Photos from Bark at the Ballpark

Hey Everyone!

Last weekend was jam packed with events and this week has been pretty hectic, so I'm kinda behind on my blog posts. These are just a few pictures we took at last Sunday's Bark at the Ballpark out at Arvest Ballpark. It was pretty hot out there, but we still had a great time and Sam and Cary even made last Monday's Democrat Gazette(of course, there was beer involved - it was the Hague men after all!)

Before the game begins!

Cary and I

Brandi and Peggy enjoy the game

Waiting at the concession stand. Can you say hot dogs?

Maggie the ferocious beast!

Wags & Licks (that's dog for thank you!)

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who donated at Tuesday's Puppy Shower Yappie Hour. The skies were threatening ugly weather and you still came out to give. We collected so many cleaning supplies I can't even mention them all without sounding like a shopping list. Plus, we got dry and canned food, bags full of blankets and towels and even collars and Walmart gift cards.



I dropped all the items off at the Humane Society yesterday and Clay was very thankful. He told me they've been distributing dog food to people who just can't afford it right now, because that keeps people from surrendering their animals and making the Humane Society fuller. So, I can never truly say thank you enough to all of you for helping not only homeless animals but less fortunate people as well. I am honored to have such truly beautiful customers.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

Hey Everyone!

Saying good-bye is never easy, but as a small business owner, I find it particularly difficult, because everyone who works for me is a part of our business, our dream, our livelihood and our family.  So it's with sadness that I type this post to let you all know that Terresa is leaving us.  Over the past two years, Terresa has been the creative force behind Bigwag, coming up with countless new innovations from recipes like Beachy Peachy Starfish to endless types of hand decorated treats that everyone has come to expect at the holidays.  She has pushed us all to create cuter, more colorful barkday cakes in a range of designs.  She will be sorely missed.  At the same time, we are happy for her and her family, because she is taking a full time job that will mean new opportunities.  So, thank you, Terresa and good luck in the future.

  One of Terresa's most recent cake designs

Margarita Treats were just one of Terresa's many creations

P.S. Terresa will be here Monday (Memorial Day) morning, so if you'd like to drop by and wish her well, you can see her then.  She's also promised to help out with our birthday on July 24th and I plan of holding her to that!

Play Ball Photo Contest Winners

Hey Everyone!

Announcing the winners of our "Play Ball" Photo Contest - Bill & Nancy Gross with their photo of Miss Mollie and Brett & Erin Clark with their photo of Jaina.  We had planned on choosing one photo as a winner, but both of these entries were so perfect in their own unique way that we couldn't choose just one.  Congratulations to both winners, who receive a pair of tickets for today's Bark at the Ballpark Naturals' game.  Also, congratulations again to Robbie Cornelius, who won the drawing for two tickets at Tuesday's Take Me Out to the Ballgame Yappie Hour.  If you weren't a winner, we'd still love for you to join us today.  The game begins at 2pm at Arvest Ballpark, but if you'd like to go with our group you can meet us at Bigwag at 12pm.  If you're wearing yellow, you will get a surprise!

This is Miss Mollie, among her many balls.  Nancy points out that she's even sitting on one.  We loved this picture because it so embodied the theme of play ball!

Erin titled this photo of Jaina, "Thinking Outside the Box".  When I received the e-mail, I couldn't see the picture immediately but I could read the title and as the picture downloaded, I wondered how it was going to be outside the box.  I wondered if there would even be a ball in the photo.  When I finally saw the photo, I laughed so hard!  It's just too cute and clever to pass up!

Faces of the Humane Society - May 2010

Hey Everyone!

I went out to the Humane Society yesterday and took more pictures of the beautiful animals out there.  This May edition is focused on puppies, because this is the time of year when there are lots of puppies that need homes.  Not all of these dogs are tiny puppies, but they are all young dogs.  And as a bit of a soap box for a moment, Please Spay or Neuter your animals.  It's the only way we will ever end animal homelessness!

