Vaccinate your animals, a decision you won't regret

In Pontiac, Michigan breaking news today was regarding the outbreak of Parvo (parvovirus) in dogs and about how Parvo has taken the lives of hundreds of dogs this summer.

The Detroit Free Press reports that shelter workers in Detroit and Flint have also had outbreaks and it is the worst she has seen in years and even Houston, Texas is showing signs of the outbreak.

Parvo affects dogs by contact with feces (pet waste) from other contaminated dogs and most of the time die after several days after symptoms appear. Parvo is a viral disease and can be highly contagious and should be prevented by a regular vaccination by your vet. Puppies get Parvo more often than adult dogs and is carried by one dog to another. The vomit and feces of an infected animal can live outside the dog’s body for as long as 10 months. Some adult dogs can have this horrible disease and show no symptoms but be a carrier transmitting to other dogs and animals.

Families that are lower income are more susceptible to their pets having diseases because they tend to skip vaccinations and regular dog upkeep and care. There are many vaccination clinics and many of the pet stores in your area that run “specials” on vaccinations, so if you cannot afford your dog to have their shots, please visit one of these portable pet care events. Call your area’s animal shelter and find out what event's are going on in your area. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona offers vaccinations twice a week for $10.00.

Without treatment 80% of infected animals will die of Parvo.

Some symptoms of Parvo are below but if you want more information regarding Parvo please visit: http://dogparvosymptoms.net/

• Depression
• lethargy
• No eating
• Vomiting and diarrhea

Bottom line is ~ no one (even animals) should suffer especially if you can keep it from happening ~ Have your dog vaccinated, do the right thing :)

Posh Puppy Boutique comes to the Westfield Mall at the Roseville Galleria!

In 2008 Westfield Mall made some HUGE upscale renovations costing over 200 million dollars. Many new stores have entered this remarkable shopping mall to be included in the 400,000 sq ft growth!

Some of the new luxurious stores include: Louis Vuitton, Crate & Barrel, Tiffany’s and Restoration Hardware. Stores such as Macy’s and JCPenney have upsized their stores and there are many new additions to restaurants and eateries. 2009 will be a very exciting year for this wonderful shopping mall with the 2nd phase approaching, new retailers will be Lacoste, Juicy Couture, True Religion and Tommy Bahama.

Posh Puppy Pet Boutique will also have a store located near JCrew in center court on Level 1 where there will be a selection of upscale doggy wear. A great little pet boutique dedicated to family, pets and gives to many charities along the way. This wonderful family owned pet boutique is a great place to find items that cater to your doggie and have great gift items! Go on by and say hello!

So, if you are in the Sacramento or Roseville area be sure to check out all the new additions and renovations to the Westfield Mall, located on 1151 Galleria Blvd. in Roseville, California. Westfield Mall is located 20 miles northeast of Sacramento .

For a map to visit the Westfield Mall at Roseville Galleria, you can visit: http://westfield.com/galleriaatroseville/gettinghere/TravelingbyCar.html

Happy Shopping!

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days - Enjoy this September!

With school being in full swing then and the summer winding down, I most defiantly would put some of these fun-filled, dog loving events on my calendar in September! If you are interested in a free and informative day for you and your family, especially if you are a dog owner or looking to own a dog soon, why not spend a day learning about the well-being of your dog and have fun too!

Melissa Gampel Owner/President of Doggie Couture Shop said "What a great event for all dog lovers and families that are committed to the well-being of animals".

September is the month that the American Kennel Club has marked Responsible Dog Ownership Days.

This is an entire month long celebration with events being held all over the county with different organizations and free events.Each different organization is planning on demonstrations and information events and all might be different.

See which event or events suit you and your family the best! Visit http://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/events/ to see where the closest event for you is and try to make plans to learn about different bits of information regarding your dog.

Some AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day events may include:

• Microchip clinics
• Safety tips for your dog
• Free items
  
  
• Therapy classes for your dog
• Also, for bragging rights to how well behaved your dog is take the AKC Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Test, sponsored by K9 Advantix. This 10-step test rewards well-mannered, obedient dogs – and is offered at many events.

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days are nationally sponsored by Invisible Fence® Brand, whose behavior-based fencing system has successfully kept over 2 million dogs safely in both outdoor and indoor environments. Invisible Fence Brand will be highlighting their commitment to responsible dog ownership this September by working with event-hosting organizations across the country to provide resources and information for pet owners. Learn more about the 2009 sponsor at www.invisiblefence.com.

