Recently, an article was published called, “10 Colleges with Successful Pet Therapy Programs.”

I think it dovetails well with you guys- my audience – and thought you might want to check it out. It was written by the staff at Best Colleges Online and is pretty darn good. I think a lot of people want to get involved in helping animals or helping animals help people, but don’t know how.

This is a good road map to start with.

Pet therapy programs sound like such a great idea, and they certainly are. In nursing homes, hospitals, and yes, even schools, people can find love, comfort, and relaxation with the help of a furry friend. With the help of a trained therapy dog, it’s possible to find increased happiness, lowered blood pressure, and an improvement in overall well-being. Students in college find that pet therapy programs are especially helpful when it comes to busting the stress of finals, and several schools have begun to bring in dogs during these times on an occasional, and sometimes even permanent, basis. If only for a day, these dogs turn into the stars of the college, attracting hundreds of students at a time to give them love and attention, while giving them a bright spot amid the drudgery of finals week. Here, we’ll take a look at 10 of the very best pet therapy programs available in schools today, and learn what makes them work so well for the students and animals that benefit from them.

1. Yale Law

Students at Yale Law Library can check out books, newspapers, and a sweet little border terrier mix, Monty. A certified library therapy dog, Monty is available for 30-minute sessions of puppy stress relief. “General Montgomery” is even listed in the law library catalog, including a humorous description. Professors like Rajita Sinha appreciate the effort, pointing out that “it’s really great that the Yale Law School is recognizing the need for addressing stress in the students, because students … need to learn ways of handling it and need help at different points in the semester.” Interest has been high, and the free visits with Monty are popular among students. Sebastian Swett, a law student at Yale, checked out Monty to escape the daily grind at Yale and shared his insight about the experience: “I went with a couple of friends, and we could just enjoy sitting around with a dog, not thinking about classes or jobs or any of the other crazy aspects of law school. Dogs, at least the dogs I’ve known, love people regardless of who they are, and there is something comforting about that.”

1. UConn

At the University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library, the school shares a variety of animal activities to help students relax. Students in the library can visit with therapy dogs to de-stress and deal with anxiety. The program was called “Paws to Relax” and available during the super-stressful finals week on campus. The program has reportedly been expanded to include cats as well, for the ultimate in lazy relaxation. In addition to finals week, UConn brings in therapy pets after particularly stressful situations, including suicides and deadly automobile accidents.

1. Occidental College

Occidental College shares a variety of free stress relievers with students during finals week, including Zumba classes and massage. But perhaps the most fun and calming stress-busting activity available to Oxy students is a visit from Therapy Dogs International. During finals week, the organization brought in 20 dogs trained in stress relief for two hours, a short but fun escape from the drudge of finals work and stress. Photos from the scene full of smiles and laughter make it obvious that the students (and dogs) really enjoyed the experience.

1. Fordham University

The pet therapy program at Fordham University has proven to be wildly popular. During one visit, 25 students were expected to attend, but 200 showed up, and all were happy to wait patiently for their turn to cuddle with one of the six dogs visiting that day. Fordham freshman Christina Sliwak enjoyed the therapy day, and it came just at the right time for her: “My midterms just ended, but I’m just really stressed out about school and work 24/7. So this is very relaxing.”

1. Rochester Institute of Technology

The Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf offers “Ruff Relief” for students, a quick visit from therapy dogs specially trained to help kids relax. Right before finals started, they were a welcome distraction from school stress, and students commented that it reminded them of home. The dogs enjoyed it as well: NTID director of financial planning and budgeting Michael Servé says that his own therapy dogs “really enjoy going to colleges and meeting the students.” Servé shared that the faculty and staff enjoyed the relaxation as well. After a successful initial visit, the institute has plans to make pet therapy a regular thing, bringing them in during Friday Pulse Happy Hours.

1. Tufts

In between cram sessions, Tufts students can sneak out to have some fun with dogs brought in to residential halls. During their first visit, more than 100 people came in just to see six or eight dogs, enjoying the opportunity to pet them and even take pictures while hanging out with friends. Resident director Michael Bliss says it works because “there’s just something about the inherent happiness of dogs. I think students can tap into that and feel that energy.” Tufts has had several visits from therapy dogs in the past few years, usually around stressful times like midterms and finals. The events are fun stress-busters and great entertainment as students tested their response to commands like “high five” and “sleep.” Freshman Jonathan Paradise’s sentiment best expresses the moment for students: “This event absolutely made my day.”

1. UC Riverside

At UC Riverside, dog therapy comes in the Therapy Fluffies group, specially trained dogs who can hand out licks and wagging tails to stressed-out students. The dogs are offered as part of UCR’s finals stress-relief program. Just in 2010, almost 1,000 students enjoyed a visit with a therapy dog during finals week, and a drop in stress right along with it. Of course, the dogs have a great time too, soaking up loads of attention from students who are starved for puppy love. UCR mental health educator Stacey Grady says, “For the sake of your mental health, come and pet a puppy!”

1. Caldwell College

Now in its second year, the Caldwell College Counseling Center offers a pet therapy program for students during the week of finals. With dogs from Therapy Dogs International and Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, students at Caldwell are able to visit with dogs on campus, one of them even dressed as Santa. Lots of smiles, laughs, and hugs went on as nearly 20 dogs visited the campus this year. Students enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the dogs, as so many of them had to leave dogs at home when they went off to college. The dog visit was a welcome break for sophomore Sarah Sledgeski: “I’m so busy with finals, but to be able to do this means the world to me. I’m very grateful.”

