Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Tom, The Cat, and His Very Important Job & More — This Week on Pets Weekly


Pets Weekly is a series that highlights valuable headlines from around the web: From health tips, events, humor and more. We’ve got your tail covered!

In this issue of Pets Weekly:
- Tom, the Cat, and His Very important Job
Talk to the Animals
- Why Cat Circles Work

Tom, The Cat, and His Very Important Job
Tom has a job that most would consider difficult. Tom just considers it his job. Tom is a comfort animal in the VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia.
The families with loved ones in the hospital are just grateful that Tom is there to be with their beloved family members. Tom has been known to round up family members and usher them into the room so they would be present for the final moments. He curls up with people that are in their last hours so they won’t be alone. He is always there to comfort a patient with Alzheimer’s or to just be a calming influence to everyone in the hospital. Because of his important job, Tom is loved by everyone alike, the staff, the patients and the families.


Talk To the Animals
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a harness that will allow humans to better understand their dogs and for humans to give the dogs more consistent and appropriate feedback.

The harness, known as the Cyber-Enhanced Working Dog, has sensors that tell the handler if the dog is stressed, distracted, excited, etc. and then the handler can communicate with the dog with a voice command on the vest or by vibrating signals embedded in the vest at different locations.

The vest is being used now as a proto-type by search and rescue dogs. They hope that soon they can be used by Police and in training Seeing Eye Dogs. The harness will have the benefit to the dogs of making their trainer become more consistent with rewards and training which will lower the dogs stress.


Why Cat Circles Work
The latest video trend is to make a circle on the floor and to wait for a cat to get “trapped” in the circle. With so many cats falling for the stunt, the question is, why does it work?

One theory is that cats are territorial animals so they are glad to take possession of a territory that defined. Another theory is that they think they are inside a “box” with invisible walls. Whatever the reason, people are still going to try to “trap” their cat.


Have a trending story to share with us? Send your tips to social@fetchpetcare.com or leave us a message in the comments below...



Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Purina® Presents a #BetterWithPets Story -- Stephen, Puppi & Burma


As a veteran of the Iraq War, Stephen Simmons has experienced some difficulties adjusting back into civilian life again. His PTSD resulted in a rollercoaster of emotions, sometimes making normal everyday things a significant challenge. One of the things that Stephen has been most grateful for is that he's not alone on this journey. His dog, Puppi and his cat, Burma have given him the will to make things better, not only for their lives but also for his. 

Stephen recognized that pets can be therapeutic in so many ways. Even though there were some days where he didn't want to get up and do anything for himself, he was still compelled to rise above it so that he could provide Puppi & Burma with a better way of
life.

Puppi & Burma continue to inspire Stephen to get outside and enjoy his appreciation and love for nature via trail running & hiking. Like most pets, they have an instinctual ability to absorb our bad days and amplify our good days. And in doing so Stephen's pets have helped him see past the darkness and focus on hope. They've helped to improve his state of mind and underline the fact that he's not alone.

Our pets are there for us every day. They love us unconditionally, and as their best friends we aim to keep them happy & healthy so that you both can live well together. Join our fan community and team of trusted experts in promoting the bond between people and their pets. 

Monday, November 3, 2014

It’s Turkey Time! Our Guide To A Happy Pet Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends.  It’s easy to get caught up welcoming family and cooking that you forget all about making the day special for your pet.  That’s why we’ve put together our guide for a Happy Pet Thanksgiving!  A Happy Pet Thanksgiving means keeping your pet safe, occupied with fun games and toys and, of course, well fed!  So get your pet ready for the best Thanksgiving EVER!

Since safety always comes first let’s start off with our safety tips:

Cooked Bones — Whether your bird is goose, turkey or duck, do not give the bones to your dogs.  Cooked bones are brittle and sharp and can damage your pet’s intestines.


Keep dogs out of the kitchen - Often times dogs can get underfoot, especially when food is the star of the show.  The last thing you want is to trip over them or, heaven forbid, spill or drop something hot on them!  A quick fix is to use a baby gate to keep pets in their pet-friendly zone.

