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Unleash Your Inner Decorator Contest

By Michele C. Hollow of Pet News and Views

Appearance matters. I used to cringe at the thought of entering an animal shelter. Thankfully, so many animal centers understand how design can impact a sale.

Lemon Zest from ModaPet holds two cups of food or water. This stylish pet bowl dresses up your pet's food station. The bowl retails for $14.99.

I know cats and dogs are not objects; however, when an animal center wants to entice people to adopt, the space has to be inviting. “You really have to think about how you display the animals,” says Mike Arms, president and CEO of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in southern California. “I walk into facilities where I see all the felines are in stainless steel cages. It looks dark in there, and if you have a black cat in there, they get lost because they look like they’re in a cave.”

The cattery at HWAC is inviting, and takes the stress off of potential adopters.

Décor Matters
At Helen Woodward Animal Center and Jersey Animal Coalition the living quarters of the dogs and cats are of utmost importance. To make these spaces more enticing, ModaPet, manufacturers and designers of pet food bowls, will donate 50 of its designer pet food bowls to Helen Woodward Animal Center and Jersey Animal Coalition; that’s 25 bowls each.

ModaPet's True Blue deep dish bowl holds four cups of food or water. It retails for $24.99.

My cat, Earl Gray, eats and drinks from these bowls. We have Lemon Zest, a small bowl that retails for $14.99 and True Blue, which retails for $24.99. What I love about these bowls, in addition to the fact that they are attractive and come in a nice range of solid colors that work well in any kitchen, are that they are skid proof and are designed so they don’t topple over. Plus they are dishwasher safe.

The kennel for the puppies at HWAC are quite cozy.

“We worked with multiple designers when creating ModaPet to ensure just the right balance of aesthetic and function,” says Harvey Miller, managing director of ModaPet. “For example the bowls have a beautiful, glossy finish, but are made of BPA-free food-grade plastic for durability. They also have a non-skid base which is a TPE plastic instead of rubber. If rubber were used, the base would be glued and would breakdown in the dishwasher after several cycles.”

“The brightly-colored, modern designs are intentionally void of bone, paw prints and whisker motifs to add a unique contemporary conversation piece to any kitchen or pet area.”

Leave a Comment to Help these Shelters
ModaPet and Pet News and Views have teamed up for this donation. I need 100 comments in order for Helen Woodward Animal Center and Jersey Animal Coalition to win these bowls. So, leave a comment—one per person—telling me about your pet’s food station, your pet’s favorite food, or share your pet’s favorite recipe with us.

I recently renovated our kitchen and redid the oak floors. Under a stainless steel shelf unit is Earl’s food station. I purchased an inexpensive car mat at the dollar store. On top of it are Earl’s ModaPet food and water dishes.

Now, it’s your turn. Please leave a comment about your dog’s or cat’s favorite food, share your pet’s favorite recipe with us, or describe how you decorated your pet’s food station.

September 19th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Contests and Discounts

149 comments to Unleash Your Inner Decorator Contest

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  • Lauren
    September 20, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    These bowls are so beautiful! I love the bright vibrant colors. They would definitely cheer up the JAC shelter!

  • Shannen B
    September 20, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    I have three dogs so all of their stations are different, my little daschund has a red bowl, my beagle has a baby blue bowl, and my pitbull has a pink bowl (she’s the girl of the group!) they all love to munch on pedigree but with some human food along with it of course!! =)

  • Brian Thomas
    September 20, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    these would be great for JAC!

  • Amy Nyberg
    September 20, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    I’ve found that shelf liner, the kind that is nonskid and comes in a roll, works really well to put under my cats’ dishes. And it comes in a variety of colors so you can match it to your room or dish design. And it’s machine washable.

  • Patty
    September 20, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    The bowls are beautiful.

  • Steph
    September 20, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    Great bowls!

  • Elise Margulis
    September 20, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    We have boring silver bowls for our cats. They don’t mind and just devour their food without an interest in bowl aesthetics. We do have pretty colored water bowls upstairs & downstairs, but not as nice as yours : ) Perhaps it’s time for new ones : )

  • Lizzy
    September 20, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    The new bowls would really brighten up our shelter, it could really use some sprucing up!

