Jul 29, 2009

Doggiegoes to grannies,What to do?

Over the weekend while I was out promoting the engraving of dog tags and custom engraved medical alerts for my web site www.ezpetid.com, Poppy went to stay at grannie Palomas house. As you may recall poppy is my 9 year old australian shepehrd mix who is just a wee bit spoiled. Paloma is my best friend who has 20 wonderful acres in the middle of no where. She has three men and7 dogs living on her property at the moment from small chiwawas to the largest red bull terrier I have ever seen in my life.

There is a understanding that Poppy is not a dog, she is a princess in dogs clothing and she expects to be treated like a princess. She sits in chairs at the dining room table and Paloma talks to her as if she were able to follow every word. I dare say she may follow every word, at times she seems to nod and grunt in just the right places.

Poppy has felt a little put out the last two times she visited Paloma's due to a new potentially permanent addition, a 22 month old foster child that was unceremoniously delivered to Paloma after the mother lost custody overnight. The boy has some moderate special needs that have required many doctors visits and trips out of town to childrens hospital. For several months now there has been a quiet struggle for dominance in the household. Poppy has felt put out by this curious, loud little person who seems to get more of Paloma's attention than she has for the last 8 years.

My girl has come home pouting and takes every moment she can to tell me she is not happy with the changes at grandma's house. After a visit a month ago I became so concerned with her behavior upon her return that I took her to the vet and after a complete physical and $265 lighter, I was informed that I have a very healthy dog besides some arthritis and that she must just feel stressed by the changes in Paloma's house.

So this time I sat poppy down, and we had a talk before we parted company, I told her that she really had to find charity for the child, flirt with the guys and cuddle with her grannie whenever she had time. Most of all i reminded her that she had 20 acres to run on and if she was stressed perhaps she should try pretending she was a dog and go roll in something, sniff things and remark her territory so that all would know that she is the princess.

I was happy to hear that poppy had a wonderful time at palomas this time, however she came home with FLEAS! Clearly they did not get the memo that she is a princess and that the lowly flea dare not land on her....

So here comes the advantage and her anti flea supplements which includes a bit of vinegar in her water daily... We will get those nasty fleas and my princess will live for another day to romp and play...

I wish blessings on my readers and I hope my ramblings are entertaining to you all.

Next time i will share some photos from my summer adventures and more stories from the road. My laptop will be going to the HOP doctor in TEXAS tomorrow! She needs a new fan so my postings might be slight till I get my right arm back! Can you believe how attached we have all gotten to computers in less than 20 years! I cant! HMMM is that a good thing or bad... I remember being in high school oh so many years ago and only the "a" students were allowed to touch the computers... back then the machines filled a room! now they are 17 x 20 x 1 inches sit on your lap! Go figure.

Lovs and kisses.
Kelley

Jul 28, 2009

Buying local and working events

Recently I set up at a local community wide event . What I love about this event is that the organizers are all volunteers and they use the proceeds to benefit the community. I believe in working at these type of events to give back to my community,while supporting the non profit I run.

I was surprised to see so many vendors coming from other states and cities to sell in Humboldt. Next week I wanted to do an event in another local city. I was told that they already had a engraver and that he was coming from out of the area.

How do we get the message of supporting the local economy to the promoters of these events without offending them, because clearly that is not the intent and most if not all are giving of themselves with the absolute best of intentions. There seems to be a disconnect between local vendors and promoters. Maybe there needs to be more information sharing. I'm not sure I have the answer, I'm just posing the question. Shouldn't local vendors be encouraged to support local events where the proceeds are being used to do good in the community? And should local promoters encourage and support local micro businesses and non profits to participate thus bringing the dollar full circle and keeping it in the community?

And yet I'm a hyprocrite, because I look forward to visiting my favorite silver vendor each year who has the best quality, affordable silver from Taxsco, Mexico I have ever seen. They do not make it themselves but they are supporting the silver smiting enterprises of the people of taxsco. Perhaps Im just posing a moral question to myself about the shop local movement. How do we connect the dots on all levels? Can we?

On another simular note, I know that after tasting fresh vegetables from my local sustainable agriculture farm of which Im a member, I can never again eat produce grown by corporations on massive farms in the central valley.

We talk alot in our county about shopping locally, and keeping humboldt dollars in humboldt, How do we translate that message to event promoters? Do we need to? I know that competing with another vendor at the event I was just at, left me about $500 light from years past where I did the event. And I still needed to pay my employee, materials, advertizing costs and booth fees, add the sales taxes Ill pay and I broke even with no profit, If you dont count what my time was worth.

I recently joined the Humboldt Independent Business Alliance and took their pledge to shop locally whereever I can, I joined because I have begun to see that as a small business - non profit, Alot of business is lost to people and corporations outside the community and as a poor rural county, we need to become more self sustainable in many ways, I frankly do not have the answers but Im hoping to learn from others and the collective.

