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Issue No. 4 | HappyTails Canine Wellness

Table of Contents 2023 HappyTails Hero Award Winners . . . . . 4 2023 Customer of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2023 Dog Jerky Treat of the Year . . . . . . . . . .13 10 Best Made in USA Dog Treats Award . . . 15 How Do Biotics, The Microbiome, and Nutrition, Aid Canine Illness & Cancer Prevention? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The Yummy Tummy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Pawfect Pumpkin-D-Lites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Pawliday Clucky Confections . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The Maxgevity Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 How Do Biotics Support Canine Gut Health & The Immune System? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Waggy World News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Love Treat Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 The Aesthete Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

A message from

Athena Boulgarides Founder & CEO

HappyTails Canine Wellness, Inc.

2023 HAPPYTAILS HERO AWARD During this glorious time of year, the spirit of Christmas fills our hearts with forgiveness, togetherness, and faith. We dedicate this issue of WAGGY WORLD Magazine to the extraordinary individuals whose remarkable contributions to -name our mission inspired our team, pupstomers, pupfluencers, fans, friends, and families to reach for the stars. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with Very Happy Tails!

Chief Canine Officer

Ace

Athena Boulgarides

WINNERS Upcycle Innovation Award Nancy Walowina Design Innovation Award Annie Day Pupfluencer of the Year Award Chessica Mace Emerging Leader Award Lauren Minert Marketing Innovation Award Julia Ionov Visionary Leader Award Alison Schaefer Product Innovation Award Jennifer Kaleta

Chief Canine Officer

Rylee

2023

HERO AWARD

2023

HERO AWARD

We invited Nancy to employ her creativity and upcycle our bags and bandanas. The results were breathtaking! We applaud Nancy’s glorious gifts and deeply appreciate her inspirational partnership. Nancy is a uniquely talented photographer and artist who lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia with her family and beautiful pup Piper.

Congratulations Nancy!

IG: @wonderdog_lexie_

2023

HERO AWARD

IG: @fluffybuttsdesigns

Annie’s “Fluffy Butts Designs” are the go-to choice of dog lovers across the country. From feathers and crystals to intricate apparel designs, Annie’s work celebrates the joyful and loving soul of the dog. We invited Annie to collaborate on a new apparel line and we are truly thrilled with the results. We will be launching our new line in 2024 which will include a reversable harness dress with coordinating skirts and bows. Annie’s precious pups, Lil Bit and Pixie Rose, are the loves of her life, and of course, her top models! Congratulations Annie!

2023

HERO AWARD

Chessica is talented artist and truly an angel on earth who cares deeply about all dogs, and has rescued many! Her passion for pups has inspired all of us here at HappyTails. She has connected us with dog owners whose pups were in need of rapid healing, as well as rescues, influencers, and dog parents around the world. Chessica and her five pups Gaia, Bobo Fett, Adeline, Bert, and Bosco, live in Florida. Congratulations Chessica!

2023

HERO AWARD

Lauren and her pawsitively precious sidekick Penny began as a pupfluencers with us in early 2022. We were immediately in awe of her love for Penny, an absolutely adorable 4-year-old F1 Mini Goldendoodle! According to Lauren, “Penny is the epitome of a good girl, embodying calmness, sweetness, and unwavering obedience. Her favorite pastime? A spirited game of fetch with her beloved tennis ball.” Lauren’s brilliant contributions to our mission made her the clear choice for our Vice President of Social Media and Brand Ambassador. About her role here at HappyTails Lauren shared, “Working with this phenomenal team is a dream come true because each member shares a deep love for their furry companions. The mission and vision of HappyTails are not just inspiring but align perfectly with my passion for enhancing the well-being of our four-legged friends. Penny and I consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to be part of such a pawsome community.” Lauren and Penny live in Iowa.

Congratulations Lauren!

