2016 GIFT GUIDE FOR THE PET LOVER

Do you need thoughtful gifts for the pet lover in your life? Animal Radio knows it's not always easy to buy gifts for someone and buying for pet lovers can sometimes be hard as well. We wanted to make it easy for you to leave them a special treat under the Christmas Tree this year. We are kicking off Black Friday with some great Gifts For the Pet Lover. Whether you like to visit stores or shop online, we've got you've covered!

Every week we will add new items for the pet lover and their pets, which will include everything from items to clean up messes, accessories, as well as toys and treats, because our best friends deserve to have something under the Christmas Tree as well.

Here are some Great Gift Ideas:


Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat

An entirely unique experience, Wooly engages dogs' powerful sense of smell as they snuffle, snort, and sniff their way through dinner or treat time. Built to stimulate a dog's natural foraging instincts by mimicking the hunt for food in grass and fields, Wooly feeds both their belly and their brain. Dogs have a sense of smell 40 times greater than our own and eyesight that is far worse than ours. They see the world with their noses, and Wooly plays to their snuffly strengths. Any breed any size - easy to clean (washer & dryer).

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PrideBites Tuff Balls Emoji Series (Set of 3)

Emojis were one of the hottest trends of 2016 - they even celebrated their own day. Everywhere you look - the pool, a fashion runway or even possible Halloween costumes - there are emojis. But what about emoji fun for our pups? These three ultra lightweight toy balls (crazy, shades and heart eyes) are perfect for indoor and outdoor use and pack easily for travel. Take one, or take em all, either way you can't go wrong! They make great stocking stuffers!

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Apollo Peak Cat Wines

MosCATo and Pinot Meow are cat wines infused with catnip. Now you can enjoy a glass of Vino with your Gato. They are non-alcoholic, and while they don't contain grapes, they are made with beets. Beets are safe for cats plus it gives the wine a red tint like real wine, without using food coloring.

Some cats just play with the glass, while others start drinking it and acting a little funny. What do you think you cat would do?

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Tall Tails Puppy Gift Set

The Perfect Puppy Gift Set is a great starter kit for furry new members of the family. The three-piece gift set includes a warm fleece blanket - size 20" x 30" - a Waterwoof™ pad with triple layer protection to guard against accidents - size 24" x18" - and a squeaky 5" soft bone toy to enjoy during playtime. The gift set is available in Houndstooth and Hunters Plaid fashions.

They also have the Tall Tails Best Buddy Gift Set, which is the perfect way treat man's best friend. The gift set for an older dog includes: a warm fleece blanket - size 30" x 40" - a Waterwoof™ pad - size 33"x 21" - and a squeaky 9" soft bone toy to play with.

These are the perfect gifts for furry best buddies and thoughtful welcome home packages for new puppies and dogs.

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Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum

You might say that a vacuum is a BAD idea for a gift. But just think about it - don't you want to make your pet lover's life easier? What can be easier for someone who does a lot of vacuuming than to receive this as a gift?

The Pet Hair Eraser (MSRP $249.99/$269.99) has some notable features, including:

- An innovative tangle-free brush roll, eliminating the need to deal with the inevitable hair ball that forms in your vacuum
- Hands-free empty canister featuring a cyclonic spooling system-keeping you far away from the usual 'yuck' that comes with emptying the canister
- Edge-to-edge suction - providing a more efficient clean and leaving no trace of your four-legged family members
- SmartSeal Allergen System that captures allergens and eliminates lingering odors with Febreeze
- Specialized Pet Tools, including a LED-lighted crevice attachment and the TurboEraser, which help remove embedded pet hair anywhere

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Hug Dog Ring by Dog Fever

Why not get the pet lover a ring, which is a duplicate of their pooch? The Hug Dog Ring is available in over 40 dog breeds and can even be customized and engraved with their dog's name. It comes in sterling silver or with hand painted enamel. This ring is sure to be a hit with every pet lover!

