Way too adorable, available on Cuddle Clones
Way too adorable, available on Cuddle Clones
This toy company makes custom plush-toy replicas of pets from photos sent in by their clients. Ummm, this is one of the greatest ideas I've heard in awhile. The only downside is the price - I'm not sure why they're $249 per pet, but I'm assuming that a lot of work goes into each one.
Twenty years ago today (December 29th, 1994), I met my dog Jasmine. I was nine years old and she was a Christmas gift from my parents. (Quick tip: If your kid wants a dog, wait until he/she is at least eight or nine. The younger they are, the weirder they treat dogs.) I named her Jasmine because I wanted her to be named after royalty (the princess in Aladdin) since my parents named me after the Queen of England.
She was with our family for almost ten years before she passed away in 2004 and this lady was the love of my life. Everyone who knew anything about me knew that I'd lose it for awhile when she died, and I did. I dropped out of college for a bit, sat in the dark a lot and just felt awful all the time. If that sounds dramatic to you - I'm sorry, but I was upset. Even now, if I'm in a certain kind of mood and I start thinking about her - watch out.
I don't really even have a point to this post. I just realized what today was and wanted to mention it. If you come to this site to read any of my stuff, you often get a pretty good idea of the things I'm passionate about - so it seemed weirder for me not to mention this day. And if we're friends in real life and you didn't know about Jasmine - well, we definitely aren't as close as you might think 'cause EVERYONE knows about me and Jasmine. Or they should, anyway.
I know that it's probably not emotionally healthy to not completely move on ten years after a pet dies, but I don't know what to tell you. Maybe it's dumb, but sometimes I'll just say her name out loud so I can hear it and think for a split second that she never left. Fuck, I miss her.
Moral of this post? Don't love anyone 'cause they'll leave? Haha. No, but seriously don't.
I know I'm living a pretty lucky life, but I was lucky as hell to have a dog like her. After Jasmine died, my Ma said to me something along the lines of, "Yeah, this is awful. But at least now you don't have to be afraid of death since she'll be right there waiting for you when you pass away." And maybe it's abnormal to hear your grandmother discuss your own demise with you, but it helped me so much to have that thought in the back of my head for all these years.
Thanks for reading, guys.
This post will really only apply to you if you have a dog (and a dog house) in your home. And if you do? Please put a warm rug outside your pet's little home. The one that I put outside Baby Dog's house is just a carpeted-like bathroom mat that I got at IKEA for this purpose and she f-ing loves it. I swear to God she even lounges on it.
Humans wear slippers on cold floors, right? Well, unfortunately dogs don't wear slippers. (If I were running things in this world, though, that would be the first thing I'd change.) Their tiny feet must get so cold and they can't complain about it, so I'd imagine they must silently curse us constantly. Do you like waking up and walking onto a cold floor? I expect not.
Do you have any idea how important it is to make sure your pet doesn't sweat to death this summer? I don't want to lecture you here, but please take some kind of precautions here, people. A vet once told me that taking a dog for a walk on a crazy hot day is the equivalent of a human walking around barefoot on piping hot sidewalks - and expecting that to be normal. So the best times to walk them in the summer? When the sidewalks are coolest - mornings and evenings.
And maybe these products below are unnecessary, but I love that they exist.
Self Cooling Pet Pad, available in different sizes on Amazon
Look at how cool that dog looks! I've bought this dog mat and it does actually stay pretty cool. The problem is trying to get a dog ON it. The box doesn't tell you how difficult that part is. Also, the fact that is looks like a pee pad doesn't help things along here.
The Frobo, keeps a water dish cold for an extended period
Now... will I buy the Frobo? I really want to. But I think I sort of have a problem with buying smaller-scale-luxurious items. So maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas.
Keep those bitches safe this summer, please!
“Satisfying a mutual desire for companionship, this high chair permits your dog or cat to accompany you at the dinner table. The high chair clips securely to tables up to 2” thick and its height adjusts without tools to elevate your pet to near eye level. It has a frame of powder-coated 5/8” steel tubing and its arms are rubber-coated so they will not mar table surfaces. By providing an alternative to sitting on your lap, running disruptively underfoot, or outright banishment, the chair assuages a pet (and its owner’s) frustration, and promotes more refined behavior. The chair’s 600-denier tan/brown nylon fabric cleans easily. Two tethers on the chair protect your dinner guests against any lapses in etiquette. Folds for convenient storage and travel. For pets up to 10 lbs.”
The people who brought you the dog umbrella are now touting this contraption. Am I writing a post about this item because I think it's ridiculous or because I think it's amazing? Honestly, I don't even know anymore. I used to think that I'd never be the type of person to carry a tiny dog in a purse before either and that's now a reality, so WHO KNOWS. I can say for sure that I wouldn't buy this high chair solely because I don't run with an eat-food-at-the-dinner-table kind of crowd. But if I did? Man, this might have to get bought. LOOK AT HIS LITTLE FACE.
Also, don't judge me for carrying a dog in a bag because:
