Happy National Dog Day!

That's right, today, August 26th, is National Dog Day! How are you going to celebrate? National Dog Day was founded by Pet Lifestyle Expert & Animal Behaviorist "Colleen Paige" and is sponsored by - Animal Miracle Network. The purpose of National Dog Day is to celebrate the dogs in our lives and how much they do for us and also to rescue dogs. So, think about all of the ways that you can celebrate... Maybe it's with some extra snuggle time or a really awesome treat? Maybe you could share the info about Dozer and Diesel who All Wags is trying to find homes for? There are so many great and awesome things to do to celebrate, if you do something special, will you let us know? We would love to hear about the love you have for pups!

Meet Dozer & Diesel

Hi, we're Dozer (the black one) and Diesel (the red one) and we are looking for our forever homes. Can we come and live with you? We were rescued by some very nice guys who found us tied to a tree outside of a house. We had been there for 10 days and were very hungry. They have been working on feeding us and loving us. Now Diesel is staying at All Wags and Dozer is still with them while we wait for our homes. We play really nice with other dogs and are working on learning our basic commands. We are approximately 5 and 7 months old, so we're young and just looking for love and affection. We are going to get our vaccines this weekend at the SNIP clinic and will be neutered by SNIP on September 14th, so we will be all ready for our new homes. Is it with you? If it's not, will you tell your friends about us? Also, we don't have to be adopted together. We realize that most people just have rooms to add one more pup to their household. Contact All Wags about us at 704-527-9247, we're so lovable and ready for a family!

Stop the presses! We have a correction!

Thank you so much to all of you who have been helping us to spread the word about the vaccine clinic with SNIP this Saturday, August 28th. However... we have made a few corrections to the flier that was posted over the weekend to the website and have posted a new one here. Would you mind printing out some new copies and passing it around and/or re-emailing it out? The prices were backwards for the rabies and then all other vaccines and people do need to call and make an appointment. Whoops! So sorry for any inconvenience and thanks again for your help! As always, if you have any questions, just give us a call at All Wags at 704-527-9247.

Help us promote next Saturday's SNIP Clinic!

Next Saturday, August 28th, is our first SNIP clinic for the public and we are so excited! Will you help us to promote it? There is a flier about the clinic posted on our webpage. Would you print a copy and hang it up at your workplace, church, school, etc? Or, could you email it around to your pet-owner friends? We want everyone to know all about the great low-cost vaccines that they can get for their pets, in addition to heartworm tests. Also, if your friends ask, we are going to be doing this each month, so if they don't need vaccines now, let them know that the opportunity will come again each month. If you have any questions about the clinic be sure to let us know!

Animal Kneads Day

Well, we know you like everything about pups and, of course, helping pups... Do you like yummy fresh baked bread? Then, we have the event for you! Sunday is Animal Kneads Day at Great Harvest Bread Company at the Shops at Piper Glen. Great Harvest is usually closed on Sundays, but on this very special Sunday, the bakers are coming in and donating their time and their ingredients. For $10 you get a yummy loaf of bread and 100% of that goes to help Animal Care and Control's Community Spay/Neuter Assistance Program. What could be better? There will be vendors and fun stuff too. So, gather up the pups and go on down to Great Harvest on Sunday! If you go, be sure and take photos and send them to us too. We love to see you and your pups out having fun!

Opposites really do attract!

Friends truly can come in all shapes and sizes! A new great dane puppy started coming to All Wags today. Yep, that pup in the photo is a puppy, he is 9 months old! He's 100 pounds! Can you even believe it? Do you know which pup he loved the most? Sweet, short little Maynard! They played together all day and just palled around. Hunter and Maynard are now friends for life, I know they just can't wait to play together again! Opposites attract for sure!

Best Friends

Who's your best friend? If your pup goes to All Wags then they can know who their best friend is too. Dogs love being social and love being around other dogs, and, hey, people are pretty awesome to be around too! This is Miles and Buddy and they are best buds! If you ask us, we will be able to tell you who your pup has been playing with and who we think their best friend is and even show you their photo on the wall!

To all of the Dog Parents out there!

Before I was a Dog Parent:

I made and ate hot meals unmolested.
I had unstained, unfurred clothes.
I had quiet conversations on the phone, even if the doorbell rang.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got to bed or if I could get into my bed.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I cleaned my house every day.
I never tripped over toys, stuffies, and chewies
or invited the neighbor's dog over to play.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I didn't worry if my plants, cleansers, plastic bags,
toilet paper, soap or deodorant were poisonous or dangerous.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I had never been peed on
Pooped on
Drooled on
Chewed on
Or pinched by puppy teeth.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I had complete control of my thoughts,
My body and mind.
I slept all night without sharing the covers or pillow.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I never looked into big, soulful eyes and cried.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop a hurt.
I never knew something so furry and four-legged
could affect my heart so deeply.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I had never held a sleeping puppy just because I couldn't put it down.
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was well.
I didn't know how warm it feels inside to feed a hungry puppy.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Dog Parent:
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
the wonderment or the satisfaction of being

A Dog Parent

Misty's Story

Misty's dad, Greg, sent us her story. Read on for her amazing and wonderful story of being rescued and the special bond they share...

