Modern Pets's blog

Hundreds of homeless cats and dogs find new families during this iconic holiday event

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., November 12, 2013 – Celebrate the season by joining the San Francisco SPCA and Macy's for the 27th annual Holiday Windows event, where adoptable cats and dogs are showcased in Macy's holiday windows in Union Square. On November 22nd, at 5 p.m., the Windows will be unveiled on the corner of Stockton and O'Farrell Streets by cast members from Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon. Before the windows are unveiled, the De Marillac Academy choir will perform classic holiday songs. Last year, nearly 300 animals found homes during the Holiday Windows event and $80,000 was raised to support the SF SPCA's lifesaving programs.

"The Windows have become a true holiday tradition in San Francisco," said Jason Walthall, SF SPCA Co-President. "We are incredibly grateful to Macy's for their ongoing generosity and partnership. This event allows us to find homes for animals in need while also educating the public about animal welfare issues that impact San Francisco."

“Macy’s is proud to continue the annual tradition of the SF SPCA Holiday Windows,” said Rise Hixson, Visual Manager at Macy’s Union Square. “Every year there is a building excitement in our store in the weeks before we welcome the puppies and kittens into the windows. I fall in love with at least one pet every year. It's easily my favorite window display because of the joy it brings to so many."
In the spirit of the holidays, those looking to welcome a lovable furry friend into their home can meet an animal in need by visiting the SF SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square.

The Holiday Windows would not be possible without the help of volunteers. Last year more than 1,000 volunteers helped collect donations and greet the public. Volunteer shifts are only two hours and require no prior training. Groups are welcome as well. For details or to sign up, visit sfspca.org/holiday-volunteer or call 415-554-3008.

Each year the Windows have a new theme. Holiday 2013 will be a new spin on the 2012 Iconic Holiday Celebration Windows theme, which featured Thanksgiving Day parade floats, Union Square ice skating, and holiday gift giving.

If you can't make it to the windows, you can still watch the animals online! All of the windows are equipped with video cameras that stream to sfspca.org/holiday.

For those who can't make it to Macy’s, the SF SPCA will be waiving the adoption fees for animals adopted on weekdays from the permanent SF SPCA Adoption Center at 250 Florida Street.

For more information about San Francisco pet adoption, call the San Francisco SPCA at (415) 522-3500 or visit sfspca.org.

Small Illinois-based Company, Oscar Newman, Donates All Proceeds from Biggest Shopping Weekend to Charity Batavia, IL.

Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the Philippines, has been described as the most devastating typhoon to ever hit land, and images from its heartbreaking damage has touched countless across the world. But for the founders of Oscar Newman LLC, a small pet company based in Batavia, IL, the news hit close to home. Charisa Antigua and Carmina O’Connor are originally from the Philippines, and they have family, friends, and an office in the country.

As a company, Antigua and O’Connor have always believed in social responsibility and support for the environment and animals in the United States and in the Philippines, and have made it part of their business mission. But this time they felt they had to do more.

Oscar Newman® is known primarily for their luxury pet couture brand of clothing where they create handembellished apparel for pets, including their widely popular hand-smocked dresses for dogs. In August 2009, Oscar Newman launched their line of organic coconut oil supplements and treats for pets, called CocoTherapy®. Their USDA-certified organic virgin coconut oil, organic coconut chips, and organic coconut flour come from their family-owned farm and manufacturing facility in the Philippines and all their pet treats are manufactured in the United States. “The Philippines is one of the top producers of coconut oil,” said Charisa Antigua, CEO of Oscar Newman LLC. “The country has given us so much of its resources, and we felt that we had to give back to the people as well, especially now, during this time of need.”

As with most businesses, Black Friday and the weekend after Thanksgiving is one of the strongest shopping times of the year for Oscar Newman. In light of this, the company has decided to pledge 100% of their proceeds from four days of sales, from Friday, Nov. 29 – Monday, Dec. 2 to help the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. “We are donating 100% of our proceeds from both wholesale and retail sales,” said Carmina O’Connor, President, and co-founder. “After the news of the storm, we received a barrage of emails and calls from our wonderful customers asking how they could help. So we wanted to provide a way to continue to offer our services to them, and at the same time, enable them to help the Philippines. It was win-win for all.”

Oscar Newman will be donating 100% of its proceeds from four days of sales to two organizations, Operation Blessing International and Philippine Animal Welfare Society, charities designated to help typhoon survivors.

If you are a wholesale customer, please contact the company directly to place a wholesale order. Retail customers can shop online at:

Oscar Newman: shoposcarnewman.com
CocoTherapy: cocotherapy.com

About Oscar Newman LLC - Oscar Newman luxury pet couture is available at fine boutiques in the United States and throughout the world. Please visit www.oscarnewman.com to find a location nearest you.

About CocoTherapy® – CocoTherapy is Oscar Newman’s line of organic pet coconut-based supplements and treats. To learn more about CocoTherapy® and find a store near you, please visit cocotherapy.com.

Connie Wilson named the 2014 recipient of the prestigious annual

Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award

(Greenwich, CT—November 13, 2013)— The American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) are pleased to announce the Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of international successes Modern Dog and Modern Cat magazines, Connie Wilson is the 2014 recipient of Global Pet Expo’s annual “Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award”.

Wilson will personally accept the award Thursday, March 13, 2014 in Orlando, Florida at The Purina® Media Reception at Global Pet Expo. This media-exclusive event is held in conjunction with Global Pet Expo, the pet industry’s largest annual tradeshow, taking place March 12 – 14, 2014 at the Orange County Convention Center. Global Pet Expo attendees include independent pet product retailers, distributors and mass market buyers, media and other qualified individuals from the pet industry.

