He was dropped off as a puppy in the middle of campus where I worked, a true “Sewanee Dog.” He was a lab-chow mix, our perfect mutt. He had a soft black coat, black spots on his tongue and one ear that just never fully dropped. More importantly he was perfect for our family, big but soft, sweet but protective.

He loved car rides, chasing birds at the beach, peanut butter, whipped cream, ice cream, being in the water, licking people with his extra long and spotted tongue, and he always wanted to be with us. We affectionally referred to him as “a people dog.” His favorite words were walk, car ride, treat and greenie.

For the first year of his life he commuted from Sewanee to St. Louis until Dave and I were married. I think that must have started his love of car trips. After that, he always wanted to join us and was a very handsome co-pilot. It must have felt amazing to sit in the front seat and feel the wind blowing in his face.

He loved the beach. We would drive (14 hours) instead of fly every summer to NC just so we could take him knowing how much he loved to chase the birds, and romp in the water (video). Strolling down the beach not on a leash with his tail swinging high in the air you could sense he had a smile on his face and you knew he was enjoying “his happy place”. On one beach trip he met a dog of a famous person and he did not act like a gentleman. You all will have to ask Dave in person about that one.

He was master of his domain and would sit on top of our steps looking out on his yard. When anyone would come he would run down the stairs and circle the yard, his lair.  He also loved to snuff out the bunnies in the bushes come spring and thankfully never could catch one. Here’s a video from our Easter Egg Hunt in the backyard where thankfully he was unsuccessful. The only bad habit that occasionally surfaced was something we called “armadillo dog”. Once in awhile in the back yard he would tuck his tail between his legs and run in circles trying to nip/bite us.

After we had children he became fiercely loyal, still loving humans but not other dogs. As he aged, he grew to hate thunderstorms, fireworks and having his nails trimmed. Many nights I lay awake with him scratching the bed and wall at my side. I’d try and create a little “nook” where he would feel safe but often ended up on the floor sleeping with him. He put up with a lot (moves, marriage, children, cats, foster animals) but complained the least.

He was loved by all and provided much humor. Some of our funniest family memories involved Winston including a skunk attack and losing his stool in the car while Dave was making a donut run. Thankfully Dave was able to catch it with his free hand and deposit it outside the window while driving. On the rare occasion we had a dessert with whipped cream on top, we would let him lick it and his eyes would literally pop out.

For the last two years of his life we would say how thankful we were for his health and dreaded the day he would one day leave us. It would always come too soon.

June of 2018 he somehow hurt his back, most likely fell down part of our outdoor steps. For a couple of weeks he continued to decline as we tried to help manage the pain with medicine and still get him to eat. I won’t describe those last two weeks, it’s still too painful and I still regret not keeping him alive longer to see if he could have eventually rebounded and overcome the injury.

When he threw up his pain medicine, unable to eat any real food, we took that as a sign. With many hours before the appointment we all cried in anticipation of what was to come, held a service for him, and told him how much we loved him. It was the first time the kids saw Dave cry. Amongst the sadness, God also provided some joy. We all spent time that morning outside together as a family and Winston got to enjoy the water one last time as he drank from the faucet. True to his personality he was with us all day, a loyal companion and enjoying the water as he always had.

As hard as the decision was to let him fall asleep peacefully, to put an end to the pain and let him rejoice with his Father in heaven none of us were prepared for the gravity of the loss. Back home the memories of him remain-everywhere. The house was built around and transformed for him the fence in the back yard, a desk in the kitchen instead of a reading space so there was room for his food and water, a bigger bed so he could sleep on it too, carpet treads added on all the stairs a few years back when he got harder for him to walk down the stairs. It’s amazing how many things in our lives were altered because of him from the size of our bed to the car we drove. We made decisions around him because he was a special part of our family.

Winston was the best! He was an integral part of our family-as my husband would say he was “the glue.” He was the constant that always brought joy. He really never demanded much but always wanted attention. He loved to lick-that’s how he showed his love. He would lick Dave’s feet for a long time. While it grossed me out it was a special bond they shared.

