By Jon Federico for Pet News and Views

After 17 years of being a one-dog household, we decided to double our dog ownership. We adopted a ten-year old chocolate Cocker Spaniel named Oreo whose owner was moving from a house to an apartment and couldn’t take him. Given our history with rescue dogs, we know that it’s typical for older dogs to be passed over for adoption since most families want younger dogs or puppies.

Oreo is new to the family. He is a rescue.

We didn’t want to see him spend the rest of his life in a foster home (or worse) so we decided to welcome him to our family. He’s a great dog and gets along well with our Lucy, a four-year old, black and white, parti-colored Cocker Spaniel.

Oreo has a microchip but we don’t know who the vendor is, so we can’t find the registry. That means that the old guy definitely needed new dog tags.

I started poking around and found you can get pet tags with QR (Quick Response) codes! This is a brilliant use of the technology: find a pet, scan the QR code on its tag, and find out all about them including their owner’s name and address, eating habits, favorite activities, medical history—the works.

Lucy is also a rescue.

One thing really bugged me, though: the only QR code pet tag solution I found was slow and buggy. So I decided to create one myself.

Here’s What You Will Need
Standard Web Pages and Mobile-Optimized Web Pages: Anyone who may find the dogs should be able to load a web page to learn more about them. The pages should also be optimized for mobile browsers since someone may use a smartphone to read them.

Short URL: For those people who can’t use the QR code on their phone or prefer to type a URL into a desktop browser, a short URL is required so that it can fit on the tag in a single line of text. For the sake of longevity and flexibility, I want to be able to redirect the short URL to the page of my choosing in case I decide to change the location of the web pages later. This way, I don’t have to pay for another set of tags should the ultimate destination change.

Note that most short url providers (bitly, tinyurl, etc.) don’t allow you to change the URL destination. (This is a spam prevention measure.) As a result, you may have to set up your own URL shortener.
Bonus: SMS autoresponder. Texting is the lowest common denominator for mobile phones. If someone has a Feature phone they may not have a mobile web browser. Using an SMS response tool, they can always send a text message to learn more about the dog.

To Begin, Pick A Code
First, decide what kind of QR code you want to use. QR codes can contain all different kinds of data: paragraphs of text, vCards, URL’s-even commands for your phone to send an SMS message or launch an application. The more data the code contains, the more complex the code will be to read. More importantly, depending on the QR code reader, your phone may not be able to act upon the data embedded in the code.

For example, I’ve encountered many QR code readers on the iPhone that simply don’t know what to do with a vCard. (FYI: Qrafter is the best QR code reader for the iPhone.)

With this in mind, I decided to encode a simple URL in the QR codes for my pet tags. URLs seem to be the universal data supported on Smartphone QR code readers.

The URL encoded in the QR code will be the short URL I mentioned in the requirements.

Where to Point the URL
You can create a mobile-optimized site using plain text files, basic HTML, mobile-optimized RapidWeaver themes, WordPress.com, Blogger.com-whatever you want.

Since I’m very familiar with self-hosted WordPress, I selected it as the platform for this solution. With the right plugins, it can serve up standard web pages as well as mobile-optimized versions.
If you already have a blog, you can simply create a post that contains the information about your pet and skip the section where I describe how I set up WordPress for this project.

The Short URL
I registered my own domain (jfed.me) for this purpose. Again, this is so that I have ultimate control over the short URL’s destination.

The Setup
This my setup. Choose what works best for you.
1. Install:
Wordpress (Pick any theme)
Wordpress Mobile Pack plugin (For mobile-optimized pages)
W3 Super Cache plugin (For super fast pages. Optional, but definitely worth the few minutes to set it up. There are other caching plugins but this one is supported by the Mobile Pack.)
Yourls (a private, custom URL shortener)

2. Activate and configure the plugins

3. Create your pages. You can either create WordPress Pages or Posts. (I chose Pages.)

4. Populate each page or post with information about your pet. (Contact information, vaccinations, favorite foods, toys, etc.)

Shorten the URL
Once you’ve create the pages with your pet’s information, copy the URL and shorten it using your Yourls installation or your URL shortener of choice.