2023

HERO AWARD

As a new startup, we had our work cut out for us and searched for the finest people we could find. We were so very fortunate to have found Julia shortly after our launch in 2020. From day one Julia’s remarkable talent and capacity were evident. From website development, magazine & bag design to video creation, and even customer engagement, Julia went the extra million miles for us every day! What’s more Julia’s personal integrity and beautiful heart made her a cherished and indispensable member of our HappyTails family. As we move from start-up to scale-up, we will count on Julia’s creative prowess and leadership as we reach for the stars. Julia lives in California with her family.

Congratulations Julia!

2023

HERO AWARD

Alison joined our team to help us build our HappyTails University dog training programs. As a highly sought-after trainer, her years of experience equipped her to develop reward-based training techniques that are highly effective and founded on love and positive communication. We entrusted Alison to develop and articulate the vision for our university and she delivered beyond our wildest expectations. We now look forward to exporting our extraordinary training programs in several countries and to years of growth under Alison’s direction. Alison lives in Florida with her family and four dogs Charlie, Hamilton, Hunter, and Hayden.

2023

HERO AWARD

Jennifer hails from Australia and we thank our lucky stars, each and every day, that she came to the USA. Her experience in the pet industry, coupled with her passion for product innovation and her joyful spirit, was just what we needed. With Jennifer’s input and guidance, we created our Award Winning Journey Up and Jazzy Jerky Treats! What’s more, we have several exciting products in development, and we look forward to Jennifer’s continued support as we grow from “start-up” to “scale-up.” Jennifer lives in California with her husband Don. Congratulations Jennifer! 11 © 2023 HappyTails Canine Wellness, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Joyce

Jeanette

CASTLE ROCK, CO

SAN ANTONIO, TX

Hannah

Deborah

GOLD HILL, OR

SEEKONK, MA

Carol

Robbi

CHANDLER, AZ

MOUNT PLEASANT, TX

Terri

Sylvain

LARGO, FL

MARINA, CA

Gabrielle

Bart

CUTLER BAY, FL

Robert

BROOKLYN, NY

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO

Angela

SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ

Mayola

HOUSTON, TX

s d f o o r o f Y r o e u p r u S S u t p s e e r B D e o h g T

Our cherished mission is your dog’s

HOW DO BIOTICS, THE MICROBIOME, & NUTRITION AID CANINE ILLNESS & CANCER PREVENTION? Athena Boulgarides

Founder & CEO, HappyTails Canine Wellness Every day, folks ask me why I founded HappyTails Canine Wellness. We are dancing on this earth for such a short time, so how we choose to invest our precious time, talents, and resources becomes our legacy and can be our greatest gift to our communities, our families, and the world. I founded HappyTails with a group of remarkable individuals who shared my passion for health and wellness for our canine companions. Together we are leading the pet industry’s wellness evolution be delivering truly innovative products that are scientifically formulated to deliver powerful health benefits, and give dogs the healthiest and happiest possible life. The field of biotics and the scientific community’s understanding of the canine microbiome is advancing with unprecedented speed, while confirming the long held wisdom…You Are What You Eat!

Over the last few decades thousands of studies have been conducted, by researchers, universities, and public & private companies around the world that have provided ample evidence to support the role that nutrition, the microbiome and biotics play in canine illness and cancer prevention. The evidence is not only encouraging but it has opened the door to broader studies that are supporting a scientific consensus.

Could this be the way forward, and through, the insidious morass of cancer prevention? We now have at our fingertips the technology, tools, and sheer will to develop products that optimize immune function and promote the prevention of illness and cancer.

Further, we now understand the powerful symbiotic effect generated when feeding the combination of these 5 key ingredient classes: prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, digestive enzymes, and antioxidants, and the role they play in illness and cancer prevention. Prebiotics & Probiotics and Gut Health: A balanced and diverse gut microbiome is associated with overall health, and there's emerging evidence suggesting a link between gut health and cancer prevention. Prebiotics and probiotics work together to promote a healthy gut microbiome by fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria and maintaining a balanced microbial environment. Postbiotics and Immune Modulation: Postbiotics have been studied for their immunomodulatory effects. A wellregulated immune system is crucial for identifying and eliminating abnormal cells, potentially contributing to cancer prevention.

