A Kenneling Alternative

Jennifer Houghton

Join Floofins & Co. at Barkapalooza This Weekend

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Floofins & Co. will be taking part in the events of Barkapalooza 2022. The event, hosted by the West Suburban Humane Society, will benefit the homeless animals under their care.

Events begin at 9 a.m. and run until 1 p.m. and are held at the Lisle Community Park on Sunday, September 25th.

Free parking is available and the day will contain fun, food, and games designed to end animal homelessness. Individuals can collect pledges and join the walkathon. Dogs are welcome at the event. Events include a $1,000 raffle, microchipping, a photo booth, artistic grooming, animal communicator, rescues, shopping, food, and prizes. Enjoy a day filled with fun, food and games while helping to end animal homelessness.

For more details, check out the website at https://www.wshs-dg.org/barkapalooza

Celebrate Canines During National Dog Week

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Canine lovers, prepare! National Dog Week returns September 18th and runs through the 24th!

What is National Dog Week? According to Petfirst.com, it is a “week-long celebration of man’s best friend [that] focuses on educating dog owners and the public, raising awareness about dog care, and helping lost, homeless, or abused dogs find homes.”

National Dog Week got its start in 1928. World War I veteran and canine advocate Captain William Lewis Judy decided to create a week that would educate people about the responsibilities of dog ownership. In that era, it was not uncommon to find a significant number of dogs chained up in backyards with their dog houses.

Judy was a founder of the Dog Writers Association of America and used his platform to educate and celebrate the many benefits from canine companionship. 

Let’s cover some ways that you can take part in celebrating this week. We will give you tips, inspired by PetFirst.com, that you can use whether you have a dog or not. 

If you have a dog:

  • Play with your pooch for an extra 10 minutes.
  • Extend your walk time by a few minutes.
  • Hire a pet photographer to do a photoshoot of you and your dog.
  • Adopt. Dogs are social creatures and most enjoy the company of another canine. If you dog spends a great deal of time alone at home and their temperament (and your budget permits) consider adopting a shelter pup.

If you don’t have a dog:

  • Look into adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization.  Help a friend adopt a dog in need of a loving home.
  • Donate to a local shelter. You can donate your time, cash, or items.
  • Volunteer for a rescue or a shelter.
  • Walk shelter dogs. Time spent with an animal at a shelter provides them with companionship and love.
  • Gift a toy or treat to a friend’s dog.

No matter how you approach the week, do something special for either your own or an adjacent dog. Consider ways you can enhance dog education in your community. Or just offer some extra love to the canines in your orbit. Tell us about your adventures this week. 

Those Final Days of Making Summer Frozen Treats

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Time is short for those finals moments of summer treats. Why not take advantage of the last of the hot, steamy summer days and make your pet  a scoop of ice cream?
 
Your pet may not be able to digest the contents of your favorite human batch of frozen goodness. So, we will give you some ideas and methods to make your own. 
 
We’ve assembled these ideas for you to whip up some homemade treats that will taste way better than what is in the store. And making it yourself will give you the benefit of knowing exactly what each treat contains.
 
First up, many people are familiar with Frosty Paws in the grocery store. Our friends over at HGTV have concocted a similar treat with fewer ingredients. It contains yogurt, peanut butter and baby food. If your dog doesn’t take well to plain yogurt you can use an alternate. Click this link to get the recipe.
 
Maybe you have fresh fruit and would prefer to mix up something a little less creamy, but still tasty. The AKC has options that extend beyond traditional peanut butter ice cream. Check out the various options they have available at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/diy-frozen-dog-treats/.
 
Remember that too much dairy can cause an upset tummy. Also, some sugar free additives can be toxic to your pet. Be especially cautious with peanut butter as the additive xylitol can be fatal to your pet if ingested. If you have questions about your pet’s health and nutrition we always recommend consulting your veterinarian. 
 
We hope that these ideas help you create a nutritious and delicious treat to share with your pet during the decreasing number of hot summer days ahead of us.

International Homeless Animals’ Day

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The third Saturday of August is designated as International Homeless Animals’ Day. The event was started by the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) which is an animal welfare group. According to MetLife Pet Insurance, one of the group’s main programs is related to “reducing the deaths of dogs and cats that occur due to overpopulation.”
In the US, events such as adoption fairs to dog walks to spay and neuter clinics, are used to promote awareness. We can have a local impact on pet overpopulation. Let’s highlight some of the ways you can take part in reducing the number of homeless animals and decreasing overpopulation.

Actions You Can Take

First, spay or neuter your pets. This is the most direct impact you can have on preventing overpopulation and keeping unwanted pets out of shelters. Other ways you can reduce shelter capacity include fostering shelter pets.
Pets are often stressed and do not behave as they would normally when in a shelter. Keeping a pet in a foster home reduces stress . It also allows potential adopters to see the pet as they would typically behave. It also makes for an easier transition from a foster home to a forever home. Moving from a shelter directly into an adopter’s home can take a toll on both the pet and the new pet parent. The pet will spend more time decompressing which can result in some pets being returned before they have had time to adapt.
You can also serve as an animal advocate to encourage reduced shelter capacity through microchip programs, spay and neuter programs, and rescue groups and fostering programs. Each one of us can help keep the number of homeless animals low. One day, we might reach the point where shelters are no longer a capacity. Let us know how you plan to take part in Homeless Animals’ Day.

Let’s Celebrate Your Mutt on National Mutt Day

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For those of us with mix breed dogs in our lives, we have two days to celebrate them! The first date is July 31st and the second day of celebration comes on December 2nd. What, you may be asking, is National Mutt Day?

According to nationalmuttday.com, this holiday, also known as National Mixed Breed Dog Day, was created by Colleen Paige in 2005. Paige is a celebrity pet and family lifestyle expert. National Mutt Day allows individuals to celebrate and save mixed breed dogs. 

The website states that the day’s mission is to “educate the public about the sea of mixed breed dogs that desperately await new homes and to celebrate the amazing characteristics that the mix of breeds creates in each individual dog”.

If you are thinking about adding a new pooch to the family, consider heading out to the shelter on National Mutt Day to find your new floofin!  If you can’t adopt a mixed breed friend on July 31st or December 2nd, remember that shelters are open to donations or even volunteer assistance. You can walk dogs, donate food, or supplies. Rescue groups can also use foster assistance or dog beds or toys or other supplies.