This has been a crazy weather week in the US. We are fine here in the mid-Atlantic. But Hurricane Helene has caused many people to need support in many ways: food, housing, medical, etc. They say it could be years before some towns recover.
Here at the zoo, we worry about humans but, we also worry a great deal about all the animals. Please contact your friends and family in the regions most devasted and do what you can to support the relief efforts.
We pray for a calmer week weather-wise so they can start to clean up but we know that nature has more things planned in the coming weeks. Stay safe friends. And when you can please donate to the rescues that are caring for both humans and animals affected.
Please have a portable kennel for each of your animals, in case you ever have to evacuate. We have one for each dog and cat and have tested that they all will fit in the car. It is a great deal easier with all little animals now. When we had the big dogs, 2 cars were required. If you have to get out fast, preparation is key!
Bearnard likes to get into deep conversations with me. We were discussing what a hurricane is. I am not sure he understands what I am telling him, but it makes him happy to listen to my stories.
Stay safe as the world climate changes and evolves. Be prepared!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal welfare, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, Helene, Hurricane, lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, rescue
I was unhappy last week when Mom took me to the Vet for yet another major dental cleaning. This time the Vet pulled the incisors I had left and a pre-molar or 2. She told Mom that my bad teeth are probably genetic, but that little dogs also tend toward dental issues.
When I first came to rescue Mom 2 years ago (see picture below), my teeth were so rotten that the Vet had to remove a fractured molar and 5 or 6 teeth immediately. Remember that I lived in a cage for my first 6-1/2 years, and Mom suspects I got no healthcare. It’s a good thing that dogs have 42 permanent teeth (unlike humans with 32). Originally my upper jaw had 20 and my lower had 22. But as you can see in the picture when I first came (below), there were big gaps and crookedness.
Every tooth I have had a purpose – incisor, canine, pre-molar, and molar. Now I have no incisors, the little teeth that helped me scrape at meat and groom my coat. What will I ever do if I have to catch my own dinner? But Mom says that will never happen; I will never live in the wild and have to tear things apart. Let’s hope so.
Well, at least I have my fangs!
I must say that the pain drugs worked fine. And I got a lot of apple sauce and pumpkin.
What kind of mischief did you get into today? Remember to BRUSH YOUR TEETH!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: dog, dog dental care, dog teeth, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, Pet, pets, shih tzu mix, vet care
Bearnard here. I want to tell you the story of our vacation. Someone thought it might be a good idea to take us on vacation with the family this year. Mom had been training us for months to ride nicely in the car with seat belts in the back seat (the blue straps). The first leg of the trip was from Annapolis, Maryland to Raleigh, North Carolina. That was about 5 hours. We did great. It was not Mom’s fault that Hurricane Debby was traveling with us. It rained 80% of the way. But we finally took a break in the drizzle and smelled some new stuff in a picnic area. Then we got to Aunt B in Raleigh and met her and her cat, Gracie (who did not like us much). It was our first time in a hotel and Jolie was terrified of the elevator. Mom had to carry her in and out.
We also hated all the noise in the hotel and I especially went crazy when people were making noise in the hall late at night. Mom did not get much sleep because she had to leave the TV on all night to try and keep me calm. We really liked being on the back of the couch in the hotel room and we took turns looking out the window at the parking lot.
The next day we got back in the car for another 3-hour drive to Sunset Beach in North Carolina. Mom had a nice apartment for all of us to stay in and we took lots of walks around the property. However, Jolie started to get really sick after a day or 2. Mom emailed the vet who said to put her on the usual rice and chicken tummy diet and try some CBD chews. She thought it was stress. She had already planned for me to take more of my stress medicine (which I live on anyway) but she thought Jolie would be ok. Then V figured out it was the WATER. Mom drinks bottled water all the time, so why not us! Once we switched to bottled water, in 48 hours she was much better. Mom never brought us to the ocean beach because we were having so much trouble just on land.
After a week we were back in the car but this time for a 9-hour drive: it was horrible. About 5 hours in, I could not deal with being in the back seat any longer and needed to be upfront with Mom. Finally, Mom gave in and let me be in the front (against her better judgment). She always has the passenger front airbag turned off because she worries about us being in the front if there is a car accident. The airbags would kill us instantly she thinks.
