Art and Decoration

When it pertains to art deco architecture, it was really popular in the twenties and the thirties. It becomes a motion in interior design as well as commercial design. You will present that there are lots of things like movies and art pieces that likewise fashion this kind of style.



The movement was a mixture of many different designs, integrating cubism, modernism, Bauhaus, Art Nouveau, and Futurism, and its popularity came to a head in the roaring twenties.



There were numerous other architectural designs that likewise had some political roots, and also they had some philosophical influences, but when it comes to art deco it is just for simple decoration.



Created to be beautiful, elegant, practical and modern. One of the best-known pieces of Art Deco architecture in the United States is the Chrysler Structure in New York.



The beautiful Art Deco spire was constructed between 1928 and 1930. Following close behind the Art Deco period was the Streamline Moderne. The focus was mainly on advancing innovations such as automobiles and aeronautics.



With the art deco architecture it is generally made up of numerous manufactured pieces. The most popular being glass and stainless-steel. Lines were extremely in proportion and recurring throughout structures.





It becomes very popular throughout the depression because it was really easy and really useful. Art Deco still advised people of the much better times and gave them hope of one day experiencing them.​



 

Visit us at http://www.meetup.com/architecture-86/messages/boards/thread/48515294/#127402548

How to Give Your Dog a Bath During the Winter Months

We may be counting down until the calendar switches from winter to springbut in many locations, warm weather lags far behind that switch of seasons. We usually bathe Irie and Tiki outdoors but, during the winter months, that bathing routine has to switch up a bit unless the temperatures rise into the mid-80s where we feel comfortable giving them an outdoor bath.

While your dog might be getting as dirty during the winter as in the summer months (when theyre more likely to get dirty with a muddy swim), its still important to keep up a dog bathing routine to help keep your dog smelling fresh, to help prevent fleas, to prevent matting, and to notice any lumps and bumps that his thick winter coat may be hiding.

• DIY Indoor Baths: Indoor baths are difficult for our big dogs (who dont like to get in the bathtub) but its much easier with a small dog. Be prepared with plenty of fluffy towels, a good dose of patience and good humor, and a hair dryer. Time your dogs bath early in the day after your dogs morning walk (to burn off some of that energy) and potty break, giving him time to dry before he heads back outdoors. Turn up the thermostat a degree or two. After the bath, towel your dog thoroughly. If hell allow you to blow dry his fur, turn the dryer on a low setting with low to medium heat, keeping the dryer moving so you dont cause discomfort.


• Dry Shampoo: Dry dog shampoo couldnt be easier to use: just sprinkle it on your dogs coat and brush it out. In the process, it helps to lift out dander, dirt, and oil.


• Groomer: Even dog lovers who handle their dogs baths during the summer months might want to pamper your dog (and you!) with a professional shampoo during the winter. A groomer will be able to thoroughly wash your dog and dry him before leaving the store. Ask your groomer about a moisturizing shampoo; like with our own hair, cold weather can cause your dogs coat to become dry.


• In-home dog groomer: Many dogs (and dog owners) would be more comfortable having the dog grooming done in their homeplus you dont have to get out in the winter weather to get to the groomer! Talk with local dog lovers about mobile dog groomers who can wash your dog in the comfort of your own home.


• Self-service dog washes: At a self-service dog wash facility, you can rent a room with all the tools you need for a dog bath: a special deep sink, dog stairs, aprons, shampoos, towels, and dryers. Another big benefit: no cleanup!


• Waterless Shampoo: Waterless shampoo isnt quite as easy to use as dry shampoo but it can help lift out oils and dirt without the need for a rinse. Waterless shampoo is liquid; it sprays onto your dogs coat. Youll work the shampoo (often a foam) down into the fur either with your hands or by brushing. Towel your dog, allow the waterless shampoo to dry, and then brush again.

A winter dog bath will help keep your dogs coat and your home clean during these last weeks of winter. Even if the weather outside is frightful, your dogs coat can be delightful with just a few minutes spent on a winter bath.

Photo: DepositPhotos, Antonio Gravante

#PawPromise Adoptable of the Week: Ziggy

Hi! I'm Ziggy. (I think I was given that name because of my pretty peepers, which are very David Bowie-esque!) Thanks to Animal Rescue Foundation I'm not living rough on the road any more, but even though I'm having fun with my foster family I would love to land a permanent gig in the heart and home of a forever pet parent!

