The people and pets affected by Hurricane Harvey are just starting the long, overwhelming process of recovering and rebuilding. Like so many others across the nation, the team at Wellness Pet Food was inspired to offer support to those in need as quickly as possible. The Wellness team has come together to lend a hand in a few different ways:
Donating Food
In the days following Harvey, we reached out to a variety of people in our network to see which shelters needed the most urgent support to keep displaced pets fed. So far, we’ve donated about 45 pallets of dog and cat food to a variety of Texas shelters including Austin Pets Alive, Fort Bend County Animal Services, Richmond SPCA and Cassie’s Place.
A woman in Rockport, Texas receives donated Wellness Pet Food for her dog.
Donating Money
Through our WellPet Foundation, Wellness is donating $10,000.00, split between the American Red Cross and Austin Pets Alive. WellPet is also matching up to an additional $5,000 in donations to these organizations based on employee contributions.
Donating Time
We have also looked into volunteer opportunities for Wellness employees in Texas. In the coming weeks, a group of Wellness Pet Food volunteers will travel to Texas once we confirm where we can best help out. WellPet is generously covering all associated employee travel fees as well as accommodating time off. If you know of a community in Texas in need of volunteers, please post on our Facebook page or email us at info@wellpet.com.
Donating Love & Shelter
As passionate pet parents, one of the ways we’re prepared to help is with shelter and love for displaced pets, either through fostering or adoption. We’re working with Yellow Rose Animal Rescue and Seer Farms who are currently in the process of re-locating animals out of Texas to New England to make more room in the shelters inundated with rescues. We hope to be able to share some of our foster stories in the weeks and months to come.
Tough times like these help remind us that we’re all in it together. In what ways have you or your employers been lending a hand during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey?
By Alexandra Dawson, a Washington, DC based nutritionist, wellness warrior, mama bird, and the writer and photographer behind inmybowl.com
A few months before my husband Andrew and I welcomed our son Poe, our little family brought home Rooster Lou, a Great Pyrenees hailing from the hills of Asheville, North Carolina. The not-so-teensy fluff ball quickly sprouted into a 95-pound gentle giant; every inch of her wholly made of love and fur (lots of it!). She is an integral member of our tribe and Poe’s “big sissy,” always keeping her watchful eye and gentle cuddles directed his way.
Rooster comes along on every family adventure, from our long weekend hikes outside Washington, D.C. to our slower morning coffee shop jaunts. Her warmth and energy are not only abundant and unconditional, they’re infectious. Seeing as she was our first baby, keeping Rooster nourished and vibrant is one of our top priorities. We don’t want her to just keep up—we want her to really shine!
Photo by Rachel Lyn Photography
Our family’s food philosophy is all about quality and simplicity.
Andrew and I don’t follow regimented diets, but find the greatest sense of wellness by keeping our meals as minimally processed, seasonally influenced, and plant-rich as possible—supplementing with high-protein options like locally sourced and organic eggs, wild-caught salmon, and animal proteins for Andrew. We’ve found this practice supports mindful eating, making us conscious of how we’re sourcing our ingredients, who we’re supporting at the register, and the ethics behind the ingredients and how they’re produced. This approach has also helped us foster physically and emotionally positive relationships with our plates and bodies, something we hope to instill in Poe.
Photo by Rachel Lyn Photography
Rooster’s nutrition is as important as our own.
Both working and parenting full-time, Andrew and I tend to keep make-ahead friendly meal options handy—like pre-roasted seasonal vegetables, pre-simmered grains like quinoa, farro, and brown rice, and raw fruits, nuts, and seed. Prepared during our Sunday afternoon meal-prep sessions, these pantry staples are perfect additions to leafy salads, macro bowls, almond-flour-tortilla tacos, creamy smoothies, and sweet or savory porridge pots. And just like our own meals, Andrew and I are respectful of Rooster’s favorites. A big girl with a bigger, albeit moderately picky, appetite, Rooster has significant nutritive needs to keep her body nourished, her coat shiny, her skin healthy, her teeth clean—and to maintain her sweet and energetic disposition.