Did you know humans cannot pee at the rest stops along the highway with their animals. They actually have guards sitting there to make sure that people don’t bring their animals in with them even in the 100-degree weather. So Mom has special signs for the car. She carries 2 car keys with her and locks us in with the air conditioning and radio on. She puts signs on the windows because she drives a hybrid and people can’t hear the engine and figure we are in trouble. (DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A HOT CAR – EVER!!!!)
Mom also downloaded an app for her iPhone called ‘iEXIT.’ This tells her where stores are off exits on major roads. This way she was prepared to stop at a PET STORE or HARDWARE STORE because they allow animals to be inside (so we could go to the potty with her). It is terrible that she can’t just go under a tree like we do.
Truthfully, we love being with the family, but can you leave us with a pet sitter next year. It was exhausting!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, papillon mix, Pet, pet vacation, pets, shih tzu mix, sunset beach, vacation
Hi. Bearnard here. Mom says that I always look like a ‘deer in the headlights.’ I am not really sure what that means but it can’t be good. I guess it is because I am a little nervous most of the time – OK all the time! Well, people I don’t know make me nervous. Dogs, other than my sister, Jolie, make me nervous. The FedEx person, the Mail Person, the Doordash person, actually almost any person I don’t know makes me nervous. Once Jolie says they are Ok then I might calm down (or not). Even though Mom tells me it is all right to ‘walk away’ from the things that scare me, I still like to bark my head off. Well, the world is a terrifying place when you are 14 lbs and a foot tall. I don’t understand why Jolie is so friendly.
Did I tell you that when Mom makes her bed that scares me. Jolie on the other hand thinks it is hysterical and undoes all the work that Mom just did by rolling and knocking all the pillows off and undoing the covers.
Being out in the yard is super scary. (Let me in!!!!) I bark at the neighbor’s dogs and freak out if someone walks by. And don’t get me started on people jogging!
I guess, pretty much, unless I am in a really feisty mood, I worry about everything.
But the newest thing that Mom found I am terrified of is flies.
@iphoto.com
The other day Mom was looking all over for me and I was hiding under the bed. You see, I was so scared of that buzzing noise that I couldn’t stay in the same room with it. Mom thinks it may be because of my supersonic hearing or the fact that flies are so erratic and unpredictable and that is very unsettling to me.
Last night V had to trap a fly in a jar so that I would settle down and go to sleep (I bolted out of bed and ran away when I first heard it). That buzzing is crazy! V thinks maybe I had a bad experience with a fly (like being bitten or stung) before I came to live with my wonderful family. Don’t they understand that those horrible things appear out of nowhere and fly at you!
Underneath all this nervousness I really am brave.
Does anything scare you?
DogDaz is going on vacation until later this month. Look for some great stories of how we did on our first hotel adventure. See you soon!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: black dogs, dog fears, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, flies, insect fear, little dogs, lorian lipton, papillon mix, pet blog, scared dog
The other day, V took a picture of a squirrel splooting on our deck.
What is SPLOOTING you may ask? Splooting is when a four-legged animal kicks out one or both back legs behind its body.
I have had many dogs and cats that sploot.
Here is Bearnard splooting (with one of my socks-LOL).
According to the internet, there are various types of sploots: a one-legged sploot, a side sploot, and a full sploot.
Here is Louise in a classic sploot with one leg remaining beneath her body and the other leg kicked out.
Charles was a big splooter (I couldn’t find a picture, sorry). I thought it was mostly a thing that little male dogs did. But now I know even cats sploot.
Do you sploot? Show us your pictures!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, climate change, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, splooting, squirrels
Many people have asked me why I put knots in my dog leads.
I always do this to any new leash.
Specifically, it is so that I can step quickly on the leash if I drop it and it won’t travel under my foot. Thereby, stopping a runaway dog.
If spaced properly, it is also a quick way to jump to a shorter place on the leash to manage the dog better.
Some knots do happen by themselves when you have multiple leashes.
Then there is the 3 dog leash tangle; knots don’t help with that though.
