From left: Rubi tries to convince Mugen to come down from his perch.
From left: Mugen and Rubi make a peace treaty over a game of fooseball.
From left: Camry, Rubi, Me and Maggie (A Mommy and Me shot)
This past weekend two of my best friends from college came to visit me. It was so great to see them, and we had a blast catching up. My friend Camry brought her dog, an adorable Boxer mix named Rubi, along with her. It was my first time meeting Rubi, and I was a little nervous about how she and my dog Maggie would get along. All of my worries were for nothing. They were best buddies right away! We took them to the Garth Nature Area dog park in Columbia on Saturday morning. They had a good time running around, playing in the water and meeting some new friends. The pups spent the night at my boyfriend's house. He took Rubi to the creek at his family's farm where she splashed around and chased leaves. Although Maggie and Rubi became fast friends, our cat Mugen wasn't too thrilled about the weekend visitor at first. He got all puffed up and kept his distance for most of the weekend.
Arguably, the biggest pet news in mid-Missouri this week was the completion of the Zootoo.com "Million Dollar Makeover" at the Central Missouri Humane Society (CMHS). On Tuesday, staff and volunteers began moving the shelter's animals into their new digs. The CMHS hasn't gotten any larger, but the animals now have improved amenities such as living areas for cats with separate sleeping, eating and litter-box spaces, larger cages and solid glass panels on kennels instead of chain link. Large windows have turned formerly dim rooms into sun drenched retreats. Another highlight is the new, non-circulating air filtration system. It brings in fresh air from the outside into the dog kennels.
I couldn't be happier to hear that the renovations are complete. The project started out kind of rocky, but ultimately it seems to have been a huge success. All of the wonderful dogs and cats at the facility deserve a great place to live while they wait for their forever families. A big thanks to Amanda Huhman and Libby Burk, the two Columbia teens that rallied the City together to win this spectacular makeover!
If you want to get a virtual tour of the new facility check out the videos on CMHS's Youtube channel.
Looking to adopt? For a limited time, dog adoptions are $75 and puppies are $100 at CMHS.
My miniature pinscher, Maggie, only weighs about 11 pounds. I am not sure of her exact height, but its got to be no more than 12 inches. However, Maggie doesn't know this. As far as she's concerned, she's a 180 pound St. Bernard with the intimidation factor of a Rottweiler. If a big dog challenges her, she will not back down. She's bold, brave and confident in her ability to take on any pooch.
This is the attitude of the small, local pet stores in Columbia in regards to the recent addition of mega pet speciality store PetSmart to the City's pet supply scene. An article in today's Saturday Business section of the Columbia Tribune reveals that the proprietors of shops such as Mexico Finns and Feathers, Noah's Pets and More, Columbia Pet Center, Lizzi & Rocco’s Natural Pet Market and Award Pet Supply are not concerned about losing sales to the retail giant. The consensus is that customers will remain loyal to local pet stores because they offer personalized service and niche products. Before PetSmart's arrival, PetCo was the largest store in town for pet supplies. PetCo has more than 100 stores nationwide. PetSmart has 1,160 stores in North America and reported 2009 net sales of $5.9 billion. In the article, PetCo's manager expressed concern about the new competition because their stock is so similar. Not to mention that the stores are located less than half a mile apart.
This article made me happy. When I first read that PetSmart was coming to Columbia, I immediately feared for the locally owned shops. The idea of big business taking over is always a little disheartening for me. Plus, the local shops have such great partnerships with the local animal shelters and rescues. It was encouraging to hear that PetSmart's employees refer customers to local stores that have products that PetSmart doesn't carry. My hope is that PetSmart will blend into the awesome pet scene in Columbia and give back to the town rather than take away. I love that the local pet store owners have such a tenacious spirit like my little min pin and aren't backing down to the big dogs!
Do you prefer to shop at local pet stores or national retailers? How do you think the arrival of PetSmart will effect local business?
My dog Maggie, like most dogs I would assume, loves food. She gobbles up her two meals a day in record time. She's even brave enough to attempt to eat our cat's food if he's not smart enough to be finished before her. At human meal time she is never aggressive about begging. Instead, she puts on the charm by gazing at us longingly with her big brown eyes (we only very rarely give in by the way!). However, on occasion, Maggie will stop eating her food. We serve it to her, she sniffs it, and then walks away as if she has no interest. The food will sit out all day before she begrudgingly begins to nibble at it.
