Happy New Year's Eve.

This strip first appeared in newspaper Dec 31, 1977. 

Be safe everyone if you are out and about, traveling, and on the road. 

Leonard Binks at Snooty Giggles Rescue in TN

the small dog is Leonard. He had heart surgery at UGA vet med teaching hospital a few weeks ago.

Post by Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue.

Merry Christmas.

Hope you had a nice Christmas day.

Looks like Tardar is down for the count. . . .

She is scheduled to make an appearance at the Atlanta Gift Show in January.  It's one thing to see her photos and videos everywhere, I just hope that she likes traveling and meeting new people.  Most cats would rather just be cats than celebrities. 

Christmas is almost here. . .

(click on the image and it will enlarge)

This wins the internet for the day, for me.

It is just amazing what dogs can be trained to do.  You have to click over and read the story for yourself.  Be sure to flip through the photos too.

Link to the Article here. 

Anybody use the Flipboard App?

on their phone or tablet?

Flipboard  debuted not long after the ipad and it was a very nifty way to read blog posts, news sites, and twitter feeds.  Like an Ostrich that seems shiny things, I soon forgot about it.  

Until a few days ago.  Now one can curate information, photos, and links into a Flipboard magazine that one can subscribe too.  Nice for those not on Facebook, or if Facebook keeps hiding the posts from pages that you really want to hear from.  

 

Below is what I shared on my Facebook pages-

Facebook announced last week that page posts aren't showing up in people's news feeds unless they are paid ads.  Now, that isn't a big deal if one is sharing a joke or a vacation photo, but if one is sharing pets that need a home then it doesn't do the pet much good if people can't see the post.  Like the falling tree in the forest- does it make a sound if no one is there to see or hear it? 

So while I'll continue to share posts here on Facebook, I will also be sharing them on Flipboard.  That way with a quick flick of your thumb, you can see all that is new.  Not just what Facebook chooses to show you. 

If you use Flipboard, there should be a subscribe button near the top.  And if not, download the app in the App Store, or Google Play. 

http://flip.it/LOPYW

Here's a Dose of Cute for the Day- Dawn the Fox

YYPeople but never intentionally try to make a pet out of a wild animal, but it is hard to not consider it when they are this cute and lovable.  Yes?

Tuesday Evening Special at Zazzle.

Watches are 15% off today at Zazzle, but those puppy breath ones (the ewatchfactory ones), are 65% off this evening.    Use Code CyberTuesday

You can change the colors of the bands and styles of watches.

http://www.zazzle.com/andymathis*/watches?st=date_created

I needed a new watch so I bought one with a stainless steel band for 30 something dollars. Regularly they are $95.

Other items are 50-60% off too- I think there is a link at the top of the zazzle page that shows what categories are on sale for Tuesday.

Wrapping Paper at Zazzle is 75% off

but only for about 15 more minutes.  Their other black Friday specials continue throughout the day.

Here's is the link to puppy breath gift wrap.
http://www.zazzle.com/i_heart_puppy_breath_gift_wrap_paper-256321047649644038?rf=238988993023004593

Zazzle Postage Sale through Tomorrow.

one of the best sales at Zazzle to take advantage of is when their custom postage stamps go on sale.

Zazzle’s Annual Thanksgiving Postage Sale!  $9.00 OFF CUSTOM POSTAGE!   Ends Tomorrow!  Use Code: TDAYPOSTSALE

http://www.zazzle.com/andymathis*/stamps

Zazzle Sale Today. 50% off shirts and mugs.

Mugs and Shirts are on sale at Zazzle today. 

20% off EVERYTHING + 50% off SHIRTS & MUGS! TODAY ONLY! Use Code: BLKFRIDAY983 


I have a few mugs designs there- http://www.zazzle.com/andymathis*
This is one- 

But look through the site.  I gave the cat one to a client last year.

This one made me laugh. 

Holiday Sales at Zazzle.com

I have had some images on Zazzle for a few years now, and they keep getting better and more selection with the products they offer.

They have already started with the holiday sales.  This one is todays-

 20% off EVERYTHING + 50% off WATCHES, CASES, & JEWELRY!   TODAY ONLY!  Use Code: BLKFRIDAY301    

That is a pretty good deal on watches and their pendant jewelry.  Tomorrow will be something different.  Take a few minutes to look around they have some clever designs on items like coffee mugs that you can't find anywhere else. 

