Yay…the days are getting longer & temperatures are warming up. Spring is a rejuvenating time of year…and a wonderful time to get out & about with your pups & friends. It’s time for beach walks, road trips, patio-parties, pooch-friendly dining out… plus some digging in the dirt! Enjoy!
publisher Nancy Dewar
nancy@snazzyjazzypet.com - 603.498.3237
design Mrs. and Mr. Design
info@mrsandmrpublishing.com
thanks to our contributors… Gayle Davis - Jennifer McGowan - Jess Williams
Cheers + Chow…
Nancy
Published by Bark Media Group LLC six times a year. Hampton, NH Copyright © 2022 Bark Media Group LLC Seacoast Bark is distributed at stores & businesses in: Portsmouth, Exeter, Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Greenland, Stratham, Seabrook, Kittery, Newburyport & everywhere in between!
Interested in advertising with us? Have a good story idea or a suggestion on a great animal or person to feature? Please email Nancy Dewar/Publisher nancy@snazzyjazzypet.com (603) 498-3237
We’d love to have you start following us on Instagram! (Instagram.com/seacoastbarkmagazine)
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words of wisdom Senior Helpers
animal lover's profile 10. feature 6.
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k9 university 14. fun things to bark about 18. i love my job 12.
Nancy Dewar
seacoastbarkmagazine.com 3
20. 22. 23.
local tails let's pawty
Ristorante Massimo
flips + flops
WORDS OF WISDOM
Walter with Lionel the Bowtie Guy
words of wisdom
Walter’s By Walter Eugene Davis Senior Helpers – Stratham, NH
TIES…. What Are They Good For?
When we think about a “tie,” several thoughts may jump into your mind first: a connection to someone or something, the fastening with string or a cord, or that fabulous bowtie that your father always wore. The connections that we make with people serve different purposes: on-line, professional, close friends, and significant others. For the most part, your connections fit neatly in each of these categories. Your on-line connections are with those that you rarely see, like on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. You may be old friends or colleagues, and this is a great way to stay connected, usually brief conversations or updates. Or you may never have met but are connected because of a special interest like New England Lab Rescue (NELR), Ocular Cancer Survivors, Houston Cougar Men’s Hoops, or Officially Knotted Bowties. Our professional ties are there to launch or advance careers. Excellent resources for industry specific information, a way to leverage the opening of doors. You may have a question for this group, “Do you know anyone in the New Hampshire area that I could speak to about in-home care?” (Of course, we have that answer!) Your close friends represent that group that knows you well, “they get you.” When you are with them, you have a sense of comfort and belonging. (As I like to say, these are my people!) They are the most important people in your life. When it comes to that one special person that you feel closest to, you can share the good, the bad, and the ugly – this is your significant other. This person may be your romantic partner, a friend, or a family member. This person has your back and hopefully you have theirs. Often you meet new friends through your “ties” or circle of networks. These relationships are forged from existing relationships built on common interests, the sharing of information, and through social gatherings. Some of these relationships are strictly professional, for instance referring someone to the orthopedic surgeon that replaced your husbands’ hip (thanks Dr. McGovern), or to the veterinarian that discovered that your furry son has an allergy to chicken (that’s my Docca Hannah). Other ties are social, which represent the largest “circle” – your high school or college friends, former co-workers, neighbors, or members of volunteer groups. Our social ties have a distinct purpose too. Some may be in a silo and not cross over, others may cross between 2 or 3 groups. If you think about a high school friend, they may have been a college friend too, and then you worked together. The world is not always as big as we think. If we slow down enough, that theory of 6 degrees of separation is a lot closer! Coming off 5 months of shortened days and frigid weather, it is time to get out there and create some new ties! Get out of your comfort zone. Take a “Master Class on Zen Gardening,” join the NHSPC Paw’s Walk on June 5th, or support Cross Roads House Benefit by the Sea on May 7th. You may meet folks with similar interests and who knows, they may become “tied” to you!
