This is our new baby Sweet Pea. I found him living in my husband’s dead car engine. He was about 2 months old, lost or abandoned by his mother.

I read all the articles I could find about making friends with a ferral cat and decided I didn’t agree with any of them. One said “don’t make eye contact”….another said “be quiet”.  Some said that ferrals most likey would never become your friend, others said that if they do, it would take a long, long time. Maybe years.

I love animals and decided to go with my gut feeling and ignore all the articles. I went outside every day for an hour in the morning and an hour at night. I put some food down and sat in a chair about 25 feet away, talking softly and making up crazy songs to sing to him. One of them was about a sweet boy named Sweet Pea. Where that came from I’ll never know.

I guess curiosity got the best of him and he came down from the car engine, just laying under the car watching me. Within a few days he was eating from the food bowl, carefully watching me and listening to me sing. Each day I moved my chair closer to the food bowl and continued to talk and sing to him.

This video was taken just about 10 weeks later. I can now pick him up, play with him, kiss him and bring him inside when it’s cold. I guess I now have 5 dogs and a Sweet Pea!

When Nicholas behaves himself and I can trust that he won’t hurt the kitten, Sweet Pea can have the run of the house.

I just made this poodle. It’s actually a deer with the antlers pointed down.

I bought Buffalo Snow and glued it on. Those are red Christmas Bells in his ears and in the cuff. His head moves back and forth.

I’m hoping with this creativity I win Yard Of The Month! They’re choosing the winner tonight.

I hope it doesn’t rain. Going to turn the lights on now!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 6, 2011 –  The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily retrieved a single production lot of dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. This product has already been retrieved from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported in association with this production lot to date, and no other Iams pet food products are involved.

Product affected by this announcement:
Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with Use By or Expiration Dates of February 5 or February 6, 2013

7.0 lb bag, Code Date 12784177I6 UPC Code 1901402305

8.0 lb bag, Code Dates 12794177D2, 12794177D3, UPC Code 1901410208

17.5 lb bag, Code Dates 12794177K1, 12794177K2; UPC Code 1901401848

The affected product lot was distributed to a limited number of retailers located in the eastern United States (AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VA).  These retailers have already removed this product from store shelves.  No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.

While no health effects related to this product have been reported, P&G retrieved this product as a precautionary measure.  Consumers who purchased the product listed should stop using the product and discard it and contact Iams at the number below for a replacement voucher.  Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities.  Pets which have consumed this product and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.        

For further information or a product replacement or refund contact P&G toll-free at 866-908-1569  (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST) or www.iams.com

When it comes to buying Holiday Gifts, of course you won’t want to forget your pets! And if you’re exchanging gifts with family members and friends, wouldn’t it be wonderful to give a gift to their pet?

As all of us pet parents know, some animals are finicky about the kinds of toys they play with. Or maybe they’re on a special diet and can’t have certain kinds of treats.

You will want to make sure that you buy appropriate Holiday Gifts for your pet cat or dog and gifts that they are going to love!

How about a Holiday Gift Certificate? The PURR-Fect gift for every dog and cat owner. It makes a wonderful gift for your groomer, vet, trainer or pet sitter!

Order Your Holiday Gift Certificates

Our companion animals give us love all year long, and the holidays are a wonderful time for us to give back. Holiday Baskets are the perfect gifts for your pets and your pet friends.

Our Holiday Gift Baskets make a wonderful gift for your groomer, trainer, veterinarian and pet sitter. They’re also perfect as a host or hostess gift when you’re invited to a party and they have a pet!

Gift Baskets are on Sale NOW!

DOG GIFT BASKETS

CAT GIFT BASKETS

Being a groomer is a special mission. You are the master of shaping, clipping, cleaning, and beautifying pets. And you play a vital role in their health. You may be the first to detect ear problems, skin allergies, or even tumors. Groomers are key to the long-term wellbeing of pets.

But with the rewards also come challenges.  

• Some of the challenges are financial: too few clients, not enough time in the day, costly overhead, etc. Let’s face it, this is a business, and you can’t do what you love without meeting the bottom line—money!

• Some challenges are physical: sore feet, bad back, weak knees, and even finding good help.

• The most obvious challenge, however, is the lack of recurring income. What will happen to your income the day you stop grooming?

You work hard to build a loyal client base. You provide top-notch service to keep people and their pets coming back, so you can proudly say, “That’s my customer.”

Our program creates a way for you to keep more of your business instead of losing it to competitors.

Click for more info on running your own home-based pet business

Nestle Purina Recalls Limited Number of Dry Cat Food
ST. LOUIS, June 27, 2011
Source:  http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/348240

Nestle Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) is voluntarily recalling approximately 870 bags of dry cat food shipped to Colorado, Idaho and Oregon.  This is being done as a precautionary measure, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  Only the following products with both the “Best By” date and production codes shown are included in this voluntary recall:

Product Name
Bag Size 
“Best By” Date & Production Code* 
Bag UPC Code
   
Cat Chow Naturals Dry Cat Food
6.3 lb.
AUG 2012  10331083 13
17800  11320

Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food
3.15 lb.
AUG 2012  10381083  06
50000  08450

Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food
16 lb.
AUG 2012  10381083  06
50000  57578

The bags of dry cat food in this recall were distributed in error in February, 2011 to a small number of customers in Colorado, Idaho  and Oregon, which may have further distributed the product to other Western states.   There have been no consumer complaints and no reports of illness.

