Author: Amy Olivieri

My life has gone to the dogs! It's my passion to educate people about fostering, adoption, and good pet ownership within the pages of Unleash Jacksonville and on unleashjax.com.

4 Things not to say to someone who’s fostering an animal

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

/ Published in the TRIPPIN’ Issue

by Karen Camerlengo

 

Fostering means bringing in a cat or dog—or parrot, horse, baby pig, or any other homeless pet—with the goal of nurturing them for a while until a permanent home can be found. Foster parents are an amazing and integral part of a system that saves lives.

Sometimes people unwittingly say things that aren’t supportive to the end goal of fostering. Here are a couple of things I (and other foster parents) routinely hear that are just not helpful:

You can’t give him up, he LOVES you!
Of course he does. I’m totally awesome. But you know what? He’s gonna love the person who adopts him even more.

She thinks she is HOME.
Yup. She does. And yes she looks happy. Considering where she just came from, she thinks she’s in Heaven. But she’s not home—yet. We’re working on it.

You HAVE to keep him!
No I don’t. Listen, every single animal that comes in my house is in danger of being kept by me; the lucky ones get adopted out. Truly, anyone who fosters is aware that they are going to fall in love, but we don’t take them in to keep them—we take them to help the transition to a better life. No amount of pressure from friends can make us want to keep an animal that does not fit into the family or the plan. Pet ownership and increasing the numbers is a serious consideration and one we don’t take lightly. If I were to make a foster a permanent family member, that would mean one less foster family in the system, because I can have only so many dogs in my home.

They LOVE each other!
(Said in reference to seeing the foster animal and resident dog/cat playing together or snuggling). Ummmm—yeah not so much. I took this picture so you would find my foster totally adorable. I can’t tell you about the baby gates or the crates or the fighting or the infighting in my own animals because you would think it’s the foster dog causing the problem. My dogs are being jerks but I can’t tell you any of it because the foster dog is super sweet and that’s what you need to know.

Helpful things you CAN say:
• She’s adorable—tell me more about her so I can share!
• Oh I have a friend looking for a dog, let me share!
• I’ll share!
• Thank you for fostering.

A note about social media
Foster parents post their furry temporary house guests on social media because we need your help finding them a forever home. We also want to show them off because, let’s face it, they are the cutest animals eve—but we really are hoping you will be so moved that you will share.
Foster animals are some of the best animals to share, as potential adopters can learn how they are with other animals, kids, etc. They can learn about the quirks and the skills. Foster dogs are so awesome—I hope you will feel inspired to share. •

Would YOU like to foster? All expenses are taken care of—you just need to provide love and a safe space. Please reach out to Animal Care and Protective Services, The Jacksonville Humane Society, or a reputable local rescue group!

Adopting Acorn

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

/ As seen in the TRIPPIN’ issue

Editor’s note: We recently received a message from a proud mama that thrilled us:
Dear Unleash, Beatrice is a reader of your magazine, and we recently ordered four back issues for her to dive into. She always has at least one Unleash Magazine with her for reading at restaurants, in the car, or wherever there might be a quiet moment. For years she has collected photos of animals in need of adoption, and she is so proud to now be the mommy to her first ever rescue pet! Acorn came from a hoarder home with 50 cats and 30 dogs, we are working to socialize him to his new life where everything is brand new to him … I wanted to share with you the appreciation my daughter has for your magazine.

WOW! What an amazing kiddo! We greatly appreciate Beatrice’s love for animals, commitment to adoption, and affinity for Unleash! We had to hear more about her newly adopted dog …

 

/ By Beatrice, Age 10
Acorn is our newly adopted dog, we got him from S.A.F.E Pet Rescue in St. Augustine on July 10. He is a Jack Russell-mix that is around one year old. We adopted him because he was the only dog at the shelter that would let us pet him, and he was playing with the other dogs in his run instead of barking at us. He seemed happy and calm, so we brought him home as a foster and then a few days later we decided to adopt him. Acorn is surprisingly mellow for a Jack Russell Terrier. Among his favorite things are sleeping, playing, and bone chewing. I enjoy training Acorn, walking him, playing and cuddling with him. In just two months, he has learned sit, lay down, wait, sit pretty, crawl, and roll over! Together we play fetch and frisbee, one time I was playing fetch with him and he was trying to go after the ball at the same time he had another ball in his mouth. We are still working on him catching the frisbee in his mouth.

