Think Small - Shop Big

Today, Saturday, November 27th is Small Business Saturday - an initiative spearheaded by American Express OPEN, the division of the credit card giant that serves small businesses, the campaign supports the locally owned businesses that help give neighborhoods their character.

Here are some facts that are presented on the Small Business Saturday website:

• According to Civic Economics, when $100 is spent in a small business, $68 of that somehow gets returned back to the local community.
• According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses employ half of all private sector employees.
• Also according to the Small Business Administration, small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.
• Again, according to the SBA, 60 to 80 percent of new jobs generated every year during the last decade have been from small businesses.

 

Civic Economics also produced a study which measured economic effects of small locally owned business and big-box retailers.

This study examined financial data from 15 locally owned businesses in New Orleans and compared their impact on the local economy to that of an average SuperTarget store. The study found that only 16% of the money spent at a SuperTarget stays in the local economy. In contrast, the local retailers returned more than 32% of their revenue to the local economy.

The primary difference was that the local stores purchase many goods and services from other local businesses, while Target does not. The study concludes that even modest shifts in spending patterns can make a big difference to the local economy. If residents and visitors were to shift 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would generate an additional $235 million a year in local economic activity, creating many new opportunities and jobs. Likewise, a 10% shift in the opposite direction - less spending at local stores and more at chains - would lead to an economic contraction of the same magnitude. Another noteworthy finding of the study is that locally owned businesses require far less land to produce an equivalent amount of economic activity.

We are a small, locally owned independent business, and do believe that businesses like ours help the community in numerous ways. Yes, I shop at the big box retailers and don't want them to go away, but I like the diversity small businesses can bring to a community.

Shopping at a local independent business isn't just the only way you can help. They need you to talk about them with your friends. Share them every chance you get. So, in the spirit of helping all small businesses during Small Business Saturday, I encourage you to share some of the locally owned independent businesses you like, and I will start us off with some of the ones we use and like.

• Sabores Mexican Cusine - In Bentonville just down 8th street, we like this restaurant because we think the food is fantastic, and the service has been spot on. Lunch prices are very reasonable and the staff are always bright and cheery.
• Lewis and Clark - I love this place. I've bought camping and backpacking gear here and bicycle gear as well. Staff is very friendly and believe it or not, the prices here were cheaper than Sportsman's Warehouse when it was open.
• Sweet's Fudge Kitchen - up in Eureka Springs, this shop is a chocolate lover's dream. I have yet to have anything from this place that was anything less than amazing.
• Napoli's - To us, this is the most authentic Italian we've found in the area. I have had something different each time we've been, and never been disappointed.
• Melody's Choices - This shop is just amazing. Tons of cool gifts for any person on your list. I cannot remember a Christmas that has gone by where we haven't found something in here for someone special.
• Shirley's Flowers - Hands down the best flower shop in NWA that I have used. They are always beautiful and never disappoint.
• Jim's Razorback Pizza - We now live in Lowell, so use the one here and the pizza is always great. I went to college when Jim's was in the UofA student union. It was always a treat to get a fresh slice in between classes around lunch time. I don't think their pepperoni can be topped.
• Dilly Dally's - Ok, we've never been in this store, but if we shopped for the two legged variety of kids, this would be one place we would frequent I think. Such a fun looking toy store. Reminds me of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - at least from the windows.

There you go - there are many more that we like and use - I could list reviews here all day long, so just because it's not on this list doesn't mean we don't like it.

p.s. - I used Yelp for all of the review links. When we were in Denver, Yelp was our best friend. It never failed to deliver an outstanding restaurant that was within walking distance while we were in downtown. We don't use Yelp much in our community here - not like they do in Denver. So, I encourage you - if you like a local business - give them a review and help share with everyone else out there. I can tell you as a small business owner, that kind of feedback is what keeps you going when the hours are long and you seem to be stuck. I will if you do!

Humane Society of the Ozarks 17th Annual Dogwood Walk

After one postponement and one rescheduling, we finally had the 17th annual Dogwood Walk at Gulley Park in Fayetteville. I think it always cuts down the turnout when you postpone or reschedule, but despite that I think this was still a good event. Northwest Arkansas has some great pet events every year, and this one is not an exception. It was a little soupy, but what's a pet event without a few muddy paw prints on your pants?

I think I would give the "Best Booth" award to the "Love and Peace" booth from Weddington Animal Hospital this year. Their booth was so creative.

We should have the winner for our "Guess the cookie jar" contest ealy this week, so stay tuned to see if you are the winner!!!

Day of the Dog

We had a fantastic turnout at Dog Days Down Town yesterday. Probably the best turnout I've seen in the three years it's been going on, despite threatening weather. We gave out tons of samples, and had quite a few guesses as to "How many treats were in the treat jar". We'll announce the winner next week.

I had to laugh this morning when I saw the Record's article in this mornings paper. Of course, we didn't get any media play (we rarely do), but the funny thing I thought was that Purina did, as

"Purina handed out healthy dog food".

They were giving out samples of Beneful dog food.

I gave a presentation yesterday at this same event on how to read dog food labels, and what nobody but Sharon and my wife knew at the time was that my whole presentation was based on using Beneful as an example of what to look for to avoid, as I think Beneful is one of the worst foods out there on the market. I did not realize Purina would be there giving out samples of this food until we noticed mid morning that people were walking around with their sample bags of Beneful.

So, I changed my presentation at the last minute to "play nice". Those are real people at that booth just doing there job, and I didn't want to pick on the people - just the corporation and the horrible offering that they bill has "Healthy dog food".

If you actually heard my presentation, then you know that you really only count the ingredients before the fat, and for Beneful, this is the ingredient statement:

INGREDIENTS
Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, sugar, sorbitol, tricalcium phosphate, water, salt, phosphoric acid, animal digest, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, sorbic acid (a preservative), L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried peas, dried carrots, calcium carbonate, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, added color (Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 2), DL-Methionine, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, copper sulfate, biotin, garlic oil, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, sodium selenite.

Ingredient statements, by law, must list the ingredients in descending order, so what there is the most of will be first. This is all filler and mystery chicken meat. If you read a little further, you also see soy (and my research on what soy does to dog food). Look how far down the list "carrots and peas" are. There are photos of these on the front of the label, but that far down is like a tablespoon's worth in the whole bag. What is "Animal Digest"? I'll have to ask Erin - she's the Animal Science/Nutrition major at our house.

Folks, this is anything but healthy dog food, but they've got the media behind them and their multi-million dollar marketing campaign to make the public think this is healthy food. Picutres of vegetables are anything but a representation of whats in the bag.

I actually witnessed someone going to the event yesterday, skipped every booth that was there, and went straight to the Purina table to get their "free bag of Beneful", then mentioned to his girlfriend/wife that "this is the only reason he came". If you look at the serving size required for Beneful, it's no wonder the sample bag "looks like you are getting a real bargain" for free. In five days, you are giving your dogs a "whole extra serving" because they can't digest all of those fillers. Beneful's serving sizes are HUGE!

I bought a bag of Beneful to use as a visual aid in my presentation, which I ultimately did not use. I'll have to just throw it away now - my dogs won't touch the stuff. I guess they got some money even out of me anyway. Maybe it would work as fertilizer for my flower bed?

Some days I feel like we make such good progress in our mission to educate the public of whats really going on - to actually read ingredient statements - to understand and care what those ingredient statements actually say. Yesterday was not one of those days.

I guess the Purina guys can laugh. They got what they needed out of yesterday, and the little, local dog bakery didn't get anything across about ingredients, even though I chose that to be nice. Maybe I shouldn't be so nice from now on. How do you combat brainwashing?

I wonder what would have happened if I had gotten everyone at the event yesterday to turn over their sample bags and read the ingredient statements along with me, as I explained what those ingredients actually are. If I'd known that they would be getting in the paper as "handed out healthy dog food", I might not have been so nice.

Springdale Gets New Animal Shelter Director

Lindsey Droste is no longer supervising the Springdale Animal Shelter. As of Monday, Brett Harris is the new director. No specific reason was given as to why Lindsey is no longer with the shelter, other than she moved out of town.

Harris started work in his new position Monday, taking over after former director Lindsey Droste moved out of town. Harris was picked from a pool of 23 applicants, according to David Tritt, human resource director. Tritt, Mayor Doug Sprouse and Public Works Director Sam Goade, supervisor of animal services, interviewed five candidates.

"Harris has a very impressive resume," Goade said. "His experience made him a very good candidate."

Harris, 39, has served as a police officer, an animal control officer, a veterinary technician, an animal caregiver and an euthanasia technician. He holds a bachelor's degree in animal physiology from the University of California in San Diego.

Harris worked in Montana and Colorado before moving to Northwest Arkansas with his wife and two children. His wife, the former Candice Kettle, is a native of Springdale.

You can read the entire article here. We thought Lindsey did a good job improving the shelters image, and are sorry to see her go. We are always excited to get a chance to work with the rescue groups and shelters who are trying to make a difference, and we're looking forward to meeting Mr. Harris and seeing if there are ways we can work together to help better the pet community here in NWA.

Arkansas Animal Cruelty Bill Is Signed Into Law

A bill making aggravated cruelty to cats, dogs and horses a felony on the first offense has been signed into law.

Gov. Mike Beebe on Wednesday signed the bill that makes aggravated animal cruelty on first offense punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to six years in prison. The bill also includes a five-year sentencing enhancement for anyone convicted of torturing an animal in the presence of a child.

Animal-welfare groups had sparred with farmers and hunters over past attempts to stiffen the state's animal cruelty laws, but supported this bill after negotiating a compromise. Read the article here.

We for one applaud this - as in "it's about time"! Hopefully this will present a deterrent for those creeps that like to use kittens for target practice. (we're watching you!)

The NWA Regional Mobility Authority

I’ve read several posts on various blogs now blasting the Regional Mobility Authority and their desire to expand the infrastructure in Northwest Arkansas. Now, I don’t consider myself a wealthy business owner, but I am a business owner, and I have noticed how little people like to drive in NWA. Honestly, I don’t blame them. We’ve got one artery that connects Fayetteville to Benton County, and it is literally taking your life in your own hands when you venture out. Couple this with absolutely no east-west conduits except the strip that connects 540 and 71 in Fayetteville just south of the NWA mall makes it very difficult to go anywhere. Our metro area is over 450k people, which is big enough to sustain lots of different types of businesses, but with the severe constriction in transportation options, you greatly reduce how many trips we make down to Fayetteville to enjoy some of our favorite restaurants, not to mention how many customers we have outside of Rogers that really don’t like making the trek to our store.

If you take a metro area like Dallas for a case in point. Even though sometimes it’s bumper to bumper crawl due to a wreck or sever congestion, there are several highways (35, 45, 75, et al) and the 635 loop. Everyone hops on the 635 and gets around Dallas quite easily most of the time. It’s not uncommon to take 30 minutes to get somewhere, but that gives you the entire Dallas proper as your playground. Now, take someone who lives in Rogers, but would like to go down to Dickson Street or a nice restaurant. Yes, 540 usually gets you there (except it is often bumper to bumper at the pleasant grove exit for no apparent reason other than people can’t merge properly) but that only gets you to the edge of Fayetteville. 25 minutes to get to Fayetteville, and another 15 to 20 to get across town through all of the stop lights. It’s not really that far if you compare driving distances from someplace like Dallas, but risk your life slamming on your breaks because nobody can merge and the highway really needs to be 6 or 8 lane, and then endure stop light after stop light, and then it’s almost too much trouble to want to go anywhere.

We hear the same stories from a few of our Bentonville customers that are just going to Rogers. What’s the best route to our store if you live in Bella Vista? I think this infrastructure deficit is choking out small businesses more than anything. The local shops that “Keep Fayetteville Funky” and give you dining options that aren’t met by fast food or chains. These local businesses directly support our local economy. All of the profits stay local, as opposed to just the local salaries. My wife drives 8 miles into Springdale from our house, and it takes 30 minutes down 71 - and thats the only way to get there. That is ridiculous.

Northwest Arkansas is suffering from severe urban sprawl, and the only way we are going to keep business booming is to expand our infrastructure faster than we have been. The biggest improvements have been in Rogers. It’s taken some time, but New Hope is now a very viable east-west conduit to get across Rogers with minimal lights. 40th (or 45th, I can’t remember which it is) is also a great route to get from 71 to New Hope, with minimal lights. We need more of these, and if possible, some express ways that will get you from one east-west end of each town to the other with no stop lights.

The state is not going to pony up in proportion with the growth this region has had. I know they are spending tax dollars on replacing gravel roads in SE Arkansas, and if I lived there, I would want the gravel road in front of my house paved also, but each city is going to completely die from the inside out. Rogers downtown is in this cycle. The Fayetteville square is struggling, and I see lots of property for rent in Springdale’s downtown as well. Lots of effort and discussions have centered around how to revitalize these historic areas that are rich with history and nostalgia, but the only thing that is going to truly save them are roads that will take people there quickly and effortlessly. I am not a member of this "Elitist Group" as they are being called, but I do think they are on track for the whole of NWA.

I don't necessarily agree that the move to XNA in Highfill was a good idea either, but it did offer some room for growth. If I recall, every flight went through Dallas, and then out to where ever you were going, so an extra layover plus hour flight time is about a net zero if you are driving to Tulsa for a cheaper flight. :P

Nigerian Puppy Scam Hits NWA

This was found on the 40/29 Hometown News website:

OARK, Ark. -- Oark resident Rosetta Darter saw an ad in the Clarksville paper offering two free Yorkshire puppies to a good home. Darter thought it was too good to be true."I thought man, I'm going to get a Yorkie," said Darter. The only contact the ad offered was an e-mail out of Nigeria, so Darter responded but soon found out what the catch was. "They said if I would go in half on the shipping they would send me the puppies to the Fort Smith Airport," said Darter. The shipping cost was $600. Darter's son-in-law found out what his mother-in-law was about to do and immediately told her it was a scam. He even wrote back to the e-mail address offering $150. The person agreed. That's when the family knew for sure it was a true scam.

Police say scams out of Nigeria are common and not much can be done.
"It's been around for years, since the '50s. The United States Secret Service and Federal Trade Service is working on trying to combat that and find ways to stop it," said Fort Smith Detective Ronald Scamardo. Police advise, the safest tactic is to
never give out your personal information or money to someone you don't
know.

Original Article is here

Springdale Animal Shelter Helps Out

Caught this interesting post from an email. Not sure which paper it was from. I think it's great to see this kind of community support!

Animal Shelter Helps Out
Reported by: Brad Reed
Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 @10:15pm CST

For pet owners who are struggling to make ends meet -- help is on the
way. The Springdale Animal shelter is offering free dog food, cat food
and kitty litter to those who really need it.

