Polite Paws

07/07/2024

Our best photo from our Fido's Forest visit today! I think Magnus wanted to be the star of this photo!

07/05/2024

Want to avoid your child getting bit by a dog? Watch this! Young children are more likely to be bit than any other population, and most bites happen with people the dog knows. But SO MANY BITES can be avoided when we learn to listen to our dog. The very sad reality is that if your dog bites a child, they often end up being euthanized because trust is broken, a child had been injured and traumatized, and it can be challenging if not impossible to rehome a dog that has a bite history. So don't put them in a position to have to bite! Watch for clues noted in this video and keep your children safe and your dogs happy! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT3CIbS5ciY Thanks to Center for Canine Behavior Studies for this video!

Meet Charlie and his human, Alex! Together, they teach children how to be safe around dogs! Charlie the dog uses his body language to communicate to Alex tha...

29/03/2024

That’s right! A 55 minute visit to a private, 5 acre fenced woods is only $19 for one dog. Five dollars for each additional dog! Learn more and book your visit at fidosforest.com!
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05/03/2024

UPDATE: 03/05/2024 We are still looking for the right home for our adorable foster! This little gal is a gem and we would LOVE for her to go to a local family so that we can stay connected with her. If you are interested please submit your application using the link below or reach out to us with any questions. Her adoption fee is $850 (the rescue has spent over $1400 on her vet care). She has been spayed, received a dental cleaning, is UTD on all of her vaccines, and is heart worm negative. She is adoptable through Cavalier Rescue USA.

https://www.cavalierrescueusa.org/cavalier/gypsy-in-fort-wayne-in/

14/02/2024

Meet Gypsy, the sweetest Blenheim lovebug you could dream of! This affectionate, healthy, outgoing, 2-year-old gal entered rescue as a stray, so we don’t know a lot about her history, but she appears to have been bred and is excited to live the life of luxury as a beloved companion. She does not k...

30/11/2023

In case you haven’t heard, Fido’s Forest is offering $5 off a 55 minute visit (regularly $19 for 1 dog)! Use code HOLIDAY5 to book. Coupon expires on December 5th! Book at fidosforest.com!

27/09/2023

Save the Date!

18/03/2023

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

23/02/2023

One simple email can make the difference in the lives of puppies and overbred mother dogs living in Indiana puppy mills. Continue reading to find out why it is crucial that we do not let a bill pass that protects and supports puppy mills.

Why is it important to encourage your Senator to vote ‘no’ to SB134? This bill will prohibit local government from determining the best method to control their animal population. The pet stores who are backing this bill utilize large breeding operations in multiple states. Once the breeding mother is no longer able to produce a litter, they are discarded. These are not socially adjusted dogs. They’ve served their purpose and are no longer are of value. We’ve seen these dogs surrendered to us. Often times brought in a bed of a pick-up truck inside a kennel, not sure how to walk on a leash, pancaked to the floor as they enter the shelter because they have never been on tile. They are often cowering in the kennels because they have never learned to trust humans, have dirty stained fur from living in their own filth, and rarely potty trained. They have never been shown what it means to be a pet. They were treated like a machine with the sole purpose of breeding to fill stores for profit.

Senate Bill134 will prohibit Indiana local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances that would stop pet stores from selling puppies. In committee, the amendment to SB134 states only those pet stores who purchase their inventory from a USDA certified facility will be allowed in our State. The concept is this will ‘ensure people can find quality, well-raised puppies in these stores’. Who is going to oversee and enforce this requirement since there isn’t a state ran agency who has this responsibility?

There are 14 counties in Indiana who had joined several states and hundreds of local governments across the US in successfully drafting and passing a Humane Pet Store ordinance. Humane Pet Store ordinances have been written and proposed in the continued effort to stop the puppy mill to pet store pipeline. Sadly, SB134 is being driven by a multinational Ohio-based corporation that has been found to have garnered their puppies from puppy mills. We along with our coalition partner Humane Fort Wayne, had hoped to introduce our own Humane Pet Store Ordinance within the next couple of years. These local governments within Indiana had paved the way for us to follow in their footsteps.

