Duke and Moré  were struggling against the odds as puppies. They were both very ill, and they lost their mom when she was struck and killed on the side of a road. Then Tawny Castle came along, and it looked like things might change. When Tawny showed up at the rescue 10 years ago, she was actually looking for a cat. Instead, she found the two helpless puppies. Before long, the three found that they need each other more than anyone would have thought. Two years after rescuing the pups, Tawny became ill with a motor neuron disease that caused her to fall and, later, have difficulty walking or …

How many of you have seen the ASPCA commercials? You know the ones: The animals are battered, starved, in cages and all alone. The one that you turn the channel when it comes on, or you go into the other room. Well, I was watching a show the other night, and one of those commercials kept coming on. Of course, my first thought is the same as everyone's: I turn the channel or look away. Well, this time I didn't. I watched the whole thing and cried the whole time.I know, some of you are thinking, "What a big baby." Right? I am sure I am, and it probably didn't help that I was on the couch with …

I was at the dog park, trying to be good and not open my mouth for a change. However, as I sat there, I heard a lady complaining about her dog being “pummeled” by all the other dogs. I looked, and her dog was on the ground with the other dogs playing around it.  I know that dogs tend to act out in packs, and there is always one that is getting picked on. Even if they are all playing together, there is usually one dog getting chased or rolled on the ground.   This lady was uncomfortable with the rough play. She said, “Someone’s dog is about to get thumped if they don’t stop picking on mine.” …

Because of the amount of rain we have had lately, I have been walking my dogs instead of taking them to local dog parks. The dog park we usually go to has been flooded, and as much as Grayson and Kaiah love being dogs and running through the water, I don't love it and the dogs can get sick from it. So, being the overprotective mom that I am, we have been walking around downtown Dunedin instead. Yesterday, I saw a little girl walking her dog. Some of her actions made me wonder whether she had been taught things to do and not do on a walk with her dog.  I was walking my two large dogs, and …

At a bankrupt stable in Dunedin near Happy Tails Dog Park an angel has been caring for two abandoned dogs. Her name is Penny. Penny, who has a horse at the stable, found Julio and Mo, two Labrador Retrievers -- one yellow and one chocolate -- who needed some care. She has been keeping the two 80-pound dogs fed with what money she has, making sure they stay healthy with flea and heartworm prevention for six months.    The 2-year-old dogs have been living at the barn for some time. The original owner says that they already have four dogs and cannot keep any more and has given Penny permission …

Lately, I have been working long hours, and my dogs have not gotten their usual attention. They haven't been able to go to the dog park, go for walks or interact with me.  My newest dog, Grayson, is still young and chews things up. This could be because he wants attention, he just likes doing it, or he is bored and needs to release some energy. When I take my dogs to the park or the beach to let them run, Grayson is less destructive afterward because he is so tired. A tired dog makes moms happy. But what should I do while working so many hours? Luckily, I have some friends who will pick up …

  One dreary Sunday morning, my friend Cathy happened to look out the front window and saw this little furry thing running through her yard in the pouring rain. Cathy grabbed a towel and went outside. Luckily, the little dog was not too fast, and Cathy caught up with her at the end of the cul-de-sac. She was shivering, cold and welcomed the help. Cathy took her in and wrapped her in a blanket. She gave the dog a warm bath and some food, and introduced her to the pack she currently had. The little dog acted like she had been there all her life. She had no fear, no hesitation, and moved quietly…

Layla was on her fifth month in foster care and going on her fourth trial visit. She had a great foster mom (me!), but I am sure she couldn’t figure out why no one wanted her. I couldn't, either. She is sweet, loving, has lots of energy and is a personality all her own.  Layla started to have some tummy trouble, so she was not allowed to go on any visits for a while. The rescue wanted to see her get well before putting her through any more stress by sending her to a home she did not know. I started debating whether I should just keep her. After all, I loved her, and she got along well with my…

I have told many stories about Grayson. The one that seems to come to everyone’s mind is him standing on the coffee table and throwing lint around like a fool. Well, these are funny stories, and I laugh, but to be honest, they also wear me out. Like one of my friends told me, “I was worn out just reading about what happened.” That made me chuckle, since it is an everyday experience for me. I hope every day that Grayson will learn something new and become more like Kaiah. Kaiah is my baby girl, 4 years old and wonderful. Kaiah does great under voice control. When I say, “Mommy has to go to …

  One night after going to a dog park, I had to pick up a foster on my way home. Kaiah, Grayson and I went to meet her at Dunedin House of Beer, one of our favorite establishments. There are always bowls of water for the dogs, and there is a beverage for me, too.  While we were there, we were in the extra room socializing with other dog owners and dogs. The room has closed doors, so the dogs were able to run around the room visiting one another.  This can be a good or bad thing depending on a dog’s demeanor. I am lucky because both of my dogs are pretty good with other dogs. I have socialized…

