Bad News Bearer

Good evening everyone,

I hate to start out the blog bearing bad news. No one wants to see price increases, not even business owners. We have made it our mission to provide healthy affordable treats for all dogs. As you all know we have been in business for four years but you may not be aware that we have never changed our prices on our treats. The price of ingredients have been rising steadily since the business opened but the business had been absorbing the cost. We hate to do it but unfortunately, it is to the point where we have to increase the prices because we would not be making any profit. The good news is we made the increase as low as possible and it wont be effective until August 1st. AND tomorrow is $5 FRIDAY, so you will be able to get great deals on things like Peanut Butter, Carob, and Yogurt Chips (which, sadly, will be affected by the increase). The new prices are as follows:

Basic Treats: Were $0.33 Now $0.35

Premium Treats: Were $0.50 Now $0.55

Carob, Peanut Butter, and Yogurt Chips: Were $5.50 Now $6.50

Pupcakes: Were $1.00 Now $1.25

Howl at the Moon Pies: Were $1.00 Now $1.25

Barkday Cakes: Started at $13.00 Now: starting at $15.00

We really do apologize for the inconvenience and thank everyone for their understanding and continued support.

Our Year of Free Treats Winner!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry the blog has been a little sparse lately, the birthday party takes a lot out of us. It was great and I will post some pictures soon, along with details and thank yous. But, for the time being I wanted to post the winner of the year of free treats!




You guys made it really hard on us, we got tons of great photos. But in the end there was just something irresistible about this picture of Maddie with her cake. Nicole Harris, Maddie's mom, tells us she carried that piece of cake around for quite a while before eating it. Guess she wanted to have her cake and eat it too :D

Maddie and Nicole came in today to claim their prize and of course, I had to get a picture of that too.




Congratulations again to Maddie and thanks to everyone for participating in the contest!

Iams Feline Renal Formula Recall

P&G is recalling some prescription cat food due to possible salmonella contamination:

CINCINNATI, July 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:  PG), is voluntarily recalling two specific lots of its prescription renal dry cat food as a precautionary measure, as it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.
Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs
Lot Code: 01384174B4
UPC Code: 0 19014 21405 1

Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs
Lot Code: 01384174B2
UPC Code: 0 19014 21405 1
This product is available by prescription through veterinary clinics throughout the U.S.
For further information or a product refund call P&G toll-free at 877-894-4458 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST).
[...]
No illnesses have been reported.  A FDA analysis identified a positive result on the lot codes listed above.  Lot codes can be found in the lower right corner on the back of the bag.

Thank You Lillian, Stella & Margaret!

Hey Everyone!

I've typed this blog about a hundred times, but I can't seem to express the words that are in my heart as well as I'd like.  You see, yesterday Lillian and Stella, our winners of last year's Year of Free Treats, came in for their very last free treats.  And it made me want to break down and cry right there in the store.  I know, that probably seems ridiculous, but here's the thing.  Lillian and Stella are truly remarkable dogs.  And I feel blessed and honored to have been able to provide their treats over the past year.  I'm sure I'm still not making any sense.  Perhaps I should mention that Lillian and Stella are search and rescue dogs.  And that they recently worked at Albert Pike State Park.  Along with their owner Margaret Choffel, they do a job that I can only imagine is back breaking and heartbreaking.  I know that I could never bring myself to do their job and that makes me so grateful that they do it, because I also know that families need answers and closure in situations as devastating as the recent flash floods.  So, I feel like giving Lillian and Stella treats for a year was the very least that we could do and I feel like there will never be enough words to express how truly grateful we are that they do the work they do.

And since the words to say all of that are just not making themselves available, I will simply say this.  Thank you Lillian and Stella and thank you Margaret.  I am truly honored to call you customers.

Below is Margaret's winning entry from last year's story contest.  We will be announcing the winner for this year's photo contest at our birthday party on Saturday.

"My name is Margaret Choffel, I am part of the K-9 unit for Washington County Search and Rescue. I've been part of the team for the past ten years. My first search dog, Annie, was a hero, with finds to her credit, sadly died in her prime at five years of age. I currently have two Labrador females, Stella does area air scenting live find searches and cadaver searches.. She has helped to find lost victims, and has been on recovery missions as well, she is five years old and when she isn't doing SAR work, Stella goes to the Veteran's Home weekly to visit the patients, I also show her in local dog shows.. She loves her ball and as a Lab she loves treats as well.

