Some cool Dog Blanket images:

Trading Places


Image by Tobyotter
I think Frank needs a little time to get use to the short hair. He took Jimmy Dean’s place and rolled up in a blanket, but still staying close to both Jimmy Dean and Link.

Link Saying Good Night


Image by Tobyotter
I may be unattached but my boys make sure I know I am loved. Jimmy Dean is under the blankets stretched out next to my leg; Frank is snoring in my ear.

Wrapped Up Tight


Image by Tobyotter
Jimmy Dean wanted a little attention but he was not will to come out from his blankets – he likes his warmth.

A few nice Pet Care images I found:

Molested Puppies…in care of Eagles Den Rescue


Image by Beverly & Pack
FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY, these three puppies sodomized by a human!

Hi,
My name is Charity. My life began about 6 months ago. I was one of a litter of several and knew nothing of the world or the people in it. I knew my mother and warmth and hunger. I knew one day something was wrong when I was ripped from my mother with two of my sisters.

We were hurt in ways we did not understand and could not make sense of what was wanted or expected of us. You see, we were born American Pit Bull Terriers and those who may not understand; we are a very loyal breed. We want only to please those who feed and care for us.

Ideally, we would be nurtured and our sharp instincts used for wonderful things, like rescuing small children who have wandered away from a campground, or tunneling through debris at a World Trade Center when bad men do horrid things.But I was born into a world that does not understand us. The most decorated Army dog ever was my kind, and now… well… now they want to kill us all I understand.

I am not so sure what it is that makes people hate us so. I know we grow into dogs with a powerful bite and we can do a lot of damage. But, basically, we will do what it is we are trained to do. If we are with a kind person, and we learn kindness from an early age, we can be the best friends ever. Some of us have an instinct that makes us what is called animal aggressive, and I know that is not such a good thing when we need to get along in a family. I was never aggressive. I never harmed anyone or anything… and neither did my two sisters, Faith and Hope. But because of what we are, bad people like to take us and make us do bad things. And those bad people make a lot of other humans hate us for what we are trained to do. But that is another story, sort of… though that story is the reason why things happened to us as they did.

Our birth was brought about by one of those bad people with bad intentions. And the more people hate us, the more those bad people want us and the worse they treat us. And it is ok because we are just “Pit Bulls” and “Dumb Dogs.” They do not seem to understand that we feel pain, we feel when someone hates us, and we do not want to be hurt. So … that is the world we were born into, but we did not understand all of that then. We just understood we had been ripped from our mother; we could not eat because we had no teeth; and, worse … the man who bred us had a teenage son that was doing really bad things to us.

I later learned that it was called sexual molestation, sodomy, or bestiality. I just knew that it hurt and I could hear my sisters crying when he would hurt them. Faith was so small and I tried really hard to protect her. I cannot tell you how many times this happened, though it could not have been many or we would not have lived. But it was enough to hurt us. One day the boy was seen hurting us and his father saw what was happening too. He rushed us to this place called the County Animal Shelter.

I think we were supposed to be killed there and no one would ever question what happened, because most “Pits” that go into a place like that do not come out alive. But this was a good place with people who did care.The man told them the big dog down the road had “gotten to us.” I guess they figured that is how we got all those bite marks all over our bodies where the other dogs were allowed to hurt us. But they noticed there that we were very, very still, huddled together … and we would not eat.

I was very worried about my sisters. And they seemed to look to me. Then this woman and man came and got us and took us to a place called The Eagle’s Den.

After that, things changed.They call it rescue, and I am glad we were rescued. I wish all of my kind could be because it gives us a chance. But… anyway… we saw a vet and he sort of guessed at what had happened to us. But the man was not punished, nor his son. All I know is there is something called an investigation into all those bad people and they really want to catch them all. They should. And I hope one day there will be some justice for me and my sisters.

But the people will have to work that out because well… we are just dogs.And our story has not ended. Well, mine has, at least there where it hurt every time I went to the bathroom, but where life was so good I did not let on that I was hurting.

You see, one day I just felt funny and then I went to sleep. I can remember wet tears on my face as the man and woman held me and I knew they were going to try and save me again. But I was just so tired. After having been in pain for so long and knowing my sisters were I just went to sleep and came to a place called Rainbow Bridge. It is very nice here. I have a lot of friends here. There are all kinds of dogs and many of my kind, many that were hurt like I was, and killed.And I can watch over Faith and Hope here.

