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Some Fun Dog & Cat Trivia Tidbits :)

Cats have about 100 vocal sounds;dogs
have only about 10.

The boxer got its name because it strikes
out with its front paws when fighting.


Scooby-Doo is his nickname. His real
name is Scoobert.

Holland is the only country with a
national dog: the pug.

Napoleon is said to have feared cats.


Cats don't have eyelashes.

For more interesting and fun pet trivia from Brandon James, get it in Planet-Pets.com's free monthly pet newsletter, The Scoop or check out the website at www.planet-pets.com

Attention!!!! Another Food Company Voluntarily Recalling Their Food

Castleberry’s Food Company is voluntarily expanding its recall originally announced on July 18 due to the risk of botulinum toxin, a bacterium which can cause botulism. The recall originally announced on July 18 affected only 10 products with ‘best by’ dates from APR30 2009 through MAY22 2009.

The extended recall now includes the following canned products in the following sizes with all ‘best by’ and code dates:

Austex Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030097101)
Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030099533)
Austex Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030090815)
Austex Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030091015)
Austex Chili With Beans, 19 oz can (UPC 3030092519)
Austex Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030097715)
Austex Chili No Beans, 19 oz can (UPC 3030097719)
Best Yet Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4217841082)
Best Yet Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4218740842)
Big Y Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480424)
Big Y Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480225)
Big Y Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480425)
Black Rock Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001715)
Bloom Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 2543992448)
Bryan Hot Dog Chili Sauce With Beef, 10 oz can (UPC 5340030010)
Bryan Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030110)
Bryan Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030200)
Bryan Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030205)
Bryan Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 5340035264)
Bunker Hill Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604152)
Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604112)
Bunker Hill Spicier Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604224)
Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000101)
Castleberry’s Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030007101)
Castleberry’s Brunswick Stew Chicken & Beef, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000315)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000402)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 14.5 oz can (UPC 3030000415)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Beef, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000602)
Castleberry’s Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000815)
Castleberry’s Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000915)
Castleberry’s Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001015)
Castleberry’s Sausage Gravy, 10 oz can (UPC 3030005130)
Castleberry’s Creamed Chip Beef Gravy, 10 oz can (UPC 3030005150)
Castleberry’s Hot Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030007217)
Castleberry’s Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 3030007701)
Castleberry’s Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030007715)
Castleberry’s Georgia Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000215)
Cattle Drive Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001530)
Cattle Drive Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001520)
Cattle Drive Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001525)
Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001515)
Firefighters Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7372500413)
Firefighters Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7372500411)
Firefighters Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7372500412)
Food Club Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080204)
Food Club Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080404)
Food Club Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080504)
Food Lion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3582606911)
Goldstar Original Chili, 10oz can (UPC 2457500001)
Goldstar Chili, 15oz can (UPC 2457500005)
Goldstar Tex-Mex Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 2457500008)
Great Value Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 8113179994) – CANADA ONLY
Great Value Hot Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 8113179995) – CANADA ONLY
Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 1111083942)
Kroger Beef Stew, 15oz can (UPC 1111083928)
Kroger Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1111083930)
Kroger Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1111083908)
Lowes Foods Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301092)
Lowes Foods Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301094)
Lowes Foods Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301097)
Meijer Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 4125085862)
Meijer Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095220)
Meijer Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095221)
Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095229)
Morton House Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665829)
Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665830)
Morton House Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665993)
Paramount Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 7526600510)
Paramount Chili for Hot Dogs, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600526)
Paramount Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600731)
Paramount Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600732)
Piggly Wiggly Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037252)
Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037354)
Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 4129037355)
Piggly Wiggly Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037357)
Prudence Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4114100015)
Southern Home Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 3825948713)
Southern Home Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015340)
Southern Home Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015341)
Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015359)
Steak n Shake Chili With Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 5184400120)
Thrifty Maid Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 2114021367)
Thrifty Maid Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (2114021370)
Thrifty Maid Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (2114021375)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005801)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005804)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005805)
Value Time Beef and Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1122542159)
In addition, the following canned Natural Balance brand pet food products are being recalled. These include:

Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Irish Stew With Beef, Potatoes & Carrots,
15 oz can (UPC 2363359860)
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Chinese Take Out With Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359861)
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs HOBO Chili With Chicken & Pasta,
15 oz can (UPC 2363359863)
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Southern Style Dumplings With Chicken & Vegetables, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359862

Talk about "One Panda's Trash is Another Man's Gold!!!"

