BlogForPups

“Will you take me home?”

~Sparky, 9 months old, Pit Bull Mix

WHS’s Adoptable Dog of the Month

“[This] handsome guy is Sparky, a nine month old pit bull mix.  He is young, energetic and  very good natured and is looking for a home that can give him lots of things to do and really wants to make him a part of the family.”

~ Jess Townsend
Shelter Coordinator
The Washington Humane Society

Update on Fanta, another adoptable pup:

“Fanta has headed out to foster care and while she is still looking for a home, she gets to hang out in a foster home.”

Know anyone who might love these pups? Please contact Jess Townsend at the following:
Tel. 202-723-5730 x136
www.washhumane.org

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

Photo from DogTime.com

Former NFL player Michael Vick has been released from prison this week.  The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback was serving his federal sentence for dogfighting and animal cruelty, crimes which attracted media attention and angered animal lovers.

I caught a couple of episodes of Dogtown on the National Geographic Channel when they featured some of the Michael Vick dogs being rehabilitated at a Best Friends Sanctuary.  I was very shocked at how these Pitbulls were treated–one female champion had no teeth, evidently professionally extracted by a vet.  They also found “rape stands” at the dogfighting sites, devices that tie down females.  Removing the female dog’s teeth and using rape stands were practiced so that the dog owners can force the females to mate with other pitbulls without attacking them.

I live in the state of Virginia, where these fighting rings were located, and I have to say this was greatly embarrassing for my home state.

For further information about this topic, please visit the following webpages:

DogTime.com Blog

NFL News

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

Did you know that close to half of pets over 10 years old die of cancer?  Every responsible owner should keep a close eye on their furry friend for early warning signs of this disease that affect many humans as well.

In addition to taking your dog to the vet for annual checkups, always check for the following:

• A growing lump or sore that doesn’t heal
• Discharge or bleeding from any body opening
• Weight loss despite normal appetite and activity
• Chronic vomiting or diarrhea
• Going more than a day or two without eating
• Demonstrating an unusually excessive appetite
• Over-consumption of water, followed by frequent urination
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Any unusually bad smell coming from your pup
• Tiring easily and unwillingness to exercise
• Swollen lymph nodes (most easy detected behind the jaw or knee)
• Swollen belly
• Dry coughing (in older pets, this is the most common sign of lung cancer)
• Lameness (especially in large breeds, this may be a sign of bone cancer)
• Difficulty and blood with urinating
• Oral odor, change in food preference or chewing habits (may be caused by an oral tumor)

Any or a combination of these signs should prompt you to visit your veterinarian.

Sources:

VPI Pet Insurance Health Zone

Animal Cancer Foundation

In the News: FDA Approves First Canine Cancer Drug

Pfizer Animal Health estimates 1.2 million families have pets diagnosed with cancer each year.  Fortunately, we live in a an era of advanced veterinary medicine.  In June 2009 the U.S. Federal Drug Administration approved the very first cancer drug specifically designed to treat dogs. The drug is called Palladia and starting in 2010 it may offer some canine cancer patients another chance at life.

“This cancer drug approval for dogs is an important step forward for veterinary medicine,” Bernadette Dunham, director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. “Prior to this approval, veterinarians had to rely on human oncology drugs without knowledge of how safe or effective they would be for dogs,” she explained.

Palladia was made, tested and approved for use in dogs with potentially serious mast cell tumors, often seen as skin lumps, which can spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body if left untreated. This type of cancer accounts for about 20 percent of canine skin tumors. The drug works by cutting off the tumors’ blood supply and killing tumor cells.

The results are compelling. In clinical trials, skin tumors disappeared, shrunk or stopped growing altogether in 60 percent of dogs that were treated with Palladia. But not everybody is raving about the news. Jim Edwards of industry news website BNet Pharma warns that “Palladia can shrink tumors, but only until they start growing again. In fact, dogs with systemic tumors were excluded from the study.” He also sites side effects such as diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, lameness and weight loss as reasons to reconsider treatment. The drug “may extend your dog’s life,” says Edwards. But points out that it can also “potentially put a lot of dogs through some unnecessary pain.”

Palladia presents the first pup-approved choice for cancer treatment, and that’s big progress. Prescribed in conjunction with other therapies and of course, love, it may be the right fit for some dogs with cancer. Luckily, many vets won’t need to wait until next year to start using Palladia. The drug is available to certain veterinary oncology specialists before the early-2010 release date.

Article Source: Woof Report

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

We have select, handcrafted dog bandannas that have USA pride themes.

Order now from eBay to receive them before the holiday!

Things4Pups on eBay

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

I realize I’m a little late in discovering this piece of news, but it just tickled me happy that I just had to share with others who have not heard of this.

We’ve all seen all kinds of animal odd couples, but these two are such great friends they’ve even landed a spot on the Oprah Winfrey show!

