Spring Naturals, who you have read about before on ThoughtsFurPaws – just Search it – is all about vitality, a fresh state of mind. It’s the feeling you get when you consider the abundance of life, and the good things from earth that grow and thrive.

It was this concept that inspired the creation of Spring Naturals – a complete family of natural dinners and treats designed to nurture the health and well-being of dogs of any breed.

And now, this concept of growing and thriving in the community will touch residents and pets in need across the United States through “Spring Into Action.”

Spring Naturals is launching the “Spring Into Action” program – starting in May – to recognize outstanding community members who are making a difference in the lives of animals in need.

In addition to honoring animal advocates on the Spring Naturals Facebook page,they will also recognize the animal rescue group of the everyday hero’s choice.

So, each month an everyday hero will be chosen and the animal rescue group they support will be highlighted on the Spring Naturals Facebook page; each winner will receive a 26 lb. bag of Spring Naturals dog food along with a 6 oz.treat pouch (estimated retail value over $75.). Next March, the selected grand prize winner’s favorite animal rescue organization or shelter will receive $2,000 (retail value) in Spring Naturals dog food PLUS a $500 cash donation! COOL!

According to the press release, ““At Spring Naturals, we value the pets in our lives and wanted to find a way to give the spotlight to everyday heroes working day in and day out to save the lives of pets in need,” said Rob Cadenhead, VP-Sales & Marketing. “With the idea of supporting those on the front lines of animal welfare, ‘Spring Into Action’ was born!”

To celebrate the first day of spring, Spring Naturals also teamed up with Project Rescue Chicago, an organization that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of abandoned dogs. Project Rescue Chicago is one of the few rescue groups where the directors spend every single day with the dogs to ensure adopters find their perfect match.

In honor of this program, Project Rescue Chicago named an adoptable dog Spring. When Spring is adopted, Spring Naturals will provide food and treats for the dog for one year. For more information about Project Rescue Chicago, please visit www.projectrescuechicago.org.

To learn more about Spring Naturals, please visit www.springnaturals.com or www.facebook.com/SpringNaturals.

I am happy to share with you the conversation I had with well-respected Florida veterinarian, Dr. Ernie Ward. From his home in North Carolina, Dr. Ward shared a major announcement on behalf of IAMS – that a new formula for super senior pets (ages 11+) is being created and offered!

Did you know there are over 33 million super senior aged pets? Those over 11-years-old? It’s a whole new life stage…

“For the first time, we can do something from a nutritional standpoint for these types of senior pets,” he said. “This formula is one of the first of its kind on the market and I highly recommend it to my patients.”

Here’s what I learned about it… Also, I’m going to tell you another exciting thing!

Iams Senior Plus or Premium Protection Line can be bought anywhere – and is a new formula for dogs and cats ages 11+ (for large breed dogs, the recommended age is 9+); it’s the first of its kind ever for dogs and one of the first formulas for cats.

Dr. Ward told me of the specific ingredients and their benefits, which are designed to meet the unique needs of senior pets. The super senior diet for any animal has special needs; these animals sometimes have arthritis, bacterial infections, digestion problems, etc., or other conditions and thus, require certain ingredients.

These are additives like:

-          L-Carnitine for lean muscle mass

-          Double the amount of antioxidants

-          Omega Fatty-3 Acids

-          Pre-biotics like beet pulp

-          FOS formula to feed the good bacteria as seniors often have digestion issues

-          A unique blend of vitamins and minerals and tasty meats!

-         Beta-carotene and vitamin E, to help boost the immune system of your older dog to healthy adult levels

Plus MORE!

The taste is the same as the rest of the foods; IAMS is committed to meat as the first ingredient as usual!

When I asked Dr. Ward what he would tell my readers to do with their senior pets and what the most vital parts of caring for one are, he responded with the following:

1. Take your pet to the vet
2. Nutrition needs changing – don’t be shy about changing the diet of the pet
3. Engage the mental side of your pet
4. Try feeding from a food puzzle every once in a while
5. Variety and novelty are important in life!
6. EXERCISE is CRUCIAL!

* Calling All Senior Pets – IAMS is putting out a call to action on the Iams Facebook page to feature pictures of eight senior pets not acting their age.

The eight pets will be selected at random and will all win food for life! Check the IAMS Facebook page for more info!

Recently, thanks to the kind folks at Fancy Feast^® who provided us with a few samples, we were able to try the Fancy Feast^® Elegant Medleys^™ brand new entrée, Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe with Wild Rice in Sauce, months before it arrives on store shelves nationwide!

