Paw Nation

Pet Product Review: Humunga Stache

CJ Arabia — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

CJ Arabia

The Humunga Stache by Moody Pet may be better in theory than it is in execution. In theory, your dog will hold the ball in his mouth, giving off the appearance of a handlebar moustache. In actuality, my dog never picked it up in her mouth like the dog in the advertisement. Note: The toy is very heavy and best-suited for larger dogs -- my smaller dog couldn't fit it in her mouth!

I imagine that if a dog could carry the Humunga Stache around as shown in the promo pics, it would thrill any passersby who caught a glimpse. And if it's possible to get a dog to use the product as intended, I'd agree with the copy on the packaging that it would make for a hilarious group photo. But to my utter frustration, I never got my dog to pick the thing up in her mouth by the ball and create the promised illusion of a hearty handlebar. I even filled the ball with delicious treats, but still, my dog mostly just likes to chew on it.

The Humunga Stache is brought to you by the makers of Humunga Tongue and Fling-Ama-String, and can be found in your local pet store or at MoodyPet.com for approximately $12.

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Shelter Dogs: Meet Tacos and Molly

CJ Arabia — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dogs, Pet Adoption

Morgan Murphy

In honor of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we've asked our bloggers to share their stories of adopting shelter dogs and cats.

We were walking past a pet adoption event in the park when a woman threw a leash at us. "You've got to help this dog; she's going to be killed on Thursday," she cried. It was a dramatic tactic, but it worked. That's how we got the dog we call Tacos. I became friends with the ladies who ran the adoption event, and soon began volunteering at the event myself.

Every other Sunday, anywhere between 20 and 40 shelter dogs from various local canters are trucked down to Moorpark Park where they are bathed, brushed, fed, walked, played with and loved from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and if they're very lucky, they find a home. It's far less depressing than seeing them in cages at the local animal shelter, and it's great for the dogs.

It was at one of these events that I saw Molly. She was adorable, the fattest thing I had ever seen. She barely could walk and it was clear that she wasn't feeling well. I had promised my boyfriend, "No more dogs." But I was heartbroken when nobody had adopted Molly by the end of the day. I couldn't let her go back to the shelter, so I adopted her myself.

Continue reading Shelter Dogs: Meet Tacos and Molly

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Linda Blair's WorldHeart Foundation

CJ Arabia — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets, Pet Adoption

CJ Arabia

I am sitting with actress Linda Blair in the back yard of her WorldHeart Foundation animal sanctuary, at the base of a mountain in the high desert of Southern California, just outside of Los Angeles. A worker walks by with a great, big, beautiful mutt. "That's Hank," Blair says, indicating the big dog. "He came from a hoarder. His teeth were filed down." I ask her why someone would want to file down a dog's teeth. She tells me it's done to prevent dogs from damaging each other when tossed into packs. Hank's former owner had filed down the big dog's teeth in a shed in the back of his property, without any medical supervision. But the big dog seems happy now as he shows me his smile.

Blair began rescuing dogs in 1997, following the death of her mother and two pets. Though devastated by her loss, she focused her grief into achieving something positive. "I started walking [into] shelters and rescuing anywhere from two to five dogs, putting them in a kennel, going every day to walk them and take care of them. I made signs and fliers and put them up at pet stores, handed them out. All that and working."

Continue reading Linda Blair's WorldHeart Foundation

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Pet Product Review: SleepyPod

CJ Arabia — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dogs, Cats, Traveling with Pets

Photo: Sleepypod

When I'm looking for a dog carrier, fashion is just as important to me as function, which is why I decided to test out the Sleepypod -- a carrier and pet bed in one.

The Sleepypod, which starts at $140.00, works equally well for both cats and dogs, and functions not only as a carrier and a bed, but also as a secure car seat that can be buckled in for the safest transport of your beloved pet.

My dog loves her Sleepypod. Unlike the average rectangular-shaped pet carrier, the sturdy Sleepypod is round, with a plush lining that gives it the feel of a comfy little bird's nest, allowing your pet to curl up comfortably in a ball during transit. Plus, the round shape makes it easier to carry, and it looks cool to boot.

If you've ever tried to coax a kitty out of its carrier, you know that side openings can prove problematic. The Sleepypod's "door" opens from the top, allowing for easier entries and exits. Some cats may still spread those claws and resist, but I had a much easier time getting my cat inside the Sleepypod than I do into her Sherpa Bag. I am a huge fan of the luxe Sherpa line, but the Sleepypod's unique design allows for a less-stressful entry, exit and overall environment.

The one drawback? You can't take it on a plane -- yet. The company will be releasing a Sleepypod Air carrier, made specifically for in-cabin air travel, in December. I can't wait to find an excuse to try it out!

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Animal Planet's Zak George and His New Show 'SuperFetch'

CJ Arabia — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST

Zak George and his pup, Venus. Photo: CJ Arabia

Ever wish your dog could help out more around the house? Take out the trash? Find the remote control? Well, with Zak George and his new Animal Planet show "SuperFetch" (premiering Saturday, Oct. 3rd at 8 p.m. ET) you can learn how to teach your dog all this and much, much more.

