It’s Father’s Day!
Hi everyone and Happy Father’s Day to you and to all the Doggy Daddies out there! Today my Dad and I are gonna “hang” just doin’ what we like to do! Watch sports!!
and we may do a little of this:
(this is actually from when I was a baby)
and a little of this too!
Get the picture? I’m gonna be snuggling with my Dad, ALL DAY! What about you?
Happy Father’s Day to my Dad and to all the Doggy Daddies in the world! Enjoy this video that I did NOT MAKE!! BOL! I’m not as talented as my pals Will & Eko, but I digress,, to see the FANTASTIC video that they made for Father’s Day click here,
Then, enjoy this cute little video that Mom and I found on YouTube
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!
Barks and licks and all of my love,
Dakota
Thank you for fighting for our rights! We remember…
Today, in the USA we celebrate Memorial Day:
If it weren’t for those who came before and for those currently fighting to ensure that we have rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press, this blog, and many others might not exist.
Today, we THANK YOU for the freedom that we enjoy living in America.
Today is our day to honor YOU…
Today is World Veterinary Day!
Logo taken from AVMA to visit their website click on the logo
On April 27, World Veterinary Day 2013 will seek to raise awareness of vaccination as a means to prevent disease.
The World Veterinary Association created World Veterinary Day in 2000 as an annual celebration of the veterinary profession, falling on the last Saturday of April. Each year, the WVA and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) choose a theme for the event.
“Vaccination of animals helps people to protect their livestock and their companion animals, as well as themselves in case of zoonotic diseases,” according to an online announcement for World Veterinary Day 2013. “Through well organised campaigns, vaccination contributes to the eradication of diseases from certain areas and even from the world.”
According to the announcement, the veterinary profession is crucial to the success of vaccination in protecting animal health.
I don’t mind visiting my vet (THAT MUCH!) He keeps me healthy!
Mom and I were looking around the Internet because we wanted to share info with you about what vaccines your puppies and dogs should have, and here is what we found from WebMD:
How Important Are Vaccines to the Health of My Dog?
Bottom line-vaccines are very important in managing the health of your dog. That said, not every dog needs to be vaccinated against every disease. It is very important to discuss with your veterinarian a vaccination protocol that’s right for your dog. Factors that should be examined include age, medical history, environment, travel habits and lifestyle. Most vets highly recommend administering core vaccines to healthy dogs.
What Are Core Vaccines?
In 2006, the American Animal Hospital Association’s Canine Task Force published a revised version of guidelines regarding canine vaccinations. The guidelines divide vaccines into three categories-core, non-core and not recommended.
- Core vaccines are considered vital to all dogs based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans. Canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies are considered core vaccines by the Task Force.
- Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira bacteria.
My Mom makes sure I am up-t0-date on all of my vaccines because they are super important! They don’t really even hurt that much do they? What do you think?
Barks and licks and love,
Dakota
To our friends who celebrate, Happy Easter!
Mom and I were so happy when we received our “runner’s up” prize from our buddy Speedy! It was perfect timing to use it as our Easter card to all of you!
We think Speedy makes a better Easter Bunny
than “anybunny” can!
So from us to you,
Happy Easter and Happy Spring!
Compliments of Speedy!!!!
THANK YOU SPEEDY! WE LOVE OUR CARD!!!
Kiss me! I’m Irish!
Well…at least for today!
HAPPY ST.PATRICK’S DAY!
May the luck of the Irish be with you,
TODAY and EVERY Day!
Barks and licks and love,
Dakota
A Birthday Letter to My “Boy”
Dear Dakota,
Today is your birthday. YOU ARE NOW SIX YEARS OLD!
It is hard for me to wrap my head around that number.
This is the first of your birthdays that I am sad. I am trying with all of my might to be in a celebratory mood, and I will accomplish that, I just can’t at this moment.
Where has the time gone?
this was the first photo we were given of Dakota from his breeder, Shelia Ellis, before we had met him
It seems as if it was only yesterday that after an INTENSE and most DEDICATED search by your Dad to fulfill a childhood wish of mine of presenting me with a Sheltie for my birthday, that SIX YEARS HAVE PASSED.
When you joined our family you were only 8 months old. A mere pup. I remember when we had picked you up and were bringing you “home”, sitting with you in the back seat of the car, you were in your crate, I was next to you petting you and talking to you because we were told that you and cars did NOT get along. I did my best to soothe and reassure you.
You instantly became friends with your kitty brother, a huge blessing for your Dad and I.
