Friday, April 29, 2011

BBB Dog Tales: Living the Grey Dog Life

What does one do when a loved one is a Houdini that escapes and bolts out the door and another loved one repeatedly brings the outdoors in to your house and studio?  Well, if the loved ones are Weimaraners you just learn to adore them and don't sweat the small stuff!

 Meet Tucker and Oliver, the regal and handsome purebreed wards of  Grey Dog Studio artist, Laurel Johns.  Purebreed, magnificent and rescued, these lads divide their time between Laureal's Hird Island, GA stained glass art studio and summers in Tenants Harbor, ME. 

Weimaraners are friendly, fearless, alert and obedient, but they are also assertive, bold, headstrong and loyal.  As with most rescued animals, you may start out to do something good by adopting a homeless pet, but you soon find out they rescue you right back!

We'll share more about Laurel and her beautiful and extraordinary stained glass art in an upcoming Mermaids In Our Midst, so for right now enjoy these charming fellows and learn more about the joys of adopting one or any animal from your local shelter or rescue group.

For more information about Weimaraners go to weimrescue.org and Adopt, Foster, Transport and Volunteer in your community.

For more information about Grey Dog Studio, Laurel Johns and her stained glass art creations go to www.greydogstudio.com.

Laurel is making a difference in the art world and in the pet community by rescuing these magnificent Weimaraners.  Thanks for sharing your art and Tucker and Oliver, Laurel!

Help The Smallest Tornado Victims

Many people across several states were affected by the tornadoes that tore through the south yesterday.  Everyone needs help, especially the smallest victims...pets left injured and/or abandoned by the destruction.  Here's how you can help:
* Donate pet food for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens
* Donate pet beds, kennels
* Donate towels, blankets
* Donate newspapers
* Donate toys, treats
* Volunteer to give pet baths, grooming assistance, dog walks
* Volunteer to foster an abandoned pet
* Be a friend to a person or pet in need
Many lost or abandoned pets could end up in a shelter near you, so donate your goods and time if you can.  If not, please make a donation to your local animal shelter or rescue group.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Beach Bum Biscuits: EASTER Reminds Us To Give Thanks



Today will be filled with lots of wonderful food, love and laughter and the renewal of time honored traditions we wish to pass on to our families and friends.  One tradition at Mermaid Cottages we will always honor is the opportunity to serve, to give back, to celebrate and to carry on.
Thank you to everyone who helps us sponsor puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities.  By staying with Mermaid Cottages and promoting Beach Bum Biscuits you help continue this tradition.  Our own Berkeley Springs recently graduated from Guide Dog School and is now paired with his Forever Friend.  They'll have a beautiful journey together and for that we are grateful and thankful and proud!

Dog Tales: Easter Visits We Love

One of the best things about a holiday is when we get to see and spend time with those we love...and that includes our Pawsome Pals!
We love it when we get to meet all of our guests and we especially enjoy meeting new members of our pet community.  Be sure to post your pet pics on our Facebook pages and we'll proudly display them!
Happy Easter, Y'all!
Pet We\'ve Met Along The Way

Danny + Peeps = Gobble Gobble

By now, everyone knows our Danny.  He's our mascot.  He's our photo shoot model.  He's our Look-Out Sentry.  He's our Ambassador.
He's also a bottom-less disposal.
No matter what the holiday or what edible (and sometimes inedible) delight he spies he just has no willpower.  Easter always brings to mind the time he devoured the PEEPS Easter Cake.  The general rule for Danny's Gastronomic Escapades is so long as the object of his desire is at least 12 inches from the edge of the kitchen counter it's safe.  The thing is Danny never read the rules and he never met a PEEPS he didn't like.

What do you have planned as an Easter surprise for your Pawsome Pal?  Be sure to send us your Easter Pet Pics and we'll post them on our Facebook page!
We had originally wanted to post the pics of Diane's beautiful Easter PEEPS Cake, so here's the only photo she managed to snap of it.  Just minutes later she turned her back and it was gone.  The only clue to what had happened in the blink of an eye was the tell-tale sign of PEEPS sugar around Danny's mouth!

Here's wishing you a Happy Easter!

Beach Bum Biscuits:Easter's On Its Way!

What color will your Easter eggs be this year?  Haven't decided, yet?  While walking my dogs around the island I found my inspiration!
I love the cool blue I saw on this painted flower pot in front of Nora's Cottage and I love the idea of an Easter basket full of bright blue eggs nestled in white grass and dotted with yellow PEEPS throughout.  I used to think I had to have eggs in every shade imaginable, but lately I'm drawn to less colors and more contrast.  I think I'll make one large basket of blues and yellows and whites for my Easter table and maybe I'll still dye more eggs in different colors to donate to a local hunt.  I  enjoy dyeing the eggs and hiding them, but since I don't have small children I won't be hiding any in the yard at Nora's.
Now, my dogs always enjoy finding treats, so I'll donate my brightly colored Easter eggs and instead hide Beach Bum Biscuits around the yard for my Pawsome Pals.   Besides, each dog friendly cottage is well stocked with a supply of Beach Bum Biscuits and I'm sure my Wag Pack will find everyone!
Nora's Cottage has this wonderful, fenced-in back yard.  I might just discover that nap I've been missing while the dogs find their treats!
Be sure to plan your trip to Nora's Cottage.  An adventure to waiting for you!

