Pet Club News August 2009

If you've answered "yes," accustom your dog to riding in a car. Begin with short rides each day and gradually increase the length of each ride. If your dog is unable to adjust to short rides, a responsible sitter or a boarding kennel is preferable. If you board him, make reservations well in advance, especially for summer months and major holidays.

Do not feed your dog for at least three hours before leaving on a trip. Take your dog for a walk just before you start the drive and he will be more comfortable as the trip gets underway.
During stops, provide fresh drinking water for your dog.
Feed your dog shortly after you arrive at your destination or when you have stopped for the day.
If your car has adequate space, using a carrier is the safest way for your dog to travel. Never put the carrier on the sunny side of the car where your dog may become overheated.
If a carrier is not feasible for your dog, consider using a restraining harness. They come in different sizes to fit all breeds and are available at pet supply stores.
Always put your dog on a leash before letting him out of the car. If you walk your dog on the highway at night, wear reflective strips on your clothing and place a reflective collar on your dog for visibility and protection.
Never leave your dog in a closed car, even on a mild day. Temperatures in cars can rise quickly even if the windows are open slightly. The heat and insufficient air circulation can quickly lead to heat stress, suffocation and death.

Keep reading for more tips on how to travel with your pet.

Traveling With Your Dog . (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2009, from

http://www.purina.com/dogs/safety/TravelingWithYourDog.aspx

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Breed of the Month: Ragdoll Cat

Ragdolls are large, calm, semi longhaired cats with charming blue eyes. The Ragdoll is a pointed breed, which means that the body is lighter in color than the points (the legs, face, tail and ears).

Ragdoll cats tend to be more intrigued by humans than some breeds of cats. They are known to run to greet you at the door, follow you from room to room, flop on you, sleep with you, and generally choose to be where you are. Many consider them the “dog” of felines. Many Ragdolls have been taught to come when called and play fetch. They are gentle cats, and usually play without extending their claws.

Ragdolls were developed in the 1960’s by a breeder in Riverside California named Ann Baker. The origin of the Ragdoll breed consisted almost entirely of free-roaming cats. Ann Baker bred Josephine, a domestic longhaired white female that was found running loose in her neighborhood, to other cats she owned or found. The offspring of this female had unique temperament traits that were very endearing. By selecting individuals with the look, temperament and criteria she wanted for her breeding program, she created the Ragdoll breed.

For more information about Ragdolls, visit this link.

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Do It Yourself: Peanut Butter Poppers

Ingredients

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
1 cup milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375'F. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 18-20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.

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Pet Refuge Adoption Spotlight: Smokie

My name is Smokie and I am a lab mix puppy about 5-6 months old. I came to Pet Refuge over 6 weeks ago. I still don't understand why my former owner got so mad at me, when I had an accident on the floor, being I am still a puppy.

Anyway, I ended up with a broken back leg. My foster family is trying very hard to help me forget what the first owner did to me. The vet has done two surgeries on me to fix the damage. I am slowly improving. I'm a sweet boy with tons of energy and I can' t understand why they keep trying to slow me down. Something about healing....though I don't always listen. I guess it is just the puppy in me!

I wanted to ask you if you could help Pet Refuge out with some of my medical bills. They have been so nice taking care of me and trying to do everything they can to give me a normal life. Pet Refuge has so many other dogs and cats to care for, that any help you give will be appreciated. I wouldn't want them to run out of puppy and kitten treats and toys. Just watching out for my friends. I will keep you updated on my progress.....Thank you so much. Love and kisses, Smokie

P.S. If you are thinking about adopting me, my foster mom says that I need a fenced yard and any children should be 12 years old or older. I heard her saying that my next
owner needs to be an experienced dog owner willing to teach me lots of obedience. Well I don't know what obedience is, but I love treats and will do just about anything she asks to get them.

UPDATE: SMOKIE HAS GRADUATED FROM BEGINNER OBEDIENCE CLASS AND HAS NOW STARTED AGILITY!

