Reviewed by Carol M. Upton

I have been blessed with many animal friends in my life, but you were unique. I had a connection with you since your wobbly foal legs held you up and until your aged arthritic legs no longer allowed you to stand. ~ Denise Lee Branco

In the award-winning Horse at the Corner Post, Denise Lee Branco writes straight from the heart about her deep, lifelong connection to her quarter horse, Freedom.

At an outsider’s first glance, there may have been nothing special about this particular foal. Yet, Branco and Freedom connected almost immediately, soul to soul. Sharing hugs, playing racing games alongside the fence, and winning 2nd Place in a Kindergarten Western Pleasure Class, the two youngsters formed a powerful relationship. All that changed as Branco neared college age and her uncle took a fancy to the horse. Thinking Freedom would have a great temporary home, Branco let him go, only to discover some years later that he had been sold.

What ultimately takes place is an astonishing tribute, not only to the profound relationship between a girl and her horse, but also to the deep support of a family that understood this bond and cared enough to see it through.

The strength of this book lies in Branco’s skilled and honest storytelling. The reader is there every step of the way, reminded of the animals that may have graced their own life.

Branco’s hope in writing about Freedom is that it will encourage animal adoption. This inspired family reading achieves all of that and more.

Denise Lee Branco spent her childhood on a California ranch, befriending all the furry and feathered residents there. From reading horse books to competing in western shows and gymkhanas, Denise has always felt horses are a part of her identity. Visit her at: http://www.horseatthecornerpost.com/

Horse at the Corner Post: Our Divine Journey
By Denise Lee Branco
Strolling Hills Publishing
Soft Cover, 2010, $17.95 U.S.
ISBN: 879-0-9845888-0-0
Available at http://www.horseatthecornerpost.com

Ah, the beauty of Spring and Summer. The days are getting longer and the temperatures are growing warmer, and everyone just seems to have an extra bounce in their step – including your pet! Being able to go on walks and runs with our dogs is a wonderful advantage during the warmer months, along with taking our pets on small vacations and trips to local lakes and parks. You already know that leaving your pet in a hot car is so dangerous and an absolute “n-o”, but there’s a few more Spring and Summer pet care tips that you need to think about as your town starts to heat up.

#1: Prevent Pool Access – Have a pool in your yard or on your deck? Think of your dog as if he or she was a child – you’d install pool gates to restrict the child’s access, right? Same goes for your dog. Install pool gates and a lock to the pool deck to prevent your dog from jumping in, and at the very worst, drowning.

#2: Summer Schedule Changes – We have our routines in the Fall and Winter, wanting to get our errands done and get inside the warmth of our homes as soon as possible. Warmer months bring with them more variations in our schedules, as we attend barbecues, outings with friends, and impromptu parties. Yet, your dog is still on the Fall/Winter schedule, so make sure you’re taking the time to adequately take your dog out for bathroom breaks, are feeding your dog at structured times, and giving your dog the exercise he or she needs.

#3: Dogs Need Sunscreen, Too – Pet stores sell “dog sunscreen” for a reason. If your dog has light fur or a light nose, purchase a bottle of dog-approved sunscreen and follow the directions on the bottle to lather it on your dog.

#4: Bacteria In Standing Water – It’s so much fun to bring your dog to the local lake to prance around in the water and have a blast, but be sure to tote along a water bowl and bottle of water for hydration breaks. Standing water can have bacteria and other harmful particles in it, and can end up hurting your dog’s digestive track.

#5: Vacations With Fido – Bringing your dog on vacation? As long as your hotel or condo is dog-friendly, this is a fun way for you and your family to have an even better time on vacation. Yet, just as you would for other members of your family, remember to pack your dog’s veterinary information, pet food, water bowl and water, dog bed, collar, leash, and any of the usual treats you give to your dog.

