Happy Fall Ya'll!

Happy Fall Ya'll! This is my favorite season of all...the weather isn't so unbearably hot, our pumpkin patch is here for a few weeks, it was Waggin' Tails' birthday on October 5, and our Hoe-Down is October 28!

PUMPKINS!!! Everyone knows it's not *really* fall until the pumpkins arrive. Ours patch will be here October 9-31, so make plans to bring the family for pictures and to purchase a few for your home.

If you haven't ever attended our annual Hoe-Down, you don't know what you're missing. It's always such a fun event, for humans and canines alike. The kids will love the inflatables, games, face-painting and balloon animals and the whole family will love the food and live music. Bring your dog(s) for treats and the costume contest; everyone will go home happy!

Can you believe Waggin' Tails is 12 years old? I was just a baby when we opened the Ranch, and have been so lucky to be here to watch it grow into the wonderful place it is. I've made countless friends since 2005. Waggin' Tails truly is a family, and I feel so honored to have been a part of it since the beginning.

 

*Fall also means upcoming big holidays, and a need for a great place for your pet(s) to stay while your family is out of town. Waggin' Tails is already full for Thanksgiving, and we have just a few spots left for Christmas/New Years boarding. Call us today to get on our Thanksgiving waiting list or reserve your spot for December.

How You Can Help Our Favorite Charities Recover From Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey hit our community hard. We were so blessed here at the Ranch; we did not have any flooding and all our four legged guests stayed safe and dry for the duration of the storm. And after the rains stopped, there was plenty of mud to roll around in. They had a blast!

Unfortunately, my beloved Ballard House did not fair so well. As most of you know, I spent my entire therapy dog career comforting the guests at the Ballard House while they and their family members were residents during cancer treatments. During Hurricane Harvey, the Ballard House suffered heavy damage due to flood waters. All of the guests had to be evacuated and the house is temporarily closed while repairs are being made.

The community has rallied for the Ballard House, raising donations, collecting supplies and hosting residents in host homes. However, there is much left to do to have this wonderful place up and running again. Please visit their Facebook page for the latest updates and for details about what they have gone through since Harvey.

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE BALLARD HOUSE

• Donate money to help with repairs
• Donate supplies: We will be collecting supplies here at Waggin' Tails Pet Ranch beginning on October 10. Keep checking Waggin' Tails Facebook page and/or The Ballard House's Facebook page for updated lists of needed supplies.
• Volunteer your time: As soon as the house is repaired, they will need an army of volunteers to get it ready for future guests

Another charitable organization that is near and dear to our hearts here at Waggin' Tails is Fort Bend County Animal Services. There were a lot of displaced animals during Hurricane Harvey, and they have been working diligently to reunited pets with their owners and find homeless animals forever homes. Check out their Facebook page for more information on the great work they are doing.

HOW YOU CAN HELP FORT BEND COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

• Donate Supplies: Currently, their biggest need is Advantix yard spray and any other flea and tick meds
• Foster a homeless dog or cat
• Adopt a homeless dog or cat

** For information on fostering or adopting, please contact Barbara Vass at Barbara.Vass@fortbendcountytx.gov **

Waggin' Tails will be having our annual Hoe-Down on October 28 and all proceeds from this event will be going to The Ballard House and Fort Bend County Animal Services. Plan to come out with your whole family for food, games, inflatable fun, and more! FBCAS will be here with adoptable pets- come meet your new family member! Let's show these two organizations how much we support them and all they do for our community!

Happy Birthday to Me...I'm 13!

Hey ya'll, Wyatt here. In case you haven't heard, I just celebrated the Big 1-3. I'm kind of in denial about it, because in dog years, thirteen is, well, old. Yes, I'm officially an old man. Sure, being old isn't the greatest sometimes; I move a lot slower, had to retire from therapy dog work, and can't be the Daycamp "test dog" anymore. But old age can't keep me away from this place; I'm still the official   Sheriff of Waggin' Tails, and I'll hold on to that title forever. Plus, there are a lot of things I still CAN do, like digging up landscaping, loving on the kids that come to visit me, and begging pats and treats from our clients all day long.

