The Pet HavenThe Pet HavenA discussion of all things pets, including news, tips, product reviews, fun stuff and more Articles
Pet Travel by Air
2008-02-15 14:48:00 Traveling by AirAir travel is often the most convenient way to get to your destination, but if you plan to take Fluffy on board, you need to be aware of the extra procedures and dangers headed your way.Here are some tips sent to me by Travel Hacker. Their site can be found athttp://www.airlinecreditcards.com/trave lhacker/how-to-travel-with-pets-the-ultim ate-guide/Tips for Safe Pet Air Travel: Visit the Human Society’s website for tips on keeping your pet comfortable and safe during a planet trip.Stow your pet under the seat in front of you: If your dog or cat is small enough to comfortably fit in a carrier the size of most carry-on items, you may be able to keep your pet under the seat in front of you for the entire plane trip. That way, your furry friend won’t be subjected to riding alone in the back with everyone’s heavy suitcases.Put identification information everywhere: First, make sure your pet’s ID tags are securely attached to his or her collar. Go ahead and clip ano... More About: Travel
Happy Valentine's Day
2008-02-14 14:41:00 Hope everyone enjoy's their day. I always hated this holiday, since it was another way to make me spend money on stuff I don't need. But, now that I have a mini family, I can understand the point of it....still, I'm not spending any money! No flowers for Mrs. Pet Haven until next week, when the price for roses goes back down to a normal level. And no exotic dinners until next week, when the restaurants go back to their 'regular' menus, rather then the ones with the prices jacked up for tonight. I know, this sounds a bit crass, but she would kill me if I overspent on flowers and food.The dogs enjoy the holiday as well; and they don't care how much I spend either, as long as they get their doggie treats. But I'm extra careful not to drop any of the chocolates that are in my house. If it's near their noses, they'll find it and eat it! As for the fish, they're getting their regular weekly water changes. So, they'll be happy. And, for us baseball fans, it's the official... More About: Happy
Rent a Dog?
2008-02-13 04:43:00 I saw a report on ABC News about a company that rents out dogs. You can go there, rent a dog for a day, and then bring it back and move on. It's available at FlexPet in San Diego, LA, and New York. After paying a $150 initiation fee and monthly dues, people who are approved by the place can then rent a dog for a fee of $40 a day...but here's the best part, a person interviewed representing the company said that they don't consider it a rental....they like to think of it more like a time share!Animal rights activists aren't pleased...and as one person said in the story, it's kind of like doggie prostitution. I couldn't agree more. Dogs are companion animals and need a consistent companion. In somes ways, this is like torture to the dogs, not being able to bond to any one peson.Think of how confused the dogs are? They really don't have a home to go to. They just live at a doggie day-care type of place with a bunch of other dogs and are taken out by renters. Every day, ... More About: Rent
U.S. Attorney Indicts U.S. and Chinese Companies in Pet Food Scandal
2008-02-11 15:17:00 According to a report by Pet Product News International, three companies are facing federal charges in relation to the distribution of a contaminated pet food ingredient that might have cost more than 4,000 dogs and cats their lives. Recently, a federal grand jury indicted a U.S. food importer and two Chinese firms for their roles in manufacturing and distributing contaminated wheat gluten that sickened thousands of pets. ChemNutra of Las Vegas and its executives, husband and wife team Steve and Sally Miller, are facing 27 charges, including 13 misdemeanor charges alleging they "delivered adulterated food, which contained melamine," 13 misdemeanor charges alleging they "introduced misbranded foods into interstate commerce," and a felony wire fraud conspiracy charge alleging that the Millers and ChemNutra participated in a conspiracy to defraud the companies that purchased some of the Chinese-firm manufactured wheat gluten by "concealing material facts from those purchasers."The full... More About: Companies , Food , Scandal , Pet Food
Pet Shop Lemon Law
2008-02-09 04:16:00 I saw this on News Channel 8 in Connecticut. It's an interesting discussion (and a sad story) based on the "Pet shop lemon law." Basically, you can only get your money back within 15 days of purchase. And most stores will only give you money back if give them the dog. And of course, we can guess what will happen to that poor puppy in most cases.For those interested, check out the text of the stories:http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story. asp?S=7841431http://www.wtnh.com/Global/s tory.asp?S=7845433My thoughts on this are wide ranging, as I can understand both sides of the arguement. I'm very familiar with this particular store, and their dogs are very well-treated, clean, and come with their first vaccines. However, the store doesn't make a point to x-ray each dog to search for all the minute problems. I don't think we could really expect any store, or even every shelter, to go that far. Hopefully the community can come together to help the people and dogs who are mentioned in this ... More About: Lemon , Shop , Lemon law