1. Oberlin College

Oberlin College students can take advantage of “Puppy Therapy,” an event started to cut down on the cloud of stress on campus during finals time. Junior Corey Spiro, a peer health advocate with the Center for Leadership in Health Promotion, coordinated the event. He says it’s a great program because “therapy dogs have been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, and help alleviate depression, ADHD, and a host of other health issues.” Paws to Pet staff brought their dogs to campus, allowing students to relax while doting and “loving on” dogs. The response was great, with more than 500 people RSVPing for the event to enjoy their time with the four-legged therapists on campus.

10. Mercy College

Each day at Mercy College, students have the opportunity to spend time with a therapy dog, a black Labrador retriever named Tuesday. She works in the office with the school’s director of counseling and comes to the office daily. She’s available for walks, playtime, and visits, and all students have to do is stop by the office. Additionally, Tuesday is available for counseling sessions and comfort during difficult discussions, making her an amazing resource for Mercy College to have on hand all the time

Cats & pit bulls to benefit from low-cost spay/neuter surgeries

You, my beloved readers, can help put an end to a tragic situation…

Each year, thousands of kittens and puppies wind up in shelters as you know. Many are euthanized as a result of accidental litters from pets that are not spayed or neutered.

In fact, 11,000 pets in this country are euthanized daily – that’s half of the 8 million pets that land in shelters each year, according to a PetSmart Charities study.

Not all of these pets start out homeless.

Half of U.S. pet owners who’ve had a pregnant dog or cat say the pregnancy happened “by accident.”

Spaying/neutering at an early age is the best way to prevent unplanned litters and also has health benefits for pets. Many people don’t realize that operations as early as 8 to 10 weeks is safe for most pets – and waiting longer puts you at risk for an unplanned litter.

So I’m helping PetSmart Charities spread the word about early spay/neutering because it’s one the best ways (in the top three) to save homeless pets and curb the pet overpopulation problem in the US.

PetSmart Charities, the nation’s largest funder of spay/neuter initiatives, recently announced a NEW $1 million national grant program to fund high-quality, affordable spay/neuter operations to save the lives of pets that are at the highest risk for euthanasia: cats and pit bull terriers-these guys have that high risk due to overcrowding in shelters, which is due to overpopulation, etc.

Do you see how the circle works? If I were a graphic artist I would make an infographic but I’m not so I can’t. I did find one that’s to the right though from Pawesome.net.

The new PetSmart Charities grant program builds on the group’s efforts to:

- improve spay/neuter rates

- reduce shelter overcrowding

-increase pet adoption

Since 2007, PetSmart Charities has provided $26.3 million in grants that have subsidized almost 1 million spay/neuter surgeries in the United States.

Today, this year, the new grant program will help 65 nationwide non-profit spay/neuter clinics provide high-quality, affordable spay/neuter surgeries for more than 23,000 cats and pit bull terriers, ultimately reducing the homeless pet population by tens of thousands of at-risk cats and dogs that would otherwise wind up in shelters because of unplanned litters, according to Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.

Four million adoptable pets are euthanized every year in the United States because they aren’t adopted.

“Approximately 34 percent of dogs and cats in U.S. households are not spayed or neutered yet the procedure is one of the most effective ways to reduce the homeless pet overpopulation,” said Della Maddalena. “With our new national grant program and our ongoing efforts to make affordable spay/neuter available to the public, PetSmart Charities is addressing the root cause of pet homelessness and this will have a national impact on reducing shelter intake and, ultimately, the euthanasia of adoptable pets.”

Lori Redmon, president/CEO of the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville agrees.

“Shelters do their best to find forever homes for all of their cats and dogs that are loving pets, but unplanned litters quickly lead to overcrowding, and tragically, too many wonderful pets are at risk for euthanasia. With the grant from PetSmart Charities, we will be able to perform 200 more spay/neuter surgeries and give some much-needed help to cats and pit bull terriers that are especially at risk.”

“Beat the Heat” and “Primp Your Pit”

PetSmart Charities’ new grant program will support two spay/neuter campaigns:

·         “Beat the Heat” was held in February 2012 to spay female cats before they go into heat, and prevented 17,000 unplanned litters during the “kitten season” spring months.

·         “Primp Your Pit” will be held in August 2012, giving clinics resources to spay or neuter pit bull terriers. This breed, in particular, ends up in shelters in large numbers due to the myths and negative media and public perceptions that are associated with pit bulls. Search BSL or pit bulls on ThoughtsFurPaws.com for more information on that (don’t get me started about myths on these sweet, gorgeous, loving dogs…)

Through these special campaigns, spay/neuter clinics receive:

1. grant funds to help lower the cost of spay/neuter for the public
2. professionally-developed marketing materials to educate the public
3. funding and support to advertise and promote the campaigns in local communities

To find high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services locally, the public can go online here to access a free searchable database made possible through a partnership between PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®).

How to Donate to Save Pets’ Lives

Donations allow PetSmart Charities to offer these types of grant programs and resources that support local clinics and shelters across the nation. Members of the public can join the fight to end pet homelessness by making a tax-deductible donation online, by email at gifts@petsmartcharities.org or via phone at 623-587-2826.

