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Rooney’s Birthday Wishes!

July 26, 2016

Rooney is 6 years old today!

I can’t believe it! When my husband and I adopted him 4.5 years ago, we had no idea time would move so quickly!

In the past, we have had giveaways and parties, but this year we just have a few wishes for Rooney’s birthday:

1. That All Pets are Adopted

This past weekend was Clear the Shelters! Which is a nationwide effort to find as many forever homes as possible for pets still in the shelter. This year, more than 700 shelters participated and over 45,000 pets found homes!

While Clear the Shelters is an excellent and effective initiative, the shelters aren’t quite empty and it would be great if they were! On behalf of Rooney’s birthday, we hope that all pets find a forever home, and soon! 

Here are some of our favorite rescues & shelters in California:

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

Valley Humane Society

Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue

Golden Gate Pembroke Welsh Corgi Rescue 

If you have an awesome shelter that you think people should check out, leave their name or link in the comments below.

2. That I (Rooney) Get All the Cake

Let’s be real. It’s Rooney’s birthday, so cake was definitely going to make the list!

Last year, we wrote a post for Positively.com called 5 Ways to Celebrate Your Dog’s “Gotcha Day” or Birthday, which includes a link to a DIY Dog Birthday Cake Pinterest board in case you are looking for some recipes!

3. That All Lost Dogs Are Found

Lost dogs are an all too common problem, especially in the aftermath of the Fourth of July, which is why July is Pet Loss Prevention Month.

There are things you can do as a pet parent to make sure your pet makes it home if they are lost, like microchipping. Additionally, there are things you can do if you find a stray dog.

Therefore, our wish is that everyone takes all the necessary steps to protect their pets and shares any information they have about getting pets home with their friends and family!

Rooney's 6th Birthday - Photography by Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography

4. That I (Rooney) Continue to Get Daily Belly Rubs

Like most dogs, Rooney loves belly rubs, and I promise to not let a day go by without giving him some belly rubs.

5. That Each Dog Has a Plush Bed to Sleep On

No matter the kind, or shape, Rooney loves dog beds (and couches, and clean laundry, and human beds, but mostly dog beds)!

And he would love for every dog to have the best dog bed! Therefore, if you know a dog who needs a bed, like maybe one waiting for their forever home, don’t forget to donate your gently used dog beds to the rescues and shelters.

(Don’t tell Rooney, but we are getting him a new one for his birthday from Pridebites! and donating the existing ones to our local shelter)

What would your dog wish for on their birthday?

Awesome photography in this post provided by Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography. 

The Perfect Outdoor Space for Your Pet

July 14, 2016

Day 16 of 30 Days to the Best Pet Home is all about creating the perfect outdoor space for your pet!

While creating an outdoor space for your pet may seem straightforward, sometimes people forget to consider things other than a dog house or catio. For example, is your garden pet-friendly? Does your pet also have a space dedicated to play time? Don’t worry, Homeadvisor.com and I have a few tips for creating the perfect outdoor space for your pet:

Provide them with a play space

As pet parents, we may be interested in having a lovely home, but we are even more interested in making sure that our pets have fun! Meaning, they need to have space in your yard where there are (almost) no rules and they can be their fun-loving selves! You might want to consider a dog run, or other fenced location for play time.

Make sure that your garden plants and fertilizers are completely safe for your pet.

A few months ago, we covered several pet poison topics with a specific post on what is safe & not safe in your garden. I will defer to that post for specific flowers and fertilizers to avoid.

Pick the right outdoor shelter

Both dogs and cats alike could use the perfect outdoor shelter to take a break from the elements (or in the cats case, to be in the elements).

You can get creative with something that accentuates the style of your home or you can go with the more traditional styles of dog houses and catios. Here is some Pinterest inspiration:







For additional information and tips for the perfect outdoor shelter, check out this infographic from Homeadvisor.com!How to Pet-Proof Your Garden
How to Pet-Proof Your Garden – An infographic by HomeAdvisorTell me, how do you make your yard pet-friendly?

Your Pet’s Amazon Prime Day Wishlist

July 12, 2016

It’s Amazon Prime Day!

For those of you who are not familiar, Amazon Prime Day is the day that you get to order from Amazon as though you were a Prime member without needing to pay the annual subscription. For me, the most important part of a Prime membership is the 2-day free shipping! However, Prime members also enjoy additional deals, free photo storage, free ebooks and TV & music streaming.

Today, I would like to help my fellow pet parents take advantage of Prime Day! Therefore, I have created a few “needs lists” based on how you identify as a pet parent. Enjoy!

New Pet Parent

If you are a brand new pet parent, you might want to use Prime Day to order those big ticket items that every pet parents needs. Here are some of my favorites:

Senior Pet Parent

As a senior pet parent, there are a few things that you can invest in that might make your senior pet’s life a little easier. If your dog or cat is getting up there in years, it might be a good idea to invest in an orthopedic bed. Additionally, if you are a pet parent to a large breed dog, a ramp for your car could make road trips a lot easier on both you and your pet. Lastly, when dogs get older, they can experience arthritis in their neck and upper back, making eating and drinking more difficult; therefore, a raised bowl station can make a big difference!

Decor Focused Pet Parent

Sometimes, it’s nice to add a little pet inspired decor & whimsy to your home! Some wall art, a coffee table book, or even a fun pet bed might be just what your home needs.

Techy Pet Parent

If you are the kind of person that loves to have the most innovative everything, then this list might be for you! The Petcube is more than just a camera, it helps you communicate with your pet while you are away! The Whistle activity monitor makes sure that your pet is getting their required amount of daily exercise. Lastly, the Dyson groom might be the solution for you if your pet sheds a lot.