Read a story this morning on CNN Newswire about a resourceful Giant Panda Breeding Base that has decided to take their biggest problem (Panda droppings) and create odor-free souvenirs out of it, ranging from bookmarks to Olympic-themed statues! Are you kidding me? What will they think of next?!
The problem was they were spending approximately $800 per month to have the droppings removed, but have now turned it into an idea they believe will make them money. Of course the leftovers will be culled through and eventually sterilized before "manufacturing" begins, but I still can't get over it's still a piece of crap! Hahahahhaha!
I guess they're proving the old saying correct, "You can take a piece of crap and cover it in gold, but it's still just a piece of crap!" :D
Now that that's done, let's sell it on Ebay!


Read more from Brandon James in Planet-Pets.com's free monthly pet newsletter, The Scoop or check out the website at www.planet-pets.com.

COMING SOON!!!! PLANET PETS TV!!!

Just when you thought that Planet-Pets.com couldn't get any better, here we are again giving you the best in pet entertainment!
Scheduled to launch in August 2007, PlanetPetsTV will debut as the web's first pet website produced "on location" show.
You'll see our hosts covering the latest pet issues with everyday pet owners like yourself, gathering opinions and sharing heart warming stories. It's truly an exciting event, and not one to miss!
Keep an eye here for the official launch announcement for PlanetPetsTV!!!!

Read more from Brandon James in Planet-Pets.com's free monthly pet newsletter, The Scoop or check out the website at www.planet-pets.com.

An Increase in Vigilance On Their Produced Food Says China...

Well I suppose we all knew this was coming. The Chinese premier has passed a new law that dictates stronger supervision and more severe penalties for negligence of Chinese companies producing dangerous products.
This of course comes on the heels of a massive world wide rejection of many Chinese produced products, from toothpaste to seafood.
I really do hope that something happens, as unfortunately, we Americans rely heavily on products "Made In China." Try going to the grocery store or any store for that matter and not buying anything made in China. It's harder than you might think. Outside of the obvious issues I have with their political views and the tragic pet food poisoning of earlier this year, I'll be wary of any Chinese products for a while now.
Take a few seconds and choose to remember the helpless victims of that tragedy, and stay alert.

Read more from Brandon James in Planet-Pets.com's free monthly pet newsletter, The Scoop or check out the website at www.planet-pets.com.

Update on Michael Vick story

Just this past Thursday, Michael Vick pleaded not guilty to the charges brought on him for this dogfighting scandal, and his trial date has been set for November.
He categorically denies being involved in the dog fighting ring that allegedly was taking place on his Virginia property, and is determined to clear his "good name." I for one can't see a way out for him, based on the information that has been released, and after reading around the web, neither do any of the legal pundits out there.
Of course, all the usual suspects have come out in support for him, such as his adoring, hormone driven fans and his teammates, but their support sounds more like media platitudes rather than heartfelt support - "He's our teammate..." or "Mike's like a brother to me..." etc etc etc.... If I was Mike, I be like... "Nice try guys..."
Anyhow, I hope that much like what happened with the media exposure of the pet food industry after the pet food recall, that the dark world of underground animal fighting as a betting sport gets exposed and cracked down on. It's an absolute horror to think of what some of these beautiful animals are subjected to, and I can only hope that they drag out a few more of these lowlife a*%holes and give them their "just desserts."

Read more from Brandon James in Planet-Pets.com's free monthly pet newsletter, The Scoop or check out the website at www.planet-pets.com.

Lets see Michael Vick scramble out of this blitz!!!

I don't know how many of you have come across this story today, but I remember hearing about it on the news, not quite catching all the details. It appears as though one of the NFL's most recognizable quarterbacks is about to get A LOT more media attention before the season even begins!
Michael Vick, star quarterback from Virginia Tech, is being indicted on grand jury charges of running a vicious, "to the death" dogfighting ring on his property in Virginia, along with two of his friends. He established his own operation called "Bad Newz Kennels," where the dogs (mostly pitbulls) were housed, trained and fought in his own competitions (and I use that terms loosely.)
Should he be convicted he and his co-defendants could face up to six years in jail and fines in upwards of $350,000.
The disgusting parts of the story is where they cover the methods used to execute the damaged dog who lost the fight. I'd rather not talk about it. It makes me sick to my stomach, but should you choose to find out more, you can read all about it in the reference article.
I'll keep you posted as this story develops.

Reference Article: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7033242?MSNHPHCP&gt1=10239

Read more from Brandon James in Planet-Pets.com's free monthly pet newsletter, The Scoop or check out the website at www.planet-pets.com.