Please remember that Tuesday, May 25th from 5-7pm is our Puppy Shower for the Humane Society.  Bring in donations such as cleaning products, healthy dog food or gift cards to be donated to the Humane Society and we will give you 50% OFF your treat purchase!

Also, a few weeks back, I told you that I had news about an adoption, but Clay wanted me to hold off, because he didn't want to jinx it.  Well, here it is...  Frisco got a home!  If you remember I featured Frisco in April and told you how he had been at the Humane society for years.  Well, he and Chunk, his run-mate, got a loving home together!  I have to admit, it was kind of bittersweet for me yesterday, because I really grew to love Frisco and I missed seeing him, but I am soooo glad he finally found a home and it's even better that Chunk got to go with him!

Unfortunately, I have a bit of bad news as well.  Swirl, who had found a home after the Bunny Hop, is back at the Humane Society.  Apparently the man who adopted him lives next door to some people with a male dog who didn't take to Swirl at all and the man brought him back and said he'd have to adopt a female instead.  So, if you're looking for a beautiful, sweet, silver brindle dog - Swirl is available again!

Okay... Without further ado, the faces of the Humane Society, May 2010.

This little girl was so sweet, all she really wanted was a good scratch.

This guy was really jealous that I was taking pictures and petting the brindle girl above, so I had to humor him and get his photo as well.

This photo looks so sad, but this guy was really sweet and gentle and I think he would make a really loving pet.

This bundle of fur was everywhere and unfortunately this was the best picture I got.  Definitely had a puppy's enthusiasm for life

Can I have another treat? Please?

This little one was all over the place, unless there were treats involved

This guy was shy and will definitely need someone with patience so he can learn to trust.  And, no, he's not snarling, he's eating a huge chunk of biscotti!

Boing, boing, boing... Puppies are like that!

This little girl stole my heart.  Cary says she looks sad, but she wasn't, she just really wanted to go home!

A Bird in the Hand, Er... Mouth

Don't forget to send your pictures of your dogs playing ball before midnight Friday for your chance to win 2 tickets to Sunday's Bark at the Ballpark!

Sam and Cassie enjoy watching the birds in our yard.

Hey Everyone!

I don't have anything much today, but I do have to tell you how Sam brought the bird community down on our heads yesterday morning.

Sam loves birds. He watches them constantly and tries to catch them every chance he gets. In fact, when he has jumped our fence in the past, it has always been in pursuit of a bird. His favorites are robins and mourning doves, mostly because they're big and slow. And at this time of year, Cary and I have to keep a constant vigil for baby robins in the yard, because we don't want Sam to get them.

But yesterday morning, I apparently hadn't had enough coffee, because I let the dogs out before sweeping the yard. Sam darted out and had a ball of feathers sticking out of his mouth before I even realized there was a bird in the yard. But this day, it wasn't a robin, but a young blue jay. Big Mistake! I yelled at him and he dropped it and it flopped toward the house, but not before the adult blue jays were sounding the alarm. They began swooping down at Sam and shreiking a sound that apparently was the universal bird distress signal, because all of the sudden, I had robins and mourning doves and grackles (I think, I didn't get a great look, because I was fearing for my eyes, having seen too many Hitchcock movies!) descending on my yard. Fearing for Sam's safety, I called him back to me and we cowered in the doorway until the commotion subsided. The whole time I'm yelling at him, "Why'd it have to be a blue jay!" I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy. I honestly had no idea that birds would cross species lines like that to protect each other. It was definitely an experience I won't forget.

In retrospect, I wonder if I should have let the adult blue jays get Sam a little. Maybe a well placed peck would have detered future escapades!

By the way, I am happy to report that the young blue jay survived and flew away after he shook off the shock Sam's morning breath! :D

Thinking Twice About Benadryl

Hey Everyone!

