Moving forward this year after Paws’ passing in 2023 and Belle’s passing in 2024 has been difficult. Going through photos and articles serves as a constant reminder of both of them in our lives. We will continue publishing articles because we have several draft pieces in our system that haven’t been published yet.
We want the website to remain a celebration of the love that both Belle and Paws gave us over the years. We’ve had too many experiences to detail here, but there are numerous conditions and medications we’d like to discuss in case other senior pet owners can benefit from how we’ve dealt with these challenges in our own senior pets.
New Merchandise and a New BellenPaws.com Store
We’ve recently finished designing new merchandise that is now available on our BellenPaws.com store. We’ve carefully curated a range of items, striking a balance between variety and thoughtfulness rather than simply putting our logo on every possible product.
While we offer the standard shirts and mugs, we’ve also included several unique items that provide a different experience for those who want something special while supporting our mission.
Pricing Philosophy
We’ve worked hard to keep prices reasonable for our merchandise. Since we partner with a third-party website to produce these items, their costs must be covered before we add our margin, which constitutes the actual contribution to our website. We believe we’ve found the right balance between providing quality merchandise for our visitors while keeping prices affordable.
Coming Soon: Specialized Pet Products
We’re excited to announce that more merchandise is in development. Specifically, we’ll be adding puzzles and calendars featuring pictures of Belle and Paws, as well as the rest of our pet family. We’re currently focused on ensuring we use only high-definition pictures (at least 4K resolution) with proper lighting to guarantee superior printing quality. We refuse to offer products with blurry or out-of-focus images, so we’re carefully selecting and adjusting the lighting in these photographs to deliver the best possible products.
Direct Support Options
We’ve added a Contribution Support page for visitors who aren’t interested in merchandise but still want to support our work. Perhaps you use our diabetic tracker for your pet, print our blank forms, benefit from the information in our articles, or simply appreciate our website and want us to continue. This new support page allows you to contribute directly to our website without receiving merchandise, meaning we receive your full contribution (minus payment processing fees).
Important Note: Our website is NOT a non-profit entity, and your contribution is NOT tax-deductible. Your support goes directly toward:
- Maintaining this website
- Continued development of online tools (like the pet diabetes tracker)
- Creating informational and entertaining content for our visitors
We are not a charity or veterinarians. We’re simply a couple advocating for senior pets, creating online content based on our personal experiences.
New Resources for Pet Owners
Diabetes Management Tools
We now offer blank forms for tracking your pet’s diabetic glucose levels:
- Manual Glucose Tracking Form
This Glucose Tracking Form provides a way to record your pet’s glucose levels manually. Once completed, you can:- Enter the readings into our website to use our analytical tools
- Generate average readings across specified time periods
- Create glucose charts for specific time periods
- Maintain an accessible online record that you can print anytime
- Or simply keep the form as a physical record and print new blank forms as needed
- Blank Glucose Curve Form
This specialized form tracks your pet’s glucose readings throughout an entire day. It’s particularly useful when you or your veterinarian want to observe glucose levels throughout the day, including:- Eating times
- Resting periods
- Medication administration
This comprehensive view helps determine appropriate medication dosages and optimal timing for administration.
Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this new chapter. While Belle and Paws may no longer be with us physically, their spirit lives on through this community and the resources we continue to develop for senior pet owners everywhere.
