National Answer Your Cat's Questions Day!

I was elated when I received an email from our friends at FetchingCommunications informing us that today is National Answer Your Cat’s QuestionsDay!! I asked Cody if he would like to participate, and he eagerly agreed! Thanks Cody for using some of your valuable nap time  to ask me these great questions! Cody and I  hope you all will enjoy Cody’s questions and my answers!

CODY: Mom, why did you adopt me instead of my litter mates?

MOM: Well, to be completely candid, I DID hold your litter mates first, but neither one of them liked me! Your little sister was the spitting image of my Angel Bobo that had passed a mere two weeks before you were adopted, naturally I was drawn to her first, but she wanted nothing to do with me! Then, I picked up your brother, it was the same thing. Cody, YOU were different! When I picked you up, you sat in my lap and crawled up to my neck to cuddle me, just as you do today. You showed NO desire to leave me. I KNEW that you were a most special and loving boy from that moment. I adopted you on the spot. I  love that you are STILL my “cuddly little boy!"

Cody resting on my belly!!!!

CODY: Well, Mom if you were so happy with me, why did you go and get a DOG too?

MOM:Blame your father for THAT! (I’m Kidding!) Sort of! I had wanted a new dryer, not a dog!  Dad knew that I had  a dream (yes, YOU might call it a bad dream), of having a Sheltie since I was a little girl. When Angel Bobo was alive, a dog, (or a cat for that matter), was out of the question, because Bobo wanted to be the “ONLY’ pet in the household! Since you lived with, (and liked!) dogs at your foster home, Dad thought getting a dog would be a good thing for YOU and for me. He surprised me the day before my birthday with Dakota! Cody, you know you are happy with your brother. I KNOW that you love him! You and Dakota are the BEST of friends, I know you won’t admit it, but you LOOK for him when he is not home and I can tell that you miss him when he is at the groomer, or at the Vet, or when he is not at home  doing whatever it is that he does!

CODY: Ok, I’ll give you that! I DO love Dakota (but don’t tell my kitty friends!)  I have another question, why can’t I “free feed” all day?

MOM: Because Dr.Smiley says so! Why? Because you are TOO FAT! There are cats who will stop eating, but NOT YOU! If I were to put a bowl of kibble in front of you to "free-feed" throughout the day, you would inhale it ALL in one sitting!

CODY: Mom, nothin' like the pot calling the kettle black! Geeze, publicly embarrass me why don't cha! Anyway, I have one last question,  why do so many kitties not have a forever home like me and they have to live in shelters? It makes me sad to see so many kitties without homes.

MOM: That upsets me too Cody. Some kitties with no homes are in Shelters because their humans are no longer alive, became ill, or hard luck fell on them and they could no longer afford to keep them. Many kitties  are in shelters because some cats were not spayed or neutered, and  the Kitty Moms had kittens and there was no place but the street for them to live.  There are many reasons, and none of them are the fault of the kitties. I hope, as you do, that one day EVERY kitty will have a forever home. I know that would make you happy and it would make me happy too.

CODY: Yes, it would Mom. It would make me extremely happy. Mom, thank you for taking the time to answer these impawtant questions. I am a lucky kitty to have a Mom who takes the time to listen to my concerns. I love you Mom.

MOM: Cody, you do not have to thank me! I am your MOM!  Adopting you was one of the happiest days of my life. Your Dad and I will do everything in our  power to help keep you happy and healthy. I will never, ever not provide for you or love you. You never have to worry about not having a loving home.Thank you for choosing ME to be your Mom. It is the greatest honor, and one that I do not take lightly. Thank you for sharing your life with me, my sweet, brave, loving, funny and feisty boy....you are the best kitty I could ever hope to have.  I love you with all of my heart and soul. 

PetPR.com Launches Pet Blogger Profile Series, “10 Questions with…” A Guest Post By Meredith Schneider, PetPR.com Manager

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: It is our pleasure to "mix it up" a bit today, by featuring a guest  post from Meredith Schneider, PetPR.comManager!

PetPR.com Launches Pet Blogger Profile Series, “10 Questions with…”

By Meredith Schneider, PetPR.com Manager

This month, PetPR.com, the only news distribution service exclusively serving the pet and veterinary marketplace, launched a new pet blogger profile series, “10 Questions with…” on its blog, The Treat Jar. The series kicked off with “10 Questions with Caren Gittleman,” blogger of Dakota’s Den and Cat Chat with Caren & Cody on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

“10 Questions with…” is designed to offer an inside look into the pet industry’s leading bloggers. Bloggers will answer questions about why they started their blog, how often and what types of news they post on their blog, what pet product companies should know about their blog and even which blogs they enjoy reading during their spare time, among many others.

