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    <pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:46:07 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>World's oldest dog dies in NY at 21 — or 147</title>
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      <description>By VIRGINIA BYRNE, Associated Press Writer        Virginia Byrne, Associated Press Writer  &amp;ndash;     Mon&amp;nbsp;Aug&amp;nbsp;31, 10:54&amp;nbsp;pm&amp;nbsp;ET&#xD;
NEW YORK &amp;ndash; A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 &amp;mdash; or 147 in dog years.&#xD;
The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.&#xD;
Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said Monday.&#xD;
The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va.&#xD;
Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said. She also liked chocolate, usually considered toxic to dogs, Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
"She once ate an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and, you see, she lived to be 21, so go figure," Shaughnessy added.&#xD;
Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.&#xD;
Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May.&#xD;
Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God.&#xD;
"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age; a Guinness World Records official in London didn't immediately answer an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting confirmation of that.&#xD;
When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.&#xD;
"I have five kids, and all my kids are grown and gone," she said. "Now my grandkids are playing with this dog."&#xD;
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      <content:encoded>By VIRGINIA BYRNE, Associated Press Writer        Virginia Byrne, Associated Press Writer  &amp;ndash;     Mon&amp;nbsp;Aug&amp;nbsp;31, 10:54&amp;nbsp;pm&amp;nbsp;ET&#xD;
NEW YORK &amp;ndash; A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 &amp;mdash; or 147 in dog years.&#xD;
The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.&#xD;
Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said Monday.&#xD;
The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va.&#xD;
Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said. She also liked chocolate, usually considered toxic to dogs, Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
"She once ate an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and, you see, she lived to be 21, so go figure," Shaughnessy added.&#xD;
Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.&#xD;
Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May.&#xD;
Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God.&#xD;
"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age; a Guinness World Records official in London didn't immediately answer an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting confirmation of that.&#xD;
When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.&#xD;
"I have five kids, and all my kids are grown and gone," she said. "Now my grandkids are playing with this dog."&#xD;
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      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:46:07 GMT</pubDate>
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        <media:description>By VIRGINIA BYRNE, Associated Press Writer        Virginia Byrne, Associated Press Writer  &amp;ndash;     Mon&amp;nbsp;Aug&amp;nbsp;31, 10:54&amp;nbsp;pm&amp;nbsp;ET&#xD;
NEW YORK &amp;ndash; A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 &amp;mdash; or 147 in dog years.&#xD;
The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.&#xD;
Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said Monday.&#xD;
The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va.&#xD;
Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said. She also liked chocolate, usually considered toxic to dogs, Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
"She once ate an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and, you see, she lived to be 21, so go figure," Shaughnessy added.&#xD;
Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.&#xD;
Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May.&#xD;
Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God.&#xD;
"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.&#xD;
A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age; a Guinness World Records official in London didn't immediately answer an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting confirmation of that.&#xD;
When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.&#xD;
"I have five kids, and all my kids are grown and gone," she said. "Now my grandkids are playing with this dog."&#xD;
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      <title>The Claim: Some Dogs Look Like Their Owners</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_The-Claim-Some-Dogs-Look-Like-Their-Owners/BLOG/509005/43713.html</link>
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Best friends they may be, but are man and dog so entwined that they tend to take after one another in appearance?&#xD;
It is one of those eternal, quirky questions, at least for dog owners. But only recently have scientists taken a close look in actual studies.&#xD;
In 2004, researchers in San Diego found that subjects in a study were able to correctly match pictures of dog owners with their pets more often than not, but only when the dogs were purebreds. Simple traits like hair and size played a smaller role than things like facial expressions.&#xD;
Read more at: NY TIMES</description>
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Best friends they may be, but are man and dog so entwined that they tend to take after one another in appearance?&#xD;
It is one of those eternal, quirky questions, at least for dog owners. But only recently have scientists taken a close look in actual studies.&#xD;
In 2004, researchers in San Diego found that subjects in a study were able to correctly match pictures of dog owners with their pets more often than not, but only when the dogs were purebreds. Simple traits like hair and size played a smaller role than things like facial expressions.&#xD;
Read more at: NY TIMES</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:13:23 GMT</pubDate>
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Best friends they may be, but are man and dog so entwined that they tend to take after one another in appearance?&#xD;
It is one of those eternal, quirky questions, at least for dog owners. But only recently have scientists taken a close look in actual studies.&#xD;
In 2004, researchers in San Diego found that subjects in a study were able to correctly match pictures of dog owners with their pets more often than not, but only when the dogs were purebreds. Simple traits like hair and size played a smaller role than things like facial expressions.&#xD;
Read more at: NY TIMES</media:description>
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      <title>Dogs are smarter than toddlers, IQ tests show</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Dogs-are-smarter-than-toddlers-IQ-tests-show/BLOG/508996/43713.html</link>
      <description>Border collies and other bright canines can learn up to 250 words&#xD;
The canine IQ test results are in: Even the average dog has the mental abilities of a 2-year-old child.&#xD;
The finding is based on a language development test, revealing average dogs can learn 165 words (similar to a 2-year-old child), including signals and gestures, and dogs in the top 20 percent in intelligence can learn 250 words.&#xD;
And the smartest?&#xD;
Border collies, poodles, and German shepherds, in that order, says Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia. Those breeds have been created recently compared with other dog breeds and may be smarter in part because we've trained and bred them to be so, Coren said. The dogs at the top of the pack are on par with a 2.5-year-old.&#xD;
Better at math and socializingWhile dogs ranked with the 2-year-olds in language, they would trump a 3- or 4-year-old in basic arithmetic, Coren found. In terms of social smarts, our drooling furballs fare even better.&#xD;
"The social life of dogs is much more complex, much more like human teenagers at that stage, interested in who is moving up in the pack and who is sleeping with who and that sort of thing," Coren told LiveScience.&#xD;
Coren, who has written more than a half-dozen books on dogs and dog behavior, will present an overview of various studies on dog smarts at the American Psychological Association's annual meeting in Toronto.&#xD;
"We all want insight into how our furry companions think, and we want to understand the silly, quirky and apparently irrational behaviors [that] Lassie or Rover demonstrate," Coren said. "Their stunning flashes of brilliance and creativity are reminders that they may not be Einsteins but are sure closer to humans than we thought."&#xD;
Math test To get inside the noggin of man's best friend, scientists are modifying tests for dogs that were originally developed to measure skills in children.&#xD;
Here's one: In an arithmetic test, dogs watch as one treat and then another treat are lowered down behind a screen. When the screen gets lifted, the dogs, if they get arithmetic (1+1=2), will expect to see two treats. (For toddlers, other objects would be used.)&#xD;
But say the scientist swipes one of the treats, or adds another so the end result is one, or three treats, respectively. "Now we're giving him the wrong equation which is 1+1=1, or 1+1=3," Coren said. Sure enough, studies show the dogs get it. "The dog acts surprised and stares at it for a longer period of time, just like a human kid would," he said.&#xD;
These studies suggest dogs have a basic understanding of arithmetic, and they can count to four or five.&#xD;
Basic emotions Other studies Coren notes have found that dogs show spatial problem-solving skills. For instance, they can locate valued items, such as treats, find better routes in the environment, such as the fastest way to a favorite chair, and figure out how to operate latches and simple machines.&#xD;
Like human toddlers, dogs also show some basic emotions, such as happiness, anger and disgust. But more complex emotions, such as guilt, are not in a dog's toolbox. (What humans once thought was guilt was found to be doggy fear, Coren noted.)&#xD;
And while dogs know whether they're being treated fairly, they don't grasp the concept of equity. Coren recalls a study in which dogs get a treat for "giving a paw."&#xD;
When one dog gets a treat and the other doesn't, the unrewarded dog stops performing the trick and avoids making eye contact with the trainer. But if one dog, say, gets rewarded with a juicy steak while the other snags a measly piece of bread, on average the dogs don't care about the inequality of the treats.&#xD;
Top dogs To find out which dogs had the top school smarts, Coren collected data from more than 200 dog obedience judges from the United States and Canada.&#xD;
He found the top dogs, in order of their doggy IQ are:&#xD;
&#xD;
Border collies &#xD;
Poodles &#xD;
German shepherds &#xD;
Golden retrievers &#xD;
Dobermans &#xD;
Shetland sheepdogs &#xD;
Labrador retrievers &#xD;
&#xD;
At the bottom of the intelligence barrel, Coren would include many of the hounds, such as the bassett hound and the Afghan hound, along with the bulldog, beagle and basenji (a hunting dog).&#xD;
"It's important to note that these breeds which don't do as well tend to be considerably older breeds," he said. "They were developed when the task of a hound was to find something by smell or sight." These dogs might fare better on tests of so-called instinctive intelligence, which measure how well dogs do what they are bred to do.&#xD;
"The dogs that are the brightest dogs in terms of school learning ability tend to be the dogs that are much more recently developed," Coren said. He added that there's a "high probability that we've been breeding dogs so they're more responsive to human beings and human signals." So the most recently bred dogs would be more human-friendly and rank higher on school smarts.&#xD;
Many of these smarty-pants are also the most popular pets. "We like dogs that understand us," Coren said.&#xD;
We also love the beagle, which made it to the top 10 list of most popular dog breeds in 2008 by the American Kennel Club. That's because they are so sweet and sociable, Coren said. "Sometimes people love the dumb blonde," Coren said.&#xD;
And sometimes the dim-wits make better pets. While a smart dog will figure out everything you want it to know, your super pet will also learn everything it can get away with, Coren warns.&#xD;
MSNBC</description>
      <content:encoded>Border collies and other bright canines can learn up to 250 words&#xD;
The canine IQ test results are in: Even the average dog has the mental abilities of a 2-year-old child.&#xD;
The finding is based on a language development test, revealing average dogs can learn 165 words (similar to a 2-year-old child), including signals and gestures, and dogs in the top 20 percent in intelligence can learn 250 words.&#xD;
And the smartest?&#xD;
Border collies, poodles, and German shepherds, in that order, says Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia. Those breeds have been created recently compared with other dog breeds and may be smarter in part because we've trained and bred them to be so, Coren said. The dogs at the top of the pack are on par with a 2.5-year-old.&#xD;
Better at math and socializingWhile dogs ranked with the 2-year-olds in language, they would trump a 3- or 4-year-old in basic arithmetic, Coren found. In terms of social smarts, our drooling furballs fare even better.&#xD;
"The social life of dogs is much more complex, much more like human teenagers at that stage, interested in who is moving up in the pack and who is sleeping with who and that sort of thing," Coren told LiveScience.&#xD;
Coren, who has written more than a half-dozen books on dogs and dog behavior, will present an overview of various studies on dog smarts at the American Psychological Association's annual meeting in Toronto.&#xD;
"We all want insight into how our furry companions think, and we want to understand the silly, quirky and apparently irrational behaviors [that] Lassie or Rover demonstrate," Coren said. "Their stunning flashes of brilliance and creativity are reminders that they may not be Einsteins but are sure closer to humans than we thought."&#xD;
Math test To get inside the noggin of man's best friend, scientists are modifying tests for dogs that were originally developed to measure skills in children.&#xD;
Here's one: In an arithmetic test, dogs watch as one treat and then another treat are lowered down behind a screen. When the screen gets lifted, the dogs, if they get arithmetic (1+1=2), will expect to see two treats. (For toddlers, other objects would be used.)&#xD;
But say the scientist swipes one of the treats, or adds another so the end result is one, or three treats, respectively. "Now we're giving him the wrong equation which is 1+1=1, or 1+1=3," Coren said. Sure enough, studies show the dogs get it. "The dog acts surprised and stares at it for a longer period of time, just like a human kid would," he said.&#xD;
These studies suggest dogs have a basic understanding of arithmetic, and they can count to four or five.&#xD;
Basic emotions Other studies Coren notes have found that dogs show spatial problem-solving skills. For instance, they can locate valued items, such as treats, find better routes in the environment, such as the fastest way to a favorite chair, and figure out how to operate latches and simple machines.&#xD;
Like human toddlers, dogs also show some basic emotions, such as happiness, anger and disgust. But more complex emotions, such as guilt, are not in a dog's toolbox. (What humans once thought was guilt was found to be doggy fear, Coren noted.)&#xD;
And while dogs know whether they're being treated fairly, they don't grasp the concept of equity. Coren recalls a study in which dogs get a treat for "giving a paw."&#xD;
When one dog gets a treat and the other doesn't, the unrewarded dog stops performing the trick and avoids making eye contact with the trainer. But if one dog, say, gets rewarded with a juicy steak while the other snags a measly piece of bread, on average the dogs don't care about the inequality of the treats.&#xD;
Top dogs To find out which dogs had the top school smarts, Coren collected data from more than 200 dog obedience judges from the United States and Canada.&#xD;
He found the top dogs, in order of their doggy IQ are:&#xD;
&#xD;
Border collies &#xD;
Poodles &#xD;
German shepherds &#xD;
Golden retrievers &#xD;
Dobermans &#xD;
Shetland sheepdogs &#xD;
Labrador retrievers &#xD;
&#xD;
At the bottom of the intelligence barrel, Coren would include many of the hounds, such as the bassett hound and the Afghan hound, along with the bulldog, beagle and basenji (a hunting dog).&#xD;
"It's important to note that these breeds which don't do as well tend to be considerably older breeds," he said. "They were developed when the task of a hound was to find something by smell or sight." These dogs might fare better on tests of so-called instinctive intelligence, which measure how well dogs do what they are bred to do.&#xD;
"The dogs that are the brightest dogs in terms of school learning ability tend to be the dogs that are much more recently developed," Coren said. He added that there's a "high probability that we've been breeding dogs so they're more responsive to human beings and human signals." So the most recently bred dogs would be more human-friendly and rank higher on school smarts.&#xD;
Many of these smarty-pants are also the most popular pets. "We like dogs that understand us," Coren said.&#xD;
We also love the beagle, which made it to the top 10 list of most popular dog breeds in 2008 by the American Kennel Club. That's because they are so sweet and sociable, Coren said. "Sometimes people love the dumb blonde," Coren said.&#xD;
And sometimes the dim-wits make better pets. While a smart dog will figure out everything you want it to know, your super pet will also learn everything it can get away with, Coren warns.&#xD;
MSNBC</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:09:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Dogs-are-smarter-than-toddlers-IQ-tests-show/BLOG/508996/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>nurturedpets</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-08-12T20:09:43Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>Border collies and other bright canines can learn up to 250 words&#xD;
The canine IQ test results are in: Even the average dog has the mental abilities of a 2-year-old child.&#xD;
The finding is based on a language development test, revealing average dogs can learn 165 words (similar to a 2-year-old child), including signals and gestures, and dogs in the top 20 percent in intelligence can learn 250 words.&#xD;
And the smartest?&#xD;
Border collies, poodles, and German shepherds, in that order, says Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia. Those breeds have been created recently compared with other dog breeds and may be smarter in part because we've trained and bred them to be so, Coren said. The dogs at the top of the pack are on par with a 2.5-year-old.&#xD;
Better at math and socializingWhile dogs ranked with the 2-year-olds in language, they would trump a 3- or 4-year-old in basic arithmetic, Coren found. In terms of social smarts, our drooling furballs fare even better.&#xD;
"The social life of dogs is much more complex, much more like human teenagers at that stage, interested in who is moving up in the pack and who is sleeping with who and that sort of thing," Coren told LiveScience.&#xD;
Coren, who has written more than a half-dozen books on dogs and dog behavior, will present an overview of various studies on dog smarts at the American Psychological Association's annual meeting in Toronto.&#xD;
"We all want insight into how our furry companions think, and we want to understand the silly, quirky and apparently irrational behaviors [that] Lassie or Rover demonstrate," Coren said. "Their stunning flashes of brilliance and creativity are reminders that they may not be Einsteins but are sure closer to humans than we thought."&#xD;
Math test To get inside the noggin of man's best friend, scientists are modifying tests for dogs that were originally developed to measure skills in children.&#xD;
Here's one: In an arithmetic test, dogs watch as one treat and then another treat are lowered down behind a screen. When the screen gets lifted, the dogs, if they get arithmetic (1+1=2), will expect to see two treats. (For toddlers, other objects would be used.)&#xD;
But say the scientist swipes one of the treats, or adds another so the end result is one, or three treats, respectively. "Now we're giving him the wrong equation which is 1+1=1, or 1+1=3," Coren said. Sure enough, studies show the dogs get it. "The dog acts surprised and stares at it for a longer period of time, just like a human kid would," he said.&#xD;
These studies suggest dogs have a basic understanding of arithmetic, and they can count to four or five.&#xD;
Basic emotions Other studies Coren notes have found that dogs show spatial problem-solving skills. For instance, they can locate valued items, such as treats, find better routes in the environment, such as the fastest way to a favorite chair, and figure out how to operate latches and simple machines.&#xD;
Like human toddlers, dogs also show some basic emotions, such as happiness, anger and disgust. But more complex emotions, such as guilt, are not in a dog's toolbox. (What humans once thought was guilt was found to be doggy fear, Coren noted.)&#xD;
And while dogs know whether they're being treated fairly, they don't grasp the concept of equity. Coren recalls a study in which dogs get a treat for "giving a paw."&#xD;
