If I Should Die Before My Dog Review & Giveaway

Book Description:

A Dog Lovers lasting guide.......An beautifully illustrated interactive book that one fills in all of the information about their dogs life in the event they can no longer care for them to help ensure your pets are taken care of.

A thought provoking check list for dog lovers, who unfortunately and with much sadness can no longer take care of their dog.

This book will assist those who want to prepare for their dogs future in an easy to use format that will guide them through the process of telling the "story" of their dogs life, for their pets "Next Guardian".

None of us can predict the future, but in the event situations arise such as death, health impairment or left with no other choice but to give them up, this book will be there to assist your beloved pet with the transition from one home to another.

My own thoughts:
No one really wants to think about the time when we may not be able to care for our loved ones, including our pets. This book helps pet owners to provide another person with all the information needed to help make any transition smoother for their furry loved one. A few years ago my mother and stepfather took in a dog after its owner had passed away suddenly. The owner was a good friend of my stepfather's, but even so he really knew nothing about the dog. A book like this would have been a treasure as they tried to help Christy (the dog) adjust to her new life.

The book may be a bit emotional to complete. There may be tears over the thought of no longer being able to be with or care for your dog, but I honestly enjoyed going through the book. I loved thinking about things such as what my dog's favorite toy is, the funny little routines we have, and all the "bad" habits (more of thinking of how funny it would be to watch another person learn to deal with these habits haha) my dog has. The hardest part for me to think about was the last one, "Special Things from My Human," because it makes us think about what about ourselves we would want our pet to have. Special songs, routines, or even a note to them telling them how much we love them; I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it.

Unfortunately we cannot predict the future, and it is best to be prepared while hoping for the best. The book could also be used for when you are on vacation or your pet is being cared for by another person for a short time, as it contains a lot of information. I would recommend this book for any dog owner.

 

Be sure to check out the website for "If I Should Die Before My Dog." You can also "Like" the book on Facebook and follow on Twitter!

 

   
amazon.co.uk           amazon.com

About the authors:



Authors Joe and Cathy Connolly

Joe and Cathy Connolly have spent a lifetime owning, training and caring for dogs. Cathy grew up with a Collie breeder, dog groomer and dog handler while attending many different dog shows and eventually went on to work with other breeders as she grew older. They live in beautiful Northern Michigan with their 3 furry four legged children, one large dog, one small dog and the entire family is supervised by one bossy calico cat. 



Follow our Book Tour & signed book giveaway! 5 winners!

 

1.	Thursday 29th November - Beck Valley Books
2.	Friday 30th November - Ruthi Reads
3.	Saturday 1st December - Save and Share with Coupons
4.	Sunday 2nd December - The Ordinary Aunt
5.	Monday 3rd December - Adventures of Frugal Mom
6.	Tuesday 4th December - Libby’s Library
7.	Wednesday 5th December - Identity Discovery
8.	Thursday 6th December - Kol’s Notes
9.	Friday 7th December - Pellerini Proclaims
10.	Saturday 8th December - Four Paw Savings
11.	Sunday 9th December - Devoted Mommy of 3
12.	Monday 10th December - Read, Rate & Review
13.	Tuesday 11th December - Maureen’s Musings
14.	Wednesday 12th December - Two Little Cavaliers
15.	Thursday 13th December - My Cozie Corner
16.	Friday 14th December - Pam at Mom Does Reviews
17.	Saturday 15th December - Create With Joy
18.	Sunday 16th December - Tx Mommys Savings
19.	Monday 17th December - Living Frugal with Erika
20.	Tuesday 18th December - My Devotional Thoughts

 

SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY !!

This special giveaway is brought to you by
the authors, Joe and Cathy Connolly 
&
Beck Valley Books  
 

5 lucky winners will each receive their own copy of "If I Should Die Before My Dog," signed the authors.

Open to US/Canada, UK and Europe

The giveaway will end on Tuesday, December 18th, at 11:59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!

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Disclaimer: I received a signed copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Litter Getter Review & Giveaway!

I remember that when we first got our kittens my biggest concern was the litter box. I had no idea how to train a kitten to use it, or what to do if my kitty (ahem, Boots) simply refused to use it. I really wish I had known about Litter Getter back then.

Litter Getter is an all-natural litter training solution. The Litter Getter all-natural mixture is scientifically designed to attract cats to their litter box. It is a great way to train kittens to use their box, as well as to help stop problem behaviors in older cats who are not using their box. It is natural and safe for them to use, so you don't have to worry about chemicals getting onto your kitty's paws.

When I first opened the bottle I, of course, had to smell it. To me it smelled just like any other dried herb, but then again, I am not a cat. Boots and Bruin are both box trained and only go outside of the box when there is an obviously issue, such as me forgetting to clean it, but I wanted to see if they would still be attracted to it. I sprinkled some into  a clean litter box, and within a few minutes Boots was in the litter box sniffing around. He spent quite a long time sniffing and digging before using the box, which he rarely does - he's more of an in and out quick kind of cat. I think he was intrigued by the smell, and can only imagine a kitty with box problems being just as attracted to the solution.