Over a year now since he has passed, I don’t want to forget the little things, his room clearing toots, his loud deep snore after a big day, the howl he made when he heard a siren from an ambulance or fire engine, the way his eyes would pop out when he got to lick whipped cream, the joy of running in his sleep, the fact that he chose to poop in the monkey grass at the back of the yard where no one went. It all matters, from his funny quirks to his big heart, they all made him our beloved Winston.

God gave us Winston and he gave us 14 beautiful years. He will be forever remembered by our children as their first dog and by my husband and I as our first child. He has left a lasting paw print on our hearts.

We miss him every day but are thankful for his faithful love and companionship. We hope and pray all families get to experience that same love and joy!

The post Remembering Winston, A Tribute to Our Beloved Dog appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

For several years we have seen coyotes in our neighborhood, across the street and even in our yard. Neighbors reported cats and small dogs being killed by coyotes. A year later, they are back! Apparently there are news stories going back several years of residents having close encounters with coyotes and showing concern for the brazen disregard for humans. This is not a new problem but it hasn’t garnered much media attention.

Are they prevalent in Middle Tennessee and what should you do?
According to the USDA Wildlife Services “Almost no animal in America is more adaptable to changing conditions than the coyote. Coyotes live just about anywhere. They are found in deserts, swamps, tundra, grasslands, brush and dense forests, from below sea level to high mountains. They have also learned to live in suburbs and cities” from Los Angeles to New York including Nashville.

A key to their adaptability is their versatile diet. While they prefer smaller animals including sheep, deer, poultry, rodents, rabbits, birds, squirrels, and skunks in urban areas they will eat much of what we put in trash cans from fruits and vegetables, to pet food. Her lies part of the reason that coyotes in urban areas have become more bold and therefore more dangerous. As the Wildlife Services reports “Coyotes adapting to an urban environment can become bolder because they are less likely to be harmed and more likely to associate people with an easy and dependable food source.”

While there aren’t many reported attacks on humans there are frequent attacks on domestic animals particularly small dogs and cats. It’s very important to protect your animals by not leaving them unattended especially at night. If your yard is not fenced and a coyote could gain access then walk your dog on a leash. If you have an outdoor cat, please consider bringing them in at night.

Tips to keeping coyotes away

provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services

“-Do not feed coyotes!
-Eliminate sources of water, particularly in dry climates.
-Bird feeders should be positioned so that coyotes cannot get feed. Coyotes are attracted by bread, table scraps, and even seed. They may also be attracted by the birds and rodents that come to feeders.
-Do not discard edible garbage where coyotes can get to it.
-Secure garbage containers and eliminate garbage odors.
-Feed pets indoors whenever possible. Pick up any leftovers if feeding outdoors. Store pet and livestock feed where it is inaccessible to wildlife.
-Trim and clean, near ground level, any shrubbery that provides hiding cover for coyotes or prey.
-Fencing your yard could deter coyotes. The fence should be at least 6 feet high with the bottom extending at least 6 inches below ground level for best results.
-Don’t leave small children unattended outside if coyotes have been frequenting the area.
-Don’t allow pets to run free. Keep them safely confined and provide secure nighttime housing for them. Walk your dog on a leash and accompany your pet outside, especially at night. Provide secure shelters for poultry, rabbits, and other vulnerable animals.”

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency adds:

“-Do not place trash cans out the night before scheduled pick-up.  Placing cans out in the morning before pick-up will give coyotes less time to scavenge. They will not have cover of darkness.
-Do not leave barbecue grill outside and uncovered. The smell of the grill and the contents of the grills drip pan attracts coyotes.
-Discourage coyotes from frequenting your area.  Harass them by throwing rocks, shouting, and making loud noises when one is seen.“

Other interesting facts

provided by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Physical Characteristics:
“The average weight of a coyote in Tennessee is 20-40 pounds, about the size of a small to medium sized German Shepard.  The coyote has erect, pointed ears, slender muzzle with a black nose and a bushy tail which is carried down as it runs.”

