PET AIRWAYS: FIRST PET-ONLY AIRLINE TO BEGIN FLIGHTS IN SPRING-SUMMER 2009 Where pets will fly in the main cabin – not as cargo Pet AirwaysTM will be launching the first pet only airline, specifically designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets, with the first flights scheduled for Spring-Summer 2009. (We expect to be ready to take reservations on our website in mid-January.) On Pet Airways, pets will travel in the main cabin of specially outfitted aircraft. The cabins will be climate and lighting controlled for comfort and safety, and a pet-attendant will always be on-board watching over the pet passengers (“pawsengers”). A typical Pet Airways’ flight will fly with a capacity of 100 pets, with initial routes from New York to Los Angeles, and back with stops in Washington DC, Chicago and Denver. Pet Airways™ plans to offer nationwide coverage with easily accessible pet check-in lounges in major metropolitan areas and flights out of more convenient, less congested secondary airports, allowing for easier access and quicker loading and unloading. A web-enabled reservation system will allow customers to book travel and other services 24 hours a day on-line. In addition, a Customer Care call center will handle phone reservations and inquiries during business hours. Owners will be able to track their pets’ travel online via the Pet AirwaysTM proprietary PawprintsTM Tracking System. According to Dan Wiesel, CEO of Pet Airways, “Currently, most pets traveling by air in the U.S. are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage. The experience is not only frightening to the pets, but can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.” In advance of the first flights, Pet Airways is offering charter membership in the Pet Airways MyPAWS club which offers members free flights along with substantial discounts on pet supplies from their MyPAWS Pet Store, discounts on pet-friendly hotels, discounts on pet health insurance, discounts and free shipping at our partner 1-800-Petmeds, samples from partners, and many more benefits.
777 E. Atlantic Ave., #C2-264 Delray Beach, FL 33483 www.petairways.com
On November 19th, Midvale fifth graders were treated to a pair of educational presentations. The split Math and Science sessions consisted of presenters Dr. Scott Keating as well as Mr. Derek Cummings and Mr. Tony Piconke from the Marketing Department of Lauren Manufacturing. Dr. Keating began his presentation with a video about "Vinny Vision" where the students had to solve a mystery using optical illusion clues. The students examined each other's eyes with special medical lights, and the session was topped off with the grand finale of Dr. Keating dissecting cow eyes. He showed the students where the optic nerve and the muscles were cut. Dr. Keating then proceeded to use his scalpel to cut into the eyeball showing the different parts including the lens and the goo that is secreted when squeezed. Each student received an eyeball tattoo to remember this "eye opening" experience.
Cummings and Piconke began their presentation by telling the students about the history of Lauren Manufacturing and the products the company manufactures. They stressed the importance of school and how academics have helped them with their careers as they market Lauren's new product called the Anti-Lick Strip. They presented a Power Point presentation explaining how the strip came about and how it works by protecting the dog from licking, biting or chewing a specific area. Piconke explained how the scientific method was applied in the making of this product, and the students participated in helping Cummings calculate some mathematical statistics in order to find out how many strips could be produced per hour. The students also watched a video showing how a dog reacted to the anti-lick strips and how many strips it took before he quit biting them off. The session was especially exciting when Clark, a real dog that came with the gentlemen, demonstrated the anti-lick strips for the students. The students were rewarded for good behavior with stress reliever biscuits.
Fifth Grade Science Teacher Tammie Kandray and Math Teacher Rachel Cummings coordinated these hands-on learning experiences.
Nurtured Pets Gives Customers Something to Blog About
(New Philadelphia, OH)- Nurtured Pets, manufacturer of animal health and wellness products including the Anti-Lick Strip has launched it’s very own social networking site. Nurtured Pet Space was created to give pet-owners the opportunity to share common information via blogs, news, videos, photos and more. It will also give customers an open forum to discuss the advantages of the Nurtured Pets line of products.
