The end is coming: A New Year's message of overcoming 2020 

The world is letting out a collective sigh of relief as 2020 comes to a close. We have some small glimmers of hope lighting up the horizon. Several vaccines have been created- thank you, scientists! There are fewer unknowns about the virus and how it spreads. We are better prepared to deal with lockdowns, second waves, and changes to protocols. There is awareness being raised about being kind, shopping local, and supporting the needy. The pandemic that separated and isolated us could end up bringing us closer than ever. The end of the year doesn't flip a switch but it may bring forth enough change to get the lights back on. 

Guest blog by Imani Hamilton. So excited to welcome her to the Paws For Reaction extended family! This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Entering the New Year, climate action and environmental protection are more important than ever, as we collectively seek to reduce our carbon emissions by 65% and protect our precious ecosystems in time to prevent irreversible climate change. And yes, our furry companions have an environmental footprint that's worth reducing. The good news is, there are a few choices we can make in our suite of doggo basics that do make an environmental difference. 

This holiday season we were gifted with further Covid-19 lockdowns in Ontario. I know for folks in assisted living facilities, small business owners, non-essential workers, and single people who live alone, this news is a tough turkey to swallow. For the next 28 days, some of us will be separated from the people we love the most. It will be difficult, but we will get through this together.

Feeding Ottawa's fur-families: Ottawa Paw Pantry is dedicated to supporting community pets in need

Food banks have been a lifeline for people struggling to make ends meet. I'm not immune to struggle- I have used the services of the Food Bank. That's why donating to and supporting local food banks has been a passion of mine. But what about our pets? They're family and we are responsible for feeding them, but sometimes we need help. In Ottawa there is a non-profit that has been dedicated to supporting fur-families in need. 

Guest blog: Living with my one-eyed, three-legged cat

Guest blog by Kathy M. Finley. So excited to welcome her to the Paws For Reaction extended family!

While in the midst of a bitter divorce and a stressful job, I received an unusual birthday gift- a gray and white kitten. That gift, whom I named Clio, was a blessing, and besides having a slight heart murmur, she was a healthy cat. I had no idea that seven years later, I would be caring for a disabled pet. 

Paw it forward: OSPCA Howliday campaigns helping pets and people in the Renfrew County community 

There are many creatures stirring this holiday season, and some of those creatures need your help. Do you remember the amazing holiday campaigns the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre launched that I featured on Paws For Reaction? I reconnected with Heather Jobe, the Community Development Coordinator, to get an update on how their holiday season is going.

 The 12 ways of Christmas: 12 ways you can support animals, wildlife, and children in need

 On the first day of Christmas, my community gave to me a helping hand and a second chance. I've decided to kick the 12 days of Christmas to the curb and replace it with the 12 ways of Christmas. Don't worry, I still included some birds! This year has been a struggle and the community needs your support and generosity. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ontario Government has supported people's financial struggles. But what about support for those who rarely voice their needs: pets, wildlife, nature, and children? Paws For Reaction is a voice for the voiceless, and that's what the 12 ways of Christmas are all about.

I enjoy holiday food and festivities! As much as I know Hazel loves her advent calendar and opening her stocking on Christmas morning, I'm well aware that including her in some holiday traditions has me barking up the wrong Christmas tree. The holidays can be loud and scary for a pet. It can be sensory overload, and at times they can feel threatened. Your pet is a valued member of the family, and ensuring they are safe and comfortable during this festive season is important. The holidays pose many risks for your pet- health risks as well as a risk of heightened anxiety. Christmas dangers are everywhere, so it's important to keep your pet safe. I've put together a comprehensive list of holiday hazards and tips about how to keep your pet safe during the Christmas season. 

Season's Tweetings! Birds fly into your life providing majestic beauty and songs to brighten your day. During the winter months, birds need extra help finding food, shelter, and help when they are hurt. The Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre (OVWBCC) works tirelessly through the winter- and the rest of the year- to take birds under their wing. The OVWBCC team knows that one small act of kindness can help save a bird's life. Patty McLaughlin, Education and Public Engagement Coordinator at OVWBCC, and her team are working hard to raise awareness about the help birds need throughout the winter and I was fortunate enough to get expert tips about how to support the wild bird community this holiday season. I had many questions for Patty. How can you help wild birds survive the harsh winter weather? What do birds need in the winter to help them find food, shelter, and medical care? What can I do at home?

Two for Tuesday: I'm asking you to do these two things on Giving Tuesday to support local wildlife 

Giving won't be easy for some people this year. Many Ontario citizens have suffered financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-profits, charities, and organizations that support nature and wildlife have also been greatly impacted by the pandemic. Today is Giving Tuesday, a day when people make donations to support charities that mean a lot to them. I want to go two for Tuesday. I present to you two ways you can support nature and wildlife right here in Ontario that I've donated to for Giving Tuesday. I'm asking my readers who are considering which initiative to support today to consider one (or both) of these Ontario campaigns that need your help.