“Their eyesight is six times greater than mans.  Sense of smell is extremely well developed, more than 23 times better than mans.”

Breeding
“Coyotes breed during January through March.  Daytime activity increases during the coyotes breeding season.  After breeding season, coyotes begin a frenzy of feeding activity and begin searching for suitable denning sites.”

Pass along your coyote reports to contact@straymagnet.com or comment on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thestraymagnet.

Two Main Resources:
United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

The post Coyotes in Nashville and Beyond appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

ASPCA survey shows an increase in kittens spring to fall season is really three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in late spring or early summer, and ending in fall. “One female and one male cat and their offspring can produce 1728 kittens in just 3 years….420,000 in 7 years” (http://www.peopleforanimals.net ).Those statistics are staggering.

We live in a world with a major overpopulation problem where there are 3-4 million animals euthanized a year. In April 2013, The Tennessean reported that Metro Animal Control  (Davidson County) had an intake of 10,000+ animals annually with a euthanasia rate of 76-78%.

How you can help:

1-Spay and Nueter your pets (and any feral ones in your community)

There are lots of low cost spay and neuter clinics in Middle Tennessee and financial support programs. The Pet Community Center just opened a new clinic in East Nashville and also offers a Trap Neuter Release Program to humanely help curb the feral cat program. View the list of resources available to help in Middle Tennessee. Read an article that also lists prices and additional details.

Here are some benefits of spaying and neutering your pets according to People For Animals
-
“Sterilization of your cat or dog will increase his/her chance of a longer and healthier life. Altering your canine friend will increase his life an average of 1 to 3 years, felines, 3 to 5 years. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometria, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers.”

-“Sterilizing your cat/dog makes him/her a better pet, reducing his/her urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.”

2-Adopt a kitten or a cat

Consider adopting a kitten or a cat. Kittens are easier to adopt because they are so cute so take the time to consider rescuing a cat instead! Read an article about the pro’s of picking a cat instead of a kitten, published on Veterinary Partner.

Click here for a list of rescue groups, shelters and animal control agencies who will all have animals to adopt!

Other ways to help:

Foster, volunteer or donate time or funding to help support efforts.
You can even purchase an animal friendly license plate and $15.62 of the annual $56.50 fee will be “allocated to the Animal Population Control Endowment Fund.”http://www.tn.gov

Other Resources
Pet Statistics, ASPCA, http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics
Spay/Neuter Statistics: People for Animals, http://www.peopleforanimals.net

The post Kitten Season appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

If a storm hits at night with lightning and thunder he is scratching at the bed and trembling. I do my best to make him feel safe and protected by creating a small, tight space between the bed and a table where he can lay with my hand on him. During the day I will turn on music, tv, extra lights anything to dull out the noise and light. I even tried the Thundershirt. I don’t remember him always being afraid of storms.Why are dogs afraid and what can you do?

It actually appears to be a common problem in dogs to be afraid of loud noises such as thunder, fireworks, guns etc. In Holly Nash’s article on Doctors Foster and Smith peteducation.com website, she noted that a recent study conducted showed “certain breeds of dogs have an above average risk of developing noise phobias” like “Collies, German Shepherds, Beagles, and Basset Hounds.” “The study also found that dogs who had separation anxiety were more likely to also have noise and thunderstorm phobias.”

Patty Khuly, a vet in Miami wrote an article for USA Today called “10 Steps to calm dogs during lightning storms.” I was doing some of the things she suggested as well as others intuitively:

Few tips to help your pet during storms:

1-Create a safe place for your pet. It could be a crate, closet, some interior space that feels safe and is comfortable.

2-Try and mute the noise-move to a quieter location and add other calming noises-music, fan etc.

