Dog Song Saturday: Old Blue by The Byrds

Take a moment to enjoy a song about dogs because it's Dog Song Saturday at Talking Dogs.  Time to relax, unwind, and spend some quality time with your dog(s).  Kick off your weekend with Old Blue performed by the Byrds in 1969.  Old Blue is accompanied by a beautiful music video slide show of dog photographs and art that any dog lover is sure to enjoy.  If you want to sing along, the lyrics are right there, too.

So, grab a dog.  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and enjoy today's dog song, Old Blue. Then be sure to scroll down below the dog music video to explore some barking good dog and cat blogs because today is a Pet Blogger Hop.

Long Term Shelter Dogs: Part 2 How Long is Too Long?

My brain is on overload with all the things I want to be able to say in this post, including my response to questions and issues raised in the comments yesterday about Hailey, a long term shelter dog.

First of all, when I read the article about Hailey in my newsletter from Dogwood Animal Shelter, I immediately wanted to know more. I clicked to their website and read more about her.  Then I surfed to Petfinder only to discover no photos of Hailey and another reference to Black Dog Syndrome.

What stunned me about Hailey was that she's spent all but 2 months of her eight years of life in a shelter.  

She's not alone.  Over the years I've read about other dogs who have spent years in various animal shelters waiting for a forever home.  I'm aware of some shelters and rescues that even waive adoption fees after an animal has been with them for over a year.


I'm well aware that if Hailey had originally been taken to a "kill" shelter, she may have been euthanized long ago.


Could Dogwood have done (and still do) more for Hailey in terms of getting her adopted.  Sure.  Of course.  For starters, they could get that Petfinder photo uploaded.  They could do a youtube video of Hailey.  They could network with Labrador Retriever rescue groups to place her.  


They could re-word Hailey's description. "She is particular about what dogs will be her friends." is a yellow warning light blinking in my head.  What exactly does that mean?

What I know for sure is that Hailey is one of 250-300 dogs and cats living at Dogwood.  In 2011 this "no kill" animal shelter took in 664 pets and adopted out 651.  They have an army of volunteers who raised the funds to build a state-of-the-art animal shelter and offer low cost spay/neuter clinics, obedience classes, elementary school education curriculum and much more.  Dogwood is funded solely on donations and funds raised by volunteers at events and their thrift store.  They hold adoption events on site and at nearby shopping locations.


Are they perfect?  Heck, no. Every day they are faced with difficult decisions regarding keeping their facility operating, how to adopt more dogs and cats to good, loving homes and which ones to feature in their adoption marketing efforts.

They are not alone.    Every animal shelter and every pet rescue group needs more resources, more volunteers, better marketing, more networking...   It's a long list.


Thoughts of Hailey consume me.  Yes, she's never known life outside a shelter, so she doesn't know what life could be like. However, how many other dogs like Hailey are out there? Dogs that have spent months, or even years, in a shelter.


Why has Hailey not been adopted?  What more could have been done for her?  Good questions.

For me, though, the real question remains:  how long is too long?  Is there a "too long?"  Is life in a shelter better than no life at all?

My answer is yes, life in a shelter is better than no life.  However, as I watch my own dogs roust at play, patrol their yard, lounge on the sofa... I am haunted by Hailey and the other dogs like her who have been overlooked.

Long Term Shelter Dogs: How Long is Too Long?

Yesterday I received my e-newsletter from Dogwood Animal Shelter.  Dogwood is the no kill animal shelter we adopted Jeffie from after finding him on Petfinder.  They are 100% privately financed through donations and their thrift shop, where we periodically take donations.  

Each Dogwood newsletter highlights cool things donated to the thrift shop and special sales, fund raising events for the animal shelter, and pets available for adoptions.  Which leads me to this blog post.

Like most animal shelters and rescue, Dogwood is coping with more animals than they have space for.  In February they ran an adoption special and have now extended it to include the entire month of March.  

All kennel dogs who have been in an "Adoptable" status for over 90 days will have half-off adoption fees.  Adoption fees include all shots, spaying or neutering, and a microchip.

