TRACY SEES STUFF 👀

Tag: dogs

  • Best Friends Animal Society Advocating for Animals

    Best Friends Animal Society Advocating for Animals

    Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. ―Mary Oliver

    Let’s take a moment and think about our favorite companions, the ones who bring joy to our lives. For me, our dogs are on the top of that list. They have changed our lives for the better through unconditional love, laughter, play, adventure, routine, and companionship. We’ve adopted three dogs throughout the years from Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS). Our girl, Utah, crossed the rainbow bridge in 2020. You can read her story HERE and more about BFAS. I am a proud ambassador for Best Friends Animal Society and am so thankful for the hard work that they do to advocate and help all animals.

    Today (and every day) is an opportunity to give homeless pets the means to find their forever homes.

    Best Friends Animal Society

    Donations to Best Friends Animal Society move the country closer to their no-kill 2025 goal. If you want to donate, please visit bestfriends.org. Best Friends Animal Society’s efforts reach far beyond the sanctuary teaming up with shelters all over the country.

    No-kill can be possible across the nation, and homeless pets can find their forever homes with your help. Best Friends will show you how to create a sustainable, locally-driven change – all from home. Learn more HERE.

    Best Friends Animal Society is the largest no-kill sanctuary in the Nation. Their mission is to Save Them All and live in a world with no homeless pets. The sanctuary is home to over 1600 homeless pets including dogs, cats, pigs, horses, birds, and more. The Best Friends’ team works hard towards their goal of no-kill and saving them all through creative programs such as the spay and neuter program.

    Our pups, Allen and Carol, have been together for two years now and have such a tight bond. It was scary at first to adopt a second dog after Utah passed but we are so thankful that we did. I mean, look at these two!

    The journey of life is sweeter when traveled with a dog. — Unknown

    Don’t forget, every little bit makes a difference – even $5.00. And, there are many ways to help, including sharing information about rescue shelters, buying unique gifts from the Best Friends Animal Society store, donating, volunteering, fostering, or adopting.

    We like to say that we save them, but I believe that they save us. 🧡

    Happy Best Friends Day! Life is short, do something that stirs your soul.

    #Ambassador

    ©Tracy Blowers

  • Life of a Best Friends Rescue Dog

    Life of a Best Friends Rescue Dog

    The Story of a Best Friend Animal Society Adoption

    This is the life story of a rescue dog, our Best Friends rescue dog. When we met, I had no idea how much you would change our lives for the better. Our time together was short but continues to have a lasting impact.

    Thousands of miles and adventures in your years. Thank you for saving us, sweet girl. Run free…

    We met at Best Friends Animal Society, a place that was on my bucket list after seeing their National Geographic “Dog Town” series. We scheduled a tour and then randomly checked their website for puppies available for adoption. There you were! Without hardly thinking, we submitted our adoption paperwork. It was late in the evening. The next morning during the tour, we got a call from the Best Friends Adoption Specialist. Our cell service was sketchy, so we could not connect. We were so nervous that we would miss the opportunity. But then…

    From that day forward, life was full of lessons, adventures, and love. You taught us patience, how to work together, to take breaks, to enjoy daily walks. You literally made us laugh every single day. Your personality was larger than life. You loved to travel and road trips. Every hotel, every new location, was a place to discover and explore. You climbed on every table and chair even when you were too big to fit. You loved sitting on the lawn chairs in the backyard and taking it all in.

    I could post a million pictures of you and tell a million stories. When we found out that you had kidney disease at your one year check-up, it was so heartbreaking. We made up our minds to fill your short life with adventure. Another thing that through you changed us forever. We grew closer, discovered ourselves through traveling, and became happier. I felt a strong connection to you because of struggling with my own pain. We both had challenges but we figured out ways to work around them and live our best lives. We took breaks when we needed them and pushed ourselves when we could. Together.

    You were never sure what to do with your long legs. 🙂

    You died at the young age of three (almost four). I’m so thankful for the time that you had with your brother, Allen. He brought out so much joy in you the last year of your life.

    We miss you so much.

    Best Friends Animal Society started over 35 years ago with a no-kill sanctuary in Utah. Today, they are helping homeless pets in every corner of the country. Their goal is to have the country no-kill by 2025. You can learn more HERE.

    Learn more about Best Friends and make a gift in honor of your animal best friend at https://bfas.io/bfday23.

