This video from GM is full of adorable dogs, and was created when The New York International Auto Show invited pet owners to bring their furry friends to the show to celebrate National Pet Day! It has great tips for traveling with your dog in the car. To see more cute photos visit Faces of GM. Keep your furry friend safe!

Sometimes life just stinks, but Tidy Cats® is here to help. Today kicks off the Tidy Cats “No More PU” campaign. Tidy Cats brand cat litter Scoop formulas with new Odor Erasers™ technology helps with the PU in the litter box, and now Tidy Cats is on a mission to help with the PU in life. Tidy Cats is coming to the rescue in the Big Apple to assist with stinky situations in the lives of New Yorkers, including: cleaning up a long-abandoned Queens property; providing a free, “No PU View” from the top of the Empire State Building; and will personally sweeten up the lives of New Yorkers. Along with its PU Patrol –a two member PU-erasing team – Tidy Cats is embarking on a multiple city tour aimed at surprising people with creative solutions to life’s PU, big and small.

“Tidy Cats is excited to come to the rescue and solve some of life’s stinkiest situations,” said Rebecca Schulz, Tidy Cats Senior Brand Manager. “Tidy Cats Odor Erasers helps with the PU in your litter box and home, and we’re excited for the PU Patrol to travel across America and help with the PU in people’s lives.”

We love that they are traveling to help take the PU out of some places that really need it! Here are just a few of the great things they have done so far:

Clean-up a vacant property in Springfield Gardens, Queens. The house has been abandoned for several years, and the property became a dumping ground for trash. Not only is the yard an eyesore, but the rodents inhabiting the yard are a threat to the neighborhood. The Tidy Cat PU Patrol will help the PU in this situation by cleaning up the yard and helping to improve an already vibrant neighborhood.

No PU from this View: Life stinks when you can’t explore every facet of New York City. On behalf of Tidy Cats, 1,000 New Yorkers and tourists were able to visit the Empire State Building for free on April 18 and see the city from a bird’s eye view.

Sweeten up the PU in Life: New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world and Tidy Cats and the PU Patrol will delived iconic Magnolia cupcakes throughout the city to celebrate New Yorkers and help sweeten up the everyday PU in life.

“The Springfield Gardens community has lived with the indignity of this home for years,” said New York City Councilman James Sanders, Jr. “It had become a blight on our landscape and a threat to the health and wellbeing of our neighbors. Situations like this can easily spiral out of control, with old pollution giving way to new pollution until a once beautiful area is beautiful no longer. I thank our friends at Tidy Cats and the PU Patrol for deciding to step up and step in, working with and through our community to help us revitalize this beautiful block, and maintain the integrity of our environment.”

Taking the PU Out of YOUR Life
Supporting the stink-busting mission are PU Patrol members Meg and Sam. Just like Tidy Cats Scoop formulas with new Odor Erasers, the PU Patrol has a deep passion for helping with the PU in life and is setting out on a multi-city journey in their big, yellow garbage truck coined the “No More PU Mobile.” You can go along for the ride in real time by following Meg and Sam’s adventures on-the-road via Twitter @PUpatrolSam, @PUpatrolMeg and @TidyCats, and join in on the conversation with #lifestinks.

You can also go to www.NoMorePU.com to find out more about the tour, receive updates and photos showcasing where the PU Patrol has been, and where they are headed next.

Feed healthy food to your dog

Nutrition is among the most overlooked areas of responsible pet ownership. Many people simply buy what is on sale at their local grocery store, never realizing that there are huge differences in quality between pet food brands. But just like with people, the quality of your dog’s diet can dramatically affect their short and long-term health.

Many pet owners are surprised when they change their dogs’ diet to a higher quality food. The pet parent immediately notices better teeth, coat and skin changes in their dog. And there are other improvements in your pet’s health that are not visible to the naked eye.

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing food for your furry best friend.

Ingredients in Dog Food

There is substantial debate among dog experts about whether or not dogs need fruits and vegetables and in what quantity, but one thing is clear: dogs need protein, and lots of it. Consequently, protein should be the main component of your dog’s diet, and it’s very difficult to give your dog too much protein. If you’re feeding a store-bought food, check the ingredients list. The first two to three ingredients listed should be meat, and not grains or vegetable by-products. If you feed a homemade diet, aim for a diet that is at least 80% animal protein. Remember that dog treats and chew toys count as food, and many of these foods are low in protein, so check their ingredients and adjust accordingly.

Filler and Additives in Dog Food

Several recent news stories about pets being poisoned by pet food have spurred more awareness among dog owners about what dogs eat. Just like people, preservatives and filler items are not good for dogs. Generally speaking, dog foods with fewer ingredients are healthier. If you see tons of ingredients with long names you don’t recognize, this may indicate a food with cheap filler and preservatives that is not particularly healthy for your dog. Some studies indicate that excessive use of preservatives causes cancer and other illnesses in dogs. Similarly, these ingredients may increase parasite infection, increasing the money you must spend on vet care and pet medications.

Special Formulations Added to Dog Food

Puppy, senior, and large breed dog foods all offer benefits, but not all special formulations are created equally. A few factors to consider when choosing a specially formulated dog food include:

• Senior formulas should contain glucosamine and chondroitin to protect joints;
• Puppy formulas should not contain large quantities of wheat, which can cause excessive weight gain and bloating;
• Sensitive stomach formulas should not contain pork, turkey or corn, all of which can exacerbate allergies and increase stomach problems.

Your vet can advise you about your dog’s specific nutritional needs, and you should always check the label to see what exactly is in the food you feed your dog.

Homemade Dog Food

More and more pet owners are making their own dog foods. Ian Billinghurst, an Australian veterinarian, advocates feeding dogs a raw diet, and many owners have had success with this approach. Feed dogs raw, meaty bones but never cooked bones. Cooked bones can splinter and kill your dog. If you want to feed cooked foods, ensure that the primary component of all meals is meat. If you feed your dog vegetables, you must puree the vegetables first. Vegetable walls contain cellulose, an ingredient that dogs cannot naturally process. Without pureeing, dogs don’t get the benefits of plant matter. Perhaps most importantly, if you want to try a homemade diet, get a good book on dog nutrition with recipe ideas that can guide you until you’re comfortable making food on your own.

About the Author:

Jane Warren is a writer providing valuable tips and advice for consumers looking to care for their pets. An avid animal rescuer, she sometimes wonders if people looking for good homes for their dogs know where she lives! She frequently points consumers to good deals on pet products such as stairs for dogs.