- Dog Fever Jewelry is new to the USA
- Dog Fever Jewelry is designed and handcrafted in Milan, Italy
- Jewelry includes hug ring (ring that hugs your finger), bracelets, necklaces and earrings dedicated to mans best friend
- Available in 925 sterling silver or 925 sterling silver with hand painted enamel
- Over 40 dog breeds available - choose your breed!
- Can be custom made and engraved with your dogs name (send in a picture of your dog for accuracy)
- Can be made in 18kt gold with diamonds for the dog's eyes!
- Loved by celebrities including Lady Ga Ga
- Available in leading jewelry stores, gift and dog boutiques and online

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Dog Decoder
Victoria Stilwell, The Secret Language of Dogs VictoriaStilwell.888.jpg

Accomplished dog trainer Victoria Stilwell returns to Animal Radio airwaves to help us decode our dog's behavior. She'll tell us what some common dog gestures mean. New studies show our dogs are much smarter than we give them credit for. Do dogs feel guilt? They sure look guilty when you catch them doing something bad.

The star of Animal Planet's It's Me or the Dog Victoria Stilwell reveals how to both interpret and "speak" the hidden language of dogs in her new book, The Secret Language of Dogs. Filled with adorable full-color photographs and instructive illustrations, this insightful "dog decoder" will soon make you dog's best friend.

Recent studies into the minds of canines show that they have a rich social intelligence and a physical and vocal language as complex and subtle as our own. World-renowned trainer Victoria Stilwell explores the inner world of dogs. Her book is your guide to understanding your pooch, communicating effectively, strengthening your bond, and helping dogs learn in the most effective way possible so they feel confident navigating the human world with success.

One thing we need to understand about dogs is that they have different types of tail wags. Victoria explains that their tails are a way of expressing a dog's internal emotional state. Different breeds of dogs hold their tails in different ways. But in general, if you have a tail that is wagging in a circular motion like a helicopter, the dog is happy. But if you have a dog with its tail tucked between its legs, you know that the dog is a little nervous or concerned. And if you have a tail that is held very high and has become bushy, that is a dog that is becoming alert and aware.

There is another thing that dogs do with their hair and their tails, which is called piloerection. This is when a dog's back hair goes up and their tail fluffs out. This means that the dog is not feeling that comfortable. Most people think that the dog is trying to make itself look bigger. This is not true. When a dog does this, it is not a conscious decision; it is something that just happens in response to feeling uncomfortable. Think about it, when you are feeling uncomfortable, does the hair on the back of your neck ever stand up? It is the same thing.

Victoria believes it is important to know if your dog is left-pawed, right-pawed or good at using both paws. For example, if you are teaching your dog to do something like shake hands and you're starting with the right paw and the dog just doesn't get it, you might think your dog is not very smart. However, for this dog, it might actually be easier if you started with the left paw if your dog is left-pawed.

So before doing any training, find out if your dog is left or right pawed. You can do this by getting a toy like a puzzle or a Kong toy and see which paw the dog uses to manipulate that toy. They might use both, which is great. But a lot of dogs will either use their left or right.

Another question people have is whether or not their dog feels guilt. Victoria explains that as far as we know, dogs don't have the cognitive ability for guilt. In order to feel guilt, you must also be able to feel shame. Humans are taught to feel shame. In order to feel shameful, you need to have what's called theory of mind. You have to understand how your behavior affects other people, or that your behavior does affect other people. It is thought that dogs don't truly do that. Victoria would like to say dogs do feel guilt, because you might see signs of guilt in your dog like hanging their head low, wide eyes and a coward body, but these are all appeasement gestures done in response to your body language.

There have been massive studies done on dogs in the last ten years and we are still learning so much about them.

Victoria Stilwell is best known for her role as the host of Animal Planet's hit TV series It's Me or the Dog. Born and raised in Wimbledon, England, she has also served as a judge on CBS' Greatest American Dog and is involved with rescue groups around the world. Victoria lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

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Ripley's Weird Animals
Edward Meyer, Ripleys Unlock The Weird

Edward Meyer is back for his yearly visit. He collects oddities for Ripley's and he'll be sharing his strange picks for animals that are a bit out of the ordinary, like the cat with BIG eyes and the dog that ate a round of gun ammunition.

For over 38 years Edward Meyer has traveled around the world collecting unusual stories and unbelievable artifacts to fill Ripley's Believe It or Not! books and museums. He's a walking encyclopedia of information, some strange, some gross - but all true! He has acquired over 20,000 different museum artifacts, everything from a pin valued at $1 million dollars, to a two-trunked elephant, to Lee Harvey Oswald's mortuary toe tag, to a meteorite from Mars. The list is endless, but his all time favorite is the recent purchase of Marilyn Monroe's JFK's Happy Birthday Mr. President Dress for a world record price for any piece of clothing. Meyer has appeared on radio and television programs around the world as the Ripley historian and raconteur, the man with the world's best job!

