Furry Smiles Blog

"I'm so sorry I peed on the rug" and other obvious evidence of animal regret

2009-06-10T20:07:00.001-07:00

"I'm so sorry I peed on the rug" and other obvious evidence of animal regret

Ever noticed your dog slink away after you’ve discovered she’s decimated a shoe?...left you a present on the Oriental rug?...stolen another dog’s biscuit? “I’m such a bad, bad dog and I deserve to go to my crate.”

How about when you feed one of your cats a larger amount than another and notice the despondency in the eyes of one who’s looking all hangdog over the inequity? “Hey, why’d she get all that wet stuff? How about me?”

In the past, we sort of assumed these behaviors were learned pack or pride “tricks” to get us to go easy on punishment or to feed them more, respectively. The interpretation of these behaviors as “embarrassment,” “sadness” and “regret” were deemed by many learned behaviorists to be the result of our tendency to anthropomorphize (inappropriately ascribe human feelings to animals).

But now there’s some proof that we silly pet owners were right all along. Animals do appear to experience regret. In particular, when one animal gets a better treat than another, the one who finds himself lacking may truly feel wronged. So say Duke University neurobiologists in the last issue of Science.

According to a pitch-perfect New York Times piece from last week,

“The latest data comes from brain scans of monkeys trying to win a large prize of juice by guessing where it was hidden. When the monkeys picked wrongly and were shown the location of the prize, the neurons in their brain clearly registered what might have been...

...This is the first evidence that monkeys, like people, have ‘would-have, could-have, should-have’ thoughts,” said Ben Hayden, one of the researchers. Another of the authors, Michael Platt, noted that the monkeys reacted to their losses by shifting their subsequent guesses, just like humans who respond to a missed opportunity by shifting strategy.”

It sort of makes sense, right? In a pack or pride, one must abide by the rules, but it doesn’t mean one has to like it or handle an inequitable interaction the same way twice. If feeling regret gives you a leg up on getting the better bit of meat or the better mate next time then it makes sense that animal brains would adapt in a way that tattoos unpleasant events with indelible emotions rather than fleeting reactions.

Dr. Platt goes on to offer an explanation:

“I can well imagine that regret would be highly advantageous evolutionarily, so long as one doesn’t obsess over it, as in depression...A monkey lacking in regret might act like a psychopath or a simian Don Quixote.”

Tilting at windmills with base reactivity is what Dr. Platt seems to reject in his argument. True emotion is what solidifies an experience, therefore it makes sense to assume that animals may feel a wide array of emotions similar to ours––as long as they confer some sort of evolutionary advantage.

So you know, this notion is somewhat contrary to the body of behavioral research that considers individual behavioral adaptation, as in basic behavioral conditioning, to be the primary way animals learn. Sort of like a behavioral Lamarckism built from a collection of automatic reactions rather than the Darwinistic evolution this new research proposes.

Again, thanks to the New York Times piece, here’s a blurb from a psychologist at the University of Texas in Austin who explains,

“It’s possible that this kind of social signal in animals could have evolved without the conscious experience of regret...But it seems more plausible that there is some kind of conscious experience even if it’s not the same kind of thing that you or I feel.”

Clearly, there’s still lots of hedging in play when it comes to animal emotions. That they’re really not like ours. That animal emotions are wishful thinking on the part of pet owners and other animal lovers.

Indeed, animal feelings on par with humans’ are still largely discounted as anthropomorphism by the scientific community––likely because of our inability to measure them, but also because we humans have been loath to ascribe human-style feelings to animals. This, born of religious beliefs that assume human supremacy and/or potential guilt over our subjugation of animals (as in agriculture settings), in my estimation.

Yet many of us who live with animals find it difficult to reconcile what we can know, scientifically, with what we experience on a regular basis. We believe animals feel. And we don’t take it on faith as we must when we question whether there’s a God, for example. No, we believe it because we can see the evidence before us in our animal companions.

Is it wishful thinking? To my mind, it’s as much so as when humans assumed animals experienced pain differently than we did. And we all know where that led us.

from dolittler.com!