Book review: Ruth Ware's books keep climbing up the bestseller list, One By One

This post contains affiliate links!

Ruth Ware has done it again! She keeps crafting creative mysteries and plots that propel the reader forward, and One By One is no exception. This is the ultimate Fall Reading List book. Set on a snowy mountain in France, the story is as chilling as the white powder that swallows the characters whole. 

Guest blog: What it's really like to be a professional dog walker

Guest blog by Louise St-Pierre. So excited to welcome her to the Paws For Reaction extended family!

I have learned a lot from my experiences with dogs. I currently own two beautiful dogs and have been a dog owner for 25 years. I truly love dogs and being outside all day, in all types of weather. After working in the fitness and service industry for 20 years I wanted a change; a job that would incorporate the many things I love. Fast forward to now. I have been a professional dog walker for 11 years. I never imagined that I could make a living doing something I loved so much. What I love most about being a dog walker is that I work for myself and my clients. I'm my own boss, which is amazing.  

Christmas mourning: How to cope with your first holiday season after losing a pet

I'm forcing myself to be festive this year. I've had times in my life when I skipped Christmas altogether. "I'm not Christmasing this year," I'd say when people asked me standard holiday questions like "Do you have your tree up yet?" This year I'm forcing myself to be festive for the sake of my mental health. One small reason is the COVID-19 pandemic has sucked so much happiness out of 2020 that I'm trying to infuse some of the obligatory Christmas joy into what's left of the year. The biggest reason for my forced festivities is Keira. More specifically the loss of Keira I suffered earlier this year.

 I love the grey fur that appears around a senior dog's eyes as they age, the mark that they've experienced life. The mark that they've given a lifetime of love. To leave our mark on them we need to prepare to support them during their golden years. I'm going to talk about one of my favourite topics- pet insurance. When we think about pet insurance we often think of puppies and kittens, but senior pets are eligible for insurance coverage too.

Since November is National Senior Pet Month, I connected with Karolyne Trottier, Regional Manager at Pets Plus Us pet insurance for a Q&A about pet insurance for senior pets. Can a senior pet get pet insurance? What about their pre-existing conditions? I asked Karolyne everything I could think of about senior pets and pet insurance, and these are her answers!

Paws to Support Local: How you can give back to local businesses and animals in need at the same time

Are you able to lend a helping paw to a pet in need? Or give a local small business a bone? Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre, located in Pembroke, Ontario, has found a way to give back to animals in need and local businesses this holiday season. Paws to Support Local is the purrr-fect way to get in the spirit of giving. 

Christmas isn't just a time for giving; it's also a time for crafting! I love mixing the two and making my family homemade Christmas gifts every year. Sometimes I make my own cards, sometimes I bake- I've even made my own candles using teacups found at yard sales and thrift stores. But my favourite Christmas craft is mason jar lid tree ornaments. 

 Book review: A Southern supernatural thriller about a seedy swamp and all its creatures

This post contains affiliate links

Andy Davidson's The Boatman's Daughter paints a dark and bloody tale of the painful lives of outsiders. While Davidson's book was wildly creative, it failed to draw me in. I kept reading, hoping it would be a slow burn, however it never caught fire for me. I did enjoy the Russian folklore in the book and the mysticism, but being a huge fan of witches, I was hoping for a more interesting witch. I will give the author this: the prose is beautiful at times and I LOVE the cover!

iAdopt for the Holidays: 'Tis the season to find a forever home

It's that time of year again- the season of giving, and I have an excellent way to give. It's a win-win! iAdopt for the Holidays is sponsored by Petplan pet insurance. This holiday adoption campaign runs now until December 31, 2020, at participating SPCAs, humane societies, and rescue groups across Canada. Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre, located in Pembroke, Ontario, services the Renfrew County community where my family is from. Their goal for this holiday campaign is to find loving forever homes for as many animals as possible.

International guest blog: Agroecology farming and its contribution to climate change mitigation and sustainable food production

International guest blog by Tulyahabwe Rogers (from Uganda, East Africa).  So excited to welcome him to the Paws For Reaction extended family!