Blessings to all and I hope this rambling makes some kind of sence to someone.

Kelley

Jun 4, 2009

Community farms, pets and plates

Last week I joined a local community farm where Eddie Tanner and his wife raise awesome veggetables for thos of us who "buy a share" in his farm. Each week for the next 26 weeks I will receive produce right from the farm. I have discovered only the second week in that I do not know what some of the vegetables are! This week I got Fava! Alot of them! What does one do with Fava beans?

Well after several searches I found the recipe I am attaching. After I figured out that you have to peel them one from the pod, and you boil them...Then you peel off the outer shell from each bean. I hope all that work is worth the bean!

Fresh Fava Bean and Pecorino Cheese Salad

Fava bean and pecorino salad

Fava beans are a spring favorite in southern and central Italy. This salad, adapted from Patricia Wells' Trattoria (William Morrow 1993) is popular as a starter or as part of an antipasto spread. If you can only find a hard grating pecorino, use a soft goat cheese. If there are leftovers, saute the beans and cheese with a little oil in a small skillet. They are fragrant and delicious as a warm appetizer.

Makes 8 to 12 servings

2 pounds fresh unshelled fava beans (about 2 cups shelled beans)

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano

3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, snipped with scissors

1/8 teaspoon crushed red peppers (hot red pepper flakes), or to taste

8 ounces soft sheep's milk cheese such as a pecorino or a soft fresh goat's milk cheese, cut in small cubes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients, and toss to blend. Taste for seasoning.

===========================================================

I have to say this sound pretty good I believe I will make this tomorrow.

Poppy has been staying with her grandmother Paloma. I spent a few days in the hospital, but Im ok now.

Whenever She comes home from granny's she is different for a week or two. On one hand she is mad that I left and on the other hand she is glad that I am back. GO figure, Granny's house it allot more fun too, 20 acres of bear poop, dear droppings and grass piles to roll in and did I mention the 7 dogs on Granny Paloma's property?! I think poppy likes running with a pack! 4 of the 7 are C! I recently joined a web site called zootoo. and I have met allot of people who are as passionate about pets as I am, it has been tremendous fun! We are all getting ready for the summer shows too which start next week. Lots of new dog tags, some beautiful designer dog collars and I have made about 30 ceramic mugs to sell. I am going to make a bunch with dog themes and specifically for the fairs I am attending.

I hope all will come out and see us. I will post a list of the events I'm doing this summer.

Blessings all and keep safe... Wear heavy leather when picking black berries or cutting cane!
In you service,
Kelley

Apr 21, 2009

Care for the elderly dog, What to do when they show signs of aging


Over the last few weeks I have begun to see signs of aging in my beloved dog poppy. Her eyes are starting to show preliminary signs of cataracts, and after a long walk the other day, I noticed that she was having a really hard time getting up on the couch to her favorite corner. I took her to the vet somewhat concerned because Poppy is really a active and happy dog.

The vet said " Kelley, poppy is not 10 she is 12 years old, that for a dog is fairly mature. She will start showing her age, She is the equivalent of 50 in human years. I went home and began researching senior dog care online and I found some really good articles. One web site stuck out to me the most. The Senior dogs project is a well put together web page with practical information The page is not heavy on advertising or trying to sell you products you don't need http://www.srdogs.com/index.html

The second article that I found was from the Drs. Foster and Smith Pet Education and care web site. While I have found that the web site prices for products tend to be about 25% higher than what I can pay locally for the same or similar products when you consider shipping and cost of goods, I have found their educational articles to be quite good.
Health & Veterinary Care for Older (Senior, Geriatric) Dogs Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Holly Nash, DVM, MS
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2110&aid=618

Nash was quick to point out that Many veterinary clinics and hospitals have developed special preventive care programs for older animals. These are often called 'geriatric panels,' 'geriatric wellness programs,' 'geriatric screens,' or 'senior care programs.' These can include combination's of various diagnostic tests including blood tests, urinalysis, fecal exams, radiography (x-rays), and EKGs. Ask your veterinarian which tests are appropriate for your dog. She went on to explain in detail each of these tests and what to expect in the care of your senior dog.

For me the most practical article I found was 10 tips to senior dog care which you will find below.
While caring for a senior dog can be costly, the articles I reviewed prepared me for what is to come and what i can do to keep poppy comfortable. My first step this week will be to make a appointment for a "well dogie check". I know that Poppy needs a good teeth cleaning and a blood panel to ensure that she is not beginning to show signs of any disease process.

