16-year-old Annie suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and anxiety, but her trained service dog George makes her conditions more manageable. Saucon Valley High School, however, wouldn’t allow her to bring George to school, where she spends most of her days. The Pennsylvania school district didn’t see George as a service dog and therefore claimed Annie didn’t need him during classes. This represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the differences between service dogs and emotional support animals. George’s Assistance Is Essential … Read more

While many families like to tune their TVs to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the football game, the National Dog Show is another popular Turkey Day event. The 2020 competition didn’t have a live audience, but the 2021 show returned with plenty of new surprises. The Biewer Terrier was the newest breed to be added. And for the first time, the event included a National Dog Show Junior for young dog handlers. But of course, the most anticipated part … Read more

Service dogs are crucial to many people’s lives, but sadly, not all families can afford them. A family from Southgate, Michigan is facing this problem after their daughter was born with a rare form of epilepsy. 19-month-old Emery Nisbett has the genetic mutation EEF1A2, which makes her have regular epileptic seizures. She also has learning disabilities and developmental delays because of it. Her seizures began when she was only six months old, and she would often have them 100 times … Read more

It’s hard to resist petting cute dogs, but of course, you should always ask permission before touching a stranger’s dog. And if that dog is a service dog, you will not be able to pet them even if you ask. For most dog lovers, this makes perfect sense. Service dogs are working and need to focus on their humans’ safety. However, there are always people who will make things harder for those who need service dogs. One woman shared her … Read more

It’s easy to say you’re not really alone when you do have a dog. One woman took that sentiment a huge step further when she decided to propose marriage to her dog, Sheba. Amanda Rodgers literally got down on one knee to propose to her dog and “could tell by her tail wagging that she said ‘yes.’” The London resident appeared on ITV’s This Morning with her Jack Russell Terrier spouse in 2014 to explain the decision. And yes, there … Read more

Technology is constantly improving, including pet products. There are lots of ways we can interact with our dogs when we’re not home, but there aren’t any ways for dogs to initiate the interactions. So, researchers have come up with a way for dogs to contact us, and it’s called the DogPhone. The DogPhone is an object that allows your furry friend to initiate a video call with you while you’re not home. It differs from other types of dog cameras … Read more

Pets often get caught in the middle of nasty breakups. Since animals are still considered property in most places, people can’t have a custody battle for them. If the couple wasn’t married, then it’s usually up to them to decide where their pets go. One Reddit user thought it was pretty clear where all the pets were going after their last breakup. They had three cats of their own while their girlfriend had bought a puppy for herself toward the … Read more

Scott Miller, a construction worker, just happened to pass by a dumpster near his worksite in Westminster, California on the morning of July 27, 2021. Fortuitously, he peeked into the dumpster before garbage collection, thereby saving the life of the Yorkshire Terrier inside. When Miller found him, the dog was sitting on top of a blanket, alert, but making no sound. Miller believes that if he hadn’t noticed him at 6:30 am, the little dog could have been crushed by … Read more

Can you believe that it’s already that special time of year? The time for food, family, and favorite dog breeds. Why, it’s time for the 2021 National Dog Show, of course. We wait all year for these beautiful breeds to grace our television screens, but perhaps this year, there’s more anticipation than there has been in the past. Last year, the National Dog Show was held without spectators, vendors, or media due to pandemic restrictions. The competition was even reduced … Read more

The case of a dog cruelly dragged behind an electric scooter poses an interesting question: Can we forgive someone who abuses an animal based on mental health? Initially, Elaine Rosa faced felony charges for animal cruelty after dragging a dog behind a Bird scooter through Bakersfield, California in 2019. The dog, Zebra, suffered bloody paws and abrasions, but no permanent damage. He did need staples in his leg though. The Poor Little Dog Couldn’t Keep Up Disturbing surveillance footage shows … Read more

Everyone thinks their dog deserves to be a model. Well, here’s that chance to make your dream happen for them (let’s face it, it’s yours, not theirs.) This November and December 2021, Budweiser is holding another “Pupweiser” contest. The dog that wins will have their photo printed onto Budweiser holiday cans next year. Brewski the Dalmatian was the face of the 2020 holiday can. After that can received a logically positive response, Budweiser decided to search for the next “Pupweiser” … Read more

Even though service dogs help so many people in a myriad of ways, some establishments still refuse to allow them. One particular Canadian restaurant crossed the line when they forcibly removed a man on the autism spectrum for bringing his service dog inside without showing papers. Another customer at Milton’s in Kitchener, Ontario, filmed the incident, during which Justin Leckie, a man with Asperger’s, was accosted. In the video that since went viral, the restaurant owners scream and swear at … Read more

I live in Los Angeles, so I’m fairly used to having to dodge dog poop on the sidewalk or grass. A responsible and considerate dog walker knows that picking up after your dog is not only easy, it’s an essential part of the job. But, alas… Unfortunately, uncollected dog poop is an issue in many cities in the U.S. Protect My Paws collected data from Twitter, tracking the locations of complaints about left behind excrement. Through this, they determined the … Read more

WARNING: Content my be sensitive to some readers. In many cases, it’s good to be cautious, but some instances take it way too far. One woman’s dog was killed as a way to sanitize her home, and it was completely unnecessary. She received no warning of her dog’s death until it was too late. When the woman went into quarantine after being exposed to COVID, she had to leave her dog behind at her China residence. Authorities went to disinfect … Read more

Iowa puppy mill owner Daniel Gingerich has been hurting dogs for many years, but his horrific actions have finally come to an end. Gingerich ran a business called Maple Hill Puppies, which sold dogs through several puppy mills in the state. In the past two years, Gingerich was accused of 190 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) saved over 500 dogs from deplorable conditions. Most of them are traumatized, weak, and malnourished. Some … Read more

Roger Debman suffered two heart attacks and a stroke in 2008 that left him legally blind. The 60-year-old relies on his guide dog Peter to comfortably navigate the world.  Currently, though, Peter is not with Debman. The Golden Retriever was put into foster care by the organization that trained him, Guide Dogs, after failing to meet weight guidelines. While Guide Dogs insists they’re looking out for Peter and his handler’s best interests, Debman claims they’ve taken his dog away unjustly. The … Read more

For years, Richard Bunce has worked as a station master for Horsley Station in East Horsley, Surrey. He assumed this post solo, but started bringing his dog George in to work about three years ago. George was always perfectly behaved, and visitors loved to see him there. Then recently, South Western Railway issued a ban on dogs at work after learning about him from a secret shopper (who left a glowing review of the station). Bunce explained why he started … Read more