Call for Photos: My Dog Rescued Me

Call for Photos: My Dog Rescued Me

Show Everyone the Dog Who Rescued You!

Dog-Harmony is calling for photos of the dogs who rescued their owners, or people who were helped by one of our Therapy Dog Teams. Now until November 24, 2024, submit a  photo (.jpg, .png, or .pdf) of your dog, or dogs, to us for printing and making custom ornaments that will be displayed on our Christmas tree in Grand Boulevard’s Festival of Trees in Sandestin, December 3rd-26th.
The trees will remain outside during the event so our ornaments are made of sturdy white plastic, tied with an aqua ribbon, and your photo is sealed with clear vinyl. Please indicate in the form below if you would like to pick up your ornament after the event, in early January.
If you don’t want an ornament that has been outside, and you’d like to put it on your own tree, select the number of copies you want mailed to you before we put the original one on the tree. The copies are $10 each, to cover the cost of supplies and mailing. You will receive your mailed ornament copy during the first week of December.

Join us Tuesday, December 3rd from 4pm-6:30pm for The Festival of Trees Kick-Off at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin.

Dog-Harmony and 17 other non-profit organizations will  compete to win cash prizes totaling $8,500, including Best of Show and People’s Choice. 

Use the form below to submit your photo and request a copy or your customized ornament.

My Dog Rescued Me

Send your photo to Dog-Harmony to be used on ornaments on our 2024 Festival of Trees Christmas Tree all through December.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Upload your photo here. If your file is larger than 256MB, please contact us at hello@dog-harmony.org
Accepted file types: jpg, png, pdf, bmp, Max. file size: 256 MB.
We are happy to make an extra copy or two with your special photo on our ornaments. The copy will be mailed to you before we decorate the tree in early December. The original ornament will go on Dog-Harmony's tree in the Festival of Trees at Grand Boulevard Dec 3- Jan 2nd. Each copy costs $10 to cover our expenses and mailing costs. If you order 2 copies, we will ask for a $20 donation. We will contact you for information on where to make your donation if you choose one of the Yes options below. No money is collected with this form.
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Family Pawtraits with Santa

Family Pawtraits with Santa

Look! Look, everyone! It’s Santa! Oh my gosh, it’s Santa!!!

Register today for a fun time with your pup and save a little chow. $15 will get you a family pawtrait with Santa – yes, the Big Guy in Red! Your ticket includes a digital holiday photo and 1 ticket for the chance drawing of a dog swag bag.

It will be a mirthful outting for eveyone with refreshments, mystery bags, a fun doggie social, and Dog-Harmony is selling hand painted ornaments to make your holidays even more special. Photos are taken by Rescue Animal Photography!
Join us at Salty Paws Boutique in the Destin Commons on Nov. 30th from 11am – 2pm!
Use the form below to pre-register and purchase your one of a kind ornament.

Early Registration for Family Pawtraits with Santa

Register for our Family Pawtraits with Santa at Salty Paws Boutique at the Destin Commons on November 30, 2024 from 11 am - 2 pm. Early registration before the event day is only $15 per photo! Registration on Nov. 30th is $20 per photo.

Contact Details

Name(Required)
If you're bringing more than one pet.
Email(Required)

Event Details

Payment Details

1 Photo per Ticket
Hand painted Ornaments to Support Dog-Harmony
We have commissioned local artisans to hand paint ornaments to celebrate the holidays and support Dog-Harmony! You may add as many ornaments as you would like to your photo ticket purchase. The ornaments will be ready for you to select and pick up at the Pawtraits With Santa event on November 30th.
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Hand painted Ornaments to Support Dog-Harmony

We have commissioned local artisans to hand paint ornaments to celebrate the holidays and support Dog-Harmony! You may add as many ornaments as you would like to your photo ticket purchase using the form above.

The ornaments will be ready for you to select and pick up at the Pawtraits With Santa event on November 30th at Salty Paws Boutique in the Destin Commons.

Avoiding Those Ghoulish Halloween Mishaps

Avoiding Those Ghoulish Halloween Mishaps

Written by Robin Keene

Halloween is a spooktacular time for many. The most social dogs may love children and joyfully engage in goblin gatherings. No matter how social or timid your pet may appear to be, holiday precautions are always the sensible and safe thing to practice. Here are easy ways to keep your tail-waggers safe… and kids, too!

Safe Places and Happy Bellies

Give Spot plenty of exercise on Halloween day to decrease any over-stimulation the night may bring. Recognize signs of stress. If your dog is uncomfortable, remove her from the situation and put her in a safe place.

Keep your pets calm. If Buddy is anxious around a lot of activity or strangers, put him in a quiet room during the peak trick-or-treat hours. Only the most social and stress-tested pets should be allowed near children. Consider placing a barrier, such as a pet gate at the front door for extra precaution. Be sure all your pets are wearing their IDs and are microchipped in the event they decide to hunt goblins without your permission.