I believe that my old gal has many years of good life left. We are all getting older and medical care for both of us is to become a regular thing and a part of our routine maintenance. Over a few weeks, I transitioned poppys's food to a senior organic diet and added a senior multi vitamin, and we walk every day.

The Ten Most Important Tips for Keeping Your Older Dog Healthy

1. Establish a relationship with the best veterinarian you can find. For most older dogs, it is advisable to make an appointment with the vet every six months. Your vet should be someone whom you trust and with whom you feel very comfortable.

2. Become informed about the conditions common to older dogs and the therapies used for them. Be alert to symptoms, bring them to your vet's attention promptly, and be prepared to discuss treatment options.

3. Feed your older dog the best food you can afford; consider feeding him a home-prepared diet and two small meals daily rather than one large one.

4. Don't overfeed your dog. Obesity will create health problems and shorten his life.

5. Consider the use of dietary supplements such as glucosamine/chondroitin for arthritis.

6. Give your senior dog adequate exercise, but adjust it to her changing abilities.

7. Attend to your dog's dental health. Brush her teeth daily and have them cleaned professionally whenever your vet advises it.

8. Tell your vet you wish to have your dog vaccinated only once every three years, as currently advised by the major veterinary associations.

9. Be diligent in controlling fleas and ticks, and keep your dog and his environment scrupulously clean.

10. Make your senior dog as much a part of your life as possible, and do all you can to keep him interested, active, happy and comfortable.

(Of course, these ten tips also apply in large part to young dogs, too.)

These topics are among those discussed in depth on the Senior Dogs Project website. See www.srdogs.com/Pages/care.fr.html

Blessing to all!

By the way, we just uploaded the latest version of our web site and catalog. We carry medical alerts and informational tags for pets, people and their gear.

Kelley Barrett
www.ezpetid.com


Apr 18, 2009

Comparing pet tags.

A word about "the other guys" (Product comparisons):


We have ordered many tags from other corporate and "pet super store" kiosks to see whats out there. We tested some for wear and tear on our own dogs. Ours lasted longer.


In our research, we have found that many of these tags are NOT made in the USA. The metals they use are not quality controlled and remind us of cheap aluminum foil. Ours are made with industrial strength 16 gauge compressed aluminum. In a test for lead, we found that many contain lead by-products. Many color coat the tops and bottoms then stamp out their tags, leaving base metals exposed on the sides. All these issues make for a inferior product that will break and become damaged and illegible quickly.)



Apr 16, 2009

First Aid for pets tool for keeping your dog safe.


Help Your Dog!
Do you know what to do if your dog is injured or has a medical emergency? The decisions you make in the first few critical minutes can determine whether or not you successfully get your dog to a veterinarian for proper care. Do you have the National Animal Poison Control Center’s, veterinarian, and other important phone numbers posted in an easy to locate place in your home?

Dogs can bite into electrical cords, get hit by a baseball or have a heart attack that causes their heart to stop beating. You will learn dog CPR that could save their life. Many dogs have successfully be saved by giving them CPR.

You should know step by step what to do to protect your pets in any situation. Spring is here and if you take your dog on hunting and camping trips, you need knowledge on how to treat your pet in case of an accident away from veterinary help. What items you should have in your pet first aid kit?. You need to be prepared. Why take the chance of not knowing?

Below is a list of what my vet recommended to go in a first aid kit.
Rolled gauze (four rolls) Gauze pads
Cotton Swabs Ace bandages (two rolls)
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) Betadine
Wound wash saline (two bottles) Instant cold packs (three)
One large blanket One small blanket
Tweezers Forceps
Stethoscope Muzzles
Medicine droppers Antibiotic ointment
Scissors Medical tape
Duct tape Four paint stirrers for splinting
Six washcloths Two hand towels
One gallon of water

Kits should also have medications included:

Benadryl Mylanta Gas
Pepto Bismol Aspirin (buffered)
Milk of Magnesia (for toxicity) Activated Charcoal (for toxicity)
Mineral Oil (for constipation) Glycerin Suppositories (for constipation)

We found several great articles on the internet from credible sources to educate you further on this subject. We found several great articles about first aid and other things you should know about pet care on http://petcare.suite101.com/ The site also had a similar list of supplies for a kit to the list we got from a local vet.

When traveling you should include additional items in your pet ID kit, a slip, twist, fall or attack by a wild animal could all happen and one needs to literally think of everything for your own piece of mind as well as the safety of your pet.

Pet owners should also include a three-days worth of any pet vital medications in the pet first aid kit.

This extra supply of medication is vital for pets who rely on a medication for survival, like a dog with diabetes, epilepsy or other disorders that require extra care. Ask your veterinarian for a bit extra medication for your kit next time you get a refill – he or she will be happy to supply you with the extra doses for your pet emergency kit.

