biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Oct 10

When Dogs Come to Work Everyone Benefits

This post below is from Life With Dogs. My husband, Doug, always says that he wishes the he could take our little Biscuit to work with him as it would be a huge “morale boost!” Biscuit is usually always up for an adventure, except for adventures to the vet’s office!

Every day millions of lucky dogs and their humans get to go to work together, and many people support the idea that it makes the workplace feel less stressful and generally creates a happier atmosphere. Erin McCormack, who works at Authentic Entertainment in Los Angeles agrees, saying ”They are a calming force. When things get stressful, you can lean down and pet your dog or take a walk and pet a nearby dog. You get a more efficient workplace, one that’s not consumed with stress.”

McCormack’s dog Molly, a Maltese mix, is one of the fortunate dogs who gets to spend every Friday at work with her mom. In addition to making the workplace less frantic feeling, McCormack says ”It’s such a great way to create a productive atmosphere. It makes the environment more conducive to creativity.” As well, it saves dog owners the cost of dog walkers or day care since they can walk them on lunch breaks. There is also support for the argument that this contributes to the overall health and well being of staff since it gets them out of their chairs and out into the fresh air, also contributing to improved productivity.

An American Pet Products Association survey indicates that one in five business in the United States is pet friendly, including Google Inc. and Amazon Inc. who both say that it helps keep employees happy and therefore boosts retention. ”Engineering and software companies are often the type of company that is pet-friendly,” says Len Kain, cofounder and editor of DogFriendly. com, which lists dog-friendly companies in every state.

Allowing dogs to come to work is also a way for companies to show that they are “different,” that they care about people and their quality of life. And of course, dog owners want to give their dogs the best possible quality of life, so everyone benefits.

Oct 9

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Do you live in a dog friendly city?

Below is some interesting information from a recent Men’s Health article concerning dog friendly cities in the United States.

No one wants to hear that his city has gone to the dogs. But in this case, it means canines are king, and Portland leads the pack. Men’s Health crunched the per capita numbers of dog parks (Trust for Public Land), dog-friendly apartments (Apartments.com), vets (MyVeterinarian.com), animal shelters (Petfinder.com), and pet stores and services, along with the percentage of dog owners (both SimplyMap). Finally, Men’s Health factored in state laws against animal cruelty, dog fighting, and puppy mills (Humane Society). The results are outlined below to see where you city ranks in terms of dog friendliness. Hopefully, you live in a dog friendly city!

MOST DOG FRIENDLY

1.    Portland, OR A+
2.    Colorado Springs, CO A+
3.    Wilmington, DE A+
4.    Seattle, WA A
5.    Denver, CO A
6.    Tampa, FL A
7.    Manchester, NH A-
8.    St. Louis, MO A-
9.    Pittsburgh, PA A-
10.  Las Vegas, NV A-

11.    Madison, WI A-
12.    Tucson, AZ B+
13.    Omaha, NE B+
14.    Cincinnati, OH B+
15.    Minneapolis, MN B+
16.    Aurora, CO B+
17.    Austin, TX B
18.    Norfolk, VA B
19.    Burlington, VT B
20.   Lincoln, NE B-

21.    Baton Rouge, LA B-
22.    Des Moines, IA B-
23.    St. Petersburg, FL B-
24.    Reno, NV B-
25.    Chesapeake, VA B-
26.    Portland, ME B-
27.    Atlanta, GA B-
28.    Plano, TX C+
29.    Tulsa, OK C+
30.    Virginia Beach, VA C+

31.    Little Rock, AR C+
32.    Raleigh, NC C+
33.    Orlando, FL C+
34.    Sacramento, CA C+
35.    Albuquerque, NM C+
36.    Salt Lake City, UT C+
37.    Greensboro, NC C+
38.    St. Paul, MN C+
39.    Miami, FL C
40.    Winston-Salem, NC C

41.    Charlotte, NC C
42.    Bakersfield, CA C
43.    Columbia, SC C
44.    Jersey City, NJ C
45.    Cheyenne, WY C
46.    Rochester, NY C
47.    Nashville, TN C
48.    Kansas City, MO C-
49.    Charleston, WV C-
50.    San Francisco, CA C-

51.    Anchorage, AK C-
52.    Boise City, ID   C-
53.    Durham, NC C-
54.    Chicago, IL C-
55.    Fort Wayne, IN C-
56.    Phoenix, AZ C-
57.    Oklahoma City, OK C-
58.    Houston, TX C-
59.    New Orleans, LA C-
60.    Birmingham, AL D+

61.    Lexington, KY D+
62.    San Diego, CA D+
63.    Providence, RI D+
64.    Washington, DC D+
65.    Indianapolis, IN   D+
66.    Milwaukee, WI D+
67.    Sioux Falls, SD D+
68.    Wichita, KS D+
69.    Lubbock, TX D+
70.    Riverside, CA D+

