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Saturday, September 27, 2014

The Walk Your Dog Week Challenge

I know I've been remiss at not posting a blog article.  We were all distracted by mom's hip problem.  And the real reason, mom is addicted to Candy Crush and spends so much time on it that other things fall through the cracks.


Any way, we decided to accept the challenge posted by My BGBV Life, and join the Celebrate National Walk Your Dog Week.   It's from October 1st to 7th.


There are a few conditions and if you follow this link to My BGBV Life, they're all laid out. My BGBV Life


I look forward to hearing about your adventures and seeing any photos you take.


Monday, July 7, 2014

Pet ID Tags


We all know how important it is to have ID tags for our pets.  We may not all have them, but we know we should.

One of the biggest annoynces I have is moving BJ’s tags from one collar to another.  Most of the time I don’t change collars because it’s such a pain.  I have found an ID tag that solves the problem.





The Twigo Tag is the solution.  It’s made of durable plastic and comes in a variety of designs and colors. 






You personalize the tag writing whatever information you choose using the pen that's included in the package.  (I blocked out my phone number.)  Boil it for 3 minutes and it’s ready to wear.  The slip loop makes it fast and simple to move it from collar to collar or buy a few to match the collar. 




When Fido rolls in the mud, wash the tag when you wash your dog.  It won't rust when he goes swimming.  It’s plastic.

Because it’s made of plastic it's silent.  The clanging of the metal tags is a thing of the past.  I put the Twigo tag in between BJ’s rabies’ tag and his license tag.  It solves the jangling problem.

My handwriting is large so I would have liked the pen nib to be finer. 



Go to Twigo Pet Tags to see the selections of tags.









Disclaimer: Two Ears and a Tail was not compensated for this. I was given the product to use in exchange for my honest review.  BJ does not endorse products that he himself would not use.  




Friday, May 30, 2014

Does Anyone Want a Ferret?

Should New York lift its ban on having a ferret as a domestic pet?

New York, California, and Hawaii are the only states that ban having a ferret as a pet.  They are related to weasels, minks, badgers, otters, and are considered docile.



Aren't I cute?  

The theory for banning ferrets is that they have a tendency to bite making it dangerous for it to be around children.
According to the NYC Dept of Health, Office of External Affairs,


Ferrets are known for their unpredictable behavior, and they are prone to vicious, unprovoked attacks on humans. Ferret attacks reported nati?onwide over time have become notorious for their severity and capriciousness, causing serious injuries to some infants and young children in particular... In New York City's multiple dwelling residences, which are not natural habitats of ferrets, a ferret could crawl through holes in walls or travel along risers or ducts to other apartments, with potentially tragic consequences for the neighbor of a ferret owner."

Would this face bite someone?




This of course makes little sense because the same could be said about dogs, cats, even parrots.  Children need to be supervised around animals.  They need to be taught to be respectful and not taunt animals.

Ferrets are related to badgers and weasels who will burrow into small spaces in search of prey.  They can dig under fences and escape so owners should take measures to prevent that if they let their ferret in a yard.

If the ban should be lifted, vaccinations for rabies and distemper would be required as they are for dogs.

Friday, May 23, 2014

The Dangers of Retractable Leashes


Many of us have written about the dangers of using a retractable leash for your dog.  This afternoon, one danger with those leashes was directly responsible for injury.

BJ and I were in our lobby talking to the doorman this afternoon.  A woman came out of the elevator with her large dog of at least 60-70 lbs.  (BJ is 20 lbs.)  They were saying hello, nose to nose, when for no reason the dog started to attack BJ.  He was biting BJ's ear and then his mouth and shoulder.  And, he wouldn't let go.  The woman had a retractable leash that was unwound and she had no control over her dog to pull him off BJ.