I was just a puppy when Waggin' Tails opened it's doors in 2005, and I've made countless memories since. My boys were a lot littler too.

I've been through two major construction jobs here at the Ranch, back in 2005 and in 2014, when we expanded. I supervised, begged food from the workers, and kept everything and everyone in line around here.

In thirteen years, I've done a lot of living...and CELEBRATING! I've celebrated a lot of birthdays and holidays doing my job. I've been subjected to some ridiculous costumes, but eh, no job is perfect.

One of the best things about my life as the Sheriff of Waggin' Tails is the places I get to visit and the people I get to meet. I've been to countless events, festivals, and I've been around for 11 Hoedowns.

In 2012 I became an officially certified therapy dog, and spent the next few years comforting patients and their families at the Ballard House in Katy. I take great pride in my therapy dog career, and want the love and comfort I was able to pass on to those people to be my legacy.

Yes, I'm an old man now, but I'm still living my best life. Thank you to all in the Waggin' Tails family for making the last thirteen years fill of pats, hugs, treats and fun.

Love,
Wyatt

Updated Vaccination Protocol

Hello Friends!

I wanted to let you know about a few changes to our required vaccination protocol at the Ranch. The following letter should have everything you need to know about what your pet needs before coming out to see us.

Love, Wyatt


Vaccination Update and Canine Influenza:

 

Hello from your Waggin’ Tails family!  Here is an update on our vaccination protocol as well as the latest on Canine Influenza that has been in the news.

Ø  We require that dogs be vaccinated for 1 or 3 year Rabies (depending on veterinarian documentation), Distemper/Parvo combo (also known as DHLPP or DHLPP-C) and semi-annual* Bordatella (or kennel cough). *Bordatella exception- the one year Zoetis/Phizer vaccine will be accepted with written proof from the veterinarian provided by the owner.  Zoetis (formally Phizer) guarantees their annual Bordatella vaccine and will cover any medical costs due to canine cough. If an owner chooses to go with the one year Zoetis bordatella, Waggin’ Tails will not cover canine cough under their Healthy Pet Guarantee.

Ø  Waggin’ Tails strongly recommends the Canine Influenza vaccination annually but does not require it. If owner does not vaccinate for Canine Flu- it is not covered under our Healthy Pet Guarantee.

Many clients have been asking about the latest outbreak of Canine Influenza in the Midwest that has been on the news. Here is one link to the story and an explanation of the new strain that has entered our country. I would encourage all clients to be informed but not panicked and to speak to their veterinarian about the need to vaccinate or not.

http://mediarelations.cornell.edu/2015/04/12/midwest-canine-influenza-outbreak-caused-by-new-strain-of-virus/

 

Remember: Summer is almost here and so is flea and tick season!! Make sure your pets are on prevention when they come to our facility. And- now is the time to make your Summer Reservations.

 

Please feel free to contact one of our staff members with any questions or concerns. Thank you for making Waggin’ Tails Pet Ranch where your pets come to play!!!

My Boy and Beauty and the Beast

How was ya'lls Thanksgiving? Ours was great- we had a full house at the Ranch, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and their Thanksgiving treats!

I meant to post about this earlier before the holiday, but I just got so busy...I am so thankful for "my boys". Daylan and Donovan are the coolest human brothers a dog could ask for and I love spending my days fighting over the prime spot on the couch with them.

This weekend, my boy Daylan is starring as Lumiere in Foster High School's production of Beauty and the Beast. I am so proud of his talent and all his hard work.

It made my day to be able to go to his rehearsal today and hang out with some of the cast members!

I know Daylan and all the other kids involved in the production would love your support at the show. See the poster below for details on how to get tickets!

Thankful #6: Babies!

