Guest post: Why I love BarkBox

I’ve got a special treat for you today – a guest post from my pal Michelle, the lovely lady behind Hey Love Designs! (Fun fact: Michelle adopted her dog from the same rescue group where I found Bellaface.) She’s here to tell us about BarkBoxĀ – a monthly delivery of goodies for the pampered pooch in your life. I’m pretty sure Bella and Tavish want me to sign up.

* * *

Hi Friends!

Iā€™m a pal of AJā€™s and weā€™ve bonded over college memories, love of DIY, and of course, dogs! I talk about BarkBox so much that she asked me if I wanted to contribute a guest post. Of course I wanted to share the good dog love!

BarkBoxĀ is a monthly subscription of goodies ā€“ just like BirchBox ā€“ but for dogs. Each box can cost you anywhere between $19 and $29, depending on your subscription type, but the great thing about this is you getĀ fullĀ sized goodies. They can beĀ anything from toys, bones, and all-natural treats to hygiene products and innovative new gadgets.

photo 2

I decided to try it out for a few months. I actually donā€™t buy my beagle-mix Nico very many toys. Heā€™s pretty happy with his one stuffed animal, a water bottle, and a crumbled up piece of paper. But heā€™s such a great dog and deserves a little spoiling. Plus, with so many dog products out there, how do you determine which ones are good? I thought BarkBox was a great option to try something new.

Hereā€™s what I love about BarkBox:

  1. The products areĀ hand selected quality items.
  2. Aside from a few toys that werenā€™t built for strong chewers, the rest have stood the test of time and my dog loves every single one. Although each month he has a new ā€œfavoriteā€ until the next box comes.
  3. The treats are almost always grain free, organic, and have very few ingredients.
  4. You can choose the box based on the dogā€™s size. I recently upgraded to the 50+ lb dog box and Nicoā€™s happy to getting treats for a ā€œbig dog.ā€
  5. You can get a free box just my referring ONE person! No complicated referral structures. Plus that friend gets $5 off their box.
  6. They have subscription plans so you can spend as low as $19Ā a month. Believe me, itā€™s worth it.
  7. They send really fun newsletters.
  8. They have great customer service and an awesome social media presence. Check them out onĀ Facebook,Ā Twitter, andĀ Instagram.
  9. Every once in awhile theyā€™ll have a special sale where you can save money on some of the items featured in your BarkBox. Iā€™ve definitely taken advantage of this on several occasions.
  10. 10% of your subscription cost goes to a local rescue. Score!

Hereā€™s what I donā€™t love:

  1. Just a handful of times Iā€™ve gotten toys that didnā€™t last more than a day. I talked with BarkBox on Twitter and they now have a special list you can get on for ā€œtough chewers.ā€Yay!

And really thatā€™s it! I truly stand behind BarkBoxā€™s awesome service and am always raving about it, which is why Iā€™m here today. Nico approves too! I get a lot of packages for business and my online shopping addiction, and he now carefully inspects every single box, hoping itā€™s his BarkBox.

photo 3

Want in on this fun service? I would love it if you would sign up using my referral link.Ā Youā€™ll save $5!Ā Try it for a month or for six months and your dog will be so happy you tried it out. šŸ™‚

* * *

Iā€™m Michelle and I love my dog (obviously), design, and dancing. You can find me across the web at Hey Love Designs, Hey, Love (personal blog – thereā€™s more Nico love here), Twitter, and Instagram.

* * *

Want to see even more Nico? Check out theseĀ greatĀ videosĀ of Nico checking out some of his BarkBox booty! Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Michelle didn’t receive anything from BarkBox for this post. She’s just a satisfied customer who wanted to share her experience with you today!

Share

It’s raining on my face: Pilots ‘N Paws

ThreeĀ local rescue groups in the northern Virginia area (including HART and FOHA, who you may remember from such awesome dogs as Bella and Tavish) participated in a massiveĀ Pilots ‘N Paws event on Saturday. Ā The event was called the “Dog is My Copilot” Rescue Flyaway, and it helped save over 300 dogs.

As part of this flyaway event, more than one hundred dogs were brought from high-kill shelters in North Carolina to groups in northern Virginia. The dogs have now been placed in foster homes and shelters with no-kill pledges. Pretty cool, huh?

I have a special video to share with you today – it’s from the Asheville Humane Society, one of the groups in North Carolina helping to send these lucky pups on their way to northern Virginia and other destinations. (Insert obligatory tissue warning here.)

Is it raining on your face too? Ā It just so happens to be a pretty soggy day here, so perhaps everyone will just think I was outside too long.

Share

Adorable adoptables: Uniting for dog rescue edition

Last week, I told you about a great event happening today – Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue. So, let’s get to uniting, shall we?

I’m always impressed with those who are dedicated to animal rescue.Ā Local dog rescue organizations count on volunteers who help by fostering dogs in their own homes while they search for permanent placement, taking dogs to adoption events, fundraising to cover medical and boarding costs, and so much more

Many rescue groups do not have the resources to promoting their efforts on a large scale. As such, bloggers can make a big difference by spreading the word to give these unsung heroes and homeless dogs a voice.

I’ve been a bit remiss in sharing adorable adoptables lately, so I thought I would remedy that today. I’ve chosen three pups from three local rescue groups that are near and dear to my heart: Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART), Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA), and City Dogs Rescue (CDR).

Why these three? Well, HART is the rescue group where I found my beloved Bella. FOHA is the group I volunteer with right now (attending adoption events and helping with the Twitter account) and where the boys are from. CDR is a great group I discovered quite recently – I’ve been working with them as a volunteer blogger.

(Want to know how you can participate in this event? Among other things, you can blog for dog rescue, adopt a companion, spread the word about animal rescue, or even donate to or volunteer with a local rescue organization. Head over to Be the Change for Animals to find out more about today’s event and to read more from other bloggers participating today.)

And now, today’s adorable adoptables…

Continue reading

Share