Complete with user-generated profiles, product news and message boards Nurtured Pet Space will unite the ever-growing pet owner population. “The intent of the site is to provide users access to all the necessary information involved with owning a pet and allow them to freely communicate their personal stories”, said Cindy Miller, Nurtured Pets' Director of Marketing.
About Nurtured Pets
Nurtured Pets, a company dedicated to the health and wellness of pets, has introduced two revolutionary new, patent-pending products: Anti-Lick Strip Prevent ™ being sold in retail and pet specialty stores and Anti Lick Strip Pro C™ for veterinary in-clinic use, being sold exclusively to veterinarians or veterinary staff. Anti-Lick Strip products are the first products of their kind to effectively deter pets from licking and biting hot spots, granulomas and post-surgical sites without the use of an e-collar. Nurtured Pets is a US manufacturer and a fully-owned subsidiary of Lauren International, a global multi-divisional company serving a variety of industries. Visit www.nurturedpets.com or www.laureninternational.com to learn more about the company’s products, services and global initiatives.
By VIRGINIA BYRNE, Associated Press Writer Virginia Byrne, Associated Press Writer – Mon Aug 31, 10:54 pm ET
NEW YORK – 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 — or 147 in dog years.
The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.
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.
Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.
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.
"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.
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.
When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.
"I have five kids, and all my kids are grown and gone," she said. "Now my grandkids are playing with this dog."
Best friends they may be, but are man and dog so entwined that they tend to take after one another in appearance?
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.
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.
Border collies and other bright canines can learn up to 250 words
The canine IQ test results are in: Even the average dog has the mental abilities of a 2-year-old child.
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.
And the smartest?
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.
Better at math and socializing While 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.
"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.
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.
"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."
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.
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.)
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.
These studies suggest dogs have a basic understanding of arithmetic, and they can count to four or five.
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.
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.)
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."
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.
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.
He found the top dogs, in order of their doggy IQ are:
Border collies
Poodles
German shepherds
Golden retrievers
Dobermans
Shetland sheepdogs
Labrador retrievers
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).
"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.
"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.
Many of these smarty-pants are also the most popular pets. "We like dogs that understand us," Coren said.
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.
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.
Nurtured Pets™ Participates in Chicago’s first annual Dog Day on the Green
New Philadelphia, Ohio – (July 27, 2009) An abundance of tails will be wagging to beat the band at the inaugural launch of Chicago’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.
A full day of exciting activities is scheduled for both owners and pets, from the Fido Fashion Show to the Doggy Olympics to the “Hoop and Hurdles” 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™ pet bandages on hand, courtesy of Nurtured Pets.
These unique, patent-pending pet bandages are clinically proven to discourage pets from obsessive licking, biting and chewing – behaviors that can lead to more serious conditions such ashot spots orlick granulomas. They’re also a great alternative to the E-collar for post-surgical sites.
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.A peel-and-stick, medical-grade adhesive on the opposite side can be applied directly to hair or skin.
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’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.
According to Cindy Miller, Marketing Director at Nurtured Pets, “we’re thrilled to be charter exhibitors at this festive family event.”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.
About Nurtured Pets Nurtured Pets™ is dedicated to providing products that create a healthy lifestyle for pets. 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™ sold in retail stores, Anti-Lick Strip Pro™ and Anti-Lick Strip Pro C™ 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.
ScienceDaily (July 21, 2009) — New research shows babies have a handle on the meaning of different dog barks – despite little or no previous exposure to dogs.
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.
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’s music.
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’s going on around them.
Southern California, the birthplace of '60s surf culture, is seeing a new trend: surfing dogs.
We're not talking about a few wonder pooches — these dogs are taking classes and even entering surf competitions.
"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.
Backwards on the board seems to be the style of preference for the novice surfing dogs. Others prefer lying down.
"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."
That's what most dogs are having — especially the ones chasing the bodyboards — when Bobby Gorgeous, the star pupil of last week, shows up.
"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."
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.
The Big Day
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.
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.
"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.
