Dog and Cat closet beds

Urgent help needed to fight canine cancer

2009-06-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

This plea for help comes from Melissa Becall, our friend in California on behalf of Tish Graber and her beautiful Sydney. Even though tomorrow is June 9th, Sydney's nineth birthday, it's never too late to help eliminate cancer in dogs. I recently read the alarming statistic that one in three dogs dies of cancer. What we help to cure in our fur families, we also cure in ourselves... we are one.

*****************

Sydney was been diagnosed with Melanoma Cancer and most likely Osteosarcoma (bone cancer). I am involved with an organization called We Are The Cure.

The National Canine Cancer Foundation is a nationwide, contribution funded,501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem in dogs by funding grants for the scientific efforts of cancer researchers who are working to save lives, find a cure, find better treatments, find more accurate, cost effective, diagnostic methods in dealing with cancer, and diminishing dogs’ suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.

My goal is to raise $1K before Sydney’s 9th b-day on June 9th. In the last few weeks I have raised $670. Every little bit helps and would very much appreciate your support. Please forward this link www.wearethecure.org/friends/sydney to any animal lovers that you may know.

The donation amount is not important as no amount is too small.

Please pray for my girl as she is really struggling to be strong.

Tish Grabar

Planned new tax to add to vet cost

2009-02-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

Here in British Columbia, we already pay a 5% Goods & Services tax on veterinary services and it has always rankled me. After all, our fur babies are our family members and taxing their care just isn't right any more than it would be to tax my medical care.
Now with the economic downturn, California is considering adding a 10% tax on veterinary care. If it passes, it could very well spread across the country and the results could spell disaster for pets and their owners. Seniors on fixed incomes may no longer be able to afford the care of their companion animals, people who have recently lost their jobs may have to give up the family pet. No matter where we are, we need to take action even if we are not in California, we could be next.

Please read the following from Tippi Hedren - The Roar Foundation - The Shambala Preserve

*Please Protest **California's Proposed Veterinary Tax Plan*
January 27, 2009
Hello everyone

We are sending this to our California animal lovers and asking you all to
read the following and then make a quick call to Sacramento.

It's no secret that California is in dire need of money, but the governor is
proposing that pets be considered 'luxuries' and therefore a 9% to 10% tax
should be levied on services rendered by vets. While most of us can afford
such a tax, others will be pushed beyond their ability to pay, resulting in
the abandonment of many pets.

Please protest this tax by calling Sacramento. The number is to an automated
survey at the governor's office. The call is not free, but it It will take
less than a minute and will cost very little.

Dial: 916-445-2841

The numbers to press in response to the questions are: 1 - 5 - 1 - 2
(i.e., 1 = for English; 5 = to transfer to veterinary tax proposal; 1 =
to choose to comment on the veterinary tax proposal; and 2 = to oppose the
tax.

Take a moment and take action NOW. Please tell your friends and ask them to
do the same.

Our beautiful Cuja Lula Belle has gone...

2008-11-16T13:37:00.000-08:00

Our dear old kitty, Cuja Lula Belle, past away just before noon yesterday. We had decided the night before that the first thing we would do the next morning would be to take her to the vet for her very last ride. Painfully, the thought of her leaving us had become more real with each passing day. She had been with us for only 14 years ... just 14... but the horrible agonizing pain she had been enduring, had already gone on too long, it was enough and we knew it was time to let her go.
All morning our daughter, Minka, and me did what we could to make her comfortable. Our little Doxie/Jack Russell dog, Rutgar, was never far from Cuja's side or mine. Cuja would crawl away to be alone and Rutgar was the only way we could find her.
Unfortunately, our vet no longer works on Saturdays and he can be difficult to reach in an emergency outside of office hours. While we were deciding what to do next, I went to check on her and let her know that we were close-by. I knew the moment I bent down, and looked into her eyes gleaming sightlessly out from under the guest room bed, she was gone.
I ran to get Minka and we pulled her out from that private, sheltered place she expired in. She had well and truly died and was crossing the Rainbow Bridge at that moment as we stroked her soft fur made moist by our tears.
She died at home, and that was a blessing.