My boyfriend and I always assume she is just tired of eating the same type of food and we change it out. This usually works, but during her latest spell as a picky eater, she wasn't satisfied with me just giving her a new dry food. It wasn't until I started mixing it with some canned food that she resumed her regular eating habits. Yesterday, I served just dry food again, and she was fine with it. I am not sure what prompts her random food mood swings, but I don't mind catering to her sophisticated palette.
What is your pet's favorite food? Does your pet have any strange eating habits? Where are the best places in Mid-Missouri to get pet food?
Summer is officially here! Yesterday, the heat index reached 105. It is supposed to be more of the same today. I am not complaining though. I would take the heat ANYDAY over cold and snow. The only problem I have with the heat is the effect it has on my Miniature Pinscher. Even though she has very short hair, it is black and soaks up the heat like a sponge. Whenever I take her out for a car ride or a walk on hot days, her tongue is practically falling out of her mouth. The Columbia Missourian did a nice piece yesterday on how dogs are keeping cool in Columbia. My min pin doesn't like to swim, so a trip to the dog lake won't do her much good. She prefers a cold bowl of water and some AC. A co-worker of mine told me that she tried to get her dogs, who love to swim, to get into an inflatable pool in the backyard, but they wouldn't. She figured it reminds them too much of the bathtub!
Yesterday, I gave my boyfriend his Father's Day gift. We don't have any human children, but we consider our dog and cat to be our kids for now. For Mother's Day, he surprised me with a diamond heart pendant to go on the white gold chain that he gave me last Christmas. For his Father's Day gift, I gave him a couple of gift cards, some of his favorite candy and a card. I know that having pets doesn't truly compare to having children, but I am enjoying this tradition that we started. It is fun to celebrate all the joy that Maggie and Mugen bring to our lives. I feel very lucky to have been blessed with them!
Last weekend my boyfriend and I went to Art in the Park in Columbia. The annual art festival is one of my favorite Columbia events only edged out by the spectacular T/F Film Festival. Besides getting the opportunity to see the work of artists from all over the country at my favorite park in the city, I love being able to take our miniature pinscher along. Tons of other people bring their dogs too. It is fun to see all of the different breeds. Anyway, one of the artists that caught my eye was Miriam Krone. Her booth was filled with adorable paintings of people's pets. Krone said that I could email her a photo of my pets and she would commission a portrait of them for $25. What a steal!
I've never gotten my pets' portrait painted (say that three times fast!) before, but I love taking photos of them. I even took my Maggie (the min pin) to get her picture taken with Santa Claus at Treats Unleashed. I got the photo printed on a Christmas ornament as a keepsake. On another occasion, one of our friends who is an excellent amateur photographer took some cute photos of Maggie dressed in a blue bandanna. We take photos of Mugen (the cat) too, but as all cat lovers should understand, it has to be on his time and by his rules!
There are a few places in Mid-Missouri where you can go to get professional photos or paintings done of your pet. They are a great way to create memories of your pet that will be cherished forever.
Here are some of the places I could find:
Lizzi & Rocco's Natural Pet Market
June 20 - Rocco's All-American BBQ with pet photos
Extended Sunday hours 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Pet photos benefit Central Missouri Humane Society and Columbia Second Chance
$10 for one (1) 5x7" and four (4) wallets http://www.lizziandroccos.com/
School's out for summer! Those are probably the most beautiful four words in the English language for any teacher or young student. As a kid, I loved to spend my summer vacation at the local library stocking up on bags and bags of books that I would read every chance I got. Even though I preferred curling up with a book to playing outside, I doubt that is what most kids have on their mind for the next three months. However, most students are probably being sent home with a summer reading list of some kind. I even had a summer reading assignment from MU before my freshman year. The City of Columbia involves the whole community in summer reading through their One Read program.
Now, our canine friends can join in on the fun. The Daniel Boone Regional Library hosts "Reading to Rover" and "Reading to Fido" programs a couple times a month. The next one is Monday, June 14. Parents with kids kindergarten age or older can bring their little ones to the library to read to a dog from Ann Gafke's Teacher's Pet Therapy Dogs. All the dogs are certified with Therapy Dogs International and a handler oversees the event. Not only does this sound incredibly cute, but it also helps to improve childrens' literary skills.
