Dog heists highlight need to keep a short leash on your pets to prevent thefts

via sfexaminer.com

Salley Chan left her beloved dog Lola in her car last Tuesday while she grabbed a quick bite to eat in the South of Market neighborhood, when Salley and her boyfriend returned to their car (parked near Bryant and Eighth streets), they found the rear window smashed and the 9-pound animal missing.  Read full story...

I can't even imagine how devastated Salley is!  Have you seen Lola?  Please help them reunite!

Here are some helpful tips from Petplaces.com on how you can guard your pet from abduction:

• Don’t leave your dog outside when you’re not around.
• Never leave your dog unattended. It takes only a moment for someone to untie him and lead him off.
• Be aware, and make sure your neighbors are aware, of the problem of pet theft.
• Never allow your dog to roam free in the neighborhood, for everyone’s sake.
• Never leave your dog unattended in a car.
• Always make sure he wears a collar with ID tags. You might want to consider implanting a microchip under his skin.
• Keep recent photos of your dog, taken from different angles that clearly show coat type and coloring, close-ups of the face and any exceptional physical characteristics.
• Keep all your proof-of-ownership papers (adoption, breeding contract, bill of sale) in one place to prove ownership.

FYI - Wellpet LLC Voluntarily Recalls Certain Lots Of Canned Cat Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 28, 2011 - WellPet LLC announced today it has voluntarily recalled certain lots of Wellness® canned cat food.

While recent laboratory testing found that most lots of Wellness canned cat food that were tested contain sufficient amounts of thiamine (also known as Vitamin B1), some of the lots listed below might contain less than adequate levels of thiamine. However, out of an abundance of caution, WellPet has decided to recall all of the lots listed below.
Cats fed only the affected lots for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurologic signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. If your cat has consumed the recalled lots and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.
The lots involved in this voluntary recall are:
Wellness Canned Cat Food (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13;
Wellness Canned Cat Food Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with 10NOV13 or 17NOV13 best buy dates.

See complete info from the FDA here.

What's for dinner? Stuffed Mushrooms!

Since we're having Spaghetti with Meatballs at home tonight, I thought I'd use the extra ground meat to make Mickey some Stuffed Mushrooms for dinner.

Here's our yummy recipe (Mickey approved). This meal actually only took me 5 min. to prepare so it's quite simple, if you already have the ingredients handy.  (Please adjust portion size according to your pet's body weight).

1. Mix stuffing ingredients - ground organic chicken (or other meat of your choice), parsley, spinach, carrots, and peas in a stainless steel bowl (I usually buy the frozen veggies, it's a lot easier and still nutritious).
2. Using a little spoon, fill each mushroom cap (washed and stems removed) with the mixed stuffing.
3. Place some Bonito flakes on top of each stuffed mushroom (it adds a lot of natural flavors to the meal),  then place them in the 350 degrees F preheated oven.
4. Bake for 15~20 minutes, or till the stuffing is fully cooked.
5. Make sure to let the food fully cool down (hot food can cause upset stomach).

When ready to serve - I topped each stuffed mushroom with some organic low-fat cottage cheese (optional), sprinkled some parsley, and drizzled some cod liver oil.

Voila!  Dinner is ready :)
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BFF - Baby Tiger & Piglet

O.M.G.!!!  Too cute for words!  I think I can watch this video all day :)

(I asked my dad for a baby tiger when I was a little kid, but he got me a Collie instead...)

Happy Presidents Day

Roxy, doing the Lotus Pose ॐ

For some reason, Pugs HATE getting their toenails clipped, & Roxy was no exception.

Back in the days, it would take me around 20 minutes to clip Roxy's nails. She would freak out just from me touching her paws!  Now look at little Roxy, she's all relaxed and does not think it's a big deal anymore.  (Nail clipping shouldn't be a big deal)!

So I Thought I would share some nail clipping tips for those of you who have dogs that dislike this little grooming process...

• Be calm: Be relaxed when approaching your dog, don't make nail clipping a big deal.  Have a random conversation with your dog. Talk to your dog about the stock market or something irrelevant, it'll keep him/her focused on what you're trying to say.
• Positioning: Make sure your dog is comfortable before beginning.  (Avoid putting their paws in awkward or unnatural positions).
• Practice: Start by clipping one nail a day if your dog is freaked out about the whole nail clipping process.  Don't rush, eventually it will become a normal routine for them.
• Reward Your Dog: Praise your dog for being a good sport!  Be excited for his/her accomplishment!  Dogs love special attention.
• Make it a routine: Check the nails at least 2x a month, and make this a routine.

Happy New Year! 恭喜發財!