The 'Couvehttp://www.spotmagazine.net/thecouve/Everything Pet in Vancouver, WA. Published by Spot Magazine.en-US2012-02-07T01:23:18ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Unwrapping Presents with Petshttp://www.spotmagazine.net/thecouve/2010/12/29/unwrapping-presents-with-pets.htmlSpot Magazine2010-12-30T03:28:02ZChristmas PresentsJake, my “glab” (Golden Retreiver/Lab) has always been a huge present opener.  He would definitely win a “fastest present opening” contest.  It doesn’t matter whose gift it is or what is inside the wrapping.  He just loves the thrill of ripping off that paper and even rips into the contents inside if given the chance.  Every year, he gets to open all the presents for my other pets because he doesn’t really care about what is inside and the others do.  They just watch him.  I get tremendous joy from watching him and one year I even let him open all of mine.  When he is through, he looks for more and if he spies a card board box, it’s fair game.  For his birthdays, I will wrap his gifts and then just some empty boxes because he has such fun.   Afterwards, there is usually wrapping paper hanging from his mouth, stuck on his lip and the floor is always a huge mess but the entertainment and enjoyment he gets is well worth it.

Here is video from this Christmas.  He is opening Jessie’s gift and she is just waiting until she hears the squeak and then you will see her come up.  The video does not really capture the zeal…it is really something to be seen in person! 

]]>Dog Biscuits!http://www.spotmagazine.net/thecouve/2010/12/9/dog-biscuits.htmlVonnie Harris - Spot Magazine2010-12-10T05:28:41ZI am not much of a cook...in fact, i am a bit of a klutz and disastrous in the kitchen and don't spend a lot of time there.  I just don't have the patience for cooking, things are always getting burnt, a mess is always made and let's just say it's havoc....

My dogs were totally freaked tonight...i was in the kitchen for hours and hours...there was flour everywhere, big mounds of dough and wonderful smells.  Cheese flavored, chicken flavored and healthy non-wheat ones....dog biscuits!  Cut into cute shapes....stars, hearts, bones, cats....which my dogs could care less about....they loved the biscuits.

Don't know what got into me but my dogs and I both agree that I'm the bestest dog mom ever and although i can't cook, i can surely bake.....dog biscuits, that is!

]]>Tivi's Sweatershttp://www.spotmagazine.net/thecouve/2010/7/23/tivis-sweaters.htmlSpot Magazine2010-07-23T19:00:00ZWhen I first heard about Tivi, I couldn’t imagine the pain and fear he must have experienced at the hands of his abuser; hands of the so-called more intelligent species. There’s nothing intelligent about what was done to Tivi.  I cannot comprehend that kind of cruelty and never will.

But Tivi has that fighting, special spirit and won over the hearts of hundreds on his road home. Hopefully, he can forget his horrendous past. With Jonathan by his side, I believe he will.

Shelter work and rescue efforts is an overwhelming, usually thankless job.  It is success stories like Tivi’s and many others that keep rescue workers going.

I was delighted to be given the chance to do a follow-up on Tivi and get the opportunity to speak with the “angels” in his story. Like many out there, I look forward to the pictures of his sweet, wrinkly face in his ever-increasing wardrobe and the amusing updates of his happy life posted by Jonathan on his Facebook blog.

The following story is very touching and could explain why Tivi always looks so handsome in whatever dapper duds he is decked out in.  It was written by Randa Speck, one of the angels in Tivi’s story.   

The Green Sweater
Tivi came to our no kill shelter the summer of 2008. He had been muzzled, set on fire, and left to die. No one could distinguish his breed or his color but all agreed he resembled a Gargoyle. The hairless ,wingless kind. When we tell him that story, and how he must have fallen to earth as a hunka hunka burning love, just missing the water by a tick lick ,his eyes twinkle....

He likes that story so much better than the real one.

Tivis recovery was slow and painful,but every once in a while we would see the glimpse of a smile. Tivi saw hundreds of dogs come and go but never befriended any of them.The only four legged friend he cared about having was a little rubber alligator name Pearl who he gently carried around in his mouth as if she were his own wrinkled baby.

A year and a half had passed and Tivi still refused to venture out beyond the shelter parking lot, sometimes the building, sometimes even his own room and he would absolutely never ever go near a vehicle.

Then just around Christmas time a package came for Tivi and in it was a green sweater. That simple thoughtful gift changed Tivis' life . He no longer felt naked or embarrassed. That very day he hoped into my car and went to Mcdonalds for Tivis' first ever McDouble without onions. That was the day we knew he was ready to go home..

Meanwhile over 150 miles away Jonathan was making a nest.He didn't know why but he felt compelled to buy his first house and fill it with soft blankets.

The why became clear, when he saw Tivis' story on the 10 o'clock news.

The next day Jonathan appeared at the shelter. . Jonathan was wearing a sweater and a big smile. And so was Tivi!

We packed up Pearl, his little socks, his sweaters, the pink and the green,and what we hoped were almost 2 years of good memories for him, and tearfully sent him home.

