Brandy and Val

And it did!

Who's ready to play?

I’m lovin’ being in the snow! (watch my video)

No way, Bran! Even with my coat, I'll take a pass on the great outdoors.

We are pleased to announce that yesterday, Brandy and Val, LLC, donated 100 of our books and 100 of our mini-toys to the TOYS FOR TOTS Holiday toy drive campaign.  Recent news broadcasts in the Chicago area foretold a bleak outlook for toy contributions this year and we were happy to lend a helping hand along with our books and toys!

The temps are steadily falling in much of the Country as we head into the height of winter.  It is REALLY cold for me, Valenti, who grew up in New Orleans and was transported to Chicago after Hurricane Katrina where I live now.  Mom and Dad try hard to keep me as warm as possible and I’d like to share some things they have done that help me out.  Mom really understands since she really hates the cold, too!

I hate the cold and snow but I LOVE my down coat!

I still need my exercise and walks, even in winter and that means having to go outside even if it’s just for a little while.  When it’s super cold out, I love when dad puts on my down coat!   I highly recommend one for everyone, although my sister Brandy laughs at me and doesn’t have one.  She likes it the colder, the better, but not me!  I’d love to be a spokesperson for Joy Pet Products who makes the coats.  They can call me anytime to model.  My dad thinks I look like an inside out hot dog in the coat (the bun is the coat!).  I think I look pretty handsome.  This is also the same coat you see me wearing in our book, Brandy and Val’s Special Story.

Brandy's rushing to get her coat off!

Now, sometimes it gets so cold that dad makes Brandy put on a coat, too!  This one isn’t as warm as the down coat, but it does have fleece, is water repellant and has reflectors for night walking.  I have this one, too,  but I wear it when it’s a little warmer than it is now.   They’ve updated the styling, but we got it from Land’s End a few years back.

Ice and extreme temperatures are especially bad for our feet so our parents found a product that works wonders on protecting them.  It’s called INVISIBLE BOOT and not only does it provide protection but it also moisturizes our pads, is 100% natural and we can lick it off without getting sick.  What a great find and we can thank our local pet boutique, Bentley’s Corner Barkery for steering mom and dad to it.

Please remember, too, to wipe our feet off when we come inside.  Road salt can get stuck in our pads and can make us sick and antifreeze is poisonous to us.  We also think antifreeze tastes sweet to us so even if we don’t lick it off our pads, it can be on snow when we lick.  Also,  PLEASE do not leave us in the car  or outside for prolonged periods of time when the temperature goes below freezing.  Yes, we have fur and probably can endure the cold a little longer than you,  but most of us did not grow up in the wild and are not bred to be outside.  Even for temperatures above freezing and into the 40s caution should be executed.  Please consult with your vet about what breeds can handle certain inclement conditions.  When in doubt, leave us home!

Thanks for listening to us and everyone have a safe and healthy Holiday Season and New Year!

Happy New Year!

The Season For Giving rings even truer this year with so many people, pets, families and not-for-profit organizations in need.  Sure, we feel warm and fuzzy when people make donations in our names but, if you’re contemplating material gift purchases for loved ones this season, why not consider ones that give back to a cause that you believe in, as well?  Gifts such as these abound!

Of course, nearest and dearest to my heart are the ones that help animals, including my series of Brandy and Val books and toys. Since most of the gifts given out during the Holidays go to kids, these books fit the bill as they help animal sanctuaries throughout the U.S.  with 100% of  profits from Brandy and Val’s Special Story being donated to the rescue Brandy and Val were adopted from, Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue.  While we’re on the subject of books, Happy Tails Books aims to donate 20-25% of their net proceeds to animal welfare groups through the sale of books about adopted/rescued dogs.  What’s cool about their books is that they’re breed specific and they’re comprised of stories submitted by the guardians of the pets that were saved.  Help Save A Stray’s Shop offers t-shirts, tote bags, doggie bandannas and more and YOU get to select  where your donation goes from over the two dozen animal shelters they have listed on their site.

