Important factors to consider for the protection of all family members

In response to the recent spike in pet food recalls, the ASPCA®’s (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) Animal Poison Control Center has some suggestions on how to best keep two-legged and four-legged family members safe:

1. Do your research. Salmonella is the contaminant that appears to be the cause of concern during this most recent round of pet food recalls.

The most important thing for pet owners to do if they suspect their dog’s food has been contaminated is to stop feeding their pet the recalled food immediately. If the pet shows signs of illness after eating a recalled pet food, a trip to the vet should be first on the list of to-dos, and then the food manufacturer should be notified.

*** Pet owners can identify the recalled foods by visiting the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov. ***

2. Know the signs. While healthy adult dogs are relatively resistant to illness from Salmonella bacteria, pets with health issues (such as young puppies, elderly and pregnant dogs that could have compromised immune systems) may be at greater risk for becoming ill. Dogs who are affected by Salmonella may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and drooling or panting—an indication of nausea. *In severe cases, the bacterium may spread throughout the body resulting in death.

3. Clean is key. Salmonella isn’t only dangerous to the pet eating the food, but could also affect the pet parent serving the food. Salmonella can be spread through direct contact with the affected product and animal feces, so exposure should be avoided. The best way to protect family members, including other animals in the home, is to thoroughly wash your hands (or paws) after any dealings with the product or feces. In addition, all bowls, utensils and surfaces that may have come in contact with contaminated food should be washed using hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly or sanitized in the dishwasher.

For more information about the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center and potential pet toxins, visit www.aspca.org/apcc.

Shelters Can Benefit Greatly from Big Hauls of Pet Food, Toys, and Supplies

Before the third season of ‘Extreme Couponing’ premieres on TLC on May 28, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) (ASPCA) is issuing a challenge to ‘Extreme Couponers’ everywhere: consider using your bargain-shopping prowess to help your local animal shelter or rescue group.

“Many local animal shelters – in addition to needing monetary donations – are in constant need of supplies,” said Julie Morris, Senior Vice President of Community Outreach for the ASPCA. “Generously purchasing these items for your local animal shelter or rescue group will not only help their daily operations, but it can also help improve the quality of life for the animals in their care.”

Your local shelter may be in need of one or more of the following:

• Pet food – for dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and rabbits – and pet treats
• Pet toys – chew toys, rawhides, rope toys, feather toys, treat toys and ball toys
• Pet care supplies – leashes, collars, litter, litter boxes, and scratching posts
• Pet bedding – dog and cat beds and towels that can be laundered
• Operational supplies – garbage bags, newspapers, cleaning products, paper towels, office supplies

The ASPCA recommends first calling your local animal shelter or rescue group to see if they are in need of donated food, toys and/or supplies, and what preferences they have in terms of products or brands.  Some shelters may feed their animals certain types of food (wet or dry; kibble or canned), while others may prefer using environmentally friendly cleaning products.

If you’re an ‘Extreme Couponer’ – or a seasoned coupon-clipper – and you decide to use your shopping skills to make a difference for your local animal shelter, we want you to show us your haul!  Take photos of your shopping excursion, the goods you scored, and the moment you arrive at the shelter to present them with your generous donation. Submissions will be accepted through this tab on the ASPCA’s Facebook page through June 1. We’ll also be taking to our Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages, and our blog, to feature how much you’ve donated and show the country your generosity. The top five winners will receive a special over-sized ASPCA shopping tote full of swag.

About Extreme Couponing

TLC’s hit series EXTREME COUPONING documents the creative real-life strategies of savvy shoppers as they clip and save their ways to outrageous deals, and as they share their impressive hauls with their communities and local charities. The new season of the series will premiere Monday, May 28 at 10/9c.

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 one 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.

From the Best Friends Animal Society website and Facebook page:

Last year, the Back in Black adoption event was introduced to showcase black dogs and cats and give them the best chance at being adopted. And over 900 pets found homes!

This year, we’re back with Back in Black 2.

Our goal is to find good homes for 1,000 or more pets in black this May.

Right now, thousands of wonderful animals are waiting to be adopted at shelters and rescue groups nationwide. And every day, 9,000 pets are killed in shelters because they don’t have a home.

Best Friends and our No More Homeless Pets® Network Partners are committed to saving them. Join us!

Click here to find adoptable black pets near you.

Erasing myths about black dogs and cats

Even though they make wonderful pets with great personalities, black dogs and cats are often overlooked for adoption, but why? After all, the color of a pet’s fur has no relationship to their ability to provide unconditional love, companionship and devotion. Here are a couple of theories:

• Bad photos hinder “love at first sight.” Black dogs and cats are harder to photograph because their eyes are close to the color of their fur and their facial expressions and personalities don’t always shine through in pictures. That’s a real disadvantage since many adopters “meet” their new best friends online.
• Superstitions! There are negative stereotypes about black cats and dogs that simply aren’t true. Just ask anyone who loves their beautiful black pet! They’ll tell you about all the wonderful qualities their pets possess and that they wouldn’t trade them for anything.

What are you waiting for? Change the future—and the world—for homeless pets in black today. 

There are 129 No More Homeless Pets® Network partners with adoptable black cats and dogs participating across 37 states.  Click on a state below to find local groups. Click on the group to visit their website for more event details.

