Healthy Spot Blog

Recall Alert: Select Dry Foods 05/08/2012

Healthy Spot — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:32:31 +0000

As always, it is in our best interest to inform our family about the latest news for our pets. Knowledge is power. If any of this news is helpful to you or someone you know, please share. As always, read thoroughly all the information that is available, as only certain foods are affected. By being informed of what is going on with the food that is available, we can help take the precautions and actions to ensure that our beloved dogs are healthy, happy, and safe.
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Dear Loyal Customers,

We wanted you to be aware of the recent voluntary pet recalls of certain dry pet foods due to possible Salmonella contamination and the brands that they will be affecting. The incident occurred initially with one brand that we do NOT carry, but since the manufacturing is shared the recall has expanded to include all of the brands produced at the specific facility. Currently, the following list of brands has been issued a voluntary recall on specific batches of food:

Wellness

Natural Balance

Kirkland Signature

Apex

Canidae

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul

Country Value

Diamond

Diamond Naturals

Premium Edge

Professional

4Health

Taste of the Wild

The recall has only been issued for products coming out of a South Carolina facility. This only affects products distributed in the following U.S. states and Canada:

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Kentucky

Massachusetts

Maryland

Michigan

Mississippi

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

Canada

This does NOT affect any foods distributed to California. We currently carry the Canidae, Premium Edge,and Taste of the Wild pet food lines. However, since the foods we receive are produced in a different facility in California, they have not been affected by the recall.

Due to our stringent food standards and in order to ensure that we continue to provide the best quality products for our clients, we have decided that we will be phasing out the brands involved as a preventative measure to any risks of ingredients or manufacturing with these lines in the future. We currently carry alternatives to these lines and have started to identify several additional new lines as well. We will put these new options through our evaluation process and consider adding them to our lineup of foods. To ensure peace of mind, we will accept the return of foods from these brands and help you make the decision on what foods would be a proper and comparable match to convert to.

We will keep you posted with any further developments. To find out more information regarding the recent voluntary recalls, please visit the FDA website.

We appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely,

Andrew & Mark

Healthy Spot

Healthy Spot Family 1, Petsmart 0

angela — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:39:10 +0000

All hands, man your battle stations! This time around, we luckily did not have to bring out our battle armor. However, to witness a mammoth-sized competing Petsmart billboard propped up smack-dab above Healthy Spot in West Hollywood, left us frankly, aghast. It was unbelievable! How could a big corporation use such a direct attack marketing tactic right in front of our face? Blink. Another look at the sign, and yup, it was still there, as far as the eye on Santa Monica Blvd could see. Has anyone ever felt the slap of a white glove to the face for a duel?

Now, like any other business in the U.S., we are all for competition. This is what the U.S. is all about. However, the all-too-coincidental shameless plug right above the core heart of our small but valiant business felt like a low blow. A punch to the groin. My heart personally sank a little bit. Just when you think you’ve seen the grimmest of clouds, little did we know a dazzling fireworks-show was soon to appear.

One by one, our faithful Healthy Spot family members took notice of the giant billboard as they dropped by. In only a matter of a few hours, word spread across our Healthy Spot network. Reaction to the billboard turned into immense support and love from our loyal friends, local and nationwide! Thanks to the interweb highways via Facebook and Twitter and exponential communication growth, at the end of the day we received support in the form of hundreds of comments and shares. A few of the local news outlets covered the towering impression they left sitting on top of the little guy including, LAist, West Hollywood Patch and the local NBC channel 4 news.

It took only 3 days for all of our efforts to evoke change, and we couldn’t have done it without you! As of today, they replaced the billboard with a lovely LA Kings billboard.

That’s right Los Angelenos, let’s take pride in our hometown hockey team! To the entire Healthy Spot family, thank you for spreading the word and publicly expressing your outrage. Our 2-year anniversary present wasn’t exactly the billboard itself, it was the end result of a mass-movement rooted with love and spread like wildfire via the internet. To Andrew and Mark and the entire Healthy Spot crew, the love and support spawned from this moment is only a testament to the caring relationships you keep with all of your fans. Keep on, keeping on. Sometimes, all it takes is one random bully-moment to make you realize how tall we all stand together. The little guys sure do get a lot of love. HAPPY 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, HEALTHY SPOT WEST HOLLYWOOD!

Spot Me!

angela — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:35:49 +0000

Happy 2012! To kick off the new year, we’ve got fun, super-soft limited edition Healthy Spot hoodies up for grabs in store! Come on by and grab yours before they’re gone…

Price: $40
$5 of your purchase will benefit the Best Friends Animal Society.
Available sizes: S, M, L, XL.
Color: Grey

Perfect for breezy days walking your best buddy to the park!

