Summer is in full swing which means it’s vacation time! If you have a pet, though, you’ve got a lot of extra preparation to consider before you even pack your bags: Where will the dog stay? Who will take care of the cats? Why not take them with you!
Many hotels and resorts around the world are realizing how important pets are to their guests and have become accommodating by not only allowing supervised pets on the properties but some even go so far as to provide special outdoor areas for them as well.
My friend and fellow pet lover Alicia helped …read more

I love ferrets. We’ve had the opportunity to pet-sit them a couple of times for friends and they’re such sweet little things. What keeps us from getting any of our own is the age-old issue of scent. My husband had two ferrets at two separate times before we met and he said that even though they were “de-scented” they were still pretty odorous.
Oh well. I can now get my fix from the Smithsonian’s Ferret Cam! Georgia, a black-footed ferret, gave birth on June 20th. This is a big deal because The National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center in Front …read more

Hope, a one year-old Maltese puppy with only nubs where her front legs should be, is finally getting a chance to see what life is like with a little mobility!
The custom designed harness is attached to independently moving arms that are actually attached to model airplane wheels, and with a just a bit of push from her hind legs she’s able to move around almost as she should as opposed to the hopping she previously did.
As she gets older she’ll have to have another device made for her. Make sure you check out the rest of the article linked above …read more

The Early Show on CBS did a segment last week on the smartest and dumbest dog breeds. I’ve heard of some breeds not being as bright as others, I’m not sure what their criteria was.
Anyway, they say the dumbest breeds are:
1. Afghan Hound
2. Basenji
3. Bulldog
4. Chow Chow
5. Borzois
6. Bloodhound
7. Pekingese
8. Mastiff
9. Beagle
10. Basset hound
and the smartest are:
1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Like I said, I’m not sure what they’re basing their rankings on exactly. I’ve known a pretty smart beagle and a dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks poodle so it’s a …read more

Aww, this is so cute! Apparently a little piggy in the UK is actually afraid of mud and dirt and refuses to join its littermates when they’re rolling around in it.
Image details: Piglet served by picapp.com
Her owners noticed that Cinderella, as she’s been dubbed, would sit off to the side of the pen shaking while the rest of the pigs were being, well, pigs and came to realize that she was having a problem with the mud. They grabbed some small wellies (rain boots) that were being used as pencil holders and slipped them on Cinderella’s feet. She now joins …read more

Remember, these are for the dog, not you! (Although, admit it – when you make your own treats you take a nibble, right? Right?)
Apple Cinnamon Drops Dog Treats
1 large apple
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/8 cup whole wheat flour
Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Core, slice and mince the apple (use a food processor if you have one). In a large bowl, combine the minced apple, honey, water, cinnamon, and oatmeal. Gradually blend in the wheat flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough.
In a small bowl, add 1/8 cup wheat …read more

I love this! Furniture made with sisal for both cats and people – no more worrying about the cat scratching up the couch or coffee table. In fact, it’s encouraged!
It’s made by Cat Livin, who also sells other items from sleeping mats to live catnip.
What do you think? Would you furnish your home with your cats in mind like this?
[product image: cat livin]

You can get soda, food, and even movies through vending machines now, why not pet supplies?
Check out these pet supply vending machines made by Hey Buddy! They can be loaded up with balls, toys, Frisbees, flea collars, pick-up bags, leashes, vitamin-water, and treats.
They’re franchised out now, and you can see where a few have already been placed.
Have you seen any of these around?
[image: product photo, hey buddy!]

Image details: Seoul University Scientists Produce Three Cloned Dogs served by picapp.com
Pet cloning has been a hot issue for a couple of years now. Ever since Dolly the sheep was successfully “copied” in the 90’s some pet owners have clamored for a chance to make their four-legged companions live on just a little longer.
Cloning involves creating a new animal using the genetic material of an existing animal. Many people mistakenly think that this will create an exact duplicate of their beloved pet, but in reality there are enough differences – in both looks and personality – that the providers of …read more

Image details: Pet Food In Red Plastic Bowl served by picapp.com
Companies that were sued over the tainted pet food that caused the deaths of thousands of animals last year have reached a settlement amount of $24 million to pet owners in the United States and Canada.
The agreement still needs a judge’s approval but if it makes it through it will benefit the people who incurred expenses directly related to the illness or death of a pet linked to the food, and pet owners could be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses, including veterinarian bills and burial or cremation costs.
The pet food …read more