​​Well it’s now been just over a month since the launch party fashion show for “Dog Clothing DC” and the fundraiser in aid of an amazing charity called “Dogs4Rescue”.
As anyone will know, it’s fair to say, when starting up a new business you certainly have your work cut out, with much to think about and countless things to do.  Being a mum to my wonderful soon to be 6-year-old daughter Masey, with daily commitments and responsibility to all my horses, sheep, dogs, and cats, like many working mums, I’ve had to juggle many balls, though the excitement and adrenalin kept me going ahead of the launch.
There were literally hundreds of things to organise for the event, finding a suitable venue, the guest list, sending invitations, arranging PR, getting my stock together for the fashion show, sorting stock to sell on the night, organising catering, designing invitations, purchasing prize draw tickets with the appropriate info, lighting, music, dancers, models and the list went on.
I think nothing of helping anyone who needs my help, yet somehow when it comes to asking for help, I’d be the first to say that I’m not good at it at all, in fact I literally squirm at the thought. However, when I came to reach out for help to raise much needed funds for dogs4rescue, I had to get past this block, and I did. Thanks to many wonderful people who kindly donated amazing gifts for our prize draw, a game managed by a friend and fellow dog lover Suzanne, as well as all the guests who purchased the prize draw tickets, we managed to raise £1046.00. With enormous gratitude to all who gave their time, donations and support unselfishly, I was able to pay this directly into the bank account of Dogs4Rescue.
The charity is run by two amazing ladies, Emma and Lou, along with a team of wonderful staff and volunteers, who run a CAGE FREE rescue, for some of the most desperate cases from around the world.
I’m still at the early stages of developing “Dog Clothing” but aside from my desire to make this a successful label, it is my long-term ambition to support and help create awareness to the plight and cruelty, of these wonderful creatures, (ironically known as man’s best friend) at home and around the world.
Wishing you all a great week ahead.
Karina
x

​PUPSICLES We all love treats, and so of course do our pooch family.  Now that the summer is upon us, let me share a simple recipe that dogs love, one that will also cool them down during the hotter spells as well as keep them amused and occupied.
Ingredients
Chicken – approximately 8-10 chicken thighs. Remove skin before cooking to avoid a high fat content
2 Litres of water - If you use bottled water spring water is better than mineral water and most supermarkets sell their own brands for around 17p
Carrots (optional)
NO SEASONING AS SALT IS BAD FOR DOGS
 
You will need a large saucepan for the quantity of water, chicken and or bones.
Place the chicken and carrots in the pan with the water and cook on a slow to medium heat for around 2 hours or until the chicken is cooked and comes easily away from the bones.  Remove pan from heat and allow soup to cool.  Once cool separate the liquid from the chicken, keeping the meat aside for your dogs to eat as their lollies only require the liquid and a bit of mashed carrot if you cook any.
 
Place the cooled liquid in your fridge and allow it to set so that any surplus fat can set and be scraped off the top and discarded. Next ladle out the liquid and mashed carrot into ice lolly moulds or ice trays. I also use containers from yoghurts and other similar packaging once their contents has been consumed, placing these in your freezer for a few hours until frozen. 2 litres of water provides a lot of liquid to make quite a few lollies in various sizes.
 
A slow cooker is also a great option as it can cook the soup overnight for convenience and ease.
 
If you don’t want to spend money on actual chicken pieces you can save up chicken bones from roast dinners by freezing them in a bag until you have enough to make a good stock. Beef bones can be used too.
 
Warning
Please take extra care to ensure that no bones are left in the soup as these are of course harmful to dogs. If you are using chicken bones it is easy for the smaller bones to break away, so I always use a sieve to strain the liquid through into another pan or bowl.
 
It’s best to keep an eye on your dog or dogs consuming their lollies so that you can avoid them swallowing any plastic packaging.
 
The ice lolly moulds can be used each time though all other disposable containers will normally end up shredded, ready for the bin.
 
