Frequently Asked Questions

A: There were around 500 human attendees and more than 80 dogs. Many of the smaller pets visited in strollers pushed by their human families. With so many different kinds of animals one could expect a certain disorder, but everyone behaved and respected the other species' space. The conference offered workshops in everything from how to work with brands to creating buzz for a website, and most of the meeting rooms filled to the brim. The exhibit hall was also popular, along with the doggie play rooms. PlexiDor Pet Doors had a booth where interested visitors could see and try the doors, and a giveaway where one lucky winner would get the PlexiDor of their choice. BlogPaws is more than a conference; it is a social media hub where pet bloggers unite. During fall 2013, PlexiDor Pet Doors will come together with bloggers in the BlogPaws network for product tests and reviews. Marie Pickard won the door prize; a PlexiDor dog door

A: Many dogs like fruity tastes like these bake apple pupcakes. These apple treats are easy to make - very much like cupcakes but in a dog friendly format - and odds are your pooch will love them. What you need: Muffin pan or cups 2 and 3/4 cup of water 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 2 tablespoons honey 1/8 tablespoon of vanilla extract 1 egg 4 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup unsweetened dried apple chips 1 tablespoon baking powder What to do: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Mix water, applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl. It works well to mix with a wooden spoon. Add the other ingredients and stir until everything is well blended. Distribute the mix into greased muffin pans and bake for around an hour. It can take up to an hour and fifteen minutes before they're done. You can store the bake apple pupcakes in an airtight container in the freezer for up to  6 months.

A: Penny is a 7 month old Vizsla who just came home after the adventure of a life time. She got lost in Royal City late December, and while her owners did everything to find her - including creating a Facebook page dedicated to finding her and bringing her home - Penny was on a road trip. A kind truck driver saw her and picked her up, and she tagged along with him all the way to Pittsburgh, Pa. When his job was done he took Penny to an animal clinic where they scanned her microchip and were able to contact their owners. Of course, Penny's adventures weren't over, because by now she was far from home. The puppy's luck held and Alaska Airlines flew her home for free. Make sure your pets have identification, and that your name, address, and phone number are updated. Even the most well behaved pet can get distracted by something. It only takes a couple of seconds for them to dash down the road in pursuit of a bird, squirrel, or something else.

A: A few days ago, Darky, a labrador and collie mix, became a hero. Darky was on a walk with his owner Arthur McGarvey along the fields near their home when Mr. McGarvey collapsed. Darky didn't lose any time - he ran to the road, barking and prompting drivers to come investigate. Darky's strange behavior made motorists pull over, and the persons who stopped quickly spotted the man on the ground. Without Darky no one would have seen Mr. McGarvey, but now the passers by could call for help, and keep him warm until paramedics arrived. Doctors say Darky's quick response, getting help in the minutes immediately following the stroke, might have saved Arthur's life and definitely boosted his chances to make a full recovery. The quicker help and necessary medications are given after a stroke, the better the chances of recovery. Most people who suffer a stroke have less evident symptoms than Mr. McGarvey. If you think that you or someone close to you has a stroke, call 911 immediately. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared - this is important for correct treatment. Common signs include: Face drooping. Ask the person to smile and see if the smile is uneven. Numbness or weakness of a leg, arm, or face. Ask the person to raise both arms and observe if one arm drifts downward. Speech difficulty. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Sudden confusion or trouble understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one of both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, loss of balance, loss of coordination, or dizziness. Sudden and severe headache without known cause Image of Darkey with family from mirror.co.uk

A: No matter how much we like dogs, most of us don't want to look like a dog. There are exceptions, of course, but the vast majority of humans want to look like a human. Still, everyone has seen someone with an uncanny likeness to their dog. Many dog owners even see something of their dog in their own face in the mirror. It would be easy to dismiss this as one of those things that aren't real, but when shown a photo lineup of random people and random dogs, test subjects are able to match owners and pets. It would be easy to dismiss that with people seeking out pets that have something in common with themselves. Maybe men would be more likely to have large dogs and women more likely to have toy breeds, or maybe women with long hair would be more likely to have dogs with long hair and floppy ears? The ability to match strangers with their pets remain even when these types of characteristics are ruled out. A Japanese scientist recently set out to solve the mystery. In prior tests he has proven that test subjects can match photos of owners and their dogs by looking at their faces - and see that arbitrarily coupled dogs and people were fake pairs. This time, 502 students were presented with 40 human faces and 40 dog faces. When shown the entire faces, 80 percent could pick the real life pairs. The interesting thing is that when shown only eyes of humans and dogs, 74 percent could still pick out real life pairs. The scientists ran the test again, and in a second group of test subjects 76 percent could pick out the pairs just looking at the eyes. Thus far, no one knows how this works, but there is something in the eyes of humans and dogs that can show to complete strangers that they belong together. Read more here.

