by Dash on August 31, 2010
Several years ago, Dog Royaltees founder Stephanie Frieze took a trip to Las Vegas. Intent on coming home with souvenirs for her beloved dachshund, Luci, she was disappointed to find out that shopping for her dog proved to be more difficult than she had anticipated. It seemed that finding a gift for every other family member was easy. Until she stumbled upon a store that sold blank items (t-shirts, tote bags, etc.) that could be personalized. She snatched up a blank dog t-shirt and had the owner put “VEGAS” on it with a pair of dice.
An idea began to blossom in Stephanie’s mind – why was it so hard to find a souvenir for a dog in one of the country’s largest vacation spots? How could any souvenir shop forget the dog?!
And so in 2004 she launched KCK9 – the original dog t-shirt company that Stephanie ran in Kansas City. But the business grew rapidly and went from a part-time job to a full time career. She rebranded under the name Dog Royaltees and creates quality, custom dog t-shirts for souvenirs, events, fundraisers and gifts.
Why are her t-shirts better than the ones you can find in a pet store? Dog Royaltees specialize in a variety of t-shirt sizes and colors that are difficult to find elsewhere. They are also long-lasting and won’t wear/stretch out because they are made using the “flock” process. Designs created for flock are usually one or two colors and the design is actually cut from a material called flock, and then permanently adhered to the shirt. Other processes are available, too. But they aren’t just limited to t-shirts – she also custom designs tote bags, bandannas and even blankets. Not sure what kind of design you want? No need to worry – Dog Royaltees also offers free design services to help you create the exact graphics you are looking for.
You can WIN a Dog Royaltee for your dog by leaving a comment below on which Dog Royaltee t-shirt you like the best by Tuesday September 6th at noon. Just check out their ware at DogRoyaltees.com. If you have an extra-big dog and you win, you will get a bandanna instead! If you tweet about it, you’ll get an extra chance to win – make sure you tell me your username!
by Dash on August 30, 2010
photo via ecopurenaturals
- photo via ecopurenaturals
As many of you know, it’s tick season! Artificial, chemical-filled flea & tick sprays work by interfering with the nervous system of insects. Basically, these products stop the normal action of neuro-transmitters, causing the insects to lose control of bodily functions, go into convulsions, dehydrate and ultimately die. I wonder what happens when pets come in contact with such sprays and either ingest or inhale them?
I was looking for a safe, alternative way to prevent ticks from getting on Dash. I received a sample of ecoPure Naturals’ Flea & Tick Spray and their Flea & Tick Shampoo. The manufacture claims that their all-natural products also interrupt the specific set of neurotransmitters found only in insects, resulting in a complete breakdown of the insect’s central nervous system, but claims to do so with food-grade ingredients, making it extremely environmentally friendly, not to mention pet-safe. It is recommended that you reapply Flea & Tick Spray on your pet a little more frequently than the dangerous chemical sprays/ointments.
So what’s in them that makes them so safe? ecoPure Naturals’ Flea & Tick Spray uses ingredients such as Castor Oil, Eugenol (Clove Oil) and Thyme Oil – which apparantely have all been used for decades as a defense against pests. They are listed on the US EPA Biopesticide Active Ingredient Fact Sheet and the FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list. The Flea & Tick Spray contains 9% active ingredients (Castor Oil, Thyme Oil and Clove Oil). Castor oil comes from the castor seed, thyme oil from the herb thyme, and Eugenol is oil derived from cloves.
But would it work? I decided to test it out on Dash when we went on one of our hikes on the Perkiomen Trail, where he always manages to pick up a tick or two. The smell was overpowering, but it sprayed easily and evenly on his coat. The smell was so strong, in fact, that I couldn’t imagine that a tick would come within 10 feet of Dash.
The result? He didn’t pick up any ticks which made it a success in my book. The only downside is the smell – and the flea & tick shampoo has the same scent. It really is strong, but if you can set that aside and remember that you are giving your pet a chemical-free, safe alternative to pest care it balances out. I have to admit that I’m still using Frontline/Advantage, but when we go out on our hikes I like to spray him with the ecoPure Naturals just as an added protection so that I can be assured I won’t have to pick any ticks off of him after our walk. You can get yours at ecopurenaturals.com!
