Pets and Estate Planning

My Mommy was extra busy on her computer this weekend typing away. She said she was putting down thoughts to take to her lawyer on Monday and it was kind of about ME in a round about way. When I sat there listening to her, tilting my head in my cute "what in the heck are you talkin' about way" she said it was about her trust. I started giving her puppy kisses because I wanted her to know that I still trusted her. "Actually Reba", she said, "I am going to change my trust so that I leave money to the shelter where I found you when I go to heaven". And that's what she did.

That got us thinking about what happens to your pet if you die first. We found that a lot of people are putting their pets in their wills and trusts with instructions about how and with whom the pet will live their lives out.  Here's a good article on the subject that we found from Pets for Patriots this morning that gives an overview on pets and estate planning.

Have you included your pet in your estate planning?

Enter and WIN! Help your Dog Stay Active

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED

The winner is : 

Rick Weitzel of Fort Collins, Colorado!!!

  Win Steadfast^® Joint Supplement 

   a highly recognized animal health company

Winter does not give our humans the opportunity to run, visit the dog park and take long walks with us dogs like they do in the summertime. Sometimes when we’ve been in the house for a few months our humans notice that we have slowed down a bit. Maybe we’re not getting up or down easily or we have trouble getting in and out of the car like we used to. It happens to so many of us. In fact researchers estimate that at least one in five dogs suffers from poor joint health. 1 in 5?  Yelp!  Joint issues affect dogs of all sizes and ages, large breeds, small breed, young and old.  My 16 ½ year old joints have been on joint supplements for years. Hey how do you think I got to this age?  Well, here’s YOUR chance to WIN a safe and easy-to-use formula to support your dog’s joints, so you can continue to play together.

Steadfast^® Canine is a unique formula for dogs specifically designed to support normal mobility and ease discomfort. Two proprietary ingredients work in combination to provide complete support of healthy joints, hips, cartilage, bones, tendons and ligaments. NEM® is a whole-food matrix of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids. TêlaFIRM®, an advanced micro-ingredient system of chelated minerals, is designed to support normal bone remodeling. Steadfast Canine is available in chewable tablets and in formulas for both large and small dogs.

The supplement is made by Arenus^®, an animal health company that combines both science and nature to develop innovative health and nutrition products for dogs. Arenus has passed rigorous quality audits and has earned the right to display the National Animal Supplement Council’s Quality Seal on all its products. This seal informs consumers that the supplements they purchase for the animal members of their family come from a reputable company that adheres to the highest industry standards.

How To WIN!

1. Visit Shop Arenus and select the Steadfast formula you’d like to win.
2. Leave a comment below on this blog with your choice of the Steadfast formula and why you’d like to win it.
3. For an extra chance to win, follow the @ArenusPet Twitter account and let us know you followed in your comment below. And Like us on Facebook.

Contest length: This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at noon EST. The winner will be announced here on MUTTerings And Things. One winner will be selected at random among all entires via Random.org. This giveaway is open to readers in the US only.

Finally a Contest Us MUTTS Can Compete In!

We are halfway through the big Big BIG Dog Show at Westminster. All of those beautifully coiffed, brushed, clipped,combed, trained dogs representing the best of the best of their breed.  This photo is an example of a beautiful new breed entry for 2012, the Xoloitzcuintli.


Yawn........ we see them every year.  But what about us MUTTS?


As anyone who’s befriended one us mutts knows, we’re generally intelligent, friendly, even-keeled pooches. Most of us are well trained people-pleasers who are just as likely to lead you across obstacles to get Timmy out of the well as our pure-bred cousins. That said, there hasn’t been anywhere for us to display our quirky cuteness and abundant skills until recently.

For years American Kennel Club dog shows were the place for only pure bred pooches to strut their stuff but just one year ago this month the AKC opened its agility and obedience competitions to us MUTTS!  Now, as part of their Canine Partners program, mixed breeds and their human partners all over the country are participating in all kinds of events like AKC Rally, Agility, Obedience, and a fun new event called Coursing Ability.

While each club’s participation in the AKC Canine Partners program remains voluntary, for over a year now AKC clubs all across America, long the upscale country club of “purebreds only need apply”, have been opening their doors to all dogs and the humans who love them. Mutts have been entering, and sometimes winning over their full-bred competitors, in American Kennel Club-sponsored shows. Can you believe that? ROFBOL!

