Wednesday, November 12, 2008

How Many Dogs Die at Pet Smart - And What Do You Do If It Happens To You?

Who is afraid to leave their dog somewhere?
You hear horror stories about dogs who die while
in someone's care. A dog died at PetSmart this past summer.
Actually, over the last couple years, several dogs have died at
PetSmart. But I do believe this could happen anywhere.

At any groomer. Or any
kennel. It's scarey leaving your dog anywhere.
I got this note yesterday from a reader....
"I took my Yorkie to the groomer at Petsmart this weekend and returned to the news that my dog had died. The groomers had given him water after being told that they do not feed or water the dogs unless they are boarding overnight. I had only left Carson with the groomer for 1.5hours they were under the impression he was sleep. He was not sick and was in perfect health when I dropped him off.

Please email me with legal information if
anyone can help at bizzie500 @ yahoo.com" -

or feel free to leave comments here on this site.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Winter Clothes For Your Small Dog - Not Just Cute, But Also Practical


Regardless of the size or breed of dog, winters can
be challenging for all pets. Several factors determine how
dogs cope during the winter months.
Most small dogs should wear coats and/or some kind
of footgear, if you can get them to wear them.
We got our dog used to wearing clothes when she
was a baby. So now she doesn't mind a little jacket or sweater
now and then.
Boots, she is still not thrilled with!
She gets cold very easy. So it is for her own good.
If your dog appears to be having difficulty coping with the outdoors
during winter (e.g. shivering, reluctant to go outside, unable
to get around in the snow, wants to go indoors after a short period of
time, etc.), you may have to make some adjustments. For example,
you should make sure that your dog does not stay out too long
when temperatures hit the freezing mark.
Conversely, if your pet spends most of its time indoors during the
winter, it will tend to have a significantly reduced level of activity
and may put on extra weight.

In these cases, it is a good idea to reduce the food intake slightly in order
to compensate for their lowered energy requirements. Indoor pets should
also be encouraged to exercise more frequently.