Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so we’ve launched a photo contest on Facebook for those women with four-legged kiddos. Please post your favorite Mommy + Me picture on our Muttropolis Facebook Page for all to enjoy and for a chance to win a $150 Muttropolis Gift Card! Our contest is running through Mother’s Day, Sunday April 12th. The winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, April 13th. We can’t wait to see your snapshots!
We’re happy
to announce our participation in the 22nd
Annual Pug Party put on by Pug
Rescue of San Diego County (PRSDC), an all-volunteer organization dedicated
to rescuing unwanted, neglected, abandoned or relinquished pugs and placing
them in new, loving and caring home environments. The party will take place
from 10AM to 4PM at the Infield Pavilion area of the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.
The Del Mar Pug Party is the PRSDC’s largest fundraiser, with over 500 pugs in attendance each year. This year’s theme is “Pug Super Heroes,” with costume contests, talent competitions and chow down competitions for all pug attendees to enjoy. Contest entry fees are $5 per pug per contest. After enjoying those activities, pugs can relax and socialize at the exclusive Pug Café while owners shop at the Unique Pug Boutique and vendor booths, enter in the raffle for a chance to win one of the 20 basket prizes, or socialize over refreshments. There will also be an “Ask the Vet” booth with three registered veterinarian technicians available to answer questions and clip nails.
Our involvement
in this year’s event includes the donation of a raffle prize and attendance at
a vendor booth. We’ll be offering specially selected, pug perfect products
including Buddy Belt Dog Harnesses
and matching Buddy Belt Leashes,
all handcrafted from 100% soft, double-layered leather. Buddy Belt Dog Harnesses
are one of our most popular harnesses and come highly recommended by
veterinarians as they provide both comfort and control while eliminating any
stress on the pet’s neck. The leather is very durable, yet softens and molds to
the pet’s body for a custom fit.
The Annual
Pug Party will be a fun-filled, memorable event for all, and we are very happy
to be a part. For more information about the PRSDC’s 22nd Annual Pug
Party, visit www.pugbutts.com.
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 20th from 10:30am-2pm in Solana Beach
SNAP (Spay Neuter Action Project) Adoption – Saturday, April 27th from 11am-2pm in La Jolla
For further details, please visit the Events page on Muttropolis.com, or find us on Facebook.
We’re happy
to announce our attendance at this year’s Rancho
Santa Fe Community Center’s Annual Spring Luncheon. A celebration of
tabletop creations, this event is expected to draw in the attendance of over
150 Rancho Santa Fe ladies. This year the luncheon will be held from 10AM to
2PM on Thursday, March 28th at The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe.
We’ll be showcasing a few select products from our wide variety of design-driven merchandise, and offering unique promotions for all attendees! With a group of loyal customers from the Rancho Santa Fe Community, we’re honored to be a part of the Community Center’s event and enthusiastic to provide its pet lovers with a sneak peek of our new collections.
The Rancho Santa Fe Community Center is a nonprofit organization that strives to enhance the spirit and benefits of community life in Rancho Santa Fe through programs, events and services of enrichment, recreation and outreach for all ages.
For more information about this Annual Luncheon, visit www.rsfcc.com.
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 9th 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 9th.
Hickory Brings Home The Hardware
Excitement reached record levels this week at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show - the ultimate beauty pageant for dogs - where Hickory, a 5-year-old female Scottish deerhound won Best in Show. Hickory has been ranked the Number One Scottish Deerhound for the last three years, but this was her first Best in Show appearance at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The Like Me, They Really Like Me!
Like many of you, I was completely unfamiliar with this breed - which kind of resembles an Irish Wolfhound, right? It turns out this gangly breed is extremely sensitive, perhaps a bit insecure - so I'm thinking Hickory's big win will help make great strides for sensitive Scottish Deerhounds everywhere. As well, Scottish Deerhounds are apparently quite mellow, low-key and easygoing. Learn more about the interesting Scottish Deerhound dog breed at Animal Planet's Dogs 101!
I'll take the Redbone Coonhound for $500 please.
