A Kenneling Alternative

Things To Do With Your Pet

Hinsdale Pet Walk To Take Place on June 25th

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Floofins & Co. will be part of the Pet Walk Festival June 25th in Hinsdale. Starting Saturday at 1 p.m. the event will kick off. This year’s events run until 4 p.m. All proceeds from the event will benefit the animals of the Hinsdale Humane Society.

There will be a 1-mile pet walk and kids can join in a Kid’s Dash. Kids can win prizes will be awarded for winners. The Kid’s Dash will start in waves beginning at 1:30 p.m.  Kids will run in groups according to age: 5 and under; 6-9; and 10 years of age and up. The 1-mile Pet Walk will start at 2 p.m. or immediately following the Dash.

Additional activities include auctions, raffles, scavenger hunts, photos, cat coves, and more.  You can find out more about the cash raffles and other activities by checking out the link at the end of the blog post. Also, pet-related vendors will be on hand with their own giveaways. Don’t forget to stop by the and grab some yummy food options for purchase from the food vendors.

Don’t forget to stop by the adoption center and consider adding a floofin to your family. Information on the raffle and tickets to the event can be found at https://www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org/events/pet-walk-festival-2022

We hope to see you Saturday!

Take Your Pet To Work Week

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No matter whether you are back in the office or still working from home, you can participate in Take Your Pet To Work Week June 20-24th. 

Created in 1999 by Pet Sitters International (PSI) to highlight dog companionship and to encourage adoptions, Take Your Dog To Work Day has grown. What was once a single Friday event just for dogs has expanded to a weeklong event that includes cats. 

Monday, June 20th, get out your hashtags and kitties and #takeyourcattoworkday. PSI will share their favorites photos from the submissions they receive.

For the rest of the week, head over to PSI’s Facebook and Instagram pages and take part in their Take Your Dog To Work Week activities.

If you need to participate virtually, ideas can be located at www.petsit.com/takeyourdog.

If you are bringing your pet into work, PSI recommends a few things to make the process work well:

  • Get permission first.
  • Keep your pet comfortable.
  • Don’t force your pet on your coworkers.
  • Have an exit strategy if your pet isn’t feeling the office. 
  • Have a purpose, i.e. involve a shelter or rescue to fully realize the impact of the day.

No matter how your participate, have a good time. And feel free to post your pictures on our social media or tag us in addition to PSI. We love seeing our friends online and in person!

Take A Walk In the Park Day Is March 30th

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March 30th is designated as Take A Walk In the Park Day! We can’t think of a better way to spend your outdoor saunter than by checking out a nearby park.

When we walk our dogs, we often stick to the same routes, the same times, and sometimes are so thoroughly in a routine that we don’t notice all the things around us. Even our dogs can get in a rut and refuse to budge from a pre-determined route.

But on March 30th, or any day really, you can mix things up. Pack up your pet and venture over to a tree-filled park or wooded area and take an adventure. You get the benefits of being fully present (consider turning off the phone or at least setting it on silent) and allow your dog to engage all of their olfactory cells. 

The benefits are two fold. You get the proven scientific benefits of being immersed in a tree-filled location. In as little as 20-30 minutes this can decease your blood pressure (and likely your stress levels). Your pet will be exercising their noses and their legs and probably will be pretty tuckered out when you return home. Who doesn’t love a tired pet?

Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite location for your walks on a summer evening or weekend. Maybe you’ll meet a new friend, canine or human. Either way, let March 30th be an opportunity to try out a new park and see if you feel better after a good walk there! Let us know how it goes.

Barkapalooza is Back This Weekend

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Floofins & Co. will be taking part in the events of Barkapalooza 2021. The events, hosted by the West Human Suburban Humane Society, will benefit the homeless animals under their care.

Events begin at 10 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. and are held at the Lisle Community Park on Sunday, September 26th.

Free parking is available and the day will contain fun, food, and games designed to end animal homelessness. Individuals can collect pledges and join the walkathon. Dogs are welcome at the event. Events include a $1,000 raffle, microchipping, a photo booth, artistic grooming, animal communicator, rescues, shopping, food, and prizes. Enjoy a day filled with fun, food and games while helping to end animal homelessness.

For more details, check out the website at https://www.wshs-dg.org/news-events/barkapalooza-2021.

Making Ice Cream As A Summer Treat

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What sounds better on a hot, steamy summer day than a big ole scoop of your favorite ice cream? Not much!
 
But, your pet may not be able to digest the contents of your favorite batch of frozen goodness. So, why not make some ice cream for them?
 
We’ve assembled some ideas for you to whip up some homemade treats that will taste way better than what is in the store. And making it yourself will give you the benefit of knowing exactly what each treat contains.
 
First up, many people are familiar with Frosty Paws in the grocery store. Our friends over at HGTV have concocted a similar treat with fewer ingredients. It contains yogurt, peanut butter and baby food. If your dog doesn’t take well to plain yogurt you can use an alternate. Click this link to get the recipe.
 
Maybe you have fresh fruit and would prefer to mix up something a little less creamy, but still tasty. The AKC has options that extend beyond traditional peanut butter ice cream. Check out the various options they have available at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/diy-frozen-dog-treats/.
 
Remember that too much dairy can cause an upset tummy. Also, some sugar free additives can be toxic to your pet. Be especially cautious with peanut butter as the additive xylitol can be fatal to your pet if ingested. If you have questions about your pets health and nutrition we always recommend consulting your veterinarian.
 
We hope that these ideas help you create a nutritious and delicious treat to share with your pet during the hot summer days ahead of us.