Pets Smile Plus

Price : $5.35

Features

• A complete multi-vitamin mineral supplement formulated with a full spectrum of balanced vitamins, minerals, fatty acids.
• Adult cat give 2 softchews daily divided between am and pm kitten give 1 softchew daily.

Product Description

Pet Naturals of Vermont Daily Best for Cats is a complete multi-vitamin/mineral supplement with digestive enzymes for cats of all ages and breeds. It is specifically formulated with a full spectrum of balanced vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, digestive enzymes, antioxidants and other nutrients that work synergistically to maintain health and well-being.

History

Throughout the US and in many parts of the world, greyhounds are used as racing dogs to support gambling. In the United States alone, there are roughly 40 dog tracks and hundreds of puppy farms and training facilities around the country. Years ago, the greyhound industry was in much worse shape than it is today. Many tracks have established very good policies as well as ?no kill? rules that help ensure the health and fate of the greyhounds. However, there are still thousands of greyhounds that after their racing days are in need of forever homes.

From Puppy to Adoption

Soon after greyhounds are born, they are sent to farms for training. They often remain in these training facilities until they are 18 months old. At this age, the dogs are introduced to the track and if they?re fast enough, will often race until they are between 3-4 years old. Aft this, they are usually put up for adoption.

Personality

It?s not enough to consider adopting a greyhound for humanitarian reasons alone. Think about the breed?s characteristics to determine if it would be a good fit in your home. Greyhounds are very easy-going dogs. This might surprise you, since we?re used to seeing greyhounds speeding around racing tracks reaching speeds of 40 mph. Despite this, greyhounds are normally good for only a few sprints per day. Otherwise, they are truly happy to relax around the house and casually play with a toy or a companion. The greyhound?s docile personality is complemented by their loyalty, intelligence and excitement about simple things like taking nightly walks or seeing their owner return home from work.

Appearance

Greyhound come in a variety of colors including solid blue, white, black, red, fawn and combinations of these colors with spotted and brindle patterns. Male greyhounds generally weigh between 65-75 pounds and females tend to weigh between 55-65 pounds. Their sleek, athletic look should be maintained even as they enter retirement. Keeping a greyhound fit and trim should be relatively easy since their metabolism is quite fast and they don?t tend to gain weight easily. Perhaps in part because of their great conditioning, greyhounds have long life expectancies for such large dogs, spanning between 12-15 years.

Availability

Greyhounds are available at shelters around the country ? many of which are associated with local racing tracks. Be sure to discuss your home situation with the director of the adoption facility. They?ll want to know if you have cats at home, small dogs and very young children. Based on greyhounds? training and instinct, some maintain left over aggressiveness toward small animals. The facility?s adoption director should be able to suggest a number of greyhounds that match well to your home life.

http://www.thepetman.com/

Price : $7.99

Features

• Ends litter box odor.
• Stops bad breath.

Product Description

Smelly Cat Urine & Stool Deodorizer freshens stinky cats from one end to the other — breath, urine and stool. Contains parsley, chlorophyll and yucca, natural ingredients that neutralize and eliminate odors throughout your cat’s digestive system.

When our son announced that he was moving back home to further his education, and that he was bringing P.J., his Maltese with him, my husband and I were somewhat apprehensive to say the least. First of all, we had never even seen a Maltese, and weren’t entirely sure that we even wanted to. Secondly, we thoroughly enjoyed our life as it was with the flexibility of coming and going whenever we wanted to. We also enjoyed the fact that we could have quiet time or go out for entertainment if and when we desired.

We knew things would change somewhat just by having our son home again, but between his working full time and going to school, we weren’t expecting to see much of him. So, what about the dog? If we didn’t see much of our son, neither would the dog see much of our son, which meant that my husband and I were soon to become a threesome. We decided we would tolerate the situation, knowing it was only temporary, but we were both already longing for assurance that we would have our previous flexible life back real soon.

Moving day soon arrived, and as the furniture and boxes were being moved in to the house, this inquisitive little fuzzy white dog with huge black eyes suddenly appeared, bounding in the door. She didn’t even acknowlege the fact that my husband and I were sitting on the couch, and instead began scurrying from room to room as if taking inventory of everything in site. She displayed absolutely no fear and one would never have suspected that this was her first trip to a house belonging to virtual strangers. When she completed her investigation, it was as if she gave everything her stamp of approval, jumped up into my lap, curled up, and promptly went to sleep. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of many curling up in the lap sessions.