Have fun and I will see you again in the summer! With love…Walter Eugene
Making a Difference... At Senior Helpers we are blessed to make a difference in the lives of our clients, their families, and our team every day. We lead with our hearts helping those in need. Extending our capable hands to lighten the load. Whether it be a medication reminder, preparing a meal, an escort to a doctor’s appointment or a good game of Rummy, the Senior Helpers Team changes lives one client at a time. Fondly…Dwight & Gayle Davis, our special team & Walter too! Senior Helpers provides in-home, non-medical care offering tailored services ranging from companion care for seniors who need daily assistance to in-depth specialized care for those with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s and other chronic diseases. They’ve worked with clients ranging in age from 25 to 104. Senior Helpers has been voted “Best of the Seacoast” in the Home Health Care 3 years running and was recently awarded the Provider Circle of Excellence and National Employer of Choice by Listen 360 client and caregiver ratings. Stratham, NH – (603) 583-4580 www.seniorhelpers.com/nh/se-new-hampshire
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animal lover's profile
Your Animal’s Health: Integrating the Holistic Approach By Nancy Dewar
As animal lovers, we want nothing but the very best health for our four-legged creatures. Generally, we rely on our own instincts about how they are feeling as well as standard medical check-ups with a veterinarian. Now, another layer of information that provides a better picture of our animal’s overall health is moving into the mainstream; the holistic approach. Veterinarian Dr. Hannah Wells has been offering integrated veterinary services to animals of the Seacoast for many years. Recently Dr. Wells opened The Veterinary Wellness Center in Exeter, which integrates state of the art conventional medicine with holistic options for her clients. Hannah’s focus on the integrative approach supports your pet’s needs both in times of sickness and health by incorporating modern and alternative options to provide the best of both worlds. “We have the expertise and facility to support your pet’s health using progressive medicine and surgery practices as well as alternative modalities.”
In explaining the “holistic” approach, she said, “This means evaluating my patient’s entire mind and body while considering the impact of other factors such as diet and lifestyle to name a few. For example, if a pet has an ear infection, it’s important to not only use traditional diagnostics and treatments but consider the diet, environment and other conditions such as skin or gastrointestinal issues. This approach is comprehensive and helps to determine
what is out of balance. We create a specific treatment plan that may include diagnostics, traditional treatments as well as alternative modalities to restore balance and health.”
My personal experience involved my dog’s back legs. They are sore, tender and it’s getting difficult for her to jump into the car. Some options I was given to consider include laser therapy to reduce inflammation, physical therapy, acupuncture, herbal supplements and anti-inflammatory meds; to name a few. An integrated approach will set the best direction for her pain management and wellness plan. This approach is also commonly used for cases involving the skin, gastrointestinal and immune system, cancer, pain and arthritis. But it is just as important in preventing disease or imbalances; and it goes deeper than a traditional wellness visit. Trained in conventional medicine with a degree from Cornell’s College of Veteri-
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nary Medicine, Dr. Wells is also certified in acupuncture, herbal therapies and is highly skilled in nutritional therapy. Nutrition is a big part of the wellness visit. Dr. Wells may suggest special blood tests that can be added to standard tests (all in the same blood draw) to evaluate for nutritional deficiencies. If you cook for your pet, she can recommend recipes, foods, nutrients and supplements to help make sure the diet is balanced. “Educating our clients is critical to keeping our pets healthy. Nutrition is a key factor in maintaining health. I try to help clients understand the pet food ingredients, sourcing and what may be the best diet options for their pet.” She commented that “it is a common misconception that the holistic approach is not “scientific.” On the contrary, the studies on herbs and nutrition are immense. Our practice is very science based. We select and recommend herbs and supplements only from the best companies, and we educate clients on how to choose the appropriate and safe supplements for their pets.”
animal lover's profile
The Wells Clan: Stella, Abby, Willow & Nala
“I really wanted to create a place where everyone can take a deep breath and feel truly cared for.”
