Our Pupsters turn eight today! I can't believe it! I always love their birthday because this trio was able to grow up together! Watching them play and interact with each other from puppy stage to now 8-year-old puppy stage, has just been an amazing experience. They have such an amazing bond. They each have their own special traits and quirks, and yes, they have a bossy older sister (Bandit), just like siblings do, but they all love each other and eat, play, and sleep with each other with so much trust and love, it just warms my heart. They always loved their big brother, Gibson, and Harley immediately took on the role of surrogate mother when we brought these babies home!  I recently read somewhere that someone was looking for help raising two littermates, and one of the comments suggested she quick rehome one as it is never a good idea to welcome two puppies from the same litter into one's home. Ha! Rubbish, I say! My three are so wonderful, and truly bonded. Do they ...

--> #LiveGibStrong * #LiveGibStrongForever Today is Blog the Change for Animals and Flashback Friday and I’m talking about the upcoming Purple Day® for Epilepsy . In just 70 days, it will be March 26 - Purple Day! My Flashback is this photo of my boy, Gibson, with his poster for awareness that I take when I'm on the road talking about Canine Epilepsy, fundraising, or signing books, not just on March 26, but all year long . Many of you know by now that my beautiful Epi-Husky, Gibson, earned his wings and journeyed North of the Rainbow Bridge shortly before Christmas this past December. It was so sudden, I still can not believe he is gone. I feel, see, and hear him everywhere. He was my very special boy. My canine super hero. My heart dog. He was my inspiration and partner behind our #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness Campaign to let others know that dogs can – and DO – live full, happy lives with Canine Epilepsy. And in the end, it was not Canine Epile...

Bandit and Wolf: "Maybe if we stare long enough, a slice will jump right out of the box into our mouths! "

Kings River Life Magazine Part Two of my two-part series on the magnificent breed of the Siberian Husky is now out in Kings River Life Magazine is out! You can check out the full article in their January 9 issue HERE,  where I talk to other Husky experts on the subjects of dryland and snow mushing, therapy work, special needs, and rescue. In case you missed the first installment, please visit HERE , where I touch on the history of the Siberian Husky, urban mushing, and training tips specifically for this highly intelligent, sometimes stubborn, but always fun, breed! "If you know people who are contemplating adding a Husky to their family, please share my series with them to help in educating them on this...beautiful breed of dogs so the commitment they make to having a Siberian Husky will be a forever one." ~Dorothy Wills-Raftery A Siberian Husky parent for the past almost 11 years, this is an outstanding and wonderful breed. With their stunning beauty, ...

Today, my trip down Memory Lane is of my wooly boy, Gibson. Flashing back to April of 2006, when my sweet baby boy was just an adorable, already sweet, four month old puppy, and the second Siberian Husky to join our family! As soon as I saw him and picked him up, I couldn't put him down, and he didn't want me to! He had such captivating, soulful eyes, and I only had eyes for him! We snuggled and slept together on my recliner, with him on my lap (at four months he was already a good size and took up the length of me!) for the whole night. I was SO in love with this boy, a special love that has captured my heart for eternity. It was love at fluffy, wooly first sight! When I saw him come bounding out, doing a puppy version of what was to become his famous Gibbie Hip-Hop dance, I knew my Husky had just chosen me! He was so happy, something he would be always be throughout his too-short life...a very happy Husky! I honestly believe he was born that way! That day when we first me...

FiveSibes "Gibson" Les Paul of Mystic Mountain January 6, 2006 ~ December 16, 2015  Happy 10th Birthday to my sweet FurAngel Gibson on his first birthday in Heaven. If you were to ask me a month ago, I'd tell you this certainly was not how I was planning on spending today. But then again, we never do plan for these days, do we? While we know the day is inevitable, we secretly hope it never comes, that maybe it will be forgotten by fate... I spent most of today reminiscing...looking at photos and videos of Gibson with me and his pack family. I had hoped today would be similar to birthdays of the past - a day of celebrating with Gibson and the FiveSibes, complete with new toys, a singing toy "cake," Husky games, and a special bone-shaped ice cream cake proudly sporting those double digits 1-0, seven of them beating Canine Epilepsy and the seizure "monster."  Let's eat cake! January 6, 2012 I can see so clearly all those birthdays pas...

--> Do you know someone who is thinking of adding a Siberian Husky to their family? Is a neighbor looking for some training tips for their Husky? Have you thought about hitting the trails - dusty or snowy - with your Sibe? I'm pleased to announce that Part One of my two-part article series on "Is a ‪‎Siberian Husky the Right Breed for You?" is now out in Kings River Life Magazine where I talk to experts in the field all about the magnificent breed of the Siberian Husky, touching on traits, habits, urban mushing, therapy work, rescued Huskies, and more!  Read (and comment if you'd like)  HERE !    Kings River Life Magazine   *Part Two coming in next issue!*  A special thanks goes out to BlogPaws ! Through my membership as a pet parent, Husky blogger, photojournalist, and author, the Kings River Life editor and I were able to connect for this very special series.