Your Boxer Dog And Its Main Health Concerns

A good owner is always concerned about his or her dog’s health, regardless of breed, and it seems to be a constant struggle. However not only can visits to the vet be expensive, but also anyone who cares about their pooch will hate to see it in pain. However, the breed of the individual dog will ultimately determine the nature and content of those health concerns. Certain breeds seem to be more prone to certain diseases, ailments and niggles than others. The Boxer dog breed is one of the most affected breeds.

One of the main concerns for the Boxer dog owner is hip dysplasia. This particular ailment can cause lameness as a result of looseness in the rear hip joints. Often, the tissue around the hip can work its way loose over time, causing the ball to move more than it actually should in the socket. The unfortunate thing is there is nothing any owner can do to prevent it because it is part of their genetic nature.

The Boxer dog is 67^th on the list of breeds that suffer the most with hip dysplasia, and over 10% are actually diagnosed with a severe form of it at some stage during their lives. The Boxer dog may also fail to show any symptoms of having this ailment, even while suffering from it. However, dogs can be screened for it from two months old and every Boxer dog should have had a scan by the time they hit two years old. Every dog is simply X-rayed under sedation and then graded according to the results.

Regardless of how your Boxer dog is graded, he or she may not feel the effects of hip dysplasia until they reach eight or nine years old. In some cases it can lead to lameness and arthritis, but a few dogs never show any signs of it. It is an ailment to be aware of, but not one to be overly worried about. The best thing you can do as a Boxer owner is to learn all you can about this particular ailment, and be prepared to best deal with it should it develop in your dog.

A New Puppy In The House: Welcome Home!

On your new puppy's first day home, one of the best things you can do for him is give him a complete tour around the house on a loose leash. This is the pup's first introduction to whatever limitations you want to put on his future access to your possessions - your furniture, golf clubs, books, the kids' toy shelves, etc.

This is not the right time for disciplining him or saying "no." (The puppy might begin to think that "no" is his name!) Instead, use a guttural "Yack!" combined with a very slight tug-and-release of the leash as he sniffs to warn him away from untouchables. He's new at this, but just saying, "Puppy!" in a happy voice may be enough to get him to look at you - "Good dog." Back to happy chatter as you move on.

All you are doing is letting him know by means of prevention what things he will have to avoid in the future. Be sure to use growling sounds that he’ll recognize and understand. Let him sniff first because he'll remember the objects more by scent than by sight. He looks up at you and he is praised. Think of it this way: "No!" means "Don't do that!" whereas "Yack!" means "Don't even think of doing it!" Chit-chat is natural and pleasurable to both of you; but in the beginning, the puppy will only pick up on his name because everyone uses it in connection with things he finds pleasurable - play, food or praise. If you use the word "din-din" many times while fixing his meals, that word will stand out in the midst of a five minute speech on nutrition as a clue to the observant pup that he is about to eat. The human-canine teaching language is based on short, simple words that are consistently applied to specific actions.What this first guided tour also teaches your puppy is the layout of his new home, what it looks like, smells like, even feels like (rugs, carpets, tile, or wood), most importantly, that some things are off limits, even to adorable puppies.

There is one more important lesson he is learning from this adventure: that you are his new Leader, the He or She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. If you do not take on this role, your new fuzzy puppy will. Somebody's got to do it, and he'll fill the vacancy immediately! You may be familiar with the saying, "Lead, follow or get out of my way." Every dog is born knowing it and continues to live by it!

Once the house tour is over, now it's down to specifics. Show your puppy where his water bowl will always be. Let him investigate his crate. Then take him outside (still on leash) to the exact area where you want him to eliminate. Stand there until he does. (Have patience! He's new at this.) Praise quietly as he goes, after which you can make the same kind of tour outside, with warnings about flower or vegetable beds, bushes or plants. Or you may live in a city and by law must curb your new dog. Be sure to go to the quietest no-parking spot you can find. If you remain on the sidewalk, he will naturally want to join you, so stand down in the street with him. It will take time, plus your casual, confident attitude, to get him used to the noise, the confusion and the speed and size of trucks and taxis. No outside walking tour at this time. Wait until his immunizations are complete, by which time he will also be more accepting of city life.

Note: If the original trip home from where you picked up your puppy took more than an hour, reverse the two "tours" to let the pup eliminate first.