BLOG.MNPITBULL.COM

Join us at SWARM Lacrosse

2011-03-18T17:43:00Z

The Minnesota SWARM Lacrosse is hosting bring your dog to the game day!!

March 27th at 1pm at the Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue will have a booth set up before the game for other attendees to visit as well.

Tickets can be purchased through us for $10.00 each. That includes one human and one dog. Our goal is to sell 41 tickets. Tickets can be purchased by emailing info@mnpitbull.com

This will be a great opportunity for socializing, getting the breed out there in a positive light, and having FUN with your dog!

Join us!!!

Skyy is looking for a new home!

2011-03-18T17:29:00Z

Isn't she CUTE?!!?!!?

Age: 8 months old, around 40 lb.

Potty Trained: Yes

Crate Trained: Yes

Things I Know: trained on electric fence, heels on walks, sit

Super sweet, gives kisses and wants to be included in the family.

Great with kids, lives with two under the age of 5.

Likes other dogs however has never met a cat.

Loves to curl up in dog bed and sleeps there @ night.

If interested please fill out an application via our website www.mnpitbull.com

2010 Year in Review

2011-03-13T01:59:00Z

First of all, THANK YOU to all of our wonderful volunteers, fosters, and adopters for putting in countless hours to help make Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue rescue succeed this year. We are excited to see what 2011 has in store for us!

Number of Owner Surrenders- 318 owner surrender applications. Out of 318 dogs needing our help we were only able to save 9 dogs. These numbers only include dogs that already had a family but they could no longer keep the dog for various reasons including: moving, stray, having a baby, not enough time, aggression issues, training issues, or just simply didn’t want the dog anymore.

Number of Pit Bulls Needing to be Saved from Death: Countless....

Intake- 47 dogs (animal control, humane societies, and owner surrenders)

Why was MN Pit Bull Rescue ONLY able to save 47 dogs this year?

Our rescue is based solely off of available foster homes. This means we can only SAVE as many dogs as we have FOSTER homes for. We would love to save at least twice that number in 2011 but can’t do it without your help! If you want to help us save more dogs in 2011 please consider becoming a foster home or encouraging others to do so.

Adoptions- 44 dogs

Foster to Adopt Program- 10 dogs

New foster to adopt program

Toward the end of the year we rolled out our new “foster to adopt” program. This program ensures that the adopter and the adopted dog receive the training that they need to become a successful team. We have found great success with this program and will continue to improve the program in 2011.

Events

We participated in numerous events this year including:

Acapulco Fundraiser- Thank you to Kelly Dorek who put this together and helped us raise over $300.

St. Cloud Pride

Twin Ports Pet Expo

Twin Cities Pet Expo

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo- Bella found her forever home through this adoption event!

Renaissance Festival/Pet Fest

Paws on Grand

Duluth Superior Pride

Twin Cities Pride- We LOVE this event and we raised over $1,000 in donations for puppy breath.

Pit Bull Awareness Day- Our first awareness day as an organization and it was a success! We had a lot of food and socializing with other pitties and their owners.

Pins for Pets- We put a bowling team together to support MN SNAP and got in the top three for fundraising with raising $400 in donations for them.

Adoption Days- We had over 20 adoption days this month at Chuck and Don’s. Thank you to all the fosters and volunteers who helped get our available dogs and the breed out in the public eye!

To see more event pictures please visit our facebook page!

Canine Good Citizen

Two of our alumni received their Canine Good Citizen certificates this year: Sally and Mugsy. Congrats to them and their families! We hope to have more of our current and alumni dogs certified in 2011. CGC is an awesome title to have on Pit Bull and we encourage all of our families to go through the training and hopefully pass the test.

Pittie Party!

2011-02-03T17:18:00Z

Purchase Pittie Party tickets here!

Second Chance?

2011-01-12T21:50:00Z

There is a Famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi that’s been bouncing around in my head these past few months. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” I find that I have been questioning myself as a weak person because I truly cannot forgive Mr. Vick for the crimes he has committed. It seems as of late everyone has “jumped on the bandwagon” of forgiveness. Just as of a few days ago there was an article released stating that our own President had called to congratulate the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles for giving Mr. Vick a “second chance”. It should be noted that the President has not called the organization that has given many of Mr. Vick’s abused and mistreated dogs a second chance. I understand that everyone truly does deserve a second chance, but who is to say this is really Mr. Vick’s first crime. For someone to be as big of a monster to organize a dog fighting ring. I find it hard to believe he hasn’t made many “mistakes” in his life. But being someone who was seen as the next big star, it has allowed for many eyes to look the other way. Why then, are we so quick to assume this was the first big mistake he has made in his life? Can’t it just as easily be assumed that it is just the first time he truly got caught? Look again at his crime in these terms: Dogs are scientifically proven to have the brain function of a two year old child. Would we be so quick to forgive a man (a pro athlete none the less) who was torturing and killing two year olds? I suspect there would be a lynch mob lined across the country asking for his head. But because it was an animal we apparently have a much easier time disassociating ourselves from the reality of it: This is a person who bankrolled and participated in a “murdering machine”. Has our opinion of someone atoning for their crimes really come down to how many points they score for our fantasy football team? Have we really stooped to the level of believing someone has changed just because he makes more millions for millionaires by winning football games? Mr. Vick recently stated in an interview: “I would love to have another dog in the future. I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process, I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love and my passion for animals, I think it would be outstanding. And if I ever have that opportunity again, I won’t take it for granted.” Would you allow a convicted child killer to babysit your children? Not likely.

By: Matt Davalos

Vaccinate or not?

2010-12-29T04:11:00Z

Lately, there has been more debate over vaccinating our dogs/cats. Here are some links that I found helpful when trying to research the debate. By Minnesota law, Rabies is required but what about the numerous other vaccinations that the vet tries to sell you on? Does your dog/cat really need them?

Critter Advocacy

Holistic Care for Pets

Stop the Shots

Grace needs YOUR support!

2010-12-09T23:33:00Z

This is Grace
Isn't she CUTE?!?!

Supporters, we sadly need your help! Our little Grace took a tumble this morning with her foster Dad (thanks to the ice and our lovely MN winters!) and she is at an emergency vet receiving oxygen to help her breathe while the fluid build up from the fall hopefully begins to relieve so that she can breathe more comfortably on her own again. =( If you've ever had a pet receive trauma care, you know it comes with a hefty price tag. ($1,000+) If you are in a position to donate toward Grace's care, we greatly appreciate it!!! You can donate via our razoo page: http://www.razoo.com/story/Minnesota-Pit-Bull-Rescue If you are not in a position to donate please send all positive thoughts her way!!! =)

Thank you all and we will update this post as soon as we know more about her recovery.

What do I feed my dog?

2010-12-09T20:24:00Z

Like anything related to your pets, there are a lot of options, and your job is to gather data, be informed, and make the best decision for your lifestyle and your particular dog!

Dry food? Canned food? Raw food? Grain-free? Here’s some thoughts from MN Pit Bull Rescue friends:

Blue Buffalo.Recommended by Amy S for dogs with food sensitivities and for healthy skin.

Dry, canned, treats, varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. From the website “Now you can feed your dog with the same care you’d feed a family member with the BLUE line of natural, healthy and holistic foods for dogs. All BLUE recipes contain real meat as the first ingredient, along with wholesome whole grains, garden veggies and healthy fruit.” Sold and Petcos, Petsmarts, Chuck and Don’s in the Twin Cities.

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul.Recommended by Amy S and Angee Johnson.

Dry, canned varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. The website has an ingredients glossary, which I thought was interesting – they’re not scared to tell you what’s in their products! Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Taste of the Wild. Recommended by Sarah C (if she’s not feeding raw), and Lisa N.

Grain free.Dry, canned varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds, with flavor options. From the website “Made with real roasted meats and supplemented with fruits and vegetables, these grain-free formulas provide a superior taste sensation, highly digestible energy and natural antioxidants to support a healthy immune system and overall health.” Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Pinnacle Potato and Duck. Recommended by Barbara J-F.

