My country, 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side let Freedom ring.
America by Samuel F. Smith
Wordless Wednesday: Keeping Cool
Bless Rudy. He stayed back so Rosie
could explore her very first pile of ice cubes solo.
This is very loving of Rudy because he loves
it when I clean out the ice cube bin!
This is very loving of Rudy because he loves
it when I clean out the ice cube bin!
Ahhh... pretty cool!
Can you see how curly her coat is becoming
thanks to her Golden Retriever mother?
I love it!
New Dog Breed Pins at For Love of a Dog Jewelry
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| Collie Dog Pin at For Love of a Dog |
I've recently added quite a few new dog breed pins to our dog lover jewelry at For Love of a Dog. Some of my favorites are the sculptural dog head brooches.
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| German Shepherd Dog Pin at For Love of a Dog |
These dog pins are made of resin from a hand carved original. First the carving is made as true to AKC and UKC dog breed standards as possible. Then a mold is made from that original carving into which resin is poured. There's quite a bit of curing time and hand finishing before each one is air brush painted, then a sealer added.
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| Irish Setter Dog Pin at For Love of a Dog |
They're available in limited quantity because they are so time consuming to make. Plus, there are just a handful of dog breeds offered.
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| Keeshond Dog Pin at For Love of a Dog |
Shown here are just a few of my dog breed pins fresh from the For Love of a Dog studio.
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| Swiss Mountain Dog Pin at For Love of a Dog |
Best way to see if I have one for you?
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| Tri Color Border Collie Pin at For Love of a Dog |
As you browse, remember that my prices all include free standard shipping for delivery within the United States. To receive a 10% discount on your entire order, use this discount code: FLDNEW
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| Boston Terrier Dog Pin at For Love of a Dog |
Adoptable Black Lab Dog Max: Tuesdays Tails
Attentive, curious, eager to explore the world, Max is looking for a companion ready for some nice walks. He wouldn't mind having a nice big backyard!
A friendly guy, Max loves people and is very good natured.
Take a look at Max's adoption video and then give the shelter a call! Max is at the Humane Society of Missouri Maryland Heights animal shelter: 314-951-1588. Max's ID number is A553385
We're participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us! Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!
Monday Mischief: Vole Hunting with Rudy and Rosie
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| The dynamic duo at more innocent pursuits. |
Please excuse the shaky camera work. Not only was I trying not to laugh, I had Jeffie nudging me over and over. He knew Rudy and Rosie were not supposed to be doing that!
In fact, what cracks me up the most in this video, is Rudy. Both he and Rosie are aware of me and the camera. However, Rudy also knows that messing around with critters and digging holes in the yard is a big no-no.
In the end, good boy Rudy, can't bear it any longer and runs to mama! Yes, they really did have a vole they were "playing" with. Thankfully, they did not eat it.
Here's the latest addition to our YouTube channel.
We're joining the Monday Mischief pet blog hop today. Hosted by Alfie's Blog, Luna Dogs Life, My Brown Newfies and Snoopy's Dog Blog, this is your chance to share your pets tales of mischief and wrap up the weekend. Join us!
Cat Jewelry on Sale Now at For Love of a Dog
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| Cat and Mouse Rainbow Bridge Bracelet at For Love of a Dog |
In the spirit of better late than never, I'm celebrating Adopt a Cat Month at For Love of a Dog with a sale!
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| Lampwork Cat Bracelet at For Love of a Dog |
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| Black Cat Necklace at For Love of a Dog |
You'll find cat themed necklaces, bracelets, pins, earrings and more! If you have a crazy cat lady on your holiday shopping list, here's your chance to snag a bargain. In fact, you can save 10% on your order - including sale items - with this discount code at checkout: FLDNEW
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| Cat Lover Bracelet at For Love of a Dog |
Almost forgot to mention... For Love of a Dog offers FREE standard shipping to United States addresses! So, what are you waiting for? Shop cat jewelry on sale or all of my cat jewelry at For Love of a Dog.
