I’m starting a new feature here. There are so many fantastic dog sites/articles/links that I see all the time around the ‘net, so each Friday I want to share my finds for the week with you.

So without further ado, I give you Sniff Around These Sites, Part I:

• PetKnows informed me that October is Adopt-A-Dog month. I can’t believe I didn’t know this! I’m such a big believer in promoting animal adoption. My beloved, late dog Bismarck was a shelter dog and he was the sweetest, most special boy. And my husband and I adopted our sweet dog Seth last year, and he has been the most amazing addition to our family!
• Black Dog Syndrome is an important site that creates awareness about the bad rap that big black dogs get. Did you know that big black dogs are most often the last (if at all) to be adopted from shelters? As the mom of two big black dogs, Ryder and Seth, I can only attest to how incredible they are.
• I found this hilarious blog, Licked Toys, which publishes photos of dog toys that have seen the end of their days (read: have been destroyed). I’m going to have to submit this picture of Seth.
• Through October 31st, you can enter to win a Sleepypod dog bed/carrier/car seat (for dogs under 15 lbs.) at Mod-Dog Blog.
• The Pet Friendly House has published a list of Non-Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats, which is an important list to have handy if you have pets and plants in your home.

And now for the “I’m loved!” part! Chrissy from Storm of Thoughts, one of my most favorite people in the world (she’s kind, smart, funny and sweet - beatiful inside and out - what more could you want!?), gave me this “I love your blog! award. Chrissy is one of the rare online friends of mine who was actually an offline friend before she became a blog friend. Thanks so much for the award, Chrissy. I love you and your blog!

Here are the rules of this award:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

So… I nominate:

1) Arianne at To Think Is To Create
2) Dawn at Coming To a Nursery Near You
3) Erika at Chic Shopper Chick
4) Katja at Skimbaco Lifestyle
5) Jill at The Daily Grind
6) BlondeBlogger at So a Blonde Walks Into a Blog
7) Amy at Permission To Peruse

This is not, of course, a list of ALL the blogs I love… there are so, so many… but alas, the rules are the rules and I had to cap it off at 7. But just know I appreciate every single reader who comes and visits my blog!!