Saturday, January 31, 2009

This weekend

I'm traveling to Houston to play with Bella and Baxter, I'm pretty excited, pictures will follow.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

New Homes for People Mean New Homes for Puppies

Habitat Young Professionals

My mom just discovered this group in the past month or so when a friend of mine joined the Habitat Board, I think it's a great cause and a great way for young professionals to get involved in the Austin Community:

"Habitat Young Professionals (HYP) is a diverse group of young professionals who share resources, time and talents to make a difference in the Austin community. HYP is about having fun and making connections throughout Austin, all while helping to address the need for affordable housing in our fast growing community. We are a high-energy, motivated group committed to volunteering, donating and spreading the word about Austin Habitat for Humanity to our friends and colleagues. Join us in the Mission to help build dreams.

Please joing use for our 2nd annual Build the HYP Gala Saturday, May 24 @ the Long center for the Performing Arts. Funds raised at the gala will go directly to tbuild the 2008 HYP House, which will bring the dream of homeownership to another hard-working Austin family in Need."

For more info visit http://www.austinhabitat.org/related/hyp/index.php

Cruelty Free 4 Me

www.crueltyfree4me.com will be addn clothing for 4 leggers soon & cool vegan accessories by Christy Robinson Designs,Support animal rights!

Cupids and Canines Valentine's Treats

While it's true that I don't have a kid selling cookie dough or wrapping paper - I do have a wonderful little pup who came to my friend Andrea via a wonderful organization...and that organization is having a fund-raiser for Valentine's Day!

According to Andrea
"I've taste-tested the brownies and the chocolate chip cookies and based on my assessment, can only conclude that the truffles would be amazing!"

Please feel free to pass this along to any others who might be interested in treats for their sweetie...or their pup (in some cases not mutually exclusive!)





























































Lil’ Paws Maltese Rescue and Other Petite Paws presents…

                Hand-Crafted Valentine Treats for You ... and Your Canine...












Chocolate Truffles





Six Count:     $8.00




Truffle flavors:

Chocolate 

Ganache,

 Mocha, 

Peanut 

Butter 

Caramel,   

White 

Chocolate, 

Raspberry, 

Peanut 

Butter














Chocolate Chip Delight Cookies





Eight Count:       $8.00



















Decadent Brownies





Eight Count:     $8.00



















Canine Heart Biscuits





6 oz:       $5.00











Ordering, Payment, and Pickup




Send Orders To:    lilpawsmalteserescue@austin.rr.com

Pay:                         at order time or upon pickup.

                                 www.lilpaws-malteserescue.org

Pickup Location:   Austin Canine Central.

                                **Please note: they have moved:   

                                6701 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78757

Date/Time:            Saturday, February 14, 2009 

                                10 A.M. and 3 P.M.

 

*If you require alternate pickup, it can be arranged in North Austin the week prior.   Please Indicate so in your order via email.












All products served

 in custom, holiday gift packages. 

100% of proceeds from sale benefit 

Lil’ Paws Maltese Rescue and 

Other Petite Paws, an 

Austin-based non-profit 

organization dedicated 

to providing permanent, 

loving homes to the dogs

 in our program.











Questions or comments?

 E-mail us at 

lilpawsmalteserescue@austin.rr.com

Ingredient lists are 

available upon request 

for all of our featured items.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Fun upcoming event



Cuatros', Lofty Dog, and Dirty Dog Host a Doggie Happy Hour: Monday
Jan 26th from 5-7pm

Leashed dogs and their owners are invited to Cuatro’s
<http://www.cuatrosaustin.com>
 first Doggie Happy Hour. The happy hour, which will take place once
a month, will offer unlimited water and treats for dogs and
complimentary chips and salsa for everyone else. All will be entered
into a raffle to win a doggie goody bag from Lofty Dog and Dirty Dog
<http://www.dirty-dog.com/>
 that will include fun stuff for Fido and a Cuatro’s gift card for
their lucky owner.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

VERY DANGEROUS DOG TOY!!!! Snopes Verification



http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/pimpleball.asp critters/crusader/pimpleball.asp>



If you don't have a dog, send it to your friends who do!!!!!!





