It's that time of year again. Take a few minutes to show some love to all of your favorite Columbus eating/drinking/shopping/playing spots and make sure to vote for Lots to Wag About as your favorite pet store. We appreciate it. Here's the link...
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Lots to Wag About is a collection site for donations of food for the pets of Columbus' homeless.
It is estimated that between 5 and 10% of the homeless have pets. In some areas that number is as high as 25% (http://www.petsofhomeless.org/). Pets represent a number of different things for the homeless. They are their friends, their family, a source of warmth (literally and figuratively) and in some cases, they're all they have. Sometimes, they had the pets when they became homeless. In some cases, they met on the street after the dog or cat was abandoned and they found they have a lot in common. There are families that are without housing as well. What parent wants to take away their child's pet after having just about everything else taken away from them?
At Lots to Wag About, we care about not just our customers' pets, but about all of the animals in our community. So, we've started taking donations of dog and cat food to be distributed to the pets of Columbus' homeless. We are working with The Open Shelter (http://www.openshelter.org/) to make sure the food gets to the pets that need it. We're doing this year round as well. So if now isn't a good time for you to make a donation with the holidays coming up, please remember us in the upcoming year.
We actually got a call from a man named David today. He was given our number from a Veterinarian in West Jefferson who got our info. off of the Feeding Pets of the Homeless website. He had recently lost his home and was living with his dogs in his van. We directed him to The Open Shelter and he called back before he headed out to the shelter to say thank you. So, to everyone who has donated and to everyone who may be thinking about it, a really big THANK YOU!
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Holidays and Stress
We get stressed during the holiday season for various reasons: a.) there's not enough time to get everything done that we need to get done b.) family or c.) family. Maybe that's just me. But, our pets experience stress during the holidays too, just for a whole different set of reasons. Here's a few things that maybe you hadn't thought of and if you think about it ahead of time, it will save you and your pet a lot of anxiety.
Everyone I know with children says that kids make the holidays. Everything's new and exciting and it rubs off on the adults. That's great, but a gaggle of screaming kids running back and forth because they're hopped up on cookies and candy, can make the pets a little anxious. Strangers in the house, or even just a large number of people regardless of whether your pets have met them before, can be stressful. If there's an area of the house or if your dog has a crate that they feel safe in, use it. Leave a TV or radio on for them. Homeopet makes a great line of herbal remedies that might be useful in these situations.
Supervision is important if your pet is out and about. Multiple people coming in and out of the house can cause issues if your dog or cat is a runner. The trash can also be a huge temptation for a lot of animals so make sure that's out of reach. I can speak for myself in that even though you've asked people not to give your pets table scraps, they still do it. Why not? They don't have to deal with my dogs brauling over crumbs, or when they vomit, or even better, have diarrhea in the corner. There are a number of foods that are bad for animals starting with the biggie, chocolate. Chocolate ingestion can be fatal. It takes different amounts of different kinds of chocolate, so just avoid it all together. Raw dough, walnuts, onions/garlic, bones, fatty foods, alcohol and foods made with xylitol are a few other things to never give to animals. If your pet ingests any of these things call your local ER facility to see if they need to be seen. (MedVet @ 846-5800 or OSU @ 292-3551) Not a great way to spend a holiday, so just avoid giving human food to the pets all together.
I have dogs that require a fair amount of physical and mental activity or they let me know they're bored. If I know there's going to be something going on that could potentially freak them out, I'll make sure they've had plenty of exercise that day. Dog parks are popping up around Columbus and some daycares offer holiday drop off and pick up.
Animals are creatures of habit. Try to keep everything as routine as possible. With so much to do on and around the holidays, don't forget to spend quality time with your pets. It's important for them and it'll relax you too.
Everyone I know with children says that kids make the holidays. Everything's new and exciting and it rubs off on the adults. That's great, but a gaggle of screaming kids running back and forth because they're hopped up on cookies and candy, can make the pets a little anxious. Strangers in the house, or even just a large number of people regardless of whether your pets have met them before, can be stressful. If there's an area of the house or if your dog has a crate that they feel safe in, use it. Leave a TV or radio on for them. Homeopet makes a great line of herbal remedies that might be useful in these situations.