"We're here for the animals, but we're also here for the people, too.,"
says Lindsey Droste, Manager of the Springdale Animal Shelter. "If
they're in a hard time, we want to help them out and we want to help
them keep their pet."

You can also get help from the Humane Society of the Ozarks. They offer
an Emergency Outreach Fund to those in need.

Getting Started in Lure Coursing

We have another guest blog, this time from June Sayer, who works at Lowell Veterinary Clinic as their staff groomer, and also works with the NWA Kennel Club. She and her husband have started a lure coursing group here in NWA, and have been holding trials and fun runs at various events such as Ward Nail park in Lowell, and Murphy Dog Park.

Getting Started in Lure Coursing

The purpose of non-competitive lure coursing tests is to offer sighthound breed owners a standardized gauge to measure their hounds' coursing instinct. The purpose of the competitive lure coursing trial program is to preserve and develop the coursing skills inherent in the sighthounds and to demonstrate that they can perform the functions for which they were originally bred.

Although lure coursing events are artificial simulations of coursing, they are designed to measure and develop the characteristics of the sighthound breeds.

Lure coursing tests and trials are sports and all participants must be guided by the principles of good sportsmanship both on and off the test and trial fields (Regulations for Lure Coursing Test and Trials Handbook, Chapter 1, Section 1, page 1).

Sighthounds are a special group of hounds that are bred to hunt by sight. The sighthound breeds are: Whippets, Basenjis, Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Afghan Hounds, Borzois, Ibizan Hounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Salukis and Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

To provide a test for these breeds AKC instituted the Lure Coursing tests and trials in July, 1991. These Tests and Trials utilize a 'lure' of white plastic strung around a course of 600 to 800 yards in an open field. They are meant to preserve, test and develop the coursing instincts in these breeds. Your first step to learning about lure coursing is to get a copy of Lure Coursing Rules and Regulations and familiarize yourself with what is required to enter the various events offered. Dogs must be at least one year old to run at an AKC-approved event. Dogs with breed disqualifications are not eligible. Check the standard for your breed or the Lure Coursing Regulations for more information.

The lure coursing Tests offer the Junior Courser (JC) and Senior Courser (SC) titles. In the Junior Courser test the dog runs solo and is required to run at least a 600 yard course with four turns under two different judges. For the Senior Courser test the dog must be eligible to run in the Open Stake by virtue of having a Junior Courser title; must run with at least one other dog and must earn a qualifying score at four AKC tests under at least two different judges. To earn the Master Courser test the dog must earn 25 qualifying scores in the Open, Open Veteran or Specials Stake and have a Senior Courser Title.

In the lure coursing Trials the dogs can earn a Field Championship (FC) by accumulating 15 points with at least two first place wins of three points or more under two different judges or judging panels and at least one point must be earned in competition with at least one hound of the same breed.

Once a dog has earned an FC, they may continue to compete in order to earn a Lure Courser Excellent title (LCX). They must accumulate an additional 45 Championship points at which time they receive the LCX title. If they wish to continue to compete, they can continue to accumulate Championship points in increments of 45 and earn additional LCX levels, i.e. LCX II, LCX III, LCX IV, etc.

To find out more information on lure coursing or sighthound clubs in your area you can find them through the Club Search and for information on lure coursing events in your area use our Event Search. Coursing is a good way to keep your sighthound mentally and physically fit and nothing is more fun that seeing the sheer joy on your sighthound's face as he courses his 'quarry' instinctively.

June Sayre

These events are very exciting to watch, and if you have dogs that love to chase, this might be an ideal sport to get into. If you would like more information on Lure Coursing in NWA, please contact June at skbt4@sbcglobal.net.

Candlelight Vigil held at Murphy Dog Park

I have been begging Toni to guest blog about this, or get me some numbers so that I could share with you guys, but I have been unsuccessful. So, here's my take on it:

Toni Carter organized the Candle Light Vigil for Homless dogs at Murphy Dog Park on Saturday, August 16th. Animals that were Eutanized in shelters were honored, with uplifting stories of rescues and the benefits of having dogs in our lives, with speaker Chaddie Platt from Dog Party USA. Jackie from Pets Rock posted pictures of the vigil here.

Shelters across the country take in 6-8 million animals each year. In 2007, the Rogers Animal Shelter took in 1182 surrenders and strays. Of that number, 326 (31%) were rescued, 167 (16%) were reclaimed, and 550 (53%) were euthanized. The Fayetteville Animal Shelter's euthanization rate was 47%.

The best research done so far indicates that the only way to combat these statistics is through an agressive, low cost spay and neuter program. NWAAR offers a low cost spay and neuter program in Benton County, and the Fayetteville Animal Shelter operates one in Washington County. For more information, visit Spay Arkansas.

Bentonville Pet Ordinances

It would appear there is some confusion about what is permissible in the city of Bentonville with regards to pet shelters, rescues, and adoption organizations, and whether or not they can have adoption events within the city.

