Best Friends Jack-o-lantern!

Check out our Best Friends Jack-o-lantern!!  Brandy from of our Houston location skillfully cut out our logo into this pumpkin- pretty awesome right?!? 

Best Friends September 50% Off Sale!

For the month of September our entire retail selection (except for Frontline and dog food) is 50% off!!!! That means you can get toys, clothing, collars and leashes, beds, gifts and more for half price! Our items are going fast so be sure to come in before everything has been sold.

The address is:

Best Friends Pet Care

528 Main Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06851

September Dog Friendly Events!

Come check us out at these upcoming September dog friendly events:

Trap Falls Responsible Dog Ownership Day - September 12, 2009

This event will take place from 9:30am until 4:00pm at the Shelton River Walk. Admission is completely free for the public and pets. There will be dog vendors (including us, Best Friends Pet Care Norwalk!), canine good citizen testing, raffles, a microchipping clinic, contests, canine demos and more! Visit http://www.trapfalls.org/ for more information.

Bark in the Park - September 13, 2009

Don't forget about the PAWS Bark in the Park event right here in Norwalk, CT! The main event is a dog walk on the scenic wooded trails of Cranbury Park in Norwalk, CT but there are lots of other activities planned such as vendors, demonstrations, food concession, PAWS merchandise for sale and great prizes for those that participate in the walk. Check out the PAWS website for more details or to sign up as a walker.

DAWS Walk for Animals- September 27, 2009

We will also be at the Danbury Animal Welfare Society's September Dog Walk Event. Walk registration begins at 9am at the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel. For more info check out http://www.daws.org/.

Wild Animal Wednesdays! This Week: Little Loggerheads!

Wild Animal Wednesday

Can you believe it? How cute and adorable! Hurricane Bill tossed these three newborn Loggerhead Sea Turtles right out of the sea last week. Luckily Park Rangers from Cape Canaveral, Florida found them and brought them to Sea World Orlando to be rescued and rehabiliated while the hurricane passed.

Unfortunately all eight sea turtle species are listed as either endangered or threatened. To learn more about Loggerhead turtles and to learn how you can help them visit http://oceana.org/sea-turtles/about-sea-turtles/loggerhead/.

Photos courtesy of Sea World Orlando

PAWS 2nd Annual Bark in the Park!!!

On September 13th, 2009 (Raindate 9/20/09) you and your dog can walk the trails of Cranbury Park while supporting the shelter animals at PAWS in Norwalk, CT. There will be plenty of other activities going on including demonstrations, vendors and more! The event kicks off at 9am.

If you are interested in walking visit the PAWS website to register or click to download the Walker Information Packet.

Don't forget to stop by the Best Friends Pet Care booth to say hello and to enter our raffle!

Human Foods That Are Poisonous to Pets

Human Foods Poisonous to Dogs Include:
-Chocolate
-Onions and Garlic
-Raw Potatoes and Potato Peelings
-Peaches and Apricots
-Some Fruit Cores and Seeds
-Raisins & Grapes (very harmful to the kidneys)
-Mushrooms (some types)
-Walnuts & Macadamia Nuts

Human Foods Poisonous to Cats Include:
-Apple Seeds
-Apricots
-Avacado
-Eggplant
-Green Tomatoes
-Cherries
-Mushrooms (certain types)
-Onions

These are just a few of the items that can be found in your home that may be toxic to your pets. If you think your pet has ingested a food poison or any other type of toxin please visit the ASPCA Website for more information or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435.

Kitty's First Boarding Stay!

Three Month Old's Mookie and Rocket are staying with us in Kitty City this week. It is their first trip to Best Friends so we rolled out the red carpet! Mookie, the grey tiger kitten was born with a neurological problem so he stumbles alot, which makes him that much cuter! He is so sweet and loves to be held. Rocket the black and white cutie is loaded with personality. He is always ready to play and explore!!

Avoid Tragedy by Preparing the Family Dog for Baby's Arrival

The arrival of a new baby into the family can create unanticipated problems for dog owners. The story of the Kentucky newborn snatched from his crib illustrates that even a beloved family pet go be a serious, if unintentional, threat.

Tragedy can be avoided with advance planning, according to Julie Zbriger, professional dog trainer with Best Friends Pet Care in Norwalk. “It’s important to include the family dog in preparations for the new arrival,” she says. “Otherwise, he may become anxious about his role in the household and act up. Even simple curiosity about that strange new creature in your home can make him a potential danger.”

Zbriger recommends the following:

1) Introduce the sounds, sights and smells of a new baby well in advance of the due date. Play a recording of a baby crying and the musical toy you plan to use in the crib. Use a doll to role play how you will hold and care for your baby. Apply baby powder and baby lotion to your hands and to the doll so he gets used to the smell.

2) Refresh your dog’s training skills well before baby arrives. A well-trained dog who obeys your commands is one of the best safeguards for your new baby. Enroll in a basic training or a refresher course and be sure to practice with him. Be sure your dog knows the “down” command and that you use whenever baby enters the room.

3) Gradually decrease the time you spend with your pet. You’ll have less time for him once baby comes and a gradual shift will make the transition easier. If you have a high-energy dog who needs lots of exercise, enroll him in a doggy day camp program a few days a week.

4) Supervise every interaction. No matter how well-trained, a dog’s reaction to a baby is unpredictable. Never leave them alone together. Know where your dog is at all times and don’t give him freedom to roam. Closely watch his reaction to baby; if you see any sign of stress or aggression, seek help from a professional trainer. If serious behavioral problems can’t be resolved, it may be best to find a new home -- both for the safety of the newborn and the well-being of the pet.

Zbriger offers private training and group classes at the Best Friends Pet Care, 528 Main Avenue, Norwalk. New classes start monthly. For more information, visit www.bestfriendspetcare.com or call 203-849-1010.

Extreme Pet Vanity!

Has your cat had enough of that same old hairstyle day in and day out? Well there is a new trend in Pet Fashion, and it is Wigs! There are wigs for both cats and dogs, but these fun and colorful hairstyles pictured are from Kitty Wigs. Some cats would consider this torture- but if your cat is a ham for the camera and enjoys a lot of attention, who knows, he or she might enjoy it! For more information or to see more photos of cats wearing wigs check out the Kitty Wigs Website.