For the fifth consecutive year, Wynn Las Vegas posted betting odds on the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which is happening today today at The Madison Square Garden in NYC. The odds are for breeds, not specific dogs, and proposition bets are listed "for entertainment purposes only" by John Avello, Executive Director of Race & Sports for Wynn. According to handicappers, the odds are on the Smooth Coated Fox Terrier, with odds at 6 to 1.
My crazy canine cohorts have asked me to put my money on the Vizsla, but according to Vegas handicappers, the Vizsla basically has a snowball's chance in hell with odds coming in at 300 to 1. Wha?! THREE HUNDRED TO ONE? You mean the Westminster folks are not going to properly recognize a breed that behaves like 2 year old for most of it's adult life? That's cold....just plain cold.
Which breed would you put money on to bring home Westminster hardware?
Reprint courtesy of The Daily Treat at AnimalPlanet.com
November is Adopt-a-Senior Pet Month!
If you've ever had the pleasure of sharing your life with a senior dog, you know what mellow, loving, happy-go-lucky, undemanding dogs they can be. Having shared my life with numerous senior doggies over the years, those fuzzy, grey-faced boos hold a special place in my heart.
November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, and we, along with our friends at Petfinder.com, are challenging everyone to spread the word! If you know someone who's thinking of adopting -- or if you're considering adding a new furry family member yourself -- please read on and share this list! To learn more about Lila, (right) the darling Jack Russell Terrier up for adoption, check out her page on Petfinder.com
Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Senior Pet
1. Housetrained: Older dogs are housetrained. You won't have to go through the difficult stage(s) of teaching a puppy house manners and mopping/cleaning up after accidents.
2. Won't chew inappropriate items: Older dogs are not teething puppies, and won't chew your shoes and furniture while growing up.
3. Focus to learn: Older dogs can focus well because they've mellowed. Therefore, they learn quickly.
4. Know what "no" means: Older dogs have learned what "no" means. If they hadn't learned it, they wouldn't have gotten to be "older" dogs.
5. Settle in with The Pack: Older dogs settle in easily, because they've learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack.
6. Good at giving love: Older dogs are good at giving love, once they get into their new, loving home. They are grateful for the second chance they've been given.
7. What You See Is What You Get: Unlike puppies, older dogs have grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grow up to be quite different from what they seemed at first.
8. Instant companions: Older dogs are instant companions -- ready for hiking, car trips, and other things you like to do.
9. Time for yourself: Older dogs leave you time for yourself, because they don't make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies and young dogs do.
10. A good night's sleep: Older dogs let you get a good night's sleep because they're accustomed to human schedules and don't generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or bathroom breaks.
How You Can Help Spread the Word About Senior Pets
It's easy - here are a few ideas. Let us know in the comments below if we forgot any tips!
Learn more about care for your Senior Pet at Petfinder.com. Portions of this story reprinted courtesy of our friends at Petfinder.com
Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley
Zazou, Kiki, Schmoo and the Muttropolis team and I had a blast last weekend at the 5th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon held at Del Mar Dog Beach in Southern California. Benefitting the Helen Woodward Animal Center, the event raises funds for orphaned animals at the Helen Woodward Animal Center and promotes responsible pet ownership.
This year, we enjoyed judging the hilarious Surfer Babe and Beach Bum Costume Contest alongside none other than Shorty from Animal Planet's Pit Boss and one of his darling Pit pups, Hercules!
The contest featured countless creative costumes, but we all agreed that a slightly portly German Shorthair Pointer, nicknamed "Surfer Joe," deserved best in show for costume creativity and spirit! Our second favorite costume was terrier mix who had a darling Palm Tree sprouting from his haunches and a surfer riding his rump! Check out the gallery below for some of our other favorite moments from the event!
The Best in Surf Was....
None other than our favorite Extreme Sports Sporting dog, Abbie Girl, mastered this year's winning ride, clinching the title of "Best of Surf." Abbie really wowed the crowds with a particularly tricky move at the end of her ride - check out the video of her amazing move here>