I know a bunch of cities in Northwest Arkansas recently passed ordinances banning the sale or give aways of pets on random street corners, and some cities require permits to do this. I also know that Rogers passed exceptions to this for businesses that are in the pet industry (petco) and shelters, rescues, and adoption organizations.

The Bentonville Code Enforcement officers were recently called on a lady doing an adoption event, of which I do not know all of the details, and was ordered to cease. I do know that I have been trying to work with the city to put on an adoption event on or just off the Bentonville Square (They are still doing construction I think) during the Farmer's Market on some Saturday, and all of my efforts have been thwarted by the city attorney, citing that it is illegal to sell pets on public grounds. Who is selling pets?

Does anyone know how the ordinances read for the city of Bentonville, or who the city attorney is? I would love to pick this back up again, but they are making it difficult. If anyone knows anything about this topic, please email me.

Exploring Northwest Arkansas' Dog Parks

As of June, 2008, there are only three off-lead dog parks that I am aware of in Northwest Arkansas that are completed. Here's the rundown:

Each park has it's own rules, which may include: being up to date on all vaccinations, aggressive dogs prohibited, dogs must be spayed or neutered, puppies must be older than 6 months, owners must stay within sight of their dogs at all times, no spike collars, a maximum of 3 dogs per adult, owners must clean up after their dogs, absolutely no females in season, no glass, no tobacco products inside the fencing. If you do not know your parks rules, check for signs or ask.

Murphy Memorial Dog Park
407 E. Nursery Road,
Rogers AR 72758
(479) 631-9909 (Steve and Toni Carter)
This is a fenced in park with big dog, little dog, and training sections. Loaded full of trees, picnic tables, benches, toys, and a dog wash station, this is a beautiful park to take your four legged friends to on a nice Saturday morning. Often host to annual dog events, like the Easter Egg Hunt and Responsible Dog Ownership Day, MMDP is really at the center of the dog community of Rogers. Sitting in front of the Humane Society grounds, prospective dog owners can take their dog for a walk down to the park and let them get some exercise.
Registration/fee required.

Fayetteville Animal Shelter Dog Park
1640 Armstrong Road
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-444-3456

Big open fenced in area with toys, bag, water and benches for owners. Don't forget to come inside and pick another play mat. Only open during the day until the sun goes down. Location: Right behind the Fayetteville animal shelter. Directions: Just turn right on to industrial drive and then pull in to the shelter and go around the back. Here is the Fayetteville Animal Shelter's website.

There are rumors of a new dog park being discussed as part of a $20 million Fayetteville parks project. Here are some articles: article, article discussing it from December, 2007. This almost sounds too good to be true, but hey!

Ft Smith Dog Park
Corner of Massard and Louisville Streets
Ft Smith, AR 72904
The Fort Smith Dog Park is dedicated to dogs and dog lovers. Like most dog parks, our purpose is to provide off-leash exercise and socialization opportunities for our four legged companions while promoting responsible dog ownership through events and programs. The temporary park was established through the efforts of the City of Fort Smith Parks & Recreation Department and the Fort Smith Airport Commission. For more information, visit their website.

Bentonville Bark Park - NOT YET COMPLETED
Walton and NW "A" Street
Bentonville, AR 72712
Plans are currently underway for this to be Bentonville's first off-leash dog park. No fencing has been installed yet. For more information on current developments, visit their website.

If anyone has any photos of their dogs enjoying any of these dog parks, or perhaps one I don't even know about, send them to me!

Fayetteville Dogwood Walk at Gulley Park

Despite a cold start to the morning, dog walkers were out in full force Saturday at Fayetteville's Gulley Park. A great turnout, and a great finish to the day makes it all worth while. Our free sample treats were such a hit this year we had to call in reinforcements, despite bringing twice as many from last year.

Fayetteville dog walkers snapped up the goodie bags quickly, and were very excited to learn that we were offering free shipping to anywhere in Arkansas - greatly helping with the current gas crunch. We know it's hard to get up to Rogers on a weekly basis for our yummy, all-natural treats. Those fortunate enough to get a goodie bag were also treated to more free samples as well as a coupon for 10 free treats from us at our store in Rogers.

Demonstrations highlighted with agility training by Canine Connection, and Arkansas Search and Rescue, as well as the myriad of vendor booths from folks like us, and the shelters and rescues made for a great amount of information for participants.

This video is just a panoramic shot of Gulley Park during the Dogwood walk. The walk itself is very impressive to see, with the line of people stretching from the gazebo all the way to new north parking lot. I was so busy this year chatting with people I didn't get a chance to photo or video the actual walk - maybe better luck next year!

NWA Has a New Pets Magazine

BigWag at Springfest

The weather was perfect at Springfest on Saturday, April 26th 2008. These are some pictures of our booth in "Doggie Alley" along with Dog Party USA and the Humane Society of the Ozarks.