When one dog gets a treat and the other doesn't, the unrewarded dog stops performing the trick and avoids making eye contact with the trainer. But if one dog, say, gets rewarded with a juicy steak while the other snags a measly piece of bread, on average the dogs don't care about the inequality of the treats.&#xD;
Top dogs To find out which dogs had the top school smarts, Coren collected data from more than 200 dog obedience judges from the United States and Canada.&#xD;
He found the top dogs, in order of their doggy IQ are:&#xD;
&#xD;
Border collies &#xD;
Poodles &#xD;
German shepherds &#xD;
Golden retrievers &#xD;
Dobermans &#xD;
Shetland sheepdogs &#xD;
Labrador retrievers &#xD;
&#xD;
At the bottom of the intelligence barrel, Coren would include many of the hounds, such as the bassett hound and the Afghan hound, along with the bulldog, beagle and basenji (a hunting dog).&#xD;
"It's important to note that these breeds which don't do as well tend to be considerably older breeds," he said. "They were developed when the task of a hound was to find something by smell or sight." These dogs might fare better on tests of so-called instinctive intelligence, which measure how well dogs do what they are bred to do.&#xD;
"The dogs that are the brightest dogs in terms of school learning ability tend to be the dogs that are much more recently developed," Coren said. He added that there's a "high probability that we've been breeding dogs so they're more responsive to human beings and human signals." So the most recently bred dogs would be more human-friendly and rank higher on school smarts.&#xD;
Many of these smarty-pants are also the most popular pets. "We like dogs that understand us," Coren said.&#xD;
We also love the beagle, which made it to the top 10 list of most popular dog breeds in 2008 by the American Kennel Club. That's because they are so sweet and sociable, Coren said. "Sometimes people love the dumb blonde," Coren said.&#xD;
And sometimes the dim-wits make better pets. While a smart dog will figure out everything you want it to know, your super pet will also learn everything it can get away with, Coren warns.&#xD;
MSNBC</media:description>
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        <media:title>Dogs are smarter than toddlers, IQ tests show</media:title>
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      <title>A New Event for Pets That Can’t be Licked for Fun:</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_A-New-Event-for-Pets-That-Cant-be-Licked-for-Fun/BLOG/481124/43713.html</link>
      <description>Nurtured Pets&amp;trade; Participates in Chicago&amp;rsquo;s first annual Dog Day on the Green&#xD;
New  Philadelphia, Ohio &amp;ndash; (July 27, 2009) An abundance of tails will be wagging to beat the band at the inaugural launch of Chicago&amp;rsquo;s Dog Day on the Green. This eco-friendly, fun family festival for dog owners and dog lovers of all ages will take place near Soldier Field at  1410 S. Museum Campus Drive on Sunday, August 2, 2009.&#xD;
A full day of exciting activities is scheduled for both owners and pets, from the Fido Fashion Show to the Doggy Olympics to the &amp;ldquo;Hoop and Hurdles&amp;rdquo; agility test. But just in case a scrape, minor bruise or bee sting should happen to a participating pet, there will also be plenty of Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; pet bandages on hand, courtesy of Nurtured Pets. &#xD;
These unique, patent-pending pet bandages are clinically proven to discourage pets from obsessive licking, biting and chewing &amp;ndash; behaviors that can lead to more serious conditions such as hot spots or lick granulomas. They&amp;rsquo;re also a great alternative to the E-collar for post-surgical sites. &#xD;
On the outside, each bandage is constructed with all-natural, active outfacing ingredients, such as cayenne pepper, clove oil and oregano, that deter pets from bothering problem spots so they have a chance to heal.&amp;nbsp; A peel-and-stick, medical-grade adhesive on the opposite side can be applied directly to hair or skin.&amp;nbsp; &#xD;
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent pet bandages can be used as a protective covering to help promote healing, or applied at the first sign of biting or licking. So a product like this belongs in every pet parent&amp;rsquo;s first aid kit. And pet parents will be glad to know that Anti-Lick Strip Prevent products are veterinarian-approved and manufactured in the United States. &#xD;
According to Cindy Miller, Marketing Director at Nurtured Pets, &amp;ldquo;we&amp;rsquo;re thrilled to be charter exhibitors at this festive family event.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; To check out these revolutionary bandages in person, be sure to visit the Nurtured Pets booth during Dog Day on the Green. Anti-Lick Strip samples will handed out in small, medium and large sizes. For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit www.nurturedpets.com.&#xD;
About Nurtured Pets Nurtured Pets&amp;trade; is dedicated to providing products that create a healthy lifestyle for pets.&amp;nbsp; The company has introduced the first product of its kind to deter obsessive licking, biting and chewing. Clinically proven and formulated with all-natural active ingredients, products include: Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; sold in retail stores, Anti-Lick Strip Pro&amp;trade; and Anti-Lick Strip Pro C&amp;trade; both sold exclusively to veterinarians. Nurtured Pets, a Lauren International, Inc., company, is an Ohio-based manufacturer. For more information, visit our website at www.nurturedpets.com or contact Josh Weirich at 330.339.3373 ext. 7326 or Josh.Weirich@nurturedpets.com. Visit our parent company at www.laureninternational.com.&#xD;
###&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</description>
      <content:encoded>Nurtured Pets&amp;trade; Participates in Chicago&amp;rsquo;s first annual Dog Day on the Green&#xD;
New  Philadelphia, Ohio &amp;ndash; (July 27, 2009) An abundance of tails will be wagging to beat the band at the inaugural launch of Chicago&amp;rsquo;s Dog Day on the Green. This eco-friendly, fun family festival for dog owners and dog lovers of all ages will take place near Soldier Field at  1410 S. Museum Campus Drive on Sunday, August 2, 2009.&#xD;
A full day of exciting activities is scheduled for both owners and pets, from the Fido Fashion Show to the Doggy Olympics to the &amp;ldquo;Hoop and Hurdles&amp;rdquo; agility test. But just in case a scrape, minor bruise or bee sting should happen to a participating pet, there will also be plenty of Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; pet bandages on hand, courtesy of Nurtured Pets. &#xD;
These unique, patent-pending pet bandages are clinically proven to discourage pets from obsessive licking, biting and chewing &amp;ndash; behaviors that can lead to more serious conditions such as hot spots or lick granulomas. They&amp;rsquo;re also a great alternative to the E-collar for post-surgical sites. &#xD;
On the outside, each bandage is constructed with all-natural, active outfacing ingredients, such as cayenne pepper, clove oil and oregano, that deter pets from bothering problem spots so they have a chance to heal.&amp;nbsp; A peel-and-stick, medical-grade adhesive on the opposite side can be applied directly to hair or skin.&amp;nbsp; &#xD;
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent pet bandages can be used as a protective covering to help promote healing, or applied at the first sign of biting or licking. So a product like this belongs in every pet parent&amp;rsquo;s first aid kit. And pet parents will be glad to know that Anti-Lick Strip Prevent products are veterinarian-approved and manufactured in the United States. &#xD;
According to Cindy Miller, Marketing Director at Nurtured Pets, &amp;ldquo;we&amp;rsquo;re thrilled to be charter exhibitors at this festive family event.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; To check out these revolutionary bandages in person, be sure to visit the Nurtured Pets booth during Dog Day on the Green. Anti-Lick Strip samples will handed out in small, medium and large sizes. For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit www.nurturedpets.com.&#xD;
About Nurtured Pets Nurtured Pets&amp;trade; is dedicated to providing products that create a healthy lifestyle for pets.&amp;nbsp; The company has introduced the first product of its kind to deter obsessive licking, biting and chewing. Clinically proven and formulated with all-natural active ingredients, products include: Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; sold in retail stores, Anti-Lick Strip Pro&amp;trade; and Anti-Lick Strip Pro C&amp;trade; both sold exclusively to veterinarians. Nurtured Pets, a Lauren International, Inc., company, is an Ohio-based manufacturer. For more information, visit our website at www.nurturedpets.com or contact Josh Weirich at 330.339.3373 ext. 7326 or Josh.Weirich@nurturedpets.com. Visit our parent company at www.laureninternational.com.&#xD;
###&#xD;
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      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:26:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_A-New-Event-for-Pets-That-Cant-be-Licked-for-Fun/BLOG/481124/43713.html</guid>
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        <media:credit role="publishing company" scheme="urn:ebu">Nurtured Pet Space</media:credit>
        <media:description>Nurtured Pets&amp;trade; Participates in Chicago&amp;rsquo;s first annual Dog Day on the Green&#xD;
New  Philadelphia, Ohio &amp;ndash; (July 27, 2009) An abundance of tails will be wagging to beat the band at the inaugural launch of Chicago&amp;rsquo;s Dog Day on the Green. This eco-friendly, fun family festival for dog owners and dog lovers of all ages will take place near Soldier Field at  1410 S. Museum Campus Drive on Sunday, August 2, 2009.&#xD;
A full day of exciting activities is scheduled for both owners and pets, from the Fido Fashion Show to the Doggy Olympics to the &amp;ldquo;Hoop and Hurdles&amp;rdquo; agility test. But just in case a scrape, minor bruise or bee sting should happen to a participating pet, there will also be plenty of Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; pet bandages on hand, courtesy of Nurtured Pets. &#xD;
These unique, patent-pending pet bandages are clinically proven to discourage pets from obsessive licking, biting and chewing &amp;ndash; behaviors that can lead to more serious conditions such as hot spots or lick granulomas. They&amp;rsquo;re also a great alternative to the E-collar for post-surgical sites. &#xD;
On the outside, each bandage is constructed with all-natural, active outfacing ingredients, such as cayenne pepper, clove oil and oregano, that deter pets from bothering problem spots so they have a chance to heal.&amp;nbsp; A peel-and-stick, medical-grade adhesive on the opposite side can be applied directly to hair or skin.&amp;nbsp; &#xD;
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent pet bandages can be used as a protective covering to help promote healing, or applied at the first sign of biting or licking. So a product like this belongs in every pet parent&amp;rsquo;s first aid kit. And pet parents will be glad to know that Anti-Lick Strip Prevent products are veterinarian-approved and manufactured in the United States. &#xD;
According to Cindy Miller, Marketing Director at Nurtured Pets, &amp;ldquo;we&amp;rsquo;re thrilled to be charter exhibitors at this festive family event.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; To check out these revolutionary bandages in person, be sure to visit the Nurtured Pets booth during Dog Day on the Green. Anti-Lick Strip samples will handed out in small, medium and large sizes. For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit www.nurturedpets.com.&#xD;
About Nurtured Pets Nurtured Pets&amp;trade; is dedicated to providing products that create a healthy lifestyle for pets.&amp;nbsp; The company has introduced the first product of its kind to deter obsessive licking, biting and chewing. Clinically proven and formulated with all-natural active ingredients, products include: Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; sold in retail stores, Anti-Lick Strip Pro&amp;trade; and Anti-Lick Strip Pro C&amp;trade; both sold exclusively to veterinarians. Nurtured Pets, a Lauren International, Inc., company, is an Ohio-based manufacturer. For more information, visit our website at www.nurturedpets.com or contact Josh Weirich at 330.339.3373 ext. 7326 or Josh.Weirich@nurturedpets.com. Visit our parent company at www.laureninternational.com.&#xD;
###&#xD;
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      <title>Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Babies-Understand-Dogs-Bark-matching-Study-Finds/BLOG/475316/43713.html</link>
      <description>ScienceDaily (July 21, 2009) &amp;mdash; New research shows babies have a handle on the meaning of different dog barks &amp;ndash; despite little or no previous exposure to dogs.&#xD;
Infants just 6 months old can match the sounds of an angry snarl and a friendly yap to photos of dogs displaying threatening and welcoming body language.&#xD;
The new findings come on the heels of a study from the same Brigham Young University lab showing that infants can detect mood swings in Beethoven&amp;rsquo;s music.&#xD;
Though the mix of dogs and babies sounds silly, experiments of this kind help us understand how babies learn so rapidly. Long before they master speech, babies recognize and respond to the tone of what&amp;rsquo;s going on around them.&#xD;
Click here to read article in its entirety...&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Six-month-old babies can match the sounds of happy and angry barks to pictures of happy and angry dogs. &#xD;
(Credit: Image courtesy of Brigham Young University)&#xD;
Brigham Young University (2009, July 21). Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 24, 2009,</description>
      <content:encoded>ScienceDaily (July 21, 2009) &amp;mdash; New research shows babies have a handle on the meaning of different dog barks &amp;ndash; despite little or no previous exposure to dogs.&#xD;
Infants just 6 months old can match the sounds of an angry snarl and a friendly yap to photos of dogs displaying threatening and welcoming body language.&#xD;
The new findings come on the heels of a study from the same Brigham Young University lab showing that infants can detect mood swings in Beethoven&amp;rsquo;s music.&#xD;
Though the mix of dogs and babies sounds silly, experiments of this kind help us understand how babies learn so rapidly. Long before they master speech, babies recognize and respond to the tone of what&amp;rsquo;s going on around them.&#xD;
Click here to read article in its entirety...&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Six-month-old babies can match the sounds of happy and angry barks to pictures of happy and angry dogs. &#xD;
(Credit: Image courtesy of Brigham Young University)&#xD;
Brigham Young University (2009, July 21). Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 24, 2009,</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:28:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Babies-Understand-Dogs-Bark-matching-Study-Finds/BLOG/475316/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>nurturedpets</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-07-24T14:28:27Z</dc:date>
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        <media:credit role="publishing company" scheme="urn:ebu">Nurtured Pet Space</media:credit>
        <media:description>ScienceDaily (July 21, 2009) &amp;mdash; New research shows babies have a handle on the meaning of different dog barks &amp;ndash; despite little or no previous exposure to dogs.&#xD;
Infants just 6 months old can match the sounds of an angry snarl and a friendly yap to photos of dogs displaying threatening and welcoming body language.&#xD;
The new findings come on the heels of a study from the same Brigham Young University lab showing that infants can detect mood swings in Beethoven&amp;rsquo;s music.&#xD;
Though the mix of dogs and babies sounds silly, experiments of this kind help us understand how babies learn so rapidly. Long before they master speech, babies recognize and respond to the tone of what&amp;rsquo;s going on around them.&#xD;
Click here to read article in its entirety...&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Six-month-old babies can match the sounds of happy and angry barks to pictures of happy and angry dogs. &#xD;
(Credit: Image courtesy of Brigham Young University)&#xD;
Brigham Young University (2009, July 21). Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 24, 2009,</media:description>
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        <media:title>Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds</media:title>
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      <title>Forget The Frisbee; Cool Dogs Catch Waves</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Forget-The-Frisbee-Cool-Dogs-Catch-Waves/BLOG/475212/43713.html</link>
      <description>Southern California, the birthplace of '60s surf culture, is seeing a new trend: surfing dogs.&#xD;
We're not talking about a few wonder pooches &amp;mdash; these dogs are taking classes and even entering surf competitions.&#xD;
"That's Angus," Gini Moncur happily indicates the chihuahua mix who just caught a 10-inch wave. "He really enjoys this." Participants of the surf clinic cheer Angus from the beach. Angus promptly follows his feat by turning tail to the tip of his board.&#xD;
Backwards on the board seems to be the style of preference for the novice surfing dogs. Others prefer lying down.&#xD;
"It's baby steps," clinic instructor Rene Bruce says. "What we really try to promote is the dogs wanting to get on the board and go have some fun."&#xD;
That's what most dogs are having &amp;mdash; especially the ones chasing the bodyboards &amp;mdash; when Bobby Gorgeous, the star pupil of last week, shows up.&#xD;
"Not to discriminate or anything, but you wouldn't think of a Pomeranian being a surf dog," Bruce says. "And he did so great, I couldn't believe it."&#xD;
The small blond dog hits the water running and then jumps on the board. This is his last chance to train before the surf competition.&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
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The Big Day&#xD;
More than 40 dogs are entered in the Surfin' Paws Dog Jam in Huntington Beach. The sun's out, there are 2-foot swells, and the pros on their soft foam boards are getting in some practice time.&#xD;
One of the contestants is Hunter, a golden retriever in a neon doggie life vest. Owner Rose Jeffrey says they've both been surfing for four months now.&#xD;
"It's a way for me to spend time in the water with my dog. And now that my children are grown, I need an activity to use the surfboards that are left in my garage," she says, laughing.&#xD;
The crowd spots a celebrity in the water &amp;mdash; Tyson the famous skateboarding bulldog.&#xD;
"We're here for the fun," Tyson's owner, Jim Blauvelt, says as the pair shake off the sand and salt water. "There's some serious competitors here today that we can't hold a candle to. Now if it was skateboarding, that would be different."&#xD;
The contest gets under way. The two leading favorites are Nani, an 85-pound Bernese mountain dog, and Buddy, a Jack Russell. Both catch 3-foot waves and ride them all the way to shore. The spectators cheer.&#xD;
Veteran surfer Sam Wenzel is impressed with the competition. "One dog actually sat down on his haunches to catch the wave, and then the board started to tilt, and he put his leg out to steady it. It was pretty incredible," he says.&#xD;
At the end of the day, it's the style of the Bernese mountain dog Nani who wins the judges over to take the grand prize. Nani's owner Peter Noll says the dog's first time in the water was just nine months ago.&#xD;
"She's a newbie, but she's a natural. She really has a good time," he says.&#xD;
The stress of competition over, Nani and the rest of the contestants join the other beach dogs, rolling in the sand and lounging under umbrellas. One even caught a Frisbee.&#xD;
by Gloria Hillard - npr.com</description>
      <content:encoded>Southern California, the birthplace of '60s surf culture, is seeing a new trend: surfing dogs.&#xD;
We're not talking about a few wonder pooches &amp;mdash; these dogs are taking classes and even entering surf competitions.&#xD;
"That's Angus," Gini Moncur happily indicates the chihuahua mix who just caught a 10-inch wave. "He really enjoys this." Participants of the surf clinic cheer Angus from the beach. Angus promptly follows his feat by turning tail to the tip of his board.&#xD;
Backwards on the board seems to be the style of preference for the novice surfing dogs. Others prefer lying down.&#xD;
"It's baby steps," clinic instructor Rene Bruce says. "What we really try to promote is the dogs wanting to get on the board and go have some fun."&#xD;
That's what most dogs are having &amp;mdash; especially the ones chasing the bodyboards &amp;mdash; when Bobby Gorgeous, the star pupil of last week, shows up.&#xD;
"Not to discriminate or anything, but you wouldn't think of a Pomeranian being a surf dog," Bruce says. "And he did so great, I couldn't believe it."&#xD;
The small blond dog hits the water running and then jumps on the board. This is his last chance to train before the surf competition.&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
The Big Day&#xD;
More than 40 dogs are entered in the Surfin' Paws Dog Jam in Huntington Beach. The sun's out, there are 2-foot swells, and the pros on their soft foam boards are getting in some practice time.&#xD;
