It’s hard nowadays to find a pet food brand (whether for dog or cat) or a dog treat brand that actually lives up to expectation; that actually helps what it promotes; that honestly lives up to its PR company’s hype.

Henry Checking Out the Turkey Jerky...

Well, despite all that, I believe I found the perfect mix of food and treats for our family’s dogs through K9 Cuisine. K9 Cuisine offers only the healthiest and most well-prepared, honest-to-goodness pet nutrition products you will ever find ANYWHERE. You can find wellness brands of food, treats, food toppers and more. I was TOTALLY surprised and thus impressed when our dog and my sister’s dogs – who are all SO PICKY AND STUBBORN – took so well to these healthy grain-free food and treat options. It’s truly a fabulous website with only the best products.

I’m talkin’… revolutionary product that will change the way people treat their pets in terms of nutrition. Just as Americans are becoming healthier in terms of eating habits, thus so should our best friends – our pets.

Rotations Sample

First, we sampled the Rotations Complete 3-in-1 Complete Nutrition System. It’s adult dry food that has various flavors. The boxed set offers you three different meal types – Premium Chicken and Brown Rice, Wild Salmon with Peas and Carrots, and New Zealand Lamb and Potatoes.

The idea is to rotate them so your pet doesn’t get bored with the same old food. They basically promote the “appropriate levels of proteins and fats to provide energy and maintain ideal weight.” Rotations dog food options are all balanced with fermentable fiber (as always, no corn, wheat, or soy) so your dog receives proper digestive support and gets a healthy overall body maintenance and performance.

ROTATIONS Pet Food is designed around the premise that a broader array of fresh natural ingredients provides pets with a more complete diet that can still be easily digestible and convenient for you. That’s why each box contains three distinctly different all-natural formulas in three separate re-sealable bags — to ensure that your pet will never be bored, undernourished or overexposed to one particular ingredient or flavor.

Benson LOVED the Chicken and Rice one and surprisingly ate the veggies in the other kinds too. We noticed after feeding him this diet for about 10 days that not only did he lose almost 2 pounds, but also he was FAR MORE active – acting and playing with the energy of a puppy again!

Rotations is by far the “cream of the crop.” Learn more about it on their site, which is chockfull of information on how to feed, what’s in the products, what the benefits are, and LOTS more.

K9 Cuisine also sent us the Wellness Pure Rewards Turkey Jerky. I don’t even know how to explain this… I’ll tell you that I let my sister’s Bassets try these samples out instead of Benson. I gave each Basset one and they each practically swallowed it whole. Ten minutes later (I was dog-sitting and in another room), one of them (had to be Henry – a 10-yr-old Basset trouble-maker who is shorter than the normal breed) actually jumped up and counter-surfed to pull

Turkey Jerky Wellness Treats and Free Wet Food Lid!

the treat bag down! The two of them then just went to town on the Turkey Jerky because they liked the flavor so much! So yeah – they ate a lot of them, but they had NO SYMPTOMS of stomach upset, diarrhea, etc , after eating a whole bag of treats in ten minutes… These treats get four (okay – paws up for SURE!! I have since bought many bags of these for them to bring when I come over to dog-sit…

Tons of Tasty Samples from K9 Cuisine

K9 Cuisine also let us sample the Go! Grain Free Chicken, Turkey and Duck wet formulas. These were also a HUGE hit with Benson. They didn’t upset his stomach and he “chowed” them right down (highly unusual for him as he is SO PICKY in his old age). The best part about this wet food is that it has human-grade ingredients, so your dog is tasting food similar to what your food tastes like.  (Not to mention it’s packed with vitamins, minerals and supplements like sunflower and wild salmon oils for Omegas, plus garden fresh vegetables, orchard fruits and lots of minerals!)

Next up from K9 Cuisine we tried the Real Food Toppers in Pure Beef

Even the Kittehs Checked Out the Samples!

Sirloin Flavor. After topping Benson’s food with these once, we realized we would use them as treats because he wouldn’t eat dinner without them that night!! He remembered that at breakfast he had a tasty topper! So we used them as treats for going potty in the proper area, sitting, lying down, etc.

Overall, I was seriously blown away by the products I got from K9 Cuisine. First because they are ALL grain-free, but in particular, the Rotations and the Wellness Treats are items that we have since re-ordered or purchased. I’ve also now moved my cat Sasha over to the Wellness brand wet food since she’s almost 10.

