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It’s Back! Order Your “Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2024”

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We were so thrilled that so many of you loved our Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2023 that we decided to create a calendar for 2024!

It wasn’t difficult to fill the calendar full of the most adorable, goofy, happy, sleek, sweater-vested, hat-wearing pets. In fact, we need another 12 months to get in all of the images we want to share!

Whether you order the calendar as a gift for yourself or others, we promise that this one-of-a-kind gift will bring a smile to your face and a couple of laughs. There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing the innocence of dogs and cats who have no idea they are being captured just as they are-perfect or purrfect!

Order Your Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2024 Today!

The Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2024 is on its way to our doors, ready for you! There is a limited quantity, so put in your order now! We sold out last year and want to make sure everyone gets one, so don’t wait!

Come in to place your order or call 925-447-1729 and tell us you want to order your Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2024. Prices are $30 a calendar with all profits going to help local rescues.

Buy a Calendar and Help Needy Rescue Animals

Now more than ever, Animal Rescues are straining to keep up with the burden of pet overpopulation and the lack of affordable medical resources and spay and neuter services.

The shelters, which were once celebrating empty kennels, are now burdened with returned pets, unclaimed pets, special needs pets, and pets with medical needs. Sadly, some owners have to relinquish their pets due to medical bills they simply cannot afford.

Local rescues have stepped up, volunteering their time, energy, resources and finances to help shelters, most without receiving any financial support.

When you purchase the Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2024, you are supporting local rescues. The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa believes that every dog and cat deserve a loving home and has generously offered to give all profits of the calendar to local rescues to help dogs and cats just like yours feel the warmth, comfort and safety of a home.

How Will Local Pets Benefit from Your Purchase of Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2024?

Your purchase of The Pets of The Ranch Calendar 2024 goes a long way to supporting local pets. Many of these animals are still waiting for their furrever homes, and some of them have had quite the traumatic past.

Many of the rescue animals need surgery for a medical condition or to be spayed or neutered, while some of them just need a little time and TLC to realize they are safe and loved. There is nothing wrong with these animals aside from them wanting to be someone’s beloved pet.

Newborns to animals in the last stages of their lives depend on the generosity of donations to provide them with food, medicine, toys, collars, leashes, beds, crates, treats, veterinary services and more.

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa recognizes the needs of these animals and has committed to making a difference in their lives. Can we count on you to help them by purchasing one or more Pets of The Ranch Calendar/s 2024?

Kindly stop in or call The Ranch and place your order today. Not interested in our adorable dogs and cats of The Ranch calendar but want to make a donation? We happily take donations, too! Ask for Sammie!

Support Local Rescue Animals

Katie, a beautiful 2-year-old medium sized dog, came into the shelter in September with her brother, Pierre, and was midway through a pregnancy with nine puppies when she was spayed.

Katie lost her puppies and her brother, who was adopted, and had a hard time at the shelter. She was on the euthanasia list when rescue stepped up to foster her. Donations help supply Katie with a new crate and bedding, food, treats, toys, collar, leash, and vaccinations.

Jenkins is a seeing impaired boy who was put on the euthanasia list. A local rescue saved him right before he was being euthanized and is paying for his transport to live his life on a ranch in another state. The generosity of donations goes toward the care, medical check ups and gas to find this deserving boy a loving home!

Harvey, a young energetic shepherd mix, Siskiyou, an escape artist who was adopted and returned to the shelter twice, and Branton, a gentile, larger crossbreed recently found themselves in need of rescue.

Through networking, promoting on social media, and sharing social media posts, Harvey found his forever home; Siskiyou was rescued and is spending time in boarding until a foster home opens up, and Branton is in a foster to adopt program. This foster home was in need of dog accommodations and training to help Branton adjust to her dog and small child.

With the help of local fosters in the area who rely on donations to keep saving lives, all of these dogs are safe, healthy, and loved!

Reserve Your The Pets of The Ranch 2024 Calendar Today!

If you have any questions, please call (925) 447-1729 and place your order. Buy two and give to a friend! We know you will delight in seeing all of these adorable faces and supporting local animals in need!

Happy Halloween from The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

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From spooky sharks to Barbie, cowboys, Superheroes, farm, zoo, and wild animals and every idea in between, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa‘s annual Howl-o-ween photos captured the spirit of Halloween.

As usual, some pets were more excited than others to be in the limelight and were quite at ease being photographed, while others just did the bare minimum to make Mom and Dad happy!

Nevertheless, this event is one of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa‘s favorites as we really get a great shot of each dog, cat, or pair of dogs and their personalities.

While we don’t have a favorite Howl-o-ween costume participant, we are super excited to have the cats participate this year!

A Big Shout Out to our Amazing Staff who Made Howl-o-Ween Possible

This event could not take place without the patience, enthusiasm and creativity of our staff who love capturing the best side of each participant, even if it involves wrangling them in and grabbing their attention or taking shot after shot until we capture the perfect expression!

Take a Peek at Some of Our Howl-o-ween Participants

We just can’t get enough of this cuteness overload! For more images sorted by last name, please visit our Facebook page.

Please Keep Your Pets Safe this Halloween

Between the cars, Trick-or-Treators, candy and ghoulish activity Halloween will bring, please take a minute to make sure your dog or cat is safe and secure this Halloween.

It’s a good time to make sure your dogs and cats are safely inside and unable to run out the door as you welcome the ghosts, dragons and fairies that come knocking on your door for candy.

For dogs and cats who get especially nervous with activity, doorbells or strangers, a calming aid or Thundershirt may prove especially helpful.

Remember chocolate is especially toxic to dogs who may easily snatch a Snickers or two while no one is looking. Let’s keep all of our campers out of the ER and save you some money by putting all chocolate out of reach.

Light up the darkness with a glow in the dark collar while you walk your pooch around the neighborhood and remember to have anyone ask to pet your dog first to avoid any anxious dog behaviors.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to thank you for trusting us with the care of your dog or cat, and we wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

Thanks to everyone for allowing us the pleasure of enjoying another eventful Howl-o-ween photo day!

DIY Halloween Dog Costumes!

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Halloween is next week, and if you’re like many, you enjoy dressing your dog up to go Trick-or- Treating with the kids or staying at home to pass out candy.

Finding just the right costume for your dog can be a tricky ordeal, between trying to keep the costume in place and not having your dog try to wiggle his way out of it or eat it!

If you’re one of the lucky few whose dog fancies being dressed up, the Halloween costume may be a bit easier for you to keep on. With a little imagination, some cooperation from your dog, and just a few materials, your dog can be the center of attention at your Halloween festivities!

Thanksgiving Turkey Dog Costume

It’s not Thanksgiving yet, but this Thanksgiving Turkey Dog Costume always gets a lot of laughs. For the more mellow fellow or lass, having a brown paper shopping bag taped around the middle isn’t a big deal. The paper bag can be loose enough so your dog doesn’t feel constricted but does serve as the main body of the turkey.

Simply cut the handles off a brown paper bag or tape two together, depending on the size of your dog, cut some feathers out of construction paper, write directions on how to cook the turkey on the side of the bag, and secure the brown paper bag together with tape.

For example, your directions could be, “Bake at 350 degrees for three hours. Let cool. Slice and enjoy!” For smaller dogs, you might just add, “Heat and serve!” Whatever creativity you want to add makes the costume that much better.


Should your dog be patient enough to allow a head dress, you can make a turkey head out of cardboard and tape it to a headband and place on your dog’s head. Or, in our case, we repurposed a turkey hat and tied it around our dog’s head.

Our dog was very patient and loved the attention and luckily, didn’t try to eat the costume. We did have to make sure that the bag allowed him to go to the bathroom which we learned the hard way!

Athletic Pup! or Princess Pup! Costumes for Little Dogs

With so many stuffies having their own outfits, especially if you ever shopped at Build a Bear Workshop, you have your choice of Halloween outfits. Consider using one of the t-shirts or outfits from your children’s stuffed animals or dolls to create an athletic pup.

Most of the clothes that fit a teddy bear or doll will be comfortable for a tinier dog to wear. No need to purchase one of the expensive costumes from the pet store if you have one already being modeled by a stuffed animal.

Make sure there are no small buttons or ribbons that can easily be swallowed by your fur baby.

Repurpose a Dog Sweater to Make a Costume

If you have a sweater, jacket or coat already that fits your dog, consider repurposing it to make a costume. Draw some bones on white paper or fabric, cut them out, then glue them to the outfit to make a skeleton dog. Or, for a more permanent effect, apply paint to the fabric and create a skeleton or skunk!

If you want to really be creative, you can always embellish the dog sweater and sew a fin on it to make a shark; stuff some colored socks, draw “M’s” on them for MnM’s, and velcro them onto the sweater; cut out circles from black felt or stripes from brown felt and make your dog into a spotted leopard or tiger! The possibilities are endless and affordable!

Hawaiian Shirt Dog Costume

Dig out that Hawaiian shirt you wear only once a year and put it on your dog. Secure a lei around its neck and your dog will be hula dancing in no time!

Rocky Balboa Dog

Take a sweatshirt and put your dog’s front legs through the arms of the sweatshirt. If the sweatshirt zips up, zip it up; if there is a hoody and your dog allows you to put it on, you can put on the hoody, add some sweatbands to the ankles, and you have Rocky Balboa in training!

Accessorize Your Dog

Some of the simplest accessories can make a darling dog costume. Adding a scarf, hat, boa, bow tie, veil, crown, or play jewelry is a simple way to turn everyday accessories into a costume. These work especially well for animals who may not feel comfortable with something around their body.

Bat Dog

This costume works really well if your dog has a harness. Paint a piece of cardboard black, draw bat wings on it and cut it out. Attach the bat wings to your dog’s harness by cutting small holes in the middle of the wings and securing the two together with zip ties or string. Your dog will be strutting the streets looking for Robin and the Joker.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants all of you to have a safe and happy Halloween. Your dog’s safety is our primary concern, so make sure he can walk safely, see clearly, and be comfortable.

Don’t be surprised if the costume doesn’t last long, unless you have a warrior who is used to dressing up! Take lots of pictures and share them with us!

Also, just a reminder chocolate can be deadly for dogs or at least give them an upset stomach, so keep them away from all of the candy and goodies.

Enjoy yourself and have fun!

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month

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September is dedicated to Animal Pain Awareness Month, but pet lovers know that we need to be diligent about checking for pain in our beloved fur babies every day, every week, and every month.

By making it a habit to regularly check on your pet’s health, you can become aware of any acute or chronic pain, learn how to relieve it, and improve the quality and hopefully quantity of your pet’s life!

2023 marks the 8th annual Animal Pain Awareness Month. It was started by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, an organization that was established in 2001 (source).

Tips for Evaluating Your Pet’s Pain and Well-Being

While animals don’t have a vocabulary that we can understand, they do have behaviors that may alert you to being in discomfort. If your animal has any of the following symptoms, it’s a good idea to take them to a reputable vet that can diagnose a problem before it becomes too serious or life-threatening.

*Changes in mood or behavior. As your pet’s parent, you know your pet. If your pet is acting out of the ordinary, keeping to himself, sleeping more than usual, or not behaving as he normally does, this may be an indication your pet is in pain.

Cats can often alert their owners to pain by peeing out of their litter box, marking, or peeing in sight of their owners. Active dogs may refuse or be hesitant to go for a walk.

*Changes in diet. Pets often stop eating or decrease their diet if they are in pain. Owners of single pets will have no problem noticing a change in diet. A home with multiple pets may require special attention to make sure that all pets are eating normally.

*An increase or decrease in water intake. Dogs often change their water intake if they are experiencing pain or discomfort. Pay particular attention to the water consumption and always provide fresh water.

*Audible cries. Animals in distress and pain may whimper, cry, or scream. Depending on the source of the pain and severity, your pet may try to mask its symptoms. Some animals such as rabbits are very good at masking their pain so they are not easy prey. Be diligent in checking on your pet should it cry out in distress. A pet in severe distress should always be taken to the vet.

*Unusual licking or biting. Sometimes a pet in discomfort licks or bites itself if it has an infection, allergy, or other symptom. If your pet is showing any sign of licking or biting other than a normal itch, it’s advisable to check the spots and take your pet to the vet.

How to Handle a Pet in Distress or Pain

If you believe that your pet is in distress or in pain, it’s in the pet’s best interest for you and your pet to take it to the vet. Your vet can check on the source of your pet’s pain and prescribe sources of treatment.

Be careful when handling a hurt pet, as it can unintentionally bite or snap at you due to the pain. Even the most loving animal reacts to pain.

Try to remain calm as a pet can pick up your moods and sense trouble. Once you figure out the source of the pain, you can begin to start the healing process.

Pleasanton Cat Extravaganza & Rescue Awareness Event

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Standing brown bengal cat, side view, isolated on white

Looking for some family fun this weekend? You can’t go wrong by attending the Pleasanton Cat Extravaganza & Rescue Awareness Event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton .

From the event planners:

“Discover a world of feline wonder at our family furr-iendly event to increase the visibility of all cats, with education and awareness for the overwhelming rescue situation. A portion of all proceeds for this event will be donated to helping cats in emergency rescue situations through The Meserve Foundation.

Support local charities and rescues and do your part. Witness an International Cat Competition, see the most beautiful cats in the world strut the CatWalk, see who wins in Best in Show, learn all about cats and more in Kitty Corner, and get your own furry friend a gift from our amazing shopping village!”

The Pleasanton Cat Extravaganza and Rescue Awareness Event is Cohosted by the East Bay SPCA

Cohosted by the East Bay SPCA, the Pleasanton Cat Extravaganza and Rescue Awareness Event takes place this Saturday and Sunday, September 9th and 10th from 10-4. There is something for every age, and a whole lot of purr-fectly fun activities, merchandise, educational opportunities, and felines to entertain you.

General ticket pricing for the two-day event are below.

Sneak Peek at What to Expect at the Pleasanton Cat Extravaganza & Rescue Awareness

This is a video taken of the recent show in Seattle.

https://youtu.be/Zr95VbwczQM?si=bZUFC5q-xyg-pCxa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa Offers Cat Boarding

If you are so inclined to adopt a cat from one of the rescues at the Pleasanton Cat Extravaganza & Rescue Awareness Event, keep in mind The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa offers cat boarding.

Our state-of-the-art facilities offer your cat the purr-fect combination of temperature-controlled housing, a quiet staycation away from those noisy dogs, four levels of space, air filtration and advanced cleaning system, and the loving and nurturing attention of our dedicated staff.

For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact us.

National Dog Day is Saturday, August 26, 2023

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National Dog Day is Saturday, August 26, 2023, an annual event started in 2004 by Colleen Paige, an author, conservationist, and pet and family lifestyle expert.

Paige chose to celebrate National Dog Day on August 26 because that is the day she adopter her first dog, Sheltie, from the local animal shelter. Her goal in celebrating National Dog Day is to “bring attention to the plight of animals around the globe and encourage adoption.”

Celebrate National Dog Day with these Doggie Deals

You don’t have to wait for the weather to be cooler to enjoy a Busch Pumpkin Spice Dog Brew. The non-alcoholic dog brew is made from all natural ingredients including pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and water and can be ordered from shopbeergear.com.

Dunkin’ Supports Dogs for Joy on National Dog Day

For every iced latte ordered on National Dog Day via the Dunkin’ mobile app, Dunkin’ will donate $1 to the Joy in Childhood Foundation to support the Dogs for Joy program.

Dogs for Joy is a program that matches in-residence service dogs with children who are hospitalized and in need of some loving canine support, training, and incentive during their treatments.

These dogs have a full-time job and responsibility to provide happiness to the young patients and to teach the children how to take medication, keep calm during medical intervention, and perform physical therapy.

“Since 2018, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation’s “Dogs for Joy Program” has granted 33 full-time pediatric service dogs to 18 children’s hospitals across the country” (source).

So this Saturday, support dogs and children by downloading the Dunkin app and ordering your iced latte.

Pup’kin Spice Doggie Doughnuts Available at Krispy Kreme

Saturdays were meant for doughnuts, and dogs are no exception to the rule! Visit your local Krispy Kreme and pick up a Pup’kin Spice Doggie Doughnut for each doggie member of your family!

Choose from  Pup’kin Spice Original Glazed, Pup’kin Spice Cake, Pup’kin Spice Maple Peanut and Pup’kin Spice Cheesecake Swirl.

But hurry, as the biscuit shaped doggie doughnuts will only be available until August 31.

Get 50% Off Petco Orders Through DoorDash

Today through August 27, customers who use the DoorDash mobile app or website will receive 50% off Petco orders of $25 or more to honor National Dog Day.

Now The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa knows your dog is worth $25 in treats, toys, a new bed, collars, or more! Hurry, you only have a few days left to take advantage of the savings.

Happy National Dog Day from The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

From our dogs to yours, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to wish you a very happy and loving National Dog Day! Spoil your dogs Saturday and every day!