Lillian is a yellow Lab, she is half sister to Stella and is a year younger at four years of age. Lillian's speciality is land cadaver, she has a very nice passive indication and loves treats as a reward. On her off time she also joins her sister in weekly visits to the Veteran's Home and likes to strut in the show ring when she can.. Search and Rescue requires lots of time and effort and is all voluntary. 99% of the expenses are born by the handler, the Girls work for treats, so a year's worth of treats for rewards would be very welcome."

Bigwag in Citiscapes

Hey Everyone!

We were recently included in an article by Wendy Teal on Pets Going Posh that ran in this month's Citiscapes.  You can check out the complete article on us and many other fine pet businesses in NWA by clicking here!

Bigwag employee has a warrant for her arrest!

It was a usual day at Bigwag, baking treats, helping guests in the store, and answering the normal phone calls. The phone rings, "Thank You for calling Bigwag. This is Brandi, how may I help you?" "Ma'am, did you say your name was Brandi? We have a warrant out for your arrest and your bond is $1,000." Erin knew immediately that there was something wrong with this phone call by the expression on my face. The voice on the the other end of the line says "Brandi are you there? Someone had turned you in for being a kind person and we have probable cause that you would be a great inmate at the March of Dimes Jail & Bail." So, I need your help! I will be turning myself in peacefully on August 5th, 2010 at MiMi's Cafe in Rogers.

Here, at Bigwag, we not only like to help animal shelters and animal related charities. We enjoy helping with whatever we can! I asked myself, "Why not?" It will be a fun and I would love to support March of Dimes Charity. I have my own website that you can check out and make donations if you would like as well. We will also have donation jars in the store! All donations are 100% tax deductible and will help to fund important research, grants, and educations to further the mission of improving the health of Arkansas' babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

If you would like to be an inmate or would like to turn in someone you know to the March of Dimes Jail & Bail, you may contact Hannah Jennings at (479) 751-5475 or hjennings@marchofdimes.com.

CNN Money names Rogers, AR #10 top place to live

CNN Money names Rogers, AR #10 in the US in it's 100 best places to live 2010.

"If you focus only on the averages, life in the typical American town frankly doesn't seem so hot right now. The median home continues to lose value. Cash-strapped state and local governments are cutting services. And unemployment, at 9.3%, is still high.


But those bummer statistics obscure one important-and encouraging-fact: There are plenty of outliers. MONEY found them through its annual search for the best places in America, which this year focused on the nation's small cities (those with populations of 50,000 to 300,000). Reporters crunched reams of data to find the optimal combo of job opportunities, fiscal strength, top-notch schools, low crime, good health care, lots to do, and many other factors that help make a town great for raising a family."

The details:

10. Rogers, AR
Population: 57,000
Unemployment: 5.8%
Pluses: Low cost of living, diversity
Minus: Strip malls

If you're inclined to dismiss a small city in Arkansas as a backwater, you're making a big mistake. Rogers is right next door to Bentonville, where Wal-Mart is headquartered.

Given the power of the retail behemoth, many Fortune 500 firms that sell it their wares have moved executives to the area. Lots of them have settled in Rogers, giving it a cosmopolitan feel. (Wal-Mart's CEO, Mike Duke, also calls Rogers home.)

They're drawn by top-notch schools and outdoor activities, including swimming and wakeboarding on the town's two lakes and golfing on its five courses.

(Not all is picture perfect: Rogers does contain some rundown areas.) Though Wal-Mart has had layoffs in recent years, the jobless rate here remains low.

To see the whole article, click here. We kind of like it too ;)

Kibble Crack - The Dirty Dozen

We know that sugary pet treats are bad. When pet treats first started out, there wasn't any sugar added as an ingredient. As large companies began vying for shelf space, two factors became universally important - cheap ingredients and that dogs love them. One of the ways large manufacturers found out they could solve both problems was to use sugar or corn syrup. These in themselves are a cheap ingredient, but dogs have a sweet tooth, and lots of sugar meant that you didn't have to really worry about adding anything else they might want, like peanut butter or liver.

