The Muttropolis Blog

Leave Your Pets at Home in Hot Weather

Overheating Kills: What To Do if You See a Pet Locked in a Hot Car

Temperatures around the nation have been off the charts lately and nothing upsets me more more than discovering a helpless pet locked in a hot car on a warm day.  WHAT IN THE HECK are these people thinking!?! Living in Southern California, I spend more time running around grocery stores and strip malls trying to find the clueless owners of these poor pets who then proceed to tell me they "...just ran into the store for a minute..." or  "...left the windows open, so he should be fine..."  My answer to them: No - your pet is not fine and here's why:

Point Number One: Even on a relatively milld 85 degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees - even when the windows have been left open an inch or two. Within 30 minutes a car's interior can actually reach a staggering 120 degrees. Your car is now an oven.

Point Number Two: Even if the temperature outside is a pleasant 70 degrees, the inside of your car may be as much as 20 degrees hotter. Parking your car in shade does not offer protection on a hot day because the sun moves.

Point Number Three: While humans have sweat glands all over our bodies that help regulate our body heat, dogs cool down mostly by panting, which is much less efficient than sweating. In only a short amount of time, a dog with a high body temperature can suffer critical damage to his nervous system, heart, liver and brain.

Do Something! What You Can Do

At least 14 states and many municipalities have enacted laws to address the problem of animals left in cars in extreme temperatures. Under these laws, you, police, animal control agents, peace officers and others may be authorized to enter a vehicle by whatever means necessary to remove an animal. Learn more about the regulations in your area here >

If you’re out and about on a hot day and see an animal alone in a car, you should immediately try to find the car’s owner. If you have no luck, or if the owner refuses to act, contact local law enforcement and/or animal control. 

In my opinion, if the local law enforcement or animal welfare officer can't arrive quickly enough, I say get the dog out of the car  - keeping in mind that you shouldn't put your life in danger either. As well, the ASPCA has created these handy Pets In Hot Cars flyers (pdf) which you can print out and distribute in your neighborhood to help educate people about the danger of leaving pets in hot cars.   

I am going to keep these flyers stocked in my car glovebox - I encourage you to do the same!

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Small Dog, Big Hero: Dog Alerts Neighbors When Owner Collapses

  

Good Deed Makes Missy A Good Dog Indeed

Remember those Lassie movies where Lassie managed to not only hop a plane, train or automobile to alert the authorities of any impending crisis, but also provide the actual GPS coordinates of said calamity to the authorities? Well, it appears that Missy the Dachshund has figured out how to do just that!

Charles Mitchell was working in his yard last week in the Oregon wine country town of Yamhill when his neighbor’s dog, an 11-year-old dachshund named Missy, scampered up and refused to leave. Mitchell told little Missy to go home, but she refused. 

“I told Missy to go home, but she wouldn’t move,” Mitchell told the News Register. “She didn’t move until I started to follow her, and then she kept looking back to make sure I was coming.” He realized something must be wrong, because Missy never left the yard on her own and always stuck close to her owner, Charlie Burdon.

Upon following Missy to her house, Mitchell found his neighbor and good friend, Charlie Burdon, had collapsed inside his home. Phone calls ensued and the police chief arrived with paramedics and Burdon, who had suffered an attack of vertigo, was taken to the hospital and is recovering.

Now that’s impressive! Let’s hear it for Missy - the quick-thinking wonder wiener dog! Learn more about other heroic small dogs in history at Small and In Charge - Your Guide to Small Dogs at AnimalPlanet.com

ps. I am fairly certain that if I ever lay helpless on the floor, my dogs would most likely commence licking my face and then retire to their favorite sunny spot for a power nap. How about you - are your hounds heroic...or.... not so much?

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

The Doggy in the Window: 10 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store

Dogster's Top 10 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store

If you are a dog lover, then you're all too familiar with that sick feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you pass by a pet store that sells puppies. I'm not referring to the pet stores that have adoption days featuring shelter pups available for adoption, like we offer at Muttropolis, but I'm instead referring to the pet stores where there are cages upon cages of poor furry souls who are products of deplorable conditions at puppy mills. I see these poor pups and like many, I want to "rescue" them from their life in a cage - but in doing so - you end up supporting a very shady industry, where poor dogs are often bred far too frequently, kept cramped together in squalor and are not socialized with humans. 

