Wine and Dogs

I’m getting ready to embark on a ‘Girls Trip’ with my two best friends to Napa Valley for a few days of catching up, celebrating friendship and of course, wine tasting!! Since I’ll be away from SwankyPet.net from Aug 1-4th (I’ll respond to all emails upon my return and orders placed during this time will be processed beginning on Aug 5th), I thought I’d share some interesting ways Dogs and Wine have become intertwined – enjoy!

Dog Lovers Wine Club
The Humane Society of the United States’ Wine Club, Pets for Life: A Dog’s Life Collection is a partnership with Carivintas Winery and features unique artwork on each bottle’s label, featuring a different dog each month with a special seasonal trait.

Wine Dogs USA:
Winemakers love dogs. Wherever wine is made, you’re likely to find a good dog sleeping in the tasting room or wandering the vineyard. The USA Edition of Wine Dogs features over 300 wineries across the United States and over 450 stunning photos of their loyal hounds. Along the way, the mutts and purebreds are interspersed with short essays by Robert Parker Jr, Dan Berger, Bruce Cass, Ralph Steadman, Cole Danehower, ML Hilton, Harvey Posert, Adam Lechmere, Darryl Roberts, Jack Burton, Joshua Greene, Sally Ashton, Zar Brooks and Craig McGill.

Find out which dog ate a couch, who chewed Bill Clinton’s leg and discover the identity of the dog who stole Robert Mondavi’s heart.

Wine Dogs USA Edition is a photographic journal of stunning pictures and great stories – created all for the love of dogs and wine.

Bark Vineyard’s wine for dogs:

This ‘wine’ for dogs, is actually a gourmet sauce that is poured over your dog’s food. There are four varietals to choose from, giving pet parents the opportunity to pair their own wines with a tasty treat for their dogs: Sauvignon Bark, Meowlot, Barkundy and Pinot Leasheo. The tasty sauces are blends of either chicken or beef stock, spices and vegetables.

White Rocket Wine – Dog House line: Featuring California grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Zinfandel and Chardonnay supports Guide Dogs for the Blind by donating fifty-cents of each bottle purchased to their life changing programs. Not only do you get to enjoy your wine but you can improve the quality of life for many blind and visually impaired individuals across the country. Guide Dogs for the Blind is a charitable organization that does not benefit from any government funding and therefore relies on donations to provide free guide dogs and training to those in need. Since Dog House Wines pledged their support for the non-profit, over $214,000 have been donated to its cause. Not only are Dog House Wines champions in terms of philanthropic giving but the wines have also earned over sixty individual awards making this brand a worthy selection for anyone... plus, who could resist that adorable dog on the label!

Pet Style Trend: Preppy Prints for Pets

As the dog days of summer come to a close, it's time for preppy pups to deck out in the hottest fashions for fall.

According to the industry's top designers for pet accessories, this fall's hottest looks will beckon back to rich hues and traditional back-to-school patterns, especially plaids. Browns of every shade will be this season's neutral tone, as in many falls past according to the owner and designer for Wool and Kashmir in San Francisco, CA: 'jewel-and earth-inspired tones will dominate this season's color palette'. "It's getting back to nature," she says. "All the colors you're going to see are going to be softer and muted. You'll have some bright ones to spark up things, but they're not going to be the really bright, bold primary type colors.

Sweater Styles for Fall

"Last fall, sweaters were very bold and bright and angular," she says. "This fall, it's softer and more organic. Designers are still color blocking, but it's on a softer tone. It's more muted, and instead of stripes, you'll see zigzags in softer colors, so it gives more of a wavy feel.

Cozy Up with Comfy, and Practical, Designs

Fabrics for this season's back-to-school pet accessories focus on comfort and style. Pet parents can look for styles in classic patterns and fabrics, such as corduroy, fleece, velvet and anything that keep our canine classmates cozy. "We make sure that all our fabrics are soft and comfortable, just like we would want for ourselves." says the owner of Pet Rageous Designs in Burlington, MA.

Stylish Preppy Print Pet Collars

At SwankyPet.net, we have focused on building a Preppy Collection that offers pet parents an excellent variety of prints to choose from. Our collection features houndstooth, paisley, tartan and pinstripe prints, with plaids in several color palettes. A traditional, tan Burberry-plaid is available, along with muted greens, rich browns and even a feminine pink plaid. Pictured here is Swanky Plaid and you can access this link to view our complete

Preppy Collection.

Swanky Pet: Auggie

Meet Auggie - a yellow lab who is absolutely dashing in his new Chocolate Stripes collar. Auggie's mom, Kyndele says they just moved to South Carolina where this handsome fellow loves to swim in their pool. Kyndele also tells me Auggie Doggie has a heart of gold, which you can tell just by looking at him!

SwankyPet.net on Pet People Place's Top Sites

Check us out at the link above and help swankypet.net become one of the top-rated pet sites! 

