A fifteen-month-old Goldendoodle pup, that almost never barks found his voice and saved his family’s life during the Christmas season.

As a holiday treat, Evelyn Janes decided to campout on the floor with her six-year-old twins in front of the Christmas tree, while her oldest daughter Brainna was spending the night with a friend, and their father was working a late shift. Evelyn Janes of Haverhill stated she woke at 4 a.m. to the loud barking of their dog Bear, who was making enough racket to shake the heavens, which was highly unusual for him.

After sitting and looking around toward the area in which Bear was barking, Evelyn saw a bright light coming from the dining room, while looking out the door she could see flames shooting up the outside wall of her home.

As Evelyn gathered the twins up to race out the door, she was surprised to see two newspaper carriers about to pound on her door. Handing the twins over to them, she rushed back into the burning house to rescue Bear, who was still standing guard over his home.

The decision to campout with the twins and Bear in front of the Christmas tree probably saved their lives. The children’s bedroom was located in the portion of the house, which received the most fire damage.

As Evelyn exited her house with Bear, two of her neighbors that are also local firefighters came running barefoot into her yard wearing their pajamas to aid the family.

The two firefighters ran into the house without shoes, to check and make sure no one was still in any danger.  As they returned through the door it became obvious they were thinking of the children, their arms were loaded with gifts from under the tree.

Evelyn described Bear and the two neighbors as her hero’s. The neighbors fought alongside the other firefighters without any shoes or gear; dragging the hoses and helping out in every way they could.

The Janes family along with Bear plans to come back to the neighborhood where they have lived for 11 years, to rebuild. Evelyn stated the family could never leave all their wonderful friends and the most remarkable neighborhood in the world.

Needless to say, Bear is not only a family pet, but he’s their hero too.

This story is truly a Christmas miracle, for the Jane family.

Dr. Susan Wright DMV has been a practicing veterinarian more than 10 years. Susan is the staff dog bark collar expert for Dog Fence DIY. When she’s not caring for dogs in her professional life, Susan enjoys bringing them into her personal life through books and movies.

When you get a new pet they become part of your family. Dogs are loveable pets that happen to require a great deal of care. One of the decisions you’ll need to consider once getting a dog is whether or not you will have your dog spayed or neutered. This is a hot topic amongst breeders and those involved with animal rescues and shelters. The decision to have your dog spayed or neutered is a personal choice but while pondering this option; consider the pros and cons that weigh in with this topic.

Reasons to Spay or Neuter

Overpopulation:

One of the most important factors that many people stress as to why dog owners should get their pet spayed or neutered is because there are already so many stray dogs with thousands being killed each year because they had been abandoned, unwanted, lost or too much work for the family they were with. When dogs are simply abandoned they are forced to re-enter the world on their own and their wild instincts are forced to return. Dogs then become a risk to people, other animals and tend to cause damage to personal property. The goal of neutering or spaying dogs is to keep the population under control. A dog’s litter is typically about six puppies; a female can become pregnant as early as six months, then every six months after that.

Medical Benefits:

By spaying or neutering your animal you are reducing their chances of serious issues later on in life. Male dogs are less likely to develop testicular tumors and prostate problems. When a female dog is spayed before she goes into heat for the first time, she will be less likely to develop mammary tumors, ovarian cancer or a uterine infection. For both males and females, getting fixed also will help reduce the urgency to try and escape the yard in order to fulfill their animalistic desires. There have been many animals who’ve been hit by cars as they try to connect with the opposite sex to mate. Please note we are not suggesting that by neutering or spaying your dog you will not need to take safety measures, like an invisible fence, for your dog. Whether you neuter or not, we strongly encourage you to make sure your property is properly secured for your animal’s safety.

Temperament:

Another reason to spay and neuter your dogs is the benefit this procedure can offer to your pet’s temperament. When fixing your pet early in life, the dog is less likely to be aggressive and less likely to have mood swings associated with hormones. Your pet will be able to focus better as well. Additionally, dogs are less likely to mark their territory when spayed or neutered early on in life.

Reasons to Not Spay or Neuter

Pure Breed:

If you have a pure breed animal and are looking to breed your dog as a breeder, you of course would not want to spay or neuter your dog. Before you decide to become a breeder, make sure you do thorough research and understand the work and dangers that may come with breeding to both you and your dog.

Not Natural:

Some people are concerned with neutering and spaying their dog because it is medically interfering with how their animal was made, not wanting to mess with nature. Another is to willingly subject their beloved pet to the risks associated with anesthesia.