Stay up to date on the lives that are being saved through PetSmart Charities’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savehomelesspets.

About PetSmart Charities®

Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal-welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $134 million in grants and programs benefiting animal-welfare organizations and has helped save the lives of nearly 5 million pets through its in-store adoption program. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS (7387).

MTV’s award-winning documentary series True Life is looking to tell the stories of young pet owners whose lives are being disrupted due to a certain pet that they love…

- Is the problem with the animal… or the human? 

- Who is being affected? 

- What needs to happen moving forward? 

If you appear to be 15-28 years old and have an issue with the pet in your home, MTV wants to hear your story!!!

*** Please email them at pet@mtvn.com and include your name, phone number, location, a recent photo and a brief explanation about how your pet is affecting your life and those around you in a negative manner; and tell them that ThoughtsFurPaws.com sent you. ***

Last Monday, Iams announced their AWESOME new Facebook contest: “Play Young, Stay Young!”

Each week, for eight weeks, the team at Iams will pick one cat and one dog winner based on a photo and 100-word essay submission from pet parents. It’s super-simple to enter!

They’re basically looking for pets that essentially refuse to act their age…!

Each winning animal will receive a year’s supply of Iams Senior Plus! They’ll have a total of 16 winners by June 3!

So to help Iams get their contest started, as an official Iams blogger, I wanted to ask you, my devoted readers, for some help.

-  Do you have tips on how to keep YOUR super-senior (11+) pets staying and feeling young? What do you do to ensure the ongoing health of your super-senior pets?

Please read below for the full press release details of the contest; and look forward to more posts from me on Iams throughout April, May and June! Every couple of Saturdays, I’ll be posting the Honorable Mention photo/essay contest winners for you all to see!

“In honor of their newest formula, Senior Plus, today, IAMS is launching a national contest on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/IAMS) calling all pet parents of dogs and cats age 11 and older to put their animal’s best paw forward for the chance to win a year’s supply of food. With as many as 33 million pets in the U.S. in the double-digit age bracket, IAMS created this contest as a fun and playful way to shine a spot light on those pets who don’t allow age to get in the way of the games they play, while educating consumers about the unique nutritional needs for pets 11 and older.

Starting today through June 3, each week, based on a photo and brief essay, the team at IAMS will select a dog and cat that exemplify how 11+ pets can play young, to stay young. Interested pet parents should visit www.facebook.com/IAMS to enter their cat or dog into the contest. A total of 16 pets (eight dogs and eight cats) will receive a year’s supply of IAMS Senior Plus and be featured on the IAMS Facebook page.

“On the heels of introducing our new Senior Plus formula, we launched the ‘Play Young, Stay Young’ contest to offer pet parents a fun and unique opportunity to celebrate their 11 and older four-legged family members with the chance to win free food for a year,” said Laura Lewis, external relations manager, IAMS. “We’re all looking forward to reading the many entries that bring to life how cats and dogs can really benefit from a proper diet and active lifestyle.”

 Stay Young, Play Young Contest

Iams Senior Pets Photo Montage

Consumers can enter the contest on the IAMS’ Facebook page April 9 through June 3, 2012 by submitting a current photo of their dog or cat and explaining in 100 words or less how their pet refuses to act his or her age. Each week, IAMS will select and announce a winning cat and dog who will receive a free year’s supply of Senior Plus food. At the end of the eight weeks, a total of 16 pets will be featured on the IAMS Facebook page and all will receive food for a year! For more information, including contest rules and regulations, entry form and more, please visit Facebook.com/IAMS.

Finding the Right Formula for 11+ Pets

It’s more important than ever to ensure pet owners make smart nutritional choices throughout every stage of a dog’s and cat’s life. With this in mind, IAMS introduced Senior Plus diets to specifically address the unique needs of pets age 11 and older.

IAMS Senior Plus is available in the brand’s ProActive Health and Premium Protection formulas for cats and small to medium breed dogs age 11 and older, and ProActive Health for large breed dogs age 9 and older, at pet specialty stores, mass retailers and grocers.

To learn more about IAMS Senior Plus, visit www.IAMS.com.

These are some adorable and hilarious cat and dog pictures that I picked up in emails over the last week. Thought I’d show you them in an effort to bring you all some laughter…

Did you know that 97% of animal welfare organizations rely on volunteers to help keep administrative costs down year-round?

I didn’t know that either… PetSmart Charities told me.

They polled 750 local animal welfare organizations in 2011, and nearly all (97 percent) said they depend on volunteers to help keep administrative costs down.

The survey also showed where the groups have the greatest need for volunteers:

• 40 % said their greatest need was foster care for pets
• 28 % said they needed assistance with general pet care, including brushing, bathing and walking pets.

*** And now – the person who tells me his or her bestest (yes I know this is not a word), most inspiring volunteer story (that can be backed up by an Admin at the rescue/shelter) is winning a prize worth near $100 from ThoughtsFurPaws.com. ***

Why?

To honor PetSmart Charities and their Volunteer Action Day.

**Here are the details on Volunteer Action Day, first, then we’ll talk contest…

PetSmart Charities has announced that People Saving Pets™ Volunteer Action Day will be Wednesday, April 18.

This day is designated to educate the public about the need for volunteers as well as inspire year-long involvement in the movement to save homeless pets.

