Hope for Paws

A couple of weeks ago I came across a really fun blog called the Bedlam of Beefy.  If you want to smile on this monday morning, please visit him over at his site. Uncle Beefy, the author of this wonderfully quirky and fun blog wrote a story about a group called Hope for Paws. This wonderful couple has created an organization that is helping all kinds of animals find hope. The majority of their rescues are dogs and this is one of those stories:

From Eldad & Audrey Hagar's Flickr page:

"We rescued Bradley from the Shelter last night, and today I took him to a neurologist. The doctor has only sad news for Bradley...

We agreed he should go to sleep and not suffer this severe hydrocephalus. (as you can see, his head is weirdly shaped due to a lot of fluids in his head/brain.) I didn't want to let him go yet, so from the vet I took Bradley to the beach, I sat with him, played with him, and I fed him many cheeseburgers and fried chicken. We sat there for two hours, and after that I took him to the vet's office right on the beach, and he went to sleep forever :-(

It was such a sad day...I cried like a baby for this little guy. Even now when I am typing these words, tears are coming to my eyes..."

If you are interested in reading more about their organization and even possibly helping Eldad & Audrey Hagar continue their rescue and humane work, please go to their website and think about buying their book "Hope for Paws." It's only $9.95 and all of the money goes towards their efforts to care for our animal friends. The book has a 100 pages of full color photos and stories of some of the many rescues that have come into their lives. And I can attest to the fact that the stories will make you smile, laugh, and sometimes cry.

Mary Ann
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Take Your Dog to Work Day

For those lucky souls who work out of their homes like Mary Ann and me, every day is Take Your Dog to Work Day®. But on Friday, June 26, everyone else is encouraged to bring their pooch to work to celebrate the 11th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day ®. Created by Pet Sitters International (PSI) in 1999, TYDTWDay® is designed to encourage people to adopt dogs from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs as well as to show what great companions dogs make.

The TYDTWDay® website is chock-full of information ranging from 10 Ways to Celebrate the Event to how to Win Over Your Boss. The 7 Rules for Success section includes tips like checking beforehand to see if any co-workers have pet allergies, puppy-proofing your workspace and making sure you have an exit strategy if your dog becomes nervous or withdrawn. In addition, you'll find a Pet Photo Contest and cool trivia about dogs scattered throughout the site.

So even if you can't take your dog to work this Friday, be sure to give him or her a little extra TLC that day. After all, dogs are truly our best friends! Ellen
Photo via iStockphoto
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Fresh Peas from the Garden

I finally have some veggies from my garden that are ready to be eaten and my peas were the first to make it to dinner. I have to say there is nothing better than fresh fruit or vegetables plucked right off the vine or pulled up from the ground. Until I ate my first home-grown tomato, you couldn't get me near one! But now, a little coarse salt is all I need to consume one faster than you can say "dog."

So far this season we've had blackberries, strawberries, lemons, leeks, chives, and even cauliflower (although that was mistakenly purchased instead of broccoli.) I also have a whole bunch of herbs that grow throughout the year. And although my gardening has taken a back seat the last couple of years, I still love to get out and play in the dirt. You can work off a lot of stress in a garden! And then there is that added benefit of yummy food!

These peas ended up in a pasta dish I made last weekend. I cooked some orzo pasta, chopped up some parsley, added aged gouda, parmesean, and even a little goat cheese, butter (oh so bad, but oh so tasty,) and some salt and pepper. The mint is only for looks....I really don't understand that traditional combination of mint and peas...but it looks good in photos!

Mary Ann
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The Way To A Dog's Heart...

I have to say that—without a doubt—Mary Ann is the best gift giver around. She always comes up with fun and unique gifts for whatever occasion pops up. So we weren't a bit surprised when the latest gift arrived last week: three boxes of yummy, homemade dog treats from Diva Dog Bakery to welcome our new puppy, Scamp. Made from all natural, FDA approved ingredients, Diva Dog Bakery treats look and smell good enough for us humans to eat. (And I have to confess that my son, Alex, ate one from the fridge before I informed him that they were for the dogs!) So thanks to Kristin at Diva Dog Bakery and Aunt Mare (as my kids refer to her) for such a delicious and thoughtful gift! Ellen, Elena, Scamp & Jasmine

P.S. Kristin also has an Etsy shop at www.divadogbakery.etsy.com.
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Collars, Leashes, and Totes Oh My!!

Shaetze just got a new collar and leash handmade by my friend Kelly. He seems to have a bouncier step, prancing around the neighborhood in his new duds now. He even didn't mind posing for these photos! Thank you Kelly for making him so stylish. If you'd like to see all of Kelly's wonderful collars and other items, she just opened up her new website GoneDoggie.

She also happens to make the cutest totes and since I've failed to make any as I promised, I'd love for you to see what she's sewn together lately! You can see her styles here or see what she has for sale over at her Etsy shop.

