Superior Health Options for Your Senior Dog; PSCPets.com Helps Dogs Get the Most Out of Senior Years

Pets deserve the best, but even more so as they approach their golden years. At PSCPets.com, pet parents will find many innovative pet products designed to promote the optimal health of furry senior companions…

Choice PSCPets senior products that ThoughtsFurPaws really likes include:

-  PSCPets Aging Support

PSCPets.com Healthy Dogs!

- PSCPets Daily Maintenance Soft Chews

- PSCPets Joint Assist Treats with Probiotics

What is the difference between a dog treat and a dog chew you ask?

So did we!

Like a treat, a chew is highly palatable and can be used as a reward, but it also is designed to help with a specific health/physical element. That being said, according to a PR rep for the brand who sent us a sample, a chew may have specific feeding directions (for example,”Feed 2 chews daily” or “1/2 chew at morning and 1/2 a chew at night”). A treat may have added vitamins and minerals but won’t offer the supplemental/health benefits or results of a chew.

That is the official difference.

“If I had to make a human comparison, a chew is like a gummy vitamin. It’s yummy and sweet but has the added nutritional benefits of a daily vitamin. However, (like a chew) gummy vitamins are not recommended to be eaten by the handful,” she added. Smart girl, eh?

Anyhow, like all PSCPets brand products, the high-quality, premium supplements are vet-formulated/developed & are produced in a state-of-the-art facility in Wisconsin. They’re also affordable – which is important to consumers during these times.

PSCPets.com Soft Chews for Dogs

Pet parents who have a senior dog or a pet that’s approaching the good ol’ golden years are embracing the new site; it offers everything a pet parent needs to help enhance Fido or Fluffy’s quality of life. At PSCPets.com, they’ll discover a number of innovative products designed to promote the optimal health of their senior companion.

Here are, again, a few healthy options for your furry friend.

-          PSCPets Aging Support is specially formulated to help support healthy joints and overall vitality in senior dogs. Available in both a cold-formed soft chew and chewable tablet form, this highly palatable formula includes important ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Perna Mussel and MSM to ensure aging canines have all the support they need to transition into their golden years with ease.

-          PSCPets Daily Maintenance Soft Chews are designed to supplement the nutritional needs of working, active and adult dogs, as well as senior dogs of all sizes and breeds. This scientifically balanced formula contains a powerful combination of essential vitamins and chelated minerals (organic forms of minerals in animals’ food, i.e., forms of essential trace minerals such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc, according to Wikipedia) to help support the health of all adult dogs. These are available in Small and Medium/Large Dog soft chew-size.

-          PSCPets Joint Assist Treats with Probiotics are distinctively crunchy treats with a peanut butter flavor dogs simply love. These lactose-free treats contain Glucosamine to help maintain joint and tissue function as well as strong bones, plus Chondroitin which has been shown to help increase the efficiency of Glucosamine. They also contain beneficial bacteria that help support and maintain dogs’ gastrointestinal health.

Like all PSCPets brand products, these quality supplements are veterinarian formulated/developed, and are produced in a state-of-the-art facility in Wisconsin. Thanks to the website’s Live Chat feature and receptive customer support dept., visitors can get helpful advice from an expert service rep.

To learn more about other senior dog’s options, visit the PSCPets brand senior pet product page here.

According to my pal at the pet PR company, the American Pet Products Association says that 62 percent of US families own a pet… that means up to 72.9 million homes have an animal! The APPA also says that U.S. shoppers spent around $51 billion on their pets in 2011.

So meshing PSCPets pet supplies, supplements, chews and dog treats is a not only smart, it’s commonplace nowadays! PSCPets will make an appearance at the upcoming Global Pet Expo – in Orlando — Feb. 29 through March 2. Check ‘em out!

“The innovative products you’ll… meet [there] will soon be worn, licked or consumed by some of the luckiest pets in the nation,” she said!

Funny PSCPets.com Basset Hound Picture!

Look for PSCPets.com on Facebook; “Like” their new page @ www.Facebook.com/PSCPets.

