Cute Pic's From the Pet Shop

  I meant to get these up sooner but Christmas was very hectic, I worked extra hours and then got KO'd but a nasty cold.  So here are my Christmas cute pics.

Because of the habitat these parakeets are in, I don't get to spend a lot of time getting them use to people.  This little guy how ever was a brave little birdy and sat with me for several minutes before rejoining his buddies.... or would that be budgies LOL.

 

Meet BABY a beautiful Rottweiler that visits us often.  She is extremely playful and the biggest mush you will every meet.  Just say the word cookie and she will lead you right to them.

 

The ferrets stole my Santa hat.  If you look close you'll see two ... one is chewing on the pom pom the other is hiding inside you can just see her ear and a piece of her tail.

Getting Your Dog Ready for Winter

It's that time of year again and all the winter clothes are on the shelves not just for people but pooches too. If you have a small dog with little hair or take long winter walks with you best bud then its time to start shopping to keep him warm and toasty this winter.

Smaller dogs have a harder time keeping warm since they have less body mass to keep the heat in. If you home is as cold as mine in the winter you may consider getting them a sweater to keep the heat in. You may also want to consider a water proof outer layer for going outside make it one size larger then the sweaters so you can layer it over the sweater for extra warmth. Not sure what size to get the stop by one of the pet stores that love to have four legged visitors and let them help you find the right size.

For doggies going on long walks consider the water proof outer layer, even for big dogs if they are short haired or not one bred for cold climates, to keep them warm.

Last get some doggie boots to protect you best buddies paws from ice getting between the pads and the nasty salt some people use on their sidewalks to melt the snow. It can burn your pets tender pads. If you are going to forgo the boots then make sure you inspect and clean paws after a walk, making sure to get in between the pads where irritants can hide.

Teething Puppies

We have had a lot of new puppy parents coming around lately and they all have the same problem. Their new buddies is chewing up everything in sight.

Just like Human babies, puppy's mouths hurt when those new teeth come in and they are just looking for a way to relieve the pain. I have two solutions for you:

1. If you haven't already purchased one get a Kong toy for puppies.

Now fill it with peanut butter and freeze it solid. The Kong is a very tough toy designed for heavy chewing... I've had mine for about 8 years now and it's been through 2 dogs. The peanut butter helps keep them interested in chewing on the Kong and the cold soothes your puppies sore gums.

2. A second option is to take a clean washcloth and get it damp. Then tie a knot in the middle and freeze. It will serve the same purpose as the Kong in numbing puppies sore gums and the texture of the washcloth will massage them.

It's National Adopt a Dog Month

Welcome to National Adopt a Dog Month.

Since it is Adopt a Dog Month I am finally going to post something that has been bugging me for a while. This is the one post I hope will go viral and reach everyone.

HOW TO STOP PUPPY MILLS

Puppy mills exist for one reason and one reason only... profit! They want to make some fast cash and they don't care about the animals they hurt to do it.

The only way to stop a puppy mill is to take away their profit and its a lot easier then you think. All you have to do is when you decide to get a new companion for your family DON'T go to a pet store this is where most mill dogs are sold. I don't care what they tell you about where they got the dog!

Do you think a store that is selling puppy mill dogs are going to be honest with you?

Instead go to your local shelter and adopt a dog. Not only will you be giving a much needed home to a wonderful companion but you will be saving the life of the dog that can now take his place.

I know what your thinking...

BUT I want a certain breed of dog or what if they don't have a dog I like? The answer is simple! Go to Petfinder.com

This wonderful site lets you search local shelters for your perfect New Best Friend. You can search by breed, age, sex, distance from you, whether or not its good with kids or other pets. It is a great (and did I mention FREE) service to people looking for a new dog.

If everyone started adopting dogs instead of buying the overpriced, inbreed and ill dogs from pet stores then PUPPY MILLS would collapse because they would stop making money off the dogs they don't give a damn about.

Still want a pure breed then visit The HumainSociety.org for a wonderful checklist you can take with you to meet your potential Breeder and help you avoid the pitfalls of a puppy mill purchase!

Flea Control

We have had a lot of people coming in to the store lately looking for a way to get rid of fleas.


