I know I have been slacker lately, but a new development has me outraged enough to bring me out of blogger retirement.

By now you have probably heard about the dog fighting app developed by a company called Kage Games LLC. The Dog Wars “game” (an insulting term, given the subject matter) is available at Google’s android market, and we animal lovers have been working tirelessly all weekend to send Google the clear message that this app should be removed immediately. (Kudos to XDA Developers, who DID ban this app from their site.)

According to the Google android market policies page, “Android Market should not be used for unlawful purposes or for promotion of dangerous and illegal activities. If found engaging in such activity, we may deny access to Android Market, terminate your account, notify law enforcement authorities, or take other appropriate action.”

In the “game,” the controller has the opportunity to train a dog to fight other dogs, win virtual cash (like a business) and inject the dog with steroids. The logo features a Pit Bull with cropped ears, yellow eyes, and a blood-stained muzzle.

Yet the developer claims that they do not violate the terms. I really wonder how that can be, especially considering not only the keywords the developer inserted into the app (specifically “train to dogfight”):

…but also these two seemingly contradictory messages tweeted by the developer, @dogwarsapp:

Really??  Just like in real life?? So then, the developer has experience in the illegal activity of dog fighting? Shocking!!

So who is this developer? Has the developer ever been investigated for dog fighting? I can only hope that authorities in the area where Kage Games LLC is based figure out a way to, because obviously animals were harmed in the inspiration of this app.

To join in asking Google to remove this app from the android market:

1. Leave a Feature Request/Suggestion at the android market support forum.
2. Sign the petition at change.org. The petition gained 5,000 signatures on its first day.
3. Email press@google.com to express your concern.
4. Tweet your disgust directly the developer at @dogwarsapp and email at pitboss@kagegames.com
5. Report the app as inappropriate.

I’d like to share with you three Halloween dangers for pets! I know how our guards can come down during the holidays, and I want everyone to be safe, happy, and have fun!!!

Thank you to Life Gear for letting me know that there are options to the dangerous, toxic, carcinogenic glow sticks of old!

Pets are like shoes. Better in pairs.

Kobi Levi is an outrageous art designer who specializes in shoes (warning: some are X-rated). He sculpts footwear into fabulous and crazy shapes, and may be the first person to design shoes for dog and cat lovers. Or just people who love weird shoes.

Check out his leather Dog shoe…

And the leather cat shoe, with the uber-designer name of Miao. They make paw prints when you walk, and I LOVE how the tail wraps around your ankle!!!

Congratulations the the winners, Paul, Cass, Kari of HoundGirl.com, and Amanda!

I have here four copies of a very fun book that I would love to give away to dog lovers!  It’s called SUNSPOT: The Best Ever Astrological Guide to Your Dog by Laurie Birnsteel. Readers have given it 5 stars on Amazon, and I absolutely adore it. Don’t know your dog’s birthday? This book would make a very thoughtful gift this holiday season for someone who does.

Although I don’t know the exact birthday of my dog, who was rescued by a friend of mine when she spotted him wandering on a road nearly getting hit by cars, I’ve always celebrated it in August. I don’t know why. This would make him a Leo, and I was shocked when this book absolutely nailed him based on his pretend birthday. Maybe there’s a reason why I chose August!

According to Birnsteel, my Leo dog’s positive traits are ambition, bravery, cheerfulness, passion, and proudness. His negative traits include being bossy, cowardly, nosey and pretentious. Huh? Both brave and cowardly??  Exactly. My dog is a Catahoula, a dog known for being headstrong. He needed a bit of rehabilitation when I first got him: he was apt to bark and lunge at people outside our car when he was in it, and lunge at other dogs. He would drag me around at the end of his leash, holding on for dear life.

But with training, I’ve discovered the real Mr. Blue. He used to bark and lunge because he’s a bit insecure, not mean. He’s very anxious walking in the dark. He’s easily startled. He gets nervous when dogs bark at him. A crack of thunder turns him into a shaking puddle of mush that only cuddling can cure. And even though the neighborhood Rottweiler broke free from her owner’s leash–twice–so she could charge Mr. Blue, attacking him and taking him down at the neck (luckily Mr. Blue was not hurt either time), Mr. Blue continued to stand his ground, looking her straight in the eye whenever they passed each other on the street. He is indeed both brave and cowardly, as well as almost everything else the author described. (I now work with him on every walk to ensure he pays attention to ME, not other dogs, for everyone’s safety.)

