Pet Blogs United

Happy Easter sigh

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 19:10:00 +0000

We have been Easter bunnied against our will.
Moe took it the best, just napping through the humiliation.

I sat for a picture before removing the offending ears.

Chloe, however, always has her own way of doing things. You can see the disdain in her eyes.

You're kidding me, right?

And the ears are coming off!

Do Not Want

Go ahead, try to put them back on my head. I dare you.

Bad bunny ears or not, we wish you a happy Easter!

Black and White Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 20:37:00 +0000

Okay, we might be cheating. This is technically sepia and white, but we think Sugar and Nola will let us slide.

It's so very nice to be able to go for a walk outside!

Join the blog hop.

#mobiPET Giveaway Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 01:20:00 +0000

We have our two mobiPET Winners. They are:

Sagira - Sagira's Agility Adventures
Ruby The Airedale

We will be sending an email to the both of you so watch your in-boxes.

Here's a shot of Oskar trying to get some rest.

Can you please just let me sleep?!

Have a great week!

#mobiPET Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 23:48:00 +0000

mobiPET is the first pet tracking and location system that sends out an Amber Alert within 5 minutes if your pet goes missing.

Here's a great graphic to give you an overall idea of how mobiPET works.

The vital difference with mobiPET is that an alert goes out with a picture of your pet as soon as you notify them that your pet is missing, after you use your phone or computer to register them.

The fact that this is a photo based system solves the problem for the pet that get's loose without its collar and tags on.

According to some statistics, 10,000 pets are reported missing every week and without ID. 90% of lost pets never return home.

Oskar is microchipped and licensed with the county and is registered with a tag based "missing pet" service but the 2 tags are on his harness, which he only wears on walks. Most of the time, he is naked in the house and while running and playing in the fenced in yard. mobiPET would give him the best chance for recovery if he were to inadvertently get loose.

mobiPET tag and 3 key tags

Just like with a missing child, the sooner people are aware of the situation, the better the chance of recovery. Within minutes of reporting the pet lost, local registered neighbors within a 2 mile radius will receive a text to their cell phone with a picture and the location of where the pet went missing.

An email containg a photo a is also generated that goes to Animal Shelters, Vets and Boarders within a 30 mile radius.

This can even be used based upon GPS if the pet is lost while on vacation! Knowing when and were a pet went missing allows for more people to be on the lookout in the immediate area.

Made in the USA, mobiPET launched it's crowdfunding campaign to raise $15,000 to launch it's lost pet photo alert program. mobiPET is the first ever security/recovery system for pets utilizing patented mobile image recognition technology. Check it out over at getmobiPET.com.

Now for the giveaway! mobiPet has provided us with 2 mobiPET tags for 2 different Pet Blogs United readers. Each prize includes:

mobiPET tag
Lifetime mobiPET service
3 key tags with information on what to do if your pet goes missing

mobiPET is only launching in the United States at the moment, so this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

*Please note that mobiPET is only active in a few areas of South Carolina at the moment. They plan for it to roll out nationwide in June*

Do you want to win an all new mobiPET system for your furry friend? Simply leave a comment below telling my why you are interested. Please leave contact information so we can reach you if you win. Winners will be announced Thursday, March 27 here on this blog.

The First Robin of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 02:34:00 +0000

Quebec superstition says that whoever sees the first robin of spring will have good luck. It's also our state (Michigan) bird.

Can you spot him?

There in the trees?

He looks very dapper with his new red breast.

So hopefully he's a sign that this long, rough winter is coming to a close. Maybe he's bringing a little good luck for all of us!

Our Spring Cleaning Has Begun

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 20:34:00 +0000

So Oskar finally got me to un-hibernate and come up with a plan for my blogging. I will mainly be focusing on my personal blog, but I am not ready to throw out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to PBU.

The goal is to strip Pet Blogs United down to the bare bones and go from there. What might that look like? I'm going to re-focus my energy here to featuring bloggers both new and established.

If you've contacted me about being featured, I will be getting back to you. I'll also be adding names to the blogroll. It may take me a while, but please be patient, there are a lot of emails to go through.

I also have some nice reviews and giveaways to share here, but it's only going to be stuff that really speaks to me. I will not be accepting any guest posts for the time being.

I hope to back to posting somewhat regularly by the end of next week. For now I'll be changing some of the wording on the site so that it reflects changes I'm making. (I hope)

Of course I know you all want to see my excessively handsome schnauzer, so here's Oskar waiting for me to get my act together.

See you all soon!

PS ~ you can also hop over to The Daily Oskar to see what kind of trouble he someone has gotten into.

Whatever Happened to Pam & Oskar?

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 22:29:00 +0000

Hello friends,

We've been hibernating for quite some time. After successfully making it through the holidays & the Polar Vortex I've been hiding.

The fact of the matter is that regardless of things going pretty well in my life right now, my depression has kept me in bed for weeks.

Being bi-polar means never knowing when you brain is going to decide to turn your life inside out. I've been spending up to 20 hours a day in bed and go days without even looking at the computer.

Now I have over 1,600 hundred emails in my in box and am overwhelmed about where to start. If you've reached out to me to be added to the blogroll, be featured or to partner with me on a project, I'm sorry for the radio silence.

I've realized that Pet Blogs United has really run off the rails in the past year. I would do a review & giveaway of any product that I thought my readers might like, I've done sponsored guest posts that I didn't feel good about because honestly there were times when I needed the money. How's that for journalistic integrity?

There's also been some emotional turmoil with many blogging friends being ill or crossing the Rainbow Bridge.

Buster

On a personal level my parents had to have their Shih-Tzu Buster put to sleep. They got Buster just a few months after my youngest son Jack was born 18 years ago and he has been a huge part of our life.

I'm also struggling to redefine my role in this world as my boys are not really boys anymore. My oldest son John David is almost 22 and he lives with his boyfriend about an hour away. This has been a very difficult adjustment for me, even though he left almost a year ago. (Side note ~ if anyone has anything negative to say about my son's sexuality keep it to yourself and please don't come back to my blog.) Jack is 18 and finishing up his senior year of high school. Jack spends 50% of his time at his dad's house, plus he has school, work, an adorable new girlfriend and lots hanging out with friends to do.

John David, Me & Jack

I have long defined myself as a mother. It's the only job I've ever had that I've been really good at and I can say with no hesitation that I am a great mom. My boys have been my main focus for years, so now I'm mourning that part of my life when the boys were always underfoot and trying to grow into the role of supporter to my young adults.

And as for Oskar he gave us a little scare a few weeks ago when it seemed that his back problems from this summer had returned. After we took him to the vet on an emergency trip and had everything checked out he immediately came home and was perfectly fine. I'm still suspicious that something isn't right, his hips don't always seem to do what they should, but he's not in any pain or favoring any paws so I will just continue to watch him closely.

So Pam, where does that leave Pet Blogs United you ask? The honest truth is I really don't know.

I want to get back to focusing on blogs and helping new bloggers find an audience. I want to continue to do reviews & giveaways, but only of products that I feel passionate about.

It may be awhile before I'm back to being able to update a lot, but I treasure all of you who are our readers and friends.

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 00:24:00 +0000

We have been busy enjoying this years holidays and hope you have too. We'll see you soon!

Christmas Treat for Kids and Dog Lovers! Guest Post by H. Y. Hanna (AKA Honey's Mom)

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:48:00 +0000

What are you looking forward to doing the most this Christmas?
Curling up by a roaring fire with a good book and a mug of hot cocoa, the pups snoozing at your feet and a purring kitty on your lap? (Or if you're in the Southern Hemisphere like us, swapping that roaring fire and hot cocoa for a sunny beach and an ice-cold drink! ;-) )

Well, if you're looking for a great read this Christmas, we've got the perfect thing for you! A fun, doggie mystery which is now FREE to download from:
Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon.com.au (& other Amazon countries)
Apple iTunes
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Kobo
Big Honey Dog Mysteries: Message in a Bauble (Christmas Special Edition)

Christmas intrigue. Daring rescue. Serious slobber.
When Honey the Great Dane finds a hidden note inside a strange Christmas bauble, the festive season takes a sinister turn. Was the note from a trapped child? Join Honey and her canine friends as they set off on a Search & Rescue--from snowy playgrounds to eerie libraries--while they race to solve the mystery of the message in the bauble.
Kids and dog lovers will love this action-packed Christmas mystery filled with suspense and humour - not to mention candy canes, gingerbread cookies and lots of mince pies!

