Pedigree Offer

Did you know that Pedigree offers you free food for a month when you adopt a dog from a shelter?

Here is what you need to do to take advantage of this offer. Mail a copy of the following items:proof of adoption(receipt for adoption or documentation) and this form

The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive
PO Box 410498
El Paso, TX 88541-0498
United States

This is a great offer!

Printable Coupons

RedPlum
Buy any chew-a-lot bone, get a free box of meaty bone dog treats.
1.00 off 17 oz No-Odor Litter spray

Go here for a buy/one get free coupon on Greenies dog treats.

Target
3.00 off 2 25 oz Pupperoni dog treats
1.00 off any Pedigree dog treat
2.00 off any Pedigree dog food
1.oo off cesar treats
b2g1 cesar dog food
1.00 off Purina snacks
1.00 off Purina dog food

If you are not aware Target recently changed how coupons print from their website. Some are still Target coupons, others are manufacturer's and the print limit is 2 per computer for both.

Publix Busy Bone Deal

The Busy Bone buy one/get one free coupon up to 3.99 is back on coupons.com. Recently, I bought these a Publix and did the following.

2 busy bones @ 3.50/1=7.00
2 Beggin Strips @ 2.50/1=5.00
-3.50, B1g1 coupon
-4.00 off 4 Purina dog treats
=4.50 for 4 dog treats or 1.12 each.

You could make this deal sweater by finding the buy/get one peelies on select Beggin Strips packaging that is a Publix coupon. This would lower your out of pocket to just 2.00 or .50 a bag.

Publix: Great Dog Treat Deals

If you are looking for stocking stuffers for your pooch or just need dog treats, keep your eyes peeled in Publix.
I found select packages of Beggin Strips that have a buy one/get one free peelie on them. I did the following deal.
Buy 2 packages @ 2/6.00. I used the buy/one get coupon plus a 1.00/2 coupon to score two bags for just 1.00/bag.

Busy bones are 2/7.00. I used the buy/one get coupon(previously on coupons.com, but it's gone now), plus a 1.00/2 coupon to score two bags for 2.50 or 1.25 a package.

Then I used a 2.00 any package of Purina one treats. The coupon was a Publix coupon that expired in October, but my store takes them even if they are expired. So I was able to score another bag of treats for just 1.00!

Now, I have a few stocking stuffers plus some treats for while I am out visiting family on Thanksgiving for my pooch!

Store Coupons

Publix
Go here for printable coupons available for use at Publix. They include the following
1.50 off Fresh Step
2.00 off Iams
3.00 off Purina One
They all expire on Dec. 2 which gives you about a week to use them. These coupons are Publix coupons, combine them with a manufacturer's coupon to increase your savings!

Target has a 1.00 off any Purina One coupon here.
It is a Target coupon! Recently, there has been a LOT of discussion about Target coupons on other blogs. Target is changed their coupons to limit your prints to two each. Previously, you could print as many as you wanted. Personally, I'm not surprised by this. It sort of reminds me of when CVS started changing their coupon print policy.

Coupons.com has quite a few dog coupons including
2.00 off any Milkbone Essential Lasting Chew(Publix has these for 3.99, after coupon 1.99!)
1.00 off any Milkbone Essential Treats
1.00 off any 4 mighty dog cans

Cesar Unwrap Instant Win

Here is a new link to the 1.00 off Pupperoni coupon.

Cesar's is doing a daily instant win game through December. Various prizes are available to win daily such as a travel water dish, Cesar dog treats, a leash, and various other dog themed items that all dog lovers would enjoy. Go here to play. You can play once a day and must be registered through their website to play. Click here to play! Even if you don't win you can get codes for pet products.

Pet Supplies on Alice.com

I read a lot of various frugal blogs in attempts to stay current on prices and deals. I find a great way to recognize if a price point is worth my time and effort is to keep current to the trends. When I kept reading about this website called Alice.com, I kept thinking what is this site. Sure, there were some great deals going on with them for products I score super cheap at CVS, Wags etc. Then Frugal in Virginia had an interesting post about the site involving Swagsbucks. I found myself looking into this and the site.
Alice.com is website that allows you to order everyday items, name brand at that at about the same price it would cost you to drive to the store and buy them. They have dog treats and food.
Pedigree breathbusters are 2.89, that is about the exact same price at my Target. They have a wide selection of items from wet dog food to dog shampoo. You can get a 5.00 e-cert through swagbucks by redeeming 12 swagbucks. Considering it takes 45 swagbucks for a 5.00 e-cert through Amazon, that is a good deal. The offer however, is just for new members. I requested my cert, then signed up. I'll probably use my 5.00 to order dog bones. These are items you rarely if ever get coupons for unlike canned food or treats. Plus, free shipping on orders this is a deal.
Final Thoughts:
It's an interesting concept. It would be especially handy for people that do not have a CVS/Wags/Rite Aid near by to do great deals or have a local paper that provides coupons. I realize that you can buy coupons online and through ebay. However, that really only makes sense if you have a store that is close enough to utilize the coupons. It's a good way to get deals on items that rarely have coupons or sales but you use fairly often(for me this means dog bones).

Sample and Coupons

Click here to request your free sample or Rachel Ray's dog food. They had several last year. My dog ate the sample without complaint but I've never bought a full size bag. It comes with a 3.50 off coupon. My Publix has it at 6.99 for a smaller size bag(5-6lbs). The coupon would bring the price down to 3.49.

Go here to request your 5.00 off Halo coupon.

Free Pet Nutrition Workshop at Petco this Saturday

PETCO stores nationwide will host a free pet nutrition workshop facilitated by specially trained in-store nutrition experts on Saturday, November 14 at 2 p.m.

During the 30-minute workshop, pet parents will learn about the nutritional needs of their dogs and cats, have a chance to discuss the benefits of good pet nutrition, receive an assessment of their individual pet’s nutrition needs and understand the difference between basic, premium and natural pet food categories.

Pet parents who attend the event will receive educational materials and free food samples from food suppliers Wellness, Halo, and Natural Balance.

Click here to find a Petco near you.

What a great event and way to get free samples of dog food! I've bought natural balance before and my dog LOVED it. I wonder if this event would also include coupons...hmmmm.

Printable Coupons

Go here for a great round up of coupons for your pet. There are some good ones including b1/g1 off any Purina busy bone!

Thanksgiving Hazards for your Dog

Pedigree's Newsletter had a great article about Thanksgiving Hazards for your pet. Below are some of the highlights. For the full article go here.

Never give your dog poultry bones—they can splinter easily and stick in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.
Make sure your pet can't access food left on counters or tables. After you've cleaned the kitchen, take the garbage out and dispose of it in a secure place where no pets can get into it.
Watch the door as guests enter and leave. An open door is an invitation for a dog to flee a busy house for the world outside. So as guests arrive and leave, keep an eye on your dog—or, if he’s shy and upset by company, keep him in a quieter part of the house during noisy festivities.

Coupons and Deals

Click here for 1.00 off any 4.8oz snack or larger.

Publix has some great Pet coupons on the back of their yellow advantage flyer in stores. I also saw a Temptations cat treat coupon(publix coupon) in the front of the store for b1/g1. Combine this with a manufacturer's coupon for a great deal on kitty treats.

Other Publix deals include:
Chef Michael canned food use buy/get one coupon and combine with Target buy one/get one coupon.

Buy any Beneful 8lb bag or larger and get a free Beneful Snack treats(these are usually around 4.50 a bag!). This week(11/5 or 11/6 ad start) Publix has Beneful 15lb bags for 12.99. Buy one bag and use the 2.00 off any Beneful coupon from Dog's Life Magazine and the Publix coupon to score dog food and treats for just 10.99!

Look for the 2.00 off Purina one treats on select bags of Purina One dog food. They expired 10/31 but according to customer service at my Publix you can still use expired Publix coupons! These are priced at 3.29 a bag-2.00=1.29 for a bag of treats.

Tailspin Halloween Event

Tailspin in Savannah is having another low cost clinic this Saturday(10/31). Shots will be 12.00 each and it starts at noon.
They will also be doing Microchipping(20.00), nail trims and basic grooming. On top of these great deals they are having a costume contest.

Wag-o-Ween

Last weekend I went to Wag-o-Ween with my puppy and some of her four legged friends. This wonderful event helped raise money for local shelters in the Savannah area. After paying your 5.00 you get a sticker and map of local businesses participating. Then you spend the rest of the afternoon walking around collecting treats for your pup. It was a wonderful event with lots of funny costumes.

Weekly Deals

Are you looking for new toys or perhaps a halloween costume for your pup or pet? Go here for a wide selection of items under 1.99. I've never shopped on this site before so use the standard inspection before ordering(read the fine print etc).


Target has a wide selection of rawhides and other dog items on clearance. I was able to pick up Dingo bones for $4.00 along with pig ears. Remember to check the expiration date on pet treats, they do have them.
Target also has a printable 1.00/2 Beggin Strips coupon here which can be combined with a manufacturer's coupon.
Buy 2 packs of Beggin Strips at 2.54(2)-1.00(Target coupon) and 1.00/2(man coup)=3.08 or 1.54 a pack. Not a bad deal if you don't have a Publix in your area and need some dog treats.

