Tips For Staying In A Hotel With Your Pet

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

1

We all know that traveling with your pet is a great experience. Everyone – or anyone I have ever met – loves the idea of visiting new places and exploring with their furry friend.

But sadly, our pets cannot go everywhere with us. Cruel places exist where pets are not allowed! Bummer right?! So, what happens when you have to leave your pet in the hotel?

I have only stayed in a hotel with my pet twice before, but I have picked up a few handy tips to help your pet feel more comfortable! And we all know that the more comfortable your pet feels, the better their behavior will be.

So, here are the tips:

Bring items they are familiar with.

A great way to keep your pet comfortable is to bring items that they are familiar with – by items I think we all understand that I mean toys.If your pet is anything like mine, he/she has a few favorite toys, which actually makes this process a lot easier! Pick just a couple of your pets favorite toys – toys they play with or sleep with – and make sure that your pet knows you have left these toys in the hotel room with them.

animal-animal-photography-cute-33102

Treats, treats, and more treats.

Whenever I leave – even if I’m just going to work – I leave Jackson with a treat. Leaving a treat for your pet is a great way to remind them that you are coming back for them, and it helps ease the leaving process. So, if you know that you will have to leave your pet alone in a hotel room, make sure that you have brought plenty of treats!

Also, treats are an excellent reward if you return to the hotel room and everything seems perfectly fine. Rewarding good behaviors helps the pet understand that this is the behavior you want from them.

Bring something to remind them of you.

Unlike humans, dogs have got an incredible sense of smell. It is soothing to your pet if you bring an item that smells like you. For example, I usually bring a blanket from my house whenever I travel with Jackson. Nine times out of ten, I return to the hotel room to find him curled up in that blanket.

You can bring a blanket, a T-shirt, a pillow, etc. Literally just bring anything that smells like you and can help remind your pet of you. You’d be surprised how comforting this is for them.

animals-bed-calm-57627

Bring a dog camera.

If you’ve read my blog post titled, “Adventure Paws: Niagara Falls”, you know that I brought my dog camera so I could check in on Jackson, but that it didn’t work. To this day, I have no clue why my camera wouldn’t connect, but I do know that bringing a dog camera is very helpful. Dog cameras offer you the opportunity to check in on your pet while you are out, and if you have a camera with a microphone built in, you can even speak to your pet!

Check in on your pet often.

Many hotels will actually ask you to check in on your pet every couple of hours, but even if they don’t, it is helpful to do this. Leaving your pet in a strange place for eight hours can be frightening for them, which can cause them to behave poorly. So, it is helpful to visit them every few hours. Take them out to use the bathroom, make sure they have food and water, and just show them some love!

Adventure Paws: Niagara Falls

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

An open letter to the single woman on valentine's Day (3)

In October 2018, I had planned to take a trip to Niagara Falls. Since Niagara Falls has always been on my bucket list, I was thrilled. And everything was working out perfectly – until my dog sitter was unable to watch Jackson.

Suddenly, my 38-pound mutt was going to be tagging along on an 8-hour drive. Part of me felt stressed because I was unsure of how he would do on this trip, but another part of me was thrilled that my dog would get to travel with me!

The 8-Hour Drive

The morning that we left, Jackson was clearly confused. And as we continued to drive, for hours, he began to get more confused. But much to my surprise, he stayed silent in the backseat. He slept a lot and behaved well at the various rest stops we visited. He did not whine while we were traveling and he did not try to jump in the front seat (honestly that’s what I had been the most concerned about). The only true issue that I encountered while traveling was that I was not able to go sit down inside of a restaurant and eat. Every meal that I ate had to be eaten in my car, but that wasn’t actually much of an inconvenience.

52708485_333936317254387_1877796380831907840_n

The Hotel

Luckily, the hotel we had booked was pet-friendly. And to my surprise, there was no pet fee. Amazing, right? I’ll post information below about which hotel I stayed at in case anyone plans to take their pet to Niagara Falls soon.

Regarding leaving Jackson in a hotel room, I had so many concerns. In case you don’t know, Jackson has a lot of anxiety. He was abused in the past and the trauma from that abuse still resurfaces in his behavior today. So, naturally, I was afraid of how he would handle being left alone in a strange place. Also, there were other dogs living on our floor. In fact, our next door neighbors had two, very yappy, dogs. I feared that Jackson would hear them next door and start whining loudly.

However, he exceeded what I had thought he was capable of. The entire time we were gone, he rested, just like he does at home. The neighbors never complained on us, and he always seemed to be perfectly fine when we returned each time.