Supervision is important if your pet is out and about. Multiple people coming in and out of the house can cause issues if your dog or cat is a runner. The trash can also be a huge temptation for a lot of animals so make sure that's out of reach. I can speak for myself in that even though you've asked people not to give your pets table scraps, they still do it. Why not? They don't have to deal with my dogs brauling over crumbs, or when they vomit, or even better, have diarrhea in the corner. There are a number of foods that are bad for animals starting with the biggie, chocolate. Chocolate ingestion can be fatal. It takes different amounts of different kinds of chocolate, so just avoid it all together. Raw dough, walnuts, onions/garlic, bones, fatty foods, alcohol and foods made with xylitol are a few other things to never give to animals. If your pet ingests any of these things call your local ER facility to see if they need to be seen. (MedVet @ 846-5800 or OSU @ 292-3551) Not a great way to spend a holiday, so just avoid giving human food to the pets all together.
I have dogs that require a fair amount of physical and mental activity or they let me know they're bored. If I know there's going to be something going on that could potentially freak them out, I'll make sure they've had plenty of exercise that day. Dog parks are popping up around Columbus and some daycares offer holiday drop off and pick up.
Animals are creatures of habit. Try to keep everything as routine as possible. With so much to do on and around the holidays, don't forget to spend quality time with your pets. It's important for them and it'll relax you too.
Friday, November 20, 2009
I just like this quote...
"Never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way" -- Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Right Toy for the Right Pet
So, we've extended our Toy Sale through the month of November which we're really excited about! I'm a big advocate of using interactive toys to combat boredom (ie. misbehaving) in pets. A lot of times, when pets misbehave, it is because they are bored or frustrated. They need mental stimuli as well as physical.
Some breeds of dog are more high strung than others. Anyone who's ever spent 5 minutes with a Weimeraner or a Jack Russell can attest to that. Boredom can manifest itself in a number of ways--chewing, barking, digging, etc.. If you have a puppy or a dog that's never been taught what is appropriate to chew on and what's not, it can be really frustrating. Recently, we adopted a 9 year old Beagle who had been an outside dog her whole life. She found that coming inside wasn't as exciting as being in a yard with dogs walking by and people and cars to bark at. So, she found other things to entertain herself while we were at work--she chewed up a number of books and DVD's before we realized that we needed to start pretty much from the beginning, and puppy-proof the house.
Dogs need things to do. They hear people outside. They see other dogs walk by. Birds and squirrels taunt them from just beyond their grasp, outside the window. To some dogs, this isn't a big deal. They don't move from that comfy spot on the ouch. But to others, it's frustrating and an invitation to destroy.
Premier makes a great line of interactive toys that dispense food in a variety of ways, some more challenging than others. The "Tug a Jug" will keep most dogs entertained and is definitely the most popular toy at Lots to Wag About. The "Squirrel Dude" is similar to a Kong but has prongs to make it a little more difficult to get the treats out and therefore takes longer for them to become bored with. "Buster Cubes" dispense food as they roll around and can be used to slow down fast eaters too. Most dogs, once the food is gone, so is their attention. If you do find your dog chewing on something that is inappropriate, remove that object with firm "No" and give them something they can chew on. Don't give them toys that look like other things they can't have like the stuffed toy that is the same texture as the couch or the toy that looks like a shoe--whose idea was that?!? They can't tell the difference between that and your $100 gym shoes!
Digging often stems from boredom as well. It is very important for dogs to get good exercise on a daily basis. Standing outside in the yard is not exercise. Most dogs need 30-60 minutes of hard exercise everyday. Daycare or dog parks are a good way to tire out social dogs. If your dog doesn't play well with others, toss a ball around or take up jogging. Providing your dog with an appropriate digging area is an option. A sandbox with toys hidden in it can be useful, but please cover it so it doesn't turn into a litterbox for stray kitties.
