Sunday, October 31, 2010

Prince Bruno & Princess Mia


Thanks D'Ann for the cute photo!

Kyle d Knight


Thanks Brenda for sharing this cute photo. Kyle is adorable!

Happy Halloween!!

Hope you all had a fun Halloween weekend!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Halloween Safety Tips!

It's almost Halloween (yeah!).  I know how most of us love to get all dressed up & eat lots of junk food (hi gym!) on this fun holiday... Here are some important tips from ASPCA as this fun holiday for us maybe a little stressful & sometimes dangerous for our furry babies:

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.

3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increaing the chances that he or she will be returned to you.





Please be safe! 

Giants fan!

A cute Giants fan came by to say hello!  She's still a puppy :)  A PUPPY!!!!  <3

Did you go to Game 2 today? Go Giants!!

Guess who got a ticket?!  It is nuts outside since we're only 1/2 block away from the Giants stadium!

Monday, October 25, 2010

When Hormone Creams Expose Others to Risks

"Veterinarians around the country are reporting a strange phenomenon: spayed dogs and cats, even some puppies and kittens, are suddenly becoming hormonal.

In female pets, the symptoms resemble heat: swollen genitals, bloody discharge and behavioral problems. Male animals are showing up with swollen breast tissue and hair loss. Standard treatments and even repeated operations have had no effect.

Now vets have identified the culprit. The pets were all owned by women who used hormone creams on their hands, arms and legs to counter symptoms of menopause. Animals who licked or cuddled their owners, or rubbed up against their legs, were being inadvertently exposed to doses of hormone drugs."

See full story - nytimes.com

New Frenchie in town!

Meet cutie pie Buzz!  He's only 9mo old & just got here yesterday. I love puppies...

Have you seen Zorro?

11/12/10 update - Zorro was found, he is back with his owner now. 

Zorro was last seen around 1am by the Giants ballpark area. He's also sick so please call the number below if you know where Zorro is!

Harvest Howl at Treasure Island Wines

Want something to do with your pup this Halloween? The SF SPCA has a fun event on the 30th. Click below for more details.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Strutting Diva Dogs - A Canine Named Lulu Walks Like a Human Being

- Topix

"The one-year-old pinscher pup named Lulu loves to walk on her hind legs and carries a teddy bear bag in her front paw to add charm to her "dog walk." The pup can be seen walking in this unusual stance with her owner Zhou Guanshun, a retired teacher in the city of of Zhumadian, China."

I know I can't be the only one thinks this is too weird...  BTW, where's her LV purse?

 

Friday, October 22, 2010

Top 10 Dog and Cat Medical Conditions of 2009

According to VPI - One of Nation’s Largest Pet Insurers, these are the top 10 reasons why we take our furry kids to see the vets.  Yup, we were just there for ear infection on Monday...


Source

Sheltie Eating Cookie

I've been trying to get Mickey to do this trick... but my little piggy can't keep the cookie on his nose for more than 5 seconds!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Fast Food Shelties

I think most of us have seen this pic by now since it's been around for many years.  Someone would always forward me this pic right around Halloween time and I still LOL every time I see it! 


Friday, October 15, 2010

Paralyzed Dog Lucy Walkin' Wheels Wheelchair Climbs Mt. Washington

What an incredible dog!  I think she just inspired me to get off my buns & go workout now...

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

IPhone App to Help Pudgy Pets!

Yup, I knew someone would eventually come up with an App like this!  Now I just need a way to track all the treats people sneak in for my little Butterball...

Below is an App CU-PetHealth developed at Cornell University offers a solution - it addresses pet nutrition in much the same way as popular human nutrition mobile applications.  This App doesn't have the pretty interface but it is simple enough to use.

Guard Dog Prices Skyrocket to Six Figures

Wow... I didn't know trained guard dogs can cost so much!  Apparently they're in high demand!  The ones from Harrison K-9 in Aiken, South Carolina are priced from $22,000 to $60,000 per dog.  I wonder if you're suppose to insure the dogs just like if you're buying a car... love how they show the credit card payment options on the site, LOL!  I'll take 3 please...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Pessimistic Dogs See the Bowl Half Empty

See full story via Discovery News.

  • Dogs may be optimists or pessimists, new research suggests.
  • Pessimistic dogs appear to be more prone to engage in unwanted behaviors, such as barking and destruction.
  • Both behavioral and drug therapies are available to help affected dogs.
Now, a new study reported in the October 12th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, suggests that this kind of separation anxiety occurs most often in dogs that also show "pessimistic"-like behavior."


FDA announces Blue Buffalo dry dog food recall - FYI

FDA announces Blue Buffalo dry dog food recall - National Dogs | Examiner.com

Products recalled - may contain too much Vitamin D.:
Blue Wilderness Chicken (dog) 4.5 lb, 11 lb, 24 lb.  Best used by dates: JUL1211B, JUL1311B, JUL2611Z, JUL2711Z, JUL2811Z
Blue Basics Salmon (dog) 11 lb., 24 lb.   Best used by dates: AUG2111B, AUG2211B
Blue Large Breed Adult Chicken, 30 lb.  Best used by dates: SEP 22 11 P, SEP 23 11 P, OCT 26 11 P

Consumers who have purchased any of the products being recalled are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-877-523-9114 from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time or visit the Company web site at www.bluebuffalo.com/news9 for more information.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Dogs Join Fight to Save Rhinos in Borneo

Good job Storm & Thunder!! (I love working dogs).

"With less than 40 rhinos left in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, field staff from WWF turn to man’s best friend to help track rhino movements. It’s a notoriously difficult task, due to the rhinos’ solitary lifestyle and large ranging area. This technique has been used successfully in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam and is being tested by WWF’s Borneo Species Program. The dogs are trained to search for rhino dung. Samples found are recorded and sent overseas for DNA analysis. The two new recruits, Storm and Thunder, are finishing their training and will be used in the field in the coming months." Story via WWF.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Rub-a-dub-dub, Warren in the tub!

I've never groomed a Basset Hound before (only met 2 in the neighborhood) so when Warren came in today, I wasn't sure what to expect.  After an hour of our 1-on-1, I think Warren is adorable!

Warren just came from Japan (こんにちは)!  I asked him to "sit" (in English) during nail clipping, but... all I got was the huh? look... He was a big slobber & a licker (need a good bath when I get home)!  I just love those big floppy ears (they're really soft)!!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Foster a dog

I've met a lot of 1st time dog owners not knowing what they got themselves into... Just think about it - the daily walks, grooming, vet bills, what to do when you have to work long hours? what to do when you have to travel? It's a big commitment!

I met few people recently who foster dogs regularly from Rocket Dog Rescue & give the dogs a temporary home. I think it's a great way to test it out & see if having a dog is suitable for your lifestyle.

I think Brooklyn from Rocket Dog is pretty cute :)

Cats for adoption at SPCA

So there are lots of kitties up for adoption at the SPCA in SF. I think Whitney & Blondie are pretty damn cute!!

I may need to stop by later & check them out. I wonder if Mickey is ready for another kitty sister? The cat of my life passed away 2 yrs ago... (miss you Kitty)!

Whitney Blondie

RIP - my Hello Kitty (yes, I named her that)
BFF!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Howl-o-Ween @ Mission Creek Park

We got to sneak away from work yesterday and see some cute doggies at Mission Creek Park (thanks for hosting the party). Hope you got the "good" gift bags ;)

So not all the photos came out right... (apparently it's not as easy taking pictures with all the exciting dogs around!)

Thanks to all who came out & entertained us!

Can't view Flash? See link for photos.