Katz Tales ~ Featured Blogger

Katz Tales features Au, Target and Guido, three Malaysian rescue kitties living in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. Ellen Whyte who is their servant, mummy or pet, depending on who you ask, writes some of the posts. However, as the cats write the most important posts, they will introduce themselves and the blog.

Au: my name is Au. you say dis like "ow ow ow" beckos i haf razor klaws!i am de senior cat of de house and dat makes me de boss. my hobbies are napping, eating rost chikkun, and playing wild games with T-man who is de survunt's mate. i live with two companion katz.Dey are both fur brains but you kan tell dem apart bekos Target is fat and Guido thinks he's going to be Mastur of De Univurse one day.

Target: I am NOT a fur brain! My biggest job is snoopervising Mummy Cat in the office. She says I am her Thinking Cat because rubbing my tummy gives her ideas whenever she's stuck with a problem. I also tap the F1 button to put up the help screen and I put on CAPS LOCK for things that are important. Like breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, snack time, dinner, supper and treat time.And I am not fat. I just have a prosperous bottom.

Guido: I am the junior cat but between you and me I am also the Smartest Kitty of the family. I am studying my pets closely and aim to Dominate. This is a closely guarded Secret so I have no idea how Au found out. If you want to check out my strategy and pick up some tips, check out my Furry Own Column Oh wait! I think I know how Au discovered my Secret...

Our favourite posts: 
Au Speaks Out: Getting De Most Owt Of Your Survunt
Target Speaks: How To Waken Your Human
Thanks! First Cat Spayed Thanks To Katz Tales eBook

Aren't these guys great?  Stop by Katz Tales  today :)

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Chou Chou Adventures ~ New Blogger Alert

Today we are happy to introduce you to Dr. Nancy Kalish and her adorable dog Chou Chou.

I am a psychologist in Sacramento, CA. Until recently, I was a professor at California State University, teaching courses in child and adolescent development, among many others. Since 1994, I have been running a research project to study rekindled romances: couples who reunited after being apart for many years.

And I have a dog who keeps me busy and brings me joy. Chou Chou is a beautiful briard, a French herding dog. They are not common, and when we go out walking, people stop me to ask about her. "What kind of dog is that?" Many people guess: A labradoodle? A wheaten terrier? An old English sheepdog? A bearded collie? A bouvier?

I named her Chou Chou (pronounced shoo shoo), a French term of endearment meaning something like "cutie pie" or "honey." And there is an expression, le chouchou de la prof, which means "teacher's pet" -- and she is!

Cars going by stop in front of us as we play in the yard, and drivers yell out the window, "You have a beautiful dog!" Children and adults alike want to pet her, and she loves the attention and paws at their shoes with her big feet. Some people take her picture, to show their friends what they saw. And when I entered her in the Sacramento Dog Show when she was a year old, she was the only briard; she drew crowds around her, as dog lovers stopped to ask about her breed.

With all this attention and interest, I decided she deserved her own blog. It gives me great pleasure to introduce her breed, and to introduce my puppy to you: the adventures of Chou Chou, a briard girl.

Visit Chou Chou Adventures and tell then Pet Blogs United sent you.

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Merry Christmas

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A Husky Life ~ Featured Blogger

Welcome to A Husky Life! My name is Marta and I share my home with two cats and a dog. I am also very fortunate to work with animals and spend my days doing what I love. My blog has become a space to share about the adventures of my gang, but also to post tips and tricks I've learned along the way while working and living with cats and dogs. I write about health and safety issues, animal rights and each Thursday I post an article or video on dog (and cat!) training.

Let me introduce you to my boys:

Ilyich is a lovely seal point short-hair, he's 8 years old and is the voice of reason and calming energy amongst the three. He is a sweet and loving cat, but at the end of the day he is the top cat. 5 years ago he moved with me across the country to the West Coast where we currently live.

Vasco is a 4 year old Norwegian Forest cat, he is extremely intelligent and full of energy. If not sleeping, he is always up to something. At 8 weeks he was dumped at the pound suffering from URI and he spent 2 months in the sick ward, close to the dog runs. He thinks he's a dog.

Rocco is a happy and energetic 3.5 year old Siberian Husky. In many ways I started this blog because of him - as a place to share my experiences of caring for a special needs dog. Rocco suffers from Canine Epilepsy and has severe allergies to many food products and is deadly allergic to bees. He miraculously survived an anaphylactic shock when he was only 1.5 years old.

