Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category

« Older Entries

Worlds Oldest Dog Eats Halo! Same Good Stuff Mine Do

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Did you catch the news splash about Uncle ChiChi, a rescue poodle from New York City appeared on Good Morning America this week because he may be the world’s oldest dog?  His age is somewhat vague because he was adopted from a shelter around 2 years old, but deaf and blind as he is, the old guy is still going strong. When asked what the ancient but perky dog ate, the owner said, “He eats Spot’s Stew, made by a company called Halo and it’s really healthy stuff.”

I thought the funniest line as a throwaway comment when the TV host asked how long the owner Frank had had the dog. It has only been a few years because he had inherited Uncle ChiChi from a relative, who had inherited him from a previous relation.  “He’s bee in my family since 1988,” Frank declared — as though the little poodle was a castle or a valuable piece of jewelry. It was really a sweet moment of pride of ownership.

Of course I was thrilled since my pooches eat only Halo kibble as part of the elaborate feast I serve them twice a day — and Scooby Doo, Teddy  & Jazzy aren’t even 23 years old with all three of their ages combined! SO I am hoping Uncle Chi Chi’s wise choice of food will keep my guys going long and strong into their twenties, too!

Check out the story (and the Good Morning America video) in yesterday’s New York Times.

–Tracie Hotchner

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Dogs, Nutrition | No Comments »

Halo is WAY Different than Other Kibble! (Update)

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

I got this letter recently from a pet sitter who works for Lydia Best in Leesburg Virgnia and attended the seminar on pet nutrition that I gave last year, sponsored by Nordic Naturals after they sent me to VA TECH veterinary school to talk to the students:

Dear Tracie:

I attended your seminar last spring in Leesburg, Virginia, sponsored by my employer, Everything and the Dog. I have to admit that I went into it a bit skeptical, but after hearing what you had to tell us about what is in most commercial dog foods I was appalled at the thought that I was feeding my dog garbage, or worse. I had been feeding her Science Diet Small Breed, and thought that I was giving her one of the best foods on the market. After attending your seminar, I learned how to read a label, saw what the ingredients were in that food, and we switched her to the dry version of Spot’s Stew.

We have since moved onto our boat in Baltimore, anticipating that in a few years we will cruise to the Bahamas and other destinations for the winter months. We recently attended a “webinar” given by a veterinarian, and former cruiser, who spoke about all sorts of issues a pet owner may face while away from home. One of those issues was dog food. He stated that all commercial dog foods are garbage, and it didn’t matter whether you spent $10 on a bag of Purina, or $50 on a designer dog food, they were all the same.

Needless to say, we are now confused. Is Halo considered a “designer” dog food? At $40.00 a bag, it is expensive. At some point our cruising budget may not allow us to spend $40 on a bag of dog food, and this vet recommended that we start now, feeding her different types of dog foods to get her system used to eating whatever we can purchase in the Islands. I have even looked at Blue Buffalo, even though the only one recommended on your web site is the canned food. The dry food is a bit cheaper than the Halo.

My question then, is this: Is Halo in the dry form also garbage? Am I wasting money, where I could be feeding her something cheaper, something that may be easier to find off the beaten path?

Thanks very much for listening, and I enjoyed your seminar!

