HSTB's HOWLiday Block PAWty Fundraiser

Brianna, our favorite holiday dog.

Happy Holidays! I hope every one of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones (both the two and four legged variety).

With Thanksgiving behind us it’s time to start thinking about Brianna’s heartworm treatments fundraiser again. As you probably know by now, everyone’s favorite foster dog is scheduled to begin her treatments in mid-December at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

I'd say I feel silly in this getup, but I feel silly most of the time.

Our October fundraiser at Wag Pet Boutique on Davis Island was a huge success (thank you again, Wag!). Our Mini-Behavior Consults brought in enough money to cover all of Brianna’s existing medical expenses to date, plus enough to have a little extra left over for whatever additional veterinary costs will inevitably arise and we have a good start on the fund for her heartworm treatments as well. To those of you who have donated to the Brianna Fund thus far, we cannot thank you enough!

Santa's reindeer have got nothing on me! I am one cool holiday dog. 

 

In fact, the Mini-Behavior Consults were such a success (we actually had people waiting for consults at the end of the day so that I had to finish meeting with people outside on the sidewalk after Wag closed) that I approached the Humane Society of Tampa Bay about doing a second fundraiser there. But the Humane Society had a better idea… they offered to let us have our own booth at their annual HOWLiday Block PAWty to be held on Thursday, December 20^th in Hyde Park Village from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. So mark your calendars!

Come get a Mini-Behavior Consult at Brianna's Fundraiser at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay's annual HOWLiday Block PAWty on Thursday, December 20th from 6:00-9:00 pm at
1602 Snow Avenue in Hyde Park Village, Tampa (look for our booth somewhere between the Williams Sonoma and the Pottery Barn Kids). Doggone Good Goodies will be at our booth too, with some of their organic, all-natural and grain-free dog treats.  
More here: http://humanesocietytampa.org/event/howliday-block-pawty/

For those of you who cannot attend the HOWLiday Block PAWty but would like to contribute to the Brianna Fund,  you can make a donation by credit card by contacting Krystle Jimenez, Medical Operations Assistant at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay at (813) 252-2027. Or you can mail a check to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay Attn: Krystle Jimenez, 3809 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33607. Please make checks payable to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Be sure to note payment is to be applied to the Brianna Fund C/O Leah Booker.

Won't you come to my fundraiser... pretty please?

 

Because donations for this fund are made directly to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay they are 100% tax deductible.

Any donations we receive above and beyond the balance owed for Brianna’s existing heartworm treatments will be set aside for other dogs in need of heartworm treatments.

Thank you so much for your generosity this holiday season and we look forward to seeing you on December 20^th!  

Happy Holidays, from our pack to yours!

P.S. Huge thanks to Ashlie Burke for the beautiful holiday photos of Brianna!

Brianna Starts Heartworm Treatment at the Humane Society!

Brianna is going to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay on Tuesday, November 13^th for an initial heartworm consult and to review her heart radiographs (x-rays). If all goes as planned she’ll be on antibiotics for a month to prepare her for her heartworms treatments, which will begin mid-December.

You can help with the cost of Brainna's treatments! The Humane Society of Tampa Bay has been kind enough to set up a donation fund for Brianna. The goal is to raise the full $325 needed for her treatments.

Your donations to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay help homeless

animals like Brianna get the treatments they need so

they can find forever families. Thank you!

 

To make a donation by credit card towards this fund please contact Alicia Chesney, Medical Operations Assistant at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay at (813) 252-2027 or mail a check to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay Attn: Alicia Chesney, 3809 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33607.

Please make checks payable to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Be sure to note payment is to be applied to the Brianna Fund C/O Leah Booker. Because donations for this fund are made directly to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay they are 100% tax deductible (although Alicia asks that you please be patient with her as she mails your receipts!).

 

Thank you and we'll keep you updated on Brianna's progress!

Dog Back Pack Basics

A tired dog is a well-behaved dog. 

 

Karen from San Luis Obispo, California asks: “Mind refreshing my memory on your recommendations for dog backpacks? Brand, weight, minimum age..? Thanks!”

 

Great question Karen! Dog back packs are an excellent way to make your dog feel like he has a job. As an added bonus when your dog is walking with a pack on he gets twice the workout! I use them almost every day to drain my dogs' energy. 

Give your dog a job and you'll have one happy pooch!

I like the Ruff Wear Approach pack best. Admittedly, it is pricey but it is also durable, simple to use and fits extremely well. Although if you do decide on a Ruff Wear pack beware the sizing; they run VERY large (my 55 lb. Pit Bulls wear a small). There are other good brands out there, too. Outward Hound makes a good pack, I just prefer the Ruff Wear fit.

 

Wag at 304 E. Davis Boulevard on Davis Island in Tampa.

Tails at 745 Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo.

 

 

Tails in downtown San Luis Obispo will size your dog for free in you are in that neck of the woods- as will Wag on Davis Island for all you Tampanians. Both Wag and Tails carry the Approach Pack by Ruff Wear.

 

 

If you aren't in the San Luis Obispo or Tampa areas you can order an Approach Pack here:

http://www.gundogsupply.com/ruff-wear-approach-pack.html

 

Weight recommendation follow:

 

Dogs over 2 years of age with no underlying medical conditions can start at 10% of their total body weight in sand bags or a like material that will fit to conform to the body without sloshing back and forth (to minimize stress to the joints) and can be conditioned to wear up to 20% of their total body weight for daily use (once they're used to the pack). Additionally, they can wear up to 40% of their total body weight for a short day trip.

 

Now that's a pack, Cookie Monster!

 

Dogs between 1-2 years of age with no underlying medical conditions can wear up to 10% of their total body weight in sand bags or a like material that will fit to conform to the body without sloshing back and forth (to minimize stress to the joints) but more weight is not recommended.

 

Consult a veterinarian before putting weight on dogs under 1 year of age (although an empty pack is always fine).

 

Thanks for the question, Karen!