Beth Stern and John Sterling (Photo by Marc Lemoine/Crown Media United States, LLC)
“Kitten Bowl” is an annual feline “catstravaganza” that airs on Super Bowl Sunday and is presented in association with North Shore Animal League America (the nation’s largest no-kill shelter and animal adoption organization) and Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation. Hosted by Beth Stern, a TV personality and national spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America, “Kitten Bowl” is a star-studded lineup that includes legendary New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling and referee Chuck Nice. Hallmark Channel aired the fourth annual “Kitten Bowl” in the U.S. on February 5, 2017. Here are videos and photos from the event.
(All photos by Marc Lemoine/Crown Media United States, LLC)
Obe’s ProBowl tracks a pet’s food and water intake, provides feedback on consumption, and alerts pet owners to any changes that are out of the ordinary compared to normal consumption habits.(Photo courtesy of Nestlé Purina)
Nestlé Purina has named high-tech pet bowl company Obe the winner of Purina’s first Pet Care Innovation Prize. The Prize is a partnership between Nestlé Purina and investment firms Active Capital and Cultivation Capital. Obe’s flagship product is ProBowl, a patent-pending, dishwasher safe bowl with a smart base that connects to a phone and WiFi via an app. ProBowl tracks a pet’s food and water intake, provides feedback on consumption, and alerts pet owners to any changes that are out of the ordinary compared to normal consumption habits. The ProBowl app can also sync with Amazon to have pet food automatically delivered to your door.
(Photo courtesy of Obe)
According to a Nestlé Purina press release, more than 80 companies from 11 countries applied for the Pet Care Innovation Prize. Obe was one of five finalists for the award. All finalists received a $10,000 cash prize along with immersion in a multi-day accelerator program in St. Louis. As the grand prize winner, Obe received an additional $10,000 for business development and will be an exhibitor at the 2017 Global Pet Expo, one of the world’s largest pet industry events. Expo attendees can meet Obe’s founders and see the ProBowl in action, and retailers can find out how ProBowl can help them drive traffic to their online and brick-and-mortar stores.
Obe founder Hilary Jensen (Photo courtesy of Nestlé Purina)
Obe is a San-Francisco based company founded by Hilary Jensen, who named the company after her dog, whose nickname was Obe. Jensen commented in a statement: “It’s an honor to be the first-ever winner of the Pet Care Innovation Prize and to be connected with Purina and other great companies who are all working toward the same goal: bettering the lives of pets. The support from the Pet Care Innovation Prize has been invaluable to the growth of the business.”
Jensen added, “We are all busy with a lot to remember. ProBowl takes a few things off your list, so you don’t have to worry. No more texting your spouse to find out whether the dog has been fed, or who is going to pick up the dog food. ProBowl is simple enough that even your 8-year-old can feed your pet the right amount every meal. Knowing ProBowl takes care of the details for me lets me spend more time the way I want, with my dog of course!”
Pet owners interested in pre-ordering the ProBowl, which starts at $99, can visit ObeDog.com for more information. Shipping is expected to begin in the spring of 2017.
Several major companies that sell “prescription” pet food have been hit with a class-action lawsuit that claims consumers were overcharged for four food brands: Hill’s Prescription Diet, Purina’s Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Royal Canin’s Veterinary Diet; and Iams’ Veterinary Formula.
The defendant pet food manufacturers in the case are Mars Petcare US, Inc. , which sells prescription pet food under the brand names Royal Canin and Iams; Nestle Purina Petcare, Co. ; and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc.
Additional defendants include PetSmart, Inc.; Medical Management International, Inc.; and BluePearl Vet, LLC. PetSmart is a major retail seller of prescription pet foods. Banfield Pet Hospital is the largest chain of veterinary clinics in the United States, and typically operates out of PetSmart. BluePearl Vet Hospital is the largest chain of veterinary emergency care clinics in the United States. Pet food manufacturer Mars has a majority ownership stake in Banfield Pet Hospital and wholly owns BluePearl Vet Hospital.
The law firms Pope McGlamry, Ward and Smith, Walkup Melodia Kelly & Schoenberger and Gray Plant Mooty filed the lawsuit in December 2016.
According to a press release issued by Pop McGlamry:
“Prescription pet food is dog and cat food that is sold to the consumer with a prescription from a veterinarian. However, the prescription requirement comes from the manufacturers and sellers and is not mandated by federal or any other law. There is no legal mandate for a prescription from the FDA or any other government agency. Furthermore, there is no significant difference between pet food sold by prescription and regular pet food sold without a prescription, other than a significant price differential. There are no drugs or medicines in prescription pet food, and the FDA has made no assessments of these products.