PetPR.com developed the “10 Questions with…” pet blogger profile series to help connect businesses to the pet media and pet bloggers that cover their news. Each month, PetPR.com will feature a new blogger in “10 Questions with…” on its blog, The Treat Jar. In addition to the new blogger profile series, PetPR.com’s The Treat Jar also features free resources for pet product companies and service providers, including educational PR/marketing blog posts and free downloadable Training Papers, which offer tips for press release writing and best practices for pet news distribution. PetPR.com’s Newsroom and The Treat Jar can also provide a resource for pet media and bloggers seeking to connect with pet businesses for product reviews and giveaways, interviews and other opportunities.

PetPR.com’s mission is to provide cost-effective PR/marketing services to pet and veterinary businesses with limited budgets. Since re-launching under new management in June 2013, PetPR.com has helped spread the news of more than 75 pet businesses, professionals and industry events, such as Pets Best Insurance, Worldwise, Furlocity, BarkWorld and BISSELL, among many others.

Unlike other distribution services, PetPR.com sends your press release directly to journalists, bloggers and media covering pet-related news. Instead of receiving links to their press release reprinted on a number of unrelated media sites, PetPR.com’s customers receive true editorial coverage from industry-specific, targeted media outlets and contacts. The company also shares its news via its social networks, including Facebook,  Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+, reaching thousands of other pet media, businesses and enthusiasts .

To be considered for PetPR.com’s “10 Questions with…” pet blogger profile series or to learn more about PetPR.com and its services, please email Meredith Schneider at info@petpr.com or visit www.PetPR.com.

About PetPR.com

PetPR.com (http://www.PetPR.com) is the only news distribution and editorial service dedicated exclusively to the needs of the pet and veterinary industry. PetPR.com was acquired by Red Barn Enterprises, the parent company of Fetching Communications, in early 2013 and re-launched under new management in June 2013. PetPR.com’s fee-based press release distribution service delivers news directly to pet media, journalists and bloggers, and free press releases can be uploaded to the PetPR.com Newsroom reaching journalists and industry professionals who have opted in to receive the latest pet and veterinary news. PetPR.com offers cost-effective communication tools for pet and veterinary businesses, bringing their news to the media who cover pet-related stories, features and blogs. In addition to its pet news distribution services, PetPR.com also offers editorial services including press release writing, editing and optimization as well as digital press kit development. To learn more about PetPR.com, visit the website at www.PetPR.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Book Review: Pampered Pets On A Budget: Written By: Jeffrey L. Barnes And Kristen M. Levine

I was excited when I was contacted a few weeks back asking if I would like to receive a copy of Pampered Pets On A Budget by Jeffrey L. Barnes And Kristen M. Levine to read and review.

My pets, like everyone else's are pampered and since I am virtually unemployed and my husband has recently retired, the idea that I could read about how to pamper my pet and receive ideas/suggestions about how to do so AND maintain a budget had my ears perked and my tail on alert!

These are tough times in which we live. Every day people are losing jobs and struggling to make ends meet, while the prices of groceries, medical care, etc. continue to rise. Sadly, when a family experiences a financial blow one of the first casualties is often the family pet.


As pet lovers we can never have too many tools in our tool belt to help us not only care for our pets but to maintain a budget while doing so and this book sets out to do what it promises, and that is to:

"help pet parents uncover new ways to save on the products and services you need to take great care of your pets, without compromising your pet's health and wellness care or severely damaging your pocketbook."



This book is short (74 pages) but don't let that fool you. It is 74 pages that are jam-packed with must-have information for today's pet owner.

Take a look at some of the chapters:

Chapter 3-The Internet is not Always Right: this chapter was written by Jeffrey Barnes and is one  of my personal favorites. We have all fallen victim to running to the internet when our animal is ill. It can be anything from a Google search to posting a problem on Facebook and receiving 500 differing opinions. Many of those opinions include horror stories that when you are already stressed and worried, are the LAST things that you need to hear.

This chapter explains:

• How the internet is NOT a substitute for your veterinarian, your veterinarian knows YOU and your pet!
• It reinforces how when you are reading ANY information from the internet you need to look at the qualifications, licensing and formal education of the source providing that information!
• It mentions how drug and vaccine manufacturers stand behind their products ONLY when they have been purchased directly from your veterinarian.

Other great chapters in this 10 chapter book are:

Chapter 4-Trusted Online Pet Resources-

in this chapter Kristen Levine points out that there is some online information that can be trusted but that it should NEVER take the place of human professionals when it comes to your beloved pet.

 This chapter talks about:
General pet information and adoption sites such as petfinder.com and catster.com
 It also mentions reputable Veterinary and Health Sites such as VeterinaryPartner.com 


Chapter 5-The Value of Your Veterinarian: as explained by Jeffrey Barnes one of my favorite points made in this chapter is "your veterinarian is your pet's medical health care captain and is the only authority on medical issues."


Chapter 7-Pet Health Insurance is discussed by Kristen Levine and is relevant to me because I am still pondering the issue as to whether or not to purchase pet insurance for Cody and Dakota. Some points that Kristen mentions that are important to consider are:

Consider Premiums, Co-Pays and Deductibles
Pick Coverage, Not Cost

This book contains so much information and delivers it in an interesting,  straight-forward, concise and  reader-friendly style.

