Spring Naturals year long program honoring pet rescue heroes!

We love Spring Naturals, an all NEW line of premium dinners and treats for dogs. Years of research have gone into making Spring Naturals the perfect meal solution for your canine companions, with no need overlooked. Real, fresh meat is always the first ingredient, and meat is always followed by a long list of healthy, holistic and premium ingredients. Not only are all of the foods from Spring Naturals in the “Super-Premium” category of dog foods, but the people behind the company are committed to giving back the animal welfare community nationwide. When we first met the team at Spring Naturals, they were kind enough to sponsor our fundraising campaign, Collars For A Cause, with donations, exposure, and more. We’re looking forward to many more exciting promotions with Spring Naturals, and can’t wait to try ALL of the new products. So far, some of the LIFE+DOG pack love their new turkey dinners. 

This month, Spring Naturals kicks off “Spring Into Action” – a campaign honoring everyday heroes working to improve the lives of animals in need. This program works to support animal advocates while encouraging others to become more active in pet rescue.

The “Spring Into Action” program will run through May 2013, each month honoring a different pet rescue hero making a difference in their community. To nominate an everyday hero submit a photo and 50-100 words on how the nominee is a positive example in the animal community through the Spring Naturals Facebook “Spring Into Action” tab (click here) or email springintoaction@springnaturals.com. Stories must be no longer than 100 words and accompanied by a photo less than 3MB (as a .JPG, JPEG, or .GIF). Only one photo per entry will be accepted.

Each valid entry will be posted on the Spring Naturals “Spring Into Action” tab for Spring Naturals Facebook followers to vote. The nominee with the most votes at the end of the month will be the month’s winner. Following the year long campaign, the 12 heroes selected as the monthly winners will be featured once more on the Spring Naturals “Spring Into Action” Facebook tab, so their friends and followers can vote for the hero they feel should receive the Grand Prize.

Monthly Prize Winners will receive a 26 lb. bag of Spring Naturals dog dinners plus a 6 oz. pouch of Spring Naturals treats – a $75 retail value.

The Grand Prize Winner’s favorite animal rescue organizationwill receive $2,000 worth (retail value) of Spring Naturals dog dinnersplus a $500 cash donation. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced in June 2013.

In homage of this program, Spring Naturals is sponsoring a 1.5 year-old mixed breed female, appropriately named Spring, from Project Rescue Chicago (www.projectrescuechicago.org). Spring was recently adopted and is living in Chicago with her new family. The brand will continue to provide dinners and treats to feed the pup for one year. By sponsoring Spring the dog, Spring Naturals hopes to encourage others to do good deeds for animals in need and support pet adoption.

Follow Spring Naturals at www.facebook.com/springnaturals or on www.twitter.com/springnaturals. To learn more please visitwww.springnaturals.com or call 866-868-0874.

About Spring Naturals

Spring Naturals is a fresh, new family of nutritionally balanced dinners and treats for dogs. Each carefully blended recipe is made with real meat, whole vegetables, whole fruits and whole grains. Real meat, poultry or fish is the number one ingredient. Then whole chickpeas, green peas and eggs are added for a unique blend of high-quality proteins. And for every pet parent’s peace of mind, each recipe is sourced and made by a family-owned company right here in the USA.

This fresh approach to feeding pets hasn’t been ignored. Pet Business, a leading pet products trade magazine, recently named Spring Naturals the winner in the dog food category in their prestigious 2011 Industry Recognition Awards.

The first place winner wins a 10 pound box of LOVE from The Honest Kitchen. All runners-up will receive a complementary copy of LIFE+DOG!

First Place:

Runners-Up:

Lucky for you, LIFE+DOG‘s Issue No. 10 is available as a permanent sample issue online! Click the Kym Johnson cover below to be taken to the LIFE+DOG digital edition site, viewable on Mac/PC, iPad and tablet devices. A monthly digital edition (for individual purchase and subscription) will be available on May 1, 2012.

Click Here for the Online Edition

Issue 10 Features:

- Interview and fashion photo shoot with Dancing with the Stars‘ Kym Johnson at the Del Marcos Hotel in Palm Springs

-Behind the scenes photos on Mercy’s arrival to America and feature story on Nowzad Dogs Afghanistan rescue.

-omg! Yahoo’s Kristen Aldridge

-Photo editorial on Winery Dogs of Oregon

-How your dog can inspire you to live in the present moment

-Personalized care for your canine companions

-Better Buddies

-Happy Hounds Massage

-Jo and Bowdon Hunt,

and MORE!!!

