The study says dog ownership can decrease the chances of children being obese by as much as 50 per cent.

They are called man's best friend, but they could also be the best weapon in the fight against childhood obesity. A new study indicates dog ownership may also be the antidote to junk food, computer games and television which many say causes childhood obesity. 

Jo Salmon from Deakin University in Victoria was the lead researcher on the project which looked at obesity levels among kids with and without dogs.

"We found that young children who are aged around five to six years of age are 50 per cent less likely to be overweight or obese if they own a dog, compared to those who don't own a dog," Dr Salmon said.

The study also found there were health benefits for older children with dogs.

For 10 to 12-year-olds, 30 per cent who did not have a dog suffered weight problems compared to 27 per cent of their peers who have a pet.

Dr Salmon says the health benefits come even if the children do not walk the dog regularly.

"We looked at whether or not the frequency of dog walking might explain this association of perhaps all children who own a dog or walking more frequently with their dog," he said.

"But this didn't explain it, so the way we interpret our data is we think maybe they are outside playing with the dog and just spending more energy generally and playing with the dog and in fact it's not through dog walking, but just through playing." Dr Salmon says the results span the socio-economic divide.

"When we adjusted … the family's economic status and the neighbourhood's level of economic status, we found that this association between dog ownership and children's weight status persisted," he said. And dog owners agree children and canines are a good mix.

John is the owner of Sam, a black Labrador and he also has children.

"Walking a dog is one thing, that's very sort of perambulatory," he said. "But if you're a kid and a dog, you chase balls, you play soccer with them, you rumble with them, wrestle them on the carpet even if you're watching TV," he said. "So it's activity and it's also a mind thing as well."

by Brigitt Hauck
April 22, 2010

Pets can help you green the earth too. Make your own pet toys and select eco-friendly products to clean up after them, for instance. Follow these tips to help pets live a healthier, happier life and help the environment at the same time.

1. Clean it up

Animal waste is bad for the environment and may contain bacteria that can contaminate water supply, said Kelsie Dolezal, a certified veterinary technician at The Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine. Always clean up your pup’s waste. Flushing a dog’s waste down the toilet is the best option, but biodegradable or compostable bags can be used when flushing isn’t an option. Cat waste can be difficult to dispose of if cats have toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite, which can pose a health threat to humans, she said. Put those pesky, old newspaper sleeves to use as gloves when cleaning up after your kitty and seal their litter in bags too.

2. Recycle and reuse

If your pet has a lot of toys, think twice before buying a new one. “Put half of them away and then switch them out and all of the sudden your pet has a new toy again,” Dolezal said. Many household items can be easily transformed into fun toys that mirror those sold in stores. For pups, make a tug of war toy by stretching an old sock over a tennis ball and tie two knots, one on each end. For kittens, turn an old box upside down, cut holes in the top and put food inside. Another creative trick she recommends is to put food in an empty plastic bottle. Your pet will knock the bottle around to get the treat.

Pet bedding can also be re-stuffed with old pillows and blankets laying around the house. Even making the choice to donate old leashes, collars, bedding and towels to a shelter instead of throwing them out is a step towards being greener.

3. Chow time

“It’s the same way as it is with us—you are what you eat,” Dolezal said. Feed your pets natural, organic foods that are minimally processed and exclude harsh ingredients like pesticides, antibiotics and artificial ingredients and preservatives. Begin paying attention to the labels on pet food, said Brenda Lang, owner of Green Dog Inc, an eco-friendly canine care service. “More than just being preventative against the negative effects of non-environmentally-friendly products, the benefits of a diet with high-quality, organic ingredients are seen in the long run, with fewer trips to the veterinarian and a better quality of life,” she said.

“Many local and organic foods are readily available, and it’s not difficult to make your own food,” she said. But, always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet.

4. Be conscious of cleaning products

Home care products can be toxic to pets. If a pet ingests most commercial cleaners, lawn care chemicals or pest control pesticides, it could be fatal, Lang said. For indoor and outdoor maintenance, consider using non-toxic products which are also pet-friendly. In the winter, there are eco-friendly de-icers are gentler on pups paws, she said. Even environmentally conscious shampoos and flea control products are available for pets. Many pet-safe and non-toxic products sold in stores can easily be made for less than the cost of commercial cleaners, so being green won’t break the bank. 

When Tobi and Simone Skovron first came up with the concept for The Pet Loo, it was an idea born from pure - a solution to a very common problem that pet owners all around the world were facing.

As cities grow larger and housing becomes more expensive, not everyone has the luxury of a backyard. And it is for this reason that The Pet Loo wasn’t just a solution that suited Tobi and Simone, but a solution for all pet owners across the globe.

