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How Chewy.com Simplifies My Life

February 4, 2019

Disclaimer: I am a Chewy.com Partner. However, My Kid Has Paws only shares content we believe our readers will find valuable. There are affiliate links throughout this blog post which we may benefit from financially. 

Chewy.com arrived in our lives a few years ago, and I have recently identified a few ways this platform can make my life a lot simpler by saving me time, allowing me to leverage automation, and lastly, accommodating my natural procrastination tendencies (I’m looking at you two-day shipping).

In light of the New Year, I have spent significant time assessing my goals and evaluating the amount of time I waste. Specifically, I’m looking to exchange wasted time for more efficiency, automation, unencumbered free time, and time spent working on my goals. In addition to finding and “fixing” inefficiencies, I evaluated the opportunities, habits, and tools that already make life more simple, that I could leverage even further. One of the the pet-related platforms I identified as an opportunity to make my life more efficient is Chewy.com.

How Chewy.com Simplifies My Life

Helping Manage Responsibilities 

To be clear, I love the responsibilities that are associated with pet ownership; the dog-walking, the exercise, and the companionship, not to mention the constant reminder to spend time in the present. But sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the other responsibilities that tend to take up space in my brain. When I feel overwhelmed, the thing that makes me feel better is to immediately look for inefficiencies, and subsequent opportunities, to create new habits, add new tools, or somehow improve our current way of doing things so that we can spend more time outside with Rooney.

After taking a look at Chewy.com, I wanted to share with you some of the ways we as pet parents can leverage this awesome platform to make our lives easier:

  • Food automation: That’s right, you can set up a reoccurring food delivery on Chewy.com so that you don’t have to rush to the store before/after work to pick up your dog’s brand of dog food. Rooney eats a combination of Petcurean and The Farmer’s Dog. The Farmer’s Dog actually has it’s own reoccurring delivery option since the food is made fresh. However, Petcurean is only in a few stores in the Bay Area, so it’s soooo much easier for me to order directly from Chewy.
  • Treat Automation: Rooney gets treats in a Kong every time we leave the house to distract him from the fact that we are leaving. Therefore, we can’t run out of treats. I also recently discovered that the price of the treats we buy for Rooney was more affordable on Chewy.com, which helps us stick to our monthly budget.
  • Poop Bag Automation: Rooney poops approximately 2-3 times on every walk/hike/beach trip. He will poop in total 2-3 times a day without those activities, but if you take him out of the house he will 100% poop at least 2-3 additional times, it’s uncanny. Meaning, we can’t leave the house without poop bags, and we can’t run out either! Chewy thankfully carries the Earth Rated poop bags which are our favorite because they are compostable and lavender scented.
  • Supplies: Last year my family was hit with a few unpleasant surprises, and it was really helpful to be able to order for my family member’s dogs whatever they needed directly through Chewy. If they needed more food, treats, poop bags, dog toys, dog ramps, dog booties, you name it, I could order it and have it delivered to their house, providing me a quick and easy way to help my family.

How Chewy.com Simplifies My Life

Accommodating the Procrastinators

I don’t want to be a procrastinator, and trust me, I am working on it! It’s actually been a lifelong project to stop procrastinating on the stuff I know I need to do. However, with Chewy.com by my side, and their amazing ability to ship the items I need within 24 hours, I am able to quickly place orders and know that the items will be at my house within 2 days. This feature is particularly convenient for pet parents who are already used to Amazon Prime.

What about the Local Shops?

I didn’t write this whole blog post without thinking about the local shops and small businesses. Supporting local shops and small businesses is important to me as well. I intentionally visit local pet shops in the Bay Area and buy Rooney new treats and dog toys to try. Honestly, most treats and dog toys don’t last that long in our house, so while we are never without them, I do switch it up and buy from local pet shops when the opportunity presents itself.

Additionally, I try to make decisions where I can to support local and small businesses. For example, Petcurean, which can be purchased through Chewy.com, is a family-owned Canadian business, and The Farmer’s Dog is a growing startup based in New York.