When we first brought him home from the shelter, he was afraid of the slightest things, like a grocery bag, blinds suddenly opening, palm fronds swaying in the yard, trash cans on trash day, his own shadow and reflection, and some new people. Since bringing him home, almost all of these fears have diminished. When he first meets new people I have to ask them not to reach down and pet him at first because he is handshy. Once he has the chance to sniff feet and feel secure he is much more willing to be petted. This has taught me that some dogs are shy when they first meet new people and not to go straight down and pet them and to always ask before petting a dog.

Recently, we took Acorn to North Carolina and he loved it. He was climbing on the rocks like a mountain goat. He enjoyed hiking and if we tried to turn around on a hike Acorn would just stand there and look at us like, please let me keep hiking. It was so cute! Acorn was so good during the car ride to North Carolina—he didn’t whine, whimper, or bark on any of the long car rides.

Having Acorn in my life has made everything better by a vigintillion. I think if Acorn could talk he would say the same. •

The day we met Acorn
Acorn’s first trip to the beach
The happy day we brought Acorn home

Blu and The City – My Favorite “PIT” Stops in Jacksonville’s Best Kept (Dog-Friendly) Secret: Historic Springfield

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

 

Blu and The City – My Favorite “PIT” Stops in Jacksonville’s Best Kept (Dog-Friendly) Secret: Historic Springfield

As seen in Unleash Jacksonville, Issue #24, HEART
by / Blu Beauregard (with help from mum, Alaina Mitchell)
Follow on Instagram @blu_the_pit_about_town

Springfield is one of Jacksonville’s most walkable communities and boy do I know it! With beautiful sidewalk lined streets, gorgeous historic homes, lots of parks to visit, and the friendliest neighbors around, its easy for an energetic pup like myself to stay busy. But what a lot of dog parents don’t know is Springfield is full of amazing restaurants and shops that love to roll the red carpet out for their four-legged guests! Here are a few of my favorites…

Hyperion Brewing Company
Bad to the Bone! Hyperion Brewing Company is a family-owned brewery and comes fully-stocked with lots of belly rubs and kisses. Mum and I always feel like family when we visit—I’m always offered a seat at the table, a bowl of fresh water, and lots of attention. There’s comfy, shaded seating in the front with a wonderful view of main street, as well as a huge, covered beer garden in the back with lots of room to roam. When mum and I go out for a night on the town it’s important for her to know I’m comfortable and having fun, so she can enjoy herself, too. In that regard, Hyperion scores a 5 out of 5 bones! Be sure to have your PAWrent check out their event calendar on Facebook because there is always something fun brewing!

I’m a sucker for places with great music, like Hyperion Brewing.

Crispy’s Springfield Gallery
I’m the kinda pup that likes a seat at the table, and at Crispy’s there’s always a special spot for us fur-babies! The seating out front is shaded and cooled with fans. They always have bowls full of water for their most important of guests, and the team there stays on top of keeping it full, in fact I usually get ice and a lemon in mine—because dogs are people too, right? My favorite part is how special I feel! Everyone swoons over me and makes certain that I am entertained so mum can have a good time. She always orders me the meatballs and I must say they are the best! Mum says “the drinks are generous and the food is to die for!”

How adorable is my grammy? She loves taking me to Crispy’s.

Social Grounds Coffee
Us dogs LOVE making our Humans happy, right? Next time you want to make your Mum or Dad smile take them out to Social Grounds!! As soon as you walk in you will find a big bowl of fresh water (because they have their priorities straight) which is fabulous after a stroll in this Summer heat! The team there is always happy to see you and, best of all, they have a treat stash behind the counter! According to Mum, they make the best frapps in town and they have a great assortment of snacks too!

See how happy mum is at Social Grounds?