The crowd spots a celebrity in the water — Tyson the famous skateboarding bulldog.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
"She's a newbie, but she's a natural. She really has a good time," he says.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. This is also one of the few stores in the area that carries professional quality dog show equipment for both conformation and obedience competitors.
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 “fishing pole” style items. 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.
The store and its equipment reflect the owners’ 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.
Something big and strange is floating through the Chukchi Sea between Wainwright and Barrow.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
"It's definitely, by the smell and the makeup of it, it's some sort of naturally occurring organic or otherwise marine organism."
Something else: No one in Barrow or Wainwright can remember seeing anything like this before, Brower said.
"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 ...
"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."
The stuff is "gooey" and looks dark against the bright white ice floating in the Arctic Ocean, Brower said.
"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.
"It kind of has an odor; I can't describe it," he said.
Hasenauer said he hasn't heard any reports of waterfowl or marine animals turning up.
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.
"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."
Hasenauer said the Coast Guard's samples are being analyzed in Anchorage. Results may be back sometime next week, he said.
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.
"We brought back one sample of what they believe to be an algae," he said, and a big algae bloom is one possibility.
"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.
But, he said, "there's all types of natural phenomena that it could be."
Meanwhile, the brownish-blackish gunk is drifting along the coast to the northeast, Brower said.
"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."
For the most part, the mystery substance seems to have stayed away from shore.
"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."
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, Meredith
We 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 & 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.
Who’s at risk from canine influenza? Dr. Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, recently answered dozens of readers’ questions on the Consults blog, “The Dog Flu Virus: Are You or Your Pet At Risk?” 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.
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)!
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 – 7,000 pet owners to attend this year!
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 “Best At The Fest” picture contest by Baltimore Dog Magazine to select a cover dog for their edition following Dogfest.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Courtesy of North Shore Animal League. http://www.nsalamerica.org/pet_talk/safety-tips-july-4th.html
Nurtured Pets presents the Anti-Lick Strip Prevent, the anti-lick, anti-chew miracle bandage.
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 !!!
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.
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.
The Anti-Lick Strips come in three sizes, and can actually be used for training purposes (see manufacturers suggestions on the package).
Haute !!! Maybe not ... but terrific to have on hand !!!
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.
Check out Nurtured Pets mention on the Daily Kibble's Scoop!
Lick(er) Laws
If obsessive licking, biting and chewing is a no-no for your pooch, you’ll welcome the huge news from Nurtured Pets: they’ve developed an all-natural solution to deter poochie from those excesses. And it’s taking the country by storm.
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent™ is the healthy, easy solution to dogs who fuss excessively with their paws, hot spots, lick granulomas and surgical sites.
Clinically proven to have a 90% success rate, Anti-Lick Strip Prevent™ is unique, effective, hot news and long awaited!
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."
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PET AIRWAYS: FIRST PET-ONLY AI PET AIRWAYS: FIRST PET-ONLY AIRLINE TO BEGIN FLIGHTS IN SPRING-SUMMER 2009
PET AIRWAYS: FIRST PET-ONLY AIRLINE TO BEGIN FLIGHTS IN SPRING-SUMMER 2009
Where pets will fly in the main cabin – not as cargo
Pet AirwaysTM will be launching the first pet only airline, specifically designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets, with the first flights scheduled for Spring-Summer 2009. (We expect to be ready to take reservations on our website in mid-January.)
On Pet Airways, pets will travel in the main cabin of specially outfitted aircraft. The cabins will be climate and lighting controlled for comfort and safety, and a pet-attendant will always be on-board watching over the pet passengers (“pawsengers”).
A typical Pet Airways’ flight will fly with a capacity of 100 pets, with initial routes from New York to Los Angeles, and back with stops in Washington DC, Chicago and Denver. Pet Airways™ plans to offer nationwide coverage with easily accessible pet check-in lounges in major metropolitan areas and flights out of more convenient, less congested secondary airports, allowing for easier access and quicker loading and unloading.