Toni aboard the S/V Peregrine with Schipperke Holly

Dear Toni: I am trying to recover from my dismay at this veterinarian spouting his own misinformed version of true garbage regarding the feeding of our pets over the internet in a webinar on sailing and pets. If he knew as little about sailing as he clearly does about the manufacture and philosophy behind premium small companies versus the big commercial ones — I dare say you all would have sunk your ships by now! There is no dispute in nutrition for either people or pets that we “are what we eat” and REAL meat or other wholesome protein ingredients and other healthy components of a pet food are key to the wellness of our beloved pets. HALO is completely different from other commercial dry foods. The biggest difference is the fact that it is made with human grade meat. They don’t use any rendered products to achieve their protein content. Doing a label comparison says it all and you did learn from me down in Leesburg last year how to read a label. It’s unfortunate that the vet that conducted the webinar is so cynical and jaded. All foods are NOT the same. Again, every label tells the truth of what they have slipped into those formulas. Pet foods based almost entirely on cheap corn by-products can hardly be compared to those using quality protein sources and real vegetables. There are many blogs posts on my website about good nutrition and I would also suggest you check out HALO’s website. Not only will you learn more about their philosophy, but you will also see the good ingredients that are used in the creation of their food. (If you’re still in touch with that veterinarian, I strongly suggest you send him both places as well for a little re-education). Remember: it’s a good use of your money to provide the best food you can for Holly. In the long run, a small investment of quality food can prolong her life and save you on Vet bills for illnesses related to poor nutrition. AND I certainly hope it wouldn’ be that vet you would be seeing, in any case!

Toni replied:

Thanks for the response. We plan to keep our Schip on the HALO food; she does very well on it, and I feel better after hearing back from you. I was a little concerned after the webinar that maybe we were “throwing good money after bad”! We really like the zipper close on the bag as well; what a concept!

Dear Toni:  I’m so pleased to know that HALO with it’s nifty zippered bag will be on board the jolly ship Peregrine and that your lovely little Schipperke will be getting the high quality nutrition she richly deserves as your first mate (or is it deck hand?!) But now that I’ve set you on the straight course about a quality kibble, I hope you’ll also take to heart the fundamentals of my “nutrition seminar,” which is that an all-kibble diet is not balanced or healthy because even the finest kibble (which I believe HALO to be, based on the source of their ingredients) is still highly processed carbohydrates and Holly needs quality protein and fresh vegetables and even some fruits. So if you can balance out her kibble with an equal amount of protein from your own table like meat, chicken, eggs, cottage cheese and of course fish (which has to be easy when you’re sailing!) you’ll be giving her the optimal diet.

I’d also like to extend an invitation to you to try a new way of feeding dogs called Proportions which was just developed based on my nutritional theories — at least get a free sample of two meals and see for yourself what you think. Although they have a nice selection of kibble you can choose for that portion of the meal. You can also choose to use your own kibble, as I do, since all three of my dogs are now on Proportions and I use my own HALO, which you could do as well. If you see how amazing the pouch of real chicken breast is and the packet of dehydrated vegetables — and the super convenience of it being delivered a month’s worth at a time, you would be able to stash the two little pouches for each of her meals right in your ship’s galley, next to your zippered bag of HALO’s finest.

–Tracie Hotchner

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Dogs, Nutrition | No Comments »

Leo is a Weruva Guy Again When Vectra Comes to the Rescue

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Dear Tracie,

I’m thrilled that the Weruva has resolved my cat Leo’s struvite crystal situation.  However, for the last 3-4 months he has been biting the tip of his tail and chewing on his paws.  The vet thinks he possibly has a food allergy to chicken, and offered steroid shots.  To give Leo some immediate relief the vet gave him one shot.  I do not plan to continue a course of steroids.

I also switched Leo to a limited ingredient diet on March 14th, feeding him Instinct’s rabbit, venison and lamb.  There is no chicken or chicken liver.  He did really well until last week when he started over-grooming and biting his tail and paws again.

I apply Advantage flea control every three to four weeks. I was hoping the change in diet would help, but he seems to have the same allergy symptoms. I would love your advice on what other things I can do to help him.

Laura

Here’s what I think is going on:

Leo needs omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil. Nordic Naturals is my favorite because of its purity and freshness — it comes in pet capsules and you can puncture the capsule and squeeze a few drops on his paws every day for him to enjoy & lick off. These omega-3 oils are anti-inflammatory in general plus they nourish the skin at a cellular level.

