A few weeks ago, I got an email from Peter Noll, one of the local big kahunas in the surf dog scene. He got my name from none other than Judy Fridono, otherwise known as Surf Dog Ricochet's owner, and they were wondering if I might be interested in hanging out at the Purina Incredible Dog Surf Dog challenge last Friday just in case there was a dog in need of a veterinarian. And you know, I would have gone anyway just to watch, so this was icing on the cake since I got to go and tangentially feel ... Read more »
Lifestyle
Happy National Hairball Awareness day!
It's National Hairball Awareness day, and Snooki and I would like to remind you all of the importance of good deshedding on your pets. So to celebrate, here are 3 reasons you should remember to groom your dog or cat regularly: 1. Having to tell a guest "Excuse me, you have a fur tumbleweed on your butt" is really embarrassing. 2. Stepping in a wet hacked up furball in the middle of the night is, short of stepping on a snail barefoot, one of the grossest things that can happen to you. ... Read more »
5 Top Earth Day Pet Products
So yaay everybody, happy Earth Day! In the last year I have been fortunate enough to see the majestic Amazon in Peru, the natural wonder of Ngorongoro Crater, and the jaw dropping Mahale Mountains in Tanzania. And living in California, well, I can't complain about our natural beauty here as well. We have an amazing, beautiful, really mind-blowing planet to hang out on. And mess up. I think it's a fairly natural fit for people who love animals, who are fascinated by wildlife, to also be ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Royal Canin Doggy Day Spa Pack
I have a giveaway today, which is good because I'm as you can imagine a little off my writing game this week. I've been digesting a lot these past few days. Transitions always do that, don't they? So anyway, today we have a giveaway of *two* Doggy Day Spa packs, courtesy of Royal Canin. The dog pack giveaway is being done in celebration of the release of their new X-small dog food, designed for dogs under 8 pounds. I saw this diet for the first time when it was being premiered at Global Pet ... Read more »
A few of my favorite things, part 2
Before we head off into the ale-spattered sunset that is St. Patrick's Day weekend, I wanted to share the second half of my very, most favorite things I saw at Global Pet Expo. There was much and more there that I loved to pieces, but I wanted to focus on some of the more unusual products, since it's the unexpected surprises that often delight me the most. Arte House Vintage Prints You all know how much I love art, right? And I'm really picky about the aesthetics of what I put on my walls. ... Read more »
Product Review: Kurgo Wander Pack
As you may recall, I spent a good portion of last week curled up in a ball in my bedroom, drowning my sorrows with cough syrup and muddling through a bizarre sequence of subsequent side effects that gave my malarone experience a run for the money. Note to self: I am, apparently, highly sensitive to all medications. That is what I get for trying the Tim Taylor "MOAR POWER" approach to pharmaceuticals and gulping down an extra strength extended release tablet of guafensin and dextromethorphan ... Read more »
Global Pet Expo: A few of my favorite things, part 1
I stayed at Global for two out of its three day run, figuring hey, that would be plenty of time to plumb its depths. Yes, well, not so much. It took at least ten minutes just to walk from one side to the other; we're talking 2,452 booths here. And me (yet again) without a good pair of flats. But at least I did bring a fairly decent pair of heels; the stilettos never made it out of the suitcase, sadly. With that many products to check out, I know for a fact I missed more than a few, which of ... Read more »
We Love Pet Products: Caroline and the Barnacle
You all know Caroline Golon, right? She runs the amazing rescue site Romeo the Cat and the wonderful cat resource site The Happy Litterbox and the pet PR site HighPaw and she was one of the co-founder of BlogPaws and she's a great mom to her adorable kiddos and a bunch of other things that, taken in total, make me realize how inadequate my contributions to society have been. Anyway, I make it a goal to surround myself with incredible people like her because I always learn a ton from them- ... Read more »
Starstruck at Global, or, why you should wear Anthropologie as much as possible
I've got plenty to tell you about all the great stuff I got to see at Global Pet Expo last week. I enjoyed it immensely. But before I get to the products and the pictures and the video (oh, the video is awesome) I'm going to tell you about all the celebrity spotting I got to do. Admittedly, celebrities in the pet industry are a little different than celebrities on, say, the red carpet, but to me they are much more interesting. And there were plenty to be found at this show. On Wednesday, I ... Read more »
Healthy Goo Giveaway!