I'm a 1-1/2-year-old Pit Bull with a lot of puppy energy, and I enjoy playtime with both people and my fellow Fidos (as long as the dogs don't try to act dominant). When I'm not playing fetch, though, you can find me camped out in front of the TV, watching my favorite shows.

Ziggy has been spayed, is up to date on her vaccinations, and six months of heartworm prevention will be included in her adoption fee.

Ziggy is one of the many companion animals who have received a new lease on life at Animal Rescue Foundation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a non-profit which has saved the lives of dogs and cats in area kill shelters for more than 25 years.

Help the Adoptables of the Week with Your PawZaar Purchases!

Ten percent of the week's proceeds from purchases in our PawZaar store will be donated to help the adoptable dog and cat of the week. Help with your purchases of our pet-friendly jewelry, bags, cookie cutters, and more!

Photo Credit: Animal Rescue Foundation of Tulsa/PetFinder.com

Shelter Saturday: February 20

A time to celebrate the joy that your canine companion brings to your life, Love Your Pet Day can also be a time when you show your love for dogs in need by sharing their shelter photos on social media.

Every year approximately 3.9 million dogs enter the U.S. shelter system. To aid ongoing efforts to change the heartbreaking statistic, each day on Twitter we showcase a few shelter dogs who are looking for a forever pet parent to love. For a look at more adoptable dogs and cats as well as the latest news of animal-loving luminaries helping paws causes, follow us at @HollywoodDogs.

California

Justus, a 2-yr-old Terrier at a shelter in #Downey, #CA, needs a home https://t.co/NoAKbf2ANm URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 20, 2016

Mikey, a 3-yr-old Pit Bull/Boxer at a shelter in #Gardena, #CA, needs a home https://t.co/EVg9ow8nu5 URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 18, 2016

Gizmo, a 3-yr-old terrier mix (with a cute underbite!) at a San Jacinto, #CA shelter, needs a home https://t.co/XBZCHh9ZKy URGENT

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 17, 2016

Theodore, a 6-yr-old Pit Bull at a shelter in #Gardena, #CA, needs a home https://t.co/Q2pl3JEn15 URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 15, 2016

Georgia

PJ, a Pit Bull mix at a shelter in #Savannah, #GA, needs a forever home https://t.co/u2lf2dEOfn URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 14, 2016

Indiana

Comet, a 1-yr-old German Shepherd/Great Pyrenees at a shelter in #Cannelton, #IN, needs a home https://t.co/7Y3laR2z8h URGENT

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 19, 2016

North Carolina

Roscoe, a 3-yr-old Doberman Pinscher/German Shepherd at a shelter in #Newport, #NC, needs a home https://t.co/MBcrJ2KVVM URGENT

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 19, 2016

Darla, a 1-yr-old Plott Hound mix at a shelter in #Newport, #NC, needs a home https://t.co/D8yXIkc0Dd URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 16, 2016

Texas

Bishop, a Pit Bull mix puppy at a shelter in #Lancaster, #TX, needs a home https://t.co/okRDBBFBAy URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 18, 2016

Paige, a young Pit Bull mix at a shelter in #Lancaster, #TX, needs a home https://t.co/NnX2HZxDfc URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 19, 2016

Virginia

Seuss, a Rottweiler/Pit Bull at a shelter in Virginia Beach, #VA, needs a home https://t.co/XgJxyQMsmN URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 17, 2016

Preparing for Spring

The calendar may say winter but spring is just around the corner in this part of the country. (And, if you're still shoveling snow, have no fear...warm weather is headed to your region soon, too!)

The garden centers here are already filled with plants, fertilizers, and every kind of garden concoction under the sun. As pet lovers, though, we all know that many of these are NOT good for our pets who not only walk on the chemicals and absorb them through their paws (and by licking their paws) but also live their life much closer to the ground than we do-well within inhaling distance.

We've run numerous posts through the years about spring safety but, before everyone heads to the garden center and begins to make spring lawn plans, we wanted to point out some of our most popular yard care posts:

• The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Dog-Friendly Backyard This guide from The Home Depot includes fencing, pet-safe mulch, poisonous plants, and fun projects like backyard ponds for your dog.


• Sago Palms: Poisonous to Your Dog!


