Frequently Asked Questions

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: 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: PlexiDor at PetFest 2013! Doggie-Do-Rite from Houston is a family owned company that has been a reseller and installer of PlexiDor dog doors and cat doors for over ten years. They displayed the PlexiDor line of products at PetFest 2013 in Old Town Spring, 20 minutes north of Houston. The people at Doggie-Do-Rite are experienced and know the ins and outs of most cat doors and dog doors available on the market. The owners share their lives and home with several dogs, and put an emphasis on keeping pets safe and happy. They know what size pet door is needed and where the best place for installation of the cat door or dog door will be. PetFest 2013 is an event dedicated to finding homes for animals in shelters and rescues in Houston and surrounding areas. Besides seeing dog doors and cat doors, the festival offers fun, entertainment, and education. The intent is to help raise money, volunteers, and foster homes in order to save as many homeless pets as possible.

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: An electronic pet door lets your furry friend have a key to the home. Many electronic doors just release a latch so the pet can push the door open, but the PlexiDor is a little different: it has a composite panel that slides up and down like a miniature electronic garage door.  The door and key use RFID, and when a pet with a key comes close, the door reads the pre-programmed code. If it's the right code, it will open. When the panel is closed, it acts as a security door. It has a safety to prevent it from closing if something is in the way, thus a pet's tail or paws can't get stuck in it. It is easy to program the door, and easy to add keys for more than one pet. One can also choose how long the door should stay open.

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: 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: 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

A: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From all of us here at PlexiDor Pet Doors We here at PlexiDor Pet Doors are closing for the holidays.  The answering service at 1-800-749-9609 will remain available, and the office with customer service will be open again on December 26th. Until then, have a wonderful holiday!