One of the contestants is Hunter, a golden retriever in a neon doggie life vest. Owner Rose Jeffrey says they've both been surfing for four months now.&#xD;
"It's a way for me to spend time in the water with my dog. And now that my children are grown, I need an activity to use the surfboards that are left in my garage," she says, laughing.&#xD;
The crowd spots a celebrity in the water &amp;mdash; Tyson the famous skateboarding bulldog.&#xD;
"We're here for the fun," Tyson's owner, Jim Blauvelt, says as the pair shake off the sand and salt water. "There's some serious competitors here today that we can't hold a candle to. Now if it was skateboarding, that would be different."&#xD;
The contest gets under way. The two leading favorites are Nani, an 85-pound Bernese mountain dog, and Buddy, a Jack Russell. Both catch 3-foot waves and ride them all the way to shore. The spectators cheer.&#xD;
Veteran surfer Sam Wenzel is impressed with the competition. "One dog actually sat down on his haunches to catch the wave, and then the board started to tilt, and he put his leg out to steady it. It was pretty incredible," he says.&#xD;
At the end of the day, it's the style of the Bernese mountain dog Nani who wins the judges over to take the grand prize. Nani's owner Peter Noll says the dog's first time in the water was just nine months ago.&#xD;
"She's a newbie, but she's a natural. She really has a good time," he says.&#xD;
The stress of competition over, Nani and the rest of the contestants join the other beach dogs, rolling in the sand and lounging under umbrellas. One even caught a Frisbee.&#xD;
by Gloria Hillard - npr.com</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:07:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Forget-The-Frisbee-Cool-Dogs-Catch-Waves/BLOG/475212/43713.html</guid>
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      <dc:date>2009-07-24T14:07:19Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>Southern California, the birthplace of '60s surf culture, is seeing a new trend: surfing dogs.&#xD;
We're not talking about a few wonder pooches &amp;mdash; these dogs are taking classes and even entering surf competitions.&#xD;
"That's Angus," Gini Moncur happily indicates the chihuahua mix who just caught a 10-inch wave. "He really enjoys this." Participants of the surf clinic cheer Angus from the beach. Angus promptly follows his feat by turning tail to the tip of his board.&#xD;
Backwards on the board seems to be the style of preference for the novice surfing dogs. Others prefer lying down.&#xD;
"It's baby steps," clinic instructor Rene Bruce says. "What we really try to promote is the dogs wanting to get on the board and go have some fun."&#xD;
That's what most dogs are having &amp;mdash; especially the ones chasing the bodyboards &amp;mdash; when Bobby Gorgeous, the star pupil of last week, shows up.&#xD;
"Not to discriminate or anything, but you wouldn't think of a Pomeranian being a surf dog," Bruce says. "And he did so great, I couldn't believe it."&#xD;
The small blond dog hits the water running and then jumps on the board. This is his last chance to train before the surf competition.&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
The Big Day&#xD;
More than 40 dogs are entered in the Surfin' Paws Dog Jam in Huntington Beach. The sun's out, there are 2-foot swells, and the pros on their soft foam boards are getting in some practice time.&#xD;
One of the contestants is Hunter, a golden retriever in a neon doggie life vest. Owner Rose Jeffrey says they've both been surfing for four months now.&#xD;
"It's a way for me to spend time in the water with my dog. And now that my children are grown, I need an activity to use the surfboards that are left in my garage," she says, laughing.&#xD;
The crowd spots a celebrity in the water &amp;mdash; Tyson the famous skateboarding bulldog.&#xD;
"We're here for the fun," Tyson's owner, Jim Blauvelt, says as the pair shake off the sand and salt water. "There's some serious competitors here today that we can't hold a candle to. Now if it was skateboarding, that would be different."&#xD;
The contest gets under way. The two leading favorites are Nani, an 85-pound Bernese mountain dog, and Buddy, a Jack Russell. Both catch 3-foot waves and ride them all the way to shore. The spectators cheer.&#xD;
Veteran surfer Sam Wenzel is impressed with the competition. "One dog actually sat down on his haunches to catch the wave, and then the board started to tilt, and he put his leg out to steady it. It was pretty incredible," he says.&#xD;
At the end of the day, it's the style of the Bernese mountain dog Nani who wins the judges over to take the grand prize. Nani's owner Peter Noll says the dog's first time in the water was just nine months ago.&#xD;
"She's a newbie, but she's a natural. She really has a good time," he says.&#xD;
The stress of competition over, Nani and the rest of the contestants join the other beach dogs, rolling in the sand and lounging under umbrellas. One even caught a Frisbee.&#xD;
by Gloria Hillard - npr.com</media:description>
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        <media:title>Forget The Frisbee; Cool Dogs Catch Waves</media:title>
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      <title>Great deals on pet products in Detroit</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Great-deals-on-pet-products-in-Detroit/BLOG/448778/43713.html</link>
      <description>K9 Specialties in Warren, Michigan is hands-down the best place to find high quality pet supplies at affordable prices. Owners Claude and Marie run their business with a customer focused philosophy which includes passing savings along to the customer.&amp;nbsp; K9 has been in its current location at 31936 Mound Rd just south of Fourteen Mile in Warren after outgrowing its previous location further south on Mound.&#xD;
As an independent pet store, K9 offers a wide selection of pet foods, from brands found in grocery stores to specialty brands at both ends of the price spectrum, including holistic and frozen raw pet food brands.&amp;nbsp; A wide array of supplements, including some more commonly sold by veterinarians is also available at K9. The staff is knowledgeable about pet products can advise pet owners as to which products are most appropriate for their specific pet.&#xD;
Pet supplies are also available in abundance at excellent prices, if you need to purchase a high ticket item like a dog crate or grooming table, a trip to K9 Specialties will pay for itself.&amp;nbsp; This is also one of the few stores in the area that carries professional quality dog show equipment for both conformation and obedience competitors.&#xD;
The back wall of the store is full of dog toys with a huge assortment of Kong and Nylabone products as well as new and unusual items rarely seen anywhere else. Facing the dog toy wall is a display of cat toys, including some unique &amp;ldquo;fishing pole&amp;rdquo; style items.&amp;nbsp; At the other end of the store is a separate room full of items for birds and small animals with a similar assortment of species appropriate playthings.&#xD;
The store and its equipment reflect the owners&amp;rsquo; desires to keep prices low. There are no scanners and the shopping carts are recycled from Walmart. However, if you are looking for customer service, including special orders, knowledgeable staff and quality products at excellent prices, K9 Specialties is unsurpassed in the Detroit area.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Courtesy of examiner.com</description>
      <content:encoded>K9 Specialties in Warren, Michigan is hands-down the best place to find high quality pet supplies at affordable prices. Owners Claude and Marie run their business with a customer focused philosophy which includes passing savings along to the customer.&amp;nbsp; K9 has been in its current location at 31936 Mound Rd just south of Fourteen Mile in Warren after outgrowing its previous location further south on Mound.&#xD;
As an independent pet store, K9 offers a wide selection of pet foods, from brands found in grocery stores to specialty brands at both ends of the price spectrum, including holistic and frozen raw pet food brands.&amp;nbsp; A wide array of supplements, including some more commonly sold by veterinarians is also available at K9. The staff is knowledgeable about pet products can advise pet owners as to which products are most appropriate for their specific pet.&#xD;
Pet supplies are also available in abundance at excellent prices, if you need to purchase a high ticket item like a dog crate or grooming table, a trip to K9 Specialties will pay for itself.&amp;nbsp; This is also one of the few stores in the area that carries professional quality dog show equipment for both conformation and obedience competitors.&#xD;
The back wall of the store is full of dog toys with a huge assortment of Kong and Nylabone products as well as new and unusual items rarely seen anywhere else. Facing the dog toy wall is a display of cat toys, including some unique &amp;ldquo;fishing pole&amp;rdquo; style items.&amp;nbsp; At the other end of the store is a separate room full of items for birds and small animals with a similar assortment of species appropriate playthings.&#xD;
The store and its equipment reflect the owners&amp;rsquo; desires to keep prices low. There are no scanners and the shopping carts are recycled from Walmart. However, if you are looking for customer service, including special orders, knowledgeable staff and quality products at excellent prices, K9 Specialties is unsurpassed in the Detroit area.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Courtesy of examiner.com</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:51:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Great-deals-on-pet-products-in-Detroit/BLOG/448778/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>piconket</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-07-20T20:51:49Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>K9 Specialties in Warren, Michigan is hands-down the best place to find high quality pet supplies at affordable prices. Owners Claude and Marie run their business with a customer focused philosophy which includes passing savings along to the customer.&amp;nbsp; K9 has been in its current location at 31936 Mound Rd just south of Fourteen Mile in Warren after outgrowing its previous location further south on Mound.&#xD;
As an independent pet store, K9 offers a wide selection of pet foods, from brands found in grocery stores to specialty brands at both ends of the price spectrum, including holistic and frozen raw pet food brands.&amp;nbsp; A wide array of supplements, including some more commonly sold by veterinarians is also available at K9. The staff is knowledgeable about pet products can advise pet owners as to which products are most appropriate for their specific pet.&#xD;
Pet supplies are also available in abundance at excellent prices, if you need to purchase a high ticket item like a dog crate or grooming table, a trip to K9 Specialties will pay for itself.&amp;nbsp; This is also one of the few stores in the area that carries professional quality dog show equipment for both conformation and obedience competitors.&#xD;
The back wall of the store is full of dog toys with a huge assortment of Kong and Nylabone products as well as new and unusual items rarely seen anywhere else. Facing the dog toy wall is a display of cat toys, including some unique &amp;ldquo;fishing pole&amp;rdquo; style items.&amp;nbsp; At the other end of the store is a separate room full of items for birds and small animals with a similar assortment of species appropriate playthings.&#xD;
The store and its equipment reflect the owners&amp;rsquo; desires to keep prices low. There are no scanners and the shopping carts are recycled from Walmart. However, if you are looking for customer service, including special orders, knowledgeable staff and quality products at excellent prices, K9 Specialties is unsurpassed in the Detroit area.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Courtesy of examiner.com</media:description>
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      <title>Huge blob of Arctic goo floats in Arctic Sea.</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Huge-blob-of-Arctic-goo-floats-in-Arctic-Sea/BLOG/441421/43713.html</link>
      <description>IT'S NOT OIL: No one in the area can  recall seeing anything like it before.&#xD;
By DON HUNTER dhunter@adn.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Something big and strange is floating through the Chukchi Sea between Wainwright and Barrow.&#xD;
Hunters from Wainwright first started noticing the stuff sometime probably early last week. It's thick and dark and "gooey" and is drifting for miles in the cold Arctic waters, according to Gordon Brower with the North Slope Borough's Planning and Community Services Department.&#xD;
Brower and other borough officials, joined by the U.S. Coast Guard, flew out to Wainwright to investigate. The agencies found "globs" of the stuff floating miles offshore Friday and collected samples for testing.&#xD;
Later, Brower said, the North Slope team in a borough helicopter spotted a long strand of the stuff and followed it for about 15 miles, shooting video from the air.&#xD;
The next day the floating substance arrived offshore from Barrow, about 90 miles east of Wainwright, and borough officials went out in boats, collected more samples and sent them off for testing too.&#xD;
Nobody knows for sure what the gunk is, but Petty Officer 1st Class Terry Hasenauer says the Coast Guard is sure what it is not.&#xD;
"It's certainly biological," Hasenauer said. "It's definitely not an oil product of any kind. It has no characteristics of an oil, or a hazardous substance, for that matter.&#xD;
"It's definitely, by the smell and the makeup of it, it's some sort of naturally occurring organic or otherwise marine organism."&#xD;
Something else: No one in Barrow or Wainwright can remember seeing anything like this before, Brower said.&#xD;
"That's one of the reasons we went out, because in recent history I don't think we've seen anything like this," he said. "Maybe inside lakes or in stagnant water or something, but not (in the ocean) that we could recall ...&#xD;
"If it was something we'd seen before, we'd be able to say something about it. But we haven't ...which prompted concerns from the local hunters and whaling captains."&#xD;
The stuff is "gooey" and looks dark against the bright white ice floating in the Arctic Ocean, Brower said.&#xD;
"It's pitch black when it hits ice and it kind of discolors the ice and hangs off of it," Brower said. He saw some jellyfish tangled up in the stuff, and someone turned in what was left of a dead goose -- just bones and feathers -- to the borough's wildlife department.&#xD;
"It kind of has an odor; I can't describe it," he said.&#xD;
Hasenauer said he hasn't heard any reports of waterfowl or marine animals turning up.&#xD;
Brower said it wouldn't necessarily surprise him if the substance turns out to be some sort of naturally occurring phenomenon, but the borough is waiting until it gets the analysis back from the samples before officials say anything more than they're not sure what it is.&#xD;
"From the air it looks brownish with some sheen, but when you get close and put it up on the ice and in the bucket, it's kind of blackish stuff ... (and) has hairy strands on it."&#xD;
Hasenauer said the Coast Guard's samples are being analyzed in Anchorage. Results may be back sometime next week, he said.&#xD;
The two Coast Guard experts sent up to overfly the area with the borough said they saw nothing that resembled an oil slick, Hasenauer said.&#xD;
"We brought back one sample of what they believe to be an algae," he said, and a big algae bloom is one possibility.&#xD;
"It's textbook for us to consider algae because of all the false reports of oil spills we've had in the past. It's one of the things that typically comes up" when a report turns out not to be an oil spill after all.&#xD;
But, he said, "there's all types of natural phenomena that it could be."&#xD;
Meanwhile, the brownish-blackish gunk is drifting along the coast to the northeast, Brower said.&#xD;
"This stuff is moving with the current," he said. "It's now on beyond Barrow and probably going north at this point. And people are still encountering it out here off Barrow."&#xD;
For the most part, the mystery substance seems to have stayed away from shore.&#xD;
"We did get some residents saying it was being pushed against the shoreline by ice in some areas," Brower said, "but then we get another east wind and it gets pushed back out there."&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Find Don Hunter online at adn.com/contact/dhunter.&#xD;
[image]</description>
      <content:encoded>IT'S NOT OIL: No one in the area can  recall seeing anything like it before.&#xD;
By DON HUNTER dhunter@adn.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Something big and strange is floating through the Chukchi Sea between Wainwright and Barrow.&#xD;
Hunters from Wainwright first started noticing the stuff sometime probably early last week. It's thick and dark and "gooey" and is drifting for miles in the cold Arctic waters, according to Gordon Brower with the North Slope Borough's Planning and Community Services Department.&#xD;
Brower and other borough officials, joined by the U.S. Coast Guard, flew out to Wainwright to investigate. The agencies found "globs" of the stuff floating miles offshore Friday and collected samples for testing.&#xD;
Later, Brower said, the North Slope team in a borough helicopter spotted a long strand of the stuff and followed it for about 15 miles, shooting video from the air.&#xD;
The next day the floating substance arrived offshore from Barrow, about 90 miles east of Wainwright, and borough officials went out in boats, collected more samples and sent them off for testing too.&#xD;
Nobody knows for sure what the gunk is, but Petty Officer 1st Class Terry Hasenauer says the Coast Guard is sure what it is not.&#xD;
"It's certainly biological," Hasenauer said. "It's definitely not an oil product of any kind. It has no characteristics of an oil, or a hazardous substance, for that matter.&#xD;
"It's definitely, by the smell and the makeup of it, it's some sort of naturally occurring organic or otherwise marine organism."&#xD;
Something else: No one in Barrow or Wainwright can remember seeing anything like this before, Brower said.&#xD;
"That's one of the reasons we went out, because in recent history I don't think we've seen anything like this," he said. "Maybe inside lakes or in stagnant water or something, but not (in the ocean) that we could recall ...&#xD;
"If it was something we'd seen before, we'd be able to say something about it. But we haven't ...which prompted concerns from the local hunters and whaling captains."&#xD;
The stuff is "gooey" and looks dark against the bright white ice floating in the Arctic Ocean, Brower said.&#xD;
"It's pitch black when it hits ice and it kind of discolors the ice and hangs off of it," Brower said. He saw some jellyfish tangled up in the stuff, and someone turned in what was left of a dead goose -- just bones and feathers -- to the borough's wildlife department.&#xD;
"It kind of has an odor; I can't describe it," he said.&#xD;
Hasenauer said he hasn't heard any reports of waterfowl or marine animals turning up.&#xD;
Brower said it wouldn't necessarily surprise him if the substance turns out to be some sort of naturally occurring phenomenon, but the borough is waiting until it gets the analysis back from the samples before officials say anything more than they're not sure what it is.&#xD;
"From the air it looks brownish with some sheen, but when you get close and put it up on the ice and in the bucket, it's kind of blackish stuff ... (and) has hairy strands on it."&#xD;
Hasenauer said the Coast Guard's samples are being analyzed in Anchorage. Results may be back sometime next week, he said.&#xD;
The two Coast Guard experts sent up to overfly the area with the borough said they saw nothing that resembled an oil slick, Hasenauer said.&#xD;
"We brought back one sample of what they believe to be an algae," he said, and a big algae bloom is one possibility.&#xD;
"It's textbook for us to consider algae because of all the false reports of oil spills we've had in the past. It's one of the things that typically comes up" when a report turns out not to be an oil spill after all.&#xD;
But, he said, "there's all types of natural phenomena that it could be."&#xD;
Meanwhile, the brownish-blackish gunk is drifting along the coast to the northeast, Brower said.&#xD;
"This stuff is moving with the current," he said. "It's now on beyond Barrow and probably going north at this point. And people are still encountering it out here off Barrow."&#xD;
For the most part, the mystery substance seems to have stayed away from shore.&#xD;
"We did get some residents saying it was being pushed against the shoreline by ice in some areas," Brower said, "but then we get another east wind and it gets pushed back out there."&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Find Don Hunter online at adn.com/contact/dhunter.&#xD;
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      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:43:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Huge-blob-of-Arctic-goo-floats-in-Arctic-Sea/BLOG/441421/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>piconket</dc:creator>
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        <media:description>IT'S NOT OIL: No one in the area can  recall seeing anything like it before.&#xD;
By DON HUNTER dhunter@adn.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Something big and strange is floating through the Chukchi Sea between Wainwright and Barrow.&#xD;