Boots inspecting the jug of Litter Getter

One thing I love about Litter Getter is that you can use it with any kind of litter. We personally use corn or pine litter, but it will work just as well with convential clay litter, or another litter type. It won't disturb the clumping nature of a litter either. Litter Getter also helps to neutralize odors caused by the ammonia in cat urine - always a plus in a multi-cat household like ours!

Did you know that non-use of the litter box is the #1 behavioral reason why cats are abandoned or abused? This is why the people at Litter Getter have worked so hard to create a product that works! And now you can try it for yourself - Litter Getter is giving away a bottle of their product to one of my readers! Simply enter using the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway begins November 30th and ends at midnight EST December 9th. US Only. Good luck!

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Disclaimer: Litter Getter provided me with a free product to try in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

PureBites cat treats: A review

With the addition of our newest cat, Odin, we started going through a lot of treats in our house. I try really hard to feed my cats food that I believe supports a healthy lifestyle, and PureBites cat treats do just that.

PureBites treats are made from freeze-dried whole ingredients, and many of the treats contain only a single ingredient - the protein source that is the flavor of the treat. For example, the chicken breast cat treats that I received are made from 100% freeze-dried chicken breast. Other flavors, such as the Trail Mix dog treats, contain freeze-dried vegetables in addition to a protein. Freeze-drying helps to lock in the flavor, aroma and texture of the ingredients, allowing pet parents to serve nutritious treats to their furry family members.

The Four Paw Savings cats received a package of the Chicken Breast cat treats to test out. The treats were a hit - I don't think Boots even chewed his he ate them so fast! After receiving a treat Odin continued to sniff around the floor, hoping to stumble across another tasty piece. Bruin even joined the boys for treats, which is a rare occurrence. I guess PureBites were so tasty she just couldn't pass them up (even if it meant having to spent time with the boys). The cats loved the taste, and I love that I know exactly what it is that I am feeding my pets.

PureBites offer treats for both dogs and cats in a variety of flavors, including turkey, chicken, and ocean whitefish. PureBites are sold in pet specialty stores in the US and Canada, including Petco and PetSmart. Go here to find a retailer near you. PureBites can also be purchased online through sites such as Amazon.com, and Wag.com, among others. Go here to see a list of online retailers.

PureBites are a terrific way to treat your pet while helping to maintain their health and happiness. Be sure to check out PureBites on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Disclaimer: PureBites provided me with a free package of their cat treats in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

New yumminess: Petite Cuisine cat food review

In our house we love trying new cat food. Not only do the cats love it, but I love being able to give them some variety in their diets. I was quite happy when I was offered the opportunity to review some foods by Petite Cuisine.

I had seen Petite Cuisine available at our local Petco stores, but had never purchased any for the cats. One of the first things I noticed when I received the package was the variety! I received 3 Natural Cat Food Variety 4-packs, a 3 pack of canned appetizers for cats, and a package of their Grilled Tuna All Natural Cat Treats. Some of the flavors we received in the variety packs included Sesame Chicken Entree, Chicken Pot Pie Entree, Red Snapper Entree and Yellow Fin Tuna Entree, among others. With so many flavors we won't have any bored kitties in our house!

Odin enjoying his Petite Cuisine appetizer.

Petite Cuisine uses all natural, human grade ingredients in all of their cat food products. There are no meat-by-products in any of the Petite Cuisine products, and all the products are wheat-gluten free. The company also practices sustainable fishing, making them a more eco-friendly choice.

My cat Odin was the first to try Petite Cuisine. I gave him one of the Natural Appetizers as a treat, and boy, did he love it! He tried the Salmon & Whitefish Appetizer and practically inhaled it. I liked that when I opened the can the stuff inside actually looked like real food, like shredded fish, and not like mush. It smelled much better than most other cat foods as well (always a plus!). It really looked and smelled like people food. My other two cats have since tried several of the other products we received, and there has not been a single one they have not devoured.

Petite Cuisine can be found in pet specialty stores across the United States, including stores like Petco. Find your closest Petite Cuisine retail location here.

Be sure to check out the Petite Cuisine website. You can learn about their products, and also enter your cat's photo in Petite Cuisine's monthly contest for a chance to win a case of their all natural cat food! And be sure to connect with them on Facebook!

Disclaimer: I received products from Petite Cuisine, Pet Food for Cats in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

By Nature Pet Food Review & Giveaway!

"Help keep your pet feeling young with a powerful mix of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to promote a strong immune system. Formulated to help support your pet's natural defense against the effects of aging, illness, physical and environmental stress."

-By Nature pet foods

As many pet parents know, choosing a food for your furry family members is a big deal. I have three wonderful cats and strive to feed them wholesome, nutritious food. So I was super excited when I was offered a chance to review a bag of dry cat food from By Nature.

I had heard of By Nature pet food before, but did not know a whole lot about it. I was excited to learn that many of their pet food formulas contain no corn, wheat, or soy, and many also contain only a single protein source (which is terrific if your pet has sensitivities or allergies). By Nature also offers several grain-free dry and wet food varieties for both dogs and cats. To be honest, when I was allowed to choose a formula of dry food for my cats I had some difficulty - there are so many varieties! In the end I chose the Organic Dry Cat Food.

