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It's
finally The Day -- when you're meeting her parents
for the first time... when you finally have
that interview you angled after three months
of effort... when you have the third date with
Mr. Right. And
you glance down and
see little bits of Fluffy clinging to your lapel.
You love your pets,
and they're part of your family, but sometimes
you wish they were less affectionate when you
are on your way out the door. So since
you know you'll have the problem of free-floating
pet fur, we have
a few tips to minimize it and make life
less hairy. Along the
way, you'll find out more about your pet's health,
and a few amusing things to do with all that
fur -- read on and find out.
We look forward to
seeing you soon!
Ed and Mary Longanecker
Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company |
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Fast
Facts
- There are about
73 million cats
owned in the US.
- There are about
68 million dogs
owned in the US.
- While most dog owners
(65%) own just
one dog, over half of the
cat owners (51%) have two
or more cats.
- 100%
of cat or dog owners struggle
with pet fur on clothing and furniture!
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Unshed
Coupon
Even
black cats seem to shed white fur! Let's de-hair
the dark clothes and start out fresh again.
Have 5 items cleaned,
and we'll do a dark item at no charge!
(Include
the first page of this e-mail with your order.
Offer expires 1/20/04. Cannot be combined with
other offers.) |
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Pet
Peeves
If you had to ask pet
owners for the one thing they wish they could
change about their pets, it would probably be,
"Can you make him
not shed any more?" It
doesn't seem to matter what color the dog or
cat (or ferret or rabbit or whatever pet you
have) is, the fur all seems to stand out like
glow-in-the-dark string on your favorite outfit.
So, can you get them to shed less?
In
a word -- YES!
(Oh,
and just in case you're worried, the cat at
left was not harmed in the making of this photo.
She sleeps in that can all the time.)
A
Brush with Success
The easiest way to
cut down on animal shedding is also probably
the easiest and most enjoyable for both of you.
Brush them.
Regularly. Thoroughly. You'll be amazed
at how it helps. While not eliminating
all pet shedding (some is natural with the changing
of seasons, and can't be avoided) just think
of each hair you get on the brush as one less
that can find its way to your slacks or your
jacket or your sweater.
In
addition, both cats and dogs enjoy the socializing
aspects of a good brushing.
If you've not brushed them before, you may need
to work into it gradually. With cats,
sometimes just holding the brush in front of
them will cause them to rub against it -- first
in experimentation, and then with enjoyment.
Be sure to brush
all areas of your pet, and even brush backwards
(against the grain) to get at loose hair (with
a final brush in the right direction to straighten
it all out again.) Brush
in smooth strokes, with a firm but not heavy
hand.
Brushing every few
days also gives you a good chance to examine
your pet thoroughly, and keep an eye out for
any problems. What should you look for?
Any changes in skin color, consistency or a
swelling beneath the skin can indicate a problem.
- Common
Skin and Coat Conditions -- A great site
with information on pet allergies, fleas,
skin conditions, parasites, and warning signs
about when to see the vet.
There are different
types and sizes of brushes. Be
sure to get the right one for your size and
type of pet. For cats, if the
brush feels painful on the skin on the back
of your hand, it will probably be equally
unpleasant for your cat. For dogs, bigger
dogs or those with thicker coats need different
types of brushes. There are even brushes
made like gloves, so your pet thinks you're
just being friendly, not grooming him.
Visit your pet supply
store and if necessary, ask for assistance in
picking out the right brush. Then make brushing
a habit every few days, and you'll
see a significant reduction in pet fur on your
clothing and furniture.
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A
Hairy Problem
Getting pet hair off
your clothing and furniture is an unending battle,
and so of course manufacturers have come up
with all kinds of ways to help you. We're
all familiar with the old stand-by, the Lint
Roller. These really do work great...
but somehow have the annoying habit of running
out of sheets just when you're HALF through
with an outfit.
Other
Options
For the Pet:
- There are several
items on the market that are food
additives for your pet which
will increase the oil in the skin and make
it less likely to shed hair. You can
also check with your vet about products for
this purpose. The link above is
for one you can check out online.
- Anti-Shedding
Wipes for Cats --
these are pre-moistened cloths that you wipe
over your cat to keep hair in place.
Some have a slight odor or leave a stickiness
that you might not care for, but if you shop
around you can find one you like.
- Pet
Fur Net --
Really! You can get a jacket-type garment
to put on your dog (not sure if these come
in cat sizes, and most cats we know would
be out of them before you can say, "catnip!")
that keep the hair from coming off on your
furniture or clothing.
Your Clothing and
Furniture
- Lint Rollers
- Lint Pick-up
Sheets -- these are great for in
your purse, wallet or car. Packages
come about the size of a credit card, and
have several small sticky-backed sheets you
can use for those last-minute discreet
fix-ups. Check in the laundry section.
These are often on small strip displays hanging
in that area.
- Evercare
Pet Hair Remover Sponge -- it's more than
just a sponge, it has special surfaces on
top and bottom that remove hair from clothing,
upholstery, curtains, carpets.
- Pet Hair
Grabber -- is the same shape as a
lint-roller, but uses a special rubber-type
roller that you can then rinse off and reuse,
never needing a refill. (Click on link for
item above. These are on the same page.)
- When in a hurry
and guests are on their way, the easiest is
still the old damp sponge
trick. Dampen a sponge and brush with
firm strokes on just about anything to remove
the pet fur.
You tend to notice
more fur in different light (bathroom light
is notorious for not showing it all to you,
and then you step into the sunshine or the boss's
office and... oops!) So whatever
product you find that really works for you,
get plenty of it. Keep one in
the bath or wherever you dress; keep one by
the door so you can give yourself a quick touch-up
after Bingo says his affectionate goodbye; keep
one in the car; keep one at the office; one
in your purse or something small in your wallet.
Pet fur is just
a friendly reminder of their presence in your
life if you can get it off simply and quickly,
so don't let it ruin your day. |
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International
Fabricare Institute
Iris
City Cleaners
is a proud member of the International Fabricare
Institute, a premier association of Dry
Cleaners, Wet Cleaners, and Launderers dedicated
to the advancement of technologies and service
to the textile industry. |
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We
are enormously appreciative of the opportunity
to share our weekly newsletters with you.
We feel that much of the content is valuable
for anyone who purchases fine clothing and is
interested in their preservations and cleaning.
Click on the symbol to the right if your would
like to send this and future newsletters to
a friend.
Thanks a million, Ed and Mary
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The Iris
City Cleaners Connection
is a weekly
news letter dedicated to the interest of fine
garment care and restoration,
and conservation.. It is published
in Mt Pleasant, Iowa by Iris City Cleaners and
is an extension of our services described in
www.iriscitycleaners.com
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