Photo by Rachel Lyn Photography
Finding an option that we all love and approve of.
In our search for a food with the nutrition she needs and the taste she craves we’ve found the most success in feeding Rooster CORE RawRev’s Wild Game + 100 % Raw Lamb dog food. Made with high-protein kibble and 100 percent pure freeze-dried raw meat, this high-protein food has an ingredient list Andrew and I would feel comfortable digging into ourselves: Duck, lamb (an excellent source of protein with lower incidence of allergic response), chickpeas, flaxseeds (rich in coat-shining omega-3s), parsley, kale, apples, and blueberries (rich in vitamins A and C). Each ingredient has a nutritive and palatable purpose.
This grain-, gluten-, and potato-free line supports Rooster’s whole body health and longevity, while keeping in line with our mealtime philosophies. Snagging their largest 18-pound bags to have handy, we’re able to satisfy Rooster’s instinctive love and craving for raw meat with the ease and convenience we provide for ourselves with our own meal prep.
Rooster is so much more than our dog; she’s our sunshine, our gentle giant, and our fearless companion. Keeping her well and thriving is always of the utmost importance—we’re so happy to have found an option that makes all of us happy.
Alexandra Dawson is a Washington, DC based nutritionist, wellness warrior, mama bird, and the writer and photographer behind celebrated plant-based lifestyle and recipe website inmybowl.com and Instagram @tallulahalexandra. Extremely passionate about whole body wellness, a balance between a nourished mind, body and spirit, through In My Bowl and Tallulah, Alexandra actively strives to make that philosophy and lifestyle accessible to every demographic.
As the reports of devastating flooding from Hurricane Harvey continue to worsen, Wellness Pet Food is already in the process of coordinating donations to pet shelters dealing with an influx of pets displaced by the storm.
Here are some of the area organizations that can use your support now:
Help support SPCA of Texas’ relief efforts. You can make a financial donation at www.spca.org/give or make an in-kind donation. The supplies most needed are cat litter, litter boxes, towels, blankets, large wire crates, toys, treats, pet beds, newspaper and gas gift cards. In-kind donations can be brought to the SPCA of Texas’ Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in Dallas or the SPCA of Texas’ Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney.
Additionally, the SPCA of Texas is putting out a call for foster homes to help them care for the animals already in their shelters and those coming from the Gulf Coast. It is easy to sign up at www.spca.org/foster. They will continue to need fosters for the pets in their care as they bring in more animals.
Austin Pets Alive! has been helping shelters in the direct line of Hurricane Harvey. As of Saturday morning, they’ve already transported 235 displaced pets to their shelter. They are currently looking for financial support, foster through to adoption homes (2-4 weeks for dogs, 4-6 weeks for cats) and in-kind donations. You can get details on their specific needs as well as submit financial donations, here.
San Antonio ACS has been operating an emergency shelter to care for pets displaced by Hurricane Harvey. For continuous updates on the great work they’re doing, check out their Facebook page. If you’d like to donate, you can find all the details here.
If you or someone you know is local to San Antonio or surrounding areas, Animal Care Services has a group of adoptable pets displaced by Hurricane Harvey in need of placement ASAP. You can see the adoptable pets, here. If you are interested in adopting, please contact ACSrescue-foster@sanantonio.gov.
Photo via City of San Antonio Animal Care Services
The Houston Humane Society is currently operating in a limited capacity. They will need ongoing support in the aftermath of the storm. Please consider making a monetary donation.
The San Antonio Humane Society is currently housing pet evacuees from Hurricane Harvey. To stay up-to-date with their efforts, check out their Facebook page. You can help support their efforts by making a monetary donation, here.
If you have additional suggestions for how fellow pet parents can help Texas pets in need, please let us know by posting on our Facebook page or reaching out at info@wellpet.com.