Active Pet Parent

If you like to take adventures with your pet and spend time outdoors, you might want to add these items to your shopping cart! Pawz help protect your dog’s feet from the elements while you are out and about on adventures. The Gulpy is the best travel water bottle I have ever used and is one of our hiking essentials. Lastly, the SleepyPod dog harness is a highly recommended dog safety harness which is perfect for dogs that travel often.

Avid Reader Pet Parent

If you consider yourself an avid reader, these books rank as some of the top reads for pet parents. I haven’t yet read Dewey or The Art of Racing in the Rain, but they are most certainly on my list. However, I have read The Returns, and it is an excellent book written by my friend M.K. Clinton!

So those are my Amazon Prime Day recommendations! What are you hoping to purchase today?

Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for Amazon. However, My Kid Has Paws only shares information with our readers that we believe is valuable. 

Add Pet-Friendly Elements to Your Renovation

July 5, 2016

Although we have fallen far behind in our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home challenge, we are still moving forward with each of the posts as promised (and everything will be released as an ebook). Although life may get in the way of our schedules, I will not let it get in the way of valuable information!

Today, I want to talk to you about adding pet-friendly elements to your renovation. Each weekend I spend some time on Pinterest looking at the different ways to decorate or improve the functionality of our home. I recently came across some amazing ideas for integrating your pet’s needs seamlessly into your home. However, many of these upgrades require renovation or major structural changes. Therefore, if you are looking at an upcoming renovation or move perhaps, these ideas are for you!

Doggy Window

 

Built in Pet Door

 

Kitchen Island/Pet Crate

 

Hidden Cat Litter Box

 

Laundry Room Dog Bath Station

 

Pet Crate with Windows



Message to my readers: There will be lots of changes coming in the next few weeks to MKHP. I might be adding some more lifestyle content (because as a dog mom, I am also going through daily life and there are elements I would like to share). Additionally, there is some great photography coming to the site from Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography!

I will continue to focus on pet health and living a healthy life with your pet. However, if there are any topics that you would like me to research or include, please send me an email at mykidhaspawsblog@gmail.com. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read our blog!

Keeping You & Your Pet Organized!

June 27, 2016

Believe it or not, we are still working our way through 30 Days to the Best Pet Home. Mostly because I have had a lot of schedule surprises lately, and for that reason, I find myself far off course (hence today’s topic). However, the information in this series is valuable to MKHP readers (I hope), so I do want to continue, and there WILL be an ebook to download when everything is said and done :).

So, Day 15 of our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home is all about using calendars and household organizational tools to keep your pet’s schedule organized. Many people would consider me a busy person. I like to consider myself a person that lives a very full (but, admittedly busy) life. Because Rooney is so integrated into our busy lifestyle, he has his own schedule. His schedule has all the reminders I need to make sure that I stay organized, and Rooney has the best life possible.

If your pet is your kid, they probably have their own schedule too. They have medication reminders, playdates, events to attend, and even regular grooming appointments.

Today, I would like to share with you a few tools that can help you keep yourself and your pet organized all while living a busy and full life.

Google Calendar:

So many people rely on Google Calendars. I use a combination of Google Calendars and written calendars to get through my work day. But to make sure that I put Rooney first, I have to be protective over my time. This is something I am learning and trying my best to improve. If you are a busy pet parent like myself, I want to share with you this Google Calendar!

In this calendar I have included a variety of things I need reminders and scheduled time for:

Morning Walks

Evening Walks

Weekly Training

Breakfast/Dinner Time

Weekly Hikes

Meetups

Grooming/Bath Reminders

Flea & Tick Medication Reminders

Heartworm Preventative Reminders

Doggy Playdates

Annual Exam Reminders

Each of these represents something you might want to add to your calendar. If you would like to download and add what I have as an example to your Google Calendar send me an email mykidhaspawsblog@gmail.com and I will send you a shareable link!

Wall Calendar:

Sometimes, nothing beats a classic wall calendar to keep your family organized!

If you are thinking of putting a custom calendar up on your wall, Minted.com and Shutterfly offer a few options that are super cute, customizable, and very stylish!

Day Designer + Etsy Stickers:

I use a very robust planner called a Day Designer, which I love! On a single page I can coordinate my to-do list (I am a really big list maker), my daily schedule, my daily gratitude, what bills are due, and my meal plan. This robust planner plus a few Corgi stickers from Etsy might be the right things to keep many people & pets organized.

Did You Feed the Dog?

Tools for Keeping You & Your Pet Organized!

 

The most important thing you can include in your schedule every day is breakfast and dinner time for your pet. While most days there is no way that your pet will let you forget a meal, the real challenge in a multi-person-busy household is that you don’t feed your pet too many times in one day.

This is why I love the Did You Feed the Dog tool. It is so simple, yet it can decrease the confusion about the number one question people ask each other each day.

The Petter Planner

If you have been reading this blog for a long time, you may remember that we celebrated our 100th post with the giveaway of The Petter Planner!

This product is perfect for those who want to have a planner specifically for their pets. But there is even more good news! The Petter Planner is going digital! The Petter Planner is putting together an app to keep you and your pet organized! Their app should be in the Apple store very soon; you can sign up for their mailing list here.

That rounds out my list of favorite tools to keep your pet household organized!

What are your favorite organizational tools?

Disclaimer: I was given a Did You Feed the Dog product for review. However, My Kid Has Paws only shares information that we believe is valuable to our readers. 

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