The Best Dog Park in Each State

Do you know which dog parks are the best one's to visit with your dog in your State of residence? If not, here's the perfect list for you:

Alabama
Daphne Dog Park, 8600 Whispering Pines Rd, Daphne
Managed By: City of Daphne (251) 621-3703

This dog park has a separate small dog area, drinking fountains, and washing station and open from sunrise to sunset.

Alaska
University Lake Park, Bragaw Street and University Lake Drive, Anchorage
Telephone Number: (907) 343-8118

Unless otherwise noted, dogs are allowed throughout the park and on the trails that surround the lake. Dogs must be legally licensed, have a current rabies vaccination, and be leashed and cleaned up after. In the off-leash area dogs must be under their owner's control at all times.

Arizona
Jackass Acres K9 Korral, 41635 Old Black Canyon Highway, New River
Managed By: Anthem Pets (623) 551-2234
Fees: Annual fee: $35 for one dog or $50 for two or more dogs

Voted the Best Dog Park in 2008 by Dog Fancy Magazine, this 2.5 acre dog park has solar-powered lights, a security system, and water pumps, as well as decorative metal flowers made from old cars, furniture crafted from fallen timber, and recycled artificial turf.

Arkansas
Paws Park, Murray Park, Little Rock
Managed By: Friends of Paws Park (501)371-4770

This off-leash, dog park features five foot high chain link fencing around two acres for large dogs, four foot high chain link fencing around a half acre for small dogs, secure area for entering and exiting the park, water troughs and fountains, benches, parking, trash cans and mutt mitts.

California
Woof! Pac Park, 300 Goodwin Road
Managed By: Santa Barbara County (805) 896-2344

This 3 acre dog park is open from dawn until dusk and is supported by the local organization of WOOF: Winners Of Off-leash Freedom.

Colorado
West Arvada Dog Park, 17975 W 64th Pkwy, Arvada
Managed By: City of Arvada

This fully fenced, 5 acre dog park is open from sunrise to sunset and features a separate small dog area and benches.

Connecticut
Granby DOGGS Park, inside Salmon Brook Park on Route 10/202, Granby
Managed By: D.O.G.G.S. (Dog Owners of Granby Getting Social)

This fenced dog park includes double gated entry, mulch, shaded trees, benches, picnic tables (just for the dogs) and water from a Fire Hydrant. During the winter months the water is shut off. This park is open from 7am to dusk.

Delaware
Bark Til Dark Private Dog Park, off Route 23 at 1277 Hills-Miller Road, Delaware
Managed By: Missi Hamilton (740) 369-9170

This 6 acre, fully fenced, private dog park features a 1 acre pond, shaded picnic area, areas for agility and one-on-one training, and a paw wash area. Membership fee is $30 for three visits or $22 per month for unlimited visits. Your First Visit is FREE.

District of Columbia
Shaw Dog Park, 11th Street and Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Managed By: DC Department of Parks and Recreation

This dog park is 15,000 square feet and features 5 foot high chain link fencing, pea gravel and stone dust, 3 waste disposal stations and 2 enclosures for large dogs and one for small dogs.

Florida
South Brohard Beach Paw Park, 1600 Harbor Drive, Venice
Managed By: The City of Venice (941) 486-2626

This dog parks features hours a fenced area, double-gated entrance, benches, tables, handicap access, trees, parking, restrooms, water, trash cans, small dog area, poop bags, dog shower, bulletin board. Behind the dog park is a stretch of beach where dogs are allowed to run around and enjoy the waves!

Georgia
Dog Park located in The Liane Levetan Park at Brook Run, 4770 N. Peachtree Rd., Dunwoody
Managed By: DeKalb County

This dog park, which is open from sunrise to sunset, features 3 acres, fully wooded, and completely fenced with 6 ft. high chain link.

Hawaii
McInerny Dog Park, Kehena Pl, Honolulu
Managed By: Hawaiian Humane Society (808) 946-2187

This fenced dog park is on a one-third acre of grass with trees and a waterfall.

Idaho
Moscow Dog Park, 2019 White Ave, Moscow
Managed By: City of Moscow

This fenced, 1 acre, dog park features a water spout, picnic area, plastic bags and scoopers and port-a-potty.

Illinois
Frankfort Bark Park, Commissioners Park, Laraway & 80th Ave. S, Frankfort
Managed By: Frankfort Park District (815) 469-9400

This 2.5 acre dog park features run areas for small and large dogs, benches, trees, shade shelters, water during the non-winter season, and pick-up bags. Fees are $60 per year.