I wrote this post because I know overwhelm is inevitable for people, no matter what. My hope is that if people can relate to feeling overwhelmed, they can find some useful ideas in this post so they can spend more quality time with their pets.

Do you use automation or Chewy.com to make your life easier? If so, would you mind sharing how you make your life easier in the comments below?

The Importance of Fresh Food – The Farmer’s Dog

November 5, 2018

I was recently approached by The Farmer’s Dog to review their fresh dog food recipes. Their team is awesome, and when we were initially discussing the review, I felt like I had to be honest with them.

The review topic can’t really be focused on whether or not Rooney likes the fresh food, because he will. Rooney doesn’t have any real food preferences. If it’s edible he will eat it. He even likes Spinach (which is of course, is a good thing)!

via GIPHY

As the conversation continued, I realized that a thorough review of The Farmer’s Dog would include seeing if my parent’s German Shepherd Sasha liked the food and saw an improvement in her allergies. Sasha struggles with ongoing allergies (a combination of food allergies and atopy). She occasionally struggles with vomiting as a result of a sensitive stomach and the inevitable finding of a stray crumb left around the house. I thought that if we fed her The Farmer’s Dog food for a few weeks and saw a decrease in the frequency of her vomiting, that would be an indicator that the food was not only enjoyed by the dogs, but could indeed improve their overall gut health.

And really, that’s The Farmer’s Dog’s goal; to share with pet parents the benefits of a fresh food diet.

How much does a dog’s diet matter?

According to a book titled “Canine Nutrigenomics“, published by Dr Jean Dodds, DVM (and quoted in this TEDX talk), “30-40% of all Canine Cancers can be prevented simply by implementing dietary changes”. Meaning, your dog’s diet doesn’t only give them the nutrients needed to sustain life, but also can assist in the ability to fight disease, cancer, and obesity.

The importance of diet is how the Farmer’s Dog got its start.

The Co-founder of the Farmer’s Dog, Brett Podolsky was struggling to find a food that would keep his dog Jada healthy. After two years, he had yet to find the right solution to her stomach problems, until he started feeding her fresh home-cooked food, a suggestion made by a veterinarian, and it worked! He then began to search for a company that provided fresh food, and that’s when he decided to found the Farmer’s Dog.

Why is Fresh Food in a Dog’s diet so important?

If you know me, you know that I studied Animal Science. So, when people say “fresh food is important”, my immediate response is, “Well, that makes sense, but…I would love to see some research”. So, I was interested in reading some of the research supporting that fresh food can improve a dog’s health.

One of the interesting pieces of research shared with me by the Farmer’s Dog team was this paper published by Purdue in JAVMA: “Evaluation of the effect of dietary vegetable consumption on reducing risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers.”

After studying 92 adult Scottish Terriers they found that, “results suggest that consumption of certain vegetables may prevent or slow the development of transitional cell carcinoma in Scottish Terriers.” JAVMA

Reading a little more about the study you see that cruciferous vegetable types (read: of the broccoli variety) didn’t have a conclusive effect on the risk of development of transitional cell carcinoma. However leafy greens and yellow-orange vegetables did seem to have an affect.

The Importance of Fresh Food - The Farmer's Dog

What kind of vegetables do the Farmer’s Dog diets include?

Vegetables included in Rooney and Sasha’s at home recipes:

  • Parsnips
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Green beans
  • Cauliflower

As you can see, even though there are some cruciferous vegetables included (they still provide a good source of fiber), there are lots of leafy greens and carrots (those yellow-orange vegetables), that can help Rooney and Sasha fight disease.

What’s Rooney’s opinion of the food?

What about Sasha?

Sasha is a big fan of the Farmer’s Dog food, and after a month or so of adding this food to her diet, my parents noticed a decrease in her occasional stomach upset. Additionally, after stopping the food for a bit, because our initial trial ran out, Sasha had a big allergy flare up, and ended up with a hotspot. Which anecdotally, could indicate that the food was reducing her allergy symptoms.

