Some Luck for the Pups

It is always good to see a happy ending! I am sure many of you have heard about the dogs that were rescued from the meat farm in Korea. Fourteen of the rescued pups were brought to Tampa Bay’s Humane Society so that they could get the care and help that they need to find their furever homes. To bring some light into your life, we chose to follow up on some of the pups and see how they have progressed since their arrival.

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Rosa

After a short amount of time, it was discovered that Rosa, who is a Korean Jindo,  was pregnant. Rosa was very afraid of humans and would hide in the corner. After some time, the volunteers were able to get her to warm up a bit. Although there were not enormous leaps of improvement, there was enough to give hope that all would be okay. Miss Rosa gave birth to 6 babies, 5 males and 1 female. She still can be very nervous, but she and her pups are safe. Rosa will need a family with a lot of patience and love to help her along the way.

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Banjo

Banjo was first of the day to go to his furever home! Just two months after arriving, this sweet spirit was able to open his heart up and give life a second chance. Banjo was the first of three dogs to be adopted that day, along with Alphie and Annie. Banjo’s owner came 3 hours early just to make sure everything was situated properly for him. Here is a picture of Banjo with his new owner!       

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Lucy & Reggie

These two lucky pups were the first of 14 to go to their new happy homes. The two of them had a little bit of an easier time adjusting than some of the other Korean rescues. A volunteer and a staff member of Tampa Bay’s Humane Society adopted them, which were said to have bonded with the two quickly. There is a lot of positivity surrounding the two and their placements, as their owners have committed to the training and special care that they will require.

It is so wonderful to see an animal that has been through such torture and cruelty, live in a home filled with peace and solitude! This is Lucy in her new home.

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Tommy

It is always a rewarding feeling when you can see a dog that has been through so much, make steps in the right direction. Tommy wanted nothing to do with any human interaction when he first arrived with all of the other Korean meat trade pups. According to volunteers and staff they would have to leave his cage open so he would come out on his own. Although he didn’t mind playing with other dogs in the yard, after almost a month of love, Tommy was curious and felt safe enough to sniff a friendly hand! This is HUGE! Tommy will have long road ahead, but just as there is with Rosa, there is hope.

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Harry

Harry is a perfect example of the progress that can be made through some love, dedication, and patience. The staff members explain how in just a week and a half Harry went from a scared and confused dog, to being excited to see his human friends. In that short amount of time, he now understands that humans will treat him nicely here.

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There are still Korean pups that will need a forever home, like Harry.

Each dog will be available at a time when he/she is ready based on their needs and training. If you or someone you know is interesting in rescuing an animal in need, please reach out to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay or your local rescue. Many animals need to know that we care and we do not want to hurt but heal their hearts. If you are unable to adopt, there are still many ways to contribute. Look into volunteering your time or supplies here.

All You Need Is Love...& A Dog

Ah February, the month of love!

While the human world celebrates Valentine’s Day; teddy bears and flowers might not mean the same to your dog as they do to your significant other. And you definitely can’t show them you love them by gifting them a big box of chocolates! So how do you show your dog you love them in a way that they understand? It might sound easy, but each pup is different and has their own idea of what “love” looks like.

Here are a few ways you can communicate with your fur friend in an affectionate way that is appreciated! 

Body Language

Did you know that there are certain things you can do with your body to show your dog he/she is adored? For instance, eye contact is very important in the canine world. It can be viewed as a threatening or dominant move if a stranger is involved. However, according to Dr. Brian Hare, author of The Genius of Dog, when your dog is staring at you they are “hugging you with his eyes.” Try to pet your pup and give a relaxed loving look. What about raising your eyebrows? Based on a study of Behavioral Processes, dogs will raise their eyebrows (specifically the left one) when they see their owner, and show less facial expression when a stranger welcomes them. In turn, this leads us to believe that having a more expressive face and raising eyebrows could convey a positive message. 