Halloween Dog Costumes

Do you dress your pet up for Halloween? I do. Yes, I admit it. My dog gets dressed up for Halloween. Last year, she was a lobster. This year she will be a Ladybug. I got her outfit on clearance last year at Target for 75% off. For those of you who didn't plan ahead or think to pick one up fear not, there is still time.

1. Check discount stores like Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx or Tuesday Mornings. Many times they have pet items on discount. Or check infant costumes, some are designed for babies and pups.

2. Check your house for items that can double. If you have a toddler and a medium size dog. Your dog could probably fit in that 2t dress. Sure, it's not made for dogs, but as long as it's not restrictive, your dog can wear it. (I may or may not know this from experience. I also used to buy infant clothes at garage sales for my Cabbage Patch doll.)

3. Check with other pet owners. They may have old costumes or Christmas outfits that will fit your pet.

Low Cost Shot Clinics

Yesterday I took my sister's dog to a low cost shot clinic here in town. They are done by a vet in a mobile clinic(RV) and cost 10.00 per shot. Molly(the dog) needed all three shots. I went in received my number filled out her information and waited. The wait time was around 45 minutes to an hour. Most people in line had two dogs. Once it was my turn it was very simple and quick. I also received a cute little shot record for Molly. I have never got something like this from my vet. I felt it was worth it. I've had wait times that are longer at my vet's office(scheduled appointment even!) for simpler procedures(heart worm test and nail trim). The vet that performed the services was very nice and courteous. My only complaint was actually from other pet owners not keeping their pets on a short lead with the leash. I plan on taking my own pup to this when she is up for her shots.
If you have never considered a shot clinic, do. They are a great way to save money and your pet doesn't act suspicious like they do walking into the vet's office.

Publix Yellow Advantage Deal

Beginning 10/10 Publix will have a new Yellow Advantage Deal flier featuring the following coupons as reported by I Heart Publix.

There will be manufacturer coupon for Chef Michael's 3oz canned dog food for b1/g1. Combine this with the Target b1/g1 coupon(exp 12/30/09) and get two cans for FREE.

-Buy one (1) 7-lb bag of Purina Beneful, any variety, get one (1) 11-oz Purina Beneful Snacking Slices FREE (up to $4.99)
-Use the 2.00 off any Purina Beneful available in the Dog's Life coupon booklet.

Pedigree Jumbone Treats for Dogs, 6.3-7.1oz, 2/$6
Pedigree Dentastix Treats for Dogs, 5.5 -6.1oz, 2/$6
Pedigree Good Bites, 5-oz bag, 2/$6
-various 1.00 off coupons to make them 2.00 each.

Cesar Bistro, 3.5-oz, .79¢
Buy one/get one free coupon

Keeping Your House Fresh

If you have pets, keeping your house clean and smelling fresh can be challenging. Let's face it, your pets don't mind being stinky and they don't mind leaving their fur every where. The one thing they are helpful with is making sure your floor is crumb free :)
When I find a deal on cleaning supplies that also combat the fur and smell I leap all over it. Here are some recent deals I've got that help me keep my place fresh.

Wal-mart
Airwick I Motion Sensor Starter Kits @ $6.00
-6.00 off any Airwick I Motion Sensor Starter Kits(exp 10/18)
=FREE

Febreeze Candles@ 5.00
-1.00 off any Febreeze candle from $120 P&G savings booklet(exp 12/31/09)
-Buy any Candle get a free Air Effects(2.66 at my store)
=4.00 plus a free air effects

Snuggle Free and Clear Dryer Sheets@ 3.48
-3.00 off any Snuggle 72 ct or higher
=.48
(these are great to use if you are washing your pet's bedding. It helps prevent static cling and you don't have to worry about perfumes irritating their fur etc).

P&G Products
In the 9/27 inserts they had a buy/one get free for both Magic Eraser and Swiffer Dust Spray. I love Magic Erasers for removing scuff marks from doors and walls. The dust spray also has an allergen reducing formula that is great for removing allergens your pets may bring into the home or contribute to with their shedding. Or request a coupon booklet here. There are usually some higher dollar coupons in this booklet!

If you don't have these coupons don't worry, there are plenty of websites that you can buy coupons off of or trading sites.

Dog's Life Coupon Booklet

Keep an eye out for the Dog's Life Coupon booklet. Over at I Heart Publix there is a list of what coupons you'll find in it and what it looks like.
If you signed up for the Walmart free sample of this "magazine" it's the same booklet. Others have found it at Kmart.
Either way, keep your eye out for it as it has some great pet coupons.

Weekly Deals and Steals: 10/4-10/10

Petco has Science Diet 40lbs bags for 34.99. Use the 5.00 off coupon to get 40lbs of food for $30.00
If you have got your ProPlan coupon you could combine it with their $5.00 off sale on 35lb bags.

Petsmart has a 15% off your in store purchase coupon available here. Move quickly it does expire today.

Target has various dog and cat items for 9.99. Check your local ad. I didn't see anything spectacular listed.

Free Treats at Publix for your pets

Starting today Publix will have a $2.00/1 coupon in the Saving for All Season booklet that you can combine with any manufacturer coupon. Depending your coupons you could easily get FREE treats.
I love these deals, the only tricky part can be finding the coupons.

If you have a cat, check out I Prefer Publix's post on how to score a moneymaker on kitty treats here.

Free Eukanuba Puppy Food Offer

Thanks to Aah for the tip(sorry for the previous confusion!)

Go here and scroll to the bottom of the page to request a voucher for a free bag of Eukanuba Puppy food. Even if you don't have a puppy this could make a great donation to your favorite dog rescue group or humane society.

Weekly Deals and Steals

Beneful wet food is 1.89 at Publix. Use the buy/one coupon from the Dog Source Magazine with the 1.00/2 Publix coupon. You can use both coupons because one is a Publix coupon! You will get two for just .89!

For those of you with Kmarts that are doubling coupons this week.

Beggin Strips $2.50
-$1.50/1 HERE
=FREE after coupon

Hartz Crunch n Clean $3.79
-$2/1 (8/30 SS)
=FREE after coupon

All Natural Temptations Treats 2.47 oz 2/$4.00
-$1.00/1 (9/13 SS)
=FREE after coupon

Goodlife Recipe Cat Treats $2
-$1/1 (8/16 RP)
=FREE after coupon

Purina One Cat Food Deal

The stores are showing kitty love this week. Publix has a great deal on Purina One Cat food this week. Here are some possibilities depending on your Publix and coupons.

Purina One Cat Food (3.5-4lb) are 2/10.
-$3.00/1 Publix Coupon from the 9/13 RP
(in my paper this was a Publix coupon, but other areas may have gotten just a regular manufacturer's coupon. I'm not sure because I only know what mine says)
-$2.00/1 Target coupon here
Use both to get FREE cat food!

If you still have the 3.50 off coupons from Purina's give a bowl campaign you could combine it with either of the coupons above(as one is a Publix and the other is a competitor's) to get it for free+overage.
Some Publix may not take Target coupons as competitors. I've been told by my stores they will even though it's not a SuperTarget. However, this will be up to your store. Either way if you have a kitty you can give them a lot of love this week between this deal and the Fancy Feast!

Deals and Steals

Fancy Feast Appetizer printable buy/one get on free Target coupon here. Combine with the buy/one get free coupon from the 8/9/2009 Red Plum to get free Fancy Feast.
*This should work as Target allows you to use a Target and manufacturer's coupon. But some stores may not allow this as both are b1g1 coupons.*

Target also has Bissel Carpet cleaner on sale for 10.00 this week. Use the 1.00 off coupon to get it for 9.00!
Arm and Hammer Kitty litter is 9.99(28lb). When you buy 2 you will receive a 5.00 gift card. Go here to print two 1.00 off coupons. Use two and get two containers for 17.98(8.99x2) plus a 5.00 gift card. Not a bad deal for 56 lbs of cat litter!

Possible Free Purina Dog Food

Amy over at Who Said Nothing in Life is Free has the details on how you can get a free coupon for Purina Dog Food. If you got the coupon for a free 5oz pack of Canine Creations Dinner and cannot find it Purina will send you a coupon for any Purina Product.
Go here for the details.

I didn't get this coupon, so I will not be calling but it's a great offer for those that did.

Science Diet Dog Treat Sample

Head over to Saving Cents with Sense to request your free sample of Science Diet's treat line. You can pick from three flavors. I love free things for my four legged friend.

Halo Dog Food Coupon and Purina Pro Plan

If you have a pet food store that sells Halo go over to Thrify Mama to get a 5.00 off coupon. As she mentions it could make for free-cheap food.

Go here to request a 3.00 off any Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food.

Publix Doggie Deals

This week had a Purina One Publix coupon for 3.00 off any dog food. There is a Target coupon for 2.00 off any Purina One that is good until 10/3/09. If your Publix takes Target coupons you can get 5.00 off a bag of Purina One. This good make for a rather good deal on Purina One.

