Day 7 - Pet Pals 6th Annual 19 Days of Christmas Giveaways

Happy Sunday!!! 

My did we get some fun snow yesterday!!! Pet Pal Keli and Family LOVE the snow!!! 

Here is a picture of our pet kid, Rinzen after having a BLAST playing in the snow this morning! 

Which resulted in him coming inside to warm up and defrost!

Kim Wendt Johnson, you are the WINNER of Day 6 giveaway!! Please email Pet Pals at info@HirePetPals.com. The subject of the email should read, Day 6 Winner! 

Day 7 giveaway was purchased from the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society's Howliday Open House! There is always sooooo many great handmade donated items year after year. We go every year and find things we HAVE to HAVE! All purchases go back to support the animals in their care!  The zipper bag will hold so many different things, perfect size for a purse or pocket. Comes with a matching cat nip toy!!!! 

We purchased  2 extra of these cat nip toys for our kitty cats, Nuba and Puck the Kitty for their Christmas Stocking. Well wouldn't you know, Nuba found his and played with it last night in the overnight hours, he isn't the best in waiting. I told him, "he can finish playing with it after he opens it on Christmas Day!" I guess what I am trying to say, it was a hit in our house and sure think it will be a hit in your home with your kitty kat(s)! 

For your chance to WIN.....Head over to Pet Pals Facebook page, look for the picture below and simply click "like" to be entered. Also, continue to read this blog post for additional entries into the drawing. 

For additional entries into Day 7 giveaway......for every friend you tag in the comments on Pet Pals Facebook page under the Day 7 photo, you will get 1 additional entry for EACH FRIEND TAGGED!!!!

Don't forget to remind yourself of the rules and guidelines for the 

Pet Pals 19 Days of Christmas Giveaways.

Day 14 - Pet Pals 5th Annual 19 Days of Christmas Giveaways

Stacy Sanders - you have WON Day 13 giveaway!!! Please email Pet Pals to claim your item at info@HirePetPals.com. Subject line should read, Day 13 WINNER!

The giveaway item up for grabs is a multipurpose cat theme zipper bag. 
This could be used for soooo many things, the possibilities are endless with the handy size. 
 Pet Pals purchased this from the 
Sioux Falls Area Humane Society Open House this last weekend. 
All of the items purchased at this open house, the funds went back to help the animals in their care!

You can have the chance to win Day 14 giveaway item by going back to Pet Pals Facebook Page and "LIKE" the picture you see below. 

If you are not a current fan of Pet Pals Facebook page, 
please "Like" us! It is a great compliment to us to have you as a fan!

Place your answer in the comments to the below question,

 (on Pet Pals Facebook page), and you will get 3 additional entries!!!

(only the blog post readers will know this extra way of getting additional entries!!) 

*****Day 11 is still open!!! Please go and LIKE Day 11!

By you going back to Pet Pals Facebook Page and clicking "LIKE" on the picture you see below, you, Pet Pals, and Paws and Reflect Pet Grooming will be donating

 1 pound of food and/or litter for 

every like, up to 200 likes, from the 

AniMeals Wish List (also posted below)!!!! 

Here is a larger picture of Day 14 giveaway item!

Reminder:

Day 5 - Pet Pals 5th Annual 19 Days of Christmas Giveaways

Day 5 giveaway is a beautiful, warm, fleece tie blanket Pet Pals purchased from All Cats Rescue. 

The items purchased from All Cats Rescue help the cats in their care.

You can have the chance to win Day 5 giveaway item by going back to Pet Pals Facebook Page and "LIKE" the picture you see below. Put "Meow" in the comments
 (on Pet Pals Facebook page) you will get one additional entry
(only the blog post readers will know this extra way of getting additional entries!!) 
If you are not a current fan of Pet Pals Facebook page, 
please "Like" us! It is a great compliment to us to have you as a fan!

Pet Pals will announce the winner of Day 4 giveaway, later this evening.

 So if you have not entered in Day 4 giveaway, you still have time!!! 

Rule and Guidelines

Benefits of a Pack Walk -

The Story of Sioux Falls Pack Walk

My husband, Kyle, and I adopted Maverick on July 12, 2014 from Rescues Unlimited in Gregory, SD. He was our wedding gift to each other as we both wanted a dog, and he was (almost) perfect.

We quickly found out that we couldn’t take Maverick anywhere with us. He did not know how to walk on a leash, and he was incredibly reactive to dogs and strangers. Desperate to get advice on how to socialize him without any dogs getting hurt, I turned to a trusted Facebook group I had been following.

I had never heard of a pack walk before, but Stacie Hanselman and Michelle Kats kept telling me to trust them and go! Since I had worked on the “heel” command for a few weeks, I thought I could maybe give it a shot – confident I had it under control. I had never been so nervous before in my life! Did they really understand how aggressive my dog was?  

