Urban Leash and Treat Blog

Six New Varieties of Earthbath Shampoos

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:18:00 +0000

We are proud to carry six varieties of earthbath natural dog and cat shampoos. earthbath manufactures all-natural, 100% biodegradable pet care products including shampoos, spritzes and shampoo bars.

earthbath products are:

100% bio-degradable.
Soap-free.
Free of phosphates and enzymes.
Animal cruelty-free.
Effective at relieving itching and hot spots.
Effective at soothing skin sensitivities and allergies.
Fragranced using natural oils and essences.
Safe for pets over six weeks of age.
Size: 16 oz

	Cat Shampoo and Conditioner In One Gentle, natural cat shampoo with wild cherry fragrance. $12.49
	Hypo-Allergenic Pet Shampoo Tearless and ultra-mild fragrance-free formula for skin sensitivities $12.49
	Mango Tango Pet Shampoo and Conditioner In One Gentle enough for everyday use with irresistible mango fragrance. $12.49
	Oatmeal and Aloe Pet Shampoo For pets with dry, itchy or irritated skin. Vanilla and almond fragrance. $14.49
	Puppy Shampoo Extra gentle and mild for puppies. $12.49
	Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Vera Pet Shampoo Soothes hot spots, skin conditions and itchy, chafed skin. $11.49

Nature Nosh Premium Organic Dog Treats - 3 Flavors!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:50:00 +0000

More new products this week! We are now offering three varieties of premium organic dog treats by NatureNosh. These hearty, gourmet dog treats are certified USDA organic and sure to please any canine palate.

NatureNosh manufactures ultra-premium organic gourmet dog treats that do not have any animal by-products, fillers, hormones, chemical preservatives, pesticides, herbicides or contain corn, wheat, egg or soy. NatureNosh is the first truly certified organic meat-based gourmet dog treat.

Organic meat is #1 ingredient.
No corn, egg, wheat or soy.
No hormones, antibiotics or chemical preservatives.
No animal by-products.
Excellent choice for dogs with food allergies.
Size: 14 oz.

	Beef Wellington Organic Dog Treats $11.99
	Chicken Parmesan Organic Dog Treats $11.99
	Turkranberry Souffle Organic Dog Treats $11.99

A portion of the proceeds from the purchase of any Nature Nosh product will be donated to Much Love Animal Rescue.

Giant Natural Knuckle Bone for Dogs - New Product!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:01:00 +0000

The Giant Natural Knuckle Bone from Free Range Dog Chews is perfect for big dogs who love big bones. This marrow-filled knuckle bone is slow-roasted to lock in the beefy flavor. Your dog will enjoy an afternoon's work chewing this free-range dog bone and have the clean teeth to shwo for it!

Giant Natural Knuckle Bone available for $4.64.

Breath-A-Licious Dental Dog Bones by Dancing Paws - New Product!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:53:00 +0000

We recently added a new dental bone to our Dental Health product line for dogs. The Breath-A-Licious dental bone is highly palatable and contains 5 natural breath fresheners: peppermint, parsley, dill, fennel and chlorophyll. Its all-natural ingredients help remove tartar, freshen breath, aid in digestion and soothe upset stomachs. Like all Dancing Paws products, Breath-A-Licious dental bones are Made in the USA.

10-Pack of Small Bones (0.75 oz) for $8.99.

6-Pack of Large Bones (2.3 oz) for $11.99.

Flee, Flea! Natural Anti-Flea Spray for Dogs and Cats by Dancing Paws - New Products!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:55:00 +0000

Introducing new, natural flea repellent spray for dogs and cats from Dancing Paws! Flee, Flea! Natural Anti-Flea Spray is rich in botanical extracts and safe for you and your pet. This citronella-based flea spray will not irritate hot spots and does nto absorb into your pet's skin.

