A sweet Lab named Chai has lost most of his tongue to a defective toy ball made by Four Paws Inc., late in June. "while chewing the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole.", writes Daniel Rechelbacher. He goes on to discuss trips to the Animal Medical Center and Chai's vet, and the eventual surgery. You can read the whole blog at http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/ .

In the blog Mr. Rechelbacher reports that the representative of Four Paws' insurance company insisted this had NEVER happened before. However, he descibes two other incidents other dog owners have reported. People who responded to the blog also reported similar incidents with Four Paws balls, include one that led to the death of Cole. Cole's owner reported that in 2005 the company promised to modify the design of their balls.

Four Paws has a recall notice published on their website, http://www.fourpaws.com/news/press-room/four-paws-rough-rugged-pimple-ba.... The notice includes nine chew toys and balls distributed or manufactured by Four Paws. However, the U. S. government's Consumer Products Safety Commission has no notice of a recall announced by a company of that name http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/firm.aspx.

It appears that the following scenario occurred: the dog chewed a hole in the ball. Further chewing squeezed out the air in the ball and created a vacuum that sucked the dog's tongue into the ball and prevented the tongue from escaping. This is a potential problem with any toy with a bell in it since the bell requires an air space.

WOOFSPACE RECOMMENDS: If your dog has a Four Paws ball, throw it out. Only buy your dog a bell toy if there are multiple air holes in it.

Planning for a Lifetime of Mobility

Normal wear and tear on joints occurs daily throughout your dog's lifetime. Cartilage protects your dog's bones and joints from the friction caused by everyday movement.

Natural glucosamine, a building block of cartilage tissue, can help maintain cartilage for healthy joints and mobility. That's why Purina has created adult dog formulas that contain guaranteed levels of natural glucosamine, so you can help your dog stay active and healthy for a long time to come.

CARTILAGE

What is cartilage?
Cartilage is a tissue found at the ends of bones in the joint areas, that acts as a cushion. It is composed of a sponge-like mass of cells, together with proteins, special substances that hold water, and the water itself. Glucosamine serves as a building block to create these special water-holding substances.

Why is it important?
Healthy cartilage is absolutely essential for proper joint function and overall mobility. Happy, healthy, active dogs need healthy cartilage and a diet that supports overall well-being, including joint health.

Where does glucosamine come from?
Glucosamine occurs naturally in several common dog food ingredients. Purina uses several poultry and meat sources and guarantees the level of glucosamine in several of their adult dog formulas. Glucosamine is also produced in the body itself.

Does natural glucosamine benefit senior dogs only?
No! Wear and tear on cartilage occurs over a lifetime, so glucosamine helps maintain your dog's joint health throughout life.

How does the body maintain healthy cartilage?
Chondrocytes are cells present in the cartilage of joints. These cells use glucosamine and other compounds supplied by the diet or produced within the body to make and maintain proteins and the water-binding substances in the cartilage. This allows the cartilage to function as a shock absorber.

What role does glucosamine play in joint health?
As a building block of cartilage, glucosamine can help support joint health and mobility.

GUIDE TO JOINT HEALTH & MOBILITY

Three simple ways to help support healthy joints:

1. Glucosamine - Feed your dog a dog food, like Purina ONE® brand Dog Food or Pro Plan® brand Dog Food, that contains guaranteed levels of natural glucosamine, a building block of cartilage.
2. Weight Management – Keep your dog at a healthy weight. Overweight dogs can develop joint problems. A dog's bones, joints, muscles, and associated tendons and ligaments all work together to give him smooth and efficient movement. Maintaining the proper weight is very important for helping maintain good joint health.
3. Exercise - Proper exercise is important to keep muscles toned and joints flexible. Be sure to consult your veterinarian about your dog's exercise requirements.

Now I'm perfectly willing to suspend disbelief, after all I love the Sci-Fi channel. But the fourth or fifth time Englert presents a character who knows what he couldn't possibly know, I can't help but groan.

Unlike the Greeks, with their Deus Ex Machina plot device where some character (or God) swoops in and solves all the plot problems, Englert uses an absent character to pull the reader from plot point to plot point and book to book.

