Nibley and his wife contacted Flynn-Amato, who told them Maisey had come from a puppy mill and spent most of her life in darkness. Nibley said  because of these conditions Maisey had some issues with light when she first came home; she had really bad ears and paws, matted fur and was an emotional mess.

Nibley and his wife took action and formed a production company called Umbrella Girl Media to support their project. Nibley said he took a year and a half off as the chief executive officer of Burson-Marsteller, Inc. to film Madonna of the Mills because he thought it was such an important issue.

Madonna of the Mills chronicles Flynn-Amato’s fight against puppy mills hoping to inspire others to follow in her footsteps. According to Nibley, making the film was extremely emotional for everyone  because week-after-week, they had to see hundreds of physically and emotionally-abused dogs.

Interwoven within the story behind Madonna of the Mills is Nibley’s love for his wife and his desire to help her raise awareness about puppy mills.

“I have a confession to make,” he said. “My wife produced the movie because she loves dogs and I directed and wrote the movie because I love her.”

Although Nibley himself did not go inside the puppy mills he was able to describe what his crew experienced based on their video footage.

“If you look inside a puppy mill facility you will see row, after row of cages stacked on top of one another,” said Nibley. “The dogs are stuck in cages where they’re defecating and urinating on one another. They’re never petted or loved; never get a chance to exercise outdoors and never learn how to play with toys. Essentially they become organic birthing machines that pump out litter after litter while the farmers make a profit.”

According to Nibley there hasn’t been enough education for people to make the connection that puppy mills are what produce the puppies that get sold in pet stores.

“If you ask the question ‘do you support puppy mills?’ 90 percent of respondents will say ‘absolutely not they’re horrible;’ if you ask the same person where they got their pet they’ll say ‘I got it at a pet store,’” said Nibley.

Nibley recommends a national educational program in elementary schools to narrow this information gap. He believes this would show parents why they should not buy puppies from pet stores just as education has taught them not to smoke cigarettes, for example.

He adds nearly 100 percent of puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills and  their parents are essentially in concentration camps, where they are never let out of their cages their entire lives — they’re never walked, petted or bathed and when they can’t produce puppies anymore they’re taken out and shot, drowned, stoned or starved.

However, Nibley stated that he and his crew intentionally stayed away from showing graphic images in the final version of the film because he wanted to make the movie about the courage of one woman and her attempt to save these animals.

“We want people to see that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they put their mind to it,” he said.

Nibley and his wife are living examples of what people can accomplish when they are inspired to make a difference, no matter what their source of motivation and inspiration. Their film has earned them a nomination at the U.S. Humane Society’s 26th Annual Genesis Awards held this Saturday, March 24 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California.

See the Madonna of the Mills Trailer:

Madonna of the Mills Trailer from Umbrella Girl Media on Vimeo.

Watch Madonna of the Mills:

• On TV via HBO
• On HBO Go via your I-Phone or computer
• Buy the DVD or watch the trailer at www.madonnaofthemills.com

Written by Christine White

10 Reasons Why Your Pet Business Should Use Twitter:

To Find and Engage with Customers: Twitter is based on a system of give and take. You post a tweet and your followers respond. It’s simple and direct and enables your current or potential clients to build a relationship with you. With a 140-character limit per tweet, Twitter is something you can quickly do.

Brand Building: Like your logo on a billboard or a jingle in a commercial, what you Tweet is a piece of your brand. Is your business pet-oriented or does the pet business industry have a direct impact on your products? Perhaps you’re just more interested in sharing the latest political scoop regarding dogs or puppies, etc. Your tweets help to define you and your business.

Product Information: Suppose you have a brand new product about to launch. Twitter is a great tool for getting the word out to the masses. A good tweet can build buzz and get conversations going. At the same time, you can be informative, current and establish trust with your followers.

The Latest News: Twitter is a fantastic way to generate buzz regarding the latest news about your company. For example, if you’re preparing to open a new pet store or offer a new type pet-related service, or even unveiling a new pet product, a series of strategic tweets is a cost-effective way to provide that information.

Solve Customer Service Issues: Savvy companies have figured out that they need to find ways to control the message. A customer with a negative experience may head to Twitter to release their fury. By having an active Twitter account, you can directly handle these potential issues before they spiral out of control. A potentially negative situation can then be re-purposed as a positive experience.