After reviewing the science, the food, our dog’s opinion, and the overall customer experience, here are my conclusions:

The Farmer’s Dog is for:

Pet parents who appreciate a delivery service

My husband and I have used Hellofresh for over 2 years now (maybe 3?), and we love this service. Everything is prepared, dinner doesn’t require creativity or another trip to the grocery store. I think the Farmer’s Dog provides a similar level of convenience for pet parents. All of the food is prepared and pre-packaged all you have to is remember to move a package from your freezer to your fridge every few days.

The Importance of Fresh Food - The Farmer's Dog

An example of the questions you are asked when filling out your pet’s profile on TheFarmersDog.com

Pet parents who want fresh food in their dog’s diet to improve overall health

While Sasha’s allergy flare-up may have been anecdotal evidence to her experience with fresh food, she definitely enjoyed the food and seemed happier and healthier while eating Farmer’s Dog consistently.

Pet parents who are looking for fresh food that is less time consuming

Many pet parents take hours out of their days and weekends to make sure their pets food is cooked fresh. This is a huge commendable effort, but not something that everyone has time for. Not to mention, the Farmer’s Dog recipes are sure to include those essential nutrients and vitamins necessary in a fresh-food diet.

Pet parents who are trying to improve their dog’s gut health

We noticed a significant descrease in Sasha’s vomiting and overall stomach upset. Additionally, Rooney’s BMs (bowel movements) looked healthier in my former veterinary technician opinion. Lastly, Jimmy, my parents Chihuahua also got a chance to try the food, and he LOVED it. Outside of seeing my mom, Jimmy doesn’t get excited about much, but he was so excited about dinner time with Farmer’s Dog. Additionally, because the food is fresh it provided him with the water content he needs in his senior years, as he has never really been one to drink lots of water.

Pet parents who are looking to try something new

The Farmer’s Dog has a variety of different delivery options and frequencies. For example, we have written in the past about Petcurean and Rooney still loves, and does really well on that food. However, why not try something new and make some of Rooney’s meals a little extra special? He is a spoiled dog after all. #SorryNotSorry. We have set Rooney & Sasha up with a toppers plan, making the Farmer’s Dog 33% of their ongoing diet. And we prefer to have this food delivered to us every month.

Are you looking for anything new out of your dog’s food? Would you want to give The Farmers Dog a try?

5 Myths About Shelter Dogs You Need to Know – Petcurean

June 25, 2018

I didn’t realize this until I began working in the veterinary industry, and even earlier at my local shelter, there are a lot of myths about shelter dogs. I believe that increasing awareness around these myths, and providing people with alternative information can help increase pet adoptions!

In 2014, I wrote a blog post and review regarding the book, “Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover” by Denise Fleck, about this very topic. And today, I want to revisit this topic with our friends from Petcurean who are helping us debunk these myths.

Myth 1: Shelters only have mutts. There are no pure breeds available.

Fact 1: Shelters have their fair share of mutts – no doubt about that. But there are rescue dogs that are purebred. You might just need to have some patience and wait for one to be brought in. There are also rescue groups that are breed-specific, so if you really want a certain breed, you can look into adopting from one of those organizations.

In the shelters I worked in we had everything from Rottweilers to Alaskan Malamutes to Maltese’s in the shelter looking for good forever homes! I highly recommend reaching out to your local rescue group in addition to your local shelter (If you recall, we adopted Rooney from a Corgi specific group!). Additionally, share with them what you are looking for, smaller organizations often have a waiting list for pets, and their goal is to find the best home possible. They might not have the right pet for you right then and there, but you never know what the future will bring. For example, when we adopted Rooney, I had actually called about another dog, and then Rooney came to them the next day, and they thought he would be perfect for us. Spoiler Alert: He is!

Myth 2: Shelter animals have more health issues that will be costly for me to address.