There was also a 1.00 off Iams coupon. You can also get this coupon in "Bounty" booklet at the front of Publix stores. Both are Publix coupons that can be combined with manufacturer's coupons(if you have one).

Starting today or tomorrow depending on your ad, Purina Beggin Strips go on buy one/get one. Use the 1.00/2 coupon. Or the 2.50/1 from the All Seasons Savings Book(Publix booklet).

Cesar is .59, combine with the buy one/get one coupon to get two for .60! This is a great price point on Cesar.

A blogging break

The Frugal Beagle will be taking an extended vacation from the blogging world. If I see a great deal worth mentioning I will post it. However, I am feeling a bit burnt out and need a break. Please use the links on the side to explore other great blogs on saving money!

Weekly Deals and Steals

Remember there are no coupons in the paper today due to Labor Day.

Petco
Science Diet 35-40lb bags are 8.00 off
-If you signed up for their food challenge you may still be getting coupons. I have a 5.00 off around here some where from it or sign up here.
Nutro Natural Choice 35lb bags are 5.00 off
-If you sign up for their food club here, you get coupons. If this is the only brand you buy for your pet I highly recommend signing up for this!
Pedigree Dog Treats are 25% off
-various coupons from the last few inserts for 1.00 off Jumbo bones etc.
Beneful 31lb bags are 3.00 off
Use the 2.00 off any size bag from the Dog's Life Magazine
Adam's Flea Products are 20% off
3.00 off Adam's Flea products(excludes collars)
Science Diet Natural Choice is 9.99
Get a 5.00 off coupon here.

Target
Iams 17.5 bags are 17.79(look for the .50 off Iams peelies on bags)
Milkbone 4lb boxes are 5.49
Other select treats are on sale, although not listed in the ad.

Printable

Cesar dog treats are a new product being offered by Cesar. They are now offering a 1.00 off printable coupon available here. There was also a coupon in last Sunday's inserts. If you missed it or your region didn't get it, now you can get the 1.00 off savings. I'm not sure of the price on these but hopefully there will be a few sales to help them promote the product that you can pair it with for a great deal.

Just a reminder, there will be NO COUPONS this week due to Labor Day.

Milkbone Essentials Coupons

Milkbone Essentials have two printable coupons off Coupons.com
Save 2.00 off any Milkbone Essentials Plus Long Lasting Chew Item
Save 1.00 off any Milkbone Essentials Plus Biscuits or Chewy treats

The biscuits or chewy treats are also being found at Target with peelies on the boxes. If the peelies are Target coupons you can combine these coupons to further your savings. I have yet to find boxes with them at my Target, but other blogs are reporting them.

Free Boarding Available for Fire Areas of California

Effective immediately, all VCA hospitals near the Station Wild Fire are offering free boarding for pets whose families have been evacuated or displaced because of the fires. Interested pet parents can visit www.vcahospitals.com to find the location nearest to them.

Dog Food Deals

Sometimes I get really frustrated with coupons. Then I read other blogs and see deals like this.It really re-energizes me to stay with the updates and keep trying. While, I've had some great deals with dog treats and food. I don't get upset when I don't get the same exact deal. I just remember that a dollar saved is a dollar saved.
This week at Target I got a 4lb bag of beneful for 2.69 but using the 2.00 off coupon I received in the free Dog's life Magazine Walmart offer.
My sister got 18lbs of Purina one for $12.00. While these are not the best scenarios using coupons available. They are good enough for me. First, we have three dogs in our house. If I was to only buy 4lb bags or smaller even if they are free, I'd still be getting a lot of smaller bags. We don't have the storage space for that where we live. So I would rather use those high value coupons to buy larger bags when possible. This scenario might not be best for you. Couponing is not about copying what one blogger or reader does exactly. Couponing is about making a system that works best for you, whatever that may be.

Kmart has beneful coupons available in a booklet at the front of their store. Keep an eye out for them. If your store is doing double coupons this week you can get jumbobones for .99-.49 depending on what coupons you have.
Use the 1.00 off jumbo bone coupon from last week's insert. 2.99-1.00(1.00)=.99
If you were able to find the buy one/get one coupon you could buy 2, use the 1.00 off and the buy/get one coupon to score 2 packages for .49 cents!

Free Fancy Feast Offer

Walmart is offereing a free sample of Fancy Feast Appetizers. Go here to send away for a nice little treat for your kitty. The sample may even come with a coupon.

Doggy Bowls

M is for Money has a cute story about a freak accident that broke her pup's food dish. Go here to read the tale. Now that I am more than half way through my morning cup of coffee my brain started thinking about the various style dog bowls.

When I first got my fur baby I used a cereal bowl. Then after a trip to Ikea it changed to two bright green plastic bowls that I picked up for .39/each. They are the perfect size for her and hold just the right amount of food. I also don't worry about what would happen if they break because they were not expensive to begin with at all. Now, they are are not the cutest things on earth. There are a wide assortments of ways you can use a food dish to feed your pet, cereal bowls, gourmet style pet dishes, plastic, metal, ziploc containers, etc. Find one that works best for you and your pet just like M is for Money has done and you'll both be happy about your purchase.

Getting back into the groove

Walgreens has two great deals right now. The first goes through today only. Get a free 8x10 collage with the code FUNDAY. The second is that they released a $5.00 off any 25.00 purchase coupon that is good through Saturday! You can grab it off their website here.

Apologies for not posting recently. I've been busy working on a project for a friend revolving around her wedding pictures. Short story, they were not what she wanted. My friend Photoshop and I are working to make them what she wants. It's been a very time consuming project because I'm not anywhere near an expert. Now that I am finishing up the project I am slowly re-emerging into the daylight.

Target still has the $1.00 Purina One Coupon available on their website here. The smallest bag I could find at my stores was 10.99. I think I'll wait to see if it goes on sale or use it at Publix.

I did have to laugh at this. Mostly, because my dog would love it. Actually, I'm not sure if she would ever leave it.

Printable Coupon Round up and preview

Dog Food Coupons

Cesar buy one/get on free
Note: You can also find these at Publix in the dog food aisle.

Pedigree buy one/get one free

Purina One Target

Purina any brand

Chef Michael's Target

Goodlife Dog or Cat Food here.

Coupon Preview for tomorrow
Purina Chef Michael’s Canine Creations Can – BOGO up to $1.19 (x9/21)
Purina Chef Michael’s Canine Creations Dry Dinners, 5oz Pouch – FREE up to $1.00 (x9/21)

• Purina Alpo Canned Dog Food, 13.2oz or smaller – B2G1 up to 89 cents (x10/05)
• Purina Alpo Canned Dog Food, 22oz - $1.00 off any 3 (x10/05)
• Purina Beggin brand Dog Snack - $1.00 off any 2 (x11/22)
• Purina Busy brand Chew Treat - $1.00 off any 2 (x11/22)

Dog Treats
Milkbone Essential Dog Treats here
Meaty Bone when you buy any chewlotta etc here.

When the fur baby is sick...

I like to reference my dog as my fur baby. After all I frequently show pictures of her and talk about her achievements(she caught the dog treat in the AIR and ate it in 2 seconds!). This morning I woke up to less than pleasant surprises from her. Piles on the carpet that proved she was feeling less than stellar. Then while blow drying my hair I saw her leave another pile on the comforter. The fur baby is not feeling stellar. Something is not agreeing with her little doggy system and there is nothing more gross than dog puke. I feel like I should bring in a team of scientists to identify what she was eating.
My hypothesis is that the recent dog food we got is not agreeing with her or it's the new dentastix. Both are newer to her system and will be cut out of her diet. If that doesn't work, we are going to the vet. Unplanned vet visits are not pleasant for either one of us.

Over at Moneyapolis, she recently had a post from MSN talking about the cost of pet ownership in a time of hardship. I found it interesting how this article focused on how a pet may cost upwards of 10,000 over their life span. This, of course, is just an average based upon a survey in which people responded. If you asked me to guesstimate how much I spend on the fur baby I would have no idea. Here is what I spent just yesterday on the fur baby.

Target
2 boxes of Iams @ 1.18=2.36
2 bags of dentabones @ 1.44, used b1/g1 coupon=1.44
Total=3.80

Publix
Beneful 4lbs bags b1/g1@ 5.49 used 1.00(2)=3.49 for 8lbs of dog food.
Grand Total 7.29

I spent more on tipping my hairdresser earlier that day then I did on the fur baby. Also, if I had to cut back on spending dog treats much to her dismay would be the first to get the axe unless I could them for free like at Kmart this week.

Cheap Dog Treats around Town

If your Kmart is doing double coupons this week you can get a great deal on Hartz Crunch'n'Clean dog treats. There was/is a 2.00 printable, I'm not sure if it's still available because I haven't been able to get it to print due to printer compatibility issues. If you already snagged it, then it will double up to 4.00 getting you free dog treats. Then you will also receive a catalina(coupon) for a free box of Milk Bone dog treats!

