Lately I am loving swings hung indoors, like the one in Padma Lakshmi's home. But really nothing beats an old swing hung from a sturdy tree outside. I love the idle oscillation of a heavy wooden bench. It's a great place to read or chat with a friend. Do you have one?
If your Summer involves lazy days in the sun, an equally lazy pooch deserves a cozy snuggle spot . . . and you deserve not to have to wash a bed afterward. Extra laundry, yuck! Lucky for both of you, there's a new bed in town with such a summery feel, you can leave it outside all season long. The cover's fade- and weather-resistant — since the Lawn Lounger ($65 and up) is made from fabric similar to those lounge cushions, maybe you can keep your precious pal off of your comfy chair and settled down into his own. Who's not happy now?
When FitSugar mentioned hearing of people-tripping-over-pets phenomenon, I was intrigued. Released last Friday in a CDC report were some rather shocking statistics – over 86,000 Americans wind up in the ER every year because of falls related to furry friends, with 90 percent dog-related. Ouch!
Even though this accounts for just one percent of all emergency room visits that's quite a bit to attribute to four-legged friends across the country.
Twenty-six percent of falls involving dogs occurred while persons were walking them, and the most frequent circumstances were falling or tripping over a dog (31.3 percent) and being pushed or pulled by a dog (21.2 percent). Falling over a pet item (e.g., a toy or food bowl) accounted for 8.8 percent of fall injuries. Approximately 38.7 percent involved other or unknown circumstances.
I've definitely gotten tangled up by North's leash, though I've never fallen (knock on proverbial wood). Have you ever tumbled over a pet or pet-related gear?
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OK, so most of your cats weren't exactly lining up to complete a feline agility competition . . . don't feel bad, you don't want to scare Sassy or get scratched in the process! Maybe we should leave it to the pro cats out there that can't get enough. But, what about your doggies? Any of you have sporty pups like Nala here that have competed (and won!) in time-trial obstacle courses or other agility events?
How cute is Sam?! The Wheaten Terrier already found her sea legs thanks to this Outward Hound lifejacket . . . even though she's just a puppy. It's never too early.
The insulated vest does double-duty as a flotation device to keep a dog's head above water when swimming or grab the easy handle for quick rescues should she take an unexpected dive. Coming in five sizes ($16 and up) to fit most pups my friend, Traci, says:
Sam gets so excited when we pull it out because it means a boat ride or some watery fun. I'm surprised how well she has taken to the water. Terrier means "earth" so you'd think she'd be all about staying high and dry!
See this adoro pooch on the boat with the wind in her hair (trust me, you want to), and read more
This pup is on the ball . . . if only she could find it. To honor Autumn's arrival, check out Honey doing dives to locate that elusive round, fuzzy toy in a pile of leaves.
My participation in this year's Park(ing) Day has really got me thinking about the lack of green spaces in urban areas. Growing up in the country, it never really occurred to me that some people just don't have access to the green grass I was so tangibly familiar with. While there are a handful of wonderful parks in San Francisco to visit, including the vast Golden Gate Park, they simply can't compete with opening your back door to a canopy of trees and plants. Tell me, how is it that you get your fill of green space?
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I just spent two hours in the veterinarian's office getting my dog treated for raccoon bites. This raccoon was checking out the empty bottles in our recycling box, Ozzie tried to tell him that wasn't okay, and a scuffle ensued. Raccoons, which are carriers of rabies and other parasites, are getting to be more and more of an issue in urban environments.
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