Our cats are P-I-C-K-Y (although I must mention that Fancy Feast^® (dry) Filet Mignon flavor goes down well in a pinch)… Sasha, Tater and Maxwell – all three — lapped this new stuff up like it was real tuna juice or something. I couldn’t believe it!!

* In fact, the first two ingredients on the label are fish broth and Yellowfin Tuna, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. After that, you get chicken and wild rice within the next three ingredients, so this stuff isn’t “less than” or questionable. I know some of my readers wonder what makes a premium pet food that way, and we’ll get to that later this month; just know that Fancy Feast’s new consumer-inspired entree fits the bill. It has a moisture max of over 80% and is 10% protein with great fiber and some taurine in it too, plus, B- and D-vitamins…

Anyhow, I would recommend that you guys try this formula out when it comes out; HOWEVER, I am giving one lucky reader a chance to win a WHOLE CASE! You read that right!

♦ ♦ Send me your fave picture (just one entry per household per email) of your kitty posed next to a Fancy Feast bag or a can of food – or eating their meals – and you could be chosen to win! Fancy Feast and I will pick the winner and you’ll be mailed a free case of 24 cans directly! ♦

Email one entry to thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com please before next Monday, 3/26 at 6 pm EST.

Recently, the Fancy Feast brand announced that the new variety will be introduced on the Fancy Feast brand’s Facebook page.

The Fancy Feast brand originally had consumers join its online community of devoted cat lovers for an opportunity to receive a special first taste of the new Elegant Medleys entrée, Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe With Wild Rice in Gravy, months before it arrives on store shelves nationwide, but due to the TON of requests, they ran short on supplies.

You can STILL WIN ON THOUGHTSFURPAWS.COM, though!

Some more info on the recipe: Inspired by the winning entry in the 2011 Fancy Feast^® TasteMakers^™ Contest, the newest Fancy Feast^® Elegant Medleys^™ entrée features an ocean of seafood flavor. The new variety of Fancy Feast^® Elegant Medleys^™ was influenced by the special relationship contest winner Joan Spector shares with her cats – Ginger and Wasabi – and their love of seafood.

To learn more about TasteMakers and Fancy Feast, visit facebook.com/FancyFeast and/or www.fancyfeast.com/TasteMakers. For Official Rules, please visit www.Facebook.com/FancyFeast.

** Fancy Feast^® Elegant Medleys^™ Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe With Wild Rice in Gravy will be available in stores nationwide beginning in June 2012.

About Fancy Feast® Gourmet Cat Food

The Fancy Feast Brand makes every day extraordinary with an exquisite selection of gourmet cat food entrees, restaurant-inspired feline cuisine, dry meals, and Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats. Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food is manufactured/ distributed by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A. — the world’s largest food company.

 

Now that I’ve completed the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge, I’m giving my readers an opportunity to try any formula of Eukanuba food for free!

I am giving away one voucher for one FREE bag of any Eukanuba Dog Food up to 40 lbs. to one of my readers that are interested in trying their food.

There are three ways you can qualify:

1) Add a comment to this blog post that tells me why you want to take the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge AND why you should win the voucher…

2) Tweet about this blog post and leave the URL to that Tweet in a comment on this post…

3) You can blog about this blog post and leave the URL to your post in a comment on this post…

 

*** You can qualify by 1 or all 3 of these methods. I will choose from all entries; I’ll announce the winner of the Eukanuba dog food voucher/coupon next Wednesday! ***

Check out what other bloggers are saying about their experience with the 28-Day Eukanuba Challenge HERE!

It’s amazing guys – and it’s for real – all these people aren’t making this stuff up, trust me.

Franklin is still on his Eukanuba Healthy Joints Formula and he’s moving around like a dolphin swimming or moving through water now!

 

The votes are tallied – as of 5 pm EST today the voting was closed and we are ready to announce the winners of the Valentine’s Day Doggie Photo Contest!

First, thank you SO SO much to our sponsors: the dog photo and cute story contest was generously sponsored by the following brands: Stella and Chewy’s®, Spring Naturals™ and Lickety Stik® by PetSafe®!

Of course, the ThoughtsFurPaws team is throwing in some additional matching gifts as we:

* had a tie and

* an Honorable Mention in honor of Henry “the Peanut” Dartt-Smith, who passed away last Thursday, February 16th of cancer (please leave your words of comfort for my sister here…)

 

THE WINNERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1st Place: BAILEY

2nd Place: TIE between CALVIN and CHANCE!

