Working like a Dog

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmiller/ / CC BY 2.0

Today was my first day back to work after a wonderful four day weekend. Being back at work made me think about how much I would love to have an animal-related job someday. My dream job would be a full-time pet blogger and/or a writer for a magazine such as Cat Fancy or Modern Dog. I also have an interest in animal psychology, something like The Dog Whisperer. There are several places in Mid-Missouri to pursue a dream animal-related careers.

Here are some of my top picks:

Treats Unleashed (Columbia)

This dog bakery offers a daily assortment of  freshly baked treats like cakes, cookies and candies that are safe for pets. If you have a love for food and pets what could be better than creating delicious treats for animals everyday? I think this job would allow for a lot of creativity and satisfaction in knowing that your work makes dogs and cats very happy.

Columbia Canine Sports Center (Columbia)

Working at this dog fitness and training facility would definitely keep you on your toes. You would need a deep understanding of how an animal's mind works and a healthy dose of patience. The trainers at Columbia Canine Sports Center teach Mid-Missouri dogs agility and obedience. I imagine that everyday would be different and it would be fun watching a dog learn from your teaching.

Shed, Bath and Beyond (Jefferson City)
As with being a dog trainer, I think that being a dog groomer would take a lot of patience. It would be fun to  interact with all the different animals and make sure they are well groomed and pampered.

Dogs Day Inn (Kaiser Mo., -near Lake Ozarks)

A dog daycare and boarding center like Dogs Day Inn would be a fun place to work and would give you the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time with your animal clients. Dog training and grooming would probably be a part of this profession as well. I think one of the best parts of this job would be watching all the dogs play together.

What is your dream animal-related job? What Mid-Missouri pet businesses would you like to work for?

"Happy is the home with at least one cat" - Italian Proverb

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope all of you are enjoying a great day with your loved ones. I am up early this morning getting ready to do some chores and cook a Valentine's Day brunch for my boyfriend. One of my chores this morning is feeding and spending some time with an amazing stray cat that has been coming around the house for the last couple months. My boyfriend and I can't take any more pets right now, but we just couldn't turn our backs on this special girl. She comes around almost everyday, and we put food out for her in the backyard. My boyfriend even made her a shelter so she could have some relief from the harsh weather conditions.

Recently, my boyfriend noticed that Miss Kitty's (our name for her) tail was missing some fur and had some wounds on it. Later, he felt a lump on her neck. Fearing the worst, we took her to the vet yesterday to see if there was anything we could do to help her. One of the assistants at the vet's office came out to talk to us while we were waiting to see the doctor. She felt around Miss Kitty's neck and found the lump my boyfriend had felt. It was then that we got a surprising bit of news. The lump was nothing more than thick masses of knotted hair! Miss Kitty is a long haired cat and since she has been out on her own for awhile, she hasn't been properly groomed. Upon further inspection, the vet assistant determined that there were several matted clumps of hair around Miss Kitty's neck. It was time for a hair cut! It wasn't the most stylish cut ever, but it got rid of the lumps and we couldn't have been more relived that it was nothing serious.

                                                       Our friend Miss Kitty

Next up, was her tail. The doctor decided to shave away the hair around her bottom so that he could get a good look at how bad the wounds were. Once the hair was gone we saw that the situation was a lot worse than we originally thought. The doctor said that she had probably been bitten. He cleaned the wounds with a brown solution and gave her an antibiotic shot that is supposed to clear it up. Up until this point, Miss Kitty had been exceptionally well behaved. It was only when the doctor started cleaning her wounds that she began to wail and try to get away. I can't imagine the pain she must have been in. I asked the vet's assistant why Miss Kitty was so skinny (she is a full grown cat and weighs only seven pounds). The vet said that the cat most likely has worms, so we decided to have them give her a deworming pill that kills all parasites in the body.

Next, it was time to pay the bill. I don't think I have to tell anyone that money is tight. We wanted to do the right thing for Miss Kitty, but there was fear that we might not be able to afford it. Luckily, the bill came to $63 which was a price that fit our budget. The doctor advised us to keep Miss Kitty for eight days so she could have time to heal and not be out in the elements. We went to the store to get some supplies for her and set her up in the garage.

