Tuesdays With Tag - PSA #6...

 

Hi, Everybody!

 

Time for another Public Service Announcement from your favorite Corgi...me, of course! 

I save my PSAs for the most important information, so listen up!

Mom's been seein' lots of dog people askin' about shavin' their dogs...huskies, corgis, and other "shedders". First thing she always asks is, "Well, didn't you know your dog was goin' to shed?" We're dogs, after all. It's almost like the first thing on the list of "What We Do"!

When we lived in Florida, I'd laze around in the yard even in the hottest weather. Of course, I knew I could cool off in the pool when I'd had enough, but my double coat kept my body comfortable year round. I could lie around right on the hot driveway! Same here in Wisconsin with the snow and cold. We were meant for this because of our extra layer of insulation.

When people want to chop our fur off, they remove that protection and can actually cause us to get overheated and sick. Mom's suggestion is to buy a good "pet purpose" vacuum cleaner, clothes the color of your dog (didn't work for Mom and Dad - she bought light colored clothes for me, and then Dad got the black Labradors), get good at dog groomin', and then just resign yourself to the fact that there's gonna be dog hair in your life. If you can't take that certainty, then get a stuffed animal or a breed that doesn't shed (if there is such a thing). But, in the meantime, you'll be missin' out on gettin' to live with some pretty awesome dog breeds!

Well, consider this your lesson and public service announcement for the week. I'm gonna leave you for now. I've got some serious sheddin' to do. lol Oh, say Mommmm!

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Be A Good Dog." 

Tuesdays With Tag - PSA #5...

 Hi, Everybody!

No, you're not seein' double. Mom was so busy that I didn't get a new picture this week. Plus, I really stink at takin' selfies...No thumbs, you know.

First of all, Mom promises to answer all your comments on the last two posts, but usually by the end of the day right now, she's bushed. You won't believe the mess! Bella and I decided we're just gonna stay out of the way until it's all done.

So, here's my new Public Service Announcement.

If you have a dog (or maybe even a cat), I'm sure you've thought at one time or another, "Gee. I bet Spot would love a companion. Maybe we should get another dog/cat to keep him/her company?"

Trust me. Your dog isn't thinkin' that.They like bein' an only dog. They like hogin' the attention all to themself. They like not havin' to share treats, or the bed, or the sofa.

Take Bella, for instance. She's been tellin' me that since the beginnin' of December...and she repeats herself every day. Frankly, I'm startin' to think she's lost her memory. I keep tellin' her, "Alright, already! I got the message!" 

Yeah. She's still doin' it. Mom's gonna call the vet today to see if there's some kind of doggie downer we can give her to snap her out of this. The stuff she's been takin' from the vet for the past two weeks isn't makin' a dent in her attitude. But back to the PSA.

Mom and Dad also aren't fans of dog parks. We keep readin' stuff from our friends on Facebark about how a dog got poisoned by somethin' he picked up on the ground at the park. There are other stories about dogs that get hurt by other dogs.

Trust me. Your dog doesn't care about anythin' except spendin' time with you...their pack leader. Take 'em for walkies. Let 'em sit on the sofa and share a tuna fish sandwich with you. Keep us...ahem...them safe from moody b@tch!s and they'll be happy as clams!

There! I've said my piece for this week. Hope it's given you a little food for thought. Speakin' of food...I think I hear some bein' offered! Gotta run!

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Be A Good Dog."

Tuesdays With Tag - Wednesday Public Service Announcement #8...

Brynwood Needleworks - Inspector Tag

Hi, Everybody!

It's me again. I guess Mom's feelin' really guilty (or lazy), so I get to visit again this week. So here's the deal...I'm back again to tell you about somethin' really important, in case you don't already know about it.

This is my Public Service Announcement #8, and it's a really big one.

Now, let me start by sayin' that if you don't have a pet of your own (and only visit me for my weekly, witty reparte') that's okay. You might want to share this information with any and all of your friends who do. It's that important.

Have you heard about toxic algae? When we lived in Florida, it (sometimes called "red tide") was in the news too often, and dependin' on the severity, it can kill off lots of sea life. After we moved back to Wisconsin, Mom would see pictures from her friends back in Florida. There were dead manatees, fish and dolphins. Everything was bein' affected by it. 

