Sofie and I are ready for spring

It is sooo easy for folks who live in sunny climates to walk their dogs--not so much so for those of us north of the Mason Dixon Line.  But SPRING is arriving and trees are budding, and I think the crocuses are poking their heads up.
Time to take a nice long walk, re-meet old friends and enjoy some fresh air.  We may even try the dog park this summer.  Sofie likes dogs she knows, but is hesitant to make new friends.  Our web site is undergoing a MAJOR overhaul and we are adding new categories--ONE JUST FOR CATS--and adding new products.  I will let everyone know the progress, but it looks like April 18 launch.

10% of PetCollarStoreandMore.com profits to go to Japan Animal Help

For the rest of March, 10% of all PetCollarStoreAndMore Profits will be sent to the Japan Earthquake Animals Rescue project.  It is a Japanese group who is dedicated to helping the thousands of lost, injured or stranded pets.

Please donate to the cause directly by clicking HERE

And feel free to purchase something at my store, and know that a portion will be sent to the group.
Click for the store:  HERE

Thanks

Senior Citizens and Pets--article published by Ezines

As baby-boomer pet parents reach retirement age it is common to think about putting aside the dog collars, pet clothing and dog harnesses and retire from being pet parents. This is especially common as a beloved pet may die. The usual questions of a grieving pet owner are magnified by older pet owners. The only real questions with younger owners concerns whether or not they miss the joy of pet ownership and whether they still possess the desire to take on the responsibility of another pet. As the pet parent ages, more questions have to be asked. The age and health of the human along with whether or not the needs of particular pets can be managed are the most important questions for aging pet parents.
The primary question concerns whether or not a pet is beneficial for aging people.

Check out the rest of the articles by clicking on this Link

Pet Supplies

Pets feel Earthquakes First

With the earthquake in Japan, I am reminded of the one earthquake I have been in.  Actually, I was not home with the dogs, but hubby David was.  It hit in the early afternoon.  He was working at home in his office when our miniature schnauzers  Kaiser and Alexa started behaving oddly.  They seemed very nervous and he could not quiet them.  David was getting concerned because they never acted that way before.  After about three-four minutes of this, the earthquake hit.  It was a 7.9 about 20 miles away (epicenter) and about 10 miles below ground.

The dogs had felt it long before the house shook or any person felt it.  Amazing powers.  I thought about Kaiser and Alexa.  They are gone, but certainly not forgotten and are still loved.

Our Veternarian Appointments

Hi, this is Sofie, the rescue maltese.  Mom took Beckham and me to the vet today.  It was awesome.  I weigh 6 pounds 9 ounces and Beckham is at 13 pounds 6 ounces.  We are both exceptionally healthy, with Beckham having the very early signs of a cataract, which is fine with me so I can hide my treats from him.  Oh, yes, I can be a b****.  Our teeth and eyes look very good.  I am taking my Pet Health OPC every day, and my mom massages my paws with Pet Health Paw and Pad Balm.  Even the vet noticed!!!!!  You should visit my mom's store for the new products she has. 
Oh yes, for my friend Bobbi Panter, the vet noticed my beautiful fur and how nice I smelled.  Mom told her it was due to my Gorgeous Dog Shampoo.  Now go to mom's store!!!!

FINALLY Dog Vitamins that Work!

I am so excited about the Pet Health Dog Vitamins I carry on the site.  Check this out: 
These vitamins have a great deal of research and a number of studies done on them.  I highly recommend them. They are carefully made and I think you will be pleased.  My dogs both love them.  (and their OPC) more on that later.

New Products added to Web site

Sofie, Beckham and I are really excited that spring is around the corner.  Sofie, the Maltese, who contributes here from time-to-time and Beckham, the shih-poodle have decided to wear bling to welcome the sun to our northern clime.  So I added some Blink to the web site

http://www.PetCollarStoreAndMore.com

So whether it is a collar with blink. or a crown, paw or star slider onto the collar, or whether it is your pet's name, let's WELCOME THE SUN WITH BLING.  Go now and check out the bling under collars.