Honorable Mention: HUNTLEY

** If you see your name, you received a TON of votes – and you have a darn cute pup!**

Please email your full name and address to thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com (though I will be contacting you separately as well to get that info.)

CONGRATS to all who entered – keep your ears peeled for more contests — a kitty photo/story in April and an any-pet one this summer

♥ Thanks and Congratulations again ♥

We loved every single entry and are so happy to have you all as readers and followers of ThoughtsFurPaws.com

 

Here are the most recent entries to the Valentine’s Day Dog Photo Contest on ThoughtsFurPaws.com!

If you do not see an accompanying story, it’s because you did not send one! You are NOT required to, but if you would like to tell voters/readers why to vote for your Valentine-pooch, please do share some info about the picture and/or the pup!

Please remember the rules: the rules for the Valentine’s Day Dog Photo Contest MUST BE followed or you will be disqualified.

1. CONTEST ENDS NOW: NO MORE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED  
2. No more than two votes per person (per email address if you email your vote and per name/email if you “comment in” your vote). *** If you leave a fake email address on your comment and/or otherwise attempt to comment-stuff the voting, your votes will be completely discounted entirely.
3. No more than three persons PER IP ADDRESS – and we HAVE BEEN and WILL CONTINUE TO test emails.
4. Send your readers HERE to vote in their comments; you, of course, are free to post your dog’s featured pic on Facebook, but any votes on Facebook are not counted. Again, votes must be left in comments section on the actual post or emailed to thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.
5. You have until next Monday night at 5 pm EST to vote.

See original Announcement post here…

 

See Feb 7^th entrants here...

See Feb. 9^th entrants here...

See last night’s post here...

Mr Beaner: Mr. Beaner will be 8 weeks old on the 20th . He’s a very curious puppy that loves the company of other dogs. “Beaners” is the best Blue Merle Chihuahua out there; I wouldn’t trade him for the world. Happy valentines Day, Beaner and to all you puppies

Benny: THIS IS BENNY. WE PUT A NEW MAILBOX UP IN OUR YARD. THEN TOOK A PICTURE OF HIM IN IT… SPECIAL DELIVERY!

Hi all! I know you’re dying to know:

Here are the current leaders before we move on with the Valentine’s Day Dog Contest entrants!

1. Bailey/Chance – MAJOR TIE – we’re talking neck to neck EVERY SINGLE DAY to the point that I had to triple-count and start emailing back voters and commenters — I think these guys are sharing prizes with rescues locally
2. Calvin/Scout – TIE – Don’t forget that Calvin said he is SHARING his “winnings” with other rescue dogs, too, if he places

A close third is Scout….. there will be an Honorable Mention for 2^nd place if the tie for 1^st and 2^nd  isn’t broken before voting ends (see RULES); otherwise we are still having two winners. Don’t forget, there are pet brands generously sponsoring this contest like Spring Naturals, Stella and Chewy’s, etc. Plus I’m throwing toys in and stuff from PetSmart, & a few surprises.

Here are the most recent entries to the Valentine’s Day Dog Photo Contest on ThoughtsFurPaws.com!

If you do not see an accompanying story, it’s because you did not send one! You are NOT required to, but if you would like to tell voters/readers why to vote for your Valentine-pooch, please do share some info about the picture and/or the pup!

Please remember the rules: the rules for the Valentine’s Day Dog Photo Contest MUST BE followed or you will bedisqualified (I’m accusing no one of anything; however,  people HAVE tried to take advantage in the past b/c ThoughtsFurPaws.com is known for its CRAZY-GOOD prizes:))

1. CONTEST RUNS NOW thru Feb. 13th, 6 pm EST. Please send a dog picture accompanied by a brief story about the dog, explaining why he/she should win, why you chose this particular photo, etc. It should obviously be one of your funnier/cuter dog photos ♥
2. No more than two votes per person (per email address if you email your vote and per name/email if you “comment in” your vote). *** If you leave a fake email address on your comment and/or otherwise attempt to comment-stuff the voting process, your votes will be completely discounted entirely.
3. No more than three persons PER IP ADDRESS – and we HAVE BEEN and will CONTINUE TO test emails for replies.
4. NEW RULE: Due to extenuating circumstances over the past 7 days, if you do not just hit reply and say “okay” or “yes”, etc., to our email reply, your email vote may not be counted. People, again, may be trying to “email stuff” the voting.