Benson's FAVORITE Thing EVER!

The quality of the products, the care and study that goes into creating them,  and the all-natural REAL ingredients used in ALL of these cat and dog foods, really are top-notch, and totally worth spending a few extra bucks for shipping. I would not tell you to go and buy something if it wasn’t any good – you know me better than that. But K9 Cuisine has it all: the BEST brands, the HEALTHIEST choices, the most REASONABLE prices, plus they always offer free samples, discounts and shipping deals and other promos. Plus, the company’s founder –Anthony Holloway – designed these recipes himself after realizing that he knew what he was eating from his plate, but his dog didn’t know what he was ingesting, and neither did Anthony; thus, K9 Cuisine was born. (I just think that’s a great story and a little tidbit for you all to read and learn how dedicated Anthony and his team are to making exquisite, quality pet food.)

Dog Food Toppers and Go! Grain Free Wet Food

I genuinely hope that some of you will go ahead and order at least one of the products discussed here, and measure the difference in your animal’s coat, eyes, attitude, and energy level (or even their weight). K9 Cuisine is BAR NONE the best option for cat and dog food that I’ve come across thus far.

Visit the site and you can get free samples by clicking on the tab on the top right!

Who wants to meet other pet-fanatics??

Snuggle Session Complete!

Who wants to learn how to get more traffic?

Who wants to get relevant pet information about pet nutrition & animal welfare??

Who wants to learn more about pets in the news & pet charity??

Who wants to learn how to make $$$ major moolah from advertising???

ME!!! I mean WE!!

ThoughtsFurPaws.com wants to know all of the above – which is why Mom is headed to BlogPaws West 2010.

It’s in Denver from Sept 9-11, and the conference is filled to the brim with fun, fur, friends, and… oh yeah, TONS of information on how to make your pet blog ROCK:)

Mom went to the very first-ever BlogPawsEast in Ohio & had a total blast!

She only decided to go to this one at the VERY last minute — when she found out ThoughtsFurPaws.com was a finalist in Dogtime.com’s Petties Awards…

** So we’re totally pumped about that nomination, but Mom thinks she has zero chance of winning considering who she’s up against…

Anyhow, according to the website, BlogPaws West is being held to:

“continue building our Be the Change focus on a national scale, to embrace the exciting momentum of BlogPaws East (thank you, thank you, thank you EVERYONE!), and to give our peeps in the West a chance to meet and connect, we’re offering: more learning, more networking, more blogging, Tweeting, laughing, raising funds for shelters/rescues, shouting, singing, partying, listening, hugging, crying, cooing, clapping, and learning at BlogPaws  2010 West. “

And guess what we just found out?? Our super-good buddies at IAMS/Eukanuba are sponsoring our trip! HOORAH! We can’t wait to see our friends from there!

We will for sure return that favor somehow – Mom is already thinking of ways in her mind – she has steam coming from her ears and that means she’s on a mission. (When Mom is on a mission we do not interrupt!!)

There’s going to be lots and lots of pets there and lots and lots of people and food, and treats and vendors, and sponsors and all-around FUN!!

We also can’t wait to see our best friends from Bissell, Inc, too — they are sponsoring BlogPaws for the second time this year and we’re looking forward to catching up with our fellow Bissell Pack of Pet Lovers members.

Anyhow, we think everykitty and everydoggy should go to BlogPawsWest. You can get more information on the BlogPaws Community of Pet Bloggers here.

Group Aims to Fly Homeless Pets out of Gulf 

Pilots N Paws to transport animals from Gulf Coast to more stable areas

Pilots N Paws, an online forum that connects animal rescue groups and volunteer pilots, moves thousands of homeless pets each year.

The weekend of September 18, pilots and other volunteers will participate in the Pilots N Paws Gulf Coast Rescue Flyway, trying to relocate hundreds of animals from the Gulf Coast disaster areas to shelters and fosters in other parts of the country.

“These animals need help now,” says Debi Boies, co-founder of Pilots N Paws. “Many had families who loved them and are victims of the oil spill. Their owners have lost their jobs, their homes and are barely surviving. They no longer have the means to care for their pets.”

