When I was a kid, one of my chores was making sure our dogs had water. They were outside dogs so it was important that they always had a full bowl, and as summer, in particular, would drag on it became more of a pain to keep a constant eye on it (of course, even as a kid I knew how important it was and did it anyway!).
Even though our dogs are indoor only now, they go outside to do their business and like to lounge in the sun for a while. In the summer we keep a dish …read more

Our cats have always been indoor cats — at least, as far as we know! We got both Turbo and Sage as kittens, but Kricket has a small bit of history from before we picked her up at the Humane Society that we know nothing about, and it’s possible she was an outdoor cat for a little while before we came along.

When we first brought her home she was constantly trying to get outside. At the time, we lived in an apartment on the second floor so this meant every time we opened the sliding door she’d try to bolt …read more

With springtime come outdoor activities in the northern United where I live.  In other parts of the country, it’s already warm, even hot, so you’ve been enjoying the out-of-doors for some time.  In other countries and the Southern Hemisphere, your activities with your children may vary, but you still might find something of interest in the suggestions below.
States,
 Encourage youngsters to go outdoors if there are safe areas around your home.  If not, see about taking them to a park , a nearby hiking area or national forest.
 Take walks around the neighborhood.  See how everything around you is changing with the …read more

Encouraging youngsters to use their imaginations, to create their own games,  and to play in the out-of-doors instead of sitting before a computer or TV screen results in enjoyment many may not experience in today’s technological world.
When I see my grandson and his cousin spending the afternoon in the woods around our home, building forts, playing games without electronic accompaniments, and using their imaginations, I’m taken back to my childhood when the radio was the only gadget we had around.  Televisions did exist but we couldn’t get reception out in the country where we lived.
My sister and I made dolls, played …read more

I know this seems like a weird Feedback question this week, but I was watching TV the other night when I caught a glimpse of a leashed cat during a commercial. I realized I’ve seen this more often lately and wondered how many people actually do it.