Check ID ­— Holiday stress can cause pets to run amok and with family members coming and going it’s easy for your pet to get out and take its own vacation.  Check your pet’s ID tag and make sure their contact information is up to date.  If you’re traveling make sure the number listed on the ID tag is a cell phone, so you’re able to receive calls when you are away from home.

Secure the trash After the big meal, you may want to just plop on the couch and relax. Before you do, take a few minutes to survey your home so that anything that still needs to be thrown out is, and that all trash receptacles are shut tight.  Cats and dogs can easily jump on a countertop to enjoy a meal of their own.

Now that your pet is safe, let’s move on to the fun!  Keeping your pet busy with games and toys will help them stay out of trouble and work up an appetite.  Here is how to help your  pet have an active and fun day...

Let them join in the games!  If you’re the type of family that has an annual football game, let your dog join in.  Take your dog to the park and play with the family and get some fresh air!

Got Toys?—Toys are always the answer!  Take your pet’s mind off the turkey by stocking up on new toys.  Our favorite for occupying dogs is the Kong with some peanut butter inside or some catnip toys for kitties.

A good old fashion walkA dog who’s been out on a long walk or who has fetched the ball a zillion times is more likely to be relaxed during Thanksgiving dinner.  If you don’t have time, consider getting a dog walker or put the kids to work! 

Now on to the main attraction — the food!  As we said in the safety portion of our guide, feeding your pet people food can be dangerous and hazardous to their health.  But there are plenty of pet-friendly recipes that can help your pet be part of the celebration.  Here is one of our favorite recipes for both dogs and cats...


Thanksgiving Turkey Loafs:
You will need...
1 pound ground turkey
1 cup thawed frozen peas and carrots
1/2 cup cooked quinoa or rice
2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease 1 jumbo six-cup muffin tin. In a large bowl, using your hands, mix all of the ingredients thoroughly. Fill each muffin cup with the meat mixture and bake until the tops are browned, about 40 minutes. (You can wrap and refrigerate the cooked loaves for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 2 months.) Follow our guide for Happy Pet Thanksgiving and your pet will be safe, have fun and have a turkey belly at the end of the day!


Do you have a tip to share with us? How about a Thanksgiving pet photo? Share them with us at social@fetchpetcare.com.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Pet's Weekly: Being a Dog in 4K!, K9 Officer Diogi's Emotional Farewell & More

Pets Weekly is a series that highlights valuable headlines from around the web: From health tips, events, humor and more. We’ve got your tail covered!

In this issue of Pet’s Weekly…
✔ GoPro Hero 4: Being a Dog in 4K!
✔ Ebola-free Texas nurse, pet dog reunited after long quarantine
✔ K9 Officer, Diogi, receives emotional farewell

GoPro Hero 4: Being a Dog in 4K!
Dog-o-vision! There’s something uplifting about seeing the world through Mac the dog’s eyes. With a GoPro Hero strapped to his back, Mac’s owner, Marques Brownlee, takes him for a stroll to what appears to be the local dog park. See what’s it’s like to be a bubbly pup romping around on a crisp, fall day – making friends and getting exercise.


Ebola-free Texas nurse, pet dog reunited after long quarantine
(Dallas) — After a grueling quarantine to rule out the possibility of Ebola, 26 year-old nurse
Nina Pham was reunited with her almost 2-year old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Bentley. Pham and Bentley are now busy planning his 2nd birthday party and are wishing for many more healthy years to come. Click here to read more on news.yahoo.com


K9 Officer, Diogi, receives emotional farewell
(New Jersey) — Diogi, an almost nine-year old German Shepherd, served New Jersey's police department for seven years as part of the K9 unit, but his career was cut short after the K9 officer was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The news of this terminal illness didn't come easy for Diogi's human partner, Officer Joseph Van Pelt. But nevertheless, Van Pelt, loved and honored his four-legged work partner until the dog's last day. Read the full story on viralnova.com here