"Be As Smart As Your Pet"

I read this on the menu of onoe of my favorite restraunts.  Thought I would share it.  There is definitly some truth to it.

Be curious about the world around you.

Take time to play everyday.

Live in the moment,

Take naps.

Give and receive affection.

Find the joy in ordinary things.

Forgive quickly,

Get plenty of fresh air.

Never be afraid to wag your tail!

Boston Blackies

The Invincible Dog Chain Toy

This weeks item for Fun Stuff Fridays is The Invincible Dog Chains.  I see these a lot as toys brought in as luggage for guests boarding in our dog resort.  We also sell them in our pet store.  They are durable for dogs who like to chew.  They are solid rubber, however I would not reccomend them for agressive chewers.  They are a great toy for households with multiple dogs, as they make a good tug toy.  They are made by JW Toys.  They have a great line of dog toys. 

Surprised Kitty

How funny is this! 

Gin The Dancing Dog

By now, you all know Toby, my blog side kick is a Border Collie.  I think Toby is pretty special and talented in his own way.  Let me tell you though this adorable Border Collie on the video definitly has Toby beat on the talent side.  Good luck to Gin and her owner.  They are contestants on Britians Got Talent. 

How Well Do You Know Your Cat?

photo and article from National Geographic

Domestic cats, no matter their breed, are all members of one species. Felis catus has had a very long relationship with humans. Ancient Egyptians may have first domesticated cats as early as 4,000 years ago. Plentiful rodents probably drew wild felines to human communities. The cats' skill in killing them may have first earned the affectionate attention of humans. Early Egyptians worshipped a cat goddess and even mummified their beloved pets for their journey to the next world—accompanied by mummified mice! Cultures around the world later adopted cats as their own companions.

Like their wild relatives, domestic cats are natural hunters able to stalk prey and pounce with sharp claws and teeth. They are particularly effective at night, when their light-reflecting eyes allow them to see better than much of their prey. Cats also enjoy acute hearing. All cats are nimble and agile, and their long tails aid their outstanding balance.

Cats communicate by marking trees, fence posts, or furniture with their claws or their waste. These scent posts are meant to inform others of a cat's home range. House cats employ a vocal repertoire that extends from a purr to a screech.

Domestic cats remain largely carnivorous, and have evolved a simple gut appropriate for raw meat. They also retain the rough tongue that can help them clean every last morsel from an animal bone (and groom themselves). Their diets vary with the whims of humans, however, and can be supplemented by the cat's own hunting successes.

How Well Do You Know Your Dog

photo and article found on National Geographic

Dogs were probably the first tame animals. They have accompanied humans for some 10,000 years. Some scientists assert that all dogs, domestic and wild, share a common ancestor in the small South Asian wolf.

Today humans have bred hundreds of different domestic dog breeds—some of which could never survive in the wild. Despite their many shapes and sizes all domestic dogs, from Newfoundlands to pugs, are members of the same species—Canis familiaris. Although they have domestic temperaments, these dogs are related to wolves, foxes, and jackals.

Domestic dogs still share many behaviors with their wild relatives. Both defend their territories and mark them by urinating on trees, rocks, fence posts, and other suitable sites. These scent posts serve notice to other dogs that an animal is occupying its territory.

Many pet dogs also bury bones or favorite toys for future use, just as their wild relatives sometimes bury a kill to secure the meat for later feasts.

Dogs communicate in several ways. Scent is one method, another is physical appearance. Body position, movement, and facial expression often convey a strong message. Many of these signals are recognizable even to humans, such as the excited tail-wagging of a happy dog or the bared teeth of an angry or threatened animal. Vocally, dogs communicate with a cacophony of sounds including barks, growls, and whines.

Domestic dogs serve as more than companions; many earn their keep by working hard. Dogs herd livestock, aid hunters, guard homes, and perform police and rescue work. Some special animals even guide the blind—a poignant symbol of the dog's longstanding role as man's best friend

Lucky Cat

In New Jersey this week, a feral tomcat was rescued from the prospect of spending a lifetime looking like a framed picture of himself. Seven months ago, the black cat put his head through a hole in latticework under a house, and became stuck. Animal Control Officer Don Montgomery tried to free the cat (who he has since named “Lucky”), first breaking off a section of the latticework, but Lucky had other ideas and took off with 4 inches of latticework still around his neck.

The big black cat stayed in the neighborhood but avoided capture for seven months. Miraculously, he sustained no injuries from his latticework collar.

On Jan. 8, Montgomery set a trap outside a crawlspace beneath a house where Lucky was hiding. The next day Lissy Holryd, the trap, neuter and release coordinator for the Animal Alliance of Cape May County set a larger trap and caught him. Veterinarian Matt Schwert drove to the shelter to remove the latticework and while he was at it, did some snip-snip-snipping and took care of Lucky’s boy bits.

Lucky was released back to his neighborhood on Jan. 11th. Montgomery said he would frame the latticework and hang it in his office.


[PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Farmer, Cape May County Herald]

Expedition Wild

I think this might be a new show for Toby and I this spring! Looks like it will be both educational and fun!


About Expedition Wild

Can a man teach his 800-pound grizzly bear best friend, raised in captivity, to fish like its wild cousins? Naturalist Casey Anderson ventures into the Alaskan wilderness to study the biggest bears on the planet — and pick up fishing tips for his bear pal.

Brutus the grizzly bear enjoys his 25,000-calorie breakfast — 35 pounds of treats such as raw chickens or carrot cake — but when his human best friend, naturalist Casey Anderson, presents him with a fresh, flopping fish, Brutus is confused and uninterested. Raised by Casey from birth, Brutus is used to having his food delivered. Now, Casey sets off on an adventure to the Alaska wilderness to observe Brutus’ grizzly cousins salmon fishing, hoping to gain new insight into their technique and teach it to his six-foot, 800-pound, furry friend.

Cats

Click on the photo above to see how well you know your cat!

Photo and quiz from National Geographic.

Pet Insurance

Toby and I saw this article on the I Love Dogs website. Some very helpful information. I do believe there are now more insurance agencies out there now with Pet Policies.

Progressive Insurance was of the first to offer this coverage, and is now increasing the amount from $500 to $1,000 for pets injured or killed in auto accidents. As scary as this might sound to dog-lovers like us, it is important to know how to protect our pups. Another important aspect of this coverage is its cost. Surprisingly enough, Progressive offers their “pet-injury” coverage at no additional cost to their customers. This is great news for drivers who will be keeping their furry family members in tow all summer long.

After Progressive started their pet coverage in 2007, Farmers and Auto-Owners Insurance each jumped on the idea, and began making similar offers to their animal-loving clients.

Here is something to consider if your company does'nt offer this pet-friendly service. According to an interview with Krissy Posey, a spokeswoman for Allstate insurance, “People whose pets are injured in a vehicle accident can file a claim under property damage if their insurance provider does not offer specialized pet coverage.”

However, Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Information Institute adds “What auto insurance companies consider legitimate property damage differs from company to company and state to state,” and “In traditional policies, it would'nt be unusual for a company to deny a claim of pet injuries based on property damage liability limits.”

While many of us might be appalled at categorizing our furry friends as “property,” this coverage can help defray the costs of vet bills incurred if the worst should happen.

Another leading insurance company, State Farm, offers a similar coverage through a “personal articles” policy. However, this only covers the “accidental direct physical loss” of a pet, which means it covers instances of accidental death, if your pup escapes, or if the poor guy is stolen. Surprisingly, their coverage is only available for pedigree pups, so be sure to have your documentation ready if you are interested in this type of coverage.

Additionally, coverage varies state to state. Farmers insurance, for example, does not offer the coverage in Oklahoma, but does in California. So your best bet is to call your local agent and see what your policy’s options are to help out your pooch—in hopes that you’ll never have to actually use the coverage, of course.

Best Friends Interview with The Cute Pet Gazette!