Offer a Deal: Customers love getting a great deal. When one pops up on their Twitter feed, it can build excitement and generate buzz. One follower retweets your message to their followers . . . and the next thing you know, your pet business is getting a sudden and positive boost in the public realm.

Networking: Tons of stories exist of people landing jobs through Twitter contacts. As a small business owner, Twitter can help you manage your contacts to uncover new opportunities for growth.

Creative Writing: The 140 character limit forces you to be concise, to write in headlines or soundbites, and to include only pertinent information. It also allows you to give a teaser about your latest blog post, article, interview, or company information.

Get New Ideas: See what others in the pet industry are doing or saying, or what trends are on the rise in terms of marketing. There is nothing like seeing someone else doing well, to spark your own creative ideas for tweeting about your pet business.

Get More Business: The is perhaps the best reason to have a twitter account for your pet business or pet blog. When you interact within this community on a regular basis, you keep your pet-related service in front of the public. It serves as a soft reminder of the nature of your pet business and it’s relevance in people’s lives.

There you have it. Ten “grrrrreat” reasons to have a twitter account and just as important; having a custom background design for it will make you stand out all the more.

SPECIAL NOTE: An extra special thanks to Sniff Design Studio®, for allowing us to borrow this informative article and the custom sniff graphics within it. Better yet, since they specialize in pet design branding they are a perfect fit to help you get a custom twitter background created. To see the work done for other clients, click here, or take a moment to visit their web site: www.sniffdesign.com.

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It is estimated 10 percent of all dogs have heart disease. As dogs age, the prevalence of heart disease may reach more than 60 percent, said Dr. Mandi Kleman.

As dog parents we are constantly worrying about the health of our dogs. We are reminded of their aging by slightly graying muzzles, a slowed gait and an increase in sleep.  What we don’t realize is that sometimes symptoms that we pass off as the ailments of aging can potentially be symptoms of an underlying heart condition.

“Owners may believe [dogs are] just slowing down or becoming lazy, when in actuality they don’t have enough energy because their heart rate is too slow due to heart block,” said Dr. Kleman, a Cardiologist at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS).

Complete Heart Block and Sick Sinus Syndrome are conditions that cause abnormalities of the electrical charge that stimulates the chambers of the heart to contract and pump blood through a dog’s body. These conditions may cause a very slow heart rate and as a result dogs become lethargic and experience episodes of collapse or fainting. If left untreated, their heart could eventually stop beating, resulting in sudden death.

Even though these are serious illnesses, treatment is available that can help give a dog suffering from these conditions the ability to lead a normal life—a pacemaker implantation.

According to Dr. Kleman, studies show that if dogs who have complete heart block don’t get a pacemaker, they may pass away within six months.

“This devastating consequence is secondary to an unstable electrical rhythm within their heart. They can basically pass away at any moment,” said Dr. Kleman.

No one can say for sure why dogs develop Complete Heart Block, since it is something they are not born with nor is known to be genetic.

“It’s something they acquire over the course of their life, a type of scarring within their heart,” Dr. Kleman said.

Both Complete Heart Block and Sick Sinus Syndrome are something that family veterinarians may find during an annual exam. Which is another reason why yearly or bi-yearly exams are so important for dogs to have, especially older ones. “Often we find complete heart block during an annual exam when your veterinarian finds a low heart rate of 30 beats per minute. This heart rate is abnormal and an electrocardiogram (ECG) is then used to diagnose Complete Heart Block,” Dr. Kleman said.

The procedure takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes and is a minimally-invasive procedure. During the surgery, dogs receive two small incisions, about an inch to an inch and a half in length, one on the bottom of their neck near their chin and the other on the back of their neck.  The pacemaker lead is then placed into the dog’s heart through their jugular vein and the pacemaker computer is placed under the skin in the back of their neck.  Unless complications arise, patients are sent home the next day. Once they are home, they are required to be strictly rested for six to eight weeks to ensure that the pacemaker lead stays in place.

“The dogs wake up from surgery having very little discomfort and having a brand new heart rate,” Dr. Kleman said. “Typically the biggest problem we have with pacemaker surgery is the recovery time, because the dogs feel like absolutely new dogs.”

Scottie, an 8-year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, received a pacemaker last year after being diagnosed with Complete Heart Block.  A few months before his diagnosis, his owner, Mari Carroll, began to notice that this championed herding dog was now lacking the energy he once had.

