The Journey to Blogpaws 2013

I am back from Tysons Corner , VA where I went to BlogPaws 2013. I have anticipating this for months! This was my first and I certainly hope its not my last because I think, I am addicted to BlogPaws.

The trip to get there was a journey all its own. We get to the airport and ma is looking out to see if she can find the plane. When they started calling for passengers to board , she asked where the plane was. The guy pointed to this....

Ma yelled out "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Where is my plane?" Well, that was our plane. Ma was chewing chill pills like bubble gum.After we had taken off,  I looked out and seen this....

I wanted what ma had but she said no. So I laid down until we went through  some clouds, that plane started jumping and bumping and I started getting nervous.Ma pulled me up in her lap and that is where I rode the rest of the way.It made me feel much safer knowing she was holding me. 

We got to the next airport in St. Louis where we got on a bigger plane and it was much nicer and smoother ride.  

After we landed ,we caught a taxi and went to our first hotel. Since we waited a little while before deciding to go to Va. early , the host hotel was sold out but the alternate was really nice. We enjoyed a good night sleep before the action began. 

The Residence Inn at Tysons Corner Mall was very clean and the staff was very friendly. They had a nice little fireplace in the entry .After a night time potty break ma sat in one of the comfy chairs while we waited for extra pillows for our room mate. 

The next day we went to the Sheraton ,we checked in to the hotel and in for the conference.We mingled a bit and seen other bloggers we follow and friends we had met at other social conferences. 

Dexter (PR of Fidoseofreality)

Then ma seen him. She has been wanting to kiss these spaniel cheeks for months. She says this face is what changed her mind about coming to Blogpaws. There are a ton of other reasons but she says this was the main reason.

I was ready to learn how to make my blog better, connect with other bloggers and see all the products and companies that were there. I had to bring her along because well, she paid for it all. Dexter walked up to her and kissed her first. She melted with love. 

Then we seen Rocco from To Dog with Love. What a cutie! 8 mths old and so well behaved. He was a joy to be around.

Dexter and Rocco (To Dog With Love )

I spotted Pepper AKA Pepperpom. She is a Service Dog and blogger like me.I was so happy to see her and she acted happy to see me. 

Pepper (from PeppersPaws)

After walking around a bit ma took me out for a potty break. We connected with other bloggers while we were outside also. Ma had her photo taken with a few of our friends.

Pepper's Mom -Angel and my ma who looks like a tourist!

While we were outside and our moms were talking to other people , Pepper and I were acting silly. We were acting like we were twins and whatever one did so did the other..

If she looked right I would look right

If I looked forward , she would look forward

She smiled , I looked sad

She looked serious , I would laugh

It was really fun to hang out with her. Then something else caught her attention. 

Hello, do you come here often? 

We headed inside to socialize some more.I have no idea where sissy Sarah went. She was off mingling and having a grand time.  We met up with Jan Todd who I call Auntie Jan. 

Mom and Jan (Justice for Pookie)

We seen so many people we knew or knew of. When people hear us say we went to a Pet Blogging Conference they don't understand but when you start naming off some of the blogs they automatically know some and say they follow those blogs. Its like meeting your favorite movie stars! 

Ma and Lisa Taron (Pet Blog Lady) 

Ma and I love Lisa and follow all of her blogs. There are so many more to tell you about and more photos to share. So for now we will say- 

To Be Continued........

WW-Captain and Me

This is a Blog Hop. 

Please visit the other blogs too!

Tuesdays Tails- Shy is Searching For Her Special Someone

This is a Blog Hop that features shelter pets in need of a home. Please also visit the other blogs on this page and share the post. There is someone out there for all of these pets who need a family of their own. OPT TO ADOPT! 

Hi , My name is Shy. I am a 5 yr old small beagle who came to the Owensboro Humane Society as a result of a hoarding situation 2 yrs ago. I have never really had a home but lived in a yard full of other beagles and hunting dogs. I have came a long way from the first day I came to the OHS . I have learned what love is, learned not to fear humans and learned to give love. 