Susan Boyle Reunites with Pebbles; Going on Tour with "Britain's Got Talent"

2009-06-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

From Paw Nation:

Susan Boyle Reunites with Pebbles; Going on Tour with "Britain's Got Talent"

by Helena Sung Jun 10th 2009 10:00AM

Reunited and it feels so good! Photo: Andrew Milligan, AP

After suffering from exhaustion and being admitted into the Priory, a private clinic in northern London, our favorite cat-loving spinster singing sensation has emerged looking happy and refreshed.

"I feel bloody fantastic," Susan Boyle told the News of the World. "I just need to be home with Pebbles."

After checking out of the Priory this past weekend, Boyle flew to Scotland to be reunited with her 10 year-old cat. But life has changed for Boyle since appearing on "Britain's Got Talent." Paparazzi surrounded her modest home in her tiny hometown of Blackburn in West Lothian, Scotland.

Instead, Boyle was taken to a "secret location" according to Access Hollywood, where an "unidentified associate" --- who had picked up Pebbles from the house --- brought the cat to be reunited with Susan.

What's next for Boyle? She'll be appearing on the "Britain's Got Talent" live tour, kicking off June 12 in Birmingham, England. A doctor will be traveling with Boyle to ensure she stays in good health. No word whether Pebbles will be taken on the road as well, but it's probably not a bad idea.

Going green with your pet

2009-04-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Top Green Pet Tips

Adopt from a shelter
Some pet breeders have only one goal—to raise large quantities of purebred animals for profit. They've also been pilloried for misdeeds such as overbreeding, inbreeding, poor veterinary oversight, lousy food and living conditions, overcrowding, and culling of unwanted animals. Why buy when you can adopt one of the 70,000 puppies and kittens born every day in the United States? Love knows no pedigree. Check out Petfinder.com to find your perfect match.
Spay or neuter your pet
Did we mention 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the United States? That’s 15 puppies and 45 kittens for every hairless biped that slides out of a birth canal. And “multiplying like bunnies” isn’t just any old trope. We don’t need any more homeless animals than we already have. As a bonus, spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by eliminating the possibility of uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer, and decreasing the incidence of prostate disease.
Rein in your pets; protect native wildlife
Always keep your dog on a leash when outside, and confine your mangy feline indoors. Topped only perhaps by habitat destruction, cats are the biggest, baddest bird killers of all time. Even wind turbines have got nothing on them. While you may poo-poo high cat-related bird-mortality rates as collateral damage in the great Circle of Life, domestic cats do have an unfair advantage. Unlike wild predators, house cats are always well fed, well rested, and in tip-top fighting shape. They’re also present in more concentrated (and rapidly increasing) numbers than say, the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike.

That aside, two out of every three vets, according to the Humane Society of America, recommend keeping cats indoors, because of the dangers of cars, predators, disease, and other hazards. The estimated average life span of a free-roaming cat is less than three years; an indoors-only cat gets to live an average of 15 to 18 years. If kitty needs to heed the call of the wild, an outdoor cat enclosure is a good compromise.
Swap out the junk food
Most conventional pet-food brands you find at the supermarket consist of reconstituted animal by-products, otherwise known as low-grade wastes from the beef and poultry industries—you know, inedibles you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot fork. In fact, the animals used to make many pet foods are classified as “4-D,” which is really a polite way of saying “Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Down (Disabled)” when they line up at the slaughterhouse. Unless that can of Chicken ‘N Liver Delite explicitly states that it contains FDA-certified, food-grade meat, you should know that its contents are considered unfit for human consumption—but apparently good enough for your cat or pooch.

Now, since nutrition is one of the key determinants of health and resistance to disease, ideally you’ll want your pet’s chow to be comparable in quality with what we would eat.

