For Dog Lovers...

Wow! There are just so many things available for dog people that I don't even know where to start.

I mean, there's clothes (for hundreds and hundreds of options, see the list I made on my picture page) and other products.

There's dog businesses that you can start--many for less than $500! My mom even found that you can start for under $10! And if you love dogs (and pets in general) the pet industry is a very good place to have either a full-time or part-time business. In the U.S. alone, the pet industry is a $38 billion (yes, with a "b") industry--and this figure does not include veterinary care. My mom wrote this article about starting your own pet business.

There's lots of ways that you can be part of the dog community and make a difference. My mom likes to do fundraisers for dog rescue organizations and spay and neuter programs with her pet products! We also participate in fundraising walks and fairs whenever we can. This is a listing of dog-friendly events across the U.S.

In addition, there are many online communities of dog lovers. So far, we've found Dogphoria to be our favorite. Currently, I have over 400 "pals," many of them who post their photo/stories aka "phories," at least weekly.

And there's tons of stuff that dog lovers can learn about--and from--dogs. My mom is pretty fanatical about being prepared for emergencies. She hopes you can use this checklist for being prepared, too.