To round up November's (Canine) Epilepsy Awareness Month, I'd like to highlight my very special and amazing boy, Gibson. He is my continued inspiration and the namesake behind our #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness Campaign where we help share information, resources, links, and fundraisers all to promote education about Canine Epilepsy and the positive and realistic side to living with a dog who has seizures and/or has been diagnosed with Canine Epilepsy. Gibson and I have traveled this journey for nearly seven years together. We live it. He lives with it. I have written about his journey and will continue to do so in the hopes of helping others who may now find themselves on this very same path. We are here to say, Epi-dogs are amazing! And they can and do live full, happy lives. Is it easy? No. Is it expensive? It can be. Is it scary? At times, yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely yes! So today my Epi All Star is the beautiful Husky who started me on this journey, ...

We're "Not-Quite-Wordless" Wednesday here today. I want to take this opportunity, on the Eve of Thanksgiving, a day of gratitude, to thank you all again for your kind words, prayers, and support as my family grieves the loss of my amazing Mom, the FiveSibes Hu-Nanny. I have been blessed to have had such a wonderful mother and role model in my life. For her, I am so grateful.  There is such a void in our lives, and the first of the holidays is upon us and my daughter and I are struggling to find a new "normal" without her, our "third Muskateer." I just can't imagine it. But, Mom would want us to count our blessings, and we are so blessed to have our family, furkids, friends, and all of our FiveSibes pals in our lives. For that, I am grateful. Tonight's Thanksgiving Full "Beaver" Moon What a wonderful and compassionate community this truly is and I'm proud to be part of it. All of us here at FiveSibes wish each and eve...

I'd like to take a moment to say a heartfelt "Thank You" to each and every one of you for your kind words, prayers, support, and condolences on the passing of my mother. She was an amazing woman, a loving mother, a best friend, terrific advice giver, and a wonderful Nanny to my daughter. We're trying to figure out thi s "new (ab)normal " life without her. I miss her deeply and will forever.  Today's blog, a Flashback Friday, is dedicated to my beautiful Mom...our FiveSibes Hu-Nanny...in some photos from Memory Lane with just a few of her furry loves and furpals. I know she's having a wonderful time being reunited with my Dad and some of their furangels right now. Momma...this is for you with lots of Husky hugs and kisses... Love Lives On Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one's gone. Those we love can never ...

Dear Friends and Readers:  As many of you know already, my mother has been not been well. Sadly, t his p ast week she has declined greatly , and today she passed away. I will be taking a few days off to honor my mom, and w ill be back with more Epi-Tips then. I f you are waiting for a book or item to be shipped from me via ArcticHouse Publishing, please bear with me. Thank you for all your sup port, pr ayers, and w ishes. They have meant so much.

* * * * * Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Paris. Prières pour Paris.  #Prayers forParis

Gib looking spiffy in his "Too Cool" Calming Collar Today’s Epi-Tip is all about keeping an Epi-dog cool. One way is by using a cooler collar. I use them not just in the summer when our north eastern temps soar, but I also will put one on Gibson any time I think he appears agitated or warm as a preventive measure. Post-seizure, it’s also very important to bring an Epi-dog’s temperature down. In addition to placing cool packs (or frozen peas and a frozen loaf of Italian bread like I used when Gibson had his first seizure six years ago), including on the small of the back right under the neck, a cooler collar helps tremendously to bring a dog's temp down, or keep him cool to begin with.  Today, I’d like to tell you about a really cool cooler collar, and a collar to help reduce stress ~ all filled with natural herbs ~ made by Calming Collars that I had the pleasure of test driving. Gibson is pictured above relaxing with the custom purple ( I s elected f or...