Here are some of the animal stories we found:

ALIEN EYES -Matilda, a 2-year-old tabby cat from Canada, has huge-glassy-alien-like eyes as a result of a condition called spontaneous lens luxation, a genetic disorder in which the lens of the eye completely dislocates from its usual position. A normal-looking kitten, her pupils started to become enlarged after her first birthday and now make it difficult for her to see. Her distinctive appearance has earned her over 105,000 followers on Instagram.

DUMBO DOG - When Remy, a 2-year-old Basset Hound jumped more than 30 feet out of a third floor window in East Sussex, England after spotting a cat on the ground below, he survived the fall because his hug ears slowed his descent. Although he landed face first onto concrete, he suffered only minor injuries.

CONFUSED CAT - Marbles, a cat owned by Tom Minns and Claire Gidley of Plymouth, Devon, England, has both male and female sex organs, making it a rare hermaphrodite. The couple had always thought the cat was female, but when they took it to be spayed, there were told it was half-male.

LOUD PURR - Merlin, a black and white cat owned by Tracy Westwood of Torquay, Devon, England. Has a purr of 67.8 decibels, nearly three times louder than the purr of an average cat and noisier than a washing machine.

SURLY SHEEP - Russian Farmer Blasius Lavrentiev waited patiently for his prized ewe to give birth. When the time finally came, he was shocked to see a lamb resembling an angry old man staring back at him! The human-looking lamb became the talk of the village of Chirka, near the Republic of Dagestan, and Lavrentiev was even offered ten times the going rate for it! Likely due to too much Vitamin A, this abnormality isn't a health concern - which means this strange sheep should live a full and hopefully not so grumpy life!

STOMACH ARSENAL - Benno, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois dog owned by Larry Brassfield of Mountain Home, Arkansas, underwent surgery after swallowing a bag of 23 live .308 caliber rifle rounds. After the dog safely vomited four bullets, a veterinarian carefully removed 17 more from the dog's stomach, leaving two in his esophagus, which Benno "discharged" himself.

With the advent of the Internet, Edward's job has changed considerably, some of it for the good and some of it for the bad. In Ripley's era, 1918 to 1949 when he died, typically people mailed him photographs. He either believed it or hopped on a plane and went and saw it himself. Today they tend to get very little mail, as most of it comes from the computer. The supply of the material is more, but the vetting has become harder.There are ten chapters in the book and something for everyone!

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InsPurrational Posters for Cats
Mo Goldon & Ross Cowman

Mo Golden and Ross Cowman created a business of making motivational posters for cats. At first it was a novelty idea, but it turned into something truly beneficial for both cats and humans explains Ross.

The sizing of the Inspurrational Cat Posters is proportionate to the size of a cat. The Inspurrational Posters are about the size of a postcard, which to a cat, would be like the size of a poster. Mo and Ross also wanted to make sure that the posters are placed where cats can see them easily. Both of these are a scientific process, according to Ross.

While deciding what to put on the posters, Mo and Ross knew that they didn't want pictures of cats on them. This is because they didn't think cats would respond to strange cats and may actually be terrified of them. The posters they've designed have images of things that cats like to look at. This includes kibble, fish or even their owner.

They've also included inspurrational quotes like, "Dream Your Dream," "Reach for the Stars," and their latest one, "YOGNY." This means you only get nine YOLO'S (You Only Live Once).

So where should you place these posters? Each set of posters comes with a detailed installation guide. It is a multiple-step process:

Step One: You chose a poster with your cat
Step Two: Take a measurement with the enclosed measurement tool of your cat's paw-to-jaw so you can hang the poster at eye level
Step Three: Hang the poster at the appropriate height

Cats are quite sensitive to changes in their environment and will appreciate the extra attention and care put into their special places around the home.

Please support this Kickstarter and help us bring our message of mindfulness to Cats and their humans everywhere!

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Top Holiday Pet Gifts - Dr. Debbie

As Americans, we love our pets and include them on all household fun, including holiday gift giving. In fact over 50-percent of American pet owners will be shopping for their favorite dog, cat, ferret or other critter this holiday season. Wondering what to give the pet that special pet? Here are some cool gift ideas for that pet that deserves spoiling to the max.

As a veterinarian, I suggest pet gifts that provide more than short term enjoyment and which prove useful in the prevention or treatment of a health or behavioral issue. Think beyond food or treat gifts this year and consider a pet gift with a purpose. You'll keep your furry friend happy and healthy in the coming years.