Target has some great dog treat clearance going on right now as well. I bought two boxes of Iams Healthy Weight Dog Biscuits for 1.18 a box! Then they have Pedigree dentabones(similar to the stix but thicker and less in a pack) for 1.44 a bag. I bought two and used the buy/get one coupon.

CVS has marrowbones for 1.99. Use the 1.00 off coupon (exp 8/23/09) and use the buy/get one coupon to get two bags for .99!

Publix will have Beggin Strips buy/get one free starting today or tomorrow(depending on your ad's start date mine is tomorrow). I'm pretty excited about this one as I have four coupons! Yippie!

A great dog food deal at Target

Go to Hip2Save for how you can score inexpensive to free dog food at Target. While you are over there check out this post as well on how to get cheap dog biscuits. I wish my Kmart was doubling coupons, although at 1.79 plus the Milk Bone catalina it could be very well worth a trip anyway!

Printables

Purina has coupons available on their website. Go here and take the quiz. Once you complete the quiz you will receive two links, one for wet food and another for dry food. I printed a dollar off any Purina brand dog food coupon that is good until Sept. 17th.

Thanks, I Heart Publix for pointing out this great savings. For the link head over to here.

Go play tic-tac-toe on The Goodlife Receipe website for a great 2.00 off coupon. Go here to play.

Go here to print a coupon for a Free Box of Meaty Bone Dog biscuits when you purchase any meaty bone or chew-lotta product.

Karma

Remember how I talked to the Walgreen's manager about the register rewards and the problems I was having. Well he kindly said he was going to send me a giftcard. I got home from vacation yesterday to find his letter. However, the giftcard was missing in action. Where did it go? I don't know but the post office should as the letter was clearly ripped open and then put in one of those "sorry we messed up your mail bags!".
So do you think I should tell my manager friend or just complain to the post office or both?

Back to the blogging world

My apologies for my extended absence. I went on a very drama filled vacation. However, it was a very nice vacation minus certain events that occurred.

Here is a better now than never run down of the deals.

Target
Iams Cat food is on sale for $14.00 for an 8lb bag(is it just me or does that seem on high side?)
-Use the 1.00 off any Iams from the August P&G

All Beneful Dog Food is on sale(although prices are not listed in the ad.)
-use the 3.50 coupon from the give a bowl campaign(may have ended)

Keep an eye out on Back to College Storage. I found some great bins last year that I still use to store doggy items like leashes, toys and one raincoat.

Publix
Beneful Dog food is on sale buy one/get one for 3.5lb bags.
-3.50 coupon from Give a Bowl Campaign or
-3.00 coupon from Purina dog insurance campaign.
If you have either coupon(2 of them) this would mean free dog food plus overage!
Please note depending on when your ad starts today or tomorrow would be the last day for this!

Coming up for the week of 8/20

Purina Beggin’ Strips Brand Dog Snack Original Bacon, Cheese and Bacon or Original Beef and Bacon, 6-oz pkg, or Canadian Cuts, 5-oz pkg BOGO $3.49
-$1/2 from 07-12-09 RP
-$1.50/1 PRINT
-$1 off Purina Busy Bone wyb Purina Beggin Strips Peelie
-$2.50/1 Purina Treats PUBLIX Q Saving for All Seasons Booklet

Purina Tidy Cats Scoop Cat Litter Premium: Original or Power Blend; or Original Formula or Cat Box Filler, For Multiple Cats, 14-lb pkg BOGO $6.99
-$1/1 08-09-09 RP

Thanks to I Heart publix for the preview and coupon matches!

Wags frustration

It seems like on almost every Walgreen's post a blogger puts up someone voices their frustration about the Register Reward program. The way it is set up is you buy an item, a register reward(RR) prints out the dollar amount stated in the ad. When you redeem the RR it is used like a manufacter's coupon on your receipt. There are times when they don't print as they claim they will. I was told today by a store manager that they don't really know how or when they print. It depends on how a manufacturer has set up the reward for their items.
Here is how I interpret this. Some manufacturer's don't care if you use coupons they put out to buy items, like Colgate. Other manufacturer's don't want you to use coupons that will exceed the product's purchase price. For instance Jergen's is 5.99 this week with a 5.00 register reward. If you try to use your 6.00 Reach reward along with a small filler, the 5.00 register reward won't print because the 6.00 is too close to the actual purchase price.
It is a very confusing system they have set up. As consumer you have no idea how the RR is going to be set up by a manufacturer. It also doesn't help when they say you won't get one to print and you do. Cashiers can be very rude about the entire system and as managers they can't force an RR to print for you. Sure, they could still honor the price through a gift card but I don't think they will make a practice of doing this as manufacturer's won't reimburse that cost to the stores.
I think Walgreen's has a lot of work to do with their register reward system. It's confusing for consumers and stores. Along with that, they took away their rebate program. Not that I think they need to have both. However, the rebate program actually worked. There was chatter on the web that they will move to a CVS like system. I think that would be very beneficial to them and solve a lot of the frustrations.
I'll still shop at Walgreen's but only when the deals are super supburb!

Cesar's Promotion

Hip2Save has a great post about Cesar's giving away dog food start 8/22. Go here for the full details of the promotion and another link to a buy one/get one coupon.

Walgreen's also has a .50 store coupon for Purina Dog Food 3.5-4lb bags. Although I am less than please with Walgreen's right now about their inconsistent Register Reward policies and when they will print versus will not. I have contact corporate about it. Once I get an answer I'll make sure to post it.

Free Dog Sleeping Bag

Go over to Sales Addict here to get the scoop on how you can get a free Doggy Sleeping bag.
I love how the picture she has up is a beagle!

Purina Dog Food Coupon

Go over to Coupons.com and select the zip code 75211. There is a 2.00 off any 20lb. Purina Dog Chow dog food coupon. I printed mine today and it's valid through 9/9.

Weekly Deals and Steal

Target: Pedigree Dog Food with 20% bonus is 10.99. Keep an eye out for dog treats and food on clearance that could have some great coupon match ups.

Rite Aid: Iams 4lb bags are 4.99 this week. Use the 1.00 off coupon from the 8/2 P&G insert to get it for 3.99 a bag. If you sent in for the free Iams coupon, this would be a good time it.

CVS: I found milkbone rawhides on clearance for 2.00 each. Other chew sticks were as low as 1.75. A great way to use those 5/25.0o coupons!

Speaking of great deals. I had a great drug store run this morning. I went to Rite Aid to use the in store Zyrtec coupon with the 4.00 coupon from the 8/2 inserts. I got 2 45 count bottles for 42.32. I used my FSA card to pay for them. Then I submitted for the J&J spend 50.00 get a 25.00 gift card, a 10.00 gc from Zyrtec rewards and then another 10.00 rebate from Zyrtec. I will get 45.00 back!
The biggest surprise I got today was at Walgreen's. I was already planning on doing the Reach Toothpaste deal. I had 2 3/3.00 coupons. When I got into the aisle I found they had marked down the Reach Ultra to just 1.09! I thought well even if I don't get the RR on this it's still worth it to buy three for only .27! Not only where they just .27 I got the 6.00 RR on it! Now that is what I call an excellent deal.
It came at a great time for me. I was beginning to feel a little thrown off my game when CVS changed how tax applies to ECBs. Then Walgreen's was putting out okay ads, etc. Today was just the boost I needed to get back in the game.

CVS Coupon

There is a great $5.00 off any 25.00 purchase coupon for CVS. Go here for the scoop.

Remember this week there will be some great coupons in the paper for your pets.

Changes

Please be patient with me while I make some design changes here at the Frugal Beagle. I'm not an expert nor do I pretend to be. However, I've decided to give it a shot.

Feedback is always appreciated and welcomed.

Coupon Insert for 8/9

According to Jenny over at Southern Savers, the upcoming coupon inserts promises to be very pet heavy. Go here for the complete list.
Some highlights from it, keep in mind that Kmart may be doubling coupons again the week of 8/16.

$3/1 Purina Beneful brand Dog Food, 15.5lb+ bag, any variety - (x10/31)
$1/1 Purina Beneful brand Snackin’ Slices Dog Snacks, any size - (x11/8)
$2/1 Purina Dog Chow 15.5lb+ bag - (x8/23)
$1/1 Purina Dog Chow 3.15lb+ bag - (x8/23)

These should match up nicely with one of Target's giftcard deals or a Publix BOGO deal.

Potentially Free Chef Michael's Dog Food

Common Sense with Money has the following scenario where you could get free dog food. However, I'm a tad skeptical about this deal. Here is why.
1. Target prices vary by region and store. For instance, what one store might have on a temporary price cut, the same store in town may not. Temporary price cuts are triggered by store sales on items and distribution center stock. Hence why it varies by store and where you live.
2. Many times Target will not adjust coupons to make an item free. Technically, their policy is to allow a store and man. coupon. However, really it is up to each store once again on how they enforce this policy. Sometimes it will go through without problem and sometimes it will not.
3. I don't know how often this Purina coupon resets. However, if you've already printed it, you may not be able to reprint.