About PSCPets.com

The PSCPets brand was created to provide customers with a brand they know they can trust. Their premium quality supplements are veterinarian formulated and developed, and produced in a state-of-the-art facility in America’s heartland, Wisconsin. Besides providing PSCPets branded healthcare solutions for your companion animal, pet parents can find a wide selection of health and wellness products from other top pet product manufacturers for sale on the PSCPets.com website. The e-commerce pet store supplies a convenient and economical way for pet parents to find trusted health and wellness solutions from the comfort of their home. For the full story, visit the PSCPets.com website or find them on Facebook at Facebook.com/PSCPets. Additional inquiries are invited to email CustomerCare@PSCPets.com.

For people who don’t own dogs, the amount of money spent on feeding man’s best friend may seem extravagant. Looking at the ingredients of a premium bag of food oftentimes can make the kibble sound tastier than most human meals, after all!

However, the reasons behind “super pet foods” may surprise those non-pet owners.

Food is NOT meant to be a special treat, nor is it supposed to be a way to spoil the family pooch…

The nutritional diet of a domesticated dog, however, is one of the most important aspects of pet care for any pet owner. Dogs need consistency in the food that they are given and they willtake time to adjust to new diets. So

Royal Canin Helathy Dogs (from website)

continuously altering a dog’s diet is not good for their health but this doesn’t mean that dog owners should not change the food that they are buying and stick with the same brand or products. There is a large selection of different brands, products and ingredients to feed your dog and choosing the right one is essential.

One way to choose the right food is to go by your dog’s breed. For example, Royal Canin Dog Food brand offers a specially developed breed-specific range of foods that take into account common health problems associated with each breed as well as the way your dog use his mouth to eat his kibble! How neat is that? As with most premium brands, they also provide food for pregnant or lactating female dogs of varying breeds and sizes so that both mother and puppy get the nutrients they need.

On another hand, you may be worried about your dog being susceptible to certain allergies like wheat or gluten. Eukanuba Dog Food uses potato and fish as opposed to grains and beef or pork to prevent inflammatory skin conditions from occurring.

James Wellbeloved also produces hypo-allergenic dog food, including James Wellbeloved Puppy Food to make sure your dog gets accustomed to these types of foods from an early age.

Ultimately, there are many benefits to purchasing premium pet food that can be used to combat a variety of health problems – from maintaining a robust digestive system to developing strong muscles and joint flexibility. A simple change in a dog’s diet means fewer trips to the vet and a longer, happier life for Fido.

This is your weekly PUPDATE on the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge for Henry and Franklin, the famous Lakewood Basset Hounds!

Sorry the pupdate is late but Mom was out of town!

Peanu "Undercover Brother" after a LONG dog park night!

See our previous Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge posts here!

We cannot believe the FOURTH WEEK changes we are seeing on our Basset Hounds, which are known for being inherently ornery, bossy, lazy and driven by their noses…

They have lost or gained weight where necessary; they actually enjoy their mealtimes now, and they have benefited in other ways individually in totally unexplainable ways.

So due to serious time restraints, here is the Q/A we were sent:

What physical changes are you noticing the most?

Activity level for sure – they are up and ready in the morning and evening after dinner to go to Lakewood Dog Park (which is having a Super Bowl Fundraiser Dog Pawty) and cause a ruckus! Franklin just will not be quiet or calm down until we go to the park or for a long walk; it’s so obvious that he feels younger. It’s difficult to explain when you aren’t seeing it first-hand, which is why I am going to tell anyone reading this to try the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge next time it’s offered!

We’re also noticing that they aren’t shedding as much, but when they do, we notice it’s silky fur and easy to brush right off… Their coats are so shiny now that our friend at Lakewood Dog Park asked what kind of shampoo we use! We I shocked him when we said it’s not the shampoo, it’s the food!

Is your dog still enthusiastic about the food?

Oh yeah: they enjoy every bit of kibble.

Henry has actually slowed down so he tastes and enjoys the kibble – he doesn’t just inhale it! This is what we WANTED!

Have you seen any changes in your dog’s weight (maintained weight, shed a few pounds)?

♥ Henry has lost three pounds total — perfect! Franklin has gained four – PERFECT ♥

What has surprised you the most about your dog on Eukanuba?

