volume 22     December 2006  

Welcome
Our newest edition comes just in time for the Holiday Season to keep you abreast of what's cookin' at the Honest Kitchen. Check out our special on Sparkle as our gift to you and your furry friend. There are going to be a lot of exciting new things happening in 2007, so keep your eyes peeled for the next newsletter. In the meantime, check out our blog!
  • December's Charity
  • Out and About
  • Clean Ears Sparkle
  • What's Fresh
  • Kindred Spirits
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    The Healing Presence of Animals

    HVHS Visiting Pets
    Our chosen charity for this month is the Hudson Valley Humane Society Visiting Pet Program, headquartered in Valley Cottage, New York. Since 1993, HVHS Visiting Pet Program volunteers and their calm, friendly dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits have been visiting hospitals, schools, libraries, nursing homes, adult day programs, a juvenile detention facility, psychiatric facilities, senior centers, and other institutions in Rockland County, NY, Bergen County, NJ, and Orange County, NY. Their companionship brings smiles, laughter, and happiness to all.

    HVHS Visiting Pets is an affiliate of the Delta Society Pet Partners program www.deltasociety.org, an international organization that provides training, screening, and liability insurance for those who participate in Animal Assisted Therapy. It is also an associate R.E.A.D. program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs, www.therapyanimals.org), an exciting literacy program in which children in schools and libraries read out loud to dogs. As a result, their reading comprehension and interest in books increases.

    As HVHS Visiting Pets Program director Dolores Schaub explains, "The demand for visits from trained therapy animals far exceeds the supply. We are delighted to be the Honest Kitchen's charity of the month, and we plan to use the donation for our recruiting drive. Recruiting new members will help us move facilities from our waiting list to our calendar of monthly visits. Animal Assisted Therapy is one of America's fastest growing volunteer activities. We encourage everyone who has an affectionate pet to participate, and those who don't have pets but enjoy animals can volunteer as escorts on visits."

    Holistic pet health writer CJ Puotinen, author of The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care and a contributor to The Whole Dog Journal, is the program's coordinator. She and her first therapy dog, Samantha, made 500 visits as members of the HVHS Visiting Pet Program. Her current Pet Partner, Chloe, now 3 years old and also a black Lab, enjoys visiting the same facilities, especially a locked psychiatric hospital ward and a day program for developmentally disabled adults.

    Throughout the next month, a portion of the profits from sales of all double packs will be donated to HVHS.
    Additional donations supporting the Visiting Pet Program can be made directly to HVHS Visiting Pets, Tolstoy Foundation, 104 Lake Road, Valley Cottage NY 10989.
    For more information, visit the Hudson Valley Humane Society Visiting Pet Program's website, www.HudsonValleyVisitingPets.com, or email HVHSVisitingPets@aol.com


    Events

    We were excited to participate in two holistic veterinarian attended events this month. The American Holistic Veterinary Association www.ahvma.org conference in Monterey, CA took place on November 3rd to 5th and the American Chiropractic Veterinary Association www.animalchiropractic.org conference was November 11th to 14th in Scottsdale, AZ.
    We thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many wonderful veterinarians and discussing the health benefits of our diets as part of a holistic approach to total health.

    Coming soon, our newly designed Holistic Directory will feature listings of veterinarians, animal chiropractors, massage therapists, communicators, breeders and other professionals who contribute to the health & wellbeing of the animals we love.

    SPECIAL! Free Sparkle for Everyone!
    As a special celebration this month, we are offering a complimentary jar of Sparkle (a $14 value) on every order with a dollar value of $30 or more.

    To receive your free jar, simply add Sparkle to your cart and then enter the following coupon code FRSPK1106 in the designated area of the web site checkout page. This will magically make your Sparkle, free! This offer will expire on December 20th 2006.


    Ear's Something to Think About

    Many dogs are prone to problematic ears. Certain breeds with ears that hang down can be pre-disposed to infections and yeast, and those who swim can be plagued with ear troubles, too. Parasites can also invade the ear canal. Chronic and persistent ear ailments that do not clear up using simple measures, require veterinary attention. Contact your holistic vet for a moderate treatment option.

