Tag: unleash jacksonville

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!

Unleash Jacksonville’s Freedom Dog Partaaay at Brewhound

Come with or without your dog and let’s party!

No one throws a dog party like Unleash Jacksonville! Come help celebrate the print release of our FREEDOM issue and check out the joy that is BrewHound Dog Park + Bar (if you haven’t already).

Vendors: Meet Unleash Jacksonville’s fantastic partners who helped to make this issue come to life, including Salty Paws Healthy Pet Market – Atlantic Beach, Beach Bark, Beaches Jet Set Pets, Sole’ Spa Wellness Center, Pet Supplies Plus – Jacksonville, Rodo Dog Wear, Revyv Nuts, and many more!

Get KISSED! Dobby & Gretel, our FREEDOM cover models will be giving kisses ;). Meet adorable adoptable dogs from The London Sanctuary and Animal Care & Protective Services. FREE Secret Life of Pets 2 Stuffies for kids (while supplies last). Enjoy lovely  drinks, food, and fun for all. FREE raffle ticket for your chance to win lots of great stuff. Additional tickets can be purchased to benefit Beagle Freedom Project.

ADMISSION is FREE in the leashed areas – All friendly leashed dogs are welcome on “The Porch” free of charge.
“The Yard” off-leash park access – $8/dog (if not a member) to enter the off leash park, and must bring shot records.

FOSTER PARENTS: Please feel free to bring your dog friendly fosters and have their ADOPT ME vests on. If you WILL be bringing your foster (if you think about it) please post a photo of them and their name on the discussion for the event so we know to look out for ya!

Unleash Jacksonville’s Happy Hour Photo Gallery!

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

We had such a great time at our first Happy Hour at South!  You can’t beat great drinks and food, and amazing dogs and humans! Huge thanks to SOUTH for hosting a lovely patio party, to Pawlicious for the pupcakes, and to all our friends who came out!

Check out the entire photo gallery here!

If you’d like to purchase a print or download of your photo, you totally can! It will be color corrected and gorgeous.

Unleash Happy Hour at SOUTH Kitchen + Spirits!

Kick off the weekend in a great way! Join us for an Unleash Jacksonville HAPPY HOUR!

We’re just going to keep on celebrating and celebrating … because that’s what life is about! This SUNNY issue party will be at the very dog-friendly South Kitchen + Spirits in Avondale. Come with or without your pups, but DO come and say hi and pick up your FREE copy of the SUNNY issue, if you haven’t already.

Happy Hour pricing will be extended for our party … 1/2 off ALL liquor and apps!!! All dogs get a FREE South Kitchen Happy Hour Bowl to scarf down. Join Us—everybody you adore will be there!

Now you can subscribe to Unleash Jacksonville!

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

You’ll never have to leave your dogs again! \ Amy Olivieri

I can’t believe we’re publishing our nineteenth issue–SUNNY is at the printer as we speak. After every issue I look around and whisper … who did that … how did that get done? Should that be the last issue? Is it nap time now? 

No. Bring on TWENTY!

I figured after this many issues, it might be time to offer fancy-schmanzzzzy in-house delivery, like, subscription style. People ask where they can get Unleash all the time … they are FREE all over town. You just need to find them, scavenger-hunt style. Or, you can simply click here to find a location.

Better yet now you can SUBSCRIBE and we’ll get each glamorous new issue to you (but it won’t be free, you’ll pay dearly). It will be hand delivered by your adorable mail person. You’d been hoping to see them more, anyway, right?

We appreciate you knowing how to read and then choosing to read our humble publication. We are independent, original, and full of love for dogs (and you, you cutie patootey)!

DUTY Thoughts, from George

Posted on by Amy Olivieri

Welcome to the DOODY issue. I’m just going to come out and say it. Yah. I’ve decided not to go outside for number two any more. I’m old and I’m tired. Outside is far and dirty and I just don’t see the point.

{Errrrm … George … this issue is DUTY, not DOODY. Please don’t talk about your bathroom habits.}

What? How did I not know this? I’m still the editor, am I correct?

{Sometimes you sleep through staff meetings, George.}

I’m feeling multiple layers of embarrassment here. Let’s talk about this off record later, shall we? I have an image of prestige to uphold. Please accept my apologies for the earlier bathroom talk; I feel I was misinformed.

Unfortunately, I don’t know a whole lot about DUTY. I’ve never been called up to do much in my life except clean up kitchen spills—which I’m more than happy to do, by the way, especially ice cream. I’m very able-bodied when it comes to licking the floor. Beyond that, up until now, I’ve just been a super-handsome half-man half-dog with no oppressive responsibilities—carefree and untethered. I could hop a plane to Minnesota right now if I wanted to. Ack, but that seems super far and cold—and now that Prince is gone (RIP Prince), what’s the point of going to Minnesota? So I just kinda chill and hang, you know?

It does sound appealing to be needed, though. Really needed, not fake needed, like when people tell you you’re the editor but really you’re just a poster boy. People don’t even take the time to make sure I understand the focus of the issue, for crumps sakes. To have a mission where I could really help someone—that sounds very fulfilling! I do have several questions about having a duty, though. One: What if, on a particular day I’d just rather sleep? Is that allowed? Two: What is the pay? I’m saving for a new laptop. Three: Is it okay that I don’t walk very well, hear very well, see very well, and I have accidents in the house quite often?

If someone could get back to me with those answers, we can get the paperwork started. I’ll start packing my manbag in the meantime. I so look forward to being appreciated.

auf Wiedersehen, (that’s German)
GEORGE

PS … if you end up wanting to read the DUTY issue (I can’t personally advise it in good conscious, as I haven’t even read it yet), you can find it online here. Physical copies will be available all over Jacksonville shortly. You can find out where here and maybe camp out, like a Black Friday sitch. Now … where is that toiletry bag …