3- “Counter the effects of electromagnetism” “Though it may sound like voodoo, your dog can also become sensitized to the electromagnetic radiation caused by lightning strikes. One great way to shield your dog from these potentially fear-provoking waves is to cover her crate with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Another method involves clothing her in a commercially available “Storm Defender” cape that does the same work. If she hides under the bed, consider slipping a layer of aluminum foil between the box-spring and mattress.”

4- “Offer treats, cuddlings and other good stuff when storms happen.” “This method is best employed before the phobia sets in –– as pups. Associating loud booms with treats is never a bad thing, right?”

5- “Desensitize him.” “Sometimes it’s possible to allay the fears by using thunderstorm sound CDs when it’s not raging outside. Play it at a low volume while plying him with positive stimuli (like treats and pettings). Increase the volume all the while, getting to those uncomfortable booming sounds over a period of weeks. It works well for some.”

If nothing is working, talk to your vet about possible medication or a referral for a veterinary behaviorist.

I am thankful Winston’s response seems minor in comparison to others. Nash’s article  offers an extensive list of noise phobia signs including: “Hiding (most common sign in cats), Urinating, Defecating, Chewing, Panting, Pacing, Trying to escape (digging, jumping through windows or going through walls, running away), Drooling, Seeking the owner, Expressing anal glands, Not eating, Not listening to commands, Trembling or shaking, Dilated pupils, Vocalizing (barking or meowing).”

My sister in law, who is a vet, rescued a Border Collie when he was two. After years of enduring bad storms in southern Florida and heightened stress, anxiety and destruction she choose to let her parents, who lived in the midwest, care for him. While it was incredibly sad to not have him around daily, he was much happier in an environment that was less stressful.

Other helpful articles:
“Fear of Thunder and Other Loud Noises” Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behavorists at teh Dumb Friends League, Dencer, Colo featured on The Humane Society of The United States

“Thunderstorms: Help Your Pet Conquer Fear” Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

The post Why do some dogs fear storms? appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

We live on an incredibly busy street and immediately the head thinks of all the bad things that can happen while the heart speeds up rapidly.

The second time it happened, I was at home alone with the kids and we were actually playing in the backyard while he was with us and then he was gone. I yelled at them to get in the car, grabbed my car keys and we jumped in the car to start canvasing the area. Thankfully, we found him fairly quickly as he had run to the street behind our house and was in a neighbor’s yard a few houses down.

Fence, microchip, collar, you can have all the precautions in place and still most everyone has experienced the horrifying scare of a missing pet.

The uncertainty, the complete lack of control, the worry it’s almost paralyzing. BUT the quicker you can respond and the faster you can start the search process the more likely you will have a happy reunification.

Stray Magnet strives to be a helpful resource if you ever lose or find a pet.
The best NEWER RESCOURCE around is NEXTDOOR. It’s an online neighborhood bulletin board. We highly recommend you post pictures and information immediately on the website through your computer or the NextDoor App.

We have helpful resource section (tips and phone numbers to call), a bulletin board to post the pets picture and information and we will post the information on facebook, twitter and send out an email alert for your county. Consider helping others, by signing up to receive lost/found pet alerts for your county.

Click Here for some helpful steps if you lose your dog.

Click Here for some helpful steps if you lose your cat.

On the other side of things, you can be instrumental in helping a lost pet reunite with their owner.

Click Here for some helpful steps if you find a dog.

Click Here for some helpful steps if you find a cat.

The post Help We Lost Our Dog appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Dave thought he took it mainly in the face-not good but he wasn’t bitten or visibly injured. The only concern were his eyes. He was rubbing them and they were red and teary. We called our sister in law, who is a vet, to help us determine if we needed medical attention. She seemed to think it was okay to watch him and so we shifted gears to focus on the smell. Several articles conferred that tomato juice is not the way to go and the newest homemade concoction includes-baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing detergent.

