Category Archives: Holidays

Labor Day 2017

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Happy Labor Day! Today is the last ‘unofficial’ day of summer when swimming pools and amusement parks generally close, the list of the summer concerts and festivals wrap up the season, and it’s often a time to put away our summer clothes in favor of more autumnal fashion (though I expect Californians and West Coasters are still wearing as little as legally possible with their recent days of ungodly heat – you have my sympathies). While school has started in some areas, many school districts often start the new year the day after Labor Day. Some of us may take in a retail sales event or binge on our favorite TV programs re-airing in anticipation of the soon to be upcoming new season (can the next season of The Walking Dead come soon enough). We may have welcomed the beginning of football season over the weekend (hope your team did well). But today is a celebration of labor and union movements and their role in history. Last year I posted a brief history of the origins of Labor Day which you can read here.

Nothing exciting going on around the Ranch today so we’ll just reflect on the contributions American workers made possible to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country with particular thoughts for all those workers and volunteers trying to help with the clean-up after Hurricane Harvey. God bless you! Have a safe and Happy Labor Day and please remember how this 3-day holiday was made possible. It’s not all about backyard BBQ’s and camping trips before the first snows fly.

Got any special plans before you have to get back to work?

Live love, bark! ❤︎

Summertime Howlidays

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With our hospital work this week, we’ve been a bit light on posts so we’re posting a Saturday PSA. Summer is officially here which means this weekend we will be enjoying a long weekend in the US. Here at the Ranch we want to wish effuryone a safe and Happy 4th of July weekend. 🇺🇸

Did you know that more pets are lost during this weekend than at any other time during the year?

With that in mind, Sam and Elsa offer the following red, white and blue tips for keeping your furry friends safe.


CREATE A SAFE ZONE

It’s best not to take your fur-friend with you to the neighborhood pawty. All those extra strangers, loud noises and inappropriate food coupled with fireworks make for a sure-fire guaranty for misery on your pet’s part. Leave them at home. Dogs and cats aren’t all that keen on the loud noises that come with fireworks AND crowds so creating a room with darkened windows, adding some white noise or leaving the TV turned on with a safe, crated retreat can go a long way toward keeping them at ease. Let them experience this space a few days before the fireworks start-up to get them used to it before it all starts. 

MAKE THEM COMFORTABLE

Provide their favorite treats and give them freely prior to the days leading up to the 4th to make them feel a bit more comfortable the next time there is a loud bang. 

PLAY WITH SOUND MASKING

Sound masking is a great way to cover up loud noises from fireworks. Music – whichever genre – can help them relax and feel a bit more at ease.  It is best to play what they are already familiar with so that association to the new music is not made with loud scary fireworks.

ADD SUPPLEMENTS IF NECESSARY 

When you know your pet is extra anxious during fireworks, the use of anti-anxiety helpers like Pet Releaf (a safe and effective CBD oil), use of a ThunderShirt, or LICKS Pill-Free ZEN supplements can help even the most stressed pet relax. Lavender essential oil can work wonders on their bed or collar and go a long way toward inducing relaxation.

It’s especially impawtant for us uprights to take the necessary steps to keep our fur-babies safe. Knowing they will likely react to all the loud noises, whatever can be done to make them feel safe and secure is in their long-term best interests. Don’t forget to make sure they are wearing a current ID tag, especially if they aren’t microchipped.  Better to play it safe and make sure they are wearing their collar all the time but especially this weekend.

Enjoy the howliday, but be safe!  What clever tricks do you use to keep your babies safe and sound?

Live, love, bark! ❤︎

Memorial Day Monday

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Today is Memorial Day in the U.S., a national ‘howliday’ where we remember all those who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. Originally known as Decoration Day back in the years after the Civil War (when Union and Confederate soldiers honored their dead by decorating their graves with flowers), it has morphed into the current form honoring all Americans who died serving their country.

Today is also the ‘unofficial’ beginning of the summer vacation season and as too often the case here, has been co-opted into a shopping frenzy with Memorial Day sales. It will be a quiet day of reflection at the Ranch, especially given the turbulent climate around the world. Today we honor those in our family who served their country and say a special prayer for the 4-legged who have also served this nation with distinction.

What plans do you have for this 3-day howliday?

Live, love, bark! ❤︎

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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Sam here. Although our lineage is German, we happily (ok, not so happily but we were tolerant) participated in the ‘wearing of the green’ for St. Patrick’s Day for mom’s sake. We had to work fast, Elsa tried hard to eat the garland. The parade and official celebration were last weekend, but any one knows that St. Patrick’s Day on a Friday will surely have some corned beef and cabbage along with a beer or two for local leprechauns.

Got any special plans for this holiday? Erin Go Bragh. ☘️ Here’s to a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live, love, bark!  ❤︎

Trivia Tuesday

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When I prepared the post for today, I realized I neglected to acknowledge a bit of trivia associated with today. So today will be a twofer with two posts. Affectionately known as Pi Day and celebrated in the US on March 14. A nod to the mathematical constant known as π (pi), this day is a fun day to eat pie, throw pies and discuss the significance of the number. March 14 is also the birthdate of Albert Einstein, the well-recognized theoretical physicist. So today, I say, Happy Birthday, Al and would someone please pass some pie?!

It is well known this upright is horrid with math, but any day associated with pie…irrational or not…well that’s an entirely different equation. Got any cool Pi Day plans?

Live, love, bark! ❤︎