Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:
Your dog is likely to look at any food in your hand like it’s the only food in the world – even if his bowl is overflowing with a meal of his own. But taking a moment to think about what’s in our snacks before we offer a bite or two can keep our dogs safe and healthy. Almonds are a favorite snack for people looking to live a healthier lifestyle, and an excellent choice according to nutritionists. Munching on … Read more
15 to 20% of Americans have some sort of allergic reaction to dogs. Despite the prevalence of dog-related asthma, sneezing, itchy skin and hives, nearly half of US households have at least one pup. Pet lovers are clearly willing to endure their symptoms in order to enjoy the many benefits of sharing their lives with dogs. Luckily, there are several things these pawrents can do to help control their dog allergies. What Causes Dog Allergies? According to the Mayo Clinic, … Read more
Stephen Foster works as a part-time maintenance man at a gas station in Dade City, Florida. Since the recent death of his wife of 35 years, Stephen has come to rely on the love and companionship of his little dog, Ollie. The pooch even accompanies him to work, happily watching her dad from the end of a tether. A few weeks ago, Ollie was hit by a car driving through the gas station parking lot and was left with a … Read more
Rosie, a one-year-old Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix, was brought to a Georgia shelter after her parents got divorced. The young mother couldn’t afford to move with both her children and the dogs. When surrendered, Rosie was healthy and trained, but being at a kill shelter during the holidays meant a chance she may not make it out alive. Not long afterwards, Toni, a mother of two girls, was searching for dogs online. Her children got a peek of Rosie’s ad, … Read more
Custom pet portraits have become all the rage recently and for good reason. They allow us to create a lasting memory of our fur babies and they also make for perfect birthday and Christmas gifts. But with so many pet portrait artists out there, how do you know which one to choose? We’ve done some digging to help you identify the top five things to look for when choosing the perfect portrait for your fur baby. What To Look For … Read more
A team of impressive rescue canines saved the life of a young girl caught in a strong ocean current. Even the best of swimmers can get whisked away in an instant, leaving them to fight for their lives to stay above water. Thankfully, the dogs of SICS Italian School of Rescue Dogs were on the scene this day. A 15-year-old named Ilenia was enjoying a day at the beach with her friends when things took a sudden turn. Their quick … Read more
Two recalls have been issued for dog and cat food products from two different companies. These recalls have been issued for separate reasons. First, Sunshine Mills, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of certain dog food products due to the potential for elevated levels of Aflatoxin, a naturally occurring by-product resulting from the growth of Aspergillus flavus, a corn mold which can be harmful to animals when consumed in significant quantities. Earlier this year, Sunshine Mills issued food recalls over … Read more
The road to recovery has been a long one for Buddy the Labrador Retriever mix. Buddy is getting a new lease on life after being intentionally set on fire by a 12-year-old boy while living on the streets as a stray. No one knows why the child decided to do this — but it resulted in terrible wounds and pain for the poor dog, who was found wandering the streets of Mississippi on April 22 with an extension cord wrapped … Read more
A short video clip of a mother cat, seeming to introduce her puppy pal to her one-week-old kitten, has caught the attention of almost two million people. It’s definitely understandable why. Interspecies friendships are incredibly heartwarming to behold, and the clip is absolutely adorable. When watching the actions of the cat, it’s almost as if she is asking and then showing the watchful dog how to be gentle with her baby. The clip opens with the dog sniffing the kitten … Read more
“America’s Top Dog” on the A & E network is the reality show dog lovers needed in their lives. The competition show features talented dogs and their handlers competing on an obstacle course designed to test their speed, agility, teamwork, and trust. That last aspect, the bond between dog and trainer, proved pretty important in the success of one team: Team Chewy. The pup and his trainer/mom, Rachel Clark, won their first episode in Season 2, making it to the grand … Read more