You are so right to avoid the steroid shots — it creates a horrible cycle of dependence on them and it solves nothing — only deals with the symptoms and creates problems of its own

Food allergies are extremely rare and sorry to say I hear of vets who blame chicken all the time and then give shots — without any proof of why the animal is suffering — it’s ridiculous! I think you may still have fleas — one flea bite can create a terrible itchy reaction and the biting and scratching can cause more irritation.

The product you are using is based on older technology and cannot compare to Vectra for cats — which is far superior because it is the newest technology and kills off all 3 life cycles of the flea — which can live in your environment for years unless the life cycle is ended. Plus, it works efficiently for a full 30 days so there is no longer any reason to buy a product that you have to reapply too soon because it isn’t working anymore! Please go on my website and see the page about Vectra so you can figure out how to ask your vet to carry it. Otherwise, you can go to your nearest Banfield Vet Clinic — which has Vectra made for them under the name First Shield. This product is available only through vets, never online, to protect the quality and safety of the product.

P.S. About the crystals — to avoid them forming again you want Leo to drink as much water as possible — which cats are not inclined to do, especially if getting such good nourishment. So you have to make the water really tasty! In addition to giving my favorite canned cat food, Weruva, I urge you to buy a canister of ICE PUPS (just ignore the name!)  from the Honest Kitchen.  It’s finely ground chicken & herbs which dissolves in water after you stir it around and makes it really delicious. So you can put half a teaspoon in a shallow bowl of half a cup of water and see if you can get him to slurp up some of that, too! You can buy Ice Pups (and the new Honest Kitchen treats called Wishes, which are freeze dried little fishes!) from www.K9Cuisine.com, which despite the name carries Weruva and a whole lot of great cat treats. With a minimum order there is even free shipping.

Let me know how everything goes!

Dear Tracie,

You are so kind!  This is great information.  I Googled Banfield Vet Clinic and there is one near my house, so I’ll definitely check out Vectra flea medicine.  I’ve been wondering about Advantage since I noticed that it wasn’t particularly effective.  The kitties keep scratching and biting even after I apply it…. so I concluded their issue must be food allergies (thinking the product was killing the fleas).

I’m going to switch back to Weruva since they absolutely love it…. they eat rabbit and lamb, but they are not really crazy about it and they are still biting themselves.  So… sounds like nasty fleas.

I’ll pick up some Ice Pups…. I’m sure they’ll enjoy another treat.

And then I sent Laura a few more thoughts from me (since I cannot be stopped)!

I think you’re going to see a big improvement over time with the Nordic Naturals omega-3 fish oil, which is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps the skin and should also reduce their itchiness over time.

Goody gumdrops on getting Leo back on  the Weruva! The Vectra is a lifesaver AND MUST BE USED MONTHLY YEAR ROUND because fleas have a long life cycle (most of it invisible to us) and they are always looking for their next meal.

–TracieHotchner

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Cats, Nutrition, Pest Control, allergies | No Comments »

Yes, Weruva is made in Thailand, which holds to HIGHER European Standards

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Hi Tracie:

I have been a listener of your Cat Chat® show for many years, & I also have your book The Cat Bible. I received an email the other day from you & it mentioned your new food.

I drove about 12 miles to buy it & I bought many of the different flavors, but when I read the can at the very bottom, it says, “product of Thailand”.

I was very surprised because I thought it also says it is produced in a human facility. I thought it was made here in the USA.

Thank You,
Patty C.

So glad you got in touch so I can help clear up this frequent misunderstanding we Americans have about whether what is produced in other countries is good — or inferior to our own products. I think we all need to keep in mind that China is a country whose products have proven over and over to be either suspicious or dangerous — but that does not hold true for the rest of Asia by any means. Thailand, in fact, holds itself to the much HIGHER European standards. Plus it’s important to note that Weruva is made in a human food facility (which makes many of the foods eaten in restaurants across America). Once you know that, you can feel a whole lot better about letting your kitties enjoy Weruva. And rather than driving 12 miles, you can order Weruva from PetFoodDirect.com and get a special discount as a Cat Chat listener. Use discount code CATCHAT20.

