It's Almost Time for Remember Me Thursday

                                                         

   Next Thursday, September 28, 2017 we will participate in the fifth annual Remember Me Thursday®. It is a day set aside to remember the pets that don’t make it out of the shelters and rescues across the world. Each year over 2.7 million shelter pets will lose their lives without finding a forever home. That is simply heartbreaking. 

Change a Pet's Life with 1-800-PetMeds Cares

Barking from the Bayou, LLC is a customer of 1-800-PetMeds and happy to help share the news of the 2017 Change A Pet’s Life Day.

   Do you work with or know a rescue/shelter that has pets waiting to be adopted but are in need of veterinary care? The cost of treatment is one of the biggest hardships these wonderful organizations face. That is where our friends at 1-800-PetMeds Cares becomes their hero. 

What is Change a Pet’s Life Day?

Light a Candle and #RememberMeThursday

   Today I am remembering my rescue cat, Miss Gitty. She was my best friend and confidant for 20+ years. I adopted her from our local humane society when I was 18 years old. She was a scrawny little kitten that came running up to me and clawed my jeans the minute I stepped out of my car. It was obvious that she had decided to rescue me. Even though I am publicly remembering her today, not a day goes by that she doesn’t enter my mind. That’s because it is a short trip from my heart to my head.

A Letter From A Shelter Dog

Hiya friend!

   You don’t know me but I’ve seen you many times before. I see that sympathetic look in your eyes when you have come to my shelter's Adoption Days. Surely, you recognize me. I’m the non-descript six-year-old dog with kind of shaggy brown hair. The sign on my kennel door says I am “Male-Mixed.” I’d prefer “Sexiest Dog Alive” but they didn’t confer with me before they posted the placard. I usually give the camera my good boy look, but I’m sure the sparkle of hope no longer shines in my big brown eyes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that I ended up in a no-kill shelter. I’ve heard the alternatives are pretty dismal. How did a great guy like me end up in a place like this? Let me tell you my story.

 

Skippy ~ Loving Life on 3 Legs

   I want to introduce you to one amazing little fellow. Skippy is proof that a dog can live and love their life on three legs. Jane adopted Skippy after he began hanging around her neighborhood. He was small and missing his front leg, but a happier pup would be hard to find. After Jane’s attempts to locate the dog’s owner failed, Skippy found himself living the good life with his new mom and her two other rescues, Dixie and Koko.  

North Shore Animal League's Tour for Life 2016 ~ NW Louisiana

   What do you get when you combine your local area pet rescues in one location for a super adoption day? If your city is lucky, you have the North Shore Animal League’s Tour for Life event! 

Chews Rescue ~ Choose Barkworthies

   Barkworthies® believes in making things simple and that is why we love them. They offer over 200 products from antlers to chews and treats, but you will never find anything artificial in any of them. “Naturally Healthy. Naturally Happy.” is more than just their tagline. It is the idea on which the company was founded. When we were contacted about their newest program, ‘Chews Rescue’, we think their tagline should include, “Naturally Awesome.” 

What is Chews Rescue?

10 Ways to Help Shelters on World Kindness Day

   Today is World Kindness Day. It’s the perfect day to share a few ideas on how you can help your local shelter. The colder weather is not far off and in some areas, has already arrived. This is a tough time for many rescue groups. People are busy preparing for the holidays. Buying Christmas presents can put a strain on everyone’s budget. I hope this list will show you that helping doesn’t have to cost too much.

·        Many stores have fleece blankets for sale under $4.00. Pick up one or two whenever you see a great price.

·        Shelters are always in need of paper towels and cleaning supplies. Keep an eye out for bargains.

10 Tips for Adopting a Shelter Pet

October is Adopt a Shelter Pet month. There are many reasons to adopt a shelter dog or cat. If you are looking to add a new family member here are ten tips to make your adoption a success.

Remember Me Thursday

   Today we are once again joining the Remember Me Thursday® global awareness campaign with animal lovers and organizations around the world to light a candle in remembrance of the millions of orphan pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home.  It is also shining a light on the millions of pets still waiting for their forever homes.

 

The Plight of the Potcakes

   Have you ever heard of a Potcake? They are a mixed breed of dog that is native to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas. The name Potcake comes from a congealed rice and pea mixture that the locals feed their dogs. Most potcake dogs have smooth coats, cocked ears, and long faces. They are really cute, but they need help. 

Dr. Harvey's in the House

"Look at these goodies from Dr. Harvey's!"

Bentley: “A few weeks ago, a big box was delivered to our front door.  As chief taste tester here on the Bayou, I hurried behind Mom to see what we had.  It took her forever and a day to open the box, but when she did…”

Pierre: “I hear you, Bentley.  It was obvious from the smells that this was no ordinary box of goodies.  The scent was drool-worthy.  On closer inspection, we discovered the box was from Dr. Harvey’s Fine Health Food.  You might remember our rave review of their Barkotti and the Coconut Smiles.  Is it wrong to fall in love with a box?”

