We hope that you will be as excited as we are. Our new website is a true labor of love for all of our loyal clients and pets. It was designed with a fresh new look, a little humor, and to be much more user friendly than our current site. The most current information on our training classes and special events will always be available to you as well as a listing of all of the services that we provide at Central Pet. We hope that you will visit it often and enjoy our every changing photo gallery.

Julie Grounds
Owner

MORE NEW THINGS AT CENTRAL PET!

If you have not been by Central Pet lately, you need to stop by and see our artificial turf in the daycare yards. It looks great and the daycare dogs love it! Julie is constantly working on bettering our facility and in the past few months has not only added turf, but covered some outdoor runs (to secure any fence climbers), added cement around our perimeter for extra security and improved our daycare pond.

We are now offering an organic spa upgrade for our bathing/grooming clients and it has been well received. We are always on the lookout for the best and newest retail products for you and recently came across grain-free biscuits in bulk. My own crew (3 dogs, 2 cats) all love the grain free salmon biscuits!

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Nicol, will be holding vaccine clinics at Central Pet each 2nd Wednesday of the month from 2pm-5pm.Call us at 520-398-8661 to schedule an appointment.

And last but not least, I finally am holding an off leash class for those that have some solid basic obedience under their belt!

We hope you come visit soon and check out the latest happenings at Central Pet!

We welcome any comments and suggestions from you, our clients. Please feel free to contact us at info@centralpetaz.com. We would love to hear from you.

Jill Cruz
Trainer

ZUKES “KEEP HOPE ALIVE” CAMPAIGN

Since 2008, Zuke’s has been committed to helping combat canine and feline cancer. They have now helped over 60 individual pets and their families in the fight against cancer and have donated over $40,000.00 in 2010 along with raising an additional $15,000.00 through the campaign called Keep Hope Alive.

If your pet has not tried our Zuke treats then now is the time! For every Jerky Natural 2-Pack sold, 25% of the sales will go to the fund to help families that can’t afford life saving cancer treatments for their pets.For every UPC that is mailed in by either you or our staff an additional 50 cents will be donated to this cause.This can be from any Zuke’s product.

The products are amazing!No wheat, corn, soy, artificial colors, added fat or any by-products.They are also 100% made in the USA.

HIP ACTION Treats have added Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help maintain joint function and keep your pup happy and healthy. They come in a beef, chicken, or peanut butter flavor.

POWER BONES are energy treats for active dogs.These come in chicken, beef, or peanut butter but are also packed with fresh sweet potatoes, beets, apples, and carrots.Dogs, like people, can run out of energy. These are packed with a variety of carbohydrates and a high quality protein to keep them going during training, hiking, or just playing hard.

MINI NATURALS are some of our best sellers.Jill and Paul love them for training because they are the perfect size for a quick moist treat.These too, come in great flavors, chicken, salmon, and peanut butter.The small pups do great with them because they are tiny in size and low in calories.

Z RIDGE edible dental chew bones are a must. These bones are designed to clean and freshen breath the natural way. They are made with potato, alfalfa, clove, nutmeg, parsley and fennel.The potato based chew helps maintain dental hygiene by scraping and polishing your dog’s teeth the natural way without using wheat, corn, or any synthetic material.

PURRZ we can’t forget our feline friends.Zuke makes the same great treats but designed for our cats. Moist treats in both salmon and chicken.

Please stop in and try some of these special treats for your pets while helping a great cause KEEP HOPE ALIVE! You can also log on to www.zukes.com for a $1.00 off coupon for any of these products.

I hope your pets enjoy them as much as mine do!

Julie Grounds
Owner

VALLEY VERDE VETERINARY CLINIC OPENS SOON!

Central Pet is pleased to announce our new partnership with Valley Verde Veterinarians! Together, we will be holding a low cost vaccine clinic on the second Wednesday of the month, from 2pm-5pm at Central Pet. We wish our new friends much success as they join our wonderful animal loving community here in Southern AZ. They were kind enough to submit the following introduction for our clients:

Valley Verde Veterinarians is a full service veterinary clinic currently under construction in Green Valley, scheduled to open in late May/early June 2011. The clinic is conveniently located at Suite #42 in the Green Valley Village, previously the home of Green Valley News. The goal of Valley Verde Veterinarians is to provide quality, yet affordable healthcare for furry family members in a comfortable, professional setting. The practice will be served by a team of caring professionals who understand the special needs of clients and pets in a retirement community, including the founders: Dr. Jan Nichol, Director, and Tami Young, Certified Veterinary Technician and Hospital Manager.

