Tony Conza is the dad of WOOF Patrol Mascot, Pomo. Tony is the Founder of the Blimpie sandwich chain. His years of experience in the restaurant business led him to believe the way to one's heart is through food. Pomo agrees. One night over dinner he sat down and compiled what WOOF Patrol has since and most appropriately tagged "Little Bites".
How do pets feel about being dressed up? They’ve yet to tell us.
October rolls around and Halloween costumes for pets become a focus for many of their owners. The bumblebee is considered the number one outfit. However, there’s plenty of proof of a flight towards ladybugs and a crawl to caterpillars costumes. As for spookiest look it goes to a Basset Hound in the meat-clever-‘David Blaine-esque’ outfit though you could go bananas over the dog in the monkey suit.
Dressing up pets for Halloween continues to grow as a pet consumer trend. Target and other chain stores have both kids and Fido Halloween costume sections. In 2006 at least 7% of consumers purchased a Halloween costume for their pets. That number is expected to increase to 10% this year. Pet costumes average $20 but can run as high as $30 or more.
Genome Research journal reports that an international team of scientists, have discovered in the wirehaired dachshunds a specific variation on chromosome 5 associated with cone-rod dystrophy (CRD). CRD causes day-blindness that can progress to total blindness. Eradication of this particular gene mutation in the breed may potentially provide treatment for people suffering from the same condition.
The Emergency Pet Alert Bracelet notifies first responders and others that in an emergency your pet will need to be cared for. On the back of the bracelet is an identification number that can be used to access 24/7 ALAPET Operators who will provide personal contact, veterinarian and medical information for the immediate care of your pet. Check out www.alapet.com.
‘Marley & Me’ has ventured into a licensing and merchandising deal with The American Kennel Club and 20th Century. A co-branded pet product line, based on the upcoming movie “Marley & Me,” John Grogan’s best-selling memoir about his yellow Labrador retriever, will likely rollout around the holidays.
Planning to go to the UK and stay at a bed and breakfast with Fido? That might not be possible. The European Union is forcing as many as 10,000 B&Bs to just say no to your pet as well as their own. EU regulations bans pets from food preparation areas and do not distinguish between small B&Bs and large hotel kitchens. Health officers are enforcing the new legislation and are choosing to include the floor area as the food preparation area rather than just raised surfaces, such as counters and stoves where food is actually prepared. Many B&B proprietors are dog lovers as well as owners and have said that if the choice is between preventing their pets from roaming around the home or closing their businesses, they will choose the later.
Top 10 Reasons Dogs Are Taken to the Vet: 1. Ear infection 2. Skin allergies 3. Pyoderma and hot spots 4. Gastritis and vomiting 5. Enteritis and diarrhea 6. Urinary tract infections 7. Benign skin tumors 8. Eye inflammation 9. Osteoarthritis 10. Hypothyroidism
Volvo Cars went to the dogs! Select Volvo retailers around the country hosted pet safety days from June through September.
The United States is in a recession, according to at least 85% of the 1,000 U.S. consumers polled online by The Nielsen Company in April 2008. As of late many refer to the pet industry as recession proof. Wal-Mart agrees and sees this as an opportunity to lure pet consumers into their ever-growing pet departments. They are beefing up their merchandise aware that gas price conscious pet owners want to avoid making nonessential retail stops. Expect to find Wal-Mart aisles full of more pet items in the effort to increase their all-in-one needs shop mentality
Head to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan and catch the Jeff Koons on the Roof exhibit. The show runs through October 26, 2008 (weather permitting). Koons by the way was a Bichon Frise fancier. “They’re non-allergenic. They don’t shed.” Sadly, Lillie, Koon’s dog passed away last year.
Photo: Hercules © www.monaco-denver.com
Hercules, the 1-year old director of pet relations for Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Denver was appointed as a “supaw delegate” during the Democratic National Convention. While enduring the Pup-arazzi he spoke about the National Dog Day annual held on August 26.
WOOF Patrol: What is National Dog Day about?