We had never expected THAT ONE FOOD CAN DO SO SO MUCH for our dogs. What really has surprised us the most is their personalities — they are seriously – HAPPIER DOGS overall — due to this food.

And we think it’s because Henry and Franklin’s senior and joint issues, respectively, have changed.

So thank you Eukanuba and we will be back in a few days with the wrap-up!

So the Basset Hounds (aka, the “Bass-sais,” or “Bass – saze,” like they’re French or something, lol), have shown amazing improvement in so many areas

since they started Eukanuba’s 28-Day Challenge just a bit over 3 weeks ago…

(First post here, second post with updates here…)

*** Certain areas of progress are uncanny in a fantastic way, absolutely remarkable.***

So I put together answers to some Q’s that were asked for you all to peruse so you could read about what we’re seeing first-hand over here….

1. YES – we are noticing major physical changes to the dogs… AND improved muscle tone!

Oh my gosh – Henry lost two pounds and Franklin gained 1.8– which is EXACTLY what needed to happen (according to the vet’s weight the last time they went in for a check-up (early December))!! Hoorah!

Peanut after one of his newfound LONG walks on Eukanuba!

Franklin’s muscles are actually showing more now; before this he was a bit weak – mostly from the puppy mill background and from him spending 4.5 years crouching, sitting, stooping and not moving EVER inside an Amish Puppy Mill cage. Even though it’s been almost exactly three years since he’s been saved and we’ve worked with him regularly by walking, exercising and playing with him, it’s very difficult to develop muscle tissue in his damaged hind legs correctly because his joints have permanent damage and he suffered stunted growth.

This Eukanuba Healthy Joints Formula has so many healthy supplements in such great levels. We think the animal-based proteins are seriously contributing to the muscle build-up, particularly in Frank’s back legs, because in order to build muscle you need to have healthy joints first, right? (That’s what we read anyways….)

2. The dogs are both more active and have NOTICEABLE added energy on runs/walks…

They are both more active THEN EVER – I mean, Henry is back to being a lean Basset machine on a leash… He leads the brigade, pulling and yanking and squawking (he always has felt the need to announce his presence) while we walk down the street; Franklin is RIGHT on his tail… He was, for a while there, lollygagging quite a bit. Sometimes Frank-N-Beans would even sit and stop (literally) on the sidewalk… For a while he didn’t know what a walk was, and then, oftentimes, once he knew, he didn’t want to go… then we realized he needed a harness as he despises the control and discomfort (and probably painful memories of) neck-leashes…

Anyhow, when he held up the group (there were 2 foster Bassets and 2 permanent at that time, so we walked them in twos, sometimes threes depending on who had extra calories to burn or poops to take) Henry would shoot  Franklin dirty glares if he held up the brigade by stopping (SO funny…)!

Not anymore…. These two are rearing to go at least twice a day now, and they are wrestling around with each other in the house all the time!! It’s like they’re little balls of entropy like a couple of new kittens or something!

In general, too, though, they are both more active.

Frank resting up with Grace after an energetic long walk on Eukanuba!

They are playing with each other more and Henry has taken up playing with toys like a sassy-pants again instead of tiring out after 3 minutes.

3. They both have had significant changes in appearance: 

Coat, eyes, ears and teeth are much shinier and cleaner, respectively, since starting and always eating Eukanuba. (Check out the pix of Henry’s clean ears to the right…!)

We have really noticed their teeth being cleaner, too, and it also seems their breath isn’t as bad for some odd reason.

Perhaps the best part of all of this testing, no matter how odd this seems, is that Henry HAS SOLID POOP EVERY DAY consistently.

And Frank has a consistent timing/pattern or pooping now. IT’S AMAZING!

♥ ♥ So stay tuned for the final (fourth) week next week of the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge! We can’t wait to see the final, final results and share them ♥ ♥

So on we march toward the end of the 28-day Eukanuba Challenge... and Franklin the Puppy Mill Rescue and Henry the Horrible (aka “The Rebellious Basset“) are JUST LOVING it… (check out the first week’s post here please!)