You feel like this one is just the middle part of a trilogy, or whatever-ogy, and it's reason for being was to get from here to there. The long way. Now Stirling does the same thing, but he really tells a story along the way. And Parker has three whole series going, but each book is complete and can be read out of sequence with complete enjoyment. Obviously, the context of all the other books makes the current one more delicious, yet each book stands alone and you could start each series anywhere. There are so many good to great authors that Englert could have learned from....

Now, it's not a BAD book. If you enjoyed the first book and want to see how the storyline pans out in the next one, you'll have to read it. Having read this far, I'll probably read the next one in the hope it's better.

Purina ran the study for 14 years, and used 48 Labrador Retrievers. Half were fed enough food to keep them lean, the other half were over fed. The lean group lived an average of 1.8 years longer, and although they developed the same illnesses as the other group, they developed them two years later, and the illnesses were generally less severe.

The study was ground breaking in several ways: it was the first to use dogs rather than rats, it was the first to follow them for their full life cycle, and all dogs received the same 100% balanced and nutritional diet.

To read the study, see JAVMA, Vol. 220, No. 9, May 1, 2002, pp.1315-1320

**Lean or ideal body condition refers to the evaluation of body physique in pets as an indicator of their overall health and well-being, generally falling into three categories: too heavy, ideal and too thin.

Hip dysplasia is the most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs. The highest incidence occurs in large-breed dogs, including Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs and many others. Smaller breeds are also affected, but are less likely to show symptoms. According to statistics compiled by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the risk of hip dysplasia in many of the large-breed dogs presented to them for certification over the last 25 years ranged from 20 to 40 percent.

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Hip dysplasia is a polygenic trait. That is, more than one gene controls the inheritance. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint; the ball is the head of the femur and the socket is the acetabulum of the pelvis. In a dysplastic hip, the head of the femur fits loosely into a poorly developed, shallow acetabulum. Joint instability occurs as muscle development lags behind the rate of skeletal growth. As the stress of weight bearing exceeds the strength limits of the supporting connective tissue and muscle, the joint becomes loose and unstable. This allows for free play of the femoral head in the acetabulum, which promotes abnormal wear and tear.

In a dog with normal hips the Femoral heads fit tightly into well-formed sockets.

In a case of moderate dysplasia, loose hips are partly
out of their sockets and the Femoral heads are beginning to flatten.
Severe dysplasia with degenerative arthritis causes bilateral subluxations and bone spurs on the Femoral heads and rims of the sockets.

Feeding a very high-calorie diet to growing dogs can exacerbate a predisposition to hip dysplasia, because the rapid weight gain places increased stress on the hips. Being overweight supports the genetic potential for hip dysplasia, as well as other skeletal diseases. Another factor that can bring on the symptoms of hip dysplasia is inappropriate exercise during the period of rapid bone growth.

Young dogs should be discouraged from jumping up and down from heights and from standing up on their back legs (which dogs do when they stand up against a fence or window to get a better view).

Dogs with hip dysplasia are born with hips that appear normal but progressively undergo structural changes. The age of onset is 4 to 12 months. Affected puppies may show pain in the hip, walk with a limp or a swaying gait, bunny hop when running and experience difficulty in the hindquarters when getting up. Pressing on the rump can cause the pelvis to drop. With the puppy on its back, the rear legs may not extend into the frog-leg position without causing pain.

An X-ray of the hips and pelvis is the only reliable way of determining whether a dog has hip dysplasia. Good X-rays require heavy sedation or anesthesia. The standard view is taken with the dog lying on his back with his rear legs parallel and extended. The knees (stifles) are rotated internally. Care is taken to be sure that the pelvis is not tilted.

Hip dysplasia is graded according to the severity of X-ray findings. With normal hips (graded excellent), the femoral head fits tightly into a well-formed hip socket with a minimum of space between the head of the femur and the acetabulum. The hip ball is almost completely covered by the socket. With mild hip dysplasia, the X-rays will show mild subluxation (increased space in the joint) with the hip ball partway out of the socket. There are no changes associated with degenerative arthritis.

In moderate dysplasia the hip ball is barely seated into a shallow acetabulum. Arthritic changes begin to appear. These include wear and flattening of the femoral head, a rough appearance to the joint surfaces and the beginning of bone spurs. In severe dysplasia the head of the femur is completely out of the joint and arthritic changes are marked.

