Even better, using the power of pets in the right way increases sales despite the dominance of the market by big box retailers.

Of course, the basic premise behind ‘pet marketing’ is that pet owners first become customers, then let their furry friends do the persuasive work to generate more sales.

In a moment I’ll explain the human psychology behind how this persuasion strategy works and how to make it work for you.

CREATING A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE

My first forehead-slapping moment occurred when I realized how the marketing power of pets worked on me.

Hey, even a headstrong research scientist like me has marketing hot spots.

The experience started when I was googling a solution to a digestive problem that Dixie, my little 11-year-old terrier mix, had.

The pages that caught my attention the most were the ones where other pet owners commented.

I was grateful to find good, honest advice from other people who love their furry friends as much as I love mine.

I paid special attention to the products that my fellow pet owners recommended. They influenced me to improve the Dixie food brand and buy specific supplements.

Problem solved.

I am now a loyal customer of products that I had not purchased before.

That story, however brief, is just one particular personal experience related to pet trading. In this case it was pet supplies.

It made me wonder how this strategy might work for other types of products.

My thoughts led me to realize how a different personal experience with pet marketing worked for me. This time it had nothing to do with pet supplies.

My family loves to travel. We like to take Dixie and her younger “sister,” 3-year-old Ellie, with us.

Finding good hotels that allow pets, without charging extra for them, can be a challenge.

That’s how we put Mac. He’s a “spokesperson” for a national hotel chain.

He is cute. He is persuasive.

Mac is all over the hotel website. He talks about how he loves staying there. And how the people at the reception tell him that he is a good boy. He welcomes pet owners to come with their little friends and stay a while.

That was all it took to convince my family to always plan trips around Mac’s hotels. That’s the only place we stay when Dixie and Ellie travel with us.

So far I have described how we became loyal customers of two entirely different types of businesses, both fueled by pet marketing.

I’m sure I wouldn’t have to dig too deep to see how other companies have used this approach to influence me.

I answer because I love my pets.

The appeal of this strategy goes straight to the heart: mine.

Now, as a marketer, I realize how ‘pet marketing’ won me over. And how can you persuade others.

It begs the question of what other companies are harnessing the power of pets in their marketing plans.

What I discovered is the psychology behind why this strategy works.

More importantly, I also found out how any business can implement it for optimal results.

THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE OF PERSUASION

The foundation of pet marketing involves a powerful principle of persuasion called social proof.

Social proof is well known in marketing. The value of it is so great that my old colleague, Dr. Robert Cialdini, talked about it in his book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.”

It is one of his six keys to persuasion.

Pet marketing in particular lends itself to this principle. it’s like a social proof accelerator.

For me, endorsements from other pet owners were more of an influence than standard testimonials. I paid more attention to other pet owners because their feedback was voluntary and genuine. He appeared on forums, blogs and social networks with no apparent request from any company.

[If you’re thinking about generating automatic referrals, then – BINGO!]

By the way, Mac hotel sponsorships provide social proof in two ways. The first is subconsciously very subtle. Mac gives the impression of being a happy customer, although we consciously know that it is not really him who is speaking.

The second is comments from human visitors to Mac posts. They are unsolicited and persuasive.

Very powerful.

HARNESS THE POWER OF PETS

The fuel behind pet marketing is a steady stream of satisfied customers who have pets.

Getting them in the first place depends on how well your standard marketing strategies are working.

All of the most effective ways to do this require good marketing copy for every aspect of your digital presence.

It could mean maintaining an attractive website, spreading lots of ads, building a strong social media presence, creating effective bait pieces to build a subscriber list, sending out newsletters, recording podcasts and videos, and collecting lots of blog posts, email releases, and more. press. , magazines and e-books… the list is endless.

Persuasive writing is at the heart of it all.

Once you’re up and running, the following three steps will harness the power of pet marketing.

1) Give your customers the opportunity to brag about their pets on social media. They’re going to do it anyway. You could also have them do it on your company’s social media pages.

Social media is a big driver here.

Videos and images of pet owners are a key source of engaging content.

All you have to do is heal it.

Satisfied customers showing their little friends online attract the attention of any company.

2) Climbing the ladder of social proof.

Partnering with an influencer in your niche brings a lot of social credibility.

Imagine being associated with Mannie the French Bulldog. At last count, he had 1.1 million Instagram followers, 7,600 YouTube channel subscribers, and 1.7 million Facebook followers.

A word from Mannie has tremendous ‘canine’ social proof of the top dog online.

Mannie covers a wide variety of products. His own website offers drinks, clothing, art, and face masks. She is also promoting online supplements, CBD products, and even a car wash.

He is not alone. A quick search for other pet marketing influencers gives us a good list on Twitter. The big ones right now include @remixthedog, @tinkandmeek, @milliegthegolden, and @coconutricebear.

Keep in mind that although I’ve been talking about dogs so far, the same strategies work with cats.

To see what I mean, just check out Instagram for ThatLittlePuff, Nala Cat, Venus the Two Face Cat, and Smoothie the Cat to see some of the big cat influencers.

