#PurinaPartner " Meet Punky the Perfect Dog and Companion" #MetOnPetfinder

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of  Nestle Purina®  and PetFinder. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Petfinder's 20th Anniversary.  Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

For the past 20 years, Petfinder has worked to ensure that more adoptable pets find their forever homes. Since 1996, Petfinder has helped facilitate more than 25 million pet adoptions through its shelter and rescue member organizations.


While neither of my pets were found on Petfinder, for many years I have had the Petfinder widget displayed on the right hand side of both of my blogs which displays a daily "Featured Adoptable Pet". Since I am in Michigan, the pets that you will see featured on my Petfinder widget are always pets who are located in Michigan.

I have been blessed to know some pets who have been found on Petfinder, because  I have family members who have found their furever friends there! I am a huge fan and advocate of the work that  Petfinder does. Yes, this is a cat blog, but today we are featuring a DOG!! Yes! A DOG!! Why? Because one of my favorite dogs in our extended family, who was found on Petfinder, and was given a furever home, is Punky!!

"Punky" Photo Courtesy of Bill Stern

PUNKY'S STORY AS TOLD BY HER DAD,
 (my brother-in-law, Bill)

I was looking for a dog for my daughter on Petfinder. I wanted a little dog that was hypoallergenic, great with kids and friendly. I found a little Bichon-Poodle mix that seemed perfect. However, she was in the pound about 30 miles from where I was working. I took care of my business and drove quickly to the Westland dog pound. Unfortunately, another couple beat me. The staff made me wait across the room while this other couple played with her. They left, saying they'd think about it. When it was my turn, I played with her and found her to be lovable and friendly. I told the staff that I wanted her. They called my vet and checked me out. I then paid the adoption fee and we went to my car. Our new dog jumped in and off we went. It turned out that she not only was house broken, but knew to sit on the passenger seat when I put the car in Park. On the way home, I took her to the assisted living home to visit my father and she 'hit it off' with the residents. My daughter took her for a short time, but Punky liked my house best and bonded with me. She has been our companion for 8 years and is perfect.

"Punky" Photo Courtesy of Bill Stern

I can vouch for Punky being "perfect." She always runs to the door to greet everyone who enters and gladly accepts scritches, petting and loving. She often accompanies her "Dad" Bill, to work, she goes for car rides, family trips and recently had her FIRST trip on an airplane! She traveled  all the way to Denver to see her human brother and HIS family, which includes their dog, Baxter. Punky handled the trip like a pro!! Punky has brought much happiness to Bill, his wife, kids, grandkids and the rest of the family. Adopting Punky was the PERFECT decision!

Like my brother-in-law Bill, and his adorable dog,  Punky, more than 25 million pets and millions of pet parents can claim that they #MetOnPetfinder since the site was established in 1996 – that’s an average of 1.2 million pets per year who have found their forever homes via Petfinder and Punky is just one of them!!! That's a lot of happy pets and pet people!!


HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Petfinder is asking pet parents, pet lovers and pet advocates to join the celebration and its effort to donate $200,000 benefiting 20 shelters and rescue members. To make this donation possible, Petfinder is asking animal lovers to help generate one million views of its #MetOnPetfinder anniversary video, by October 24, which shows how adoptable pets have transformed the lives of their adopters.

When the one million views goal is met, 20 Petfinder shelter and rescue members will each receive a $10,000 grant from the Petfinder Foundation to help continue to transform the lives of the pets in their care and cultivate more lifelong relationships! 

As part of the celebration, Petfinder families, advocates, partners and fans are encouraged to share their Petfinder adoption stories on social media by using the hashtag #MetOnPetfinder. 

Petfinder encourages more people to consider adoption when adding a pet to their family. By removing barriers within the adoption process, Petfinder’s goal is to make the pet adoption process easier by connecting people with pets, just like Bill and Punky were connected!!! 

