The Pixie Project will be closed July 3rd - 5th for the Independence Day Holiday.

We all know that our furry friends warm our hearts, but there are actually cardiovascular benefits of pet ownership as well. A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that male dog owners were significantly less likely to die within one year after a heart attack than those without a dog. Other research indicates that the presence of a pet is associated with a decreased cardiovascular reactivity to stressors and that cardiovascular risk factors were greater among those who did not own pets than those who did.

According to the CDC, pet ownership can decrease your:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels
• Triglyceride levels
• Feelings of loneliness

Pets can increase your:

• Opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
• Opportunities for socialization
• Sense of well being

Pets are not only beneficial to adults; research studies have indicated that owning a pet enhances children’s self-esteem and having an animal during therapy sessions contributes to significant improvements in the treatment of a child suffering from an ailment.

Pet owners are lucky because we have the privilege of experiencing the healing presence of animals every day. If you are already a pet owner and want to share the benefits of your pet with others, you can learn how to with animal assisted therapy through the Delta Society.

The Pixie Project is thrilled to announce the winner of its first ever Pet Photo Contest!

Congratulations to Kathy Reese and her cat, Oreo! A resident of Portland, Kathy has been caring for Oreo since she was eight weeks old. Oreo is now 5 ½, and the two couldn’t be happier!

"Does this tube make my tail look big?"

As the winner of our contest, Kathy will receive a $15 gift certificate to spend at the Pixie Project’s non-profit retail store! This pet food and supply store is unique because 100% of the proceeds from the store directly support the Pixie Project’s animal rescue mission.

With the announcement of our first winner, we’d like to kick-off the second part of our contest – the Pixie Project Pet Photo Caption Contest! It’s time to put on your thinking caps, readers! Come up with another creative, humorous or completely appropriate caption for the above photo and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for your chance to win another $15 gift certificate to the Pixie Project store!

Deadline to enter is Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

As pet owners, all of us at some point have come home to find chewed up shoes, soiled carpet or angry neighbors who are tired of little Fido serenading the neighborhood. While there are several possible reasons for destructive behavior, like boredom or incomplete training, this behavior can also be a sign that your furry friend is under stress and may be suffering from separation anxiety. According to the ASPCA, Separation Anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from the people they’re attached to. Common symptoms of separation anxiety include:

-Soiling

-Barking

-Howling

-Chewing

-Digging

-Destruction

-Escaping

-Pacing

One safe and effective way to help your dog cope with being alone is through the use pheromone sprays, like Comfort Zone. Pheromones are natural chemicals emitted by animals through their skin and glands that help them communicate with each other. Comfort Zone mimics the “appeasing” pheromones secreted by nursing mother dogs, sending a signal of comfort and safety to her puppies. When your dog or puppy senses the pheromone, he feels secure and comfortable, reducing fear reactions and destructive behavior.

This is a natural and effective way to reduce stress for your dog (and yourself). Comfort Zone comes in a mist that you can spray in your car, home, or pet’s crate. There is also a plug-in diffuser for your home that lasts up to 30 days. Fortunately, only doggie noses are sensitive enough to smell the pheromones.

Comfort Zone can be found at the Pixie Project store located at 510 NE MLK in Portland.

In addition to making lasting matches, here at Pixie we strive to improve the lives and health of pets. Part of this commitment is kept by providing opportunity, wisdom and products that improve the relationships between pets and owners.

In this week’s product spotlight, we are proud to share the premier Tug-A-Jug from the Busy Buddy line. Let’s face it, although always rewarding, parenting is not easy. Sometimes our favorite family member might not understand why they can’t enjoy our favorite pair of slippers as much as we do - by chewing them!

This nifty little device allows you to curb several potential disruptive qualities of your otherwise perfect pet. This treat dispensing chew toy gives your pet a harmless and expendable toy that supplies countless hours of fun with a rope-pulling dispensing system. Now, your pet will redirect potentially destructive chewing behavior into rewarding playtime.

The Tug-A-Jug, is durable enough for fetch, potentially cheaper than slippers and constructed from healthier materials than most of your wardrobe and furniture. The jug comes with instruction, play ideas and can be ready to use with the addition of some tasty treats.

The Tug-A-Jug, along with many other products, can be found at our retail store on 510 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Remember that all profits from our retail merchandise goes to support our pet adoption, matching and animal rescue services. So bring your pet for a walk in the wonderful summer weather and stop on by.

Also, look for us at the Portland Saturday Market and on Twitter for an opportunity to receive a free Support Adoption leash. We can’t wait to see you!

Last week I started my first experience as a foster parent to a little guy named Rudy. While both Rudy and I have had a few bumps in the road (not eating and a couple of accidents in the house), we have bonded and are now becoming the best of friends.

