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Adopt this Awesomely Adoptable Dog: Heidi!

Dec 14th, 2010 by

Is that a gorgeous smile or what?

UPDATE: Heidi was adopted December 20, 2010!

Meet Heidi! She’s an Austrailian Kelpie Mix, who, like her namesake, the Heidi of literary fame, is a sweetheart of a girl who’s been tossed about from place to place, loves to learn, and seeks a loving forever home.

Heidi had a rough start in life. She, along with many other lucky dogs, was rescued from a puppy mill in North Dakota by our very own nationally recognized Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV).

Check out this touching video of Heidi demonstrating her most friendly and engaging moves.

Despite her troubled beginnings Heidi is resilient, mellow, and eager to expand her friends list! Well, with one exception. Cats.

You see, Heidi was previously adopted and then returned to the HSBV. It seems the resident cat had no manners! He was unfriendly to Heidi. Aggressive actually. He swatted and hissed at her. Not surprisingly Heidi was afraid of the cat and tried to hide from him. So a new home without a cat might be best for Heidi!

Heidi is spayed and four years old. My Sadie girl is four years old, and I can tell you it’s a great age—past adolescence and growing into a fine young adult.

The good people at the Human Society of Boulder Valley recommend a patient home committed to positive reinforcement training to help Heidi build confidence. Their Training and Behavior Center will provide complimentary support to you if adopt Heidi in order to ease her transition into your home.

Did Heidi your capture heart? Please call  HSBV at 303-442-4030 during their regular shelter hours to speak to an animal welfare associate. Heidi would love for you to visit her at the HSBV. Click here for a map and directions.

Maybe yours will be Heidi’s forever home.

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Posted in Adopt this Awesomely Adoptable Dog, Humane Society of Boulder Valley | 1 Comment »

The Winner of the Holiday Giveaway Is…

Nov 30th, 2010 by

Reaper!

Yep, this gorgeous guy won the Kyjen Alligator with 16 squeakers! Becky, Reaper’s person,

Reaper

replied to Holiday Hop for Pets: Alligator Giveaway saying “My puppy would love this, thanks!”

Congratulations Becky and Reaper! Please send pictures of Reaper and his new alligator friend.

Thank you everyone who replied to my post, and thank you to all the bloggers that helped to make the Holiday Hop for Pets a huge success!

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Posted in Giveaway | 1 Comment »

Thanksgiving Thundershirt Works!

Nov 24th, 2010 by

It‘s a Thanksgiving tradition. Ira and I fly to Oakland and JoAnn, our good friend, picks us up and away we go to Gualala, a marvelously

Sam and Penny Lane in her Thundershirt

funky little town situated on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean about 100 miles north of San Francisco. This year Sam, JoAnn’s daughter, joined us with her dog, Penny Lane.

Penny Lane is an anxious little Pekinese and Beagle mix. Riding in the car sends her into paroxysms of panting and pacing. So I was delighted when Gigi, our wonderful trainer, lent a Thundershirt to me to try on Penny Lane. Maybe being all wrapped up would ease Penny’s suffering and help her to travel more comfortably.

At Gigi’s urging, we once used a makeshift anxiety wrap on Sadie that we fashioned out of a long stretchy scarf. For reasons I didn’t understand at first, Sadie began to cower with every step. The bright pink wrap seemed to help put a spring back in her stride. But, then we also had finally found and dislodged a goat’s head thorn that had burrowed deep between the pads of her paw. So, I was left wondering about the legendary benefits of anxiety wraps.

With Penny all dressed up in her Tundershirt I asked Sam if Penny was behaving any differently. She still looked on edge to me all curled up at JoAnn’s feet in the front passenger seat.”Yes!” Sam answered. “She’s not panting, jumping around, and shaking. She’s definitely calmer.”

I was thrilled for Penny Lane. Being tormented by fear and anxiety is horrible for any living creature. To experience some relief is sublime.

Why does gentle pressure on the body help us and our dogs to feel calm? Good question. According to the Thundershirt site, experts such as Dr. Temple Grandin believe that pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system. Using pressure to relieve anxiety has been a common practice for years. For example:

  • T-Touch dog trainers use pressure to address a wide variety of anxieties.
  • Veterinarians use pressure to relax cattle when they are administering vaccinations.
  • People with autism use pressure to relieve their persistent anxiety.
  • Children with certain behavioral problems use pressure shirts and weighted vests to relax and focus.
  • Parents use swaddling to calm an inconsolable newborn infant.

So now Penny Lane proudly sports her new fashion statement and Sam enjoys a calmer dog on those long drives up and down the incomparably stunning coastline of northern California.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your canine loved ones!

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Posted in Anxiety, Fearful dogs, Temple Grandin, Thundershirt | 13 Comments »

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