Welcome back. (Please visit Part 1, originally posted on September 18, 2017)

Now for some good news: Remember Kat and her flooded out shelter? Here’s a photo of her reuniting with the dogs!

There are still major Harvey animal rescue efforts happening as I write this, weeks after the storm. Just this morning I received an email from City Dogs Rescue in DC that they were preparing to receive 10 Houston dogs that were on transport now. They need funds of course to support these new dogs.

And an organization based in Los Angeles, Operation Blankets of Love which usually collects and donates comfort items and food to shelter dogs in LA donated and transported tons of food and crates to hurricane efforts.

Meanwhile, just as Harvey started to quiet down, Irma became the big news and set her sights on the Carribean and Florida. As we all saw, the Carribean was just brutalized as were parts of Florida.

In Florida, many organizations were able to evacuate their animals ahead of the storm. The New York Times reported about flamingoes, dolphins, and pigs that were all moved to safer ground!

Many of the animals on the Caribbean islands were left behind and private parties are either making efforts to rescue them, or there are some smaller rescue groups doing the best they can. But man it breaks my heart when people evacuate without their pets and don’t make an effort to return.

While there are thousands of more stories to share, I’ll end with this one. As mentioned in part 1, my mom lives in Florida. Her friend, Lisa, and Lisa’s husband, Bob, evacuated with their dog further from the water for safety. Well, they were safe, but in the chaos of the storm, their dog Donovan got spooked and bolted.

Donovan was missing for 24 hours and while many people saw him, no one could get close enough to grab him. Finally, a kind man was able to scoop him up, call Lisa and return Donovan safely. It turns out, the man used to be the president of the Lakewood Ranch Humane Society! He just can’t help but keep on saving dogs in need.

If you are looking for ways to help the animals but just haven’t yet, any of the organizations listed here (plus many many more!) can use your financial assistance.

p.s. If you are wondering how you might help people still in need after Irma, I received this (now excerpted) information from a people organization called Ultraviolet:

1. The Florida community is encouraging folks outside Florida to donate to the Hurricane Irma Community Recovery Fund.

2. Islands in the Caribbean, including U.S. territories, are in desperate need of help. You can give through Global Giving, as recommended by the New York Times. After ensuring emergency response is covered, this fund will shift to longer-term reconstruction.

3. You can also support women living in temporary shelters by donating to Support the Girls. They provide pads, tampons, and other feminine hygiene products, so women don’t have to choose between their personal health and their next meal.

A few weeks ago I received a note from a company that had discovered my website and wanted to know how they might be able to participate in helping dogs find homes.

The company is called Royal Ramps and as you might guess, they make ramps for pets. (Not any old ramp. They are really well made. And they look nice too!)

I told them that I have dozens of animal shelters and rescue groups around the country that love “What to Expect When Adopting a Dog” and were itching to be able to give them to new dog parents.

The owner’s response? My dog is a rescue and we love supporting rescue and would love to donate a bunch! How do we get started?

Royal Ramps is located in Nevada and it made sense that they donate to an amazing organization in Nevada called Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation (SNBRF).

“Whatever puppies need, we want them to get it. Being a great pet parent is the most crucial thing to an animal’s well-being and Royal Ramps is proud to be able to donate What To Expect When Adopting a Dog to local Las Vegas rescues.” – Matthew Delaney, Royal Ramps

I told SNBRF that they would be receiving a shipment of books and they are super excited too.

I created a little sticker for the front of the book so that the new doggie parents get to see the Royal Ramps logo and know that the books were generously donated.

Here’s what SNBRF had to say:

“Everyone should read this book, it’s so packed with information that adoption is sure to lead to long term success with this in hand.”– Regina Harman, Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation

Here’s a little more about Royal Ramps: Our products tower in quality above our competitors thanks to our use of Industrial-Grade High-Density Extra Firm Foam which, although lightweight and easy to lift and move, is 50% denser than our competitors for the ultimate in durability and stability. The washable zip-on covers are made from 100% polyester micro-filament furniture-grade upholstery fabric which is impervious to stain. Our products are protected by US patent and all made in the USA.

And more about SNBRF: The mission of Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation is to rescue, foster, rehabilitate and place as many distressed beagles as possible.

You can, of course, learn more on their websites.

Thanks Matthew at Royal Ramps for your dedication to the wellbeing of dogs. And thank you, Regina at SNBRF for your giant heart and all the dogs whose lives you save.

One of my greatest joys in writing What to Expect When Adopting a Dog was connecting with the many pet professionals that shared their expertise with me.

Once the book was complete, I started sharing it with shelters and rescue groups in my network- another joy. They can’t wait to share it with the individuals and families that come through their doors in search of a new pup. They know that the information in the book would make it easier for prospective and new pet parents, and ultimately for the dogs.

But the challenge for many of these organizations is money. They work so hard to save lives yet it takes many people and is very costly. So how can they get my book into the hands of the folks it can help without tying up precious, lifesaving funds?

Enter Pupsaver–  one of the amazing companies I discovered while writing What to Expect When Adopting a Dog. They make, among other things, dog safety car seats that help protect your pup when they travel in the car with you. Their rear-facing design catches your dog upon impact and acts as a protective barrier to prevent contact with hard surfaces.

Pupsaver supports rescue in a big way and they were super excited to be mentioned in my book. Here’s what they decided to do to give back and help educate new pet parents.

First, they donated copies of my book to the Greenville Humane Society in South Carolina. Greenville is now able to hand out free copies to new dog families when they adopt from their shelter. With a copy of What to Expect When Adopting a Dog in hand, new pet parents now have answers to many of the questions that come up. And in the month of February, Pupsaver will offer a free paperback copy to anyone who purchases one of their car seats from their website!

