B&F is going GREEN

We are very excited to be one of the first in the industry to move away from the use of disposable plastic bags. The bags come in 2 sizes: 14" x 16" ($0.95) and 8" x 10"($0.75). It looks fantastic! Customers are amazed by the looks and price. Love the dog's pictures all over the bag. The big size fits a 30lb dog food bag. It's durable and practical. I get so many compliments when people see me with the bag. Once we finish using all the plastic bags in the store, we will only be carrying paper bags and re-usable bags. Be a friend to the environment. Use an eco-bag!

$730 Vet Bill

I had to take Angel to Ellwood Park Animal Hospital today. I had to book a week ahead because I only trust Dr. Ray with my dogs. Dr. Ray is as busy as usual. Angel is having a pretty horrible week. Her paw paw hurts. Her eyes are running like crazy. And her butt was itchy. It was an hour long visit. There was 6 patients waiting outside. I felt so bad. Thanks to Dr. Ray having patients with me.

Bulldog's paws tend to get swollen when it's wet. Angel was limping and trying to lick her paw all the time. There is always something wrong with her paw. Now she is on antibiotic for 4 months and see what happens. If she doesn't get better, she will need to be on the antibiotic for the rest of her life. About few weeks ago, Angel started having a hard time to open her left eye. She started to have lots of tears and got very red. Dr. Ray gave Angel some drops and she needs to continue using that for a long time. If Angel doesn't get better, she will probably need a eye lift surgery. Angel's itchy butt problem is so disgusting. She had to have anal glands expressed. It stunk so bad. She got some white cream on her butt so it looks quiet funny. She was also due for some vaccinations. I also found out today that Angel is 50 pounds now. I thought Angel lost some weight but she didn't.

I didn't book an appointment for Tubby with Dr. Ray cuz I thought Tubby was healthy as always. Apparently not. I was just having a conversation with Dr. Ray about how much Tubby loves to masturbate. And, Tubby's pee pee part still releasing this nasty white stuff after he got fixed. This is not normal. Dr. Ray thinks there must be some kind of infection going on there. Now Tubby is on antibiotic too. Tubby also had anal glands cuz he gets this nasty butt juice all the time. And he was due for some vaccinations as well.

All of these bills together is $730. I believe Dr. Ray already gave me some deals so I don't mind. At least we get to see Dr. Ray. I trust him fully with my dogs. I am so glad Dr. Ray isn't retired soon or moving. It doesn't matter how far away I live I will always go to see him. He will always be my only vet. We love Dr. Ray!

Happy New Year!

This year went so fast. Angel is turning 6 this year and Tubby is going to be 2. I am also getting old. :( Anyways, I accomplished a lot in 2008. We moved into new place and started our own business. It was tough but we did it. Year 2009 is going to be great and happy new year everyone!

1st Year Anniversary

Bark & Fitz Coal Harbour is 1 year old now. We had a great party on Dec 13, 08. We invited all the customers to the party including Tubby's family. Thanks for everyone to celebrate the party with us. Thanks for West Coast Canine Life for providing such a wonderful doggie cake.

Orbee-Tuff Bulb with Treat Spot

Our whimsically-shaped all-purpose toy is doggie-durable, buoyant and minty. The Bulb has a Treat Spot for stuffing, well, stuffing and other great leftovers. Burp! Recyclable, non-toxic and rinses clean. It comes in 2 sizes and 2 colors. The smaller size is perfect for your wee-little, furry and 4-legged elf. It's doggie-durable (as in "I-may-be-small-but-I-still-pack-a-punch" durable), buoyant, bouncy and minty.

Landy Dog

I would like to congratulate the toughest little border terrier, Landy, has finally made it through 1 month of recovery and became healthy again. It was very heart broken to hear the problem he had to go though at a animal hospital. Landy's owners, Barry and Andrea, had so much patients and determination and hope in Landy. I am so happy that after a month Landy can finally go to anywhere he likes and say hi to people and other dogs. Way to go little Landy! You made it! I am so happy to see you again.

Puppy Pics

Bark&Fitz Coal Harbour is 1 year old!

