Bentley: My year had its ins and outs.  What I mean is I go to the back door, bang the blinds, my mom, or dad let me out, I go bark at the neighbor before I come back to the door and hit it to signal them that I want back inside.  I must say my people have been well trained.  Of course, I could ring the dog bells hanging on the door and bark to come back in but that is so overused by dogs.  Last February, we participated in the Barkus and Meoux Mardi Paw parade.  There were at least a gazillion dogs of every description there.  We wore costumes, made a lot of new friends and I even made the evening news!  Some humans that read my mom’s book started sending me fan mail and I even got some presents in the mail.  I have decided to cooperate when we go out for walks.  It makes me look so much more distinguished when I do not have to drag mom around.  Sometimes a smell still leads me astray but you know…puppy steps.  I also discovered a cool new store called Petsmart.  It is wall-to-wall pet stuff and I get to go inside to shop.  Mom and Dad let me pick out toys, smell a bunch of dog food, and look at some strange lizards.  I didn’t really understand why they had chew bones out in open bins if they weren’t meant to be free samples.  It seemed a bit of a cruel hoax to me but Dad bought me some so it was okay.  We also went to the “Stinko De Mayo” pet wash to benefit the dog park some good folks are trying to get established.  I think it would be awesome to have a place to play with other dogs.  Pierre came to live with us during the summer.  I like having him here even if he is a bit hyper.  We wrestle and play chase in the yard.  He takes off running, can’t stop when he gets to me, and ends up using me as a springboard.  I usually have to take him down for that until he says “Uncle.”  I have a bunch more that I could tell you but he is whining that I am taking up too much space so I’ll let him give you his account of his year. 
allowed on the furniture.  I think that he owes me one for that privilege.  Well, I guess I’d better go see if Bentley wants to go outside and bark for no apparent reason; after all, it’s getting late.    

This is a Blog Hop for BlogPawsChat on New Year's Eve! @PetBox will be giving away 50 PetBoxes during the Twitter Chat 8-10p.m.est Come join us!

Serenity and Sepia Saturday

Today is the first Sepia Saturday Blog Hop hosted by Ruckus the Eskie. 

 It should be a scenic hop so let's get started.

In my photograph, Bentley's paw fills my palm 

almost as much as he fills my heart. <3

Thanks for the opportunity to participate Ruckus ~ Happy Sepia Hopping!

This...

Muffin Mischief
Tucker, our Golden Retriever always loved getting treats. If we happened to stand by the treat jar, he would sit and clear his throat until we realized where we were and give him one. Anytime I baked, he always felt it was only fair that he was given a "sample" taste. Of course, birthdays were always his favorite times of the year because it meant a giant chocolate chip cookie. It was the only time he sang. He howled along with "Happy Birthday" from the first note to the last. This tail thumped wildly as his waited for his tiny slice of cookie to be placed on his plate. He was a gentlemen about it and never took what was not offered.
One afternoon I had baked bran muffins and set them on the counter to cool. He paced nervously waiting for his complimentary bite. I washed the mixing bowls and while the muffins cooled, Bentley needed to go outside. We went out in the yard but Tucker sat down in the living room letting us know he didn't need to join us. We shrugged and went outside while Bentley took care of his business. Tucker was still sitting innocently in the living room when we came back inside.
I returned to the kitchen to brew some coffee to drink with our warm muffins for an afternoon snack. I filled our cups, grabbed the butter, and a couple of plates. Setting everything on the table, I went back to get two of the muffins. Hmmm, that's funny...there were only eleven muffins on the cooling rack. I asked my husband if he'd already eaten one. "No, I was outside with you." There was no evidence on the floor, one had not fallen, no empty paper cupcake wrapper, and no crumbs. Suddenly, a very guilty looking Golden Retriever stuck his big head around the corner of the cabinet. He gave me his "Mom, I love you...and you're a great muffin maker," puppy dog eyes. My first question was "Tucker, did you eat one of these?" His tail answered, "Thump, thump, thump." Translation: "Yes ma'am. It was yummy, I'm sorry, kind of, but not really."
While we were outside, he had gone into the kitchen, did a bit of counter surfing, snitched a muffin and devoured it paper wrap and all. Then, returned to the living room as if he'd never moved. Well played Tucker, well played.