Please check out the Pupsaver seat to see if it’s right for you and your dog. Whether you bring your dog on car rides frequently or just occasionally, safety should always be first. If you’ve been considering a safety seat for your dog anyway, now is a great time because you will get a free copy of What to Expect When Adopting a Dog too!

My sister Julie with Kougle the cat circa 1973

When I was a little girl I was bullied. A lot. I was small, sweet, naive and an easy target. In middle school, in addition to the taunting, the big tough girls threatened to beat me up. It was scary and I didn’t have the emotional tools to deal with it (Who does?).

I thought… what did I do to deserve this? Will I survive?  It didn’t seem anyone quite understood the torture. I know middle school can be tough for almost everyone. I also know my experience was painful.

So I cried when I got home. And listened to music. And told my cat, Kougle everything. He understood. He would be waiting under my bed. Willing to listen and be with me. And he purred. It was his honor and duty and he loved his job.

He didn’t care that I didn’t have the right things to say back to the bullies, or that I said and did stupid stuff ALL THE TIME trying to be accepted. He just loved me for me. He was grateful for the warm home, the stroking, the food and the love I gave back to him.

Obviously, I survived middle school. I am forever grateful to Kougle. After college I adopted a kitten my sister couldn’t keep (she now fosters kittens).  Once I was settled, we added another cat and then dogs. Having pets is one of my greatest joys.

I work from home by design. I don’t have the overhead of office space, plus I get to be with my dogs all day.  From time to time I think about spending an afternoon working in a coffee shop (which I have done in the past) but I love being home with my dogs.

I take breaks and play with them or we go for walks.

I find it comforting with them here. It happens infrequently, but from time to time both of them are out of the house. It is eerily quiet.

My dogs are not really allowed on the sofa

I love walking past them and rubbing an ear, or a belly even just for a moment. The science is right, petting an animal calms us down. And I’m not just talking about the times when I’m upset about something. Even when everything is great, there is a comfort in their warm furry bodies.

Yes, it takes work and commitment. But they are so simple really. Give them the basics and some love and everyone is happy.

January 24^th is Change a Pets Life Day. I know in my bones that all of my pets have changed MY life. They have offered me companionship, taught me compassion and love and in return I care for and love them.

My dogs listen to my stories and they know when I’m sad. I get extra kisses and snuggles on those days. Plus we take walks together which is a great stress reliever.

I can’t imagine my life without them. Since I rescued all of my dogs (and a few of our cats), I know I changed THEIR lives too. They are no longer on the streets, or chained in a backyard. I’d say they’ve got it pretty good. But so do I.

Have you ever changed a pet’s life? If you’d like to but don’t know where to begin, you will find tons of life changing information in my book What to Expect When Adopting a Dog.

Shockingly it’s December already. This year, Chanukah and Christmas fall on the same day. That means parties and travel and trees and candles and way too much good food in my world.

In addition to the wonderful holiday festivities we, of course, need to consider the health and safety of our pets. Here are some tips to ensure everyone, especially your furry friends, have a good time this season.

1) Christmas trees and their decorations can be beautiful. Make sure the tree base is solid to avoid tipping over, or being knocked over by a rambunctious dog. If we had a tree, it would get knocked over by my dogs when they get the zoomies. Guaranteed.

2) Decorative lights should be wired properly and the wires should be in good shape. Any electrical wiring should stay far away from a curious pup- especially if he’s a chewer. Ornaments should stay high up away from dogs. Way too appealing for toy loving dogs.

3) If you light candles (we light ours on the kitchen table) make sure your dogs stay away while they burn and the candles aren’t left to burn unattended. I’m horrified to admit, but Ninja sometimes tries to get up on the table to lick crumbs. With candles burning it could be disastrous.

4) Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia are all toxic to dogs. So is chocolate. Keep them out of your dog’s reach.

5) Will your family be unwrapping gifts? Wrapping and gift wrap decoration, along with toys with small parts, any toys that can be chewed, or even that pair of socks from Aunt Gertrude can all pose a potential danger to your pooch.

6) Having friends over for a celebration? We used to entertain a lot. Lately not so much for a variety of reasons. But when we do, Gonzo usually spends the majority of the time in his crate. He likes his crate and we are sure to give him plenty of love and exercise prior to going in. Since he’s not so comfortable with strangers coming through the front door, the crate solution keeps everyone safe and happy. Ninja is fine with most guests, but he is also a food thief. So no food can go out onto the table unattended when he’s around. It is a challenge!

7) When we do entertain, I sometimes ask our dog walker if she can take the dogs out for a bit. It gets them out of the house, stimulated and it’s an alternative to the stress of having them here- at least for part of the time.

8) Does staying in town sound way too stressful? Traveling with or without your pup is a great option too. If you travel and Fido stays home, be sure to find a trusted pet sitter or doggie daycare to care for him while you are gone.

9) Bringing Fido along? Check airline regulations if you are flying and he is small enough to have in the cabin with you. If you are driving make sure he’s securely fastened in a crash tested car harness or car seat. Pack enough food, treats, leash, travel food bowls, a dog bed and his favorite toys for the adventure. And don’t forget poop bags. You will likely need them wherever you go!

10) Be sure the information on his tags and microchip are up to date- with your cell phone number- just in case he gets lost while you are traveling.

11) Always know where the nearest emergency vet is located. The unexpected always happens at the worst time.

As I mention in What to Expect When Adopting a Dog, make sure you get down on your hands and knees and check for safety from a dog’s eye level. You may miss little things you should pick up, or put away, if you are scanning the house from an adult eye level.

Once you have the safety matters handled your mind will be free to enjoy a fun and joyous holiday. Wishing you, your human and furry family a happy, healthy and love-filled holiday season.