Your better bet would be to do the second scenario where you get a $5.00 gift card. There is less chance that the coupons will not go through as your total would be above just tax and less reason for them to reject your coupon. Also, because this is in the store ad, the price will not vary and you know what you will be paying before you go in the store.

Free Dog Treat Sample

Go here to request your free sample of Doggy Delightz dog treats. They are all natural and made with organic ingredients!

Friskies Sweepstakes

Normally, I don't post the various sweepstakes but this one seems like your likelihood of winning is worth posting.
Friskies Worlds of Wonder is giving away

Play the Worlds of Wonder Sweepstakes and you could win one of thousands of online instant-win prizes:

• FREE Friskies® dry cat food – 24 prizes available per day!
• Friskies cat food bowl – 10 prizes available per day!

Go here to register and find out more details on this sweepstakes. You will need codes found from their packages in order to play. However, if you have a cat and buy this brand it shouldn't be difficult. You can also request codes by mail. It ends 1/2010.

Weekly Deals

Look for the $1.00 off any Iams coupon in today's P&G. This would pair nicely with the Iams Natural on clearance at Target.
There are also dog treats on clearance at 15% off. Check your store for the specifics as every store is different.
Target is also offering a $5.00 gift card when you buy any two items shown.
Chef Michael's Dry Dog food(4.5lbs) at 9.99
Use the 1.50 off Target coupon found here.
Purina Dog Chow(20 lbs) at 9.99
if you still have the 3.50 off any Purina coupon this would pair nicely with this deal.
Purina One(8lbs) at 9.99.
Go to pg 31 to see the rest of the items that are a part of this deal.

San Diego Zoo Coupon

Save $7.00 off your next zoo ticket through Petco on a best value ticket.

J.C. Penny coupon

Save 15% instore or online with this coupon. Go through ebates and get cash back on your online purchase. It is valid July 29th-August 1st which pairs nicely with tax free weekend here in Georgia.
Now while J.C. Penny doesn't carry pet products(at least that I can find). If you need to replace anything your pet may have used as a chew toy(like your shoes) this could actually work out quite well for you. Or perhaps you are thinking about getting new pillows and turning your old pillows into a pet bed. Maybe, you've been eyeing new towels and are going to donate your old ones to the humane society.
There are various ways you can make this purchase pet related without actually buying a pet product.
I know, my logic for spending can be dangerous at times. Trust me, my wallet knows this allll too well.

Deals and Steals

Milkbone Dog treats will be on sale at Publix buy one/get one for the 7/29 or 7/30 ad(ads start either on Wed. or Thurs. depdending on your area). There are also b1/g1 coupons from the 6/7 smart source.
While in the dog food aisle see if they have the b1/g1 pedigree treats coupon!

Alpo canned foods has another b1/g1 coupon available by going here and playing the mix n match game.

In the upcoming P&G insert coupon previews are showing a 1.00 off coupon! I feel this has been long over due, I can't even remember the last time they had one!

Free Issue of Dogs Life

Head over to Hip2Save to see how you can get a free issue of Dogs Life magazine.

Breed does matter

Here at the Frugal Beagle I wrote the start of a series on adopting a dog called "So you want a Dog....
Recently, I was talking to my sister about our dogs. We both love beagles, a lot, enough where one day we hope to have a Beagle rescue. She was talking about this desire when the other person said to her " Be careful of adopting an adult dog from the pound". This person had a horrible experience with a dog she rescued. Mostly, because she decided she wanted the pretty dog and knew nothing about the breed. She chose a dog that did not fit her lifestyle and resulted in her not keeping the dog. The Minnesota Humane Society lists on their website why pets were turned in and often the reason is something that could have been avoided in the first place like "too big for an apartment". These are reasons that simple research could have brought their attention before they adopted. It's not cheap adopting a dog. Even a free dog is going to require a vet check up and basic supplies like food and a leash.
I also find it amusing how many people worry that if they adopt a dog from a rescue or shelter they will get "someone else's problem.". Here is what I say to that.
1. Puppies not given proper training will have behavioral problems. Has anyone else watched the Dog Whisperer or It's Me or the Dog? These are professional trainers that come into people's homes to work with the dog about bad behavior. All of those dogs they show are not bad dogs because that's just their personality. It's because their owners don't have set routines and don't enforce certain good behaviors.
2. Many rescues work to learn the dogs disposition and manners before placing them up for adoption. A solid rescue will disclose behavior problems along with if the dog gets a long with cats, other dogs and children. You will learn MORE about the dog than you would by just going to a breeder or pet store because someone has spent time with your to be pet.
3. You can teach an old dog new tricks. When I first got my dog she was not potty trained. Now she is and while it wasn't an easy process. It was well worth it.
4. A full grown dog is just that, you dont' have to guess how big they will get and go through various crates. You can get the right size on the first try.
5. Health problems will be known when you adopt them. I know this isn't always the case but chances are your dog may already be spayed or neutered. Your dog may have health problems but if you get them from a rescue they will tell you what those problems are and you can make that decision.

I am passionate about adopting adult dogs from shelters and rescue groups. At least consider it the next time you think about getting a new pet. It can be a very rewarded experience, if you do the proper research about what type of breed is best for you and don't just decide you want a Marley dog because it's cute.

Coupons

Yesterday's paper had a coupon for a free can of mighty dog. I did not receive it in my paper but my sister in the upper Midwest did. If your area did not carry the coupon you can always check an online trading group, coupon service or Ebay.

Right now most stores are focused on back to school with low cost school supplies and clothing. I'm currently stocking up on school supplies like highlighters, pens and office paper to donate to my local humane society. Many blogs are doing posts on creative ways to use school supplies like Freebies for Mom and others. There are some neat suggestions for those of us without school age children. Another way to take advantage of the folders and glue sticks would be to make an emergency file for your pet. Use a standard folder or file folder to hold all their vet visits, medication information, along with any allergies. One place with all the information you need on hand to plan for upcoming visits(for instance your pet will need their bordetella vaccine every 6 months.) and budget accordingly. Also, you could keep another folder with receipts in case a great pet food rebate comes up!

Beneful Coupon

Get a 5.00 off Beneful coupon here. This would be great to use with a Target giftcard deal or Publix sale.
Get yours now!

Free Iams Prebiotic Cat Food

Go here and log into your P&G Everyday solutions account or create one. Verify your address and receive a coupon for a free bag of Iam Prebiotic Cat food!

Go here for a mail in rebate for Feline Fresh Cat Litter up to a 5.99 savings!

Ways to help your local Shelters

The sluggish economy has effected many Americans in various ways. Increasing home foreclosures also mean an increase of pets being surrendered to shelters every day. Here are some simple ways you can help shelters in your area.

1. Check their website to see what type of donations they are in need of right now. This can vary from food, leashes, used towels and bedding(for the animals to sleep on), to things that are on sale right now like office supplies(3 ring binders, paper, pens, etc).

2. Check to see if they participate in a recycling program. My local shelter sends in used cell phones to raise funds. I've also seen where they take old printer cartridges.

3. Volunteer.

4. Consider becoming a foster parent.

5. Change your buying habits to support causes you care about such as animal shelters. Many companies are doing campaigns where a certain percentage of their sales goes to help animals in shelters like Pedigree and Science Diet. Other companies like Target support St. Jude's and United Way. Learn about where you shop to make your dollars go farther.

Save 10% off your next Petco trip!

Go here for this great money saving coupon. It's good through 8/15/09 and you will need to show your Petco P.A.L.S card.

Publix Pet Treat Deals

Publix has several pet treat offers running from July 11-August 7th 2009.

Mix or Match 3 for 6.99
Milkbone Chewy Dog Treats
Meaty Bone Dog Biscuits:Meaty Bone Chew-lotta or Denta-Delicious $1 (7/17/09)
Chewlotta Dog snacks: coupons $1.00 off, buy any chewlotta get a free Meaty Bone Dog Biscuit
Snausages Beef and Cheese
Pup-Peroni Dog Snacks: 1.00 off printable here or Pup-Peroni Dog Snacks, 4.8oz+ $1 (8/2/09)
Milkbone Gravy Bones: Milk-Bone Dog Snacks, any 26 oz. or smaller B1G1F up to $4.98 (8/2/09)

Pedigree: Use Buy one/Get one free coupon available in aisle.
Jumbone Mega Chew 3.99
Dentabone Treat for Dogs 2/$4.00
Pedigree Marrowbone 2.99
Breathbusters 2.49
Jumbone 2/$5.00
Dentastix 2/6.00 use 2.50 off 1 coupon here use with Buy/One Get coupon and get two bags for .25 each!
Pedigree + 3/24.9 Use Buy/One Get coupon here

Note: This week Publix has Pedigree Good Bites b/g free. Use the b/g coupon from the aisle display and get two packs FOR FREE!