When Mom and Dad used to ride their Harleys out to Englewood Beach, they could tell right away when the red tide was around. Mom would start coughin' when they would get within about four blocks of the water. It was awful.

That's just one form of toxic algae. It seems that it's developin' in fresh water, too, but this time it's a blue-green version. I'm not gonna get real technical ('cuz I'm a Corgi and not real good at it), but Mom put a link on this post so you can read more about it.

As it says in the article, it's affectin'(killin'!) hundreds of dogs, along with other pets and wildlife. The first article we read was from a couple in North Carolina whose three dogs died within an hour of bein' in the toxic water. No one even knew about it, but now, all three of their pets are gone.

Then, Mom read an article to me about someone in another state who lost their dog after it went swimmin'. You can just imagine how Bella and I got real concerned. I mean, we love a good swim! The article we're linkin' is from Illinois, and even Lake Erie has this killin' muck in it! As if that weren't bad enough, we found out it's in the big lake right near where we live. (Lake Winnebago)

Please click HERE to read an in-depth article about toxic algae, and then share the information. We don't want one more pet, stray, or wild critter to die from this stuff, so we all need to try to find a solution.

In the meantime, if it's hot and you want to help your pet cool off, set up a hose and sprinkler in your back yard, and let your dogs and cats play in that. (I personally love the idea!) Or, take them to a pet wash and let 'em run around. Just, whatever you do, please...please...pleeeeeease...don't let them go swimmin' in toxic water. It's a good idea for you not to go in it, either. Nobody likes to puke, after all. 

Stay safe out there, 'cuz you and yours pets really matter to Mom, Bella and me.

 I'll see you again in seven six. 'til then...

"Live Like Someone Left The Gate Open".

 

Tuesday With Tag - Public Service Announcement #5 - Thanksgiving...

Hi, Everybody!

It's been quite a while since I've done a Public Service Announcement. I

figured the upcomin' holiday would be as good a time as any for my next one.

Holidays can be dangerous for your dogs, cats (sigh) and other pets. It's easy

for us to get into stuff when you're busy payin' attention to your family and 

guests. I'm askin' you to think about these things ahead of time to keep 'em safe.

From DVM (Doctors of Veterinary Medicine) Multimedia

Let's start with #1. I admit I have trouble with this one. I like bein' close in case somethin' hits the floor, but Mom makes sure I'm backed out of there when she has to move hot pans from the stove or oven to the sink or counter. She said she doesn't want to trip over me, or spill anythin' hot on me. Good thinkin', Mom!

#2. There are a few things Mom lets me have, but she's careful not to give me rich stuff. Kessie had pancreatitis for the last six or seven years of her life. She had to take medicines every day and sometimes had to go to the vet because she had bad belly aches. I don't want that to happen to me or my friends!

#3. Do we even have to discuss this one? NEVER leave alchohol around where your pets can reach it, and never, ever knowingly give it to them! (Did I say "never"? I mean it!)

#4. Don't let your dog or cat be a garbage animal. Mom freaks out whenever she reads about dogs gettin' into garbage. Come on, you guys. Take the garbage out and put it in the bin. After all that food, you're gonna need the exercise!

Web image from ASPCA Poison Control Center

There are foods that can really be harmful - and even kill your dog - if they eat it. I'm not gonna go down this list. If you've gotten this far, I already know you can read it yourself. (You can click on the picture to make it bigger.)

Web image (Not responsible for Pilgrim cat)

Don't worry, though. It's not all bad news. There are actually things that we can have! I'm tellin' you, a few of these are personal favorites! I'm quite fond of sweet potatoes, beans, carrots and apples. But remember, just like for you, its possible for us to have "too much of a good thing". "Moderation" is best.

I'll be hangin' out to make sure I don't miss any of the fun on Thanksgiving. I want all my friends to have a good time, too. I might even be back again later in the week to say, "Hi". You just never know!

Just in case, I'll wish you a Happy Thanksgiving now.

Image from GoCorgi.com

I hope you, your loved ones and your pets have a 

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving

'til next time...

"Wag Like Ya Mean It"

Tuesdays With Tag - Public Service Announcement #4...

Hi, Everybody.

It's time for another Public Service Announcement!

It's been a rough week in Corgi Nation (that's how the corgi owners refer to

our whole corgi-lovin' group on FB). Two corgis, that I know of in this week

alone, went to the Rainbow Bridge. The worst part is that it didn't have to happen.

