Please join us for Original Carrollwood's very own Yappy Hour! 

This month, our featured rescue group is:

St. Francis Society Animal Rescue

Come on out and socialize with your pet...

Enjoy wine tasting, cool refreshments, snacks and a prize raffle. And of course, we always provide yummy treats for your pooch pals.

NOTE: $10 cover charge -- all proceeds go to St. Francis Society Animal Rescue

Can't make it to Yappy Hour? You can make a donation the next time you visit Groovy Cats & Dogs. 

The donation jar will be at checkout all month long. 

Donations are greatly appreciated. 

See you there! Click for a printable flyer: Yappy Hour Aug 2010

It appears this precious pack of perplexed pugs prefers the park!

A few PugLinks: Learn more about Pugs; Flickr Tao of Pug pool; Compassionate Pug Rescue of South Florida; Pug Rescue of Florida; Tampa Bay Pug Club Facebook page.:o3

When human folk meet dog folk we usually mean well and are eager to make friends... but most of the time we humans do it all wrong. From the dog's point of view, a stranger facing them head-on, making direct eye contact, leaning forward to them, reaching out over their heads to pet them -- are all aggressive, scary (or at least terribly rude) acts.

When strange dogs approach each other freely (not on a leash) they usually do so in a curving arc, not face-on, with eyes averted, often offering calming signals to reassure the other animal that they are no threat. When humans approach strange dogs, we all too often cause anxiety with our behavior. To us a frank, direct look in the eyes indicates that we aren't shifty -- we can be trusted, and extending our hand is a sign of friendship, originally meant to show we didn't carry a weapon; meeting head-on reassures the target that we aren't trying to sneak up on them. But to dogs, every one of these actions from a stranger is an expression of aggression!

Here's a great page on dog body language with specific tips about how to approach dogs who display various specific fearful or aggressive poses, and artist Lili Chin of doggiedrawings.net  has a super-cute poster teaching novice dog greeters the basics:

When it's sizzling out and it seems just as hot inside, you can give kitty some instant relief with a nice big bag of frozen peas* to use as their personal "chillow." And to make sure your cool cat stays that way all day while you're out and about, freeze a couple of large plastic beverage bottles filled with water (not all the way to the top, so they don't burst), cover them in towels, and let your pal stretch out next to these instant personal air conditioners. (Probably not a great idea for your pup, though, if s/he is a chewer at all; swallowed plastic bits are just too dangerous to risk!)

Of course you'll want to put out bowls of fresh water, and maybe a bowl or two just filled with ice cubes that can melt for cool water.

A big water bowl next to your furbaby's favorite napping spot is always a good idea during these lazy days when it's too hot to move, and try to make sure Kitty has access to a room with a nice cool floor to stretch out on, like the bathroom, or kitchen.

* and later you can have some quick and easy chilled pea salad for supper

Groovy Cats n Dogs is happy to announce a partnership with certified cat behavior ist consultant Jacqueline Munera, also a certified dog trainer with Courteous Canine, Inc. in Lutz, FL. Beginning July 24, Jacqueline will conduct cat behavior training classes at our store, conveniently located in Original Carrollwood. See a schedule of our upcoming classes below:

For June, our theme for Grooviest Pet of the Month was "COOL." And the winner is...Emo! Emo is the cutest little Chihuahua. The winning photo shows Emo cooling off on his raft in the pool. Thank you to Christine Leneberg for submitting your photo! Christine gets a $25 gift certificate to Groovy Cats & Dogs, plus a really GROOVY goodie basket full of treats and cool stuff just for Emo! Thank you to all who submitted photos on our Facebook wall. We had a total of 23 photos submitted. 

Our theme for our May was "FUNNY." The winning photo was submitted by Lauren Rasch and hands down, got the most votes amongst Groovy staff. Zissou is a very handsome English Bulldog and looks really funny in this photo submitted by owner Lauren. Lauren's winnings include a $25 gift certificate and a GROOVY goody basket filled with treats and cool stuff for Zissou and his buddies. Lauren's winning photo was one of 30 photos submitted. Thanks to all who submitted photos of their Groovy pets!

A British couple have reported their kitty to the cops - for nicking knickers.

Oscar's been a very bad puddy-tat. The light-fingered foster cat has stolen "more than 70 items, ranging from frilly knickers to gardening and rubber gloves, socks and even a paint roller. Earlier this week he brought home, one by one, 10 pairs of children's underpants." Peter and Birgitt Weismantel from Southampton, UK have been fostering Oscar since last Christmas and say they plan to adopt the fluffy criminal. Mrs Weismantel, 56, said: "He brings them back as presents. We can't give him back now as he makes such an effort with all these gifts. He's got a lovely personality and is a very loving cat."




Does your kitty have criminal tendencies? Not to worry; experts agree that cats often nab small, soft household items like socks and gloves as an expression of prey drive, or sometimes as the result of mothering instinct - carrying these "babies" around, and often depositing them in a central spot. If your female cat meows plaintively as she drags your socks or undies around the house, she's probably calling for her other "kittens." You might try a small cat-safe plush toy or two to distract your own little cat burglar, but don't be too surprised if he or she still prefers your scanties. >^,,^<

From our July e-Newsletter, here are some tips to help you beat the heat this summer....