Does Anyone Know If Elon Musk Has Pets?

Dear Elon,

Hello! I would like to congratulate you on the roaring success of Tesla, in particular the Model X. I see them driving around when I'm out walking my dog and I spend a lot of time daydreaming about one day driving one of my own out to the dog park, with my dog's one ear flapping in the breeze as we race down the road.

Perhaps you might be saying to yourself, “Goodness! What's keeping you from buying one, then? Aren't you a veterinarian? I hear they're rolling in dough!” Crazy, right? I hear that too. It's a common misquote. What those people meant to say is, “Rolling in debt.” I do know one or two vets who are doing ok, but I think their spouses work in real estate, so there you go.

But we don't mind, because we love animals. Day after day after day, people come to us for animal related goods and services and ask us, “Don't you love animals? Because if you did, you would just give me this care for free.” And if we don't, we are BAD BAD PEOPLE WHO HATE ANIMALS, and that sounds like an awful thing to be. Just check Yelp! You'll see.

At first, I thought that idea was hogwash, but after so many years of having it repeated to me I thought that maybe I just missed the part of civics lecture where they taught us that no exchange of cash for goods was necessary if the person who has the goods loves animals, because that is just what you're supposed to do.

So the rule here is, if I really really really want something and you have it and you also love animals, you need to give it to me. I know it sounds nuts, but ten years of experience here can't be wrong. It's what the people expect.

Here's the deal: my car just hit 150K this month and I'm hearing a weird clanking noise that makes me nervous. And yes, I could save up on my own or pick a car in my budget, blah blah blah, but clearly this whole Animal Lover Loophole thing is a widely used shortcut to free stuff, so I figured I would give it a shot before heading down to the used car dealership. I'll even take the, uh, “cheaper” Model X 60D that just came out, I'm not picky.

I'd hate to see my sad, adorable, one eared dog stuck on the side of the road in this summer heat if I break down. We need reliable transportation befitting his status as Super Awesome Dog. Does Elon Musk like animals? I think we all know what the right thing to do here is.

I'll be eagerly waiting your response.

Dr V

 

 

National Pet Fire Safety Day

Each year the lives of approximately half a million companion animals are affected by fire in their home, with close to 1,000 of those incidents accidentally caused by a dog or cat. To extinguish the concerns of pet parents, the American Kennel Club and ADT Security have teamed up to tackle this hot topic by offering National Pet Fire Safety Day (July 15) with tips that will help to protect both the two-and four-legged members of your family:

• Put out open flames: Make sure that no flame– be it from candles, cooking appliances or a fireplace– is within reach of your barking buddy or purring pal. A cat or dog can easily tip over a votive candle with their tail, so remember that no flame should ever be left unattended.


• Purchase flameless candles: Offering the warm glow of a wick candle without the worry, the light of a flameless candle comes from a harmless light bulb.


• Remove stove knobs, or use stove knob covers: Dogs and cats can accidentally turn the ignition knobs on a stove, which is the number one place for the origin of a house fire.


• Use stainless steel or ceramic water bowls on wooden decks: Never leave a glass water bowl outdoors on a wooden deck! The shafts of sunlight which stream through the glass can act as a magnifying glass, heating up and igniting a fire. Opt for a ceramic or stainless steel pet bowl instead.


• Keep your furry friend near the front door when you are not at home: Ensure that firefighters have easy access to your pets by keeping your canine or cat companion in rooms near your home's entrance. To further aid firefighters, collars and leashes should also be at the ready in case of an emergency.


• Keep puppies safe with a crate or baby gate: Keep curious young pets in a secure area of your home, far from any household item that may start a fire.


• Install a monitored smoke detector: While battery-operated smoke alarms can alert pet parents of a fire while a person is at home, a smoke detector connected to a monitoring system allows emergency responders to be informed of a fire even if you are not present.


• Inform firefighters of family pets with a pet alert window cling: Affix a sticker to a window at the front of your house alerting firefighters to the number of four-legged family members reside in your home.


• As more businesses are starting to invite employees to bring their pals with paws to the workplace, pet fire safety in the office is also a priority. Trupanion and the Seattle Fire Department offer tips to create a fire evacuation plan in pet-friendly offices.

Looking for more pet holidays? Check our Pet Holiday Calendar!

Photo credit: DepositPhotos.com

#PawPromise Adoptable Dog of the Week: Cooper

Hi! I'm Cooper. As you can see by my photos, I have the look of a silver screen star, so I was named after Hollywood heartthrob Bradley Cooper. I've got soulful eyes and golden hair just like a movie idol, and check out that cool mohawk action I've got going on my back! I'm dreaming of the day when I'm cast in the role of a lifetime as a loving pet parent's canine companion. Won't you help me land a coveted part in a forever home?

As you can see by my “résumé,” just like the Oscar-nominated actor I was named after, I'm a guy of Limitless talents! I know how to “sit” for treats, and I seem to win the friendship of every person and pet I meet thanks to my charming personality! It also appears that I've been housetrained, which shows that I've got brains as well as beauty!

