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When you don’t have the ability to have a dog in your life full time, there are options out there: pet sitting for family and friends, even volunteering at shelters or clinics that care for homeless pets. Ben Stein is right. A good dog can make most problems seem not so bad.
Can’t get one? Then borrow a dog from a friend or volunteer your time to help with homeless pets. You’ll be glad you did. |
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Some veterinary clinics also do pet rescue, which overburdens staff already tasked with caring for patients. When there isn’t a no-kill shelter in the area or the shelter is full, most vets do their best to care for and find homes for abandoned pets. Having a volunteer come in to spend time with rescue animals, especially on weekends, allows the doctor and their staff to concentrate on getting their patients well while the volunteer deals with the rescue pets. Veterinary schools and hospitals often face the same quandary and would welcome volunteers to help care for pets abandoned at their facility. You get to spend time with dogs and make a difference in the lives of homeless pets. |
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Volunteering at the local animal shelter can be a wonfurrful way to have a dog in your life when it is not possible to have a dog of your own. Shelters are almost always understaffed and having extra an extra pair of loving hands to care for the pups is always welcome. Be prepared to have your heart tugged on every day by pups needing good homes, but you’ll feel better about having given homeless dogs some love and attention while they wait for that special family to take them home. |
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This week we’re exploring ways to have a dog in your life if you don’t have or can’t have a dog of your own. I bet you have family and friends with dogs. (And if you don’t, perhaps step one is to expand your circle of friends!)
Pet sitting or checking on a friend’s dog when they are away would be a nice thing to do and give you some quality time with a dog. Your friend would probably even let you walk their dog now and then or take their pup to the local dog park for a play date. To make sure everything goes well, be sure you stay in line with your friend’s disciplinary philosophy so you don’t confuse Fido or upset your friend. |
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The Canvas Tote Travel Bowl by Wagware runs about $50 and does double duty - it’s a travel water bowl for Fido and sassy tote bag for mom! Great for the car, the beach, a back yard BBQ at a friend’s - you name it! Very stylish and made from a durable canvas. You can easily stash a few bottles of water in the bag then crack them open when thirst kicks in.
Holds 18 oz. of water. 7″x4″x5″ Colors: navy, red, chocolate, Kelly green, tangerine or powder blue. |
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This handy little kit from Pet Travel Center has everything you need for a quick fix until you see your vet:
1 bottle Powder Stypic, 1 pair latex gloves, 1 1″ x 6 yd. sterile gauze bandage, 1 bottle of eye & skin wash, 1 Fl. Oz., 2 packages of triple antibiotic ointment, 1 gr., 2 packages of hydrocortisone cream 1 gr., 2 PVP iodine antiseptic wipes, 2 insect ting Wipes, 1 roll 1/2″ x 21/2 yd. adhesive tape, 2 packages 2″ x 2″ gauze pad, 2 packages 3″ x 3″ gauze pad, 1 pair scissors, 1 hand wipes, 2 antiseptic towelettes, 5 cotton swabs, 2 green soap towelettes, 1 pet care card, 1 pet emergency card, 1 pair plastic forceps |
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The Tote Dog Bed, which runs about $100, is disguised as a bag and actually unfolds into a beautiful travel bed where ever you go. This is perfect for the beach, grandma’s house, car, camping - you name it. It’s made from Sunbrella fabric which is waterproof, fade-resistant and easy to clean. There’s even a handy side pocket for stashing important vet records, snacks, toys and meds. Remove the inside pillow and toss it in the wash and you’re good to go! Also, made here in the USA - and that’s the coolest part of all!
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Stay organized while traveling this summer by packing all your dog’s essentials in one easy carrier.
 The Dog-To-Go Soft Shell Portable ChowPal sells for about $30 and is entirely self-contained and made of soft durable pack-cloth construction. The Dog-To-Go is a self contained traveling bistro that makes packing for your pooch easy. Great item to keep stashed in your car all year long for unexpected long drives, especially if you’re caught in traffic jams in L.A.! Includes: Pack-cloth carrier, 450 ML water bottle, 2 stainless steel bowls, nylon food storage bag, spill mat. |
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Always have a plan for keeping your dog close, safe and secured when summer road tripping.
Try the D2G Hitch’N Leash, which retails for under $20. Keep your dog safe from wandering off alone during a pit stop at a rest-area or from crashing your neighbors’ site at the campgrounds.  This leash has a handy caribiner hook so you can attach it to almost any object to keep your best friend secure. Separate d-ring clips make it easy to adjust your lead as needed from 6″ to 2″ to provide more control and it gives you plenty of room to wrap around any object. The soft foam grip on the handle provides ultimate comfort. |
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Firmly attach an accurate, up-to-date ID tag to your pet’s collar. Just like you are excited to be a social butterfly this summer, so is your pet!
Unfortunately, traveling and entertaining with your pet increases your chances of being separated from them. For added peace of mind, consider getting your pet microchipped as well - this is like an embedded ID card. Microchips provide extra assurance in case the tag falls off. If your dog is lost, the vet or animal shelter can scan the microchip so your lost then found hound is safely and quickly returned home to you. |
