We want to give a big thanks to the local pet community for supporting Aunt Kerry's Pet Stop through our first 4 years! We aren't doing a huge event like last year, however, we have free goodie bags for all our customers, free pizza from Incredible's Pizza, and some awesome sales. If you have time stop by the store on September 18th and hang out with us for a bit, everyone that buys something will get a free dog or cat toy as well!

Thanks a bunch everyone!

Recalls from Proctor and Gamble and Merrick Pet Foods

P&G Expands Voluntary Limited Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

CINCINNATI, July 30, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE: PG) is voluntarily expanding its recall to include veterinary and some specialized dry pet food as a precautionary measure because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported.

• Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas
• Eukanuba Naturally Wild
• Eukanuba Pure
• Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin

Merrick Pet Care Recalls Texas Hold'ems 10 oz Bag (Item # 60016 Lot 10127 Best by May 6 2012) because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

Company Contact:
Customer Inquiries: 
800-664-7387 
Other Inquiries: 
James Witcher, Coo#160;
806-322-2806

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 3, 2010 – Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is extending its July 2,2010 recall of 10 oz "Beef Filet Squares for Dogs (Texas Hold'Ems)" pet treat (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24, 2012) to also include 83 cases of "Texas Hold'ems" (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10127 BEST BY MAY 6, 2012) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

The Beef Filet Squares (Texas Hold 'Ems) were shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures.

The treats are sold in 1Ooz plastic bags marked with "Lot # 10127 Best By May 6, 2012" on the top of the bag and on a sticker applied to the bottom.

No illnesses have been reported to date for either lot of product. A sample tested positive for Salmonella.

Consumers who have purchased 10 ounce packages of"Texas Hold'ems" are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00 - 5:00 CDT.

We just brought in Planet Dog products in this week! We have Orbees, Orbee Bones and Glow for Good balls in stock right now. We will bring in more products as we can! If you  are not familiar with this corporate socially responsible company, check out their website at:

http://www.planetdog.com/

and their non profit organization:

http://www.planetdogfoundation.org/

The Ruffian Foundation will be at Aunt Kerry's Pet Stop August 14th, stop by abnd donate a bag of cat food, litter or other supplies and meet the folks that support the feral cat colony in Pender County. The following week Monty's Home will be here from 10-2pm on August 21st with their latest group of adoptable dogs.

http://www.cattails.org/RF/

http://www.montyshome.org/

Due to Proctor and Gamble's recent acquisition of Natura Pet, we have discontinued stocking Innova, EVO, California Natural, and Healthwise. Our concerns with the corporate purchase of the company include quality control, ingredient sourcing and public disclousure of ingredient changes, recalls, etc. We no longer have confidence to stand behind those products 100%, and will not stock foods from companies we don't trust. If the past records of Iams and Eukanuba (both purchased by P&G) indicate what may happen to Natura Products, we will not carry them. If you have any concerns or questions about switching your pet to a different brand of food, please call, email or stop  in the store. We will be happy to help your pet transition to a a high quality and healthy diet including those pets with food sensitivites, allergies, or other health issues.

Every summer we get customers looking for some relief for their pet's from those unbearable fleas. Here in Wilmington fleas can be a year around problem, and without some type of control, they can cause major issues, espcially for dogs and cats (and people too!) that are allergic to those pesky flea bites. Traditional treatments recomended by vets for fleas include Frontline and Frontline Plus, Advantage, Advantix, Capstar and a few other new products. Many customers purchase look a like products that contain pyrtherins, although inexpensive (compared to the previously mentioned products) a quick Google search will bring up a plethora of problems caused by these products, you will frequently find them at Walmart and big box pet stores.

We like to focus on all nautral products when we can for our pets, and we have found there are many flea preventatives on the market that work great. It is important that your house and yard be treated in your battle against fleas, there are several products available for this. First is diamataceous earth that you can spread on your yard (frequently available in bulk at feed stores, and big box hardware stores). It literally dehydrates the fles to death. Second is a benefical nematode that kills flea larvae, this microscopic nematode is often sold in little vials that you sprinkle through your yard, as the summer wears on the find and kill the flea larvae, while being safe for you, your pets and family. This product is often available at Progressive Gardens in the summer. Finally a peppermint oil based spray will repel fleas and mosquitos, these are easy to apply and make your yard smell great. We carry Vet's Best yard spray now that has peppermint oil, clove oil and will repel and kill fleas! In your house, buy a box of Borax from the grocery store for a few bucks, it contains Boric Acid. Boric Acid is another totally safe material for your pets and family. Sprinkle it on your carpet and furniture, work it into the carpet and furniture with a broom or brush, let it sit overnight and vaccuum up, repeat after a few weeks for best results. The Boric Acid, similar to the diamataceous earth will dehydrate the fleas and kill them. sprinkle the Boric Acid into cracks and crevices and under your stove or counters to help kill cockroaches and other bugs as well!