As a child Hannah had a deep love and empathy for creatures of all kinds. She laughed when she told me about a photo of her when she was six or seven years old dressed in a nurse uniform taking care of pets! I guess the writing was on the wall already. “By the age of thirteen I knew I wanted to be a vet and what I had to do get into vet school,” she said. Already taking the steps to make that happen, she worked with several veterinarians who supported and encouraging her. “I had lots of really fantastic mentors to help me along the way.” Dr. Wells moved to the Seacoast in 1996. Initially she started with house calls and eventually bought into a local practice where she worked for several years until her fifth child was born. It was then time to step back from ownership responsibilities. She spent the next few years teaching animal science classes, doing per diem work and raising five kids!
At the early stages of COVID, she went back to her roots and started to develop a holistic practice doing house calls. “I was focusing on a lot of alternative cases then, and it became clear to me that I really needed a brick-and-mortar location to offer all services. I decided to open a new practice with this goal. After months of construction (thanks to her talented husband, two older sons and father!) and a total build-out, the new practice opened in late 2021. It is a state-
of-the-art facility offering comprehensive services including preventative care, dentistry, radiology, internal medicine and a full surgery suite. The name, The Veterinary Wellness Center, was chosen with great thought. “We promote wellness for clients, patients and staff. I really wanted to create a place where everyone can take a deep breath and feel truly cared for. Having a sick animal is so stressful, and I always want my clients and staff to feel appreciated and supported. Our emphasis is on WELLNESS.”
The name also speaks to the desire to take care of those in the profession. Dr. Wells told me that it is very unfortunate that many vets and nurses are leaving the profession lately; perhaps because of a surge in demand for the care of so many animals adopted during the pandemic and the emotional and physical requirements of the job. “I think most people don’t understand the knowledge required and emotional fatigue,” she explained. That’s why the care of her staff is so important to her.
I asked her about the favorite part of her work. “It’s getting a patient who comes into the room with a tail wag or happily comes out of their carrier…everyone is happy to see each other. They are comfortable and not stressed. Patients and clients alike know that we are here to care for them.” The hardest part? “When you real-
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“Dr. Hannah Wells is an animal lover! Her love was evident in the way that she greeted Walter the first time that we met. She noticed he had some skin issues. She suggested we change his diet – like magic, no more issues! Dr. Hannah is patient, caring and will work until a situation is resolved. Walter loves seeing his Docca Hannah!” Gayle Davis / Walter’s Mom
Dr. Hannah with client Walter Eugene Davis
ize you can’t fix everything and have to help guide clients through those difficult times.”
Our wonderful conversation ended with her saying, “If you do what you really like, the rest will follow.” Dr. Hannah Wells’ passion, commitment and love of animals is enormous; and she’s as talented professionally as she is compassionate…and doing what she loves. www.vetwc.com
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Route 1 Antiques & The Collector’s Eye doggone great finds for animal lovers
Support Over 100 Small Businesses Under 2 Roofs!
garden style
Something for everyone & prices for every budget.
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personal style Route 1 Antiques
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Hours: 10:00 – 5:00 Wednesday - Monday, Closed Tuesdays
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feature
Pet Therapy at Exeter Hospital By Jennifer McGowan Community Impact Officer – Exeter Health Resources
“My favorite day of the week!” Chris Hewson smiles from the reception desk as Cinnamon the 9-pound Shih Tzu confidently walks through the doors of Exeter Hospital. “All I have to say is let’s go to Exeter, and she is at the door,” Julia H., Cinnamon’s owner and a volunteer with the organization Pet Partners responds. “She looks forward to visiting the hospital every week, jumping and spinning in circles when it’s time to go.”