Here are 3 of their favorite blog posts:
Traveling With A Special Needs Dog
Deer Adventure
Epilepsy Awareness Month

Stop by A Husky Life and see what they've been up to lately!

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The Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Christmas graphic produced by Pet365 and Dogorama. Click here to view the original post.

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The Online Canine ~ New Blogger Alert

Today you will get to meet Francesca from the Online Canine.

My name is Francesca I am the creator of TheOnlineCanine.blogspot.it. About 4 years ago I had the wonderful chance to meet two, lovely German Shepherd mixes. Both where beautiful high energy dogs, the funniest pair you will ever see. Ever since I had the honor to met them. I desired to have a dog of my own one day of course a German Shepherd. Knowing that dogs are a huge responsibility I waited for the right moment to decide to get my dog Joker in my life.

It was a frosty day in the middle of January when my husband, and I drove to pick Joker up. He was two months at the time, a small bundle of fur. Right when we got back home we realize the small bundle of fur also had a set of sharp knife like teeth. So immediately I started informing myself to make shure I raised Joker the best way possible. Now Joker is almost two, and since then I took a dog training course in Italy which is the start of my studies to become a professional dog trainer, and one day psychologist. Animals have taught me two important things in life Passion, and Patience. Everyone needs to find something they are passionate about to be happy in life.

A person need to have patience to make their dreams come true. As a child, and teenager I never went well in school. The reason why? I didn't knew what I was passionate about! Now that I have found it I know what I want in life. I have become a clicker crazy women, with three clicker crazy cats, and a clicker obsessed dog.

The reason why I created a blog is to share to everyone what I know. I received a lot of help online from lots of dog lovers, and trainers. So I want to give back to the community. I also want to say thanks to these people for sharing their knowledge, and creating passion in people.

Stop by The Online Canine today to welcome them to the wonderful world of blogging!

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The Dog Daily: Seasonal

Top 6 New Year’s Resolutions for Dog Owners

From the Editors of The Dog Daily

While dogs aren’t capable of resolving anything, December 31 is a good time to take stock of ways to help your dog become healthier and happier. Below, Dr. Trisha Joyce of New York City Veterinary Specialists offers suggestions for pet-centric resolutions.
Resolution No. 1: I will take my dog on regular walks.
“It’s a well-being issue in terms of both physical and mental health,” says Joyce. “The biggest health problem dogs have is weight-related, which is helped with exercise. When dogs are acting up, which we could think of as being related to mental health, the first line of advice behaviorists give is to make sure they get lots of exercise. If you think about it, your dog lives the life of a shut-in. It needs the stimulation of daily walks to feel content.”
Resolution No. 2: I will not feed my dog table food.
Commercial dog food is formulated to give dogs all the nutrients they require. Table scraps, however, can cause serious health problems in your pet. “Table food is the No. 1 thing contributing to weight gain in most dogs, and a lot of health issues are associated with it -- from diarrhea to pancreatitis,” explains Joyce.
Resolution No. 3: I will brush my dog’s teeth.
Inflamed and receding gums can occur if teeth are not brushed, causing your pet pain and leading to expensive medical procedures. “Dental health in dogs is generally really poor,” says Joyce. A bit of fluoride just once a week helps stave off teeth extractions or difficult cleaning procedures that require anesthesia -- which can be risky, especially for older dogs.
Resolution No. 4: I will play with my dog.
“Everybody’s so busy, but your pets still need time that’s devoted solely to them. Resolve to play five or 10 minutes a day -- tossing a ball, tugging a rope. The attention makes them feel important and loved,” says Joyce. “Making that effort benefits the owner too: You’re reminded that you have this creature that loves and depends on you.”
Resolution No. 5: I will put an end to my dog’s behavior problems.
Nothing prevents an owner from enjoying his dog like persistent behavior problems. Identify any issues -- from urinating in the house to begging for table food -- that keep you from fully appreciating your pet. Consult with a dog trainer or a training manual on how to eliminate the behavior. “It doesn’t take long to train your dog if you do it consistently. In a couple of weeks, you can train out behaviors you don’t appreciate,” says Joyce.
Resolution No. 6: I will help myself while helping my pet.
While you’re making resolutions that will benefit your dog, why not think about yourself too?

• Guarantee your pet-related financial health by starting a pet savings fund. Stock away a little money each month in case of a pet emergency.
• Get organized. Clean out old, dirty toys that neither you nor your dog enjoy.
• Make sure your dog has adequate ID, either on its collar or in the form of a microchip. If your pup is regularly on the run, this will help reduce your stress levels.
• Do a good deed: Consider taking in a foster dog. Inquire at a local shelter about good matches for your current pet.

