Threat to Dog Protection Introduced in Farm Bill: CALL YOUR REPS NOW!

We’re now facing one of the most serious threats to dog protection laws ever—and we need your help to stop it.

The House of Representatives’ Farm Bill contains an amendment from Rep. Steve King (R-IA) that could wipe out dog protection laws nationwide. Laws banning dog meat sales and those cracking down on puppy mills are all in jeopardy.

*And it doesn’t stop there: this amendment could also repeal laws banning horse slaughter—along with environmental protection, worker safety, and other important laws.

The Congressional Farm Bill amendment would nullify every state law that cracks down on puppy mills and bans the sale of dog meat.

If the King amendment passes, these could all could be nullified.

TAKE ACTION
Please make a brief, polite phone call to your U.S. Representative urging support of the Denham-Schrader amendment, which would strip the King amendment from the Farm Bill.

Here’s what you say: “As a constituent concerned about preventing cruelty to animals, I’m calling to urge you to support the Denham-Schrader amendment because I want animals to have protection from cruelty.”

This will only take five minutes of your time and it means SO much. Every call made equals a vote in favor of animals everywhere.

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Building the Perfect Fence for Your Pet and Your Home

From treats to clothes to expensive beds, pet owners have a habit of treating their four-legged friends like their children. In fact, a 2011 survey conducted by Kelton Research revealed that 81% of pet owners consider their pets to be equal members of the family.

And just as couples protect their children from danger by locking doors and creating an environment that is “kid-proof,” pet owners have the same responsibility.

For those with a yard, a fence is essential.

There are many considerations to make when purchasing and installing a fence, and these go beyond how much area needs to be fenced in, how high the fence should be and how deep it should go to prevent pets from escaping underneath it. Given that the construction and installment of a fence is an investment, it’s also important to select the material that meets your requirements for maintenance, durability, privacy, and aesthetics.

Mesh Fencing: It is no secret that dogs, and particularly puppies, have boundless energy. Additionally, they can be escape artists and will quickly gnash holes in even the strongest material. While a mesh fence may sound like a bad idea, it can actually work well as a temporary solution for containing your pets and even your children.

Strong poles allow the fence to stand unwavering, and fine woven material prevents teeth and paws from catching hold. Unfortunately, however, this fencing material may not do that much for privacy or decoration. It is easy to see through the fence into the inner sanctum of the yard, and it can detract from the overall look and feel of the exterior of your home.

Chain Link Fencing: Unlike mesh, chain link fencing is a more permanent and durable solution for keeping pets and children from wandering away. It is sturdy, weatherproof and low maintenance. Chain link fences are also cheaper than some of the alternatives and can be purchased anywhere from $1 to $4 per square foot if you install it on your own.

If you require professional installation, this can increase the cost per square foot to $10 or more. While a chain link fence is great for a pet, it may not be ideal for containing older children who can climb over them using the foot-sized holes or exit through the gate. Additionally, the aesthetics of a chain link fence are lacking, and there is very little privacy; neighbors and passers-by can see right into your yard.

Wood Fencing: Wood fencing is a classic that not only provides a preventative barrier for pets and children, but can be customized to truly compliment any home and yard. It is durable, and due to the many design options that are available, it can add style to your home while serving as a privacy barrier.

One important aspect of building this kind of fence is selecting the type of wood. Following are three popular options for wood fencing:

• Redwood: Redwood stands strong against insects and rot, and due to its makeup, holds many types of finishes. It can cost in the $20 range per linear foot, however.
• Cedar: Rot, insects and moisture don’t stand a chance with a fence made of cedar. This wood can also be stained or weathered naturally to a gray color.
• Pine: A neutral, soft wood, pine doesn’t resist termites or rot, but it can be treated for outdoor use and can be more affordable than other wood options.

Vinyl Fencing: Vinyl fencing forms the perfect option for the appearance-conscious homeowner who is looking for a tasteful, low-maintenance, durable solution for their yard. There are private, semi-private, picket and post, and rail styles, and this type of fence is sturdy and makes for a challenging climb for escape artists, whether human or animal. Vinyl fencing for an area that is 150 linear feet can run between $2,500 and $3,500, including installation.

Composite Fencing: Composite fencing may be the new material on the block, but its reputation for easy maintenance and natural appearance is growing quickly. Composites can include up to 100 percent recycled material and can compete with wooden fencing when it comes to privacy and design possibilities. But this green approach comes with a higher cost, which has made it controversial in the marketplace. Expect prices that can range from 25 to 40 percent more for composite fencing compared to its wood counterpart.

Homeowners looking to fence in their yard face a challenging investment. While the safety of children and pets is paramount, there are other factors that come into play when selecting a fencing material, including maintenance, privacy, and aesthetics.

When purchasing and installing a fence, make the most of your investment by carefully considering both your budget and your fencing needs.
 

About the Author

Chris Long, a long-time store associate at a Home Depot in Illinois, writes for the Home Depot blog. He enjoys writing on everything from lumber to electric fence tips.

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Cat-Lovers Will Relish in Delight Reading New “Simon’s Cat” Book, “Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos”

It’s funny, it’s enthralling, it’s entertaining, and it’s all about cats. Need I say more?

Well if you’re intrigued then you must pick up a copy of “Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos” by award-winning British animator Simon Tofield.

“Simon” started out as a YouTube phenomenon and now has over 280 million views! But he evolved into a “novel’ sensation soon after…! Like all great cartoon creations, from Peanuts to Garfield, “Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos” continues to evolve by introducing new characters and new storylines much to my delight!

“Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos” is one of the funniest, most perceptive outtakes on cats and cat behavior that I’ve ever seen. Tofield humorously and honestly illustrates Simon’s life and what happens when he meets his match—an adorable new kitten who is half the size of Simon’s Cat, but double the trouble! When Simon finds the kitten in a cardboard box and takes him home, the new cuddly arrival turns everything upside down—literally. The kitten looks sweet and perfectly harmless but is actually trouble with a capital “T.” Tofield’s superb illustrations and sense of humor shines through on every page.

The riotous power struggles between the felines will resonate with anyone who has brought a new kitten (or any pet) into the mix at home. (Tofield has several cats in real life and bases the book’s believable personalities on his first-hand feline observations.)

“Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos” is illustrated with a collection of elegant, simple, black-and-white drawings that depict the cats’ interactions with great imagination and humor on every page. Tofield’s ability to present the actions of these cats in a few well-chosen lines is perfectly on point. As he does so skillfully with his online videos, Tofield captures the idiosyncrasies of these creatures that cat lovers know all too well.

No dialogue or words are needed.

There are no language barriers in Simon’s Cat. It’s all about subtle gestures, body language, and posturing (tails up! eyes wide! paws out!) as they go about their daily existence, vying for food, attention, and a good place to nap. But it’s also about relationships, love, camaraderie, animals, humor, play—and the fleeting, funny moments in life.

As a bonus, there’s a section in the back of the book where Tofield teaches readers how to draw all of his characters, including Simon’s Cat, Kitten, Hedgehog, Simon, and more. This awesome edition also contains an exclusive removable sticker sheet featuring the adorable feline that will put a smile on the faces of all readers!

You can catch Simon’s lovable antics in two previous books as well: try “Simon’s Cat: In His Very Own Book” and “Simon’s Cat: Beyond the Fence.”

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Friskies® Presents 2nd Annual “THE FRISKIES,” the Major Award for Best New Internet Cat Videos of the Year Featuring $25k in Cash Prizes

Renowned Comedian and Cat Owner Michael Ian Black to Host “The Friskies” Award Show in New York City

Calling all cat video creators: “The Friskies” is back!

It’s time to capture your cat’s funniest or most adventurous moment and enter “The Friskies” for your opportunity to win a $5,000 cash prize and a custom-made gold plated Friskies Catuette, and take part in the live Award Show in New York City this fall.

Visit www.TheFriskies.com to learn more about how to enter now through July 15, 2013.

Debuting in 2012 as the major award show for the best new Internet cat videos of the year brought to you by Friskies® cat food, “The Friskies” returns for a second year to celebrate the pop culture phenomenon of cat videos and the cats who inspire them. Renowned comedian and cat owner Michael Ian Black will host the Award Show on October 15, 2013 in New York City to award $25,000 in cash prizes to winners in four categories and the popular Fan Favorite from 12 finalists. Category winners will be determined by public vote, and Fan Favorite will be chosen by public text vote on the day of the Award Show. The show will be broadcast live on TheFriskies.com. Friskies also will award more than 250,000 cans of Friskies cat food to 20 cat charity organizations nationwide as part of the program.

“We’re thrilled to bring “The Friskies” back for another year. The Contest celebrates the creativity and quirkiness of cats, and rewards those who showcase these unique qualities through the art form of cat videos,” said Shawn Brain, Friskies assistant brand manager. “We’re expecting thousands of entries this year. Cat video creators and viewers may participate by entering their videos in the Contest, voting for and sharing their favorites, helping our 20 cat charity partners earn donations of Friskies cat food, and tuning in to see Michael Ian Black host an all-new award show live from New York City.”

“Films may have the OSCARS®, but cat videos have ‘The Friskies,’ and I can’t wait to host the show,” said Black. “It’s going to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen. ”

“The Friskies” Contest Overview and Judging Panel:

The Call for Entries is open now through July 15, 2013. Cat video creators may upload videos up to two minutes in length at www.TheFriskies.com in one of four categories:

• Cat Comedy: Your cat(s) in an humorous situation
• Catventure: An indoor cat adventure
• Rescue Cat:  Your cat(s) adopted from a rescue group or shelter enjoying life
• Pursuit of Food/Treat: Your cat(s) pursuing or engaging with their cat food or treat(s)

All entries will be evaluated by an eclectic panel of judges with strong ties to popular cat culture. Judges will evaluate each entry using the following criteria to select 20 Semi-Finalists, five from each category: originality & overall artistic impression (25%), audience appeal & entertainment quality (25%), sense that there’s a story being told (25%), and portraying cat’s perspective (25%). The 2013 “The Friskies” judging panel includes:

• Will Braden: Creator of “Henri le Chat Noir”
• Mick Szydlowski: 2012 “The Friskies” Grand Prize Winner for “Oskar’s First Toys”
• Abbie Moore: Executive Director, Adopt-a-Pet.com

The 20 Semi-Finalists will be awarded a one-year supply of Friskies cat food and Friskies® Party Mix brand cat treats. The Semi-Finalists will be announced August 6, 2013 to kick off the public voting phase of the Contest. Cat video fans will have the opportunity to view, share and vote (limit one (1) vote per entry/per person/e-mail address per day) for their favorite Semi-Finalists’ videos through noon ET September 16, 2013. Based on the popular public vote, the top three from each category will be named Finalists, and will win a trip to New York City to take part in the Friskies Award Show October 15, 2013, live from New York City. One winner from each of the four categories will be announced during the show, and will receive a Friskies Catuette and a $5,000 cash prize. One Fan Favorite will be named based on public text vote on the day of the Award Show, and will receive a Friskies Catuette and a $5,000 cash prize.

Contest Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age or older at the time of entry (19 years of age or older if a resident of AL or NE.) Entry period ends at 12:00:01 p.m. ET on 7/15/13. See Official Rules at www.TheFriskies.com. Sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO.

About Friskies

The Friskies® brand offers a complete line of great-tasting cat foods, including more than 60 wet, dry and treat varieties. Friskies is manufactured by Nestlé Purina PetCare, a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis; Mo. Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A. – the world’s largest food company.