Natural and organic pet foods use meats that are raised in sustainable, humane ways without added drugs or hormones, minimally processed, and preserved with natural substances, such as vitamins C and E. Certified-organic pet foods must meet strict USDA standards that spell out how ingredients are produced and processed, which means no pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, artificial ingredients or genetically engineered ingredients.
Clean up their poop
Scoop up your doggie doo in biodegradable poop bags so your buddy’s No. 2 isn’t immortalized in a plastic bag, while deep-sixed in a landfill somewhere for hundreds of years. Cat owners should avoid clumping clay litter at all costs. Not only is clay strip-mined (bad for the planet), but the clay sediment is also permeated with carcinogenic silica dust that can coat little kitty lungs (bad for the cat). Plus, the sodium bentonite that acts as the clumping agent can poison your cat through chronic ingestion through their fastidious need to groom. Because sodium bentonite acts like expanding cement—it’s also used as a grouting, sealing, and plugging material—it can swell up to15 to18 times their dry size and clog up your cat’s insides. Eco-friendly cat litters avoid these problems; a happy cat is a cat that doesn’t claw your face off.
Give them sustainable goods
Your furry friends can get in on some saving-the-planet goodness, too—and have plenty of fun—with toys made from recycled materials or sustainable fibers (sans herbicides or pesticides) such as hemp. A hemp collar (with matching leash) is a rocking accessory for a tree-hugging mutt. These days, you can even get pet beds made with organic cotton or even recycled PET bottles.
Use natural pet-care and cleaning products
You don’t use toxic-chemical-laced shampoos and beauty products, so lather up your cats and dogs (or ferrets, rabbits, or hamsters—we don’t judge) with natural pet-care products, as well. And if your cat horks up a hairball, or Fifi doesn’t make it all the way to the bathroom, clean up the mess with cleaning products that are as gentle on the planet as they are on your critters’ delicate senses.
Pets, not fads
Sure, everyone’s ovaries ping when they see a five-year-old moppet cradle a tiny chick or a bunny during Easter, but nature dictates that baby bunnies grow up into rabbits, and little chicks into full-size chickens. Unless everyone involved understands that a pet is a long-term commitment that involves demands on both their time and money, you’re better off giving the kid a stuffed animal. Impulse buying (say, rushing out an grabbing the next available Dalmatian puppy after watching 101 Dalmatians) isn’t a good idea, either, as the large numbers of fad dogs that pass through shelters (often to their death) can attest. Repeat after us—especially you, Paris Hilton: Pets are not fads or fashion accessories.
Melt the ice, nicely
Use a child- and pet-safe deicer such as Safe Paw’s environmentally friendly Ice Melter. Rock salt and salt-based ice-melting products, which kids and animals might accidentally ingest, can cause health problems, while contaminating wells and drinking supplies.
Tag your pet
It might be a stretch to call inserting an electronic ID chip into your pet an eco-friendly move, but losing your buddy causes extreme emotional distress that turns you into nobody’s friend. Then there’s the paper waste from printing out Missing posters, the fuel cost of driving around your neighborhood trying to find them, the phone bill as you bawl your eyes out to everyone you know … well, you get the idea. Ask your vet for more info. For hanging tags, check out these recyclable (and recycled) aluminum ID tags and these WaggTaggs made from recycled silver.
Compost their poop
American dogs and cats create 10 million tons of waste a year, and no one knows where it’s going, according to Will Brinton, a scientist in Mount Vernon, Maine, and one of the world’s leading authorities on waste reduction and composting.

Most of our pets’ poop either winds up in a landfill purgatory, where it’s embalmed practically forever in plastic bags, or sits on the ground until the next rainstorm washes it into the sewer where it can drift on down to rivers and beaches. You can compost the poop—just don’t use it with your vegetable garden, because the compost doesn’t heat up enough to kill pathogens such as E. coli., which could contaminate your homegrown produce and land up in your (very unhappy) belly.

