Year-End Tax Deductible Gifts

I almost forgot to tell you about a great idea I heard about the other day. Giving money to charities for year-end tax deductible gifts!

Yeah, you can actually give money to a group you like, as long as they are a tax-deductible charitable organization (too many big words for a dog this morning!), and deduct it from your taxes. Of course, you know there are IRS laws that go into this and I am not a financial advisor so you may want to check into that!

There are plenty of local and national pet organizations that are in need of funds to keep them operating. These organizations use money to care for the animals and prepare them for their FOREVER HOME. The groups who rescued me, went to great lengths to take care of my medical issues and training and fostering and .... well, you name it... they did it. I love them for it and I know Mom and Dad do too since they are so happy to have me.

If you'd like to support them, the website is www.petconnectrescue.org and www.pilotsnpaws.org. Who knows, you might make some humans extremely happy with your donation of support which allows them to help that perfect animal.

JUST REMEMBER: If you mail donations, they MUST be date stamped by Sat. Dec. 31, 2011. If online, you'll need a receipt dated by Sat., Dec. 31, 2011 too.

Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!!

I keep telling Dad that exercise is important but it really involves more taking a walk- although I have managed to get him to quit just going around the block, after doing it a bazillion times. Anyway, we walk but he needs to do more.

So, I take him on a really long walk since it's his day off, and he likes to spend it with me, we go about a mile or so. It's a good brisk, steady walk, not tugging or dragging (although the squirrels along the way made it hard to resist).

We get back to the house- Dad is tired- I can tell all he wants to do is lay down- get some rest! HA!! I know he loves to please me so I take full advantage of it sometimes.... ok.... well.... most times, if not always. So, I get him to let me out in the backyard. I grab my favorite toy and begin a game of fetch- I run like crazy- Dad moves slow- but then he gets into it. We play for about 15 mins. and I pretend to be tired so Dad can get the rest he needs.

Dad is doing a great job in keeping me exercised- sometimes abit too much for him - but it works for both of us. Sometimes we walk the parks or he arranges a play date with a few other dogs. Either way, we get out together and exercise or maybe I should say.... I take him out twice a day to exercise.. shhhhhhhhhhhhh! Don't tell him.

Watch Out for Your Pup's Paws! Ice Melt Can Injure Dogs

Hey! Important tips for you to remember when walking or playing in the snow and ice with your buddy. My dad tried to do this our first winter together and I tried to bite him. He persisted. After reading this article, I am glad he did!

Watch Out for Your Pup's Paws! Ice Melt Can Injure Dogs

Merry Christmas

Christmas is more than buying a bunch of presents for someone. Haydn and I managed to get Mom and Dad some presents at PetSmart yesterday. Although fun, it's not the most important thing.

While walking last week, I borrow one of Dad's cameras. And, I took the picture you see above. This is the true meaning of Christmas.

"For Unto Us a Child is Born" Amen. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Shopping

OH NO!! It's the day before Christmas and all through the house, Mom and Dad are busy as can be! Decorating. Wrapping presents. Baking. Cleaning the house. Getting all things ready to celebrate the big day- Christmas.

And, I don't have them a present. Neither does Haydn. What are we going to do - can't let the day go by without doing something for them- they have been so great to us.

Gotta figure it out. Gotta get to the store somehow but I am too young to drive and Haydn can't reach the pedals. Let me think............

Got it!! Mom and Dad will probably go back out shopping or to get something to eat, if they do we'll borrow the Dad's car, so if we wreck we won't mess up Mom's car. OOOPS! There they go.

Haydn's going to drive -steer. I'm going to lay on the floor and push the pedals. Here we go!!!

"Ok Noah!! Hit the gas... now the brake.... THE BRAKE!!!!!.... Now the gas pedal... more gas.... less.... hold on tight... brake.... gas...BRAKE!!!" This goes on for awhile as we head to PetSmart to buy presents for Mom and Dad.

We head into the store and look around- we quickly find the perfect presents for them and head out-

Now more adventures with Haydn driving, "Noah, Hit the gas... now the brake.... the gas pedal... more gas.... less.... hold on tight... brake.... gas...BRAKE!!! gas.....brake, gas....... " We come to a screeching halt at the house...

We get in the house and hide our present to Mom and Dad away and pretend to be napping as they come home..... "I wonder why there are skid marks in front of our house....." Dad says. "Don't know dear, probably some kids!" Mom replies.