Show your commitment to your doggie by signing the Pet promise petition. This petition is a commitment that you will take the best care of your dog and make it official! Do it, have the kids do it~

"Sign the Pet Promise!"

So, whether you are in Dallas, TX or Atlanta, Ga or somewhere in between or afar, make plans to attend a AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day event!

Dogs can mourn for MJ too

I must say… although I thought he might have been strange, I loved Michael Jackson’s music. I can remember my high school friend (Val) and I skating to “Keep on with the force; don’t stop till you get enough” ! What great times.. No worries, just a bunch of friends have a great time to great music. Who would have known all the drama that would surround this music man later in life.

As I watched the very moving public service for Michael Jackson, I was deeply moved by the words that were spoken about him and know that there were still people in the world that loved him and were saddened and shocked by his death. I even learned that Michael Jackson and the Jackson family once owned a German Shepard, Louie, I really thought that is choice of pets, were the exotic animals.

What better way to show your mourning for Michael Jackson than to put your best buddy in this “Goodbye Michael” Rhinestone Doggie T-shirt. It will fit any doggie from a Yorkie or small to a German Shepard! It comes in sizes X-Small to a whopping big doggie size 6X! It is affordable and the rhinestone paw is just lovely for the honoring of Michael Jackson.

If you are one of the many people on this earth that adored and liked Michael Jackson and his music, be the first to put your doggie in this great “Goodbye Michael” T-shirt.

Thank you Posh Puppy for carrying this doggie shirt honoring Michael Jackson.

Here comes the Bride.... and the dog!

Many pet owners and celebrities these days are choosing to include their pet(s) in their wedding. In many cases, the pet attending or in the wedding happens to be a dog, since dogs are most easily trained and social but I understand that cats, parakeets and other little ones have been a part of those special days too. I remember my sweet beloved Taylor (my first Weiner-dog) and how precious he was to me but I cannot say how he would do in a wedding and I am not sure if I would have wanted to find out.

I understand that it is all in the wedding planning. If you do not know how your pet will react around a group of people, I am not sure I would take the chance. Pets can be very unpredictable at times and over excited. BUT… if you are sure Fido will be an added blessing for your wedding day, I say GO FOR IT!

Why not I guess, there is even an online game where you can dress your pet for the big day. Freeplaynow.com offers a free online game where you change out outfits on your pet to participate in the blessed event. If you want a dog tiara, just add it on, if you want her with a doggie wedding veil change it up and you are ready to roll.

There are steps to take before planning your big day if you are going to include your best buddy in the festivities:

• Find out if the establishment allows pets whether it be in a church or reception hall.


• Make sure you tell your Wedding Planner about the plans to include Buster. She should know exactly what to do.


• Appoint a “temporary guardian” to be with your dog during the entire event making sure he is not overwhelmed, or needs water or simply to “relieve himself”.


• Always have a “Plan B”, just in case things don’t go as planned.


• Again.....unpredictable pets can cause an unpredictable outcome, so rehearse, rehearse and rehearse again.
  
  Most importantly in my book is for your pet to look good at the wedding!! Bridal fashion for dogs, whether they are tying the knot or involved in their owners wedding is so crucial. There are precious dog wedding outfits out there. You can spend as low as $25.00 all the way up to a $215.00 for this great Diamond Jim Leather and Swarovski Crystal Dog Vest. Don’t forget the wedding dog accessories either… the veil, the dress, the tux, the jewelry, hat and the bachelor party wear!
  
  Make sure your photographer includes your party go-er as well and have a wonderful wedding!

Beth Ostrosky Stern’s Pet Project and Doggie Couture Helps Out!

VIV Magazine contacted Doggiecoutureshop.com to help out animal activist ~ , Beth Ostrosky-Stern (wife of Howard Stern) and her pup Bianca in a photo shoot for this month’s featured article. VIV magazine asked owner Melissa Gampel of Doggiecoutureshop.com to provide dog collars for the photo shoot and of course, Doggie Couture came to help ASAP! Who wouldn’t help out someone that has the best interest of animals at hand?

In the featured article, Bianca (an English bulldog) proudly wears two wonderful collars provided by http://www.doggiecoutureshop.com/. A Bone Diggers heavy metal gold crocodile print collar and a House of Dog Wedding I Love Paw Collar. All great collars and affordable for your for your own pup!

