The Purrfect Nanny & Purrfect Pet Health Blog

This article provides a hilarious glimpse into our world today! I remember when I was a child in school they taught us that one day children would attend school from home on their computers. At that point we didn’t even have a computer in the house, I thought they were crazy! Now not only can you attend school online, but your cat can graduate?! Better Business Bureau CEO’s cat graduates from school online.

Helen A.S. Popkin
Fri., Aug. 14, 2009

Cats get a bad rap on the Internet, frequently stereotyped as LOL ignoramuses, forever shredding grammar like a half-dead mouse in what the World Wide Web would have us believe is their endless quest for “cheezburgers.”
Despite the pigeon-holing, cats play piano on YouTube and have their own Facebook profiles, and kitties who tweet exhibit a working knowledge of sentence construction that challenges those of their human Twitter compatriots. So it was only a matter of time before a feline got around to earning an online high school equivalency diploma.

Rescued from a ditch when she was no more than a teeny, tiny ball of fluff, Oreo C. Collins, a 2-year-old tuxedo cat from Macon, Ga., may be the very first in her family to obtain a ‘high school diploma’ — online or off. (Of course, we may never know for sure because, as she wrote in her “life experience essay” portion of the test, she’s adopted.) Kelvin Collins, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia and Oreo’s rescuer, encouraged Oreo to seek her “education,” by taking part in the BBB’s ongoing investigation of online diploma mills.
“Oreo’s a really smart cat,” Collins said in a telephone interview with msnbc.com. So smart that Oreo garnered mostly A’s in the online test, with some of her credits earned from her aforementioned life experience essay about her adoption into the Collins family. No doubt that’s why Collins solicited Oreo’s help in the Better Business Bureau’s experiment to expose Internet diploma mills.

Rescued from a ditch when she was no more than a teeny, tiny ball of fluff, Oreo C. Collins, a 2-year-old tuxedo cat from Macon, Ga., may be the very first in her family to obtain a high school diploma. Noting her humble beginnings by the side of the road where Collins found her during his son Brennan’s football practice, Oreo’s benefactor said he “is tickled pink to give her an opportunity to get an education.” Following a test and a $200 fee Collins paid for out of his own pocket, the young cat received her diploma from Jefferson High School Online.
In the spirit of full disclosure, it should be noted that Collins did help Oreo with both the answers and the essay. But to be fair, Oreo stayed in his lap throughout the test, and Collins got a little help, too.
“If you miss a question, the test gives you a hint that tells you the answer is,” Collins said.
Of course, there are naysayers to Oreo’s awesome accomplishment. As the Better Business Bureau wants people to know, Oreo’s so-called “high school diploma” is not the same as a General Educational Development (GED) diploma.
“The GED Tests cannot be taken online,” GED Testing spokesperson Cassandra M. Brown told msnbc.com. “They are only available for in-person testing at an Official GED Testing Center.” Brown said via e-mail that the GED Testing Service, a Program of the American Council on Education, has issued warnings about programs like Jefferson High School Online.
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When it comes to treats, cats are frequently passed over by many pet food companies.  At HealthyPetNet, we believe that your furry feline deserves the occasional reward of a tasty treat, just as much as do dogs.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of giving your sweet kitty the nutritional delight of Life’s Abundance Gourmet Cat Treats for Healthy Skin and Coat, you won’t believe the level of feline joy these kibbles can evoke. Your cat’s mouth will water in anticipation of these tasty indulgences, which feature chicken, herring, flaxseed and eggs.

As we have noted in the past, Dr. Jane believes that a stronger coat will lead to less hair being swallowed during grooming.  To that end, these gourmet treats contain the superior-quality proteins crucial to the growth and maintenance of a strong coat.

To further support your cat’s health, these yummy nuggets feature a full range of nutrients to address the needs of the skin, which is the body’s largest organ.  Dr. Jane included omega-3 fatty acids to help keep the skin hydrated and pliable.  And vitamin E further helps to maintain skin elasticity.  Additionally, there’s added vitamin C, to promote the production of collagen, the major component of skin.

Isn’t it time your cat enjoyed a little extra support, disguised as a tasty morsel?

In recent weeks, the popular micro-blogging site Twitter has received extensive coverage in the media. If you haven’t signed up for an account or have yet to check out the site, it’s helpful to think of Twitter like an enormous pool of instant text messages.  Once you join, however, the number of tweets (that’s what the individual messages are called) are restricted to only those you “follow”, or those who you sign up to watch.

While non-users may presume that Twitter simply enables narcissists to become more self-involved, Twitterers praise the benefits of participating in unique communities, without any of the borders of traditional communication.  The site has demonstrated particular utility in helping people foster relationships with others who share similar interests. 

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In the summer of one of the most turbulent economic periods in a lifetime, Americans are rediscovering simplicity and frugality.  These days, it’s not uncommon to see a small group playing an impromptu game of Frisbee, or a couple enjoying a nature hike through a local park, or an extended family spending an afternoon in the backyard barbecuing.