  • Jon
    September 20, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    We have boring silver bowls on the floor for out lab/mutt. She doesn’t seem to care if it’s high or low, though I’ve wondered whether it would be nice to raise the bowls for her, especially as she gets older.

  • Kate
    September 20, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    My dog loves his feeding station. It’s right by the window giving him a great meal-time view. :)

  • Matthew Harmon
    September 20, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    I do volunteer work at a shelter just outside of Boston, and I am going to recommend that they decorate the shelter. It’s more than just appearance, as your article states. It makes a place seem welcoming, which means people won’t be afraid to enter.We have so many beautiful dogs and cats that need good homes. Their temporary homes should be welcoming too.

  • Carol
    September 20, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    I have two cats from JAC. New bowls for them will be great.

  • Dot Alexander
    September 20, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Beauty is an expression of love, and as we share beauty with one, we share love with all. The creations are beautiful! Bowl on!!!

  • Helen Woodward Animal Center
    September 20, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Thank you Michele and ModaPet for your help! I know our critters are going to enjoy the bowls, plus it will help us jazz up our kennels and cattery, too. You are so thoughtful! Warmly, Marcie

  • Julie
    September 20, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    Our dogs and cats have their own “eating stations” complete with cute bowls and a rug – these bowls are adorable!!

  • shari baerenbach
    September 20, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    these are the best bowl ever!

  • Bonnie Imposimato
    September 20, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    There are multiple “eating stations” in my home…our cats have to eat on top of a bookcase in my library so the dogs aren’t able to eat the cat food. Next to their dish is always a container of live catnip. The dogs have a raised station with a monogramed rug underneath. The bowls are absolutely beautiful and the colors so vibrant. Love them!

  • Beth M
    September 20, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    These bowls look study, as in they won’t “creep” or tip over.

  • Steven
    September 20, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Volunteering at JAC I have often seen dogs who have gotten so excited for various reasons that they have tipped over either their food/water bowls or both. More sturdy bowls would certain reduce the work for staff so they can focus on other things for the shelter.

  • Tim O'neill
    September 20, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    I use stainless steel bowls for my cats. There is a rubber ring around the bottom so the bowl doesn’t move while being used.

  • Roy
    September 20, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Love the bowls. We’ve tried to keep out 6 cats happy, well fed, and well loved. I think we’re doing all right. Just would LOVE to add those beautiful bowls to the 3 feeding stations we keep supplied with 25/7 crunchy, and twice a day stinky goodness.

    Really love the bowls.

  • Jill and Marc Sokol
    September 20, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Not only are these bowls colorful, but it looks like there will be less tipping over of the bowls by our very excited dog population!

  • Marite Torres
    September 20, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    Thank you for sharing this, These bowls are beautiful.

  • Michael T.
    September 20, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    Both bowls are nice, but I love the Lemon Zest. It could really brighten a dark shelter–especially those stainless steel cages where an animal can get lost in there. I want one of those bowls for my cat. Thanks for the donations!!!

  • Sari Reis
    September 20, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    I love this stuff. It is really beautiful.

  • Judy
    September 20, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    The dog bowls are great, I am sure the dogs will love them. Thanks for helping JAC.

  • Amanda
    September 20, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    As a JAC former volunteer (looking to go back soon!) and adopter of a JAC dog, it would be amazing to see the facility get these new bowls. My own dog’s feeding “station” consists of a small rug, a black metal stand which holds both his food and water bowls, and a large canister (with a lock, of course!) which holds his food (Blue Buffalo).

  • Michael Schickram
    September 21, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    Very sharp looking bowls. I’m sure that the dogs and cats at JAC will love them. Thanks!!

  • Michael Schickram
    September 21, 2011 at 1:19 AM

    Great looking bowls, thanks!!

  • Ruth Perlmutter
    September 21, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    These bowls are beautiful. Our dogs, cats and humans coming to the shelter surely will know we have good taste!