    Here are a few home remedies and tips, for maintaining aural health:

    Diet A grain-free diet is almost always helpful in combating chronic yeast infections. Grains contain sugars - and yeasts can feed on these, and multiply. In most milder cases, eliminating grains and cleaning the ears of any built up debris will set your dog on a path to long term ear health.

    Altering the pH of the ear is a primary step in combating yeast and bacterial infections. The following ear cleaners can be prepared at home, and work double duty to correct the pH and kill any contaminants residing there.

    A Topical Solution made with 1 cup of warm water and 2 tablespoons of one or more of the following: hydrogen peroxide, apple cider (or white) vinegar, or plantain tincture can be used to wipe out excess debris.

    A number of good, natural commercial products are also available from pet & health food stores. Calendula Lotion is nice product for topical use – we like one made by Weleda.
    Products containing Tea Tree Oil are helpful, as are those containing Gentian Violet, which is a purple dye used in microscopy as a biological stain and in medicine as a bactericide, fungicide, and anthelmintic, are also superb for cleaning the ears.

    Never poke Q Tips or anything else right inside the ear canal and don't squirt or pour large volumes of these topical applications into the ears; a small amount on a cotton ball is usually sufficient.

    Homeopathic Remedies - Pulsatilla is helpful for acute flare-ups with sensitivity and redness, along with a yellowish discharge. Pulsatilla animals like to sit near open windows, hate getting their paws wet and won't go out in the rain.
    Hepar Sulph is useful for irritable animals who don't like to have their inflamed ears touched.
    For animals that have a severe, malodorous discharge that causes hair loss around and under the ears, Tellurium is helpful. The ears are extremely sensitive and the discharge may have a fish-like smell.

    As with any persistent health condition, always consult your veterinarian to be sure that an underlying illness requiring medical attention, is not the cause.


    Nourishment for Their Body and Your Mind

    This recipe was a huge hit with all the office pups. Although, they patiently awaited its arrival into their bowls, they kept drooling all over the place. Be forewarned: your dog will insist on seconds.

    Recipe of the Month: Nourishing Winter Stew

    3 pounds lamb-stew meat, cut into 1-inch chunks (or smaller depending on your pup's size)
    2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    ½ cup Preference
    1 teaspoon paprika
    3 to 6 tablespoons olive oil
    4 carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch-thick slices
    1 cloves garlic, crushed
    2 cups of low sodium chicken stock (or enough to cover at least half of the meat the dish)
    3 cups sweet potato chopped into appropriately sized bites
    2 cups kale

    Preheat oven to 350° F. Pat the lamb dry with paper towels and place in a large bowl. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour and Preference. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the lamb and toss well. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy casserole over medium heat. Brown the lamb in batches, adding more oil as needed. When all the lamb is browned, remove it and set aside. Add the carrots and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Return the lamb to the casserole. Add the chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, add paprika and sweet potatoes, cover, and place on bottom rack of oven. Cook until the lamb is very tender, about 2 hours. Pull out of oven; add the kale, re-cover, and let sit until sufficiently cooled.

    Would you like to share your favorite recipe?
    Then.....    Come Blog with Us!

    We're excited to announce that The Honest Kitchen has started a Blog! Our blog can be found at www.blog.thehonestkitchen.com and is about to become a valuable hub of information on pet health, animals in the news, welfare & charity issues, recipes, events and lots more! We have a loyal following of avid new and long-term HK fans and hope that the Blog will become a place you can rely on to find out what's what and share your stories, too.


    Reseller of the Month & New Resellers

    December's reseller of the month is Kindred Spirits Dog Training Center in Vista, California. Kindred Spirits is owned and operated by acclaimed author and journalist Liz Palika. For more information about Liz, her work and Love On A Leash, the pet-provided therapy organization she founded, please visit www.lizpalika.com

    Working in Vista, California, Liz trains over a thousand dogs and their families a year, and has put obedience titles on over 20 dogs of her own, from Doberman Pinschers to Papillons, in addition to her beloved Australian Shepherds. She is an advocate of the raw food diet and educates clients on the importance of good nutrition as a basis for sound behavior.