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Bob The Cat Brings Salvation ~ Guest Post

Bob The Cat Brings Salvation

The publication of ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’, a book by James Bowen, who has been homeless in London for several years. James and Bob have become a familiar sight for tourists in and around Covent Garden, where they busk for money to keep a roof over their heads. The book tells the story of how Bob came into James’ life at his hour of greatest need, and how their friendship saved the pair of them from a terrible fate. It’s a wonderful, heart-warming tale.

Bob
Bob is no ordinary cat, for sure. He’s so well suited to his lifestyle that he seems almost immune to normal catty fussiness. He’s happy to eat when food is available, rather than constantly asking for more, even when he’s not hungry. He’s sensible about the weather too, and happily wears the little woollen scarfs that James is given for him. He doesn’t fuss, or mew or scratch. He sits happily on James’ shoulder, or on the guitar slung around his neck. There is a stillness to Bob which is quite unlike any other cat you will have met. James says that he enjoys the attention he gets from passers- by and knows what a camera is. But there’s no showboating from Bob. He’s quiet and peaceful, and very gentle with anyone who wants to stroke him.

A Strange Meeting
James was in a terrible state when he first met Bob. Suffering from mental health problems, and thrown out by his family, he had become homeless and moved from the streets to hostels trying to find a way of living that wasn’t so painful. Being rejected by his family at a young age caused untold pain, and before long James – surrounded by drug addicts – became hooked on heroin in an effort to blank out the hurt and keep the cold away. He became terribly ill, thin and unkempt. He found himself living in a flat in Tottenham, and it was here that he opened to door one morning to find Bob. The dirty, scruffy stray was injured and pleading for help. A nasty infected wound needed urgent attention if he was to survive, and James quickly took control of the situation. He immediately took Bob to an animal rescue centre to get antibiotics and nursed him back to full health. Their relationship, forged when they both faced terrible difficulties, probably saved both their lives.

Work
When it was time for James to go back to making a living as a street musician, or selling The Big Issue magazine for the homeless, he noticed that Bob refused to be left in the flat. Bob determinedly followed James to the streets, and patiently sat guarding his bag while he played. Bob always got excited when he knew they were going to work, and soon they were a familiar sight around London. Bob genuinely didn’t mind being stroked by cat loving Londoners and was happy as long as James was with him. If he got tired he climbed on to James’ shoulders for a ride. James was still very ill with his drug addiction, thin and undernourished. But with Bob’s help he began to turn his life around.

Recovery
James finally managed to kick his heroin habit, which was a tremendous achievement. He has said, “Bob needed me more than I needed to hurt my body”. With the help of friends he began to join the world more fully, and got treatment for his mental health problems. Bob was with him the whole way, and James’ pride in his little cat shines through. He knows Bob is a lifesaver. Earlier this year a literary agent, who passed by James and Bob every day, asked if the pair would like to write a book about their story. James accepted the offer and has been transformed by the support he has received. Telling his story seems to have lifted a weight from him and he now appears fit and healthy. Given a boost by being thrust into the media spot light, James is now well-dressed and finally looks like he’s has some proper healthy food. Bob too seems to have been washed and brushed ready for television interviews and book signings. He’s looking very healthy, but has not let fame go to his head. He patiently sits on the desk during book signings and ‘high fives’ people who ask. He still wears a little scarf and is as happy in the sunshine meeting tourists as he is in front of a TV camera. Fame has not changed him.

The Future
It’s been suggested to James that a film may be made of his story, after the success of the book. He’s not looking too far ahead. James is sensible about the money that he will get from the book, and simply hopes he can ‘make his flat nicer’ and perhaps not have to work seven days a week. He also, rather touchingly, says that he wants to be able to afford pet health insurance for Bob, in case something went wrong. He says he’s been unable to afford it up to now, and doesn’t know how he managed if Bob became ill. Hopefully, with the help if the RSPCA animal charity, Bob would not suffer too much if he fell ill, but insuring Bob’s continued health and happiness is James’ priority. He’d rather take personal responsibility than rely on handouts for his pet.

James is an intelligent, gentle soul who has pulled himself up from the depths of suffering and despair, with the help of his pet. He’s talking of Bob becoming a Care in the Community pet, who visits the sick and disabled. He shyly wonders if he might ‘get some training’ in order to work helping others in distress. Bob is the centre of attention, but without James’ kindness and selflessness this would not be the happy story it is. He reminds us of the goodness in people we might just pass by on the street every day. It’s a salutary lesson that it took a ginger cat to shine a spotlight on this worthy young man.