Goodlife recipe whole treats 2/$6.00:Goodlife Recipe Treats for Dogs $1 (9/12/09)

Goodlife Cat Treats 2/$4.00: Goodlife Recipe Treats for Cats $1 (9/12/09)

Baking Soda and it's Pet Friendly Uses

Baking Soda, many of us know of it's freshening properties but it has many other uses besides baking and freshening. Here are some great ways you can use it with your pets.

1. Sprinkle baking sod in the litter box on the top and bottom to keep it smelling fresh.
2. Make your own kitty litter by combing a small box and 3 inches of sandy clay.
3. Brush your pet's teeth
4. Sprinkle baking soda around your pet's food bowls to keep pests away.
5. Relieve bug bites with a paste of basking soda with a little bit of water to make a paste.

Save on Science Diet Prescription Dog Food!

VCA vet offices are partnering with Hill's Science Diet to offer 20% back on the purchase of 5 Science diet or prescriptrion diet items. You will receive a check for 20% of the total purchase price that you can then use towards any product or service at the same vet!
Combine this offer with the Hill's Science Diet Prescription Dog food rebate for $25.00 and really maximize your savings! This rebate offer is good through Jan. 2010.
To locate your local VCA office go here.

Cesar brand dog food is introducing a new variety to their line up. Go here for a buy one/get one coupon.

And for those of you signed up for Petsmart Perks look for a new mailer with coupons for dog food and grooming services. Combine those coupons with the Petsmart coupon I posted here.
The mailer had a 5.00 off Science Diet coupon that you could combine with a manufacturer's coup for very cheap Science Diet(like 1.99 or .99 depending on what coups you have). Even without the mailer you should be able to get some great dog food deals with the coupon!

7/12 Coupon Inserts

There will be two coupon inserts this week. Here are some pet coupons I saw on the preview.

Red Plum
$1.00 off when you buy two beggin strips/tbonz
.50 off when you buy 2 Pounce cat treats
$2.00 off Whiskas dry food for cats
$1.00 off Whiskas wet food for cats 10 pack.

Smartsource
$5.00 off Rapid Pet Bathing System

Great Deal on Flea/heartworm preventative

Check out this great deal Petcarerx.com is offering right now. I just bought a 6 month supply of Sentinel, which is used to prevent fleas and worms by a pill for just 54.00! That's $9.00 a month for both flea AND worm prevention. Before my co-worker told me about this product I was paying 9.00 a month on just flea preventative. The costs will vary by your pet's weight. Mine fell into the 11-25lb category so here is what the deal looked like for me.

63.99 cost for a 6 month supply.
-5.00 offer through Petcarerx when you spend $35.00
this is applied automatically no code needed or use
-10.00 off with the code "clip439"
This is valid through 7-31-09
Free shipping for spending 35.00 dollars
=53.99
Plus, I will earn 12% back through ebates on my purchase by using their link. Plus, they say I earned a 5.00 off my next purchase coupon.
They also have a pet points program where you earn points every purchase 1 point=1 dollar spent. You can also earn pet points by referring people to their website.

Depending on what you buy, you will need to enter your vet's information. It is simple and easy for you to do. My whole order took me about five minutes to place and that was because I kept popping open windows to find coupon codes. If you are not a member of ebates use my link on the right side to sign up! You'll get a bonus for signing up and so will I, which is what I call a win/win.

Low Cost Vaccinations!

TailSpin here in Savannah has partnered with Landmark Vet services to offer a low cost vaccination clinic this Saturday(July 11th) for Students, Seniors and Military personal. All shots will be just $10.00 each. 2 dogs per person is the limit and appointments sign in begins at 1:30pm. They will offer this great service from 2-4pm.
Go here for more information.

Deals and Coupons

Here is a recap of some ongoing deals.

Rite Aid has a $5.00 SCR on Hartz Ultra Plus flea preventative. Use the 2.00 off coupon here. If you are taking advantage of other SCR don't forget to use the $5.00 off your 25.00 purchase coupon here. Transfer a prescription(s) and get a 25.00 gift card to use!
If I could get the coupon to print(Smartsource refuses to believe my printer is set correctly) I would do this deal as I just used my last tube of K9 Advantix.

Get a $2.00 off Purina Puppy Chow coupon here. If you have a Meijer near you, this would be a great time to stock up on dog food. For the scoop go here, Mercedes over at Common Sense with Money has the details.

Do you have an adorable picture of your pet dressed up for the 4th of July? Great news, that picture could win you a year's supply of dog food. Go here for the details.

Also, at one of my CVS' I noticed they had dog treats marked down to .62 a bag. It didn't work into my deal scenario and I'm in the process of moving, so I didn't buy any. However, that is a great price point!

Weekly Deals

Target
Milkbone treats are 2.39. Use the b1/g1 coupon from the 6/7 Redplum and get two boxes for 2.39!

Pupperoni treats are 2.39 use the 1.00 off coupon here and get a bag for 1.39.

Kroger
Cesar dog food is 5/4.00. Use the B1/g1 coupon or the B2/G1 coupon(found at Kmart).
Pedigree 15lb bags are 10.69
Use the 1.50 or 2.00 off coupon from the 6/14 insert. The 2.00 off coupon I found at Publix.

Pet Sitting

Currently right now I am pet sitting for my co-worker. She has quite the zoo which consists of a parrot, 2 dogs, 3 cats and fish. Add to that my pup and you can see I definitely have my hands full! However, I love it and enjoy every moment.

It did get me thinking though, what do you do when you go on vacation with your pet? There are several options to choose. Here are the ones I thought of while brainstorming.

1. Have a friend or family member watch your pet. This is my personal favorite.
2. Kennel or Pet resort
3. Pet sitting service
4. Bring your pet with you

Obviously each option has a certain level of cost and planning involved with it. Most kennels require proof of recent vaccinations as do Pet sitting services. Time is a large factor including how long you will be away and what hours the kennel or pet service are available. The biggest factor for us frugals would be cost. Friends or family would be the cheapest of the options because you could negotiate with them. I often trade services such as you watch my dog for x days and I will watch yours for x days. You could also agree on a minimum amount you pay per day, say $5.00. Here are some factors I use to determine what the best agreement would be.

1. Will it require you to go to their house or will their pet come to yours?
2. How many days?
3. How many pets you will be watching? One dog is very different than 2.
4. Does your pet have special needs like medicine or allergies?
5. How well do they get along with your pets?

If anyone else has any input please leave a comment!

Rite Aid-Hartz Deal

This month Rite Aid has Hartz Flea Control as a Single Check Rebate(SCR)

Rebate #190

Valid from 06/28/09 to 07/25/09

$5.00 Rebate
Hartz

Purchase One (1):
• Ultra Guard Pro Flea & Tick Drops

LIMIT TWO (2) $5.00 REBATES

Get a 2.00 off coupon here for Hartz Ultra Guard Pro

Rite Aid also has a save $5.00 off your $25.00 purchase coupon available here.

You can use both coupons if your total comes to 25.00 dollars. Use the $5.00 off coupon first and then any additional coupons. Then save your receipt and submit for the rebate online on the Rite Aid website.

Hot Petsmart Coupon!

There is a $5.00 off any $25.00 purchase coupon here. It expires July 25th, which gives you plenty of time to use it.

Ways to use it
1. Use free Iams bag coupon if you sent in for it. Today is the last day to do so! Remember, Iams has a satisfaction guaranteed.
2. Eukanuba $5.00 off any puppy food coupon, if you signed up for it. If not there is still time to send in for it. I received mine within three weeks.
3. Science Diet's Nature's best get a $5.00 off coupon printable.
4. Purina Pro Plan $3.00 off coupon
5. Various Pedigree coupons for dog treats etc.

Coupons

Go here for a $5.00 off Science Diet Nature's Best Natural Balance Dog food. You will need to be a registered user for their website to access the coupon.

Petco is having an online sale for Flea and Tick topicals. Go through Ebates and earn additional cash back on your purchase. These prices seems competitive with other online sites and are less than what you would pay in your vet's office.

Get a free health exam from your local VCA vet office. Go here for more information. Personally, I try to avoid larger chain vet offices. They are typically more expensive than local pet hospitals. I konw this from personal experience. I originally took my dog to a large chain vet and the visit alone was $20 more than what I pay now at my vet's office. I did not have a great experience either at the large chain. However, if you are concerned about something go on with your pet this might be a great way to get that checked out. However, do be aware that this only covers the exam, not any treatment services.

Free Sample of doggie detangler available here. This would be great for those of you with long hair pups.

Get $3.00 off Purina Pro Plan dog food here.

Your Help is Needed

Readers, your help is needed! My blogger buddy Your Coupon Buddy has a call on her blog for dog food coupons and kitty coupons to help out a local Humane Society in desperate need of dog and kitty food. While the shelter has received a great response it doesn't mean their need is over! If you have any of the free mighty dog coupons or free cat chow coupons or any other coupons that would make it possible to get dog/cat food a low cost. Please go to her site and send the coupons her way. I'm gathering up my coupons right now to send to her.
Here is one of the news stories about the shelter.

