Easter is this weekend and while it can be a dangerous holiday if your pet gets into the chocolate bunnies and colored grasses, it doesn’t mean they have to miss out on a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Why not treat your pet to their own special basket of goodies? You can easily create a personalized Easter basket made just for them. Simply spring into your nearest Chuck & Don’s and select some fun surprises for your furry friend.

Start by trying something different to use for your pet’s Easter basket such as a new food bowl or pet bed. Then fill it with a few of their favorite treats or chews, a new spring collar or leash and finally a toy – like some furry bunny ears, a catnip duck or a new ball. It’s that easy! And hopefully your pet will be so busy with their own items they won’t even bother with your chocolate bunny ears!

We’d be happy to help you find everything you need for your pet’s Easter basket, but hop in soon – Chuck & Don’s will be closed Easter Sunday, March 31!

Hoppy Easter Everybunny from Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy!

How often do you catch your pet eating grass? Do you think there’s a reason for it? Well, just like humans, pets need their greens. Some pet care professionals say important nutrients are gained by ingesting fresh, non-treated organic young grass.

If your pet is eating houseplants or outdoor grasses – they are often trying to satisfy a craving for greens. A safe non-toxic alternative is to offer a pet grass for them! That way you can control the frequency and amount they ingest.

Healthy Wheat Grass contains lots of chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants that captures the sun’s energy. It’s packed with antioxidant vitamins, minerals and other nutrients for optimal health, plus fiber to support digestion.

Interested in growing your own grass? To make it simple and easy, Chuck & Don’s carries the easy Pet Grass® Self-Grow Kit from Bell Rock Growers in our stores. It includes certified organic wheat grass seed and a custom soil mixture so you can grow your own grass right out of the bag in 7 to 10 days!

If you are interested in introducing edible grass into your pet’s diet, make sure you control the intake so your pet does not become sick from it.

So come on in and get your green on! It’s grass that doesn’t need mowing – just ‘meowing!’

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy!

If you have pets, you know how important it is to find a devoted, reliable sitter to care for them when you travel. Professional Pet Sitters Week, celebrated the first full week in March each year, recognizes the hard-working pet-care professionals who provide quality care to companion animals while their owners are away.

Pet sitters do much more than provide pets with food and water while their owner is away. That is why it is important to find an experienced sitter willing to spend quality time with the animal, give them exercise and know if they need veterinary attention.

Where can you find a pet sitter? Check with friends, neighbors or your veterinarian. You can also check online with National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International to locate sitters in your area.

It important to learn all you can about a prospective sitter’s qualifications. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting a pet sitter:

• Can they provide proof of commercial liability insurances and are they bonded?
• What training have they completed? Do they know how to provide medications if necessary?
• Will you have a contract that spells out specific details, expectations for your pet? Have specific times, details and fees written out and agreed upon.
• What services will the pet sitter provide other than feeding and letting them outside – e.g. walking, play time, grooming, etc.?
• Do they know what to do in case your pet has an emergency? Can they get your pet to a veterinarian?
• What will happen if the sitter is ill or unable to care for your pet? Do they have a backup?
• How will they confirm that you have returned home?
• Will they provide you with references from their clients?

Make sure to plan ahead to meet with the prospective sitter prior to your departure. Have them over to meet and interact with your pet. Do they seem comfortable and capable? With everything in place you can relax and enjoy your time away. And remember to have your sitter’s number in case your plans change – or you just want to check in and find out what your companions are up to!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy!

Have you noticed all the stories about pets serving our communities? It seems that every day we hear about new ways pets are improving our lives. Just how beneficial are pets to our well-being? At this FREE seminar, professionals who are utilizing animals in a therapeutic capacity will discuss ‘The New Roles of Pets in Health & Wellness.’

Join us at Abby’s Pet Place (inside our Aurora, Colorado location) on Thursday, February 28 from 6:30-8pm for this FREE workshop about the important role of pets in health and wellness. Everyone in attendance will receive a special coupon and a chance to win a gift card!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy

Started in 1995 by Doris Day’s Animal League as Spay Day USA, World Spay Day is now an international event that has resulted in an estimated 1.5 million animals being spayed/neutered since its induction – preventing countless unwanted litters and reducing euthanasia in animal shelters.

Of the estimated 6-8 million homeless animals in U.S. shelters, only about half are adopted each year – the rest are euthanized. Minnesota’s numbers for cats and dogs humanely euthanized due to overpopulations are approximately 90,000. Imagine that is more animals than a sold out Vikings game at the Metrodome! These are healthy, loving animals that would have made wonderful companions.

World Spay Day provides a unique opportunity for everyone who cares about animals to join together toward a common goal in a global effort to end the euthanasia and suffering of companion animals. Spaying/neutering is a permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for pets, feral cats, rabbits and other animals. By spaying/neutering, it ensures that those animals will not produce offspring to add to the millions of already unwanted animals.

What can you do to help? The solution starts with everyone taking one small step by getting your own pet spayed or neutered. Then sharing this information with family and friends and asking them to do the same.