One of our Face book Friends has a wonderful web site for dogs with disabilities and they talk on the page about first aid and care for senior and disabled dogs. http://handicappedpets.com/

The next thing you need is a good First Aid Guide, We strongly recommend the book, "Pet First Aid, Cats and Dogs by the American Red Cross".
Wishing you and your pets a wonderful fun filled Spring.

And for a light hearted moment The link Ive attached is just a cute and funny cartoon video.

Apr 14, 2009

Lessons learned about food your dogs need to avoid


I was recently handed this list by a vet after playing taxi for a friend who's dog broke into a postal delivery left on the porch of a neighbor. The box was from a famous dessert company and held an assortment of dark chocolates, dried fruits, white chocolates and cheeses. The vet pumped poor Harvey's stomach and gave him some medicines to minimize the damage. i thought that seeing as i didn't know about half the stuff on this list, others may not know either. So here is the list of foods you should never give your dog.

CHOCOLATE: Best to remember – dark chocolate, especially baker’s chocolate, is the worst when it comes to this type of “poisoning”. Chocolate contains a substance called Theobromine (similar to caffeine), which in toxic doses can cause heart attacks. As little as 2 oz baker’s chocolate can be fatal for a small dog. If you suspect your dog has gotten into chocolate call your vet immediately.

GRAPES/RAISINS: Surprisingly, this is a toxic fruit for dogs. They contain an unknown toxin, which can cause acute renal (kidney) failure. As little as a handful at a time can be deadly.

BROCCOLI: This one blew me away, My dogs have eaten broccoli out of the garden for years! I guess i need to start measuring it out! There has been a bit of confusion where broccoli is concerned. Broccoli is very good for dogs, however, if the daily intake exceeds more than 10% of the animals diet – problems can occur. The toxic substance is isothiocyanate and can cause gastrointestinal irritation.


ONIONS: A substance in onions, disulfide, is harmless to humans but toxic to not only dogs but cats, horses, sheep and cattle. It causes hemolytic anemia, and as little as 2 slices a week can damage red blood cells, impairing their ability to carry oxygen.
NOTE: Garlic and onion are in the same family, while small amounts of garlic will not harm your dog, too much is not good.

LIVER: In small amounts liver is very good for your dog (less than 3 servings a week). Large amounts cause vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A). This can lead to bone problems, weight loss and anorexia. Also, never feed liver if your dog is taking vitamin A supplements, and always cook it before feeding.

BONES: The latest recommendations are NO BONES for dogs!!!! I tend to personally think this is overkill as I have had dogs for 30 years given them cooked beef bones with no problems.

RAW EGGS: Cooked eggs are a very healthy treat for dogs, raw egg whites contain a protein called Avidin. This protein depletes your dog of B vitamins, specifically Biotin, which is essential to growth and coat condition. Also, raw eggs may contain bacteria, such as Salmonella.

RAW MEAT/POULTRY: Once again bacteria are the main problem – Salmonella and Clostridium, both can be very serious and costly to treat. Just remember, if you feed meat, cook it first.
NOTE: Best to avoid pork, especially bacon (which contains sodium nitrate).

MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS: FYI, 50% of dogs are lactose intolerant (just like people!) – they don’t produce the enzyme Lactase, therefore they are unable to break down Lactose (milk sugar). This can cause gas, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort.

NUTS: Walnuts can cause gastroenteritis and are considered poisonous to dogs. Macadamia nuts contain an unknown compound, which can cause muscle tremors, weakness and paralysis of the hindquarters – luckily these symptoms last a short time. In general, nuts are high in phosphorus and may contribute to the formation of bladder stones.
NOTE: Peanuts are a legume, “from the earth”, not grown on trees. They are not harmful when used in small amounts.

POTATO: Cooked and mashed potatoes are good for dogs. However, poisonous alkaloids (Solanum) are present in green sprouts and green potato skins.
NOTE: Poisonings occur in people as well as dogs!

TOMATO PLANTS: Stems and leaves contain oxalates, which can cause bladder stones.
NOTE: The fruit itself is not the culprit, however high amounts of vitamin C can cause gastrointestinal distress.

RHUBARB: This plant (especially the leaves) also contains oxalates.

TURKEY SKIN: YEP no more turkey skin at holidays!!!Known to cause acute Pancreatitis in dogs.

PIPS: Found in the seeds of apples, pears, plums, peaches and apricots – ALL CONTAIN ARSENIC!

NUTMEG: Is a hallucinogen in dogs. Seriously this can cause major problems for dogs dont mess around!

BABY FOOD: When I worked as a veterinary assistant we commonly gave chicken baby food to dogs and cats that wouldn’t eat. Just be careful that the baby food you are feeding doesn’t contain onion powder – some do. See onion poisoning for more information.

