i was just scouring the NY website to see if they had anything else posted on pet month...i was noticing that people were starting a list/commentary on what kind of things they wanted to discuss this month related to the months 'issue'. maybe that's something that could be done in the future. aka, at the beginning of the month when AT announces the topic, the rest of us can start a list of things we'd like to discuss/research. don't know if that would be helpful to the AT editors or more of a hindrance. just a thought.

also, very excited about Pet Month. our cat has turned into our baby, and we talk about her incessantly once people mention cats. we're kinda sickening. plus, this might be the first time i get to enter a contest! (there will be a contest, right?)

bbt:

helpful, definitely helpful!

we usually do an "announcement" post each monday which discusses the theme for the month and what's going on - that's a good place to post ideas and requests. open threads like this one work, too.

of course, you can always email us directly with suggestions/tips/questions as well.

we just got a puppy about 6 weeks ago, so this is perfect timing for pet month! i'm wondering if anyone's taken their dogs/puppies to training classes at petsmart, or anywhere else good (though i'm not in the chicago metro area). anyone?

We brought our pup to the Barking Lot on Irving Park (not a chain so that might not be that helpful if you're out of Chicago) but it was really great. I've trained other dogs at Petsmarts and found it to be inconsistent - sometimes the dogs are easily distracting by all the stuff that's going on around them. But puppy classes in general are such fun and the dogs get to socialize. It was a highlight of our week.

erin,

check out the urbanhound website posted on the site earlier today. they probably have listing for the suburbs too.

ok, my thoughts on topics for Pet Month!
- recommended pet shelters that people have gotten loved ones from
- pet food ('cause i love the stuff my vet recommended)
- kitty scratch 'posts' (though i know there was a thread last month about this...i just want a competition as an excuse to get my husband to take a nice photo of our cat's 'box'.)
-alternative animal toys ('cause i hate paying a lot for something my cat's gonna destroy.)

errr...anyone else?

oh, i thought of something i'd love to read about...

our puppy has a gigantic black-wire crate (the fold-down type) and there's really no room for it anywhere but our living room. i'm okay with that, because the living room is for her to live in too, but i would love to see some interesting ways to cover it up and integrate it into the room better. we can't just get another more fashionable type, because 1) we travel a lot and need the collapsible kind and 2) we just don't have the money for fancy dog furniture.

slipcovers, anyone?

i found a litter box that isn't too horrible & you can get it at many pet stores. do a google search for booda dome & you can see it. i got one in the cream color. it blends in well. plus, it looks sorta modern (i mean, for a litter box). plus, it's round so nothing get stuck in the corners. the filter is nice too. it's also quite tiny.

Does anyone remember the "Parade of Pet Homes"? River North businesses designed creative doghouses for auction to benefit the Anti-Cruelty society. They were probably very impractical but perhaps still a good source of ideas- and at least a good cause. I know they had it a couple years ago, and they've done it more than once, but I don't know if it's an annual thing or if they're doing it this year.