I showed up to the dog park, butterflies in my stomach. I wanted to turn back, but I had already given my word that I’d be there. As soon as I got out of the car, Maverick growled and lunged…just as I had suspected. I tried to calm him down with treats, but he wouldn’t pay attention to me – his focus was on Stacie’s two little lovely (well-behaved) ladies and Michelle’s two laid back foster dogs.

The walk didn’t go much better. Maverick pulled hard the entire way, stressed beyond belief (yes, my biceps looked amazing after the walk!). Stacie and Michelle chatted on the walk about something called a Gentle Leader – I had never heard of this before, but after I saw what it did to other dogs, thought it might be worth a try.

The next pack walk we went on, Maverick wore his Gentle Leader (no more massive biceps for me!) but was still stressed. Every pack walk we went on after that, he steadily got better at socializing with dogs. Even though we never had any direct contact with dogs, he seemed more confident. Maverick would purposely try to walk close to Stacie’s dogs to smell them, and eventually tried to play! Yes, PLAY! I couldn’t believe my eyes! It took several weeks’ worth of walks, but he was finally comfortable around dogs, even to the point of playing with them at the dog park!

Maverick is still working on his manners with other dogs while he is on leash and off, but he is much more confident now, thanks to these pack walks!

Maverick’s story is the reason why we started our Pack Walk group.  A pack walk is a controlled, organized 3 mile dog walk. This aids in socialization for the dog, whether it is a well behaved dog, or a dog with social issues. There is no direct contact between dogs, so it helps the dogs learn to be around each other without reacting in a safe environment. The rules we have established ensures that everyone is respectful of everyone’s dogs and their different needs. We also lend a helping hand when needed, offer advice, and work towards you and your dog’s success.

These walks are more than social events. We are a support system for each other…a team. We do not judge or give rude glares as everyone is working for the same goal: we want you and your dog to be able to enjoy a walk together.

For more information and success stories, please join our Facebook group, Sioux Falls Pack Walk. Questions are always welcomed on our page!

Submitted by: Jessica Henricks

Day 18 - Pet Pals 4th Annual 19 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!!

We hope each and everyone that is reading this blog had a wonderful Sunday as it could be! Knowing that you are reading this blog, makes it a great Sunday for us here at Pet Pals! 

Before we announce today's giveaway item.......

Tomorrow is the final day of the giveaway, which means the grand prize will be announced!!! 

Here are today's giveaway items.

Ann Feerick-Murphy, you have WON Day 16 giveaway item and Donna Gaspar, you have WON Day 17 giveaway item for the Pet Pals 19 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!!! Please email info@hirepetpals.com to claim your prize prior to 12/24/2014.

Day 11 - Pet Pals 4th Annual 19 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!!

The giveaway today, 2 home crafted snowmen ornaments, were purchased from All Cats Rescue. All Cats Rescue makes these and sells them as part of their fund raising efforts. These are absolutely beautiful, really cute, and will look wonderful on any Christmas tree!

Extra BONUS today!!! If Pet Pals Facebook page reaches 1000 likes (that is only 2 more) everyone that enters into the drawing will get an additional entry for Day 10!! We would love for you to share our page with your friends!

This weekend one of the pet pals we cared for was Gaea. Oh this girly has sooooo much love to give!! Much to our surprise, Gaea gave us a Christmas gift. When I (Keli) said, "Thank You" she gave me a BIG smooch and it was caught on camera. Smooches are always gladly accepted, from the pet pals that is! How does your pet kid say Thank You? Remember, your answer to the question will get you 3 additional entries into the drawing!!! Did I mention, these snowmen ornaments are realllllly cute?!

Here are the Guidelines: 

Have you considered looking into a rescue?

Pet Pals understands the time rescues have devoted to care for each and every animal that comes into their rescue, countless hours volunteered, and Pet Pals wants to help get the word out. Pet Pals sent out emails to many rescue organizations in and around the Sioux Falls area, and also to a couple of rescues that service the needs in other parts of South Dakota. Pet Pals asked the following questions:

·         Name of your rescue.

·         How does someone adopt from your rescue?

·         What kind of pets do you rescue?

·         Where is your rescue based out of?

·         How many animals come into your care on a monthly basis?

·         How are you funded?

·         What items are needed on a regular basis?

·         How can a person contact you? (email address, phone number, physical address, website address)

·         What is one thing the public does not know about your rescue?

Through out the next couple of weeks, Pet Pals will blog their responses. There are sooooo many pet kids looking and begging for their furever home. If it was not for each and every one of these rescues and the people within these rescues, there would truly be no place to go for these animals. Pet Pals wants to take this moment and THANK each and every person who have and are currently volunteering, donating, and giving their love. You are a true blessing.

If your family is looking for that special addition, what to volunteer, or donate items or monetary funds -  have you considered looking into a rescue?