Saturday, October 29, 2011

Ghosts, Goblins and Pets, Oh My!


It's almost time for Halloween and Trick or Treating.  Just like with human kids, Halloween can be fun or really scary for us fur babies.  Here are some ways to keep pets safe and still have fun.
There is no way I am dressing up in a costume.  I will wear a pretty new halter or collar (one with precious stones would be nice), or even a silk scarf as a fashion accessory (okay, a kerchief) but NO  funny costume!  Lots of dogs, like my friend Sophie, do like to dress up.  So check with your pet first to make sure they like dressing up.  Also,  check the costume for anything that can be chewed off and choke on.
If you are staying at home and giving out the treats, please keep the candy bowl out of reach. Candy is very tempting but things in candy like xylitol (artificial sweetener) and chocolate are very dangerous.  Pumpkins aren't poisonous but they can cause tummy aches if we munch too much.  And don't forget that lighted candles inside the pumpkin are super dangerous not only for pets.
Trick or Treaters coming to the door is very exciting.  I love to bark whenever the doorbell rings and I like to race my humans to the door to see who has come to visit me.  Remember that we can't tell the difference between children in scary monster costumes and real scary monsters. So if your pet is afraid, it's okay to let him or her stay in their crate where it is safe.
An open door is an invitation to join in the fun.  Please make sure your pets have proper id just in case they decide to go out on their own on Halloween night.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween,
Your friend
Zeva

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Gourmet Dining With Zeva

Begging is not allowed at our house but human food smells so good I always hang around the kitchen.  After all, something might fall on the floor.  I have to sneak in because I'm not allowed in the kitchen when my humans are working.  They say the kitchen in a dangerous place for pets.  Stoves are hot to touch and even though trash cans smell really good, there can  be very bad things in them like sharp edged tin cans.
Also some human foods are very very bad for pets.  Everyone knows that chocolate is bad  because it contains theobromine.  Thebromine can increased heart rate, overstimulate the central nervous system and constrict arteries.
If you eat theobromine you can suffer from vomiting, diarrhea and hyper behavior.  It can even cause cardiac failure, seizures and death. Baking chocolate is the worst because it contains the highest amount of theobromine.
Your humans should have the telephone numbers of an Animal Emergency Hospital and Poison Control Center written down just in case.
Chocolate is not the only food that is bad for dogs.  Alcohol and hops (don't drink your dad's beer!), bread dough, milk, onions, tomatoes, citrus fruits, raisins, grapes, caffeine.  The list is so long it's just easier to remember to eat only good nutritious pet food.  Maybe that's why begging is not allowed in our house.
Stay safe,
Your friend,
Zeva

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Fashionista Dog

I am very beautiful, everyone says so.  When I go out I wear my pretty purple halter with my pink leash.  My new collar is also pink and I've started wearing colorful bandannas to work.  Being white I can wear any color, after all, anything goes with white.  I have a wonderful fur coat that keeps we very warm in the winter and since I am part Labrador, I don't mind the rain.

I do have lots of little friends with short hair who mind the cold. We live in New England so it is starting to get chilly.  A friend of my Mom's introduced us to a nice lady named Gigi who makes the cutest dog coats, hats, raincoats and all kinds of pet apparel.

If you want your dog to look "spectacular" and not just be warm and dry,  check out www.cutecrittersonline.com and tell them Zeva the Dancing Dog sent you.

While you're surfing don't forget to check out my website www.laurelmtbasket.com You can read more of my blogs and see our full line of pet gift baskets.  I'm the manager of the pet gifts department.  My goal is to develop a line of the best pet gift baskets on the web so your feedback would be appreciated.

Your friend,
Zeva

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Cats Are People Too

Black cats, because they are associated with witches, are one of the popular Halloween symbols.  Like many symbols, their roots go a long way back.

Superstitions surrounding black cats go way, way back in history. In early Egypt cats were worshipped and you could be killed yourself if you killed a black cat.  Just like today, cats were considered a member of the family and when one died, the family was very sad.

By the 17th century black cats began to be associated with witchcraft and instead of being a good omen, black cats became a bad omen.  It depends on what part of the world you live in because in some countries, like Japan, having a black cat cross your path is considered a good thing while here in the good ol' USA, it is considered bad luck.

Here are some other superstitions about black cats:

It's Good Luck

To own a black cat
Have one greet you at the door
Have one come i to your home
See three black cats in succession
To pet a black cat

It's Bad Luck

To meet a black cat early in the morning
Have a black cat turn its back on you
and
To walk under a ladder that a black cat has walked underneath.

Because black cats are a popular symbol of Halloween some people think it would be fun to have a black cat of their own so they go to the shelters and get one only to realize that a black cat, like any pet, is a lot of responsibility and they need to be treated with love and respect.

So please, if you are dressing up as a witch for Halloween and want to have a black cat to carry around, get a plush one in the toy department of Walmart or Target.  Plush animals are soft and cuddly but don't need as much LTC as real ones.

Have a Happy Halloween

Your friend
Zeva

PS Visit me at my website at www.laurelmtbasket.com and see my line of pet gift baskets.