This is my 3rd Christmas with Seymour and I can hardly remember a time when he wasn't part of my life. I'm finding that the more I bring him with me or talk about him, the more I find out about other people who are in love with their pets. It sometimes feels that people are a bit embarrassed to admit their closeness with their pets until they meet a kindred spirit.
I was in the post office a few days ago, mailing a Christmas package and I had Seymour with me. The line was long and the package was too big to carry both it and Seymour so I let my 6 pound guy down - but leashed. Little by little people started petting him and then talking about their favorite pets, past and present. The long line felt less long and I was feeling the warmth and kindness of the people around me. When I finally got to the counter, my warm feeling was quickly squelched when the postal worker said "You know dogs are not allowed in here." Now, I had been bringing Seymour to the post office for about 2 years and no one had said that before. Didn't he see how much people were talking to each other in line, smiling and calling Seymour to them to pet him? Was he just feeling overworked or was he the designated "buzz kill"?
Everyone in line got quiet and the whole mood of the place changed. I wondered if he had a pet - or if he might need one? When I left, I didn't see a "no pets" sign on the door.
I really believe that there should be more openness to allowing pets in various shops and businesses. I am fine if they have signs that say "well behaved pets are welcome" or even "pets in arms are welcome" if they are afraid of breakables. We need a little more softness in our world and I think pets help to add that.
I will not stop bringing Seymour with me until I see an actual "No Pets Allowed" sign at the Post Office. Maybe Seymour can win the heart of that stoic postal worker before he has time to put up the sign!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Pets Can Be a Fun Part of Halloween
It's too late for this year but think about including your pet in some of your Halloween activities next year. I found a pet parade and a Halloween Costume contest for pets both sponsored by rescue groups. It was fun to dress Seymour - and coordinate my costume with his. He ended up getting some great treats and freebies and I got a chance to bond with other crazy pet lovers.
The parade was small and the walk was less than 1/2 mile but there were lots of people standing along the route waving us on. When we got to the finish, they had a large bowl of water waiting for the pets. Seymour enjoyed sniffing small female dogs but wasn't as comfortable with the larger dogs - especially the larger male dogs. With a little maneuvering, we were able to stay closer to the smaller dogs and he was fine. He also really liked people stopping to pet him - especially little people. His nickname should be "Mr. Attention". Our hotdog and ketchup costumes won the Funniest Costumes prize and Seymour won some Carnivore Kisses - 100% Duck Treats. He is a very picky eater but he LOVES these treats. I think I know what will be in his Christmas stocking this year!
The Pet Halloween Costume contest was held at our local nursing home and it was so heartwarming seeing the residents enjoying the dogs. No matter how disabled some of the residents were, they all reached out to touch Seymour and the other pets. Most had smiles on their faces and loved seeing the dogs (and a few cats and a snake) in costumes. Seymour ended up winning 1st place in his division for his Pirate costume.
It was great getting a chance to dress up and have Seymour share the experience. Luckily, he doesn't mind putting on funny clothes as long as he can spend time with me.
It was even better knowing that our small entry fees went to the local rescue group. Everyone was a winner. And I already have Seymour and my costume for next year!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Kohls Shopping
We haven't been traveling much lately and when we have, we've gone back to places we knew were pet friendly. Today, I decided to see how Kohls would accept Seymour in their store. To make him a little cuter, I dressed him in his "Good Dog" tee. How could anyone deny entry to a self-proclaimed "good" dog? You're thinking that they did, aren't you? Well, when I asked if he could come in the store, there were 2 girls working check out. One say "Oh, yes" immediately and the other didn't appear to be sure. I went with the "Oh, yes" answer and carried Seymour throughout the store for close to an hour. I passed many sales associates and even had to go to the customer service counter and no one said we had to leave, but then no one was exceptionally friendly toward Seymour. So, I'm going to count Kohls as "pet friendly" but I would recommend checking at each store. I'm not sure there is a national policy. This Kohls was in Kyle, Texas.
Now the Kohls shopping carts aren't conducive for holding pets, but I have found that at least 2 stores asked me not to put him in their shopping carts - probably due to the worry of people complaining about dog hair - and I understand that. But they did say I could carry him around. I have also been told at Ace Hardware that he was not allowed to walk. Again, good information.
This time, as I was carrying him, about a 1/2 dozen customers stopped to either pet him or talk to me about their pet. I did not go into the dressing room but I don't think that would have been a problem.
After all the time we spent shopping, Seymour knows he gets a treat of taking a long walk all around the parking lot. As you can see, a long day or shopping, being held, and walking tired him out.
I am always so happy to discover more pet-friendly places to go with Seymour. We'll keep you posted on other pet-friendly and not-so-friendly places we find.
Now the Kohls shopping carts aren't conducive for holding pets, but I have found that at least 2 stores asked me not to put him in their shopping carts - probably due to the worry of people complaining about dog hair - and I understand that. But they did say I could carry him around. I have also been told at Ace Hardware that he was not allowed to walk. Again, good information.
