Sonic the Hedgehog… Has Salmonella?

Guest Blogger — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:26:26 +0000

In the last few years, there’s been a huge shift in pet ownership… with people opting to adopt animals outside of the traditional domestic pet realm. Case in point, hedgehogs. These quilly little creatures have become miraculously mainstream these days – maybe as a throwback pleasure to every 90s kid who ever trolled the tropical coconut-ridden trails with their buddy, “Tails.” And this Sunday they’ll be starring in another ruff and tumble game, just not as fiercely as their red shoes-wearing, spiky forefather who precedes them. YES, you’ve heard right, hedgehogs will be herded to cheer on the all-stars of Puppy Bowl IX this Sunday! Dressed in their preppy best (tulle tutus for starters), this squad is sure to steal the show after all the “oohs and ahhs” have been exhausted on the canine champions. But in light of the recent Fox News update reporting on salmonella-spreading hedgehogs, its a hope that their human handlers will be washing up after the game…..

TheraPAWtic Dogs…Best to De-Stress

Guest Blogger — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:25:57 +0000

We’ve ALL been guilty of falling apart over high school stressors – the late night homework hangups, excess extracurriculars, classes that morph from science and social studies during the day to SAT prep at night. So it’s no new news that teenagers are anxious and antsy all the time. But with seemingly no time in their schedules to spark up a one-on-one with a human therapist, students are finding comfort in classroom “pet pals.” Whether it’s a trip to the wellness wing of their school to give a wagging pup a pat or a saunter over to the re-purposed classroom yoga studio to unleash their pent-up energy through a downward-facing dog, teens are using pet therapy to assuage their anxieties. Yet, unlike a stress ball that’s seen it’s share of grips and squeezes, these trained therapy dogs aren’t to be ruff-ed up.

Why wouldn’t this trend be on the up and up? After all, there’s nothing better than coping alongside a furry friend who won’t be asking “how does that make you feel?”

Photo Credit: New York Daily News

Tails are Turning… Labs Trump Terriers as the New Favorites in NYC

Guest Blogger — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:44:17 +0000

Growing up with a Golden, I’m no stranger to the BIG love that larger dogs can offer… not to say that little ones don’t pack huge hearts, too (I’ve been coveting a huggable, snuggleable maltese for months after falling in love with my two best friends’ fluffy pups). Yet, just an hour or so ago The NY Daily News reported that according to the American Kennel Club, labradors are trending like crazy and quickly replacing Yorkshire terriers as the #1 pick of Manhattanite dog owners. Realistically, the tight quarters of cramped NYC apartments aren’t the most conducive to oversized pets – something more appropriate for smaller sorts. But with popularity of these larger paws on the rise, there just might be an X factor. Clearly, a sentiment that Brooklyn breeder and lab lover Micki Beerman shared when she told the Daily News that “they’re just your everyday, wonderful dog…”

They’ve matched the royal reign of the poodle (which came in at #1 through the 80s and 90s) and will continue their ascent to “king-dom” for years to come…

What are your thoughts, though? Big vs. Small? Top dogs seem to vary by territory.. with Labs in the lead for the majority of states, German Shepherds gaining speed in Miami and Chicago, Bulldogs braving the top spot in Los Angeles and Yorkies coming in for the cute in Orlando.

Teaching Your Dog New Tricks?

Guest Blogger — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:23:29 +0000

Thought we’d share this adorable video to close out the work day. Has anyone ever seen their pup sneeze on cue? For a carrot, no less??

Let us know about your pets’ treat-worthy tricks!!

Puppy, It’s Cold Outside!

Guest Blogger — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:20:34 +0000

If it were up to us and our furry friends to decide, we’d ALL grow wings and fly south until April. Too bad we weren’t born birds, because this cold is getting out of control – and with at least another month to go before we welcome warmer weather, thermostat wars are sure to be rampant in East Coast abodes. Since our cuddly critters can’t warm up by the fireplace or gulp down steaming hot chocolate to stave off the shivers, they’ll need extra TLC from their owners to brave the remainder of this chilling season. Here are some tips to keep your pets snug as a pug in a rug this weekend and up through spring.

• Bring usual outdoor pets indoors through blistering temps – any pet left outside for too long can freeze and what’s more they won’t have access to any water, unfrozen.

• Keep towels in tow – before unleashing your dog after a walk outside, take a pause to wipe off his/her paws. The quickly melting snow and ice aren’t comfortable to contend with and the chemical and salt laden walkways can damage their paw pads if not already in danger from the noxious fumes.

• Invest in some toasty threads – not everyone can successfully rock yellow rain boots, but I haven’t known anyone to not gush over pups in goulashes – and pair with a heat-holding sweater… since he/she won’t be growing a second coat any time soon.

• Turn a heated bed into their hearth – if they’re not swaddled beside you under the covers, make sure they can comfortably sleep through the night.

• Throw out your tickets to “Pets on Ice” – frozen lakes and ponds are hardly a play site for your pups – make sure they’re safe on solid/snowy ground.