Here's a link to my store.   You can find my pendants and watches there under the accessories on the left.

 Do look around the whole site though. Or make your own custom items- it is pretty easy to do.

Check back tomorrow as something else will be on sale for the day.  

2014 Granite Hills Animal Care Wall Calendars are Finished.

The 2014 Granite Hills Animal Care Wall Calendars  are available through Lulu.com.

 If you are local, I'll order a few for the office. Or if you want a wall calendar and a desktop one, don't order this through Lulu.  It'll save you a few bucks on shipping if I ship them together from the office.  


Here's the link at Lulu.com

Enjoy your Weekend.  It is the last one before the Official Holiday Season starts . . . .

Holiday Stuff- 2014 Calendars

I read yesterday that there are only 7 more Sundays till Christmas . . . FA LA LA LA la LA LA LA!

It'll be here before you know it.  I have been working on a few things for the holidays.

The first-  I am printing/making 2014 Calendars.  In the past, I had done a paintings calendar, but this time,  I decided to use photos of patients and foster dogs.

There are 2 desktop versions- one called Tiny. And a smaller one called Super Tiny.   Tiny One is about 4x6 inches.  Super Tiny is 2 inches by 3.5 inches, the size of a business card standing upright. Both cases invert into a stand.

 If you are crafty, you could also glue a magnet to the back and stick them on the fridge or filing cabinet.

The Super Tiny Desktop Calendar

Super Tiny Calendar Pages

The Tiny Version is 4 x 6 inches.  Different photos than the Super Tiny since the format is different (horizontal vs vertical).  

2014 Granite Hills Animal Care Desktop Calendar

Pages

Notice how the Case makes the Stand? 

I am still working on the pages for the Wall Calendar. It is a standard size. 

The SuperTiny one is $8. The Tiny One is $12, and the Wall Calendar will be around $20. 

Proceeds benefit the Foster Dogs and a small Benevolent Fund for animals requiring medical attention.


I also had a lengthy post about some new purses and handbags, but Blogger decided to eat it - GRRRRR!   I'll try to write it again tomorrow.  They are new and turned out quite nice- stay tuned about those. 

Remembering Maybelline.

If you follow Granite Hills Animal Care's page on Facebook, then you might have seen this the other day.  Last week, I had to say goodbye to Miss Maybelline.  We were never sure of her age, but we think she was a 1997 Model as she was brought in to be euthanized in 1998.  I kept her and tried to find a home for her, but she was always scared and crabby when potential families came to meet her. So she grew to be the 3rd hospital cat at the time, behind Midnight and Leon.

She was here when Jezabelle, my first dog, was here. And then here all the while my second dog Jethro was here.  So it sort seems like the end of an era-  the connection of the present to the past.

Her health and mobility had been deteriorating for awhile.  The photo above was taken of her napping in the sun back in July.  It is how I want to remember her.

*takes another Swig of Coffee*

Happy Hump Day!

It's Friday Eve . . .

Happy Hump Day.

Look at this Doll Baby. Lilly.

Meet Lilly.

She and two siblings were found in a box next to the highway, in front of a house.   The two siblings were rehomed and the family is keeping this girl.  3 lbs.  She reminds me of a Chihuahua Beagle Mix, for some reason.  Or part Dachshund.

It'll be interesting to see how she grows up and what she blossoms into.  Such a cutie. I was tempted to steal her myself.

If you want to peek at her photos, they are in a Flickr set here. 


Have a nice weekend everybody. And safe travels if you are vacationing over the 4th.  Oh, and keep an eye on the pets with the 4th of July festivities.   More dogs and cats get lost on 4th of July than all the other days, as they get spooked by the fireworks and take off.  Make sure they have a collar, or microchip, or both.

Upgraded Version of Granite Hills iPhone / iPad App and Daneville 2013.

Yes, it's true.   The updated version of Granite Hills App is available, if you haven't noticed.  It has a few more links than the first version.  Information links that I think you'll find helpful and useful.