Thanks to the Monday Mischief Pet Blog Hop Hosts:

I'm joining my first Black and White Sunday Blog Hop hosted by Dachshund Nola and Sugar the Golden Retriever! No story needed, just enjoy the photo and hop to next blog!


Baby Bentley

As a pet owner, I hate to admit that I have missed some hilarious photo opportunities. Bentley, my Basset has some priceless expressions at the most unexpected times. For example, we had a redwood picnic table in the backyard that was past its picnic days. We decided to haul it to the dump one day while the dogs were inside napping. When they woke up and came outside to take care of their business, neither dog noticed the missing table. Bentley sniffed around our building before heading over to give the picnic table a good gnawing. He had taken about ten steps before it dawned on him there was no table. We sat on the porch and laughed as the most amazed look crossed his face. It is the first time I have ever seen a dog so stunned! Did I have the forethought to have a camera? Nope. Did we discuss that Bentley was going to be shocked to realize the table was no longer there? Yes. Ugh!
Since that time, I have tried and missed many more prime opportunities. Now that I am blogging dogs daily, I have promised myself to do better. This brings me to the Christmas tree. Our granddog, Pierre the Westie, besides being the happiest dog ever born also hates anything to change or move in the house. I was certain when the Christmas tree was decorated with ornaments, tinsel, and lights, he would go crazy. Both dogs stayed outside helping with yard work while the lights and ornaments were hung. I plugged in the lights, had Christmas carols playing, my camera ready, and my cellphone on video. There was no way the hijinks and hilarity was going to be missed this go around! I opened the back door, called the boys in, clicked my video, and started
recording. Bentley trotted in and went immediately for his spot on the couch. Now, for the excitement…Pierre comes running in at his usual warp speed and nothing…nada…zilch. He walked over to the dazzling lights adorning the festive 6’ tree, glanced at it, and hopped up next to Bentley on the couch for a snooze fest. WHAT?!?!?!?!? “Don’t you guys see that I am ready for a great photo shot? Where is that stunned look? What about a hysterical barking fit? C’mon give me something; I have my camera this time! Sigh.” I guess that I should have added a squirrel up in the branches.
Neither dog cared a thing about the tree or the presents that I wrapped to put under it. They did give the gifts a cursory sniff but quickly realized they did not contain any sort of food or treats and lost interest. It looked like there would be no problems, and then the UPS man came to the door with packages. We opened the boxes to discover gaily-wrapped presents from relatives to add to the tree. I didn’t give it a second thought since the chances were small they had food in them. What I didn’t consider was the powerful sniffer decipher on Bentley. He smelled new people and their pets on the gifts and felt it was his duty to open them to investigate. It was funny but no chance for photos while rescuing gifts. Now, I have all our gifts from relatives off the floor and still waiting on the perfectly hilarious Christmas photograph. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a great reaction to the gifts from Santa Paws. I’ll have my camera ready; just let me remember to charge the batteries!


Fill PetSaver’s Stocking for Christmas

If you would love to be able to help PetSavers in Shreveport, LA. but aren’t in a position to adopt a dog or cat, there are many other ways to lend a paw. Don’t wait to make it a New Year’s resolution, get a jumpstart on making a difference now.

DONATE: Of course, donations are always welcome and appreciated. It is expensive to house, feed, and care for all of the animals at the facility. You can make donation in your name, anonymously, or in the name of a loved one, even a beloved pet. Just click on this link to give PetSavers a monetary stocking stuffer! https://npo.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=42-1645998

GIFT: If you would rather give a present to them, they always need scoopable cat litter, Wal Mart gift cards to buy basic supplies, and Kuranda Dog & Cat beds. They have a link to the beds on their webpage. They receive 10% of the sale and you receive 10% off by clicking on their banner ad. Win/win situation for everyone on two and four legs!

