According to Bravo!, one of the raw food suppliers that Petropolis works with, the digestive system in dogs varies from humans so much that it allows them to thrive off of raw meat as their natural diet. If you think about it, animals in the wild do not cook their food before they eat it. Just because our pets are domesticated, their bodies work the same ways as they would in the wild. According to the Bravo! Raw Food Diet,

“Dogs and cats have a much shorter digestive system than we do, which means that foods are processed quickly — before harmful bacteria have a chance to multiply and cause problems. Also, carnivores have a very high level of acidity in their digestive systems. This high acidity, which allows them to process the nutrients in raw meats and bones, is also hostile to bacteria.”

The raw meats that are a part of your dog’s healthy and balanced diets aren’t just from any source – they are the quality products of USDA inspected meats and bones! Bravo! raw dog foods are made with 100$ USDA-inspected and approved ingredients,  and are manufactured in a USDA-inspected facility. They include a wide variety of proteins including: beef, buffalo, chicken, duck, elk, lamb, ostrich, pork, quail, rabbit, salmon, turkey, and venison.

Transitioning your dog to a Bravo! raw food diet doesn’t take long – the process is only lasts 9 days! On day 10, your pet with be eating 100% raw. Bravo! recommends starting with chicken or turkey, and then working in some beef, lamb, and fish after the transition period.

Switching your cat to a raw diet can be a little trickier than with dogs, but is worth the effort. Popular choices for raw meats to feed your car are rabbit, venison and poultry. Bravo! recommends feeding your cat organ meats (heart, liver and kidney) a few times per week. Cats also may enjoy vegetables, but nutritionally are not important for them to have.

Just like humans who are eating healthy and exercising, dogs and cats require supplements to maintain optimal health.  Taking Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) like flaxseed oil or fish oil is recommended after the 10 day transition to raw foods, and on a daily basis. EFAs allow your pet to obtain Omega-3s that are readily available in the wild, but less available for us to feed them. Equally important are high quality vitamins and minerals to be taken daily. These nutrients fill in the gaps where meats and vegetables are lacking rich vitamins and trace minerals. Recommended supplements include digestive enzymes, probiotics and Vitamin E.

Switching your dog or cat to a raw diet is a major step toward their optimal health and happiness. Call Petropolis today at 636-537-2322 for more information about raw food pet diets, and how to get your pet started!

Our current Pets In Need rescue group is:

Darcie Darcie lived in a heated garage in her previous home. She was kept in a crate there overnight. She would not go to the bathroom in her crate, but still had accidents in the garage.  During the day she had access to both the garage and the yard with electric fence. She is very energetic. She had 3 acres to run on in her previous home. Will knock down little kids because of her size. She has never been around other dogs, would recommend a dog visit.

About the Animal Protective Association of Missouri (APA)

For more information about the Petropolis Pets In Need program, and to inquire about participating, call Mike at 636.537.2322.

Don’t miss Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries at the Family Arena on April 20!

Petropolis Pet Center is giving clients a chance to win 4 complimentary tickets to the show! All you have to do is enter the Scooby Doo coloring contest! Pick up a coloring page at Petropolis in Chesterfield, or print the following picture – and bring it in to the store / scan and e-mail it to us!

E-mail entries may be sent to info@petropolis.com, or posted on the Petropolis Facebook page.

Showtimes for Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries are 1:00pm and 4:00pm, and tickets range from $26.00 – $68.00 (click here to purchase tickets). For more information, visit familyarena.com.

About Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries

The much-loved Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang take center stage in an all-new family musical, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES, presented by Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Life Like Touring. Featuring everyone’s favorite characters from one of television’s longest-running animated series, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES is set to thrill audiences at The Family Arena on Saturday, April 20 for two shows.

In this exciting new production, Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang have been called upon to help solve an epic mystery. A trouble-making ghost is haunting a local theatre and Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Scooby-Doo are on their way in the Mystery Machine to crack the case. With crazy ghosts, perplexing puzzles, and an abundance of Scooby Snacks, it’s Scooby-Doo and friends at their best, travelling across the country, solving mysteries wherever they go.

SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES features big musical numbers including the evergreen Scooby-Doo theme song, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?,” alongside original groovy tunes including “Round Every Corner” and “We’re Mystery Inc.” Filled with wacky new characters and uproarious antics, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES has young audiences on the edge of their seats in traditional Scooby-Doo fashion from the moment the lights go down.

“The timeless antics of Scooby-Doo and his mystery solving Gang have been delighting kids for generations,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We are thrilled to be bringing the Scooby Gang home to North America in this exciting new musical for the whole family. Scooby fans of all ages will truly enjoy this immersive and entertaining experience.”

The North American tour of SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES reunites the Australian tour’s creative team: writer and director Theresa Borg, composer Craig Bryant, and choreographer Katie Ditchburn. This team was also responsible for the recent tour of Sesame Street Presents Elmo’s World Tour.

Scooby-Doo has been delighting families for decades, and today, with 99 tour stops, sold out performances and thousands of fans attending each show throughout Australia, WBCP and Life Like Touring are thrilled to be bringing SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES to all Scooby fans in North America.

At Petropolis Pet Center in Chesterfield, we pride ourselves on giving pets not just a clean and healthy environment to live in, but also aim to enrich their lives during their stay. Take a look at Angie’s ten suggestions for boarding kennels, and how many Petropolis meets:

Top Ten Things to Consider Before Choosing a Boarding Facility

1. Are your facilities a doggie daycare or kennel?

Petropolis offers one of the largest doggie daycare facilities in the area, and revolutionized the way that pets stay at boarding facilities. When your dog stays at Petropolis, not only do you get upscale accommodations with personalized care, but doggie daycare is included at no additional charge.