A one-year-old Cocker Spaniel/Field Spaniel mix, Cooper has been neutered and is up to date on his vaccinations.

Cooper is just one of the many dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in the care of LA Animal Rescue's network of fosters. Located in Chatsworth, California, the volunteer-run non-profit organization saves companion animals who have been abandoned, surrendered or were facing their fate in a kill shelter.

Help the Adoptables of the Week with Your PawZaar Purchases!

Ten percent of the week's proceeds from purchases in our PawZaar store will be donated to help the adoptable dog and cat of the week from this month's PawPromise rescue organization. Help with your purchases of our pet-friendly jewelry, bags, cookie cutters and more!

Photo Credit: AdoptaPet.com

CHIP IT GOOD! Lost Dog Reunites With Mom One Year Later

More evidence that micro-chipping is where it's at! A year after Vincent disappeared, Deanna Corrine's investment pays off in Jack Russell-sized dividends.
Read more

Who's Top Dog? Time to Vote in the #HeroDogAwards

They've already won top dog honors in their respective categories, and now eight four-legged finalists in the American Humane Association's 6th annual Hero Dog Awards are trying to win the hearts of voters who will help to decide which stout-hearted Spot is named 2016 American Hero Dog.

The Finalists

Through August 24th you can vote once a day for your favorite Fido:

• Arson Dog: Judge, a seven-year-old Labrador retriever, has worked more than 275 fire scenes since his start in service in 2011. The number of arson fires has dropped dramatically (52.7 percent!) since Judge began working with the Allentown Fire Department, and through his role he has helped to educate the public about fire safety by taking part in over 500 programs and demonstrations. The kind-hearted canine is also a part of a pilot program to teach lifesaving information to children with autism. Judge's charity partner is Paws with a Cause.

• Emerging Hero Dog: His ears were crudely cropped, his tail broken, and his tongue removed at the base in a cruel attempt to make him a bait dog, but no one can break Hooch the French Mastiff's indomitable spirit. Led to a better life by Zach Snow of Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue, today Hooch is a therapy dog, working with children who have been abused, are autistic or have special needs. Hooch's charity partner is Pets for Patriots.

• Guide/Hearing Dog:  Ten-year-old Hook “…is everyone's hero, not just mine” according to his hearing-impaired handler, who was saved from both an intruder and an oncoming train by his four-pawed pal. Speaking about her faithful companion, his handler, who works as a family therapist, stated that Hook “…is not only sensitive to my needs but to the needs of others. When he sees a patient in distress or crying he will leave our chair, go sit in the patient's lap and lick their tears. He has brought smiles to many children, teens and adults in our practice.” Hook's charity partner is Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.

• Law Enforcement Dog: Retiring in 2016, ballistics/bomb dog K-9 Roo has been on the scene for at least 500 “shots fired” calls and 200 calls to investigate suspicious packages. After looking for secondary devices on Boylston Street after the Boston Marathon bombing, Roo was the only Boston Police K-9 present for the capture of Dzokhar Tsarnaev, diligently searching the yard after Tsarnaev's capture to ensure that the terrorist had not planted any IEDs to kill responding officers. Over the years Roo has been entrusted with the task of protecting the mayor of Boston, the President of the United States and heads of state from all corners of the globe, and has guarded the public at major events such as a Red Sox game and a New Kids on the Block concert. The courageous canine has also brought smiles to the faces of children in hospitals and by performing demonstrations at community events. Roo's charity partner is K9s4COPS.

• Military Dog: In a search for injured or live combatants and explosives in an enemy compound in Afghanistan, Layka took four rounds from an AK-47 in her shoulder. Removed from the scene by her handler, she was flown to a base where her right leg was amputated. Transported to Germany, more surgery helped to repair her shoulder and triceps. Back on American soil, Layka was moved to Lackland Airforce Base to recover from her injuries, and in August 2012 the courageous canine was medically retired. Layka's charity partner is Combat Canines: The DDoc Foundation.

• Search and Rescue Dog: A proud member of the volunteer non-profit Maine Search & Rescue Dogs team, Kobuk located a 77-year-old diabetic suffering from dementia, who was lost in the Maine woods without food, water or her medications. Kobuk's charity partner is National Search Dog Alliance.

• Service Dog: The first mixed breed dog to be honored with the American Kennel Club's “Award for Canine Excellence,” Gander was saved from a high kill shelter and learned obedience training by a women's prison program prior to his training with Freedom Service Dogs in Englewood, Colorado.  Today he travels across the country with his handler/favorite human, raising awareness of PTS, veteran suicide, and the ability of service dogs to help those with both visible injuries as well as wounds we cannot see. Together Gander and his handler have helped to raise a million dollars for various veterans' organizations, service dog charities, and individuals in need. They sponsored the first ever service dog education conference, and have inspired others through presentations at schools and community organizations. Gander's charity parter is Canine Companions for Independence.