There were several things I liked about the Organic Dry Cat Food formula. The first ingredient listed is organic chicken, and this formula contains no corn, soy or wheat. It also contains no meat by-products, no by-product meal, no white rice (only organic brown rice), no brewer's grains, no grain by-products, and no artificial colors or preservatives. In other words, it is made with all kinds of good stuff for your cat. By Nature pet foods are made with fruits and vegetables to provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help keep your pet happy and healthy.

Boots & Odin trying their new food

I received the package containing the food for review after work one day. I opened it, and without thinking left the box open while I rushed to put some items away and start dinner. Big mistake. My curious boy, Boots, managed to get into the box and tear open one of the bags. I guess it smelled so good that he just couldn't wait! Needless to say he loved it, as did the other two. As soon as I poured it in their dishes they all ran over and had to try it right away. We have no issues at all since switching to By Nature food, which is amazing when you have two kitties with sensitive tummies. All three are eating it with no protests and are now on their second bag of food.

By Nature pet foods not only provide wholesome, healthy products for your dogs and cats, but they also care about pet parents like you! They have recently teamed up with World's Best Cat Litter to offer a "More Time With the Ones You Love" mobile tour across the U.S. They will be visiting pet stores to meet pet parents and give them the chance to win prizes, play games, learn how to better care for pets and save on premium pet products with money saving coupons. Check out the More Time With the Ones You Love site for dates and more information.

By Nature pet foods are available in pet specialty stores, or online through several pet online retailers. Go here to search for your closest retail store location or to see a list of online retailers.

To make things more exciting, By Nature pet foods have been kind enough to offer one of my readers the chance to try a bag of their choice of dry food! Simply enter the giveaway using the rafflecopter form below. The giveaway will run from Sunday, August 12, 2012 until Sunday, August 19, 2012. This giveaway is open to residents 18+ of the U.S. and Canada.

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World's Best Cat Litter: Review & Giveaway

I love my cats, but one thing I do not love is the litter box. I hate the artificial way scented litters smell, the dust that clay litters create, and the excessive amount of litter my cats always manage to track outside of the box. So when I was offered a chance to try World's Best Cat Litter, and all-natural, made from corn litter, I jumped at the chance.

I was a little apprehensive about switching litters. My boy Boots and my girl Bruin are both very picky about their litter, and I was worried that this change would be met with protest. Odin, my sweet senior boy who was recently rescued from a feral colony, had yet to get used to having a litter box, so I was not as concerned with him. He did not seem to care what litter was in the box - he was perfectly happy to use the floor instead.

You can imagine how excited I was when Boots immediately took to World's Best Cat Litter. As soon as I had cleaned the box and filled it with the new litter he was there sniffing about, and used the box before I even had a chance to put it back into its spot. Bruin too, took quickly to the new litter without a single hint of protest. And then Odin, who had refused to use his box since we took him in a month before, used his box that first night! I wonder if the litter felt more natural to him, like the ground outside? Or perhaps it was because the litter was not artificially scented, and therefore more pleasant to an animal who was used to nothing but nature smells? Whatever the reason, I was beyond excited that all three of my kitties were using the World's Best Cat Litter.

One of the first things I noticed about the litter was how little dust there was when I poured the litter into the box. I had heard how bad the dust from clay litter can be for pets, and World's Best Cat Litter is virtually dust-free. Perfect for my Bruin and her allergies. It also keeps the area around the box looking cleaner, which is a plus for any cat owner. 

I also noticed was how easy the clumps were to clean. The litter clumps quickly after the cat uses it, and the clumps stay together making scooping and disposing them much easier. Cleaning the cat box is never fun, but at least now it is not unpleasant. 

Another thing I noticed was the smell. I had tried the World's Best Cat Litter Scented Multiple Cat Clumping Formula. It is scented using all natural ingredients, and I loved the scent (seriously, I considered pouring some in a bowl for potpourri!). World's Best Cat Litter also does a wonderful job of controlling litter box odor - with three cats this is so important! Except for the first few minutes after the cats used the box I couldn't smell any cat odors at all. I have a feeling that if your cat covers their mess (which none of mine do) you would not smell anything. The best part was that I noticed there was never any urine smell, even after using the litter for days, which always happened with other litters. 

World's Best Cat Litter is made from all-natural whole kernel corn. It is safe for pets, safe for people, and safe for the environment. It offers superior odor control and is longer lasting than most conventional cat litters on the market. It is quick clumping, making scooping the cat box quick and easy. The litter comes in three formulas - Clumping, Multiple Cat Clumping, and Scented Multiple Cat Clumping. 

Want to try World's Best Cat Litter for yourself? Well, you have a few options. You can take advantage of their First Bag Free rebate program (read my post here for full details). There is also a money saving coupon available for $5 off any bag of World's Best Cat Litter. Or, World's Best Cat Litter has been kind enough to offer three of my readers a chance to receive a bag for free! Just enter to win in the Rafflecoper form below! Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada and ends Monday, July 30, 2012.

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Disclaimer: World's Best Cat Litter provided me with a free bag of litter to try in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.