Thank You for Caring for Cats!

 

"We are only one month into the 2011 Year of the Cat (YOC) campaign and already we have made significant progress!" says Judi Cannon, Collaboration Manager Care for Cats. "Reports about the Year of the Cat have appeared in dozens of newspapers, websites and other media outlets in the past four weeks. As a ‘behind-the-scenes’ member of the Care for Cats Committee, I extend a heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone involved with this important project for making this progress possible."

In the months leading up to the official YOC launch on January 5th, Canada’s companion animal industry rallied together in an amazing spirit of collaboration and commitment. Although we are still in the early stages of the program, all indicators are that we are moving in the right direction. Our combined efforts are creating a heightened awareness about the plight of cats in our communities and the industry is combining resources to insure a successful project. Well done!

Wackiest Pet Names of 2010

For many pet owners, the names 'Max' and 'Bailey' may sound mundane and  simply boring. In order to pay homage to those who take pride in their pets’ unconventional names, Veterinary Pet Insurance set out for the third year in a row to find the 50 most unusual dog and cat names in the United States.

VPI employees selected the most unusual dog names from the company’s database of more than 470,000 insured pets, and narrowed them down by voting for the 50 most unusual names in each category.

Some of the funny names for dogs included: Pickle Von Corndog, Bettie Poops and Virginia Woof!

Wacky cat names were Bing Clawsby, Cleocatra and Chairman Meow.

Does your pet have a funny name?
Share it with PetLynx EZBits followers!
Comment below or send us an email.

Read more funny pet names HERE.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Did you miss the 'Cat Crazed' Documentary on CBC?

As a proud sponsor of Care for Cats and the 2011 Year of the Cat initiative, PetLynx Corporation encourages people in the community and those working in the companion animal industry  to become part of the conversation to change public perceptions about cats.

To gain insight into the magnitude of the cat overpopulation crisis in Canada watch the CBC TV Doc Zone special 'Cat Crazed' on line

Interested in being part of the solution to the cat overpopulation crisis? Participate in the 2011 Year of the Cat initiative.

Learn about the International Summits for Urban Animal Strategies.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Companion Animal Industry Rallies Together to Tackle Cat Overpopulation Crisis

2011 is declared ‘The Year of the Cat’ —
launching a nation-wide campaign
to encourage people to treat cats like dogs

Conversations about the cat crisis in Canada that started at the International and Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies have evolved into an unprecedented national campaign to tackle the cat overpopulation crisis and raise the social status and value of cats in our communities.

At the 2009 Summits for Urban Animal Strategies (ISUAS), Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien, one of only four Board Certified Feline Specialists in Canada, was one of the featured speakers. She showcased a successful Year of the Cat education campaign created by the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA. Enthused by the support she received at the ISUAS and the Regional Summits, Dr. O’Brien agreed to become the spokesperson for a national Care for Cats committee. The Year of the Cat campaign is the committee’s first project. Coincidentally, 2011 is officially the Vietnamese Year of the Cat.

A Happy Holiday HomeSafe Story

Max, our 13-year-old Shepherd/Husky-cross, ran away from home on December 17th. The last time we saw him, he was running toward the bush behind our home. My partner and I followed what we thought were Max's tracks through the fields and bush for two hours without setting eyes on our dog.

Our search was was very frustrating. We eventually become separated ... and, miles from home, I fell in the frozen field and sustain a knee injury. I was driven home by a kind woman whose backyard I finally found myself in.

As soon I returned home I posted a missing dog report on PetLynx. Then, I spent a very long, very sad weekend thinking that old Max  -- who's sight and hearing are very poor -- had either frozen to death or may have been attacked by coyotes.

My partner never gave up hope that Max would find his way home. Eventually, he did .... but not on his own!

A school teacher had spotted Max walking down the middle of the highway, being dodged and honked at by passing traffic. She loaded him into her car and took him to the Dundas Animal Hospital were they sheltered him and searched for his owner. They found our report on Petlynx and called me Monday morning.

We are so grateful to ...
the woman who drove me home when I hurt my leg,
the teacher who rescued Max off the highway,
the people at Dundas Animal Clinic who cared for Max,
and the people at PetLynx for helping Max get home ... safe!

