The Muttropolis Blog

Stuff My Pet Ruined: Holiday All-Stars

Our friends over at Sh*t My Pets Ruined - a hilarious site dedicated to documenting and showcasing the stuff our pets have destroyed, or "..otherwise made filthy, distasteful, gross or painful" have come out with their top pics for holiday "Sh*t My Pet Ruined!" 

[Related: Got an aggressive chewer at home? Check out tough toys your dog can't ruin.]

With the site's permission, we've picked out our absolute favorite Sh*t My Pet Ruined submissions, featured below, along with commentary from the submitter.

Show Us Your Pics!

Do you have a pet that has creatively chewed, chomped and repurposed your carefully arranged holiday decorations?  Please feel free to share your pics with us on our Muttropolis FaceBook page or submit them to Sh*t My Pets Ruined! 

[Related: New Year, New Gear! Check out what's new for 2012 at Muttropolis]

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Janet McCulley, The Daily Treat at AnimalPlanet.com

 

Awkward Holiday Family Pet Photos

AAwwwk-waarrrd!

The holiday is upon us, and, like clockwork, with it comes the (welcomed) barrage of well-wishing Christmas and holiday cards featuring everything from picture-perfect families in matching dockers and smartly dressed tots with toothless grins to dogs stuffed into Santa Suits. Then there are those other cards - the ones that are simply awkward...just plain wierd. As in, 'I-cannot-believe-you-sent-this-out-as-your- holiday-card-weird.' You know the ones we are referring to?

A whole lot of awkardness in one place

The genius minds behind the hilarious site Awkward Family Photos - which features cringe-worthy, embarrassing photos of fairly creepy, fashion-challenged families  - take awkwardness to a whole new level with their hysterical collection of awkward holiday family pet photos! Here are some of my favorites and check out their whole collection at AwardFamilyPetPhotos.com

All photos courtesy of AwkwardFamilyPetPhotos.com 

1) Oy Vey!

 

2) The Giving Tree

 

3) That sure is one ugly baby.

Best Halloween Costumes for Metrosexual Dogs

Do You Have 'Metro Mutt?'

Do you have a male dog that has an extra spring in his step? Is he occasionally mistaken for being slightly gay? Does he particularly enjoy being groomed or shopping for gluten-free dog treats at the nicer doggie boutiques in town?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, (I did!) then you might just be the proud parent of a metrosexual mutt. In fact, my dog Zazou the Vizsla waves his 'muttro' flag quite high and we fully embrace and encourage his special fido flair.

Best Halloween Costumes for Metro Mutts

With Halloween right around the corner, you might be asking yourself - what is the best costume choice for my princess boy? Look no further - here are a few of our top Halloween costume picks for the muttro mutt. From do-it-yourself to store-bought-- we've got you covered.

1) The Ambigously Gay Duo  - Batman and/or Robin. The tighter the unitard the better. 

2) Hipster Pup: Decorative specs and artfully tied scarf complete this hipster holier-than-thou look. Photo - HipsterPuppies.com

 

3) Pirate Boy Costume: Nothing says "Ahoy Matey!" like a satin jumpsuit and sassy red sash...right? Muttropolis.com

 

4) Sailor On Leave Costume: Land 'ho! A fitted jumpsuit and smart stripes will definitely bring out the soldier in your boy.

 

5) Rave Party Fairy Costume- Just add glow sticks and some techno trance and you've got yourself a party! Muttropolis.com

6) Prehistoric Triceratops Dog Costume - What metro mutt doesn't appreciate a beautifully designed headdress? 

 

7) Prince Charming Dog Costume: No metro mutt would turn down an opportunity to wear a faux-fur lined cloak AND  bejeweled crown. Muttropolis.com

Reprint courtesy of Janet McCulley & The Daily Treat @ AnimalPlanet.com

Pets Behaving Badly: Stuff My Pet Ruined

What stuff has your pet ruined? Show us your pictures!

If you have ever visited the hilarious site Sh*t My Kids Ruined, a website asserting to be the "strongest visual birth control on the market today," then you are going to absolutely love the website Sh*t My Pets Ruined - a site dedicated to the stuff that our pets have destroyed, or "...otherwise made filthy, distasteful, gross or painful." Whether your pet has ruined your car interiors, your social life, your couch, your ability to travel or simply the smell of your home, the clever creators of this site invite you to tell your story...the good, the bad or the ugly.

[Encourage pup to gnaw on these all-natural teething rings instead of your Manolos]

With the site's permission, we've picked out a few of our favorite recent submissions, which are featured below, along with commentary from the submitter.  

Do you have a pet that has creatively chewed, chomped and repurposed your home decor or otherwise?

If so, share your pics with us on our Muttropolis Facebook Page or submit them to Sh*t My Pets Ruined! As well, be sure to check out their hilarious book, Sh*t My Kids Ruined  - it's sure to make your kids, nieces, nephews or siblings look like complete angels. 

