Trusted Pet Partners - Behind the Curtain

"It's better to hop on three legs than to limp on four." Jim and Rene' Agredano faced that choice when their dog Jerry was diagnosed with cancer and would require one of his legs be amputated. They found lots of information about the cancer, etc. But, what they didn't find was any type of support community for the pet parents who are going thru this with their dogs. So, what started out as a simple blog to keep family and friends updated, turned into a forum and today the site has over 4,000 members supporting each other when someone faces a similar situation with their pet. Jerry's diagnosis provided Jim and Rene' an opportunity to shake up their life. They sold their business, home and purchased a motor home to "live" with Jerry for as long as he had left. Jerry lived well beyond the 6 month time frame the vet gave him and after 2 wonderful years he passed. They choose to continue Tripawds and Jerry's mission to support people and pets who are faced with all of the questions and uncertainty that this type of operation can cause. Thank you so much for allowing your personal challenges to be shared with and encourage the thousands that have been helped.Visit program page for additional information and bfeatured blog article links.  

I really enjoy going to various conferences and events as it gives me a great opportunity to meet some really interesting people. Several weeks ago I was in Salt Lake City at BlogPaws and met Rose and the rest of the Pet360 team. What a great group of women who all share a commitment for animals. I didn't have time for a sit down with Rose at the event but we were able to connect by phone a few weeks later. I guess the most interesting thing for me about Pet360 is how they are growing a community that is designed around the pets and their companions, with relevant articles and information delivered to you based on your interactions. Now I know this is what Facebook tries to do with everyone and everything... but with the specific focal point of our pets provides a useful community for us. They are in their Beta phase, so they are looking for people to participate and provide the feedback necessary for a great community. Be sure to check it out.This weeks blogs...YIKES! It's still HOT!. Stay cool and be safe. First up this week is a story from the L.A. Times describing Sid's "skinny itchy dog" journey from the junk yard to his new home with a new name Rambo in: Animal rescuers become a sick, abandoned dog's many best friends Be sure to have at least 1 probably 2 tissues on hand.  ...continued

Back in the swing of things. Now that all has settled from our Holiday week and most of us are bacjk to work, I was able to catch up with Shirley Zindler. A guest blogger for TheBark.com as well as an Animal Control Officer in Sonoma County, CA. Over the last several months I've shared with you several of Shirley's post's and was thrilled when she agreed to come on the program. In speaking with her, I came to understand the HUGE responsibility that these officers have in their communities. Imagine being the person who is the first into a crime scene (with the police following her), where an aggressive dog has been shot, and the police don't know if there are any armed gunman left in the building... I will never look at animal control officers without thinking about the danger they put themselves in while trying to make a difference.This weeks blogs... As the temps finally start to cool, it's time to get back into enjoying our morning or afternoon hikes. With the recent temps, it's going to be common to see a few snakes out there so check the great article: Rattlesnake Bites the Dog which is a great, easy to understand article on what to do if a bite ever happens. From across the pond, in Finland, a study was recently released that shows that having a dog around infants can be a healthy thing, regarding: Developing A Health Immune System this is sure to spark some debate... Finally we look at: Careers in Behavior and Training This seems to be a growing field, and here is some basic information you should review before submitting your treatment to the History channel.

  this weeks guest Cathy King the Executive Director of Canines With A Cause. They are working with local returning vets from Iraq and Afghanistan to place both service and companion dogs with these returning men and women. This weeks blogs... We have several great articles this week and first up is: Pets Alive Animal Shelter Introduces Seminar on Pet Hospice in Westchester, New York they are presenting  “An Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Canine Hospice”, a seminar on Pet Hospice Care. What a great idea and one that many people will be interested in.  Hospitals Welcome Our Dogs discusses a program created by PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support) to assist hospitals and care facilities in setting up a program. In: Reclassifying Military Canines we learn that dogs in the military are equipment and can be left behind in a war zone... like an extra tent. The Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act would allow the military to honor courageous canines, make sure that all dogs are flown back home, and set up a private fund for lifetime health care. The House already passed the bill and the legislation is now in the Senate. So, check out this link to the ASPCA for information on how to get involved. On the VERY COOL news front: Surf Dog Ricochet Reaches $200,000 in Fundraising Thanks to Wildfire Aid Campaign and is teaming up with the Emma Zen Foundation to continue to make a difference by raising funds to provide pet oxygen masks (and donate them to first responders around the country). 

Tomorrow is Towel Day! So here are some basic links in case you missed them; - Towelday.org Main Web - Towel Day FAQ -  "How to Celebrate Towel Day Article"This weeks blogs... It's that time of year when we are getting ready to travel and here are some tips to make traveling with our pets a little easier: Pet Air Travel - 9 Ways to Fly Safe. With the Holiday weekend upon us and July 4th around the corner, here are some great reminders of how we can celebrate responsibly with our pets: 8 Rules for Pet Cookout Safety. Common sense? Yep, but always good to be reminded. Now a great article on how people are realizing that pets can make a difference in senior and ill patients: Senior Living Centers and Other Facilities Recognize Healing Nature of Pets. While this is not surprising for many of us, it does help bring awareness to those who do not yet get the difference pets can make in our lives. Finally, we all just want to be loved but what types of barriers have we created for ourselves, let alone those that may want to connect with us? My Dogs are Messing with my Groove. A very insightful and honest look at where we are and what we are now having to deal with.