Squash E. Bear (RIP 2011), was the ultimate gentle dog. He very rarely questioned what he was asked to do, always let ladies go first (even when it had to do with food), and protected and blessed this family from the day he wondered into our lives. When you rescue animals you really never know their stories. You can make them up in your head, you can look at their scars and their phobias, but, in the end you just have to accept them as they are, and for who they are. I believe that people and animals come into my life at particular times on my journey for lessons that I need to learn to move forward. If I don’t open myself to those lessons, then I will just keep repeating the behavior that needs to change, until I do. I do not think that I can actually choose the lessons or the teachers, they chose me, at the times that they are needed. Squash chose our family at a moment in time when we needed the gentle and loyal energy of this unconditional loving giant. He taught me to refocus on the importance of a good walk 2 or 3 times a day (no matter what the weather). A good romp in the woods when possible. Eating to stay healthy (his blood sugar had to be constant). Taking one’s medicine even if we don’t want to (he needed 2 shots a day of insulin). Trust (I was his eyes for several years and he trusted me so much that we could walk together in the woods off leash and he never got afraid or hurt). Loving with abandon. Laughing and telling good jokes (he would stand on the other side of the coffee table and let out a big burp when least expected – you just have to laugh). I am grateful for the people and animals that pass my way, some for a moment, some for a life time.
Just another DogDaz morning at my house ❤ 
Tags: animal awareness, animals, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogDaz, Dogs, Life Lessons, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
firepaw:
Fred, the Labrador retriever, adopts Dennis, the duckling, whose mother was mauled to death by a fox.
more here
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discoverynews
Tags: animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, ducks, Labrador Retriever, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
Somedays, it just makes sense to roll.
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Lil’ Sofie Bear loves to roll. She rolls on toys. She rolls on grass spots. She really really really likes to roll in ivy beds or pachysandra. When she has done something she shouldn’t and knows that I am going to yell at her, she rolls. When she wants to stop me from going out the front door, or even from getting dressed from my work clothes closet, she rolls on top of my feet. I personally used to be better at rolling but, as I got older, rolling both physically and mentally just gets harder and harder. Lately I have been getting down on the floor with the dogs and letting them roll on me and with me (Lulu likes to roll too, but only at home). Getting on the floor is a challenge for me (because it is hard to get up), so though it may seem like a simple activity, it is actually a stretch. And, because the dogs both want to be on me at the same time when I am sitting on the floor, it gets kind of crazy; but, they roll and I scratch bellies.
To me rolling is a form of letting go: not getting caught up in the ‘should of’ or ‘could of’ of the event and just going straight to the ‘OK.’ Sofie reminds me that rolling with things can be very freeing and healthy mental and physical exercise. So next time you want to regain perspective – get down with the dogs and roll.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, pets, postaday, rolling
newyorker:
From the look of our Dashboard, it seems as though it’s “Take Your Dog To Work Day.” Or, as Charles Barsotti illustrates, “Take Your Human To Work Day.”
Source: newyorker.com
Tags: Charles Barsotti, Comic strip, comics, Dogs, funny dogs, Humor, pets, postaday
My daughter has taught Nine, the kitten, how to sit in her arms like on a perch. He likes to be with her and sit there for a long, long time. I think it is funny the relationship that each of the humans in the house have with each of the animals, and how they feel it is special to them. And it is. Everyone creates their own kind of bond – human to human – animal to animal – and animal to human. When you have a multi-species household, you learn that everyone and everything has their order in the pack and a particular relationship. Somehow, I find it interesting how the animals know the younger humans (even if adult size) from the older humans (who sometimes are smaller than the younger humans). Is it based on energy, inflection of tone, personal presence? To the animals around here, I am the food source. If nothing else, they like me because I am the primary opener of cans, boxes, and bags. Hey, we all must have our purpose in life. (Oh yah, I am also the maker of rules, the teacher of lessons, the thrower of toys, the giver of medicine, and the major cuddler and tummy tickler – which also has something to do with the relationships I guess.) Every relationship is special and each of my animals, and humans, mean something different and wonderful. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo. ❤
Tags: Animal, Animal rights, Animal welfare, Cat, Cat People, cats, DogDaz, Human, kitten, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
rhamphotheca:
5 Facts about Rabbits from Smithsonian: Giant Rabbits
In celebration of the annual spring appearance of the Easter bunny on Sunday, April 8, Smithsonian Science offers these facts from Rabbits: The Animal Answer Guide, a new book by John Seidensticker, conservation scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and Susan Lumpkin, freelance writer…
2. Scientists studying the bones of an extinct giant rabbit found on the Mediterranean island of Minorca estimate this prehistoric animal weighed as much as 31 pounds! The largest rabbits alive today– domestic breeds such as the Flemish giant–weigh 22 pounds at most.
– Image: A reconstruction of a giant Minorcan rabbit is shown next to a modern European rabbit. (Image by Meike Köhler)
(via: Smithsonian)
Source: rhamphotheca
Tags: animal awareness, animals, Easter Bunny, nature, pets, postaday, Rabbit
thefluffingtonpost:
Glamorous Dog Signs Contract with Paul Mitchell
Hair care products giant Paul Mitchell has signed a 4-year contract with a rather chic looking Chinese crested, according to reports in Mairie Claire magazine. The dog had been unrepresented to this point, but after a stunning debut at Fashion Week in New York City in February, a number of major hair care products companies were competing for her services.
The contract is reported to be worth $800,000 and will be paid partially in milkbones.
Via crestedcrazy.
Tags: Animal welfare, Chinese Crested Dog, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, pets, postaday
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Now that I can get the girls to ‘Place’ anywhere I really want them to (except really shaky things, they are kind of afraid to do that just yet), I had them pose for me on this tree stump so that I could take nice spring pictures. They are still kind of distracted, but at least they are not sitting on top of each other, which they do sometimes when I say ‘Place” and they both want to be in exactly the same place because I told them to. Oh my! 2 dogs – 1 command. Hope you have a wonderful spring weekend and enjoy your family – both furry and human. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
Squash E. Bear (RIP 2011), was the ultimate gentle dog. He very rarely questioned what he was asked to do, always let ladies go first (even when it had to do with food), and protected and blessed this family from the day he wondered into our lives. When you rescue animals you really never know their stories. You can make them up in your head, you can look at their scars and their phobias, but, in the end you just have to accept them as they are, and for who they are. I believe that people and animals come into my life at particular times on my journey for lessons that I need to learn to move forward. If I don’t open myself to those lessons, then I will just keep repeating the behavior that needs to change, until I do. I do not think that I can actually choose the lessons or the teachers, they chose me, at the times that they are needed. Squash chose our family at a moment in time when we needed the gentle and loyal energy of this unconditional loving giant. He taught me to refocus on the importance of a good walk 2 or 3 times a day (no matter what the weather). A good romp in the woods when possible. Eating to stay healthy (his blood sugar had to be constant). Taking one’s medicine even if we don’t want to (he needed 2 shots a day of insulin). Trust (I was his eyes for several years and he trusted me so much that we could walk together in the woods off leash and he never got afraid or hurt). Loving with abandon. Laughing and telling good jokes (he would stand on the other side of the coffee table and let out a big burp when least expected – you just have to laugh). I am grateful for the people and animals that pass my way, some for a moment, some for a life time.