Almost exactly one year ago, Bree Rauck was volunteering with a local animal rescue. She loved dogs and wanted a chance to give back. Cathy, a co-founder of the rescue told her that a puppy would be arriving soon and to watch for it. Soon, a lady came walking up with a malnourished, injured and broken male pup. He had been found roaming Busch Boulevard in Tampa.  Bree’s heart went out the pup, and she called her husband to ask if they could foster it. Her husband, Tracy, shared Bree's enthusiasm for animals and said of course!  That night and most of Saturday, the puppy, which they named …

Nikki, a pit bull mix, was said to have been found in a neighbor’s backyard, tied to a tree, with rubber bands embedded into her ears. She was scared and alone. Nikki was only 12 weeks old and had already had a horrific life. The tightly wound rubber bands had been on her ears for at least two weeks, causing them to become infected. They had started to rot off.   Nikki's case is one of the most horrible reported cases of backyard ear cropping. She was rescued by SPCA Tampa Bay, which performed an emergency amputation of both her ears.  Things began to turn around while Nikki was in foster …

I live with my two dogs, Grayson and Kaiah, so some of their behavior is not a shock to me. However, my mom recently came over and was waiting on the carpet cleaner until I got there. She was so shocked by some of their behavior, and it made me realize I deal with a lot more than I thought. Shortly after she arrived, my mom called to ask me where the dogs' leashes were. I explained they were hanging in the coat closet because if they are left out, Grayson will chew through them. She was confused but said OK. I also was babysitting a dog named Raven, who is a lab mix, so there were three …

It's summer, which means it's time for vacation! Now, what to do with the family dog? Should you take the dog with you? If so, where can you stay? Should you leave the dog behind? How will you provide for it?  If you choose to take your dog along, you'll need to find a pet-friendly hotel or campsite. Ask whether the hotel has any restrictions on breed or size, and see if there are any fees to bring your pet. Some hotels charge an extra $15 to $25 for pets. You should also make note of the phone number of a veterinarian in the area, just in case. Some dogs get upset when owners make changes …

As the adoption coordinator for a local rescue organization, I have had many conversations about adopting a rescue dog. Adopting a rescue dog is different from buying a dog. Most dogs that are purchased are puppies and come from breeders or people who have to give them up. A rescue dog can be from anywhere and may have gone through more things in life than you or I.  I have found that some rescue dogs have issues, but nothing that they are not willing to work on to please you. Both of my pets are rescue dogs, and they both look at me with appreciation. They seem to be saying thank you …

Almost everyone who has a dog will have a story about the dog being by their side. I have a recent story about Grayson and Kaiah.  A local rescue recently had a fun run to help an owner and a dog who had to have surgery. Even though it was later in the day, it was very hot and humid. I was helping out with the event by running around, and I was in and out of the heat the whole day. After the race got started, I decided to go home because I was so hot. I believe I had heat exhaustion; my muscles were weak and quivering, I became lightheaded, my heart rate was 140 lying down, and I almost …

Ever since Grayson was brought to the local rescue, everyone has wondered what kind of dog he is. Grayson is about 75 pounds, 3 feet tall from floor to head, and has a giant head and paws the size of my palm. His 12-month molars look pristine, which puts his age at 12 to 18 months, so he might still have room to grow.  I have been asked about his breed so many times that I have decided to do a home DNA test on Grayson. Years ago, DNA tests were very expensive. The good ones today are still not cheap; however, I came up with the idea of doing a 50/50 raffle for Grayson. People can put in $5 …

The Fourth of July is right around the corner, which means cookouts, beach, family, friends, fun and fireworks. We Floridians love to celebrate the freedom we have in our country. All of us, that is, except our dogs. Don't get me wrong, our dogs love the cookouts, beach, family and friends, but the fireworks? Not so much.   I am one of the lucky owner's whose dogs aren't bothered by the thunderous fireworks, however, so many are terrified by the loud sound these things make. It would be great if we could talk to our dogs and explain everything is OK, but we can't make them understand. Many …

Any dog can end up with worms, and most pet owners are familiar with the threat of heartworms. However, heartworms are not the only type of worms that a dog can get. There are actually four other types of intestinal worms — roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm and whipworm — along with a fungus that infects the skin called ringworm. Puppies are more susceptible to these types of worms than adult dogs. But I’ve seen my share of worm infections doing volunteer work for a rescue. And since, not as many people know about these worms, I’d like to briefly let you know what to look for and what to do. My …

The other day while visiting the local dog park with my Kaiah and Grayson at our usual time, a guy came into the “large dogs” section of the dog park with a small dog the size of a Jack Russell terrier. All of the dogs there are friendly, but large, and some are very large. Even though there is a section for small dogs, no one thinks it is a big deal when small dogs occasionally end up on our side. When the little dog came in, all the big dogs — including my 70-pound Grayson — thought they would go see whom it was. The Jack Russell seemed to get a little freaked out and became aggressive, …