“Eventually, he got to the point where one morning he didn’t eat, which for a Corgi is really unusual, they live to eat. And then later that morning I was watching him outside and I saw him faint.” Carroll said.

She took Scottie to her local veterinarian who after completing an ECG, discovered his heart rate was only beating at a mere 35 beats per minute. That was when she was referred over to Dr. Kleman at CUVS.

Dr. Kleman is one of about 230 veterinary cardiologists who are trained to perform pacemaker surgery in dogs. “One of my favorite things about pacemakers is first the immediate gratification; that we can make a patient better overnight (within 12 hours)” said Dr. Kleman.

“The hardest thing for [Scottie] was once he had the procedure and the pacemaker was put in, I picked him up the next day and he had to be confined to a crate for six to eight weeks,” Carroll recalls, “so he was hand walked and was basically on crate rest for all that time and it was unfortunate for him because he felt great and he couldn’t understand why he had to be so confined.”

This technology, thought to be reserved only for humans, has been available to treat dogs with these conditions since the late 1960s. Pacemakers, which are about the size of a silver dollar, help to speed up a slow heart rate and can help to extend a dog’s life by years. These patients will typically live their normal lives after their recovery period.

Since there are no pacemakers made specifically for veterinary use, the pacemakers implanted in dogs are the same as those used in humans. In order to keep costs as low as possible, veterinary cardiologists rely on hospitals to donate unused pacemakers whose battery lives are shortened and are no longer appropriate for use in humans.

“The pacemakers I put in dogs typically have a battery life of about 10 years and this timeline is just not long enough for a person anymore,” said Dr. Kleman, “So these are brand-new state-of-the-art pacemakers that just have a little bit shorter shelf life.”

Over the years, pacemaker companies such as Medtronic and St. Jude Medical have made hefty donations to cardiologists. CanPacers, or Companion Animal Pacemaker Repository is another way cardiologists can obtain pacemakers. They are a non-for-profit organization that sells donated pacemakers to veterinarians for about $500 for both the pacemaker generator and lead. According to their website, all proceeds from their sales are used to fund Cardiology Resident Research Projects at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Implanting pacemakers in dogs is more common than most dog owners might think. Dr. Kleman typically implants about eight to 12 pacemakers in dogs a year but says that hundreds of pacemakers are implanted in dogs yearly across the country.

While some may think that pacemaker implantation is expensive, the surgery is no more than the cost of knee or back surgery for a dog. It can range from approximately $2,500 to $5,000 depending on where you are located in the country.

“Financially, it’s tough, its a lot of money” said Carroll, “[Scottie] was dying, so there wasn’t any question. Of course there are huge costs, it’s just part of having dogs.”

Carroll recalls that she didn’t realize how much Scottie had been affected by his disease until after the pacemaker was put in.

“Before I would take him on walks and he would kind of loaf along behind me, and that is not his style, he likes to be out in front leading the way,” she said.

Since having the pacemaker implanted, Scottie has no limitations and is free to lead a normal life. The biggest difference Carroll sees in Scottie since his surgery is his energy level.

“He’s much happier, his whole attitude is better,” she said. “He’s up for anything, he loves to go out on walks and race around the yard with the younger dogs. He’s back to his old self. ”

Welcome to my new column, Big City, Little Dog! I own Sam & Tasha LLC: Products for a Modern Pet Lifestyle, and in every issue my Maltese Hugo and I will do our best to bring the NYC doggie social scene to your door…or your screen, at least! He asked if we can talk about other things sometimes, too, like dog adoption, grooming tips, and traveling, and since he has me more or less wrapped around his paw, I said yes. We’ll also poke our heads into some of the best pet shops around, take a behind-the-scenes look at a trade show, and meet some of the people that make this industry so special.

To kick things off, let’s go back to November of 2010. Sam & Tasha signed on to participate in the Pets Popping Up Pop-Up Shop at the Roger Smith Hotel, or RS Pop Shop for short. The Roger Smith is located in midtown Manhattan, in a neighborhood that’s the perfect mix of New York locals and tourists from around the world. The hotel has been hosting a rotating pop-up shop since 2009, normally focusing on small fashion, jewelry, and handbag labels, but since they are a dog friendly hotel, a pet-themed pop-up seemed like a natural evolution for the space. Sam & Tasha, Stella & Chewy’s, Metro Paws, Sturdi Products, and Yeowww! Catnip all jumped at the chance to be involved, but the fun really started when the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals came onboard, and kindly offered to have adoptable cats and dogs on-site. Nothing brings people into a store quite like cute puppies! Overall, the RS Pop Shop was hugely successful, with the participating vendors donating nearly $1000.00 to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, and best of all, twenty animals ended up with new homes.

