Laser Eye Surgery

Finally I had a laser eye surgery last Friday just so I don't need to wear glasses or contacts anymore. It costs a lot of money but it's definitely worth it. My prescription was -5.0 both eyes and my vision should be 20/20 after couple more weeks. I am so excited and happy about this.

I had the surgery at Coal Harbour Eye Centre which is located on the 27th floor, penthouse suite at 1177 West Hastings Street. It's right by Coal Harbour Urban Fare. It's so close to my store and home so I can just walk to there. You don't want to drive after you had a eye surgery. Me and my friend, Jeffery did lots of research on finding the best price and the most experience doctor in Vancouver. Dr. Steven Kirzner is the best one. 50% of his customers are from US and Europe so he must be pretty well-known.

It was so weird to wear this big ugly looking sunglasses everywhere I go, but I don't need it anymore after a week. I can't wait till my vision is 20/20. Yeah!

West Highland White Terriers - Connie

West Highland White Terriers, commonly known as Westies, are a breed of dog known for their distinctive white coat. This breed is commonly recognised on the packaging of Cesar brand dog food.

This dog's name is Connie. She is one of the cutest Westie I've ever seen. She loves posing to the camera. The first picture shows what she does when she asks for a treat. Jennifer, our groomer, did such a great job on Connie. While Connie was waiting for her mommy to pick her up after grooming, Connie got lots of compliments from all of our customers walked by the grooming room. She is just so CUTE! Hopefully sometime this year we can get a Westie too.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! I am not a romantic person at all but I do like going out for lunch or dinner on Valentine's day. I had a heart shaped pizza from Boston Pizza with my mother in law, husband and Ashley. Since Ashley is moving in to my apartment soon, we also went to ikea for some furniture shopping. It was so fun! Did you have a good Valentine's day? I did.

Allergic Reaction

Poor big Angel bum had a allergic reaction this morning. Dr. Ray says it could be something she ate, touched or smelled. Her face is all swollen. She could barely open her eyes. Usually it's not a big deal. However, it could get pretty serious due to bulldog's short nose. If the swollen doesn't go away by tomorrow morning, Angel will have a hard time to breath. Oh My God! What else will go wrong with my dogs?

Nice to meet you, puppy Elmo!

Sweet! Finally I got to meet a 9 weeks old French Bulldog, Elmo. He is such a cute little puppy. The owners have brought Elmo to the store couple times before. However, Me and Tubby weren't here. I heard from Jen (our groomer) and Kevin how cute Elmo is. Elmo is going to have his second shot at the end of this month and then Tubby will be able to play with him. :) Tubby's head is the size of Elmo's entire body. Hopefully I will be able to get another Frenchie and Bulldog in the future.

Tubby hurt his back

Poor little Tubby hurt his back on Saturday night. We didn't know he was hurt till the next morning. I tried to pick him up and come to work. He screamed so loud when I touched his back. And then he started shacking like crazy with his ears back. I thought he was just having a bad dream. But, he was still shacking and could barely walk when I brought him to work. I tried to call Dr. Ray and they were closed. I tried to call Yaletown Animal Hospital and they were closed too. Luckily, Andrea (a great customer) came to the store when I felt so helpless. She recommended Blueridge-Cove Animal Hospital in North Vancouver. Andrea got me an appointment right away. It was so nice of her offering to go to the vet with me. Tubby was still feeling achy on the way to the hospital. Dr. Kennedy found out that Tubby must pulled his muscle while he was jumping around and playing too much. Poor Tubby has to be on Metacam for a week. If he doens't get better, he will need a X-Ray and do a test to see if there is anything else wrong with him. Thanks so much to Andrea for everything. She is such a great customer and friend. I have always been only recomanded customers to Dr. Ray or Dr. Spooner. But, now I found another great Vet. I would totoally recomand Dr. Kennedy to everyone. She is great!

Coyote Alert

Recently I heard a sad news about a coyote that got a small unleashed dog in the Stanley park. It happened about a month ago while the owner was walking the dog. I took my dogs to Stanley Park sometimes during the summer time and I never worried about the coyotes till now. Because of this sad story, I hope all the dog owners will be more aware of unleashing your dogs in Stanley Park. Here is an article I found from City of Vancouver website.

Even though your pet lives in the city, Vancouver is home to a variety of wildlife species and there are dangerous predators out there.

An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 coyote live among us in the Lower Mainland. Although the coyotes eat mainly small mammals such as mice and rats, they will eat domestic pets. All small pets should be kept indoors at night and on a leash when out with their owners. Coyotes are generally no threat to people but should be treated with respect and never approached or fed. People with small children should be especially careful with their kids around animals.

What does a coyote look like?

• small, dog-like, looks like a cross between a fox and a German Shepherd
• average weight - 9-14 kg
• length - 0.75 m - 1 m
• coats are generally brown; some with reddish tinges
• has a bushy tail that is 30 - 40 cm long, with a distinctive black tip
• yellow eyes that help them see well in low light.
• ears are large for their body size
• have a distinctive, quick gait, and run with their tail down; can run at speeds up to 64 km/hour for short distances.

Tarter Buster

Tubby likes to guard these tarter buster bones sometimes. If he ain't getting it, nobody will. I give a tarter buster to Tubby and Angel once awhile.

It's all natural 100% beef bone. No preservatives or additives. It's guaranteed to clean teeth and gums. Also, it helps control dog breath. The absolute best oral hygiene product for your dog. Retail for $3.00

Business Card

Angel and Tubby's blog is becoming more and more popular with our customers. Instead of writing down their blog addy on a piece of paper all the time, I decided to get them business cards with the blog address on it. Their business cards have both their pictures and names on them with the blog address. Instead of using the regular pictures, I chose these portraits.

Artist Jeffery Chang creats lovely hand painted photo pet portraits. It's a beautiful gift for your family and friends. His online portfolio is http://whatanart.blogspot.com You could email (jefferychang@hotmail.com) him a photo of your pet and he would customize a pet portrait for you.

My fav famous dog quotes

I would like to share my fav famous dog quotes with you and your dogs.

• A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -- Josh Billings
• If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. -- Will Rogers
• We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -- M. Acklam
• My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. -- Unknown

Bark'n Boots Skyliner

Angel can't stand the ice and salt on the roads anymore. She hates walking on the salt. It burns her paws and hurts her. Thats why now she has to take her pills that cost $350 to fix her boo-boo. Bark&Fitz now carries these doggie boots that would help protect your dog's paws from the salt and ice.

"Indulge in the casual, carefree life of a dog. Stay active and relieve stress with a dog walk, run or exploration you’ll both enjoy. These boots will provide everyday traction and paw protection from a wide range of temperatures, abrasive surfaces and unseen hazards, while also improving mobility in older dogs." It's retail for $54.

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.