It’s raining outside all day today!! I am searching for the right toy . . .
Rainy Day Toy Search
Dog vacation on Hilton Head Island | thepupdiary.com
8 MayWe love it when a vacation exceeds our expectations. And that is certainly true when it comes to our week adventure on Hilton Head Island! We thought the island was one big golf course. Instead we found dog-friendly beaches, great restaurants (some allowed dogs on their outdoor patios), beautiful scenery, hiking paths, lots of animal viewing (alligators- yikes!), and very friendly people. Oh, very beautiful sunsets, too!
Hilton Head Island
Getting there: We drove from NYC . . . it took about 14 hours and we stopped in DC along the way. We loved the Kurgo Booster Seat we used as a safe car seat.
Where we stayed: We rented a house in the Land’s End area of the Island in the Sea Pines Plantation — the very end of the Island on a rustic beach with great animal viewing. The house was listed on VRBO, but is now for sale so no longer available . . . There are several dog-friendly hotels. We toured the beachfront Omni and it was nice.
Land’s End House on HHI
When we traveled: We traveled in the off season so we would have fewer doggy beach restrictions and fewer tourists, too! Dogs are not allowed on the beaches from 10 am to 5 pm during peak season which is Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. We also did not want the really HOT summer heat. Our May weather was pleasant and around 70 each day.
Activities: We hit the beach every day- HHI has over 12 miles of sandy beaches! Dogs were allowed around the clock since it was the off season. HHI has the ocean beaches and also more rustic Calibogue Sound and Intracoastal beaches. We watched the dolphins swim by several times each day. We saw the horseshoe crabs crawl back to the water each day. We saw alligators, crabs, jelly fish, and many other small critters. The Sea Pines Plantation has a beautiful nature area where leashed dogs are welcome to hike with their owners. Many shops on HHI allowed the dogs and we found a few restaurants where dogs could dine with us outside. We love Hudson’s on the Docks and ate there 2 times for great seafood! We were also lucky to visit with our doggy friends, Millie LaRue, Tulip, Addie Mae, and Katie at their house on the Island!
Meeting up with Millie LaRue!
Day trips: Savannah, Georgia is about an hour drive from HHI and seemed very dog friendly. Shopping, walking tours, boat excursions, outdoor restaurants . . . Savannah is a beautiful city to visit for a day trip.
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- Hilton Head Island
Animal Medical Center’s Living Legends Luncheon | thepupdiary.com
7 MayThe Animal Medical Center held their Fifth Annual Living Legends Luncheon this afternoon at the Harmonie Club on East 60th Street. Pet Expert, Charlotte Reed, hosted one of the tables at the invitation-only special event and mom was invited to attend. What a wonderful group of people who came together to honor some very remarkable pets and their human guardians. Of course the talented veterinarians who treated the honorees at The AMC were celebrated, too!
Animal Medical Center Living Legends Luncheon
What started as a small gathering with a few people in a park 5 years ago has blossomed into a catered luncheon with over 200 attendees. “All event proceeds support The AMC’s mission to promote the health and well-being of companion animals through advanced treatment, research, and education.”
Three awards were presented this year to three very deserving animals; a Dachshund named Isabella, Magik the cat, and Pauli the Labrador who also serves as a guide dog. Each had a touching story and superior medical treatment at The AMC to help them through their illness and recovery.
Mom sat with the founder of The Good Dog Foundation, Rachel McPherson, and loved hearing her stories and commitment to animals. We will attend their annual A Fetching Affair gala on May 30.
And check out these very adorable purses by artist, Priscilla Snyder! We need one of these!!
Gorgeous custom purses by Priscilla Snyder
The Animal Medical Center will hold their annual Paw Day pet wellness festival on May 18 this year in Carl Schurz Park at 84th Street and East End Avenue. Come out to meet some of the talented veterinarians. It is a great event with many activities!
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- Animal Medical Center Living Legends Luncheon
Bark for Life in Riverside Park | thepupdiary.com
6 MayThe American Cancer Society held their annual Manhattan Bark for Life walk event this past weekend in Riverside Park. Such a beautiful day in the park to support the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. Especially loved the guest speaker who talked about the role animals are playing in helping patients. We had no idea that dolphins are working with children! The Good Dog Foundation was mentioned for the efforts in research and community service. We were also happy to see our friends from A Fair Shake for Youth who came out to promote their wonderful program with therapy dogs.
Pup Scouts at Bark for Life
The event was smaller this year with fewer vendors, but we all still had fun! Every pup got a free Dr. Harvey’s dinner after the walk. The Pup Scouts came out in full force to support the event. Go, Pup Scouts!! Maria Milito emceed and did a great job keeping the program moving along. Everyone enjoyed contests, raffles, music, snacks, and goody bags. And of course the beautiful background in Riverside Park!
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- Bark for Life in Riverside Park
Product review: Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat | thepupdiary.com
6 MayThe Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat we got a few weeks ago worked perfectly on our recent road trip to Hilton Head Island!
Ginger loves her Kurgo seat
The seat can accommodate pets up to 30 lbs. Here is our feedback:
What we love about the Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat
-Super easy and quick to install in your car. Simply slip the straps around the car seat and headrest. (Took me less than 1 minute to install.)
-Easily collapses for storage. Yay! No bulky item taking up closet space!
-Adjustable strap to attach to Ginger’s harness to keep her in the seat.
-Washable liner
-Enough room in the seat for Ginger to sit or sleep. (I think a dog over 15 lbs would not be able to sleep in this due to the seat size. Ginger weighs less than 10 lbs.)
-Keeps the pups safe and secure in the car!!
What we would change about the Booster Seat
-The metal structural support is great . . . but there should be added padding to that part of the seat so it is softer for the pups.
-While it was super easy to install, it did take me longer to remove it from the car. (Only a minute or two.) It was harder to pull the straps up over the seat.
Bottom Line: Great car seat option for small dogs. Ginger loved it!
Cost: $60
Where to buy: Kurgo.com
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