You are all truly Christmas angels and we cannot thank you enough!!!!

        Merry Christmas

        Susan and Max

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Injured Dog Struggles to Raise Litter of Five: Four Puppies and One Kitten

At  PetLynx  Corporation we LOVE happy endings! So we are thrilled to share this amazing story from Edmonton, Alberta, of how love and family are important .... especially at Christmas!

She was a young, homeless single mom trying to raise her litter of puppies, but true to the spirit of the season there was room for one more...

The badly injured  German Shepherd-cross was caring for her four newborn puppies — and a kitten — on a central Alberta reserve when she was found by rescue volunteer Criss Gerwin.

Gerwing took the entire family to the Edmonton Humane Society, where veterinarians thought they'd have to amputate the mother dog's bad leg. But local vet, Dr. Milton Ness, Capilano Veterinary Clinic, volunteered to do a special surgery that saved her hind quarter.

The dog is expected to fully recover.  She, her puppies and her kitten may soon be available for adoption. Her new name -- Esperanza -- bodes well for her and her furry family's future — it means "hope" in Spanish.

Check out this heart-warming rescue story in the Winnipeg Free Press

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Dog Saves Human

In the spirit of love and compassion that is the foundation of the Christmas season, we share the following adoption story as a way to acknowledge and thank people across Canada who work tirelessly to rescue and re-home lost, abandoned and abused animals.

In the companion animal industry we always talk about humans adopting animals... but in many cases it is the animals who give unconditionally of their love and are our salvation. Enjoy this adoption story from an dog's point of view! 

Merry Christmas from PetLynx Corporation

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY. 

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

Petsecure Ensures BC SPCA's Adopted Pets are 'All taken care of'

PetLynx Corporation is please to share some exciting news from one of our  industry partners!

On November 29, 2010, Petsecure pet insurance and the BC SPCA announced a new partnership that will provide all cats and dogs adopted through the BC SPCA with a six-week trial of pet insurance through Petsecure's Adoptsecure Program.

Each pet adopted from any of the 36 BC SPCA branches across British Columbia will go home with a trial of Petsecure pet insurance for accidents and illness valued at up to $500.

Cats need our help ... this is the help they need!

THE OPPORTUNITY: Care for Cats and the Year of the Cat are the first major initiatives resulting from ideas born at the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. This national program will enable all sectors of the companion animal industry to work together to tackle the cat overpopulation crisis while raising the social status and value of cats in our communities.

Care for Cats is a long-term project that will respond to the cat overpopulation crisis by creating and distributing public education programs and support materials, encouraging community collaboration across all industry sectors; providing accurate resources; and collecting and evaluating national metrics to measure success.

  We cannot expect to completely solve the cat crisis in a single year. Care for Cats was formed ... Year of the Cat is its first project.
Launch date: January 2011.

Happy, Healthy Cat Photo Contest!

At PetLynx Corporation we know that cats are much-loved and valued members of your family. So we want to share this good news about an exciting new photo contest!

America’s Golden Girl Betty White is joining forces with Sergeant’s® Pet Care Products and Morris Animal Foundation for the Happy, Healthy Cat Photo Contest.

The contest celebrates Morris Animal Foundation’s annual campaign to bring attention to feline health and features the wide range of products from Sergeant’s Pet Care that promote happier, healthier  lives for cats.

The contest runs October 26 to December 15, 2010. Enter at: sergeants.com

Tips to Keep Dogs HomeSafe

It is good to know what to do when you lose your dog ... but it is better to do your best to prevent your pet from getting lost in the first place!

Here are some valuable tips from PetLynx Corporation and the American Kennel Club:

Concerned About Pet Overpopulation?

Consider "Fixing 'em while they're young"

At PetLynx Corporation we are committed to ensuring all pets have HomeSafe homes. That's why we want to share this importance resource addressing the topic of pediatric spaying and neutering of puppies and kittens. This could very well be a big part of the solution to North America's homeless pet overpopulation problem!

