At Halo, we’re big fans of Best Friends Animal Society, and are long-time supporters of their great work. Here are some important tips from their Pet Care Library article, “Choosing the Right Pet for You”.

• What type of animal is the best fit for your home? Will you be able to live with pet hair, a litter box or the occasional wear-and-tear caused by pets?

• If you have children, how will having a pet affect them? Will everyone in your home welcome an animal?

• If you rent, do you have permission from the property owner?

• How much space do you have inside and outside your home? Will you need a fenced yard? If you get a cat, will you want an outdoor enclosure (a cattery) so your kitty can spend time safely outdoors?

• How much time do you have to spend with a pet?

• What is your activity level? Are you sedentary or physically active?

• Do you have the financial resources if your pet has a medical crisis and has high veterinary bills?

• Do you have someone who can be a secondary caregiver if you are away from home? If not, how will you provide care for your pet when you travel?

Click here to read the complete article, “Choosing the Right Pet for You”, in the Best Friends Animal Society Pet Care Library.

If you choose a dog as the pet for you, read Dr. Donna Spectors’ article “Choosing the Right Dog Breed”.

According to the survey results, the values most important to women are love, health, honesty and emotional well-being, in that order. So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising to see that among “the things that make women extremely happy” – pets are #1 by far.

• Pets (42 percent)
• Sex (27 percent)
• Food (19 percent)

We won’t ask where “Men” placed, but we know that Shopping got 5% of the vote.

A tip of the hat to Woof Report for letting us know!

Ben Stein shared some thoughts with his audience about how to get through tough economic times. He suggests forging the same sort of relationship that got him through his toughest times. How? “Get a dog.”

Some of the shelters featured on the Halo Cares page are terrific places to start your search.

Amber’s story is all too common.

Since 2003, the ASPCA has seen an increase by more than 200 percent of sago palm and cycad poisonings, and 50 to 75 percent of those ingestions resulted in fatalities. According to Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, veterinary toxicologist and vice president of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, all parts of the plant are toxic, not just the seeds or nuts, and common signs of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, depression, seizures and liver failure.

Here is the link to the ASPCA article: http://www.aspca.org/news/tri-state/03-20-09.html#1

The author, Rutgers sociologist Lionel Tiger, wonders, “Why are these human beings–evidently fretfully concerned about their own welfare and resources–wasting time and money on other animals … Why do they shop the aisles of pet foods with discernment and commitment …?”

He wonders how we can possibly spend so much “resources, time and energy…on a completely wasteful economic category: pets.”

I’m guessing you have the same reaction I do.

Check out Halo’s News page to see what he has to say about Halo, and for a link to the whole story.

Our first blog post on using social media highlighted Facebook groups and fan pages as well as ways to use blogs. This time around, I’m going to give you a heads up on Twitter, DIY (do it yourself) social networks and social bookmarking — all ways you can spread the word about holistic pet care!

Create Your Own Social Network

If you are more of a leader and organizer than a participant, then do your part by creating your own social network where other like-minded pet owners can join and start discussions.

Ever heard of the site Ning.com? The popular and fast-growing DIY social network site is easy to navigate and set up. Anyone can do it. All you need is a positive attitude, a niche interest, and a reason for people to join. Before you know it, you’ll be running your own social network!

Some examples that are popular are Pet Lover’s Paradise, The Million Pet Network, and Kitty Happy.

Talk on Twitter!

If you don’t have a Twitter account yet, then you’re certainly out of the loop when it comes to virality and word-of-mouth marketing online! Twitter is a micro-blogging site that acts as a never-ending chatroom where people hold conversations, share links, and follow interesting people or brands.

Twitter has proven to be one of the most effective ways of sharing information with people online having news spread fast. Really fast. Once you get your account started, you can begin by following pet-lovers, pet companies (like @HaloPets!), and other interesting people in the community.

Some pet-loving Twitter users I like include:

@HelpAnimals
@AboutExoticPets
@WeAreTheCure
@Paw_Naturaw
@AlleyCatAllies
@PetHabitats
@HealthyPet
@ASPCA
@Kat5Rescue
@Action4Animals
@Liberty4Animals
@EcoPup
@SSPets
@AnimalActivism
@WoofWellness
@BFNetwork
@DogQuality
@PetReLocation
@Bideawee
@HolisticHealing

Begin by listening to what they have to say, and then be useful by contributing to the conversation, re-tweeting their messages and links, and getting people to follow you back. One tweet, much like the wings of a single butterfly, can create a great wind that can make a difference.

Subscribe and Share

Lastly, one of the most simple but extremely effective ways of helping to spread the word online is by subscribing to RSS feeds and e-mail newsletters of important pet sites, companies or organizations so that: a) You can stay aware, and b) You can forward the information to your friends, family and online network.

