Tag Archives: puppies

Adorable adoptables in northern Virginia: Belle & Buddy

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Every Sunday I’ll be featuring adoptable pets from local rescue groups.  In particular, I’ll be sharing adorable adoptables from the Humane Society of Fairfax County (HSFC) and A Forever Home Rescue Foundation (A Forever Home). 

November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, so I’ve got some lovely senior pets to share with you today.  You know I think that senior pets rock, so let’s find them some homes.  Let’s get to it!

First up, meet Belle the Beagle!  This lovely Beagle/Dachshund mix is approximately 11 years old.  (She looks a bit like my Bella, don’t you think?  With that resemblance, she’s obviously 100% adorable.)  Here’s her bio from A Forever Home:

“Belle is a sweet dog in search of friendship, love and comfort. She
tends to enjoy being a super loyal friend to mainly one person and
doesn’t want to have you out of her sight. Belle warms up quickly to
women and those who are soft spoken. Hanging out in the yard, going for
car rides, or just hanging around the house are all things Belle has a
good time doing if she is in your company. She would do well as an only
dog or as a part of a dog pack. Belle enjoys the company of her many
foster dog friends, but also craves to be the center of her loyal
friend’s attention. Belle is fully housetrained and crate trained. She
is a very smart lady dog and can do several fun tricks, including ‘What
up dog?’ (fancy shake), ‘Roll Over’, and even balance a treat on her
nose. If you think you could be Belle’s best friend and provide a
loving, calm home for Belle please send us an email and come meet her.”

If you want to be Belle’s best friend, visit A Forever Home for more information or email Info@aforeverhome.org.  To view the other pets available for adoption at A Forever Home, click here.

A Forever Home also has a weekly adoption event at the PetCo in Chantilly.  For the address and to find out more info, click here. 
(If you have your eye on a specific pet, please email for information
first – not all pets will be at the weekly event.  However, there are a
lot of awesome pets in need of homes, so if you’re in the neighborhood,
stop by and meet some of them!)

Next up, meet Buddy the Basset Hound!  (Apparently I’m all about the alliteration today.)  Isn’t he handsome?  Here’s his bio from HSFC:

“Don’t let Buddy’s age keep you from coming out to meet
this adorable purebred Basset Hound. He is such a sweet boy. At 8 yrs.
he still has lots of spunk and is always ready and willing to go for
long walks whenever you are. He’s great with other dogs and loves people
of all ages. He’s housebroken, loves attention, and will be a really
good companion for someone who doesn’t want to play fetch all day and
night. Give Buddy a chance to show you he can be the best pal you’ve
ever had. 

Attributes: Best Friend you’ll ever have!”
 

Think this young at heart pup knows the way to your heart?  If so, visit the HSFC website for more information.  To view the other pets available for adoption at HSFC, click here.
Do you have room in your home (and your heart) for one of these sweethearts?  Then contact HSFC or A Forever Home.  If you know someone else who might be in the market for an awesome companion, please share this post.  Let’s find some homes for Belle and Buddy!


Bios and photos used with permission from HSFC and A Forever Home.
 

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Take a cue from the dog and treat yo self

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First of all, some good news: Bella’s long national nightmare is over.  Her staples have been removed and she’s gotten clearance to say goodbye to her cone.  (Just in time, too… I think Bella has had enough of my attempts at cone humor.)

Thank goodness for the Comfy Cone, however.  I don’t think Bella would have ever forgiven me had I made her wear that plastic one for two weeks.  They had a good run, Bella and her Comfy Cone.  In fact, Bella’s flashlight costume won her first prize in Comfy Cone’s Halloween contest!  This cone, at least, had a (reflective) silver lining.