Rules:

The winner must be 18+ and have a US mailing address. The winner will be chosen at random via random.org and be notified via email. Winner will have 3 days to accept their prize. Entries accepted until 12 noon EST on Friday , Oct. 15, 2010. For up to four entries:

Four winners will receive a copy of this book. To enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know you subscribe to this blog via a reader or email. (Mandatory, 1 entry.)

2. If you include in your comment that you now follow me on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page, you then get one more entry for each. Tell me your Twitter name so I can confirm and follow you back!

3. Tweet this for a bonus entry:
@LeighPeterson is giving away dog astrology books at http://www.GoFetchGifts.com/blog/

Good Luck! Woof!

This contest was sponsored by Turner Publishing, who supplied the prizes stated above.
No compensation was given to GoFetchGifts.com in relation to this giveaway.

Entries are now closed.  Thanks to all who entered!!

On the road with your pets? Bamboo has some fun and functional travel or day-to-day products for your doggie, and I’m giving them away this week!

One winner will receive a Bamboo product pack valued at $25.00 that includes:

• One Bamboo home Disposable Waste Bags & Dispenser
• One pink Bamboo Silicone Travel Bowl, BPA & PVC free, 3 cup size, and
• One blue Bamboo Silicone Travel Bowl, BPS & PVC free, 1 cup size

Bamboo’s disposable waste bags & dispenser attach right to your dog’s leash, so you’ll never be without a waste bag. This has happened to me and it’s not only embarrassing, but it makes me look like an irresponsible pet owner as there are waste pick-up laws virtually everywhere today.

The waste bags are infused with baking soda and scented to reduce odor! I know sometimes when I walk with the filled waste bags, there is a waft of odor surrounding my dog and I as we walk, making it quite unpleasant for those we pass on our way home! The Bamboo bags smell fresh and delightful (at least for now). They are extra large, with a reinforced seam and can even be used to pick up droppings in the litter box.

Bamboo’s silicone travel bowls collapse to fit in your pocket or purse, and extend to the size of a regular bowl. They are made of non-porous, FDA-compliant materials and are dishwasher safe. The 1 cup (8 oz) bowl is for small to medium sized dogs (or cats!), and the 3 cup (24 oz) bowl is big enough for medium to large size dogs.

The winner must be 18+ and have a US mailing address. The winner will be chosen at random via random.org and be notified via email. Winner will have 3 days to accept their prize. Entries accepted until 12 noon EST on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. For up to four entries:

1) Mandatory: Subscribe to this blog via a reader or e-mail (top right corner).

2) Mandatory: Leave a comment on this blog letting me know you subscribed and using which method.

3) If you include in your comment that you now follow me on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page, you then get one more entry for each. Tell me your Twitter name so I can confirm and follow you back!

4) Tweet this for a bonus entry:
@LeighPeterson is giving away pet waste bags & travel bowls at http://www.GoFetchGifts.com/blog/

Good Luck!  Woof!!!

This contest was sponsored by Bamboo, who supplied the prizes stated above.
No compensation was given to GoFetchGifts.com in relation to this giveaway.

Got this in my email today. Watch as these puppies are lulled to sleep with a song almost instantly!

She’s one! She made it through being born into a very weird home to coming to our wonderful home, through pneumonia, staying at the vet overnight and them telling me they didn’t know if she would make it, fleas, worms, various mysterious bouts of stool issues, bottle feeding and hunger strikes…

And now she’s my beautiful, healthy, mischievous, fluffy, soft, sweet voiced Ragdoll who is as of recently *starting to become cuddly, too!!!*

Happy first birthday little Aura Cakes McGee!

Two weeks ago, I spent a lot of time typing “cat ate string” into search engines. Aura, my 10 month old Ragdoll, ate some. A lot of some.

In my 15 years of cat ownership, this is the first time I’ve had to deal with this, other than the time when my late Persian ate about 2 1/2 inches of string and I didn’t know it until I found him running all over the house trying to pass it on the carpet.