Cowboys and Rodeos: Dog Song Saturday with Horses
If you've followed this blog for long, or are a fan of For Love of a Dog jewelry, you know that I love horses. So, you won't be surprised that I simply could not resist sharing this video.
The song Cowboys and Rodeos is performed here by Colleen Peterson. The video it accompanies features mares and their foals and was filmed by singer/songwriter Nancy Simmonds. You'll see Appaloosas, Arabians, miniature horses and foals... lots of foals.
You don't have to be a cowgirl to enjoy frolicking foals! In fact, I'm betting you're gonna want one for your very own.
Grab a dog. Go ahead, your dog will love the little foal whinny! Sit. Stay. Relax and tap your toe to Cowboys and Rodeos.
Fetch some dog song music videos at Talking Dogs - I have quite a collection! And be sure to scroll down and visit some barking good blogs in today's Pet Blogger Hop.
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Follow-up Friday: Dog Treats Toys Tornadoes
The really big excitement this week - well, for the dogs, anyway - was that their prizes arrived from Pooch Smooches giveaway. Jeffie, Rudy, and Rosie received 3 package of KONG jerky treats. Thanks, Jackie & Rita!
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| Rudy has very good manners. Good boy, Rudy! |
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| Rosie has no time for manners when mama is holding a KONG jerky treat! |
Jeffie was especially thrilled because the KONG treats arrived via FedEx. Jeffie becomes a raging madman when UPS and FedEx deliver packages. I think he believes it is his mission in life to guard us from them. Rita really turned Jeffie's head at his birthday party. He was pretty sure she was flirting with him. When I told him we'd won the giveaway, he confessed he had a thing for Rita. When Rita sent Jeffie the FedEx man... it was LOVE!
Rosie's new swimming pool toys arrived from Chewy.com. They're very cool! The KONG Wet Wubba is such a bright yellow! And the ChuckIt duck really does bob in the water and stay upright.
Unfortunately, there are only two chances you'll ever see them in action: slim and none. There's no way I'm taking my camera anywhere near the pool. Plus, Rosie is not actually swimming yet. Wearing her new Kyjen life preserver for safety, she's only comfortable when she's in her mama's arms. Hopefully, she'll mellow out with the whole thing and I'll be able to take some pictures later in the summer.
In the meantime, we have to keep dog towels near the doors. Every time she goes out, she throws herself into her doggie pool!
Monday Mischief: Monkey Murder Follow Up
I should have repeated what I've said before... we call all dog toys at our house "monkeys." Obviously, this was a football. It has now gone to that place where dead monkeys go. The trash. Yes, we do have a monkey hospital. I love being the surgeon because all the dogs gather around to watch the procedure. They all dance with happiness when the surgery is successful. Note: our cat Skeeter would not be caught dead playing with any monkey. Playing with toys is waaaaay beneath her!
Believe it or not, we have lots of "vintage" monkeys - some as old as 15 years. They are well loved, but not torn up. Our dogs single a few out, now and then, but for the most part they're soft mouthed. It's a retriever thing. It is always the puppies at our house who make sure that monkey heaven is populated.
Wordless Wednesday: Puppy Eyes Follow Up
Believe it or not, absolutely no treats of any kind were involved in this shot. When they update the dictionary this year, they'll be adding one word to the definition of Sweet: Rosie
Oklahoma Tornado Pet Adoption Event Follow Up
When the big tornado hit nearby Joplin and I read Hanah's story (which I continue to follow), it scared the you-know-what out of me.
When the tornado warnings are issued, my dogs are with me when I take shelter. My dogs are microchipped and when we go to the vet's office, I have them scan them just to make sure they're still easy to find. My dogs wear their collars and tags at all times since then (Joplin.) There is no doubt in my mind that - God forbid - if we were wiped out... among the immediate things I would do, is make sure I've got my dogs. If we lived in a flood area, I would not evacuate without my dogs.
