Welcome to our dedicated 'For the Love of Dogs' hub at A Better Choice Homestead! Our beloved canine companions deserve the very best, and just like us, their well-being thrives on wholesome nutrition and natural care. This page is your go-to resource for empowering you to provide a healthier, happier life for your furry family members. From crafting nutritionally complete homemade dog food and whipping up wholesome treats to exploring the benefits of natural topical salves for common ailments, you'll find practical, loving ways to support your dog's vitality, naturally, from nose to tail.

Meet the Pack

Sky

Sky is the newest addition to the pack. She joined our family in the fall of 2019 and had quite the journey getting here. She originated from a southern state where she spent the better part of her first 6-months of life rotating through families and shelters. Everytime she was adopted, she would escape and end up back in doggie jail. Eventually she was fostered through an organization that works with a central New York rescue service and found her way here. It took her at least a year to settle in and realize that she belongs. She is the sweetest, funniest, and NEEDIEST fur baby of all times. We lover her desperately! We believe her to be a husky shepherd mix, born in January of 2019.

Molly: Our Resident Miracle & Inspiration

Molly was born in June of 2015 and we adopted her through our local rescue shelter in October of that year. After losing Abby in August, Molly arrived as a spindly, petrified pup who wouldn't come near me for almost a year. Today, she is my sidekick—I typically introduce her as our "Ambassador of Fun & Friendship".

Molly has faced a gauntlet of medical challenges. By age one, she was diagnosed with Epilepsy. In 2023, she battled recurring Pancreatitis that nearly took her from us three times and resulted in a third troubling diagnosis! Just as we found a balance with her Hypoparathyroidism, life threw us another curveball in late 2025: a Diabetes diagnosis.

Managing a dog with Epilepsy, Pancreatitis, and Diabetes is a near clinical impossibility because the dietary needs for one often trigger the others. But Molly is a fighter, and her needs drove me to create a solution when standard options failed her. She is currently seizure-free, her blood sugar is managed, and she is thriving on a diet built with clinical precision.

Charlie

Charlie, aka Charlie Brown, aka Mr. Brown is a love bug! He came to us through an online pet finder app. I was looking for a companion dog for Abby after we lost Kicks and since Abby was an Australian Shepherd, I thought a Border Collie would be a good choice. I was wrong in thinking that so it's a good thing Charlie is a mix of who-knows-what and that he is very laid back. He spent the first 8-9 months of his life in someone's backyard, in a cage. No human contact, no toys, no playmates. When we adopted him in May of 2018 he was 9 months old, completely shut down and a shell of a dog. A few months after joining our family, Abby suddenly passed away. I was in mourning over the loss of Abby, truly heartbroken, and knew he needed a companion. He really blossomed after Molly was adopted. They are best friends and inseparable. And he is my boy! It took me a few months to process my grief but even through it, I made a dedicated effort to help and nurture this amazing little boy.

The Molly & Charlie Show

Molly is the only dog that Charlie will play with. Other dogs scare him. Sky tries so hard to get him to play, but Charlie quickly finds a quiet place to hide from her. I can't blame him - Sky is big and rambunctious! It makes my heart so happy that, in Molly, Charlie has found a trusted friend.

(More To Come)

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