Aura ate the string from her Da Bird toy. I had read about what a great toy this was, and it was for a few months. She loved it. I was always vigilant about putting it away when we were done playing with it, but she’s such a calm kitten in general that this time I didn’t. I was out all Saturday night at a wedding, then came home and went to bed. When I woke up Sunday morning, I went to pick up Da Bird. The pole and the feathers were laying side by side. The two feet of string that connect them was gone. There was about two inches of string left attached to the pole and then attached to the hook that the feathers connected with. The cuts were pretty clean.

I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find that 2 feet of string. I panicked. I cried. I blamed myself. I deduced that it had to be Aura. My other cat never chews on string, and Aura does at times. My other cat hardly has any teeth left. My dog isn’t the type to chew on string, either. As a test, I picked up the remaining string and showed it to the dog. He sniffed and looked away. Aura sniffed and immediately tried to take a bite! A ha! I watched her like a hawk. I started giving her vaseline twice a day. She wasn’t exhibiting anything odd. She was still passing normal looking stool once a day. But after four days of constant worry, I took her to the vet for an x-ray.

The vet thought she felt something hard in Aura’s tummy, but looking at the x-ray, all looked normal. The danger was, if she hadn’t passed it by then, it could be binding her intestines causing internal damage and bleeding. It could be sitting there gaining bacteria. It could cause blockage. Or it could be wrapped around her tongue, and the rest could be trying to pass through, thus pearling up her intestines (however I think this string is a bit on the thick side for that).

But it is now two weeks later, and had I not known that that 2 feet of string is missing I would be none the wiser. Nothing has changed. I’ve seen no sign of the string. I’ve tried to check every stool, but a new discovery brings to light the fact that I have missed some opportunities. This morning, it was confirmed that the dog does indeed eat out of the litter box at times. Great.

So, besides the fact that my cat eats string and my dog eats cat poo, all is well here!

It’s summertime and allergies are running amuck! I’ve got good news for pet lovers who hate allergies. Bed, Bath & Beyond is sponsoring this blog post by giving away two standard size Allergy-Luxe anti-dander pillow protectors. Value of $30.

I used to work at my local humane society, and most of my co-workers there were allergic to animals or had allergies that were worsened by dogs or cats. And most pet lovers love sleeping with their pets at night! As we age, allergies come and go and our body’s immune response to stimulants waxes and wanes. It can be difficult to get rid of allergies, and then they can come right back. So prevention is important even when we are feeling fine.

That’s why the Allergy-Luxe pillow protectors make a wonderful addition to any pet lover’s home. You just never know when allergies are going to strike!

These two luxurious, ultra hygienic pillow protectors are allergist recommended, physician endorsed, and laboratory tested. They measure 20 inches by 26 inches.

To enter to win both pillow protectors:
- simply post a comment to this blog letting me know about your allergies.

- Bonus 2nd entry for following me on Twitter, and

- bonus 3rd entry for tweeting this: @LeighPeterson is giving away two Bed Bath & Beyond luxury anti-pet dander pillow protectors! http://bit.ly/ah-choo

Must be 18 or older to enter and have a US mailing address. Entries accepted until midnight EST the morning of July 18.

**No Longer Accepting Entries**

I’m a big fan of xylitol in my toothpaste and sugar-free gum. It’s actually good for your teeth. So my ears perked up years ago when I heard that just like chocolate, xylitol is toxic to dogs and cats, and I should never leave my gum or toothpaste lying around where my pets could get at them. Not a problem.

Then why on earth is Virbac Animal Health, a so-called “industry leader in the scientific research, development and manufacture of quality, proven pet pharmaceutical products” for OVER TWO DECADES, selling a product for dogs and cats that lists xylitol as the 3rd ingredient after water and glycerine!?  I am shocked.

The product is called CET AquaDent, and it’s a drinking water additive for dogs and cats. It’s supposed to help keep their breath fresh in conjunction with brushing.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center sees over 100 cases of xylitol toxicity annually. According to the center, dogs ingesting significant amounts of items sweetened with xylitol could develop a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures.”

With smaller concentrations of xylitol, the onset of clinical signs could be delayed as much as 12 hours after ingestion,” according to a 2006 press release from the center.

That was four years ago, Virbac. Shame on you.

In September, we’ll be giving away a pet oral health kit from Naturally Green Tropiclean, including a similar water additive and teeth cleaning gel, neither of which contains xylitol. Stay tuned!