Gifts to Keep Them Busy
Interactive toys and puzzles are designed to provide an outlet for mental and physical energy - an ideal gift for dogs that are prone to destructive chewing or separation anxiety. Check out food dispensing toys like the Kong Wobbler Dispensing Dog Toy. Also the Canine Genius line of toys challenges your dog's problem solving ability. As dogs play with interactive toys it focuses attention, decrease boredom and makes the dog work for his food.

With any chew toys , remember your dog's size, jaw strength and chewing history before shopping. Plush toys, soft latex rubber toys and small edible bones are not suited for large dogs with powerful chew force. For large dogs, check out the Bionic product line, which includes balls and toys made of a durable rubber that withstands tough chewers.

Indoor felines will thank you for entertaining interactive toys by FroliCat. Check out the Pounce, a furry critter that runs on a track, or the Twitch, a teasing toy that bounces and swings about, providing kitty an outlet for that hunting drive.

The Gift of Good Behavior
Both kitties and cat owners will enjoy the gift of a clean litter box through use of the Scoop Free self-cleaning litter box. Keep the litter box clean to the most fastidious cat's standards. A tidy litter box environment helps prevent litter box aversion and unpleasant house soiling. Check out the Scoop Free features including motion activated cleaning cycles and a disposable waste tray.

Other useful gift ideas for nervous pets are items that help them cope with anxiety. The Thundershirt is a firmly fitting body wrap which calms dogs fearful of storms, fireworks or car travel. Pair the Thundershirt up with a doggie pheromone collar such as the Adaptil collar, and you empower your pooch to cope with his fears in a natural way.

Technology Goes to the Pets
If you are more a high-tech gifter, then consider Tagg - The Pet Tracker a GPS outfitted dog collar. Using your cell phone, you can track and locate your pet via GPS technology. And the added feature of Activity Tracking allows you to monitor your dog's daily activity and adjust exercise needs accordingly. Tagg - The Pet Tracker is more than another form of identification. It looks after your best friend to track his well-being.

Want to take pet fitness to a new level? Look at the Dog Pacer Treadmill an indoor dog treadmill that comes in a standard size for dogs up to 179 pounds, and now a small dog size up to 55 pound dogs, great for apartment dwellers. No more excuses about extreme weather - you can exercise your dog regardless of weather conditions. Daily physical exercise keeps your pet in healthy weight, but also is an outlet for your dog's abounding energy, decreasing boredom and naughty destructive behaviors.

The Best Gift of All
While these are all excellent gift options, just remember that the greatest gift you can give your pet is your love and attention. Appreciate your pet every day by cuddling on the couch or taking walks to the park. The close bond with your pet is the most cherished gift you both get to enjoy.

Featured veterinarian known as "Dr. Debbie" on national pet radio program, Animal Radio. Ebook author of "Yorkshire Terriers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Pugs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Mini Schnauzers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; and "Shih Tzu: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend."

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Free Spay or Neuter
Lucy Pet Foundation

The Mission of The Lucy Pet Foundation is to reduce pet overpopulation and the euthanasia of over 80,000 cats and dogs per week in the United States by having mobile spay/neuter clinics across the country and to support causes that benefit animal welfare. The Lucy Pet Foundation currently has two buses that travel around Southern California focusing on spaying and neutering. These buses are state of the art surgery units. Their next focus is in generating more funds to expand the work of these buses and have more across the country.

The Lucy Pet Foundation not only offers free and reduced spays and neuters, they also do microchipping, vaccines and de-wormings. Spaying and neutering is not only great for pet population control, but it has been proven that an animal will live on an average of 40-percent longer after having this surgery.

Free Spay & Neuter for Los Angeles City Residents! Here is a list of upcoming free or reduced fee mobile spay and neuter clinics in California:

December 10: Superior Store, 10211 Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

December 13: West Valley Shelter, 20655 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

December 14: Food 4 Less, 1748 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

December 16: Food 4 Less, 336 W. Anaheim St., Wilmington, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

December 17: Vallarta Supermarket, 10175 N. San Fernando Rd., Pacoima, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

December 19: Cahoots, 10360 Mason Ave., Chatsworth, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

December 20: Food 4 Less, 5100 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

County and City Vouchers accepted. But remember, you must get on a list to have your pet seen at these locations. Please call The Lucy Pet Foundation toll free at 1-855-499-5829 or Visit Website to schedule an appointment, or register at the events.