Severe, diverse, and location-specific impacts on agricultural production are anticipated with climate change. The last IPCC report indicates that the rise of carbon dioxide and associated greenhouse gases could lead to a 1.4 to 5.8 °C increase in global surface temperatures, with subsequent consequences on precipitation frequency and amounts. The 2013 report of the IPCC authoritatively re-affirms that climate change and variability will impact food and fiber production around the world due to the effects on plant growth and yield by the elevated carbon dioxide, higher temperatures, altered precipitation, and transpiration regimes, and increased frequency of extreme events, as well as modified weed, pest and pathogen pressure. Therefore, more durable benefits will likely result from radical agroecological measures that will strengthen the resilience of farmers and rural communities. Traditional farming systems are repositories of a wealth of principles and measures that can help modern agricultural systems become more resilient to climate change.

Canada remembers: Virtual Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic

This year's Remembrance Day marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This year the Veteran's Week and Remembrance Day ceremonies will be anything but normal, as many are shifted to the virtual world to keep Canadian's safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Remembrance Day ceremony will still be held at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa, but the Royal Canadian Legion is asking citizens of the Nation's Capital to stay home and watch the ceremony on TV. There is limited space- especially when you factor in physically distancing 6-feet apart- and there will be no Veteran's parade, no Canadian Armed Forces parade, and a reduced colour party.

Guest blog: Enviro-docu-series exploring the changing state of Canada's greatest natural landmark; Algonquin Park

 Democracy wins: We bid a not so farewell to Donald Trump as Joe Biden wins the 2020 USA presidential election- Adios Trump!

I've decided 273 is my new favourite number! Followers of my blog are well aware that I'm not a fan of Donald Trump. You may remember I fact-checked Trump on my blog a few years ago when he began attacking science and the Paris Agreement. Canadians care about what happens to our American neighbours because if the USA sneezes, Canada gets a cold. I'd like to give my American neighbours a virtual hug and congratulations because today, November 7, 2020, after a long wait in election purgatory (Groundhog Day much?) Joe Biden has been elected to become the 46th president of the United States of America. 

 Do you have a story to tell? Share your story on Paws For Reaction

This year more than ever, I've been providing an outlet for people in the community to share their stories. I've teamed up with some wonderful and interesting guest bloggers, interviewed experts in their fields, and supported different organizations. I want to keep expanding upon that. That being said, Paws For Reaction is looking for new guest bloggers!

Help from home: 5 ways you can help save Canada's wetlands, without getting wet

If you drank a glass of water today, washed dishes, flushed the toilet, boiled a pot, or filled up your dog's water dish, you probably benefited from a wetland. Wetlands are responsible for providing us with the clean water we drink and use every day. Ontario boasts 330,000 square kilometres of wetlands and currently accounts for about 25% of all the wetlands in Canada and 6% of global wetlands. Wetlands hold billions of litres of water that they help naturally filter and purify. They provide flood control, habitat and feeding ground for a variety of species, and act as carbon storage. I really enjoy hiking in the wetlands- they are wonderful recreational and educational ecosystems. 

October featured pets: Happy Halloween from these haunted howlers!

Happy Halloween spooky pet owners! This month we asked you to send in photos of your pets wearing their Halloween costumes and you did not disappoint! Here are the October featured pets. Happy haunting!

Happy Halloween: My favourite past Halloween DIY projects

Happy Halloween everyone! This is my favorite holiday and usually go all out decorating and celebrating. This year will be a little different due to Covid-19, and due to the fact that I don't live in a house anymore, so I can't do my haunted walkway. I'll admit I'm a little sad about that. BUT I will still be watching Hocus Pocus and Trick R' Treat! Since the celebration this year won't be as spooky, here are some ghostly DIY Halloween projects, decor, and crafts I've done in the past. I hope I inspire you! Have a safe and happy Halloween!

  October featured pets: We want to feature your pet's Halloween costume

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm not talking about Christmas- it's spooky season! Halloween is my ABSOLUTE favourite holiday! I love scaring people- and being scared. I love everything about it- the candy, the horror movies, the scary decor, the witches spells, the city draped in my favourite colour- orange! 

Ask a Vet: Top 5 Halloween dangers to your pets PLUS 3 vet-approved tips to keep your pets safe

 October featured pets: Does your pet have a Halloween costume? Send us a photo!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm not talking about Christmas- it's spooky season! Halloween is my ABSOLUTE favourite holiday! I love scaring people- and being scared. I love everything about it- the candy, the horror movies, the scary decor, the witches spells, the city draped in my favourite colour- orange! 

Thank you to Patty McLaughlin of the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre for illuminating the Raven for the Paws For Reaction readers!

Halloween's haunted animals: The truth about the ominous and dark trickster; the Raven

When I think about Halloween symbolism, things that come to mind are spirits, monsters, witches, and vampires. But what about the animals? Black cats with their backs arched, howling werewolves, slick Ravens crowing warnings, and swooping bats are all signature Halloween animals. Folklore and mythology weave their way into the spooky stories we tell and animals are the stars of these terrifying tales. 

