OK first check the store—the store—the store.  just look up and place you finger on the right place and click…I’m adding some new (and removing some old) items this week…so check it out.   PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Many of us have them:  Pets —“A pet (or companion animal) is an animal kept primarily for a person’s company or protection, as opposed to working animals, sport animals, livestock, and laboratory animals, which are kept primarily for performance, agricultural value, or research. ”  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet

Most pet owners have dogs: about 70 million of them in 36.5% of U.S. homes. Cats, at 74 million, are in 30.4% of homes.  (note that while there are more people with dogs there are actually more cats–you can’t own just one )  http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-06/pet-ownership-down/56882786/1

Just over half of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese, and 58 percent of cats are carrying too many pounds, according to a survey from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.   http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-than-half-of-u-s-pets-are-overweight-or-obese-survey-finds/

Keeping a dog/cat healthy starts with a good diet and according to April 2014  THE HEALTHY EDGE  some ways to make for a better diet is:

Buy organic, whenever you can

Avoid foods that contain:  Animal bi-products, antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors/dyes, artificial flavors and chemical preservatives

Find a combination of animal and plant foods

Get foods with whole grains

Look for ‘CONTAINS NO PRESERVATIVES’   “No preservatives added”  may have them in the ingredients that makes up the food.

Do some research—read manufacturers’ literature or websites to learn about ingredients, processing etc.

You may want to add supplements

Or try making your own food

DOGS:  Avoid chocolate, onions, grapes and raisins which are toxic—Salt and pepper are irritants and foods cooked in oils or other fats upset stomachs

CATS:  Beware canned food contains moisture, but dry food can lead to dehydration as cats don’t always drink enough water.  And that water should be filtered as cats will often avoid water with chemicals in it.    AVOID: all the stuff for dogs plus coffee, tea, green tomatoes, nuts, rhubarb, pork, salt, sugar and raw forms of fish, eggs and potatoes

Advise for those treasures in your closets or basements:  Do not have monograms or engravings removed from silver before trying to sell it.  It lowers the value.  Monograms of famous people and unusual inscriptions abut events or prizes add to the value.

Check those cabinets:  an old Griswold #1 skillet can sell for $4,000.

“Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose.”
― Garrison Keillor

“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”
― Robert A. Heinlein