Thursday, May 31, 2012

Breeders Versus Rescues: Why all the controversy?


Often times, people who really have an affinity for a specific breed consider finding a breeder for a new puppy.  In rescue circles, they are met with harshness and negative judgment over their choice to not get a new dog from a shelter or a rescue.  The debate is an intense one, and I can see both sides.

The plight of the person going to a breeder, is that they are seeking a dog "true to the breed".  They want to avoid any breed influences which may alter what they know and understand about the dog they are looking for.  This level of breed consideration is to be commended, as understanding your breed before you look for a new pet is key.  In addition, there are many breeds that are uncommon.  A person has a right to seek what they desire, and someone adopting from a breeder shouldn't bear the brunt of every irresponsible dog owner who has surrendered a dog to a shelter.  We must ask dog owners to be responsible, adopt wisely, and keep their dog forever.  Their "duty" is to the dog they select, and not to fix the world of unwanted dogs.

Conversely, it seems that many who go to breeders are looking for a "look" and general characteristics, but are tolerant of deviations.  The question becomes, why buy a Boxer when you can go to Boxer rescue?  They are very common dogs, and there are many in rescue.  We are not in fear that without breeders this breed will go extinct, for surely breeding our dogs is an important aspect to ensuring our amazing breeds continue to exist.  In addition, there are dogs in rescue who originally came from breeders (and likely not because of any fault of the breeder, short of poorly selecting the adoptive family.  But people can really surprise you, even after a ton of vetting).  If you shop your local shelters and rescues, you stand a good chance of finding your purebred dog.

I've been seeing a ton of people lately breeding the designer dog mutts.  I guess this is the only thing I don't really understand.  Why do you need a breeder if your dog is a mutt?  "Well, I want the best of both worlds".  Okay, but you can still find that easily in rescue, you just need to look and invest some patience and time.  "This dog is a shepherd, Rottweiler mix".  Okay, good.  Do your research on both.

Frankly, the frustration from rescue regarding people who purchase from breeders is that most people aren't looking for a "breed".  They are looking for a "great dog who is good with kids and other dogs".  If your requirement so simple, why not adopt?  Especially when adopting a 1 year old dog gives you a far better idea of what you can expect.  We can love our breeds, but each dog is unique and meeting them past puppyhood offers us such valuable insight into how they are naturally, personally, going to be unique.

With regards to the Great Pyrenees breed, I find myself shocked when people look for us for recommendations on breeders.  I must give people an ounce of forgiveness, because they have not seen the amount of Pyrenees that are in rescues and shelters right now.  I will have this breed my entire life, and I cannot foresee ever needing to contact a breeder so they can make more puppies the world doesn't need.  I respect the show ring and the need to continue the "true breed", but outside of those who want to show, I just don't get it with Pyrs.  I can also easily assume that those looking for livestock guardians really need to find a Pyrenees who is from a great stock of guardians.  Your livestock is too valuable to trust it to a 2 year old Great Pyrenees from a shelter with no livestock history. 

Great Pyrenees available in shelters and in rescue tend to be "true", and when I see Pyrenees mixes, the Pyr part has always seemed to be far less Pyr than is obvious.  When I still worked in rescue, we came across a lot of dogs who didn't do so great as livestock guardians.  Perhaps they let their farmer down, and didn't guard their sheep as they should have.  We saw a ton of Pyrs born on farms to unspayed bitches, who when they reached just about 6 months old the farm/family surrendered them.  "Why are there so many Great Pyrenees in rescue?" people would always ask.  Well, I'd tell them, we found that a lot of farm Pyrs aren't altered, as the thought tends to be spaying or neutering may hamper their ability to be true to their guardian jobs.  This may be true, I have no experience with them as livestock guardians in that setting.  Not altering your pets, naturally, leads to a lot of unwanted dogs.

The person looking to adopt must understand why they are met with such disdain from the rescue community.  Those in rescue see dogs day in and day out who are amazing, great dogs.  These dogs are sent to die, while people buy designer puppies and say they are "just looking for a great dog".  As humans, we cannot deny that so much of our motivation is superficial.  If it weren't so many breeds today would be far more functional and far less fluff.  To add, over-breeding of certain types of dogs seems to often reflect a trendy influence, ie. a movie that came out showcasing the protagonist to be a certain kind of dog, resulting in children across the nation screaming that their parents get this cutely-depicted creature.  The motivation is unforgivable, but regardless, you *certainly* will find that dog in rescue anyway, due to the trend.