♥ COME ON GUYS! BE HONEST! ♥

6. YOU MUST ENTER A DOG! (Kitty contest coming this Spring!)

7. Send your readers HERE to vote in their comments; you, of course, are free to post your dog’s featured pic on Facebook, but any votes on Facebook are not counted. Again, votes must be left in comments section on the actual post or emailed to thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.

See original Announcement post from a couple days ago here.

♥ Get your entries in fast — contest is ending early next week ♥

1. Sooby [Sic] Doo and Mom: Comment: Not sure if you meant Scooby Doo…!

 

2. Kate and Viper the Autism Assistance Dog: Kate is 11 and has Autism.  Viper is Kate’s Autism Assistance Dog Guide; he is 2 yrs old.  They have been a team now for 1 year.  Before Kate received Viper… Kate would repeatedly hurt herself when the world around her was too hard to understand.  She would sneak out to play in the middle of the night while others were sleeping.  She would bolt from us towards water and into the roads and was hit by a car. She would jump out of our vehicle at stop signs into the traffic.  She would hide under tables or in SMALL areas under things when noises were too loud.  When people would talk to her she would withdraw, cover her eyes, cover her ears and scream.  She was on the maximum amount of Anti-Psychotic drugs and sleeping pills.  After she received Viper within 3 months all this behavior came to an end. When hurt or upset she seeks Vipers attention calmly.  When noises scare her she seeks Vipers attention.  She is calmed by his presence and is now on the min. amount of drugs and no more sleeping pills.  One night she got out of our house despite having audible alarms on the doors and Viper alerted us to her leaving the house and she was found immediately.  Via a special harness attached to Viper while we are out Viper stopped her multiple times from running in the road as he is trained

to lie down when Kate bolts.  Viper has definitely saved Kate’s life and given us our little girl back.  He has helped her come out of her locked in world.

 

3. Ziggy: This is Ziggy and the picture is titled “I need a hug.” Ziggy is a Lhasa-Poodle mix and we adopted him from PAWS Animal Shelter in Atlanta last August. He was dropped off at PAWS with such long matted hair that he had to be shaved.  We love his short coat and his wonderful personality! This picture was taken after a rain & Ziggy likes to play in the dirt! Needless to say he has had a few baths since he has come to live with us.

 

4. Unnamed Shih-Tzus: My five little Shih Tzu (dogs) are unbelievable in what they will do for me! People can’t believe that the’ll pose like this for photos. I’m not a photographer & I don’t know anything about photo shop [sic]. I just pose, point, and shoot. I love this picture because it shows how willing and patient my “Tzu Kids” are to happily have their photo taken, & how well they have learned to get along with each other. They love to do this, and get real excited when I say we are going to take their picture. They are so much fun, and make life so much better. They are always happy, willing, fun little dogs.

 

5. Simba: This picture is of Simba with his best ‘stuffed’ friend. He’s in love with this lion and travels everywhere with it! Simba even looks like him!

 

6. Ubi the Xoloizcuintle and Kiah the Chinese-Crested:My name is Eidel Ricano and I think my picture is perfect for Valentines because it shows [that] LOVE exists everywhere at any time and is shared in the simplest ways which, in the case, is by my dogs during their sleeping time. The black one is Ubi, a Xoloizcuintle, and the white one is Kiah, a Chinese Crested. [The picture] also shows how love has no moment, no race, no gender nor color….it’s for everyone ALL the time. They both are wearing a red robe since they usually get cold because they are hairless, even in Miami, and by accident are creating the shape of the heart with their bodies. Thanks and a have a great day!

 

7. Rusty, Riley and Roxi: You can hear from these guys at Chasing Squirrels With Rusty, which is hilarious and beloved by many in the doggie blog world!