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EzyDog Element Jacket Review

We are lucky enough to be sponsored by EzyDog & that means that Oskar gets to try many of their fantastic products.

Today we're going to tell you about the EzyDog Element Jacket.

Built for Action with Fit and Function. The redesigned Element Jacket brings back its' popular fit with added features.

The Wind and Shower Proof Shell is made from 600 Denier Material with Oxford panels. It is lined with a Non-Pilling Fleece for Comfort and Warmth.

It features a Quick-Fit Neo-Xpand™ neckline making it Easy to Put On.

Cam Lock Sider Release Buckles with Elastic Straps are incorporated to adjust once for a for a perfect fit.

Attaching a leash to a harness or collar is so simple with the Water Proof Access Zipper. The side panels have Light Reflective Piping for safety on those late night or early morning treks.

Ezy to fit, Ezy to wear, Ezy to see - ready for the elements!

The Element Jacket is much easier to put on Oskar than coats with Velcro closings and the the Cam Lock slider release buckles made fitting it to just his size a breeze.

Another bonus the Element Jacket has that we found nice was that there are no arm holes to try & force his legs through.

We give the Element Jacket an A+.

Don't forget that for a 10% discount on your EzyDog.com order enter the coupon code EZYPBU.

We also wanted to mention that EzyDog has a pawsome new Zero Shock Leash.

The Zero Shock Leash™ has been designed using Zero Shock Technology—a shock absorbing component that drastically reduces strain and pull on the dog and the owner.

These are just a couple of products that make EzyDog stand head and tails above their competitors.

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Santa Paws Naughty List

Just a quick note to tell you to check out The Daily Oskar today.  I've actually gotten a hold of Santa Paws' naughty list!

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My Pet Python ~ New Blogger Alert

Today we get to introduce you to someone fun & different than what we usually feature, a blog called My Pet Python.

Hi there! My name is Elise. I created a website devoted to tracking the life of my three-year-old ball python, Havana.

I created my blog because I think that snakes as pets are under-rated. I've found that this is usually for a bunch of reasons. First, most people seem to be incredibly afraid of them because they think they're going to bite or even eat them. Second, they're not fluffy or furry like dogs, cats, and hamsters, so people think they're less fun to hold. Third, people just don't realize how gosh-darn cute they are!

Through my blog I hope to convert just a few more people to believing that snakes are incredible pets. These soft, pearl-eyed creatures are probably the most low-maintenance, pleasant-company critters you can find!

Let's show Havana & Elise that pythons are just as welcome to pet blogging as dogs and cats are!  Stop by My Pet Python to say howdy.

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Pilot's Story ~ Iams Home 4 The Holidays

Once again we want to thank you to Helen Woodward Animal Center for sharing this wonderful story of pet adoption from their Most Heartwarming Story Contest. It was submitted by Second Chance Animal Rescue Foundation, an Iams Home 4 the Holidays participating organization, in 2009.

Pilot is a beautiful GSD mix whose person abandoned him in a rural area. He was found by the sheriff, who brought him to one of the Second Chance Animal Rescue Foundation volunteers. Pilot’s foster mom took good care of him; he got lots of good food, he had comfortable shelter, and as much attention as one person could give him. He was happy to be well cared for, but he was eagerly awaiting the love of his forever family. In December, thanks to publicity from the Iams Home 4 the Holidays program, SCARF received an application to adopt Pilot from his perfect family, and we brought him to the adoption fair at the Wag-n-Wash store in Colorado Springs. This is how his new forever mom tells the rest of his story:

"After losing our beloved dog to cancer in 2007, we thought that we would never be able to open our hearts to another dog. It took over two years, but suddenly I felt drawn to the photo listings of the local rescues and shelters, most especially to the pictures of a German shepherd mix named Pilot. Somehow I felt as if I already knew him and could not wait to actually meet him. That day finally came on December 19, 2009, at a local adoption fair. I got to be the person who greeted Pilot as he came out of the transport van. He jumped up and literally hugged me with his front paws.

“Adoption has special meaning to our family as two of our five children are also adopted. Pilot is now a permanent family member and loves his new home. All of our children, ages 3 to 14, greeted Pilot with open arms and excitement. Pilot has adopted us as his new family as well and never leaves my side. For the first several nights, Pilot would sneak over to my side of the bed in the middle of the night. He would use his nose to dig through the blankets to find me. Once he determined that I was still there, he wagged contently and went back to sleep.