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Prepping Your Pet for Flea and Tick Season

Warmer weather is now here, and with that development, you’ll surely want to be spending more time outdoors with your pet. After being cooped up inside all winter, you and your dog will need some fresh air and some space to roam about. This fresh air and exercise can be good for you and your pup, but there might be some hidden dangers lurking in the great outdoors:  fleas and ticks.

Even the most attentive of pet owners can run into problems with fleas and ticks for their pets, but there are steps you can take to prevent and solve any pest problem you might encounter with your dog. Here are some tips for preventing and solving any pet pest problems.

Preventing Pests from Finding Your Pets

First, you’ll want to start with preventing any problem as much as possible. Ensure that your pet is on a flea and tick preventative medication to reduce the likelihood they will run into problems. There are both topical and oral medications you can give your pet, and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Topical applications may prevent both fleas and ticks, but can be messy at times while you wait for them to spread across the skin. Oral preventatives are less messy and effective, but often only prevent fleas and not ticks. Consult with your vet to see which medication is right for your pet, and make sure you adhere to the medication plan each month.

Solving a Flea Problem

When it comes to fleas, it won’t take long for you to discover if your cat or dog has tracked them inside. Excessive scratching will probably be the biggest tell of a flea problem, and if your pet has short, light fur, you may be able to see the fleas on their stomachs or legs. If your pet spends time in your bed or on the couch, it’s likely they’ll move to biting you in addition to your pet.

Luckily, while fleas can be an annoying pest, as long as you catch the problem early, it can be a simple one to treat. The best way to get rid of fleas is to drown them, so make sure you give your cat or dog a thorough scrub down to eliminate any fleas that might be on their body. These fleas will try to jump their way to safety, so make sure you scrub, scrub, scrub. If a regular bath won’t work for your pet, there are flea and tick shampoos you can apply.

After your pet is flea-free, next you’ll want to ensure that your home is rid of any fleas that might have taken residence there. Look for a flea or tick spray at your local pet store and spray your house diligently. (Note that these sprays oftentimes have an odor, so you’ll want to ensure you open your windows and air out your home while spraying, or choose a natural spray that doesn’t use harsh chemicals.) Go through the house and spray both sides of couch cushions, pillows, mattresses, carpets, rugs, and any other surfaces that you can’t simply wash clean. Also be sure to wash all dog bedding; your sheets and blankets; and any other fabric surface where these pests may have taken up a home. Some people recommend vacuuming carpet and dumping the contents into an outdoor garbage bag to rid the carpet of any hiding pests.

If your pet keeps running into flea problems due to conditions outside your home, be extra vigilant in the dry spring months that you don’t develop a problem again. The rainy season will help drown fleas that live outdoors, but you’ll want to make sure that you keep your home pest-free after spending time conquering your problem.

Taking Care of Ticks

While scratching can be an indicator of a flea problem, ticks can be just as problematic but with fewer warning signs. If you take your pet into a wooded area for long walks, make sure you carefully inspect your pet when you return home. Common places that ticks bury themselves are paw pads, ears, and near the tail base, but they could find a home anywhere. Make sure you check your pet carefully each time they come back inside to prevent a tick problem.

If you do spot a tick on your pet, it’s best to try and remove it as soon as possible to reduce the chance your dog can develop a tick-related disease, such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. On a recent episode of Who Let the Dogs Out, veterinarian Karen Halligan provided the following tips to remove a tick:

• When removing a tick, wear gloves and use forceps or tweezers to remove the pest.
• Grab onto the tick where the head is closest to the pet’s body, as close to the skin as possible, and remove it with one swift motion.
• Place the tick into a jar with alcohol and put a lid on it. Make sure the head is still attached and not in your pet’s skin. If you think part of the tick still remains in your pet’s skin, take your pet to the vet for an examination.
• Watch the affected areas for a few days to ensure the skin heals properly. A small welt near the affected site is normal, but if you notice any skin discoloration, take your pet to the vet immediately.

 

Author Bio:
Rainier Fuclan is an animal lover and health nut. You can usually see him running with his dog around the park or having fun with his cat at home, when he’s not writing.

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