Pawsitive

If you found your way to this article, odds are pretty high you’re an animal lover. I’m also willing to bet you’ve loved animals since you were old enough to distinguish a doggie from a kitty. So surely you can relate to 9-year-old Caroline Uhorchak, who already knows her passion in life is giving back to animals. Though she’s only a grade-schooler, Caroline has pulled in tons of donations to her local animal shelter… literally. With a red wagon in … Read more

We’ve all had horrible bosses at one point. They’re miserable and their unhappiness seems to soak into the hearts of all of their employees. You probably saw the news recently where a man’s boss thought he got the last laugh, but if you didn’t let me catch you up. Andreas Flaten worked for A OK Walker Automworks in Peachtree City, Georgia. He decided to call it quits last November after spending too much time in what he considered a toxic … Read more

Kirpy the Belgian Malinois is just one of the many brave pups who fight for our country. From his puppy years to age seven, Kirpy worked as a police K9, specializing in locating illegal drugs. But no one should have to work forever. So, after seven successful years of hard work, Kirpy got the retirement of his dreams. Now, brave Kirpy gets to live the pampered life of a companion dog. The days of fighting crime are over, and now … Read more

There is nothing cuter than a furry friend with impressive fluff. Some pets have fur that just cannot be contained, and deserves to shine in its fuzzy glory. Let’s introduce you to 15 fluff balls worthy of their time in the spotlight! 1. A fluffy pup needs a fluffy friend! 2. What an angel of a fluff! 3. A majestic fluff with a perfect blowout! 4. A mighty bear fluff in the flesh! 5. He is a supreme fluff and … Read more

The ongoing pandemic has forced everyone, even young adults, to get creative. We’ve learned new ways to socialize, exercise, learn, and earn money. Lynnsey Hauger, a freshman at Berkley High School in Michigan, was inspired by her love of dogs to find a new source of income this year. Unable to earn her usual babysitting dollars, Lynnsey started her own small company at home: Lubirds Dog Treats. Every day, Hauger makes gluten-free, dog-safe treats from her own kitchen. She bakes … Read more

Of course they’re unbelievably cute, but newborn puppies aren’t quite ready to find homes with people. Experts say puppies should remain with their mothers for at least the first eight weeks of their lives, if not longer. The pups have a lot to learn from their mom and a lot of socialization to undergo. They need to be able to grow and thrive with mom by their side. A Phoenix-based rescue specializes in large-breed pregnant dogs and their puppies who … Read more

Your dog may love to chase cars, but often they don’t understand how dangerous this activity really is. Attended and securely leashed, it’s usually just harmless barking and tugging. Little puppies with no one to protect them, however, are at serious risk of getting struck by a vehicle. Sadly, this tragic fate befell an abandoned puppy in Serbia. Even sadder, his sister didn’t know what else to do besides remain by his side, just next to the street. This heartbreaking … Read more

Chicago’s ALIVE Rescue is preparing to open their dream rescue facility is Salem Lakes, IL. Thanks to their tireless efforts, the Big Barn Rescue will be their most impressive accomplishment yet! The creation of the sanctuary started when they received a huge land plot donation at the end of 2016.  Four years later, plans for their dream rescue and adoption center are well underway. It is the culmination of a massive goal that will help ALIVE Rescue more than double … Read more

If you have been following the Amber Abroad Series, you may remember me for my time spent in Cambodia. I documented my 6 months spent working with an incredible animal clinic named PPAWS, and shared their work to improve the lives of the animals in their country. My adventures in Southeast Asia were cut short due to the sudden pandemic, forcing me to reevaluate my plans for 2020. Just when I thought my work was put on hold, I was … Read more

16-year-old Shane Koch of Florida was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome when he was only 8 years old. Tourette’s is a nervous system disorder that causes tics that are difficult to control. All his life, Koch has faced bullying because of it, from students and even teachers. But when he adopted a puppy named Callum, his world changed for the better. Callum helped boost his confidence and control his tics. Now, the pair are social media famous, which allows Koch to … Read more

The holiday season is a magical time. Even when things are at their worst, people find it within themselves to display incredible warmth, generosity, and compassion for others. This year we’ve all endured events that have torn us apart and isolated us from our friends and family, but yesterday, humans reached out to make the Thanksgiving holiday special for their friends, family, and neighbors. Two special humans extended good tidings to nearly 80 shelter pets in Utica, New York. Rob … Read more