If you’re like many cat lovers, you probably read this title and think “I spoil my cat every day.” Of course, you do! Whether your kitty sleeps on a silken pillow and enjoys the fresh “catch of the day” or stalks the great outdoors during daylight hours, cats have certain…well…EXPECTATIONS.
As a cat lover, you know those expectations may range from enjoying their favorite treats at a specific time to enjoying an afternoon lounging in the sunshine. And why not? They do offer love and hours of entertainment.
International Cat Day was founded in 2002 by IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare. While you may not currently be in a position to adopt a cat, (maybe you already have 2,3, ahem…), here are some great ways to show your cats some extra love today.
Here are 3 Ideas to Shake Up Your Routine:
Plant Some Catnip – You may be familiar with the catnip herb. You may have even purchased catnip stuffed toys at the pet store. This year, why don’t you consider planting catnip in a pot in your home? Catnip grows well in a pot on a sunny windowsill and if your cat enjoys it, then you can provide Fluffy with hours of entertainment year-round.
Why do some cats love catnip? It’s biological. There’s a chemical inside the herb called nepetalactone and it affects your kitties’ brain so they roll around on the floor and act a little spacy.
Give Them Their Own Water Glasses – You know how cats prefer your water glass to their own bowl? Why not find some wide lipped, shorter glasses (short, cocktail type glasses work well), fill them with water and leave them near your cat’s favorite napping spots?
Get Them a Box – You know how cats love curling up in a box? Why not find a plastic container or cardboard box and put it out for them? It could be their new favorite place!
Try Out New Treats – Treats always feel like pampering time. Why not get two or three new varieties and see which ones your cat enjoys the most? Your kitty can now choose from six craveable flavors of Wellness Kittles.
Get a New Collar – Fall is coming, why not give your kitty a new “outfit?”
So, there you are, five ideas for pampering your feline on National Spoil Your Cat Day. What would you add? Let us know on social: @wellnesspetfood, #WellnessCat.
With the point behind social media being to engage with people of like interests, it makes sense that there are countless social media sites and accounts that pet owners can follow to get tips, share photos and videos, and to get information from other pet owners.
Catster & Dogster are the Websites for All Things Cats & Dogs
Catster and Dogster are two different websites both equally devoted to all things cats and dogs. Sign up for e-mails, ask questions and get answers about your pet, view pet photos, get tips for taking pet photos, watch videos, and more on the sites. Keep up with the latest feline pictures and news on the Catster Facebook and Twitter pages and with canines on the Dogster Facebook and Twitter pages.
Twitter’s All a Twitter for Cats & Dogs
Speaking of Twitter, the site is great for seeing the cutest, funniest, and cleverest pet photos and videos around. Start following these profiles to stay social with your pet:
The essential sites are @dogs for all things dogs and @cats for all things cats.
Keep up with the world’s most “memed” cat, Grumpy Cat by following @RealGrumpyCat
Check out the cutest rescuers ever, Emergency Pugs @EmergencyPugs
Follow professional pooches on @DogsTrust (#dogtrust; #adogisforlife; #dogsatpollingstations)
Crossover social media platforms by following Cats of Instagram on Twitter @catsofinstagram
You can probably guess there’s a catsofinstagram page as well as a dogsofinstagram page, but there are also a lot of furry celebrities on Instagram –pets with millions of followers and for good reason.
Agador, the poochofnyc is the “Bob Ross of Dogs” and is hilariously photographed in a variety of outfits and scenarios.
Marnie of marniethedog will melt your heart. This precious Shih Tzu with a bizarrely long tongue wasn’t adopted until age 11, but with 2.1 million followers it’s safe to say she’s one of the most lovable canines ever.
Follow puppystagrams and tag yourself to get your puppy featured on their Instagram page.
For gorgeous, documentary-style puppy-soul bearing images, follow thedogist.
Picture These Pets on Pinterest
While private accounts dominate Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms, better-known names have some of the best Pinterest content. Accounts to follow are:
The animal cruelty prevention organization ASPCA. See ASPCA workers at work as well as adorable pets and rescues.