Watch how much your dog with love their ice lolly treats

I often wondered where the phase “Mans Best Friend” came from and as we now live in a world where practically every answer is at our finger tips, I got tapping and asked everyone’s friend Google.
What I’m led to believe is that before the evolution of wolf into dog, that man and wolf would hunt as a team. Wolves were the master trackers, and because of weapons, humans were the superior killers. Therefore, Wolves would lead the humans to the prey, and in return humans would leave some of the kill behind. This it was said, lead to the evolution of dogs, however other reports say, humans captured wolf cubs and raised them to be domesticated and then these domesticated genes were passed down through generations which eventually resulted in the domestic dog we know today.
Although man and dog have formed a close bond, it wasn’t always this way. Pre 18th century, dogs were kept for hunting and defence, and not as pets, the only deviation being the lap dog, which were referred to as only fit for a lady. Dogs were classed as dispensable and dog hangings were commonplace for any unfortunate pooch who had been caught chasing sheep or poultry or doing whatever else came natural to them. The phrase “Give a dog a bad name” was originally give a dog a bad name and hang him 1705.
Language referring to dogs changed around the later 18th century, with the word “Dog Basket” appearing in 1768, showing a clear change in attitude towards them, when there was a need for a word describing a piece of equipment specifically for the comfort of dogs.
I much prefer the story from 1870. A farmer shot a neighbour’s dog and the owner sued for damages. In the court case that followed, the lawyer George Graham Vest gave a tear-jerking speech,
"Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow, and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens." - And so on... That in my opinion described “Man’s Best Friend”
Although we are more than not, a nation of dog lovers, there is still some atrocious acts of cruelty in our own country and the most despicable barbaric and violent acts towards dogs and other sentient beings in many other parts of the world. Albert Einstein is known as one of the greatest minds to have ever lived and he had very strong views on man and his disrespect for animals.
“The indifference, callousness and contempt that so many people exhibit towards animals is evil, first because it results in great suffering in animals, and second because it results in an incalculably great impoverishment of the human spirit” – ALBERT EINSTEIN
Many great thinkers of the world have aired their views on mans disrespect for other sentient beings, and man’s deluded belief of their right to use and abuse animals for their own selfish needs.
“For as long as man massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain, can not reap the joy of love” – PYTHAGORAS
“The question is not, can they reason? Not can they talk? But, can they suffer? – JEREMY BENTHAM
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” - MOHANDAS K. GANDHI.
“the love of ALL living creatures is the most noble attribute of man” – CHARLES DARWIN
“NONE violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming, ALL other living beings we are still savages. – THOMAS A. EDISON.
Of course, you don’t have to have a high IQ to love and respect animals, we all have the ability to show compassion, its our choice to be that person who cares, and lives their life consciously without intentionally hurting, or causing pain and suffering, to another sentient being.
I only wish some of the narcissist superficial so-called CELEBS, who think its okay to flaunt around in the fur of a tortured animal or swing the skin of a skinned alive croc on their shoulder would follow in the footsteps of some of our Great Minds. As a lover of animals, especially dogs, I was horrified to read the link below, which took place on a film set recently. We are a long way from enlightenment, our own corrupt government, who are meant to be the voice of the people, voted to reject the inclusion of animal sentients- the admittance that animals feel emotion and pain. What chance do animals have when these, so called educated people come up with such pure inhumane crap, and even worse, get away with it. There is nothing humane about humans.
“IT IS JUST LIKE A MAN’S VANITY AND INPERTINENCE TO CALL AN ANIMAL DUMB BECAUSE IT IS DUMB TO HIS DULL PERCEPTIONS” - MARK TWAIN.


 

​So, after a week of headlines like “Snow Chaos to cripple Britain” SNOWMAGEDDON has finally arrived. The weather has dominated the front pages of our Newspapers for days and continues to make a huge drama out of the prospect of snow. There is no doubt these artic conditions will disrupt the rhythms of every day life, but we’ll survive, we’ll get over it, life will go on.
The last two mornings I’ve woken up to my surroundings swallowed up in a white world, snow hugging each building like a huge silvery blanket. The branches of trees hanging low with the weight of the flakes that cling to them. No sooner have vehicles imprinted their tracks on the road, they are erased as a fresh blanket falls like confetti from the sky.
I certainly wasn’t looking forward to venturing out in those plummeting temperatures, but with two German Shepherds needing to relieve themselves the choice wasn’t mine. As I downed my first coffee of the day, I binge watched the weather channel and stories of people stock piling a weeks’ worth of milk, bread and wine, yes wine (how times have changed). The screen revealed images of jack-knifed trucks blocking motor ways with two-mile tail backs as people tried to get to and from work (unless they were on their way to get that week’s supply of wine). Pictures of frozen fountains, icicles hanging like huge crystal daggers sent in by devoted watchers, as educated people opened a debate on whether snow ball games should be banned “Really?” Maybe kids should be encouraged to play in the snow, at least it will tear them away for their iPad or iPhone for a while. Then of course there is the small problem of the name “snowman” seemingly its sexist and should be called “snow people”??? The UK has gone mad with its PC agenda and its ever-growing trend of compensation claims, which is, I’m guessing why this Head Teacher has decided to ban his pupils from even touching the snow. Also, since when did we start giving the wind a name? Seemingly Storm Emma is in her way to cripple us Brits some more, as if things aren’t dire enough.
Meanwhile my two German Shepherds had patiently crossed their legs whilst waiting for me to pluck up the courage to venture outside. Three layers of clothing, a scarf and some gloves (that had been warming on the radiator) I thought it was best to get this part of the day over. I struggled to open the door because of the snow that had drifted up against it, and that is before Storm Emma has graced us with her presence. Two excited tails battered my legs as I heaved at the door, as both dogs pushed around me impatiently, squeezing themselves out before it was fully open, and running out crazy with excitement at their new surroundings. I realised as I watched them bounding through the fresh white blanket, snow is a very big deal to dogs, but in a good way. There was no holding them back, as they took pleasure in this huge playroom of softness and new smells. Yellow stains marked their track as I followed, the snow crunching underneath my feet. “Who let the dogs out” sang out in my head as I took pleasure in watching the simplicity of my dog’s ability to embrace the moment. It took me to that saying, “I don’t need a therapist, I have a dog” and watching your dog, or dogs enjoying themselves is a good way to make you chill, and really put things into perspective. So, no more weather news for me, like my treasured pooches, I’m looking forward to our next venture out. Not only have they taught me to lighten up because snow can be fun, but also that there is something amazingly wonderful, about being that first to make an impression on a fresh blanket of snow.