About Me
- ShopforPaws
- ShopForPaws.com is the place for all your pet supplies. Our goal is to create a shop that has quality products needed for pet lovers and their four legged family members. We offer a wide selection of pet supplies including cat and dog toys, pet wellness, pet beds, pet collars, and a pet grooming section with all the necessities. ShopForPaws.com is inspired to help pets in need. We are committed to donating a portion of every sale to non-profit organizations that help animals in need. I am grateful to have found a business that will allow me to be charitable to our animal community. As an online pet supply shop we are quite unique, as our mission is to provide animals lovers a place to shop for their pet products while also giving back to animals in need. We consider it our responsibility to make a positive impact in the animal community.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Giving to Non-Profits that help animals in need.
A HUGE HURRAY for all those that help animals in need.
If you are anything like me, you are a huge animal lover,
but hate to see the reality of animal neglect and abuse on those sad commercial
ads asking for your donations. I am truly the faint-hearted animal lover. I knew from an early age that I wanted to do
something with animals, but knew I never had the – courage, strength, stomach
(I’m not really sure what you would call it), but I knew I couldn’t work with
animals in the capacity of seeing abuse, or the stomach for being a
veterinarian. I have the utmost respect
for all individuals that are able to work directly with animals in need of help
in every aspect. I have spent my life
saying I wanted to do something that can help animals. So, I have rescued many animals and made them
a part of my family or found homes for them.
I have donated to multiple animal organizations and helped to spread the
word on the few pet organizations that I knew were doing great things for
animals in need. However, I knew in my
heart it was never enough.
Shopforpaws.com began because of my desire to help animals
in need. I love my online pet supply
store and feel we have quality product for pet lovers, as well as their dogs
and cats. Shopforpaws.com gives back a
portion of every sale to animal rescue non-profit organizations. As the business grows, so will the portion of
donations going to animals in need.
When it was suggested that I needed to be apart of social
media to help my business become successful, I was a bit concerned, as I had
not been apart of any social media prior to opening my site. Once I began blogging, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter I
was introduced to a world of animal lovers that want to make a difference in
the lives of animals.
Two of my favorite non-profit organizations are Dumb FriendsLeague and Buddy Center in Denver Co. I
moved to Colorado in 2006 from California.
I had not been exposed to non-profit no-kill shelters before. In the town I was born and raised they had
animal control – where animals were picked up and if not adopted in 7 to 10
days then they were put down. So, when I
moved to Colorado and was introduced to these no-kill shelters I was over the top with joy. They really won over my
heart when my cat of 16 years went missing. After putting posters in the
neighborhood I received a call telling me that Tonny
Since opening my online pet supply shop I have now been exposed to so
many wonderful non-profit animal organizations, individuals, and businesses
that devote their lives to rescuing, caring for and ensuring animals have a
safe haven until they can be reunited or be adopted into forever homes. Foster families make a huge impact on these
organizations, as they provide the love, socializing, care and time that is
needed for many of these animals.
My faith in people has been renewed, as there are so many
wonderful people doing wonderful things for our voiceless companions that are
truly dependent on people securing a safe and happy future. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to follow some of the amazing stories from the following pet rescue organizations:
I would love for all animal lovers to share their stories and
share the websites of organizations that devote their lives to protecting the
animals in need.
Cece Garza, Owner
Shopforpaws.com
Every time you shop at ShopForPaws.com you help support animals in need.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Exercising Your Dog in the Winter Months.
It’s mid way through January and some of us have already
broken the New Year’s Resolutions of exercising and eating right. Well, I decided this year not to bother with
those resolutions, as I have failed at them all too many times in the
past. Instead I decided to make my
resolutions for my dogs eating better and exercising. I love walking my dogs in the spring and
summer months, but winter in Colorado is a bit too cold for me. January is “Walk Your Dog” month, so I have
made all attempts to get Jett, Callie, Bear and Baily out for walks. I have to admit once I get out there it is
quite nice, however with four dogs I walk them all separately, so I know they
are not getting out as much as they should.
Exercising your dog in the winter months can be challenging especially
if you live in a colder states. However,
no matter what month it is, dogs need exercise to maintain a healthy
weight. Research shows that between 20
and 40 percent of all dogs that visit the veterinarians are overweight. So, I started looking into other ways to get
my dog’s exercise in every week. I found
some great ways to keep my dogs active during the cold months.
1. The Tether Tug dog toys is specially designed to give the cardiovascular exercise and mental
stimulation every dog needs to be their best.
The Tether Tug allows dogs to play whenever they want and provides hours
of healthy exercise. Shopforpaws.com
carries sizes for small and large dogs.
3. Hide-and-seek is a
great game to play indoors on those really cold days. Start by showing the dog
the toy or treat and get them excited about what you have. You can either hide the dog treat or dog
toy, or you throw the treat or toy and you hide from your dog. They will search high and low to find you,
the treat or toy.
5. Fetch with a soft
dog toy can be played indoors on a carpeted area. Throwing the toy upstairs can be an added
challenge for your dog. Change out the dog
toys often to keep your dog interested.
