Pets Product Review - Linda Pickens Chocolate Lab Best Buddy Porcelain Collector Plate

Well today is the first official work day back after the long, fun filled, and sometimes hectic holidays.  So great to be back on schedule.  With that I thought what product should I discuss? and althought its a gift that would have been perfect for the holidays, its one that I just love for the whole year.

The people at GiftsToday.com sent me an assortment of dog-lover gift items.  All of them were very unique, and of the highest quality.  But today the one that stuck in my head was the Chocolate Lab Best Buddy Porcelain Collector Plate crafted by well known artist Linda Picken.  I couldn't help thinking what a better way to start the new year than with a hug hug and sloppy kiss from a big labrador.  And this plate conveys all the warmth and love our labs give to the whole world.

If you have a Chocolate Lab, this plate is a must.  Its only $29.95 but will be one of your prized decorations for years.  Go to http://www.giftstoday.com/product/linda-pickens-chocolate-lab-best-buddy-porcelain-plate.html for more info on this plate and more from GiftsToday.com.  I have to tell you the quality of the porcelain and the fine detail of the artistry are exquisite.

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I have heard many times that Labrador Retrievers will eat anything.  A vet explained once how she had removed two corn cobs from the same lab in a six-month period.  While my five-year-old Lab, Boomer, hasn't gone that far, he has eaten some unusual things.  For example, socks and underwear are the most common, and on occasion rocks, chewed weeds, and sticks have been passed.  These items usually require some assistance from me.  I must look strange bending over and pulling out bra straps from his rear end.

Boomer's latest consumption could have taken his life without action.  He ate a quarter to half a dispenser of mouse poisoning.  We were visiting friends at a remote house in the mountains of North Carolina.  As part of their move, an attempt was underway to rid the house of bugs and rodents.  They thought all the poison had been picked up but Boomer found the only remaining box.  It was buried behind a toilet and under a stack of mixed stuff.

We noticed he had wandered off and sent out a search party. He was discovered quickly and fought to keep his black box with the green sticky pellets.

The local emergency vet was closed, but suggested we drive mountain roads to a staffed emergency vet.  Instead, we contacted the poison manufacturer via the internet and they advised we induce vomiting within 25 minutes.  Another vet, who was a family friend, was contacted. She confirmed that vomiting needed to be induced quickly.

We used 7 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide and milk for taste.  Within 5 minutes the vomiting began.  It was full of solid and dissolved green poison pellets.

It was a success.  Next morning we found a vet who injected vitamin K and prescribed 4 weeks of vitamin K tablets.

We saved Boomer and today he is still looking for exotic eats. 

After all, Labs eat anything.

Pet Products Review - Solvit Products Deluxe SUV Cargo Liner

As I've mentioned before, every weekend I plan an escape from New York City.  Lucky for me I have a car, a Ford Explorer in fact - with 165,000 miles.  Every chance I get I take my dog.  But to be frank, my dog throws up in the car on nearly every trip.

So, I wasn't looking for anything fancy; just something that would stay in place, protect the car and look better than the newspapers and blankets I usually use.   Fetchdog.com had just what I was looking for; the Deluxe SUV Cargo Liner by Solvit Products.

This cargo liner is no nonsense, attaches via hooks or Velcro to the seat or the floor and is light weight.  This liner is made of 100% cotton, stain proofed, washable, and the 3 lb weight makes it fit in washing machines. Best of all, it was under $50.

As you can see Champ attended a very rainy rugby match and couldn't have been more comfortable drying off in the back than on this liner.  Needless to say, clean up the back of the car was the easiest part of the day.

If you're looking for something no-nonsense to protect your car from pet travel; I recommend this product.   www.fetchdog.com

If you have a pet product you think will pass the Secret Shopper test, send an email to: secretshopperblog@gmail.com