Allen Wags & Woolies

08/11/2025

Our babies are growing up wayyy too fast! 4 weeks old. Please babies, slow down!🥹
🩷💙❤️🖤💚🧡🤎

08/08/2025

"They're fine"
You don't need to be an "expert" to read body language.
You can just look at these three areas...they can tell you a lot!
Reading tails?
That's an area that can be particularly tricky, but this graphic shows some easier "tells".
There are some more general observations we can all make.

Mouths.
Dogs can close their mouths when they feel uncomfortable.
They can even clamp it firmly shut and you may see a slight "grin".

Eyes.
Dilated pupils, more white of the eyes showing and even a "refusal" to look in a certain direction can all be signs your dog may not be comfortable.
Blinking, squinting and wrinkling around the eyes can be a clue here too.

Ears.
Those wee ears can change position.
They can move flat against the head.
They may lower....sometimes they are almost "slick" against the head.

Face.
Tension shows here.
Wrinkling and tightness.
That tension can create changes to all the other parts mentioned, ears, eyes and mouth.

In saying all of this.....each dog can have their own unique "quirks".
This is just a general guideline.

If you are unsure, look around you.
What is happening near you both is often a clue too.
Context is key.

08/07/2025

PLEASE RECONSIDER GROOMING YOUR DOG WHILST OUT ON WALKS (or in the garden!)

This - along with letting them swim in waterways - could be killing wildlife.


It's that time of year when you see random distributions of dog fluff out on walks.

Kanita is also blowing her coat, and Mohawk has been having a big coat change too recently. There's something very satisfying about gently pulling those loose tufts of hair out. If you know, you know.


I don't blame people for thinking that it's easier to groom a super floofy dog outside to save covering their house in hair- BUT if that dog receives anti-parasitic treatment, this may be harming wildlife.

A study in the Netherlands detected two active substances used in routine pet anti-parasitic treatments in the nests of great t**s- who had collected hair in order to build their nests.

Another study by The University of Sussex found that screened nests contained 17 out of 20 insecticides screened for. 100% of nests contained fipronil and 89% contained imidacloprid.
A higher number of unhatched eggs and dead chicks were associated with higher numbers of chemicals present in the nests (with dog hair being used to build the nests by the birds).


Many of these chemicals in these treatments are thought to be harmful to birds. It is also thought that they are damaging to insect populations (including bees) as well as contributing to pollution of waterways and damaging aquatic ecosystems - contributed by people letting their dogs swim in ponds, lakes, streams, rivers etc.


If you routinely use parasite control medication on your dog please do not let them swim outdoors (especially soon after treatment) and avoid grooming them outside (or bag up the hair as you groom).

There are some suggestions that oral medications are less damaging, but they don't just sit in the digestive system. They are transported around the bloodstream- which supplies nutrients and oxygen to the whole body. Toxins leave the body via excrement, urine, sweat, hair and skin cells- albeit predominantly via the former two.

Whilst topical treatments pose a greater risk - especially soon after treatment- it cannot be assumed that there is no negative affect from oral treatments. The research identified that dog hair is linked to bird deaths and that specifically states that dogs owned by volunteers donating nests received parasite control via collars, spot on and tablets.
Chemicals from Nexguard and Bravecto were not screened for in the study and thus are not ruled out as safe nor established as harmful (to birds).


The recommended frequency of use of these products continues to be called into question, as is the risk of adverse side effects in pets!

Veternarians are being encouraged to prescribe them based on risk to the individual.
Assessing individual risk is not easy for veternarians to do in the time that they have, so you can help your vet help you by intensively reading information on these products rather than administering them every 1-3 months in blind faith that it's the right thing to do and without consequence.

Our wildlife is in decline and if we care about nature- we all need to do our bit.

That may include reviewing the specific medication you purchase from your vet or you may decide to use them less frequently, such as treating as needed or seasonally (instead of across the year).
You may delay letting your dog swim post treatment for as long as possible, or consider alternative prevention such as worm counts, flea combing or natural repellents (although do note, some ingredients in these could still be toxic to some species of wildlife).


Again, whether to treat or not should be down to INDIVIDUAL RISK. What poses a risk to individuals in one area may differ to others elsewhere.

But it's also your personal choice and I want to make it clear that this post is NOT telling people to NOT treat their pets but simply to be aware of the potential impact of such treatments and to adjust our habits (swimming, grooming outside) accordingly.


Are there other things that damage the environment? Of course.
But this is a page about dogs, so content will be relevant to dogs.

You can use the fact that XY and Z also harm the environment as a justification for doing nothing, or you can consider whether there are small changes you are able to make. The cumulative effect is what causes these issues to escalate, and thus the cumulative effect is also capable of making some positive change.


Note: If you don’t use anti parasitics on your dog & groom them outside, then the hair may be beneficial for the birds. However, do consider that grooming products and other medications may pose a risk - should you use these.

These were the resources linked into the comments, but Ive opted to bring them here for ease. Within some of these you can be linked to the research on this topic and you will find much more detail on this emotive topic.

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/66973

https://www.veterinaryirelandjournal.com/small-animal/359-cat-and-dog-parasiticides-and-the-environment

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725000737?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=908a988c1c6d63c1

https://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/post/veterinary-drugs-found-in-bird-nests/

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/243875/toxic-flea-tick-treatments-polluting-uk/

https://www.pan-uk.org/garden-birds-are-being-poisoned-by-pet-flea-treatments/

https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/looking-after/managing-land-and-water/water-quality/flea-treatments-and-their-impact-on-water-quality

https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/flea-treatment-toxic-to-wildlife

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/23/flea-treatments-cats-dogs-environmental-hazard

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7738705/

https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/responsible-use-of-parasiticides-for-cats-and-dogs/

https://www.bsava.com/position-statement/parasite-control/

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

When everyone’s asleep, your Great Pyrenees is just starting their shift. They pace the yard, sniff the wind, and watch the shadows — not because they’re scared, but because you’re in there, and they love you. 💖 Their silent devotion, their calm strength... it’s a comfort no alarm system can match. These gentle giants take “watchdog” to a whole new level. No matter the hour, they’ve got your back. 🛡️🐾
Great Pyrenees: protector by nature, nurturer by heart. 🌙🐶

08/07/2025

Oh heck Yes! This!! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

08/07/2025

This poor dog waited for weeks on a back road in the middle of nowhere. No food. No shelter. He sat there hoping that someone would come back for him, but they never came. People began reporting sightings of a “ghost dog” — hugging the road’s edge, always in the same place, always waiting. They left food, but he wouldn’t let anyone near. He was waiting for someone who wasn’t coming. Eventually, he grew too weak to run, and that’s when he was finally caught.

I know that I am preaching to the choir, but abandoned dogs don’t find a magical farm home. They starve. They get hit by cars. They get shot. Sometimes, they get lucky and someone cares enough to try to help, like this poor guy. He is safe now, but he has a long way to go and he is hospitalized while we work through all the things he has – lyme disease and ehrlychia, heartworms, starvation and a skin infection.

We’re tired. This is happening more often and it’s overwhelming. We are absolutely buried in dogs needing help. What we need is foster help and cash. This guy does not need to come to the kennel and we could definitely use foster help. We also need cash. Anything will help as the numbers are crushing us. If you’re within driving distance of Nashville and can foster, email [email protected].

If you’d like to donate $5 to help, you can do so here:

Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LPNJEHNPR8AUU
Stripe: https://donate.stripe.com/cN2dTq20J4H7aBi144
Venmo: (last four digits 9191).

Thanks as always. If you donate via Venmo, please make the transaction private and not public. The Nigerian princes are out there scalping your public contact info.

08/07/2025

They don’t need the whole house on day one.
In fact, too much "freedom" in your home can create challenges in those first few days.
➡️ Unfamiliar places can add more stress to an already anxious pup or dog.

They need time to adjust to their new environment.
Everything is different.....scents, sights, people, surfaces, and sounds.
Let them settle into one room before opening up the rest of the house.
Nervous or overstimulated dogs may toilet inside or even become destructive.

Chewing is natural... but you might not like what they find if they’re off exploring unsupervised rooms.

You’re adjusting to them as much as they are to you.
Limiting access to a couple of rooms really can help and it helps with that crucial early bonding.

➡️ Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
The adoption centre, breeder, or previous family often knows what your dog needs or prefers.
They want you to succeed and can help you through the early stages.

In the nicest way possible....use that support.
Reach out.
They’re there to help, not judge.

➡️ Don’t smother.
Children especially may want to show physical affection right away.
It’s tough to tell them no....but your new dog has been through a lot.
They don’t know or fully trust anyone yet.

Being hugged, kissed, or cuddled before trust has been built.....that’s too much.

They’ll let you know when they’re ready for more.

08/07/2025

DOG #37 - ADOPTED - 8/8/25
DOG #38 - ADOPTED - 8/8/25

Available for Adoption now
Kennel #17
Dog #37”Luna”Female(Spayed)Great pyrenees 8yrs old
Dog #38 “Mac” Male(Neutered)Great pyrenees 5yrs old

Owner stated, both are good with other dogs and cats, also good with children.

Questions about the animals will not be answered by animal control staff via Facebook/comments. For questions, you may contact Animal Control directly at 423-559-3333 or come by during business hours MON-FRI 12-5pm SAT 10am-12pm.

All adoption fees are $50.00 and includes spay/neuter, first set of shots, deworming, and rabies vaccination(if pet is over 12 weeks of age).
Adoptions are first come, first serve - No exceptions.

08/05/2025

Kittle+Chief’s puff-muffins are 3 weeks. Time is flying & they’re growing every minute!

08/04/2025

If they're hiding...they're not ready.
They're not being dramatic or disobedient.
They are telling you and others as clearly as they can that they don't feel safe.
If being behind your legs makes them feel safer....let them.
They are telling you, "You make me feel safer"
Peeking at visitors behind a chair?
Same thing.
That chair or couch can be a protective "barrier".
It's safer there.
They may have more options to escape in different directions or have learned that humans struggle to reach them in their hiding spot.

Let them hide.
Let them observe....but take the pressure off next time.

If you know this happens when visitors arrive, that's an opportunity to have a plan in place for next time.

Maybe a Lickmat behind a gate.
Perhaps removing them to the backyard before your gust arrives...they know the person is inside but they can observe at that distance they need.

That's how to build confidence.

Over time that distance can get less and less.

For now though....it's clear communication that we must listen too.