September 1, 2010

Media Contact: Jake Wolfe

Vetritionals

1-866-449-2480 ext. 4, jwolfe@vetritionals.com

Nutritional Pet Supplement Company Launches Website Featuring Celebrity Dog Trainer Zak George

Website Offers Dogs Vitamins and Their Owners Free Autographed Flying Discs

September 2, 2010 (Norman, OK) – Nutritional pet supplement company Vetritionals has launched a new website, allowing customers to buy dog vitamins and other supplements directly from the manufacturer. Customers are also being offered incentives to place an order.

Vetritionals products have sold in PETCO stores for a few years under a different label. Now the same products are available online under the Vetritionals brand name at Vetritionals.com.

Featured on the company’s website is Zak George, host of Animal Planet’s “SuperFetch” and YouTube’s most subscribed dog trainer. George, a YouTube sensation who gets over 10,000 views of his online videos daily, is a vocal advocate of proper health for pets. He has expressed excitement to be a part of the Vetritionals team.

“I’m very particular about the products I choose to associate with,” said George. “It’s absolutely critical to me that I believe in any product I endorse. Vetritionals offers products I completely believe in.”

In addition to dog vitamins and other pet supplements, Vetritionals is offering a limited number of website customers a free flying disc autographed by Zak George. These discs feature an image of George and his three dogs, Venus, Alpha Centauri, and Supernova. Each disc is personally autographed by George and expected to be a collector’s item.

“These are the actual discs I use to train with my dogs. I think they’ll be a fun item for pet parents to own. Though, with my signature on it, I’m not sure they’ll want their dogs playing with them,” said George, with a laugh.

Vetritionals is also running promotions and contests via Twitter to encourage members to try the company’s supplements and vitamins for their pets. Followers of the company’s Twitter account at twitter.com/Vetritionals may receive tweets featuring discount codes good for 10 percent off any order at Vetritionals.com.

Additionally, followers may enter the “Cool Dog Name of the Day” contest by tweeting their entry to the Vetritionals Twitter account. Daily winners receive a 20% discount on any order. Vetritionals plans to continuously run contests and promotions at its website and through Twitter.

About Vetritionals Pet Supplement Products

Vetritionals provides what it calls the “Gold Standard” of vitamins for pets. The pet supplement company features a line of pet health products developed by veterinarians and pharmacists to help pets live younger longer. These products include Vetritionals Vitamins & Minerals and Joint & Hip Complete liquid supplements.

Dogs require the same six essential nutrients that humans do: water, protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Vitamins & Minerals takes care of a great portion of of these nutrients by providing nearly two dozen vitamins and minerals in concentrations dogs of all ages need for optimal nutritional health.

Joint & Hip Complete is designed to help dogs achieve and maintain optimal joint and hip health by lubricating the joints and improving shock absorption. It also serves as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever and helps to restore joint function by reducing degeneration and inflammation. This liquid pet supplement for dogs contains glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid—ingredients well known for their therapeutic hip and joint health benefits.

Many customers have provided excellent reviews of these products. These reviews can be read at the Vetritionals website, http://Vetritionals.com.

About Vetritionals

Headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma, Vetritionals has a mission of helping pets live younger longer. The company aims to create the very best pet nutritional products in the world. Vetritionals works with top veterinarians and pharmacists to formulate products that provide maximum health benefits, including reduced stress, weight loss, stronger bones and joints, and prolonged lifespan. Vetritionals products can be found online at http://Vetritionals.com. The company also founded the Vetritionals Pet Rescue Fund (http://Vetritionals.com/petrescuefund/), administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, “to support rescue and relief efforts of pets affected by natural disasters and other devastating emergencies.”

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Also, with Hurricane Earl bearing down on the East Coast, and tropical storm Fiona following right behind, more people and their pets in the U.S. could face dire circumstances. Hurricanes are major events that create mass pet relinquishments, overwhelming animal shelters and forcing mass pet destructions.