• Keeping Your Dog Away from Poison Ivy


• Identifying substances poisonous to your dog


• Garden uses for cat litter


• Keeping your dog safe from coyotes


• Using Diatomaceous Earth to Control Fleas


• Controlling fleas with Nematodes


• 10 Plants to Remove from Your Dog's Yard

Before you make your spring gardening and lawn purchases, be sure to check out some of these articles to make sure your lawn is a safe place for both you AND your dog!

Fido + Fluffy's #FreebieFriday Heads Outdoors

Living in central Texas, warm weather is no novelty-but not when it comes in mid-February. Temperatures have been running over 10 degrees warmer than usual so we decided to get in a day of hiking before the thermometer rose any more! Irie and Tiki love nothing better than hiking around (and I think they enjoy seeing us spending a few hours out from behind the computers!)

This week's Fido + Fluffy's Blog Hop that we co-host with To Dog With Love and CatTipper, welcomes bloggers to link up pet-related giveaways. Please link directly to your giveaway, not to your home page. (Please don't link to non-giveaway posts.) We post a new blog hop every Thursday afternoon at 4pm ET.

Disclaimer: Each giveaway has its own entry rules. DogTipper, To Dog With Love, and CatTipper assume no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet product giveaways to be offered. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.

Game of Thrones Star Maisie Williams Adopts Rescue Dog

Actress Maisie Williams, who is known by fans of fantasy for her portrayal of Arya Stark in Game of Thrones and Ashildr in Doctor Who, has announced that she recently took on the real life role of a pet parent to a rescue dog.

Sharing the happy news on Instagram, the star stated: "Adopted this little guy from Bristol Dogs and Cats Home just after Christmas. Now that he's finally settled, I wanted to show you all the best companion I could have asked for. If you are looking for a dog and you are in the position to rescue, rather than buy, then PLEASE do- you never know what you might find."

By choosing the option of pet adoption, Maisie Williams has followed in the footsteps of her fellow Game of Thrones cast mates, including Harry Lloyd, who welcomed a Chihuahua from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society into his heart and home in 2015, and Peter Dinklage, who has used his star wattage to shine a spotlight on several paws causes.

While her Game of Thrones character named her dire wolf Nymeria after a warrior queen, Williams chose the more traditional moniker 'Sonny' for her new barking buddy.

Sonny is just one of the close to 2,000 homeless dogs, cats, small companion animals and reptiles who receive a new lease on life each year thanks to Bristol Dogs & Cats Home. Known as The Bristol Home for Lost and Starving Dogs when it opened in 1887, today the charity- while retaining its position as an independent organization- is a branch of the RSPCA.

We are very excited that @maisie_williams visited our rescue centre recently and adopted the gorgeous Sonny. Adopting a rescue animal will bring you endless joy and companionship, we have hundreds of animals waiting to meet their new loving families #adoptdontshop P.S we can't wait to see more pics of Sonny #gorgeous #dogsofinstagram

A photo posted by Bristol Dogs & Cats Home (@bristoldogsandcatshome) on Feb 15, 2016 at 2:32am PST

Photo Credit: Bristol Dogs and Cats Home/ Instagram

Ian Somerhalder, Nikki Reed Celebrate Puppy Love at Mardi Paws

Marrying their love for each other with their shared love for animals, notable newlyweds Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder spent their first February 14th as husband and wife celebrating puppy love at the Krewe of Mardi Paws parade in Mandeville, Louisiana.

Acting as Celebrity Monarchs for the 21st annual promenade of partying pups, the couple- who are the respective stars of the immortal-inspired TV series The Vampire Diaries and Twilight film franchise- strolled alongside a cavalcade of canines clad in costumes in keeping with the theme of this year's Valentine's Day event, "Love is in the Hair," with Rovers recreating popular romantic duos past and present.

Related Content: Ian Somerhalder 2014 Celebrity Monarch of Mardi Paws

A party with a higher purpose, the parade helped to raise funds for The Ian Somerhalder Foundation. Established in late 2010, the non-profit organization strives to nurture nature and all its inhabitants through grants to help animals in need, campaigns to end animal cruelty and, in the future, an animal sanctuary and school to instill a passion for compassion in the next generation.