If you have room in your backyard, you can bury an old garbage bin (note: far away from your vegetable garden) to use as a pet-waste composter. Or check out the Doggie Dooley. The makers of the Doggy Dooley also sell an enzymatic “Super Digester Concentrate” for your backyard pet septic system.
Be a pet chef
If you want to know exactly what is going into your furball’s food dish, or your pet suffers from allergies, you can always make your own puppy (or kitty) chow. If the idea of becoming a fulltime pet chef is just crazy talk, making the occasional meal or treat is completely doable. Those broccoli stalks left over from your last stirfry also make some tasty morsels for your pup.
Get crafty
Your cat will love you forever if you grow your own organic catnip or cat grass. Scrap yarn and fabric you might otherwise toss can also easily be transformed into pet toys with some basic crafty know-how. And they wouldn’t have had to be trucked thousands of miles just to get drooled on.
Get ticks off
While you don’t want to douse your pet in toxins, it is also important to keep the bugs in check. Pets can carry ticks, and ticks can carry Lyme Disease, a serious and poorly understood disease that attacks the nervous system. If you live in an area where Lyme Disease is a risk, be very cautious and seek sound advice on keeping ticks off you and your furry friends.
Offset your pet
Maybe Scruffy will only drink water from an electric-powered water fountain, or perhaps you have a self-cleaning litter box from before you went green—we all have corpses buried in our backyards. Why not purchase green tags, otherwise known as renewable energy credits, to offset your pets’ carbon emissions. Heck, buy ‘em for the whole family so no one feels left out. Or better yet, check if your state sells green power so you and your furry compatriots can go carbon neutral.

to view more from planet green... http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-pets/green-pets-tips.html

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT

2009-04-19T12:12:00.001-07:00

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT

On Friday, April 10, 2009 a Fox came in contact with two domestic dogs at different locations in the Briarwood Road and Malin Road area of Radnor Township. This fox later tested positive for the rabies virus.

Radnor Township's ordinance Chapter 115 Animals, require that dogs and cats three months of age must be vaccinated for the rabies virus.

Anyone whose dog or cat may come into contact with an undomesticated or unfamiliar animal should clean the wound with warm soap and water and have their pet immediately examined by a veterinarian.

Take precautions and do not let your dogs and cats outside unsupervised.

Have your pet vaccinated for rabies. Keep shots current at all times.

Call the animal control officer or police department when you spot nocturnal animals out in the day time.

Do not pet undomesticated or unfamiliar animals.

Humans who may be bitten or scratched by an undomesticated or unfamiliar animals or have come into contact with the saliva of your pet after they have encountered an animal suspected of carrying the rabies virus should

Wash the wound with warm soap and water.

Consult with your physician and together determine what if any medical treatment is necessary.

Contact the animal warden or police department

This week, Our New Web Address..

2009-02-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

It is such an icky night out and they said that the cold is here to stay at least for a little while longer. I cannot wait for spring, but in the meantime my pooches and I are going strong and hanging tough in the cold weather. Remember that dogs and cats can get cold too and if its really cold avoid prolonged exposure and maybe consider getting them a sweater.

Zoe is sporting one of her sweaters....

I believe that Santa left her this one for Christmas :)

And then we have Duke who enjoyed playing out in the snow last week...

And even the girls Lexi & Zoe were out and about in it :)

No snow this week in the city, but Roxy, Amber, & Satchel still snuggled up at home.

Lastly, we finally got our own web domain. You can continue to use furrysmiles.googlepages.com if you like but now we are just furrysmiles.com too! We are going to be having tons more cool things coming up in the next few weeks... so stayed tune!

New book Alert: ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN

2009-01-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN
The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love
by Sylvia Browne

For the first time, world famous psychic and spiritual teacher - and #1 New York Times bestselling author - Sylvia Browne explains how pets "live" in the afterlife, from how living animals see spirits and pets' purposes in our lives to how we will see our deceased pets on the Other Side and how animals fit into creation.

In ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN: The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love (Fireside/Simon & Schuster; January 6, 2009; 1-4165-9099-4) Sylvia Browne explores the unique spiritual bond between animals and humans who love them - including remarkable stories of animal heroism, how animals communicate with us from the afterlife...and when we'll be reunited with them on the Other Side.

Books about pets and author Sylvia Browne are both popular among readers, and ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN is a unique approach in both categories. Unlike other pet stories, these are from the Other Side as well as the known world, and Sylvia has never discussed the spiritual lives of animals in this way before. Although she shares stories about her own pets, Sylvia also tells tales about her clients' pets, revealing not only the heroic and unselfish acts they do for their owners in life, but also the amazing ways they remain in their lives after death.