Create A QR Code
Now that you’ve got a place to point interested parties and a short URL to get them there, you need to create a QR code. There are a number of sites where you can create a QR code but this is my favorite QR code generator-it’s made by the same developer who created Qrafter, the QR code reader for iPhone that I mentioned above.

Simply enter the short URL and submit the form. Save the image of the QR code to your hard drive. You’ll need it later.

Working with Text Messages
As I mentioned in my requirements, I wanted to see if I could figure out a low-cost solution for SMS autoresponders using infrastructure I already had in place. For this, I chose Twilio and their OpenVBX software.

Twilio offers Voice and Text Messaging as a Service. Simply put, with a little code and a Twilio account, you can create applications that use Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) or SMS text messages.

If you don’t code, that’s ok-you can setup an instance of OpenVBX and use that. Even better-if you don’t know how to install OpenVBX, Dreamhost offers a one-click installation process. All you have to do is tell Dreamhost where to install it in your Dreamhost account, then login using your browser to configure it.

Twilio charges $1 per month for a local number and 1 cent for each SMS message sent or received. The OpenVBX software is free.

I use OpenVBX and a Twilio number as a phone system for my company. I have a second number that we use use only for conference calls, so using that second number, I instructed OpenVBX to create an autoresponder, one for each dog.

I’ve replaced some of the numbers and email addresses below to keep them private.This means that when someone texts Oreo to (212) XXX-XXXX, they’ll receive the following message:

Oreo is up-to-date on all of his vaccinations.
HE DOES NOT BITE though may growl if approached while eating.

http://jfed.me/oreo

or respond with “contact”

If someone responds with contact they’ll receive the following message:
It’s best to contact John at 201 XXX XXXX or
abc@newrules.com
You can also contact Denise at 973 XXX XXXX or
xyz@newrules.com

Create the Tags
So, where do you get pet tags with custom QR codes on them? Etsy. After a few searches on Duck Duck Go, I found Etsy maker “postlife.” He has laser engraved dog tags on offer, mostly for wear by humans. If they’re good enough for humans, they’re good enough for my dogs.

The seller indicated that he could engrave both sides. Once I confirmed this, I paid him via PayPal and sent him the QR code I made for one side of the tag and text for the other side. The back of Oreo’s tag contains:
“Oreo”
Maplewood, NJ
Call 973-XXX-XXXX
Text “Oreo” to
212-XXX-XXXX
jfed.me/oreo

Lucy’s is the same, except for the keyword that people send via text message.

So now, both of our dogs have new pet tags connected to me and my wife using a handful of modern communication tools.

Editor’s Note: To see the finished product, click here.

When I was single and living in New York City, my big dating rule was that the person I was going out with had to like my cats. He also had to be kind to all animals. I believe you can tell a lot about people from the way they treat animals.

If you meet my husband he will tell you that the pecking order according to me in our house is “cat, kid, and him.” To be truthful, cat and kid are pretty much equal.

I’m bringing this up because Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and have heard from a number of people who are getting ready for their next dating step—that of introducing their dates to their pets. The key to making sure the meeting starts off on the right foot or paw—depending on how you are looking at it—is be preparing ahead of time.

“Prepare, prepare, prepare,” says Allie Phillips, J.D., director of Public Policy for the American Humane Association, and an expert in the human-animal bond. “By asking questions before meeting the pets, you show that you care about the animal and thereby, care for the person.”

5 Tips for Getting To Know Your Partner’s Pets
1. Ask where the pet likes to be scratched. Some pets love getting their ears or bellies pet. Other pets don’t.

2. What is their favorite treat? Bring a small bag of treats with you. Yes, it’s a form of bribery, but it can work. Ask your date if it’s okay to bring a treat for his or her pet.

3. What kind of toys do they prefer? Like humans, every animal is different. Some prefer toys that squeak and some prefer stuffed animals. So, in addition to a bottle of wine for your date, bring a new toy with a bow on it because it is never too early to start earning brownie points.

4. Some animals are wary of strangers and find eye contact too dominant. Try to put the animal at ease by looking down and away from them while speaking softly and offering your hand, palm down. That way, the animal has a choice and is more likely to come up to check you out. With cats, look at them and open and close your eyes a few times—pretty much like they do. It’s a form of friendship. Cats like communicating this way.

5. Some animals won’t go near strangers until they have had time to watch them for some length of time. Give them their space, ignore their presence, and let them come to you. Your date may think that you are a master at animal behavior and like you all the more.

If you have any dating tips on how you introduced your pet to your partner, please share in the comments section of this post! And look for two up coming contests around Valentine’s Day. Thanks for reading!

Spay Day falls on February 28, and I’m sure you will be seeing a lot of messages about the importance of spaying and neutering your pets. A friend shared this fun and important video with me and I’m sharing it with you. If any of you know who the singer is, please let me know.

And while February 28 is Spay Day, my desire is for everyone to be aware of the importance of spaying/neutering cats and dogs everyday.

Many of you volunteer to help raise funds or perform other tasks on behalf of animal-rescue groups and other charitable organizations. When the annual reckoning with the Internal Revenue Service rolls around, the reward for your willingness to help out can take the form of write-offs for unreimbursed expenses incurred while you do volunteer work for rescue groups. To qualify as charitable deductions, the expenses in question must further the groups’ missions, such as foster care for stray animals.

As an animal-rescue volunteer, you need to be mindful of tricky rules for donations, whether they take the form of gifts of cash or property or volunteer expenses. What follows is a summary of the many possibilities.

Only Out-of-Pocket Outlays Count
The law allows volunteers to claim itemized deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040 only for what you spend to cover unreimbursed expenses—for instance, telephone calls, postage stamps and stationery, as well as other materials (say, to prepare posters or other forms of advertising for fund-raising campaigns).

What kinds of expenses can rescue workers write off at tax time? Some examples of qualifying outlays that are frequently overlooked: animal feed, medicines, cat litter, litter boxes, pet dishes, cleaning supplies, garbage bags, paper towels, laundry detergent and dish detergent; animal bedding, animal toys, fees paid to veterinarians and trainers, and food for volunteers building temporary shelters for pets evacuated from flood zones in hurricanes.

Forget About Deducting Your Time
While deductions are allowed for gifts of property, the IRS doesn’t consider your services to qualify as “property.” Nor does the law allow you to claim anything for the use of your home or office to conduct meetings: that, too, isn’t a contribution of “property.”

Uniforms
Some organizations require volunteers to wear uniforms. Because these uniforms aren’t adaptable to ordinary wear, deductions are allowed for their cost and cleaning.

Travel
An often missed outlay begins the moment that you leave your home. Your allowable deductions include travel expenses to and from animal shelters, veterinarians, committee meetings, fundraising events, and so on. If you travel to and from your volunteer work by planes, trains, buses, or taxis, just make sure to keep track of your fares and claim them as travel expenses.

If you use your own auto, you have two options for handling the expenses: The first option is to deduct the actual cost of gas and oil. Unlike write-offs for business driving, you can’t claim depreciation because that isn’t an actual cash payment. Nor can you claim insurance and repairs unless you use the car only for charitable driving or the repairs are directly attributable to that use.

The second option is to make the paperwork simpler by claiming a standard mileage rate. The standard rate is 14 cents a mile for tax year 2011, unchanged since 1997, as set by law.

Whether you use the mileage allowance or drive a gas guzzler and claim actual costs, remember to deduct parking fees and bridge or highway tolls, as well. It’s a good idea, in case an IRS examiner questions your charitable travel, to be able to support your deductions with a glove compartment diary in which you record why and how far you went, as well as what you spend on parking. You don’t have to use the same car each time and can use more than one car at the same time. If you rent an auto and drive it only for charitable travel, include the entire rental charge with your other charitable expenses.

Overnight Expenses
When volunteer work requires that you be away from home overnight, your deductions also include lodgings and meals as long as they’re “reasonable,” as opposed to “lavish or extravagant.” Note that these meals are 100 percent deductible, unlike business meals, which are only 50 percent deductible.

An example: You can deduct these expenses when you attend an organization’s convention as a duly appointed delegate. But you can’t deduct for such personal expenses as sightseeing or movie tickets. Nor are you allowed to deduct travel or other expenses incurred by your spouse or children.

