Sunday, October 11, 2009

Chicken Stew for Dogs

You'll want to prepare our chicken stew for dogs and serve it year-round. It's guaranteed to make your dogs go crazy with anticipation for dinnertime. And it's so darn easy to make and should take you only about 10 minutes to throw all the ingredients together!

There's no measuring of ingredients or real work involved. We have medium to large dogs in our household, so we don't cut the meat. Of course, you should cut the meat if you're cooking for small dogs.

* Chicken hearts and gizzards (two to four packs)
* Boneless skinless chicken thighs (large, family-sized pack)
* Chicken livers (two small tubs) - optional
* Fresh or frozen broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrot blend
* Fresh or small package of frozen french-style green beans
* Small or large package of frozen chopped spinach (add the amount you desire)
* Cut sweet potatoes (can buy fresh and already cut and ready to use) - optional
* One cut fresh apple minus core and seeds (optional)
* Diced celery (optional)
* Two 28-ounce cans of pealed, diced tomatoes (use low sodium brands, if possible)
* Dried (or fresh) parsley
* Garlic powder (not garlic salt)
* Dried rosemary
* Dried sage
* Thyme
* Cinnamon

Once all the ingredients are in a stew pot (add enough, preferably filtered, water to cover 3/4 of the pot's contents). Remember, frozen vegetables will yield more water. When we use frozen vegetables, we use only 1 to 1-1/2 of the 28-ounce cans full of water. Cook till chicken thighs are thoroughly cooked. Completely cool before feeding to your dogs.

Other ingredients you can add instead of or in addition to those listed are yellow squash, but NO onions.

Note: You can add some of the stew to any kibble you already feed your dogs to eliminate stomach upset. Or cook brown rice and serve the stew over brown rice. In our house, our dogs regularly eat raw vegetables and raw and cooked meat, so they're used to all the stew ingredients.

This recipe yields generous portions for at least four nights' dinner.

We'll bet your dogs are going to love their chicken stew!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

October 2009 Pet Halo Award: Deborah Howard (CAPS)

Deborah Howard, president of Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), is our October 2009 Pet Halo Award winner.

CAPS is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals. CAPS' foremost concern is the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs. Founded in 1992, CAPS actively addresses this issue through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.

CAPS defines a puppy mill as a "commercial breeding facility that mass-produces puppies for resale through pet shops or individuals."

In early 2004, I came to know Deborah Howard. Deborah assisted myself and hundreds of guardians of dogs that had been affected and/or died from the heartworm injectable "preventative" ProHeart 6. CAPS was instrumental in focusing media attention on what was happening to the dogs in over 39 states, leading the FDA to ask the manufacturer of ProHeart 6 to remove the drug from the market until it could be proven safe. (Note: In June 2008, ProHeart 6 was re-released onto the U.S. market, apparently without further safety studies being conducted; instead, relying on the drug's "success" in other countries.")

Our world would truly be a horrible place without Deborah Howard and CAPS. I am honored to call Deborah Howard my friend and have her organization as one of The Pet Guardian's nonprofit 501(c)(3) charities. Deborah is a guardian angel to companion animals everywhere.

If you want to help CAPS in its efforts to eliminate the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs, please make a tax-deductible donation to:

Companion Animal Protection Society
759 CJC Highway, #332
Cohasset, MA 02025

And please, PLEASE consider adopting your next animal companion from a shelter or rescue organization. Never purchase from a pet shop or over the Internet. Visit www.caps-web-org for more information about CAPS and puppy mill dogs.

Vaccinating Small Dogs: Risks Vets Aren't Revealing


Vaccinating Small Dogs: Risks Vets Aren't Revealing

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Make Pet Care More Affordable: Support the HAPPY Act


Immediate Action Needed by All U.S. Pet Parents: Help Make Pet Care More Affordable--Support the HAPPY Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.

Wouldn't you like a credit of up to $3,500 for your pet care expenses? Write your district's U.S. representative and let your voice be heard!

It's easy to find out who your U.S. representative is: Google U.S. representative for (your city and state -- and maybe you will need to add your ZIP Code). Contact me if you need help!

See the ASPCA site at http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/lobby-for-animals/here to learn more about the HAPPY Act and for the ASPCA's prewritten letter you can cut and paste to send to your congressman.

Don't delay! The animals need your help!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Pet Death: Beezer's Top Ten Reasons Not to Feel Guilty

As pet guardians, we are extremely hard on ourselves when our pets have passed on to the Rainbow Bridge. I wish I would have had this Top Ten list when I was grieving the death of my dogs Tasha and Niki. I would have read it probably a dozen times a day for God knows how many years. The guilt I felt from choosing a drug that took their lives and compromised my Casey's immune system for life was just unbearable.

Unfortunately, as a pet parent, your pet will die one day. I recommend printing Beezer's Top Ten list and keeping it in a safe place for that time in your life when you will need it.

BEEZER'S TOP TEN REASONS NOT TO FEEL GUILTY
(Compiled by Beezer, the Black Lab, from the Bridge and sent back to Earth.)

10. Jeez! If you're born, you die. Think about it, Dad.

9. Fear is the real enemy, not kidney disease. Fear is curable. I'm with you right now, just invisible. I'll be waiting at the Bridge when you arrive. Don't be afraid. Trust me.

8. Live with balance. The list of what went "right" with my life is so much bigger than the list of what went "wrong." My body died from kidney disease, but my spirit always soared because of you.

7. Honor my earthly life and memory. Does feeling guilty help you remember all our good times, adventures and mutual love?

6. Live with Presence! Don't despair about yesterday. Don't fear tomorrow. Otherwise, you'll miss out on the Gift of Today.

5. Thank you for taking my pain into your heart on the last day. I'm so proud of you for that selfless act.

4. Didn't you always forgive me when I made a mistake? I forgive you for any mistake you made during my illness. You made the best decisions possible with the information available at that time. All I took with me on my final earthly journey was our love. Please accept my forgiveness and release the guilt.

3. Pat yourself on the back in between crying. Your effort to treat me was a supreme act of humanity, love and compassion. Our relationship was never more meaningful than during my illness. Please recognize your character and commitment. I do.

2. Guilt is what you humans do to punish yourself for not being perfect.

1. You didn't have a cure for a fatal disease. My body stopped working because of this fatal disease, not because of something you did or did not do.

"Doug & the B Brothers"
c Doug Koktavy
May 1, 2005

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Combination Shots for Dogs: Weapons of Over-Vaccination


Combination Shots for Dogs: Weapons of Over-Vaccination

Yet another excellent article about vaccines, from Jan Rasmusen, national award-winning author of Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care, and consumer advocate for dog lovers. Be sure to subscribe to Jan's Truth4Dogs blog!

When it comes to the life of your dog, be safe, not sorry!

GoD And DoG by WJ Francisco

For those of you who value their dogs, enjoy this extremely touching You Tube video.