The first place winner wins a FURminator FURdry towel and skin bar from Dermagic!

First Place:

Runners-Up:

The first place winner wins a set of PetCakes, including refills and a bone-shaped pan!

FIRST PLACE:

All runners-up receive a complimentary copy of LIFE+DOG!

Pinups for Pitbulls raises funds throughout the calendar year to host, sponsor and participate in educational events and seminars across the country, where they present on a variety of topics – including responsible pet ownership, Breed Specific Legislation and the history of the American Pit Bull Terrier and pit bull type dogs.

The deadline to submit an application is April 2, 2012 and more information on how to do so can be found here. Women of all ages, races and sizes are encouraged to apply and no previous modeling experience is necessary. The submission is fee is $50, and those chosen to be featured in the 2013 calendar will be photographed in Philadelphia, PA by the award winning pinup photographer Celeste Giuliano.

1st Place
This is Charlie, after being shot in the head, he was rehabilitated and placed with a loving forever family. Love you, Charlie!

2nd Place Winners

Runners-Up:

Presidents and Their Canine Confidantes

“Any man that does not like dogs, and does not want them about, does not deserve to be in the White House.” –President Calvin Coolidge

We all know that dogs are man’s—and woman’s—best friend. We rely on our canines to keep us calm, show us unconditional love and support, and to remind us to live for the day and celebrate each moment. We live hectic, stressful lives and our dogs gently keep us moving forward, taking on each challenge like a Kong toy filled with peanut butter. It’s not always easy, but somehow that wagging tail and “brand new day” perspective that our dogs wake to each morning can give us the motivation we need to get out there and live our lives.

Now imagine that the world’s problems are literally resting on your shoulders. You are a fixture in the media, and all of your decisions are scrutinized by everyone from Barbara Walters to aunt Mable. You wake to a day of life-altering decisions, must put others ahead of yourself, and you see the best and worst of humanity in a neverending slideshow of tragedy and triumph. You are the “main man” . . . the Commander in Chief . . . the President of the United States. And you need a dog more than anyone in the world.

Few understand the benefit of a canine confidante more than a president. You can see it in their interactions with their four-legged family members, and since JFK first requested that his dogs greet him at the helicopter when he returned home, we have seen priceless images of the world’s most powerful men excitedly embracing their canine companions. It’s these moments, captured in film and print, that remind us that we, as dog lovers, have something in common with the men who have shaped our country’s history. We all breathe, we all bleed, and we all love dogs.

As Harry Truman reportedly said, “You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.” It looks like his advice seems to have been taken by every president in modern times, and most before that. In fact, 26 of our nation’s 44 presidents have shared the office with their canine companions, many becoming almost as famous as their masters.

Our nation’s current Top Dog, Bo Obama, is often seen frolicking on the White House lawn, strolling through the West Wing, or walking alongside his—and our—leader. When Bo arrived in Washington, he was welcomed with open arms and was seamlessly integrated into life in the most famous house in america. Many have come before Bo, and their impact on each president and to our country is celebrated by most Americans. Here is a glimpse into the lives of some of our favorite and most recognizable president-pooch teams.

Franklin and Fala Roosevelt

Perhaps the most noted and famous Scottish Terrier in the world, Fala joined president Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940 and was by his side from that moment on. Fala became a large part of the president’s public image, spurring a huge demand throughout the country for the breed. And although Eleanor Roosevelt initially thought the White House an inappropriate place for a puppy, Fala quickly settled into life as the president’s most trusted and valued advisor.

Roosevelt had pets before Fala, but he became his friend in a way no other pet had. Fala followed the president everywhere. They ate together and slept in the same room. Roosevelt even insisted that he be the only person to feed Fala after learning that White House kitchen staff had been slipping him treats, landing the young pup in the hospital with intestinal problems. From the day Fala returned home, until his master’s death, Roosevelt fed Fala…by hand.

So strong was FDR’s love and admiration for Fala that when his critics began concocting stories about the dog or the president’s preferential treatment of him, he publicly went on the defensive, delivering the famous Fala Speech during an address to the Teamsters Union in 1944. “These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons,” said Roosevelt. “No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family doesn’t resent attacks, but Fala does resent them. He has not been the same dog since. I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself—such as that old, worm-eaten chestnut that I have represented myself as indispensable. But I think I have a right to resent, to object to libelous statements about my dog.”