The pets we love have personalities, habits, quirks and souls just as we do. But do they have an afterlife, an Other Side to travel to after death? Forty years of research and stories culled from her fifty-year-plus career giving readings provided Browne with keen insight and unprecedented knowledge into the true being of the cats, dogs, horses, snakes, hamsters, mice and other creatures that inhabit our homes and lives. Her unique abilities also allow her to disclose what purpose animals have here on Earth - and with humans as companion animals - as well as what their role is in creation.

ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN:
The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love
By Sylvia Browne
Fireside/Simon & Schuster, Inc.
On-sale Date: January 6, 2009
ISBN: 1-4165-9099-5

Order ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN now

Sylvia Browne Corporation · 1700 Winchester Blvd. Suite 100 · Campbell, CA 95008 · 408-379-7070

Celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day

2009-01-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

Celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day

By Kathleen Roberts

Do you have the most stylish cat or dog on the block? Well, you’ll have the opportunity to show off your pet’s fashion sense on January 14, otherwise known as National Dress Up Your Pet Day.

With the big day just around the corner, now is the time to coordinate some fabulous outfits so your pet can celebrate in style! This is your chance to make Fido fit for the runway. But remember, there is more involved than just pulling your pet's favorite frock out of her wardrobe. As a pet owner, there are a few things to consider as you prepare for the main event.

Before you pick out your precious pooch (or cat’s) attire, keep the following things in mind.

Personality

Think about your pet's personality. Your regal Doberman will not appreciate being dressed in a pink sweater with maribou trim. He is more likely to appreciate a fashionable camo fleece [1] or a suitable biker hat [2].

Then again, your Bichon Frise might love the pink sweater [3]. Or put some prep in your pet with this yuppie puppy attire [4]. Now if you own a Persian cat, well obviously you'll want to have her pink velveteen jeweled cat collar [5] ready so she can be presented as the princess that she is. So allow your pet's personality to guide your wardrobe choices.

Weather

Most places are cold right now, so a hat and jacket are certainly appropriate. However, in warmer climates your pet might prefer a trendy royalty dog cap [6] and a spectacular pair of shades.

Copyright 2006-2008 PetStyle LLC

What's going on this week?

2008-10-20T11:49:00.001-07:00

Lexi (ready for a belly rub), Zoe and I are out and about today. The weather is getting chilly, but the colorful leaves seem to make up for it! They are so pretty and they seem to be everywhere!

This week we are pulling out our sweaters and heading out on walks with old clients and some new ones! Check back for some new pics, and head on over to the site for new services and some halloween fun!

furrysmiles.googlepages.com

What is your favorite part of this season?

If ever a statue should be built in the world....

2008-10-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

Secretly, or not so secretly, I think the thing we most look for in others is loyalty. That is why so many people love there pets, of course they are cute and loving, but they are so very loyal. Another example of this undying loyalty comes from the UK.

In January of 1990 Graham Nuttall went out for a walk with his border collie, Ruswarp. When the two never came back neighbors called the police, flyers were circulated, and they search all over the mountain to no avail. In April of 1990, a woman walking comes across the body of Mr. Nuttal, and Ruswarp. Only Ruswarp is, 4 months later, standing guard over his master's body. The dog was so weak he had to be carried off the mountain and died shortly after, but not before attending his master's funeral.

Early next year a statue in his honer will be unveiled. If ever a statue should be built in this crazy world, I think this one deserves it.

source

October's Pet Loving' Recipe of the Month!

2008-09-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

The days are getting cooler and we all know that there is nothing better than some hot soup on a cold cold day. Except maybe a stoup that you can share with your dogs too! This great recipe was in this month's (October) Rachel Ray. I kinda can't wait to try it out! Has anyone tried this out yet?

Gulliver’s Goblin Stoup
Every Day With Rachael Ray (October 2008)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
2 carrots, grated
1 cup cooked shredded rotisserie chicken
3 black mission figs, chopped
1 pinch ground cinnamon
2 cups chicken broth or water
1 cup cooked brown rice

Directions
In a deep, medium skillet, heat the EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, over medium heat.