Is my pawson ever going to come to adopt me? 

 I love children. I love to be petted and I really like to take walks. I am a wonderful listener. I will listen to your stories, I want to know how your day was, what you are feeling and I like to sit in your lap. I am always happy to meet you at the door and greet you with a tail wag. 

Shy says "Please give me a home. I am worth it." 

 I have been working on how to play. I am learning but would love to have someone who would be willing to spend the time to show me how to fetch, I get along with other pets and love to be brushed. I enjoy the feeling of touch. I don't ask for much , I just want to be loved and I want to give someone my heart. 

Please don't let me live my whole life at the Humane Society

Shy is available for adoption from the Owensboro Humane Society. We are a no kill facility located in Owensboro Ky. If you would like more information about Shy, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can call 270-302-6813 or email the Owensboro Humane Society. Shy's adoption fee is $100. She is spayed, heartworm negative and up to date on vaccines. We prefer for her to be microchipped and that is a additional $25. You do not have to live in Ky to adopt Shy.

If you qualify to adopt Shy and are approved: 

I, Carma Poodale, will personally

 donate 6 months of food to her new pawent. 

WW : Flying

Ready For Blogpaws!

The bags are packed, I have been groomed. The photo above is me before I got groomed,  I will get a bath on Tuesday night so I can be smelling good and soft to pet. Ma can't even touch the luggage without me running to the door ready to get in the car. I am a girl that loves to travel whether is by plane , train, automobile, bus or taxi I love to do it all. I am a go go poodle.
I will be blogging my way to Blogpaws, sharing photos and updates on my journey to get there. I am so excited to be able to do this. This is my first Blogpaws so I am a little nervous but I am looking forward to meeting new people, seeing my friends and learning more about how to be a better writer, meeting more companies and barking about my Humane Society and Me.
Today and tomorrow is spay/neuter clinic and then I will be leaving at 6 AM on Wed. for Blogpaws. To those who are going ,I hope you have a great trip with little stress. I will see you in Virginia soon!

Have a pawtastic day.

Happy Mother's Day From Me and my Ma!

Happy Ma Day to my ma. 

Happy Mothers Day to all my readers 

I hope you have a Pawtastic Day! 

Adopting Should Mean For Life

On May 8 2013, the American Humane Association released findings to a study they have been doing research on for the past year. The study was conducted to understand more of why people own or don't own pets.

This results of the study, to me, was disturbing. They found that 1 in 10 pets who were adopted from animal shelters were no longer in the home after 6 mths. These pets were either returned to the shelter, given away, lost or died.    They could not verify that it wasn't more then 1 in 10 because so many people did not respond to the study. The results could be higher. 

Being connected to a no kill shelter I have heard and seen a lot. In our contract to adopt, we have a clause that says if you can not keep your adopted pet , it must come back to our shelter, no matter how long they have the animal. 

After reading the article from the American Humane Association, I thought it would be a good time to discuss some of the reasons I found that people  return pets. The following is my own opinion:

#1 - Doesn't let pet adjust- Many people think when they adopt a pet, that pet is going to walk in to the home and know that IS their home. This is untrue. Pets need adjustment time. This time could be 2 weeks and sometimes it can be 2 mths. Depending on the pet this can be overwhelming. All the new surroundings, smells, rules of the house can be a little frightening to the pet. If there are other pets in the home, the new pet has to get used to the other. Sometimes, the pets get along great and there are no issues but there are the chances they will have conflict. 

#2 - Adopted to save a life- Face it, you have seen those faces of a animal scheduled to be euthanized. There are always those URGENT! WILL DIE!! post from a shelter that euthanizes, usually county or city ran shelters. So many people will adopt that pet just because they don't want to see it die but they don't consider everything that goes along with adoption. I can't tell you how many post I have read about a animal coming back because the person who adopted the pet couldn't have pets. Yes, they adopted to save the life but they weren't allowed pets as per their rental agreement but they adopted anyways. Most pets are given away because of this, some are even dumped somewhere because that person thought the pet had a better chance in the wild then in the shelter. There have been a few times when someone adopted a dog scheduled to die and brought it straight from that shelter to ours. The person then got upset because we couldn't take it and they ask us what are they supposed to do with the animal. 

