PetSafe’s Bark for Your Park program is giving grants to more than 25 American communites.
The program, created in 2011, originally only gave out grants to 5 communities.
“Our new Bark for Your Park program is expanding to not only help break ground on new parks, but also help fund maintenance and improvements for existing parks,” said Tracy Mulder, marketing manager, PetSafe brand.
PetSafe will award:
111111989????5 new park grants valuing $25,000 each
111111989????10 park makeover grants valuing $10,000 each
111111989????10 park maintenance grants valuing $5,000 each
Two dozen heroic hounds were chosen by the American public to advance to the next round for the 2016 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards.
The public is now invited to visit HeroDogAwards.org between now and June 22 to vote once per day for their favorite in one of the eight Hero Dog categories.
Dog heroes are divided into categories:
111111989???? Arson Dogs
111111989???? Guide/Hearing Dogs
111111989???? Law Enforcement Dogs
111111989???? Military Dogs Search & Rescue Dogs
111111989???? Service Dogs
111111989???? Therapy Dogs
111111989???? Emerging Hero Dogs (ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things)
The eight finalists will be flown to Los Angeles to take part in the star-studded sixth annual Hero Dog Awards gala in September where one will be chosen as the 2016 American Hero Dog, the top honor a dog can receive.
This year’s voting rounds are dedicated to 2015 American Hero Dog Harley, who passed away earlier this year. This one-eyed Chihuahua spent 10 long years enduring abuse in a puppy mill before he was rescued by Rudi and Dan Taylor. Together, the Taylors and Harley rescued hundreds more dogs like Harley from puppy mills, giving them second chances at life.
“This unique awards show celebrates the unbreakable human-animal bond, which has been a core part of our organization’s mission since 1877,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association president and CEO.
“The Hero Dog Awards recognize some of America’s bravest heroes on both ends of the leash,” said philanthropist and presenting sponsor Lois Pope.
“From those who defend our country to those who help us heal, guide us, protect us, and help find the lost, every single contender exemplifies the courage and heroism we seek to spotlight in this campaign.”
Joint pain is one of the most common problems in aging dogs.
While it may not be entirely possible to avoid, you can certainly help your pup slow down the aging process.
Weight Control
If your dog is overweight, it could cause an unnecessary amount of stress on the joints. Pay attention to the breed’s ideal weight and adjust food intake and exercise accordingly.
Regular Exercise
When we say exercise, we don’t mean cram it all into one long play session a week. Instead, plan out some time each day to get your dog moving. Not only will this help prevent joint pain, but he will also be happy to spend more fun time with you 🙂
Supplements
Just like humans, dogs can also benefit from supplements. Omega-3 can decrease joint inflammation and can be found in pill form or in natural form in some fishes. Similarly, many owners choose to give their dogs glucosamine in an attempt to avoid or decrease arthritis pain. Other herbs may be helpful too. For example, Tumeric Supplements may be given to dogs to reduce inflammation. There’s specific blends made for canines but some people may choose to use a standard brand. If that’s your choice, make sure the blend doesn’t contain any ingredients unsafe for dogs. Also, keep in mind that the dosage for a human will be a lot higher than that of a dog, so adjust accordingly.
Avoid Strenuous Activity
Getting ramps and steps for a dog doesn’t mean they’re lazy; it means you’re smart. Jumping onto beds, sofas and into cars may seem harmless now, but over the years it can build up to do real damage to small dog’s joints. Over-exercising both small and large dogs as puppies can lead to injury, which will become evident in the form of joint pain in older years.
Brain tumor survivor Calvin, an eight-year-old canine, is happily playing with his favorite toy “crunchy bone” and chasing his French Bulldog sister Olive around the house.
Not long ago, such a scene seemed impossible.
Calvin’s survivor story began on a Sunday afternoon last September when Gretchen noticed Calvin having a seizure. He was shaking and foaming at the mouth. A trip to the emergency room for overnight observation was followed by a visit to his primary care veterinarian.
After some preliminary testing, Calvin was referred to a veterinary neurologist in Arizona. There, MRI results revealed that Calvin had a malignant brain tumor.
Now, thanks to revolutionary advancements in veterinary medicine and a new treatment option called stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), Calvin is happy, healthy and living life to the fullest.
“He’s our little miracle dog,” said Gretchen. “Calvin and Olive are our kids. We would do anything for them. We feel incredibly lucky that we had access to SRS here in Arizona.”
Already proven successful in human medicine, SRS is now available for pets and providing newfound hope in the fight against cancer.
“Calvin successfully completed three SRS sessions,” said Dr. Eric Boshoven. “He suffered a small seizure after his first treatment but none since. Aside from experiencing a slight lightening of his coat, he has had no side effects. An MRI at four months post-treatment showed virtually no sign of the tumor.”
PetSmart has stepped up to help families and pets who have suffered as a result of the Fort McMurray, Alberta Wildfires.
PetSmart Canada and PetSmart Charities issued the following statement Monday:
“On behalf of PetSmart and PetSmart Charities of Canada, our hearts go out to those impacted by the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray. We are committed to helping this community, and are working with our animal welfare partners to provide emergency relief to pets and families including at least $100,000 in financial assistance, pet food and products. Additionally, all PetSmart stores in Edmonton will host food drives and encourage customers to donate to those in need. To find out how you can help, please visit your local PetSmart store.”
Raging wildfires in Fort McMurray, Canada’s oil city, have forced residents to emergency shelters since last Tuesday. Many dogs and other pets were left behind during the evacuation process. Those who managed to grab their pets before fleeing need assistance in the form of supplies and food. Many companies and kind strangers have offered their help, physically and financially.
