There’s a lot of talk in the world about diseases and viruses being spread by mosquitos and other insects, and one of those concerns is actually right here, in Canada, but this time it’s our four-legged friends who are at risk. No flea or tick bite is right for these beloved friends.
These homemade Valentine heart dog treat bags are the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the dog in your life. This potato stamp project is an easy and fun kid’s craft.
The holidays are upon us, and we spoke with Celebrity Pet Expert Harrison Forbes for a few tips on eliminating stress for our best friends during the busy holiday season. Here are his ideas on eliminating pet stress.
Most of us can agree that leading a healthy, fulfilled life is all about balance. We strive to eat nourishing, delicious food, find a form of exercise we enjoy, broaden our horizons through lifelong learning and surround ourselves with people we love and trust.
Given that my dog just sort of got impounded (it wasn’t my fault)… I thought I should do a shout out to the SPCA! Especially if it’s called National Cupcake Day.
National Cupcake Day on February 24th, is the first-ever collaborative fundraising effort supporting animal welfare societies across Canada. It’s easy and delicious to participate. Register your participation online at: www.nationalcupcakeday.ca; plan a cupcake party at work, home or school; start fundraising by encouraging friends and family to donate online in advance; bake your favourite cupcakes; share them with family and friends; and collect donations to prevent cruelty to animals. All proceeds will support furry friends, big and small, who have been abused or abandoned, or are in need of help. For more details, please visit the website at www.nationalcupcakeday.ca.
Everyone is encouraged to become a National Cupcake Day Host and join an exceptional group of supporters who understand the importance of companion animals in our lives. Here’s how to get involved:
- Beginning Jan. 6, register for FREE at www.nationalcupcakeday.ca
- You will receive a FREE Cupcake Host Welcome Package in the mail, which includes a poster, sticker, balloons, fundraising guide and recipes to get you started
- Personalize your National Cupcake Day Online Bakery page and send it out to everyone you know
- Encourage friends and family to support you by donating online
- Plan your National Cupcake Day Party for home, work, school or wherever you think people would love to eat your cupcakes
- Bake, decorate, eat and share delicious cupcakes to raise funds to support animals in need
- Collect and forward funds to your local SPCA (visit www.nationalcupcakeday.ca for details)
Pupcake Recipe – for your four-legged friend!
Serve up these doggy cupcakes in moderation – we don’t want your poodle addicted to strudel!
Pupcake Ingredients:
2 ¾ cups water
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ teaspoon vanilla
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup dried apple pieces (you can also use fresh fruit)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 egg, beaten
4 tablespoons honey
Baking Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°. Spray cupcake tin with cooking spray. Mix wet ingredients thoroughly. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients slowly, scraping well to make sure no dry mixture is left. Pour into cupcake tins. Bake for 30 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the centre and if it comes out dry, they are done. Cool completely and serve. Store in a sealed container. Makes 12-14 cupcakes.
Safety during Halloween extends to the entire family including pets. These safety tips from PetSmart will help ensure pet parents and their pets have a safe and fun Howl-O-Ween.
· Keep them happy. “Before having pets join in the Halloween fun, it’s important to assess whether your pet will be comfortable participating or if the festivities will cause undue stress,” says Dr. Simon Starkey, pet care expert at PetSmart. “Pets may be alarmed to find a ghost or witch at the front door so make sure there’s a quiet space away from all the activity in case your pet needs it.”
· Make sure treats are pet friendly. Many Halloween treats are not pet-friendly, especially those containing chocolate. Make sure to choose pet-safe treats to celebrate, such as GREENIES® Dental Chews, which also keep pets’ teeth clean and ensures their breath isn’t scary.
· Keep them safe. If you plan to walk your dog around the neighborhood in the evening, make sure they’re properly outfitted and at ease around strangers and crowds. An adult should always have control of the dog’s leash, and reflective leashes, collars or ID tags are essential accessories. Some pet costumes also offer safety features such as the glow-in-the-dark Martha Stewart Pets™ black Halloween skeleton costume.
· Decorations without danger. Halloween decorations can be scary, but should not be dangerous. Pet parents need to make sure curious cats and dogs are unable to reach lights, decorations, candles and other festive items.
Severe heat can inhibit the safety of babies and children. With global temperatures on a slow march upwards, heat waves such as this are unfortunately likely to become more frequent than their previous once-in-a-lifetime occurence. Some people adore the heat, but babies and children as well as pets and elderly relatives are vulnerable to heat strokes, dehydration and other serious heat-related ailments. Here are some tips on surviving the heat.