Bentley: “With the box?  Yes, that is weird.  If you have fallen in love with all of the great things that were in the box, that’s a different story.  Take these new Sweet Potate’r Chews.  No, don’t really take them.  That’s just a sayin’.  Seriously, bring them back!”

The Amazing North Shore Animal League Tour for Life

     On March 26, 2015, the North Shore Animal League Tour for Life pulled into our town.  They stopped by the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana (HSNWLA) to pick up some dogs and drove them in their awesome mobile adoption center to our local Petco parking lot.  The HSNWLA was the partner shelter.  Many of our other local rescues and eager residents looking to adopt a new best friend were there.  It was a terrific day to adopt a pet in Shreveport!

North Shore Animal League America's Tour for Life 2015

   The North Shore Animal League America's Tour for Life 2015 is rolling in to Shreveport, LA. They’ve selected the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana as their partner shelter!  

   This is the 15^th year the Animal League has hit the road with four enormous tour buses traveling at the same time across the United States.  They will stop in 40 cities across 25 states.  Being selected as one of their tour stops is a big deal!  Congratulations HSNWLA and thanks to the Tour of Life®. *To learn more about the work of the Animal League, click here.

Dr. Harvey's Is In

   I want to introduce you to some new friends.  They are the family of Dr. Harvey’s Fine Health Food for Companion Animals.  You can just call them Dr. Harvey’s and you are going to want to become great friends with them.  Why?  They make the highest quality products with no processed ingredients.  You’ll find they have wonderful products for ALL of your pets.  That means if you have a dog, cat, horse, or bird; Dr. Harvey has you covered with everything you’ll need.

   We recently received a box chocked full of some of the terrific items they offer for dogs.  In order for you to appreciate everything, we can look at them separately over the next few weeks.  I will start with one of Bentley’s favorites. 

Let's Make a Difference

   Is there anyone that enjoys seeing photos of abused or neglected dogs?  We have all seen the ones that I’m talking about today.  They are used for shock value and they must work or they wouldn’t keep printing them.  I don’t like that type of “in your face” campaigns.  I know horrible things are going on in the world.  I know that here in the United States 5,500 shelter dogs are going to be killed today.  It boggles my mind that in a country as incredible as ours, we allow this to happen.

*Prepare for rant…

I Love Lucy Pet Foundation

I love Bowl Games!

Bentley: “Hey Pierre!  Have you shopped for the big game day treats?  I don’t want to be all geared up for the game and there not be snacks.  Those cookies from my birthday would be good in the shape of a football.”

Pierre: “Yep!  I’m ready to cheer on the Tigers to the National Championship!  WooHoo!  LSU!”

*Bentley leans over and whispers into Pierre’s ear.

Pierre: “It's seems that it is not the LSU Tigers playing.  It must be the other bayou team.  Let’s go Saints!  Who dat?  Drew Brees is dat!  WooHoo!”

*Bentley leans over and once again whispers into Pierre’s ear.

Pierre: “Okay, so it's not the Saints either.  Maybe next year guys.  Until then; Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar all for Team Dog stand up and howler!  WooHoo!  Cats don’t drool, dogs RULE! 

10 Ways to Help a Shelter this #Christmas

  Christmas is quickly approaching and it is a perfect time of the year to play Santa Paws for your local no-kill pet shelter.  There are countless ways to help and not break your holiday budget.  In fact, most of the ways are completely FREE.

Easy Dog Cookie Recipe

I wanted to share the other recipe that I used in celebrating Bentley’s birthday.  These are easy and the boys give them a paws-up.  It is really just a basic dog treat recipe with a special ingredient.

Bentley’s Birthday Bones

Ingredients

½ cup Cornmeal

6 Tbsps. Oil (I used canola)

2 cups Whole-Wheat flour

2/3 cup Water or Broth*

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350˚.  Mix well.  Roll your dough to approx. ¼” thick.  Cut into the shape of your choice with a cookie cutter.  Bake on parchment paper for 35-40 minutes.  Let cookies cool completely before decorating.  Store in tightly sealed container or refrigerate if frosted.

*I used 2 Tbsp. of *The Honest Kitchen Beef Bone Broth to 2/3 cup of hot water.

Vario Flexi Leash ~ A Review

 

 Bentley and Pierre enjoy our walks throughout the neighborhood.  We know where the other dogs live, where the barkers are, and where owners sometimes allow there dogs out without a leash.  (Yes, it is against the law.)  There are areas where we could allow them to have more leash to explore.  I was looking for a leash that I could trust to do that.  I have seen a variety of retractable leashes.  Some of them are pretty, others functional, a bunch are clunkers, and even more are just plain flimsy.  I needed a quality leash that I could trust to stop when I pressed the brake button.  Bentley has unbelievable pulling strength and it makes stopping him difficult.