Up With Mutts is inspired by my life rescuing animals with a special place in my heart for the mysterious ones that chose me without my ever knowing what breed/mix they were or where they came from. I have always embraced the mystery of their life before I rescued them. I have always found myself asking to care for the sickest or least likely to get adopted. The top three dogs that get adopted the least are those dogs resembling staffordshire terriers (what some call pit bulls), black dogs and black and tan dogs. They are overlooked based on their looks. That’s a damn shame. Of course, we encourage rescue of ALL breeds and dogs in need. We have 2 rescued Catahoula Leopard Curs in our pack at home. That being said, A national census shows that mixed breeds make up 53% of all dogs in the United States and they need to be waving their mutt pride flags high! Represent!

The idea behind the the leash program and the message there was inspired by my off leash pack walks at Emma Long Park where whenever I pass another dog family, (fellow dog love cult members as I like to call us) we stop and ask each other “What’s that dog’s story?” and there always is one. All are wonderful 20 minute+ tales of survival, mystery and divine mutual appreciation. I find that my people with the mystery dogs at Emma Long Park were ones that stopped the car on a highway and lured dogs out of ditches or traffic or took them out of some scary lonely place. They spent thousands to save their lives and changed their own life to keep them. We aim to sell our leashes so that we donate one for each sold to shelters and kids who don’t have one so that dogs may benefit by more walks. Walks get them off chains and out of tiny yards and ease their minds resulting in less aggressive behavior in a lot of cases. It’s also just good for kids to get out of the house connecting with nature and taking pride in dog ownership.

I also have consistent rescue adventures at my job with Tito’s Vodka taking in and placing the random dogs and cats that happen onto the distillery grounds stray and sick and often, giving birth right there.

Currently, my husband John and I house the distillery dog Stella, as seen on TitosVodka.com with Tito and two young Catahoula rescues Olive and Simon.

The leashes are also for sale at Lofty Dog in Austin, Texas.

Upwithmutts.com is a chronicle of our adventures working to alleviate suffering of all creatures and a place where people can pay tribute to the mutts they are so proud of. Email me at upwithmutts@gmail.com with your story, ideas and questions. -Beth

“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle; easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we would still live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the neccesary plan.” -Irving Townsend