Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Get Out Your Camera! Win a Trip to Denver!

Over at BlogPaws, we're gearing up for our next conference - in Denver! W00t!!! We hope you'll be there.

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I'm a co-founder of BlogPaws, the only online resource for pet bloggers, created to help you be a better blogger, whatever "being a better blogger" means to YOU. So whether you are blogging for fun, to raise money or on behalf of a company or organization, BlogPaws is your go-to place.

We held a successful conference in April and we're doing it again! It may seem a bit soon, but we got such wonderful feedback and lots of applause for BlogPaws East (in Columbus), that we thought it only fair to do it again in the West. We chose Denver because Tom and I live here. And, for the most part, Denver is pet-friendly.

Helping Pets Survive Fires

Did you know that somewhere between 40,000 and 150,000 pets die in fires every year. I didn't, but given pet behavior, I'd be surprised if the actual number was closer to the high end. According to fire fighters, pets tend to hide when fire strikes which makes saving their lives that much more difficult. 

That job just got a little easier thanks to The Invisible Fence Company and a program called "Project Breathe". Invisible Fence is donating pet oxygen masks to fire houses around the country. In fact, they've given out over 1600 kits to fire houses around the country so far. Each kit contains a small, medium and large mask and the kit is valued at $60.

Bissell Gets Pet Friendly

That title should say "more" pet friendly. Ever since becoming a member of their Pack of Pet Lovers, I've been really impressed by the way Bissell embraces pet parents and their four-legged (or two-clawed, whatever!) kids! We use Bissell products on The Grumpy Old Lady's hairballs and they're great!

Well, I just read on Inside the Pack, the Bissell pet blog, that "The BISSELL Pet Spot is officially open!"

The Pet Spot is a place at Bissell for employees to bring pets. Can I hear a big cheer for that? Of course, Purina allows pets at their offices, but isn't it interesting when a company that is not traditionally pet-friendly, becomes pet friendly? I know Bissell has recognized the power of pets, how they uplift us and encourage us and just make us feel better.

Back From Our Backpacking Trip with Miles

Just got back yesterday from our seven day backpacking trip with Miles in the incredibly beautiful Gila Wilderness. We are so lucky to have this area virtually in our back yard. Even if you live back East you should consider a visit if you love the back country. Drop a few bucks with our local merchants on the way in.

There are so many memories from the trip it's hard to pick one to get started with. Miles had a wonderful time of course. There is nothing quite like the unfettered freedom of the wilderness for a dog like Miles. We were fortunate to have had some test runs with him and we used all that learning to good advantage.

A Girl and Her Dog

I've written lots about the unique relationships we have with our dogs and cats. I've written extensively about our dog Miles and the effect he's had on my wife and I since we took him in last winter. He's a special dog and we both love him.  

Lately though, I've noticed something interesting.

Miles is my wife's dog. Oh, he likes me and he's happy to see me in the morning when I come up the steps. He wags his tail and gives me a nice greeting, but he's really waiting for Chris to come up stairs. When he sees her his whole body wiggles and his tail wags and it seems that he even smiles. He's excited to see her and the feeling is mutual.

Gotta Love that Dog's Tongue!

Oh my word! I got all caught up in this fabulous video from Fido friendly and it made my day! It's a bit long, but well worth it. Enjoy!

A Holistic Approach to Nutrition

I've done a series of posts over on the pet insurance blog about a new approach to nutrition being advocated by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN). The latter group is made of of board certified Veterinary Nutrition specialists.

 Most ACVN members practice at university teaching hospitals at Veterinary colleges around the country. Others work in specialty referral practices or for pet food companies helping formulate and develop new diets. Purina has several on staff and consulting arrangements with many more around the country and the world.

Save Our Pets in the Gulf

I've written about this on BlogPaws, but I wanted to share it here, also. We cannot discuss it enough. We cannot speak of it enough. We must hold BP accountable on all counts - not only for the oil in the gulf, not only for ruining the livelihoods of so many Americans, but also, for causing the drastic increase in abandoned pets.

I'm not talking about pets left by the roadside, though my heart goes out to them with great love! I'm talking about pets surrendered at shelters because their pet parents can no longer care for them, or feed them!

Mexican Gray Wolves Need Our Help

The Mexican Gray Wolf reintroduction is not going well and it's not the fault of the wolf. As usual, it's a people problem. 

There are several reasons for this. First of all the original plan for the reintroduction is woefully outdated and the US Fish and Wildlife Service needs to revise it to meet the new demands of a successful program. 

The other big reason for the failure of the program are the criminal actions of a few misguided local thugs. Since the program began 31 wolves have been killed illegally and another 47 have disappeared mysteriously. It does not take a sleuth like Sherlock Holmes to figure out what is going on. 

Celebrating Love for Our Pets

Nestle' Purina and Kroger grocery stores are celebrating love - of the mostly four-legged kind. I say 'mostly' because we know pets come in two-legged versions, also. In fact, I just read a superb story in Reader's Digest about pets where an Eagle was featured. And, I know people who keep chickens as pets!

The pet world is a big one, my friends. And, precisely because of that, pet parents and pet enthusiasts need to come together to help disadvantaged animals . Okay, disadvantaged is marketing-speak. We'll say abandoned and abused animals, animals that have saved lives, animals who give more love than they will ever get. Your pets and mine.