One afternoon I was in the kitchen working on dinner when I realized that Riley Roo, who was 4 months old at the time, was no where in sight. This was unusual as Riley always follows the smell of food. My house was quite large and had a lot of nooks and crannies that a playful puppy could wedge himself into. I corraled the kids and a friend who was visiting and assigned each one a different part of the house to check for the dog. 

While I was checking the greenhouse I heard my daughter scream. As I went running toward the sound of the scream she came barreling down the stairs carrying the dog. Riley’s eyes seemed to be wide, he had a stunned look on his puppy face and there was some kind of brown goo on his face. Clearly he was  struggling to breath. My son, who was 8 at the time was jumping up and down, my daughter was verging on hysteria and my friend was trying to calm the kids while I worked on assessing the dog’s situation. With all the chaos, the first thing that came to mind was mouth to mouth. While I am certified in first aid and CPR on humans, I had no clue what I was doing and I was not thinking clearly enough. Obviously the dog was concious, so my first thought should have been some kind of obstruction in the airway. With my game face on I told the children to calm down and that I would help Riley breathe. I must admit that the thought of putting my mouth near the dog’s, which was oozing some unknown, unnatractive looking substance was scary but I was going to go for it. I’m Mom. I am supposed to fix things and cure all ills.

As I bent to the dog’s face, the unmistakable smell of chocolate hit me.  I bravely put my mouth over his, covered his nose and tried to breathe air into him. The dog just looked more freaked out than before. Clearly this wasn’t right. Finally it occurred to me to check his mouth. I pried his mouth open and found the culprit. Plastic wrap. The dog had found a chocolate Easter bunny my daughter was saving in her room, ate through the box and starting in on the rabbit by trying to go through the wrapper. Thankfully, I was able to pull the cellophane out and Riley was able to breathe once again.

I called the vet as I know chocolate can be toxic to canines. Calculating how much chocolate he ingested, they told me what signs to watch for, but thought that he would be ok. He was fine and back to getting into trouble within a half hour of his emergency.

My children, my friend and I however were a little worse for wear.

When I think about how it must have looked, the kids hysterical and me trying to give the puppy mouth to mouth, it must have been qute a sight.

Click here for instructions on a choking pet.

Dolphin Back Pack

Product Reviewed: Dolphin Back Pack - Item # RM156

Retail $34.95

Content: Vinyl bag, Metal Telescopic handle with Hard Plastic Handle and Wheels.

Meausures: 21″ x 16″ x 8″. Length with Handle extended is 38 1/2″.

This dolphin design bag is very durable.  It takes a beating with my kids. The bag works out great when we are gone for the day. We spend most of our weekends traveling to different sports fields for the kids games. I try to pack towels for wet bleachers changes of uniforms sweatshirts food etc. Of course this bag gets pulled every where, the double wheels make pulling it easy. The convenient straps can be tucked in so they do not drag while pulling the bag. However, if you want to carry it on your shoulders the straps can be easily taken out. The various pockets fit all sorts of goodies. The zippers work smoothly. For the size of the bag it fits quite a bit. The design of the bag turns a plain black bag into a ocean of dancing dolphins. 5 stars

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Whales & Friends offers this same back pack in  Cat Face and Turtle Print designs as well. Check them out!

Hello Everyone,

Today I want to talk to you about a subject that’s near and dear to my heart. I hope that this touches you in the way it touched me when I first heard about it.

Angel’s Gate, in Long Island, NY is a very special place. It serves as a home and hospice for abused, injured and disabled animals. Some of the animals were born with disabilities, some suffered accidents, neglect or abandonment.

It takes a special person with a heart of gold and a true love of animals to found and run such a place. Susan Marino, the founder of Angel’s Gate, gave up her lucrative career as a registered nurse specializing in pediatrics to create a loving rehabilitation and hospice center for these animals desperately in need of help and a home. Susan has since received her degree as a Veterinary Technician and completed her certification in Canine Rehabilitation. She is also a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in the state of New York.

At Angel’s Gate there is no fear that animals will be euthanized due to their disability. They are able to live in a happy, safe and caring environment Currently, there are over 200 physically challenged or seriously ill animals living at Angels Gate. Approximately 90% of the canines are from puppy mills. Some of these animals have lived a horrible life with abusive owners and now fear most people. Susan and her team work to provide an environment of trust and compassion.

Angel’s Gate does not discriminate against any animal or any breed and will take them in for whatever reason they ended up in a situation of desperately needing help, including injured wildlife. Many animals are brought in from hospitals around the country, as well as some international veterinary centers. Through Susan’s tireless efforts, Angel’s Gate has developed recognition in the United States and abroad.

Angel’s Gate is a non-profit organization, much like the ASPCA, however they do not adopt out the animals that they take in. Once an animal has become a part of the Angel’s Gate community, they are ensured TLC for the rest of their lives. Susan, her husband and her children, do their best to ensure that these animals are looked at in a different light. This family concentrates not on an animal’s limitations because of disabilities, but instead they focus on what each animal CAN do, providing maximum quality of life.

Angel’s Gate is also an avid part of its community and school systems. Susan visits local public schools and teaches children about how important every life is. Local high school students are allowed to take part in a work/study program and earn high school credits for volunteering at the hospice. Angel’s Gate also works with a local program for emotionally challenged children that have earned the right to do community service. BOCES, a local college in the area, send their recent Veterinary Assistant graduates to Angel’s Gate to obtain further training in their field.

Susan Marino’s determination and steadfast dedication created not only a safe haven for animals, but also touched a community, and a country. Her efforts of combining care for animals in need of help and a home, and educating youth within her community serve as inspiration and a reminder that one person can make a difference. One person’s voice and conviction can galvanize others into action. We can all make a difference.

If you would like to read more about Angel’s Gate, or make a donation, visit their website at www.angelsgate.org.