Keep Pets Hydrated This Summer
As it gets warmer, it’s important to remember that adequate hydration is critical to the health and well-being of our pets. Stress, activity, and air temperature can all contribute to excess fluid loss in dogs and could lead to fatigue, weakness, tremors, heat stroke, or even death.
Water that sits outdoors can become contaminated from debris, evaporate, or the bowl can get flipped over, leaving the dog with nothing to drink. The WaterDog automatic outdoor pet drinking fountain is activated when pets come within one meter of the unit and turns off within seconds of the pet’s departure. Perfect for multiple dog households!
You give, we give…A gift from Contech
The fearless (and insane) leaders of our organization braved the frigid waters off Victoria's Fisherman's Wharf to raise money the local food bank. This year, our Victoria office (15 people) raised a record $5,400 for the cause. Photo credit: Darren Stone, Times Colonist
This event brings us together as a group and connects us to our community in the true spirit of the holidays.
And because we think that giving really is the best gift, we would like to make you a holiday offer that does not involve getting soaked…
Support your community without the hypothermia…
From now until the end of January 2011, make a contribution of $25 or more to a food bank in your community, send us a copy of the receipt, and we will send you a Wasp Trap, Waspinator, Fruit Fly Trap, Window Fly Trap, or Flour & Pantry Moth Trap for FREE and we’ll even pay for the shipping!
To cash in on this offer:
1. E-mail a copy of your receipt, product choice, and shipping address to info@contech-inc.com. Use “holiday offer” in the subject line. Or…
2. Fax a copy of your receipt, product choice, and shipping information to 1.250.383.3163, attention: “holiday offer”. Or…
3. Mail a copy of your receipt, product choice, and shipping information to:
Contech Enterprises
Attention: Holiday offer
115-19 Dallas Road
Victoria, BC V8V 5A6
Canada
Our best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and a new year filled with good fortune!
The Team at Contech 
“There’s Nothing Funny about Flatulence”
If I had a dollar for every time I said that in my household of six men…well, I’d be rich enough to hide away in a hotel for awhile. And while I may truly be the only one in my house who doesn’t “get” the joke, excess gas really can be an issue – particularly when it comes to the canine members of our family.
Gas, vomiting, and abdominal pain can be signs of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or canine bloat. GDV is the number two killer of dogs and a serious problem for pet owners who often underestimate the issue.
To help promote healthier eating habits, the EatBetter bowl incorporates a raised wishbone-shaped partition that provides easy access to food, but prevents dogs from gulping their meal too quickly. The bowl’s innovative design encourages dogs to eat slower, take smaller mouthfuls, chew more, and avoid overeating.
The DrinkBetter bowl uses a floating obstacle to control the flow of water, encouraging dogs to drink slower and take only as much as they need, without soaking their ears and muzzles or slopping water around the feeding area.
And because we think this issue is no laughing matter, we are offering a seriously great deal on our EatBetter and DrinkBetter Bowls.
Purchase a medium EatBetter Bowl and DrinkBetter Bowl from www.contech-inc.com before November 30th, 2010 and we will give you $10 off your purchase. Just enter coupon code: EBDBNOV as you check out!
Press * For a Real, Live Person
Several years ago, we made the strategic decision to focus our limited resources on building a reputation without traditional advertising. A superior customer service team, made up of accessible and knowledgeable people, was a big part of the plan. Daily, we hear from customers who are amazed by our service and the real people on our team.
“I would like to commend you on your excellent customer service. I was really pleased that I dealt with a real person who was pleasant and polite. Please keep up the great service. It is rare to find nowadays!” – Roselind Seats
“Glad to see a company that takes its customer service seriously. They are the ones that succeed in the marketplace.” – Sue
“I have come to believe over the years that customer service is a term from the past – what a pleasure to find that at least in Canada, that is not the case!” – Ellis Gesten
“Thank you for your technical support and the way you responded to my concerns. It was beyond belief how you and your firm support your customers. I wish all companies responded to their customers like you did.” – Alan Hughes
Thank you Sandra, Alaina, Quin and Jessica. We are so lucky to have you!
Nine Lives and Counting
There’s no denying that aging should come with a set of privileges not afforded the young and naïve. It’s a notion that we become more attached to as the years go by and one that my eldest cat has recently embraced whole-heartedly.
While he has always been a good-natured and compliant feline, he is now 85 (in cat years) and has taken to all manner of behaviors that are quite uncharacteristic. He sleeps on the dining room table when we’re not in the room, eats off our plates if we turn our backs for a second and, yesterday, I found him using my clinging-to-life fig tree as a litter box. It’s as though, nearing the end of his ninth life, he has decided to throw all caution to the wind and whoop it up. And, because he’s endured countless moves, the birth of two loud children, and the introduction of three dogs, we’re inclined to let him.
If, however, you need to curtail the untoward behavior of your cats, the StayAway is the perfect solution. The StayAway detects motion from up to three feet and emits a harmless blast of compressed air and a warning sound that keeps cats away from protected areas.
December Photo Contest Winner
Judi B sent us this winning photo of Guido. As the winner of the December “What Makes Your Holidays Happy” contest, Judi has won a Contech product of her choice!
“My holidays are meowvalously happy because my cat Guido and I regularly visit a senior center for persons with Down Syndrome and Autism. It warms my heart and makes Guido purr to mingle and jingle with the endearing people who are maybe not as agile as both Guido and I. But basically we’re all the same creatures and love sharing our Holiday cheer.”