I used my site’s Google search box to find a previous Blog I did about Weruva and the Thailand connection, so please take a moment to read this, too.

Best,
Tracie
P.S. if you’d like an autographed bookplate inscribed to your kitty to put into your THE CAT BIBLE please send your cat’s name & your mailing address and I’ll pop it right in the mail.

The Cat Bible

The Cat Bible

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Cats, Nutrition | No Comments »

“Little Doll” Says Don’t Worry about the Crazies on Catster

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

I have Daily Tips that pop up on Catster.com and every so often the comments get startling in their nastiness — both to me and others who comment. It was really discouraging since all we’re all trying to do is support happy living with kitties, right?! So I commented back to the commenters and got a lovely note from one who calls herself “Little Doll” when she posts.

Little Doll you are doing a great service to be taking care of so many kitties and I salute you. Here are some thoughts on how to make it easier and more affordable. Feed each cat on a small paper plate then no wash up, more sanitary actually. For the best food bargains you can go to PetFoodDirect.com and my website has the code — CATCHAT20 — to put in at the end for a 20% discount. You can get any brand on the planet, no dragging home heavy bags (UPS man does it all!) and often they have many choices on sale, which is how I do it for my dogs. If you have to use dry (for a variety of reasons) you’ve picked a quality brand so the higher the protein and a named protein source as the #1 ingredient, the less worrisome it is to feed dry food. But it must be without corn, wheat, soy,powdered cellulose (which is SAWDUST!!) etc. I like HALO because they use actual real meat, muscle meat, in their kibble which no other company does. Still, any kibble is bad for cats’ health because at the end of the day it is highly processed and carbohydrate heavy. As for listening to my shows, any chance you can download them from the online library onto an iPod or other device? I am a dope and don’t know how, but loads of people are doing it. I really appreciate your very kind words and hope you’ll have a chance to get THE CAT BIBLE at some point because I know it will give you even more insights and advice you can use. If you do get it, remember to send me your mailing address and a list of ALL your kitties names so I can send you an autographed bookplate to put in it — and a coupon for $20 worth of Cat Attract litter and a CD of my show about nutrition.

Thank you so much, Tracie.  There’s a place here in Chico (CA) called Northern Star Mills that has some good prices on dry pet food and I will have to check out Halo.  I did forward PetFoodDirect (I’m on their mailing list) to a good online friend of mine who has MS and it is very difficult for her to wrestle big bags of dry food home.  My neighbor has a three-year-old daughter who has been fascinated by my cats for the last year and a half and it inspired my neighbor to adopt three kittens.  She then realized how much commitment they can take and stopped there.  I am, somewhat slowly, trying to educate her without preaching, which is difficult for me.  The quality of pet food bought is one topic I’m working toward.

I do forward some tips on to a few of my friends who have cats and recommend Catster to cat people I chat with.  The Cats room in Pogo Addiction Solitaire seems to be a special gathering place for cat people, more than any other room or game I’ve been in.  Whenever I come across someone who is grieving over a lost feline friend, I recommend putting a memorial page on Catster.  Also, there are many cat people at Care2.com and cat groups.

Thank you very much for your kind offer.  I may surprise you someday by taking you up on it!

I am very sorry about the people who attacked you in comments on your Daily Tips.  It was certainly out of the blue.  I think these people feel threatened.  Most people want to be patted on the back without doing the work.  We often do things like putting in five inches of kitty litter in the box or filling the dry food bowl without even realizing why.  Often, it is because the product itself recommended that amount.  The more used, the better for them.  Or maybe their parents did it that way, never stopping to consider that their parents might not have really known or understood about cats and then they have an emotional attachment to doing that way.  The point is to get beyond that emotional reaction and reexamine the best way to do things for the animals we say we love, not for our own emotional fulfillment.  Just because we did it that way it and it seemed to work doesn’t mean we can’t, in the light of new information, rethink our methods and try something different.