Kansas
Chisholm Creek Pet Resort Pup Park, 6260 N. Hillside, Wichita
Managed By: Chisholm Creek Pet Resort (316) 744-0191

This privately owned, 10 acres, fenced, dog park includes a pond, play equipment and a large sand mound for digging and climbing. Membership fees are $295 per year or $150 for 3 months.

Kentucky
Masterson Station Dog Park, Leestown Rd, Lexington
Managed By: City of Lexington

This 6 acre dog park includes mature trees and hydrants enclosed in a horse-farm style fencing with mesh backing.

Louisiana
Bonnabel Boat Launch Dog Run, Bonnabel Blvd, Lake Pontchartrain, Jefferson Parish
Managed By: Jefferson Parish

This new dog park has grass, drinking water, play tunnels, and benches.

Maine
Belfast Dog Park at Walsh Field Recreation Area, Route 52, Hwy 1, Belfast
Managed By: City of Belfast

This new, fenced, dog park features 1.5 acres, separate small dog area, water, and benches.

Maryland
Quiet Waters Dog Park and Beach, 600 Quiet Waters Park Road, Annapolis
Managed By: Anne Arundel County

This area includes a fenced dog park, with separate small dog area and rinse station, and beach access for dog swimming only.

Massachusetts
South Boston Dog Park, Columbia Rd and William J. Day Blvd, South Boston
Managed By: The Friends of South Boston Bark Park, Inc

This newly opened dog park features benches, trees, and tunnels.

Michigan
Soldan Dog Park, Hawk Island County Park, 1601 East Cavanaugh Rd, Lansing
Managed By: City of Lansing and Ingham County

This 17 acre dog park includes trails, large pond, drinking fountains, poop bags and small dog area.

Minnesota
Stone Mountain Pet Lodge Dog Park, 9935 Radisson Road NE, Blaine
Managed By: Stone Mountain Pet Lodge (763) 792-8929

This privately owned indoor/outdoor dog park features a cushioned floor and two isolated ventilation systems inside and two play yards outside. Fee is $10 per day.

Mississippi
Petal Dog Park, Dawson Cut Off, Petal
Managed By: City of Petal (601) 554-5440

This dog park features two separate fenced enclosures for small and big dogs.

Missouri
Broemmelsiek Park Off-Leash Dog Area, Wilson Rd, Wentzville, St. Charles
Managed By: The St. Charles County Parks Department (636) 949-7475

This 2.5 acre off-leash dog park features a covered shelter, shade trees, and small pond.

Montana
Canine Beach Dog Park, Bozeman Pond, 700-550 N. Fowler, Bozeman
Managed By: City of Bozeman

This dog park is fenced on three sides on the forth side is a pond and has access to the beach for dogs.

Nebraska
Richman's Run Dog Park, Holmes Lake, 70th and Van Dorn, Lincoln
Managed By: City of Lincoln

This 12 acre dog park includes a creek, picnic tables and trees.

Nevada
Dog Fancier's Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas
Managed By: Clark County 455-8200

This 12 acre, fenced dog park has 5 separate areas, water spigots, grass, shade structures, and benches and is usually used for dog shows, canine trials and agility training.

New Hampshire
American K9 Country's Public Dog Park, 336 Rt 101 at Camp Rd, Amherst
Managed By: American K9 Country (603)-672-8448

This privately owned, fenced, dog park is open from sunrise to sunset and is free to use.

New Jersey
Wantage Dog Park, 128 Route 628, Wantage
Phone: 973-875-4141

This fully fenced, off-leash, 8 acre dog park features two parks - one for big dogs and one for small dogs, Waste Disposal Bags, Separate Exits, Umbrellas and benches, Agility Course, Bathrooms and is open from Dawn to Dusk.

New Mexico
Dog Haven at Overlook Park, Overlook Dr, White Rock
Managed By: City of White Rock

This fenced dog park features tanbark, tunnel and overlooks the Rio Grande river canyon.

New York
Ossining Dog Park, 235 Cedar Lane, Ossining
Managed By: City of Ossining

This dog park features a wading pool, lights, port-o-potty, benches, shade tent, water, poop bags.

North Carolina
Northgate Dog Park, 400 W Lavender Ave, Durham
Managed By: City of Durham

This fenced dog park includes a separate small dog area, benches, and water spigots.