Last year we got roasted, burnt and crispy, but our new booth design really let us spend more time in out tent with our customers talking about our treats, Lupine collars, and the cooling collars we had this year. The cooling collars were a big hit. They absorb water and slowly evaporate it over several hours, creating a cooling effect around your dog's neck.

There was a dog parade that started down at Wassabi's at 2:00 PM, and ended at Doggie Alley, which was down by the train bank. Prizes were given away for the most unique dog, the most Springfest Spirit, and the biggest wag (of course!) .

The video is of a little boy that went dance crazy with our mascot "Bubby" the BigWag Dog. He was so cute. Bubby helped lead the dog parade, took pictures with the kids down on Dickson street, and helped people find Doggie Alley. Bubby should be making another appearance at the Dogwood walk this Saturday, May 3rd, 9 AM at Gulley Park in Fayetteville.

We'll also be having a booth at the Bark Park walk the same day. If you would like more information about the up comming events, check out our pet calendar.

One Year Anniversary of the Pet Food Recall

Hey Folks!

As we near the one year anniversary of the horrible pet food recalls from last year, I would like to take this opportunity to let people comment on any experiences they may have had, as well as give any opinions on what could be done different. Currently, absolutely nothing has changed legislatively, and all FDA recalls are voluntary with self regulation. Why has nothing changed in the last year to help protect our pets from future outbreaks like what happened?

I have read in other blogs that what happened in the US in 2007 happened before in China in 2004. Obviously these companies do not care about anything other than short term profits. The Chinese governement protects their companies from lawsuites. What safety protocols should be in place, and how do we enforce them? Are we prepared to sit by and do nothing, opening the door to similiar events in the near future?

As a consumer, you have a vote. I don't buy any food or treat made outside the United States. Apparently, these companies are not only still selling products, but are raising the prices to offset lawsuits from last year. YOU are paying for their mistakes. YOU are paying for the lawsuites against these companies. How does that make you feel?

These companies want you to sit by, idely buying their products because they spend millions of dollars to help you forget. Chime in, I want to hear from you! How has the recall affected you, and are you satisfied with what was done about it?

Februrary is National Pet Dental Health Month

Most people don’t realize it, but February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Yep, animals have a month to increase their awareness too. Actually, it’s really to help owners realize how important dental health can be for your cat or dog. Here are a few facts most owners don’t know:

*Good oral health alone can increase your pet’s lifespan by 2-5 years

*80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by the time they are 3 years old

*Dry food alone may not be enough to prevent tartar build-up

*Rawhides and other “hard” chew toys are the #1 reason for broken teeth in dogs.

*Dental disease isn’t just a mouth problem—it can affect the heart, liver, and kidneys.

*Severe dental disease leads to bad breath, painful mouths, inability to eat, and tooth loss.

Sounds bad, right? There are actually a lot of ways to combat dental disease, if you only know about them. The first and most important thing you can do for your pet is brush their teeth. Starting when they are puppies and kittens is best (you have those “practice teeth”), but even adults can learn to tolerate or even enjoy a good brushing. There several flavors of toothpaste specifically for animals. My personal preference is vanilla mint, since they have that lovely minty fresh breath after brushing, but you can also find poultry, beef, liver, and malt flavors. They even have tuna for the picky feline. As long as you are brushing at least 3 times a week, you are doing a great job at reducing bacteria and early plaque that forms the tartar.

So—not a chance of brushing teeth, huh? Well, you can try one of the many products developed for those problems animals that are either too painful or fearful to have their teeth brushed. There are the obvious dental treats, from Booda’s Talk to Me Bones to NutraDent chews, Nylabones, Greenies, etc… CET chews, available through your veterinarian, come in several varieties designed to be given daily. These are coated in an enzymatic formula to help kill bacteria that form plaque. The most important thing to remember with ANY of these products, whether digestible or not, is to supervise your pet! Just like a toddler, any of these chewable treats can be swallowed in a large piece and cause problems.

Another popular way to control bad breath and mouth bacteria is to add products to your animal’s water bowl. Think about it…every time they get a drink they are also rinsing their mouth with an antiseptic wash. It doesn’t have a flavor, and even cats will drink water with these additives. The most popular at the moment is CET Aquadent Solution, which contains chlorhexidine.

So—your pet’s teeth are already bad, now what? All hope is not lost! Make an appointment with your veterinarian and have your pet’s teeth evaluated. If there is significant infection your vet will probably prescribe some antibiotics to take for several days before the cleaning procedure. This helps to reduce the risk of a secondary infection. They will also evaluate your pet for any other health concerns that need to be addressed when anesthesia is used. Unfortunately, most pets feel about the dentist like we do---SCARED! This just means that light anesthesia is used to make sure that everything goes smoothly. The use of an endotracheal tube, which goes in their trachea, also minimizes the risk of putting any of that nasty tartar or bacteria in the lungs. Most pets go home the same day their teeth are cleaned with much better breath and more comfortable mouths.