While there are several really good flea control formulas on the market there are reasons to try some natural remedies first. The reasons may be your own but here are a few. Its a Poison! Now most commercial flea formulas are designed to only kill the fleas and not harm your pets but you must use caution. We had tried one brand of flea collar on our cat and it made him drool uncontrollable. If you have little ones there is no telling what it will do to them. A manufacture can give you all the assurance they want but they have never tested it on children (an ethical impossibility) so they don't know! Last I haven't met a pet yet that when you put those little drops on the back of their neck shake to dry themselves sending drops of flea killer everywhere but where you want it.

Try some of these non-pesticide remedies first.

1. Start with a bath and a flea comb. Make sure you suds up from the face down as the tenacious little buggers will move in that direction if you start from the other end. Get your fingers in and scrub making sure you get all the way to the skin. Then rinse, once again from the head down washing them down the drain. Then use a flea comb to remove any stragglers.

2. Take care of the carpets. Mixing four parts borax and one part salt can create a powerful flea killer for your carpets. Make sure to keep an eye on the kids around borax though, as eating it can be harmful. If you have a washing machine big enough go ahead and throw the dog or cats be in the with some borax to kill any hiding there.

3. Build your own flea trap using a shallow bowl and some soapy water and a light. Put the soapy water in the bowl and place it in the affected area. Place the light about 6 inches over the bowl and turn on the light. ( A small desk lamp works great for this.) Then leave on all night. The fleas will be attracted to the light.

4. Keep your yard clean of debris. It makes an excellent place for the little buggers to hang out while waiting for your pet to come by. Also try planting some pennyroyal, fennel, peppermint, rosemary or citronella which are natural bug repellents.

Now if there are any eggs they will hatch anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks so keep vacuuming and combing your pet and if any fleas are noticed time for another bath.

Watch Those Paws!

Baby it's cold outside and if your going to be taking our best buddy out for a walk don't forget to check those paws when you get back.

The Ice and snow can be harsh on dogs paws. It can build up between the pads and cause problems. There is also the salt people dump on their sidewalks to melt the ice. It's great for preventing slips and falls but isn't so nice on tender pads.

You have two choices:

1. Get some doggy foot covers they are available for all size dogs and will protect their feet from the elements.

2. Carefully clean your dogs paws after your walk making sure to get in between the pads where ice can build up.

Remember your dog can't tell you something is wrong and will keep going as long as his buddy wants. Its up to you to keep an eye out for trouble.

Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know it's Pet Cancer Awareness Month. With our beloved friends living longer they are becoming susceptible to some of the same ravages of time that we are. Blue Buffalo is one of the Brands we sell over at the pet store and they are raising money to fight Animal Cancer. From their website on Pet Cancer Awareness I got these Pet Cancer Facts to share with you.

1.	Cancer accounts for nearly 50% of all disease-related pet deaths each year. Source: Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center
2.	Cancer is the #1 natural cause of death in older pets. Source: Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center
3.	Dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans. Source: AVMA.org
4.	One in four dogs die of cancer. Source: MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
5.	Over 50% of the dogs over age 10 will die of cancer. Source: DogTopics.com
6.	Just like in humans, cancer can occur in virtually any part of your dog's body. Source: DogTopics.com
7.	Approximately 1 in 4 dogs develops a tumor of some kind during his lifetime. Source: AVMA.org
8.	The cause of cancer in pets, just like people, is largely unknown. Source: Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center
9.	Common risks of obesity in pets include many forms of cancer. Source: PetObesityPrevention.com

I have also included some videos over on the left about Pet Cancer sponsored by Betty White.

It was cancer that finally got to my friend Fitzs at 18 years old and I miss him terribly.

Is Your Dog Ready For Summer?

The heat is on! Time for long summer days playing in the sun, basking, jumping in the pool, digging holes and chasing those pesky birds and squirrels.

That's right summer is just around the corner and its time to get your furry friend ready!

Watch out for those hot, humid summer days, veterinarians recommend against leaving animals outside all day -- even in the shade. Unless your pet has a cool breezy outdoor area that is shaded throughout the day, he's safer indoors - especially during midday heat. It's important to remember that the shadows that your dog might take refuge in will move throughout the day and your best friend can become ill quickly if left in the sun to overheat.

It is especially important to bring in dogs that are elderly, very young or ill that have a tougher time keeping their body temperature constant.

