Archive for the ‘Fun Stuff’ Category
Natural Remedies in an Artificial World
Ancient Greek physician and father of western medicine, Hippocrates, once shared his simple but yet life-saving philosophy “let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food.” Sadly, this minimalistic concept has now become so obstructed by the prescription drug and chemical-dominated world we live in today, many are not aware of the organic alternatives that do not carry the negative side-effects as other “convenience” products may. Looking for natural remedies in a world full of artificial treatments may be a bit daunting, but once you realize there are organic solutions to your everyday problems, you will not think twice about how to cure your throbbing headache, repel fleas and other biting bugs, or remove stains from your rug (note: elbow grease may also be required). Knowing the countless benefits of living organically and taking the natural route to healing by using simple, pure ingredients Mother Nature has to offer us is extremely achievable and affordable. Over the next several months, Max & Ruffy’s is excited to share some of our favorite natural alternatives with you and your dog! Stay tuned……
In honor of Pet Nutrition Month
Okay, so it has been quite some time since our last post, so we decided that what better way to get back into posting than to write a little something in honor of March Pet Nutrition Month. It is perfect timing too since an article was posted yesterday on CNN in the living section on a vegan diet for dogs. We were especially excited to see this article because it shows that dogs can indeed live a happy, and most importantly, healthy life on a vegan diet. While it is great to see this topic making mainstream news, we of course know this to be true as our three dogs are living examples of a healthy dogs on a vegan diet! Now, while I am on the subject of my three dogs, I would like to share a little something about my oldest dog Edith. Edith is going to celebrate her 17th birthday this June! She is an excellent example of a vegan dog who is thriving. She currently is disease free and medication free. She, along with my other two dogs, eats a varied diet that consists of some commercial organic vegan pet food, as well as a varied diet of home-cooked dog food. Yes, she gets plenty of complete protein, healthy fats, and oils to keep her shiny and full of energy! Oh, she also gets plenty of Max & Ruffy’s organic dog treats!!!
Okay, back to pet nutrition month. We feel that every month should keep your dogs’ nutrition at the forefront, but in honor of the dedicated month, we would like to offer some suggestions that we feel may help you in your quest to a healthy and thriving dog. Below are some of the things that we do for our three dogs that we believe keep them at optimal health:
1: Supplementation of a daily multivitamin
2: Addition of coconut oil to food to help maintain healthy skin and coat – also good for the joints and metabolism : it is recommended to give 1tsp per 10lbs of body weight daily
3: Addition of Omega 3,6,9 with DHA : recommended 1tsp per 10lbs of body weight daily
4: Regular check-ups from your DVM
5: Varied diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables
6: Regular oral care
**** we are not veterinarians and recommend that you consult your vet to aid you in achieving an optimal nutrition plan for your companion***
Oh, Edith would like to remind you that healthy dog treats are an important part of the equation. Max & Ruffy’s dog treats are a great way to help you offer a healthy nutritious snack for your favorite friend!
Max & Ruffy’s gives back
We hate to waste here at Max & Ruffy’s. So instead of wasting product that has been a tad bit overbaked or is left-over from our baking run we donate it! We recently just shipped out several pounds of our so called “reject” treats to Pigs Peace Sancturary , a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe home for unwanted, abused or neglected animals in need and is committed to spreading the message of compassion and respect for all animals in Seattle, Island Dog, Inc, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to building animal friendly communities in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, Vieques and Culebra, Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary , a 400 acre non-profit refuge for farm animals and wildlife located in Poolesville, Maryland and The Washignton Animal Rescue League (WARL), the oldest animal shelter in the District of Columbia.
Please check out this short video of some of the pigs at Poplar Spring enjoying their Max & Ruffy’s snacks!
Max & Ruffy Vegan Dog Treats at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary from Deb Durant on Vimeo.
Max & Ruffy’s, COK, and a local restaurant????
Hey All! What’s more satisfying than eating a vegan meal? How about eating a vegan meal to show support of a restaurant expanding their vegan options?
Toscana Grill, located in Arlington, VA is doing just that thanks to the work of local animal rights group Compassion Over Killing (COK). COK has been working hard with Toscana to make a conscious shift. It paid off and Toscana Grill is adding even more vegan options to it’s menu—and it’s celebrating by going 100% VEGAN every weekend in April! Please show your support of their efforts by coming out to some, or even better all, of the weekends during the month of April. To top the whole month off, the last Sunday will feature a “Bring Your Dog to Brunch” day on Sunday, April 25th! Us folks from Max & Ruffy’s will be there sampling out treats to all the doggie brunchers – we will also have product on hand to purchase. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington will also be there to show support of compassionate efforts and to showcase of few of their incredible dogs that need loving homes…who knows you might go home with a full belly, a potential new friend to adopt, and awesome dog treats! Click here to learn more details about each weekend. Hope to see you there!
Sourcing Local Ingredients
Finding local ingredients is not always easy or possible. Let’s face it, coconuts are just not locally sourced in Virginia! Luckily, we are able to buy all of our organic flours from Frankferd Farms Foods, an OICA certified organic farm and flour mill located in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. Like our own small company, Frankferd Farms Foods is local and family owned and we are proud to support their sustainable farming methods which lend to the nutritious, natural flours we use to bake our popular dog treats.
Spotlight Humane: Atlanta 2009
If you are in the Atlanta area and would like to support a worthy cause – check out Spotlight Humane: Atlanta! Spotlight Humane: Atlanta is a gala organized by the Humane Society of the United States’ program to End Dogfighting in the Atlanta area. This will be an elegant evening of gourmet food, cocktails and entertainment. Not to mention the goodie bags will contain Max & Ruffy’s samples!!! So, clean yourself up, put on your nicest, and head out for an evening to support the End Dogfighting in Atlanta campaign.
New Social Networking Site for Dog Lovers!
Ever find yourself searching for a new way to meet dog lovers like yourself? Check out LoveMeLoveMyDog! Here is what they have to say about themselves…LoveMeLoveMyDog is a site dedicated and designed specifically for Dog Lovers to meet online, form friendships either local or online, find park partners, set up doggy sitter exchanges, arrange adoptions, or quite possibly find love and romance with another Dog Lover. We, as Dog Lovers, are a special breed ourselves, and we need a specific Community to gather and interact.
Vegetarian Flavor Fest Saturday June 13, 2009
Roots Market invited Max & Ruffy’s to participate in the Vegetarian Flavor Fest this Saturday and we wouldn’t miss it! We’ll be enjoying the tasty vegan treats and giving out samples of tasty Max & Ruffy’s vegan dog treats! Come to the Roots Market in Olney, MD and taste the many flavors of vegetarian and vegan foods that will tantalize your palate. Learn the health and environmental benefits of vegetarian and vegan options. We’d love to see your smiling faces.
For a map & more info visit NBC Washington Around Town.
Sandy Springs Museum Strawberry Festival
Saturday June 6, 2009
The Conscious Corner was kind enough to invite us to table at the Sandy Springs Museum Strawberry Festival today.
In addition to meeting lots of great people & their companions, we also met the kind folks, and their friendly farm animals, from Star Gazing Farm. Star Gazing Farm is a small farm animal sanctuary that provides safe haven to abused, stray, and neglected farm animals. We appreciate the great work you’re doing Star Gazing Farm!
Hope you enjoy these pictures of some of the visitors at the Max & Ruffy’s table today.
Send out the Nematodes!
Flea and tick season has arrived and we are once again preparing to overcome these guys with an all natural approach. Yesterday I came home to find my recent order of Beneficial Nematodes at my front door. I quickly got my Nematode soaked sponge into the fridge to await their weekend decent upon our yard. If you haven’t heard of Nematodes before, or their benefits, I strongly encourage you to read up on them. They are an inexpensive way in aiding in the natural prevention against fleas or any other “pests” that spend any part of their life cycle in the soil. All this while avoiding toxic chemicals and promoting a little cycle of life in your own backyard!
Beth and I applied them to our yard last year and, now that the package has arrived, we are ready to do it again. Last year we went the whole season without any fleas and we avoided the dreaded monthly application of toxic chemicals on our loved companions. We’re hoping for similar success this year!
Several rainy days later…our yard is thoroughly saturated and the nematodes have a new home in our backyard. Welcome home little todes.