So, with yet another oil rig explosion upon us and hurricane season in full effect—and many pets’ lives hanging in the balance—we urge all of our readers to please consider a small contribution of $5 or $10 to our Pet Rescue Fund. We’re doing what we can to make the world a better place for our pets, and we’d love to do it with you as a generous guardian angel on our side.

It is a sad day for us here at Vetritionals. The problems just do not seem to end for those living on the Gulf Coast. Today, September 2, 2010, another oil rig platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.  The oil rig explosion sent 13 of its crew members into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico as they tried to escape imminent death.  This explosion of the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico is 92 miles off the coast of Louisiana. There have not been any specific reports of any oil spill yet, as the investigation is underway.

This Louisiana oil rig explosion may have great repercussions for the community of the Gulf Coast. While the folks are dealing with all of the consequences of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, this explosion comes at the worst possible time. The potential is there for many more individuals to lose their employment from drilling moratoriums imposed by the US government. This type of blow will definitely take its course and many hidden victims will bear its burden!

We have been reaching out to everyone we know to help spread the word about the Vetritionals Pet Rescue Fund that is being administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation. The fund directly aids animal shelters and other nonprofit organizations in their rescue and relief efforts. During the BP oil rig explosion and spill, pets were dropped off by the hundreds at animal shelters because the owners could not afford to keep them or their personal situations were abruptly altered. Consequently, shelters did not have the room to house these animals or the funds to care for them and they were being needlessly killed daily simply because of space and resource shortages!

Sadly, this second oil rig explosion may have the same tragic and unfair consequences on even more unfortunate pets.

To all who read this: Please make people aware of the situation for the hidden victims of the Gulf Coast and direct them to watch our documentary, produced by Zak George of Animal Planet’s “SuperFetch,” at www.vetritionals.com/petrescuefund.

We sincerely hope that this new oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico will not run its ugly course. Thank you for your concern and help with this critical situation.

The Vetritionals Team

Media Contact: Jake Wolfe

Vetritionals

1-866-449-2480 ext. 4, jwolfe@vetritionals.com

Zak George & Venus

Zak George Joins Pioneering Pet Nutrition Company to Help Pets Live Younger Longer

Host of Animal Planet’s “SuperFetch” Is New Face of Vetritionals

September 1, 2010 (Norman, OK) – Zak George is now the famous face of Vetritionals, a pioneering company in the pet nutrition industry. The celebrated host of Animal Planet’s “SuperFetch” and YouTube’s most subscribed dog trainer has joined Vetritionals as a spokesperson and consultant.

“I’m very particular about the products I choose to associate with,” said George. “It’s absolutely critical to me that I believe in any product I endorse. Vetritionals offers products I completely believe in.”

In addition to hosting Animal Planet’s “SuperFetch,” George is a YouTube sensation. He has a huge following of fans who watch his videos, which are primarily on dog training, although he also covers pet rescues and his own unique and entertaining spins on ordinary events in his life. His videos on YouTube, TwitVid, and other online video services combined get over 10,000 views per day, and many of his videos go viral, reaching over 1 million views within several months.

George’s role with Vetritionals includes helping to promote the company’s innovative pet health products via online videos as well as live event appearances. Additionally, his image is appearing on all Vetritionals product labels. Displayed with him on the labels is his dog Venus, an acrobatic Australian Shepherd who co-stars in many of George’s popular YouTube videos.

Additionally, George is spearheading the Vetritionals Pet Rescue Fund, an initiative to support rescue and relief efforts of pets affected by natural disasters and other devastating emergencies. The Pet Rescue Fund is presently raising funds to assist animal shelters in the Gulf Coast region. Because of the BP oil spill, numerous pets have been relinquished or have ended up homeless, inundating area animal shelters and forcing an extremely high rate of euthanasia, including 197 pets at a single shelter in June.

“Vetritionals is highly concerned with promoting a higher quality of life for pets and their human parents,” said George. “I am proud to help lead its Pet Rescue Fund.”

