The Muttropolis Blog

New to Muttropolis, the Fashionably Safe Collar & Leash Combo You’ve Been Searching For!

With safety at top of mind and a dedication to finding the latest and most innovative products for your pet, we’ve teamed up with Pup Protector to be the first retailer to introduce their fashionably safe collars and leashes!

Pup Protector was born after tragedy struck Trevor Jensen and Naraku, his beloved Weimaraner. For six years, the duo walked every morning before sunrise to maintain optimum mental and physical health. However, one morning at 4:45AM, Trevor was struck by a car after throwing Naraku out of the way. Not until that morning did Trevor realize the real danger that the two of them faced going out in the dark without lights and/or reflective gear. In search for a solution, Trevor was inspired to build the Pup Protector brand.

With a passion to protect every dog that walks in the dark and a realization that there was nothing on the market that could meet that need, Trevor started designing and developing a line of ultra-bright lighted LED collars and leashes. Made with cutting edge thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), often used in various eco-friendly products, Pup Protector collars and leashes are safe and durable. Featuring a row of extremely bright LED lights with three settings, one static and two different flashing modes, protective pup parents are able to adjust for maximize visibility, accommodating preferences and safety concerns. Each collar and leash has a small battery affixed that will last for roughly 30 hours if lights are left on static mode. If blinking, the battery life may last even longer. For consumer convenience, all Pup Protector products are designed to use flat batteries, also used for watches and financial calculators and available in many retail locations.

The benefits of choosing a Pup Protector collar and leash goes far beyond keeping your four-legged friend safe during early morning or late night walks, you’re also able to (1) easily spot your dog off leash, (2) distinguish your dog in a large pack or at a dog park, (3) keep an eye on your dog in your yard, and (4) differentiate between multiple dogs by choosing collars with different LED colors. Built on a passion to protect and a desire to make a movement, Pup Protector stands behind their products, offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

We are pleased to stand behind the Pup Protector brand as well, supporting their growth while being the first to offer these innovative, safe and stylish dog collars and leashes. Beginning May 3^rd, Pup Protector products will be available in all three of our Southern California store locations and online at Muttropolis.com. Time to suite your pup up for safety!

Join Us & the ASPCA in Preventing Cruelty to Animals

In honor of the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, we have been hosting extra adoptions in all three of our Muttropolis stores. For those who don’t know, the ASPCA is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the first humane society to be established in North America. Each year during the month of April, they reintroduce an awareness campaign, urging supporters to “Go Orange for Animals.” Orange was chosen for the campaign because it is a very vibrant, energetic color, used to motivate supporters to join the campaign to improve the lives of animals across the country. A wide variety of involvement options are posted on the ASPCA website.

We know that awareness is key to the success of this campaign, so please join us in educating current and potential supporters about the abundance of physical, behavioral and environmental signs of animal cruelty. Some common signs and symptoms of animal cruelty include tick or flea infestations, wounds on the body, patches of missing hair, extremely thin and starving animals, limping, physical abuse, pets who are repeatedly left alone without food or water, animals who are kept in extreme weather conditions, and animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached. 

In an effort to make it easier to get involved, the ASPCA has compiled the following top 10 ways that you can crack down on animal cruelty:

1)       Know who to call to report animal cruelty.

2)       Get to know and look for the animals in your neighborhood.

3)       Make the call.

4)       Provide as much information as possible when reporting animal cruelty.

5)       Contact your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority.

6)       Fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.

7)       Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care they deserve.

8)       Talk to your kids about how to treat animals with kindness and respect.

9)       Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization.

10)   Start a Neighborhood Watch Program.

To show our dedication and support for this cause, we’ve hosted 1 to 2 pet adoption events every weekend in April and will continue to do so through the end of the month. Listed below are the next three adoptions events, one in each store.

Foundation for the Care of Indigent Animals – Saturday, April 20^th from 10:30am-2pm in Solana Beach

Recycled Pets SoCal Adoption – Saturday, April 20^th from 12pm-3pm in Newport Beach

SNAP (Spay Neuter Action Project) Adoption – Saturday, April 27^th from 11am-2pm in La Jolla

For further details, please visit the Events page on Muttropolis.com, or find us on Facebook.

Entertainment Time: DOGTV Viewing Party On March 9th

Muttropolis is moving into the entertainment business, for an afternoon at least! We’re happy to be teaming up with DOGTV to host a viewing party for our furry customers and adoring parents. DOGTV is cable’s first network for canines, with every frame and sound designed 100% for dogs. The viewing party will be held from 12pm to 3pm on Saturday, March 9^th at our Newport Beach Muttropolis store in the Fashion Island Shopping Center. “Puptails” will be available for canine guests and special treats for their parents.

We’re dedicated to keeping a pulse on the latest and most innovative products for pets, and that is why we have partnered with DOGTV. Many pups, and their owners, feel anxious about their time apart, but with DOGTV that anxiety can be alleviated for everyone. DOGTV promises all of the fidos in the world that they will never feel alone again. A babysitter in a sense, DOGTV is for your dog when you can’t be!

Committed to preventing mental fatigue, depression and boredom, the creators of DOGTV have conducted extensive research and found that dogs do in fact feel better in the company of television, especially when the content is relaxing, stimulating, or includes positive behavioral reinforcements. Soothing sounds with varying frequencies are combined with carefully chosen visuals to generate different content to calm, encourage playfulness, and expose dogs to habituating, comforting stimuli. 