A web-enabled reservation system will allow customers to book travel and other services 24 hours a day on-line. In addition, a Customer Care call center will handle phone reservations and inquiries during business hours. Owners will be able to track their pets’ travel online via the Pet AirwaysTM proprietary PawprintsTM Tracking System.
According to Dan Wiesel, CEO of Pet Airways, “Currently, most pets traveling by air in the U.S. are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage. The experience is not only frightening to the pets, but can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.”
In advance of the first flights, Pet Airways is offering charter membership in the Pet Airways MyPAWS club which offers members free flights along with substantial discounts on pet supplies from their MyPAWS Pet Store, discounts on pet-friendly hotels, discounts on pet health insurance, discounts and free shipping at our partner 1-800-Petmeds, samples from partners, and many more benefits.
777 E. Atlantic Ave., #C2-264 Delray Beach, FL 33483 www.petairways.com
Fifth Graders Explore Real-Wor Fifth Graders Explore Real-World Applications
On November 19th, Midvale fifth graders were treated to a pair of educational presentations. The split Math and Science sessions consisted of presenters Dr. Scott Keating as well as Mr. Derek Cummings and Mr. Tony Piconke from the Marketing Department of Lauren Manufacturing. Dr. Keating began his presentation with a video about "Vinny Vision" where the students had to solve a mystery using optical illusion clues. The students examined each other's eyes with special medical lights, and the session was topped off with the grand finale of Dr. Keating dissecting cow eyes. He showed the students where the optic nerve and the muscles were cut. Dr. Keating then proceeded to use his scalpel to cut into the eyeball showing the different parts including the lens and the goo that is secreted when squeezed. Each student received an eyeball tattoo to remember this "eye opening" experience.
Cummings and Piconke began their presentation by telling the students about the history of Lauren Manufacturing and the products the company manufactures. They stressed the importance of school and how academics have helped them with their careers as they market Lauren's new product called the Anti-Lick Strip. They presented a Power Point presentation explaining how the strip came about and how it works by protecting the dog from licking, biting or chewing a specific area. Piconke explained how the scientific method was applied in the making of this product, and the students participated in helping Cummings calculate some mathematical statistics in order to find out how many strips could be produced per hour. The students also watched a video showing how a dog reacted to the anti-lick strips and how many strips it took before he quit biting them off. The session was especially exciting when Clark, a real dog that came with the gentlemen, demonstrated the anti-lick strips for the students. The students were rewarded for good behavior with stress reliever biscuits.
Fifth Grade Science Teacher Tammie Kandray and Math Teacher Rachel Cummings coordinated these hands-on learning experiences.
Courtesy of Midvale Elementary
Nurtured Pets Gives Customers Nurtured Pets Gives Customers Something to Blog About
Hello & welcome to Nurtured Pet Space!
Nurtured Pets Gives Customers Something to Blog About
(New Philadelphia, OH)- Nurtured Pets, manufacturer of animal health and wellness products including the Anti-Lick Strip has launched it’s very own social networking site. Nurtured Pet Space was created to give pet-owners the opportunity to share common information via blogs, news, videos, photos and more. It will also give customers an open forum to discuss the advantages of the Nurtured Pets line of products.
Complete with user-generated profiles, product news and message boards Nurtured Pet Space will unite the ever-growing pet owner population. “The intent of the site is to provide users access to all the necessary information involved with owning a pet and allow them to freely communicate their personal stories”, said Cindy Miller, Nurtured Pets' Director of Marketing.
About Nurtured Pets
Nurtured Pets, a company dedicated to the health and wellness of pets, has introduced two revolutionary new, patent-pending products: Anti-Lick Strip Prevent ™ being sold in retail and pet specialty stores and Anti Lick Strip Pro C™ for veterinary in-clinic use, being sold exclusively to veterinarians or veterinary staff. Anti-Lick Strip products are the first products of their kind to effectively deter pets from licking and biting hot spots, granulomas and post-surgical sites without the use of an e-collar. Nurtured Pets is a US manufacturer and a fully-owned subsidiary of Lauren International, a global multi-divisional company serving a variety of industries. Visit www.nurturedpets.com or www.laureninternational.com to learn more about the company’s products, services and global initiatives.