Add the carrots and cook until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the chicken, figs and cinnamon and toss.

Stir in half of the chicken broth, then the rice and warm through, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in more broth, as needed, to make a slightly soupy mixture

Mid-Day Doggie Potty Breaks

2008-09-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Ta da da don! Furry Smiles is now offering Mid-day doggie potty breaks M-F in the West Chester and surrounding areas. Our visits last approx. 30 minutes and include; making sure there is fresh water, bringing in the mail, walk (or playing out in the yard), play time, and a treat! Doggie potty breaks are $16 a break OR $75 a week (M-F).

Each dog is walked individually (unless they are in the same family or friends) so spaces will fill up quickly! Give us a call to set up a meeting today!

267-258-4172 or email
onceabali@yahoo.com

Furry Smiles might be there, but you definatly should be!!

2008-09-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

Furry Friends Network

presents:

4th Annual

Mutt Mixer & Flea Market
Proceeds will benefit Furry Friends Network, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, animal rescue organization
Tell me more........
On Site Dog Events
Fashion Frenzy Challenge
Back to Basics Challenge
Mutt Mania Challenge
Various Dog Games
PLUS
K-9 Costume Contest with a
$$$ CASH PRIZE $$$
for “Best of Show” - “Runner Up” - “Honorable Mention”
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG!

For Everyone:
Flea Market - (Vendor Space Available)
Adoptable Pets on Site
Pet SuppliesGift Basket Raffles
Food & much, much more…

AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
Meet Jordan
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
Meet Bart & Kip
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR VENDOR SPACE!
TrophiesforWinners!
October 18, 2008
Sunday - 12:00 – 5:00 PM
(10/19/08 rain date)Stumpf Field/McMinn’s Park1350 Fruitville PikeLancaster, PA 17601
LeashedDogs
Welcome!
To reserve your vendor space or register your dog please visit http://www.furryfriendsnetwork.com or www.muttpalace.com or call 871-1118.

Thank you for your support!

I'll let you all know soon what our (Furry Smiles) plans are! We are definatly hoping to make it as a kick off to our holiday pet food drive!

Petsmo Tip of the Month (September)

2008-09-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

A MOVING EXPERIENCE Many of us have will move to another location at some point, and this is not only stressful for us, but can be extremely traumatic for our Pets due to the fact their usual routine is disrupted.There are several ways to help lessen the stress for you both and make the transition, an easier one for all concerned.One of the things you should do, is begin packing well ahead of your move date if possible.And try to maintain the eating and exercise schedules your Pets have gotten used to previously.

Your usual amount of love, & affection, will of course be appreciated, don't forget if you're feeling a little stressed by it all, nothing helps like a hug from/to your Pet.
Prior to moving you should also:
• Obtain copies of certificates, medical, and immunization records from your veterinarian.
• Purchase identification tags with your new address.
• If you’re planning to travel by air, schedule your flights early and try to book a direct flight – this will be much easier on your Pet. Contact the Airline concerned, and check with them regarding regulations and paperwork required for transporting your Pet.
• If you’re driving, and the trip will take more than one day, please ensure that hotels/motels you will be staying at, are Pet friendly.
• Rules & Regulations can change from State to State. Check with the State you're moving to, regarding paperwork, entry permits etc.
• If your new home is close to your current residence, it’s a good idea to take your Dog for a 'visit' to let them become familiar with their new neighbourhood, to let them get accustomed to the new sights, sounds, and scents.
Moving Day:
All the noise, movement & confusion, will almost certainly upset your Pet.
I have always found the best solution to leave my Buddy with a friend or family member who looks after him while the loading is taking place.
Another option would be to lock your Pet in a room with fresh food and water, and litter box if you are a cat owner, some toys to keep them occupied might not be a bad idea either.
Place a PET INSIDE - DO NOT OPEN DOOR, will also alleviate the worry of someone opening the door, and your Buddy making a bid for freedom.
Checklist:
• Medications and veterinarian records.
• Recent pictures of your pet in case he/she becomes lost.
• Litter box and scoop, and some garbage bags.
• Paper towels in case there of 'accidents'
• Leashes, or harnesses
• Toys and treats.
• Food and water bowls.
• Can opener, and re-sealable cans of food.
• Do not change their food to a new brand, as this could cause stomach upset, and lead to unnecessary suffering for you both, as well as the dreaded Vet bills.
I've always found when arriving at my new 'digs' that placed in a room with fresh food, and water, along with something they are familiar with, say e.g. their favourite blanket, or one of my old sweatshirts, and a few toys they like, they soon settle down, and 'stake their claim' to various parts of the house.
Have a Happy Moving Experience.