Wilson launched Modern Dog magazine in 2002 as a regional publication. She had no previous publishing experience, but a deep love for dogs, particularly her Weimaraner-Pointer cross, Kaya, that connected her with her audience. The magazine gained immediate traction and found itself embraced by an audience hungry for a new breed of dog magazine, one that focused on the interests of the modern dog guardian, embraced mutts and pure breeds alike, and championed rescue. Now in its eleventh year, Modern Dog has achieved rare cross-border success, developed faithful and enthusiastic North American-wide readership both in the print and digital realms and has been critically acclaimed by outlets ranging from NPR and CBC to The Ellen DeGeneres Show and OMG Insider for providing modern, relevant content for pet owners. 

Wilson’s journalistic work in the industry led to moderndogmagazine.com being named one of the top three sites for pet lovers by technology company, Intel Corporation. Wilson extended her passion inspiring feel-good features with a positive message to the cat-owning population with the 2012 launch of Modern Cat magazine, named one of the 15 hottest magazine launches of 2012 (fielded from 800 new titles by Samir Husni, founder-director of the magazine innovation centre at University of Mississippi’s Meek school of journalism). 

“Connie’s true passion for pets and their well being comes through in all that she’s accomplished,” said Bob Vetere, President and CEO of APPA. “Her magazines and websites are just another way for her to share in the love we have for our pets to an active and enthusiastic group of people, which is the true essence of this award.  We congratulate her on her contribution to the industry and the pet-loving population.”

The annual “Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award” recognizes individuals in the media who have the power to influence millions of people and use this to positively promote the joys and benefits of pet ownership. Whether via print, broadcast or internet mediums, these distinguished members of the press produce stories that highlight responsible pet ownership and all the exciting services, products and activities that make spending time with our pets even more enjoyable. Past recipients include Sandy Robins (Today.com, MSNBC.com, Dog/Cat Fancy), Jill Rappaport, Victoria Stilwell, Rachael Ray, Ellen DeGeneres, Dr. Marty Becker (Good Morning America/Vetstreet/Dr. Oz Show), Steve Dale (My Pet World/The Pet Minute), Gina Spadafori (author/Pet Connection) and Janice Brown (The Tails Pet Media Group).

Message to National Chicken Council: "Put Welfare First!"

ASPCA, thousands of supporters urge chicken industry’s trade association to address birds’ crippling growth rates and inhumane living conditions in welfare guidelines due out this year.

NEW YORK—In an open letter delivered today to the National Chicken Council (NCC), the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), along with a growing base of supporters, called upon the organization to improve the standards of care for the chickens that are raised for meat in the United States. The NCC’s revised welfare guidelines are expected to be released before the end of this year.

The letter, which cites various scientific studies, reads in part: "As the body that essentially sets industry standards, the NCC determines the quality of life for billions of birds. We urge you to update your guidelines with meaningful recommendations to address welfare concerns related to both growth rate and husbandry, reflecting the values and expectations of chicken consumers."

Nearly all of the more than nine billion farm animals raised for food each year in the United States are chickens. Most of these chickens are selectively bred by industry to grow so big, so fast that many can barely move and spend much of their lives lying in their own waste, often with open sores and wounds that can create gateways to infection. In addition, most live in overcrowded, ammonia-filled sheds with artificial lighting designed to promote continuous eating, and suffer from a lack of enrichment that prevents natural behaviors.

In a recent study, the University of Arkansas found that if humans grew at a similar rate to that of modern chickens, a 6.6 pound newborn baby would weigh 660 pounds after two months. Studies have also shown that the stress of the excessive growth rate and accompanying poor living conditions can contribute to lowered immunity, potentially making the chickens even more susceptible to disease. 

“Most of today’s chickens are in effect bred to suffer; these are the chickens that make their way to Americans’ plates every day,” said Suzanne McMillan, director of the ASPCA’s Farm Animal Welfare Campaign. “Not only are the industry’s current practices cruel, but these animals’ living conditions and low welfare may also have implications for food safety and human health. We urge the NCC to do right by chickens and consumers by revising its guidelines to respond to this systemic issue that has unfortunately become the norm.”

Despite the fact that more than 90 percent of farm animals raised each year for food are chickens, there are no federal laws regulating how they are treated on farms. Earlier this year, the ASPCA launched an effort called "The Truth About Chicken" to address the problems with U.S. poultry breeding and production practices. To date, more than 100,000 people have signed the campaign petition demanding slower-growing chickens raised in more humane conditions.  

Thanks to its loyal customers, Whole Life Pet is growing!  Its commitment to quality, safety, USA sourcing and small batch manufacturing of pet treats in its own Western MA facility is without compromise. Top, hand-picked USA farmers, ranchers and fisherman -- all from the human food industry -- ensure the highest quality, freshest, fanatically delicious treats ever. The company’s own state of the art freeze-drying manufacturing facility produces and packages everything in house under the supervision and care of its own pet loving staff.

To further its growth the company has just purchased a new freeze dryer and, John Gigliotti, the company’s CEO has launched a campaign on Indiegogo to support this huge project and is asking for your help. In return Whole Life treats and other great perks will be provided to its Indiegogo supporters as a show of appreciation. 

Please check out Whole Life’s new video and campaign and share this link (http://igg.me/at/wholelifepet/x/3625274) with anyone you know that loves pets and supports safe treats made in the USA.