Between:

- the delicious taste of this new-found food

- the delights of how it’s making them feel on the inside, and

- the wonderful effects it’s showing on their outsides

we can’t be happier with Eukanuba’s Senior Formula and Joint Formula, which Henry and Franklin are getting respectively!

We have noticed that both dogs’ appearance seems to be slightly changing in that their coats are definitely shinier. Another plus (although not appearance-related)? Their breath seems to be less stinky!!

Seriously—already!

WE ♥ EUKANUBA!

We noticed an increase in play drive and energy already as well. I mean, we’ve DEFINITELY seen a change in both of these guys, who generally reserved much of the day for napping (Hounds are lazy by nature).  They are usually very excited to go for walks but slow down towards the end.

** This week they have both stayed three steps ahead the whole time, and for Basset Hounds, that’s saying a lot!! 

We’re also encouraged that both boys have been reacting in a positive way towards the food; they’re excited to eat it and are finishing every single little lick, bite, piece and crumb.

Horrible Henry Sniffing Around, Trying to Bust Into the Food Bags!

I think the biggest thing, however, that we’ve noticed is the same as last week… Frank has INHERENTLY been sketchy about eating in the past, we believe and have been told that’s due to his up-bringing in a puppy mill.  Most of the time you have to sit with him while he eats or coax him with little treats in the food and a few pats while he’s chewing – you definitely can’t leave the floor – you have to sit next to him ’til he’s finished.

*** ♥♥ Since the switch to Eukanuba Franklin has started and finished every meal on his own. ♥♥ ***

THIS IS HUGE!!!

Stay tuned for Week Three of the Eukanuba Challenge next Wednesday!

And thanks, Eukanuba! Henry and Frank already feel better!

Last week, Henry and Franklin started the renowned Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge; Henry is on Senior Formula and Franklin on Joint Formula.

Here is their initial post.

Here are some basic Q and A I wanted to show my readers that the generous folks at Eukanuba asked…

What was your first impression of the new packaging of the Eukanuba food?

The packaging was nothing that was out of the ordinary. I was pleased that it explained in bold big letters what type of food it was and had pointed out the positives of that specific formula. I like the bright colors of the bags, too – makes it stand out among others I think, as does the large dog picture! As a marketing professional (though not familiar with “shelf marketing”), the colors, fonts, and pictures combine to make an intriguing yet not confusing or overwhelming package.

What do you think of the ingredients of the Eukanuba formula that you received?

Henry with his new Eukanuba

Franklin is a former puppy mill stud and spent the first 5 years of his life in a cage in Holmes County, Ohio. This did untold damage to his joints, bones, muscle tissue, etc., particularly in his legs since the Basset by nature has such teeny legs, but Frank has especially taut joints. The Custom Care Healthy Joints Formula was what I chose for Franklin. The ingredients were the reason I chose it… The vet said we could supplement him with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, but also recommended finding a food with L-Carnitine, which helps to burn fat properly and will help Frank achieve the ideal weight, in turn, helping him maintain joint health. He is getting better and better with more exercise, but even the vet recommended a special Joint food/formula before the Challenge started to help his little legs support his behemoth Basset body!

Was there something specific that appealed to you about the Eukanuba formula that you selected for your dog?

Well, I wanted to get a senior formula for Henry because he is over 10 and is very quickly showing signs of aging. He has significantly slowed down, become even more ornery, and whinier, more needy, and definitely takes his dear old time doing absolutely anything! He has bad breath, is slow moving, has lots of tummy trouble, and bad skin problems.

I’m hoping the protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in the senior formula will enhance his appearance (skin and coat) with the private OmegaCoat® formula, which has premium levels of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids to promote skin and coat health. We also want the food to help him have less upset tummy issues; I was turned on by the other Eukanuba “secret ingredient,” (that’s what I told Henry it was), the “FOS.” According to the site, almost 70% of your dog’s immune system is found in the digestive tract. Also, since it has “an exclusive formulation of fiber with beet pulp…” and this FOS, we hope he has less diarrhea – let’s just say it. We want solid poops, more often and more consistently. Eukanuba Senior foods also contain antioxidants so Henry will get sick less often, we hope… Antioxidants help maintain their immune system.