On June 22, 2008 , my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws, Inc., produces. The toy I'm referencing is the pimple ball with bell (Item #20227-001, U PC Cod e #0 4566320227 9).

While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet , this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening. I became aware of this when Chai approached a friend at my home whimpering with the ball in his mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the ball but the tongue had swollen and could not be released.



Chai was taken to the Animal Medical Center (an emergency care facility in New York City ) and was treated by Dr. Nicole Spurlock to have the ball removed..
Because the size of the opening on the ball was so small, all circulation to his tongue was cut off. The doctors had to sedate him in order to remove it. Once the ball was removed, his tongue swelled to the point that he could no longer put it in his mouth . Chai was sent home with care instructions and to be observed overnight for any changes.

By the following morning, Chai's tongue had swollen even more.


He was taken to his regular vet , Dr. Timnah Lee, for treatment. He was admitted and kept sedated for a period of three days during which time they were treating his wounds and waiting to determine how much of his tongue could be saved. On June 26, 2008 , Chai had his tongue amputated.

He was kept in after-care for an additional three days. On Sunday, June 29th, I brought Chai home from the vet with a barrage of home care instructions, to last for an additional 7 days. His next visit was to have his mouth re-examined and have the feeding tube in his neck removed.

On the way home from the vet we stopped at Pet land Discount where I purchased their product to speak to the manager on duty.. Upon meeting Chai and seeing his condition, he removed all of the balls in question from the shelves. He also gave me the customer service number to their corporate headquarters to request that they refuse to continue purchasing all Four Paws products, but I have not called them as of yet ..

Additionally, I shared my story with friends who have a French Bulldog named Petunia. Upon hearing my story, their eyes widened. They explained that the same thing happened twice in one night with a smaller version of the same ball to their dog. Fortunately, they were able to pull it off before the tongue swelled, but not withou t tremendous effort and pain to the dog. They recalled how horrific it was to hear their dog screaming while they had to pry the ball from her tongue.

To date, my veterinary bills total over $5,000 and I will have regular follow up appointments for some time. Additionally, Chai now requires a much more expensive form of food because of this injury, averaging approximately $200 per month.

Additionally, I now have to re-teach my dog to eat, drink and adjust to life without his tongue. Feeding him takes me about 90 minutes twice a day and for at least this first week he is not to be unattended for more than 20 minutes at a time.

I sent this information along with the reference to the French Bulldog to Four Paws, Inc., and it is their position that there just aren't enough instances to do anything about this. I Told their insurance company's case manager that was not a good enough excuse. It was inferred that my dogs value wasn' t much and that his pain and suffering don't count as he is just a piece of property.

Training Tip: Go Out There

This one is fun, just fun. Show off for your friends. Useful when you need your dog to step away from you for any reason at all.

You will need yummy treats. Or a toy. Balls are perfect. Wet treats don't work. I will explain the trick with treats.

Give three treats: One, two, three. You have your dog's attention. 
Toss a treat 3 feet away from you. Say "Go out there". Your dog will go get it and come back. Toss another treat 4 feet away. Say "Go out there". Your dog will go get it and come back. Toss a treat 6 feet. Say "Go out there". When your dog gets to the treat, eats it, and turns to start back to you, toss another treat out there. Say "Go out there" and keep tossing treats. Your dog will go out there and stay out there. Praise and run to your dog for some fun playing time.

Next time same thing but stop tossing a treat so often when your dog is "out there". Give them a chance to stay on their own.

Tilli is great at this trick. We use a ball with her. "Go out there" and she runs to where we point. Then we throw the ball. We love this game.

(Use clicker training for fastest results. Please make sure that you read a clicker training book or watch a DVD before starting clicker training. You will create bad behavior as quickly as good if you don't know what you're doing.)

Darcie Krueger, Owner 
SitStay.com

Sake in the Lofty Dog Fashound Show

From Sake:
I will  be in the Lofty Dog annual Valentine's Day Fashound Show. This year's show promises to be bigger and better than ever. In addition, my mom will be modeling fashions from Minx and other, soon to be announced, stores.

