Shelter Me Episode Sneak Peek with Pop Star MAX!

Shelter Me, the uplifting PBS film series about pets and the people who help them, is sharing a very special sneak peek of a new episode with us! In Episode 9, “The Art of Kindness,” Lights Down Low singer MAX hosts concerts at animal shelters to help promote adoption. In this clip, you’ll see the amazing work MAX is doing across the country and why he believes spreading the message of pet adoption is so important. Check it out here!

Be sure to tune in to PBS this summer to watch the full episode. You’ll meet a famous painting pooch named DogVinci who helps to teach kids about creativity and sells his paintings to raise money for animal shelters. The episode also highlights a senior dog adoption fair that helps give exposure to pups that are often overlooked. We can’t wait for you to see the entire episode! You can also watch past episodes online now.

Shelter Me is presented by the Petco Foundation and produced by Steven Latham Productions. Learn more about Shelter Me here.

Looking to adopt a pet of your own? Get started here!

Talking to Your Pets

Can dogs and cats understand what you say?

Does a puppy or kitten know what you mean when you say “you are so cute”? While we don’t know exactly what goes on in their heads, it is very clear to see that animals, including companion dogs and cats can clearly understand the tone of speech (angry or loving).

Pets can also learn key words or phrases such as “let’s go for a walk” or “dinner time”. Just like people, they learn these words through repetition and association. Talking to your pets doesn’t mean you are crazy, except that you may be crazy about your pets. It is soothing to them, and even therapeutic for you. Check out this article on Petcentric.com: http://www.petcentric.com/article.aspx?C=0&OID=55

Thank You For Helping Us Earn $25,000!

Thank you to everyone who voted for their favorite TasteMakers™ Finalists. After the votes were tallied, Carla Hall chose the Grand Prize winner and Fancy Feast donated $25,000 to Adopt-a-Pet.com! This contribution will help us unite more pets with loving families. You can see the winning entries for the new cat food recipes here. Thanks to all of you who voted, and thank you to Purina Fancy Feast!

The Future of Doggie Advertising?

This is a fun idea: how about a dog food commercial that is specially designed with images and sounds for you rdog to enjoy too! Our dogs are such avid TV watchers that we often leave the TV on for them when we go out, and we’ve had them go into the other room if we’re watching a suspensful action movie, so it makes sense that advertisers would tap into this interest to make a commercial more compelling. This particular commercial is for Beneful dog food from Purina, our amazing sponsor. You can watch a two and a half minute behind-the-scenes video here with the vet who developed the toy squeaks and high-pitched dog-only sounds, and then click the link under that to watch the TV commercial yourself — and with your dog too of course! Does it get your dog’s attention? Let us know by posting your comment on our Facebook wall!

The Mean Kitty: Pet Psychic

Since it is 3/13 today we decided to write about something a little out-of-the ordinary: a pet psychic! Or as she calls herself more officially, and animal communicator. It is one of the Mean Kitty videos, a fun series of videos on Petcentric who’s purpose is, says feline stars Sparta and Loki, “To remind us all that pets aren’t just a piece of furniture in our homes… even though they can look that way sometimes. : ) We’ll show you new ways to love your pets by simply spending a little more time with them each day.” They are both adopted rescue cats and their person Pete has a great sense of kitty humor that makes them a lot of fun! Plus Sparta and Loki are absolutely riveting to watch of course. But let’s get back to the Pet Psychic video <– you can click the link to watch it on Petcentric. The famous pet psychic visits and communicates with Sparta and Loki. Laura Stinchfield. Even if you are a sceptic, it’s pretty amazing to watch the surprizing answers the cats have for some of Pete’s and Laura’s questions!

Have you ever had a pet psychic communicate with your pets? Tell us about it on the Adopt-a-Pet.com Facebook page!

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The Friskies 2013 video contest!

