Aunt Sona's Love & Tummy Scratches

13/06/2024

08/06/2024

01/06/2024

Aunt Sona has always been "booked to the gills" in July and August. Sadly, I do have some openings this year.

I say "sadly" because at least 6 of my regular pups have passed over the past couple of years. 😔 I have been watching most of them since they were very young pups and, when they're here with me, they're "my" pups. It's very difficult for me when one of my pup parents calls or texts to tell me the sad news. It's truly scary how time flies by!

As a result, AUNT SONA'S LOVE & TUMMY SCRATCHES does have LIMITED AVAILABILITY here in July and August this year.

If you or someone you know has a *well-behaved, potty trained pup and you are looking for a loving, safe place for them to stay while you're away or at work, I watch pups out of my home (MUCH longer than I realizeed!) and yes, I am state licensed.

*I DO watch senior pups who are NOT INCONTINENT.
*I DO NOT charge extra to give your pups their meds, however, I am not trained at giving injections. (And I think people who do charge for this are a disgrace!)
* I DO NOT charge extra to play with your pup! (Again, 👆!)

I have TONS of references- because most of my pup parents turn into close friends over the years. 😊 After all, I do take care of their "babies."

Check out Aunt Sona's FB page and give me a call or text to set up a meet and greet.
(724) 331-9235

**Messenger isn't the best way to reach me- with all of the FB changes, I'm not being alerted to my messages like I used to be.

07/02/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/KbLRLy1mNQ4AVRXk/?mibextid=ox5AEW

25/01/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/YFirET8pXSCrjvFa/?mibextid=UalRPS

25/01/2024

https://www.sciencealert.com/a-radical-new-drug-is-poised-to-extend-the-life-of-dogs

The loss of a beloved pet is a heartbreaking event, and while inevitable, there might soon be a way to delay that grief among dog owners, at least for a little while.

27/12/2023

Wishing Happy Holidays to all of my pups and their parents!

860 points • 26 comments

13/12/2023

▶️ Watch this reel https://www.facebook.com/reel/725918059580452?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=0NULKw

11/12/2023

▶️ Watch this reel https://www.facebook.com/reel/880848386775145?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=0NULKw

02/11/2023

25/10/2023

🐶 HEADS UP, MY PUP PARENTS! 🐶

❗️Dog licensing and some laws will be changing in Pennsylvania on
JANUARY 21, 2024!❗️

⚠️⚠️ **ALL PUPS** Staying with Aunt Sona for *DAYCARE* OR *BOARDING* are
‼️REQUIRED BY LAW‼️to provide me
* BEFORE * their stay - with
⭐️🐾🐶 DOCUMENTED PROOF OF THEIR UPDATED RABIES VACCINE AND CURRENT LICENSING! ⚠️

🚔🚨THIS MEANS YOU!!! 😝 because AUNT SONA will be *FINED* if the warden shows up and I can’t show the required current documentation for your pup!

Dog licensing requirements and penalties are become more strict and dog licensing fees will be increasing significantly !

⚠️ Fines for unlicensed dogs will range from ❗️$100 to $500❗️, PLUS court costs. ⚠️

And I have known instances where dog wardens have walked through RANDOM RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS and walked door to door asking dog owners for this information.
I PERSONALLY KNOW PEOPLE who have been 💸SIGNIFICANTLY FINED💸 for not being able to show current records for their pup(s)!

😎 Save us BOTH future headaches ! 😎

‼️ SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG‼️ AND

‼️ORDER A LIFETIME LICENSE FOR YOUR PUP ‼️‼️‼️‼️

‼️‼️‼️‼️ TODAY ‼️‼️‼️‼️

* The fee for an annual dog license will increase to $8.70 on March 1, 2024, for all dogs. Licenses purchased between December 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024, will be available at the prior rate of $6.70 for spayed or neutered dogs, and $8.70 for others.
* Lifetime license fees will increase to $52.70 on March 1, 2024. Lifetime licenses purchased between December 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024, will be available at the prior rate of $31.70 for neutered animals, and $51.70 for others.

You can find other changes that will also take effect in this attached article.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — On Monday, Oct. 23, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 746 into law. This bill updates and changes Pennsylvania’s Dog Law to improve public safety, improv…

08/08/2023

Jake. 😂😂😂😂😂 I tried!!!!

07/07/2023

July 17, 2023 Update:

I originally posted this on Friday, July 7th, when Matilda became unresponsive and stopped eating.

