Ho, ho, ho

OK, now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I can really get into the Christmas spirit. I’m almost done with my Christmas shopping. One name on my list that hasn’t been taken care of yet…Freckles. This will be my pup’s third Christmas, and I’ve always gotten him a present. According to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll, I’m not alone: 52 percent of pet owners are planning to buy their furry family members a holiday gift.

So what to get your four-legged family member? I always use Christmas as a time to replace worn necessities—leashes, collars, brushes, etc. And of course, there are treats and rawhides thrown in as well. This year, motivated by an upcoming road trip and a feeling of guilt that I should have done this earlier, I’ve decided to invest in a car restraint system. I’ve read that it not only keeps pets safe in accidents (duh), but it can also relieve motion sickness, which Freckles suffers from after only an hour or so in the car.

If you’re a holiday gift guide junkie, check out the 2009 Pawcurious Holiday Gift Guide, which is where I found information on the seat belt restraint system. There are also neat finds for cats as well.

Merry Christmas!

'Tis the Season

Somewhere in all of the work-school-family-friends craziness that is my life, we have stumbled upon my favorite time of the year. Seriously, I don’t think anything can bring me down during the months of October, November and December. There’s something about the holidays (and I count Halloween because while I don’t really have any interest in dressing up and partying, I LOVE handing out candy to kids and watching scary movies) that makes everything OK.

It’s also a time when I look back on the year that’s passed and think of everything that’s happened (and always so quickly, it seems!). I’m usually overcome with a sense of awe at how much has changed and how far I’ve come, and I’m definitely thankful for it. Another thing I like about the holidays? Giving. There are so many animal shelters and rescue groups that could use some extra help (not just at the holidays, either!). This year has been an especially difficult year for lots of families and their pets, so animal rescues are in desperate need. Please, look around and see how you can help. There are the obvious requests like food, but shelters also need cleaning supplies, sheets and blankets, and toys, among other things. I myself have sheets, blankets and comforters that are going to the Humane Society of Western Montana, which was Freckles’ home for the first year of his life. Or…do you like to send out holiday cards? The Humane Society of the United States has many options for holiday cards, and the proceeds go to helping animals. What about calendars? I personally can’t live without one, and this calendar by Heather Armstrong (who has a hilariously funny blog that you should also check out, btw) is a great option for 2010. All proceeds go to the Humane Society of Utah.

I know what you’re thinking…there are others out there besides the Humane Society. And you’re right. There are plenty of shelters and programs out there where your time and money can help. The ones I’ve linked to here are just those that I’ve had experience with through donations, adoptions or social media. The point is to celebrate the season, to be thankful, and to remember that there are others out there who aren’t as fortunate as you. Give back, even if you think it’s such a small donation that it won’t matter. Everything matters.

Lucy and Freckles take on Halloween

As I sit here typing this, Freckles is sound asleep on his bed, growling in his sleep. No doubt he's thinking of the costume I made him wear for Halloween. He only had it on for five minutes (OK, maybe 10), but he was not a happy camper. I couldn't resist though. Ever since the first Halloween I had him, I've been wanting to dress him up as McGruff. I mean, he's a hound with floppy ears and a cute face. It was perfect.


And then, there's the one of him with his magnifying glass.


And last, but not least, there was Lucy, who is Freckles' roommate:


The pictures are a bit blurry, because they were snapped with a hastily grabbed phone. Not to mention, the dogs didn't exactly want to sit still for them. But I hope you can still appreciate the great fun that was Halloween!