Groom Grub and Belly Rub.... coming to Orlando

Happy Holidays. Geeze what a hectic few months its been for us. The great part is that it has been a great year for Doglando, and we are most thankful to our extended family that continues to grow and all our staff that make us so special to all of you.

I have a few announcements to make:

First, The Doglando team is super excited to announce our new addition to the team... her name is Corby Morrison. Corby just graduated from the Full Sail University in Orlando, with a Masters in Internet Marketing. Need we mention she was the Valedictorian of her class.

As of the first of the year, Corby will be in charge of Doglando's Marketing, PR, Social Media, Advertising, Website design and all those fun things. So if you have any ideas, comments, or feedback regarding any of these topics, please email them to info@doglando.com for Corby.

2. Contest is over, the name for the new shop is "Groom Grub & Belly Rub." What do you all think?

Yesterday we closed on our new shop at Avalon Park. We are a few months away from opening though... due to the build out process, but very soon we will be inviting all of you to join us in our grand opening of Doglando's Groom Grub And Belly Rub at Avalon Park.

I look forward to hearing you comments on the name. I am most interested in finding out how the name defines itself (the business/ or services we will provide) to each of you.

GGBR will offer the following services:

- In your home pet sitting
- Dog walking
- Pick up and drop off for Daycare
- Pick up and drop off for Grooming
- Self serve dog wash
- Full scale pet grooming service
- Treat Bar for dogs
- An entire line of holistic, healthy, including raw food for dogs and cats
- Dog training

We look forward to providing the best services, products and care for the pets of Orlando.

Groom Grub and Belly Rub.... coming to Orlando

Start your week off on the right paw

I have heard Stedman speak three times now, and at the end of each one of his seminars,he ends with a quote by Dr. King. Some of you may have heard it before, others may be reading it for the first time.... live it, breathe it, enjoy it!

"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be be the best little shrub on the side of the hill.

Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are."

Start your week off on the right paw

OFF TOPIC - Elizabeth Gilbert

This is slightly off topic, but I think everyone should make the time to watch it. It is so powerful, so meaningful, and quite inspirational as well... beyond its my kind of debate!



Unfortunately we surpress creativity,creative thinking, creative arts, creative minds, and those that are, are always the ones to be considered the "odd balls" in their families and ultimately feel as such in the society. I believe it is a message that needs to be taught and encouraged to practice, starting within our school systems.

OFF TOPIC - Elizabeth Gilbert

The Amazing Tia Torres Talk on Pit Bulls

Thank you Melissa for sharing this with us.

Most of you, if you visit our blog often have heard about Rally... the black and white Pit that was abandoned in our parking lot.

It has been 4.5 months since he was abandoned at Doglando and an absolute roller coaster of emotions for everyone invloved in helping to find him a forever home. The last two weeks the entire group has battled over the most painful and most agonoizing decision of whether or not we should put Rally down... and as it seems we may be nearing that day sooner than any of us can bare to imagine.

For anyone who knows us or knows of us, I think you will understand how painful this talk is. The most frustrating part of it all being that he is a Pit and finding him a home is just near impossible.

I mentioned a while ago that we were unsuccessful in finding a fostor home or forever home through the help of rescue groups. ARF Shack was great to us in that they assisted with getting him vetted and neutered, but all others we contacted, unfortunately could not assist for the same reasons of difficulty as we have faced the last few months.

Rally has issues. He wants to be the sweetest boy on earth, and I bet if he had one with in life it would be to find a mummy and daddy and that's it. Quite frankly, I think he would make the greatest companion to a homeless person... he does not care who it is, he just wants to love and be loved, and has so much energy that walking for hours upon end as most homeless do, would be his dream. But that is just my opinion... an off the wall one, but one I truly think he would full heartedly agree with.

Anyway, back to reality... Rally has shown to display a very high prey drive, he is aggressively reactive towards intact male dogs, and unfortunately still unsure and uncertain of people. Every dog in the shelter would make a great dog to someone, IF.... and unfortunately for Rally, his "IF" for the perfect home is just not realistic and would not be with low risk of a bite towards a person.

And I do want to clarify, that in my professional opinion, his reactivity has nothing to do with his genetic make of the "breed" pit bull, but the genetic make up of an unstable, fearful dog, paired with all the unhealthy early experiences he has had. I do not believe this is a debate of "Rehabilitation" as some may call it, but more of responsibility of finding the right home... which has seemed near impossible.

There is so much more to explain about Rally, and the circumstances that lead us to our "conflicted" decision, I would not be able to share it all in one post.

I will make it my personal mission, and one of Doglando's missions to support Pit Bull Rescue, raise awareness on the breed and dedicated a training program specifically for Pit Bulls and their loving families for 2010.

In the meantime, watch this short clip of what others are doing for the breed, and be sure to listen out for the shocking ratio of how many Pit Bulls they recieve as opposed to how many they adopt out... even the best of the breed unfortunately passes due to our ignorance and disrespect for the animal kind.

The Amazing Tia Torres Talks Pit Bulls with Ellen - The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Amazing Tia Torres Talk on Pit Bulls

More dogs up for adoption... SPCA of Central Florida

I had to post these dogs... here are a few more that need forever loving homes... they are just so damn cute!

Duke: Hey I’m Duke. I am a 2 year old male pit bull mix. I came to the SPCA in late October and I’m ready to go home! I will be neutered when you adopt me. I am good with other dogs and with kids plus I am housebroken! I can be shy at first, but a good game of ball or a romp in the hose and I come out of my shell.



Lucky: Hi. I’m Lucky. I am a 9 year old spayed female shepherd mix who came to the SPCA when my previous owners moved away without me. I am good with other dogs, cats and kids plus I am housebroken. My name may be Lucky but I don’t feel that way right now…maybe you could come along and change my luck for the better?!



Vanilla: Hey! I’m Vanilla! I am a 7 year old spayed female terrier mix who came to the SPCA in late November when my previous owners just no longer wanted me. I can’t see why, I’m good with other dogs and with kids plus I am housebroken! I am well behaved and oh so sweet! Every dog should be wanted….do you want me?

More dogs up for adoption... SPCA of Central Florida