PetSmart Charities has an educational video that will help reduce homeless pet overpopulation by training veterinarians on how to perform spay/neuter surgeries on puppies and kittens as small as two pounds and as young as 6-8 weeks old.

Every Home Needs a Harvey!

This creative video may be promoting the power of television advertising ...

but at PetLynx Corporation we felt it does double-duty by promoting adoptions from animal shelters!

Too bad every 'Harvey' can't get this kind of promotion ...

so that all homeless companion animals could be HomeSafe!

Find out how you can help a homeless animal this year!

Check out Iams Homes4the Holidays.

Announcing the 2010 Summit Award Winners!

CALGARY, ALBERTA, 18 OCTOBER 2010: Close to 100 delegates and guests gathered at the beautiful Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise, Alberta, on Friday, October 15th, to celebrate the achievements of their colleagues at the 5th Annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies (ISUAS) gala awards night.

Summit Awards were presented in a dozen different categories, representing all four sectors of the companion animal industry including:

    •    animal control and legislative enforcement,
    •    animal welfare,
    •    animal health and wellness, and
    •    animal services.

Winners were determined by current ISUAS delegates and alumnus in good standing who cast their ballots via a confidential computerized voting system.

Support Iams Homes 4 the Holidays Event

Do you 'LIKE' the idea of helping homeless animals?

Then PetLynx encourages you to help Iams -- one of our valued industry partners -- reach their goal of finding homes for 1.5 million animals during the annual Iams Homes4theHolidays event.

In addition to sponsoring a North America-wide adoption drive, Iams will be donating up to 2 million bowls of food to the North American shelter network via their social media campaign!

You can help by:

• Adopting a pet from an animal shelter.
• Clicking "Like" on Iams' Facebook page to donate food.
• Sharing the Facebook page with friends and family ... so they can click "Like" to donate food, too!

Visit the Iams Facebook page to support the campaign by commenting or clicking 'LIKE'.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

The 2101 International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies is on now!

THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED SPONSORS!

CLICK HERE for more info on the International Summit For Urban Animal Strategies.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

PetLynx and Partners Launch HomeSafe™ Canada Initiative

 The "official" launch date is March 2011 ... but we are so excited we can't wait to tell you about the new HomeSafe RDOG and RCAT initiatives! This innovative new program is a result of months of collaborative effort between:

• PetLynx Corporation 
• Canadian Kennel Club
• Dogs in Canada Magazine
• Iams and
• Petsecure

Although each of these companies represent a different sector of the companion animal industry, when it comes to our animal companions, we all share a common goal ...

You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks!

PetLynx Corporation's Industry Partners ....

Iams and the Canadian Kennel Club Kick-Off Third Annual Rdog Week
 

TORONTO /CNW/ - The day goes to the dogs as Iams, in support of the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), celebrates Rdogs - Responsible Dog Owner Groups - across the country. Starting September 27, dog owners from coast-to-coast are invited to discover the joys and responsibilities of being a pet parent during the week long campaign aimed at educating Canadians on being responsible dog owners and raising awareness about the role canine companions play in our communities.

Announcing the 2010 National Urban Animal Survey

PetLynx Corporation established the National Urban Animal Survey (NUAS) in 2007 to fill the void we perceived for an evidence-based approach to decision making in the companion animal industry.  In 2010, we are once again moving to change the paradigm for information and intelligence in this industry.

PetLynx is pleased to announce that Socialstruct Advisory Group has been contracted to assist us to develop the next generation of Market Services and Intelligence tools for this industry.  Using the largest pool of subscribers and working with our industry partners we will prepare a National Urban Animal Report each November.

The Dog is Fine ... But Beware of the Driver!

At PetLynx, our goal is to help get (and keep) pets HomeSafe ... and we were surprised to learn that a recent study revealed that 2/3 of dog owners admit to engaging in distracting activities with their dogs while driving!

Dogs are wonderful companions and can be fun to bring along for a car ride. However, this can mean added distractions for the driver. A recent survey conducted by the American Auto Association (AAA) asked dog owners how often they drive with their dog and about their habits behind the wheel.

The survey found that drivers not only love to bring Fido along, but they also often engage in risky behaviors when man's best friend is along for the ride.