Gentle and outgoing, Cinnamon walks the halls with confidence and loves to visit her adoring hospital friends. A year into the weekly visits, staff look forward to the break it provides. “This is my favorite part of my work day. You can practically see the energy shift in the room,” Sue Howarth, shift supervisor in the Emergency Department, shares. Cinnamon is one of five therapy dogs who visit Exeter Hospital regularly. Visiting with a friendly pet can lower blood pressure and relieve stress, something needed more than ever during the pandemic. The visits have lasting impact. Rosanne Swanson, Patient Relations Coordinator, rounds with staff and patients throughout the hospital daily where the pet therapy visits frequently come up. “They always ask about the dogs and want me to know how much it helps. All staff, no matter what department I am visiting are impacted. It rejuvenates their spirits and that ripples throughout the organization. It’s another thing to help get people through their day during a very difficult time.”
Pet Partners volunteer Erin O’Malley has four certified dogs at home, three of which visit the health system regularly. She has three Bernese Mountain dogs ranging from 2- to 11-years-old and a one-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo, a hypoallergenic Italian water dog. Stig, a much beloved Bernese Mountain Dog weighing in at 110 pounds, settles in for long visits with patients and staff. He often leaves stuffed animals behind that look like miniature versions of himself (and maybe a little extra dog fur).
Erin began volunteering with Exeter Hospital after receiving treatment at the hospital’s Michael and Jeanne Falzone Center for Cancer Care. “It seemed like the perfect opportunity. It’s close to home, and I knew how impactful it would be to see a friendly pet while undergoing treatment.” Her dogs look forward to the visits as well, because their shift
Cinnamon
Fenway
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Stig with nurses
Stig
feature
Nunzio at Hampton Health
“Seeing the dogs every week, watching the love and joy the dogs bring has been so inspiring to us.”
Exeter Hospital has been working with Pet Partners for many years but expanded the program during COVID thanks to new wonderful volunteers. Kim Wess brings her English Cream Golden Retriever Fenway twice a week when she is local to the Seacoast. With his sunny personality and easy charm, Fenway shines when visiting patients young and old. He can tell when people need a little extra love and care and is happy to bond with everyone he meets. Kim began volunteering after learning about the large number of young people spending time in the Emergency Department as they await an open bed in nearby mental health organizations. Fenway and Kim have extra crisis intervention training to better serve communities during crisis and disaster.
The program has inspired at least two Exeter Hospital staff members to get pups of their own. Carol MacDonald works in the front lobby of the hospital, some days seeing hundreds of patients and visitors. She and her husband were not in the market for a pet,
but after seeing Cinnamon every week she realized that a dog might be just what they needed. Barkley, a Shih Tzu / Chihuahua mix joins their family later this month. “Seeing the dogs every week, watching the love and joy the dogs bring has been so inspiring to us.” The Pet Partners program was established in the 1990s by the Delta Society to ensure that "both ends of the leash," people as well as animals, were well-prepared to participate in animal-assisted activity and animalassisted therapy programs. The Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program requires all teams to pass a skills and aptitude evaluation every two years to remain registered as a therapy animal because behaviors change over time. ElderPet (which administers Pet Partners locally) has more than seventyfive registered teams visiting primarily in the NH Seacoast area, but also in Maine, Massachusetts and other parts of NH. If you think your pet has what it takes to be a certified therapy pet, a good place to start is the Canine Good Citizen course offered by AKC.
Fenway
Sue with Cinnamon
always end with a fast food cheeseburger. Their favorite? A bacon junior cheeseburger. The pups look forward to working, but after their cheeseburger they also need a long nap to recharge.
Exeter Hospital is so thankful to the volunteers and Pet Partners for making this program possible. The visits brighten the spirits of both staff and patients. The impact is simply extraordinary. Petpartners.org Elderpet.org
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Nunzio with nurses
k9 university
Teaching Your Dog to Crawl By Jess Williams
All dogs like to learn new things, and why not teach your dog something that will not only benefit him or her mentally but also physically? Teaching a dog with cookies works best. Make sure you are training your dog before a meal with a treat that he or she really enjoys. With this trick the most important thing to focus on is small movements in the dog’s backend. If your dog is over 10 years old or has hip issues, I don’t recommend this trick.
Step 1
Lure your dog into a down position.