I know all our dear fur family members are special and Cuja Lula Belle was no exception. Our son, Inyo, rescued her when he found a woman standing in the middle of the bridge that crosses the river near our home. In her hand she held a burlap gunnysack in which she had placed several heavy stones and a writhing and complaining kitten. She was about to toss it over the bridge railing when Inyo managed to grab it from her. He opened the bag and discovered the little orange kitten and the woman turned and left without a word.

He brought the kitten home and because the little tyke seemed like such a tough little fellow, he named him Cujo. Six months later Cujo had a litter of kittens and immediately her name was changed to Cuja and later Lula Belle was added. As soon as homes were found for her gorgeous babies, off she went to the vet for spaying.

Hers was a happy life. Time spent on the farm and surrounding forest, life in a small village and finally here in a beautiful home overlooking two lakes.

Her body lay in a rose embroidered shroud with flowers and tiny crystals laid upon her. One by one, the two dogs and remaining two kitties took turns sitting by her side. Modesto sat for several hours and Rutgar led visitors into where she lay and pointed to her with his nose. We buried her this morning with her crystal bowl and a few of her favorite toys, close to her old friends, Jack the dog and Vladimir, our daughter’s cat that left us earlier this year.

Modesto and Basshat will now be filling her position at Plume n’ Tails as Product Quality Control Managers. She is greatly missed by everyone here by those with fur and those without.

Good-bye Cuja Lula Belle

Pet Passports

2008-10-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

Summer is over and as winter rears it’s stormy head above the horizon and for those of us soon to be snowbound, thoughts of traveling to warmer climbs fills our dreams. There are a number of places to visit on the world-wide-web that will give pet owners excellent information for taking their pets along, comfortably and safely but what about traveling abroad with your dog or cat?

A newly married friend just moved to Egypt from Canada to be with her husband. She decided that she and her daughter could not go without taking their two cats. She purchased two carry-on soft carriers, halters and leashes for the kitties for their thirty-hour trip. An eight-hour stop over in Amsterdam allowed her to take them from their carriers for a bit of exercise, water and a small amount of food. Fortunately, a few months before making the trip, she researched what documents would be required for the emigrating cats. Passports. Yes, pets require passports too, consisting at the very least of vaccination and health documents from a veterinarian.

Here is an excellent website for finding the information you need if you are taking your pet with you on a trip to distant destinations both foreign and domestic. http://www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm
A good rule to remember is, if you require a passport to travel and you’re taking your fur-kid along… he or she will need a passport too and the criteria will be different depending upon where you’re going.

Our family will be traveling to Hawaii next November. Chances are that we will leave our little Mr. Rutgar with friends here at home as we are not planning to be away for more than a couple of weeks.

None-the-less, I am looking at what the requirements are in the unlikely event we should decide to take him. The lengthy and somewhat complicated process would need to start four to six months in advance as blood work that looks for rabies and communicable diseases that develop over time is compulsory. Micro-chipping is also required. Thankfully, the very discouraging six- month quarantine is no longer mandatory. Instead, pets now have to enter Hawaii through Honolulu and are then transported to a designated veterinary hospital where they are checked over and released to their owners the same day as their arrival. There is an advance payment of $165 that must accompany your pets documents no less than 10 days before their arrival in Hawaii.

I would only consider the above if we were moving to Hawaii or planning to stay for more than a month. Traveling can be hard on some dogs and cats. I say some only because, Ms. Lilly Zha Zha, my daughter’s Pomeranian, has been flying to and from Hawaii since a tiny pup and she absolutely loves to travel. She is completely undaunted by what other dogs might easily experience as traumatic.

So, before you embark on long distance travel with your pets, consider what is best for them and if you feel it’s better they accompany you, then give yourself plenty of time to get those all important pet passports in hand and take the barking out of ‘embarkation.’