Actually, I think one drama queen had a knee jerk reaction which influenced a few other people, but I don’t think the majority of your readers feel this way at all.

I noticed that Comments are closed on the last couple of Tips.  I hope this was your decision and wasn’t forced on you.  Please don’t be discouraged, the presence of crazies actually means that you are being effective and getting somewhere. Certainly, you are being noticed.

Thanks for your kind words & encouragement — it means a lot. I did tell the folks at Catster about the out-of-control responses so they probably turned off the tap. Great to know you are out there!

Best wishes,
–Tracie Hotchner

The Cat Bible at Amazon.com

The Cat Bible

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Cats, Nutrition | No Comments »

Leo Needs Weruva, Ice Pups, Vectra, and Nordic Naturals!

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Hi Tracie,

I’m thrilled that the Weruva has resolved Leo’s struvite crystal situation.  However, for the last 3-4 months he has been biting the tip of his tail and chewing on his paws.  The vet thinks he possibly has a food allergy to chicken, and offered steroid shots.  To give Leo some immediate relief the vet gave him one shot.  I do not plan to continue a course of steroids.

I  also switched Leo to a limited ingredient diet on March 14th, feeding him Instinct’s rabbit, venison and lamb.  There is no chicken or chicken liver.  He did really well until last week when he started over-grooming and biting his tail and paws again.

I apply Advantage flea control every three to four weeks. I was hoping the change in diet would help, but he seems to have the same allergy symptoms. I would love your advise on what other things I can do to help him.

Thanks!
Laura K.

Laura -

Here’s what is going on:

Leo needs omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil — Nordic Naturals is my favorite because of its purity and freshness — it comes in pet capsules and you can puncture the capsule and squeeze a few drops on his paws every day for him to enjoy & lick off. These omega-3 oils are anti-inflammatory in general plus they nourish the skin at a cellular level.

You are so right to avoid the steroid shots — it creates a horrible cycle of dependence on them and it solves nothing — only deals with the symptoms and creates problems of its own

Food allergies are extremely rare and vets blame chicken all the time and then give shots — without any proof of why the animal is suffering – it’s ridiculous! I think you may still have fleas — one flea bite can create a terrible itchy reaction and the biting and scratching can cause more irritation.

The product you are using cannot compare to Vectra for cats — it is far superior because it is the newest technology and kills off all 3 life cycles of the flea — which can live in your environment for years unless the life cycle is ended. Plus, it works efficiently for a full 30 days so there is not reason to have a product that you have to reapply too soon because it isn’t working anymore! Please go on my website and see the page about Vectra so you can figure out how to ask your vet to carry it or you can go to your nearest Banfield Vet Clinic which has Vectra made for them under the name First Shield — this product is available only through vets — never online, to protect the quality and safety of the product.

About the crystals — to avoid them forming again you want him to drink as much water as possible — which cats are not inclined to do, especially if getting such good nourishment. So you have to make the water really tasty! In addition to giving my favorite canned cat food, Weruva, I urge you to buy a canister of Ice Pups (just ignore the name!)  from the Honest Kitchen — available online if you don’t have a premium pet store near you. It’s finely ground chicken & herbs which dissolves in water after you stir it around and makes it really delicious. So you can put half a teaspoon in a shallow bowl of half a cup of water and see if you can get him to slurp up some of that, too!

Let me know how everything goes!

–Tracie Hotchner

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Cats, Nutrition, Wellness, allergies | No Comments »

Guido and Monk Living Large on Tracie Meal Plan!

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Hi, Tracie -

I have recently adopted a 4-year-old Italian Greyhound and I started him on the right foods from day one. He gets Halo dry food mixed with Innova Evo canned twice a day. I am sending pictures of the dog, Guido and my cat, Monk.

