When people say fashion has gone to the dogs, they are right on the money, as August 23 and 24 is New York Pet Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building, 125-135 West 18th Steet in New York City.

The show’s mission is to create an inspiring and unique tradeshow venue for national and international pet lifestyle exhibitors and buyers.

The following product categories are represented:

• Fashion, Jewelry and Accessories
• Collars and Leashes
• Toys
• Foods and Treats
• Bedding
• Fragrances
• Grooming Products
• Health Products
• Specialty Items

Pet Fashion Week is not only a trade show but also a designer platform. The designer platform objective is to nurture the development of new ideas and innovation in the pet industry and features multiple design awards, special events and runway shows. The show provides a high-profile environment in which upcoming designers are being presented alongside established ones in front of a high concentration of international media and buyers.

Those of you in the area planning to attend the show, take note–I am jealous!

For more information, click here.

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When I take Greta for play dates, it’s inevitable that I will forget at least one thing (a toy, poop bags, her dish, or water).

I’m going to start keeping my eye out for the Hey Buddy! vending machine, which is chock full of toys, treats, water and poop bags, all of which can be paid for with coins, bills and credit cards, just like a regular vending machine.

Where else (besides a pet store) can you buy a ball, toy, Frisbee, flea collar, pick-up bags, leash, water and treats? Hey Buddy is a one-stop doggie product shop.

Here’s a list of current locations, and if you have an idea for a new location, check out the franchising opportunities.

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This week is American Humane Association’s “Be Kind to Animals Week®”.

Be Kind to Animals Week, observed May 4 through 10 this year, is the oldest event in the nation to celebrate the companionship, friendship and love that animals bring into people’s lives.

Animal shelters throughout the country hold special events during this week to raise awareness about being kind to animals and to teach people about the benefits of the human-animal bond.

Be Kind to Animals Week is a great time to promote the wonderful work being done by the nation’s animal welfare organizations and to encourage everyone to get involved to make a difference for animals.

How To Be Kind to Animals
Here are some simple things you can do during Be Kind to Animals week and throughout the year to show kindness to animals:

1. Speak out for animals
   Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation.
2. Report animal abuse
   While acts of violence against animals are tragic in their own right, they are also a red flag for other violent behavior, including domestic abuse and violent crime.
3. Appreciate wildlife
   Create an inviting space in your yard and garden for butterflies, hummingbirds and other creatures.
4. Share kindness
   Teach the people in your life, especially children, about the importance of being kind to animals.
5. Make a donation to your local animal shelter
   A donation can be your time, money, or needed items like pet food or laundry detergent. Call them first and see what they need.
6. Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue organization
   Approximately 8 to 12 million animals enter our nation’s shelters every year, and more than half of these pets will have to be euthanized because of a lack of homes. Local shelters are the best place to find companion animals, even purebreds — one out of every four dogs in a shelter is a purebred.
7. Spay & Neuter
   If you have pets, make sure they are spayed or neutered.
8. Keep Yours Safe
   Pets should be microchipped and should always wear a collar with an ID tag, so they can be reunited with you quickly if they are ever lost. Also take your pet to the veterinarian every year for vaccinations and a health check.

About American Humane
American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Founded in 1877, American Humane is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link® between animal abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond.

American Humane’s regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed”® end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane’s office in Washington is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels.

Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more.

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Pet Doors USA’s latest idea is a technological twist on the pet door that combines convenience with security and safety – for pet owners and pets alike.

Plexidor Pet Doors offers the Plexidor Electronic that opens exclusively for your pet via a wearable pass code “collar key”. It’s like having a personalized garage door and electronic opener specifically for your dog–and your dog is the only one with the electronic opener code.

How Does it Work?
“Collar keys” are programmed, simply clip one to your pet’s collar.  The technology in the door reads and recognizes the code as the pet approaches the door and allows entrance.  The pet door panel slides up and down like a mini-garage door.

The Plexidor collar key is actually an RFID chip. This leading-edge technology is passive, requires no batteries and allows you to have as many of your pets to use the door without ever have to worry about the neighbors’ pets or wild animals coming in your pet door. The RFID tag is also waterproof, shockproof and very rugged.

The Plexidor Electronic Door itself is sturdy, rust-proof, energy efficient and does not blow open like most mud flap pet doors.  The product is made with aluminum framing and high impact ABS panels, the same material used for football helmets. A safety mechanism prevents the door from closing while obstructed, preventing pinched tails, paws or fingers. 

The Plexidor Electronic Pet Door is available in bronze and white, and
various sizes to match all pets. The product line ranges in prices from $129 to $800 depending on size and model. They can be purchased direct or through dealers, and are also available at: www.dogdoors.com or by calling 800-749-9609.

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You know what I’m talking about…the collar that’s more of a cone, and makes your dog look like a crazy drunk party-goer who took a lampshade and decided it would make a nice upside down hat.

Fortunately, Greta has only had to wear her “Elizabethan collar”, as the vets so kindly describe it, once. Oh, it’s not a pretty story, and I will share it in a day or two, but the gist is she was bit by another dog at the dog park, and she wound up with a drain and several stitches, and the lovely collar.

And, of course, it happened the day before we were heading to Lake Tahoe for vacation, so here is a pic of Greta’s first experience with Lake Tahoe.

(That’s Greta on the left, fyi.)

All in all, she was a good sport about the whole thing, up until the day before she was supposed to get her sticthes out, when she got all excited and decided to do it herself. That got her a few more days with the E-collar.

Since then, I’ve done some research, and think I may get one of these or these to have on hand just in case.

Hopefully I’ll never need it!

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In fact, the month before Greta came into my life, my husband and I went on a cross-country trip and I bought several collars for a dog I hadn’t even set eyes on yet.

Of course, once Greta was here, we quickly realized that such a long neck really requires a substantial collar. And, lest we not forget, a Martingale collar.

(Martingale collars are great for dogs with necks wider than their heads, such as greyhounds/sighthounds. When they pull, the collar tightens. Martingale collars are also considered “humane” choke collars.)

I’ve purchased collars here and here, and just recently found some really cute ones here, here and here.

Just bought these…

In my circle of dog friends, I’ve even earned the rep as a collar w—- (rhymes with “more”).

But I don’t care.

To me, really any occasion is a new collar occasion. I figure I’m all set for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and Greta’s birthday.

Now what to buy for the first day of summer?

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