Where all the owners are responsible, all the shelters are empty, and all the pets are only slightly over-loved
NB: I apologize for the belated post! It’s crunch time at the end of the semester.
Last week at the Texas Library Association Conference, three lovely therapy dogs visited us and offered much-needed fluffy downtime. There were many discussions about how to create pet-friendly libraries and therapy dog programming for public, school, and academic libraries.
Special thanks to Cynthia and Ramona for sharing their beautiful dogs with us at TLA!
I thought I mentioned this handsome little fellow along with my Pet Pfest posts but it appears I did not! Therefore I had to remedy this posthaste. I met Myah and Michi during my usual evening volunteer shift at the Pflugerville Public Library. This happened to fall two hours after Pet Pfest ended.
Guess what? There are MORE photos of all the festivities! I hope you enjoy them. Perhaps you’ll recognize a few familiar faces too!
Happy happy National Puppy Day! Of course in my book, all dogs are puppies, regardless of age. As with any pet-centered holiday, take this as an excuse to celebrate your pet (safely!) and have fun!
Here are a few ways you can do this with your canine companion:
Want more ideas? Check out these 50 ways to celebrate and National Puppy Day’s site or Facebook page.
All photos courtesy of Pexels
Since there were so many activities at Pet Pfest, there was no way I could participate in them all. The event was mentioned in the Austin-American Statesman too! Here are additional photos that the Pflugerville Public Library released after the event. Enjoy!
The Pflugerville Public Library held its annual pet celebration – the Pet Pfest – this afternoon! Here was today’s schedule:
There was no way I could attend ALL the above activities and see all the animals, let alone pet them! Unfortunately, I did not see the Northwind Farm horses, though they do make semi-regular appearances at the library. I did, however, meet several lovely dogs and their people!
Last weekend Aaron and I visited my parents and I got my puppy fix satisfied in the form of Chiquita and Chiya. Being the lovey dog she is, Chiquita believes that no guest should sleep alone or wander the house unescorted.
Two weeks ago, I met my dear friend Evelyn’s foster dog, Lakota, during our monthly Game Night. (Sorry – I meant to get this post up earlier but grad school got in the way!) I don’t have a ton of experience with German Shepherds but I think that Lakota is a rather handsome fellow. From what Evelyn told me, he was found in a sad, emaciated state but had been quickly gaining weight in her care. He has also been neutered.
During the course of Game Night, Lakota showed everyone that he was an exceptionally GOOD DOG and very much people-focused. He knows how to “sit” on command and apparently “shake”!
He didn’t bark at all but it was obvious he was happiest sitting beside someone. (Whenever he did, he was quite the gentleman.) Throughout the evening I was rather distracted because I wanted to pet this handsome boy all the time, especially since he kept giving me big sad “PLEASE PET ME” eyes!
Don’t worry – I petted him plenty, gave him chest and belly rubs (he appears to be a bit ticklish), and can confirm that he is indeed smoochable.
Lakota is available for adoption through Austin Pets Alive! You can find more information about him here.
Socializing your dog is an imperative part of being a responsible pet owner. Other dogs may not appreciate an unknown dog running up to them and invading their space, and similarly, people may not not like a dog doing this, even if that dog does this out of overly friendly enthusiasm. Remember, some people are legitimately afraid of dogs because of negative experiences. Service dogs and their handlers need to focus on going about their business and not being distracted by an unpredictable dog.
Be respectful of other people, their dogs, and the spaces of both.
Former President George H.W. Bush passed away on November 30 at the age of 94. What you may not have known is that Mr. Bush had been matched with a service dog, Sully, earlier this year. One can only imagine what is going through Sully’s mind in this poignant photo:
Photo credit: America’s VetDogs/Facebook
Both Zoe the Seeing Eye Dog and The Washington Post have highlighted the importance of Sully’s service to former President Bush. By doing so, I hope this sheds light on the invaluable assistance that service dogs provide to their handlers and loved ones.
Purry Home Companion 