GLITTER AND GLAM

I went to the annual Glitter and Glam event with my friends a few nights ago. It’s Agape’s biggest fundraiser of the year having raised almost  $40,000 last year. Hosted by Kimberly Lock of American Idol fame, it was held at the Hutton Hotel this year.

Their kitchen staff also handled the catering, which was creatively delicious. It was so much fun, more so than last year. As always, they start out with the silent auction during cocktail hour with an open wine bar and servers passing around hor d’oeuvres.   Next, a few speakers talking about the work Agape does throughout the year as well as dogs being introduced that were up for adoption.

A live auction followed with some great deals presented by a few of the Predators’ cheerleaders.  Next, a fashion show with designs by Corello from Australian designer Rick Caballo.  He is also a musician and his band played during the fashion show. It was really electric.  The models and mutts were styled so 80’s retro from hair, accessories down to shoes. 

I don’t know how much was raised this year but I hope it breaks last year's record high. 

I’m already looking forward to next year.

MILITARY DOGS

I received an email today from an online company that I buy dog food from asking for military care packages for the K-9 units. I’m ashamed to say, I never really thought about this before.

So I thought I would forward it in case anyone wants to donate a few items.  I googled a few other companies and found this one. The items requested make sense… for instance, no scented shampoo.

http://www.give2thetroops.org/k9s.htm

I’m sure any thing would help. It’s probably even tax deductible.    

Very recently, PetFlow.com had the opportunity to work with HB's for Care Packages, a not-for-profit organization that sends care packages to hero dogs serving in the military.  These hardworking dogs at war are called Military Working Dogs, also knows as MWDs.  Military War Dogs are trained to detect explosives, making them extremely valuable to soldiers in Afghanistan.  German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois breeds are particularly adept at sniffing out bombs, so they're used to patrol secure installations and search both entry and check points.  US Military War Dogs have a 98% accuracy rate when it comes to detecting bombs, and they have helped save the lives of many of our soldiers.  Dogs also serve another very important purpose.  Some military dogs are therapy dogs, who serve by doing what our dogs do best at home - providing tons of love and slobbery kisses to soldiers that are feeling down.  And we all know that there's no better pick-me-up than a wet lick from a dog!

There are currently about 600 military dogs serving in Afghanistan and Iraq!  Pictured below are two working dogs, Sonja (first picture) and Edo (2nd picture) that received care packages from PetFlow.com.  We want to send them and other dogs even more gifts, but we need your help!  Listed below are items that HB's for Care Packages has asked us to send, please pick items from this list.  You can pick as little or as much as you want, and place your order to be sent to the following address:

HB's For Care Package
10424 Stone Park Rd
Richwoords, MO, 63071

Please >>> CLICK HERE TO SHOP <<< or click any of the links below to link directly to products! 

You can use coupon code HBCARE5 for $5 off any $35 order, or code HBCARE10 for $10 off any $65 order (and free shipping too).

9″ Gourmet Bully Stick - 20pack

12″ Canine Caviar Buffalo Bully Stick - 20pack

Zukes Dental Bones, Apple or Berry,

Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Grain Free Turkey Treats

L.I.T. Potato & Duck Dog Treats

Merrick GI Bone, 7″

Natural Balance L.I.T. Brown Rice & Lamb Dog Treats

Canine Caviar Buffalo Jerky, 12″

Grillerz Beefy Joint Bone

Natural Balance L.I.T. Sweet Potato Jerky Bars

Natural Balance L.I.T. Bison & Sweet Potato, Regular

Rawhide Peanut Butter Knots

Wellbars Apple & Banana Treats

Pill Pockets by Greenies

Wellness Wellbites Turkey & Duck Treats

Greenies Dental Chews, Regular and/or Large

Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Grain Free Chicken Jerky

Blue Buffalo, Bacon Egg & Cheese Bars

Holistic Selects Blueberry, Cranberries, & Apples Treats

Rawhide Rolls, 1lb

Blue Buffalo Pumpkin & Spice Bars

Pig Ears, 12ct 

Wishbone Tendons

Blue Buffalo Apples & Yogurt Bars

Beggin Strips

Beef Hooves

Pork Jerky Pumpers

Lamb Fillet Treats

Nature's Variety Duck, Sweet Potatoes, & Cinnamon Treats

Rawhide Bones, 1lb

Cadet Sarge Kneecaps

Zukes Hip Action Treats

Fruitables Pumpkin & Banana Treats

Blue Buffalo Exuberance Jerky

Newmans Own Organic Treats

Merrick Tank Knuckle

Chuckit Toys, Large/XL When Specified

Kong Toys, Large/XL
 

Please >>> CLICK HERE TO SHOP <<< or click any of the links below to link directly to products! 

