If you’ve ever noticed that your dog seems to reflect your energy, your mood, and sometimes even your habits, you’re not imagining things. Dogs are incredibly attuned to their humans—and they share your space as well as your life. So it makes sense that the choices you make around your home impact both your well-being and your dog’s, for better or worse.
There’s something about having a pet that just slows you down in the best way. You come home after a long day, toss your keys on the counter, and before you can even finish exhaling, there’s a wagging tail or a warm purr waiting for you. Pets have a way of pulling you out of your own head and anchoring you in something that feels grounding and real.
At just under a year old, Bixby should have been discovering the joys of puppyhood—cuddling on the couch, learning new tricks, chasing tennis balls in a backyard. Instead, he’s spent nearly his entire young life in a shelter.
Regular veterinary visits are essential for maintaining your dog's health and well-being. These visits encompass a range of health checks and preventive measures that help shield your canine companion from common ailments. By understanding the key elements of these visits, dog owners can ensure their pets live long, healthy lives.
Spring has sprung, the grass is green, yadda, yadda, yadda. Yes, it’s a beautiful time of year, with everything blooming, everyone sneezing, and the world spinning as it should. I do enjoy this balmy weather, but it only reminds me of the inevitable arrival of summer. And if you’ve read my babblings for any amount of time, you know how much I despise that hot, sweaty season.
If you’ve ever come home after a stressful day and been greeted by a wagging tail or a gentle nudge from your cat, you’ve felt the calming power of a pet. For many people, pets aren’t just companions. They’re family. They offer comfort, stay close when we’re down, and bring joy in quiet, meaningful ways.
Many years ago, when I lived in the Bay Area, I used to get amazingly homesick. Not during the week, but always on Sundays. I remembered when my cousin from Redding was in town attending Fresno State. She would come to our house just about every Sunday, when my mom would make something delicious like lasagna.
Jodie came in to Col. Potter in a lot of pain from a hip problem. She has had hip surgery and is now pain free. She is with one of Col. Potter’s very experienced foster moms, Deb. Jodie is terrified of humans, but enjoys playing with other dogs. Deb says she is learning dog behavior from her other four dogs.
I left off my last column with an incoming cat from a winery a few miles from my home. The 10- pound male cat was incredibly beat-up and smelled REALLY bad. It was, of course, the unmistakable smell of hormone-charged urine. Obviously, the dude, now named, Cotton, needed to have outside accommodations. Even then the smell was permeating the entire area.
As people mature, they frequently seek out simplicity, proximity, and reduced effort in their lives. As individuals approach older age, they often begin to ponder their mortality, prompting them to prioritize experiences and create bucket lists.
