9/11 Dogs Ten Years On

10 years ago today, the world changed. Big time. 

As George 'dubbleya' Bush said in a rare moment of sincerity & depth, at yesterday's memorial for Flight 93 in Pennsylvania ... 

“When the sun rose in the Pennsylvania sky 10 years ago, it was a peaceful September morning,” he said, “By the time it set, nearly 3,000 people had lost their lives." 

Even a decade on, whenever I look at the images from that day, my brain still struggles to process that what I'm seeing is not a movie still or some angry computer game. Today we want to honour the bravery of all involved in the rescue operation at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and those heroes of Flight 93 who really were the first to stand in the 'War on Terror' or whatever the politicians term it. To us, they just fought back and triumphed against pure evil. 

Of course, it wouldn't be Puppy Love if we didn't move on to the heroes of the furry variety... and we can't believe that somehow we missed this story over the last ten years! Maybe it has something to with the leaky eyes of grief and outrage but at last we have discovered the story of Michael Hingson and his guide dog Roselle who were working on the 78th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center when the first plane hit Tower Two. Together, beautiful yellow lab Roselle leading the way, they began the evacuation and ended up just 100 yards away when Tower Two collapsed. And her fellow guide dog Salty also did the same for his owner in another area. I never have words for the loyalty of dogs, just a big lump in my throat. Roselle, like so many of the rescue dogs who worked on 9/11, has now crossed the Rainbow Bridge but just like the thousands who lost their lives that day, and in the resulting conflicts and attacks around the world, they will never be forgotten. 

Over 350 dogs worked at Ground zero and Boston journalisist Laurel Sweet worked with vet Dr Cynthia Otto who was treating their injuries from searching through the debris ... "I think the dogs were the only thing that kept people going at Ground Zero," Sweet quotes Otto as saying. "You'd actually see their faces change when a dog walked by."

Dutch photogrpapher Charlotte Dumas has tracked down the 15 still living FEMA doggies and complied a beautiful book called 'Retrieved' which is available now... 

If you don't want the leaky eyes, and believe me they'll come big stylee, click away now, as here are some of those doggie-heroes :

From the NY Times: Bailey, age 14, Thompson Station, Tenn. She went to the Pentagon following the attacks of 9/11.

Bretagne from Cypress, Texas, arrived at the site in New York on September 17, remaining there for ten days 

Moxie, 13, from Winthrop, Massachusetts, arrived with her handler, Mark Aliberti, at the World Trade Center on the evening of September 11 and searched the site for eight days

Tara, 16, from Ipswich, Massachusetts who stayed for 8 days from Sept 11th

Kaiser, 12, pictured at home in Indianapolis, Indiana, was deployed to the World Trade Center on September 11 and searched tirelessly for people in the rubble

Guinness, 15, from Highland, California, started work at the site with Sheila McKee

Merlyn and his handler Matt Claussen were deployed to Ground Zero on September 24, working the night shift for five days

Red, 11, from Annapolis, Maryland, went  to the Pentagon

Abigail, left, was deployed on the evening of September 17

Tuff arrived in New York at 11:00 pm on the day of attack to start working early the next day

Hoke from Denver searched for 5 days

From the NY Times: Orion, age 13, Vacaville, Calif. He worked at the World Trade Center for five days after the attacks 
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033628/Surviving-9-11-rescue-dogs-scoured-Ground-Zero-bodies-commemorated-decade-difficult-mission.html#ixzz1Xdnr20gt

Black Dog Appreciation Day

Today we are not doing our weekly Friday Funny as we want to talk about a serious cause close to our hearts. Today is Black Dog Appreciation Day where, worldwide, animal lovers celebrate  black dogs and highlight Black dog bias or Black Dog Syndrome. 

Now if you haven't heard of Black Dog Syndrome before, you will be as surprised as we were to find out that all those beautifully sleek, glossy furred, gorgeous black dogs and cats are more than often the last pets in rescue centres and shelters to find homes, if at all, because they are passed over in favour of the lighter coloured animals. And it's not just the bigger breeds or Heinz 57's that the phenomenon applies to - even the toy & pedigree breeds are affected. 