Take a good long look at Hailey, the dog pictured here.  She's a beauty and those eyes tell me she's a sweetheart, full of fun.  Now, notice that white hair on her muzzle.  At our house we call that "sugar lips" and we insist the kisses are sweeter.

Hailey is celebrating her 8th birthday.  She has been at Dogwood Animal Shelter since she was two months old.  This is the longest a dog has ever been at Dogwood.

As their newsletter notes:  it is a bittersweet birthday.

If I had to spend my whole life in an animal shelter, Dogwood would be one I would wish for.  This is a relatively new physical facility with an virtual army of volunteers, including their Canine Coaches program that works on obedience and sees to it the dogs get exercise.  For all the cat people reading this blog, rest assured, Dogwood's cat rooms are fantastic!

However, Hailey reminded me of other dogs in other shelters that I've stumbled across in the last few years.  Dogs that have spent years and years in a shelter.  I'm a "no kill" girl myself... but how long is too long to spend in a shelter?

Is life in a shelter better than no life at all?  What do you think?

Take another long look at Hailey.  The Dogwood Canine Coaches have taught her well.  Hailey  minds well, is great on a leash and is reported to be extremely sweet and loving.  She loves to roll in the grass, though she doesn't get many opportunities to do that.  She's a bit particular about what dogs will be her friends.  She's spayed, house trained, and weighs 64 pounds.

Hailey is a black lab mix.  Well, black with a bit of white, including that ancestral St Johns Water Dog medallion marking on her chest.  

The good folks at Dogwood surmise that Hailey has been overlooked because she is a black dog.  The plight of big black dogs and Black Dog Syndrome has been written and talked about for years, especially the disproportionate number of black dogs that are euthanized in shelters across our country.

So, Hailey is lucky.  Right?  Any day now someone could come along and adopt her into a loving home.  It's happened.  We've all read a few stories about senior dogs finally finding their person.

However, how many dogs live out their years in a "no kill" animal shelter?

How long is too long to live in an animal shelter?. 

Wordless Wednesday: It's Spring at Talking Dogs

Jeffie can't help but smile;  it's spring!

Listening to the neighbor who's spreading fertilizer on his fields and trying to catch a good whiff!

Skeeter couldn't care less... there are crunchies to munch!

Can you smell these cherry blossoms?

Have a barking good day!

HUGE Pet Adoption Event in Kansas City March 30 - April 1

This is no early April Fool's Day joke!  If you live near the Kansas City area, don't miss the KC Megamatch Adoption Event.  Three animal shelters are working together for this amazing national pet adoption event March 30 through April 1, 2012. 

All adoptions will be $25 and include spay / neuter surgery, current vaccinations and microchipping! 

Sponsored by the ASPCA, participating animal shelters are:  Heartland SPCA, KC Pet Project and Wayside Waifs.  For more information visit the KC Megamatch Adoption Event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcmegamatch

Adopt a Horse

Always wanted a horse or pony of your own?  Believe in rescue?  Take a look at Jester.  He's a gelded brown Pony and Tennessee Walking Horse cross that is looking for a forever home.

Jester was born at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch on April 1, 2010.  His mother was rescued from a terrible situation and not long in her pregnancy at that time.  Luckily the good folks at Longmeadow had time to get her healthy before she gave birth.  She has already been adopted and now her colt, Jester, is available for adoption.

Jester is currently 13.2 hands high and may only grow to be a large pony size.  At only two years old, he's young and very playful.  Jester loves people and always is on the lookout for a pat from people passing by.

If you have room in your heart and in your pasture for a horse or pony, please consider Jester.  Fetch more information by calling 636-583-8759.  Jester's animal ID number is A484399.

Longmeadow Rescue Ranch is a division of the Humane Society of Missouri and provides a haven for hundreds of abused and neglect horses, cows, goats, pigs, ducks and other farm animals.  Located in Union, MO, Longmeadow Rescue Ranch hosts Adoption Days on Fridays from 12 pm to 3 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

Dog Song Saturday: Cha Cha Chihuahua

It's Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs.  Today's song about dogs is Cha Cha Cha Chihuahua and is accompanied by a slide show video of adorable Chihuahua dogs and the lyrics for this cute song.