Just five years after Fala joined the president, Roosevelt passed away. Fala attended the burial service, barking after each shot of the gun salute and performing the late president’s favorite “Fala trick” as he “rolled over” in the grass one last time for his beloved master during the hymn.

Gerald and Liberty Ford

Few dogs paint the image of all-american better than the Golden Retriever. In the fall of 1974, an eight-month-old Golden Retriever puppy named Liberty moved into the White House as the newest member of President Gerald Ford’s family. The President received the young pup as a gift from his daughter Susan and White House photographer David Kennerly. Wanting to surprise the president and not alert the press, the two carefully coordinated with Liberty’s breeder, trying to keep the new owner’s identity secret. This proved difficult as the breeder wanted to ensure that the dog would be cared for properly, even asking if the new owner had a “steady job.” He was ultimately convinced that the dog was going to a good home, and Liberty, then named Streaker, was on her way to Washington.

Ford adored his new companion and the two were often photographed in the Oval Office, where they also practiced their regular obedience sessions. Liberty’s training included a special trick the president would often use to end meetings. When Ford wanted to end a conversation, he would signal Liberty and she would go to greet the guest and begin wagging her tail, creating a break in the conversation and, ultimately, an end to the meeting.

In September of 1975, Liberty gave birth to eight puppies. One night, just before she was to give birth, Liberty woke the president to take her outside for what they called a “business trip.” After their brief trip to the South Lawn, the two returned to find the elevator turned off and decided to take the stairs, somehow unknowingly slipping past the Secret Service and into the stairwell. When they reached the second floor, they found the door locked. With her belly nearly touching the floor, Ford and Liberty continued up to the third floor and once again found themselves locked out. as Betty Ford remarked in her memoir, The Times of My Life, “There they were, a president and his dog, wandering around in a stairwell in the wee small hours of the morning, not able to get back to bed.”

After the birth of Liberty’s pups, there was much public demand for photos of the regal Retriever, and a rubber stamp of her paw print was made to “autograph” her image, a first for a presidential pet. The Fords kept one of the puppies, Misty, and another one of Liberty’s offspring later became a guide dog for the blind. Liberty solidified her position in pop culture, along with her famous father, as the subject of countless parodies on Saturday Night Live by actor Chevy Chase.

Ronald and Rex Reagan

Rex Reagan, the Cavalier King Charles companion of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, joined the family just in time for Christmas in 1985. Rex was a gift to Mrs. Reagan from the president, who felt the smaller breed was more appropriate for White House life. In fact, the couple’s Bouvier des Flandres, Lucky, had lived with the family but quickly became too large for the petite Nancy Reagan to handle. Photos and video of President and Mrs. Reagan being dragged around the White House and its grounds filled the media and added to their desire to find a companion that Mrs. Reagan could more easily manage. Lucky went to live at the couple’s California home, and Rex became the “top dog” in the White House for the remainder of the president’s term. Rex arrived just in time to help light the National Christmas Tree that year and quickly became one of the most popular presidential pets of our time.

Rex was a lively White House resident, often seen in photos bounding for the couple or lounging on the antiques that filled the White House. There was one area Rex refused to go however—the Lincoln Bedroom, long considered haunted by the ghost of abraham Lincoln. Rex would often sit and bark at the door—but would never enter— often to the amusement of the president and first lady.

Rex famously received a lavish, colonial-style dog house designed by Theo Hayes, great-great grandson of President Rutherford B. Hayes that featured red draperies, framed photos of the president and first lady, and a swatch of carpet from his favorite “spot” at Camp David. A dedication ceremony, hosted by actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, was held for the dog house, which was built by the Washington Children’s Museum. On the day the Reagans left the White House and the Bush family moved in, Rex dashed across the lawn, the president remarking, “There he goes; that’s his last walk.” Rex joined them in their private life, splitting time between the couple’s swanky Bel air mansion and their Santa Barbara–area ranch, Rancho del Cielo.

George H.W. and Millie Bush

In January of 1989, as one Spaniel left the White House, another one, Millie, moved in. Millie and her famous father were no strangers to politics or public life, with the new president’s eight-year stint as vice president to Ronald Reagan. Mildred Kerr Bush, a.k.a. Millie, is perhaps one of the most famous four-legged first-family members, and the only presidential pooch to pen a book, with a little help from First Lady Barbara Bush.

