Ice, ice baby!

Elphie had her assessment this morning. She is a one year old, 12 pound, Dachshund mix. Elphie is a wonderful little dog that did super upstairs in the little roll. She has been to daycare before so she's already all about it. Elphie made friends instantly, her favortie pal was Fendi. Score!

Here are a few clips of the Fort Fido crew staying cool. :)







Take it easy,

-Grant

Welcome Bailey Magoo & some wild pics

Bailey Magoo had his assessment this morning. He is a swell looking four year old, 95 pound, Goldendoodle. Bailey hung out in the Big Roll and did fairly well. We plan on seeing more of Mr. Magoo!

I found these four awesome pictures online, they aren't photoshopped either (Click to englarge)! :)

Enjoy the weather!

-Grant

4th of July pics

Gracie Anne's Mom Sylvia sent us in a couple of great 4th of July photos. They show Gracie Anne (a black Miniature Poodle) and her buddy Annabelle (a Chihuahua mix) looking quite festive. Thanks Sylvia!

Stay cool,

-Grant

It's finally gonna get warm tomorrow

I hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend! Just wanted to make a quick note about the heat wave that seems to be on it's way... Be sure to keep yourself and your pets hydrated and cool. Living in the NW, this kinda thing (61 to 80 degrees all of a sudden) can catch us off guard.

On hot days at the fort, each play area has fans and extra H2o ready to go. We also fill kiddie pools with ice towards the hottest part of the day, the dogs absolutely love this. It's fun to watch them jump in and out of the pools, hopefully I can get some clips of their antics. Luckily we stay fairly cool in this big warehouse. You can rest assured that we'll be keeping your pooch safe, hydrated and comfortable.

Take care,

-Grant
P.S. I like this neat DIY Ice Treat! I may try that this season, last year, frozen water balloons (with the balloon part taken off after the freeze) worked great as an ice ball/toy.

Best buddies!

Gem and Kona were tearing it up all day long! Kona is the Labradoodle, and Gem is a Bernese Moutain Dog puppy.



The Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society is going to be at the Freedom Fair tomorrow. You can stop by their booth and get all kinds of information about adopting a new family member, or taking care of the ones you already have.

If you're looking for something fun to do next weekend, and don't mind a bit of a trip, you could check out Doggapalooza in Renton. There are going to be all kinds of kid-friendly activities, and a Dog/Owner look-alike contest! Sounds like a lot of fun.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Hope

Great little story, don't cry now!

This was part of an email my Aunt sent me this morning, thought I'd share it.

A Dog's Purpose? (From a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron , his wife Lisa , and their little boy Shane , were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker?s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane , who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''
The Six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Have a safe and spectacular 4th of July!

-Grant

4th of July pet safety!

Tips to protect pets during Fourth of July fun

Get your pet ready for the noisy Fourth

July 4th fireworks are no blast for pets

ASPCA Fourth of July safety tips

You can always bring your pooch into the fort on Saturday to get a little "P and V" out of them before the festivities begin. We are open for business on Monday July 5th as well.

Have a nice day!

-Grant
P.S. O yeah... There is a new Word's Ugliest Dog, I guess congratulations are in order? Hahaha!