According to the National Council on Pet Population, 9.6 million shelter animals are needlessly euthanized each year. After the oil spill, one shelter in Louisiana euthanized 900 in a single month! The aim of Pilots N Paws is to decrease this number by connecting shelters and rescue groups with pilots willing to transport animals to safe homes.

With the help of the Pilots N Paws website, rescuers and foster homes in high-kill areas are able to locate their counterparts in areas of the country where high-kill rates are not the rule. These no-kill shelters then make space for the animals being rescued. The sending and receiving pair team up with a volunteer pilot, who provides transportation.

To make this life-saving, heart-warming event a success, many more volunteers are needed. Opportunities include:

• Pilots – Register online to fly pets from shelters to their foster or forever homes.
• Short- and long-term foster homes – Take care of pets, ranging from overnight stays en route to extended periods, while adopters are found.
• General volunteers – Local shelters always need help walking dogs, cleaning cages and filing paperwork.

In addition to volunteer roles, there are other ways to help:

• Spread the word – Tell your local animal shelter about Pilots N Paws. If there’s a small airport nearby, ask the manager to let its pilots know about the event.
• Donate – Pilots N Paws, rescue groups and shelter donations are usually tax-deductible.
• Adopt – Consider taking one of the rescued pets into your own home.

“Volunteers are the key to our success,” says Boies. “Without the pilots and rescue groups, our program wouldn’t exist. The more volunteers we have the better chance of saving helpless animals.”

Pilots N Paws is a 501(c)(3) organization, so pilots’ expenses relating to transport flights are tax-deductible. Pilots N Paws is an excellent example of the critical role general aviation plays in our everyday lives. For more information, or to help out with the Pilots N Paws Gulf Coast Rescue Flyway, visit www.pilotsnpaws.org. To learn more about other ways general aviation pilots help every day, visit GA Serves America.  Petmate and Subaru are proud sponsors of Pilots N Paws and the Pilots N Paws Gulf Coast Rescue Flyway. 

** This is a guest post written by a friend, Heather Reynolds.

First, here is my introduction to this post. Since I’ve been talking about pet insurance – and it seems to me that more and more pet owners are buying policies now-a-days (according to statistics from companies like PetInsurance.com, etc.) – I got an insider’s professional view of the pet insurance industry. Many of you either commented or emailed me after the last post with tales of how pet insurance saved your animals’s lives, or how you WISHED you had bought it when you had the chance because you now have $6k in vet bills…

Heather Reynolds works for Trupanion here in the U.S. So since we already discussed pet insurance and pet health earlier I thought I’d allow a guest post rrom a knowledgeable industry rep. on the whole pet insurance concept. Heather is representing Trupanion, a pet insurance company based in Seattle. Although it’s fairly new to the industry in the U.S., the company has been thriving in Canada for the last decade, and actually ranks 5th in Google for the term “pet insurance.”

In fact, recently, the pet insurance industry was reviewed by Consumer Reports and Trupanion was named as thee one company that provides everything Consumer Reports looked for in a preferred plan.

The report states, “We prefer coverage with simple, percentage-based payouts, and no reliance on judgments of what’s ‘reasonable’.”

Trupanion offers one simple plan, pays a straight 90% of veterinary costs, and does not impose ‘reasonable’ fees. There is no payout limit over the life of the pet and no limits per year, claim, illness, procedure, or condition. The report also looked at two specific scenarios in which pet insurance could be applied – one in which the dog was basically healthy and one in which the dog had chronic problems.

While none of the nine policies reviewed would have been cost-effective for the healthy dog scenario, Trupanion provided the highest net benefits for the chronically-sick dog scenario.

Another portion of the review told the story of two cats with rare conditions – one young, one old. In this scenario, Trupanion’s coverage paid the most for both cats, at both the $100 and $500 deductible levels. Check out the full report here. Also, check out Trupanion’s blog here.

Anyhow, here is Heather’s guest post: (thanks Heather!)

None of us want to think of something disastrous happening to our beloved pets. But the truth is that three out of four pets require emergency medical treatment in their lifetimes. With veterinary costs rising every year, it’s getting harder and harder to pay for needed veterinary treatments.

This is where/when/how having pet insurance will help.

First, be wary – there are many pet insurance carriers out there, some of them “less than reputable” to put it nicely, and so choosing the policy that’s  right for your pet(s) can be a daunting & sometimes confusing task.