This time, as I was carrying him, about a 1/2 dozen customers stopped to either pet him or talk to me about their pet. I did not go into the dressing room but I don't think that would have been a problem.
After all the time we spent shopping, Seymour knows he gets a treat of taking a long walk all around the parking lot. As you can see, a long day or shopping, being held, and walking tired him out.
I am always so happy to discover more pet-friendly places to go with Seymour. We'll keep you posted on other pet-friendly and not-so-friendly places we find.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Dogs Welcome
Someone sent me this and it's perfect to share here.
A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned
to visit on his vacation.
He wrote:
I would very much like to bring my dog with me.
He is well-groomed and very well behaved.
Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?
An immediate reply came
from the hotel owner,
who wrote:
"I've been operating this hotel for many years.
In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels,
bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls.
I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night
for being drunk and disorderly.
And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill.
Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel.
And, if your dog will vouch for you, you are welcome to stay here too.
A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned
to visit on his vacation.
He wrote:
I would very much like to bring my dog with me.
He is well-groomed and very well behaved.
Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?
An immediate reply came
from the hotel owner,
who wrote:
"I've been operating this hotel for many years.
In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels,
bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls.
I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night
for being drunk and disorderly.
And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill.
Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel.
And, if your dog will vouch for you, you are welcome to stay here too.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Doggie Day Care
I just started a new job and since I was going to be away from home for at least 10 hours a day, I decided to look for a Day Care for Seymour. What surprised me, when I mentioned this to people at work was how "odd" this seemed to them. They couldn't understand why he couldn't just stay at home. Ten plus hours?? So, if you are like me and don't want your dog staying alone all day, here are some things to consider when looking for Day Care:
1. What hours they are open? - I found a few places that seemed to have a good reputation but when I checked their hours, they were only open from 9 am to 4 pm daily. I can't see how anyone with a job could use them, but maybe that was the idea. They must be catering to vacationers who just want to board their pets for a few hours while they tour around.
2. How are the dogs kept - cages, runs, together, alone? I know that most places that board dogs seem to keep them in kennels or cages. Since Seymour was a rescue and was in a caged area and frightened when I saw him, I just couldn't think of putting him back into that kind of environment. He has his crate at home and he loves it but I also keep it open so he can go in and out as he chooses. I found a place that is basically a house where all of the dogs are free to roam together - if they get along - or put in large rooms, if they don't. It is a bit scary to see Seymour at 7 pounds roaming around with a 200 pound dog, but he's been there for 2 weeks and it seems to be working.
3. Do they give discounts? Some places that board pets give discounts to seniors and for longer stays. I paid for 20 days, that I don't have to use consecutively at a discounted rate.
4. What do they feed the dogs? Some kennels will ask you to bring your own food and some will feed your dogs. If they feed them, what quality of food do they use? The Day Care I am using, feeds Seymour the same kind of food he is used to eating. I brought is favorite treats that I requested they give him once a day. He's not a doggie biscuit-type of guy. It has to be protein.
5. How flexible are they? Do they allow you to keep them at the kennel longer some days, or even overnight if there is an emergency? I usually call and let them know when I'm coming, or if I'm running late. There would be no problem with letting him stay overnight, if needed. That flexibility is important to me.
6. Do they discipline the dogs, and if so, how? This kennel uses a spray bottle of water, which is what I also use, if needed.
7. Does your dog want to go to their Day Care? If your dog hides when you take him to Day Care, there may be a problem. Seymour was great the first week and jumped out of the car when we got there. By the second week, he wasn't as enthusiastic and I was starting to worry. But by the middle of the second week, he was again interested in going. I think that if he had a choice, he would want to stay home with me, but since we don't have that option (no lottery winnings yet), this is his second favorite choice.
8. Check references - Some kennels have on-line reviews you can read; some even have cameras in their kennels where you can go on line and see what they animals are doing. I have a good friend who has used their kennel for over a year, so I was pretty comfortable giving it a try.
Doggie Day Care may not be for everyone, but it gives me peace of mind to know that Seymour is not alone all day.
1. What hours they are open? - I found a few places that seemed to have a good reputation but when I checked their hours, they were only open from 9 am to 4 pm daily. I can't see how anyone with a job could use them, but maybe that was the idea. They must be catering to vacationers who just want to board their pets for a few hours while they tour around.
2. How are the dogs kept - cages, runs, together, alone? I know that most places that board dogs seem to keep them in kennels or cages. Since Seymour was a rescue and was in a caged area and frightened when I saw him, I just couldn't think of putting him back into that kind of environment. He has his crate at home and he loves it but I also keep it open so he can go in and out as he chooses. I found a place that is basically a house where all of the dogs are free to roam together - if they get along - or put in large rooms, if they don't. It is a bit scary to see Seymour at 7 pounds roaming around with a 200 pound dog, but he's been there for 2 weeks and it seems to be working.
3. Do they give discounts? Some places that board pets give discounts to seniors and for longer stays. I paid for 20 days, that I don't have to use consecutively at a discounted rate.