An important consideration when cleaning the teeth is whether or not to add sealant, such as Oravet, to the teeth. Most of the time the enamel is already damaged, so you may notice the teeth looking dirty again within 6 to 8 months of cleaning. A sealant allows all of the small imperfections of the enamel to be protected, and you can go much longer between cleanings. This is especially important in older pets and in pets with another health condition, such as heart disease. Talk to your veterinarian about this new product.

And for root canals, braces, crowns---see your local veterinary dentist. That’s right—there are veterinarians who specialize in dentistry. Dr Bill Scott is a veterinary dentist located in Clarksville, AR, who can do cosmetic and surgical dentistry.

For more information about veterinary dentistry and how to help your pets keep their teeth in top shape, visit www.petdental.com. You can learn about diets, products and see demonstrations on how to brush teeth.

-- Courtesy of Dr. Vava Hooper from Rose Animal Clinic, Bentonville, AR. Rose Animal Clinic is offering $20 off all cleaning during the month of February.

Another Rawhide Story

Here's a story that is circulating the internet right now. It's a tragedy for sure:


To Whom It May Concern...(Is There Any Justice For The Loss Of My Bestfriend) November 08, 2007 5:40 PM

Well on Oct. 28, 2007 I had to get my most loyal and loving BlackJack put
to sleep because she was so sick and dying...I still can't believe she's gone forever. My baby was only about 3yrs old...I will not let go what happened and I want my voice to be heard !!!!! I purchased some rawhide bones from the 24hr Walgreens on Main St. here in High Point, N.C. when I gave my dog one within an hour of chewing half of the bone my BlackJack became sick, vomiting very badly...this went on for a few days and she seemed to get better or so I thought, I noticed her gums, tongue, skin, and white of her eyes was yellow...I was like no way, my dog has jaundice so I took her to the vet. They kept her for 3 days and done blood tests, X-ray, IV's, Etc. and they ruled out blood disease, foreign objects, any kind of blockage, and said my dog was way too healthy & had very good bloodwork prior to get this sick, this fast!! They sent her home with me and wanted to try medication...but nothing worked she just got sick more each day until she could barely walk & would not eat, she was suffering and the outlook didn't look good even with surgery as weak as she was...It was like she had been poisened, even the vet that put her to sleep said that...and she had from that bone. Now I'm at war with the company and want some justice for the life of my bestfriend, she was the kind of dog that if your lucky you might run into one once in your lifetime. Now take note on the information below:
- There sold at: Walgreens
- Brand Name ( Bag O Bones )
- Company Info: Specialty Products Resources Inc.
49 Harrington Rd.
Waltham, M.A. 02452 USA
Tel: (781) 894-1411
Fax: (781) 894-1811
Website: www.specialtyrawhide.com

Please Check Out & Sign The Petition To Make Sure Another Bestfriend Is Not Lost!!! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/a-life-lost

---------------------EOM--------------------------

At first glance, I want to rush out and sign this petition. I know rawhide is a horrible product, and more is sold at this time of year than any other. But there is so much information out there about rawhide. You can google it, read blogs about it, talk to your vet about it, talk to your boarder, your local dog bakery, trainers, fellow dog parkers; I would think there has to be information about how rawhide is so bad coming at people from every angle. If that is really the case, then why do people still buy it? Stores wouldn't stock it unless people were buying it.

There is another part of me that thinks, with all of the information available at hand, how is this person not personally accountable for this? Stores simply sell what people want. If nobody wanted it, good or bad for you, nobody would sell it. Doesn't that make us, everyone who buys rawhide products, accountable for this also? Anyone thats purchased rawhide in the last year send this person one dollar, and she'll feel better. Like that will ever happen. Now, if this was something new, a new product that's untested, a mistake, never happened to anyone before. I could see some accountability on the part of the company. But rawhide, and the horrible stories that go with it, have been around a long time. I think it's really up to us to spread this word. The companies and manufacturers aren't going to stop making it unless everyone stops buying it. Stores like Wal-mart are going to continue to sell it, because it keeps making them money. It's only small stores like our bakery that take a stand on junk like this (See Rawhide is for shoes).

I won't sell rawhide, I've never sold rawhide, and I won't even sell the pressed rawhide, which is supposed to be the lesser of the evils. If there should be a petition, lets tell the retailers we don't want this in the stores anymore. Lets get this on the news so other people know about it and can make an informed decision. Let's not just sue the retailer for punitive damages. Put your money where your mouth is - or your dog's mouth anyway. Just say no to rawhide. There are plenty of alternatives. Be an informed consumer. Read the ingredients. Stores like Wal-mart are very much a democracy. If the public votes they won't buy something, it gets yanked pretty fast and replaced with something else. They have to move product off of their shelves to make money, and under performing products are always replaced quickly, or else it effects their year end numbers. Bonuses are at stake. Vote NO on rawhide! Spread the word!

The Lone Ranger Gets a Partner

For those who haven't checked out www.zootoo.com yet, this is a website that is trying to build a pet owner community and knowledge base centered around user experiences for different pet services, retailers, animal shelters and rescues, products, you name it, it's probably there. Their goal, I think, is to become the number one destination if you want a review of a pet product or service, and they are doing a good job building it up with a million dollar makeover contest for your local animal shelter.

