FRECKLES TO HAVE LITTLE SPOTS!!!!

Dear friends: We have just received the most exciting news! Our rescued beagle mix, darling little Freckles, is expecting! Maureen Hennessey, her foster mom, predicts she will have her puppies between Christmas and New Years! Stay tuned - we will be providing her the best possible care and will need your prayers for the health and safety of mom and her pups. Stay tuned. God bless,  Emily

UPDATE!!!  UPDATE!!! 12/26/08:  

GREAT NEWS!!! FRECKLES had her puppies just as planned - the day after Christmas! Five gorgeous, fat, healthy pups (four boys and one girl) are doing great, and Freckles is an awesome mom! Stay tuned for updates and pictures. God bless our foster friend Maureen who arranged for rescue partner Vicki to be nurse/midwife and oversee this beautiful birth event!! Love, Emily

PAWS INSTITUTE MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION The PAWS Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996, dedicated to holistic healing and wellness for your companion animals. Our institute members act as advocates for chemical-free pet foods and chemical-free living environments. We are watchdogs for other harmful products and practices that can affect the health and longevity of our beloved pets. We are continually researching best practices in pet nutrition, grooming, safety, emotional enrichment, and other total wellness approaches to pet care. In addition, we have become passionately involved in rescuing and transporting at-risk dogs and cats from kill shelters; we promote and encourage holistic therapies as adjuncts to recovery of animals from brutal kill shelter conditions.

WELLNESS TOPIC OF THE WEEK: "What to feed your pet"

Dear friends: There are many schools of thought on this interesting topic, and you may question whether to go raw, cooked, canned, or kibbled. We have a detailed report that describes "What is REALLY in pet foods?" (click on link below), and you will be horrified at what goes into the run-of-the-mill, inexpensive pet food that has been pushed on an unsuspecting nation of pet lovers for years. We subscribe to the maxim: Choose poor, good, better, or BEST! Simply put, if you feed dry kibble, avoid any chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin; avoid any food dyes; and avoid products with "poultry digest" or "meat by products" of any kind. Make sure the FIRST ingredient listed on the label is pure meat, not adulterated meat. We believe you should always supplement dry kibble with some of the following: * grated raw vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and other dark leafy greens * raw salmon or tuna * canned, salt-free sardines * raw ground meat such as chicken, turkey, chuck steak; highly recommend purchasing turkey necks or giblets and chopping up; other organ meats are excellent * omega-3 oils (can use human grade) * DIGESTIVE ENZYMES FOR THE LIFE OF THE PET Of course, we also recommend bottled or filtered water. Do NOT let pets self feed. Not only does this allow harmful bacteria to grow on the food, it can attract unwelcome pests into your house. Feed twice a day at regular times. Take up any uneaten food. This encourages pet not to be a "picky" eater. DON'T FORGET TO READ THE LABELS ON TREATS! It is equally important to know what you are giving your pets as far as in-between snacks. Purchase only USA-made rawhide; avoid preservatives, dyes, and substandard ingredients just like you do with their food! We do NOT recommend pig's ears or other types of offal from barn animals. Better to buy Natural Balance organ meats that are shaped like sausages and have pure ingredients. That's it for the week. Much FOOD FOR THOUGHT! Love, Emily and the PAWS Institute gang

MORE IN-DEPTH WELLNESS EDUCATION TO COME...

Dear pet lover: We specialize in finding holistic crisis remedies for the many shelter animals that pass through our rescue network. The majority of these poor furkids are suffering from months, maybe years, of substandard food, filth, nasty living conditions, extreme stress, and other untreated maladies. It is our long-term goal to research, test, and then publish PROTOCOLS which include the best of complementary treatments for some of these conditions: * Skin and coat problems * Digestive maladies * Bordatella * Wound care * Internal parasites * Allergies * Stress relief * Detoxing * Flea and tick control * How much to vaccinate * Rebuilding a compromised immune system * Tooth and gum care - homeopathically * Ear, eye infections and problems * Painful arthritic conditions. There are many, many more fascinating ways of exploring true complementary medical and psychological care for your beloved pets. Stay tuned. Feel free to post a comment or inquire about topics you want researched. With great love for the animals, Emily B. Smith Founder The PAWS Institute Madison, WI

Miracle help for dog's skin problems

HERE IS RIKKI'S STORY: SKIN & COAT by PetAlive I have personally found a wonderful homeopathic remedy for skin conditions that heals the animal FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I have used this on many of our rescued dogs, in particular, a sweetie named Rikki who scratched incessantly and had hair loss over 40% of his body from flea dermatitis. The "flea dirt" was quite visible on most parts of his body. Along with this internal cleansing program by Pet Alive, I bathed him several times a week with a natural shampoo containing Tea Tree Oil and soothing oatmeal. Rikki was CURED within three weeks, and he re-grew his lush, silky coat over a healthy new layer of skin. Thus, the healing was permanent because it came FROM THE INSIDE OUT: THE HOLISTIC WAY. The majority of animals we rescue are suffering from the results of neglect, poor nutrition, and filthy conditions. A small investment of under $40.00 can STOP the terrible itching and painful skin eruptions; please check this out for yourself and your loved pets. Go to www.petalive.com and click on Pet Products. You will also see fantastic, safe, and effective treatments for many ailments that cause animals to suffer: hot spots, ear infections, gum disease, GI disturbances, and many more.

Emily Smith, Nina (from GSD rescue) and Joey (from Dubuque shelter)