Lucy Pet Products, Inc. is a family owned and operated company based in Thousand Oaks, California. Lucy Pet Products are "Products With a Cause." Part of the proceeds from the sales of Lucy Pet Products are used to help fund The Lucy Pet Foundation. Their products can be found in pet specialty stores across the USA and are exported worldwide, or Visit Website.

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5 Holidays Traditions That Can Land Your Pet on the Naughty List
Robert Semrow, Listomania

It's a timely reminder during the busy holiday season that some of your holiday traditions can put your pet at risk. Here are some helpful reminders for pet parents.

Decking the halls with boughs of holly can be very dangerous for our pets, so you may want to skip that tradition all together and just stick to Jingle Bells.

Mistletoe and Holly are a holiday tradition, but if ingested by dogs and cats these can cause some severe issues so make sure that if you are going to use them, you do so with care and vigilance and check daily to make sure they are still where you placed them and they haven't gone missing.

Christmas Trees are holiday tradition for most and I know that brings with it several things that responsible pet parents must take into consideration.
Let's start at the bottom. The water reservoir is so tempting for pets. The problem is that the water may contain bacteria, chemical additives and other preservatives used to keep the tree fresher longer which can cause problems for our pets. One simple solution may be to put a small amount of chicken wire or screen over the opening of the water basin. It allows you to check and fill the water, but keeps your pets safe.

Ornaments make the Christmas tree beautiful and warm. Unfortunately for our pets, this can be seen as a new playground for them to explore and play with. So be sure to have an ever-watchful eye on the ornaments and keep ornaments off of the lower and easier to reach branches. Also if you have glass ornaments, keep them in the curio as they are too dangerous and not worth the risk to your pet.

Speaking of dazzling Christmas trees, let's not forget Christmas lights. These blinking and flashing lights add beauty to the tree and raise the curiosity level, especially for cats. So again, be sure to keep these off easier to reach branches and as always, watch and see how your pets react to these new introductions to their environments. They are going to be curious, but the bigger concern is where and what that curiosity leads to. If you see them engaging the tree to get at the decorations, you are going to need to redirect them and make sure they know and understand that they cannot touch the tree. Remember the mantra, "We look with our eyes, not with our mouths and paws."

Finally, holiday foods and get-togethers are what the season is made for. This too can be extremely dangerous for our pets. Make sure your guests know they are not to share their food and beverages with your pets, knowingly or unknowingly. Also, make sure your pets have a safe place to retreat to so that they are not overwhelmed and stressed.

We here at Animal Radio hope you enjoy the holidays, just do it with an eye toward the safety of your pets. Let's not find our pets on the naughty list and find ourselves at the vet's office for something avoidable this holiday season.

Share your top pet holiday safety suggestions on our Animal Radio Facebook Page.

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The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani

So Many Dog Shampoos - So Many Choices!
There are many professional shampoos on the market, which makes it hard to select the best one for you pet. So we ask Joey, the grooming expert, what he uses.

Joey's personal favorite is a professional product called Coat Handler. Joey likes this product because it has all of the "un-ingredients" in it. That means it doesn't have oils nor does it have any silicone or lanolin. It has nothing that is going to stay behind on your pet's coat. This means it won't stain your dog's coat or leave it tacky.

Unlike human items that are professional and only available to the professionals, anyone can purchase a professional dog shampoo like Coat Handler.

The only problem with purchasing this product yourself is that they have a dilution breakdown and are not ready to use. You have to break it down and mix it with water in different containers before using it on your dog.

Besides shampoos, Joey gives us a hint on dealing with our dogs during the dry, winter months where we are using the heaters in our homes. Just like humans, the dry warm air is actually drying out our pet's skin.

The easiest thing to do for your pet is to get a spray bottle of water and spray their coat a little. Don't saturate it; just dampen it a little, which will hydrate their skin. If they are afraid of the spray bottle, just dampen a cloth or a sponge and wipe it over them.

Tails Inc. Pet National Events for November 2016
Janice Gork, Tails Pet Media Group, Inc.

Passionate about rescue and adoption, Tails Pet Media Group, Inc. was founded in 2000 by Janice Brown. What started as a magazine, is now a mission! Tailsinc.com is an interactive website and online community committed to connecting the animal welfare community with the general pet-loving population. Tails Inc. features expert knowledge, advice, pet product reviews, local resource guides, community event news and monthly contests, in order to promote and encourage people to live responsibly with their pets.