Finally you want to treat your pet as well, we recomend year round treatment here in Wilmington, those fleas are espcially attracted to your pet's warm bodies in the winter. We recomend washing your dog with a natural dog soap made by Glynne's Soaps, the essential oils in their soaps have excellent flea and bug repelling properties that will keep Fido flea free. These natural soaps have no detergents in them so they won't dry out the pet's skin either, you can even use it on yourself. For those looking for a spray product to apply between baths, Vet's Best has a great smelling spray that can be used on dogs and cats. It contains peppermint and clove extracts that will repel and kill fleas and their eggs. Spritz the pet a few times and rub it in the coat, repeat every few weeks.

We hope this will help a few of our furry freinds make it through the summer a little more comfortably!

Our summer ice cream party will be Saturday June 19th from 10am to 5pm! All our four legged friends are welcome to stop in for a free cup of dog ice cream (it's healthy also!). We hope to see you out for the party.

As many of our customers know, pet waste is a big problem here in New Hanover County, and the city of Wilmington has a new program aimed at getting all of us to pick up after our pets; runoff from pet waste results in poor water quality from Fecal coliform, E.coli bacteria and excess nutrients causing algae blooms. Whenever you walk your dog remember to bring your poop bags or you might face a pretty hefty fine in Wilmington or Wrightsville Beach. One of the problems with using plastic bags and throwing the pet waste into landfills is that decomposition of the waste might not occur because the trash gets compacted and sealed into the landfill which actuallly has little oxygen to allow organic material to decompose (even the bidegradable bags don't always biodegrade in the landfill). Below is a link to help reduce the amount of pet waste that goes into the landfill, and our rivers and ocean. A DIY project for an animal waste digester than you can install in your backyard, easy and cheap, it will work most of the year in Wilmington.

http://petprojectblog.com/archives/dogs/diy-doggie-dooley-waste-digester/

We finally got through our remodel! Thanks everyone for your patience, if you haven't been in the store for a while, stop in! We tore down that ugly wall that split the store in half, we also got in some new shelving to stock more of your favorite pet food. The shelves are larger and easier to get your food down from, and more importantly fits way more food than before.

On a seperate note, we know lots of customers are concerned about the Proctor and Gamble purchase of Natura Pet (Innova, Evo and California Natural), as are we. To better serve our customers, we have brought in several lines of pet food since the start of the year, including Orijen, Sammy's, Daves, and Natural Balance. Stop in and grab a sample or trial bag.

As many of our customers have already heard, Natura Pet Products will be purchased within the next month or so by Proctor and Gamble (owners of the Iams and Eukunuba brands). This move will affect the following lines: California Natural, Innova, EVO, and Healthwise. At this time we are unsure how this purchase will affect those brands in the future. Be assured we will stay on top of what happens. We have been wary of corporate purchases of pet food in the past, as they are usually associated with a move to mass market, and lowering of quality standards and ingredients. If for any reason we feel this will occur in the lines we carry we will not carry the products any more. If you are concerned about your pets food and want to discuss alternative feeding options, do not hesitate to call us with questions or stop by the store and discuss it with us. We do not intend to offer anything less than the best and healthiest nutrition options for your pets and our pets.

Monty's Home will be here next Saturday May 8th with their newest group of rescue's from the Pawsitive Partners Prison Program. Swing by, to meet the group of pups named after the Cosby Show! They will be here 10am-12pm with the dogs and with plenty of information about the program and ways you can help!

We came across a neat homemade "green" treat idea thanks to Honest Kitchen!

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/dog-treat-wild.html

On a related note, Roxy, Chapelle, and Leo are all really digging Honest Kitchen right now. Little bit expensive compared to the kibble, but they are all looking great after 2 months on the food.

As always, we are always looking to bring in fun new stuff for your pets! This week we have some new treats for your dog or cat and a new line of locally made dog collars!

One of the most fun products we have gotten in a while are A Dog's Life dog treats. The entire product line consists of all natural biscuits and jerky treats, including and organic line of treats. The coolest part is they choose customer's to put on their label! Check out there website, who knows, youy pup might end up on the package!

http://www.adogslife.net/

We also brought in freeze dried treats from Grandma Lucy's. These fun treats come in loads of varieties for both dog's and cats. Chapelle has been drooling over the freeze dried pot roast! http://www.grandmalucys.com/diner

Finally we brought in locally made collars from Josie Belle's. We have had lots of requests for martingale collars, we will finally have them, in a beautiful handstiched pattern with quality hardware. We are excited to support another local business!