A: With the new year comes some new laws and statutes for animal protection. Some are practical, others sound a bit goofy but are clearly needed. It might seem self evident that getting close enough to lions, tigers, and other big cats to take a selfie is a bad idea. Self-portraits with this type of animals have still become more and more popular online, and starting February 2015 it will be illegal to pose for this type of photo in New York. The new rule specifically prohibits contact between members of the public and big cats at animal shows. New York is one of over 20 states with a ban on private citizens owning exotic animals, but all over the country it is believed that more exotic pets live in American homes than in American zoos. Seven states have no requirement of a license or permit to keep exotic animals. In these states you might need a license to own a dog, but you can buy a lion without thinking twice about it. Naturally, many who own exotic pets are responsible and give the pets great care, others are less careful. There is no firm definition of the term exotic pet - in some states it refers to any wildlife kept in a human household, or to a pet that's more unusual than a dog or cat. In 2015, New York also makes it illegal to tattoo and pierce pets. This law allegedly came about a after a woman attempted to sell gothic kittens with piercings, and a man tattooed his dog. The only exception is markings done by a veterinarian for a medial reason or identifications. On the other side of the USA, California takes a stand for farm animals. A new law requires that egg-laying hens, breeding sows, and veal calves have enough space to move around. It is no longer allowed to keep them in cramped cages. California also has a law that extends the space requirements for egg-laying hens for out of state suppliers.

A: There are many reasons to adopt an older dog instead of a puppy. While puppies are adorable and it is hard to resist puppy breath and puppy kisses, they are also a lot of work. If you've decided to start the new year with getting a pet and you want a puppy, think it through and make sure you really have the time and energy needed for raising a little dog through the puppy and teenage stages.  If you answer no to the 24-7 job of having a little one, consider visiting a local shelter or rescue and give an older dog a new chance on life. (There are often puppies there too, of course.) Many dogs who end up in shelters and rescues are there through no fault of their own. In many cases the owner's family, living situation, or financial situation changed, and the pet finds itself homeless. Older dogs are often the last to be adopted - and the first to be euthanized. When you see a pet in a shelter, remember that the dog is stressed. Many shut down and become shy and unresponsive, others are hyper alert, ready for any chance to get away. The personality can change a little when you get home and your new pet settles in, and this process can take a couple of weeks until he or she figures out that they're home and safe. Once the dog has settled in, you'll have a devoted friend. When you adopt an older dog you know important things like their final size and grooming requirements. Older dogs are far less likely to be destructive chewers than younger dogs - and if they chew on something it's a training problem and not a teething problem. Older dogs are also more likely to be house trained than puppies. If the older dog isn't house trained or has accidents in the new home, they have the physical and mental ability to "get it" quickly while a young puppy just can't hold it. Older dogs require exercise just like younger dogs, but they might not have the super-explosve energy that wants you to play ball for five hours and then run a marathon. Seniors often like to chill out. Many believe older dogs can't learn new tricks. This isn't true. Training is great mental exercise for your furry friend, and it helps build the bond between you. To find your new best friend, visit local shelters or rescues, or check petfinder.com!

A: Thank you for your support in 2014. We hope to see you again in 2015. Happy New Year!

A: The New Year holiday is just around the corner, and many Americans will celebrate the birth of the new year with fireworks, firecrackers, and even gunshots. While you and your neighbors celebrate, keep your pets in mind. Cats, dogs, and other pets generally don't like these loud noises, and the bright flashes of fireworks can add to their terror. Even dogs and cats that are normally calm can panic and run in an attempt to find safety from the perceived threat. Keep your pets inside. If they choose to seek out a dark corner or hide under the bed, let them be. Never underestimate a frightened pet's ability to flee. If you have visitors coming and going it's a good idea to keep the pets separated so they can't get out the front door. If your family falls into the category that fires actual guns to celebrate the new year - fire into the ground, never up in the air. What goes up must come down, and bullets fired up in the air have been known to cause injury and even death on their return to the ground. Make sure your pets have ID badges on their collars, and that they're microchipped. Naturally, if you go to watch a fireworks display, leave your pets at home. Don't leave them in the car. Have a happy and safe New Year's holiday!

A: Derby the dog was born with deformed and disabled front legs, and would get around through dragging himself with the small forearms. His foster family got him a wheelchair, and while that worked well, they felt that he could get something even better. Thanks to technology and the new 3D printing technology, Derby got a Christmas miracle and is now able to run on newly created legs. 3D printers have been used to make cost efficient limbs for humans, but Derby is the first animal to get 3D printed prosthetics. The materials and tools that are developed for humans don't always work on animals. It is, for example, easy to scan a person's leg to fit a prosthetic, but not as easy to scan a dog's. The company making the leg molded a cast of fiberglass and scanned that into the printing system. Another problem is teaching the pet to use the prosthetic, and as you can see from the video, Derby has succeeded quite well - and he is becoming an Internet phenomenon. //youtu.be/uRmoowIN8aY