National Kids & Pet Day $20 Kroger Gift Card Giveaway

April 26th is National Kids and Pets Day! Thanks to Kroger and its family stores I will be sharing some info with you about pet safety, how to select the right pet for your family and making sure these animal family members are taken care of. I have had lots of pets in my life and they have all become members of the family and are like my other children.

I wanted to share a little bit about my beloved Black Lab, Czar, who was with me from ages 5 to 14. Czar was the best dog ever. He was so gentle and loving and well trained! This dog would find a bush to do his business so you would never have to pick up dog poop in the yard. He also didn’t require a leash when you took him for a walk. He would walk right beside you and not even other dogs would phase him. He would just ignore and walk right on by. He was also a dog who greeted you at the door with a smile. Yes, you heard me right- he is a dog that smiles! It was the cutest (and weirdest thing). He would show all his teeth and look kind of scary, but he would be wagging his tail and showing you some love. He passed away in 1992 and I miss him very much.

Anyways, back to the topic at hand, I wanted to give you some info about Kroger’s Pet Insurance and what they have to offer. Their policies cover routine care and medical procedures for dogs and cats and can be purchased at any of their 2400 family of stores or online at http://www.krogerpersonalfinance.com/pet-insurance/ You can use this insurance at any veterinarian nationwide in the US and will be reimbursed within 2 weeks. Coverage starts at $9.95/month and if you purchase online, you save $10! Pet insurance- who knew? Vet bills are costly!

So what are some breeds that are good with kids? There’s actually quite a few of them. Cocker Spaniels, Pugs, Golden Retrievers, and Basset Hounds. I am familiar with all these breeds and all the ones I have met have been very loving and gentle (and cute of course!).

How can parents teach their kids about safe pet play? There’s a few ways:

• Teach your kids to pet softly, stay away from food dishes, toys and bones and not to startle the pet when its sleeping. Even animals get cranky sometimes.
• Keep babies and toddlers at a higher level than your dog as dogs perceive height as representative of their hierarchy. Don’t let your kids on the floor when the dog is in the room.
• Don’t give your dog toys that resemble your kid’s toys or clothing (ie stuffed animals).
• Get your child involved in the dog’s care as this will help build a positive association with children.

For more information on family friendly breeds or additional tips on teaching your children about pet safety, visit Kroger’s Pet Health blog.

For helping raise awareness of National Kids & Pet Day I was provided with a $20 gift card to spoil {the pet in my life} and a $20 gift card to giveaway to a reader so that they could do the same by the Global Influence Network and the Kroger Co. The thoughts and opinions here are my own.