About the Products

Known as the “Gold Standard” of pet nutrition companies, Vetritionals features a line of unique nutritional supplements developed by veterinarians and pharmacists to enhance pet health. These products include Vetritionals Vitamins & Minerals and Joint & Hip Complete liquid supplements.

Dogs and cats require the same six essential nutrients that humans do: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients are best consumed through a diet rich in a wide variety of foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables—which most dogs refuse to eat. Vetritionals Vitamins & Minerals, therefore, delivers over 20 vitamins and minerals in the right concentrations for dogs of all ages. It is designed to supplement the typical homogenous canine diet of the same dry food day after day, thereby helping dogs to achieve and maintain their optimal nutritional health.

Joint & Hip Complete helps to restore joint function in dogs by reducing degeneration and inflammation. It also helps lubricate the joints, thus improving shock absorption, and it serves as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. This liquid formula contains ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid, and it has been called “the fountain of youth for dogs” because of its amazing results. Many customers have provided excellent reviews of this product. These reviews can be found at the Vetritionals website, http://vetritionals.com.

About Vetritionals

Headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma, Vetritionals has a mission of helping pets live younger longer. The company aims to create the very best pet nutritional products in the world. Vetritionals works with top veterinarians and pharmacists to formulate the very best therapeutic pet products that provide maximum health benefits, including reduced stress, weight loss, stronger bones and joints, and prolonged lifespan. Vetritionals products can be found online at http://vetritionals.com.

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Whether you own a cat or a dog, identification is an essential part of pet ownership. This is mainly due to your city or state’s licensing or identification requirements. Pet identification helps reduce the number of stray dogs in streets. This can be done using various methods depending on the cost and availability in the market.

Do tags do the trick?

Ideally, municipal tags do the trick.  One can purchase a municipal license tag from the city. By buying a license tag, your pet will be assigned a number which is then entered in a computer database. Then the tag will be attached to your pet’s collar. The advantage of having a license tag is when a pet is found, an animal control officer can just check the tag number, look up its owner’s information in the database, and notify its owners.

There are plastic and metal pet identification tags available in the market. You can choose the color and design of the dog tags along with the collars.  Most pet owners prefer the reflective type so that the dog or cat can still be identified even in the dark.  Although the dog or cat can look extra adorable by wearing such tags, this item can also fall off and get lost.

Another option is to have a tattoo etched on one of the dog’s ears during his spay/neuter surgery.  What’s good about tattoos is that is visible and a somewhat permanent method of identification.  The owner will not have to fear about missing collars if the pet has its ID tattooed on him.  However, tattoos fade, so a dog may need to have its tattoo retraced from time to time.

With the rapid growth in technology, scientists have developed microchips as a method of pet identification. These chips can be embedded into the dog. Most microchip implants are placed behind the ears.  Each chip contains all the data about your pet.  This data is then saved in a computer database. But how does it work?  Similar to municipal license tags, an animal control officer can look up its owner’s information from a database.  Since most animal shelters and city pounds are equipped with scanners, they can easily scan your pet’s body to retrieve the pet’s owner’s information.

Old school or new technology – tag your pet

More than aesthetics, having some form of pet identification is important as this ensures you that you will have a good chance of retrieving your pet should it get lost. By performing this simple yet essential task, you can avoid the pain and suffering of losing a pet.

The Puppy

What’s good about getting a puppy is that you have a hand in guiding it through its growth and maintaining its well-being.  You will have the chance to watch it grow and you can raise it according to what you want.  Having a puppy also means you can keep track of its diet, making sure that it is properly nurtured with the right dog food, that it receives the right dog shots, and ensure that it will not acquire heartworms at an early stage. Another advantage is that you can personally train it and teach him exactly the things you want him to learn.

It is recommended to adopt a puppy that is at least ten weeks old since puppies need a lot of time to be taken care of by their mothers.  Moreover, this creates some psychological advantage for both the puppy and the mother.  Compared to an adult dog, a puppy can easily adapt to new surroundings. Another reason why people opt to get a puppy is because they are very cute and entertaining.