3) Answer questions and comment.

A simple but invaluable strategy for building credibility and trust online is answering questions in forums and commenting on blog posts. All niches have forums and blog comments.

If done right, the authority you build there attracts responses from others. The more the better.

Clever! More social proof.

THE BONUS

What I have described here is more difficult for large online stores to do than it is for most companies. The big ones rely more on brand marketing. They don’t allocate the necessary resources to implement the power of pet marketing.

Your bonus is a level playing field. Harnessing the power of pets can give you an edge against even the largest online retailers.

STARTING

So far, I’ve simply outlined the basics and strategies for putting your canine and feline sales forces to work.

Of course, as I mentioned above, they all rely on good marketing copy. That’s what initially attracts the satisfied customers you want. The social proof of them and their pets is based on that.

That’s where I can help.

Many people think of a nursing home as a nasty, soulless place where residents lie in bed or sit endlessly in a rocking chair, waiting for their days to pass until the inevitable happens. The reality – at least in a good nursing home – is far from that. Many people enter a nursing facility when they still have a lot of life and look forward to years of fun and companionship, with daily activities to keep both body and brain active.

In fact, studies have shown that regular stimulating activities help reduce depression by half among nursing home residents, staving off dementia and keeping both spirit and body alive. Activities are vital to maintaining the mental and physical well-being of residents, and even staff and visiting family and friends may willingly participate in the activities offered by a good nursing home.

If you’re looking for a nursing home for a loved one who is still capable of loving life, it’s important to find out what types of activities are offered and how often they’re available. In fact, nursing homes that accept Medicare or Medicaid patients must have a designated director of activities to obtain adequate funding. But how well they do their job is something you will have to assess yourself…

“I think the residents I talk to who tell me they can’t do anything but sleep, eat and read the paper find a purpose for getting up every morning,” Vicki30CNA writes on the website allnurses.com. “They don’t look forward to the next day as they all run around together. And our residents who aren’t as capable get little to no stimulation other than going to the bathroom and showering. Some fold the bibs every morning and see it as their ‘job,’ but that work takes them half an hour. So what, they tell me. I hate to see their last years, months, days so empty and without purpose. “

If you want to prevent this from happening to someone you love, read on. A wide variety of activities should be offered in every nursing home, so make sure this is the case when considering a nursing home. Some residents may enjoy going out to lunch several times a week, shopping, or visiting the local art gallery or movie theater. Others will prefer on-site activities that stimulate their hearts and minds.

It might be a good idea to talk to the activities director of the nursing home to see what is available. Here are just a handful of activities that a good nursing home should volunteer to provide…

Auto start activities

Great because they require little preparation and can be planned by the residents themselves. They include:

Gardening. Depending on the extent of mobility and the interest of residents, gardening can be as rigorous or delicate as they want. If there is an actual garden that is fantastic, if not, then hanging baskets, small herb pots, and indoor cacti or orchid collections can keep things interesting.

arts and crafts Even older residents enjoy doing something, especially when they feel like it’s for a good cause. Knitting blankets, making baby clothes, or entering art or photography contests can keep people busy and help them make a contribution to society at the same time.

Games. You might think that bingo is the most popular game in nursing homes, and you’re right. But there is more to competitive gaming than just bingo. How about bridge, mahjong, canasta or chess? The sky is the limit. One-on-one games are great for building closer relationships between residents, and group games are also good for building a sense of community.

Music-based activities. Don’t limit the fun to singing, you may even have professional musicians among the residents, or you may discover some hidden talents.

Volunteer-led activities

Nail care, Bible study, hair day – all you need is a volunteer with a skill, and the time to make a difference in someone’s life.

School groups. It may sound cliché, but young people have a lot to learn from their elders. This can take the form of Granny teaching little Albertine how to knit, or visiting a school once a week and reading to the little ones. Many schools, in fact, encourage outsiders, assuming they’ve been checked by the police, to help kids who need a little extra with one-on-one reading or math exercises.

Local community groups. People who are particularly talented often enjoy visiting nursing homes on a regular basis and sharing their skills. This could be giving residents massages or reflexology sessions, teaching them a special aspect of gardening, or giving a talk about growing orchids.

Explorer groups. Scout troops often visit nursing homes and get together to do something fun, like bake chocolate chip cookies or build a birdhouse. The two groups can learn from each other and make use of each other’s skills and talents.

Local charities. People at charities often give their time to seniors, whether that means planning outings or having a day of pet therapy when the local vet or animal shelter employees bring animals for a visit.

Activities run by nursing homes

Themed events, such as birthdays or religious celebrations. Some creative residents meet with staff to plan events like Hawaiian nights, Chinese New Year celebrations, or Halloween or Thanksgiving festivities. Friends and family can be invited to join, perhaps even residents of neighboring nursing homes.

Outdoor activities such as barbecues, picnics, or a walk through a park or garden center. In some cases, volunteers may be asked to assist residents with mobility issues.