During the New Jersey Super Pet Expo Danielle the manager from our Windsor, NJ location was interviewed for the "How Cute is Your Pet" segment of The Cute Pet Gazette. This is a great interview loaded with awesome information on Best Friends Pet Care.

Dog Astrology

How neat is this site! Check it out.

http://www.doghoroscopes.com/weekly.html

They also have a dog compatibility chart, where you can compare your sign with your dogs. Toby and I naturally are a good fit, we are both strong willed but willing to compromise! LOL! So true.

Dog Town USA

Toby and I love to curl up on the couch and watch this show together. I thought I would share a little information about it.

As seen directly on National Geographic Channel


About DogTown

DogTown is a department of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary which is operated by Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit, membership organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets and is guided by a simple philosophy: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.

In the late 1980s, when Best Friends was in its early days, roughly 17 million dogs and cats were being killed in shelters every year. Despite the commitment of shelter workers to the animals in their care, the conventional belief was that little could be done to lower that terrible number.

Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign created a new vision: A grassroots effort to place dogs and cats who were considered "unadoptable" into good homes, and to reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs. Since then, the number of dogs and cats being destroyed in shelters has fallen to approximately 5 million a year. There has been much progress, but there is still much more to do.

The next phase of this work – bringing the number down to essentially zero – will take more work and some bold new initiatives. Shelters are crowded with pit bulls, dogs abandoned after being bought from pet stores, stray cats rounded up on the streets and not looking their very best when they’re brought in, and other pets abandoned or neglected.

The society’s leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country’s largest no-kill sanctuary. The sanctuary, at the heart of the national parks of southern Utah, is a refuge for up to 1,700 homeless dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other orphan animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups all over the country for the special care they can only get at Best Friends.

Thanks to the expert care of staff and dedicated volunteers, most of the animals are soon ready to be placed in good new homes. Others, who are older or sicker, or who have suffered extra trauma, find a home and a haven at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives.

This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of members and community partners across the nation. In 2009, Best Friends celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Learn more about Best Friends Animal Sactuary's DogTown >>

Help support the journey from homelessness to hope by Sponsoring a DogTown dog >>
Become a member of Best Friends Animal Society >>

Mugs For Mutts

Mark Your Calendar!

Come on out April 22nd, 2010 for our first Mugs for Mutts benefit! Located at the ever-fun Mickey Finn’s in Libertyville, this event is from 6-9pm. Swing by after work with your friends for live music by Brave Nu Soul, pizza, a 4-sampler of Mickey Finn’s brews, door prizes, raffles, and silent auction! Get a Mugs for Mutts souvenir mug, too! Tickets are $25 per person purchased online, or $30 at the door. This is a 21 and over event! For more information or to purchase tickets, check out our Upcoming Events!

Read more about Young at Heart’s recent fundraisers, TV appearances and special events.

Where In The World Books

This weeks Fun Stuff Fridays is Where In The World Books. They offer personalized books for children. You can personalize a story with a dog or cat. You can then pick the breed and color, and have your child and pets name used in the story itself. They offer other personalized books, not just pet related. What a great way to encourage your kids to read!

The Newest Pet In Town

I have seen my fair share of interesting family companions while working here at Best Friends. From our Pot Bellied Pig friend who got daily nature walks, to our monkey who got a playtime. Then there was the sugar gliders, chinchillas, rats, (yes, they are family too), and the tarantula named Vicki who is currently boarding in my office. Everything/everyone deserves to be loved by someone!

Check out this latest article I read in a recent edition to Chicagoland Tails Magazine. There goes the neighborhood dog park! LOL...