Here are a few tips on getting started with pet insurance coverage:

1. Do your research. Check out www.petinsurancereview.com for an unbiased review of several pet insurance companies.

2. Use word-of-mouth. It’s well-known in the Marketing and PR industry today that word-of-mouth advertising beats any ad you’ll see on TV, hear on the radio, or see online or in a magazine. So visit some pet forums (i.e. Iggy Planet, Petfinder, PetLovers.com or The Nest) and search for the term ‘pet insurance’. (Most forums already have a chat room open and lively for this topic.) Chances are that you’ll find other people asking the same exact questions — and perhaps they’ve received solid advice. Also, there’s no harm in asking friends, neighbors, people you know from the dog park, and/or even your vet for their experiences and/or preferences. (Be sure to explain you’re not asking their OPINION on the concept – just if they have pet insurance and who it’s through…)

3. Get quotes. Visit several pet insurance websites and receive quotes for each pet you want to insure. This will give you up-to-the-minute pricing that may be outdated on other sites.

4. Read the fine print. Many pet insurance companies only disclose ‘reasonable costs’ and other fees in their fine print, which many people don’t see until they actually have to file a claim.

ThoughtsFurPaws recently published a post about Petplan. I would like to tell you a little bit about Trupanion, a different pet insurance company. Recently, the pet insurance industry was reviewed by Consumer Reports. The report reviewed nine policies from four companies, including Trupanion. After comparing all companies against certain veterinary scenarios, Consumer Reports determined what they would prefer in an insurance company. They state: “We prefer coverage with simple, percentage-based payouts, and no reliance on judgments of what’s ‘reasonable’.”

Trupanion mirrors those preferences by offering one simple plan, paying a straight 90% of veterinary costs, and not imposing ‘reasonable’ fees. There is no payout limit over the life of the pet and no limits per year, claim, illness, procedure, or condition.

You can read the full report here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/insurance/pet-insurance/is-pet-insurance-worth-the-cost/overview/index.htm.

Just as with human health insurance, pet insurance is only financially beneficial if your pet becomes seriously ill or injured. But also like human health insurance, it’s extremely beneficial to have in place if the unthinkable happens. You don’t want to have to wait to make a medical decision so you can ‘crunch the numbers’, and you don’t want the financial stress piled on top of the emotional pain you feel when your pet is sick.

You do so much to protect your pets… so it only makes sense to protect your pocketbook as well by investing in pet insurance.

 Top 5 Reasons to Choose Trupanion

No Payout Limit – No dollar limit on the cost of care if your pet becomes sick or injured.
Higher Payout – We cover 90% of your veterinarian’s bill.
Fast Approval – We approve and pay claims faster than any other competitor.
No Penalties – You are never penalized with higher rates for submitting claims.
Fair Premiums – Premiums won’t increase due to your pet aging.

Heather Reynolds is a pet lover and internet journalist at Trupanion. Feel free to contact her with any questions related to cat and dog insurance at heather.reynolds@trupanion.com.

Every 6 Seconds a Pet Parent Gets a Vet Bill
for Over $1,000. Bow-Ouch!

I know how much animals mean to you—whether they live in the wild, on a farm, or in your own home. If you’re anything like me – they are your kids and you would do anything to protect them, right?

The concept of pet insurance is definitely a “controversial” one — some say it’s a waste of money while others thank God they had it when their dog was run over…

I feelthat it’s definitely necessary if you have an outdoor animal who roams free around the neighborhood (like my Sasha) – but I really am not sure about other circumstances.

I suppose if you have a gold ribbon/medal winning dog breed than he/she should definitely be insured for possible pt health problems… stemming from unknowingly poor pet nutrition, lack of care, or sensitive and likely to be injured bones and joints (for bigger breeds), etc.

Anyhow, for many reasons the HSUS has decided to team up with Petplan, the world’s largest pet insurance provider; to ensure that your four-legged family members live a long, happy life togethger. (And don’t have to worry if your pet gets severely ill and you can’t afford the vet bill… God I’ve been there and trust me, it’s NOT fun.)