As you know we have two black rescue dogs in the Puppy Love family, Buzz and Lubo, both of whom spent a long time in the rescue centre waiting for us... Lubo was at the Mayhew for 3 months:

and also these three beauties in our extended family, where again Brook's fursis & bro Soxi and Dino are rescues:

Noone is 100% sure why this happens - it is thought that they don't photograph as well so aren't as appealing on adoption websites, and that people often still associate black with superstitions ie: black cats etc (although I always thought that a black cat crossing your path was lucky!?) Other theories put forward include the idea that in movies and the media as a whole black dogs are usually the aggressive, mean ones or that noone wants the dark fur malting. Personally I LOVE black dogs and cats but I must say when I went to the rescue centre all those years ago in Hull, Buzzy provided the perfect example of Black Dog Syndrome and I am eternally grateful to the staff there for spotting we would be perfect for eachother. He was stood there quiet as a mouse hid in the background away from us, whilst all the other dogs jumped and barked, and I think this is another factor. Certainly in the smaller rescue centres and shelters where it can be a little dark and gloomy, the black fur just doesn't show up :( A shelter in LA did a study to try and challenge the Black dog bias or Black Dog Syndrome by saying a full 28% of adopted dogs were black, but the facts still stand sadly... 

So, today help us promote how totally p-awesome black dogs and cats are and raise awareness of Black dog bias/Black Dog Syndrome! There is an event on facebook here  today with over 12000 people attending online where you can share pics of your black dogs and share your stories - sooo many gorgeous pups! x x

For more info on  Black dog bias/Black Dog Syndrome check out the links after the jump>>  

It's Tropical again... important RSPCA Heatwave Pet Safety Tips!

Sad news again in the press... another 2 dogs have died after being left in a car in the hot weather. The devastating thing is the handler had already lost another dog 7 years ago after leaving him in the car.... makes us angry! Hopefully he will be dealt with accordingly. Dogs dying in hot weather after being trapped in cars is tragic, cruel and unneccesary... *sigh* We posted these tips during the last little heatwave back at Easter and they really are essential.... please pass on to all your friends!

Temperatures in cars can rocket in this kind of weather, up to 47 degrees in just an hour when it is 22 degrees outside! Brain damage in dogs starts at 41 degrees. Also, don't forget that suncream is not just for humans... any delicate areas and 'pink bits' will need an application. Check out these fab top ten tips for keeping your pets safe in the sun from the RSPCA:

1. Your dog should always be able to move into a cooler, ventilated environment if he/she is feeling hot.

2. Never leave your dog alone in a car. If you want to take your dog with you on a car journey, make sure that your destination is dog friendly – you won’t be able to leave your dog in the car and you don’t want your day out to be ruined. If leaving your dog at home is the best  option because of the weather, 

always ensure that his/her needs are properly catered for.

3. If you have to leave your dog outside, you must provide a cool, shady spot where he/she can escape 

from the sun at all times of the day.

4. Make sure your dog always has a good supply of drinking water, in a weighted bowl that can’t be 

knocked over. Carry water with you on hot days and give your dog frequent, small amounts.

5. Never leave your dog in a glass conservatory or a caravan. Even if it is cloudy when you leave, the

sun may come out later in the day and could become unbearably hot.

6. Groom your dog regularly to get rid of excessive hair. Give long-coated breeds a hair-cut at the start of 

the summer, and later in the season if necessary.

7. Dogs need exercise, even when it is hot, but walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening. Never allow your dog to exercise excessively in hot weather.

8. Dogs can get sunburned too – particularly those with light-coloured noses or light coloured fur on their 

ears. Ask your vet for advice on pet-safe sunscreens.

Great tips! Make sure you share them with your friends! Also be aware of the signs of Heatstroke and what to do should you think your pet is suffering from it. The most obvious sign of heat stroke in dogs is excessive panting and profuse salivation. Other signs include:

• Overly red or purple gums
• A rapid pulse
• Lack of co-ordination, reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing, seizures, vomiting or diarrhoea

You must act fast! It is LETHAL!

According to the RSPCA:

•  Pets should be moved to a cooler spot straight away before ringing your vet for advice immediately.
• Douse your dog with cool (not cold) water. You could put your dog in a shower and run cool water over him/her, spray your dog with cool water and place him/her in the breeze of a fan. Never cool your dog so much that he/she begins to shiver
• Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water
• Continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle and then take him/her straight to the vets

To read the RSPCA's full article in PDF form click here.