Get Social With Petfinder

Facebook: Petfinder

Twitter: @petfinder

Instagram: @petfinder

About Petfinder  

Petfinder is a leading online resource for pet adoption, education, awareness and advocacy. It strives to promote the advantage of adopting pets and make it easy to connect people with adoptable pets. Petfinder’s searchable online database of animals that need homes is updated daily and includes a directory of nearly 13,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Petfinder also includes a library of free pet-care articles to help keep pets in their homes. Since 1996, Petfinder has helped more than 25 million pets find forever homes. Petfinder joined the Nestlé Purina family in 2013.

About Nestlé Purina PetCare

Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness. 

My Pet Pledge for 2016! Make Yours and Enter To Win at Purina PureLoveForPets.com ! #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of  Nestle Purina®  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the  Purina Pet Pledge Campaign 2016.   Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Here we are, a month into the New Year, and if you are like many people, the "resolutions" you made for yourself have fallen by the wayside. That is why I prefer to use the word "intentions" or even better, the word "pledge."  A "pledge" is a "solemn promise or undertaking". For me, promises are serious business, if I make a promise I will do my UTMOST to keep it, much more than a resolution or an intention.

This year our friends at  Purina want to keep all of our favorite four-legged family members in mind as we make our  pledges! With February being "The Month of Love" , it is the purrfect time to make a pledge to our furry family members! 

What is MY Pledge?

See this cute guy?

That's Cody, and Cody is NOT holding a cat toy. Cody is holding Dakota's BALL. A DOG BALL! Why a dog ball? Well, long story short, I had come into the living room because I felt sorry for Dakota, (I felt he wasn't being active enough), and I started throwing one of his balls to him. Dakota had NO interest in it...but....CODY DID!

I felt so guilty! Nearly every night after dinner Cody goes into the bedroom hoping that I will tear myself away from the computer, even for just 15 minutes and play his favorite game in the world. We call it "The Silly Game". What it boils down to is Cody likes to play with his favorite wand toy, (the one with the furry little mouse on the end, that you all know of quite well!). HE LOVES THAT GAME! For quite some time I would play EVERY NIGHT. Then, as many of us do, I started being "too busy." I would say "Not now Cody, Mama has work to do", or "maybe tomorrow Cody", but then tomorrow comes and it is the same thing again. I know, I am an AWFUL kitty Mama. I am sure you have all been there at some point yourselves so don't point a paw at me!  It got me to thinking,

If my baby can make the time for ME, as he always does, even when I am just resting on the couch, the LEAST I can do is to make the time for HIM....I can take 15 minutes as many days a week as he wants to play, and PLAY WITH HIM. He won't be here forever, we all know too well how fast the time passes. I must savor each and every moment that I am blessed to spend with him. My pledge is to take the time at LEAST once a day and play that "Silly Game" with Cody. If it is important to HIM, it should be important to ME.

 Our friends at Purina, Cody and I are  encouraging everyone to make a Pet Pledge for 2016 – it can be anything, from spending more time with your pets each day to pampering them with new toys or accessories, and anything in between. Once you’ve made your Pledge, visit PureLoveForPets.com and share it with Purina! While you’re on the site, play their instant-win game to win a prize box or their grand prize – all geared to help you keep that Pledge:

Cat Prize Box– Cat Furminator, Kitty Hammock, toys, other cat-related accessories! Visit PureLoveForPets.com to see ALL of the prizes!

Photo Courtesy of Purina

Cat Grand Prize – Deluxe Cat Tower

Photo Courtesy of Purina

Because this is a cat blog we are focusing on the prizes that CATS can win. There are DOG PRIZES AS WELL! They include a Dog Prize Box – Dog Furminator, Kong toys, other dog-related accessories!!!

Dog Grand Prize – the Deluxe Dog Crate---is AMAZING!!!

 Visit PureLoveForPets.com

to check it out

 and to check out

 ALL OF THE 

PAWESOME PRIZES!!!

The Instant Win game will  run through Wednesday, February 17. In addition, PureLoveForPets.com will also feature information and tips on different Pet Pledges you can make and how to help keep them throughout the year. There are coupons there too!