World's oldest dog dies in NY World's oldest dog dies in NY at 21 — or 147
NEW YORK – 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 — or 147 in dog years.
The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.
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.
Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.
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.
"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.
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.
When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.
"I have five kids, and all my kids are grown and gone," she said. "Now my grandkids are playing with this dog."
The Claim: Some Dogs Look Like The Claim: Some Dogs Look Like Their Owners
Best friends they may be, but are man and dog so entwined that they tend to take after one another in appearance?
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.
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.
Read more at: NY TIMES
Dogs are smarter than toddlers Dogs are smarter than toddlers, IQ tests show
Border collies and other bright canines can learn up to 250 words
The canine IQ test results are in: Even the average dog has the mental abilities of a 2-year-old child.
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.
And the smartest?
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.
Better at math and socializing
While 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.
"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.
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.
"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."
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.
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.)
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.
These studies suggest dogs have a basic understanding of arithmetic, and they can count to four or five.
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.
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.)
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."
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.
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.
He found the top dogs, in order of their doggy IQ are:
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).
"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.
"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.
Many of these smarty-pants are also the most popular pets. "We like dogs that understand us," Coren said.
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.
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.
MSNBC
A New Event for Pets That Can’ A New Event for Pets That Can’t be Licked for Fun:
Nurtured Pets™ Participates in Chicago’s first annual Dog Day on the Green
New Philadelphia, Ohio – (July 27, 2009) An abundance of tails will be wagging to beat the band at the inaugural launch of Chicago’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.
A full day of exciting activities is scheduled for both owners and pets, from the Fido Fashion Show to the Doggy Olympics to the “Hoop and Hurdles” 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™ pet bandages on hand, courtesy of Nurtured Pets.
These unique, patent-pending pet bandages are clinically proven to discourage pets from obsessive licking, biting and chewing – behaviors that can lead to more serious conditions such as hot spots or lick granulomas. They’re also a great alternative to the E-collar for post-surgical sites.
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. A peel-and-stick, medical-grade adhesive on the opposite side can be applied directly to hair or skin.
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’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.
According to Cindy Miller, Marketing Director at Nurtured Pets, “we’re thrilled to be charter exhibitors at this festive family event.” 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.
About Nurtured Pets
Nurtured Pets™ is dedicated to providing products that create a healthy lifestyle for pets. 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™ sold in retail stores, Anti-Lick Strip Pro™ and Anti-Lick Strip Pro C™ 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.
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Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-m Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds
ScienceDaily (July 21, 2009) — New research shows babies have a handle on the meaning of different dog barks – despite little or no previous exposure to dogs.
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.
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’s music.
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’s going on around them.
Click here to read article in its entirety...
Six-month-old babies can match the sounds of happy and angry barks to pictures of happy and angry dogs.
(Credit: Image courtesy of Brigham Young University)
Brigham Young University (2009, July 21). Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 24, 2009,
Forget The Frisbee; Cool Dogs Forget The Frisbee; Cool Dogs Catch Waves
Southern California, the birthplace of '60s surf culture, is seeing a new trend: surfing dogs.
We're not talking about a few wonder pooches — these dogs are taking classes and even entering surf competitions.
"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.
Backwards on the board seems to be the style of preference for the novice surfing dogs. Others prefer lying down.
"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."
That's what most dogs are having — especially the ones chasing the bodyboards — when Bobby Gorgeous, the star pupil of last week, shows up.
"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."
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.
The Big Day
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.
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.
"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.
The crowd spots a celebrity in the water — Tyson the famous skateboarding bulldog.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
"She's a newbie, but she's a natural. She really has a good time," he says.