    Our Newest Resellers of Honest Kitchen diets:

    Dirty Dawgs Tuscon, AZ 520.777.6045
    Sedona Pet Supply Sedona AZ 928.203.9898
    Sunrise Pet Clinic Tuscon, AZ 520.299.5044

    Mountain Feed & Farm Ben Lomond, CA 831.336.8876
    Rainbow Grocery San Francisco, CA 415.863.0620
    Sage's Pet Spa West Hills, CA 818.256.0772

    Doggy Style, Inc. Deerfield, FL 954. 481.3642
    Gail's Happy Pets Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954.475.1350
    Happy Paws & Tails, Inc. Riverview, FL 813.661.5138
    Hawaiian Therapies Plantation, FL 954.316.3037
    Hobscot Pet Supplies Mount Dora, FL 352.735.6400
    Micanopy Animal Hospital Micanopy, FL 352.466.0067
    My Mystic Oaks Farm Citra, FL 352.595.5820
    Pawsitively Purrfect Pet Supply Palm Beach Grds, FL 561.624.4673
    Pet Food Warehouse St. Petersburg, FL 727.521.6191
    Pet Supply Center Sarasota , FL 941. 925.4376
    Raw Life West Palm Beach, FL 561.434.9177
    Redbones Pet Bakery Fernandina Beach, FL 904.321.0020
    The Barkery Fort Pierce, FL 772.595.9498
    The Dog Bar Coral Gables , FL 305. 441.8979
    Waggle Brothers, Inc. North Miami, FL 305.891.2058
    WOOF Pet Care Center Melbourne, FL 321.255.9663

    Heavenly Hydrant, Inc. Rome, GA 706.232.7217
    Park Pet Supply Atlanta, GA 404.588.0140
    Peachtree Natural Food #1 Columbus, GA 70.632.23282
    Peachtree Natural Food #12 Columbus, GA 706.649.3071
    Peachtree Natural Foods #6 Columbus, GA 706. 565-9245

    Canine Sports Medicine Center Lake Villa, IL 847.986.3644
    Doggie Poop Patrol Calona, IL
    Hollywood Dogs Professional Cuts Chicago, IL 773.202.1660
    Landschaft Marergo, IL 815.568.6450
    Peace of Mind Pet Sitting and More Montgomery, IL 815.854.5953
    Pet Pals Natural Market West Dundee, IL 847.426.6180

    Bev's Grooming and Supplies Stevensville, MD 410.643.8058
    Cridder's Whole Pet, Inc. Clarksburg, MD 301.856.2794
    Fresh Pet Upper Marlboro, MD 301.856.2794
    Look Sharp Pet Grooming Accoceek, MD 301.203.0077
    Pawlitics Rockville, MD 301.947.7387
    Whole Pet Central Rockville, MD 301.217.0432

    Dink Dogs.com Canton, MI 734.398.5648

    Nature of the Pet – NJ Yardville, NJ
    Up Front Training Center Allentown, NJ 609.758.7773
    Wholistic Paws Ridgewood, NJ 201.444.9911

    K9 Barracks & Bath Las Vegas, NV
    Sierra Le Bone, LLC Carson City, NV 775.885.2663

    Gorge Dog, Inc. Hood River, OR 541.387.3996

    Canine Creature Comforts Malvern, PA 610.590.2192
    Lil' Yella' Dog Bethlehem, PA 610.570.8720

    Paws to Tail Center Valley, PA 610.798.9080
    Woofers, LLC Florence, SC 843.669.8828

    Dizzy's Dog Wash Nashville, TN 615.463.7338
    Super Scooper Dunlap, TN 423.543.4302

    Just Fur Pets Springfield, VA 703.455.3333
    Veterinary Holistic and Rehab Center Vienna, VA 703.938.2563

    Canine Connersoeur Puyallup, WA 253.202.9417
    Pups Puyallup, WA 253.845.7877

    Bark N' Scratch Outpost Miwaukee, WI 414.444.4110
    Proper Paws University Racine, WI 262.634.7297


           
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