Mechanics:
1. All interested pet parents and pet enthusiasts are welcome to join.
2. A minimum purchase amount of P500.00 from the Petropolis Pavilion of participating Hobbes and Landes branches entitles you and your pet to join the Pet of the Month contest. Each entry should follow a corresponding theme of the month, accompanied by a proof of purchase made within the validity period. For example: If you wish to join January’s “Pet of  the Month” contest, only receipts from December 01, 2011 to January 22, 2012 will be qualified. See list submission dates below:

3. Every month, Hobbes and Landes Announcement of each month’s theme will be made via Hobbes & Landes’ Facebook account (‘like’ our page by clicking on the ‘like’ button) as well as posters located in participating branches of Hobbes and Landes.

4. Submit your photos and scanned receipt copy by emailing them to mail@hobbesandlandes.com A confirmation receipt will be sent to you to signify your formal entry into the con Landes’ Facebook account and will be ready for voting once posted. Only entries which have been will provide a theme which will set the tone of your photo op with your pet.
email confirmation, by a Hobbes & Landes representative will be valid. Posts made without prior verified via contest. Your entry will be posted in Hobbes and
not be honored.
5. The Criteria for judging will be as follows:
50% – number of likes (Remember to Like Hobbes and Landes first!)
25% – in accordance with the theme of the month
25% – vote from a Hobbes and Landes and/or sponsor representative
100%

6. Announcement of the Pet of the Month winner will be done during Pet Club gatherings held every month.

No matter how good you think the guacamole is, you shouldn’t give it to your dog. Avocados contain a substance called persin. It’s harmless for humans who aren’t allergic. But large amounts might be toxic to dogs. If you happen to be growing avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants. Persin is in the leaves, seed, and bark, as well as in the fruit.

Alcohol

Beer, liquor, wine, foods containing alcohol — none of it’s good for your dog. That’s because alcohol has the same effect on a dog’s liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage. Just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death. And the smaller the dog, the greater the effect.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic in all forms — powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated — can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. That can happen even with the onion powder found in some baby food. An occasional small dose is probably OK. But just eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause poisoning. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, vomiting, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.

Coffee, Tea, and Other Caffeine

Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a dog. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee – including beans and grounds — caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It’s also in some cold medicines and pain killers.

Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins have often been used as treats for dogs. But it’s not a good idea. Although it isn’t clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And just a small amount can make a dog ill. Repeated vomiting is an early sign. Within a day, the dog will become lethargic and depressed. The best prevention is to keep grapes and raisins off counters and other places your dog can reach.

Milk and Other Dairy Products

On a hot day, it may be tempting to share your ice cream cone with your dog. But if your dog could, it would thank you for not doing so. Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset as well as set up food allergies (which often manifest as itchiness).

Macadamia Nuts

Dogs should not eat macadamia nuts or foods containing macadamia nuts because they can be fatal. As few as six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make a dog ill. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, elevated body temperature, and rapid heart rate. Eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, possibly leading to death.

Candy and Gum

Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol can cause an increase in the insulin circulating through your dog’s body. That can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the dog may have seizures. Liver failure can occur within just a few days.

Chocolate

Most people know that chocolate is bad for dogs. The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. It’s in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate, chocolate mulch, and unsweetened baking chocolate. Eating chocolate, even just licking the icing bowl, can cause a dog to vomit, have diarrhea, and be excessively thirsty. It can also cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.

Fat Trimmings and Bones

Table scraps often contain meat fat that a human didn’t eat and bones. Both are dangerous for dogs. Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And, although it seems natural to give a dog a bone, a dog can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your dog’s digestive system. It’s best to just forget about the doggie bag.

Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums

The problem with these fruits is the seeds or pits. The seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine in dogs. They can also cause intestinal obstruction. Obstruction is also a possibility if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. Plus, peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs. The difference is humans know not to eat them. Dogs don’t.

Raw Eggs

There are two problems with giving your dog raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. The second is that an enzyme in raw eggs interferes with the absorption of a particular B vitamin. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your dog’s coat if raw eggs are fed for a long time.

Raw Meat and Fish

Raw meat and raw fish, like raw eggs, can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. In addition, certain kinds of fish such as salmon, trout, shad, or sturgeon can contain a parasite that causes “fish disease” or “salmon poisoning disease.” If not treated, the disease can be fatal within two weeks. The first signs of illness are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes. Thoroughly cooking the fish will kill the parasite and protect your dog.

Salt

It’s not a good idea to share salty foods like chips or pretzels with your dog. Eating too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death.

Sugary Foods and Drinks

Too much sugar can do the same thing to dogs that it does to humans. It can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly the onset of diabetes.

