QuickFinder was probably the most innovative new product on display at the Global Pet Expo last week in San Diego.

It's a claw cutter that detects the Quick in an animal's claw, and alerts you where and where not to cut. This way you avoid cutting blood vessels and nerve bundles.

The photo on the right is of Tripp Manheimer, inventor of the QuickFinder.

There are three colored lights on the handle: red for "don't cut", yellow for "caution", and green for "safe to cut". It's guaranteed to eliminate cutting worries, and works on dogs, cats, and bird, of all claw density types, even black claws.

It's manufactured by a company called MiracleCorp, which makes other grooming products, but won't be available until August of 2006.

Via PetGadgets.com

In Vienna, Austria, they implemented a new licensing program for dogs called, "Driving Licenses for Dogs".

It's not a license to drive cars, but an "obedience license" for dog owners, demonstrating their ability to handle their pet in public.

It's not a mandatory license, but just something to let Vienese dog owners boast about.

It comes with a written test, and an "driving test", where a dog owner takes its dog out for a walk and demonstrates dog handling etiquette, like muzzling a dog, and picking up poop.

The license is actually more of a test to address a big problem in Vienna with dog poop laying on city sidewalks. Thousands of people signed a petition to force the city to find a solution to the 5 to 10 tons of dog excrement produced daily.

Trophy Animal Health Care is offering a new first aid spray for animals and pets called, "EMT Spray".

It's a non-stinging spray that includes Bitrex™, a bitter tasting substance that prevents dogs from biting or licking their wounds, while also providing rapid healing.

The company says that EMT Spray contains the same collagen as their EMT Gel and is effective for many types of wounds and skin problems including: hot spots, first and second degree burns, foot pad injuries, cuts, abrasions and flesh tears. It's also said to reduce bleeding, pain and itching.

Designed for portability, it comes in a 1oz plastic pump spray bottle, retailing for .50.

The National Animal Interest Alliance, a group that supports responsible animal and pet welfare, issued an audio release warning people about buying purebred dogs from Mexico. This made me wonder if there is an increase in the number of Americans buying foreign-bred puppies. If there is, why? Is it because prices are cheaper? Well, I'm not convinced prices are cheaper. These dogs are not purchased in Mexico, rather they are shipped to the United States, and sold through a variety of outlets, anywhere from newspapers, to pet shops, to online classifieds. I tend to believe it's the result of so many federal and state laws that make it difficult for American breeders to do business. At the heart of the issue are puppy mills. Instead of government spending money to bust the puppy millers, they instead resort to cheaper solutions, by enacting "budget neutral" laws that make it difficult for breeders to operate a business. The problem with this is that puppy mills don't abide by laws. However, ethical breeders do, and it's making it difficult for them to stay in business, and has reduced the supply of purebred puppies in America. Hence, these laws have created a growing dog breeding industry in Mexico. The end result of these laws is that there are still more puppies being bred throughout the world than ever before, but they are being bred more sickly. If our government spends more time and money busting the puppy mills, instead of enacting more restrictive laws, then there won't be a demand for foreign-born puppies. Let the ethical breeders flourish in America, and we won't have to worry about disease stricken Mexican puppies.

The State of California is considering a new law that will make it illegal for dogs to chase after rabbits.

The proposed bill, AB 2110, introduced by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D), outlaws the sport of "Live Field Coursing". However, it's written in such a way to apply to any situation where a dog owner is aware their dog is free to chase rabbits...

(b) For the purposes of this section, "live field coursing" includes any activity in which a dog is left untethered and allowed to track and pursue any rabbit, hare, or fox and that results in the injury or death of the rabbit, hare, or fox.

So, if you know your dog likes to chase rabbits in the backyard, and you allow it to do so, you will become a criminal if that rabbit is harmed, and may serve up to six months in a county jail, or a ,000 fine.

The issue of Field Coursing became overblown when the ABC News affiliate in San Francisco ran a story that covered the sport. Instead of portraying it as a beagling competition for hounds and beagles, they used words like, "Blood Sport", "slow terrible death", and "some of the pictures might be disturbing".

They've managed to turn a centuries old sport into a "rabbit rights" issue.

A company called Flat-D Innovations, Inc. is selling a thong for dogs designed to make farts smell better. Dubbed, "The Dogone", it's an activated charcoal cloth that traps the foul smelling odors from the passing wind. It's washable and reusable. It uses elastic straps for flexibility, and suspender clips to make the thong adjustable. They also provide quick release when its time for poochie to do its business. .99 from Flat-D

Natura Pet Products is offering a new flavor in its line of California Natural dog foods. "Herring and Sweet Potato" is a dry dog food, formulated to be complete and balanced. Product literature goes on to say that "the single source of protein from the herring offers a palatable source of omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids along with vitamin E for its antioxidant properties to provide for a lustrous coat, smooth skin and a healthy immune system." Available in 5 lb. (2.5kg), 20 lb. (9.1kg) and 36 lb. (16.3kg) stand up bags, the formula contains no wheat, corn or corn oil, soy, beef, turkey, pork, milk, yeast, eggs, artificial preservatives, artificial flavoring, added coloring or by-products. Visit the company's store locator for retailers.

Natural Chemistry, Inc. is offering a new product called, "Waterless Bath". You just spray it on, and it removes odors, excess oils and stains from animal coats, and contains an aloe moisturizing agent leaving dogs smelling fresh and clean. No bathing required. Waterless Bath is an enzyme-based cleaning solution that breaks down undesirable organic materials safely and effectively. It's billed as a great way for groomers that have just bathed a pet to freshen it up or remove some soiling before the customer arrives.

Last week I wrote about the MicroID Collar, the winning product idea in the IdeaFetch contest. I mentioned that the idea was not new, and that the Top Tag Pet ID predated it. I was contacted by Amanda Leesburg, who handles communications with PetSafe, the company that hosted the IdeaFetch contest. She pointed out the differences between the two products, which justified the MicroID Collar as being an innovative new pet product idea. The biggest difference is that MicroID's flash card is embedded into the collar, while Top Tag's flash card hangs from the collar. The embedded collar concept was tested with consumers, which they preferred because it avoided potential problems with the tag getting caught in heater grates and fences. Moreover, the MicroID Collar has a toll-free number on the collar, in case a finder can't use the USB jack.

Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. unveiled its Sentry Natural Defense line of flea, tick and mosquito control products last week at the Global Pet Expo. The company claims it's the first natural product formulation from a major pet products manufacturer clinically shown to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. They claim to have clinical data showing that Sentry Natural Defense products kill or repel high percentages of insects within the first 24 hours and have efficacy rates comparable to some of the leading conventional flea and tick products. Sentry Natural Defense uses natural pesticide botanicals such as peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon grass oil and thyme oil. The company expects to start shipping its new product to PETCO and other retailers this April. Update: Geoff Mott over at PetGadgets says that Sergeant's also bakes cookies using these ingredients.