There’s nothing cuter than dogs and babies. So when you combine the two, it makes for extra amounts of adorable. That’s just what has won over the hearts of thousands of people on Instagram with the dynamic duo of Macy the baby girl and Marshall the Golden Retriever. Best friends since Macy’s birth, the Australian buds have been taking the internet by storm with over 20,000 followers on Instagram. Their parents, the Bryants, post their day-to-day antics — and there … Read more
When you’re the youngest kid in a pack of four, you want to be just like your older siblings. But what if you’re a cat and your big brothers and sisters are dogs? Then your name might be Marlin, and you might love a good swim in the salty sea with the doggos! Marlin is the cutest white and orange tabby cat, but ever since coming home as a kitten, he’s studied everything dogs Buxton, Hattie, Shady, and Buoy have … Read more
A team of dedicated animal rescuers is working around the clock to care for a senior poodle that was a victim of unimaginable abuse. After being found in a desperate state by a good Samaritan, Petal is now at a local animal hospital, fighting for her life. The good Samaritan was driving down the road when she passed what looked like a stuffed animal coming out of a clear plastic bag. After pulling over to investigate further, she was horrified … Read more
If your dog starts frantically barking at you at three in the morning, you may want to resist the urge to tell them to cut it out. Ask one very lucky Orange County resident, who’s extremely grateful his dog Maggie woke him up at twilight one day this week. When Maggie barked frantically at her dad Joel Rosa while he slept, she likely saved his life. It turned out she was trying to alert him to the flames spreading throughout … Read more
Swimmers at beaches across Lazio and Sicily don’t have to fear — for Baloo is here! Baloo is a 4-year-old Golden Retriever who has been trained to retrieve something very special: swimmers in danger. Just like a human lifeguard, Baloo is trained to patrol the beaches and rescue people who are in need of saving. Baloo’s dad, Simone Filesi, decided to start training Baloo as a puppy due to his love for the sea. Now, he regularly patrols the beach … Read more
In addition to being wonderful, loving companions, dogs can make our lives better in a myriad of ways. One amazing trait many of our canine friends possess is an inherent interest in protecting us from harm. Recently, in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina, homeowner Martin Jacobs suddenly awoke in the middle of the night. He and his Golden Retriever Gus had been sleeping in the kitchen while their home was being renovated. Jacobs described that moment to WCNC … Read more
Abla the dog works hard to protect her flock. As an Anatolian Shepherd, it’s her job to keep the sheep of the Calliss family farm rounded up and safe. But there are definitely some furry little perks in her work. And one of those perks is a sweet lamb known as June. Now, the world is taking notice of the adorable dog and her lamb buddy thanks to the sweetest video posted to Twitter by their mom, Jo Calliss. The … Read more
If you didn’t already know, part of each sale on the iHeartDogs.com store is donated to Greater Good Charities, which offers grants for programs like Rescue Bank. Shopping from the iHeartDogs store is the reason heartwarming stories like the one below are made possible! When Ralphie was plucked off the streets of Houston and brought into an overcrowded city pound, he was estimated to be around 3 to 4 years old. Terrified by the new surroundings, he stood very little chance of … Read more
Rescuing people struggling to stay afloat at sea is very challenging and potentially dangerous work. Sometimes, lifeguards or Coast Guardsmen need to use speedboats, hydraulic winches, and even helicopters to pull people from the water. When it comes to something as important as saving lives, there’s no shame in getting a little help from man’s best friend. A special school in Italy specifically trains skilled dogs to perform incredible water rescues. Because of this program, even the Italian Coast Guard … Read more
A village in New South Wales isn’t letting any natural disaster—or series of disasters—put a damper on their championship dog competition. Rappville is located in the northern area of New South Wales, Australia, and with a population of 169 in 2016, it’s a tiny town with a lot of resilience. COVID-19 restrictions remained in place as new cases surged. However, that didn’t stop the village from hosting the NSW Working Cattle Dog Trial Championships earlier this month. The best working … Read more