Proper nutrient absorption is essential for maintaining overall health and may indirectly contribute to cancer prevention by ensuring the body receives the necessary nutrients for optimal function. Antioxidants and Free Radical Neutralization: Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause cellular damage and contribute to the development of cancer. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, antioxidants play a role in preventing damage to cells and genetic material. Moreover, a balanced microbiome can influence a dog's metabolism and weight, and help regulate the immune response to allergens, reducing the risk of allergies and excessive inflammation in the body.

Digestive Enzymes and Nutrient Synthesis & Absorption: Digestive enzymes support the breakdown of food, aiding in nutrient absorption I invite you to visit our blog for more information, clinical studies, and articles that support the growing consensus around the role biotics, the microbiome, and nutrition play in canine illness and cancer prevention

How Can You Help

Maintain Your Dog’s Microbiome

and put your pup on the path to improved illness prevention? Provide a proper diet that includes highquality, fiber-rich, and diverse ingredients. Feed your pup our MAXGEVITY Immunity and/or Mobility Supplements to ensure your dog has everything it needs to heal their gut and turn their immune system into an Illness Fighting Machine. Regular exercise, reduced stress, and avoiding the overuse of antibiotics can also contribute to a healthy microbiome.

e h T

The Yummy Tummy

A P

E F C Tp W

pkin - D - Lit

♥ 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour ♥ 2 large eggs ♥ 1/2 cup canned pumpkin ♥ 1/4 cup of Pumpkin Power Up treats ♥ 2 tablespoons peanut butter ♥ ½ teaspoon salt ♥ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ♥ 1 teaspoon water

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♥ 2 cups fresh sweet potato puree ♥ 1/2 cup Cluck-A-Licious Chicken Jazzy Jerky Treats finely chopped ♥ 1 egg ♥ 1/2 cup oats ♥ 3 cups whole wheat flour ♥ 3 Tbsp of all natural peanut butter ♥ 1/2 tsp cinnamon 20 © 2023 HappyTails Canine Wellness, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

TURN YOUR PUP’S

IMMUNE SYSTEM INTO AN

ILLNESS-FIGHTING MACHINE

How Do Biotics Support Canine Gut Health & The Immune System? Gregory D. Sunvold, Ph.D.

HappyTails Canine Wellness’ Chief Science & Technology Officer Nature provides its own set of “tools” to help us achieve balance in our intestine as well as in the intestines of our pets. These tools, called biotics, play a unique and critical role in training the immune system that surrounds our intestine. These actions are not localized to the gut, rather they affect whole animal health through their systemic actions.

What are Biotics?

The term “biotics” refers to biologically active entities. In particular, those biotics involved with the microbiome are often categorized as prebiotics, probiotics, & postbiotics. In general, prebiotics serve as nutrient sources for probiotics. Examples include fructooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides. Probiotics are living organisms that can positively shift gutlevel events to impact the host (pet) health in a beneficial manner. Examples include Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces boulardii, and Bacillus coagulans. Postbiotics are the substances produced by living probiotics that can impact host health in a beneficial manner by triggering events such as training the immune system. Examples of postbiotics include yeast cultures and non-living bacterial fermentates.

Natural Defense Systems

Actions by biotics can improve the host’s natural defense systems. There are four general categories of gut-level defense systems: 1) the composition and activities of microbiota present in the intestine, 2) the integrity of the intestinal lining and the associated production of mucous, 3) the fast-acting component of the immune system – the innate immune system, and 4) the slower-acting but more specialized component of the immune system – the adaptive immune system. The microbiota composition is important because it helps bad actors (pathogens, opportunists) from becoming too influential. The integrity of the intestinal lining is important because, in its absence, a “leaky gut” can occur. The immune system is extremely complex so we’ll talk about its two main components, innate and adaptive, a bit more in depth.

