Pet Park

 Michelle Boeckermann

Do you treat your pets? Do you think of it as a treat for them when they get to go play, or have maybe a bone? We think their lives are simple and dictated and they are there entirely for us when we need them or want to love on them. But I believe some of those simple things in life, from water, to a bone that helps promote maintenance for their teeth, or even a good romp are all treats. Some I believe we allow to become common occurrences in our pet's lives which lead me to call them "spoiled". Just like us, our pets need a balance of different things in our lives.

Take a peek at what our readers submitted to showcase that treat in their animals' lives. I go through flip chips like crazy with my dogs, they are both puppies to a certain extent, and it's like a pacifier to them to have a rawhide chew. They know after every morning run, they get to come home and have their "treat". Just like Leigh's cat who has a routine of water from the tub, it's a conditional treat that her cat "Bits" has decided must be part of life. Then there is that fun loving, must romp, jump and chase balls kind of treat for all animals. The love of the game, the stretching of the muscles, the interaction between human and animal can be a treat for both the animal and the owner. I confess I treat my dogs more than most in a variety of ways. It's just my way of showing love and respect that they are still animals with certain characteristic needs. Any way you choose to treat or "spoil" your animal, it's always for their good, and makes for great memories and excellent scrap pages.

Design note: For the title, I cut down the alpha strips provided with the kit. I also added a tiny outer glow to the darker ones to make them show up on the same color paper better. The picture is above one layer and also behind another, you can add dimension to digital layouts with tiny tricks like this.

Journaling: Imagine a cat who only drinks from the tub faucet. Not the sink, mind you, it must be the tub. And the water has to be dribbling just right or he won't drink it. If you go near the stairs he gets excited and runs up thinking that you are going to turn on the tub. He jumps on Lou every morning when he is thirsty so Lou will get up and turn on the tub. He stands on the tub ledge when you take a shower waiting for you to finish so you can leave a dribble on for him to get a drink. At night he gets all excited when it is bedtime because he knows he gets a tub dribble. That's our Bits!