Zak believes he can show anyone how to teach their pet to perform just about any trick -- the key is making sure your pet wants to do it. On "SuperFetch", Zak will introduce pets and their parents to a simple, step-by-step method of teaching their four legged family members new and unbelievable stunts that will amaze onlookers and strengthen the human/canine bond. In the end, the owners gets one chance to show off their dog's new trick for all of America to see!

Paw Nation had the opportunity to meet Zak and his amazing dog Venus in Central Park for a little sit down and bark time.

What's the craziest trick you've ever taught a dog?
Teaching a dog to ride a tandem bicycle. Also, teaching a dog to make the bed was different.

So, let's get down and dirty. Was there ever a trick you couldn't teach a dog?
(Laughing) Wow, well all tricks aren't cut out for all dogs. Teaching my own dog to twirl around on my feet -- she just wasn't into it, and that's a good point. You can't make a dog do something that he or she doesn't want to do. If you fail to make them want to do something, that's okay too. You can always find something that they do want to do.

What's the number one mistake that people make when trying to teach their dog a trick?
Not communicating with their dog; trying to imply a method rather than trying to communicate.

Tell me about your show, what can viewers expect to see?
"SuperFetch" is so far ahead of any dog training show that you've ever seen. We're not redundant, we're not repeating textbook information and we're hoping to start a revolution in the way that people are teaching their dogs. Also, every other dog training show is so focused on fixing a dog that has issues, but the vast majority of the world accepts their dogs as they are. We're not teaching your dog not to jump on people, we're teaching your dog to jump super high. Taking their energy and converting it to positive and fun tricks. They are actually teaching us. The illusion is that we are teaching our dogs, the reality is that they are teaching us.

So how do viewers get their dogs on your show?
That's the easiest trick of all! Just go to the Animal Planet website.

Below, check out our exclusive video of Zak and Venus showing off their moves!

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Savannah Cats Make Super-Sized Pets

CJ Arabia — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cats, Exotic Pets, Pets News

Photo: miheco/Flickr

Because having just a plain old cat won't do, Brits are now breeding super cats.

What's a Super Cat you ask? Take your average domestic cat, breed it with a wild exotic like a Savannah or a Geoffrey and you get a 35 lb. super-duper cat with claws, teeth and jaw muscles to match its hefty weight, reports the Daily Mail.

Beyond the fact that a half-exotic could cause some serious harm to a child or small animal, you'd need a litter box the size of a sandbox!

Despite safety and litter box concerns, some breeders boast a six-month long waiting list and a price tag of almost $9,000 for a super kitten. Thankfully these cats are illegal in several U.S. states and Australia reports the Daily Mail.

Peter Neville of the Feline Advisory Bureau told the Daily Mail, "I would not be happy with a Savannah around a small child because of their genes and their size. They are going to do a lot more damage than a normal domestic cat. Their paws are bigger, they are stronger and they will bite deeper."

But fans of these ferocious felines defend their exotic kitty cats. Donna Peyando, president of the Savannah Cat Club of Great Britain isn't concerned, "There are no more safety concerns than for any other breeds," she told the Daily Mail. "We always advise never, ever leave a cat alone with a child under five. For the sake of the cat and the child as well."

Are they kidding?

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Buttkiss, the 41 Year Old Pacu

CJ Arabia — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fish, Pet Health

Photo: Gothamist

Buttkiss, a 20 lb. black pacu (related to the piranha), has been living in the same Queens pet shop since the Summer of Love. That's right, he was born in 1967, and 41 years later he's still going strong. Why is this so special? The average life expectancy of a pacu is 2 to 20 years -- so pet shop owner Steve Gruebel must be the reigning king of pacu care!

Gothamist reports that the pacu was sold to a man named Kurt Emerick in 1968. At the time, the fish was only about two inches long but soon grew to be much bigger and became very aggressive. Emerick wasn't so psyched when the pacu started knocking things over in his fish tank, so he returned him to the pet shop, where Gruebel named him after linebacker Dick Butkus. (Gruebel likes to spell it Buttkiss.)

Gruebel has been working at the Cameo Pet Shop in Queens, New York for 47 years. He now owns the shop that originally belonged to his wife's father, and Buttkiss has been there pretty much since the beginning. "He's my mascot," Gruebel tells Paw Nation.

Buttkiss even does tricks. He comes to Gruebel's hand because he knows that's where the grub comes from. (Okay, so maybe it's not the most impressive trick, but the fish is elderly! Cut him a break!) When asked if Butkiss bites, Gruebel laughs, "Well, I stick my hand in there all the time to clean the cage and he just goes and lays in the corner."

Asked if Gruebel has done anything special to keep Buttkiss around so long, Gruebel says, "No, just feed him 20 goldfish every day, every other day depending." So why has Buttkiss lived so long? Gruebel shrugs, "I don't know." And the mysteries of longevity continue...

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