Lucky Dog Blog

Peanut Butter Recall

Hello blogging friends.  There wasn't much new to tell so we've been a little quiet over here in Lucky Dog world.  Just busy working away like Keebler elves getting your Lucky Dog Biscuits out on time.

So if any of you have been watching the papers, or are unlucky enough to subscribe to the FDA recall notification service, you would know that the Peanut Corporation of America is undergoing a MASSIVE recall of its peanut products due to Salmonella contamination.  Salmonella is a nasty little bacteria that can make you and surprisingly enough, your dog, very sick.  The reason I say surprisingly is that Salmonella comes from, well how do I say this nicely, ... poop - and given that your dog likely licks its butt, exposure to Salmonella is possible.  Vomiting and diarrhea are likely symptoms of Salmonella poisoning. 

Anyhoo, I am happy to report that OUR peanut butter does not come from Peanut Corporation of America.  Our supplier, Dawn Foods, where we get out human grade quality ingredients released a statement assuring the safety of our supply.  You can check out the press release here.

As a public service announcement though - if you haven't heard about the recall you really should either check the FDA recall site for our American friends or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency site for all Canadians.  There are peanut products on the market affected by the recall and we wouldn't want you or your family to get sick.

You can also stay on top of the latest recalls by signing up for their notification service.  You will get a LOT of email though.  Consider yourself warned...

Sadie

As promised here's a Sadie update.  Of course I usually have better pictures because I do some photo editing but since my hard drive crashed and computer dude "fixed" it, I have had some problems accessing my usual tools.  So here's a Sadie shot in all it's raw glory.

 

Sadie has become a real momma's girl and follows Brenda EVERY where.  In fact, it is hard to get a good shot of Sadie without Brenda's foot.  And no wonder since this is the first time in her five year old life that she has had human love and compassion.  Poor little girl.  She's put on weight, her coat is shiny and she's stopped trying to bark all the time.  If you remember, she was also "de-barked" at her puppy prison.

So Sadie will spend her first Christmas in a nice warm happy home.  You can see Sadie for yourself if you head on down to It's Raining Cats and Dogs in Winnipeg for your last minute Santa treats.

funniest christmas card EVER

You have to check out this card. Now THAT is a cool christmas card.  No dancing snowmen or wintery scenes.  Just brings a smile to your face.  And while you are on the site - check out the GoldenDoodle pictures on Dec 1.  Actually just check them all out.  Erin takes some stunning pup pictures.  I wish she lived a little closer to Winnipeg.  While I'm wishing for stuff, I wish it wasn't -27C.  Come on old man winter - give us a break.

Pictures of Sadie are coming.

puppy mills in Manitoba AGAIN

I'm sad to report that puppy mills are still alive and well in Manitoba.  This email came out from one of our customers Hip Pooch.

From D'Arcy's Animal Rescue Centre:

    Foster homes needed for canines. 

Foster parents are urgently needed for a two to ten week period starting December 12th to foster animals from yet another puppy mill which is in the process of being shut down.

Over 50 Labradoodles, puppies, adults and three pregnant dogs have been seized. The ARC needs committed foster homes over the Christmas period to foster dogs until they can move into the shelter as space comes available.

Please contact D’Arcy or Brenda at 204 888 2266 if you are up for a challenge.

Thank you,

-staff & volunteers.
 
There was also an article in the Winnipeg Free Press today here , although I'm not sure why reporters insist on calling puppy mill owners "Breeders".  Sure they produce a lot of puppies through the breeding process BUT they are not breeders.  This just causes confusion with responsible real CERTIFIED BREEDERS who care for their animals and make sure the dogs go to good homes.

Now keep in mind that although these animals need help, dogs shouldn't be treated as presents if this hasn't been discussed THOROUGHLY with the intended recipient.  Saves a trip back to the shelter after Christmas.

But if you've been looking to get a dog, now is a great time to do your research on the 'doodle.  I've met a lot of 'doodles at the dog park.  They are fun, fully of energy, and playful kids and they can grow to be quite tall.   Like this one...    

                

They remind me of Fraggles from Fraggle Rock.

And speaking of rescues, I'm swinging by It's Raining Cats and Dogs today so I will get a Sadie update.

Still here...

Rumour has it that we have gone out of business, or sold the company, or have been captured by aliens from the planet formerly known as Pluto but NO

WE ARE ...

I think the problem is that we moved our sales office to BC and changed the toll free number without telling you.  oops.  BUT you can find all of that new information here.  If you want to contact us by email, you can reach us at service@luckydogbiscuits.com.

Now if you thought we went out of business because we stopped blogging, well that's just CRAZY.  We stopped blogging because, hmmm, well unless you want to hear mind numbingly boring details about quickbook entries, or see endless pictures of Copper and friends, I just ran out of things to tell you at the moment.  And the non-boring stuff? Well I just haven't had time to write about.  Sorry - bad blogging.

I like to research the heck out of the interesting stuff before writing and I haven't had time to do that either.  So stick with us.  We are still baking up your favourite, all-natural, good enough for humans to eat dog treats.  We promise.  We'll let you know if there is anything earth shattering to tell.  Don't believe those rumours - we are still here.

Melamine strikes again

If you haven't heard the news, it looks like Chinese food manufacturers didn't learn their lesson last year.  This time the issue is with baby formula of all things.

Here's the brief overview.  Last year you remember that approximately 4000 dogs and cats fell victim to foods containing melamine tainted wheat gluten.  Wheat gluten is used in some products to boost the protein content with a cheaper source of protein from grain and stick the food together.  Melamine is typically used in making plastics, which truthfully isn't really that good for you either especially if you heat it up.  You can read more about the problems with melamine plates here.  Melamine can be used for dog and cat dishes, as well, so if you heat up Muffin's food before serving, please do it in a glass or microwave safe plastic.  Melamine also registers as a protein when tested because of the nitrogen content so it is used illegally to boost the protein content of wheat gluten.  Protein in wheat fluctuates and prices for wheat and wheat gluten are often based on protein content.  So in essence they are risking lives for money.

Melamine cause kidney damage and so far 4 children in China have died and more than 6200 children have developed kidney stones.  For reports direct from China, you can read about it on The China Daily website.  It is always interesting to see China's take on the situation and compare it to our media sources.  The west has been accused of China bashing and I have to agree; our media sometimes makes more of a soap opera out of stories than they need to.  In this case, the reports have been pretty consistent.

No baby formula products are sold in North America because they don't meet North American standards for baby food.

It is hard to believe that even though the Chinese food manufacturers knew the damage caused by melamine in pet food, they continued to hide melamine in food sources.  And they laughed at me when I insisted in including an ethics section when I taught in Nanjing. 

meet Sadie

Remember the horrible article in the Free Press this summer about the beagles and cocker spaniels rescued from the puppy mill in Woodlands (there is no other word for it because this guy was NOT a breeder)?  And remember how the wonderful people at Diamond Edge Grooming fixed up countless dogs on their own time and money?  Well Sadie was one of those dogs and Brenda at It's Raining Cats and Dogs adopted her.

Sadie was deemed un-adoptable due, no doubt, to her age and physical condition.  She is about 5 or 6 years old and was only used for breeding mass numbers of litters (they think 10) judging by the condition of her poor little body.  She had untreated glaucoma which was treated by removing her eye after her rescue.  She looks like she is about 10 lbs too skinny (maybe less - I'm such a bad judge of weight) and her hair is still growing back around her neck where she was likely restrained in her little cage.  GRRRR... people like the Woodlands guy make me so mad.  Oh - and how can I forget, she was de-barked.  I will not go into the description on how that happens but you can ask Brenda when you go down to visit.  It's not nice at all.

But now she is well fed, loved, and free to roam.  Way to go Brenda for taking on sweet little Sadie.  Sadie is joining the other two store dogs Jamie,

and Stanley.

I think they are starting to warm up to their new sister.

Go check out Sadie at It's Raining Cats and Dogs new location at B-620 Academy Road, near Keneston.  And while your at it, pick up some packaged or BULK (only place in town with bulk) Lucky Dog Biscuits.

And give Sadie a big scratch behind her velvety long ears.  She's already looking so much better than when she first arrived at the store.

Thanks Brenda for showing that "un-adoptables" are most definitely adoptable.