Here are the ingredients, keep them on hand

-1 quart hydrogen peroxide
-¼ cup of baking soda
-1 tsp of dishwashing detergent preferably Dawn (any will do)
***if you have a large dog you may need to double, triple the recipe

My sister in law sent a link to the very same concoction from Dr. Karen Becker. Read the article for helpful detailed directions on how to administer the bath.

I sprinted off to the nearest pharmacy to buy the critical ingredients, some gloves, and dog shampoo for after. I wished I had received my sister in law’s email first so that I could have bought enough ingredients for 2-3 treatments instead of just one. I got back, quickly made the recipe in a old juice container and Dave headed off to the self cleaning car station (only outside water source) at the apt. complex by himself because one of us had to stay with the kids. Once he left I was able to read the full article outlining the steps to treating your dog (NO WATER first). I quickly called Dave trying to stop him from putting water on the dog but I was too late.

Directions were to apply the solution directly on your dog and lather it in then let it sit until the smell subsides 5-10 minutes. Wash and repeat as necessary. ***But be very careful with the face, especially the eyes because the solution has hydrogen peroxide and could burn the eyes. Dave had enough for only one treatment, washed poor Winston off with practically a power washer and came back. He hadn’t done his face yet (bad idea with power washer) and that was the part that smelled the worst.  I located a small amount of hydrogen peroxide I had, mixed up a smaller batch in a juice box, got some towels and a sponge so we could gently apply the solution on his face, around his eyes.

We snuck Winston into the bathroom, passed a sleeping child, and washed his face and gave him a warm rinse before drying him off. All his hair in the bath stopped up the drain-oh well. He was trying to rub his eyes on me a lot. As soon as we toweled him off we put him on the little porch to dry off. He proceeded to throw up a significant amount. Thank goodness he was on the porch. It literally smelled like he had eaten the skunk. I was worried that he might be really sick and that maybe we should take him into the vet. Back to the search engines.

On all accounts nausea and throwing up seemed common after a skunk spray but the main concern were the eyes. According to a client sheet by Cheryl Yuill, DVM, MSc, CVH, if sprayed in the eyes there’s concern because “it can damage the delicate cornea of the eye and cause temporary blindness.” I called back our sister in law to see if we should go the emergency vet clinic. She thought not but said she would not be the one to tell us not to go. I called the local emergency pet clinic, Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners, to inquire about wait and cost. They were extremely cordial and said no one was waiting and it was $85 which to me seemed pretty reasonable for an after hours emergency clinic. I told the receptionist what happened and said we were concerned about the eyes and that he had thrown up. She checked with a tech and confirmed everything we had already done-bath ingredients-careful with eyes, vomiting normal and said to flush the eyes with water if possible.

While I was writing the article, Dave was off on another pharmacy run of which he has been to three because most close at 10p.m. to get saline solution and gentil, an eye lubricant to help Winston’s eye discomfort. While it was challenging couple of hours (fun Friday night) and a comedy of errors, at least the kids were asleep and we were able to give Winston our full attention. All in all, it’s good to know what to do when you are sprayed by a skunk, however unlikely.

(Originally written August 2012)

The post Skunk Attack, blow by blow personal story and helpful recipe appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Stationary Card Sets Available: (Cats, Flowers, Animals, Scenic and Travel)

Cat Set

-12 cards (6 different cards with 2 copies each) $15
-18 cards (6 different cards with 3 copies each) $20

This set is titled “family” and is a part of our family. We rescued the stray pregnant female May of 2015 and she is now our Mama June, a wonderful mother and sweet cat. Having just days before lost our cat of 15 years it was an incredible experience to watch the kittens grow. Want to read more about the rescue story, click here.

Flower Set

-12 cards (6 different cards with 2 copies each) $15
-18 cards (6 different cards with 3 copies each) $20

This flower set is from different areas of Nashville, Huntsville and St. Louis.

Animal Set

-12 cards (6 different cards with 2 copies each) $15
-18 cards (6 different cards with 3 copies each) $20

These animal pictures were taken on different trips from Alabama to Hawaii. There is so much beauty and strength in these amazing creatures.