They have had surgery now to help them. After I came here everyone knew we were not alright. We were rambunctious pups, yes. And we were scared pups because of all we went through. All we really wanted was a friend and to play and be happy. I am rooting for Faith and Hope now and I watch over them from here. They had the surgery they needed to fix the pain. They may not understand the pain they are in right now, but it will get better now.

There are a lot of people upset because of what happened to us. And I am very glad they are upset. If I could tell them anything that would help: make it stop; but not just this man. Make it all stop. Get the people who make laws to write some that will protect us. What happened to us is against the law. That is a fact. But there are no federal laws to help us, and they get away with it time and again.

Anyone who wants to see how often this happens, just type the word Canine sexual molestation into your computers and look. But you only see the cases that get reported. And not much happens in those cases.

Even when they kill us, not much happens. So if you want to help, if you want it to stop … there is only one way. Make it illegal all over the United States. Make uniform laws so that all animal abuse carries mandatory sentences. Other countries protect their companion animals. If you guys who have prayed so hard and whose love I feel so strongly want to help … make it stop. Make them hear you. They have never heard us.

Faith’s surgery went really well, even though she was the sickest. Hope had hers today and she is doing ok now. Ironically, Hope may have already been here at Rainbow Bridge, but some of the abuse actually saved her. When they did her surgery, they found a piece of metal in her intestines, surrounded by flesh. It was blocking a tear. They had to cut off a lot more of her intestines than they did Faith’s, but she will be ok now … I HOPE. That piece of metal stopped poison from spilling into her body at least, even though it did damage, it helped her to stay alive long enough to get the surgery to save her life.

I am watching, and I am hoping this will make people wake up and realize what goes on with us when we are bred for all the wrong reasons. I hope people will stop punishing our breed for what these people do and realize what we go through. I wish they all could be rescued. I wish there was no reason to rescue.There is one more thing I have seen since I came to Rainbow Bridge.

All of you are very caring and good people. My sisters were able to have their surgery because people cared enough to help them live. They have a long way to go, but thank you for helping them.I’ll be watching… and one day I will see all of you here at the Bridge; because I am everyone’s dog who had a part in saving my sisters.

Thank You.
CHARITY

Update: The surgeries are over and Faith and Hope are doing wonderful. They will be coming home to be monitored by our local vet. This makes far more sense, and though it really scared me at first, I realize I will be scared whenever…after what happened with Charity. The hospital they are in is extremely expensive, and the vet told me that with them doing this well, he thinks the aftercare would best be monitored here, where they can be with the family they have always known.

We appreciate all of your prayers and the concerns and well wishes we have received. This is the next logical step, and we are excited about it.

If you would like to help cover the cost of the surgery and aftercare:
eaglesdenrescue1.chipin.com/in-memory-of-charity

Or if you would prefer to make a donation via Pay Pal, all donations are tax deductable and go 100% to the animals we care for.
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_bu…

Contributions can also be made directly to our vet at
910-739-9411

Thanks you… and we hope we will have your support as we work on "Charity’s Law." A bill that will hopefull make animal abuse a felony.

Please share the story of these three…

Exterior Signage Upgrade | Pet Store Signage | Pet Shop Design | Exterior Signage Design | Mud Bay


Image by I-5 Design & Manufacture
I-5 Design and Manufacture designed, manufactured and installed the signage for various Mud Bay locations throughout the Puget Sound area. This simple and clean signage was designed to reflect the quality and care of the business as well as provide ease of readability for all the current and future customers of Mud Bay. Click here to see more examples of custom signage

Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England, with her pet monkey


Image by lisby1
This is a later 16th century copy of the Horenboult miniature painted, almost certainly, to hang in the home of a Catholic English family. The iconography of the painting has been changed to show the monkey choosing the cross on Catherine’s dress above the money in her hand. The miniature is a portrait of a real woman and her pet; this image has evolved to impart a religious statement.