Have a Wonderful Wednesday.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: dog, dog leash, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, walking dogs
July 9, 2022 Gotcha Day
After 6-1/2 years of being locked in a kennel and only allowed out once a day, this sweet mess of a dog joined the zoo.
Charles was so happy to have a new friend his size. Mini Cooper wasn’t sure about the ‘MOP.’
Charles and Jolie became the best of friends. Charles left us in June 2023 a month before Jolie’s 1st Gotcha day.
After Charles left, Jolie was lonely.
In September of 2023, Bearnard joined the zoo. This made her happy.
She really enjoys his company (sort of). As long as she doesn’t have to share Mommy all the time.
July 9th was her 2d Gotcha day. And what a happy girl she is. She has come a long way from being the ‘Mop.’
Jolie brings us endless laughs, cuddles and joy! We are so glad we GOTCHA.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, gotcha day, little dogs, lorian lipton, pet blog, pet rescue, shih tzu mix
Rescue Picture
1st Day Home
Birthdays happen so fast. Bearnard came to live with us in September 2023. They did not know his birthday. They did not know his age (maybe 2 or 3). In keeping with DogDaz tradition of giving all our rescues holiday birth dates, (because most rescues don’t actually come with real birth dates), his birthday became July 4th. BEARY is officially 3 DogDaz years old.
Jolie and Bearnard Nov ’23
2024
Jolie & Bear April 24
And we are loving every minute of him!
Kisses from Jolie for Beary’s Bday!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: dog birthday, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, papillon mix, pet blog
Enjoy your July 4th holiday but remember that more dogs and cats are lost on this night than any other. Keep your animals inside!
The old dog crew had great fun in the summertime. Louise, Charles, and Sofie 2017
The old cat crew (Noel, Nine, and Mini Cooper) thought the 4th of July was stupid (2018). Mini still does.
Stella says you should celebrate quietly with your friends and family. You should read our post on how to plan for the fireworks. Keep Your Pets Safe
DogDaz wishes you a safe and festive Independence Day!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: 4th of July, DogDaz, Fireworks, Gratitude, Independence Day, lorian lipton, Pet, pet blog, pet safety
It has been 2 years this June since Louise left us.
And this Friday will be 1 year since Mr. Handsome, aka Charles, left us.
Grief is subjective. We all process loss differently. Having lost so many fur companions over the years, I guess I found my way to deal with the hole they all left in my heart. Don’t think that it is easy just because I can move forward. Look at the Angels Page and you will meet them all. I like to remember all the personalities of my cats, dogs, and guinea pigs. Each one was unique. Some were very serious (Louise, for sure), some had awesome senses of humor (Squash and Kitty), and others were cuddle bugs (Muffy). I feel blessed to have shared moments with these creatures. They are my heart. They heal me in a way that nothing else does. And, when it was their time to walk over the rainbow bridge, whether it was only a few years on the planet or many, I tried to provide them with the most compassionate and humane care possible. Those tough decisions were some of the hardest I ever had to make. I remember them all and can tell you stories about each one. They will always be burned on the memory of my total recall. When my brain no longer functions as it should, I hope I still remember the animals (sorry human family).
In memory of: 2024 Noel (cat), 2023 Charles (dog), 2022 Louise (dog), Sofie (dog), Nine (cat), 2012 Constance Kitty (cat), The Muffin Man (Muffy) (cat), 2010 Cuddles (cat), Georgia (guinea pig), Zachary (cat). Squash E. Bear (dog), 2009 Mr, Moto (guinea pig), S’more (guinea pig), Checkers (guinea pig), 2007 Gertrude (cat), Nikki (dog), 2003 Alice (cat), 2002 Sam (guinea pig), 1994 Rosie (cat), 1991 Baby Doll (cat), 1990 Wussy (cat), Eddie II (cat), Benny (dog), 1978 Barney (cat), Louis Pierre Andrea the 14th of Edgewood Lipton (dog), 1974 Eddie (cat), 1961 Fraya (dog).
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: angels, cats, DogDaz, Dogs, Gratitude, guine pigs, lorian lipton, Memories, Pet, pet blog, rainbow bridge
DogDaz Zoo 