Innate vs. Adaptive Immunity

The purpose of the immune system is to thwart foreign agents (allergens) that would otherwise harm the body. An important attribute of the immune system is its ability to distinguish foreign agents from itself. The immune system is designed to address foreign agents in general and specifically can be trained to better address foreign agents.

The innate immune system serves as a general means to deal with infections while the adaptive immune system is specialized. Innate immunity responds quickly and similarly each time the same infection source occurs whereas adaptive immunity responds more slowly because it undergoes a training period to address the specific infection source. The more infections of the same origin occur, the faster the adaptive immune system can respond.

The innate immune system consists of mechanical, biochemical, and cellular components. Tight junctions between epithelial cells form a physical (mechanical) barrier. Antibacterial peptides, enzymes, and a low pH environment serve as the biochemical component of innate immunity. Macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells are all part of the cellular components of the innate immune system. Macrophages and dendritic cells also serve the purpose of being antigen-presenting cells (APC). By consuming the antigens and breaking them down into smaller pieces, the APCs are able to present them to cells of the adaptive immune system.

The adaptive immune system is designed to address the myriad of diversity between antigens. The adaptive system can be trained to more effectively address unusual and aggressive antigens. It is important in this training process that the adaptive immune system learns the difference between an antigen and the body’s own cells. Otherwise, an autoimmune disease may occur. Components of the adaptive immune system include the humoral response system (e.g., B lymphocytes which secrete antibodies to eliminate antigens) and various types of immune cells (e.g., CD4 (helper) T cells, CD8 (killer) T cells, MHC).

Biotics’ Impact on the Composition of Intestinal Microbiota Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics can all have an impact on altering the intestinal microbiota composition. There are two major ways that biotics improve intestinal microbiota: 1) promoting a healthy microbiota composition and 2) promoting healthy activity by the microbiota. These biotics favor the growth of beneficial microbiota. They also help keep opportunistic bacteria from producing toxins.

Biotics’ Impact on Intestinal Integrity

A healthy microbiota composition is important for improving the composition of the bacteria that adhere to the lining of the intestine. Part of the problem with dysbiosis (pathogenic overgrowth) is that these detrimental bacteria overtake the bacteria that are growing in the intestine. To establish dominance, these bad actors become resident bacteria. To keep from being flushed out with intestinal contents, the pathogens adhere to the intestinal lining. One hallmark of healthy microbiota populations is that the dominant flora adhering to the intestinal cell lining is composed of healthy microbiota. When this occurs, intestinal integrity is likely to be strengthened.

Biotics' Impact on the Innate Immune System

Besides strengthening the epithelial cells’ ability to form a physical barrier, biotics do not interfere with normal mucous secretion from intestinal cells. Further, probiotics and postbiotics are sources of antibacterial peptides which help manage the growth of pathogens. A healthy microbiota composition produces short-chain fatty acids which are used as nutrient sources for the active growth of intestinal cells. These acids serve to moderately lower intestinal pH. This reduced pH environment is detrimental to the growth of pathogens. Probiotic organisms have also been shown to increase the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells and phagocytosis of macrophages.

Biotics‘ Impact on Adaptive Immune System Similarly to aiding the innate system, probiotic organisms have been shown to mediate adaptive immunity by interacting with intestinal cells and dendritic (APCs), Th1, Th2, and Treg cells. Probiotics have also been shown to modify the inflammatory response of the adaptive immune system to alter cytokine production which favors a reduced inflammatory response. To add a little more complexity (or confusion!) to the mix, it appears that different probiotics can affect immune regulation differently. Immunostimulatory probiotics act against infection and cancer cells to induce a specific cytokine (IL12) that then activates natural killer cells and develops Th1 cells.