Phillip Mould:

Recent dendrochronological dating has concluded that an earliest felling date of 1531 is likely for the production of the panel on which this portrait is painted. Such analysis is based on the measurement of a tree’s growth rings in the panel, and comparison with climate records and other known and dated examples. The analysis of this panel found that the latest, or ‘oldest’, growth ring surviving is that for 1523. More precise dating is then achieved by adding a minimum number of growth rings that may have been lost in the process of manufacture, typically eight rings, or eight years. Such a small amount of wood lost in the process is not untypical, since great care was taken to prevent unnecessary waste. Thus in this case eight years have been added to 1523 to arrive at 1531.

This panel, however, is unusual in that it is made of two boards joined at a skewed angle, and not a straight vertical line as normal. Furthermore, the grain runs at a further skewed angle within the boards, meaning that more – or perhaps less – growth rings could be present. However, the relatively crude manner in which this board is constructed suggests that it was made during the earliest period of manufacture of large artist’s panels in England, not to mention the artistic style and technique of the painting itself. Furthermore, in the absence of any similar dendrochronological analysis for the two other best-known panel portraits of Catherine of Aragon (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and National Portrait Gallery, London) this example could well be the earliest currently known easel portrait of Catherine, and the only example plausibly datable to her lifetime.

The significance of such an icon produced during the 1530s is apparent. In the midst of her divorce from the King, Catherine and her party may well have been concerned with making sure that her face continued to be seen at home and abroad as part of the concerted programme to maintain her status as Queen. There would, therefore, have been considerable incentive for producing a portrait that repeated a younger, beautiful likeness of the Queen as well as conveying, perhaps, an intelligible iconographic message to her adherents.

The portrait derives directly from a miniature painted c.1525 by Lucas Horenbout d.1544 (Duke of Buccleuch Collection), which again shows Catherine holding a monkey, but makes subtle alterations to the iconography. The monkey is being offered a coin, which he ignores, reaching out instead for the jeweled crucifix that the Queen wears at her breast. The interpretation here is plain: Catherine’s creature expresses his obedience to the church by recognizing that the cross is more precious than money. The fact that these elements are absent from the Buccluech miniature, in which the monkey is merely being offered a tit-bit, and the gesture of its outstretched hand is empty, shows that the portrait’s iconography was deliberately reconfigured to comment on the Queen’s situation in the years c.1527 – 1530 and to make a point of her Catholic orthodoxy. It has even been suggested that the species of the monkey, a marmoset, may be an allusion to the straits of Catherine and her party at that date, since the letters are a near-anagram of the name Thomas More, the most celebrated of Catherine’s supporters and later a martyr for her cause. This is not too-far fetched, since the Tudor audience was schooled in allegory, the essential pabulum of their art. The apparent frivolity of the subject – a court lady playing with her pet monkey – would have delighted them all the more if it was susceptible to a deeper, parallel reading that touched on what was to become the King’s Great Matter. Far more than a flattering likeness of a Queen who felt herself spurned in place of a younger rival, the portrait can also be read as a calculated piece of propaganda and a move in a game being played for the very highest stakes.

Comparison with other known portraits of Catherine again shows the importance of the present example. The exaggerated, angular features of that in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG 163) and its derivatives are clearly a schematized derivation of the pleasanter face in the present painting, which relates so closely to the Buccleuch miniature, traditionally and legitimately considered an ad vivum likeness. The later portraits, described, as with the example in the MFA Boston as ‘mechanical and workshop in quality’1 suggest little of the woman who in 1531 was described as ‘if not handsome she is not ugly; she is somewhat stout and always has a smile on her face.’2

The authorship of the present panel painting is not known. Its close relation to the Horenbout miniature might suggest some connection to the Horenbout workshop, and the old attribution recorded on the verso of the old frame may have some validity. Too little is currently known, however, of the portrait practice of Anglo-Flemish artists’ workshops in the period before the arrival of Hans Holbein the younger for one to be able to pronounce with any certainty. It is worth remembering that the years up to c.1530 represent the very infancy of easel painting in England: royal portraits datable to this period are scarce, and those of non-royal sitters effectively non-existent.

by DonnaGrayson

Blankets are so much a part of the roughly one-third of our lives most of us spend in bed that it’s almost impossible for many of us to imagine sleeping without them. Available at all price levels – from cheap close-outs to absurdly expensive textile extravaganzas — and made from all kinds of natural and synthetic materials, retail and wholesale blankets are as ubiquitous as air and water when sleepy time comes.