For more information regarding The Ian Somerhalder Foundation:

• visit www.isfoundation.com

From pooches on parade to an interview with animal-loving Louisiana-born luminary Ian Somerhalder, enjoy a virtual visit to Mardi Paws in the following video by The Times-Picayune:

Photo Credit: The Times-Picayune

Fido + Fluffy's #FreebieFriday Says Happy Valentine's Day!

The countdown is on to Valentine's Day! We've got some bully sticks for Irie and Tiki (shh...it's a surprise!) and hope to spend much of the day on a long hike with them! These girls bring so much love into our lives, day in and day out-making every day Valentine's Day!

We've got some great giveaways below-all super ways to show your love to your pets. From a home monitoring system that will let you check in on your dog while you're gone to the new Peanuts movie DVD, you'll find some great giveaways to enter with prizes to please any dog lover.

This week's Fido + Fluffy's Blog Hop that we co-host with To Dog With Love and CatTipper, welcomes bloggers to link up pet-related giveaways. Please link directly to your giveaway, not to your home page. (Please don't link to non-giveaway posts.) We post a new blog hop every Thursday afternoon at 4pm ET.

Happy Valentine's Day this weekend!

Disclaimer: Each giveaway has its own entry rules. DogTipper, To Dog With Love, and CatTipper assume no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet product giveaways to be offered. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.

Pet Theft Awareness Day is Feb. 14

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. While the date is traditionally a celebration of love that steals your heart away, the holiday is also a time for all pet parents to protect their hearts from being broken by the theft of their dog or cat companion.

Statistics state that one out of every three pets will become lost in their lifetime. Many of the missing are never reunited with their human families, and can end up facing life in a puppy mill or as a bait dog.

Make a date to see if you can check off all the items in Last Chance for Animals' Pet Theft Awareness Day list, which is filled with advice that could save your pet's life:

• Have your barking buddy spayed or neutered, which will both deter Rover from roaming and help the problem of pet overpopulation.


• Never leave your tail-wagging chum unattended in a car, outside a store, or even in your own yard.


• Ensure that your pet cannot be seen from the street.


• Remember that those "free to a good home" ads can come at a heavy price- the well-being of our four-legged friends. Replies to such ads often come from class B dealers who acquire free canines and cats to resell. If you need to rehome a companion animal, contact a reputable rescue group.


• If your dog disappears, one way to increase the chances of a happy reunion is to make sure that your pet has both an ID tag and a permanent form of identification, such as a microchip.


• Keep a current snapshot of Spot and a written description of your pal with paws with you at all times, in case of an emergency.

Celebrity Support

A line-up of animal-loving luminaries are using their star wattage to shine a light on the problem of pet theft, including actress/animal advocate Pamela Anderson, model Kenya Kenski Jones and Priscilla Presley, who was honored at the 2015 Last Chance for Animals fundraising gala with the Celebrity Activist of the Year Award in recognition of her kind acts for our furry friends in need.

Last Chance for Animals

Founded in 1984 by actor Chris DeRose, Last Chance for Animals champions a number of paws causes, among them the plight of puppy mill dogs and efforts to end the fur trade and the transport of animals to laboratories.

For more information regarding Last Chance for Animals:

• visit www.lcanimal.org

Photo Credit: Last Chance for Animals

Cancer Is Fun

That's sarcasm, by the way. Cancer sucks, I hate cancer, cancer can go suck it.

Anyway.

When you have a dog, but especially when you have a dog who is a breed with a 50% occurrence of cancer in their lifetime, you learn to be vigilant. And by vigilant I mean you pick over your dog like a chimpanzee searching out ticks, and with good reason. So far, as you know, I've lost one dog to lymphoma, one to probable melanoma, and Brody's had the following removed:

• low grade melanoma on his lip (so far, so good)


• medium grade mast cell tumor resulting in loss of ear

I'm a big fan of Sue Ettinger's See Something Do Something initiative, and with good reason. Small masses are exponentially easier to deal with than large ones, for many reasons. It's a gift to be able to catch things early.

So it was with a resigned trepidation that I noticed, buried in the vast recesses of Brody's voluminous tail, yet another weird looking mass:

I don't like masses. They make me scream like I've seen a spider over the bed.

We went and visited Highlands Ranch Animal Hospital to get it checked out yesterday, where Brody was his usual charming self. By the time we left he had the entire waiting area sitting on the floor petting him. Such a ham.

