Pet Tales

That's one crazy cat!

By Beth J. Bates

Although I'm definitely a dog person, I've had a couple of cats in my life. My friend, Danielle, is a cat nut. She currently has three cats that essentially run her house. She talks about them like someone would talk about their kids. It's truly hilarious. Cats do some crazy things and a million thanks to Danielle for contributing to this post.

Continue reading "Feline Frenzies" »

The worst dog ever.

By Beth J. Bates

Ever have a pet that you loved to death, but was simply the naughtiest, most mischievous animal in the world? When we adopted Willy from the local shelter, he was quiet, well-mannered and so so sweet. What a scam. He is truly the worst dog ever.

Continue reading "Scoundrel? Scamp? Both! It's Willy!" »

Why do I have to pay for an adopted pet?

By Beth J. Bates

More likely than not, if you've adopted your pet you were asked to pay an adoption fee. These fees can range from around $50 to upwards of $350. To some folks, these fees are a little mysterious. I get asked questions like "Why do I have to pay for an adopted animal?" " Where does this money go?" "Why are puppies more expensive than adult dogs?"

The short answer is pure and simple - animal care. Let me de-construct these fees so that they make a little more sense and hopefully the need will become obvious.

Continue reading "Pet Adoption Fees Revealed" »

Locate a Lost Pet via GPS

By Beth J. Bates

I constantly worry about my dogs getting lost. Willy is an escape artist and gets out all the time. Luckily, we've always been able to find him, but I worry about the day that we don't. There are many ways to guard against losing your pet forever. IDs, microchipping and tattooing are among the most common.

Continue reading "Lost and Found...Quickly! " »

Enter him in WeTV.com's new pet contest!

By Beth J. Bates

We all think that our pets are cute -- but, let's face it -- some are cuter than others. (One of my dogs is downright ugly, but it only makes me love him more.) Well, pet lovers -- do I have a contest for you!

WeTV.com is hosting the fall's premier pet photo contest the "Picture Perfect" Pet Contest! Just by entering a photo of your handsome four-legged friend, you can win $5000 sponsored by Febreze! 

It's simple.  Find a fabulous photo of your pet or use our tips below to snap a pic. Upload your photo at WeTV.com. Vote and get everyone you know to vote. If your pet is deemed "picture perfect" you get $5000! (And, if you have loads of photos of your pet that you just can't resist sharing, you can upload a new one every day.  How easy is that?)

The contest ends on October 27, 2008, so enter today!

Here are a few handy tips for photographing your favorite pet:

• Use natural light.
• Focus on your pet's eyes.
• Kneel or sit at their level.
• Convey their character.
• Get a close-up shot.
• Surprise them.
• Be patient.
• Keep snapping.

And, as a bonus, here are a few links to articles that look at the steps in detail:

• Photographing Your Dog
• Pet Photography Tips
• Photographing Cats
• How to Photograph Your Pet
• Tips for Photographing Pets

So let's recap: Take a cute pic of your pet, submit it to WeTV.com, vote and win $5000!

Our blogger looks at the best new tools and accessories for curbing your dog.

By Beth Bates

I used to live in a condo: It was just me, my husband and three dogs. As most apartment or condo dwellers know, when you walk the dogs you have to pick up after them. Most of my condo neighbors were also dog owners and were pretty good about it.

Continue reading "Just Pick It Up" »

How do you know which vet is best?

By Beth Bates

I am in the process of finding a new veterinarian. As you know, I've got four dogs and vet visits can be pricey, so I want to be sure that my dogs are getting the best care possible. But how do you know whether one vet is better than another?

Since I work within the pet community, I get a lot of word-of mouth information about vets and health care with a little gossip mixed in. And I'm finding that it's almost more difficult to choose when you are getting so much information. So, here are some steps to help you through the process:

Continue reading "Choosing a Good Veterinarian" »

Eco-friendly ways to keep your pet safe and happy

By Beth Bates

I can admit that I drive an SUV and I only occasionally recycle. Shame on me. But as our environment changes and we become more and more aware of how our actions affect it, I'm finding that the little things do matter. I'm also leaning that it's pretty easy to help the earth simply by paying attention to what you buy for your pets.

Continue reading "How to Green Your Pets" »

A new online community supports pet owners and rescuers

By Beth Bates

I am so excited to announce that GoodDogz.org has launched a brand-new Website focused on engaging pet owners, adopters, and rescuers. We have moved from a static Website platform to a totally interactive one equipped with blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn Network, an online community, and more!

Continue reading "GoodDogz.org: New Site and a New Attitude" »

One fabulous company, Pawlux.com, is supporting animal welfare, a greener planet, and offers fabulous goods for your pet.

By Beth Bates

I use Twitter like a madwoman. Feel free to follow me to see what I'm up to. Through Twitter, I've met a lot of great people--political consultants, journalists, bloggers, and animal lovers. Recently, I've been chatting with Adam, Wendy, and their dog, Lola, from Pawlux.com. I love their mission and their support of the pet community, so I wanted to share what they are doing.

Continue reading "Paw Perfect" »