The Friskies video contest is back! You can upload your awesome cat video (before noon ET July 15, 2013) at www.TheFriskies.com for a chance at $25,000 in case prizes! And while it’s true that “The Friskies” 2013 is a video contest, it also benefits rescue and shelter cats across the country. Friskies is helping 20 rescue organizations that dedicate their energies to finding loving, happy homes for cats across the nation – with lots of cat food! Specifically, Friskies is donating more than 250,000 cans of cat food to 20 partner animal rescue organizations. Each organization will receive a minimum of 7,500 cans and will have the opportunity to increase this donation (up to an additional 10,000 cans per charity) based on their overall participation. We think that is can-tastic!

Friskies says: “But that’s not all, we also need your help! Look for special Friskies® messages on the Friskies Facebook and Twitter that will offer opportunities for our fans to TRIGGER an additional donation of 500 cans per charity (up to 50,000 cans total). Your support makes a real, living, purring difference. Thank you. Every cat counts.”

The Healing Power of Pets Dr. Marty Becker

Bonding with a pet may be more beneficial than you think. Here are just some of the amazing ways pets make our lives better! Have you ever noticed that you feel better when you spend time with pets? At Purina’s Better with Pets Summit in New York City, Dr. Marty Becker, who you may know from Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show, spoke about the ways in which companion dogs and cats can have a positive impact on our health — both physically and emotionally.”From our hearts to our heads, from cradle to grave, pets are helping us live happier, healthier, and fuller lives,” said Becker. Here are just some of the ways that our companion dogs and cats help us each day.

Pets Encourage Physical Activity

It’s a given that having a pet can take you out of a sedentary lifestyle and encourage you to get out of the house. Dogs need to go outside for walks. Cats need exercise and playtime.

Friends can provide support when starting up an exercise routine, but nothing compares to the encouragement of a pet. “If you ever try to weasel out of exercising with your dog, there is going to be heck to pay,” said Becker.

Pets Encourage Social Interaction

Pets are social magnets. According to Becker, pets are the “cure for the common cold shoulder.”

Imagine taking a walk on crowded city streets. No one talks to you or even seems to notice your presence. Now imagine taking an adorable puppy down those same streets. You’ll get more people making comments, asking you questions, or stopping to talk to you than you ever would if you were walking alone.

Pets Reduce Stress

According to Becker, just by touching our pets we feel a surge of prolactin and oxytocin, hormones that can help us feel better. These same hormones can lower blood pressure and reduce stress. Having a pet can elevate serotonin and dopamine — hormones that lift depression — as well.

Our animals often know when we need them, too. Pets tend to draw near when you’re feeling blue to provide emotional support. And pets get the same benefits from petting. Becker calls this the “love loop.”

Pets Improve Health

Additionally, Becker notes that if you have a dog, you’re five times more likely to be alive a year after a heart attack. If you have a cat, you’re 40 percent less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke in the first place. Pets lower cholesterol, they mitigate migraines, and they act as health monitors for Parkinson’s disease and diabetic seizures. Research has even begun on some dogs who have the amazing ability to detect cancer.

Becker also notes that children who have a pet growing up are less likely to develop allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Simply put, our companion dogs and cats help us live healthier, happier lives. They provide unconditional love and ask for relatively little in return.

How amazing is that?

The Pooper Series: The Wanderer

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RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.

To-do list before a trip with your dog

pet-travel-tips What’s on your packing and to-do list before a trip with your dog? Traveling with your dog can be an incredibly fun and memorable experience, if you’re well-prepared. But forgetting an important necessity or failing to take one of these steps ahead of time could turn that relaxing vacation into a travel nightmare! Check out these super-useful tips from our friends at PetParents shared for every well-prepared dog owner needs when traveling with their pooch.

Take flight with Pilots N Paws

Pilot-n-paws-dog Pilots N Paws is a pet rescue support organization that works with private pilots who volunteer their time and planes to fly animals in need to their fur-ever homes! Russ Landau is a pet owner and pilot from Los Angeles, CA, and Kate Quinn is the Executive Director of Pilots N Paws. Purina’s Petcentric caught up with both of them to find out more about how these volunteers make a life-changing difference for rescue animals. Click here to learn all about Pilots N Paws and how and why they to help fly animals from overcrowded shelters to new homes and families in other states.