I love your shows! I download the podcasts and listen to them on my long road trips. Since listening to you I have gotten my cat off of the “kitty crack” and onto Soulistic cat food. He was not overweight but I have seen a real change in his energy level. I am also seeing a lot less hair on my clothes and furniture.

I have learned a lot from your shows and your books. I pass along the things that I have learned to everyone who will listen. Thanks for all you do and please keep up the good work!

Sincerely,
Gina

I told Gina I was so glad she was following all my advice but as a real treat I wanted her to get a free sample of food for Gorgeous Guido — she’s been feeding him so well but I waned to surprise Guido with the exquisite taste of the real cage free chicken breast in pumpkin soup that it the centerpiece of my 3-course meal plan from www.Proportions.com and try a free trial (put TRACIE in the code box) — it’s a whole new level of excellence and based on my nutritional theories.

–Tracie Hotchner

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Dogs, Nutrition | No Comments »

How to Transition Her German Shepherds to Healthy Diet

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Tracie,

I was at the seminar today. I was the girl with the 2 German Shepherds on that horrific Hill’s Prescription Diet from the vet. I am sorry I had to leave without speaking to you. I had to get home so my husband could go to work and take care of my 5 year old.

I just wanted to thank you so much for all of the invaluable information, not just for my dogs, but for my cat as well! I had no idea how bad “kitty crack” was. I will be changing her diet and contacting Betsy Pallazzo about my GSD’s as well. I knew that the Hill’s was bad, but I had no idea HOW bad!

Really, I can’t Thank You enough! Not only was today informative but entertaining as well. You are a very intelligent, interesting woman to listen/speak to.

Christine F.

Sorry we didn’t get any personal time afterwards — my heart really goes out to you with the digestive challenges of your guys. And I definitely want to work with you to get their tummies settled down enough to eat some proper food. They are omnivorous carnivores being fed like feed lot chickens or worse! (As you now know for sure) And they deserve a whole lot better than that — which you also definitely know!

I was so grateful & impressed that you actually printed out the ingredients list of what is in that prescription diet your vet has been selling you — damned alarming!

So the first step is to get them on some Digest-All Plus powder. It’s the best digestive enzyme product I’ve found. You can buy it from Wholistic Pet Organics directly at 888-452-7263. Or you can go to SmartpakCanine.com to order it. But be careful: there are SO many other cool things on that website you might be tempted to add to your order since there’s only one low shipping fee for anything you buy! Come to think of it, go on that website for sure because I want to first try to transition them to a quality kibble before we try to get them onto Proportions.

In their case, we are going to do ALL kibble to begin with. Try to get their guts used to a step up, gradually. Check out all the Wellness brands they carry. You can get it as a big bag or as Portion Paks, which come pre-measured and sealed in daily meals and monthly shipments. That keeps it fresher, and makes sure you are using the same and correct amount at each meal. There is a Wellness that only has 5 ingredients I believe: a super hypo-allergenic one — choose that — unless you’ve already tried it, in which case, still try it because now you have the Digest All Plus. Boil up some white rice with a piece of chicken in it (so it tastes good) and add that to the kibble. I am afraid to say “add yogurt.” Let’s start with this but the Digest All Plus is essential. I want to help you through this to get to nutritional wellness on the other side of this nightmare!

–Tracie Hotchner

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Dogs, Nutrition, Wellness | No Comments »

