His pelvis was instantly crushed and he was rushed to the hospital. He is currently in stable, but critical condition and remains under sedation. He has a long road ahead of more surgeries and rehab.

At a loss for how they could help in the short term, the team at The Monster Minders came up with a creative way to cheer and inspire Tom on his road to recovery – and handed it over to the dogs.  They are currently compiling photos, like the one below of Myles, to let him know that the entire city is behind him in the weeks and months ahead.  Photos are being displayed on a site they created just for Tom called Woofs For Tom.

You may not know Tom, but chances are you have a dog walker and pet sitter who you and your pets depend on and love.  And, even if you don’t, you are a still a fellow dog lover and Philly native!  So, let’s show Tom just how much love and support Philly pet lovers have to give.   Please take a photo of your dog or cat sending get-well wishes to help cheer up Tom when he awakens and to let him know that we’re all behind him.  Think how amazing it will be for him when he sees all of the city, furry citizens and non-furry citizens, rallying behind him!

To share your get-well picture with Tom, send a photo to woofsfortom@gmail.com.

Myles says Get Better, Tom!

Every day, every hour, every minute, pleas for help stream in about dogs and cats in need of re-homing.  And every day, hour and minute, I fight with all of my heart, soul and might to save them.  Let me tell you, it’s totally exhausting.

The desire to save them all is overwhelming because I know when I say “no,” a perfectly wonderful pet will likely be put to death. The reality that I cannot always help is sobering. I think of my own pets at home – what if someone had said “no” to them?  I’m thankful to whoever said “yes” and saved my pets so they could find their way to me. They are my life and my inspiration to keep going on the hard days, especially my dog Chloe, a Boxer blend that I love more than life itself.  I know that so many people like me, advocates in the movement to save the lives of unwanted animals, know what I mean. They feel the same feelings and have the same inspirations as I do.

I feel very lucky to know a lot of animal welfare advocates who can put egos, agendas and even conflicting philosophies aside to work together because it benefits the animals.  Dog soldiers who go into dangerous neighborhoods in the Philadelphia metro area to rescue animals suffering from abuse and neglect . . . . Transporters in North Carolina who tirelessly fight with shelter directors to save animals from the gas chamber and send them to our safe haven to find wonderful homes. . . .Volunteers who get alerts in the middle of the night for pets in need of temporary placements during fires so those displaced pets’ families can hope to be reunited with their animal after the tragedy. . . .

These brave, patient, caring, amazing people give up their time, their money and their personal lives to save just one more. They sometimes call me, ranting and raving about a situation.  Sometimes they even cry – frustrated and desperate that nothing they do seems to make a difference because there are just more and more animals needing help.

Boy, do I know what they mean.  Sometimes, I feel like I just can’t help enough so I ask the question, “Why continue to help at all?”

Just the other day, one of the best animal advocates I have ever had the honor of calling my friend sent me a text pleading for a dog that was to be euthanized in a few hours.  The shelter housing the dog ran out of kennel space. I had to decline helping because the shelter I work for, the lifesaving Delaware County SPCA, had no space either.   I later read on Facebook that the dog was euthanized.

Getting a good night’s sleep was out of the question.  Fortunately for me, I had a kitten at my house needing middle-of-the-night feedings so I could keep busy and not focus on the face of the dog – which would surely haunt my dreams.

Some of things I write might be tough to read, but – believe me – the events are even tougher to experience first-hand.  I can only hope and pray that one day all of the passionate and intelligent people who are in the business of saving lives will realize that we are not in competition with each other.  In fact, we are partners and need to join forces in whatever ways we can to help each other.  The competition are the pet stores, backyard breeders and puppy mills — not each other.  I cheer every time any animal shelter or rescue adopts out a pet.  I applaud any animal advocacy group’s efforts to raise money for low-cost or free spay/neuter for pet owners in need. I support such efforts however I can, with no strings attached.

The animals in danger RIGHT NOW need us to put our egos and agendas aside so that they can be safe and sound in a forever home tonight.  I hope you agree.

Dayna Villa, CPDT-KSA, is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and the Director of Operations at the lifesaving Delaware County SPCA. For more information about the Delco SPCA, visit www.delcospca.org

This Saturday, May 18th, from 10 AM – 12 PM, Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and his wife will be hosting a party for Philadelphia dog lovers at the  Schuylkill River Park Dog Run, located at 25th & Spruce Streets.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and funds for our very own Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless, abandoned, and unwanted animals.