A good tip for traveling with your dog, especially when they will be left alone for periods of time, is to bring items that they are familiar with. Bring a blanket that smells like you, bring their toys from home, and leave them plenty of treats.

Note: If you bring a dog camera with you, make sure that you will be able to use it. I brought my dog camera along for the trip, but for some unknown reason we were not able to make it work inside the hotel room. But I do believe that these could be incredibly helpful to take with you on a trip.

The Falls

Jackson is normally a mildly well-behaved dog, so I wasn’t too concerned about how he would behave around people at the falls. Regardless of any fears that I had, though, I was definitely taking him to the falls. Sure, he’s a dog and couldn’t possibly understand that he was at an amazing place, but I loved the idea of knowing that my dog had actually visited Niagara Falls with me, and it is a memory that I will cherish forever.

Anyways, he behaved so well. He walked around the falls with us and even walked around Goat Island. The only behavioral issue he had was when he saw squirrels. If you ever take your dog to Niagara Falls, be prepared for their reaction to small forest animals. Squirrels were literally everywhere.

53145665_582129132289183_2572481081529860096_n

Fun fact: The squirrels aren’t terribly afraid of humans, so if you move slowly and maybe have a snack in your hand, you can get very close to them.

Note: Click here for the link to the hotel that I stayed at.

Stay tuned for more ‘Adventure Paws’ blog posts!

Shelter Intake Vs. Euthanizations

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

“People that say money can’t buy happiness has clearly never paid an adoption fee.”

-Unknown

According to the ASCPA, nearly 6.5 million animals arrive at various community animal shelters nationwide.

6.5 million. Consider the magnitude of that number for a moment – that’s more than the population of Texas (estimated at 28.3 million).

The three most common reasons why these animals enter shelters include:

  1. Stray animals: Often times, you’ll notice a dog lurking around a populated area, or even cats/kittens in your neighborhood. These animals are considered strays and are brought in by citizens and local law authorities. If you see a stray animal, it is important to call your local humane society to have them cared for.
  2. Animals that have been rescued from cruelty:Dog fighting rings, puppy mills, and simply abusive or neglectful homes all fall into this category. Animals that come from this category often experience a lot of trauma that can include mental and physical problems.
  3. Surrendered animals:These are animals that a person has purchased or adopted, but are no longer to care for.

Animal shelters, nationwide, have a massive amount of animals coming in each year. Considering the large number, we can understand why it is so difficult for them to find a home for each animal.

And sadly, many don’t find a home. According to the ASCPA, nearly 1.5 million animals are euthanized each year – that’s about the population of Rhode Island.

So, let’s summarize: The population of Texas is entering animal shelters each year and the population of Rhode Island is being euthanized from that because they were not placed in a home.

Why are so many animals being euthanized?

Too many people are still not adopting animals. It’s so important that we, as people who have this knowledge, share about adoption.

IMG_1879

Share your story.

Share the statistics.

Share that owning a mutt is wonderful.

Share about adoption benefits.

Whatever you do, just spread the word to #AdoptDontShop! Let’s continue to fight the good fight and reduce the amount of euthanized animals in shelters. Let’s get that number lower than the population of Wyoming (estimated at 577, 737).

7 Ways To Keep Your Pet Warm This Winter

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal. – Joaquin Phoenix

7ways

We’ve made it through most of the winter, but there are still many cold days ahead of us. Lately, states all around the U.S. have experienced bitter temperatures that tend to drop into the negatives due to the wind-chill. 

How can you care for your pets during this weather?

  1. Never leave your pet alone in the cold car: If there is a situation where you must leave your pet in the car, please make sure that you leave the heat on and that you hurry back to the vehicle. Pets can freeze to death if left alone in a cold vehicle for a prolonged amount of time.
  2. Move your pets indoors: Although some animals are accustomed to wintry temperatures and can withstand it, many cannot. It may be a slight inconvenience, but it is important to make sure you’re keeping your pets warm.
  3. Provide a warm place to sleep: If you cannot move your pet indoors, make sure they have a warm place to sleep. Make sure there are plenty of blankets and siding that will protect them from the cold wind. If possible, add a heat light to their doghouse.
  4. Keep your pet away from bodies of water: It may be funny to watch your pet slip and slide on ice, but bodies of water may not be completely frozen. Keep your pet away from bodies of water so they do not accidentally fall in freezing waters.
  5. Wipe your pets’ paws when returning indoors: Not only is the cold and snowy weather freezing their paws, but salt and ice melt can irritate the skin and may be fatal if ingested.
  6. Be mindful of cats seeking warm shelter under car hoods: It’s a good rule of thumb to check underneath your vehicle before starting it up and driving away, especially if you have noticed several stray cats in your area.
  7. Don’t let your dog off leash during snowy weather: When it snows, it is much easier for a dog to lose a scent trail and they can get lost. Make sure you keep an eye on them while they’re happily running through the snow!

