DIY Dog Door

We adopted a 12 year old poodle several years ago named Brandie.  She has been in a few of my posts.

We decided to try to train her to use a pet door but did not want to buy a new screen door with a built in pet door in case she would not use it.

We really want to get a storm screen door with a adjustable top that closes off in the winter but opens to a screen in the summer, and that has a pet door.

So, we made a pet door in our old existing screen door.........

First, Jerry took off the white wire screen door guard (not pictured) and then took the screen door off the door frame.

He then cut a rectangle opening in the bottom of the door (above).

He put silver duct tape around the sharp edges of the cut-out.

Jerry put the screen door back onto the door frame and we started trying to get Brandie to use it.

She caught on very quickly.  Her vision is getting worse so we are glad there is a low area at the bottom for her to step over.  Our next step will be to add a piece of clear lightweight vinyl to the hole and hope that she will push it to walk out.

There she goes outside............

 We love our sweet dog.....Brandie.

Brandy's New Bed

Our sweet dog Brandy has been using the same bed for many years.  We agreed to take in Brandy about 2 1/2 years ago.  She belonged to Jerry's dad who was no longer able to take care of her.  So when we "inherited" Brandy, we "inherited" the bed.

When I bathe Brandy,  I usually wash the bed cover.  I wanted to make another cover so there could be one on the bed when the other was in the wash.

I recycled the fuzzy material that had been the covers for doggy steps that Brandy did not use.  I used the existing dogbed cover as a pattern and some denim scraps for the bottom piece.  I had to piece together the fuzzy fabric and the denim but the end result was fantastic!

 Two pieces of fuzzy fabric that covered the two doggy steps

Original Dogbed Cover

 Measuring for pattern for fuzzy piece that goes around inner edge of bed.

 Measuring along seam for how long to cut the very bottom piece (denim piece of fabric)

 Sewed the two pieces of the fabric that covered the steps together.

 Preparing to cut the piece of fuzzy fabric that goes on the inside bottom of the dogbed cover.

 Analyzing again before cutting the denim piece.

 Denim Fabric pieced together.

 All the pieces sewed together and the elastic put through casing hem that goes around the bottom of the dogbed.

 Picture of the finished dogbed cover. The furry pieces were actually different colors so I balanced them on each side of the cover

Brandy actually stepped right into the bed after I put the cover on to pin the elastic on the bottom piece where it wraps around and gathers.

Brandy just laid down and relaxed!

Oh......to slumber land she goes......

True Story About Ruby

This is a true story about a very special dog named Ruby....a very sweet pitbull who has been given another chance to have a happy life, at last!

Ruby was saved by Flirting with Fido rescue out of Canada on her last day at the South LA County Shelter before being euthanized. She was brought in as a stray, and was pregnant. Per strict LA County shelter policy, the shelter aborted sweet Ruby's puppies when they spayed her. 

Our neighbors Deanna and Trevor brought her to their cozy loving home to recover from her surgery, both physically and mentally.

She is a SWEET, gentle, mild-mannered approx 2 yr old girl. She is a huge lover, more interested in cuddles and kisses than anything else. She's dog friendly, crate trained, potty trained, great with kids, and an all around wonderful canine companion. 

Me, Jerry and our granddaughter Corey and Henry visiting with Ruby

She was diagnose with heartworm (a very serious and deadly disease) right before she was to go to Canada to be with Flirting with Fido Rescue.  Her foster home here in San Clemente California decided to keep her here for her treatments.  Her treatment will last approx 2 months.

Our neighbors Deanna and Trevor are involved with several Pet Rescue Groups and will facebook stories about dogs who are in the kill shelters.  We all hit "share" to spread the stories to our friends, then to friends of friends, etc.  This sharing greatly helps some of the dogs to be saved....and go on to be adopted into loving homes.


I fell in love with Ruby... All she wants to do is cuddle and hold her pink pig.  Being with her has been a unique experience.

Deanna and Ruby and the Pink Pig

The picture below is so cute of Ruby saying Thank You to everyone who contributed to her heartworm treatment.

I think I created this post more for myself...to have documented Ruby's story and to encourage anyone who reads it to maybe contribute to rescue dogs from the kill shelters or even adopt one.

It is good to have compassion.