I made MY pledge AND played the Instant Win game as well, it couldn't be easier!!! Be sure to head over there yourself!!!!!

I shared my pledge with Purina and all of you, now tell me, in a comment below, what will YOUR PLEDGE to your pet(s) be?

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!!

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry. NestléPurina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

Follow Purina!

·         Purina Facebook

·         Purina Twitter (@Purina)

·         Purina Instagram (@Purina)

Purina Pro Plan #MenandCats Calendar Give-Away and Contest Winner

Photo Courtesy of Purina Pro Plan

From Purina and PR Newswire

After setting out to shred perceptions of traditional cat food and the people who typically love cats, Purina Pro Plan is proud to announce the winners of its #MenAndCatsContest. To celebrate the launch of Purina Pro Plan Savor Shredded Blend, cat lovers were asked to share a photo of an extraordinary man and his cat on Instagram or Twitter. These 11 winners best captured the relationship between man and cat and will represent each month of the 2016 Extraordinary Men and Cats Calendar, along with proud cat guy and “Devious Maids” actor Gilles Marini.

Photo Courtesy of Purina Pro Plan

Photos were judged based on three criteria including relevance, composition and originality. Visit proplan.com/menandcatscontest to see the winning photos of these proud cat guys and their furry felines:

• Mr. January – Gilles Marini and Penelope
• Mr. February – James Petix and Fin, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Mr. March – Joel Smallbone and Adelina, Franklin, Tenn.
• Mr. April – James Benedict and Mr. Eggs, Thomasville, Ga.
• Mr. May – John Zeigler and George, Tumwater, Wash.
• Mr. June – Matthew Eagan and Inny, Placerville, Calif.
• Mr. July – Peter Mikhail and Luna, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
• Mr. August – Chris Nguyen and Kuma, Rahway, N.J.
• Mr. September –Tyler Smith and Moose, Smith Bottom, N.J.
• Mr. October – Santino Nava and Tesla, Tacoma, Wash.
• Mr. November – Dwayne Molock (@iAmMoshow) and Sushi, Tali & Megamam,Portland, Ore.
• Mr. December – Jon Lorentz and Beamer, Orange County, Calif.

The winners will also receive a year supply of Purina Pro Plan's new Savor Shredded Blend, an all-new mealtime experience that combines crunchy kibble and tender meaty shreds to provide both extraordinary nutrition and exceptional taste.

About Purina Pro Plan Cat food

Purina Pro Plan Cat understands that every cat is different in her own, wonderful way. That's why Purina Pro Plan has a wide range of dry and wet cat foods and snacks, sold exclusively at pet specialty stores. In three unique nutritional platforms – Savor, True Nature and Focus –each formula is designed to provide advanced nutrition to help bring out the best in your cat. For more information, visit www.proplan.com/cat.

About Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue 
Rally to Rescue is a partnership of Purina Pro Plan and select pet rescue organizations across the country who give adoptable pets the care they need and the loving homes they deserve. Since 2005, the brand has helped small rescue groups by providing Purina Pro Plan nutrition, promotional support, marketing materials and networking opportunities. To learn more about the Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue network, visit www.proplan.com/rally-to-rescue or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rallytorescue.  

About Nestlé Purina Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

The calendars will be donated as a fundraising initiative to Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue, a network of hundreds of small rescue groups nationwide, allowing them to raise money for their organizations as they work to give all cats the love, care and forever homes they deserve.

To buy the 2016 Purina Pro Plan Extraordinary Men and Cats Calendar, visit proplan.com/rally-to-rescue to find a rescue group near you.

GIVE-AWAY!!! As a thank you for Cody and I helping to spread the word about the contest winners and NEW Purina Pro Plan's new Savor Shredded Blend,  cat food,  they are allowing us to have a give-away! One reader who is 18 and over and who resides in either the U.S. or Canada can enter to win one on the rafflecopter below! Because we understand that everyone is busy getting read for the holidays, there is only ONE MANDATORY entry requirement on the rafflecopter. Good Luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In full disclosure: We were not compensated to help spread the news about the contest winners. We were sent a complimentary calendar for our own use and were offered one calendar to give away to one of our readers. It was our choice as to whether or not we wanted to share the information and conduct a give-away.

