DOG BREEDING

   Some of us at Ruffhouse recently participated in a discussion about dog breeding. In the end we agreed to disagree. That got us to thinking this same topic would make for great blogging!  In our discussions we threw around whether or not backyard breeding should be banned. Some opinions held that breeding should be banned altogether, whether it be backyard or registered breeding. Maybe registered breeding is okay?? Wouldn't  dogs become extinct if we outlawed breeding altogether? How could they become extinct when hundreds of thousands are euthanized each year because they are homeless? Anyone visited a reservation lately? Isn't it difficult to find a purebred dog unless you use a breeder? With all the backyard breeding and pet store dogs from puppy mills, don't you get into alot of health problems where a registered breeder would be more experienced and knowledable?
   These are some of the questions that got tossed around in our discussion. We would love to hear other peoples' opinions on this topic!!!

DOG OF THE MONTH

Miss Bella is our "Dog of The Month" for February! Bella is a black Husky/Collie X (pictured here with her boyfriend , Kodiak). Bella will be 2 years old on May 26th of this year. We just love her so much! She is definately 'miss social butterfly'. Bella plays wonderfully with those who would otherwise be total grumps! She as well has a tendency to bring the introverted dogs out of their shells until they are playing with her too!! She is just an all around happy gal who LOVES the outdoors! It is rare to see her napping at playcare!! Oh and Bella is also known as Bella Boo at home with her mom and dad!

ANIMAL ADOPTION

Hi everyone! I would like to introduce you to Ruffhouse's very first foster dog. Her name is Katy and she comes to us as a stray from Mexico. Katy is a very social girl, loves to play and cuddle. She is still working on her potty training though!! Katy is available for adoption through Pawsitive Match!

On that note, I would like to take this opportunity to touch on, what is for me a very passionate topic. The longer I am a part of the animal rescue world, the more this breaks my heart.  The decision to add a pet to your household is as important a decision as the addition of a new baby. It absolutely needs to be a lifelong decision. You really do need to weigh all the pros and cons and take the time to research different breeds. Think about all the worst case scenarios and decide if you will be able to keep your new furry family member through any situation! Too many animals get returned to shelters and rescues for inexcusable reasons. “We have a new baby”, “I am moving in with my girlfriend and she doesn’t like my dog”, “My cat keeps having kittens that I have to try and get rid of”. You really need to put yourself in every situation and ask yourself if you are willing to make the sacrifices for your animals!!  Remember, puppies grow up to be dogs and kittens grow up to be cats. When the cute, cuddly and silly phase passes, the animal is still your family and does still love you as he or she did as a baby. Are you willing to endure all of the destruction your new puppy may cause? Why should they be passed on to a shelter to live months in a cage just because they grew up?? If any of these things give you doubt or second thoughts, why not volunteer or foster for the many organizations that are desparate for your help in instead!!

Welcome to Ruffhouse Playcares' new blog site! We invite you to check in often! We will be updating frequently, as we have lot to share! Once a month we will profile one of our daycare dogs. You can follow the stories of our foster dogs (our very first foster arrives tomorrow!). We will try to provide some educational tips on all things canine. This will be a great place to learn a little about our staff and keep updated on their 'rescue adventures' !! There will of course be a few humorous daycare anecdotes thrown in the mix as well!