If you want to go...
Reading to Rover
Monday, June 14, 2010, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Columbia Public Library, Program Room, Children's Area
Happy Friday! Is there any better day of the week? I think not. I started off my Friday morning with my usual morning ritual of checking emails and, as usual when checking in on my Yahoo! account, I got distracted by one of their articles. Today's attention grabber was about the 10 things that Americans can't live without despite the poor economic times. I am not sure if it is in any particular order, but pets were the eighth item on the list:
Fido sits at the table these days. Maybe even at the head of the table. While Americans have cut spending on themselves, spending on pet food, supplies, grooming, vet care and clothing (clothing?) has been rising uninterrupted by about 5 percent per year. Industry officials attribute this to the "humanization" of pets, which in turn has led many pet owners to close the "quality of life gap" between their animals and themselves. The iWoof can't be far behind.
Even though I couldn't imagine life without my dog and cat this surprised me. I've heard so many stories about animal shelters filling up with beloved pets that had to be given up due to hard times. It's difficult for me to imagine how bad it would have to get for me to get rid of a member of my family. So, it made me happy to see that many Americans feel the same way that I do and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their pets at home.
Here are some local pet-related events happening this weekend. Check them out!
Friday, May 21
Big Muddy Dock Dogs Free Training Seminar, Columbia Second Chance (24687 Highway 179 near Wooldridge), 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., a free training seminar on dock diving, dogs jumping off a dock into water to retrieve a floating toy.
Saturday, May 22:
Mid-America Harley Davidson Battle of the Bands Round 1, 5704 Freedom Drive, Columbia, Mo. (off of Lake of the Woods, I-70 exit), noon to 4 p.m. PROCEEDS OF ALL BALLOT SALES BENEFIT SECOND CHANCE.
Subway Community Night Fundraiser, Subway on Conley Rd in Columbia, Mo., 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 15 PERCENT OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO SECOND CHANCE.
Big Muddy Dock Dogs Free Training Seminar, Columbia Second Chance (24687 Highway 179 near Wooldridge), 9:00 a.m. registration with training at 9:30 a.m., a free training seminar on dock diving, dogs jumping off a dock into water to retrieve a floating toy.
I am on my way to bed after a day of not feeling well. But, I wanted to update about something cute that I came across this weekend. If you are a wine aficionado as well as a pet lover than this is the purrfect thing for you! Bark Vineyards sells "fine wine for the canine and feline." They have five different varietals: Pinot Leasheo, White Sniff-n-Tail, Barkundy, Sauvignon Bark, Meowlot. All of the "wines" are made out of human grade materials. For instance, the White Sniff-n-Tail consists of water, dehydrated sweet potato, dehydrated apple, salmon powder, malic acid and xanthan gum. On their Web site, the makers of this treat suggest pouring it over your dog's food. From the photos that I've seen it, has the consistency and look of a gravy or a soup. This weekend they were giving out free samples of the animal-friendly beverage at Lizzi and Rocco's Natural Pet Market in Columbia as part of the Inside Columbia magazine Sip and Shop event.
I am all for spoiling my cat and dog, but at $12.99 for .375 ml and $19.99 for 750 ml this innovative product is a bit too pricey for me. You could probably find a recipe online and make something like this for half the price. However, I do think it is adorable even though the coolness of it will most likely be lost on your pet!
Would you purchase this wine for your pet? What is the craziest thing you have ever done to pamper your pet?
Save a life, adopt a shelter animal! It is also important to spay and neuter your pets.
Hello! It's been awhile since I've updated, but I am ready to get back into the swing of things. Since my last post, my boyfriend and I were able to get our foster cat, Miss Kitty, into the adoption program at Columbia Second Chance. Prior to that, we found out she was pregnant and ended up getting her spayed. It's a difficult decision to terminate life, but there are so many stray cats and dogs that it was the best decision. The vet who spayed her is Greg Steck of Centertown, Mo. He is an excellent doctor that does great work for reasonable prices. The folks at Second Chance are amazing, and I think they fell in love with Miss Kitty as quickly as we did! I would recommend going to their Web site and checking out their adoptable dogs and cats. Save a life!
There is also a local organization called SNAP (Spay, Neuter and Protect) that was created by Second Chance volunteers. Their mission is to reduce the feral cat population in Columbia, MO, using a humane spay and neuter TNR program strategy that protects the public health while providing public education about the need to spay and neuter pets.
