| Bark of Boone County raises money for American Cancer Society
COLUMBIA t her nose when we pet her or need to get her attention and not frighten her," said Attruia. As a part of healthy life style, for both owners and their dogs, Rebecca Johnson , author, professor and director of MU's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction, said that it's important for owners to exercise with their dogs. Sophie, a bull mastiff, lost one of her eyes to glaucoma but has lived longer than most bull mastiffs. Attruia desrcibed her as a "lil' Cyclops". Sadie, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, is completely deaf, but Attruia said she doesn't miss a thing. Booths and tents scattered across the hill were soon full of dog owners, rescuers, breeders, groomers, trainers and dog lovers. "We're here because boxers suffer from cancer more than any other breed," Key said. Lisa Attruia, owner of "A Dog's Meow" pet grooming and daycare center said she loves her pets unconditionally. Bark of Boone County raises money for American Cancer Society |
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Bark of Boone County raises money for American Cancer Society
Shops plan for Beverley's Lady Le Gros pub faces objections
| Shops plan for Beverley's Lady Le Gros pub faces objections A plan to knock down a failed pub and build a brand new retail development has run into trouble. The application has yet to be heard by East Riding Council planning committee. But several objections have been submitted. The planned site is next to the level crossing. They include one from the highways department. But if the highways department holds sway, the future of the landmark building could again be uncertain. The developer initially said the nature of the new businesses would mean them being open at different times of the day, which would limit the impact of the extra traffic. The pub, sitting at the entrance to Beverley Rugby Union Club, has had a string of owners over the years but never been a success. |
Saturday, 28 April 2012
New Application Tracks Pet Location
| New Application Tracks Pet Location This day in age, smart telephone applications can track just about anything: your schedule, your email and now even your pet. The device runs around $200 and works with your iPad, iPhone or other smart telephone device. The application is free and extremely accurate. Pets aren't all that this device can track. Any time that device goes out of the radius it will send you an email or a text message. The application also allows you to set up parameters and notifications in case your pet leaves your property. Roughly five million pets are lost each year and the Garmin GTU 10 in connection with the free Garmin Tracker App will help make sure your pet doesn't become part of that statistic. "A nice feature that the device has is the ability to set up a GeoFence," Nichols said. And it's very accurate. We've had it be up to ten feet. "A place a park, what you may just see is a green spot representing a park," Nichols said. "Half of those end up going into shelters so pets are just as much a part of the family as a person in most families," Nichols said "And no one wants to lose a pet. "Could be attached to a child's backpack, a car, to track just about anything," Nichols said. |
Friday, 27 April 2012
Dog grooming service in Winsford
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Thursday, 26 April 2012
Prisons, punishment and puppies
| Prisons, punishment and puppies
The cute puppies you see on this webpage have a big destiny in the world. "As a trust, we'll continue to support them on the outside," says Jody. Lots of people other than prisoners are working to raise and train mobility assistance dogs. The Corrections Department tells me that the prisoners who raise puppies are those with not too much time left on their sentence and who are in transition back to life on the exterior. When the puppy is 12 to 14 months old and its early training is over, it will leave to carry out its training at kennels run by the Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust. Finally, they'll learn another life skill: saying goodbye. At weekends, the dogs leave their prison guardians behind for socialisation in the ways of the "real" world - malls, escalators, traffic lights, crowds. But the connection between prisoner and dog doesn't necessarily have to end: Jody encourages the trust's clients to write to the prisoners about how "their" dog is getting on. The trust's general manager, Jody Hogan, told me that six months is a typical time for advanced training. The scheme runs at two Auckland prisons, and may expand. The plan is that in shaping a dog's behaviour, the prisoners think about their own behaviour; they will be helping someone on the outside, and be connected to the achievement of something important. The dogs that come out of the prison scheme actually show a higher skill level than those raised in private homes, but Jody points out that prisoners ,"not to put too fine a point on it, have a good deal of spare time". The dogs are mostly large breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Labradors, because their job is going to require strength. If you still think that's all soft-headed nonsense, then look at Puppies in Prisons as restitution - people contributing something good to a society that they've hurt in some way. Check out the trust - there might be a role for you. |