It's no secret that I love little humans. It makes my day when a family drops off their fur-baby for his stay and brings their human baby with them for me to kiss and snuggle with. It's especially exciting when one of our staff members has a baby- we definitely consider these little ones part of our Waggin' Tails family. So far there have been 5 "Waggin' Tails Babies" born since we have been open:

Grayson, born September 2010

Jordyn, born July 2012

Matthew, born August 2012

Charlotte, born January 2013

Eli, born August 2013

I
n just a few weeks, we will add a 6th Waggin Tails baby to our family. Our kennel tech Stephanie is due with a baby boy named Liam! The staff celebrated Stephanie and Liam last night with a WT baby shower at La Finca.

Congratulations Stephanie! I can't wait to meet your little guy and to cover him with kisses!

Thankful #5

Howdy Ya'll! Did you have a good weekend? The cold weather sure didn't last long did it? I shed my scarf and did some sun-bathing in the crisp 80 degree weather we had around these parts on Saturday and Sunday.

Today I am thankful for beds to share with brothers. This is my brother Gianni. We are very different, he and I, but at the end of the day, we love each other and sure do love our mid-morning naps!

Thankful #4

I woke up this morning and to my delight discovered that the weather outside in Fulshear, Texas finally, finally matched up with the date on the calendar. This, my friends, is November.

Today, I'm thankful for crisp, cold mornings, sunny and cool afternoons, and getting to break out my winter wardrobe.

I love any excuse to wear a scarf!

Thankful #3: Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day Friends! I am so humbled and honored to be able to recognize the men and women who have served and will continue to serve our great country. Thank you for your service.

I am so thankful for our soldiers and all they do to protect you and me and allow us to enjoy the freedoms we have in America. I'm also thankful when those soldiers get to come home and be reunited with their family members (of whatever species).

Take a few minutes to watch this video; it is truly incredible the bond that dogs and humans share. Grab the tissues before you click Play!

Thankful #2

Today, I'm thankful I live in a world where there is ice cream. Can I get an Amen?

Special thanks to Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers for providing yummy treats for our guests at the Hoe-Down and to Photography by Nikki Guest for capturing  this sweet moment!

Thankful

Howdy ya'll! It's November, the month we focus on the good things in our lives, and showing gratitude for those things. I love the tradition I see on social media, where my friends post all the things they are thankful for. This year, I'm going to try it out myself. I have so much to be thankful for...my Waggin' Tails family, a wonderful home with acres to run on, and almost unlimited access to pats and hugs.

Today, on this rainy Monday after a beautiful, busy weekend, I'm thankful for my couch and for lazy afternoon naps.

It's the simple things, isn't it?

The Hoe-Down is Just Days Away!

Howdy Ya'll! We're busy getting ready for the Hoe-Down this weekend, and I just wanted to check in and make sure you all are ready too! We have a fun-filled day planned for kids, adults and dogs alike.

A few reminders:

• Saturday morning is the Celebrate Your Princess Breast Cancer Walk at Cross Creek Ranch. This annual event is always a blast, and I look forward to wearing pink and strutting my stuff over there every year. If you haven't registered, click here to do so (by Thursday so you get a deal) and we will see you Saturday morning, walking for Team MeBe!

• Don't forget the Costume Contest at the Hoe-Down. Click here for details. We will have "celebrity" judges and awesome prizes- you do NOT want to miss out! No canine costume yet? No problem! Swing by WT, say hello, and pick one up. We have a huge selection and all sizes available.

Still need a reason to make the trip to Fulshear Saturday afternoon? This year at the Hoe-Down, we will have

• Fred Rusk Zydeco Band
• Face and Hair Painting
• Balloon Artist Clown
• Games and Trick-Or Treating
• 65 foot obstacle course, moonwalk and bungee jump
• Pet photography by Nikki Guest Photography 
• Pumpkin Patch activities
• Sidewalk sale
• Wag-n-Wade dog pool for canine swimming
• CAP "kissing booth" and goodie sale
• Paw Wash
• Tours of the WT facility
• Booths featuring Celebrate your Princess, Sweet Tooth Shoppe, Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, Lion's Club and Trainer Talk

You will definitely want to have you and/or your pets' picture taken at the Hoe-Down. We will be taking walk-ups at the event, but would like you to make an appointment if you can. The cost is $20, all proceeds go to CAP and you will receive the digital download. Please call 281-533-0500 or email us at info@waggintailspetranch.com to make an appointment.