Another Article Accepted by Ezines--YEA

Check out my latest article on Ezines:  http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Things-You-Must-Know-About-Potty-Training-Your-Puppy&id=5910488

A Guest Post from Bobbi Panter

Note from Kay:  I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have a guest blog post from Bobbi Panter.  She is the creator of the ONLY pet grooming products that I carry in my pet store:  http://www.PetCollarStoreAndMore.com   I use her products and so do my friends, and everyone is just thrilled by the products.

From Bobbi Panter:  With this snow piled high in Chicago there are 3 things that make me ponder a move to sunnier climate; dragging Bebe and Cece through 2 feet of snow, scraping my car windows to remove last night’s ice and the hard to remove white salt stains on my favorite pair of black boots!

That terrorizing and annoying salt ruins my boots, my car and burns Bebe and Cece’s little feet! Strong enough to melt ice and discolor paint jobs yet apparently safe enough to add as filler to most dog and cat shampoos.   Did you know that most shampoos use sodium chloride to thicken and fill them and it is table salt?  Sure, the more salt added as an ingredient the lower the price tag for shampoo – but ultimately it lowers the quality too. I thought, why don’t I create a product that has no salt– no chemical fillers – no distractions to the essential oils and important ingredients…a product that actually works to solve problems and not create more…. a shampoo that dog owners would use on themselves!

Groomers, pet boutiques and retail stores across the country agree. Bobbi Panter Pet Products were developed to solve problems, after my own dog, Bobo had eye surgery and the drugs they used harmed her skin and fur.  I developed Itchy Dog to target hotspots and dry/flaky skin. Stinky Dog removes the harshest of odors, EVEN SKUNK!  And Charlie Dog naturally removes all fleas, ticks and lice. No medications, no harsh substances – just pure, high essential oils. Because Bobo had partial vision in one eye only, I Ph Balanced every shampoo to make it safe for our pet’s eyes. Don’t be afraid to scrub near your dog’s face - it is all safe.

When we say, “Natural” we mean it. We don’t just use it for flash on the front of our label or as a marketing technique to attract the consumer – Bobbi Panter Pet Products reveal all ingredients on the back of each bottle with a description of each one’s job.

The success of my brand did not come from a large advertising campaign – but instead, it started in my kitchen where I was mixing things to help Bobo and grew to products sold in every state by word of mouth – because when you try our products, you will agree, it is like no other dog shampoo on the market…it really works.  I developed my products out of love for Bobo and…Bobo is everyone’s dog.

Click to see the products: click below to go to my web site and see the products including a list of all of the ingredients in them.

Gorgeous Dog Shampoo

Bebe (Puppy Shampoo)

Itchy Dog Shampoo

Scratchy Cat Shampoo

Gorgeous Dry Dog and Cat Spray--for cleaning in between baths

Stinky Dog Shampoo

Shaggy Cat Shampoo and Conditioner

Why Does Sofie Hate to Take a Bath?

Sofie needs a bath, but she really hates it.  I have tried gentle and soothing, and we do lots of cuddling while she is drying and we have treats, but she really hates it.  Any ideas?

Wonderful Announcement!!!

Pet Collar Store and More has been selected as a featured supplier by Favorite Pet Products.  Check out the list of retailers on their home page, and there we are!!!!!  Thanks to Kirsten Nelson and the folks at Favorite Pet Products!! http://retailers.favoritepetproducts.com/
If you see a product you like on their site that is not currently on out site, just let me know, and I can get it for you.  Have you visited the store recently?  New products are available.   http://www.PetCollarStoreAndMore.com

Message from Sofie

Hi, this is Sofie.  I am a year and a half old, which makes me 11 in people years, and I am really going through my pre-teen years.  I am a Maltese dog, rescued from a puppy mill.  My mom and dad love me very much, but  lately my brother Beckham, who is 6 (42 in people years) has been really mean to me.

I love my chewies, and I love to work on them and just when they get soft and warm and easy to munch, Beckham comes along and steals them from me.

We had a REALLY bad fight about this the other day, and my daddy had to separate us.  I tried telling daddy that it was Beckham's fault, but he did not understand me.

