Moving to a place down the block, to another city or another state can be stressful. In many ways, your pets can react to moving in the same way humans do. It is a stressful time for them too. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind while moving yourself and your pet.

• Make sure your pet has a check-up with your vet and ask the veterinarian if they know of any diseases that your pet might be at risk for in the area you are moving to.
• Pack your pet’s medical history.
• Pack your pet’s toys, food dishes, blankets, etc in the same box for quick access.
• If you have a smaller animal that lives in a cage (like a snake, hamster or bird), keep it in there during the move, take out anything that might tumble around and injure your pet, and cover it with a blanket so they don’t become overstimulated with new scenery.
• If you’re traveling, never leave your pets alone in the car with your windows up.
• Don’t wash your pets favorite blanket or pillow during a move. This allows them to have a familiar scent in their new home.
• Let your pet stretch and relax as soon as you can, and walk them around the property so they are familiar with their boundaries.

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Some homeowners who can’t afford their mortgage payment, and find themselves in property foreclosure are not only walking away from their home, but they’re also walking away from their pets.

They’re called, “foreclosure pets” and when the owner walks away from the home they leave there pet behind. You’d think it would be as simple as taking the animal to the nearest pet shelter or finding the loved one a good home, but it’s more complicated then that.

Animals who get “left behind” are the personal property of their owners, and therefore cannot legally be taken from the property.

A woman named Cheryl Lang, president of REO management firm Integrated Mortgage Solutions, heard about the growing problem and started a non-profit organization called, No Paws Left Behind. She utilizes her network of contractors to feed and care for the abandoned pets until they can legally be taken from the home.

If you are a property owner who is about to be foreclosed upon and have no place to take your pet, or if you are interested in helping or donating, visit the No Paws Left Behind website at: http://www.NoPawsLeftBehind.org

The Lodi Association of Realtors will be hosting an event at Micke Gove Zoo in Lodi. Come out and show your support for the Lodi Association and for PMZ. The bigger presence we have at the event, the more it will show how successful PMZ Real Estate and our agents really are.

We’ll post another blog when the event draws nearer, but this little note will allow you to think ahead and save the date in your schedules. Plan on coming and bring your family!

August 8th, 2007
11:00 am

Mickey Grove Zoo
11793 North Mickey Grove Road
Lodi, CA 95240
Click for Map

Featuring:
Catered Food
Live Music
Carnival and Games

Click the button below to add this event to your Google Calendar:

I’ll bet Mike, Jon and Paula never imagined the impromptu nature show they, and all of us, would experience as inhabitants of the new PMZ Corporate Headquarters. In addition to the hawks soaring between trees and the ducks quacking in the shallow waters of the Dry Creek, there’s also been a fox spotted sunning along the riverbank. It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen her - and today we got a truly front row show. She appeared with four of her kits (baby foxes) this morning. I grabbed my camera and took some video of the pack playing. It’s just adorable!

The amazed corporate crowd below.

There’s some very passionate dog & cat fanatics at PMZ. And, you’ve surely run across home buyers & sellers who consider their pets like children. In some cases, their canine companions may be service dogs, serving a life-or-death role in their daily lives. Well now our companions lives’ are at risk. This week a massive pet food recall is striking fear in many. We have the details here, and links for you to find out more.

The recall involves Ontario-based Menu Foods’ “cuts and gravy” style cat and dog food packaged from Dec. 3 to March 6. The wet food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, is packaged in cans and small foil pouches. The food was sold under numerous brand names - 40 cat food brands and 51 dog food brands as of Monday.

The pet food was sold throughout North America under both store and major brand labels at Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers including PetsMart and Petco (that have stores in the Central Valley and Mother Lode). A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web site — http://www.menufoods.com/recall

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