2008 Christmas / 1st Anniversary Party will take place on:

When: Saturday, Dec 13
Time: 10am - 2pm
Where: Bark&Fitz Coal Harbour, 561 Cardero Street, Vancouver

Come and help us celebrate our birthday with a piece of canine celebration cake courtesy of Endless Pawsibilities. West Coast Canine Life will be on hand to help us celebrate by handing out samples of their meaty muffins. A local fresh whole foods diet for your dog. Available year round in our freezer section. Please invite all the doggie friends you know and I look forward to seeing you there.

Tub got a new hoodie

Tub tub got a new hoodie. It's a new hoodie only made for Bark & Fitz. You must wonder how come nothing new for Angel? She is too FAT! Nothing fits her. It's so difficult to find something would fit her. She prefers to be naked all the time anyways cuz people say she looks better when she is naked. lol

Happy Halloween

Angel and Tubby had so much fun on Halloween. Bark and Fitz joined Coal Harbour Community Center for a event and about 200 kids showed up. They all had very cool costumes on. Angel and Tubby dressed up too. Angel was a bumble bee and Tubby was peter pan. Usually Tubby hates wearing clothes but his costume did not bother him the whole day. Since all the kids are getting candy and chocolate, I had to give Angel and Tubby lots of treats that day too. Oh Oh Angel, how much weight did u gain again? lol

Sorry everyone! I have been busy and lazy over the last couple weeks and totally forgot to update my blog. Finally finished my first year inventory count. It was so much work. Angel and Tubby didn't help at all. We also received lots of new toys and clothes for this Christmas. We are planning on having a Christmas party and celebrating our first year opening anniversary. I will let everyone know the date once it's closer to Christmas for sure. :)

Bye Bye Poppy

Poppy, the kitty, is now back to her owner, Phoebe. Tubby is so sad that kitty is gone. Angel is too lazy so now Tubby got nobody to play with. The good thing is Poppy didn't move too far away. She lives the building by the store so we could still go for a visit. It's amazing how well they get along. Bye bye Poppy don't forget to come visit your best buddy Tubby. Love you! :)

Bark & Fitz Victoria is NOW OPEN!

We are the first Bark&Fitz in western Canada. Now the second one is opened in Victoria. The address is 105-2972 Jacklin Rd, Victoria. The phone number is 250-590-3647. Congratulations Ole! We are so happy and excited for you. They opened on October 8th. The store looks fabulous with the best staff working there all the time. Angel and Tubby went for a visit last Sunday and they had lots of fun in the store. They do grooming too!

Angel and Tubby's first kitty friend

We got a visitor! Her name is poppy (Phoebe, Tubby's babysitter's cat) and it's a little Persian kitten. She has this small little squishy face. Angel was so scared of poppy but doesn't mind anymore. Tubby tried to play with Poppy in a doggy way and obviously Poppy wasn't very happy. Finally Tubby learned not to be so crazily friendly to Poppy and she is fine with Tubby now. Angel, Tubby and Poppy were all sitting together on the couch. Poppy was sleeping in the bedroom with us last night. I am so glad they all get along and hopefully Poppy will stay with us for at least a week.

Bark & Fitz Kanata Opening THIS SATURDAY!

I am super excited as soon as I saw this article on the Ottawa dog blog.

Bark & Fitz has a new store opening in the Kanata Centrum THIS SATURDAY September 27^th!

Join us for a very special opening weekend as we kick off our new Kanata Centrum location with a ‘Treat your dog’ theme. Every customer who shakes The Duke’s paw will get a complimentary Bark & Fitz Doggie Bag filled with sample training treats, bakery & meat based treats along with a discount postcard that takes $10 off any purchase of $50 or more. Meet our knowledgeable staff and by all means, bring your dog!

Releash Me Harness

Don't say Angel looks fat in this picture. She is skinner in person. This picture is from the broadcast you saw on Delta TV when they came to the store. Angel prefers to be naked most of the time, that's why you don't see her wearing a harness that often. Plus, She behaves so well and never pulls. Unlike Tubby, the crazy monkey he has to be on a harness all the time. This harness is selling very well in the store. And might be carried by the rest of the Bark and Fitz locations.

