Inventory Essentials 2010

yahoo! we've been named on Pet Product News magazine's list of "Inventory Essentials" for 2010. We're in good company...thanks so much and big happy new year to everyone.

merry elves

OK, I know we rarely post new blogs, but hey we're busy!
Here's a few shots of some holiday treats.

We need to thank Pet Age magazine for including us in their December issue article about exotic ingredient treats. Thanks!

hooray for Whole Dog Journal

We wish to thank Whole Dog Journal for including us in their annual treat issue. We feel honored to be among the best biscuit companies. We know we are constantly trying to improve and bake better biscuits, researching holistic beneficial ingredients that are appropriate for dogs. Great tasting handcrafted biscuits are what we do. Human quality fresh-baked treats are us!
We love WDJ and have been reading it for quite a few years now. It's an excellent publication, full of training, nutrition, behavior advice and more.
Once again, thanks very much!
Mary Ellen, Ray & Penny The Ma Snax crew

Iced Cookies

It's official: holiday shopping season has begun, we've got the stacks of orders to prove it.
Here's a few shots of our iced cookies '09 style. Classic & elegant.

we love cats too

What's newest here in Ma Snax World? Salmon Skin Jerky Snax for Dogs & Cats. Who says we can't all get along? We tested these crunchy healthy snax of kittys and pups and they both agree; all paws up! Made from 100% natural USA raised fish.

Industry love

Before October ends, we need to thank Pet Age, Pet Business and Pet Product News for featuring our products this month. We appreciate the coverage, small businesses like ours depend on it, actually. It makes us feel like we're running with the big dogs! Thanks again to all of these excellent and informative publications.

Zootoo review

Thanks Zootoo for listing our Haunted Halloween Gingerbread Doghouse as the #1 "purrfect" Halloween treat! We appreciate the shout-out. Happy Halloween.

Pit Bull Awareness Day-Oct. 24

The National Pit Bull Awareness campaign is a nationwide effort to bring positive awareness to the American Pit Bull Terrier. 

 In early 2007, Bless the Bullys introduced the idea of a national "pit bull awareness day," and it took off like wildfire.  Devoted pit bull advocates jumped on the opportunity to participate in the first of its kind nationwide initiative to bring about positive pit bull media attention together on one day. 

 

The need for a national day of awareness is clear...  In light of the constant negative media publicity and sensationalized hype that surrounds pit bulls, Pit Bull Awareness Day was established as a day to focus on these incredible dogs and their devoted, responsible owners.  

As breed advocates, it is our duty to show the public that all pit bull owners ARE NOT alike.  As responsible pit bull owners, we can no longer be willing to sit back and be judged, discriminated against and criminalized by the image set by the visible minority of irresponsible owners.  The media berates our dogs daily.  Legislators have labeled pit bull owners as the "criminal element" who only own pit bulls to enhance their macho image.  The time has come to set the record straight, and the National Pit Bull Awareness Day campaign is just the place to start. 

Learn more...

Join us...

Want something fun to do after the halloween revelry? Come to Clos Pegase Estate Winery in Calistoga on Sunday, November 1st for the Weim Country Gala. We'll be there with bells on and treats to sample and purchase.

we have a winner!

Congratulations to Dawn Sees and young "Dinah" for submitting the winning pic in our Action Dog Photo Contest!

We received lots of amazing and adorable shots, but this one really made us chuckle.

Go Dinah!

All of our contestants received discounts/freebies on Ma Snax merchandise and Dinah is the lucky pup who will be getting an automatic treat sent to her door for the next 4 months in a row.

love from the press

We simply must give thanks to Pet Age, Pet Product News and Pet Business magazines for publishing our product submissions. We are sincerely grateful.

Our bake-at-home biscuit kits are really popular and make super gift items. The holidays are approaching fast and our seasonal biscuit 'Double Carob Chip & Wintermint' flavor is a must-have item for any store or pantry shelf.

Once again, thanks to these excellent trade mags for including the small but feisty Ma Snax!

ooh lala! the Pet Elite

We're feeling really honored and lucky that The Pet Elite magazine has added our Gingerbread Doghouse to their New Products listing.

We're just now gearing up for our gingerbread house production, so the timing is perfect.

Ray is "the architect" and Mary is "the decorator" while head honcho Penny makes sure we're not slacking off.

in the news...