Also, the senior formula is what I’m hoping will help Henry the Horrible’s HORRIBLY bad breath. The smart folks at Eukanuba put “DentaDefense” in the food – which is clinically proven to reduce tartar in 28 days!!

What did you think of the food (texture, appearance, smell) when you first poured it into your dog’s bowl?

Intriguing, enticing, flavorful (for them): they literally DOVE into the bowl and have so looked forward to every meal this week!! I know it felt different than other foods we’ve used – it was more moist, almost like it was dipped in liquid flavoring or something…

How did your dog react the first time you fed him the Eukanuba food?

They were so happy, they wanted to eat more.  Franklin is usually quite reserved while eating – he started to wag his tail and eat at the same time, which is a first for him…

They both proceeded to totally wolf it down, which is weird for Franklin, who is an historically slow and picky eater. Henry guarded his food and licked it multiple times before gulping it down. Franklin took his time, cherishing each little bite, grabbing no more than 6 or 7 pieces of kibble at once so he could enjoy it as much as possible.  They totally savored the flavors…

They were instantly turned on.

♥ In the Smith house, we are looking forward to Week Two… thank you, Eukanuba! ♥

The new and fun pet food, pet supply and many-things-pet-related website, MrChewy.com is a FAN-FUR-TASTIC site chock-full of pet goodies!

We were invited to try it out by spending a generous $50 gift card using a Promo Code, so of course we got some essentials: cat litter (for a steal – we use Ever Clean and that stuff is SERIOUSLY expensive), Greenies tuna-flavor kitty crunchies, some Nutro Large Breed Dog Biscuits for big’ ol’ Benson’s super-sensitive belly (they are the only kind he can have besides what the vet prescribes), and a case of Eukanuba wet dog food (Chicken/Beef) for the Bassets!

All in all, the ease of ordering was totally smooth. I was not overwhelmed by a million different choices, and the left navigation makes it simple to find the product you are looking for by brand name or type. Mr. Chewy has a great selection of all the essentials and isn’t one of those sites that is constantly sending you pop-ups or asking to send you to different pages… maybe some people like that based on preferences but I don’t.

You can find every brand of food from super premium like Halo and IAMS/Eukanuba to Pro Plan, Wellness, Pedigree and Friskies here…

Anyhow, I highly recommend Mr.Chewy.com if you need to order:

-dog food or dog treats

- cat food or cat treats

- potty pads

- cat litter

- flea and tick meds

- other random pet supplies

Mr.Chewy never charges shipping on orders over $49 and anything under $49 ships for a flat rate of $4.95! How cool is that? You can like Mr.Chewy on Facebook here…

AND — the best part? They partner with and send $$$ and supplies to North Shore Animal League and Best Friends Animal Society! ♥ ♥ ♥

Plus they have these really funny headers at the top of all the pages, ie, the cat litter one says “Princess Stinky needs some cat litter… everybody’s favorite subject…” (I laughed anyhow.)

To order, visit MrChewy.com or call (800) 672-4399, which is (800) Mr –Chewy!

So my favorite Basset Hounds in the world, Franklin the puppy mill rescue many of you have read about (read here and here), and Henry, the ornery, senior, speckled Basset Hound, who I sometimes refer to as Henry the Horrible, and who my sister calls the “Speckled Hen” because of the adorable spots all over his under-belly, will be taking the amazing Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge thanks to the oh-so-generous folks at (P&G Pet Care and) Eukanuba.

— We are setting off with Senior Formula (for Henry) and Joint Formula (for Franklin). —

Franklin Lauding Eukanuba, His New Fave...!

These sweet and rambunctious boys have gone from one food to another in recent times as the economy slowed and funds for premium food has slowly diminished. Most of the time they were eating Noutrish, which they did like, or another “over-the-counter” good food.

However, we have always wanted to try out Eukanuba…

When we heard about the Challenge, we thought it would be great to see if we could actually see a visible change in them (like so many past participants purport…), in their coats, their eyes, their movement, their energy and/or something else tangible. After all, the 28-Day Challenge has a seriously good reputation.

