National Dog Month: Breed Specific Rescues

Pet rescue shirt available in the Etsy shop.

August is National Dog Month! Let's celebrate by talking about breed-specific rescues.

Before our Miniature Pinscher Shelby came into our lives, we didn't know much about these organizations. She was saved from a hoarding situation by a Min Pin rescue group (IMPS) that took in 30-plus dogs from that home after a fire broke out. They were amazing to work with and opened our eyes to these types of organizations. We've since fallen in love with the Min Pin breed and will likely revisit a breed rescue in the future.

What is a breed specific rescue?

An estimated 20-30% of dogs received into shelters are purebred dogs that are often transferred to breed-specific groups for placement. These groups are specialists in their breed and will have more information on personalities, temperaments and quirks of the breed. They will help you make sure the breed is a good fit for you.

Breed rescues are mostly volunteer-driven, housing their available dogs in foster homes with families. This gives caregivers a good insight into each dog's behavior in various situations. How they behave with other pets and children, for instance, so they can find the perfect home for each dog. This is great for you as an adopter - you get to know what the dog is like before you bring them home. If you know you want a more mellow fellow, the rescue will find the dog that's right for you. Or if, like us, you have a child-free home and can help a dog who needs a bit more socialization, they can match you to the perfect pet.

There are some misconceptions that the dogs available from breed rescues are rejects from breeders or in some way substandard. This is not the case! These dogs are like any other who find themselves homeless. Maybe their human died or had a life-changing situation where they needed to surrender the dog. Or maybe the dogs were in a hoarding situation or a puppy mill that was shut down.

If you have a preference for a particular breed of dog, these rescues are a great alternative to purchasing from breeders or pet shops, as you'll be helping a dog who needs a home while not contributing to pet overpopulation. It's a win-win.

What can I expect if I adopt from a breed rescue?

Breed rescues are dedicated to their breed and want to find the best homes for their dogs. They will work with you to make the perfect match. In our case, we knew we did not want a puppy, we preferred female dogs, and because we were experienced pet parents with no children in the house, we knew we could take on a bit more of a challenge. They were great at finding us our sweet and sassy girl.

• Interview and home inspection

  Someone from the rescue will likely come to your home to interview you and see where the dog will be living, especially if the breed or the particular dog has special needs. In our case, a very secure fence was a must, as Min Pins are known escape artists.

  They may ask about your pet-parenting style, how you plan to discipline and handle misbehavior, and what you plan to do with the dog when you're at work or traveling. Don't be put off by this procedure. Any good rescue will do their due diligence to ensure their dogs are placed in appropriate, loving homes and not used for abusive purposes or resold for profit. It's a good thing - embrace it.

• Meet and greet

  You should be given an opportunity to meet the dog or dogs being considered a match for you. Sometimes they will bring the dog to you, or you may work out a meeting with the foster caregiver at another location. This is a great time to have them meet any other pets in the home.

• Adoption fee

  You will need to pay an adoption fee, which is sometimes higher with a breed-specific rescue. Again, don't let this discourage you. This money reimburses the rescue for vet care expenses, food, and housing while the dog is in their care, and allows them to continue their mission and save more dogs.

Where do I find breed specific rescues?

The American Kennel Club has a list of breed-specific rescues here:

https://www.akc.org/akc-rescue-network/

For Minnesota-based dog breed rescues, check out this list at Sidewalk Dog.

https://www.sidewalkdog.com/minneapolis-dog-rescues/

If you're looking to add a furry friend of a particular breed to your family, breed-specific rescues are an excellent choice.

You can show your support for pet rescue with some fun new items in the shop - check them out here!

And if you're a fellow lover of all things Min Pin, there's a whole section devoted to them here.

Easter Memories

Easter has been my favorite holiday since I was a child. The bright colors, pretty dresses, my favorite hymns, and of course the candy treats in our Easter baskets. But most of all, it meant visiting Gran in her tiny Minnesota town. She was the church organist, and at the end of the service, my brother and I got to sit by her side as she played the postlude, Toccata from Fifth Organ Symphony. It was amazing to watch her fingers dance across the keys during that joyful song - I was so proud of her!

Before church we dug into our Easter baskets, picking through the shreds of cellophane grass to unearth plastic eggs filled with jelly beans. In addition to the eggs and chocolate bunnies, our baskets usually contained some kind of coloring or activity book (probably to keep us busy and quiet during the service when we were very young). I loved these books - they kept me entertained for hours.

As an homage to those childhood Easter books, I've created my own grown-up version, because why should kids have all the fun? Adults love to color too, and it’s good exercise for our brains.

This is a hefty one, filled with 100 pages of Easter-themed designs and activities, primarily flower-themed eggs with patterned backgrounds. If you're like me and enjoy these kinds of books, check out the Amazon link below and get one for yourself!

Coloring is a wonderful way to relax and tune out all the problems of the day, plus it keeps our brains engaged and thriving. It's perfect for seniors or people with dementia, who benefit from its calming, meditative effects.

I love using colored pencils, but if you prefer markers, all the coloring pages are one-sided to prevent bleed-through. I would still suggest placing a paper underneath, just in case. Activities include word finds, word scrambles, mazes, sudoku and kakuro puzzles, with all solutions at the end of the book. Nothing too tricky - this is supposed to be relaxing after all.

So treat yourself! Pick up a copy at the link below. Makes a great gift as well.

Until next time,

Happy Easter!

https://amzn.to/36CTOd6

Easter coloring and activity book for adults and teens - available now!