Humans aren’t really fond of change it seems. They sometimes find the same 'ol same 'ol so comforting that change can be a very long process but, with Agility the fasting growing AKC sport, I see this year’s growth of mixed breeds competing in AKC clubs as just a paw in the door. In fact us mutts can now apply for the AKC Therapy Dog title too! Someday us MUTTS will be allowed to compete in all events.  So, if you’re an all American dog, ask your human to check out the AKC Canine Partner Program, get involved in competitive dog sports and help foster dog equality.


As for me, I'm seriously thinking about starting the Eastminster Dog Show for us mutts and mixes. Purebreds could not qualify to enter our show. BOL!

While you're here why not enter your email for my monthly drawing for a chance to win an Up Country Inc product for your dog or cat. Just go to the top of my blog and enter for the contest.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter. I tweet as @GotMutt who woulda thought?

Makeover Monday

You've heard of humans humanizing their pets too much? Well I don't think that's a problem because that's how we roll in my house! BOL! But some pets are REALLY spoiled and their humans go crazy wild! Mom can we go crazy wild here?  Mom? Mom? Mom-mee? Can you hear me now?


Don't forget Westminster is on tonight. I love watching it because it just confirms to my Mommy how special mutts really are!

Happy Valentines Day Pups

Valentine Liver Nibbles.

If I could make something special for you and deliver it to you myself, I think I would make this. It's one of my favorite treats in the world! It's made with one of my favorite foods from Honest Kitchen.  Even MY Mommy can make them!

So Happy Valentines Day my furends!

Tail Positioning - What Are The Subtleties

Hello - As this is the end of the week and I'm actually pawing this out on mommy's computer very very late on Thursday night so we're going to cheat a little.


Today's post has to do with the End of dogs and cats. From Divine Caroline: What Our Pets' Tails Tell Us. Enjoy the read and let us know what your tail is saying.


Have a great weekend all!

HSUS forms dog Breeders Advisory and Resource Council - Finally some Big Guns aiming at Puppy Mills

The growing march against puppy mills got some big guns supporting the effort late yesterday with the announcement of a (dog) Breeders Advisory & Resource Council formed by the Humane Society of the United States. In the press release announcing the council, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS said:

“For too long, large-scale commercial puppy mills have given all dog breeders a bad name. We commend the responsible breeders who are showing leadership in their community and speaking out against the abusive operations that treat dogs not like loving family members, but like a cash crop. Everyone who cares about the health and welfare of dogs must be part of the solution, and we are excited about this new partnership.”

The council is composed of dog breeders from across the country. Their first goal is helping consumers understand the hows and whys of responsible breeding is essential to ending the cruelty inflicted on dogs by puppy mill operators, including those who sell on the Internet.

This is a great turn of events. BUT I read this quickly well after midnight and what I didn't see was anything about regulations for breeders, working with legislators to create breeder regs or how breeders would be monitored. I'm praying that the announcement of Breeder Regulations will be forthcoming soon. (read more here)

What do you think? Will the HSUS make a difference in your opinion?

Makeover Monday

I decided that I am going to reinvent myself like Madonna does. On Mondays I am going to become an Interior Decorator and bring pet decorating ideas to you.


And so I am going to host MAKEOVER MONDAYS on this blog.


Today we have the iconic Air Stream for small pups. Just hitch your get-a-long to your favorite ride and start travelin' cutie!


Not sure yet what I am going to be on Tuesdays, or Wednesdays, or Thursdays   yet.  Let me know what you think about 'Makeover Mondays'.


If you haven't already entered for a chance to win an Up Country Inc dog or cat product of your choice, be sure to do that up at the top right of my blog.

The WINNER for January is . . .

The winner for January is Coffeedog. The blog is Coffeemeister. Drop by and read about Bailey and her Mom and their coffee escapades.

Bailey and Mom, write to Reba at rebamjr@yahoo.com.  Put in subject "I'm the January winner"! Reba will write back with instructions on how to choose your prize!

Jump on in and join a bunch of us on the Saturday Blog Hop!

Puppy Bowl VIII - Starting Lineup

Sunday on Animal Planet Puppy Bowl VIII. Kickoff 3:00 pm. We've got the starting lineup here and all of these pups are available for adoption. Each shelter where pups are is identified.

Get your game (uhhhh puppy) face on and punt!

Tailgate pawty starts at noon. See you there!