Volunteer Action Day falls during PetSmart Charities® National Volunteer Week (April 15-21), which focuses on helping homeless pets – and aims to educate the public about the need for volunteers and mobilize pet lovers to lend a hand at their local animal welfare organizations.

“Volunteers make a huge difference in helping local animal shelters and rescue agencies stretch their limited resources further to care for and adopt more pets,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.  “Volunteer Action Day is meant to spark year-long involvement in the movement to save homeless pets. Volunteering for just a few hours a month can make a significant difference on the well-being of adoptable pets.”

Anyone can get involved by joining the People Saving Pets Volunteer Network. Simply by entering your ZIP code, you can easily find volunteer opportunities in your area.(It’s really cool; I tried it and like 12 things popped up that sound like so much fun!)

PetSmart Charities would love to hear from you about how you’re sparking action in your local areas!

I’m encouraging you to join the conversation online and share your fave volunteer stories by posting on their social networking pages and by “tagging” PetSmart Charities.

-          People Saving Pets on Facebook

-          PetSmart Charities on Facebook

-          People Saving Pets on Twitter

-          PetSmart Charities on Twitter

You can make a difference in a homeless pet’s life by taking part in the People Saving Pets™ Volunteer Action Day on Wednesday, April 18.

Volunteers free up funds to care for adoptable pets, such as providing low-cost, high-quality spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, food and shelter.

How to Get Involved

Anyone can get involved in Volunteer Action Day – whether you’re ready to foster a pet or simply want to spend some play time with cats and dogs in your local shelter.

1. Visit www.PeopleSavingPets.org and click on the Volunteer Network page

2. Enter your ZIP code to find volunteer opportunities near you

3. Register to sign up for an opportunity

4. Spread the word! Tell your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter about Volunteer Action Day and how they, too, can help save the lives of homeless pets by volunteering

5. Take part in the ThoughtsFurPaws.com contest. Leave me a comment or email me at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com and tell me your most inspiring, most blood, sweat and tears, in-the-trenches type of volunteer dedication story. You can win a prize worth $100. The prize is both dog- and cat-themed, but if you have a preference I can swing it so it’s 75% one way…

6. Talk about your own experiences volunteering on your own blog and be sure to link to People Saving Pets and PetSmart Charities Volunteer Action Day on FB and Twitter!

Don’t forget to download the free Volunteer Action Day Infographics online and post them on your blogs, Facebook pages and on Twitter to help spread the word about the benefits of volunteering for local animal rescues, shelters and other welfare organizations.

THOUGHTSFURPAWS.COM CONTEST WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ONLINE on APRIL 25th around 6 pm EST (or after).

You can share your volunteer stories in the comments and stay up-to-date on the latest Volunteer Action Day news by visiting the People Saving Pets Facebook and Twitter pages.

I was lucky enough to receive several  pet supplies and pet products to sample and to give a try from Amplitude Marketing Group, Inc. a few weeks back.

Benson, Franklin, Ramsey (the new addition, if you haven’t heard, check here), & co. got to test out multiple new additions or existing pet supplies to those pet product families, including the following, which we’ve tried and are ready to tell you about:

1. Out!™ Bitter Cherry Spray
2. Out!™ Handle-Tie Pick-Up Bags
3. Vet’s Best™ Calming Aromatherapy Shampoo
4. Simple Solution® Eco-Care Training Pads
5. Simple Solution® Oxy Charged Stain + Odor Remover
6. Bags on Board® Walk-N-Stake™ Portable Stake System
7. Bags on Board® Marble Bone Waste Pick-Up Dispenser & Refill Bags

I guess the easiest way is to go by brand, in order as listed above. So we’ll start with Out!

Out! Bitter Cherry Spray is a safe and alcohol-free taste “deterrent formula used to discourage chewing and licking at skin, hot spots, bandages or stitches.”

It works. It Works Well.

Benson got one taste of this off of his footy-Band-Aid and never returned; hail Mary because we couldn’t get him to stop licking the Band-Aid off his allergy-laden foot sores. I was afraid to smell it at first, but then I read that it smells nice – it just TASTES bad… Benny went up and got a drink and we gave him a bone-y so it wasn’t like it’s mean or something to do this. I don’t think it is.

Trust me; when you have a Golden (or any type of )puppy (which Benny was once) who chews $200 Birkenstocks and even worse, leather furniture or pillows or clothes or anything else, you will not hesitate for a second to use this and even the vet I asked at Avon Lake Animal Clinic said this product is fine to use… In fact, the vet said they recommend bitter cherry products during puppy training phases of biting and nipping and chewing!

Pros of the Out! Bitter Cherry Spray:

-          100% Satisfaction Guaranteed – Money-Back Guarantee

-          Clear, Non-Staining Formula

-          Smells okay or “pleasant” as it says on bottle

-          Safe for use around all pets and children

Cons of the Out! Bitter Cherry Spray:

-          Hard to find detailed info online

-          Couldn’t find price anywhere

Out! Bitter Cherry Spray retails for $5 – $13 online (depending on size of product) at places like Amazon, PetSmart, & other pet supply stores. Just Google it and you can read other reviews, or check out the Out! website here.