Once arthritis is noted, the condition is irreversible. But even with arthritis, some dogs are not lame. The onset of lameness is unpredictable, and some dogs may go most of their lives with dysplastic hips but no lameness. Others develop lameness as puppies.

The OFA provides a hip dysplasia registry for purebred dogs. For a nominal fee, an OFA-certified radiologist will review hip X-rays taken by your veterinarian and, if the conformation of the hips is normal for the breed, certify the dog by assigning it an OFA number. As an optional step, you can have the OFA number added to your dog’s AKC registration papers.

Dogs must be 24 months of age or older to be certified. Some female dogs will show subluxation when X-rayed around an estrus cycle, so OFA recommends not X-raying females around a heat period or within three to four weeks of weaning a litter.

The OFA registry is closed. That means if the dog is found to have hip dysplasia, the information remains confidential.

Dog breeders often request preliminary evaluations on hip status before selecting puppies for show and breeding stock. The OFA accepts preliminary X-rays on puppies as young as four months of age. Their own analysis reveals that these evaluations are about 90 percent accurate when compared with follow-ups at 24 months of age.

Another method of evaluating hips was developed at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School and is now administered by PennHip. PennHip X-rays are taken in a different position than X-rays for OFA certification. They are used to gauge joint laxity, which can be measured in puppies, starting at 16 weeks of age. The joint laxity does not change as the dog ages.

Dogs X-rayed for PennHip measurements are compared only to other dogs of the same breed. Your dog then receives a joint laxity distraction index (DI) number. PennHip suggests that only dogs in the top half for their breed with respect to joint laxity (that is, those with the tightest joints) should be used for breeding. Those dogs that fall into the lower half, which are the ones with the loosest hips, have a greater chance of developing hip dysplasia in the future.

Finally another organization, the Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals, also maintains a hip dysplasia registry. The GDC certifies dogs starting at 12 months of age. The GDC’s registry is open. That is, the GDC provides information on affected as well as normal dogs to anyone making an inquiry.

The GDC requests that veterinarians palpate the stifle joints for patella luxation at the time of hip X-rays. They also request that copies of pedigrees be submitted with X-rays. The goal of the GDC is to build a large integrated database on the orthopedic conditions it registers.

A genetic test for hip dysplasia applicable for a number of breeds is under development through VetGen.

Treatment:
Treatment of hip dysplasia is both medical and surgical. Medical treatment includes restricting activity and giving a NSAID analgesic such as Rimadyl, and a joint chondroprotectant such as Adequan to relieve pain and inflammation and to repair damaged cartilage.

It is important to exercise lame dogs on a leash and not allow them to run, jump or play as long as they exhibit pain. Swimming is an excellent exercise that improves muscle mass and joint flexibility without overstressing the hips. Feed a quality food in amounts appropriate for normal (but not accelerated) growth. Overweight puppies should be given a calorie-restricted diet. Discuss this with your veterinarian. Vitamin and mineral supplements have no proven benefit in preventing or treating hip dysplasia, and may even be detrimental if given in excess.

After reviewing the X-rays, your veterinarian may recommend hip surgery. Early surgery in selected puppies can prevent some cases of degenerative joint disease. Surgery is also indicated for dogs who continue to experience pain and lameness despite medical treatment.

Five surgical options are available. Technical factors govern the choice. Triple pelvic osteotomy and femoral osteotomy are two operations performed on puppies that do not have degenerative joint changes. The goal of both operations is to position the femoral head more deeply in the acetabulum. Normal joint function is maintained with these operations and arthritis may not develop, although this is variable.

Pectineus myectomy is a relatively simple operation in which all of the pectineus muscle is removed on both affected sides. This operation does not slow the progress of joint disease but does afford pain relief for some time.
Hip Replacement

Femoral head and neck excision arthroplasty is an effective operation for the relief of intractable hip pain. The head of the femur is removed, allowing a fibrous union to replace the ball-and-socket joint. The operation is usually reserved for dogs weighing less than 36 pounds.