Hunters from Wainwright first started noticing the stuff sometime probably early last week. It's thick and dark and "gooey" and is drifting for miles in the cold Arctic waters, according to Gordon Brower with the North Slope Borough's Planning and Community Services Department.&#xD;
Brower and other borough officials, joined by the U.S. Coast Guard, flew out to Wainwright to investigate. The agencies found "globs" of the stuff floating miles offshore Friday and collected samples for testing.&#xD;
Later, Brower said, the North Slope team in a borough helicopter spotted a long strand of the stuff and followed it for about 15 miles, shooting video from the air.&#xD;
The next day the floating substance arrived offshore from Barrow, about 90 miles east of Wainwright, and borough officials went out in boats, collected more samples and sent them off for testing too.&#xD;
Nobody knows for sure what the gunk is, but Petty Officer 1st Class Terry Hasenauer says the Coast Guard is sure what it is not.&#xD;
"It's certainly biological," Hasenauer said. "It's definitely not an oil product of any kind. It has no characteristics of an oil, or a hazardous substance, for that matter.&#xD;
"It's definitely, by the smell and the makeup of it, it's some sort of naturally occurring organic or otherwise marine organism."&#xD;
Something else: No one in Barrow or Wainwright can remember seeing anything like this before, Brower said.&#xD;
"That's one of the reasons we went out, because in recent history I don't think we've seen anything like this," he said. "Maybe inside lakes or in stagnant water or something, but not (in the ocean) that we could recall ...&#xD;
"If it was something we'd seen before, we'd be able to say something about it. But we haven't ...which prompted concerns from the local hunters and whaling captains."&#xD;
The stuff is "gooey" and looks dark against the bright white ice floating in the Arctic Ocean, Brower said.&#xD;
"It's pitch black when it hits ice and it kind of discolors the ice and hangs off of it," Brower said. He saw some jellyfish tangled up in the stuff, and someone turned in what was left of a dead goose -- just bones and feathers -- to the borough's wildlife department.&#xD;
"It kind of has an odor; I can't describe it," he said.&#xD;
Hasenauer said he hasn't heard any reports of waterfowl or marine animals turning up.&#xD;
Brower said it wouldn't necessarily surprise him if the substance turns out to be some sort of naturally occurring phenomenon, but the borough is waiting until it gets the analysis back from the samples before officials say anything more than they're not sure what it is.&#xD;
"From the air it looks brownish with some sheen, but when you get close and put it up on the ice and in the bucket, it's kind of blackish stuff ... (and) has hairy strands on it."&#xD;
Hasenauer said the Coast Guard's samples are being analyzed in Anchorage. Results may be back sometime next week, he said.&#xD;
The two Coast Guard experts sent up to overfly the area with the borough said they saw nothing that resembled an oil slick, Hasenauer said.&#xD;
"We brought back one sample of what they believe to be an algae," he said, and a big algae bloom is one possibility.&#xD;
"It's textbook for us to consider algae because of all the false reports of oil spills we've had in the past. It's one of the things that typically comes up" when a report turns out not to be an oil spill after all.&#xD;
But, he said, "there's all types of natural phenomena that it could be."&#xD;
Meanwhile, the brownish-blackish gunk is drifting along the coast to the northeast, Brower said.&#xD;
"This stuff is moving with the current," he said. "It's now on beyond Barrow and probably going north at this point. And people are still encountering it out here off Barrow."&#xD;
For the most part, the mystery substance seems to have stayed away from shore.&#xD;
"We did get some residents saying it was being pushed against the shoreline by ice in some areas," Brower said, "but then we get another east wind and it gets pushed back out there."&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Find Don Hunter online at adn.com/contact/dhunter.&#xD;
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      <title>Abbey &amp; Meredith</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Abbey-Meredith/BLOG/436131/43713.html</link>
      <description>Great story we received in an email -- &#xD;
Our            14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4            year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she            missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that            when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I            thought we could so she dictated these words:Dear God,Will            you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in            heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as            my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She            likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so            when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss            her.Love, MeredithWe put the letter in an envelope with a            picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put            our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the            front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to            get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it            into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if            God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He            had.Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold            paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar            hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called,            'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we            had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was            the picture of Abbey &amp;amp; Meredith and this            note:Dear Meredith,Abbey arrived safely in            heaven.Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right            away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just            like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we            don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your            picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you            to keep and have something to remember Abbey by... Thank you for the            beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and            sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her            especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that            I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever            there is love.Love,God&#xD;
[image]</description>
      <content:encoded>Great story we received in an email -- &#xD;
Our            14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4            year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she            missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that            when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I            thought we could so she dictated these words:Dear God,Will            you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in            heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as            my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She            likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so            when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss            her.Love, MeredithWe put the letter in an envelope with a            picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put            our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the            front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to            get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it            into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if            God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He            had.Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold            paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar            hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called,            'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we            had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was            the picture of Abbey &amp;amp; Meredith and this            note:Dear Meredith,Abbey arrived safely in            heaven.Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right            away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just            like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we            don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your            picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you            to keep and have something to remember Abbey by... Thank you for the            beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and            sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her            especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that            I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever            there is love.Love,God&#xD;
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      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:48:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Abbey-Meredith/BLOG/436131/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>nurturedpets</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-07-14T14:48:12Z</dc:date>
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        <media:credit role="publishing company" scheme="urn:ebu">Nurtured Pet Space</media:credit>
        <media:description>Great story we received in an email -- &#xD;
Our            14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4            year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she            missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that            when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I            thought we could so she dictated these words:Dear God,Will            you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in            heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as            my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She            likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so            when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss            her.Love, MeredithWe put the letter in an envelope with a            picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put            our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the            front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to            get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it            into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if            God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He            had.Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold            paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar            hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called,            'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we            had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was            the picture of Abbey &amp;amp; Meredith and this            note:Dear Meredith,Abbey arrived safely in            heaven.Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right            away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just            like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we            don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your            picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you            to keep and have something to remember Abbey by... Thank you for the            beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and            sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her            especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that            I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever            there is love.Love,God&#xD;
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      <title>10 Things to Know About the H3N8 Dog Flu</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_10-Things-to-Know-About-the-H3N8-Dog-Flu/BLOG/436076/43713.html</link>
      <description>Who&amp;rsquo;s at risk from canine influenza?[image]Dr. Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in the Maddie&amp;rsquo;s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, recently answered dozens of readers&amp;rsquo; questions on the Consults blog, &amp;ldquo;The Dog Flu Virus: Are You or Your Pet At Risk?&amp;rdquo; Many readers had questions about flu symptoms, how the virus is spread and whether their pets should receive the newly approved vaccine for the disease. Here are 10 things Dr. Crawford believes everyone should know about canine influenza and the risks to pets and people.Click here to read full article from the NY Times.</description>
      <content:encoded>Who&amp;rsquo;s at risk from canine influenza?[image]Dr. Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in the Maddie&amp;rsquo;s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, recently answered dozens of readers&amp;rsquo; questions on the Consults blog, &amp;ldquo;The Dog Flu Virus: Are You or Your Pet At Risk?&amp;rdquo; Many readers had questions about flu symptoms, how the virus is spread and whether their pets should receive the newly approved vaccine for the disease. Here are 10 things Dr. Crawford believes everyone should know about canine influenza and the risks to pets and people.Click here to read full article from the NY Times.</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:22:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_10-Things-to-Know-About-the-H3N8-Dog-Flu/BLOG/436076/43713.html</guid>
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        <media:description>Who&amp;rsquo;s at risk from canine influenza?[image]Dr. Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in the Maddie&amp;rsquo;s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, recently answered dozens of readers&amp;rsquo; questions on the Consults blog, &amp;ldquo;The Dog Flu Virus: Are You or Your Pet At Risk?&amp;rdquo; Many readers had questions about flu symptoms, how the virus is spread and whether their pets should receive the newly approved vaccine for the disease. Here are 10 things Dr. Crawford believes everyone should know about canine influenza and the risks to pets and people.Click here to read full article from the NY Times.</media:description>
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      <title>DogFest 2009! is right around the corner!</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_DogFest-2009-is-right-around-the-corner/BLOG/436022/43713.html</link>
      <description>Dogfest  2009 is fast approaching and we are now accepting early vendor and  rescue group applications due to the success of last year's Dogfest.  Registration is available online (links to the right)!&#xD;
This  is the Baltimore Humane  Society's major fundraiser and community event that is one of the largest  animal related events in Maryland. The event takes place on Saturday, October  10, 2009 at the beautiful setting of Shawan Downs in Hunt Valley, Maryland. We  are expecting 5,000 &amp;ndash; 7,000 pet owners to attend this year!&#xD;
Dogfest  is an extravaganza for dogs and their families. It will be a fun-filled day of  dog games and contests, agility runs, pet education and tent pavilions that will  have many dog rescue groups attending with their pets that are for adoption. We  will even have a sandy beach and pools for the dogs to play in along with a  puppy pumpkin patch where dogs get to pick their own pumpkins. Once again, we  will have the &amp;ldquo;Best At The Fest&amp;rdquo; picture contest by Baltimore Dog Magazine to  select a cover dog for their edition following Dogfest.&#xD;
This  year, we are also including Equine Rescue groups who are exhibiting horses that  are for adoption along with horseback riding for kids and adults. Even the  Maryland Jousting Society will have live Jousting Demonstration since it is the  official sport of Maryland. Due to popular demand, we are expanding our Cat  Adoption pavilion and will also be running our 5K-9 Fun Run where pet owners get  to run with their dog.&#xD;
101.9  Lite FM, one of Baltimore's most popular radio stations is our radio media  sponsor again and will be broadcasting live during the event to promote Dogfest  with their other CBS radio and television stations.&#xD;
Courtesy of the Baltimore Humane Society.&amp;nbsp; www.baltimorehumane.org</description>
      <content:encoded>Dogfest  2009 is fast approaching and we are now accepting early vendor and  rescue group applications due to the success of last year's Dogfest.  Registration is available online (links to the right)!&#xD;
This  is the Baltimore Humane  Society's major fundraiser and community event that is one of the largest  animal related events in Maryland. The event takes place on Saturday, October  10, 2009 at the beautiful setting of Shawan Downs in Hunt Valley, Maryland. We  are expecting 5,000 &amp;ndash; 7,000 pet owners to attend this year!&#xD;
Dogfest  is an extravaganza for dogs and their families. It will be a fun-filled day of  dog games and contests, agility runs, pet education and tent pavilions that will  have many dog rescue groups attending with their pets that are for adoption. We  will even have a sandy beach and pools for the dogs to play in along with a  puppy pumpkin patch where dogs get to pick their own pumpkins. Once again, we  will have the &amp;ldquo;Best At The Fest&amp;rdquo; picture contest by Baltimore Dog Magazine to  select a cover dog for their edition following Dogfest.&#xD;
This  year, we are also including Equine Rescue groups who are exhibiting horses that  are for adoption along with horseback riding for kids and adults. Even the  Maryland Jousting Society will have live Jousting Demonstration since it is the  official sport of Maryland. Due to popular demand, we are expanding our Cat  Adoption pavilion and will also be running our 5K-9 Fun Run where pet owners get  to run with their dog.&#xD;
101.9  Lite FM, one of Baltimore's most popular radio stations is our radio media  sponsor again and will be broadcasting live during the event to promote Dogfest  with their other CBS radio and television stations.&#xD;
Courtesy of the Baltimore Humane Society.&amp;nbsp; www.baltimorehumane.org</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:34:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_DogFest-2009-is-right-around-the-corner/BLOG/436022/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>piconket</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-07-14T13:34:10Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>Dogfest  2009 is fast approaching and we are now accepting early vendor and  rescue group applications due to the success of last year's Dogfest.  Registration is available online (links to the right)!&#xD;
This  is the Baltimore Humane  Society's major fundraiser and community event that is one of the largest  animal related events in Maryland. The event takes place on Saturday, October  10, 2009 at the beautiful setting of Shawan Downs in Hunt Valley, Maryland. We  are expecting 5,000 &amp;ndash; 7,000 pet owners to attend this year!&#xD;
Dogfest  is an extravaganza for dogs and their families. It will be a fun-filled day of  dog games and contests, agility runs, pet education and tent pavilions that will  have many dog rescue groups attending with their pets that are for adoption. We  will even have a sandy beach and pools for the dogs to play in along with a  puppy pumpkin patch where dogs get to pick their own pumpkins. Once again, we  will have the &amp;ldquo;Best At The Fest&amp;rdquo; picture contest by Baltimore Dog Magazine to  select a cover dog for their edition following Dogfest.&#xD;
This  year, we are also including Equine Rescue groups who are exhibiting horses that  are for adoption along with horseback riding for kids and adults. Even the  Maryland Jousting Society will have live Jousting Demonstration since it is the  official sport of Maryland. Due to popular demand, we are expanding our Cat  Adoption pavilion and will also be running our 5K-9 Fun Run where pet owners get  to run with their dog.&#xD;
101.9  Lite FM, one of Baltimore's most popular radio stations is our radio media  sponsor again and will be broadcasting live during the event to promote Dogfest  with their other CBS radio and television stations.&#xD;
Courtesy of the Baltimore Humane Society.&amp;nbsp; www.baltimorehumane.org</media:description>
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      <title>Pet Safety Tips for a Booming 4th of July</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Pet-Safety-Tips-for-a-Booming-4th-of-July/BLOG/417682/43713.html</link>
      <description>As we commemorate our country's independence in the traditional fashion of brilliant sights and booming sounds of endless, elaborate fireworks displays, it's important to remember, that the noisy lightshow could prove stressful for our pets.&#xD;
To avoid unpleasant and unnecessary holiday hassles, North Shore Animal League America would like to offer some important tips so that your Independence Day celebration is a booming success and not a pet-frantic mess.&#xD;
Never take your pets to a fireworks display: Fireworks displays can be great fun, but not for your pets. The loud noises and bright lights can terrify an animal. Even the best-behaved dog may react with fear and try to flee from the scene, which can lead him right into traffic or get him lost.&#xD;
