Issue #107
Did you know?
We want to thank you! For cycle 98, if you spend at least $75 on subscriptions you’ll get a month of membership for free! Read the details here!
Box 98 - Watch the unboxing here!
Available until May 14th ONLY, here’s the current lineup:
🦃Turkey gizzard
🐑Lamb spleen
🐟Capelin
🐄Beef aorta
🦆Duck head
🐖Pig ear
🦬Bison scapula
🦃Turkey meatballs
🐄Beef liver/beef spleen kibble topper
Did you hear the news? We’ve made some changes to our referral program and now you can do even more when you refer a friend!
Introducing Real Dog Coin!
1 RDC = $1. For every new referral, you and your friend will earn 10 RDC. Coins can be converted to dollars and used toward your next box, membership, add-on purchases, and even Secret Shop!
Every subscriber has a unique referral link and our referral program is open to everyone! Don’t know what your link is? Text member services! 858-348-5954
Learn more about Real Dog Coin here!
Dog trainer charged with abuse. A Florida dog trainer, Blessing Knighten, has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after her former employer provided videos of her kicking and choking dogs. Knighten claimed that her former employer, Steve Cabral, instructed her to treat the dogs that way and that they were not fed enough by the company. Cabral denied Knighten's allegations and stated that she made them up in retaliation for him reporting her to the authorities. The owner of the company, Fine Line Family K9, contacted authorities regarding the alleged abuse and provided videos of it to investigators. The condition of the abused dogs is unknown.
Pandemic pets didn’t eliminate stress and loneliness. A study by Purdue University shows pet owners grew closer to their pets during the pandemic but they may not have helped as much as we thought. Although pet owners claimed their pets had a positive impact on their mental health, their influence was unclear. Pets did not alleviate feelings of loneliness or stress. Owning a pet, however, did help buffer loneliness related to romantic relationships. During the pandemic, pet owners were more stressed than non-owners, likely due to the cost of pet care.
Balto’s DNA has been analyzed. A DNA study has reveal ed that Balto, who led a dog team on the last stretch of the serum run in Alaska in 1925, did not have any wolf blood in him, contrary to a legend that held that he was half-wolf. Researchers reconstructed his genome from skin samples taken from his taxidermied body and compared it to 680 contemporary dogs from 135 breeds. They found that Balto shared ancestors with modern-day Siberian Huskies and the sled dogs of Alaska and Greenland. He also had fewer potentially dangerous mutations than modern breeds of dogs, suggesting he was healthier.
Goldens honor Spencer. A group of golden retrievers met at the Boston Marathon on Sunday to honor Spencer, a golden retriever who died earlier this year. Spencer had been a staple at the marathon since 2015, waving a "Boston Strong" flag. The walk was organized by MA Golden Meetups. The group sold "golden strong" bandanas, raising about $1,000 for the Morris Animal Foundation, which works to research hemangiosarcoma, a type of cancer. He was named the official dog of the 126th Boston Marathon and received a surprise honor ahead of the race.
Dog food labels are misleading. A study has found that six popular dog food brands in the US contain undeclared species of animals and plants, many contradicting labeling claims. The research team used whole genome sequencing to identify the species present, finding that chicken and wheat species were present in all tested dog foods, although two dog food samples were declared not to contain chicken, and five were declared to be grain-free. Some even contained dog DNA! The undeclared inclusions could have health consequences, particularly for pets with allergies. The technique could be used by pet food companies to perform quality control on their products.
Dog rescued from cave. A hound named Shaker was rescued after f alling between 50 and 75 feet into a cave while chasing a raccoon in a wooded area near Bean Station, Tennessee. The dog was unable to move after the fall. Bean Station Volunteer Fire Department used trees as anchors and sent a rescuer to rappel into the cave to reach Shaker, who was brought to safety without any injuries. Shaker’s owner, Jacob Reed, said that the rescuers likely saved Shaker’s life, and that the hound was doing well at home after being checked by a vet.
Dog saved by Narcan. Toodles, a poodle in Pennsylvania , was revived with Narcan after an apparent drug overdose where both the dog and a person were found unconscious and unresponsive. The Philadelphia Police Department responded to the scene to help the person, while bystanders rushed the dog to a veterinary hospital, where veterinarians administered Narcan, a life-saving opiate reversal treatment. Toodles is believed to have ingested fentanyl. Since being rescued, Toodles has made a full recovery and has received adoption applications.
Both our Real Dog Food Nutrition Course and our Professional Canine Nutrition Certification are live! Here’s what one of our graduates had to say:
"If you are looking for information on why and how to transition your dog from the traditional commercial dry dog foods/kibble to a fresh or raw diet, this course is it. The nutrition course offers clear, concise, and appropriate information that will help you navigate through the mass distribution of content regarding raw feeding out there, most of which is biased or untrue. The primary goal of this course is to add to your knowledge repertoire so that when you do decide to make the transition, you can feel empowered and confident! 100% recommend!"
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