As the year draws to a close we have noticed friends and family winding down and with this has come the flu, and illness. WHICH TOTALLY SUCKS! One of our favourite bloggers Curose the Celebrity Dachshund (who is only slightly more famous then Sausage & Sanchez) knows how to deal with illness though and Han’s is keen to jump on board. Check out this Vine.
To view Curose’s full blog post – Click here
Odie Sanchez is a graffiti artist, he tags all over our neighbourhood. I don’t even like to walk with him in public because he stops almost every five meteres to leave a small ‘Odie was here’ calling card.
I’m talking of course about PEE.
Odie has always been a leg cocker and I put it down to him being desexed later in life because Hans, bless him, pops a squat when he pees and only goes when he absolutely needs to.
Odie is a also a sneaky marker in our house – he will raise a leg to anything out of the ordinary lying on the floor, bath mats and the side of the coffee table. (Our rug is ruined and now the go to pee spot for any foster animal or visiting dog that frequents my house).
When we visit family Hans will run and greet everyone one tail wagging tongue licking – Odie on the other hand will secure the perimeter and ensure his presence is made aware before entering the house and commandeering the highest peak of the couch cushions.
Urine marking is a normal form of communication among dogs. Dogs are drawn to urine marks left by other dogs and are apparently able to get information by sniffing the urine, such as the identity, the sex and the reproductive status (whether a dog is neutered or desexed) of the marker. Males are more likely than females to urine mark, and reproductively intact males are more likely to mark than desexed males, especially in the presence of females or rival males.
Reproductively intact females will mark, especially prior to coming into heat to advertise their availability, (oh la la). However, even desexed females sometimes urine mark.
A study of urine marking in dogs revealed that 10 percent of the dogs who urine marked started the behaviour at 3 months of age, 20 percent by 6 months, 40 percent by 12 months, 70 percent by 1½ years, and 90 percent before 2 years. Which is why Hans, (who was desexed at 8 weeks of ages barely lifts a leg – (unless he copies Odie of course).
While Odies’ shenanigans are something I have learnt over time to pre-plan and resulted in thinking twice before leaving expensive handbags/shoes/clothes (insert everything else I love here____) on the floor, there are some tips to help you if your dog is a graffiti artist too and you spend more hours on all fours cleaning up pee stain then your dog does.
After making sure your dog doesn’t have any urine related health problems or peeing due to anxiety or stress – try the following:
My name is Brooklyn – I work for and in animal welfare – so naturally when I saw the Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue I knew it would be write up my alley.
Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue is an all volunteer network of rescuers, fosters and volunteers who work together to rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for sweet, loving, adoptable dogs from pounds in the New York area.
The dogs they rescue are in danger of imminent death as they are on the kill lists at very high volume, high kill pounds. Some of these animal control facilities use extremely inhumane practices like gas chambers and heartstick to euthanise the dogs and many have kill rates in the 90 percents before rescues get involved.
Since March 2011 their dedicated team has found homes for over 1000 animals looking for a safe and loving home. Dogs just like jigsaw (pictured right).
Social media is so important to the sucsess of these rehomings. Through finding volunteers, carers and ultimately new owners they cannot continue the work that they do without the help of the local community, and social media plays a huge part in raising awareness. The Badass’s are working towards opening their own rehoming centre and hope that in 2013 they find homes for 365 dogs (one for each day of the year).
Be sure to check them out on Facebook
Torpedo turned out to be “The One” for this Badass family!
Mum tells us that his new name is Lenox, and he already has lots of aunts and uncles in his life.
Everyone’s thrilled about the new addition!
(Taken from BBAR FB PAGE)
Life is better with a partner in crime! I hope you enjoy this Monday funny!
If you have ever wanted to take your dog for a walk then stop off for a coffee chances are you have been shunned or asked to leave your dog tied to a pole on the sidewalk. While the Gold Coast is moving at a snails pace in terms of relaxing their cafe rules a team in NYC will be opening a bar soley exculsive to people who own pets.
In fact if you don’t own a dog, you can’t get in. The Ruff Club is a work in progress and hopes to open in November this year. It will be a doggy day care and boarding kennel for up to 40 animals that will come equipped with toys and equipment, such as salvaged park benches.
The front area, complete with tables and chairs, will give customers free wireless Internet accessThe owners hope the club will turn in to a social hub for pet owners and will give them a chance to meet new friends for themselves as well as their pets.
For dogs that will be boarding at the Ruff Club owners will have the opportunity be able to log into webcams to view their pets remotely.
To learn more check out THE RUFF CLUB
Next time I am in NYC I will be sure to check it out!
Want an easy and very cute accessory for your dog that won’t annoy them? What about a Bandana from S&S? Only $18 and come in all sizes!
