Thank you, Google for helping us find 4 Paws for Ability

Wow. The internet is really an amazing source of information. Have you ever found yourself searching for something specific and then finding yourself completely engulfed in something other than what you typed in the google search box? Well, that's how we found an organization called 4 Paws for Ability. Sometime last year we started our line of dog collars to support awareness of autism, as you know we currently donate 15% of the proceeds to the Autism Society of America. For some time, I have wanted Feline Fido to form a relationship with an organization (supporting autism) that would be a little more intimate. By "intimate, I basically mean, that I'd like to have a contact at that organization, I'd like to have more insight as to their specific goals and for us to feel like we are helping support a team effort. So, as stated before, I did my google search...after clicking on a link, that took me to another link, which took me to another..(you get the idea) I found my way to 4 Paws for Ability. I am so glad.

Their mission is to:
"Our mission at 4 Paws for Ability is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by training and placing service animals to provide them with companionship and promote independent living. We specialize in placements with people who are turned away by many other agencies."

There are other organizations that place service dogs, but here are a few things about 4 Paws for Ability that we really find unique:
--ONE (of many) of the areas that 4 Paws for Ability specializes in, is placing service dogs in homes of autistic children
--They don't focus on any specific region, they offer placement of dogs nationally.
--They do not have any age restrictions.
--You are NOT required to give up your family pet in order to qualify for a service dog. (Many other organizations require the service dog to be in the ONLY pet and/or dog in the household)
--The also adopt and train many RESCUE dogs to become service dogs. (Yippee, did someone say rescue dog?)

Karen Shirk, founder of 4 Paws for Ability, has to be one of the most inspiring people I've personally come across. She started this organization after her own challenge in finding a service dog. She was turned down by every agency she contacted. Still seeking the companionship of a dog, she brought Ben into her life. A very special dog that Karen says, saved her life on more than one occasion. After training Ben herself and realizing the loyalty he had for Karen, she began to train service dogs that were provided to those who may not otherwise qualify for one through other organizations. Watch the videos on Ben's page - it will definitely be the best 15 minutes you've spent this week. I can guarantee you that.

I think you get the idea...this organization is truly spectacular. And, since they work on placing service DOGS - to those with AUTISM - and we craft DOG collars to promote awareness for AUTISM...you can bank on some upcoming announcements about the restructuring of our autism awareness collar proceeds donations...

Skull & Crossbones Dog Collars & Cat Collars

We all know the skull & crossbones is a hot thing in fashion right now and we've started adding to our our collection of skull & crossbones dog & cat collars. Skulls don't have to be just for boys, we have pink skulls, too - and for the girliest pooches, check our our girlie skull dog collar. This one is adorned with hearts and the skull is wearing pink bows! Feline Fido carries a large line of computer engraved pet id tags, including the skull & crossbones tags! Be sure to stop by if you looking for some punked out gear for feline or fido!

The 'cool factor' of barcode recycling...

By recommendation of a close friend who raved about how I must, must have a Nahui Ollin bag, I ordered a "Moonlight Barcodes Candy Wrapper Clutch" from Save the World Designs. I must admit, I was skeptical at first...a bag made out of candy wrappers? I just don't know. And, what did you say the name of these bags were? Nah-wa-what? After a quick google search I learned that Nahau Ollin is pronounced (Now-we-oh-lean). Okay, I was intrigued....

I also learned that every one of these candy wrapper purses is made from factory rejected candy bar wrappers that have never been used and would have otherwise ended up in landfill poluting the earth even more. Each bag uses up to 4,000 candywrappers and some take up to FOUR DAYS to make. What a fab way of recycling!!

After sifting through several photos of the different candy wrapper bags, I settled on the idea of the nifty looking barcode wristlet. I am forever darting out the door with my coach wristlet dangling from my left arm, so it was a sensible choice. Did I mention, I have also had a tiny obsession with barcodes since childhood? Maybe it was due to my infatuation with playing "store".

So just a few hours after my friend shared this interesting tidbit with me about these fascinating candy wrapper purses, I took the plunge and ordered one from Savetheworlddesigns.com. Boy am I glad I did! I'm not sure if I should rave more about the bag by Nahui Ollin, or the personalized service from Karen at Save the World Designs. Both are amazing. Only two days after clicking the 'send my order button' I came home to find a package sitting on my doorstep.


