
Fireworks are legal to buy and shoot off here in Maryland. People start celebrating at least a week before the 4th of July and for a week after. It is crazy noisy for hours every night after dark. Mom makes us stay inside with the curtains closed and the music on. We don’t even want to go pee before bed because every time we step out in the yard we hear another ‘boom boom!’ Why do human’s think this noise is fun? We just don’t get it.
To balance the evening noise, Mom gets us something special (we think it is deer antlers or bully sticks this year). This will keep us busy after dark. And we also take a nice long walk before dark so we are tired. All these things help us through the evening celebration.
Have a wonderful super duper day and stay safe at night. Hope you get a special treat too!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, forth of july, Independence Day (United States), lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, postaday
The box story pictures flow clockwise from here —v

Sofie: Hey, Mini, what’ya doing up there? (While sucking on the blanket because the box is scary and making her nervous.)
Mini: Mom got new rain boots so I got a box.
Nine: What do you mean, Mini, that YOU got a box? Let me see that box. (As he jumps up on the bed to investigate.) Get out now, I want the box! (Trying to throw his weight around.)
Mini: No way! Finders keepers, losers weepers. (Crouching low to fill the space.)
Mom note: Later that night in the dark, Nine was hiding in the box while the others were nowhere to be found. Who’s the keeper now!
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, box, Cat, Cat People, cats, Cats and Dogs, caturday, dog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday

PREPARE YOUR DOG NOW FOR 4TH OF JULY!
The 4th and 5th of July are the busiest days of the year for animal shelters and emergency vet clinics as frantic animals break in or out of houses and yards. Early preparation for the Fourth can save you and your pet a lot of grief. Here are some articles to help you prepare your dog.
http://thebark.com/content/reducing-fear-your-dog#.T_JOd3hgggh
https://positively.com/contributors/10-safety-and-calming-tips-for-dogs-during-fireworks/
DogDaz: Keep Your Pets Safe
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, DINOS, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, Fireworks, forth of july, lorian lipton, nature, noise, pet blog, postaday, scared dogs

I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, cat naps, Cat People, cats, caturday, diluted torte, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday

The kitchen curtain has big round circles and spaces that are more see-through than others. Was Noel actually looking at me or did I just catch her in a Noel moment? She is the kind of cat that sees ghosts. You will catch her staring at things that only cats can see. Sometimes I come into a room and find any one of the cats in mid-air jumping after ghost flies or soot spirits* or other unseeable things. (I think they see the susuwatari (aka “soot spirits” or “dust bunnies” from My Neighbor Totoro.)

Cats see the world differently than we do. Check out this article in Wired, it’s a cats-eye view, complete with really good pictures showing the difference between cat and human sight. I never knew that they can’t see far but that they see wide. I should have figured that they can see quick movements better than we can (which is maybe why they see ghost bugs flying by and I can’t).
Do you find your cats in mid-air chasing ghosts?
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: animal awareness, Cat, Cat People, cats, cats eye sight, caturday, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday, totoro

There is just something fun and silly about those little yellow creatures called ‘Minions.’ Though Noel has never seen them in the movies, I think she finds them very comfortable on a sunny afternoon.
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, cat naps, Cat People, cats, caturday, DogDaz, lorian lipton, minions, pets, postaday

Mr. Nine, looking divine.
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, Cat People, cats, caturday, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday

Mini Cooper behaves more like a dog than a cat. She is extremely social and more forward than any cat that has every been at the zoo. She greets everyone at the door, tries to go for walks with the dogs, and is ever present, just like a dog. She wants to be on your lap whenever possible and loves to watch the fish in her fish tanks. She is a great little girl. Happy 3rd birthday, Mini Cooper, you bring us great joy!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, cats, diluted torte, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, postaday

This Memorial Day in the United States, please remember to honor our troops, our vets, and our fallen. Freedom costs us so much. Never take it for granted.
In loving memory of my Dad a US Army Sargeant in World War II. He never talked about it much, but was proud to serve. Came home with a bullet in his leg for the rest of his life. Dad refused the ‘Purple Heart’ medal*, as thousands of other soldiers did during that war, because he did not feel he earned it after seeing how badly wounded other’s were.
*More than a million Purple Hearts have been awarded since General Washington’s Badge of Military Merit was revived in 1932. The unique heart-shaped decoration continues to widely recognized by Americans. It also continues to be prized by all who receive it, probably because the award of a Purple Heart does not depend on any superior’s favor or approval. After all, the Purple Heart is unique as an egalitarian award in what is usually thought of as a nondemocratic, hierarchical military organization, since every man or woman in uniform who sheds blood or receives a qualifying injury while defending the nation receives the Purple Heart regardless of position, rank, status, or popularity.- ArmyHistory
Photo Source: https://www.facebook.com/USCGK9/
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Canine Members of the Armed Forces, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, Memorial Day, military working dog, nature, pet blog, postaday

I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, cat naps, Cat People, cats, caturday, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday