Moving on to Petfinder.com

Thanks for reading and sharing the joys of pet parenthood in Jamaica Plain with me. I'm thrilled to say that I've accepted a position with Petfinder.com and will be working with them on their blog.

Unfortunately, that means that this blog will have to go quiet, but I'd love to see you and hear what you think about Petfinder's blog posts, topics, etc.

Check it out here: Petfinder's Pet Blog

I hope to see you there!

Mid-Week Pick Me Up: Foster Kittens

I thought everyone could use a bit of a pick-me-up this week and what's better than watching kittens play? These are our new one month old foster kittens: Skeezix, Mr. Miyagi and Molly

Environmental Enrichment & Beating the Heat: Keeping your best pal cool & calm

As the summer finally starts to heat up, seeing the line out the door at JP Licks becomes a more and more common sight. And why not? They even provide tasty frozen treats for our canine companions. But if you're tightening the belt or wallet lately, you and your pets don't have to miss out. Below, I've included few ideas and recipes that will not only keep your cat or dog entertained, but also provide a cheap and cool refresher on those hot days of summer.

Kitten Cooly Discs

Needed: 8 oz plastic cups and your cat's preferred wet food

Fill the bottom of each cup with about 1/4" of wet food and freeze overnight. To remove, run the bottom of the cup under warm water and pop the disk out. Serve in a high-sided bowl.

PB & Kong

Needed: Your dog's favorite kong, sugar-less peanut butter, a few of your dog's favorite dog treats

Mix dog treats in with the peanut butter and fill kong. Freeze overnight. Serve and watch as your pup tries to work the treats out.

Do you have other fun-filled frozen recipes? We'd love to hear them!

Want to learn more about environmental enrichment? Visit our other posts on the subject.

Photo courtesy of JPlicks.com

Bored stiff? Your pet won't be

In honor of the much-anticipated arrival of my new feeding system for the Tobes Man I'd like to introduce a lesser-known but GREAT way to avoid misbehavior and keep your furry friend healthier and happier to boot: environmental enrichment. In the coming posts I'll be addressing a few cheap and simple ways to enrich your pet's environment whether your companion meows, barks, chirps or whatnot. But first, check out Petside's video on what exactly enrichment is and why it's an awesome idea for so many animal-loving households.

Relocating Rita: Local Resources to Help Find Lost Pets

Maybe it's all the recent thunderstorms we've had or maybe it's just a product of summer but it seems like there have been a rash of lost pet posters around lately. Loosing a furry companion can be a heart breaking experience that I hope few of you ever have to go through but, in case you do, I want to share this GREAT local resource with everyone.

The Massachusetts Animal Coalition has assembled a comprehensive resource guide and to do list for anyone who has lost a companion animal. It even provides examples of the most effective lost pet posters and templates that you can use. Most importantly, the site suggests ways we can all prepare beforehand so that if we ever do come home to a missing kitty or Fido slips his lead we can largely increase our chances of getting our beloved pet back. And that's the whole point, isn't it?

Bringing Home Baby... Kittens that is

Whether you're a first time cat owner or a seasoned cat guru, it's hard to resist Sparta's cattitude. He's adorable. Hands down. But being bitten by a kitten, while cute, gets kind of old and painful as kitten gets bigger. So, in honor of Sparta and the Tobes Man (aka- my own "mean" kitty), here are a couple of ways to keep kitty happy and playful... only without the scars...

• Play with your cat a little each and every day. All cats, but young ones especially, have tons of energy to expend and giving them a safe avenue to release that energy will keep your relationship strong and your furniture intact.
• Never "wrestle" or play with your cat with your hands. This teaches them that scratching and biting people is ok. Instead, try to always keep a few toys around that you both can use (Tobes' favs include cat wands and laser pointers) and reserve hands-on contact for gentle tasks like petting or headbutting.
• If kitty does bite or mouth you let out a high, sharp squeal and stop play or contact immediately. Eventually your kitten will learn that playing rough gets them ignored and that's no fun at all!

So here's to keeping kitty's cattitude (and your skin) intact for many years to come! Need some more advice? Check out Petfinder's Top Ten Tips for a contented kitty here.

The Patriotic Pet: Help Pets Enjoy the Fourth of July Too!

As pet-loving people, we are thrilled to involve our little furry family members in just about everything we do... and that includes holidays! But sometimes things like the boom of fireworks, a Fourth of July cookout and other festivities can put our pets at risk. I recently came across some great suggestions from the ASPCA to make sure that both you and your furry companions can have a safe, healthy and happy Fourth of July this year.

Here are a few that stuck out (Go here for a full list):

• Keep your pet sane and sober. Alcohol can be poisonous to pets so be sure to place all alcoholic items far out of paw's reach.
• Beggars shouldn't choose. Avoid giving in to those sad eyes and allowing treats from the table or grill. Some foods can be truly toxic (onions, chocolate, avocado, grapes, raisins, etc) while even a small change from Fido's normal diet can spell not-so-fun stomach issues.
• Distract, distract, distract. While you know full-well that the neighborhood fireworks are just colorful fun, nervous little Sparky doesn't. Save some frayed nerves and give your pooch a kong filled with peanut butter to help him relax.
• Avoid puppy firedrills. Keep pets away from fireworks, candles, matches and firework supplies at all times. If eaten, these can cause issues in the lungs, stomach and central nervous system.

Here's wishing everyone a very happy and healthy Fourth of July!

Photo: Boston.com is calling for patriotic pet pics. Visit them here to share yours!

Foster Families: Not Just for People

Are you an animal-lover who has a lot of heart and some extra room? Have you ever considered fostering an animal in need? As a former foster parent, I can personally vouch that taking in one or more loveable critters until they can be adopted is one of the most rewarding experiences an animal-lover can have. But don't take my word for it. Check out "Borrowed Kittens," a great blog for anyone considering fostering, then contact JP's own MSPCA Boston Adoption Center to sign up.

Adoption Tails: Queen Molly

No one can forget the day Molly looked up from her kennel to see Gene and Leslie for the first time. Smitten with her "beautiful and trusting eyes," the couple had already fallen in love with this special girl. And, after discussing their needs in a pet, daily routines and home environment with members of the Boston Adoption Center staff, Gene and Leslie realized that Molly was the perfect pooch for them. Molly's new companions adopted her knowing that she had all the great Pit Bull qualities that typify these special dogs: friendliness, a strong determination and a BIG heart.

Today, Gene and Leslie's running joke is that Molly runs the house, but they know all she really wants is non-stop belly rubs. Molly is a neighborhood favorite who loves to go on her after-dinner walk so she can meet new friends! She's even shaping Gene and Leslie's lives in new and unexpected ways like being the house's new doggy alarm-clock. Molly likes to choose when it's time to wake up by pulling the covers off the bed, wagging her tail the whole time. Still, as much as this active gal can't wait to go out on her walks, she's equally happy to curl up in the easy chair with Gene and take a nap.

Flashing her heart-melting smile and those big eyes that radiate unconditional love, Molly has her parents wrapped around her little paw... and the whole neighborhood knows it. A sign outside announces, "Welcome to Molly, Gene and Leslie's Home." Once one of the many Pit Bull mixes who desperately needed a loving forever-home, Molly is now the queen of Leslie and Gene's hearts.

An Introduction

Meet the Tobes Man, a.k.a Toby, the Tobster, America's Fat Cat and Mr. Man to a select few. I'm starting this whole thing with Toby because, really, he's the reason I'm here... and maybe why you're here too. You see, while I've had the honor to have many many wonderful animals in my life (my parents got very used to the sight of me at the front door with "can I keep him...please?" written all over my face), it's the one who made things the hardest that reinforced a life-long passion and turned it into a profession.

Let me explain. Tobes, my ten year old, 15lb, neutered Maine Coon mix, has another name... my problem child. A loving yet demanding boy, my Maine man has been the source of many calls to the behaviorist, vet and friends due to his amazing personality and all the stubborn traits that go with it. (Think pooping in the tub and breaking things for attention to name a few.) Well, after nine years with me, both Tobes and I have learned a lot and I've become thoroughly, enjoyably entrenched in the animal welfare field. Who knew?

So thank you to Tobes and all the other lovable, crazy-making critters out there who inspire and educate us. You make all the difference.