Food recalls seem to have become a common item in the news these days – not just human food, but pet food too. Pet food products, like other types of foods, can be susceptible to harmful bacterial contamination so it is important to know the proper steps when handling pet foods and treats.

There are simple precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of infection from contaminated pet foods and treats. Use these tips from the FDA to help protect your family and pets from foodborne illness:

Buying
•  Purchase products in good condition, without signs of damage to the packaging such as dents or tears.

Preparation
•  Wash your hands for 20 seconds with hot water and soap before and after handling pet foods and treats.
•  Wash pet food bowls, dishes, and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use.
•  Do not use the pet’s feeding bowl as a scooping utensil—use a clean, dedicated scoop or spoon.
•  Dispose of old or spoiled pet food products in a safe manner, such as in a securely tied plastic bag in a covered trash receptacle.

Storage
•  Refrigerate promptly or discard any unused, leftover wet pet food. Refrigerators should be set at 40º F.
•  Dry products should be stored in a cool, dry place—under 80º F.
•  If possible, store dry pet food in its original bag inside a clean, dedicated plastic container with a lid, keeping the top of the bag folded closed.
•  Keep pets away from food storage and preparation areas.
•  Keep pets away from garbage and household trash.

By paying attention to pet food recalls and food safety, you will increase the likelihood of keeping you and your four-legged friends healthy and safe from harmful bacteria.

Chuck & Don’s
We Make Pets Happy!

April is known for many things – did you know it was a big month for raising our awareness of pets and how animals are cared for in the world?

The ASPCA has declared April “National Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” month and promotes the idea of “going orange for animals” in honor of their charter in 1866, to raise awareness around prevention of cruelty to animals.

April is also National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, serving as a reminder for pet parents to prepare in advance should their pet ever face an emergency.  It’s a good time to double-check that you have the name and phone number for your vet (and your emergency vet) handy and readily available as an extra precaution.

Programs such as PetTech are designed to teach you CPR, First Aid and tips on caring for your pets. Check with your pet’s medical caregiver for more options and ideas.

Have a pet with special needs?  Talk with the team members at your local Chuck & Don’s store – we have great tips and ideas for helping with a multitude of pet special needs to help keep your pet safe and happy.

April 11th is National Pet Day and encourages people to support spay/neuter programs. Chuck & Don’s promotes responsible pet ownership through spay and neuter programs and events throughout the year. Check our website for more information about upcoming events at all of our locations.

Let us know your tips on keeping pets safe and sound this April – and year-round!

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

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!

Are you an older adult with a special pet in your life? How do they affect your well-being? Perhaps you know of someone who would benefit from having a pet in their life. At this FREE seminar, professionals from the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver will discuss how a furry friend can make your golden years happier and healthier!

Join us at Abby’s Pet Place (inside our Aurora, Colorado location) on Thursday, March 28 from 6:30-8pm for this FREE workshop about the positive effects of pets have in the lives of older adults. 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

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!

National Poison Prevention Week is March 17-23. Established by Congress in 1961 to promote poison prevention in homes across the U.S. – it includes pets as well!

According to the ASPCA, their Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) manages an average of 375 cases every day and more than 150,000 calls a year.

Are you prepared if your pet is poisoned? Keep the APCC hotline 1-888-426-4435 in a prominent location. They are staffed with specially trained veterinary toxicologists 24 hours a day. In case of an emergency, have this information ready when you call:

• The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved.
• The animal’s symptoms.
• Information regarding the exposure – including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.
• Have the product container/packaging available for reference.

Note: if your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone ahead and bring your pet immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic. If necessary, he or she may call the APCC.

Keep your pets safe – be aware of the most common harmful substances that pets get into. These items include: prescription and over-the-counter drugs; insecticides and insect control products; common household plants; chemical bait products designed for mice, rats and other rodents; and common household cleaners such as bleaches, detergents, disinfectants and dryer sheets. You can make your home poison-proof with this handy list.

Remember – prevention is the best form of protection!

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

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, we wanted to recognize some of the many loveable dogs of Irish heritage – which are some of the most popular AKC breeds in the United States. AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson says “these wonderful breeds truly represent the rich culture of Ireland and they’re gaining popularity here in the U.S. The Irish setter and Irish water spaniel also hold a special place in AKC history, having been among the original nine breeds recognized by AKC in 1884.”