What readers are saying:

"This was an adorable Christmas story! I loved the first Big Honey Dog Mysteries book and couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! I'm impressed by the amazing character development; even in a short story like this one, the author gives the dogs in the book such big personalities. I look forward to many more titles in this series."

"There are some genuine laugh out loud moments, as well as a message about the true meaning of Christmas. Just as enjoyable for adults as it is for kids!"

"Ms. Hanna knows how to hook her readers in, both young and old. The cast of characters are great and I love each dog’s personality. If you love canine stories, you must look into this story!"

"An entertaining holiday story for kids of ANY age (even adults)! Don't be deceived by thinking this is a 'kids only' book"

"Recommend this book to teachers and parents, especially now during the holiday season. Great read!"

"The suspense is perfect and the Christmas context is a plus to this mystery novel. Don't miss this exquisite book."

"Read it aloud with your kids during holiday break, or savor it yourself with a hot mug of cocoa and a plate of Christmas cookies. It’s just the thing for a chilly winter’s eve and will leave a smile on your face!"

As some of you know, we recently launched the Big Honey Dog Mysteries - a fun, action-packed, mystery adventure series for kids and dogs lovers of all ages. And this short novella is the latest addition to the series. So if you're looking for a little mystery and adventure this holiday season and some fun & laughs with a cast of adorable canines (and maybe even a feline or two! ;-) ) - then don't miss this heart-warming Christmas "tail".

Hurry to grab your FREE copy today from Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble (Nook) or Kobo!

We hope you enjoy it - and happy reading! :P

Hsin-Yi and Slobbers from Honey the Great Dane
www.bighoneydogmysteries.com

*Note from Pam & Oskar. We have read both Big Honey Dog Mysteries books and loved them! Watch for an author interview in the New Year!

Has Your Dog Tried Shakeables Yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 16:29:00 +0000

I think by now you all know that I have partnered with Iams for several years. With support from Iams I have been able to attend blogging conferences, The AKC Eukanuba Dog Show (which is going on right now, watch it streaming from Florida) and we have fed Oskar and our two cats Chloe and Moe exclusively Iams food for years.

Iams is a company that is always giving back and this holiday season is no exception. Their #ShakeItForward program featured their great new dog treat, Shakeables and donated over 500,000 bowls of food for pets in need.

To celebrate Shakeables Iams teamed up with YouTube dog video legend Andrew Grantham for the Punked Puppy video. It's wonderful.

We've had some fun over the last few months letting some of our blogging friends try out the Shakeables courtesy of Iams and I wanted to share their posts with you in case you missed them.
Everyone has fun when Shakeables are around!

My GBGV Life
Gardening with Wyatt
The Adventures of Ranger
Jan's Funny Farm *this one has cat involvement
Gismo's Terrier Torrent
My Girlz Got Pawz *Shakeables in Hawaii!
A Tale of a Tail

Please note, that any giveaways in the posts above have expired, but you can head on over to The Daily Oskar for your chance to win a can of Shakeables if you live in the USA!

AKC Eukanuba National Championship Streaming Now! #CelebrateDogs

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 21:22:00 +0000

I got the once in a lifetime chance to attend the AKC Eukanuba National Championship dog show a couple of years ago and it was so much fun. These people are real dog lovers.

This year they are streaming and live streaming tons of their events! Just click for coverage of the AKC Eukanuba National Championship now!

You can use #CelebrateDogs to follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

The Amazing Ann from Zoolatry ~ Guest Post

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 11:00:00 +0000

My name is Ann (sometimes known as the ZH, Zoolatry Human) and I live at a blog called ZOOLATRY.