Dr. Ernie Ward, pet expert for WebMD writes

"What I want to bring attention to is what ingredients are in pet treats – and why. Pet owners must begin to question why there is sugar in a treat that claims to help teeth.” Following the trend of sugar-laden children’s snacks, pet treat manufacturers are tapping into a dog’s sweet tooth to boost sales. “One of the key reasons I became involved with fighting pet obesity was when I began seeing sugar added to pet treats. I think if more pet owners were aware of this, they may choose their treats more carefully.” says veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) and author of “Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter – A Vet’s Plan to Save Their Lives” (2010 HCI). “When you have popular treats such as Snausages SnawSomes that list sugars as three of the first four ingredients, you know there’s a problem.”

And the problem is huge. APOP estimates that 45% of US dogs and 58% of cats are too heavy. That equals an estimated 89 million pets that are at high risk for developing conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and more.

Ward says the problem is linked to money – lots of it. With US pet treat sales estimated to be nearly $2 billion in 2010, the treat bowl has turned golden. “Sugar is incredibly attractive to dogs. If a dog gobbles a treat quickly, an owner is more likely to give another – and another. This adds up to more sales – and profits. In the race for pet treat profits, our pets’ health is being bankrupted.”

Ward also contends that added sugar has behavioral consequences. “Numerous studies in rats demonstrate that overfeeding sugar can create symptoms similar to drug addiction. A dog’s daily sweet treat may be contributing to overeating and other undesirable behaviors. This is why I call today’s high-sugar treats ‘kibble crack.’”

Dr. Ward has compiled a list of "The Dirty Dozen" = sugar pet treats you should avoid and why:

1. Canine CarryOuts Chew-lotta Dextrose first ingredient
2. Snausages SnawSomes! Beef and Chicken Flavor Sugars 3 of first 4 ingredients
3. Pedigree Jumbone Mini Snack Food for Small Dogs Sugars 2 of 3 first ingredient
4. Petrodex Dental Treats for Cats Dextrose second ingredient
5. Pedigree Jumbone Sugar third ingredient
6. Milk Bone Essentials Plus Oral Care Sugar third ingredient
7. Pup-Peroni Lean Beef Recipe Sugar third ingredient
8. Science Diet Simple Essentials Treats Training Adult Treats with Real Beef Sugar third ingredient
9. Cesar Softies Dog Treats Sugar third ingredient
10. Milk-Bone Chewy Chicken Drumsticks Sugar third ingredient
11. Meow Mix Moist Cat Treats Corn syrup fourth ingredient
12. Pedigree Marrobone Sugar third ingredient

Other common sugar-containing treats according to Dr. Ernie Ward:

• Beneful Snackin’ Slices – Sugar fourth ingredient
• Pit’r Pat Fresh Breath Mint Flavored Cat Treats – Maltodextrin first ingredient
• Three Dog Bakery Lick ‘n Crunch – Dextrose third ingredient
• Beneful Snackin Slices – Sugar fourth ingredient
• Busy Chewnola – Maltodextrin second ingredient
• Exclusively Dog Vanilla Flavor Sandwich Creme Dog Cookies – Sugars first two ingredients
• Canine Carryouts Dog Treats – Corn syrup second ingredient

You can read Dr. Wards full article here.

I know I don't really need to do this, but here is the ingredient statement from one of our most popular treats - Where is the sugar? There isn't any. I can't really put it any better than Dr. Ward. This has been one of our founding principles since we opened the bakery in 2006. I also completely agree with Dr. Ward - READ THE INGREDIENT STATEMENTS!

Bacon and Egg Piglets - Ingredients: Whole Wheat Flour, Oats, Water, Whey, Pork Fat, Bacon, Egg, Cheese, Yeast, Baking Powder, Garlic.

Recalls making us sick, or are we sick of recalls?

Today a front page article in the Washington Post indicates a new study shows that the US is experiencing "Recall Fatigue"

"One recent study found that 12 percent of Americans who knew they had recalled food at home ate it anyway. After Hasbro recalled the iconic Easy Bake Oven in 2007 because about two dozen children had gotten fingers stuck in the door, the toymaker received 249 more reports of injuries over the following six months. One 5-year-old girl was so seriously burned that doctors had to partially amputate a finger."

