I received this email from Kyla Duffy, Founder of Up for Pups, and Happy Tails Books; see how you can contribute by purchasing a new book on Herding Breeds! Here goes… ( I made a few additions…)

Add dog breeds are different. Most owners of specific breeds know that, and cherish the particulars of their own dog breed.

In honor of Happy Tails Books’ latest products to promote rescue and adoption, I wrote this headline somewhat in jest, but I do mean to make a point.

At our local shelter, we are inundated with herding-breed dogs. Why? Because they are generally extremely intelligent and driven; this may also mean ‘destructive’ in the wrong household…

Scroll down to see how you can make the money you spend on your Happy Tails Books herding-breed item purchase go even further this month! It’s double-donation days!

Now, we have a very good local shelter, and I’m sure the volunteers eye people down carefully when they say they want to adopt a herding-breed dog, but this is not the case everywhere, thus, causing many herding-breed dogs to be adopted and returned multiple times before they eventually find someone who understands them and can provide them with what they need, or they meet an untimely end simply for being misunderstood.

What’s a herding-breed dog? Here are some examples: Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Collie, Corgi, Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog), etc.

It is our hope that our new book, t-shirts, and stationery will help educate people on herding breed dogs’ unique needs in order to reduce the number who find themselves displaced or on death row. These dogs make wonderful companions for people who are looking to participate in dog sports or who can at least provide their dogs with a significant amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation, but they are not for everyone.

If you are one of the aforementioned people, please consider adopting a herding-breed dog; you, too, are a unique breed, and these guys need you!

In addition to a great book, Happy Tails Books has developed select herding-breed stationery and  T-shirts to help you start the conversation about rescue and adoption!

For any stationery purchased before May 1st, we’ll double our donation to your rescue of choice.

So head on over to HappyTailsBooks.com and check out the selection; it’s going to a good cause!

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!

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!

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.

By Elijah Merrill for The Daily Cat

With the turn of every year, countless people resolve to improve their health by losing weight, exercising and more. The vast majority breaks those promises and ends up disappointed. So rather than subject yourself to another year of self-defeat, why not resolve to improve the health of your cat instead? Below are a handful of both timely and timeless ideas to choose from.

1. Assess your choice of cat food. As your cat ages, its nutritional needs will change. “Aging brings with it physiological changes. Some are obvious, others are not,” says Dr. Amy Dicke, a technical services veterinarian for Iams. “Skin and hair coat changes may be obvious, while lean muscle mass loss and digestive or immune system failure may be less evident or hidden.” The science behind today’s cat food has gotten specific enough that there are different blends for almost any situation. Talk to your vet about whether your cat is due for a change.

2. Upgrade your cat’s ID tag. The classic heart-shaped metal collar charm may help your cat get returned if it wanders away, but technology allows for so much more. Dr. Patricia Joyce of New York City Veterinary Specialists says, if possible, to use a GPS tracker that allows you to find your cat wherever it is. Another option is a QR code tag, like those offered by PetQRTag. The tags are the same size as a regular ID tag but are not as constrained by space. They point a person to a Web page that can hold as much information as you’d like to give, from contact info to special medical issues your cat has. As your cat ages and your contact information changes, the tag never needs to be replaced.

3. Hop on the social media bandwagon. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can help you diagnose and work through potential health problems. A standout is PetPop.com, where pet owners create profiles and link up. In the PetPop Healthy section, a panel of veterinary experts fields questions from site members and provides advice.

4. Enrich your cat’s environment. Scientific evidence continues to show that when a cat is stressed, it can get sick. The good news is that the same scientific data has now shown that an enriched environment can help prevent illness. “Happy cats are healthy cats, and their environment plays a role in that,” says Dr. Tony Buffington, a professor of veterinary clinical sciences at Ohio State University. “There’s now good evidence for this.”

5. Don’t ignore dental health. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, periodontal disease is the most diagnosed problem in cats. But it doesn’t have to be that way. “Dental disease is one of the most preventable conditions in veterinary medicine,” says Dr. Katy Johnson Nelson, a veterinarian in Arlington, Va., who is a member of the Iams Pet Wellness Council. Schedule an appointment with your cat’s doctor for a teeth cleaning, and start doing brushing on your own as well.

6. Get pet health insurance. Sometimes even the best prevention can’t stop disease or an accident, and veterinary bills can add up quickly. It can put pet owners in the most difficult of positions: You either set yourself up for extreme financial hardship, or consent to putting your cat down. Health insurance allows an alternative. Thanks to more modest monthly premium payments, decisions to undergo costly procedures are easier to make.

So this New Year’s, let yourself off the hook and make a resolution for your cat. Whether you opt for the tried-and-true or the timely and trendy, following through with just a few of these tips can make a world of difference.

Elijah Merrill is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Daily Cat. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine and Discover.

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.

IAMS Super Senior Dogs!