The summer months provide ample opportunities for outdoor fun, whether your idea of open-air enjoyment is a power-walk with your dog or watching an afternoon storm roll in from the safety of a back porch with your cat.  These activities help us brush away the winter cobwebs, shedding new light on our daily life.  But sometimes, we make discoveries that are not altogether pleasant.  Too often, the thinner, summer coats of our pets can reveal what winter coats have hidden from plain view – reddened skin irritations, possibly the sign of a seasonal or chronic allergy.

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For those who watched their companion animals suffer more than two years ago, after the worst pet food recall in American history, the pain is still fresh.  A resolution of sorts, however, is near at hand.

Two of the individuals central to the contamination that afflicted thousands of dogs and cats submitted guilty pleas to numerous misdemeanor charges and a single felony charge.  The married co-owners, Stephen and Sally Miller of ChemNutra, were originally scheduled for sentencing on June 16th, but that was postponed and, as of the date of this newsletter’s submission for publication, has yet to be rescheduled.

The Miller’s were indicted for their actions of knowlingly distributing more than 800 tons of melamine-laced wheat gluten imported from China in more than a dozen shipments.  The couple passed off these tainted goods as high-grade protein ingredients, selling it to several of the largest producers of canned pet food and ultimately resulting in the recall of over 150 different brands of pet food.

While the maximum sentence would be two years in prison without parole and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, those who have wished for a punishment equal to the crime may be disappointed by the upcoming decision.  Prosecutors handling the case have signalled their openness to leniency, recommending that the court impose a $25,000 fine against ChemNutra, $5,000 each against the Millers, and sentence the Miller’s to three years of probation each.

It is worth noting that ChemNutra is just one of the 20-plus companies required to contribute to a $24 million compensation fund, the outcome of a class-action lawsuit brought by families affected by the recall.  How much ChemNutra paid into this fund is not a matter of public record, and may never be made known.

Shared from the Healthy Pet Net Newsletter

The splendor of summer is right around the bend.  We are approaching the season when children, freed from studies, populate the neighborhood, friends and families hold cook-outs, and we find ourselves preoccupied with the health our pet’s coats.

There’s a reason for our annual fixation.  Dogs usually begin to lose their winter coats in early spring, when it is gradually replaced by a shorter, lighter coat suited to the summer months.  The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed.  For example, the pet parents of German Shepherds will groan about the amount of shedding all year long, while those of us with poodles rarely have to get out the broom or vacuum, even with the arrival of summer.

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Today I’d like to discuss some of the benefits of our business model.
Because we work with a team of pet sitters across the Metro Atlanta area we can ensure that there will always be a qualified pet nanny to meet your pet sitting needs. Whether you are planning a holiday trip or need service starting tomorrow there will be a caring animal lover to care for your pet. When one of our nannies goes on vacation, we can help cover your pet sitting needs by bringing in a back up. In case of an unforeseen circumstance or emergency, should your regular pet sitter be unable to visit with your pet, we have processes in place to provide immediate back up support, to ensure that your pet is ALWAYS taken care of. We are home to many caring pet nannies. All of our nannies, go through a 2 step interview process, background checks and are bonded and insured. Does the fact that we work with several pet sitters mean that your pet is not well cared for? Of course not! All of our nannies are animal lovers, and have their own pets at home. They understand the level of care we all want for our pets. Two of our nannies are certified dog behaviorists and many of our nannies work directly with rescue organizations to help needy and abandoned pets find a new loving home and love along the way. Our business model helps ensure that there will always be a qualified loving pet nanny to take care of your beloved pets.

I just came across this horrifying story.
A Marietta man left 35 cats alone in his home while he left the country!
Police have issued an arrest warrant and if he is arrested he will face a $20,000 bond. Pet sitting services would definitely have been less expensive and better for all involved. Neighbors say the man rescues cats.
Read more about this story and the cats found here.

While having the heart to rescue animals is an awesome gift, it is also one with awesome responsibility. It is important to consider all pet needs as you add new members to your family. While cats are often thoughts of as independent creatures, they come to rely on us when we welcome them into our homes and need the same considerations as our other pets when we are away.

When I was younger, we brought home pets all the time with no consideration as to what was best for the pet AND the family. As I grew older, I began to understand more about the importance of educating children on the needs of a pet. When we decided to get a dog, we knew we had to train our daughter how to behave just as much as we needed to train the dog.

It is really important to assess your child’s maturity level and necessary involvement when introducing a new animal family member. This site has great pet recommendations by age. It has great tips on how to build a relationship between your pets and your children and safety precautions. How important do you feel it is to educate your child on their role in your pets’ life?

ASPCA Guide to Pets and Children

I just found this awesome site!
It’s kind of like Web MD for kitties!
It lists symptoms you may be seeing in your pet.
Through the symptom links you can find out what might be the cause and what steps you should take. It lists suggested home care and tests your vet might run to determine what is going on.
Take a look and make it one of your favorites too!