• Therapy Dog: Homeless, hit by a car and paralyzed, four-year-old Mango was facing her fate in a shelter when she was saved by Emma's Cleft Palate Chihuahua Rescue. Once recuperated, Mango was put in Emma's Rescue Reserve program, which was created to place paralyzed pups with pet parents so they could work with disabled veterans who suffer from physical disabilities. Mango not only helps humans discover that they can overcome their challenges, she also helps fellow disabled pets through Mango's Freedom Wheels. Donations for the group's endeavors have helped to purchase over 150 custom-built wheelchairs so animals can regain their ability to be mobile. Mango's charity partner is Hand in Paw.

Each one of the eight finalists has won $2,500 for their preferred charity partner. The dog dubbed American Hero Dog will also receive an additional $5,000 for his or her paws cause.

Along with the pup-loving public, a panel of celebrity judges will also determine which of the deserving dogs fetches the Hero Dog Award's top title. This year's lineup of animal-loving luminaries who will cast their vote for America's Hero Dog for 2016 are Adrienne Maloof, Ashlan Gorse Cousteau, Bailee Madison, Blake Koch, Victoria Stilwell, Jennifer Arnold, Jerry Means, Joanne Horowitz, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Laura Nativo, Lisa Vanderpump, Lou Wegner, Miranda Lambert, Prince Lorenzo Borghese and Shara Strand.

Tickets are currently available for the star-studded awards ceremony, which will take place on September 10th at the Beverly Hilton. Can't make it to the awards show? You can see all the action when The Hallmark Channel airs the two-hour special The Hero Dog Awards in late October.

Photo Credit: Hero Dog Awards/ Facebook

Fido + Fluffy's #FreebieFriday Says Happy July!

OK, with the noise (and noise and noise…) of the Fourth out of the way, we hope everyone can now just relax and enjoy this summer month! Although the temperature here is just too hot for a vacation (100+ degrees every day now), we're planning some doggie day trips every week, most centered around swimming.

We hope you'll take time from your summer plans to enjoy our weekly Fido + Fluffy's Freebie Friday blog hop which we co-host with To Dog With Love and CatTipper! Some of the giveaways below are our giveaways–but others are found elsewhere on the Internet. If you're a blogger with a pet-related giveaway, be sure to link up! Please link directly to your giveaway, not to your home page. (PLEASE don't link to non-giveaway posts.) We post a new blog hop every Thursday afternoon at 4pm ET.

And please enter some of the giveaways! You never know when you might get lucky!

Disclaimer: Each giveaway has its own entry rules. CatTipper, To Dog With Love, and DogTipper assume no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet product giveaways to be offered. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.

Assembling a Kuranda Dog Bed

We received a Kuranda bed for review. As always, all opinions are strictly our own and we only share products that feel you will enjoy!

If you've ever visited a shelter, you're no doubt familiar with Kuranda beds. These sturdy beds, with a chew-proof frame and no exposed fabric edges, help keep dogs off the concrete floors of shelters. Easy to clean, they're ideal for the rugged use of a shelter.

But these beds are also a favorite in pet homes, especially for dogs with arthritis. The cot-like structure keeps the weight off your dog's joints as he sleeps, and a removable fleece pad makes it cozy during the winter months.

Recently we shared the Kuranda “Identity Crisis” contest with you and, in return, Kuranda sent us a bed. While the bed is too small for our dogs, we know that a lucky shelter dog will be excited to use the bed as he or she waits for a forever home.

The Kuranda beds come unassembled so we put the bed together before we donated it. Years ago during the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge National Championships, I took part in a fun event where we assembled Kuranda beds for a local shelter:

Shelters often have Kuranda assembly parties, too, so we were curious just how difficult it would be to assemble the bed ourselves at home.

First we poured out the pieces (with Lucky's supervision, of course)…

Basically the bed box includes the fabric, four sides, eight pieces for the corners, four legs, and four feet.

The sides slide onto the fabric top…

Make sure everything's lined up…

…then start attaching each corner…

We slid on the legs, popped on the feet, and voila, we were done! In all, it took under half an hour to assemble the bed. If you're assembling multiple beds for a shelter, I think assembly would be much faster. (And, without Lucky's help, it might be a little faster, too!)

A big paws up for Kuranda beds and for keeping dogs comfortable, whether in shelters or at home!

Kuranda Dog & Cat Beds has been dedicated to making products for the health and comfort of pets since 1987. Its “Donate a Bed” program has enabled hundreds of animal shelters and rescues all over North America to receive dog and cat beds donated by their supporters. The company is family-owned and operated, and all products are manufactured in Glen Burnie, MD. All Kuranda beds are guaranteed chew proof, are easy to clean and provide great relief for pets' joints with their unique off-the-ground design.

Be sure to follow Kuranda on Facebook and Twitter pages and sign up on the Kuranda website to receive an email alert to keep up with news and giveaways!