Happy Birthday!

In AKC time, Sasha is five years old today! We chose July 4th for her "official" birthday in declaration of her independence from the old and in celebration of her new life. She's now formally recognized by the AKC as Ozark Summer Highlands Sasha. For those new to the story, here's a quick recap of …

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Ticks!

Like many parts of the world, summer in the Ozarks brings out the ticks. That's why I keep my Sheltie on prescribed tick preventative and check her daily checks after walks. Still, nothing's 100% effective when it comes to repelling these blood-sucking critters. That's why, when Sasha showed signs of lethargy and her now-and-then limp became …

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Safe Travels, Everyone!

Sasha's longest car trip (that we know of) was our first day together, when we drove hours through the Ozarks and across Oklahoma's tallgrass prairie to bring her home. For a rescue dog that had been handed off from one place to another, a long car journey with strangers was one stress too many.  Since …

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The Big Bang: Tips for the 4th

Sasha and Buddy The Wonder Cat will be celebrating the Fourth of July indoors with plenty of sound camouflage in the form of music, movies, and one particularly loud standing fan that's reminiscent of a C-130 in flight. The freezer is well stocked with ice cubes (Buddy likes to bat them across the kitchen tiles when he's …

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Love the Leash!

Responsible owners know their dogs need daily exercise, and a walk provides that for dogs and people alike. Whether you prefer strolling through your neighborhood  or trotting briskly along a trail, loose leash walking is a safe, responsible way to enjoy yourselves. For some, though, leash walking can be an exercise in frustation.  If you've ever …

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