Meet Lex! Thanks so much for helping me name her – I agree it's a great suggestion so I've been referring my new alternapal by the pet name of Lexi. Before I share all the neat things a Pleo does later this week, I wanted to introduce North to the lil girl. Lucky for us, the Pleo is fairly quiet, doesn't move super quickly, and he didn't sense her as a threat . . . although he gave me (as I interpret it) a scornful gaze when I was holding the toy dino on my lap making kissy noises. Hmm, but I was the one holding a toy dino on my lap making kissing noises?! Either way, North eventually learned to love his new pal and enjoyed checking her out up close. Maybe he speaks Pleosaurus?

Just a couple more days 'til North's big day! Up first in the party planning, the guest list. If your pooch doesn't play well with others, happens to seriously lack in the BFF department, or simply adds up a gala's worth of "aunties" and "uncles" on his own, consider throwing a two-legged gathering. North knows and looooves my friends and, while he's got pals from adventure walks and day care, I'm not close with any of those pet parents. After much deliberation, I've decided to make this my smooshy's special day – he seems to think he's human anyway – and use him as the center of attention.

Going the "one dog only" route for a blowout birthday bash works well for small spaces, rental units, etc. whereas a big park picnic at a dog friendly place can have many unexpected non-RSVP'd guests. Would your lil prince or princess want to be the one furry star or do you think it's the more flying fur, the merrier? Share your thoughts about including other animals in the comments below!

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Another heartwarming tale to come out of England as a pup once paralyzed and in pain received a new lease on life! Enzo the German Shepherd had two herniated discs in his spine and doctors advised owner Chris Evans to give up hope that his doggy would survive or walk again. As a dedicated pet owner, Evans wouldn't take no for an answer and found his pooch a revolutionary operation costing £5,000 (almost twice that in US dollars); the 9-year-old dog had two bolts inserted in the middle of his spine to fuse two vertebrae.

Although the pup still can't support himself on his back legs on land, he's now able to use them during hydrotherapy in the pool. The advanced procedure relieved pressure on the spinal cord and sciatic nerve and, as long as the damage to the cord isn't permanent, vets are optimistic that the pooch will one day get a new leash on life and walk again.

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As I was catching up on my cat news this weekend, I paused to meet the new HiCat cat tree on ModernCat. I instantly fell head over heels and began channeling Carrie Bradshaw when she finds the perfect pair of shoes! Can it get any better than a cat tree that also doubles as an architectural element in your home? Nope, sure doesn't.

The HiCat comes as a single, tree like pillar with safe interior cubby holes for your cat to perch in, which is much safer than climbing a real tree and dangling out on the branches! A durable outside ensures your kitty won't destroy it on first glance. The only downside? It's not yet available here in the US. But stay tuned, it should be here soon!

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From an accidental cut to a bloody quick, what you see when picking up a pet from a groomer can be a surprise . . . and not always a good one. When trying out someone new, you never really know if you'll get the desired results and you have no guarantee they'll tell you if they messed up. Likewise, not explaining how you want your pet trimmed can also result in one heck of a shock. This pretty pup is Ozzie – CasaSugar's fiancé brought their dog in to the groomer and didn't bring any instructions. Oops! As a result Casa was shocked to find the lovely dog shaved down from her pretty state on the left to a more sheared one on the right!

Have you ever experienced any sort of communication issue with a groomer – either not giving enough descriptions, giving too much, or (hopefully not) any more serious injury? Share what it was, and how you dealt with it, in your comments below!