These adorable little creatures can be an instant hit with anyone – young and old.  However, due to the fact that puppies are young, their playfulness can cause minimal to major damage to personal belongings, especially when they are in the teething stage.  Puppies also need to be housebroken and house trained – things that would require a lot of time and effort. Their temperaments and looks may also change as they grow older.

The Adult Dog

Other people prefer taking care of an adult dog because there’s less fuss in taking care of an older dog. They can also easily adapt to a new environment.  One needs to spend a lot of time with an adult dog to learn its temperament. This will require getting as much information as possible before adopting.  You may also want to take note of its habits, mood swings, and other behavioral issues by asking its previous owners. Because you’re not its original owner, it might take some time and effort for an adult dog to be comfortable with you. It’s also important to take the time to introduce the dog to the members of the family so that the dog can be familiar with them and refrain from biting or barking, thinking that they may be strangers.

One of the advantages of having an adult dog is that it doesn’t need your full attention, unlike puppies. The physique and behavior of an adult dog may not vary anymore since it is fully grown. Basically, what you see is what you get.  In addition, adult dogs are already housebroken. This means there’s a lesser probability of the dog causing damage to your belongings since they may have already outgrown the impulse to chew on things. Finally, unlike puppies, adult dogs are less hyper and won’t wake up in the middle of the night.

Whether you’re getting a puppy or an adult dog, remember that by adopting a pet, you’re supporting rescue groups, animal shelters, and other humane societies.  And most importantly, you’re giving a dog a home and a second chance.

Those rules are:

Before the visit:
1. Make sure that everyone is in agreement about the kind of pet that you are looking for. This should include the breed, size, and sex of the pet. Discuss this thoroughly with your children and make sure that they understand that any sign of dissent will equal an end to the trip immediately.
2. Make sure that everyone in the family is aware of proper animal safety rules. Do they know how to approach an animal correctly? Is there any chance at all that anyone will be frightened? A frightened child might equal a frightened pet – which could mean trouble.
3. Finally, make sure that everyone knows what to expect – that there will be a lot of animals, and that while it is sad that they are there, you can only take one. Also, find out the shelter’s policies on the actual adoption – will you fill out forms and wait for approval, or will you be able to take your pet home that night?

While at the shelter:
1. Remind children of the rules and make sure that they are within arm’s reach of you at all times.
2. Walk through and do a quick scan, narrowing the family’s selections down to a few and then returning for a closer inspection.
3. Ask questions of the shelter staff, including known health history, behavior, and any other key facts that they might have.
4. Visit with the selected pet if that is allowed, watching the interaction between him and the family members.

After the visit:
1. Come home to allow everyone to discuss his or her feelings about the pet in question. Did they like him, or did they think that there might be a better pet out there somewhere?
2. Call the shelter staff and update them on your family’s decision. If you have decided to adopt, fill out necessary forms if you have not already, and pay any fees. If you have decided against adoption, then tell the shelter staff any reasons that you might have – so that they can keep your input in mind when showing the pet to the next family.

Adopting a pet should be rewarding, and it will be – as long as everyone knows what to expect from the very start.

If you still want to help shelters, then you can by making a donation to the Vetritionals Pet Rescue Fund.  The fund helps pets in need and provides donations to shelters that need food and supplies for abandoned pets.

Dog Trainer and Host of Animal Planet’s SuperFetch, Zak George, and Vetritionals are giving  homeless dogs of the oil spill new “leashes” on life, through straight donations and by giving 5% of all product sales. The national awareness and fundraising campaign rallies and rewards dog lovers nationwide who come to the rescue of the millions of shelter dogs waiting to find good homes.

As a dog owner, lover, and trainer, dog adoption is a cause close to Zak’s  heart. In fact, he recently traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana to help shelters overburdened with pets that have been given up by families who have lost income, homes, and any control of their life due the oil spill’s devastating effect on their livelihood.