I love my Great Pyrenees breed.  I do not want breeders to stop altogether.  If there weren't vanguards for the breed out there, eventually a breed may be subject to extinction.  Dawn, who was no fan of breeders, often said wonderful things about "whoever is breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs" in Colorado.  She said while she saw many of them in loving homes, she never saw them in rescue.  This meant that the breeders were choosing their adoptive families closely and carefully, and breeding only to that well examined demand.  This is how it should be.

The world of dogs needs a few things.  First, we need responsible breeders who breed to a well-vetted, specific demand.  Owners who *know* the breed and aren't looking for the breed for trendy or otherwise ill-advised motives.  Secondly, we need people to be responsible and smart when they look for a new dog.  If you are purely looking for a gentle temperament and a playful friend, please visit a shelter or rescue.  Does it *have to* be a standard Poodle?  Does it *have to* be a Goldendoodle?  If so, why?  Ask yourself.  If you, like me, found your breed soul mate, be sure you have shopped your rescues first.  You may be surprised at what you find.  Great, true, dogs of your breed selection that are young and impressionable.  Lastly, keep your dogs.  Spay & neuter your dogs unless you are using them for responsible breeding. (I personally believe all female non-show/breeding dogs should be spayed, as there are real health risks such as greatly increased risk of mammary cancer and pyometra in unspayed girls, regardless of if you truly *know* she will never escape and breed.  I think a well-tempered male dog can be left in tact if the owner is 100% sure he cannot escape to the lure of the gal in the area,  however I think it's illegal in most counties to not alter your dog regardless.)

Never make the naive assumption that if you surrender they will find a "better home".  They stand a real risk of finding themselves euthanized.




Friday, May 18, 2012

Beautiful Angels Looking For A Furever Home






One of our previous "star" foster moms is fostering two giant angels through Big Dogs, Huge Paws.  "Lilac" and "Dallas" are amazing, beautiful girls in the Denver area looking to find someone who will love them forever. 

Click Here To See Dallas & Lilac Playing

From Lilac's Foster Mom:

Lilac is the sweetest!  I love her so much.  she can not enough hugs and kisses and she wants to be petted so much that my arm hurts.  She is so good too.  During the day and night she has free roam and has never done anything naughty.  She snores at night and stinks and those are her only drawbacks.  Lilac looks and acts like a dignified old lady most of the time, but she plays like a puppy with Dallas in the back yard.  She runs and wrestles.  She likes to lay down on the cement patio and watch the world go by when Dallas goes inside to have a time out.  I've only heard her bark a couple of times, and she comes when called!!!  It's going to be hard to give this one up!

Lilac's Big Dogs, Huge Paws Bio 

From BDHP's website on Dallas:

Dallas, a beautiful, 1.5 year old, mostly White, Great Dane came to BDHP due to no fault of her own. Her previous owners did not have the financial stability to care for her. She is a wonderful, playful girl. She was born deaf, and is blind in her right eye, which occurred when she was about 6 months old. Dallas is house and crate trained, knows the sign for come, and will be learning other hand commands soon. She is trustworthy with free roam, very much an inside dog, and is a polite girl who knows not to get on the furniture. She is content to fall asleep on her doggy bed, enjoys car rides, and is good with other dogs and kids. Dallas' foster parents will be testing her around cats. She loves her bully sticks and any toys that she can play with. When left alone, she does show signs of some anxiety, so it's best to crate her until comfortable with her surroundings. Dallas cannot wait to find her forever home. She will be a great addition to any family that is looking to care, and love a very special girl.

Dallas' Big Dogs, Huge Paws Bio 

Please share this article with anyone you know interesting in an amazing Great Pyrenees, an amazing Great Dane, or both!  If you are interested in either dog, please contact Big Dogs, Huge Paws.   You can also email us at coloradopyr@gmail.com and we can put you in touch with their foster mom for more information on them!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Owning a Dog on a Budget


Annual Dog Budget*



Item
Price
Frequency/Year
Total
Annual Exam
 $52.00
1
 $52.00
Annual Bloodwork
 $140.00
1
 $140.00
Heartworm Antigen Test
 $45.00
1
 $45.00
Heartguard (6 months)
 $45.00
2
 $90.00
3-Year Rabies Vaccine
 $25.00
0.33
 $8.33
Food
 $27.00
8
 $216.00
Grooming (quarterly)
 $80.00
4
 $320.00
Toys
 $15.00
4
 $60.00
Milkbones
 $10.00
6
 $60.00
Specialty Treats
 $20.00
6
 $120.00
Bed
 $19.00
1
 $19.00
Supplements
Fish Oil (200)
 $12.00
1.825
 $21.90
Cosequin (200)
 $100.00
1.825
 $182.50
 $1,334.73
*This is just a sample with costs I got from my receipts, costs will vary

