dogs

Coffee, Watercoloring, and Dogs

What do coffee, watercoloring, and dogs have in common? Not much… except for the fact that my weekend included all three 🙂

Dunkin Donuts coffee and cat watercolor

Jimmy left for Josh’s bachelor party on Friday morning (they went skydiving!!), and I worked all day, then watercolored at night. It had been a few months since I last pulled out my paint brushes, so it felt really good to watercolor again.

On Saturday, I picked up Haley (a dog I pet sit a lot) and met my family at the Adoption Connection PA Forever Family 5k. I hadn’t gone to a race in years, but a few months ago my parents gave me the pamphlet for the Forever Family 5k because they know I’m super passionate about adoption.

I couldn’t resist supporting an amazing organization, so my parents, sister, and I signed up for the race!

Adoption Connection PA Forever Family 5k race with dogs

My mom and dad ran (with their dog, Reggie!), and Hannah and I walked with Haley and Brandy! It was a lovely race, and there was coffee provided afterwards, which was great 🙂

Afterwards, my family came to my house for lunch and we had fun rounding up all the dogs for a picture.

Cocker Spaniel, Black Lab Pit Bull Mix, Yellow Lab, and Chocolate Lab

Hannah and I picked up supplies to make her wedding guest book, she helped me pet sit a cat, and we went to Dunkin Donuts afterwards!

Jimmy came home in the evening (yay!), we went to church on Sunday, and I pet sat. Now it’s a new week and it’s time for me to get started on work!

How was your weekend?

Keeping Lola and Malcolm Safe

So, I have to admit that some sketchy things have gone on in the Zottola household lately and they involved both Lola and Malcolm.

first-snuggle

  1. Malcolm found floor vents that weren’t covered yet in our closet room and was casually wandering around the air ducts in our house. He emerged unscathed and was thankfully only covered in dust.
  2. Lola ate raisins (which can be fatally toxic to dogs) while Jimmy and I were at church two weekends ago. I had left my purse at home and it had a snack-sized box of raisins in it. She got into my purse and the pouch I keep granola bars and snacks in and at a small box of raisins along with two granola bars.

Thankfully, Malcolm’s little jaunt in the air ducts was nothing serious, but Lola really scared us. She was acting fine when we got home from church, but I called an emergency vet for advice and eventually Jimmy and I found ourselves in this situation:

  • Me holding Lola on the couch so she wouldn’t run away.
  • Jimmy putting a turkey baster filled with hydrogen peroxide in Lola’s mouth.
  • Lola throwing up raisins and whatever else was in her stomach within minutes.

Needless to say, I wouldn’t be surprised if I found a few gray hairs on my head with the antics Lola and Malcolm have been pulling lately 😉

The craziness of our cat walking in our air ducts and our dog eating fatally toxic food got me thinking about how I always have to be aware of keeping them safe. Sure, they’re both microchipped, registered, spayed/neutered, not allowed to roam the neighborhood unattended, and see a vet at least once a year.

Little things happen, though. Dogs like to dig through garbage (at least Lola does…) and curiosity really can kill the cat. I have to constantly consider things like whether or not Lola will jump on the counter to reach food or what I’ll do if Malcolm slips outside while a door is open.

lola-the-garbage-picker

When SimpliSafe, a home security company, asked if I wanted to share a pet safety guide, I was all on board. Their wireless security system is pet-friendly, and I figured if it could save even one pet owner from having to force their dog puke or lure their cat out of air ducts, then it’s totally worth sharing!

simplisafe_pet_safety

Do you have any pets? If so, have they done anything that scared you?