Moving on… in honor of Bella’s good news and inspired by Parks and Recreation, I think you should treat yo self this weekend.  Life can really take its toll on you sometimes, so every now and then it’s important to take it easy.  Our dogs seem to know how to live in the moment and enjoy life, and I’m pretty sure Bella doesn’t feel the least bit bad when she decides to treat herself.  Talk about a good role model.  I’ll help get you started…

  1. Your punny pet name for the week: Tom Catterford As a bonus, here’s one for the neighborhood deer: Ron Fawnson.
  2. Start your morning off right.  Play this song when you wake up.  It’s better than coffee. (No joke, I want to wake up to this song every morning. I am confident that I could do anything after listening to it.)
  3. You might consider planning a day trip with your best friend.  Just get out and enjoy the world.  (Note: words cannot even describe how much I love the video linked to here.)
  4. If a trip’s not in the cards, perhaps you should treat yourself to some culture – spend some quality time gazing at these photos from the Water Droplet Zoo. It’ll make you feel like a real aristoquack.
  5. After lunch, take in a classic movie with a real cinema buff.
  6. Don’t worry, your day should include some silly moments too.  Enjoy some comic relief, such as these dogs in wigs.
  7. Why not broaden your horizons and make a new friend today?
  8. Whatever you do this weekend, remind yourself that there’s so much to be happy about if you just know where to look.

You might be wondering how to cap off a nice day of treating yourself.  Never fear, I have it all taken care of. First, find someone to drive you around so you can relax.  Then, if you’re into the arts, might I recommend tickets to the ballet?

Not your style?  That’s okay.  If you’re a sports fan, how about a hockey game?

However you choose to spend your weekend, I hope it’s a good one and that you find some time to treat yourself.  If all else fails, just forget about the world for a while and do your own happy dance.

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Back… when we were innocent

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This photo was taken in approximately 1 BC (one month Before Cone). In fact, it’s a photo from the vet’s office. If only Bella knew what she was getting herself into that day… wonder what she was thinking?

We head back to the vet on Friday. I hope that means that the staples come out and that the cone can be put into storage (after a thorough cleaning, however… that thing is pretty gross because Bella spends half her day licking it).

For bonus points (on the imaginary quiz I am apparently giving you):  Can you guess what song inspired the title of today’s post?  (These two posts might provide a clue.)

Give up?  Here’s the answer.

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Happy Halloween from the Cone Ranger

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When she’s not being a flashlight, I like to think that Bella is dressed in costume as the Cone Ranger.  Accordingly, here’s a video of her in “costume” for your Halloween enjoyment (especially since I already shared my favorite Halloween song on Saturday).  I’d recommend watching this one with the sound on to get the full benefit of the soundtrack. Poor Cone Ranger – life on Coney Island is full of challenges.

Hi-Yo, Salamander! Away!

Seriously, she was so full of energy last week (when I shot this footage) that her crazy was at an all time high. We’ve managed to institute some “cone breaks” into her schedule, which seems to help.  While supervised, she seems to – mostly – be leaving her incision alone.  She’s still all coned up at night and when home alone, however.  I don’t trust her that much yet.

Hope you have a great Halloween!

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Adorable adoptables in Northern Virginia: Shea & Bonnie

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Every Sunday I’ll be featuring adoptable pets from local rescue groups.  In particular, I’ll be sharing adorable adoptables from the Humane Society of Fairfax County (HSFC) and A Forever Home Rescue Foundation (A Forever Home).  (In light of the holiday, perhaps I should have saved Boo for today!)

Let’s get to it!

First up, meet Shea!  This Lab mix is approximately 5 years old.  I just want to snuggle with her!  Who could resist that face?  Here’s her bio from A Forever Home:

“Shea is a beautiful, loyal black lab mix. She is
very laid back and loves relaxing around the house while lying on her
back. Nothing makes her happier than greeting you when you come home
and letting you rub her belly. Snuggling in bed is also at the top of
her list of things she loves, as are car rides and walks around the
neighborhood. Shea is very relaxed and can be good around other dogs
once she gets to know them better. Shea spent the last 4 years being
best friends and house mates with her fellow lab–mix friend, but did
take some time getting used to him. Shea would do better in a house
without young children.”

