Doggy date night: How to include your dog in your Valentine's
Day celebration
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| Photo by grwepr Foter CC BY |
Love is in the air and
dog owners across North America are spoiling their pooch with lavish
Valentine’s Day gifts. The Feb. 14 celebration often means romantic dates for
pet parents but what about the dogs? They stay at home lonely while you and
your loved one enjoy time together. Speaking on behalf of the dogs in the world just doesn’t seem fair. What if there was a way to have a romantic date
with your significant other AND your furry family member?
This list has creative
and fun ways to include your canine companion in your Valentine's festivities.
Check out these dog-friendly Valentine’s Day dates that will strengthen your
bond with each family member- furry ones included!
Photos: Puppy kisses for Valentine's Day
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Photos: Festive felines share the love this Valentine's Day
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| Photo by adholmes Foter CC BY-NC |
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| Photo by somecanuckchick Foter CC BY-NC-SA |
With so many holiday gift traditions including chocolate- such as Valentine’s Day- concerned pet owners are smart to be concerned for their pet's safety. It is a bad idea to give just about any animal chocolate but when it comes to chocolate and dogs the combination can be deadly. A gift from a loved one can turn into a lethal weapon...
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| Photo by Georgie Pauwels Foter CC BY |
Pet International Inc. Recalls
6” Beef Trachea Pet Treat
Contact:
Consumer:
(305) 591-3338
FDA PRESS RELEASE — February 11, 2015 — Pet International of Miami,
Florida is recalling 1500 units of 6” Beef Trachea Pet Treat because it has the
potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can
affect animals (i.e. dogs) eating the products and there is risk to humans from
handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly
washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces
exposed to these products.
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.
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| Flyer made by Rhonda Schwendeman |
On August 20, 2014 I reported on a German shepherd named Zara who was missing and suspected stolen in Crownsville, Maryland while her owner was posted to Kuwait. Jon Kenneth Walker is a member of the Army National Guard and has been searching for Zara ever since while over 4 000 people- myself included- have been watching his “Bring Zara Home” Facebook page for any sign that she will be returned to him. Those following the page have shared his posts and spread Zara’s story but still no sign of her. Today- Feb. 10- Jon posted some news and gave us all hope that Zara may have been located- in South Carolina.
The following is Jon’s full post. I hope anyone reading this
will share this story
and go to the “Bring Zara Home” Facebook page- especially
if they reside in any of the places mentioned.
Pet Dental Health Month: Dr. Sanchez
demonstrates 3 step dog dental routine
Are you getting your dog’s dental health advice by word
of mouth? Dr. Andrea Sanchez, the Medical Director of Hospital Operations at Banfield
Pet Hospital in Portland, OR was willing to fill me in on dental disease in dogs. She promotes good oral hygiene by teaming up with
Greenies dental chews
for National Pet Dental
Health Month.
“All across the country, Banfield Pet Hospital is teaming
up with Greenies dental chews to raise awareness about pet oral health and most
importantly how pet owners can best care for their pet's teeth- both at home and
at the vet clinic,” Dr. Sanchez said in a Feb. 7 video interview.
Hope you are having a great Tongue Out Tuesday!
"I left some food up there..."
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| Photo by PoshMoggy Foter CC BY-N C |
Survey shows women prefer Valentine's kisses from pets over
kisses from partner
Who are you kissing this Valentine’s Day? Petplan pet
insurance thinks they know exactly who you will be more likely to kiss on the
sweetest of all holidays and it’s not your significant other.
According to a recent survey conducted by Petplan pet insurance 57% of
pet parents prefer Valentine’s Day kisses from their furry family members over
a kiss from their partner. It may seem like a lot but these numbers are down
from last year’s survey that concluded 62% of people prefer doggy or kitty
kisses over kisses from their two-legged lover. The findings of the survey were
released in a press release on Feb. 2.