In local news, the much anticipated renovation of the Central Missouri Humane Society started this week. The CMHS won the "One Million Dollar" makeover ZooToo.com competition last spring. Since the big win, there has been some controversy over ZooToo's ability to pay for the shelter makeover. Richard Thompson, CEO of Zootoo.com and former chief executive for Meow Mix, refused to answer any financial questions at Tuesday's ribbon cutting. The shelter's adoptable dogs and cats will be housed in a temporary facitlity, the former Mid-City Lumber facility at 2105 Paris Road- for more than a month while construction takes place. Despite the problems that have clouded this renovation, I am excited that is is finally underway and excited to see the final product. There is no doubt that all of the animals and the hard-working CMHS staff and volunteers deserve this!
What are you thoughts on the CMHS renovation? Are you leery of ZooToo.com's financial stability?
Today was my first day back to work after a wonderful four day weekend. Being back at work made me think about how much I would love to have an animal-related job someday. My dream job would be a full-time pet blogger and/or a writer for a magazine such as Cat Fancy or Modern Dog. I also have an interest in animal psychology, something like The Dog Whisperer. There are several places in Mid-Missouri to pursue a dream animal-related careers.
Here are some of my top picks:
Treats Unleashed (Columbia)
This dog bakery offers a daily assortment of freshly baked treats like cakes, cookies and candies that are safe for pets. If you have a love for food and pets what could be better than creating delicious treats for animals everyday? I think this job would allow for a lot of creativity and satisfaction in knowing that your work makes dogs and cats very happy.
Columbia Canine Sports Center (Columbia)
Working at this dog fitness and training facility would definitely keep you on your toes. You would need a deep understanding of how an animal's mind works and a healthy dose of patience. The trainers at Columbia Canine Sports Center teach Mid-Missouri dogs agility and obedience. I imagine that everyday would be different and it would be fun watching a dog learn from your teaching.
Shed, Bath and Beyond (Jefferson City)
As with being a dog trainer, I think that being a dog groomer would take a lot of patience. It would be fun to interact with all the different animals and make sure they are well groomed and pampered.
Dogs Day Inn (Kaiser Mo., -near Lake Ozarks)
A dog daycare and boarding center like Dogs Day Inn would be a fun place to work and would give you the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time with your animal clients. Dog training and grooming would probably be a part of this profession as well. I think one of the best parts of this job would be watching all the dogs play together.
What is your dream animal-related job? What Mid-Missouri pet businesses would you like to work for?
Happy Valentine's Day! I hope all of you are enjoying a great day with your loved ones. I am up early this morning getting ready to do some chores and cook a Valentine's Day brunch for my boyfriend. One of my chores this morning is feeding and spending some time with an amazing stray cat that has been coming around the house for the last couple months. My boyfriend and I can't take any more pets right now, but we just couldn't turn our backs on this special girl. She comes around almost everyday, and we put food out for her in the backyard. My boyfriend even made her a shelter so she could have some relief from the harsh weather conditions.
Recently, my boyfriend noticed that Miss Kitty's (our name for her) tail was missing some fur and had some wounds on it. Later, he felt a lump on her neck. Fearing the worst, we took her to the vet yesterday to see if there was anything we could do to help her. One of the assistants at the vet's office came out to talk to us while we were waiting to see the doctor. She felt around Miss Kitty's neck and found the lump my boyfriend had felt. It was then that we got a surprising bit of news. The lump was nothing more than thick masses of knotted hair! Miss Kitty is a long haired cat and since she has been out on her own for awhile, she hasn't been properly groomed. Upon further inspection, the vet assistant determined that there were several matted clumps of hair around Miss Kitty's neck. It was time for a hair cut! It wasn't the most stylish cut ever, but it got rid of the lumps and we couldn't have been more relived that it was nothing serious.
Our friend Miss Kitty
Next up, was her tail. The doctor decided to shave away the hair around her bottom so that he could get a good look at how bad the wounds were. Once the hair was gone we saw that the situation was a lot worse than we originally thought. The doctor said that she had probably been bitten. He cleaned the wounds with a brown solution and gave her an antibiotic shot that is supposed to clear it up. Up until this point, Miss Kitty had been exceptionally well behaved. It was only when the doctor started cleaning her wounds that she began to wail and try to get away. I can't imagine the pain she must have been in. I asked the vet's assistant why Miss Kitty was so skinny (she is a full grown cat and weighs only seven pounds). The vet said that the cat most likely has worms, so we decided to have them give her a deworming pill that kills all parasites in the body.
