by Alpha Dog on June 8, 2010
If you were thinking about cutting your hair for the summer there is no better time than now (I’m thinking bald is beautiful). We all feel helpless as oil spews into the Gulf of Mexico with little relief in sight, but there is something you can do; send us your hair (well, hopefully you will drop it off).
Hair is an excellent absorber of oil and there is a company (Matter of Trust) that is making booms from human and dog hair to be used in the gulf to help clean up the oil spill. Pet safari is doing their part by collecting many needed products; used nylon hose, hair, fur, fleece, and wool. These products soak up oil better than manmade synthetic booms that are currently being used. These natural booms are made out of products that we typically throw away, plus they are better on the environment—and best of all, they are a renewable and sustainable resource. Check out this short video.
June 7, 2010 - AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Be sure to place hair in a sealable plastic bag so it can be easily transported. If you know of other hair salons or grooming salons that would like to help with the cleanup effort, please contact us.
Thank you for your time and effort. We can make a
difference if we work together.
The Crew at Pet Safari
by Alpha Dog on May 20, 2010
Leaps tall building in a single bound
Thanks Robert for sharing your experience with Comfortis
by Robert Westfall
A word of caution on flea medications for your dog. Be sure to do your research on flea preventatives. In late October 2009 we put our 10.4 lb Jack Russel/Chihuahua male dog on a new flea medication called Comfortis. I read the product disclosure included noting the research result trials thinking I would know what side effects to watch for. In late December we noted a pronounced limp of the front right leg on walks and took him to our vet. The resulting xray showed clean joints of the leg and no reason for the limp except perhaps muscle strain. We continued to use Comfortis as well as his heart worm med (ivermectin) Tri Heart as the Comfortis totally controlled his flea situation. By late January his gate was off and he was having problems with both front legs and we returned to our vet for another xray of his spine which showed some compression of his spine between his front legs which was then thought to be the problem but was not considered operable resulting in a steroid script. In February he continued to weaken walking in a drunk like fashion and then in March was unable to stand up. I made the observation that he walked in a fashion like my wife had in her illness of 2007/8, a condition called Ataxia. We then had the realization that his condition had worsened after each application of Comfortis. In researching ataxia on line we found two web sites that contained video of dogs with ataxia research and canine genetic diseases and confirmed that our dog had the same symptons. We then went to and reviewed the Comfortis client information sheet under important safety information finding a reaction to ivermectin resulting in coordination problems but the real issue came when we read the” full product label” post approval experience June 2009 which noted Ataxia as number four in decending order of effects. We with held Comfortis for March after having given our dog this product for the prior four months. In late april he was able to walk but would have his front legs give allowing him to nose dive on his head during a walk. It is now mid May 2010, he is able to stand and walk with an obvious personality change. He still will occaisonally stumble or his legs will give but normal walking gate has returned. We suspect that just as my wife has worked on her ataxia for the last tw0 years daily, our dog is in rehabilitation. Now the point here is had we known what to look for this condition might not have gotten ar far as it did. Lesson learned is to thoroughly research and understand what reactions can occur from any medication and be vigilant. True for humans and dogs.
by Alpha Dog on May 13, 2010
It's all about me!
Some things are “you had to be there” funny, and when retold—not so funny. I’m not sure this story is as funny when written as it was when it happened, but share it I must.
Our three Brussels are our life and we take them on road trips in our motor home frequently. Our oldest Brussels, Peek-a-chu, drove the 12,000 plus miles to Alaska and back while cradled in my arm. She was a puppy at that time and weighed about 3 lbs. Needless to say, when traveling in a 28 ft motor home the living quarters are tight and not much goes unnoticed—inside or outside the motor home. Our dogs are very comfortable in the motor home and we travel as a pack with me as the Alpha dog, or so I tell myself.
Brussels are like savvy 2 year old children—potty trained, fully functional, have a mind of their own, and the world revolves around them, not the other way around. They think nothing of jumping on the dashboard or any other structure tall enough for them to get a good look out of the window. When deemed an emergency, by them not me, they will ascend to the closet window at Superman speed and damn the torpedo’s attitude while going over, through, and on top of whatever gets them to the highest vantage point.
One evening, after a day of driving, we stopped for the night at an RV park. Our friends Jim and Susan joined us for dinner. The dogs were fed and we were enjoying light conversation as night fell. It was one of those parks that seemed private and there were rabbits and various other animals scurrying about trying to find their night lodging. Our dogs were excited and spent a great deal of time on the dashboard watching the night’s activities. They seemed curious and watched closely with only an occasional bark. Before long, a rabbit meandered from the front of the coach to the side where we were enjoying the peace and tranquility of nature. Like opening doors at Wal-Mart on Black Friday, three dogs leap off the dashboard at breakneck speed heading for the table where we’re sitting. I caught Pugzy as she jumped onto the seat and Linda snagged Kiki in mid air, but Peekachu made it through the blockade and landed on the table top making it to the window where she let out a huge bark and simultaneously farted. We all looked at each other; did we just hear and see what we think we saw? Laughter quickly ensued. After joking for several minutes we decided there must be a word for what happened. The natural line of logic brought us to the conclusion that this word should also be in the dictionary:
Bart (bärt) Vulgar. Slang .intr.v. bart•ed, bart•ing, barts 1. The act of barking and farting simultaneously. 2. A harsh, abrupt sound uttered by a dog combined with an audible discharge of intestinal gas.
by Alpha Dog on May 12, 2010
Two more days (Saturday, May 15th, 2010) to register for Pet Photos with Laura Allen Studios at Pet Safari. Click here for location and call 727-443-0993 to reserve your time spot.
This season take the time to share with your loved ones the gift of remembrance with your favorite photos. You can also choose to have your photo’s on Coffee Mugs, Note Pads, Mouse Pads, Calendars and more…
Best Friends