No sweet human treats! We love yummies and so does your best friend. But these can cause canine tummy distress or worse, a fatality. Chocolate is extremely toxic for dogs, and dark chocolate is the worst. Other ingredients like xylitol, found in many low-sugar candies, is a serious risk to your pet’s health. Keep candy out of Fido’s reach. Avoid the temptation to spoil him with a little nibble. Instead, have nutritious dog treats on hand or make homemade treats with dog-friendly ingredients.

If you like the idea of spoiling Champ with his own treats, consider some of the following ingredients: Oatmeal, peanut butter (free of xylitol), pureed pumpkin, apples, carrots, sweet potato, or wheat flour. Cranberries and blueberries are a yummy addition, too.

Jack-o’-lanterns can be easily knocked over by dogs or cats causing burn injuries. Keep them out of reach, even if you use battery-operated candles or décor. And while pumpkin is a good dietary supplement in many cases, it can still cause stomach upset. Check with your vet if you are unsure. Also, be mindful of wires or electrical cords, which are chewing temptations, especially for young pups. Avoid glow sticks! They can break with a bite and are very toxic!

Know the location and contact number of the local emergency vet and have the ASPCA Poison Control Center listed in your contacts: (888) 426-4435.

Considering Costumes

Benji might love dressing up for any occasion. Or, it might be downright stressful. Start with patience and try to understand your dog. Here is a little guidance:

Don’t wait to begin working with your dog. Even a month before the big day isn’t too soon, especially for the fur kid new to the whole costume gig. Most dogs will need some time to get used to being in a strange and amusing get-up.

Start with a lot of encouraging sniffing. Sit with the pup on the floor and allow her to warm up to the smell (washing it beforehand is probably a good idea). Little by little begin dressing her. Maybe just a paw for a few seconds and repeat. Lots of small treats for each little progression will help her overcome any ambivalence she likely has.

Continue a bit every day, increasing how the number of costume pieces with which you dress your dog. Then begin increasing the time, from mere seconds to building up to a minute or two at a time. 

When she’s decided she’s willing to humor you and participate in this odd human request, don’t wait until the big day for her to wear the costume for a long period. Do this days before…10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, and so on. And provide lots of yummy rewards along the way! Finally, she’s showcasing her way to becoming a grand prize winner!

That said, please be mindful that not all dogs have the disposition to wear anything but their birthday suit. Things to bear in mind:

  • Make sure the costume fits properly: It shouldn’t restrict movement or be so loose that the dog gets tangled up or trips.
  • Be sure your pet can see properly, breathe easily, and bark.
  • Remove pieces that can easily be chewed off to prevent a choking hazard.
  • Look for small signs of discomfort such as scratchy tags. (We all know how annoying that can be.)
  • Most importantly, don’t force it. If Doodlebug hates it, let him sport a cute bandana, and give him a treat and a boop on the nose for still being the best dog, ever.

*For creative Halloween costume ideas for pets and parents, click here.

Creative Halloween Costume Ideas for Pet and Parent

Creative Halloween Costume Ideas for Pet and Parent

Written by Alexa Blakely

Halloween is right around the corner, and one of the most exciting parts of the holiday is deciding on your costume. But, this year, maybe you should also consider: What will your dog dress up as for Halloween?

Dressing up your furry friend could be an adorable addition to your plans for the holiday, but if you’re not sure which costume would suit your dog the best, don’t worry! We’ve got a full list of all the best Halloween costume ideas for your dog right here.

Halloween Classics

Sticking to classic Halloween characters is a great and easy way to prepare your dog for the holiday. Try a witch hat on your pup, or maybe being a jack-o’-lantern would suit them better. And you can never go wrong with a pair of bat wings!

Pop Culture Icons

Have you ever thought that your dog would look adorable dressed as one of your favorite fictional characters? Have them try on the suit of your favorite superhero, or don a ballgown and become a Disney princess.

Animal Kingdom

Maybe your dog will transform into a different animal entirely this Halloween season. Create or purchase a mane to turn your best-domesticated friend into a ferocious lion, or add a pair of wings so they can be a beautiful butterfly.

Matching Sets

Still unsure what you want to be for Halloween? Get you and your dog matching outfits! There are plenty of dynamic duos perfect for personification by you and your dog. Get lost somewhere over the rainbow as Dorothy and Toto, or fight crime as Batman and Robin.

And if you’re unsure where to find costumes for your dog, don’t worry! Finding the perfect pet costume is becoming easier every year as many companies are catering to our furry friends to help them (and you) get ready to celebrate this spooky time of year.

If buying a costume isn’t your style, don’t be afraid to make your own. Visit thrift stores or raid your closet for old clothing and accessories for materials to make the perfect DIY costume for your pup.

No matter what costume you choose, your dog is sure to be spookily adorable and exude Halloween spirit!

*Read our article about keeping Fido safe during the Halloween season here.