** Henry in particular is aging quite quickly (he is 10) and is getting more irritable and a hell of a lot slower as he goes. We’re hoping the Senior Formula can help – well welcome it with open arms.

** And for Franklin, he has joint issues because he sat in a cage at a puppy mill in Holmes County, Ohio, (aka “Puppy Mill Country, Ohio”) for the first 4.5 years of his life…

So let’s try this out!

You guys will read my first week’s review NEXT Wednesday.

The feeding of Eukanuba starts today; and yes, I am a bit behind the other Challengers as we had some issues here at home.

Anyhow, we are stoked — we’ve heard such great things about the Challenge already and can’t wait to let you know what we uncover! Keep posted – we’ll check in again a week from today!

♥Jaime, Frank, Henry and Ashly Smith♥

How to Manage Doggie Diets — Long-Term Illnesses

Most dogs go through life with few health problems. But for some owners, looking after a dog that is suffering from a long-term illness can be extremely stressful. Your vet will be able to help with advice and guidance on ensuring that your dog has a good quality of life and is receiving the right treatment for their condition. But you may also have to consider a program of dietary management to give your dog that ‘fighting chance’ of beating the illness.

As with humans, long-term illness can have a domino effect on the wellbeing of any animal.

A sick animal rarely has much of an appetite, and if the animal stops eating it can compound the illness and weaken the animal further. It is essential to make sure that your dog maintains a healthy appetite to help it to recover or, at the very least, stabilize his condition and prolong his life..

For dogs and cats in particular who suffer from renal failure or kidney problems, an easily digestible diet is essential to prevent putting undue strain on damaged organs.

Happy, Healthy Royal Canin Pets!

Royal Canin

 Arthritis and joint problems

Just as arthritis can restrict the mobility of a human, it can also do the same with older animals. Less mobility means a greater risk of developing obesity and the accompanying problems such as diabetes and heart disease that can develop.

While supplements can help, it is also important to ensure that the animal’s diet contains plenty of Omega-3 oils, essential fatty acids and minerals to help combat the condition.

James Wellbeloved and Pro Plan veterinary diets can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and by feeding your pet the right diet, you can help to improve their quality of life and even prolong their lifespan.

Iams Home 4 the Holidays, one of the world’s largest pet adoption programs, kicked off its annual adoption drive earlier this fall in partnership with the renowned and well-respected Helen Woodward Animal Center, with the goal of finding homes for 1.5 million orphaned pets.

Now in its 13th year, the program, which runs from October 1, 2011 through January 3, 2012, has helped 5.8 million pets find loving homes across the globe.  This year, Iams and Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) will again team up with more than 3,500 animal organizations worldwide to encourage pet adoption.

In addition, Iams is donating 5 million meals to animals in need at adoption and rescue centers through the “Bags 4 Bowls” program. Iams is aiming to give 5 million meals to homeless animals.

“Each year, as many as four million orphaned dogs and cats are euthanized due to shelter overcrowding – that is approximately one pet every eight seconds,” said Mike Arms, founder of the adoption drive and president of Helen Woodward Animal Center. “Since partnering with Iams on the adoption drive 13 years ago, we have really seen the benefit of what this program can do for orphaned animals, and the families who adopt.” (Arms, according to my personal interview with him, started the IAMS and HWAC partnership over a decade ago: in an effort to encourage families to adopt from a shelter or a rescue organization, he began an HWAC adoption drive, quickly bringing Iams on board to help raise awareness.)

***One way you – as a reader — can donate a meal to a pet is to visit Facebook.com/Iams and “LIKE” photos, videos and posts. For every like Iams gets, they’re donating a meal to a homeless animal.

Also new this year, are easy ways to get involved when you’re online socializing! You can customize adoption announcement cards to share with friends and family! To help an animal in need, simply select a template (from the Facebook page), upload a picture and information about your pet and then share! For every card shared, Iams will donate a meal to participating animal organizations!

As a participating blogger for the last few years, I have seen the benefit that Mike Arms described above. TONS and TONS of food has been given to animals in need, and millions of animals who would have otherwise gone unnoticed or perhaps ended up six feet under are now in loving homes. According to Arms, “the alternative (to adoption) is pet overpopulation in the shelters, not to mention the economic impact pet overpopulation is having during already tough financial times.”