What are the benefits of fostering? The first reaction that comes from a lot of people when they hear about the program is "you’re going to get attached." While attachment to the new furry friend can be a problem, the experience of rescuing a dog is rewarding and heartwarming. The improvement I have seen Rudy make in his personality and friendliness has been gratifying. When he first came home from the shelter he was coming down with kennel cough and wouldn’t respond to his name. He now gets excited to go on walks and is ready to love with a tail wagging and ears perked.

While it can and oftentimes will be hard to say goodbye, the joy of fostering is that a new and loveable animal will come into your life. There are lots of dogs in other shelters in need of good homes and people to love. If you are considering getting an animal but not sure if you’re ready or what kind of animal you want, fostering is the perfect way to have a trial-and-error experience, without actually buying an animal.

To learn more about the Pixie Project’s foster program feel free call or learn more about it on this website.

- Casey Colesworthy

It’s the age-old argument of quality versus quantity. The twist? In this case, the consumer has no say, literally. There’s no doubt that we love our pets, but pet food tends to be subordinated to convenience and limiting our expenditures in this economy. Here are some things to consider, when buying food for your furry family members:

1. Do the due diligence. Do you buy your food based on the commercials? I hope not. Read the ingredients, compare the food and make a nutrition conscious choice the same way you would if the food was on your plate.

Proper nutrition, derived from organic pet food, is attributed to reducing skin ailments and allergies, partially because there are no artificial colors or flavor enhancers. Without the bulk filler that accompanies most pet food, your pet receives quality nutrition sparking more energy and a healthy weight.

Organic food does not contain chemicals and artificial substances, which reduces the cause of digestive disorders. Instead, organic food offers your pet superior grains and protein, easily digestible oats and, most notably, human-grade meats. Proper nutrition will increase your pets health, immunity, longevity and quality of life.

2. Make the switch slowly. If you decide to change your pet over to an organic food diet, switch foods gradually. The swap should take place gradually over no less than four days, preferably longer. A rushed change in diet may cause stomach cramps, heartburn, indigestion and refusal to eat and other colorful ailments for your four-legged
critter.

3. Treat your pet’s food as you would your own. Ensure that you wash your hands with warm, soapy water every time you handle your pets food to reduce any possible exposure to Salmonella and other food-borne illnesses.

Also, be sure to refridgerate any moist foods and clean out your pets bowls and trays often. The FDA warns that there are “bacterial microbes in [your pet’s] mouths and these microbes can be transferred to dishes.”

If you have any questions concerning your pet’s food selection or need a referral to a good local pet veterinarian, please feel free to come into the store and chat with us. We also host a full array of organic pet food and a membership discount to customers.

Every pet deserves the chance to be a star! Is your pet hilarious, unique or an all-around ham? Then the Pixie Project wants to hear from you!

Announcing the Pixie Project Pet Photo & Caption Contest! We’re looking for creative, hilarious or crazy photos of your favorite furry family members. As an incentive, at the end of each contest period two winners will receive $15 gift certificates to the Pixie Project’s non-profit retail store!

There are two ways to win. It’s simple! Submit a funny or crazy photo of your pet by the specified deadline. The Pixie Project will choose the best photo and post it back here on this blog. That winner will receive the first gift certificate!

Readers will then be asked to submit a funny or creative caption for the winning photo, and submit it in the same manner. After the final deadline, the Pixie Project will then choose the best caption and post it to this blog. The winner of the best caption will also receive a gift certificate!

Read on for more information about contest rules and how to enter.

Contest Rules:

1. The Pixie Project will pick two winners: one for the photo contest and one for the caption contest.

2. The winning photo will be posted every Monday and the winning caption will be posted the following Friday. Photo entries can be submitted at any time, but only those received by each deadline will be judged. All other photos received will be judged after the next submission deadline.

3. Decisions of the contest judges at the Pixie Project are final.

4. Each winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to the Pixie Project’s non-profit retail store. The coupon is good for all products, excluding food and litter.

5. Prizes can be claimed at the Pixie Project’s store, located at 510 NE Martin Luther King Blvd in Portland, Oregon. 
In the event of an out-of-town winner, the Pixie Project will contact the winner directly to arrange an online order. Products currently available online can be viewed at http://www.pixieproject.org/shop/shop-online.

6. Prizes are not redeemable for cash and must be accepted as awarded.

7. By claiming the prize, each winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation, of his or her name and/or photograph for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium which the Pixie Project may deem appropriate.

7. With each submission please include your name, your pet’s name, your contact information and how long you and your pet have been together.

8. One entry per pet, per contest.

8. Please submit all photo and caption entries, as well as questions, to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Have FUN, and we look forward to seeing your best photos!

The first deadline to enter a photo is Sunday, May 16, 2010.