North Dakota
Village West Dog Park, 45th St and 9th Ave S, Fargo
Managed By: City of Fargo

This fenced dog park features a separate small dog area, water spigots, shelter, and seating.

Ohio
Bow Wow Beach, Silver Springs Park at 5070 Stow Road, Stow
Managed By: Stow Parks and Recreation Department (330) 689-5100

This 7.5 acre dog park features grassy knolls and a sandy beach that lead to a 3 acre lake, separate areas for small and large dogs, six waste cans, drinking water and a dog washing station.


Oklahoma
Paw OK Dog Park, Oklahoma City
Managed By: PAW OK (405) 782-4311

Voted one of the best dog parks by Dog Fancy Magazine, it includes a small dog area, fencing, a beach for dog swimming, water spigots, benches, and trees.

Oregon
Hazeldale Dog Park, SW Prospect Pl, Beaverton
Managed By: Washington County

This fenced dog park includes a separate small dog area and trees.

Pennsylvania
MonDaug Bark Park, 1130 Camphill Road, Fort Washington
Managed By: The Township of Upper Dublin (215) 643-1600

This 1 acre dog park is divided into two sections for big dogs and small dogs with double-gated entries. There is also trails and stream where you can take your leashed dog.

Rhode Island
Gano Street Dog Park, Gano St, Providence
Managed By: City of Providence and the Providence Dog Park Association

This fenced dog park has a separate small dog area and benches.

South Carolina
Six Wags of Greer Dog Park, 3669 North Highway 14, Greer
Managed By: Upstate Dog Training & Pet Resort (864) 895-5355

This 8 acre, privately owned, dog park features three separate areas for different dogs and a 1 mile nature trail.

South Dakota
Spencer Park Off-Leash Area, 3501 South Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls
Managed By: City of Sioux Falls

This temporary off leash area includes a picnic table, plastic bag dispenser and trash can.

Tennessee
Maggie's Bark Park, 138 Claude Yates Dr, Franklin
Managed By: Williamson County

This 2 acre dog park features a separate small dog area, walking trail, lights, benches, shade, gazebo, water stations, kiddie pools, and agility equipment.

Texas
Bear Branch Dog Park, 5200 Research Forest Dr, Woodlands
Managed By: The Woodlands Association

This 2 acre dog park has a separate small dog area, water spigots, water play area, shade, and benches.

Utah
Sandy Dog Park, 9980 South 300 East, Sandy
Managed By: City of Sandy

This 1 acre, fenced, dog park has trees, benches and a walking path.

Vermont
Manchester Dog Park, Dana Thompson Park, Rec Park Rd, Manchester Center
Managed By: Manchester Parks and Recreation

This new, fenced, dog park is open from sunrise to sunset.

Virginia
Ruff House Dog Park, Rockwood Park, 3401 Courthouse Rd, Richmond
Managed By: Chesterfield County

This fenced dog park has two separate areas and drinking water that is available only in summer.

Washington
Westcrest Dog Park, 9000 8th Ave. SW, Seattle
Managed By: City of Seattle

This 4 acre, fenced, dog park features a separate area for small dogs, benches, shelter, lighting, and shade trees.

West Virginia
Charleston Dog Park, Washington Street, Charleston
Managed By: Charleston County

This dog park is fenced and double gated with benches. Open from sunrise to sunset.

Wisconsin
Tails N Trails Dog Park, Elm St and West High St, Milton
Managed By: City of Milton

This 18 acre, fenced, dog park features a small dog, agility equipment, swimming pond, drinking water, and trails.

Wyoming
Cheyenne Community Dog Park, 800 Southwest, Cheyenne
Managed By: Cheyenne Animal Shelter

This fenced dog park has a separate small dog area, shade, and benches. Closed on Wednesdays and open 11am-6pm weekdays & 12pm-5pm weekends.

Photo Credits: wanderingone, twodolla, Michael (mx5tx)

7 Tips for Spring Cleaning for your Pet's Health

Winter is almost over and Spring is on its way in! Before you start the fun task of spring cleaning your home, you should first think about how your spring cleaning could affect your pet.

1. Household Cleaning Products

Most people automatically associate spring cleaning with the use of household cleaning products. But before you take out that shining floor cleaner, be sure to read the label very carefully as you do not want to hurt your pet. Almost all commercially sold cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to pets. Even if you do use such a cleaning product, think about this: You wash your floor with a chemically-laced cleaning product whilst your dog or cat is outside or in another room, thinking that the chemicals won't hurt your pet....at least until the floor is dry. But what happens when your dog or cat comes back into the room? Each time they place their tongue on the floor (perhaps to lick up dropped food), they ingest a tiny portion of that chemical. Each time they lick their paws, they are ingesting some of that chemical cleaner as well. Remember, to always keep any type of chemical out of the reach of your pets.