Exercise is an important part of keeping your dog. However, overdoing it on hot day can cause your pet to overheat and put him at risk for heat exhaustion. It can also cause your dog sever pain as those hot sidewalks can burn his tender paw pads, especially in southern desert climates such as Arizona New Mexico and Texas.

The best time to get your buddy exercise is early in the morning or in the evening. Make sure you bring plenty of water and if he seems to be panting a lot or seems exhusted then take a nice break in the shade.

Make sure all his shots are up to date and if you haven't been using it, then its time to pull out the frontline, advantix or other flea preventative to keep your dog and you itch free.

Now for a nice summer treat to help keep your hot dog COOL:

Puppy Popsicle

Needed

Plastic Wrap
Paper Cups
Chicken Broth
Rawhide Sticks or other stiff stick like treat.

Pour Chicken broth into the paper cups and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Gently push the Rawhide stick through the plastic wrap. Place in freezer and leave there until frozen solid. Give to you HOT Dog to enjoy.

$450 Dollers For A MUTT?

There was a cute dog in the store today the owner said it was a Cockapoo. This is of course a cute name for a mutt breed from a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. Out of curiosity I googled the Cockapoo and found you can spend any where from $450 - $1000 for one of these dogs.


This is so ridiculous I can't even believe it. Some one told me that its because they are new breed of dog but if that is true then why aren't they listed on the American Kennel Club list of Pure Breed dogs? Of course they aren't the only new Designer Mutts apparently anything you mix with a Poodle and give a cute name too is worth a fortune. Now There is the Snoodle, the Airedoodle, Boxerdoodle, Cavepoo, Eskipoo, Foodle, Laberadoodle.....etc.

Why would you spend so much money for a mutt when you can go to the pound and find the same type of mixed up doggies for about $70 for the adoption fee.

Maybe I should come up with a cute name for my mutt. He's a Chesapeake Bay Retriever/ Chow Mix...

Hummm Maybe a Chow Retriever.... His breed job could be to bring me snacks from the kitchen.

Spring Is in The Air

It was an absolutely beautiful day today. Even Cricket found a nice spot and just stretched out for a long nap in the sun.

I had to double check cause he was so still I couldn't even see him breathing and he wasn't chasing the birds lol.

Meet Taffy

This cute Terrier is Taffy a wonderful dog that likes to come visit us at Petco. He is extremely friendly and just can't wait to get lots of love from everyone he meets.

Taffy came in for a visit Wendesday during the lovely snow storm we had. As I was chatting with his owner about how having a small animal in the house with Taffy was not a very good idea since Terriers are bred to hunt and kill small fast moving animals. Taffy's owner mentioned that Taffy really liked going by the kitties we have in our store for adoption. She asked me if I would like to see something funny. At this exact sec... just as she finished asking... Taffy proceeds to lift his leg and pee.

It was a comic moment you just can't plan. I couldn't stop laughing it was too perfect. Now dogs peeing in the store is nothing new its one of the hazzards when you have someplace your allowed to bring your pets. So armed with clean up supplies I let Taffy's mom know that it was ok and that Taffy had just made my day.

Cricket Says "What the Heck Is THAT???"

Today's story is about thinking before you buy!
If you take a close look at the pictures you may notice a small bundle of fur at his feet. That is a pure breed Yorkie. No we will not be keeping him, He will be going to live with my Sister in law. But how he came to be spending a few days with us before arriving at his new home is an interesting story.
I was at work and a young lady entered the store carrying this cute bundle of fur. She asked if if we could take the puppy. It was appearent that she really liked the puppy so asked why she wanted to give him up. She explained that she had purchased the puppy and as she was taking him to the car decided she should contact her landlord to make sure she could have a dog. He told her No Way! So she went back into the store to return the dog and they told her they would not take the dog back because she had already taken him out of the store. She had no Idea what to do but had heard we take in unwanted animals and didn't want to take it to the pound. Every one started making calls. To see if anyone could take the puppy finally I called my inlaws and they were more then happy to take him in.

The moral of the story...... Do a lot of thinking before you purchase a pet. Try to take every part of your life into consideration. How much space do you have, how much time and care will he need? If you rent or are part of a community such as condos what are the rules for pets. Never buy a new pet on impulse!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Doggy Halloween Contest

We had a doggy Halloween contest in the store on Saturday. There were some very cute dogs there. Including Dorthy and the Yin Man a cowgirl and a hot dog. The winners gave me permission to post their pictures so here they are. Three Birthday clowns complete with cake.

