Irresponsible Pet Owners

In my last article I mentioned that I can’t watch several shows on Animal Planet because they upset me. Next to Animal Cops, the other shows that I find disturbing are those where dog trainers go to people’s homes to help with their dogs’ behavioral problems. For my second “Be Kind to Animals Week” article, I want to focus on irresponsible pet owners. Irresponsible pet owners are one of my biggest peeves, and the reason why I don’t like dog training shows. Watching those shows it seems like most of the time, the dogs have problems because their owners don’t … Continue reading →

Not So Wild Cats in the Neighborhood

At the cats-only boarding facility, we keep an eye out for abandoned or feral cats. Leftover food from the guests is set out twice a day for our “regulars”. We even do our best to catch, spay or neuter, and find homes for the feral cats who hang out behind the building. But those aren’t the only abandoned kitties I deal with. There’s a sizable abandoned cat population at the apartment complex where I live. There are two in particular who live and hang out right by my door: a pair of mostly black kitties. One is extremely friendly; the … Continue reading →

Sympathy Cards for a Lost Pet

It feels like I’ve been signing a lot of sympathy cards at the cats-only boarding facility lately. As much as I hate to think about it, our pets just don’t live as long as we’d like them to. It’s a sad coincidence that we’ve had several guests pass away in relatively quick succession. Sometimes, I don’t know what to say. I do my best to find something to love about each and every cat that comes through our doors. When I’m writing out the card, I try to remember some special moment I shared with the pet — some fond … Continue reading →

Free Sample of Rachael Ray’s Dog Food

Celebrity chef Rachael Ray makes no secret of being an animal lover… or a food lover! She’s combined the two to offer a line of premium dog food called Nutrish. The website proudly proclaims that the first ingredient in Nutrish is real meat — and backs it up by posting the full ingredient list. You’ll find healthy omega fatty acids, essential vitamins and minerals, and fiber for digestive health in the mix. And if you’d like to give it a try, she’s giving out free samples. Just visit her Nutrish website (www.switchtonutrish.com) and fill in your address information. You’ll be … Continue reading →

Salmonella Warning Issued for Merrick Beef Filet Squares

Check your puppy’s snack cabinet: Merrick Beef Filet Squares have been recalled because they may be contaminated with salmonella. The recall was announced January 14th. Fortunately, no pet or human illnesses have been linked with the product. Instead, the possible contamination was found during a routine FDA test of the treats in December 2009. A follow-up inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found problems with the packaging and the manufacturing of the treats. The particular treats that have been recalled are Merrick Beef Filet Squares in the ten ounce red, green, and tan resealable bag. The recalled batch … Continue reading →

A Raincoat for Lally?

My dog Lally hates the rain. When I open the front door and she catches a glimpse of that horrible wet stuff falling from the sky, her demeanor changes immediately. Pre-walk, she’s usually excited and alert. Once she sees or feels those first few drops, her ears go down, her head drops, and she seems to draw herself in — as if to be a smaller target for the rain. Nothing bothers Moose, mind you. Rain, snow, hail… he’s unfazed. But considering how the Pacific Northwest is known for being somewhat rainy, I started thinking that maybe Lally would like … Continue reading →

Keeping Pets Warm in Cold Weather

We’ve been having an “arctic blast” here in the Pacific Northwest… and boy has it been COLD! I worry about keeping my dogs warm when we’re out walking — I bundle up with coat, hat, and gloves, but they’re out there in just their fur. My dogs Moose and Lally tolerate wearing clothes reasonably well. So if I were to buy them coats to wear, I think they would be willing to wear them. But booties to protect their feet? No way. A hat to protect their ears? Doubtful. So what can you do to protect your pets from the … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: the Worst Part of the Job

It feels like this year has been a rough one for some of our favorite clients at the cats-only boarding facility. Some of our long-time visitors succumbed to chronic health issues or old age. It feels like we’ve been sending a lot of condolence cards. I don’t like it. Not one bit. We said goodbye to another dear friend this week — you may remember him as the biggest cat I’d ever seen. When he first came in to board for a weekend, he tipped the scale at almost thirty-four pounds. On his latest visit, he was down to almost … Continue reading →

When Litterbox Smells Attack!

It’s Halloween season… time for a horror story! And let’s face it — as cute as our pets are (of all species), sometimes they produce some awful smells. In my work at the cats-only boarding facility, I encounter the whole rainbow of litterbox nightmares. There’s the cat who nearly misses the box, so the mess is half in and half out. There’s the digger, who likes to pepper the walls and floor with dirty litter bits. There’s the one who mistakes bed for box and vice versa. And the odor can range from “barely know it’s there” to “I smelled … Continue reading →

How Much Do You Feed Your Pets?

My dog Moose would eat until he hurt himself, if he had the opportunity. He’s not what I’d call “self-regulating” when it comes to meals. If the food is there, he’ll eat it. If my other dog’s food is there, he’ll try to eat that, too. My dog Lally, on the other hand, IS self-regulating. If she isn’t hungry, she won’t eat. If I only had her, I could leave dry food out all the time and she’d nibble throughout the day, as needed. It’s what I did before Moose joined the family! At the moment, my dogs get three … Continue reading →