Needless to say, BJ was yelping, struggling, and bleeding.  He peed on the floor and pooped all over himself because he was so scared.  I slipped on the wet floor trying to get to him.   The owner finally was able to get her dog to release BJ, BJ was shaking and whining.  He didn't even want to go out on his walk.  He hurt and snapped at me when I tried to undo his collar.  (My poor baby.)

He was still shaking while eating freeze dried lamb lung, his absolute favorite.
He wasn't happy when I took (dragged) him into the bathroom.  BJ does not like getting a bath, but there was no way he could go without one.  He snapped again when I tried to put him the tub.  (poor pup)

I shared my roast beef dinner so he might feel better.  He's resting now.

I used a retractable leash when I took him to the park.  After 9 AM when he had to be leashed, it gave him more space to run around.  Outside of the park I shortened it to 4 ft. and locked it.  Too many people unlock the leash and release it go too long.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all those who celebrate it.  In NYC it is sunny although a little cold and the Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue is in full swing.

I'm me.  Mom won't give me any Peeps so I wouldn't let her put ears or a bonnet on me.


Thursday, April 17, 2014

Home Alone

BJ has always been fine when he is left alone.  When I first got him, he slept in his crate and stayed the crate while I went to work  I came home during lunch to walk him and then put him back in his crate.  He never barked or whined.   

When he was housebroken and I felt he wasn't going to destroy things, I let him roam in the bedroom and bought a baby gate to keep him out of the rest of the place.  It was fine for two or three days and then one day I opened the front door, and who was right there to greet me - yes Houdini better known as BJ.  He climbed over the gate.  He was only about 8 months old so I didn't expect it.  I put him back in the bedroom and then watched him climb out.  A determined little terrier.

One of his sleeping beds
From then on he had the run of the apartment.  It's an NYC apartment so we're dealing with about 800 sq. ft.  He's now over 14 and all has been well.  He was used to being alone all day with  walk at around 1 or 2.



Now that I'm retired I'm home a lot and he has gotten very used to having me around.  He is still good about not barking or whining.

Somehow he knows when I'm getting dressed to go out without him.  Last night I was getting dressed to go to a seder and he was not pleased.  In no uncertain terms he told me exactly what he thought.


He got his point across.  I wish I could get him certified as a service dog.
 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Euthanasia Way Down in NYC

I volunteer with the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals which celebrated their  10th Anniversary.  The goal is to become a no-kill community by 2015.   Their newsletter announced terrific news about the number of pets euthanized in 2013.
In 2003, 31,701 pets were euthanized.  In 2013 that number was reduced to 6,124.

That means that 25,577 pets were saved in the 10 year initiative.  An 80% reduction.   This was achieved by concerted effort to support spay/neuter programs for stray and feral communities.  That of course reduces the number of strays.  The other initiative was working with the AC&C (Animal Care & Control) to transfer  cats and dogs to adoption shelters.

To read the full story with all of the numbers and math, visit:

  • http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/about/progress2013.htm

Please copy and paste.  I'm having a problem getting the Link function to work.

Let's hope that other cities follow New York's lead.




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Murdering Lions

This is the worst I've heard in a long time.  I thought zoos were created to take care of animals and not murder them.  The Danes don't think so.  They have already murdered a healthy giraffe.  Now they just murdered 4 healthy lions.

Don't visit Denmark nor buy products from that country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPWNnoUQKzs

Monday, March 10, 2014

Two Interlopaws

I've been off the grid for a while trying to get less gloomy and become more energetic.  The continual snow storms are hard for me.  I get cold even with my coat and I don't like the snow hitting my face.  We also have to go on short walks because of the cold.

Recipe for "Gloomy and Grumpy"

On the Avenue
3rd Avenue
one part very cold weather
one part continual heavy snow storms
one part interlopaws
one part short walks

Mix the cold and snow until ice is formed
    Do not allow to become slush



















Let stand until ingredients fester or just before it turns slush
Top with short walks


Tristan
Oscar getting a bath
He smelled



   Add foster interlopaws.









