With spring right around the corner it’s time for pet parents to shift gears from winter care for their pets and start thinking of what it takes to keep your pet healthy and safe in the springtime.

Here are some pet tips to keep in mind as we “spring forward:”

• Keep fertilizers and pesticides away from your pets, and keep your pets off the lawn after these chemicals have been applied

• When walking your dog, keep your dog off yards that have a sign posted saying the yard was recently treated

• Stay away from cocoa bean mulch – this can be toxic to dogs

• Keep cats away from lilies, as this plant is very toxic to cats

• Keep all cleaning products as well as paint and paint thinners in a place where your pet can’t reach them

Keeping these tips in mind will ensure you and your pet have a relaxing, safe spring!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

If you love pets, want to help reduce pet overpopulation, enjoy having fun or can help raise money for a good cause, this event is “right up your alley!”

Due to the popularity of this event, the Fourth Annual Pins for Pets…bowl for the fix fundraiser has been expanded to a two day event.   It will be held Saturday, August 13^th and Sunday, August 14^th at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

Registration is now open. You can register for either day.  (Of course, if you want to bowl both days, that is also an option.)  To ensure your spot, we suggest registering early as space tends to fill up quickly. For current information on the event and to register, click here

Our 2011 recipient, MNSNAP (Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program, Inc) mission is “to end the suffering and death of homeless animals due to pet overpopulation by providing high-quality, affordable and accessible spay and neuter services to Minnesota shelters, rescue organizations and the companion animals of the low-income community”.  This is a much needed service: did you know 10,000 humans are born in the United States and during that same time frame 70,000 kittens and puppies are born?

You can be a part of the fix simply by participating in this event. Click here to see pictures from last year.

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

Do you have a picky eatin’ pet? You know what we mean. You try to improve your pet’s diet and all she/he will do is turn up the nose, give you a disgusted look and turn away from the new delicacy you have placed in the dish.

What’s a pet parent to do?

All you have to do is mark your calendar for our Sample Day: Treats for Cats and Dogs. This all-day picnic will be held Saturday, March 26th at our Eagan, Minnesota store.  We will be giving out samples of various canned foods for pets. Let your pet decide which sample he/she prefers. Chuck & Don’s Team Members will be available to assist you and answer any questions you may have.

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

According to Sidewalk Dog “It seems you can’t swing a Chuckit in this town without hitting a Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet—they’re everywhere.”

We’re not quite “everywhere” but we are expanding!  In response to customer demand, we are happy to announce that two new Minnesota Chuck & Don’s stores will open within the next few months – one in Blaine and one in Northeast Minneapolis.  Locations for these new stores are:

• Blaine – 4255 Pheasant Ridge Drive, Suite 304 (in the Village of Blaine Shopping Center)
• Northeast Minneapolis – 335 Central Avenue Southeast (corner of Central Avenue and 4^th Street (next to the Lund’s parking ramp)

We are very passionate about pets and are looking forward to becoming active with the pet community in Blaine and Northeast Minneapolis.

Our second site in Colorado, located in the Centennial-South Glen area is also scheduled to open by July 1.

Stay tuned for further information…..and keep that Chuckit arm warmed up! You never know where we will show up next.

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think the word ‘pets’? Is it ‘warm and fuzzy’, ‘unconditional love’, ‘puppy’ or ‘kitty’?

Do you ever think ‘epidermal scales’, ‘cold blooded’ or ‘dormant’? How about ‘Bearded Dragon’?

Did you know that reptiles can make good pets?  Some of the benefits of having a reptile as a pet include:

• They make excellent pets for people with allergies
• They are in general easy keepers
• Reptiles are not messy
• Reptiles are fascinating to watch

If you already have a reptile as a pet or are thinking of getting one, visit our Reptile Day at our Cottage Grove Minnesota store. On March 26 from 10am-3pm you will have the opportunity to learn about snakes, anoles and bearded dragons. There will be reptiles to hold and Team Member, Kyle will be on hand to talk about how to properly care for these unique pets.  Contact our Cottage Grove store for more information.