Dog Tales: Sharing the Adventure

Talk to most successful people and you'll often hear, "The greatest joy in success comes from sharing what I have with those I love."  It's a wonderful life lesson to be learned, for sure, and for those of us that are pet owners we often equate real happiness with our adventures we get to share with others...especially our pets!
A visit to Mermaid Cottages and Tybee Island is an adventure for everyone, including our pets!  Although pets are not allowed on the beach there are still wonderful adventures to be had with our Pawsome Pals!  Our pet friendly cottages have beautiful yards and most are fenced.  Walking all around Tybee is a sensory delight for humans and dogs thanks to the beautiful architecture styles, island flora and fresh air.  There are also great pet adventures to be had by boating over to Little Tybee Island and exploring the history of our coast around Fort Pulaski.
We have Bark Parks and stunning decks and porches and leisurely nap times that come with being on "Tybee Time".  Don't just take our word for it.  Just take a look at some of the smiles of our guests!
http://youtu.be/Kq-FypAbNkc

CELEBRATION SUNDAY

Pomp and Circumstance.  Rite of Passage.  The Pinnacle of Achievement.  Graduation Day.   Fulfillment of Destiny.
Behind all the pomp lies the most important circumstance.  Unto every life a time comes when each soul is called to serve a cause that's greater than himself or herself and it represents everything that is good and honorable in this wonderful life we share.
Behind all the pomp stand many dedicated supporters and caretakers and remarkable talents that make a difference and make their lives a testimony for achievements .  They know that what we earn is our living and what we give is our life.  They have learned that a life of service is a life best lived.
THEY are the people who make up Guidedog.org.  Since 1946, the Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind, Inc.   has provided Guide Dogs to blind people who seek enhanced mobility and independence.  THEY include the sponsors, the trainers, the puppy walkers and their many supporters from all across our world.
In our particular circumstance, this includes Mermaid Cottages and our commitment to sponsor Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities.  We even have our own special Mermaid At Large, Sandy Leandro, a very busy travel and hospitality executive who is our Puppy Walker.  Sandy has raised and nurtured and socialized our latest puppies to become the best at what they do.
Recently, Sandy travelled to New York for CELEBRATION SUNDAY to attend the graduation of  Berkeley Springs, one of the dogs she
was puppy walker to and one of the puppies we sponsor.  If you've ever attended a milestone event for someone in your life you can appreciate the pride and love and hopes and dreams and all the emotions that swell up inside as you witness the recognition of  a worthwhile endeavor.



Thanks to Diane Kaufman and her devotion to championing the best that Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers have to offer through Mermaid Cottages, Beach Bum Biscuits and the life that she lives.

In this circumstance the pomp is well deserved and we honor Berkeley Springs for achieving his Celebration Sunday and meeting his forever companion as he walks through life.  This is our celebration every day!

Serving With Honor: TONY

One of the puppies we sponsored for Guide Dog training, Tony, is about to be paired with his new owner.  Tony has spent the first years of his life learning and training to be of service to someone in need.
Tony excelled during his first 18 months of being socialized by his "walker" where he learned proper etiquette in public.  Next, he moved up through the ranks of training and apprenticing and he's now ready to change someone's life forever.
Of course, this comes as no surprise to us.  You see, Tony is a namesake.  He is named to honor  and in memory of Tony Patrea, JR.  Tony was a brilliant young man from Tybee who was well known throughout the island for his citizenship, courteousness and helpfulness.  He volunteered for many Mermaid Cottages community service projects and he also loved animals dearly.
Tony Patrea, Jr made the most of his life while he was here and we know Tony, the Guide Dog, will make his mark on someone's life just like his namesake.
We remember Tony Patrea, Jr and we honor his legacy through our Tony's life of service!

Vote for Danny!!!


Danny wants to be voted Best Looking in SOUTH Magazine!
Danny helps raise funds to sponsor puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities and he welcomes guests to Mermaid Cottages.
Be sure to give him your vote!  VOTE for Danny!


BOOMER And The Journey To Service

BOOMER, our youngest Golden Retriever puppy in training to be a Guide Dog, dropped by for a visit, recently.
He just turned one last month, so our young lad is growing up.  He'll soon be returning to Guide Dog School for more training.
Boomer paid us a visit at Seaside Sisters and he gave their new expansion several tale wags!  He also posed for pictures with everyone and even did a little modeling for our Mermaid Cottages section in the shop.
He has a very passionate soul and is super vigilant, so he will be the perfect service companion to a person with disabilities some day.
We're  just glad we get to be his biggest cheerleaders and we're honored to take this journey with him.  We love having Boomer in our neighborhood for visits!
Take a look at Boomer's visit to Seaside Sisters