You can challenge someone to a game of Tic Tac Toe.  One person can be Lucky and the other Priscilla.

There is a screen of websites and social media sites. You can browse photos and information till the cows come home. Or your battery dies. Whichever comes first.

I have to update the Android version, and will get around to it shortly.   Most of it will be the same on the Android version, except there is no Lucky vs. Priscilla on the Android version.

Oh, and if you are local and looking for something to do this weekend,  there is a Great Dane Festival on Plantation Road.   

DANEVILLE  2013.  

Saturday and Sunday-  10 AM -ish to 5 PM- ish.  Anyone is welcome.  Any dogs are welcome as long as they are friendly and are on a leash.   1288 Plantation Road.  Plantation Road is a few miles out of Elberton, off Hartwell Highway.

If you want  to GPS the location-  1288 Plantation Road,  Elberton, Ga 30635


They are having a fundraising auction, benefitingGreat Dane Rescue.  Along with T-shirt sales, and  Photos taken of your Pet.    If you have ever tried to photograph your own pets, you know how difficult that is, so it might be worth a trip just to have someone else take the photos.    All proceeds going to Great Dane Rescue.

Got Kittens?

A stray Mama cat moved kittens under a client's porch a few weeks ago.  She already has several cats, so she can't keep them.   Mama Cat has disappeared or something happened to her, so it is just the kittens now. 

She hates to send them to the pound. Someone was going to take them on Monday, but was a no-show.  Upon further consideration, that would not have been an ideal situation.  So I went and photographed them yesterday, to share around, to see if I can help find them a home. 

They are SOOOOO  cute.  Probably 6-7 weeks old now. Eating on their own just fine.

If you are local-ish and looking for a kitten, let me know.  Please feel free to download photos from flickr and share them with your friends and family.

Photos on Flickr.

Have you downloaded the GHAC app yet?

So, watcha think? 

I am planning on adding a few menu items to the GHAC app over the next few days.  (I thought I broke it the other day. ... but was able to get it reconfigured and back to working after a "slight" panic attack)  

The Android version needs the most tweaking.  

Do you have any suggestions?   I'm adding a link to the online pharmacy and store, and some pet health care information pages.  Maybe a play list of Pet Health videos from Youtube.

Some people use their phone for everything. I tend to use my phone as a phone so what I think people need/want is very limited.  For me, one click email, one click phone call, and a location map would be the most important.

Everything else is nice to have in there, but it also eats up your memory, takes longer to download, and means the app is more likely to crash, especially on older phones.

Having small  menu buttons with tiny text, so tiny that is difficult to read, also annoys me.  I like simple --easy to read, easy to find what you need, and easy to use.

If don't have the phone app, you can find it by searching for Granite Hills Animal Care in the App store or on Google Play.

Leave a comment if you have a suggestion.  Also if there is a pet related app that you really like, mention it in the comment. I would like to see it.   Thanks.

The Latest Issue of Shelter Pet Magazine

The latest issue of Shelter Pet magazine is available in the App Store. 

Happy Mother's Day!

whether your children have 2 legs or 4 . . .

My hospital iPhone/iPad App is out today.   You can find it here in iTunes.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/granite-hills-animal-care/id633274966?mt=8

There is also an Android Version in Google Play, but some of its features have to be changed. What works in ios devices doesn't work on Android.   But the basics are there- call the hospital, email, etc.

Aspirin? for Dogs? Is it Safe?

I just had a second dog come in along with a big honking bottle of Aspirin.  I cringed just a little.

I saw this same bottle the last time I was in the pet store and I cringed there too.

The answer to "is it safe?"  is  both "yes. and no."

Aspirin is a NSAID. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.  People take it for a variety of reasons.
And dogs can take it too, but it needs to be monitored closely for side effects.

I like how this says Veterinary Formulated.  That doesn't mean Veterinary Recommended.

There are 2 pathways when talking about inflammation-  Cox-1 and Cox-2.  There are some good things about Cox-1.  Protecting the stomach lining. protecting the kidneys.  Effects on Platelets and Red Blood Cells.   The Cox-2 pathway deals more with inflammation.  