2. Paints

Some homeowners like to put a fresh coat of paint on their house as part of their spring cleaning efforts. If you are one of them, then be sure to keep the paint away from your dog or cat. Sadly, solvents, paint thinners and other mineral spirits, if swallowed by your pet, can cause severe irritation or chemical burns. This is true even if your dog or cat's fur or paws come in contact with these types of paint products.

3. Pesticides and Fertilizers

Spring cleaning can also pertain to your garden and you might want to spray pesticides or herbicides onto your outside flowers and shrubs to prevent them from being chewed up by annoying little insects. However, before you do, you should first check to see if the pesticide you are going to use is pet friendly. Most of them aren't and are quite lethal to pets, and even if yours is not lethal, it could still cause long-term health problems for your dog or cat. Recent studies show that the use of most types of pesticides and herbicides is related to increased rates of specific forms of cancer in dogs. Just like pesticides, lawn fertilizers can also be very toxic to pets. Always follow the manufacturer instructions after you have applied it to your lawn before allowing your pets outside. If your dog or cat is exposed to any pesticide or fertilizer, you should immediately wash them with soap and water and call your veterinarian or poison control center. Remember to store pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers in a safe place that is far out of the reach of your dog or cat.

4. Flower Planting

If you have a green thumb, you are most probably already planning out your flower beds and garden! Keep in mind that there are over 700 different varieties of plants and flowers that are poisonous to dogs and cats. Before you start planting those seedlings, first check to see if they are toxic to cats or dogs. For example, Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils and Morning Glory's are quite lethal to pets.

5. Fleas

One of the most annoying creatures of springtime is fleas. These tiny, pinhead size bugs can grow very quickly and multiply as soon as they have latched onto your dog or cat. Springtime is the best time to start using preventative measures to avoid your dog or cat becoming flea-infested. Preventative measures will also help in keeping your home free of fleas as well. Avoid using commercial flea products as they contain chemicals that may result in liver damage for you and your pet. Instead use Canine or Feline Target Spray for Fleas. It is an all-natural alternative that acts as an insect repellent to control fleas on your dog or cat. It can be used as a preventative measure as well as a treatment should your dog or cat already have fleas.

6. Pet Allergies

Springtime can cause on an onset of allergies for yourself, your dog and/or your cat as well. Make sure that any allergy medication that you are taking for yourself is kept stored away from your pets reach. Ironic as it is, almost every type of allergy that you can suffer from, your pet can also suffer from. A few examples of this would be allergic reactions to chemicals and drugs, contact dermatitis, insect bites and food allergies. If you suspect that your pet has developed an allergy, you can treat it by giving them Canine or Feline Stimmune - an all natural supplement that helps to alleviate allergies by maintaining natural balance within your pet's body as well as by stimulating their immune systems. (It can also be used to treat recurrent infections and fatigue.)

7. Beware the Mold

If your idea of spring cleaning means that you are finally going to clean behind your fridge or stove, then it is best to remember that the toxins that are thrown up into the air by removing mold from these places can pose a threat to your pets. Some mold produce mycotoxins, which can cause gastrointestinal, cardiac and neurologic side effects in pets. If do find mold anywhere in your house, it is best if you contact the Environmental Protection Agency to find out more on mold hazards, including safe cleaning and removal.

Photo Credit:anomalous4

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Pets

According to a Forbes Magazine report of a survey conducted by Prince & Associates, affluent people spend $328,000 on their pets annually. What do they spend all that money on? Life Enrichment Services for their pets of course!

These services include specially prepared meals cooked by famous chefs, deep tissue massages, psychic readings and life coaching, manicures/pedicures, hairstylists and flights on private jets.


These same affluent pet owners are more than willing to spend at least $25,000 or more on wardrobes for their pets and another $25,000 or more on a birthday party for their pets!

So how do some of the most famous pet owners stack up to this survey?

One of the most famous dogs today is Tinkerbell, Paris Hilton's Chihuahua. Hotel heiress, Paris Hilton is notorious for pampering her little Chihuahua. Tinkerbell is fed only gourmet food and bottled water. Tinkerbell also has regular house calls for hair appointments and deep tissue massages. Paris also dresses Tinkerbell in designer clothes with bejeweled collar charms and carries her around in a $1,800 dollar Louis Vuitton pet carrier bag.

