|
Yay Sunshine!
Don't Miss the Deals in this Newsletter!
Hello! Happy Summer!
I have exciting things to tell you about in this newsletter - new products we're so proud to be able to carry! Be sure not to miss out on the savings in this newsletter and in the store - we have a lot of neat things already on sale in the shop, as well as Secret Offers on featured products just for newsletter readers. Mention these deals at the register so we know to give you your discount!
But first, I'm so sad to tell you that our sweet Anna is moving on from Green Dog. We met Anna as a teenager, occasionally coming in with her mom and her great dogs to shop. At one point, she was even selling us advertising in her high school yearbook - we don't usually advertise in yearbooks, but she was such a good kid, so earnest and mature, how could we say no? A few years into college, she approached us about seasonal work in the summer - something we thought we'd never be open to. It takes a long long time to train an employee properly (with more than 5,500 items in store and our need for staff to be well versed on the ever-changing innovation in the pet food industry, you may see why we hesitated). Nonetheless, Anna always made an impression on us and we found ourselves in need of help... how could we say no? Anna is a natural, and quickly absorbed the information and retained it, becoming a valued asset to Green Dog. She grew up just down the street and it was fun to realize how many people in the neighborhood already knew her - she had done a lot of babysitting in her time, and a very good job at that too - she's an educator and caretaker at heart. She kept coming back during school holidays and eventually, after graduating, she asked if she could become a full time employee. Again, how could we say no? We were thrilled! With the knowledge Anna has accumulated, and her desire to genuinely help all of those in need, she has become one of our best problem solvers. Anna's also been volunteering this year at the Audubon center educating children about nature, and it's so clear that this is another place her skills truly shine. She's been offered a job as the Director of the summer program for kids, and she really obviously deserves this opportunity - what a perfect fit for her. When she told us though, we wanted to say no... Of course though, we're so happy for you, Anna! (Despite how sad we are to see you go! And how mad at me you'll be for putting this in the newsletter...)
|
|
|  |
Summer Heat!
We've been
getting outside a lot lately - how about you? Doesn't it feel amazing to get outdoors! However, it so important to take precautions during these abrupt changes in climate which can cause
some troubles for us and our dogs. These times can find us vulnerable and susceptible to heat stress
when it's insta-Summer after a long-haul in the land of ice, rain
and wind. Naturally, protection and hydration are both key
during this time. To that end, we want to offer you a sale on
products to kick off your summer:
- We have some great water bottles with bowls attached, on sale now!
- We have a variety of collapsible water bowls on sale now!
- Swamp Coolers are on sale!! Greta (above) is a black dog - black dogs absorb the heat of the sun more than lighter colored dogs. Murdock is a husky, so we know summer is tough for him. Breeds like bulldogs, frenchies, etc with shorter faces often have a very hard time with heat too, but just about any dog can become dangerously overheated on a hot day. These genius "coats" from Rough Wear reflect sun! Simply soak the Swamp Cooler in cold water, wring it out! The moisture slowly evaporates and cools the dog. They are a fantastic invention. Last year's model of Swamp Cooler is on clearance - they were $59.99 and now are just $44.99! Don't miss out on this chance - your walks can be longer in the summer! No need for your pet to miss out on excursions or festivals due to the high heat.
- People often forget to check the temperature of pavement on a hot day (and remember that the darker road temperature is hotter than the lighter sidewalk). If you know you'll be bringing dogs to a street fair, or taking long walks on a hot day, it might be good to use some light boots. Check out Salt Sox - light but durable and protective! Newsletter Secret Sale: During the first week of June, mention it at the register and we'll take 15% off of any set of Salt Sox boots. They won't know unless you mention it!
|
| |
|
|
Nugget's Bone Broth!
We love bone broth. There are very few things you could add to a dog or cat’s food that could impart as many benefits to the joints, bones, skin and digestive system as a slow cooked bone broth. Healing the lining of the gut is the key to helping with allergies, whether they are food allergies or seasonal allergies, and bone broth is so helpful in this effort. Regular broth has nothing on bone broth!
We are so happy to add this brand to our freezers! This is some of the nicest bone broth we've seen. It’s made in a human food facility with truly human grade ingredients. The premium marrow and knuckle bones they use are from animals humanely raised on open-pastures, grass-fed & hormone/antibiotic-free. For instance, the Beef is 100% grass fed/finished, and bones are from pasture raised Turkeys. They roast, then simmer the bones for 30-50 hours to extract maximum favor and nutrients. They use real apple cider vinegar and water purified by reverse osmosis to ensure the best possible product. They then add a little sweet potato to the Beef Brews, and a touch of ginger & turmeric to all Brews. Not only is it available frozen in pouches that you can thaw and pour onto meals (including a turkey bone broth for cats or tiny dogs in a little pouch!), it's also available in lick-able frozen snack cups. (Great for the heat!) For dogs, licking is a calming activity that releases "feel good" endorphins. This soothing, relaxing licking experience can be a real asset for dogs that are anxious, or for those on any sort of bed rest due to injuries (and bone broth is so helpful for helping to heal problems like joint pain and injury). When this broth is thawed, it is so obviously the real deal - it sure has a great jiggle to it, which lets you know it's loaded with healing, collagen-rich gelatin.