Aspirin suppresses both pathways.  The good effects of Cox 1 and the bad effects of Cox 2.   If a dog is taking aspirin for arthritis and degenerative joint disease/ aging, the newer NSAIDs  tend to suppress more of Cox 2, and spare Cox 1,  leaving the good benefits alone.  Rimadyl, Derramax, Metacam are a few of these.   That is why veterinarians recommend these drugs over aspirin.   And because they are prescription, I can monitor the patients taking the medications for side effects before they get serious.

 I have no idea what people are giving their pet from the pet store.  I worry that people will assume that since Aspirin is so readily available, it must be safe, or safer, than other options.  That isn't the case.
The only thing that is more beneficial about aspirin is that it is cheap.  

Cheaper? Yes.  More Effacious? No  Safer?  No.

Here's one article about aspirin usage in dogs. 

Here's an article from Wiley that explains the Cox1 and Cox 2 pathways (about halfway down the page). 




Boo started walking outside on a leash this past week.  And she finally pooped outside yesterday.  HOORAY!

 Have a nice Easter weekend.  Stay safe if you are traveling.

The March Issue of Shelter Pet Magazine.

Hi all. The March issue of Shelter Pet magazine is finally out.

 Yeah, we sort of skipped February. and almost skipped March as it took forever to put together.

 Priscilla is on the cover. Here's the link in iTunes.  The pdf is also available at MagCloud.com and at Gumroad,  if you want to read the issue on your computer, or download and sync the pdf to your Android device.

If you download the issue, and have a free half minute, leave a comment or rate it in the App store.  Apple tends to like it when people comment on apps, I think.   Thanks. 

Happy Friday everybody.

This is the latest update with Boo.

 Yesterday, she barked at me as she waited for me to open her cage to let her out. This was new as she had only been whimpering and whining before. Sort of like she does on the first part of this video. She wouldn't bark when I had the camera in my hands though. (Isn't that how it always is?)

 I did get her to step out the door last night. It was dark outside so maybe she felt safer under the cloak of darkness. Don't know. We didn't get too far from the door, and we didn't stay out long. But she did sniff around in the grass.

 This morning, she did actually follow Lena outside for a little walk. So that is all improvement for her. The second part of this video is from Wednesday when Lena and Boo were wrasslin'.

Update on Boo.

We finally saw a tail wag from Boo.  First it was towards Lena.  and now she'll do it for me. 

Last week, she moved from the cat room, to the dog kennel, and that seemed to be good for her.  Seeing, smelling, and watching the other dogs.  She'll step out of her cage on a leash.  And just yesterday, she'll get back in her cage without me having to pick her up.  That is new. 

Over the weekend, I let her out with Blue, a pit bull puppy.  Blue was abandoned by her owner a week or so ago, when he (owner) decided to not pay his vet bill when Blue ate rat poison.  She (Blue) is fine now, but that is another story, for another day . . . .

I've been trying to get Boo to follow Blue or Lena outside on a leash,  and she doesn't want to do that yet.  What she does want is for them to come back inside and play.    This was Boo and Blue on Sunday- their first play episode.  

I'll try to tape her and Lena playing  tomorrow.  You can see her confidence growing.

I didn't tell you about Lena . . .

Here is a new video, just out today, of Lena.  I took her in back at the first of January.  Long story, but she was living on a chain, with no hair, in a makeshift dog house made out of chest freezer with no door. Sounds cozy, right?  I know . . . .

Her family couldn't provide for her, and if she went to the animal shelter, they wouldn't have treated her, and it is unlikely that anyone would have adopted her with her skin as bad as it was. So I felt like I had to do something to help her out.

She  still has a little ways to go, but this video shows how she has progressed over the past 10 weeks or so.  She's small, about 25 lbs. if anyone is looking to adopt a smaller dog.

Boo- 03/06/13

This is Boo's video from yesterday.  There are some subtle changes with her. She stands and sits up more in her cage.  If I go in her cage though, she still wants to plant herself on the floor.   She'll let me touch her all over . . .  she'll even stand up if touch her stomach which is new for her. 

We haven't tried moving her out of the cage yet.  There are floor drains under the grates, and the floor is sloped, so any urine runs toward the drain- it makes thing easy to clean up.  And the reason she started off in the cat room cages, is that they are taller. If she was a climber, it would be more difficult to get out of those than the regular cages in the back. 

