Real Pet Friendly – Angela Mihal, South Florida Realtor finds homes for you and your animals

After careful thought I’ve now decided that my dogs are helping each other get what they want.

Yesterday, my poor little Chewy wasn’t feeling very good. As soon as he got up all he wanted to do was go outside and eat some grass. I let him out and continued on my daily routine – feed dogs, make toast, set up TV tray, eat toast then get ready for work – which is pretty much what I do every day.

I’m just about to dive into my breakfast when I hear Chewy making that horrible “I’m gonna throw up, I’m gonna throw up, I’m goooonnnnnaaa throw UP” noise (you pet peeps know what I’m talking about). So I quickly grab him and put him on the tile floor instead of letting him stay on the couch. I then run to the kitchen to grab a paper towel for clean-up duty.  Seconds have passed when I realize TWO things have happened while I was gone.

One, Chewy basically spit out one blade of grass, that’s it, so really no need for all his dramatic “I’m gonna throw up” noises.
And two, I was now missing a piece of toast!

I do a quick head count to see who’s missing AND OF COURSE Calvin the Chihuahua is no longer on the couch. I see him over in his little dog bed trying to get that piece of toast down as quickly as possible. I run over and retrieve what I can, but he basically inhaled  it. This whole event literally happened in the matter of 20 seconds!

So now I’m wondering: Have they figured out my morning routine? Was Chewy trying to distract me while Calvin made off with the goods? They do sleep in the same crate so for all I know they lay around and plot again me and Calvin has always been the mastermind. Though, now that he’s eleven I assumed the “stealing food days” were over.

What do we think, conspiracy or dumb luck? My votes conspiracy!

Filed under: Just for laughs, My dogs | 1 Comment »

LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade – our Miami Heat superstars - are all in the market for new fab homes. Though I haven’t heard from any of them yet, I’ve decided to get prepared just in case they need help with their real estate needs. Wink.

So I’ve picked out three homes today that I think the boys should consider.

If privacy is the key factor than why not live on Star Island? 

THE STATS
Year built: 1925
Size does matter: 9,854 sq ft
Beds, baths and beyond: 7 bedrooms, 6 full baths, 3 half baths
All this for a cool 29 million
 

BUT of course, I think many would agree, we want one of the superstar trio to live in Fort Lauderdale!  So why not take up the entire end of Rio Vista Isle?! Plus, as an added bonus, when the tour boats drive by, LeBron, you’ll be the hot new kid on the block.

THE STATS
Year built: 1989
Size does matter: 10,242 sq ft
Beds, baths and beyond: 11 bedrooms, 12 full baths, 5 half baths
All this for a mere 28.5 million

Last but not least, my fav, a new-ish modern oceanfront property (this would be my first choice, but then again I don’t have to worry about crazed fans). It is right on the beach so there may be many onlookers strolling by. That’s the price you pay being rich and famous.  But this home is a steal!

THE STATS
Year built: 2007
Size does matter: 14,079 sq ft
Beds, baths and beyond: 5 bedrooms, 6 full baths, 3 half baths
A super deal at 18.5 million

There you are, three fab homes for our Miami Heat’s finest.  How do you think these houses compare and who should live where?

Filed under: Just for laughs, Miami Heat Trio | 2 Comments »

Great dog event that you can take advantage of through August. If you go, send me pics and I’ll post!

Merrick Park Goes to the Dogs!
The Village of Merrick Park (358 San Lorenzo Ave) invites you to Doggy Days of Summer July 18th, 25th and August 1st
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Bring your pooch to The Garden at the Village of Merrick Park and enjoy special promotions and doggy treats at select retailers and restaurants.

Receive a complimentary professional photo of your four-legged friend with a purchase of $25 or more. With a $5 donation enter your pooch in the doggy parade and receive a complimentary bandana. All proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Greater Miami, which will be taking part in the kick-off with an adopt-a-thon on site. The doggy parade will begin at 3:00 pm in The Garden. Prizes will be awarded for top 3 categories:

1. Best attire
2. Best owner/dog look alike
3. Best personality.  
Doggy Days will be held on the following dates:  Sunday July 18, 25 and August 1 from 2 to 6 p.m. 
For more information visit: Village of Merrick Park

Source: miami.com

Filed under: events, meetup | No Comments »

I’ll start off with my fav:

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” - Roger Caras

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” - Martin Buber

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” - Immanual Kant

“My little dog — a heartbeat at my feet.” - Edith Wharton

“A cat is a puzzle for which there is no solution.” - Hazel Nicholson

“The purity of a person’s heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals” - Anonymous

“Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!” - Theophile Gautier

“There’s no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat.” - Wesley Bates

“Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.” - Anonymous

“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us” - Robert Louis Stevenson

For more great pet quotes check out petsinpastel.com

Filed under: Just for laughs, websites & more | No Comments »

Filed under: events, meetup | No Comments »

The fourth of July is right around the corner and as much as I love it, my little Silvio does not. Every year the same thing… when the fireworks start cracking Silvio starts shaking. If we are on a walk (his favorite thing ever) and he even remotely hears a sound that might be a firework he will immediately tug me home.

My other dogs, although not as frightened, always drive me a little insane because they will literally bark every single time they hear that popping noise. So needless to say, the 4th really isn’t a pet-friendly holiday in my house.

This year I’m going to try to make the holiday as painless as possible for all of us. I wanted to share some great preparation tips from The Humane Society.

To protect your pet on the Fourth of July, take these precautions:

Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.

Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners. For more tips and info from The Humane Society go here.

Filed under: tips | 1 Comment »

So, I’m extremely excited about my most recent find. I’m sure my dog Chewy is going to just love his new hat. I came across this adorable creation while on Etsy.com, which is my new favorite shopping site. There are so many original things to buy! Plus, this nifty little hat  only cost me $11 and some change!

This artist also does accessories for us humans. If you want to see her full gallery go here.
Also, here’s the artist bio…

Talk2thetrees is Rachael Thomas. That’s me. I’m an artist/creator located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Inspired by: nature, trees, horror art, macabre, Halloween, mushrooms, Asian art, religion, cemeteries, dreams, antique bottles, tarot cards and palm reading.
Collector of: acorns, crystals, animals, books, tea sets, journals.
I stay up way too late and drink too much tea. I get excited about things normal people don’t.
Visit my blog at www.Talk2thetrees.blogspot.com

Filed under: Just for laughs, Two thumbs up, websites & more | No Comments »

You can come check out a fabulous Villa on the Intracostal in Fort Lauderdale from 2-5 Sunday (06/26).

Here are the details:

Renovated: This villa has been beautifully renovated with a fantastic kitchen, stainless steel appliances, a wine cooler (and I don’t mean the beverage), breakfast bar, recessed lighting, marble floors and more.

Water: It’s right smack-dab on the Interacoastal Waterway with ocean access & NO fixed bridges.

Pet/kid-friendly: It’s great because it’s on the first floor so it’s easy access to the grass for your pups. It’s also located on a secluded cul-de-sac so it’s great for your kids.

Airy: It’s has an open concept that combines the kitchen, living & dining rooms giving it a nice airy feel.

The view: And for the best part, it has floor to ceiling picture windows which you can enjoy from the main living area AND your master bedroom… just watch the boats cruise by… And of course if you own your own boat you can dock up to 60′.

Come check it out… here’s the directions
A1A south of Oakland Park Blvd. – turn west onto 23rd St. – turn right onto NE 32 Ave. – turn left onto 27th. Or click here to see the map. I’ll see you there!

Filed under: Updates, open houses | No Comments »

My brother Zach sent me this video from “America’s Got Talent.”  It starts off a little slow but the finish is priceless. (Is that a rescue button I see?)

Filed under: Just for laughs | 2 Comments »

So seriously, is it not scorching hot outside? It’s only June! I can’t imagine what’s to come in July and AUGUST! I realize what I’m saying is quite obvious, but I do actually have a point to make. We are knee-deep into hurricane season and with the weather being so extreme it’s probably a good idea to get prepared.

The stress of having to evacuate your home is pretty big, but adding pets into the equation can make it overwhelming. So the best thing you can do is figure out a plan NOW so later you’ll know exactly what you’re going to do.

A good friend recently asked me if I knew of good evacuation shelters that allow pets. My first inclination was to compile a list by calling every hotel and storm shelter in Florida, but  than it occured to me that someone else may have done the work already. And sure enough, someone has.

This site has some great info about why pet-friendly shelters are a good thing and a detailed list of emergency shelters and hotels in Florida. Go here for a pet-friendly hurricane guide

Filed under: Hurricane prep, shelters, tips | No Comments »