Give your pets a safe and quiet retreat: If your pets get spooked by the Fourth of July festivities, it's important that they have a safe and quiet place to relax. Whether you secure a room of the house or blanketed crate, they should have someplace "den-like" to retreat to. Draw the curtains to block out the lightshow, and try putting the TV or radio on at a low volume as a distraction or as company for them if you go out. Make sure to KEEP THEM INSIDE for their own protection.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Create a problem-free environment: If you decide to go out and leave your pets at home, it's a good idea to pet-proof your home. A nervous animal can become destructive, so it's best to clear the area of anything he may ingest or hurt himself on if he becomes frantic or nervous. If you know your pet doesn't react to fireworks well, try not to leave him unattended. Make sure windows and doors are secured in case they try to "break-out. If your pet has extreme fear of fireworks, you may want to consult with your vet for some relaxation ideas.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Monitor what your pet eats and drinks: If you are entertaining guests, make sure to let them know not to feed your pets party food or beverages of any kind. Many foods are harmful to pets, and your guests may not be aware of this. It is also hard to monitor how much your pets are eating in a social setting. So to avoid illness, it's best to let everyone know not to feed them any party fare.&#xD;
Use distraction techniques: If you are home with your pet and he is exhibiting nervous behavior like whimpering or pacing, try distracting him with his favorite toys, games or snacks. Too much coddling may make your pet suspect that there is something to be afraid of.&#xD;
Keep your pet cool and hydrated: Usually, the Fourth of July can be a scorcher. It can take only minutes for heat exhaustion to set in, so be sure to keep your pet's environment well ventilated and cool; and leave plenty of fresh, cool water for them to drink. NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET IN A HOT CAR. Imagine being trapped in a hot car in a fur coat. Even with the windows cracked, your pet can overheat and become ill or even die.&#xD;
Make sure your pet is identifiable: In the instance that your pet runs off in a frantic frenzy, it's imperative to make sure that his collar is on with his identification tags. Secure the collar so that your pet can't squeeze out if it. You should be able to fit two fingers underneath the collar so that it's roomy enough for comfort and snug enough for safety. If your pet runs off, you want to try to ensure his return.&#xD;
Watch out for Independence Day debris: When you let your pets out or take them for walks the day after, remember that the streets and your yard are likely to be littered with fireworks debris. These may seem like tasty treats or fun things to nibble on to your pets. Make sure to clean up before letting your companions out to rummage through it.&#xD;
Watch out for Independence Day debris: When you let your pets out or take them for walks the day after, remember that the streets and your yard are likely to be littered with fireworks debris. These may seem like tasty treats or fun things to nibble on to your pets. Make sure to clean up before letting your companions out to rummage through it.&#xD;
Courtesy of North Shore Animal League.&amp;nbsp; http://www.nsalamerica.org/pet_talk/safety-tips-july-4th.html&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</description>
      <content:encoded>As we commemorate our country's independence in the traditional fashion of brilliant sights and booming sounds of endless, elaborate fireworks displays, it's important to remember, that the noisy lightshow could prove stressful for our pets.&#xD;
To avoid unpleasant and unnecessary holiday hassles, North Shore Animal League America would like to offer some important tips so that your Independence Day celebration is a booming success and not a pet-frantic mess.&#xD;
Never take your pets to a fireworks display: Fireworks displays can be great fun, but not for your pets. The loud noises and bright lights can terrify an animal. Even the best-behaved dog may react with fear and try to flee from the scene, which can lead him right into traffic or get him lost.&#xD;
Give your pets a safe and quiet retreat: If your pets get spooked by the Fourth of July festivities, it's important that they have a safe and quiet place to relax. Whether you secure a room of the house or blanketed crate, they should have someplace "den-like" to retreat to. Draw the curtains to block out the lightshow, and try putting the TV or radio on at a low volume as a distraction or as company for them if you go out. Make sure to KEEP THEM INSIDE for their own protection.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Create a problem-free environment: If you decide to go out and leave your pets at home, it's a good idea to pet-proof your home. A nervous animal can become destructive, so it's best to clear the area of anything he may ingest or hurt himself on if he becomes frantic or nervous. If you know your pet doesn't react to fireworks well, try not to leave him unattended. Make sure windows and doors are secured in case they try to "break-out. If your pet has extreme fear of fireworks, you may want to consult with your vet for some relaxation ideas.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Monitor what your pet eats and drinks: If you are entertaining guests, make sure to let them know not to feed your pets party food or beverages of any kind. Many foods are harmful to pets, and your guests may not be aware of this. It is also hard to monitor how much your pets are eating in a social setting. So to avoid illness, it's best to let everyone know not to feed them any party fare.&#xD;
Use distraction techniques: If you are home with your pet and he is exhibiting nervous behavior like whimpering or pacing, try distracting him with his favorite toys, games or snacks. Too much coddling may make your pet suspect that there is something to be afraid of.&#xD;
Keep your pet cool and hydrated: Usually, the Fourth of July can be a scorcher. It can take only minutes for heat exhaustion to set in, so be sure to keep your pet's environment well ventilated and cool; and leave plenty of fresh, cool water for them to drink. NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET IN A HOT CAR. Imagine being trapped in a hot car in a fur coat. Even with the windows cracked, your pet can overheat and become ill or even die.&#xD;
Make sure your pet is identifiable: In the instance that your pet runs off in a frantic frenzy, it's imperative to make sure that his collar is on with his identification tags. Secure the collar so that your pet can't squeeze out if it. You should be able to fit two fingers underneath the collar so that it's roomy enough for comfort and snug enough for safety. If your pet runs off, you want to try to ensure his return.&#xD;
Watch out for Independence Day debris: When you let your pets out or take them for walks the day after, remember that the streets and your yard are likely to be littered with fireworks debris. These may seem like tasty treats or fun things to nibble on to your pets. Make sure to clean up before letting your companions out to rummage through it.&#xD;
Watch out for Independence Day debris: When you let your pets out or take them for walks the day after, remember that the streets and your yard are likely to be littered with fireworks debris. These may seem like tasty treats or fun things to nibble on to your pets. Make sure to clean up before letting your companions out to rummage through it.&#xD;
Courtesy of North Shore Animal League.&amp;nbsp; http://www.nsalamerica.org/pet_talk/safety-tips-july-4th.html&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:21:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Pet-Safety-Tips-for-a-Booming-4th-of-July/BLOG/417682/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>piconket</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-07-02T17:21:20Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>As we commemorate our country's independence in the traditional fashion of brilliant sights and booming sounds of endless, elaborate fireworks displays, it's important to remember, that the noisy lightshow could prove stressful for our pets.&#xD;
To avoid unpleasant and unnecessary holiday hassles, North Shore Animal League America would like to offer some important tips so that your Independence Day celebration is a booming success and not a pet-frantic mess.&#xD;
Never take your pets to a fireworks display: Fireworks displays can be great fun, but not for your pets. The loud noises and bright lights can terrify an animal. Even the best-behaved dog may react with fear and try to flee from the scene, which can lead him right into traffic or get him lost.&#xD;
Give your pets a safe and quiet retreat: If your pets get spooked by the Fourth of July festivities, it's important that they have a safe and quiet place to relax. Whether you secure a room of the house or blanketed crate, they should have someplace "den-like" to retreat to. Draw the curtains to block out the lightshow, and try putting the TV or radio on at a low volume as a distraction or as company for them if you go out. Make sure to KEEP THEM INSIDE for their own protection.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Create a problem-free environment: If you decide to go out and leave your pets at home, it's a good idea to pet-proof your home. A nervous animal can become destructive, so it's best to clear the area of anything he may ingest or hurt himself on if he becomes frantic or nervous. If you know your pet doesn't react to fireworks well, try not to leave him unattended. Make sure windows and doors are secured in case they try to "break-out. If your pet has extreme fear of fireworks, you may want to consult with your vet for some relaxation ideas.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Monitor what your pet eats and drinks: If you are entertaining guests, make sure to let them know not to feed your pets party food or beverages of any kind. Many foods are harmful to pets, and your guests may not be aware of this. It is also hard to monitor how much your pets are eating in a social setting. So to avoid illness, it's best to let everyone know not to feed them any party fare.&#xD;
Use distraction techniques: If you are home with your pet and he is exhibiting nervous behavior like whimpering or pacing, try distracting him with his favorite toys, games or snacks. Too much coddling may make your pet suspect that there is something to be afraid of.&#xD;
Keep your pet cool and hydrated: Usually, the Fourth of July can be a scorcher. It can take only minutes for heat exhaustion to set in, so be sure to keep your pet's environment well ventilated and cool; and leave plenty of fresh, cool water for them to drink. NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET IN A HOT CAR. Imagine being trapped in a hot car in a fur coat. Even with the windows cracked, your pet can overheat and become ill or even die.&#xD;
Make sure your pet is identifiable: In the instance that your pet runs off in a frantic frenzy, it's imperative to make sure that his collar is on with his identification tags. Secure the collar so that your pet can't squeeze out if it. You should be able to fit two fingers underneath the collar so that it's roomy enough for comfort and snug enough for safety. If your pet runs off, you want to try to ensure his return.&#xD;
Watch out for Independence Day debris: When you let your pets out or take them for walks the day after, remember that the streets and your yard are likely to be littered with fireworks debris. These may seem like tasty treats or fun things to nibble on to your pets. Make sure to clean up before letting your companions out to rummage through it.&#xD;
Watch out for Independence Day debris: When you let your pets out or take them for walks the day after, remember that the streets and your yard are likely to be littered with fireworks debris. These may seem like tasty treats or fun things to nibble on to your pets. Make sure to clean up before letting your companions out to rummage through it.&#xD;
Courtesy of North Shore Animal League.&amp;nbsp; http://www.nsalamerica.org/pet_talk/safety-tips-july-4th.html&#xD;
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      <title>A Healthy Lifestyle ... for Your Pets</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_A-Healthy-Lifestyle-for-Your-Pets/BLOG/414055/43713.html</link>
      <description>Nurtured Pets presents the Anti-Lick Strip Prevent, the anti-lick, anti-chew miracle bandage.&#xD;
The Anti-Lick Strip is composed of all-natural ingredients, except for the adhesive, which is of human medical grade. The strip serves many purposes, but mainly its used to cover up wounds, hot spots, lick granulomas and other infected areas, thereby deterring your four-legged family members from licking and chewing these areas. Yuck !!!&#xD;
Clearly not a glamorous product, but something invaluable to have around when you need it. How many of us have suffered watching our pet chewing or scratching obsessively at a spot until its raw. Well, the Anti-Lick Strip is here to rescue us from this blight.&#xD;
Recently Happa (you'll be hearing a lot from him this week), our resident Italian Greyhound product tester, came back from the dog park with a small boo-boo on his leg. We put some antiseptic on it and left it to heal, but, boy, he just wouldn't leave it alone. When we arrived the next morning at PetMD HQ, we cleaned the affected area, as per the package directions, put an Anti-Lick Strip on it and, like magic, he completely ignored the area. In a couple of days the strip fell off and the boo-boo was healed.&#xD;
The Anti-Lick Strips come in three sizes, and can actually be used for training purposes (see manufacturers suggestions on the package).&#xD;
Haute !!! Maybe not ... but terrific to have on hand !!!&#xD;
What Say You ???&#xD;
learn more @ www.nurturedpets.com&#xD;
Story courtesy of http://www.petmd.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</description>
      <content:encoded>Nurtured Pets presents the Anti-Lick Strip Prevent, the anti-lick, anti-chew miracle bandage.&#xD;
The Anti-Lick Strip is composed of all-natural ingredients, except for the adhesive, which is of human medical grade. The strip serves many purposes, but mainly its used to cover up wounds, hot spots, lick granulomas and other infected areas, thereby deterring your four-legged family members from licking and chewing these areas. Yuck !!!&#xD;
Clearly not a glamorous product, but something invaluable to have around when you need it. How many of us have suffered watching our pet chewing or scratching obsessively at a spot until its raw. Well, the Anti-Lick Strip is here to rescue us from this blight.&#xD;
Recently Happa (you'll be hearing a lot from him this week), our resident Italian Greyhound product tester, came back from the dog park with a small boo-boo on his leg. We put some antiseptic on it and left it to heal, but, boy, he just wouldn't leave it alone. When we arrived the next morning at PetMD HQ, we cleaned the affected area, as per the package directions, put an Anti-Lick Strip on it and, like magic, he completely ignored the area. In a couple of days the strip fell off and the boo-boo was healed.&#xD;
The Anti-Lick Strips come in three sizes, and can actually be used for training purposes (see manufacturers suggestions on the package).&#xD;
Haute !!! Maybe not ... but terrific to have on hand !!!&#xD;
What Say You ???&#xD;
learn more @ www.nurturedpets.com&#xD;
Story courtesy of http://www.petmd.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:13:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_A-Healthy-Lifestyle-for-Your-Pets/BLOG/414055/43713.html</guid>
      <dc:creator>piconket</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-06-30T14:13:31Z</dc:date>
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        <media:credit role="publishing company" scheme="urn:ebu">Nurtured Pet Space</media:credit>
        <media:description>Nurtured Pets presents the Anti-Lick Strip Prevent, the anti-lick, anti-chew miracle bandage.&#xD;
The Anti-Lick Strip is composed of all-natural ingredients, except for the adhesive, which is of human medical grade. The strip serves many purposes, but mainly its used to cover up wounds, hot spots, lick granulomas and other infected areas, thereby deterring your four-legged family members from licking and chewing these areas. Yuck !!!&#xD;
Clearly not a glamorous product, but something invaluable to have around when you need it. How many of us have suffered watching our pet chewing or scratching obsessively at a spot until its raw. Well, the Anti-Lick Strip is here to rescue us from this blight.&#xD;
Recently Happa (you'll be hearing a lot from him this week), our resident Italian Greyhound product tester, came back from the dog park with a small boo-boo on his leg. We put some antiseptic on it and left it to heal, but, boy, he just wouldn't leave it alone. When we arrived the next morning at PetMD HQ, we cleaned the affected area, as per the package directions, put an Anti-Lick Strip on it and, like magic, he completely ignored the area. In a couple of days the strip fell off and the boo-boo was healed.&#xD;
The Anti-Lick Strips come in three sizes, and can actually be used for training purposes (see manufacturers suggestions on the package).&#xD;
Haute !!! Maybe not ... but terrific to have on hand !!!&#xD;
What Say You ???&#xD;
learn more @ www.nurturedpets.com&#xD;
Story courtesy of http://www.petmd.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</media:description>
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        <media:title>A Healthy Lifestyle ... for Your Pets</media:title>
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      <title>The 10 Biggest Mistakes Dog Trainers Make</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_The-10-Biggest-Mistakes-Dog-Trainers-Make/BLOG/405809/43713.html</link>
      <description>When new trainers first get started, they tend to make a lot of mistakes in  their techniques and how the approach the training process. There are a few  mistakes that are fairly common among most trainers and we shall make these ten  mistakes the subject of this discourse.  Mistake number one is expecting too much. The individual who makes this error is  usually well meaning and a true dog lover. The problem steps in when they see  all the tricks their neighbors dog can do, they watch the well trained pets of  their favorite sitcom characters and they go to the park and see all of the pet  owners there enjoying the company of dogs that are obedient and well trained. It  is at this point that they tend to forget all the time, patience and money that  has went into these animals and achieving the successes they have become.  Mistake number two is also quite common and falls to the other extreme. It is  the mistake of giving up. These owners are also well meaning and usually started  out as the group who expected too much. Unfortunately, they lack the patience or  commitment to achieve the result they want and decide to take an all or nothing  approach. These owners decide that their pet can't learn to play Frisbee in an  hour or so, this dog just isn't going to learn at all.  Mistake number three is not being consistent. If you tell the dog not to jump on  you when you are in your business suit and expect them to mind, don't let them  jump on you when you are wearing your jogging clothes either. Consistent  training is important if you want a well-trained dog.  Mistake number four is not using enough positive reinforcement. Many a  frustrated trainer has gone home with poor results because they forget to reward  the dog for doing well. Rewards must be consistent, just like the training. An  animal that only receives correction and never rewards will begin to do the  wrong behavior just to get some type of attention.  Mistake number five is similar to number four. It is giving too much negative  reinforcement. This is the owner that spends his day looking for the dog to make  a mistake so they can be corrected. This is a mistake because when you are  focused on finding the displeasing behaviors you fail to recognize and reward  all the good behaviors your dog displays.  Mistake number six is also quite simple to fall into. It is trying to teach a  dog something it was never meant to do. This problem is more common amongst  individuals wanting a sport animal for such things as hunting. They try to make  a general purpose multitasking animal and instead create a confused and agitated  creature. Some dogs just were not meant for some jobs. You can't ask a Dachshund  to be a fox hound and you wouldn't ask a Great Dane to go into a rabbit den. Get  the right dog for the job at hand.  Mistake number seven is not following thru. Dogs love to learn and will learn  thru repetition and consistent lessons. However, these lessons must be followed  thru with. If you spend an all day session training Fido Monday and then don't  even talk to him again for two weeks, he will have most likely forgot the  initial lesson.   Mistake number eight is the use of too many different techniques. While it  important to glean wisdom from other trainers experiences, using everything you  hear can be detrimental. Each trainer has different ideas of how things should  be done and trying to incorporate all of them will frustrate you and your pet.  Rather choose a method that works for you and be consistent and you will see  much better results.  Mistake number nine is apathy. All too often a pet owner says I hate this or  that about my pet but it's just too difficult to change it. Changes can be made  and, if your dog sees that they bring rewards, he will respond much quicker to a  direct and firm approach.  The final major mistake people make is thinking the training is over. Training  is a learning process and it is never complete. Your dog may learn a behavior  and know it well. So why stop there? Your dog loves to learn and you are a good  trainer. Why would you ever want less than the best your dog could be?  With knowledge of these mistakes, you can recognize some of the common feelings  might have encountered yourself and you can stem these before they become a  problem. We wish you the best and also a happy adventure in training your dog.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</description>
