Couch Petatoes are custom pet pillows made from photos of your pet. These are amazing pieces of art! I have a pillow for each of my dear, departed doggies, Pepper and Ozzie. I received them just a couple of months after they passed away, so it was nice to have their faces on my couch again. I love seeing these pillows every day, a reminder of the love I shared for so long with my dogs. These pillows are made from a high quality linen fabric with a nice hand feel. They would make a fabulous gift for any pet lover in your life. 

I first stumbled across CritterZone at the SuperZoo pet trade show in Vegas in September, 2012. It won the new product award for the entire show, which is no easy feat. I'm always skeptical of products like this, those that claim to remove pet odors -- that's also no easy feat. As someone with three dogs, two hamsters, and a bunch of fish tanks (yes, fish tanks can sometimes have an odor, but ideally they don't!), I have pet odors in my home, and like most pet people, I don't want them. 

I decided to give two of the units a try, one CritterZone Pet Air Purifier with Cord, and one CritterZone Wall Plug-in Pet Air Purifier. Retailing at nearly $90.00, I was hoping for these to work, but kept my expectations low after having been burnt by other products who claim to do the same thing, but don't. Also, these units are tiny, so how could they work to clear the odors out of an entire room?

I always thought that I was allergic to cats until I recently took an allergy test due to complications from Lyme Disease (an illness that kicks up allergies). It turns out I'm not allergic to cats. I'm allergic to dogs. I'm a dog trainer. I rescue and foster dogs. I have three dogs. Dogs are what I do.

I set out to find a way to scrub my environment as much as possible to eliminate as many allergens as I could. It was the only way I could help my body heal. If you're unwell and you are continually exposed to allergens, you don't get better. 

It turns out that keeping your pets clean is only one small way to reduce allergens in your home. You also have to clean your air. Most people are allergic to pet dander, which is often .03 microns in size -- that's very, very small. Once that gets into your lungs, you can have an allergic response and it can also be damaging to the lung tissue. 

I was encouraged by the Alen A350 Air Purifier because of the company's "Allergy Relief Guarantee." I like a company that stands by its product. And it's a big deal to tell a suffering consumer that her allergies will be relieved by using a product. When you're sick, all you want to do is feel better. 

The first thing I noticed about this unit is its power. It really cranks when it's on high and I like the white noise sound. If you're not into white noise, you can keep it on a lower level -- it's extremely quiet on the lowest level. I tested it in my bedroom and was not bothered by noise. The green lights on the front are also quite dim (as compared to some other units), so the lights should not bother you if the unit is on the floor or turned away from the bed (if you're sensitive to that). 

The Alen A350 Air Purifier also has an ionizer, which is great for household and pet odors, and if you have pets, you have odors. I have three dogs, so there's bound to be dog smell somewhere in the house. You can turn the ionizer on and off, so you don't have to keep it on all the time, or you can turn it on when your wet dog comes in from the rain. I don't have cats, but I imagine that this unit would be great in a room where there's kitty litter.

I had an asthma attack the other day and realized that I hadn't had one in a very long time, so it took me by surprise. I pulled the cover off of my Alen A350 Air Purifier unit and saw the problem -- it had been a while since I serviced it, and it was literally clogged with dust and gunk. I vacuumed it off, cleaned the pre-filter with water, and after a hit of Albuterol, I was fine, and haven't wheezed since. 

Another thing that makes this unit attractive is the size. It has a very slim profile and can fit just about anywhere. Also, it is able to be wall-mounted, which is a great feature that I am going to take advantage of in the future. 

All in all, I have noticed a reduction in allergies and an all-over feeling of healing since trying this unit in my bedroom. I have also reviewed other air purifiers and cleaners, and I can definitely recommend this unit to those with pet allergies and asthma. For $399.00, this unit is a great deal. 

From Alen's Website: 

Alen A350 Air Purifier
Designed for allergy and asthma sufferers, the powerful and highly rated Alen® A350 removes allergens and harmful airborne pollutants-the perfect indoor air solution for anyone seeking relief from persistent allergy and asthma symptoms.Creates an allergy and asthma friendly environment by capturing dust, pet dander, mold spores and pollen from the air

• Covers up to 750 square feet, removing 98% of particles 0.3 microns and greater
• Helps maintain a clean household by reducing dust
• Provides pure, breathable air by capturing VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from cleaning products, personal care items and other household materials
• Versatile filter options address bacteria, heavy odor and smoke concerns
• Energy Star Certified
• Includes Alen's Lifetime Limited Warranty and Allergy Relief Guarantee

The Alen A350 Air Purifier features HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) style filtration, combining three layers of filter technology to purify and freshen the air in your home. Polluted air first passes through Alen's washable Pre-Filter to capture large particles, extending the life of the filter. In the second layer, air moves through a unique, electrostatically charged HEPA style material that attracts and captures dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores and other airborne pollutants. In the final layer, clean air passes through a layer of Alen's Activated Carbon, reducing light odors and chemicals commonly found in the air from cleaning products, smoke, cooking, pets and various other household materials. The A350 ozone-safe Ionizer complements the HEPA style filter by charging particles in the air, causing them to stick together and become more easily captured.

Offering Alen's greatest coverage, the Alen A350 air purifier circulates all of the air in a 750 square foot space more than twice every hour on the highest speed. It comes standard with the HEPA-Fresh Filter, designed for easy replacement. We recommend regular filter replacements (at least every 6 months with normal use) to extend the life of your air purifier and maximize performance for pure, breathable air.

If you want to speak to someone directly at Alen (they love talking to their customers), you can call: 1-855-500-5483.

www.alencorp.com