Modern Pets's blog

SAN FRANCISCO, September 2013 – P.L.A.Y. (Pet Lifestyle And You), creator of premium pet beds, toys and accessories, is excited to introduce the Wobble Ball Enrichment Toy for the holiday season. Featuring a uniquely-designed tear drop shape, the Wobble Ball is the latest addition to P.L.A.Y.’s award-winning collections.

Each Wobble Ball is made using tough and durable Polycarbonate and ABS thermoplastic. Uniquely shaped to roll around unpredictably and coupled with the sight and sound of dog treats spinning inside, this interactive treat toy is sure to tease and captivate man’s best friend. The Wobble Balls are certified 100% dishwasher safe and designed with strong threading to allow parts to be easily cleaned and to stay secure when in use.

“As pet parents ourselves, we are always looking for a safe, fun and interactive toy that can keep our pups engaged and challenged, and this toy is perfect for that.” said Deborah Feng, Momo’s mom and co-founder of P.L.A.Y.

The Wobble Balls are available in three vibrant colors and are delightfully packaged. Retailing at $19.90, Wobble Balls will are available for purchase online at www.PetPlay.com and in select boutiques.

Ontario SPCA Animals’ Voice Pawdcast

 Free Feral Food Program & Feral Cat Trap Depot Program – Season 2, Episode 7

In this episode of the Animals’ Voice Pawdcast, the Ontario SPCA speaks with Monica Seto, Shelter Health Assistant at the Ontario SPCA. Monica introduces two Ontario SPCA initiatives for feral cat caretakers – the Free Feral Food Program and the Feral Cat Trap Depot Program.

Have a listen to the pawdcast on Sound Cloud by clicking here.

If you are a feral cat caretaker and would like to participate in one of these programs, please contact Monica Seto at 905-898-7122 ext. 383 or mseto@ospca.on.ca.

To learn more about the Toronto Feral Cat Project, please visit www.feraltoronto.com.
 

As host hotel for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania is already gearing up to cater to the canine clientele for the 2014 event. The World’s Most ‘Pup-ular’ Hotel will once again be offering over the top treatment and is expecting this year to be better than ever.

The 138th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show takes place on February 10th and 11th, 2013 with only the Breed judging and benching at Piers 92/94. The Westminster Kennel Club has arranged shuttle buses to transport exhibitors and spectators directly from the Hotel Pennsylvania to Piers 92/94 throughout each day – visit www.hotelpenn.com for details. The Groups, Junior Showmanship Finals and important Best In Show will still be held at Madison Square Garden, directly across from New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania.

“While most might be relaxing during these dog days of summer, we’re taking a ‘paws’ to gear up for the VIP’s (Very Important Pooches),” said Jim Flynn, General Manager/All Dogs’ Best Friend at the Hotel. “Our perfect location and exclusive amenities are a treat for all Westminster hopefuls.”

New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania is the only hotel for Westminster competitors and they know it. From ‘pup’tual Westminster wedding ceremonies to hosting an annual Pet Fashion Show, the 2012 Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year always goes the extra mile. To prepare for this special occasion, the property is planning to set up a variety of exclusive onsite daily events and amenities to coincide with the Show exclusively for guests, including:

- Direct shuttle bus service for Dog Show exhibitors and spectators from the Hotel to Piers 92/94 each day (courtesy of Westminster).
- Exclusive welcome package for Westminster guests.
- A live Westminster Kennel Club broadcast satellite feed from the Hotel’s Lobby on the morning of February 7th.
- Hosting the largest in-door doggie spa in all of New York, the 1st In-Line, Inc. sponsored Green Room Salon, Spa and Canine Gym offers a variety of amenities for Show participants: bathing/beauty parlor/salon, dog grooming/comfort station, exercise/fitness area, animal acupuncture, walking area, and even his and hers relieving area.
- Hosting the 2014 New York Pet Fashion Show Presents “The Crown Jewels of Fashion and Rescue” taking place on Friday, February 7th; starting at 7 pm EST.
- Hosting a live three-hour radio broadcast of the popular pet show Talkin’ Pets with Jon Patch on February 8th from 5 pm to 8 pm EST.
- Our exclusive on-site Doggie Concierge will be working hard to attend to all canine requirements (such as ‘pup’arazzi interviews and hotel tours) related to the Westminster Dog Show.
- The Paw Mall, located at the Dog S’paw’, will feature all the latest accessories and gifts for both owners and pets to enjoy, from jewelry to pet clothing.
…and so much more! Visit hotelpenn.com for full details.