I loved that at the end of each chapter there is a page called Chapter Highlights which is a summation of information listed in an easy to refer to bulleted format.

Pampered Pets On A Budget  will be your newest, invaluable resource to help you "properly position yourself to give your pet the best lifestyle possible."


For more information about this book please visit:
 www.PamperedPetsOnABudget.com


Pampered Pets on a Budget is available from: www.lulu.com and www.amazon.com.
Paperback · ISBN: 978-1-105-20415-9 · $15.99
Kindle · ISBN: 978-1-105-20415-9 · $9.99

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Jeffrey L. Barnes: is a business advisor, consultant, and business intermediary, who strives to give veterinarians and business owners sound business advice in their day-to-day operations and represents them when they buy or sell their practice or business. His professional experiences with such respected companies as Aventis, John Deere, Merial, and the Sandler Sales Institute has afforded him the extensive sales, client service, and marketing knowledge that he now shares with countless veterinarians, practice managers, manufacturers, distributors, local, state, and national veterinary associations. Jeffrey lives in Tampa, FL with his wife and two dogs.

Kristen M. Levine's  volunteer work led to a fifteen-year career as the Public Relations Director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Tampa Bay, Florida, where she played a critical role in promoting pet adoption and pet lifestyle education. Kristen's knowledge of pet lifestyle concerns and family dynamics coupled with her understanding of public relations led her to found Fetching Communications, the nation’s first marketing and public relations firm wholly dedicated to serving the pet industry, in 2003. Having logged over 1,000 live national radio and television show appearances, Kristen is also a frequent contributor to pet and veterinary trade magazines nationwide. Kristen serves as Bissell Homecare’s official pet spokesperson, educating pet parents about pet clean up solutions, as well as on the Toyota Pet Expert Team (P.E.T.), where she shares her knowledge to help develop programs to teach pet parents the importance of properly protecting and securing pets in automobiles. Kristen lives in Florida with her husband, dog and a pair of miniature donkeys.

I received no compensation for this review. I received a copy of the book to read/review.

Fetching Leads Widgets Workshop at BlogPaws 2011

FETCHING COMMUNICATIONS’ INTERACTIVE ACCOUNT MANAGER LAUREN SPENCER SPEAKING AT BLOGPAWS 2011

 Fetching Communications is pleased to announce that Interactive Account Manager Lauren Spencer will be speaking at the 2^nd Annual BlogPaws conference on August 25^th in Vienna, VA.  Spencer’s session, “The Wonderful Widgets of Oz,” will lead bloggers in hands-on exercises designed to add an additional level of interactivity to their websites.

  

“The Wonderful Widgets of Oz” will teach bloggers how to seamlessly integrate social media content into their websites via badges, buttons, and plug-ins. “These bits of plug-and-play code offer a quick and easy way to transform the landscape of a website from the black and white prairies of Kansas into a Technicolor Land of Oz,” says Spencer. “Social media widgets give website visitors the freedom to share blog posts across multiple social media channels, view tweets on a specific topic, or ‘Like’ a Facebook page without opening a new browser window.”  In addition to widgets for Facebook and Twitter, the session will showcase options for YouTube, LinkedIn, and Flickr.

True to the blogger community’s spirit of cooperation and collaboration, Spencer’s main goal is to provide attendees with additional tools to share and distribute content, the same tools she uses to strengthen product awareness and brand identity for Fetching’s stable of pet industry clients. Whether it’s a veterinary specialty practice or an up-and-coming pet product manufacturer, it’s Spencer’s job, and passion, to craft engaging content, increase brand recognition, promote social interaction, and build and strengthen a client’s online presence.

Although BlogPaws originated as an online community, it has quickly developed into a real world phenomenon. The annual BlogPaws conference provides pet bloggers, manufacturers and industry insiders with the chance to meet face-to-face and partner on a variety of projects, including product reviews, awareness campaigns, contests, and focus groups.

While the opportunity to network is definitely a huge draw, the educational opportunities are the foundation of this two-day event. Spencer joins a line-up of BlogPaws speakers including Rescue Ink, FIDO Friendly Magazine, Petsmart, Petfinder, StumbleUpon and others in the pet community.

About Fetching Communications: Fetching Communications, founded in Tampa, FL in 2003, is a marketing communications company that focuses exclusively on veterinary, pet and animal-oriented products and services. Representing companies and organizations stretching from the United States to Australia, Fetching Communications has entrenched itself as a leading agency for the $50.84 billion annual pet product and pet supply industry.

About BlogPaws: BlogPaws is an organization created specifically for the online pet community. They focus on bringing pet bloggers together for education, networking and creating worldwide change for animals in need.

Founded by pet bloggers, Caroline Golon, Yvonne DiVita and Tom Collins, BlogPaws is both an online resource for pet bloggers and an annual event where pet bloggers can network with pet product manufacturers and industry insiders, attend educational sessions, and spend time with their peers -- like-minded people who are passionate about their pets and spend inordinate amounts of time online blogging, tweeting and networking with other pet lovers.