Iams at CVS

CVS has the 3.5-4lb bag of mini chunks for 5.99 this week. While that's not as good of a deal as the Publix price, it could work out well if you need to use up some ECB's. There is a rebate form found in the summer aisle where there is an Iams display. There you will find a rebate for purchase one bag and get a coupon for a free bag.
So buy 1 bag at 5.99(I believe regular price on these is between 7.99-11.99!) and send in for the rebate, get a free bag. Each bag would work out to around 3.00 plus a stamp. This could be a great way to use some of those ECB's from the soyjoy deal or if you have those great x/xx coupons that I NEVER get.
Plus, if you try Iams for 4 weeks and don't like it. You can get your money back! That's right they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Dogster

Dogster is an online community where you make a page for your dog. Similar to Facebook or Myspace but for dogs and cats(catster), but with an online community section that includes great resources.
For instance you can go here and get a $5.00 coupon for Adams Flea products(remember there is a 3.00 off coupon in All for You, and the 5/17 inserts). You do need to be a member to receive the coupon, which will be mailed.
I've got some great tips and information from dogster. I've even got freebies! I got a free dog food scoop and portable waterbowl when I joined the frebreeze group on dogster. It's a great place to get breed information and connect with fellow dog lovers.
If you don't have an account it's free to join and you can be as active or inactive as you want.

Great Offers for your cat.

Yes, even the Frugal Beagle is a fan of the feline world. Check out these great offers for your kitty!

Go here to get a mail in rebate form for a 7lb bag of Feline Pine.

For Canadian residents only get a free sample of Purina Pro cat food.

$1.00 off any Cat's Pride kitty litter here.

$1.00 off any Jonny cat litter here.

$3.00 off World's Best Cat Litter here

Buy one/get on free coupon here for Culinary Creation canned food.

Pedigree Canned Food Coupon

Go here to get a buy one/get one free coupon from Pedigree.

Also, did you know Iams offers a 100% guarantee on their products? After trying their product for four weeks if you are not satsified you can call their customer relation line at 1-800-675-3849 for a refund.

Weekly Deals

Publix
Iams 3.5-4lb bags of dog food @ 4.99
-buy one and then send in for the free bag voucher(good through 6/30) if you have not already. Voucher forms found at CVS by the Iams summer display or they are also selling on Ebay.
If this sale includes Premium protection Iams, use the 2.00 off coupon in today's inserts(6/21) to get it for just 2.99!

Pedigree Jumbo Bones multi packs are 6.99. Combine with the 1.50 off any pedigree treat to make them 5.49. If I remember correctly there are 6 in a pack.
or 1.00 off any Jumbo bone(5/7 RP) expires 7/4

I also found Rachel Ray's Isaboo treats for 1.75 a bag, combine with 1.00 off coupon to make them .75 a bag. I tested one out on my pooch and sure enough, she loved them. I wish I had more than 1 coupon!

Target
-Pedigree 20lb+2lb bonus bags of dog food are 11.49
Use the 2.00 off any Pedigree coupon(7/15/09) This may be a regional coupon as I found it at Publix.
Or use the 1.50 off any Pedigree dog food coupon in today's inserts.

Kroger
Pedigree 20lb bags of dog food are 10.69
Plus they are including in the Daytona 10 event(check your local ad).
Use 2.00 off any Pedigree coupon or 1.50 off any bag from today's inserts.

Eukanuba Coupon

My Eukanuba coupon showed up yesterday in the mail. It is good for $5.00 of any Eukanuba PUPPY food. Blast! My pup is waaaay past the puppy stage. This will probably go towards a charitable contribution.

Steals and Deals

I had a great shopping trip at Publix today. I had a 1.90 overage to use so I decided to get dog treats. I bought 1 chewlotta 2pack at 2.99. I used a 1.00 off coupon my sister sent me from the inserts. Then I had the printable from Red Plum where you buy any chewlotta and get a free box of Meaty Bone dog biscuits, a 2.69 savings! So for 1.99 I got two things of treats. With my overage it came out to .09! Then I spotted Rachel Ray's Isaboo treats on a clearance end cap for 1.75. I used a dollar off coupon from the inserts to score that for only .75! Then why I checked the mail today I was thrilled to discover that my free bag of Iams coupon arrived! It's good until 9/30/09. If you have not sent in for yours you have until 6/30/09. This came pretty fast too!

Even if you don't have a Publix in your area, I've heard the Isaboo treats can be found on clearance at Walmart as well. The Iams coupon is good anywhere Iams is sold. It is for a 3.5-4lb bag.

Pedipaw Deal

Do you want a simple way to save on grooming costs? Trimming your pets nails is a great way. However, if the idea of trimming them makes you nervous have you thought about using the Pedipaw?
I have thought about purchasing one but was always turned off by the price. However, Workin' the Deals has a great post about how you can get one for only $10.00! Go here for the link. This would make a great gift as well!

Walmart Deal

The July All For You(magazine only available by subscription or at Wal-mart) will have a 3.00 off any Adam's Flea and Tick product. Some blogs are reporting that flea collars are only .98 at their stores. This would make them free along with overage on this item.

Another pet coupon in the magazine will be $1 off Hydro Surge Pet Shampoo 18oz or 16 oz

Weekly Deals

Target is offering a $5.00 giftcard with the purchase of two Beneful 15.5lb bags @ 14.49 each.
-use 3.50 printable available here(if you used this coupon for the Publix deal a few weeks back, you may not be able to print again).
14.49-3.50=10.99(2)=21.98, plus you would get the 5.00 giftcard back.

Don't forget to get a paper today as there will be a coupon for a FREE can of Mighty Dog!

Save $5.00 off full service groom or bath at Petco with this coupon.

Save up to $15.00 with these great Hill's Science Diet Coupons from Petco. These are great because you can combine them with manufactuer's coupons for even greater savings! Today is the last day to use the $5.00 off any $25.00 purchase too! Combine that coupon with these and get some amazing deals!

Upcoming Dog Coupons

There are going to be some great dog food coupons in this Sunday's inserts. Here is the preview

$1 off Purina Beneful Snackin Slickes dog snacks, any size (9/14)
$1 off Purina Busy Bone Mini 6.5oz OR Busy Bone any size/variety (9/14)
$1 off Purina Busy Rollhide dog treat, any size/variety (9/14)

FREE Purina Mighty Dog Canned Dog food can OR $1.00 on 12ct or 24ct Variety Pack (8/3)
-This will be great to combine with the buy four get 1 free coupon, if you signed up to be a member of Mighty Dog Nation! If you have done so yet, there is still time!

Let's not forget about the kitties
B1G1 Purina Friskies Party Mix, 2.1oz pouch (9/30)

Dog Treat Deal

Did you get the Chew-lotta coupon in your inserts? If you did here is a great way to use it.

Buy 1 Chew-lotta dog treat, use the $1.00 off coupon, and use the free Meaty Bone Biscuits coupon when you buy any chew-lotta dog treat. If your store has the Chew-lottas on sale or at regular price for $2.50 you would get both the Chew-lotta and Meaty Bone biscuits for only 1.50 or .75 each!

Photo Deals

CVS is offering a free 8x10 enlargement through their website. Use the code FREE8X10 and select in store pick up for an absolutely free 8x10.

If you haven't already signed up for their online photo with your CVS card you will also get free prints.

Shutterfly is running a deal where if you create your own photo blog site and share it with your friends they will credit you and your friends(if they have an account) with free 4x6 photos. I recently received 40 free prints doing this. Now I'm going to wait for a great deal on shipping to save even more!

CVS Deals

CVS has Alpo cans for .69 each. Combine with this buy one/get one coupon and get two cans for .69! This would make a great filler item for a transaction if you need one. Here is what I plan on getting this week.
2 Banana Boat Sunscreens@ 7.19 each
-minus 2 (2.00) coupons=10.38
-minus 10.00 ECBs
=.38 cents for 2 sunscreens plus 7.00 in ECB's

Then I'll turn that 7.00 right around and buy
4 cans of Alpo @ .69
use 2 buy/get one coupons=1.38
2 Always Pads @ 2/6.00
use 2(1.00 off coupons) from the P&G coupon booklet back in Jan.
=2/4.00 and get back 2.00 ECBS
2 Milk Bones @ 3.99=7.98
-2.50 off any 2 milk bones(6/7 rp)=5.48
=10.86
-7.00 ECBS from first purchase=3.86 plus tax. Plus the 2.00 in ECB's you'll get back from the Always

Weekly Deals

Sorry for the delay on these, but I was in a wedding this last weekend. Without further fanfare, here are the best deals I see this week.

If your area Kmart is doubling coupons check out these treat deals.
Pedigree Treats are 2.99
-1.00 any pedigree treat for dogs(7/15/09) found in aisle tearpad at Kmart
-1.00 any marrobone treat for dogs(6/20/09)
-1.00 any Jumbobone treat for dogs(7/4/09) or (6/27/09)
-1.00 off any Good bites treats for dogs(7/4/09) or (6/27/09)
-2.50 any dentastix(expiration date would depend on when you printed it)
-1.00 off any pedigree jumbone bone or dentastix mini(6/30/09)-I found these at my Kmart inside the small 2 piece pack that was 1.00. The coupon was inside.
-1.50 off any Pedigree treats for dogs(I found this at Publix with their sales flyers) 7/15/09
Depending on which coupons you have treats would be .99 to free after coupons.