Step 2
While providing licking access (but not eating access) to a soft treat such as a small piece of cheese or a hot dog, try to lure your dog forward one inch. If your dog is very small, you may have to lure him or her forward only a centimeter at first. If your dog doesn’t shift forward at all, try moving the cookie out a little farther from their nose. You want the dog to know you have the cookie and gently urge him or her to make the smallest movement forward. The closer your dog’s backend remains to the ground,
the more benefit this trick will provide. Reward any attempt forward at first.
Step 3
Once your dog offers a small movement forward, see if your dog can keep crawling forward a wee bit more. I wouldn’t ask for more than one foot of progress per session because your dog will be using muscles they aren’t accustomed to using very regularly.
the treat down! This is called fading the lure. You will still reward your dog for following your cue, but you don't need to (and shouldn't!) always practice with that reward in your hand. HAPPY CRAWLING!
Step 4
If your dog is consistently following the treat, then you can start to label the behavior. I don’t typically label or name a trick early on in the learning stages because the dog isn’t truly doing the end behavior yet. Once your dog is crawling an entire body length forward, I would then say, “Good crawl!” so your dog starts to associate this type of movement with that word.
Step 5
Jess Williams and her husband Scott own Beyond The Leash dog training business in southern Maine. They also co-host a podcast together called The Quirky Dog which you can find on most major podcast platforms including YouTube.
Step 6
If you would like video access to this trick as well as additional tricks, they are discounting their course to $27 EXCLUSIVELY for Seacoast Bark readers via this link which will be valid through 9/5/22: https://www.k9healing.com/sbm
When your dog is proficient at all of the steps above, you can start cueing (i.e. saying) “crawl” when your dog first lays down.
As soon as your dog will follow the hand signal and/or verbal cue, you should put
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www.beyondtheleash.com
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out and about
NHSPCA Paws Walk
fun things to Run for the Dogs
Run for the Dogs
Get your running (or walking) shoes out to help raise funds for Mary’s Dogs with this year’s annual 5K Run for the Dogs on Sunday, May 29th at the Deerfield Fairgrounds. The event kicks off at 8:30 a.m. and leashed dogs are welcome to participate as well. Established in 2011 by Mary and John Doane, and later becoming a nonprofit organization in 2016, Mary’s Dogs rescues approximately 600 dogs annually from kill shelters in the south and rehomes dogs in New England. You may register online via Mary’s Dogs website. And be sure to check out the adorable dogs that are looking for their fur-ever homes. (MarysDogs.org)
NHSPCA Paws Walk
Mark your calendar for Sunday, June 5th for the New Hampshire SPCA’s 30th annual Paws Walk at Stratham Hill Park and help homeless animals
bark
ABOUT every step of the way. This event is their largest community fundraiser and helps save the lives of thousands of animals each year. It promises to be a fun day with the fundraising walk, outdoor festival and vendor village as well as Meet & Greets with adoptable pets. The festival kicks off at 10:00 a.m., and the walk begins at noon. Register online to participate or simply stop by to enjoy the festivities. (nhspca.org)
“Be Kind to Animals” Event
Hampton-based Smuttynose Brewing Co. has launched a Be KIND initiative designed to give back to the community by supporting local nonprofit organizations. One of their 2022 initiatives is “Be Kind to Animals,” and the brewing company will be hosting a dog-friendly event on Saturday, May 21st in support of the NHSPCA, Operation Delta Dog, Pope Memorial Humane
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Society and Darbster Foundation. At this event you can meet adoptable dogs, visit with local vendors offering services from training to treats and enjoy a brew with friends and pups at their beautiful dog-friendly Hampton campus. Visit the Smuttynose website for more information. (smuttynose.com)
Friendship Collars
We love this website’s tagline: Because best friends should match! Friendship Collar offers an array of great collar designs. And the best part? Each collar comes with a matching bracelet for the pups’ peep! They also offer cat collars, leashes and a collection of slide-on charms, many with a beach theme. Friendship Collar has truly put a unique new twist on doggie style! As they say, “Designs that you and your bestie just can’t keep your paws off!” (FriendshipCollar.com)