VOLUNTEER: Now, if you have more time than money on your hands, that’s great too. PetSavers is in desperate need of volunteers and there are many positions available. Please take a few moments to read over these and find one you’d enjoy. If your club or organization is looking for a community service project, look no further! Contact these wonderful pet lovers and let them know they can count on you. http://www.petsaversshreveport.org/index.php

POSITIONS AVAILABLE:

Adoption Counselor: Greet and assist potential adopters in pet selection, explain policies, answer their questions, remove pets from the kennels/runs and allow prospective adopters to interact with them. Help with general administrative duties. Time Commitment is at least one day per week 12:00 p.m. ~ 4:00 p.m.
Cat Socialization & Grooming: This one-on-one attention with cats ensures they get exercise and stress relief to keep them adoptable, active, happy, and healthy. Assist the public with visiting the cats and helping the cats find forever homes.
Dog Socialization & Grooming: Exercise and socialize dogs to increase adoptability, bathe and groom them to make dogs more comfortable and adoptable. Assist the public with visiting the dogs and help them find their forever homes.
Dog Walker: Give the dogs socialization and heart-healthy exercise with a brisk walk around the neighborhood. PetSavers requires completion of a minimum of 40 hours as a Shelter Assistant Volunteer in order to be considered as a Dog Walker. Dog Walkers must fulfill one scheduled shift per week.
Dog Day Adventures: Take a dog out for a day of fun and adventure. Put the dog in an “Adopt Me” vest; sign him or her out for the day and head to a local park, coffee shop, or downtown. Give your favorite dog a little bit more exposure, increase their opportunity for adoption, and allow them a nice break from the shelter. You must become a Dog Walker before being promoted for Dog Day Adventures.
Junior Volunteer: Volunteers age 12 ~ 17 years are Junior Volunteers. At this time, PetSavers has limited opportunities for Junior Volunteers. They will work with High School Seniors who need to complete required educational volunteer hours. Join their Junior Volunteer Call~to~Action list and they will call you when opportunities abound!
Maintenance/Grounds: There is always something that needs to be done around the grounds of PetSavers. If you are a “handy-person” your skills are always needed somewhere. Please help out with the mowing, gardening, minor building repairs, painting, clean-up, etc.
Phone Volunteer: Wouldn’t you love to help people help their pets? Volunteers are needed to answer phone calls and solve problems as well as find solutions. You can help educate callers about PetSavers programs and services.
Photographer/Biographer: Take digital photos and compose appealing, fun descriptions of shelter animals for PetSavers web site and/or PetFinder.com; write articles for the Pet Savers web site and newsletters.
Shelter Assistant: Clean cat rooms and dog/puppy runs. Feed and water the animals. Help exercise the dogs, praise them with treats and attention. This is a critical volunteer position that helps give the pets a safe and pleasant place to live.
Social Media Volunteer: This is an opportunity for anyone interested in volunteering at home for PetSavers’ social media outlets. These include Facebook, Twitter, and the ability to develop more social media outreach. You must have your own email address, access to a computer, and working knowledge of previously mentioned sites.
Special Events Support: PetSavers has many events throughout the year. You can sign up to be on their mailing list and they will call upon you to help with the next event. Events range from adoptions to fundraising. Most events happen on the weekend but whenever they are, they’re guaranteed to be a BLAST!!!
Transporter: PetSavers is always in need of assistance in transporting pets back and forth to doctor appointments and other activities. Sign up to be on the call list.

Just a few Volunteer Requirements: 1. At least 18 years old. (If your 12 ~ 17 yrs. old, the Junior Volunteer Program can provide a wonderful volunteer experience when opportunities are available.)
2. You must be able to squat, bend, twist, lift, or stand for long periods when working directly with animals.
3. Volunteers must possess strong customer service and clear communication skills as all volunteer position work directly with the public, staff, and other volunteers.
4. Work both indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions during both daylight and potentially after dark.
5. You could experience frequent exposure to loud noises, odors, fumes, chemicals, and animal waste.
6. Walk on paved and unpaved surfaces and flooring that may be uneven or wet/dry.
7. There may be exposure to animals that may be agitated and attempt to bite or scratch.