4. What do they feed the dogs? Some kennels will ask you to bring your own food and some will feed your dogs. If they feed them, what quality of food do they use? The Day Care I am using, feeds Seymour the same kind of food he is used to eating. I brought is favorite treats that I requested they give him once a day. He's not a doggie biscuit-type of guy. It has to be protein.
5. How flexible are they? Do they allow you to keep them at the kennel longer some days, or even overnight if there is an emergency? I usually call and let them know when I'm coming, or if I'm running late. There would be no problem with letting him stay overnight, if needed. That flexibility is important to me.
6. Do they discipline the dogs, and if so, how? This kennel uses a spray bottle of water, which is what I also use, if needed.
7. Does your dog want to go to their Day Care? If your dog hides when you take him to Day Care, there may be a problem. Seymour was great the first week and jumped out of the car when we got there. By the second week, he wasn't as enthusiastic and I was starting to worry. But by the middle of the second week, he was again interested in going. I think that if he had a choice, he would want to stay home with me, but since we don't have that option (no lottery winnings yet), this is his second favorite choice.
8. Check references - Some kennels have on-line reviews you can read; some even have cameras in their kennels where you can go on line and see what they animals are doing. I have a good friend who has used their kennel for over a year, so I was pretty comfortable giving it a try.
Doggie Day Care may not be for everyone, but it gives me peace of mind to know that Seymour is not alone all day.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Opal Divines
While shopping in Austin a few days ago, I decided to stop for lunch and had Seymour with me. My first thought was Opal Divine's. They have a sign at the entrance allowing people with "four legged" friends to enter through the patio. It was exceptionally hot already but they had large fans and misters covering the patio so it was comfortable.
As soon as I sat down, they brought my menu and an extra large bowl of water with ice cubes for Seymour. If the bowl had been empty, Seymour could have used it to take a nap. If you notice from the picture below, I happened to have a Christmas towel with me - in June!
Of course I ordered something we could share - a really good turkey Reuben with real sliced turkey, and something I didn't share, their excellent french fries. To me, their french fries are one of the two best in Austin. The others are at Hyde Park Bar and Grill, but I'm not sure Hyde Park is pet friendly - I'll have to check.
Seymour is not an "ice cube" dog but since it was so hot, the ice melted quickly and he enjoyed periodic drinks between his bites of turkey. It was a relaxing lunch for both of us.
If you are ever in Austin, Texas with your dog, stop in at Opal's - and try the fries!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Pet Tips for Hot Summer Days
It's getting hot here in Texas and I've been looking for tips to keep Seymour comfortable on our walks.
1. Water - obviously. I found a smaller version of the pet water bottle. I have to say it feels a little cheaply made but so far has worked. It's the one piece bottle and troth that makes it simple to pour Seymour a quick drink. This version has a little cord attached instead of the belt clip. I think I will change out the cord to put on one long enough that I can carry it over my shoulder like a purse.
2. Wet neck-kerchief (my new word). Drench one and wring it out and tie it around your pet's neck. It works just like it does with us. It adds a bit of coolness to their bodies and I'm sure feels great if a slight wind is blowing.
3. Brush your pet before you go out. Getting the loose hair off of your pet and fluffing the hair up a little will allow more air to get to their body. I can't imagine walking around in a fur coat in 100 degree weather but Seymour still wants his walks!
4. Carry a portable fan. I have 2 kinds; one is on a long string and I can carry it around my neck. It's small and battery powered but it gives a bit of a breeze that helps cool Seymour and me a little. The other is a fan that is attached to a small spray bottle that gives off a nice moist breeze. Unfortunately, it's a little bigger so I mostly use that one while we're in the yard. I also have to be careful because I use a spray bottle of water to deter Seymour from barking so I don't want him to start enjoying the spray!
1. Water - obviously. I found a smaller version of the pet water bottle. I have to say it feels a little cheaply made but so far has worked. It's the one piece bottle and troth that makes it simple to pour Seymour a quick drink. This version has a little cord attached instead of the belt clip. I think I will change out the cord to put on one long enough that I can carry it over my shoulder like a purse.
2. Wet neck-kerchief (my new word). Drench one and wring it out and tie it around your pet's neck. It works just like it does with us. It adds a bit of coolness to their bodies and I'm sure feels great if a slight wind is blowing.
3. Brush your pet before you go out. Getting the loose hair off of your pet and fluffing the hair up a little will allow more air to get to their body. I can't imagine walking around in a fur coat in 100 degree weather but Seymour still wants his walks!
4. Carry a portable fan. I have 2 kinds; one is on a long string and I can carry it around my neck. It's small and battery powered but it gives a bit of a breeze that helps cool Seymour and me a little. The other is a fan that is attached to a small spray bottle that gives off a nice moist breeze. Unfortunately, it's a little bigger so I mostly use that one while we're in the yard. I also have to be careful because I use a spray bottle of water to deter Seymour from barking so I don't want him to start enjoying the spray!
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