All Categories - KEEP WAGGING

Be Kind

9/23/2020

We recently visited, for the first time, a quaint little town in Florida named New Syrna. Funky place, seems to have a lot of cool, progressive things going on. But what stopped us in our tracks was the following message on a business: "Please be kind to each other."

As most people who share their lives with companion animals have noticed, people with animals "seem to be" more empathetic and generally happier in their lives. I don't think most of us would have to be reminded to be kind due to the dogs and cats in our lives. By taking responsibility for another life, you are probably hardwired for kindness.

So rather than coming away with a sense of depression that we've reached a point that people have to be reminded to be kind to each other, we were heartened by the statement and hope that the story behind it is a pleasant reminder.
Oh, and remember to be kind to each other.

Valentines day

1/30/2020

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?

Four Legged Family Members

6/18/2019

Izzy Catching A Little Shut Eye

Geoff is a busy guy with a busy life. Geoff is a Project Manager/Engineer at SeaRobotics, a growing robotics company on the east coast of Florida. Outside of work, he and his wife have a pretty bustling household with their two kids, both of which are furry. We're going to focus on Isabella, an eleven-ish year old English Bully. Like all dogs, she has more than one name, depending on the circumstances - Izzy, Smush, SmushMush, Bear Pig are the most frequently uttered names.

Izzy has her own opinions and will let you know what your opinion is when she gives it to you. "Izzy....when she wants something she lets us know, usually with one bark. She's a pretty good communicator," Geoff said.

Compared to Lola, who will harangue us with a five minute barking spree, it's refreshing to hear about a dog that is succinct and to the point. Why go one for five minutes when a single utterance will do?

Like most four-legged family members, Izzy makes Geoff smile when he comes home from work, no matter what his day is like. And work can get pretty hectic. "I come home...and I just smile. Izzy is it."
Almost anyone who has a dog in their life...or hell, a companion animal of any sort, really - can understand and relate to this sentiment.
"Izzy is every bit of our family as any human is. To my wife, Izzy is everything, the most important family member, even over me!" Geoff said, laughing. "To me, she is an equal to any other family member."

Geoff & Izzy Enjoying The Breeze

Geoff said that Izzy loves boating and the beach and in fact, they go out almost every weekend. Geoff knows that bullies can't overdo the outdoors, and he takes precautions. And like a good dad, Geoff said they always have their emergency kit with them - one gallon of cool water.

Honda Elements and English Bullies

6/17/2019

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.

Silly Willie's Pet Boutique in New Smyrna Beach, Florida

6/16/2019

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.

heat and your pets

5/31/2019

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!

Dogs Just Gotta Play

4/24/2019

Lola is a very high energy bulldog, and her activity level is even more striking when you factor in that she is on the North side of 9 years old. For those who have never had an English bully, they're wonderful family members that generally have their mind made up on what they're going to do. And they also break your heart because they do not live long, mostly from all the crappy genetic legacy that keeps being bred into them (breathing problems, skin issues, bad knees, hips, etc). We were lucky that Mr. Bishi lived to 12.5, which is an awesome run. Maggie and Big Tuna both passed at 8.5 and 8, respectively.

Lol would play around 6 to 7 hours a day if one were so inclined ton engage with her. And along with playing come the vocals that only a bully can make. Those of you who share your lives with a bully breed will understand this. Bulldogs sometimes make sounds that would never be mistaken for a dog. The sound is similar to what we imagine an alien or alien - human hybrid might utter. I believe that is the sound they're going for.

I've posted a short clip so you get an idea of the demanding nature of Lola's rants. Wouldn't trade her for the world, though.

April 08th, 2019

4/8/2019

Joie at the Humane Society's Mutt March

At the Humane Society's Mutt March, we had the pleasure of having our booth right beside The Stuart Fence company. We had a chance to chat with Chet Richmond, president of Stuart Fence and later, we had a chance to chat with Julie and meet Joie, their rescue dog.

Stuart Fence has been in business since 2003 and they install all types of fences and gates for both residential and commercial properties. But their is another layer to what they do and who they are. Turns out both Chet and Julie are passionate about dogs - and when people are really passionate about animals, it tells you a lot about their character and what kind of people they are. As Julie stated, "Not having animals in our lives would mean we'd be missing out of love without the animals to share it with."

Julie's favorite breed is "rescued Cocker Spaniel" and, as it turns out, she is also involved in rescue work. "After we adopted Jypsie from a rescue in 2016, I got involved with transporting furbabies for rescues. Transports take the animals from shelters or owner surrenders and bring them to rescue or fosters...or even sometimes approved adopters."

Now, we all know how fostering typically works. You foster an rescue with the intention of finding it a home, and before you know it, you have another family member. Julie also ended up fostering as well. "We also foster to help get them reay for "furever" homes, as some have no idea what it is like to be safe, loved, and in a home."

Dogs have also been in Julie and Chet's lives. In fact, when Julie showed up later, she had with her Joie, a rescue they adopted from Palm Beach County Animal Control in June of 2009. Joie couldn't have looked happier and I suspect, so are Chet and Julie. Chet and Julie can be reached at 772-288-1151 or you can visit stuartfence.com.

The Humane Society Of The Treasure Coasts Mutt March

3/26/2019

We participated in the Humane Society's of the Treasure Coast's annual Mutt March and had an awesome time! Not only was this the first exposure of our designs to a whole new crowd, but we also met a lot of very nice and good hearted people. Needless to say, we will be back next year.
As far as the reception we received, people really appreciated that our designs weren't anything like they've ever seen. They admired the messages, and equally as important, we had a number of people who excitedly told us that they loved the artwork because it was so unique. As an artist, I can't tell you how much it means to see someone walk up, scan a design and a smile washes over their face. Even if they don't buy the product, it put a smile on their face because they found some meaning to it. We appreciate the comments, the patronage and support!
We'll let you know which show we will be vendors at next.

A Special Thank You

3/12/2019

Laura Pierpont, an artist and photographer who hails from Tennessee, shot some awesome product shots for Keep Wagging and we are thrilled with the results! She has a knack for capturing a moment that is so much more than just the moment. Hayley, the model and writer, was just as awesome! While playing with Lola, our spirited bully (click here to see the ultimate Lola I want to play now" picture ) even took a piece of her thumb, accident of course, and Hayley still soldiered on through the shoot. I suspect we'll hear about it from her agent though. And here's the icing on the cake - In addition to both of them being a serious artists, they are genuinely super nice. I don't know if that's a special category of niceness, but it should be for them. We'd adopt them if we could. You can check out Laura's work here:
http://lcpierpontphotography.com/