Easter Holiday Sun! *Nice* But make sure your dogs stay safe! Heatwave Pet Safety Tips from the RSPCA

Wooo... the Easter holiday weekend starts tomorrow and is the beginning of  couple of lovely 4 day working weeks here in the UK. With the Royal Wedding on the 29th and then May Day Bank Holiday too, we will all be spending some time enjoying the great outdoors and Britain is set for some scorching weather! Lovely for us 2 legged sun-worshippers but not always so lovely for our furry friends! Temperatures in cars can rocket in this kind of weather, up to 47 degrees in just an hour when it is 22 degrees outside! Brain damage in dogs starts at 41 degrees. Also, don't forget that suncream is not just for humans... any delicate areas and 'pink bits' will need an application. Check out these fab top ten tips for keeping your pets safe in the sun from the RSPCA:

1. Your dog should always be able to move into a cooler, ventilated environment if he/she is feeling hot.


2. Never leave your dog alone in a car. If you want to take your dog with you on a car journey, make sure that your destination is dog friendly – you won’t be able to leave your dog in the car and you don’t want your day out to be ruined. If leaving your dog at home is the best  option because of the weather, 
always ensure that his/her needs are properly catered for.


3. If you have to leave your dog outside, you must provide a cool, shady spot where he/she can escape 
from the sun at all times of the day.


4. Make sure your dog always has a good supply of drinking water, in a weighted bowl that can’t be 
knocked over. Carry water with you on hot days and give your dog frequent, small amounts.


5. Never leave your dog in a glass conservatory or a caravan. Even if it is cloudy when you leave, the
sun may come out later in the day and could become unbearably hot.


6. Groom your dog regularly to get rid of excessive hair. Give long-coated breeds a hair-cut at the start of 
the summer, and later in the season if necessary.


7. Dogs need exercise, even when it is hot, but walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening. Never allow your dog to exercise excessively in hot weather.


8. Dogs can get sunburned too – particularly those with light-coloured noses or light coloured fur on their 
ears. Ask your vet for advice on pet-safe sunscreens.


Great tips! Make sure you share them with your friends! Also be aware of the signs of Heatstroke and what to do should you think your pet is suffering from it. The most obvious sign of heat stroke in dogs is excessive panting and profuse salivation. Other signs include:

• Overly red or purple gums
• A rapid pulse
• Lack of co-ordination, reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing, seizures, vomiting or diarrhoea

You must act fast! It is LETHAL!

According to the RSPCA:

•  Pets should be moved to a cooler spot straight away before ringing your vet for advice immediately.
• Douse your dog with cool (not cold) water. You could put your dog in a shower and run cool water over him/her, spray your dog with cool water and place him/her in the breeze of a fan. Never cool your dog so much that he/she begins to shiver
• Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water
• Continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle and then take him/her straight to the vets

To read the RSPCA's full article in PDF form click here.

We hope everyone has a a totally p-awesome time over the weekend and enjoys the sunshine! Stay safe! x x

Hero fireman in Hull saves Sunny the Dog ... Yaay!

This is p-awesome fireman Mike Dunn from Hull and gorgeous little terrier Sunny....

Photo @ Metro Online by Capers

After Sunny's owners Beryl and Ken went out shopping this weekend, a blaze started in their home, knocking Sunny unconscious. By the time the firefighters arrived, it was thought Sunny had died *leaky eyes* as she showed no signs of life. But Mike thought that since mouth-to-mouth works on humans...it was worth 'giving it a try' on little Sunny! And it worked! Half an hour later, following some deep breaths using an oxygen mask, she regained consciousness and was given the all-clear by the vet! Totally P-awesome news story in amongst all the sadness and destruction of late :) Enjoy x x

If you need to learn more about mouth-to-mouth on an animal, click here!

Paws for Japan Day in aid of World Vets for the animals of Japan

Today is Paws for Japan Day!
Paws for Japan is uniting all animal-lovers across the world in a bid to raise as much money as we can for all the animals affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan last week. There are lots of fun things happening all across the internet today - including a special edition of the monthly #pawpawty on twitter, hosted as always by the woof-a-licious Dougal from Dougal's Den, a blog hop which you can join or check out here after the jump, and tons of promotions and giveaways...all with one aim in mind - helping animals like these:

This beautiful dog would not leave his injured pal behind and it is a perfect demonstration of the loyal devoted nature of animals. Major *leaky eyes here*. Amazing news though...both dogs were rescued and are now recovering in a shelter. Animals like these need rescuing by professionals who can sooth and treat them - please please donate using the ChipIn widget below...