Beth Ostrosky Stern, for several years has been involved with North Shore Animal League America, which is an animal rescue and adoption organization. She was asked to model wonderful gowns while carrying doggies down the runway. All of this work was to benefit the annual Lewyt Humane Awards Luncheon.

Beth Ostrocky Stern said “I wouldn’t leave the runway until every animal was adopted,” she is that passionate about this organization and the well-being of animals. I would certainly say that is committed! She raised more than $300,000 for North Shore Animal League America by running in the New York City Marathon last fall. She recalls her best moment of that time as being when the shelter’s staff and volunteers welcomed her at the finish line (along with her husband Howard Stern and his youngest daughter, Ashley.

A great person doing great things for animals! For more on Ostrosky Stern’s charitable causes and additional photos check out VIV Magazines July/August’s cover story featuring Bianca and her great dog collars!

Tiny Predators this summer

I am a HUGE summer time fan, love the sun, love the heat and the kid’s running around and sleeping late, I am not a fan of varmits jumping all over me or my pets!

Fleas and ticks thrive in warm weather and can survive year-round in all parts of the country. These external parasites can make life miserable for our pets and transmit serious diseases! It breaks my heart to see Copper scratching his tummy frantically.

Know your enemy:

Ticks

• The brown dog tick has adapted to survive in houses and kennels and is found just about anywhere dogs reside.
  
  
• These ticks can turn a home sweet home into a tick infested misery establishment.
• Ticks are non selective in their “host choice” and sometimes will feed on whatever makes the mistake of wondering within range.
• Most tick life stages prefer smaller hosts (rabbits, rodents etc); adults tend to feed on larger hosts such as dogs, cats and deer.

Fleas

• Fleas also love to live indoors especially in the humid months and they can multiple quickly!
• Fleas have six life stages
• With near perfect conditions, the larvae can hatch from the egg and develop to the adult stage in just one week.
• A female flea can produce up to 50 eggs per days
• Ten female fleas can produce 3500 eggs in a week

These annoying critters can really cause some irritation and sicknesses to our doggies or any pets for that matter:

• Diseases
• Skin irritation
• Allergic reaction
• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mounted Spotted Fever
• Tapeworms

Your veterinarian is the best source for help in developing an individual flea and tick control regimen for your pet or pets. He or she is the person most familiar with the season and your area as well as common tick and flea diseases.

Controlling Fleas and Ticks

• See your vet for products to help your pet ~ the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends that dogs and cats be placed on year around flea and tick control.

According to CRC Pest Control Services in the Atlanta, Ga area , the following steps help minimize flea populations:

• Vacuum regularly and thoroughly, especially where pets sleep, before and after treatment. Dispose of used vacuum bags in an outdoor garbage can. Sweep and mop all non-carpeted floors.
• Treat pets under veterinary supervision on the same day the home is treated . Wash all pet bedding in hot water.
• Treat the home and yard using a licensed pest control company. Cover fish tanks, remove bird cages and pet food and water dishes beforehand. Arrange to be away from home during this time (pets, too).

Pet owners should follow these steps to protect pets, homes and themselves:

• Treat vegetation around the home as well as cracks and voids. Ticks typically "ambush" hosts after detecting movement in vegetation.
• Carefully monitor for ticks on the body and on pets.
• When finding a tick, grasp it firmly and as close as possible to the skin's surface with tweezers. Pull upward carefully. Avoid squeezing the body. Smash and dispose of the tick in a trash can or flush down the toilet. Disinfect bite area and wash hands.

On a much happier note, try a great dog flea product called Flea the Scene! Its great! This dog flea product contains sunscreen to protect from the sun rays and it's all natural and perfectly safe even if your dog licks it off! Flea the Scene contains no pesticides or poisons and you can even use it on yourself and contains no SLS or Parabens...and of course, is cruelty free!!! This doesn’t take the place of flea and tick

maintenance but will help repel on the walk to the beach or down the street.

Another great thing to mock fun at those nasty dog critters is this perfect dog t-shirt that says “From Flea to Shining Flea”. This Fourth of July doggie dud is perfect for the 4^th of July and very affordable. SO..I guess if you MUST SCRATCH do it in doggie fashion and don’t let those pesty dog bugs get you down!

Have a great 4^th of July!