Scenic Set

-12 cards (4 different cards with 3 copies each) $15

These pictures were taken from left to right (Kauai, Hawaii, Kennebunkport, Maine, Bald Head Island, NC, and the Bahamas).

Travel Set

-12 cards (4 different cards with 3 copies each) $15

All four of these photographs were taken on the beautiful island of Santorini, Greece. An unforgettable spot especially as there were community dogs lying around everywhere.

If you want to purchase cards, you may do so through our Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/StrayMagnet. Prefer to cut down on fees and have more go to the animals, just email us at contact@straymagnet.com. You can designate which animal organization your proceeds go to from our list or choose your own.

Nashville Organizations that we support:

Nashville Cat Rescue
website: http://awos.petfinder.com

Nashville Humane Association
website: www.nashvillehumane.org

Happy Tales Humane
website: happytaleshumane.com

New Leash on Life
website: newleashonline.org

Humane Society of Sumner County
website: www.sumnerhumane.org

Agape Animal Rescue
website: www.agaperescue.org

Music City Animal Rescue
website: www.MusicCityAnimalRescue.com

Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue
website: proverbs1210.rescuegroups.org

Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
website: www.waldenspuddle.org

National Organizations:

ASPCA
website: https://www.aspca.org

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
website: http://bestfriends.org

Humane Society of the United States
website: http://www.humanesociety.org

Photographs taken by Brooke Schroeder.

The post Stationery Cards For Sale To Benefit Animal Shelters, Humane Societies and Rescue Groups appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Photo By: Matt Nelson (unsplash)

Still searching for the perfect holiday gift for your fur baby? Are they the hard to shop for type? Nothing ever fits just right? The dog bone wasn’t bacon flavored, blech. Or, how ‘bout last year’s toy they destroyed in a single play date. Not to worry. We’ve got just the right gift for just about every dog, no matter how picky they are.

Tuff Mutt Hands Free Bungee Leash Picking the right leash for your canine companion is very important. If you have a dog that loves outdoors walks, but can’t resist chasing everything that’s moving, you’ll want to consider this special bungee leash. It’s designed to absorb the shock for both master and pet, when they simply can’t control their urge to pull.

Dog Walking Services Every dog benefits from healthy outdoor time and socialization, so consider asking for help by paying for dog walking services if you can’t give your pet the attention they deserve.

BazooK-9 Tennis Ball Launcher Dogs love to play fetch, but you may be tired of messing with the slobbery ball and the sore arm the next day. This handy launcher hurls the tennis balls at 1 of 9 different distance levels, making it perfect for all dogs, even elderly dogs who don’t move quite as fast and far. You can even return the ball to the shooting chamber without having to handle it.

2018 Dog Shaming Calendar Need a little humor in your life? Look no further than this fun-loving calendar that is chock full of the cutest and funniest pup photos, depicting the crazy antics that illustrate the less than ideal side of dog ownership. Like the priceless expression of a dog holding the sign, “I ate £50 today that my mum left out to pay the gardener.“

A Weatherbeeta Winter Coat Whether your dog is a fashionista who loves to wear stylish trends or a pooch who needs a little extra winter warmth due to thinner fur or skin, a new coat is an excellent gift.

Nite Ize GlowStreak LED Ball Dog Toy If you enjoy a stroll after dark, this LED ball will make it easier to take along your four-legged friend for a little night time exercise together. This great light up toy can even score you a few extra friends at the dog park.

An Elevated Dog Bowl If you have a large dog that’s having to strain to bend down to their bowl, this isn’t good for their neck, back, or their posture. And it certainly doesn’t aid in their digestion. An elevated dish has lots of great benefits for dogs and dog lovers.

A Day At The (Dog Grooming) Salon Every dog lover enjoys the fresh, clean smell and handsome or pretty new look that comes after a day at the dog grooming salon. Gift a gift certificate for a day of luxurious pampering.