Nationwide petition urges San Clemente to ban dog, cat sales
| Nationwide petition urges San Clemente to ban dog, cat sales
An online effort by the Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club gathers more than 800 supporters, many of whom barrage four council members with emails urging them to reverse their votes rejecting a proposed ban applying to pet stores. I own a dog that was rescued from a puppy mill at 18 months old. There need to be laws on the books to outlaw (puppy mills). It seems to me that stuff like that has to be federally or state-regulated. "Pet stores are keeping the puppy mills and other inhumane abusive industries in business. "It's not the city. If they want to fix the problem, they have to go back to the source of the problem. Here are statements from respondents to the Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club's online petition: "Pet stores that sell pets are perpetuating the cruelty of the puppy/kitten mill industry. Council members' email inboxes were flooded with hundreds of messages over the weekend, prompting Mayor Jim Evert to write back, asking the organization to stop. Evert's email said he is sympathetic to the group's cause of eliminating inhumane puppy mills but said, "Your email approach is atrocious. Evert said the group should not have sent council members mass emails that looked identical. The council's April 16 vote was 4-1, with Councilwoman Lori Donchak supporting the ban. I would help with that if I could, but that does not entail putting a (city) law on the books. Terry said that as other Orange County cities adopt bans on retail sales of dogs and cats, stores that sell the animals may move to cities like San Clemente. "They want us to make a statement to the wider world about their cause," Evert said. "The smallest bit of research will show you that your decision is unsound. "Come on, San Clemente, stand tall and show the rest of the U. (and the world) that you truly care about the health and welfare of puppies in your city. Dana Point and Irvine have enacted bans, while Laguna Beach is preparing an ordinance and Huntington Beach is giving serious consideration to one. Her back is rounded in a hump from living in a cage her entire life. Terry called puppy mills "America's dirty little secret" where puppies are mass-produced, their parents stay in cages and the puppies may change owners multiple times before they reach a pet shop. "If people really understood what was happening and what was going on, they'd be 100% for (the ban)," Terry said. Legitimate breeders don't sell topet stores, he said, only to people they insist on meeting first. Nationwide petition urges San Clemente to ban dog, cat sales |
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Better protection for all creatures great and small
| Better protection for all creatures great and small
Given the horrendous treatment of animals being reported in the media in recent times, there is a pressing need for the Bill to be passed ASAP. When Sheena was rescued by the Department of Veterinary Services and the SPCA, the dog had to be immediately euthanised due to complications from severe malnutrition. The Government's initiatives in strengthening the rules on animal welfare should be applauded but certain warts within the system must also be looked into. Chua's ministry must also address the hiring of canine bounty hunting companies by local councils to carry out dog catching on their behalf. The dogs allegedly undergo a large amount of torture while being caught and transported to pounds before they are put down with lethal injection. Many animal activists claim that local councils are the biggest abusers of dogs that they catch. Many allegations, ranging from harassment of dog owners and dog-napping, have been made against these companies. Under proposed amendments, anyone found guilty of abusing animals can be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed for a year or both. The current penalty is only a maximum fine of RM200 or a jail term of not more than six months, or both. The biggest victims of animal cruelty and abuse here are dogs, which lead a precarious existence in our society. The proposed legislation must also address pet shops which animal activists say have become a place for backyard breeders. Animal activists and rescue groups are urging for the more humane method of stray control, called Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) instead of culling. It is the inadequacy of the Act that led to an engineer "strolling" away with a RM100 fine imposed by a magistrate in 2005 in spite of his admission that he neglected his German Shepherd Sheena. Recently, a hawker in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, found himself in trouble after scalding a stray dog with boiling water. Perhaps the Bill can include the necessity for the local councils to look into the TNRM system in contrast to immediately reaching out for the syringe as a great solution. He has since been interviewed by the DVS. Any new law or amendment to an existing one will be pointless if the Attorney-General's Chambers does not see the necessity of prosecuting animal abuse cases. |