Healthy Spot Puppy Social Returns: September 11, 2011 (2PM-4PM)

Healthy Spot — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:15:23 +0000

Hey there, Puppy Owners! This is such a delightful event we’re hosting, it’d be a great opportunity for you to come by and get some hands on training tips and nutritional advice from the Healthy Spot staff! Don’t miss it!

WHERE: Healthy Spot Santa Monica

1110 Wilshire Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90401

View Larger Map

WHEN: Sun, Sept 11, 2pm-4pm

WHY: Early socialization within proper limits is an essential part of your dog becoming a nice adult playmate!

MORE DETAILS: We will be opening up our daycare room just for young puppy socialization! All puppies participating should be 5 months old or younger, have recent vet paperwork with their birthdate and their vaccinations thus far, should be walked prior to the event, and should be attended by at least one parent. The room will be supervised by a Life of Riley trainer. We will have useful handouts for new puppy parents on hand, and our retail team can assist with general nutritional questions.

FOR MORE INFO: Call us at (310)458-2004

Hope to see you there!

~Tina

Healthy Spot Puppy Social Sunday 7/31/2011

Healthy Spot — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:56:17 +0000

We’re so excited for our very first Puppy Social at Healthy Spot Santa Monica! We’ll have some helpful handouts available to help you with things like crate training and socialization. Our expert team will be on hand to help you out with any questions that you might have, especially in regards to diet and nutrition. We’re very lucky to have Carol Ann Heinis of Life of Riley Dog Training with us as well! She has run Puppy groups just like this for the Humane Society in the past and will be a great resource for you.

For those parents who are interested, we will be opening up our daycare room only for puppies 4 months and younger. This is a great way to get early socialization in a controlled environment with an expert on hand to help you out. If you’d like for your puppy to participate it is important that you bring the vaccination records for your pup that include his/her birthdate and be sure to bring your puppy in with a regular buckle collar. If your puppy has been diagnosed with any communicable ailments (kennel cough, giardia, etc.) we’ll be asking your puppy to skip nose to nose interactions until they’ve been cleared by your vet. You will be required to go into the daycare room with your puppy so that you can learn some good do’s and don’ts with Carol Ann. Depending on the size of the group that we have, we’ll be doing 15-30 min rounds of play in the room per group and then rotate the groups a bit to give the puppies breaks.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:
*Potty your dog prior to playgroup. Feeding your pet after play can reduce the chance of an accident. Play will be stopped while the owner cleans up after their dog’s accident.
*Keep dog on leash while entering the playgroup. All dogs will be let offleash at the same time so wait until the trainer instructs you to do so.
*Prior to play time, make sure to take off your dog’s harness if he/she wears one.

If you have any questions, give us a call at (310) 458-2004.

Visit Us at:
Healthy Spot (Santa Monica)
1110 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 9040

Through the LA Newswire

angela — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:36:12 +0000

This week, there have been some valuable news stories for all you dog owners out there that we wanted to give you an update on, in case you haven’t heard…

ENCINO dog owners beware..

There have been several reported incidents of dogs who have been harmed, including 1 death, due to poisoning. This is a little reminder we should keep an eye on our dogs as much as possible. While acts like these break our hearts, we must ensure we keep our dogs as safe as possible and if there’s anything suspicious, be sure to contact the authorities. Learn more from the LA Times.

MICROCHIPPING may become the law in California…

and that’s good news! California legislators are considering a law that will require every cat or dog adopted at an animal shelter to be implanted with a lifesaving microchip. Read more about the microchipping law that may go into effect.

At Healthy Spot, from time to time, our friends from Found Animals will host microchipping sessions, oftentimes at a low cost sometimes as low as $5!

1.5 ACRE DOG PARK Coming Soon

The 1.5-acre park in the northwest section of the Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park will have separate entries and areas for small and large dogs. It will include drinking fountains, water faucets and hose-off and shady areas for the dogs, plus benches for their owners. Read more about the first LA COUNTY pilot progam dog park.

Have you heard something in the news about dogs that’s worth sharing? Let us know!

Win your own Pet Loo!

Healthy Spot — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:51:37 +0000

Winner’s Announcement // (edited July 22, 2011) This edition of the Healthy Spot Giveaways is officially over.

A special thank you to all of our participants! Winner, winner! There’s no chicken dinner, but lucky winner Brian and his pup Buster will be enjoying his very own Pet Loo and Pee Pads!