How To Help a New Pet Adjust To Their New Home

Lets face it moving to a new home is a stressful experience for anyone. If you are getting ready to bring a new pet home the move is just as stressful for them. But I know a few tips that will help you introduce your new family member that will help them feel more at home sooner with less stress.

Some of these tips will be easier to use then others and they can be applied to most pets with the exception of the exotics such as snakes, frogs, spiders and lizards.

The first thing you want to do is make sure their is a spot in your home that is just for your pet. Someplace they can retreat to when they need to be alone. It should be someplace where every family member understands is just for the pet. Whether it is a crate for your new puppy or a bed in a corner for your new kitten, or a plastic igloo for your new hamster or guinea pig they need someplace to escape too.

When you go to pick up your new family member get some of the bedding that is in the cage with your small animal. If you are getting your dog or cat from a reputable breeder see if you can drop off your puppies new bed a couple days early so it gets the scent of home on it. To help close down puppy mills make sure you know where your puppy or kitty comes from. Avoid pet stores because the only way to make sure of where your pet comes from is to get it from the breeder yourself. Now if your like me and get your pet from a shelter then check with the shelter to see if you can drop off the bed before pick-up.

Now to help get the pet use to you faster, before you bring them home take an old worn out shirt (one you don't want any more) and where it to bed (don't wash it). When you bring your pet home add it to their sleep area or cut it into pieces and add it to the small animal bedding. This will help them get use to you faster.

Last but not least and especially important if you have small children. Give your new pet some room to explore their new home with out being mobbed with attention. You should give small animals at least a week before you try handling them. (this of course depends on where you get them since some pet stores do an excellent job of handling their small animals) By giving your new family member some room to explore you will help prevent agressive behavior based on fear.

Walking The Dog

I think many people take for granted that our best and most loyal friend never complains. So today I'm going to let Cricket do some complaining for them.

Hi my name is Cricket, my family rescued me from a very noisy place where I was kept in a cage. There were lots of other dogs there and all of them were as sad as I was. At my new home there was another dog named Wags and she told me stories of all the places she had lived with her new family. One of place was so hot the pavement could burn her paws If she went out in for a walk in the middle of the day. She could look out the window and see other families walking by with their dogs ignoring the fact that while the covering they had on their feet protected them from the burning hot road their four footed friend was suffering loyally beside them.

She told of other places like where I was born that got so cold in the winter the ground would freeze. Though the cold ground was no bother to her well padded paws, the big trucks that lumbered down the road poured stuff out the back that would get up in between her paws and irritate them. Lucky for Wags that our family made sure to clean her paws after their walks together. But after living in the place with the hot pavement she wondered how many other families with dogs remembered to take care of their paws after a walk.

Wags has gone away but her stories stay with me and I'm glad I have such a thoughtful family to live with.

Cricket

Pets and Vacations

We are planning on going on Vacation and the problem arises.....How to care for your pets when your not there.

Dogs and Cats have a very simple solution though kind of expensive. There are kennels and "pet motels" everywhere you go. You simple have to find one you think will care for your pet they way you want them cared for. I am choosing to go with the kennel at my vets. Simply because I have an extremely elderly cat and a dog with a gimpy hip. I know they will get the best care there. But what about the fish, frog, tadpole and turtle?

Fish aren't a big problem either. We have timers from past trips we can place on the lights and picked up some vacation fish food from Petco. It is pyramid shaped and will dissolve over the time we are gone to release food for the fish. If you want to go a little more high tech you can get a battery powered feeder that will drop food in every day.

The real problem is the exotic pets in my case the turtle, tadpole and frog. My solution was to talk to some of the experts and here are the solutions I've decided on. For Rex the Turtle we will be adding some live plants and some feeder fish to his tank since we have a canister filter we shouldn't have to worry about cleaning his tank. We will probably put in some of the small snails to give him something to dig around for too.

We took Kermit the Frog out and put him in his new habitat it's not as finished as I would have liked. I wanted to get some moss growing in there but haven't been successful yet so we added some "Frog Moss" I purchased at Petco to put on the land side until I get the moss to grow. There is enough room that I will be able to add several crickets for him and he will eat some of the fish food that will be released from the vacation food.