We just love the Spring and Summer, and our dogs do too! Along with ensuring your dog is never in a hot car, follow the above warm weather dog care tips to have a fun and healthy summer. Share your own Spring and Summer dog care tips by leaving a comment on this post!

All of us here at BisketBaskets.com absolutely adore our dogs, so we decided to turn it into a business! We were the first company to debut Dog Gift Baskets, and dog owners loved our gift baskets so much that we decided to craft Gourmet Gift Baskets for people, too.

Your dogs diet is one of the most important factors when it comes to his or her health. You’ll probably already know that a puppy is better off eating puppy food, an adult – adult food and a senior dog, well you guessed it – senior food. But is there more we can do? Of course, there are slight differences in requirements for separate breeds but it’s the size of the breed, the size of the dog bowl and what goes into it that really matters.

For example, as puppies – larger breeds are prone to diseases that can be a result of energy, calcium and phosphorous dense diets. Hip Dysplasia is a common example of this. With this in mind, tailoring their diet to include less energy, calcium and phosphorous is a good idea. A simple way of thinking of this is that larger dogs are a lot slower and more cumbersome then their smaller counterparts and thus require less of certain nutrients per pound.

On the flip side, smaller breed puppies have a very high metabolic rate which means they can burn through a meal extremely quickly. A lack of certain nutrients can result in weakness, lethargy and sometimes seizures. Because of this, smaller breed puppies should be fed smaller amounts of calorie-dense food at least 3 times a day.

The difference in dietary needs continue into adulthood. Once again, the main difference between breeds here is their metabolic rate. Large dogs tend to need to take in less calories per pound than their smaller friends. This may sound contradictory but remember they’ll still require more food overall, just less pound for pound. Again, the reason for this is that smaller dogs are a lot nimbler – their joints move a lot quicker – requiring more energy and nutrition for those muscles.

It’s commonly accepted that on average a large breed dog needs around 20 calories per pound, whereas a smaller breed needs a lot more – around 35 calories per pound. If we do a few sums we can see that a dog that weighs 15 pounds would need around 525 calories, but a dog that weights 80 pounds would need around 1600 calories.

As your dog ages into his or her senior years their nutritional needs become a lot more particular. Tailoring the diet to match the breed and condition is even more important at this age and at this point it can be an especially good idea to consult your vet. Small dogs generally live longer than their larger friends and introducing a diet with high levels of antioxidants can help keep them healthy when they’re most susceptible to certain illnesses.

Larger dogs on the other hand, seem to almost always suffer from some form of arthritis when approaching their golden years. Because of this, large breed senior foods tend to contain certain ingredients (look out for Glucosamine and Chondroitin on the label) that promote joint health.

As I mentioned before, as your dog gets older it’s usually a good idea to consult your vet about dietary needs. In fact, over the last couple of years the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has made nutritional checks a standard assessment for every patient, along with temperature pulse, respiration rates and pain. This is great news for those of us who want nutritional advice when we visit the vet – even the AHAA admits that only 7% of dogs that could benefit from specialized diets are actually on them.

So, baring all of this mind you may find yourself faced with the task of switching and altering your dogs diet from time to time. For some dogs this will never be problem (we probably all know a dog that will eat anything!) but for some, changes in diet can lead to diarrhea, a loss of appetite and other small complaints.

When this is the case (or even if you just want to be careful) adapting the diet gradually is the best course of action. Start off on day one by mixing 20% of the new food with 80% of the old. On day two mix 40% of the new with 60% of the old and so on. If at any point during this process vomiting, a loss of appetite or diarrhea develops stop feeding your dog the new food and visit your vet as soon as possible.

In fact, when it comes to nutrition the main thing to remember is that a visit to your vet is never too over the top, especially as your dog approaches his or her senior years.

Lewis Wallerd is the co-founder of Dog Walkers City – the webs directory of Dog walkers covering the US and the UK. Fancy the idea of being a Dog sitter? Check out this guide.