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Find more info and connect with Pet Loo on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Official Rules…

Got it? Just go down to the comments below on this blog entry, leave us a reply on a benefit of your dog using a Pet Loo and you’re entered for a chance to win. Done deal.

The Adoption Option: Why You Should Adopt A Dog

angela — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:23:38 +0000

After much deliberation, you’ve come to the conclusion you are ready to add a new friend to your family and you’re 100% sure you’re capable of taking care of a dog. You’re ready! Whether it is your first or one of many, you may even already have an idea of what kind of dog you want. However, you may not be aware of all the options you have on where or how to get your dog.

In the good old days, you may have simply come across a good ad in the paper. Newspaper, what’s that again? Now with the convenience of Googling everything, maybe you’ve searched online for a respectable breeder. You simply can’t help but drop by the pet shop that has cute little puppies strutting the windows of your local shopping mall. You ignore the signs that say “don’t tap on the glass” while you try to communicate with the little fuzzball behind the glass. You turn to your loving husband or boyfriend and with puppy-dog-eyes of your own, plea to take home a little fellow today. Don’t fall into this trap.

It’s an all-too-common scenario, which we as a society have become so accustomed to. I’ve discovered from my own social network, many people simply aren’t aware of other options out there to find the dog of their dreams. A picture-perfect fairytale dog doesn’t have to be bought from a store. Adopting is a wonderful way to introduce a new dog into your life. In fact, if you mention adoption to some, they may shy away or be quick to associate adoption with dogs that “simply aren’t the type we are looking for”, “are strays or have problems”, or “are just too old”. I’m here to debunk the common misconceptions or fears people have about adopting a pet and share with you reasons why adopting a dog isn’t just an option, it’s the best option.

Like Lola here available for adoption from Mutt Match LA.

WHY NOT JUST BUY FROM A PET STORE?

Let’s take it back to the pet store for a moment. We’re blinded easily by those rambunctious cute little pups that topple over each other and simply assume starting prices of $700 for a purebred is justified because they are purebred. In reality, “purebred” authenticity is often used as a marketing tool. It’s a way to lure you into spending more money on a dog. When it comes down to it, these pet stores are all about profit.

HIDDEN HEALTH PROBLEMS?

Another thing you may not know is that pet stores who supply purebreds are often more susceptible to genetic problems. There are many cases where these puppies come from inbred dogs and while they may be visibly cute now while they’re young, they may have hidden health problems that show up later in life and often are expensive to treat, or aren’t treatable at all.

BUT I REALLY WANT A PUREBRED

Why do you want a Labrador? Or Golden Retriever? Or Yorkie? Common misconception from popular movies we watch or the books we read lead us to believe purebreds are the best way to go. Mixed breeds are just as lovable as a purebred. Rather than focus on the specific breed, you should consider the type of dog that fits your lifestyle. Decide whether you need a dog that is more active, or the priority is a dog that is friendly with infants and toddlers, or a dog that is more independent, etc. It’s the dog’s personality ultimately that should be a driving factor in selecting a companion.

It is a good movie.

YOU CAN ADOPT A PUREBRED

If you still have your heart set on owning a purebred, shelters and plenty of rescue organizations can still help you find a purebred. 35% of adoptable dogs are actually purebred. If you decide to go to a breeder, do plenty of research to find a breeder who is reputable and responsible, so you can make sure your new pet is healthy and happy.

STOP PUPPY MILLS

Perhaps you’ve heard of these god-awful puppy mills. You’re already aware that these puppy mills are dog-breeding factories that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Dogs in puppy mills are raised in cruel conditions often with poor care and in unsanitary environments. These mommy and daddy dogs’ sole purpose in life are to live in cages and be bred repeatedly for years without human companionship. When these dogs get old and are no longer capable of making puppies for profit, their job is considered done. Since they’re no longer useful for the mills, they are either abandoned or killed.

So now you know about puppy mills and if you have any kind of heart, you would probably nod your head in agreement that these are inhumane and horrible conditions for any animal. You don’t have to be a member of PETA to realize this. However, what you MAY not know, is oftentimes when you buy from pet suppliers, whether they are that pet store in the mall or a self-proclaimed legit pet-breeder, that they are getting their puppies from these types of mills. The thing is, you don’t see what goes on behind-the-scenes, so it’s easy for people to support this cruel industry without even knowing it. The only way to stop puppy mills, is to stop supporting them. Rather than purchasing your dog from a pet store, by adopting you can be sure you are not supporting evil puppy mills with your money. The sad fact is that puppy mills will be around if people continue to purchase dogs. But each one of us CAN make a difference.

