When I was a kid, one of my chores was making sure our dogs had water. They were outside dogs so it was important that they always had a full bowl, and as summer, in particular, would drag on it became more of a pain to keep a constant eye on it (of course, even as a kid I knew how important it was and did it anyway!).

Even though our dogs are indoor only now, they go outside to do their business and like to lounge in the sun for a while. In the summer we keep a dish of water out for them, but it gets hot quickly and tends to collect bugs.

One solution for this is the WaterDog automatic faucet unit from WaterDog Pet Fountain.

The WaterDog attaches right to an outdoor spigot and provides fresh water as your dog needs it, due to a motion sensor on the unit. It’s even adjustable so you can move it up and down depending on the size of your dog, and you can set up a remote unit away from a faucet.

Would your dogs use something like this?

[image: waterdog]

On the 4th of July, many dogs that don’t normally run away may end up in shelters or worse.

Dogs become frightened by the noise of fireworks, which is much louder to them than it is to us. It’s important to leave your dog at home while attending firework displays.

The Humane Society of the United States recommends keeping your pets indoors in a safe, quiet area during the July 4 holiday.

Also, they caution to remember that pets may become destructive when alarmed, so remove items that may be harmful to pets or your wallet. The Humane Society also recommends leaving a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep your pet company.

Mistakes for the July 4th with dogs:

• Leaving your dog in an unattended car is a bad idea at any time of the year, especially during the summer months when a pet can die from the heat within minutes. Cracked windows don’t prevent deaths. Pets in cars may also be stolen.
• Don’t leave your pet outside, even in a fenced yard. Dogs who normally never stray may become so frightened by fireworks that they go in search of their owners.

Have a safe July 4!

(Image via flickr Tony the Misfit)

Bil-Jac Foods, the producer of super premium dog foods and treats based in Medina, Ohio, has just launched its first Facebook photo contest! Now through the end of July, Bil-Jac Facebook fans will have the chance to view and vote on the 12 finalists of the Cutest Dog on Facebook contest.

Bil-Jac has been collecting hundreds of entry photos for the contest since May via Facebook and Twitter, which were then carefully pared down to 12 finalists by Bil-Jac.

The winner of the photo contest will win a one-month-for-a-year supply of dog food from Bil-Jac and three online coaching sessions from celebrity dog trainer Joel Silverman. The runner-up will win a six-month supply of dog food and the third place winner will receive one month’s supply.

To participate in the contest, simply visit Bil-Jac’s Facebook fan page and click on the Photo Contest bookmark. You can then vote for your favorite picture once per day until July 31.

[image used with permission from bil-jac.com]

The number of pets traveling in cars has increased by 300% since 2005. This presents a challenge to first responders at accident sites.

A pet safety identification card can provide crucial information about your pet, including emergency contacts who can provide care for your pet when you can’t. Bark Buckle UP is a non-profit advocacy group promoting awareness for safety while traveling with pets, and they have something for you.

To benefit from this offer for a free First Responder Approved Pet Safety Kit from Bark Buckle UP, follow these simple steps:

• Go to BarkBuckleUP.com and register your pet’s information: owner, veterinarian, emergency contacts and notes.
• Upload your pet’s photo. (Bark Buckle UP will print and ship your custom pet safety card and first responder decal. Additional first responder decals available upon request.)
• Place the decal on your car window, and put the pet safety card in the glove box. The decal will alert first responders to the pet safety card in the glove box.

Remember, no pet safety kit can take the place of proper pet restraint while on the road. Restraining your pet inside a vehicle with a travel harness, carrier, crate, tether or dog/cat car seat can save your life and your pet’s life! Unrestrained pets can crash into human passengers with great force.

Captain Jim Doucette of the Sacramento Fire Department said:

“The firefighters of the Sacramento Fire Department respond to countless auto accidents. Unfortunately, many of these accidents also involve pets that become crash victims, because they are not secure inside the vehicle. Many of our firefighters are pet owners and we know firsthand that by securing your animal inside your vehicle properly, you may save their life in an accident.”

(Image from Bark Buckle UP)

Gardasil, the vaccine for cervical cancer, is not very popular in New Zealand. Target age for the vaccine is under 12, as it works best when given before sexual activity starts. Even so, less than a third of their schoolgirls have received the Gardasil vaccine thus far.

Some people believe that by giving the vaccine to young girls, it promotes promiscuity. Other question the effectiveness of the drug. Despite controversy and religious beliefs, the New Zealand government aims to immunize 300,000 schoolgirls over the next two years.

Image: sxc.hu.

Our cats have always been indoor cats — at least, as far as we know! We got both Turbo and Sage as kittens, but Kricket has a small bit of history from before we picked her up at the Humane Society that we know nothing about, and it’s possible she was an outdoor cat for a little while before we came along.

When we first brought her home she was constantly trying to get outside. At the time, we lived in an apartment on the second floor so this meant every time we opened the sliding door she’d try to bolt out onto the deck, which gave just about gave each of us a heart attack every time it happened.