As Gina points out over on the Pet Connection Blog, this seems like a "Dump and Run" to me. What is a "Dump and Run" you ask? Well, a "Dump and Run" recall is a recall that is issued very late on a Friday, as in Friday evening, so that the recall gets minimal press coverage. This one was even worse, because they did it before a 3 day holiday weekend. Merrick issued a recall last Friday on it's Beef Fillet Squares. The recall details are here in a previous post. There has been a lot of speculation on both sides this week. Did they know about this earlier or was this unintentional? Hard to tell.

There seems to be two contributors to this "Recall Fatigue". One is this type of corporate behavior. I'm not really making the claim the Merrick's behavior was ill repute, but enough companies have done this to warrant the question. There are plenty of good examples out there of how to execute a recall.

The second is QA. Taking shortcuts across your production line is not a very good way to minimize the amount of QA failures you have. Not cleaning your equipment between production runs - like how does salmonella reach a product that is baked and never is an original source of salmonella in the first place? It has to be either the production line or the packaging equipment that was not properly cleaned in between runs or never cleaned at all. Companies are being forced to to more amounts of QA testing these days, but they really aren't making the necessary production processes or methods to prevent test results from showing the problems. Hiding, retesting because you believe the results are false positive, and trying to minimize recall impacts by "Dump and Run" tactics are all shortcuts that do not address the problem.

Corporate responsibility has got to start to look at taking the high road, because yes, I am sick of all of the recalls myself, I am sick of sorting through them all, but that doesn't mean I don't need to read or act on them. I want them to stop happening in the first place. The "cheap way out" is no longer going to cut it as our global food economy starts to become more transparent. Hiding, misinformation and misdirection may have been the way of the past, but it will be the way of the dodo bird before too long. The longer companies engage in these tactics the faster you are planning your own funeral. There are too many choices and things are becoming too transparent to make this your corporate strategy.

Birthday Press Release

Hey Everyone!

I just finished sending out the press release for our birthday party, but since you never can tell whether a press release will get picked up by a media outlet or not, I thought I'd go ahead and post it here.  That way I know that I didn't do all that work for nothing :D  We're so excited about our birthday party and the Year of Free Treats contest - We've already received some fantastic photos, but be sure to keep them coming.  You have until the 21st to submit those great pictures of your dogs eating our treats.  And you know you want a year of free treats!  (Or at least your dog does!)

For immediate release

Bigwag Dog Bakery Celebrates 4th Birthday

Rogers, AR… July 8, 2010

Saturday, July 24th from 9am-12pm, Bigwag Dog Bakery is celebrating their fourth birthday. But they don't expect to be the center of attention. Rather the focus of their party will be the pet community of Northwest Arkansas. Bigwag's birthday will include vendors and pet organizations such as Angel Pet Sitters, Friends of the Lowell Animal Shelter, Murphy Dog Park and many more. Also a focus of the party – the guests, both two-legged and four-legged. The first 100 guests will receive goody bags. Guests who don't receive a goody bag will still have much to enjoy, including low cost microchipping provided by Northwest Arkansas Animal Rescue, coffee from Mountain Bird Coffee Company of Eureka Springs, free food and free cake for both dogs and people. There will be giveaways all day with prizes ranging from gift baskets to bags of premium dog food and collar and leash sets. The day will conclude with the Biggest Wag contest and the announcement of the winner of a Year of Free Treats. To enter to win a Year of Free Treats, guests can submit a picture of their dog enjoying Bigwag treats to treats@bigwag.com through Wednesday, July 21st.

About Bigwag Dog Bakery

Bigwag is located at 2301 W. Walnut, Suite 23, Rogers, AR in Turtle Creek Plaza. It opened July 29, 2006.

Bigwag can also be found online:

Online Store http://www.bigwag.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BigwagDogBakery

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/BigwagDogBakery

Blog http://www.blog.bigwag.com

Further Information:

What: Free food, goody bags for the first 100 guests, low cost microchipping provided by NWA Animal Rescue, vendor booths, contests, prizes and much more!