 

Must Attend Event: Second Saturday Market Nights
This is a fun monthly event, featuring great music, food trucks, local vendors, cocktails and more, is held behind Bobby K Boutique and Bark on Main! It’s a true “Who Let The Dogs Out” kinda night! (For more info check out the SPAR event calendar on Facebook.)

Springfield is a lot like me—fun, friendly, and really good looking! The people of this community are proud of its history and they work hard to make it a beautiful place to visit. From spacious parks to tasty dining and hip breweries, there’s no shortage of things to do with your furry family members.
Come enjoy Springfield with me soon! •

Just me bein’ cute.

Don’t forget to follow Blu on Instagram – @blu_the_pit_about_town . He’s the most adorable ever.

A Gift Of The Heart

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

A Gift of the Heart / Jessica Caplette
As seen in Unleash Jacksonville / No. 24 HEART Issue

“There will always be that dog that no dog will replace, that dog that will make you cry even when it’s been gone more years than it could have ever lived.”

(MD ‘The gift of a great dog’)

I cried when asked to write a story for the HEART issue of Unleash Jacksonville. Just the mention of a heart dog was enough to flood my face with tears (in public…again). I lost my heart dog after a two-year fight with lymphoma.

But this story is about beginnings…

Remi was a black dog who wasn’t doing well in a rural shelter. Fur Sisters stepped up and gave her the break she needed. She had two failed fosters and was back in boarding needing a savior. So why not me?

Remi was on kitchen counters, sailing over couches, digging, chasing cars, jumping on people and scaring the crap out of anyone on a bicycle. She was a disaster! There was no way anyone was going to adopt her! Luke hadn’t been home all week, but Thursday night he got to experience our new foster first-hand. That night he slept on the couch with her and Remi was immediately smitten.

We sent our unruly foster to training the next day at Jet Set Pets. She came home a few weeks later a manageable dog! Luke worked with her every day for a few more weeks and Remi was finally ready for her first adoption event!

I vividly remember watching Luke take her into the yard at Brewhound and her looking at him like he was the only one in the park. With the grin on his face, I knew he found his heart dog. When we left that night, he asked if we could talk about keeping Remi. My heart was still shattered from losing Max, I wasn’t ready for a new family member.

A week later Remi was headed back down to Brewhound for a meeting with potential adopters. Luke was furious that I wouldn’t even discuss keeping Remi and I was forcing him to participate. “It’s not fair that you’re going to deny me experiencing with Remi what you had with Max!” Words true enough I had to choke back tears. I don’t think anyone should be denied the privileged experience of a heart dog.

We arrived and Kelly from Fur Sisters asked Luke to fill out some information on Remi that might help the adopters. He took the pen, likely cussing me out under his breath, and started to read the questions:

1. Would you love Remi forever?
He shot me a dirty look.

2. We hope you answered yes because she is yours forever!

Tears welled up in his eyes as confusion became understanding that this “adoption meet and greet” was all for him. Remi knew, because in that moment she jumped on him frantically kissing him…and wouldn’t you know it but there just so happened to be a photographer handy (thank you Layla Neal)!

I love dogs. I’ve loved all my dogs deeply. But I think you only get one heart dog. And I’m so grateful that Luke found his. •

ROCCO – I call him my puppy soulmate

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

 

My Heart Dog / Gina Pape
As seen in Unleash Jacksonville / No. 24 HEART Issue

ROCCO

It alllll started two years ago in July. Before I met my boyfriend, I was living alone and I missed our family dogs—we’d always had a dog (or three) running around. A house is just not a home to me unless there’s a dog running around! I went to the Jacksonville Humane Society three times in one week. The third time was the charm! I saw Rocco (previously Dixon) posted as a new dog that morning. I walked up to his cage when I got there and he looked completely exhausted. He let out a little tail wag and smile. That was it. I chose him. I brought him home and was completely in love right away. I wanted a dog who would never leave my side—that’s what I got, and so much more! As much as he’s attached to me, I’m just as attached to him. My family calls him Shadow Boy, as I trip over him on a weekly basis. I’ve had six family dogs throughout my life, but never one of my very own—Rocco is my first. I’ve never shared a bond or connection with a dog as I do with Rocco. He’s so special. He truly is my everything and will forever hold a piece of my heart. I honestly can’t put into words how much he means to me. He’s on my mind all day, every day—yes, I’m obsessed! I call him my puppy soulmate … he’s everything and more I could ever want in a best friend.

Photos: Woof Creative Photography

 

My Kylo – It hurt my heart to let him go

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

My Heart Dog / Laurie Fowler
As seen in Unleash Jacksonville / No. 24 HEART Issue

Kylo

We were fostering three 7-to-8 week-old puppies for Fur Sisters Furever Urs Rescue for several weeks—two little girls and one boy who were taken from a bad situation. I was personally going through an extremely difficult time and fostering, along with my own pups, just helped ease the pain. The girls were quite hyper and would pick on the little boy. He just wanted to cuddle and be next to someone and usually that was me. He (Kylo) became a huge comfort for me. He helped me through many hard days.

Fast forward a few weeks … we’d pre-planned a vacation so another volunteer was going to take over fostering the puppies. I helped to get the girls get settled, but I just couldn’t bring myself to hand Kylo over, so I had my husband do it as I went to sit in the car crying. We’d fostered before and, although you love them all, you’re happy for them and their new lives. This time—with him—all I wanted was for his new life to be with us. But I knew my husband didn’t want three dogs. I was just so connected to him, it hurt my heart to let him go. The exchange was over and our drive home was rather quiet, minus the sniffles from my crying.

The whole time on vacation, and even when we got back home, I just felt lost.

Two days after our return, I was having a particularly bad day, and it just so happened that my husband told me that he had a meeting and would be coming home late. That just sent me deeper over the edge.

I was laying in bed when he got home. I didn’t turn around to acknowledge him, and before he said anything I felt the familiar sensation of excited little feet on the bed. I turned around to see the beautiful little puppy face I missed so much running up to me, ready for snuggles and kisses! Needless to say I burst into tears! Once composed, I asked my husband what made him bring him home and he said, “It was more important that you had him, then me not wanting a third dog.” He had planned the day after our return from vacation to pick him up after we got back. 🙂

Photos by Woof Creative Photography. See Kylo’s entire gallery!

First Coast News Anchor Jeannie Blaylock has a New Mission: To tell you about DOGGY CHECK

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

We absolutely love our rescue dog, Riley, but I didn’t even think about it—I do a self-breast exam to look for lumps on myself, and I’d never checked my dog!

One day I was petting Riley and discovered a hard, teeny knot the size of a BB in Riley’s ear. I couldn’t see the lump, but it felt like a small rock. I brought it to the attention of Dr. Carlos Aragon at BluePearl Animal Hospital in Orange Park, and he agreed it’d be smart to run some tests.

I’m so glad we did. That seemingly insignificant bump was mast cell cancer, the most common skin tumor in dogs. We were lucky to catch it very early—clean margins, no cancer treatment even necessary. Riley lost a chunk of his ear, but thankfully he’s “cancer free.” Hooray!

“In just a few months, Riley’s cancer could have grown to the size of a walnut. That’s dangerous because when mast cell cancers metastasize, they can invade the spleen and liver and kill,” says Dr. Tracy LaDue, a Veterinary Radiation Oncologist at SEVO-MED in Orange Park. “50% of dogs over the age of ten get cancer. But it can happen in younger dogs, as well,” she informed us. Riley is only four!

Our plan is to stay on top of this Doggie Check routine for Riley, as 40% of dogs with mast cell cancers will get another cancerous tumor.

Please don’t let something suspicious go on for months without saying anything to your vet. “And remember,” Dr. LaDue says, “some canine cancers feel hard and some feel soft.” Sneaky cancer. We’re coming for you.

A cancer might look like a pimple or a bug bite. This is a mast cell cancer on a dog.

According to the doctors at SEVO Med: Use the F-U-R-R-Y method to catch cancer early

F – Feet
Check between toes. Look under feet and between pads. “Look for any abnormal swelling,” Dr. LaDue says. “Make sure there aren’t any lumps or bumps.”

U – Underneath
“One of the places people miss is armpits,” she says. “It’s not a typical place we look on dogs.” So check the armpits and look under your dog on their bellies. Check under chins, as well. We pet heads all the time, but feel in places you don’t normally pet.

R – Raise Their Tails
As Dr. LaDue puts it, “Open the hatch!” Inspect for swellings and lumps. And for dogs older than 6—a rectal exam. They can get prostate cancer and anal sac tumors. So look for a growth or anything suspicious. Ask your veterinarian to take a looksee.

R – Raise Their Ears
People forget to look inside their dog’s ears. (Check outside, too.)

Y – Yapper
Look inside your dog’s mouth. Lift the lips. Inspect for lumps or bleeding or an especially bad odor.

 

SEVO-Med Offers compassionate guidance when you need it most.
Orange Park (904) 278-3870
Jacksonville (904) 567-7519
sevomed.com | info@sevomed.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yappy Hour for Paws of War

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

Veterans United Craft Brewery is hosting Yappy Hour for Paws of War Florida!
Please join in the fun in supporting this fantastic group on
Saturday July 27th from 2PM – 5PM.

Paws of War is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that rescues and trains shelter dogs to become service dogs for veterans and first responders who suffer from PTSD and/or TBI or other disabilities that hinder daily life.

The mission of Paws of War is to train and place shelter dogs to serve and provide independence to our U.S. military veterans that suffer from the emotional effects of war. In turn, each veteran can experience the therapeutic and unconditional love only a companion animal can bring.

There is no cost to a Veteran for the service dogs they raise, train, and place.

All are welcome to the Happy Hour to support this much needed program!
• Paws of War will have a few veterans onsite to talk about their experiences with this program, a K9 demo and gift basket raffles.
• 5 different raffle baskets for ongoing raffle through July!
• Raffle tickets are $3 each or $10 for 4 tickets!
 • All proceeds from the raffle go to Paws of War!
• During Yappy Hour $1 of each pint sold goes to Paws of War! 🍻

The multi-talented Jason Taylor Music will be playing and Taylor Tacos will be here!
Also onsite will be Beer Mutts, Ruff Rubs and Pet Wants Jax Beach!
Ask your bartender FUR RAFFLE TICKETS !!! 🐾

Natural ways to help alleviate your dog’s anxiety

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

Natural ways to help alleviate your dog’s anxiety
From the FREEDOM ISSUE / By Janice Frank

 

For many dogs, summertime can be a terrifying time of year (mine are raising their paws over here). Jarring sounds from thunderstorms and fireworks that sometimes come out of the blue are no picnic for pups! It’s natural for them to be afraid of loud noises, as the sounds trigger their nervous system, causing anxiety and fear. Visible signs of distress may include heavy panting, pacing or shaking, yawning, drooling and licking, hiding, and even really funky odor—AKA fear funk.

Pet parents can feel absolutely helpless during these times! Obvious safety measures should be taken, such as creating a small space indoors away from windows, using background sounds from the tv, soothing music or a white noise machine. However, for many dogs, these efforts provide little relief.

So, what are pet parents to do? Well, you could completely sound-proof your home to eradicate any sputter of pyrotechnics, or you could pack everyone up and drive to a cave far from any sign of festivities. Unwilling to do these options? Don’t blame ya. Let’s explore some practical, drug-free ways we can help alleviate anxiety in our pets, shall we?

(I personally like to seek out natural ways to help my dogs, and I’ve seen great results. But if this isn’t your jam, then please consult your veterinarian for additional ways to help your dogs.)

Steve Huber, owner of Earth Pets Natural Food Store, suggests when looking for calming aids to treat sudden triggers, seek out fast-acting GABA-producing herbs such as as Valerian root and Passion Flower as lead ingredients. GABA, technically known as Gamma Aminobutyric Acid, is an important neurotransmitter naturally produced by the brain. When released, it works to inhibit nerve impulses in the brain and nervous system, effectively balancing stress response. Research has found that too little GABA in the nervous system can contribute to feelings of panic and anxiety. Other known supplements such as CBD, while an effective anxiety reliever, is not fast acting and requires some time to build up in the body. If your dog tends to suffer from general anxiety, Steve recommends you start with a good quality daily CBD supplement and combine with a GABA-producing herbal aid during acutely stressful events.
So what are these magical herbs all about? Turns out, these chill plants have been around and used in medicine for quite some time. Here’s the rundown:

Valerian is an herb native to Asia and Europe whose root has been used in traditional medicine for over 2,000 years! Often referred to as “Nature’s Valium,” this fast-acting herb signals the brain to release the calming chemical, GABA.