DOGTV is available on COX On DEMAND at a subscription price of $4.99/month. For every attendee who brings in proof of a DOGTV subscription, DOGTV will donate $5 to Recycled Pets, an all breed K-9 rescue group in Orange County. Recycled Pets rescues adoptable dogs from county shelters who would otherwise be killed and place them into responsible, loving, forever homes.

The DOGTV Viewing Party is a great opportunity to entertain and socialize your pup, while also educating yourself on how DOGTV might fit into your life. And don’t forget, if you purchase a subscription, or already have one, bring proof and you’ll be giving back to pups in need! Our Newport Beach store is located at 865 Newport Center Drive. We hope to see you and your pup there, between 12pm and 3pm on March 9^th.

Fetchingly Fresh: Our Hip Hop Shop is Now Open!

Spring has sprung at Muttropolis, and we’re ready to help you put a little extra pep in your pup’s step! With an abundance of new design-driven spring styles, there is no better place than our Hip Hop Shop to get your pup ready for the Easter season. Darling dresses, dapper accessories, super cute tanks, tantalizing toys, and much much more.

If you have a princess pup you must see our Daffodils Dog Dress and Bunny Dog Dress, just two of our many fashion favorites, both handcrafted with delicate details and exceptional execution. And not to worry, we’re prepared to outfit dapper doggies too. Our Blue Plaid Dog Bowtie is a handsome choice, or the more subtle Happy Easter Dog Tank. If you’re looking for sometime to use all spring and summer long, the Aqua and Green Stripe Dog Collar and Leash set is bright, striking, and best of all gender neutral!

Don’t have a dog that likes to dress up? Treat them with toys! For the first time, we’re carrying the popular Plush Bottle Dog Toy, a great toy and new way to recycle in one. It’s simple, just stuff the plush duck with an empty water bottle and let your dog go crazy crunching and crinkling to their hearts desire! We’ve also expanded our talking toy collection to include a Talking Rabbit and Talking Chick, both sure to keep your pup amused as they come to life with each squeeze!

Clearly we are ready to hippity hop into spring, so let us help you and your pup get ready too! Join us to celebrate, hunt for Easter eggs, and pose for Easter pictures, at one of our three Egg-stravaganzas. All Egg-stravaganzas will be held on Saturday, March 30^th. Festivities will start at 10am in our Fashion Island store and at 11am in both our Solana Beach and La Jolla stores. Hope to see you and your fido there!

Fun Time Had By All in Fashion Island with Arden Moore

 

Happy Dog, Happy You: fun, low-cost, low-fuss ways to bring out the very best in both you & your pet.  

 Arden Moore is a best-selling pet author, animal behavior specialist, Catnip editor and Fido Friendly editor.   
The event featured:

• Arden Moore "The Pet Edu-Tainer™"
• Complimentary refreshments
  
• Tray passed doggie treats
• Copies were autographed

Read more on Kim Campbell's Thornton Gratuitous pet blogging: out and about edition

Summer Night Pug Party!

Twenty pugs came out to Fashion Island last night August 8th at 7PM for an amazing Pug Party.

There were pugs and kisses everywhere!
Read and see more on Joleen's Photography Blog.

Train that Canine: 4/19/2008

After weeks of searching, we were finally able to find the perfect Trainer to bring into our little world. On Saturday, April 19th, Muttropolis Fashion Island was proud to present "Train that Canine" with trainer Sue Myles.

Sue had come highly recommended to us by some very dear and regular customers.
She has been training dogs since 1974. (She also use to be a stand up comedian...and boy does it show!!)

"Choke chains, pinch and shock collars are relics in the world of dog training" states Sue. She has a very practical approach to dog training and incorporates humor and a light heart into the whole event.

At about 1pm on Saturday, a cozy group of people, both new and returning clients, gathered in our store to meet Sue and get some tips on how to make their furry friends happy and healthy. She was very interactive with the group, both humans and canines, practicing different training techniques on almost everyones dog.
After more than an hour and a half of laughing, joking and training the group separated refreshed and armed with new ideas about Force Free training.

Team Mutt FI

Easter Egg Eggstravaganza 2008

The sun was shinning, the dogs were barking, and the Easter Bunny had made a

pre-Easter visit to Muttropolis. As our doors prepared to open, we stepped outside to welcome the crowds for our first ever Easter Egg Hunt and Walk. We were very happily greeted by a sea of people and their furry friends! We had every breed of dog, from the delicate Chihuahua to a Great Dane decked out in Easter Bunny ears!!

After we took a moment to thank Haute Diggity Dog, one of our fabulous vendors for donating almost $800 to Irvine Animal Care Center we collected nearly $300 in donations from our customers as well!

And then...the doors opened and within seconds the store was flooded with eager pups helping their parents hunt out the much sought after “golden egg’s”. After a good twenty minutes of total madness the egg hunt moved outside.

The word on the street was that the Easter Bunny had dropped some eggs on his way to visit LuluLemon on the other side of the mall! Off they went, twenty to thirty dogs set off on a hunt in the beautiful sunshine to find the trail that would lead them to the last group of goodies!

We really had an amazing time, and look forward to doing another walk in the coming months. Everyone and their pups got along so well and had nothing but a good time! Thanks to everyone who joined us, and keep your eyes peeled for another event like this one!

-Muttropolis Team

Fashion

Island