As a shelter dog, life can be hard. Sometimes it’s loud. Other times, it is stressful and sad watching people pass you by in your kennel, picking another dog instead. That’s just the reason why caretakers at Austin Animal Center decided to bring 3-year-old Bagel out for a field trip one day last week. And when they did, something magical happened. The light returned to Bagel’s eyes, and for a few hours, she wasn’t a shelter dog. She was just a … Read more
In Marshall County, Kentucky, the community is celebrating a good dog. Fox has been protecting and serving his community first with the Paducah Police Department since 2011. In January of 2018, he joined the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, continuing his hard work, but now it’s time for Fox to put his paws up in retirement. With the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office patrolling roughly 300 square miles and over 900 miles of roadways, Fox kept full days protecting the citizens of … Read more
We all know that it’s important to walk our dogs. They need exercise for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Also, their ancestors were wild animals, and today’s pups still retain some of that connection to the outside world. But walking a dog when it’s too hot outside is dangerous. Very dangerous. And in the UK, a woman has started a petition to make it a crime. The petition has already been signed more than 35,000 times. Taking Action With … Read more
Macy the Yorkie may be little — but she sure is fierce. The little dog proved just that last week when she and her 10-year-old human sister, Lily Kwan, were out on a walk in their Ontario, Canada neighborhood and came face-to-face with a coyote. The coyote was chasing the pair down the sidewalk when Macy jumped into action, barking and lunging at the other canine. Lily ran to a neighbor’s house screaming for help as the coyote grabbed Macy … Read more
Officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a mother dog and her puppy from the back seat of a hot car earlier this month. Although the car was parked in an enclosed parking garage, the temperature outside was nearly 96 degrees. A kind guard noticed the dogs in distress and called the police right away. The car was parked in a lot for the Wild Wild West Gambling Hall — and the … Read more
She-Ra, the pup, certainly lives up to her name and the title it comes with. Like the cartoon heroine she’s named after, this 11-month-old puppy earned the title of “Princess of Power” after surviving a horrific ordeal. Thought to be hit by a car and then shot in the head with a .22 caliber bullet, She-Ra was left for dead. Alone and in excruciating pain, she wandered until she found retired school teacher Steven Kanada. The kind Samaritan bundled her … Read more
In This Issue
● Urinary Tract Infections
● Lumps & Bumps
● Brain Damage At Routine Vet Visit
● Do Dogs Understand Speech?
● Dangerous Dog Food
● Canine Sun Protection
Promise the young Pit Bull was paralyzed as a puppy after a car door slammed on her leg. Now she uses a wheelchair to get around, and it doesn’t hold her back one bit. She has so much love to give, and she always approaches life with the cutest puppy smile. After spending the first year of her life in a shelter, she has finally been adopted by a sanctuary for special needs dogs like her. She’s even Instagram famous … Read more
In January of 2020, York County Animal Control in South Carolina received a call about a dog abandoned by the side of a dirt road. Right away it was clear this poor dog had been through a lot. Scooter, as he would soon be called, was used as a bait dog. He’d been tied up by his back legs and hung from a tree so fighting dogs could learn how to fight by attacking him. As a result of this … Read more
Teddy the therapy dog’s presence was much needed at the site of the Surfside Condo Collapse. The 6-year-old Basset Hound/Labrador mix traveled from Philadelphia to Surfside, Florida with a team of crisis response dogs shortly after the 12-story building crumbled, killing at least 97 people. As a crisis response dog, Teddy was there to comfort first responders and people mourning lost or missing loved ones. With his owner Sophie Barrett, Teddy traveled across the rubble where rescue and recovery took … Read more
If you are a senior dog lover and are yet to follow Vintage Pet Rescue on social media, you need to get on that ASAP! Not only do they specialize in rescuing and rehoming elderly and disabled dogs, they also share some of the most heartwarming and hilarious content you will ever see. Take, for example, Farc. The name Farc is a blend of Marc—one of the founders of Vintage Pet Rescue—and the word “fake.” Why? Because Farc is a … Read more