As a small business owner, I learned a lot from being involved in a month long pop-up shop, specifically, that one can’t just open the doors and hope people come in. A month is a long time, and events-within-events are key to keeping the buzz going. The genius PR companies responsible for organizing the event, Whitegate PR and Lion’esque Media, had a slew of things planned that helped attract shoppers straight off the street. Between weekly parties for each brand, radio segments, and a consistent stream of content on Facebook and Twitter, they got a great “word of mouth” going in the doggie community. I don’t own a brick and mortar pet business, but if I did, I’d definitely think about mimicking some of these ideas if I was holding an in-store event:

1. Have an fashion illustrator or cartoonist do quick sketches of guests and their pup. It’s informal – no sitting still for an hour! These are fun, personalized, and unique souvenirs that your guests will appreciate. I have mine hanging right above my desk.

2. Invite any local bloggers that live in your area to the party. Maybe they’ll take a few photos and write about the event on their blog! This is a way for small businesses to get some nice (and free) press. You’ll want to choose someone whose blog topics mesh well with your store and the kind of event you’re having.

3. Give someone who is just starting out a chance to showcase their product. For example, if you know someone who is trying to get a dog-treat business off the ground, ask them to supply a variety of treats for your store’s monthly “yappy hour” event. Have them attend and let them put out some business cards or fliers. You may end up with a fabulous new product that your competitors don’t carry, and you’re supporting a fellow small-business owner. It’s win-win.

Stay tuned for the next issue, where I try making Venetian Masquerade style masks for Hugo and I to wear at the Pre-Westminster Gala, coming up February 10^th here in New York City.

Has your dentist scared you straight?  At my last visit, the oral hygienist alerted me that strong dental care is closely linked to overall personal health and that recent research links gum disease to such life-threatening ailments as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, kidney disease and lung problems.  This information makes it pretty difficult to justify skipping a nightly floss-brush-Scope routine for a few extra minutes under the covers.

It’s possible you’ve had a similar experience at the dentist and I’m already preaching to the choir.  You might be converted, but what about your pet?  Yes, this alarming correlation between mouth and body extends to the animals that we raise and nurture.  Unlike me, my golden retriever, Hailey, can’t stare in the mirror and shame herself into brushing.  If she is to avoid periodontal disease (an infection of the gums), it’s going to be up to me to provide the proper care and know-how.  Dogs’ teeth accumulate plaque and tartar, which can easily turn into infections of the gum and eventually cause kidney or liver disease, as well as other ailments that are linked to poor dental hygiene (heart disease, diabetes, etc.).  Still—it appears that most owners don’t take serious consideration of their pet’s dental needs.  “It’s estimated that by the age of two, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of periodontal disease,” says Dr. Brook Niemiec, a veterinary expert on pet dental health.  “The best way to prevent periodontal disease is by regularly brushing your pet’s teeth and by regularly visiting your veterinarian.”

The question, then, becomes how to properly brush a dog’s teeth.  First and foremost, it’s all about the precedent you set.  The younger you start, the easier it will be to acclimate your dog to the sensation of having his/her teeth brushed.  If your dog is older like Hailey, then you might have to endure a fair amount of squirming and dodging during teeth scrubbing sessions with the special formulated paste (don’t ever use a human formula).  Here are some tips, offered by Dogdentalcare.net, which will help to get your dog accustomed to the idea of brushing.

1.  Don’t just dive-bomb your dog with a finger brush.  Have her lick the toothpaste off your bare finger so she can get used to the flavor (which is generally poultry or malt).

2.  After a few days, begin to gently rub the toothpaste with your finger along your dog’s gums.  Always praise good behavior!

3.   Acclimate your dog to the toothbrush by letting her lick toothpaste off of the apparatus itself.  Different options for brushes include finger brushes (that slip over your finger), dental sponges, dog dental wipes, triple and quad brushes, and bamboo quad brushes.