If you want to be Shea’s snuggle buddy, visit A Forever Home for more information or email Info@aforeverhome.org.  To view the other pets available for adoption at A Forever Home, click here.

A Forever Home also has a weekly adoption event at the PetCo in Chantilly.  For the address and to find out more info, click here. 
(If you have your eye on a specific pet, please email for information
first – not all pets will be at the weekly event.  However, there are a
lot of awesome pets in need of homes, so if you’re in the neighborhood,
stop by and meet some of them!)

I’m changing it up a bit this week… I’m adding a cat into the mix!  When I saw this beautiful black cat, I just knew I had to share her with you.  So, without further ado… meet Bonnie!  Here’s her bio from HSFC:

“Bonnie’s a real beauty. Her white socks and the white tip on the end of
her tail, sets her apart from other black long hair cats. She knows
she’s beautiful and walks proudly strutting her stuff. She needs a home
of her own so her true personality can shine.”
 

Do you have the perfect home for this gorgeous gal?  If so, visit the HSFC website for more information.  To view the other pets available for adoption at HSFC, click here.
Do you have room in your home (and your heart) for one of these sweethearts?  Then contact HSFC or A Forever Home.  If you know someone else who might be in the market for an awesome companion, please share this post.  Let’s find some homes for Shea and Bonnie!


Bios and photos used with permission from HSFC and A Forever Home.
 

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Those better be some good treats

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It’s almost time to watch Halloween cartoons!  (Yes, I am five.)  I do love It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – however, for my favorite special, I have to break out the DVD player.  Which one is that, you might ask?  Garfield, of course.  What’s yours?

Anyway, before I do that, I owe you some Halloween linkage.  Enjoy…

  1. This week’s punny pet names are inspired by my friend Coney McConerson: Conan O’Whinin’, Ichabod Cone and Cone Crawford.  (I’ve also added a few new nicknames for my Coney Island friend. One of my favorites?  The Cone Ranger.)
  2. Looking for an easy Halloween treat this weekend?  Try making this candy cane bark I shared over on the baking blog.
  3. Halloween is Monday… which means it’s the last Friday that I can share Halloween costumes this year.  Let’s start with 6 awesome dog costumes inspired by food.
  4. Those photos were taken at the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade.  Want more?  I aim to please.
  5. Remember that awesome collection of cat costumes from last week?  Now there’s one for dogs too.
  6. Still haven’t figured out a costume for your pup?  Lucky you – Doggie Stylish has a ton of ideas and tutorials!  Or perhaps you’d prefer something simple? (Whatever you choose, make sure to follow these safety tips from To Dog With Love.)
  7. Bella’s not so into pumpkin carving… maybe she’s just intimidated by the skills of these carving creatures.
  8. Speaking of pumpkins, these Dog O’Lanterns from PupLove and Gardening with Wyatt are pretty awesome.
  9. Don’t feel like carving? It’s not necessary for maximum cute.  Exhibit A: some photos of pooches hanging out with pumpkins. 

Finally, this week’s video:

I hope that you have a wonderful Halloween weekend!

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The accidental Halloween costume

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It’s time for the big reveal.  What will Bella be for Halloween? 

To be honest, I don’t have the heart to make Bella wear a Halloween costume when she’s already stuck in a cone.  (She’s not a huge fan of being dressed up even when she’s in a good mood.)

However, the new cone appears to have a silver lining… literally.  This weekend, we discovered that the cone has some reflective qualities.  As a result, photos taken with a flash end up like this:

Have you guessed it yet?   Keep reading…

She’s going as a flashlight!

Poor Coney Island.  The insults never stop coming… I even got some of this snazzy flashlight action on video:

What’s your pet’s Halloween costume this year?

UPDATE: I just got a call from the vet – Bella’s lump was benign!  Yay!

UPDATE 2: It’s a Halloween Parade Blog Hop from afFURmation! 