The great thing about aspirating little masses is that, while not totally diagnostic, can often give you a good feel for what you're dealing with. In this case, no mast cells were noted. Why does this make me happy? Because he would probably have had to lose his tail and that would really really stink. The dog's got to keep some of his parts, right?

The mass is coming off while it's small enough to fully remove and still be able to close the skin over his tail. We are also going to send it in for pathology, which is essential for determining whether it's something you need to follow up on. I'll keep you posted.

I share all this in the hopes you too take a moment to go over your pet and check out the lumps and bumps while they're teeny. It's worth it! This is how we keep our pets around till they're old and grey.

Woman Travels from Texas to Maryland to Reunited With Lost Pet

Family rejoices after reuniting with pet lost for over a year.
Read more

#AmazingPetExpo: Southern California Pet Expo, Pomona, CA, Feb. 20 - 21, 2016

February is known as a month when we show our dogged devotion to those we love, and on February 20 - 21 pet parents (and their dogs!) in the area of Pomona, California are invited to celebrate the love that our furry, finned and feathered friends bring to our lives at the Southern California Pet Expo.

Activities

• Spot can show off his special skill in the Pet Talent Contest.


• Dogs decked out in duds will vie for a prize in the Pet Costume Contest.


• Turn back the clock as you walk counter-clockwise with your tail-wagging companion in a Rover-fied rendition of the classic children's game, Musical Chairs.


• The expo is also a mega-adoption event, and potential pet parents can meet their new furry family member among adorable adoptables from the following rescue organizations and shelters: Adopt A Shelter, Angels for Animals, California Weimaraner Education and Rescue, Cause for SB Paws, Forgotten Angels Cat Rescue, From Cloud to Ground Animal Rescue, Hoofs and Woofs Animal Rescue, Hope to Home for Cats, Kitty Devore Rescue, Mission Underdog Rescue Team, Mutt Hut Rescue, Priceless Pets Rescue, Recycled Love Dog Rescue, The Dachshund Rescue of Los Angeles and Top Dogs Rescue and Adoptions.


• Plus prize giveaways, free nail trims, discounted vaccinations, microchipping and heartworm and flea preventatives, a look at the latest pet products, and much more!

Admission: Free

When: February 20 - 21, 2016 (From 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday)

Where: Fairplex at 1101 West McKinley Avenue in Pomona, California

For more information:

• visit www.socalpetexpo.com

Photo Credit: Amazing Pet Expos

Win the new #PeanutsMovie DVD! (3 winners!)

As you know, I love all things Peanuts; my first dog was named Peanut and, of course, one of our cats is now named Linus!

If you, too, can't get enough of Charlie Brown and the gang, you're in luck: The Peanuts Movie is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on March 8!

Free Peanuts Printables

To keep your Snoopy fans busy until the release of the movie, here are four fun printables you can print on your own computer:

• Life Advice from Lucy


• The Peanuts Gang's Essentials


• Paparazzi Pandemonium


• Stop the Red Baron

Enter to Win

THREE lucky DogTipper readers will win The Peanuts Movie; you can enter in the widget below. As always, you may return to the widget any time for more entries. Good luck!

Entry-Form

This giveaway will be fulfilled by The Peanuts Movie. All statements and opinions are entirely our own.

Win a PetSafe Freedom Pet Door!

In this season of talked-about television ads, I have to say that there's one ad that ALWAYS makes me smile: Amazon Prime's ad featuring a miniature horse who's lonely after the other horses look down at this little arrival. With Sonny and Cher's "Little Man" song playing in the background, the little horse owner quickly uses Amazon Prime to order a PetSafe(R) Freedom(R) Aluminum Pet Door, and now the little man can come and go from the house.

I'm not sure what it is that makes me love this commercial so much -- it may be that we call our seven-pound cat Lucky "Little Man." And apparently we're not the only ones who have enjoyed this ad. "This commercial tugs at the heartstrings and has quickly caught the attention of millions of animal-loving Americans," said Tracey Quillin, category manager for PetSafe brand. "We were thrilled that Amazon selected the Freedom Aluminum Pet Door to come to the rescue of the lonely tiny horse."

Quillin makes a great point that the freedom to come and go from the house isn't always about getting comfortable-sometimes it's about seeking comfort from us, too. The safety of the home can ease the stress of a pet besides providing a way to stay safe, warm, and cozy.