In cats, most often times you'll see clawing or inappropriate urination. Cats claw for a number of reasons--to remove the outer layer of the nail, to mark territory and for exercise. But, it may not be acceptable on your couch or speakers. Some cats like to claw vertically, some horizontally. Find out what your cat prefers, get a scratching post and sprinkle some catnip on it. Hanging toys toys like the "Cat Dancer", a treat ball like play n' Squeak's "Ball of the Wild" or a motion-activated "Rainbow Light Ball" will help keep kitty busy. There's also a really good website called the Indoor Cat Initiative with some great tips. www.vet.ohio-state.edu/indoorcat.htm
If your cat is urinating out of the box, please see your Veterinarian. There are many reasons why cats do this--litter preference, intimidation from another cat, inconvenient placement or not enough boxes. But, a urinary tract infection or crystals in the urine can be a reason as well. So please talk to your Vet. before assuming it's behavioral.
Having dealt with dealt with Separation Anxiety in one dog and Simone, the 9 year old puppy, I most definitely have an appreciation for interactive toys and of course toys that are just plain fun. I love helping friends and customers find the right toy for their pets. All of the toys in the shop are 20% off through November, so now's a good time to find the right toy for yours.
Some breeds of dog are more high strung than others. Anyone who's ever spent 5 minutes with a Weimeraner or a Jack Russell can attest to that. Boredom can manifest itself in a number of ways--chewing, barking, digging, etc.. If you have a puppy or a dog that's never been taught what is appropriate to chew on and what's not, it can be really frustrating. Recently, we adopted a 9 year old Beagle who had been an outside dog her whole life. She found that coming inside wasn't as exciting as being in a yard with dogs walking by and people and cars to bark at. So, she found other things to entertain herself while we were at work--she chewed up a number of books and DVD's before we realized that we needed to start pretty much from the beginning, and puppy-proof the house.
Dogs need things to do. They hear people outside. They see other dogs walk by. Birds and squirrels taunt them from just beyond their grasp, outside the window. To some dogs, this isn't a big deal. They don't move from that comfy spot on the ouch. But to others, it's frustrating and an invitation to destroy.
Premier makes a great line of interactive toys that dispense food in a variety of ways, some more challenging than others. The "Tug a Jug" will keep most dogs entertained and is definitely the most popular toy at Lots to Wag About. The "Squirrel Dude" is similar to a Kong but has prongs to make it a little more difficult to get the treats out and therefore takes longer for them to become bored with. "Buster Cubes" dispense food as they roll around and can be used to slow down fast eaters too. Most dogs, once the food is gone, so is their attention. If you do find your dog chewing on something that is inappropriate, remove that object with firm "No" and give them something they can chew on. Don't give them toys that look like other things they can't have like the stuffed toy that is the same texture as the couch or the toy that looks like a shoe--whose idea was that?!? They can't tell the difference between that and your $100 gym shoes!
Digging often stems from boredom as well. It is very important for dogs to get good exercise on a daily basis. Standing outside in the yard is not exercise. Most dogs need 30-60 minutes of hard exercise everyday. Daycare or dog parks are a good way to tire out social dogs. If your dog doesn't play well with others, toss a ball around or take up jogging. Providing your dog with an appropriate digging area is an option. A sandbox with toys hidden in it can be useful, but please cover it so it doesn't turn into a litterbox for stray kitties.
In cats, most often times you'll see clawing or inappropriate urination. Cats claw for a number of reasons--to remove the outer layer of the nail, to mark territory and for exercise. But, it may not be acceptable on your couch or speakers. Some cats like to claw vertically, some horizontally. Find out what your cat prefers, get a scratching post and sprinkle some catnip on it. Hanging toys toys like the "Cat Dancer", a treat ball like play n' Squeak's "Ball of the Wild" or a motion-activated "Rainbow Light Ball" will help keep kitty busy. There's also a really good website called the Indoor Cat Initiative with some great tips. www.vet.ohio-state.edu/indoorcat.htm
If your cat is urinating out of the box, please see your Veterinarian. There are many reasons why cats do this--litter preference, intimidation from another cat, inconvenient placement or not enough boxes. But, a urinary tract infection or crystals in the urine can be a reason as well. So please talk to your Vet. before assuming it's behavioral.
Having dealt with dealt with Separation Anxiety in one dog and Simone, the 9 year old puppy, I most definitely have an appreciation for interactive toys and of course toys that are just plain fun. I love helping friends and customers find the right toy for their pets. All of the toys in the shop are 20% off through November, so now's a good time to find the right toy for yours.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
German Village Halloween Pet Parade
This past Saturday was the annual Halloween Pet Parade in German Villgage. It was a pretty big turn out. Hot Dog in the City, Saffron, did not attend because she was feeling a little under the weather. Her canine sis Simone went in her place as "Miss October".