Out! Handle-Tie Pick-Up Bags are awesome – they come in a convenient box where you just “punch-and-pull” out – at the perforation – one bag at a time. The bags are dependable, durable yet nice and light; heavy duty and bendy/durable enough for large “loads;” they make cleaning up after Benson easy, plus Ramsey and Franklin at once, too!

It says on the Handle Tie Pick-Up Bags box that there are 100 in there, but the box is small and light, which is nice – it’s not a pain to carry in your jacket pocket.

These, too, have a money-back guarantee and comments/questions are solicited on the packaging.

Again, the con is that I can’t find a price anywhere – online retailers say anywhere from $4 $7 to $7 to $10 for 50 and 100 bags, respectively. Check out the Out! website here to see the full product line, which is extensive; they’ve got everything from cleaning products to training solutions.

Vet’s Best Calming Aromatherapy Shampoo has been the big surprise for us in this package; Benson’s Dad is extremely “picky” (for lack or politeness of choosing a different word) about what Benny is washed with. The Aromatherapy Shampoo smells like Lavender and Aloe; plus it’s infused with B-vitamins, Oatmeal, Allantoin and more.

Benny smells like a salon and feels like a smooth puppy – he looks adorable after his shower with this and he loves the way he smells and feels. We can tell because he roaches differently after his shower with the Vet’s Best – instead of a regular back-scratch ‘I’m trying to dry myself;’ it’s an, ‘I love the way I smell and want to keep smelling myself and pushing my soft face against my legs’ kinda’ thing!

Vet’s Best Calming Aromatherapy Shampoo claims to ease tension during bathing. We noticed this significantly in Benny, too, once it was on him. They also claim on the bottle that it’s moisturizing and anti-itch: Benson has itched less since being bathed with it three times in three weeks. It’s FANTASTIC for dogs with sensitive skin like our little Benny-Boy.

Finally, the lavender oil calms, conditions and invigorates – your dog will thank you, trust me AND it won’t affect topical flea products – HOORAH!!

We will actually be using this product here on forward permanently as the name is widely trusted and has been around for more than 28 years. Plus, all the formulations are vet-created and have natural ingredients and use natural health systems.

Retails for $6 to $12 (depending on size of product) from what I could find online (near me…). Check the Vet’s Best website here for further reviews and details; they also have a ton of other products like conditioners and products for skin types.

Simple Solution® Eco-Care Training Pads

I myself did not try these; my sister, who is fostering a new Basset Hound did. She always has to have potty pads down because many fosters come in not knowing what potty-training is.

Ash simply said that she prefers other brands of potty pads over Eco-Care.

She did say that the Eco-Care Training Pads provided ample coverage, reduce landfill waste, and have an attractant to make the dogs go on them (which works!!), but she said that they cannot be dried and re-used, which is a big draw of the brand if you’re down on funds and into fostering non potty-trained dogs.

** The package says they have “odor control for re-use” so maybe there is just a cap on re-use or something??** I’m not quite sure…

Retails for $7 – $18 (depending on size {L, XL, etc.} of product) online at different sites (PetSmart, Amazon, etc.). Check out the website here for more information or to see what else they offer – like a blog, resource center and a coupon section!

Simple Solution® Oxy Charged Stain + Odor Remover was a BIG hit! It uses oxygen, that wonderful element we all breathe in and out every day, to get rid of poop and pee stains! Amazing! (Works on vomit, hairballs & other gross stuff, too.)

Again, we tested this in the Basset house as there are all kinds of unsavory smells and stains in there from four animals, (mostly from two dogs and some from past house guest dogs who were semi-potty-trained but not really…).  There were even some seriously old mystery (no doubt human-caused) stains in there that we removed with this stuff! It’s awesome!

The triple-oxy driven formulation in Simple Solution Oxy Charged Stain + Odor Remover pierces deep into rugs, carpets, etc. to ‘seek and destroy’ (lol, my terminology, not theirs) stains and odors like some kind of super-powered Jedi stainfighter, even if they’re set in, we discovered.

** This product even eradicated “re-marking” in three of four tested spots in the house.**

Other pros of Simple Solution® Oxy Charged Stain + Odor Remover:

-          It’s quite comparable to a wet vacuum cleaner or carpet/upholstery machine cleaner

-          Removes old and new odors

-          “Only formula with both triple-oxy and double-aldehyde power” according to bottle

-          Safe for bedding, carpet, upholstery, clothing, tile, concrete, brick, and other water-safe surfaces

-          Safe around pets and children

Priced from $12-$25 online (depending on size of product) at different sites (PetSmart, Amazon, etc.). Check out the website here for more details and for a cool Resource Section, which is chockfull of, well… resources and a coupon section!

Bags on Board® Walk-N-Stake™ Portable Stake System is so cool; it lets you place a big fat wooden stake that can hold a medium sized pulling dog in your yard and contain him.

And then you can pick it up and move it to a different part of the yard or somewhere else if you want. It has the “strength of a traditional stake system with the portability of a leash.” And it really does. Franklin could pull a circus train across the yard (or stop one when he stops walking) and he couldn’t budge from the leash with this thing. AWESOME!

Walk-N-Stake has easy to place fold-in handles that you can easily move and transport. It can be used for dogs of any weight it says on the package. Plus, you can put it pretty much anywhere in any ground surface. Pull the ropes up to remove and fold the stakes into the channel to put away. Doubles as a leash handle!