While finding loving homes for orphaned pets is critical, the campaign is also designed to provide shelters and rescue centers with much needed food donations. Consumers can lend a hand by:

·         Visiting the Iams Facebook page and clicking to “Like” the page or various messages, photos, videos, etc. For each “Like” comment, photo posted, etc., Iams will donate meals.

·         Becoming a fan of the Iams Facebook page and creating a custom adoption announcement or holiday card to share the news of their new four legged family member or just send a season’s greeting to their family and friends. For each card created and shared, Iams will donate meals.

·         Purchasing specially-marked packages of Iams dog or cat food during the duration of the campaign. For every specially marked package sold, Iams will donate one bowl of food to a participating Home 4 the Holidays organization.

***Arms also told me during my interview with him that the easiest way for you, as readers, to get involved is to “Like” the Iams Facebook page (Facebook.com/Iams) to stay up on the latest adoption numbers, to learn other suggested easy ways to get involved, to get {and hence spread!!} details about pets available for adoption, learn about fun ways to donate meals to pets in need and for quick access to informative content and tips! So be sure PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE to check out IAMS on Facebook!

New to the program this year are campaign ambassadors, NASCAR driver, Ryan Newman, and his wife, Krissie. The Newmans, who founded the Ryan Newman Foundation to educate and encourage people to spay or neuter their pets and to adopt animals from shelters and rescue centers, have joined Iams in their mission to help animals in need this holiday season.

Iams Home 4 the Holidays strives to educate about the importance of adoption so that every pet adopted goes to a permanent, loving home. Those who adopt through the program receive an Iams adoption kit loaded with goodies, including important info about nutrition, training & proper care to ensure their relationship with the new animal starts off on the right paw!

Since its inception, this amazing program has seen almost six million pets find loving, forever homes… !

And on a side note, just to give you a taste of the kind of place HWAC is, Mike Arms told me this:

“I consider HWAC to be the facility of the future, where we do more than just rescue and save pets. We have a therapeutic horseback riding program for the physically & mentally challenged, we have two hospitals: a small animal practice & a large equine hospital, we have a very large education center, where almost 1,500 children go to day camp and the theme is sharing the earth with animals, we have a boarding facility, Pet Encounter Therapy, and an AniMeals program, so we are here for all animals’ needs and to help our community. I do feel that the center is like family. We are all on the same page, doing what we can to enhance the well-being of animals and people.”

♥♥♥ It’s not often that you hear of an organization like this… maybe North Shore Animal League, ASPCA and two or three others have similar facilities, programs and goals… but also, more importantly, the LOVE, compassion, kindness, understanding and general good-warmheartedness…

♥♥ To learn more about how to get involved, including details about pets available for adoption, fun ways to donate meals and quick access to informative content and tips, visit http://www.facebook.com/Iams.

UPDATE: As of November 19th, IAMS DID IN FACT REACH IT’S GOAL of 6 MILLION! The badge on the right is our way of strutting our stuff! CONGRATS TO ALL INVOLVED IN REACHING THIS MILESTONE!

About Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH)

As one of the most successful pet adoption programs in the world, IH4TH partners with thousands of animal organizations dedicated to finding forever homes for orphaned pets. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, IH4TH began in 1999 with just 14 participating animal shelters in San Diego County. Since it began 13 years ago, IH4TH – along with more than 3,500 pet adoption centers – has helped 5.8 million families experience the joy of pet adoption, including nearly 1.1 million pet adoptions from 2010. For more information, please visitwww.facebook.com/iams.

About Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 57,000 people and thousands of animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community.. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the international Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive and the Animal Center Education Services program, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.

About P&G Pet Care

For more than 60 years, P&G Pet Care (NYSE:PG), the maker of Iams and Eukanuba, has enhanced the well-being of dogs and cats by providing world-class quality foods and pet care products. To learn more about Eukanuba® and Iams® Dog & Cat Foods or general pet care and nutrition information, call the Consumer Care Center at (800) 446-3075. You can also visit them online at www.iams.com or www.eukanuba.com.