Taming the Wild… or Killing it

2008-08-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

We have seven heavily laden apple trees and I’ve canned so many quarts of applesauce, if I never see another apple it will be too soon. Well, we’ve barely made a dent in the bumper crop on the two transparent apple trees and the other five trees are bending under the weight of the apples on their branches. I’m seeing apples in my dreams.
Everyday we pick up buckets of windfalls. “Where are the bears?” I asked my husband. We could always count on the bears to clean up the windfalls during the night. I know, we should be happy that we don’t have a ‘bear problem’ but in the 38 years we’ve lived around them, we’ve never ever had a serious incident and we’ve never had to shoot a bear.
True, our little Mr. Rutgar was foolish enough to chase a 450-pound black bear out of the orchard last year, but it’s really our fault for not having him under control and letting him bolt out the door unchecked. Lucky for him, he’s a small and fast moving target and I’m certain my screams scared the bear as much, if not more, than my little bouncing red dog.
Regardless, this year we have not had the bear activity that we have grown accustomed to, and frankly, we miss them.
When the cherries were in season, we saw signs of a cub in the neighborhood. In fact, we had left the driver’s side window open on the car and guess who clambered inside? Yes, baby bear. We were fortunate that it hadn’t done any real damage other than a bit of cherry juice smeared on the inside of the passenger door and window and a few well placed tooth marks on the upholstery.
Since then nothing… but gun shots in the night. We observed our neighbor burying something in the field below, but we were unable to see what he put in the ground.
The general opinion in the surrounding rural communities is that all bears are bad, extremely dangerous, and should be eliminated. Period! The push is on the cut down every fruit tree in the nearby village to rid the town of such tasty bear attractants.
When our daughter asked the local Bear Aware folks why we couldn’t take our fruit waste up into the forest or plant fruit trees far from human habitation, the answer was simple. “It’s not natural.” Yet, somehow, our ever-increasing expansion into their habitat is natural… and, I guess, so too are bullets. We just can’t seem to wrap our thinking around this logic.
Just what is natural during this time of climate change? This year we had a long, cold, wet spring and the result was practically no huckleberries or blueberries to sustain the bears. Summer was hot and brief and now an early Fall that is colder than usual. None of this bodes well for wildlife depending on what nature usually provides for them in the surrounding forest.
We can’t tame the wild and we wouldn’t want to… nor should we kill it. We can live with bears. All that is required is a little knowledge, a lot of respect, appreciation, understanding and compassion. Give them the space they need… and don’t begrudge them a few apples.

Pets and Wildlife

2008-06-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Those of us who live in less urban areas eventually become familiar with the wildlife that is common in the area in which we call home.
Living in the interior forest of British Columbia, we have a wide range of wildlife just outside our doors. Bears are most common this time of year. Over the past two summers, we’ve had a grizzly bear try to break into our porch, a 450-pound black bear eating our apples and a young sow with her first cub visit our premises.
Coyotes proliferate just about everywhere and are a constant concern for our pets as it is not uncommon for coyotes to dine on domestic cats and will sometimes pack up to take down large dogs if left unattended. Even city dwellers are now learning to be cautious as coyotes adapt easily to human habitation and have moved into urban areas, becoming a threat to domestic pets there.
Stealthy cougars have been seen prowling in our neighborhood from time to time and they see anything that moves as prey.
Even majestic eagles are a threat to cats and small dogs. Even if they can’t fly away with a pet, they can inflict irreparable damage with their talons.
Don’t get me wrong, we value the wildlife, that’s why we live here. We love to watch the bears amble through the orchard and listen to the coyotes serenade on wintry nights. We’ve been privileged to watch a handsome whitetail buck courting three lovely does in our front yard. Nothing is more thrilling to hear elk whistling on the mountainside behind our home or to catch sight of a bighorn sheep running through our neighbor’s yard.
We are fortunate that wildlife is abundant here but what does that mean to our domestic pets and their safety? We can all live together quite nicely if we observe a bit of caution.
I used to let our little dog burst joyfully out the backdoor for his morning constitutional… but no more. Before I could stop him, he ran right up to huge black bear that had been visiting our apple trees. He actually ran the bear off, or maybe I did with my screams. All it would have taken is one swat from that giant, well-clawed paw and our little dog would have been gone. Now, I make him and my daughter’s two dogs, sit and wait until I’ve checked the yard in all directions before they are let out and I watch the sky for eagles too.
A few nights ago, we had a visiting skunk. Unfortunately a friend who was visiting from Vancouver didn’t know the protocol for taking the dogs out and simply opened the door, resulting in an encounter between a skunk and my daughter’s big wolf cross dog. Needless-to-say, this is one little animal we don’t want to stumble upon too often. To read more about this unfortunate meeting, go to:
http://pets-people-and-possibilities.blogspot.com You will also find a recipe for de-skunking your pets there and it’s one you’ll want to keep handy if you have skunks in your area.
Regardless of where you live be it country or city, caution is always the best way to avoid unfortunate encounters with wildlife. And if you’re planning on a camping trip this summer with your family pet(s), keep them close and don’t let them run loose through the countryside… for their sake as well as those fur folks who live there year ‘round'. Stay safe… be happy

Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

2008-05-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

Saddness has kept us from posting as we grieve the loss of Vladimir, my daughter's 13 year old kitty. He was mercifully put to sleep after a brief and sudden illness. Our veterinarian thinks he was most likely diabetic. Being naturally big, he always was a bit on the plump side. We will miss his clumping footfalls around the house. We could always tell he was coming from two rooms away sounding like he was wearing boots.
Vlad's diabetic condition has given us pause to think about the diets of our other kitties. Cuja Lula Belle is 16 years old has already had a major diet change to wet and raw food when we learned that she too has diabetis. She's much slimer now and although her health is still not perfect, she's not doing too badly for a girl her age. Modesto and Bashat are now being offered a diet similar to hers. (They're not crazy about it, so we have to make the change over slowly to give them time to adjust.)
We have an amazing house that once belonged to a semi-retired veterinarian. They loved all the animals that came into their care and many of their spirits still dwell here. Often, out of the corner of our eyes, we get a quick glance at a black and white Persian type kitty. Today, when I was cleaning upstairs, for just a moment, I saw Vlad sitting in his favorite place by the window and next to him was the black and white kitty. It's nice to know he's still with us.

Mr. Rutgar's Birthday party pictures at last.

2008-04-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s about time. We finally found Mr. Rutgar’s party pictures. Although it was March and cold, the sun was shining so we decided to honor his birthday with a Bar-B-Q and it was awesome. Mr. Rugtar could hardly contain himself with the tantalizing smell of hamburgers grilling over the fire. He knew there was one just for him (and Ms. Lilly Zha Zha and dear old Kasper). The kitties, although invited preferred to wait until they were served their portions… raw, of course.
It’s really too bad everyone got so wound up when Mr. Rutty opened his presents. His new dragon, as mentioned before, was gone in minutes. He and Kasper love tug-o-war and there is no stopping them. Unfortunately, the excitement moved on to all the rest of Mr. Rutty’s toys in his basket. We were able to save his favorite, El-ee-phant (or Horton) and hide it until nap time when everyone’s exhilaration had worn off and tummies were full. Since then we have had to check out all the local thrift stores for replacement toys. We are always careful that the toys we find are not stuffed with Styrofoam beads and there are no buttons, eyes, or other things that can be pulled off and swallowed. Although we prefer to support our local charity thrift stores to recycle stuffed toys no longer suitable for children, I must admit, Mr. Rutty has a new squeaky toy that he loves and his cotton tug rope is just about worn out and he’ll soon need a new one.
Our crew wants to remind everyone that there are a lot of wonderful pets needing forever homes. A good place to start is your local animal shelter and if you’re interested in a specific breed, check out the purebred rescue organizations. And please, spay and neuter your pets. We would love to see everyone as happy as our guys.
For more information, check out our newest blogspot:
http://www.pets-people-and-possibilities.blogspot.com
See you soon. Now that spring is finally here, we’ll be having lots more adventures to tell you about. Soon the bears will be showing up and they’re no fun to play with!

Mr. Rutgar turns 3

2008-03-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

Well, there will be more pictures to come from the party, especially Mr. Rutgar in his party hat. He really enjoyed his new stuffed blue and yellow glow in the dark dragon but unfortunately, he's already slain the dragon and it's been relegated to the trash bin. He and his canine friends, Ms. Zha Zha Lilly and Kasper had a great time, (mostly playing tug-a-war with the dragon toy) but the kitties, although invited, chose not to attend. Being kitties, it's no surprise that they have such disdain for parties, unless it's to celebrate their own birthdays and then it's 'cat-nip all around.
Mr. Rutgar tells me that anise, not star anise, is to dogs what cat-nip is to cats. So, for our next doggie birthday celebration, we will be sure to have a good supply of anise in, now that everyone is a grown up canine.
Our fur family would like everyone to check out the new offerings at: www.plumentails.com Ms. Cuja Lula Belle is really excited about the new MouieWowies and Rattatudes that will be appearing very soon. Have you ever seen a leopard mouse or rat? We'll we've got'em!
Stay tuned for more party pics, coming soon

