• Wordless Wednesday: June 19, 2013

• If You Can't Take Your Dog to Work . . .

Pet Sitter's International Take Your Dog to Work Day (TYDTWDay) celebrates dogs as companion animals and encourages people to adopt from humane societies, rescues, and breed rescue clubs. If you, like me, love dogs but don't own one, you might feel left out this Friday (June 21).

But even if you don't have a dog or if your workplace won't allow dogs, you can still celebrate!

• Bring in dog treats. (Ask owner before you give to dog)

• Offer to help colleagues. You can walk a dog (remember to take a poop bag) or play with a restless pup whose owner is on a conference call or in a meeting.

• Take photos of colleagues' dogs and submit them to the TYDTWDay photo competition.

• Ask local pet-care professionals—dog walkers or pet sitters—to visit. They could help with pet care and/or present a session on pet-care needs. Search for a pet sitter at Pet Sitters International.
• Spread the word about TYDTWDay by sharing their posts on Facebook and Twitter.
• Organize a doggie costume contest. If your boss doesn't allow dogs, hold a fundraiser for a local rescue group or educate coworkers about homeless dogs. Here's a list of ways to celebrate.

Best of all—the week of June 17–21 has been designated Take Your Pet to Work Week! Celebrate all things furry, scaly, feathered, and finned. Are you inspired? Then sing along with the TYDTWDay song!

Do you have more ideas for celebrating the day or the week?

• Yes, Virginia, There Was a Hamster at BlogPaws

Flat Panky, Kona, and Charlotte at BlogPaws 2013. Photo by @EdnaAtNutro

PepperPom sniffs her roomie Charlotte.  Photo by @PepperPom

I want to state it loudly and clearly: There was a hamster at BlogPaws 2013!

Every article and blog reads like this: "Some 80 animals attended BlogPaws, a social media conference for pet enthusiasts, including dogs, cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, a rabbit, and even baby chicks."

And a hamster! There was a hamster at BlogPaws!

Because I didn't want to stress Charlotte, I brought her to the conference only for a short time. Thursday night I was busy meeting people and Saturday night I was helping with a surprise party.

Me, kissing Snotface

So on Friday afternoon I put Charlotte in her traveling cage. She didn't seem to mind the smells and sounds of so many predators (the other animals). She sampled dog treats and posed for BlogPaws participants ("pawparazzi"). I was way more stressed than Charlotte!

So, everyone, this is what to say about BlogPaws 2013: "Some 80 animals attended, including dogs, cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, a rabbit, baby chicks—and a hamster!"

• Wordless Wednesday: June 12, 2013

Sadie!

• Wordless Wednesday: June 5, 2013

Taz

• Wordless Wednesday: May 29, 2013

Chapter Five: In Which I Pet Sit Polar Bears

• Wordless Wednesday: May 22, 2013

BlogPaws donated a bullet-proof, stab-proof protective vest to Hugo and his partner,
Corporal Tom Binckley, of the Arlington County, Virginia, police. The Corporal's baby
dropped a pacifier, but we figured the family didn't want it after dogs licked it.

• Wordless Wednesday: May 8, 2013

Lambert is fond of cherry tomatoes . . .

. . . and a medley of crisp vegetables . . . 

. . . and wheatgrass, as does Tasha (left).

• BlogPaws: National Mall De-TAILS

Leashed dogs are allowed on Mall (any time of the year).

Do you plan to visit the National Mall when you come to BlogPaws 2013? The cherry blossoms will be gone, but the weather should be ideal.

De-TAILS
So you don't unduly tire yourself or your dog, make sure you have a sense a scale when you look at a map of the National Mall: the distance between one end (the Capitol) and the other (the Lincoln Memorial) is 2 miles.

The National Mall and Memorial Parks Dog and Pet Policy states that ". . . pets are prohibited inside the Jefferson, Lincoln and World War II Memorials . . . except for guide dogs for visually or hearing-impaired persons. Pets on a leash are allowed in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial." The leash can be no more than 6 feet in length. Dogfriendly.com says dogs aren't allowed on the walkways of the Vietnam or Korean War Memorials, but I don't have confirmation of that. Only service dogs are allowed inside Smithsonian museums.

