No, we don't sell that here.

I’ve been telling everyone I know for YEARS not to buy Blue Buffalo.

This is the short story:

A few years ago I took my sick cat, Ankh, to the vet. The vet and vet tech asked what I fed her. I told them Blue Buffalo. They looked like I had just told them I fed her razor blades and cyanide. They diagnosed her with pancreatitis and said that nearly all of the cats they’d been seeing lately with pancreatitis were being fed Blue Buffalo.  They gave her medicine and sent her home.  Two days later she had a seizure and died right in my arms. 

The day after she died Hannibal started displaying the same symptoms she had so I panicked hard and took him to the vet.  Got the same meds and the same diagnosis.  Luckily Hannibal survived.

I wish Ankh had survived. She was only ten and the best cat I’ve ever had. Literally the best and five years later I still cry when I think about her.

If you find yourself suddenly needing a TON of money for an emergency vet bill, it can be very stressful! Luckily, there are some things you can do to help your situation. Apply for Care Credit Financial Resources by US State YouCaring Fundraising National organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need Via The Humane Society Website http://www.bigheartsfund.org/ (Heart disease)

http://www.browndogfoundation.org/ (Medications)

http://caninecancerawareness.org/

http://www.catsincrisis.org/

http://www.dccfund.org/  The Dog & Cat Cancer fund

http://www.all-creatures.org/gcm/help-cf.html

http://www.imom.org/

http://www.joshualouis.org/

http://www.themagicbulletfund.org/ (cancer specific)

http://themosbyfoundation.org/ (dog specific)

http://www.onyxandbreezy.org/

http://www.paws4acure.org/

http://www.thepetfund.com/

http://www.petsofthehomeless.org/ (assistance for homeless)

https://www.riedelcody.org/ (cancer specific)

http://www.redrover.org/

http://www.rosesfund.org/

http://www.shakespeareanimalfund.org/

http://www.topdogfoundation.org/ (senior dog specific)

I realized I’ve never shared what may be my favorite story from working in pet care. (If I have, just play along and pretend this is the first time you’ve heard it.)

A dad and his kid (about 8 years old) come in to the fish section, looking for a “cheap” pet, bowl in hand. You know where this is likely going. Of course they ask about the goldfish, and I give my usual spiel about goldfish needing an actual huge tank or pond. AND THEY BOTH LISTEN. WHAT. The dad tells the kid they’ll just need to save up for a pet they can afford.

Well the kid still really wants *some*  kind of pet, he doesn’t care what it is. After a few seconds his eyes wander to our cricket bins, and he gets really excited.

“Dad, can I have a pet cricket? Please!” He turns to me, “Can I put a cricket in a bowl?”

Trying not to laugh, I tell him sure, but the cricket will probably jump/crawl out if there’s no lid, so I take them over to the kritter keepers and explain, I dunno, general cricket care.

The dad is a really good sport about this, and so they buy a kritter keeper, some decor for the cricket to climb on, and those water crystals, on the condition that I sell them a nice quiet female cricket. Probably $15 on the luckiest feeder cricket ever.

Myxomatosis in America

Myxomatosis is an endemic disease found in wild European rabbits. Rabbit owners in the UK have been aware of this for years, and in the UK pet rabbits are vaccinated against it. Myxo is mainly transmitted via mosquito bite, so outdoor rabbits are more susceptible (but as we all know it’s hard to keep mosquitoes out of your house).

Americans have not had to worry about this disease in the past, but it has now been found in America (likely due to rabbits being imported from the Europe or Australia [where it was introduced intentionally to try and reduce the wild rabbit population]). For now, it has only been seen in California, but it will likely spread across North America over the next few years.

You cannot vaccinate your rabbit against myxomatosis in America as of yet- even though this vaccine is used in the UK there is currently not enough market for drug companies to approve it here. As the disease spreads and pet owners start demanding it, it will likely become available.

Horded ducks see water for the first time

> That was heart warming, thanks!

> “NOO I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SWIM!!!…. wait, this is built in? well now I feel silly..”

> Who the heck hoards ducks?

> That music was the best.

> Beautiful video, thanks for sharing this gorgeous moment for those ducks.

> Love the way they stop as a group right at the waters edge as if to say “NO THANKS!”

> “Oh wow! I’m like a boat! You guys! Hey! You have to try this! I’m like a boat!”

Hey all! It’s been a long time since I’ve updated here–I’ve been in a cave working away on my second year film! Here it is! It’s about dogs and friendship.