Summary

In sum, the immune system is quite complex. Biotics act through multiple mechanisms to maintain and achieve a healthy intestinal microbiome that is able to withstand the many daily assaults upon the animal's gut and overall health. Purposeful selection of the correct biotics can help maintain and achieve the best possible health for your dog.

A E H

Y M . . . HAPPY M U T Y H DO LT

WAGGY world news

Coming to you live from the Atlantis Rover 2. Famed aquanaut Maverick The Wonder Mutt and his beautiful mermaid Fluffy will lead an elite group of brave canine divemasters to assist Aqua Dog in saving the magical Kingdom of Atlantis from certain extinction. HappyTails Canine Wellness is proud to be named the official sponsor of this critical mission because of their innovative Journey Up and Jazzy Jerky Treats, the top choice of our new heroes. Good luck, brave warriors, we are all counting on you!

LOVE

♥ TRAIN ♥ BOND

r G e v a O m l l e o R

Want to build that next level bond with your pup? At HappyTails Uniersity, we know that positive, reward-based training techniques are the key to developing a loving, trusting bond with your pup that will last a lifetime! Whether you are a new dog owner or a highly skilled trainer, our courses will help you better understand how your dog perceives our world and learn the most effective ways to communicate with your pup.

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AESTHETE CORNER

Featured Artist: Annie Day

Featured Artist

Annie

Day

Since childhood, creating with

When I moved 3 years ago, my

my hands has been a passion

friends put a wonderful magnetic

and a release. By nature, a shy

sticker on my car….CRAZY DOG

person

LADY. I didn’t realize it until I

become an extrovert, I am a very

pulled into the gas station. I

proud Army Brat who moved

called them and was told, “We

often.

thought we should warn your

who

was

forced

new neighbors!” Yes, I am THAT Changing schools and finding

person. If a dog is running loose

new friends was a constant

on the side of the road, I stop. Or

challenge! But I always found

I turn around. (I also stop traffic

solace

for turtles crossing the road!)

creating

with

hands. I have a long line of “hobbies” from card making, to quilting, to counted cross stitch, to ceramics, to painting, to… you name it, I probably have either tried it or am still doing it! But

sewing

and

creating

beautiful, unique items for my dogs

has

always

been

greatest creative passion! Dogs are my PASSION.

My first friend was a platinum poodle named Fluffy. We grew up together. And I fondly remember dressing her in my dresses and playing “Ring Around the Rosie” with her. I guess I have been dressing dogs since. And hopefully, it will be for a very long time! Ten years ago I was making bow ties and bandanas for friends on IG. The money went to helping dogs in need. After a couple of years I stopped because of health issues. And then only created dresses for my dogs. Fast forward to 2 years ago. My then one-year-old Maltese, Pixie Rose, became ill with severe kidney issues. The

week

Christmas

That wasn’t acceptable to me so we began fighting. Pixie Rose is the happiest dog I have ever met and she is a fighter. So we began fighting. But fighting is expensive. Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life and that’s what I did. I combined my love for my Pixie Rose and my love of all fur babies and accidentally created Fluffy Butts Designs for the discerning dog. And have never felt so inspired or so blessed! Finally, I want to thank HappyTails Canine Wellness for their support with Pixie Rose’s journey of healing. Their loving guidance and remarkable supplements are helping Pixie Rose achieve new levels of wellness for which I am deeply grateful.

“I’m thrilled to share that HappyTails Canine Wellness will be launching a new apparel line with Annie Day in 2024. Annie is an extraordinarily talented artist and we look forward to an exciting & fruitful partnership” Athena Boulgarides

Founder & CEO, HappyTails Canine Wellness

Follow Annie’s IG @fluffybuttsdesigns

was

determined she only had one small, malformed kidney and the vet told me to prepare. It very likely could be our only Christmas.

a P r t r n u e o rI Y n

C a nin e W e

s s ll n e

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