Petfinder has several boards with images, tips and furry feel-goods. Definitely pin down the pet adoption site as one to follow on Pinterest.
Perhaps better known as a monthly pet subscription service, BarkBox has one of the most engaging and entertaining (and helpful!) Pinterest boards around. Get dog humor, dog memes, human treats, dog projects, care tips and more.
Put Your Furriest Face(book) Forward
Like Pinterest, the top Facebook pages for pet owners to follow are those that everyone is talking about.
Boo, the world’s cutest dog, looks like a stuffed animal, but he’s not; he’s a pint-sized pooch with just under 17 million followers.
Speaking of famous pets, People Pets is the page to follow if you want to see celebrities with their furry loves.
Finally, what Facebook page could be more fitting for animal lovers than the Animal Planet page? It’s the place to go for all things pets and animals.
There are lots of great social media sites pet owners should follow for entertainment, information and to connect. The most important thing is finding sites that help you connect with the one you love the most—your pet.
Any site dedicated to healthy, well-loved pets warms our hearts. If you want to stay up to date on pet news and pet nutrition, follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest accounts.
Cookouts, parades, and fireworks are mainstays of July 4th celebrations but they’re not so fun for your dogs and cats. Since dogs and cats often panic at loud noises – vacuum cleaners, thunder – it should be no surprise that fireworks won’t be fun for them.
Yet, every July 4th, well-meaning pet lovers, take their pups to fireworks celebrations or let their pets run loose at home. Many of these animals panic and run. They’ll run through open doors or gates, down the street and get disoriented because of all over town, these mini-explosions are happening.
Imagine the nightmare. Many of these animals will end up at a pet shelter, lost and confused. Sadly, only a small percentage will make it back home.
This year, the holiday is on a Tuesday which means the celebrations are likely to start days early and it’s a good idea to think about your pet’s safety ahead of time. You might even establish ground rules with your family.
Dog and Cat Pet Safety Tips
Secure Them
Since you know Fluffy and Max are terrified by fireworks, make sure you have a secure location for them in the evenings. Some animals like their crate, if that’s the case, you can put your pet in his or her crate before the fireworks start, put a towel or blanket over the crate for an added feeling of protection, and play some quiet music.
If your pet isn’t crate trained, you can put him or her in a bedroom or another room and close the door. If you have a confined, low traffic space, your pet is less likely to get out and more likely to stay relatively calm.
If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, you’ll want to make sure kitty is in before the explosive festivities start. A panicked pet isn’t always able to find their way home.
Photograph Them
If they DO get lost, make sure you have a current photo so you can post it on social media and make posters for your neighborhood. Now, if you’re anything like us, your phone is already filled with cute pics of your pet so you’re probably covered in this department.
ID Them
Current ID Tags and microchipping can help reunite you if your pet gets out as long as these are intact and legible. Take a few minutes and look at your pet’s tags. Is the address and phone # correct? Can it be read? If not, replace them as soon as possible.
If your pet is microchipped, it’s worth checking the database to ensure the address and contact # is correct. If your pet was lost and wound up at a shelter, they’d check for a microchip to locate you. If you’re not sure if your pet is microchipped, you can call your veterinarian to see if they have a record of it and which company it’s with.
Be Proactive
While you know your dog and cat better than anyone, it’s better to take extra precautions during this time of the year. Even the most relaxed dog could bolt through an open gate at the explosion and hiss of fireworks.
You can’t blame them. They don’t understand.
With a few simple precautions, you can ensure you and your family have a wonderful July 4th holiday – including your furry family members.
Summer is here, so bring on the backyard BBQs, right? There’s nothing like the camaraderie of being outdoors, enjoying fire-grilled hotdogs and hamburgers, of mopping up puddles of BBQ sauce with a slice of white bread, or of eating corn right off the cob. Memories are made watching children and puppy dogs bound through sprinklers at these fun summer events. To ensure every summer BBQ moment you have this summer is magical, make sure you know what the summer BBQ pet do’s & don’ts are.