2. Are you a member of the Pet Care Services Association (PCSA)?

The Pet Care Services Association, or PCSA, is no longer in business. However Petropolis Pet Center was a certified member in good standing of the PCSA while it was around.

3. Do you offer cageless options?

At this time we do not offer cage-less boarding. We have found that as much as dogs love to play, sometimes they need their rest. And it is hard to do so when you have a group of dogs trying to play with you 24/7. However dogs who board with us do go to doggie daycare from 9am to 12pm, and again from 1pm to 4pm. While they are not playing at camp, we have our pet care associates monitoring their needs, taking them on potty-walks, etc.

4. If pets are primarily caged, how often are they let out for exercise?

Dogs receive 6 hours of play per day at doggie daycare, where they get plenty of exercise and socialization with other campers.

5. Are all the facilities outdoors, or do you have indoor facilities?

Petropolis offers both indoor and outdoor play facilities. Our condos and villas are exclusively inside, where they enjoy climate controlled and spacious living quarters. When the weather is nice, dogs go outside to play. If it is too cold or rainy, dogs get to play in our large indoor area.

6. If there are inside facilities, is there climate control?

Yes, our indoor pet boarding facilities are climate controlled for the comfort of our guests.

7. How often are the cages or rooms cleaned?

Both our 2 and 4 room condos, as well as the luxury villas, are cleaned on a daily basis. The condos have raiser floors in case pets have an accident, so that they don’t have to be uncomfortable until clean-up. Then any accidents are removed and the area is sanitized immediately.

8. How are emergency situations handled?

Every staff member at Petropolis is trained using an emergency and disaster preparedness guide that was custom written for our facility. Managers each have responsibilities to oversee, ensuring that risk and harm are kept to a minimum.

9. Do you have webcam access?

We have taken webcams a step further! Petropolis is the first facility in the nation to use Skype for two-way automated calling between pets and their owners. That means that you can see and hear your pets – and they can see and hear you!

10. Are you really for my pet?

We know that pets come in all different shapes and sizes. We know that the care we provide for another customer may not be the same for you. That is why Petropolis takes personalized instructions for the care of your pets, feed your food if requested or even administering medication – all at no additional charge.

We hope that you find Petropolis to be the perfect pet hotel for your four-legged friends. If you have any questions for us, please do not hesitate to call us at 636-537-2322 or e-mail info@petropolis.com. Also feel free to stop by for a tour any time!

The Croods is a prehistoric comedy adventure that follows the world’s first family as they embark on a journey of a lifetime when the cave that has always shielded them from danger is destroyed. Traveling across a spectacular landscape, the Croods discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures — and their outlook is changed forever.

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman
Director: Andrew Stanton

In order to enter the contest, leave a comment on the official contest page below – telling us why you want to see the movie! Winners will be sent a code to download passes, good for up to four seats!

Supplies are limited. Limit one (1) pass per person, passes admit (4) four. Sponsor’s employees and their dependants are ineligible. Screening is overbooked to ensure capacity. Please refer to passes for any other possible restrictions. No purchase necessary. Seating is first-come, first-served and is overbooked to ensure theater is filled to capacity.

The screening will take place Saturday, March 2, 2013 – 10:00 AM
Wehrenberg’s Chesterfield Galaxy 14 Cine

For questions or more information, contact Kevin Brackett at kevinb@petropolis.com.

-Your friends at Petropolis

-Your friends at Petropolis

Here is the list of the 10 most popular dog names in 2012:

1. Dexter and Luna

   Dexter was #99 in 2003 and #25 in 2012.
   Luna was #99 in 2003 and #19 in 2012.

2. Thor and Layla

   Thor didn’t make the list in 2003, and was #27 in 2012.
   Layla wasn’t in the top 100 in 2003, and was #37 in 2012.

3. Gunner and Piper

   Gunner didn’t make an appearance until 2004, and was #28 in 2012.
   Piper wasn’t in the spotlight until 2006, and was #42 in 2012.

4. Bentley and Nala

   Bentley hit the top 100 in 2002, and reached #7 in 2012.
   Nala reached the top 100 in 2003, and ended up at #25 in 2012.

5. Jax and Stella

   Jax didn’t hit the top 100 until 2009, and was #35 in 2012.
   Stella ended up in the top 100 in 2001, and finally hit #22 in 2012.

6. Ace and Willow

   Ace was in the top 100 in 2003, and made it to #31 in 2012.
   Willow was in the top 100 in 2009, and ended up #59 in 2012.

7. Leo and Maya

   Leo first reached top 100 in 2001, and was #30 in 2012.
   Maya was in the top 100 in 2005, and hit #60 in 2012.

8. King and Athena

   King hit the top 100 in 2006, and was #51 in 2012.
   Athena wasn’t in the top 100 until 2010, and was #62 in 2012.

9. Simba and Charlie

   Simba left the top 100 until 2009, and was #53 in 2012.
   Charlie has never been in the top 100 for female names until 2010.

10. Milo and Ella

    Milo was #17 in 2012.
    Ella joined the top 100 in 2006, and was #64 in 2012.

Did one of your pets make the 2012 list? Let us know in the comments below!

Our first Pets In Need rescue group is:

Diesel Diesel is a very loving and relaxed German Shepard. He is approximately 12 months old and intact, he will be neutered before placement. He and his brother were found in Cape Girardeau running the forest. Diesel is all up to date on vaccinations.		Axel Axel is a sweet, playful, and energetic German Shepard, approximately 12 months old. He and his brother were found down in Cape Girardeau. He is an intact male but will be neutered before placement. All of his shots are up to date.

About Abandoned Paws Rescue

For more information about the Petropolis Pets In Need program, and to inquire about participating, call Mike at 636.537.2322.