Part 2:The Purina #BetterWithPets Summit 2015: Cats and This and That! #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of  Nestle Purina®  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the  2015 Better With Pets Summit.  Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Welcome back and thank you for joining me for Part 2 of The Purina #BetterWithPets Summit 2015 Cats and This and That! If you missed Part 1 you can  click here to catch up!

After the morning panel sessions and a delicious lunch, there were a number of interactive exhibits for us to explore, but I am embarrassed to say, that I only made it around to a few. Soon you will see the reason why.

Earlier in the day I was ECSTATIC to finally meet Author, Blogger and successful business person, Hilary Grossman from the blog Feeling Beachie! Hilary was one of the first bloggers I had met online, but we had yet to meet in person. I can't begin to tell you what a thrill it was to not only meet Hilary, but to get to spend some time with her. Hilary is everything that I imagined her to  be, and more!  Beautiful, sweet, funny, intelligent, and it felt as if I had known her my entire life.

Hilary Goodman and I
**Note to self:
NEVER stand next to a hot, beautiful woman
after recently turning 60.
It just makes you look that much OLDER!! 

When Hilary and I had left the dog exhibit, we ran into my favorite Purina employee, and while chatting with him, he asked "Have you been to the Cat room?" Our ears perked up, "CAT ROOM???!!" That was it, we were off!! The Cat Room later became the reason why I only got around to a few exhibits, I spent practically the entire rest of my time there, as did many others. Here are some photos of Hilary having what appears to be a serious conversation with some new friends, and of course, playing with a KITTEN!!! Ohhhh Kittens!!!! The "ooohs and ahhs", the "ohhhs" and human purrs filled the room, the stress levels of all of us were reduced to ZERO. If this wasn't a shot in the arm for our emotional wellness, I don't know what would be!

 If Purina needed to herd some cats/cat bloggers, or if they needed to do a head count, if they checked The Cat Room it would be a pretty safe bet that is where they would find the majority of us (at least those bloggers who focus on cats!)! There were some dog bloggers who were quite smitten as well!

Upper left and bottom right, Elizabeth Keene from Chronicles of Cardigan
Top row second from left:Deb Barnes from Zee & Zoey
Directly beneath Elizabeth: Janiss Garza from Sparkle Cat
Fat lady with black cat:ME!
Far right:Kimberly Dickerson from Saving More Than Me

The Cat Room was an environment with cat-friendly furniture, cat toys, cat grass, cat ramps, houses, all designed to enrich the lives of cats! So, how many cats were there? I was told 30, all were different ages, but I am not quite sure I saw 30 cats, but there WERE lots of them! The cats were all owned by Cindy and Bob Ruggiero of Cybercat Exotics. They can be seen in the photo below with some of their cats.

Orange cat:Harley
Tabby Cat: River
I don't know the white or black cat's name! Ooops!

Once we brushed the cat fur from our clothes (or not!), we made our way back to the main conference area to listen to the keynote speaker, and learned about THE FRANK ATTLA YOUTH PROGRAM.





One of many things that makes me proud to be affiliated with Purina and why I CHOOSE to promote Purina, is that Purina has extensive support programs and partnerships with organizations around the country, all rooted in their "shared belief that people and pets are better together." Purina truly cares about people AND their pets, which is evident in everything that they do. I am honored and proud to represent a company with those values.

"Purina supports many other incredible programs, including the Rescue Bank, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Petfinder Foundation, Adopt-a-Pet, Support Dogs, Dogs on Deployment, the St.Louis Children's Hospital, and innovative shelter organizations all over the country."

Thank you Purina for inviting me to attend
the Better With Pets Summit (2015) !!