A little culture. Going to the theatre, opera, museum or cinema may take some planning, but it’s worth it. Again, volunteer helpers and drivers may be needed.

Alternative therapies. Anyone can benefit, as long as they are not too invasive. Massages, yoga or Tai Chi can help residents have fun, get fit and relax.

Keep people as happy and healthy as possible for as long as possible. both physically and mentally, should be the goal of every nursing home. The activities should be varied and interesting, appropriate to the different capacities, needs and interests of the residents. They should not only be fun but also valuable, allowing residents to build new relationships, develop new skills and maintain their fitness levels.

“We have a ‘prom’ in May, where local single Marines escort our residents (wheelchairs and all) to dance and eat,” CoachCathy writes on allnurses.com. “We have dresses and suits donated by local thrift stores. Local hairdressers come in and do hair and nails. Everyone has a blast.

“And we had a winter wonderland theme last December: We made snowmen out of diaper boxes painted white, and we had a snowman decorating contest. Residents had a snowball fight in the interior (with cotton balls). It was so much fun!”

THE HISTORY OF THE COLLAGE

It wasn’t until the 20th century that the term collage was coined (more on that shortly). However, Japanese calligraphers in the 12th century pasted paper and cloth over their written poetry as a background. This technique could be defined as collage. Artisans in the 15th and 16th centuries in the Near East applied intricate paper designs for their handmade books. In medieval times, around the 13th and 14th centuries, artists enhanced their painted spiritual images and icons on panels with a variety of materials including gold leaf (paper-thin sheets of gold glued together), cloth, jewelry, relics and hand-colored papers. . The nuns were creating beautiful bookmarks with intricate designs for their prayer books. All of these clever applications are aligned with the collage technique.

In the early 19th century, with the advent of the camera and photography, families pasted photos into scrapbooks. Commercial displays and displays featuring photographic images of popular tourist attractions and European landmarks were mass-produced and became very popular home decor items.

CONTEMPORARY COLLAGE

It was not until the 20th century that Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque first glued material into their paintings. That’s when “collage” became a word referring to a specific type of art form. The term collage is derived from the French “coller” which means “to paste or paste”. Soon collage became the word to describe a new and exciting artistic process.

The stage was set and Picasso and Braque were the protagonists. The traditional, idealistic, classical theme of the Renaissance and Romantic eras was on the wane. The Impressionists helped pave the way for this movement by choosing to paint local subjects: public gardens, cathedrals, and country lanes. Claude Monet, a famous impressionist, painted many studies of haystacks under the ever-changing light of day. Therefore, it was not surprising that artistic precursors such as Picasso and Braque were using theater tickets and fragments of posters and newspapers in their paintings. Ultimately, his use of mass media materials set the open contemporary guidelines for modern art:

(1) Any material can be used to make a work of art.

2) Any idea can be used for a work of art.

(3) Any technique can be used to make artwork.

Today, collage is an established art form that presents an imaginative, provocative, and often humorous perspective by employing common, everyday objects as subject matter. The collage transforms the usual into the unusual. The skills required to make a collage are both visual and physical. Physical skill consists of combining objects to create a composition. Visual ability requires an eye and mind sensitive to the meaning and context of objects.

HOW TO MAKE A COLLAGE?

Collage begins with the collection of a variety of materials to produce a “visual vocabulary”. This should be anything that appeals to you. Ransack your dresser drawers, go to yard sales, flip through your old photos, or dumpster dive. Believe in your attraction to the objects you have found. Keep in mind that the materials used in the collage can be anything: papers of any kind, scraps of fabric, leaves, driftwood, plastic containers, herbs and seeds, old appliances, driftwood, leaves, etc. The possibilities are limitless! So start collecting! Then start exploring and experimenting with how found objects can be combined in the composition to create a collage. Remember that the ultimate goal of collage is to bring together a collection of materials to create a new visual form. What could your collage represent? You could talk about your life using photos and other materials that reflect your personal story. You could make a statement, for example you could show how you feel about global warming and the environment. Or your collage could take you to a place you’ve always wanted to go: a paradise of tropical beauty or a utopian city. Their imagination will be activated as they collect the materials and assemble them. And then your thoughts and feelings will be revealed.

UNION METHODOLOGY

Collage is so much more than just cutting and pasting things on a board. It takes skill to see beyond the obvious picture. For example, if you were to go through the pages of a magazine and cut out all the images of the eyes, then arrange them in a pattern, this would be a new way to see a familiar image in a different way. The image, repeated many times, is delivered to the composition of the collage. Why? So you can see something else! When you look at the composition, the pattern will be apparent first, then you will identify the images of the eyes. The images of the eyes have become design modules or units in a collage composition.

Here is another example. How could a group of photos and other materials that you collected from, say, your trip to Las Vegas, be put together into a collage to represent a desert sunset? It would be necessary to go beyond the virtual material of photos and memories and translate it to the idea of ​​sunset in the desert. You would have to adjust your eye to perceive photos of other materials as just colors and shapes. Once you can do this, you can reality jump your collected materials to another reality and create the sunset!