Even something as simple as sharing a blog post from your Google Reader feed or sharing it on a site like FriendFeed can make a difference. Start to build up your credibility as a person who is up-to-date with the latest news by consistently sharing important links and people will slowly start turning to you as their source. That’s how you become important on the web, by filtering information for people and sharing only the most important things.

So, there you have it! These tips should be a starting point for you to get the ball rolling and be more active online.

Have tips of your own? Success stories? Share them in the comments! (Don’t forget to use the social bookmarking tools below to share this post and your other favorite posts with friends!)

Whether you have just one tiny Jack Russell Terrier named Frankie who licks your ears in the morning or a dozen Dachsunds you love to let loose in your backyard, you are a pet owner. And chances are that you are also an animal lover who cares deeply about making sure that pets (not just yours) are properly fed and taken care of.

But spreading the word about holistic pet care isn’t always easy. Life can get busy and jam-packed. So read on for some tips on how just a few minutes spent online can make a big difference.

Join a Facebook Group/Fan Page

Chances are that if you don’t already have a Facebook profile, you’re on the verge of getting one. Perhaps you love connecting with friends on the site or maybe you don’t see the point of having your information online. But one thing is for sure: you love your pets.

Facebook can be a great place to meet other caring pet owners. Do a group search for terms you care about most, like “holistic pet food,” “pet foundations,” or even “I love dogs.” Then, pick from the fan pages and groups that interest you and join. Start out by checking the HaloPets, Bideawee, Humane Society, and Best Friends Animal Society fan pages!

(Keep an eye out for how many members each group has. It’s better to be a part of a group that has lots of members rather than just two.)

Now it’s your chance to really shine. Be active! Have a question? An interesting tip or link to share? Want to upload a video about the ingredients in pet food? Then do it! And keep checking back to see what other members have to say about your comments. Soon you’ll be connecting and networking with other people on the web who share your same interests.

Most importantly, you’ll be spreading awareness about the issues that matter to you without having to spend too much time or money.

Write a Blog Post

A great way to reach out online and get people thinking is by writing a blog post on your blog. It doesn’t matter if you don’t usually write about animals, make a special post and state why you think it’s so important to highlight pet care.

If you really want to get people to stop and read your post, make sure to write a catchy title or create a “top ten list.” Don’t just tell people but show them why it’s important to care about pets or why certain issues are significant in improving the lives of animals around the world. You can check the Halo Pets blog for ideas or get inspiration from other blogs like For The Love Of Dog Blog, Pet Lover’s Blog, Dolittler, and Dog Lover.

Not a writer? That’s fine! Put together a link round-up from across the web. Point people to other great sites, like charities or foundations, and blog posts that you think are most interesting. Post pictures and videos that are inspirational, eye-opening and motivating. Check out SlobberSpace for photo-blogging inspiration, or KC Dog Blog for ideas on how to round-up links!

Make sure to share your blog post with all your friends, submit it to viral sites like Digg and StumbleUpon (which you can and should do often with pet-related article you like), and post the link to your social network profiles.

Would you believe that dental disease is the NUMBER ONE health issue affecting pets? According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), 75% of pets over the age of 4 years have dental disease. Dental disease doesn’t JUST lead to bad breath…it can also cause tooth and gum infections, pain, loss of teeth and even organ damage in pets.

No one likes to go to the dentist and pets are no exception! But like humans, pets also need routine dental care because the key to management of dental disease is prevention.

The AVDS recommends that pet owners follow three basic steps:

1. Take your pet to the veterinarian for a dental exam. Don’t wait for their annual checkup if you suspect a problem.

2. Begin a dental care regimen at home. You veterinarian can show you how to effectively and safely clean your pets teeth.

3. Schedule regular veterinary checkups. These are essential in helping your veterinarian monitor the progress of your pet’s dental health routine.

Click here to read more about dental care in pets. This month, work with your veterinarian to create a dental care plan for your pet that keeps the bad breath away and will maintain your pets’ health for years to come.

Chocolate and flowers are cherished gifts on Valentine’s day. But they can also poison your pets.

The ASPCA’s poison control experts warn that the lillies in your Valentine’s bouquet are toxic to cats. And in the week prior to Valentine’s day last year, there was a 74 percent increase in cases of pets ingesting chocolate, another pet poison.

Dana Fabman, an ASPCA pet poison prevention expert, said in a recent article : “We do see an increase in calls regarding traditional holiday gifts, particularly in the few days leading up to and after Valentine’s day — right when those bouquests and lovely boxes of chocolate arrive.”

Lillies and chocolate are not the only toxic substances, warns the ASPCA, which has created a list of Valentines Day safety tips . And remember, that romantic glass of wine can turn toxic if sipped by your pet, possibly causing vomiting, lack of coordination, even coma.

If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic substance, contact your veterinarian or the APCC’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.