Alabama | Arizona | Alaska | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | US Virgin Islands

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA) has announced the creation of a Legal Advocacy department to increase legal protections for animals across the country. The department will provide “second chair” legal support through the coordination of legal and other expert services vital to the effective handling of animal cruelty prosecutions, as well as conduct selective, affirmative civil litigation in cases with the potential to effect substantial change in animal protection laws nationwide. The team will also provide legislative analysis and bill drafting expertise to the ASPCA’s Government Relations department.

The Legal Advocacy department will be led by Stacy Wolf, who adds this position to her current role as vice president and chief counsel of the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement department.

Wolf, who was a career public defense attorney before joining the organization’s Legislative Affairs department in 1998, was responsible for spearheading the passage of New York’s felony animal cruelty law, dog shelter law, exotic pets ban, veterinary reporting law, and dangerous dog law.

Ms. Wolf also served as legislative chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Special Committee on Animals and the Law.

“The formation of the Legal Advocacy department is an essential step toward fulfilling the ASPCA’s mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States,” said Matt Bershadker, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Group. “Stacy has a wealth of animal law experience and possesses the necessary tools to implement significant legal change for the benefit of animals.”

Wolf has already appointed two people to the department: Jennifer Chin, who will serve as Legal Advocacy counsel; and Sandy Christiansen, who will serve as director of case development.

“I am thrilled to have Jennifer and Sandy join the ASPCA in this capacity,” said Wolf. “Their exceptional backgrounds are unique, yet complimentary, and both will play a vital role in helping to shape stronger animal welfare laws through the judicial system.”

Chin will provide second chair legal assistance to prosecutors handling animal cruelty cases across the country; assist in affirmative civil litigation cases brought by the department on behalf of the ASPCA; and provide legislative analysis for the ASPCA’s Government Relations department. Chin comes to the ASPCA from the United States Attorney’s Office in Newark, N.J., where she served as Assistant United States Attorney since 2008 specializing in criminal appellate work. She worked on complex civil litigation at two private law firms prior to her time at the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Christiansen will focus on affirmative outreach to identify and develop potential litigation opportunities; working with prosecutors and investigators on Legal Advocacy cases; and conducting legal research and legislative analysis. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Christiansen was the president and CEO of the Spartanburg Humane Society in Spartanburg, S.C. since 2005. In this role, he was responsible for supervising a staff of 41 employees and helping to grow such programs as humane education, anti-cruelty initiatives, behavior and training, and animal transport. During his 19 years working for the welfare of animals, Christiansen has also gained extensive experience in conducting cruelty and animal fighting investigations.

The Legal Advocacy department is part of the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Group, which is also comprised of Humane Law Enforcement, Field Investigations and Response, Anti-Cruelty Behavior, Strategy and Campaigns, Forensic Sciences, and Anti-Cruelty Projects.

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. One 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 http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

What if saving a pet’s life was as easy as visiting your Facebook profile or posting something to it…?

A new, unique, online Facebook application – Share a Pic, Save a Pet allows you to help save the lives of the nearly 8 million homeless pets in the U.S. today to drive public awareness and increase adoptions through social media!

Thousands of healthy, loving pets are in need of adoption right now, and you can help!

How?

Donate your Facebook page to a four-legged friend finding a forever home with Share a Pic, Save a Pet.

It’s quite fun to play around, test it out, and share these guys on your profile – you never know who may be looking or who may be wanting to adopt.

Created by non-profit PetSmart Charities and powered by Adopt-A-Pet.com, the first-of-its-kind Facebook application transforms individual profiles to alert your friends, family and followers about adoptable pets in your own community that need lifelong, loving homes, giving Facebook users an exclusive way to ‘donate’ their profile to showcase homeless pets in the community.

How to Use Share a Pic, Save a Pet

1. Go to http://apps.facebook.com/shareapic-saveapet/

2. Input your ZIP code.

3. Select up to 10 adoptable dogs or cats to showcase on your profile by breed, color, size and gender.

4. Adopt-a-Pet.com’s nationwide shelter database enables the application to populate your Facebook profile with photos of local pets available for adoption and links to local animal-welfare organizations where the pets available for adoption. These pictures are shared directly to your Friends’ news feeds and on your Facebook timeline!

We tried it on our personal Facebook page and its fun and functional both – your friends will catch on in no time and undoubtedly be doing the same.

Just imagine the lives we could save if everyone puts up ten pets every day for one month?!?

So check out Adopt-A-Pet.com’s Share a Pic, Save a Pet now – and get to sharing!

Dear Ohio Animal Advocates,

Ohio is one of only a handful of states with virtually no regulations on wild/exotic animal pet ownership.

Even before last year’s horrific incident in Zanesville, this oversight has led to tragedy for both people and animals: The Associated Press found that along with having some of the nation’s weakest restrictions on exotic pets, Ohio has among the highest number of injuries and deaths caused by them.

This is partially due to the fact that the state has become a haven for breeders and dealers of these animals.

It’s time to stop the insanity!

The ASPCA supports Senate Bill 310, which is currently pending in Ohio’s legislature (in Columbus). If passed, it would prohibit keeping many wild, dangerous and exotic species of animals as pets (effective 2014).

The full Ohio Senate may vote on the bill as soon as TOMORROW!

What You Can Do

Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center online to quickly email your state senator and ask him or her to support S.B. 310 to ban keeping wild animals as pets. Your senator will likely vote on the bill this week, so there’s no time to lose.

 Thank you for defending wild and exotic animals, Ohio!

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).

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!

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.

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^®.

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