That day, which was a little over three years ago, has certainly changed our lives, to say the least. Our car now has a doggie car seat prominately displayed in the backseat, and the car seldom leaves the driveway without P.J. happily perched inside. Our once orderly living room now has a large basket sitting there to hold the numerous dog toys and rawhide chews which are instead always scattered all over the house. There’s no such thing as an empty lap. P.J. not only thinks that all laps are created equal, but also that all laps are created for her. Both my husband and myself often find ourselves having complete conversations with….the dog. She’ll attentively sit there with her ears perked up listening to every word. She also loves to perch up on the back of the sofa and proudly announce the arrival of every bird, squirrel, dog, or person that does or does not come up to the door.

Yes, our lives have certainly changed. We no longer have the flexibility of coming and going whenever we want to. Our quiet haven is no more. In exchange we now have an adorable whimsical little companion who excitedly barks and wags her tail anytime either of us walks through the door. Our entertainment now consists of taking P.J. to the park or playing fetch, and our quiet time is holding this little ball of fur while she naps.

Our son has completed his schooling and is now moving on to a new phase of his life, but leaving P.J. with us. We of course are thrilled with this arrangement, and actually couldn’t imagine life without P.J. anymore. She has truly stolen our hearts with her Maltese Magic.

Copyright 2006 Cari Haus

By Connie Tersigni and Cari Haus. Connie Tersigni is owner of http://www.milliondollarmutts.com, offering upscale pet supplies for Poodles, Yorkies and Maltese — among other breeds.

Price : $19.99

Features

• Extra strong, hard to climb barrier
• See thru plastic panels
• Pressure mounts instantly without hardware
• Fits openings 26" to 42" wide and is 23" high
• Can also be used for pets

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-08-09
Great product. Low price and fast, free shipping sold me. Keeps my cats away from the front door and escaping.

Review date : 2008-08-01
this gate stays in place so well. My baby shakes the gate and it doesn’t move.

Review date : 2008-07-29
Decent item for light duty use. Has a little lever action to ensure a tight fit.

Review date : 2008-07-29
I like the product and it does work once I have it locked in place. It’s getting it locked in place that takes so long. I move it from room to room, so if it’s set up and never moved it would be great. However, I always have to fiddle with the thing for minutes to get everything lined up just so it will glide into place. Bit of a hassle with little kids with little fingers eager to help. So I’d say if you are buying it to set it up and leave it….excellent choice, if you are going to move it from room to room not so good.

Review date : 2008-07-27
I got a couple of these to corral my new puppy in the kitchen area of our house. They work great for that. However, I am 5′7", not short, and sometimes it can be difficult to step over the gate. (They are easy to remove and replace as needed)If they were a couple inches shorter they’d be perfect. That aside, this is a great, inexpensive solution to a common problem.

Edit to add: I have been using these gates for about 4 months now, and they have been kicked, tripped over, and otherwise mis-treated. They are both holding up perfectly fine. I don’t know what the people were doing to break their gates, but it must have been something akin to nuclear war! I am very happy with this purchase, and have actually been considering buying another one to keep the adventurous pup from going upstairs, where she then cries for someone to come get her. *eye roll*

Scott had to turn his head away while the needle penetrated; with a sobering voice, he kept saying, ?I am sorry; I am so sorry.? As soon as he returned home from the vet, this six-foot-two-tall man collapsed into tears after putting Jackie, his kitty cat to sleep.

Jackie had not cleaned himself or eaten for two days. Scott noticed that he had a hair ball in his mouth, as he looked closer, he found out it was blood. After that he rushed Jackie to the vet and discovered Jackie had cancer under his tongue. There was not much Scott could do except put him to sleep.

Linda just got back home, after saying a quick hi to Scott, she started to look for Jackie, ?Come on baby, Mommy is home, where are you Jackie?? Well?she cried four days after she was told that Jackie was put to sleep.

It was a true story; the reason I brought this up is because often times, we take relationships for granted and fail to cherish what we have until it is too late.

Love and figures
Love is a universal language. It is perhaps one of the most popular words we use on a daily basis, each day there are over 20,000[1 people searching for love.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, if you are in your 20?s and you are single male, then you are more likely to look for love.

While more and more people say I do at a later age[2, pet ownership is increasing. A recent survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), in 1988, the first year survey was conducted, 56% of U.S. households own a pet compared to the 63% present day.?

Lasting Bonds
The simple truth is that Americans live far more than subsistent; we often lost the touch of our inner self. In this nothing is built to last era, the human-pet bond relationship becomes stronger in Americans’ lives than many realize. More empty nesters, young couples or single professionals are substituting children with a pet.

A recent survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association, ?The strong growth in the industry demonstrates what an important role pets are playing in the lives of Americans?they have become a part of the family.?

Another survey conducted by the APPMA, revealed 57% would prefer their pet as their only companion if they were stranded on a desert island. It is not uncommon for a pet owner to call back home and leave messages on the answering machine while they are away, or saying ?I love you? to their pets several times a day.