MUSHROOMS: In all honesty, any wild growing mushroom scares me, and if my dogs are anywhere near some, I go the other way – you just don’t know. Store bought mushrooms are fine, but do you really want you’re dog to develop a taste for them?

SKUNK!!!!!! What to do to get your peace and smell back


Three days after I remodeled my house, I had a cold. I had just installed new carpeting. Poppy, my Australian Shepherd met with a skunk. The encounter was brief and point blank. The smell at first was like rotten onions and with my cold, i didn't connect with the odor at first. It was not until a few hours later that the smell reached a part of my brain that freaked out! The oh my god smell was unforgettable. By then my house was permeated. After going through three days of misery and commercial products that were all useless I was handed this recipe.
While it took several baths in it, the recipe was the best at reducing the odor to a dull roar.

Ingredients

* One pint of hydrogen peroxide
* One-half a cup of baking soda
* Two tablespoons of dish soap
* A bottle of vinegar

Directions

1. Mix the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish soap in a large bowl and stir until the baking soda is completely dissolved.
2. Next, use a spray bottle or sponge to generously apply the mixture onto the pet’s fur. Work the mixture through the fur and onto the skin below, massaging the solution into the affected area for ten minutes. Be cautious when applying this solution to the face, as the mixture should not come in contact with the eyes.
3. After ten minutes has passed, thoroughly rinse the solution from the animal’s fur and skin. Once the solution is completely rinsed away (there should be no soap bubbles remaining in the water as it flows off the body), towel the pet’s fur.
4. If the odor is still relatively strong and skunky, repeat the above-mentioned steps. If the odor is largely eliminated, then continue on to the next step.
5. Once the solution of hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and baking soda has been rinsed away, use a sponge or spray bottle to apply generous amounts of vinegar to the pet’s damp fur and skin. Again, saturate the fur and massage the solution into the fur and skin.
6. After letting the solution sit for twenty minutes, thoroughly rinse the pet with fresh water.

Kelley ezpetid.com

Apr 12, 2009

Interesting times! as seniors loose State benefits can they care for their pets?

Saturday many of my senior friends who receive Social Security received letters in the mail from the administration informing them that $30 to $99 would be taken from their disability- social security payments monthly due to the states budget crisis. I guess the state of California decided to balance the budget partly on the backs of our grandparents and disabled. For many of these seniors and disabled persons their beloved dog or cat is their best and in many cases only trustworthy friend.

Many now worry how they will continue to put food on the table for themselves let alone their pet. I worry that the impacts will be the increase in abandonment of California animals to shelters. Many shelters are reporting that they already are seeing increases in abandonment's due to the economy and its collapse.

I do have one suggestion for our senior friends, grab every sample bag you can at local pet stores of your pet food of choice. Look online for pet food coupons and shop around for deals on that food.

Perhaps sanity will prevail at some point.

Blessings to all.

Apr 9, 2009

Health Insurance for your pets?

So fido breaks loose runs into the street and gets hit by a car, You are suddenly faced with a emergency room visit that can cost almost as much as a emergency room visit for your kids! What to do, Most people will clean out the checking account, max the credit cards and hope that between the two they have enough for that bill.

Recently I began researching pet insurance. I found that they can be as diverse in what they offer and dont offer as human health insurance. So we decided to present a list of pet insurance service providers so that you can find the policy that fits your pets needs.

1.Research the genetic conditions that are most likely to affect your dog by visiting the Canine Health Foundation website http://www.akcchf.org/. Some conditions may not be covered by most insurance policies, but others can be covered if your dog was insured before the condition was diagnosed.

2. Compare insurance quotes for your dog's age and breed. You can get quotes online from most pet insurance companies.

3. After checking out the insurance company with he Better Business Bureau, Buy your preferred insurance. Most providers allow you to buy online, although you are also able to buy via telephone.

4. Double-check the price and coverage of your dog's new policy. Your actual policy may differ from the one you chose.

5. Wait until after your dog has been insured to schedule a physical. Just like people, If your vet finds that your pet has an illness when it is still uninsured, it will be much harder to get coverage. But if an illness is diagnosed after coverage begins, it isn't considered a preexisting condition.

We also suggest that you:
If you have a younger dog, you may want to look at policies with higher levels of accident coverage.

Your vet can give you an estimate of age during a physical, this is important information to have in case your pet was adopted and you are not sure of its age..

Enroll all of your pets with the same insurer, this can mean a steep discount.

Purebred dogs are more likely to suffer from hereditary conditions, making them more expensive to insure, you can check this out with the foundation mentioned above. Select wisely when you are getting a new puppy.

Many insurers will not cover dogs over a certain age--typically around 10 to 12. Some insurance companies will not insure dogs over 9 years of age.