Dry, canned varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds.Grain free formulas also available. From the website “Pinnacle is allergen-free so even pets with sensitive systems can enjoy the fine flavors and health benefits of Pinnacle’s superior ingredients.” Sold at Petcos and Petsmarts in the Twin Cities.

Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Vegetarian. Recommended by Nikki M for skin issues and food allergies.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. Grain free formulas also available. Nature’s Recipe is a Del Monte brand, and offers one formula of food that claims to be made from human-grade food. Sold at Petcos and Petsmarts in the Twin Cities.

Natural Balance Ultra Active.Recommended by Caitlin D. for active puppies.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds, with flavor options. Natural Balance also offers food logs, which are great to cut up for training treats. They also offer organic and allergy formulas, which include grain-free options. Sold at Petcos, Chuck and Don’s, and other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Solid Gold Wolf King.Recommended by Caitlin D.

Dry, canned, treats, supplements, and health and coat care products, including grain-free options, and flavor varieties. Solid Gold website includes testimonials from customers. Sold at Petcos, Chuck and Don’s, and other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Fromm. Recommended by Caitlin D.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. Grain free formulas also available. Made in Wisconsin! Their holistic gold nutritionals include three fresh meats, eggs, and cheddar. Sold at Chuck and Don’s, or through Fetch, Inc delivery in the Twin Cities.

Wellness Core.Recommended by Brandy L. and Darcy K.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds, including Simple formulas for allergies, and Super 5 Mix. Grain free formulas also available. From the website “We use delicious, real-foods like deboned meats, free of added hormones and steroids, wholesome grains and fresh fruits and vegetables to provide the perfect balance of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the healthiest way possible.” Sold at Petcos, Petsmarts, Chuck and Don’s in the Twin Cities.

Canidae.Recommended by Jason B and Darcy K.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. Grain free formulas also available. The website has a “cost to feed daily” calculator – interesting, and possibly helpful if you’re looking to calculate cost of dry vs. raw food, too. Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Orijen 6 Fresh Fish or Regional Red.Recommended by Michael Sweeney and Darcy K.

Grain-free, dry food in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. From the website “Considered too expensive by conventional pet food makers, our fresh regional ingredients are unmatched in any other dog or cat food on earth.” PET FOOD OF THE YEAR AWARD, 2010-2011 Glycemic Research Institute of Washington DC.Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Costco Grain Free All Life Stages and Costco Puppy. Recommended by Laura H. for the price (savings cover the membership fees).

Because of the membership necessary for Costco, not a lot for a company website. There are some reviews online though – Google it! Sold at….Costco.

Raw. If you’re considering feeding raw, do your research, ask people who are feeding raw for the benefits and considerations. Below are a few links.

http://www.rawsforpaws.com

http://www.amazon.com – a variety of books on the subject

http://www.woodyspetdeli.com/ - a local raw pet food deli, offering cooked, raw, and ground food options.

A great book: Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs

For all of the above, there is a ton of information available on the web, including reviews. Check out http://www.consumersearch.com/dog-food for some good information!

By: Brandy L.

Dog of the Month: Charlie

2010-10-01T18:58:00Z

Because it's October 1st, because it's Fall, because he is beautiful "red" (or orange, as some might say!) and he's been waiting patiently for his new home for almost a whole year...Charlie is our Dog of the Month!!!!

Charlie is just over a year old now and he is one of the eight dogs we brought into our program from the largest dog fighting bust in history last summer. Charlie was born in the mass shelter set up by the Humane Society of MO after the bust in July 2009. The other seven dogs we were able to take have joined their forever or foster-to-adopt families and still Charlie waits. Don't feel too bad for him though...this is where being a dog is a good thing, because Charlie doesn't realize heis the odd one out.