Hercules: Raising awareness about the need to rescue dogs.
WOOF Patrol: What did you learn as a supaw delegate?
Hercules: That there are many dogs in politics like Blue and Yellow Dogs.
WOOF Patrol: Blue and Yellow Dogs?
Hercules: In 1928, Senator Tom Heflin’s (Democrat, Alabama) controversial actions of crossing party lines and backing Herbert Hoover led others in his party to adopt the popular slogan, “I’d vote for a yellow dog if he ran on the Democratic ticket.” Staunch party loyalists adopted the slogan derived from the negative connotation meaning yellowish mongrel. In later years the term meant cowardly and despicable, though now it’s widely accepted as expression of praise and loyalty. As for Blue Dog Democrat it means ‘an open-minded Democrat willing to support some conservative policies’. It’s a playful term derived from the original term “Yellow Dog Democrat” or as they say in the South “Yeller Dawg”. Former Democrat Rep. Pete Geren, of Texas, once said that the members have been "choked blue" by those extreme Democrats from the left. Geren is credited for coining the term Blue Dog Democrat.
Dog’s owners in Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aiv, have been asked to take their pooch to their local vet where a DNA sample can be collected. The city is building a dog poo database to track owners that leave their pet’s droppings on footpaths. Owners who scoop the poop and put it in specially marked bins on the Petah Tikva’s streets will be eligible for rewards such as food coupons and dog toys. It’s a volunteer program but the city will consider making it mandatory. Residents are co-operating because they want their neighborhood to be clean.
The seven-story Milk-Bone dog biscuit factory, at 444 East 10th Street, between Avenues C and D, has been granted historic status by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Its Art Deco and Viennese Secessionist styles for Wheatsworth, the cracker and flour manufacturer that invented Milk-Bone dog biscuit features a granite base, terra cotta pilasters etched with bundles of wheat stalks, and several bands of multi-colored terra cotta friezes.
Buddy, a German shepherd, earned the title “Man’s best friend” when he paw-dialed 911 for his owner that had a seizure. Scottsdale police were sent to Joe Stalnaker’s home after an emergency dispatcher took the call and repeatedly asked if the caller needed help. "Hello, this is 911. Hello ... Can you hear me? Is there somebody there you can give the phone to," said the dispatcher, Chris Scott. The response he heard was whimpering and barking. Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark informed the press that Stalnaker’s residence was flagged in Scottsdale's system with a notification that a trained assistance dog could call 911 when the owner was incapacitated. Stalnaker adopted Buddy at the age of 8 weeks from Michigan-based Paws with a Cause, which trains assistance dogs. Buddy, now 18 months old, was trained to press programmed buttons until a 911 operator is on the line if Stalnaker’s begins to show seizure symptom.
Photo : Collin Morgan
Meet Mack created by Bonehead Labs. He’s a 3D, interactive virtual pet, residing on the Internet via an application called Pokey. There are over 1,400,222 monthly active users. Collin Morgan sent us this tail-wagging tip. Morgan ran across the application on Facebook and told us, “Pokey is awesome! It’s an online dog that you can play with.” The 3D pooch comes with responsibilities. Virtual pooches require daily feedings, watering and playtime. Failing those tasks lands you on the Hungry Pups posting. A cool social component allows others to visit, play and feed your puppy. Taking care of your or another person’s Internet pet earns users spending bones. The online store associated with the application offers unique ways of enriching your experience. For example 75 bones can purchase a new environmental landscape background for your pet. Without the need to secure a mortgage put down 75 bones and choose life on a horse farm, a mansion or have your pup enjoy a grassy park. Current breed selections include: German Shepherd, Yorkie, Husky, Yellow Lab, Black Lab, Rottweiler, Chocolate Lab or Chihuahua. WOOF Patrol’s newest mascot MACK: Female Rottweiler that loves Shih Tzus, bones and catching Frisbees.
What was Pomo’s reaction? At first he barked at the monitor. Then he walked away and came back with a toy to see if Mack would play with him. Guess you could say that’s puppy love.