Next, it was time to pay the bill. I don't think I have to tell anyone that money is tight. We wanted to do the right thing for Miss Kitty, but there was fear that we might not be able to afford it. Luckily, the bill came to $63 which was a price that fit our budget. The doctor advised us to keep Miss Kitty for eight days so she could have time to heal and not be out in the elements. We went to the store to get some supplies for her and set her up in the garage.
I cannot stress enough how sweet and gentle this cat is. She has lived a rough life, but has managed to come out of it still loving and trusting of humans. I am not sure who her owner is, but it makes me angry that anyone could allow this to happen to their pet. But, I am beyond blessed to be able to help her. My boyfriend and I would LOVE to keep her and give her a permanent home with us. Unfortunately, it just isn't possible for us right now. If anyone out there in Mid-Missouri is looking to adopt a cat, please let me know. We will probably take her to an animal shelter (no-kill if possible) once she is feeling better. I am prepared to get her spayed and give a donation to the shelter that takes her in. This cat would make an outstanding addition to a family that is ready to take on the responsibility and give her the love that she deserves.
If you want to know more about Miss Kitty and see our trip to the vet yesterday, please watch my boyfriend's vlog below or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzweCu9kkB4. The part about Miss Kitty starts at 1:48.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, but my boyfriend and I have already exchanged gifts. I got him the Batman Arkham Asylum PC game and he got me a beautiful bouquet of two dozen roses. Today, he is making me some delicious lasagna and we are going to watch a movie at home (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) and tomorrow I have a special brunch planned for him. I guess you could say that we are spreading the Valentine's Day cheer throughout the long weekend.
Of course, Valentine's Day isn't just about romantic love. It is about love for family and friends and that includes our furry family members as well. ABC's Good Morning America has a cute slideshow on their Web site that features Valentine's Day gift ideas for pets. Locally, Treats Unleashed is selling jumbo heart-shaped cookies for dogs that can be personalized with your dog's name. They must be ordered 24-hours in advanced, so you better get going last minute shoppers! They also have heart-shaped carbo and peanut butter brownies, cupcakes and a host of other Valentine's Day treats that will show your pet just how much you love them.
If your pooch or cat is already soaking up the love, think about donating to a local animal shelter this Valentine's Day. They can always use supplies, cash and/or volunteer help.
A non-exhaustive list of Mid-Missouri pet supply shops and animal shelters to check out for Valentine's Day
It's another snowy, cold day here in Mid-Missouri. I am convinced that this is the worst winter I've ever experienced in Missouri since moving here from Chicago in 2004. I am happy to have the day off (Thanks Abraham Lincoln!) and not have to get out and drive in these conditions. But, no matter how bad the weather gets, my min pin Maggie still needs to go out several times a day. I can't say I enjoy walking her in the snow. She is so small and has such short hair that it doesn't take much for her to be a cold, trembling mess. It also doesn't take much for her to get buried in the snow! I can't wait for Spring to get here so I can take her on longer walks and to the dog park. The Washington Post published a Q&A yesterday with Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker about keeping your pets safe in the snow. This is advice that every Mid-Missourian pet wants their parents to know.
After my original post, I found some adorable pictures of Bo, the first dog, playing in the more than three feet of snow that hit DC this week. Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog. The breed has a thick wavy or curly coat that is perfect for a romp in the snow!
How does your pet react to the snow? Do you have any tips for other pet owners?
Two years ago my boyfriend and I rescued our first animal. We found our Miniature Pincher after she had been out in the wilderness on her own for at least a month. Less than a year later, we found a tiny, starving kitten in the lawn outside our apartment. After a few days of nursing him back to health (he was so sick we had to force feed him with a syringe) it was clear that he had found his forever home with us. There have been a couple times that we have found amazing animals that we couldn't give a permanent home, but we try to help them the best we can. I have a passion for dogs and cats and will use this blog to talk about everything pet related in Mid-Missouri and share my personal pet stories. I am excited to hear from other Mid-Missouri pet fans so please leave lots of comments and questions!