April is an important month for abused animals, animals doomed to puppy mills and animals that are used for fighting. If you are against animal cruelty you can show your support by wearing orange during April. Spread the word and let’s see just how much orange we can get people to wear to show support. Simply wearing an orange ribbon will make a statement that animal abuse will not be tolerated.

In 1824 the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was founded in England to pass laws protecting carriage horses from abuse. In 1866 the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was organized to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. Even that far back in history there were people who cared what happens to animals and it continues today.

In 2006 SPCA International was founded in the United States. There outreach programs have helped thousand of animals drastically reducing animal suffering and abuse in the U.S. and worldwide. They assist in areas of conflict and disaster in crisis situations where animals are at risk or in danger. They award shelter grants, emergency grants and offer education and support programs to advance the safety and well-being of animals.

The Humane Society of the United States helps animals by conducting campaigns to reform industries; investigating cases of animal cruelty; advocating for better laws to protect animals; providing animal rescue and emergency response; and caring for animals through their sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation centers, emergency shelters and clinics.

The AnimalShelter.org created a web site to assist in placing homeless animals throughout the United States. They provide a database of animals which will allow you to search for your next pet based on location, breed, gender, animal type and size. You can search their directory to find local animal shelters, lost and found pets, dog parks and find answers to frequently asked questions. Adopting a pet is saving a life.

Local shelters play an integral part in communities getting involved. Volunteers are essential to help with the many required chores to care for the abused and abandoned animals. Foster homes are always needed for temporary placement while a loving family is found. Greeters to assist customers in finding the right pet for their home are always helpful. You may find it fun to help when your local shelter has an adoption fair. If you are an idea person you would be invaluable to help arrange and plan fundraisers and publicity events. Knowledge of grooming is helpful but not mandatory to bath and groom the homeless creatures to increase there chances of adoption. Saving newspapers and old towels to donate is easy enough for anyone to do. The opportunities are endless to get involved.

These are only a handful of wonderful organizations that are dedicated to protect animals and we need to support them however we can. The most important thing we can do is report abuse or cruelty to animals. Learn how to recognize cruelty and know the signs that an animal is being abused.

“It’s almost impossible to make conclusions based on a pet’s behavior alone,” says the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT. “The best way to tell whether a pet is being or has been abused is to examine him and his surrounding environment.”

ASPCA’s list of signs that may alert you an animal needs help.

Physical Signs

• Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck
• Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated
• Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
• Extreme thinness or emaciation-bones may be visible
• Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
• Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes
• Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
• Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
• Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
• An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
• Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness

Environmental Signs

• Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary
• Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter
• Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
• Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with too many other animals

“Reporting suspected animal cruelty ensures that animals in jeopardy receive prompt and often lifesaving care,” says ASPCA Special Agent Joann Sandano. “By making a complaint to the police or humane society in your area—you can even do so anonymously—you help ensure that animals in need are rescued and that perpetrators of animal cruelty are brought to justice.”

If you see signs of animal abuse, don’t keep it to yourself!

We all know how much MOST dogs love riding in the car. Sure, there’s the occasional nervous Nellie, but for the most part they are ready to go. Here are some amusing videos where dogs are enjoying that ride in the car.

“Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear.”
Dave Barry

“Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog’s face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window!”
Steve Bluestone

“Mutt enjoyed traveling by car, but he was an unquiet passenger. He suffered from the delusion, common to dogs and small boys, that when he was looking out the right-hand side, he was probably missing something far more interesting on the left-hand side.”
Farley Mowat

“Dogs love to go for rides. A dog will happily get into any vehicle going anywhere.”
Dave Barry

“I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.”
- Rita Rudner

by Diana Holoman

They say the grass is always greener on the other side. I don’t believe that to be true. It seems actually to be green with sporadic grassless patches, brown spots, most surely marks of territory, accidents, or most commonly a simple relief the bladder.

