Tag Archives: pet toys

Picking Halloween Pet Toys

Yesterday I wrote about how it was I decided I needed to buy Halloween pet toys for Murph and his best friend Tucker. Today I’m going to tell you how I ended up picking the toys I did. (You may be thinking that sounds a little humdrum, but bear with me. There’s a method to my madness.) Decisions, Decisions As I left off in yesterday’s blog, I explained how I’d decided to buy Halloween pet toys from Doctors Foster and Smith. Here are the toys I was deciding between: 1. Halloween Witch of Devil Loofas. 2. Halloween Pumpkin Puzzle. 3. … Continue reading →

Why I’m Shopping for More Pet Halloween Toys

I know in another blog I admitted that one way I could ease my worries about the economy and its affect on my pocketbook would be to cut out buying toys for my pets. But I had to make an exception for Halloween. See, a couple of weeks ago Murphy’s best friend Tucker came for a visit when his parents had to come through town on their annual trek to Indianapolis for the pet shoot they do up there every year. Since Murph’s down and out with his cast, he wasn’t able to play with Tucker. (Not because he didn’t … Continue reading →

A Collection of Cat Toys

As impressive as the collage of cat toys to the left might be, it’s only a small representation of the entire collection of cat toys my cats claim. (Wayne’s decided if we’re looking for ways to cut money in case of a depression, cutting out my pet toy spending is a place to start. Sadly, he’s probably right.) But the purpose of this blog isn’t to show off my cats’ impressive collection of cat toys. Rather, it’s to discuss the names they know their toys by. (As I wrote in another article, I’m big on naming things.) See if you … Continue reading →

Common Choking Hazards for Pets

Let’s face it — pets eat some weird things. I’ve caught my boxer mix Lally chewing on things like wicker baskets and even the cord of my vacuum cleaner. My other dog, Moose, is more of a licker than a chewer, but I’ve seen him licking the comforter, the floor, and even the walls. Like I said, weird taste. Younger animals are more likely to sample non-food objects than older ones are — some veterinarians think that’s just the curiosity of the young. Eating strange things may also be a throwback to wild animals that eat the entire body of … Continue reading →

A Significant Gift?

Because I suspect Tabby’s behavior was a harbinger of my mom’s stroke, I’ve been watching her more carefully these days. If she’s more cuddly with my mom than usual, or more vocal, I monitor my mom’s every move like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve experienced too many times now when one or the other of my pets is trying to tell me something. I try to pay attention now! That’s why I didn’t know what to make of Tabby’s latest gesture. Still don’t actually. Wayne thinks I’m reading too much into it, but I think it’s significant. Gifting You know how … Continue reading →

Patriotic Paraphernalia for Pets

In honor of President’s Day, and because this is an election year, I thought today would be the primo day to talk about some of the patriotic pet paraphernalia I’ve seen around lately. “Patriotic paraphernalia? What are you talking about? Presidential candidates are getting pets into the act?” I haven’t run across anything like that yet. (But it wouldn’t surprise me if someone’s campaign had “Vote for X” or “X in ‘08” bandanas or something. If they don’t, they should think about that.) No, what I’m referring to is all the different red, white, and blue pet products I’ve seen … Continue reading →

Murph and the Flying Monkey

I had first spied the Flying Monkey in the Things You Never Knew Existed catalog last year. I knew the perfect recipient for it: my sister. She was turning 50, but rather than do the traditional “Over the Hill” stuff most people do for big birthdays, I decided to go the opposite way. I was going to gift her with all things childish and fun. I had not seen the Flying Monkey in action, but it sounded great. Supposedly you held it like a slingshot, pulled back, and released, letting it sail through the air wherein it was supposed to … Continue reading →

Your Yard: Outdoor Areas for Pets

Is your pet outside often? Try these tips. Your Yard Most pets will develop certain habits over time, such as urinating and defecating in the same area. This can create mess and odor and it’s certainly not fun to clean up but it’s better than having these elements all over the yard. If your pet doesn’t have a spot, it is possible to train your pet to stay in the same area. Another handy way to deal with the problem is to keep a bucket of sand handy. Some people use kitty litter even for dogs. Cover the waste and … Continue reading →

The Great Pet Toy Swap

Wayne is always scolding me for spoiling our pets with new toys. It’s true. I do. Murphy, Kitty, and Tabby have so many toys they could play with a different one every day for at least two weeks. (If not maybe a whole month.) But in my partial defense (I say partial because I fully admit sometimes I go overboard with the spending), every toy was bought with them in mind. This is not as obvious a statement as it might seem. What I’m getting at is I know Kitty (and now Tabby) likes to hide in things. Hence the … Continue reading →

Do You Own A Canine Shredder?

A cousin of mine owns a pet store and always brings treats and toys for the dogs at holiday time. Michelle gifted all five dogs in the family — my two dogs, Moose and Lally; my brother’s two dogs, Kuma and Lily; and my parents’ dog Becca — with little squeaky stuffed animals. And the family watched in awe, humor, and horror as Kuma proceeded to mangle her little pink squeaky pig. The first thing to go? The snout. Then an ear, and an arm. Then the white cotton batting inside went flying! My cousin Steve decided it would be … Continue reading →