All funds raised by Paws for Japan will go to World Vets who are currently deployed in Japan rescuing and treating animals affected by the disaster. Sooo... for a chance to win a p-awesome custom made Puppy Love bandana for your pet AND help out this great organisation and homeless, ownerless, voiceless and injured animals... have a go at our special Paws for Japan Prize Draw!!

There are 3 designs to choose from and to enter is sooo simple....

1) Fill out your details below or email your details to: puppy_love_petwear@hotmail.co.uk
2) Donate as much or as little as you can,using the secure donation site, ChipIn ... preferably in pennies...but if you can't just send your prayers for all our furry (and not-so-furry) friends

Woof-a-licious!! The winner will be notified by email after Buzzy picks a winner out of his bowl on Sunday! See more of the fab Paws for Japan events, including the Blog Hop, going on after the jump>>

Help Japan

Over our last few posts, we have been full of excitement for Crufts and our new online store... but away from that, since Friday we have been following the situation in Japan very closely and our heart has been breaking. Words can not express the devastation there and we send SO much love to all the people and animals affected by the disaster. We want to highlight the animals of Japan in this post as they are the ones who have no voice to tell us they are hurting and are often overlooked. Here are some ways we can all help our Japanese fuuriends and of course their owners too. 

• ARK - Animal Rescue Kansai - this local animal shelter is preparing for a massive influx of animals following the quake and tsunami and already have some facilities in place and a team of experienced staff able to deal with traumatised animals. You can donate through paypal on their site. 

• Japan Animal Rescue and Support - the Japan Cat Network, together with Heart Tokushima and Animal Friends Niigata has formed Japan Animal Rescue and Support and are taking donations online through ChipIn.

• Join the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support Facebook group and fanpage for up-to-date information on how to help.

• International Fund for Animal Welfare - they will be deploying a team to assess needs regarding animal rescue. They are encouraging support through donations, which will be used to buy pet food, veterinary supplies, vaccines and other necessities for animals needing help.

• World Vets - a non-government organization (NGO) that provides veterinary aid around the globe in collaboration with animal advocacy groups, foreign governments, US and foreign military groups and veterinary professionals abroad. They are getting supplies and a first responder team ready to deploy to Japan.

World Vets is the charity of choice for the Paws for Japan #Pawpawty on Twitter this coming week... on March 17th, instead of celbrating St. Patrick's Day and the 2nd year anniversary of the #PawPawty, there will be a day long event in conjunction with the Paws For Japan Day. If you'd like to get involved with Paws for Japan, here's how to pawticipate:

How to Participate

1. Grab the badge(s).

2. On March 17th, post, tweet, or share on Facebook about the World Vets effort for animal relief in Japan. Be as creative as you wish in promoting the cause!

3. We will create a blog hop using Linky Tools. Please add your blog link.

4. If you are a retailer and would like to donate a portion of your profits that day to World Vets relief effort, let me know and I will share that on Thursday. As always, giveaways are also a great way to support the cause.

Sausage Saturday... Darling Dachshunds

Whilst checking through the daily pet news this morning, we found a rather disturbing article in one of the 'great' British tabloids (The Sun) saying that Dachshunds or as they are affectionately known 'Sausage Dogs' were on the endangered list?! And none other than rock and roll superstar, Liam Gallagher, was planning on championing their cause! He and Nicole Appleton own a little doxie called Ruby and last year he was the face of PupAid. Thankfully...after some frenzied internet research, we can't find any evidence of the adorable breed being endangered! *phew* In fact, in the USA, these cuties are one of the most popular breeds :) We thought, what with it being #sossidgesaturday on twitter... it was the perfect day to highlight the breed. Here are some p-awesome facts about the gorgeous Dachshund:

1. The name Dachshund comes from Germany and means literally 'Badger Dog'... doxies were bred for hunting back in days gone by! Yet...in Germany, they are more commonly known as Dackels.
2. Dachshund paws are especially shaped for digging! 
3. Some people race their Dachshunds...we don't know quite how we feel about this. If doggies genuinely enjoy chasing and are well looked after, it can be a fun experience for them but we HATE racing for the number of doggies left homeless or worse once their careers are over. 
4. The German Olympic Games in 1972 chose a Dachshund as their mascot! His name was Waldi.
5. Famous Dachshund owners include Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Donald Rumsfeld.

Photo @ theindependent.co.uk

Some more news for this Saturday morning is that we are taking part in the Saturday Blog Hop brought to you by Two Little Cavaliers, Life with Dogs, and Confessions of the Plume! Find some other great Pet blogs by following the links after the jump!  > >