Fact 2: Many shelters ensure pets that are adopted have seen a veterinarian and are given a clean bill of health before heading home with you. And if something is wrong, they will let you know ahead of time so there are no surprises – at least none that you could have potentially been aware of or predicted at the time of adoption.  In addition, many health issues are easily treatable so don’t dismiss a potentially great pet whose condition may be temporary or easily resolved – simply switching their food to a premium recipe like Petcurean’s GO! Solutions could make a world of difference. And there are many affordable pet insurance options that can help offset costs over the life of your pet. 

With advancements in veterinary medicine and the increased lifespan of most pets, it is likely that every pet will have some health issue at some point in their life. While switching food might be a helpful resource for your pet’s health, it is always a good idea to get pet insurance for any pet when you bring them home. Pet insurance is incredibly crucial for those times when all of the sudden you need to drop $1,000 because your dog slipped a disc in their back for example.

Myth 3: Shelters are full of old and/or ugly animals.

Fact 3: You can find dogs and cats of all ages at shelters! And there’s nothing wrong with taking home an adult dog or cat. Puppies and kittens are certainly cute, but they aren’t for everyone. They require lots of attention, training exercises and socialization to become well-behaved adults, and not everyone wants or is able to make that kind of commitment. Older pets on the other hand, are often better behaved, potty trained and less energetic. Whichever your preference, you should have no problem finding a pet in your desired age-range. 

As for looks, why not look beyond what’s “conventionally cute” and celebrate every animal’s individual uniqueness? Our friends at Petcurean just held an amazing contest called “Uplift the Underdog,” which shone a light on rescue dogs in Seattle, Portland, Toronto and Vancouver that are often overlooked due to age, looks, and/or dietary needs. The goal was to help find these deserving dogs their forever homes and help break down the stigma often associated with shelter animals. Contest prizes included Petcurean pet food for the finalists and their shelters, a makeover grooming service, and a Petcurean gift basket filled with supplies, toys and more. Talk about not judging a book by its cover – Petcurean just helped crack the book wide open for so many “underdogs”!

I will share with anyone who will listen to me the following facts:

    1. We adopted Rooney at 1.5 years of age. He was crate-trained, potty-trained, and knew basic commands and manners. It was amazing! Especially for a couple who worked full-time. I highly recommend adopting adult dogs.
    2. Rooney is turning 8 next month, and I have been noticing a smidge of a slow down in his energy levels, and right now I would describe him as having the perfect energy level. If I take him to work, he will sleep under my desk for a few hours, and then gladly take his walks. He can hike for 3 miles, and then will sleep for several hours. He will play for a 30 minutes, and then settle in to watch a movie with us. Mind you, I have loved Rooney’s personality and energy since the day we adopted him. I’m just really loving and enjoying this time where it’s easier to integrate him into every aspect of our lives.

Myth 4: All shelter animals have experienced abuse or neglect, making them “damaged goods.”

Fact 4: Shelter animals have so very much love to give. Even with abuse or neglect in their past, these animals can make a full emotional recovery in due time – especially when they’re placed in a loving home and given the right care and attention. Many of these animals are just so happy to finally end up in safe, caring environments that they are even more loving and loyal to their adopted families. Others came from loving homes but were surrendered by their owners due to unexpected circumstances, like relocating for a job.

I have seen so many pet parents create amazing bonds despite their pet’s past. For example, my mom’s Chihuahua Jimmy was in the shelter for two months and in the first fews days that we had him was very attached to me. However, before we knew it, he became completely bonded to my mom.

I think the most important thing to consider for your adopted pet is to what do they need from you. For example, you might never know if their fears are just fears (for example, I am afraid of heights, but I have never fallen from a high-up location), or if they are from an experience. More importantly, the question to ask yourself is, how can I best help my dog live a full-life based on their personality and temperament? What’s the best way I can help them?

Myth 5: Shelter pets have behavioral problems and won’t adapt well to living in my home.

Fact 5: There are so many reasons, beyond behavioral issues, that pets are brought into shelters – owners could have moved to a place that doesn’t allow pets, they may have been overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to go into training their pet, the animal could have been a runaway, or it could have been born on the streets. Most of the animals that are dropped off at the shelter would make wonderful additions to a loving family. And those that wouldn’t, usually aren’t eligible for adoption!