Grab a dog.  Sit. Stay. Get ready to smile.  Relax and enjoy Cha Cha Cha Chihuahua.  Fetch more dog songs at Talking Dogs to get your weekend started right.  Then be sure to scroll down below today's dog song music video to explore some barking good dog blogs because today is a Pet Blogger Hop!

Missouri Puppy Mill Legislation and Farmers Wake-up Call

What do puppy mills have to do with farmers?  Plenty, as evidenced by the recent campaigns to institute new puppy mill and commercial dog breeding laws in Missouri.  

My own rural Ozarks neighborhood was filled with campaign signs warning that the government would soon be telling you how many horses, cattle, hogs, and other livestock you may own and how they must be cared for.  You may recall my own remarks about Missouri's Prop B and farmers during the campaign.

Missouri puppy mill compromise legislation was passed and many Missouri commercial dog breeders have gone out of business.  At the same time, Missouri farmers are still angry and feeling very threatened.  So are livestock producers in other states.

I usually do not quote press releases in their entirety, however, this is important information that I want to make sure I get right.  The information below comes from "Mo. dog breeding vote 'wake-up call' for farmers" written by Alan Scher Zagier of the Associated Press.

A 2010 ballot initiative to toughen oversight of dog breeders highlighted the rift between Missouri farmers and national animal rights activists. Two years later, the divide has only deepened.

Twenty-five farm groups ranging from the Missouri Pork Association and the state Beef Industry Council to agribusiness heavyweights Cargill and Monsanto have united under the banner of Missouri Farmers Care.

Their target? The Humane Society of the United States, which pushed the dog breeding initiative and is now the primary financial backer of Your Vote Counts!, a proposed state constitutional amendment requiring a three-fourths majority vote before the Legislature could override voter-approved laws.

That's just what lawmakers did last year, reversing many of the new rules for dog breeders endorsed by a slight majority of Missouri residents just months earlier.

Farmers' anger was on full display at a recent Missouri Farmers Care meeting in Monroe City, 20 miles from the banks of the Mississippi River and half that distance from Mark Twain's birthplace in Florida, Mo.

Vehicles sported bumper stickers warning HSUS and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to "get your paws off our laws." Missouri Farmers Care flyers set on a table said, "Their goal is to end animal agriculture by increasing the cost of food and even through outright bans."

Activists view animals as "cuddly, furry things, not what we use to make money in livestock operations," said state Sen. Brian Munzlinger, a Republican whose district includes 13 northern Missouri counties dominated by hog farms and grain elevators.

"They weren't going to stop at pets," he added. "They're going after all of our farm animals."

Rural lawmakers such as Munzlinger have headlined a recent series of Missouri Farmers Care town hall meetings across the state. From Clinton and Harrisonville to Salem and St. Joseph, hundreds of farmers turn out twice a month for political rallies that bring together soybean growers, dairy producers and other agricultural groups that more often have focused on their own narrow interests, said Dan Kleinsorge, the farm group's operations manager.

"Prop B was a wake-up call for agriculture," he said.

Farm groups in other states also are heeding the call, Kleinsorge noted, as HSUS and other animal rights groups target not just Missouri but two dozen states that allow signature-driven petitions to appear on ballots.

In neighboring Nebraska, Gov. Dave Heineman caused a stir this month when he referred to HSUS in saying, "We're going to kick your ass and send you out of the state." Farm groups there have formed a "We Support Agriculture" coalition as a pre-emptive move against potential HSUS-supported ballot efforts.

In Ohio, the state Farm Bureau formed a Center for Food and Animal Issues as part of its successful push for a 2009 ballot measure that created a livestock care oversight board. And in Iowa, farm groups stung by the release of videos of chicks being ground up and pigs being beaten convinced lawmakers to make it a crime to lie on a job application to get access to farms to make secret recordings.