Total hip replacement is the most effective procedure for dogs nine months and older that have disabling degenerative joint disease in one or both hips. The operation removes the old joint and replaces it with a new, artificial joint. The procedure requires special equipment and is usually performed by an orthopedic specialist. Good results are obtained in more than 95 percent of cases.

Prevention:
Preventing excessive weight gain in puppy hood and keeping the puppy from placing undue stress on the hips will delay the onset of hip dysplasia in many dogs with a genetic predisposition. It may also lead to a less severe form of the disease. Puppies at risk for hip dysplasia should be fed a calorie-controlled diet.

Preventing hip dysplasia in a bloodline is based on selective breeding practices. Hip dysplasia is a moderately heritable condition. It is twice as common among littermates having one dysplastic parent. Experience shows that repeated selection of normal dogs for breeding stock significantly reduces the incidence of hip dysplasia in susceptible bloodlines.

Information on breed risk is available through the OFA and PennHip. In breeds where hip dysplasia is a particular problem, prospective puppy buyers are advised to check pedigrees for OFA, PennHip or GDC certifications, particularly for sires and dams.

The three main types of dog foods are dry, soft-moist and canned products. These vary in a number of characteristics including moisture, cost, palatability and amount of nutrition delivered per pound or ounce of food. Evaluating a dog food diet should include consideration of all these factors. In spite of these variations, with today's advanced technology, all types of dog food products can be formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs.

Canned Diets

These diets offer the highest palatability when compared to the dry and soft-moist products. Once a can is opened, unused food should be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for no longer than three days.

Dry Diets

Dry products consist of crunchy kibbles, which help reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar on a dog's teeth. Dry foods also have the advantage of staying fresh longer than soft-moist and canned products once the package is opened.

Soft-Moist Diets

Soft-moist dog foods generally offer higher palatability as compared to dry diets, are convenient to serve and store easily. They can be more expensive to feed than dry diets.

Targeted Nutrition

These foods are specially formulated and proportioned to meet the special nutritional needs of certain dogs.

Diets designed specifically for puppies usually contain higher levels of the nutrients puppies need during their period of rapid growth and development. Other dog foods are formulated to have higher levels of protein and calories to provide extra energy for puppies, working and hunting dogs. Other dog foods are formulated to be lower in calories and fat to help less active and older dogs maintain normal body weight.
co2008 Purina, inc.

We are currently in beta and will officially launch the site in the Spring of 2008. We need your input. You're the first of many and you have the power to influence and create WoofSpace.com! So, send your suggestions and comments to the link below and don't keep WoofSpace all to yourself, tell your friends to check out the site too. You can send them a link using the "Invite A Friend" link to the left.

WoofSpace is the free place for dog lovers and friends to meet and communicate with one another. From doggie dates to sharing your dog’s pictures, videos, blogs and memories with the world! Your free page will give you the opportunity to leave comments for and read comments from new and existing friends near or far. WoofSpace.com is also the perfect place to find the best dog resources in your area or where you are traveling or relocating to. From Vets or dog friendly hotels to fence builders, find the best within any zip code with a click of the mouse. Periodic contests will provide you the opportunity to win WoofStuff. Does your dog have what it takes? Show them off here while meeting cool new dog lovers like yourself. Dog lovers are good people, you have your space; let’s give our dogs theirs! From puppies to GrandPaws, they have a home here. It’s a Dog’s World… After ALL!

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However, at any age, a dog can be trained to obey at least the basic commands. The best way to teach your dog obedience is to attend a dog obedience school. Kennel clubs, humane organizations and extension divisions of some universities offer obedience courses. There are also many good books on obedience training.

Many communities have "pooper scooper" laws requiring owners to clean up after their dogs. Law or no law, cleaning up after your dog reflects your consideration for others.

Daily walks can be a treat for both of you when your dog is trained to walk quietly at your side on a loose leash. This on-going training helps you control your dog so it won't jump on people or on other dogs.

A fenced yard is one of the best ways to keep your dog from soiling or digging in a neighbor's yard. If your yard is not fenced, check pet stores and catalogs for tie-outs. Two of the most popular are a swivel stake or a tree trolley. Many tie outs can be used successfully for dogs that weigh up to 250lbs. A tree trolley fastens to a tree, but allows a dog to run around the tree without the chain becoming tangled.