      <content:encoded>When new trainers first get started, they tend to make a lot of mistakes in  their techniques and how the approach the training process. There are a few  mistakes that are fairly common among most trainers and we shall make these ten  mistakes the subject of this discourse.  Mistake number one is expecting too much. The individual who makes this error is  usually well meaning and a true dog lover. The problem steps in when they see  all the tricks their neighbors dog can do, they watch the well trained pets of  their favorite sitcom characters and they go to the park and see all of the pet  owners there enjoying the company of dogs that are obedient and well trained. It  is at this point that they tend to forget all the time, patience and money that  has went into these animals and achieving the successes they have become.  Mistake number two is also quite common and falls to the other extreme. It is  the mistake of giving up. These owners are also well meaning and usually started  out as the group who expected too much. Unfortunately, they lack the patience or  commitment to achieve the result they want and decide to take an all or nothing  approach. These owners decide that their pet can't learn to play Frisbee in an  hour or so, this dog just isn't going to learn at all.  Mistake number three is not being consistent. If you tell the dog not to jump on  you when you are in your business suit and expect them to mind, don't let them  jump on you when you are wearing your jogging clothes either. Consistent  training is important if you want a well-trained dog.  Mistake number four is not using enough positive reinforcement. Many a  frustrated trainer has gone home with poor results because they forget to reward  the dog for doing well. Rewards must be consistent, just like the training. An  animal that only receives correction and never rewards will begin to do the  wrong behavior just to get some type of attention.  Mistake number five is similar to number four. It is giving too much negative  reinforcement. This is the owner that spends his day looking for the dog to make  a mistake so they can be corrected. This is a mistake because when you are  focused on finding the displeasing behaviors you fail to recognize and reward  all the good behaviors your dog displays.  Mistake number six is also quite simple to fall into. It is trying to teach a  dog something it was never meant to do. This problem is more common amongst  individuals wanting a sport animal for such things as hunting. They try to make  a general purpose multitasking animal and instead create a confused and agitated  creature. Some dogs just were not meant for some jobs. You can't ask a Dachshund  to be a fox hound and you wouldn't ask a Great Dane to go into a rabbit den. Get  the right dog for the job at hand.  Mistake number seven is not following thru. Dogs love to learn and will learn  thru repetition and consistent lessons. However, these lessons must be followed  thru with. If you spend an all day session training Fido Monday and then don't  even talk to him again for two weeks, he will have most likely forgot the  initial lesson.   Mistake number eight is the use of too many different techniques. While it  important to glean wisdom from other trainers experiences, using everything you  hear can be detrimental. Each trainer has different ideas of how things should  be done and trying to incorporate all of them will frustrate you and your pet.  Rather choose a method that works for you and be consistent and you will see  much better results.  Mistake number nine is apathy. All too often a pet owner says I hate this or  that about my pet but it's just too difficult to change it. Changes can be made  and, if your dog sees that they bring rewards, he will respond much quicker to a  direct and firm approach.  The final major mistake people make is thinking the training is over. Training  is a learning process and it is never complete. Your dog may learn a behavior  and know it well. So why stop there? Your dog loves to learn and you are a good  trainer. Why would you ever want less than the best your dog could be?  With knowledge of these mistakes, you can recognize some of the common feelings  might have encountered yourself and you can stem these before they become a  problem. We wish you the best and also a happy adventure in training your dog.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:16:56 GMT</pubDate>
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        <media:description>When new trainers first get started, they tend to make a lot of mistakes in  their techniques and how the approach the training process. There are a few  mistakes that are fairly common among most trainers and we shall make these ten  mistakes the subject of this discourse.  Mistake number one is expecting too much. The individual who makes this error is  usually well meaning and a true dog lover. The problem steps in when they see  all the tricks their neighbors dog can do, they watch the well trained pets of  their favorite sitcom characters and they go to the park and see all of the pet  owners there enjoying the company of dogs that are obedient and well trained. It  is at this point that they tend to forget all the time, patience and money that  has went into these animals and achieving the successes they have become.  Mistake number two is also quite common and falls to the other extreme. It is  the mistake of giving up. These owners are also well meaning and usually started  out as the group who expected too much. Unfortunately, they lack the patience or  commitment to achieve the result they want and decide to take an all or nothing  approach. These owners decide that their pet can't learn to play Frisbee in an  hour or so, this dog just isn't going to learn at all.  Mistake number three is not being consistent. If you tell the dog not to jump on  you when you are in your business suit and expect them to mind, don't let them  jump on you when you are wearing your jogging clothes either. Consistent  training is important if you want a well-trained dog.  Mistake number four is not using enough positive reinforcement. Many a  frustrated trainer has gone home with poor results because they forget to reward  the dog for doing well. Rewards must be consistent, just like the training. An  animal that only receives correction and never rewards will begin to do the  wrong behavior just to get some type of attention.  Mistake number five is similar to number four. It is giving too much negative  reinforcement. This is the owner that spends his day looking for the dog to make  a mistake so they can be corrected. This is a mistake because when you are  focused on finding the displeasing behaviors you fail to recognize and reward  all the good behaviors your dog displays.  Mistake number six is also quite simple to fall into. It is trying to teach a  dog something it was never meant to do. This problem is more common amongst  individuals wanting a sport animal for such things as hunting. They try to make  a general purpose multitasking animal and instead create a confused and agitated  creature. Some dogs just were not meant for some jobs. You can't ask a Dachshund  to be a fox hound and you wouldn't ask a Great Dane to go into a rabbit den. Get  the right dog for the job at hand.  Mistake number seven is not following thru. Dogs love to learn and will learn  thru repetition and consistent lessons. However, these lessons must be followed  thru with. If you spend an all day session training Fido Monday and then don't  even talk to him again for two weeks, he will have most likely forgot the  initial lesson.   Mistake number eight is the use of too many different techniques. While it  important to glean wisdom from other trainers experiences, using everything you  hear can be detrimental. Each trainer has different ideas of how things should  be done and trying to incorporate all of them will frustrate you and your pet.  Rather choose a method that works for you and be consistent and you will see  much better results.  Mistake number nine is apathy. All too often a pet owner says I hate this or  that about my pet but it's just too difficult to change it. Changes can be made  and, if your dog sees that they bring rewards, he will respond much quicker to a  direct and firm approach.  The final major mistake people make is thinking the training is over. Training  is a learning process and it is never complete. Your dog may learn a behavior  and know it well. So why stop there? Your dog loves to learn and you are a good  trainer. Why would you ever want less than the best your dog could be?  With knowledge of these mistakes, you can recognize some of the common feelings  might have encountered yourself and you can stem these before they become a  problem. We wish you the best and also a happy adventure in training your dog.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com&#xD;
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      <title>Lick(er) Laws</title>
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      <description>Check out Nurtured Pets mention on the Daily Kibble's Scoop!&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Lick(er) Laws  If obsessive licking, biting and chewing is a no-no for your pooch, you&amp;rsquo;ll welcome the huge news from Nurtured Pets: they&amp;rsquo;ve developed an all-natural solution to deter poochie from those excesses. And it&amp;rsquo;s taking the country by storm. &#xD;
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; is the healthy, easy solution to dogs who fuss excessively with their paws, hot spots, lick granulomas and surgical sites.&#xD;
 Clinically proven to have a 90% success rate, Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; is unique, effective, hot news and long awaited!  &#xD;
www.dailykibble.com</description>
      <content:encoded>Check out Nurtured Pets mention on the Daily Kibble's Scoop!&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Lick(er) Laws  If obsessive licking, biting and chewing is a no-no for your pooch, you&amp;rsquo;ll welcome the huge news from Nurtured Pets: they&amp;rsquo;ve developed an all-natural solution to deter poochie from those excesses. And it&amp;rsquo;s taking the country by storm. &#xD;
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; is the healthy, easy solution to dogs who fuss excessively with their paws, hot spots, lick granulomas and surgical sites.&#xD;
 Clinically proven to have a 90% success rate, Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; is unique, effective, hot news and long awaited!  &#xD;
www.dailykibble.com</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:05:03 GMT</pubDate>
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        <media:description>Check out Nurtured Pets mention on the Daily Kibble's Scoop!&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Lick(er) Laws  If obsessive licking, biting and chewing is a no-no for your pooch, you&amp;rsquo;ll welcome the huge news from Nurtured Pets: they&amp;rsquo;ve developed an all-natural solution to deter poochie from those excesses. And it&amp;rsquo;s taking the country by storm. &#xD;
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; is the healthy, easy solution to dogs who fuss excessively with their paws, hot spots, lick granulomas and surgical sites.&#xD;
 Clinically proven to have a 90% success rate, Anti-Lick Strip Prevent&amp;trade; is unique, effective, hot news and long awaited!  &#xD;
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      <title>PetQuest 2009</title>
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      <description>http://www.barkleigh.com&#xD;
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      <title>A Dog Story</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_A-Dog-Story/BLOG/351778/43713.html</link>
      <description>Anyone who has pets will really like this. Even if they don't they may decide they need that unique friendship that we get from a dog.Mary and her husband Jim had a dog Lucky. Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease, she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed. When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every night.It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.Live every day to the fullest. Remember it is a blessing from God. The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."</description>
      <content:encoded>Anyone who has pets will really like this. Even if they don't they may decide they need that unique friendship that we get from a dog.Mary and her husband Jim had a dog Lucky. Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease, she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed. When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every night.It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.Live every day to the fullest. Remember it is a blessing from God. The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:18:25 GMT</pubDate>
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      <dc:date>2009-06-16T14:18:25Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>Anyone who has pets will really like this. Even if they don't they may decide they need that unique friendship that we get from a dog.Mary and her husband Jim had a dog Lucky. Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease, she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed. When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every night.It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.Live every day to the fullest. Remember it is a blessing from God. The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."</media:description>
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      <title>Animal Rescue</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Animal-Rescue/BLOG/351680/43713.html</link>
      <description>My name is Victoria. Up until a few weeks ago, I was a puppy mill dog. Puppy mills are horribly cruel places. I was forced to live in a small, cramped cage without proper space or shelter. I only had room to stand and lie down and there was nothing protecting my feet or body from the harsh cage wires beneath me.*I was forced to produce litter after litter, and I was not given proper medical care. My ears were infected and ached, my eyes were bone-dry and burned, and I did not have the proper nutrition for good health. Because I did not have proper medical care, my vision became impaired. Had I received medical attention in time, my eye condition, which is common to my breed, may have been prevented.Puppy mills are nothing less than daily suffering and sorrow. I tried to be a happy dog, as I am happy and affectionate by nature. I would wag my tail and be a good girl, but no one touched or nurtured me. No one cared when I was ill and no one comforted me when I was frightened. This life was all I knew, and happiness was only a distant dream.Then one day, I was rescued. Life started over for me. North Shore Animal League America changed my life and is nurturing me back to health. They are caring for all my medical and behavioral needs, and once I am ready, they will find me a home with a family that is perfect for me.Thanks to the generosity of people like you - I am now getting all the support and care I need. I am being observed for a heart murmur, and am getting several medications to treat my eyes and ears as well as severe dermatitis &amp;ndash; a skin condition that was also brought on by my previous neglect. Lastly, and best of all, I am now being showered with the love and affection I so desperately craved!I never knew how good the grass felt on my feet before or the bliss of loving hands on my face. This is real happiness, but I know I am one of the lucky ones.Please donate today, so even more puppy mill dogs can be rescued, nurtured and adopted into loving homes.&#xD;
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      <content:encoded>My name is Victoria. Up until a few weeks ago, I was a puppy mill dog. Puppy mills are horribly cruel places. I was forced to live in a small, cramped cage without proper space or shelter. I only had room to stand and lie down and there was nothing protecting my feet or body from the harsh cage wires beneath me.*I was forced to produce litter after litter, and I was not given proper medical care. My ears were infected and ached, my eyes were bone-dry and burned, and I did not have the proper nutrition for good health. Because I did not have proper medical care, my vision became impaired. Had I received medical attention in time, my eye condition, which is common to my breed, may have been prevented.Puppy mills are nothing less than daily suffering and sorrow. I tried to be a happy dog, as I am happy and affectionate by nature. I would wag my tail and be a good girl, but no one touched or nurtured me. No one cared when I was ill and no one comforted me when I was frightened. This life was all I knew, and happiness was only a distant dream.Then one day, I was rescued. Life started over for me. North Shore Animal League America changed my life and is nurturing me back to health. They are caring for all my medical and behavioral needs, and once I am ready, they will find me a home with a family that is perfect for me.Thanks to the generosity of people like you - I am now getting all the support and care I need. I am being observed for a heart murmur, and am getting several medications to treat my eyes and ears as well as severe dermatitis &amp;ndash; a skin condition that was also brought on by my previous neglect. Lastly, and best of all, I am now being showered with the love and affection I so desperately craved!I never knew how good the grass felt on my feet before or the bliss of loving hands on my face. This is real happiness, but I know I am one of the lucky ones.Please donate today, so even more puppy mill dogs can be rescued, nurtured and adopted into loving homes.&#xD;
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        <media:description>My name is Victoria. Up until a few weeks ago, I was a puppy mill dog. Puppy mills are horribly cruel places. I was forced to live in a small, cramped cage without proper space or shelter. I only had room to stand and lie down and there was nothing protecting my feet or body from the harsh cage wires beneath me.*I was forced to produce litter after litter, and I was not given proper medical care. My ears were infected and ached, my eyes were bone-dry and burned, and I did not have the proper nutrition for good health. Because I did not have proper medical care, my vision became impaired. Had I received medical attention in time, my eye condition, which is common to my breed, may have been prevented.Puppy mills are nothing less than daily suffering and sorrow. I tried to be a happy dog, as I am happy and affectionate by nature. I would wag my tail and be a good girl, but no one touched or nurtured me. No one cared when I was ill and no one comforted me when I was frightened. This life was all I knew, and happiness was only a distant dream.Then one day, I was rescued. Life started over for me. North Shore Animal League America changed my life and is nurturing me back to health. They are caring for all my medical and behavioral needs, and once I am ready, they will find me a home with a family that is perfect for me.Thanks to the generosity of people like you - I am now getting all the support and care I need. I am being observed for a heart murmur, and am getting several medications to treat my eyes and ears as well as severe dermatitis &amp;ndash; a skin condition that was also brought on by my previous neglect. Lastly, and best of all, I am now being showered with the love and affection I so desperately craved!I never knew how good the grass felt on my feet before or the bliss of loving hands on my face. This is real happiness, but I know I am one of the lucky ones.Please donate today, so even more puppy mill dogs can be rescued, nurtured and adopted into loving homes.&#xD;
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      <title>Anti-Lick Strip receives Editor’s Choice Award</title>
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      <description>Chosen from among hundreds of pet products, Nurtured Pets Anti-Lick Strip will be recognized by Pet Product News as a 2009 Editor&amp;rsquo;s Choice Winner. BowTie magazine editorial members reviewed and tested all the products that were submitted for consideration. We chose 40 out of the hundreds that were submitted. Decisions like this are never easy. It came down to originality, visual appearance and effectiveness.&#xD;
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      <content:encoded>Chosen from among hundreds of pet products, Nurtured Pets Anti-Lick Strip will be recognized by Pet Product News as a 2009 Editor&amp;rsquo;s Choice Winner. BowTie magazine editorial members reviewed and tested all the products that were submitted for consideration. We chose 40 out of the hundreds that were submitted. Decisions like this are never easy. It came down to originality, visual appearance and effectiveness.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
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      <title>Philomath Chihuahua 'Chiquita' takes down wild cougar</title>
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      <description>10-pound dog takes on hundred-pound wild cat and lives to bar&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
