Brandy and Val

We are two of the most loving, caring, gentle, fun dogs around but we’re angry and we’re not going to take it anymore!  First there were the Katrina dogs (Val is a member of that group), then there were/are the foreclosure dogs and NOW?  Now there are the oil spill dogs, given away by families as a result of the Gulf Oil Spill.  What are we angry about?  Plain and simple:  we, as dogs, family pets, etc.  do not feel we are disposable items once we are adopted into a family.  Do you give away your children?  We think not.

We will provide unconditional love, friendship, companionship and “warm-fuzzies” for the rest of our/you life if you just treat us with some respect!

We know mom has mentioned this before but DO NOT ADOPT US unless you can afford to keep us and love us.  As puppies, we grow up, and for some, become less “cute.”  Consider that.  Once we hit the adult stage it does not give you permission to abandon us.  We get sick and need maintenance against fleas, ticks and the like. Therefore, we incur VET bills.  Please be sure you can handle them.  We require food.  That means FOOD bills.  Please be sure you can feed us and provide us with water.  We require nuturing and love and exercise, like your children.  Without it, we can become angry and mad and mean.  We may even misbehave.  You also must teach us how to behave in your home.  Consider that before adopting us. Think of us as infants needing to be taught.  Seriously.   Also,  spay and neuter us and help control our population.  DO NOT IGNORE us once you’ve given us shelter. That is simply not enough.

There are way too many of our family members being given away, being abused and being abandoned.  Stop the insanity.  Thank you.

NOTE:  Our mission is “to do good where good is needed.”  We help our fellow pups by donating sales from our books:  BRANDY AND VAL, BRANDY AND VAL’S FAVORITE THINGS and BRANDY AND VAL’S SPECIAL STORY to animal rescues and sanctuaries.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  Mini-Brandy and Mini-Val toys are also available.  We help children by participating in various pet therapy programs.

We would love to hear from you.  If you have a great cause or blog idea, contact us at:  info@BrandyandVal.com

Hi everyone!  This weekend was a spectacular weather weekend for us but, we are getting older and the heat affects us more.  Please remember how important it is to keep us pups cool in the summer months.  Even though we pant and that is our coping mechanism, pooches can get heat stroke, sunburned and skin cancer.  So, please keep the following in mind:

1)  ALWAYS make sure  fresh water is available for us to drink.  Cool/cold is preferable.

2)  Provide a shady area for us.  If you want us to enjoy the great outdoors with you, make sure there is a shady spot for us to hang out in.

3)  Some us us LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to swim and lie in the water.  If there is a swimming hole nearby, let us in to enjoy.  However, if it’s a chlorinated area, please dry us off as the chlorine is bad for our coats and skin.  Think about buying us a kiddie pool to sit in if there’s no place for us to refresh.  That will work and make us happy, too.

4) Sounds obvious but  DON’T leave us in cars for prolonged periods of times and if you can, put the car in the shade.  DEFINITELY leave windows open for air to circulate.  If you think it’s too hot, don’t take us…..even if we look at you with those begging eyes!

5)  We really like our COOLING BANDANAS.  There are several brands out there but when it’s hot and we go for walks, mom or dad puts one around our necks.  They really help.

6)  Keep the A/C on and think about keeping us indoors.  If we want to go in, let us.  Keep the air on to keep us comfy.  We’ll love you even more for it (if that’s possible)

7)  Sounds corny, but, we could use some sunscreen, too!  Our noses can burn and if your pup has exposed ears, they can get sunburned.  Yes, we also can get skin cancers.  In fact, we think Val’s nose was badly burned while wandering the streets after Hurricane Katrina, so take care.

 This doesn’t apply to us, but perhaps consider shaving/trimming some hair off those pooches with long locks.  They’ll look kind of funny but they’ll stay a bit cooler.  Don’t completely shave them as their skin will be exposed and subject to burning.

WHAT TIPS CAN YOU SHARE WITH US FOR KEEPING PUPS COOL WHEN IT’S HOT?

We at Brandy and Val, LLC want to “do good where good is needed.”  Our mission is to  help animals and people and support causes we believe in through our pet therapy work and sales of our books, Brandy and Val Real Dogs with Real Tales and toys.

YES!  We’re so excited that our Country’s Post Office has released a commemorative stamp advocating the adoption of shelter pets.  10 different stamps are available, each with a photograph of a former shelter animal, all of whom now have been adopted.  Products ranging from Pet Adoption Certificates to Pet Adoption notecards are available through the Post Office website and at your local post office.   Mugs, coasters and artwork are even available.