November Contest Winner
Linda Yoak sent us this winning photo of Herman the “Caterpillar” from pleasesaveacat.com. As the winner of the November Pet Hallowe’en Costume contest, Linda has won a set of EatBetter and DrinkBetter Bowls!
November Photo Contest
Win a Prize for your Pet’s Hallowe’en Costume!
Do you have a cute photo of your pet dressed up for Hallowe’en? Send it to us! If we choose your photo as our November winner, you win a set of EatBetter and DrinkBetter bowls!
Contest ends November 30, 2009. Photos will be chosen based on suitability and quality. Contech retains the right to use photos for future advertising or promotions.
The Girls Go on a Road Trip
By Bruce Thomson, Director of Forestry Sales
Part One – The Road Trip
For the second time in as many weeks, I was at the vet’s office buying a large bag of ‘special’ food for the Girls. As I handed over my credit card, the vet walked out of his office, “Oh, you’re back. How are the Girls?” He didn’t wait for my answer but continued down the hall, whistling to himself. I noticed what appeared to be a 2010 BMW brochure sticking out of his back pocket. I took my cat food and returned to my 14-year-old car, hoping it wouldn’t break down on the short drive home.
We were taking the Girls on a road trip to their “cousins’” house in Portland, OR. My wife had volunteered us to “babysit” our daughter’s cats while she and her family went on vacation to California for a week. I have made many trips into the US with the Girls and have learned some important lessons about US Customs when crossing the border. Most importantly, be truthful. Customs agents have very little patience for people who are not honest. Keep your responses to their questions to the point. Make sure your pets have all the necessary, up-to-date inoculations and have the requisite paperwork quickly available in case the agent wants to review it. It is not permissible to take an open bag of dry food into the US, hence my trip to the vet before hitting the road.
When travelling in the vehicle, the Girls ride in a large cage complete with a soft pad so that they are comfortable and do not slide around. In warmer weather, we position the cage to take advantage of the air conditioner. Pets can overheat very quickly and must never be left alone in a vehicle. When my wife finds the lure of a shopping mall too difficult to resist, I can be found sitting in the car, under a shady tree with the windows down. I read a book and the Girls sleep. We are sometimes there for a long time.
When the Girls were younger, we had the brilliant idea of buying harnesses and leashes to take them for a walk as a break from riding in the car. At the first rest stop on the I-5, we smugly got out the harnesses and leashes. Everyone was going to be impressed at what great cat owners we were, taking the lovely little cats for a nice walk in the cool grass. After much struggling, scratching and growling (yes, the Girls have a very threatening growl when things are not going their way) the harnesses and leashes were on…we were ready for our walk. As soon as their paws hit the pavement they went to ground. They both lay on their stomachs and would not move despite much cajoling and encouragement. The walk turned into a one inch drag and then back into the car. We quietly left the rest stop nursing our bloody cat-inflicted scratches.
Part Two – A Visit with the Cousins
Upon our arrival in Portland, the first step is to get the Girls settled and near a litter box. At our daughter’s house, we keep the Girls in a wire cage meant for a large dog. I am sure they would be very indignant if they knew they were staying in a dog cage. They have to be in a cage because the three cats that live in the house would prefer that the Canadian Girls do an about-face and head back north.
The Girls’ cage is outfitted with a sleeping platform–complete with blanket–a large litter box, and their food and water dishes. During the summer they have their own fan to keep them cool. Once in the cage, there is the usual hissing and growling. The resident cats take turns walking teasingly close to the Girls and give their greeting hisses. It takes about an hour for everyone to settle down. The usual antisocial position taken by the Girls is their backs to the front of the cage and their faces toward the wall.
A bit of history on my daughter’s cats…They are all ‘rescued’ cats. The oldest one, Pavel (named after an ex-NHL player), is from a San Francisco animal shelter. The middle one, Tanner, was a stray that decided to move in one day. He must have sensed that this would be a great place to live. The youngest one, Ernnie, is named after Ernest Hemingway’s cats. Ernnie is a polydactyl cat–she has an extra toe on both front paws.
While in Portland, the Girls are frequently taken out of the cage for exercise and people contact (although they give the impression that people contact is really unnecessary). Of course, once out of the cage, their only interest is to get back in as quickly as possible, unaware that the others have been sequestered in an upstairs bedroom.
Finally, the time comes to pack up the Girls and head home. After cleaning up the litter box, packing away the cat dishes, fan, and blankets, the Girls are back in the travel cage for the long ride up the I-5. For the return trip they are joined in the back seat by the many ‘bargains’ purchased in and around the Portland area (we always do our part to help the US economy with a generous infusion of Canadian money).
Once home, the Girls are the first out of the car and into the house. They walk out of their cage somewhat indignantly and waddle off down the hallway to their favorite roosts on the arms of the sofa. They give no indication that they are glad to be home, nor do they give me any credit for getting them home safely; they just go back from whence they came seven days ago. As my wife and I see the two grumps lying on the couch we just look at each other and laugh. When it comes to the Girls we often say, “Why do we do this?”
August Photo Contest Winner
Kim Fish is the winner of the August WaterDog Photo Contest! “Buck” loves his WaterDog. Buck has won a set of EatBetter and DrinkBetter bowls for his photo! Thank you to everyone who entered the WaterDog photo contest.
Runners Up!
It was a tough decision with such cute photos. Here are our 4 runners up:
 Newfie, Tara, will go outside just to drink from her WaterDog. |
 Photo sent in by Nancy. |
 Jake grabbing a cold one after a long walk. |
 Jake once again, sent in by Jason. |