Here is a list of upcoming December Events around the Country:

WHAT: Paws In The City Holiday Weekend: Filled With Fur, Fun, Fashion & Adoptable Pets! Shopping, raffles, goodie bags, photos and more!
WHO: Celebrity Catwalk: supports non-profit organizations that help rescued animals find forever homes
WHEN:
Sat, Dec 10, 7-10pm, Santa Paws & Pups dinner;
Sun Dec 11, 1-3pm, Bah Humbug Brunch
WHERE: Pop-Up Event location, 350 3rd Ave at 26th Street, New York City
COST: $55 per event or weekend pass for just $65
INFO: Visit Website

WHAT: Wagged Out Walk; 1K or 3K walk with tons of activities and food trucks
WHO: Frankie's friends; Dr. Neil Shaw, co-founder of BluePearl Veterinary Partners, started Frankie's Friends to save pets who would otherwise suffer without proper care or be euthanized due to their families' lack of financial resources.
WHEN: Saturday, December 10; Registration opens at 10am
WHERE: Walter Fuller Park, 7901 30th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL
COST: $25
INFO: Visit Website

What: Holidog Express: Visits from therapy dogs to boost morale & spread holiday cheer: Therapy dog visits, lasting between 30-60 minutes, helps relieve holiday stress and brighten the days of employees, and it's a fun outing for the therapy dogs, too.
Who: Naperville Area Humane Society, 1620 W Diehl Rd, Naperville, IL
Where: Your workplace, school, office, holiday party
When: Dec 10 through Dec 16; 9am-5pm
Cost: $250-$500 donation
Info: 630.420.8989x117 or Send Email

WHAT: Paint your pet! Email a digital photo of your pet and we will transfer it onto a 16"X20" canvas. Talented artists will walk you through the steps to create your very own Pet Portrait!
WHO: Duck Team 6 Street Dog Rescue: "To reduce the street dog population through Capture, Placement, and Outreach."
WHEN: Sat, Dec 10, 2-5PM
WHERE: Pinot's Palette, 6465 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX
COST: $75 per painter/canvas. BYOB
INFO: Visit Website

Want to list your event for free? Click here. Please note that non-profit events (fundraisers, adoption events, etc.) will be listed for free and for-profit events will incur a fee. Please email the advertising team if you wish to advertise your for-profit event in their directory.

Tails has local focus, but national reach - with magazines in 10 different cities across the United States, and 150,000 issues printed per month, 12 times a year, and an ever-increasing audience of over 1 million people. Pet lovers can pick up their free magazine at pet-related businesses and vet offices, grocery stores, health clubs, bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, park districts, and other "mainstream" locations. Currently they are in over 10,000 individual locations.

To find out where you can get a copy of your own, send an email to locations.

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Animal Radio News - Lori Brooks

7 Million Pets Adopted
Last month tens of thousands of pet-loving Americans visited PetSmart stores for their November National Adoption Weekend. This year's event was a huge success as a grand total of 22,834 pets found their forever homes, making this event their most successful event since PetSmart since it began in the early 1990s. The company says it is thrilled to see that pet parents are thinking ahead and adopting a new furry family member before the holidays in lieu of putting a pet under the tree because it gives families more time to transition a new pet into their home. Thanks to a year of unprecedented adoption success, PetSmart and PetSmart Charities recently celebrated saving the lives of 7 million pets. The lucky 7 millionth adopted pet was Daisy, a fox terrier-foxhound mix puppy who was adopted out of a PetSmart store in Staten Island by the McKenzie family.

Pet Funeral Home
More than half of all Americans own at least one pet and hopefully this new trend will sweep the country. We're talking about a pet funeral home, which opened just a few weeks ago in Lockport, New York. Pets in Peaceful Rest will allow families to say goodbye to their pets much like we say goodbye to a human member of the family. Scott Schmidt is the President of Pets in Peaceful Rest. His family transformed a vacant building in town into a place dedicated to helping people honor and remember their pets. But Schmidt isn't new to the funeral business. He's been a funeral director for more than 30 years and people kept asking him about funeral services for pets. Now that there's a new state law in New York that allows people to be buried with their pets, he felt the time was right to start his own business. It includes a Rainbow Bridge Room and a state-of-the-art crematory. This is a family affair, as his wife is a pastor. It's also personal for them, as their four-year-old Great Dane has a bone tumor.