♥ Good luck to all and everyone get your votes in ♥

Here is the second part of the posting for the Valentine’s Day Dog Photo Contest…

♥ ♥ Please see the first entries here (along withe the RULES THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED)! ♥ ♥

♥ ♥ You can read the Contest Announcement post here ♥ ♥

 

* And you can read the corresponding story for each picture in this post; pictures have numbers in the caption – check the number in the  content to read that cute or funny or heart-warming Valentine’s dog picture story! *

 

— *** —         — *** —-

 

1. Abby and Service Dog Olivia:Here is a photo of me & my service dog, Olivia. I love the way she naturally posed next to me with our faces touching. When I look at this photo I see love and enjoyment in both our faces. This photo was taken Mother’s Day 2011 in Florida. It was one of the best days we have had in a long time….my sister lives in RI & I live in FL along w/ our parents. Our mother didn’t know of any Mother’s Day plans that year… I told her I needed something at her house & would be stopping by. When the door opened my mom said  “Hi Abby!” It took about 2 minutes for her to realize that it was my sister, Heather, standing in the living room. Surprise!! She was crying & squeezing my sister. We took this photo aboard a Water Taxi.

Olivia provides medical assistance for me & has given much independence & freedom to me. You know I don’t like getting old, but as we do, it’s nice to know we can do wonderful things for the Mom that put so much love and dedication into raising us..

Comment – BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE to a Mother… mine is my hero, too!

 

2. Donna and Service Dog Sawyer:My name is Donna I’m 42 years old and — I have Muscular Dystrophy, and am confined to a wheelchair.  My best friend is my handsome Blonde-Golden Retriever service dog Sawyer. I don’t know  how I ever made it without Sawyer. He can alert if I have a seizures, he turns my lights on and off, he opens and closes doors for me, he picks up things if I drop them, he can even dial 911. My husband says Sawyer watches me at night while I’m sleeping; he wakes us up if I’m breathing shallow. He changed my life forever; I

can go places and do things & never be afraid that there will be no one to help me if I need assistance. Even small things like pushing my arm back up on my arm rest with his nose, It’s like he just knows what I need him to do. You don’t get to pick your service dog, the dog has to pick you… Sawyer picked me and we bonded instantly.

Comment: OK, let me stop crying now!

 

3. Dudley the Coton de Tulear:Dudley the Coton de Tulear has been in our family for one year. He is pure love! His smile lights up the room. My husband has just gotten home, and he was so glad to see him!

 

4. Gabriela Painting Sadie’s Nails: Sadie our 3-year-old Rottweiler gets her nails painted for Valentines – a beautiful hot pink – by my 10-year-old daughter Gabriela! We thought this picture was Valentines worthy since she doesn’t really like her feet touched!!

 

5. Kash and Jesse:This pic was taken by my sister, Michelle – it was just before Christmas and the red you see behind the dogs is a red tree skirt. Kash (female) is on the left and Jesse (male) is on the right. We adopted Kash from a local shelter here in Dallas; she was found with a puppy and since puppies are more likely to get adopted out we choose her. She

was only $25! She already had her ears clipped. Jesse and Kash get along very well and love each other as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Facebook question to Jennifer (owner): I don’t understand why you said you took her since puppies are more likely to get adopted…? Wouldn’t that make you want to take a dog that’s a bit older…? I mean no offense, I just don’t understand the explanation I guess…

 

6. Lola:This is Lola, she’s been the light of my life every since I lost my Border Collie to cancer back in 2010. We have the same birthday (Feb 7th) and I received her on my birthday. She will be 3 this year, and she’s such a blessing who has mended a broken heart.

Comment: HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLS!

7. Scout: W-xoxo-f!… My beautiful Westie, ‘Scout,’ who has the biggest heart and loves everyone! Scout will share his prize with our local APL.. wxoxof! Thank you and blessings!

 

8. Tygeta in Her Condo!: This is my perfect little girl Taygeta [sic] in her condo. Tayeta [sic] was named after a star because she has brought such a bright shining light in to [sic] my life. I am sick & she has brought such joy to me it is amazing but all my dogs have! Tata is her (nickname) is  a angel in every way and is  always a winner even if she doesn’t win the contest! She will always be a winner in my eyes; she is treated like a princess and always will be along with the rest of my furry kids! Only a animal will love you for who you truly are.

So, for the Valentine’s Day Doggie Photo Contest — here are the entries (first round). ( See announcement post HERE.)

And, more importantly – here are the RULES for the Valentine’s Day Dog Photo Contest - please read carefully or you will not be qualified!

** CONTEST RUNS NOW thru Feb. 13th, 6 pm EST. The last entrants will be posted Feb 13th (evening) or Feb 14th; you are highly encouraged to get your cute dog pictures in early because voting ends February 18.