Don’t Let Your Pet Near the Grill
What’s a backyard BBQ without firing up the grill? Let’s be honest…food tastes better when it’s grilled; however, grills pose a danger for cats and dogs. Whether you’re cooking on a gas, propane, or charcoal grill, open flames are dangerous and it’s important to keep the grill monitored at all times.
A curious cat can easily burn a paw (or worse) trying to bat a hotdog off the burner. Meanwhile, pouncing pups have been known to become injured (and even to knock over the entire grill) leaping to pull off a nibble while the grill master’s back is turned. Pets and humans alike can sustain injuries when grills are left unattended.
Do Keep Your Trashcan Covered
The outdoor trashcan collects a lot of rubbish from lighter fluid to bamboo skewers to meat wrappers to matches and everything in between. The lure of an open trashcan is almost too much for any dog to resist; however, your dog can’t differentiate between a meat wrapper that has lighter fluid on it versus one that doesn’t. Choking and illness are very possible when the trashcan is left open.
Do Use a Natural Insect Repellent
Humans and pets alike need to avoid insect bites during the summer (especially dogs as heartworms are carried by mosquitoes); however, repellents containing DEET are harmful to dogs. Consult your vet for something that’s pet-friendly; for example, Avon’s Skin So Soft bath oil is a known insect repellent and is recommended by many veterinarians.
Don’t Feed Your Pet These Foods from Your Plate
When the grilling is finished and it’s time to eat, it can be tempting to give your dog a nibble from your plate; however, many BBQ staples can do extreme harm to your pet.
If you give a dog a bone, you run a serious risk of damaging your dog’s internal organs. Cooked bones break up easier; the shards can be very dangerous once ingested.
Alliums (onions, garlics, chives, etc.) are known to be poisonous to dogs and will make your pet sick.
Corn on the cob is a choking hazard for dogs or, if ingested, can cause bowel obstruction.
That said, there are some foods that are safe—just make sure they aren’t still hot when you serve them. Such foods include:
Hotdogs cut into pieces
Grilled sweet peppers, zucchini or sweet potato
Lean chicken, fish, or steak (spare the spice rub, though)
Chilled seedless watermelon
So, there are ways for your pet to enjoy the spoils of the BBQ without getting sick; however, it’s best to advise your guests in advance what your dog can and cannot eat as well as to train your pet not to beg or to jump on the table.
Do Have a Good Time
When you know how to have a safe time at a BBQ, you can easily have a fun time. By keeping the water bowl full, feeding your pet safe snacks, attending to grill safety, and keeping the trashcan closed, you and your pet can make nothing but happy, lasting summer BBQ memories.
Between the BBQs, keep your pet’s diet balanced withWellness Pet Foods’ all-natural foods and treats.
Kimpton Hotels (San Francisco, CA) – At every Kimpton boutique hotel, the pet policy is a simple one: if the pet can fit through the hotel doors, they’re welcome to stay. At a minimum, all 60 hotels provide water bowls, treats, pet beds, toys and pooper-scooper bags. Some have Directors of Pet Relations (pets!) who greet guests and test the pet amenities.
via Kimpton, Adela Lee
Tradesy (Santa Monica, CA) – The peer-to-peer marketplace has over 30 dogs that come to work on a regular basis. Dog owners choose a dog “buddy” who promises to help watch or walk their pup on busy days or during meetings. They also feature a Pup of the Month and have quarterly Dog Owner Town Hall Meetings where all of the dog owners get together to plan fun events. It also offers pet insurance as part of its benefits program.
Via Tradesy
Life is Good (Boston, MA; Hudson, NH) – Dogs are an integral part of the day to day team at Life is Good. The company says that dogs are not only humans’ best friends, but best co-workers—they encourage employees to get up from their desk for quick breaks and connect people who otherwise might not get to know each other.