I was sad to leave "the city that never sleeps", New York is the only place I have been where I don't stick out like a sore thumb with my loud laughter and bravado...I just blend right in! Here are a few parting shots, one from the night before I left when I went out to dinner with my niece, (which was fabulous!!), the other two were shot from my Super Shuttle the next morning.

The photo on the far right
looked like my own
Abbey Road!!!

Don't worry! Purina didn't forget Cody!!! He received a pawtastic goodie bag from Purina (and since the bag was primarily cat-oriented, since this event would be featured on Cody's blog), they were kind enough to put in some dog treats for Dakota too! The gift bag made up for the scent of cats that were all over my shoes that Cody was obsessed with when I first got home. Thanks Purina for all of the pawtastic goodies!!

Please join us Monday, November 16th for the final post in this series. Monday's post will explore an aspect of the Better With Pets Summit that I found to be the most significant and meaningful, to ME! (Let's hope I can zero in on just one!) Hope to see you then!!! 

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry. NestléPurina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

Follow Purina!

·         Purina Facebook

·         Purina Twitter (@Purina)

·         Purina Instagram (@Purina)

Purina's #BetterWithPets Summit 2015: Emotional Wellness and the Bond Between Pets and their People #Sponsored Part I

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of  Nestle Purina®  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the  2015 Better With Pets Summit.  Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

My challenge when writing this post about the Purina Better With Pets Summit 2015 is to try to convey to you just how incredible it was with about being overly verbose and without giving you photo overload! Warning! I don't think that is possible!

I had the honor of being one of a number of digital influencers (Purina's term for us, which I LOVED!), who were brought together with some of the brightest minds in pet science and culture to share how big, innovative ideas are improving the emotional wellness of pets and the people who love them.  This was my second Summit, and I could never have imagined it would surpass my first, but it did! Everything Purina does is done with perfectionism and class, and they exhibit caring and concern for all of us that is unsurpassed. I have been a digital influencer for Purina since 2012, and each event I have had the privilege of attending has outshone the one that came before.

I wanted to include this photo, because I found it fitting that when I arrived at the airport in Detroit, one of the first sights I saw was this:

It was only fitting that I would be greeted by a dog or a cat on my way to an event featuring pets. It was incredibly kind of the police woman to allow me to take this photograph.

I arrived in one of my all-time favorite cities, New York, Monday, November 2nd and entered The W Hotel where the first person I saw was Dr.Jessica Vogelsang, author of All Dogs Go To Kevin, and the blog Pawcurious. After shrieking with glee because I hadn't seen her in forever, the lobby quickly became a "mini-reunion" for my fellow digital influencers, as many arrived the same time as me.

Monday evening we were gifted with time to explore NYC and to reconnect with friends, and I took advantage of that by going to a scrumptious Greek dinner with Layla Morgan Wilde of Cat Wisdom 101. The restaurant was called Avra, and while the hostesses were less than friendly, the food was AMAZING!

After dinner,  since we had to be up super early to board the buses that would transport us to the Brooklyn Expo Center where the Summit was being held,  after I got my Jimmy Fallon fix, it was "La-La-Land" for me!!

Even in the early morning hours, in spite of not being thoroughly caffeinated,  there was electricity and excitement in the air as a bus load of communicators from all different specialties chattered away filling the bus with a jovial hum of conversation!

View from the bus window!!

 We waited in line to receive our badges and I had the pleasure of reconnecting with a number of Purina employees whom I hadn't seen in some time! We had time to mill about, grab a shot (or two or three) of espresso, and take some photos with our friends, (and I took one of the photographer who was photographing US!), before the sessions began.

Ingrid King of The Conscious Cat
and I with our heads cut off!!
Hadn't seen her in forever
and it was fantastic to connect again!

This photographer was a
super good sport and allowed me
to take photos of HIM!!

Then it was time for the summit to begin!

The third annual summit shined a spotlight on the emotional wellness of pets and the people who love them. How do pets help us be well? How do we help them in return?