Oprah Winfrey as referred to her 5 dogs as "little people with fur". Her dogs have their own chef who prepares their favorite meal of ground lamb with brown rice and vegetables. Oprah's dogs also have their own personal trainers and dog walkers who are paid to train, walk and play with them on the 42 acres of Oprah's $51 million dollar estate in California. Oprah has even set up a $30 million dollar trust fund for her dogs in the event that they should outlive her.

After rescuing, Flossie, a yellow Labrador from a flea market a few years ago, the favor was returned to Drew Barrymore when Flossie rescued her from a house fire. In 2001, Flossie continuously banged on Drew's bedroom door, effectively waking up Drew and her then boyfriend, Tom Green, just in time to escape the house fire. Although Drew's house suffered almost $600,000 in damages, Drew promised to reward Flossie with a new dog house. And so, in 2002, Drew Barrymore placed her newly renovated Beverly Hills mansion worth $3 million in trust for Flossie.

Actress, Sigourney Weaver, held a romantic wedding for her Italian Greyhound, Petals. Complete with a faux Vera Wang wedding dress and pearls, Petals was wed to Sigourney's neighbor's dog, Jimmy.

The white tigers that are owned by magicians, Siegfried & Roy, live in an open-air habitat, complete with swimming pools, fountains and man-made mountainous terrain. They are also taken to roam around and play in the nearby countryside. White Tiger's are quite rare, approximately 1 in 10,000. These Tigers draw in $45 million dollars annually for their shows at the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

Leona Helmsley, a New York hotel magnate, left $12 million of her estimated $8 billion estate towards the care of her Maltese Terrier, Trouble. Later, $10 million was removed by a Manhattan Judge. Even so, with $2 million, Trouble will be living in the lap of luxury for many years to come! It is estimated that Trouble's annual expenses cost around $190,000. This includes $100,000 for 24 hour, personal, security, $60,000 for his guardianship fee, $8,000 for grooming and $1,200 for his food. Apparently, Trouble is used to being spoon fed gourmet foods by maids!

Photo Credit: d70focus

How To Donate To Your Favorite Pet Charity Without Spending a Ton of Money

Every pet owner wishes that they could do more for their welfare of other pets. But few know exactly where to start, nor do they have tons of money that they can spare by donating to the favorite pet charity. Well, here are a few ideas' to donate without spending a ton of money:
GoodSearch.com

Every internet savvy pet lover has to use a search engine at least 5 times per day. So what if you could do an internet search and donate money to your favorite charity at the same time? Well, you can....with GoodSearch.com.

GoodSearch.com is powered by Yahoo!, so you get the same high-quality search results that you are used to. It is also quite simple to set up: log onto GoodSearch.com and register, and then choose your favorite pet charity. Then every time you conduct an internet search using GoodSearch.com, a penny will be donated to your designated charity.

Search engines are able to make their money from advertisers who pay the search engines to have their links on the search results pages. GoodSearch.com works by redirecting some of that money earned from your search to your favorite charity. Last year search engines generated nearly $4 billion in ad revenue! Imagine what a pet charity could do with that amount of money?

License Plates

Another great and easy way to help out your local animal shelter is by purchasing a pet-friendly license plate. They are offered in almost every State in the USA and can be obtained by requesting one through your local Department of Motor Vehicles. The cost of the plate is usually between $15 -$30 and a portion of the proceeds are donated to locally participating animal shelters and/or rescue organizations.

Donate Kibble

Visit FreeKibble and FreeKibbleKat to answer the daily question. Once answered, 10 pieces of dog or cat kibble will be donated to a variety of animal shelters. Since April 1, 2008, 83,851,670 pieces of dog kibble and 56,260,910 pieces of cat kibble have been donated.

The Animal Rescue Site

Another great way to donate by clicking is the Animal Rescue Site. Visit them at The Animal Rescue Site and click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button to donate food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Each click is the equivalent of .6 bowls of food that is given to rescue animals.

i'm Initiative

Do you use Hotmail or MSN Messenger? Did you know that you can support a variety of animal charities by simply adding a signature to your profile? All you have to do is log in to your account, go to Options, and add the i'm Saving Animals signature. Microsoft will then share a portion of their advertising revenue with the animal cause that you choose.