Owning dogs as both a college and graduate student encouraged me to find the most cost-effective and conscious way to take care of my furbabies.  People often think that owning a dog is a huge expense, and don't get me wrong, it definitely can be especially if unforeseen medical expenses present themselves (I will address what to do in that situation), but for the most part I have found a way to take care of my babies for a little over $100/month per dog and if you were to ask any of my friends they would say I spoil them.


What I discuss is merely what I do and should not be taken as recommended/what you "should" do,  what to feed your dogs, an endorsement for any product, etc. I just wanted share some tips and tricks that I found that have worked for me and saved me quite a bit of money.


Vet Expenses

I cannot stress how important it is to find a vet you like and trust, and personally I will pay a higher price for someone I trust (e.g., "you get what you pay for").  Annual vet exams and tests are extremely important to your dog's health and wellness. 

However, there are some medical things that you can get for less than your vet charges.  For example, if your vet prescribes your dog a medication that is also used for humans (and there are quite a few), you can get it filled at your local pharmacy, often times for a significantly lower cost.  To illustrate, call or even look on the website of your pharmacy and see if they fill pet meds.  Don't be afraid to ask your vet if the medication is a human medication.  A note of caution here (personal experience), pet medications that are not purchased directly from a veterinarian by the pet's owner are subject to sales tax.  So any medication you buy anywhere other than your vet's office will be taxed, including heartworm preventive.  Some times the medication is so cheap from an outside pharmacy the tax is not signficiant, but for something like a 12 month supply of Heartguard, the tax is close to $10.


Also something to note with respect to Heartguard--there is almost always a "Buy 12 doses get $12 back" coupon on their website.  Print the coupon and bring it to the vet when you get your dog's heartworm test done or whenever you are buying their heartworm preventive.  [Note:  Having your dog on preventive could potentially save you hundreds of dollars if your dog needed HW treatment (treatment ranges from $700-$1,200).]  Spend the $100/year to keep both your pup and your wallet healthy!


Rabies vaccinations are something that you can be done significantly cheaper elsewhere if you choose.  Vaccination clinics are often held and open to the public, where vaccines can be as low as $10.  Call your local animal shelter and ask if they hold a clinic or how much it costs to have the vaccinations done there.  Usually it is cheaper than what your regular vet charges.


Food, Health, & Wellness

I am picky about the quality of dog food I feed my two, but I am also cost conscious, which leads me to the best purchase I ever made--a Costco membership!  I literally bought a membership for the dog food, I know it sounds crazy, but it paid for itself within two months, literally!  Costco store brand, Kirkland, is manufactured by Diamond and is ranked 4/5 stars on most dog food rating sites, which is comparable to what I was feeding mine two previously--Blue Buffalo, and Kirkland is only ~$27 for a 40# bag vs. ~$50 for a 30# bag. [Note:  If your dog requires a special diet/food, try and explore different avenues to find their food at a lower cost.  For example, many stores have online sales + free shipping; some stores have "Get your 10th bag free" programs, etc.]

I also give my dogs fish oil capsules, which I get at Costco ~$12 for 400ct (1000mg).  My older dog takes Cosequin which is relatively expensive, but I can get a twin pack of 180 tablet bottles for $99, which I have found it on sale there for as low as $75 in the past.  Depending on how quickly you go through the bottle, I like to split the twin pack with a friend.


Also at Costco--HUGE dog beds for $19.  Big enough for my Pyr with a little extra room.


Grooming

I have found that local, independent groomers are often less expensive and do a better job than groomers at the chain stores.  Additionally, they usually personally blowdry your pup rather than use cage dryers like PetSmart or Petco (one of my dogs has been traumatized by the cage dryer).

I only get my Pyr groomed a few times a year, but I found a fabulous place that only charges me $70 (vs. the $100+ quoted by Petsmart & Petco).


If you brush your pup on a regular basis, depending on the breed, you can often cut down on the frequency in which they need to be professionally groomed.


Toys

Doggyloot.com or other sites like it have really good brandname toys (ex:  Kong, Chunkit, treats, etc.) for super cheap.

Also, don't forget about the clearance rack/aisle at your local pet supply store, sometimes there is some really good stuff in there (you might have to dig)!