Tubby's daughter - Brooklyn

This email I got today totally made my day. Tubby's daughter is coming to meet Tubby from Victoria in the near future. They didn't have a chance to meet each other before. Tubby and her baby looks so alike. They both got this big and round ears and a puppy face. Brooklyn got lots of white on her chest from her grandpa. It's still so hard to believe that Tubby is a dad now. He is still acting like a puppy. Since the new Bark & Fitz is opening soon in Victoria, I might also take Tubby to Victoria to see her too. This is gonna be interesting to see what Tubby will do when he meets his daughter.

Another Greenies Death

I found this article from the Whole Dog News. Please read it carefully. It's very important for your dog's life.

Our wonderful dog, a healthy, 4-year old rescued Miniature Dachshund named, Burt, died July 25, 2005. He died from a pet treat called a Greenie.

Burt was promptly admitted to an emergency hospital after vomiting blood, bile and collapsing on the local vet's examination table. The doctor suspected an intestinal blockage and recommended exploratory surgery. What the doctor found inside of Burt was 3 1/2 feet of necrotic (dead) small intestines, as well as the "foreign body obstruction" behind the problem. The obstruction was none other than a well-chewed, partially digested portion of a Greenie.

Both the large mass of dead intestines and the Greenie were surgically removed from Burt. The Greenie was saved and later placed in my hands. It was rubber-like and spongy. It had absorbed liquids and had expanded in size about 25-35%. It was the "toothbrush" end. My wife recognized the ribbed contours of the toothbrush immediately. But, it took me a bit longer to recognize it because it was well chewed (like they say it has to be).

Burt tried as hard as he could but he just couldn't hang on. He turned septic, got pneumonia and died 48 hours after the surgery with my wife and I by his side - after his 3rd cardiac arrest. The trauma was indeed too much for him and unfortunately the damage caused by the Greenie had already been done. Burt died from a Greenie. His problems would not have happened if it weren't for the wretched "treat" obstructing his intestines in the first place.

Prompted by our outrage over the unnecessary death of my dog, we immediately contacted Greenies and they investigated. We shared medical records with them. They spoke with our vet and then with me. They can't find any fault in our actions, or the doctor’s actions, or the timeline of events - at least that's what Dr. Brad Quest (Greenies on-staff veterinarian) told me over the phone. I voiced my strong concerns about the product and among other things, I told him that the product needed to be recalled and reformulated. To this day, they have not responded to this request.

And all this from a product that comes with veterinarian recommendations and "highly digestible" and "edible" claims on its packaging and website. We read the packaging. We followed the instructions. We unfairly lost our dog.

Burt died 3 years to-the-day that he came into our lives. He is dearly missed by his family. He is not replaceable. Burt will not die in vain. Neither will the other dogs and their owners that I am aware of that have suffered from this product.

Please think twice about this product. Make smart choices for your pets. Why take any risk at all. Our new motto for the company is this: Greenies: your dog can live without them.

Happy Birthday Angel

Who is the birthday girl today? It's the prettiest Angel. She is turning 5 today. As always, we got Angel a cake. It's honey with peanut butter flavour. Since Angel and Baby's birthday are only couple days different, we decided to have a party together. Angel's birthday started with lots of treats through out the day. She got her cake at night. She also got some birthday cards and presents. She also got to go swimming with her daddy. What a lucky girl! Happy birthday, Angel.

Bite Meez Dog Toy

Move over old toys... there's a new toy in town. Your dog will love these Bite Meez dog toys, they are absolutely a blast and one of our best-sellers. Just slide your hand inside and bring this toy to life for your dog! It's a wonderful toy for those dogs that love to chase and play with your hands. These hand puppet toys are made of canvas, trimmed with fleece and contain squeakers. They are sure to be your playful pets best pal! These adorable toys measure approximately 11" x 4.5" x 5".