Millie was named after Mrs. Bush’s dear friend, Houstonian Mildred Kerr. All of the Bush children were named after close friends or family members and the spirited Springer was no exception. Millie was every bit a child to the Bushes, something you immediately recognize when reading their book.

Millie’s Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush was released in 1990 and became an instant hit. Through personal photos and witty prose, Millie detailed her life in the White House, showcasing the historic home and relaying her adventures—both good and bad. In a humorous and visual way, Millie’s Book also teaches its readers a few things about american history, as she details rooms in the White House and the many historic moments that occurred within their walls. You not only get a dog’s eye view of the magnificent mansion, but you get a real feel for White House life and Millie’s special relationship with, as she called him, “The Prez.”

Millie was a complete press hound, receiving recognition from papers across the globe and was even named Mother of the year by Life magazine in 1989. “I overheard the Bushes talking the other night,” she recalls in Millie’s Book. “Some discussion about me keeping a lower profile. The media were reporting that I was getting more publicity than some members of the Cabinet. Considering some of my press, maybe they should be grateful.”

All proceeds from Millie’s Book went to The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Further cementing Millie’s top spot in pup culture, her tale sold 300,000 copies in its first year, outselling her presidential parents’ memoirs. Though gone now, Millie’s legacy carries on. Her daughter Spot filled the role of presidential pooch when George W. Bush took office, and one of Houston’s most popular dog parks is named in her honor.

Bill and Buddy Clinton

When President Bill Clinton and his family moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they brought their favorite feline, Socks, to live with them, marking the first time a litter box was placed in the White House since the Carter administration. Socks spent the first term of Clinton’s presi- dency as the Chief Executive Cat until the beginning of President Clinton’s second term, when he was upstaged by the leader’s newest and rowdiest advisor, Buddy the chocolate Labrador. Buddy’s arrival caused one of the biggest presidential pet standoffs in our nation’s history. First Lady Hillary Clinton once remarked that Socks “despised Buddy from first sight, instantly and forever.” Images of the dueling duo were widely distributed by the media, and, though the president tried, diplomacy proved futile for the pair, and the pooch publicly prevailed.

Buddy was a constant sidekick of the Commander in Chief and helped fill the personal void felt by the president after the passing of his beloved uncle, Henry “Buddy” Grisham, the pup’s namesake. Buddy and Socks also celebrated some degree of literary success, even if only by the way of their fans. In 1998, First Lady Hillary Clinton wrote a children’s book called Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets, and both pets were the subject of many pages popping up on the then-emerging World Wide Web.

As Clinton’s second term neared an end, Buddy and Socks were once again thrown into the spotlight of the media, their future living arrangements the subject of much speculation and attention in Washington and beyond. In the end, Socks opted to live out the rest of his nearly 20 years with Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, while Buddy joined the family in their Chappaqua, New york, home.

George W. and Barney Bush

Former First Son and newly elected President George W. Bush moved into the White House in 2001 along with his canine companions, Spot and Barney. With the president’s twin daughters off at college, Spot (the daughter of Millie) and the rambunctious rebel Barney had the full attention of America, and especially their powerful parents. Mrs. Bush often said that talking about and playing with the dogs made up a significant portion of the first couple’s entertainment, which no doubt led to the creation of the White House Barney Cam and a series of Barney Cam videos that became a Bush holiday tradition.

Spot spent the remainder of her life living in the same home she was born in, and in 2004, the president and first lady were deeply saddened by her death. Spot had been the calm canine in their presidential pack and was often filmed obediently boarding Marine 1 while the president and his staff chased and wrangled the boisterous Barney.

If ever a dog was needed to provide emotional support and stress-reducing entertainment, it would be in the difficult times surrounding 9/11, and Barney delivered. Much like his master, he often suffered harsh criticism and had his own set of political troubles. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Karl Rove were not fans of the pup, and he was famously parodied by The Onion and The Daily Show before grabbing headlines of his own for biting a Reuters news reporter and the Boston Celtics public relations director.

Both Barney and President George W. Bush moved from Washington to Dallas when President Obama took office. They spend much of their time in Crawford, Texas, where Barney has the run of the family’s ranch, with his Scottie sister, Miss Beazley.