Across the globe, Petplan is recommended by more veterinarians than any other pet health insurance provider and is consistently rated No. 1 in independent reviews by pet parents. Join over 1 million policyholders who already enjoy peace of mind with these benefits:

–   Covered for Life Guarantee™—once your pet is insured with Petplan, any condition they develop, including all chronic conditions, will be covered into their old age with no extra surcharges or riders.*

–  Coverage of all hereditary and congenital conditions—conditions such as hip displaysia, mitral valve disease, and luxating patellas are covered without dollar or time limits.*

–  Customizable coverage for your dog or cat—set your own co-pay and deductible according to your needs and budget.*

And when you get a quote, Petplan will make a $20 donation to our Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association’s Field Services program, which provides free veterinary care to pets in underserved communities. Be sure to use code “HSUS20″ when getting a quote to indicate that you’re an HSUS supporter & to receive an additional 5% discount!

Celebrate the animals in your life — and protect them for good so you can enjoy a longer lifetime with them…

Visit Petplan today to see if it’s right for your pets.

*Portions of this important pet health and wellness article courtesy Wayne Pacelle/HSUS . Photos courtesy Petplan.com

Whether you live in Ohio or not, if you consider yourself an animal welfare advocate then you probably know about Ohio animal welfare groups’ undying support to get a ban passed on dog auctions, cruel activities that give more money to puppy millers and “over-breeders,” and that, in turn, worsen the major homeless/rescue pet overpopulation problem. In addition, it’s suspected that some of these dogs bought at auction end up as test animals in laboratories across the country…

Dogs in tiny cages in "Auction Row"

Since 2004, Ohio Dog Auctions have grown into anything but “run of the mill.” Breeders who participate in these auctions are raising HUGE numbers of dogs/puppies with profit as their primary motive of existence. Many of the animals are unhealthy, abused, not screened for genetic disease, lack good temperament and show NO resemblance to the real breed.

Run by one of the most well-known animal advocates in the state – Mary O’Conner Shaver – the event is being held to get additional signatures on The Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions, an:

Ohio has no laws preventing dog auctions. (And is WAY behind in other animal welfare legislation as well including penalties for animal cruelty and FINALLY passing a puppy mill bill.)

Many concerned citizens firmly believe the auctions serve not reputable breeders but large commercial facilities where dogs are bred to produce as many puppies as possible in conditions ranging from unsanitary to inhumane.

The Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions is spearheading a new, citizen-backed ballot initiative – The Ohio Dog Auctions Act.

The auctions usually sell smaller breeds, but every now and then will have one or two larger dogs as well. (Click here for a video on Ohio dog auctions.)

The measure (similar in language to Pennsylvania’s Statute 459-603

Stop Dog Auctions & Puppy Mills in Ohio

Voters across the state are communicating with their fellow citizens and starting to gather a goal of a minimum of 120,700 signatures by December 1, 2010 to put the proposed law before the Legislature in January 2011.

Volunteer petitioners are needed to make this initiative a reality in Ohio —we have until December 1, 2010!  We need everyone’s participation to make this vital effort a success! GET READY TO SERVE AS A STRONG VOICE FOR THESE POOR VOICELESS PUPS AND STUD DOGS at a peaceful rally and signature-gathering event…

** SO PLEASE COME to the event for Ohioans this Saturday, August 21st from 10 am to 2 pm at the Holmes County Fairgrounds **

The more signatures we can gather, the better!

Remember that many farmers and dog fanciers, hobby and show-breeders will also be attending — and they SUPPORT the Act.

OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO THE OHIO DOG AUCTIONS ACT AND relationships there to puppy mills, and pet homelessness. If you’d like to download signs to bring, you can find them on www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com. (Per the Holmes County Sheriff, remember we must be 6 feet off the roadside.)

Peaceful Child "Rallier" at Previous BODA Event

Also, over 100 Harley riders from across Ohio are scheduled to join us in support of our efforts to raise awareness of the dog auctions problem and the Act. Their route includes a visit past the Fairgrounds and the Livestock Auction Barn where the real auction takes place.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Julie from Operation Warm and Cozy, at 330-364-7190.

You can also support the coalition by clicking on this sentence to sign the petition at Care2′s Petition Site.

There’s a list of related media coverage/releases further down the page here.

For more information about the event visit http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com.

This Friday, August 13^th will be unlucky for chemical fragrances! Here’s some pet information about pet health that I bet you never knew…(unless you’re a DVM!)

SeaYu Spreads Awareness of Pet Health Issues too

Clean+Green by SeaYu has founded Fragrance Free Day (#fragrancefreeday), a social media event which asks people to tell the world via their social networks that they’ll go “fragrance free” for one day.