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Whitstable catteries
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Friday, 20 April 2012
Pet grooming business in Alsager
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Wednesday, 18 April 2012
San Clemente may ban dog, cat sales at pet stores
| San Clemente may ban dog, cat sales at pet stores
City Council is scheduled to take into account a proposed ordinance Tuesday night. If it encourages more adoptions from the local shelter, it will help save animals' lives and reduce homelessness among dogs and cats, Ferguson's report says. San Clemente could join an Orange County trend in banning the sale of cats and dogs at pet stores. "While not all retail stores that sell dogs and cats engage in practices that could be considered inhumane, the current state of this industry is inconsistent with the city's goal to be a community that cares about animal welfare," Ferguson says in a report to the City Council. Laguna Beach is preparing one. Dana Point and Irvine have enacted such bans. Tuesday at City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio. The City Council is scheduled to take into account a proposed ordinance during its meeting at 6 p. "It's a fact that Southern California is overwhelmed by a serious pet overpopulation problem," she wrote, "and San Clemente is not immune to the effects. |
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Canterbury catteries
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Saturday, 14 April 2012
Keynsham dog walkers
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Friday, 13 April 2012
Keynsham dog groomer
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Exotic Animal Limits Needed
| Of course some owners of exotic animals in Ohio are upset about proposed new state limits on them. It is true compliance with the proposed regulations will be quite costly for some owners of wild animals. It became clear some lines have to be drawn last year, when a tragedy occurred near Zanesville. The local sheriff's department had no choice but to kill most of the animals to safeguard the public. State legislators reacted by drafting a bill placing new restrictions on keeping wild animals ranging from the boa constrictors available in many pet shops to endangered big cats such as Bengal tigers. But new regulations are needed. It bans ownership of some animals entirely, except for people who already own the creatures. That sent some owners of "exotic" animals into a frenzy. Surely compromises that safeguard the public while not unnecessarily burdening Ohioans who already own exotics can be reached. That might have happened near Zanesville, had the authorities not acted decisively. Some owners of wild animals will not be content with any limits. |
Grand Blanc Township dog shows future can be bright for dog
| Grand Blanc Township dog shows future can be bright for dog Just five months ago, Meg Sprecher didn't know if a pit bull she rescued from Flint's north side would live or die. The heart worms, combined with the fact Thor was "exceedingly malnourished," kept the dog from being put under anesthesia when working on his wounds, Hendricks said. "Those first couple days, it was round-the-clock care," Sprecher said. "He was a mess," Hendricks said of Thor, who weighed only 56 pounds when he first came in for treatment. Hendricks said Thor's injuries were typical for a fighting dog or a bait dog, an animal used to train fighting dogs. To make matters worse, Thor also had heart worms. "He wasn't well enough to have the surgery, so we took a big gamble on it and it turned out the eye healed up," Sprecher said. The Sprechers had to routinely apply drops to the injured eye and change the bandages that went all the way up to the dog's shoulders. "I haven't bought dog treats since November," Sprecher said. " . Thor's treatment was eventually handed over to Dr. "He actually had a through-and-through hole on his lip," Sprecher said. "He was pretty close to dead. "He was skin and bones," Sprecher said of Thor. Thor had open wounds on all four of his legs and his left ear was nearly completely torn off. Thor, who vets say is 6-7 years old, was discovered by a maintenance worker outside of an apartment complex near the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Pierson Road. Since it was after 5 p. What she found was was a bloody mess. The next day, through a series of phone calls, Sprecher was contacted and she went out to rescue Thor. Hendricks said he thought Thor will even lose his left eye, but his eye was saved thanks to the help of an expert in Southeast Michigan. |
'Deplorable' cases highlight inadequate animal cruelty laws, prosecutor says
| 'Deplorable' cases highlight inadequate animal cruelty laws, prosecutor says