We haven't seen a tail wag yet, but if I remember correctly, it took Jimmy 2-3 weeks to wag his tail, and then when he did it was at Bert first.  So I'm thinking it might do Boo good to have a little more contact with the other dogs.  There was another dog in the cat room Monday and Tuesday of this week, but she was more scared of people than Boo is.  You probably didn't think that was even possible, lol.   But, Moosha was not a good example of normal dog behavior for Boo. 

Getting her in the building involved a catch pole, and it was rather traumatic for her, never having anything around her neck.  I've ordered her a chain leash that she can't chew through so easily, and when it gets here,  I can attach it to her collar and start getting her accustomed to it.   And if you remember it took Jimmy a few days  to get out of his cage, and even then, I had to sort of make him get out. 

So that is the plan for the next few days- attempt to move to the other cage in the cat room, or move to a cage in the back, and look for the first tail wag. 

Why, Yes . . .

. . .  I believe I will have a rawhide.  Thanks for asking.

Boo Gets a Collar On.

and she didn't know what to think of it.

On Friday, you saw her figure out how to lick baby food off my fingers.  She finally pooped Friday night and with a fecal float, I found out that she is mild to moderately wormy.  Which wasn't a big surprise.  So she gets dewormer for 3 days. 

On Saturday, I opened a can of I/D dog food. Half of it was used for the dewormer and about half of it I made meatballs out of.  She'd pick them up off the floor and eat them, but wouldn't take them from my hand.  She would lick them a little but not with the same enthusiasm as the baby food the day before.  She ate the first dose of dewormer mixed in the canned food from the bowl when I left it in her cage. 

Yesterday, I opened both some baby food, and another can of I/D.  I set my ipad up on a chair in the room and ustreamed her eating.   With the meatballs, she still was reluctant to pick them up from my hand, but if I held them up high, I could sort of get her to take them and push them gently between her teeth. 

I was also able to get a collar on her too.  Notice how she wasn't even interested in baby food after putting the collar on her. 

If you want to watch the video on Ustream, go here.


Of course Lucky and Sunshine thought the baby food was for them.  It's "All about Me" with them. Photos on Flickr.

Enjoy your Weekend, Everybody

Happy Friday to you all.

Today, Boo learned to lick baby food off my fingers. It took her a minute or two as you'll see in the video.

Boo on Day 2.

I caught Boo, y'all.

Jimmy the Animal Control officer brought a live trap today. And we put it out beside the office where I had been feeding Boo.  Notice those teal wheels. Pretty fancy, isn't it?
 

 

Well,  Boo must be a fan of teal and turquoise.  Because look who was in it about 20 minutes later.

Now, here's the problem.  What to do with her?  She can't keep on living outside, wild, and soon be having puppies all over the place. 

Do I send her to the pound?   Do I keep her and try to tame her up,  spay her, and try to find her a home?  I already have 3 foster dogs, and then there is Lena who I rescued in January.   I haven't showed you Lena, have I?   Well, she was another sad case who is doing much better now.  The foster dogs are putting me in the poor house according to my Mother.  (She is not a pet fan, even with 2 sons who are veterinarians) .

So after discussing it with the animal control officer, he could take her, but she would not have anyone to spend time with her to tame her up, as he is out on a call all the time.  Which means she'd never get adopted.

If she was the least bit aggressive, he would have to put her to sleep, because of the liability issue if someone gets bit.  Thankfully, she is more scared than anything- having the catch pole on her neck did freak her out a bit. 

So, she is now inside the building in the cat room. Staying here to see if I can tame her up.   I can sort of pet her on the back, but she is very scared so I am giving her some space.  If you remember Jimmy, it took him almost 2 months to be able to walk outside on a leash. I'm thinking Boo will tame up a little faster.  She has her adult teeth in, so I'm guessing she is between 6 months and a year old.

 

I sat my iPad in front of her cage this afternoon, and livestreamed her for about an hour.  Mostly just her sitting there.  You can watch the recorded video by clicking here.

If anyone happens to find any spare change in the couch cushions, and would like to donate it to the BOO fund, she would appreciate it greatly.  And if anyone wants to consider adopting her, let me know as well.