The legacy of President and Bo Obama is yet to be defined, giving all of us dog lovers something to look forward to and us dog writers something to write about. Each president has had his defining moments and faced changes in society and international affairs throughout the course of our time as a nation, and most have had a dog at their side. It is comforting to know that these men, under so much scrutiny and pressure, with the world’s most stressful job, find solace and support in man’s best friend, just like the rest of us. With our dogs at our sides, we know we can charge on, overcome obstacles, and most of all, have some fun.

—Ryan Rice, LIFE+DOG Editor-in-Chief

(Photography by Kim Hartz)

This article originally appeared in LIFE+DOG Issue No. 5. Subscribe to LIFE+DOG today to be the first to get exciting feature stories, compelling interviews, and innovative content delivered to your door each month.

Fun Fact: JFK and Pushinka

Perhaps the most famous first family, the Kennedys were avid animal lovers and had many dogs. The one with the most unique and interesting history is their mixed breed pup Pushinka, a gift to JFK’s daughter Caroline from Russian leader Nikita Krushchev, as a symbol of friendship and a peace offering during a particularly intense span of the Cold War.

Pushinka was born to Russian Space Dog Strelka, who, along with canine comrade Belka, was launched into space on August 19,1960, in Russia’s Sputnik 5 along with forty mice, two rats, and a variety of plants. After one day in orbit, the space capsule returned to Earth with both dogs alive and well, historically making Sputnik 5 the first spacecraft to carry animals into orbit and return them alive, ultimately paving the way for future human space travel.

After her mission, Strelka gave birth to Caroline Kennedy’s Pushinka, who was presented to young Caroline in 1961. Just one year later, the two world leaders would once again be at odds and our country thrust into the Cuban Missle Crisis. Pushinka, unaware of the potential nuclear war looming over the heads of Americans, began a Cold War romance with President Kennedy’s favorite dog, Charlie, resulting in the birth of four puppies jokingly referred to as “Pupniks” by JFK. Many years later, John F. Kennedy, Jr., credited Pushinka as the first memory he could recall, saying, “We had a dog who was named Pushinka, who was given to my father by a Soviet official. And we trained that dog to slide down the slide we had in the back of the White House. Sliding the dog down that slide is probably my first memory.”

1st Place will receive a SOLVIT Home Away Travel Organizer Kit

Congratulations to Shirley B for the winning entry!

2nd Place will receive the DOGS MAKE US HUMAN Book:

Congratulations to Susan Swalius for this incredible photo entry!

3rd Place (2 winners) Will receive a WAG MORE, BARK LESS Magnet

Congrtulations to Erin Bell and Theresa Osborn for these cute photos!

All Runners-Up will receive a complimentary copy of the next issue of LIFE+DOG! To view the list of upcoming themes and contest dates (at least 2 every month!), as well as all of the official rules, visit www.lifeanddog.com/fotofriday!

Imagine how strong that bond would be if you were stationed in a combat zone with the military and became the sole source of survival for a dog in need. That is the story of Mercy and Lt. Col. Kevin Banks from San Antonio, Texas who met while Kevin was stationed in Afghanistan. Banks, a radiologist, first met Mercy when she was flown into his station as a patient. Due to her breed, when she was found wandering the streets, the military personnel first assumed she was a working dog. Banks was to use his skills to search for a hidden microchip in case she was chipped already and the veterinarian team simply could not find it. After much research, it was ruled that Mercy was not a working dog and was a stray. Kevin could not bear to see her returned to a life on the street where she would undoubtedly meet a horrible demise or be put down and immediately began trying to save her. She lived and worked with Kevin for weeks while he researched ways for her to get home.

Nancy Banks, Kevin’s wife who is also with the US Army, and was back at home in San Antonio, began researching organizations who could assist them and discovered Nowzad Dogs. The Banks worked with Nowzad over the next several months, and Mercy started her long journey home through many areas of Afghanistan, some time at the Nowzad shelter and then a 14-hour flight to Houston to be reunited with Kevin and his wife. We were notified that Mercy would be arriving in Houston and could not wait to meet her and chronicle her arrival from the first moments she saw Kevin, when she met Nancy, and her first steps on US soil. You can look forward to the full story on Nowzad Dogs in the next issue of LIFE+DOG as well as additional photos of Kevin, Nancy and Mercy. Below is a series of photos from Mercy’s arrival.

Lt. Col. Kevin banks first sees Mercy as she arrives in the facility.

Kevin and Mercy are reunited.

Mercy meets her new mom.

Mercy’s first steps on US soil.

Mercy and her family head home.

