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/

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!

Here at Aunt Kerry's we have gotten used to seeing quite a few dogs that can't eat particular ingredients, and many people come seeking our advise on why their dog is itching, scratching, etc...

The first thing to keep in mind, there are many factors that can cause skin disorders in your dog, mainly: Environmental Alllergies or an adverse reaction to food. The symptoms are similar and and it is difficult to differentiate the food reactions from "atopy" (skin reations from external allergens). The first thing we look for in adverse food reactions are lesions, bacterial or yeast infections in the ear. 

The other problem hypersensitive dogs run into is that 80% of dogs with adverse food reactions have an environmental allergy as well. This can make it very difficult to determine what is causing the food reaction.

Adverse food reactions can be a result of a food allergy, or a non allergic reaction. Food allergies are an immune response to a particular allergen in the food that occurs after the first time the dog is exposed to that allergen. The most common allergens are Beef, Dairy, Wheat, Chicken, Egg, Lamb or Soy. Non allergic reactions have similar symptoms, but occur on the first exposure. Non allergic reactions typically result from chemical additives (dyes and preservatives are common). Sometimes exposure to these chemicals additives predispose a dog to developing a food allergy later on.

For our purposes we treat food allergies and non allergic reactions the same way. First the symptoms: itchy skin or dermatitis affecting the head, ears, feet and groin of the dog. Possible symptoms may include diarrhea, vomitting, and loss of weight. After identification of the symptoms we recomend a food elimination trial. Prior to the food elimination trial it might be helpful to have an allergy screening done for environmental allergens as well. However lab screening on food allergens seems to generate quite a few false positives and false negatives and are not as useful as the environmental allergy screening.

Elimination Food Trial

Elimination Diets are used to determine what foods will not cause an adverse reaction in you dog. Ideally the foods used will have only 1 protein source, no additives and are highly digestable. Here at the store we typically recomend the use of California Natural or Natural Balance LID in the food trial.

During the food trial it might be helpful to keep a journal of what you are doing. First introduce a new diet to your dog and maintain the diet for 4-8 weeks. Do not introduce treats at this time.

• If no improvement in symptoms an alternate food can be tried or it is possible that food allergies might not be the problem.
• If a great improvement is noticed, reintroduce the old diet. If the symptoms return, we know that it is a food related allergy and the dog should be reintroduced back to the elimation diet.
• If partial improvement is noted, then continue the elimination diet and note symptoms. If only partial improvement occurs, the dog is probably also exhibiting signs of external allergies. Continue with the food and investigate treatments for external allergens.

Luckily over the year many dry and wet dog food diets have been introduced that are great for dogs that exhibit adverse food reactions. However, the improvements in your dog's symptoms are not immediate, they can take up to 6-12 weeks to show improvement. It is important to note any changes your dog shows since it is a gradual process, and be strict with it. One little treat can toally throw the trial off whack.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm197700.htm

The FDA has issued a warning that Merrick Beef Fillet Squares might be contaminated with salmonella and consumers should discontinue use.

We have not had any of the squares on the shelf since before Christmas, however if you have purchased some from us and still have some left, you may bring them back in for a full refund or exchange.

There has been no documented illness associated with the product, but the warning has been issued after a positive finding of Salmonella and a deficiency in the packaging and manufacturing process. Generally dogs that are affected may become lethargic, and may exhibit diarreha or vomitting. Humans that become infected generally exhibit vomitting, diarreha, cramps, and fever.

We have signed a pledge with the Humane Society of the United States that we refuse to sell puppies in our store.  As many of you know we encourage everyone to adopt a dog first, if not, at least go through a responsible breeder. We have plenty of material at the store to help anyone adopt a dog, so swing by or email us if you have any questions.

If you don't shop with us, we encourage you to spend your money at local pet shops that do not sell puppies, and if they haven't signed the pledge yet, point them to the hsus.org to sign the pledge.

If you are not aware about the source of dogs sold at pet stores read The Humane Society's site about puppy mills.