A barking dog can become a neighborhood annoyance. Excessive barking is frequently the result of boredom or anxiety when a dog is left alone for long periods of time. Regular walks and play periods with your dog and teaching it tricks will help prevent boredom. Click here to learn how to prevent excessive barking.

Proper identification enables someone to contact you if your pet wanders far from home. Dogs should wear collars with an identification tag as well as have microchip or tattoo identification.
co 2008 Purina, inc.

Toddlers

A toddler can help parents with pet care simply by being involved — "helping" a parent fill food and water dishes, grooming, going with parents to take the dog for a walk or to the veterinarian. Another good trick is to have the toddler give the dog a treat for good behavior, i.e. gets in bed or crate before family leaves the house. The toddler and the pet both enjoy this special job!

The 5-7 Year Old

This age group is capable of doing some of the tasks above (feeding, watering, grooming) without parental help. Still you can't expect that a child this age will remember to do these jobs without friendly reminders from Mom or Dad.

The 8-12 Year Old

Parents still need to supervise children in this age group for some tasks, like walking the dog. Before a child is 10-12 years of age it's not advised that they walk a dog without adult supervision. But the child can feed, water and play with the dog alone (depending on the dog's temperament and area for exercising).

Teenagers

Depending on your teen's maturity, you can sometimes allow him/her to take full responsibility for the dog, including feeding, cleaning up after, driving to the veterinarian and exercising the pet. Allowing the teen to take the dog to obedience classes can also be a good activity for both.

co 2008, Purina, inc.

Manufacturer's Information

Each label shall show the name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor of the dog food. If a manufacturer has several locations where dog food is produced, the name and address of that manufacturer's principal place of business will be used.

Net Weight

The net weight statement must be shown on the principal display panel. The declaration of the net weight shall be made in conformity with the U.S. Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and the regulations promulgated there under.

The figures for net weight will be in the lower one-third of the display panel, and the size of the numbers and letters will be determined by the package size.

Net weights may appear on other parts of the label as well as the principal display panel, particularly on larger package sizes. Net weight statement must include weight in metric conversion.

Nutritional Adequacy Statement

The label shall show whether or not the product provides complete and balanced nutrition, and if it is adequate for all life stages or just for a particular life stage, such as maintenance of the adult cat or dog.

Toll-Free Consumer Information Number

Although this is not a required element, some manufacturers include an 800 number on the label. This is an important element for consumers because it can be a source of information not available on the label and a way for dog owners to learn more about the product they are feeding.

Who Establishes and Governs Label Requirement Policies?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) develops the regulations for livestock and companion animal foods. The regulations are published annually in the AAFCO Official Publication.

CO 2008, Purina, inc.

The first step in housetraining is to decide whether your pup will be trained to only eliminate outdoors or have the option of using a dog litter. If you plan on using a dog litter, click here for more information on the Purina secondnature® brand Dog Litter system.

If your dog will be trained to eliminate only outdoors, start by establishing an elimination spot. In the morning, clip his leash to his collar and take the dog outdoors to his spot for elimination. State commands like "go potty" or "hurry up." After he does his duty, bring the dog inside for food and water. About 15 to 20 minutes after the meal, take the dog outside again for elimination. Take your dog to his "spot" at each elimination time and maintain a regular feeding, drinking, and elimination schedule.

One of the most commonly made errors in housetraining is rushing too quickly ahead of your dog. Too much freedom too quickly can cause some confusion. If your dog experiences an accident or two, you should back up and slow down your training efforts. Marking should not be confused with housetraining problems because marking is deliberate. It is advised that if you notice this behavior indoors or out, you should strengthen all obedience commands immediately.

Providing your dog or puppy with a crate that is way too large may allow him to relieve himself in one end and sleep in the other. Make sure you take your dog or puppy outdoors to eliminate on a regular schedule and especially prior to being left for prolonged periods of time.

If you have tried all the above and are still experiencing what you believe to be "Territorial Marking," consult your veterinarian. Your dog/puppy may have a bladder infection and it's always best to be safe, not sorry. If your dog/puppy is not spayed or neutered, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about this procedure. It usually has a very positive effect on this type of behavior.