“Dogs, I think, might be more important than principles,” author Kevin Hearne writes in his 2018 book, Scourged. “They provide love and loyalty when you need them the most.” It’s a quote we couldn’t agree with more. And love and loyalty are exactly what a Doberman puppy named Rico recently showed for his owner. A Man Goes Missing 70-year-old John Stewart of Nevada County, California, went missing in early July. Known to have medical issues and experiencing bouts of memory … Read more
The scientific research is in: dogs can actually tell when you’re lying — and will even ignore you because of it. In a recent study by Austrian researcher Ludwig Huber, 260 dogs were presented with two covered bowls. One bowl was empty and the other was filled with food. A person would then present the dog with the two bowls, suggesting that the dog eats out of the full bowl by saying, “Look, this is very good!” Then, once that … Read more
Brianna and Savannah, two sisters from Texas, are overjoyed to finally be reunited with their beloved Maltipoo, Byron. After he mysteriously disappeared from their yard on New Year’s Eve 2020, they were devastated. Not only did they participate in his bottle feedings after their uncle’s dog had puppies, but he was welcomed into their family as an emotional support dog for Brianna. The pair did everything they could think of to try to bring him home. They immediately noted him … Read more
Cami, an emotional support dog, had a chaotic week after her human suddenly passed away. She was by his side for his final breath, but then she was taken to an Oregon animal shelter. Cami’s other family members were in Texas, and she had no way of traveling that far to be with them. Related Topic: Best Pet Insurance in Oregon But luckily, an animal rescue had a dog transport going from Texas to Cami’s location. So, they kindly offered … Read more
33-year-old Tanner Stichka died after he was shot during an altercation at a Walmart. It’s unclear what led to this violent action, but amid it all, someone was forgotten. Stichka’s dog, Zeke the Husky, was left alone in a hot car for over an hour. He had no idea that his human wouldn’t be returning. So, he kept waiting patiently until someone spotted him and called the police. Thanks to kind officers and generous strangers, Zeke is now in good … Read more
A child’s love for his dog was made obvious after his quick action in a desperate moment. The family dog named Nitro slipped and fell into the backyard pool, leading to an impressive rescue from a young hero. An 11-year-old named Matheus Felipe was relaxing in his home when he heard splashing coming from the backyard. Unsure of what this commotion could be, the boy looked out the window for any sign of trouble. What happened next was caught on … Read more
A traffic director in Motherwell, South Africa, helped to facilitate an impressive rescue that saved a tiny puppy’s life. After hearing of a furry friend stuck in a nearby drain, Eric Tiso knew he had to do something. Eric Tiso is not only the deputy director of the NMBM Traffic Department, but he is also a diehard animal lover. His soft spot for furry friends led a friend of Tiso’s to reach out to him with a desperate plea, as … Read more
It’s always terrifying to have a pet go missing — but when you rely on them for medical help, it makes the situation even more dire. That’s just what happened to Ohio resident and Army veteran David Barlet recently. Barlet’s German Shorthair Pointer, Gunter, was out on a walk with his mom on July 3 when fireworks nearby caused him to bolt. Despite searching and putting out calls to the community, Gunter was nowhere to be found. Barlet was heartbroken … Read more
Summers in Arizona can be too hot for dogs to enjoy a walk outside, let alone more than a day in the heat. But a puppy named Buddy has been missing in an Arizona desert for about a month now, and it’s all because of one person’s frustration. Like most puppies, Buddy caused trouble, but he was working on training. Yet, his family’s roommate couldn’t handle it anymore, so he chose the worst possible solution. The roommate drove the dog … Read more
UPDATE 7/21/2021 – After 14 wonderful years on this planet, Lucca the German Shepherd passed away of old age. She received a full military burial at the Michigan War Dog Memorial. The brave pup deserves this honor after leading 400 patrols and losing her leg on the job. Marine Master Sergeant Chris Willingham carried the canine hero’s ashes to the burial site as many friends and colleagues paid their respects. During the ceremony, fellow dogs of war walked in a … Read more