I cannot stress enough how sweet and gentle this cat is. She has lived a rough life, but has managed to come out of it still loving and trusting of humans. I am not sure who her owner is, but it makes me angry that anyone could allow this to happen to their pet. But, I am beyond blessed to be able to help her. My boyfriend and I would LOVE to keep her and give her a permanent home with us. Unfortunately, it just isn't possible for us right now. If anyone out there in Mid-Missouri is looking to adopt a cat, please let me know. We will probably take her to an animal shelter (no-kill if possible) once she is feeling better. I am prepared to get her spayed and give a donation to the shelter that takes her in. This cat would make an outstanding addition to a family that is ready to take on the responsibility and give her the love that she deserves.

If you want to know more about Miss Kitty and see our trip to the vet yesterday,  please watch my boyfriend's vlog below or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzweCu9kkB4.  The part about Miss Kitty starts at 1:48.

Puppy (and Kitten) Love for Valentine's Day

http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkadog/ / CC BY 2.0

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, but my boyfriend and I have already exchanged gifts. I got him the Batman Arkham Asylum PC game and he got me a beautiful bouquet of two dozen roses. Today, he is making me some delicious lasagna and we are going to watch a movie at home (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) and tomorrow I have a special brunch planned for him. I guess you could say that we are spreading the Valentine's Day cheer throughout the long weekend.

Of course, Valentine's Day isn't just about romantic love. It is about love for family and friends and that includes our furry family members as well.  ABC's Good Morning America has a cute slideshow on their Web site that features Valentine's Day gift ideas for pets. Locally, Treats Unleashed is selling jumbo heart-shaped cookies for dogs that can be personalized with your dog's name. They must be ordered 24-hours in advanced, so you better get going last minute shoppers! They also have heart-shaped carbo and peanut butter brownies, cupcakes and a host of other Valentine's Day treats that will show your pet just how much you love them.

If your pooch or cat is already soaking up the love, think about donating to a local animal shelter this Valentine's Day. They can always use supplies, cash and/or volunteer help.

A non-exhaustive list of Mid-Missouri pet supply shops and animal shelters to check out for Valentine's Day


Award Pet Supply
http://www.awardpetsupply.com/
Columbia Second Chance
http://www.columbia2ndchance.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary 
http://www.htsanctuary.com/
Heart of Missouri Humane Society
http://www.heartmohumane.com/index.html
Liz and Rocco's Natural Pet Market
http://www.lizziandroccos.com/

Please Paws the Snow

                                                   Photo by SEPpics

It's another snowy, cold day here in Mid-Missouri. I am convinced that this is the worst winter I've ever experienced in Missouri since moving here from Chicago in 2004. I am happy to have the day off (Thanks Abraham Lincoln!) and not have to get out and drive in these conditions. But, no matter how bad the weather gets, my min pin Maggie still needs to go out several times a day. I can't say I enjoy walking her in the snow. She is so small and has such short hair that it doesn't take much for her to be a cold, trembling mess. It also doesn't take much for her to get buried in the snow! I can't wait for Spring to get here so I can take her on longer walks and to the dog park. The Washington Post published a Q&A yesterday with Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker about keeping your pets safe in the snow. This is advice that every Mid-Missourian pet wants their parents to know.

After my original post, I found some adorable pictures of Bo, the first dog, playing in the more than three feet of snow that hit DC this week. Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog. The breed has a thick wavy or curly coat that is perfect for a romp in the snow!

How does your pet react to the snow? Do you have any tips for other pet owners?

Welcome!

Two years ago my boyfriend and I rescued our first animal. We found our Miniature Pincher after she had been out in the wilderness on her own for at least a month. Less than a year later, we found a tiny, starving kitten in the lawn outside our apartment. After a few days of nursing him back to health (he was so sick we had to force feed him with a syringe) it was clear that he had found his forever home with us. There have been a couple times that we have found amazing animals that we couldn't give a permanent home, but we try to help them the best we can. I have a passion for dogs and cats and will use this blog to talk about everything pet related in Mid-Missouri and share my personal pet stories. I am excited to hear from other Mid-Missouri pet fans so please leave lots of comments and questions!

 

 Our Tawny cat Mugen (at 6 weeks) and Miniature Pinscher Maggie. 

 

Boyfriend with the two babies