Ziggy's Story Continued

The shelter was moving to a new location and all the animals were crated and to be loaded onto a truck to be transported to the new location. Jimmy a young man that volunteered at the shelter had become very fond of Ziggy and really didn't want to see him get put down. When he placed Ziggy in the crate he didn't close the door tight. We are not sure if he did this on purpose or if it was a mistake but it didn't shut tight and Ziggy knew it straight away. As soon as Jimmy turned his back Ziggy pushed against the lightly closed door and ran as fast as he could as if his life depended on it and it did. He made his way back home and sat on the back porch crying. Timmy's mom heard him and brought Ziggy into the house. Abigail realized how cruel, ignorant, and heartless the BSL restriction was. When her husband came home they decided they were going to for the short term fence in the yard so that Ziggy would be safe. They also decided that they wanted Ziggy to be part of their family and he proved himself to be a loving friend to Timmy. They had a long term plan to sell their home and move to a different town where there were no breed specific laws or restrictions. Two months later they sold their home and moved to a new location where they were able to adopt Ziggy officially and became activists for the cause. Timmy and Ziggy would enjoy walks in the park and playing ball. Ziggy became a loved and treasured part of the family. 

So this is where I met Ziggy at the park and he told me his story. Rescue a dog save a life. End BSL and save lives. Spread the love.  If you enjoyed Ziggy's story please leave a comment. 

Buckie here I wanted to share my recent events with you all. 

I have been dealing with cancer for a while and recently I wasn't feeling too well. My humans took me to the doctors and it was found that I have an enlarged heart with fluid around it. The doctor said that I would need new medicines to address this but he wasn't sure if my kidneys were going to be strong enough to handle it. He said that without this medicine I wouldn't have much of a chance to survive and that with it if my kidneys weren't strong enough that the medicine would kill me. I am in a catch 22 and that is not even considering the cancer. There is a chance that I will be able to tolerate the medicine and have more time to enjoy my life because I do! I have a great spirit and attitude and I love life. My humans always say that I am a character and I'm still not sure what exactly that means but I think it's a compliment. I am very different from my brother who is more laid back and chill. I know what I like and what I want and I go for it. I have always been high energy and like to play and enjoy all the good things in life as well as my loving family. I know that I always come around to this topic but it is very important to me. I feel that I have had a blessed life with people that love and care for me, that provided a forever home and kept their promise to me that they would do everything and anything they can for me. That provided me with food, treats, toys, companionship and love. My wish is that every dog have the same opportunity that I did. I hope that one day all dogs will have loving homes and people that regard them not just as dogs but as part of the family that they love and cherish. There are a lot of dogs in need and if we all do one small thing that can add up to a whole lot. Spread the love.

Greetings humans! I want to reveal a secret... I love all animals. I know this may seem strange since I am a dog you might think that I only love dogs or even still just Boxers. The truth is that all animals are special to me.

Animals are not here for humans to abuse, exploit, be cruel to, neglect, or torture. They are living creatures that have a right to their life and not to be harmed.  I feel that anyone that is cruel or abuses animals does so based on ignorance. There is nothing smart, brave, or commendable by hurting innocent, helpless animals. In fact, anyone that does so, in my opinion, is a coward. There needs to be awareness, education and compassion for all living things. No one has the right to torture animals and think that is okay or be proud of it. These people need to be held accountable for their actions as this is not something to be overlooked lightly. There was a recent FB post where two cowards tortured a dog. I don't think they would have such a smug look on their face if they were held down and tortured! They should be held responsible for their actions. Unfortunately the reality is most likely that they will get away with it and continue to harm animals despite attempts for calls of action. 

I believe that awareness, compassion, education will go a long way in moving us in the right direction to respect all living things. 

Peace, love and compassion!

Dogs around the world have upgraded their status. Dogs today wear a variety of apparel such as tee shirts, vests, hoodies, coats, costumes, bandannas, and a variety of other articles. Dogs also have social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest as well as well you know dog blogs. Dogs now have more choices for everything from dog bowls, dog beds, vitamins, toys, shampoos, specialty dog food, grain free dog food, all natural dog food, and a myriad of other choices including specialty treats. This is all in addition to the "standard" choices for food and treats that have been available for a very long time. Pet physiologists, state of the art medical treatments, pet photographers, pet resorts and spas, grooming salons, social meet up groups for dogs, dog beaches and dog parks are just a few things that were not available in the not too distant past. 