How do YOU keep your plush playmates warm through March?

Why Humans Get a Little Crazy After Seeing Something CUTE

Guest Blogger — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:14:42 +0000

We’ve all heard the phrase “ooh she’s so cute I could eat her up” uttered over a cooing child or maybe even exclaimed “that puppy is so sweet, I just want to mush him!” ourselves. Whatever the case may be… no one’s immune to the so-adorable-almost-edible reaction to a fluffy, smiling puppy or a cleverly clothed little kitten. And for good reason, according to the latest report from Fox News detailing new research that validates why humans can become aggressive (capable of testing out a tight squeeze on their furry tot or excitedly screaming one of the above absurdities) when confronted with something overwhelmingly cute!

Cuteness prompting anger? Researchers were so perplexed over the ironic, abstract cause-and-effect that they decided to take matters into their own hands and put their theories to practice. Ultimately, they came to find that volunteer participants who were shown a “cute” animal picture and then left with a sheet of bubble wrap popped 120 bubbles to the 80 bubbles popped by those primed with a “funny” animal picture, and 100 popped by those shown a “neutral” animal picture. Indication that the cuteness just oozed into their psyche and got them riled up?

Social psych experts suggest that when humans are presented with something so adorable, their inclination to love and care for it can morph into frustration when the floppy furball isn’t actually there to pal around with. It also might be that the mere emotion overload caused by the cute creature is enough to polarize the person’s reaction completely.

Enough to make you re-think your habitual 3p.m. “cutest pics of baby animals” slideshow session to break up the humdrum work day?

Nah…. In PR, it’d probably be a good thing! Nothing like an adorable animal snapshot to jumpstart our media-moving engines and get stuff done!

What are everyone’s thoughts on this little cutie???

Lets Get Ready to Tumble…

Guest Blogger — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:41:17 +0000

While the football pools and wagers continue to ramp up in the workplace in anticipation of February 3rd’s pigskin showdown, today another topic of conversation has stirred up at the water cooler…. This one, a bit more pint-sized… Which cuddly and adorably adoptable canine will take home the coveted MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) prize at Puppy Bowl IX, powered by Animal Planet. Just a few hours ago, NBC’s TODAY Show released the roster of this year’s all-stars, all of whom are rambunctious and raring-to-go for this year’s titan turf war. But don’t let their precious puppy pics, seemingly docile names (i.e. Butterscotch and Daffodil) and cherubic contender stats (i.e. a loveable little terror) fool you, these little guys are still ruff and poised to battle it out in a match of wags and wiggles. Obviously, an athletic game day display expected to rival the most aggressive plays in the Super Bowl stadium… don’t believe me? Ask Winston, the fiery, nine-week old Miniature Pinscher who, though described deceivingly as the “cutest of the litter,” is also “the hungriest” and ready to chew up and spit out the competition.

If nothing else, this game is sure to delight the at-home audience – who’d rather watch some playful puppy wrestling than spend their time gorging on snacks and apps to offset the nail-biting game of NFL giants.

Catch the action on Animal Planet – February 3rd. Kick-off, 3pm! We can’t wait to see howl it goes!

Photo Credit: Animal Planet

Did somebody say Paw-rade?!

Guest Blogger — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:38:45 +0000

The canine stars of Disney’s “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups,” took time out of their busy schedules over the weekend to paw-ticipate in the taping of the”Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” TV special. Bringing their holiday spirit to the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World in Florida, these precocious pups starred in the parade alongside some tail-ented two-legged performers including Lady Antebellum, Backstreet Boys, the cast of “Newsies” and many more!

You can catch all the fun on the “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” TV special on ABC when the airs on Christmas morning but for a sneak peak, check out the event photos below!

The VIPs (very important puppies) were given the star treatment, Disney style, for the event

Pawing through the Magic Kingdom

Can’t get enough of these adorable dogs? Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups is available on DVD and Blu-ray!

*Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World is a client of Coyne PR

Cat Craze

Guest Blogger — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:15:29 +0000

Catroulette Site Is Like Chatroulette, But For Homeless Belgian Cats

Cat lovers, you’re in luck! You can now browse for your new furry friend right from home on Catroulette’s live stream of adoptable cats! If you can’t adopt at the moment, at least Catroulette can provide you with your daily fix of cuteness!

Minnesota cat video fest a purr-fect viewing

Leroy Bergstrom of Maple Plain, Minn. with his cat, Maestro.

On August 30, 2012, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis put on a film festival devoted to the online cat videos that pervade YouTube and social networks, called “Internet Cat Video Film Festival.” The audience was asked to vote on various video awards. Needless to say, the festival was a huge hit! We all enjoy our regular dose of cat videos, right?

Stay tuned until next week! In the meantime, enjoy these photos of cats in hats…

Pets go to Work!

Guest Blogger — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:19:36 +0000

There are a handful of offices through the country who allow pets in the office or have bring your pet to work day. Check out these pets hard at work!

Have you brought your pet into work? Does your office allow pets? Share below!