What if you want to make a collage that evokes the feeling of, say, the 1950s? Using photos and images from that time would be an effective journalistic way of defining that period. However, it might be even more effective to choose a 1950s-type color scheme by collecting lots of pink and black paper and then building an image of a car with large fins or a poodle skirt from those found papers. Why? Because the use of images related to the 1950s is common. Choosing a color scheme from the 1950s and creating a symbol or icon of that period is more creative, more demanding and more visually exciting.

Here is another example. You want to make a cityscape collage complete with letters and logos of well-known products: Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Palmolive, and John Deere, etc. that you have cut out of magazines. This project would be interesting and effective. However, it would be more of a challenge and a more provocative commentary to represent a forest scene using those commercial images. The combination of highly identifiable commercial themes in a pastoral image is much more provocative and attractive to the viewer. Imagine the effect if one sees a beautiful landscape, only to discover, on closer inspection, that the entire landscape is made up of logos of large corporations!

THE MAGIC AND POWER OF COLLAGE

Taking collage skills one step further takes the magic of collage to another level: the mysterious interaction between objects to form a new collage concept. For example, famed artist Joseph Cornell created small boxes that housed curio compositions that included vintage toys and toy parts, mirrors, seashells, trinkets, shards, posters, theater tickets, and postcards. These boxes, now found in many museum collections around the world, are tiny worlds, magical settings that often evoke a mysterious and sometimes terrifying feeling in the viewer. This reaction is caused by the combination of the objects in the box. For example, a playing card from the 19th century is interesting as a subject, but combined with a stuffed raven and an old wristwatch, the meaning of the composite objects changes. What does this combination of elements evoke? The raven itself is simply a stuffed raven. But in combination with the other objects, it could look like a vulture. The wristwatch, just an old, discarded wristwatch, could be seen as a symbol of stopped time in the context of the other objects. And, the playing cards, just ancient playing cards by themselves, in the context of the combined objects, can symbolize destiny.

Artist Robert Rauschenberg placed a stuffed goat with a tire in the center of one of his paintings. The combination was surprising, not only because of the rarity of the goat with the tire, but because the painting became a platform or pedestal for these curious objects. In collage, the combination of two or more objects or images can produce a subconscious reaction. The viewer cannot understand why the collage is captivating, but reacts strongly nonetheless: confused, fascinated, repelled, frightened, or amazed.

Here is an example: In the artwork of the famous artist Lucas Samaras, the artist uses a simple chair as the subject. But, he has stuck pins into it and completely covered it up. A chair, in itself, basically means comfort and relaxation. However, covered with pins, the chair becomes an anti-chair, an object that has become unpleasant and evokes a negative connotation. This, the viewer may think, is not a chair I would like to sit on, thank you.

THE USUAL TO THE UNUSUAL

Ultimately, the power and magic of collage is most effective when there is a tension of meaning between the objects or images that make up the collage. By perfecting collage skills, one travels from the usual to the unusual. A beginner could stick pictures of cars in a certain way on a board. The collage won’t be much more than ad copy. However, the development of skills in the use of collage can bring new insights. For example, images of cars arranged on top of each other and in many rows translate the image into another connotation: that maybe all these beautiful new vehicles will end up on the junkyard. This makes the image much more provocative for the viewer and conveys a larger and more interesting statement.

The true power and magic of collage is in learning collage skills, so whatever the job, the translation of the images creates a strong and provocative composition.

Essential oils can produce the desired result faster than herbs. One drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to 26 cups of peppermint tea. Essential oils have multiple effects where many medications usually have only one medical property plus negative side effects.

Some health professionals do not recommend applying essential oils to their paws. Pets lick their feet and this could cause possible irritation as saliva is similar to water. Essential oils get into the skin quickly. Compounds like fertilizers, antifreeze, and other toxins may be absorbed more quickly when essential oils are applied to their paws.

I followed the advice of Dr. Nancy Brandt, DVM and used the knowledge in my dog ​​breeding business. She is a holistic veterinarian located in Las Vegas, NV and she uses Young Living essential oils in her practice. Most essential oils need to be diluted with a base or carrier oil before applying to your pet. For dogs, the recommendation is 1 drop of essential oil to 10 drops of base/carrier oil and for cats, rabbits, and ferrets, 1 drop of essential oil to 25 drops of base/carrier oil. You can listen to Dr. Brandt’s 01/29/2009 lecture online on 16 Young Living Essential Oils a Pet Owner Should Have on Hand.

In my opinion, the best base or carrier oil is cold-pressed organic olive oil, grapeseed oil, or fractionated coconut oil. Avoid nut oils if your pet is allergic to nuts. I recommend using Young Living’s V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex as a base/carrier oil. The ingredients in V-6 are Fractionated Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Triticum Vulgare (Wheat), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil. Cold-pressed olive oil and grapeseed oil are other options to use as a base/carrier oil.

Oil and water do not mix; the water causes the oil to irritate your pet’s skin. If your pet is sensitive to any essential oil, dilute the oil with base/carrier oil or add more base/carrier oil where she applied the essential oil. If any essential oil gets into your pet’s eyes, rinse with base/carrier oil, never with water.