A Custom Pet Portrait Few gifts are as special as a customized portrait of a dog lover’s special companion. Whether you’re looking for an extra special gift with a little higher price tag, or a budget pet portrait, there’s an option just right for you.

Harry Barker Sweet Check Gift Set For just $35 you can treat your fur baby to a gift from Oprah’s 2017 Favorite Things. The planet friendly gift comes complete with a recycled steel Gingham Treat Tin full of country bacon treats, and a recycled yarn Skipper Rope Toy.

Your fur baby provides unconditional love all year round. Now it’s your turn to show them that love in return. Add 1, or a few, of these gifts to your holiday wish list, and they’re sure to be enjoying present opening time as much as you do. Plus, keeping them occupied with a fantastic new toy, instead of dangerous ribbons and bows is an extra perk.

The post 10 Holiday Gifts Your Fur Baby Will Love appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

I found it true to the endorsements on the backcover and the introduction by Mary Tyler Moore- inspiring, heartfelt and it made me laugh and cry.

There were several themes that resonated with me:

1-One person can make a difference.

2-A group of committed people can change the world.

3-People can be frustrating.

4-The Golden Rule applies to people and animals.

One person can make a difference.

One person can make a difference. You can’t save everyone or save the world but you can help one person or one animal and start to make a significant impact. Every life matters. You have to start small and focus on “one at a time”. Blake MyCoskie, Founder of Toms in his book “Start Something that Matters” says “I firmly believe that every person alive can make this world a better place. I also believe that we are all equipped to help one another. Just as we all have five senses, we are all born with the ability to improve another person’s life.” (pp.184-185)

A group of committed people can change the world.

When people come together with a common purpose they can positively impact the world. It also won’t happen over night. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a wonderful example. They began as a small group of animal lovers with various gifts and skills in the late 70’s on a ranch in Prescott Arizona. They had a common purpose uniting them to keep focus when they faced adversity which was often. In 1982 a committed group bought the 3,000 acres in Angel Canyon (Kanab, Utah). It took them another (10-19 years) to build the facilities, create the organization infrastructure and build what we now know as the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

It was a long hard road frought with financial woes, staffing needs, community distrust, and physical labor but they never lost sight of the focus, to save one animal at a time. The big picture can be overwhelming, the thought of how many animals die needlessly is staggering, financial frustrations can cause instability at the core of all organizations. Through it all, they focused on the positive, worked together towards solutions and never doubted their cause.

I recall in the book a special bulletin board called the “Wall of Triumph” (p. 129) that Michael Mountain had made for Faith Maloney and the other members. It was filled with positive animal stories and articles from around the world to encourage and serve as a reminder that they were making a difference. It was a wonderful symbol of positive change and gave them hope for the future especially during times of trials.

When they started rescuing animals there were “17 million homeless cats and dogs were being destroyed in pounds and shelters every year”. (p. 280) With their “no more homeless pets” campaign and other animal organization efforts there are now roughly 4 million animals put down a year. It still feels like a staggering number but it is a significant improvement.

People can be frustrating.

Another thing that resonated with me from the book was how frustrating people can be. People are capable of amazing love and generosity. They are also capable of unthinkable violence and cruelty. There is a large spectrum of how people treat animals in our world. While not everyone is given the gift of compassion and comfort with animals I believe it is our role on earth, one of our responsibilities to care for them. Care at a minimum is protecting them from harm and helping them to live healthy lives providing basic necessities like food and shelter. The book illustrates in many of the animal stories humans abuse, neglect, and abandonment of their pets. In all of those stories the animals went on to thrive at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary often becoming favorites of the staff. It’s important to remember as frustrated as we can get with people, we are helping the animals and we are making a difference for them.

The Golden Rule applies to people and animals.