4.  After about a week, you can start brushing gently on a few teeth (either one or both of the upper canines is a good place to start).  Lift the upper lip and place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line.  Use a friendly demeanor!

5.  Once your dog is comfortable with the sensation, move on to other teeth.  Make it fun!  Be relaxed.

Maybe your dog doesn’t enjoy your fingers in her mouth, but you can still find other approaches to prevent periodontal diseases.  Nothing will replace a program of brushing at least three times a week, but switching from canned or dry food to a raw diet can help. Bones scrape your dog’s teeth of plaque while eating, and enzymes in raw food help dissolve particles on the teeth that form plaque.  Chewing on a bone, either natural or Nylabone, or another hard toy will also assist your dog in self-maintenance.  Dental treats and oral rinse can be beneficial, but do not think these tactics will substitute for the actual act of brushing.

If you haven’t been particularly watchful in the past, now is the time to keep notice of the condition of your dog’s teeth.  Bad breath; swollen, red or bleeding gums; missing or fractured teeth; and yellow brown crust of tartar can all be signs that you need to invest more time in your dog’s dental care.  Also, watch for changes in behavior, such as pawing at the mouth, which could suggest a dental issue.  Don’t forget that a toothache is just that—it pains your pet just as it would you.

You’re not alone.  Regular visits to your veterinarian are essential.  They will work with you on a routine that will help your dog to mouth full of pearly whites.  More importantly, however, proper dog dental care will lessen the chances of interminable health problems that can plague your pal and potentially shorten your time together.

Comedian Lisa Lampanelli, aka the “Queen of Mean,” is not so mean as I found out in a recent interview with her.  Probably best known for her Comedy Central celebrity roasts of Chevy Chase, Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Anderson (to name a few) and soon to be seen as a contestant on the new season of Celebrity Apprentice, she is known for her sharp wit and raunchy jokes.  Lisa likes to tell it like it is and she is loved for it.  Besides her regular fan following she also has many celebrity fans like Jim Carey who describes her well:  “If you want to see real racial integration, go to a Lisa Lampanelli show. That’s where you’ll find people of every color and creed having a good laugh at themselves and each other.  She’s more than a standup. She’s a standout.”

Often controversial, but always good-hearted, Lisa is also known for her generosity. Like last May when she decided to turn a bunch of protesters at her show in Topeka, Kansas into fundraisers.  Forty-eight anti-gay protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church came to picket her show because she is agay rights supporter.  Lisa said she would donate $1,000 per protester to the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the nation’s oldest HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services provider. She decided to round up and gave a check for $50,000 to GMHC.

Lisa didn’t start out in comedy though.  She began her career in journalism, but said comedy was always in the back of her mind as something she wanted to try.  When she saw a class being offered in comedy and how to put together your first five minutes on stage she knew it would help her get started.  “I had a great first experience and I just kept going.  And by the time I would start having bad shows or whatever I liked it enough and was enough into it that I felt this is something I want to do –  it’s pretty clear that it’s more good than it is bad,” she said.  With the journalism thing, I didn’t think I was a great editor, but was a decent writer.  So I’m good at it, but I’m not great at it, and I wanted to do something that I could be great at.”

During my conversation with the notorious “Queen of Mean” I found she’s not only warm, down-to-earth and of course funny, but she has a soft spot, and his name is Parker.  He is a cute Yorkie mix, who she named after actress Sarah Jessica Parker, and he lives with Lisa and her husband, Jimmy in New York City.

We had the chance to talk about many things including how she found Parker and why she chose adoption.  She also talked about the importance of being emotionally ready to commit to adopting a dog, a trait that is so important and, unfortunately, not all pet owners possess.  “Once Jimmy and I figured out that we were emotionally available enough to get a dog, because that’s like a big struggle for me like, Oh my God, suppose he dies and then I’ll be totally devastated, but I was like, you know, it’s worth the risk.  We have to do it.  We have to emotionally commit.”

There’s a pet store near Lisa’s home that features adoptable animals every Sunday.  She sent Jimmy to go check it out and see what it was like.  Unfortunately, they only had cats and large dogs, and they didn’t want a big dog while living in a New York City apartment.  Many dog owners will agree when they found and adopted their dog, it was meant to be, and Lisa is no different.   However, in typical Lisa Lampanelli style, Parker’s fate rested on one of her lunch dates.   “So the next week I was walking by and I was kind of disheartened; I didn’t think it was going to happen.  And Parker and some other Yorkie type dog were sitting outside and I was like, Oh my God, he’s so frickin’ cute.  That’s my dog.  BUT … I had a lunch appointment.  Now c’mon, food comes first – please.  So if it’s meant to be this dog will be there when I get back … and he was.”