BANNING PUPPY MILLS

Much respect to a Los Angeles councilman who recently proposed a ban on puppy mill sales to help reduce the city’s pet overpopulation problem. It’s good to see bigger figures taking a stand against puppy mills.

BUT ISN’T THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH RESCUE DOGS?

Shelter and rescue pets for adoption are often mistaken as “bad”. People immediately think these animals have been abused or something worse. In reality, many of these dogs were simply given up because of other unfortunate reasons. Some are victims of family tragedy, unfortunate situations, or may have just had irresponsible owners. Especially during these times of economic hardships, rescues have seen more dogs who have been given up simply because people have lost jobs or their homes and cannot move into a dog-friendly home.

BUT PUPPIES ARE SO MUCH CUTER

It’s natural for humans to cave to puppies, and insist that they need to raise a puppy if they’re going to own a dog. They fail to be open-minded to a pet that may be slightly older which has its advantages as well. Take off your puppy-goggles for a moment. Older dogs tend to be loyal and since they’ve already gone through the basic training stages of life, they may be easier to own. There are a variety of lovable, adorable dogs that are fit for families. Shelters and rescue groups can help you find the right dog for you or your family, depending on what kind of dog you are looking for. Dogs are cute regardless.

ADOPT A HEALTHY PET

Animal shelters and rescue organizations take care of their animals as they await someone to take them home. Shelters examine and give vaccinations to all the animals and spay/neuter them before being adopted. Many shelters and rescue organizations also screen animals for temperaments and behaviors to make sure they are matched up with the right family for its lifestyle.

SAVE MONEY

Let’s face it, if you’re going to buy from a pet store in the mall, expect to pay $$$. Adopting a dog is much less expensive and since animals from shelters and rescues are already spayed/neutered and vaccinated, you will have less to pay for the initial medical care fees. You will still have to pay adoption fees, but it will still be a lot less pocket-gouging than what pet stores charge you.

SAVE A LIFE

Over 4 million adoptable dogs and cats are killed each year due to overpopulation. There are just way too many pets that have been given up and not enough people adopt. Because of limited space, animals that don’t get adopted may face euthanization. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced if more people adopted pets instead of buying them.

SHOW YOUR KIDS BY EXAMPLE

Rather than buy a pet, which we can get so wrapped up in to “buy” and be materialistic, adopting a dog can oftentimes teach your children what it means to be compassionate and caring. Show them what it means to truly be open-minded, love unconditionally, and give dogs a second chance.

NOT READY TO ADOPT? TRY FOSTERING.

The worst mistake that happens all too frequently is when people spontaneously buy pets as Christmas or birthday gifts for their loved ones when they are unprepared. Or often times new owners aren’t sure what to expect and soon learn that they are not ready for the responsibility of taking care of a pet. Many adoption organizations also offer a fostering program so first time owners can take home an animal and experience the responsibilities of taking care of a pet and eventually decide whether adopting is right for them or not.

Now that you’ve weighed all the pro’s and con’s and have determined that you or your family are ready to adopt, what next?

TALK TO AN ADOPTION ORGANIZATION

There are many local rescues and at Healthy Spot we host adoptions from various groups every Sunday. Never jump into anything without talking over all your options. Representatives from all these organizations spend much of their time caring for these animals and are happy to help you with any concerns you have or help you need in figuring out if there is a dog that is compatible with you. Adopting a dog is a big decision, don’t make it without getting informed.

FIND YOUR NEW COMPANION

If you’re adopting for your entire family, make it a family decision. Shelters and rescues welcome you to come together to help find the right dog for everyone. When you visit open adoption events, organizations bring some of their pets and you can see them firsthand. The organization can help find the right dog for you.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE ADOPTION PROCESS

There is generally a screening process, application, paperwork, and references. Separate organizations have their own policies, some for example, may not adopt to families with children under the age of six for safety precautions. Check with each adoption organization to see what their requirements are for prospective owners. Other requirements include but are not limited to minimum age, and proof of home ownership. Expect adoption fees which cover vaccinations, spaying/neutring, and microchipping. The adoption process can seem daunting or complicated but the only reason why they make you jump through necessary hoops is to ensure that every dog finds a good, loving home.

LOVE TAKES TIME

Adoption isn’t just kind of a big deal, it IS a big deal. It’s a commitment to a new dog, a new member of your family. For new owners, this may be unfamiliar territory that will often be challenging but rewarding once you spend time with one another. It may take time for your dog to adjust to his surroundings. A new home can be daunting at first. Help your dog become as comfortable as possible, but be aware it isn’t automatic. It will naturally take time before your dog becomes situated in your home and comfortable with you and your family.