Charlie is a goofy guy, despite how serious he looks in his recent photos. It's the under bite, makes him look like a very serious boy at times! But he just wants to be part of the fun, all the time. No matter what you're doing, he wants to be right there with you. His drive to be with you,and of course his love of all things yummy, gives his potential forever people a solid foundation for his training. He begins a training class in the coming weeks with his foster family actually, but imagine how overjoyed we would all be if he were starting class with his foster-to-adopt family instead!

Charlie adores chewing on bones, snuggling with his people, and playing with puppies (yes, it's true!). He does fine with cats and has met and lived with a variety of dogs, though we do recommend proper introductions and good supervision as he is still polishing up all his doggie manners, like learning to accept no for an answer when another dog does not want to play. He will thrive with a confident,consistent, and fun-loving human to call his own. Someone who can laugh at his antics, provide him structure and discipline when needed,and celebrate all his successes as he works toward being the best boy he can be. An active person/family would be a plus too. He needs an outlet for his energies and the reward is most worth it, because he loves to cuddle and relax at the end of the day and the "end" comes even earlier if he's had his proper exercise, both mental and physical.

So we present our first ever Dog of the Month: CHARLIE! Ready and waiting for his match to come along...

Watch Charlie's VIDEO !

Pins For Pets Results

2010-08-26T21:25:00Z

Pins for Pets!

The third annual Pins for Pets fundraising event was held on Sunday, August 15^th. The event raises money for MNSNAP , Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program. As we support the mission of MNSNAP, we thought it would be fun this year to gather up rescue volunteers and supporters and make a team to participate in this year’s event.

We couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome: we ended up with enough volunteers to fill 4 teams!!! From there, we set our sights on a fundraising goal . We wanted to raise $300 for MNSNAP. Once again, our volunteers and supporters came through and we actually exceeded our goal, raising $400 in donations for MNSNAP! All that generosity actually landed us in the top 3 fundraising teams for the event, so we couldn’t thank you all more. =)

We even had such a big group, they had trouble getting us all in the picture when we accepted our trophy. Watch out for our picture in the Chuck and Don's quarterly newsletter!

We are blessed to be able to count such wonderful people among our friends and supporters. Hopefully next year will be just as much fun.

Big kudos also to our volunteers who pulled in the majority of the donations: Adam Kaluza & Jessica Nelson, and Tracy Lemmens & Jason Bible. And special thanks to Twin City Tees for outfitting all our team members in awesome "pit bullin'" shirts for the event, designed by volunteer Erik Anderson.

Pins For Pets... MN SNAP

2010-08-10T20:03:00Z

19 of Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue volunteers will be participating in Pins For Pets this year on Sunday, August 15th.
Pins For Pets is supporting MN SNAP .
MN SNAP is a spay/neuter assistance program for shelters, rescues, and the low-income community.
Minnesota is extremely lucky to have MN SNAP in our state to help cut down on unwanted pets.

Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue is raising money for MN SNAP and hope to reach our goal of $300 by Sunday.
If you are interested in donating or spreading the word, please visit our donation page .

Big Thank You to
Erik Anderson who created our bowling shirts and to our Volunteers who donated time and money to Pins For Pets

Dog Bite Prevention Program

2010-07-23T20:13:00Z

A Rotta Love Plus does Dog Bite Prevention and Awareness programs for kids to teach them how to behave around dogs.

On July 15th, MN Pit Bull Rescue's Director Laura Gray, her dog Tucker (CGC), Harmony from ARLP, Tucker's sister Marri (CGC,TDI), and the facilitator Kelley from ARLP went to Jenny Lind School in Minneapolis and did six programs.

If a stray dog approaches you, stand like a tree. If you are not moving, the dog will keep moving and leave you alone. (Tucker)

If a dog knocks you down, curl up like a rock. (Marri)

Never approach a stray dog but if a dog is with its owner, you may approach them.

How to introduce yourself to a dog with an owner:

1. Ask the owner if you may pet their dog. Not all dogs want to be petted.
2. Let the dog sniff your hand- that is how dogs shake hands. (Marri and Tucker)

3. Pet the dog on its side or where the owner directs you. (Marri)

One of the classes with Tucker and Marri.

