My Weekend Went to the Dogs!

Literally.

I spent all weekend playing soccer mom to my dogs, driving them back and forth to various activities. By Sunday I wondered if I should consider trading my Mini Cooper in for a mini van. I'm not complaining - it was a very busy couple of days, but SO much fun.

Event #1: Schnauzer Meetup

On Saturday at 2pm I took Tootsie to a schnauzer meetup. Teeny's Twitter friend Wrigley invited us. It seemed like a great opportunity to begin resocializing Tootsie, since she has recovered from her cataract surgery and can see again. 27 schnauzers RSVP'd to the meetup so I knew it would fun chaos. Tootsie actually did a little better than I expected [although she did get a little understandably overwhelmed at times] and we will for sure be going to the meetup next month. And next time I will know to bring sunscreen and bottled water! I forgot how early it gets hot in Texas. Below are a couple of pics of the meetup. Schnauzers everywhere!!!

Event #2: Jack the Pug's Birthday Party

Then on Saturday night, I took Teeny to a dog birthday party. Jack the Pug, whose pet parents own Metrodog in the Domain, had a bash cool enough to make any human envious. Dog cake, human cake, peticures, swag bags, and a drink created in his honor [a Jackarita] - this pawty had it all. Teeny had a great time and so did I! Below is a video of Jack digging into his dog friendly birthday cake.

*YAWN* Who says kids are more work than dogs?

March Toy Drive Pic!

Thought you guys might enjoy seeing a picture of the toys we raised in our March dog toy drive at Just For Pets. Hope the pooches at Lucky Mutts Rescue enjoy them, and thanks to everyone who donated! I hope to have some information about our April toy drive for you guys soon! XoXo

日本の日に足

The above Japanese translates to "Paws for Japan Day," which is what the online animal community has chosen to honor today as.

Every day the situation in Japan grows a bit more perilious. Our hearts go out to everyone there, of both the two and four-legged variety.

Often times in situations like these, the animal welfare is overlooked at the beginning of the crisis in favor of trying to find and aid human survivors. I have first-hand experience with this; when the earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010 I tried to send a box of toys for the rescued street dogs to play with. My thinking was that cuddling a plushie might make them less scared, and also I figured they certainly deserved a bit of fun. I got the same response, over and over again: we're focused on the humans at this time. [Someone eventually took the toys, and were very thankful for them.]

World Vets is an United States based organization that provides "veterinary aid around the globe in collaboration with animal advocacy groups, foreign governments, US and foreign military groups and veterinary professionals abroad." They have already mobilized, gathered supplies, and have a team on the ground in Japan [you can read their updates here] and are working with local rescues there. They are organized, hard-working, and 100% legitimate. They also need funds, as this work is not cheap.

I read that many animals were found with plastic bags containing money tied to their collars - people knew they might get seperated from their pets and did the best they could to ensure future care. These animals were someone's pets; I know if I were in their shoes I would want someone to take care of my beloved Teeny and Tootsie. So that's why I am asking you to join me in supporting World Vets. You can donate here. If you aren't able to donate, help spread the world. Write a blog post and join the blog hop [links below]. Post a "chip-in" on your site. Every little bit helps, and the animals are worth it.

Virtual Petwork

Today marks a very exciting day for us: the soft launch of Virtual Petwork, a six-month labor of love.

We found out that many of our animal friends on Twitter were having their Facebook accounts deleted [a non-human account violates their rules]. So Todd and I decided to take matters into our own hands and create a place just for animals.

Virtual Petwork is a free social network site open to all species of animals. Dogs, cats, horses, fish, birds, lizards, even pot bellied pigs - any and all pets are welcome! Here are some of the things your "pet" can do on Virtual Petwork:

• Make new pet pals and reconnect with old ones.
• Fill out their profile and showcase their unique personality.
• Leave messages for their pet pals on their profiles.
• Share their current status [what they are currently doing, etc.]
• Upload pictures and share them with others.
• Communicate with other pets on our message boards.
• Designate their "siblings," "cousins," etc.
• Support their favorite pet charities or organizations.
• And much more!

Teeny will be serving as the CDO [chief doggie officer] and Tootsie will be serving as the DVP [doggie vice president]. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at teenys_friends@yahoo.com. This is only a soft launch, so we are depending on you guys to give us your feedback. Together we can make this a pawsome place for all our pets to hang out together!

Happy Mardi Gras from Teeny & I!

In the South we take our Mardi Gras pretty seriously. So when I saw our friend Cokie's Anipal Photo Hunt was back (yay!) and the topic was Mardi Gras (double yay!) I knew we had to pawticipate. Below are two pictures; the first is Teeny wishing YOU a happy Mardi Gras, and the second is of me in New Orleans last month! Laissez les bons temps rouler!

March Toy Drive Info

It seems like our February toy drive just ended, and our March toy drive is already beginning! Busy, busy... but it's a good great thing!

Our bins will be at Just For Pets on Far West Boulevard from today [March 4th] until Friday, March 18th. The toys raised will benefit the local rescue Lucky Mutts.

If Just For Pets sounds familiar to you, it's because they have hosted our drive before - in September 2009!!! I love Just For Pets - especially their dog treat display case. So if you are in the area please stop by, pick up a tasty treat for your pooch, and drop off a new or used dog toy in our bins!

February Toy Drive Update

We're bursting at the seams with toys raised during our online February toy drive benefitting Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston! The beneficiary was chosen in honor of our own Miniature Schnauzer Tootsie, who celebrated her Gotcha Day last month.

By my count so far, we have raised almost 50 toys for MSRH and 2 sweaters, generously donated by my friend Christopher. It's doesn't get cold very often here in Texas, but when it does they will come in handy! The 50 toys come from new "fans" and "follows" [of our Twitter, Facebook, and this blog] as well as donations generated from the purchase of our one-for-one-toy. We're still counting up the final number of toys that people mailed in to us. It was a good month!

Thank you SO much to everyone who puchased our one-for-one toy and mailed us boxes of toy donations. We hope the pooches at MSRH enjoy their new goodies!

March 2011 Teeny's Friends Tribune

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