To back up your deductions in the event of an IRS audit, save a copy of the convention program and check off the sessions that you attend as a delegate. Sign an attendance book for any sessions that provide one. Keep a diary of your convention related expenses, along with hotel and restaurant bills.

IRS Paperwork
Strict rules apply when a volunteer incurs an unreimbursed expense of $250 or more, such as an airline ticket. No deduction for the outlay is permitted unless you obtain and keep for your records a written statement from the charity. The statement needs to describe the type of services you performed for the charity and whether you received any benefits in return. The charity needn’t list the expenses you pay as a volunteer.

Audits
Rescue workers might avoid the bother of audits by including brief explanations with their returns. Their statements should explain how deduction amounts were arrived at.

They shouldn’t over-explain, cautions the IRS. It wants them to be concise and attach some supporting evidence, but not every receipt. They should attach copies, not originals, because the documents may become separated from their returns. Hold off on submitting originals until the agency actually asks for proof of deductions. The IRS doesn’t allow electronic filing of Form 1040s with attachments. Submit paper 1040s.

Help from the IRS
For more information, take a look at IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, or telephone 800-TAX-FORM.

About the Author
Julian Block is an attorney and author based in Larchmont, NY. He has been cited as “a leading tax professional” (New York Times), “an accomplished writer on taxes” (Wall Street Journal) and “an authority on tax planning” (Financial Planning Magazine). His books include “Julian Block’s Tax Deductible Travel and Moving Expenses: How to Take advantage of Every Tax Break the Law Allows,” from which this article is excerpted. Please visit his site by clicking here.

It’s a tall order, and the folks at Stray Cat Alliance are up for the challenge. Their goal is to spay/neuter every cat in the 90037 zip code.

Since its launch late last year, Stray Cat Alliance’s I Spayed L.A. program has spayed/neutered 300 feral, stray, and homeless cats. I Spayed L.A. provides L.A.’s poorest demographic areas with spay/neuter and other health services for cats and kittens, both owned and free-roaming in the neighborhood. The program is run on donations and grants.

Christi Metropole of Stray Cat Alliance and friend.

I Spayed L.A. helps 90037 residents pay for all or part of the spay/neuter costs. In addition, they assist with costs for immunizations, de-worming, and other health-related issues. Funding for these services comes from grants and private donations.

I Spayed L.A. chose the 90037 area because its residents have extremely low incomes, it’s densely urban, and it’s central to downtown LA. Volunteers are taught TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return).

Stray Cat Alliance estimates that by sterilizing 70 percent or more of all cats in this zip code over the next three years, it would eliminate, or nearly eliminate, intakes from that zip code at the South Los Angeles shelter, where the kill rate for cats exceed 80 percent.

Jackson Galaxy of My Cat from Hell with a friend. (Photo credit: Photo by Brad Graverson.)

On January 28 members from I Spayed L.A. will be knocking on doors in the 90037 zip code. They host community events a number of times a year. Volunteers go door-to-door; block and neighborhood captains provide information and resources so local residents are empowered to help their own communities. Stray Cat Alliance has set up two trap depots in the area, and is teaching residents how to use them humanely. Spay/neuters are performed locally at Animal Rescue Center in South Los Angeles, and paid for by Stray Cat Alliance.

For more information about Stray Cat Alliance and I Spayed L.A., or to talk to someone about setting up your own grassroots program, click here.

Win A Pet Fountain
There is still time to enter to win a stainless steel Pioneer Pet water fountain–a $69.99 value. Click here for details.

He wrote: “I am eleven years old and completely blind; this does not stop me the least bit when it comes to my passion—animals, mostly dogs.” Following is Jack’s article on the importance of rescuing dogs:

By Guest Blogger Jack McPadden for Pet News and Views

“Woof! Woof!” Many of us don’t hear the call, but it rings through the air daily. It is the dogs pleading for help, begging for our support. They amble the city streets teeming with cars. Others roam the dangerous woods of the infinite countryside. No matter where, these vagrant dogs are in need of our mercy. It’s high time that we intervene, feel what they do, and, as a community, come together to rescue.

Many people are deaf to the call of vulnerable animals. You may drive by a stray and think nothing of it, as it is deemed everyday life. It seems the way of the world. Yet, when you take the time to empathize what those dogs are feeling as the car whizzes by, it sinks in.