  • Joni Scrivani
    September 21, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    I volunteer at the Humane Society Naples, a beautiful, state of the art facility for pets awaiting a “forever family”. The bowls are beautiful, and would certainly add to the ambience. My cat, Lionel, a three-legged rescue, enjoys dining on the front porch from a blue and white ceramic bowl.

  • Sandrea
    September 21, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    I have multiple cats and so food and water bowls are in every room of our house. Our Polydactyl cat loves to topple the water dishes – hours of entertainment, lol! I don’t mind on the tile floors but on the carpeted ones these Modapet bowls would be perfect to prevent water on the carpet (everyday!)
    I sure hope you get 100 posts here at Pet News and Views so that the animal centres will get these bowls :)

    I think it’s a fantastic idea to brighten up the adoption centres, not only to be more appealing to prospective adopters, but also to give the residents a cheerier atmosphere. Maybe they won’t be as afraid in a cozier place, and will be more apt to get adopted by being more like their usual selves.

  • Lin Penrose
    September 21, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    As Sandrea, we have multiple cats and food/water stations. Our companions are indoor/outdoor, so require water only outside.

  • don
    September 21, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    I agree, every animal I have known is different, each one has its own personality. It makes sense that shelters should have unique looks to go with the different colors, personalities, size, color of the animals staying there.
    Thank you for donating the bowls to JAC!

  • Susan
    September 21, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    My little princess eats from a Royal Worcester ramikin. The big guy eats from a brown melmac bowl because he bites all his dishes. That one won’t break.

  • Hugo - Como controlar la eyaculación precoz
    September 21, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    My dog loves his feeding station.

    It’s right by the window giving him a great meal-time view.

  • Charlene
    September 21, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    Anything to help with pets in shelters is great. All of my dogs are from the Weld County Humane Society.

  • Ellena Steinfeld
    September 21, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    Thank you Michele. Thank you ModaPet. This is a great contest. While we all know that shelters are in desperate need of food and other supplies, something as simple as a food bowl can really impact a space. These bowls will certainly dress up JAC and add more warmth to HWAC.

  • mary foley
    September 22, 2011 at 4:07 AM

    i especially like the blue bowl its a great shape

  • Kelly McClennan
    September 22, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    Thanks you ModaPet for brightening the lives of shelters and for making these spaces more welcoming. I have four kitties, and will be buying your bowls.

  • Being a Pet Foster Parent « Pet News and Views
    September 23, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    [...] 25 to Jersey Animal Coalition and 25 to Helen Woodward Animal Center, if you leave a comment. So, please click here and leave a comment. Thank [...]

  • Stella & Chico
    September 23, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    Thank you to ModaPet! The bowls are beautiful & I am sure the JAC and HWAC would be thrilled to receive them. Kudos to Tracy too for her rescue work. I volunteer at adoption events and many of the pups are from the south.They get tagged as lab mixes but I think many are coonhound mixes. They’re so cute and make great pets!! My dog is a long hair chi. He had a neck/shoulder injury a while back. At that time he had trouble reaching into his food & water bowls, so I used my own, longer stemmed,thick, glass dessert bowls to feed him. We’ve been using these raised bowls ever since. They are set on a placement in an alcove in the kitchen. His bowls match my tableware!

  • Kelly
    September 24, 2011 at 4:36 AM

    I would like to try these bowls. I think the design looks great.

  • Marilyn
    September 24, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    Great bowls! Love the designs and vibrant colors!

  • Laurie Raymond
    September 25, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    These really are beautiful and practical bowls. this reminded me, somehow, of when, 10 or 12 years ago at a shelter where I worked, the vet, who was a nototiously poor speller, sent in her order for “2000 disposable bowels (sic)” It had us all rolling on the floor when the distributor called, asking for a clarification!

  • Margot Alice
    September 25, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    My own animals have utilitarian stainless steel, though an aesthetic upgrade would be a welcome change! As a former no-kill shelter employee and current shelter volunteer, I realize the need for shelter facilities to be inviting, pleasant places for staff, the public and the animals themselves.

  • Michele
    September 26, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    Very funny Laurie. Thanks for sharing! Michele

  • Samantha Vanderhoof
    September 26, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    Beautiful bowls!

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