Shopping at Gucci

Me and Lily went to Gucci today to pick up some stuff we ordered. Obviously Lily bought lots of stuff again and I only got a Gucci collar and leash for Tubby. Angel got a Louie Vutton collar a long time ago but Tubby didn't get one when Angel got hers. The Gucci collar and leash look so good on Tubby. The red and green stripe look so sharp on Tubby's brindle coat. At first Tubby didn't like it and tried to scratch it off but now he just loves it. It doesn't even bother him anymore. The leash is quiet short but it's perfect for me. I don't like when Tubby walks too far away from me. As you know he is a crazy monkey. The cool thing about the leash is it says Gucci Dog on it. So cute! I am not sure if Gucci Vancouver still have any in stock but you could try to order it.

Tubby is not a dog, he is a MONSTER!

Tubby is supposed to be a dog, but he isn't. He is a crazy monkey. He's already passed his puppy stage but now he acts worst than a puppy. Every time we go to visit my friend, Lily, Tubby has been chewing on her expensive furniture. The dining table and chairs legs are all chewed up. Since I can't afford to buy such a expensive piece of furniture, Lily decided we could just go to Home Depot and get some sand paper and paint. We got our friends, Wayne and Irene to help out too. It actually turned out to be pretty good. The furniture looks kinda antique anyways.

I didn't think it was possible for Tubby to get in any more trouble, but was I wrong.. Me and Dan brought Angel and Tubby to grandma's farm house yesterday. There were pigs, cows, chickens and horses. Previously Tubby ran out of our store across the street when he saw a police horse and actually tried to beat it up by biting the back of the horses foot! Scary! Dan brought Tubby to meet the pigs and cows right besides the grandma's house last night. He was okay with the pigs but after Dan showed Tubby the cows, Tubby ran over the gate and chased after all 5 cows and got kicked by one of the cows. Luckily, Tubby wasn't hurt though.

You'd think its impossible for Tubby to cause any more trouble but you'd be wrong! Grandma's house is very big and full of dog's treats and toys. Whenever Tubby isn't around me, I know he is up to no good. I went look for Tubby and finally I caught him eating a pig ear! We don't give him the ears since 1 ear = diarrhea and that isn't fun at all! So I opened up his mouth and tried to take out the big piece that he was quickly trying to swallow and he bit my finger, it wasn't intentional though he was just chewing and my finger was in the wrong place at the wrong time but still. My nail is cracked and bleeding and really sore.

He is the craziest dog ever, but I still love him though.

Popware for pets

For pets on the go or at home. This platform feeder features two removable & portable bowls that can also be used alone. Both bowls and legs collapse flat to a mere 1.5 inches for easy storage. Perfect for traveling, everyday home use, or use in RVs, boats, cars, hotels, and camping. Dishwasher safe. Thoroughly washes clean when collapsed. Ideal for wet or dry food & water. Dishwasher safe. It comes in small and large. Retail for $28 and $32.
Travel cup can latch onto your dog's leash when you are on the go.Collapses to less than 0.5 inch in thickness. Can be clipped to leashes, backpacks, belt-loops, and even pet collars. Great for traveling, camping, walks, and pet sport events. Washes collapsed. Dishwasher safe. Retail from $10 - $17.

Doggie Nail Art

I get my nails done once a month at Bella's Nails and Esthetic's Salon. My nail technician is Carri. She is pretty much the only good one there besides Michelle. I usually get different design every time. This time I have a big paw, 2 bones and 2 hearts on my nails. I got Angel and Tubby's names in the heart. How cute! My cousin (ya chen) designed it for me this time. I got so many compliments. The salon is located on 5777 W. Boulevard, Kerrisdale. The phone number is 604-269-9188.