Our lovely bones are a huge hit we now have new colours! Check them out below..
Email sausageandsanchez@gmail.com to order your custom one today!
We have been busy making bandanas over the weekend for some S&S fans on the Sunshine Coast.
If you would like to order one for your own precious pooch email sausageandsanchez@gmail.com
Here’s what else we got up to over the weekend.
Lazy Friday night movies and cuddles
Fishing on the back deck at sunset
While Odie watches the world go buy snug as a bug – This little Mexican hates to be cold
Sunday morning stroll to check out the surf.
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If you walk on any sidewalk chances are it has happened to you.
STEPPING IN DOG POO.
Enough to instantly put you in a bad mood, the smell, the squish, the hassle of removing it from your shoe, oh your glorious shoe!!
One man from Queens in the USA had enough of his communities dog owners not picking up after their pet so he decided to take it upon himself to not only forwarn pedestrians to the brown, smelly landmines but to encourage dog owners to clean up!
And so THE POOP PROJECT was born
Dressed in an oversized hoodie and glasses for disguise this superhero poop fighter will spraypaint, (with temporary chalk) over the k9 landmine to ensure nobody steps in it.
Learn more from this news report
I like most people bring my work home with me…… A lot… It is not out of the ordinary lots of people do it, work overtime, weekends whatever it takes to get the job done, right? In my case though my work has 4 legs and a heart beat and big brown eyes that say “please give me some love I’ve been through so much”.
I have been working at the Animal Welfare League of Qld for almost two years now and in that time have brought home:
Billy (now Odie Sanchez) – Chihuahua – ADOPTED
Nipper and Taylor – Kelpie puppies
Max – Mini Poodle x Maltese
Rocky (now Hans Sausage) – Dachshund – ADOPTED
Arya – Shih Tzu x Maltese puppy
Penny and Pixie (now Bella and Missy) – Mini Foxie x Chihuahua puppies – ADOPTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS
Jedi – Border Collie x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Olive and Carl – Rottweiler puppies
Pup – Dachshund
Rusty – Corgi – ADOPTED BY A COLLEAUGE
Bells – Chug – ADOPTED BY A FRIEND
Plus
15 kittens and 3 cats.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” | MAHATMA GANDHI
Our home has become a half way house. A place where animals come to recover from a multitude of illnesses, tick paralysis, k9 cough, cat flu or simply needing some time away from the shelter to cope with the loss of their previous family. Hans and Odie have become big brothers to loads of pets much to Hans’ delight and Odie’s detest. When I arrive home with a car carrier or dog crate my partner now gives me the same eye rolldand the sentence, “Brooke what have you brought home now?” followed shortly by “how long is it staying for?” He then hears the back story, gives the pet a hug and falls just as hard as I do.
My latest foster pooch Rusty is going to be very hard to say goodbye to.
The 4 year old Corgi has me wrapped around his little stumpy paw. For the last two weeks he has been with me everywhere. To work, to the gym and for walks with Sausage and Sanchez.
His cartoon characteristics and beautiful demeanor is the epitome of the perfect pet. Which is why it is so horrible to know this gorgeous dog was dumped and left to fend for himself on the streets of Logan with an enlarged prostate and a bladder infection.
He is a submissive dog and has seriously attached himself to me. He is my shadow, if i turn around he is there, he sleeps on the ground next to my bed and waits at the door if I leave the house..
When he is accosted or told no he lies flat on the ground or rolls over which breaks my heart. It seems he has had a less then perfect life before us.
Today he was given a clean bill of health. After 6 weeks of AWLQ care and hundreds of dollars spent he is ready to find his perfect home.
I am so grateful to have been able to help him in some small way along his journey to his 2nd chance and am overjoyed that I will be there on Sunday when he meets his new family.
We love you Rusty!
Rusty loves to work out – Here he is doing flutter kicks with me at the gym
I have found Rusty the perfect home and I am so glad he is going to a family where I can still pop by and visit. He will have another Corgi Brother named Hamish and is sure to be spoilt rotten!
Check them out on YouTube on Rusty’s first night in his new home.
So what is Fostering?
The AWLQ does not turn any animal in need away from it’s doors, to do that they need the communities help. A high percentage of the animals who need fostering are kittens and puppies. These babies make up approximately 95% of the Foster Program requirements. The other 5% is made up of mums with babies (we try to keep these together for at least 5-6 weeks), and older animals who may need time to recover from surgery, non-contagious infections, malnutrition or from over-indulging.
The fostering period can be anywhere from one week to eight weeks – each situation is different. Mums with new born babies rely on finding special foster homes. These carers would be prepared to keep all of them together for five weeks, at least, until mum can return to the shelter to be desexed and rehomed. Every situation is different but you can be sure that each and every animal need your help and are very grateful to have a temporary home with a family who can love them.