   We’ve all walked by the pet stores and seen the adorable puppies and kittens frolicking in the big front window display.  I’m sure back in 1953 when Patti Page sang, “How Much is that Doggie in the Window,” people didn’t give much thought to where the store received “the one with the waggy tail.”  As the saying goes, the times they are a-changing…
   The availability of pups from pet stores has diminished in the past few years.  However, there are still too many in the business of offering designer dogs for ridiculously high prices.  As long as there is a demand, there will be stores selling them and puppy mills breeding them.  What’s wrong with that, you ask?  Let me explain…

Yappy Holidays! Fleas Navidad! Today I am joining in my first Blog Hop! It is a Holiday Gift Blog so I am going to feature some great gift ideas for both pet lovers and lovers of pets. Since we are officially empty nesters with no grandchildren, our furry babies get tons of gifts from Santa Paws. Bentley has asked for a new bed and our granddog, Pierre wants a squirrel. Actually, Bentley wants OUR bed and Pierre wants a REAL squirrel but even Santa has to draw the line somewhere! I also have a link to my Pinterest Board “Dog Gifts for Dogs & their Humans.” After you check out the gifts here, click on some of the other blogs to discover what great suggestions they have dreamed up!


For Your Best Friend:



*Martha Stewart Pets Large Self-Piped Bolster Bed ToyShoppe Flatty Plush Toy & Martha Stewart Cable Sweater are available at Petsmart.com **Christmas Dog Treats available at www.healthyhoundbakery.com ***Pugz Dog Boots available at www.baxterboo.com

For the Pet Lover:

*Dog Breed Tees available on Amazon.com **Gift Basket from www.dogloversgiftbasket.com ***I kissed a dog tee from www.keeponwagging.com ****Basset Hound wine is from The Slobber Shoppe and a portion of the sale benefits Basset Rescue *****The Returns series are my books and make great gifts for the dog lover! Available on Amazon by clicking the link on this page!

Visit my Pinterest board "Dog Gifts for Pets & their Humans" for more great fun ideas! http://www.pinterest.com/mkclinton/dog-gifts-for-pets-their-humans/

   It’s official and I could not be more excited…my blog has gone to the dogs! That’s not something most people would brag or be excited about but in this case it is a very positive move. For several months, I have wandered rather aimlessly through the blogosphere. I touched on a variety of subjects and learned how to build the site, install gadgets, widget, and whatchamacallits. It has been a learning experience. I knew the day would come when I would have that “aha” moment and find my niche. Luckily, for me that day came last week. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I discovered a group of fabulous pet bloggers. It is the BlogPaws Community. They have been so friendly and helpful to me. I have already made friends and look forward to networking with many others.
   I visited their website, read the mission statement, and looked at the groups, blogs, and activities. Needless to say, I joined on the spot! “Aha!” My aimless wandering was over! It was the same feeling I experienced when the idea for The Returns hit. Sometimes you just know when it’s right.
   After discussing the change of direction to a permanent Pet/dog blog with my husband, we spent a couple of days deciding on a new name. I’ll still be using the www.mkclinton because it is my domain name. I wanted something catchy and original. That turned out to be easier said than done. We came up with some brilliant ideas. Unfortunately, someone else had thought of them too. Finally, he came up with Barking from the Bayou last night. I loved it immediately and nobody else was using it. WooHoo!! Winner! We went out today and he took some photos for my header. Once we got home, he went to work on designing and even added The Returns boating in the bayou! I’m a very lucky wife. I changed my entire template. I hope you like the new look and concept.
   Thank you for your continued support. Please tell your dog loving friends to join me. I will have adoptable pets, pet product reviews, inspiring stories, and ways you can help.