Bark & Fitz on Delta Cable

Delta Cable came to interview us at Bark and Fitz today. Thanks for Simon (Releash me harness) giving us this great opportunity. Wonder why me and Dan aren't in it? We were too shy :( lol Kevin was the brave one. He talked nicely presenting Bark and Fitz Coal Harbour. You will also see Angel and Tubby in it too. We will be on TV this coming Monday. Unfortunately, only the Delta residents will see us. We don't mind being on TV anymore. If there is anyone else wants to interview us, we would LOVE to :)

West End Dog Show

West End Dog Show went so well. Good job everyone! Thanks to David for giving us such a great opportunity. Also thanks to Simon (Releash me Harness) and Joanne (West Coast Canine Life) for being there with us too. I am so glad everyone had lots of fun. We had 16 models at our fashion show. They did so well. Angel was wearing her favorite life jacket. Tubby was wearing his super comfortable harness. Shaw TV filmed the whole Bark and Fitz Fashion Show and they interviewed some owners at the show. I can't wait to see them on TV.

Outstanding customer services

Many people didn't know that all B&F's offer this great deal and service.When you buy 10 bags of dry food you get 1 free. All the food we carry has no corn, wheat and animal by products. We make sure any kind of food you purchase at B&F, you get the best quality of food. Here is a list of dry food we carry at the Coal Harbour location:

• Fromm 4 Star
• Orijen
• Halo
• Wellness
• Innova
• Solid Gold
• California Nature

You can always come in and grab a sample bag to try first.

One of the great service we offer is free food delivery in Vancouver downtown area. It doesn't matter what size of bag food you want, we deliver food everyday. It's FREE! Simply dial 604-568-6096 or email me at coalharbour@barkandfitz.com and give me your credit card number, I will ring it in the computer and bring the food to you with a receipt for you to sign.

Who says rocks can't float?

Angel and Tubby go to their grandma's place almost everyday in Abbotsford. Why do they love going there? Not only because grandma cooks huge turkeys and roast beef, it's also because they love swimming. Grandma's house has a huge outdoor pool. It has a diving board and a slide. Tubby loves diving in he thinks he is cool. Since there is always lots of people there, Tubby loves to show off his diving skill. He also loves to push this big yellow beach ball around when he swims. On the other hand, Angel hates diving and pushing the balls around. All she does is follow and bark at whoever is going down the slide. Angel gets extremely happy when she sees her life jacket. Who says rocks can't float? They can with a life jacket though ! lol Wanna see Angel with her life jacket on? She will be at the West End Dog fashion show this Saturday at 2:30pm. All Bark and Fitz locations carry this extremely durable life jackets for your dogs. All Hooligan Gear life jackets come with a Life Time Warranty, covering all manufacturer defects. It comes in size XXS- L. Come in today at a location near you!

Angel and Tubby's favorite food

Since my store opened, I have tried lots of different brands of food for Angel and Tubby. There was dry food, raw food and cooked food. I found out their favorite ones are Halo Dry Food, West Coast Canine Life Muffins and Nature's Variety Raw Food.

Halo Pet Food is partially owned by Ellen DeGeneres. All of Halo’s products are made with the highest quality ingredients designed to support and improve your dog’s immune system. Since they don’t use chemicals, artificial flavors, preservatives, by-products or fillers, you will be able to pronounce every item on our label! And, it's the only dry food smells GREAT!!!

WEST COAST CANINE LIFE is a human quality, organic, whole foods dog food that is made in British Columbia, Canada. The owner, Joanna Fraser, is very impressed with the quality. They make several different formulations: their regular blend specifically formulated for adult dogs, one for growing puppy, and special blends for dogs with health issues. The food looks like muffins and it's perfect for picky dogs. Angel is on the joint formula and Tubby is on the gastro formula. Thank God Tubby doesn't fart anymore! West Coast Canine Life will be joining B&F at the West End Dog Show on this Saturday, August 23rd and they will be handing out free samples of their muffins and Simply Delicious Stew.

Nature's Variety Raw Food - Raw food is the most natural form of nutrition for your dog and cat - as evidenced by the astounding results our customers experience every day. Freedom from allergies, help with weight loss, and improved skin and coat are some of the amazing testimonials we receive. Nature's Variety Raw Frozen Diets lead the industry as the first to be scientifically substantiated through AAFCO Protocol Feeding Trials. Nature's Variety offers complete and balanced, ready to serve raw diets for dogs and cats. B&F carries beef, chicken, organic chicken, lamb and venison flavor. Come in and take a free sample today!