The AWLQ provides food, bedding, bowls and everything else you can think of needed to care for the animal – they just nee you to provide the space and the time helping the animal recover.
If you would like to learn more about Fostering or about the AWLQ Click here
Now that I have your attention I have to break the bad news.. This blog post will not be about the book, (50 shades of Grey) but the good news is I am talking about Greyhounds.
Shelters and rescue groups are inundated with Greyhounds because the racing community disposes of these animals when they are no longer running faster enough or winning enough money. They magestic dogs make incredible pets and are such loving companions it is a shame that more people so not consider them when wanting to adopt a pet.
Here are some quick facts about Greyhounds as sourced from Friends of the Hound, a rehoming orgniasation located in Brisbane whose sole purpose is to help find homes for Greyhounds.
Sadly, thousands upon thousands of Greyhounds are destroyed each year when they become surplus to racing industry requirements. Thousands of dogs are injured each year on the track.
It is wrongly assumed by many that Greyhounds are not the ideal family pet or childhood companion. This could not be further from the truth. Greyhounds are kind, loyal dogs that make fantastic household pets and are great with children.
You may be surprised to learn that Greyhounds do not need much exercise at all. In fact they are affectionately described by their owners as 45mph couch potatoes and love to spend their time indoors or on a sofa in the sun.
Greyhounds do not require a large backyard and do not have high energy abundance. Their friendly, gentle temperament makes them an ideal indoor pet. Greyhounds also make fantastic pets for the elderly as they are usually very patient.
Another misconception of the Greyhound stems from past law requirements, which have forced them to wear muzzles. This has created a common belief that Greyhounds are an aggressive breed. Reasons behind the muzzle are not due to aggression, but are to discourage chasing, as many greyhounds are trained from an early age to chase anything fluffy. Although greyhounds may not have the same social experiences as other breeds while growing up, they can adapt to a domestic life with a little help from their new owner.
If you are considering adopting a Greyhound here are some more fun facts:
HAIR
Greyhounds have little or no body fat, and short, smooth coats, and as a consequence, they tend to feel the elements more than other dogs. They should sleep indoors at night and have adequate shelter during the day if left alone. A greyhound that gets overheated or too cold can lose condition very quickly and their health can deteriorate rapidly. A warm coat is required for those cold winter days and nights.
BATH TIME
How often a greyhound gets bathed very much depends on how soiled they get. They have very little oil in their skin, which means very little “doggy odour”. Select a mild all natural, conditioning shampoo – oatmeal shampoo is fantastic for dogs with dandruff or dry skin. Unless a greyhound gets particularly dirty it will not need bathing very often – certainly not weekly. Washing too often strips the coat of its natural oils and dries the coat and the skin.
EARS
It is advisable to check your greyhounds’ ears once a week. Clean the outer ear gently with a baby wipe or damp tissue. When bathing a dog it is also a good idea to plug the ears with a cotton wool ball to avoid shampoo dripping down into the ear.
TEETH
It is not uncommon for ex-racers to have bad teeth, partly due to the soft diet they are fed when racing. Any deep cleaning is done before adoption, but like humans it is possible for plaque build up to occur after this. Brushing with a specially designed toothbrush or a gauze pad can help stop tartar from occurring. Brisket and raw chicken bones are also good for keeping teeth clean. It is advisable to have your dog’s teeth cleaned by your vet on a regular basis.
NAILS
All the weight of a dog is placed on its feet. Therefore it is vital to regularly attend to trimming a greyhound’s toenails. Most greyhounds are used to having this done while they stand. Using good quality clippers; lean over and bend the foot backwards to find the underside of the nail. A vet or a groomer will be only too happy to show the inexperienced or nervous owner how to cut them. Greyhound’s nails are often longer than other breeds, but should be trimmed to keep them from getting too long. As a general rule they should be trimmed to keep them just off the ground, but they will still look like they are a little longer than you’d be used to!
SAVE A LIFE – ADOPT A GREYHOUND
The Animal Welfare League of Qld is running a Greyhound adoption drive as they currently have 7 Greyhounds in their care who are looking for a new home. I was lucky enough to attend a photoshoot with these beautiful dogs at the beach on Monday with Diana from K9 Photography who once again captured some beautiful images. The AWLQ’s online campaign runs for 2 weeks and they hope to rehome all 7 Grey’s. Their design team have come up with the following posters to promote the great qualities unique to the Greyhound breed.
SEE BELOW
Down at the beach with the AWLQ Greyhounds & Volunteers
If you are looking for a family companion or a big dog that doesn’t require much work then consider a Greyhound – you will not be dissapointed.
Bronx the Greyhound
Bess the leaning post
Image by Tiny Confessions – Blog Post coming soon
Sausage & Sanchez 