Animal Clinic of Kalispell - June 2020

Gunner photos

A COUPLE OF Turn Your Vacation Into a Staycation 3 WAYS TO REPLACE A CANCELED VACATION

Hello, everyone!

Vacations provide opportunities for families to spend time together in a relaxed environment, get away from the routines of everyday life, and create meaningful memories. If you’ve recently had to cancel a trip but still want to create the experience of a vacation for your family, then a staycation is just what you need. Transform Your Backyard When you’re trying to recreate a vacation, the outdoor areas of your home present a variety of possibilities. You can turn a sandbox into a relaxing beach, complete with a kiddie pool “ocean.” If you have trees, then set up a zip line or obstacle course. You can even stimulate summer brains with a scavenger hunt around the backyard with hidden clues in the dirt or bushes. The ultimate prize can be something you would have purchased on your original vacation, like a souvenir you can find online. Create a ‘Family Museum’

My name’s Ozzy. I used to live at the animal shelter here in town. Now, I get to live with the Lewis pack! You probably know Shannon. She’s the receptionist at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell. I love living with Shannon and her family. It’s a fun place. There are also several chickens, a big goldfish, and a pug named Lily living at the house. Shannon’s daughter, Maddy, is my best friend. We play together all the time. Tug of war is our favorite game. Another game we play is hide-and-seek, which is when Maddy hides my favorite plastic bone so I’ll play with her more. That’s not my favorite game, but I do love playing with Maddy, so I don’t mind too much. Lily joined our pack about two years ago. She’s also a rescue, but she wasn’t living at the animal shelter like I was. That’s why Lily’s health wasn’t so great when she first came to live with us. In fact, her teeth were so bad that she needed 16 of them removed! Lily says she’s feeling much better today. She loves to run around in the yard and eat chicken poop. I keep telling her that we have plenty of treats, but pugs have unique tastes, I guess.

Many vacations include an educational aspect in order to enrich our understanding of the place we’re visiting, and museums are a great way to accomplish that. If you’re confined to the house, then teach your kids about your own knowledge and interests and encourage them to get creative and make their own contributions, too. Have everyone create art, take photos, or write about their prized possessions. Display these masterpieces around your home and let their creators take you on a tour. Learning more about one another builds meaningful bonds. Bring Your Trip Home You probably chose your original vacation destination in order to experience new and different cultures and activities. But just because you’re no longer traveling to that location doesn’t mean you can’t experience some of what it has to offer! Research popular local cuisine, activities, and history of the area, then create ways to experience them with your family. Cook a traditional meal, recreate a scenic location through photographs, or share a story about local lore and history. Your changed plans will no longer feel like a missed opportunity.

‘Hot Dog’ DOG BISCUITS

Inspired by Chewy.com

Fido shouldn’t eat scraps from the grill, but he can still enjoy a classic summertime snack! Get creative and whip up some “hot dog” dog treats

Staying at home doesn’t mean your family can’t have the fun of a vacation. All it takes is a little creativity and innovation to build an experience that will bring your family closer together.

1/2 cup flour • 2 tsp powdered Parmesan • 2 tbsp natural, xylitol- free peanut butter • 1/4 cup water • Beef stick dog treats cheese Ingredients

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