Win a Freedom Aluminum PetDoor

Would you like your dog to be able to enter your home on his own? One lucky DogTipper reader will win the Freedom Aluminum Pet Door, a durable, simple to install door that's intended for heavy use. The pet door is made of a solid aluminum frame with closing panel. The flexible, soft flap with UV sun protection is well suited for storm, wood, PVC and metal doors, and can be used on the interior or exterior. The Freedom Aluminum Pet Door is available in four sizes and is a reliable option for multiple-pet families. The product also features a one-year warranty.

How to Enter

You'll enter in the widget below. As always, you may return to the widget any time during the giveaway period for more entries. Good luck!

Entry-Form

This prize will be fulfilled by PetSafe. All statements and opinions are entirely our own.

#PawPromise Adoptable Dog of Week: Annabelle

Hi! My name is Annabelle, which means "joy" or "loving," or so I've been told. Since I have a reputation as a love bug and I know that I will jump for joy on the day when I meet my forever pet parent, I think that my moniker suits me!

I was born in 2008, but my inner puppy still likes to get out and play! I have a bit of an adventurous side, and sometimes I don't let a little thing like a fence get in the way of my explorations, so I will need a special someone who will give me lots of attention and make sure that the back yard that I play in is secure.

Already spayed and housetrained, Annabelle (a hound mix) is up to date with her vaccinations.

Annabelle is just one of the many dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in the care of Little Victories Animal Rescue. The non-profit organization was established in 2003 by the late Sue Brown to celebrate the lives of two Cocker Spaniels- Chloe, the founder's canine companion, who had passed away earlier that year, and Biscuit, who was put on a path to a bright future by Brown after she found the dog abandoned on the side of a road.

Located in Ona, West Virginia, Little Victories rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes companion animals in need, and provides a safe haven for dogs and cats who have been deemed unadoptable. Along with pet adoption, the organization also raises funds to help control pet overpopulation in the area through spay/neuter procedures, and shares a passion for compassion for our four-legged friends through educational and awareness programs.

For more information regarding Little Victories Animal Rescue and how you can become one of the more than 300 Little Victories volunteers who make a difference in the lives of dogs and cats in need:

• visit www.littlevictories.org

Help the Adoptables of the Week with Your PawZaar Purchases!

Ten percent of the week's proceeds from purchases in our PawZaar store will be donated to help the adoptable dog and cat of the week. Help with your purchases of our pet-friendly jewelry, bags, cookie cutters, and more!

Photo Credit: Little Victories Animal Rescue; PetFinder.com

Dog Is Miraculously Pulled Alive from 17-Story Building Collapse

Twenty-three search and rescue dogs have been dispatched, and are working hard to find more people and other dogs.
Read more

Shelter Saturday: February 6

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to share your love of dogs and cats in need by sharing their shelter photos on social media.

Each year an estimated 3.9 million shelter dogs enter into the U.S. shelter system. To help their search for their special someone, each day we highlight a few shelter animals on Twitter. For a look at adoptable dogs and cats as well as news of animal-loving luminaries who use their star wattage to shine a spotlight on paws causes, follow us at @HollywoodDogs.

California

Graham, a 3-yr-old Terrier mix at a shelter in #Downey, #CA, needs a home https://t.co/TjoRTt0jCF URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 5, 2016

Sasha, an 8-yr-old German Shepherd at a shelter in #Gardena, #CA, needs a home https://t.co/DLdSIERp6Q URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 2, 2016

Georgia

Precious, a young Shepherd mix at a shelter in #Savannah, #GA, needs a home https://t.co/YSDEJOfuNu URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 6, 2016

Pearl, a young Lab mix at a shelter in #Savannah, #GA, needs a home https://t.co/p8lmyQHD0Z URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 3, 2016

Tennessee

Bobo, a young hound mix at a shelter in Johnson City, #TN, needs a home https://t.co/Kd6zntd2F5 URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 5, 2016

Texas

Bima, a pretty Pit Bull mix at a shelter in #Lancaster, #TX, needs a home https://t.co/23WZ8hrHjp URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 2, 2016

Dallas, a young Dalmatian mix at a shelter in #Lancaster, #TX, needs a home https://t.co/rD61AjPjH9 URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 6, 2016

