ASL Solutions Blog

 ASL recently participated in the Ste. Marie American Legion Auxiliary Unit 932 Mardi Gras Parade.  It was their big fundraiser for local veterans' projects.  Our Smart Car entry won first place for business. Spokesdog Hank the Hound made his first public appearance. Photo Credit for parade images : April Goss Photography Photo credit for image of  first place mug: Pamela Mulvey

There have been many extraordinary animals throughout history. From survivors to record-setters, feat-conquerors to science-contributors , here are but a few of the extraordinary felines and canines that populate our planet's history. Sallie Ann Jarrett StripedDaisy,  CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons You might have heard of someone surprising their significant other or their child with a puppy (always do your research first), but have you ever heard of an infantry unit being surprised with a puppy? That's exactly what happened in 1861 when a four-week-old American Staffordshire Terrier puppy was presented as a gift to the newly formed 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The puppy's cuteness was too much for them to resist, and so Sallie Ann Jarrett was adopted as the official mascot of 11th Pennsylvania. She got her name from Sallie Ann, a local person of great beauty, and the unit's commanding officer, Colonel Phaon Jarrett. Most called her Sallie for short, and...

ASL's latest innovation is the Palace Central Heater, or PCH for short. With a wide temperature range, this MET-certified heater will keep your animal companions warm and comfortable year-round! The Palace Central Heater will keep this friend warm in the winter. We are excited to finally officially introduce you to the Palace Central Heater! The PCH is designed exclusively for the Dog Palace and the CRB Palace. The PCH comes with two mounting brackets that latch perfectly onto the triangular window frame of each house. It is too big to fit on the DP Hunter, but ASL's Floor Heater fits the DP Hunter just fine. And unlike the floor heater, the PCH heats the whole house. The PCH features a digital thermostat and a remote control to alter the temperature from a distance in 5 degree increments. The temperature range is a cozy 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. We recommend going no higher than 65-70 degrees depending on your dog's coat. Fluffy dogs are going to retain heat better than sh...

Dog body language is important for anyone who may come across a dog to know, and especially dog owners. It's a  diverse range of species-common behaviors that indicates how a dog is feeling at any given time. Nonverbal communication is pretty much what we've got when it comes to animals, and it's an important part of responsible dog caretaking. If you want to know what your canine pal is feeling, read on. You might be barking up the wrong tree if you're not sure what your dog is trying to say. Tail Did you know that tail wagging doesn't always mean a dog is happy? A wagging tail means a dog is emotionally excited, not necessarily in a positive way. The speed and direction of the tail wag can tell you a lot about what your dog is feeling, as well as the overall position of the tail relative to the ground. The faster the tail is wagging, the more emotionally excited a canine is. A calm, relaxed dog might wag their tail slowly from side to side when greeting someone, b...

Saint Roch, the patron Saint of Dogs, led a fascinating life. Read all about his life and deeds to learn about why this saint is associated with dogs. The painting "Saint Roch and the Angel" (17th century) by Claude Simpol. Public domain Saint Roch, also known as Saint Rocco , was born in Montpellier, France, in 1295. He was born into the noble family of the governor, St. Roch's father. Roch was his parents' only son, born with a deep red birthmark on his chest in the shape of a cross. This birthmark was a sign that the Virgin Mary had heard his mother's prayers (she had struggled with infertility). Roch was a fastidiously religious child who fasted twice a week, just like his devout mother. When Roch's parents died, he was merely twenty years old, and he didn't want to be the governor. Roch gave his inheritance to the poor and the title of governor to his uncle, beginning a new life as a mendicant pilgrim (one who relies on alms and begging to survive). F...