Eco Challenge

Wow - where did the summer go?  We have been busy enjoying the sun and keeping Lucky Dog ticking along.  We obviously haven't been attending to the blog so thank-you to everyone who still checks in from time to time. 

Over the summer I have stepped up the efforts around here to become a little more earth friendly.  You've seen post about the quest for the perfect poo bag and the Norwex way of cleaning.  We also extend this to Lucky Dog Biscuits by using recycled cardboard and biodegradable soy inks for the packaging and by incorporating many Canadian grown products such as Saskatoon berries, flax and oats.  But still, there is always more to do.  So I made up some Eco goals for 2008 and posted them on the fridge for everyone to see (and to hold me accountable).

These goals are added to some things that I've already incorporated at home such as hanging laundry to dry (my neighbours think I'm nuts) and composting.  Composting, by the way, is huge.  Approximately 50% of landfill is made up of compostable organic matter - food, paper, leaves, etc.  That's sad because when organic matter composts in landfill it creates methane due to lack of oxygen.  And methane is the worst greenhouse gas around.  If you want to learn more about composting go here.  As you can see on my list, my number one pet peeve at the moment is plastic - plastic water bottles, plastic bags, plastic toys, blech... In my summer web surfing, I came across a stunning article about a plastic soup brewing in the Pacific Ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Patch is a collection of plastic accumulating in the ocean estimated to be twice the size of Texas.  Some articles estimate that it is even bigger.  I was STUNNED.  I love the ocean.  And I've seen plastic water bottles wedged in coral 50 ft below the surface when SCUBA diving.  But twice the size of Texas - yoiks!  I realize some things have to be stored in plastic because it is liquid.  And truthfully, products shipped in plastic weigh less therefore use less fossil fuels.  I try to limit my plastic to #1 and #2 plastics which are easy to recycle and be reused into something new.  For instance, the carpet in my newly renoed bedroom is made from recycled pop bottles. How cool is that? 

On a lighter note, we also increased our garden size to grow some veggies at home.

Cucumber plants, in case anyone hasn't experienced this, need a LOT of room and produce a ton of cucumbers.  I have my own little Greek salad in this garden - tomatoes, cucumbers and basil.  Also featured are marigolds to keep the bugs away and some pathetic beets that I won't be trying next year.

So what about you?  Do you have any Eco Goals that you would like to share?  Any tips or horror stories to shock the world into action?  Please share. 

I'm off to deliver some biscuits and to visit a recently rescued cocker spaniel from this story at the beginning of the summer.  She is happily hanging out at It's Raining Cats and Dogs in Winnipeg.  I'll share pictures of this sweetie and tell her story next week.  Happy Friday.

125 years of Goodness

Happy 125th Anniversary St. John Ambulance.  That's a lot of years of caring for people.  And that 125 years is just in Canada. The history dates back even further to the days in Jerusalem 900 years ago when a hospital was built to care for sick pilgrams.  No I don't have an amazing memory databank of random facts -  I read their website here.

The reason I tell you this is that we have been involved in helping St. John Ambulance raise money in Manitoba for their Therapy Dog program.  You can read about that here if you haven't already.

A couple of weekends ago, the Manitoba St. John group (and let me tell you I am practicing restraint by not calling it St. Johns although it naturally flows off the tongue that way) held a BBQ to thank the volunteers - canine and human - for the countless hours spent in the community meeting with people and lifting spirits with a little puppy love.  There were some Lucky Dog Biscuits for all of the hard working pups to munch on and some hamburgers and hot dogs for their people.

Here are a couple pictures of the fantastic volunteers.  Thank-you for spending your time making our community a better place.  Keep up the good work St. John Ambulance.  We are proud to be a part of your efforts.

flyin'

A while back we participated in an event in Winnipeg for a local flyball club called the Flyball Fanatics.  They had a fantastic event showcasing the fastest fly pug in North America - Cujo.

I love the look on his face.

WHeeeee.....

I didn't get a chance to make it out but it looks like everyone had fun.  And the photographer took some great shots.

I love the last picture. My picture would just be a blur of dog but then again, I just use a little point and shoot Canon so I really can't expect miracles.

I can't really tell you a lot about the Flyball World but there are a number of websites that will help you find a club in your area. Check out the main flyball website here for more info.  And congratulations to all the flydogs.