Halo’s new line of biscuit Liv-a-Littles treats — like all of its other products — is chock-full of healthy foods.

The dog treats include five different varieties: oats and chicken; oats and beef and liver; pumpkin and peanuts; a salmon, fruit, vegetable treat with Dream Coat; even one with green tea, cranberry, chicken and cheese. Cats have two new treats– a seafood medley and a chicken treat.

“We focused very strongly on complete nutrition,” says Bettie Hamilton, who spearheaded these treats, the first biscuit/cookie treats for Halo which retail for $4.99 a package. “These biscuits are all natural and are baked so they have a cookie approach, and the act of chewing is good for a dog.”

To show consumers just how nutritious and natural the treats are, Halo hired Maine-based photographer Angela Coulombe to do a photo shoot using the fresh products that go into a treat. The result, as you see on this page, is yummy.

“I was amazed what went into the food, what fantastic ingredients went in there,” says Coulombe. “I was highly impressed with the amount of vegetables and grains in it, and I wanted to bring that out.”

Hamilton says that in creating the treats, “we were very careful not to include things that are high calories, they are smart calories.”

Now it’s not just the dogs and cats who say that Liv-a-Littlesare the best tasting treats. A presitgious panel of chefs from American Masters of Taste named Liv-a-Littles chicken protein treats the best tasting in the world!

Of course, those of us who have treated our pets to Liv-a-Littles already know this. In fact, I just visited Buzzillions to check out the most recent reviews, and it was also #1 ranked for long-time pet owners.

Our boxer boy Bert gets two injections a day, during which he drools waiting for his Liv-a-Littles reward. But the amazing thing is our cat Sterling now joins Bert in the kitchen at medicine time, and he’ll literally stand on two legs to get one! We’ve never had a cat enjoy treats before.

We’re honored to be recognized with this award from renowned chefs!

To learn more about these gourmet treats, click here. You can also use this $2 coupon code for your order: ChefsChoice. Or to find a Halo retailer (which is usually a better deal, because you won’t have to pay shipping), click here.  To read our full press release, click here.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update! Or sign up for the Halo Pets Newsletter (signup at right).

Many an animal lover knows that sometimes the best pets are the ones that choose us. Such is the case with our November Pet of the Month, a pretty cat named Trixie, who just wouldn’t take no for an answer!

One night when Trixie’s future mom came home from Christmas shopping, she thought she heard meowing in the parking lot at the back of her building. She didn’t see a cat at first, and continued to walk home, but soon spotted a tiny kitty following her. At the time, she was not in the market for a cat, given that she already had a dog and wasn’t sure how that would work out. But she decided to take a cup of milk out for the poor little kitten, and Trixie managed to slip inside the door as quick as lightening. Since that day, Trixie has been part of the family.

Trixie’s mom describes her as a fun, playful cat with her own little attitude. She is sometimes called “The Diva” and loves to lounge on the windowsill, tease the dog, and prance back and forth between the vertical blinds. Trixie will plop herself down wherever she chooses – including inside the bags of unsuspecting guests!

We’re sure Trixie will love her Halo goodie bag (including Holistic pet care favorites Spot’s Stew, Liv-a-Littles protein treats, and Dream Coat essential fatty acids supplement), and all the attention she’s certain to get from being the Pet of the Month. What little diva wouldn’t enjoy her newfound fame?

Think your pet should be next month’s winner? Just head over to the Halo Pets MySpace Page and send us a picture of your favorite furry friend!

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

A letter from one of our readers…

Dear Editor:

I discovered Halo products via the Ellen show several months ago, and I’ve been following the blog for several weeks now. After spending the weekend in Toronto, I decided to write in and see how people are feeling about dangerous dog legislation.

Ontario enacted a dangerous dog bill on March 1, 2005, and as of that day forward, you could no longer bring a pit bull into the province, and all pit bulls currently in the province, had to be sterilized. You can’t even drive through Ontario with a pit bull in your car. This, of course, generates a great deal of discussion between all of us dog lovers. I hate the idea of the ban; it’s so draconian, but admittedly, I cringe every time the neighbor’s pit bull goes crazy at the fence when I’m walking by.

I personally approach this discussion from several different angles. My best friend in the world has two Pit Bulls that I would trust with my children’s lives, whereas my Golden Retriever almost died because a woman couldn’t control her Cane Corso. On top of that, my heart was broken several years ago when my one-eyed Shitzu, who we rescued from the pound, had to be put down because he bit a child.

When you wrap all this together, I understand that every dog is its own person, but when something does go wrong, it can be devastating, and something can go wrong when you least expect it.

So what do we do? (more…)

YES!

The pet insurance industry has grown and improved greatly in the last several years. There are now several pet insurance providers; each offering a range of competitively priced policies that can be tailored to an individual pet’s needs.

Before selecting an insurance plan, it is important for pet owners to research policy coverage and know specifically what medical claims are or are not covered. Coverage can vary depending on the presence of “pre-existing” medical conditions, hereditary diseases or breed problems. Understanding exactly what to expect from a pet insurance policy helps owners avoid frustration and assures a pet owner is financially prepared for both routine medical check-ups and emergencies.

Click here to read more about pet insurance for your dog or cat.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!