Kritters That Twitter

Kickstarter Campaign Underway for ShaPooPee™ Dog Walking Accessory ShaPooPee™ contains all essential items for dog walks in one convenient carrier
CORAM, N.Y. (April 29, 2013) – The patent pending ShaPooPee™ dog walking tool is currently seeking funding support via a Kickstarter campaign, through May 22, 2013.  Designed by engineer Guido Bonelli, Jr., ShaPooPee was created out of the need to carry all essential items when taking a dog out for a walk.  Keys, money, poop bags, training treats, and a super bright light are all contained in a small, lightweight plastic carrier that comes with a wrist strap.

Bonelli is eager to bring this convenient accessory to pet parents everywhere.  “ShaPooPee is the tool you’ll grab as you reach for your dog’s leash, knowing that you’ll have everything needed for an enjoyable walk together.  No more worrying if you’ve locked your door without taking a key, or have run out of poop bags.  ShaPooPee has all of the items conveniently in one spot, making dog walking even more relaxing and fun for pet parents and their pets.”

Bonelli is an electrical engineer for a world leading engineering/manufacturing company.  He has successfully managed multiple small and large scale product launches from inception to production and has been in the field for more than 10 years.  “I love the creativity involved in breathing life into an idea, and with ShaPooPee I am creating an invention that can help pet parents enjoy the pet ownership lifestyle even more,” states Bonelli.

The Kickstarter campaign, at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1366304364/shapoopee-simplifying-walking-your-dog, seeks funding for Bonelli to manufacture the ABS solid plastic molds for ShaPooPee, followed by assembly and packaging.  Bonelli has selected Proto Labs, a U.S.-based plastics manufacturer, to mold the ShaPooPee product, and plans to ship product in August 2013.  Products will be available for testing in July.

Features:
A single super bright white 7150 mcd (milli-candella) LED, powered by a highly efficient lighting engine which slowly sips power from the replaceable 1.5V battery
Built-in spare key/money holder for up to three keys or one key and several dollars
Built-in, extra deep training treat storage area
Easy to load poop bag dispenser with tearing teeth
Window showing amount of poop bags remaining
Lightweight plastic case
Wrist strap

About ShaPooPee
Designed by engineer Guido Bonelli, Jr., ShaPooPee™ was created out of the need to carry all essential items when taking a dog out for a walk.  Keys, money, poop bags, training treats, and a super bright light are all contained in a small, lightweight plastic carrier that comes with a wrist strap.  Learn more about the ShaPooPee Kickstarter campaign at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1366304364/shapoopee-simplifying-walking-your-dog, and visit ShaPooPee at https://www.facebook.com/Shapoopee and www.shapoopee.com.

Donations and Pet Shelters – How to Make the Right Choices

There is no doubt that pet shelters are crucial to the relationship our society has with animals. Without them, many abandoned pets would never get a chance to have a great life. However, pet shelters are not financially independent and have to rely on generous sponsors, no matter how big or small they might be. All donations count, but chances are that you have a specific goal in mind when thinking about making one. In this article, I am going to suggest a few tips on how one can ensure that his or her donation will go exactly to the place that one wants it to go.

 Big or Small Pet Shelters?

With so many different shelters around, you might be easily tempted into giving your donation to the biggest and most famous ones. That is certainly a good idea, but considering some of the smaller ones might be a better one. After all, bigger shelters are going to get the majority of donations, that is just how life goes. Smaller ones, however, may often go unnoticed and then disappear overnight due to missing funds, since, unlike the bigger ones, they cannot rely on a steady supply of donations. Therefore, if you want to make a donation and improve the situation in your particular area, look around a bit more. There might be a small shelter that you might not even be aware of in desperate need of money. And improving its situation might often have a direct effect on your neighborhood, so you are going to see exactly where your money is going to.

 Specific Cases

From time to time, specific cases of animals in desperate need appear, some of them more publicized, some of them not publicized at all. Most of such cases are virtually life-or-death situations for the animals involved, as they are related to significant health problems that require costly operations that pet shelters simply aren’t able to afford. Such specific cases might be the ideal time for you to stop hesitating about making a donation and just doing it – if the donations pass the threshold that is required to save the animal in question, the rest of the money will be used in appropriate ways as well. Many pet shelters that manage to raise enough money for such life-saving ops will then spread the leftover funds between other pet shelters in need, so it is not like your money would go to causes you would have no idea about.

 Donate!

The bottom line is that donating to pet shelters is a very good decision in itself. And, with so many different pet shelters out there, you can easily choose a specific cause to support. Preferring smaller shelters over bigger ones might have some merit, while seeing that there is a specific case of an animal in desperate need should act as an incentive for you to stop hesitating and send the donation sooner rather than later. Pet shelters are something that we are responsible for as a society, so do your bit and make a donation, no matter how small or big.