Today's modern dog surely lives a different life than that of its predecessors. Additionally, dogs are viewed with more clout than being just dogs they are given deference as to their feelings, their ability to feel, and for some almost on par with humans. Some dogs sleep in bed with their humans, under the covers. Some have special carriers much like those for human babies. And others still get "walked in baby strollers".

What is next? How about specialty dog drinks? I mean why should dogs drink plain old water anymore when they have seemingly evolved in every other area? How about designer dog clothes for the elite pet? Or maybe pet vacations where dogs can go for a few days or a week to "get away" from home life. I'm not sure what the next evolution will be in this arena but I do know that as far as we have come we have a long way to go. There is still prejudice and judgment against certain breeds, for example BSL. Another area we need to evolve in is to not see kill shelters as acceptable. There needs to be a shift in finding that as an acceptable solution. Discrimination against certain breeds being able to live in various types of housing issues lands a lot of innocent dogs to their deaths. Awareness, sharing and caring will take us one step closer in the right direction. Lets keep moving forward to help save the lives of innocent animals. 

"All dogs living in a world where they are treated fairly with love" - Buckie the Boxer

Santa, All I want for Christmas is that all dogs have a loving home!

A Holiday Wish!

I wish that all dogs all over the world have a loving home! No place too near of too far to be beyond the reach of this wish. All dogs to be viewed for loving sentient beings that they are. All dogs to be treated fairly and not judged on false information or based on their looks. 

It's almost Christmas and whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas or any other holiday or don't celebrate any at all, the holidays are all around us.  There are so many dogs that are not fortunate and don't have loving homes, family, and are alone in cold cages some on death row, for nothing that they have done. Some are there because of ignorant biases, being judged based on their looks or some other factor that is not accurate. My focus this new year to do more to help the cause. I'm sharing on Facebook, I reach out to people and connect  with people on behalf of the dogs in need, in danger. and in trouble. Donating to non kill shelters or rescues that pull dogs in bad situations from kill shelters. Offering products on line for sale and donating ten percent to the cause. I think adopting is wonderful and everyone should research the general specifics about a certain breed or mix if considering a particular dog. To interview the dog and to know if the dog is high energy, likes other dogs, kids and make sure that the dog is a match to your life. In my opinion, having a dog come into your life is a serious commitment. There is nothing like a dog in your life, it can be a wonderful experience and very rewarding. 

My dream would be to have a "hotel" for dogs that feels like home. For those dogs that don't have homes to provide long term (if needed) housing in an atmosphere that feels like home. To be able to provide everything they need including medical care. Please consider what each of us can do, even one small action can make a difference. Spread the love, joy, and hope. 

Rescue Love and Happy Holidays!

A look into one dogs story on death row

I had a ruff day yesterday. There was a baby girl in trouble and for a time there I thought she was going to be put down. I don't know this girl she is a three year old Boxer that was in a kill shelter and deemed aggressive so only a rescue could release her not a private person. I contacted the shelter yesterday and I was told that she was on the euthanasia list and that unless a rescue came forward she most likely would be put down. Now I don't know this dog and it may seem crazy but I fell in love with her picture. Well, actually she really does look a lot like me when I was her age. I wished that I could fly out to California, where she was located, and pick her up. Obviously that wasn't an option. There was a feeling of helplessness and frustration. I realize that there are a lot of dogs in need and in reality I can't save them all, though I'd like to. 

Outside of extreme cases where a dog is seriously dangerous labeling or deeming a dog aggressive is left up to interpretation. Was the dog just scared, anxious, or in unfamiliar surroundings? Has he been mistreated and seems aggressive? Or is the dog really aggressive? Why? What happened? Can the dog be rehabbed?  There are very few agencies that work specifically with dogs that are hard to place. Where they can get the proper training and guidance and hopefully be able to be integrated in forever homes. I wish that state funded shelters were better funded and not just focus on animal control but to have staff trained to work with difficult and behavioral issues, for example, to have rehab programs available, long term care options and aggressive campaigns for adoptions. I watched something on the Pitbull dogs that were used in dog fighting and how they were rescued, rehabbed and some integrated back into society in forever homes and done very well. It is my belief that the issues these dogs have, in most cases, are due to the humans in those dogs lives.

I can only imagine the emotions that this sweet girl experienced and others like her that are dumped off at kill shelters and forgotten. Being taken away from familiar surroundings and the humans and other animals that they once knew and placed in a cold cage. Being scared, anxious, and wanting to be anywhere but there but held to some testing standards, at the worst time, that will determine their future. There are so many dogs in need for a variety of reasons and some in very bad situations. Maybe there should be a process for obtaining a dog and surrendering one? 