One year ago we joined forces with Oak Thrift Corporation so that The Pet Loo could be purchased in the UK – a country with one of the highest numbers of per ownership.

There are 27 million pets in the UK and 43% of households contain at least one furry, feathery or scaly family friend, making pets well and truly part of the UK’s landscape.

* 39% of London’s pet owners purchase their pet for companionship, despite living in the UK’s highest populated city.

* 39% of London pet owners feel the need for companionship despite having over 7.5 million neighbours across the city

* Over a quarter (27%) of the UK’s pets were bought or acquired from an animal welfare or rescue centre compared to 20% from a pet shop[1]

The Pet Loo isn’t just for people living with pets in apartments either. Dogs, and owners, who have backyards, may not be so keen on venturing outside in the cold winter months, when they could both stay cozy and warm with a Pet Loo inside the house. Boat owners can stay out longer on the water with Fido having easy access to his own Loo. And elderly pet owners moving to retirement villages are able to keep their pets with them, no longer having to surrender them to the pound.

With an estimated 100,000 pets abandoned every year in the UK, The Pet Loo is the perfect solution to a large majority of abandonment causes.

Pets are a wonderful companion and give us years of joy. Why not ensure their longevity in your family, and make pet toileting much easier for you both, by picking up a Pet Loo today?

Visit www.oakthrift.com

Pup-Pee Solutions are committed to developing innovative pet waste management products and the introduction of their latest development; the Pee-Pod is a true example of that.

Click here to see it in action

Pee-Pods have been developed to kill harmful airborne bacteria contained in pet waste. The innovative Pee-Pod is a biodegradable container that fits neatly inside the catchment jug of your Pet Loo, on contact the Wee Sponge (powder) acts like a magnet rapidly absorbing the liquid waste turning it into a solidified gel.

The result significantly reduces bacteria and airborne odours, further increasing the performance of your Pets Loo. A TRUE REVOLUTION!!!!!

Pee-Pods have been scientifically formulated using patented technology to blend nature and science – creating a product that uses natural materials to give supernatural results.

With the Wee Sponge in the Pee-Pod, The Pet Loo’s catchment jug is able to hold at least 100 times its weight in liquid and binds odours in a way like no other.

The Pee-Pod and the Wee Sponge are completely safe to humans and pets, and have been engineered using biodegradable materials, further reducing the carbon footprint of pet waste.

With a lifespan of up to 3 days per Pee-Pod, once full simply replace with a fresh one!

One Size fits all sized Pet Loo*

Follow Pup-Pee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PetLoo

Official Press Release: Click Here

*Version 3 

A look into Best Friends Animal Society. 

Best Friends is guided by a simple: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.  In the late 1980s, when Best Friends was in its early days, roughly 17 million dogs and cats were being killed in shelters every year.  Despite the commitment of shelter workers to the animals in their care, the conventional belief was that little could be done to lower that terrible number.

Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign created a new vision: A grassroots effort to place dogs and cats who were considered "unadoptable" into good homes, and to reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs.  Since then, the number of dogs and cats being destroyed in shelters has fallen to approximately 5 million a year.  There has been much progress, but there is still much more to do.  

One of Best Friends new campaigns is Puppies Aren't Products.  Exposing the connection between puppy mills and pet stores, and encouraging adoption.

Right now, millions of adult dogs are suffering on the "production line" in America's puppy mills.  Their sole purpose is to breed and make money for their owners.  They live in tiny, wire-bottomed cages, in squalid conditions, with little human contact and often no veterinary care.  It is no life for man's best friend. 

Meanwhile, roughly 11,000 animals are euthanized in America's shelters every day.  There's something wrong with this picture. The goal of Best Friends' Puppies Aren't Products campaign is to create a world of No More Homeless Pets by fighting against puppy mills and irresponsible breeding.

Our campaign team saves lives by holding peaceful demonstrations at pet stores that sell puppies from mills, educating consumers about the inhumane conditions in puppy mills, encouraging people to adopt rather than buy pets, and advocating for better legislation to combat puppy mills. 

Please join us in the working toward a day when all of America's pets have what they deserve: good care, safety and love from a family of their own. [1]

[1] http://www.buddhabark.com/content/best-friends-animal-society-charity-partner

Launched in 2006 after 3 years of research & development by Australian entrepreneur of the year, Tobi Skovron, and former Vet nurse & animal assisted therapist Simone Skovron, Pup-Pee Solutions is an Australian business success story that has expanded worldwide. 