Zoolatry, subtitled Maggy and Zoey and Friends has been blogging for nearly 8-years now, and has mostly been devoted to my cats Maggy and Zoey. But we often entertain many cat-and-dog blogger friends ~ and use our blog as a platform for our photo-art. And yes, we are somewhat obsessive-compulsive about photoshop, and if you have the time to visit any of the "pages" on our blog, you can read more about this!

Today, however, being honored with a guest post at PBU, we wanted to spend a moment talking about a photo-art service that we offer to all pet bloggers, at no charge. Our pets sadly often spend a very short time with us, but that time is so precious and when they must move on, they leave many memories and an imprint on our hearts forever. For many years, we have created Rainbow Bridge badges for any and all pets loved and lost, and a companion to this service are our Purrs, Prayers and Crossed Paws badges.

It is a privilege and an honor for us to be able to do this one small thing for each of you in a time of sorrow, and it is our way to share in your sadness. When a badge is designed, we also share it with our mailing list, so the word of your loss can reach as many pet blogger friends as possible.

Any blogger who is aware of the passing of a pet may always notify us by email (zoolatry@gmail.com) and we will respond as quickly as we can by creating and mailing out a Rainbow Bridge badge. We do need to also receive a LINK to the blog, so we can capture a photo of the pet, and hopefully also a bit of that pet's personality. So, anytime you become aware of a loss, please feel free to let us know ~ and please feel free to share the word of this service among your own pet blogging friends.

We have also spent time building an extensive list of pet bloggers, so if you are not on our mailing list and would like to be included, again, just let us know ~ zoolatry@gmail.com

Zoolatry is featuring an advent calender featuring some familiar faces so stop by all month long!

We're Thankful For You!

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 18:38:00 +0000

Hi guys,

Oskar & I are still here and doing pretty well. I have had a couple more health setbacks and obviously haven't gotten back into the groove of blogging.

I am at a turning point with Pet Blogs United and I'm really focused on what I want the blog to look like moving forward.

We are thankful for all of you putting up with our erratic posting. I hope that soon I'll be able to bring you a new Pet Blogs United that's fun and interesting and fresh.

I have been really lucky with amazing sponsors over the years, but I don't blog for money. Blogging needs to be something I enjoy. I don't want to be pressured into having a Pinterest account and keeping up with every new form of social media that comes along, I want blogging to be fun again.

I'm sorry to say that I will not be hosting the Holiday Happenings event this year, I just haven't had the time to arrange it properly. I do have some fun giveaways coming up including one from Grumpy Cat and one from Marc Poulin Jewelery!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. Oskar's holding down the fort from his nest with the pillows and our Christmas quilt!

I appreciate Thanksgiving because it makes me pause and appreciate all the wonderful people and pets in my life!

Ways In Which I Embarrass My Family

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 17:25:00 +0000

So my son tells me that he can't imagine any situation in which any of his peers would have a picture like this of their parents.

Yes I'm holding a chubby calico cat while wearing a pointy foil cap, but that's a thing, right?

I've always had my own, different, parenting style but apparently delving into the wonderful world of pet blogging has pushed me a little too close to the edge of reason. (In the boys opinion)

Flat Oskar is not allowed to go on any outings that my sons attend. I think my husband may feel the same way but he's never verbalized it.

Practicing for the Flat Pet Flash Mob at BlogPaws 2012 was not allowed when his friends were over either.

So yeah, being a pet blogging, weird kind of mom can make the kids roll their eyes, but I know that when they see pictures of me acting like this

Or doing things like blogging ringside from the AKC Eukanuba National Championships

They all know it's mostly worth it.

My husband just came home from the grocery store and said, "why is there an oven mitt on the bed"...I don't remember taking it in there, but I did just misplace one a little while ago. Jack says maybe I need to put my foil hat back on. Maybe it's not the pet blogging making me crazy...

Carol Bryant Proves Once Again Why She's A Leader In Our Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 23:22:00 +0000

One of the reasons I started Pet Blogs United was to support other bloggers. One blogger who is a leader in our industry, is Carol Bryant from Fidose of Reality.