out and about
Photo by Jill Brady; Portland Press Herald
Photo by WJBQ
Hero Pups Photo Benefit
Friendship Collars
Horsing Around
Friends who recently visited the Old Port area of Portland came across a horse tied up outside of a restaurant accompanied by a yellow Lab. It turns out that Hercules (a 10-yearold Friesian) and Molly (the Lab) belong to Gerry Scott of Saco, Maine who began visiting local towns when Covid started. When Scott “adopts” a town, he takes Hercules and Molly and speaks with the police chief to schedule “mental health days” for the community, three to six times a year per town. He lets the chief decide where a visit from the trio would be most appreciated, and stops at 10 places such as nursing homes, hospitals and homeless shelters. So far his adopted towns include Portland, Bath, Kennebunk, Brunswick, Boothbay Harbor and Saco; Ports-
mouth, Wolfeboro and North Conway, New Hampshire; and Stowe, Vermont. In addition to his scheduled visits, Gerry often rides around towns unescorted, mingling with locals and tourists…adding a bit of happiness to everyone’s day.
Say-Cheese Benefit for Hero Pups
Sit.Stay.Smile. Pet Photography is hosting a fundraising Catchapalooza photo event on Saturday, June 11th at the Barking Dog daycare in Exeter to raise money for Hero Pups. Established in 2016 by Exeter resident Laura Barker, Hero Pups provides support dogs to veterans and first responders in New England who are dealing with post-traumatic stress
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(PTSD) challenges. Laura started the nonprofit after her son was wounded in Afghanistan, and Hero Pups was founded on the belief that since our Heroes have already given so much, it’s the least we can do to provide them a companion to help them lead a happier life, free of charge. 100% of the event’s registration fee of $40 will go to Hero Pups, and 10% of any photo sales after the event will be donated, as well. Each photo session is 10 to 15 minutes and offers lots of fun and cheese for your pup. Or feel free to bring your own treats if cheese isn’t on your dog’s list of good eats! You will receive a complimentary 5” x 5” custom print and can order additional photos at the follow up image-review appointment. Space is limited, so reserve your space ASAP at the Sit.Stay.Smile website: SitStaySmile.pet. (HeroPups.com)
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Nancy, Flip & Moose in Montana
i love my job
Nancy & Flip
SPREADING
Happiness
First Issues
By Nancy Dewar – Publisher of Seacoast Bark
When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them that I spread happiness and positivity! Although I publish Seacoast Bark, I really share stories about inspiring people and animals.
I actually fell into starting a magazine. In my earlier professional years, I worked in advertising account management for clients such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Kay Jewelers. I left corporate life when I was forty and moved to the Seacoast from Denver, having discovered this amazing place during a road trip from Marblehead to Booth Bay. I arrived in Portsmouth in 1996 with no job and knowing no one. Sometimes the stars align, and they certainly did with this move. I met an incredible group of friends, and though I never landed a “real job,” I created a variety of ways to support myself; hence becoming what I call an a la carte entrepreneur. In addition to an array of freelance marketing and public relations projects, I pro-
duced photoshoots for L.L. Bean and J. Jill catalogs. I also bought, renovated and sold several homes on the Seacoast. I’ve always had a bit of wanderlust and got a bit antsy to make a change in 2013. After visiting a friend who lived in Whitefish, Montana; I returned with this half-baked idea that I should move to Northwest Montana. So, without much preparation…I did! Looking back it was really a crazy (mid-life-crisis) decision. I remember my dear friend Barbara saying, “Why are you moving out THERE? There’s nothing but pine trees!” She was familiar with Whitefish from having seen it on The Bachelor. I had sold my house. I then sold all my belongings that wouldn’t fit in a 6’ x 12’ U-Haul. With my down-sized life packed up and my two dogs (Moose-Muffin & Flip-Flop) in the back seat of my Jeep, we hit the road mid-March and drove 2,600 miles to Whitefish with no real plan; only a little rental house lined up.
