BarkBox Day! Woof!

 

 

BarkBox has done it again and everyone at our house is tail-wagging happy. We are waving our Bark University pennant high!

Bark University

 

It’s official! Our 7-month-old, Lucky Pup, Mr. Levi, is off to college! Over the weekend, we received the letter from Bella Ada Tenderloin, Dean of Admissions. So it must be true. Right? IMG_5347

The whole family will agree that our Mr. Levi is quite the intelligent pup. IMG_5344 (Edited)

 

 

Judging by his advanced skills, he will be a stellar addition to Bark University. He is already participating in Advanced Archaeology and is deep into research to discover what happens to the humans when they leave.

 

We are certain the extra-furricular campus activities are right up Mr. Levi’s alley.

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Unfortunately, Rad Chad had a little too much attention over the weekend and is already looking a little RUFF.

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If only he would use the map to find his way around campus. But that’s provided he doesn’t get too homesick for his family. Looks like he’ll have to hang out with us for a while longer and dream about one-day being the big dog on campus.  #BarkUniversity #BarkBoxDay

Thanks again, BarkBox!

 

The BarkBox has Arrived!

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Treat Time for Levi, Clive, Pepper, and Georgia

It arrived! Woof! This month the theme of the BarkBox was all about CHEWRASSIC BARK. I kid you not!

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All these yummy goodies. Note the paper wrapped around the treats? All keeping with the theme, because they can read. Am I right?IMG_4935IMG_4937

This is our second shipment and the fur babies are loving it.

The Woolly Mammoth is fluffy and squeaks. Airborne Archie is The Pterodactyl. It’s made to make a crinkle sound and also has a squeaker inside.

With four dogs, one who is a puppy, (Levi) we need all the busy toys we can acquire to keep him busy.  Momma needs to write!

Here are some incredible BarkTastic Industry facts:

According to American Pet Products.org, the U.S is spending $BILLIONS every year in the Pet Industry Market!

Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics 

U.S. Pet Industry Spending Figures & Future Outlook

“The following spending statistics are gathered by APPA from various market research sources and are not included in the organization’s biennial National Pet Owners Survey.

Total U.S. Pet Industry Expenditures

Year                 Billions of dollars

2017                 $69.36 Estimated
2016                 $66.75 Actual

Estimated 2017 Sales within the U.S. Market

For 2017, it estimated that $69.36 billion will be spent on our pets in the U.S.

Estimated Breakdown:
Food                                                               $29.69 billion
Supplies/OTC Medicine                           $14.93 billion
Vet Care                                                        $16.62 billion
Live animal purchases                              $2.01 billion
Other Services                                           $6.11 billion

As you can probably tell from the photos, my family and I are helping to contribute to this figure. How much are you willing to spend on your beloved pets?

 

The Dog Daze of Summer

Harley (Smaller) (2)The summer of ’09 will live in infamy as the summer where lives were held on a razor’s edge. Jobs were lost, savings and lives were altered. Then hopes and dreams began to rise from the ashes and in the midst of it all, I sold my first book KNIGHT DREAMS to Samhain Publishing. I had a deadline to meet.  I vowed no one would keep me from my appointed mission.

Then our daughter and her fiancé came home from college and brought two dogs to add to our already thriving four-dog-pack. Okay, I’ll back up here. Yes, we have four permanent dogs that reside in our home. All but one is a rescue. Our daughter has taken up the charge with fervor and both of her companions are rescue dogs. Of course, she had to bring them with her. 

As I struggled to fit editing into an already teeming schedule, I came to enjoy the many different characteristics portrayed in each dog. I began to study them as I would characters in a medieval story. 

Mercedes, the matriarch and once beautiful queen, still tries to rule over her inner circle, if not her world. Though nearly blind and deaf, she sits and dreams of the power she once held in her paws and wonders where it went.

Ben, the jester, grows old and feeble. His antics, once funny, no longer works for one so toothless. Yet, his sweet demeanor cannot be ignored. He balances on arthritic hind legs. His chocolate eyes reveal secrets, tales untold.

Harley, the knight, is strong, powerful and has a heart of gold. Though nearly beaten by the dragon-beast cancer, he rises from the battle, a zenith in each day, soaring higher than the day before. He stands down for no one but his master king.

Pepper, the impish princess, flits, bounces, swoops and pounces. Adoration enfolds her character. She, who turns not from confrontation, stands her ground until called down. Then she sleeps, her power exhausted.

Life was peaceful in their little castle. It was a canine Camelot. Then the dogs from another land arrived, challenging their gate. Woof! Outsiders threaten to overthrow the castle hierarchy. All stood guard as one by one the strangers came. Peace would reign or blood would be spent. 

Roscoe, the medieval sheriff of the land, brought sanity in his lengthy body and short stride. Never deterred by his long ears and drooping eyes, he kept close watch on his young charge. Then he ate and slept, belly content. 

Dexter, the young squire, filled with passion, energy and fire, trotted out. This land was his! He brought battles over balls and grass. Certain each shoe and bit of leather his, he soon discovered he was wrong and earned his place as dog in training within the castle walls.

Then peace did reign that long hot summer, The Pack of Six, for evermore.