Worthy, during a news conference in her offices in the Wayne County Circuit Courthouse, announced nearly 40 counts against two Wayne County men stemming from the unrelated abuse cases. Worthy said Dakhlallah's shop on Telegraph Road came to the attention of authorities following multiple complaints regarding the lack of food and water for animals and unsanitary and cruel conditions. Worthy said Dakhlallah, who owns the Pet Station and the corporation Pet Station LLC, is accused of abuse that occurred between July 31, 2009, and Tuesday. The animals were seized Wednesday by Dearborn Heights Police and the Michigan Humane Society, which is housing them. Authorities say five of the dogs died after France failed to care for the animals and abandoned them when he moved from his home in the 28200 block of Cahill in Flat Rock. Worthy said police retrieved the animals Sunday after a call from a resident. The top penalty is attached to the cruelty charge, which is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Worthy said cutbacks have hampered state efforts in licensing and monitoring of pet shops. The penalties need to be much higher. Worthy said the investigation was a collaborative effort by the Dearborn Heights Police Department, Dearborn Heights Animal Control, officers from the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Humane Society and the prosecutor's volunteer Animal Protection Unit. Dakhlallah faces a Thursday arraignment in 20th District Court. Worthy said it's not enough and her office is already beginning to talk with the Legislature about tougher penalties. The multitude of evidence resulted in one four-year felony; that is really criminal. "The laws on animal cruelty in this state are horrendous and need quick fixing," she said. France will be arraigned Thursday in 33rd District Court in Woodhaven. Dakhlallah is accused of selling animals with insufficient and improperly maintained records and offering disease-ridden animals for sale and others that weren't properly vaccinated. Four of the dogs were emaciated, and a fifth was discovered alive but later died at an emergency animal facility. In an unrelated case, Worthy said 44-year-old Rockwood resident Lester France is facing up to two years behind bars on abandonment and cruelty charges involving six American bulldogs. 'Deplorable' cases highlight inadequate animal cruelty laws, prosecutor says |
Westland Horticulture buys Cranswick Pet Products
| Westland Horticulture buys Cranswick Pet Products
A FAST-growing horticulture business from Northern Ireland has snapped up Cranswick Pet Products in Driffield for £18m with the intention of growing its market share in Europe's wild bird food sector. Mr Conroy added: "Both Westland and Cranswick Pet Products have a strong record in growing categories, delivering innovation and consumer quality. "It is these synergies that make this one of the most exciting opportunities in gardening. Cranswick Pet Products manufactures and distributes branded and own label food products for wild birds and small animals. "We are confident that together as one we'll be able to grow the market and communicate the benefits of quality bird food, that will increase the number of birds in the garden and will give gardeners great enjoyment. John Garner, a director at the state-backed private equity firm, said: "Our investment saw us back a first-rate management team of a market-leading business which has shown strong resilience throughout a sustained period of recession and has ultimately generated a good return for LDC. ". He and fellow MD Robert Lavery founded Westland in the early 1990s. Cranswick Pet Products sales rose to £41. "If they have got a pound in their pocket, they will buy a bag of bird feed. 5m in 2009. Derek Black, the York-born chief executive who led the £17m management buyout in 2009, will remain with the business, said Westland. LDC will keep its majority stake in the Tropical Marine Division, the other trading division of Cranswick Pet and Aquatics. Sam Marriage, national sales manager, said: "We are incredibly excited with the new opportunity to merge with Westland. The wild bird market is forecast to grow 10 per cent year-on-year. |
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Dog grooming in Crewe
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Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Chia seeds worth more than grass for 'pets'
| Chia seeds worth more than grass for 'pets'
After decades adorning everything from a zoo-worthy collection of clay critters to presidential busts, ch-ch-ch-chia seeds finally are ready to ditch the kitsch. "What's becoming known now is the benefits to your diet. Packed with omega-3 fatty acid - more than flax seed - along with fiber, calcium and antioxidants, the native Mexican seed is being touted by runners, yoga moms and all manner of other health conscious eaters. And Georgii says sales today are sometimes even stronger than in the heyday of "Chia Guy" and "Chia Ram. Those seeds aren't grown, packed, stored or quality checked for human consumption. Add them to a drink and the result is similar to Japanese bubble tea - a thick beverage full of floating, jelly-like balls. They are a common addition to kombucha, a popular health drink. Bob's Red Mill, a national grain seller based in Milwaukie, Ore. "It adds a cool texture that's definitely an acquired taste," says Christine