Those seeking companionship of an animal have several options and do not need to support a pet store who obtain their animals from subpar breeders who keep their ‘inventory’ in deplorable conditions. Of course we would prefer people meet their pet at a shelter, but we also understand there are those who prefer certain breeds. There are rescues who are breed specific and have nothing to hide. If shelters and rescues don’t have what someone is looking for, then do the research to find the responsible breeder. They’ll gladly let you see the living conditions where the puppies are raised, meet the parents, and limit the number of litters they have to ensure they are breeding responsibly.

We live in a society where information is at our fingertips. Educate yourself and learn your options. Contact your state representative and tell them to vote ‘no’ to SB134. Animals need us to be their voice and fight for them to have proper treatment. Allowing this bill to pass will only allow puppy mills to continue their inhumane and unethical treatment of animals to increase their profit margins.

Take action now. This is directly affecting our community. They need you: www.humanesociety.org/Indiana

12/02/2023

Here is a fun outlet for those high-energy dogs that enjoy bite work type activities!

11/02/2023

This info is GOLD! I never walk my dogs without high value treats and spray shield. I carry my quick release umbrella often as well.

30/01/2023

*TRAINING TIP* It’s actually NOT true that a tired dog is a happy dog. An overly tired dog might be more mouthy, more sensitive to fears, be slower to respond to cues they already know, and they might just be generally grumpy. So it’s important that your dog gets enough quality sleep each day. But it’s also important to fulfill their physical and mental needs! It’s all about BALANCE and every dog is going to have different needs depending on their breed, age, and personality. Time off-leash, in nature, with sniffing opportunities galore is a great way to do that! Dogs can expore and exercise at their own pace and have autonomy that isn’t typically practical. And you might enjoy time in nature too! It’s great for our mental health-especially in the winter. ☺️ We still have a few openings for this week!
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📷of Bitzy-of Bitzy’s Bench at the Forest

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17/01/2023

Attention all animal advocates!

A dangerous bill that would protect puppy mills was introduced in both the Indiana House and the Senate earlier this week. If enacted, the bill would reverse the 13 humane pet store ordinances that have passed in Indiana and no other communities could work to pass humane pet store ordinances. We need your help to stop it!

Please call and email the committee chairs listed in the attached sharegraphic and politely ask that they oppose SB 134 and HB 1121.

Thank you and please share, share, share!

01/12/2022

Sooo true!

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29/11/2022

Consider donating to the Angel Fund at FWACC for Giving Tuesday!

15/11/2022

Too funny! 🤣

😁

24/10/2022

https://petprofessionalguild.com/

04/10/2022

Great info!

👻

02/10/2022

Mom says I’m doing really great learning my cues. I’ve already mastered sit, down, touch, and have a really good start on stay! I love to learn and love that I get cookies along the way!

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17/09/2022

Educate yourself on how to buy a puppy from an ethical breeder! If I can help, let me know!

Today is National Puppy Mill Awareness Day. As an animal welfare organization, it is our responsibility to educate our community on topics such as these to help put an end to animal abuse and neglect.

Did you know that Indiana has made the “Horrible Hundred” list made by The Humane Society of the United States 12 times since 2013? That means our state has some of the most problematic puppy breeding and/or puppy brokering facilities. This year Indiana is again one of 18 states that made the list. This is unacceptable, but we all can make a difference and put a stop to this animal abuse for good, as other states have already accomplished this achievement.

It all starts with you. We need people to report breeders that they believe are puppy mills, but it is important to know what to look for.

Here are some red flags in a breeder:

- Listing puppies for sale on suspicious websites; hoobly, puppyfind.com, puppyfinder.com, craigslist etc.
- Low cost or a price too good to be true
- Multiple litters listed at one time, at all times with multiple breed options
- You cannot meet the parents of the puppy or at least the mother
- They don’t allow you to see where the puppies are being raised; they bring the puppy to you instead.

