'Failed' Service Dog Takes up Surfing

Ricochet is a Golden Retriever who is now better known as 'Rip Curl Ricki!"

She was born to lead a life of service.... but, despite receiving the best possible training from the Puppy Prodigies Neonatal & Early Learning Program in San Diego, California, her penchant for chasing birds resulted in elimination from the program.

Rather than focus on what this dog couldn't do.... her trainer decided to focus on the dog's strengths and turned disappointment into a new direction. Ricki is now a surfing dog who not only helps the disabled, she also helps raise money for charity!

If you need inspiration to help you set new directions for the New Year, this video of Ricki riding the waves in the California surf is sure to bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes!

Setting Puppies & Kittens Up for Success

We all know that, without proper training, an adorable puppy can turn into less delightful adult dog - which helps explain why one in five puppies are abandoned before the age of two! New pet owners can feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of socializing, training, and caring for a puppy or kitten, and since more than one half of Canadian households (51 per cent) own a pet, a large part of the population faces these challenges every day. But new pet owners can feel more confident in their role thanks to the new free online resources, supposed by the good people at Purina Pet Care. Canadians can easily access pet-related information with the simple click of a mouse. For dogs: www.mypuppy.ca For cats: www.mykitten.ca They can even train their puppies by using the online interactive videos by award-winning dog trainer Kayl McCann. Kayl can speak with you about straightforward training techniques that highlight how easy it can be to train one's puppy or kitten (when you know what you're doing, of course).

Purina Health Care Extends Flu Coverage

With pets also vulnerable to the flu, PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance has announced that it has extended coverage for treatment of H3N8 (Dog Flu). Canine influenza is extremely contagious and, while humans are not affected by this flu strain, they can unknowingly pass it from an infected dog to an unaffected dog. Dog Flu can also be spread directly from dog to dog and via contaminated objects. Dogs in kennels, boarding facilities, or animal shelters, at dog shows, or in close proximity to other dogs are at a higher risk of contracting canine influenza. "If your dog is exposed to another dog that has the canine influenza virus, it is highly likely your dog will come down with the dog flu," says Dr. William H. Craig, DVM, Chief Medical and Underwriting Director of PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. "Pet owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus." The dog flu first emerged as a threat in 2004. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says canine influenza has now been detected in more than 30 states. DOG FLU SYMPTOMS:

• Similar to "kennel cough" (which is caused by the Bordetella organism, not the H3N8 virus)
• Fever
• An unproductive dry cough
• Runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy

Developing secondary bacterial pneumonia is the most serious consequence of Dog Flu and can cause death in extreme cases. "Dogs with canine influenza symptoms should receive prompt veterinary attention to determine the best treatment," says Craig. "If the symptoms are left untreated they can cause death." As with most medical treatments and care, prevention and treatment costs can sometimes be prohibitive. Pet health insurance like PurinaCare is committed to helping pet owners alleviate some of the uncertainty by knowing the treatment will be covered by one of the most trusted names in pet care. LEARN MORE

Dogs Drive Car Buying Decisions

North Americans' insatiable appetite to shower their beloved pets with accessories at home is now transitioning into the automobile. LeaseTrader.com, the nation’s most popular online car lease swap marketplace, reports a 67 percent increase in the number of customers who shop for a vehicle with pet needs in mind – an increase from 24 percent three years earlier.

But pet lovers today need to satisfy their desire for pet friendly features along with economic realities. Increasingly, LeaseTrader.com customers are trading large SUV leases in favor of smaller, more budget- conscious vehicles still considered pet-friendly. Since the beginning of 2008, LeaseTrader.com has seen this trend double and expects to see continued growth in this area.

“Hatchbacks and station wagons are filling the needs of pet owners looking for a little extra sportiness and space to fit the family pet,” says Gina Spadafori, Executive Editor of petconnection.com and dogcars.com. “The ability of the car industry to identify the needs of this growing subculture shows a new-found commitment to innovation and customer demand.”

Coping with Cold Viruses in Shelter Cats

New research reveals that simple changes in shelter housing may inhibit the spread of feline upper respiratory infection (URI)--and save the lives of cats. This infection, which is similar to the common cold in humans, is cited among the top reasons for euthanasia of cats in shelters. Research funded by Morris Animal Foundation's Happy Healthy Cat Campaign suggests that stressful conditions dramatically increase the likelihood of infection. Fortunately, housing modifications reduce stress and decrease the spread of infection--making the difference between life and death for a shelter cat. With Morris Animal Foundation funding, Dr. Kate Hurley, the director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California-Davis, is assessing disease incidence, cage layout and sanitation methods to determine how shelter housing affects stress and stress-related illnesses. Her research shows that prevalence of feline URI varies wildly across the country--with anywhere from 5 percent to 60 percent of shelter cats getting sick. Environmental risk factors explain some of the variation, and so far, shelters with the lowest URI rates seem to be those with high-quality housing for cats. "Our hope is that we will find something that not only helps cats stay healthy but also helps them get out of shelters alive," Hurley says. Learn more about the research and the symptoms of URI. Source: PR Newswire

PetSmart Charities National Adoption Event

As a heartwarming start to the holiday season, it was great to hear that 16,933 pets found their lifelong, loving homes during the PetSmart Charities Holiday National Adoption Event, held in all 1,145 PetSmart stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, November 13-15. More than 2,000 animal-welfare agencies throughout the United States and Canada participated and presented adoptable pets at every PetSmart Charities in-store adoption center. The Canadian National Adoption Event was proudly sponsored by PetSmart. "It's an amazing way to kick off the holiday season," said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc. "During our four National Adoption Weekends in 2009, we have helped find homes for more than 66,000 pets." In the U.S. alone, an estimated 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters each year, but 3 million to 4 million never find homes. During the last 14 years, the PetSmart Charities Adoption Centers have found homes for nearly 4 million pets. For every minute that the Adoption Centers are open, one pet's life is saved. "PetSmart Charities strives to raise awareness about the benefits of adopting rather than purchasing a pet," added Della Maddalena. "We are so happy to have exceeded our event goal and helped so many pets. We hope people will always consider adoption when they add a pet to their lives."