Well the saga for this special girl ended well. At the 11th hour a rescue group released her. I was ecstatic!

Humans! Dogs need training, guidance, love, and your time. It's hard to imagine that your fur baby would ever be in a situation where they end up in a shelter or heaven forbid a kill shelter. Things happen in life and sometimes beyond our control, people get sick, pass on, or other unforeseeable things can happen and land your baby in a very bad situation. So the more socially adjusted your fur baby is the better the chance of being okay in bad circumstances.

I am grateful for those that do great work everyday in every capacity to help, advocate, share and care for the animals.   

Do you love your dog?

My humans LOVE me and my brother! I want to share a story and my views on it.

I recently read a post on social media where the human was looking for someone to take her dog. She called her dog difficult, drooling, destroys the house and eats like a horse. The worst part was the negative names she called him. I was really horrified. I hope she does find someone to take her dog as the dog deserves better! Why do people get dogs if they have no heart to give love, patience or compassion for what an animal might have gone through. How selfish some are where they won't share their time to help an animal that has difficulties or issues. 

So no two humans are the same right? Well, in my opinion, no two dogs are the same either. I believe this to be true even if they are the same breed. So just like people have different personalities, some dogs have tendencies to be more shy or high energy, low energy, anxious, dog friendly, people friendly, not friendly, social or not social. Regardless of how they got there whatever the personality it should be respected. I do believe that how they got there is important to understand to an extent to help determine where to go from there. I want to focus on dogs with issues. It seems that people that have dogs with little or no issues don't understand when other dogs do. Training and the humans that interact with the dogs have a huge impact on the dogs behavior but sometimes they come to humans with issues based on their past. 

After all, no one is perfect, right? So why are dogs held to impossible standards. We are not stuffed animals, we are living breathing creatures that need love and understanding too. 

I am a big fan of adopting! I think humans should do some homework to make sure that the breed they are considering is compatible with their lifestyle and energy level. Humans should be sure that they have the ability to care and provide time, love, and patience. Having any dog is a big commitment so a little research will ensure a good match!

Please share and let me know if your dog has had any issues and what solutions have worked for you!

Halloween Dogie Style

Halloween has always been a favorite of mine. I like dog watching oh yeah and human watching too. It is interesting to see everyone dressed up and consuming large quantities of candy. I don't think it is fair really, there should be a holiday for dogs where we get large quantities of treats! Anyway, I get to enjoy and celebrate this holiday and over the years it has changed. There were times I went out with the kids dressed up and trick or treated and some years stayed home. This year I am opting to stay home and help pass out candy. This way everyone that comes to the door can see how awesome I am!

I am going to get dressed up though but I still haven't decided on which costume. I mean there are so many choices! Some dog friendly mega stores or online retailers have many options. There are also  home made costumes that are made with love. You want to be sure that any costume is comfortable and not restricting them in any way so they can't get tied up or choked. So always watch your pet when they are dressed up.

Now for some choices, here are my favorites in order of preference: Skeleton, Super Dog, Pirate, and Alligator. For the ladies, Princess, Witch, and Angel are a few of my faves.  I've even seen matching costume for dogs and their humans. . . now we are talking. I think a Halloween bandanna can work too which is the way I am personally leaning towards. 

Now for treats, Boxer bubble producing treats! My favorite is peanut butter. Here are a few others I found online for Halloween dog treat recipe  which you might want to check out. Setting up your fur baby with their own treat like a Kong toy that can be filled with treats or my favorite peanut butter. Speaking of peanut butter please remember that some dogs are allergic to it, so always consult with your vet. Human candy is not good for dogs. Chocolate can be toxic as well as some other ingredients. So plan ahead for dog safe treats or bake some!  

I am highly evolved as you can see I am writing this article but there are many canines that will get scared by the constant ringing of the doorbell, strange looking humans showing up at the door or spooky sounds. Please consider safety as a first priority and if your fur baby is shy or gets scared easily or if there is any concern keeping him/her away from the activity center would be a good idea. If you are planning to have your dog greet trick or treat people at the door or if you plan have your dog join you trick or treating, keeping them on leash at a safe distance from others may be prudent. Wearing a reflective collar with ID tags is also a good idea in case your pooch accidentally goes outside to assess the neighborhood. There are other potential hazards like plastic bags, candy within dogs reach, candles and decorations.  Please use common sense safety for your dogs.

Grrrr Happy Halloween!