Mr. Rutgar will soon be 3

2008-02-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

Mr. Rutgar's Happy Birthday will be coming soon. We are planning a special Birthday Pawty on Feb. 24th. His doggy friends, Miss ZhaZha Lilly and Kasper will be here and of course, his best kitty friend, Cuja Lula Belle too. Then there's Vladimir, Modesto and Bashat but they're not promising to wear pawty hats. We'll be picking up special cup cakes and treats from Zeto's Dog Spa. Everyone is practicing dunking for biscuits and who can find the hidden cookie. Stay tuned and watch for pictures of the celebrations.
In the meantime, Mr. Rutgar and all his buddies want to wish you and all your fur families a very Happy Valentine's Day... and, he encourages you to go to PetCentric, you can access it through links on www.plumentails.com and send a talking pet Valentine and for every one you send, .50 cents will be donated to help homeless pets. Please share the love. What's even more fun, PetCentric will let you upload a favorite photo of your dog or kitty and they can carry the message this Valentine's Day.
So all the best everyone.
Paws up

Take a look at my friends Pet Portraits

2008-01-05T14:34:00.000-08:00

Mom did this portrait in the classic icon style of the old Russian masters. This is of dear old Shale who is no longer with us. He had a great 23 years with us and wore his crown willingly and with distinction. He would not allow any other cat to wear it. Poor Cuja Lula Belle tried once and was 'royally' trounced.
Brandy is a friend who lives far away in San Jose, California. She is so lucky she doesn't have to live with snow. Apparently Brandy doesn't like wearing clothes, so she wouldn't be very happy here in the cold north.
Such a wanton girl this Cuja Lula Belle. At least Mom has done her portrait.
Mom paints and draws Ms. Zha Zha Lilly's friends and Mr. Rutgar's friends too. They are wishing Mom had more time to do their portraits and she is promising that they will be posing for her very soon. Look for us soon here and on www.plumentails.com

Jolly good time had by all!

2007-12-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

Well, it was quite the Christmas with all the fur family... and human family too. It's a really good thing we have such a big house. Half the fur family lives upstairs and the rest downstairs.
It was so wonderful getting gifts from all our little fur kids. I'm not saying what the gifts were. I'll leave it up to you're imagination. I didn't correct the spelling either, after all, we can't expect the pets to be too literate now can we?Family photos to follow. I will mention that Mr. Rutgar was a little greedy this Christmas and insisted on opening everyone's gifts, even Ms. Cuja's... a very fancy can of cat food that he tried to hide from us. Here's some of the comments from their gift tags to us:
#1 For Tabitha From Creme (Tabi's Blue Merle Sheltie fur baby), Modesto and Lilly. Lilly chose the color, she was adamant about that. But refused to chip in and money since Creme was ignoring her. (Note: Lilly has had a serious crush on Creme, much to the dismay and discomfort of Mr. Rutgar) Modesto, of course did the wrapping as yet, no one has answered his ads for professional ribbon curling.
#2 For MaMa From Vladimir, Ms. Cuja Lula Belle, Bassaht, Modesto... and Mr. Rutgar. Yeah, they let him help pay, but Vlad and Bassaht picked out the color, Modesto chose the material, Ms. Cuja was late and missed everything. Ms. Lilly pooped on the floor and got kicked out... Hope you like it.
#3 For Linda From Modesto (he did the ribbon curling), Bassaht (he chose the color) and Ms. Cuja (she paid... AGAIN) Vladimir didn't show up on shopping day. They later found him at his favorite cat house, simply smashed on high grade "Nip". He'd blown all of his money and even run up quite a tab.
#4 To Inyo - Ahhh! Modesto's finest creation. Vlad, Bassaht, Opal, Emerald, Ms. Cuja and Jupiter went in on this one. They didn't even ask Modesto to chip in. He made them take an appointment... and even charged for his services. He's getting a little arrogant!
#5 To Gustav From... the Cats. They set aside their differences and forged a temporary truce, all chipped in... divided task, went shopping, and after much adieu... and several deep scratches... (Vladimir would like you to know that HE paid the "Lion's share" xoxoxo... the Cats
#6 To Inyo (son of Gustav) - Now all the cats chipped in on this one!!! Modesto didn't want it mentioned, however, that he did not wrap this gift... Vladimir and Bassaht did, after injesting a diabolical amount of "Siamese cole slaw" (catnip) Modesto, who is perfecting his art (yes, of ribbon curling) was highly critical of their shoddy work. Ms. Cuja... paid for the gift and Vladimir is convinced it was her who sent some DOG over to collect on his tab at the Pussy Palace.
#7 To Dr. GRY (Gustav) From Zha-Zha (Ms. Lilly Rose) Such a little debutante and not wanting to be out done by Mr. Rutgar's efforts, Zha-Zha was thrilled to find these... the wrapping was the hard part.
#8 To Emily and Gustav From ALL of the Cats. - Bassaht chose the color - said it was the most dazzling combo he'd ever seen! Vladimir took off early - went to a cat house and got ripped on NIP. Modesto did the wrapping. (All five of his personalities are now considering a career in ribbon curling). Ms. Cuja was too busy meditating to come along, but she paid for the gift. We're all wondering where she gets all ther money. Vladimir thinks she's at least a part owner of the cat house he visited. It is called "Madame Cuja's Pussy Palace"... hmmmm.
#9 To Kasper (the big white wolf-dog) The goon. Thanks for saving our 'backside' more than once! You're all right for an undignified, no class, no pride, brown nosen' suck up. From... the Pride.
#10 For Emily - Poor Modesto, was so outraged when he found out that the 'curling' classes had nothing to do with ribbon but but meant hurling heavy weights over ice and only after a classic hissy fit, he was able to obtain a frefund. He has a low income disability pension for multiple personality disorder. He bought this at 'Shimmer Apperal.'

