The doctors from “Housecat Housecall,” the cat reality show on Animal Planet, will answer five questions from local readers. Dr. Richard Goldstein and Dr. Karen Sueda are used to solving problems for cat owners.
E-mail your question to me, and I will select the best five to forward to them for their professional opinions. Who knows? If the question is good or unique enough, they may even want to feature your cat.
Is your look worth $1 million?
All American Pet Company has launched its Bow Wow Million Dollar Contest, which will award a grand prize of $1 million to the dog and owner who look the most alike. Upload a picture of you and your dog before July 26.
To find out more or to enter, visit www.bowwow million.com.
Shop to help shelters
And shopping is usually fun, but now you can help homeless animals.
A new Web site, www. bringpetshome.org, has information about pet care and safety, information about animal shelters, as well blogs, groups and open forums and also raises money for shelters. To raise money, online shoppers register at www.bringpetshome.org to select a shelter to support, then shop at one of 150 merchants. Each retailer donates a percentage of the purchase to Bring Pets Home. There is no additional cost to the consumer.
“Bring Pets Home is a great way for pet lovers to raise money to help homeless animals without ever leaving home — and at no cost to them,” said Linda Block, marketing director for HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service and Bring Pets Home.
“More pets are entering shelters, but donors’ purse strings have tightened,” she said. “Anyone can help by simply remembering to visit www.bringpetshome.org to click-through to a favorite online merchant whenever shopping online.”
The Web site says 100 percent of the money raised goes directly to animal shelters to provide food, shelter and medical treatment to pets in need.
To learn more, visit www. bringpets home.org.
Pets have style
An Associated Press-Petside.com poll has found that 50 percent of American pet owners say their animals are just as much a part of the family as any person in the household.
That’s no news to those of us who are caring and loving pet owners.
But the poll also says 43 percent of pet owners believe their cat or dog has its own sense of style. And one in five pet owners dress their pet.
Other facts include:
• Single women (66 percent) are more likely to consider a pet a family member. Only 46 percent of married women agree. For men, it’s 52 percent of single men and 43 percent of married men.
• 43 percent of pet owners feed their pets people food sometimes — 48 percent of dog owners and 40 percent of cat owners.
• 50 percent of dog owners have taken them on vacation — only 39 percent of cat owners took their pet along.
• More dogs than cats also get to go to work — 21 percent of dogs and only 14 percent of cats.
• But more cat owners sleep with their pets (36 percent) than dog owners (29 percent).
• It evens out when it comes to celebrating pet birthdays — 29 percent of dog owners and 26 percent of cat owners.
• 49 percent have given a pet a human name — the most common was Max.
For more information, visit www.petside.com/petspoll.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2248 or ldenger@Dayton DailyNews.com.
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