PHILOMATH, Ore. -- It's a neighborhood where families walk in the setting sun and wildlife is the finest form of entertainment. It's peaceful, and it's tranquil.&#xD;
And then there's Rosie and Chiquita, two of the most talented barkers in greater Philomath, Oregon.&#xD;
They bark at the door.&#xD;
They bark at the gate.&#xD;
They bark at the grass if it moves too quickly.&#xD;
"This is what they do. They run out into the yard and they bark," says their owner Lindsay Wingert.&#xD;
Each bark has a different tone. Some are playful. Some are defensive. On Monday night, Rosie's bark was pure panic.&#xD;
"It sounded like she was in a lot of pain," Lindsay recalled.&#xD;
It was 10:30 p.m. and out went Chiquita through the doggie door to investigate as Lindsay opened the blinds.&#xD;
"I rush to the blinds and I flick on the light and I'm trying to see."&#xD;
Pinning poor Rosie to the ground was a 5-foot-long, 100-pound cougar. Rosie was about to become a cougar snack.&#xD;
"I'm like, 'Oh my gosh.' I had no idea what to do," Lindsay said.&#xD;
As the cougar let out it's best guttural growl and Lindsay grabbed the phone for help, little Chiquita went to work.&#xD;
With all 1'3" flexed for battle, her 10 pound frame let out it's best attack dog imitation.&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Believe it or not, the cougar let little Rosie go.&#xD;
"I can't even imagine what it would have been like to see my dog get seriously injured," Lindsay said.&#xD;
Without a single bite or scratch, Chiquita -- this little fighting banana of a dog -- had won. The cougar skulked in defeat to its home in the woods.&#xD;
"She was very very close to being lunch meat, weren't you, Rosie?" Lindsay asked her Chihuahua.&#xD;
, Ore. -- It's a neighborhood where families walk in the setting sun and wildlife is the finest form of entertainment. It's peaceful, and it's tranquil.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
And then there's Rosie and Chiquita, two of the most talented barkers in greater Philomath, Oregon.&#xD;
They bark at the door.&#xD;
They bark at the gate.&#xD;
They bark at the grass if it moves too quickly.&#xD;
"This is what they do. They run out into the yard and they bark," says their owner Lindsay Wingert.&#xD;
Each bark has a different tone. Some are playful. Some are defensive. On Monday night, Rosie's bark was pure panic.&#xD;
"It sounded like she was in a lot of pain," Lindsay recalled.&#xD;
It was 10:30 p.m. and out went Chiquita through the doggie door to investigate as Lindsay opened the blinds.&#xD;
"I rush to the blinds and I flick on the light and I'm trying to see."&#xD;
Pinning poor Rosie to the ground was a 5-foot-long, 100-pound cougar. Rosie was about to become a cougar snack.&#xD;
"I'm like, 'Oh my gosh.' I had no idea what to do," Lindsay said.&#xD;
As the cougar let out it's best guttural growl and Lindsay grabbed the phone for help, little Chiquita went to work.&#xD;
With all 1'3" flexed for battle, her 10 pound frame let out it's best attack dog imitation.&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Believe it or not, the cougar let little Rosie go.&#xD;
"I can't even imagine what it would have been like to see my dog get seriously injured," Lindsay said.&#xD;
Without a single bite or scratch, Chiquita -- this little fighting banana of a dog -- had won. The cougar skulked in defeat to its home in the woods.&#xD;
"She was very very close to being lunch meat, weren't you, Rosie?" Lindsay asked her Chihuahua.&#xD;
~SCOTT BURTON, Kgw.com Staff&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</description>
      <content:encoded>10-pound dog takes on hundred-pound wild cat and lives to bar&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
PHILOMATH, Ore. -- It's a neighborhood where families walk in the setting sun and wildlife is the finest form of entertainment. It's peaceful, and it's tranquil.&#xD;
And then there's Rosie and Chiquita, two of the most talented barkers in greater Philomath, Oregon.&#xD;
They bark at the door.&#xD;
They bark at the gate.&#xD;
They bark at the grass if it moves too quickly.&#xD;
"This is what they do. They run out into the yard and they bark," says their owner Lindsay Wingert.&#xD;
Each bark has a different tone. Some are playful. Some are defensive. On Monday night, Rosie's bark was pure panic.&#xD;
"It sounded like she was in a lot of pain," Lindsay recalled.&#xD;
It was 10:30 p.m. and out went Chiquita through the doggie door to investigate as Lindsay opened the blinds.&#xD;
"I rush to the blinds and I flick on the light and I'm trying to see."&#xD;
Pinning poor Rosie to the ground was a 5-foot-long, 100-pound cougar. Rosie was about to become a cougar snack.&#xD;
"I'm like, 'Oh my gosh.' I had no idea what to do," Lindsay said.&#xD;
As the cougar let out it's best guttural growl and Lindsay grabbed the phone for help, little Chiquita went to work.&#xD;
With all 1'3" flexed for battle, her 10 pound frame let out it's best attack dog imitation.&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Believe it or not, the cougar let little Rosie go.&#xD;
"I can't even imagine what it would have been like to see my dog get seriously injured," Lindsay said.&#xD;
Without a single bite or scratch, Chiquita -- this little fighting banana of a dog -- had won. The cougar skulked in defeat to its home in the woods.&#xD;
"She was very very close to being lunch meat, weren't you, Rosie?" Lindsay asked her Chihuahua.&#xD;
, Ore. -- It's a neighborhood where families walk in the setting sun and wildlife is the finest form of entertainment. It's peaceful, and it's tranquil.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
And then there's Rosie and Chiquita, two of the most talented barkers in greater Philomath, Oregon.&#xD;
They bark at the door.&#xD;
They bark at the gate.&#xD;
They bark at the grass if it moves too quickly.&#xD;
"This is what they do. They run out into the yard and they bark," says their owner Lindsay Wingert.&#xD;
Each bark has a different tone. Some are playful. Some are defensive. On Monday night, Rosie's bark was pure panic.&#xD;
"It sounded like she was in a lot of pain," Lindsay recalled.&#xD;
It was 10:30 p.m. and out went Chiquita through the doggie door to investigate as Lindsay opened the blinds.&#xD;
"I rush to the blinds and I flick on the light and I'm trying to see."&#xD;
Pinning poor Rosie to the ground was a 5-foot-long, 100-pound cougar. Rosie was about to become a cougar snack.&#xD;
"I'm like, 'Oh my gosh.' I had no idea what to do," Lindsay said.&#xD;
As the cougar let out it's best guttural growl and Lindsay grabbed the phone for help, little Chiquita went to work.&#xD;
With all 1'3" flexed for battle, her 10 pound frame let out it's best attack dog imitation.&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Believe it or not, the cougar let little Rosie go.&#xD;
"I can't even imagine what it would have been like to see my dog get seriously injured," Lindsay said.&#xD;
Without a single bite or scratch, Chiquita -- this little fighting banana of a dog -- had won. The cougar skulked in defeat to its home in the woods.&#xD;
"She was very very close to being lunch meat, weren't you, Rosie?" Lindsay asked her Chihuahua.&#xD;
~SCOTT BURTON, Kgw.com Staff&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2009 19:31:54 GMT</pubDate>
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        <media:description>10-pound dog takes on hundred-pound wild cat and lives to bar&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
PHILOMATH, Ore. -- It's a neighborhood where families walk in the setting sun and wildlife is the finest form of entertainment. It's peaceful, and it's tranquil.&#xD;
And then there's Rosie and Chiquita, two of the most talented barkers in greater Philomath, Oregon.&#xD;
They bark at the door.&#xD;
They bark at the gate.&#xD;
They bark at the grass if it moves too quickly.&#xD;
"This is what they do. They run out into the yard and they bark," says their owner Lindsay Wingert.&#xD;
Each bark has a different tone. Some are playful. Some are defensive. On Monday night, Rosie's bark was pure panic.&#xD;
"It sounded like she was in a lot of pain," Lindsay recalled.&#xD;
It was 10:30 p.m. and out went Chiquita through the doggie door to investigate as Lindsay opened the blinds.&#xD;
"I rush to the blinds and I flick on the light and I'm trying to see."&#xD;
Pinning poor Rosie to the ground was a 5-foot-long, 100-pound cougar. Rosie was about to become a cougar snack.&#xD;
"I'm like, 'Oh my gosh.' I had no idea what to do," Lindsay said.&#xD;
As the cougar let out it's best guttural growl and Lindsay grabbed the phone for help, little Chiquita went to work.&#xD;
With all 1'3" flexed for battle, her 10 pound frame let out it's best attack dog imitation.&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Believe it or not, the cougar let little Rosie go.&#xD;
"I can't even imagine what it would have been like to see my dog get seriously injured," Lindsay said.&#xD;
Without a single bite or scratch, Chiquita -- this little fighting banana of a dog -- had won. The cougar skulked in defeat to its home in the woods.&#xD;
"She was very very close to being lunch meat, weren't you, Rosie?" Lindsay asked her Chihuahua.&#xD;
, Ore. -- It's a neighborhood where families walk in the setting sun and wildlife is the finest form of entertainment. It's peaceful, and it's tranquil.&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
And then there's Rosie and Chiquita, two of the most talented barkers in greater Philomath, Oregon.&#xD;
They bark at the door.&#xD;
They bark at the gate.&#xD;
They bark at the grass if it moves too quickly.&#xD;
"This is what they do. They run out into the yard and they bark," says their owner Lindsay Wingert.&#xD;
Each bark has a different tone. Some are playful. Some are defensive. On Monday night, Rosie's bark was pure panic.&#xD;
"It sounded like she was in a lot of pain," Lindsay recalled.&#xD;
It was 10:30 p.m. and out went Chiquita through the doggie door to investigate as Lindsay opened the blinds.&#xD;
"I rush to the blinds and I flick on the light and I'm trying to see."&#xD;
Pinning poor Rosie to the ground was a 5-foot-long, 100-pound cougar. Rosie was about to become a cougar snack.&#xD;
"I'm like, 'Oh my gosh.' I had no idea what to do," Lindsay said.&#xD;
As the cougar let out it's best guttural growl and Lindsay grabbed the phone for help, little Chiquita went to work.&#xD;
With all 1'3" flexed for battle, her 10 pound frame let out it's best attack dog imitation.&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
Believe it or not, the cougar let little Rosie go.&#xD;
"I can't even imagine what it would have been like to see my dog get seriously injured," Lindsay said.&#xD;
Without a single bite or scratch, Chiquita -- this little fighting banana of a dog -- had won. The cougar skulked in defeat to its home in the woods.&#xD;
"She was very very close to being lunch meat, weren't you, Rosie?" Lindsay asked her Chihuahua.&#xD;
~SCOTT BURTON, Kgw.com Staff&#xD;
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      <title>A Pup Who Helps to Heal</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_A-Pup-Who-Helps-to-Heal/BLOG/291038/43713.html</link>
      <description>Covered with burns from a caustic chemical and left to die on the streets of Paterson, N.J., the little beagle had suffered injuries so grim that he almost didn&amp;rsquo;t make it through his first night at the animal hospital. John DeCando, the chief animal-control officer who brought the pup in after responding to a passerby&amp;rsquo;s 911 call, recalls visiting the hospital the following morning to decide if it would be kinder to end the dog&amp;rsquo;s suffering by putting it to sleep. After one look into the puppy&amp;rsquo;s deep brown eyes, DeCando told the veterinary team, &amp;ldquo;Whatever you do, keep this dog alive.&amp;rdquo;    More than a year later, that little beagle has not only healed, he brings a message of hope to others every day. Click here for full story</description>
      <content:encoded>Covered with burns from a caustic chemical and left to die on the streets of Paterson, N.J., the little beagle had suffered injuries so grim that he almost didn&amp;rsquo;t make it through his first night at the animal hospital. John DeCando, the chief animal-control officer who brought the pup in after responding to a passerby&amp;rsquo;s 911 call, recalls visiting the hospital the following morning to decide if it would be kinder to end the dog&amp;rsquo;s suffering by putting it to sleep. After one look into the puppy&amp;rsquo;s deep brown eyes, DeCando told the veterinary team, &amp;ldquo;Whatever you do, keep this dog alive.&amp;rdquo;    More than a year later, that little beagle has not only healed, he brings a message of hope to others every day. Click here for full story</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2009 20:49:14 GMT</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>nurturedpets</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2009-05-27T20:49:14Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>Covered with burns from a caustic chemical and left to die on the streets of Paterson, N.J., the little beagle had suffered injuries so grim that he almost didn&amp;rsquo;t make it through his first night at the animal hospital. John DeCando, the chief animal-control officer who brought the pup in after responding to a passerby&amp;rsquo;s 911 call, recalls visiting the hospital the following morning to decide if it would be kinder to end the dog&amp;rsquo;s suffering by putting it to sleep. After one look into the puppy&amp;rsquo;s deep brown eyes, DeCando told the veterinary team, &amp;ldquo;Whatever you do, keep this dog alive.&amp;rdquo;    More than a year later, that little beagle has not only healed, he brings a message of hope to others every day. Click here for full story</media:description>
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      <title>Social media rises in pet pushes</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Social-media-rises-in-pet-pushes/BLOG/282553/43713.html</link>
      <description>Pet marketers are finding that social media is helping connect owners to pets, pets to owners and pet products to both, in what is expected to be a $45.4 billion industry this year.&#xD;
Pet Airways, a new pet-only airline that will offer cross-country flights for pets only, is using social media to help promote its new brand and to help with animal adoption through a new partnership with pet-focused ad network DogTime Media. The idea behind the partnership is to extend the reach of DogTime Media's DogFinder pet adoption program, a Web site that helps connect pets with owners and encourages consumers to look beyond their local regions for pets available for adoption, because pets now can be flown. Traditionally, consumers look for pets within 50 miles of their homes.&#xD;
The partnership cross-promotes both DogTime's pet adoption services and the new Pet Airways, which will launch in July.&#xD;
"We are co-promoting because we both believe in the welfare of pets," said Alysa Binder, EVP/founder of Pet Airways. "We really want to offer a more caring safe environment for pets who are travelling, and we really like DogTime Media's site, and its pet adoption and pet rescue initiatives."&#xD;
This year, an estimated $45.4 billion will be spent on pets in the US, up from $43.2 billion in 2008, according to the American Pet Products Association. Those costs include food, supplies and medicine, veterinary care, live animal purchases and grooming and boarding.&#xD;
Like Pet Airways, Feline Pine, an all-natural kitty litter, has sponsored a new cat blog that is aimed at raising money for animals in shelters.&#xD;
The blog, Romeothecat.com, follows the life of Romeo, a cat who was adopted from a shelter and is now working to raise money to help other animals find homes and proper care. Each month, it runs a Furpower Donation Challenge, in which viewers are called to send in their pet photos and stories and a $1 donation, which is then given to a selected pet friendly charity or service. Feline Pine sponsors the competition and runs ads.&#xD;
"People that go to the site are people that love their cats and are people who are spending time thinking about the products that they buy for their cats," said Bob Shaw, CEO of Concentric Marketing, the agency that works with Feline Pine. "The goal of Romeo is to build a community of people that are engaged and interested in the travails of these cats and as a sponsor, it gives [Feline Pine] a way to be a very grassroots brand."&#xD;
Feline Pine has found that connecting with pet fans in this social way to be more meaningful and relevant than through traditional advertising.&#xD;
"Social media is so great when you have that kind of psychographic target that you have on Romeo the cat," said Shaw. "Targeting people who are cat indulgent can be difficult to do through traditional media, and what social networking does is allow the cat audience to find us."&#xD;
Unlike traditional cat litters, which tend to position their advertising more like a cleaning product than a pet product, Feline Pine aims to connect with consumers on an emotional level similar to how cat food marketers connect, Shaw said.&#xD;
"The pet food business does a lot to connect owners on an emotional level, but the litter business has been terrible about this," he said. "From a marketing perspective, we've understood that there is an opportunity to connect with consumers around their emotions to connect with pets."&#xD;
Feline Pine also is connecting with consumers on a recently launched Twitter feed. Feline Pine's staff veterinarian will use the social feed to post comments on pet health and invite questions about pet health.&#xD;
"The goal is to give people access to us and see us as a brand that cares about cat health," Shaw said.&#xD;
&#xD;
From the May 18, 2009 Issue of DMNews</description>
      <content:encoded>Pet marketers are finding that social media is helping connect owners to pets, pets to owners and pet products to both, in what is expected to be a $45.4 billion industry this year.&#xD;
Pet Airways, a new pet-only airline that will offer cross-country flights for pets only, is using social media to help promote its new brand and to help with animal adoption through a new partnership with pet-focused ad network DogTime Media. The idea behind the partnership is to extend the reach of DogTime Media's DogFinder pet adoption program, a Web site that helps connect pets with owners and encourages consumers to look beyond their local regions for pets available for adoption, because pets now can be flown. Traditionally, consumers look for pets within 50 miles of their homes.&#xD;
The partnership cross-promotes both DogTime's pet adoption services and the new Pet Airways, which will launch in July.&#xD;
"We are co-promoting because we both believe in the welfare of pets," said Alysa Binder, EVP/founder of Pet Airways. "We really want to offer a more caring safe environment for pets who are travelling, and we really like DogTime Media's site, and its pet adoption and pet rescue initiatives."&#xD;
This year, an estimated $45.4 billion will be spent on pets in the US, up from $43.2 billion in 2008, according to the American Pet Products Association. Those costs include food, supplies and medicine, veterinary care, live animal purchases and grooming and boarding.&#xD;
Like Pet Airways, Feline Pine, an all-natural kitty litter, has sponsored a new cat blog that is aimed at raising money for animals in shelters.&#xD;
The blog, Romeothecat.com, follows the life of Romeo, a cat who was adopted from a shelter and is now working to raise money to help other animals find homes and proper care. Each month, it runs a Furpower Donation Challenge, in which viewers are called to send in their pet photos and stories and a $1 donation, which is then given to a selected pet friendly charity or service. Feline Pine sponsors the competition and runs ads.&#xD;
"People that go to the site are people that love their cats and are people who are spending time thinking about the products that they buy for their cats," said Bob Shaw, CEO of Concentric Marketing, the agency that works with Feline Pine. "The goal of Romeo is to build a community of people that are engaged and interested in the travails of these cats and as a sponsor, it gives [Feline Pine] a way to be a very grassroots brand."&#xD;
Feline Pine has found that connecting with pet fans in this social way to be more meaningful and relevant than through traditional advertising.&#xD;
"Social media is so great when you have that kind of psychographic target that you have on Romeo the cat," said Shaw. "Targeting people who are cat indulgent can be difficult to do through traditional media, and what social networking does is allow the cat audience to find us."&#xD;
Unlike traditional cat litters, which tend to position their advertising more like a cleaning product than a pet product, Feline Pine aims to connect with consumers on an emotional level similar to how cat food marketers connect, Shaw said.&#xD;
"The pet food business does a lot to connect owners on an emotional level, but the litter business has been terrible about this," he said. "From a marketing perspective, we've understood that there is an opportunity to connect with consumers around their emotions to connect with pets."&#xD;
Feline Pine also is connecting with consumers on a recently launched Twitter feed. Feline Pine's staff veterinarian will use the social feed to post comments on pet health and invite questions about pet health.&#xD;
"The goal is to give people access to us and see us as a brand that cares about cat health," Shaw said.&#xD;
&#xD;
From the May 18, 2009 Issue of DMNews</content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2009 17:22:30 GMT</pubDate>
