Happy New Year!

Wishing Everyone a Happy & Healthy New Year!

~ Your Friends at Best Friends in Bethany

Pet Taxi Service!

After Christmas Retail Sale!

Want to stock up on your pet's favorite toys & treats at a discounted rate?  Stop by today for our After Christmas Retail Sale! Toys, treats, leashes, collars, beds, and more is now 50% off!  But hurry in, our sale ends January 6th! 

Sale excludes food & Frontline.

Dogs Playing in the Snow!

Holiday Boarding Special

Holiday Dog Biscuit Recipe

Snickerpoodles


Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup honey
2 eggs
3 ¾ cups white flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix vegetable oil, shortening , and honey with eggs. Beat well. Add flour, soda and cream of tartar. Knead dough until mixed well. Shape dough by rounded teaspoons into balls. Mix the cornmeal and cinnamon together in a bowl and roll balls in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet . Press the balls down with a fork. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 400F. Cool on a rack. Store in airtight container.

Holiday Pet Safety Tips

The holiday season is a great time to get together and celebrate with family and friends.  But while you're busy decorating and opening your holiday gifts, make sure your pets are not in danger. Below are some tips to keep your pet safe this winter.

1. Seasonal plants such as ivy, mistletoe & poinsettias are poisonous for pets!  If you do have some in your house, make sure you keep them out of their reach.  Click here for a list of other poisonous plants.
2. While you are enjoying your holiday chocolate and other wrapped candies, make sure your pet doesn't sneak a couple too! 
3. Hang your treasured ornaments high on the tree.  Dogs and cats might think your bright and shiny ornaments are toys and try to play with them. 
4. Anchor your Christmas tree or gate it off completely.  Cats and especially dogs can easily knock your tree over if they are climbing on it or running around.
5. Keep your pet in a quiet room or another part of the house when you have your holiday party.  The excitment of new people and noises can overwhelm pets.
6. Don't leave extra gift ribbons, bows, and wrapping paper laying around.  It might seem like fun to let your pet play with the string and paper, but they may swallow it and choke or make themselves sick.

We hope you and your pet have a happy and safe holiday!

Support Homeless Pets Through Our Angel Tree Program

There's no better time of year than now for giving to those less fortunate, and the needy cats and dogs at your local animal shelter are no exception. Each year Best Friends in Bethany sets up an "Angel Tree" in our center, where we collect cash donations and other supplies for homeless dogs and cats. This year we will be donating everything to The Meriden Humane Society and The Animal Haven in North Haven.
Donations of nylabones, kongs, dog & cat collars, dog leashes, Frontline for cats & dogs, and much more will all be happily accepted. Stop by our center to purchase any of these items!
Give us a call at 203-393-3126 for more information.

Christmas Boarding Special

To make a reservation, give us a call at 203-393-3126  or book online and save $5!

Unique Holiday Gift Idea!

Looking for a unique gift this holiday season?  Well, check out these one-of-a-kind paintings by the African penguins at the Mystic Aquarium.  For the first time ever, their creations are available for purchase--but there are only 40 paintings and 250 ornaments total!  Visit their gift shop or click here to purchase them online.  For more information, check out their website!

Puppies Available for Adoption!

Are you looking for a new dog?  Our dog trainer, Wendy (out of our White Plains, NY location) rescued 14 puppies which are now available for adoption!  All the pups are currently in foster homes in Westchester and Fairfield County.  See the flyer below for more details on how to adopt one of these great pups!

Vet Staff Boarding Offer

Offer valid for employees of local animal hospitals only.  Give us a call at 203-393-3126 for more information!

December Dog Meetup Group

Our next meetup group is scheduled for Saturday, December 5th from 11am-1pm.

Each month we host a free monthly meetup group at our center in Bethany. It's a great way for your dog to get out of the house and enjoy off-leash play with other dogs. Enjoy some coffee and donuts while you provide your pet with some social activity and lots of much needed exercise.   The size of the group varies week to week- but we usually see 10-25 regulars as well as newcomers. All friendly dogs & owners are welcome!! Tell your friends!

Check out our "Bethany Friendly Dog Meetup Group" website or call us at 203-393-3126 for more information!

Just a reminder- for the safety of all our guests, please make sure your dog is fully up-to-date on all vaccines.

Thanksgiving at Best Friends

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From your friends at Best Friends Bethany!

Thanksgiving Turkey Roast

Thanksgiving Dinner at Best Friends

Going away for Thanksgiving?  Have your pet stay with us and enjoy a delicous Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner.  For only $5, your pet can be treated to a special holiday meal complete with freshly roasted turkey and a biscuit for desert!

Give us a call at 203-393-3126 to make a reservation!  Already a registered client?  You can now book online!

Pumpkin Pie Biscuits (for dogs)

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if your dog is like mine, they won't want to miss out on the festivities! Below is a great recipe I found for a Thanksgiving treat (for your dog that is).

Pumpkin Pie Biscuits
Yields 30 biscuits
Ingredients:
1 ½ cup unbleached flour
1 cup rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
2 tablespoons canola oil
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup natural unsalted peanut butter
¼ cup filtered water

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Measure the flour, rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger into a mixing bowl. Whisk until combined.

3. Make a well in the flour and add the canola oil. Mix on medium speed using a paddle attachment until crumbly. Add the pumpkin and peanut butter, and stir until combined.

4. Add the water all at once and mix until dough forms and all the ingredients are combined.

5. Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured surface and gently knead until dough is smooth and soft. Roll the dough ¼-inch thick and cut the biscuits into desired shapes with cookie cutters.

6. Place the biscuits on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake 12–15 minutes until they are dry and firm to the touch. Turn the oven off and leave the biscuits in another 20–30 minutes. Remove them from the oven, cool them on a baking rack, and store them in a cookie tin.

This recipe and many more can be found in The Everything Cooking For Dogs book.

Thanksgiving Boarding Special!

Give us a call at 203-393-3126 to make a reservation!

Adopt-A-Dog Month

October is American Humane's Adopt-A-Dog Month.  So visit your local shelter or rescue group today and find a new best friend!

Bethany Dog Training Classes

Give us a call at 203-393-3126 for more information!

Halloween Boarding Special!

Give us a call at 203-393-3126 to make a reservation!

Halloween is here!

Check out this great Halloween pumpkin carving!  It was carved by Brandy, the manager of our Houston, TX location.

Some of our Columbus Day Pet Guests....

The Bethany Friendly Dog October Meetup!

Join us this Saturday, October 3rd, from 11am-1pm for our October Meetup! Our meetup groups are totally FREE and offer a great way for you and your dog to get out of the house, enjoy the great weather, and socialize with other dogs (and people) in the area. We have great fenced-in yards, so the dogs can play off-leash. Check out The Bethany Friendly Dog Meetup Group website or give us a call at 203-393-3126 for more information. We hope to meet you and your furry friend this weekend!

*** For the health and safety of all our guests, all dogs must be up-to-date with all vaccines***

Here are some pictures from our past meetup groups...

First Annual Central Connecticut Pet Fair and Dog Walk

The Meriden Rotary Club will be hosting their First Annual Central CT Pet Fair & Dog Walk this Saturday, October 3rd from 10am- 3pm at Hubbard Park in Meriden.  This event will benefit the Meriden Humane Society and the Meriden Rotary Foundation.

While you're at the event, stop by the Best Friends Bethany table to say hi and enter our free raffle!

Download an event brochure & walk registration form.

Monthly Meetup Group

Join our Monthly Meetup Group!  Each month we host a free monthly meetup group at our center in Bethany.  It's a great way for your dog to get out of the house and enjoy off-leash play with other dogs. All friendly dogs & owners are welcome!! Tell your friends!

Check out our "Bethany Friendly Dog Meetup Group" website or call us at 203-393-3126 for more information!

Just a reminder- for the safety of all our guests, please make sure your dog is fully up-to-date on all vaccines.

Help the Beardsley Zoo!

 As you may have heard, there have been reports of the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT having to close. With the econonmy the way it is, local and state budgets have been cut--- which means less funding for the zoo. Visit the Beardsley Zoo's website to make a donation today!

Mutt Strutt, September 26th

The Friends of New Haven Animal Shelter is holding their annual Mutt Strutt event on Saturday, September 26th.  This great event will be held at the East Shore Park in New Haven from 9:30am-2:30pm.

Stop by the Best Friends table with your dog and enter our free raffle!  See you there!

Download a Mutt Strutt Flyer

Annual Walk-A-Dog-Athon--September 26th

Looking for something to do with your dog? 

On Saturday, September 26th, we will be attending The Animal Haven's Annual Walk-A-Dog-Athon.  The event will be held at the North Haven Town Green from 9am-12pm.  Stop by the  Best Friends Bethany table with your dog and enter our free raffle for great prizes!

Walk-A-Dog-Athon Flyer

Free Night of Boarding!!

Give us a call at 203-393-3126 to make a reservation!

World's Most Expensive Dog

Photo taken by Times Online

Today, Times Online released a story about a Tibetan Mastiff which was purchased for £352,000 (4 million yuan)--- that's over $500,000!! That makes him the most expensive dog in history.

Check out the full story at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6828862.ece

September Bark-tacular Retail Sale

Stop by Best Friends Pet Care in Bethany to save 50% on all our retail, from now until the end of September! We have a great selection of toys, treats, leashes, collars, beds and more!

***Sale excludes food and Frontline***

"Hot Dog" Spots

Are you looking for something to do with your dog this weekend? Get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and visit the Hamden Dog Park! Formerly known as Bassett Park, it has now become one of the most popular dog parks in the area. Even though it's pretty crowded on the weekends, you won't have to worry too much because there's over an acre of fenced in land for you and your dog to explore. And don't worry if you have a small dog who doesn't like hangin' with the big guys... there's a separate fenced-in small dog area.

Benches, picnic tables, and toys galore, this really is a great spot to visit with your dog. But you don't just have to take our word on it, check out some reviews on Yelp from fellow dog owners.

The Hamden Dog Park
Corner of Waite and Ridge Rd

Hamden, CT

Dog Days of Oxford

The Oxford Dog Pound Committee will be holding their annual Dog Days of Oxford event on September 12th from 9:30am-4pm. There will be lots activities for the whole family including dog contests, dog training demonstrations, cheerleading & karate demostrations, moon walk, obstacle course, face painting, vendors, and more.

Are you looking for a new pet? Animal rescue groups will be on site with adoptable pets!

While you're at the event, come and check out the Best Friends Pet Care booth and enter our free raffle! Bring the whole family along... and don't forget the dog!

Bethany Family Harvest Festival

On September 12th, 2009, from 9am- 4pm, the Town of Bethany will be holding their annual Family Harvest Festival. There are tons of new attractions this year! There's going to be a horse show, farmer's market, craft exhibit, music by live bands, 5k road race, local vendors, plus tons of games, contests, & activities for the whole family.

Check out the Town of Bethany's website for more information and don't forget to stop by the Best Friends Pet Care table to say hello and enter our free raffle!

Blog Coming Soon!