Target
Free $5.00 gift card when you buy the following combinations
1 40lb bag of Pedigree dog food
-use 2.00 off coupon(7/15/09, 15.9lbs or larger) found at Publix
and 1 26oz Marrowbone treats (use 1.50 any Pedigree treats or 1.00 off any marrowbone treat)

2 bags of Purina Cat Chow
-1.00 off any bag of Purina cat chow
Buy 2 @ 11.79 use 2 coupons =21.58 plus a $5.00 giftcard. 16.58 for 32lbs of cat food

2 bags of Iams
-17.5 bag of dog food 17.79
-8lb bag of cat food 14.00

2 35lb boxes of Tidy Cat Litter @ 11.99, use 2 1.00 off any Tidy Cat coupons and pay 21.98 for 70 lbs of cat litter, plus a $5.00 gift card.

20% off all American Kennel Club Leashes, Collars and harnesses.

Also, remember the $5.00 off any $25.00 purchase coupon at Petco is valid through 6/14/09!

Part II: Finding Your New Pet

Part I: Finding the Right Breed

Now that you have decided upon the right breed, your next step is finding the right friend for you. One major factor into your will be if you want a puppy versus a grown dog. Petfinder.com is a great source for finding a pet. You put in search criteria including breed, zip code and any other preferences and it comes up with a lists of pets that match your criteria. They show pictures of the pets along with any contact information on the agency holding the pet. Many Rescue groups will list what shots the pet has received, adoption fee and any known information. This is all very helpful because it will help cost estimation. Remember, even if you are looking for a purebreed, almost 40% of dogs in rescues or shelters are purebreed dogs. I would recommend working with a breed specific rescue group. A google search will put you in contact with any in your area or surrounding area. I highly recommend rescue groups. If you are scared that you will adopt a problem dog, remember many rescue groups work with poor behavior prior to putting the dog up for adoption. Many of the animals have been in a foster home, where the foster parent will let you know about known behaviors. It is also a great way to find out if the dog is good with children. Don't assume that because you adopt a puppy,you will bypass these issues. As you can tell I am very passionate about rescue groups and working with shelters.

If you do insist upon having a purebreed from a breeder, a good starting place is also google. There are some rules to look for when adopting from a breeder. First, don't ever agree to meet them off site. Always insist on meeting them on site with the mother. This will help you see what conditions the puppy has been raised in and legitimate breeders will always agree to this condition. Ask the breeder for recommendations from other customers. Once again, this is a sign of a legitimate breeder, which is very important. As with the rescue groups find out what shots have been given and any other medical history.

Before you start looking into adopting a pet find a vet in your area. Find out the costs a regular office visit along with shots and any other services like pet medication. Many vets also offering boarding and grooming. If your pet is going to need fur trims or nail trims that you don't feel comfortable doing yourself get a cost estimate. This will help you plan for any expenses with your pet. Ask neighbors,co-workers, church members and friends for recommendations, this is the best way to find one in your area. Or look for low cost shot clinics that you can use for the more common ones like rabies and bordetella. Many of the low cost clinics are done by certified vets. Also, if you are going to neuter or spay your pet, find out if there are any rescue groups selling certificates at a reduced cost. This is a great way to save money on the costs associated with it. Another thing to consider is if you are going to microchip your pet. These are all things you should take into account along with the adoption costs.

A break down
1. Adoption Fee
-find out if this fee includes shots or other medical services.
2. Medical Costs
-shots(bordetella, rabies, etc), worm tests, overall vet exam(if needed)
3. County Registration
-Many areas have a pet license fee, find out what it is in your area and what records you need to send in with it. Ask for a copy at the time of adoption
4. Microchipping
-Find out if the microchip has a lifetime or yearly registration and if any fees go along with it.
5. House Supplies
-Food, bowl, leash and collar

In Part III, I'll talk about how to save money on costs once you bring your pet home like food, training and treats.

Petsmart 15% Coupon

Great news, Petsmart is offering a 15% off coupon. This one is good from June 4th-7th. There is another one for 15% off any grooming service. If you prefer to shop online there is another one for 15% off any $60.00 purchase.
Go here to get the great savings. You will need a Petsmart Perks card, but if you don't already it is FREE to sign up.

Don't forget the Petco coupon for $5.00 off any $25.00 purchase is good through June 14th!

Yes, I coupon and yes, I know the rules

I must admit I've read horror stories on other blogs about how a cashier or management treats someone when using coupons. I've been relatively lucky during my adventures in couponing. Usually, I have found that if you are polite and ask them to just try, they will. I used to work in retail. I know that cashiers usually get very little training due to payroll constraints and other factors. It really can be a tricky situation because they usually are doing what they THINK they can do and if they don't do something right, well the management will let them know. Trust me, because not only did I work in retail, I did HR. So I had all that in the back of my mind today while I was checking out at Publix today.

I bought two bags of Beneful, it was buy/get one at 5.49. I had two coupons to use with them, then I bought sushi for lunch and some bananas as I knew I would have overage. My cashier rings me up and tells me my total which was around 13 dollars. I hand over my coupons, she looks at them then her screen. She tells me I can't use coupons on a sale item. I give her a confused look, before I can even ask her to just scan them. She decides she is going to find a manager. I stand there, waiting for her to return. Finally, after what feels like hours the manager comes over. Looks at the coupons, looks at her and tells her to scan them. They go through just fine. She then starts telling the manager she doesn't feel it's right that I can use them because the coupon is for more than the item. The manager looks at her and goes, we get reimbursed for the value of the coupon, really it is fine. Then she points to my total and goes, yeah but look at how much it took off?! He looks at me and goes "Yes, it's fine". I pay for my purchase.

I am really grateful that manager knew the correct coupon policy and how to react to the situation. I'm sure he has dealt with a lot worse than this. However, I could not believe how the cashier was treating me, the customer. As if I was stealing dog food from their shelves and then demanding they give me free bananas while I was at it. Clearly, this was not only a training issue but an attidude issue from the cashier. It's unfortunate, as the economic stays stagnant, more people will be using coupons. More people will be looking for ways to save money. I wrote Publix to let them know how much I appreciate this manager and how their cashier may need a little assistance with training on the proper use of coupons.

The important thing is to not let situations like this deter you from using coupons. Know what your rights are as a consumer and always remain polite with management. Usually, management will be on your side if you explain your position and are working within the stores boundaries. Stay the course in coupoing, because that 7.00 I saved today was worth the hassle and the free dog food.

Meaty Bone Coupon Returns!

Remember that great Buy a Chew-lotta get a free box of Meaty Bone Dog Biscuits? Sure you do, I know I missed it when it suddenly went away. Great news, it's back. No, I'm not dreaming because my dog is running "low" on treats. No, really it's back.

Go here to print one today.

Even better news? It's good until the end of July.

Part I: Picking the Breed that Is Right for You

Here at the Frugal Beagle I will be starting a summer feature called "So you want a dog...". The purpose of this series is an education resources about getting a dog. The focus will be on how you can save money by doing research, decisions,tips and tricks.

Did you know that one of the most common reasons dogs end up in shelters is because their owners did not understand the breeds they selected? Another common reason is because they move and cannot take their pet with them and because they don't have time.

Today, will feature part one of the series, Picking the Breed that Is Right for You. Alright, so after much thought and consideration you have decided that you want a dog. After all, this is not a small step. Think about what you want from a dog, how much time you will have to devote to your new friend. Here are few questions I found to be helpful when I got a dog.

1. What size? Dogs range in size from toy to very large. Be honest with yourself, yes, Labs are very cute dogs but are a large dog. Many apartment buildings have weight restrictions, check with your building managers before committing to one breed.

2. How energetic will they be? Some dogs enjoy lounging on your lap, others consistently want to be on the move. Will you be able to accommodate their energy?

3. How much does the breed cost? Different breeds carry different prices. This is one advantaget to adopting a shelter dog, you pay the adoption fee which is typically much lower than buying from a breeder. However, there are things you may not know about the dog when adopting a shelter dog like known medical histories, age, and behavior problems. For instance Purina.com lists beagles costing between $600-1000.

Now that you have answered these questions start researching breeds that interest you. There are several online databases that will help you learn about the breed. Dogster.com, Petfinder.com and Purina.com all have extensive breed databases. Often, they will list a general description about their mannerisms, size, known health problems, intelligence(how easy to train), and other facts. This informatin should match what you have listed above and if not you may want to reconsider the breed. Unless you have your heart set on one dog, don't be afraid to change your mind. If you already have a dog, it will be important that your pets get a long.

Purina.com also offers a nifty quiz to help you find out what breeds may fit into your lifestyle.
Go here to take it.