Not all plans cover spaying or neutering. If your dog will need either procedure, you may be required to pay out of pocket, Many communities have companion animal foundations that can help with this procedure if you are low income or a senior.

Insurance plans that cover checkups and dental cleanings are more expensive. In some cases, you may wish to cover wellness visits out of pocket, rather than through an insurer.

Here is a short list of pet insurance companies we found serving California

http://www.gopetplan.com
Petplan's simple, customizable dog insurance and cat insurance plans provide full coverage for congenital and hereditary conditions for life*. From office visits and diagnostic testing to surgery and rehabilitation to alternative therapies, Petplan has your pets Covered for Life™!


http://www.petinsurance.com/

Dogs, Cats, Exotics, and Birds

Pets Best Insurance
http://www.petsbest.com/

In researching this article we also found a pet insurance review web site. it looks like they have alot of great information that can assist you in selecting the right insurance. http://www.petinsurancereview.com/

We do not have personal experience with these companies, We will be buying pet insurance for Bailey the cat and poppy our therapy dog in the near future and we will report back to you what our personal experience was. and feel free to let us know what your experience was.
Blessings!!!

Sometimes even pet lovers need a computer repair guy

No great inspiration today about the pets, other than the fact that Poppy had to give me some anxiety therapy today! Sometimes there is just not inspiration when your computers hamsters go on strike and refuse to run on the wheel!

Today our web site ezpetid.com crashed. After a desperate call or 10, to find someone who could fix the computer network, I found the reincarnation of superman! This wonderful guy named Justin Loch. He owns a company called Page Weavers. He arrived with a smile and a sympathetic ear about our computer woes.

In just 45 minutes he not only had the network back up, wires straightened out, routers routing, servers serving and he had my "fax printer copier scanner" working like it was designed to do! That in and of itself was a miracle, Ive owned that printer for a year and we never could get the fax machine to work!

If you ever need repairs done I strongly recommend Justin! He can be reached at 707-822-4200 or at his web site http://www.page-weavers.com
I am shamelessly plugging this guy because I am a strong believer that awesome service should be rewarded and Justin provided us with excellent service today which will make things smoother for our customers and our business! THANK YOU Justin, you are now officially our computer repair guy!

Apr 5, 2009

Care for your best friend

Here are some tips for daily pet care that i thought I would share.

Brush your dogs teeth daily and fur, You’ll avoid conditions like gum disease, dogie breath, and skin problems. And you’ll also know when things aren’t quite right with your dog, before an injury, illness or condition worsens.

Best of all, you’ll be lessening the chance that your dog will have to suffer due to a preventable or avoidable problem.

Be aware of breed-specific and size-specific issues. For example, if your dog is very tall, elevate her food and water bowls. Stretching down to the floor can cause neck and other problems. If your breed is prone to a particular disease or condition, learn the signs and symptoms and keep an eye out for them.

Involve your dog in daily activities, There are lots of great books available through www.ezpetid.com our web site.

If your dog spends the day outside, ensure there is shade in the summer (as well as lots of water) and protection from the cold during winter (along with unfrozen water).

This is an ongoing task. Dog-proof your home to ensure that there are no opportunities for injury or poisoning. Every day, something may be dropped on the floor that could injure your dog, asphyxiate her or poison her. Vaccume daily and keep an eye out for even the smallest of items that could harm your beloved pet.

Bless you all and your furrd friends!
Until next time.

Mar 29, 2009

So what do you do to train that new puppy?


Prevention is the most important part of potty training your puppy because each time your dog relieves himself in the house, the habit to do so becomes stronger. Until your dog has learned where to go potty, she should be under constant surveillance or confined in a small enough area that she’ll automatically choose to “hold it”. Im a big believer in crate training, the directions of which can be found on the US Humane Society's web site. As you progress, you can expand this confinement area until it includes the whole house. Here are some common sence directions for how to housetrain your puppy or adult dog.

* Keep her in an area that is small enough that she will automatically “hold it”. You can do this using an exercise pen, crate, pet gate, tether, attaching her to yourself with a leash or by holding her in your lap. Begin with a appropriately sized crate or 2 to 5 foot tether. The crate should be just big enough for her to fully move around in and lay down stretched out. If your dog is having accidents in the crate, make sure it isn’t too big and remove any absorbent bedding - this will help to convince her to “hold it”.

* When you are inside your home and she is out of his crate, keep her tied to your waist and watch her constantly for sniffing, circling or other signs that she is about to “go”. Take her out to her potty area immediately when you see this behavior. Set her down and say "POTTIES" When she does the deed use your happy voice to verbally reward the desired behavior.