Before making the decision to get a dog, I often saw the people with the “I love my miniature schnauzer” or “my Labrador is smarter than your honor student” stickers on the back of their minivans and laughed hysterically. And while I can proudly say that my affection towards my dog has not yet reached the level of altering the appearance of my vehicle, I can say that I have joined the canine club. If loving my dog to nauseating amounts is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

It hit me just how far gone I was over the Thanksgiving holidays. My fiancé and I were traveling to spend time with his family and of course Paisley, our 8-month-old golden retriever, had to come. We loaded her kennel, which honestly is as big as a small Manhattan studio apartment into the back of the Tahoe and embarked on our 6-hour journey. After two hours, we stopped for a human and puppy pee break and when we opened the doors of the kennel, Ole’ Paisley girl was covered in vomit. Poor baby was carsick. Now how do you think I – who hates when my fiancé even sneezes because it makes me think of boogers – reacted when I saw her in that kennel? I immediately comforted her. I hugged her, I cleaned her kennel, and for the rest of the trip, I smelled like kibbles and bits.

We eventually made it to our destination. Sure, I was covered in vomit and smelled worse than my animal, but nonetheless, we were done traveling. Thanksgiving came and went but we were in Houston for our Thanksgiving holiday, of course we wanted to shop on black Friday. Only problem? Little Paisley is very strictly kennel trained and isn’t allowed to roam the house when we are gone in fear that everything we own will be ripped to shreds upon our return. What we then discovered as an option for Paisley’s amusement while we were shopping was something that immediately made me raise my eyebrows. Doggie Day Camp. It’s as if the golden arches of doggie heaven were glowing at us as we read the advertisement online. A place to take your dog so they can play while you play? A place that helps to reduce the guilt of actually having fun without them? A place where you can pay extra for pedicures, ice cream cones, and animal movie time?

I immediately knew if I signed her up – if Paisley became a day camper – that I had reached a point of no return. Go ahead, slap a bumper sticker on the back of my Tahoe because if my dog goes to day care, then obviously I’m going to think she is smarter than your honor student.

Nine hours later, after shopping till I stumbled in exhaustion out of the Houston Galleria, I remembered sweet Paisley. Walking into the “day camp” that conveniently lasted until 9 pm, I wondered if she would be huddled in a corner with a pitiful look that read “ABANDONED BY TRAITORS” or “HELP! MY MOM MISTAKED ME FOR A DOG AND TOOK ME TO PETSMART.”

But when I caught a glimpse of her, she wrestling with a Brittany Spaniel, tail wagging faster than my heart was beating. I tapped on the glass and she didn’t even look up. I tapped again; she looked, and then went back to playing. My heart sunk for a moment. Perhaps playing with me wasn’t the most fun she could possibly have? I felt like a mother watching her child leave for the prom. I quickly tapped on the class again with a treat this time, you know, just to remind her who her favorite was …just in case she may have let it slip her mind while playing with her new four-legged friends.

That night, as Paisley and I both slept in the car on the way home from our day shopping in Houston, we both thanked the puppy Gods that I had crossed over from the green side to the brown spotted side of the park.

When Diana isn’t working, she enjoys going out to eat, playing with her new Golden Retriever Paisley and watching college sports with friends and family. Although she is a Tar Heel born and bred, she is excited to have the opportunity to live and experience life in Lubbuck, Texas.

by Alex Paul

Anyone who owns – and loves – a pet rabbit knows that the animals need space to play and exercise in order to stay healthy. Exercise time can, to a certain extent, be provided by an outside run or letting the rabbit roam the house (supervised). It’s important to have a hutch that provides enough room for your rabbit to move around freely though, otherwise it may suffer both mentally and physically.

Despite this, many rabbit owners still used old fashioned hutches that were designed to be used when breeding rabbits for food. These hutches were designed to be small and relatively in order to “fatten up” the animal. It goes without saying that these don’t provide the space and comfort that a pet rabbit needs!