These are some of the notable Irish dog breeds:

1. Soft-coated wheaten terriers are the most popular of the Irish breeds. They are prized for their soft, silky, wheaten-colored coat which sheds minimally. Wheatens enjoy plenty of exercise and are happy, alert dogs.
2. Irish setters are high energy dogs with clown-like personalities that require regular exercise to satisfy their instincts. They are tough and tireless field retrievers but also loving companions.
3. Irish wolfhounds are the tallest of all dogs! They are primarily family companions, but require a lot of space and exercise due to their large size. Irish wolfhounds are gentle hounds with a keen sense of sight and tremendous endurance.
4. Kerry blue terriers are known for their superior working and hunting skills. The Kerry blue was originally bred for hunting small game and birds, and for retrieving from land and water. They are very energetic and love being a part of a family.
5. Irish terriers bravery and spirit make them wonderful companions, and they possess great tenacity. Irish terriers are loyal and friendly, adapt to any situation and are deeply committed to their owners.
6. Irish water spaniels are the tallest spaniel breed with a water-repellant double coat. They are active and energetic with a natural instinct to please and are known to be the clown of the spaniel family.
7. Irish red & white setters are known to be courageous, spirited, and determined with a ton of energy so regular exercise is very important. They are kind and friendly, making them great pets for active families.
8. Glen of Imaal terriers are well-muscled dogs that love to work. They are active, agile, silent, and focused when working. The Glen is a courageous dog that is always ready to give chase.

Whether your pet is of Irish heritage or not – they can wear a bit ‘o the green to celebrate too (just like our kitty above )! Share your pet leprechaun photos with us – post them on our Facebook page. Erin Go Bragh!

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

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race mushers left Anchorage, Alaska bound for Nome on Sunday, March 3. As of today, 60 mushers remain in the race. With approximately 100 miles and 3 checkpoints remaining in the 1,000 mile race it promises to be an exciting finish!

Here are the leaders as of March 11, 2013 at 13:22:22: 

The Iditarod is an amazing feat for humans and animals. Here are a few race facts:

•  The first Iditarod race to Nome started March 3, 1973.
•  The teams average 16 dogs, which means over 1,000 dogs leave Anchorage for Nome.
•  There are 26 checkpoints on the northern route, the first in Anchorage and the last in Nome. On the southern route (2013 race route), there are 27 checkpoints.
•  A red lantern is awarded to the last musher to finish Iditarod. The longest time for a Red Lantern was 32 days, 15 hours, nine minutes and one second by John Schultz in 1973. The quickest Red Lantern musher Celeste Davis with a time of 13d 05h 06m 40s.
•  The closest finish was in 1978. Dick Mackey finished one second ahead of Rick Swenson. Mackey’s time was 14 days, 18 hours, 52 minutes and 24 seconds. The winner was decided by the nose of the lead dog across the finish line.
•  The largest number of mushers to finish a single race was 77 in 2004.
•  Rick Swenson is the only five time winner of “The Last Great Race”, having won in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1991. He is now the only person to win the Iditarod in three different decades, a record that will probably never be broken.
•  Four time winner, Susan Butcher, claimed Iditarod victories in 1986, 1987, 1988 and again in 1990.
•  Dallas Seavey turned 18 on March 4, 2005. He is the youngest musher to run the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race. The oldest musher to ever compete was Col. Norman Vaughan who completed the race four times.
•  Rick Mackey won the race in 1983 to become the first son of an Iditarod champion to match his father’s accomplishment. Lance Mackey won in 2007 to become the second son of an Iditarod champion. To further set a record, father and both sons were wearing bib number 13 when they crossed the finish line in first position, and they all three won in their sixth Iditarod. Anyone superstitious?

The Iditarod Trail Committee lights the “Widow’s Lamp” at 10:00 am, on the first Sunday in March, in Nome at the trail’s end. Attached to the Burled Arch on the official finish line, it remains lit as long as competing mushers are on the trail. When the last musher crosses the finish line in Nome and is off the trail, officials extinguish the lamp signifying the official end of the Iditarod.

Be sure to check out the Iditarod’s Facebook page and website for great information, images and the latest updates on the finishers!

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.

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!

Chuck & Don’s 19th Minnesota location is open for business in Edina! We’re located just east of Southdale Center in the Yorkdale Shoppes across from Cub Foods at 6821 York Avenue South. Store Hours are Monday thru Friday 9am – 9pm, Saturday 9am – 6pm and Sunday 11am – 6pm.

Chuck & Don’s District Manager Mary Bayless says, “We are looking forward to bringing our wide selection of quality pet products to Edina. The area is a great fit for Chuck & Don’s and we believe our offerings and service will be welcomed by this pet-friendly community.”

Although the store is now open for business – mark your calendars for the Grand Opening on Saturday, April 20. We will be celebrating the new location with family-friendly activities and giveaways!

Come on in and check out our newest Chuck & Don’s location! We can’t wait to meet all our new neighbors and their pets!

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