You look out your window see signs of it – the green grass, the blooming flower, the chirping baby bird. Spring has made its entrance! And just as you begin to feel the therapeutic effects of its beauty, you turn around and are instantly reminded of that other thing spring brings along… cleaning. Just as Mother Nature is cleaning up after the long winter, so too are you.

Let’s face it cleaning, ironically enough, stinks. That’s why PawSafe Household Cleaners has launched the “Maid Service Please” promotion where you could win weekly visits from a professional home cleaning service for a whole year!

Forget spring cleaning – imagine not having to clean your house for a whole year! All you have to do is fill out an entry form here. Entries are limited to one per day, but if you tell your friends about it via the links on the “Thank You” page, you’ll receive an additional entry.

The contest closes August 22, 2010 and the winner will be announced September 6, 2010, so get crackin!

To read the “Maid Service Please” official rules, click here

Good luck!

On Sunday, April 26th make sure to celebrate National Kids and Pets Day! Here are a few fun ideas that can help make this one the best yet!

Go for a walk or to the park! Getting exercise with your kids and pets is a great way to teach kids about the responsibilities of pet ownership. Let the kids hold the leash and help pick up after your dog. Just make sure to bring some waste bags and plenty of water to stay hydrated!

Have a treat! Give your pup and child something special on this day. Treat your dog to something he might not be use to like a meaty bone or a new dog treat. If you’re feeling up to it, maybe bake them something tasty like Dog Morsels from the recipe below! For the kids, maybe a cupcake or ice cream!

DOG MORSELS

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 cups white flour

1 cup skim milk powder

2 eggs

water

1/2 cup melted beef or pork drippings (or lard)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix ingredients together with enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll out and cut into fun shapes. Bake on cookie sheet until hard.

Most of all, give a little tender love and care! Is there a better way to tell you dog and child that you love them than with hugs and cuddles? Probably not

Hope everyone has a happy National Kids and Pets Day this year!

Now that the weather’s starting to warm up, it’s the perfect time to start walking your dog on a regular basis. Now this isn’t just because it’s great fun and exercise for your dog. It’s also really important for the process of socialization. That’s when you get your dog use to all the things they’re going to deal with in their life.

Traveling in the car is a classic example. If you get them use to it when they’re young, then they won’t have any trouble with it when they’re older. Also, meeting other dogs, meeting people, dealing with children are all the kinds of things that your dog will be much better with if they’re use to being around them at a younger age.

One of the best things about owning a new dog is taking them for a walk. A daily walk come rain or shine does wonders for you and your companion. But before you head out there and start walking, there’re a few things to remember.

First and foremost, it’s important to wait until your dog is fully vaccinated before you go to parks or public places because diseases like Parvo Virus and Distemper are still relatively common and you don’t want your pup to pick them up. The other thing to think about is when you’re going out. Depending on how socialized your dog is you might want to pick times that aren’t too busy so they can get use to everything and everyone without being overwhelmed with loads of other dogs and people.

If you’ve got a puppy, or even an older dog and you’re going somewhere new, it’s really important to always have them on a leash. You never know what’s out there and an excitable dog can disappear into the bushes leaving you chasing behind.

Aside from the leash, there are a couple other things you should bring along on every walk. Staying hydrated is very important, so make sure to carry water for both you and your dog. You can use your hand as a bowl for them, or even bring along a collapsible cup or inflatable water bowl.

You’ll also want to bring along waste bags to pick up after pet. Cleaning up after your dog is not only a courtesy to other walkers, it’s the law. Bags on Board makes a convenient, refillable dispenser that makes disposing of waste quick, clean and easy. It fits on any leash – standard or retractable and comes with a roll of 15 pickup bags.

At the end of the day, you’ve got to remember that walking a dog is all about having a good time – for you and your dog. So get out there, remember the rules and most importantly, have fun!

Spring is finally here! Where there was snow, there will soon be green grass and budding flowers. Unfortunately, many people and pets alike are forced to witness the season’s change from behind their windows because of environmental allergies.

Allergies change with the seasons and as we transition to Spring it’s important to understand and recognize allergic symptoms your pet may experience during this time of year.

One of the most common pet health issues in Spring is skin irritation caused by allergies, which leads to itching and hot spots/raw skin. The majority of the time, allergies are caused by your pet’s contact with plants, especially oily ones which cling to their fur, carpet fresheners, household cleaners and plain old dust. The best treatment for this, or any other type of allergy, is to remove the allergen from your pet’s environment. One way to ease your pet’s allergies is to start using cleaning products that don’t have toxic chemical ingredients. PawSafe Household Cleaners clean every bit as well as the more mainstream brands and were specifically formulated to be safe around pets.

While keeping your pet away from allergens is best, it’s just simply not always possible, especially if your pet is allergic to pollen or grass. Vet’s Best Seasonal Allergy Support is a natural supplement that supports your pet’s skin health. It contains Nettle Leaf, which is used by herbalists across the globe to support normal histamine levels.

Remember, no two pets are the same; always make sure to talk with your vet about various treatments for your pet.