Call of the day...

I know that you won't even believe this but here it goes.

"I have a couple of questions." the caller alerts me, "Do you have time?"

"OK." I say. "I have a little."

"Do you have any dry shampoos for dogs?" she asks.

"No," I say, "but we have mousse and wipes and things like that. What kind of dog do you have?"

"Well, my dog is actually no longer alive. I had it freeze dried and keep it in the house, and with the holidays, I feel like it needs to be cleaned up, you know, for guests."

"I understand." I say.

Holiday Photo Shoot Update

OK Kids, the Holiday Pet Photo shoot is REALLY filling up fast. We only have a couple of slots left open because lots of people have opted to sign up for the event early.

We will be extending our hours that day to accommodate as many photo seekers as we can but please do call us at 617.323.7387 if you want to be sure to get in.

Pet Photos

We had some really great photo results from our "Howl-O-Ween Pet Photo Day". Pooches, kitties, and humans showed up and walked away with dandy, fun shots.

Here's a few for you to take a gander at:



Our Christmas Pet Photo Event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 23rd at the store.
It will again be a first come, first served type of event and judging from the Howl-O-Ween shoot, we do expect it to be well attended. We'll let you know more details as we get them.

I'm wondering...

Yesterday's, "do you sell" phone call question was "Do you sell ants?"

"Ants?" I say, "Why, no...you can get them outside..."

"Oh." came the reply and a polite "Thank you" followed.

Piranhas, ants...am I missing some sort of marketing opportunity here??

Howloween Photo Shoot

Our annual Howloween Photo shoot is going to be Sunday, October 26th at the store.

It'll be first come, first served this year though we are accepting early sign ups.

We will get back to you all with more details as soon as we have them.

Poodle Rescue Alert!

OK kids, let's think about how we can help the people over at Flora's Pet Project in Connecticut.
Our pal Daryl just let us know about a seizure they did of over twenty poodles from a neglectful
"breeder". This person kept far too many dogs to care for them and when they seized they were in deplorable condition - matted, smelly, thin, and scared.

The volunteers of Flora's cleaned them up and are providing veterinary care to them now. They range in age from a few months old to three years old.

Daryl tells us that they are a terrifically sweet group of dogs though none of them is sure about how to live in the real world. They are looking for experienced adopters to provide training and social skills to these wonderful little pooches. They will be great pals to someone.

Just to let you know...

that someone just called and asked if we sold Piranhas.

We don't.

I thought you would like to know.

Please welcome...

Mr. Giacomo Gigio, our new store kitty.

Mr. Giacomo comes to us from the Boston MSPCA and is the long lost son
of our late, beloved Topo Gigio, (so we imagine).
You will probably see him hanging out in the window or running around
the store introducing himself.
Please make yourself known to him. He is new in town.

Greg Tilford Lecture- Herbs and Natural Supplements for Dogs & Cats

It is with great pleasure that we once again announce a lecture by herbalist Greg Tilford. Greg is also an author and co-owner of Animals Essentials, a line of herbal and nutritional supplements that we carry at The Pet Cabaret.

The lecture is entitled "Herbs and Natural Supplements

for

Dogs & Cats".
The presentation is designed to identify and explore the true dietary and supplemental requirements of dogs and cats, viewed from a holistic perspective. This knowledge will help take attendees into deeper, more loving and caring relationships with their companion animals.

THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE

ON: SEPT, 19, 2008 at 7:00PM
AT: THE PET CABARET
4404 WASHINGTON STREET
ROSLINDALE, MA
617-323-7387

Pre-registration for this event is necessary. Really...space is limited.

Greg is rarely in the Boston area so this is a really great opportunity to hear a well-known expert on herbal medicine and supplementation for animals.

Greg with students on an herbal walk
from a June 2008 seminar in Montana

Annie!

So the auditions for the part of Sandy the dog in the Footlight Club version of Annie went very well. We had a beautiful day and everyone was nicely behaved. No fights broke out even when participants were being pelted with tennis balls. The show, did indeed go on.

Here's a picture of the finalists. Good luck to them all!

Off Leash Dog Parks

We get a lot of inquiries regarding off leash dog parks in our area...you know...Roslindale, JP, Brookline, Dedham...

Now we all know that we don't really have any to speak of around here since the powers that be in the city have not seen fit to convey that honor upon us and our pooches, but we do know some exist.

So my question to you all is where are they all and where are your favorites?

Let us know where the pooch packs are playing.

Thanks!

Exciting News!

Hi Kids!

Just got word that Greg Tilford - herbalist supreme - will be gracing us with an hour long lecture about the use of herbal remedies in animals on Friday evening, September 19, 2008.
We have not yet confirmed the exact hour but we'll get back to you on that... I really did just find out.

Greg is the owner and formulator of the Animal Essentials line of remedies that we sell at The Pet Cabaret. Those of you who have used these formulas can attest to their gentleness and effectiveness. They really are just great.

This is going to be a wonderful opportunity to hear Greg speak and ask him a question or two.

We are very excited about Greg coming to our store and urge you all to sign up for this lecture as soon as we get back.

The Road Trip continues...

Da Falls








These shadowy characters have been following us everywhere.









Looks relaxing doesn't it?

The Road Trip Begins!

All right kids, here's what's going on...I have been meticulously photo documenting our road trip for your viewing pleasure but for some reason cannot upload the photos to the site yet. I will keep trying.

In the meantime I will say that going to Niagra Falls seemed like a good idea at the time. Obviously, it seemed like a good idea to about a million other tourists as well.