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!

The full line of Hill’s® Prescription Diet® and Science Diet® Healthy Advantage™ pet foods are now part of the Trupanion™ Pet Insurance coverage!

Trupanion® now offers coverage and/or premium discounts for therapeutic and preventative pet nutrition! 

According to a press release, Trupanion™ just announced that its dog and cat insurance now includes benefits for veterinary therapeutic pet foods, including the full line of Hill’s® Prescription Diet® pet foods, and veterinary exclusive preventative nutrition, Hill’s® Science Diet® Healthy Advantage™ pet food.

“The insurance covers half the cost of therapeutic pet foods including Hill’s Prescription Diet pet foods for two months followed by a discount on the monthly insurance premium for continued feeding of the therapeutic pet food, available exclusively through veterinary hospitals. Veterinary healthcare teams can find out more about the program through their Trupanion Territory Partner or by calling 1-800-569-7913 (then pressing #1),” the release said.

“The high cost of medical care is a part of everyday life in human medicine, and insurance coverage can help offset hat burden,” said Howard Rubin, COO of Trupanion. “We’re offering a similar plan to assist owners in giving their dogs and cats what they need to have a better quality of life.”

* Trupanion’s dog and cat policies offer one simple plan with 90 percent coverage and no annual, per claim, or lifetime payout limit. With a veterinary physical exam, Trupanion also offers a 30-Day “no obligation,”Trial for pet owners, giving them time to decide if the plan fits their needs and budget. The 30-Day Trial waives typical waiting periods so coverage is effective immediately. *

“It makes sense for us to get the news out about Trupanion’s new coverage. This helps pet owners be in a better place to comply with a recommended veterinary therapeutic pet food and supports the healthcare team’s action plan when it comes to nutrition for every pet,” said Janet Donlin, D.V.M., chief veterinary officer at Hill’s.

For more than a decade, Trupanion has offered affordable pet insurance coverage for cats and dogs that enroll between the ages of 8 weeks and 14 years of age. Trupanion offers pet owners one plan that covers accidents, illnesses, medications and lab work. In addition, Trupanion never penalizes pets for aging or being unlucky enough to file a claim.

About Trupanion Pet Insurance

Trupanion pet insurance is available for cats and dogs in the United States and Canada. Trupanion is underwritten by its’ affiliate, the American Pet Insurance Company, allowing Trupanion to offer a customizable pet insurance policy with no benefit schedules. Trupanion’s mission is to protect the cherished bond between pets and their families by ensuring that pets are able to receive optimal veterinary care. For more information about Trupanion, call 800-569-7913 or visit Trupanion.com. You can also follow Trupanion on Twitter or Facebook.

About Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. manufactures Hill’s® Prescription Diet® brand pet foods, therapeutic pet foods available only through veterinarians, and Hill’s® Science Diet® brand pet foods sold through veterinarians and finer pet specialty stores. Founded more than 60 years ago with a unique commitment to pet nutrition and well-being, Hill’s is committed to its mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Hill’s produces high-quality, great-tasting pet foods owners can trust and give to their canine and feline companions as part of a veterinary health care team recommendation. This ultimately improves patient health and the health of the practice. For more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. and Hill’s Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition™ visit HillsVet.com, follow us on Twitter or visit us on Facebook keywords “Hill’s Pet Nutrition.”

This guest post was provided by Kevin Hagan; please see the end for more information.

If you’ve ever been faced with the prospect of “sending” or “shipping” your puppy across the country, you’ll find that puppies do indeed fly!

… As do many other kinds of pets, whether winged or not.

Here are a few tips to make flying with pets, especially flying with puppies, a positive easy experience for you and your beloved companion.

Flying Puppies: requirements

• Animals must be at least eight weeks of age.
• The puppy’s kennel/cage MUST meet air standards for size, ventilation, strength and design. The animals must have enough room to stand up and turn around. Kennels must be equipped with one food and one water cup. (Admin side note—NOT funny that dogs in the air have better lives/requirements than those at most massive breeders…See Texas puppy mill law article third paragraph [HB1451] from June 2011 … In the air though – Heaven forbid the dog can’t stand…to my US legislators = THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE…Another example: right now in Ohio-you could breed and sell 59 puppies a year over the internet or have 8 litters and sell 70 puppies and you would not be regulated. Foster one dog for your local rescue & you’d be subject to state regulation.  don’t get me started!)
• The kennel or cage must be marked with the shipper’s name, address and phone number, as well as the pick-up person’s name, address and phone number (if different from shipper). “Live Animal” stickers should be applied to the kennel, and the last time the little traveler was fed and watered should be indicated.
• Place newspaper or absorbent material on the bottom of the crate.
• A health certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian and be no more than 10 days old.
• Animals may not be brought to the airline more than four hours before a flight.
• Animals less than 16 weeks of age must be offered food and water if transit is more than 12 hours. Older animals must have food at least every 24 hours and water at least every 12 hours.
  

