Archive for December 2011

Petfinder.com Launches Third Annual "Foster A Lonely Pet For The Holidays" Program by PRNewswire

Everyone deserves a home for the holidays. That's why for the third year in a row, Petfinder.com is launching its annual Foster A Lonely Pet For The Holidays program along with hundreds of shelters and rescue groups with a goal to empty out animal shelters from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day.

"Many people do not realize just how important fostering is among the animal welfare community," said Betsy Banks Saul, the co-founder of Petfinder.com. "Animal shelters across North America have to euthanize adoptable pets simply because they are overcrowded. However, by fostering, people can give pets a place to stay while they wait for their forever home."

The goal of the program is to spread awareness about fostering and find temporary homes for adoptable pets while giving shelter workers and volunteers a much-needed break. A list of participating shelters and rescue groups can be found at www.petfinder.com/fosteralonelypet. Staff and volunteers at each organization will be available to answer questions about the fostering process and help select a pet who will be a good match for the foster family's lifestyle.

First created in 2009, the Foster A Lonely Pet For The Holidays program was inspired by Greg Kincaid's book and movie, "A Dog Named Christmas," about a young man who sets out to convince his community to participate in a local animal shelter's inaugural "Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program."

About Petfinder:

Petfinder.com is the largest online, searchable database of animals that need permanent homes. With more than 360,000 adoptable pets from over 13,600 animal shelters and rescue groups throughout the USA, Canada and Mexico, Petfinder.com has facilitated more than 17 million adoptions since it was launched in 1996. In addition to being an adoption database, Petfinder.com is an all-inclusive resource guide for how to select the right family pet and build a successful, life-long relationship.

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Give the gift of a good chew. Delicious & all natural, the way nature intended!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats & chews, and of course our bully sticks. Try our odor free bully sticks!

Take The Guessing Out Of Gift Giving With A Best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..For the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

The Holiday's is not complete with out some carols. It's time to get in the Holiday spirit with a dogs rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Bark along!!

On the first day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
The Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the second day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the third day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Six yards of soggy ribbon
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Seven scraps of wrapping paper
Six yards of soggy ribbon
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of wrapping paper
Six yards of soggy ribbon
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
My wreath in nine pieces
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of wrapping paper
Six yards of soggy ribbon
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Ten Christmas cards I shoulda mailed
My wreath in nine pieces
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of wrapping paper
Six yards of soggy ribbon
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
Eleven unwrapped presents
Ten Christmas cards I shoulda mailed
My wreath in nine pieces
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of wrapping paper
Six yards of soggy ribbon
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two leaking bubble lights
And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me
A dozen puppy kisses And I forgot about the other eleven days.

Contributed By Elise Lewis

Best Bully Sticks News!

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Give the gift of a good chew. Delicious & all natural, the way nature intended!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats & chews, and of course our bully sticks. Try our odor free bully sticks!

Take The Guessing Out Of Gift Giving With A Best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..For the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or shall we say free bully sticks!

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. The winner will win more bully sticks!

Bark the Word! Join the Best Bully Sticks Free Affiliate Program & Earn 6% Commission or 6% Product Discount

At Best Bully Sticks we consider your pets part of our pack and family. Like our beloved pugs Sushi & Espy, we only want to give your furry family member the best in healthy, safe pet products. We are constantly searching for the best of the best so if you have any feedback or product suggestions please let us know. So here is what’s new on the site and in our wag of the woods! Please be sure to check out our bark-worthy new products for everything we have added in the last month.

Now Offering Sam's Yams Cookies!

Sam's Yams Cookies - CranApple Orange Crunchers

Allow your pup to discover the wonderful taste and benefits of sweet potato with Sam's Yams Cookies - CranApple Orange Crunchers.

These fruity cookies from Sam's Yams were previously only seasonally available, but now your dog can enjoy them year round! They are sweet potato and applesauce based, packed with cranberries, apples, and oranges. Expect a highly nutritious crunchy treat that will leave Fido drooling for more!

Sam's Yams Cookies - Hoppin' Good! Crunchies with Carrots

Ever seen your pup act like a rabbit? Probably not, but doesn't mean they won't love the taste of these new Sam's Yams Cookies - Hoppin' Good! Crunchies with Carrots.

These carroty cookies are all natural and sweet potato and apple sauce based, but packed with the nutritional value of grated carrots. Your dog won't be hop hop hopping anytime soon, but he sure will be loving these cookies!

Best Bully Sticks News!

Take The Guessing Out Of Gift Giving With A Best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..For the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or shall we say free bully sticks!

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. The winner will win more bully sticks!

We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige. We are excited to spotlight the Finnish Spitz.