Program Helps Keep Pets in Homes
"Saving one dog will not change the world, but for that one dog, the world will be forever changed." Those are the words on a plaque on the desk of Kelly Vail, operations manager at the Humane Society of Marion County in Florida. They have created Stand by Me, which is a new program to help "save" some pet/owner relationships. The purpose of the program is to assist pet owners with the socialization of their newly adopted dogs. This way the animal will have a better chance of remaining in its forever home and not being returned to the shelter when undesirable behaviors overwhelm the new owner. Some trainable issues that might cause possible returns include an animal having too much energy, potty training problems, jumping, chewing and excessive pulling on a leash. Vail is a firm believer that dogs are, "Not disposable, but part of a family," which is why she advocates the new training program. Through grant funding, the shelter has contracted with local professional dog trainers. They also offer a free six-week group dog training class for owners purchasing a pet from the shelter and the opportunity for new pet owners with isolated issues to find help. And, the dog trainers also train the shelter workers to get everyone in the loop. They're all in it to make adopting a dog a forever-family member and that is done by making the best matches. Just knowing dogs is key. No one wants a dog that bites, but dashing the misconception that pit bulls are the worst biters, the trainers stress that, "A dachshund is more likely to bite than any other dog." The agency's goal is to keep everyone safe and have a happy dog in the community.

Eight Dog Breeds That Are Easiest To Train
If you or your family is thinking about adopting a new puppy or dog, one thing to consider is how easy it will be to train your dog. From house training your dog to teaching him fun tricks, dog training is an essential factor in a positive human to canine relationship. A well-trained dog that listens to his master is also a safer dog. Here are the top eight dog breeds that are the easiest to train: 1. Golden Retrievers; 2. German Shepherds; 3. Poodles (While the poodle may not look like a dog that can be trained for advanced commands, in actuality, the Poodle is incredibly easy to train); 4. Labrador Retrievers (The Labrador retriever is another great breed to consider getting if you have a family. Labs are also one of the first choices of dog breeds for service dogs to the disabled. ); 5. Collies like "Lassie;" 6. Doberman Pinschers (Although some may see the Doberman pinscher as an aggressive dog, a Doberman can be a great companion if properly trained. With a Doberman, you must ensure that your dog sees you as the alpha leader in the household.) 7. Australian Shepherds (Australian shepherds are extremely energetic and best suited to do advanced tricks and agility courses.); 8. Border Collies (The final great choice of dog breed for easy training is the Border Collie, a working dog that needs to be kept busy with things around the house, so you can enjoy teaching it tricks that help you get your chores done.)

Mars Sues Smucker Over Similar Pill Treats
Mars Inc. has found another company's pill-disguising pet treats a little hard to swallow and is suing J.M. Smucker Company, best known for its Smucker's jams and jellies. Mars claims that Smucker is infringing on its trademark for Greenies Pill Pockets pet treats with its new Milk-Bone Pill Pouches. Mars says Smucker and its pet division, Big Heart Pet Inc., which owns Milk-Bone, created a "confusingly similar" product. Mars also argues the term "pouches" is misleading because the "pet treat is simply a treat with a hole in the middle and thus is not a "pouch.'" Mars claims the product could damage the reputation of its Greenies Pill Pockets, which have been sold online and in pet stores since August 2002 with sales in excess of $80 million per year. Smucker has not been in the pet product business long. The company last year purchased Big Heart Pet Brands, which includes Milk-Bone dog treats and Meow Mix cat food, in a $3.2 billion deal.

Placeboes Work On Pets
A placebo is anything that seems to be a real medicinal treatment such as a pill, a shot or any other fake treatment. Placebo effect is the result of a patient given a placebo treatment and it may work for pets too! Research on the placebo effect proves that there is a great relationship between mind and body of a person. In a 2010 study in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, researchers testing a treatment for canine epilepsy discovered that dogs in the placebo group were having fewer seizures than when they'd started the trial. It doesn't mean that the dogs were reacting to the placebo. Experts explain placebos change the behavior of pet owners more than anything in the animals' physiology. As a result, this would imply that the pet itself is not experiencing a placebo effect. It is the pet owner who might be responding to the placebo. The fact that the owner is monitoring their pet is helping the pet feel more at ease and to get better.

NEWS UPDATE brought to you by Fear Free. "Take the 'pet' out of 'petrified'" and get pets back for veterinary visits by promoting considerate approach and gentle control techniques used in calming environments.

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