Wedding Donations

Getting married soon? Instead of accepting gifts at your wedding, ask your guests to donate money to your favorite animal charity instead. Your guests can log into the I Do Foundation's website, a charity allowing wedding guests to make donations in lieu of traditional wedding gifts. The best part is that these charitable gifts are tax deductable!

Photo Credit: daveparker

Stolen Pets...A Different Way To Celebrate Valentine's Day

On 14 February (Valentine's Day) of every year, the Last Chance for Animals organization sponsors a Pet Theft Awareness Day. It seems fitting that on the one day of the year that is dedicated to love, Last Chance for Animals is trying to reach out to the public to warn them about pet theft. What better way to show your pet that you love them, by making sure that they are never stolen from you and your family?

Every year in the United States of America, between 1.5 and 2 million pets are stolen and, sadly, only 10% are ever reunited with their owners.

There are many reasons why dog and cats are stolen. The more simple thefts are because someone has seen a cute puppy or kitten and decides that they want that animal to be their pet, and so the steal it away from its loving owners. However, there many unscrupulous people in the world today who steal pets so that they can be sold to research laboratories or pet stores, become bait or fighters for dog-fighting rings, used as a puppy mill breeder, sold as meat to feed other types of exotic pets, and have their fur removed to be used in clothing and other 'fashion' accessories. The worst case scenario of a cat or dog being stolen is that they succumb to cruel acts by sadistic people.

There are two types of animal dealers in the United States: Class A and B. The Class A dealers are more reputable breeders and actually keep proper and humane breeding kennels or catteries. However, a Class B dealer is allowed to obtain their animals from 'random sources'. Since this type of dealer license is relatively inexpensive, coupled with the fact that there are not enough inspectors to enforce existing regulations, it is not a priority of the USDA to ensure the safety and health of Class B dealer animals.

Canadian regulations strictly prohibit laboratories from buying 'random source' animals. However, most pets that are stolen in Canada are shipped to laboratories in the United States, as they prefer to work with friendly domestic pets as they are a lot more trusting and friendly towards strangers. On the other hand, Class B dealers prefer Canadian pets because taking pets across the border makes it much harder for their owners to track them down and bring them home.

Since most of these 'random source' animals are literally stolen from their own backyards or whilst they are wandering around their neighborhood, there are quite a few steps that you can take to prevent your cat or dog from being stolen:

• Never leave your pet unattended outside, even if it is in your own backyard. It will only take a few seconds for a passerby to steal your pet.
• Try not to let your cat or dog (or any other pet for that matter) to be seen from the street or sidewalk outside your house.
  
• If you are taking your dog for a walk and have to go into a restaurant or grocery store, do not leave him tied up outside. Anyone can easily untie your dog's leash and walk off with him.
• Regardless of the heat issues, you should never leave your pet unattended in your car. Thieves have been known to break a window just so that they could steal the pet.
• If you truly have to find a new home for your cat or dog, avoid advertising them as 'free to good home'. These are the types of ads that the Class B dealers are looking for. Instead, call your local humane society or rescue group to help you in finding a new home for your animal.
• Always spay or neuter your cat or dog. Not only will this decrease for their need to stray, it will also decrease the chance of your cat or dog being used in a puppy mill.
• Make sure that all your animals have up-to-date ID tags and licenses. Another option is to microchip or tattoo your pet as another means of identification.
• Every few weeks, take a new photograph of your dog or cat, and keep them safe along with a written description of your pet.
• If you are not going to be home for long periods of time, it is better to keep your dog or cat inside your house.
• Keep an eye on your pets and know where they are at all times.
• Educate your family, friends, and neighbors about pet theft. The more people who are aware, the less likely that pet theft will occur.
• If a stranger approaches you to ask about breeding or buying your animal, always tell them that your pet has been fixed, even if it’s not true, and immediately write down the stranger’s name, license plate number, and address if you have it.
• Never share the details of your pet's value, bloodline, or special abilities to any stranger.
  

If your pet is stolen, immediately contact your local police station as well as Dog Detective

Image Credit: ghindo

Animal Movie Reviews

Over the past few months there have been quite a few movies made that showcase one type of animal or another. If you have not gone to see any of these movies, then here is a quick review of them:

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Released on 3 October 2008, this is a sweet comedy about Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore), a Beverly Hills Chihuahua, who gets lost during a trip to Mexico and has to make her way home again with the help of a stray German Sheppard before she is dog-napped and held for ransom. Meanwhile, Chloe's secret lover, Papi, a male Chihuahua (voiced by George Lopez), attempts to track her down and bring her home.

It is a fast paced movie that will awaken every dog-loving cell in your body! Its tongue-in-cheek storytelling will make you laugh out loud.

According to George Lopez, Papi the Chihuahua was only a day away from being euthanized before he was rescued to star in Beverly Hills Chihuhua.

Marley and Me

This movie was released on Christmas Day 2008 and set a record for the largest Christmas Day box office ever with $14.75 million in ticket sales! It is a funny, yet heartfelt memoir written and told by journalist John Grogan, author of the bestselling novel of the same title. The movie revolves around John and his wife Jenny, who adopt a yellow Labrador retriever whom they name Marley.

Marley quickly proves to be a highly energetic dog with a knack for getting into trouble! He is expelled for Dog Training Class, chews up the entire couch, steals a Thanksgiving Day Turkey, develops a fear of thunderstorms, and enjoys diamond necklaces!

The movie details Marley's life with John, Jenny and their three children, from puppyhood to adulthood. It is hilarious at times and will cause you to either compare your own dog's rambunctiousness with Marley or be thankful that your dog is not like Marley at all.

Since this movie spans over all fourteen years of Marley's life, twenty-two different yellow labs played the part of Marley. This is a great movie proving how important it is to have a dog in your life!

Hotel For Dogs

Another book turned movie, Hotel For Dogs was originally written by Lois Duncan and is a story about two orphan children who have to find another place for their dog, Friday, to live as their new foster parents won't allow them to have a dog. With the help of Friday, the two children discover an abandoned hotel where a few stray dogs have been living. The children quickly turn it into the perfect hotel for Friday and his new doggie friends.

Soon, however, the children are rounding up all the stray dogs in the city and providing a safe haven for them at their doggie hotel. But the movie takes a turn when the continual dog barking upsets the neighbors and rouses the suspicions of the local dog-catchers who have suddenly found themselves without work. Nevertheless, Hotel For Dogs, is a true portrayal of how far love and imagination can take you!
Hotel For Dogs was released on 16 January 2009 and earned $55,125,062 at the Box Office.

Open Season 2

This is the sequel to the movie Open Season that was first released in 2006. Although this movie may not be about dogs, it is about the animals that live in the woods.

Released on 27 January 2009, Open Season 2 tells the animated story of woodland animals clashing comically with household pets, when one of their friends, Mr Weenie is kidnapped by the evil Toy Poodle, Fifi.

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

This movie is set to be released on 20 November 2009 and is a follow up to the 2001 original movie Cats & Dogs. It continues the story of the battle between cats and dogs for control over planet Earth, presumably letting the Cats win this time round!
This will surely be a movie that will have all cat and dog owners debating for a while!

Image Credit: [177]

Frugal Pet Tips

Everyone is trying to deal with the current downturn in the economy as best as possible. Sadly, pets are affected more by a recession than anyone else. In fact, one of the main reasons why people surrender their pets to animal shelters is because they believe that they can no longer afford to take care of them. However, here are a few simple money-saving strategies that you can use to help you provide for your pets during these tough financial times:

Pet Food

The majority of 'pet money' is spent on food than on any other pet necessity!

• Whenever possible, always buy your pet's food in bulk. More often than not, the larger the quantity that you buy during a single shopping spree, the cheaper it usually is per pound.
• Check with your family, friends and neighbors who have a similar breed of dog or cat as you, and discuss splitting the cost of bulk pet food with them.
  
• All the major pet store chains run sales on their pet food, so keep an eye out for any pet food coupons in your mailbox!
• If you can, try to buy your dog or cat's food at a supermarket rather than at an expensive pet store chain. Especially if you are buying the same products. Supermarket stores will usually sell the same brand at a reduced cost than a pet store chain would.
• Switch to a high quality food that needs to be fed to your cat or dog in smaller amounts. Usually, food that is of a poor quality will require that your pet get's fed more - which can become quite costly in the long run. Another benefit of feeding a high quality food is that it will help to keep your pet at their optimum health and reduce vet visits.
  

Veterinary Care

Unfortunately, nearly all veterinary expenses that occur are often sudden and unexpected - and usually seem to always cost an arm and a leg! However, by being prepared the shock of such medical expenses can be reduced or even eliminated.

• Before your pet has a chance to get sick, you should call around at the various veterinarian offices and pet clinics in your area and find out what their prices are for certain common procedures that you know that your pet may have to be seen for by a vet. You will be shocked to find out that not every vet and clinic charges the same price for the same procedures.
• Find out if your local animal shelter, humane society or SPCA offers a low-cost clinic. Most of these types of animal organizations offer discounted veterinary procedures such as vaccinations (including rabies shots), micro-chipping, and spaying or neutering, as a service to the local community.
  