	Dancing Paws Flee, Flea! Anti-Flea Spray for Dogs Natural flea repellent for dogs, 8 oz. $8.99
	Dancing Paws Flee, Flea! Anti-Flea Spray for Cats Natural flea repellent for cats, 4 oz. $6.99

KONG Naturals Catnip Toys - New Products!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:39:00 +0000

We are proud to support the KONG Company's foray into natural products by offering the KONG Naturals line of catnip toys. These ecologically responsible cat toys are made from natural materials and dyes from natural, renewable resources. KONG Naturals are designed to appeal to the natural instincts of the indoor cat.

	KONG Naturals Mice Catnip Toy Two cotton and leather mice filled with natural catnip. $5.59
	KONG Naturals Straw Ball Catnip Toy Two natural straw ball cat toys filled with natural catnip. $3.79
	KONG Naturals Straw Ball with Feathers Catnip Toy Natural straw ball and feathers cat toys filled with natural catnip. $4.69
	KONG Naturals Straw Cone with Feathers Catnip Toy Natural straw cone and feathers cat toys filled with natural catnip. $4.69

Reknitz Eco-Friendly Small Dog Sweaters - New Product!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:06:00 +0000

Keep your small dog toasty warm this fall in a new Reknitz Eco-Friendly Small Dog Sweater from our friends at West Paw Design in Bozeman, Montana, USA. These sweaters are made from reclaimed cotton fibers, saving water and not requiring fertilizers, insecticides, dyes, and even farmland!

Reknitz Eco-Friendly Small Dog Sweaters are available in 5 sizes, simply measure your dog from their collar to their tail to determine the recommended size for your little furry friend. Sizes range from 9" to 19" in length. Designed specifically for Small Breeds!

Reknitz Eco-Friendly Small Dog Sweaters are brand new from West Paw Design. Order your reclaimed cotton dog sweater now for only $37.99!

Guaranteed Analysis Now Available for Dog & Cat Treats

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:12:00 +0000

Recently, a customer was looking for low-fat dog treats for her senior pet. She contacted us and suggested that we add guaranteed analysis information for the food treats we sell. We thought that was a great idea! Now, on our site, every dog treat and cat treat lists the guaranteed analysis of protein, fat, fiber, moisture, sodium and ash.

Over the next few weeks, we are adding more product information to our site, including country of origin and sustainability certifications. We believe that consumers deserve the most informed shopping experience possible, especially when comparing the ingredients and green certifications of products.

Happy informed shopping!

Fling Thing by West Paw Design - New Product!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:21:00 +0000

West Paw Design's new floating fetch toy, Fling Thing is a big hit with our test dogs! We are proud to announce availability of this fun, gentle toy for active dogs. The Fling Thing is a light and durable dog toy for playing fetch on land and especially in the water. It floats entirely above the surface or the water and does not absorb water or odors. The soft Enduroplay material allows your dog's teeth to sink into the toy without ripping it apart, making it a durable choice for dogs who love to fetch.

Ringo, a 9-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever and Urban Leash & Treat test dog, is the darling of the dog park when he splashes and swims to retrieve his Fling Thing. This toy is gentle enough to make it easy for Ringo to hold in his mouth over and over during play.

Available now in bright Red or Yellow colors for $9.49.

Organic Dog and Cat Treats On Sale!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:52:00 +0000

Hot summer discounts on organic dog and cat treats! Buy now to get great summertime clearance deals and help us make room for fall inventory.

Check out our Clearance Center to find popular organic dog and cat treats at specially discounted prices. Discounted products are not eligible for shipping promotions.