Attitude of Gratitude

The Theory

Over the past few years, I’ve been working to increase my positivity, patience and overall happiness with varying levels of success. I’ve tried books, church, diet, exercise and even meditation, which I seem incapable of doing for more than ten seconds. But there’s one practice that’s emerged as my favorite and actually has improved my emotional state. Being grateful.

I take a few moments each day to jot down the things I’m grateful for, from a good night’s sleep to a few minutes outside with my pets. Some mornings it’s as simple as the hot mug of coffee in my hand. It starts my day in a positive way, and if things slide off the rails later on, I can refer back to my list and get back in that mindset.

Being grateful doesn’t mean prayer or thanking God, necessarily, though as a spiritual person that’s often where I start. It’s simply recognizing the good in your life and making note of it. Physically writing a list or in a journal is best.

The Science

Does being grateful really make us happier? From my own experience I say yes, and studies conducted by the leading expert on gratitude, Dr. Robert Emmons, back it up. Give Dr. Bob a Google – it’s interesting stuff.

In one study, three groups of participants were asked to write a few sentences a week. One group wrote about things they were grateful for, another wrote about the week’s irritations and negative things, and the third group wrote about things that affected them without a positive or negative slant.

After ten weeks, the people in the group who wrote about gratitude were more positive and felt better about their lives. They even had fewer doctor visits and exercised more than the folks in the negative group.

Being grateful, then, appears to have made them happier.

The Practice

So what exactly does it mean to “practice gratitude?” It’s more than a simple act of politeness. It’s acknowledging the positive things in our lives – big or small – and realizing that good things often come from outside sources: other people, nature, a higher power. Recognizing this can bring a sense of contentment, and focusing on the good things makes us happier.

Our brains want to dwell on the scary stuff - threats, worries, problems. When we choose to actively recognize the good, we’re forcing our brain to think happier thoughts. Positive emotions replace anxiety and worry and lift our mood.

And it can indeed take practice. On those days where nothing’s going right, it can be downright painful to find something to be grateful for. But these are the days it’s most important to do so.

What did that argument with your boss teach you? There’s something…look again. On the broadest level, at least you have a boss, which means you have a job, which means you have income. The list doesn’t have to be clever or deep. You can simply be grateful for waking up another day.

My daily list often includes the same things: husband, pets, family. Our Min Pin always makes the list. When her health was failing, every day she was still in our lives was a blessing I was thankful for. Now that she’s passed, I’m thankful for the years of happiness we shared with her. I try to mix it up and be specific, but even acknowledging these same few things puts me in a better place.

Since I started this daily exercise, I’ve noticed how much easier it is to spot the good stuff. Little things I may not have even noticed before jump out at me now and make me smile. The funny thing that kid in the grocery store said or the way the sun shines into our living room in the evening.

Gratitude is a quality we can improve by regular practice. And we can start small. Studies say we don’t even have to share our gratitude to reap the positive emotional benefits. So if calling up that colleague and telling her how awesome she is makes you sweat bullets, try jotting it in a note and keeping it to yourself. It’ll get easier. Maybe one day you can send it.

Try It

Do you want to see if being grateful makes you happier? Here are five tips to bring an attitude of gratitude into your life:

1.  Start your day by listing three things you’re grateful for. A good night’s sleep, your comfy bed, the sunshine. Three too many right now? List just one. Visit the home page and sign up for the newsletter (very sporadic, I promise!) to receive a free checklist printout to get you started.

2.  Before you tuck in at night, think about the day and what was awesome about it. Even if it was a tough one, find one thing. Maybe you’re just grateful to be home…it doesn’t have to be fancy. 

3.  Remember that it’s not a competition. Being grateful for what you have shouldn’t involve comparing your situation with others. Try to stay away from material possessions as well – this can lead you to dwell on the things you don’t have rather than celebrating all that you do.

4.  Try saying ‘thanks’ to those around you for the little things. Your hubby always cooks brunch on Sunday – it’s his thing and he doesn’t expect a thank you, but try thanking him anyway. People love to feel appreciated.

5.  Focus on a person who has helped you in your life. Think about all they’ve done for you and how you’re a better or more successful person because of it. Even if you never discuss it with them, spend a few minutes recognizing their influence.

To hear more about gratitude and happiness from Dr. Emmons himself, there are several videos on YouTube to check out.

Meanwhile, you can check out my Gratitude Boxes for adults and kids in the Etsy shop. More items on the way, including more printables. Eventually, everything will be available on this site as well.

Thank you for stopping by!

Hashtag Mags

Hashtag Mags are a fun way to pep up your fridge or locker with bright colors and positive messages. They make great stocking stuffers!

Find them in the Etsy shop!

Wedding Gifts

Memory boxes make a lovely wedding gift! The newlyweds jot down happy moments from their first year of marriage and can review them on their first anniversary. Pair it with a bottle of wine and you have the perfect present. 

Available here: Lighthouse Wedding Memory Box

Getting there!

I'm still working on the site and finishing a variety of new items, which will be available for sale here hopefully very soon. In the meantime, please visit my shop on Etsy, which has several new prayer boxes, gratitude boxes, and fun trinket boxes for the kids.

Visit C&V on Etsy

Coming soon...

Hello and welcome! 

Things are a little bare around here right now, but soon this will be the home of my hand painted wooden items, including God boxes, gratitude boxes, special occasion, photo and other trinket boxes, as well as other wooden home and holiday decor and fun magnets for school lockers.

Quotes and verses are my thing, and my hope is that you will find inspiration in the products I create and pass them on to others. 

While I work on getting things set up here, please visit my Etsy shop to view the items I currently have for sale:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ColorAndVerse

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Cheers,

Malyssa