There was a welcome by writer and comedian Josh Gondelman, who recently adopted an adorable senior Pug named Bizzy.

Next up was the Keynote from Dr.Arleigh Reynolds, Purina Senior Research Scientist. This was my third time listening to him speak and it was a complete honor!

Panel 1 was up next and that was "An Evolving Relationship with Cats?" which offered a close look at the dynamic, possibly evolving relationship between people and cats, and what it might suggest for a new generation of pet owners. It  was moderated by Hal Herzog, Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University. His research focuses on the psychology of human-animal interactions, including attitudes toward the use of animals and the impact of pets on human health.

Other panelists included Sandra Lyn, a behaviorist at Purina, where she leads the Nestle' Purina Global R&D Feeding Behavior research program,  Christina Ha, co-founder, Meow Parlour, NYC's first cat cafe'. Meow Parlour's goal is to create a calm environment for connecting adoptable cats with cat-loving humans. Last but not least,  Mikel Maria Delgado, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and co-owner of Feline Minds, offering consulting, training and support related to cat behavior for cat owners, animal shelters, rescue groups and other organizations.

Photo Courtesy of
http://www.multivu.com/

My "take-aways" from this panel:

• 1 out of 3 Americans have cats, there are more cats than dogs in American homes.
• Soon millenials will be the largest percentage of cat owners, used to be the "Boomers" but the Millenials will be taking over!
• Common stereotype is cat people are more introverted, but social media is changing that due to cat cafes etc. Cat people are becoming much more social!
• Older people are more secure and less anxious about whether or not their pets love them, younger people tend to question whether they are loved by their pets much more.
• Interaction with cats are better if the CAT initiates the interaction (this was one of my faves)
• Cats give back in proportion to what you give them
• No two cats are the same
• People who love both cats and dogs are more open to new experiences and more out-going
• More work needs to be done to educate people about cats.

Panel 2: Stress, Our Pets and Us was the next panel.  This panel featured a discussion of the sources and effects of stress on pets, and how to manage stressors to enhance your pet's well-being. The panel was led by moderator Marty Becker, D.V.M, Chief Veterinary Correspondent, American Humane Society, and it featured Ragen McGowan, Senior Scientist, Nestle' Purina, her research incorporates a holistic approach including behavior and physiology to assess emotions in pets. She aims to understand what is positive for pets and quantify the human-animal bond from the pet's perspective.  Also included was: Heather Lewis, Principal, Animal Arts an Architectural firm that has exclusively designed veterinary hospitals and animal care facilities since 1979.

Last but not least was Tony Buffington, D.V.M., Professor Ohio State University. His clinical interests include stress effects on disease, obesity, evidence-based medicine and effective medical communications.

My "take-aways" from this panel:

Environmental enrichment is main cure for bladder infections in cats.
Stressors in cats can be anything from changes in temp, change in perfume etc!
Did you know that dogs and cats prefer PASTEL colors?
Cats who are kept in cages at the Vet and in Shelters should be HIGH UP.....(horizontal bar vision)...they experience less stress if they are high up.
Good stress for cats and dogs can be found by playing and utilizing treat puzzles.
Cats and dogs prefer WORKING for their food, also known as "contrafreeloading" (the jury is still out with Cody in reference to this one, I don't think so!!)
Whenever cats and dogs live in a mixed environment it is important to have a SAFE HAVEN FOR THE CATS (I did that from day one with Cody, hence baby gates!)
The most important enrichment device at home for our pets is to have food puzzles, primarily for cats, but dogs benefit too!
Always think about things from the animal's perspective
Boredom can be just as bad for a pet's health as stress

The third panel was Raising Pets and Kids, and since I didn't have kids, I really didn't focus on my note-taking during this panel.

New to the Better With Pets Summit this year were five educational zones which featured interactive exhibits for attendees to engage, as well as see Purina’s vast expertise in the pet wellness space and connect with Purina experts. The exhibits featured educational touchscreen displays, a dedicated room showcasing healthy environments for cats,

 a play lab for agility dogs with wearable technology that monitored their activity as they played, and an area where attendees can see how nutrition impacts cognition and emotional wellness in pets.