Priced from $12-$25 online at different sites (PetSmart, Amazon, etc.). Check out the website here to see the awesome full suite of products.

Bags on Board® Marble Bone Waste Pick-Up Dispenser & Refill Bags

This thing makes dog clean up easy and I laugh hysterically when I read the company’s motto:

“stop over-poop-ulation.”

I cannot handle myself with that one. Hee hee.

This is an easy-to-carry, lightweight dispenser bag system that you can put on a keychain or toss in your pocket.  Holds 30 hefty duty bags that don’t break and is leak-proof. Has refill area and you can order the coolest bags online for the dispenser!

Retails for around $10. Check out the website here to see the awesome full suite of products.

Overall, I’d venture to say our favorite pet supplies tested were, in order, the Vet’s Best™ Calming Aromatherapy Shampoo, the Simple Solution® Oxy Charged Stain + Odor Remover and the Bags on Board® Walk-N-Stake™ Portable Stake System.

These provided to be the most useful and quite successful in meeting their product claims as made on the packaging. Plus, we now have a new shampoo for Benson for life, which is a feat, and have found a less expensive, less “in the trenches” way to remove stains and odors from the house. Additionally, The Walk-N-Stake System lets Ash take the Bassets (one wanders a lot) wherever she wants without worry.

Thank you so much to Amplitude Marketing for providing us with all the products listed at the top of this article. And thanks to each of the brands mentioned here! Don’t forget to check out their websites – they are all quite fun and interactive, and they all have a useful array of products.

One last FYI, Bags on Board® has a TON of “designer doggie bag dispensers” and bright, colorful refill packs for you to check out and I highly suggest you take a look. Even if you  aren’t planning to buy any, it’s really fun to see what they have come up with to, “Stop Over-Poop-Ulation!”

HA-HA-HA!

Let me know if you have any questions about any of these products!

And FYI, some of these products have already been bought to be given away in future ThoughtsFurPaws contests/giveaways!

It’s official – PetArmor^®, the AWESOMEST, the best flea and tick treatment in the world if you ask me, made by FidoPharm — that I told you guys about last spring –  is the official “sponsor” or “treatment” of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA^®) through the rest of the year! How cool is that?

And Amy Smart is the official spokesperson for the ASPCA and the launch!

With the official arrival of spring and the official beginning of a horrible flea and tick season, PetArmor^® has teamed up with the ASPCA^®, plus the super sweet shelter animal advocate and kind-hearted PetArmor^® spokesperson Amy Smart to launch the PetArmor^® Protection Promise.

The national campaign elevates the ongoing commitment PetArmor^® and the ASPCA share to protect pets in need. 

*** PetArmor^® is the No. 1 selling fipronil generic flea and tick treatment.***

- PetArmor^® has the same No. 1 veterinarian recommended active ingredient and offers the same flea and tick protection as Frontline^® Top Spot^®

- It costs, however, about half of what Frontline costs ($25 – $35 for a 3-month supply).

- As I said before, PetArmor works the same way as Frontline, providing full-body protection to help keep your pets flea and tick free. And they stay gone for 30 days.

It’s that simple. PetArmor is just as safe and effective as Frontline®. It’s just about 50% cheaper! And it’s available retail:)

“We are so thrilled to work with the ASPCA to launch the PetArmor^® Protection Promise and give pet lovers an opportunity to help shelter pets in need,” said FidoPharm President Alex Kaufman at the launch. “PetArmor^® is continuing its commitment to provide accessible, affordable treatments to all pets, and the Promise is a way for pet owners to protect their furry family members while also making a difference for shelter pets across the country.”

♥ ♥ The cool part of all of this? A select few bloggers involved in the “Pet Protection Posse” are a part of the Promise… but also – The PetArmor^® Protection Promise is offering pet lovers and dog and cat owners an opportunity to help pets in need, especially those in shelters across the country.♥ ♥

BACKGROUND:

Across most of the country, “spring has sprung a little early.” Winter was remarkably mild, with many places around the country experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures & a definite lack of snow.¹

(According to Jody L. Gangloff-Kaufmann, an urban entomologist at Cornell University and the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, freezing weather typically kills off some insects, whereas in a mild winter, bugs are free to be fruitful and multiply. Subsequently, this year mosquitoes, fleas and ticks could all be out in full force considerably earlier than usual.²)

(END BACKGROUND!)

To provide all dogs and cats with protection from harmful fleas and ticks, PetArmor^® is embarking on a campaign to provide treatments to pets from coast to coast.  PetArmor^® will distribute up to 20,000 flea and tick treatments for shelter pets in need from coast-to-coast. Consumers can participate by visiting the PetArmor^® Facebook page and selecting a shelter to receive a treatment. 

This is an amazing effort on behalf of an organization if you ask me… this is a SERIOUS investment on their part (PetArmor). After meeting with some PR reps, vets, scientists, associated behaviorists like Harrison Forbes (who is my newest animal welfare hero BTW) and company executives this week; I am pleased to say that I fully support their mission 110% and am going to ask you all to help me spread the word!

…

How?