“Counsel for the class members assert that pet food manufacturers, and their affiliates, have deceptively marketed this pet food as requiring a prescription, and have colluded to create a market for prescription pet food and to sell this food at prices higher than the prices of regular pet food.
“Consumers who have purchased any of these prescription pet foods over the past three years are urged to be part of this class action lawsuit to recover the money they overpaid, along with additional damages. ”
The lawsuit documents can be viewed as a PDF file here.
Cesar, a leading brand in wet food for small dogs, has introduced Cesar Dry, a new line of gourmet dry dog food, designed specifically with small dogs in mind. The new Cesar Dry food turns boring kibble into delicious meat-first meals with a variety of flavors. Dog owners can choose from three delicious varieties of Cesar Dry: Rotisserie Chicken Flavor and Spring Vegetable Garnish, Filet Mignon Flavor and Spring Vegetables Garnish, and Slow Roasted Lamb Flavor and Spring Vegetables Garnish. All three flavors are available now at retailers and pet stores nationwide.
According to Cesar, Cesar Dry is packed with 26 essential nutrients small dogs need. The recipes are made with real meat as the first ingredient, including beef, poultry and lamb. The tender meaty pieces are combined with “H”-shaped kibble, specifically designed with small dogs in mind to help them easily pick up and chew, while also helping to keep teeth and gums clean.
Kathy Ireland reads to young people from her Bendon collection. (Photo courtesy of Bendon)
Kathy Ireland Worldwide and Bendon, a leading designer and producer of children’s coloring and activity products in the U.S., extended their partnership through 2023. The deal includes storybooks, coloring activity and creative play items and more products in development.
In December 2016, Kathy Ireland Worldwide and pet product company Worldwise have extended their partnership for the Kathy Ireland Loved Ones collection, which includes bedding, scratchers and toys for cats and dogs. New items from the collection will debut throughout 2017 and are available at pet specialty, mass market and online retailers.
Kathy Ireland. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Ireland Worldwide)
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) is now offering its Animal Safety Net (ASN) manual as a free download. It’s the first time since ASN’s inception in 1998 that the manual is being offered offered to humane organizations, prosecuting attorneys, and domestic violence professionals as a free, downloadable manual.
The ASN program is a way to help survivors of domestic violence keep their pets and leave their abusers. Since 1998, ASN says it has assisted more than 300 families and 500 pets, including dogs, cats, hamsters, and rabbits. ASN provides veterinary care, nourishing food, behavioral enrichment and temporary safe shelter to animals in the program.
Available as a download, the spcaLA Animal Safety Net manual has what an organization needs to start their own ASN program. ASN has been making a difference in the Los Angeles community for nearly 20 years due to donations from individuals, foundations and corporations. ASN is not government-funded; nor is there a national SPCA or humane society that provides support.
The link between domestic violence, animal abuse, and child abuse is well-documented. According to ASN, 62 percent of its clients reported they would not have gone into a shelter, had they not been able to place their animal with spcaLA. They had good reason to fear for their pets’ safety; clients reported 23 percent of ASN pets had already suffered violence at the hands of their abusers. Knowing that their animal was safe and that reunification was possible helps survivors make it through a difficult time.
For more information, please contact Ana Bustilloz at 323-730-5300 x252, cell 323-707-1271 or [email protected].
American Humane has announced the official start of the 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Awards, sponsored by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation and broadcast on September 16 as a two-hour special on Hallmark Channel. The seventh annual event identifies and honors America’s bravest heroes on both ends of the leash.
According to a press release, key dates for the 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Awards contest include:
Nominations:January 25 toMarch 8
1st Round Voting:March 29 to May 3
2nd Round Voting:May 17 to June 28
3rd Round Voting:July 12 to August 30
American Humane Hero Dog Awards event at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California: September 16
Dog owners across the country are invited to visit http://www.herodogawards.org and nominate their heroic hound in one of eight categories. The top dog in each category will be flown to the star-studded, red-carpet awards gala hosted by Beth Stern and James Denton at the Beverly Hilton. One of the category winners will be unveiled as the American Hero Dog of the year.