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I got a sales job with a local TV station shortly after arriving which lasted about 3 months. The other sales rep had the banks, car dealerships and hospital accounts; accounts that could afford to use television. I was supposed to call on small retailers that really shouldn’t as it wasn’t cost effective. Ethically, I couldn’t sell to them, so I impetuously quit not realizing there weren’t many other decent jobs. Okay, now how to support myself in Montana? I rustled up some freelance marketing projects and worked in a retail store. I kept asking…what should I do to make a living while also doing something that will bring me joy? What would I like to do? I went back to my childhood and thought about what made me happy as a kid. Children innately show their true nature and passions. What was my passion?
And it became clear to me. My passion has always been animals. I brought home every stray I found. My family called me “the finder.” I rode my bike to the barn
i love my job
Flip & Moose at Home on the Beach Moose & Flip Trying to be Montana Dogs
What do I love about my job? The people I meet…hands down! Our marketing partners are passionate about their dogs, so we all share a common bond with the amazing love we have for four-legged creatures. Our relationships began through business and have evolved into caring, genuine friendships.
Nancy at the County Fair
down the road to hang with the horses. My neighbors let me show their pony at the county fair one year. I got fifth place out of five horses in halter class and thought I’d gone to heaven! I was always trying to get Mom and Dad to say yes to “just one more puppy!” My sister wrote a story about me in grade school that said, “If there were no animals in this world, I don’t think Nancy could live!”
At this time I had also been writing some articles for a friend’s magazine, and it hit me. I enjoyed writing and creating. I loved animals. How about starting a lifestyle magazine about animals and animal lovers? Thus, 406 Bark was born (406 being the area code for Montana). The magazine connected, caught on and took off enough to support me and fuel me professionally. After two years I realized that there were only two big things missing in my life…my dear friends in New Hampshire and the ocean.
Montana had been an interesting adventure, but it was time to go home; and the Seacoast was wide open for a magazine for animal lovers. That was four and a half years ago and twenty-five issues ago of Seacoast Bark! My first sales call was to Allen Wayside Furniture. I dropped off a proposal and ad concept, and Doug Abrams called me back later that day with a few questions and then a commitment for the back cover. Alissa Bournival of Bournival
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Celebrating 1st Issue with Friend
Jeep was our second client, and the list of supporters has continued to steadily grow over the years; many of whom have stayed on board with us since the early days.
What do I love about my job? The people I meet…hands down! Our marketing partners are passionate about their dogs, so we all share a common bond with the amazing love we have for four-legged creatures. Our relationships began through business and have evolved into caring, genuine friendships. The people I meet through the articles we feature never cease to amaze me; all the wonderful things people are doing to help animals…not to mention all the incredible things animals do to help humans!
The least favorite part of my work? The numbers part…again hands down! Other than that, I love everything that I’m doing with the magazine! Spreading happiness is truly rewarding. How very blessed am I to be doing what I love.
local tails
Meet Some Special Seacoast Pups… Here are some of our readers’ adorable dogs. If you’d like your pup’s picture in an upcoming issue, send an email with “Local Tails” in the subject line to: nancy@SnazzyJazzyPet.com. All breeds welcome!
Ollie - Hampton
Finnegan & Murphy - Dover
Winston - Hampton
Artie - Chester
Anna - Newton
Mad Max - Raymond
Blondie - South Berwick
Pandora & Bluu - North Hampton
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Maya - Newton
Tamsen - Portsmouth
Gus - North Hampton
Introducing New
NUTRI-MULCH A mix of our all-natural black mulch with organic compost. The nutrients will make your garden thrive and also help with weed control and moisture retention. Your soil and plants will love these amazing micro-nutrients, which aren’t found in most fertilizers. P.S. We also offer super loam, compost, stone & stone dust…and delivery!