My biggest frustration in those early days was that I thought you would NEVER be housebroken!! I remember a relentless parade of going up and down 12 stairs with you, you were housebroken in your previous home, you just had to learn the lay of the land with us.
It is hard for me to believe that the first two weeks that you lived with us you were QUIET! I honestly thought you did NOT know how to bark! To think, that ever worried me with the multitude of times every day that you show us that YES INDEED YOU CAN BARK, and quite well I might add!
I often feel guilty that you live on the second floor of a condo. I often feel that we are doing you a disservice. I see other dogs with fenced yards that are able to romp freely during the day, you? I think you are part cat, or maybe it is because you live with a cat, you don’t enjoy walks and prefer to stay inside. I never was one to force you to do what you don’t wish to do, so maybe our situation isn’t that bad after all.
You never cease to amaze me. You hated obedience classes but are an apt pupil for learning EVERYTHING that we DON’T want you to learn! You seem to have a grasp of language far better than many humans that I know. You know just what you want and let us know, you know just what your Dad and I need, and give it to us unselfishly.
Your Dad and I survived indoor “accidents”, chewed cell phones, CD’s, paper, and enough wood to light a fire, it is a miracle you are still with us!
This was particularly delicious. The green color gave it a “Minty Fresh” taste. I was stopped from my fine dining experience before I could get to the delicious licorice flavored battery
But, with the blessings of God, you ARE still with us! Your sixth birthday has made me face the brutal fact that you are no longer a pup, even though you still act like one, you are approaching your gasp, Senior years. I am having trouble accepting this.
Dearest Dakota, you have brought so much laughter, joy, love, craziness, and devotion to your Dad’s and my world that I cannot even fathom what life would be like without you.
So, rather than be melancholy and reflective, I am going to switch to celebratory mode.
I celebrate your birth, I celebrate our good fortune when your human sister told us about you, I celebrate your smile, your warm and lavish fur, I celebrate your loving licks, your gentle eyes, they way you hold my hand with your paw when you lick me, the way you pick up your red, white and blue ball when your Dad and I return home, even if we were gone for only 5 seconds.
“Hooray for the red, white & blue!!!”
YES, I even celebrate your BARKING (remind me please that I said this)
My precious Sheltie boy, I vow to make your remaining years with us, and I hope there are MANY, ones full of continued learning, NEW adventures, MORE walks, tons of snuggles, oodles of kisses, tasty food and never-ending love.
YOU, Dakota, were the answer to my childhood dream of one day having a Sheltie of my own.
Happy, Happy Birthday my silly and sensitive boy,
I love you more than all of your cherished bones being piled to the “moon and back”
Mom
World Spay Day 2013: Top Ten Reasons to Spay/Neuter Your Pet: by Kim Thomas
From Dakota’s Den: While reading blogs on February 18, 2013 I came across this post from my friend, Kim Thomas who writes the wonderful blog CindyLu’s Muse and loved it!
Meet CindyLu!
Kim is one of the first people I met when I began blogging in 2009, and I greatly admire her. I contacted Kim and asked if I could “re-post” this blog post on World Spay Day and she graciously gave her permission. I am a strong believer in the importance of spaying/neutering and loved this concise and straight forward blog post. Thank you Kim!
Top Ten Reasons to Spay/Neuter Your Pet
February is National Spay/Neuter Month – a reminder that there’s no better time than the present to ensure your pet is taken care of in the best way you can!
- Collectively, with more spay/neuters, a community will have less stray pets, less disturbance and damage caused by them, and lower tax expenditures for the shelter of homeless pets.
- You won’t add to the millions of homeless pets that are euthanized every year.
- Eliminate your risk! The average number of litters a fertile cat produces is one to two a year; the average number of kittens is four to six per litter.*
- Eliminate your risk! The average number of litters a fertile dog produces is one a year; the average number of puppies is four to six.*
- It’s cheaper! Spay/Neuter costs less than raising puppies or kittens.
- Reduces/eliminates spraying and marking, in cats.
- Reduces/eliminates desire to roam, territorial fighting and resulting injury and disease, in cats.
- Reduces aggressive behavior, including associated dog bites.
- Reduces/eliminates mammary gland/ovarian/uterine and testicular cancers and prostate disease.
- Encourages longer, healthier life for your pet.
Spread the word – spay/neuter saves lives!
Browse through more posts about Spay/Neuter –
read, share, Help Promote World Spay Day!
Sheltie likes #President Obama-Happy Presidents’ Day!
Today is Presidents’ Day in the United States
Meet this adorable Sheltie
who really loves President Obama!
Dakota's Den 