If you, a family member, or a friend are thinking about welcoming a new pet into your family, I encourage you to do a little “digging” into your local shelters. If you are not sure if you are ready to adopt, or unsure which type of dog/cat you are looking for, many rescue groups and shelters have foster programs. Fostering allows you to learn more about the animal you are looking to adopt, and if your lifestyle/personalities are a match. It also helps you gauge if you are ready for the commitment and responsibility of caring for a companion. It also helps the animal by getting them into a temporary home, making space for a new animal at the rescue or shelter, and increases their chance for adoption. And if you fall in love with your foster, you can adopt – it’s a win win!  You never know – the dog or cat you’re meant to bring home may just be the complete opposite of what you expected!

I couldn’t agree more with Petcurean’s point here. Shelter is no way equals behavior problems. Additionally, if you do have concerns about how a dog will fit into your or your family’s lifestyle, I highly recommend fostering a pet, even if for a short period of time, you can really help your local shelter or rescue, and possibly find your perfect pet!

I would love to hear from you! Has your pet, or your experiences with pets, changed your mind about typical shelter myths?

Don’t forget, if you are interested in trying Petcurean food for your pet, you can download a $5 off coupon using code PAWSOME8 on any Petcurean food here: Petcurean.com/pawsome

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger. I was provided with food and compensation so that Rooney and I could provide our honest opinion. However, Petcurean is the food we feed Rooney every day. My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.

Uplift the Underdogs Contest: Petcurean’s Commitment to Putting Pets First

May 30, 2018

During the summer of 2009, I spent some time working at a local no-kill animal shelter called Pets ‘n Pals. This was one of my first jobs where I was able to work with animals.

At this shelter, I learned so many valuable lessons, everything from the pet adoption process to how to prevent Parvo from spreading. I also learned about the many different dog breeds and what characteristics to highlight to help pets get adopted, i.e. dog-friendly, potty-trained, etc.

It was at this shelter that I learned that some pets are very easy to find new homes for, where as other pets, it takes an inexplicable amount of time for them to find their forever home. Take Giselle for example. I remember her perfectly, she was a gorgeous pure bred Rottweiler with a great personality. Granted, she wasn’t great with most other dogs, but all she needed was a home where she would be the only dog. It took almost a full year for her to find a home. She was there before I started working in the Summer of ’09, and it was only when I went back to visit that I found out that she had been finally adopted.

As many of you know, I work with Petcurean because Rooney loves their food and I believe they are a good company that puts pets first. So today, I am excited to share with you the details of their latest contest, aimed at helping dogs like Giselle find homes faster!

Happy Thanksgiving! - Rooney's Thanksgiving Dinner with Petcurean

Through Friday, June 1st Petcurean is hosting an Uplift the Underdogs Contest open to all rescue groups and animal shelters located in Seattle and Portland, and their surrounding areas.

The goal of the contest is to increase the adoption consideration for underdogs – dogs who are traditionally less likely to be adopted due to age, appearance, or other issues.

By inspiring people to see beyond these so-called imperfections and focus on the amazing heart and spirit of the dogs, the contest will help underdogs find the loving homes they deserve.

How to Participate

Rescue organizations are encouraged to submit details about their most deserving dogs (here) for the chance to win a lifetime supply of Petcurean’s GO! Solutions® food for the winning dog and a 500lb donation of pet food to the shelter or rescue group.

Prizing details:

Grand Prize

  • Lifetime supply of Petcurean’s GO! Solutions dog food
  • Feature in a Petcurean marketing campaign
  • Promotion on Petcurean’s website and social channels
  • Free make-over grooming service
  • 500lb donation of Petcurean pet food to the winning dog’s shelter/rescue group
  • A Petcurean gift basket filled with supplies, toys and more

All Finalists

  • 1-year supply of Petcurean’s GO! Solutions dog food
  • Free make-over grooming service
  • 500lb donation of Petcurean pet food to the winning dog’s shelter
  • A Petcurean gift basket filled with supplies, toys and more

After completing the online application form, two finalists from each city will move to the next round, along with four finalists from Canada. During this round, consumers will vote for their favorite dog through Petcurean’s Facebook and Instagram. The dog that receives the most comments and likes over one week will be awarded the grand prize. The winner will be announced on June 18!

