It’s a little less than two weeks until the next Cubbie Tails fundraiser for the Cedar Bend Humane Society!

Don’t forget, the “Dog Day” with the Waterloo Bucks baseball team is Sunday, June 12th at 3:05 p.m. But get there early because the Waterloo Police K-9 Unit is putting on a demonstration at 2:30 p.m.

The cost is $10 for you AND your dog. We’ll sit in a special section of the ballpark. If you don’t have a dog, but want to support the cause, just pay the $10 and ask $5 go the humane society.

Cubs and I worked today to get more stuff ready. (Well, I worked. Cubbie mostly slept).

I made posters, which I’m actually quite proud of because usually I’m awful at anything dealing with arts and crafts. So those are mostly done, and I also began putting together doggy gift bags.

The first 20 dogs to the ballpark day get a free gift! It’s not much, but just my way of saying thanks for helping to support homeless animals.

Posted under Uncategorized

Want a good cry? Check out this incredible CNN video in which an Alabama woman, showing a reporter her tornado-ravaged home, unexpectedly finds her cat who’d been missing for nearly a month.

Just try not to tear up when you see Judy Pugh standing among the rubble that was her house, hugging her cat and saying, “I have everything in the world now.”

Judy was one of thousands left homeless by the storms that ravaged the South last month. (Read about efforts to care for the pets of those affected.)

When the tornado tore the roof off her house, Judy was able to escape with two of her three cats. For weeks, she returned to the site every day to search for the third. 

Amazingly, during her interview with CNN, the cat came walking up — a little worse for wear, but happy to see his mom.

Weeping as she calls a friend to share the news, she says, “I wish he could talk — he could tell me where he’s been.” So do we, but we’re thankful we could witness this small part of their story.

Posted under In the News

I’m the first to admit I’m (slightly) overprotective of Cubbie.

I’ve taken care of him for nearly five years now, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I do feel I need to protect him from something that may cause him harm.

Now, I’m not overprotective for no reason. One of the first nights I had Cubbie he got into the cabinet underneath the bathroom and got into some stuff and almost had to have surgery! Then when he was on a walk/run with someone his leash (and Cubbie) got wrapped around a telephone pole. As a puppy he accidentally fell off the counter while at my parent’s house, and once he jumped out of a car window when my friend was watching him because he needed to go to the bathroom. Not to mention a couple times when his collar slipped off his neck as a puppy and I thought he’d get hit by a car in the road! Needless to say, trouble seems to find Cubbie.

I realize it’s all part of the adventure of having a dog, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to Cubbie that I could have some how prevented.

Recently, a friend and I took our dogs on a walk on some trails. His dog was running around, enjoying everything, and I had Cubs on the leash, afraid to let him out of my sight.

BUT… my friend helped me relax long enough to let Cubbie enjoy a fun-filled day of running on trails through the woods.

A year ago, maybe even six months ago, I don’t think I would have even considered it. I would be so stressed out worrying something would happen that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself. I mean, he could run off after a squirrel or a rabbit or get into poison ivy or anything else my imagination could come up with.

With that said, I owe my friend a huge thank you for helping me to let my overprotective guard down, even if it was only for an hour.

I can’t tell you how much fun it was to see Cubbie running with another dog in the woods. Thankfully, that dog is very well-trained. I never thought he’d run off, and Cubs seemed to follow his lead. I was so impressed at how he would run ahead, but then always come back to see where I was. It was so sweet. If I ever called him, he came running back. I never thought that would happen!

Cubbie was running, jumping over logs, getting muddy and just being a dog! He was so happy, and I was smiling and laughing the whole time watching him.

I realized sometimes I just need to let Cubbie be a dog. Unfortunately, I can’t protect from everything, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t let him cut loose every once in a while.

We spent an hour walking/running the trails, and by the end Cubbie was so tired he was walking behind me!

Of course he got a bath when we got home, but then he crashed for several hours.

It was a great day for Cubbie, and it was a great day for me, too.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still overprotective, but I’m glad I learned I can relax (sometimes).

Posted under Cubbie stories

Good news! The Waterloo Police Department K-9 Unit is joining us at this year’s “Dog Day at the Ballpark.”

You’re invited to the Dog Day on Sunday, June 12th at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. The event is sponsored by Cubbie Tails and the Waterloo Bucks baseball team.

The game starts at 3:05 p.m. BUT… the Waterloo Police K-9 will provide a demonstration at 2:30 p.m. Please join us for the demonstration and baseball game!

For just $10, you AND your dog can enjoy a Sunday afternoon ball game. All proceeds from the Cubbie Tails portion go to the Cedar Bend Humane Society.

If you don’t have a dog, but want to help the cause, just pay the $10 and ask that $5 go to the humane society.

Posted under Pet Events

The Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo is teaming up with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank to provide pet owners with food.

Here’s a link to the story on the new Paws Pantry.

WATERLOO (KWWL) – Many animals end up at the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo because their owners can’t afford food and other care. That’s why the CBHS just launched the “Paws Pantry” with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

“There’s a lot of times getting a bag of food here or there is the difference between keeping your pet or turning it over to our shelter. So if we’re able to alleviate that burden of giving up your pet, we’d like to step in and help out,” said Lindsay Rook with the Cedar Bend Humane Society.

The second and fourth Fridays of every month, CBHS staff will be at the food bank in Waterloo.

“We ask people to come and fill out an application, just saying the number of pets they have in their house cat, dog that sort of thing. And they’re allowed to get one food bank pick up each month. Depending on the size of the animal depends on the size of food they receive,” said Rook.

Donated food that can’t be used by the shelter will be given back to the community, with the ultimate goal of keeping pets in their homes.

“We do exist to help as well. So many people help us, we want to give back. We want to make sure you’re able to keep your pet,” said Rook.

Staffers with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank said people often give the food they receive to their pets instead of eating it themselves. So, hopefully this option can help people get their own food and still be able to provide for their pets.

Posted under In the News

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms AND my fellow dog moms!

Thank you Cubbie (who had a little help from a friend) for the wonderful Doggy Mother’s Day card.

Our pets may not be children, but we take care of them and I know I love my furry baby. We hope everyone enjoys the day!

Cubbie at seven weeks old

Posted under Cubbie stories

The Cedar Valley Humane Society will hold an Emergency Care and Safety Institute course in pet first aid on Saturday, May 14, from 9:00 a. m to 3:00 p.m. in the Animal Health Technology Building on the Kirkwood Community College campus.

The cost is $40, which includes a reference book and ECSI Pet First Aid Certification valid for three years. Students are asked to bring their own lunch and leave their pets at home.

Register for the Cedar Valley Humane Society’s ECSI pet first aid class at www.cvhumane.org.

Posted under Pet Events

You and your dog are invited to the Fourth Annual Cubbie Tails Fundraiser for the Cedar Bend Humane Society.

Once again this year I’m teaming up with the Waterloo Bucks for a “Dog Day at the Ballpark.”

This year’s dog day is Sunday, June 12th at 3:05 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo.

For just $10, you and your dog can enjoy a Waterloo Bucks baseball game! (People with dogs will need to sit in a special section).

I’ll also have t-shirts and a small amount of other merchandise for sale. The other merchanise includes paw print mugs, pet-themed jewelry and pet-themed bumper stickers.

Even if you don’t have a dog… you can still support the cause! Just come to the game, pay the $10 admission fee and ask that $5 goes to the humane society.

I’m very thankful to the Waterloo Bucks for once again making this possible.

So come on out and support the Bucks and the Cedar Bend Humane Society! Hopefully it will be a great day for baseball again this year!

Posted under Pet Events