I like the essential oils made by Young Living. They are therapeutic grade and are processed correctly. They are organic and do not contain toxic substances, such as pesticides. Not all essential oils can be taken internally. Young Living essential oils are one of the few essential oils that can be safely taken internally. There are 42 species of frankincense, but Young Living chooses the 2 species with the greatest therapeutic benefits, not the cheapest to make and process. The oils are processed at low temperature by steam distillation or cold pressing. This makes more of the natural properties available. Some of the essential oil brands process their products with a higher temperature and as a result their essential oils do not have all the properties and may contain toxic substances. They cost less and are not as effective.

Balsam fir essential oil (Idaho) is anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant (prevents blood from clotting) and acts like cortisone. It is used for respiratory problems and pain. For respiratory problems rub on the chest. For pain problems, rub at the source. I spread it in my kennel if I see or hear signs of a cold or cough. You can combine 2-3 essential oils together and diffuse for desired results.

Eucalyptus Radiata can be used as a smelling salt and helps open up the lungs when there is an upper respiratory infection. Its medical properties are antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant and anti-inflammatory. Like a scented salt, the bottle is briefly held under the nose. For respiratory problems, rub on the chest. I use eucalyptus in my dogs’ cloth collars and it works as an insect repellant. I spray eucalyptus on my base cap while fishing and the bugs leave me alone.

Frankincense can cross the blood-brain barrier and help increase oxygen to the brain. Frankincense is used for infections and tumors, dissolves lumps and bumps. Frankincense is antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant and anti-inflammatory. It can be applied topically, diffused, or simply inhaled. I have applied frankincense to my pets bumps and the size of the bump decreases rapidly.

Helichysum is great for bruising or bleeding. I use it for when dew claws are removed or tail docked. Speeds up the healing process. This essential oil is not diluted but rubbed directly on the bare belly, make sure to avoid the sexual organs. Apply 1 drop per 1 inch of bare belly to the center of the pet’s belly. The medical properties of Helichrysum are anticoagulants, anesthetics, antispasmodics, antivirals, liver detoxifiers; quela chemical products and toxins, also regenerates the nerves. Choose Helichysum if rat poison is suspected. This will help control internal bleeding while you travel to your vet.

Lavender is the universal essential oil and can be used for just about anything. This essential oil is applied neat (not diluted). Lavender is excellent for healing burns, including sunburn. Lavender has great calming effects. Here’s a recipe that can be sprayed into the air: add 2 drops to 1 oz. of steam distilled water put in a spray bottle, shake before each use. Its medical properties are antiseptic, antifungal, antitumor, anticonvulsant, vasodilator, relaxant, anti-inflammatory, reduce fat/cholesterol in the blood and combat excess sebum in the skin. I use lavender to clean tear stains on my puppies while they are teething. Apply only once a day by putting a drop on your finger and rubbing into the nose and under the eyes (avoid the eyes). I like to use it at night since lavender has calming properties.

Peppermint is wonderful for treating diarrhea and vomiting. Be sure to dilute with base formula/carrier oil. The medical properties of mint are anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiparasitic (worms), antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, digestive/gallbladder stimulant, pain reliever, and helps curb appetite. I use diluted peppermint and rub it on my gums or belly to stop diarrhea.

Pine works for respiratory problems and works even better when mixed with eucalyptus. This is a great blend to diffuse during the winter months and it smells great. Or it can be rubbed on the chest between the front legs. The medical properties of pine are hormone-like, antidiabetic, cortisone-like, antiseptic, and lymphatic-stimulating.

Essential oil blends are a combination of various essential oils that have a broader spectrum of beneficial medical properties. Di-Gize helps relieve diarrhea and vomiting. It works better than mint. Apply the oil to your bare belly and rub it in a clockwise direction, the same way your colon moves. Egyptian gold supports the immune system and is used for open wounds (cat and dog fights). It is applied to the chest and between the shoulder blades on the back. Joy helps the heart and circuitry. Apply to chest and side of ribs. GLF should be used if your pet ingests something toxic like fertilizer or advid. Rub on the liver. The liver is located just below the ribs on the right side. Melrose is ideal for chronic infections such as abscesses (wounds) that are difficult to heal. Panaway is for dog bites, bruises, cuts, and scrapes. Purification is used undiluted on insect bites. Purifies the air and kills the virus, Parvo. Balances electro energies. Use it on your pet’s bedding as a broadcast. Mix 1 drop to 1 oz of steam distilled water in a spray bottle. Shake before use and spray the room, bedding and toys, everything your pet touches to disinfect. I recommend this essential to my clients if they plan to board their pets to keep their pets germ free. Thieves kill bacteria and can be used as a natural antibiotic. Thieves should be used to keep your pet’s teeth clean. This is a healthier option than taking your pet to the vet to have his teeth cleaned. Apply a drop to your finger and rub your pet’s upper gums once a week or daily if you notice problems. Thieves is not recommended for use in cats due to its sensitivity to the liver. Valor is chiropractic in a bottle. Aligns the body by balancing the energy centers (chakras). Apply to the spine. This is a wonderful blend of essential oils for pets that lead active lifestyles like hunting or testing.