Now here’s the pet health and pet information part I referenced:

** Animals have faster metabolisms & smaller lungs than humans, so not only are they processing harmful chemicals used in the home more quickly, they are also breathing them in at a faster rate. Because animals are closer to the ground, they are more often in direct contact with these harmful substances making Fragrance Free Day of special importance for pet owners everywhere.

Fragrance Free Day gives concerned consumers, pet owners, pet lovers and animal advocates a chance to spread awareness of the dangers associated

Clean & Green Presents Fragrance Free Friday

with fragrance/chemicals in personal care and household cleaning products — two things we need to be seriously aware of as pet lovers and pet owners.

This awareness campaign comes at a time when, according to a recent report by ABC News,

“Congress and the cosmetics industry are both calling for tighter regulation of the chemicals used in cosmetics and other personal care productsdue to concerns over possible carcinogens and other toxic ingredients.”

As part of the event, the company will:

- Host a live Q&A on Twitter, featuring SeaYu’s CEO Quincy Yu, organic chemist Dr. Stephen Ziman and veterinarian holistic pet health expert Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM.

-Anyone with questions on the safety of products they’re using for personal care can Tweet them with the hashtag #fragrancefreeday on Friday, August 13 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST and have their question answered by one of the experts through SeaYu’s Twitter account.

- There is also a press release you can read for more information and details here.

- And you can check out the event page on Facebook.

Here’s the blog post the company wrote about this novel and inventive idea:

Panel of Experts Available for Questions on Fragrance Free Day – August 13th

And here’s the snippet from the post that totally intrigued me:

“What started the idea of Fragrance Free Day?  Several studies have been published and we are spreading the word.  The report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Environmental Working Group, “Not So Sexy, the Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances,” found 14 secret chemicals not listed on the labels that are associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products. The study also notes that numerous other products used daily, such as shampoos, lotions, bath products, cleaning sprays, air fresheners and laundry & dish-washing detergents also contain strongly scented, volatile ingredients that are hidden behind the word “fragrance.”

WHOAAAAA….

———————————————————————————————

Clean & Green, obviously an animal charity supporter, says right on it’s site:

We’re committed to making sure that all of our products are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and recyclable.

Dedicated to Pet Health & Safety in ALL Arenas

So it only makes sense that this eco-friendly pet product producer be behind a concept uncovering the TRUTH about certain chemicals, but uses 21st century technology – social media – to get the word out! Kudos to them AND SeaYu!

Now… let’s all do something for out pets’ health. Your cat or dog’s health could honestly be effected by chemicals in not only household cleaning products, but also something most of us never knew — fragrances and perfumes/colognes. (This is a new concept for me – I had no idea my perfumes sprays – which I use religiously – could harm my cat’s and dog’s health.)

** So definitely get ready for some more pet health information that just might surprise you and/or teach you something you did not know about pet health! **

DON’T FORGET TO SPREAD THE WORD ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 13th. TELL YOUR CO-SOCIAL NETWORKERS THAT IT’S FRAGRANCE-FREE FRIDAY! Let’s get Pets in the news – FRONT-PAGE!

I feel so lonely today even though I’m surrounded by my parents and family…

"Dora-Dear" the Cuddler

but what/who I don’t have is my precious baby Theodore, my very first rescue pet cat. His fun-filled feline life ended 6 months ago today, after finding out he had cancer about 8 days before. He suffered through two surgeries but the cancer spread throughout his bile duct and you cannot remove the entire bile duct from a cat’s body.

I was an absolute wreck that day – I remember it like it was yesterday. I cried and sobbed over his limp and lifeless body on the exam table, screaming & pleading for God to tell me why he took my best friend of 11.5 years. I actually stopped praying for a good 4 months and – as much as I hate admitting this – I blamed God or whatever Higher Being there is out there watching over us for taking away the thing that was most precious to me (besides my Mother)thus far in life (as a 30-yr-old single gal who is shy, selfless and giving, will only date a man who loves cats and dogs and is “an overall animal-person”)…

Loved to play coy & pretend he couldn't hear me....!

There’s really nothing anyone can say to make the pain of pet loss go away. It just takes time to heal and go through the stages of grief. Reading the pet loss poems on my blog and other inspiring stories help a bit, and journaling does too.

