According to Chase Away, 1 in 3 dogs will develop cancer. Early detection can make a difference in treatment and prognosis.

Print out the “Be Your Dog’s Hero” flyer below and put it on the fridge to remind yourself to take “10 on the 14th” of every month (at least) to look closely at and feel your senior dog’s body from head to toe.

If you’re new to this lumps and bumps business and unclear on why you should keep your eye on them—even though they’re very common for older dogs—I suggest watching the video, “Is it Cancer? Pet Lumps and Bumps” from the VetVid series featuring oncologist Dr. Mona Rosenberg. Find that episode, and others in the series, here.

Chase Away was established by Cera Reusser in memory of Chase, her Labrador Retriever, who passed away from cancer in 2006 at the age of six. The 14th of each month was picked as the monthly check date to honor Chase’s birth date.

Read more about Reusser and Chase and the Chase Away campaign, plus find cancer resources, here.

On Sundays, we like to dig around for fun stuff. We have a ball! (Literally.)

Happy Update!: A couple of years ago, we posted this appreciation of Villalobos Rescue Center and the Animal Planet series that follows their work and the adoptable dogs in their care. We were fond of Ruby, an American Bulldog, who appeared on the show and recently we heard that Ruby is adopted and living a great life! Here’s a note from Ruby’s mom! “Ruby is now in wonderful health and living in Arizona. We adopted her after seeing her on the TV program. We are retired and she goes every place with us.” We’re so happy for Ruby and her new family!

We’ve become big fans of the Animal Planet series “Pit Bulls & Parolees.” Now in its second season, the reality show follows the work of Villalobos Rescue Center (VRC), the largest Pit Bull rescue facility in the country. Founded and run by Tia Torres, VRC rehabilitates Pit Bulls who have been abused and/or abandoned and works to find homes for the dogs—no matter how long it takes.

Tia Torres, founder of Villalobos Rescue Center and star of “Pit Bulls & Parolees.” Image via Animal Planet.

Much of the show is filmed at VRC’s high desert location about an hour northeast of Los Angeles where between 150-200 Pit Bulls are cared for. Torres is aided by her two daughters and two sons, along with staff and the employees who make up the other half of her rescue mission and the show’s title, “Pit Bulls & Parolees.”

In 2006, Torres added the  “The Underdawgz” program to VRC to help parolees transition back to being productive members of their communities. (The idea formed after Torres met her husband, who was then in prison. Unfortunately, he is once again incarcerated.) The show currently features seven parolees who work on the 10-acre VRC property feeding the dogs, cleaning the kennels and learning how to train the Pit Bulls to ready them for adoption.

VRC has found a way to truly specialize in second chances for both dogs and people and from what we can see they work damn hard at it! Not only are we really digging their efforts but we love the balance of tough and caring personalities on the show and the chance to see all the beautiful dogs in VRC’s care.

One of the dogs featured in last night’s episode was Ruby, an American Bulldog. VRC rescued Ruby (formerly Tundra) after Southern California Bulldog Rescue alerted Torres to the dog’s tragic circumstances. Ruby had been used as a bait dog by the despicable human creatures who force dogs to fight.

Thankfully, Ruby has recovered from her severe physical injuries and is now ready to find a forever family that will give her the special love and care that she so deserves. Ruby exuded such charm during her scenes on the show that I practically had the urge to pet the television!

Watch clips from “Pitbulls & Parolees” and find its TV schedule here. Read about the compelling background stories of Torres and her crew here. Find out more about VRC (which is now located in New Orleans) including how you can help, here.

To my mom, who’s also Walter’s mom and angel Daley’s grandma and Mason’s grandma, you are the best! We are so lucky to be loved by you and we love you, too!

Caring for Daley in his elderly years inspired me to start Daley’s Dog Years and become a senior dog advocate. Here you’ll find more than 700 posts related to health, wellness, and senior dog lifestyle.

While the blog is now reserved for occasional updates and special events, join DDY on Facebook for daily shares about the awesomeness of senior dogs as well as tons of tips, tales, and tools for senior dogs and their people!

Daley and I taking time out to be silly while unpacking after our move in 2005 from New York City to Tacoma, Washington.

I receive WebMD’s “Healthy Dogs” e-mail newsletter and I’m loving their recent slideshow “20 Surprising Things Your Pet Can Teach You.” Below are my favorites from the list. Read all 20 tips and see the adorable accompanying photos here.

“Be Silly

Indulging in a little silliness may have serious health benefits. Cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center found a stronger sense of humor in people with healthy hearts than in those who had suffered a heart attack. They conclude that “laughter is the best medicine” – especially when it comes to protecting your heart.

If You Love Someone, Show It

Dogs don’t play hard to get – when they love you, they show you. It’s a good approach for people seeking to strengthen their relationships. A study published in the journal Personal Relationships suggests small, thoughtful gestures can have a big impact on how connected and satisfied couples feel.

Take Naps

You won’t catch your pet going from dawn to dusk without any shut-eye. There’s good evidence humans can benefit from catnaps, too. A study involving about 24,000 people indicates regular nappers are 37% less likely to die from heart disease than people who nap only occasionally. Short naps can also enhance alertness and job performance.

Don’t Hold a Grudge

Part of living in the moment is letting bygones be bygones. Let go of old grudges, and you’ll literally breathe easier. Chronic anger has been linked to a decline in lung function, while forgiveness contributes to lower blood pressure and reduced anxiety. People who forgive also tend to have higher self-esteem.

Stretch Often

Stretching will keep you limber, but the benefits don’t stop there. In a 10-week study, volunteers who did no exercise other than stretching experienced surprising physical changes. Besides improving flexibility, they increased their muscle strength, power, and endurance. Although the study was a small one, the results suggest stretching may be a good alternative for people who have a condition that rules out traditional strength-training.”