Become Lazy:

Getting your dog fixed may affect their temperament (many times for the better) and also their activity level – while their activity level may decline, they should still be taken on walks and played with for daily exercise. Some people may not want to chance the affect the procedure could have on their pet and choose to steer clear.

The choice is one only you, the pet owner can make. Hopefully we have given you some good information to help work through this decision on your own. Best of luck on your journey of being a great dog owner!

Dr. Susan Wright DMV is a practicing veterinarian of more than 10 years. Dr. Wright has written many articles proper pet care and is the staff expert on dog containment systems for DogFenceDIY.com

Christmas is a great time of year for so many reasons, and the fun of decorating is just one of them.  It can be even more fun if you make a lot of your own decorations and involve the whole family in the process.  Here are some great ideas for festive Christmas decorating.

Ornaments

-Tuna can ornaments: Save your old tuna cans, and remove both ends. This gives you a little shadow box to decorate.  Hot glue trim around the edges and then use your imagination.  Glue cotton snow with a little figurine onto it, hang photos of your children to swing in the middle of them.  You are limited only by your imagination.

-Needlepoint ornaments: At this time of year, you will find a lot of small needlepoint kits in craft stores.  From a small pillow with the year on it, to little scenes in frames, you and your children can be proud of your hand made ornament to hang on you own tree, or give as gifts.

-Clothespin ornaments: These are fun for little children to make.  A simple clothespin becomes Rudolph when antlers cut out of felt are glued to the top, a small red pompom is used for a nose, and a little bow tied around his neck.  Children get to draw his eyes above the nose.

-Felt ornaments: Another easy craft for children that only involves some felt, glue and beads is another reindeer idea.  The child’s hand is traced out in tan felt.  With the outstretched thumb as the head and neck, and the other fingers as legs, your instant reindeer just has to be decorated with bead eyes, felt antlers and whatever other touches the children want to add.

-Decorate the Kitchen, too: All too often the kitchen is left out when it comes to decorating for Christmas.  Find, buy or make flat hanging ornaments and hang them from each of the knobs in the kitchen cabinets.  Non edible gingerbread men are great for this.

Garlands, Baskets and Wreaths

-Pine Cones: There is literally no end to the use you can put pine cones to during the Christmas season.  A lovely wreath can be made simply by hot gluing plain pine cones onto a Styrofoam wreath. Make sure you have a variety of sizes so all spaces on the wreath are filed.  You can use the same method to form a tree, using a Styrofoam cone.  Another pretty decoration, to be used as a dining table centerpiece or a hall table focal point is a pretty basket filled with pine cones that have been spray painted gold.

-Garlands: Predecorated garlands can get fairly expensive, but if you form your own, you can have a unique design and save money.  Just buy inexpensive plain garlands and then twine artificial holly sprigs or poinsettias among them.  For added glamour, twine a string of Christmas tree lights through them.  These garlands look great on mantelpieces or stair railings.

-Baskets: Besides filling them with pine cones, baskets are great for adding color to any corner of the house at the holidays.  Using a Styrofoam florists block to hold them in place, fill a basket with poinsettia picks and holly sprigs.  You can buy small artificial poinsettia plants and fill a floor basket with them to add interest to a dead corner in a room.  Mixing red and white poinsettias is an interesting look.

Outdoors

-Grape Vine Trees: You need some minor carpentry skills for these, but the result is worth the trouble.  Form three legs out of ½ inch square trim, and hold them together at the top with tape.  Then make a triangle frame for the bottom and attach to the trim, using carpet nails or staples.  Next, weave outdoor lights in loose grape vine, and string it around the tree shaped frame you have just made, attaching it with staples or glue.  You can make several trees the same size, or graduate them in size.

-Luminerias: This is a fun and simple way to add interest and glow to your outdoor Christmas landscape.  You can use small paper bags, but many companies have introduced lumeneria bags with pretty winter themes cut out on the bag.  Votive lamps are placed inside the bags and the winter walkway is brought to life with pretty footlights.

Happy Holiday Decorating!

Christmas is just around the corner and it is now time to start decorating your house with holiday ornaments. Visit http://www.findermind.com for more information about this subject.

There are lots of recipes for making fresh, homemade eggnog including the recipe that involves grabbing the car keys and taking a quick trip to the supermarket. Sure, you can buy the ready-made stuff but nothing beats a fresh cup of real old fashioned homemade eggnog. Follow this easy eggnog recipe and enjoy this delicious treat anytime of year.

Image Credit: Adactio