My Mom tried to cheer me up & actually had me hysterical laughing with memories of him running mad circles around the downstairs of the house….or how he would drag his 2.5-foot-long dangler toy upstairs to my bedroom in the middle of the night… and how he used to run so fast he looked like he was a furiously hovering ball of tabby fur  when I would call for him outside. Eventually I was in tears and laughing at the same time – living an oxymoron — laughter/happiness with grief/sadness.

I made a little memorial today for Theodore the rescue cat (aka “Pork-a-Dore” b/c he was a fat old tabby!) with candles, pictures and his paw print and tuft of fur the vet sent me with his ashes.

Theodore – I LOVE you and I MISS YOU TERRIBLY. Sometimes I wish I

My Main Man LOVED His Scratching Post & Cat Nip Toys

could be in Heaven with you. But I can’t and I have to move on. You should know that in my 30 years I have NEVER GRIEVED LIKE I DID (and still am) FOR YOU. I’m still not used to you not hogging the end of the bed and me not moving because I don’t want to disturb you. I’m still not used to you not being at the treat cabinet and opening it with your paws to hint that you want crunchies. And I’m still not used to the gaping hole left in my heart, soul and self that only you could fill. You are the most precious thing I have ever had the privilege of having and I will always remember your human-like demeanor, how you comforted me through some of the roughest times a person could face, your undying loyalty and love for me, and how you would let me hold and hug and kiss you for hours… Purring all the while…

This is a pet loss poem I found here:

LIVING LOVE

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember…

The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder.

Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking animal in a shelter – simply because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room – and when you feel it brush against you for the first time – it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.

Cat Blogosphere's Heartfelt Pet Photo Gift

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep where you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend’s diet – and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day, if your friend and God have not decided for you, you will be faced with making a decision of your own – on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you, you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you.

But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul – a bit smaller in size than your own – seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come. And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg – very very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay – you will remember those three significant days.

The memory will most likely be painful, and leave an ache in your heart. As time passes the ache will come and go as it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.

But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when – along with the memory of your pet, and piercing through the heaviness in your heart – there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization

My Green-Eyed "Little Man"

takes the form of a Living Love – like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow – and be there for us to remember.

It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets – it is a Love that we will always possess.

Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin

Earlier this summer, you may remember that P&G Pet Care (Proctor & Gamble, which owns IAMS/Eukanuba) announced a voluntary recall of TWO lots of IAMS Veterinary Formulas-Feline Renal.

The company announced a couple days ago that it is now expanding the pet food recall to include all IAMS Veterinary Formula Diets (dry), Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Eukanuba Pure, and Eukanuba Sensitive Skin due to possible health risk. (Images of the affected products are posted on the right).
 
Any other IAMS or Eukanuba cat/dog diets, biscuits, treats or supplements are NOT included in this pet food recall & are safe & healthy for your pet.

The Procter Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:PG) is volunt

Eukanuba Naturally Wild

arily expanding its recall to include veterinary and some specialized dry pet food as a precautionary measure because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.  No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported. 
 
The following dry pet food products are included:

1. Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas-all sizes and varieties. “Best Buy dates” on package are 01July10 – 01Dec11: includes ALL UPC CODES

2. Eukanuba Naturally Wild-all sizes and varieties. “Best Buy dates” on package are 01July10 – 01Dec11: includes ALL UPC CODES

3. Eukanuba Pure-all sizes and varieties. “Best Buy dates” on package are 01July10 – 01Dec11: includes ALL UPC CODES

4. Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin – All dry sizes: “Best Buy dates” on package are 01July10 – 01Dec11: includes ALL UPC CODES

Eukanuba Pure

From the press release:

“ The affected products are sold in veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers throughout the United States and Canada.  No canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.  A full listing of UPC codes can be found at www.iams.com. 
        
         These products are made in a single, specialized facility.  In cooperation with FDA, P&G determined that some products made at this facility have the potential for salmonella contamination.  As a precautionary measure, P&G is recalling all products made at this facility.
        
         Consumers who have purchased the specific dry pet foods listed should

IAMS Veterinary Formula Canine

 discard them.  People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.  Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

IAMS Veterinary Formula Feline

        Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.  If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting.  Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
 
For further information or a product replacement or refund call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8823 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST).”