surf, for a special on Nat Geo Wild! Gidget has waddled the red carpet at many film festivals and rubbed noses with some of her own surf idols such as: Kelly Slater, Bethany Hamilton, Mick Fanning, Josh Brolin, Jeff Bridges, and Belinda Carlisle from “The Go-Go’s” And while watching Gidget is certainly fun, she is doing so much more than just entertaining fans and leading the life of a PUG-lebrity. Gidget’s using her fame to do an ocean of good for “underdogs” by surfing and appearing at events. She has a new video game where kids can help Gidget pick up trash and keep the oceans clean. Proceeds from “Gidget-Gear” (her line of holistic, natural pet products and apparel) benefit various dog rescues, environmental and social causes near and dear to her heart. If you’re lucky you can catch Gidget cruising the California coast all summer long. Look for her custom-wrapped “Surf Gidget” Sprinter van complete with her own electric convertible car and sWAG. Come say “Hi!” I promise she’ll make your day a whole lot brighter. Gidget is always just a click away on social media, (@SurfGidgetThePug) where her nearly 100K followers see her surfing, hanging at the beach, chillin’ with her friends or favorite chew toy. Not many people can say they learned to surf from a champion surfing Pug, and I will never forget my exciting weekend with Gidget. She’s one very special little Pug who put a smile on the face of everyone she met, and melted their hearts. -Especially mine💕🐾 Nelson, who runs a doggy day care and training facility (ItsADogsLifeAcademy.com) offers some excellent tips to pet parents thinking of trying some surfing with their dog: 🐾🤙🏻Surf Gidget’s Surfing Tips:🤙🏻🐾 1. While some breeds are natural “water-dogs”, pugs and brachy (flat-faced) are not. Dogs should begin familiarizing themselves with SUP boards in pools or calm waters before ever trying out waves. 2. Dogs can get sunburns and cancers. -Especially short coated, light dogs. (Gidget is a rare white Pug.) The best protection is to stay out of sun during peak hours and on extremely hot days. Always cover your dog with rash guards, hats, goggles and pet-safe sunscreen. 3. Always use a life vest with a chin support at all times! 4. Use good judgement. Waves and conditions can change as often as Donald Trump tweets. Stay out of the water if surf, rip-currents, jellyfish, etc. are taking down the pros and the lifeguards are working OT! 5. Make sure you have a well-trained, obedient dog who has agility and balance before attempting surfing. Make sure you train with someone knowledgeable. Surfing can be an extremely difficult and dangerous sport. 6. While Gidget loves the water and waves, some dogs, (like my Olive,)-DO NOT! If your dog puts on the brakes the minute a ball goes into the water, chances are surfing will not be a good fit. Start with a kiddie pool and work your way up. 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 min. Read In the words of the brilliant James Taylor, “I’ve seen 🔥 fire and I’ve seen rain...” If you’re living in So. Cal and walked outside to find your car covered in ash, you know we have a very serious fire storm terrorizing our state. Other parts of the country are threatened by violent volcanoes, and tornadoes. Plus hurricane season is also just getting underway. While many of these devastating disasters are already wrecking havoc, this is a great reminder to us all: NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE! If you’re a pet parent, that also means preparing for them too! Total devastation can happen in a split second. -Or you can have a few precious seconds to evacuate. 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 Your Pets! 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: 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 you 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. BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES: 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. Entrust a neighbor with a key who can get your pets in the event of an emergency and you are 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, they may be able to help. Discuss the possibility well in advance. Also make a plan with a specific meeting spot to retrieve your pets should there be an emergency. Make arrangements with friends or relatives. Ask people outside your immediate area if they would be able to shelter you and your pets—or just your pets—if necessary. If you have more than one pet, you may need to arrange to house them at separate locations. Prior to a 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:
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. 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. 4. IF YOU STAY HOME, PLAY IT SAFE: If your family and pets must wait out a storm or other disaster at home, identify a safe area of where you can all congregate.
More likely than a category 5 hurricane or F5 tornado, are everyday emergencies such as sweltering heat-waves, severe winter storms, and brush fires. There may be times that you can't get home to take care of your pets. A sudden brush fire or icy roads may trap you away from home overnight, or an accident may send you to the hospital. But you can make sure your pets get the care they need by making arrangements NOW!! HEAT WAVES: Just an hour or two in the sweltering heat can be life-threatening. If you stay at home during a summer power outage, check your local emergency center for pet-friendly cooling centers in your area. Keep a cooler filled with ice and water handy if sweltering temperatures are in the forecast. If you cannot leave, during a power/AC outage, set-up a cool zone in a bathroom where pets can sit in a tub filled with a few inches of cool water. If you have a full tank of gas, you can drive around in an air-conditioned car. (Do not for any reason leave a pet in a car unattended with temperatures over 70 degrees. -Not even for a few minutes and not even with the windows cracked. ) WINTER STORMS: Don't be fooled by your pets' fur coats; it isn't safe to leave them in an unheated house. Paws need protection from freezing ice and snow so have jackets, booties and blankets on hand should you lose power in your home. I hope if an emergency or disaster strikes, these tips will protect both you and your beloved pets! Here’s to weathering these fire storms safely! Happy summer! -Katy 💕 From now until September 30th, anyone who makes a donation of $45 or more to the Banfield Foundation, will receive a PET DISASTER PREPAREDNESS KIT. All donations support disaster relief grant programs for pets. To Get Your Kit, Donate On-Line at:: https://www.BanfieldFoundation.org/kit 🐾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-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 beginning 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. Pugs and other brachycephalic breeds (dogs with flat faces and short noses, such as Bulldogs, Boston’s, 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 are 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 (10-2). 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 hazardous. Always give your dog a rinse with fresh water after your dog has been swimming in the ocean. Salt water be drying and irritating to your dogs paws and coats. (Coconut oil is a great natural conditioning lotion you can rub on your dog's coat before and after a trip to the beach. If your dog has floppy, hanging ears or is prone to chronic ear infections like PUGS, I would advise using earplugs to prevent them from getting wet. Also follow with an ear rinse when you return home. 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 danger 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 are better trained. It can extremely hazardous if your dog is racing down the beach and not aware of a potential dangerous situation. Be attentive to your dog. This is not the time or place to relax with a good book or your nose in your cellphone. 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 are 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 events planned including Surf Gidget The Pug’s Surf competitions & Dawg Party! Click here for more info: |
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