“We believe all dogs are deserving of forever homes. Whether they’re older, have dietary issues, aren’t conventionally cute, or face unique challenges of any sort. We want to encourage people to give these overlooked dogs forever homes,” said Christine Mallier, PR & Community Relations Manager at Petcurean. “It’s what’s inside that counts and these dogs all have so much love to give. At Petcurean, we recognize and celebrate the unique traits that each individual dog has and are committed to helping them live healthy, happy lives full of love.”

For more information on Petcurean’s Uplift the Underdog contest and to enter, visit  www.petcurean.com/underdog. Eligibility restrictions apply. Entry is open now through June 1, 2018!

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger. I was provided with food and compensation so that Rooney and I could provide our honest opinion. However, Petcurean is the food we feed Rooney every day. My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.

National Chip Your Pet Month

May 25, 2018

Did you know that the month of May is National Chip Your Pet Month?

To be clear, we aren’t talking about potato chips here. We are talking about those good ol’ microchips. Today, we have partnered with Aimee Gilbreath of Michelson Found Animals Foundation and our friends at Petcurean to provide all pet parents with a friendly reminder about the importance of microchipping your pet.

The quotes below were provided by Aimee, the additional information is based on my experience.

What are microchips?

Microchips are rice sized chips that are scannable and contain your pet’s unique number, it’s like their social security number. This can be scanned by a shelter or vet, and the number is used to find the pet’s owner. It is not a GPS device and does not contain any personal information.

I have taken part in the reunion of many animals with their pet parents, and microchips have played a critical role in getting pets home safely. Here is an example from 2016:

Why do I need a microchip?

Pets get lost all the time – they run off, slip out of collars and slide through gates.  No one likes to think about losing a pet – but being prepared just in case will increase the likelihood that they’ll get back to you and give you peace of mind.

Many dogs or cats don’t wear collars while they are indoors. Unfortunately, if there is ever a scenario where your pet escapes out the front door and doesn’t have their collar on, it becomes a lot more challenging for people to identify them as your pet, and ultimately makes it so much harder for them to return home safely to you.

Does it hurt my pet?

Implanting a microchip is a simple procedure and vets say it’s like getting a vaccine. Once it’s implanted, it stays in place and lasts for their lifetime.

If I am being honest, the bevel (opening) of the needles are larger for microchips. However, the discomfort is still mild and temporary, much like a shot with a larger needle. Helpful hint: if your pet isn’t microchipped and has an upcoming procedure (spay/neuter/dental), that’s a great time to also get them microchipped as the staff with take care of that procedure while they are still sedated.

Where do I get my pet microchipped?

When you adopt a pet, they are usually microchipped at the shelter. Veterinary offices also do the procedure.

I have microchipped quiet a few pets myself in both my work at shelters and veterinary hospitals. While the procedure itself is small and quick it should always be completed by animal professionals.  

Do I need to do anything else once I get a microchip?

Yes, the microchip only works if you’ve registered it – go to foundanimals.org, the first free national microchip registry, and enter your information.  Remember to keep it updated if your phone number or address changes. This ensures that you can be contacted if your pet is found.

Funny story, the morning that we found Bae (in the Instagram post above), I had just updated Rooney’s information on his microchip that morning to reflect our new address. Finding a lost dog on the hiking trail that day was a reminder of the importance of keeping microchip information up to date.

Is your pet microchipped? Have you ever helped return a pet home because they were microchipped?

Don’t forget, if you are interested in trying Petcurean food for your pet you can download a $5 off coupon using code PAWSOME8 on any Petcurean food here: Petcurean.com/pawsome

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger. I was provided with food and compensation so that Rooney and I could provide our honest opinion. However, Petcurean is the food we feed Rooney every day. My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.

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