Dog Sweater

I think the picture says it all!

Stupid Joke - The Parrot

An elderly woman was looking for a pet to be a good companion and not much trouble. The pet store owner suggested a parrot, showed it to her and guaranteed her it would be a wonderful companion. The woman asked if it would behave if she took it to church with her on Sundays. The owner said it shouldn't be a problem and that she could put him on her shoulder and he would stay there. She bought the parrot and for the next week spent time getting to know him. Assured that he spoke properly and was well behaved, she put him on her shoulder and went off to church. Just as everyone quieted down and the sermon began, the parrot looked around, squawked and said, "It's damn cold in here!" Everyone turned to look at her and she ran out of the church in total embarrassment!

All the next week, she talked to the parrot explaining the necessity to remain quiet during church. The parrot understood so she put him on her shoulder and went to church the following Sunday. Once again, just as everything got quiet and the sermon began,the parrot squawked, looked around and loudly proclaimed, "It's damn cold in here!!" And again the woman ran from the church.

The next day she returned to the pet store and explained the embarrassing situation to the owner. Since she didn't want to get rid of the parrot, the owner offered the following solution: If the parrot does that again, grab him by the legs and swing him around 5 or 6 times and return him to your shoulder." "That'll work?" asked the woman. "Guaranteed!" exclaimed the owner.

So, the next Sunday she took the parrot to church and, sure enough, just as the sermon started, the parrot squawked, "It's damned cold in here!!" Without any hesitation, the woman grabbed his legs, swung him around 5 or 6 times and placed him back on her shoulder. The parrot shook his head, ruffled his feathers and said, "Pretty damned windy, too!"

One Year of the Pet Haven

This week marks the one year anniversary of The Pet Haven Blog. I started this blog amidst the pet food recalls and crisis, as I was a pet owner concerned, frustrated and ticked-off at how the whole thing occurred. I couldn't believe how poorly the pet food companies handled the whole thing...from lies to denials to taking forever to take the product off the shelves. It was definitely not a lesson in good crisis management.

Now here I am a year later, still blogging about a variety of topics within the pet world. The blog has taken me in several different directions, and although it's not always as focused on one type of subject as maybe a blog should be, it has allowed me to look at various things within the pet industry; including the good, the bad, and the very ugly.

This blog has become a forum for all things pets. From news, to product reviews, to resources, to fun stuff, to pictures of my pets, and more. I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. I continue to be challenged to find good topics to explore on a regular basis.

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog on a daily basis and I look forward to writing more posts that hopefully everyone will enjoy.

-Matt

Wet Pet Food Sales Struggle After Recall

According to a recent USA Today article, more then a year after the massive pet food recall, people are still weary of buying wet, or soft, pet food. And, many products have not returned to the shelf.

Personally, I'm not surprised. I boycotted all the foods that were part of the recall, and have not gone back. There really hasn't been any reason to go back. I found a brand that I trust (Wellness) and wasn't part of the recall, and I haven't had a reason to leave them to go back to the brands that have lost our trust. It's all about brand loyalty for me. I found a brand that my dogs like, that is high quality, and good for their allergy issues. Until they give me a reason to stop buying their products, why would I go to a company that showed no care for the pet owners?

Enough of my rant, here is the complete USA Today Article:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/2008-03-24-pet-food-recall_N.htm

Fish Not Boring

I've heard the familiar response when I tell people I have fish, that fish are boring. For any of us fishkeepers, we know that is far from the truth.

Fish can recognize their caretakers. Maybe not as much as dogs and cats, but fish do come to the front of the tank when their keepers walk by. Naturally, it may have something to do with the fact that the fishkeeper is also the one that feeds the fish, but many of our furry friends are trained with treats and food as well.

There are so many different varieties of fish, that you can put several fish hobbyists in a room, and they'll all have something different that they like to keep. Even the somewhat well known goldfish has a variety of strains, colors, and varieties. And each one has its own unique personality and habits.

Fish, as most pets, aren't without controversy. A few years ago, it was the arguments against genetically engineering a "glowing" strain of danio fish. Recently, the debate has been whether it's human to inject "glass" type of fish (those clear, colorless fish) with a dye to make them more colorful and "appealing" to the fish keeper.

Everyone has different animals and pets that they enjoy caring for, and no matter what your favorite, your pets make great pals. So enjoy caring for them, even if someone thinks your pet is boring.

Pet Food Recall A Year Later

It's been a year since the mess first started with the pet food recall. The recall lasted several months, and shed light on an industry that was unregulated, and in a lot of ways, didn't care much about the pets they were supposed to feed.

It also showed that the same company which was making the "commercial," i.e., inexpensive brands, was also making the high-priced premium brands that were supposed to help make your pet live a longer, healthier life....so much for that idea!

Unfortunately, there is still more work to be done in order to stop this mess from happening again. For example, the legislation that was passed requires the companies to voluntarily recall contaminated petfood. Voluntary doesn't work quite as well as mandatory.

Here is an interesting article about how things have fallen short.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23505218/

Out Sick

It's been a few days since I've been on the computer, as we've been fighting off colds all week. People always say that our pets can tell when things are bothering us. It seems as though the puppies have been keeping an eye on things more then usual.

My "guard" dog Kelso, who is all bark but no bite, has been barking more often the last couple of days, alerting us to every little thing that is going on around us. I think he wants us to know that he's looking out for us. I appreciate the gesture, but it sure makes it harder to take a nap. And Rocco, the one that doesn't bark, has been a bit more vocal, letting us know that he's here if we need him for anything.

Hopefully the colds/flu/whatever we have will go away soon. Some more rest (and medication!) should hopefully do the trick.