Winners will be announced the night of the 18th or on the 19th some time… Prizes will be coming from Spring Naturals, Stella and Chewy’s, Lickety Stik, PetSmart and more

♥ Please send a dog picture accompanied by a brief story about the dog, explaining why he/she should win, why you chose this particular photo, etc. ♥

♥ It should obviously be one of your funnier/cuter dog photos  ♥

RULES:

 

1. No more than two votes per person (per email address if you email your vote or per name/email if you comment your vote in).

2. If you leave a fake email address on your comment to try to stuff comment voting, your vote will not be counted.

3. No more than three persons PER IP ADDRESS and I will test the emails.

YOU MUST ENTER A DOG – BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE YOUR DOG - please see numbers 7 and 9 in this post and then tell me what YOU think of this rule...  At ThoughtsFurPaws.com, readers RULE; so it’s up to you guys. The Admins and I will also weigh in before the next post and leave a message after we get some COMMENT VOTES!!! (See next two points on voting please!)

4. No voting on Facebook — send your readers HERE to vote in comment. You can post this post on FB – but VOTES on FB won’t count because not everyone has an account there…

5. Remember: Readers can vote by emailing two votes per email address to thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com or by commenting on THIS POST or the ANNOUNCEMENT POST HERE

Please check out the pix below and the stories included therein – each cute dog picture has a number and a corresponding story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.AVA: Ava, the Italian Greyhound, is the ultimate snuggle bug and loves nothing more than to be burrowed under covers, sleeping. This picture nails her personality so perfectly. She pops her head out of her ‘nest’ every so often to make sure she approves of what is going on around the house, and then snuggles back in.

 

2. BAILEY: This is a favorite photo because the three teddy bears are Bailey’s cuddle mates & he seemed delighted to have them get dressed up for Valentine’s Day for photos with him. Bailey wishes everyone a happy holiday!

 

3.  CHANCE: Chance was tied to a train track and hit by a couple of trains, so he has some back end damage and has to wear a diaper. We were going to a Blessing of the Animals event and my friend Rod didn’t want Chance to be embarrassed so he dressed him up. (Which probably embarrassed him more but he looks so darned cute, who cares!)

 

4. FENRIS:  I love this picture of Fenris because he looks so happy. He is a true treasure and such a good dog. I think the cats would even agree that he is a good doggie… After all, he doesn’t chase them and he will even let them eat dry food out of his bowl. Surely you can’t fault him for being unwilling to share the canned dog food

 

5. GEORGIA: This pretty girl was a Father’s Day gift for my husband – AND SHE HAS ALREADY MADE THE COVER OF A MAGAZINE! (She was on XXX – see 2nd pic at bottom). Georgia’s Mom didn’t want her at first but realized after taking her friend to multiple 8-hour chemo sessions how wonderful animals are and how helpful they can be (Ahem, hello Sasha!)

 

6. JACKSON:  Jackson, a Spaniel mix, is “my playful boy who loves nothing more than to be outside running around in the cold!” This picture was taken at the dog park on one of the coldest days of the year. I was in several layers of clothes and still freezing, and Jackson was totally in his element. I swear, he must be part Siberian Husky!

 

7. JAKE: Jake He 9-years-old and the “best dog I’ve ever seen.”  He is so pleasant and well-behaved.  He likes to sit outside but this day it was cold so his owner puts out a mattress, a pillow and a blanket for him.  He doesn’t even have a leash.  He does not go past the yard.  The entrant said she “just had to take a picture: so I don’t think Jake can win since the entrant doesn’t own a dog. However, Jake did just sit there and pose; and since he is so nice, if you would like to vote for him, we can send the prize to his neighbor and she can take his winnings to him. Let me know what you all think.

 

8. “LIBBYLU” and MAX: Both rescued from Wisconsin shelters over three years ago… these Golden Retrievers are well-loved by their families and now enjoy the life of spoiled dogs  instead of being behind a cage…

 

9. MARIA and TACO: Maria, and her dog Taco Bell, are inseparable and go everywhere together. Maria is a professional Salsa dancer in Southwest Florida and Taco Bell has been the designated mascot for her dance troupe for 3 years now! In their spare time, Maria & Taco like to sunbathe in the hammock under palm trees and walk along Ft. Myers beaches.

 

10. CALVIN: This is my furry Valentine Calvin, the love of my life. He was born with a heart defect, but will soon undergo surgery to repair his tiny heart, so Valentine’s Day is special for us. There is no guarantee that he will survive the risky surgery, but without it he has no chance at all. I take many pics of Calvin but this is one of my favorites.  Calvin was a little cold at an outdoor event, so he wrapped himself up in his special blanket! His personality is just as it appears in the photo, sweet and innocent with a side of mischief.  I am thankful every day that this puppy came into my life.  He has taught me so much about unconditional love and never losing hope.

