Abstract: A grooming apparatus including a tick remover. The tick remover may be a slot having opposing edges for engaging a tick therebetween for removal from the skin of a host. The slot may extend in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the grooming apparatus.

Abstract: A treat dispenser having a sound producing element that may be activated in connection with dispensing treats from the dispenser. The treat dispenser may include a telescoping member and a housing member that may be displaced to dispense treats and emit a sound (e.g., click) from the sound producing element. The treat dispenser may be gripped by a user wherein the user may actuate the treat dispenser with one hand. The treat dispenser may be used in the training of an animal (e.g.

Abstract: A grooming tool that includes a de-shedding rake and a method for assembling the de-shedding rake and the grooming tool. The grooming tool includes a handle portion, and the de-shedding rake is operatively attached to the handle portion. The de-shedding rake includes an axle, a spacer block disposed along the axle and having a plurality of spaced-apart slots and a plurality of de-shedding blades disposed along the axle and within the spaced-apart slots. The use of a spacer block to separate the de-shedding blades significantly reduces the assembly time and cost associated with manufacturing the grooming tool. The invention also includes a method for assembling the de-shedding rake and the grooming tool. The grooming tool is particularly useful for the grooming of furred animals such as dogs and cats.

Abstract: An animal muzzle that is adapted to be placed over an animal's snout, particularly a domestic canine animal such as a dog. The muzzle advantageously prevents the animal from biting a human handler or another animal while permitting the animal to breathe easily and to consume water or food while the muzzle is in place. The muzzle can be fabricated from an elastic material, such as an elastomer.

Abstract: A pet toy adapted for dispensing treats when the pet toy is manipulated by a pet animal, and a method for dispensing treats to a pet animal. The pet toy can include a housing having an interior surface defining a treat cavity for containing pet treats. The housing includes at least a first housing aperture. A rotatable lid is attached to the housing and is disposed over the first housing aperture where the rotatable lid includes at least a first lid aperture such that the rotatable lid can be rotated to expose the first housing aperture for the passage of treats through the housing. At least one of the housing and the rotatable lid includes a second aperture of smaller size than either the first housing aperture or the lid aperture such that the lid can be rotated to form a treat outlet passageway that is smaller than the treat inlet passageway.

Abstract: A ball-like dog toy includes a spherical shell and a cylindrical valve, the spherical shell being formed of two symmetrical half shells, the half shells having ribs and partition boards, the cylindrical valve being mounted in a hole on the spherical shell and retained between the ribs and partition boards of the half shells and rotated within a limited angle, wherein dog food is discharged out of the spherical shell through the cylindrical valve when the spherical shell is rolled on the ground; discharging of dog food is stopped when the dog stops from playing with the dog toy.