To get more information about Smokie and other animals available for adoption at Pet Refuge, visit the Pet Refuge website: www.petrefuge.com or call (574) 256-0886.

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Ask Dr. Paws

Dear Dr. Paws,

Our hamster has become far from friendly. It’s gotten to the point where our kids don’t even want to take him out of the cage and play with him. What can we do to improve his demeanor?

Sincerely,
Troy in South Bend

Dear Trudy,

Hamsters can be tricky creatures, especially when they are around lots of children who may be poking and handling them all the time. It is quite possible that one of your children has done something to scare the hamster when you weren’t around. Don’t give up! Keep him in a a quiet place and always give him a treat when you are interacting with him. By doing this, he’ll learn that good things happen when he gets handled. Give him some time, and I think it may help. Good luck!

Woof!

Dr. Paws

To get your advice from Dr. Paws, simply email your question to us. Each month we’ll select a question to answer here in our brand new e-newsletter.

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Cool Tricks to Try at Home:

Sit Pretty

How to: Have your dog sit, facing you. Hold his favorite treat just above his head, back slightly and tell him, "Sit Pretty." Your dog will probably lift his front feet off the ground to reach the treat. As soon as the feet are lifted, even a little bit, give him the treat.

Tip: This is a hard trick for most dogs. Wait a little longer each time before giving the treat, but be careful not to let your dog fall over on his back. You are helping your dog develop his balance. Be kind and only do this a couple of times.

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Upcoming Events

Martin's Paw Mart on State Road 23 in Granger
August 3rd: Pet Palace Nail Trims 5:00-6:00pm

August 8th: Humane Society Pet Adoptions 12:00-2:00pm

August 15th-16th: Sidewalk Sale

August 29th: Pet Refuge Adoptions 12:00-2:00pm

Martin's Paw Mart on Cleveland in Saint Joseph (MI)
August 1st: Animal Aid Adoptions

August 8th: Save a Stray Adoptions

Martin's Paw Mart on Bristol Street in Elkhart
August 1st: Dream Paws Adoptions 11:00am-2:00pm

August 7th-8th: Sidewalk Sale

August 5th: Nail Trims 5:30-7:00pm

August 8th: Just Pet-um Partners 11:00am-3:00pm

August 15th: 2nd Chance Small Dog Adoptions 11:00am-3:00pm

August 19th: Nail Trims 5:30-7:00pm

August 22nd: Greyhound Adoptions 11:00am-3:00pm

August 29th: Sidewalk Sales

August 30th: Earthborn dog food demonstration 11:00am-3:00pm

Martin's Paw Mart on Jackson Street in Elkhart

August 3rd: Clip 'n Chip-Nail clips for a donation; micro chipping for $20.00

August 17th: Clip 'n Chip-Nail clips for a donation; micro chipping for $20.00

August 31st: Clip 'n Chip-Nail clips for a donation; micro chipping for $20.00

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“Weird” Pet of the Month:

Toodles the Frog

Age: unknown
Submitted by: Katie Marshall, 11 years-old (Toodles’ owner)
In a Nutshell: According to Katie, “Toodles originally started as a science fair experiment. I wanted to see if she would grow faster depending on what kind of frog food I fed her. She and Snoodle (another frog) were both part of my experiment. I had some interesting results! Since the Science Fair, but Toodles and Snoodle have become my pets. They love to hop around in the grass (not too far!) and eat fruit flies and crickets. I hope to get a boy frog soon so that these two can have a brother!”

If you have a “weird” pet and want it featured in our newsletter, simply email us a photo. Each month we’ll be featuring a different furry (or slimy, or scaly…) friend right here in our “Weird Pet of the Month” section.

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Money Saving Coupons Exclusively for You!

Click on the links below to print your coupons.

Save $1 on Friskies Party Mix 2.1 oz. bag cat treats

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