Chuck & Dons is a founding member of Minnesota Partnership for Animal Welfare (MnPAW) organization. MnPAW believes that by joining forces to use its ideas, expertise and resources in a coordinated way it can make a greater impact on reducing euthanasia of adoptable animals. On World Spay Day, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC) is partnering with Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP) to perform 100+ spay/neuter surgeries for low-income families, and for shelter animals. Chuck & Don’s contributes in-kind donations to support the overall efforts to surgically alter pets in our community as well as donating food to the MACC to help with World Spay Day events. (*Update* On World Spay Day 2013 all of the MNPAW partners collaboratively sterilized 468 animals)

Finally, if you are looking for a new pet, consider adopting your next pet from an animal shelter and giving a unwanted pet a forever home. And always remember to be a part of the solution – promote spay/neuter!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy!

The results for our 2012 holiday season Paw Print Campaign are in! Customers purchased a paw print for at least $1 in November and December and we displayed them in our store windows in Minnesota and Colorado. Thanks to YOUR generous donations and a $15,000 contribution from Chuck & Don’s – over $80,000 was raised! WOW!!

Here are the results from the 2012 Paw Print Campaign:

Minnesota recipients – Feline Rescue, Minnesota Humane Society and Pet Haven of Minnesota each received a check for $24,174.64 for a total of $72,523.92!

Our Colorado recipient, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region received $8,266.10!

To all our fabulous customers – this could not have happened without YOU! We thank you for helping the animals and the people that help the animals!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy!

Note: If you are having problems seeing the multiple images in this post, please try Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome browsers to view the multiple images. We apologize for the difficulties.

Today, Feb. 4 is World Cancer Day – a day when organizations and individuals around the world send a message to make ending cancer a global health priority. We feel this is not applies to people, but pets too since they experience roughly the same rates of cancer that we humans do. You can get involved by supporting a healthy lifestyle for your pet and by being aware of signs of cancer and available treatment options.

Here are some preventative strategies you can use for your pets to help guard against cancer:

•  Avoid exposure to indoor pollution and toxic chemicals – keep your pet away from cigarette smoke and outdoor chemicals.
•  Minimize/reduce stress – it’s well known that stress suppresses the immune system.
•  Keep your pet’s weight under control.
•  Exercise – regular physical activity is a natural immune booster and stress reducer

Pets suffer from cancer at about the same rate as people. Many cancers are treatable and early detection may affect long term prognosis so keep an eye out for the following signs:

10 Common Signs of Cancer in Small Animals

1.  Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
2.  Sores that do not heal
3.  Weight loss
4.  Loss of appetite
5.  Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
6.  Offensive odor
7.  Difficulty eating or swallowing
8.  Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
9.  Persistent lameness or stiffness
10. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

As reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association

Consult with your family veterinarian if your pet experiences any of the above symptoms. If your pet is diagnosed with cancer, speak to your vet about referral to a veterinary oncologist and other treatment options.

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy!

Do you enjoy dressing up your pet in the latest fashion trends? Well, then National Dress Up Your Pet Day on Jan. 14 is for you! Founded as a fun way to celebrate your pet and support the pet fashion community, it gives you the opportunity to show off their inner diva!

Why not pick up a statement outfit this weekend for your pet (maybe you can even find one to match) and wow your friends and neighbors on Monday. Take a stroll around the block or bring your pet to work and listen to the “oohs,” “aaahs,” and applause, because everyone loves a well-dressed pet!

Will your pet be celebrating the day? Maybe a fashion show at pet daycare? If so, snap a few photos and share them on our Facebook page – we’d love to see them!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet
We Make Pets Happy

* When dressing up your pet it is important to keep your pet’s safety and well-being in mind. Please remember to check their outfits to ensure the items fit comfortably and do not restrict their breathing, vision or ability to walk.

Does your furry friend happen to be a rabbit? Well, then you’ll want to celebrate with us tomorrow, International Rabbit Day! Held on the fourth Saturday of September each year, International Rabbit Day is set aside to promote the protection and care of rabbits, both domestic and wild. Some ideas for celebrating International Rabbit Day include:

• Post on your social media profile about the joy your rabbit brings to your life
• Provide an extra treat for your rabbit
• Adopt another rabbit to keep your rabbit company!

The day was designed to raise awareness of rabbits as wonderful domestic companions as well as to prevent the exploitation of rabbits worldwide. What are some other ways you’ll celebrate?

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pet’s Happy!

How many of you have (or have had) a pet rabbit?

Did you know that during the summer months, it is especially important to keep an eye on your rabbit to make sure he or she is not getting overheated?

Rabbits do not tolerate heat well in general, so here are a few tips courtesy of the House Rabbit Society, to making sure your bunny stays safe in the summertime:

• Make sure bunny is out of the sun. If they are confined to a cage or small room for part of the day, be sure that there is plenty of shady space for the bunny to rest.
• Set up a circulating fan that will breeze past your rabbit without blowing directly on him all day. You can also drape a damp towel over part of the cage so the fan will blow through the towel and create cooler air. Be sure to bunny-proof the fan cord!
• Place a ceramic tile or marble square in the cage or in bun’s favorite place. The marble or tile stays cool for them to lie on.
• Place a few ice cubes in their water crock so the water is tempting and they can also lie against the cool crock.

Of course, if you suspect that your rabbit is experiencing signs of heat stroke, don’t wait – get your bunny to your vet or emergency clinic immediately!

You can learn more about taking great care of your pet rabbit during the summer – or anytime – at the House Rabbit Society’s website. For information on products to keep your rabbit happy all year long, visit our website. Have questions about caring for your rabbit – or any pet?  Visit our “Ask Chuck” area on our website and view the archives – or submit a question of your own!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!