Some pet stores do obtain their puppies from commercial kennels regulated by the Department of Agriculture. However, even these pups tend to be unhealthy and unsocialized. This is partly due to the fact that commercial kennels tend to breed many different breeds in one facility and they breed for quantity, not quality. So, before you buy that cute puppy in the window, consider the downsides of pet store pups:

10 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store

1. Bad Health: Because so many pet store pups come from puppy mills, they are not the result of careful breeding and they are usually not well cared for before coming to the store. Some common illnesses and conditions are neurological problems, eye problems, hip dysplasia, blood disorders and Canine Parvovirus.

2. Behavioral Problems: Because breeding is indiscriminate, behavioral problems are not weeded out generationally. You'll also find that a pet store's staff is not likely to have any training in dealing with behavior issues so the puppies continue to do the wrong things, which become habit.

3. No Socialization: Pet stores pups are often pulled away from their litter at far too young an age, often at only four or five weeks. The earliest a puppy should be separated from his pack is eight weeks and most reputable breeders will say at least 10 weeks. This lack of time socializing with his siblings means that puppy will not develop important canine skills. Likewise, a puppy who has not been handled by people from about three weeks will not naturally socialize well with them.

4. The Downfall of the Standard: In a broad sense, purchasing a puppy from a pet store and then breeding her means you are ruining the standard of that breed because the previous breeders were not concerned with it.

5. Lack of Information: A member of a pet store staff is not an expert on a breed and often not on dogs in general. Purchasing a puppy from a store means you will not get the lowdown on that breed or likely help with any behavioral or other questions.

6. Return at Your Puppy's Peril: Most pet stores do offer a warranty of sorts where you can bring the puppy back if he has problems. They don't tend to tell customers that the puppy's fate, once returned, is usually euthanization.

7. Housebreaking is a Chore: Pet store puppies have spent all their short lives in cages. They do not have the opportunity to develop the natural canine instinct of eliminating away from their food and bed. This causes problems when you try to housebreak them.

8. What You See Isn't Necessarily What You Get: If you see what looks like a Maltese in the window, you may find, as she grows, that there's a little Maltese in there somewhere but mostly she looks like a Terrier. There is no guarantee you will get a purebred dog if that's what you're after.

9. Poor Value: A puppy from a pet store generally costs between $400 and $2,000. This is often more than you'd pay at a reputable breeder who can ensure you get a healthy puppy and provide support afterward.

10. Questionable Pedigree: You're paying for a pedigree, or AKC papers, when you buy a puppy from a pet store but it's very likely that it's not genuine. If the papers are genuine, it still doesn't mean the puppy is a good example of its breed - you need a reputable breeder to prove that.

What are your options other than pet store puppies? Find a reputable breeder or adopt your next dog from the local animal shelter or breed-specific rescues! Learn more at Dogster.com or Petfinder.com.

via Dogster

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Two Paws Up for SleepyPod Air Pet Carrier

Worrying about buying a pet carrier that won't fit under an airplane seat is a thing of the past, with Sleepypod's new airline-regulation pet carrier, Sleepypod Air. The innovative new pet carrier features a folding system that allows pets to travel in the largest space possible, yet still allows for stowage under an airline seat during takeoff and landing. After take-off, you can rotate the Sleepypod Air so it's between your feet and expand the ends so both you and your pet can stretch out comfortably. 

Sleepypod Air meets major airline carry-on pet regulations by being able to compress in length from 22" to 16". The ends are designed to expand when there is nothing blocking them; they automatically fold down to fill the available space. The carrier top and ends feature easy-breathing mesh that opens for easy access and the pet carrier also features seatbelt straps to allow for secure auto travel as well.

While the Sleepypod Air pet carrier doesn’t come cheap, the versatility of the carrier makes it a worthwhile investment! Read additional reviews of the product or find the Sleepypod Air at Muttropolis.com

K99 Ice Cream Truck: Where Every Dog Can Have Their Sundae

First ice cream truck for dogs has British dogs howling with delight.

There's mobile dog groomers, mobile dog teeth-cleaners, mobile dog trainers and mobile doggy day-care, so why the heck not give mobile doggy ice cream trucks a go? London-based K99 Doggy Ice Cream Truck, the first ice cream truck for dogs, made its debut appearance at The Boomerang Pets Party at London's Regents Park last weekend. K99 was a huge hit and served up two dog-friendly flavors: Dog Eat Hog World (pork and chicken sorbet topped with a biscuit) and Canine Cookie Crunch (mixed dog biscuits and dog-friendly ice cream). Scoops cost just 99 pence (about one dollar), a fee that's donated to a local volunteer group, the Berkshire Search & Rescue Dogs. 

According to the U.K.'s Daily Mail and PeoplePets, a team of scientists investigated the perfect combination of temperature, texture and taste, ensuring the treats would be delicious to dogs and completely safe.