Honest Kitchen Comes East! Lots of New Places to Buy Their Great Products

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Great news for people on the East Coast looking to change their dog’s diet to a completely raw dehydrated organic menu, or to augment their dog’s dinner bowl (as I do) with the pure natural food from The Honest Kitchen (THK) in San Diego. My pooches have been eating THK products as one-third of every one of their meals for many years. This company has been eco-conscious and green-oriented for years, well before the current trendiness of the “green movement.” Not only are packaging materials recycled and recyclable, but the chicken is organic and comes from humane and sustainable farming practices, as do many of the other ingredients. ICE PUPS from THK is an essential in every dog’s pantry (and so important for kitty cats with kidney or other urinary tract issues). A canister of ICE PUPS (ground chicken and herbs which dissolves in water) becomes a delicious and appealing source of fluids and hydration for pets who need it but aren’t good water consumers, like my Scooby Doo who nearly died of bladder stones years ago and never seems to drink at all. So I just wanted to pass on a list of the new Honest Kitchen resellers in New York (and New Jersey), which were recently set up now that they have a sales rep and a distributor. Lucy Postins, the dedicated owner of THK, says “I know you’re always keen to have stores that you can refer people to, after you so kindly tell them all about our products. So here’s that list!”

THE HONEST KITCHEN (THK) – EAST COAST RESELLERS
THK New Accounts for March 2010 (ordering at least 3 diets)

Metro Pet Supply, 19 Main Road, Montville, NJ
VCA Madison Feed Antech,Inc., Madison, NJ
Rusty’s Place,  1141 Greenwood Lake Tpke, Ringwood, NJ
Maxwell And Molly’s Closet Llc, 218 Spring St, Newton, NJ
Bubba Rose Biscuit Co., 421 Main St., Boonton, NJ
Corrados Pet Market 2 Inc, (Not Opened Yet), Wayne, NJ
Unleashed Pet Boutique & Spa, 160 Main Street, Port Washington, NY
Litter & Leashes Inc., 1521 York Ave., New York, NY
Pet Pro Inc., 1614 Route 82 Plaza, Lagrangeville, NY
The Pet Market  224 West 72Nd Street, New York, NY
The Pet Market 1St Ave.,Inc., 1570 1St Avenue,  New York, NY
Paws Of Distinction, 56 Fifth Ave., Newburgh, NY
Village Pet Center, 1260 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ
Animal Crackers Inc., 1059 Raritan Road, Clark, NJ
Vinney’s Pet Shop, 451 Bay Ridge Ave., Brooklyn, NY
It’s A Dog World, 593 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn, NY
The Paw Stop, 21 Murray Street, New York, NY
Puppy Love & Kitty Kat Pet, Inc., 200 Spring Street, New York, NY
Lucas Ave. Pet Supply, 350 Lucas Ave., Kingston, NY
Rock Ledge Garden Center Inc., 1621 Hamburg Tpke., Wayne, NJ

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Cats, Dogs, Medical, Nutrition | No Comments »

New Shelter Pet Stamps Raise AWARENESS, not MONEY

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

Do not be confused by emails urging you to buy those cute pet postage stamps from the USPS which claims the stamps raise money to feed shelter pets. No money goes to shelter animals — the stamps are simply a way to raise awareness of the need for more pet adoptions.

I have been receiving many mass e-mailings of the following email message which is incorrect:

“Starting April 30th you can buy stamps at the post office that help to buy food for shelter pets. You can pre-order them online. I think this would be a great thing to spread around. Could you please forward to your contacts? Please help spread the word!!!”

These stamps DO NOT help buy anything for shelter pets. I have gotten this message repeatedly and I can see it is “going viral” — I find it extremely misleading and want to tell you that purchasing the USPS’s very cute stamps does not trigger any donations. HALO is sending food to shelters.

One of my favorite website sponsors, HALO Purely for Pets, is the unsung partner in this postage stamp offering. Ellen Degeneres is part of the campaign to raise awareness of how many adoptable pets there are in shelters but it is HALO — the company she co-owns — which is the one working to actually feed shelter pets. HALO is going to donate 1 million meals to shelter animals with the social networking participation (not monetary donations) of the public — but it is NOT connected to the pet stamps. To find out more and how you can join in the campaign, go to

http://www.halopets.com/help

–Tracie Hotchner

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Dogs, News, Nutrition, Pet Shelters, Welfare | No Comments »

« Older Entries