Feed Them By Hand

Starting out as a puppy it is important to establish who is the pack leader and food provider. Feeding your dog by hand will allow for a positive foundation. There are many veterinarians and dog behavior specialists who will recommend that you feed your pooch by hand to also help eliminate aggression. This is an easy and intimate step that can result in a very beneficial outcome.  

Cuddle in Bed

Not only is it proven to help reduce anxiety, sleeping with your pup can be another way to show them they are loved. Gregory Berns, author of How Dogs Love Us, discusses research gathered through many years of exploring the canine mind. This research shares that when a dog sleeps with his human, it is the “ultimate display of affection” mostly because this is a time where the dog is at its highest vulnerability. When we sleep with our dog, we are telling them we trust them enough to be vulnerable around them as well.

Train Your Pup

When you have a dog that is lacking confidence, positive reinforcement is the perfect way to help build their self esteem! Training through positive reinforcement will help your dog to trust you more. Through this trust the relationship you share with your canine friend will start to grow stronger. And through the process you will begin to learn how to better communicate and understand your pup. 

What is Your Dog Telling You?

Of course we want to show affection to our most loyal companions, but it is important to know that dogs communicate differently than we do. Yes, we all know they don’t speak our language, but they also do and don’t like certain things. Pay attention to what your dog is really telling you through the body language being displayed. It will help you to respect one another and is another great way to show your love! 

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Your dog will appreciate these more than any diamond necklace (or collar). They love you and want nothing more than to be your best pal. Because we love them so much we want them there for every special occasion, especially the ones we hold most dear to heart. When you want to make your pet a part of a family photo shoot to document the love, or even want to include them in your BIG day, just remember FairyTail Pet Care is a click away.  

Gasparilla Inn Wedding with Rosco - Boca Grande, FL

Lisa reached out to us a couple weeks before her destination wedding on Gasparilla Island in Boca Grande, FL because traveling without her "hunny bunny", Rosco, was totally out of the question!

Her & her fiancé, along with their family & friends spent the week on this gorgeous island before the wedding. They had activities planned and knew they would be pretty busy throughout the week & with this in mind, asked us to travel with them to give Rosco an adventure of his own! We even brought our significant others for some added fun on this awesome 'work-cation'!

We'd never been to Gasparilla Island, but quickly made ourselves at home along the beautiful white, sandy beaches. Making sure Rooski (as we came to know him) was as happy and comfortable as possible was our top priority. Him & his momma have quite a special bond & we knew it was hard for him to be away from her & in a new place at that, which is why we filled our days with long walks through the town, sandy strolls at sunset, wiggles down Banyan Street, golf cart joy rides & relaxing in our cottage at the charming Gasparilla Inn!

We, of course, got some of the most amazing GoPro footage of our adventure, so make sure you check out Rosco's FairyTail Adventure video!

Lisa knew that Rosco would be nervous if he was a part of the ceremony, so we helped to include him in the special day in other ways! We greeted guests from the front porch of the Gasparilla Inn as the checked in, spent some time with the bride & family as they got ready & helped him pose for photos during formals.

Lisa & Dan took some of their portraits on the magnificent harbor side golf course behind the Inn. We were resting in the cottage with Rosco when we got a call from their photographer, Marc Edwards, that they were ready for Rooski. We walked him to the golf course & when Rosco caught eye of Mom & Dad he had only one thing on his mind, a man on a mission & we (with permission) let him live out his dreams & run full-puggle speed towards his family! (Check out minute 2 of Rosco's GoPro video to witness this epic reunion in motion!)

Needless to say, we became very close to this hilariously adorable puggle & his wonderful family. This is a FairyTail Wedding we will never forget!!

Professional photos courtesy of the most paw-fect photographer, Marc Edwards Photographs!

If you haven't seen the GoPro video from our adventure with Rosco, press play below & dance along with us & our handsome puggle friend!