71.    New York, NY D+
72.    Jacksonville, FL D+
73.    Fargo, ND D+
74.    Dallas, TX D
75.    Billings, MT D
76.    Cleveland, OH D
77.    Philadelphia, PA D
78.    Fresno, CA D
79.    Toledo, OH D
80.    Stockton, CA D-

81.    Baltimore, MD D-
82.    Honolulu, HI D-
83.    San Jose, CA D-
84.    Fort Worth, TX D-
85.    Memphis, TN D-
86.    Oakland, CA D-
87.    San Antonio, TX D-
88.    Columbus, OH D-
89.    Boston, MA D-
90.    Laredo, TX D-

LEAST DOG FRIENDLY

91.    Buffalo, NY D-
92.    Louisville, KY F
93.    Jackson, MS   F
94.    Corpus Christi, TX F
95.    El Paso, TX F
96.    Detroit, MI F
97.    Bridgeport, CT F
98.    Anaheim, CA F
99.    Newark, NJ F
100. Los Angeles, CA

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.”
– Gilda Radner

Oct 4

Why Does My Dog Curl Up in A Ball When He Sleeps?

There are two reasons why your furry family member rolls up in a ball to snooze. When dogs sleep in the wild, especially where it is cold, they will dig a nest and curl up into it. This gives the dog warmth and tucking into a ball conserves body heat. It also protects dogs’ most vulnerable organs in the abdomen area from predators.

Second, if a dog is in unfamiliar territory, he will revert back to the instinct-based, curled-up sleep position. Thus, giving your dog a blanket can help him dig a nest with the bedding material before he lies down instead of digging a hole to China in your carpet!

Biscuit enjoys his duvet, and often times he spends quite a bit of time getting his duvet in just the right position for him to sleep! Biscuit can be quite particular!

Other times, Biscuit likes to be wrapped up like a little burrito!

Oct 3

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Quote of the Day – Rainer Maria Rilke

I came across a powerful quote by Rainer Maria Rilke. You can substitute the word “write” in the quote below for any art form.

“Nobody can counsel and help you, nobody. There is only one single way. Go into yourself. Search the reason that bids you write; find out whether it is spreading out its roots in the deepest places of your heart, acknowledge to yourself whether you would die if it were denied you to write. This above all — ask yourself in the stillest hour of your night: Must I write? Delve into yourself for a deep answer. And if this should be affirmative, if you may meet this earnest question with a strong and simple, ‘I must,’ then build your life according to this necessity; your life even into its most indifferent and slightest hour must be a sign of this urge and a testimony to it.”

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Oct 1

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Biscuit’s visit to the Tysons Corner, Virginia Orvis Store

We recently discovered that Biscuit was appearing in Orvis stores around the country in connection with the Orvis Petfinder Commitment, promoting dog rescue. Below are some photographs of Biscuit with his poster at the Tysons Corner Orvis store.

Orvis was kind enough to send us a smaller version of the Orvis Petfinder poster shown below.

Sep 28

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Biscuit Appears in the Royal Oak, Michigan Orvis Store

We recently discovered that Biscuit was appearing in Orvis stores around the country in connection with the Orvis Petfinder Commitment, promoting dog rescue. Below are some photographs taken by my parents of Biscuit appearing in the Royal Oak, Michigan Orvis store! Soon, we will be taking Biscuit to the Tysons Corner Orvis store so that Biscuit can see his poster! Happy Friday!

Sep 27

Biscuit and his new Doggles!

We recently received Biscuit’s Doggles in the mail! He actually does not mind wearing them! We will have to try out his new Doggles while he is riding in his Hound About! Below are some recent photographs of our little Biscuit wearing his new Doggles!

Sep 25

Biscuit is featured in Orvis’ Holiday Catalog!

We recently discovered from Orvis that Biscuit is featured in Orvis’ Holiday catalog, displayed below!

Sep 24

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Biscuit with his 26 Bottles of Biscuit!

This weekend, we received 26 Bottles of Biscuit! Below are some photographs with Biscuit and his Jones Soda!

We did place Biscuit on our dinning room table in order to capture this photograph below! (Not to worry – after we cleaned our dinning room table thoroughly!)

Biscuit is on the mend. We hope that we do not have to give Biscuit too many more medicated baths. His skin infection appears to be clearing up, although the medicine is making Biscuit quite sleepy. However, Biscuit was not too tired to go out to eat with us on Friday night and Sunday night!

Sep 19

Biscuit

Biscuit is doing a little better. All of the medicine is making him more tired than usual. Biscuit went for a long walk last night after the rain. We hope that his infections will be gone in the next few weeks. Below is a photograph of Biscuit taken this past weekend just before he went with us to the Harbor in his Hound About, which he loves!