The Fashound Show begins at 2pm on February 14th and while you wait for the show you can take a Valentine's Day picture with your pet in the store from 11am - 1pm. Pictures are just $15.00 and all proceeds benefit Austin Dog Rescue.

Want your dog to be trained by a dog whisperer?

It's Me or The Dog a new tv show in production by Ricochet Television is looking for out-of-control dogs and the owners who are fed up. Casting info - click here

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Ten Things to Never Feed your Dog



In addition to what is listed below, there are several things you should stay away from despite the fact that they are in certain dog foods, while it will not kill a dog, over a period of time this can cause deterioration in your pet's health. Those ingredients are:
Wheat, eggs, soy, sugar, food or treats with lots of dyes 

Did you know there are things that you should never feed your cat or dog? This useful article, written by Dr. Karen Halligan is essential reading for all cat and dog owners.

"Having worked in emergency for numerous years, I have seen pets given all kinds of foods and drinks. An easy rule of thumb, if it isn't particularly healthy for you, it most likely is not good for your cat or dog. Some pets will eat almost anything, so pet owners need to be careful or they could end up in the local emergency room. The following are ten bad things to give your pets.

1. Make no bones about it -- bones are bad for animals! Every year countless numbers of animals end up in the emergency room from being given bones by their owners, usually as a treat.

The fact is that dogs are omnivores, not carnivores and most dogs and cats cannot tolerate bones. They can splinter or lodge in the intestinal tract with disastrous results, usually requiring surgery. They can also get stuck in their mouth or throat, which is just as dangerous. All bones are bad, including pork, chicken and beef. The next time you feel the urge to give your dog a bone, just make sure it's a milk bone or a nylabone. Your pet will love you for it.

2. Chocolate can be lethal to pets because it contains theobromine, which causes increased heart rate, central nervous system stimulation and constriction of arteries. Clinical symptoms range from vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and excitability to cardiac failure, seizures and death. This can occur as quickly as four to six hours after ingestion. Baking chocolate is the worst because it contains the highest amount of theobromine.

A potential lethal dose is only one pound of chocolate in a 16-pound dog. If your pet has gotten into chocolate you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

3. Alcohol is also very bad for cats and dogs. It doesn't take much alcohol to intoxicate a pet. Animals will stagger and bump into things, hurting themselves, and it also causes them to urinate uncontrollably.

In high doses, alcohol will suppress the central nervous, respiratory and cardiac systems and can lead to death. It is best to just give your pet water.

4. Milk is also not good for animals because many of them are lactose intolerant and will develop diarrhea. Pets often lack the enzyme that is required to break down the sugar in milk and this can cause them to develop vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Even though they like it, especially cats, refrain from giving your pets milk.

5. Ham and other salty meats and foods are very dangerous to pets. In addition to being high in fat, they are also very salty which can cause serious stomach ache or pancreatitis. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop a life-threatening condition called "bloat." This is where the stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist, causing the pet to die. Please avoid giving ham and salty foods to your pets.

6. Onions are toxic to pets. They contain allyl propyl disulfide, which damages their red blood cells and can cause fatal consequences in animals. They may become anemic, weak and have trouble breathing. The best thing to do if your pet ingests onions is to get them to the vet right away.

7. Caffeine is also bad for pets. It contains methylated xanthine that, like chocolate, stimulates the central nervous and cardiac systems and within several hours can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart palpitations and even death. So make sure your pets stay away from that early morning brew.

8. Avocados are also bad for pets. First, they are really high in fat and can cause stomach upset, vomiting and even pancreatitis. Second, the pit is also toxic and can get lodged in the intestinal tract leading to a severe blockage, which may require surgery.

9. contrary to popular belief tuna fish is bad for cats, but OK for dogs. The feline heart muscle requires an amino acid called taurine to maintain normal strength and function. Regular tuna fish for humans does not have this amino acid and cats that eat too much tuna fish will develop heart problems. If you want to give your cats that taste of tuna that they love, just make sure it is tuna fish for cats which has this amino acid added. You can feed your dogs tuna in moderation or mixed with dog food.

10. The latest study has found that raisins and grapes can lead to kidney failure in pets. Small dogs can also choke on grapes so it is best to just make sure that your pets eat a well-balanced diet that is formulated for their life stage.

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