One of the leading complaints that brings a pet into the vet is allergies. It is a complicated problem, and like all complicated problems, there are no easy answers. Some pets need special food, others respond to antihistamines, and some need very strong immune suppressants just to make it through the day. Watching a pet lick and chew themselves raw is so sad and frustrating. All you want to do is help them get rid of that horrible, painful persistent itch. So you go to the vet, and lo ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Eye Charts for Dogs and Cats from Local Paper Studio
Eye exams for animals are a little different than they are for people. Sure, you can examine the physical structures of the eye and evaluate its anatomic vigor, but figuring out just how well your pet sees is a little more tricky. We can't exactly sit them in front of one of those big eyeglass flippy things (I'm sure they have a name, but I never bothered to ask) and get the dog to tell us which is better: This, or....THIS? Nonetheless, the ubiquitous eye chart is synonymous with the ... Read more »
Fashion Xanax
If I seem a little stressed in the next couple of months, I have a good excuse: we are going to try and sell our house. I say "try", because this is one of those housing markets when upon saying "I'm going to put my house on the market" the universal response is, "Well, good luck with that." We're staying in the area- after seeing all those pictures from Colorado this weekend I think it's safe to say I am actually quite content here in San Diego, thanks- and the decision is one that has more ... Read more »
Let’s play “What Breed are you?”
When I was in school, there was a resident who could best be described as a holy terror. She ate senior students for breakfast, washing it down with the salty tears of our despair when she would mercilessly rip us to shreds in rounds. And hoo boy, did she love me. And by love, I mean, love to rip me up one side and down the other. I was an easy target; I didn't know much at the time. Her very favorite snack. "The patient in room two is a...." I studied the chart..."Belgian ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Be My Valentine with Jack’s Master!
My husband sometimes gently mocks me for my love affair with cards. But I love cards. I love stationery, little joyful repositories for a happy word or two. Who doesn't love getting a note in the mail? Especially in this day and age when bridal shower invites come over Evite, there is something nostalgic and extra special about getting a real, paper, happy card in the mail. Unsurprisingly, most of the cards I have in my stationery drawer are of the animal persuasion. It's not intentional, it ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Goodies from Kyjen!
We go through a lot of dog toys in these parts, and I can say with confidence that Brody has yet to come across a Kyjen toy he didn't love. They're fun, they're well-made, and they have interesting configurations that engage the dog in a way different from standard toys, either with a big mat of squeakers or hidden eggs or an unusual food puzzle. To this day Brody's penguin egg is the only toy I have actually ordered replacement parts for. He loves it that much. So today, I'm happy to be giving ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Moda Pet Sunflower bowl!
You know by now how I feel about cutesy pet stuff, right? I mean, it has its place, but as far as my own tastes go I'm constantly on the lookout for something that falls on the sleeker end of things. (This from the person who bought a dinosaur barrette from Anthropologie, so take it with a grain of salt.) But I digress. When it comes to pets, function still has to have a place over form, or you end up like me with a nice wooden bowl holder that is chomped to bits within a few weeks. ... Read more »
Thousand Post Giveaway: Joy Pet Products Doggie Coat!
I can hardly believe it myself, but I've just passed the thousand post mark on the blog. That's a lot of hammering on the keyboard. What a cool benchmark to ring in 2012! Thank you for sticking with me through all of it- the good, the sad, and the goofy. I know lots of you are reading this from chillier climates than mine, so to celebrate, we're having a giveaway of one Original Goose Down Filled Doggie Coat from Joy Pet Products! Our Original Goose Down Filled Doggie Coats are so unique ... Read more »
Hill’s Science Diet Ideal Balance Giveaway
The holidays are right around the corner- and to celebrate I have the first of a series of giveaways running between now and the New Year! To kick us off, I have TEN chances to win either: Hill’s® Science Diet Ideal Balance™ Grain Free Adult Chicken & Potato Dinner dog food - OR - Hill’s® Science Diet Ideal Balance™ Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Dinner cat food So here's the interesting thing about pet food nutritionists, and this is the same across the board in terms of the big ... Read more »
