A Kenneling Alternative

Things To Do With Your Pet

Floofins & Co. Gets Their Tails On The Trails September 7th

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On September 7th, join Floofins & Co. as they participate in Morton Arboretum’s annual Tails on the Trails event. Morton Arboretum only allows dogs in the park on specific dates, so you won’t want to miss out on the fun.

Thing you should know about the event:

  • There is a $5 admission per dog.
  • The event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. However, dogs will be allowed on the ground from 7 a.m. to sunset for hiking purposes.
  • Know that while there will be parking available, the lots might be a distance from the events so give yourself time to walk.
  • This is an outdoors event so dress appropriately. Consider wearing hiking shoes if you plan to get out on the trails.

There are 16 miles of hiking trails and local businesses and organizations will be available as part of the pet expo. A crowd favorite – the peanut butter licking contest – will be back this year. So, be sure to sign your dog up for events and pick up your pet bandana at The Morton Arboretum booth at the expo.

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Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

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“You have to get it through your head that the dog won’t live forever.” This was the advice my dad began offering to me as my dog approached double digits. And my response was always the same. 

“Nope. We will always be together,” I would say back to him. And then I would hear the sigh of resignation. The sound he has made so many times before when he realized there wasn’t any way to convince me I might be incorrect.

No big surprise to this story, right? I lost him. I had to make that decision every pet parent dreads. And on Valentine’s Day 2012, I made good on the promise I gave that floofin two weeks prior when the vet told me he had cancer. I looked at this dog that I knew wasn’t going to get any better, who wasn’t himself anymore, and whose suffering was beyond the level I could bear him to be in. The vet assured me afterwards that he wouldn’t have made it through the night.  [Read more…] about Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

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. 

Celebrating Birthdays or Gotcha-Days

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When it comes to pets, birthdays are just as big a deal around the Floofins & Co. staff as our human friends and family’s birthdays. Well, maybe we go a tad more over the top for our pets, but why not? 

July 10th marks the 11th birthday for the original Floofins: Portia and Priscilla, aka “Prissy”. The girls will be celebrating, as they do every year, with a personalized liver cake from Happy Dog Bakery in Downers Grove. 

For the rest of us out in Floofins-land, birthdays (or gotcha-days for those of us who have rescues without official birthdays) are an opportunity to do something new and unusual or just a comforting ritual for your pet.  [Read more…] about Celebrating Birthdays or Gotcha-Days

Dog Days at Cantigny Park

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Floofins & Co. will be hitting the road once again to participate in Dog Days.

Visitors can bring their dogs into Cantigny Park in Wheaton for one day each year. The event is a great opportunity to explore all the grounds at Cantigny with your furry family members. And what would a Dog Days event be without Floofins & Co. and lots of great vendors and demonstrations?

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 29th, at the Parade Field. Entry is free with a $10 parking fee and allows you to stay until the event ends at 4 p.m. According to Cantigny’s website the events will include: [Read more…] about Dog Days at Cantigny Park