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.
by Gloria Hillard - npr.com
Great deals on pet products in Great deals on pet products in Detroit
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. This is also one of the few stores in the area that carries professional quality dog show equipment for both conformation and obedience competitors.
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 “fishing pole” style items. 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.
The store and its equipment reflect the owners’ 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.
Courtesy of examiner.com
Huge blob of Arctic goo floats Huge blob of Arctic goo floats in Arctic Sea.
IT'S NOT OIL: No one in the area can recall seeing anything like it before.
By DON HUNTER
dhunter@adn.com
Something big and strange is floating through the Chukchi Sea between Wainwright and Barrow.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
"It's definitely, by the smell and the makeup of it, it's some sort of naturally occurring organic or otherwise marine organism."
Something else: No one in Barrow or Wainwright can remember seeing anything like this before, Brower said.
"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 ...
"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."
The stuff is "gooey" and looks dark against the bright white ice floating in the Arctic Ocean, Brower said.
"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.
"It kind of has an odor; I can't describe it," he said.
Hasenauer said he hasn't heard any reports of waterfowl or marine animals turning up.
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.
"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."
Hasenauer said the Coast Guard's samples are being analyzed in Anchorage. Results may be back sometime next week, he said.
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.
"We brought back one sample of what they believe to be an algae," he said, and a big algae bloom is one possibility.
"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.
But, he said, "there's all types of natural phenomena that it could be."
Meanwhile, the brownish-blackish gunk is drifting along the coast to the northeast, Brower said.
"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."
For the most part, the mystery substance seems to have stayed away from shore.
"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."
Find Don Hunter online at adn.com/contact/dhunter.
Abbey & Meredith Abbey & Meredith
Great story we received in an email --
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, Meredith
We 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 & 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
10 Things to Know About the H3 10 Things to Know About the H3N8 Dog Flu
Who’s at risk from canine influenza?
Dr. Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, recently answered dozens of readers’ questions on the Consults blog, “The Dog Flu Virus: Are You or Your Pet At Risk?” 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.
DogFest 2009! is right around DogFest 2009! is right around the corner!
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)!
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 – 7,000 pet owners to attend this year!
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 “Best At The Fest” picture contest by Baltimore Dog Magazine to select a cover dog for their edition following Dogfest.
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.
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.
Courtesy of the Baltimore Humane Society. www.baltimorehumane.org
Pet Safety Tips for a Booming Pet Safety Tips for a Booming 4th of July
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Courtesy of North Shore Animal League. http://www.nsalamerica.org/pet_talk/safety-tips-july-4th.html
A Healthy Lifestyle ... for Yo A Healthy Lifestyle ... for Your Pets
Nurtured Pets presents the Anti-Lick Strip Prevent, the anti-lick, anti-chew miracle bandage.
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 !!!
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.
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.
The Anti-Lick Strips come in three sizes, and can actually be used for training purposes (see manufacturers suggestions on the package).
Haute !!! Maybe not ... but terrific to have on hand !!!
What Say You ???
learn more @ www.nurturedpets.com
Story courtesy of http://www.petmd.com
The 10 Biggest Mistakes Dog Tr The 10 Biggest Mistakes Dog Trainers Make
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.
Courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com
Lick(er) Laws Lick(er) Laws
Check out Nurtured Pets mention on the Daily Kibble's Scoop!
Lick(er) Laws
If obsessive licking, biting and chewing is a no-no for your pooch, you’ll welcome the huge news from Nurtured Pets: they’ve developed an all-natural solution to deter poochie from those excesses. And it’s taking the country by storm.
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent™ is the healthy, easy solution to dogs who fuss excessively with their paws, hot spots, lick granulomas and surgical sites.
Clinically proven to have a 90% success rate, Anti-Lick Strip Prevent™ is unique, effective, hot news and long awaited!
www.dailykibble.com
PetQuest 2009 PetQuest 2009
http://www.barkleigh.com
A Dog Story A Dog Story
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."