Indeed, blankets are such an ancient and unquestioned part of daily life for people of all economic levels all over the world, that trying to find out how the practice of using them began would probably take at least enough research to get started on a PhD in Anthropology. It’s just a fact that, unlike our furrier friends in the animal kingdom, most of us in most climates need some kind of warm covering to deal with cool evenings and the normal lowering of body temperature that goes along with rest.

Of course, as all parents and children know, blankets provide more than physical warmth. A toddler’s favorite “blankie” is a definite must-have for pleasant trips. A child may have the most loving parents in the world, but they cannot be there all the time. As she grows older, she’ll learn she doesn’t want them there all the time, but she still wants that feeling of emotional warmth.

Moreover, the phenomenon of the “security blanket” being carried into later childhood is far from limited to Linus of “Peanuts” fame. Though we may not openly obsess over blankets as we grow older, the emotional qualities of these coverings for older children, teens, and grown-ups are plain to see. For one thing, regardless of the actual textiles, most of us favor soft, “cushy” blankets that warmly embrace us.

The appeal of blankets is not only tactile, however. Children and younger teens are fond of bedding that celebrates favorite cartoon characters, sports figures and teams, movies and TV shows, musicians, and so on. As far as we know, on the other hand, we have yet to see historic or political figures of any political stripe celebrated on blankets – which makes sense because, unless perhaps your side just won in an election, thinking about politics is rarely conducive to a good night’s sleep.

On the other hand, what’s more restful than puppies or kittens or other adorable young animals? So, naturally, our favorite furry friends show up regularly on blankets and other bedding material. The irony there being that, while critters may not require blankets, they obviously love them at least as much as humans; hence their compulsion to jump on them, loll about with us if we’re indulgent pet-parents, and occasionally partially devour them.

Considering how much we love blankets and considering that uncertain times breeds a certain feeling of insecurity, it is entirely logical that right now we are seeing the burgeoning of new kinds of blanket/clothing hybrids, allowing us to pleasurably loll about in blanketed warmth wherever we are in the house. It’s true these may not be the height of fashion for a night on the town, and they are a favorite target of at least one late-night comedian, but let him joke. Especially as many of us lower the thermostat for both environmental and ecological reasons during the cooler months, having a portable way to keep extra warm makes perfect sense. If it provides some sense of security to us even in adulthood, what’s wrong with that?

Of course, in a tight economy, purchasing inexpensive wholesale blankets of any kind may make us feel even more secure – and saving a little money is never a bad thing. Cheap or expensive, close-out deals or brand new out of the factory, other than clothes, no category of product is as intimate in terms of covering our bodies and providing physical and emotional comfort as blankets. We all need a little warmth.

by Ricky Romero

The most popular baby blankets are made of fleece. They are usually square or rectangular in shape.  Fleece blankets provide all the comfort and warmth needed for long sleep of your newborn.

Custom fleece blankets make the perfect gift or promotional product because you don   ‘t have to worry about getting the correct size and they are used by everyone.

Fleece blankets for babies can be used as a comforter, in a stroller or car seat or anywhere your baby needs a warm soft blanket. Fleece is very soft and warm and will wrap baby up in comfort. Fleece is also a moisture wicking material that will keep baby dry when they are wrapped up in them. Since this fleece blankets are very soothing and comfortable, your baby remains very happy in the fleece and does wonders to sooth baby.

Fleece blankets are cheaper to manufacture than woven blankets. This allows them to be sold at a cheaper rate. They are excellent for those who travel. They are lightweight, durable, can be folded away compactly and do not absorb water. Another great feature about fleece blankets is they are soft and have a luxurious feeling.

Fleece blankets are suitable for children, adults and even babies. Many people use them to match with the decor of the house as a decoration. You can even add fringes or beds to the edges. If the blankets are going to be used by children or pets do not add fringe or beads as they can detach and become a choking hazard.

Fleece blanket is popular for a number of reasons. Firstly the fabric is relatively cheap which means the blankets are cheap. The fabric doesn’t absorb water; consequently the blankets are ideal for outdoors. Fleece blankets are finished to be extra soft and this is a quality that attracts many people to the blanket.