Rainy Day Fund, Care Credit, and Pet Insurance

I recommend putting aside ~$3,000 (or more) per dog as a rainy day fund.  We don't anticipate our dogs getting seriously ill, being hit by a car, etc. but things happen and we want to be prepared.  You will not want to have to face an extremely emotional and tough decision because you didn't think ahead and don't have the financial means to provide your dog with the care they need and deserve.

CareCredit is another financial option.  CareCredit is a personal line of credit for healthcare treatments and procedures for your entire family, including your pets. 

Pet Insurance is also an option, but I am personally not familiar with it.


- Christie Cotter

Just remember well visits and preventive measures will save you money in the long run!

Great Pyrenees: Understanding Nature versus Nurture


One of the most important things about adopting a new dog, is understanding it's breed.  While great leadership and training will yield amazing results for just about any dog, each dog breed is unique.  There can be decades or even centuries of breed development which will almost ensure certain traits you can expect.  Our job as great owners is understanding what has been bred into our dogs to serve a beneficial purpose versus what is perhaps just naughty dog behavior, or just their unique personality.  A lot of dog traits are very intentional for what their "working" purpose is, yet can be undesirable in a home setting.  It's key to understand what your dog was born to think of as "good, I'm doing my job" so we can cater how we approach training if those behaviors are undesirable in the domestic setting.

So this is your first Great Pyrenees, what can you expect?  Like all large breed dogs, if it's a puppy, you can expect bursts of play followed by very important periods of rest and sleep.  If you've had a high energy breed puppy before, do not have the same expectations.  Pyr puppies still play like the best of them, but they can crash pretty hard and do need time to rest so their huge bones can grow properly.  Great Pyrenees tend to reach their full height at about 1 year old, and may continue to "fill out" for the next year.  Personal experience has told me that Pyrs don't tend to tolerate ear cleanings or nail trims very well (as they are a stubborn breed) so early exposure to these routine things is key, especially since double dew claws need trimming, and they can be prone to ear infections due to having floppy, long-haired ears which can trap moisture and breed yeast and bacteria.

Expect your Great Pyrenees to want to be by your side.  People often mistake the fact that they were bred as livestock guardians as a reason to think they will do well outside, alone, for long periods of time.  In the absence of a farm and flock, *you* become their flock, and your house the farm.  They are bred to always be with those things to protect them, and depriving your house pet of these can lead to depression and unwanted behaviors.  Because this breed was in fact bred for outside work, their coats are very resilient.  The coat of a Great Pyrenees reflects dirt and water very well, and requires more brushings to release dirt than baths every time they get muddy.  In addition, their coats serve as amazing insulators.  If you are concerned your Pyr is only a cold-weather dog, think again.  While they love the snow, they tolerate reasonable heat well.  Never shave a Pyr's coat, as this exposes them to direct heat and sunlight.

Pyrenees are "leaners".  While a lot of people like to take it as personal compliment (ie. "he likes me!") it's a breed trait.  Pyrenees didn't watch their sheep from afar, they nestled amongst them and watched for predators.  Leaning enables your Pyr to know where you are without having to keep eyes on you, freeing them up to survey their surroundings.  Because this is already in them, they will lean when not feeling threatened or not "working".  I've noticed that we can see this trait when leash-training our Pyrs.  In my experience, a Pyr is quick to lean against you as you are walking them.  While I'm not super confident I could train this out of a Pyr, I have never felt it to be a detriment to their other leash walking manners.

As most know, Great Pyrenees are prone to night barking.  If you have a Pyr pup, ensure you are addressing this right away.  We need to respect why they do this, and not consider them naughty for it.  Barking is ideal in a livestock guardian setting, as it scares away the threat.  Your Pyr will absolutely think he is doing his job, and will be confused when you say otherwise.  Natural, breed barking is in response to stimulus from surroundings.  If your dog, any dog, barks incessantly, there may be another underlying issue.  Often times, we cannot see or smell what they do, and their stimulus is beyond our immediate comprehension.  Versus reprimanding a barking Pyr, I have found it more effective to show them you "see what they see", praise them for a job well done, and they should cease so long as the threat doesn't persist.  This is natural for this breed, and should be expected upon adoption.  A well-balanced Pyr shouldn't bark more than is justifiable.

Bored dogs will dig, yet some dogs have digging in their DNA.  Pyrenees will dig, and this should be another consideration with your new dog.  If you allow them a spot or two to have their hole for coolness and comfort, they are likely to leave the rest of the yard alone.  It may take some patience on your part to let them find their ideal spot.