There is still some confusion about the size of rabbit hutch that a pet owner should be, and research is still ongoing. This can make it difficult for pet owners as there is a lot of conflicting information. It does depend on the size of the rabbit – a single dwarf doesn’t require as much room as larger breeds – but there are some general guidelines to follow. The following were recommended by the RSPCA, although they are currently undertaking more research into the “ideal” hutch:

• Rabbits need to be able to stand up fully as well as move around freely. Many hutches have low roofs, so keep this in mind when choosing one.
• Aside from standing up, the rabbit should be able to lie outstretched in all directions.
• It should also be able to take several hops in any direction, and turn around without bumping into something.

It’s important to keep in mind that these guidelines should apply when the rabbit is fully grown. The RSPCA recommends buying a hutch that will last the lifetime of the rabbit, rather than a “starter” home and a larger “adult” home.

Aside from the size of the hutch, there are a number of other considerations. The hutch should be made up of both a shelter and a living area. The living area is where the rabbit can hop around, eat, and play, while the shelter is a place where it can feel secure and rest. If you keep several rabbits in the same hutch, they should all be able to rest in the shelter at the same time. The shelter is particularly important for rabbits kept in outdoor hutches, as it provides shelter from the environment and a place to hide if there are any predators around.

Alex Paul runs a website reviewing rabbit hutches. The site provides information on various hutches – including both indoor and outdoor hutches – along with guides on how to choose one for your rabbit. Having grown up with rabbits, Alex is passionate about educating current and future rabbit owners on the benefits of choosing the right hutch. His site only contains information from reliable sources – such as the RSPCA – along with personal experience.

by Andy Tucker

A happy pet is a positive asset of a happy home, and that means you have to treat them right – but how much pampering is too much? We all want to take care of our beloved pets and make sure they have everything they need, but sometimes we see all the great, new accessories on the market and we just can’t help ourselves. And let’s face it, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional splurge on some stylish pet accessories. You simply have to ask yourself who you’re really trying to make happy.

A Bit Extravagant

There may be a fine line between pampering your pooch and being a little extravagant, but there are many cases in which pet owners launched themselves so far over that line they barely even realized it was there.

Would you, for example, buy a $24,000 Louis XV-style rosewood bed for your pets? How about a $3,000 bottle of French perfume? These may seem like absurdly excessive items to the average pet owner, but there are some very dedicated people out there who will buy these things without thinking twice.

Of course, not all of these people have the time to care for their pets directly, so they might purchase an automatic dog washer for another $20,000 or so. And if they have to be away from their home for an extended period of time, they want to make sure that their puppies have a comfortable place to stay – such as a 50sq. ft. doggie mansion complete with air conditioning, 7ft ceilings, and high-end furniture.

Combining Style and Necessity

It is possible to pamper your pets with the things they really need, and you don’t need to go overboard at all. It only takes a few simple items to make your pets really happy, and you will still have a lot of options to match your own individual preferences.

Some quality dog apparel, for example, doesn’t have to cost a lot, but it can help keep your puppy warm in the colder months. A nice sweater or jacket will provide that extra warmth, and you can choose the styles you like the most – and it’s a lot more affordable than a heater for that doggie mansion.

A range of dog toys will keep your pets entertained for hours at a time, and a few extra pillows or cushions will create the perfect spot for them to rest and revitalize before they start playing again. Finally, there are the dog collars and leashes. These are important items that establish ownership and identification, but they are also great for a little added style. While you should take the time to find the dog collars that are right for your breed of canine, the last thing you need to worry about is whether or not it is studded with real diamonds.

If you are going to pamper your pooch (and everyone should, at least a little), make sure you do it with the things that actually improve conditions for your pet. Your dogs will appreciate it, and your bank account will probably think better of you, too.

Andy Tucker has been in the pet supplies industry for over 15 years. He has experience with creating new types of dog collars to suit different needs and enjoys cooking up homemade treats for their dogs at home.