In case you didn’t know, PAWS is the city’s largest no-kill shelter .  But it also operates a high-volume, low-cost clinic serving pet owners and rescue organizations that lack access to affordable basic veterinary care. I’ve taken my cats to the clinic for their spay surgery – and the experience  and care that my cats received was just spectacular.  Through several adoption locations, special events, and a foster care network, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals each year.  But they need our continued support to keeping serving Philly’s neediest animals!

It’s going to be a fun-filled day with agility courses by Opportunity Barks, games and prizes, information on local resources, a silent auction and plenty of dog treats!  You and your dog definitely do not want to miss out on this one!  Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 15th at Doggie Ball – Eventbrite.  Tickets are a $20 donation, which will benefit PAWS.

Sitting next to the quiet and pleasant dog for those bumpy, nausea-inducing two hours confirmed something to me: that every dog should be taught to use a crate!  Maybe you’re thinking, “Nicole, my dog isn’t going to be flying anywhere, why should I teach them to use a crate?”  Well friend. . . read on to hear about three situations where crating may be absolutely necessary. . .

• Overnight trips to the vet.  Extended trips to the vet are stressful for so many reasons including ouchy needles, foreign handlers, and strange noises and smells.  One more stressor. . . spending the night in a crate if you aren’t used to it.  But at least you can practice for that last one.  If you condition your dog to accept being in a crate, it’s one less stressor that comes from the stay at the vet.  And your vet will be happy you did it too!
• Hotel stays.  My dogs regularly go with me to shows, conferences, and vacations.  So there are times when we stay in hotels.  Rule # 1 of every dog-friendly hotel I’ve stayed at . . . when you are out of the room, your dog must be confined to a crate.  Not the type to take your dog on vacation?  Then think about this. . . what if there was a natural disaster and you were displaced for a few days or weeks and had to stay in a hotel?  Better that your dog already knows how to be in a crate than has a crash course at a busy hotel filled with already agitated guests!
• Visits with non-dog lovers.  Everyone has a friend or family member who is less than thrilled about your bouncy dog begging for snacks at their dinner table.  If you are hosting a party and your dog becomes overstimulated or one of your guests is frightened by or allergic to your dog, you need to act fast.  Crates are a great way of keeping your pup out of the way of people who are not as attuned to their charms as you are.

Now that you understand why it may be important to crate your dog in certain situations, here are some tips to help you get your dog acclimated.

• Make the crate a positive experience for your dog.  Make sure he’s got lots of toys and special, favorite chew toys to keep him busy in the crate.
• Start with the crate in the same room as you are sitting and praise your dog when he is calm and quiet inside.
• Make sure the crate is large enough for your dog to be comfortable inside.  The general rule is that the crate should be large enough for your dog to stand-up, lie-down, and turn in a full circle inside.

So take a tip from Rally’s owner and start your dog on crate training today!  Your dog may never need it, but if they do, you will be prepared!

Need more tips on crate training your dog?  Check out our website at www.phillyunleashed.com where you can ask one of our certified trainers for advice!

And we share our dog.

The Govenor

You hear nightmare stories of doggie-parents breaking up and suing one another for custody.  Even worse – dogs being abandoned to shelters because no amicable agreement can be made with regard to their care.  I became so aware of the need for shared-custody arrangements for former couples that my company offers pet taxi-ing services for exes who share custody but prefer to not to interact with one another.

But Jordan and I knew that  a shared custody arrangement had to happen – for our sakes and for Governor Monkey.  So that he still got in all of his hikes, road trips, and farmer-direct specialty food pick-ups.  It meant that, in spite of our  love mistakes, our innocent pup could go on with his life without too much stressful interruption.

Nonetheless, the day I smelled a woman’s perfume as I bent down to kiss my dog’s head, I had no idea how to react.  While we are both aware of one another’s dating lives being in existence, it was still jarring. Right there, literally in my face, was proof.

My dog might have a step-mom.

Now, for those of you with human children, you might think this entire line of thinking is ridiculous. You might wonder why someone else in my dog’s life would even matter.  But my pets are my babies.  I spend heaps of time training my animals, worrying about them, making their food, understanding what every single facial twitch means.  So when I allow for the human emotions of jealousy and fear to enter the picture, my mind goes wild –  I imagine Governor Monkey unmonitored around  his new step-mom’s children and biting them when they touch is displastic hips.  I picture her feeding him from the table.  Or him curling up at night in her bed and it makes me just feel, well, icky.  I create scenarios and stories in my mind of everything she is doing to un-do all of my hard work for my baby boy.