Expect your Great Pyrenees to be gentle and accepting of people, children, and other animals.  A Pyrenees who is aggressive with children or cats, for example, is not the breed standard.  If your Pyr shows these signs, this is something that could and should be remedied with training and guidance.  The only normal time for aggression would be in a guardian setting, where the Pyr felt threatened that another dog was impeding on his property.  This means your Pyr may be great with all dogs outside of the house, but potentially feel they are a threat to their "property" inside the home or the yard.  While I have found most Pyrs to be sweet 99% of the time, it would not be unusual for a Great Pyrenees to insist on being the only guardian if an alpha presented himself as a threat.

It is not in this breeds nature to have any predisposed health concerns specific to the breed.  Health concerns associated are more or less due to them being a giant breed, but not a Pyrenees specifically.  We worry about all our large and giant breed dogs when it comes to dental and bone health.  You can read a ton of literature and studies, and never see this breed pop up as a breed with specific health concerns.

Aloofness is in the nature of this dog.  Your Pyrenees isn't distant, cold, or disinterested because it stares off at times.  Being stoic, they tend to greet strangers thusly.  That stoicism is coupled with stubbornness.  Expect your Pyr to be resistant to training, perhaps only willingly sitting for a snack.  This nature is key to ensure these dogs are not easily tempted to leave their flocks.  If you were to visit a farm with livestock guardians and hold up a juicy slab of meat and call their name, they won't come.  Good job on their part.  Patience is required to teach our gentle giants to come when called and other various commands, and food/treat motivation is an expected component initially.

Understanding their nature is so important, so we select the right breed to begin with, and then to understand why they do, or don't do, certain things.  Owners, through education, can be spared having to hear themselves lament, "I can't stop her from doing that!".  While training does work wonders, understand you choose a Great Pyrenees, and love them for all their amazing breeding and characteristics.

-Shannon Murphy












Monday, May 7, 2012

Available for Adoption - Snow!

Snow
A sweet girl looking for her furever home!


Snow was left to starve to death after being found in the mountains.  A small rescue (Happy Tails Fur-ever Rescue) took her in, but the rescue is now closing and they really would like to find this sweet girl the perfect home!

Snow is great with people, cats, and some dogs although she prefers to be the boss.  She wants to be around her people and kids, so she probably would do best as a companion dog, not a livestock guardian.  She is great on leash, but as with most Pyrs/Akbash, she is not able to be off-leash without taking off.

Snow is 4 - 5 years old, UTD on shots/vaccinations, and house-trained.  She is not yet spayed, but will be before she goes to her forever home or rescue.

If you are interested in adding Snow to your family or know someone who might be, please contact Janelle Krell with Happy Tails Fur-ever Rescue
307-877-4621

Large Breed Presidential Dogs

We know that it's common for the presidential family to own a dog or three, and I decided to do some research to determine which previous president wins my "Large Dog Owner award", and along the way I discovered a president who won a dishonorable mention as well.  The winner of my "Large Dog Owner Award" turned out to be a tie between Lincoln and Hoover:

Abraham Lincoln was the only President I could find who truly owned a large breed "mutt".  "Fido" was likely a retriever/shepherd mix. 
Herbert Hoover ties with Abe in the large dog category.  While he did own a fox terrier as well, he had a German Shepherd, an Elkhound, and an Irish Wolfhound.  Surely he was the most significant large breed lover who ever sat in the oval office.  I wish I could go back in time and be his presidential dog nanny.. how awesome would that be?
"
Calvin Coolidge comes in a close second with his "White Collie".  This tugs on my heart strings because this pooch really looks like some kind of a Great Pyrenees mix. He has great taste in dogs!

JFK was no stranger to dogs, and owned a German Shepherd in addition to a slew of others.  JFK definitely was the spokesperson for "You can't have just one".
Gerald Ford wins an honorary award for the best presidential dog name, "Liberty", his Golden.
Let's thank our founding father, George, for setting a dog precedence in the White House with his American Foxhound (and love for hounds in general)
Honorable mentions go out to Warren G. Harding for his Airedale, Nixon for his Irish Setter, Reagan for his Bouvier de Flandres, and Clinton for his chocolate Lab. 