To celebrate its 100th anniversary of rescuing animals from war, hurricanes, floods and wildfires, the American Humane Association unveiled a gigantic gift.
A giant 50-foot-long animal rescue truck is dedicated to helping animals caught in natural disasters and manmade crises such as hoarding and cruelty cases. Funded by the Kirkpatrick Foundation, the William H. Donner Foundation and others, the rescue vehicle will be stationed in Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley, debuting on May 20th – the anniversary of the EF-5 tornado that devastated the city of Moore in 2013. Following that disaster, American Humane Association’s Red Star® Rescue team deployed for a full month, helping to rescue, shelter, and care for hundreds of animals.11111198988098098097787767777777777777777777777777777777771111111119898809809809778776777777777777777777777777777777777111
The new vehicle, which can carry lifesaving supplies and sheltering equipment for 100 animals, will be staffed with a licensed veterinarian. When deployed, American Humane Association’s disaster responders and members of its national corps of volunteers will travel to disaster zones and live in it as they rescue animals. When not deployed, the vehicle will be used for rescue in cruelty and hoarding cases, and as an important teaching tool to help first responders train and prepare for disaster situations.
“May marks 100 years since the creation of our legendary animal rescue program, which was born on the battlefield of World War I Europe when the U.S. Secretary of War asked us to save wounded war horses,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president of American Humane Association, in a press release. “During that terrible time, we rescued and cared for 68,000 horses a month and since then we have been part of virtually every major disaster response from Pearl Harbor to 9/11; Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina; the Mount St. Helen’s eruption; the Joplin, Missouri tornado; the Japanese and Haitian earthquakes; and Superstorm Sandy. Over just the past ten years American Humane Association has saved, helped and sheltered more than 80,000 animals.”
“During that terrible time, we rescued and cared for 68,000 horses a month and since then we have been part of virtually every major disaster response from Pearl Harbor to 9/11; Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina; the Mount St. Helen’s eruption; the Joplin, Missouri tornado; the Japanese and Haitian earthquakes; and Superstorm Sandy. Over just the past ten years American Humane Association has saved, helped and sheltered more than 80,000 animals.”
The American Humane Association is the country’s first national humane organization.
Yes, your dog is not the only one who wants to relax on the couch and watch the game with a nice cold one. Busy Dog Bowser Beer makes beer for dogs, but don’t worry, it’s not alcoholic. What a cute treat!
#2 Doggie Cologne
Does your dog smell like sh!t sometimes? Don’t worry, he can prepare for his next big date with doggy cologne. There’s even options if you have a girl dog!
#3 Dog Hamster Wheel
Think hamster wheels are just for hamsters? Well, think again. There’s one for you big dog or small pooch, too! It’s a little weird… but we guess it’s a good way to exercise.
#4 Automatic Ball Thrower
Every owner has experienced a sore arm after playing fetch for too long. But it sucks for your dog; she’s not even close to being worn out yet! An automatic ball thrower is great for tireless big dogs and small dogs.
#5 Doggy Umbrella
Apparently you’re not the only one who needs an umbrella! This tiny umbrella is attached to a leash, designed to cover your dog’s head and protect her from the rain.
#6 Doggy Doorbell
If you have a fenced in yard without a clear door, it can be difficult to know when your pet wants to come in. Doggy doorbells are available as a mat or as a small, paw shaped button dogs can step on.
#7 Dog High Chair
Just as you have high chairs to allow babies to sit at the dinner table, so too can you have doggy high chairs! The high chairs attach to your table and allow your dog to beg for food at a more level distance. Obviously, this is only appropriate for small dogs, but we’d love to imagine large dogs in one 🙂
#8 Pet Video Chat
Now you can call up your dog and chat with him while you’re at work! Along with video and audio, you can also dispense treats! We think this would be great for dogs with separation anxiety.
#9 Dog Peek
Is your dog a stalker? Does he love to peek at the neighbors while they BBQ? Are you constantly reminding him that he could get a restraining order for being a peeping Tom? Well, this neat window will help him pursue his hobby to a whole new level. Your neighbors may be creeped out when you get it installed, but your dog will love it!
#10 Pet’s Eye View Camera
Wonder what your pet sees? Well now you can know! The pet’s eye view camera can be attached to your pooch’s collar and will capture everything he does when he thinks you’re not looking.
#11 Pet-O-Meter
Just as humans have pedometers to track their steps and how much exercise they’re getting a day, so can dogs!
It’s being described by many as a Western-Canada apocalypse.
The raging wildfire across Fort McMurray, Alberta have displaced 88,000 residents since Tuesday. Families’ home have burned down to rubble; some weren’t even able to go back to save important belongings or pets. 1,600 structures have been affected, and with no end of the fire in sight, even more buildings are being threatened.
While escaping from the flames, many residents had to leave behind pets because they could not be accommodated in evacuation centers. The Fort McMurray SPCA was evacuated Wednesday and had finally gotten the clear to go back in Friday afternoon. But generous acts from strangers have helped pets who were lucky enough to make it out.
One man said that he went into a pet store in Edmonton, where he had to evacuate, to buy supplies for his dog. To his surprise, free bins of items were set aside for evacuee pets. When he tried to pay for other supplies…
Does your dog smell like sh!t sometimes? Don’t worry, he can prepare for his next big date with 
Wonder what your pet sees? Well now you can know! The 
Just as humans have pedometers to track their steps and how much exercise they’re getting a day, 