While the Your Vote Counts! effort makes no mention of agriculture or "cuddly, furry" pets, Missouri campaign finance reports show two-thirds of the more than $345,000 donated to the petition drive through the end of 2011 came from HSUS. Another $50,000 was donated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Just two of the 11 individual donors to Your Vote Counts! in the fourth quarter of 2011 live in Missouri.

Missouri Farmers Care has raised significantly less � about $127,000 through 2011 � but nearly all its 290 individual donors in the last three months of 2011 were Missourians. Most gave in relatively small amounts.

Dane Waters, the Your Vote Counts! campaign manager, acknowledged HSUS is the primary force behind the proposed Missouri ballot measure. His group must still collect signatures from two-thirds of the state's congressional districts equaling at least 8 percent of the votes cast in the 2008 gubernatorial election. That amounts to between about 146,000 and 178,000 signatures � though the group is aiming for 234,000 names.

"With any initiative effort, there's always a primary supporter or a primary donor," said Waters, who worked on Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and is also political director for the Humane Society Legislative Fund, an HSUS spinoff group that works to change state and federal animal protection laws.

"At the end of the day, it's irrelevant where the money comes from," he added. "Because only Missourians get to vote on it."

Waters agreed that the dog breeding initiative led to the latest fight, but he disputed the idea that his group was anti-agriculture. He said it has no plans, nor interest, in other agriculture-related political campaigns in Missouri beyond this year.

"There's a tremendous amount of misunderstanding about what HSUS is," he said. "Our goal is to not to fundamentally change the agricultural society in Missouri. Our goal is to work within the agricultural framework."

Farmers and their supporters remain suspicious. Steve Yates, a 59-year-old retired high school agriculture teacher who attended the Monroe City meeting, summed up the unease shared by many there.

"It threatens our livelihood, but it's a bigger issue," he said. "Whether you're a commodity producer or not, it affects the way we live. If you think the price of food is high now, just wait."

 

Wordless Wednesday: Airing Out the Dog Paws in the Spring

I think we might all be able to agree that our Talking Dogs young yellow Lab, Rudy, is cute.  However, not everything Rudy actually does, is cute.

Here's Rudy enjoying a beautiful spring day from the comfort of our home.  From this spot he can keep an eye on the yard and be ready at a moment's notice to defend his kingdom.

Notice that Rudy has altered the screen on the patio door to allow his paws to air out and allow his nose first class access to all the sights and smells of the outdoors...  while still being able to lounge comfortably on a rug indoors.  Can't deny it - Rudy's a creative fellow.

 

 

Eating Raw Chicken (Winry)

And here's Winry, taken a few minutes after Ferguson. I think she equally enjoyed her treat!

The Chicken Feeding (Ferguson)

Edited for the sake of time. I think it took him about 9 minutes to consume the wing and chicken...shoulder/half back?

I'll continue working on Winry's to post soon. I'll let you know now: their eating techniques are somewhat different! Winry's problem solving skills shine :). That's okay though. Ferguson's expressions are pretty funny while he eats ^_^.

The first raw purchase

In the past, my parents were nice enough to buy several turkey necks from a local turkey farm. They only did it once and bought $20 worth, but it lasted quite a while. I gave Ferguson a neck every week or so, but beyond those occasional necks, I never gave any more raw food.

I've recently done a lot more thinking and research on raw food, or at least what goes into my dog's food and battling with finding reasonable costs. As you may know from my previous posts, Ferguson had really started to lose his luster for kibble. And can you blame him? How could you be excited for brown pebbles every day of your life? Unfortunately, paying for raw, or even dehydrated raw, is fairly expensive until you find a good source and can buy in bulk (or so it seems). I think the raw diet takes some practice when it comes to shopping.

Regardless, I figured it would be worth trying to get at least some of the benefits of raw, similar to what Jennifer feeds her hounds. I mean this in the sense of giving half a dozen or so raw meals a week, feeding a high quality kibble/wet dog food for the other meals. That way, we're in far less danger of missing any important nutrients. The key word though, is try, I think, for now.

