Great Discounts on Dog Beds

If your dog goes through beds as quickly—or you're just looking to save cash—take a look at The Uncommon Dog's website. They offer the best prices on name brand dog beds, and discounts are often around 20 percent off. (Think of it like Marshall's or TJ Maxx.) They offer beds from some of my favorite brands, specifically eco-friendly companies like Bowsers and Harry Barker. You can even narrow your search by print, size, fabric, shape, features, or price. Another bonus? They give 10 percent of their annual net profits to the ASPCA.

To check out dog beds at discounted prices at Uncommon Dog, click here.

Donating to Help Animals in Haiti

One of my favorite organizations, Best Friends Animal Society, is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH). This means that they're working to provide food, water, rabies vaccinations, safety and more for animals in the aftermath of the earthquake. They have already donated $25,000 to the cause and are working to raise more funds.

According to Best Friends, "ARCH will identify options for a wide-ranging, long-term plan that includes options for veterinary care, a large-scale vaccination program and services for animal population control."

To read more about their initiative, click here.

To donate, click here.

An Article Worth Reading

Since most of you are urban dog owners, I thought I'd pass along a link to this week's New York Magazine cover story, "The Rise of Dog Identity Politics." It discusses the human/animal bond, how we treat our pets, animal rescue, and a whole lot more.

If you have a moment, it's definitely worth reading. You can do so by clicking here.

Westminster: This February 15-16 in NYC!

If you've never been to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, I'd definitely recommend it. You get to see so many unique breeds, and it's just a really fun experience. (And let's be honest, there's even some Best in Show-type weirdness going on behind the scenes, so that's fun to see, too.)

Last year's winner, a Sussex Spaniel named Stump

To get an idea what you can see on each day, here's the breakdown: All Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding breeds and varieties will be judged on Monday, with groups judged on Monday night. All Sporting, Working, and Terrier breeds and varieties will be judged on Tuesday, with groups judged on Tuesday night. Best In Show will also be judged on Tuesday night.

Tickets range from $40-$130. For more information, the schedule, and tickets, go to the Westminster site here: http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/. 

ASPCA Lists Top Ten Pet Poisons of 2009

The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center handles thousands of calls every year from pet owners concerned that their animal has ingested something harmful. In 2009, they received more than 140,000 calls about pets exposed to toxic substances, and they took the liberty of compiling a list of the most common. I've listed them—with examples—below.

Azaleas may look pretty, but they can be poisonous to dogs.

1. Human Medications (e.g. painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants, and dietary supplements)
2. Insecticides (those used around the home as well as misused flea and tick products)
3. People Food (grapes/raisins, avocado, chocolate, and things containing xylitol, like gum)
4. Plants (azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe, and schefflera, to name a few)
5. Veterinary Medications
6. Rodenticides (rat and mouse poisons)
7. Household Cleaners (bleaches, detergents, and disinfectants)
8. Heavy Metals (lead, zinc, and mercury in the form of paint chips, linoleum, lead dust, etc.)
9. Garden Products (fertilizer)
10. Chemical Hazards (antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners, and pool/spa cleaners)

To read the ASPCA's entire list, including details, click here. And of course, it may be a good idea to keep the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number on hand somewhere that's easily accessible: 888-426-4435. I've called them before and they were extraordinarily helpful.