Visit the PetArmor^® Facebook page and choose where the donations go in one of three ways:

1. by supporting the ASPCA’s national disaster relief efforts

2. selecting a shelter that faces a high incidence of fleas and ticks

3. choosing a local shelter

“As an animal rescue advocate and proud dog mom, I am so excited to be working with the ASPCA and PetArmor^® on this wonderful campaign that supports a cause I care so deeply about,” said Smart. “I encourage pet owners everywhere to participate in the Promise and help ensure all pets receive the protection they need.”

The PetArmor^® Facebook page also gives pet owners the chance to share photos of their furry friends, celebrate those funny and memorable pet moments with a robust community of fellow pet owners, and enter contests throughout the year offering a chance to win some great prizes.

As the exclusive flea and tick sponsor of the ASPCA, PetArmor^® is used on dogs and cats at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center and Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital and clinics in New York City. ASPCA also uses PetArmor^® on animals recovered from ASPCA disaster relief efforts. Through select television commercials, PetArmor^®also is encouraging the public to make donations that they will match, up to $50,000.

Amy Smart

“Our increased work in disaster relief and animal rescue over the last year has underscored the importance of safeguarding animals from fleas and ticks and other harmful diseases,” said Elysia Howard, vice president of marketing and licensing for the ASPCA.  “We are thankful to PetArmor^® for their ongoing commitment to protecting pets in need, and for their pledge to provide much needed doses to shelters across the country for the animals in their care.”

So, once again, you can help shelter pets in need by participating in the PetArmor® Protection Promise! Now through May 2012, one flea and tick treatment will be donated to the ASPCA®, or to a shelter of your choice. (up to 20,000 doses). All you need to do is choose where your treatment will go to protect pets in need by going to Facebook.com/PetArmor!

About PetArmor^®

PetArmor^® contains fipronil, the same No. 1 vet-recommended active ingredient for combating fleas and ticks, in the same concentration, providing the same flea and tick protection as Frontline^® Top Spot^®. It is the first generic fipronil product approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to treat both cats and dogs of all sizes.

PetArmor^® is the first generic fipronil flea and tick treatment available on retail shelves nationwide. Forget about prescriptions or asking the vet for it!

For more information about the product or to participate in the Protection Promise, visit www.PetArmor.com or www.facebook.com/PetArmor.

About FidoPharm

FidoPharm is a leading companion pet health product company committed to providing consumers with best-in-class companion pet health products that contain the same active ingredients as branded veterinary products, but at a significantly lower cost. FidoPharm products, including the PetArmor® flea and tick products, are available at major retailers nationwide, offering consumers the benefits of convenience and cost savings to ensure the highest quality care for their pets. Learn more at www.PetArmor.com.

About the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/aspca.

Frontline^® is the registered trademark of Merial.  Frontline^® and Merial are not affiliated with PetArmor^®.

^1,2

: On the Net: http://www.livescience.com/18351-mild-winter-surprising-downsides-warm-weather.html

** STAY TUNED FOR MORE POSTS ON THIS AND FOR SOME PICTURES OF AMY SMART WITH MYSELF AND OTHER BLOGGERS AND SOME SWEET RESCUE KIDS!**

Two weeks ago or so, I had the fortune of going to Hills Pet Nutrition Center after being invited and hosted by the Hill’s Prescription Diet® and Hill’s Science Diet® pet food brands’ big brand, Hill’s®.

They, like many other pet food companies including Purina, are starting to open their doors to bloggers and online writers as the realization spreads that we are the 21st century form of consumer reviews… and that ALL companies need to be more transparent to their customers. (Don’t get me started.)

Anyhow, I am excited to tell you about my trip and I’ll have some separate posts every couple of weeks about other things at Hill’s.

So first I will give a quick (or not) bullet review of what I took away…:

- Hill’s is extremely focused on nutrition and creating formulas for pets with various medical and health conditions

- Hill’s has a TON of acclaimed veterinarians and scientists who create their foods based on the pets’ life stage, health condition and/or size

- Hill’s does animal testing, but it’s food testing, it’s NOT INVASIVE PEOPLE… They do side by side bowl testing. What I witnessed first-hand was in total opposition to what you will read on outdated and offensive sites like Uncaged. I won’t link to it…) There is NO abuse or neglect happening at Hill’s Pet Nutrition Center. Watch the videos…

- The cats that are used for food testing are extremely happy; and they’re extremely smart – taking doses of medication like a human would down a shot so they can get some attention afterwards as a reward! The cat care is amazing:) !

- The folks here are quite dedicated to pleasing the pet’s palette in this process

- The animals are well-trained and know their schedules; they have space to move and are not in teeny cages, suffering or whining. They are HAPPY:)

- Hill’s has some of the most intelligent veterinarians and nutritionists in the industry

- Hill’s is very into label manufacturing – ensuring its guests understand how to read a pet food bag or can’s label correctly (I’ll explain later)

- Hill’s is very involved in the community, supporting the Kansas Humane Society of Wichita through it’s Food, Shelter and Love™ Program (LOTS more on this in a separate post)

- This one-of-a-kind program has donated over $240 million worth of Science Diet brand pet foods to nearly 1,000 animal shelters nationwide

- Hill’s has been right by the side of other agencies during national and international emergencies like the Joplin, MO tornadoes, the 2010 Gulf Coast BP oil spill, and the Japan tsunami, bringing along their Hill’s pet food to donate. Heavily involved in disaster relief, yet seemingly unnoticed and under the radar while doing it, Hill’s also helped generously during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, during the Calif. wildfires of 2007, and they’ve donated other items, too to vet clinics, Vet Assistance Teams, vet schools & other random places where homeless pets are being cared for and housed.