All that being said... if my house and everything in it, my car and everything else was gone... I don't know how long it would take for me to locate the emergency shelter to claim my dogs. If I had no cell phone anymore, no computer, no nothing. If someone near and dear to me were taken by the storm. I don't know....
I do know that there are millions of people who do not value their pets like I do. (If they did, the shelters would be empty.) Do I wish all the Oklahoma tornado victim pets had been claimed? You betcha. But I haven't "walked in their shoes" and I don't want to. And I'm going to shut up now.
Except to say: please spread the word about this event so that these pets can find new, loving homes.
That's my follow-up for the week. Join the hop and let us know what you've been up to!
Oklahoma Tornado Pet Adoption Event July 13
The Central Oklahoma Humane Society has announced a special adoption event for homeless animals displaced by the May tornadoes that devastated areas of central Oklahoma. These are pets who are victims of the tornadoes who have not been claimed by their owners.
Hope After the Storm is a private - invitation only - adoption event to be held on Saturday, July 13. They will be selecting 100 potential dog adopters and 50 potential cat adopters at random for the event through their online forms at okhumane.org/hopeafterthestorm. Applications will be accepted until Friday, July 5 at noon.
When you follow that link (okhumane.org/hopeafterthestorm) you'll be taken to their website and two Rafflecopter forms: Dog Ticket Entry and Cat Ticket Entry. You'll need to complete the Rafflecopter if you hope to be selected as a potential adopter.
To be eligible, you must include your full name, phone number and email so they can contact you if your name is drawn, as well as give you further information about the event.
OK Humane says they have chosen this method to help keep the adoption process as smooth as possible, while putting the least amount of stress on the animals.
Step by step instruction for submitting your information:
- Check your calendars and make sure you will be available to be in the Oklahoma City area on July 13.
- Enter your information in the applicable form here - we will be pulling separate names for dogs and cats, so make sure you fill out the correct form.
- We will stop accepting entries at noon on Friday, July 5.
- Invitation recipients will be chosen at random for the adoption event. OK Humane will contact these people directly using the information provided. Invite recipients will be notified on the afternoon of Friday, July 5.
They are accepting only one entry per household. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 405-286-1229 ext. 4 or info@okhumane.org.
NOTE: OK Humane Society has scheduled this event for July in order to give pet owners time to claim their family pets. In addition, this event is by invitation only and limited in numbers to avoid the thousands of folks that have shown up at other disaster adoption events around the country. Many traveled from far away only to find a congested venue and no pets left available for adoption.
Huckleberry: American Bulldog Pitbull Adoptable Dog
Huckleberry is an American Bulldog / Pit Bull Terrier mixed breed dog. He's 1 1/2 years old and already neutered.
A big lap dog, Huckleberry loves people. He's a lover in a beautiful white and black furry dog body.
Huckleberry is learning to walk on a leash and already knows how to sit. I love how attentive he is to his surroundings. Alert, but content to sit at the side of the shelter volunteer.
Take a look at this beautiful dog's adoption video below:
For more information about Huckleberry, contact the Humane Society of Missouri in Saint Louis at 314-647-8800. Huckleberry's animal ID# is A553070
We're participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets available for adoption. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us! Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes.
Monday Mischief: Monkey Murder
No body, but at best a monkey had suffered a brutal attack.
At worst, I was seeing the evidence of a monkey murder.
Not only did I not see any monkey body, the house was unusually quiet.
Just a small, scattered trail of monkey guts...
which led me to...
the perp!
Caught red-handed... or should I say white bearded?
Rosie says: What? What monkey?
Oh... you mean this monkey?
I didn't have anything to do with it!
R I P Monkey
We're joining the Monday Mischief pet blog hop today. Hosted by Alfie's Blog, Luna Dogs Life, My Brown Newfies and Snoopy's Dog Blog, this is your chance to share your pets tales of mischief and wrap up the weekend. Join us!
