Tag Archives: naperville

Sierra kitty entertains herself on the computer

Sierra Kitty

Ms. Sierra keeps us entertained at each visit, but more importantly, this silly Naperville cat keeps herself entertained. A cat who surfs the web? Absolutely!

What a fun girl she is, and boy oh boy she can play fetch as good as any canine around!

Thanks for being such a great kitty, Sierra!

Best Vets in Naperville - Welcome Waggin

Best Vets in Naperville, IL

Keeping your four-legged child bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is of the utmost importance to loving pet parents. At home, you can ensure that your furry baby is happy and healthy through everyday activities, such as:

  • Taking long walks on the beach (or sidewalk)
  • Giving zillions of belly rubs
  • Feeding delicious & nutritious meals
  • Falling asleep on the couch together watching Lassie reruns

In addition to the above, it is essential to find a great Naperville, IL vet to care for your pet in sickness and in health. We’ve put together a list of some of the best vets in Naperville and its surrounding area to help you get started in your search for Fido’s perfect match!

Best Vets in Naperville - Danada

  1. Danada Veterinary Hospital
    10 W. Loop Rd.
    Wheaton, IL 60189
    630-665-6161

    Hours:
    Mon – Fri (7am – 7pm)
    Saturday (7am – 12pm)
    Sunday (closed)

    Danada Veterinary Hospital is a full service companion animal hospital providing comprehensive medical and surgical care for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and other small animals. Danada Veterinary Hospital prides itself on superior medicine in a timely manner within a friendly, clean environment.

  2. Best Vets in Naperville - Ness Exotic

  3. Ness Exotic Wellness Center
    1007 Maple Avenue
    Lisle, IL 60532
    630-737-1281

    Hours:
    Mon – Thurs (9am – 8pm)
    Friday (9am – 6pm)
    Saturday (8am – 2pm)
    Sunday (closed) 

    Ness Exotic Wellness Center provides comprehensive services for birds and exotic pets as well as holistic pet care for dogs and cats. They offer Chiropractic and Acupuncture, along with herbal therapy, homeopathy and various other therapies. They will work with your conventional small animal veterinarian to complement their traditional western therapy with the array of holistic modalities that they offer.

  4. The Welcome Waggin’
    630-699-3113

    Hours:
    Flexible weekday and weekend hours are available by appointment. To schedule home veterinary services, call 630.699.3113 or send an email to: service@thewelcomewaggin.com.

    The Welcome Waggin’ was founded by Dr. Lisa McIntyre with the goal of providing exceptional care and service in your pet’s home environment.
    By minimizing the stress of travel, reducing the likelihood of disease transmission, and observing your pet in its natural surroundings, they are able to help maintain your companion’s optimal health and well-being. Home veterinary care is ideally suited for working professionals, busy parents, multiple pet owners, the elderly or disabled, and owners of animals that become anxious in a hospital setting.

Best of luck choosing a great veterinarian in Naperville, IL!

One of our favorite dog walking routes in Naperville, Naperville Riverwalk

Top 3 Scenic Dog Walking Routes in Naperville

Finding great, scenic dog walking routes in Naperville is something we’re always sniffing around for. While Sherlock’s nose is to the ground (searching for squirrel clues, of course!), it’s a treat for parents to take in such sights as unique architecture, local history, or beautiful natural landscapes. Our paws have done some walkin’, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorite routes across town for you and your pups to check out!

  1. Naperville Riverwalk: The Naperville Riverwalk was created in 1981 as a permanent commemorative to honor Naperville’s 150th anniversary. Considered the “crown jewel” of Naperville, the Riverwalk is a place of beauty and tranquility along the West Branch of the DuPage River. It features 1.75 miles of brick paths, fountains, bridges, meeting and event places, outdoor sculpture and artwork, recreational facilities, and celebratory memorials. The Riverwalk is a preferred destination and an ideal place to stroll, unwind, and reflect. Come relax and enjoy the scene. The Riverwalk is dog-friendly and has plenty of fun for all.
  2. Green Valley Preserve

  3. Green Valley Forest Preserve: Over three-quarters of Greene Valley’s 12 miles of marked trails are open to hikers, bicyclers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. A beautiful area with an extensive plant list — over 540 native species — makes the 1,414-acre Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville one of the county’s most botanically diverse sites. Within the high-quality oak woodland north of 79th Street, an area one former owner set aside for plant and animal conservation more than 50 years ago, native wildflowers provide spectacular spring displays. This Trail Guide and Parking Map is helpful!
    • Tree Trek Trail: Tree Trek is a 1-mile self-guided hike. Signs along the path point out 11 different trees and give descriptions of their bark, seeds and leaves. For information on how to get started, visit the information sign south of the Thunderbird Road parking lot.
    • Off-Leash Dog Area: Dogs with valid Forest Preserve District permits can enjoy Greene Valley’s fully fenced, 16-acre off-leash area, which features a separate section for dogs under 25 pounds. Owners should call Visitor Services Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at (630) 933-7248 for permit applications and information.

    Illinois Prairie Path

  4. Illinois Prairie Path: May Theilgaard Watts, a naturalist retired from the Morton Arboretum, had a dream. She had walked the footpaths of England and hiked the Appalachian Trail. She realized there was a golden opportunity to create something similar right here in the western suburbs.

    The Illinois Prairie Path is a multi-use nature trail for non-motorized public use. It spans approximately 61 miles in Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties in northeasten Illinois. A former right-of-way for the old Chicago Aurora & Elgin electric railroad, it was the first U.S. rail-to-trail conversion in the nation in the 1960’s. The Path is filled with dog friendly trails and is surfaced primarily with a crushed limestone surface, which is easy on feet and bike tires alike, and sheds water quickly following rainfall.

Featured Naperville Dog Photo: Mr. Otis

Featured OUG! Dog Photo: Naperville’s Mr. Otis

Don’t let Mr. Otis fool you–he’s almost 15 years old but has got the heart and soul of a pup half his age!

We have the pleasure of seeing this sweet boy all week long and can’t get enough of his kind nature and gentle way–and boy, oh boy, he kills us with cuteness, as you can see in his featured dog photo! Thanks Mr. Otis for brightening our days!

Wags & Wellness dog events in Naperville IL

Dog Events in Naperville IL: Wags & Wellness

Support Naperville Area Humane Society on Saturday, June 8, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Seager Park in Naperville to learn fun ways to keep you and your pet healthy. Wags & Wellness is one of the many great summer family and dog events in Naperville IL, featuring fun activities, health screenings and healthy tips for both people and pets. Pets welcome!

Area businesses that will be showcasing their healthy products and services include us (Out-U-Go! Naperville), Edward Hospital, Narnia Pet Behavior and Training, Wehrli Frisbee Dogs, Doga (doggy yoga), Pet Reiki and Communication, Spay Illinois, Chiro One Wellness, LaVida Massage, YMCA, Paws in Time, Vitality Chiropractic Care, and Two Bostons.

It will be a fun day where you can try Doga, exercise with YMCA, watch a Frisbee Dog demonstration, and more. See you there!

Naperville Area Humane Society Human Race 2013 (NAHS)

Naperville Area Humane Society Human Race 2013

Join us in the 2nd Annual Naperville Area Humane Society Human Race run/walk!

The event takes place on Saturday, April 27 at 9:00 AM at the Esplanade at Locust Point in Downers Grove. It is a 5K run or 2 mile fitness walk. All ages can participate and dogs are welcome on the fitness walk. Be part of the Naperville Area Humane Society team for this exciting event.

We have set a goal of raising $10,000. NAHS will use the funds raised from this event for shelter renovations and to continue providing exceptional care to the dogs and cats in our community.

Registration opens January 15 and the entry fee is $30 for walkers and $35 for runners if you register online; registration is $5 higher per category if you register offline and $10 higher per category if you register on event day. Register online now, or learn more about the Naperville Area Humane Society Human Race event.

If you can’t participate this year, you can still support Team NAHS! Visit the NAHS team fundraising page and pledge your support today!

Naperville Pet Sitting Superstar: Marci

Marci, Out-U-Go! Naperville Pet Sitting SuperstarFor over a year, Naperville Pet Sitting Superstar, Marci, has been brightening the days of her regular pups and kitties and keeping things under control with her calm, patient way.

She works full-time at another job and still manages to give her route 110%, with rarely a day missed–we don’t know how she does it, but we sure feel lucky that she’s with us!

For more information about Naperville, IL, Tog Dog Aschley and her furry family, paw through our spiffy new staff profiles!

Dog Parks in Naperville, IL

Best Dog Parks in Naperville, IL

Dog parents understand the importance of finding a great local dog park. Dog parks are a great resource for your furry friend to run to his heart’s content, interact with other dogs, sniff new things, and buddy up to humans in attempts to gain cookies. It is also a great place for pet parents to meet like-minded neighbors and share fur-children stories! We’ve put together a list of the best dog parks in Naperville, IL to help you find a spot with the amenities, space, and cookie-dispensing humans that your pup is looking for!

  1. SpringBrook Prairie Dog Park: SpringBrook Prairie Dog Park in Naperville is located at 83rd St., West of Book Rd. The dog park is open daily one hour after sunrise until one hour after sunset. Dogs with valid Forest Preserve District permits can enjoy Springbrook Prairie’s off-leash area at the 83rd Street trailhead. Owners must have their dogs’ purchased permits in their possession when in the off-leash area. Applications for annual and daily permits are available through Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Rules for the off-leash area are posted at the preserve. Dogs must be on leashes no greater than 10 feet in length in all other areas of the preserve, including the parking lots.
  2. Green Valley Forest Preserve: Like SpringBrook Prairie Dog Park, Green Valley Forest Preserve is part of the Dupage County Forest Preserve and requires dogs to have a permit. Located at Green Valley Rd. & Hobson Rd. in Naperville, there are actually two dog parks here: a large area for big dogs and a smaller separate area for small dogs. Also offered at the park is a water fountain and a nice shaded bench. For more information, call the park at 630-933-7200.
  3. Whalon Lake Dog Park: Whalon Lake Dog Park provides an 8-acre fenced exercise area where dogs can run free. The Dog Park also features a smaller 2.5-acre park for dogs under 30 pounds. A shelter and benches provide comfort for the canines’ human companions. A permit is required for use of the Dog Park. Visit Forest Preserve District of Will County for the fee structure. Other amenities at Whalon Lake include multi-purpose trails, picnic shelters, and access to an 80-acre lake for boating and fishing. The park is located at 1480 Royce Rd. in Naperville, can be reached at 815-727-8700, and is open from 6:00 a.m. to Sunset (April – October) and 8:00 a.m. to Sunset (November – March).

Have fun exploring!

Naperville Area Humane Society Black Cat Ball

The annual Naperville Area Humane Society Black Cat Ball was on Friday, October 19th, 2012.  It was a fantastic evening of dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions, all to benefit the pets and programs of Naperville Area Humane Society.

It was a record-setting year with more than $110,000 raised to fund the organization.  If you weren’t among the 280 guests able to attend this event but would still like to help, NAHS accepts items from its Wish List, such as cat and dog food, cat litter, bleach, and other supplies, every day between 8AM and 5PM using the service entrance.

Naperville Area Humane Society Black Cat Ball Logo 2012

Pit Bulls: Fact vs. Fiction

Below we have compiled some awesome facts and incredible myths about our “bully” friends. Unfortunately there is an overabundance of pit bull type dogs in America’s shelters in large part due to the widespread myths and misundertanding surrounding these dogs.

 

Myth #1: “Pit Bull” is a breed

Fact: Pit Bull is NOT a breed. It’s a generic term often used to describe all dogs with similar traits and characteristics known to the public as “pit bulls”. When we use the term “pit bull” here it should be understood to encompass American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Take this test and see how well you are able to pick the “pitbull”: http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

Myth #2: Pit Bulls are mean and vicious

Fact: No more vicious than Golden Retrievers, Beagles or other popular dogs! According to a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperment Testing Society (ATTS) pit bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%. That’s as good or better than Beagles (78.2%) and Golden Retreivers (83.2%). http://www.atts.org/stats1.html

Myth #3: Pit Bulls have “locking jaws”

Fact: Studies show that the jaw of the pit bull is in proportion to its size and is no different than any other breed of dog. There is no evidence that any kind of locking mechanism exists in the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Myth #4: Pit Bulls turn on their owners

Dogs, as a species, do not perform behaviors “just because”. There are always reasons for behavior, and when aggression becomes a problem the reasons can be such things as improper handling, lack of socialization or training, a misreading of dog behavior by the owner, or, rarely, disease. Aggression, when it presents in pet dogs, follows specific patterns. First occur warning signs, then more warning signs, and finally, when those signs are continually ignored or misinterpreted, the dog resorts to using its teeth. When an
owner is startled by a sudden, aggressive outburst, it is because they have been unaware of problems that were brewing. This is true of all dogs, not just Pit Bulls. Pit Bulls, indeed no dogs, “turn” on their owners.

Myth #5: The only thing Pit Bulls are good for is fighting

Unfortunately, a large amount of attention has been brought to the fact that the Pit Bull was originally created for fighting other dogs in the pit. Since the breed was selectively bred for and excelled at this task, there is a common assumption that fighting must be all for which the breed is good. The truth of the matter is that the Pit Bull is one of the most versatile of canines, capable of excelling at just about any task his owner asks him to complete. They are routinely used for: obedience trialing, conformation showing, weight pull, Schutzhund (a German sport which requires dogs to perform in obedience, tracking and protection phases of a competition), agility, and have even been known to participate in herding trials, search and rescue work, and a variety of other tasks including police and armed services work. But fanciers will argue that the task this breed performs best of all is that of beloved companion. http://network.bestfriends.org/9261/news.aspx

Berkeley at work as a certified therapy dog!

Out-U-Go! is fortunate to have many loving Pit Bulls in our pack. As a matter of fact, I am the proud parent of a Pit Bull named Berkeley Moon who became a certified therapy dog in 2008. Berkeley currently visits Naperville area schools to assist students with their reading.

For more information please take a look at the following sources and organizations, and hug-a-bull today!

www.bestfriends.org

www.pbrc.net

www.badrap.org

www.chicagolandbullybreedrescue.org