7ways2 7ways3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emotional Support Animal Vs. Service Animal

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

Dogs have been known as man’s best friend for centuries. Dogs have also been known to aid humans, as well.

People who have a physical/mental disability or who have an emotional or mental health condition may desire, or receive a recommendation by a professional, to receive aid from an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or a Service Animal.

Although animals can assist humans in various, helpful ways, there is a common misconception regarding animal assistance is defining and understanding the difference between Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals. To gain a bit of clarification, keep reading below:

Define Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

An Emotional Support Animal is a companion animal, which has been determined to aid an individual who has an emotional or mental health condition by a professional. An ESA simply provides comfort/support to the individual — ESAs have received no training to provide this support.

ESA’s are protected by the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act.

If you have been diagnosed with an emotional or mental health condition by a professional, consult your doctor/therapist. If your care provider agrees that an ESA could be helpful to you, they can write a document that offers your pet the ability to be deemed as an ESA. For example, Jackson is my ESA to help with the anxiety that I encounter on a daily basis. Click here to read more about how Jackson became my ESA.

It is not required, but if you wish to register your ESA, visit the U.S. Dog Registry webpage.

Define Service Animal

An animal that has been trained to assist an individual with a disability. Service animals have been trained to perform tasks to assist the individual. For example, an individual with diabetes may have a Service Animal who can detect when his/her glucose levels are getting too low.

Service Animals are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more about the specifics of Service Animals and what the ADA has dictated regarding them, click here.

If you currently own a dog and are interested in getting them certified as a Service Animal, it may be helpful to know that PetSmart actually offer trainings for Therapy Dog certifications. PetSmart offers a 6-week course that prepares both you and your dog to take a Therapy Dog Evaluation, and only costs $119.

Do you already have an ESA or Service Animal?

If you already have an ESA or Service Animal, you know how wonderful these animals truly are and have witnessed how helpful they are. If you’d like to share your story about ESAs or Service Animals, please contact me! I’d love to share your story on this blog. Message me on social media (Facebook or Instagram) or email me at whatawonderfulllife606@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

“You won’t change the world by saving an animal, but you will change that animal’s world.” – Unknown

My social media accounts have been flooded with adorable photos and videos of my dog, Jackson. If you have read about Jackson in my previous blog post, “Who Rescued Who?”, then you already know a bit about him. However, for those of you who do not know the story, I adopted Jackson in February of 2018. He had been abandoned in Eastern Kentucky and needed a home. Luckily, at that same time, I needed a four-legged best friend!

If you truly know me, you know that I can be a passionate person. I feel strongly about specific things. One of my passions has become centered around animals. Even as a child, I loved animals. Fun fact: I used to rescue worms off the hot sidewalks in the summer. However, my love for animals didn’t truly become a passion until I had spent a few months with Jackson.

For those of you who have never rescued a pet before, allow me to warn you that it isn’t always butterflies and rainbows. In fact, it is difficult. When I first adopted Jackson, he would barely let me touch him, he was afraid of people, he was aggressive to other animals, and he would go on hunger strikes. However, it is totally worth it once you begin to see the changes that you can make in an innocent animal. Six months later, Jackson is an entirely different dog than when he first came home with me. Of course, there are still some challenges that we are working through, but he has made so many positive changes. Honestly, it makes my heart feel overwhelmed with joy to consider where he has been and where has ended up.

I wanted to write this blog post to share with people the difference that saving an animal can do; not only for the animal, but for you as well!

You will watch them grow.

adorable-animal-breed-1108099

 

The day I adopted Jackson, I remember noticing how skinny he was. Since he had been abandoned, I had assumed that he could be malnourished, but it is completely different when you see it first-hand. As I held him on my lap on the drive home, I could feel his ribs. It was heartbreaking. However, six months later, Jackson has gained a good amount of weight and he is strong. He now has the pleasure of never being afraid that he will not eat anytime soon.

You will watch them begin to trust again.

animal-animal-lover-animal-photography-1904105

 

In Jackson’s case, he was very wary around new people. He would barely let me touch him at first and now I cannot keep him away from me (a good problem). Also, he would not even let my best friend come in the same room as him. He would become aggressive. It did not take long to realize that he showed aggression towards men, so I assumed he may have been mistreated by a man. As time went on, Jackson has begun to trust people, even men, again. He still gets anxious if he is overcrowded by people, but he is doing much better now.