5 years ago in March, I finally bought a house. I always knew when I got my own house, I would get a dog. Misty came to me through the Humane Society of Charlotte via petfinder.com.  I have had mutts all my life as I don't care much about the dog's breed but knew I wanted a female between 60 - 80 pounds in size. She was 10 months old when we found each other in May 2005 with the last 4 months at HSC. So I do not know what her 1st 6 months of life were like. I saw her picture on the petfinder.com website & knew I had to go meet this girl.

Lets just say a 1st impression is not 1 of Misty's strong points. She is barking & lunging at the fence of her kennel as I stare in at her. The kennel worker hands me some treats & suggest I stand with my back towards Misty & give them to her. This calmed her down enough that we got some one on one time in a fenced off area. Misty responded okay to me as long as I had treats to share but she was also 'blowing me off' at times. Every time a HSC employee/volunteer walked by, I no longer existed in Misty's mind; she would walk to the end of the fence & watch those she trusted/knew for as long as she could.

4 days later I am back at HSC & when I am handed the leash, Misty puts the breaks on & isn't going anywhere. An HSC employee/volunteer had to take her to my car for me. And so the training begins, not only for Misty but also the new proud caretaker of a good but skittish dog. After 4 hours of being home, we go out for a potty break. Something scares Misty & she pulls out of her collar & starts running away luckily into an area with fencing on 3 sides. I go back inside & come out with a squeaky toy. Next thing I know Misty is curious, jumps on the hood of my car & while trying to climb the windshield, she starts slipping. That is my chance so I grab her & bring her inside. That was probably the worst that has happened.

After a few months, I am thinking I have 1 of the best behaved dogs. Misty is starting to trust me & very quick to learn tricks & obedience commands. She is not a lap dog but humors me when I ask her to lay beside me when I am sitting on the couch. After a year, Misty finally jumps up on the couch on her own. She seems to want to be scratched & loved on. After 2 years, she is finally 'asking' to be loved on more frequently. Misty really opened my eyes to how long it can take for a dog's true behavior to come through.

Her desire to please those she trusts is just so amazing as well as her desire for peace & harmony. She knows when I am upset or angry. She sits beside me & starts pawing at my arm/hand. I don't know if the petting is to calm Misty down or if it is to calm me down. But we both seem to be happy when she does it & I start petting. I would be totally lost without Misty in my life.

Do you want your pup featured in their own blog? Send your dog's story to Kelly and we will get it posted! Can't wait to read all about your pups' story!!

What's your dog's story?

We want to know what your dog's story is? How did they come to live with you and what was their life before you. If you have photos from your pup's first day at your home or when you first met, we want to see those to. Send your stories and photos to Kelly and you will get your very own blog! We can't wait to hear all about your pups!
We'll kick it off with Mandy's story. Mandy came to live with her family from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control. Her mom and dad had one pup, Maddie, and thought that Maddie could use a friend at home and wanted to open their hearts to a second dog and decided that would be a great Christmas gift for their family. They actually first saw Mandy online by searching for adoptable dogs and then went to see her that day. It was love at first site. As soon as the volunteers brought her out, they knew they were taking her home. The volunteers at Animal Control cautioned her mom and dad that she may be a difficult pup. She had originally been adopted out in June and had been returned at the beginning of December. They fear that she was abused at her first adoptive home as she came back to Animal Control a different dog. That's the thing about love at first site, though, you are already in love. They decided to adopt her and give her a loving home and work with her. That was nearly 3 years ago and Mandy has adjusted quite well and is loved for her quirks. They couldn't imagine life without her!

How about a little SNIP Clinic math?

So, we've been saying that by participating in the SNIP clinic you will be saving money... But, you may have been wondering, about how much will you save? Well, let's just say that your pup needs bordatella, rabies and a heartworm test. If you go to the regular vet, you will pay, on average: $15 for bordatella, $25 for rabies, and $50 for the heartworm test. This adds up to be $90. If you bring your pup to All Wags on Friday and they get all of these things done then, here is how the costs would break down: $10 for bordatella, $8 for rabies, $22 for the heartworm test and then $28 for a day of daycare. This all adds up to $68. That's a $22 savings AND your pup got a full day of daycare AND you didn't have to take the time out of your busy schedule to go to the vet. It's a win all around and the savings are even greater if you have a package for your daycare days. For more pricing info check out the Spay/Neuter/Vaccine portion of the All Wags webpage. Let us know by 9am Thursday morning if your pup is going to get vaccines done this Friday and remember, we will have these clinics each month!

August Issue of the All Wags Newsletter

The August issue of the All Wags Newsletter has been posted to the All Wags webpage. Be sure to go and check it out! We have two new dogs of the month, Bandit & Selwyn. You can read all about them and see their adorable photos! There are some fun and different dog events listed, including advanced notice about a gala in October where you can bring your dog that benefits The Humane Society of Charlotte. In addition to the featured adoptable dogs, we have added a new feature, adoptions stories! You can read about a pup's happily ever after each month. This month it is Trixie who got her forever home after staying at living at The Humane Society of Charlotte. Be sure to check out the newsletter only coupon, $15 baths. Plus, are you looking for some gift ideas? How about a great portrait or two or three of your pup? We have info about McGraw Photography, a great local photographer who take beautiful pet portraits. Plus, there is lots, lots more!!! Enjoy!!!