Yeast Dough

Before it’s baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, that’s exactly what it would do in your dog’s stomach if your dog ate it. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch the dog’s abdomen and cause severe pain. In addition, when the yeast ferments the dough to make it rise, it produces alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Your Medicine

Reaction to a drug commonly prescribed for humans is the most common cause of poisoning in dogs. Just as you would do for your children, keep all medicines out of your dog’s reach. And, never give your dog any over-the-counter medicine unless told to do so by your vet. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers and cold medicine. And, they can be deadly for your dog.

What Dogs Can Eat

You can ensure your dog has a healthy, well-balanced diet by asking your vet to recommend a quality dog food. A well-designed dog food gives your pet all the nutrients it needs for an active and healthy life. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sometimes give your dog human food as a special treat — as long as portions are limited, and the foods are cooked, pure, and not fatty or heavily seasoned. See the next few slides for some tasty suggestions. But if you’re looking to human food as a meal replacement, talk to your vet about amounts and frequency.

Whilst it is true that owning a dog does give rich rewards, they do not come without work. Before you make the decision to go out and acquire a dog, it is important to consider all of the work that will be involved. It is important that you realize that the aim is not to simply have a dog that you can have fun with, but to also be a responsible dog owner. Place all emotional decisions to the side, and concentrate on what being a responsible dog owner involves.

The next thing that must be considered is your financial status. Even though you may think that this sounds ridiculous, dog food, vet bills, and all other expenses need to be taken into consideration.

Listed below are some questions that should be answered with “yes” in order to make you a responsible dog owner:

1. Do you have a sufficient income?
2. Are you in a stable job?
3. If an illness or emergency were to occur, could you afford vet bills of several thousands of dollars?
4. Can you afford to pay between $50 and $100 per month for dog food, flea treatment, regular medical care and maintenance such as cleaning, nail clipping etc?
5. If your property is rented, does your landlord allow pets?

Not only are the finances of owning a dog something that a responsible dog owner needs to take into consideration, but the dog?s living situation also needs to be considered. For example, if you are a person that is not at home very often, or you frequently travel, or have plans to make changes to your life soon, then you will need to evaluate this and the type of dog that you might acquire. If you are a person with physical limitations, then it would not be advisable to get a high energy dog, as you will be doing yourself and the dog a disservice. This of course, may result in the destruction of your home and possessions.

The same goes for dogs that require a great deal of human companionship; if you are not there to provide them with that companionship, then the emotional well being of your dog will be at stake. If you are planning on moving in the near future, then you need to be sure that a dog will adjust to those changes. When you have major changes on the horizon such as having children or relocating, then it is better to wait until these changes have occurred before you acquire a dog.

Once you have made the decision and become the proud parent of a new dog, there are several ways in which you should continue to be a responsible dog owner. First of all, enroll the dog in behavior training classes. Your home life as well as your happiness and that of the dog will be greatly improved when your dog is properly trained. Secondly, ensure that your dog has regular visits to the vet for routine checks and recommended vaccinations in order to maintain his health. Thirdly, spay or neuter your dog. It is animal overpopulation that results in millions of animal deaths every year. And lastly, but certainly not least, have your dog microchipped so that your dog can be returned to you if he were to escape.

Ensure that your home and garden are safe and secure ensuring that your garden fences are in good repair. Be respectful of neighbors who may not enjoy a dog’s constant barking, and observe leash laws. Ensure that your dog is active, busy, and well trained so that you are a good neighbor to others.

A great deal of responsibility is required when owning a dog. Never make a decision to own a dog on impulse. You must remember that, in some cases, you may be taking care of a dog for 15 to 20 years.

Source: Puppywhiz

Mechanics:
1. All interested pet parents and pet enthusiasts are welcome to join.
2. A minimum purchase amount of P500.00 from the Petropolis Pavilion of participating Hobbes and Landes branches entitles you and your pet to join the Pet of the Month contest. Each entry should follow a corresponding theme of the month, accompanied by a proof of purchase made within the validity period. For example: If you wish to join January’s “Pet of  the Month” contest, only receipts from December 01, 2011 to January 22, 2012 will be qualified. See list submission dates below:

3. Every month, Hobbes and Landes Announcement of each month’s theme will provide a theme which will set the tone of your photo op with your pet. Announcement   of each month’s theme will be made via Hobbes & Landes’ Facebook account (‘like’ our page by clicking on the ‘like’ button) as well as posters located in participating branches of Hobbes and Landes.

4. Submit your photos and scanned receipt copy by emailing them to mail@hobbesandlandes.com A confirmation receipt will be sent to you to signify your formal entry into the contest Hobbes and Landes’ Facebook account and will be ready for voting once posted. Only entries which have been verified via email confirmation, by a Hobbes & Landes representative will be valid. Posts made without prior verified via contest. Your entry will be posted in Hobbes and not be honored.

5. The Criteria for judging will be as follows:
50% – number of likes (Remember to Like Hobbes and Landes first!)
25% – in accordance with the theme of the month
25% - vote from a Hobbes and Landes and/or sponsor representative
100%

6. Announcement of the Pet of the Month winner will be done during Pet Club gatherings held every month.