The Harbor Master's Log

Siberian Husky Rescue in Virginia

Tag Archives: Dog

Top 10 Dog and Cat Names of 2009

The nation’s largest pet insurer has released a list of the top dog and cat names for 2009. 

For six years in a row, Max ruled the top spot. But in an upset that is sure to have dog owners talking, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, has declared Bella the most popular dog name of 2009. VPI crunched the numbers on its more than 475,000 insured pets to determine this year’s most common names, and Bella beat out Max by more than 400 dogs. Fans of Max, however, can rest assured that for cats, that name is still top dog – er, top cat.

The top 3 dog names:  Bella, Max, Bailey.
The top 3 cat names:  Max, Chloe, Bella.

To see the complete list of top 10 dog and cat names, click here.

The Nature Hound Fundraiser – Doggy Treats for Under the Tree!!!

Pet Harbor is this month’s featured rescue on The Nature Hound’s website. Nature Hound creates all-natural dog treats, made with natural ingredients. There are banana & peanut bones, vanilla mint bones (for doggy breath), and pumpkin ginger bones, just to name a few. They sound yummy enough for humans to eat! 

This month 10% of all purchases are donated back to Pet Harbor!!  And if you use the coupon code “PetHarbor” at checkout, you can receive an additional 5% off!  Please visit the website and see the attached flyer for more details.  Information can also be found on the Pet Harbor website.

This is the perfect opportunity to find something healthy and yummy for our four-legged children to put under the tree from Santa Claws.  Orders must be placed by November 30th.

Commenters:  Have you ever ordered from The Nature Hound before?  Do you plan to participate in this fundraiser?

Shelter Dog Becomes Surrogate for African Painted Pups

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium staff were desperately seeking a surrogate mom for nine African painted puppies when they searched the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society‘s North Side shelter and found the perfect match.  Honey, a lab mix, had just given birth six weeks prior and was still able to nurse.

This domestic mixed-breed dog is acting as a surrogate mom for nine African painted dog pups at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. The pups mom died a few days after their birth.

This domestic mixed-breed dog is acting as a surrogate mom for nine African painted dog pups at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. The pups' mom died a few days after their birth.

“Latching onto nipples is huge for them, much better than latching onto a bottle,” said Dr. Stephanie James, the zoo’s director of veterinary service. “Raising African painted dogs on a domestic dog has not been done before. We’re breaking the mold.”

[...] “[Honey]‘s just been perfect, an absolutely fabulous mom,” Dr. Baker [the zoo's president and chief executive officer] said. “All of the pups are gaining weight.”

It’s too soon to know if all nine pups will survive, but thanks to this local shelter dog they’ve been given a fighting chance.