Pygmy goats the latest pet craze

By By Sarah Hyde
Chicagoans are getting creative with their companion animals. Dogs and cats are out, and pygmy goats are in. Not only are pygmies pretty darn cute, but ranging from only 17 to 23 inches, they fit the ideal size for a household pet. The tiny goats are also valued for their milk, intelligence, and good-tempered personality.
According to the National Pygmy Goat Association’s website, “The pygmy goat is an asset in a wide variety of settings and can adapt to virtually all climates.”
Pygmies sell for $100 to $300. Keeping a goat as a pet is legal in Chicago if the guardian doesn't sell the animal’s milk or cheese.
Although pygmies do make suitable companion animals, they require more resources than the average dog or cat. They need ample space to roam, prefer to live in a herd, and must have a specialized veterinarian.
While many are excited about pygmies being the new “it” pet, others are skeptical. They are concerned that pygmies will become a fad animal whose allure will wear off and eventually overpopulate shelters.

Chicagoland Tails Top Ten Reasons To Adopt

I found this in a recent publication of Chicagoland Tails Magazine. I thought I would share.

TOP 10 REASONS TO ADOPT
1. Rescued Lives

Many people assume animals end up in shelters as the result of abuse or bad behavior, although most often people give up pets for personal reasons. No matter the cause, adopting an animal saves a life and gives new purpose to the guardian’s life too.

2. Healthy Guardians

Pets provide unconditional love and—as research shows—can be psychologically, emotionally, and physically beneficial to their guardians as well. They provide a sense of fulfillment and can lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

3. Community Camaraderie

Shelters provide a community of veterinarians, volunteers, and other adopters ready to share their experience and knowledge. Shelters often organize events for pets and their guardians that provide socialization and a sense of community.

4. Endless Options

Some people avoid shelters because they want a purebred pet and think that shelters can’t meet this need. But shelters host both purebreds and mixed breeds. There are also many breed rescues.

5. Perfect Match

Because shelters often screen animals for particular behavioral issues and temperaments, they can match potential guardians with the ideal pet for their lifestyle, especially among pets coming from foster homes.

6. Good Example

Rescuing a pet sets a solid moral example for everyone in the guardian’s life—from children to friends to neighbors—regarding the value of saving an animal’s life.

7. Healthy Pets

Shelters like to keep their animals happy and healthy (making them the best possible candidates for adoption), so shelter animals undergo extensive health screenings and often receive vaccinations and treatment for any medical issues.

8. Test Drive

Some shelters, like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), offer fostering programs. This enables potential guardians to interact with the animal and decide if pet guardianship fits their lifestyle.

9. Save Money

Shelters charge far less for pets than pet stores and other resources. Typically, shelters also spay or neuter and vaccinate, which adds even more worth to an already valuable deal.

10. Shelter Support

Instead of putting profit above animal welfare, shelters dedicate themselves to finding the perfect homes and guardians for pets in need.

International Wolf Center

photo from The International Wolf Center, Ambassador Wolves

Toby and I were relaxing and looking at photo albums yesterday when I came across one I thought I would share. With the warmer months slowly approaching us I thought this place would be of great interest to those who follow this blog. The International Wolf Center, of Ely Minnesota. My friend Molly and I took a road trip up there a few years back and literally spent every waking hour for 3 days at this center. They have the typical educational rooms with artifacts, and books. Definitely interesting to read and learn about the different species, and how they live. The best part of this whole place has to be that the whole back of the building is one sided glass. You can literally sit there all day long and watch the wolves in their habitat. Sometimes we sat for hours with little movement, and sometimes we saw them come right up to the windows. If a road trip is not something you have time for this summer, than at least visit the website. It is definitely worthwhile.

March Camp Calendar

Best Friends Dog Camp
March Calendar

Watch the blog for fun camp videos and more!

Week of March 8th:
SPRING TIME FUN!
Monday and Fridays $3.00 Doggie Fruit Smoothies
Tuesday and Thursdays Camper Gift Exchanges

Week of March 15th:
IRISH EYES ARE SMILING WHEN HAPPY TAILS ARE WAGGING!
Monday and Fridays $3.00 Pot-of-Gold Treats
Tuesday and Thursdays Camper Gift Exchanges

Week of March 22nd:
LIONS, TIGERS, AND DOGS OH MY!
WILD ANIMAL WEEK!
Monday and Fridays $3.00 Zoo Treats
Tuesday and Thursdays Camper Gift Exchanges

Week of March 29th:
FIESTA WEEK!
Monday and Fridays $3.00 Doggie Fried Ice Cream Treat
Tuesday and Thursdays Camper Gift Exchanges


WATCH AND SEE WHO WILL BE PICKED
FOR APRIL CAMPER OF THE MONTH!