Here are a few featured organic dog and cat treats on sale:

Organic Blueberry Dog Treats by Grandma Lucy's Diner
Organic blueberry oven baked dog treats made with 100% human-quality ingredients.
Weight: 14 oz.
List Price: $6.49
Our Price: $4.49

Also on sale from Grandma Lucy's Diner:
Organic Pumpkin Dog Treats, 14 oz.: $6.49 $4.49
Organic Honey Tiny Tidbits Dog Treats, 8 oz.: $4.99 $3.49
Freeze-Dried Liver Cat Treats, 5 oz.: $7.99 $4.99

Organic Peanut Butter Madness Buddy Biscuits by Cloud Star
Formulated with carefully-selected ingredients, many from family farms, and slowly baked with extra care. 95% organic ingredients.
Weight: 14 oz.
List Price: $5.49
Our Price: $3.99

Also on sale from Cloud Star:
Organic Sweet Potato Madness Buddy Biscuits, 14 oz.: $5.49 $3.99

Newest Colors & Fabrics for Pet Beds from West Paw Design

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:40:00 +0000

We've got the latest colors and fabrics for cat and dog beds from West Paw Design!

Build-a-Bumper-Bed

Extra Small (cats and dogs under 10 lbs.): $49.99
Small (11 - 20 lbs.): $54.99
Medium (21 - 40 lbs.): $73.99
Large (40 - 65 lbs.): $98.99
Extra Large (over 65 lbs.): $123.99

Build-a-Bumper-Bed is the new bumper bed from West Paw Design. You choose the bed size, bolster fabric and center pillow fabric. Create a traditional solid-color bed or energize the bed by adding a different color or even a stripe pattern! With 7 solid colors and 2 modern stripe patterns to choose from, your pet will have style in addition to orthopedic comfort.

Nature Nap

Oval (especially for cats): $18.99
Extra Small (cats and dogs under 10 lbs.): $18.99
Small (11 - 20 lbs.): $24.99
Medium (21 - 40 lbs.): $36.99
Large (40 - 65 lbs.): $44.99
Extra Large (over 65 lbs.): $62.99

Perfect dreams start with the perfect bed! Made from soft and cozy fabric, our Nature Nap mats are where dreams begin. Made to also be compatible with standard-sized kennels. Choose from 8 earth-tone colors or a smart dog-bone print.

Upholstered Bumper Bed

Extra Small (cats and dogs under 10 lbs.): $69.99
Small (11 - 20 lbs.): $85.99
Medium (21 - 40 lbs.): $114.99
Large (40 - 65 lbs.): $150.99
Extra Large (over 65 lbs.): $190.99

Your dog will rest in the lap of luxury with the Upholstered Bumper Bed! Invest in the highest quality, most handsome patterns around. Thick premium woven upholstery fabrics complement colored twill. Softly textured in exquisite color and detail. You can choose from 5 designer patterns with complementary solid underside and matching bolster.

Every West Paw Design pet bed is stuffed with Intelliloft stuffing made exclusively from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

New! We now list the number of plastic bottles recycled into the stuffing for most pet bed models.

We carry the entire line of acclaimed West Paw Design Pet Beds and Mats with prices starting at $18.99.

Recycled Polyester Leashes & Collars for Small Dog Breeds - New Product

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:14:00 +0000

We just received fantastic new recycled polyester leashes and collars made from water bottles and other post-consumer plastics - sized especially for small dog breeds!

These earth-friendly leashes and collars are made in the USA using polyester made from 100% certified recycled plastic. Sourcing polyester from recycled plastic reduces the waste stream and conserves natural resources. The appealing patterns and smaller sizes of these recycled polyester leashes and collars make them a perfect choice for small dog breeds.

Sized especially for small dog breeds in 1/2" and 3/4" widths.

Available in 3 Unique Patterns:


Houndstooth	Marine Madras	Tropical Madras


Leashes: 1/2" x 5': $12.99 3/4" x 5': $13.99	Collars: 1/2" x 8" - 12": $5.99 3/4" x 9" - 14": $7.99

4-Roll Economy Pak of Certified Biodegradable Waste Bags - New Product

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:57:00 +0000

Pick up after your pet and keep a clean conscience! These poop bags are certified 100% biodegradable by the Biodegradable Plastics Institute and meet stringent ASTM D 6400 and California SB 1749 requirements for biodegradability. These Biodegradable Waste Bags from Westminster Pet Products are made from 100% renewable, sustainable resources of agricultural origin.

$7.99 for 4 Rolls of 15 Bags = 60 Waste Bags

The economy refill pack includes 4 rolls of 15 bags each for a total of 60 bags. Rolls are designed to fit standard-sized dog waste bag dispensers. Bag dimensions are 13 3/4" x 8 3/4".

What's So Green About Pet Tags?

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:21:00 +0000

We recently expanded our product line to include plastic and stainless steel pet ID tags from Don Carrick at Boomerang Tags. We love these pet tags! What initially drew our attention to the Boomerang Tag line of pet tags was their extreme durability. Some tags are also especially stylish. Whether you choose your pet identification tags for form or function, there's a Boomerang Tag that fits your dog or cat.


Plastic Pet Tags	Stainless Steel Pet Tags	Flat Collar Tags

We especially love the flat collar tags from Boomerang Tags. Flat collar tags are innovative because they fit snugly on the surface of a dog or cat collar instead of hanging from the collar's ring. Flat collar tags are a tidy and silent method of pet identification. There are no hanging components. It fits snugly and permamently when correctly matched with the width of your pet's collar. Our flat tags are sized to match our lines of dog collars and cat collars. Look on a collar's product page to find the matching flat tag.

Urban Leash & Treat stocks only organic, natural and sustainable pet supplies. So, we wondered, what's so green about Boomerang Pet Tags?

We posed this question to Don Carrick, owner of Boomerang Tags. He educated us on the several green benefits of his pet tags:

All tags are 100% Made in the USA.
Metal components are non-toxic and 100% recycleable.
Plastic tags are recycleable.
Boomerang Tags recycles all plastic and metal manufacturing scraps and all paper waste.
All tags are durable and long-lasting. The stainless steel hanging and flat tags are guaranteed to last through the lifetime of your pet. Poor quality pet tags (i.e. cheap plastic or aluminum tags from a vending machine) wear out quickly, wasting energy and materials - and your money. Pet tags that wear out also jeapordize the safety of your pets.

We at Urban Leash & Treat especially support Don's comments about durability and recycleability. Long-lasting, high-quality products are green because they save manufacturing resources and save landfill space.

Here is more information about selecting a hanging or flat pet tag for your pet.

Selecting Hanging Plastic or Stainless Steel Tags


Plastic Pet Tags	Stainless Steel Pet Tags

To select the perfect hanging pet tag, select choices from the following considerations.

Material: Do you want a stainless steel pet tag or a plastic pet tag?
Shape: Choose the tag shape that best fits your pet's personality: Round, Bone, Heart, Cat Face or Dog Face.
Size: Size choices range from mini to small, medium, large and jumbo. Available sizes depend on the selected tag style. Mini pet tags are great for cats and toy dogs but have a smaller engraving area. Small through jumbo-sized pet tags have six available lines of engraving. Not all tag styles are available in all sizes. Look in the product page for your desired tag style to find measurements for tag sizes.
Engraving: Would you prefer single-sided or double-sided engraving? Some tag shapes are only available with single-sided engraving.
Attachment Hardware: How should the tag attach to the collar? S-Hook and Split-Ring attachments are available.

Attachment Hardware Options:


S Hook	Split Ring

Selecting Flat Collar Tags

Flat Collar Tags

Flat collar tags have fewer configuration options than hanging tags.

Collar Width = Flat Tag Size: The main consideration when selecting a flat collar tag is the width of the pet collar on which the tag will fit. It is very important to correctly measure the width of your pet collar! A flat collar tag fits securely and permanently on collars of the matching width. Flat collar tags are sized to fit all our 1/2", 3/4" and 1" collars.
Material: Flat collar tags are available only in stainless steel.
Engraving: Flat collar tags allow front-side engraving. The Mini size allows 4 lines of engraving. Larger sizes offer 5 engraved lines.

Flat Collar Tags Size Chart

Size	Fits Collar Width
Mini	3/8" or 1/2"
Small	5/8"
Medium	3/4"
Large	1"

Estimate Shipping Charges - New Site Feature

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:16:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, we quietly launched a new site feature that allows you to estimate the shipping charges for a product or your entire shopping cart.

Our new shipping estimator supports smart shopping practices. Unfortunately, even within the community of green retailers, there are companies who lower product prices artificially and make back the money in exorbitant shipping fees. Urban Leash & Treat is not one of those companies. We value transparency in shipping charges as part of an honest dialogue with our customers. At any point in your shopping experience, you are encouraged to use the shipping estimator to review our shipping fees. We think you will find our shipping charges to be quite reasonable.

To use the shipping estimator, click on this image on product pages or your shopping cart:

Thanks again for your business!

Welcome to the Neighborhood, Mt. Tabor Veterinary Care

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:03:00 +0000

We welcome Mt. Tabor Veterinary Care, a new veterinary practice, to our Southeast Portland, Oregon, neighborhood.

Dr. Kristin Sulis, DVM and Practice Owner

Recently, out on a walk with our ever-wagging dog Nixon, a 4-year-old female black Labrador Retriever, we were overjoyed to discover that Mt. Tabor Vet Care had opened up within walking distance of the Urban Leash & Treat warehouse.

Nixon was previously a patient at a vet clinic across town. Although it came highly recommended by Nixon's puppy vet, this clinic was never especially busy or friendly. We saw a different veterinarian for every appointment. For the three years that Nixon was a patient, every follow-up call made to us confused Nixon with a male dog. I mean, people, look at the chart before calling if the name is ambiguous! The lack of continuity of care and discard for basic manners frustrated us to no end, especially because of Kim's background as a veterinary technician at a compassionate clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area.

So we leapt at the chance to check out a new clinic. OK, before we leapt, we read the blog at the Mt. Tabor Vet Care. We discovered that they shared several important values with us. Foremost, the clinic believes in the education and active participation of the pet owner in veterinary health and longevity. To that end, the Mt. Tabor Vet Care performs most procedures in the exam room. If it is necessary to move to another room, the owner is always invited in to observe and help calm the patient. The clinic also values price transparency. They even post a price list for many procedures.

Mt Tabor Vet Care is owned by a solo veterinarian, Dr. Kirstin Sulis. In a word - she is tremendous! Her compassion for animals is overwhelmingly clear from the first minute that you meet her. Dr. Sulis and Katie made Nixon's initial appointment a fantastic experience. Nixon was very comfortable. The appointment was educational and also really fun. We feel confident in the medical and technical competence of the facility.

After our previous experiences seeing one standoffish vet after another, our guard was up for another cookie-cutter veterinary experience. Gratefully, we can report that Mt. Tabor Vet Care and Dr. Sulis anything but cookie-cutter veterinary medicine.

We must also say that the exam rooms and offices are stylish, modern and downright homey! Be sure to check out the construction blog posts to get a sense for the visual transformation of building the clinic.

Check out the Swanky Clinic!

We are so happy that Mt. Tabor Vet Care is in our neighborhood. Here's to a long life for a practice that values compassion and good health!

Break-Away Hemp Cat Collars - New Product

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:53:00 +0000

We just received our first shipment of break-away hemp cat collars from our friends at The Good Dog Company. These soft and sturdy collars are made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton fabrics. The break-away clasp helps keep your cat safe.

These hemp cat collars come in a selection of 8 colors: Avocado, Blue, Bronze, Marigold, Natural Hemp, Pink, Plum and Rust. They are tested to fit the Mini Stainless Steel Flat Collar Tag.

RSS Feeds for Products and Blog Posts - New Site Feature!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:11:00 +0000

We are proud to announce that our catalog of natural pet products and blog posts are now syndicated as RSS feeds. Just copy these URLs into your favorite feed reader to stay up to date:

RSS Feed of Natural & Organic Pet Products
This RSS feed contains all natural and organic pet products available for sale at our store.

RSS Feed of Blog Posts
This RSS feed contains the latest posts to the Urban Leash & Treat blog.

Subscribing to our RSS feeds is an easy way to hear about new products, promotions and special events. See Wikipedia's RSS entry to learn more about RSS and feed readers.

Another great way to stay in touch with Urban Leash & Treat is to join our mailing list. You can join our mailing list by entering your email address below:

Free Shipping is Back!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:47:00 +0000

Free shipping is Back! Based on customer feedback, we updated our shipping discounts. Here are our new standard shipping and new customer discounts:

FREE Shipping on orders over $60, excluding pet beds, with discount code FREESHIPPING.
New customers receive 10% off their first purchase with discount code NEWCUSTOMER.

Hemp Canvas Collars and Leashes - New!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:33:00 +0000

We just received new hemp canvas patterned collars and leashes for dogs from our friends at The Good Dog Company! These leashes and collars are totally awesome - both in form and function. We selected five stylish and lighthearted patterns that will perfect complement your doggie friend. Both the leashes and collars are made from hemp or hemp/cotton blend fabrics for durability. Hemp canvas softens with wear, is machine washable and also naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial.

We know you will love these collars and leashes as much as we do!

Hemp Canvas Collars:

These high-quality collars are made from triple-folded canvas and trimmed with fun and unique patterns.

Sizes of Hemp Canvas Collars:

Hemp Canvas Leashes:

Completely practical, the Click-N-Go leashes are 6' long and have a Wienerlock buckle built into the handle. This makes it easy to tie-up your dog while you run into the store or dine at your favorite sidewalk bistro. Also great at picnics, parks and campgrounds where pets must be on a leash.

Sizes of Click-N-Go Hemp Canvas Leashes:

Click-N-Go Buckle
Here is a closer view of the Wienerlock buckle built into the handle of the leashes:

Available Patterns:
Here are swatches of the patterns available for the leashes and collars.


Orange Bones	Pink Bones	Pistachio Bones

Retro Blue	World Peace

Fabric Information:

The 3/4" wide collars and leashes are made from a 55% hemp / 45% cotton blend.
The 1" wide collars and leashes are made from 100% hemp.

How to Green Your Pet [grist.org mention]

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Grist, a Seattle environmental news magazine, mentioned us as a Green Pet Products resource in their March 18 article entitled How to Green your Pet. Here's an excerpt from their article:

Without pets, the world would be such a pale, less playful version of itself. No Wallace and Gromit videos. No Fluffy purring in our laps or Fido fetching his Frisbee. No cheerful creatures welcoming us home and adoring us unconditionally. (OK, we'd still have mom.)

So we love them, there's no getting around it. But can we lighten the eco-pawprint of our pets? Why yes, we can: today's marketplace offers everything from eco-friendly kibbles, collars, and chew toys to beds, leashes, and kitty litter -- all of which promote better pet health without hurting the planet. If you're less inclined toward consumption, we still have ideas for greening your goldfish bowl (and a handy list of resources, too).

Urban Leash & Treat's mention is at the bottom of the article in the Resources section. Thanks, Grist! Right back atcha!!

Organic Standards and the USDA

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:02:00 +0000

We are longtime buyers of organic products for personal use. Our food is mostly organic and mostly locally-produced (thanks to our locally-owner natural foods market). We are lucky to live in Portland, Oregon, a city that values sustainability and locally-owned business. From April to December, we can bike to the Portland Farmer's Market to shop a dizzying array of natural and organic produce and products.

Our dog, Nixon, is the occasional recipient of carrot tops, celery bottoms and other vegetable scraps that we create while cooking. Before we opened Urban Leash & Treat, we searched far and wide to find affordable organic products for our dog. In fact, the business was born out of the idea that we could share with others the healthy, organic, sustainable and human-grade products we found while searching for only the best for our Nixon. This is our mandate - to help others select high-quality, safe, delicious, durable and sustainable products for dogs and cats.

Here at Urban Leash & Treat, we provide many kinds of organic products. Here's a sampling of our organic pet treats, pet toys made with organic fibers, organic catnip and beds made from organic fibers:


Fish for Catnip Cat Toy $7.99	Organic Cotton Cat Collar $5.99

Monzi's Organic Cookies for Dogs $7.99	Organic Pumpkin Dog Treats $6.49

The Great Pet Food Recall of '07 reinforced to us the importance of selecting natural pet products. Our dog Nixon eats a locally-produced natural diet that was not affected by the recall, but nonetheless, we were deeply saddened to know that companion animals were sickened and killed by chemical-laced food products. The recall prompted us to ask pointed questions to the manufacturers of our products. How to sort out truly organic foods and products from unverified, unaudited counterparts?

The US Department of Agriculture has approved three labels for use in organic packaged foods. Many organic pet products use these labels. The labels are:

100% Organic: Product must contain 100% organically-produced ingredients.
Organic: At least 95% organic ingredients. The rest must come from the USDA's 38 approved non-organic ingredients list.
Made with Organic Ingredients: At least 70% organic ingredients, the other 30% must come from the USDA approved non-organic list.

Use of the USDA Organic seal is voluntary, but a good indicator of the presence of organic ingredients in packaged foods. When in doubt, always check the product label. Look for the name of the organization certifying the organic content of the product. We encourage you to visit the certifying organization on the web to verify its reputation!

Sources:

US Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program and their consumer brochure.
Greener Choices at Consumer Reports
How to Go Organic
Environmental Working Group
Oregon Tilth

Second Chances and Compassionate Homes for Michael Vick's Dogs

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:27:00 +0000

Here is an uplifing follow-up to the dreadful Michael Vick dogfighting scandal, prosecution and conviction. We wondered what would become of his dogs and frankly, we feared for the worst. Happily, it seems that many of his pitt bulls were able to be rehabilitated. Some live permanently at sanctuaries like Best Friends Animal Society, where they are known as the Vicktory Dogs. Some of Vick's dogs have even been adopted by compassionate individuals.

Here are some recent news articles about the rehabilitation of Michael Vick's former fighting dogs:

March Specials: Plush Squeaker Bone Dog Toys!

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:39:00 +0000

For March 2008, we have special prices on all sizes of plush, squeaky dog bone toys from West Paw Design. These bones are.

Our 80 lb. black Labrador Retriever, Nixon, official #1 play and taste tester of all Urban Leash & Treat products, has a Large 10" Plush Bone in the Spice color. She wanders all around the warehouse with it in her mouth, begging us to play fetch or tug with her. In our experience, the Plush Bone toy is very durable. The squeaker is in the middle section of the bone, where dogs tend to pick up the toy. This makes for some seriously happy chomping squeaky fun!

Nixon is a dissector of plush toys. After some period of time with a toy, she will tear the lining and pull out all the stuffing - she thinks this is REALLY fun. Sometime we humor her and refill the toy a few times, even sewing it shut again if it's a toy that she especially adores. I mention dissection because with West Paw's Plush Bone, she's far more interested in parading it around than dissecting it.

We offer the plush Bone toys in three sizes and four colors:

Sizes:


Tiny 5" $3.99	Mini 7" $6.79

Large 10" $8.39

Colors:


Jade	Oat Bone	Spice	Chocolate

Business Beat Mention @ SE Examiner

info@urbanleashandtreat.com (Urban Leash and Treat) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Banner day for Urban Leash & Treat press ... today we are also mentioned in the SE Examiner's Business Beat as a new local business.

The SE Examiner is the neighborhood paper for SE Portland, Oregon, where our business is located.