Dr. Jan Nicol is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 1983. She started her career as a veterinary assistance while in high school in New Jersey. While earning a Master’s of Science at Rutgers University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, Dr. Nicol worked in both small and large animal emergency facilities. Besides private practice, she was part of the Merck AgVet Technical Services team that introduced the first monthly heartworm preventative around the country in the late 1980′s and joined the Merck Research Laboratories working in clinical trials and registration for New Animal Drugs in Canada and Europe. Moving around the country, Dr. Nicol has enjoyed small animal practice in NJ, PA and AZ and now lives full time in Green Valley with her husband, Ralph and a pack of rescue Corgis. In January, she joined the ranks of many Green Valley residents by welcoming a grandson into the family “pack” that resides in Maine. When not working at the clinic, you may find Dr. Nicol in Madera Canyon find watching, or just walking outside with the dogs, enjoying life in the southwest.

Tammy Young, CVT was born and raised in Maine, attending Searsport High School and the University of Main where she earned her Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology. She worked as a licensed veterinary technician for both large and small animals in Main for 10 years before relocating to Arizona in 1999. Tami and Dr. Nicol met in Tucson in 1999 and enjoyed working together in small animal practices in both Tucson and Green Valley before deciding that they would open a small, family oriented practice in the Green Valley Village. When not working with patients and clients, Tami finds time to share her home with her husband, Michael, twin girls Brianna and Hannah and son, Tyler….plus 4 horses, 3 dogs and one cat!

Joining the practice after years of working with both Dr. Nicol and Tami, is Shelly Capps, Head Receptionist. Shelly has worked as a veterinary receptionist for over 11 years, meeting and greeting new clients from California to Arizona. Always wearing a smile, Shelly makes everyone’s visit as pleasant as possible even in the most stressful situations. After moving from the Phoenix area in 2001, Shelly now enjoys living in Tubac with her furry son, Rubicon, and husband, Dan, who also works in the Animal Health Industry.

You can find Valley Verde Veterinarians easily by going to the rear door of Ace Hardware in Green Valley Village and looking to the far right corner of the parking lot. This clinic front door is off the parking lot near Camilot Flowers and the park area. Parking spaces will be available in front of the suite, which will also have a ramp entry. Area residents and furry family members are invited to stop by and say hello when the practice opens for business. Tell Shelly that you want to enter the clinic drawing for a pet gift basket and she will show you how to enter the monthly free drawing!

Valley Verde Veterinarians may be reached at: 520-393-PETS (7387).

MEET AUSTEN – CENTRAL PET’S PET OF THE MONTH

Austen, a Beagle/Spaniel mix, has been a doggie daycare regular for a while now! He is with us Monday through Friday and helps run our small dog daycare program with his friend, Nico (also pictured here).

His new favorite activity is to explore the new turf in our daycare yard. His mom, Marianne, rescued him from a Virginia shelter in 2003 and says he was shy and timid (which is hard to believe, considering he walks in like he owns the place!).

A sweet soul, not only does he love other dogs, but has had several cat siblings as well…which leads us to his quirk: treating the litter box like a doggie buffet when given the chance. Needless to say, Marianne does not give him any chances these days!

We’ll see you on Monday, Austen!

LATEST NEWS FROM PAUL BLAUSHILD, DIRECTOR OF TRAINING

I’ve just returned from a 3 day conference in San Diego for the IACP.  (International Association of Canine Professionals)  There were hundreds of trainers in attendance, all exchanging ideas, methods and experiences, as well as going to seminars.The information I gathered about service dogs, training equipment and nutrition will be beneficial to all of our clients at Central Pet.

I look forward to applying  what Ihave learned!

Every Saturday morning, starting April 16 from 8am- 10am, you can listen and call into the Radio Pet Vet on 104.1 FM. Iwill be available to answer any training or behavior questions for you!

Dr. Randy Aronson was kind enough to invite me to be a weekly contributor to his show. Call 520-751-1041 to ask your questions; I would love to hear from you!

And lastly,I will now be holding Agility Class in the evenings. (Dates to be announced) With the warmer weather approaching, an evening class is just what you and your pup need to get out and about for some fun and exercise!

Call 520-398-8661 for more information and to register.

CLIENT FEEDBACK

Our dogs, Baxter and Murphy, stayed at Central Pet (boarding overnight and daycare) many times while we were in Green Valley during February and March.

It was a great experience for them and for us. They had the opportunity to play with other dogs and we were able to visit around the area without keeping them confined in their crates in the house.

We also had them groomed once and your groomer did a better job then the groomer we use here at home (central Oregon)!

Your facility is wonderful and every staff member we dealt with was great. Its obvious that everyone there loves animals and understands how special our dogs are to us.

Thank you.

Sam and Donna

At Central Pet we value all of your comments and welcome any ideas or suggestions that would help to make your pet’s experience here more enjoyable.

PET ADOPTION

GOOD NEWS! Lola was adopted!

Now we look want to find a good home for our Animal League dog, Dutch.