Scot Parris writes for rspca.org.uk, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. You can help by making your own donation for the protection of our 4 legs friends.

Technology For Pet Owners

Taking care of your pet has never been easier than now with the many gadgets and innovations that are available on the market. Technology has really come a long way in the last decade or so. From Dogtra collars that can track your pet’s location to an automatic filtering dog fountain, there are many technological innovations that can assist in your pet care as an owner.

The Largest Water Filtering Dog Fountain

Hammacher created one of the best water filtering systems to date, challenging competition for a number of reasons. This dog fountain holds 3.5 gallons of water which allows owners to fill up the bowl once and allow it to operate for days. The bowl itself holds 1.5 gallons with a reserve of two 1 gallon tanks which can quench several dogs’ thirst. On the inside the filter works with a base pump which pumps up into a cascading water tunnel that leads into the dog bowl. Filtered water continues to pump through the tunnel to your drinking pet. The filter is top of the line as well; it catches pet hair and any other floating particles that will make for an undesirable taste or odor. Works well with owners who treat their pets at a scheduled time and for big dogs who have a larger intake of water.

Pebble Smart Doggie Doorbell

This doggie doorbell is perfect if you have an indoor and outdoor pet. As a pet owner we don’t always notice when our dog wants back into the house from outside. This innovation gives your pet a doorbell that easily trainable for your dog to push and notify you that he is outside waiting. The gadget is still seeking further funding but for just $25 you can get one doorbell and a one push button transmitter for the outside or inside of your door. The Pebble Smart Doggie Doorbell also offers other packages with more button transmitters and doorbells for multiple doors.

E-Collars

Dogtra training produces top of the line e-collars, based out of California. They focus on creating products that benefit the pet and the owner in an efficient manner. Their remote training is custom to the type of dog wearing the specialized collar. From obedience and companion dogs to service K-9 dogs there is training for each type of dog. This type of training works in a repetitive manner and is user friendly. In this method pets will learn to obey their owner’s orders on a fast learning curve.

Anna is a freelance writer who often writes about personal finance and education. Anna loves to write about health and pets in her free time, two things she is passionate about! Anna’s pet of choice is the dog and her favorite breed, the Giant Schnauzer! You can read more finance writing by Anna at paidtwice.com

Taking Care of Sick Animals

A dog or a cat can be a beloved companion, and having a pet in your life is a wonderful way to love and be loved in return. Animals – just like humans – fall sick occasionally, and you will need to take your pet to the vet for regular health care, checkups, and inoculations. Pet health care can almost be more expensive than your own, so saving money while caring for your beloved companion is important. Here is how you can avoid unnecessary fees while nursing your pet back to health:

Find the Best Doctor – Just like you’d do research into a bank to find the best cd interest rate, you need to do research to find the best vet in your city. This means that you should find the doctor that is not only the most qualified, but that will charge the best rates. Shop around amongst the various vets in the city, and see which have the most knowledge, offer the best counsel, and charge reasonable prices for the care.

Buy Food Wisely -­- Spending money on dog or cat food is a must, as it will provide them with the nourishment they need to grow healthy and strong. Make sure to research into the best food options for them, and study what they need to eat. Perhaps you think you’ll save money by buying cheaper food, but in the end it will cost you more because they will eat more of the food and they will get sick more often. If you are caring for a pet — either healthy or sick — make sure to get the best food for them to keep them healthy.

Consider Pet Insurance – Not all pets will get sick often, but some will get very sick on those rare occasions when they fall ill. Rather than spending a fortune out of your own pocket, why not look into pet insurance for those occasions when your beloved pet is in need of serious medical help? The insurance will often be fairly affordable, and you’ll spend a little each month rather than a massive lump sum when they are sick.

Look for Low-Cost Options – Many veterinarians will be quite expensive, but animal clinics will often offer the vaccinations and pet health care at a much lower cost — or sometimes even free  of charge! Animal feed supply stores may also use vaccinations and checkups as a marketing campaign to attract pet owners, and you can take advantage of these offers to get your pet cared for at a lower cost.

Do What You Can – Brushing your pet’s teeth, combing the lice out of their fur, and caring for the pet may not be the most appealing task, but you’ll save a good deal of money if you do these things yourself rather than taking the pets to the vet. You may not be able to give your cat injections or neuter your dog, but you can cut their nails, keep their fur clean, and provide basic care that will prevent them from getting sick!

Anna is a freelance writer who often writes about personal finance and education. Anna loves to write about health and pets in her free time, two things she is passionate about! Anna’s pet of choice is the dog and her favorite breed, the Giant Schnauzer! You can read more finance writing by Anna at paidtwice.com