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      <dc:date>2009-05-19T17:22:30Z</dc:date>
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        <media:credit role="publishing company" scheme="urn:ebu">Nurtured Pet Space</media:credit>
        <media:description>Pet marketers are finding that social media is helping connect owners to pets, pets to owners and pet products to both, in what is expected to be a $45.4 billion industry this year.&#xD;
Pet Airways, a new pet-only airline that will offer cross-country flights for pets only, is using social media to help promote its new brand and to help with animal adoption through a new partnership with pet-focused ad network DogTime Media. The idea behind the partnership is to extend the reach of DogTime Media's DogFinder pet adoption program, a Web site that helps connect pets with owners and encourages consumers to look beyond their local regions for pets available for adoption, because pets now can be flown. Traditionally, consumers look for pets within 50 miles of their homes.&#xD;
The partnership cross-promotes both DogTime's pet adoption services and the new Pet Airways, which will launch in July.&#xD;
"We are co-promoting because we both believe in the welfare of pets," said Alysa Binder, EVP/founder of Pet Airways. "We really want to offer a more caring safe environment for pets who are travelling, and we really like DogTime Media's site, and its pet adoption and pet rescue initiatives."&#xD;
This year, an estimated $45.4 billion will be spent on pets in the US, up from $43.2 billion in 2008, according to the American Pet Products Association. Those costs include food, supplies and medicine, veterinary care, live animal purchases and grooming and boarding.&#xD;
Like Pet Airways, Feline Pine, an all-natural kitty litter, has sponsored a new cat blog that is aimed at raising money for animals in shelters.&#xD;
The blog, Romeothecat.com, follows the life of Romeo, a cat who was adopted from a shelter and is now working to raise money to help other animals find homes and proper care. Each month, it runs a Furpower Donation Challenge, in which viewers are called to send in their pet photos and stories and a $1 donation, which is then given to a selected pet friendly charity or service. Feline Pine sponsors the competition and runs ads.&#xD;
"People that go to the site are people that love their cats and are people who are spending time thinking about the products that they buy for their cats," said Bob Shaw, CEO of Concentric Marketing, the agency that works with Feline Pine. "The goal of Romeo is to build a community of people that are engaged and interested in the travails of these cats and as a sponsor, it gives [Feline Pine] a way to be a very grassroots brand."&#xD;
Feline Pine has found that connecting with pet fans in this social way to be more meaningful and relevant than through traditional advertising.&#xD;
"Social media is so great when you have that kind of psychographic target that you have on Romeo the cat," said Shaw. "Targeting people who are cat indulgent can be difficult to do through traditional media, and what social networking does is allow the cat audience to find us."&#xD;
Unlike traditional cat litters, which tend to position their advertising more like a cleaning product than a pet product, Feline Pine aims to connect with consumers on an emotional level similar to how cat food marketers connect, Shaw said.&#xD;
"The pet food business does a lot to connect owners on an emotional level, but the litter business has been terrible about this," he said. "From a marketing perspective, we've understood that there is an opportunity to connect with consumers around their emotions to connect with pets."&#xD;
Feline Pine also is connecting with consumers on a recently launched Twitter feed. Feline Pine's staff veterinarian will use the social feed to post comments on pet health and invite questions about pet health.&#xD;
"The goal is to give people access to us and see us as a brand that cares about cat health," Shaw said.&#xD;
&#xD;
From the May 18, 2009 Issue of DMNews</media:description>
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      <title>Dog dodges traffic to help fellow canine</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Dog-dodges-traffic-to-help-fellow-canine/BLOG/277913/43713.html</link>
      <description>In the dog eat dog world of New York City rush hour driving, throw in an actual dog, two, really, and you have quite a tie-up.Just before 6:30 a.m., a 9-year-old female yellow lab chow mix ran onto the Major Deegan Expressway and was hit by a car at exit 3. That's when another dog, her son, ran to the rescue, right there on the busy highway. The dog wouldn't let anyone near, barking at traffic and police officers, even as they tried to help.At one point, police tried to coax the dog into a cruiser, and they got an earful.The Deegan, normally buzzing at that hour, was slowed to a trickle. Drivers tried to maneuver around the scene, and the dog let them have it. Finally, officers got close enough to lift the injured dog onto a sheet and place her gently inside a cruiser.When police tried to get to the other dog, that's when the great pooch protector took off.There was a slow-speed chase, then a high-speed chase. The dog dodged vehicles, changed direction and ran head-on into traffic.Police backed up the highway, not sure which way the dog was going to break next.Finally, after about 45-minutes, the dog was given a police escort onto an exit ramp, and traffic flowed again.Meantime, the injured dog was on her way to help.She dog was brought to animal care and control in East Harlem, where they gave her pain medication and made her comfortable. Then, a vet looked her over."She was alert," Lisa Ortiz said. "She picked up her head, she knew she was getting help."She had a broken leg and possibly some internal bleeding. She also wore no ID, but her owner saw the drama on TV, went to the vet center and whisked her away to an animal hospital.The owner told animal control that the other dog, who he also owns, is home now.Ortiz says the relationship between the dogs explains a lot."It was heartwarming, they look out for each other," she said.&#xD;
from BRONX, NY (WABC)&#xD;
Click here for video&#xD;
[image]</description>
      <content:encoded>In the dog eat dog world of New York City rush hour driving, throw in an actual dog, two, really, and you have quite a tie-up.Just before 6:30 a.m., a 9-year-old female yellow lab chow mix ran onto the Major Deegan Expressway and was hit by a car at exit 3. That's when another dog, her son, ran to the rescue, right there on the busy highway. The dog wouldn't let anyone near, barking at traffic and police officers, even as they tried to help.At one point, police tried to coax the dog into a cruiser, and they got an earful.The Deegan, normally buzzing at that hour, was slowed to a trickle. Drivers tried to maneuver around the scene, and the dog let them have it. Finally, officers got close enough to lift the injured dog onto a sheet and place her gently inside a cruiser.When police tried to get to the other dog, that's when the great pooch protector took off.There was a slow-speed chase, then a high-speed chase. The dog dodged vehicles, changed direction and ran head-on into traffic.Police backed up the highway, not sure which way the dog was going to break next.Finally, after about 45-minutes, the dog was given a police escort onto an exit ramp, and traffic flowed again.Meantime, the injured dog was on her way to help.She dog was brought to animal care and control in East Harlem, where they gave her pain medication and made her comfortable. Then, a vet looked her over."She was alert," Lisa Ortiz said. "She picked up her head, she knew she was getting help."She had a broken leg and possibly some internal bleeding. She also wore no ID, but her owner saw the drama on TV, went to the vet center and whisked her away to an animal hospital.The owner told animal control that the other dog, who he also owns, is home now.Ortiz says the relationship between the dogs explains a lot."It was heartwarming, they look out for each other," she said.&#xD;
from BRONX, NY (WABC)&#xD;
Click here for video&#xD;
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      <pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2009 18:08:43 GMT</pubDate>
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        <media:credit role="publishing company" scheme="urn:ebu">Nurtured Pet Space</media:credit>
        <media:description>In the dog eat dog world of New York City rush hour driving, throw in an actual dog, two, really, and you have quite a tie-up.Just before 6:30 a.m., a 9-year-old female yellow lab chow mix ran onto the Major Deegan Expressway and was hit by a car at exit 3. That's when another dog, her son, ran to the rescue, right there on the busy highway. The dog wouldn't let anyone near, barking at traffic and police officers, even as they tried to help.At one point, police tried to coax the dog into a cruiser, and they got an earful.The Deegan, normally buzzing at that hour, was slowed to a trickle. Drivers tried to maneuver around the scene, and the dog let them have it. Finally, officers got close enough to lift the injured dog onto a sheet and place her gently inside a cruiser.When police tried to get to the other dog, that's when the great pooch protector took off.There was a slow-speed chase, then a high-speed chase. The dog dodged vehicles, changed direction and ran head-on into traffic.Police backed up the highway, not sure which way the dog was going to break next.Finally, after about 45-minutes, the dog was given a police escort onto an exit ramp, and traffic flowed again.Meantime, the injured dog was on her way to help.She dog was brought to animal care and control in East Harlem, where they gave her pain medication and made her comfortable. Then, a vet looked her over."She was alert," Lisa Ortiz said. "She picked up her head, she knew she was getting help."She had a broken leg and possibly some internal bleeding. She also wore no ID, but her owner saw the drama on TV, went to the vet center and whisked her away to an animal hospital.The owner told animal control that the other dog, who he also owns, is home now.Ortiz says the relationship between the dogs explains a lot."It was heartwarming, they look out for each other," she said.&#xD;
from BRONX, NY (WABC)&#xD;
Click here for video&#xD;
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      <title>Pets' Top Health Complaints</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Pets-Top-Health-Complaints/BLOG/275698/43713.html</link>
      <description>Pet Age released its &amp;ldquo;Top 10 Pet Health Problems&amp;rdquo; in its May issue.&#xD;
&#xD;
 &#xD;
DOGS&#xD;
&#xD;
Ear      infections&#xD;
Skin      allergies&#xD;
Pyoderma/hot      spots&#xD;
Gastritis/vomiting&#xD;
Enteritis/diarrhea&#xD;
Urinary      tract infections&#xD;
Benign      skin tumors&#xD;
Osteoarthritis&#xD;
Eye      inflammation&#xD;
Hypothyroidism&#xD;
&#xD;
CATS&#xD;
&#xD;
Lower      urinary tract disease&#xD;
Gastritis/stomach      upsets&#xD;
Chronic      renal failure&#xD;
Enteritis/diarrhea&#xD;
Diabetes      Mellitus&#xD;
Skin      allergies&#xD;
Hypothyroidism&#xD;
Ear      infections&#xD;
Upper respiratory      virus &#xD;
Eye      inflammation&#xD;
&#xD;
As you can see skin allergies and &amp;ldquo;hot spots&amp;rdquo; are common health problems among both dog and cats. The Anti-Lick Strip Prevent bandage is a great preventative solution to these health problems. The Anti-Lick Strip is a deterrent used to combat obsessive licking, biting and chewing behaviors that arise from the skin allergies and can eventually lead to a more serious hot spot. The 100% all-natural active ingredients are clinically proven to be effective and are a great alternative to the e-collar.&#xD;
For more visit www.nurturedpets.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</description>
      <content:encoded>Pet Age released its &amp;ldquo;Top 10 Pet Health Problems&amp;rdquo; in its May issue.&#xD;
&#xD;
 &#xD;
DOGS&#xD;
&#xD;
Ear      infections&#xD;
Skin      allergies&#xD;
Pyoderma/hot      spots&#xD;
Gastritis/vomiting&#xD;
Enteritis/diarrhea&#xD;
Urinary      tract infections&#xD;
Benign      skin tumors&#xD;
Osteoarthritis&#xD;
Eye      inflammation&#xD;
Hypothyroidism&#xD;
&#xD;
CATS&#xD;
&#xD;
Lower      urinary tract disease&#xD;
Gastritis/stomach      upsets&#xD;
Chronic      renal failure&#xD;
Enteritis/diarrhea&#xD;
Diabetes      Mellitus&#xD;
Skin      allergies&#xD;
Hypothyroidism&#xD;
Ear      infections&#xD;
Upper respiratory      virus &#xD;
Eye      inflammation&#xD;
&#xD;
As you can see skin allergies and &amp;ldquo;hot spots&amp;rdquo; are common health problems among both dog and cats. The Anti-Lick Strip Prevent bandage is a great preventative solution to these health problems. The Anti-Lick Strip is a deterrent used to combat obsessive licking, biting and chewing behaviors that arise from the skin allergies and can eventually lead to a more serious hot spot. The 100% all-natural active ingredients are clinically proven to be effective and are a great alternative to the e-collar.&#xD;
For more visit www.nurturedpets.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
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      <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2009 20:09:06 GMT</pubDate>
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        <media:description>Pet Age released its &amp;ldquo;Top 10 Pet Health Problems&amp;rdquo; in its May issue.&#xD;
&#xD;
 &#xD;
DOGS&#xD;
&#xD;
Ear      infections&#xD;
Skin      allergies&#xD;
Pyoderma/hot      spots&#xD;
Gastritis/vomiting&#xD;
Enteritis/diarrhea&#xD;
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Hypothyroidism&#xD;
Ear      infections&#xD;
Upper respiratory      virus &#xD;
Eye      inflammation&#xD;
&#xD;
As you can see skin allergies and &amp;ldquo;hot spots&amp;rdquo; are common health problems among both dog and cats. The Anti-Lick Strip Prevent bandage is a great preventative solution to these health problems. The Anti-Lick Strip is a deterrent used to combat obsessive licking, biting and chewing behaviors that arise from the skin allergies and can eventually lead to a more serious hot spot. The 100% all-natural active ingredients are clinically proven to be effective and are a great alternative to the e-collar.&#xD;
For more visit www.nurturedpets.com&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;&#xD;
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      <title>Escaping the Fire...</title>
      <link>http://www.nurturedpetspace.com/_Escaping-the-Fire/BLOG/275552/43713.html</link>
      <description>from the North Shore Animal League's Help Me Heal program&#xD;
I've always heard terrible accounts of animal cruelty, but I never thought I would be in one of those frightening stories. My name is Annabelle, and I am a recent victim of animal cruelty. I am also a member of the Animal League's Help Me Heal Program, which rescues animals in need and nurtures them back to health.&#xD;
Though I can not recall all of the details, I know I was attacked and beaten...and doused in gasoline until I was drenched. The toxic chemical burned my skin and my eyes. It burned my nose and throat and blurred my vision. Why would anyone drench an innocent cat in gasoline? There could only be one horrific answer to that nightmarish question...to light me on fire.&#xD;
Petrified, confused and my senses damaged, I fought to escape. I do not know how but I managed to flee to safety. But is anyplace safe when you're saturated in gasoline?&#xD;
The next thing I remember is waking up at North Shore Animal League America. I was being examined, tested, x-rayed and bathed. I had a safe, warm place to sleep, and I had food and water. I also had many affectionate visitors bringing me soft pillows and blankets too. Everyone here was very kind to me and I felt positive that there would be no abuse or mistreatment in this loving place.&#xD;
As far as we know now, the gasoline didn't seem to cause any permanent damage. The doctors at the Animal League told me that I need plenty of rest and have to take things slowly for a while. I also need supplements to repair the burns on my skin. As you can imagine, I am a little nervous around people. My trust has been tampered with and I am afraid to let down my guard.&#xD;
However, the Animal League is taking care of all my behavioral needs too. Right now I'm living in a foster home, but eventually, I will be placed for adoption where I will never be frightened or hurt again.&#xD;
Without the Help Me Heal Program, I don't know where I would be today - or if I would be alive today. I am so grateful to the kind and caring people that helped to save my life and love animals so much.&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
Won't you please support the Help Me Heal program, so other animals like me get the critical medical attention they need?&#xD;
&amp;nbsp;</description>
      <content:encoded>from the North Shore Animal League's Help Me Heal program&#xD;
I've always heard terrible accounts of animal cruelty, but I never thought I would be in one of those frightening stories. My name is Annabelle, and I am a recent victim of animal cruelty. I am also a member of the Animal League's Help Me Heal Program, which rescues animals in need and nurtures them back to health.&#xD;
Though I can not recall all of the details, I know I was attacked and beaten...and doused in gasoline until I was drenched. The toxic chemical burned my skin and my eyes. It burned my nose and throat and blurred my vision. Why would anyone drench an innocent cat in gasoline? There could only be one horrific answer to that nightmarish question...to light me on fire.&#xD;
Petrified, confused and my senses damaged, I fought to escape. I do not know how but I managed to flee to safety. But is anyplace safe when you're saturated in gasoline?&#xD;
The next thing I remember is waking up at North Shore Animal League America. I was being examined, tested, x-rayed and bathed. I had a safe, warm place to sleep, and I had food and water. I also had many affectionate visitors bringing me soft pillows and blankets too. Everyone here was very kind to me and I felt positive that there would be no abuse or mistreatment in this loving place.&#xD;
As far as we know now, the gasoline didn't seem to cause any permanent damage. The doctors at the Animal League told me that I need plenty of rest and have to take things slowly for a while. I also need supplements to repair the burns on my skin. As you can imagine, I am a little nervous around people. My trust has been tampered with and I am afraid to let down my guard.&#xD;
However, the Animal League is taking care of all my behavioral needs too. Right now I'm living in a foster home, but eventually, I will be placed for adoption where I will never be frightened or hurt again.&#xD;
Without the Help Me Heal Program, I don't know where I would be today - or if I would be alive today. I am so grateful to the kind and caring people that helped to save my life and love animals so much.&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
Won't you please support the Help Me Heal program, so other animals like me get the critical medical attention they need?&#xD;
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      <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2009 17:55:39 GMT</pubDate>
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      <dc:date>2009-05-12T17:55:39Z</dc:date>
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        <media:description>from the North Shore Animal League's Help Me Heal program&#xD;
I've always heard terrible accounts of animal cruelty, but I never thought I would be in one of those frightening stories. My name is Annabelle, and I am a recent victim of animal cruelty. I am also a member of the Animal League's Help Me Heal Program, which rescues animals in need and nurtures them back to health.&#xD;
Though I can not recall all of the details, I know I was attacked and beaten...and doused in gasoline until I was drenched. The toxic chemical burned my skin and my eyes. It burned my nose and throat and blurred my vision. Why would anyone drench an innocent cat in gasoline? There could only be one horrific answer to that nightmarish question...to light me on fire.&#xD;
Petrified, confused and my senses damaged, I fought to escape. I do not know how but I managed to flee to safety. But is anyplace safe when you're saturated in gasoline?&#xD;
The next thing I remember is waking up at North Shore Animal League America. I was being examined, tested, x-rayed and bathed. I had a safe, warm place to sleep, and I had food and water. I also had many affectionate visitors bringing me soft pillows and blankets too. Everyone here was very kind to me and I felt positive that there would be no abuse or mistreatment in this loving place.&#xD;
As far as we know now, the gasoline didn't seem to cause any permanent damage. The doctors at the Animal League told me that I need plenty of rest and have to take things slowly for a while. I also need supplements to repair the burns on my skin. As you can imagine, I am a little nervous around people. My trust has been tampered with and I am afraid to let down my guard.&#xD;
However, the Animal League is taking care of all my behavioral needs too. Right now I'm living in a foster home, but eventually, I will be placed for adoption where I will never be frightened or hurt again.&#xD;
Without the Help Me Heal Program, I don't know where I would be today - or if I would be alive today. I am so grateful to the kind and caring people that helped to save my life and love animals so much.&#xD;
[image]&#xD;
Won't you please support the Help Me Heal program, so other animals like me get the critical medical attention they need?&#xD;
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