Well. mom needs the computer, so I will sign off for now.

Love,
Sofie

From a Friend's FaceBook Post

‎52 thoroughbred horses need homes. Will go to Sugarcreek this Saturday for slaughter. Gentleman died and his son wants nothing to do with them. Most broodmares are broke and some are in foal weanling, yearlings, 2 yrs and 3 yrs old most are gelded. FREE and papered. Friend of the deceased is trying to find homes 440-463-428...8 or 440-463-4288 Barnesville, OH. What a shame!

Restrain Your Pet in the Car--Very Important

Please read my new article on Ezine:  http://ezinearticles.com/?Restrain-Your-Dog-in-the-Car&id=5786482

Poor Toby

My granddog, Toby has been having some seizures and the vet has put him on phenobarbital.  According to my son's vet schnauzers and collies are particularly prone to them.  If anyone has any experience, let us know.  By the way, I have another "Expert" article coming out next week on Ezine about restraining dogs in the car.  If you want a jump on it, check out my car dog restraint harnesses.   Every dog should be restrained in the car and at under $13.00 for a small dog, it is a bargain.

How Pets Helped Humans Through History

Read my story about how dogs (and cats) have helped humans become what we are today.  http://goarticles.com/article/Humans-Helped-by-Dogs-Through-History/4016757/

ASPCA | Victory: President Signs New Crush Act into Law

Did you know that until December 2010 Animals were really not protected the way pet lovers thought they were.  Read this article from the ASPCA.

ASPCA | Victory: President Signs New Crush Act into Law

Please read and distribute this story. The truth must be told.

Check out my article on Buzzle.com.  It is the true story of the Vicktory Dogs.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-real-vicktory-saving-the-michael-vick-dogs.html

Impressing the Mother-in-Law to Be

This is really part two of my discussion of Everything I learned About Difficult People I learned from My Cat.  That was a story in the December 2010 blog about Jezabel, my cat when I was growing up. Jezabel left us.  I don't mean she died, she just left us. She would wander and then come home after a while, one time, she just didn't come home. 
We found out that the lady who had the Siamese who had been "caught" by the neighborhood black alley cat who were Jezabel's parents had a new litter.  This was seven years after we got Jez and our new baby girl was named Bathsheba (get the biblical reference?).  We had Bathsheba for about two weeks when we took her for her first vet visit and found out that Bathsheba was a boy.    We were told it was a girl and had never looked.  So we renamed him David.  (David and Bathsheba, get it?).  I was fifteen, and when I went away to college two years later I missed him very much.
Forward now to my age 22.  I fell in love with the most wonderful man.  So wonderful that we have been married for 38 years.  His name is David.  He is a little shy, so meeting my parents for the first time was stressful to him.  My dad, did not help by calling him Garry, my fiance of the year before, but my mother was very cool.  Until...... 
We arrived about an hour before dinner, and my mother being a great cook, had lots of delicious smells coming from the kitchen.  While everything was finishing up, and the table had been set in the dining room, we settled down to the inevitable questions from my parents to David:  what was his major, did he play sports, etc.  My mother then asked me to feed the cat by saying, "Kay, feed David in the kitchen before the rest of us sit down to eat."  Sheepishly, David, the boyfriend, got up to be fed in the kitchen.  We all had a great laugh over that one.  But more was to follow after dinner.
The cat was not allowed on the couch, but with my sweetheart and me sitting side by side, the cat, David, decided to jump up next to me.  "David, get off that couch," yelled my mother, and my boyfriend, David, obediently jumped up.  We had a masterful laugh about that one.  It became our first real family bonding story, and my mother used to love telling it.  My husband tells it the best.  But we all bonded.  My parents loved David, and after a difficult year when we moved north to Ohio, and I wanted to come home with the two babies, my mother said, "stay with David.  After all, if you try to divorce him, I will testify in court on his behalf."  Fair enough.
I always loved my cat, David, and I still love my sweetheart, David.

Check out my latest Expert Author Article on Ezine

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Clothes---Seven-Reasons-to-Dress-Your-Dog&id=5592350