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| Photo by eschipul Foter CC BY-SA |
Grill-Phoria LLC Recalls Big Bark All Natural Beef
Jerky Treats for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Contact:
Consumer:
970-663-4561
Consumer:
970-663-4561
FDA PRESS RELEASE
— January 30, 2015 — Loveland, CO — Grill-Phoria LLC of Loveland, Colorado is
recalling approximately 200, 3.5 oz bags of Big Bark All Natural Beef Jerky
Treats for Dogs because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
These bags were distributed and manufactured between September 20, 2014, through
January 2, 2015, and do not have lot codes.
Salmonella can
affect animals eating the products and there is a risk to humans from handling
contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their
hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these
products. Most people recover from salmonellosis in four to seven days without
treatment, but some groups are at higher risk of developing more severe symptoms.
These high-risk groups are children under 5 years of age, the elderly,
pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
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.
Happy Caturday!
"I thought I told you not to come in here!"
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| Photo by Stef Noble Foter CC BY-NC-ND |
Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
These stealthy ninja pets are a force to be reckoned with!
Do you have a photo of your pet acting like a ninja?
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| Photo by Ninja M. Foter CC BY-NC-SA |
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| Photo by M Glasgow Foter CC BY |
Blue
Buffalo’s Home 4 the Holidays adoption drive rescues one million pets
Blue Buffalo
celebrated a milestone Jan. 26 when a cat named Watermark became the one
millionth pet to be adopted this season during their Home 4 the Holidays pet
adoption campaign. Watermark was rescued by the Monmouth County SPCA,
NJ and waiting for a forever home when the Ferrier family took him and set the
record for this year’s adoption drive.
Blue Buffalo’s Home 4 the
Holidays campaign was launched in 1999 and since then has become the
largest pet adoption program on record. The Home 4 the Holidays drive has saved
more than 10 million pets overall and each yearly campaign lasts three months.
With so many new pets coming home during the holidays Blue Buffalo uses the
campaign as a way to educate the public about happy, healthy pets available for
adoption in animal shelters.
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| Photo by Army Medicine Foter CC BY |
Gorilla the pug wins 1-800-PetMeds prize to help cover
medical expenses
America’s Largest Pet Pharmacy® 1-800-PetMeds®
has announced the three winners of its Change a Pet’s Life Contest on Jan. 23.
The contest was established to sponsor medical procedures and adoption fees of
rescue pets in the United States. 1-800-PetMeds®
organization was inspired by Change a Pet’s Life Day which is celebrated on
Jan. 24.
Adoptable pets from shelters and rescue organizations all
over the U.S. were entered in the contest that ran from Jan.9 to the 15. 1-800-PetMeds®
selected a winner and two runner-up pets to sponsor. Gorilla the adorable black
Pug is the lucky winner of the contest who will be receiving up to $2,000 to go
towards his medical treatments that are quoted at $1,800.
Happy Caturday!
"I was eating ribs- that's why I keep doing this."
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| Photo by laurinha_lii Foter CC BY-SA |
Post your own caption in the comments!
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| Photo by Janitors Foter CC BY |
Pet food recalls: January 2015
Oma’s Pride Recalls Purr Complete Feline Poultry
Meal because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Contact
Consumer:
1-800-678-6627
Media:
Capri Frank 1-800-678-6627
Consumer:
1-800-678-6627
Media:
Capri Frank 1-800-678-6627
FDA PRESS RELEASE
– January 16, 2015 – Oma’s Pride of Avon, CT is recalling Purr-Complete Feline
Poultry Meal because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella
can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from
handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly
washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces
exposed to these products.
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.
Hope you are having a great Tongue Out Tuesday!
"No way- mine is longer!"
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| Invisible Snowflakes - Photo by carterse Foter CC BY-SA |
Add your own caption in the comments!
Happy Caturday!
Uptown Funk- that's my jam!
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| Photo by Lisa de Vreede Foter CC BY-NC-ND |
Post your own caption in the comments!