BE READY

Becoming a dog owner is a huge responsibility. It isn’t just about feeding them or cleaning up after them regularly. It’s about being there for your dog 24-7. If you have an extremely chaotic life, or you like to travel often, owning a dog at this time of your life probably isn’t such a great idea. Many people find ways to own dogs and still do what they enjoy. There are more dog-friendly hotels, dog-friendly restaurants, doggie daycares for the working individual, etc. The dog becomes a part of your family. The most important thing about owning a dog is providing your dog the time, attention, and love that he/she needs. Ongoing expenses include but aren’t limited to their meals, toys, grooming, and medical fees. You’d be surprised how much emotion is involved raising a dog. If you’re ready to take all that on, then we encourage you to look into adopting. At Healthy Spot we host adoptions and local rescue organizations swing by every Sunday. Feel free to stop by and tell your friends. Education and awareness starts with you. If you know someone who is seeking a dog, let them know why adoption is an awesome thing.

Want to Adopt? Learn More.

LOCAL LOS ANGELES ORGANIZATIONS

A Dog’s Life Rescue

Bill Foundation

Los Angeles Animal Services

La Dolce Vita

Lhasa Happy Homes

Mutt Match LA

Tails of the City

Thumping Tails

SEARCH FOR AN ADOPTABLE PET ONLINE AND MORE

Adopt a Pet//

Adopt-a-Pet.com is a non-profit pet adoption charity that helps shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, pet rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies advertise their homeless pets to adopters for free.

Petfinder//

We’re all about getting homeless pets into homes.
Petfinder is an online, searchable database of animals who need homes. It is also a directory of more than 13,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico

ASPCA//

The ASPCA was the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Our mission, as stated by our founder, Henry Bergh, in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

Humane Society//

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, backed by 11 million Americans. We work to reduce suffering and improve the lives of all animals. \

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Donate. Many of these adoption agencies have devoted volunteers spending their time and effort taking care of these dogs and oftentimes these rescue organizations could always use additional money to help pay for medical attention and things dogs needs. Money isn’t the only way you can donate. Many organizations accept material donations such as beds, toys, collars, etc.

Volunteer. Many of the rescue organizations rely on volunteers to care for the animals as well as help host adoption events. Contact a rescue organization to see if they could use any additional help.

Take Action. Find out what you can do to fight against puppy mills and protect all animals.

Healthy Spot Photo Contest: Winners!

angela — Sat, 07 May 2011 08:36:34 +0000

Hi All!

First of all, a big thank you to all of our entrants! We’re so happy to see all the cute photos you all entered! Thank you for taking the time to participate and sharing your photos with us. A round of *a-paws!* (applause) to everyone of you and a special WOOF (congratulations) goes out to the GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Maggie the Shark! and the 4 runners-up winners: Astrid and Maud (2nd), Carter (3rd), Brutus (4th), and Frankie (5th).

I’d also like to apologize to all of the winners. It was brought to my immediate attention, as the initial email that was sent out caused confusion. Grammatical errors that stated you are “THE winner” made it seem like every single one of the top 5 were all grand prize winners. Ack! It was all my fault! I should have reviewed the notification email thoroughly before it was sent out. I hope you will find it in your hearts to forgive me. I will learn from this mistake and do everything I can to ensure future communications are thoroughly reviewed. I am truly sorry for my mistake in this winner’s notification email and the correct winner rankings are viewable on the official contest page.

Though in my mind, I like to think every single one of our entrants are always Healthy Spot winners, for this contest, I’d like to clarify there is only ONE grand prize winner Maggie the Shark! who will receive a $50 gift card towards grooming services and there are FOUR beautiful runners-up winners who will receive an official Healthy Spot tee-shirt.

Thanks again for helping us make this a fun contest for all. Stay tuned for more contests, bigger x better x yay!

Vote Now!

angela — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:50:20 +0000

Hey all – If you’ve got a Facebook account, this is the last weekend to lock in your votes in for your favorite dogs!

The top 5 ranked will all get free Healthy Spot tees! The grand prize winner will be taking home a $50 gift certificate to pamper their pooch. Aww, there are some cute entries, be sure to click on the contest section on our Facebook page and vote!

Stay tuned, we’ll be hosting more contests in the future, the more you participate, the more fun and swag (stuff! we! all! get!) for all.