Details fo the Special Screening of Best in Show (one of our favorite movies):

Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Backyard at W Los Angeles – Westwood

930 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles CA
Movie starts at 7:00PM
For reservations call: 310.443.8218

Bringing your four-legged friends? Let them enjoy bites from the new Fido’s Kitchen menu:

Milo’s Chopped Veggie & Chicken Salad

Carrots, Apples, Spinach, Cucumber and Poached Chicken

$9

Hank’s Apple Crunch Cakes

Honey sweetened Fresh and Dried Apple and Quinoa

$9

Knuckle’s Frozen “POP!”

Organic Yogurt, Mashed Banana and Peanut Butter

$8

Entrée’s

Stella’s Mutt”za” Balls

Organic Chicken, Free Range Eggs and Brown Rice

$10

Chaplin and Costello’s “Roaring Burger”

Ground Lean Lamb, Fresh Mint and Brown Rice

$12

Pepper’s Seafood Goulash

Ground Salmon, Oats, Spinach and Kale

$12

You had us at dog. This year, for the Super Bowl, Volkswagen of America has done it again! As a successor to their crazy-popular “mini-vader” commercial from 2011 (one of our personal favorites from the year), we introduce you to BOLT, a dog who lusts for the new Beetle. So do we. Watch the clip below.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. revealed its new commercial today on its YouTube® channel. Viewers can catch a sneak peek of a special, extended 75-second spot online, with the 60-second version of the ad running in the second quarter of the Big Game. This is the third consecutive year that Volkswagen has advertised on Game Day.

“This is a perfect opportunity for Volkswagen to celebrate with the fans that have made 2011 such a record-setting year for the company,” said Tim Mahoney, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “This year’s commercial will build on Volkswagen’s ability to tell human stories simply while continuing to build on the brand’s momentum in the year ahead.”

Volkswagen’s 2012 Game Day commercial, “The Dog Strikes Back,” features a story of an adorable dog named Bolt who is inspired to whip himself into shape by the power and performance of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. The unexpected final moments are a sly wink toward the Star Wars™ theme of Volkswagen’s 2011 Game Day commercial “The Force,” which became a pop culture phenomenon and has nearly 50 million views on YouTube to date.  The theme of the commercial is “Back. And better than ever,” which illustrates the success and momentum that the Volkswagen brand is enjoying in the U.S.

Volkswagen’s 2012 Game Day campaign kicked off with a teaser distributed in mid-January, entitled “The Bark Side,” featuring a choir of dogs barking along to Star Wars’“Imperial March”. The teaser quickly became an Internet sensation, garnering over ten million views to date on YouTube. The “Imperial March” is the same John Williams’ composition used last year in “The Force.

Following the success of last year’s advertisement, Volkswagen and Deutsch LA teamed up with Lucasfilm again to end the latest spot with a surprise twist. The final 15 seconds take place in the iconic Cantina introduced in Star Wars Episode IV, complete with a special appearance by none other than Darth Vader.

“We believe this spot underscores the Volkswagen brand’s unmatched advertising legacy. It manages to highlight the redesign and performance of the Beetle with the lighthearted touches that viewers expect from the VW brand,” said Mike Sheldon, CEO, Deutsch LA, Volkswagen’s creative Agency of Record.

The new ad is part of a multi-faceted campaign for the Big Game, featuring digital and social media activations such as a takeover of ESPN mobile and the YouTube homepage. In mid-January, Volkswagen launched a “Big Game” tab on Facebook that serves as a one-stop shop for all things related to the game, including The Bark Sideteaser, the early online release of the ad, an “Intergalactic Invite” allowing users to send Star Wars themed party e-vites to friends for the Big Game, and more.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

“VW”, “Volkswagen”, all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG.

Lucasfilm, STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

In current funding, PetSmart Charities® is thrilled to announce a new $1 Million grant program where cats and Pit Bull Terriers will benefit from low-cost Spay-Neuter surgeries. Why cats and Pit Bulls? PetSmart Charities has been conducting studies of our shelter systems and notes that cats and Pit Bulls have the highest risk of euthanasia in a shelter.

The new grant program builds on PetSmart Charities’ efforts to improve spay/neuter rates, reduce shelter overcrowding and increase pet adoption. Since 2007, PetSmart Charities has provided $26.3 million in grants that have subsidized almost 1 million spay/neuter surgeries in the United States. These surgeries literally prevent millions of unwanted litters from being born, effectively stopping the overpopulation problem before it can begin.