As for the Rocso the tad pole he will be a little tricky. You see his little tank wont support a battery operated vacation feeder and though he would eat the food in a vacation pyramid the water would quickly become filthy and he would suffocate. We have added some plants to his habitat. We have chosen Anicharis, which is a long plant that can be placed in the rocks to grow roots or left to float (which is important since the tadpole habitat has no rocks) and some duck weed which is also a floating plant. These will feed the tadpole and help keep the water a little cleaner.

The Most Amazing Dog I've Ever Seen

I was at work the other day at Petco. I was working the register and it was a slow slow day. Someone had left a magazine at the register and I noticed an article about how to tackle the 5 toughest training problems. As I was flipping through the magazine I saw the strangest site. A dog wearing an Army shirt standing on his back legs.

That made me stop and take a second look. When I looked at the next photo of the dog I saw it had no front legs. I was shocked. I though maybe it was an Army work dog that had been injured in the line of duty. So I flipped to the front of the article and started reading about Faith The Wonder Dog.

Faith wasn't an Army Working dog but a dog that was born with one leg missing and one that in bad shape. (that one was later lost) The family that took her in took turns taking care of the puppy, refusing to put her to sleep. They started teaching her to get up using peanut butter. One day they took her outside in the snow and Faith got up and started hopping around the yard. Now Faith walks on two legs its absolutely amazing. I went online to the magazines website and watched the video with Oprah it was so cool. I also discovered that Faith and her family have their own website which you can visit here http://www.faiththedog.net/. and see Faith in Action.

Don't feed your Dogs raisin, grapes

A friend of mine sent me this important warning andI think its important enough to pass it on to you. Here ya go this is a direct copy of the e-mail story:

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM. I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but ... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give IV fluids at 1 & 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours. The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids. At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care. He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220 ... He continued to vomit and the owners elected to Euthanize. This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk. Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern. Onions, chocolate, cocoa and macadamia nuts can be fatal, too. Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends who do. This is worth passing on to them. Confirmation from Snopes about the above ...Click Here

Here is another website that has human foods that poison dogs Click Here

Pets Help with the Chores

Our pets are wonderful additions to our family they even help out with our chores

You've seen Boots and Fitz help answer E-mails but have you seen

Fitz helping with the laundry? Or...

Cricket Helping with the Vacuuming?

Ok Rex can't help with the chores but these are cute

This is Rex taking a nap he is sleeping on his log with his head in the water resting on the fake plant in his tank.

And finally a decent shot of DA TA TA TA................SUPER TURTLE!

and just in case you can't see his legs in the first pic here is a close up LOL

Meet The Cast

CATS



Old Man Fitz

The oldest of the gang He joined our family in 1991 and he has out lived 4 other pets. If you picked him up you would swear he is virtually boneless. He will just blob over in your hands. He also likes to help on the computer as you can see.

Boots

He is our youngest cat. When we adopted him from the pound he was the nicest quietest cat you can possible imagine. BUT when we had him fixed he became rather mental. He will suddenly jump up and tear around the house or attack the dog. You can tell when its about to happen because of the wild look in his eyes.

DOG

Cricket

We got Cricket from the pound at the same time we adopted Boots. He has Hip Dyspepsia in both back legs and has already been operated on once. He is the sweetest dog you can possible imagine. We think he is half Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Half Chow. He has all the colors of the retriever with the curly tail and purple tongue of the Chow. Though after his operation his tail doesn't curl quite right any more.

Turtle

Temporary Name Rex

Rex is the newest addition to our family. We adopted him when his previous owner could no longer care for him. His name is only Temporary because we got him on my Husbands Birthday and told him he could name him but hasn't done so yet. He is very entertaining to watch though he is very camera shy and I've been having a heck of a time getting a good picture of him.


Frogs
To Be Announced
To Be Announced
The frogs haven't arrived yet we ordered them to replace the one my son lost before we moved. Boots the cat got him out of the tank somehow but I've fixed that problem the tank will be on a higher ledge with a lid that latches closed.

Supporting Cast of Characters Snails, Plecos, and Feeder Guppies

I don't have good pictures of the plecos yet and the feeder guppies are rather small and there are lots of them. We bought a dozen to give the turtle some exercise (he looked really bored) and they had babies. The babies are in a seperate tank.