Today she blazed a trail for many bloggers in her article "Coming Out and New Direction for Dog Lovers."

I've tried to be vocal about erasing stigma. For me it's about mental illness. For Carol and her wife Darlene, it's about equality for all people.

I've never been formally introduced to Darlene, but Carol and I have connected a few times at BlogPaws (Flat Pet Flash Mob anyone?). I didn't know Darlene's name, but I could tell that they were partners.

They were so at ease with each other and had so much warmth between them it just made me smile.

Diane took a big step today to help remove the stigma for LGBT bloggers. As the proud mother of a bi-sexual son I appreciate her helping to make things a little bit easier for him and his peers.

Of course there are many LGBT people on social media these days. The Boy Scouts have even opened their eyes. But the pet industry social media game is a niche market and having our leaders speak out like this is a proud moment for all of us.

Carol's always been an innovator, so I can't wait to see what happens with the evolution of her blog.

Pet Blogs United is not going to be my political soap box, but Oskar and I will always celebrate diversity and those who stand up to sing it's praises!

Giving Something Back with Petplan UK Veterinary Awards 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 17:48:00 +0000

This post is brought to you in conjunction with Petplan UK. These awards are United Kingdom only.
When you go to the doctor’s surgery, what happens? You get given a ticket, go and sit in the waiting room, peruse a magazine, maybe listen to some classical music.

You get called for your appointment, put down the magazine and have your consultation. When you get in the room, the very first thing that happens is the doctor asks you what is wrong. Without that, they wouldn't know where to start.

By describing your pain, ailments or physical issues, the doctor has a better chance of making you better – so how are you supposed to treat someone who can’t tell you what’s wrong?

That is the very issue facing vets every single day. When your loved family pet is injured, hurt or sick, it is up to the vet to interpret or work out exactly what the problem is but without any help or directions from the patient.

All of this means that vets face a very difficult job and one that more often than not goes unrecognized due to the particular nature of those they treat.

That’s why the Petplan Veterinary Awards were set up – to give vets that much deserved recognition. Established in 1999, the 15th awards ceremony will take place in the spring of 2014 with awards divided into five categories:

• Vet of the Year
• Vet Nurse of the Year
• Practice of the Year
• Practice Manager of the Year
• Practice Support Staff of the Year

From amongst the thousands of nominations, a shortlist of just three individuals will be settled upon for each category. Those three will be invited to the awards ceremony in April, with the winners to be announced on the night.

Just so you know that the decisions rests in the hands of the right people, the shortlists will be decided upon by a panel of independent judges, including former presidents of veterinary and nursing associations as well as winners from previous competitions.

Given the sheer volume of nominations that come in, as well as the super strong standard of competition, it is just as well that the judges boast such extensive experience in the industry!

Click here to make your 2014 nominations and find out more about the awards which reward some of the nation’s biggest unsung heroes. With these awards, you can let your vet and their gang of helpers know exactly how important they are.

We’re sure your pets would tell them how much they mean to them if they could so why not do it for them and recognize those who strive to keep your faithful companions happy and healthy.

Does Your Dog Enjoy Halloween?

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 21:25:00 +0000

Oskar is someone who gets very stressed out on Halloween. He doesn't like strangers coming to the house, the costumes freak him out and he gets upset and barky. Now that the boys are grown and don't Trick or Treat anymore, we don't "do" Halloween. I felt guilty turning the lights off and hiding in the back room, but it's not fair to Oskar for him to be alone and scared while I'm handing out candy.

Trick or Treat here is only an hour. My husband doesn't get home from work until halfway through and the boys aren't here. If I gave out candy, Oskar would have to be penned in a separate room alone and he would be really stressed. It's just not worth it to me, especially since so many other houses in our neighborhood give out tons of candy.

I would like to participate in Halloween by dressing up Oskar, Chloe and Moe, but my husband had a strict "no costumes on the pets" rule. I'd love to have adorable costume pictures for the blogs, but since Chris allows me to get away with all kinds of crazy things, the least I can do is let him win on that one.

Here's a great infographic from The Uncommon Dog with more common sense Halloween tips for Fido.

