<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><DIV>The Dog House Gangs input on floors.</DIV>
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<DIV>When I started to remodel (now on hold) I wanted to try and do what would work for Empress Ruby Doo </DIV>
<DIV>and me as well. With 4 dogs, 3 cats (Ayla was hit by a car and a senior that I just recently was begged to save)</DIV>
<DIV>and the guinea pig plus my two granddogs who visit I knew carpet was out of the question due to muddy paw prints </DIV>
<DIV>and the digging to get the spot just right. My adult daughter is also not very good about taking her shoes off when she comes in.</DIV>
<DIV>Ruby Doo has had severe hip dysplasia since she was a year old and one hip surgery at 4yrs old. The other one was delayed because </DIV>
<DIV>of the lack of muscle in her hips and back legs. With a diet change in March she has begun to gain muscle (Yippee)! </DIV>
<DIV>But there is still weakness and she slips easily.</DIV>
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<DIV>For the kitchen I went with uneven slate and (eventually when I get my back fixed) the laundry room. </DIV>
<DIV>I have had it in about 2 years and love it! I use a mat sealer vs the high gloss to help reduce slippage. </DIV>
<DIV>She has great footing in the kitchen and can actually run on it. I happen to love the uneven natural slate tiles. </DIV>
<DIV>The color is California Gold but it actually is more browns, golds and greens. </DIV>
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<DIV>The rest of the house I have Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors. I love them! The draw back is that I do need runners </DIV>
<DIV>spread throughout as Ruby Doo can't get her footing on a long stretch of hardwood and hair shows up 10 minutes after I </DIV>
<DIV>vacuum but I don't have to worry about steam cleaning carpet all the time. Of course because of the dirt/natural oils in</DIV>
<DIV>their feet I can get paw prints. My floor care is not really that hard. I vacuum then use the floor cleaner and I am done.</DIV>
<DIV>The big trick is to keep the furkidz off the floor for at least 15-20 minutes after it dries. Thank goodness for pet gates.</DIV>
<DIV>I have an wool area rug (6x8) in the living room that is awesome and was a steal when I bought it. Because it has different natural </DIV>
<DIV>shades of green (lighter to dark) it doesn't show the dirt/hair as much that is until I get the Dyson going on it. LOL</DIV>
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<DIV>I love that I went this way. I am sure Ruby Doo appreciates that I remodel with her in mind. I also put up 52" wainscotting</DIV>
<DIV>for Tucker (ATB) who loved to chew the walls as a buppy. Ahhhhh ...how we alter our lives to accomadate our furkidz.</DIV>
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<DIV>Droolz,</DIV>
<DIV>Karen and The Dog House Gang</DIV></div></body></html>