Petfinder Blog

I can't pretend I'm an avid sports fan, but there's one game that I'm sure to watch.

As the New Orleans Saints make their Super Bowl debut against the Indianapolis Colts, 20 puppies will steal my attention in Animal Planet's 6th annual Puppy Bowl this Sunday, 3 p.m. E/P.

Not only are the puppies irresistibly adorable, they're all Petfinder alumni, making Petfinder the temporary "home team" for all the players. (See a full list of the participating shelters.)

Of course, it's Petfinder tradition to recognize the many adoptable namesakes of this year's Super Bowl stars. Take a look at some of these adorable adoptables as you get yourself hyped up for the game:

In the Indianapolis Area:

• 27 dogs named "Indy"
• Six dogs named "Colt"
• 39 dogs named "Austin" (perhaps after wide receiver Austin Collie)
• 38 dogs named "Dallas" (perhaps after tight end Dallas Clark)
• 38 dogs named "Reggie" (perhaps after receiver Reggie Wayne)
• 12 dogs named "Pierre" (perhaps after wide receiver Pierre Garcon)

Guest blogger, Joshua Cary, runs a successful pet sitting business in New York and is the co-creator of PetSittingOlogy, a site devoted to giving pet sitters the tools, guidance and resources they need to become responsible, caring and much-appreciated pet sitters.

Finding a professional and reliable pet sitter you can stick with for life shouldn't be as nerve wracking as a visit from your in-laws.

Each day, more pet sitters are taking to the web as potential clients search online for their perfect match.

Here's a checklist of what to look for -- and what to look out for -- when doing your initial research online.

1. First Impressions Count
   Your first impressions really are everything. Trust your gut and listen to your instincts. How do you initially feel when you arrive at a potential pet sitter's Web site?
   
   Ask yourself questions like, "Does the company have a professional logo? Did I easily find the info I was looking for?"
   
   The way you initially feel about this Web site is a strong indication of how you might feel about the pet sitter.


2. The Basics
   Many pet sitter Web sites forget to provide the simple basics that allow you to make an informed decision.
   
   Make sure you can find an email address, phone number, contact form, service area, a list of services offered and a list of (at least general) service fees to minimize your time.
   
   In my experience, how professionally a pet sitter runs a Web site is indicative of the amount of professionalism you can expect from his or her service.

Guest blogger, Dr. Lauren Brickman, started as a veterinary technician at Garden City Park in 1997 and went on to veterinary school at Ross University. She currently writes a popular pet health and care column for Petside.com that she has shared with us today.

Q: I take vitamins every day. Should my dog and cat take vitamins too?

See Dr. Lauren's answer after the jump.

Sometimes there's nothing better to lift your mood than a cute cat video. So, when it came to our attention that one such video is of a Petfinder pet we just had to pass it along! (Check out more adoptable pet videos.)

Stella is an adoptable Tortoiseshell from the District of North Vancouver Animal Welfare Shelter and her "Happy or Angry Cat?" video is taking the YouTube circuit by storm.

The video was posted to YouTube just a month ago and has already been viewed nearly 500,000 times. But what's the story behind this unique cat?

Find out Stella's story after the jump.

For Fred, there was nothing to be thankful for this past Thanksgiving. Old, blind and toothless, he had just been relinquished to a shelter when his "dad" was admitted into hospice care.

Eight years earlier, the Chinese Crested was found wandering the streets of New York City.

He limped because a broken leg had not healed properly, had a scar across his nose, and was going blind and deaf. His teeth were rotten, and his hair had fallen out.

Fortunately, he was taken in by an old man and nursed back to health. But now, with the old man near death and unable to care for him, Fred was once again without a home.

Now 14, Fred's future was bleak.

Read the rest of Fred's story after the jump.

Guest blogger, Dr. Lauren Brickman, started as a veterinary technician at Garden City Park in 1997 and went on to veterinary school at Ross University. She currently writes a popular pet health and care column for Petside.com that she has shared with us today.

Q: My cat gets awful motion sickness! Every time I take him to the vet he throws up in the car. Is there something I can give him to be able to travel short distances?

A: Many animals get motion sickness in the car, just like some people do. This may be because your cat is not used to car rides. If you only take him in the car once a year he doesn't have much time to get used to trips.

See the rest of Dr. Lauren's answer after the jump.

Guest blogger, Dr. Lauren Brickman, started as a veterinary technician at Garden City Park in 1997 and went on to veterinary school at Ross University. She currently writes a popular pet health and care column for Petside.com that she has shared with us today.

Q: I recently adopted a Pug. In the paperwork that came with him it says not to give him the Leptospirosis shot.

I have always given my pugs this shot, but my new pug was never given it because of the fear of reaction.

What is your opinion on this? My vet says it's up to me. I want to do what's best for my dogs.

Read Dr. Lauren's answer after the jump.

Do people stop you on the street to ask what kind of dog you have? Are even pet professionals puzzled by your pooch?

We want you!

Our generous partner, Canine Heritage Breed Test, has donated a number of tests to the Petfinder blog, and we will soon resume our popular "What's That Mutt?" features.

Even better: one lucky reader's dog will be selected to receive a free Canine Heritage Breed Test and get featured on the Petfinder blog.

Find out how to enter your dog after the jump.

Soon to be released at select theaters across the U.S., MINE takes a heart-wrenching yet redemptive look at the struggle of Hurricane Katrina survivors to locate and reclaim their beloved pets as they rebuild their lives.

This striking film delves into the complex world of rescue and rehoming pets when their original parents were forced to leave them behind -- a hard subject for pet parents, pet lovers and anyone in the animal welfare industry. (Find a screening near you.)

We caught up with Geralyn Pezanoski, Director of the award-winning documentary, to ask her to tell us a little more about her creation:

Why did you make this film?
A few weeks after Katrina, I got an email from a friend who had been in New Orleans rescuing animals. Her pictures stunned me.

As the months went on, ... I started hearing stories of people encountering serious resistance to getting their pets back. There was so much wrong with this situation, yet everyone seemed to be trying to do the right thing. I had to tell this story.

Find out more about MINE and the Hurricane Katrina rescues after the jump.

Guest blogger, Dr. Lauren Brickman, started as a veterinary technician at Garden City Park in 1997 and went on to veterinary school at Ross University. She currently writes a popular pet health and care column for Petside.com that she has shared with us today.

Q: I have a four-year-old Yorkie/Fox Terrier mix who has had two seizures since September.

The first was during a thunderstorm -- he takes Acepromazine (ACE) for those -- about 45 minutes after his dose. The vet told me it was probably due to the storm and excitement.

Then, about three weeks ago, he had another one -- at home during a quiet evening.

What causes seizures in a healthy dog?

Read Dr. Lauren's answer after the jump.