Now you have the easy recipe for gloomy and grumpy. 


Mom wants to do something to help the shelter dogs.  She can't always donate  so fostering is a way to help.   She also thought I would have a playmate.  I'm 14 1/2.  I don't want a 2-year old as a playmate.

Okay, I get that, BUT,

she never asked me or asked how I would feel.   (I wasn't thrilled.)

Oscar in MY bathrobe.
The first one we had, Oscar, was  about 6 or so and he was calm and mellow so he wasn't bad to have around.  He sat near mom but not on her lap and he didn't bother me and didn't try to eat out of my dish.  (He had his own.)






Tristan on MY side of the bed.
Tristan was the opposite.  He was a 2 1/2 year old mostly Scottish Terrier and was energized.  He would nudge me to play.  After he finished his food he would try to eat mine.  He is cute, affectionate, and lovable.  I was very happy he was at the adoption event and then went back to Eve's Sanctuary.






Stand by for what's next.


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Friday, February 21, 2014

BlogPaws Conference 2014

The BlogPaws 2014 Conference is in Lake Las Vegas, May 8 - 10.  Who's going?



I went last year and had a terrific time.   It was exciting to meet bloggers I follow and in some cases the dogs and cats of the blogs.  The "Paws" Fashion Show on the red carpet was an opportunity for you to show off your pet and marvel at the creativity of the fashions.

But it was just dogs and cats.  There birds, ferrets, rabbits, and others.

One the more serious side, there was a choice of so many workshops  that it was difficult to choose the best ones for you.   I had only been blogging for a year and the beginner's workshops in marketing, widening your viewer base, increasing followers, etc.

Hope to see you at Conference.



Sunday, February 9, 2014

GOOD NEWS - Cockfighting Ring Busted

Brooklyn, NY police broke up the largest cock fighting in the state. 70 people were in custody because they were watching the fight. Nine people were arrested on felony charges as the organizers. They will get jail time if convicted. 

The police also rescued three thousand rooters held in a Brooklyn pet store and in a farm.

According to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman it was the largest cockfighting takedown in New York state and among the largest in U.S. history.

The Olympics Black & White Sunday

BJ was not impressed with the Snowboard Slopestyle.  He watched for a while and then just punked out.

My Dreams are Better the Olympics. 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Super Bowl on Black & White Sunday

BJ is unimpressed with the Super Bowl.  He's either pestering me to pay attention to him or sleeping.
Super Bowl Smoocha Bowl
I'm tired.


He also needs to be comfortable so he moves the furniture pillows to his liking.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Black & White Sunday

Mom's MAC is back.  Apple was very quick to fix it and that made us happy.  Now I can get bcck to blogging.

It was a cold Sunday and a little snowy.  When I came in from my walk, I was cold and wet and was happy I had a thick, fluffy towel to snuggle under.

I'm toasty.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Black and White

East 62nd St.



Christmas and New Years are over and most of
the decoration are long gone. Some houses in my neighborhood still have them up.

It's hard to see in black and white.

East 63rd St.
 

Friday, January 3, 2014

New Blog Hop

I've just joined the Pinch, Punch blog hop.  It sounds like fun. The idea is to post a picture of something you did during the month and leave a statement of what you are going to do the next month.

I'll include a post with a picture of something mom and I did during January and talk it over with mom to decide what we're going to do in February.

The hop was started by Earl's World.  Come visit him.











Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year

I hope this year is happy and healthy and we get lots of cookies.

Early afternoon nap.


I'll be 14 on January 15th and I can't wait to see what mom has for me this year.  Cookies, turkey, roast beef.  The list could go on but I won't have room.  The only age related change that I can feel is my muscles are tighter and hurt a little  when I get up from a nap. I'm limping a bit.  After I walk a bit I'm fine.  Arthritis I guess.



I'll take my regular afternoon nap when we come in from my walk.

My resolution is to post 4 to 5 times a week.