Some pet owners are willing to reach deep down into their pocket to have a birthday party for their pets; others will send their pet for a massage session. To some, these behaviors may seem ?queer? and some even wonder why people would do so much for their pets.

The reality
Pets offer far more than return, they greet us at our ups and downs, waiting faithfully behind that closed door day in and day out. Unfortunately, their love for us can?t even earn them a permanent space in our hearts.

According to The Human Society of the United States (HSUS), 6-8 million of our furry friends end up in shelters, and about 50% of them are euthanized. As one of the richest and so-called-animal loving nation, we really need to look at statistics seriously.

Learn to love
Each day some are loosing their loves, while many are looking for new love all in the wrong places. Single ads are flowing just about everywhere and anywhere, how many of us have realized and cherish our best friend(s) ? the inspiring, fascinating, and more importantly, adorable friend who providing nothing but unconditional love.

Love is a lesson and a long time commitment. Learn to love your best friend(s) with all your heart and with devotion because to them, the bond between you and him/her can be best describes as ?for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, to love and until death do us apart.?

Footnotes
[1 Figure obtained from the Web CEO.

[2 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, ?the proportion of women 20 to 24 years old who had never married more than doubled between 1970 and 2003 ? from 36 percent to 75 percent. Changes were also dramatic for men ? the corresponding rate for men in this age group increased from 55 percent to 86 percent.?

Pamela Chao is an animal lover, also owner of the PetAdorn, an store specialize in pet products such as dog hats, hair accessories, barrettes clip, apparel and costumes in sports, holiday, and patriotic themes.

Price : $7.99

Features

• Ends litter box odor.
• Stops bad breath.

Product Description

Smelly Cat Urine & Stool Deodorizer freshens stinky cats from one end to the other — breath, urine and stool. Contains parsley, chlorophyll and yucca, natural ingredients that neutralize and eliminate odors throughout your cat’s digestive system.

The Basset Hound is a Medium/Large dog that typically weighs between 45-75 pounds. Their height averages between 11 to 15. It is long and low and their height/weight ratio makes their already short legs look even shorter. In fact, their name comes from the French word bas which means low. Their gentle, loving, patient nature makes them an excellent companion dog for the home while their keen sense of smell and hunting instincts continue to make them excellent hunting companions.

Recognized by the AKC in 1885, the acceptable colors for the Basset Hound are a variety of hound colors, but they are typically white with chestnut or sand colored markings. The fairly dense coat is short, straight, hard and smooth. Their coat is easy to groom and only requires an occasional brushing and shampooing.

This loving, gentle dog is perfect for family life. They are excellent and patient with small children, even when they are not socialized with them. They are affectionate with their family and love to be around their family. They are great with other dogs and pets as well, although early socialization is good for non-canine pets because they might chase them due to their hunting instincts. They are easy going and fairly inactive when they are inside, making them great for apartment life as they enjoy relaxing and laying around inside. They are more active outdoors and require regular play, exercise and time to run. If you don’t have a yard, you should plan to at least take them on a daily walk. They are fairly easy to train, but if they are on the trail of a scent, they will not pay any attention to you. For this reason, a fenced in yard is best. They have a tendency to gain weight, so monitoring their food intake and giving them ample exercise is important.

The Basset Hound originated in France and dates back hundreds of years. Their ancestry can be traced back to the Bloodhound. Originally used as hunting dogs, the Basset Hound uses its excellent sense of smell to track animals. Even though they can still be used for hunting, they are seen more as companion dogs today.

Few breeds equal the Basset Hound’s gentle, forgiving, laid back nature. They are perfect for active families and for those that just enjoy an occasional walk provided their Basset Hound can have daily outside time. Whether you have small children or other pets or dogs, the Basset Hound can fit into just about any type of family dynamic with little to no adjustment problems.

Learn more about the Basset Hound or discuss dogs with other dog lovers at http://www.deardoggy.com/

Price : $24.99

Features

• Automatically closes and locks
• Use at top of stairs or in a variety of room openings
• Features a security latch with easy-one hand operation
• Easy to install with child-proof locking handwheel
• Heavy-duty metal construction

Product Description

Expand the use of your Auto-Close gate by North States Industries with this extension bar set. Easy-to-install, each bar adds 14 to the width of the gate. Designed for use with the Auto-Close gate only. Features heavy metal construction. Imported. 30H.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-07-14
This may have been a good product, but the boxes arrived destroyed. Absilutely not the carriers fault. Amazon did such bad packing, there was no way it could have survived the trip. And since the delivery box was destroyed, it would cost me more to pay the local pack and ship to return the damaged extension and wait for replacement. Instead, I went to the local PetSmart and bought this product off the shelf from them. Should have done that in the first place and saved myself the hassle. The Amazon extension is headed to the trash.

