Checkout our man Austin!

 (Austin, shown far right. Click photo to enlarge.)

Austin Beshaler is one of Fort Fido's star employees. He has worked here for over a year and continues to thrive. One of our main "Wranglers", Austin, works wonders with the dogs. When he takes charge of the pack, things go smoothly, the dogs have lots of fun while staying safe. He is a happy fella that is very likeable. Always a smile on his face, Austin's customer service skills are first rate. We are proud to have him as part of our team.

Recently, after attending a Birdhouse Skate Team Exhibition, his photo appeared  in the Seattle Times! Austin is a keen skateboarder whose passion for the sport keeps him busy. He frequently travels all around the Pacific Northwest to skate it's many hot spots. He has gone up to Orcas Island and down to Portland Oregon, just to name a few locations, in search of the perfect line.

Way to go Austin, keep up the fun and most importantly, the good work! Haha!

-Grant

P.S. Where's your helmet young man? O wait... What I meant to say was, don't split your melon gnarly dude!

;)

Here comes the sun!

Check out Stella, enjoying the sunshine this morning!

We had a great day here at the Fort, enjoying the sunshine and keeping cool! We keep the large bay doors open for as long as possible, to let in the sunshine and the fresh,  cool, morning and evening air. Needless to say, the pups really love the sunshine, and it is a great place for groggy doggies to take a nap, and for frisky puppies to have a good romp! Both of those things were enjoyed by pups here at daycare. Here's a clip of one of the sunny romps from today-

Since the weather is becoming so hot, I thought that I should also post some hot weather tips for pets! First up is a list of recipes for cool treats to feed your pup--just remember that when it comes to dogs and treats, they definitely can have too much of a good thing!

The ASPCA also has a good list of recommendations for keeping your pets cool and safe in the summer. As nice as a 90-degree-day seems to us, for a dog this warmth can actually become quite dangerous. Make certain that your pooch always has access to cool, fresh water, and avoid exercise during the hotter parts of the day. I know that the American Dryland Mushers Association recommends against running dogs if the temperature reaches above just 60 degrees. Take your pet for walks in the early morning, or in the evening, to avoid the worst of the sun and heat, and always bring water with you.

Summer also brings with it the threat of a greater parasite population in the wild wilderness, so make sure that your pooch is on a heartworm preventative, and has regular fecal exams to catch any unwelcome visitors early.

Have a fun and safe weekend!

-Hope

News and a couple funny clips

Massachusetts is leading in animal-related-legislation-- the state Senate has passed a bill banning both breed-specific legislation in cities and counties, as well as the use of a gas chamber for euthanasia.

A very special pooch named London, a pitbull who only has the use of two of his legs, is beginning his new life! He was recently taken in by a rescue organization that has worked to get him the costly medical care he needs to improve his quality of life. This carefree and happy guy is definitely an ambassador for the breed.

What do you do when homeless kittens show up at your doorstep? There are a lot of kittens born in this season, and unfortunately many of them (and their mothers) do not have homes. Fortunately, there are a lot of people and places  that can help.

Stumbled across this cool little blog post about what animals see in the mirror. I'm not sure if Gordon recognizes himself in the mirror, but he definitely recognizes me and will use one to look around corners or respond to commands without having to turn around and look at me.

Animal activists in Miami are rallying to improve conditions for Burro, an American Bulldog who has been living on top of the roof of a business as a deterrent to thieves. I wish them the best of luck in fighting for a better life for him! Just because the law says you must provide only food, water, and a little shelter doesn't make those alone the ingredients of a good life.

A dog found a trio of lost girls-- no, not some search-and-rescue bloodhound, but their neighbors little Chihuahua Bell. Also on that page-- a dog fosters a white lion cub in Germany, and Cheetah breaks the land speed record, completing 100 meters in 5.95 seconds.

Speaking of amazing animal athletes, here is a cute article about eight animals who could beat Summer Olympics Record Holders.

-Hope

P.S.--Here are another couple funny animal video discoveries from YouTube! A kitten and a parrot "fight" for the best spot on the couch.

 

Who says cats all hate water?

\

Have a great night everybody!

