Archive Posts

Pet product retailer Pets at Home has reported a 36% rise in its annual pre-tax profits as the UK cements its reputation as a nation of animal lovers.The company, which is owned by a private equity firm, has seen an 8.8% increase in sales from its existing shops.

Its figures are helped by the opening of 24 new stores, which led to total sales rising by 16%. Pets at Home was bought by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) in January for approximately £955m. The firm's 256 stores provide pet owners with a huge array of choice on pet supplies, pet food, accessories and toys.

Read the complete story

Keep your pets safe this Fourth of July by preparing them and your home for what can be a scary and anxiety-provoking experience.”For most of us, Independence Day celebrations are fun and exciting, an opportunity to gather with friends or go into town.

And watch spectacular fireworks displays -- flashing lights in a rainbow of colors punctuated with the 'boom, boom, boom' that signify the gunshots of victory and the birth of our nation,” said Cynthia Ryan, executive director of the Sequoia Humane Society.

But for animals, she added, bright lights and loud noises can be frightening, causing panic and hysteria. ”Cats and dogs possess hearing that is much more sensitive than human hearing. The bang of a firecracker strikes many pets on a survival level and spells certain doom, a sensation that instills a visceral, primitive fear and can cause them to overreact, becoming destructive or bolting in panic,” Ryan said.

Read the complete story

A manager of The Pet Company at Hamilton Place mall threw a hamster in a trash compactor because of the animal's history of fighting with other hamsters. The hamster was still alive, a former employee testified Monday during the second day of a Chattanooga City Court trial in which city officials are fighting to put the store out of business.

The detail about the hamster's life made Linda Eddlemon with the East Tennessee Animal Alliance squirm in her seat and silently gasp in horror. She said after the proceeding ended for the day that such actions of store employees prove that the business had little regard for the well-being of the animals it was trying to sell.

Similar fears by city officials led officers with the McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center to raid The Pet Company on June 15, seizing 82 pets and slapping it with 90 City Code violations, including many tied to animal cruelty.

Read the complete story

Shakespeare famously asked, "What's in a name?" It turns out the answer is "lots of laughs," at least if you're talking about pet names. The people at VPI Pet Insurance.

A company that offers health insurance for dogs and cats, have come up with a list of the most unusual names for pets. They should know: They chose from the 485,000 names of animals that they insure.

Dog names

1. Pickle Von Corndog

2. Lord Chubby Pruneface

3. Badonkadonk

What can you do with your pets if you must evacuate amid the threat of a hurricane? Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is reminding Floridians to create an emergency response plan for your pets during hurricane season.

Leaving pets behind during an evacuation is not recommended because the animals can easily be injured, lost or killed. Owners should find out now if any local boarding facilities or veterinary offices can shelter their animals in an emergency. Pet owners should also contact hotels outside their immediate area to determine which allow pets and whether there are any size restrictions.

Read the complete story

Mark your calendars for June 25, Take Your Dog to Work Day 2010. Since its inception in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, Take Your Dog to Work Day has been one of my favorite days of the year, but not because I get to take my dog to work.

Running a dog daycare, training and fitness facility, I’m one of the lucky ones in that I get to take my dog, or two, or three to work with me every day!  It’s one of my favorite days because encouraging my students and clients to take their dogs, also encourages them to properly train and socialize their dogs throughout the year.

To prepare your dog for a successful day at the office, he should be comfortable in new environments and greeting strangers. That means providing lots of practice before the big day by taking him along with you everywhere dogs are welcome such as to parks, dog-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating and pet stores.

Read the complete story

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring — it was peace.” - Milan Kundera, Czech author of "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being"

“I love my cats because I love my home, and little by little they become its visible soul.”- French playwright Jean Cocteau

Great thinkers, poets and playwrights have all waxed philosophical about the role our pets play in our lives. It’s easy to see why; nothing enriches us greater than having pets.

Read the complete story

The APL also will offer dogs, cats and kittens from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Tower City; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Camp Bow Wow in Highland Heights; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mentor Petco; and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Caribou Coffee in Rocky River.

All pets are neutered and vaccinated and come with a collar, APL identification tag and a free first veterinary exam. The shelter at 1729 Willey Avenue in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood is open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today and Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. And the shelter is neutering stray cats for Cleveland residents for just $10. You can borrow traps from the shelter, where Marta Anderson will teach you how to use it. 

The APL also will offer dogs, cats and kittens from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Tower City; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Camp Bow Wow in Highland Heights; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mentor Petco; and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Caribou Coffee in Rocky River.

All pets are neutered and vaccinated and come with a collar, APL identification tag and a free first veterinary exam. The shelter at 1729 Willey Avenue in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood is open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today and Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. And the shelter is neutering stray cats for Cleveland residents for just $10. You can borrow traps from the shelter, where Marta Anderson will teach you how to use it. 

Pet owners must realize just how important nutrition is to the health of their pets, and they are beginning to pay more attention to what they are feeding their cats and dogs. To keep your pet healthy, extend your pet's life and save on vet bills, it's just as important for your pet to eat healthy as it is for you.

A perceptive owner is aware that a healthy pet has clear bright eyes, brilliant coat sheen, clean teeth, good breath, and a playful happy attitude. Unfortunately, many pets are unhealthy, attributed to their diet, and suffer from health problems, such as allergies, diabetes, cancer, ear infections, irritable bowel, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, scratching and skin and coat issues.

Read the complete story