Young Living products can be ordered from my website on the essential oils product page – http://www.ardyweb.com/-.html

DISCLAIMER The author offers information and opinions, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis or treatment. It is recommended to consult with your veterinarian before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone. Your veterinarian can provide advice on what is considered safe and effective for your animal’s unique needs or diagnose your animal’s particular medical history.

In Texas, as in many other states, individuals with juvenile criminal records are eligible to have their juvenile criminal records sealed. This process is very similar to the regular criminal record expungement or sealing process.

To have a juvenile criminal record, a person must have been between the ages of 10 and 17 when they were arrested, taken into custody, or charged with a criminal offense. These include Class A and B misdemeanors or any felony charges. An individual may also have a criminal record if they were charged with a Class C misdemeanor if the justice or municipal court transferred the case to juvenile court.

These records, while generally confidential, can be accessed by police officers, sheriff’s officers, prosecutors, correctional officers, and other criminal and juvenile justice officials in the state of Texas and elsewhere. Additionally, the registry may still be available to prospective employers, educational institutions, licensing agencies, and other potentially important agencies. It is important to note that juvenile treatment records, those records related to drug counseling, placement and treatment, are always confidential and can only be accessed by authorized users.

Section 58.003 of the Texas Family Code allows for the sealing of minor records. Like adult criminal records, a person with a juvenile criminal record that is acceptable to seal can file a motion to seal their juvenile criminal record. This motion must be filed in the same county in which the original criminal proceeding took place. Once the court seals a juvenile record, the record is removed from the criminal history database.

Additionally, Section 58.203 of the Texas Family Code allows access to certain criminal records to be automatically restricted. Once transferred to this section, the Texas Department of Public Safety may not disclose the existence of the juvenile registry or any registry information in response to an inquiry from:

1. A law enforcement agency

2. A criminal or juvenile justice agency

3. Any person, agency, organization or entity

In fact, Texas law requires the holder of this type of juvenile record to report that the record does not exist. If a crime falls into this category, the person named on the juvenile registry may inform anyone who asks that he or she has not been arrested, charged, or convicted of any crime.

For more information on sealing or expunging records, visit [http://dallasexpungementlawyer.com/expungement_in_dallas.aspx]. The experienced team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the record sealing process.

When travel professionals want to relax by the sea, they want to dip and splash in one sweet spot… Bonaire National Marine Park. This beautiful Caribbean paradise has a wonderful reef that is “locked” to ensure that all marine animals and living organisms endure for years to come. This is the place to be for any trip to Bonaire.

Put on your water gear and slide into the nice and inviting waters of Bonaire. The reef can be reached from the shores. The waters are so clear that you feel like you are in a swimming pool. Because the reef is thriving and healthy, there is an extraordinary amount of marine life living and coexisting throughout. Areas like Dieciocho Palmas harbor and produce glimpses of reef squid, crustaceans and sea turtles. Slick Reef is a popular spot for tube worms and eagle rays.

These reefs are what the Bonaire travel program is all about! Corals and sponges are implanted throughout these guarded areas, where touching is a “no no”. Staghorn and Elkhorn corals are common everywhere. Coral nurseries are producing new and successive generations and are very encouraging to those in the field of marine biology. The island has a small surcharge for snorkeling and diving throughout the year and this money is used to finance the reef and the maintenance of marine life.

Be sure to pack sunscreen and sunglasses when you’re ready to travel to Bonaire. You’re sure to find some serious sun. Bonaire is well known for its above-average dry temperatures, unlike its sister Caribbean islands that give birth to patches of rainforest everywhere. No matter the temperature, it is always worth the walk and the visit. The beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and abundance of marine life will have you coming back for seconds. This is truly a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers. The number of Parrotfish, Angelfish, and variety of Logfish on your journeys are just a few of the remarkable species you’ll find under the sea. There are eels, turtles and crabs everywhere. That’s just the beginning… there are thousands of species found in these places and it’s a travel guru’s paradise. This is Bonaire travel at its finest, so be sure to bring your waterproof camera and some extra film.

Lac Bay in Bonaire is the best recreational spot for scuba divers and snorkelers. You can romp between small islands and dive as much as you like. The water is so shallow it’s better to walk than swim… most of the water is below your knees, making close encounters with marine life a daily occurrence. After the day is done, you should definitely visit the Wind & Surf Beach Hut for an amazing fish sandwich.

Bari Reef is another must-see for diving and snorkeling on the Bonaire travel itinerary. Again, there is extremely shallow water, allowing for easy entry. Dipping your head below the surface, you’ll immediately find yourself swimming amongst moray eels, royal angels and blue tangs. Be careful where you move those rocks, because there are octopuses everywhere. The variety of species is impressive and will definitely keep you on your toes!