You can use coupon code HBCARE5 for $5 off any $35 order, or code HBCARE10 for $10 off any $65 order (and free shipping too).

On behalf of all of us at PetFlow, and the Military Dogs working abroad, we thank you for your contributions!

GIBBS NEEDS A HOME

Meet Gibbs.  He was one of the dogs rescued with Beasley in the 100 plus dog hoarding raid “Operation Freedom”. 

A couple that lived in a condo adopted him.  They are moving now and don’t want to take him so they are turning him back over to Agape.  Apparently they weren’t the best people to handle a dog with so many emotional scars. While Beasley has been slowly making progress, this dog has regressed. 

They called me to ask if I would foster him.  I told them I couldn’t but I did think about it all weekend.  It’s so hard for me to turn away a dog in need.  But I’m still working with Beasley to try and turn her into a secure carefree pooch. And with Mac’s arthritis, I just don’t think it would be fair to all the other “kritters”. 

I’m flattered that they called me first and would trust me with another “special needs” dog but it’s a lot of work and I’m still potty training Beasley. She is doing really well in all ways (except noise… thunder, fireworks, etc.).  I suck at fostering anyway so that would put me up to 14. 

But I’m going to ask around. I hope they find someone who will have the patience and understanding to take this scared pooch. They think a family with other dogs might help bring him out of his shell.

PETSMART ADOPTION DAY

 

I volunteered for Adoption Day at Petsmart and just fell in love with Leroy.  What a sweet dog.  This is the worst picture ever of me but it shows how lovable Leroy is.

He kind of reminded me of Jamie, my sister’s dog that just went to doggie Heaven.  But he was more Lab than Shepherd.  Everyone fell in love with him. I hope someone adopts him soon.  He will make a great addition to any family. He was so gentle with all the kids and when other dogs would come up to greet him, he always took the submissive position. It would be extremely easy to put him in a house with multiple pets. He was turned into the shelter because he chased squirrels.  I’m flabbergasted by some of the idiotic excuses people come up with because they don’t want their pets.

It was a good day.  We didn’t adopt any of the dogs but there was a lot of interest and we took in about $100 plus 5 carts of food, litter and other needed supplies.

I really enjoyed it. I have been walking the dogs at the shelter but this was fun, I’ll have to do it more often.  It’s really good for the dogs to get out and have so much socialization and attention for the day.

ADEQUAN UPDATE

Last weekend, when trying to reorder Mac’s Adequan, I found it was out of stock from the online store I usually buy it from. I must have checked over 30 stores, they were all sold out. I started to panic since I only had one bottle left (3 shots-one month). I then went to the manufacturer’s site only to find out they are renovating to meet FDA guidelines and won’t start manufacturing again until the first quarter of 2014.

I’m not sure what that means but my first thought was that they are going to start making it for humans (which they should), so they have to meet new standards.  But then why wouldn’t they have a huge surplus of supply. This is not a cheap medication. It’s sells from $105 to $150 for 2 bottles so they are losing a lot of money. Or maybe they came in for a regular inspection and found something wrong. 

In doing some basic research, I found there is no generic.  I called quite a few local vets to see if they would sell me any but they had to save their small supply for their own clients, which is understandable. I did manage to get one more bottle from my vet.

After a little more homework, I found two equine products that have the exact same ingredients. Adequan was first invented as an arthritic med to be used exclusively on horses until they discovered it could be used on small animals as well.  The replacements are Chondroprotec and Ichon.  They are not FDA approved and are used to heal wounds or burns on a horse.

On day 3 of my research, I discovered some innovative veterinarians have been using both medications on companion animals.  I spoke with one, who studied Western, Eastern and Holistic medicine.  He has been using it for years.  It is also a lot less expensive.  So I ordered both of them.

I will alternate between the Adequan and the new meds just to see if I notice any difference. I will have enough to get me through the end January and hopefully by then, Adequan will be back in production. But if I don’t notice any difference, I may keep using the new meds or at least alternating.

I called the headquarters of both companies to see where they were manufactured and while Ichon used to be made in China, they started making it in the US about 10 years ago.  Chondroprotec is made in Baltimore.  They are both distributed from Kentucky.  Surprise! 

I hope they work as well as the Adequan even if I have to give the shots a little more frequent. 

GOD MADE A DOG

 



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ7AfSO2fKs