If you want to see the White House, cross Constitution Avenue at either 15th or 17th St. near the Washington Monument; you'll be in President's Park. Walk through the Ellipse (a park) to the south lawn of the White House, where Bo runs free. Who knows—if your dog barks, maybe Bo will answer!

Dogs can visit Fala at the FDR Memorial. Photographer unknown

Your dog is allowed on the FDR Memorial. More than once I've heard that dogs were indifferent to anything on the Mall until they got excited by the statue of Fala, Roosevelt's Scottie. The FDR Memorial is between the Tidal Basin and the Lincoln Memorial. Here's a fun, clickable map of the Mall, Tidal Basin, and beyond, including Metro stops.

Bring bottled water; vendors are expensive. (And do not eat vendor hot food.) You might find out how your dog feels when he or she has to "go" and you say "just one more email, honey." Bathrooms on the Mall can be few and far between.

Maybe you can find all this information on the National Mall App. (I don't have a smartphone so couldn't check it out.)

Getting to the Mall
Parking on or near the National Mall isn't easy, but driving is your only option if you have a large dog.

On Sunday the Sheraton has a complimentary shuttle to the Dunn Loring Metro, which you can take to the Smithsonian Metro. Service dogs can ride unconfined on the Metro; a pet can be transported if it is carried in a secure container from which it cannot escape. You can drive to Dunn Loring and park; just know that parking spaces aren't always available.

Do you have any more questions? Tell me—I'd love to help if I can. —Emmy

• BlogPaws: Ready for My Close-up

Good posture, dressy top = DO. Brad Smith Photo

What's the first thing you think when you're invited somewhere special? Did you say, "What should I wear?" For BlogPaws, a social media conference for pet enthusiasts, suggested dress is business casual.

I'd like to add another tip: Be prepared to be photographed.

Thousands of photos will be taken at BlogPaws. You will be in some of them. It's a prime opportunity for you to get pictures for your web site, blog, and other social media sites. I'm a pet sitter, and in photos I want to look professional and positive—in short, like someone I would hire!

White socks = DON'T. 

Brad Smith Photo

A BlogPaws photographer covers the event, so you may be photographed at any time (for example at registration, above, or with Flat Pets, left). If he or she has time, you can ask the photographer to take a photo of you, you and your pet, or a group of friends. Attendees also take photos—hundreds and hundreds of them. One of the joys of BlogPaws is exchanging pics. For example, Petside used one of my photos (thank you, Petside, for giving credit and a link). It's easy to share via Pinterest and other social media sites.

Because I'm on the far side of 50 and there's "more of me to love," here's how I get ready for my close-up:
• Wear black. It's boring but forgiving.
• Wear bright lipstick
• Stand up straight. Good posture helps me look better, period.
• Be conscious of details. White socks are not a professional look.
• Look in a full length mirror, front and back.

I wore a sheer purple top the last night of BlogPaws 2012. I remember being moved almost to tears by the poignant memories captured in the BlogPaws Honor Flag Project. (The picture of me is at the bottom of the linked post.) The pets that have gone Over the Rainbow Bridge are the focus of the Project. My emotion was genuine. And yet. . . if I'd looked in a full length mirror I would have traded the cream camisole for black.

You can rock the BlogPaws red carpet, like Tango the Fire Safety Dog.

Is my approach vain? Self centered? Self serving? Shallow? Guilty as charged. But one reason I prepare carefully is that after I get dressed, I just have fun. For me, BlogPaws is about meeting people and pets, learning, and recharging my batteries. I would rather look my best in a photo but if don't . . . oh well.

I've worked my fingers to the bone on my Pinterest board with more close-up tips. Now it's time for a manicure—so I'll be ready for my close-up. See you at BlogPaws!