I recently did a series about how the Shelter Pet Project is working to change the image of shelter pets. As discussed in the final installment — see Shelter Pet Project Pt. 3: The Future — that’s only one part of the equation: In order to promote adoption and end the killing of healthy animals,…
Will My Blog Hate Me? Pet Blogger Challenge 2012
It’s what you’ve been waiting for — the Pet Blogger Challenge! If you’re here and you’ve already written a post answering the questions that Amy of GoPetFriendly.com and I posted on December 20, simply add the url to the Linky tool, below. If you haven’t written it yet but are inspired to do so, get…
A Shift in Perspective: Learning from Duh! Moments
We’re less than a week into the New Year and I’ve already had three major “Duh!” moments, realizations that I’ve been missing the obvious in spectacular ways. I’ve been looking for zebras when there were horses right in front of my face. But rather than slapping myself upside my head in private, I thought I’d…
Pet Travel Book Club: Following Atticus
It’s here! The second official meeting of the best — possibly only — online Pet Travel Book Club. I’m very excited because: We’re going to be discussing a terrific book, Following Atticus by Tom Ryan. The write ups — yes, plural — and questions are by a terrific reviewer, my friend Rebecca Boren, a freelance…
The Pet Travel Book Club Kicks Off with Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley
True confession: I’ve never been in a book club, real or virtual, much less organized one of my own. After years of graduate school literature classes, I didn’t want to discuss books for a while; I just wanted to read them without pressure to say what I thought. When I got over that, I was…
Blog the Change: Puppy Mills, Petland USA & Public Awareness
Often I think I live in a bubble, one where animal welfare is part of the conversation. In the “real” world, issues that are crucial to me are simply off the radar. The other night I had dinner with a couple who seemed very enlightened — into organic food, meditation, and general save-the-world concerns. In…
Karen Pryor Academy Training, First Hand: Part 2
Last week I explored the question of why the talented Deborah Flick decided to take a break from her blog, Boulder Dog, to attend classes at the Karen Pryor Training Academy. This week I get into the nitty gritty details of the experience, and find out what Deborah — and Sadie — took away from…
Karen Pryor Academy Training, First-Hand: Part 1
If you’re like me, you have been missing the always insightful posts of Deborah Flick at Boulder Dog. Deborah has blogged occasionally, but wrote back in June that she was going to be busy studying at the Karen Pryor Academy and would return to more regular blogging when she completed the course. Being the impatient…
Home Dog Grooming: Five Basics
Dog grooming is a term that I used to associate with poofy hair cuts and painted toe nails. I’m not judging; Frankie tends towards the shaggy chic, so it’s just not his style. But I dress Frankie up occasionally, which many people find offensive (Halloween must be hell for them). To each her own. But…