On Friday November 20, the small town of Babylon, New York celebrated a joyous occasion five years in the making. Residents and local administrators gathered on the steps of town hall to officially adopt Trigger, the shelter’s longest and most beloved resident. The brown and white Pit Bull mix wore his finest “tops and tails” and posed for photos with the only family he has known since 2015 — the staff of the Babylon Animal Shelter. When his pals at … Read more

It could happen to any dog parent. A broken leash, a startling sound, an open door, a distracting scent… no matter how it happens, millions of dogs go missing every single year. While there isn’t yet a way to communicate to our dogs not to run and hide, there’s a way to help them get back to you when they do: microchips. A story of a rescued stray dog from Texas illustrates this possibility. Honey arrived at the City of … Read more

Over the summer, Charlie the Great Dane had an unbelievable adoption story. He arrived at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society after his human passed away. His human’s caretaker, Tim Yanitor, wanted to keep Charlie, but wasn’t able to at the time. About 9 months passed and Charlie still didn’t have a home. Then, after news channels promoted his story, Yanitor couldn’t believe his eyes. Now that he was in a much better place, Yanitor rushed to adopt Charlie and the … Read more

We all make mistakes, but some are certainly more severe than others. For months, one busy dog mom continuously made an embarrassing mistake that she’ll never forget. Somehow, she mixed up an accountant’s office with the doggy daycare across the street. While most would figure out the truth after one visit, this confusion went on far too long. Luckily, everyone involved was kind and amused by the situation, and it’s now something they can laugh about. Sometimes, mistakes end up … Read more

Sully is a four-year-old Labrador Retriever who came into service at the side of former President George H.W. Bush. He rose to nationwide notoriety when he lay faithfully beside the casket of President Bush throughout the 2018 wake and funeral service of the former President. Now, people will remember Sully H.W. Bush in perpetuity thanks to a recently unveiled bronze statue of the dog that was erected this Veteran’s Day at the America’s VetDogs campus on Long Island. Renowned Sculptor … Read more

Ruby and Max are tiny ginger kittens who found themselves alone beneath a house. When their mom didn’t come back, their cries of distress alerted the homeowner. Thankfully, the person knew just where to turn, bringing the babies to Best Friends Animal Rescue of Northwest Arkansas. Best Friends turned to Paws of Oz for help fostering the small kittens as they needed a skilled foster who could help them grow strong for a forever home. Holly Brookhouser, head of Paws … Read more

As kids, we probably all had one toy that we couldn’t go anywhere without. But as we got older, we relied on that toy less and less. Those toys will always hold a special place in our hearts, but we no longer need them the way we used to. That’s not how it works for dogs, though. Dogs will always be our furry children, so it’s common for them to have a lifelong toy. While most dogs destroy every toy … Read more

Scott Hodges has found a way to combine his passion for dogs with his daily work. This UPS driver has made friends with every furry companion along his route and has made it his mission to bring joy to every pup he passes. Scott has always been an avid animal lover but maintains a soft spot for his favorite breed of dog; Pit Bulls. Scott had a Pit Bull of his own named Sheba for 15 years, during which he … Read more

Drools the Pit Bull and Boxer mix recently had his moment in the spotlight as dog lovers around the world fought to help him find a forever home. On his 716th day at the Conour Animal Shelter, Kacey Widetich and her colleagues with Relay for Rescue moved into the shelter with him. Day after day, they came up with ways to help him find a family. They vowed to sleep at the shelter every night until Drools was adopted. Sure … Read more

We here at iHeartDogs are always telling you that your dog is the answer to all your problems, but we always try to back it up with scientific proof. Do you often get sick? Your dog can help. Depressed? See a doctor – and your dog about that. Having trouble losing weight? DOG. Your dog is like the cure-all you never knew you needed. Just looking into the eyes of a dog makes us feel better. Most of us would … Read more

Dolly Pawton is a highly skilled cardiac alert dog who has made her way into the hearts of Americans far and wide. She and her human Amy Sherwood have a relationship that goes beyond a typical service dog and handler. Amy and Dolly have been inseparable from the moment Dolly was born. They work, live, and love together every moment of the day and they wouldn’t have it any other way. They hope to show others that service dogs can … Read more

For dogs, having many babies at once is fairly typical. Some larger dogs can even carry up to 13 puppies at a time. However, bigger litters can sometimes cause some problems for the mama dog. It becomes harder for her to feed all of the babies and keep herself fed and hydrated enough to do that. As a stray without proper nutrition, delivering and raising a healthy litter of puppies can be a major challenge. So, for a very pregnant dog … Read more