  "Air-Mail" Puppy!

Other Things to Consider When Flying Puppies

• If shipping international (or to Hawaii) check the quarantine laws WAY BEFOREHAND. (Admin side note – I recommend checking about 4 months in advance if possible… you will wait anywhere from 2 weeks to over a month for your puppy in certain countries/continents… and this is pending rabies et al vaccinations, testing for other diseases, and a million other things. According to the International Dog Quarantine page on PetFriendlyTravel.com, “Some countries require a specific health certificate they have developed.” Wow.)
• Do not give your pet solid food in the six-eight hours before the flight.
• Do not give your pet any sedatives without your veterinarian’s approval.
• Try to schedule a non-stop flight and avoid heavy travel times.
• Place a familiar blanket or a piece of your clothing, plus your pet’s favorite toy in the kennel.

You will probably find that after a six- or seven-hour flight your new arrival will be a bit reluctant to exit the crate on his or her own and may need to be physically extracted.

However, most pets are able to make the journey without accident or incident and will look forward to finally stretching their legs and checking out their new surroundings.

While our company, Transit Systems, does not ship pets, we are constantly asked about it! We are sharing this information because we love our own pets and we want you to be well-informed if you ever have to ship your precious pal. And we thought it important for everyone to know that yes, puppies can fly!

This guest post was provided by Kevin Hagan of Transit Systems, one of the nation’s top residential and commercial freight companies. TSI specializes in furniture shipping, and can assist you with both large and small moves. For more information about TSI, visit their website or follow TSI on Twitter @TransitSystems.

It is the feeling of not only ME, but many animal lovers, rescuers and welfare advocates across the entire U.S., no matter what part, that there are far too many Americans who are TOTALLY unaware of puppy mills.

I mean, not only unaware of what they are, but blithely unaware how inherently dangerous, problematic and cruel they are. My fellow Up For Pups Boardmember, Chad Darwin says “they place an incredible strain on the animal welfare community.”

He’s so right.

That’s just part of the reason that I sit on the board of the non-profit, Up for Pups – partially also because the founder is brilliant, super-talented, generous, caring and because I was drawn to her the moment I saw the “Don’t Kill Bill” show at BlogPaws/Columbus in 2008 because of our common interests.

Kyla Duffy dedicates more than most people I know – time, funding, etc., to animals in need.

So it’s all I can do to (not only serve on her board, but also) share this important announcement:

* Her awesome show is coming up in Denver; she’ll be performing March 10th in Lakewood *

Kyla Duffy at "Don't Kill Bill"

“Our show offers children, teenagers, and adults of all ages a unique twist and spin on humane education in a fun, safe and entertaining environment,” said Kyla Duffy, show writer and producer. The show aims to “educate as well as dazzle the eyes,” according to Darwin.

“Puppy mills continue to be a despicable source aiding the already challenging problem of pet homelessness, and we firmly believe education is essential.”

Duffy created “Don’t Kill Bill” to raise awareness about puppy mills and encourage people to get involved with animal rescue organizations. I — being the anti-puppy mill maven that I am – was immediately taken with her when I first met her, and I can tell you the show is amazing.

Local organizations that work a multitude of breeds will be present in the lobby to answer any questions, according to the press release.

Up for Pups will be promoting adoptable dogs during the show as well! Tickets are $19 per adult and $15 per student/senior. Tickets are available at http://upforpups.org/events

I hope that if you live even within an hour or so that you can go.

Why?

I GUARANTEE that you will be blown away when Duffy, the founder of Happy Tails Books as well as Up for Pups, swings like an ape (I mean she’s limber and acrobatic, not monkey-like people – it’s a compliment!) through the air in her aerial show, “Don’t Kill Bill: A Celebration of Adopted Dogs.”  The show combines short films, live storytelling and music coupled with Duffy’s personal aerial acrobatics skills to celebrate rescued dogs’ resilience and highlighting rescuers’ compassion.

IT’S AWESOME; you will be so impressed, you’ll laugh and cry with delight and emotion, I promise. Remember, tickets are available at http://upforpups.org/events

*Proceeds from the show will be used to further Up For Pups animal advocacy efforts. In addition to enjoying this wonderfully unique theater production, attendees will have the opportunity to win a gift basket full of dog products as well as a $500 donation for the dog rescue organization of his or her choice (rescue must be present in the lobby to win). Each attendee will get one free drawing ticket at the door with a chance to buy additional tickets during intermission. Drawing ticket sales benefit local rescue organizations.

“Don’t Kill Bill: A Celebration of Adopted Dogs” Event Details:

Saturday, March 10th, 7:00 p.m.

Lakewood Cultural Center

470 S. Allison Pkwy

Lakewood, CO 80226

*** Tickets are available at http://upforpups.org/events ***