Why Dogs Burrow
2008-02-07 15:35:00 Does your dog like to burrow under the covers? There is actually an explanation of why according to an MSN.com article in their dog central section. Dogs are denning animals, they love small spaces. In the same way that humans like to fluff up their pillows before settling in for the night, some dogs like to create comfy beds and hide under clothes and sheets to make themselves feel safe, warm and comfortable. All breeds may do this, but terriers, hounds and huskies are more predisposed to burrowing than others.There’s no downside or risk to letting your dog burrow, unless you don’t want dog hair under the covers. A separate dog bed might be handy to keep the hair out of yours. An additional bonus of your dog having the instinct to burrow is that it can make crate training easier, since being in a crate can mimic that denlike environment.So the next the time your dog wants to get under your covers, just know that she's just trying to find a safe place to sleep.
Canine Obesity Check
2008-02-06 03:14:00 February is National Canine Weight Check (NCWC) month, according to a site called StopCanineObesity .com.Here are some facts as provided by the site:In the meantime, here's more info on NCWC:The National Canine Weight Check is an effort to raise awareness about the health complications that may be faced by overweight dogs and help owners determine if their dogs are at risk.Throughout the month of February, we're encouraging owners to get a free weight check for their dogs at a participating vet's office. To find a local vet, visit http://www.stopcanineobesity.com/findavet .The event is supported by the American Kennel Club Humane Fund and by thousands of veterinarians across the country, through a sponsorship by Pfizer Animal Health.You can find out more information about the program at http://www.stopcanineobesity.com/ncwc .We've also provided you with the BARC (Body Assessment Rating for Canines) quiz, an easy tool to help identify if your dog is a prime candidate for a weight c...
Misleading Pet Sales Tactic
2008-02-05 02:31:00 I always advocate doing your homework before making any major purchase; and a pet is a major purchase. The beauty of the internet is that you can search for anything you need. Not all the info will be totally accurate, but if you read enough stuff, you'll find that many sites will basically tell you the same things...and the ones that don't are probably the ones that aren't accurate.With this being said, I was somewhat surprised with a sign posted at a pet store I visited over the weekend. In their attempts to "upsell" everything, there was a sign that said "buy a tank today, take home a fish today." Basically saying that if you're buying the tank, you might as well buy the fish too. Now, for those that are doing their research before purchasing, they would know that a new tank set-up takes time. You should never put a fish in a new tank until the water is in, the filter is running, and the decorations are settled. Plus, the water should circulate for at least a few days bef... More About: Sales
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
2008-02-03 14:51:00 I know, it's not really a national holiday, but maybe it should be! It's the big game, with parties, celebrations, and of course, what we've all been waiting for...the new commercials.Don't forget to keep your pets safe. The basic tips apply here too, such as making sure the pets aren't getting too scared or getting harassed by your guests. Don't feed them anything you wouldn't normally give them and make sure they aren't close to anything you don't want knocked over.Enjoy the game. Here's hoping that some day, Congress will make the day after the Super Bowl a national holiday. More About: Sunday , Happy
Salmonella from pet turtles sickens 103 in '07
2008-02-02 14:59:00 Ok, so I've wanted a turtle for some time now. But Mrs. Pet Haven always cautioned me that you could get diseases from turtles. I never really knew if she was making that up, but as it turns out, she's right. According to a recent report, contact with small pet turtles was to blame for 103 Salmonella infections that occurred in 33 states between May and December 2007, according to federal health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.Salmonella infections can be severe, leading to hospitalization and, in some cases, death, the CDC notes.Turtles and other reptiles are well-known reservoirs for Salmonella and while the sale and distribution of small turtles — measuring less than 4 inches — was officially outlawed in the U.S. in 1975, cases of turtle-associated Salmonella infection continue to occur.Roughly half of the Salmonella infections documented in the 2007 outbreak occurred in young children, who are at greater risk for severe illness from ...