In 2012, the new grant program will help 65 non-profit spay/neuter clinics around the nation provide high-quality, affordable spay/neuter surgeries for more than 23,000 cats and pit bull terriers during February and August – ultimately reducing the homeless pet population by tens of thousands of at-risk cats and dogs that would otherwise wind up in shelters because of unplanned litters, said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.

Four million adoptable pets are euthanized every year in the United States because they aren’t adopted – that’s half of the 8 million pets that land in shelters each year.

“Approximately 34 percent of dogs and cats in U.S. households are not spayed or neutered yet the procedure is one of the most effective ways to reduce the homeless pet overpopulation,” said Della Maddalena. “With our new national grant program and our ongoing efforts to make affordable spay/neuter available to the public, PetSmart Charities is addressing the root cause of pet homelessness and this will have a national impact on reducing shelter intake and, ultimately, the euthanasia of adoptable pets.”

(Image from one of the SNAP Mobile Clinic trucks courtesy LIFE+DOG and SNAP.)

Lori Redmon, president/CEO of the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville agrees. “Shelters do their best to find forever homes for all of their cats and dogs that are loving pets, but unplanned litters quickly lead to overcrowding, and tragically, too many wonderful pets are at risk for euthanasia. With the grant from PetSmart Charities, we will be able to perform 200 more spay/neuter surgeries and give some much-needed help to cats and pit bull terriers that are especially at risk.”

“Beat the Heat” and “Primp Your Pit”
PetSmart Charities’ new grant program will support two spay/neuter campaigns:

· “Beat the Heat” will be held in February 2012 to spay female cats before they go into heat, preventing unplanned litters that create “kitten season” during spring months.
· “Primp Your Pit” will be held in August 2012, giving clinics resources to spay or neuter pit bull terriers. This breed, in particular, ends up in shelters in large numbers due to the myths and negative media and public perceptions that are associated with pit bulls.

Through these special campaigns, spay/neuter clinics receive: grant funds to help lower the cost of spay/neuter for the public; professionally-developed marketing materials to educate the public; and funding and support to advertise and promote the campaigns in local communities.

To find high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services locally, the public can go online to www.petsmartcharities.org and click on Spay/Neuter to access a free searchable database made possible through a partnership between PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®).

How to Donate to Save Pets’ Lives
Donations allow PetSmart Charities to offer these types of grant programs and resources that support local clinics and shelters across the nation. Members of the public can join the fight to end pet homelessness by making a tax-deductible donation online, by email at gifts@petsmartcharities.org or via phone at 623-587-2826.

Stay up to date on the lives that are being saved through PetSmart Charities’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savehomelesspets.

Keeping your four-legged friends safe is a top priority. You should always be aware of the dangers to your dogs and keep them out of harms way. Keep numbers handy for your vet and emergency vet to call at the first sign of trauma. You can call the helpline Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 or peruse their website  for helpful information.

The veterinarians at the helpline have perused their records for 2011, and determined the “Top Ten List” of potential poisons in our homes and yards that were the most commonly reported during 2011. These trusted veterinarians work tirelessly to keep our companions safe and out of harms way around the clock.

“Each year we examine our records to determine what contributed to the most calls from pet owners and veterinarians,” said Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC and associate director of veterinary services for Pet Poison Helpline. “Since we spent the most time diagnosing and specifying treatments for dog-related emergencies, we’ve broken them down and produced a ‘top ten list’ designed to educate dog owners and provide veterinarians with the latest facts and statistics.”

Below is the Top Ten List from Pet Poison Helpline. Items are presented in order of frequency starting with foods, which accounted for the highest number of poisoning cases in 2011. 

1. Foods – specifically chocolate, xylitol, and grapes/raisins.

Certain types of chocolate are very toxic to dogs. The chemical causing toxicity in chocolate is theobromine (a relative of caffeine). The darker, more bitter, and more concentrated the chocolate is, the more dangerous it is. Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener that is dangerous to dogs. When ingested, even in small amounts, it can result in a life-threatening drop in blood sugar or even liver failure. Raisins and grapes are often overlooked as one of the most toxic foods to dogs, and can result in kidney failure.