Halloween is not bad for Chloe and Moe, being cats they have plenty of safe places to go and hide.

How do your pets act on Halloween?

Next Andrew Grantham Viral Video? #ShakeItForward

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:51:00 +0000

I know you've probably seen Andrew Grantham's hugely adorable viral video, "Ultimate Dog Tease".

Well my friends at Iams have teamed up with Andrew to show off their new Shakeables dog treats. You know that I have been lucky enough to been able to partner with Iams for the past several years and I feed all of my pets Iams food.

This new Iams Shakeables video Punk'd Puppy is fantastic. It's good for a huge smile. This guy is a genius and Oskar will vouch for the fact that Iams Shakeables are super yummy!

)

We'll be doing a Shakeables review and giveaway post in a couple of days, but I wanted to get this video out to you right away. If Iams Punk'd Puppy it doesn't make you smile, I'll eat a Shakeables treat myself. Okay, I really won't because I have that chronic stomach condition, but if I could I would :)

And the best part? Through December 31st, for every view or hashtag (#ShakeItForward) share, Iams will donate a bowl of food to pets in need at select nonprofit animal shelters across the country--up to 250,000 bowls of food—through their Bowls of Love program!

So check out the fun above and stay tuned to learn more about Iams Shakeables and their Bowls of Love program.

Benny The Superhero! #POTP

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:06:00 +0000

*UPDATE* 10/22/13 Benny has been admitted the the hospital by his oncologist. He needs the Power of the Paw now more than ever. Please stop by to show your continued support. Two French Bulldogs

Our friend Benny has been making news like crazy. He's a fur real super hero now!

Check out this post where he announces his official super hero status and learn about the amazing organization that gives out the capes, Tiny Super Heroes.

Usually they give out the capes to children, but Benny was a special exception. Here's what their website says, "We send capes to Extraordinary TinySuperheroes who exemplify strength and determination as they overcome illness or disability."

His mom Andrea says, "He is my miracle boy. Overall, my miracle boy is responding very well to the chemo. Twice he was sick for one day as a result. Dr. Aubry, his oncologist, adjusts his dose so he does not get sick. (Not drinking or eating for one day)

The love, support and generosity of everyone is overwhelming as I said again and again. Benny taught me to slow down, walk slow, take a minute and look at the beautiful flowers, trees, sky...etc. This is one journey I never thought I would be a part of. I love the little guy, and Lily, as long as he is acting himself, happy and not suffering, we will continue one day at a time."

They are at just over 50% at their fundraising goal. (Feel free to get creative or contact me if you're interested in ways to host a fundraiser.)

Benny was in the paper again on 10/18 in the OC Register.

You can also catch them on Facebook.

Check out all of the cool links, and leave comments to let Lily, Benny and Mom know we are all fans!

Mental Illness Awareness Week

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 23:41:00 +0000

This is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Some people are uncomfortable talking about mental illness. It can control your life, it can ruin your life, but the third option is to stand up and say I've had enough.

Do I like living with mental illness? Not really, but since I have it I'm going to talk about it. I'm not embarrassed. There should no longer be a stigma surrounding mental illnesses.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone you love, take a few minutes to complete an anonymous self-assessment. MentalHealthScreening.org

Dangerous Dog Virus Hits Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 01:27:00 +0000

According to WXYZ Detroit a deadly, fast acting dog virus has made it's way to Michigan. Several dogs in the Ann Arbor area have been affected.

This virus can kill a dog as quickly as 12-24 hours. Also, unlike many other viruses, there is some evidence suggesting that this is an illness that we may be spreading to our pets if we humans are sick.

Watch for symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy.

Please click the links below to learn more:

WXYZ TV Dangerous Dog Virus

Please be extra vigilant about your illness and your pets and feel free to share this post or link.

We need all of our fuzz buddies happy and healthy!

HereAfter Frames, A Beautiful Memorial ~ Guest Post

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 21:06:00 +0000

What happens when our beloved pets pass away? It's an inevitability that we don't like to think about. (My apologies as I'm sure you're thinking of it right now). Sadness resonates as profoundly as losing a friend or a family member. There is denial, and sometimes even relief if the pet was suffering. We mourn, we reminisce and we eventually move on.