Christine wrote an article about the healing and supportive power of bone broth for dogs, cats, and humans - as part 2 of a series on the importance of toppers - it's part of our quest to get every pet who eats kibble to have some whole food added to their diets. Read it here.
Newsletter Secret Sale: During the first week of June, mention it at the register and we'll take 15% off of any single cups of bone broth!
|
| |  |
Nugget’s Fro-Yo!
Nugget’s also makes beautiful probiotic rich yogurts in two flavors - wild blueberry and cherry, offered frozen in single serve cups. Not only do probiotic cultures do lots of good in a pet’s tummy, they also work hard during the creation of yogurt. During fermentation, they break down the lactose, creating lactase. Lactase is the enzyme necessary for lactose digestion that dogs lack, helping dogs digest any lactose they may encounter. In addition to enhancing the overall well-being of healthy dogs, probiotics can gently help dogs get over digestive disturbances by bringing the bacteria in the digestive tract into balance, without the use of harsh medicines.
Wild blueberries are bursting with antioxidants - 4X more than cultivated blueberries. Their wild blueberries are harvested in Maine and Southeastern Canada from indigenous plants that have been around since the ice age. Their cherry puree is from cherries with the highest levels of antioxidants called "Anthocyanins" - known to support joint function, a healthy immune system, and speed relief from muscle use & fatigue. These made-from-scratch low fat yogurts use only milk delivered by happy cows who are rBST-free, grass fed, and enjoy free pasture access. The company adds billions of probiotics, delicious wild blueberries OR tart cherry puree, unsweetened applesauce, pumpkin, a hint of alcohol-free vanilla & organic Ceylon cinnamon, which offers a subtle, sweet flavor. Giving them a treat in the form of a lick-able frozen yogurt cup is a great way to occupy them for a time in an activity that’s both calming and satisfying, as well as nourishing. These and the frozen bone broth cups mentioned above are both fantastic for a hot weather day!
Newsletter Secret Sale: During the first week of June, mention it at the register and we'll take 15% off of any single cups of frozen yogurt.
|
| |  |
The Best Litter Mat!!
We've never carried a litter mat at Green Dog, not because we didn't want to, but we were convinced that all of them on the market pretty much suck. Some of them just don't catch a lot of litter; have a bad texture cats don't want to walk on; have little holes to let litter in; are impossible to clean and get litter out of, etc. We just used a fluffy bath mat, which we could shake out or wash if needed. At long last, this mat, is a different story. It's got good coverage at 23"X30". Urine won't soak into the rubber and the bottom of the mat is plastic coated. It's smooth and comfortable to walk on and all of the large honeycomb holes catch litter well. The genius part is the top is attached on one side, making clean up a cinch! Just dump the litter back into the box, or lift and clean the whole mat, BAM! If your cat routinely thinks he's all the way in the box but then accidentally pees out the doorway, you could even put a puppy pad in between the layers to sop up a puddle if it happens. (It might even be a good way to train a puppy to a potty pad, as the mat would keep them a pad in one place and less likely to be shredded. I certainly haven't tried that, but it's a thought). It's easy to scrub and wash off - you could even take it outside and use the hose. It's a winner!
Newsletter Secret Sale: During the first week of June, mention it at the register and we'll take 15% off of these litter mats!
|
| |  |
Stella and Chewy's New Kibble and Mixers!
We certainly weren't in the market for a new kibble. Though we always try to carry the best kibbles on the market, the truth is that even the best kibbles are still a highly processed food, and processing damages nutrients. With the incredible frequency of chronic illnesses that affect our pets, we've committed to turning people onto the idea of adding a bit of whole food each time they feed a kibble to help to support their health. (More about that here) When Stella & Chewy's NEW kibble came along, we had to squeeze it in - here's why: First, it's baked instead of extruded. Most kibbles are extruded, which has been shown to damage nutrients (up to 20% of the amino acids and 40% of the vitamins are lost). Second, it's coated in powdered freeze dried raw food (shake and bake!). On top of that, it has little nuggets of their freeze dried raw meal mixers in with the kibble (lucky charms!). So many nice whole foods already built in - we had to have it. It comes in 2 grain free flavors, red meat (grass-fed beef, lamb and pork with wild caught salmon and organic fruits and veggies) and cage free poultry (chicken, quail, duck with organic fruits and veggies). There is no frequent buyer card, but the prices are better than some of the Orijen bags across the aisle.
We have nice big samples of the cage free poultry flavor - it comes with a $3.00 coupon as well. Ask for one the next time you're in (while supplies last).
If you love the kibble you feed and don't want to switch, we now also carry Stella and Chewy's freeze dried Meal Mixers in bags for you to sprinkle onto your current kibble. They're a great size for treat giving too. Check them out near the freezers with the other Stella and Chewy's freeze dried foods.
|
| |  |
Holistic Hound!
We are so excited to tell you about a new CBD product we're carrying. There's so much info that it's hard to distill it here, but it's absolutely fascinating. All animals, including you and I, have a system called the endocannibinoid system, an intricate network of receptors most abundant in the brain and in specific areas that are involved in important bodily processes like coordination & movement, emotions, memory, reduction of pain, and reproduction that play important roles in health, healing, and homeostasis. These receptors are designed to bind with CBDs (cannibanoids) that are made by our bodies, or phytocannibinoids, found in many plants that act as CBDs (most notably in cannabis, which has 2 different varieties: plants grown to produce fiber and seed products without THC, called “hemp”, and plants grown for medicinal or recreational purposes, traditionally with a high THC content, are referred to as “marijuana.”) It's also found in a host of other plants like Echinacea, Truffles, the Sunflower family, various tea plants, Chocolate and Black Pepper. We are all designed to need them! Note: CBD does not alter the mind or behavior in the same way THC does. In pre-clinical studies involving animal models, CBD has been shown to have the following properties: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-nausea, anticonvulsant, anti-anxiety and neuroprotective. CBD is also anti-proliferative in regards to certain cancer cells.
In a survey conducted by the AVMA, of the 631 respondents who said they use hemp products on their dogs, the majority indicated that they use them for conditions diagnosed by their veterinarian, with the most common being cancer, seizures, anxiety, and arthritis. They also reported that these products were moderate to very helpful in improving their pet’s well-being and that they had a positive impact in relieving pain and anxiety, as well as helping with sleep. Side effects reported were minimal: occasional sedation and over-active appetite, (both actually useful for recovery from illness). Cool testimonial (we have many): One customer's dog had very frequent seizures. Prescribed with Phenobarbital, the dog still had seizures and was "a zombie". They switched to Cannapet CBD products, and the dog is his old self and has been seizure free for over a year.
Another exciting ingredient in the cookies from this brand are certified organic medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for centuries to combat a variety of ailments. While mushrooms likely have numerous health benefits, most studies involving medicinal mushrooms focus on their anti-cancer properties. Studies have found that the compounds in mushrooms are useful in the prevention of cancer as well as supporting the immune system while the body is undergoing conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
We've seen amazing results with the medicinal mushrooms we've carried, and with the Cannapet brand of CBD treats, capsules, and tinctures we carry. We're thrilled to bring in Holistic Hound, whose treats come with both CBDs and medicinal mushrooms, and whose tinctures come in a variety of doses. Not only that, but this California company sources organic hemp, third party tested for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents and other toxins as well as for consistency. Most of the other ingredients in the treats are organic and the chickens used in the treats are pasture raised and organically fed.
Newsletter Special: For the first week of June, take 15% off of any Holistic Hound product (we will do a rain check if we're out of any item).
|
| | Neighborhood News!
Southfork is open in the Fremont Commons building where Smallwares used to be. Exciting news is that Paley's Place Chef, Patrick McGee, is there doing his amazing work! Read more here
Fate Beauty Society launches at Fremont Commons right in our old space, offering hair services, skin care, waxing and makeup. More info here
Guilder Cafe has also opened in the brick building across from Garden Fever/Lucca Restaurant, a coffee roaster and cafe featuring lovely looking healthy breakfast options. Read more here
Green Dog - Saturday June 3rd Join us for a Golden Bond Golden Retriever Rescue Meet and Greet from 11-2. Get acquainted with some lovable foster dogs, hear amazing stories of our local and
international rescue efforts, and learn how you can help these
beautiful animals through donations, fostering, and adoption.
Shoplifting Plagues Portland Retailers - we weren't surprised to see this article describing the dramatic increase in shoplifting in Portland. We ourselves have had a terrible problem with it lately, and it's been a big hit to our bottom line and our sense of security. It's nothing compared to what happened at Beaumont Vision next door - someone broke the glass on their door and stole tens of thousands of dollars in frames. The challenges small businesses face are sometimes overwhelming!
|
| | | | Located in Beaumont Village 4327 NE Fremont Street, Portland, Oregon 97213
Telephone: 503-528-1800
© 2007 - 2015 Green Dog Pet Supply. Green Dog Pet Supply® is a Registered Trademark. |
| |