If worsening early Cold War tensions weren't enough, Truman gets his Dishonorable mention here for "Feller", his Cocker Spaniel.  Yes, not a large breed, but this is the only thing I've ever read regarding dogs and a President that made me so sad.  (Leaving out Presidential hopefuls who let their dogs ride in kennels on the roof of their car).  Truman is credited as saying "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog".  Apparently he did *not* want his dog Feller who was given to him, and he surrendered him.  Feller would be rehomed several times until finally finding a forever home. He would be sadly referred to as the "Unwanted Dog".  Apparently he *did not* want a friend in DC.  I know Cockers can be barkers, but Congress barks much worse.

I am hoping that the next open spot in DC for a presidential family dog will be adopted from a shelter.  People have the right to do what they want, but I for one would be greatly impressed by the message this sends to the American people.  Let's tell the next president loudly and clearly, "Don't shop, Adopt".  I know some people would absolutely lose their minds, but I'm hoping for a "pit bull" rescue in the oval office.  But of course, if our next president is to have superb taste and intellect, we'll likely see a Great Pyrenees/GP mix.

-Shannon Murphy

Dog Food Recall: Check your food!

Link to a site listing all recalled foods

Please check out this helpful link to understand if you should be concerned about your dog's food.  "I don't read the news" dog owners/people also need to be sure they have an outlet to become informed about things like this.  Below is a snapshot from the above link as well:  (thank you to www.askavetquestion.com)

What foods are being recalled?

The following brands are involved in the recall:
  • Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
  • Country Value
  • Diamond
  • Diamond Naturals
  • Premium Edge
  • Professional
  • 4Health
  • Taste of the Wild
  • Kirkland Foods (see below)
  • For these foods, Diamond gives the following instructions to know if your particular bag is recalled:

    PRODUCTION CODE DATA UPDATED MAY 7,2012
    “If your production code has a “2″ or “3″ in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 10th or 11th position, your product is affected by the recall. If the product you have does not include a “2″ or “3″ in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 10th or 11th position, your product is not affected by the recall.”
    Diamond production codes
    The following Kirkland pet foods are being recalled: (updated May 7, 2012)
    • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best BeforeDecember 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
    • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best BeforeDecember 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
    • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula (Best BeforeDecember 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
    • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables(Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
    • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula (Best BeforeDecember 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
    • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
    • Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
    For the Kirkland foods, Diamond gives the following instructions to know if the food is recalled:

    “To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production code on their bag. If the code has both a “3” in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 11th position, the product is affected by the recall. The best-before dates for the recalled products are December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013.The following graphic illustrates how to read the production code and best-before date:”
    Kirkland Production Code
    The recall affects foods sold in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
     
The following Apex foods, sold in South Carolina are affected:
Apex Chicken and Rice Dog 40 lb. ACD0101B32 24-Jan-2013
Apex Chicken and Rice Dog 20 lb. ACD0101B32 24-Jan-2013

There is a recall on the following Canidae foods:
  • Canidae Dog, All Life Stages
  • Canidae Dog, Chicken Meal & Rice
  • Canidae Dog, Lamb Meal & Rice
  • Canidae Dog, Platinum
The diamond website gives the following instructions for determining whether your bag of Canidae is affected:
To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production code on their bag. If the code has both a “3” in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 10th or 11th position, the product is affected by the recall. The best-before dates for the recalled products are December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013.
Canidae Production Codes

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Furry Scurry 2012

Denver Dumb Friends League
19th Annual Furry Scurry


This year we had 16 registered members and raised $1,643 to help homeless animals in Denver!
If you are interested in joining us for other events, please email PYRfectpaws@gmail.com, we would love to have you!


Cahota and Ana asking for some breakfast.

Shannon with her kids, Cahota & Ana

Obi

Zoe

Cotton and Zoe (left)

Gretchen and her little one, Brooke.

Dan, Cotton, Gretchen, and Brooke
It was so good to see you all again this year!!

Obi, the 3-legged Pyr!

Obi relaxing

Zoe!

Obi being adorable

Mia, John, and Maureen with their furry ones Zoe and Obi!
Mia raised $833 by herself this year!  Such a rockstar!

Obi

Obi again!

Ana and Reg



Reg


Reg



Reg

Reg

Ana & Cahota

Reg

Lilly with Daisy

Daisy and Linda

Lilly, Daisy, and Linda



Linda the Dane/lab

Cahota was a tired pup after the walk

Shannon and her Ana

Daisey

Reg

Post-walk relaxation...the trio--Reg, Ana (back), and Cahota


Reg really liked smelling the roses, most literally

Aleck doesn't do well in the heat so we met up with him after the walk

Reg

Reg and one of his roses