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

At the end of August, 2010, we decided we wanted to connect with 20,000 pet-lovin’ people on our Facebook page. We have steadily been climbing towards that goal – we are currently at 3,710. Once we reach 20,000 Fans, one lucky person will win a $50 Chuck’s Buck every month for 12 months! The winner will be chosen at random from all eligible fans on our Facebook page. In addition, 20 Runners-up will receive a $20 Chuck’s Buck. Chuck’s Bucks are valid at any Chuck & Don’s store.

Then we got to thinking……when you’re at 3,710, a goal of reaching 20,000 may seem a long way off. But 4,000 is quite a different story.

When we reach 4,000 in our Facebook community, one lucky winner (chosen in a random drawing of all of our fans on the page) will receive a $50 Chuck & Don’s gift card along with a portrait session and a 5×7 print from Patrick Nau Photography.

It’s easy to enter: all you have to do is visit our Facebook page and click ‘like’.

Join in the fun and conversations on our Facebook page. And remind your friends to visit the page and click “Like” too — you could be our lucky winner!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

Congratulations to Wattle for winning ‘The Wearing of the Green’ Facebook contest! Wattle received 48 ‘likes’, voted on by our Facebook community.

Wattle receives a prestigious, one-of-a-kind $17 GREEN Chuck’s Buck, to be used at any of our stores.

Thanks to everyone who submitted pictures and made this so much fun! To see all the entries, visit ‘The Wearing of the Green’ photo album on our Facebook page.

Stay tuned for future Facebook contests – you too could be a winner!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

Happy Birthday Dear Lola!

Lola, the favorite Chinchilla at the St. Paul-Highland, Minnesota store is celebrating her birthday and you’re invited to join in the festivities!

Join us On Sunday, March 20 from 11am-2pm for Lola’s party. There will be snacks for pets and people, as well as games and favors for the kids. Lola loves to party, so don’t miss out on this one!

In honor of Miss Lola, here are some fun facts about chinchillas:

• Chinchillas need a dry habitat and need several dusts baths a week
• Chinchillas cackle, chirp and peep
• A Chinchilla is happy and relaxed when grooming herself
• Chinchillas have no dander, which is the leading cause to pet related allergies
• Chinchillas can live up to 20 years

Since March is National Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month, here are some fun facts about guinea pigs:

• Guinea pigs weigh only a few pounds and are larger than hamsters, but smaller than rabbits
• They are born with their eyes open and a full fur coat
• Their average life span is five to eight years
• There are 12 recognized breeds of guinea pigs
• Most guinea pigs love to hide when they play
• You can train a guinea pig to use a litter box

If you are looking to adopt a guinea pig or a chinchilla, check out the following sites:

Minnesota:

Twin Cities Guinea Pig Rescue

Animal Humane Society

Colorado:

Cavy Care Inc

If you need products or supplies for your small animal, ask one of our Team Members. They will be happy to help you find what will make your furry friend happy.

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

Does your pet move like he/she has a ‘hitch in the giddy-up’? If so, be sure to stop in our Lakeville store Saturday, March 19 from 11am-noon. Rebecca Amstutz, D.C., VSMT, certified animal chiropractor, will be leading a class and demonstration on chiropractic for animals. An animal massage therapist will accompany Dr. Amstutz and will give massage demonstrations on your dogs.

Benefits of Animal Chiropractic include:

• Improved immune system
• Improved join function
• Decreased risk of arthritis
• Optimal physical endurance

Contact the store for questions.

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!

We hope you have had the opportunity to drop in and visit our Denver, Colorado store at Cherry Creek.  We have enjoyed meeting Denver pets and their people, and we are looking forward to meeting more of you!

We are in the midst of planning events for you and your pets. Be sure to mark your calendar for May 7^th and 8^th – the dates for our Grand Opening. There will be activities and treats for pets as well as their humans.  The Furry Scurry is also taking place on May 7^th.   More details will follow as we have them about these upcoming fun events.

We are looking for additional ways to partner with the Denver pet community. If you would like to host an event at our store, please check out our website for information requesting to conduct an event at our store. If you would like us to come to your pet friendly facility, please e-mail our Colorado District Manager, Christine Stanton at cstanton@chuckanddons.com.

Please join us on our Facebook page, where we have lots of conversation going on about pets. While you’re there, don’t forget to ‘Like’ us and enter your pet in ‘The Wearing of the Green’ contest. You could be the winner of the exclusive, green $17 Chucks Buck!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

We Make Pets Happy!