With offices in Melbourne Australia, Los Angeles California & New York City The Pet Loo is Pup-Pee’s flagship brand. The Pet Loo replicates a backyard and is a safe and hygienic device that allows dogs & cats to do their business in a mess free, sanitary manner. It is suitable for apartment dwellers, the elderly, office dogs, boat owners, plush garden owners, cold climates and grassless backyards.  

Pup-Pee has won multiple awards for its ever evolving Pet Waste Management range of products and has successfully sold them through tens of thousands of independent dealers, multi-chain retailers as well as national pet retail giants in numerous markets. 

Further growth is an ongoing objective for Pup-Pee and they are currently seeking multiple partners with experience to expand their current distribution channels. 

The success of Pup-Pee Solutions to date is all about innovative first class products merged with first class service. The team within the organization is highly professional, motivated and passionate about pets. Pup-Pee has built an honest and reputable name within the global pet industry servicing Vets, Doggy Day Care Centers, Breeders, Obedience Professionals & even Groomers. 

Keen to discuss business? Feel free to jump online at www.thepetloo.com to find out more about Pup-Pee Solutions – who they are and how they go about their business. 

Follow Pup-Pee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PetLoo

Contact:

Los Angeles (Global Business): +1 310 591 8123 | Email Now

New York (US National Business): +1 646 383 8886 | Email Now

Australia (AU & NZ Business): +61 9415 8599 | Email Now

  Videos & TV appearance: www.youtube.com/PetLooUSA

In the news today…Provided by the APPA 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed two pet related bills. Assembly Bill 241, which set the limit of intact animals a “breeder” could own at 50, was vetoed. Also vetoed was Assembly Bill 243 which made what is now a judge’s option in sentencing mandatory, that those found guilty of animal cruelty not be allowed to own animals again.

I am returning Assembly Bill 241 without my signature. This measure would make it a crime for any person or entity to own or control more than 50 unsterilized adult dogs or cats for breeding or raising for sale as pets. I support measures designed to prevent animal cruelty and that punish persons engaged in the abuse of animals. However, this measure simply goes too far in an attempt to address the serious problem of puppy mills. An arbitrary cap on the number of animals any entity can possess throughout the state will not end unlawful, inhumane breeding practices. Instead this measure has the potential to criminalize the lawful activities of reputable breeders, pet stores, kennels, and charitable organizations engaged in raising service and assistance dogs. For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.

The eco-friendly Pet Loo – no grass needed!

Author: Debra Atlas

Pet owners know what it’s like to be working late and suddenly remember the dog hasn’t been outside for 8 or more hours. If you can’t leave work yet, you face the prospect of coming home to a real doggie “mess”!

A product developed in Australia – The Pet Loo – is the answer busy pet owners have been looking for. Called the “Backyard in a Box”, The Pet Loo is high quality synthetic grass that’s resistant to the smell and acidity of pet urine. Launched in 2006 by Tobi Skovron, founder of Pup-Pee Solutions, USA, LLC, and his wife Simone, this indoor dog potty – perfect for urban apartment dwellers - lets dogs relieve themselves when owners aren’t around. And they leave no smelly mess to clean up later!

With the development of The Pet Loo, Skovron says the company followed three key guidelines:

• Be environmentally friendly 
• Be biodegradable 
• Be chemical free

Designed for dogs or cats, The Pet Loo’s base is slightly angled to work with gravity. It’s been reinforced to support an animal’s weight and is shaped to funnel the urine towards the collection jug. Pet waste can be easily removed and poured down the toilet with no spilling. Skovron says it’s been tested to hold up to 660 pounds of weight, making it good for overweight or large dogs and multiple pets.

Cleaning The Pet Loo’s a snap. Simply remove the base and clean, then remove the grass to let dry. Among Skovron’s company’s many pet products, they recommend cleaning The Pet Loo with their WEE Care.

When you remove its grass, wipe down the base down with WEE Care and warm water. Domestic cleaners will sanitize the Pet Loo but will discourage pets from going back to that spot, acting as a pet deterrent. “That defeats the purpose,” says Skovron.

Skovron believes his product helps break down barriers to pet ownership. “People shy away from pet ownership,” says Skovron, “based on (its) practicability – they can’t afford a back yard.” Having a Pet Loo makes it that much easier for people to be responsible pet owners.

This award-winning product comes in several sizes, including for larger dogs and one for cats, rabbits or guinea pigs. The most common size is 33” x 33. Try putting two or more mats together for your own private “doggie park”. “We’re all about the pets,” Skovron says.

For convenience, use The Pet Loo on balconies, patios or indoors. This product is durable if maintained. Bring it indoors when there’s bad weather or it rains. The company says it will last 10 to 20 years. Skovron says “(the black) Pet Loo will (probably) outlive a pet.”