We all tend to go through the same motions. However, how long it takes to move on will most certainly vary from person to person. There's also the processes we go through; including the products and services we purchase can also vary drastically.

This brings me to an amazing new idea. An idea that not only combines most of our old traditions of paying tribute to our lost furry friends, but appeals to modern trends and lifestyles in a tasteful and heartfelt way. It's a product that is so versatile in it's ability to honor our pets that it can cross cultural, religious and even economic boundaries. This is my introduction to HereAfter Frames.

HereAfter Frames is a basic concept. It combines a memorial photo or painting of your pet with their cremains on a frame that can be mounted. It also provides you with a secure place for their keepsakes. If you don't have the cremains, then there are frames made just for keepsakes. Each can be personalized with different wood types, colors, accents, hooks (for leashes) and digital upgrades like a photo slide-show and sound player for recorded memories.

Finally, The artists at HereAfter Frames can also create a custom painting or drawing of your pet, based on an image you provide. If you have a favorite photo, they can be digitally remastered, enlarged and mounted in the frame.

I think the most wonderful thing about HereAfter Frames, is that they have created a beautiful way to conveniently honor our pets that have passed without comprimising the integrity of our traditions.

HereAfter Frames Inc. is a new company. To raise marketing funds, they are currently running a Kickstarter campaign where supporters can make small contributions in return for original artwork and custom frames. Follow this link to watch their video: www.Kickstarter.com/

Website: www.Hereafterframes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hereafterframes

*Hereafter Frames is currently working on memorial for our beloved black Lab Buddy who passed several years ago. When it arrives I will be giving you a full review.

Boris from HereAfter Frames would like to extend a coupon code for 10% off to all Pet Blogs United readers. The coupon code is: PBU10 and can be used at checkout on their website.

We're Still Here and Doing Okay

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 00:57:00 +0000

Hello friends,

We've had a few of you contact us to see if we are okay. We are. Oskar does have pancreatitis. It will have to be managed with food for the rest of his life, but he should be fine.

Oskar proving who's top dog on our Labor Day getaway.

I've spent more time in the ER than I would want, but gastroparesis is a chronic condition. All of the conventional, treatments have failed to help me so I am working with a Dr. who specializes in GP.

We will be trying to get back into the swing of things. Blogging is my passion and I'm tired of my health getting in the way.

Once again I'm going to ask you to be patient if you've reached out to me in an email. I'm trying to get caught up as quickly as I can.

Thanks for caring!

No Words...

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 16:36:00 +0000

The Zephyr Files ~ Featured Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Oskar) — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Today we are happy to feature a horse blogger. The Zephyr Files will leave you wanting more!

Narrated (with beautiful photographs) by a ‘pretentious’ foal (Zephyr) with a phoney french accent, this is an extremely silly blog which started with the birth of Lord LubbaDuck AKA Zephyr Moo, a beautiful buckskin NZ bred foal.

Photographed nearly every day, doing what foals do while his ‘Uzzer Muzzerr’ (Cathy Dee) recovers from a bunch of broken bones, the diary wrote itself. Zephyr’s ‘Muzzerr,’ his Uncle, ‘Le Sheeps’ and various cats and dogs also make appearances.

THE ZEPHYR FILES BLOG DISCLAIMER: In the unlikely event that you are caused to laugh while reading The Zephyr Files, even if it is because of something unconnected with the content of the web site, readers are advised to laugh in moderation.

Laughing persons should take special care to ensure that their sides remain intact and should urgent medical attention if any signs of splitting develop. Do not read The Zephyr Files if either you or a relative has previously died from laughing.

Here are three of their favorite posts:

The auspicious arrival of Lord LubbaDuck
Basket Weaving – In which His Lordship takes up a new hobby
Meeting ‘Le Uncle’ up Close – The first time ‘Le Uncle’ was allowed near His Lordship

Take some time today & stop by The Zephyr Files. Tell them Pam & Oskar sent you!