Smells like teen spirit – doggie edition

Everyone loves a puppy. He’s adorable, tiny, and too young to be held accountable for his actions. He pees on the floor because his bladder is small. He nips your finger because he doesn’t know any better. He uses your favorite sandals as a chew toy because he’s...

The better to smell you with, my dear

When I walk in the house after being at the rescue, my dogs are all over me. They sniff my pants from ankle to hip, noses vibrating with excitement. And why not? So many other pups to smell!  But sometimes when I come home after being nowhere near another dog,...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Mariah Carey and Nat King Cole croon through my car radio, my inbox is chock full of pre-Black Friday offers, and I can almost smell the pumpkin pie. Sure, my lawn is still covered in leaves and the leftover Halloween candy is calling my name, but time stands still...

Senior dogs need rescuing too

I’ve written before about how black dogs are often the ones left unadopted in shelters. But it’s not just the color of a coat that can have a negative impact on adoptions; senior dogs (age seven and older) are frequently left languishing while waiting for a family to...

Keeping dogs safe on Halloween

As a child of the seventies and eighties, I loved Halloween. I put on my plastic mask that obstructed my vision, grabbed my orange plastic Jack ‘o Lantern candy holder, and hit the streets without a parent or a cell phone. I came home and sorted my candy,...

Pit bulls: The myths and the truth

Most people know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but at CHN, we also celebrate Pit Bull Awareness Month. A rescue group Bless the Bullys established Pit Bull Awareness Day in 2007, “as an opportunity to educate, change minds, and bring...