Special thanks to our sponsors and organizations who are helping make this an awesome event: Chick-Fil-A, Sweet Tooth Shoppe, Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, Nikki Guest Photography, City of Fulshear, Golden Entertainment Group, Lion's Club, First United Methodist Church Fulshear, and Wild West 4-H.

We can't wait to see all our friends on Saturday!

It's Hoe-Down Time!

It's October- my favorite time of year! The weather is cooler (well, at least for several hours a day), the pumpkins arrive soon, and in just a few short weeks is the annual Waggin' Tails Pet Ranch Hoe-Down! If you've never been to one of our Hoe-Downs, mark your calendars NOW. You do not want to miss it. This year, we are teaming up with the Celebrate Your Princess breast cancer awareness walk and are doing both events the same day!

As usual, the Hoe-Down will have tons to keep both your two and four legged family members having fun for hours. We have games, trick-or-treating and inflatables for the kids, live music, food and a pumpkin patch for the whole family, and treats, pet photography and a costume contest for your canine family members.

 

Ok, so let's talk costumes. You dogs better start planning  your costumes now, because word is the competition is going to be fierce.

 

Exhibit A:

 

There's going to be several categories for the contest, judged by several city officials and business owners (and we'll have some GREAT prizes for the winners):

• Best costume for small breed dog (under 40 pounds)
• Best costume for medium/large breed dog (over 40 pounds)
• Best kid/dog pair
• Best adult/dog pair

The Hoe-Down is from 1:00-4:00 pm this year, and judging will be at 2:30 pm.

 

Need costume inspiration? Come by Waggin' Tails- we have a huge selection of canine costumes!

 

 

 
If you haven't already, be sure to Like our Facebook page and RSVP on our Hoe-Down event page. We can't wait to see you on October 26!
 

 

Special thanks to Wrigley for modeling costumes for this blog post 

Wyatt's Week

Howdy Friends! Next Sunday is my birthday- I'm turning the big 9 (never mind how old that makes me in dog years)! I love birthdays, and I hate the celebration just to be confined to one measly day. So this year, I decided to make July 29-August 2 WYATT'S WEEK. What do you think?

Since I have everything I need (food, a warm place to sleep, and more pats and hugs than any dog on the planet), I thought it would be nice during my week to collect donations for my canine and feline friends who aren't so fortunate.

So, any time during WYATT'S WEEK, come by the Ranch and drop off toys, treats, food, supplies (see below for the list of needed items), or cash and I will personally deliver it to Citizens for Animal Protection to be used to help homeless pets.

We'll also be celebrating my birthday at the Ranch on Wednesday, July 31, so drop by any time that day for cake and (dog) cookies.

Happy Birthday to ME!

CAP Wish List
http://www.cap4pets.org/support-us/donation-programs/wish-list

Urgent Needs

• Dry Kitten and Puppy Food
• Canned Kitten and Puppy Food (we cannot accept food with a red dye additive)
• Newspaper - no inserts or shiny pages please.
• Kong Dog Toys are needed to keep the dogs active and entertained while they await their new forever homes.

Everyday Wish List

• Puppy and Kitten Milk Replacer (for our Foster Home babies)
• Paper towels (White--no patterns, please)
• Newspaper--folded or completely unfolded and stacked is always needed to line the crates and cages.
• Bathroom Tissue
• Garbage bags (45 gal/heavy duty)
• Ultra Clorox Bleach
• Dish detergent
• Cat Litter (clay, not clumping)
• Copy paper
• Office Supplies
• Bath Towels (new or used)
• Plastic grocery bags (no holes, no receipts)
• Cat Toy

Hugs and Kisses

Hugs are the best, aren't they? There's science behind that- something about the release of endorphins or something...but all I know is whenever I get a hug from one of my friends, I always feel better.

And some added bonuses: Hugs are FREE, non-fattening, and have no unpleasant side effects. They are (almost) better than dog treats!

 

 

 

There is no better psychiatrist in the world than a puppy licking your face.

— Woodrow Wilson