Tivi lives with Jonathan now and there is nowhere that he is afraid to go, with or without a sweater.
No more nightmares, Tivi. Jonathan promised!


Tivi, may you be surrounded with comfort and love and may you never know pain and suffering again.
]]>Ten Reasonshttp://www.spotmagazine.net/thecouve/2010/2/12/ten-reasons.htmlVonnie Harris - Spot Magazine2010-02-12T22:18:47Z 

In the spirit of February and the impending V Day…….here are 10 reasons why having a dog (or cat, bird, lizard, any other pet) is better: 

  • They don’t or won’t expect flowers, expensive jewelry, lingerie, what have you…..they don’t expect anything (but a treat or new toy would be sweet).
  • They will watch whatever movie you want ........just as long as they are snuggled next to you.
  • They are totally happy to see you no matter how you look, whether you are late or if you went out, had a little much to drink, came home and said or did some stupid things.
  • They will pretty much like whatever you try to cook, lick their plate clean and won’t tell you if it was awful.
  • They won’t hold a grudge (at least not for very long).
  • They will listen to you for hours without interrupting and will act like whatever you are saying is the most interesting and intelligent thing in the whole world.
  • They will limit their time in the bathroom to a quick drink (if that’s their thing) and will never use all the hot water.
  • They don’t really care about previous dogs, cats, birds, animals in your life, or even previous significant other people in your life.
  • Their parents will never come to visit.
  • And number one, you can see in their eyes they adore you and if they could speak, they would say “I love you!”
]]>Wrapping Presents with Petshttp://www.spotmagazine.net/thecouve/2009/12/23/wrapping-presents-with-pets.htmlVonnie Harris - Spot Magazine2009-12-24T01:32:04Z1. Gather presents, boxes, paper, etc. in middle of living room floor.

2. Get tape back from younger dog.

3. Remove wrapping from older dog's mouth.

4. Open box.

5. Lift younger dog out of box.

6. Remove tape from older dog's mouth.

7. Take scissors away from younger dog.

8. Put present in box.

9. Grab ribbons back from parrots.

10. Remove present from younger dog's mouth.

11. Put present back in box.

12. Take scissors from older dog and sit on them.

13. Remove younger dog from box and put on lid.

14. Take tape away from older dog.

15. Unroll paper.

16. Take both dogs OFF box.

17. Cut paper being careful not to cut younger dog's nose that is getting in the way as she "helps."

18. Let older dog tear remaining paper.

19. Take younger dog off box again.

20. Wrap paper around box.

21. Remove younger dog from box & remove wrapping paper from mouth.

22. Tell older dog to fetch the tape so he will stop stealing it.

23. Take tape older dog is holding.

24. Quickly tape one spot before taking scissors from older dog & sitting on them again.

25. Fend off younger dog trying to steal tape & tape another spot.

26. Take ribbons and bows from parrots again.

27. Go get roll of wrapping paper both dogs ran off with.

28. Take scissors from older dog who took them when you got up.

29. Give pen to older dog to hold so he stops licking your face.

30. Remove younger dog from present & hurriedly slap tape on to hold the paper on.

31. Take now shredded ribbons and bow from parrots & tape on since the sticky stuff no longer sticks.

32. Take pen from older dog, address tag & affix while younger dog tries to eat pen.

33. Grab present before both dogs open it & put it away.

34. Clean up mess both dogs made playing tug-of-war with remnants of wrapping paper.

35. Hang remaining ribbons & bows in parrots cages.

36. Put away rest of wrapping supplies & tell the dogs what good helpers they are.

 **HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND TO ALL PETS A GOOD LIFE**

]]>Sweet Girl Smokeyhttp://www.spotmagazine.net/thecouve/2009/10/29/sweet-girl-smokey.htmlVonnie Harris - Spot Magazine2009-10-29T20:54:26ZWhen I did the story on Chase & Cera (Spot Oct. 09), I knew that all her four-legged babies were girls. Somehow in the editing process, Smokey turned into a “he.”  I heard that Smokey forgives me and is okay with it.  That’s what they do . . . forgive & forget, only one of thousands of tiny qualities that makes dogs so special.  Thank you, sweet girl!

I had the pleasure of meeting Smokey a few weeks ago at the Seaside NW Challenge Championships.  She is 13 years young and beautiful.  Her kisses are precious, so if you ever happen to see her at an event or somewhere, be sure to grab not just one of them.  She will gladly dole them out for as long as you like.  Her kisses are priceless….good enough to be worth any price. 

Cera just got back from the 2009 Dock Dog Nationals with her little E (Elsie May-Chase’s grandpup).  Chase Away K9 Cancer was the beneficiary of this year’s 2009 DockDogs Jump-A-Thon, wherein teams collected pledges for their top jump scores at the championship held October 16-18 in Ohio.  Cera & Elsie May alone raised $10k of the $50k raised over the weekend in one of the biggest fundraisers to date for Chase Away K9 Cancer.   All the donations go to the American College of Veterinary Medicine directly supporting studies focused on canine cancer. 

 Yay!  You rock, Cera & Elsie May! 

 

 

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