The Red Dog Inn

I heard an interesting statistic while watching an interview with Prince Lorenzo Borghese, who started Royal Treatment pet products, on KTLA Morning News. He said, “If 25% of the people who bought their pets would have adopted them instead, we would have no more kill shelters.”

Here’s the thing. If purebreds are your thing, there are scads of purebred rescues! Just do a little research. Butters and Lula were adopted through friends who could no longer keep them.  Do I love them any less than I would an animal I paid $500-$1000 for? Not a chance. 

Will you get a perfect pet? Define “perfect”.  You get what you put into your pet.  

Nonetheless, I firmly believe that there are breeds that are made for special people.  There are pitbull people, and great dane people, and yes, basset hound people.  Do your homework, but don’t be afraid to adopt your next pet.

SENDING LOTS OF WARM FUZZY HUGS TO OUR FRIENDS AT DAPHNEYLAND Basset Hound Rescue!  Miss Henrietta whelped 9 basset-mix puppies yesterday.

I promised that I would address other critters, too. After hearing that 2008 US Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye sustained a head injury after falling from a horse that slipped during a training session, I thought it would be appropriate to help folks find a helmet.  I have a few links for you to look at.  One is about getting the proper fit and one is a link to purchase a Troxel helmet and get free shipping for orders place through March 31. 

Bottomline… wear a helmet:  every ride every time.  I’m glad I had my helmet on when I took a tumble in April 2009!

CHA on HELMET FIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJW8ZjJ8Hkg

Get a Troxel helmet with free shipping (Order by 3.31.10):  Visit http://tinyurl.com/yh8nzxx or call 800-225-8827

As many equestrians now know, 2008 Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye fell from a horse when it slipped. King-Dye sustained head trauma and has been in a coma since last week’s fall.  Sadly, like many dressage riders, King-Dye was not wearing a helmet.   According to a report on TheHorse.com, her prognosis is promising. If you know how, please say a prayer for Courtney’s recovery. 

Dressage pro Heather Blitz has launched a campaign among dressage riders to don a helmet when they ride.

My friend, Julie Goodnight, let me know today about a special offer by her sponsor, Troxel, making it a little easier to buy a helmet to ride in.  Troxel is offering FREE Shipping on helmets through March 31, 2010 at http://tinyurl.com/yh8nzxx or 800-225-8827.

Troxel offers riding helmets in Western and English styles in pricepoints for virtually every budget.   If you need a helmet,  click the link and place your order.  It’s important, folks.   If you’re riding wear a helmet: every ride, every time.  Child or adult!

Sources: 

http://tinyurl.com/yh8nzxx  (Troxel offer)

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15942

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/03/049.shtml

Today, we ventured out in the hopes of attending our very first basset hound meet up! We arrived at the park, hopeful that the rain would hold off for an hour or so, but we had no such luck. We did meet some lovely folks from the Southern California Basset Rescue who were apologizing for the rain. 

While Lula greeted her brethren, Butters really tried to not step on them. The coordinator, Nancy, was the picture of calm as eight basset hounds and one “John Wayne All*American Dog” (Butters) swirled around our feet entangling us in a web of leashes.  (Incidentally, if you need something lashed down really well, basset hounds may be the best ropers on the planet!)

Over the past couple months, I’ve met some really neat folks who work with bassets. Among them are Nancy who organizes the basset hound meet ups, and Dawn who runs Daphneyland, home to 100 bassets eagerly awaiting their forever homes.

The upshot is this. If you have dog, find other folks who have the same breed of dog. If you have an independent breed, like a basset, or a particular breed type, like a giant breed or a sight hound, it helps to know you’re not alone.  Whatever the breed or breed type you have, you can learn from each other, get training tips and more.

I LOVE:: the basset hound folks who help make Life with Lula even more fun!

Learn more about the Orange County, CA Basset Hound Meet-Up here: http://www.bhrsc.info/