PetSugar

The Scoop: Evite Adds a Pet Party Invitation Section!

PetSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:30:06 -0700

I love parties (North does too), so how exciting is it that Evite has added a special section for pet-centric events? Wheee! Just looking through the choices made me think of a bunch that I'd love to plan – do you have any furry fiestas coming up? Even if you haven't made plans yet, I'll soon be sharing tips for throwing a Howl-oween bash for (you guessed it) . . . dogs! Check out more of my fave invitations when you read more.

Basketball Toys For Dogs Make a Slam Dunk!

PetSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:00:07 -0700

I know my pooch loves any game involving him . . . and a ball to chase, catch, or chew! Even though tennis seems to be the most common style of choice, I rounded up some other round balls to get your dogs off the bench and into the backyard. Even if you think your pet's better at drooling than dribbling, from flat to stuffed, see the top b-ball toys to make my list. If you're lucky, your pooch will invite you onto his "Dream Team" or at least let you get an assist in a pickup (and toss back) game, too.

Planet Dog Squeaky Plush Basketball ($9)	12" Sports Loofa Dog Toy - Basketball ($5)
Basketball Fetch Flyer Dog Toy ($14)	Vinyl Basketball Dog Toy 3 in ($2)
Tug n Talk Sports Talking Basketball Dog Toy with Rope ($13)	Latex Basketball Dog Toy ($5)

Ladybug vs. Bedbugs: Beagle Sniffs Out Blood Suckers!

PetSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:50:05 -0700

So I see this beagle, Ladybug, sniffing around. Pretty cute, right? Well, his task . . . not so cute. This pooch is inspecting an apartment with bedbugs here in San Francisco. Cases of these infestations are on the rise across the country – did you just start feeling itchy for no reason? – and many breeds can sniff them right out.

My quick web search uncovered several companies with pooches for hire (like K-9 Bed Bug Detection Services) to nose around your house to make sure the buggies didn't hitch a ride with you from a recent stay at a hotel or airport. That's one pup I hope to never have to invite into my home!

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Super Cool Phone Booth Transformation Just For Fishes!

PetSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:45:29 -0800

Be honest, when's the last time you set foot in a phone booth? I couldn't even tell you where to find the closest one to my home, but I definitely wish I could say this super cool aquarium was nearby.

As part of France's Lyon Light Festival, this ordinary looking booth was transformed into a not-so-ordinary fish habitat by artists Benoit Deseille and Benedetto Bufalino, who explain:

With the advent of the mobile telephone, telephone booths lie unused. We rediscover this glass cage transformed into an aquarium, full of exotically colored fish; an invitation to escape and travel.

Wow, I especially love how it looks all lit up at night – see for yourself in the photos below.

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In Which PetSugar Returns Home to a Cat on Her Doorstep . . .

PetSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:23 -0800

Here's my backstory: I live on the top floor of a small building with six apartments total. I came home ready to tune into Gossip Girl last night and discovered this cute cat wandering around. Now, my first instinct was that the pet belonged in apartment three, but when I knocked on the door, there was no answer. Eeks! Worried that my new, tagless kitty BFF would find its way out onto the street never to be found again, I kept periodically checking my hallway over the next several hours and the kitty was there on my doormat until my last check before bedtime at around 1 a.m. I was totally torn the entire time: While the idealistic animal lover in me wanted to bring the cat inside (imagining North and Kitty curled up in no time), realistic PetSugar figured that inviting a strange, seemingly friendly creature into my home could likely traumatize both North and the feline. To cover all my bases, I slipped a note under the door telling them that I saw what was possibly their cat roaming the hallway but still felt horribly guilty about this lost pet seemingly determined to join my furry family. If you were in my shoes, what would you have done?

The Scoop: JetBlue Unveils JetPaws Program

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:30:54 -0800

JetBlue wants your furry friends to fly the friendly skies! The airline (which saddened us by raising prices earlier this year), just announced a brand-new program for jetting with your pet. In addition to a downloadable Travel Pettiquette guide, as part of the new JetPaws, customers will receive two TrueBlue customer loyalty program bonus points for each trip – that way your furball can help you earn frequent flier points, whether or not they're invited next time! Also noteworthy is JetBlue's new pet product line – they've got a travel carrier and separate kit (blankie, bone, and travel dish) co-designed by the founder of Jazzy Park Avenue Dog products (and New York Post columnist), Cindy Adams, and some pretty adorable pet shirts, too.

Happy Howl-oween: Planning the Perfect Pet Party

PetSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:00:59 -0700

It's important to keep your pets inside on Oct. 31 – animals can easily get spooked by the strange faces. If you're lucky enough to have indoor space, why not invite over your doggy's furry clique for a Howl-oween bash?

Be realistic. Know the size of space you have, the energy level of the pets, and how long they (and you) can deal with a party. Don't try to pack in too many pups (when the number of animals multiplies, so does the risk of accidents and the amount of flying fur). Make sure you know how the dogs will react to each other by choosing BFFs.
Set some ground rules. Make sure not to have any candy – especially chocolate – out in the open. Even if your dog can't or won't get it that doesn't mean his furry friends will be as well-behaved.

See the rest of my tips when you read more.

Create a "photo studio." Gather decorations and props in a separate space before the party starts. Encourage guests to arrive with pets in costume for a photo opp in the closed door room – this way they will focus more on you and the camera than visiting pals. Dogs can be monitored for their studio time and then let back to play with everyone else after you get the perfect piccy.
Don't force it. If things don't go well, have a backup plan or call it an early night. Consider inviting pals to meet up at the dog park on the afternoon before or even the Saturday after to take photos. That way dogs can arrive in costume for a picture and then have it removed for frolicking.

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Were You at Petco on Saturday?

PetSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:00:01 -0700

Over the weekend, I took off to find my nearest Petco here in SF to check out their Halloween costume photo extravaganza taking place at stores nationwide. Furry friends of all kinds were invited to come dressed in costume, and have a fun piccy taken to remember the fun forever. The photographs were totally inexpensive ($5 plus tax), and came with a cute pumpkin frame to boot. I didn't want to chance taking North along, since he's usually the rowdy one in the bunch and, let's face it, a rowdy pooch while other dogs are trying to sit and stay for the camera doesn't really make sense! Check out some of the costumed pets I found at my local shop in this slideshow.

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Feeding Strays – At the Very Least or At Your Own Risk?

PetSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:30:50 -0700

While compassion causes many people to put out food dishes for animals roaming loose, logic makes others think twice about inviting (possibly diseased) strays to the area. Even if you wouldn't pick up one of these pets on the side of the road, what's your take on feeding them – does this good deed outweigh the risky results?
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Do Tell: Have Your Dogs Ever Attended a Sporting Event?

PetSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:30:16 -0700

Last Saturday was the Dog Days of Summer event for the San Francisco Giants. Once a year, the team invites people (and their pooches!) to enjoy a baseball game at AT&T Park. Sadly North and I couldn't make it this time, but next year, I'm buying my tix early!

Have your lucky pets ever watched a sporting event alongside you at a stadium, park, or field? Share the sport, and how the experience went in your comments below!

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