Book review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is the vampire book you didn't know you needed

I kicked off my spooky Fall reading list with a bang- or a bite I should say. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix is so unexpected. In most cases, I'm able to predict the twists and turns in the books I read, but this book is truly unpredictable. 

   October featured pets: Send in a photo of your pet wearing a Halloween costume to be featured 

Ask an RVT: 10 things I love the most about being a registered veterinary technician  

My years of experience working in the veterinary medicine industry taught me many things. One thing I learned on my first day is that the job of a veterinary technician is difficult. Veterinary technicians assist in surgery, dentistry, treat emergencies, learn how to care for multiple species, assist the doctor, be a nurse, provide emotional support for the client, and be an advocate for the patient. They work hard without breaks- often for less pay than you'd expect. It's stressful. It's fast-paced. It's emotionally draining. It's blood, sweat, and tears. REAL tears. And it is incredibly rewarding. 

Canadian's give thanks: Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, especially those who are isolated this year

I hope you all had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! The pandemic has made it difficult for families to get together this weekend. I know how isolating it can be living alone and not being able to visit family. Virtual visits and phone calls just aren't the same. I missed the hugs, the homecooked meal, and the playtime with my nephew. To all of you who are alone this holiday season, I want to send you my love. It's tough but we will get through this. Hold your pets and cherish the moments that you have with the people you love. Find ways to visit from afar. But most of all, stay safe. 

 October featured pets: Send in a photo of your pet wearing a Halloween costume to be featured on Paws For Reaction

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm not talking about Christmas- it's spooky season! Halloween is my ABSOLUTE favourite holiday! I love scaring people- and being scared. I love everything about it- the candy, the horror movies, the scary decor, the witches spells, the city draped in my favourite colour- orange! 

Climate community: 24 Hours of Reality broadcast changes in 2020

Every year I look forward to the 24 Hours of Reality broadcast, hosted by Al Gore and Climate Reality Project. The pandemic has changed the world, and this year the broadcast will look very different. The Climate Reality Project has partnered with TED and is giving presentations to educate about climate change and share solutions to bring us closer to a zero-carbon future. 

Guest blog: My Reiki journey; a discovery of healing energies and the power within 

Guest blog by Robyn Thomas. So excited to welcome her to the Paws For Reaction extended family!

Many are unaware of Reiki healing and its vast healing possibilities. The Usui Holy Fire Reiki system incorporates Reiki symbols, attunement placements, distance healing methods, and hand positions for working with oneself and others. As a practitioner, I connect with and direct universal life-force energy that surrounds every living thing, to balance the life-force energy within. This involves channeling source energy, setting intentions, connecting with Reiki symbols, Mother Earth, and myself to balance and ground mind, body, spirit. 

Piqued my curiosity: I had my dog blessed by a Catholic priest 

I was walking my dog by a Catholic church in my neighbourhood when a nice lady commented on how beautiful Hazel is. I know I'm a little biased, but I have to agree- she's a looker. We were making small talk about my dog when she mentioned that the church is offering blessings to pets. She encouraged me to bring Hazel back the following weekend to have her blessed.

Rabies risks: Thinking about not vaccinating your pet against rabies? Here's what you need to know

I'm one of the many folks across the world anxiously waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are one of the most impactful inventions for humanity, and working in veterinary medicine has allowed me to experience first hand the power of vaccines. Watching a puppy die from canine parvovirus is a devastating experience, but it has given me a deeper respect for vaccines. Especially the rabies vaccine. Rabies is a fatal disease that affects mammals. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Non-mammals, including fish, poultry, birds, reptiles, and amphibians can’t get rabies. Rabies is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. The animal bites a human or animal, breaking the skin, and the infected saliva gets into the wound, passing the disease on to the victim. You can also become infected by getting saliva, brain or spinal tissue from an infected animal (dead or alive) in an open cut, sore, wound, eyes, mouth, or nose.

 Help at home: It's a day of Global Climate Action, but what can we do in Ontario while sitting on our butts?

It's a day of Global Climate Action and I'm here to talk to you about butts... How many of you panic purchased toilet paper when the COVID-19 pandemic hit? I get it! Okay, I don't really get it that much- I didn't buy any extra toilet paper. I was thinking more about my respiratory system and less about my bottom. Next question. When you filled your Costco cart with stacks of bulk TP, extra soft, extra strong, how many of you thought about how toilet paper affects Ontario forests?

Pages of poetry: Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is like a long summer that you never want to end

This post contains affiliate links

Like a book, all good things must come to an end, and there is no better way to end my Summer Reading List than by reviewing Where The Crawdads Sing, the mesmerizing debut novel by Delia Owens. Not only is it the best book on my list, but it's the best book I've read in years. Like the summer, I never wanted it to end.