The K99 van can be found in British parks this summer and, rather than the traditional chimes, the van will be playing the theme tune to Scooby Doo! Love it!

 

 

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Here Kitty, Kitty! New iPhone App Rallies Stubborn Cats

 

Good news for anyone who has ever had difficulty luring their cat out from under a bed, up a tree, from under the car or anywhere else! A cat-loving University professor from Indiana and two of his students have developed Here Kitty, Kitty! -  a feline-friendly iPhone (and iPad) application that provides a creative and fun way to help you find your lost (...or stubborn) cat. 

Available on iTunes, Here Kitty, Kitty! provides a fun way for users to attract their cats with familiar sounds that will bring the feline around when they don't come when called. It features the sounds of a cat meowing, a man calling a cat and an electric can opener readying a can of kitty nom-noms.

Here Kitty, Kitty! just launched a few weeks ago and so the App reviews are limited, but the few that do exist on the site are very positive. Let me know if it works for your cat!

Need help getting your dog to come? Check out our review of the Dog Whistler iPhone App!

Mutt-minister Dog Show? AKC Opens Competitions to Mutts

Heinz 57's, Mystery Mutts and Malti-Terri-Poo's Unite!

For the first time in the 125-year history of the American Kennel Club -- the venerable organization whose mission is to "advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, and maintenance of purebred dogs" -- mutts are finally being allowed to compete alongside the champion bloodlines. The momentus event ooccurred at the Mattaponi Kennel Club dog show in Manassas, Virginia last weekend.

While mutts are not yet allowed in the "beauty contest" portion of the dog show, where judges valuate how precisely a dog conforms to its breed's standards, mutts are being allowed entry in the skill-based contests. Skill based contest include agility, rally and obedience -- were officially opened to mixed breeds last month. 

Hmm..how about a contest for disobedience - my dogs would dominate! The AKC is euphemistically referring to mutts at the show as "All Americans." 

I think this is great and that it's about time that all the smart, beautiful, one-of-a-kind mutts be given a chance for some time in the spotlight - do you agree? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Source: The Washington Post

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Top 5 Awkward Family Pet Photos

Awwwk-waard....Now With Pets!

The genius minds behind the hilarious site Awkward Family Photos - which features cringe-worthy, embarrassing photos of fairly creepy, fashion-challenged families  - have taken their collection of awkward photos to a whole new level with their hysterical new site, Awkward Family Pet Photos. Below are my top five favorites - check out their hall of fame or submit your own at AwkwardFamilyPetPhotos.

 

How You Can Help: Dog Hair Needed to Help Clean Up Oil Spill

 

We shampoo our own hair because hair collects oil - so why not use the millions of pounds of absorbant, natural, renewable human and dog hair, fur and fleece clippings to help with the Gulf Oil Spill clean up?

The nonprofit organization, Matter Of Trust, is providing a non-toxic, earth-friendly and effective way to participate in the Gulf Spill clean up. Donors from every state in the US, Canada and beyond are sending them dog hair, human hair, fur and wool clippings as well as nylons and funding for outer mesh. These materials are then used used to make Booms that can protect beaches and coastal waters from the ever-growing oil spill. 

How You Can Help

All salons, groomers, alpaca, llama, sheep fleece farmers, feather donors, individuals, & pet owners can sign up to be a part of this recycling system for hair, fur, fleece, feathers, nylons and more. Simply follow this link to the Matter of Trust website, sign up and get started today. Within two weeks, participating groomers and salons will receive an email address of the warehouse to ship their dog hair! Sign up now >

According to the Los Angeles Times, nearly 1,000 grooming salons in Petco stores have begun shipping donations of pet fur to aid in creating booms to soak up oil from the Gulf.

Watch the video below to see how amazingly effective oilspill clean-up hair mats and booms can be in absorbing oil. Learn more about their efforts at MatterOfTrust.org.

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Mutt Must Have: I'm Adopted! Nylon Dog Collar

 

Whether you found your four-legged bundle o' joy through Petfinder, PAWS or wandering on the side of the road, what better way to show your rescued pooch pride than with this bright and charming "Adopted" dog collar, available at Muttropolis.com

Our friends over at Up Country were inspired to create this darling collar as a result of an adoption program they created last year for their 25th anniversary. Dogs of all shapes, sizes, ages and breeds came to Up Country from the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and their stories were both heart wrenching and inspirational. The animal-loving folks at Up Country didn’t realize how seeing all these dogs and happy new families would change their lives - so among other things, they created this collar to celebrate and support the gift that is rescued pets!

Starting at $16, find the colorful Adopted Nylon Dog Collar at Muttropolis.com.