Being a self-proclaimed purse-a-holic, with a closet full of designer bags from floor to ceiling, I was truly amazed at what was inside this package. The craftsmanship is superb...the design is genious and this thing puts my dinky coach wristlet to shame. As excited as I was, I couldn't wait to email the company and tell them how pleased I was. As a small business owner myself, I know first hand how much I appreciate every email compliment from my customers!

Well, to ice the cake, I got a quick, personable reply from Karen. What a nice gal! If any of you are as intrigued as I was about these hot new eco-friendly candy wrapper purses, definitely head over to Save the World Designs, they have a great selection, awesome service and their prices were lower than many of the other sites selling the same exact products!

Now excuse me while I go save the world, one candy wrapper purse at a time!

2008 rings in lots o' new Feline Fido pet products!

Wow, we have been super busy. We've crafted quite the selection of Valentine's Day and St. Patty's Day collars and leashes! Be on the look out for our irish dog collars in the next issue of Dog Fancy Magazine! We've also been having a 'whale of a time' whipping up some new preppy novelty style dog collars. We just added some preppy alligator, whales and martini dog collars to the store!

New Camera...

One of our favorite christmas presents this year was a Nikon D40 Digital SLR. WOAH! I've been eyeing this beauty for a long time. The D40X is out already, but the main difference is just a higher megapixel, and I'm not printing posters, so I think we'll be in good shape!

Keep an eye out for some updated product photos throught the website and some nature shots that we will sporadically post...These days...we aren't going anywhere without our camera!

Celebrate the Holidays with Christmas Dog Collars & Christmas Cat Collars

Boy oh Boy have the last few weeks been busy ones. I have added an extensive line of christmas dog collars and christmas cat collars, many of the christmas dog collars are available with matching leashes - just check in the individual product description. This year I have added dog collars for Chanukah featuring dreidels and menorahs! We've added snowman collars, snowflake collars, holiday plaid collars, reindeer collars, festive argyle collars, christmas lights collars, gingerbread man collars and even the ever so popular skull & crossbones design...though Mr. Skull is sporting a Santa hat for the holidays (super cute!).

We're already coming up with new designs for the the spring season and we will be slowly adding several martingale/greyhound style collars to the site as well. If that's your prefence, please let us know, we can make almost any of our collars in in a martingale style. We just haven't had much time for making samples and taking photos for the website.

Happy Holidays to all the people and paws in your life!

Our own custom design with an important message...Save Lives, Spay & Neuter Pet Collars

We are excited to announce that our long awaited Spay & Neuter dog & cat collars are now available. We firmly believe in spaying and neutering all pets and hope that our customers will help promote this important message by allowing their pets to proudly wear one of our exclusively designed “Save Lives, Spay & Neuter” dog and cat collars. Staggering numbers of pets lose their lives in the streets or due to lack of space in overcrowded shelters. This can be prevented if the general public would spay and neuter our pets. It’s also very important to make sure your pets wear a form of identification at all times, whether this be by wearing an engraved pet id tag on their collars, or by microchip. Though, even micro-chipped pets should have visible identification displayed in the event they do escape from home and someone finds them in the street, it will be much easier and faster for them to locate you.Feline Fido has volunteered at various shelters and rescue groups, fosters abandoned animals and donates a portion of our profits to many organizations and charities including (but not limited to) Susan G. Komen for the Cure (including local affiliates and fundraising efforts) and the Autism Society of America. We also donate our unique products to various animal rescue groups for to be worn by adoptable animals or sold in charity auctions and raffles, to raise money for dog & cat rescue organizations. We will continue this tradition by starting a new donation program with our "Save Lives, Spay & Neuter" collar collection. Each month we will choose a rescue and/or shelter to be the recipient of the donation proceeds from the Feline Fido spay and neuter products. We will donate 15% of the net proceeds from each S&N dog or cat collar to the select rescue group of the month. So, spread the word if your group has been selected as the designated rescue of the month, or just because you want to promote the importance of spaying & neutering!


RESCUE OF THE MONTH DONATION WINNERS:
November 2007: Bide-a-wee, NY
December 2007: Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Birmingham, AL and Chow Chow Rescue of Northern California, a.k.a. NorCal Chow Rescue