Photo Courtesy of Emery Way

Leap into great savings with us this coming Leap Day!

Has your kitty been dreaming about a new perch? Has your pooch had his eye on a new extra plush bed? Or maybe the squirrels have been eating their weight in filberts recently and it’s just time to stock up? Well this coming Wednesday will be a perfect day to take advantage of some great savings!

We’ll be opening our store up 29 minutes early (8:31am to be exact!) this coming Wednesday the 29th. You’re invited to come in and save 10% on anything you purchase before 9am. After that time, everything goes back to regular price. Stop in early, come in your pajamas if needed and save big!

We look forward to seeing you!

For the parents of a pet with devious superpowers (and by devious superpowers, we mean the ability to chew up and destroy pretty much everything), it can be difficult to really find toys that will last more than a few rounds against them. A superhero is needed. One that can push that pooch to the limits and outlast the competition.

Enter our latest addition, the Bionic line of rubber dog toys. These toys have been touted as one of the most virtually indestructible in the market and thus far, they’ve proven to be a success. They are made of a product called “Bionic Rubber,” which is a proprietary FDA food grade material that is free of harmful phthalates, hormones, lead, cadmium, mercury, natural rubber, Bisphenoal A, asbestos and latex. In short, that means they are safe and even in a worst case scenario where your dog happens to chew off small pieces it simply isn’t harmful to them if ingested.

Now with all of this talk of “indestructibility” we must preface that a bit and mention that every dog has it’s day…and as a result, so does every toy. There is not a single toy in our store that is truly indestructible. It is only a matter of time until the right dog comes along to prove a products claims wrong. Bionic has anticipated this. Bionic Pet Products goes so far as to offer up a guarantee on the product (and we of course offer a full refund if you should so choose):

“With heavy use of any toy, normal damage is to be expected, even with Bionic toys. However you know your dog – and we trust your judgment. Less than 5% of dogs find a way to outsmart our Bionic Rubber® based products (which is why we are required to say it’s “virtually” indestructible). If your dog is in this rare “breed” of dog and has destroyed one of our chew toys beyond what you feel is reasonable we are happy to offer our free one-time replacement guarantee. If your dog managed to destroy multiple Bionic toys, then you truly do have an amazing dog. – Have you thought about enlisting him/her in a product testing group? We often have openings.” 

If you happen to pick one of these toys up, feel free to drop us a line and give a little review on it. We love to hear from everyone and it’s even better to hear how the products we carry are doing out there.

It would appear that winter is in full swing with a possible cold spell on everyone’s mind this weekend. We thought this would be a good opportunity to post a few cold weather tips for you and your pets.
We all have the option of bundling up in our warmest jackets, hats and gloves when the temperature dips down, but our pets don’t necessarily have it so easy. The cold can certainly take its toll on your furry companions. Hypothermia, dehydration and access to potentially toxic chemicals top the list of things to watch out for.

• Hypothermia can be a serious problem for pets left out in the cold. Some breeds of dogs can tolerate temperatures into the 20′s and below, but most of our Portland-climatized pooches haven’t really been exposed to those sorts of temperatures. Couple the cold with some of the winter winds that come whipping through and you’ve got a recipe for life-threatening conditions. Be sure to give your pet shelter, away from any strong winds and preferably with some method for warmth within. Blankets, thick towels or old quilts can be an excellent insulator. Don’t use electric blankets or other “people” heated products. They can be far too warm for pets, causing burns in some cases. They are also fire/electric hazards when coupled with an un-monitored pet. There are heated pet products available that keep them warm but not too warm and are made for pet/outdoor use as well as a number of housing options.
• Cats and smaller dogs need to be kept indoors when it is below freezing. Their little bodies simply cannot acclimate to the cold temperatures.
• Dehydration can be a serious issue as well. Your pet will instinctively drink less in the cold so be sure that they are staying properly hydrated and keep an eye on that water dish outdoors as it may freeze over.
• Some chemical based snow and ice melting products can be hazardous to your pet. Be aware of the products you are using and your pets and/or neighbor’s pets potential exposure to them.
• If you are going to be active and outdoors with your pet, make sure they have access to ample food and water. They will be burning more energy just trying to keep themselves warm and need the extra calories.

Stay safe and warm everybody!

While it may be fun for us, for our pets it can be a source of fear and anxiety. With additional people in the house (or no people at all for that matter) and all sorts of loud noises and lights it can be a trying time. In fact, New Year’s Eve sees some of the highest numbers of runaway and lost pets due to them potentially bursting out of the house or yard to try and escape the commotion.

Here are a few tips to help keep those critters safe during the holiday.

• Provide your pet with a quiet location or room away from any festivities that might be going on. Even if they love being a part of the gathering, a little break every now and then is a good thing. If you’re not going to be home, consider leaving the tv or radio on to provide some ambient noise to help block out any other obnoxious sounds.
• Make sure your pet’s ID tags are on and up to date. In the event that they happen to escape, it will be much easier to get them home if/when they are found by someone else.
• Consider using a calming agent in a situation where anxiety may be too much for your pet. There are plenty of natural remedies and pheromones in various forms to help alleviate the stress.
• If you are outdoors with your pet, make sure they are well lit. Blinkers, lighted collars and other lighted products can go a long way in making sure your pet is visible and safe.
• If your pet is going to be a part of the festivities, be aware of where the alcohol is. Alcohol is poisonous to pets and even a small amount can cause issues. Your guests may be unaware and leave drinks low and unattended.