[Nearly indestructible, your chomping champion will meet their match with this super tough Tuffy Toy]

 

 

Is Calling Your Pet "Pet" Derogatory? Experts Say Yes

Old Skool: "May I pet your pet?"

New Skool: "May I caress your companion animal?"  

According to the Journal of Animal Ethics, we have been unknowingly been insulting our beloved pets on a regular basis. A recent study compiled by university professors from America and Great Britain states that "pets" is downright derogatory and not an acceptable moniker for domesticated animals. They assert that "pets"  should instead by replaced with the term "companion animals"...which I whole heartedly agree with! 

Similarly, their findings maintain that words such as "owner," are also offensive, recommending instead that we be known as "human carers." (I personally would prefer "Lulu's mom" over "Lulu's human carer.") While technically correct in law, "pet owner" does kind of hark back to a previous age when animals were regarded as property. These academics believe that changing our vocabulary to companion or "parent" is essential to updating our understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural world. 

I have to say - I agree with their recommendations! What do you think? Will changing the way people refer to animals and pets help change the way they are treated?

source: Janet McCulley, The Daily Treat

Help Shelter Pets With Petfinder's "Adopt the Internet Day!"

In honor of Petfinder's 15th birthday, Animal Planet, The Daily Treat and Petfinder is asking people everywhere to pledge to spread the word online about adoptable pets on March 15, 2011!

What You Can Do

1. Add a Petfinder badge to your Web site or Facebook page to show your support.

2. Take Petfinder's pledge that you will tell one person about pet adoption on March 15. By pledging, you'll enter for a chance to win one of 10 Pet Hair Eraser® Vacuums from BISSELL.

3. Caption a Petfinder adoptable-pet photo on ICanHasCheezburger! The photos with the best captions will be featured on the ICanHasCheezburger.com homepage on March 15.

4. On March 15, donate your Facebook status and photo to an adoptable Petfinder pet. Simply replace your photo with one from the Adopt-the-Internet All-Stars gallery and post one of these messages:

Message One:  More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com. Help Petfinder Adopt the Internet today and find forever homes for as many as possible!

Message Two: I adopted my pet from Petfinder and now I want to help get this pet adopted! If you want to help pets in need of forever homes, please repost this!

5. On March 15, share an adoptable Petfinder pet on Twitter with the hashtag #adopttheinternet.

6. Add a link to your blog, Facebook or Twitter post to Petfinder.com

No amount of support is too small  --- spread the word!

Best in Show: What do you know about Scottish Deerhounds?

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!

Courtesy of The Daily Treat at AnimalPlanet.com

WATCH: Animals of YouTube Sing "Jingle Bells"

What do you get when you create a holiday video mash-up featuring one keyboard cat, a flappy-lipped horse, three pea hens, a turtle festooned with a bow, a tone-deaf Pug, a cat with a lisp, a hyperactive border collie, a school of fish, one shark, a spastic ferret, a shy caterpillar, a herd of bison and one nasally cat? 

What you get is the. Best. Holiday. Video. Ever. Never one to disappoint, the creative genius that is Klaatu42's Talking Animals is sure to put a smile on your face with this year's Talking Animals Jingle Bell Video! Enjoy and be sure to check out last year's "Deck the Halls" video too for an extra chuckle!

Adopting a Pet This Holiday? Think Petfinder First!

Petfinder: The virtual home of 344,945 adoptable pets from 13,573 adoption groups

If you or someone you know are considering bringing a pet home this holiday seasons, PLEASE think adoption first!  There are thousands of rescue groups for every dog breed around the nation and Petfinder.com (and the free Petfinder iPhone App) is an incredible resource and makes finding the perfect pet for your family fun and easy.

Around this time of year I get many inquiries about "..where can i find this breed of dog or that kind of cat...?" My answer? Log on to Petfinder.com! Petfinder.com is a virtual home hundreds of amazing cats and dogs looking for their forever homes. Searching for a specific dog breed or cat breed? No problem - Petfinder can connect you with hundreds of purebred dogs via dog breed rescue groups and animal shelters.

Learn About What to Consider Before You Adopt

Better yet, Petfinder is an incredible resource for educating yourself on how to adopt the right dog, cat or other pet, plus what to expect from the adoption process. 

Visit Petfinder.com today and help a homeless pet find their forever home, like darling Chaco the Boston Terrier - (above). What a cutie! 

To download the Petfinder App, download it for free at the iTunes Store.  

Top 10 Reasons Why Senior Pets Rule

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!

• E-mail this post to a friend who wants a new pet
• Promote one senior pet on Facebook or Twitter every day this month. (On Twitter, add the hashtag #PFseniorpets.)
• Add a Petfinder senior-pet search widget to your Web site or blog.
• Post a photo of your senior pet (and share why he or she rules) on the Petfinder Facebook wall.

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