Where: Bigwag Dog Bakery

2301 W. Walnut Suite 23

Rogers, AR 72756

(Behind Popeye's Chicken)

When: Saturday, July 24, 2010 9am-12pm

Why: Bigwag is celebrating it's 4th year of being business

Who: Open to the public

Cost: Free

A Friday Night Dump & Run Recall

Hey Everyone!

From time to time recalls are necessary.  It's simply the nature of food items.  Sometimes, even under the best of circumstances, things happen.  Recalls are then issued for the safety of consumers.  Unfortunately, recalls are usually not seen in this light.  They have come to reflect on the capabilities and integrity of a company.  Perhaps it is this perception that led Merrick to issue their most recent recall is such a cowardly way.  Merrick issued a recall on their Beef Filet Squares late Friday, July 2nd.  That's not only what's become known as the Friday dump and run (a technique used to minimize the media attention given to a recall) but a dump and run on a holiday weekend!  I have to think that Merrick damaged their name more by issuing this recall in such a cowardly fashion than they would have if they had simply manned up and issued the recall in a straight forward, honest manner.  But they didn't.  And that leave us as consumers wondering what we can really expect from a company that displays such a lack of integrity...

Here is Merrick's official statement:

Merrick Pet Care Recalls Beef Filet Squares 10oz Bag (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 Best By March 24, 2012) Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

07.02.2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2010
Customer Inquiries:
Other Inquiries: JAMES WITCHER, COO (806) 322-2806

MERRICK PET CARE RECALLS BEEF FILET SQUARES 10oz BAG (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24,2012) BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SALMONELLA HEALTH RISK

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling 86 cases of its 10oz “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs”pet treats (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24, 2012) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptcial.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

The Beef Filet Squares were shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures.
The treats are sold in 10oz plastic bags marked with “Lot # 10084TL7 Best By Mar 24, 2012” on the top of the bag and on a sticker applied to the bottom.

No illnesses have been reported to date. FDA collected a surveillance sample of “Merrick Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” (lot #10084TL7) which were purchased from a retail store. The sample tested positive for Salmonella.
Consumers who have purchased 10 ounce packages of “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00 – 5:00 CDT.

We found out about this recall thanks to the watchful eyes of the Pet Connection Blog.  If you don't already follow them, I recommend checking them out.

Keeping Your Dog Calm During Holiday Fireworks

Hello Everyone,

It's not the fourth of July yet but the fireworks have already begun bringing fear to many dogs. Last year, I was babysitting Sam and Hannah as Cary and Erin went out of town to visit family and I soon realized the fear that fireworks brought to some pets. Sam didn't mind the fireworks display, in fact he sat outside and enjoyed them with me on the patio. Hannah, on the other hand, was absolutely terrified! I could not get her to go outside to use the restroom and she would pace back and forth constantly.

According to Dog Star Daily, veterinary offices are filled with people looking for drugs while humane societies report a steep increase in the number of dogs wandering at this time of year.

To keep your furry friend from becoming a statistic this holiday weekend author Lisa Spector offers these tips:

1. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day.

2. Keep your dogs inside during fireworks, preferably with human companionship.

3. Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat. When scared of sounds they can’t orient, dogs often prefer small enclosed areas.

4. If possible, keep the windows and curtains closed.

5. Make sure all your dogs are wearing ID tags with a properly fitting collar. Microchips are ideal in case they get lost.

6. Leave your dog something fun to do – like a interactive toy filled with his favorite treats.

7. Train with counter classical conditioning. Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., CAAB, has a very clear definition and tips here.

8. Sound Therapy: play music to calm your canine companion.

These tips are useful with sound phobias such as thunderstorms as well. Hopefully these tips will make the holiday enjoyable for you and your pet!

It's Our Party...

Hey Everyone!

It's our birthday, Saturday, July 24th from 9am-12pm!  This year we're turning four and the party promises to be spectacular, topping even last year's event, which was amazing.  We have prizes lined up from lots of great vendors including Taste of the Wild and Lupine.  Plus we have goodies from your local favorites too!  You'll want to start warming those tails up for the Biggest Wag Contest, and in the coming days look for the announcement on how you can win a Year of Free Treats!  (Let me just say, you should start sorting through your photos now...)  But for now, the invitation: