Welcome to the Week’s Review of Canine Social Media
Welcome to this Special Feature on the DoggieU K9 Blog for an update on this week’s dog-related social media from around the world. There are so many stories. Here we will share some of the best stories this week.
Enjoy & share them.
Christie’s New York – DogHouse for Auction
An Auction at Christie’s has put up a doghouse for auction and it carried an estimated value of $300K.
- Christie’s of New York City has assembled a variety of space related objects that are highly collectable and sought after. These unusual space collectables are mostly meteorites and some are rare and others not. But this year, Christie’s has included a doghouse that has been blessed from out of this world.
Photo Credit: Christie’s - It seems that a German Shepherd named Roky in Costa Rica was minding his own business when his doghouse was struck by a meteorite on April 23, 2019. Roky, wasn’t injured during the incident, although the was understandably startled by event, while his dog house sustained a hole in its roof from where the meteor entered the structure.
- Now, both the dog house and the meteor that hit it are up for auction online through Christie’s and can currently be viewed in-person at Christie’s New York City auction house. The doghouse is estimated to be worth $200,000 – $300,000 and the meteor itself $40,000 – $60,000.
- “The meteorite that struck the doghouse contains organic compounds that existed prior to life on Earth. There is a school of scientific thought that these meteorites may have been responsible for bringing these chemicals to sprout life on Earth,” according to James Hyslop, Christie’s department head of science and natural history,
- Roky’s old home and the meteor that hit it are just two of the 66 items offered through Christie’s Deep Impact: Martian, Lunar, and Other Rare Meteorites auction.[Link]
March is “National Pet Vaccination Month”
Declaring March as “National Pet Vaccination Month” encourages pet parents to ensure pets are up to date on vaccinations by visiting their veterinarian or a local community clinic.
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As spring rings in puppy and kitten season, the potential exposure to contagious and deadly viruses increases. These deadly diseases — parvovirus, distemper, and panleukopenia — are preventable.
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Two national nonprofit organizations Petco Love and Bissell Pet Foundation are giving pets their best shot for a healthy life by offering free pet vaccines during a month-long national initiative.
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The March initiative is an extension of Petco Love’s one million free pet vaccine campaign, which to date has distributed 500,000 vaccines. Fifty percent of participating pet parents surveyed in the free vaccine initiative so far reported their pet had not previously been vaccinated against these diseases. And with BISSELL Pet Foundation as a partner, the goal is to increase awareness and accelerate distribution of vaccines through community-based clinics targeting pets most at need.
- The Give Pets Their Best Shot initiative makes these crucial vaccines available to pet parents who are experiencing financial challenges and assures that cost is not a barrier to protecting their pet from preventable diseases. Petco Love urges interested pet parents to visit freepetvaccines.org in March to find the nearest clinic at one of more than 300 participating organizations.
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Visit PetcoLove.org to learn more about the organization’s lifesaving impact. Pet parents seeking a free vaccination for their pets or to contribute to this effort should visit freepetvaccines.org. Some clinics may permit advance registration and provide additional offerings such as discounted microchips and rabies vaccines, although quantities may be limited.
[Link to PetcoLove.org] [Link to freevaccines.org]
What it Costs to Vaccinate Your Dog
Like humans, female dogs provide passive immunity, or maternal immunity, to their puppies as protection against viruses even while they’re in utero. After birth, most of the protective antibodies are passed on to puppies through their mother’s milk, but this only supports your dog’s immune system until they’re 12 weeks old.
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This is why it’s essential to schedule a series of vaccinations against diseases like Bordetella, canine distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, rabies, Lyme disease, and influenza for your puppy.
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Where you live can impact exactly which vaccinations are recommended and how much those cost. For dogs living in a metro area like any of the 10 included on this list, their level of exposure to various diseases through boarding, dog parks, or dog walking services is greater than those living in more suburban or rural settings. For example, a vaccination against Bordetella—a highly contagious virus that causes kennel cough—is often required for dog services in cities.
- This list compares the relative prices of vaccinations in 10 US cities
| City |
Avg Cost
Overall |
Bordetella
|
Distemper, Adenovirus,
Parainfluenza, Parvo |
H3N2, H3N8
|
Leptospirosis
|
Lyme
|
Rabies
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York |
$34.87
|
$31.79
|
$37.16
|
$50.31
|
$22.75
|
$40.82
|
$26.40
|
| Los Angeles |
$35.73
|
$32.57
|
$38.07
|
$51.55
|
$23.31
|
$41.82
|
$27.05
|
| Chicago |
$33.61
|
$30.64
|
$35.82
|
$48.50
|
$21.92
|
$39.34
|
$25.45
|
| Houston |
$32.01
|
$29.18
|
$34.11
|
$46.19
|
$20.88
|
$37.47
|
$24.24
|
| Phoenix |
$32.01
|
$29.18
|
$34.11
|
$46.19
|
$20.88
|
$37.47
|
$24.24
|
| Philadelphia |
$34.45
|
$31.40
|
$36.70
|
$49.70
|
$22.47
|
$40.32
|
$26.08
|
| San Antonio |
$31.63
|
$28.83
|
$33.70
|
$45.64
|
$20.63
|
$37.02
|
$23.95
|
| San Diego |
$36.16
|
$32.97
|
$38.53
|
$52.18
|
$23.59
|
$42.33
|
$27.38
|
| Dallas |
$32.01
|
$29.18
|
$34.11
|
$46.19
|
$20.88
|
$37.47
|
$24.24
|
| San Jose |
$37.06
|
$33.78
|
$39.49
|
$53.47
|
$24.17
|
$43.38
|
$28.06
|
‘Pawn Stars’ actor showcasing new line of merchandise
Chumlee, the breakout star of the History Channel show “Pawn Stars,” announces that he is partnering with PetShopping.tv.
- The newly launched pet home shopping channel will showcase a new line of pet merchandise. The products range from dog pajamas that match their pet parents pajamas, dog toys, sweaters, collars and leashes, treats and “puffer” jackets.
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For Austin Lee Russell, who goes by the stage name of Chumlee, the pet line is more than just an entrepreneurial business venture. It is also a way for him to spoil his three dogs: Pinky and Bear, both pomeranians, and Forest, a pit bull, who all make cameo appearances on Pawn Stars from time to time.
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Chumlee is partnering with PetShopping.tv to showcase a new line of pet merchandise. The products range from dog pajamas that match their pet parents pajamas, dog toys, sweaters, collars and leashes, treats and “puffer” jackets.
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The “Chumlee’s Favorites” section of this new shopping channel will show quilted shearling coats, faux crocodile collars and harnesses, chain leads and raincoats. The pajamas have turned out to be quite a hit with Pinky, Bear and Forest. The machine washable dog/people pajamas are 100% cotton, with poplin piping details, little pockets for reading glasses (in case one’s dog has such a need) and velcro closures. Chumlee has been so excited about his dogs’ reaction to the product that he actually appears on segments wearing a matching set in his own size.
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PetShopping.tv is a new home shopping channel that educates pet parents about the latest trends in pet care while showcasing distinctive, curated pet products for pet comfort and fun. At launch, the channel is offering dozens of hours of original programming that features some of the leading figures in the veterinary world as well as celebrities who appear along with their pets. Each 30-minute episode on the channel contains interviews and pet care demonstrations with practicing veterinarians as well as light-hearted vignettes that highlight pet products like faux alligator collars and pet pajamas.
- [Link to view one of Chumlee’s episodes]