“After about a week, Pilot settled in and realized that he was finally ‘home’. He is still learning the manners of indoor life and figuring out that it is not his job to clear the dinner table each night! But he is such an eager learner and tries so hard to please. I have never known an animal who craved cuddle time, but Pilot loves nothing better than to lie in our laps and be hugged. We have decided that he is a real living, breathing teddy bear on four legs.”

Iams Home 4 the Holidays is an annual pet-adoption campaign dedicated to helping place orphaned pets into happy, loving homes. Started in 1999 by Helen Woodward Animal Center (in partnership with Iams) this is the campaign’s 14th year. Working with thousands of participating shelters and rescue organizations from around the world, the campaign has helped more than 7 million pets find loving homes. The pet adoption drive began on October 1 and runs through January 2, 2013.

To learn about how you can help get more pets adopted during Iams Home 4 the Holidays, visit www.Facebook.com/Iams and www.Facebook.com/helenwoodwardanimalcenter.

We'd like to thank Iams and the Helen Woodward Animal Center for providing the stories about these 3 great dogs that we've featured over the past few weeks.

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Holiday Happenings Winners

Holiday Happenings is one of our favorite events of the year.  We want to extend a grateful thank all of our amazing sponsors and announce the winners of the prizes.

My Memories ~ Heart Print Pets
PetHub ~ Pauley James, CstironKat, Haopee, Nola, JPursell.
Sleeping With The Beast ~ Collie222
Pet Mate Deluxe Pet Fountain from Petco ~ Mr. Pip
CatCam ~ Penelope The Cat From Hell, The Cat Guy
Purrs Of Wisdom ~ Ryker Boyz & Allie
Design A Collar ~ Uji, Izzy, Ziggy & Missi
Iams Cat Prize Pack ~ Cherry City Kitties
Iams Dog Prize Pack ~ Team Beaglebratz
Soggy Doggy Doormat ~ Idaho Pug Ranch
Triple T Studios ~ Ann Paws
A Pet's Life ~ Loveable Lily, Catalina, Val
Friends With Pets ~ Corbin

We have contacted all of our winners, but if you are on the list & you haven't heard from us, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Thank you all for being a part of the Pet Blogs United Community.  We can't wait to see what happens next year!

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Sparhawk Scotties ~ Featured Blogger

This week we are featuring the crew from Sparhawk Spotties in our spotlight

Sparhawk Scottie Dogs is a blog about my 3 Scotties. Unfortunately my beloved Gus passed away on 4th July 2012 aged 13yrs & 5 months, but he remains larger than life within our blog. His wonderful brothers, Bobby & Finlay, (9 ½yrs) remain at the helm trying their very best to continue to bring joy to blogsville - they think they do all the writing ….. so lets not spoil the illusion!

Bobby & Fin try to post most days, and usually its about the morning walks they’ve been on and how much they’ve had to hang around whilst I look at wildlife. You can see Bobby & Gus very much in tune with each other as they practice their synchronized morning ablutions. After the walks, its usually a half bath to clean those muddy feet and undercarriages. They absolutely adore this and will pace around the house “herding” me until they’ve had their baths. Finlay always has to go first, followed by Gus, and then I have to hunt around for Bobby as he’s not so keen. You can see how much they love being wrapped up after their half baths!

We used to holiday in Scotland several times a year and the boys (and girls at that time) came along too. This picture of Bobby, at rest, with his “saddle bag” on (he carries the ‘poo’ - yes he loves his job!) is one of my favourite and I often use it for gravatars and such like.

However, another wonderful photo of Bobby was taken quite by accident - he loves to sleep under the settee; so when he was moving around under there, my husband popped the camera under and took this shot - we think its fabulous!

I was fortunate enough to retire at an early age from work 5 years ago and am able to spend practically all my time with my Scotties. I’ve started drawing scotties in Charcoal, but I’m still a novice, it’s extremely therapeutic and it gets me out of doing the housework!

I’ve only been blogging for a couple of years and the doggie/blogging friends we’ve made are marvelous  They are so warm-hearted, friendly, helpful and supportive. Never a growl, snarl or bite, they just want to share funny and exciting snippets with you. So thank you Pam and Oskar for all your endeavours trying to bring more of us together!

Our three favourite posts:
Tuesday Tantrum
Wound-up on Wednesday!
That is NOT my Name 

Stop by & say hi to Bobby & Finlay at Sparhawk Scotties & tell 'em Oskar sent you.

If you would like to have your pet blog featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

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