Besides being emotionally ready, Lisa also knew she preferred a dog over having kids.  “What I’ve noticed in the past like 10 years or so is that I‘ve never looked at a kid or a baby and gone, Oh my God how cute! And I noticed that EVERY day like there would be tons of cute little dogs that I go, Oh my God they’re so cute! And if I’m noticing dogs and not kids I’m clearly not meant to have any kids.”  She and Jimmy would sit on a park bench when they first met and pick out different dogs they liked as they walked by, in an effort to narrow it down.  “But then, when the right one comes along, it’s not even anything that you thought it was because he [Parker] is just a mutt, but he is like perfect; he’s so hysterical,” she said.

And when asked why she chose adoption:  “It just doesn’t strike me as practical for the world (not that I care about the world that much), but I just didn’t want to, you know go, Oh one that’s out there isn’t good enough for us.  I mean me and Jimmy are a couple of mutts.  We’re not purebred, believe me, yet we still have value in the world I think.  So this is the way to go.”

She also added her feelings on purebreds saying they always struck her as not that cute. “Like they look too perfect.  They look like out of a frickin’ calendar,” she said.  She wanted a dog that didn’t look perfect and wasn’t perfect.   When she got Parker, she realized another benefit of not getting a purebred is that she didn’t get the bad traits of the breed.  Yorkies can be yappy, but Parker is very mellow and only barks when there’s someone at the door.  She says he’s the perfect dog.  “Everybody says there’s something special about him and I’m like, Yeah because he’s not some entitled little purebred.  He’s not a Paris Hilton; he’s more of a Sarah Jessica Parker really.”  When I asked her if she knew what breeds make up Parker’s mix she told me, “We don’t even really know what he is. He’s definitely got a little Yorkie in him.  He’s got a little Chihuahua in him, we think, because he’s got those big ears and that long tail.  And the rest … just his mom was a whore.”

Neither Lisa nor Jimmy had any pets growing up.  So when she went to adopt Parker she didn’t know anything about adoption and hadn’t researched anything.  “I went in to adopt the dog and I said, I want that one. And they’re like, Okay.  And I go, Well, what do I need to buy? Because I figured I had to buy stuff that day and just take him home. They’re like, Oh no, no we check your references.  And I’m like, Are you doing this because I’m me?  Like how dare you?  Just because I talk dirty in my act doesn’t mean I’m going to talk dirty to my dog.  And they’re like, No, no we do that for everybody.  Classic me, I thought they were just targeting me.”

This past fall Lisa got a chance to put her adoption experience to use when she made a guest appearance on the television comedy Whitney.  She played a strict shelter owner who gives the main character, Whitney and her boyfriend a hard time when they come in to adopt a dog.  Lisa said Whitney, played by actress Whitney Cummings, has met Parker and loves him – she and Lisa have done a couple gigs together in real life.  “Every time she emails me she asks about the dog.  I love that, we don’t ask each other about our boyfriends or husbands. It’s just, How’s your dog?  It was so cute when that part came up and she wrote that in because I’m like, Oh my God isn’t that hysterical. Because that’s probably how I’d be now.  If I had a rescue I’d have to hold it over people’s heads that they weren’t good enough.”

Like many of us whose personalities change after we adopt our dogs and we find ourselves doing the very same things we may have criticized other dog owners for, Lisa admits she has also changed since she got Parker.  “I have really expensive rugs and it doesn’t matter.  It’s like as soon the dog came in I was like, Aaahh so what.  But if Jimmy had even put a spot on the rug I would have been like, We are getting a divorce.  But this dog could do whatever he wants on the rugs and I’m like, Ohhh, its okay.  So I’ve turned into one of those people.”

She said she was also never a fan of dog owners dressing  their dogs up in little outfits, but now whenever somebody gives her an outfit she puts it right on Parker (despite the fact that Parker is not a fan either).  And she didn’t understand why people couldn’t just be strict when they were eating and resist the urge to feed their dogs pieces of food from their meal.  But when she got Parker she understood. “From day one, I was the worst.  The minute he cased the bacon it was all over.”