6. Let your dog be a
scavenger. Dogs love to search for food,
so fill a Kong dog toy with a dog treat or canned dog food and freeze it. Let your dog smell it first and then hide it
from them. They will have a great time
searching for it and can spend hours getting their treats. Shopforpaws.com has a great selection of dog puzzle bowls and dog treat toys that can keep your dog entertained for hours. Try
the Tricky Treat Toy Ball to keep your dog chasing the dog treats as they fall
out.
7. Winter is a
perfect time to enroll in an indoor dog training class. Not only will your dog learn a few tricks or
manners, they will be socializing with other dogs.
8. Treadmills work
well to exercise your dog. Start slowly
with your dog on a leash and motivate them with a dog treat at front of the
treadmill. Never tether your dog to the
treadmill and always stay at your dog’s side.
Just like humans, treadmills can be uncomfortable and even dangerous so
if your dog isn’t getting the idea of it, or is uncomfortable don’t make them
continue. I have had a dog that loves it
and others that never caught on. So be
careful with treadmills.
9. There are some
great doggy gyms. Check your local
listings for a doggy gym or play area.
They are actually quite reasonable and you can drop your dog off for an
hour or longer. They typically have a
large play area that socialize and exercise your dog with other dogs.
10. Just like cats, dogs love laser pointers. Dogs love to chase the light, but be careful
where you point the laser as your dog will definitely go up walls and over
chairs trying to get his light. Some
dogs can become obsessed with light and shadow chasing, so if your dog becomes
overly fixated on the laser dot, then you may want to choose another
activity.
So, just because it’s cold outside you can still have a
great time exercising your dog. They
will love staying active and you will love keeping them healthy and happy. Have fun and enjoy the cold weather with your
dog by your side.
Friday, January 9, 2015
Protecting Your Dog and Cat in the Winter Months.
As temperatures begin to drop and snow comes more often,
many areas are bracing for
Cold weather tips for your pets, and those that may
need your help:
- Keep your cat inside.
Cats can freeze or become prey to wildlife looking for their next
meal. Coyotes and foxes become more
driven to get food in the winter months, so they come closer to homes and
neighborhoods. Provide
shelter for stray animals that you see may need your helps. Leave food and water, as stray need to
increase their food intake 15 -20% in the winter for survival.
- Wipe down your dog’s paws, legs and stomach when he comes in from the snow, sleet, or ice. Dogs can easily ingest salt, antifreeze or other life threatening chemicals from their paws or pads.
- Provide a warm dog bed, preferable elevated outdoor bed, shelter, dog blanket, water in a thermal bowl, if left outside for any length of time.
- If you know of stray animals in your area, please try to provide them with water, food, shelter and dog blankets. They too need help getting through these cold winter months.
- Just like in the summer months, please do not leave your dog or cat in the car during the winter months. Your car acts as a refrigerator and can easily cause death to an animal.
- Dogs lose most of their body heat from their paw pads, ears and through respiration, so dress them in a dog coat and dog boots if you plan to have them outside for any length of time.
- Listen to your dog when you have them outside…signs that your dog is uncomfortable in the cold include, whining, shivering, anxiety or lethargy.
- Puppies and old dogs do not tolerate the cold as well as the average dog, so be sure to keep them inside as much as possible. Puppy training may be more difficult in the winter months, so you may want to try paper training and work towards full house training in the spring.
- Exercising your dog is still important in the winter months. Apply paw protection to their pads to help protect them from ice and snow. Dog boots and a dog coat will help protect your dog on a walk.
- Antifreeze is deadly to dogs and cats and can be completely preventable. Dispose of antifreeze properly and don’t leave an antifreeze container in an area that your dog can get to. If a spill occurs hose down with water until it no longer has a green color.
- Watch out for cats that may seek shelter in car engines. Stray cats are trying to find a warm place to sleep and often climb up in the car engine. If you know you have cats around your area, make noise and tap your car hood before starting your car.
Your pet, as well as stray animals need your help during the
cold months. Keep an eye out for all the
animals around you and take that little extra effort to help save an innocent
life this winter season.
Every time you shop at ShopForPaws.com you help support animals in need.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Happy New Year!!!!
Shopforpaws.com is wishing all of you a great 2015.
According to the experts if we change our attitudes and our goals we can achieve real results. So, I have decided to do just that. I have taken bits and pieces of the advice to create a goal that has real meaning this year. Shop for Paws is my new business and I have great dreams and goals for what I would like to accomplish in 2015. I have a vision for my business and feel I am well on my way now.
Here are just a few of the goals that I would like to share with you at this time.
- Social media is an ongoing learning experience for me, as I have not been involved with any social media before opening my business. I have to admit, I am actually liking it. One of my goals for 2015 is to have "X" number of followers on Facebook and Twitter (I'll share my number this time next year - and let you know if I reached my goal).
- Merchandise - I plan to keep my pet supply business with quality pet products and continue to add suggested items from my customers.
- Work diligently on my business to create a pet supply website that focuses on quality and customer satisfaction.
- Most Importantly - I will continue to create a site that will allow me to give back to animals in need. At this time I will be giving 10% of all proceeds to non-profit organizations that support the most vulnerable animals.
These are of course just a few of the goals that I have set for my new business. I have great dreams for the coming year and would like to include all of you in that dream. Shop for Paws will continue to grow over the next year and years to come with your support, advice and suggestions.
Happy New Year!
Wishing you all a safe and happy 2015
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