What would you do if you saw a child standing in the middle of a road? You’d get out and help them. Sadly, this is not the case with many people and dogs. Cars swerve to avoid the animals and keep on going, not thinking about what hope the dog just lost.

Little Man is one of the rescue dogs that Jack trains.

The reality is dogs need human companions for their well-being. We feed and care for our pets. Likewise, humans need dogs; they comfort us, bring us much joy, and, most importantly, save lives.

The puppy mills defeat the efforts of compassionate people who take in dogs that have been horribly exploited. At these retched dog factories, the animals are bred in the most vulgar conditions. All of those dogs are unbelievably malnourished and sleep restlessly. We need to rescue the dogs that need us, not neglect them. This is simply giving back to the dogs who have saved our lives. We need to do our share.

So, next time you want to get a dog, go to a shelter, a foster home, search the streets, and for Pete’s sake, DON’T BUY FROM A PUPPY MILL!

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to help the needy animals that linger along the streets. Please, make a difference. Next time you see a stray or a lost dog, don’t avoid them, help them. If they are lost, bring them back home. If they are a stray, don’t leave them by the side of the street just because you are allergic. Find somebody who can properly care for them.

About Jack
Jack McPadden lives with a four-year old dog named Dallas. He volunteers with a neighbor who rescues dogs, and also volunteers as a dog trainer. He walks, feeds, exercises, and trains his neighbors’ dogs.

Jack is writing a book with his aunt. “In the book,” he says, “I go to live with my aunt to help her with her organization that fosters dogs. My objective is to raise awareness regarding the fact that the dogs depend on us and are waiting for us to help them. It will also express what a dog can do for a human, both physically and psychologically.”

A Contest Going On
There is still time to enter to win a Pioneer Pet stainless steel fountain–a $69.99 value. Click here for details.

All too often, my cat, Earl Gray, wakes me up at 2 a.m., 5 a.m., and right before the alarm goes off at 6:40 a.m. Earl wants water.

Stainless steel Rain Drop Fountain from Pioneer Pet is perfect for cats and dogs. The changeable filter keeps water clean.

I change his water bowl at least two times a day, and right before I go to sleep at night. Earl just prefers to drink from the bathroom faucet. The water has to run pencil thin, and he takes about five minutes to drink. I’ve timed him because the thought of leaving the water running all night is too upsetting. It’s wasteful.

So, I get up. If I don’t he keeps on coming back and sitting on my head. One night he started knocking things off my dresser. Yes, Earl has trained me well.

Earl is healthy. He’s been to the vet–the wonderful Marc Levine, DVM, in South Orange, NJ. Marc suggested I get a fountain.

I’ve tried fountains; Earl prefers the faucet. I have seen him drink out of his water bowl on occasion–but that is in the day time. Joanne McGonagle of The Tiniest Tiger suggested I try Pioneer Pet’s Rain Drop Fountain.

I was skeptical, and tired. I wanted an uninterrupted night’s sleep. I contacted Pioneer Pet and they sent me their stainless steel Rain Drop Fountain.

It’s an easy device to assemble, and it contains a replaceable charcoal filter for clean water. I drink filtered water at home, and now I’m pleased that Earl is drinking healthier water too.

Circulating drinking water is naturally appealing to pets. The fountain is dishwasher safe, and easy to clean. It holds up to 60 ounces of water. Plus, it is quite attractive.

The motor is quiet, and replacement filters cost $7.19 at Amazon. You can also buy them at a number of pet stores. The stainless steel Rain Drop Fountain from Pioneer Pet retails for $69.99, and you can find it online at Pioneer Pet, Amazon, and a handful of other sites. It is also available at PetCo and other pet supply stores.

I’m quite happy with it because Earl is drinking clean water and I am sleeping better. And there’s more good news: Pioneer Pet gave me an extra Rain Drop Fountain to give away to one Pet News and Views’ subscriber. This is for the stainless steel model. They also make ceramic and plastic models.

Enter to Win A Stainless Steel Pioneer Pet Rain Drop Fountain
Leave a comment in the comments section of this post about your pet–dog or cat–and why you would like to win this fountain. The contest ends Friday, January 27, 2012, at 3 p.m. I will contact one winner over the weekend.