Today I bought the dogs a special treat: a whole cut-up raw chicken. The whole thing was about 5lbs, so I put the pieces of relatively equal weight into separate zip-lock bags, about 4 total: enough for 2 meals for 2 dogs.

As I said, I think it will take some practice, and some finding of some super deals at Costco or a friendly butcher, but I'm willing to try and make it work as much as I can. We'll consider it a work in progress. Until then, meal time is getting to be Ferguson's favorite thing again :).

March is Black Dog Month: Adopt a Coonhound!

March is Black Dog Month at the Humane Society of Missouri.  They're celebrating with an adoption special!  Save $50 when you adopt an adult black dog.  

The dog must be 6 months or older and 35+ pounds.  In addition to the $50 savings on adoption fees, the adopter will receive an official Black Dog Club t-shirt.

View black dogs available for adoption online or visit any of the HSMO shelter locations to find your new best friend:
Macklind Avenue Headquarters Center in St Louis City (1201 Macklind Ave), Cheterfield Valley Center (17357 Edison Ave),  Westport Area Center in Maryland Heights (2400 Drilling Service Road).


Fetch more information about Memphis, this adorable black and white English Coonhound (Redtick Coonhound) and Labrador Retriever mix breed dog.  She's 4 years old and available for adoption from the Maryland Heights facility 314-951-1588.  Her Animal ID number is A523500
.

Dog Song Saturday: Border Collie Puppy Irish Dancing

Not only is it Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs, but it's St Patrick's Day!  Are you ready for a little Irish dancing?  Well, today's dog song is Little Pack of Tailors performed by Irish musician Michael Black. 

Listen closely to the lyrics to find out what happens to the dog.  It's accompanied by a charming video of a nine week old Border Collie puppy doing his version of Riverdance.  Seriously!

Grab a dog!  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and let your toes tap to Little Pack of Tailors. Happy St Patrick's Day!    Be sure to scroll down below today's dog song music video to explore some barking good dog blogs because today is a Pet Blogger Hop!

New Lost Pets Resource in St Louis Missouri Area

Image: Animal Care Arlington

There's a new resource for folks who have lost their pets in the St Louis, Missouri area.  STL Lost Pets is a collaborative effort by the Animal Protective Association (APA), St Louis County Animal Care & Control, and the Humane Society of Missouri.

If you've lost a pet, you can search their comprehensive list of Found Dogs and Found Cats which include photographs.  You can also contact local shelters (exhaustive list of contacts provided) and submit a Lost Pet Report.

STL Lost Pets offers this advice for anyone looking for a lost pet:

• Start looking immediately.  Do not assume that your pet will "come back when he's ready."  Animal shelters are required to hold stray animals for only five days, after which they may be placed into a new home or humanely euthanized.  Don't give up!  Many pets are found after being missing for weeks or even months.
• Check with all neighbors within 4-6 blocks of your home.  Sometimes pets, especially cats, are found a short distance from where they live.
• Post signs in your neighborhood with a photo detailing your pet's color, size, breed, age, sex and any identification.  Offering a reward might speed your pet's return.
• Visit ALL animal shelters in your area as often as possible.  Animals might be picked up in one area, but taken to a shelter in a different place, so be sure to call and/or visit as many shelters as possible.

STL Lost Pets strongly encourages microchipping your pet and they even offer discounted microchipping services to pet owners.  

A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that dogs without microchips were returned to their owners 21.9% of the time, whereas microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time.  Cats without microchips were reunited with their owners only 1.8% of the time, whereas microchipped cats went back home 38.5% of the time.

You can find out more about STL Lost Pets at their website www.stllostpets.org

 

Wordless Wednesday: Dog Treats Begging Technique

Jeffie and Rudy demonstrate their dog treat attraction skills.

Rudy has developed an excellent hopeful demeanor...

...with no trace of over confidence, which usually results in an "aww..." from the human.

1, 2, 3 ... all together now:  Awww...give that poor, sweet boy a dog cookie.

A close up of the key ingredient in Rudy's (highly successful) technique.

My Dogs In Points

Don't get me wrong, I love both of my dogs. But it is interesting to see their differences, strengths and weaknesses on a day to day basis. I thought I might put them into little categories to tallie and see what they are on paper...er...text format. So, off the top of my head from morning-evening:

Sleeping In:

They both get points for this and are awesome. Something I try very hard to not take for granted is how my dogs will allow me to sleep in as late as I like and are content sleeping until noon if need be.

F: 1 W: 1

Pottying:

While they're both *pretty* good, Ferguson I can trust whole-heartedly to do his thing without me supervising his every move. He also is not affected by things like rain and does his duty without complaint. Winry...the rain is not her friend, and she requires a closer eye.

F: 2 W: 1

Eating:

Winry wins, hands down. She's an angel that will eat anything you put in a bowl in front of her, no matter the time of day! I adore her for this, when compared to Ferguson, who typically sticks his nose up at breakfast or only eats at best 2/3rds of it.

F:2 W: 2

Listening/Obedience:

This is somewhat unfair since Ferguson has a large time advantage on Winry, but I think Ferguson, being more natural in tune with me, will forever have an edge on figuring out what I want, especially since he cares way too much than what might be considered healthy. Winry tends to be more independent, or will shy or run away when confused (but she will come back).

F: 3 W: 2

Problem Solving:

Ferguson, I think, is like me in that we both aren't really into puzzles. He'd rather walk away from an average treat than figure out how to get it if his first few attempts fail. He is also not great at figuring things out for himself. Winry, on the other hand, is decent at using her little brain and can deduce conclusions pretty well. Example: Even after the first few days, she was able to learn by watching Ferguson go lay on a bed that that was what it took for me to put her leash on her and head out the door. Even with another dog, I'm not sure Ferguson would have come to this conclusion as quickly (he's too busy being overly focused on me and pleasing me to think of anything else).

F: 3 W:3

Retrieving:

If that counts as a category. But, in any case, Ferguson does very well and will actually play fetch if he's not in too insane of a mood (or too lazy). Winry I don't think will ever learn, at least on her own. Admittedly, I don't care enough about it to teach her; it's enough for me for her to run and play and have a good time. We'll practice obedience on other things.

F: 4 W: 3

Leash Walking:

I'm pretty sure essentially no dog in the world can compete with Ferguson for his perfect on-leash skills. In respect to Winry, she's pretty good and is better than many of the Labradors I trained, but in new places she gets a little pully and occasionally has to remind herself that she is on a leash. This is especially true of distractions. Ferguson can barely glance at a squirrel and look the other way without much thought. Poor Winry is still heavily interested and has a hard time letting it go. She's improving, but I'm afraid she'll always be second rate when it comes to leash walking (as will pretty much every single other dog in the world!).

F: 5 W:3

Separation:

Ha ha ha ha. Poor Ferguson. While he can manage now, I don't think he'll ever be first in this category.

F:5 W:4

Nail Trimming:

They both get points for this and will lay there while I do it.

F:6 W:5

Dremeling:

Not Winry's favorite thing. She will tolerate it, but is wary and unsure. To Ferguson, it's just another way to get attention.

F: 7 W:5

Ear Cleaning:

For some reason, Ferguson is convinced I am killing him every time we've done this. He cries just when I put the nozzle into his ear, BEFORE anything comes out of it! He's a huge baby. Winry doesn't like it, but she doesn't cry, and will let me do it with little more than a smug face.

F: 7 W:6

Tooth Brushing:

Ferguson LOVES getting his teeth brushed. Winry is a normal dog and thinks it's weird (she'll still tolerate it though).

F:8 W:6

Friendliness:

Winry thinks everyone can be her friend and wants to give everyone the time of day. She wags her tail at every dog and person she meets and is eager to say hi. Ferguson, while not afraid of strangers and doesn't mind soliciting a pet from them here and there, would really be fine if the world blew up, as long as I was still with him. So, I'd say Winry is more of the social butterfly with both dogs and people.

F:8 W:7

Riding in the car:

Poor Winry. She likes the car, but can get carsick. We can't ever let her ride on an empty stomach, and she needs a dose of benedryl before we go anywhere. Ferguson has never gotten carsick and is content to sprawl across the back (probably because I am in the car).

F:9 W:7

So, it seems the numbers are presently in Ferguson's favor...for now. I'm sure more and more categories will come up that I will think of, but it is interesting to see in text how different the pair of them are, even though I love them both :o). Don't worry, Winry. We'll find more things you're good at!

Mr. Chewy Online Pet Food Retailer: Product Review

We love Mr. Chewy!  Mr. Chewy is an online pet food retailer offering over 70 brands and subscription based ordering for hassle free delivery.  They ship throughout the continental US and offer free shipping for any order over $49.

A couple of weeks ago Mr. Chewy offered us a special $50 promotional code to use on their website in exchange for an honest review of their services.  We were happy to agree.

Living in a very rural area, we have limited resources for pet food.  When we switched to natural, human grade ingredient dog kibble a few years ago our options were extremely limited.  In fact, there were only a couple brands available locally.  Our situation is very similar in terms of dog treats.  Most online sources we checked had shipping fees that made our wallet cringe.

Not only did Mr. Chewy have our usual brand of dog food available, once we added a package of dog treats to the cart, the shipping really was free.  Well, the truth is that we were so excited by the selection available, we added more than one package of treats to our shopping cart!

We loved how easy it was to shop at Mr. Chewy.  Products are categorized logically and it's super easy to find your usual brand.  When shopping dog treats, we found we could narrow products by pet, brand,  life stage (age), and/or specialty.

In addition to dog food and dog treats, Mr. Chewy offers potty pads, cat food and cat treats, cat litter, and popular flea and tick treatments.  Their website has live chat to answer questions.  If you're uncomfortable ordering online you can call the Mr. Chewy toll number during business hours.

We placed our online order for a 40 pound bag of our usual dog food, plus several packages of treats, on March 4.  We received a prompt email confirmation of our order and, on March 5, a notice our order had shipped.  Our order arrived on March 8 via FedEx delivery.  Super fast service!  This was a big, heavy carton, but even with that hunky bag of dog food, the contents were so well packed that our dog treats arrived in great shape.

Here's why we love Mr. Chewy:

• Convenience - Quick and easy online ordering with super fast delivery to our front door.
• Selection - access to a wide variety of brands and products (Especially important for we of the rural persuasion.)
• Competitive Prices
• Free Shipping with orders over $49 (and it is very easy to achieve that price point in the cart)  Orders under $49 ship for a flat shipping fee of only $4.95.

And, finally, we love Mr. Chewy's Refer Your Friends Program.  We signed up to see how it worked.  We received a referral code that will allow any friends using it to receive 10% off their first order.  PLUS, Mr. Chewy will donate $10 for each friend that orders from my code.  Donations go to the North Shore Animal League, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and Bideawee.

We highly recommend Mr. Chewy!  If you'd like to save 10% off your first order, use our referral code at checkout:  SUE5251    Shop in the convenience of your home, have your pet food delivered to your front door, and support organizations that help animals!

Today is Tasty Tuesday - a blog hop celebrating good food, so fetch some new dog treat recipes, great giveaways and more from these blogs!

Winry's Got More Than Looks!

She's got smarts! This video is literally the first time I ever tried any form of targeting with her. There are a few points that detail minor confusion (or boredom, if you can tell which), but I'm impressed with how fast she picked up on it!

I've been practicing a while with Ferguson, and while he's mostly got it, he doesn't seem to understand that me asking him to "touch" does not require him to sit or lay down on his side (his go-to tricks for appeasing me). So, this makes it a little harder.

In any case, Winry has proven herself quite capable! I look forward to continuing to work with her on fun stuff in the future ^_^.