Great new Doggy Armoire

2007-12-19T12:03:00.000-08:00

Well, Mr. Rutgar and Ms. Lily Zha Zha are a little jealous, but Daddy didn't make this wonderful Doggy Armoire for their clothes. This one was made on special order for someone else. But... obviously, with Mr. Rutgar's wardrobe is growing larger every day so he's going to need a full scale closet and now that Ms. Lily Zha Zha is living here too, they both may need thier personal space. That's going to keep Daddy busy for some time to come. Check out the special details at www.plumentails.com
Yes, Ms. Lily is living here with us and so is their big white wolf buddy, Kasper... and their three feline family members, Bhasat, Vladimir and Modesto and, two feathered family members, Chinese Ring-necked Doves. Poor Lady Cuja Lula Belle can't understand why those two luscious and yummy looking birds are sitting there so close and yet so inaccessible. She turns to look at us, filled with confusion, and then presses her face to the cage. It must look like a feed-lot to her.
Speaking of food, it gets pretty busy here at meal times, all the pushing and shoving. No one seems to remember their manners and the kitty family is disgusted with the behaviour of the doggy family members. Not to mention how several times Mr. Rutgar and Ms. Lily managed to find the kitty kibble bowl and ate all there was! Mr. Rutgar's tummy was very full when he went to climb into his Wardrobed last night... no shame nor any fear of getting fat.
Tonight the entire fur family will be wearing their new Christmas reindeer antlers for their annual Christmas photo. (the feathered folks are excused, and besides, we can't find any small enough to fit.) Stay posted.

Ms. Cuja LuLa Belle's new youth enhancing toys!

2007-11-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

My Gosh, Ms. Cuja is over 16 years old, and that's over 100 in cat years, but with her new organic catnip toys, MouieWowies and Ratatudes for cats with attitudes, she feels like a spring chicken again. Well, maybe not a chicken, but she's definitely feeling like a kitten. It's so wonderful to see her playing and romping so enthusiastically. Each one of these catnip toys is individually and lovingly handmade. And, to Ms. Cuja, they look so real with their embroidered faces and doeskin tails... and they even have whiskers!
She was so grateful to have these new toys, especially since she was so frightened by the enormous birds she met today. For the very first time, she met the wild turkeys that frequent our yard. She's not so anxious to escape outside now. Her look tells me that birds are simply not supposed to get so big. "I'll stick to my Ratatude," she says, biting deeply into the organic catnip filled plaything, and then there's always the MouieWowie dangling on the bouncing string from her all natural scratching post. Ah... life is great for Ms. Cuja LuLa Belle here at Plume n' Tails www.plumentails.com

