Taking a Bite out of (Bug) Crime – We often share our beds
with our best friends, but that doesn't stop uninvited guests, like blood-sucking
bedbugs, from crashing the sleepover. Luckily, residents in North Carolina's University
City have a superhero perfect for fighting buggy bad boys. Shadow, a 4-year-old
Terrier mix, spent over 800 hours training to sniff out bed bugs at the Florida
Canine Academy and now uses his talents to help his handler
sniff out intruders from up to five feet away!
Truth Be Toed – What's got four paws, six toes on each paw
and can turn its head 180 degrees? Only one of the world's rarest dog breeds. The
little known Lundehund (there are roughly only 1500 worldwide) used to hunt Puffins
on the rocky cliffs of Norway's coast until they were almost wiped off the planet
by distemper during WWII. Now, thanks to some dedicated breeding programs, the “puffin
dog” is making a comeback. Learn more about the Lundehund resurgence at Zootoo.
Let Sleeping Dogs Dream – Twitching whiskers, yelps, and tremors. What
exactly is going on inside your pet's brain while he sleeps? Research shows that
as dogs and cats sleep, they replay images of past events in their minds - barking
at strangers, chasing pals, anything they might do when they are awake. In dogs,
the length and frequency of dreams is even linked to their physical size. Larger
dogs dream less frequently, perhaps every 45 minutes, but for about five minutes
each time. Smaller dogs, on the other hand, may dream every 10 minutes, but only
for a minute at a time. Cats, always wanting to “one-up” dogs, have
even been shown to sleepwalk. Learn more about your pets' nighttime adventures at
Business Week.
Shelter from the Storm – August 21 is International Homeless
Animals Day. Established in 1992 by the International Society for Animal Rights,
it is a day to call attention to the countless homeless animals who are on the streets
or in shelters worldwide. It's also a time to raise awareness of the importance
of spaying and neutering to reduce overpopulation. Make the day special for a few
four-legged friends by heading down to your local animal shelter and volunteering
your time.
Grass Skirt Optional – Not everyone can get away to Hawaii on vacation,
but you can hang ten with your pet right in your backyard with these nylon Hawaiian
Dog Collars by Island Dog. Strong and durable yet stylish enough
for luaus on Lanai.
Ice Ice Baby – Nothing beats a cool treat on a hot summer day for your
pet (especially if it's ice cream you drop. hint, hint.). Frozen Woofys dog treats provide
your “hot dog” with a healthier treat choice. Natural, organic frozen
dog treats beat the heat, tastefully.
Batter Up! – If your pet is as big of a baseball fan as you are, help
him celebrate America's pastime (and his dinner!) in style with a fan-friendly pet bowl, guaranteed
to hit a home run at his next meal. Multiple teams available.
"Healthy Pet!"
Tell us what you do to keep your pet
healthy and you could win one of five Pet's Eye View Cameras featured in the latest
issue of fetch! magazine.
July's Contest Winner
This month, we simply couldn-t resist sharing the story of one of our policyholders
- Ricochet. Originally thought to be a prodigy pup when training to be a service
dog, Ricochet-s instinct to chase birds was too strong to overcome. This made a
future as a service dog an impossible dream. Never one to dwell upon what could
have been, Ricochet and his doting pet parents quickly found a future in surfing.
Not just for fun, mind you - surfing for the greater good raising money for important
projects along the way. When his pet parents put his story up on YouTube, the whole
world reacted. Now with more than 2 million views - Ricochet is a celebrity. But,
true to his nature, it doesn-t phase him in the least. Watch the inspirational video
of one of our fellow Petplan family members here.
Southern Hospitality – Thirty-three dogs from Gulf Coast oil spill
affected Louisiana shelters have been relocated by the HSUS to the DC area. Since
the Gulf Coast oil spill, animal shelters, such as those in Louisiana's St. Bernard
Parish, have been inundated by owner-surrendered animals. Many of the recently surrendered
animals come from owners who have been out of work since the spill. These down on
their luck dogs will be available for adoption through the Loudoun County Animal
Shelter, Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation and the SPCA of Anne Arundel County.
Learn more about the HSUS's efforts to help Gulf Coast oil spill affected animals
at the
HSUS website.
The information contained in this newsletter is for illustrative purposes only and
coverage under any pet insurance policy is expressly subject to the conditions,
restrictions, limitations, exclusions and terms of the policy documentation issued
by the insurer. Availability of this program is subject to each state-s approval
and coverage may vary by state. Pet insurance policies from Petplan in the United
States are administered by Fetch Insurance Services, LLC (Fetch Insurance Agency,
LLC in Michigan) and underwritten by AGCS Marine Insurance Company, a member of
the Allianz Group, and North American
Elite Insurance Company, all rated A or A+ by A.M.