I was also curious if Lisa brings Parker on tour with her and if he’s made it into her act yet.  “A couple times I used to bring him out on-stage a bit with Jimmy because people love seeing a dog on-stage because he’s that cute.  I’d do my jokes about his name and things that would happen to me and him on planes and stuff.  The first couple times he came out on-stage he was so excited and ran right out to me, and then he got a little shy.  I think the big, big crowds really freak him out. So I’m like, Dude … c’mon, get with the program. Earn your keep.”

As I posed my final question, asking Lisa if there was something fabulous about Parker she wanted people to know that no one had asked her before, I was hoping for a classic Lisa Lampanelli response.  She didn’t disappoint: “Just that all your dogs suck compared to mine and you should just not even look at him or gaze upon him for the jealousy that you will have.”

Not everyone in Rochester was eager to hear what secrets he was touting in his show. A protest was organized by local dog trainer Ada Simms, structured to distribute information about positive reinforcement training methods. Simms put together a three-page flyer containing part of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s statement regarding dominance and punishment, as well as a list of dog trainers in Western NY who are positive reinforcement trainers. A total of eight people braved single-digit temperatures to hand out the flyer to people entering the Theatre.

According to one participant, most people took the flyer when offered, some handed it back, and a few verbally tried to engage the protesters. Many who took the flyer without reading it were seen reading it inside the Theatre while waiting for the show to begin. One man told Simms about a specific problem he was having with his dog and asked for advice.

An attendee who is an aspiring animal trainer had this to say about the show:

“He did more story telling than actual teaching, but the teaching he did involved[stating that] many people [give] their animals affection, affection, affection, instead of [Millan's formula] of ‘exercise, discipline and affection.’ Being calm and having appropriate energy was the main thing he talked about throughout the whole night.

Many positive reinforcement dog trainers agree with Millan’s advice that increasing the amount of daily exercise for your dogs is part of a multi-step solution to working through behavioral problems. However, these trainers disagree with many of the techniques that Millan uses in his show, including flooding, shock collars, and kicking dogs (know to Millan fans as “tapping” them).

The goal of the protest was simply to educate the public on the problems with ‘dominance theory’ and to let them know that there alternatives to the methods used by Millan and his followers.

To learn more about the problems associated with confrontational training methods, take a look at the study by the University of Pennsylvania here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217141540.htm

For information training methods and finding a qualified dog trainer, look here: http://apdt.com/petowners/choose/default.aspx

As we all know, getting a dog is a long-term commitment. There are vet appointments to be scheduled, daily walks to be taken, treats and toys to be purchased, and sacrifices to be made. On top of all this, we, as proud owners, also have to commit to a name for our pet that will last a lifetime. Choosing a name can be a difficult decision, especially if people are throwing out names left and right and you’re struggling to find one that sticks. Luckily, the great thing about naming a pet is that you can go a variety of routes with your choice, be it comical, dignified, traditional, noble… and your pet still won’t resent you for it. To help give you some direction while making this oh-so-critical decision, here are some categories you can chose from:

The Dignified:

If from the moment you looked into you dog’s eyes you saw caviar and pate, you may be dealing with royalty. Adding titles like ‘Sir’ or ‘His Greatness’ to the beginning of a name (i.e. Sir Winston, His Greatness Earl) gives your a pooch a nice debonair introduction. If you’re looking for something a little subtler, try for a Charles, Penelope, Edward or Virginia, or most human names in their full form. It’ll be clear to everyone around (and all the neighborhood pups) that your dog is a prince among pooches, commanding respect wherever he or she goes.

The Comical:

On the contrary, there are some down-to-earth Fido friends who prefer to spend their lives performing a continual stand-up act. My dog would fall into this category; always a little confused, getting way too excited about basically everything, running in his sleep, or barking at the television. This type of dog is a continual source of amusement, and has enough of a down-to-earth personality to laugh at themselves and champ it out when you pull out that silly Zelda Cave Dog outfit you bought her for Halloween. If your dog seems to be exhibiting signs of a total ham, you might want to lean towards names like Scooter, Pookie, Bumbles, or Mugsy. Close to anything goes in this category, just try not to be too harsh (‘Mr. McFatters’ might damage his self-esteem in front of the lady dogs).