As part of the national adoption efforts to reach families and homes outside of the oil spill area,  Zak and Vetritionals hope to encourage adoptions and engage dog lovers in this important cause in these simple ways:

• Support Fundraising Efforts – Vetritionals is donating 5% of all product sales to support  animal shelters in areas affected by the oil spill.
• Pass along Twitter tweets or Facebook status updates by following @Vetritionals on Twitter and becoming a fan of the Vetritional’s Pet Rescue Fund.

Pet adoptions

There is no better time than now to bring home a source of unconditional love and adopt a canine companion.

It’s important to note that adopting a pet is a very important decision that should not be taken lightly. Caring for a pet is a big responsibility, but most dog lovers will tell you that adding a canine to your family will bring a great deal of joy and happiness.

• 86.3 percent say their dog makes them feel better about themselves – both emotionally and physically.
• 64.8 percent say their dog is a good source of unconditional love.
• 60 percent consider their dog part of the family, showcasing their pets in family portraits and even on holiday cards.
• 77.7 percent believe that adopting from a shelter is the right thing to do.

Vetritionals products are available online at www.Vetritionals.com and soon through affiliate marketing sites.

There are many reasons for people to get pets. Some get a companion so that they do not feel lonely. Some get a jogging partner or walking mate to help them lose weight. Some find themselves getting a pet for a sense of security. No matter why they choose to get a pet, people should be encouraged to begin their search at the local shelter. Adopting a pet is not only less expensive than buying from the pet stores, it can be a socially and emotionally rewarding way to find your next best friend.

Shelters all over the country are filled beyond capacity with a frightening number of pets being euthanized each day. (Note:  The videos on this blog posted by Zak George, Dog Trainer and Host of Animal Planet’s SuperFetch- and his recent trip and plea for help for the silent victims of the oil spill). While it is true that each purebred breed has its own fan club, there is an awful lot to be said for the pound puppies as well.

Do not let a less than pedigreed pooch put you off, there is no certification for true love.

The best adoption shelters in the country will put each pet and potential pet owner through rigorous examinations before allowing you to bring your choice home, a fact that may put a shelter dog ahead of others in safety. Do you really know what the aggression factor is with that purebred? I bet they can tell you the answer to that question at the shelter. They not only check for health risks, but social skills as well. Pets that show any sign of fear, aggression or other potential problems will be labeled as un-adoptable and kept in the shelter. Others will find themselves looking for and hopefully finding their new forever home.

Start at a shelter

In the end, it if it does not matter where you find your best friend, why not start at the shelter? Find the nearest shelter and start your search there.  Or, want to make a difference that’s two-fold?  Why not help out a displaced dog and provide relief to overburdened shelters in the areas hardest hit by the oil spill here? Not finding the right breed or the right size dog? Leave your name and number with staff, along with a brief description of what you would like to find and they will probably come through fairly quickly.

Love is pure

Don’t get hung up on designer dogs and expensive pet stores. Do not buy a puppy from a breeder that you are not familiar with, because who will you complain to if there is a problem? And never buy a pet from a suspected puppy mill or any company that might deal with the mills and unscrupulous breeders. Adopting a pet from a shelter will save its life, and your new four-legged family member will steal your heart in the process!

They love us – just take a look….

We are sharing the following thank you note from the CEO of the Louisiana SPCA to emphasize the urgency and magnitude of the situation down there. If you have a big heart for animals, please help through a generous donation to the Pet Rescue Fund or adopt a pet from one of the affected shelters. You may donate directly to the Pet Rescue Fund (which is administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization) as well as view pet adoption listings at this site. Additionally, if you purchase one of our Vetritionals products, which benefits the health of your own pet immensely, we will donate 5% of the purchase price to the Greater New Orleans Foundation. There are several ways you can help!

Thank you,

Vetritionals

 

“Mr. Wolfe, Zak, and the Vetritionals team,

Thank you for taking the time to visit our region and the Louisiana SPCA. Any attention your company can bring to the plight of the animals affected by this disaster is beneficial. We feel privileged to be in a position to help the companion animals who are so often the voiceless victims of a disaster. With your generous time and donations we will be able to increase our outreach.

Sincerely,
Ana Zorrilla, CEO of LA/SPCA”