Pawsitive

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

Everyone loves dog selfies. Although, most dogs are not able to take photos by themselves. They usually need a human to press the button on a phone or camera for them. But a three-legged dog named Scraps doesn’t need anyone to help her out. She’s an independent pup who loves to take glamorous photos on her own terms. Yet, it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible invention her mom created for her. Inventor and YouTube star Simone Giertz created a … Read more

If you’re a dog, it’s difficult to be sneaky. When your human comes home, you probably want nothing more than to bark and jump like crazy. But sometimes, it’s better to stay silent and keep to yourself. Luckily, two dogs from Australia have come up with a more secretive way to greet their human. After all, they want to surprise her as she walks through the door. So, these clever dogs use perfectly shaped peepholes to spy on their mom … Read more

Agility, superior exhibition of breed characteristics, cuteness, intelligence, goofy tricks–categories range from the serious to the silly when it comes to dog contests. America’s Favorite Pets is one such contest. It picks winners based on digitally-cast votes for favorites in only two categories: dogs and cats. Winston, a super cute French Bulldog, was one of the competitors who made his way all the way to the semi-finals. His dog dad shared an insider’s view of how he made it happen … Read more

Two service dogs named Agnes and Baskin have completed their first week of bringing full-time happiness to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Though their journey at the hospital has just begun, they have already made a huge difference in the lives of their favorite patients. The Dogs For Joy program works with the Dunkin Joy In Childhood Foundation to bring happiness to children’s hospitals. By placing well-trained service dogs in the hospitals full time, they can offer an abundance of … Read more

A dog and his human hiking up a mountain is a common sight in Colorado. Full of peaks and trails to climb, the state is brimming with hiking opportunities. Avid nature lovers thrill at a chance to climb a super-high peak. Mount Harvard is one of Colorado’s highest at an elevation of 14,421 feet. A climber and his dog, Stuart recently attempted that climb but things quickly took a terrifying turn. But never fear! In the end, the pair found … Read more

Losing one of your senses is tough, and Tao the Golden Retriever knows that all too well. For almost 11 years, he had perfect eyesight and a perfect life. But as he entered his senior years, he faced glaucoma, which eventually took his sight away completely. Tao slowly learned to move around without his sight, but his humans wanted to make the transition as comfortable for him as possible. So, they got him his very own seeing eye puppy named … Read more

Irish Wolfhounds are one of the most massive dog breeds out there. Oftentimes, they reach 115 to 180 pounds, and their lanky structure only makes them look larger. Despite their size, they’re known for being gentle giants who are more cuddly and laidback than you’d expect. In fact, many dog parents have been sharing hilarious photos of their Irish Wolfhounds. But in many of these photos, these dogs look too giant to even be real. So, it poses an important … Read more

Our canine companions are the light in our lives, and sometimes, even the star of our Snapchats! With our pups being so adorable and always getting themselves into hilarious antics, it’s no wonder so many dogs have stolen the show in their fur parents camera reel. Below we’ve gathered 25 priceless Snapchat photos of doings being goofy, adventurous, and showing us just how special they are! Whether you have a canine friend of your own or not, you won’t be … Read more