- 10 Realtime And Reliable Photo Search Engines http://t.co/HoGUk218 via @zite
- Here they come to save the day! 10 Pet Heroes http://t.co/y3eMGNA2 via @zite
- Check out this article: Kemper’s director leaves http://t.co/CE7Usqk0
- This would've been very cool, I think....Steve Jobs' Dream Of iCar Revealed (VIDEO) http://t.co/ANCjjpwi via @zite
- Dogs helping their people..Dog Is Lifesaver for 3-Year-Old with Diabetes http://t.co/8HUXJWYW via @zite
Dogs Are Better than Men Because…
Jessie, wonderful dog and great companion to her human: Let’s face it! Dogs are great! We are loyal, loving and devoted. Sometimes, we are 
even better than humans…especially men! Now while the following remarks are all in good fun, I think the ladies can relate! Take a peek:
Dogs are better than men because…
1.) …they don’t criticize your friends
2.) …they don’t criticize your driving.
3.) …they are not threatened by female intelligence.
4.) …they don’t bring their friends home for a beer.
5.) …they feel guilty when they have done something wrong.
6.) …they are very forgiving of morning breath.
7.) …they love you even on bad hair days!
8.) …they understand the word “NO!”
Thanks to partipoodle.homestead.com for these humorous thoughts! Made my day!
Video: Pet Travel Safety at the New York Auto Show
If you’re planning a trip cross-country or across town, it’s important to have your pet safely restrained in your vehicle. Check out this video from the recent New York Auto Show that demonstrates some pet travel safety tips.
Help Your Pet Reduce His Carbon Pawprint
With Earth Day coming up tomorrow, there is a lot of focus on taking care of the environment. Here are some ways you and your pet can help:
- Disposing of pet waste. It’s estimated dogs in the US produce 10 million tons of waste, cats 2 million. For dog waste, plastic bags do not decompose in landfills. Using biodegradable bags, which are often flushable, is an ecologically sound alternative. For cat waste, choosing a biodegradable litter is a good choice. Biodegradable litter is made of ingredients like wheat, corn, wheat or old newspapers. Odor control and absorption is often equal to the traditional clumping clay-based litter. Introduce the new litter gradually to minimize litter box avoidance issues.
- Spay/Neuter. Pet reproduction rates for dogs and cats account for 12-20 offspring per year, contributing to the 6-8 million homeless pets in the US. Many area animal shelters provide low cost spay/neuter services. If adopting a shelter pet, spay/neuter has already happened if the pet is of age.
- Sustainable Pet Supplies. A growing number of collars, leashes and pet toys are made with products such as cork, bamboo and hemp. Hemp is anti-fungal and breathable, making it a good choice for pets prone to allergies. It is also very sturdy, resistance to the elements is much higher than cotton. Hemp, cork and bamboo are highly renewable, making them a good ecological choice. Due to governmental regulations, hemp farming is not legal in the US. The majority of hemp used for products is imported from Canada, making the cost of hemp products higher.
Texting and Driving – Big No-No; Spot in Your Lap While Driving? Just as Dangerous?
Party Marty, the cool cat supposedly smarter than the dog in the house: Hey! I came across an interesting article online this week at theweek.com. We all know how dangerous driving and texting can be, but what about those drivers who let their dogs sit on their laps when they drive? That has to be a bit precarious, don’t you think?
According to the source, more than one in five drivers who bring their dogs along for the ride let them climb onto their laps while they drive. While texting has been heralded as the new drunk driving, cruising along with Spot on your lap can be just as dangerous. In fact, two states are considering making it illegal to do so – Rhode Island and Tennessee.
In a 2010 survey conducted by AAA, the results indicated that 21% of drivers who had their dogs in the car with them allowed those dogs on their laps while driving. Seven percent claimed they even fed or gave their dogs water while driving; and five percent confessed to actually playing with their dog while navigating the car. Seriously? Thirty-one percent admitted that having the dogs on their laps did create a distraction. Really?
Did you know that if you have a 10-pound dog unrestrained traveling with you at 50 mph, he can fly forward with 500 pounds of pressure in a crash, and an 80-pound beast going 30 mph in the car can create 2,400 pounds of pressure upon impact? That sounds pretty deadly to me.
While no state prohibits pets in the car, Tennessee and Rhode Island seem to be aggressively pursuing action that would ban an animal from being in one’s life while he or she is operating the vehicle. While fines in Rhode Island will be anywhere from $85.00 to $125.00, in Tennessee, driving with a dog in one’s lap or “between the driver and the driver’s door,” could result in a Class C misdemeanor, along with a $50.00 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
So, where do you think Spot should ride now when in the car? I’m thinking back seat with a restraining device. Safer for all! Don’t worry…we cats are highly independent creatures…we will find our own way to any destination…usually the warm spot near the window!