Thankfully, she’s mellowed out and doesn’t seem to have any interest in going outside, the same as our other two. Turbo has wandered out into the backyard when we’ve left the door open (on purpose), and though he’ll poke around and sniff like crazy, if anything alarms him he darts back inside. We often joke that if he ever gets loose outside he wouldn’t last long — he’s way too friendly and trusting and probably wouldn’t know the first thing about getting his own food, instincts be damned.

Anyway, I was wandering around Amazon this morning and came across the Kittywalk Pet Gazebo, pictured above. Though there’s no way we’d spend that much on a mesh tent, I do see the benefit of one, especially for people who have cats that do like to be outside but don’t want said cats wandering off or endangering the local bird population.

Would your cats get use out of something like this?

[image: amazon]

As we enter summer, a time when more pets may be outdoors and more weather events may occur, it’s a good time to think about pet identification.

First, I’m a firm believer in collars with ID tags, even for indoor cats and dogs. You never know when an emergency may occur that separates you from your pet. Collars are great because they offer immediate ID. However, they can fall off or be destroyed.

For permanent pet ID, get a microchip for your pet if you haven’t done so already. If your pet does have a microchip, make sure your address and other contact info is current and you’re enrolled in a national, secure recovery database.

One company offering database services is HomeAgain. Noting the importance of updating your information, Gary MacPhee, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Director, HomeAgain Business Unit, said “Recently, a cat lost in Seattle for nine months was reunited with its owner, even though the owner had relocated to Tucson, Ariz. The owner took the time to update his contact information in the HomeAgain database prior to his departure, so a successful reunion could take place.”

HomeAgain membership includes:

• Live Pet Recovery Specialists always available at 1-888-HomeAgain
• Lost Pet Alerts with a Lost Pet Poster sent to veterinary clinics, shelters and PetRescuers
• 24/7 Emergency Medical Telephone Assistance
• Medical Insurance for Lost Dogs or Cats, up to $3,000 (less a $50 deductible) offered by PetFirst Healthcare
• Travel expenses of up to $500 for dogs or cats found more than 500 miles from home

Your local veterinary clinic can assist you with getting your pet microchipped and tell you how to enroll in a recovery database. Likewise, if you find a lost pet without a collar, your local vet can check for a microchip.

Have you been reunited with a lost pet?

(Image via flickr Robyn Gallagher)

Summer is the perfect opportunity to spend some extra time with your dog. You can bring him along whether you head to the beach, the lake, fishing, or just hanging out at the pool. Of course, it’s still important to be mindful of water safety, even with a dog!

I love these doggy life jackets. Available in sizes from XXSmall to Large, the sturdy vests have brightly colored prints and reflective strips for easy sighting, and a handle on top for fast retrieval. They also have a mesh underbelly which allows water to drain away from the dog, and heavy duty Velcro to keep everything in place.

Dogtopics.com also offers some general water safety tips, including being mindful of what your dog is drinking, rinsing your dog off with fresh water after they’ve been in the water, and keeping your dog hydrated and rested.

[image: petco.com]

Pretty Pet-Friendly by Julia Szabo, pet style expert, offers tips on preventing messes and furniture destruction, choosing pet-friendly fabrics, avoiding paw prints and pet hair everywhere, keeping air fresh and much more.

The author writes a weekly Pets column for the Sunday New York Post, and she’s also the author of Animal House Style and The Underdog: A Celebration of Mutts. Szabo’s current book was published by Wiley in March 2009. I received a copy at no charge for review purposes.

Pretty Pet-Friendly is a hardy 182 pages, not counting a resource guide in the back. Szabo doesn’t leave you hanging as to where to get the items she discusses. Pretty Pet-Friendly also offers tips on avoiding toxic foods and additives, as well as watching out for allergens.

This pet book even looks stylish sitting on your coffee table. The dog on the cover is cute, but it’s the black-and-white cat with the sweet-curious expression that always made me smile.

Szabo’s book is full of advice you may not have heard before. One tip I thought was interesting: Cover the bottom of your box springs with a fitted sheeted upside down to prevent kitty from tearing into it. That also keeps the sides of your box springs looking pretty!

The author certainly seems like someone who has done a great job of integrating lots of pets into her life and home without compromising on style. My only complaint with the book is that it lacks color photos on the inside, something I might expect for a book on style. However, there are plenty of black-and-white prints to keep you company inside the book.

Overall, I’d recommend Pretty Pet Friendly for tips on keeping your home tidy, while also not compromising the comfort and playfulness of your pets.

Have you read Pretty Pet Friendly?

(Image via Wiley)

Monkeysee has a great new set of videos on how to care for your newly adopted cat. Though a lot of the information is pretty basic — get a litter box, scooper, etc. — some of the ideas are surely things a new cat owner wouldn’t have thought of otherwise!

The video above, hosted by Dr. Kat Miller, a certified applied animal behaviorist at the ASPCA, gives an outline of the whole series, and describes the process and preparation as being similar to bringing home a new baby. She explains what should be done before, during and after bringing your new kitty home, as well as the supplies that will be needed to make for a smooth transition for both you and your cat.

The series has six segments, and includes: How to Cat Proof Your Home, How to Set Up a Safe Location for an Adopted Cat, Local Services for Cats, How to Adjust a New Cat to Your Home, How to Set a Routine for a New Cat, and How to Keep a Cat Safe and Healthy.