- Hills has a brand-spankin’ new manufacturing plant where they are seriously dedicated to quality, cleanliness, safety, value, nutrition, taste and manufacturing and developing only the most perfect kibble.

- At the Emporia, Kansas manufacturing plant, where the folks are as sweet as southern summers, if one piece of kibble is broken, it doesn‘t go in the bag – it gets thrown away… the imperfect pieces of kibble that have ends cut off, are cracked or fragmented get tossed. This seemed wasteful to me. (Sorry, just being honest and saying what I saw.)

——————————-

So, now you have things in a nutshell. There is lots more – I mean, this tour was chock-ful of information packed into a a teeny two-day timeline. The first day we spent learning from the folks at Corporate and the Veterinarians, then we took a VERY short tour (oddly short I thought… kinda hands-off) of the Pet Nutrition Center; the second day we spent at the Manufacturing Plant in Emporia, Kansas, which is only three years old.

This trip was of particular interest to me because last spring I toured the Nutrition Center (et. al.) at Proctor & Gamble Pet Care, i.e. IAMS/Eukanuba (and a few others).

I was curious how Hill’s® runs their show because, unlike IAMS, we HAD fed Hill’s® pet food to our animals before. There was a time about five years ago when Gibson was still alive that he and Benson were on Hill’s®.

And, in February I did get a generous sample from the company of the wet Savory Chicken Entree canned cat food for the our kittehs. The kind Marketing/Blogger Outreach Mgr., Lori Smith — who is one of the sweetest, most caring and kind-hearted people I’ve ever met — hooked me up!

Anyways, Sasha, sorry to say, did not like it and Max, who has been super-surprisingly “P-I-C-K-Y – you-ain’t-got-no-alibi – you-PICKY, uh-huh, YOU PICKY” lately, didn’t care too much for it, but Tater ate it up and my sister’s two adult ladies LOVED LOVED LOVED it. They lapped it up like creme or something. The canned selections at Hill’s that we sampled did seem to be quite “watery” but I learned that it’s not water – it’s juice.

Which brings me to a point about Hill’s that I want to cover now – THE BASICS.

Let’s start with The Basics — their MISSION, which was explained to us by Neil Thompson the first morning; he’s the President and CEO. Thompson has been with the company in some capacity since 2003 and has contributed significantly to sales, international business growth and profit growth, and brought industry experience to the European division (He’s British and so enthralling…!)

Hill’s Mission: “… to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets.”

Philosophy: “We believe all animals, from your pet to our pet partners, should be cared for and nurtured, throughout their lifetime.”

- Hill’s Pet Nutrition is a $2.2 billion, global subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, headquartered in Topeka, KS

- Over 2,500 employees worldwide

- Hill’s product line includes more than 80 Prescription Diets and 90 Science Diet brand pet foods

- “To deliver great-tasting, precisely balanced nutrition, a Hill’s team of more than 150 vets, nutritionists, and food scientists, among the largest in the industry, collaborates globally.”

- Since 2002, The Hill’s Shelter Nutrition Partnership, the largest company-sponsored shelter support program in the industry, has donated more than $180 million worth of Science Diet brand pet foods to more than 1,000 shelters nationwide. This provides about 500 million nutritious meals for shelter pets and helps more than 5 million pets find new homes! (Separate post about this to follow!)

Vision: to make nutrition a cornerstone of vet medicine, which build on Hill’s heritage of leading-edge research, from the pioneering work of our founder Dr. Mark L. Morris to our current global exploration of the science of Nutrigenomics (separate post to follow on Nutrigenomics — it’s AWESOME stuff!).

Soooo… here you have it. The first impression of what Hill’s is all about in not a nutshell. I loved the people there – everyone is an animal lover and is passionate and knowledgeable. Everyone was extremely courteous and you could tell that that’s just the way it is there — kinda laid-back but totally cutting-edge research into nutrition happening behind the scenes! All to help our fur-babies.

Stay tuned for more posts on Hill’s, including an Animal Welfare round-up, a 5th Vital Assessment review, a Nutrigenomics lesson, and more!

I was just alerted to this situation by Ally Cat Allies. Please spread the word.

Yesterday, the “pet-friendly” hotel Loews Portofino Bay in Orlando announced that 23 cats living in a model TNR colony on the property will be “relocated” to a local animal shelter.

The hotel failed to mention that just like all feral cats entering shelters, these cats will likely be killed unless other arrangements can be found for them.

Don’t fall for this fairy tale. Loews is sending these cats to their deaths.

Contact Loews now and tell them you don’t support their decision and won’t support their business in the future.

Loews is marketing themselves as “pet-friendly” while uprooting healthy, neutered and vaccinated, happy cats from the only home they have ever known and taking them to local animal control. The hotel made this hypocritical decision in the face of repeated offers from Alley Cat Allies and others to help work out a humane solution, as well as thousands of pleas from compassionate vacationers.

Don’t let Loews Portofino Bay in Orlando off the hook.

(This is such bullsh**. This hotel needs to know how we feel guys.)

Contact Loews to let them know you won’t support a business that claims to be pet-friendly while handing cats a death sentence.

Tell them that if the cats can’t stay, neither will you.