New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania is offering unbeatable room rates for Westminster guests with dogs and those without dogs. To stay at the host hotel where all the Westminster Dog Show action happens, contact 212-736-5000 (locally) or 800-223-8585 (toll-free) or visit www.hotelpenn.com today.

Note to media contacts: For interviews and photo opportunities, please contact Jerry Grymek, LMA Communications Inc. at 1-800-387-1399/416-440-2500, Cell: 416-918-2043, e-mail: jerry@lma.net.

Westminster is the oldest, continuous sporting event in America, with the exception of the Kentucky Derby.  The Dog Show is the most prestigious of National Dog Shows and has been held every year despite power shortages, hazardous weather conditions, economic depressions and World Wars.

ASPCA Announces Three Finalists for Community Engagement Award
In 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge

One of these three shelters will win $25K grant, still in running for $100K grand prize

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the three finalists in the running to win the $25,000 Community Engagement Award in the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge: Canyon County Animal Shelter in Caldwell, Idaho; Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport, Miss.; and Humane Society for Greater Savannah in Savannah, Ga. All three shelters are also in the running to win the $100K grand prize in this national contest designed to inspire animal shelters across the country to save more lives. All of the winners in this year’s contest will be announced during simultaneous celebration events across the country on September 30, 2013.

“These three shelters did an amazing job of rallying their volunteer base, the media and the public in support behind them – and that’s in addition to saving at least 300 more animals during the contest period than they did a year ago,” said Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for the ASPCA. “They  inspired thousands of people helping to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals in their communities.”

The Community Engagement Award—a $25,000 grant—will be awarded to the contestant that did the best job of getting its community involved in saving more lives during the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. The three finalists were determined based on which received the most votes in a two week online voting portion of the contest. The winner will be selected from the three finalists by the ASPCA Grants Committee based on the following criteria: the number of people the contestant engaged during the challenge; the breadth of ways the community participated; and the level of community enthusiasm for saving homeless animals as evidenced by photos, stories, links, news coverage and videos posted on the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge website.

Forty-nine contestant shelters worked to save more animals – during the months of June, July and August 2013 – than they did over the same three-month period in 2012. In addition to the $25,000 Community Engagement Award, the ASPCA and Rachael Ray will award a $100,000 grand prize to the shelter contestant that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during this three-month period. Those organizations that do the best in their divisions will be eligible for between $10,000 and $25,000 in additional grants. In total, $600,000 in grant funding will be awarded for increases in animal lives saved, as well as a photo contest and general participation.

All her life, Rachael Ray has been an advocate for animals and a supporter of animal welfare groups. Her love for animals and for her pit bull, Isaboo, inspired her to create a pet food called Nutrish® to raise money for animals in need.  Ray donates a portion of her proceeds from the sale of Nutrish® to organizations like the ASPCA so they can implement programs like the $100K Challenge and support shelters and animal organizations around the country.

The ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a groundbreaking contest that challenges animal shelters across the country to come up with innovative ways to engage their communities and get more homeless cats and dogs into loving homes. For more information about the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, please visit www.aspca.org/100K. 

THE STARS ALIGN IN SUPPORT OF THE 1st ANNUAL REMEMBER ME THURSDAY CANDLE-LIGHTING CEREMONY
Celebrity Animal Lovers Unite with Rescue Facilities across the Globe to Shine a Light on Orphan Pets

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.  (Sept. 11, 2013) – Helen Woodward Animal Center is uniting with animal-lovers and animal welfare organizations globally in a Remember Me Thursday candle-lighting ceremony.  The candles, lit on the exact same day across the world, will honor the millions of pets who lost their lives over the past year without the benefit of a loving home.  Word of the awareness campaign has spread like wildfire in the form of celebrity social media posts and rescue facilities from New York City to Puerto Rico to Japan have joined the cause.  Helen Woodward Animal Center invites the community to take part locally at the US west coast Remember Me Thursday candle-lighting ceremony, Thursday, September 26th, 2013.  This first annual global event will take place on the first day of Helen Woodward Animal Center’s International Animal Welfare Conference at the Hyatt La Jolla at 9:00am.