 

11. OLIVER: Introducing Oliver: he is a 5-year-old Wire-Haired Dachshund who is a natural “ham!” He is wonderful in every way. Children and adults alike are always smiling when He is around. Oliver is just a happy, charismatic pup, very much loved by his family!

REMEMBER READERS and VOTERS:

The RULES for the Valentine’s Day Dog Photo Contest  must be followed or you could be disqualified (I am accusing no one of anything illegal contest-wise , but people HAVE tried to take advantage in the past b/c ThoughtsFurPaws is inherently known for its CRAZY-GOOD prize packages:))

CONTEST RUNS NOW thru Feb. 13th, 6 pm EST.

♥ Please send a dog picture accompanied by a brief story about the dog, explaining why he/she should win, why you chose this particular photo, etc. It should obviously be one of your funnier/cuter dog photos  ♥

1. No more than two votes per person (per email address if you email your vote or per name/email if you comment your vote in).

2. If you leave a fake email address on your comment to try to stuff comment voting, your vote will not be counted.

3. No more than three persons PER IP ADDRESS – and we WILL be testing emails.

4. YOU MUST ENTER A DOG – BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE YOUR DOG - please see numbers 7 and 9 in this post and then tell me what YOU think of this rule...  At ThoughtsFurPaws.com, readers RULE; so it’s up to you guys but the Admins and I will also make a decision before the next post and leave a comment after we get some COMMENT VOTES!!! (See next two points on voting please!)

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Thank you so so much to all the kind folks at Eukanuba and Dogtime Media who were able to get Franklin and Henry into the 28-Day Challenge, first of all…

Second, we knew going in that Proctor and Gamble Pet Care Division has an awesome reputation – our kittehs eat only IAMS wet and dry food and eat health treats too.

However… we are eternally grateful because we have seen such an amazing change in the exterior and the temperament of both our precious pooches, Franklin and Henry, with the Eukanuba formulas they are on. Eukanuba asked me to, in 100 words or less, to sum up the best part. Here’s my word-for-word answer:

100 words or less is tough for me, but here goes… Franklin and Henry were never just “good” dogs; they have always been extraordinary. Their health, on the other hand, WAS NOT.

However, as of now:

-          Franklin and Henry are going “number two” three times a day — regularly

-          Their coats are super-shiny

-          Their breath is fresher

-          Their teeth are cleaner

-          They have adapted so well to the food that they eat slower and enjoy it!

Considering they are seriously picky eaters and that Bassets are inherent with problems when not bred right (and that Frank is a former puppy mill stud), this is all fantastic news.

Are you planning to feed your dog Eukanuba moving forward?

Yes, they absolutely love it!!! We can’t imagine going back at this point…

What was the best part of the Challenge?

The best part of the Challenge has been over the last two weeks… oh yeah – also the change in their breath and their coats! These two things are just so obvious that even neighbors (when on walks) and people/friends at dog parks have asked us what’s changed!

We said “Eukanuba” and have been answered in shock with SO MANY “NO WAYS!!” that it’s remarkable!! People just can’t believe a food (what I now call a SUPER FOOD for dogs) like Eukanuba’s Custom Care Joint Formula or Eukanuba Senior Maintenance Formula, which Franklin and Henry are getting respectively, can have so much of an effect! It’s like humans eating kale and almonds and avocado and mangoes or something!!! A little of this helps that part and a bit of that helps this part!! LOL! Do you know what I mean? They are getting EVERYTHING they need in one food – vitamins, minerals, supplements, and special ingredients that help their little bodies prepare for life better.

We also really love the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge Facebook page the organization put up to document everyone else’s experiences! It’s fun to see pictures and read stories like ours!

 What did you learn about your dog from the Challenge?

We learned that they can actually eat slowly and enjoy their good; that they are smarter than they know; that they are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed no matter what time of day it is, and that they are the most extraordinary dogs and most well-loved animals in the ‘hood ♥ ♥

Would you recommend feeding Eukanuba to others?

♥ ♥ ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY!!!!!!!!!!Any day of any week, any breed of any age. It’s our super power poodle food. (We call all dogs poodles in this family…)

And as the Hounds would say, “Baarrrrugala….!”