Muhlke, executive editor of Bon Appetit magazine, who abandoned flax for chia. "In the last year, they've really jumped in popularity," said Kara Nielsen, trend analyst with California-based product developer CCD Innovation, who first identified chia's trend potential in 2006. "When you start having these different groups, you're talking about a lot of people," Nielsen said. Joseph Enterprises began selling edible seeds in a few hundred CVS and Walgreens drug stores last year, Georgii said, and now sells them in thousands of stores, along with online. It's always been on the fringe, but that's when it came up on the radar for all different kinds of runners. The seeds - which resemble poppy seeds - have become an especially popular addition to drinks. Sales last year saw quadruple growth, said vice president of sales Robert Agnew, and already show signs of continued growth this year. Health food aficionados have likely known about chia since the mid-2000s, when people such as natural health personality Dr. Runners got on board thanks to the 2009 book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall, which credited the seeds as a source of sustenance for Mexico's Tarahumara Indians, who run hundreds of miles. "Dietary chia will outpace the Chia Pet," Georgii said. , which created the Chia Pet in 1981 and recently released an edible seed product. and they think 'green hair on a terra cotta figurine,'" said Peter Georgii, new product manager for San Francisco-based Joseph Enterprises Inc. Oh, and as for the Chia Pets? They haven't gone anywhere. |
Monday, 9 April 2012
Catteries Herne Bay
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Sunday, 8 April 2012
Service dog, autistic Tacoma girl forming bond
| Service dog, autistic Tacoma girl forming bond Luka has spent months training to be a service dog, but he still has some growing up to do before he can take charge of a 4-year-old Tacoma girl with autism. He's already learning not to eat food off the floor of public places, to find another activity when he's doing something the family doesn't want him to do and to read cue cards. (Since Isabel loves to spin in circles, the dog's trainers want him to be able to do the same to increase the pair's bonding. Isabel's mom, Liz Moore, said it's been fascinating and heartwarming to see what Luka is able to accomplish and to watch her daughter come out of her shell. " Moore said Luka's training can be stressful because there's no set schedule or deadline for him to move into her home full-time, but the system works well because it's giving the family enough time to bond with the dog. Many service dog agencies deliver adult dogs to people with special needs. Executive Director Patty Dobbs Gross acknowledged this has been a slow transition, which can have its downfalls – the foundation's costs continue to rise the longer it takes to train Luka – but said it shows a rare commitment level. It was during this period that Liz Moore realized she wasn't yet ready to handle Luka alone. Now, she spends up to 45 minutes with the dog and enjoys lying with him or propping her iPad against him to watch movies. She likes to look in Luka's ears, fold herself over him and pet him with her feet. The dog will be taught to take commands from Isabel, and eventually will be tethered to the girl to prevent her from running off. However, Luka's rambunctiousness is still apparent – understandable for a 14-month-old puppy – and more time is needed before he can stay permanently with the Moores. When that didn't work out, Luka went to stay with Spader for intensive one-on-one training on how to behave in public. After Spader moved to the Midwest last month for a full-time job, Luka was placed with a local puppy-raising family, where he is expected to stay for the next three to six months. It's already a struggle for Moore to take care of Isabel and her 2-year-old son without having to also train a puppy. Plus she has other life changes to adjust to – her boyfriend recently moved in, with his young daughter, and his toddler son also might come to live there. "It's really important to make sure we're not asking too much of him before he's ready for it," said Wendy Dahl, an animal behavior consultant who oversees Luka's training. " The next level will comprise of more training with Isabel. "Rather than a failure to stick to a schedule, I see this as a feather in North Star's cap because we're sticking with the family longer even though we have more challenges," Dobbs Gross said. Dobbs Gross said that money has been applied to Luka's training, but expenses are still mounting. Everyone who interacts with Luka says his training is coming along nicely, but he has too much energy right now to be a full-time service dog. Yet, Luka is already part of the family. "He's so smart, and he's so in tune with stuff. "We love him. There has been progress on both sides. Luka obeys basic commands and has learned to read one-word instructions so Isabel eventually can give him commands with signs, since her speech is limited. |
Friday, 6 April 2012
Keynsham dog walkers
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Thursday, 5 April 2012
Alsager dog grooming services