No additional Purina cat or dog products are involved.  Only products which match the “Best By” date and production codes above are involved. 

Consumers who have purchased any of these dry cat food products with these “Best By” Dates and Production Codes should discard it. 

Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated products.  People handling contaminated dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.  Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms:  nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.  Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.  Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.  If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting.  Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.  If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. 

At Nestle Purina PetCare, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority.  We apologize for any inconvenience due to this voluntary recall.  For further information or to obtain a product refund, please call NPPC toll-free at 1-800-982-6559 weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time, or visit www.purina.com.

May 28, 2011 – Primal Pet Foods News

Primal Pet Foods has initiated a voluntary recall of their Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula with a “Best By” date code of 043112-17 because this product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The only product affected is limited to Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula with a “Best By” date code of 043112-17. No other Primal Pet Foods products are affected.

The affected product is limited to the Primal Pet Foods Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula packaged in the following forms:

   1. 4 lb chicken & salmon nuggets (UPC# 8 95135 00025 0) with a “Best By” date code of 043112-17

The “Best By” date code is located on the front of the package on the right side of the product label.

The affected product was distributed through retail stores sales in the United States.

Please be assured, no human or pet illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue.

Also, no other Primal Pet Foods products are affected by this issue.

If you have purchased a bag of Primal Pet Foods Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula Raw Frozen Diet (nuggets) with the “Best By” date code of 043112-17, we ask that you take one of the following steps.

   1. If you are a consumer and have purchased the affected product, please contact Primal Pet Foods directly at 866-566-4652 Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM PST and we can assist in getting you a full refund or replacement from your local retailer that it was originally purchased from. You’ll be instructed to bring the unopened package to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.
   2. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, contact Primal Pet Foods directly at 866-566-4652 Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM PST and we can assist in getting you a full refund or replacement from your local retailer that it was originally purchased from. You’ll be instructed to bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.

We truly appreciate your cooperation, and we apologize for any inconvenience that this matter may have caused for you. If you’d like to speak with one of our representatives regarding this issue, you can call our customer service line at 866-566-4652 Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM PST.

Our Commitment to Quality
We want to reassure you that Primal Pet Foods is committed to the health and safety of your pets. Our quality control and quality assurance programs include but are not limited to: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP’s), a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) program, regular lot segregation, and other industry best practices. Our manufacturing facility also adheres to these specific quality measures:

   1. Our ingredients are sourced from USDA inspected facilities, and/or facilities regulated by the FDA
   2. We adhere to state and federal regulations regarding product safety
   3. Our manufacturing facilities are USDA and California State Department of Agriculture inspected.

In addition to the industry best practices listed above, and in an abundance of caution, we’re taking additional steps in our manufacturing process to help ensure that our products are free of all pathogenic bacteria.

As always, Primal Pet Foods is fully committed to maintaining the highest quality standards in the pet food industry. Thank you for your continued trust in Primal Pet Foods.

Matt Koss
CEO, Primal Pet Foods

May 18, 2011: FoodSafetyNews.com is reporting that more pig ear dog treats are being recalled as a result of the Keys Manufacturing of Paris, IL Salmonella recall from May 3, 2011.

From FoodSafetyNews.com:

“Two more companies are recalling pig ear dog treats after a supplier, Keys Manufacturing of Paris, IL, found that a batch of the pet chews tested positive for Salmonella.

One dog has been reported to have become ill because of contaminated pig ears.”

Read entire article

May 13, 2011 – FDA Issues Caution to Pet Owners with the Use of an Unapproved Pet Shampoo Product

The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is alerting pet owners to use caution with the use of an unapproved animal drug product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo (0.1% phytosphingosine), distributed by Sogeval Laboratories, Inc. of Coppell, Texas after recently receiving a report of the death of a woman associated with the use of the product on her dog.

The March adverse event report describes a woman with severe, preexisting asthma who had a sudden, severe asthma attack and died while bathing a dog using the product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo. A few days later, another asthmatic family member bathed the dog using the same product and experienced a mild asthma attack but recovered.

FDA is advising consumers with asthma or other respiratory conditions to consider consulting with their physicians prior to use of this product.

FDA is currently investigating this serious issue and will provide additional information as appropriate.

For more information, visit the FDA web site

A Fabulous Pet  Shampoo from a company that has never been involved in a recall:

Revitalizing Shampoo for Dogs & Cats
Pamper your precious pet with Revitalizing Shampoo. The revitalizing botanical infusion of organic rosemary and sage along with nourishing essences of coconut and palm kernel oil will naturally cleanse and beautify your pet’s coat as the luscious scents of mango and kiwi mingle with energizing citrus notes to bring out natural shine. Its moisture activated odor-fighters react immediately to absorb and neutralize tough pet odors.