    Life is short, do the things that stir your soul. ❤️

    *Originally posted January 12, 2021. One year after Utah passed away.

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • Dog-Friendly Hotel In Southern Utah

    Dog-Friendly Hotel In Southern Utah

    The most pet-friendly hotel in Southern Utah

    Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is an awesome pet-friendly hotel in Kanab, Utah. It’s the perfect complement to a Best Friends Animal Sanctuary volunteer trip or the ideal place to stay with pets while traveling in Southern Utah.

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    Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile pet friendly

    Pet amenities with no high extra fees

    It truly is the most pet-friendly hotel! Our dog, Allen, gives it 5 stars. He loved sleeping on the pullout bed. He also was impressed with the small touches like his personalized nameplate, welcome treats from the staff, and his very own drinking fountain. His favorite is the fenced pet park for running, playing ball, and meeting new friends. All of this and the pets stay free.

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    Look at that smile at the Best Friends Roadhouse pet park.

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    The pet park is spacious with plenty of running room and has a splash zone for hot summer days. There is also a small run area. Other pet amenities include a pet washing station, pet walking service, or pet visits from the staff. There is a fee for the walking service and visits.

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    This is the walk back to the pet park area. The mural is so beautiful and there’s a great spot to sit and enjoy a bonfire.

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    pet cat mural
    best friends roadhouse kanab utah

    Allen enjoyed shopping at the mercantile and visiting with the staff.

    Best Friends Roadhouse has a stage for upcoming community events and entertainment.

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    We were also super impressed with the technology. The internet worked great and these iPads were so nice with all the information about the Roadhouse and surrounding area.

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    Another added benefit is that you can walk to restaurants from Best Friends Roadhouse. You can read about our Top 5 Restaurants in Kanab by clicking HERE. This time we checked out Jakey Leigh’s Coffee Shop and the fresh-baked bagels lived up to the hype.

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    Our February 2020 stay was unexpected. Our dog, Utah, passed away while we were traveling in Arizona. We brought her back to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to lay her to rest at Angels Rest within the sanctuary.

    The staff at the Roadhouse went above and beyond to help us through this hard time. I can’t say enough about their warmth and hospitality. We are incredibly thankful for them and everyone at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

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    Sunset view from our room…

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    Please message me with any questions about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Roadhouse, or Kanab. It’s a magical place!

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • Black Rock Mountain Resort – Park City, Utah

    Black Rock Mountain Resort – Park City, Utah

    New dog-friendly resort in Park City, Utah

    Black Rock Mountain Resort is a brand new four-season (dog-friendly) resort in Park City, Utah. I highly recommend driving up U.S. Route 189 from Provo, Utah when you visit. The towering mountain and deep canyon views are striking! A few miles before arriving at the resort, you pass Jordanelle State Park and Reservoir, the vast deep blue water resting under the Wasatch Mountain Range is breathtaking. Then, as you come around a corner, Black Rock Mountain Resort is standing tall on the edge of the Uintas Wilderness with the best views of the whole region.  

    We love this location because it is so close (literally minutes) to Park City but not right in the middle of town. Park City is really busy so I appreciate the easy access to the resort, parking, and use of the resort’s shuttle service. Because the resort is so new, we wondered if they had worked out the kinks and they definitely have. We were impressed and appreciated all the help we received from check-in to check-out. We were greeted at the door and asked if we needed assistance with our bags. Every staff member went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and answered questions about the area. One team member even gave a welcome treat to our dog, Allen. That’s all it took for him, he gives Black Rock five stars.

    The best mountain views

    The entrance to the resort is beautiful with wide-open space, plenty of seating, a fireplace, and The Market with locally sourced coffee. You can also pick up a quick breakfast, sandwiches, smoothies, tea, and whole fruit at the market.

    Black Rock Mountain Resort Lobby - new dog friendly resort park city

    The On The Rocks bar is gorgeous with more incredible views of the mountains. I could have relaxed here all day. There is also a full-service restaurant. The Overlook Restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Chef is passionate about buying locally and is inspired by Utah’s unique environments from the mountains to the desert. The restaurant wasn’t quite open when we stayed but is open now and the food looks delicious (click the restaurant name to see all the mouth-watering pictures – I can’t wait to go back).

    On The Rocks bar Black Rock Mountain Resort Park City
    Mountain view Black Rock Mountain Resort Park City Utah
    New dog-friendly resort in Park City

    Another reason this is an awesome travel destination is all the adventuring. It’s easy to only think of skiing. The area offers hiking, fly-fishing, golfing, mountain biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, Utah’s Olympic Park, and so much more. It’s nice because there really is something for everyone and something for all skill levels.

    Mountain views with hot tub - new dog friendly resort in park city

    The resort offers so many activities, you might not even want to adventure out. 😉 You can relax in the outdoor heated pool or hot tubs, take a temperature-controlled sauna or unwind in the steam room. There are the cutest outdoor fire-pits to cozy up and stargaze at that big beautiful Utah sky. They also have a huge lounge with big-screen TVs, pool tables, foosball, ping-pong, and gaming.

    New dog-friendly resort in Park City

    Because we always need more Allen…

    Here’s a view from the other direction.

    New dog-friendly resort in Park City
    New dog-friendly resort in Park City

    Cheers to traveling and experiencing new places!

    Learn more about Black Rock Mountain Resort: www.blackrockmountainresort.com

    Another very cool pet-friendly hotel in Utah is Best Friends Roadhouse in Kanab, Utah.

    Find more amazing places to explore in Utah by using my search feature on the home page.

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • Best Friends – Giving Tuesday Now

    Best Friends – Giving Tuesday Now

    Today is Giving Tuesday Now. The current pandemic is affecting everyone including homeless pets and pet shelters. I’m so thankful for the hard work that Best Friends Animal Society is doing even during this uncertain time to save them all.

    Giving Tuesday Now is an opportunity to support the organizations that you love most. If you give to Best Friends Animal Society today – your donation will be triple-matched by an anonymous donor.

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    Here is a post from the Best Friends Animal Society Facebook page explaining what they are doing:

    In times of uncertainty and hardship, our pets are here for us, helping to ease our anxiety and lift our spirits. Their unconditional love provides priceless healing. Indeed, they make our families whole. That’s why during this crisis, Best Friends is:

    🐶 Accelerating emergency foster programs, remote adoptions, pet food distribution, virtual vet care and whole family support to save lives and keep pets and people together

    🐱 Helping nearly 3,000 shelters and rescue groups with essential resources and innovative lifesaving solutions tailored to meet community needs to save the most lives, even with social distancing in place

    🐶 Organizing people in communities across the country to join together, take action and be a beacon of hope for animals at risk and neighbors in need

    Our resolve to save lives doesn’t stop even in times of global crisis, and now more than ever, homeless pets need your kindness to continue receiving love, care and lifesaving second chances.

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    Let’s do what we can to save all these beautiful souls. Click here to give: BEST FRIENDS.

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    And may peace prevail on earth.

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    ©Tracy Blowers

  • The Block – Dog Friendly Patio – St. Louis Park, Minnesota

    The Block – Dog Friendly Patio – St. Louis Park, Minnesota

    For Valentine’s Day, we brought our favorite Valentine (our rescue dog, Allen) to The Block in St. Louis Park to check out their dog-friendly patio. We were so impressed! They have thought of everything to make your dining experience with your pup amazing.

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    Allen has been to restaurant patios but has always been the only dog so we weren’t sure how he would behave in this setting with other dogs. When we walked in, I explained that to the server and she was so accommodating. She told me that they have frozen Von Hanson‘s smoked beef marrow bones that work well to keep the dogs busy and distracted. Of course, the bone worked and Allen LOVED it!

    Once seated, they bring your dog a mat to lay on, a big bowl of water and a little treat. They offer a menu just for the dogs from frozen bones to full meals. On one end of the patio, there is an awesome wall for photos and other end, a TV playing dog videos.

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    Besides being dog-friendly, the food was delicious! I really appreciated all of their gluten-free options. I loved this burrata salad and Terry loved all the craft beer choices. We also had cheeseburgers (mine with a yummy gluten-free bun) and the tater tots were perfect on this chilly Minnesota day!

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    For dessert, I was excited to see Muddy Paws Cheesecake, hand-crafted locally by our friend, Tami! They also offer some super fun, over the top, shakes that I can’t wait to try.

    Find the menu, weekly specials, hours and location HERE. We are so happy to have a new quality restaurant in SLP and to hang out on the patio in the summer!

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    The Block, 7007 Walker Street, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55426

    ©Tracy Blowers

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