Our Pigs Turn 5!

Our two guinea pigs, Rocky and Teddy, will celebrate their 5th birthday tomorrow on April Fool's Day. Since I'm always blogging about our dog and cat, I thought it might be nice to introduce the other furry members of our household. Guinea pigs really do make nice pets, especially for small children. They don't mind being cuddled and are quite responsive to humans. Last year, my daughter even designed her science fair project around them. Taking a page from Pavlov's salivating dog experiment, she conditioned our two boys to squeak when she clapped her hands or rang a bell. So Happy Birthday, Rocky and Teddy! Ellen
BestFriendsStudios

Happy First Day of Spring!

Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire. ~Virgil

Spring has definitely arrived in St. Louis. Even Kit Kat, our resident feline, enjoys the emerging daffodils and flowering trees in our woodland garden. Happy First Day of Spring! Ellen
BestFriendsStudios

PET PICKS: Handcrafted Silver Dog Tags

I've recently met an artist that lives here in California that I have to tell you about. Many of you may know about Etsy but those of you who don't, it is an online website that gives artists an opportunity to have their own storefronts to sell their art. This past January, a group of So-Cal Etsians got together, organized by another etsy artist Elsie Echevarria, and this is where I met Rose Braunstein. She makes fabulous jewelry for us 2-legged types (I own several of her lovely rings!) and she also creates these fun, high-style dog tags for our 4-legged friends. Please go see her at her Etsy shop MyFriendRoze or her website: www.MyFriendRoze.com to check out her wonderful wares! They are hand-cut, stamped, hammered and soldered and include a semi-precious stone if desired. These make a truly unique, and artisanal gift for any of your animal-loving friends or even for you!

Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios

Cocoa Mulch Toxic to Dogs

One of our customers brought to our attention the fact that cocoa mulch can be toxic to dogs so I researched this a bit so I could share it with all of you. With spring coming, we in California use mulch to protect from the heat and dry days ahead and cocoa mulch is one of our choices. I have myself used cocoa mulch in the past because it smells wonderful to walk past/on/around, but like chocolate, it can be detrimental to our 4 legged friends. According to the ASPCA "Eaten by a 50-pound dog, about 2 ounces of cocoa bean mulch may cause gastrointestinal upset; about 4.5 ounces, increased heart rate; about 5.3 ounces, seizures; and over 9 ounces, death." For more on this story please visit Consumer Reports. And thanks to Patty Stabasefski for this important tip!

Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios

Humane Society of Missouri Granted Custody of Rescued Animals

It seems that every time I turn around, animal rescue organizations have raided yet another puppy mill. Nearly 200 dogs and cats were rescued last month in Seneca, Missouri, after being found living in a substandard dog breeding facility. The animals were transferred to the Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis for triage and care. Yesterday, the Humane Society was granted custody of the animals and will now be able to move forward and prepare them for adoption. Most of the animals are small breed dogs—Chihuahuas, Boston Terriers, Miniature Pinchers, Lhasa Apsos, Shar-Peis, Pugs, Pekingese, Pomeranians, Yorkies and Westies. Check out the Humane Society's website for the complete story and updates. As always, the Humane Society (and any other rescue organization) can use donations of blankets, towels, newspaper, etc. Ellen
BestFriendsStudios

The Lesson of the Butterfly

A man spent hours watching a butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon. It managed to make a small hole, but its body was too large to get through it. After a long struggle, it appeared to be exhausted and remained absolutely still.

The man decided to help the butterfly and, with a pair of scissors, he cut open the cocoon, thus releasing the butterfly. However, the butterfly's body was very small and wrinkled and its wings were all crumpled.

The man continued to watch, hoping that, at any moment, the butterfly would open its wings and fly away. Nothing happened; in fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its brief life dragging around its shrunken body and shriveled wings, incapable of flight.

What the man, out of kindness and his eagerness to help, had failed to understand was that the tight cocoon and the efforts that the butterfly had to make in order to squeeze out of that tiny hole were Nature's way of training the butterfly and of strengthening its wings.

Sometimes, a little extra effort is precisely what prepares us for the next obstacle to be faced. Anyone who refuses to make that effort, or gets the wrong sort of help, is left unprepared to fight the next battle and never manages to fly off to their destiny.

Found on Paulo Coelho's, author of the Alchemist, Blog.

Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios

Start Off the Week with a Smile :)

With so much bad news swirling around us in the media, here's something that's bound to put a smile on your face. Meet Kingsford, a cute little piglet who goes for walks, plays on the beach and swims. Priceless!
BestFriendsStudios


Kingsford Goes to the Beach - Click here for the funniest movie of the week

Bulldog Beauty!

Here in Southern California there is this wonderful guy who is very involved in his community of Long Beach/Belmont Shores/LA/OC areas and his name is Justin Rudd. His newsletter "So Cal DOG e-News comes faithfully to my email inbox and the last issue contained the results of the local Bulldog Beauty Contest (it actually had a live national feed on CBS!). I've been to the Dog Halloween Parade and I can't remember when I laughed so much so I just know this gathering was a blast. If you'd like to find out more just click here!

The photo above was taken by Janice Harris at HarrisDigitalPix.com.

Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios