Critter Castle

11/01/2025

10/26/2025

🛑 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 🛑

Period.

When you own a dog, regardless of size, breed or temperament, it’s your responsibility to keep everyone around you safe.

This includes your vet.

This is my dog Roy. He is my absolute world and I love him and would do anything for him. He’s an incredible pet to our family and a small circle of people that he’s chosen.

He’s also a prick to people he has no relationships with. Before me he had a bite hitory and he is absolutely capable of still doing it at 11.5 years of age. He’s got terrible genetics and very thin nerves.

Yesterday he needed vet care.

You know what I did?

✅ I checked reception before I walked in to ensure nobody was in our path.

✅ I had him on a short lead under physical and verbal control.

✅ I kept both of us away from the doorway until we were called in, while keeping an eye out for unexpected people ready to move if needed.

✅ I restrained him appropriately while the vets and nurses did their thing and reassured them that they would be safe not only with my words but with my actions.

✅ I didn’t get offended at their requests around safety or his cage label.

In short, I did everything in my power to help the vets and nurses do what they needed to do safely and go home in one piece.

It bugs me intensely when I see people endangering professionals who are there to help them. Your vet clinic shouldnt end up with staff at the ED because you dont believe in muzzles, restraint or responsible dog handling.

When you own a dog, you have a duty of care to ensure they do not cause damage to other people in EVERY environment and situation. You dont get to pass off responsibility.

If you have a dog who has social issues, thats ok.
Just make sure you keep your community safe 🫶

10/21/2025

Dogs running loose Piatt/Champaign County line road at 150.. west of mahomet. Do you know these pups?

10/07/2025

🐾 Why AirTags Aren’t the Lifesaver Most People Think They Are 🐾

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a well-meaning pet owner say, “Oh, don’t worry, they have an AirTag on!” and my heart just sinks a little. Because I know the truth. I’ve had conversations telling stories about some of my recoveries and many people truly felt like that silver tag would help us track their pet if something ever happened. But when their dog got scared and bolted, that AirTag stopped helping the moment she got out of range of anyone’s iPhone.

That’s the hard truth, AirTags don’t use GPS. They rely on Bluetooth and nearby Apple devices to update a location. So unless your lost dog happens to wander right past a person with an iPhone, there’s no live location. If they run into the woods, across farmland, or into rural areas that signal disappears completely. And when the tag does finally update, it’s often way too late. You’ll get a location pin from 30 minutes or even an hour ago. By the time you rush there, your dog’s already moved on, scared and running even farther away. I’ve watched that happen more than once, and it’s gut-wrenching.

Now compare that to a true GPS tracking collar. One that’s charged, activated, and designed for pets. Those collars don’t rely on other people’s phones. They connect through satellites and cell towers, giving you real-time updates. You can literally watch your dog move on a map, see what direction they’re heading, and get alerts the moment they leave your yard. That’s the difference between a tag made for finding your keys and a tool made for saving your dog’s life.

If you’ve ever experienced that sinking feeling of realizing your pet is missing, you know how every second counts. Don’t let a false sense of security cost you those moments. AirTags have their purpose but they’re not built to track your pet. Choose GPS!

Keep your pet’s GPS collar charged. Test it regularly. Make sure it’s ready long before you ever need it. Because when a dog goes missing, the right equipment isn’t just convenient, it really is everything!