In no particular order, here are a few other unique gift ideas and sites that I’ve come across that help support our furry friends: Laughing Dog Art Studio creates pet portraits with a donation made to the animal shelter of your choice; The Dog Lover’s Wine Club of Carivintas Winery support a variety of animal rescues.  Wine selections can be chosen that support dogs, cats and horses!  Silver Bean Coffee sells a special blend that supports one of our favorite animal sanctuaries, Best Friends

I was even surprised to see how many Yahoo Groups there were that held discussions about gifts that give back to charity and My Shopping Connection has a section on gifts that give back to charities.  Brandy and Val made that list!  Finally, most rescue organizations have a myriad of gifts bearing their own logos, books etc. that support their causes and there are several companies such as Giftback.com contribute a back to a variety of charitable organizations with every purchase.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

The Holiday Season has always been a time of giving and good cheer.  This year, with such uncertain economic times and with so many out of work, it makes it even more important for those who are able to chip in a little more  to do so and help others who are in need.  Family pets are often given up when money is tight since the added expense for feeding and caring for a pet’s health becomes too burdensome.  But, since having a pet has been shown to contribute to our own sound emotional health and well-being, it makes perfect sense to make every effort to keep these animals as part of the family, especially in times of great stress.

As a result, animal shelters, animal welfare agencies, the pet-store mega-chain, Petco, church groups and others are are establishing pet food banks to assist such families and individuals confronting this situation.  And, they are are stepping up to the plate big time!   In Berlin, Germany, a soup kitchen called Animal Board has even been established to cater to the dogs of the homeless and unemployed.

In the United States, the agencies getting on board are growing rapidly by the day.   At present, there is no national network coordinating pet food assistance programs.  However, many cities and towns are now offering pet food assistance programs and volunteers are always welcome!   For those in need or for those wishing to lend a hand, SaveOurPetsFoodbank.org lists several locations and organizations in about 2 dozen states that offer pet food assistance programs.  The Rescue BankSM in Houston is that city’s first food bank for dogs and for some reason(!) the blog FamilyWorks Seattle includes pet food bank info for New York and Oregon.  A special “GIVING” section in the November 12 edition of the New York Times devoted an article to this issue, titled: “A Patchwork of Food Assistance for Pets.” Individuals and pet-food distributors alike are contributing to help make things happen.  Happy people, Happy Pets, Happy Holidays!

Brandy and Val’s cousins visited us this summer and met Brandy and Val for the first time.  This is ones’ take on things!

Brandy and Val are both dogs. They are both mixed breeds. Brandy is a girl and Val is a boy. Brandy is brown in color and Val is whitish yellow. Brandy and Val sometimes learn and sometimes play. I taught them how to knock down a cone pyramid and how to weave through cones. Brandy loves plastic bathing caps and swimming. If you take Brandy’s bathing cap away be careful! Val just stares into space. If Val see’s a squirrel Val will be alert. Brandy and Val will try to eat your food if you have any! Once  in a while if you get up early Brandy will be there. If you are going for a walk you better be prepared for the dogs going to the bathroom, Brandy tugging you and Val making you go extra slow. Brandy and Val have a lot of friends like Sandy, Max and Molly. Brandy is big on kissing, but Val just licks you sometimes. Brandy and Val know a trick called ‘Mini Me’. Brandy and Val bring their plush toys to you and you are supposed to give them a carrot. That is the life of Brandy and Val.

Thanks to a recent study provided by The National Council on Pet Population, Study and Policy here are some really interesting figures that shed light on the growing numbers of pets taken in by animal shelters:

1. The number of dogs and cats entering shelters each day is approx. 22,000
2. The number of dogs and cats adopted from shelters each day is approx. 11,000
3. The number of dogs and cats reclaimed by their owners each year is approx. 700,000
4. The percentage of dogs that are purebreds in shelters is 25%

So please consider adopting a pet from a shelter!  Most shelters will now work with families to ensure that the pet you take home fits in with your lifestyle.  And remember to spay or neuter your animal and help reduce these alarming statistics!

Here are the top 10 reasons animals are relinquished to shelters according to the study:

DOGS                                                                                        CATS

Before adopting ANY pet, do your homework and review the above list and see if any of these issues might pertain to you.  If they do, maybe putting off an adoption for a later date might be best.  Thanks for thinking through this responsibility before it’s too late.

Today was our first pet therapy session of December.  We work with autistic/cognitively challenged children in elementary through high school classes.  Some are withdrawn and uncommunicative, some think they’re reaching out to pet the dogs but actually have only moved their hands a few inches away from their bodies.  Our missions are to foster interaction and trust!  Lots of times we succeed and that gives us all great feelings of accomplishments.

Brandy and  I work with the older kids and in today’s session we worked on teaching them how to introduce themselves to dogs–friendly or otherwise.  Safety is always a concern when approaching unknown animals but is especially important for both the person and the pet when the individual is disabled in some way.  Animals sense when things aren’t “normal” as they know it and they, too, need to adapt to a different surrounding or personality. Children (and adults!)  need to understand that animals, like people, want an introduction before a friendship is initiated.  So, here are 4 key points that we go over that everyone can benefit from: (more…)