Annabeth, an American Bulldog/Boxer at a shelter in #Pasadena, #TX, needs a home https://t.co/o9IcSWTORS URGENT #AdoptableDogofDay

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 5, 2016

Adoptable Shelter Cats

HollywoodDogs also features felines in need of forever homes:

Abby, a 4-yr-old tabby cat at a shelter in #Gardena, #CA, needs a home https://t.co/lZ9n2tmPeM URGENT

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 2, 2016

Sir Tiger, a 5-yr-old orange & white tabby cat at a shelter in #Gardena, #CA, needs a home https://t.co/SCpIbtpqdk URGENT

-- Hollywood Dogs (@HollywoodDogs) February 1, 2016

MUTTS Cartoonist Draws Attention to NYC Shelter Dogs #ShelterMe

The creator of the award-winning MUTTS comic strip has helped to draw attention to dogs and cats who need forever homes through "Shelter Stories."

Throughout the week, fans of our four-legged friends and the daily funnies can flip to the comics section in one of more than 700 newspapers to see heart-warming true tales of companion animals at Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) as depicted by the pen of Patrick McDonnell. Among the Fidos featured are:

Cindy, who is about to introduce an animal lover to the joys of fostering a dog:

Ralphy, a lost pup who wins the hearts of MUTTS fans when he finds his human:

Mesilla, who woofs the praises of volunteer shelter workers:

...and Sweetness, a shelter dog whose comic strip ends with the start of a happily ever after.

"I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived at ACC of NYC, but what I found was dedicated, driven staff and volunteers, actively involved rescue groups, a supportive community, and adoptable, loving animals," McDonnell stated. "ACC is rapidly becoming a role model for large-scale city shelters, and NYC should be proud of all that has been accomplished. It was an uplifting experience and led me to create a series of MUTTS strips based on my visit there. My hope is that by telling these stories, readers will be inspired to support their local shelters and to adopt a new best buddy."

Along with a week's worth of positive panels that promote the option of pet adoption, canine- and cat-loving comic strip readers will also get the opportunity to watch McDonnell's visit to one of the largest open admissions shelters in the U.S. in an upcoming episode of Shelter Me. Shelter Me: Hearts and Paws will air on PBS stations nationwide starting in May.

Enjoy a sneak peek at the upcoming episode:

Photo Credit: MUTTS

Fido + Fluffy's Freebie Friday Wraps Up Our Book Project!

We are happy to say that we've wrapped up another book project! Although we were unable to do last week's planned trip because of Lucky's illness, we were able to finish our project on the gift book we've been revising about unique attractions in Texas (like Stonehenge II, above!)

This week we've been staying close to home and working on our PawZaar gift store, shooting new product photos and making plans for some summer products that we think you'll love!

In the meantime, we want to share this week's Fido + Fluffy's Blog Hop that we co-host with To Dog With Love and CatTipper! This blog hop, published every Thursday afternoon, features giveaways from across the Internet that feature prizes for pets and pet lovers. If you're a blogger with a pet-related giveaway, be sure to link up! Please link directly to your giveaway, not to your home page. (Please don't link to non-giveaway posts.) We post a new blog hop every Thursday afternoon at 4pm ET.

And we hope everyone will enjoy entering some new giveaways. Good luck!

Disclaimer: Each giveaway has its own entry rules. DogTipper, To Dog With Love, and CatTipper assume no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet product giveaways to be offered. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.

Why Your #RelationshipGoals Should Include the Adoption Option!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and while singletons may be frantically swiping left and right as they look for love on Tinder, a dog whose tail wags left and right is waiting to give puppy love to a special someone.

The Hallmark Channel might be celebrating February's annual day of dogged devotion with a schedule of TV movies to make hearts melt (and a TV special that will score a touchdown in the hearts of cat lovers, Kitten Bowl III!) but the network has also partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to help friends of Fidos and felines find "The One"!

Special Adoption Rates

Through February 15, Hallmark Channel is offering pet adoption fees starting at $14 during a national pet adoption event taking place at Best Friends adoption centers in Utah and Los Angeles, at a New York event, and at participating No More Homeless Pets Network partners from coast to coast.

Count the Ways Your Pet Will Love You

Find out where you can find "The One" this February and take an online quiz to help you find your perfect match at bestfriends.org/TheOne.