Drax Knowles Fred & Barney
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Ruby & Drax Ruby Knowles
let's pawty
Doggone Grrrrr…eat Pup Recipes A Bit of Italy…for Pups! Sponsored by Ristorante Massimo Photography by Jasmine Inglesmith Photography
Italian-Style Dog Biscuits
Early Happy Father’s Day to our Dad, Massimo Morgia! I bet you didn’t know that Father’s Day is celebrated in Italy on March 19th rather than in June, like we do here. It’s on St. Joseph’s Day (father of Jesus), a day of celebration that, of course, includes delicious Italian cuisine…with the most popular traditional foods on this day being cakes and biscuits. So, in honor of our Dad… here’s a wonderful Italian Biscuit recipe for DOGS! Enjoy…Godere!
Mia & Logan
Recipes from SugarCrafter.com.
Mia
Ingredients 1 ½ C whole wheat flour 3/4 C unbleached all-purpose flour 1/4 t ground basil 1 egg 1 C water 1 can (6 oz.) pure tomato paste 1/2 C shredded mozzarella cheese 1/3 C parmesan cheese
Logan
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk flours together in large bowl. Add rest of ingredients to flours. Knead with hands to form a rough dough. Roll out on lightly floured surface to 1/4” thick. Cut out shapes with cookie cutter. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes.
Can be stored in air-tight container or refrigerated for about a week. (Note: Do not make this recipe if your dog is lactose-intolerant.)
Upstairs at Massimo’s Wine Bar focuses on small plates
of appetizers, salads and pasta along with eclectic meat, cheese and condiment choices. It also offers the same superb wines and cocktails as served downstairs. The artful, innovative dishes served upstairs, as always, capture Massimo’s passion for exquisite Italian cuisine.
59 Penhallow – Portsmouth (603) 436-4000 www.RistoranteMassimo.com
Massimo is not only passionate about food, but also his adorable shaggy dogs Mia and Logan, both who share their Dad’s passion for food. So, a big thanks to Mia and Logan for sharing a bit of Italian cuisine to be enjoyed by pups! Grazie… bravo canes! (Thank you…good dogs!)
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doggy thoughts
FLIPS + FLOPS By Flip-Flop
Editor’s Note: These are simply musings from Flip-Flop, an exuberant & opinionated shaggy dog. They are not any sort of product endorsement or “dis” by this publication or any member of our editorial team. Just a bit about stuff she likes (Flips) and stuff she doesn’t (Flops)!
Flip -Flop
Stupid Dog Toys
Great Dog Toys
Though I think tennis balls…yes, simple bright green tennis balls, would probably win the most universally-loved dog toy in the world, there are a lot of other great ones out there. Though I don’t really play with toys (I only chase dogs who chase tennis balls), a few of my friends at the dog park told me that they really love West Paw Design’s toys…especially the Jive ball. (www.westpawdesign.com)
I think the most-stupid-ever dog toy award goes to the Vanderpump Bra Plush Toy! Though Lisa Vanderpump, the star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, does amazing things for dog rescue & adoption, I think she needs to ramp up her design skills a bit. I mean, what self-respecting dog wants to walk around with a bra hanging out of their mouth? (www.doggiecoutureshop.com)
Funny Ideas
Pet Sweeps…how funny is this? No, it’s not really an innovative new cleaning product, but rather just an empty box with nothing in it that is shrink wrapped for your protection! The idea is that you put people’s real gift inside the empty box to make gift-giving more fun. As their website states, “These are top-quality, American made boxes covered in some seriously funny sh#t and will provide much needed entertainment for the next party you're dragged to.” (www.prankpack.com)
Silly Ideas
I came across True Touch on the internet recently and really don’t get it. They bill it as “the amazing 5-finger de-shedding glove” that mimics the loving touch of your hand for a relaxing massage. Regarding a massage, I really prefer the human touch. Regarding de-matting and shedding, please just send me to my salon. (www.buytruetouch.com)
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