Wild Animal Wednesday! NWF Wildlife Photo Contest!

The National Wildlife Federation is holding their 40th annual photo competition.  Over $30,000 in prizes will be awarded.  If you love taking photographs this will be right up your alley.  There are divisions for all sorts of photographers from professional, amateur and youth.  There is a $20 entry fee, but that allows you to upload 25 photos in 7 different categories (Birds, Mammals, Other Wildlife, Landscapes/Plants, Connecting People and Nature, Backyard Habitat and Global Warming).  The last day to enter is July 6th so get shooting!  Follow this link to learn more!

Doggy Prom!

Our Doggy Day Campers had a blast today at our first ever Doggy Prom! Parents went all out and dressed up their pets in tuxedos and dresses! We even picked a prom king, queen and court! More pictures can be viewed in our Doggy Day Camp Photo Album!

Wild Animal Wednesday! Baby Moose Playing in Sprinkler

This video is so adorable. Baby animals are so cute, and these baby moose are the cutest. I wish I could see them playing in the sprinkler in my backyard! Appreciate the earth and all of it's living creatures today!

Training Classes Starting Soon!

Basic Obedience Classes starting soon with Julie!

Train your dog in a real life situation! By the end of the course many dogs have mastered basic commands such as sit, down, come, stay, watch, leave it, settle and loose leash walking. This class also covers common problem areas such as potty training, chewing, biting and digging. Consistent training at home will reinforce the skills they have learned in class.

Classes are 1 hour long for 7 weeks (cost of the course is $150).

Advance Registration required- call or stop in for more details on the courses or to meet our trainer

Class times are...

Starting Sunday July 11th

Basic Manners

11:30am-12:30pm

Starting Tuesday Evening July 6th

Basic Manners

6-7pm

 

If your schedule makes attending classes difficult we also offer private lessons. In addition, we offer one and two-week Board & Train services, where your dog will be trained, one-on-one with our trainer, while boarding at Best Friends.

More information at http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/ctr_norwalk.cfm

Monday's Funny Video of the Week! Kitten Meets Reflection

This kitten has no sense of self!! Watch as he sees himself in the mirror.. it is soo cute!

Best Friends now offers In home care!

Do you ever feel a bit guilty because your schedule does not allow your dog to get out as much as you would like?
Tired of imposing on family or friends to look after your pets when you travel?


Wish you could find someone to watch your pets in your home, but someone better trained and more experienced than the neighbor or teenager down the street who loves your dog?

Best Friends In Home Pet Care offers midday walks for the pet parents who are out for the day as well as multiple visits if you are traveling!


Our pet sitters have been trusted employee at a pet care business in Fairfield county for years and are  trained and certified in many aspects of animal care. They have extensive experience caring for households with a large number of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, small animals and elderly pets.We are also bonded and insured and a member of NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters).


If you are intrested in learning more about our services call me today to schedule an initial consult for your pet!  You can also visit our Best Friends Home Care Website !

Wild Animal Wednesday! Save Our Oceans with Pet Fur!

Don't forget that we are collecting hair and nylons to clean up the oceans and help the wildlife.  Read below for details and watch the Matter of Trust video.  AND don't forget to book your pet's grooming!!

A non profit organization called Matter of Trust is collecting donations of clean hair and fur of all kinds to clean up the oil in the ocean. Hair is hydrophobic which means it repels water, it is also great for absorbing oil (greasy hair means that hair collects oil). So Matter of Trust has volunteers making devices called hair mats and hair booms out of recycled hair and nylons- which are then placed in the water to soak up the oil.

Schedule your dog for a grooming today.  Best Friends Pet Care will be donating all hair clippings to Matter of Trust to assist in the Oil Spill clean up.  Give us a call at 203-849-1010 and start saving the world!

Here is the video that was posted on youtube.com explaining what Matter of Trust is doing and how it works!!

Wild Animal Wednesday! Skunks and Dogs

Curiosity killed the cat... or maybe the dog?  Dogs are infamous for putting their noses up to skunks.  If your dog gets sprayed try not to let him in the house.  First grab some old towels and a pair of rubber gloves.  Skunks usually spray dogs in the face, and sometimes eyes.  Check out your dog's eyes for signs of irritation.  They will most likely be red, but if they look extra irritated you may want to try rinsing them out with water.  In some cases you may want to call the vet if the irritation looks serious, or if your dog looks uncomfortable.  Be on the lookout for cuts or scratches from the skunk as well.  Most certainly call your vet if you think your dog has been scratched by a skunk (they can carry rabies). 

The reason the spray smells so strong is because it contains compounds called "thiols" which are composed of sulfurous chemicals.  The smell is very hard to get rid off, quite a nuisance!  There is a home remedy that will help dilute the smell.

In a bucket add 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide (3% solution), 1/2 cup of baking soda and 2 tsp. of dish soap.  Don't close off the container- it can explode because of the gas it creates.  You can also try subsituting the peroxide with vinegar (if you are worried that it will dye your dogs coat!).  Next, get your dog all wet with warm water and start applying the mixture.  And its very important not to get it in your pet's eyes, nose or mouth!!  Leave the mix on your dog's coat for about 5 or 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with warm water. 

Once you have given your dog a bath with the homemade mix, make an appointment with one of our groomers, we have a special deskunking shampoo.  It really helps!  Give us a call at 203-849-1010 and we will squeeze you in!!!

Reference- CT Wildlife Magazine

Labs love our doggy day camp!

Labs love our doggy day camp!

Above is 4 labrador retrievers that attend camp with us. The yellow one is Nellie, the black lab is Remy and the two chocolates are Kodi and Brady! They are all very social and enjoy making friends in camp! For more information about our Doggy Day Camp Services stop by or give us a call!

Wild Animal Wednesday! Difference Between Frogs & Toads

Have you ever wondered what differentiates frogs from toads?  There are many similarities between frogs and toads as well as many differences.  Toads are actually in the same order as frogs, but they are in different families and are not considered true frogs. 

• Frogs have smooth, wet skin that makes them look slimy.  Toads have rough, dry bumpy skin. 
• Frogs get around by hopping or jumping.  Toads typically walk to get where they are going.
• Frogs need to live near water, toads do not (except to lay their eggs). 
• Frogs have lean bodies with long back legs for jumping, toads are short and stout. 
• When resting frogs heads are usually held high, while toads are usually close to the ground. 
• Frogs have webbed hind feet for swimming, toads do not because they live on land. 
• Frogs lay their eggs in clusters in the water, toads lay there eggs in strands or lines on plants that live in the water. 
• Frogs are part of the Ranidae family and toads are part of the Bufonidae family.

Now, can you tell the difference?  Which of these is a frog and which is a toad? 

Resources include  frog-life-cycle.com & wereyouwondering.com