Dog News: Arizona Humane Society's 2008 Telethon

For those of you living in Arizona, please make plans to watch the 2008 Pet Telethon on Saturday, August 2nd from noon until 6:30pm (pacific) televised on ABC Channel 15.

This is the Valley's only pet telethon to help tens of thousands of animals at the Arizona Humane Society. This year, AZHS hopes to raise more than $500,000 to care for the estimated 50,000 unwanted, sick, injured, lost and abused animals that they take in and care for this year alone.

Viewers will be asked to pledge support to the nonprofit AHS. Donations can also be made online at www.azhumane.org. As in previous years, Scottsdale-based GoDaddy.com will match online donations up to $50,000.

As always, dozens of adorable dogs and puppies, cats and kittens and little critters will be featured during the live broadcast. These pets will then be available for adoption Sunday, August 3 at the Arizona Humane Society's Nina Mason Pulliam Campus for Compassion, 1521 West Dobbins Road in Phoenix. Also, they will share important pet tips and information about the many programs and services offered on behalf of the animals in the community. If you donate $100 or more to the Pet Telethon before August 1, you will be thanked by name on air during the telethon broadcast.

Just call (602) 997-7856 ext. 1037 or visit www.azhumane.org.

Pet Style Trend: Patriotic Pets

The Summer season and 2008 being an Election Year, has ushered in a style trend for pets - - - politics and patriotic designs.

Stylish pet owners are looking for items to help them and their pets express both their political preferences and their patriotic spirit. Instead of showing support with a bumper sticker or a yard sign, pet owners are opting to let their pets speak for them with items that make statements about their political preference.

Several red, white and blue prints allow your pet to keep in step with this latest trend. Pictured here is Glory Days – a crisp flag print. For more patriotic prints available, visit our Patriotic Collection: http://www.swankypet.net/collections/collections_Patriotic/Patriotic.php

Rescued Animals Become Mascots for Houston Groups

Here are some touching stories of rescued animals who have become mascots for the groups that rescued them, spreading messages of better treatment of animals.

BurnieHouston Humane Society
In 1996, two teens tied Burnie to a tree, doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. A police officer caught them in the act and took Burnie to HHS.

Throughout her treatments for third-degree burns and rehabilitation, Burnie remained loving to everyone. She now visits schools, appears at special events, promotes Animals' Kingdom merchandise and writes her own column in the HHS Companion newsletter.


FlashHouston Humane Society
Flash was discovered in a field near the HHS administrative building. He had likely been dumped on the doorstep during the night and dragged himself into the field out of fear.

The Chihuahua had no use of his hind legs because of an old injury. There was concern about how the 3-year-old would adjust to the wheelchair made for him. However, the instant he was belted in, he took off in a flash.

DixieCitizens for Animal Protection
The Chihuahua was 4 months old when she was abandoned at the CAP shelter along with her brother.
Dixie's brother was adopted immediately. A veterinarian technician, worried that Dixie might be getting sick, asked a reluctant Trisha Royal, CAP's community outreach director, if she would foster her.

A match was made. Royal found Dixie loved children and was a hit at CAP events.
Eight-year-old Dixie holds the title of ambassador of humane education, and her portrait is displayed on one of the CAP vehicles.


SteelyHouston SPCA
The Houston SPCA does not have an official mascot, but there are beloved office cats.
The oldest is Steely, a one-eyed diabetic cat, who was rescued in 1993 during San Jacinto River flooding. A staff member doing boat rescues plucked him from a piece of plywood floating down the river.
Steely has the administrative offices to himself. The other cats, shy Guinness, Jasper, three-legged Zoe and one-eyed Pretty Baby, live in the annex offices.


TwoferAnimals Always Believe in You
Kay Pass, founder of AABY, calls Twofer a cat-terrier. The dog lived with a group of feral cats at Kingwood College before being rescued. While living with the cats, Twofer picked up some feline habits such as washing his face with his paws.

Pass and her husband found the dog at Twyla's Friends rescue and adoption group. They were looking for a second pet to join their family, which included their Doberman, Posha, who was lonely after the death of another household pup.
When the little dog got Posha's approval, he was called Twofer because he was two dogs in one: a playmate for Posha and a companion for the humans.
Twofer, estimated to be 14 years old, serves as one of AABY's ambassadogs.


ZoeAABY
When Karen K. Boughton decided to get a playmate for Roxie, a King Charles cavalier, she heard about a cavalier puppy farm about two hours from Kingwood.
Boughton saw Lady Amanda, who had just weaned a litter of pups and was no longer considered useful at the puppy farm.

The thin dog had lumps of fur and bald spots because she had been shaved to make cleanup easier. What should have been long silky ears were cut short at the base. Her vocal cords had been cut to muffle her bark, and her breath was horrendous.
The breeders wanted $500 for the lonely pup, which Boughton paid to give 5-year-old Lady Amanda a loving home and new name: Zoe.
This year Zoe and her playmate, Roxie, are covergirls for AABY's Super Star Pets of Kingwood calendar.