How will a companion dog or cat love you? Let Best Friends Animal Society count the ways:

1. Hanging with a pet will give pleasant new meaning to "Netflix and chill."


2. A pet's everlasting love will abolish the fear of ever being "ghosted" again.


3. Adopting a pet will help put an end to that fear of commitment.


4. There's always someone there with a good-morning kiss, even before teeth are brushed.


5. Walking a cat on a harness and leash is a guaranteed attention-getter.


6. Chances are a pet will love to spoon and snuggle as much as his person does, if not more.


7. A new canine companion will give you a valid reason to hang out and meet people at the dog park.


8. More than 63 percent of people consider pets to be members of the family (according to the AVMA). So no matter what the configuration of a family unit, pets are a perfect source of love and companionship.


9. If true love isn't revealing itself on Tinder, adopting a pet may be the answer.


10. A pet will help anyone get accustomed to 24/7 adoration and unconditional love.


11. An adopted pet can help his person become less self-centered, as one learns to put another's needs before one's own.


12. When looking for love, but feeling freaked out by forever, check with a local shelter or rescue to find out about fostering.

We are proud to be ambassadors of Best Friends Animal Society. All statements and opinions are entirely our own.

Photos: Best Friends Animal Society

Top 5 Ways Being a Vet Prepared Me for Parenthood

It took me a good decade, but I can finally say I think I’m getting this motherhood thing figured out. It was not intuitive for me, not easy or instantly amazing the way it was when I brought home my first pet. With my animals, I knew no matter how challenging things were, we would figure it out and it would be ok. I don’t know why I lacked that confidence with the kiddos. Maybe I’m just part dog.

But no matter! We all have our strengths in life, but the one thing I wish I knew a lot earlier was the idea of resilience, that just because one thing comes naturally to us, it doesn’t mean we can’t take on other things and work our way up to competence. It’s too late for me now: I will never know if I could have been a decent volleyball player. All I know is I was horrrrrrrible at it in school, I dreaded volleyball days in PE, and as soon as I could give it up I did.

But parenthood isn’t like volleyball, a hobby you can dabble in and put away when your back hurts. It’s there, sink or swim, and even if all you do is hobble along, well, that’s all you need to do.

I found myself leaning on my veterinary experience quite a bit those first few years, actually. You draw on your own experiences, so it makes sense. I was actually pleasantly surprised at how many things I learned from the clinic that I could apply to parenthood:

1. Your brain can adapt to an obscene level of noise.

Barking dogs, screaming babies, howling cats, ringing phones, all can be intercepted before they hit your cerebrum by some amazing subconscious mom-filter that allows you to get your records completed or bills done. While others may think you oblivious, the truth is you are an amazing compartmentalizer.

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2. Multitasking is an art.

Mrs. Jones is on line 3 and will only speak to you, and she insists she will hold. The cat in room 4 is having a seizure. The man in the lobby is yelling at the receptionist about his dog’s worms, something is bleeding in the treatment area but we don’t know who, and you’re still scrubbed into surgery. Getting used to this level of chaos is the only reason I was able to survive the first years of classroom volunteering, PTA politics, work, groceries, and remembering my husband’s name.

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3. Blood and poop are things you can get used to.

I don’t think I even need to elaborate on this, do I?

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4. The ones who scream the loudest are not the ones you worry about.

If you’re screaming, you’re breathing. It’s the quiet ones you need to check in on, because it usually means one of three things: they stopped breathing, they are getting in a large amount of trouble, or they are about to have a nuclear meltdown. This rule applies to both pets and their owners. And, I learned, to kids.

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5. You don’t need to be the best at something. You just need to want it the most.

In a clinic full of creatures without opposable thumbs, it was astonishing to find out how good some of them could get at accomplishments they weren’t supposed to be capable of. Like, how some dogs could patiently sit in a cage for hours and work at a jiggly lever in order to release themselves and merrily run around the treatment area. Or how some cats could push a jar of treats, centimeter by centimeter, all the way across a table until it dumped its chicken-y contents on the floor. They do it because no one told them they couldn’t.

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To me this last one is the most important lesson of all. I remind myself of this often, for myself and for my kids. I don’t want them to be the kid who stops trying to open the cage. I want them to be the one who takes the whole thing apart.

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I learned, more than anything, to be this dog.