Misty and Puppies Update #1

2010-07-22T19:59:00Z

Misty and her puppies arrived last Saturday. They spent the night at Laura's and then moved to their foster home with Tanya on Sunday. Everyone did well with the transition. Misty is a complete sweetheart and has won over the hearts of everyone that has met her. She enjoys laying in the grass basking in the sun and cuddling herself into a laundry basket with clean blankets. Misty is doing a great job taking care of the kids and the kids are fat and happy! Misty and the puppies will be getting baths and new names this weekend, so watch out for another post with new names and updated pictures.

The pics below are from 7/17/10 when they arrived to the rescue. For individual pictures of the puppies and more of Misty, check out our website.

The Case for Shelter Dogs

2010-07-21T20:21:00Z

The Case for Shelter Dogs

By: Pamela Devereux

Dogs are being surrendered at shelters across the country in record numbers. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of suitable homes for these dogs. They either remain at a shelter for an extended period of time or are euthanized. I volunteer at a shelter in my area, and there seems to be the perception among some members of the public that these dogs must have done something to displease their owner that was so egregious that they were given away. Not true in most cases.

They are surrendered because, 1) they were really cute as a puppy, but they grew too big , 2) they are no longer interested in that particular breed, or 3) ”I just don’t like him anymore”. Some of these dogs have been subjected to horrendous forms of punishment. One individual admitted that he regularly hit, punched and kicked the dog he was returning.

And yet, no matter what these dogs have been through, they are always willing to trust again. To say that they have been put to the test and survived with love in their hearts is an understatement. When I walk through the kennels I see the accomplished athlete, the dancers, the clowns and the quiet ones with a wealth of wisdom in their eyes. They are an absolute joy to be around.

An example that comes to mind is a sassy little Pit Bull named Oreo. He just loved rolling in the snow, and tried everything to get me to join him. I did. He rolled and I made angels in the snow. He was adopted into a loving home and he now has a 6 month old Pit sister named Holly.

Oreo is just one of many success stories. These dogs deserve another chance. If you are looking for a pure breed, chances are your local shelter has a number of them. Petfinder also does an excellent job of matching adoptable dogs with the right family. So please remember that, if you are looking for a canine companion, go to your local shelter and you just might find love waiting for you around the corner. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Misty and her puppies

2010-07-12T20:31:00Z

Last December 2009, we took in a dog named Lucy who is now Zeebe and her two puppies, Waahbe and Neebe. They came to us from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue . Zeebe came in skinny and with a severe case of rickets. Zeebe's Blog Post from RLRR

Well the same person that abused Zeebe did this to another dog... Enter Misty and puppies.

Karen, from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue contacted us last week and asked if we would take in Misty and her six puppies. We of course said, Yes! Zeebe has been such a joy to our rescue, we knew we wanted to help another mom that fell into those horrible persons hands.

From Karen about Misty,
"Poor Misty is a darling Pit Bull, about 9 months old- dehydrated and
only a bag of bones. She is so timid, she falls to her belly and
crawls as you approach her. She has a big heart, and is a great dog."

The same person that abused Zeebe did this to Misty 8 months later, which means the person got Misty only weeks after leaving Zeebe at deaths door...

We are excited to meet Misty and the puppies and help them get back on track to the good life and find them forever loving homes. Thank you to Tanya who volunteered to take in Misty and the puppies for the next 6 weeks until they are old enough to be adopted. Misty and the puppies will arrive on Saturday, July 17th so keep an eye out for new pictures and updates then!

Helping Udders

2010-07-12T20:09:00Z

Delta Society Bans Dogs from Program who eat Raw Diets

2010-06-03T18:40:00Z

There are many people including people within Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue who feed raw diets, so this comes as a shock to some of us. What are everyone's thoughts on this? Below is the explanation from the Delta website explaining their reasoning:

www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=638

Raw Protein Diet Policy

page updated 6.01.2010 with additional reference sources

Over the past few years, the increasing use of raw protein diets and the health concerns and controversy generated have grown, not only between the public and veterinarians, but often within the veterinary profession itself.