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| Photo by archangel raphael Foter CC BY-ND |
PuppySwap prank ad goes viral and
educates about pet abandonment
The Toronto Humane Society pulled an educational prank on the public by posting a video for “the world’s first puppy subscription service" to YouTube on Jan. 8. The service allows its users to purchase a puppy they can love until it gets older and less desirable. Users can then swap out their grown-up dog for a new, fluffy and more "likeable" puppy. By Jan. 13- only 5 days later- the video has had over 79, 000 views and a slew of online comments.
The Toronto Humane Society pulled an educational prank on the public by posting a video for “the world’s first puppy subscription service" to YouTube on Jan. 8. The service allows its users to purchase a puppy they can love until it gets older and less desirable. Users can then swap out their grown-up dog for a new, fluffy and more "likeable" puppy. By Jan. 13- only 5 days later- the video has had over 79, 000 views and a slew of online comments.
Hope you are having a great Tongue Out Tuesday!
"I think the wind is coming from the north, let me check..."
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| Photo by J. Star Foter CC BY-NC-SA |
Happy Caturday!
Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of wool? She had mittens- get it!
Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of wool? She had mittens- get it!
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| Photo by Liz Phung iW CC BY-NC-ND |
Post your own caption in the comments!
Pet food recall:December 2014 *UPDATED*
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| Photo by DeadlyCrisp IWoman CC BY-NC |
Jump Your Bones’ Inc. recalls Kangaroo meat pet
treats due to possible Salmonella
Jump Your Bones,
Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida announced a voluntary recall of their product Roo Bites
(Cubes) on Dec. 31 due to potential contamination with Salmonella. Roo Bites are dog treats
made out of Kangaroo meat. The Jump Your Bones products affected were
distributed to retail pet food stores nationwide and were also featured in
Boutique Bags and online stores.
Salmonella is not only a risk to pets but to pet
owners handling the infected product. Symptoms of Salmonella include nausea,
vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. If left untreated Salmonella may cause
more serious health issues like arthritis, arterial infections and urinary
tract infections.
The affected Jump Your Bones Roo Bites (Cubes) have
the following UPC and information:
63633010041
for 80g. / 2.82oz. including samples of .32 oz.
Any
pets who consumed this product showing symptoms of Salmonella should visit
their veterinarian right away. According to a FDA press release
no pet or consumer illnesses from this Jump Your Bones Roo Bites recalled product
have been reported to date.
Consumers who purchased the affected Roo Bites can call (888) 249-6755 from Monday – Friday 9am – 5PM
EST. Consumers are to return affected product for a full refund or dispose of
it immediately. Jump Your Bones treats are 100 per cent Australian-made.
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| Photo by Liv & Phileas IWoman CC BY-NC-ND |
The 10 best cold weather dog breeds
for a family with children
Active families in cold weather regions who are interested
in adopting a dog will be looking for a breed that can tolerate the frigid
climate and play in the snow with the children. The list of Nordic dogs is a long
one but not all of those dog breeds will fit into a family with children. Small
children and even older kids need a pet that can tolerate playing and activity
just as much as it can tolerate four seasons. Kids need a dog breed that is
patient and loving to ensure that all play is safe play.
These 10 cold weather dogs are the best breeds to
introduce to a family with children. Although many are larger breeds it is
important to remember that when the dog has an even temperament it is easy to
train so the size tends to matter less. With the proper training a giant breed
dog can be just as easy to manage as a small dog. Many large and giant breed
owners swear by their family friendly dogs as being great companions for
children. Check out the 10 best cold weather dogs for a family.
Happy Caturday!
This will help me conquer my fear of water...
Post your own caption in the comments!
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| Photo by martinak15 IWoman CC BY |
A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
PAWS FOR REACTION is celebrating 13 years! Ottawa-based pet care and nutrition, environmental, and lifestyle blog- always searching for the best in pet care, eco-friendly products and fun local events! Come explore with Hazel, the Saint Bernese, as she lives her best, food-driven, outdoor-loving, asymmetrical, #DogLife
ABOUT ME: I have nine years of experience working in veterinary medicine. I'm a Climate Reality Project Leader and have spent years volunteering with organizations including OSPCA, Farley Foundation, Ontario Nature, Future Ground Network, and Girl Guides of Canada.
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