Mr. Rutgar is getting ready for Christmas

2007-10-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

Mr. Rutgar is getting ready for Christmas and is hoping that his reindeer costume will double for Halloween too. He's pretty certain that Ms. Zha Zha wont recognize him. Cuja LuLa Belle is throughly unimpressed and has made it clear in no uncertain terms that she will not be dressing up for Halloween, Christmas or for any other occasion. She has given us all the cold shoulder and is going for a nice long nap in her Kitty Kozy. It doesn't matter to her that some of her friends have become well dressed felines, she simply will not tolerate anything that disturbs her fine, well groomed fur. She is quite pleased to keep her claws in tip top shape with her Natural Kitty Scratching Post.
Mr. Rutgar and Cuja LuLa Belle would like all their friends to know that Plume n' Tails is offering Free Shipping on all the pet furniture with an eco-friendly paw print from now until Christmas and you can see them at: www.plumentails.com
Cuja has a surprise for all her feline friends that will be appearing very soon. She suggest that if you want to score points with your girlfriend, score points with her cat(s). Wait until you see the organic catnip, individually handmade mousyzoodles (aprox. 3 inches, not including leather tails) and ratattudes (aprox. 6 inches, not including the leather tail). Each is different, made from remnant fabric, hand embroidered details give them a truly lifelike appearance, hung on elastic cord and each has a bell attached for added hours of fun and entertainment for her kitty. Check in soon at www.plumentails.com to see the new mousyzoodles and rattatoodes.

All in the family

2007-09-28T10:28:00.001-07:00

We are now one happy fur family. There is no disputing that Ms. Cuja Lula Belle is now the firmly established ruler of the house. Like Goldilocks, she chooses to sleep or nap in any Doggy Wardrobed or Kitty Kozy she cares too, regardless of wether it's occupied or not. If it's occupied, then the occupant simply has to vacate. She's been keeping her claws well sharpened and in tip top shape, thanks to the all Natural Kitty Scratching Post available from www.plumentails.com
Ms. Cuja would also like all her kitty parents know, that her favorite organic cat-nip mouse toys will also be available very soon. Each is individually handmade and no two are exactly the same.
Mr. Rutgar, not to be outdone, wants everyone to know that we will soon have a collection of doggy toys, made especially for www.plumentails.com. These exciting toys promise hours of fun filled pleasure for all our doggy friends. With winter just around the corner Mr. Rutgar's wardrobe is expected to expand. Although he has a wonderful down filled coat, complete with cookie pocket and a very nice plaid jacket, he will soon have a custom handknitted sweater, just perfect for cool evenings when out visiting friends, or simply lounging at home watching his favorite pet rescue programs on tv. Check back soon at www.plumentails.com for Ms. Cuja's and Mr. Rutgar's new fall offerings.

Waiting to exhale

2007-09-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

Oh my, Little Lilly (aka Zha Zha) has been staying with Mr. Rutgar's doggy parents as her sweet doggy Mom is in the hospital. Her big friendly buddy and protector, Kasper, is staying at Rutgar's too. Although Ms. Lilly and Kasper are missing their people, the three of them have been having a marvelous time. Kasper, who by the way, is a handsome white half wolf, has set the pace for the three of them. Lots of room at Rutgar's country home to romp and play. Ms. Lilly, being quite the little lady has found her favorite perfume... turkey droppings. Drives Mr. Rutgar completely wild!... not to mention me. WE people have not developed any fondness for their choices of enchanting scent.
Cuja Lula Belle, is not particularly happy to have Kasper here as they have never been close friends. Ms. Lilly is tolerable and besides, she's small. Kasper is no real threat as Cuja Lula has managed to take an upper hand and pointedly drive him away from his supper dish so that she may sample the food she doesn't really like... Except she likes to show the big fellow who is really the boss around here.
Fortunately there are enough Doggy Wardrobeds to go around and Ms. Lilly and Mr. Rutgar can each settle down at night in their own little nest and Cuja? Well... She has her very own Kitty Kozy, complete with her organic cat-nip mouse. Kasper has claimed the sofa as his very own... hmmmm maybe we need to think about making a bigger Doggy Wardrobed.
You can see both the Doggy Wardrobed and the Kitty Kozy at www.plumentails.com ... and look for our all natural kitty scratching post while you're there.

Rutgar finds a new love!