• If your dog or cat is ever prescribed medication from a Vet, do not purchase the medication for your vet's office. Instead, purchase the medication through a wholesale pet medication company online.
  
• Consider taking out health insurance for your pets. You will be able to receive discounts if you insure more than one pet.
• Another great idea is to set up a trust fund for your pets where you can regularly deposit a little bit of money to cover any medical costs should they ever arise. The trust fund can also be used to help take care of your pets should something happen to you.
  
• If your dog or cat does become sick, and you know exactly what the cause is, try treating it yourself by using natural alternatives rather than taking your pet in to see a Vet. For example, do not take your pet to the animal clinic if you already know that he or she has worms. Instead, using a product like Inulin PK will help to get rid of the worms whilst saving you a lot of money at the same time. Remember that an ounce of prevention costs a less than a ton of cure.
  

Keep Your Pet Well Contained

Most pet owners do not think about the consequences involved in not making sure that their pets are properly contained. However, if your pet escapes from your home or backyard, there are a lot of costs involved should you incur a fine for your animal running around without a leash. Other costs could include medical expenses for injury or illness acquired while your pet was on the loose, as well as any damage to other people's property.

• If your backyard is fully fenced, make sure that are no holes in the fence for your dog to escape out of.
• Make sure that all doors and gates are kept locked and closed when you are not using them. You could also think about installing self-closing mechanisms to all gates.
  

Grooming

Instead of taking your pet to the grooming salon, learn to groom your pet at home yourself. You can buy professional grade clippers and give your pet a haircut yourself.

Pet Toys

Make your own pet toys. This is a fun project that every family member can get involved with! Just be sure to use your imagination. You can use regular household items, such as rope and old tennis balls to make a great dog toy. Roll up some rice into an old pill bottle for your cat to bat around!

Image credit: Yomanimus

Don't Let Valentine's Day Go To The Dogs!

Every year people all over the world celebrate Saint Valentine's Day on the 14th of February. People plan romantic evenings out, buy jewelry and even send bouquets of bright red roses or heart-shaped boxes of chocolates to their someone special. Many people include their pets into their Valentine's Day celebrations as well. Cupid's arrows certainly do fly around a lot on St Valentine's Day and as a pet owner, you will need to make sure that Cupid's arrows do not injure your pet!

On and around Valentine's Day each year, the ASPCA's Poison Experts see's an increase in cases involving a pet being poisoned by eating chocolates or flowers. By taking a few extra precautions, however, you can ensure that Valentine's Day does not go to the dogs!

Chocolates might warm your blood but they can be poisonous to your dog. So be sure that you keep those chocolates in their heart shaped box away from your dog's mouth! Dark chocolate contains certain stimulants called methylxanthines which cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and elevated heart rate in dogs. Light chocolate contains a high-fat content which can lead to an inflammation of your dog's pancreas.

Will you be toasting your love this Valentine's Day? If so, be careful not to leave any alcohol where your dog or cat can get into it. If you do happen to spill some wine, be sure to quickly clean it up before your dog or cat laps it up! Never leave your alcohol filled glass unattended. Just consuming a tiny amount of alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances and even coma in pets.

A rose might be for a rose but just be careful of the thorns! Keep thorny roses out of the reach of cats and dogs, because stepping on or swallowing a thorn can create an urgent trip to the vet. Other common Valentine's Day flowers that you should be cautious of are: lilies, tulips, azaleas, cyclamen, chrysanthemum, and amaryllis. Ingesting any of these dangerous flowers could lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of coordination, and multi-organ damage in cats and dogs.

Will your love be burning bright this Valentine's Day? Just be sure to blow out the candles before you leave the room! Candles can easily be knocked over by inquisitive doggie noses. Even placing your candles high on your mantle will not stop a curious cat from checking out the candle.

Before you wrap up your romantic evening, be sure that all wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, bows, cellophane and popped balloons have been thrown in the trash. Cat's love to play with ribbons, but ingesting them can cause blockages.

Although most pets do not usually eat everything in sight, you will never really know what might just spark their fancy. By being a bit more aware of what your cat or dog is up too on Valentine's Day, you will be able to ensure a wonderful and romantic Valentine's Day for all involved.

Image credit: BL1961