In an effort to combat the state’s pet overpopulation epidemic, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has developed the Dog and Cat Sterilization Program. The program educates residents about the importance of having their pet spayed or neutered and helps pay veterinarians to provide these procedures at a low cost.

Since January, the program has raised more than $198,000 through the successful sale of dog and cat license plates. Now, they are holding a contest to design the artwork for a new cat version of the tag and would like to invite you to send in your cat-related art.

The contest is open to all residents of Georgia, and submissions are due by August 5. The winning artist will receive $2,500 and have their work featured on the new tag. For complete rules, please visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

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Leptospirosis (also called Lepto) is a potentially deadly bacterial disease spread by a number of wildlife species to dogs. It is a zoonotic disease, meaning that people can catch it from their dogs (as well as other animals). Recent reports indicate that the number of Leptospirosis cases in dogs is increasing in the United States. Dogs can experience life-threatening liver and kidney failure if not treated quickly enough for Leptospirosis.

Please click here to read more about Leptospirosis—what it is; how it is transmitted; the risk to humans; symptoms in dogs and humans; as well as steps that every pet owner should take to protect their dog from this potentially deadly disease.

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Our precious cats and dogs deserve the best of all things! In addition to feeding high-quality natural pet food, pet supplements will often help Fido and Sylvester thrive! The world of pet supplements can be very daunting as there are numerous supplements available but unfortunately very little scientific research proving their benefits.

It is important that all owners have a thorough understanding of what pet supplements are and how they are (or are not) regulated before selecting the supplement best for their four-legged companion. Click here for more information that every pet owner should read before selecting their pet’s supplements.

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Is your favorite furry friend a Halo Pet? Now’s your chance to show the world and win a Halo goodie bag of treats for your special pooch or kitty!

To celebrate the launch of the official Halo Pets MySpace page, we’re holding a contest for the best pet photos. Just head over to www.myspace.com/halopets and send us your adorable pet pictures. We’ll feature them on the page, and every week, one lucky cat or dog will win a Halo goodie bag — it’s that easy.

Plus, while you’re on the page, be sure to add Halo to your friends, so you can keep up with the latest pet news, cute animal videos, and special Halo offers!

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A perfect world would be one that was 100% pet friendly. We would be allowed to have our dogs sit next to us on airplanes and our cats could come on cruises with us. Unfortunately, it is not a completely pet friendly world and there are times when we must leave them. The question then becomes “what is best for our pet when we are away?”

Home Care

Pets will experience less stress, obtain more exercise and generally receive more around-the-clock care than at a kennel facility. However, the pet sitter must be responsible to deal with any and all emergencies that may arise. Professional pet sitters should be well established and insured. If you elect to leave your pet in the care of someone either at your home or at their home, than you should do the following before going away to help keep them safe:

1) Leave your contact numbers, trip itinerary, a credit card, your pet’s medical record and the vaccine record in case of any emergencies. Most emergency medical care must be paid for up front and, unless you can be reached immediately, your pet sitter may be left making medical decisions for your pet. You should sign a letter that allows the pet sitter to make all medical decisions for your pet. This way your pet can receive medical care without delay. The pet sitter should understand your wishes for your pet in the event an emergency arises.

2) ID your pet: Place an ID tag and/or update your pet’s microchip information with the address and phone number of where your pet is staying. Rather than buying a new pet ID tag, you can write the updated information on a small piece of paper and then tape it over the existing tags (be sure to place tape all around it so it is waterproof). The fastest way to get a pet back if it becomes lost is to have it wear an ID tag and be microchipped. (more…)