The Remember Me Thursday global awareness campaign is championed by Mike Arms, President of Helen Woodward Animal Center, and creator of both the International Pet Adoptathon and International Home 4 The Holidays program which, in partnership with national animal organizations, has placed 8.3 million pets in homes since 1999.  He is joined in partnership with the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, which represents over 150 animal welfare organizations in New York, New York and by Maddie’s Corner, an animal welfare organization, founded by Tony and Emmy Award Winning singer, actress and animal advocate Kristin Chenoweth, dedicated to bringing attention and support to animals in need and groups working on their behalf.  The Mayor’s Alliance will hold the US east coast Remember Me Thursday candle-lighting ceremony at the Bideawee pet welfare organization in New York City, New York.

Remember Me Thursday asks organizations and individuals to dedicate the fourth Thursday of September, annually, to remembering the millions of healthy homeless pets who lost their lives over the last year.  (The Humane Society of the United States approximates this number at 3.4 million annually in the US.)  By uniting in this way, on one very special day, the worldwide awareness campaign hopes to shine a light on the millions of orphan pets still awaiting adoption.  Individuals can get involved by attending a candle-lighting ceremony at their local shelter, or assisting with organizing one; lighting a virtual candle on-line at www.remembermethursday.org; changing their Facebook profile pictures to the Remember Me Thursday icon all day, September 26th; spreading the word about Remember Me Thursday on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels using #LIGHTFORPETS; and most importantly by always adopting and encouraging friends and family to do the same.

Celebrities are quickly getting behind the campaign with Remember Me Thursday Facebook and Twitter posts to encourage their followers to join the cause. Maddie’s Corner founder Kristin Chenoweth (Broadway’s Wicked, NBC’s The West Wing and ABC’s Pushing Daisies); actress Kristin Bauer Van Straten (HBO’s True Blood), comedian and actress Margaret Cho (Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva) have all used their social media voice to champion homeless pets.  Also onboard with support are cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy (Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell), recording artists Berlin and X, MUTTS cartoonist Patrick McDonnell, along with dog behaviorist Tamar Geller, MAZDASPEED race car driver Elliott Skeer, social media sensation Grumpy Cat, and the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. Broadway kitty celeb Vito Vincent (from the musical Breakfast at Tiffany’s) will host the NYC event for the Mayor’s Alliance at Bideawee, the organization from which he was adopted.

Globally the movement has been adopted by such rescue facilities as Federación Protectora de Animales de Puerto Rico, Inc. (under the translated title Recuerdame este jueves), Care For Dogs Foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand and ARK (Animal Refuge Kansai) in Japan, all of which will hold their own candle-lighting ceremony on September 26th.  Helen Woodward Animal Center will hold the US west-coast September 26th candle-lighting ceremony at the first day of its 2nd annual International Animal Welfare Conference at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla.  The ceremony fits perfectly with the mission of the conference, which provides an extensive line-up of some of the most cutting-edge speakers, thinkers and activists in the animal welfare industry who aim to explore how to breathe life into adoptions programs that are outdated and killing millions of domestic animals annually.  The Remember Me Thursday candle-lighting ceremony kicks off at 9:00am in the Aventine Ballroom at the Hyatt La Jolla.

“Only 30% of pets in US homes come from rescue facilities,” said PR Manager Jessica Gercke.   “Millions of beautiful, healthy orphan pets die every year without the benefit of a loving home.  These pets can be purebred, well-behaved, loving animals but they don’t get a second chance because there is so little awareness of the types of animals available at local rescue facilities.”

For more information on Remember Me Thursday and a full list of participating celebrities and animal welfare organizations, go to remembermethursday.org.  For more information on the US west coast candle-lighting event contact PR Manager Jessica Gercke at (858) 756-4117 x 335 or jessicag@animalcenter.org.