Dog Bed Duvet Covers

Skanky dog beds are just a part of a canine owner's life. Dogs are furry, slobbery, and they can't exactly take off their shoes when they come indoors. So when a dog's living in a city, who knows what kind of crap he's tracking into your apartment on his little paws? After your dog takes a stroll down filthy Lexington Avenue or scrounges through squirrel poop in Central Park, he's going to come home and plop himself right into his bed. And there lies the most concentrated receptacle of filth in your otherwise pristine apartment. (Or at least you hope.)

That's why I think Molly Mutts' dog bed duvet covers are so genius. They're affordable, so you can buy an extra one much like you'd have an extra set of sheets for yourself. The key, here, is washing and changing the covers fairly regularly.

Plus, the designs are just plain cute. They come in round and rectangular shapes, so they fit over most other dog bed filler. And if not, you can just cram your old clothes, socks, sheets, etc. inside, and your dog will be none the wiser.

Molly Mutts duvet covers run from about $20.00 to $38.00. To see their product line, click here.

Cruelty-Free Dog Products

One of my favorite sites, Luxist.com, recently had an item on a company called House of Dog, which makes 100% cruelty-free products from faux materials. They make collars, leashes, beds, bowls, carriers, and more. (As an aside, you may be wondering what kind of animal-related company would actually produce "pro-cruelty" dog products, but I suppose the "cruelty-free" label here simply indicates that none of these are made from actual leather.)

Now, I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not a huge fan of a ton of their products from an aesthetics standpoint, but I still felt it was worth mentioning given the whole "cruelty-free" thing. Also, if you care, celebs such as Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Jewel, Cindy Crawford, Neil Patrick Harris, and others are all apparently fans of the line.

To take a look at their product line, click here.

Iams' Home 4 the Holidays Pet Adoption Drive

Iams started its Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive 10 years ago. Last year, they set a record with more than 1.2 million adoptions. This year, their goal is to find homes for 1.5 million animals. To find out more about adoptable pets, go to http://www.iams.com/iams/pet-adoption.html.

You can also vote for your favorite local shelter. Says Iams: "The participating shelter with the most votes at the end of the month will receive one month of free, dry pet food for dogs, cats or a combination of both. Each participating shelter is eligible to win once a year, but you may vote daily."

For more information, click here.

Have You Heard About Oreo?

By now, you have likely heard of the case of a pit bull named Oreo. It has been widely reported by the New York press. Oreo was thrown off of a roof by a Brooklyn man named Fabian Henderson. Both of her front legs were shattered, and the ASPCA spent several months trying to save this dog and socialize her. Sadly, she was euthanized Friday after being deemed a danger to both people and other animals.

To read more of Oreo's story, check out the Gothamist link below. They did a good job reporting the details.
http://gothamist.com/2009/11/13/oreo_dog_thrown_off_building_will_b.php

If you would like to write or call the judge handling this case to ask that her for the maximum sentence for Fabian Henderson, below are the details. He is to be sentenced on December 1st.

Case #06995-2009
Honorable Cassandra M. Mullen
Kings County Supreme Court
320 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(347) 296-1436

What, Exactly, is the Canine Influenza Virus?

H3N8, get to know it. A friend recently forwarded me an email from a local email hospital about Canine Influenza Virus (CIV), which said that the disease is especially prevalent in the New York City Area. (So far, it has been detected in 30 states.) Clinical signs are similar to those of kennel cough (Bordatella), and they include cough, ocular/nasal discharge, fever, decreased appetite and lethargy.

Image via waycooldogs.com

Oftentimes, CIV is no big deal—much like kennel cough—but sometimes it can progress, and in these cases dogs will exhibit symptoms such as a high fever, spontaneous bleeding, bacterial pneumonia, shock and death. Transmission occurs through contact with an infected dog and its secretions. (Yeah, gross word.)

Since this is a "newly emerging disease," it's important to keep an eye on your pet for symptoms. A CIV vaccine was developed this year, so maybe ask your vet about it if your dog tends to frequent areas like dog parks or kennels. Bear in mind, the vaccine requires a booster 2-4 weeks after the first dose is given.