Ugly Dogs Need More Love: Dog Song Saturday
Ugly Dogs Need More Love comes to us from our friend Skip Haynes at Pet CDs and is an original dog song music video celebrating shelter dogs. All the dogs in this video are shelter dogs who were rescued and adopted into forever homes.
Personally, I didn't see an ugly dog among the bunch and I was glad to see that the song credits state: There are no ugly dogs!
Grab a dog. Grab some tissues. Sit. Stay. Relax and enjoy Ugly Dogs Need More Love.
Fetch more dog song music videos at Talking Dogs and be sure to explore some barking good blogs in today's Pet Blogger Hop.
Take Your Dog to Work Day
Here at For Love of a Dog, my dogs accompany me to work every day. In fact, their full-fledged members of the For Love of a Dog team.
Jeffie is in charge of security and does a fabulous job patrolling the perimeter.
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| Jeffie patrolling. |
When I'm in my office working on the computer, I have two dogs under the bed and one at my feet.
When I'm in the studio creating my dog lover jewelry, all three are usually napping and playing around me. On good weather days, they might head outside to patrol or engage in some Jolly ball play.
On rainy days, you'll find them napping or having some fun with a KONG.
Security patrolling is hard work. Frequent naps are needed!
KONGs stuffed with something yummy is good... but so are KONG toys!
I have a posse. I travel with a pack of three. 24/7. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Missouri Puppy Miller Nabs Congressional Seat in Landslide
Smith promoted his ties to agriculture throughout the campaign and in the most recent House session was successful in getting a resolution passed that will place a "Right to Farm" constitutional amendment before voters next year.
Opponents of the proposal have attempted to portray the measure as backlash from Smith over a proposition voters passed in 2010 known as the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act," which placed stricter rules on dog breeders.
Smith's family has a history in the dog breeding business. His mother's kennel was named by the Humane Society of the United States as one of the state's "worst puppy mills in Missouri" in a 2011 report, and Smith faced accusations of conflicts of interest when he spoke against the proposition. Smith has said his proposed amendment is to protect the rights of farmers.
In fact, Jason Smith was once listed in Missouri state records as a co-owner of Mary Ann Smith's Kennel operation, and has been an outspoken opponent of many animal welfare legislative bills.
As written, the "Right to Farm" resolution would have rolled back the cockfighting prohibition, jeopardized the new puppy mill law, prevented future ballot initiatives on animal welfare issues, and endangered regulations on factory farms.
Thankfully, this resolution was amended to protect existing animal welfare laws, protect the right to conduct ballot initiatives on animal welfare issues and protect the right to regulate factory farms.
Wordless Wednesday: Tasty Cat Toes
Skeeter does not belong to a witness protection program and she is not Amish. She is not looking into the camera and posing nicely because, quite frankly, that is beneath her! Clean toes are waaaay more important!
Happy Dog Daddy Day!
You feed us when we're hungry,
You keep water in our dish,
You let us sleep on anything,
Or in any place we wish.
You sometimes let us lick your hands,
Or even lick your face,
Despite the fact we've licked ourselves
In every private place.
You taught us how to come when called,
You taught us how to sit.
You always let us go outside,
so we can take a sh... Stroll.
You'll always have our loyalty
Up to the bitter end,
'Cause after all, it's plain to see...
You are a dog's best friend!
~Unknown
HAPPY DOG (& Cat) DADDY's DAY!
Dog Song Saturday: You're My Best Friend
You're My Best Friend is not (technically) a dog song, however it is perfect for this fantastic video of dogs welcoming their owners home from deployment.
Grab a dog. Sit. Stay. Grab a tissue or two. Relax and enjoy You're My Best Friend by Queen, then have a barking good Father's Day weekend!
Fetch more dog song music videos at Talking Dogs - sure to please any dog daddy - and scroll down below today's feature to explore some pawesome blogs in the Saturday Pet Blogger hop.
