.

Keep your pets safe this Halloween with these tips from the ASPCA:

• No Chocolate: Even if your pet has a sweet tooth, ingesting chocolate—especially baker’s and dark chocolate—can be dangerous for dogs and cats, possibly causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and even seizures.

• No Sweets for the Sweet: Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.

• Dangerous Décor: Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

• Don’t Play with Fire: Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside—knocking the pumpkin over can easily cause a fire. And curious kittens can get burned or singed by candle flames.

• Costume Caution: Please don’t put your pet in a costume unless you know that he or she loves it. Costumes can cause skin irritations, obstruct a pet’s vision or impede his breathing.

- ASPCA Website

Click to read the ASPCA’s more detailed, full-length article on Halloween and pets. Print it out, even, for handy reference and to get your family on board with the plan.

The holidays can be a very, very bad time for our beloved pets! It’s up to us, their mommies and daddies, to be alert and make sure our holidays are pet-friendly. Keep your furry kids safe each year.

I have been watching the election news with interest. While I don’t think this is the forum for me to discuss my views on the political candidates, I DO want to urge you all in California to get out there and vote YES on Proposition 2 and take a stand against cruel factory farming techniques.

Here is the Prop 2 press information on this important matter of simple consideration for the lives of the animals we eat:

Dear California Animal Advocates,

When you go to the polls to cast your vote for U.S. President, don’t forget to vote YES! on Proposition 2 for California’s farm animals!

On November 4, you will have the opportunity to take a stand against some of the most cruel and unnecessary aspects of factory farming. If passed, Prop 2 will end the practice of keeping veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens in cages and crates so small that they cannot turn around. This law will not only prevent cruelty to animals—it also will improve food safety and reduce the devastating environmental impact of factory farms.

Join the ASPCA and more than 150 other animal-protection organizations, more than 700 California veterinary professionals, and over 100 elected federal, state and local officials in supporting Prop 2!

What You Can Do

Click here to visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to learn more about Proposition 2 - and send a note to fellow California animal lovers asking them to vote YES! on Prop 2.

This is cute - get your fix of puppydom with these cute dog photos at The Daily Puppy.

Their description: “your source for cute puppy pictures, videos, articles and supplies. Browse pictures of the puppy of the day, create a profile for you and your puppy and connect with other puppy parents. Don’t forget to check out different dog breeds, our puppy related articles and videos too!”

They also have an active dog forum that I am planning to join and share my knowledge about dog care with.  They have creative photo contests, info about adoptable animals, behavior issues, health, breeds and dog-friendly places. You can submit your dog picture to the “Pupfolio” and have people vote how many biscuits your little one is worth.

Beware of this site - it’s a GREAT way to get lost online!

We received this press release and thought you might find this interesting:

(Bradenton, Florida) – It’s a technological twist on the pet
door that combines convenience with security and safety – for
pet owners and pets alike. Plexidor Pet Doors offers the
Plexidor Electronic that opens exclusively for your pet via a
wearable pass code “collar key”. It is like having a
personalized garage door and electronic opener specifically for
your dogs. And your dog is the only one with the electronic
opener code.

The Plexidor Electronic is the latest product for the veteran
Plexidor company, which has been in the pet door business for
over 23 years.  “Having a technological tool like this is great
for the health and comfort of the pet too,” says Plexidor
President Joe Ambrose. “It allows the pets to go outside when
they have to, not when you are able to let them out. “ He adds,
“For the pet owner, it is very helpful in preventing pet messes
in the house from the pet having to hold it too long.”

How Does The Plexidor Electronic Pet Door Work?
“Collar keys” come programmed; simply clip it to the collar.
The technology in the door reads and recognizes the code as
the pet approaches the door and allows entrance.
The pet door panel slides up and down like a mini-garage door.

The Plexidor collar key is actually an RFID chip. This
leading-edge technology is passive, requires no batteries and
allows you to have as many of your pets to use the door without
ever have to worry about the neighbors’ pets or wild animals
coming in your pet door. The RFID tag is also waterproof,
shockproof and very rugged.

The Plexidor Electronic Door itself is sturdy, rust-proof,
energy efficient and does not blow open like most mud flap pet
doors.  The product is made with aluminum framing and high
impact ABS panels, the same material used for football helmets.
A safety mechanism prevents the door from closing while
obstructed, preventing pinched tails, paws or fingers.

The Plexidor Electronic Pet Door comes in bronze and white, and
various sizes to match all pets. The product line ranges in
prices from $129 to $800 depending on size and model. They can
be purchased direct or through dealers, and are also available
at: www.dogdoors.com or by calling 800-749-9609. Installers are
positioned all over the United States and Canada.