Dutch is  a Boxer  Terrier mix we are fostering and training for The Animal League of Green Valley ( www.talgv.org).

Please feel free to contact Jill Cruz at 520-398-8661 or on her cell at 832-216-5875 if you are interested in meeting (and possibly adopting)
this handsome boy!

CENTRAL PET’S PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

Henny the agility chicken!  Henny has won a  $20 Central Pet Gift Certificate!  Submit your photos to info@centralpetaz.com for a chance to win in an upcoming newsletter!

By: Jill Cruz, Certified Dog Trainer

The toy I recommend the most to clients is the original Kong. It’s a hard rubber, beehive shaped toy, food dispenser and baby sitter all in one!

I like the sturdiness of the Kong. It can be chewed, thrown, buried and with most dogs, it is no worse for the wear. Some dogs love how it bounces; due to it’s odd shape, it has an unpredictably lopsided bounce which is fun to chase.

I often refer to the Kong as a baby sitter because you can fill it with peanut butter and other treats and let your dog take minutes (or sometimes hours) to get the goodies out. In the summer, you can freeze a little broth or yogurt in a Kong and your pup has a homemade pupsicle! You can also melt cheese in it, throw in some biscuits or kibble and let the cheese harden. I’m very mean and make it difficult for my dogs to get goodies out! But remember, the longer it takes them, the longer they are occupied (and not bored or being destructive).

The best thing about the Kong is that it is dishwasher safe. What more could you want from a toy? By the way, we are having a one day only sale on Saturday, February 26…all retail items, including Kongs will be 20% off!!!

Meet Nico – Central Pet’s Pet of the Month

Nico is a longtime daycare, grooming and boarding client of ours who is one day hoping for a doggie sibling.He is one of the most social pups in daycare and because of his wonderful disposition, he has helped new daycare dogs integrate into the pack.If a dog does not like Nico, then he is probably not going to get along with any of the dogs!

When not at Central Pet playing with his BFFs Austen, Maurice and Muffin, he can be found cuddling with his mom and dad, eating rice (his favorite treat- no kidding) and also running around like a rabbit. When asked about Nico’s quirks, his mom, Nancy says he likes to eat dust bunnies…not so bad when there are worse things dogs have been known to eat!

Caring for Special Needs Animals

Precious helping Emily at the front desk.

We love all animals and pride ourselves on the extra attention we give to those that really need it.We can tailor daycare or boarding to fit your pet’s needs. For instance,we have an older Maltese named Precious that does doggie daycare with us, which for her, means she gets to stay at the front desk and gets plenty of attention all day. There is no way would we put her in group play…she’s too dignified to romp with pups or fetch toys!She deserves a quiet, peaceful day of spoiling.

Our groomers, Rebecca and Ashanta, are also very good with special needs pets. While some aspects of grooming are inherently stressful (like that darn dryer), both ladies do their best to keep stress at a minimum at all times. Just speak to them at check-in if your furkid is one that needs extra attention.

As a boarding facility, we get our fair share of special needs pets. We have had to administer pills, apply ointments, etc. Please know that we are not veterinarians or vet techs, but most of us at Central Pet have had pets all our lives and have taken professional classes on pet care. We can reasonably accommodate most clients and if we cannot, we will definitely let you know.Please feel free to call us to discuss your particular situation.

Jill Cruz

Rattlesnake Avoidance Training

We all know not all snakes are as harmless as the garter snakes we kept as pets when we were children. If your dog were to unfortunately make contact with a poisonous snake, they could become one of the 15,000 pets bitten each year.

Everyone knows that dogs love to explore. With the warm spring/summer months approaching, it is important to take preventative steps in order to reduce the chance of your dog having a hazardous encounter with a poisonous snake.

Luckily, rattlesnake avoidance training classes have become increasingly available to pet owners and have been proven to be an extremely effective method in teaching your dog to avoid snakes.

Central Pet will be scheduling many snake avoidance classes throughout this upcoming spring and summer months. Our next avoidance training is March 12 at 9am. Call us at 398-8661 to register.

UPCOMING CLASSES

SNAKE AVOIDANCE
MARCH 12, 2011
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

OFF LEASH OBEDIENCE CLASS*
(Requires Instructor approval prior to first class)
MARCH 26, 2011
Saturday 9:00 am

BASIC OBEDIENCE*
APRIL 2, 2011
Saturday 10:30 am

GOOD CANINE CITIZEN*
APRIL 2, 2011
Saturday 12:00 pm

CLASSES COMING SOON….

AGILITY TRAINING*
(Schedule TBD)

*All classes listed above are approximately 1 hour long and meet weekly for 5 weeks*

For information on future classes, please contact Paul Blaushild 520-398-8661
paul@centralpetaz.com.

For More Information on Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog classes please contact Jill Cruz 520-398-8661 jill@centralpetaz.com.