Scruffy and Snicker's Lavish Wedding

Last weekend in California, two lucky pups were joined in holy matrimony in a lavish $5,000 wedding. The newlyweds, Scruffy and Snickers, were joined in marriage with many friends in attendance – including those of the canine variety - in an elegant ceremony complete with a live band, a wedding cake, and an open bar. In light of the sad condition of the economy, this fuzzy pair and their owners have fallen under much scorn for the exorbitant expense but it was all for a good cause; Instead of traditional gifts, the dogs’ owners requested that the guests instead make donations to the Humane Society in their area. The mother of the bride said “The whole thing just took a life of its own and kept growing and growing, but that was okay because the donations we collected for the shelter were just amazing!” What a terrific way to both have a good time and support a great cause! If your amorous pup has wedding fever, we have a wide selection of formal dog clothing - from dog wedding dresses and dog tuxedos for the bride and groom, to dog shirts for the wedding party and dog bow ties for the guests. Everything your pup needs to tie the knot!

Bow Wow Brownies Recipe

Does your food hound have a fondness for sweets? Satisfy your pup’s sweet tooth with Bow Wow Dog Brownies! This non-chocolate delicacy is an easy to make, dog friendly version of the human favorite. Ingredients: 6 cups oats 2 cups whole wheat flour 4 eggs or egg replacer 1/3 cup corn oil 3/4   cup molasses 1 cup rice 1 can plain pumpkin Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 2. Lightly grease a non-stick baking pan. 3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. 4. Pour ingredients into baking pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. 5. Cool completely and then cut into squares. Enjoy! (Recipe courtesy of Simply Pets )

Distracted Driving – Unrestrained Pets Are Unsafe!

We all enjoy taking our canine companions with us where ever we go, but dog owners beware – Taking your pup for a ride can be hazardous to not only you and your pet, but to others on the road as well. According to a recent survey by AAA, nearly 60% of pet owners have driven while being distracted by their pets. This problem is so widespread that two states (Rhode Island and Tennessee) are deliberating over banning unrestrained pets all together. Only about 1 out of every 6 dog owners use restraints on their pets when they ride in the car. When our furry friends are left unleashed in the car, they can prove to be quite distracting by crawling on the floor and obstructing the pedals, interfering with steering, and trying to climb in the driver’s lap. In addition to distracting the driver, our pets are just not safe in the front seat – An air bag deploying could cause serious damage to your pet! In order to keep everyone safe, we need to buckle up our canine passengers in the backseat. A dog car harness is a great idea for bigger breeds – These comfy harnesses attach to the seatbelt and keep your pup in place. For smaller dogs, a dog car seat is a good alternative. These comfortable seats give your pooch a cushy place to relax while riding in safety. There are straps that hook to your dog’s harness to anchor them in place. Most of these seats are at least slightly raised, which gives tiny dogs a better view. With just a few small changes, what was once a dangerous drive can become a safe journey for everyone in the family, as well as other drivers on the road.

Easter Safety for Your Pet

With Easter just around the corner, time is running out for dying eggs and filling baskets! Spring is upon us and the Easter holiday is a great time to enjoy nice weather, family, and fun. Before the Easter Bunny comes hopping to your town, let’s set aside a moment to think about our furry friends… While Easter conjures up thoughts of warmer weather, greener grass, and Spring time activities, this holiday can also pose some toxic threats to your pets! Here are a few precautions to consider during your celebrations:

Easter Lilies: These pretty flowers are a trademark of the Easter season. Though these flowers are beautiful to behold, they also incredibly toxic to our fuzzy friends. When ingested, these flowers are poisonous and can even be deadly to cats! They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and kidney failure. Keep these flowers up and away from your pets’ reach and if you think your pet might have consumed any part of the plant, call your vet immediately. Tulips, Calla Lilies, Daisies, and Daffodils can all be harmful as well.

Easter grass: Easter baskets aren’t the same without colorful Easter grass, but this bright decoration can be very damaging to your pets if swallowed. Ingestion of artificial grass can cause minor health problems like constipation and vomiting, but major problems could arise as well; The long strands of this grass can tangle around intestines, causing a seriously blockage that requires surgery to correct. Make sure to place Easter baskets in a safe place and consider using something different, such as tissue paper.

Chocolate: While it is well known that chocolate is poison to dogs, our wily canine friends still find ways to get forbidden treats. Keeping chocolate off of the floor, where your pet’s can’t reach it would obviously be the first line of defense, but kids caught up in the excitement of the holiday might forget to keep your pet’s safety first and leave treats unattended. Make sure to educate kids about the harms of giving pets chocolate and remind them to keep candy out of reach. Some warning signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, lethargy, increased thirst, elevated heart rate, and seizures. High levels of the toxin found in chocolate are poisonous to both the nervous system and heart and could be deadly.

Xylitol: This popular sugar substitute is highly harmful to pets! This is usually can be found in sugar free candy and causes a rapid drop in blood sugar – which can lead to seizures and liver failure.

Easter eggs: Whether you use real eggs or plastic, these colorful decorations can make your pet very sick. Eating real eggs can cause and upset and if your pet swallows them whole a blockage could occur. Egg shells are not easy for your pet to digest, so days of discomfort could result. Eggs that are hidden during an egg hunt and not found become irresistible to your pet the more smelly they get.Eating rotten eggs never has outcome! Plastic eggs can’t spoil – but they are also not digestible and could cause a serious intestinal blockage if eaten.

By heeding to the above warnings, you and your pets can have a safe and happy Easter. In order to make the holiday special for your pet, try getting your pet their own special Easter dog treats!