Everyone knows moving to a new house can be nerve-racking. Even if it’s just down the street, your canine companion can become just as stressed as you. So how can you reduce this stress? For starters, good planning never hurts.

But if you’re like me, your dog is part of your family. You want to make it a happy time. Branndon and I purchased our Golden Retriever from a local breeder while shopping for our Wedding Reception site. Believe me, it was not planned to leave with a new puppy. But with a little pout on my future husband and I was a goner. We had a new puppy, Tobey. Branndon and I still laugh about how we got him, and neither of us would change a thing. He’s family.

When Branndon and I moved back to Orange County after a couple of years in Santa Barbara, we didn’t have too long of a drive. Tobey is always with us, we take him where ever we can, so he was used to being in the car for long periods of time. We’ve all been to Monterey, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Cambria… they all have accommodations for dogs. I like to search online at PetsWelcome.com for pet-friendly places to stay. Some hotels like to pamper them with dog massages and special plates from Room Service. One of my favorites is the Fess Parker in Santa Barbara.

“What can I do to make the move easier?” you might ask. Now, I do things that are pretty simple, but I think they go a long way. I make sure to stop at least every hour to let Tobey relieve himself and stretch his legs, not to mention my own. I’ve read that you’re not supposed to give your dog water before the trip, because they might have an accident in your car. I’m bad and don’t listen; I give water and food. But, I know Tobey, we’ve taught him to let us know when he needs to go and I know he can hold it for at least 8 hours when we go to bed. So, for me if something happened it would be my fault. I think you need to know your dog. You know whether they should or shouldn’t eat or drink on a road trip.

Having treats on hand can always bring a smile to your canine companion. Bringing their favorite bed or blanket can make their transition easier. And don’t forget; always bring extra disposable plastic bags. I always seem to run out at the most inopportune times. Learn from my mistakes and have a happy move.

The 11^th Annual Inner-Coastal Watershed Cleanup Day is fast approaching. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks now. It’s finally here and I’m so excited. This Saturday morning Branndon and I will be side-by-side cleaning up Santiago Creek.

I’ve always wanted to volunteer, but never got off the couch to do anything. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who dragged my feet when it comes to volunteer work. I finally went out and did something. I volunteered us for the Huntington Beach CAL-Pal Days, and ever since I’ve been hooked. For three days, Branndon and I worked alongside the California Police Activities League, Off-Road Pals, and CORVA. Not only did we have a great time setting up ATV courses with hay bales, but the kids had a blast. Most of these kids had never been to the beach, let alone seen the ocean before. It blew my mind. When you have the ability to make a difference in a child’s life, it really is a positive and rewarding experience. They were all so polite and very enthusiastic.

 
Branndon and I helped out with the preparation the day before and the clean up the day after, so we did a lot of physical labor loading and unloading hay bales. We were the only volunteers on those days, the newbies. All the seasoned volunteers showed up to help out with the actual event. I’m sure you can imagine there wasn’t as much physical labor on that day. And it was wonderful because personally I love to get involved and get my hands dirty. I’ll definitely be there next year and can’t wait to get in the mud this weekend at Santiago Creek.