Due to the length of this post, please join us THIS WEDNESDAY where we will be featuring Part II of this series which will showcase the CATS that were at the Better With Pets Summit (and some humans too!!!), as well as a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Then, please  join us on Monday, November 16 when we will feature our Purina "Call to Action" post. 

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry. NestléPurina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

Follow Purina!

·         Purina Facebook

·         Purina Twitter (@Purina)

·         Purina Instagram (@Purina)

· 

GREAT LAKES ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE COMING TO BATTLE CREEK OCTOBER 19-20

Registration is now open for the region’s largest animal welfare conference

The 2015 Great Lakes Animal Welfare Conference (GLAWC) will be the region’s premier educational and networking event for animal sheltering and veterinary professionals, animal control agencies, rescue groups, and individuals interested in saving more animal lives. The Michigan Partnership for Animal Welfare (MPAW) has joined with the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers (MAACO) to offer this two-day event. The 2015 Great Lakes Animal Welfare Conference will be held October 19-20 at FireKeepers Hotel and Casino in Battle Creek. The conference is presented by the Petco Foundation, Merck Animal Health, the ASPCA, and Nestle Purina and Petfinder with generous support from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, a KeyBank Trust.

Photo Courtesy of Michigan Paw.Org

“This conference is the perfect opportunity for those working in, or interested in, animal welfare to gain and share knowledge on how to better care for, serve and save animal lives,” said Ann Griffin, MHS Special Projects Manager. “Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and discuss new trends and best practices in a relaxing and fun setting.”

This year’s conference features more than 40 sessions and a certificate course. A wide variety of sessions will include information on animal behavior, animal handling, fundraising and much more.

“It’s great to be able to bring this specialized training to animal control officers statewide,” said Andy Seltz, Vice President of MAACO. “It’s a perfect opportunity to come together and share ideas that will ultimately raise our collective abilities to better serve the animals and people in our communities.”

For the list of sessions, registration fees and hotel information for the 2015 MPAW-MAACO GLAWC Conference, and to register online, visit www.mpaw.org or call (248) 283-5635.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel is located at 11177 E Michigan Ave in Battle Creek.

The Michigan Partnership for Animal Welfare (MPAW), founded by the Michigan Humane Society in 2004, is a collaboration of animal welfare organizations from around the state with a goal of working together for the good of the animals in Michigan.

MAACO is a not for-profit organization registered with the State of Michigan dedicated to the enhancement of the profession of Animal Control Officers in the State of Michigan by establishing professional standards, training and practices, for the control and care of animals and the protection of the public health.

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values. For more information, visit www.michiganhumane.org.

Film Friday:Feeling "Frisky" about "The Friskies!!!

Hi every furry!! Happy Friday!

Many of you will remember that back on June 11th I told you about "The Friskies" video awards, and that they were  seeking submissions to find  the Best Cat Videos of 2013!

The winner of “The Friskies” has the  opportunity to win a $5,000 cash prize and a custom-made gold plated Friskies Catuette, and take part in the live Award Show in New York City this fall!

What is super cool is that this year I know not one, but TWO of the finalists!

The first is "Gracey" who is starring in:

The "Catventure" category and her video is:

"The Tiniest Tiger's Snow Adventure"


This video was entered by Joanne McGonagle of The Tiniest Tiger. You can vote for Gracey's video ONE TIME PER DAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16th, 2013. What is really cool is One Vote=one can of food for shelters!

TO VOTE FOR GRACEY CLICK HERE

Also in the running for a "Friskie" (and thankfully in another category) is Ann Marie Stelma Graff. Her video is one of the finalists in the Rescue Cat Category and is titled:

"I SEE YOU" 



You can also vote for Ann Marie's  video ONE TIME PER DAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16th, 2013. And remember: One Vote=one can of food for shelters!