You will watch them get comfortable.

adorable-animal-bed-1755226

When you first adopt a pet, they may show signs of being uncomfortable. Jackson would not sleep on the bed, even though he was allowed. For weeks, he slept on the floor beside my bed. Eventually, he began to sleep on the edge of it. Now, he basically sleeps right on top of me. He has made my home his home. One of the best moments you will experience is when your pet finally sleeps next to you.

You will watch their personality explode.

adorable-animal-animal-photography-1629781

After the initial adoption, a pet may feel uneasy and not show much personality. Jackson didn’t even play with toys the first couple of days. However, as time goes on, you will find that your pet has such a vibrant personality. If Jackson isn’t “talking” to me, he’s tossing his toys around the house. A bonus is that they can make hilarious faces, too!

They will become your best friend.

animal-animal-lover-animal-photography-1870301

Jackson and I have been through a lot together over the past six months. He’s been on all of my hiking trips, he’s made me laugh when I wanted to cry, and he has always been there greet me when I come home. Choosing to adopt a pet will be the best decision of your life. If you find that you have the opportunity, the time, and the financial ability to adopt, I would urge you to do so!

Follow my Instagram to talk dogs or to see photos of Jackson!

#WhyAdoptWednesday

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

My passion for animals began… well, there is not an exact date. Honestly, I have always had a passion for animals. My first dog, Poz (yes, that’s how my four-year old self spelled it), was the beginning of a never-ending line of pets. All of the dogs that I have owned have been adopted, and I have loved the beautiful stories and funny personalities that each of them has brought into my life.

If you follow my Instagram account, you know that I am obsessed with my dog, Jackson (read Jackson’s story by clicking here). If you don’t follow my Instagram, what are you waiting for? I make uplifting posts daily and you even get to see adorable animal photos!

My Instagram account is actually what has inspired me to write this blog post. Every Wednesday I do something called #WhyAdoptWednesday. While this began as me posting photos of Jackson and sharing my personal opinion about why you should adopt, I have begun to rethink this idea. Instead of posting my own thoughts and photos, I have been encouraging people to send me photos of their pets with stories attached.

Personally, I think it’s an awesome idea! Not only does this allow people to show off their pets (and we all know how much people love their pets – they’re family), but it also brings attention to the notion of #AdoptDontShop.

If you aren’t convinced yet, let me take this idea one step further. Yes, people know that adopting animals is important. However, I am not sure if everyone knows the prevalence of shelter animals that are euthanized each year. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure what the statistics were, but after some time researching, I was absolutely shocked!

Take a look!

U.S. Animal Shelter and Adoption Statistics

6.5 million animals enter animal shelters in the United States each year. 3.3 million are

dogs and 3.2 million are cats. Of those 6.5 million, 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized. To break that down a bit, 670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats are put down each year.

According to ASPCA, the number of euthanized animals has decreased from 2.6 million
since 2011. This decline has been influenced by the increased percentage of pet adoptions! 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year! Let’s break that down as well. 1.6 million dogs and 1.6 million cats are adopted each year.

That’s great, right? We have started to adopt more and more animals each year! Honestly, I cannot tell you how happy I was when I read that euthanizations have decreased by 2.6 million pets since 2011. The idea that humans kill innocent animals simply because we don’t have room for them and no one wants them is truly heartbreaking.

What Can YOU Do?

  • Adopt:If you have been searching for a “furrever” friend, visit your local PetSmart, Humane Society, and animal shelters. Find a sweet, innocent little animal who risks being put down simply because no one wants him or her.
  • Raise Awareness: Share information about pet adoption. For example, PetSmart does National Adoption Weekends multiple times throughout the year. During these weekends, thousands of pets are adopted. Share about these adoption weekends on social media. Actually, PetSmart is hosting a National Adoption Weekend this weekend (November 9-11, 2018).
  • Volunteer:If your schedule isn’t too busy, take some time volunteering at your local animal shelter! Or provide items to local animal shelters. Trust me, they can use all the help that they can get.

Share Your Story

If you want to share your pet adoption story and help raise even more awareness for adoption, contact me! I would absolutely love to feature you on my account. You can contact me on Facebook, Instagram, or email me at whatawonderfulllife606@gmail.com.