We saw friends, Sydney and Bourbon there, as well as a number of other pups who've been to the shop who weren't as cooperative about having their picture taken.
Gresso's had their Pups on the Patio Halloween costume contest last night and it rained. Booo!
This Saturday as part of the Short North Highball Halloween, there will be a pet parade on High St.. It starts at 5:30pm.. Look for Saffron or Simone all dolled up and strutting their stuff!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Halloween and Your Dog.
I love Halloween. I always have. Loved going out as a kid (and young teen) and I still dress up every year. Last year I was Reagan from the Exorcist and this year I'm going as Medusa. But, this post isn't about me. It's about our dogs.
Some dogs do like clothes. So a costume for them may not be a big deal. But, then you get the dog who freezes in their tracks and doesn't move until the sweater comes off. So, a Halloween costume may not be a great idea for them. Costumes on people can be a scary thing for dogs too. Seeing one of their family members dressed as a pirate with a sword and an eye patch is enough to send some dogs flying under the bed. Remember that scene from E.T.? So, here's some tips on how to make my favorite holiday a little easier on your pets...
Well, I touched on the first point--costumes. Use discretion in dressing up your dog. Maybe try one piece of the ensemble at a time. If they show signs of anxiety or fear, don't press it. Taking a dog trick-or-treating can be regrettable as well. Some fearful dogs can become aggressive, so maybe leave the dog at home.
If you're staying at home with your dog and the sound of the doorbell drives them nuts, hang outside with your candy and a warm coat or blanket. On my street, everyone sits outside anyway, exchanging candy and making ourselves nauseous (that's part of Halloween right?). Most of us know that chocolate and other candies (esp. ones made with Xylitol) are bad for animals, but make sure your kids know too. If you can't be outside, restrict your dog's access to the front door and make sure their I.D. is current just in case. Halloween is kind of like July 4th--dogs get scared and when they're scared, they run. Keep a TV on or music--something to drown out the squealing kids and make them feel more comfortable.
The one thing that always upsets me about Halloween is the fact that some people do bad things to animals, for whatever dimented reason. Working at a Vet. hospital, I've seen it with cats mostly. But please don't leave your pets unattended on or around Halloween. I won't go into details, just keep them inside.
And lastly...Fire bad. Candles or jack-o-lanterns and wagging tails do not mix.
Have a great Halloween! Send me some pics and I'll post them.
Some dogs do like clothes. So a costume for them may not be a big deal. But, then you get the dog who freezes in their tracks and doesn't move until the sweater comes off. So, a Halloween costume may not be a great idea for them. Costumes on people can be a scary thing for dogs too. Seeing one of their family members dressed as a pirate with a sword and an eye patch is enough to send some dogs flying under the bed. Remember that scene from E.T.? So, here's some tips on how to make my favorite holiday a little easier on your pets...
Well, I touched on the first point--costumes. Use discretion in dressing up your dog. Maybe try one piece of the ensemble at a time. If they show signs of anxiety or fear, don't press it. Taking a dog trick-or-treating can be regrettable as well. Some fearful dogs can become aggressive, so maybe leave the dog at home.
If you're staying at home with your dog and the sound of the doorbell drives them nuts, hang outside with your candy and a warm coat or blanket. On my street, everyone sits outside anyway, exchanging candy and making ourselves nauseous (that's part of Halloween right?). Most of us know that chocolate and other candies (esp. ones made with Xylitol) are bad for animals, but make sure your kids know too. If you can't be outside, restrict your dog's access to the front door and make sure their I.D. is current just in case. Halloween is kind of like July 4th--dogs get scared and when they're scared, they run. Keep a TV on or music--something to drown out the squealing kids and make them feel more comfortable.
The one thing that always upsets me about Halloween is the fact that some people do bad things to animals, for whatever dimented reason. Working at a Vet. hospital, I've seen it with cats mostly. But please don't leave your pets unattended on or around Halloween. I won't go into details, just keep them inside.
And lastly...Fire bad. Candles or jack-o-lanterns and wagging tails do not mix.
Have a great Halloween! Send me some pics and I'll post them.
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