Micro Chipped Pets “Phone Home” Only 3 out of 4 Times

November 2, 2009

There’s nothing worse for pet owners than a lost pet. Unfortunately, it’s an experience that many pet owners have – for many different reasons. Maybe someone left the door open while they carried in groceries and Rover slipped out for a joy run. Perhaps they were bathing their pet in the back yard. We all know how frisky dogs get when they have a bath! There they go – and without the collar with the I.D. tag! Or the cat loses its break-a-way collar and would have come home when she got ready to – but someone picked her up thinking she’s lost. No matter what the cause, it’s a heart breaking situation to lose a pet.

A recent study published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine asked fifty-three shelters in 23 different states how many lost pets with a micro-chip they were able to return to their owners. One would think that all the pets with micro-chips would be easily returned to their homes.

In fact, shelters in the study reported that they were able to find the owners of lost micro-chipped pets in three out of four cases. Shelters wish they had a higher return rate, but many people move or change their phone number without updating their registered information.

“The point is,” says spokesperson Linda Lord, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of veterinary preventative medicine at Ohio State University , even with a pet that has a chip, “nothing replaces the need for a collar and tag with the pet’s name and the owners phone number.”

By BARBARA DENZER
Reporting for Cardinal Pet Care News
Posted 11/10/09

Sad News
Remembering Gidget

7/22/09

Gidget, The Taco Bell Dog known by pet lovers around the world for moving her lips in perfect sync to the words “Yo quiero Taco Bell” will be remembered fondly for her dozens of commercials for the fast food restaurant featuring Tacos. Gidget was euthanized Tuesday after she suffered a massive stroke at her trainer’s house in Northern California.

The talking Chihuahua (aided by computer animation of her lips) was also famous for the slogan “Drop the Chalupa” although the phrase wasn’t nearly as popular as the Spanish version of “I Want Taco Bell.”

The Fur Flies!
Pet Airways Takes to the Air

Pets everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief that they no long have to be consigned to the cold, dark, scary cargo hold or to be scrunched under a seat when they need to fly. Not to mention there will be no more fears of being left on the tarmac or not making a connection. They now have an airline of their own – and they can travel First Class! Yes, Pet Airways is a “For Pets Only” airline.

Yes, First Class treatment will include a trained Pet Attendant who is always onboard and monitoring his or her pet passengers. For pet parents, breeders, trainers and vacationers who take their pets along, exposure to high altitude cold temperatures or overheating while waiting for take-off is a fear of the past. Pets ride in comfort, in pet-parent approved carriers provided by the airline free of charge, secured by a proprietary restraint system. The aircrafts are Beech 1900 twin turbo-prop planes known for their safety and reliability.

Families shipping their pets from one location to another can track the flight on the Pet Airways website. The web also features pet travel guidelines and tips for preparing your pet for his or her flight. Fares begin as low as $149 and Pet Airways destinations include Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, New York and Washington D.C. www.petairways.com

So, that may explain those Pet Resort brochures you found under the couch . . . After all, Dogs have a reputation to live up to!

By BARBARA DENZER
Reporting for Cardinal Pet Care News
Posted 7/15/09

Dogs Teach Us About Being FAITHFUL

According to Pastor Rachel Bickford of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in North Weymouth, MA, her church is “going to the dogs” and she “couldn’t be happier.” Specifically, it’s through a Sunday evening worship service they call “Woof & Worship.”

When regular Sunday attendance fell due to sports and social events as well as lack of “faithfulness” on the part of parishioners, Bickford bowed her head to pray about it and looked down at Tugger & Indy, her two “faithful companions” (Cock-A-Poos). That’s when she thought about their unconditional love, their faithfulness to their family and part of Psalm 148, “All animals praise the Lord.” An idea started percolating.

At the risk of being told she was crazy, Bickford suggested to the other Pastors at Pilgrim C.C. that perhaps people would like to attend a church service where they could bring their dogs! After all, today dogs are not only part of our family, they are sometimes the only family people have. Surprisingly, the other Pastors loved the idea.

For almost a year now dogs have been welcomed at Woof & Worship. After the service they gather to play ball with their pets and serve up biscuits. There’s only one rule, the dogs must be on a leash.

Pee Wee the schnauzer loves to sing with the choir. Sam, the pug, is always in the front row. Chloe, the puppy, squirms until the choir starts to sing. Chewy comes with his family, a local college student. Diego inspires his pet parent to attend even when she doesn’t feel up to it. The dogs all get along. Their families have made new friends too.

Leave it to our “faithful friends” to teach us about being faithful. After all, dogs have a reputation to live up to.

By BARBARA DENZER
Reporting for Cardinal Pet Care News
Posted 7/23/09

Dog Mask Prevented Mini-Mart Robbery

According to a past article in the Pittsburg Post-Gazette by reporter Rachael Conway, the clerk at the local mini-mart in Cranberry, PA has a ticklish sense of humor, but maybe not much common sense.

Confronted by a pistol toting robber wearing a Pluto (Disney’s famous dog) mask and demanding cash, the clerk burst into uncontrollable laughter. Apparently he was laughing so hard he couldn’t comply with the would-be-thief’s request to open the cash drawer and hand over the “treats” inside the register. The frustrated, canine-inspired robber showed no loyalty to his task - he turned tail and ran.

It must have prompted local police sergeant, Dave Kovach, to wonder who was “goofier,” the robber or the clerk. He commented he did not recommend laughing as a way to thwart robbers. “Pluto could have been a strung-out heroin addict,” he cautioned. “You never know.”

That would still classify the robber as a “dog” in most circles. Sgt. Kovach is now dogging a thief in a dog mask, although at 6’ 2” he’s rather tall for a dog. Strangely, there was no mention made of calling out the Cranberry K-9 patrol.

We’d like to remind all you pet loving criminals out there that although this was obviously a “Mickey Mouse” attempt at robbery, and your cohort was probably kind of “goofy” in the first place, it’s best to save those Halloween masks for Trick or Treating or run the risk of being tracked down by bloodhounds. Dogs have a reputation to uphold.

And, talking about treats, when it comes to “treats” for our beloved dogs, Pet Botanics’ Healthy Omega Treats are sure to please your dog – no joke!

By BARBARA DENZER
Reporting for Cardinal Pet Care News
Posted 7/15/09

Five clonned dogs