#3 - Didn't think it through- There have been times when someone has came to our shelter stating their pet just got ran over and died and they need another pet. These people are always declined at our shelter. We believe that if you truly loved your pet you need to have a adjustment period to mourn. Do you have the funds for vet care, food, toys? Shelter animals need adjustment time. It might soil in your home for the first few days or maybe even weeks. It doesn't know any better. It has to be trained

#4- Adopted a breed that wasn't suitable to adopter- You wouldn't want to adopt a St. Bernard or Great Dane if you live in a tiny apartment , now would you? Think about the breed and if it fits your lifestyle. If you are happy to sit on your couch and watch TV all night after work , you don't want to adopt a high energy dog. Sometimes those dogs can get you more active but are you willing to do it? Most shelters/rescues will talk to you about what you like to do, how many hours a day you work, your job in general etc. Its not because the shelter is nosy its because they need to know if your lifestyle can handle that dog. If you work 12-16 hrs a day 5 days a week do you really want that dog to spend all his  time alone? Are you going to have the energy to give to him when you get home? If you travel a lot for work they want to know the pet will have care while you are gone.  

#5- But it was cute or I wanted a puppy- Sure those puppies are cute but they will grow up to be full size dogs and they will lose that puppy look. Would you adopt that cute tiny puppy knowing it was a lab and would get up to the range of 50-70 pounds? I can't tell you the times that I have heard someone saying "I didn't know it would get THAT big". Puppies take training. They have to be potty trained, socialized, taught what to chew on and what not to. Training is the key to a well behaved dog and some people don't want to put the effort in to train. So the cute puppy gets returned because of behavioral issues that simply training would have corrected. People also don't understand the cost of owning a pet. One trip to the vet for early vaccines can range anywhere from $60 to $200 and then there is the flea treatments, food, toys etc. It can cost a lot to own a dog but so does having children. 

#6- Ignorance- Yes I said it, Ignorance! The pet being returned because "I had a baby", "it didn't get along with my pet" and the excuses go on and on. You don't need to surrender your cat just because you are pregnant. Pregnant women and cats have lived together for eons. That cat isn't going to suck the breathe out of your baby, cats and babies have lived together for eons. Same holds true for dogs and babies. Don't come to us years later and say you gave up a dog when you had your baby but now you want your child to grow up with a dog. Duh, you had a dog and you gave it away. Pets in the home need time to adjust to the new pet. Just like older siblings need time to adjust to the new baby. 

#7 - Allergic to the animal- So you have had this pet for 3 yrs and now you are allergic to it? Was you allergic to it 3 , 2 maybe 1 yr ago? Things like extra vacuuming , brushing more often to keep pet dander down. There are special shampoos that can help with dander to keep it at a minimum. Yes there are times when a persons body goes out of whack and they can become allergic to the pet but try some other alternatives before you give that pet away. 



These are some of the reasons why people adopt only to return the animal or give it away. There are many many more. But before you adopt that pet make sure it fits you , your lifestyle and its something you want to do. What would happen if all the human babies that are adopted were giving back because they were to hard to potty train or had behavioral issues (tantrums) would you think it was acceptable? When you adopt it should be for life. You are responsible for that live. Think before you adopt and if its something that is right for you do your research on the breed or the breed that its mixed with. It will help you to know more about what is right for you and it will make you a better pet parent. 

Be the best pet pawent you can be. If you are able please adopt a shelter pet. Some are there because of life changes , some have lost their way home and some are products of the reasons I shared. 
I want to thank Bunny's Blog for sharing the study that the American Humane Association did.

The complete study can be found at americanhumane.org/petsmart.