How funny are these?

2008-08-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

How funny are these dog costumes I found on the web?? Do you have any good pics to share? add them in the comments and show us your pooch!

Did you know?

2008-08-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

We are know that yawning is contagious, but did you know your dog could catch it? A new study from researchers in Birkbeck’s School of Psychology (London) said that we can actually pass our yawns to domesticated dogs. Who knew!

In the event of an emergency...

2008-08-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

In light of the recent fire at the Millennium Apartments we all need to be aware about what to do if ever there is an emergency. Where are your pets going to go? How do you get to them? All these things are terribly important! In the coming days we are going to be bringing you more info and resources about this. To receive a free sticker to place on your door alerting fireman that you have animals (and how many) send me an email at onceabali@yahoo.com

Here are a list of things to do now to prepare:
-Prepare a list of emergency phone numbers, and keep it handy.
-If your pet has any special needs, such as a special diet or medication, or is an exotic pet (including reptiles, birds, fish), consider their requirements in your disaster planning, before you need to evacuate these animals.

-Have identification for each pet. Make sure that phone numbers are current. Be sure your pet ALWAYS wears a well-fitted collar with proper identification, is micro-chipped or tattooed. ID tags and pet carriers should include your phone number(s) as well as the number of a contact outside the affected region.
-Ask a dependable friend or relative who lives some distance away if you and/or your pets can stay with them during an emergency.
-Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets during times of emergencies, and any restrictions they may have.
-Make arrangements with trustworthy neighbors for pet care if a disaster strikes and you cannot get home in time to evacuate.
-Find boarding kennels within and outside your area. Know where they are, who stays on the premises with the animals in the event of a disaster, and what provisions would be made if the kennel should have to evacuate during a disaster.
-Listen for public service announcements during a disaster that may instruct you to take your pets to a temporary emergency animal shelter. For these places, you must do the following:
-Get a portable pet carrier for each pet. These carriers should be large enough for the pet to stand up and turn around in. Get your pet used to the carrier ahead of time. Snakes may be kept in plastic containers, and birds need their cages.

Phone numbers and links to follow....

We have arrived!

2008-08-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to the future site of the Furry Smiles Blog! We are so excited to bring you this new feature to our site and business! Here you are going to find pet news, links, important info that every pet owner should know, and you'll get to learn a little bit more about us and what we do! You'll get some photos of our incredibly cute pet of the week, hear some funny stories from us, and read some great feature-ettes from friends and other pet owners! So bookmark us, stay tuned, and we can't wait to hear from ya!

Furry Smiles Blog

"I'm so sorry I peed on the rug" and other obvious evidence of animal regret

"I'm so sorry I peed on the rug" and other obvious evidence of animal regret

Susan Boyle Reunites with Pebbles; Going on Tour with "Britain's Got Talent"

From Paw Nation:

Susan Boyle Reunites with Pebbles; Going on Tour with "Britain's Got Talent"

Going green with your pet

Top Green Pet Tips

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT

This week, Our New Web Address..

New book Alert: ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN

ALL PETS GO TO HEAVENThe Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Loveby Sylvia Browne

Celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day

Celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day

What's going on this week?

If ever a statue should be built in the world....

October's Pet Loving' Recipe of the Month!

Mid-Day Doggie Potty Breaks

Furry Smiles might be there, but you definatly should be!!

Petsmo Tip of the Month (September)

How funny are these?

Did you know?

In the event of an emergency...

We have arrived!

ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN
The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love
by Sylvia Browne