2007-08-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Oh dear... Rutgar has met a lovely little Havenese Bichon that has stolen his heart. She's adorable and enjoys his invitation to play play play. Well, Miss Lilly's nose is completely out of joint but fortunately the sweet little white powder puff ball of fluff will be gone away by the end of the day... and none too soon for Miss Lilly.
Cuja Lula Belle now has a new Kitty Kozy and although she's only tried it once so far, she rather enjoys pushing that silly Mr. Rutgar out of his Wardrobed and claiming it as well.
Poor Mr. Rutgar. Not only is he loosing possibly the greatest love of his life, but that pesky cat is kicking him out of his bed too! Miss Lilly is so jealous she's given him the growly cold shoulder and even decided to change her name to Zha Zha.

Mr. Rutgar and Ms. Lily find romance

2007-07-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Mr. Rutgar and Ms. Lily must be in love! Although Mr. Rutgar is still unwilling to give up his Wardrobed, he is ever so eager to share whatever treats are being handed out and will seek out Ms. Lily to participate in cleaning up after supper pots, pans and plates that have some tasty doggy delights left in them. This is very unusual behaviour for Mr. Rutgar as he's not really a 'sharing' kind of guy... so it must be love.
Ms. Lily, Mr. Rutgar and Cuja Lula Belle would like everyone to know that if your little fur person or fur people would like a Wardrobed, a Kitty Kozy, or a natural scratching post (complete with organic catnip mouse), you can reach us at Plume N' Tails reoracle@telus.net for more information regarding the materials used in our pet furniture and current prices.

Cuja is waiting on the sidelines

2007-07-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Mr. Rutgar has reclaimed the Wardrobed and Ms. Lily has given up trying to get him to leave it... for now.

Wise old Cuja Lula Belle the cat, is quietly watching the goings on with a haughty disdain for those silly dogs. She is waiting for her promised Kitty Kozy that is being lovingly handcrafted from ethically harvested, reclaimed and recycled solid wood. The sides on the napping and sleeping space are higher and deeper, more snugly and private... just the way she likes it. There's a peek-a-boo window on one side so she can always know what's going on around her without any silly dog knowing that she's watching. The bar across the top will allow for her collection of catnip mice to dangle and placed next to the window, she has the perfect viewing platform to watch the robins dipping in the birdbath. There will very likely be other surprises too that will add to Cuja's pleasure. Come back soon to see Cuja in her Kitty Kozy!

Pawsitively Purrfect Eco-Friendly Pet Furniture

2007-06-12T12:53:00.001-07:00

The Doggy Wardrobed is receiving some great reviews. Mr. Rutgar has recently been ousted from the Wardrobed as his friend, Miss Lilly, has decided she wants the space all to herself!

Coming soon will be the twin product: The Kozy Kitty Kloset! Made especially for kitties, it will include some very special cat themed touches that are sure to please both owners and their very special feline family members.

Our pet furniture is made with an eco-friendly paw print. The wood for our units is reclaimed or recycled, some having been milled almost half a century ago. Wood like this cannot easily be found today without cutting down old growth forest... and this we will NOT support. Some of the beetle killed pine that we are using is from our own carefully managed 29 acres of lush green woods and has been milled right on our land, giving us a deep and caring relationship from start to finish with every piece we produce.

Caring for Mother Earth and all those who live upon her... Watch for us in the big big Green Fall issue of Modern Dog Magazine.

Dog Closet Bed

2007-05-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Dog Closet Bed

We are Plume N' Tails. We make eco-friendly pet furniture. The doggie 'Wardrobed' is a combination bed and wardrobe closet. The Wardrobed is perfect for apartment dwellers or anyone with limited space with small dogs. A lovely peice of furniture that includes a drawer for keeping toys, a space for hanging doggie clothing and a top inset shelf for leashes, grooming items, cookies...

All our pet furniture is made from reclaimed or recycled wood products giving our doggie wardrobed a pawsitively eco-friendly paw print!

Look for us in the fall issue of Modern Dog Magazine. Our website, www.plumentails.com will be up very soon and we can also be seen at www.petsmo.com Look under Kelowna, British Columbia Canada and click on PLUME N' TAILS on the lower left side of your screen.

Our doggie, Mr.Rutty loves the bed, even though he's a bit large, he absolutely considers this HIS space and will not share it with the cat!