Archive for December 23rd, 2008
How cold is it?
Cold enough that I’m tempted to walk my dog this way*
(* Don’t ever walk your dog this way)
(Photo from Spacedust.com)
Posted by jwoestendiek December 23rd, 2008 under Muttsblog.
Tags: car, dog, lazy, lazy dog walker, leash, photo, road, suv, walker
Comments: none
Pedigree to push adoptions in Super Bowl ad
A dog food company will join the ranks of Super Bowl advertisers — but not to sell dog food, at least not directly.
Pedigree, a dog-food brand owned by Mars, will be pushing pet adoptions in its Super Bowl XLIII ads.
The Wall Street Journal, noting that Super Bowl ads can cost as much as $3 million for 30 seconds, called it “a big investment for an oblique message.”
Pedigree, which has never advertised during the big game, says the cause-marketing approach is the way to go. “It’s the right message to send out at this time,” says John Anton, Pedigree’s director of marketing. “More dogs are going to end up in shelters because of home foreclosures.”
Besides, he added, ”Every time we run this campaign, we see increased sales.”
The ad, according the Journal article, will show what life would be like if the world didn’t have dogs. A string of crazy pets is expected to appear, including an ostrich giving a mailman a hard time. The ad won’t show dog food, but will feature the Pedigree brand name.
Posted by jwoestendiek December 23rd, 2008 under Muttsblog.
Tags: ad, adoptions, advertisement, advertising, dog food, dogs, mars, pedigree, pets, super bowl
Comments: 1
Man says he beat dog with rock in self defense
An assistant fire chief charged with beating a 6-month-old puppy on the head with a 12-pound rock said yesterday that he acted in self-defense after the animal bit his thumb.
Glynn Johnson, 54, who works for the Los Angeles County fire department, was arrested by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department last week and charged with one count of maliciously wounding his neighbor’s dog, Karley. He was released the same day on $10,000 bail.
Speaking at a news conference at his attorney’s office in Beverly Hills, Johnson portrayed himself as an animal lover, and said the top of his thumb had nearly been ripped off and had to be sutured back on because of the bite.
The dog, meanwhile, a German shepherd mix, suffered a fractured skull and had to be euthanized, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Posted by jwoestendiek December 23rd, 2008 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animal welfare, assistant, beat, bit, bite, county, crime, cruelty, dog, dogs, felony, fire chief, firefighter, glynn johnson, los angeles, riverside county, rock, self defense, stitches, struck, thumb
Comments: 1
FDA warns about chicken jerky treats
An increase in consumer complaints led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday to release another cautionary statement about chicken jerky products for dogs imported from China and sold as ”tenders,” “strips” or “treats.”
“The FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products,” the statement said.
The FDA and several veterinary diagnostic laboratories are investigating whether there is a connection, DVM 360, a veterinary news magazine, reported.
Dog owners who feed their dogs chicken jerky products are asked to watch for these signs: decreased appetite (although some dogs may continue to consume the treats to the exclusion of other foods); decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea (sometimes with blood); and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.
If a dog shows these symptoms, and signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours, owners should consult their veterinarian.
Posted by jwoestendiek December 23rd, 2008 under Muttsblog.
Tags: chicken jerky, chicken jerky treats, china, dog food, dog treats, dogs, fda, health, illness, pets, safety, strips, symptoms, tenders, treats, warning
Comments: 3