If you have a very heart-warming and lengthy story, I would even love for you to write a featured blog post on It’s a Wonder{FULL} Life. I have actually done this in a previous post, and I absolutely loved it! My goal for #WhyAdoptWednesday is to share my account, provide beautiful pet adoption stories with my followers and readers, and to continue to help raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption.

Resources

https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics

Rags to Riches

Posted on by The Millennial Mom Diaries

10-16 Blog.jpg

If you follow my Instagram account, you probably already know how much I love my 32-pound mutt. If you don’t follow me, then what are waiting for?!

Anyways, I wanted to take a moment to share Jackson’s full story with you. Many of you have heard bits and pieces, but his incredible story is one that needs to be told. So, get ready to cry… no, I’m totally kidding. But his story is super cute.

Abandoned

In late January of 2017, this pup was dropped off in the cold weather. We are no confident in how long he survived on his own, but by the time he was found, you could see his ribs.

A woman found him abandoned on top of a coal mine. If you know about weather in Eastern Kentucky, you know that the months of January and February are absolutely frigid. Honestly, I am not sure how he lasted in the cold for as long as he did.

One thing I do know for certain is that he had a difficult life before he was rescued. Jackson presents of issues that could be associated with previous abuse.

Adopted

When this photo was taken, Jackson had been living with me for nearly a week. He was taken care of, he had a warm bed to sleep in, he received a lot of love, and he never had to worry about when he would get his next meal. However, you can tell by the look on his face that he was still completely terrified.

I would love to write this and tell you that Jackson warmed up to me immediately, but that would be a lie. Actually, it took a couple of weeks before he began to feel more comfortable with me.

As I mentioned, his behavior has indicated signs of abuse. When I first adopted him, he would growl at any man that came near him. Thus, causing me to believe that he was abused by a man at some point.

Even today, if there are too many people surrounding him, he becomes defensive and growls. It has been a long process, but he’s getting better at trusting the people I bring around him.

My whole point from this portion of the story is that although the adoption process was easy – I adopted him within less than one week – the adjustment process was anything but easy. Those first couple of weeks were full of nervous shaking, hunger strikes, and growling at the people in my life. But oh my, was it worth it!

Companionship

By the time Jackson and I took this photo, all of his fear regarding my friends and I had disappeared. He and I were truly discovering companionship.

We spent morning runs at a trail on campus, we went on hiking trips (as pictured here), we learned new tricks, and of course, we played with plenty of toys at home. Jackson’s personality had truly become more vibrant and he was beginning to reach his full potential as a loveable, adventurous dog.

While Jackson was experiencing a positive change, I was too. I had adopted Jackson because I was seeking companionship. Why not adopt a dog? After all, they do say that dogs are man’s best friend. It seemed like the perfect idea! And I was right.

Jackson had already begun to help me feel better on days that were tough, he made me smile even if I wanted to cry, and he always sits next to me if he knows that I’m feeling down. When this companionship began to form, I truly had to ask the question: Who rescued who?

Registration

This photo was taken on the day that Jackson and I moved into a new apartment. This was also taken just weeks before I registered him as my Emotional Support Animal (ESA).

As I mentioned, Jackson had already helped me cope with my problems tremendously. When I moved into my new apartment complex, I discovered that you could only have a pet if they were an ESA. Due to this, I thought that it would be worth it to pay my doctor a visit. After doing this, Jackson was officially approved as my ESA and was allowed to live in my apartment.

At the time, registering him as an ESA seemed superficial at best. Sure, he’d helped me, but I didn’t consider how much at that point.

Only recently have I truly considered just how helpful this small dog has been to me. I have endured a lot over the months that Jackson has been with me, and I know in my heart and in my mind that he has helped me handle it all. While I hadn’t given registering him as an ESA much thought, it is apparent to me now that he truly does help me emotionally. He helps me battle anxious moments, sad moments, and everything in between.

If you battle anxiety, depression, or anything else, I would highly recommend finding an ESA. They are very, very helpful! However, make sure that you do not get them confused with a Service Animal. ESA’s do not technically provide a service as they have not received training. ESA’s are allowed to live with you, even in a non-pet-friendly location, according to the Fair Housing Act.

Present Day

Today, Jackson and I are still going adventures and living our best lives. Actually, he will be traveling to Niagara Falls with my family and I this weekend.

This dog has added so much to my life, and I want to make sure that he lives the best possible life. He’ll only be in my life for a small portion of it, but I am his entire life.

Although he started literally from the bottom – freezing and alone at a coal mine – I will make sure that the remainder of his life is nothing short of wonder{full}.

As always, message me the adorable story about your pet! I would love to share your story on #WhyAdoptWednesday.