On Loving + Providing for a Pup

This is Lulu. Look at that sweet puppy face. She was ours for five years until dementia left her with a poor quality of life and we had to say good-bye.

I found Lulu on PetFinder while watching college hoops with my husband. When I showed him her profile, he said “let’s get her.” I assumed he was either distracted by the game or slightly tipsy from a day of March Madness partying, but the next day he asked if I’d filled out an application and I realized he was serious. One week later, her foster family brought her to us and we fell in love.

Lu was quirky. She howled when she was wound up and barked to Mumford and Sons songs. This girl could barely figure out how to get the peanut butter out of the Kong. She liked to sleep under a pile of blankets. One time (before we learned to regulate her water intake because a 10 lb. dog obviously doesn’t have a huge bladder) I gave her a huge bowl of H2O and listened as she took—literally—126 laps. She only stopped because I took the bowl away.

As far as we know, she was a stray for the first part of her life. She had scars to prove that she’d been through it, and we were more than happy to give her a more luxurious life.

Isn’t that what we all want for our pets? A life of health, comfort and love?

I believe we did a great job of loving our Lu and providing her with everything we could using the resources we were aware of. I wish we had known about Applehead City Pet at the time.

Applehead City Pet is a Cincinnati-based company created and managed by Desh Rain, who I had the pleasure of speaking with at the Girl Boss Events Holiday Pop-Up last weekend. (Full recap coming and Summer Event details here.) While traveling through Chattanooga a few years ago, Desh wandered into a pet shop and asked for a job. In what can only be described as “meant to be,” the shop owner had prayed for someone to help her with the shop that very morning. Desh was hired and discovered a passion for giving the best possible care to animals. When she moved back to Cincinnati in 2013, Applehead City Pet was born.

One way we made Lu comfortable was spending time outdoors.

Lu’s legs were only a few inches long so we didn’t walk far, but we could go a few blocks before heading back home. She loved running around our small backyard as well. When the weather got cold, I was always concerned that our tiny pup might get chilly. ACP’s SKARF would’ve been perfect for her.  Each SKARF is handmade and offered in sizes to accommodate animals of all sizes. There are a variety of color ways to choose from, and the buttons are an adorable detail.

Offering your pets the right nutrition is important too.

Lu had some very specific dietary needs, which we were able to meet through a pet store up the road that carries a variety of natural and organic food, but we never found a treat that she really enjoyed. ACP offers a number of treats for your furry buddy. They use organic and locally sourced herbs, fruits, veggies and other healthy ingredients. There are a bunch of flavors: sweet potato blueberry, tomato carrot coconut, peanut butter applesauce and more. I know we’d have been able to find something to Lu’s liking. (Is it weird that I’m intrigued by the sweet potato and blueberry flavor combination?)

Keeping your four-legged friend clean is also necessary.

ACP offers pet shampoo and conditioner, but I was most intrigued by their NO BATH + MORE Essential Oil Pet Spray, which kills bacteria and prevents its regrowth. This product is all organic and contains essential oils that boost immunity for your friend plus relieve itchy skin and joint pain. You can use it between baths to keep your pet clean and smelling fresh. I hated giving Lu baths in the winter because despite being inside, she always got shivery when wet. A product like this would’ve let us space out those chilly bathtub visits a bit more.

I think what I love best about Applehead City Pet is their mission.

We are a Mindful Pet Parenting Community of dogs + cats, practicing organic + natural living one choice at at time! Together, we can Pet Parent in a way that is socially responsible, deliberate + environmentally conscious. Our mindfulness will ripple to healthy + happy fur babies!

They believe in giving animals the best possible treatment. If you bring your pet in for grooming, they provide a calm environment with cuddles, not crates. Their dog treats are 100% organic and plant-based with ingredients better than what the FDA requires for human food. When speaking with Desh and her colleague, Dee Dee, their passion for the mission was so clear.

Someday we will have another dog in the house—once our kids are a smidge older—and I can’t wait to spoil that pup with goods from Applehead City Pet. Giving our pet the very best is important to us, and supporting a Girl Boss business in the process will make it even sweeter.

You can find Applehead City Pet products on their website, www.appleheadcitypet.com, and at local businesses including Hotel Covington and The Booksellers on Fountain Square.