Mary Ann
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"Can't Wait Until Summer" Coupon

It has been a busy spring here at BestFriendsStudios. We've both been working hard filling orders and trying to plan ahead for the upcoming holiday season (yes, we have to start this early...it gives the statement "Christmas in July" so much more meaning for us). All of this busyness, family life, and personal issues have made us awfully neglectful bloggers and newsletter writers. We promise to get back on track and touch base with all of you more often. So as a big "THANK YOU" to our customers for their support and patience, we're offering a 15% coupon off on any item in our store including custom pillows. Just enter code SUMMERO9 during checkout to receive your discount. Coupon expires on June 18th. Mary Ann & Ellen
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He's A Scamp!

For the past year, my daughter Elena has been pestering, begging, cajoling (you get the picture) for a puppy of her own. "It's all I want for my birthday," she declared. "I'll be responsible. You know I will." From my husband's perspective, a 6-year-old lab, two guinea pigs and a cat were enough responsibility for any household. "Too much chaos around here," he grumbled in response to Elena's pleadings.

But last December, we saw first-hand that a determined 10-year-old girl can be responsible when we watched my brother's Wheaton Terrier puppy for several days before Christmas. Elena cleaned up accidents without complaint, stood outside with the pup in frigid temperatures and slept downstairs on the floor when the puppy cried at night.

So Elena received the promise of a new puppy for her 11th birthday with the understanding that we would not start looking until the end of the school year, three weeks after her actual birthday. We had several requirements for our new puppy: 1) It would be a rescue or shelter dog; 2) we wanted a smaller breed (under 30 lbs.) this time around; and 3) most importantly, it needed to be a breed that did well with children and other pets.

After several weeks of searching on Petfinder, I ran across several puppies that fit our criteria listed under a rescue organization called Flawdogs Adoption. Even though they were located an hour or so from St. Louis, I called them to find out more information. To make a long story short, we ended up meeting them at a local pet fair. Nancy, one of the women who runs Flawdogs, promised to bring beagle, puggle and schnauzer puppies. She also brought a puppy that we hadn't seen on Petfinder, a scrappy but lovable black and white rat terrier/poodle mix.

Well, we were all smitten with Scamp, the rat terrier/poodle mix, and he with us. Who says there's no such thing as love at first sight? OK, so the cat is not Scamp's number one fan. The rest of us, however, can't get enough of this little pup! Thank you so much, Flawdogs Adoption! You've given us the perfect puppy! Ellen
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Bring A Furry Feline Into Your Life!

Approximately 4 million cats and kittens end up in shelters every year, many never to find a loving family. If you don't have a cat but have been thinking about adopting one (big hint to my dad!), American Humane will give you plenty of great reasons to visit your local animal shelter during its annual Adopt-A-Cat Month ® celebration in June.

From a practical standpoint, cats are clean and independent. They require minimal space and don't need to be housebroken like dogs. Most importantly, they give us companionship, laughter and affection. When my mom had cancer years ago, her little black cat, Emma, spent the day curled up on Mom's lap, no doubt easing at least some her pain. My own cat can often be found stretched out on my drafting table or perched on my scanner while I work in my studio.

Many shelters are offering special promotions for adopting a cat or kitten during June so consider bringing one of these amazing animals into your home! Ellen
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In the market for a Furcedes?

I was clicking through the website Stumbleupon and came across an article about these sporty dog beds on DoggiBling. I've heard of parents buying their children those little miniature sports cars, but for your dog? Do they really need a bed that looks like a Mercedes? Perhaps it will help them keep up with those dreams where they are running towards a big tasty bone!

Happy Monday!

Mary Ann
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Glass-Lampwork Dog Beads

I'm addicted to Etsy. I admit it. I may even have to go to rehab to break my daily fix of Etsy. But oh...there are so many talented artists there and the goodies they offer make you want to say "NO" to mass-produced knock-offs. While digging around for doggie-inspired items the other day I came across this artist, Suzoom. She (I think it's a she...they are so mysterious over there at Etsy) creates these amazingly detailed glass beads using Italian glass and a mini cc torch. I think I'd go blind doing what she does, but she does it so well I just hope she doesn't stop because of any potential eye problems! And I just discovered she is a fellow Missourian...Springfield to be exact! What a small world.

The Pugnacious Pug shown above can be found in her Etsy shop. You can also find a Grey Burmese Cat, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and even a beautiful mutt named Blackie. She also makes other curious creatures like the Briar Bunny Rabbit and the oh so adorable Frog with Blue Bumps! Pay her a visit, you'll be glad you did.

Mary Ann
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New Ornament Designs

I've already been working ahead on Christmas and designing several new breeds for my ornament collection. I've had numerous requests for breeds other than what I had available which I am trying to fill now. If you have an idea for a breed that I haven't represented yet, please send me an email at maryann@bestfriendsstudios.com or make a comment on this blog. Thank you! Mary Ann
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