* Stick to a strict schedule: Feed her 2-3 times per day and leave the food down for about 15 minutes at a time. Water can remain down all day until about 8:00 at night. Set a timer to go off every hour as a reminder to take her out. This way, you can keep her bladder empty and you will have lots of opportunities to reward her for “potties”. As your dog becomes more reliable, the time between outings can be increased.

* Say nothing while she is “going” in the appropriate area so that she doesn’t get distracted. When she finishes, praise and give her a tasty treat. If she doesn’t relieve herself, return to the house, confine her and wait 15 minutes before trying again.

* If you see your dog relieving herself in the wrong spot, DO NOT YELL, quickly and calmly bring her outside and praise her for finishing there. If you find a mess, clean it thoroughly using a pet-specific cleaner in order to prevent that area being “marked” as a future potty spot. Next time, be more careful! It is not generally effective to punish a dog for pottying in the wrong area. If you punish her for going potty in the house, she may learn to make sure you are not looking when she relieves herself which will make the whole process more difficult.

Potty training is basically pretty easy. One thing, If you have a short hair small breed and it is the dead of winter, try getting them to go outside with a sweater or fleece on, if that is not happening, don't push it, small dogs can get frostbite in really cold weather pretty quickly! You can find puppy chucks ( in house potty throw always at your local pet store or check out our books and supplies section at www.ezpetid.com where you can mail order the disposable potty chucks. they have a plastic backing and are sort of like a diaper for our tiny pals. Small dogs can be trained to relieve themselves on the absorbent product and no where else in your home. Now a days they are odorless and save your carpet and furniture.

Mar 28, 2009

Memorials and beloved pets

Recently a friend lost her dog Bo. Bo was a quirky Jack Russel Terrier who had a mind of his own and a clown like personality. Besides engraving the memorial plate for Bo's mahogany cremation box, I sought other expressions of creativity that could bring comfort and sweet memories to Stella as she recalls her pal. After a quick internet search I found some interesting ideas. A group called Celebrations of life will create a custom story about your furry pal...http://www.celebrationsoflife.net/ Then there is the gal who can take photos of your pet and transform them into wonderful sculptures http://www.pet-sculpture.com/ The options for memorializing ones lost pet were vast.

I finally decided that the best choice for Stella were to present her with several choices and let her pick. I would say that the top two on my list were the web sites and products I found above. Who knows they may even make it into the upcoming top 100 list for our web site at www.ezpetid.com.

Keep your pets happy and healthy!

Mar 27, 2009

Doggie meatloaf for your best pal

Whenever I can find Ground turkey on sale ill pick up an extra package to make the dogs a special treat. Here is our favorite recipe, We originally got this off the internet and made little adaptions which made the recipe a favorite for our pet pals.

Puploaf

1/2 cup organic barley

4 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

1/2 cup cottage cheese

2 whole eggs

1/2 cup organic wheat germ

1/4 cup carrot -- finely chopped

1/4 cup spinach -- finely chopped

1/4 cup zucchini -- finely chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil


Directions:
Add Barley and chicken broth to sauce pan and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 50 minutes.
Set aside and let cool for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350.
In a large mixing bowl add meat, cottage cheese, veggies, and eggs.
Mix thoroughly.
Add wheat germ, cooled barley and olive oil mix well.
Add mixture to loaf pan, bake at 350 for 1 hour or until done.

Cool and serve 1/2 immediately placed unused portion in the refrigerator to keep fresh.

Mar 25, 2009

Loving your senior dog

Poppy awoke this morning with a new limp. She didn't seem to have any interest in bearing weight on her right leg. What to do? I used Linda Tellington-Jones, t-touch therapeutic massage methods to work out the pain and then gave poppy a nice warm bath. Typically Poppy is not fond of bath time but today she seemed to melt into the floor of the bath tub enjoying the hot water as the comfort of the water penetrated her sore muscles.

I also did research on my own web site at www.ezpetid.com in the books and supplies section and ordered her a medium heating pad, some arthritis chewable pills and I looked into senior pet foods with quality nutrients in them.

Poppy is now 10 years old and I have noticed that her aches and pains come closer together now and she is allergic to corn and she has the loving granny who will not be trifled with thing going on.

My sweet girl has served me well in her youth and I imagine that she will continue to be a part of the family for years to come, but I'm now taking care of a mature dog who thinks she is a young puppy, runs like one too, but feels her age when she over does it. Before her I had other dogs, but she has always been that once in a life time, special dog that wins your heart the moment you meet, offers loyalty and obedience from day one and never ever would have thought of chewing on your best pair of shoes.

Poppy has aimed to please from birth and When the day comes that she and i will part to meet years from now at the pearly gates, I know that I will get a good report from the angels that she is a one of a kind canine angel herself.