If you haven't already figured it out from readin' my blog posts, corgis are fast,

intelligent, inquisitive, driven and...blessed (or cursed, as the case may be) with

a humongous food fixation. We'll do anything for even the tiniest treat. A few of

my brethren (or sistren - hee hee) will do the most embarrassin' things for the

mere chance to score a piece of food. That can be a good thing or a bad thing.

I want you to know why this food fixation thing is a bad thing for us.

The two corgis that died this week, died because they got into stuff they 

never should have been able to get into...medicine and food. Mom was so

upset that she sat me down for a serious conversation about the whole thing.

Because of our anatomy - primarily our short legs - corgis are unable to get stuff

off our heads. We can't reach to paw things away that might get stuck. Take a 

potato chip bag, for instance. We stick our heads into the bag to get a tasty treat

and then, we can't pull the bag off our heads. If we can't get the bag off, we end

up suffocatin' and then dyin'. Mom and I can't tell you how many of these sad

stories we've read about in the last six months - but even one is too many! 

The other little dog that died this week, broke into a bottle of Aleve. From what

Mom can discern, the bottle was sittin' right there on the coffee table in his house.
Poor guy overdosed and the vet was unable to save him. Mom was so sad she cried.

Print available from Noteworthycards on Ebay

These deaths were senseless and could have been easily prevented. Your pets are

curious, just like little kids. Your responsibility as pet owners is to protect them.

Sometimes you protect us from ourselves. We just don't know any better. It might

smell good, then it tastes food, and the next thing ya know, we're in deep trouble.

Please close pantry doors, or at the very least, put the food up so we can't reach it.

Keep your medicines in the medicine cabinet, or somewhere else that's out of reach.

I'm not a garbage dog, but I hear some dogs are. You have ta keep that stuff away

from your pets, too. There are plastic bags and other harmful things like bones, 

in there. Did ya know that if dogs eat chicken bones they could puncture their

intestines and cause perry-tone-eye-tus? (Mom says I spelled that wrong. It's 

"peritonitis".) By the time the vet can tell you what's wrong, it's usually too late.

Please take a look around your place and see if you can do a better job of

safeguardin' for your pets. Help keep this from happenin' in your house. 

Just say "NO" to losin' another beloved pet early because of carelessness.

Long live corgis and all our furry friends!

'til next time...

"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

Tuesdays With Tag - Public Service Announcement #3...

 

Hi, Everybody!

I'm back today with a very, very important Public Service Announcement.

This is my third PSA, and you know I only share these when it's really crucial.

It's really hot here in south Florida, but summer's in full swing everywhere. So this 

 matters whether you're in the south or anywhere else in the world with warm temps.

web image

I've found some statistics on the Web that I have to share with you. Did you 

know that on a warm day, even if you think the weather is mild, you could put

 your pets at risk? Even if you think it's not really hot outside, it is in your car.

We are already readin' about dogs - includin'  POLICE K9s! - that are dyin' 

because their masters forgot neglected left them in a car that was too hot for 

them to survive. Just check out this chart and you can see how bad it can get.

web image

Now, look at this one.

It doesn't matter if your pet is left in the shade or the sun. Either way,

they could die in less time than you can even imagine. Our ER vet in

Sarasota, Dr. Kirsch, told Mom just last week that he had already treated

(and lost) a few dogs this month! There is just no reason for this to happen.

People...If you can't keep your pet with you while you're out, then do

the best thing and just keep them safe and cool at home.

Mom saw a little dog in a car in Sarasota last week with the windows

cracked open a little bit. She went into the store and told the manager to

make an announcement. He did, and the owner came out in a few minutes

and left with their dog. It was 90° outside! Mom said that if she sees a 

dog left in a car with the windows closed, she's going to call the police

and then break out the window to protect the dog. She means it, too!

Another thing...Do you exercise outside with your pet?

Did you know that it's not normal for a dog to just run long distances

without stoppin' for a break? Dogs weren't meant to be tethered to your

bicycle while you ride for blocks or miles without stoppin'. We aren't

built to just run full-out, non-stop, long distance while you work out.

The way we like to operate is to run a little, sniff a little, piddle on a blade of 

grass, sit down and scratch, then maybe run some more...but never when it's

 hot. When it's hot, we just like to lie around somewhere cool or go swimmin'.