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Experts warn more pets abandoned after Easter
| Experts warn more pets abandoned after Easter
-A roomy indoor cage that is approximately four times the size of the adult rabbit - Fresh water, unlimited fresh, grass hay, 1-2 cups of fresh vegetables and a small serving (1/4 c per 5 lb. rabbit) of plain rabbit pellets each day -Several hours of exercise out of the cage each day -Like cats and dogs, rabbits need to be spayed or neutered -Rabbits have delicate bones that can break easily, so parents should supervise children when they're holding rabbits -Domesticated rabbits aren't the same as wild rabbits. Domesticated rabbits will not survive if you let them go in the wild. A chocolate Easter bunny could last a few minutes, dependant on your sweet tooth. Buying a living, breathing rabbit, however, is a commitment that could last as long as 10 years. That's why, as Easter approaches, animal rescue workers are encouraging people to think twice before purchasing a soft, cuddly pet as an Easter basket gift. Thousands of baby rabbits, chicks and ducks are purchased as Easter gifts each year only to be abandoned or left at shelters after the holiday, according to the California-based House Rabbit Society. "Unless parents are willing to take full responsibility for the possible 10-year lifespan of a live rabbit, they should buy their children chocolate rabbits instead," Mary Cotter, vice president of House Rabbit Society, said in a press release. Shelby pet store Fins and Critters sees an increase in rabbit sales each year in the weeks leading to Easter. Sue Shuler, who has worked at the store for 10 years, said client demand for rabbits is even greater this year than in previous years. Ten rabbits lounged inside cages on Tuesday afternoon at Fins and Critters. Some had fur spotted with black and white. Others were purely white or solid black. Those rabbits will have homes before Easter, Shuler said. The store will likely have to order more rabbits before the Easter holiday, she said. "There are a good deal of impulse buys," Shuler said. "People see them and say, 'They're so cute. I've got to have it.'" The rabbits at Fins and Critters range in price from $24.99 to $32.99. To ensure the rabbits have all they need in their new homes, Fins and Critters offers specials on rabbit cages during the Easter season. "There will be a lot of people who wait to the last minute (to buy a rabbit)," Shuler said. Marguerite Mebane, president of the Cleveland County Humane Society, said it costs about $500 twelve months on average to increase a rabbit. If a rabbit lives 10 years, that's a $5,000 investment. Mebane said chicks are also a long-term investment. The chicks can live five to eight years, and the heat- and cold-sensitive animals need safe places to roost and eventually lay their eggs. Nancy Six, president of the Association for the Welfare of Animals in Shelby, encouraged parents to find alternatives to buying Easter pets if they're not prepared for a long-term commitment. "People get them and think they're going to be great things for children, but those things don't stay small and cuddly," Six said. Rabbits, chicks and ducks grow into adult animals, and they require constant care. Because most children who want those animals are very young, Six said the responsibility to care for the pets falls on parents. The House Rabbit Society has adopted a "Make Mine Chocolate" campaign to promote putting candy rabbits, not live ones, in a child's Easter basket. The child enjoys the chocolate for 10 minutes, rather than the 10-year commitment required after purchasing a rabbit, the House Rabbit Society said in a press release. Some people, however, are prepared for the commitment of owning a rabbit. Mebane encouraged anyone who is interesting in having a pet rabbit to adopt an older rabbit from a rescue shelter. The Cleveland County Humane Society doesn't take in rabbits, but Mebane said there are rabbit rescue shelters as close as Charlotte. |
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Moves to stamp out puppy farms
| Moves to stamp out puppy farms
DANGEROUS dogs and puppy farms will be brought to heel under an Ipswich City Council plan to protect people and dogs. The spokesman also said the council would make a submission to the State Government outlining its position on dangerous dogs. "The purpose of the RAS is to address the care and protection of animals through the RSPCA and bring an end to the breeding of dogs in puppy farms," a council spokesman said. "Councils need a wider range of options for dealing with dangerous dogs and irresponsible pet owners. It involves a program where animals are registered when they go to a brand new owner and pet shops and animal shelters register them at the point of sale or transfer. "The main issue is penalty enforcement. The council says it supports the Regulation of Dog Breeders Draft Regulatory Impact Statement (RAS) as long as it is enforced by the state. The council agreed a dog owner ought to be convicted of an attack offence if his dog killed someone, and the dog was a declared dangerous or restricted animal, the spokesman said. |
$57 Billion Pet Industry Walks the Line
| $57 Billion Pet Industry Walks the Line
Even while shoppers overall remain intently focused on value, the pet product shopper base has continued to migrate into the higher-priced pet specialty channel, while supermarkets and discount stores have seen their pet product shopper base decline. 1 billion in additional market value. Packaged Facts' March 2012 Pet Owner Survey indicates that nearly nine out of ten pet owners agree with the statement "I consider my pet(s) to be part of the family," with 61% strongly agreeing and 28% somewhat agreeing, and that nearly two-thirds view their pet as their best friend, are spending more time with their pet, and enjoy purchasing products that pamper their pets. 9% increase percentage-wise, the 2011 figure represents $2. 67 billion in 2011, up from $54. pet industry sales reached $56. Although a modest 3. 56 billion in 2010. Natural, organic, and eco-friendly products continue to advance, as do pet health services and products including medications, supplements, and insurance. Dogs featured prominently in Super Bowl XLVI commercials for cars, beer, and chips, scoring an advertising trifecta -- a sign of the times, according to Packaged Facts publisher David Sprinkle. A concomitant trend is the increased market involvement of makers of human products -- a trend Packaged Facts expects to gain much momentum in the years ahead -- with brands including Bissell, Conair, Wahl, and Febreze making a strong showing at the 2012 Global Pet Expo. Factor in industry efforts embodied in the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI) to advance the understanding of the positive impact of pet ownership on human health, and the U. Pet owners therefore are highly receptive to products and services that replicate the ones they prize for themselves. pet industry is positioning itself for a boom. |
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Cleaning up in pet stores
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When Abby Gnanendran talks about his affordable, fashionable and earth-friendly product line, it sounds glamorous. And the price tag is reasonable, which isn't always the case for green products. "The packaging, the branding - it all shows we're eco-friendly. " (The suggested retail price for an eight-roll box containing 120 biodegradable bags is $5. 99. While the company no longer sells products on its website, there's still a strong focus on supporting a thriving online community, Mr. Gnanendran said. "People loved the fact we didn't hide what the product was. "When we started numbers grew from 6,000 to 9,800 through January and February. The key now is to keep them as time goes on. Growing fan numbers have opened up opportunities to share stories and keep fans up to speed on environmental issues and animal rescue and shelter programs, Mr. Picking the words that resonated best with customers was easy. "We weren't expecting the type of growth we had at such a young stage," Mr. "But we soon realized we had something really strong here that could grow swiftly. With the growing demand from customers, came calls from pet supply stores wondering how they could get Earth Rated Poop Bags. "We realized then that we had to go retail. So it was time to come up with some store-friendly marketing. How to keep up engagement on social media. There are plans for giveaways and contests advertised via Facebook. And it was easy for us to carve a little niche with an online presence," Mr. We knew it was a great business to be in. The goal was to build brand awareness and identify loyal followers who could continue to spread the word. "At that point, it all comes down to the creativity behind your message. At first, Earth Rated Poop Bags relied on Google Ad-Words and Facebook Ads to generate interest and sales. The blitz worked. Today, the bags and dispensers are carried in 900 pet stores across North America and parts of Europe. And the numbers just keep growing. The firm said it experienced a tenfold growth in sales in the second year of operations, with sales this year expected to triple. That's an important part of what we do. Selvadurai said. "Now we use social media to stay in touch with customers, retailers and the charities we support. It's a great way to maintain communications, get feedback on our product and make certain everyone is satisfied. Since January, Poop Bags has been working alongside Rob Vena, president and creative director for Feast Interactive, a digital advertising and design agency based in Toronto, to keep the social media momentum going. "At that point, they had set the stage for a retail presence," Mr. "They just needed to target their social media presence to increase engagement and fuel organic growth. "When we started testing it, we saw a huge upswing. "So we put together sample kits and dispensers and offered them free to stores. The team started checking out social media channels daily to identify worthy recipients (i. The online advertising was as simple as it gets: "cheap poop bags" was pretty much the mantra used in AdWords, Mr. long-term client prospects) to receive free product - from dog walkers and bloggers to boutique pet stores. By the time the initial marketing was over, Earth Rated Poop Bags had given away 5,646,585 bags to potential clients and vendors. |