On July 2nd, Chelsea Graham brought her three-year-old Italian Mastiff, Draco, to Laurel Oaks Animal Hospital in Georgia for a heartworm test and shots. That day, Draco arrived at the clinic “a perfectly healthy” dog. Graham knew her dog’s anxiety made him a little difficult at the vet. His size would also provide a bit of a challenge for vet techs trying to restrain him. She says she told vets Draco was a bit of a difficult dog, and he … Read more
Once you rescue a dog, it’s hard to imagine your life without them. It’s even harder to imagine your dog having to return to a life without you on the streets. This is the predicament that many soldiers stationed overseas face when they meet and fall in love with strays. Army Specialist Ken Wyrsch met a dog named Ollie while fighting alongside a Kurdish military outfit in Iraq. The stray puppy soon became like a family member to everyone stationed … Read more
iHeartDogs works closely with GreaterGood.org to donate a portion of sales to their various charity efforts. Through the Rescue Bank program, thousands of shelter dogs and cats each year are able to have food, provided by Greater Good Charities. Thanks to the support of customers like you, happy endings like the one below are made possible. No one knows where Ginger came from — but it was so clear that she needed help. Found wandering the Rio Grande Valley of … Read more
Dream job alert: a company in England is offering a near $33,000 salary for someone to play with puppies all day. Located in Manchester, England, the position is for a pet website called Yappy.com. It is an online shop that sells personalized items for dogs, cats and their parents. The new role is called chief puppy officer — and they want to make sure their employees’ four-legged friends are entertained while their parents work. The 9 to 5 job involves … Read more
When Zack Marson went out of town, he dropped his dog Ripley off at a Dogtopia location in Richmond, Virginia. He was a loyal customer of the dog daycare, so he trusted them to keep Ripley safe and comfortable. But while he was away, he received a concerning phone call. A staff member called Marson to let him know that the daycare closed permanently while Ripley was still in their care. There was no warning, and even the employees were … Read more
Sadly, sometimes the most innocent creatures are cursed with the worst luck. But sometimes it’s all about seeing things from another perspective. One Canadian family is doing exactly that. Kipper is a Chocolate Lab that has one of the most amazing sets of parents in the entire world! You see, Kipper’s dad used to be a stand-up comedian. During one of his skits, Clayton Kroeker would make fun of dog owners and the way they pamper their pups. “Five years … Read more
18-year-old Brandon Joy is legally blind due to a rare condition called retinitis pigmentosa. The Newfoundland and Labrador resident was searching for a guide dog to make life a little easier as he entered college. However, service dogs can be pricey, so he wasn’t sure how he’d ever afford one. Luckily, a group of dedicated volunteers called Wheels for Wishes came together to help Joy achieve his goals. They organized a fundraising event full of classic cars to raise money … Read more
It makes you shudder to think about it, but have you ever wondered what you would do if your dog was in danger? Would you put yourself at risk to save them? Or, would you wait for professional help to arrive and risk something happening to your pup in the meantime? One dog owner opted to act fast when his pup accidentally fell into the Hudson River in New York this month. The 28-year-old jumped into the Hudson at 43rd … Read more
Through all the negativity and performativity on social media, posts about dogs remain the best reason to have an account. That’s why I pretty much exclusively follow shelters and animal influencers on Instagram. It makes all the noise worth it. Just to bring some joy to your day, here are 16 of this month’s amazing posts from Twitter, Tik Tok, and Reddit featuring excellent puppers. 1. A Little Pup Enjoying A Tasty Puppacino It kind of seems like he enjoys … Read more
Nenella the Staffordshire Bull Terrier means the world to a chef named Walter Bocchetti. She’s been there for him through many ups and downs in life, including when his brother passed away. So, when she disappeared, he was heartbroken. He searched for 22 days, only to find out that she’d been found and rehomed to a new family. Bocchetti refused to let it end there. Now, he’s suing the new family for refusing to return his lost dog. After almost … Read more
Toledo, United States.