On Sunday, July 9th, we had a vet come to our house to send Matilda off to finally be in peace.

I had never had a pup euthanized before, and it was very, very difficult for me. At the same time, Tillie was rapidly deteriorating and I knew in my heart that helping her to go quickly and peacefully was the right thing to do.

The vet managed to come the same day that I called. We helped Tillie up onto our couch one last time, and I held her with her head on my lap. Deron had to leave for work earlier in the afternoon, but was given permission by his supervisor at Target to come home to be by Tillie’s side. Matilda was relaxed, in her home with every one of her family near. The last thing that Tillie heard was our voices telling her how much we love her, and feeling us petting and comforting her. Even Allie and Ariya were in the room with her.

A wonderful man from our community offered to build her a box for her burial and asked for nothing in return. He and his wife even stopped by our house to tell Matilda goodbye and to comfort us. Jeff Van Ysseldyk surprised me and made a beautiful wooden heart with her name and loving words on it and attached it to the top of the box.

I’ve added pictures of the beautiful finished box, and also the business cards of the wonderful man who built the box, and the veterinarian who went out of her way to come to our house on the same day that I called her.

We are all so grateful for them, and for all of you who have been here for us during this difficult time. Our family and our pups are so blessed and grateful to have so many sincere, caring friends help us through this.

Matilda joined our family when our boys were still little. She put up with their antics and roughhousing with patience and playfulness that few pups would. And Tillie was an absolute SAINT with her patience with the many, many pups always coming and going with Aunt Sona’s, in addition to putting up with - and the surprise arrivals of her 2 little fur-sisters who were constantly annoying her. As old as she was, she always managed to play with them, even if was by just adding a playful bark to tease them back.

Tillie was more than “just a dog” to our family and me and she will always hold a very special place in all of our hearts.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Friday, July 7th :

My beautiful Matilda has begun her journey to The Rainbow Bridge. This morning when I went to stir her to carry her downstairs to potty, she was awake, but unresponsive and taking short breaths.

She is here at home and is resting peacefully. When the time comes, she will be in my arms and surrounded by Jeff and her 4 boys, who have grown up together with her, and her fur-sisters, Allie and Ariya.

Matilda’s favorite place is in her yard playing with her family and her pup friends, so our family decided that this is where she should rest forever.

I was looking on Etsy to find a nice sort of casket/ box to bury her in and then it occurred to me that one of her many friends might want to make one for her (that I will BUY). My dad buried our first pup in a cement flower pot that I’m betting is still sealed to this day. I tried to find something similar for Matilda but she’s much larger than Liquirish. I don’t want to put her in the neoprene boxes that are sold now. I appreciate your suggestions.

For now, I just want to lay here with my arms around my little girl. I’ll keep you updated.

03/07/2023

Update on Miss Tillie:

The other day while I was out grocery shopping, I received a text from someone from Target saying that they grabbed the last one on the shelf and they are on their way to deliver to me.

Except that, for the life of me, I didn’t remember placing a Target order. I assumed the person from Target had the phone number mixed up.

Then I got another text saying my order had been delivered. I was hurrying to get home so I didn’t open the text, again, assuming it wasn’t meant for me.

Next, I get the text shown below.
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

I came home and this was at the door sent to Matilda from one of my dog dads and his pup, Jake!

Over the moon barely describes our feelings when we put this all together!

What a surprise!

I’ve met more kind, amazing people and have made so many close, incredible friends through Aunt Sona’s. I am forever grateful that so many wonderful people have come into my life!

Matilda couldn’t have been happier with her gift, which allowed me to take her again on her much loved walks.

Thank you so much Brad and Jake!!!

The last picture is Matilda’s face after our walk! 😊😊😊😊😊

28/06/2023

PRESSURE SORE UPDATE:

Per Dr. Sabol East Suburban Animal Hospital on Monday, still a long road ahead but Tillie’s boo boo looks so far so good! This is a picture from Monday’s dressing change.

Tillie had 2 p*e p*e accidents Sunday night/ early Monday morning. Baby wipes, adult wipes and even a warm soapy washcloth wasn’t cutting it, so Matilda had a nice bubble bath soak, complete with a blow dry, first thing Monday morning to make her feel clean and fresh. 😊 But, as hard as I tried, I wasn’t able to keep her dressing dry. Dr. Sabol gave me backup gauze and, what I refer to as “dental floss gauze,” in case of situation like this. I did my best at reapplying her Tie-over bandage and lacing the “dental floss gauze” through her stitch loops. Let me tell you, it’s harder than the vets make it look! 🧐 But, I think I did a decent job and her dressing stayed in place.

