1 Comment
This was probably one of the most singular experiences that we participated in and it helped inform what kind of awesome work that Taos Search and Rescue performs. This feels like it was a long time ago (okay, maybe it was) and we were just starting Keep Wagging / Nose Prints out. We met with Delinda VanneBrightyn and she kindly took the time to tell us about their mission and arranged for a demo to illustrate just how professional they are and how difficult the work is. I highly suggest checking out Taos Search and Rescue's web site when you have a chance and watch the video below. It's really quite informative. We didn't know much about Taos Search and Rescue until they put us through the paces. We learned that they are all volunteers, highly competent and professional. They work in all kinds of weather throughout the state searching for lost hikers, climbers, hunters, campers, children, people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, skiers, snowmobilers. Here's an enlightening profile of a typical rescue in the Rio Grande gorge.
We encourage you to support the fantastic work Taos Search and Rescue does here!  Our new design is hopefully one of those lessons that life teaches us early on. For some, it's in their later years that the pieces click together and they finally get it. What you put out in the universe comes back to you. Treat people with disrespect, you'll harvest a ton of disrespect directed toward you. Treat people with kindness and respect, and I guarantee you'll be able to look back upon your life with a smile.
I'm hoping this image captures the spirit of this though and we can increase the peace going forward. Keep Wagging!
I think, in my humble opinion, that my single greatest accomplishment in my life to date has been the fact that I've maintained a wonderful relationship with a woman that I love dearly. My wife humbles me every week with an action or observation that I generally feel embarrassed that I didn't see. She always provides context that I'm not seeing or is one that I haven't considered. She is stunningly a breath of fresh air. She is, quite simply, everything to me. When it comes to doing the right thing, whatever that maybe, she does it. Her integrity and honesty are off the charts. Oh, did I mention she is a hell of a cook? She's funny when she allows herself to be, creative, assertive, perceptive and a non-judgmental pain in my ass. Sometimes.
We've been together thirty years and I hope to share another thirty with her because she makes me a better me. Is that being selfish?
Our blunt instrument of love, Lola, is frequently mistaken for a Honda toaster. You can decide for yourself, but if you can tell us the difference, we'd love to hear from you.   Lola & her Silly Willie's Anchor Toy We were passing through the small downtown of New Smyrna beach, Florida when we spotted a pet boutique. We also like to stop in and support mom&pop stores like this and we were pleasantly surprised by how many things this boutique got right. We understand that the appeal of a store is purely subjective, so we'll define how we're looking at it to give you some context. We tend to look at looks filtered through thirty plus years of working in the animal industry and our understanding of shoppers who have companion animals. Not lets take a look at what Silly Willie's is up to. The products they carried were high quality, higher end, better made and sourced USA. For example, Lola can blow through toys like a highly-caffeinated Jack Russell Terrier, ripping them apart and removing the squeaky within minutes. However, if you look at the picture of Lola with her toy that we bought at Silly Willie's, two days later it's still intact! Amazing! Food - We're not familiar with Life's Abundance animal products, but we've used their human products and they're solid and have a good reputation. Silly Willie's also carries Fromm - an excellent food, family owned and very high standards, good ingredients and they don't sell to everyone. They support the smaller business owners and don't sell to corporate owned businesses. They also carried a quality skin, coat and ear product line as well. In addition, they sold CBD oil from Pet Releaf, which supplies highly regarded CDB products.
The layout of the store is smart - U shaped, products in the middle and on the side. Busy, not cluttered. Nice assortment of products, treats, toys, leashes and collars. Where they really stand out from other pet Boutiques is that they sell stuff for humans that love animals. Many boutiques drop the ball on this front and are leaving money on the table, so to speak. Silly Willie's had Tee shirts, magnets, mugs, and more. Companion animal lovers and people shopping for them don't always want to just buy gifts for the dog - they want to include the humans in the fun as well. If you are a pet lover and are passing through New Syrna Beach, stop in at Silly-Willies (Silly-Willies.com) and do some shopping! You'll be glad you did. My wife and I were a bit clueless about the dangers of heat when we moved to Florida. We knew that it was hot, but we did not realize how quickly an average summer day can become life-threatening for a pet. Due to the extreme heat in Florida, there are precautions you must take to prevent jeopardizing the life of your pet. Hot sand, heat buildup in the interior of a car, tossing a dog in the back of a pickup and even an innocent walk all present dangerous risks to your pet. SUSCEPTIBLE BREEDS Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to heat issues. Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs – in short, any squishy faced dog – will have problems in the heat. The smooshie faced breeds are known as “brachycephalic” dogs. Their short noses can’t move in air fast enough nor can they shed heat quickly which means they overheat more quickly than other breeds. That being said, all breeds are susceptible to heat stroke and related illnesses. Use caution when considering what type of activity you want your dog to participate in and what the potential risks are. The must have check list is to always have cool, not cold, water available. Shade should be readily accessible. And always be aware of the effects of the heat on your dogs and monitor them - it's easy to assume they are feeling just like we do - but they are very different. Wearing a fur coat doesn't help either. Be safe and enjoy the outdoors with your companion animals! |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
January 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
|
|
© COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.