Check out this video on my blog

Gotta love Maxx!

Jack Wolff likes to collect his balls every day and keep them safe on his dog bed.  If they are under furniture, he comes to me and uses his head and eyes to point to the location. That requires me to lie face down on the floor and stretch my hands underneath the sofa or any other stick of furniture. Once he's satisfied that he's collected enough, he lies peacefully on his bed with his balls.  

Why does your dog or cat have a collar, but no ID tag? Where's the rabies tag, which by law must be showing on a dog's collar?

Can't tell you how many dogs I've found that have a collar with no tag. I saw one this morning. The big beautiful girl was ambling down the street. Luckily her owner posted her on Craigslist, which was the website I jumped on first. She was also on Lost and Found Groups of the Midsouth on Facebook.

But a lot of people don't know about these sites. They look for signs for a lost dog or cat, coming soon to a blog entry near you.

I always look for an ID tag first. Look at these. (Photo)

Then there are the ones that have a microchip with no collar. Microchips are the best way to make sure your dog can always be connected back to you.

We've all seen those reunion videos of dog and owners reunited. Even if the dog or cat were missing for years or hundreds of miles away, that chip would be read somewhere down the road.

I don't have a chip reader. So, when I see a stray, the first thing I look for is a collar. The second is that dangling piece of metal that costs maybe $5. It's the easiest way for a stranger to help you find your pet. 
If you know someone whose pet doesn't have an ID tag, then make one.

Visit this Facebook page and make some bids for cool stuff !

For years, my dog Jack never noticed thunderstorms. Tommy, however, has always been horribly afraid, to the point that I have to drug him.

My guess is Tonmy developed his because he was dog chained outside. Until I came along. When I found him, he didn't have a doghouse, so that meant he had nowhere to hide from the frightening lightening followed by the thunder that sometimes shakes the ground.

In addition to taking Benydryl and Xanax, we have made him a comfy cave in the closet. He can get in there on his dog bed. It's dark and safe to him.

If the storm is severe, he self soothes by closing the bedroom door, then scratch it until we open it again. He does it over and over

He doesn't close It quietly. He uses his paws and head to get it close to closed, then WHAM!

He also goes into the bathroom and wedges his 100-pound self behind the toilet.

As for Jack, medicine doesn't affect him. I've given him the sam medicine I give Tommy. No change in the fear. I even tried acepromizine, which is a knock-out drug I hate, but I'm desperate to get him through it. Again, it just leaves him panting and anxious.

if we are home his 98-pound, yellow self climbs in our lap or we get in a bed with him so he can cuddle as close as he can be.

Today, I went home at lunch. All the other dogs were fine. Tommy was sound asleep on the couch. Jack was hiding in the bath tub. He was so relieved when I came home and so sad when I went back to work.

Do you have a storm phobic dog? Tell me about it and if you've found a way to soothe your pet.

I'm the person who soaks my skin in Deet because mosquitoes eat me alive. Yes, I've tried Skin so Soft and citronella, lemongrass and eucalyptus oils. Mosquitoes backstroke in that mess as they collectively steal a pint.

I'm a hypocrite, sort of. I won't use chemicals on my yard. I believe if worms would rather wriggle out of the soil and writhe in a horrible death on a scorching, summer sidewalk, then it can't be good for the planet.

 I don't use poison on vermin, nor will I use a live-catch trap. (You don't want to know about the time I didn't check on one for weeks.) I prefer a snap trap for a quick death.

​ All of that is to say; I will gladly use chemicals to keep fleas off my four dogs and off of me. 

I've had a flea-infested house before. It took months of chemicals to get rid of those buggers. I even tossed out my pepper for a time, just because it caused flashbacks to that nightmare. 

What product do you like the best? Oh, it must also repel, kill or scare the bejesus out of ticks.​