Nitro's Law 2013

Congratulations to the many people who worked for 5 long years to make this happen.

A beginning - After 5 years of fighting, Ohio passed its first felony animal cruelty law. This law, while historic for the State, is only the first step. It does NOT address individuals guilty of cruelty. The fight must continue to make individual acts of cruelty a felony as well. The battle was won, but the fight has only just begun. RIP Nitro. You will never be forgotten.

You always end up with the dog you're meant to be with !

Signs of Heat Stroke

As temperatures approach 90 degrees and higher,  keep an eye on your pets and watch for signs of heat stroke.

RSVP for BarkPark to benefit Colony Cats (& dogs)

Colony Cats (& dogs) is pleased to announce that we will be the beneficiary of a day at Barkpark, a beautiful, 10+ acre private fenced-in park with a pond in Delaware, Ohio, near the Columbus Zoo. The cost to attend is $20 with all of the proceeds benefiting Colony Cats (& dogs). Dogs must be spayed/neutered, friendly with other dogs and people, current on vaccinations & bordatella. Owners must bring proof of this or a statement on veterinarian letterhead for a dog who is no longer vaccinated due to medical reasons.

The event runs from 10-4pm on Saturday, June 22 so there is plenty of time during the day to stop over for a chance to run with the other dogs. We serve lunch all day, will offer a nice selection of items for sale as well as some wonderful raffle baskets (including a pair of OSU football season tickets). We will even bathe your dog, trim their nails and send them off with a treat or two. Who could ask for a better day for our pups!!

For more information or to be added to the guest list, please call or email Karen at 614-271-4086 or kaernes@aol.com. See you there!!

Enjoying the late afternoon with my pack at the ravine

Let Dogs Be Dogs

I posted this on Facebook yesterday because I am so tired of seeing the negative effects this 'dog as little people' is having on our dogs. We are rewarding fear and increasing dependency, creating a whole lot of neurotic dogs while trying to fulfill our own emotional voids. Let's love them by respecting them for who they are and providing for their needs, not ours.  I am the mother to three beautiful young women. I am the owner of three amazing dogs. I love them all. But I love them differently. And I will do serious damage to anyone who hurts any of them. But I love them differently… (Oh, and by the way, Happy belated Father's Day to all the amazing dad's out there).

I HATE this message because of what it implies. To me, it is so wrong, dogs are not our 4-legged children or furbabies. They are dogs…and should be honored and respected for what that means. This message from Cesar Millan, love him or hate him, is so true - "The best way to be a “parent” to your dog is to be a calm, assertive Pack Leader, fulfill their needs with Exercise, Discipline, and Affection, in that order, and give them Rules, Boundaries and Limitations. This is probably also the best way to be a parent to your human children, but don’t forget the big difference. Most human children will grow up to become adults. Your canine pack is dependent on you for life.
The best thing you can do for them is to let your dogs be dogs. They’ll be calmer and happier for it, and so will you — and they’ll thank you for it every day in their own way." Sorry, just needed to vent 

Enough said!