Customize Your Profile, and Then Buy Pets!
Are you a wolf, a cat, or a bird? Choose which animal you want to be and also pick a habitat. Then, check out all of the other human pets, and buy a few to take care of!

Search for Pets
You can find “human pets” near you, and become real life friends! Or, check out the random profile viewer and meet people from all over the world.

Besides online auctions, chats and blogs, games, discussion boards and classified ads, you can create similar interest groups known as “herds,” and discuss your hobbies with new friends. There’s an online market, so you can go shopping and find new items for your pets. You can even open up your own shop and earn virtual points from sales. We think they can take it even further!!

Let’s See How THEY Like It!

You know how much humans like to dress us up in ridiculous outfits they wouldn’t wear in public themselves? Well, Mittens and I think this Web site provides a great opportunity to turn the tables. After all, turn-about is fair play. You know how my Mom and Dad put me in dog sweaters every once in a while? I just suck it up and have fun with it, because it makes them happy. With this new site, you all have a chance to have your pet stroll the neighborhood streets au natural—naked, nude, like pets are supposed to be. Won’t that be fun!? America, get your cameras ready!

I’m particularly fond of the video with the dog in the swing. She (or he—I really couldn’t tell) seemed to be enjoying it, so I’m thinking of pushing Mom toward the park playground the next time we’re out to see if she’ll push me in a swing. The two salsa-dancing puppies are so cute, I just want to take them home! (Sound familiar?) If you’re like me, when you see stuff like this, it’s hard to wipe the smile off your face for the rest of the day! There’s a lot of other heartwarming dogs vying for your attention on the site, too, so check it out!

1. They wouldn’t give overly long acceptance speeches.

2. They wouldn’t waste huge amounts of money on tuxedos or dog dresses.

3. They would deal better with both victory and defeat.

4. We like them, we really like them.

5. They could get to the stage much more quickly.

6. It makes more sense than Michael Vick getting a “Courage Award.”

7. They’ve been snubbed as a species by the academy for far too long.

8. Their ego and bank accounts don’t require constant feeding — just themselves.

9. Oscar chew toys would be cheaper than statuettes

10. The red carpet is probably cleaned every year anyway.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen top the list of human medications most poisonous to pets.

“The Pet Poison Helpline (1-800-213-6680) offers tips for the prevention of pet poisoning caused by human medications.

Justine A. Lee, DVM, DACVECC, associate director of veterinary services at the helpline, said as far as animal poisonings go, “they are unfortunately very, very common.” The 24-hour helpline is available throughout North America for veterinary professionals and pet owners who need help treating a potentially poisoned pet.

Tens of thousands of phone calls are fielded on human prescription drugs, rat poisons and environmental/home toxins, Lee said. Nearly half the calls involve over-the-counter and prescription medications for humans.”

Below are the top 10 human medications most frequently ingested by pets.

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin) Common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) top the list. The names include ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).
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2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) Even though this drug is safe, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells.
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3. Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro) While occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. One pill can cause serious poisoning.
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4. ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin) Minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.
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5. Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta) About half of the dogs who ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination and slowed breathing in pets.
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6. Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone) Large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, female pets that are intact are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.
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7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace) Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease.
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8. Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg) Small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a slow heart rate.
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9. Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid) Large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.
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10. Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor) Most “statin” ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use. <HOME>

You know us pets. We love “see food.” If we see food, or anything else small and enticing, we eat it, so whatever drops on your floor is fair game. Thanks for thinking of us when you have something potentially dangerous hanging around the house!

Let’s Dig Deeper!

We wonder what they mean by “more open.” Would any of our wonderful cat lovers care to speculate? We have lots of “cat people” in our circle of friends and, if they’re neurotic, they hide it pretty well. We’ve also known a dog lover or two who might need to spend some time in the “Chock Full ‘o Nuts” hotel, and they’re still terrific people. We’re waiting for a study to determine whether cats are more neurotic than dogs. Is your pet neurotic? Do tell!

The Ultimate Dog Bed!

Also on the radar screen this week is our new favorite bed and breakfast! The world’s biggest beagles host overnight guests at the Dog Bark Park Inn. Dog Bark Park is home to Toby and Sweet Willy. Toby is a 12-foot tall beagle statue, and guests enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Some of the dog’s decorative furnishings are carvings by Dog Bark Park chainsaw artists Dennis & Frances. Inside and up another level to the head of the dog is a loft room with additional sleeping space plus a cozy alcove in the muzzle. Hmmm. It must be hard to find dog collars that big. Oddly, their Web site doesn’t say whether dogs are welcome. We’re going to assume that they are, which is as it should be. Watch this video to find out more!

Today, we’re going to have one of our friends here at Max & Mittens explain why she believes dogs are more popular than cats. I can’t wait to hear this. Her name is Susan…

I think I know why dogs have the upper hand in the battle for the hearts of pet lovers. But first, I want to say something about cats. I’ve never really had a cat companion. My husband and I have German shepherds, and we foster German shepherds for our local GSD rescue group.  We’ve talked about getting a cat (my husband had one as a child,) and we think our own dogs would eventually get used to having a cat around, but our fear is that the cat would be traumatized by every new foster we bring into the house.