He suggests keeping replacement grass around, but says replace it only if you feel it’s necessary. You might use it while cleaning and drying the original. The Pet Loo is available in pet stores in the U.S. and online at Amazon, SmartHome.com and www.thepetloo.com.

Prices range from $199.00 for smaller dogs to $239.00 for the larger size.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1019839_54.html

This interview is with Tobi Skovron of Pup-Pee Solutions. They are a manufacturer and distributor of indoor pet waste management products that are innovative, convenient, and green!  Enjoy the interview below:

K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into this business?

Tobi: In 2003, I relocated 1,000 km south of my home town Sydney Australia to be with my girlfriend Simone who was studying at the time.  A few months after relocating I bought Simone a Cockapoo called Subii.

Living in an apartment with a dog we constantly faced issues with her needing to go to the toilet at inconvenient times. Any accidents on the balcony would rot the wooden surface. Every time we were out of the apartment we’d worry about the carpets!

We decided there must be a better way. We needed a permanent, hygienic solution and realized that that many others were in the same position.

After a couple of years working with industrial designers, dye makers, injection moulding specialists, veterinarians, obedience professionals, animal behaviourists & patent lawyers The Pet Loo was born.

K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your business-how have you gotten to where you are today?

Tobi: Passion, strategy and sheer drive!

Some say I’m cursed with ambition, I think in reality I’m the type of person that is prepared to roll the dice and take a chance (calculated of course) in pursuit of what I’m passionate about.

This “business” is not about making money… it’s all about both Simone and I having an appreciation for our pets and the lifestyle that we lead first and foremost. This ultimately has driven us to want every person around the world to be a pet owner!

We always take care of our customers, export partners and retailers first - without these relationships our business would never have gotten off the ground.

Money has never been a focus we both view it as a bonus to what we do.

K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?

Tobi: I’m the type of person that likes to lead the pack, rather than follow!

I like to think inside the square, as everyone thinks “outside the square”. I have tremendous drive and energy but also recognize where I’m at as a professional and surround myself with successors that have been there and done that before my time, asking the questions to improve my skills.

I’m prepared to roll up my sleeves and work hard and make it happen by chasing it down rather than just waiting for things to come to me.

K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?

I have grown up with pets, but it was Simone, who is a qualified social worker with “Animal Assisted Therapy” training, who helped me gain an understanding of the benefits of animal companionship.

Her guidance and passion helped me change career paths. My dogs come to the office with me every day and most recently I relocated from Australia to Los Angeles and they made the move with me!

My dogs are not something I have, but rather the lifestyle I lead.

K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?

Tobi: I’m doing what I love!

K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet product industry going?

Tobi: Like every other industry at the moment it is changing. Many independent retailers are being acquired by major chains.  I also  think we’ll see continued growth in the “green” product sector.

K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?

Tobi: Creating green products is what we do. Pup-Pee Solutions is an environmentally-friendly company focused making products that are safe for people, pets and the planet. From The Pet Loo to our No Range cleaning solutions - all of our products are chemical free, biodegradable and environmentally friendly. We plan to stay in the Pet Waste Management sector of the pet industry.

K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your business?

Tobi:
Our Website: www.thepetloo.com.
Our Blog: www.thepetloo.com/blog.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PetLoo.

K9  Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!

Tobi: There is a video interview with me here, feel free to click here to watch it!

Thank you so much!

Tobi Skovron of Pup-Pee Solutions

 As Featured on PetMD

The Pet Loo  Your Backyard in a Box

Your Backyard in a Box …

The Pet Loo is a great alternative to middle of the night "piddles" and other house breaking drama that can come with the arrival of a new fur baby!

Hygienic, convenient, simple, and environmentally-friendly, this new and innovative lawn toilet is made of synthetic grass, which offers a familiar surface for your pet(s). This synthetic material also ensures that your Pet Loo will be able to solve your dog's potty problems time and time again.

The Pet Loo's unique draining system places the urine in an easy-to-clean compartment, which is effective for dogs of all sizes — finally solving the toilet training headaches most pet owners deal with every day. It is easy to use and great for apartments, condos, balconies, patios, even RVs.

The Haute or Not? testers have not yet had the opportunity to use The Pet Loo, but we have seen and felt the synthetic grass, and are sure that most dogs, young or old, would be quite comfortable using it. So rest easy and enjoy having a pet in your life, while The Pet Loo takes care of the toilet problems for you.

Learn more @ www.thepetloo.com/us

Register your vote at: Petmd.com