The Salty Paw

🌞 Your Dose of Sunshine, Sand & Wagging Tails 🌞

May 2026 · The Swell Dogs

Hey, beach family! 👋

Can you believe it's already May? Down here by the water, the days are getting longer, the surf is getting friendlier, and the dogs — oh, the dogs — are absolutely living their best lives. We hope you are too.

This month's edition of The Salty Paw is one we've been SO excited to put together, because May is absolutely packed with reasons to celebrate. We've got a Cinco de Mayo dog treat recipe that's going to have your pup doing the salsa, a short story that'll make every dog mom (and mom dog!) feel incredibly seen, and a heartfelt tribute to the heroes — human and canine — who gave everything so we could enjoy these beautiful, free days by the ocean.

May is a month of gratitude, joy, and togetherness — and we can't think of a better way to spend it than with good food, warm sunshine, and the best four-legged companions on the planet. Let's dive in! 🌊

The Best Kind of Mom

A Mother's Day Story · Dedicated to Every Dog Mom & Mom Dog

When Mariela's youngest, Diego, loaded the last of his dorm boxes into the minivan and disappeared down the 405, she did what any reasonable empty-nester would do: she drove straight to the shelter and adopted a dog.

The rescue coordinator had described Biscuit as a "mellow, two-year-old Golden Retriever mix, great with kids, very calm disposition." What the coordinator had apparently not yet noticed — and what Mariela's vet would cheerfully point out eleven days later — was that Biscuit was also very, spectacularly, undeniably pregnant.

"How many?" Mariela had whispered, gripping the exam table.

"Seven," said the vet. "Give or take. Congratulations — you're going to be a grandma."

Six weeks later, Mariela had eight dogs. She also had approximately zero regrets.

By Mother's Day, the puppies were fat, stumbling, perpetually astonished little creatures who had just discovered they had legs. Mariela had found loving homes for five of them. Two — a pair of ridiculous, floppy-eared sisters she'd named Churro and Horchata — were staying forever, and everyone who met Mariela understood immediately that this had never really been in question.

On this particular Sunday morning, Mariela decided it was time for the girls' very first trip to Dog Beach. Biscuit, the seasoned matriarch, trotted ahead with the confidence of a dog who had earned her stripes. Churro reached the waterline, was startled by a wave, and immediately sat on Horchata. Horchata retaliated by stealing Churro's stick — a stick Churro had found approximately four seconds ago and already considered her most prized possession. A seagull swooped low. All three dogs lost their minds simultaneously.

Mariela stood ankle-deep in the Pacific, her arms thrown wide, laughing so hard she was crying — the good kind, the kind that fills you all the way up. A passing stranger grinned and called out, "Looks like you've got your hands full!"

"I really, really do," she called back. And she meant it as the greatest compliment she'd ever received.

Paws That Served

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes — Human & Canine

As we watch the waves roll in on Memorial Day weekend — the same ocean that has greeted this country's shores for centuries — we take a quiet moment to remember those who gave everything so that we could stand here, free, with the wind in our hair and our dogs at our side.

Memorial Day is not just a long weekend. It is a promise we keep — to never forget the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice. We hold them in our hearts, every single one.

And we want to take a special moment to honor the military working dogs — the brave K9 heroes who served alongside our troops with unwavering loyalty, courage, and love. These dogs asked nothing and gave everything, guiding their partners through the most dangerous places on earth, offering comfort in the darkest hours, and saving countless lives with nothing but their extraordinary senses and an unbreakable bond with their handlers.

To our fallen heroes — two-legged and four — we say thank you. We remember you. We honor you. Because of your sacrifice, we get to live this beautiful, sun-soaked life by the beach. We do not take a single sunrise for granted.

If you know a veteran or a Gold Star family this Memorial Day, reach out. A simple "I remember and I'm grateful" means more than words can say.

✦ Shop the Vibe ✦

Celebrate May in Style

Fiesta tees. Dog mom gear. Patriotic stickers. Whatever May means to you, we've got the perfect piece to wear it proudly — with that unmistakable SoCal beach attitude. Check out what's new in the shop this month!

Community Corner

Cinco de Mayo fiesta treats? Mother's Day beach walks with your pup? A special tribute photo for Memorial Day? We want to see it all. Tag us and use our hashtags — your pup could be featured in Issue #3!

Until Next Time... 🌅

May is such a beautiful, full-hearted month — and we're so grateful to be sharing it with you and your incredible pups. Whether you're celebrating with a fiesta, honoring a mom, or standing quietly at the water's edge in remembrance, we hope this month wraps around you like a warm SoCal breeze.

We'll be back next month with more stories, more treats (summer edition — think watermelon and coconut 🍉🥥), and all the good vibes the Pacific has to offer. Until then, go hug your dog, call your mom, and take a moment to say thank you to a hero.

The Swell Dogs