Dr. Kirsch said one of the dogs that died last week was runnin' along with

its owner. Poor thing keeled right over. They took him to the ER, but he

couldn't be saved. It's been in the high 80s-90s around here - and humid!

What the heck was that human thinkin'?

I think you have a pretty good idea by now just how important this is.

If you love your pets, don't leave them in your car. Period. 

Remember my friend, Megan? This picture was taken before it got hot

out. We were both completely safe when Mom took this picture. I don't

like bein' left home on Saturday mornin's one single bit. In fact, I bark my

skull off when she leaves, but now I understand that it's for my own good.

We've also read too many news stories about people forgettin' their kids in the 

car on hot days. Nothin' - and I mean NOTHIN' - is so important that you should 

forget your beloved children or your family pets in your car. If you're responsible

for another human being or an animal, you owe it to them not to be distracted.

You could save the life of someone you really don't want to live without. 

PLEASE pay attention. 

I know my Tuesday posts are usually a lot more fun, but I really thought this 

was too important not to share with you. Thanks so much for stayin' with me 

on this. I'll be sittin' here in the air conditionin', thinkin' about goin' to the dog 

beach,  playin' in the pool, or going for late day walkies with Mom. I'll tell ya 

all about how I've spent my week in my next post. 'til then...

"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

Tuesdays With Tag - Public Service Announcement #2

 Hi, Everybody!

Today I decided that it was time to share another 

Public Service Announcement

with all my dog friends and their owners.

Mom knows the importance of dental hygiene in dogs.

Some of her Labradors (including Kessie) had bad genetics 

in the tooth department.  Mom tried and tried, but no matter how

much she brushed their teeth, they got pretty gnarly in their old age.

She taught me when I was just a puppersnapper that it's important

to keep my teeth bright and shiny, and I really like the program.

I'd like to share our technique with you today.

Nothing like the taste of chicken in your toothpaste, I always say!

(It's special toothpaste that we get from Dr. Stephanie. mmm, mmm)

I hope you noticed the dedication at the end of my video.

Corgi Nation lost a real gentleman today.

My friend, Barney Boots from Wisconsin was a real celebrity, too.

He was a farmer corgi who loved cheese snakes, checking on the

baby steers and The Triplets (their pigs), and surveying his farm.

Barney Boots • December, 2011

He was going to be four years old in October.

He helped raise over $10,000 for CorgiAid during a

fund drive that he and his mom organized last year,

and he had 4500 friends on Facebook. That's a lot!!

 Mom and I were proud to be among his friends and

we'll miss his daily posts and hearing about his adventures.

He was loved and admired by all his friends...including me.

We're sending good thoughts and sympathy to his

Mom and Dad, Deb and Pete Brandenburg.

He was a very good dog.

Don't forget to brush, now! I'll see you next week. 'til then...

"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

Tuesdays With Tag - My First PSA...

Hi. It's me, Tag!

Today I have a serious subject to write about.

Please consider this my first Public Service Announcement.

What?

You're wondering why I'm doing a PSA?

Well. See that metal thingy in front of me?

Here.

Take a closer look.

It's a doggy tie-out stake.

It's not usually sitting like this on the lawn.

Most of the time it's in the ground, and

Mom attaches my leash to it when she wants to do something in

the yard without me getting into some kind of trouble.

She never ties me to it if she's not outside with me.

I know you're going to find this hard to believe, 

but I got a case of happy feet last time I was tied to it.

I started running around and around in circles and 

just unscrewed that stake right out of the ground! 

As soon as I was "free", I started running around 

the yard dragging my leash and the stake. 

Mom was so worried I'd get hurt that she tried 

to step on my leash. She was wearing flip flops.

 You're seeing where this is going, aren't you?

Well, she missed my leash, the stake bounced off the 

top of her foot and came down hard!

I finally stopped running and as I was catching my breath, 

Mom removed the stake from the end of my leash.

It was then that we noticed that she was bleeding...a lot.

She's healing alright now, but her foot is sore and we both learned our lesson.

I'm not getting tied to the tie-out stake anytime soon, and

Mom won't try to intercept a moving sharp object with her mostly-bare feet again.

So, I hope that this has been a valuable lesson for all of us.

Please don't run with sharp things!  

 Take care of yourselves and be safe.

I'll be back next week. 'til then...

"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"