The eight categories for 2017 are:
Law Enforcement Dogs, sponsored by the K-9 Courage Program from Zoetis
Military Dogs, sponsored by the K-9 Courage Program from Zoetis and the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation
Therapy Dogs
Service Dogs, sponsored by Modern Dog magazine
Emerging Hero Dogs, a category that pays tribute to ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things
Arson Dogs
Search and Rescue Dogs
Guide/Hearing Dogs
Following the nominations period, which ends on March 8, two dozen semifinalists (the top three in each category) will be chosen in a first round of voting by celebrity judges and the public. The second round, featuring a combination of public and celebrity voting, will narrow the field to eight category finalists who will then vie for the title of 2017 American Hero Dog.
Winners in each category will earn $2,500 for a designated charity partner and the overall winner’s charity partner will win an additional $5,000. Each charity partner is dedicated to celebrating the role of working dogs in our lives, and like American Humane, celebrates the importance of the human-animal bond.
The Hero Dog Awards once again will feature a second campaign – the American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician Awards, sponsored by Zoetis. As of February 2, 2017, pet owners and animal lovers across America were invited to nominate their favorite animal caretakers in these two fields, with each to be honored at the Hero Dog Awards event on September 16.
People who love cats are invited to attend the inaugural Cat Camp, a fan convention/adoption event which takes place March 11 and March 12, 2017, at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. The event is co-founded by Christina Ha, owner of Meow Parlour, New York’s City first cat cafe, which opened in 2014.
The event will feature cat adoptions, panel discussions, meet-and-greets and vendors selling cat-related items, merchandise and services. The Petco Foundation is the presenting sponsor.
Cat expert Jackson Galaxy, the host of Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell,” will be the keynote speaker and will do a meet-and-greet. Celebrity cat Lil Bub and her owner Mike Bridavsky will also be in attendance. Guest speakers/panelists are well-known cat enthusiasts involved in cat rescuing, spaying/neutering and adoptions, including:
Hannah Shaw, also known as The Kitten Lady, a Washington, D.C.-based kitten rescuer/foster parent who has become a star on social media
Kate Benjamin, founder of Hauspanther, an online magazine for cat-oriented designs
Adam Myatt, founder of the CatTown in Oakland, California, the first permanent cat cafe in the United States
Dr. Jennifer Conrad of The Paw Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to banning feline declawing and educating the public about the dangers of declawing.
Although this is an event for cat enthusiasts, the only cats allowed at the event are those that have been pre-approved for adoptions or guest appearances. In other words, people have to leave their pet cats at home (for legal and health reasons, obviously), and this policy will be strictly enforced, say event organizers.
Kittens in the inaugural “Meow Madness” TV special. (Photo courtesy of Hallmark Channel)
The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:
Hallmark Channel, the exclusive home of kitten sports and the highly rated “Kitten Bowl” franchise , announces the network’s latest pet-centric programming buzzer beater , “Meow Madness ,” a Hallmark Channel Original Special Event, will premiere at 8 p.m. ET on April 3 , 2017.
“Meow Madness” features author and animal advocate Beth Stern as host and Peabody Award-winning reporter Mary Carillo as commentator. The special will showcase adoptable kittens in the most competitive tournament the basketball world has ever seen. Hallmark Channel enjoys home court advantage for the inaugural “Meow Madness” special as 100 adorable, adoptable “cat-letes” purr-fect an unstoppable zone defense while taking shots from the “flea throw” zone as each team claw s its way to “The Final Fur.”
“Meow Madness” is produced by 3 Ball Entertainment. Executive Producers are Todd A. Nelson, Ross Weintraub, DJ Nurre and Jeff Altrockm, with Kathy Sutula serving as co-executive producer. 3 Ball Entertainment credits include “Extreme Weight Loss” (ABC), “Bar Rescue” (Spike) and “My Cat From Hell” (Animal Planet), among others.
A new Stuart Cam, an HD Wi-Fi camera inspired by the Stuart character in the “Minions” and “Despicable Me” movies, is now offering pet owners the ability to check on their pets while they’re away and compile the footage into a Pet Highlight Reel.
Developed by Tend and licensed by Universal Brand Development, the Stuart Cam’s Pet Highlight Reel gives pet owners a snapshot of their pet’s day, plus the ability to talk and interact with pets over two-way audio using the Tend app on any iOS or Android mobile device. Users can also adjust the audio to speak in a Minion voice.
A built-in motion sensor triggers Stuart Cam to automatically begin recording when movement is detected, and users can even receive an instant notification via the Tend app when Stuart Cam is triggered, as well as review captured footage and get a live view of what Stuart Cam sees in real time, including at night through night vision. Each camera comes with 24 hours of free secure cloud storage on the Tend platform, allowing users to review recorded footage from any mobile device.
Stuart Cam is sold exclusively at Walmart at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