Review date : 2007-05-06
This gate was easy to put up. It closes 90% of the time. I would buy it again.

I’ve written extensively on how to become a petsitter. It occurred to me that not everyone wants to be one. So, for those who don’t want to be a petsitter, but could use the services of one, I am now addressing this question.

Obviously, a petsitter is a trusted person. If I am hiring a petsitter, I want to know that my computer, TV and jewelry will be there when I get back. I want to know that my pet is safe and lovingly cared for. How can I tell if the person I’m interviewing for the job will do what I want and be trustworthy?

First, I interview the person over the phone or in person. I ask for references. If the person has no references for petsitting, I ask for the names and numbers of a couple of character references. I don’t expect the person I’m talking to to be an expert, or even be experienced. So many people are not experienced petsitters, that it doesn’t make sense to hold out for the one or two master petsitters in town to have time to talk to me. I need someone NOW!

So, I call the references. I ask about honesty,reliablilty and dependability. I want to know if the person works and where they live. I want to know if they have any pets of their own. How do they talk about their pets to their friends? If I know the person enough to carry on a conversation, I listen to how they talk about their pets. Are they having troubles with their pets? How are they addressing those problems?

Trustworthiness is important. I need to know that the person I pick to come into my home to care for my pets will feed them, love them, spend time with them and not do things I don’t want done in my home. I don’t generally want someone staying at my home while I’m away. I want to know that the petsitter has a home to go to and won’t stay over. I want to know that they live close enough so that I’m not buying a tank of gas that I don’t need to buy. If I need the plants watered, I need to know if they can handle it, or if they have a brown thumb. I’d hate to lose a prize cactus because it was watered too much, or a beautiful fern die and wither from lack of water. I don’t want the fertilizing done while I’m away. I prefer to do that myself. If I have an outdoor garden, does it need watering every day? How long should all this take? How much am I willing to pay? Is food included (read - fill the fridge before I go and again when I get back)? Am I willing to trust this person not to bring strangers to my home? That’s a real setup, if ever there was one!

Only now am I willing to discuss payment arrangements. I pay by the day. I negotiate to get the best rate, but want to be sure that my petsitter is happy with the price, too. Underpayment will only lead to sloppy care and scheduling, resentments and a petsitter who won’t come the next time I need someone. Pay fair to play fair!

If I’m going to be unavailable for more than a week, I prefer to board my cats at a trusted kennel. It just makes more sense, and works out well for me. I pick a kennel by three criteria: personal reference, cleanliness and meeting the attendants.

I always get a personal reference for a kennel. I go visit during a slow time of the week and look it over. I’m sure that during a busy holiday weekend, it will be much more chaotic; and I also know that the attendants won’t have time to give me a tour and answer all my questions during a busy time. So, I visit while it’s relatively slow. Since I have cats, I ask to see the cat area in the kennel.

I look for cleanliness. The holding areas (not always cages, but sometimes) are used by the animals, so I look for places and things that can cause hazards to my pets. Sharp things, stored items that don’t have any obvious reason for being there, etc. I also look for things my cats can climb on and check to see if there are any windows my cats can see out of to watch the comings and goings of the world. I look for cubby holes so my cats feel secure. I look for soft things. I check the ambient temperature because if it’s cold for me, it will be for my cats. I smell the area to see if I can smell urine or chemicals. I don’t want either scent to assail me when I come get my cats. I check to see how the other cats (if any) are being cared for. Are the litter boxes clean? Is the food old or spoiled? Do the walls and floor around the food dishes look like they could use a good cleaning?

Lastly, I talk to the attendants. I listen to how they talk about the animals they care for. I listen to their attitudes toward their work and the kennel in general. You can learn a lot by what IS NOT said, as much as what IS. I ask them if they have any pets of their own. I look them over for cleanliness. Yes, it matters. If a person handles a sick animal and does not wash their hands, the disease can be spread to other animals.

I hope this helps. The kennel I use is Ravenwood Kennels in Halls, TN. The owner, Cheri Roop is knowedgeable, has goats running around outside to visit with and the kennel is clean. She is very nice and tries to make the cat area as homelike as possible, while keeping the cats apart. I trust her with Beasley and Princess. She knows my vet personally, and is known to some of my church members. You can contact her at 865-922-9641.

Get references. Call and visit. Talk and get to know your people. The more comfortable you are with them, the more comfortable your pets will be.

Morgen Marshall, a cat lover and trainer, invites you into her world of cats. She created a website dedicated to making the relationship between cats and people harmonious and healthy. For the Love of Cats is a place for people facing difficulties in their relationships with cats to come and find the answers they need from someone they can trust.