Nature's Variety announced a voluntary recall on all Chicken and Organic Chicken Formula Raw Foods with a best buy date on or before 2/5/11.

This is being done by Nature's Variety because of a new safety process they are utilizing on their foods called "High Pressure Pasturization." All chicken products with a best buy date before 2/5/11 have not undergone this pasturization process. If you have purchased any of the recalled Nature's Variety formulas from us, please return to us for a credit, refund or replacement.

If you have any concerns about the recall, Nature's Variety is doing a great job answering questions and providing info on their pasturiation process, and quality and safety procedures: http://www.naturesvariety.com/news/33

We are awaiting spring and warm weather here at Aunt Kerry's so the we can enjoy some time in the sun with the dogs. So until then we keep bringing in new treats to spoil the pups. Here is what's new this week:

Tristen's Treats: A locally made treat, from right here in Wilmington, NC. These are crunchy biscuits that Chapelle has been salivating over ever since they were dropped off. Comes in Peanut Butter, Apple Oatmeal, Beef & Cheese, Chicken Liver, and Ginger.

Gourmutt's: Gourmutts is a wonderfully dog bakery in Raleigh, they have been baking treats for us since this summer (including the popular Aunt Kerry's cookies), but we just got some new spring cookies in stock. St Patty's cookie, Easter Cookies, peanut butter cups, martini glasses and more. Gourmutt's are all natural, baked cookies made with oats, peanut butter, honey, and yogurt frosting.

Are there any healthy pet products you would like to see Aunt Kerry get in stock? Unfortuntely we can't get our hands on every product, but we can try! If there is something you think would be a good fit at our store, shoot us an email or register for the blog and leave a coment!

Thanks!

Nature's Variety is voluntarily recalling their raw chicken dog foods because of possible salmonella contamination. The only products of concern are the chicken medallions, patties and chubs with a "Best Buy" date of 11/10/10.

No human or pet illness has been associated with it.

If you have purchased any of the products from us with that best buy date, please bring it back in for replacement or refund.

http://www.naturesvariety.com/news/32

I wanted to introduce everyone to our newest dog and cat food line, Dave's Healthy Food. www.davespetfood.com

Dave's is an independent brand made by the owner of Dave's Soda and Pet in the New England area. The food is made with premium ingredients, nothing imported, no byporducts, soy, corn or wheat. The dry dog food formula is very similar to Innova, but at a much less expenisive price. We are also carrying the full line of Dave's canned dog food, which comes in a multitude of formula's to meet the needs of every dog. We are huge proponents of supplementing canned food with your dog's dry diet, or feeding canned exclusively. The canned food is not cooked at the high temps that kibble is cooked at, at therefore retains more naturally occuring nutrients. The moisture content in wet food also helps ensure your dog gets enough water, which can help maintain renal function, control weight, and help make your hungry dog feel full.

We currently carry the Dave's canned cat food and the customers that have tried it out are raving about how much their cats love it. We are working on bringing in the rest of the canned cat food line as well.

A few new treats we brought in last week:

Fruitables:

These are a low calorie treat with no meat, wheat, corn, soy or artifical ingredients, colors or preservatives. The main ingredient is Pumpkin which is full of antioxidants, Beta Carotene and fiber. In addition these treat smell absolutely wonderful, and actually don't taste too bad. Me and Chapelle tried the Pumpkin and Apple, he loved them, and I could taste a hint of cinnamon and vanilla with the pumpkin. Probably way healthier than the Cheese-Its I usually munch on. www.fruitablespetfood.com

Sammy Snacks:

Speaking of sharing treats with your pup, we also brought in Sammy Snacks, which you really wouldn't mind sharing with your pup.

Don't those look delicious? Sammy's Snacks come in Carob, Peanut Butter, Cheddar, and Cranberry Snacks. Like all the treats we carry these are all natural. The ingredients in the Carob snacks are White Rice Flour, Rolled Oats, Carob Chips, Brown Sugar, Canola Oil, and Vanilla extract. Yes, these are made for you and your dog to eat, made in a human food facility for people and vet approved for dogs. Me and Chapelle approve of the taste and ingredients. www.sammysnacks.com

Aunt Kerry is making pupcakes for you and your puppy to enjoy at the store on Feb. 13th. Swing by with your best friends and enjoy some treats on us (we will have food for both you and your dog!)

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!