Thanks everyone: The contest is closed. I’m putting all the names in Randomizer.org and will pick one winner.

The Winner
I wish I could give everyone a fountain! The winner is Paulina Subocz. Thank you all for playing!

For the latest on what they are up to visit their Facebook page.

According to the folks at Ark Naturals, cats and dogs need year-round protection from fleas and ticks, and they recommend using botanicals over pesticide-based topical products.

Ticks are not attractive. This is a magnified photo.

Most recently class action suits against the makers of pesticide-based topical flea and tick products has prompted Susan Weiss, CEO of Ark Naturals, to recommend to pet owners to use natural botanical alternatives to effectively control fleas and ticks.

“Fleas and ticks are a way of life for dogs and cats but controlling them is a matter of choice, and the pesticide solution seems to be wrought with serious problems,” says Weiss.

Reports of dangerous side effects associated with spot-on or topical flea and tick products date back to 2000 when the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report called “Poisons on Pets: Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products.” The report revealed a link between chemicals commonly used in flea and tick products and serious health problems in both people and pets.

More recently a 2008 study by The Center for Public Integrity reported at least 1,600 pet deaths related to spot-on treatments with pyrethroids were reported to the EPA over the last five years, according to an analysis of EPA pesticide incident exposure data by the center. The EPA assigns risk levels to all pesticides for their potential dangers to humans and some flea and tick products contain chemicals, specifically permethrins, which are “likely to be carcinogenic to humans.”

Weiss says that the recent class action suits claim the EPA has done nothing to change the advertising, marketing, or labeling of pesticide-based flea and tick products to alert pet owners of the possible serious side-effects, which could include shivering, salivating, dilated pupils, vomiting, tremors, and skin irritation.

Nancy Scanlan, DVM, Executive Director of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and past president of the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association, says “Herbal flea and tick products tend to be safer than pharmaceutical or pesticide flea and tick products, but all products that are formulated to rid pets of fleas and ticks pose some percentage of risk.”

I was in the mall with my son the other day and came across an ad for Skechers. The shoes were so colorful, and my son wanted a pair. I had to explain that we won’t buy Skechers’products until they pull their Superbowl ad that glamorizes greyhound racing.

This is a follow up to an earlier post about Skechers and greyhound racing. My friends at GREY2K USA learned that Skechers filmed a commercial at Tucson Greyhound Park featuring greyhound dogs in running jackets pitted against a small dog wearing Skechers sneakers.

GREY2K USA wrote to the company and asked that this misguided promotion be cancelled. Thankfully, thousands of you around the world signed their petition and also sent direct e-mails to company officials.

“We have now learned that Skechers denies that it is promoting dog racing and that the greyhound ad will be aired during February’s Super Bowl,” says Christine A. Dorchak, Esq., president and general counsel of GREY2K USA. “Additionally, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is to be featured and was present for filming at the dog track.”

As journalist, I have to come clean and say that I have not seen the commercial. I have sent e-mails and called the president of Skechers and the head of public relations; both have not answered my calls or e-mails. What worries me is that people who don’t know about the horrors of greyhound racing will see these graceful dogs running and will think that greyhound racing is okay. I’m sorry, but it is not okay. It really is one of the worst forms of animal abuse.

And I know Christine and GREY2K USA. They have worked tirelessly to close greyhound tracks across the country. She is a valuable source of information on greyhounds and greyhound racing.

Christine and I would like you to boycott Skechers, and let Skecher’s personnel know that you won’t buy their products until the ad is pulled. According to Christine, Tucson Greyhound Park is one of the worst greyhound tracks in the U.S. (You can visit GREY2K USA’s website for more information about this and other greyhound racetracks. )

Please Sign the Updated Petition
Click right here to be taken to the petition page.

And Please Send E-mails To:
Skechers President Michael Greenburg at michaelg@skechers.com
Skechers Vice President of Media Gary Martin at gpmedia@aol.com
Mark Cuban at mcuban@hd.net
NBC at nbcuniversalviewerfeedback@nbcuni.com

Tell them to please pull the ad. Let them know that you will not buy their products. Anything that glamorizes greyhound racing is wrong.

Thank you!