According to Postmaster General, John E. Potter,  “These stamps continue a Postal Service tradition of bringing attention to serious social issues of the day … one letter at a time…This campaign will increase public awareness about sheltered pets and our hope is that it will encourage pet adoption and promote humane and responsible pet care.”  Ellen DeGeneres, a long-time advocate of pet adoption and  avid promoter of pet adoption awareness has teamed up with the Postal Service and, in conjunction with her company Halo, has pledged to provide one million meals to sheltered animals.   Halo is a holistic pet-care company that Ms. DeGeneres co-owns.

We’re so happy that a cause that is so near and dear to our hearts is taking front and center stage.  Our mission is “to do good where good is needed” and since we are both former shelter dogs, we help animal shelters and sanctuaries with the sale of every one of our kids’ books and toys.

So, we really don’t do a lot in the way of April Fools jokes on each other but, as dogs, we do like our laughs.  Maybe one day we will compile a book of our favorite dog jokes although I guess we should find our favorite people jokes from a dog’s point of view.  Anyway,   it works for the NEW YORKER, doesn’t it?  We’ll just do it in board book form so we stay consistent.    So, Happy April Fools for those tricksters out there.

A few weeks ago we talked about some breakthrough moments we had during our sessions and wondered whether we were going to be able to repeat the process of having two, very nervous autistic children who were scared of Brandy take a walk with her.  Well, I am glad to report that INDEED, these same children were very willing to walk with my sister and had an equally good time.  One of the kids even held mom’s hand and patted it.  Awesome.  We wonder how this translates, if it does, to other aspects of their lives.  We hope it does.  Another big moment for Brandy occurred when the sole remaining child in the class who wouldn’t acknowledge her agreed to wave “hi” and “bye” and looked at her when he did this.  He even kind of agreed to maybe touch her next week.  Wouldn’t that be great.

As for me, well, I “flew solo” today.  The other dog I normally work the room with was absent so it was up to me to carry the day.  I think I did a great job working with so many children and dad keeps calling me a star, so it must be true.  We did all my favorite activities:  walking with the children; taking treats from them; being brushed by them; playing the cup game in which I get to find my treat and playing GET MINNIE where I retrieve my mini-Val toy from a basket and bring it over to the person calling my name.  It was a good day.

I think we’re ready for much deserved naps.

We had major breakthroughs at pet therapy this week that I want to share with you.  In my session with mom, two children who absolutely, positively would not communicate or show any emotion with me agreed to go on a “walk.”  Maybe it’s because they are used to me by now or maybe it was something else, but the kids walked with enthusiasm, laughed and smiled.  This made it a really good session for me.  I wonder if,  the next time we visit, they will remember this outing and go with me again for a walk.  Maybe they will pet me. One boy gave me a treat on a fork and he seemed to really like that.  I know I did, after all, who doesn’t like getting a treat?  I really hope that they understood something good was going on!

Later when we met up with Val and dad, Val told me that he did 3 roll-overs on his own without any help and the children in his group all clapped and laughed.  I know he really loves little girls, I bet when he lived in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina he had a sister but I also know he really likes it when everyone gives him good attention, too!

A big cheer to all the children who participated this week and whom we gave some happiness to.

VAL:  As a Hurricane Katrina dog, I can’t help but root for my home team.  It’s very exciting that something REALLY good is happening in my former home town and I wish the New Orleans Saints the very best.  I’m also happy that Drew Brees and company had such an impressive season and that Jeremy Shockey will be able to play in this Super Bowl since he had to watch from the sidelines the last time he was in it playing for the Giants.

BRANDY:  I’m a Midwestern pup so I have to go with the Colts.  How can you root against a member of the Manning family?  Doesn’t make much sense to me.  Peyton and Eli  are not only great players but they’re nice guys, too.  I heard dad Archie was pretty good, too, in his day!

THE BET:  Winner gets to eat the other’s evening late-night treat for a week.

MOM SAYS:  Do you really think either dog will let that happen?!

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.

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!

So many on hand to help

Look at all those kids helping to make doggie treats JUST FOR US!  Ok, well, they were supposed to take them home to their pups but, can you believe it (?!) in a group of about 20, only 2 had dogs.   We thought everyone had a dog or maybe even a cat or bird.  No matter, we were the beneficiaries and were very happy about that.  The Whole Foods Market in Evanston held the event for us and they liked it so much, we’re going back on December 2.   We waited in the car while the kids came in and prepared the biscuits, then mom read BRANDY AND VAL and BRANDY AND VAL’S FAVORITE THINGS while they were baking.  When the treats were ready, we donned our working tags and stopped by to reap the rewards.  How fun.