Suryia the orangutan and Roscoe the Bluetick Coonhound met in a sanctuary for endangered animals two years ago in South Carolina.

Roscoe was an underfed stray, but Suryia quickly took him under his wing.

Dr. Bhagavan Antle, founder of The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (TIGERS) in Myrtle Beach, told the Daily Mail that Roscoe followed him and Suryia through the park’s gate one day. As soon as he saw Roscoe, Suryia ran over to him and they started playing,” Antle said “It was unusual because dogs are usually scared of primates; but they took to each other straight away.”

After a few unsuccessful phone calls to find an owner, Antle said they decided to let Roscoe stay.

Now the the pair have a ball frolicking around the park. “They will spend a few hours each day together rolling around, swimming,” Antle said. “Suryia will take Roscoe for walks around the enclosure and even feeds him some of his monkey biscuits.”

~ABC News

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

This month ThingsForPups donated over 100 lbs. of dog biscuits to the Washington Humane Society.

Since undergoing store renovation, some of our inventory were due to “expire” (the packages were marked with “Best Before” dates) so we could no longer keep them for sale.  These dog biscuits were stored in a cool, dry place and we just could not bear to think of completely disposing them!  Instead, we contacted the Washington Humane Society and asked if they could use them. They were more than happy to accept them:

“Thank you so much for the abundance of dog treats, we were so excited to get them.  I wanted to let you know that we did receive them yesterday…They will certainly go to good use!”

~ Kathy Vellenga, Shelter Director
Washington Humane Society
7319 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC  20012

ThingsForPups donated both Newman’s Own Organics Dog Biscuits and Old Mother Hubbard All Natural Dog Treats in different flavors.  We hope these treats will not only help in the shelter dogs’ nourishment but also their training and overall well-being.

For more information about the Washington Humane Society including their programs, available animals, adoption events and blog, visit their website at:

http://washhumane.org/

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

Almost like Dorothy and Toto:

Wind-tossed chihuahua found safe; owners credit psychic

Candice Williams and Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Waterford Township — Two days after Tinker Bell, a six-pound chihuahua, blew away in high winds at the Dixieland Flea Market, her owners found her safe and sound about three-quarters of a mile away. The Rochester couple credits a pet psychic for the discovery.

“We were shocked when we found her,” said Dorothy Utley, 72, Tinker Bell’s mother. “You don’t know how happy we were. We love her so much.”

More than 50 volunteers helped Utley and her husband, Lavern, search for their dog, who blew away in 70 mph per hour winds Saturday. After speaking with a pet psychic from Holly, Utley said she and her husband headed to a wooded field on the opposite side of Dixie Highway. There, they found Tinker Bell. The black and brown long-haired dog was very dirty and hungry.

“That dog was so happy,” Utley said. “She just went wild. She was so hungry and we had to bathe her.”

Market Manager Joe Goldberg said the whole event was phenomenal.

“It seems like (the dog) is her whole life,” he said of Utley.

Source: The Detroit News

I have three small dogs but I think they are too fat to be blown away by the wind!

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

Of course everyone’s talking about it. As usual, people are either pleased that the First Family has made the choice to get a dog, or dissapointed that they didn’t get a “real shelter dog”.

I am personally a little bothered that they chose this puppy over one that is more desperate for a home, but relieved that at least this particular dog  needed a new home anyway. Still–I think about all those poor doggies at the DC shelters, and wish that the First Family had set an example and gotten one from there.

On the brighter side of things, I just love this photo of the President running with the new pup! It is a great reminder of how much joy dogs bring into our lives, and makes me wanna grab the leash and go for a run with my pooch!

Source: The White House Blog

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

Hi everyone,

ThingsForPups is still under website renovation, but due to the upcoming holiday we’ve put up our cute St. Patrick’s Day Dog Scarfs up on eBay.  They are ON SALE and are available for immediate purchase!  There are only TWO WEEKS LEFT before St. Patty’s Day and sizes are limited, so be sure to get your pup one now!

Green Shamrock St. Patrick's Day Dog Bandanna, Over-the-Collar Style

Black Shamrock St. Patrick's Day Dog Bandanna, Over-the-Collar Style

Problems with the links to our eBay items above? Copy and paste this URL to your web browser:

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/streamline44_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

Questions?  E-mail us at support@thingsforpups.com.

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post 

If you are trying to get to www.ThingsForPups.com and landed on this page, it’s because our store is currently under renovation.

We have decided to switch over to another website–our store will have a new look!

We hope to have the new store up and running ASAP. In the meantime, please explore our blog and leave comments. We always like to hear from our customers and fellow pup lovers!

Thank you and visit us again soon,

Bea
Owner, ThingsForPups.com
support@thingsforpups.com

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post  Reddit This Post  Stumble This Post