Passion Flower lowers brain activity while boosting GABA. Both Passion Flower and Valerian work to inhibit the breakdown in the brain similar to Valium and Xanax, but without the side effects.

Ashwagandha is a Chinese herb classified as an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body to manage stress by blocking the stress pathway by regulating chemical signaling in the nervous system. This serves as a great general anxiety reliever and also complimentary to Valerian root and Passion Flower.

Chamomile is another well-studied constituent, and serves as a mild sedative and anti-anxiety, muscle-relaxing antispasmodic.

Talk about plant power! These herbs come from Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet and can be a tremendous help in soothing our pets without leaving them wonky-eyed or comatose. Look for supplements produced in the correct dosage for pets, and if your dog is taking medications, please do your research to make sure taking herbs is okay.

Cheers to a calm and tranquil summer for everyone! •

The staff at Earth Pets is more than happy to help if you have questions about natural support in dealing with your pet’s anxiety.

/ Earth Pets Natural Food Store
11740 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville • (904) 677-4429

WIN 2 Tickets to See The Secret Life of Pets 2!

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

We’re psyched to be able to give away tickets to this adorable movie!
Enter for your chance to WIN an admit-two pass to the Jacksonville advance screening of The Secret Life of Pets at Regal Avenues on Tuesday, June 4 at 7pm!

TO ENTER
Each option gives you another chance to win:
(You can do one for one entry, or all three for three entries):
1. LIKE Unleash Jacksonville on Facebook + TAG a friend under the contest post (pinned to top)
2. FOLLOW Unleash Jacksonville on Instagram (@unleashjax) + TAG a friend under the contest post
3. Sign up for the Woof’s Happening Newsletter

We’ll select 20 random winners on Monday, June 3rd for FREE 2-person passes!
Eeeeeeek! Good luck!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Check out the cool new SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 Snapchat lenses!

 Try the new dog and cat lenses using the snap codes below.

CAT LENS

 

 

 

DOG LENS

 

 

 

 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

About THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

Illumination’s tenth feature, The Secret Life of Pets 2, is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 comedic blockbuster that had the biggest opening weekend ever for an original film, animated or otherwise.

Packed with Illumination’s signature irreverence and subversive humor, this new chapter explores the emotional lives of our pets, the deep bond between them and the families that love them, and answers the question that has long intrigued every pet owner: What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home?

Terrier Max (Patton Oswalt) is coping with some major life changes. His owner (Ellie Kemper) is now married and has a toddler, Liam. Max is so worried about protecting the boy that he develops a nervous tic. On a family trip to a farm, Max and mutt Duke (Eric Stonestreet) encounter canine-intolerant cows, hostile foxes and a terrifying turkey, all of which only elevates Max’s anxiety. Luckily, Max gets some guidance from veteran farm dog Rooster (Harrison Ford, making his animated-film debut), who pushes Max to ditch his neuroses, find his inner alpha, and give Liam a little more freedom.

Meanwhile, while her owner is away, plucky Pomeranian Gidget (Jenny Slate) tries to rescue Max’s favorite toy from a cat-packed apartment with a little help from her feline friend, Chloe (Lake Bell), who has discovered the joys of catnip.

And crazy-but-cute bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart) gets delusions of grandeur that he’s an actual superhero after his owner Molly starts dressing him in superhero pajamas. But when Daisy (Tiffany Haddish), a fearless Shih Tzu, shows up to ask for Snowball’s help on a dangerous mission, he’ll have to summon the courage to become the hero he’s only been pretending to be.

Can Max, Snowball, Gidget and the rest of the gang find the inner courage to face their biggest fears?