When sharing human children, it is perfectly logical and acceptable to have rules you  about what your kids are and are not allowed to do whilst with your ex and their potential new beau.  Said list might not seem obsessive and crazy.  Yet, if I typed out a list of all of the vocab Gov knows, the differences between “leave it” and “drop it,” and the fact that I never say “no” to him (only “oops”) in my ardent commitment to positive-reinforcement training. . . Am I even going to be taken seriously?

I used to feel guilty when my ex-boyfriend  would walk Governor.  That, in some way, it was unfair to Jordan.  Or worse, that Jordan would see our dog out with him, and feel that same pang I felt when I smelled that unfamiliar perfume .  But then I realized – anyone who is going to be a part of my life is going to have Gov in it – and the same simply had to be true for Jordan if our custody arrangement was to remain fair.  Who am I to worry about Governor Monkey having a step-mom when he’s happily cavorting on vacation with me and my boyfriend?

Ultimately, I’ve learned that I cannot control everything.  And that that isn’t always a bad thing.  I support Jordan and her right to move on and find love again.  I want that for her.  That necessarily includes accepting that Gov is going to someday, have a step-mom.  And that woman will play a role in Gov’s life over which I will have little-to-no say.  Just like parents of human children, Jordan and I must hope that the priorities and commitments we have set for our dog’s health, behaviors and overall well-being will carry over even when one of us is not present.  I can spend my time wringing my hands and being controlling, or I could even not allow Gov to go with Jordan on her weekend trips to see the “other woman.”  However, I’m well aware that when he does, he gets to run around on the beach and be doted upon by the woman’s young son, all of which thrills him.  My other option is to be  open to my dog giving to others the amazing gifts of “love”  and to him receiving the same from those around him .  Including from a step-parent.

No one else will ever be Gov’s mom (two is plenty). But if he is likely to have a step-dad, then it’s only fair that he’s also allowed to have a step-mom, too.

Now I just need for the other woman to wear a less floral perfume.

Eddie can also be a challenging eater, grazer. He goes on hunger strikes often and I try adding bits of cheese or chicken broth to his dry food to persuade him to eat. I know he will eat when he’s hungry so the only problem is if he doesn’t eat it within a few hours I end up throwing it out because I’m worried that the food has gone bad.

FrostyBowlz

Recently, we were sent a complementary FrostyBowlz® (see picture) to try out for our readers.  I have to say, the FrostyBowlz® solved all of our problems!

FrostyBowlz®, like many other innovative pet products, was inspired by a dog named Jager’s owner (and FrostyBowlz inventor) Jeffrey Brown we noticed that Jager wasn’t drinking much water while he was away.  But when Jeffrey came home each day and gave Jager some cold, fresh water, he just guzzled it like he had been out in the desert all day.  Jeffrey realized that Jager wasn’t touching his water during the daytime because it had become warm . . . he preferred his water cold.  Which made total sense to Jeffrey – after all, he did, too.  After unsuccessfully scouring the internet for a bowl that would keep Jager’s water cold, he decided he would just have to create it himself.  And so, FrostyBowlz® was born.

It comes in three pieces:  The bowl, the core, and base.  The stainless steel bowl has an insert, or the “FrostyCore™.”   The  FrostyCore™ (blue bowl) has a non-toxic gel inside.  You just place it in the freezer until it gets cold, and then insert it under the stainless steel bowl. The bowl is now cold, and can keep water and uneaten food cold for 14+ hours.  By adding a little water to the base, you can even keep away bugs and ants.   Keeping hydrated with a cool drink in summer month is critical and we will be packing this in our travel bag this summer!

Since it hasn’t been to warm out yet, I have been using it to keep his food safe until he eats it. I can’t wait to use it this week when his friends are over, no more puddles!  To purchase your very own , go to the FrostyBowlz® Shop.  The bowl retails for about $25 depending on size and it really is a summer essential.

Disclosure:  ThePhillyDog.com received a free FrostyBowlz for this review.

The Pet360 knew that we wanted to create an infographic that supported and encouraged fostering and adoption.  And so, I present to you -

Get more great info about fostering pets at Pet360.com/foster

Man’s Best Friend from Chris Neal on Vimeo.

The first team to complete the hunt will receive a very special prize! Prizes will also be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd place teams.  To register, email info@phillynokill.org.  Can’t make it?  Why not sponsor a shelter dog and their volunteer to escort?  Your $20 donation will give a shelter pup a fun, tiring day out while strutting their stuff to potential adopters!

For more information, check out the CNKP Facebook event page.  The hunt begins at the Walnut Street Pier!  See you then!

This is the same date as the Broad Street Run – so plan your travel plans accordingly!