I also have many cat-loving friends, and it’s given me an opportunity to get  very close to some fabulous cats. Over the holidays,  I visited a friend in California who was keeping her daughter’s rescued cat temporarily.  Stubby (so named because of an unfortunate accident to her right-rear leg when she was a barn cat,) became incredibly attached to me—and I to her. Stubby sat in my lap while I read and slept next to me in bed every night. I realized then that I’ve missed having a cat in my life, and someday, if we ever give up our fostering, I’d love to add a cat to our family. But here’s why I believe dogs prevail over cats in popularity:

AAAAAAAADogs are the only domesticated animals who love and protect their owners.

I know there have been stories from time to time about people or families being saved from fire because the cat woke them up in time, or horses who went to get help when their rider had fallen and was injured, or a fish that saved Pittsburgh. But dogs instinctively protect their human families like no other animal and, unlike cats, their love is enthusiastic and unconditional. Clearly, it’s hard to beat that combination.

For me, it doesn’t matter which pet is more popular. What matters is that we always strive to be responsible pet owners who honor the love and trust our pets—furry and otherwise—place in us, and that we never forget the affection and joy these friends bring to our lives. Rescue. Adopt. Love. Max and Mittens—you BOTH rule!

Today, we’re turning over our forum for an op ed piece by Susan, one of our co-workers, who is an ardent animal lover (two German Shepherds and counting) and a foster Mom for her local German Shepherd rescue organization.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMax & Mittens
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Two New Zealanders have begun what I believe is, on their part, an unwinnable war. Their book, Time to Eat the Dog: the Real Guide to Sustainable Living, contends that the carbon pawprint of our pets is double that of a “gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle,” and we should reconsider our love and care for  the fellow creatures that make our lives complete.

Yahoo! News reports that Robert and Brenda Vale, specialists in sustainable living at Victoria University of Wellington, “analyzed popular brands of pet food and calculated that a medium-sized dog eats around 164 kilos (360 pounds) of meat and 95 kilos of cereal a year.

Combine the land required to generate its food and a “medium” sized dog has an annual footprint of 0.84 hectares (2.07 acres) — around twice the 0.41 hectares required by a 4×4 driving 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) a year, including energy to build the car.”

In their book, the Vales also site dog and cat poo as toxic, “causing high bacterial levels in rivers and streams, making the water unsafe to drink, starving waterways of oxygen and killing aquatic life.”

To this I say, so what? Humans are far more responsible for polluting our planet in an ever-expanding variety of ways. Maybe we should eliminate all the polluting humans, too. Good luck with that. Living in a world without SUVs is eminently doable. Living in a world without our beloved pets would be devastating. As a matter of fact, the Vales go so far as to say that other animals are not good for the environment either. I guess they conveniently forgot that humans are also animals, a fact frighteningly proven every day in newspapers, television, radio and on the Internet every day.

The Vales suggest that, if you must have a pet, get one that’s dual purpose—like a chicken that lays eggs or, as Robert Vale recommends, “Rabbits are good, provided you eat them.” You have got to be kidding me. Clearly, this couple doesn’t get the concept of pets. I feel sorry for any kids they may have, who get a precious bunny they fall in love with, only to wind up chomping away on its lucky rabbit’s foot during Sunday dinner.

As you can imagine, animal rights activists and pet owners are up in arms—but they don’t have to be. The diversity of life—wild, and otherwise—is the very essence of our world. And with the need for unconditional love becoming greater and greater, our pets aren’t going anywhere.

But there is a place Robert and Brenda Vale can go where they’ll be happy, because there will be no loving, cuddly pets or animals there to affect their environment. Not even a rabbit to roast over the fire…

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

When it’s time to hit the road, be sure that everyone travels safely–including your pet.  Gone are the days when you can just put your dog in the back of a pickup truck and hope for the best.  Having your pet on the inside of the car can pose a problem, as well, if your pet is active and all over the place.  With the speed and distractions most drivers face on the road every day, it behooves everyone to use caution when traveling with pets.  According the the American Automobile Association (AAA), an estimated 30,000 accidents occur each year as a result of pet distractions. Surprisingly, it’s #3 on the list–right behind using cellphones and eating while driving.  Not only can your dog be a distraction, but in the event of an accident, he might just become a flying object.  No matter how you look at it, everyone’s safer when pets are secure.  Protecting your pooch should be job #1, and it’s a lot easier to do with the help of these gadgets.

Seat belts for Pets:  Specially made dog leashes keep your dog from moving all over the car.  With a universal clip, it easily attaches to the seat belt of your car.

Booster Seats: If you need more than a seatbelt clip or if your dog is smaller, this may be the solution for you.  Working similar to a baby car seat, these canine booster seats elevate your pet to see out of the window and keeps him or her secure with a clip inside the special seat that attaches to the dog’s collar.  Some of them even come with a car seat cover to keep down dog hair for people passengers.

Back Seat Dog Run:  If your dog likes to move around a lot while in the car, this dog run will help him do it securely.  Keeping him in the back seat (and not all over the car), the trolley attaches between the seat belts or to the dry cleaning clips and gives your dog freedom to move back and forth.  You can even open the doors to the car without worrying about your pet escaping.

Most of these items can be purchased separately, but some car manufacturers like Toyota and Honda now offer them as optional add-ons.  Clearly putting them ahead of the pack, it makes you wonder if Sport Utility Vehicles are now becoming Dog Utility Vehicles.  What a welcome addition to the pet world!