2. Insecticides – including sprays, bait stations, and spot on flea/tick treatments.

Ingestion of insecticides and pesticides, especially those that contain organophosphates (e.g., disulfoton, often found in rose-care products), can be life-threatening to dogs, even when ingested in small amounts. While spot-on flea and tick treatments work well for dogs, they can be very toxic to cats when not applied appropriately. Cat owners should read labels carefully, as those that contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids (a derivative of the Chrysanthemum flower), are severely toxic if directly applied or ingested.

3. Mouse and rat poison – rodenticides.

There are many types of chemicals in mouse and rat poisons, all with different active ingredients and types of action, making all of them potentially poisonous to dogs. Depending on what type was ingested, poisoning can result in internal bleeding, brain swelling, kidney failure, or even severe vomiting and bloat. Mouse and rat poisons also pose the potential for relay toxicity, meaning pets – and even wildlife – can be poisoned by eating dead rodents poisoned by rodenticides.

4. NSAIDS human drugs – such as ibuprofen, naproxen.

Common drugs including NSAIDs (e.g. Advil®, Aleve® and Motrin) can cause serious harm to dogs when ingested, causes stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as potential kidney failure. The use of human NSAIDs in dogs is dangerous and should never be given without consulting Pet Poison Helpline or a veterinarian.

5.Household cleaners – sprays, detergents, polishes.

Strong acidic or alkaline cleaners pose the highest risk due to their corrosive nature, and include common household products like toilet bowel cleaners, lye, drain cleaners, rust removers, and calcium/lime removers. Remember that “natural” does not necessarily mean safe, as some natural products can cause severe reactions. While general cleaners like glass products, spot removers and most surface cleaners have a wide margin of safety, it is still wise to keep them out of reach.

6. Antidepressant human drugs – such as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and Effexor.

Of all prescription medications, antidepressants account for the highest number of calls to Pet Poison Helpline. When ingested, they can cause neurological problems in dogs like sedation, incoordination, agitation, tremors and seizures.

7. Fertilizers – including bone meal, blood meal and iron-based products.

While some fertilizers are fairly safe, certain organic products that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal and iron may be especially tasty – and dangerous – to dogs. Large ingestions can cause severe pancreatitis or even form a concretion in the stomach, obstructing the gastrointestinal tract.

8. Acetaminophen human drugs – such as Tylenol and cough/cold medications.

Sizeable ingestions of acetaminophen can lead to severe liver failure and even dry eye in dogs. However, it should be noted that it is a more significant threat to cats, as a single Tylenol tablet can be fatal. 

9. Amphetamine human drugs – ADD/ADHD medications like Adderall and Concerta.

Medications used to treat ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) contain potent stimulants, such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions by dogs can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.

10. Veterinary pain relievers – specifically COX-2 inhibitors like Rimadyl, Dermaxx and Previcox.

Carprofen, more commonly known by its trade name Rimadyl, is a veterinary-specific, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. While it is commonly used for osteoarthritis, inflammation, and pain control in dogs, if over-ingested in large amounts, it can result in severe gastric ulceration and acute kidney failure in dogs. 

We’re excited to tell everyone about a new and fun entertainment network, Petsami, that is now on the air! Go to Petsami on YouTube to begin and then check out Petsami.com for blogs from their stable of animal stars, as well as photos, message boards and more! They’ve got new shows every Monday through Friday and in the coming weeks, they will be adding content from Dancing With the Stars Judge, Carrie Ann Inaba and Clark, the star of “Ultimate Dog Tease”, so be sure to subscribe!

We are big fans of one of the new network’s must-see stars, Laura Nativo and her pack of Pomeranians, led by Preston Casanova.  The Poms and their princess will be hosting their own show and we can’t wait to tune in…er..log on to see what the team, deemed “America’s Favorite Ma & Paw” by ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, has to say! Their show, Puppy Ruv with Preston Casanova & Penelope, is a lifestyle show from a dog’s eye view, that presents the inside scoop on pet hotels, dog grooming, the latest toys, pet furniture, clothing and more! Each week seasoned star pup Preston (Greatest American Dog) helps rough‐around the edges up‐and‐comer Penelope learn how to live with style and flair. Preston will also be blogging from Petsami.com on his Ask Preston page!  Have a question about training? Need advice on traveling with your pet? Want to know what to look for in a veterinarian? just Ask Preston and he will provide advice to suffice!

Look for the team and the network on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/petsami
www.facebook.com/LauraNativoFans
www.facebook.com/PrestonCasanova
and Twitter:
@PrestonCasanova; @PenelopeSupafly, @LauraNativo & @Petsami!