Things to ask the breeder:

- Can I visit, talk over the phone, or facetime? If they make an excuse – red flag
- May I see their health testing results and vet records? You can call the vet they use to ask if they’re reputable as well. Do they send them to you readily or make excuses?
- Why are they breeding? Are they passionate about the breed? If not – red flag.

If you suspect you gave gotten a puppy from a puppy mill breeder or found a puppy mill breeder, you can report them by visiting our website: https://www.cityoffortwayne.org/general/report-animal-neglect-or-abuse.html

Learn more about puppy mills and state laws here: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/puppy-mills-faq

24/08/2022

I’m seeing lots of radical posts about keeping your dogs locked in your home in order to avoid the mysterious outbreak affecting dogs in Michigan. Please read the attached article!

They have identified the illness as PARVOVIRUS, a well known and totally avoidable disease that is highly contagious and often deadly. Parvo is one of the “P’s” of the DHLPP or DHPP combo vaccine, which is given to puppies in a course of vaccines starting at about 6 weeks of age. Adult dogs are vaccinated against the disease annually or every three years depending on your vet’s policy and/or titer testing. If your dog is UTD on this vaccine, then there is nothing to fear and you don’t have to keep your dog locked in your home. But please use care with puppies that have not completed their course of vaccines.

All dogs at Fido’s Forest are required to be UTD on parvo vaccines before being allowed access to the forest! I check every dog’s vaccine records personally!

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2022/08/24/update-from-the-state-vet?fbclid=IwAR1zodPD0GBrVXJqMADOjTgcz4wxsr-eXRkCJrgZLldVXMXGVWaWUF-l-Cs

14/08/2022

The forest is fun for families of all ages, and dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes!

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08/08/2022

Fantastic foster mom and adorable pup!

02/08/2022

This is a quick read and a FANTASTIC article about keeping our babies AND dogs safe! If you have children in your life, please read!

Three lessons we should learn to keep children and dogs safe.

01/08/2022

We are so excited to celebrate our 2nd month of Fido’s Forest fun and are giving you 10% matinee visits! Offer is valid from now through Aug 13th, with bookings from 11am until 5pm. Link in bio to book and use coupon code: matineemadness

As always, thanks for your support and we hope to have you visit the forest sometime soon!
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01/08/2022

Fido's Forest live features this morning from 5am-7am!

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19/07/2022

Grab them while you can!

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13/07/2022

MEET THE OWNERS! Hello! We are Nate and Trista Rose Miller, with fur babies Annie (has crossed the rainbow bridge), Belle, and Bitzy. You might see their namesakes around the park!

Nate is an accountant for a local steel company. He loves to play video games, work out, read, study philosophy, and have lots of free time.

Trista is an industrious person, managing a wedding florist business for the past 19 years (Rose’s Bouquets) and having a dog training business called Polite Paws for the last 3 years. Trista is a CPDT-KA trainer, and her experience as a trainer led to her idea of starting Fido’s Forest!

Nate and Trista both claim to have come up with the name-I don’t think we will ever settle that debate. Trista is extremely stubborn, optimist, and loves to work, good qualities when starting a business. Nate is logical, realistic, and practical. We have worked together to create this space for you, and we are so proud of it!

In the beginning, we had no idea we would need 7+ permits to open the park, have to have a public hearing, or have any idea of the red tape involved. Thanks to Justin and Junior Geiger for helping with those aspects. And we had no idea how to make a trail in the woods. But after much sweat, blood, and tears-this is not an exaggeration, we opened the dog park 7 months after purchasing the property. We have never worked on anything so difficult in our lives so it has been a rewarding endeavor.

We love nothing more than getting photos and reports on your visit in the woods, and we might see you around the property (if your dog doesn’t mind strangers) sometime soon!

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11/07/2022

Rocky says HELLO from Fido’s Forest! His human parents brought him to the forest for some off-leash fun last night and he enjoyed all of the sniffs and freedom. He did great practicing his recall and even greeted his old dog trainer with tail wags and kisses. It was great to see you again Rocky! You’ve grown up to be a beautiful boy with the best pet parents any pup could ask for! Come visit again soon!

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