Other store's in the state that have signed the pledge include:

Dog Gone Crazy (Wilmington), Wag Pet Boutique (Raleigh), Unleashed (Raleigh), Gourmutts (Raleigh), Phydaeux (Chapel Hill).

Everyday we get phone calls or walk in customers looking for a new puppy or kitten to add to their family. We always encourage everyone to look into adopting a pet first before buying one (through a reputable breeder of course). However it is also very important one considers if they should get a pet in the first place.

If you or someone you know is considering getting a pet, consider the following:

1. Do you have the time? Animals (especially puppies) require lots of time and attention. Don't expect your children to provide all the attention that your new pet needs. Will your own schedule fit a new pet? Getting up earlier to walk and feed the dog, time for training, walks when you get home from work and after dinner... Just some of the time required for pet care. This time commitment may last for 10-15 years.
2. Do you have the money? Upfront costs are pretty low for a dog or cat. But consider the long term costs as well. County licenses, training classes, vet care, vaccinations, toys, food, litter, etc. I spend about $200-$300 a year on vet care, more if vaccinations are due for just one dog. I also easily spend over $600 a year on high quality dog food, $100 a year on heartworm prevention, and another $200 a year on flea prevention. It is easy to see how quickly costs can add up.
3. Can you deal with the "problems?" If you have a dog or cat, be prepared to deal with potty accidents, furniture chewing, scratching, fur around the house, fleas, and medical emergencies.
4. Are you allowed to have a pet? Sounds basic, but if you are a renter, having a pet cuts down on places you can live, and most places require deposits (I had to pay a $1700 refundable deposit in a historic home I rented for my lab, most deposits are around $200-$300 non refundable). There are also community restrictions in place now for some home owners, restricting size or breed that are allowed in the neighborhood. Check before adopting a new pet.
5. Is it the right time? Job/Personal travel, kids, military commitments, etc. are all things to consider before adopting. If you travel a lot, maybe now is not the right time. If you have young children, you may want to wait, or at least make sure the dog/cat is comfortable with small children.

With that said, adding a companion animal to your household brings many benefits, just be sure you are aware of the responsibilties that come with pet ownership. It is extremely dishearting when we have people come in looking to "get rid" of their dog or cat because they weren't aware of the cost or time commitments, or the dog or cat is destroying their rugs, carpets or baseboards. A time commitment to training, selecting the right pet for your situation and making sure one has the financial security to care for a pet will ensure your new pet becomes a permanent part of your household.

Monty's Home Pet Expo will be Feb. 21st 11-4pm at the CFCC Schwartz Center. This event currently has over 70 vendors scheduled to attend. Unfortunately because of the venue's rules, no pets can come in. However if you are a pet owner in Brunswick, New Hanover or Pender Counties, we recommend making the drive to downtown Wilmington to check it out. It's only $5 to enter, the first 300 families get a goodie bag.

Monty's Home also runs the Pawsitive Partners Prison Program, which is the first companion dog prison program in Southeast NC. With this program Monty's Home selects 5 dogs from local shelter, pays for the spay/neuter and vaccinations. Once the dogs are ready they spend 8 weeks under the supervision and guidance of Monty's Home trainers at the Pender County Correctional. The inmates train the dogs to AKC Canine Good Citizen Standards at which point the dogs go home with their new families.

We have been lucky to see many of the graduating dogs come through Aunt Kerry's Pet Stop for meet and greets, and several customers with dogs from the program. It will be great to see this program run years into the future saving dogs and helping inmates at the same time.

If you are interested in Monty's Home and their Pawsitive Partners Prison Program follow the link:

http://www.montyshome.org/index.htm

If you want to meet the next class to graduate from the program stop by the store on Feb. 13th from 10-12, you might find your next best friend.

Aunt Kerry's Pet Stop wishes everyone a happy New Year's! For 2010 we have decided to start a blog to keep our customers and community up to date on local pet events, pet nutrition, adoptions, and what's going on at our store. We hope you find the blog useful and we welcome your input.

We also want to take a moment to thank all our customers for your continued support, we look forward to serving you and your pets well into the future.