After careful consideration of all of the known scientific facts, and on the unanimous advice of the Delta Society Medical Advisory Board, made up of internal medicine and public health experts from North America, the board of directors voted to preclude animals eating raw protein foods from participating in Delta Society Pet Partners program. This will be a phased program, with complete compliance structured to be in place by June 30, 2010.

The following are some frequently asked questions and answers.

What exactly are the scientific facts?
The use of raw animal proteins to promote animal health has not been based on proven or known scientific facts, only anecdotal incidents. On the other hand, it is well known that animals fed raw diets (BARF or other) shed significant amounts of pathogenic bacteria, which studies have indicated may put some people at risk, as compared to pets being fed commercially prepared or cooked, home-made diets.

What are the risks of feeding raw protein diets other than shedding… can my pet become ill?
While many animals fed raw protein diets appear healthy, some do get ill. Even healthy animals can shed pathogenic bacteria that can affect the human companion team member and others. Certain individuals are at increased risk of disease if they encounter various pathogens, particularly people that are immune-compromised, very young or elderly. This basically describes most of the individuals Delta Society Pet Partners visit: Patients in hospitals, senior centers, nursing facilities, hospice care, rehabilitation facilities, and schools involving young children, among others.

How long does my pet have to be off of raw protein foods before re-starting visitations again?
Dogs can shed for a variable amount of time. At a minimum a 4 week waiting period before visits are resumed.

What if my other pets eat raw protein diets?
If a Pet Partner has access to the food or bowl used, it would be best to NOT feed any of the other pets raw meats. Inadvertent eating of raw meat or cross-contamination is very real. Any dog or cat from a household where raw protein food is fed is not eligible to be a Delta Society Pet Partner.

What commercial foods are being recommended instead?
You can look for a balanced diet from any of the reputable pet-food manufacturer, preferably one labeled in accordance with the Association Of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). You should also consult with your veterinarian.

What if my veterinarian is fine with feeding raw protein diets?
While your veterinarian may not believe the risk is that great for your pet, Delta Society Pet Partners teams are in contact with many individuals who are at a much higher risk for infections. Since many studies have shown pets fed such diets shed a significantly higher number of pathogenic bacteria, the risk is too great for inadvertent, but avoidable infection. Also, your veterinarian is not assuming legal responsibility for you and your pet, Delta Society is.

Are there home-made diets I could use instead of commercially produced brands?
Yes there are some available recipes, but the risk of an improperly formulated and balanced diet is real. Some sources to try: i. the University of California, Davis at (530) 752-1393. ii. Similar veterinary nutrition experts can be found on the website of the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN). iii. A book by Donald Strombeck, "Home prepared dog and cat diets" , iv. www.balanceit.com offers nutritional advice, recipe and formulation service.

What was the role of pet food manufacturers in the adoption of the Raw Protein Diet Policy?
No pet food manufacturer representatives contacted, encouraged, lobbied, or influenced the Delta Society Medical Advisory Group in recommending to the board that they approve a Raw Protein Diet Policy.

Delta Society has always prided itself on having high standards for its Pet Partners program. As board members learned of medical professionals’ concerns about the increased risk of the spread of pathogenic bacteria to humans by animals fed raw protein diets, it was determined that this was an issue that needed review. Based on input from the medical community, the Board of Directors voted to implement this new policy. As many of our Pet Partners visit in hospitals, assisted-living centers, and other places where people’s immune systems are compromised, it was decided that implementing this new policy was the responsible action. For clarification, animals within the Pet Partners program are not required to be fed commercially produced food – the policy states that cooked, home-made diets are also acceptable.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email to: rawproteindiet@DeltaSociety.org for the Delta Society Medical Advisory group to address.

Welcome to Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue's BLOG

2010-06-03T02:08:00Z

We are very excited to start blogging! If you are interested in helping us write for our blog, please contact us.