TO VOTE FOR ANN MARIE'S VIDEO CLICK HERE

Mom and I wish them the BEST of LUCK!!!

Love, Cody

About Friskies

The Friskies® brand offers a complete line of great-tasting cat foods, including more than 60 wet, dry and treat varieties. Friskies is manufactured by Nestlé Purina PetCare, a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis; Mo. Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A. – the world’s largest food company.

IT’S A CHEESE AFFAIR! FANCY FEAST® LAUNCHES PINTEREST SWEEPSTAKES

Cats and people share many of the same tastes – a love of cheese is one of them! To celebrate, Fancy Feast^® Gourmet Cat Food launches its “Cheese Affair Pin to Win” Pinterest Sweepstakes today with thousands of cheese-themed prizes for winners.

The Fancy Feast “Cheese Affair Pin to Win” Sweepstakes gives cat lovers and cheese connoisseurs a chance to win cheese-inspired prizes, including cans of a new variety of Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar Classic entrées, special cheeseboards and chalk sets, do-it-yourself cheese making kits, and a trip to New York City to attend a grand Cheese Soiree hosted by cheese expert Liz Thorpe.

“Cheese is more than an ingredient. It has the power to unite people…and their cats,” says Thorpe, author of The Cheese Chronicles and proud owner of two cats, Wilbur and Piper. “I am thrilled to be able to share my passion and knowledge of cheese to help bring people and cats together to celebrate mealtime in fun new ways.”

 

Photo Courtesy of Fancy Feast

“Cheese Affair Pin to Win” Sweepstakes

The sweepstakes begins July 15 and ends August 11. Fancy Feast will award thousands of prizes to consumers during the following Entry Periods:

·         1 p.m. ET July 15- 11:59 p.m. July 21: Can of Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar Classic (70,000)

·         1 p.m. ET July 22- 11:59 p.m. July 28: Cheeseboard and chalk set and Can of Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar Classic (1,000)

·         1 p.m. ET July 29-11:59 p.m. August 4: Do-it-yourself cheese making kit and Can of Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar Classic (500)

·         1 p.m. ET August 5- 11:59 p.m. August 11: Trip for two to New York City to attend a Cheese Soiree and cooking class with Liz Thorpe (3)

Photo of what I received from Fancy Feast

To enter the Fancy Feast "Cheese Affair Pin to Win” Sweepstakes, please visit www.CheeseAffair.com. Follow the links provided to complete and submit the registration form. Click the “Pin It” button to pin the available image to one of your Pinterest boards.  Complete these steps during each entry period for a chance to win all four prizes. Limit one (1) entry per email address per Entry Period.

For cheese-inspired ideas and tips to use and share, including exclusive recipes, pairing ideas and other content co-authored by Thorpe, please visit www.CheeseAffair.com.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years and older. Ends 8/11/13. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions, visit www.CheeseAffair.com. Void where prohibited.

Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar Entrées

Delight your cat and share your love of cheese by serving Fancy Feast® Delights With Cheddar – a delicious gourmet cat food infused with aged cheddar to satisfy her savory side. And now Fancy Feast® Delights With Cheddar has four new varieties in the classic style she knows and loves. Please your kitten or adult cat with complete and balanced entrées in delicious flavors like salmon, beef, turkey or chicken, complemented with real cheddar.

·         Salmon and Cheddar Cheese Feast

·         Beef and Cheddar Cheese Feast

·         Chicken and Cheddar Cheese Feast

·         Turkey and Cheddar Cheese Feast

Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar entrées are featured in 3 oz. varieties, and are available on store shelves nationwide.

About Fancy Feast® Gourmet Cat Food

The Fancy Feast Brand makes every day extraordinary with an exquisite selection of gourmet cat food entrees, restaurant-inspired feline cuisine, dry meals, and Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats. Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food is manufactured/distributed by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A. -- the world's largest food company.

In full Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am a member of the Purina Cat Blogger panel and received 4 cans of the new Fancy Feast Cheddar Entries and a cutting board. Sharing this information was strictly voluntary.