MonsterHeart of Gold Reptile Rescue
Monster arrived at Heart of Gold Reptile Rescue about 12 years ago after he bit his owner in the forearm and left a wound that required 60 stitches.

Gina Disteldorf got a call from a vet saying that if she did not take Monster, the iguana was going to be put down. It took about two months for Disteldorf to calm the attacking Monster.
Monster was used in education talks, but he has been retired. He's 19 1/2 years old; the iguana life span is 15-20 years.
He still eats and gets around, but he is definitely getting senile, according to Disteldorf.


AthenaFriends for Life
After living with the same family for 12 years, Athena was taken to the shelter because the family's toddlers were kicking and hitting her. Athena had stopped eating, and she had an eye infection. Other shelters wouldn't take her because she was too old to be adoptable.

After the infected eye was removed, Athena began to trust the staff.
Athena was adopted by an attentive artist, but Athena didn't appreciate sharing space with catty siblings. One of the artist's kittyless friends took Athena to live a quiet life nearby.

Create a Website for Your Dog

I recently read an article about creating a website for your dog by Dave Alexander. I know a lot of us have created one, just to show off their general cuteness, but this website has a specific purpose. I thought this was a great idea, particularly because Dave's Great Dane Dixie, is deaf.

Dave created a website in case Dixie ever becomes lost to instruct whoever might find her about her condition and special needs. The site contains photos of Dixie along with instructions and, of course, Dave's contact information.

Creating a website like this is a great idea for dogs with any kind of special needs, such as medication, health conditions, allergies or behavioral issues. If you create a site for your dog, add the website address to your dog's tags or inside their collar.

Check out Dixie's Website:
http://www.bigdixiedog.com

Stay Cool this Weekend!

We live in Phoenix and this weekend it's going to be between 110 and 112 degrees! I'm going to make my three dogs a treat to help them cool off and thought I'd share the recipe with you.

Since dairy products aren't good for your dog, this dog-friendly 'ice cream' is non-dairy and all natural. It's made with yogurt, which contains less lactace than milk and contains the active cultures that are beneficial for your dog's digestive system.

32 oz plain or vanilla yogurt

1 banana

2 Tbs peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)

2 Tbs honey

Blend all ingredients smooth and pour into small containers, approximately 3 oz. Be careful of freezing into ice cube trays...some dogs eat it too quickly and can choke.

This recipe can also be made with meat-flavored baby food instead of peanut butter.

If you want to mix it up, some fun variations of this recipe are:

Cookies and Cream - substitute crushed carob dog sandwich cookies for the peanut butter and banana

Carob Chip - add some dog-friendly carob chips into the ice cream mixture

Minty Fresh Breath - add mint flavoring and some chopped mint & parsley in place of the peanut butter and banana

swankypet.net Video

A short video of some of the cutest pets showing off their swankypet fashions!

If you like the video, rate it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45jXNqNtvcQ

Dog Fighting How-To on amazon.com?

I recently learned that Amazon.com sells books on dogfighting. One title in particular is getting a lot of attention: The Dog Pit—Or, How To Select, Breed, Train And Manage Fighting Dogs, With Points As To Their Care In Health And Disease.

This surprised me as a regular reader of Bark Magazine, I recently read an article on Amazon and their 'dog friendly' workplace policies. There has been much online discussion and debate regarding their choice to sell these types of books (there are also similar titles on cock fighting). One group, People against Cruelty to Animals has started a petition to submit to Amazon to describe their position. Below is a link to the petition for anyone who is interested in signing.

Tell Amazon to Stop Selling Dog Fighting Material

Special Needs Dobermans

A wonderful customer, Irene, told me about a great organization called Special Needs Dobermans, which offers help to senior dobermans or dobermans with special needs. Irene purchased several collars and donated them to SND's online auctions on eBay, which is one of the way the group raises funds. SND also has an online store which offers several items with the SND logos.

Based in Aztec, New Mexico, SND reports they were able to assist 109 Dobermans by disbursing over $80,000 last year alone to assist with veterinary bills. The funding they were able to offer in 2007, brings the total number of Dobermans helped to 464 (and counting).

If you are interested in learning more about Special Needs Dobermans, visit their website at http://www.doberman911.org/ to find how you can help them, donate or bid in their online auctions.

It's Been a Long Time!

The last few months have been really busy for us over here at swankypet.net! Unfortunately, this has meant that I haven't been able to update the swankypet.net blog in quite some time (I've been too busy sewing!).

The good news is that my web designer recently added some new blogging software to the website that will make it much easier for me to keep this section current. So check back here often, or subscribe to our RSS Feed to keep up on all the latest swankypet.net news!

In the meantime, here's a picture of Paris, my web designer's Really Cute Dog!