Fun Products for Dogs and Dog Lovers

July 26, 2018 Kaitlyn Holeman

Whether you're a new dog parent or you've already got more than one furry family member at home, shopping for your pet can be a lot of fun!

But they aren't the only ones who can enjoy some awesome products. Below are a few spotlights of some amazing vendors who offer a range of items for dogs and dog lovers alike!

Winks and Whiskers

One of the only companies out there of its kind, Winks & Whiskers is an apparel company for pet parents! Started by Eric and Kayla (a husband and wife team!), this company sells pet parent apparel that not only looks and feels trendy, but also gives back!

10% off all profits is donated back to animal charities, and over the last two years they've donated over $4,000! And they have a bunch of super cute designs, including ones with dog-oriented phrases, lots of small paw prints, and other pet parent slogans you're bound to love. They even have a few new camping themed ones that are perfect for the summer season!

Mutthead

Another company I love is Mutthead, which offers a wide selection of stylish collars for dogs (and cats!). They specialize in offering buckle and martingale dog collars for dogs of all sizes, but also offer leashes, bow ties, and bandanas as well.

And if you don't see a fabric you love in the type of product you're looking for, you can contact them to see if you can order something custom for your pet!

Earthdog

For an eco-friendly shopping option, check out Earthdog's hemp collars, leashes and dog beds -- all handmade here in the US! They've been around for 20 years now -- or as they say on their website, "140 dog years" -- and they donate 10% of their profits to Kody's Fund, a non-profit that funds spay and neuter programs.

Barker's Market

If you love shopping at the Franklin Farmer's Market, you may have seen the booth for the Barker's Market, a family-owned business right here in Nashville.

They make handcrafted pet apparel and all-natural pet treats -- everything from bandanas, leashes and collars to doggy donuts and cat treats! The Barker's Market also donates 10% of their profits to local pet charities that share their values by promoting animal health and happiness. :)

Contact a Pet Photographer in Tennessee

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

Fostering Cats & Kittens {Nashville Cat Photographer}

June 28, 2018 Kaitlyn Holeman

Over the years, we've fostered dozens of puppies, dogs, kittens and cats -- and I believe it's one of the best ways we can help animals find forever homes! Fostering is such a needed service and it provides so much for the animals (and us!), including a warm and inviting home, food, and tons of love.

That's why I wanted to highlight some information on fostering cats and kittens today on the blog, especially since it's kitten season here in Nashville! Read on for more information (and adorable kittens!)

Although it may seem like a big undertaking, fostering pets is really easy. Some people choose to integrate the kittens right into their entire home, but since we have three dogs and a grown cat, we choose to keep them separate from our animals.

Here's how we do it!

My husband and I both work from home, so we set up a large dog crate in my office complete with a litter box, food, water and a small box for them to chill out in until they get used to being here (kittens love to hide).

Then, while I'm working during the day, we let them run around and play in my office. We don't like to leave them unsupervised because kittens are notorious for chewing cords so when I leave the office for the day they go back in the crate. They have just as much room in that big crate as they would in a cage at the shelter, and tons of extra play time.

And we, in return, get adorable kitten snuggles and laughs from all their antics - what is better than that!?

When you foster through an animal shelter, you will normally only have them until they weigh enough to be adopted. If you foster with a group, you might have them until they are adopted by a family, so that time frame is sometimes much longer. This is certainly something to consider when deciding who to foster with.

As a foster pet parent, you are also responsible for transportation to the vet or shelter for their medical appointments. The group you foster with will normally provide everything else: food, litter and medications if they need them. And of course if you are willing to provide some or all of these supplies yourself, it's a huge help for the shelters!

There are several groups in the Nashville area who need foster families for cats and kittens. If you aren't local to Nashville, just reach out to your local animal shelter and they can point you in the right direction!

Here are several shelters and organizations in the Nashville area you may be able to foster cats and kittens through:

Metro Animal Care & Control

Williamson County Animal Center
(this is who we currently foster with)

Nashville Cat Rescue

Rural Animal Rescue Effort

... and that's just scratching the service! :)

All of the images in this post are of kittens we've fostered along the way. If you have questions about what it's like to foster these adorable kittens, comment below! I promise it's an amazing experience -- we're hooked!

And if you are looking to adopt a cat, you might be interested to read our previous post about the Mewsic Kitty Cafe in Nashville!

~ Mandy

Henley & Charley {Nashville Pet Photographer}

December 19, 2017 Kaitlyn Holeman

On the blog this week are two sweet little girls, Henley and Charley, and their two pups! I absolutely loved meeting their adorable King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, named Brave and Sunshine Susie.

Brave is four years old. Henley came up with the name from the movie, after the Disney princess Merida. Sunshine Susie is only two years old, and Charley came up with the name because she thought it sounded "happy"! Most of the time, though, she refers to her as Baby Sun. How cute is that?!

Both Brave and Sunshine Susie love hugs and long naps on the laps of their girls. Their least favorite? When Henley decides to give them a bath. The family loves that they make wonderful companions and are so happy-go-lucky, especially with kids -- and I'm not surprised. Just look at how sweet they are!

Enjoy a few of my favorites below!