The other day Cary and I were speaking with a customer about her dog's allergies.  Like many of us, she occasionally gives her dog Children's Benadryl to treat the symptoms of her dog's allergies.  It was at that point that Cary mentioned there had been a recent recall on Children's Benadryl.  The customer and I were both unaware of this recall and I thought that many people may have missed the recall, or else not thought about it in the context of their dogs.  So I thought I would re-post the information here for anyone who gives their dog  Benadryl for allergies.  You may also view this article from its original source here.

Recall of Kids' Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, Benadryl

43 Liquid Child/Infant Products Recalled by Johnson and Johnson's McNeil Division

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

 
Editor's Note: On May 4, 2010, the FDA cited more than 20 manufacturing problems at the Fort Washington, Pa., plant.

May 2, 2010 -- Manufacturing defects have led to the recall of 43 child and infant liquid formulations of Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl by McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

No injuries or deaths have yet been reported. The voluntary recall follows an April 19 FDA inspection of a McNeil plant in Fort Washington, Pa. that uncovered "manufacturing deficiencies," the Washington Post reports.
The company says the chances of injury from one of the recalled products are "remote." Yet consumers are warned not to use the recalled products.
"Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles," a company news release states.
If children who have taken the recalled products have unusual symptoms, parents are urged to contact a health care professional.
Parents should not give children adult formulation of the medications. Alternative brands of the products, including generic medications, are available. Parents who have questions about alternative treatments should consult their child's pediatrician.
Recalled products may be returned for a refund or exchanged for a fresh product once manufacturing issues have been resolved.
McNeil did not say how many units were being recalled, but the number likely is huge. Recalled products were distributed in the U.S., Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Kuwait.

List of Recalled Products

PRODUCTS	NDC Number
TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-144-01
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR*	50580-144-15
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. CHERRY DYE FREE	50580-167-01
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-143-15
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-143-30
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. GRAPE - HOSPITAL	50580-144-18
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.25 OZ. GRAPE - SAMPLE	50580-144-40
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSIONS
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 2 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR	50580-123-02
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR	50580-123-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-166-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. GRAPE SPLASH	50580-296-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-407-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. VERY BERRY STRAWBERRY FLAVOR	50580-493-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 1 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR - SAMPLE	50580-123-01
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR - HOSPITAL	50580-123-03
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSIONS
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COUGH & SORE THROAT CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-247-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COUGH & RUNNY NOSE CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-249-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD & STUFFY NOSE GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-253-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD & COUGH GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-254-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. MULTI-SYMPTOM COLD GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-255-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. FLU BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-386-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-387-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD & ALLERGY BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-390-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. MULTI-SYMPTOM COLD GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-391-04
MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS
CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. BERRY DYE FREE	50580-198-01
CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. BERRY DYE FREE	50580-198-15
CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR*	50580-100-15
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSIONS
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BERRY DYE FREE	50580-184-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 2 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR	50580-601-02
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR	50580-601-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. TROPICAL PUNCH FLAVOR	50580-215-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-603-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-604-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 1 OZ. GRAPE SAMPLE	50580-603-01
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 1 OZ. BUBBLEGUM SAMPLE	50580-604-01
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 1 OZ. BERRY SAMPLE	50580-601-01
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BERRY HOSPITAL	50580-601-50
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD BERRY FLAVOR	50580-902-04
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM SYRUP	50580-721-04
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC DYE FREE 4 OZ. GRAPE SYRUP	50580-730-04
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC SUGAR-FREE DYE-FREE 0.5 OZ. GRAPE	50580-730-15
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC SUGAR-FREE DYE-FREE 0.5 OZ. BUBBLEGUM	50580-721-15
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC SUGAR-FREE DYE-FREE 2 X 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM LIQUID	50580-721-08
CHILDREN'S BENADRYL ALLERGY LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES
CHILDREN'S BENADRYL ALLERGY 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM FLAVORED LIQUID	50580-535-04

*CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR is also included in JOHNSON'S Baby Relief Kit.

*CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR is also included in JOHNSON'S Baby Relief Kit.

Win Tickets to Bark at the Ballpark!

Hey Everyone!

 

You can win two tickets to Sunday's Northwest Arkansas Naturals "Bark at the Ballpark" game by sending us your favorite picture of your dog playing ball.  

There are three easy ways to enter:

1. E-mail your photo to sales@bigwag.com  
2. Post your photo on our Facebook page  
3. Send your picture @BigwagDogBakery via Twitter.

 All photos must be received by midnight, Friday May 21st.  You may enter more than one photo, just be sure to include your name and contact information.   First prize is two ticket vouchers good for any Naturals home game.  Second prize and third prize winners will receive one pound of baseball treats.  All winners will be selected by the staff of Bigwag Dog Bakery and may be used in future Bigwag promotions.

Want another way to win?  Tonight from 5-7pm is our Take Me Out to the Ballgame Yappie Hour.  All our baseball jerseys and Planet Dog baseballs will be 20% OFF.  There will be baseball treats for every dog that comes in and peanuts and Crackerjack for people.  Plus, everyone who comes in will have a chance to win two tickets to Sunday's Naturals "Bark at the Ballpark" Game!

And even if you don't win, you can still join us Sunday!  We're meeting at the store at 12pm and we'll caravan to the ballpark.  Be part of the Bigwag crew by wearing yellow and you'll get a surprise from us.  You won't want to miss out - just check out the fun we had last year!  Want more details about Bark at the Ballpark?  You can find the information you need on our Pet Events Calendar.

Cinco de Mayo Contest Winners

Hey Everyone!

I was supposed to post the names of the winners of our Shaggy's salsa giveaway on Thursday, but I got a little behind.  I apologize to everyone for the delay.  Without further ado, the winners are:

Jamie Smith

Jack & Rita

Becky Rangel

Mary Lou Pohlman

Jessica Capps

Congratulations to our winners!  You can come by the store to pick-up your salsa or you can contact us at sales@bigwag.com or (479) 631-2WAG to make arrangements.  For those of you who didn't win, be sure to check out this great local company at www.shaggyssalsa.com or follow them on Twitter. You can also be their fan on Facebook.  Be sure to look for your chance to win Naturals tickets coming tomorrow!

Lucy's Party Pics

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday we were honored to host a "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" drop-in for Lucy the Rescue Pug.  The drop-in was to celebrate two years since Lucy came into the lives of Pug Rescue and the home of  Jolene Turner.  Lucy was originally given only 3-6 months to live due to kidney failure and other health complications.  A few months ago, she was given only two weeks to live.  But Lucy continues to defy the odds and brighten the lives of everyone she meets.

 

Jolene and Cary prepare for the party (left)  Brandi decorates Lucy's cake (right)

People cupcakes and a special cake for Lucy!

Toni and Riley enjoy the party

Lucy and her sisters mingle

Lucy among her guests

Loving the cake!

Are you a Damsel in Distress?

So, this rainy spring weather brings back memories of long ago, when I was a kid and used to build forts in the neighborhood with my brother and JJ. One such fort was a tree house fort with a retractable rope ladder and a dumb waiter to haul up our sodas and snacks. We had carpet and a roof. We always had to top the last one you know.

This brings up a great activity to do with your dog. When was the last time you built a couch cushion fort? A LONG time right? Well, what better activity to do inside when it's rainy out then build a couch cushion fort? Here is why this is so great. You will more than likely be crawling around on the floor (if you are doing it right) and your dogs love it when you get down to their level. They should be interested in what you are doing. Once your fort is constructed, I found my dogs will play one of two roles - either they will play the attacker, and try to knock down your walls, or they will seek safety inside with you, against the invisible evil hordes trying to reach you inside. You could probably even build some additional forts around the house and see if they take to their own fort, and can serve as your outposts, or the enemy may use this fort to stage their attack.

