It's FiveSibes Sweet 16th Blogiversary! (And Giveaway)!

 

 A "Sweet 16" Celebration Time Is Here!

Woo! Wow! February 23, 2026 marked our FiveSibes16th Blogiversary! My first blog post debuted on February 23, 2010 with my very first post featuring our alpha queen "Harley" and Pet Dental Health. And what a reception I received from fellow bloggers in Blogville! What a terrific place to be and host a blog. We're like family - a "blog-mily" - we have seen each other through the highs of having amazing pets to the lows of losing them. I have made so many wonderful friends here, who also have wonderful blogs of their own. Never did I imagine that I'd still have this blog going strong 16 years later! What a testament to the breed, to writing, and to you, my devoted readers, many who have been here from the very start.

Enter Our Giveaway for a Custom FiveSibes 
Embroidered Patch At End of this Post!

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you know I was inspired, of course, by my beloved five beautiful Siberian Huskies - Harley, Gibson, Wolfgang (Wolfie), Chloe, and Bandit~~a/k/a the amazing FiveSibes! 

 
Sharing my life with these five amazing dogs was nothing short of AH-mazing. What a wonderful time in my life. They were part of my family for almost five years when I began writing about them and the breed, and about my big fluffy wooly boy, Gibson, was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy in 2009. As a result of our joureny together, I became an advocate for Epi-dogs (dogs with epilepsy) and added writing about Canine Epilepsy awareness to my docket of writing topics here on this blog.

My First FiveSibes Blog Post!

 
As I've said in previous Blogiversary posts, this site has come a long way, baby! My first blog post was pretty simple. Over the years, I've changed the look of the blog's design, updating it from what I felt was a "cool" look, but as the technology changed, I soon realized (after seeing most of my viewers read this blog on a smartphone,followed by tablet, with a computer being very minimal). So, I designed it to become a more friendly site for that viewing method. But what never changed was the stories and the integrity, experience, joy, and honesty behind them. As a career photojournalist, I have always continued to bring readers news about Siberian Huskies, rescues, podcasts, videos, articles, Canine Epilepsy resources, and all things K9!

I always loved, and still love, writing this blog! While it is bittersweet now for my five muses are now furangels, but it is in their name--their legacy--that this remains and I feel driven to continue with FiveSibes for as long as I can. And having you all follow along and be our "neighbors" here in Blogville, is truly wonderful and appreciated.

 


💙 My Beloved #ForeverFiveSibes 💙 
 

 A Fond Look Back Over This Past Year Alone!

 


I also love hosting the weekly #FlashbackFriday, sharing photos and memories of alpha queen Harley, Gibson who was so in love with her, and the silly, wacky Pupsters - Wolfie and his sisters Bandit and Chloe. And I enjoy seeing you link up with wonderful photos and memories of your own...and it's open to all pets!

In 2012, with encouragement from Robert Forto (producer and co-host), I debuted my first podcast episode of "The Sibe Vibe" on Dog Works Radio, which ran through 2019! I do think about doing a few "special" episodes, so who knows? For now, since the recording platform Blog Talk Radio shut down, and with it went many of the episodes we recorded. But fear not! I have originals of all and one by one, I'm uploading them, especially the ones that have evergreen material, to our @FiveSibes YouTube channel!

"The Sibe Vibe" 10th Anniversary - Looking back at our "Live" Edition!
Click on image to see the post of this special event! 


I am beyond thrilled that this FiveSibes blog and my companion #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library has been awarded the Dog Writer Association of America's prestigious Maxwell Medallion for "Excellence" - what an honor and way to pay homage to my furry five best friends, and help others who are the Canine Epilepsy journey with their furry best friends like I was with my beloved Gibson.

I have always been able to share wonderful accomplishments with you all, too. From the publications and awards of my dog books and magazine articles, to becoming an official Purple Day® for (K9) Epilepsy Ambassador in 2012, then invited to join the Anita Kaufmann Foundation/Purple Day®️Every Day in 2018 and creating #Paws4Purple --the FIRST Canine Epilepsy initiative to join a human nonprofit, and just last year, collaborating on a special "Caring for the Epi-Dog & Caregiver: The Importance of Self Care" video slideshow with The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary Medicine, and just so proud of everything in between.

A huge "THANK YOU" must go out to all of you, my loyal readers. Your support, comments, and follows, means the world to me. And when I hear that something I've written touched one of your hearts (or funny bone), or helped you, it once again reminds me of how wonderful Blogville is. Your continued support of my writing is so appreciated!

I don't know if my FiveSibes blog will be here in another 16 years, but I do hope it will be active for a long time to come. I am so thankful for the past 16 years, and while I miss my beloved furry sidekicks so much, they are always right here in my heart as I write here on this blog--their blog. And, write here I will continue to do for the foreseeable future.

🎉 Raffle Time! 🎉

Sixteen sweet years seems like another great time to have a drawing to say thanks for being with us on this ride...so, again this year, I'm going to be raffling off a custom-made embroidered FiveSibes patch, with a purple ribbon for K9 epilepsy awareness! 

 

My boy, Wolfie, with our FiveSibes patch!


🐾  FiveSibes Trivia 🐾

I just love to share this bit of FiveSibes trivia! One of my patches was worn by musher Nicole Forto on the sleeve of her coat (you can see it the photo on the left) when she raced in the Junior Iditarod! Definitely a proud moment!

 And pictured below, Nicole below with a closer look at our patch proudly displayed on her jacket. She also took my book Getting Healthy With Harley along for the Iditarod ride! I love that FiveSibes were part of the Junior Iditarod! Nicole is now an amazing dog trainer in Alaska!


 NOTE: 

Must Be Age 18+ 
Open to U.S. Residents Only at This Time 
 
Extra Qualifying Entries For: 

1) Commenting on the blog how long you've been a FiveSibes reader 
2) Follow FiveSibes Facebook Page
3) Follow @FiveSibesMom on Instagram 
4) Subscribe to our @FiveSibes YouTube Channel 
 

🐾 Drawing Ends March 11th at 1:15 PM EST. 

🐾 Prize Awarded After 1:15 PM on March 12th

 
 
 

This portrait and the one up top of my FiveSibes 
commissioned by the talented artist/illustrator Cameo Anderson 
 
Thank You for 16 Wonderful Years 
of Readership! 
~Dorothy "FiveSibesMom"
 
Me and my fur"kids" 2010 (l-r): Harley, Gibson, Chloe, Wolfie, and Bandit in the DWAA Interview 2024 after winning a writing award for my "K9 Veterans Day: Honoring Our Military Working Dogs" article. Click on image above to read the interview conducted by Anne Marie Duquette.

💙 Memories Are Visits For the Heart 💜

 

We're joining in the Comedy Plus' "Happy Tuesday Blog Hop" because we're so happy to be sharing our "Sweet 16" Blogiversary with you! Click on photo to visit some other happy sites!
 
 

💜 🐕

Back to FiveSibes Home Page & #LiveGibStrong K9 Epilepsy Library

Still available are a limited number of new, first-print copies of my award-winning coffee table book featuring beautiful Epi-dogs across the world from our imashutrbug Ebay store:

(click on image to buy)  

 

Click on the logos below to go to some of our pages! 

 

Comments

  1. SandeeMarch 4, 2026 at 2:59 PM

    ♪♫Happy Blogiversary to you,♪♫
    ♪♫Happy Blogiversary to you,♪♫
    ♪♫Happy Blogiversary Dear FiveSibes,♪♫
    ♪♫Happy Blogiversary to you.♪♫

    Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous day and week. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian's Home BlogMarch 4, 2026 at 6:32 PM

    Happy Blogoversary from all of us!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 4, 2026 at 6:45 PM

    Momma and all our therapy dogs would love to honor your dogs and your work with a patch. Ruby the Therapy Dog

    ReplyDelete
  4. messymimiMarch 4, 2026 at 10:28 PM

    I wish you many happy returns of your blog anniversary! I enjoy reading about your wonderful sibes.

    ReplyDelete

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