The Golden Rule simply states we should treat others as we wish to be treated. In Mary Tyler Moore’s introduction of Best Friends she acknowledged the belief of Best Friends is “that kindness is the answer: to the animals; to one another, and to the planet we all share.” I believe we should be kind to one another, like Blake MyCoskie said that we should help one another. I also believe we are created to care for the earth and all the creatures on it. In the Best Friends book Michael Mountain says “There is no better application of the Golden Rule that to help a homeless pet. In doing so, you are giving the gift of life itself. And since there is no greater gift, there can be no greater reward.” p. 281

I was inspired reading the book and by all that Best Friends does to help animals.  Their new tagline on their website says  ”Save Them All”. I hope we do someday and that I am around to witness it. 

You can make the world a better place by helping a person or an animal, one at a time.

Learn more about ways to help in Middle Tennessee.

The post Encouragement For Animal Lovers appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

The first favorite book was Kitty Up, by Elizabeth Wojtusik. It’s a story of a cat that jumps out of a window chasing a ball, gets lost and finds his way home through his friend, the family dog. It’s beautifully illustrated. We received the book for free through Dolly Parton’s imagination library program. Through the program, participants receive a free age appropriate book each month until the age of 5. It the program is in your area, it is free to participate and a wonderful way to foster the love of learning especially to low-income families.

Another animal favorite of mine featured in the Dolly Parton program is The Roar of the Snore by Marsha Diane Arnold. It has a wonderful rythmic rhyme and a most charming ending. All the Huffles are waking all the members of their family to stop the “roar of the snore” which is keeping Jack from falling asleep. In the end the guilty party is none other than a small lost kitten sleeping in the barn and the family decides to adopt him.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney is a sweet tale of unmeasurable love and learning how to express it. A baby rabbit, “Little Nutbrown Hare” wants to express his grande love for “Big Nutbrown Hare”. As the young rabbit tries to describe his love for Big Nutbrown Hare, he is seemingly limited by his physical restrictions-how far he can stretch his arms and how tall he can reach. Since Big Nutbrown Hare is physical bigger his responses of love always seem greater. Little Nutbrown Hare continues to stretch his imagination and grasp larger ways to express his love.

The character Pete the Cat, by James Dean and Eric Litwin, became a favorite this year when their girls 92 year old grandmother sent Pete the Cat, I love My White Shoes and accompanying stuffed animal for as a birthday present. It’s cute and catchy and a great way to learn colors and basic words. The moral of Pete’s story when confronted with challenges is don’t worry, keep a positive attitude and move forward. It’s illustrated repeatedly in the storyline “Did Peter cry? Goodness, no! He kept walking along and singing his song.”

Everytime my children request Hermie, A Common Caterpillar I question if it’s because they want to see me cry. It’s a beautiful story written by Max Lucado about a caterpillar who appears very ordinary except that he talks to God. God always responds to Hermie’s question “God, why did You make me so common?” with “Don’t worry Hermie,” “I love you,” “And I am not finished with you yet.” It’s a beautiful story about waiting patiently to become who you are intended to be.

Great Gift Book:
One of my favorite books to give new parents is My Very Own Name personalized animal book written by Maia Haag. It introduces the child’s name with animals holding letters like a “Deer” holding a “D.” The kids love the animals but I love the lasting memory of a child’s name bound in a book with animals. You can also personalize it with a message at the beginning.

One of my favorites because it reminds me of daily interactions with my own children is Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama Red Pajama. It illustrates the need for patience and how easily children’s basic needs can escalate to mass frustration. I love it because it teaches the lesson of patience which I know I can always use more of and is not easy to teach young children. It makes me laugh as Baby Llama’s needs for mama escalate from needing a drink to major drama crying and screaming for his mama. I laugh at mama’s reaction “Baby Llama what a tizzy! Sometimes Mama’s very busy. Please stop all this llama drama and be patient for your mama. If that only worked!

What animal books do your children like? Send us a message at contact@straymagnet.com or comment on facebook.

The post Our Favorite Children’s Books Featuring Animals appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.