For a change of pace, hang out at the Salt Pier, this is one of the most popular spots among travel gurus. You will pass over a barrage of salt lines and you can jump into the waters and meet the great iron pillars, where tarpon, angelfish and barracuda roam. Because there is a special way that salt evaporates from the water, the colors you’ll be paddling in can be pink, blue, or green. Definitely take your camera, because there are not many places like this in the whole world. Coral protects these iron pillars and the pier, so be sure to keep that in mind when enjoying this stop on your Bonaire Travel! The water, due to the process of evaporation of salt, can be blue, pink or green.

Float in the waters of Boca Slagbaai and hang out with the friendly pink flamingos. Any travel guru will insist that you enjoy the cliffs… and when we say “enjoy” the cliffs, we mean JUMPING! If heights aren’t your thing, you can sit in the shallows and enjoy the calm and coolness of it all. You won’t find too many corals, but no fish are missing. If you need to get out and dry off a bit, you’ll need to find a small, soft beach area between the rocky shoreline.

Hey, I love water as much as anyone else. And if you like any part of the water, you will fall head over heels in love with this neck of the world. It will leave you speechless with its beauty and its warm and welcoming waters. If you’re a snorkeler and scuba diver, you need to shout out to your travel guru and plan a trip here ASAP. Being with nature and enjoying wildlife is what it’s all about when you embark on your Bonaire Travel!

Your rag doll cat is probably a very important and ever-present figure in your life, every time you turn around you will probably see the rag doll following you or lying on the ground, ready to be stepped on if you back away without looking.

The ragdoll really is a breed that loves people, or at least loves attention and affection, dare to ignore it for any length of time and the ragdoll will surely let you know. Most ragdoll cats are likely to be easy to train, at least easier than most other cats.

It is important that you leash train the ragdoll, as I am sure you know, ragdolls are meant to be indoor cats, not outdoor cats. How many times have you panicked when you thought your ragdoll had escaped and run away, only to find it half an hour later curled up somewhere unexpected?

Yes, ragdolls don’t belong in the great outdoors, they may be intelligent creatures, but they’re also completely lacking in common sense half the time. With a ragdoll cat, there is no such thing as street smarts, they will happily run down the road, approach any dog, cat, or other animal they can find, or worse, jump into any puddle of water. They seem to love water, it’s not uncommon for rag dolls to try to get into the bath or shower with their owners.

Your ragdoll cat may be the cutest cat in the world and is obviously very sweet, but he can also be very annoying. If you weren’t being followed around all day, then you wouldn’t have to accidentally step on a fluffy tale or paw without realizing it. And if they didn’t insist on lying on your laptop every time you wanted to work or surf the net, you’d be a lot happier.

Ragdolls love to spend as much time with you as felinely possible, they would never leave you alone if they had the chance, and they absolutely hate it when you leave them alone, all that meowing is not in vain, they really don’t want to be left alone, and they will insist on causing chaos if you leave them for too long.

Your ragdoll cat may become very lonely and very depressed if you go out to work every day for an extended period of time, this needy behavior is often the reason your ragdoll cat may end up in rescue centers so often. People are simply not aware of the care required for such a people-oriented cat.

Ragdolls are huge cats, especially the males, but the females are big enough too; they just eat and eat and eat, every time you enter the kitchen the rag doll is right behind you, like a tail, assuming that since you are in the kitchen you must be making food for him.

Of course, all your food is their food, too, and you won’t hear the last of it if you’re trying to eat a nice piece of fish, without giving it to your rag cat. The rag doll just doesn’t give up, he offers you a lot of pampering, you offer him food.

The ragdoll cat is a charming, sweet, relaxed and loyal pet, buy one that makes you nervous one day and loves it the next. Purrfect.

Is your Yorkshire Terrier coughing? Dogs don’t cough like people do, so when you hear your dog cough, that should alert you that trouble could be on the horizon. If it’s a hacking sound, maybe there’s something stuck in your dog’s throat. If it is a nonproductive, squawking type of cough and your dog is a Yorkshire Terrier, then it could be the early onset of a collapsing trachea. Tracheal collapse can affect other breeds as well, but it appears to be a health issue for Yorkies. Sometimes it’s genetic and breeders have to work very hard to get this out of Yorkies. It can be caused by wearing collars or leashes that are tight and then when the dog pulls on the leash they choke. The constant pulling and suffocation will eventually damage the trachea. This applies to all races, too.

My Yorkie started coughing slightly during the summer of 2007. At the time, we were renovating our house and I thought his throat was dry from drywall dust and sawdust in the air. The cough didn’t happen every day, so I didn’t worry about progression. I did my best to keep the dust down by vacuuming and dusting every day.

In the fall, he had a vet checkup and I mentioned the cough. Our vet said his trachea was probably collapsing. He prescribed Torbutrol as a cough suppressant and, after the first dose, he was so drugged that he couldn’t stand up, eat or reach his water bowl. She had said that she would probably have to keep this up for the rest of her life, taking 2 pills a day. After this reaction, I called the vet and it was decided that she could not tolerate this medication. She only weighed 4 pounds 6 ounces. After that, I tried herbal cough medicine. She also gave him vitamin E and vitamin C.