A million thanks from us to Pet Age magazine for featuring our awesome bake-at-home biscuit kits and to the fab new blog/stylish pet info resource Little Bark Book for mentioning Ma Snax. You are our heroes!

Bay To Barkers Party

Sunday morning at the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society Bay To barkers . Big fun for dogs and their people. The day started with a mass dog walk, a parade around the event and out around the bay. We returned to play in a dozen games to test our dog skills, agility and obedience stuff, with a ribbon prize for 7 of 11 tasks.

Penny shared her dog cake and tasty treats with some new friends and old pals.

All in all a great day , it seemed to end too soon.

Sonoma Humane's Pet Adoption & Wellness Event

Here's a few shots from Sonoma Humane's event. Lots of the area shelters were there with dogs, cats, guinea pigs, bunnies and more all ready and willing to be adopted and loved.

Next event: Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society's Bay to Barkers next weekend. Should be fun! It's our first time as vendors here, looking forward to the cool bay breeze. Penny is stoked 'cause she gets to come to this one.

We're excited to meet our twitter friends Sirius Republic and Dogopolis, among others.

Be there if you can!

We're ready for healthcare reform

We stand with the president and support his three principles on healthcare reform.

• Reduce costs — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals, and families, and they must be brought under control
• Guarantee choice — Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option
• Ensure quality care for all — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care

Yapstar "coolpick award"

WooHoo, our glorious eight inch iced bones were chosen as Yapstar's "cool pick" product! Thanks Yapstar, we really dig you.

our first photo contest

Our crazy digging dog has inspired us to host an Action Photo Contest. 

We want movement! 

Send us your best shot [the dog please] for a chance to win a 4 month treat club membership.

We'll pick a winner next month. Email us your photo with  "ACTION DOG"  in the subject line. Include your dog's name too.

We want all types of action; it doesn't need to be just for the rugged hounds. The pocket pups are frisky too. 

Enter by visiting our website's "contact us" page.

Shovel Ready Project

A while back we set out to clean up and put in a little veggy patch. With Penny's help, we turned the soil quite nicely. Penny is flat-out obsessed with the shovel. Ever since she was a wee pup she goes hog wild at the mere touch of the spade. Needless to say, we won't ever  need a motorized roto-tiller so long as Penny's around. It always starts out innocently enough, then all hell breaks loose with dirt flying everywhere and a black dog face and tongue. She's always very pleased with her efforts [and so are we].

summer solstice

OK, so we're infrequent posters. What can I say, time flies.

Today's the summer solstice. Better late than never for getting a veggy patch in.

We had some more nice press recently; Organic Products Retailer Magazine and Pet Style News featured us in their latest issues. Muchas Gracias to both excellent publications.

We're thinking of renting out Penny for roto-tiller servicing [just kidding]. She is a champion digger and we recently took a bunch of pictures and a video of her "helping" prep the soil in a little patch we use for toms and basil. We'll post it soon.

Pet Age Magazine

woo hoo, we're in Pet Age this month. Thanks very much to this great trade mag for featuring our botanically supercharged treats. Hope it brings in lots of leads.

Modern Dog

Thanks Modern Dog Mag for including us in your Budget Buys-Summer Issue product spotlight. We appreciate it!

spotabusiness

Thanks to spotabusiness for including us in their April businesses of the month! 

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Hey it's May. We're getting some much needed rain here in Sonoma.

We're excited about a couple of new distribution opps we're working on. Growing we are. Look for us in AZ and eastern PA.

We'd like to thank Bark magazine for the sweet coverage of our bake-at-home cake and biscuit mixes in the recent issue. We love Bark magazine.

Sonoma Index Tribune

We found out yesterday we had another really nice write-up in another local newspaper, the Sonoma Index-Tribune. Thanks very much to the IT, we appreciate the plug!

Justice

repost: FDA Confirms Probe of NUTRO Pet Food Deaths, Illnesses

Menu Foods earlier revealed it was the target of a federal probe

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com
Copyright 2009 © All Rights Reserved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that the agency is investigating NUTRO pet food, following a series of unexplained illnesses and deaths. Consumers have been complaining for more than two years that their pets have become ill after eating NUTRO products; many have recovered when they were switched to other foods. The company has steadfastly denied that its food is to blame.

Until now, the FDA has been mum about whether it was actively investigating the company. Today, the FDA’s Division of Freedom of Information confirmed the agency has an ongoing investigation into NUTRO — and said that investigation could be criminal or civil in nature. The office did not elaborate on the nature or focus of that investigation.

The investigation came to light when the FDA denied a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by ConsumerAffairs.com seeking a list of complaints and lab results the agency has collected regarding NUTRO pet food. The agency denied the request and said that releasing the information could hamper “prospective or ongoing” action by law enforcement.

“The document(s) constitute record(s) compiled for law enforcement purposes, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings,” wrote the FDA’s George A. Strait, Jr., assistant commissioner for public affairs.

Another pet food company, Menu Foods, said in a recent financial filing that the FDA had commenced a criminal investigation to determine whether Menu violated the Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act. The company noted that “additional actions or investigations may arise in the future.” It did not mention any other pet food companies. Menu last year settled a $24 million lawsuit that grew from the largest pet food recall in U.S. history.

NUTRO, which has extensive international operations, was acquired in 2007 by Mars, Inc., the privately-held Virginia-based food products company. Mars was fined a record €4.5 million (about US$5.8 million) last year by the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) for not observing the required waiting period before closing the transaction. Mars had been by far the leading provider of cat and dog food in Germany prior to the merger.

Under pressure from the German regulators, Mars divested NUTRO's Austrian and German businesses.

O'Mama Report

Some juicy tidbits from April's O'Mama Report:

The White House Garden Goes Green It is official: Michelle Obama's garden at the White House will be an organic one. The garden will serve as both a source of the Obama family's food and as an educational tool, says the First Lady, who anticipates family involvement in its upkeep.

Obama Celebrates with Organic Spirit Organic wines are making their way into homes across the country, including the White House. At its first black tie event under the Obama Administration, the White House hosted members of the National Governors Association, to whom it served an assortment of organic wines.

Organic Gets a Boost in Washington The appointment of Kathleen Merrigan as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is good news for organic, according to Sam Hurst of Gourmet magazine. Author of the groundbreaking Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, which established the stringent standards that have come to define the organic system, Merrigan has been hailed as "the moving force behind the development of federal organic standards" and is seen as a solid choice to represent the organic perspective in the U.S. government. Gourmet

Seed Sales Blossoming
 Recent changes in the economy have led to drops in sales across the board, but not underground, according to a recent report released by the National Gardening Association. The report found that seed sales are on the rise, thanks to a 19 percent increase in the number of households planning to grow their own food in 2009. Read more

Digging In: Getting Started on Your Organic Garden As with any project, one of the hardest parts of planting an organic garden is getting started. Yet this doesn't have to be the case. By following just the few simple steps listed here you can get your organic garden off the ground and ready for a successful gardening season. 

A Taste of Spring

Bake this cake for your neighborhood dogs and celebrate the coming of spring and Earth Day:

Ma Snax Superior Treats Carrot Calendula Earth Day Cake for Dogs

Makes one 8” cake or 6 or more cupcakes

1 cup organic whole wheat flour

1 cup organic unbleached wheat flour

3 medium carrots, grated

2 cage free organic eggs

3 ounce canola oil

3 ounce raw honey

2 ounce unsulphered molasses

2 tablespoons crushed dried calendula flowers

1 tablespoon carob powder

1 tablespoon organic flax seeds

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon organic ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon organic ground ginger

Combine dry ingredients, set aside.

Mix eggs, carrots, honey, molasses, canola oil in bowl of electric mixer.Add combined dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.

Place batter in prepared cake pan or paper lined cupcake pan.

Bake at 325º for 18 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool.

Decorating suggestions: ice with organic peanut butter mixed with honey or organic cream cheese/yogurt mixed with honey.

Note: cake freezes well.

Serve to lucky dogs!

Ma Snax in the news

Thanks to Pet Product News for including us in the April Product Spotlight on natural treats. 

We love the trade mags.

Highlighted Store for April: Sonoma Dog Camp

Our monthly featured retailer is also the very first store that bought our humble snax way back in the day; Sonoma Dog Camp.

Their located at 1061 Broadway in beautiful Sonoma [across from the high school]. 

They run an excellent day care and overnight facility and their retail store is full of the best pet products around. We think they're great. They sell our treats in bulk and packages. SDC telephone; 707.935.3645

When you're in wine country be sure and stop by. You can pick up a great gift for your dog or your dog-sitter back home!