Mar 20, 2009

My chiwawa and her terrible twos

So what should one do when their two year old chiwawa has a temper tantrum? Same thing as one would do for a kid. Tinkerbell got a time out today. 5 minutes in her crate with no attention from mommy! After the time out, we went back to quiet play and good behavior.

It is so easy to see my dogs as my children, they often give me looks and have talks with me that seem so child like. One thing is clear, they tell me when they want to go out, walkies, hungry, play time, I'm cold, YOUR NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO ME! I know all of the facial expressions, yips, barks and tail wags of these basic needs.

If Tinkerbell is cold she will crawl up to my shoulder, put her head right near my ear and start licking! Ill reach over lifting up the nearest of any number of her fleece blankets that adorn various pieces of furniture and she will dart underneath popping her little head out slightly tilted to thank me. Dogs are funny, they have huge personalities that have nothing to do with size.

I am grateful for my home and my little friends, I worry though, How many dogs and cats are in shelters tonight because their families had to give them up when they were forced to make a choice between food for their families and food for their pets. Many times the abandoned pet came from a loving home, where there was an expectation that Fido or Fluffy would be a beloved member of the family till death do they part. Who knew that economics would take its toll.

Traveling to different animal shelters I have found that attitudes are changing too.
Its harder to adopt a dog or cat from most shelters now because the shelters see the revolving door, Some dogs being brought back over and over, abuse, and abandonment.

So as more and more animals are abandoned at shelters, and the number of animals adopted out continues to be done with extreme caution, The ability of the shelters to accommodate the influx caused by the failing economy can and in many cases will leave shelters with no choice but to abandon very well intentioned no kill policies.

The message of spay and neuter has reached many ears, but there are still those who think it is profitable, cute, or a great family experience for the family to enjoy the birth of and care for puppies or kittens. In talking to a friend recently, I was told that for every 6 puppies born, three will end up in a shelter at some point in their life. I have no way of proving that or qualifying that statement, but I have heard the overwhelming numbers of puppies and kittens that end up at just our little rural shelters. Its overwhelming.

If you have love in your heart, the stability and ability to manage a new pal, perhaps you will seek out one of the shelters on our web sites list to find your next family member. If you already have a pal, please spay or neuter, and if you already have, proudly tell your friends and family to follow suit.

As you may know we provide custom engraved pet id for your fuzzy pals. We talk to folks at shows and we support sequoia humane society and other local shelters where we can. These shelters are feeling the pinch too, Donations are down while demand for their services are up.

Wishing you well till the next post!

Mar 19, 2009

Peanut Butter Dog Bones

Peanut Butter Dog Bones are my favorite recipe to date. If your dog is allergic to wheat you can double up on the rye and rice flour.

1 package dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 cup mashed potatoes
1 cup milk
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rye flour
1/2 cup rice flour
1 egg
1 cup oat flour
1 cup all-purpose white flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 ° F (165 ° C).

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in water. In a large saucepan, mix together the potatoes, milk, molasses, stock, and peanut butter. Heat, stirring frequently until boiling. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Add yeast mixture. Gradually blend in the egg, wheat, rye, and rice flours. Add enough white flour to form a stiff dough.

Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth (about 3-5 minutes). Shape the dough into a ball and roll to 1/2-inch (12 mm) thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out biscuits. Place on ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 1/4-inch (6 mm) apart. Gather up the scraps, roll out again, and cut additional biscuits.

Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool overnight. Makes several dozen bones that freeze well--and have the consistency of pizza crusts, a favorite snack for most spoiled dogs!

Welcome to Paws and Play

Ever since I was a small child I have had pets. My mother recalls my teen age years as a time when she was a supporter of the Barrett family zoo, I had two rabbits which turned into 7 rabbits shortly after they joined our family, snakes, chickens, a dog named lover, cats, turtles, fish, two hamsters that turned into enough that we regularly supplied the local pet store with the cute furry critters, and the list goes on, My greatest dream was to work at the local pet store. The sole proprietor must have received requests such as mine daily and I never got the much coveted job.

Now I am 47 years old and sill have a menagerie A chiwawa, a border collie, two geckos and a cat. All are first loves. I used to have birds too, however I just could not deal with the mess and gave them to a friend who coveted them for years. She is very happy and I have a clean fairly allergy free home now.

I started this blog because I love animals and i seem to have a head full of information and advice for the husbandry of four legged friends. Depending on the day Ill talk about allot of things and may occasionally get off topic. My Border collie is a service dog so I have had experiences over the years that I would love to share with others. Interesting reactions from merchants to friends and how to manage introductions one must constantly deal with as a disabled person with a service animal.

For now I leave you but please check out the new we bite we have set up that offers the best custom engraved pet tags on the north coast. I may become not only a engraver for my pet tags I may soon become the west coast distributor.. time will tell.