Fancy Frances

Frances is a 5-year-old Norwich Terrier, who will be staying the weekend with us. Today was her assessment day, and she did just fine upstairs with the other little guys. She is very friendly, and enjoyed being here in our pack. Although she wasn't interested in the ball during ball-time, she was definitely interested in the dogs chasing it! You can see her getting a feel for it in this video clip:

I have never met a Norwich Terrier before, so I did a little research into the breed (I love all the different dogs and cool breeds I get to meet working here!). These compact terriers have existed since the late 19th century, and were bred in England to hunt small vermin (such as moles, rats, snakes, etc.) but also make great family pets. They are also one of the smallest working terriers, and are well known for their ability to adapt to different situations. Learn more about these spunky little dogs at http://norwichterrierclub.org

Have a great night!

-Hope

P.S.-- For some reason, YouTube recommended this hilarious video after I watched "Frances' First Day." I think you will get a kick out of it! E.T. the walrus practices making different sounds at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

Ready or not Lilttle Roll...

Kobe and Luke have arrived on the scene! They are two spirited new dogs who just gave The Fort a whirl.

Kobe is a charismatic, three year old, ten pound, red colored, Pekingese. This spunky little fella came in the door with gusto! Kobe had no fears whatsoever. He pranced upstairs guilefully, looking forward to the dog buddies he knew lay ahead. Kobe interacted cleverly with the others, attempting to play with any canine that was game. A recent rescue, Kobe, is beginning to truly thrive in his newfound forever home. Our hats go off to his new owner for doing right by him. Well done!

Luke is an eight year old, eleven pound, black colored, Toy Poodle. He entered the building a lot like Kobe, curious and confident, ready to explore his new surroundings. Luke did very well upstairs with the other pack members. Although he didn't do the real hard "wrestle play" he did interact readily with several different dogs. Luke is a very nice canine, any poodle fan would adore him instantly. Additionally, he has one of the sharpest poodle cuts I have ever seen. This guy is one handsome fancy-man lol! He gets groomed by one of the old pros over at the ever popular, and close to us, University Place Best Pet Grooming.

Kobe and Luke are fantastic small dogs that we have been fortunate to have at Fort Fido. They will both benefit from attending and are welcome here anytime.

The clip that follows doesn't show a whole heck of a lot, but you can spot both Kobe and Luke amongst the other guests.



Be well,

-Grant

! Brother From Another Mother !

Tuesday's early morning assessment was none other than Chico. He is a eleven year old, ten pound, white colored, Chihuahua. Now, get this, Chico is the "older brother" of Fort Fido Big Roll regular, Gus. How is that for opposites eh? Hahaha! Gus is huge, Chico is tiny. Gus is black, Chico is white. Gus has long hair, Chico has short hair. I'm guessing you've caught my drift lol?

Chico didn't mind the other pack members in the Little Roll. He wasn't sure what to think of David and Matt but took quite a liking to my cousin Jaya. Basically, Chico could care less about the other dogs and isn't too keen on strange human males. But can ya blame him? He's 77 years old for Pete's sake! I'll probably act the same way when I get there haha. Anyways, Chico is more than welcome to attend daycare/boarding here. In actuality, he got along just fine. He's just a surprising contrast to his active, extremely personable and gregarious brother, Gus... And that is ok by us, he is neat in other ways. Dogs vary, a lot, just like we homo-sapiens do.

Way to be Chico, never let them see ya sweat. We shall see ya soon for overnight boarding!

;)

Take it easy,

-Grant
P.S. Just a reminder, the ever popular and fun event, Woofstock, is set for August fourth at the UPS campus. I have enjoyed myself at this event in the past, check it out!

Sunday's Assesments

We had a couple of fine new dogs start at The Fort on Sunday.

First we met Red. He is a enthuisatic, four month old, forty pound, Yellow Labrador Retriever. Red is a lab pup with great energy! He fit right in, right away, with some of Fort Fido's most fast and furious players. Red gets along superb with others, he will be able to do well in the Medium or Big Roll. That is always a plus for us. Outstanding job Red, we hope to see you back soon.



Later in the day, we were introduced to Magy. She is a six year old, sixty pound, Collie Mix. Magy is brown and black with a white chest. This gal has a very sweet temperament. Her entrance into the pack was impeccable and she is well versed in "Dog Speak". Magy was quite calm and confident around the others. Although she didn't play, she seemed to enjoy the experience. Magy will make a swell addition to our Medium Roll.

Have a great week,

-Grant