Thank you to everyone that participated and contributed to the First Annual Mutt Strut, it was a huge success!

PhilaPets alone raised over $3,000 to help the homeless animals of Philadelphia via the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

There is a lot to do in Philadelphia this month with your dog. Check out the events section below for just a sampling. Hope to see you at one of these upcoming events!

Smile!

Want to show off your pets? Just send us their pictures and we will make them forever famous in our client gallery. Their image will also show in the upper left-hand corner when you login to my.philapets.com.

Showing off this month are Super Steve, Earl, Marley, and Addie.

PhilaPets News and Information

Recent Events

There has been a lot going on in the Philadelphia Animal Community as of late. PhilaPets has recently been involved in some wonderful events and it has been great to see our clients participate with us.

The Mutt Strut event last weekend raised over $44,000 to fund the activities of the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). There were over 400 people in FDR Park for the event which included the Mummers, some great music, and a man in a dog suit!?! Thank you to all the volunteers and coordinators for putting on this first annual event. Can't wait for next year!

Picture from the Mutt Stut.

The Carnivale of the Dogs was also a huge success! More then 10,000 people and their dogs stopped by Rittenhouse Square to take part in Commerce Bank's Third Annual event. PhilaPets.com was there to help with adoptable dogs from PAWS and were able to find nice homes for four dogs at the event and hopefully a few more afterwards.

Picture from the Carnivale of the Dogs.

Dog Running Service now available!

PhilaPets is partnering with Run Philly Dog Run, a local, innovative dog running service aimed at keeping your dog happy and healthy. If your dog is overweight, has trouble with muscle strength and/or joint stability, has behavioral problems, or just has lots of extra energy, then call today. Run Philly Dog Run wants to help you keep your dog physically and psychologically fit!

Running services can be scheduled online, by phone, or email, just like and of the other PhilaPets.com services.

For more information, or to schedule a free running consultation, please email us at run@philapets.com.

See our Web site for more information

Pet-Friendly Events

What: Schuylkill River Park Fall Festival
When: Saturday October 13, 2007 [11:00am - 3:00pm]
Where: Taney / Markward Park 26th & Pine Streets, Philadelphia, PA Map

It is time again for the Schuylkill River Park annual Fall Festival! This year is going to be bigger and better then ever!

Events include: music, raffle, crafts, food, games, pumpkin sale, and lots of fun!

View the event flyer for more information.

What: Locust Point- Dog Costume Parade & Party!
When: Saturday October 20, 2007 [12:00pm]
Where: Locust Point 2429 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA Map

Locust Point is sponsoring a Dog Costume Parade & Party! on Saturday October 20th and Noon (rain or shine).

There will be a costume parade, fall fashion show, complimentary refreshments and music, pet photos, a pet psychic, and dog trainer and behaviorist, Mary Remer.

Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.

View the event flyer for more information.

What: Pug-O-Ween
When: Saturday October 27, 2007 [10:00am - 12:00pm]
Where: Schuylkill River Dog Park (Large Run) 25th & Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, PA Map

If you have never been before, you are missing out on the amazing event of Pug-O-Ween!

Pugs from near and far gather each year right before Halloween to put on their best costumes and socialize. Even if you don't have a pug, this is worth the trip!

See pictures from last year's event.

See the Philadelphia Pug Meetup Group for more information.

What: Tails on 12th
When: Saturday November 10, 2007 [11:00am - 4:00pm]
Where: 12th Street Gym 204 S. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107 Map

12th Street Gym and Greater Philly Tails Magazine are joining forces to present the 2007 Tails on 12th Pet Expo!

Thinking of adopting a furry companion? Want to learn more about keeping your current pet happy and healthy?

Bring all your friends to enjoy lots of vendors with cool pet and human stuff, some great presentations and prizes from local businesses, light refreshments, and the change to meet and greet some wonderful animals!

No tickets ore reservations are needed, it is totally free!

View the event flyer for more information.

Pet Health

Raisin the Alarm

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56 pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix who ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1 AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7 AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me—had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give IV fluids at 1 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

See the full story and explanation from Snopes.com

Grieving and Pet Loss

Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone that has lost a member of their family. I wanted to pass along the following article to help with the grieving process.

As a veterinarian, I have learned that when we loose a pet we loose a member of the family. Most of us grieve greatly when this occurs. It doesn’t matter if the pet was a mouse or a mastiff – grief is independent of size. Some animals are lost due to accidents when they are young and in good health while others die after a prolonged illness. Whatever the case, grief and sadness are normal responses to loss.

See the full article on PetStyle.com.

Pet Tech

Your Pet’s Essential Information, Compactly Stored

Reprint from New York Times by Roy Furchgoti

Your pet may not be able to tell people that it is lost and needs medical attention, but a flash drive hanging from the collar might.

KoogaPet is selling a tag in which the pet’s owner and its veterinarian store an animal’s personal information and medical records on a USB drive that measures less than 1 by 1/2 inches.

When the tag is slipped into the U.S.B. slot of a computer, it directs the user to the KoogaPet.com site, where the animal’s records are backed up. Users can also call a phone number on the tag to retrieve a pet’s information.

The tags are sold on the company’s Web site for $30 and a $2-a-month charge. KoogaPet says it is the smallest USB pet tag on the market, a feat it achieved by leaving the tag’s electronic contacts exposed. The company says contacts will not corrode unless exposed to seawater for long periods.

For extra help in directing a lost pet home, customers can use the company’s Web site to make low-tech posters to tack onto telephone poles.

Visit the KoogaPet.com Web site.