So there we all were...in Niagra Falls...slowly we turned...inch by inch, step by step.

But it turned out to be very fun as well. We took the Maid of the Mist boat ride and had a swingingly good time on it. We all looked marvelous in our blue plastic ponchos.

We ate at Wolfgang Putz's place, didn't really work out like we planned.

We walked around in a dazed and confused state for the remainder of the evening after getting completely over-stimulated in a casino.

So now, here we are in Michigan drinking wine and swearing at the computer. Not different from most evenings.

We'll get back to you soon with photos.

The Road Trip Begins!

Leaving Roslindale...

• First stop for the hardy travelers...Dedham

Oooo...yummy...










Why is the cup so big??
Why is my head so small??

Gigi, One Happy Customer

No chihuahuas were harmed during the making of this video.

But the ducky didn't make out so well.

Panda's Latest Work

Panda just wanted to show you the new shrine she just built in the backyard. 

She did all the work herself.

Now here she is contemplating things.

She hopes that you like everything.

Second Day Activities

Banged a right at the "Gas and Grub" to make my way to the Carriage House for day two of our herbal conference. Like the previous day  another flood of information was unleashed onto our heads. Another great learning day. We talked about formulating herbal remedies and how to address pest/parasite issues in a more holistic way. We talked a lot about changing the way in which we view health and healing - about taking a real, whole view of all the beings involved.

I've gotta tell you kids, the once a month flea and tick insecticides are SO NOT OK for your pet, you, or the environment. PLEASE, PLEASE THINK ABOUT THEM BEFORE YOU USE THEM. They are not good things.

Lots of stuff to talk you all about when I get back
when I can once again form coherent sentences.

Took a break today and made our way to the Farmer's Market in downtown Hamilton. It was very cool and I was happy to locate an Emu farm from which we can source fresh Emu oil. This is great stuff, this Emu oil goo. It's been used for many years as a skin healing treatment and as a pain reliever for joint and muscle disorders. The question is, do Emu run in packs? Herds? Flocks? Gaggles? Gangs? I'll look into it.

Notes and Observations:

I feel utterly compelled to drive fast and turn up the radio here. Don't tell the other Lisa.

Favorite sign of the day.

Day One of the Herbal Seminar

So today was the first day of the Animal Essentials Herbal Seminar here in Hamilton, Montana. 

Not only is the seminar being taught by talented herbalist Greg Tilford, but it is being attended by a wonderful group as well including holistic vets, two women from pet food manufacturer "The Honest Kitchen", Stacy LaPoint, the owner of Companion Natural Pet Food Company (whose foods we carry), the staff of Animal Essentials, and owners of other retail stores similar to The Pet Cabaret.

We talked a great deal about how to best encourage the body to heal itself, how to support it through the use of supportive herbs and a nutritious, quality diet. We talked about chronic diseases, acute conditions, active ingredients in herbs, determining herbal dosing and LOTS of other subjects. In short, it was a day full of learning (and great food as well). Tomorrow we'll 

cover some more cool subjects and my tiny brain may just explode. 

                                                         

I took a walk through downtown Hamilton after the seminar. 

                                                                     

 Came across this tank that I thought you should see.

More Notes and Observations:

It's definitely odd to see mountains, real mountains everywhere. We are in a valley here 

so every time I look around, mountains to the left, mountains to the right.

I now know where to get a set of spurs.

Who knew there were casinos out here?

Most of America drives large pick up trucks.

Go West!

06/12/08

So I am traveling to Montana for the first time ever. I am going to a seminar entitled “Western Herbal Medicine in Veterinary Use”. It’s being hosted by Animal Essentials, one of our favorite remedy suppliers in the store. I hope to come home with lots of good new knowledge so that we can work on keeping our pets healthier in a gentler, more natural way.

I don’t travel much so I am that combination of nervous and excited, sort of feeling free and unmoored at the same time.

I have gotten into the habit, for better or for worse, of abdicating responsibility for certain things because B Looey takes care of them. Little detail things…like, do I have a watch? Do I have Kleenex? What time is the flight? What airline? Do I have “weapons” in my pockets? I forget to think about these things, until I have to remember them.

Today I had to remember them. I am doing OK…not great with the details. I left my “Juice” in my checked luggage. Good. I forgot my watch. Not so good. I remembered my glasses. Score! I forgot Kleenex. There are paper towels in the restrooms. I did not check for changes in my flight. There was one. It will take a while for me to adjust to thinking for myself.

Travel notes…

Travel is not as much fun as it used to be.

The space, or lack thereof, on planes is enough to keep me on a diet for the rest of my life. The aisles are not even wide enough to fit their own equipment. I was roused from my Dramamine induced stupor when my shoulder took a massive hit from the beverage cart as the flight attendant attempted to maneuver it through the plane. The abuse did not end there. My shoulder apparently had a bulls-eye printed on it as visitors to the rear of the plane pretty much just took part of my arm with them coming and going.

There is a very talkative 3 or 4 year old sitting behind me who is not using her “inside voice” and a wildly precocious 9 or 10 year old sitting in front of me. They are vying for the title of “most annoying”. Both sets of parents have apparently just given up.


Notes and Observations thus far:
I think that the Missoula runway must be pretty short because the pilot pretty much popped a wheelie while landing the plane. Since I am writing this from the beauty of my Super 8 motel room in Hamilton, MT, I am assuming he knew what he was doing.

You don’t see as many cowboy hats in Boston as you do in Montana or on the way there.

Consume a LOTTA meat out here.