During the winter of 2008, he had several visits to the vet and it was always the same: his heart was fine and his lungs were fine. She had a good appetite, there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about. At no point was I told about the warning signs of a collapsing trachea that could take her life. His cough went from that dry, dry sound to a sound much like a person makes when trying to clear their throat. Many days he didn’t cough at all, but many nights he would start to cough and he couldn’t seem to stop. I tried to give him honey to coat his throat, because I’m sure his throat must have been very raw from all the coughing. There are herbal cough medicines on the market that contain honey. Sometimes they helped, but not always. Some days he paced around the house, coughing, trying to breathe. As the trachea narrows, it becomes like trying to breathe through a straw.

I searched the internet for answers, looking for natural cures for it, but there really isn’t much that can be done. Surgery is sometimes suggested, but it is not always successful and can be very expensive. Not to mention the inconvenience your dog will go through.

Tracheal collapse claimed another victim, as my Yorkie suffocated in his sleep on October 1, 2008. So if your dog makes coughing sounds, discuss this with your vet so you know what to expect. Gather as much information as you can and do your best to make your dog as comfortable as possible. You can try using a cool mist humidifier at night in the area where your dog sleeps. Keep your weight down, too. But above all, love him and give him all the attention you can. I was very lucky to have had my Yorkie for 14 years. We were together constantly and he is greatly missed. I sincerely hope that if you are dealing with this health issue with your Yorkie, you find something that will help. Now please go hug your dog!

Is there really a cheapest worker of all time? Who are they? The answer is that business owners are investing and investing their money to multiply. They need to hire people to work for them, pay bills every month for office and operating expenses, but don’t get paid until the business is up and running and stable. People think that a business person has a lot of money, but they didn’t know that business owners’ wallets are always broken.

Owners can’t complain about their own business, they always put their mind and heart into believing that the business will work and win, of course they have lead time because they need to calculate how much they could spend before they are done. Dying, the owner of Walt Disney finds himself eating dog food just to survive and continues to make cartoon movies until one day he recovers. Most business owners endure this pain for years, minimum 3-4 years and maximum 5-6 six years, based on the fact that most businesses broke through and remain standing in pain on a daily basis just to survive.

Investors are big thinkers, they don’t look at the small obstacles in front of them, and they look more for a bigger picture of their dreams, always attentive to what must be done to support the current situation for the future. Next day. Thinkers are mostly calm and observant, which most business owners have in common. The capitals they have are only seconds because the mind and spirit that gives them the height to achieve their goal is much stronger. Failing to fail big or small in every situation is the weapon to stand your ground, learning to perform well for the next day’s battle is a unique adventure a business owner encounters.

The risk that this cheaper worker experiences, especially at a young age in the business, is a mental, psychological, physical, and financial challenge that only the same people in the same situation will deeply understand. After all the ordeals, if the business survives, that’s where this cheap worker will start to profit. So be proud to be the cheap worker of your time.

For most new puppy owners, finding the perfect breed and the right breeder is the only difficult part of bringing home your cute new friend. What they don’t know is that it will be a little more difficult once they get home. New owners need to be aware of the different dos and don’ts when raising their new family member.

Various mistakes often leave many new puppy owners tired and frustrated. At worst, the experience becomes so problematic that they end up neglecting their pups. But if new owners can learn to avoid these common mistakes when raising their little puppies, they will definitely have a very rewarding experience. These are just the basics, but if you start well, the end will definitely be better!

1. If you potty train your dog indoors, don’t expect him to automatically come out when he’s older. Also potty training pads are very useful, but when you stop using them, your little pup may confuse your cute and plush rugs with his new potty spot. Therefore, you must make it clear to your little pup where he is or he is not allowed to answer the call of nature. Slowly introduce him to a new training method when he’s ready.

2. A puppy won’t know what he’s missing unless he’s tried it. So giving in to his pleading and whining for the first few nights won’t help. He will only cry louder and louder once you expect him to start sleeping on his own. Remember that you have to teach your puppy to be obedient and brave!

3. Crate training keeps your pup safe when you’re not looking. So don’t feel guilty about putting him in his cage. When no one else is home, he will feel much safer if he is in a cage. It won’t do him, or you, any good if he has an accident and you’re not there to help him.

4. If you want to take your puppy on your outings, make sure his vaccinations are complete. Keep in mind that a puppy’s immune system is not yet fully developed. They are still young so they are more susceptible to different diseases.

5. Bad clothes are hard to break. If you want to have a dog that behaves towards you in the future, you better control the mischievous antics of your little pup. What’s cute in a puppy isn’t always cute in a full-size dog.

Raising a puppy requires great responsibility. You have to give them enough care and attention so that they grow up to be brave, obedient and loving members of the family. Pampering them or giving in to all their requests may feel good, but it won’t pay off. They trust you as their new master, so you must learn to live up to their trust. So whoever said being a dog’s best friend is easy might not have been on the right track!