Traditional:

There’s a reason why certain pooch names have stuck around as long as they have. Simply put, some names just work, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Tried and true names like Spot, Ginger, Chester, Bella, Max and Duke all have nice noble sounds to them and look great printed on your dog’s collar. A solid, classic name can be the grounds to a great friendship between you and your four-legged companion.

Ultimately, name selection is a highly personal decision made between you and your dog. My mom always said you couldn’t really know the name of something until you look directly into its eyes, and I think there’s some truth to that. If you’re calling your dog Sir Fluffington Mayweather Barkingsford III and he’s slobbering on your toes, you might want to readjust. Take the time to get to know your dog, have fun with it, and let their personality guide you to the right decision. Remember, once it sticks, it’s there for a lifetime!

When it comes to making first impressions, we all as individuals like to make sure that it’s a good one. In fact, we often find ourselves working to make a great one. So, how come this idea sometimes seems to be lost when it comes to pet business owners making the mistake in thinking that their brand’s impression is really not that all important? Albeit a factor in one’s brand is based on the financial aspect of whether or not it can be afforded, what really is important is that you can’t afford to not invest in hiring a professional design service or designer to create a brand for you. After all, most businesses are willing to spend money on advertising and with the advent of the Internet and other various free sources in which to advertise, it’s become even more important to have a professionally created brand.

Perhaps the most important first impression a business will have is their logo. I have often seen pet businesses with logos that were either done quickly using Microsoft Paint™ or Publisher™ or done by a family friend or relative, for the sake of saving money on what otherwise might be deemed too expensive. Ironically, a business may find that they have to advertise more because their logo is weak or (worse) unprofessional, thereby giving the false impression that the business itself is not taking itself seriously or the service being offered is not that of any real quality. The same premise can also be applied to a website in which a specific service or message is being offered to a wide audience. If the website does not present the message and/or service in a clear and professional manner, then the website will have been created in vain.

Today’s technology gives your audience an incredible amount of information at their fingertips. What’s more, their attention span while perusing this information is next to nothing. This means that the very brand a pet business has to offer must be done well enough so that the viewer will be enticed to learn more about the business and can easily and quickly read/see the message at hand. In other words, design is very important and is the foundation on which a pet business can either grow or wither because their brand is perceived to be unprofessional or not very serious. One such business offering services as well as catering to just the pet industry, is Sniff Design Studio. Their services range from logo design to web site design and hosting, as well as re-design if needed. Since they cater to pet businesses you can be certain that they will have a solid understanding your unique needs.

If first impressions often lend themselves to be lasting impressions, then a business should definitely be willing to invest in something that people tend to make an immediate decision on. That investment could be the difference between a potential customer staying or leaving, so having a professional-looking brand is very important. Hire a professional designer or design service to create a fabulous and professional brand. You will most certainly not regret the decision; what’s more you will have full confidence of knowing that your impression will be a respected one.

Some ‘Before and After’ Pet Logo Design Examples:

Note the difference between the before and after look for these pet logo designs. You will notice their is a distinct difference in how your perception of the brand changes.

On Thursday December 8th 2011, Rochester, NY will be taking part in the first ever ROC the Day, for 24 hours of online community giving. Powered by the United Way of Greater Rochester, ROC the Day joins other communities across the country that have held one-day fundraisers, but this will be the first of its kind for New York State.

Rochester is already known as a generous community, so show your pride! According to Anne Kress, United Way Board Member and President of Monroe Community College,”The Greater Rochester region continues to set itself apart from other areas across the country as one of the most caring, giving communities. This one-day giving event will allow everyone in our community a chance to be a part of something historic…”

Every hour throughout ROC the Day, one ROCstar donor will be chosen to receive an additional $500 added to their gift for the not-for-profit of their choice. Community members can enter their email address at ROCtheDay.org to sign up for a reminder to give and become a ROCstar on December 8. Donations can be made from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on December 8.

Log on to www.roctheday.org  and help out your favorite non-profits. Choose as many as you want, there are some great organizations who would love the holiday help. For all our dog-lover fans, here’s a list of this year’s participating non-profits who focus on dogs: Animal Service League; G.R.A.S.P.; Greyhound Adoption of Greater Rochester; Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester; Nuts for Mutts Rescue; Pitty Love Rescue. For a complete list and to learn more about ROC the Day,  check out their website.  Any updates on ROC the Day will be posted via their Facebook page or on Twitter via #ROCtheDay.