Height: Male 17½ - 20 inches, Female 15½ - 18 inches

Weight: Male 47-53 lb, Females 40-47 lb

Coat: The Finnish Spitz has a typical double coat, which consists of a soft, dense undercoat and long, harsh guard hairs that can measure one to two inches long. The coat should be stiffer, denser, and longer on the neck, back, back of thighs, and plume of the tail, whilst shorter on the head and legs. Dogs should sport a slightly longer and coarser coat than the females, who are slightly more refined. However the plume of the tail is important to the overall look of the dog but should not be too long. Feathered long tail hairs without sustenance can give the dog an unkempt look. Additionally the tailset is important and the Finnish Spitz should be able to move its tail from one side to the other. Most Finnish Spitz have a preferred side and this is not incorrect.

Proper care of the coat is most important. The Finnish Spitz blows coat or loses its undercoat twice a year. It is imperative that owners brush out the old undercoat so the new coat can grow properly. Excessive undercoat can cause skin problems and although a dog may look fluffy and full, the undercoat may be causing serious skin problems.

Color: They are golden-red in color, and the hues range in shade from a pale honey to a deep auburn. The undercoat is always more pale than the outer coat, giving the dog a “glowing” appearance. Finish Spitz are solid in color with white markings at the toes and the chest.

Appearance: The Finnish Spitz is a medium size dog with a square build, meaning that the length of the body is the same, or slightly shorter than the height of the withers to the ground. It should look like a fox with a fluffier coat. The length of the body is measured from the point of the shoulder or forechest in front of the withers to the rump, giving a truly square dogs a short back. Females are usually a little longer in the back. Both dogs and females should appear slightly longer in the leg.

They have pointed muzzles, prick ears and come in bright colors ranging from pale honey to vibrant golden-red. The nose, lips and rims of the eyes are black in color. The ears sit high atop the head, are erect, pointed and open towards the front of the dog. Their feet are round, like the feet of a cat and the tail is plumed and curls over the back and down the side of the dog

The Finnish Spitz is a double coated breed but the outer coat should not exceed 2½ inches at the ruff. The undercoat is soft and lighter in color than the red/gold outer coat. The undercoat will shed twice a year, and if a Finnish Spitz is to be kept healthy, a good shedding of the undercoat when the dog is ready to "blow coat" is needed.

Temperament: This breed is active, alert and lively. They need one or two long walks each day and they will be fairly inactive indoors. This breed will not adapt well to a strictly kenneled living situation; they need a balance of outdoor exercise and indoor time with the family. Finnish Spitz are considered to interact well with people and they are especially good with children. They are always ready to play with children but if ignored, they will usually walk away. As with all dogs, young children and dogs should always be supervised when together. It is an independent breed and will attach to the family while remaining aloof with strangers. The Finnish Spitz is a protective breed, with males tending to have more domineering traits than females. Most Finnish Spitz get along well with other dogs in the home. They are bred as a hunting dog and thus are unreliable around small animals, but may do alright with cats.

Health: The life expectancy for Finnish Spitz is 12  to 15 years. The Finnish Spitz is typically a very healthy breed, and health concerns are rare. Here is a short list of health problems that may occur: Hip dysplasia, Patellar luxation Elbow dysplasia and Epilepsy.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject "Spotlight My Dog" or tweet @bestbullysticks. If you are submitting your very own dog don't forget to send over a photogenic pic  and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.

Treat your dog to a stocking full of goodies and a tasty treat! Nothing say's yuletide cheer more then homemade dog treats for your four-legged family member. So make the holiday's more festive and delicious with this Nutter Butter Dog Treat Recipe. Seasons Eatings!

Ingredients:

3 1/2 c Whole Wheat Flour (you can substitute white flour)
1 c cornmeal
3/4 c. oatmeal flakes
1 medium apple
1/3 c peanut butter (or use 1/2 c. Chunky Peanut Butter)
1/2 c crushed peanuts (skip if you’re using Chunky Peanut Butter)
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. water
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Makes about 40-1″ dog treats

Directions:

1. Dice up apple. Don’t bother to peel the apple.
2. Add to a food processor, diced apple, peanut butter, oil, water, eggs and vanilla. Blend until apple is completely emulsified.
3. Add the cornmeal and oatmeal and blend.
4. With the food processor running, gradually add the Whole Wheat Flour until completely incorporated.
5. Add nuts and pulse 2 or 3 times, just enough to mix nuts into the dough. Dough will be thick and sort of rubbery to the touch.
6. Remove dough to a small bowl.
7. Roll 1 tsp of dough into a ball. Depending on the size of your dog, you may want to make a smaller sized ball.
8. Place each ball of dough on a parchment lined baking sheet and press down to form a flat disk. Dog treats do not rise when baked, so whatever size they are going into the oven, is the size they will be when baked.
9. Bake at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes. When treats are done, turn off oven and crack open oven door. Leave treats in oven overnight to dry out.

Courtesy of  Big Black Dog

Stay tuned for delicious dog recipes every Wednesday in our Weekly Drool Recipes blog series. Check out our other drool-worthy recipes! Also, remember food is meant to be shared! So be a pal and submit your favorite dog recipes to be featured in this delicious blog series by emailing us at bestbullysticks@gmail.com.

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