Big Bang Links - Revised
2008-01-31 22:50:00 *Start Copy Here*You do not have to be tagged to play along. This game is simple and so are the rules.Copy from *Start Copy Here* through *End Copy Here*Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post at each site you add.Tag or don’t tag, your choice, however, the more tags you create the bigger the list will grow.Let the master know your blog’s name and url by leaving a comment HERE. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often. This process will allow late-comers to get as much link benefit as the first ones in.1-Attitude, the Ultimate Power 2-Juliana's Site 3-Rusin Roundup 4-Grow Rich Along With Me 5-Comedy Plus 6-lynda's loft 7-Amel's Realm 8-MAX 9-Speedcat Hollydale 10-Mariuca 11-Complain Complain Complain 12-Mariuca's Perfume Gallery 13-Life Is A Roller Coaster 14-Sugar Queen's Dream 15-First Time Dad 16-Life 17-My Life 18-The Painted Veil 19-My Thoughts 20-DatCurious.com 21-Little Aussie Cynic 22-A Nice Place in the Sun 23-DatMoney.com 24-The Down ... More About: Links , Bang , Big Bang
Classic Super Bowl Commercial - Pepsi Goldfish
2008-01-31 13:59:00 Another classic pet related Super Bowl commercial. In this one, "Sparky" the goldfish plays dead until a boy holds a Pepsi over his tank and he performs tricks. Dad is clueless, though, and flushes the lifeless fish (a common practice).Later, we see Sparky in the ocean doing back flips for a fisherman.Another example of how pets help sell products. Trackposted to Big Dog's Weblog, Cao's Blog, The Random Yak, third world county, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. More About: Commercial , Classic
Pet Classic Super Bowl Commercial
2008-01-30 13:21:00 http://www.youtube.com/results?search_que ry=pets.com+superbowlThe Super Bowl is only days away, as are all the ads that go with the big game. Here is a classic ad from a company called Pets.com. The white and brown tube sock with mismatched eyes become the poster pup of the dot-com days, urging humans to shop online because "pets can't drive." The company spend $2 million on a spot in Super Bowl 2000 in which the sock carried a mic and singed "Don't Go."The playful puppet broke through the advertising clutter and struck a cord with consumers, but it couldn't overcome intense competition and high shipping costs. In November 2000, Pets.com shut down. More About: Commercial , Classic
Giants Fan Dyes Dog Blue
2008-01-27 14:38:00 WNYW in New York is holding a "How True Blue Are You?" contest, soliciting fan submissions of photographs that show how loyal fans are to the Giants . Joe Gannascoli, the man who played Vito Spatafore on The Sopranos submitted a picture of he and his wife holding their dog, which they had, in support of the Giants, dyed blue......Maybe next time he should dye himself blue and see how he likes it.
Dog Quotable
2008-01-26 14:36:00 "The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too."- Samuel Butler"A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself." - Josh Billings"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." Andy Rooney"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man." Mark Twain"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." Ben Williams
Canada Town to Put Down Pitbull
2008-01-24 13:55:00 Found this article on zootoo.com. Unbelievable that this stuff happens! Are people that naive about dog breeds? Apparently so!by Matt Van HovenMISSISSAGUA, Ontario – A Canadian woman's pit-bull-mix could be euthanized because of a 2005 law that bans pit bulls and “substantially similar” dogs from the Canadian province of Ontario. Gabriela Nowakowska says she bought 10-month-old Rambo a few months ago at a flea market. So on Christmas when the dog got out of Nowakowska's back yard and was picked up by animal control, it came to light that the she was violating that law – although she didn't know it. Now the City of Mississagua says that either the dog be turned over to them for euthanasia or Nowakowska will need to pursue legal action. But she says she can't afford a lawsuit. Twenty-year-old Nowakowska says she has been able to raise about $500, which should be enough to get the dog out of “jail” pending trialThe law that's gotten Rambo into this mess was passed by P... More About: Canada , Town , Pitbull
Cat Body Language
2008-01-23 15:55:00 Cats are funny. They just are! But what does their body language tell us? Here are some assumptions:Cats will twitch the tips of their tails when hunting or angry, while larger twitching indicates displeasure. They may also twitch their tails when playing. A tail held high is a sign of happiness, or can be used as a greeting towards humans or other cats (usually close relatives) while half-raised shows less pleasure, and unhappiness is indicated with a tail held low. A scared or surprised cat may puff up its tail and the hair along its back may stand straight up and turn its body sideways to a threat in order to increase its apparent size. Tailless cats who possess only a small stub of a tail move the stub around as though they possessed a full tail, though it is not nearly as communicative as that of a fully tailed cat. Touching noses is a friendly greeting for cats, while a lowered head is a sign of submission. Some cats will rub their faces along their guardian's cheek or ankle... More About: Body , Language
Fish Bowls Not Ideal
2008-01-21 15:32:00 Although people usually get that one fish in a bowl for a gift, that doesn't mean that the situation is idea. I have previously written about how to care for that goldfish bowl, however, that doesn't mean it is the best way to go about housing a fish. Fish , especially goldfish, give off lots of waste products. These waste products, of course, stay in the water - their living environment. These waste products turn to ammonia if not properly filtered out. The ammonia is toxic to fish, burning their gills and eventually killing them if not removed. Although housing a fish in a bowl can be done successfully, it take great diligence to constantly change the water in the bowl as mentioned in my other article. The easier way, is to have a small tank with a filter in it that can help remove the dirt, waste and ammonia. The tank will still need water changes and the filter media will need to be changed. However, by using a tank with a filter, you can be a bit more lax in how oft... More About: Ideal , Not I
TIPS ON LOCATING LOST PETS
2008-01-19 14:39:00 Guest writer: By Donna Velardiwww.zodiapet.com and www.healthypetcompany.com When out pet goes missing or lost, we panic. We feel dread and imagine every worst case scenario that could have happened or is going to happen. If we take the following steps our rate of success in locating our pet will dramatically increase.We need to keep an open and clear mind. This will keep you thinking straight and clearly. Don’t Panic – If your pet is missing (when missing your pet knows where they are and how to get home) as opposed to lost (lost is when they don’t know where they are or are unable to come home) if you call them in a panicked voice they may not respond to you as this is not the “voice” they are used to. So try to remain calm and call your pet in a “normal” calm voice. Start your search immediately – don’t wait. The sooner you start your search the more successful you will be in locating your pet quickly. Search your home immediately (especially for cats). Look und... More About: Lost , Pets , Tips
Gas Busters for Dogs
2008-01-18 03:31:00 Us dog owners have all been there! We're sitting around, and all of a sudden there is that strange, raunchy odor. Someone "ripped one." But, you're all alone with the dog. Well, if it wasn't you, then it must have been the dog. www.healthypetcompany.com is offering a solution to this problem - Gas Busters, a bite-sized treat for dogs that is supposed to help eliminate the problem. According to the company, the product is "Veterinarian formulated and this dietary supplement helps balance your pet's digestive system to reduce excessive gas. And, the great flavor means your dog will eat Doggie-Bites like a treat." Of course, if I start giving this to my dogs, then it makes it harder to blame them when the gas is....umm...well, that of a human! More About: Dogs
More Employers Offering Pet Insurance
2008-01-16 16:36:00 Found an interesting article on MSN about pet insurance being offered by employees. You can find the full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22669844/Acco rding to the article "Veterinary Pet Insurance , the nation’s largest pet insurer, saw its corporate accounts balloon from 15 to 1,600 in the past six years. About 15 percent of Veterinary Pet Insurance ’s policies, or about 50,000, now come from its corporate accounts.""The growth of this perk comes as pets occupy an increasingly prominent place in the American home. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, pet owners spent an estimated $9.8 billion on veterinary care in 2007, up from $7.1 billion in 2001."However, only about 2% of pets right now are insured. That number is expected to rise as more and more companies look into offering pet insurance for their employees. More About: Employers
My Dog's "Flix" at Greetingflix.com
2008-01-15 16:14:00 I was recently contacted by http://www.greetingflix.com/ to check out their site and their unique twist on online photo imaging.In today's digital world, it has become easier to transfer and show off your digital photos. But, Greeting Flix allows you to do more then show off your digital shots.According to the site, "we set out to build a simple system that would empower people to combine the magic of music, motion and memorable messages with their personal photographs. The result is Greetingflix. Greetingflix gives you the ability to instantly create highly-personalized, cinematic e-greetings that feature your most treasured memories. A Greetingflix is a meaningful gift that brightens the day of your recipient."So basically, you upload your digital pictures, and then insert them in a premade "flix" that can be sent where ever you want. The flix has graphics and music along with your pictures. And, they give you an html code so that you can put your flix on your websites. And, of ...
What’s New in the Pet World?
2008-01-14 15:31:00 This article come to us from guest writer Donna Velardi. Donna is the owner of several pet businesses (see contact info below).Last year, H.H. Backer’s held an annual Pet Industry show in Atlantic City where there were hundred of venders selling the classic pet products such as food, clothing, toys and a very large aquatic section.What was most interesting were the new pet items soon to be coming on the market. One in particular for cat lovers is the Feline Solarium made of transparent thermoplastic material. It is not your typical window seat. The “solarium” fits your window and juts out so your pet is getting the view of the actual outdoors but with the safety of being indoors.It is a great alternative to a window seat or a cat enclosure. It provides your cat or small pet with a bird’s eye view of the outside.We have all seen stairs for our pets, now they are making some that are light and portable for easy storage. One such is the PupSTEP+Plus, these stairs are portable, ... More About: World
The Pet Vet Site
2008-01-13 15:19:00 http://www.petside.com/portal/site/PetSid e/menuitem.44a0447ae939c6c5ab2f3b7ef93c2d 04/Is your dog or cat not eating? Can't figure out why? The people from www.petside.com have created the Pet Vet. Match your pet's symptoms with medical conditions contributed by experts of the ASPCA and find out the answer you need.The site also includes a Q&A section with a licensed Vet. Although there is no substitution for taking your pet to a local vet, what I like about this site is that it is written in language you can understand if you need to research a certain problem. Say for example that your pet with diagnosed with Halitosis. On the Pet Vet site, you can get more detailed information on diagnosis, symptoms, and at home care. And there are countless diseases listed.In addition to the Pet Vet section of the site, petside.com has a variety of tips and write-ups that may help your pet, plus news, notes, and detailed breed info for both dogs and cats.Check it out and let me know what yo... More About: Site
Men Kill Dog, Owner Kills Men
2008-01-12 15:40:00 This bazaar story comes to us from Russia. How would you react in this situation.RUSSIA – An eastern Serbian man whose dog was killed for food caught the culprits in the act and murdered them.Alexander Yermilov came home one night in December to find two of his friends butchering his beloved dog for food. Enraged, the 40-year-old picked up an ax and did away with the two men.According to reports from the town of Chita prosecutor, Yermilov struck his victims on the head, killing them.He then called local police and explained what happened. He has since been placed in police custody and charged with two counts of murder.This story was reported by the Australian news source, 'The Daily Telegraph.' More About: Owner , Kill
Stray Dog in Zoo Attacked by Tiger
2008-01-11 04:04:00 Looks like aren't safe for dogs either. A stray dog ended up in the tiger area at the Memphis Zoo.MEMPHIS, Tenn. - If there is one place to avoid while on the lam in a zoo, it is the tiger pit. One stray dog learned that lesson the hard way and was recovering Wednesday from puncture wounds to its neck and shoulders."This is one lucky animal," Memphis Zoo spokesman Brian Carter said of the dog.The 50-pound female retriever mix darted inside a service entrance to the zoo on Tuesday and led workers on a brief chase before it bolted over a 4-foot-high visitors railing and a retaining wall at the tiger exhibit.She swam across a 12-foot-wide moat to the interior of the exhibit and was quickly attacked by a 225-pound female Sumatran tiger. The open exhibit's main walls are 18 feet high."The exhibit is designed to keep the animals from getting out but not for keeping animals from getting in," zoo spokesman Brian Carter said. "You can jump off a cliff but you can't jump up a cliff."Zoo wo... More About: Tiger , Stray , Attacked , Atta
Woman Finds Dog - Solves Problem
2008-01-08 15:33:00 I can't believe this actually happens, but read below and keep in mind that it is a true story. TEXAS – Kim Velevis and her husband are natives of Houston, Tx. So when they got a letter from Tulsa, Ok., explaining their dog was in a new home, they were a bit confused.On Christmas Eve, the couple's pug Scooter dug his way out of their fenced in backyard. Just after the new year, the Velevis' received an anonymous letter stating Scooter was in a new home.The letter's author claimed she found the dog, and that her daughter had always wanted a pug. The woman went on to say that the child's father maintained custody, and she had given the dog to her daughter as a Christmas gift.The letter explained that the girl lives with her father in Dallas. The author said she has problems with alcohol and has, “lost everything else.”She went on to say she's been sober for six months and wants her life to be different. However, she couldn't ask forgiveness for what she'd done. “He doe... More About: Woman , Problem
Who Would Your Pet Vote For?
2008-01-07 14:33:00 As a blogger, I get emails about contests, promotions, products, etc. Well, this one comes to me with a simple question....who would your pet vote for in the presidential election? If you have a witty answer, you could win a years worth of free pet food.Here is the link. http://www.brickfish.com/politics/pawscon nect_voteAnd here is a description:Pets can be as discriminating, particular and picky as people, so if they could vote, who would they choose? Would it be a front-runner or a write-in candidate? Here's the chance for your pets to cast their votes and tell us who they'd like to be their ministerial master and why!My disclaimer: This link is for informational purposes and The Pet Haven is in no way associated with this contest. More About: Vote
Rate Your Pet Store
More articles from this author:2008-01-05 14:15:00 Love your local pet store? Want to learn more about a groomer in your area? A relative new website is hoping it can lead you in the right direction. www.zootoo.com is a user-generated opinion-sharing website for pet lovers. It's a site that lets all pet lovers get unbiased information about all animals. When someone visits the site, they can choose a service, such as a groomer or vet, based on a Zagat-like rating and the opinions of people who may have used the services. Pet lovers can also rate and review products and stores.Of course, like any ratings site, some of the ratings may be "fluffed" by the store owner themselves. However, this is a step in the right direction in offering pet lovers a portal to express their opinions on their local retailers. More About: Store , Rate 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
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