Beauty and Brains

Sometimes I meet a dog at Austin Pets Alive! that I just can’t shake. Red is such a girl. She’s just so much fun!

Next up for Spoiling: Louie

First it was Vixen. I fell in love with her as my first “little sister” in the Austin Pets Alive! Big Brother, Big Sister program. I spoiled her and kept my fingers crossed for her, and she was adopted into a great family just in time for Christmas. Then I met Karma, loved on her with treats and kisses, and she was adopted in just a couple of short days.

Now, there’s Louie. Ohhhh, Louie. His handsome face makes me smile, and he’s my new “little brother.” He’s what we call a good dog in training. He’s got so much puppy energy that he can hardly contain it. He’s a nibbler, but not an aggressive one. He just wants to play, play, play, run, and then play some more. He’s responding well to training, learning to redirect that energy and earn treats as he does.

If you have room in your heart and home for an energetic, playful bundle of love and kisses, you really should meet Louie. I’ll be spoiling him until you get there!

Handsome Louie

Home for the Holidays

Sweet Vixen was adopted this week!

I’m so excited for her and her new family. I know they’ll have a great long life together. I’ll miss spoiling her, but I know her new family is already doing that.

So… that means I needed a new little sister dog to spoil. Enter Karma. I met Karma last night. We spent lots of time running around in the yard and getting to know each other. She’s a sweet dog with a beautifully soft coat. I hope to get some great pictures of her this weekend so you can meet her too.

Spoiling Vixen

Relaxing With Vixen

I spent some time with my “little sis” Vixen this week, spoiling her with a couple new toys, a new bed, a thorough brushing, some playtime in the yard and lots of walking. She continues to come out of her shell, gaining confidence and showing more and more curiosity for the world around her. If you’re looking for a sweet girl, you really should meet her.

I’m a Big Sister… to a Dog

We have a full house. With three dogs, two cats and two adult humans, it’d be hard to add another set of four legs to our house. We always joke about being “at capacity.”

But taking pictures and walking all the great dogs in the Austin Pets Alive! system makes it hard to not just open the car door and invite them all in to come home with me. Since we don’t have the room to foster or adopt them all (or even just one right now), I’m always thrilled to learn about new ways that I can help the adoptable cuties until they find their forever home. So, today I became a “big sister” to sweet black beauty Vixen.

With the new big/little brother/sister program with APA!, I can spoil Vixen rotten — getting her a new collar, special treats, walks at the park, a warm blanket, spending time on training, the whole nine yards — until her perfect human comes along. I already have a stuffed green bear and a yummy bag of treats just for her in my car. And I’ll get to spend some time rolling in the grass with her this evening.

We’re all animal lovers, but sometimes a dog comes along that you just can’t shake. Vixen is one of those dogs. She is something special, and I’m gonna love her all she can take until she finds her forever home.

On Vixen

A black beauty

About three weeks ago, I started walking dogs one evening a week at the Austin Pets Alive! building. It’s hard to explain the pure joy that comes at the end of two hours of walking excited dogs when everyone has spent time outside, they’ve done their business and they’ve gotten lots of love, then they settle in to a warm blanket and some soft music and everyone in the building falls asleep. It’s honestly, after all the craziness of the day and the occasional “take me out next” barking, one of the most peaceful things I’ve ever seen.

Well, that first week, I met a beautiful solid black dog with bright golden eyes named Vixen. She didn’t want to go outside. She didn’t even want to come out of her kennel. With some patience, a couple of treats and some gentle encouragement, we finally got her outside to do some business. She turned right around and headed for the building and the safety of her kennel.

Last week, I got to take her outside. She was still a bit hesitant again, and I recalled her nervousness the week before, so I just let her take it slow and easy. She did her business for me, took a few steps and then flopped onto her back in the grass. We had no place else to be, so I settled in beside her on the grass and rubbed her belly until my shoulder tired out. She loved every second of it, then quietly got back into her kennel to settle in for the night.

Well, last night, she was a brand new dog! She came out of her kennel ready for her walk. She stopped at my feet and wagged her tail, almost as if she remembered me from the last couple of weeks. She walked, even pranced a couple of times, and stopped to visit with other walking volunteers, wagging her tail at them too. It was all I could do not to tear up at her progress. She is a sweet and beautiful dog, and she just needs some patience, love, and the occasional belly rub in the grass.

Ever Seen a Dog Laugh?

Boss: A Sweet, Happy Dog

Boss is such a playful pup, and he’s available through Austin Pets Alive! This video shows a bit more of his personality. If I could bring him home, I would. Heck, I’d bring them all home!

What’s In a Name?

Her Name Says It All

A couple of times in the last few weeks while taking photos for Austin Pets Alive!, I’ve come across a dog that I just couldn’t shake. Sweetie is one of those dogs.

Her name couldn’t fit her better! I’ve been around her a few times now, and she’s always been incredibly gentle, patient and sweet. Her tail wags ever so gently when she thinks you might be coming over to talk to her. My guess is that she would be a perfect companion for a jog around the lake, and then she’d be just as happy to relax by your feet with a toy during the big game.

She’s spayed and microchipped, about 10-11 months old, and I know she’ll be eternally grateful when she finds her forever home. Rescued dogs know…

You Need to Meet Melody

A Sweet Melody

I can’t get sweet Melody off of my mind.

I met her more than three weeks ago as part of my weekly photo-volunteering fun for Austin Pets Alive! She put on her leash so happily. She sat on command for pictures of that sweet face. She welcomed a scratch under the chin.

When I was finished with my photos of her, the adoption coordinator working that day gave her a rawhide chew, and Melody laid down at her feet to relax with it. She was a happy girl!

She is about five months old. She has “white socks” on, and she seemed to be doing great around other dogs that day. She’s a pitbull mix, which I know makes lots of folks nervous, but one look into her sweet eyes, and I think you’ll know the truth about her. If you want to meet her, you can find out where she’ll be on any given day on the APA! website.

When you do meet her, give her a scratch on the chin for me!

Rest in Peace, Sweet Rocky

I learned last night that Rocky passed away last week. I know his family will miss him, but I hope they take comfort in the great life and years that they gave him. He was an awesome dog, and I’m so thankful for the time that I got to spend rubbing his ears.