Via Life is Good
HubSpot (Cambridge, MA) – Its headquarters is dog-friendly, and you’ll often see pups wandering the halls with their owners, including the company’s CEO and his dog Romeo. This year, the software company put out a “PupSpot” calendar featuring dogs from the office, and donated a portion of the proceeds to local animal shelters.
Via HubSpot
Kurgo (Salisbury, MA) – Kurgo, which makes apparel, gear and accessories for dogs, not only allows pups in their offices, but features them on the company website, too! They include Garp, “The Escape Artist,” and Baxter, “The Office Lap Dog,” among many other pup-loyees.
Via Kurgo
Clif Bar & Company (Emeryville, CA) – The company is in its 25th year as a business, and they’ve had a dog-friendly headquarters since its start. The reason? The company says it helps employees live full, complete lives at work, creates community, and helps people save time and money.
Via Clif Company
Etsy (Brooklyn, NY) – Its dog-friendly office policy has been in place since Etsy began in 2005, and it’s one of the ways the company strives to maintain a casual, creative, and inspiring work environment. The online marketplace says it keeps spirits high and fosters a sense of community and connection.
Via Etsy, Emily Andrews
The Nerdery (Minneapolis, MN) – In addition to allowing dogs in the company’s headquarters in Minneapolis and across offices in Phoenix, Chicago and Kansas City, the software company is also committed to pets in need. The Nerdery Foundation has had the opportunity to create pro-bono websites for 207 nonprofit organizations, including 10 pet-focused nonprofits.
Via Nerdery, Mark Ross
Bitly (New York City) – All of Bitly’s offices, in New York, San Francisco and Denver, are dog friendly on Take Your Dog to Work Day and every day of the year.
Via Bitly
Pet Sitters International launched Take Your Dog to Work Day® in 1999 to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to promote their adoptions.
50% of senior dogs develop cancer. The number isn’t quite as high for cats but it does happen. Like with people, there are a variety of cancers that can affect your beloved pet and as you probably know, many cancers can be treated if caught early.
May is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, so it makes sense to share a few cancer symptoms that pet lovers should be aware of.
There are a few symptoms that specifically skew toward cancer which I’ll share in a moment. Unfortunately, the other cancer symptoms can seem a little generic – weight loss, change in energy levels, etc. so don’t panic if your pet shows these signs, but do make an appointment with your veterinarian to have your pet evaluated.
3 Typical Cancer Symptoms
1—Unusual lumps and bumps – one common cancer for both dogs and cats is lymphoma, this is a cancer of the lymph nodes which are located throughout your pet’s body. The lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system which works to filter toxic substances out of the body.
Individual lymph nodes can swell up to be the size of golf balls so they can be very noticeable. In cats, lymphoma is linked to feline leukemia virus. There’s a vaccination against feline leukemia, which can protect your cat.
2—Visible sores on the skin – mast cell cancer is a type of skin cancer that can create noticeable lesions on your pet’s body. Now, since skin problems is one of those “generic” concerns that can mean all kinds of things, you’ll want a specialist to evaluate your pet. Plus, since this is a kind of cancer with multiple classifications, finding out what you’re dealing with is your best shot.
3—Unusual bleeding – whether from the eyes, nose, mouth, or in the urine, bleeding or unusual discharges are a sign of sickness.
Other possible cancer symptoms include a bad smell emanating from the body or mouth. Plus, weight loss, extreme change in energy levels – from happy and active to sluggish all the time.
Pet Cancer Prevention Tips
A healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward keeping your pet feeling great so keep them at a healthy weight, get regular exercise, and feed a quality diet. The basics are powerful.
Speaking of a healthy diet, when you include anti-inflammatory ingredients like blueberries, salmon, and other good-for-your-pet ingredients in your pet’s diet, you can reduce inflammation. As you may know, inflammation is a leading cause of disease.
Now that you know some of the typical pet cancer symptoms, you can keep an eye on your pet and make a note of any unusual behavior. As always, regular wellness visits with your veterinarian can help catch cancers and other diseases early. Twice a year visits for pets 8 and older is recommended unless your vet says otherwise.
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