Mellow but Jealous

Mommy forgot to post this incident up a few weeks ago. This happened during my vacation with mommy. She asked her sister to dog sit me for the day while mommy was at the dealership getting the chewed up seat belt fixed. It was so early in the morning, I didn't want to get out of bed, mommy had to (translated literally from Chinese) "scoop" me out of bed, which was more like a rolling me out of my bed. Once we got to her sister/her god mother's house, her sister took me and *whispers* let me upstairs. Mommy usually doesn't let me upstairs, but ever since the shaking incident, she has let me up there as long as I'm good. The minute I do something bad (like regurgitate water under daddy's computer table) I have to go back downstairs. Anyways, mommy's sister let me sleep in her bed! Because I was so thankful, I slept next to her head and did not move one bit. Mommy's god mother came in to check on us every once in a while (because she thought that I would be bored) and saw that we were both asleep and when I wasn't asleep, I would just lay there calm as a toad in the sun (what a weird idiom I found online). When mommy's sister woke up, we went down stairs to watch TV. Because mommy's god mother was still recovering from surgery, she was laying on the couch. Mommy's god mom invited me up on the couch so I gingerly go up and curled up next to her. I made sure to not move too much so I don't make her booboo hurt more. Mommy's god mom was so surprised! Here is me on their arm chair napping while god mommy went upstairs. Throughout the day, she would ask her daughter: "he just lays there? He doesn't move?" And mommy's sister said "Yeah, mom. He just lays there. He's not like L. (name was cut to save the other dog she was living with for a couple of months)." When mommy came home, her god mom said that I was really calm and I just laid there with her.

Later on, uncle came by to see how god mom was doing and we found a stuff animal dog. I was so calm at god mom's house that when I was laying there, they put the stuffed dog on me and I didn't try to move it. I'm keeping watch with the "stuffed dog." This went on for a long time until the humans got bored. Then uncle started petting the stuffed dog and asked me "Mika, are you jealous?" What kind of question is that? You're petting a stuffed dog over petting me? Of course!! So I walked over to the stuffed dog and proceeded to lay right on top of it, forcing uncle to have no other choice than to pet me. =)

When we were getting ready to leave, god mom said "you're welcome back anytime, Mika." =) Mommy was so happy that I was on my best behavior and I comforted her god mom, she forgave me for chewing up her seat belt.

What a day! I got to go upstairs, sleep in bed (at the head of the bed), go on the couch, cuddle with someone on the couch, and I'm welcomed back anytime at this house. Wow! Can't get any better than this! I can't wait until I can go back again.. I hear that god mom cooks real yummy food and she likes to sneak some to the 4 legged friends (despite what mommy and mommy's sister say).

Ohh.. speaking of sneaking food. Mommy's mom (we'll call her mom, my mommy is mommy because mommy's mom doesn't want to sound like she's old.)kept asking mommy if I could get some human food. Mommy kept saying no. Then one day mommy said that if she made extra rice, she would sometimes give me a little. Mom picked up on that and took some rice and fed it to me. Uncle was so proud of mom. Mom was bitten by a dog when she was a little kid so she does not like dogs very much. Mom feeding me was a biiiiiiiiiig deal. She let me eat out of her hand too! (Also, the reason why mommy took so long to bring me to meet her mom and dad was because she wanted to make sure I was trained real well so if mom gets uncomfortable, mommy can trust that I will come back.. which I do have good, not great, recall in the house. I visited last year, but she had me for a year and a half before that, at least, working on my training.) Anyways, every time mom made rice, she would give me a little bit. One day, everyone was eating Peking duck ('cept for me) and I was sitting there watching mommy and mom eat. Mom started feeling bad that I couldn't eat any duck, so mom asked mommy if I can have a little bit on the buns with nothing on it. Mommy said no, but mom looked at mommy grabbed a bun and ripped a piece off and all while looking at mommy gave me the piece of bread. The look on mommy's face while watching her mom do that was hilarious!! I would have laughed but I really wanted that bread. Then, guess what? Mom did it again!! OMdog, I looooooooove mommy's mom. But that was the last of it because mommy took that bun and ate it (it was the last bun).

Anyways, I can't wait until my next trip up to see mommy's family again!!!! So much good stuff awaits me!

Proctor & Gamble bought Natura (Innova EVO)

I have just found out of some bad news today. On 1 June 2010, Proctor & Gamble and Natura finalized their deal. P&G now owns Natura. If you haven't noticed in the past, P&G + dog food = recalls. I hope this doesn't happen to Natura foods, but it's a risk I'm not willing to take. As soon as Mika gets this bag finished, he's being moved to another brand food. I'm thinking Orijen, but we'll see how his tummy handles it in their red meat formula. Just when I thought I found the perfect food, this happens: http://www.naturapet.com/news/letter.asp

Good bye Innova EVO. I had a wonderful time with you, but I'm not taking any risks.

This makes finding dog food with a red meat formula without chicken meal difficult. Canidae has outsourced to Diamond (know for a long list of recalls). Wellness Core doesn't have a red meat formula. Taste of the Wild has chicken meal in their prarie formula. I really hope Mika's tummy is ok with Orijen. We'll cross our paws and fingers that everything works out with Orijen, the only company I can think of that has a red meat formula that is still independently owned.

Dog Food Recall by Proctor & Gamble

Hello everypaws!

We just want to warn everyone that there is another recall happening right now. We got this email from our Vet:

"We want you to be aware of the following expanded product recall from P&G:

P&G Expands Voluntary Limited Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

CINCINNATI, July 30, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE: PG) is voluntarily expanding its recall to include veterinary and some specialized dry pet food as a precautionary measure because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported.
Product Name Version "Best-By"
Dates UPC Code
Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas All dry sizes
and varieties 01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
Eukanuba Naturally Wild All dry sizes
and varieties 01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
Eukanuba Pure All dry sizes
and varieties 01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin All dry sizes 01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes

View full recall alert from P&G.

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause illness in people and pets. If your pet has eaten the product(s) mentioned above and is experiencing diarrhea, fever, or vomiting, please make an appointment for an exam as soon as possible. If you or one of your family members has handled any of these products and is experiencing any symptoms, please contact your physician immediately.

Remember, washing your hands before and after handling any food products is a great way to reduce your risk of contracting infection."

Here is the link to their Press Release: http://www.pginvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=104574&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1454785&highlight=

When mommy read this email, the first thing she thought was "phew! Thank goodness I feed Mika Innova Evo". In fact, she just bought me a new bag of dog cereal today. =)

Anywoos, we hope, if you are munching on those kibble, that you stay safe and gnaw at the humans until they bring your kibble back to the store. We would much rather you get yelled at for gnawing on your humans than you get real sick and have to visit the V-E-T where they stick you with pointy stuff.

-Mika