Brookfield Zoo Name a Tortoise Contest

Enter the Brookfield Zoo Name a Tortoise Contest!

Four Galápagos tortoises—the world’s largest living tortoise species—now call Brookfield Zoo home. But these four cute reptiles, currently known as Nos. 3269, 3270, 3271, and 3272 (and color coded orange, yellow, white, and pink respectively), are in need of names. The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages the zoo, is now asking children ages 11 and under to help name the tortoises through a contest that will take place from February 18 through March 12, 2010.

The tortoises at Brookfield Zoo, whose gender will not be determined until they are about 15 years old, hatched in summer 2009 and currently all weigh less than a pound. Eventually, they could grow to an average weight of 450 pounds (females weigh less) and measure between 4 and 5 feet long! They will reach full size at about 40 years old, although depending on their diet, they could continue to grow throughout their entire lives. Galápagos tortoises can live between 100 and 150 years, which means that winners can visit the tortoises they named for many years and even bring their children and grandchildren, making it a multi-generational experience.

All entries will be considered. However, the winning names will be selected based on originality, and connection to the Society’s mission of inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. Assistance from older siblings, parents, or caregivers is encouraged.

TO ENTER:

Click here to download a form and mail it to:

Name A Tortoise
Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Road
Brookfield, IL 60513

OR

Use the entry forms and ballot boxes available by the Galápagos tortoises’ exhibit in Perching Bird House or at Hamill Family Play Zoo.



Entry Requirements

Completed entries must include a suggested name for one of the tortoises; an explanation in 50 words or less for why that name was chosen; the entrant’s name, complete address, and telephone number; and a parent’s or legal guardian’s signature. One entry per person is allowed. All submissions must be deposited in one of the ballot boxes or postmarked by March 12, 2010, and received by March 17, 2010. No purchase is necessary.

A panel comprised of the Society’s Animal Programs staff and Brookfield Zoo director Dr. Stuart Strahl will select the winning names. If there is a tie among two or more identical entries, there will be a drawing to determine a winner. Each of the four winners will receive a Share the Care package for the tortoise named and an invitation to Brookfield Zoo to come out with up to five (5) family members and meet the tortoises as well as some of the keepers that care for the animals.

The winning names will be announced the week of March 22.

Click here to view official contest rules
Click here to get the lowdown on Galapagos Tortoises

Fun Pet Facts

Did you know there was an Illinois State Law passed in 1978 that states "it is illegal for anyone to give a lighted cigar to pets". Hmm..... that is an interesting one! For more fun, interesting facts visit http://familypets.net/.

The Dog Snuggie

I know there are some people that might disagree with me on this one, however that is part of what makes the world an interesting place. People and their opinions! This weeks Fun Stuff Fridays is the Dog Snuggie! I actually looked at one the other day when I was out shopping, it is pretty darn comfy. I mean come on now, the whole reason to put a coat on your dog anyway is to keep them warm, right? This will do the trick, warmth and it is economical. You can't go wrong. I would love for them to have a wider selection of colors, but otherwise I think it is a pretty novel idea. No, Toby does not have one. Toby has a universal waterproof jacket. Being the Border Collie that he is he needed something that would repel the rain and snow! Rain or shine, or snow, heck even possibly a tornado! Nothing holds him back from his walks!

Chicagoland Family Pet Expo

click on above photo for more information!

Make sure to stop by and see us! We will be there!

The Clumber Cute Factor

This is Russel and Frank. They are our March Pet Guest Of The Month, here at Best Friends. Frank and Russel are Clumber Spaniels. They are both so very adorable, and loving, we will miss them when they go home! We can not wait to see you guys again!