Estate Planning and Your Pet
If you died unexpectedly, do you have a plan in place for care of your pets?
More pet owners are making provisions in their estate planning for their pet’s care. Most states allow pet owners to establish a trust for their pet. With a trust, property can be set aside for your pet’s care and a trustee named to manage the property.
A new owner for your pet can be named either in your will or irrevocable trust. If you don’t name a new owner, most state laws give ownership to your next of kin. In the will, you can also set aside funds to be given to the new owner for your pet’s care.
Have you planned for your pet’s care?
Info for this post from Whole Dog Journal, March 2012
Funny Pet Video of the Week-Dancing Dogs
In this video, the dogs are pretty cool, but the people look quite ridiculous! Check it out……….
Weekend at the Expo
I participated in the Great KC Pet Expo this past weekend and made some great connections. Followoing are some of the products, services and organizations I learned about through the Expo.
In the booth next to me was a team with a pet product line called Smoochable Rupert. The product originated in the Kansas City area and is manufactured locally as well. Products include pet dental spray (for both dogs and cats) and pet shampoo (unscented). I’ll be writing more about them in the near future, but if you’d like to check them out now, go to www.smoochable-rupert.com.
An organization I wasn’t aware of until the Expo is Johnson County Animal Response Team (JoCART). This is a nonprofit dedicated to helping animals after a disaster. They set up temporary veterinary relief shelters in disaster areas, work to reunite lost pets with their owners and coordinate animal evacuation activities. For more information on JoCART, go to www.jocartks.org.
The Knnsas City Ferret Hotline information on care of ferrets, fostering for homeless ferrets and helps coordinate boarding for ferrets whose owners are out of town temporarily. For more information, go to www.ferrethotline.com.
I also met a couple of great ladies from the KC area that happen to blog about pets. Emily Hawkins authors a blog called Waldo Bungle and you can check it out at www.waldobungle.wordpress.com. Crystal Wayward authors a great blog called Wayward Dogs, check it out at www.waywarddogs.com.
Here are some of the people and dogs seen at the Expo
It was a great time, met lots of nice people and pets and learned a lot too!
It’s Tornado Season! Are Your Pets Protected?
Jessie, the responsible dog: Well, it’s tornado season! What are you going to do? If you are Party Marty, the crazy cat, you run outside and play in the storm like a fool. If you are like me, you plan ahead…like this:
Find a safe area in your home large enough for your family and pets…usually a basement or the room most interior to your home on the lowest level.
Do some practice drills getting the family together quickly during calm weather. To keep the place pet-friendly, remove any dangerous tools or toxic products.
Have a crate for every animal at the ready. If possible, place these underneath a sturdy piece of furniture.
Be aware of your pet’s usual hiding places so you can find them in an emergency.
Be sure to have your pet properly tagged with identification.
After the storm has passed, keep your pets on leashes or in their crates until you are certain it is safe. Be aware of any objects that could cause harm to your pet. Keep pets away from any food or water sources that may have been contaminated during the storm and keep them away from power lines that have gone down and from any strewn debris.
As their environment may have become somewhat altered, allow your pets time to sniff around and get comfortable again to avoid confusion on their part.
Thanks to care2.com for this insightful information.
Chip Bags Can Be Deadly
I just finished reading a story on the PETA.org site of a woman whose dog suffocated because of a mylar potato chip bag.
It seems Blue was quite a mischievous fellow, escaping when he got the chance or getting into the trash when his people were gone. One day, while his mom was at the store, Blue decided to raid the garbage can and found a real treasure, an empty potato chip bag with some crumbs left inside.
He stuck his head into the bag all the way to get the crumbs and the bag got stuck on his head. In his panic to get air, the mylar bag became a suction and he was unable to get it off. He eventually lost consciousness and suffocated by the time his mom got home.
The danger of mylar chip bags to pets and children is not widely known. Blue’s family is hoping to bring focus to this issue in the hopes chip companies will begin putting warnings on the bags and eventually change the bag materials.
In the meantime, if you have empty chip bags that are made of mylar, please cut them into pieces before putting them in the trash. Blue’s family has established a Facebook page to enlighten people on the danger of mylar bags. Check out their page at https://www.facebook.com/PreventPetSuffocation
Happy Easter!
I found this picture yesterday on Pinterest and loved it. Have a great Easter!
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