Friday Finds / vente vendredi
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And please let your fellow pet owners know about this service!
(This list is for your information only. The NBSPCA does not endorse the businesses or products listed here.)
It's our goal to help animal shelters, supporters and pet owners save time and make their pet care dollars go further! Each week we scan store flyers for special sales and the best pet supply and pet food deals, and pass the word along to you. Check out our money-saving tips, as well!
Note: See a great bargain here and not able to get to that store? Many retail outlets will match a competitor's price on the same item with proof of the other business' sale. So grab the flyer with the deal and head to your regular store to see whether they will give you the better price. The store keeps a happy customer and you save the running around!
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Before you shop
Online coupon sites such as
https://www.websaver.ca/en_ca/
often have free coupons for pet food and supplies. Simply set up a free account, choose your coupons and look for the printed coupons in your mail a few days later.
Many pet food manufacturers have special coupons and offers available through their web sites. Score everything from savings on pet food, treats and toys with a few clicks of your mouse. A few companies to try are Iams, Purina and Royal Canin. Ebay fans will also find coupons for sale on the auction site.
Look for printed coupons in the entrance to your grocery store. Some stores display coupons from leading brands of pet foods and other items, often saving you 50 cents to $1 per item.
Tips
Evaporated milk makes a good short term emergency kitten or puppy formula until you can obtain the real thing or have the litter seen by a veterinarian.
On to the deals!
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Fencing and building supplies
Dog house plans
A good DIY pattern http://wayneofthewoods.com/doghouse.html
And another http://tidewaterkc.org/projects/insulated_dog_house.htm
Ontario SPCA Ideal Doghouse plans http://ontariospca.ca/docs/Ideal_Doghouse.pdf
“The Pet House Book” by Lura LaBarge (Butterick Publishing) published 1977
ISBN 0-88421-031-6
has good, simple instructions on how to build a doghouse to fit your dog.
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Quick tips:
Dried lavender flowers scattered through your house are one of the best deals around. Scatter them through your pet's bedding as a deodorant, flea deterrant and calming agent without the smell and side effects of chemicals. Get $3 worth from your natural food store or other outlet to safely cover your home for savings ranging from $8 to $20 per month!
1 - 2 - Smell free! Hydrogen peroxide is often less expensive than bleach, comes in a much smaller container for easier storage, can be mixed with water like bleach for cleaning and doesn't irritate your pet's nose and lungs as bleach does. Use a straight 3-percent solution, as found at your local drugstore for $1.50, for cleaning work surfaces. Or mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water to clean your bathroom and kitchen.
Baking soda boosts laundry detergent cleaning power. Adding 1/2 cup (110 g / 4 oz) baking soda to a load of laundry helps remove tough stains and more bacteria, deodorizes, softens water and fabrics and is easier on those with sensitive skin. Look for animal-grade baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in 55-pound bags from livestock feed stores for about $25 (enough to boost 220 loads of laundry!) The added bonus is helping stretch your detergent supply and fewer rewashed loads.
Baking soda is also a great dry shampoo for pets. Sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of baking soda on a cat or more for a dog, and rub it into coat. Five minutes later, brush out and gently wipe off the baking soda. This is an easy way to clean and deodorize animals that don't like getting wet. The cost is just pennies per treatment versus commercial dry or water-based shampoos.
Many shampoos, soaps and other cleaning agents can be cut in half with water with little difference in cleaning power. Dividing a bottle of cleaner between two containers and topping them up with water will reduce waste and double how long they last.
If you live near a farm feed and supply store, you can often find feed, wood shavings, hay and other supplies in large packages for a fraction of the cost at chain retail stores. Share the savings with other pet lovers if you have limited storage space or if your pet will not use the large amounts before it spoils.
Unplug appliances when not using them. A single household can save an estimated $15 per month or more than $200 a year with this simple step, as well as prolonging the life of the equipment. The savings are even greater for shelters or other higher-energy users.
Coupons
Free coupons for pet food and other supplies can be found at www.save.ca
Many pet food and supplies companies such as Hill's Science Diet, Hartz and Purina offer coupons on their web sites. You can also sign up for alerts to special promotions.
Check out the coupon boards in the entrance to grocery stores such as Atlantic Superstore. About 20 per cent of the ones displayed recently were for pet food or supplies that can benefit pet owners.
Note: Evaporated whole milk is good as part of emergency puppy formula
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Support your local animal shelter
Donations of these supplies are greatly appreciated!
Food: Canned cat food (beef or chicken only); Rabbit food; Canned pumpkin; Peanut butter; Cheez Whiz; Hotdogs; Kitten Milk Replacer; Soft dog treats
Bedding: Blankets; Hay; Pine shavings
Pet equipment: Nylon leashes; Metal litter pans; Cat carriers
Medicine: Vick's VapoRub; Kaopectate; Pedialyte; Rubbing alcohol
Cleaning supplies: Pine-Sol; Bleach; Facial tissues; Toilet paper; Paper towel; Dryer sheets; Windshield washer fluid; Non-clumping clay cat litter; small brown paper bags
Office supplies: Printer paper; Post it notes; Highlighters; Postage stamps; Pens