Don't forget the important essentials when building your Couch Cushion Fort. Rations (snacks) will help your team get through those long siege periods, but make sure they are secured or the attackers will attempt to steal your supplies out from under your nose. I recommend treats that aren't iced, like our trainer chips, as the small serving size means they can have more than one and not over indulge.

My dogs thought this was big fun. It was giving them some attention, and weren't sure what exactly I was doing at first, but once I crawled inside they instantly knew what to do. Sam was my ally while Hannah staged her attack and then would pounce. They switched roles a couple of times, but had a blast. I think Sam really just wanted to get to the blanket.  

If you would like to check out the quintessential guide to constructing the perfect couch cushion fort, go here.

Too Big of a Wag

If your dog is an exuberant tail wagger, like one that I know (Jeff Smith), he will smack it against the corner of the treat table, or the wall and you can hear that it hits hard sometimes. I was reading an blog about a dog named Woody who sprained his tail from wagging too hard! WHAT!?! is there such a thing as too big of a wag?

Picture to the right: Jeff Smith, the winner two years in a row of our Annual Biggest Wag Contest.

About the Tail

Dogs wag their tail to communicate. The more excited or aggravated they are the more vigorous the wag. A damaged tail can be extremely painful. Veterinarian John A. Bukowski explains that tails are just a continuation of the spine. It is made up from 6 to 23 additional vertebrae. It has significant nerves near the base that contributes to the control of bowels.

Injury

Injuries to the tail are common. Vigorous wagging may smack the tail hard agaisnt a wall, piece of furniture, causing break, bruise, or sprain. A tail casn also be bitten by another dog, caught in doors, or even stepped on, if not careful. You can tell when your pooch's tail is injured when it droops and stops wagging. Check for swelling and tenderness.

Repair and Care

Tail injuries can be extremely painful. If a broken tail is crooked, it could heal that was if not set and splinted correctly. If you think your dog has sprained or injured his tail from too much wagging or any other reasons, you should take your dog to your local vet, immediately to avoid amputation or any other serious repair that could be avoided.

Sources:

http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=227&med=1

http://www.vetinfo.com/treating-dog-tail-injuries.html

Being Eaten By the Big Guys

Hey Everyone!

Cary forwarded me this article last week and I'm just now getting a chance to post it.

"Procter & Gamble, the immensely huge consumer-products company that snapped up Iams/Eukanuba years ago and put the former specialty brand on grocery-store shelves for the first time, has picked up another pet-food company.

From Reuters:  The acquisition [of Natura] may surprise some industry watchers who had wondered in the past if pet food was a business P&G would exit. The business, a relatively small one for P&G, has not performed as well as other parts of the consumer product maker’s $79 billion portfolio.

Natura, based in Davis, Calif., sells products under the Innova, Evo, California Natural, Healthwise, Mother Nature and Karma brands in some specialty pet stores and through veterinarians, mainly in the United States and Canada."

I find this news unsettling, not so much because I care what P&G does or how it might affect my portfolio (although I did happen to get this news on the day the stock market took a record hit, partly due to a shocking drop in P&G stock...)  But rather because I'm concerned about what will happen to Innova, Evo, California Natural and other Natura lines.  The thing is that these are very well respected foods.  High quality foods that I trust, as do many other educated pet owners.  What I want to know is, what happens when this big company starts imposing their rules on this "small" company's product?  In my experience, large corporations, such as P&G put the bottom line above all else.  Which means that they will soon start squeezing anywhere they can.  Maybe they change to a foreign supplier.  Maybe they change to a cheaper ingredient.  Maybe the just reformulate altogether.  In the end, the result is the same.  You end up with a good name that's no longer a good food.  I hope I'm wrong.  I hope P&G keeps Innova just the way it is.  But, if I was feeding Innova, I think I'd start looking for another food.