Rachael Ray

If you have big dogs who shed (like me), you probably have tumbleweeds of fur rolling across the plain of your kitchen floor now which can only mean one thing - yes, spring is here and it is shedding season. We upped from one yellow lab to two this fall which means two times the fur. Here are some tips on how to get a handle on your dog’s shedding. Brush your pet! Regular, even daily, brushing is best. Brushing will also make your dog’s coat softer, cleaner, and less likely to shed. Many dog owners swear by the FURminator - a “deshedding tool” available at PetSmart and other major pet stores.  Whatever brush you use, make sure to choose the one [...]...

Exciting news - Earlier this year we told you that Rachael Ray and the ASPCA have partnered together for the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge! The $100K Challenge is a groundbreaking competition that inspires animal shelters across the country to get more cats and dogs out of shelters and into the loving homes they deserve. Watch Rachael’s video and learn more about the $100K Challenge, and how you can help! You can vote once a day for your favorite shelter at http://www.votetosavelives.org ...

Animal shelters nationwide encouraged to apply for chance at more than $500,000 in prize grants for saving more homeless dogs and cats NEW YORK-The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that it has teamed up with television personality, bestselling author and philanthropist Rachael Ray for the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, with more than $500,000 in prize grants to help shelters save more homeless cats and dogs. The ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a groundbreaking contest that challenges animal shelters across the country to come up with innovative ways to engage their communities and get more homeless cats and dogs into loving homes. Fifty competing shelters across the country will work harder and [...]...

Back in October we adopted three year old adorable Chloe (I mean how cute is she?) and she came with a fancy dog dish, about 20+ extra pounds, and a bell (large jingle bell) on a ribbon to hang on the back door. She walks up to the bell and “rings” it (ie, knocks against it) to go outside. Brilliant. Here are instructions on how to teach your dog to ring a bell to go outside from the ASPCA (www.aspca.org): Stage One: Teaching Your Dog to Touch the Bell with His Nose Many pet stores sell dog doorbells (I have seen them at PetSmart) or you can make your own using a couple of sleigh bells from a crafts supply store. Attach some [...]...

Our newest addition - beautiful Chloe the 3 year old lab - has been with us 2 1/2 months and is the best thing that has happened to our family in a while. My older daughter in particular has bonded with her, and our dear 13 1/2 year old lab, Biko, seems to have a new lease on life. Whereas he used to sleep the day away, now when Chloe runs to the door, he runs to the door. He sees Chloe play with toys, he plays with toys. He hasn’t picked up a toy in years. Last week, out of the blue, Chloe started limping one evening. Not a light limp, but she couldn’t put any pressure on her front [...]...

animal lovers can upload photos of rescued pets; the top three vote getters to determine which pet organizations split $25,000 donation December 15 2011 - Things tend to get pretty hectic this time of year - with last minute shopping, holiday get-togethers and with family and friends visiting from out of town.  But television host and bestselling author, Rachael Ray is hoping we can find the time this holiday season to remember our four legged friends - many of which have no one to care for them. She has partnered with PEOPLE and PEOPLEPets.com to create Click the Cutest: Rachael Ray’s Shelter Helpers’ program as a way to raise awareness about the joy of adopting a pet.  Starting today, the public is [...]...

These might be the best dog biscuits your dog will ever snack on. This fall I coached a girls running/character program called Girls on the Run and part of the program dictates that the group design and execute a community service program. The overwhelming majority of my group voted to do a project to benefit our local SPCA. We decided to collect items the shelter needs for the dogs, pulling from a list on their website, and we also made dog biscuits from a recipe posted on the SPCA site. The recipe couldn’t be easier and the girls had a blast. I gave some samples to my dogs, and they devoured them. This would be a cute holiday gift for your [...]...

My family just adopted a dear, sweet 3-year old yellow lab - Chloe - who has fit right into our family like she has always been with us. The poor thing however, has more than a few lbs to lose. Her previous owners didn’t walk her too often (as they admitted) and she regularly got into the family’s food - in the garbage, on the counter, from the baby’s highchair. Well, those days are over as we are conducting our own “Biggest Loser” program for Chloe (of course we are not going that extreme). While she may be adorable in her chubby state, it’s for her own health that we help her to slim down a bit. In addition to [...]...

As I blogged a few days ago, we adopted a 3-year old yellow lab last week. Her family had not crate-trained her, while my husband and I firmly believe in it and have witnessed how beneficial it is for dogs, first hand. Our 13-year old dog has been in a crate since day 1 - initially he would go in the crate during the day while we were at work, at night, and any time we left the house. Now he can be trusted to roam the house freely when we are out, yet most of the time he chooses to relax in his crate on his own. Why? It is his personal space, where he feels safe. We weren’t sure [...]...