Even well-trained dogs sometimes have accidents. Clean the accident area with a pet odor neutralizer so your dog won't be tempted to repeat his mistake. Here are some tips to help prevent accidents:

* Do not make sudden changes in his diet.
* Avoid giving your dog late night snacks.
* Make sure to spend enough time outdoors.

co 2008, Purina inc.

Loneliness Barking

When loneliness is the cause of incessant barking, giving your dog more attention may solve the problem. In a family situation, encourage family members to take turns playing with your dog and taking him for walks. When he is left alone, provide toys for him to amuse himself.

Sometimes more attention won't solve the problem. If your dog has developed a habit of barking, place some pennies in a can and tape it shut. When he barks, shake the can near him and say "quiet" in a firm voice. The purpose of shaking the can is to startle him. If the barking resumes, shake the can again and say "quiet." Keep the can away from him so he does not consider it a toy. As your dog catches on, your verbal command "quiet" should stop the barking.

If the can does not work, use a squirt bottle to squirt your dog's legs and back accompanied by a firm "quiet" command.

Please remember — any action to deter your dog from barking must be made while he is barking. After-the-fact corrective action only confuses him. Use a strong, firm voice. Avoid yelling, which can be stressful to a dog.

Separation Anxiety Barking

Dogs housed inside who are left alone may suffer from separation anxiety. Some may show their fear and resentment by barking. The ideal way to prevent this problem is to train a puppy to be left alone. Similar training can be applied to an older dog, but more time and patience may be required. Put the puppy in a room by himself. Say "quiet" and leave the room. If the puppy barks, return, say "quiet" and leave again. If the puppy is quiet for a brief period, return and praise him. Extend your time away from the puppy and, upon returning, praise him for being quiet. With an older dog, leaving the house or apartment may be necessary because the dog may pick up your scent and is sensitive to familiar noises.

Territorial Barking

Some dogs bark to protect their territory and a "bark/reward" cycle may be established. A dog who barks at a letter carrier when the mail is delivered is "rewarded" when the letter carrier leaves. This bark/reward may lead him to bark at other service people, neighbors and passersby. If possible, introduce your dog to people who come to the home regularly. Short conversations with delivery or service people, with your dog present, may solve the problem.

Another solution is a firm "no" or "quiet" when your dog begins barking. If he responds by being quiet, praise him briefly. Remember, you have to be present when he is barking to give the "quiet" command.

Other Barking Behaviors

Often a dog will bark in an invitation to play. This is accompanied by body language — tail-wagging, crouching with the head lowered and hindquarters raised. Barking usually stops when play begins or the invitation goes unanswered.

A dog may bark to threaten intruders. This is usually a more menacing bark and may be accompanied by growling. Depending upon the situation, you may need to move the dog to a more secure location or quietly reassure him.

A dog will also bark to warn other dogs or people of danger. The barking generally continues until the source of danger is removed or the dog is taken to safety.

Sometimes pain or illness triggers barking. If a well-behaved dog in his usual environment begins barking or creating other forms of vocalization, a trip to the veterinarian may be in order.

A final thought

As with all aspects of behavior training, consistency is the key to success. Enlisting the cooperation of each family member is important in controlling your dog's barking, as well as in all other aspects of training. Verbal commands and expectations for your dog's behavior must be consistent if you are to be effective.

co 2008 Purina, inc

STEP 1: Take your pet to the veterinarian for a dental exam. Don’t wait for his annual checkup if you suspect a problem.

STEP 2: Begin a dental care regimen at home. Your veterinarian can suggest steps that may include brushing your pet's teeth. One of the most convenient and effective ways to combat oral disease is feeding specially formulated foods proven effective in combating plaque and tartar buildup. The Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council, an organization initiated by the American Veterinary Dental Society to guide consumers, appears on products that meet defined standards for plaque and tartar control in dogs and cats. For further information on the VOHC or their product standards, visit www.vohc.org.

STEP 3: Schedule regular veterinary checkups. These are essential in helping your veterinarian monitor the progress of your pet's dental health routine. Your veterinary health care team can help you schedule the appropriate visits.

Co. 2008 Hills, inc.