Yup, probably some kids. If they only knew. Merry Christmas everyone.

A Dog Again!!

I am so happy, I had to write and let you know about it. My license to be a dog for another year came in the mail yesterday!! I was afraid I might have to be a cat!!

HeARTSspeak

I am really proud of my Dad. He is a photographer, at least part-time in the evenings and weekends. He specializes in photographing architecture, gardens, dog and cats. He plans to be a full-time photographer-artist when he grows up(oooops! when he retires!).

Anyway, he's been donating his time to photographing dogs for a local rescue group, PetConnect Rescue, and giving them the images to place on their website and is working on others projects for them. He doesn't get paid, it's all volunteer and it takes just a few hours of his weekend. I love him for it because he's helping dogs that are in the position I was just two years ago.

Now, he's joined and been accepted as an "Aspiring Member" of HeARTSspeak. Their mission is "Working to unite the individual efforts of animal artists and animal rescues into collective action for social change." He plans to photograph for them when PetConnect isn't keeping him busy. I am proud of him because he donates his time to helping animals get their Forever Home. I don't mind giving up a bit of my time with Dad for him to help other dogs!

Walking

It's taken me awhile, but I have finally gotten Dad to where he walks at a faster pace. I haven't been pulling or dragging him down the street except when I see a meal walk across in front of me, then there's no holds barred.... so we go ...the other day I saw this delicious deer and then a rabbit and then.......ooops.... I realized Dad was probably sore from being drug at rapid speed across the fields .... anyway he moves now and we can go around the block in 10 minutes rather than 30 minutes.

I have my challenges ahead of me but that's an alright price to pay for living with my mom and dad.

Black Friday

I don’t understand this concept one bit. For the past several months all I hear on the TV is Black Friday, Black Friday, Black Friday.

Now, who in the world and why in the world would someone call Friday- black?!! Granted, since I am black and the most beautiful shiny black Plott Hound/Lab mix you ever laid your eyes on- never mind how handsome female dogs tell me I am, the association of black and Friday in human terms makes no sense. Usually black is like dread or bad or unhappy or maybe death but not about Friday.

If the humans must name the Friday after Thanksgiving a color, I think it should be called “Yellow Friday.” After all, yellow is cheerful, happy, sunny, and bright- it brightens whatever it’s associated with- well most things anyway. Blue won’t work as it can mean sad, depression, or boring – none of which should be associated with a Friday. Humans just do not understand colors.

While walking on “Black Friday” I was thinking about these things when Dad surprised me by following the path that I’ve been wanting to follow for months. I knew where it led. I think he does too. And, I was right- it leads to the shopping center where PetSmart is! YAY!! I’m going shopping- although awfully early in the day. I don’t care- I drag Dad across the parking lot as fast as I can- he’s holding on for dear life- but I won’t let him fly into traffic or anything so I keep going.

PETSMART!! THERE IT IS!!!!!!!!! My favorite place!! Dad is rubbing his behind- I guess being dragged across the parking lot was a little much for him. He’s grabbing a shopping cart…. We’re going shopping. I pick all the toys I want and put in the basket while Dad keeps saying, “I can’t afford all of these, just a few Noah.” I notice he grabs a lot of bags of my favorite treat (I tore into the other bag and ate every bit of it- Dad was not happy - I didn’t think he’d buy more) and food and the cats food and some toys… this is great… Dad is really happy about the pricing….. 50% off means more for me… so maybe I should just leave the name Black Friday alone-

Morning Walking

I finally got Dad to walk around the block at a faster pace that he's ever done. I overhear him telling Mom that we did it in record time. He gives me credit.... he has no clue what I have in store for him- just wait it's going to get fun.

I find the latest gossip about my new neighbor dogs while I attempt to get Dad to walk faster. The first I learn is that my neighbor Jack Russell Terrier named "Wishbone" left me a greeting by the driveway "Welcome to the neighborhood-I've seen you around but haven't got to meet" he says. I walk further to learn of a cocker spaniel's pregancy -expected to deliver any day now.... the Beagle from up the street, "Shylow" says "Welcome too". Nice to get greetings when you just move in. The female dog across the street has invited me to share herbal tea and a dog biscuit- life is good.....

I have Dad moving a bit faster now- so can't spend too much time reading the gossip there will others time for this- little does Dad know that he's going to walk alot------