We go back again this afternoon to see Dr. Yeloshin for a dressing change, so hopefully, it is still doing well.

28/06/2023

Hello, from Matilda!!!

I had to share this picture that Tillie posed for last night to send to Uncle Joe Blasinsky!

I highly recommend the alternating pressure mattress! When you add a bit of padding underneath, it’s much more comfortable than a regular air mattress!

Friends in my area-

‼️ PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ME FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO SELL ME A DOG PUSH STROLLER,

preferably one that can also attach to a bike- but I’ll be happy with either!

‼️ I’M ALSO LOOKING FOR A WAGON THAT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO SET HER IN COMFORTABLY.

The doctor at K-Vets was so sure that, because Matilda is now unable to walk, she would have no “quality of life.”
That might be true for some pups under different circumstances, but it’s not true in Matilda’s world! 🐶🐶🐶

22/06/2023

💗 Update on Miss Tillie 💗

Last week we took Matilda to Dr. Stacy Sheahan at K-Vets in Greensburg for a pressure sore that developed very quickly. This woman REFUSED TO TREAT Tillie’s pressure sore, telling us that it’s pointless. She REFUSED TO PRESCRIBE PAIN MEDS for Til, even though she INSISTED THAT WE PUT MATILDA DOWN ASAP BECAUSE SHE’s IN PAIN.

We came very close to ending her life this week. When the appointment drew closer, we all felt that it wasn’t fair to do this to her without getting another opinion first, and see if another vet would try to help her.

This morning, we took Matilda to Dr. Yeloshin at East Suburban Animal Hospital in Export. Dr. Y did make it clear to us that a sore as severe as Tillie’s is very, very difficult to treat and has a lot of risks, including sepsis.
🐶❣️ 🐶 ❣️ BUT ❣️🐶❣️🐶
🎉🎉HE WILL DO HIS BEST TO TRY 🎉🎉

Dr. Yeloshin performed a minor procedure on Matilda this morning.

Before I continue, I want to make it CLEAR that this procedure involved Xanax, Lidocaine, and morphine!!!!! Matilda is completely stoned right now and this should last for a few more hours. And I have more pain meds and lots of antibiotics for her later! I would never - EVER do anything to her if I thought that it would cause her unmanageable pain!

Dr. Y secured gauze to her wound to keep the gauze in place. His intention is to debride the wound, meaning removing the dead skin so that healthy skin can grow.

Tomorrow morning, we will go back and the doctor will remove the gauze, which the dead skin will adhere to, and place new gauze on the wound. We will continue this through Monday and assess the healing.

I couldn’t be more grateful to this wonderful man for giving our Tillie a fighting chance!

I wouldn’t trust my pups with Dr. Shearer at K-Vets to trim their toenails! She’d probably tell me a leg needs to be cut off!!!

Here is an adorable picture of Tillie Rose stoned. 😄😄 And pics of her sore before and now.

20/06/2023

Please keep our precious Matilda in your thoughts and prayers. Tillie is having some very challenging health issues, but every person in our family has pulled together with unrelenting dedication, love and support to help her through this tough time. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

19/06/2023

I’m going to have A LOT of puppers barrel me over! 🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾

18/05/2023

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/safe-dog-food-storage/

Here’s how to ensure that your dog’s dry food stays fresh, tasty, nutritious, and safe for consumption.

18/05/2023

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/ingredient-splitting/

Learn how ingredient splitting allows a dog food company to trick you into believing there's more meat in a recipe than there actually is.

13/04/2023

❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

Are you as happy as your dog or cat? WebMD's slideshow covers pet habits that could teach us a lesson in becoming happier and healthier.

05/04/2023

❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️

When the Spanish city of Barcelona recently announced it would be building the country's first public pet cemetery next year, Eric Tourigny was surprised. How had a city where 50% of families own a pet, not had a public animal graveyard until now?

03/04/2023

I had to steal this from a friend. Happy Monday!!!

16/02/2023

I had to share this with my pup p*eps!!! 🐾😄🐾😄🐾😄🐾😄🐾😄🐾😄🐾😄🐾😄

This Rugs item by freckledlemons has 81 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from San Tan Valley, AZ. Listed on Jan 30, 2023