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An update from Coney Island

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Bella has a new cone (the Comfy Cone).  She seems to prefer this one to the plastic monstrosity she was wearing on Saturday.  Her navigation has improved.  It also makes drinking easier and appears to make sleeping more comfortable.

However, the new cone has not caused her to develop an appreciation for life as the sole occupant of Coney Island in our household.  I still catch her shooting me dirty looks on a regular basis.  The fact that I keep referring to her as Coney Island and Coney McConerson probably isn’t helping matters.  (When she takes a nap in the middle of the living room these days, she’s like her own little island of annoyance.  I wouldn’t recommend it as a tourist destination.)
I asked Bella to watch the following video shared with me by Pamela from Something Wagging This Way Comes.  She was not amused (apparently they don’t enjoy cone humor on Coney Island).  However, as a not-so-proud member of the People’s Republic of Evil Cone Purchasers, I found it highly entertaining.


Thanks for sending this my way, Pamela.  I love it!

On a related note, I think Bella has been deploying her cone to score maximum sympathy points.  Last night, those points were awarded in the form of chicken.  The cone has really upped her game in the begging department.


Tomorrow, I reveal what Bella’s going as for Halloween… any guesses?  (Hint: the cone is involved.)

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Adorable adoptables in northern Virginia: Buddy & Marty

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Every Sunday I’ll be featuring adoptable pets from local rescue groups.  In particular, I’ll be sharing adorable adoptables from the Humane Society of Fairfax County (HSFC) and A Forever Home Rescue Foundation (A Forever Home).  Let’s get to it!

First up, meet Buddy!  This Border Collie/Spaniel Mix is approximately 6 years old.  Could this handsome guy be the one for you?  Here’s his bio from A Forever Home:

“Buddy and Boo lost their home due to their family breaking up. Buddy is
a lovebug. He gets along with other dogs and loves everyone. He is
housebroken and would just like a lap to sit in.”

If you have a lap for Buddy, visit A Forever Home for more information or email Info@aforeverhome.org.  To view the other pets available for adoption (including his pal Boo) at A Forever Home, click here.

A Forever Home also has a weekly adoption event at the PetCo in Chantilly.  For the address and to find out more info, click here. 
(If you have your eye on a specific pet, please email for information
first – not all pets will be at the weekly event.  However, there are a
lot of awesome pets in need of homes, so if you’re in the neighborhood,
stop by and meet some of them!)

Up next, meet Marty!  This little cutie weighs approximately 15 pounds.  Here’s his bio from HSFC:

“This little fella is not only cute as a button, but
about as sweet as you can get. He’s only 4 yrs. young, super small,
loves everyone and everyone loves him. Marty was neglected and wants
desperately to find someone who will love him. As much as this boy has
been though, he is still full of sweetness. He has a beautiful grey and
white coat and is a purebred Shih Tzu. Come and make Marty’s biggest
wish come true…a family who will love him forever!


Attributes: Incredible Little Fella!”

 

If you’re interested in meeting Marty and loving him forever, visit the HSFC website for more information.  To view the other pets available for adoption at HSFC, click here.
Do you have room in your home (and your heart) for one of these pups?  Then contact HSFC or A Forever Home.  If you know someone else who might be in the market for an awesome companion, please share this post.  Let’s find some homes for these great pups!


Bios and photos used with permission from HSFC and A Forever Home.
 

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Cone of Extreme Annoyance

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Bella would like to register a complaint. She has decided that “Cone of Shame” is not really an accurate name for this torture device.  It’s more like a Cone of Extreme Annoyance.

I think I’m currently on her List.  She keeps running into things and giving me dirty looks.

So far, she’s doing okay, other than the fact that she’s obviously annoyed.  She currently has so many pills that I’m beginning to think she needs one of those pill caddies, however.  (Antibiotics and pain meds plus her usual thyroid medicine.)   

Looks like I’ll be having a lazy day of watching TV so that I can hang out with her and keep her from overdoing it.  Could be worse…

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