Anyway, my point is, as I was perusing some of the reviews for some of the dog treats on this website, I started out mildly disappointed. After all, I own a dog bakery, and my whole mantra is healthy, natural, no sugar, no salt, no preservatives. Some days I feel like I am on a crusade to improve the diets of all of those disbelievers out there. With the humanization trend of pets, we can compare our dogs to our children in many cases. We wouldn't dare feed our kids nothing but sugar, salt, and artificial coloring all day, would we? They need to eat their vegetables, the food pyramid, good stuff in the tank, right? But so many of the treats you buy in the store is contrary to that stance. Sugar and salt help all the other nastiness go down easier - make the dog want to eat it.

Sorry for the digression - back to my point. I started off mildly disappointed, as I read one mom after another quip how these treats must be yummy, their dog "wolfed them down". Ick. Then, the tide turned. Someone actually mentioned that they should look at the ingredients of these treats. Too many chemicals - 1 out of 5 stars. Then another low review - look at all of the sugar. Look at all of the artificial coloring. These colors can't be natural.

Now, I know that I am not personally responsible for these readers opinions, but I don't feel like I am the lone ranger trying to help your dogs live longer and healthier. These women get it. If you are reading this, then I think you are getting it too. And that makes me proud. Most people don't know that the pet food industry was born to dispose of the people food waste. Fancy marketing was used to lull us into a sense of complacency of what we feed our pals, our best friends, our park play buddies, and our sappy movie snugglers. Even if you don't buy your treats from me, just read the ingredients. Just because it's cute and looks like a mini spare rib doesn't mean it's good for your dog. Thats all I ask. Oh, and vote for your local shelter at zootoo.com. I guess thats really two things.

How To Crate Train Your Dog In 30 Minutes

I hear complaints of people who can't potty train their dogs, or they destroy furniture at night, or the sleep in their bed with them and become aggressive if the owner wants them down. The simplest solution to all of these problems is to crate train your dog, but how do you do that? they ask.

First step is to buy a dog crate. I got mine from Wal-mart. I like the metal ones with the slide out plastic liner to make accidents easy to clean up. The only trick here is to make sure you get the right size. You don't want too small, but too big, and they will feel like they can use the bathroom at the other end of their "house". It needs to be just small enough to where they won't want to go to the bathroom - dogs have a natural sense to not potty where they sleep. If they do use the bathroom and then sleep in it, I will address that at the end.

The second step is easy. Now, your job is just to make the crate a fun place. I usually place it in the living room, or someplace they are familiar with, and let them be around it for a little while. Let them smell it, walk in it if they are brave enough, explore it, and become comfortable with it. Then, once they have had a chance to become familiar with it, I try to entice them into it with a treat. I try not to push them in - I want it to feel like their choice. Once they go in, I give them a treat, call them out, and hug and praise them a whole bunch. I repeat this, using the phrase "Do you wanna go to bed". This does two things. First, it associates the crate with someplace fun, where there are treats involved, and lots of praise. Second, it gives them a verbal cue "Bed" that they know with the crate, and the associated treats and praise. This usually takes about 30 minutes, maybe a little more with reluctant or scaredy cats.

Dogs are natural den dwellers. Sometimes draping a towel over the crate will make it more appealing. I like to put a towel with my scent on it (I rub it all over my body) and place it with a favorite toy at night so they feel close to me. Overall, the crate makes them feel safe. They will run to it when they are scared or frightened. All I have to do is mention the word "bed" and they are racing down the hall to see who can be first in their crate.

If they are young, especially puppies, they may not want to remain in their crate throughout the night. You have to determine if this is just because they want out, or because they really have to use the bathroom badly. If they just want out, then I would ignore them. They should eventually quiet down. I have used a glass of water thrown on them so that a really stubborn dog knows this is unacceptable behavior.

What you want to avoid is having them use the bathroom and then lying or sleeping in it. If this happens, you can undo any good crate training cold do. It's like it psychologically damages the dog, so that they will urinate on themselves and not care anymore. It can undo pottie training they may have mastered. I use the rule of thumb that for every month the puppy is old, they can go an hour before needing a bathroom break. Hopefully, by a year old they should be able to go all night without a problem. I have a dog that can get so distracted on their end-of-the-night outside trip that he forgets to go to the bathroom. Each dog is a little different, and you will have to find that balance and learn with them.

Getting this technique down is a great way to potty train a dog too. When you let them out in the morning, have a treat ready, and go out with them. They will more than likely have to use the bathroom if they went all night without going outside. As soon as they start, start praising them (but don't touch them - let them finish their business) and then when they are finished, give them a treat and praise and hug them. This will reinforce going outside is good. It's about the only time of day you know with 100% certainty that they will go to the bathroom, and it's really a slam dunk. The more you praise them for going outside, the faster they should catch on.