Delta calling for additional controls over rabbit sales
| Delta calling for additional controls over rabbit sales Delta wants the province to ban the sale of unsterilized rabbits in pet stores. Municipalities convention requesting Victoria implement legislation due to rabbit abandonment and proliferation in public areas. George Harvie, Delta's chief administrative officer, recently said the program was going well. In a December 1993 interview, SPCA superintendent Shawn Eccles warned about domestic rabbit abandonment, saying it amounts to cruelty to animals. "In Delta, a handful of rabbits abandoned five years ago has grown to a population of more than 500 rabbits which has caused significant damage to the landscaping and building foundations in the civic precinct and surrounding areas. Once sterilized, the rabbits will recover at the shelter before being relocated to the park. A program of catch, sterilize and release is problematic since feral rabbits are regulated under the Wildlife Act and finding appropriate release sites is difficult. "It is a costly and time-consuming problem that is impacting an increasing number of municipalities," the motion notes. Local veterinary clinics are supportive of the program, she said, and offered to spay and neuter the rabbits at a reduced cost. Back in the early 1990s, the Delta branch of the SPCA had a similar roundup that saw bunnies captured at Ladner Harbour Park. Several municipalities have implemented their own bylaws to regulate or ban the sale of unsterilized rabbits, including Victoria, Kelowna, Richmond and Coquitlam. However, according to Delta staff, a more effective strategy would be to implement legislation making sure consistent standards are applied throughout B. Many will also be available for adoption through the shelter at no charge. Earlier this year, the municipality launched a $60,000 program to capture, sterilize, tag and relocate hundreds rabbits in the municipal precinct. According to Delta staff, options for management of feral rabbit populations are limited. . |
Monday, 2 April 2012
Catteries Sandwich
| Don't forget next time you need catteries, your first call should be to Cherry Thatch Cattery of Ash Canterbury. As well as being the experts for catteries in Sandwich, we also cover Ash Canterbury, Birchington, Canterbury, Deal, Herne Bay, Margate, Ramsgate, Sandwich or Whitstable with our comprehensive range of services that include: - Catteries Birchington. |
Sunday, 1 April 2012
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Announces "Pampered Pooch" Pet-Friendly Program
| The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Announces "Pampered Pooch" Pet-Friendly Program As more and more hotel guests enjoy traveling with their best friends, their pets that is, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay has created a whole new program to welcome pets as guests. A one-time cleaning fee of $125 is charged for each Guesthouse occupied by a pet. Pampered pooches will enjoy walking along the Coastal Trail, playing fetch, and walking along the beach below the stunning coastal cliffs. What's more to the new program the resort has launched a Pup Play Dates program. When pets check into the guesthouses, they are given a Pet Pawsport which details the pet-friendly attributes of the resort and acts as their guide to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. Dogs will wag their tails when they check into a guesthouse furnished with bowls for food and water, a plush dog bed, a chew toy and a trail map. The resort's pet-friendly guesthouses are located along the Coastal Trail which is ideal for guests wanting to take their dogs for a walk. The resort is donating $10 of the cleaning fee to the Peninsula Humane Society. Body-brushing and grooming services are also all available upon request. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Announces "Pampered Pooch" Pet-Friendly Program |
So many animal adoption events to choose from
| So many animal adoption events to choose from
The unconditional love of a dog (or a cat) is the very best kind of love – always giving; asking very little. This event is one of many who is conducted for 36-hours across our great country this weekend. Friday, March 30th until Sunday, April 1st, PetSmart will be carrying out a 36-hour adoption event at their store located at 2665 North Elston Avenue in Chicago. It is PetSmart Charities hope that a complete dedicated weekend, including two 12-hour day events, can certainly help to bring awareness to the many pets available for adoption just in the Chicago community alone. Check out these commendable organizations and learn about the work they perform year around. Sunday will be a repeat of Saturday; event running from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Saturday, March 31st will be a full day for the event; beginning at 8:00 AM and running until 8:00 PM. This weekend's events begin the largest ever adoption push in the history of PetSmart Charities; making the organization's adoption efforts of 2012 a potential record-breaking year for helping pets find lifelong loving homes. |