So with all of that, we hope you and your pets will all have a safe and prosperous New Year. 2012 here we come!

Here are our holiday hours as we are certain the question will arise as we approach the 25th.

Regular Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday 11:00am – 5:00pm

Christmas Eve:
9:00am – 5:00pm

Christmas Day:
Closed

New Year’s Eve:
9:00am – 6:00pm

New Year’s Day:
Closed

In the last year or so we’ve seen quite the surge in sales on porkhide/porkskin products. We still find that a number of folks don’t quite know the difference between rawhide and porkhide. Let’s break it down a little.

Rawhide

The traditional dog chew. If there was ever a staple item in the pet industry it’s this one. It’s been around for ages, comes in all flavors, shapes and sizes and fits the bill for a number of aggressive chewers.

The hide itself comes from either cow or buffalo. It’s a tough product that will typically last a decent amount of time with even the most avid of chewers. The biggest downside that rawhide poses is that it isn’t the most digestible product out there. In fact, many vets now discourage giving dogs rawhide as some dogs tend to tear off larger chunks that can prove to be choking hazards. Rawhide can also swell to some degree once it has been ingested. We always recommend supervising whatever your dog happens to be chewing on, regardless of how harmless it may seem. But with all of that being said, we still think rawhide is a great natural option for a number of dogs as long as you’re aware of what your pooch is doing with it. The whole bone doesn’t need to be ingested in one sitting. Portion it out, give them a few minutes here and there and it will make the product last longer and keep your dog occupied and looking forward to those times.

Porkhide

The newcomer to the game. Porkhide can be good for dogs with beef allergies and digestive issues as it is fairly mild. It can be richer for some dogs than rawhide is, so take that into consideration and moderate as needed. Porkhide is more digestible than rawhide and typically breaks down upon ingestion much faster. That being said, it’s still good to keep an eye on your dog while they are chewing as those larger chunks can still pose a problem in some circumstances.

Fortunately there are now a number of options available in the market that weren’t there a year ago. Pressed, rolled, wrapped with various other meats, flattened and flavored are just a few of the available variations these days.

So with all of that, porkhide and rawhide can both be great options for keeping your canine happy, healthy and occupied but porkhide certainly seems to be edging for the lead in the ever-changing pet industry. Stop in today and see the latest and greatest in both of these options!

Well here we are folks, Thanksgiving is upon us once again. Where did that year go? It’s a been a wild one to say the least. 2011 is almost done and it is the traditional time for all of us to give thanks to those that matter most and helped us along the way.

We want to give thanks to all of you. The one thing that has always stayed constant and true over the course of the years are our valued (and awesome!) customers. Those that have shopped with us since we opened our doors many moons ago, those that have come to find us along the way and those that have just recently started shopping here. And if you’re just checking us out here on the web for the first time, thinking about shopping with us…thank you to you as well for taking the time to search us out! Without all of you frequenting our business and being a part of our family here, Western Pet just simply wouldn’t exist.

We love that you have come to trust us for all of your pet’s needs. We love that you bring all of your critters in to see us when you stop by. We love that you know all of us by name and include us in your pet’s lives….so much so that many of your pets even look forward to seeing us! We know that times are a little tougher economically for everyone. We know that you could choose one of the many pet supply stores in the area. We appreciate that you have chosen to shop with us and we can’t say thank you enough for choosing us over all of the other options out there.

From all of us here at Western Pet Supply – We wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving and thank you for being such outstanding customers!

Ok, we know it’s still a little early to be talking about the holiday season, but we’re just too darn excited to keep this to ourselves! We will be teaming up again this year with Animal Aid for our annual pictures with Santa event! Last year was an absolute blast and a bunch of our awesome customers came out to get their pets pictures taken with the big bearded elf.

So bring your pooch, your kitty, your lizard….heck you can even bring your family to get their picture taken with Santa Claus …err… Santa Paws as we call him around here!

When:

December 3rd from 12:00 to 4:00
December 10th from 12:00 to 4:00

Where:

Right here at Western Pet Supply!

Proceeds from this event benefit Animal Aid programs.

We’re pretty excited about the latest offerings launched by Dogswell…Their cage-free duck and chicken jerky products have always been a hit here at Western Pet and their new offerings that just came out should make even the pickiest of eater’s mouths drool.

Vitality Jerky Bars

For us, Dogswell’s most popular treats by far have been their standard jerky treats. Now there’s a new, “mightier” option that has the potential to last longer and provide the same great taste and benefit. Available in 3 flavors: Chicken, Turkey and Beef. The only other ingredients are vitamin E, vitamin A and flaxseed. These are sure to be a hit!

Nutrisca Freeze Dried Diets

For the discerning dog (and owner!) that prefers ease of maintenance over the mess that can sometimes be created by full raw diets, there has always been the option of a freeze dried diet. Simply add water and you have a fully reconstituted raw, fortified product. Dogwell has entered this market with a great offering, one that is both palatable and cost effective.

So stop in today and check out these delicious new products!

A big thank you is also due to Animal Aid for putting this event together. Each year it just gets better and better. Your hard work made this event a lot of fun.

Here are all of the well-dressed entrants. It is going to be tough choosing the winners out of this bunch!