Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:
Remember when you were a kid and your mom caught you red-handed in your Halloween candy after telling you that you had enough? You can never forget that wave of shame that made your face feel like it was melting. Your heart pounded so hard that it was nearly bursting out of your chest. You had no choice but to pause and accept whatever wrath was coming. A Little Shame Never Hurt Anyone Apparently dogs get that same way … Read more
Harry and George were the best of friends, who spent all of their days side by side. The two were so inseparable, that even with losing George 1 year ago, Harry still pictures his furry BFF laying by his side. Owner Caitlin Wynne opened up about the incredible friendship the two pups shared, and how Harry is coping to this day. Their friendship began when a once young Harry was introduced to his soon to be brother, George. George was … Read more
It is no secret that dogs can help us emotionally. Just looking at a dog or snuggling up with our furry friends is enough to bring a smile to our faces even on a bad day. It’s likely that they even benefit us more than other humans do. A new study actually proves that most men feel “emotionally closer” to dogs than other people. So, if you consider your dog to be the most important living thing in your life, … Read more
Pizza. It’s the convenient comfort food that is beloved by virtually every human in every city and country in the world. What’s not to love? Cheesy, bread-y, gooey goodness piping hot right out of the oven? Yes, please! Turns out, pups are pretty fond of pizza too, even if it’s not a food that should be a regular part of a dog’s diet. You may have seen the viral video that was making the internet rounds a while back with … Read more
Pandora is a Dachshund that is partially paralyzed and needs her own personal wheelchair to help her get around. However, Pandora doesn’t let her wheelchair stop her from having the exciting life of a dog. She can still run around and play just as any other dog would. Recently, Pandora joined a bunch of other special needs dogs to help promote pet adoption, specifically to help other dogs with special needs. Pandora’s Journey Pandora was a happy, healthy dog … Read more
As pet parents, we often wonder if we’re giving our pups everything possible to live their best and most active life. When it comes to our dog’s health, a fully engaged mind is just as important as a fit body. PoochPack, a monthly box for canine enrichment, understands that mentally and physically fit pooches live fuller and happier lives. PoochPack achieves this through the PAWsome power of interactive canine enrichment. The enrichment toys and games in PoochPack trigger hard-wired instincts … Read more
Parents of former shelter dogs often feel that even though we rescued them, they saved us as well. This turned out to be the very literal truth for a family in Florida. Their Jack Russell Terrier named Zippy warned them about a house fire, but tragically the little guy lost his life in the process. Leroy Butler’s family adopted Zippy the Jack Russell Terrier about four years ago from The Humane Society of Manatee County in Florida. He was meant to … Read more
There are over 5000 community based programs of Meals on Wheels across the country. The more than 2 million staff and volunteers work to deliver friendly visits, nutritious foods, and safety checks that allow America’s seniors to live independent and dignified lives free from hunger. Meals on Wheels volunteers in Ohio noticed that many of the seniors they serve were sharing their meals with their pet. Not wanting people to have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their furry … Read more
Hunstsville is a city in Texas that is home to Sam Houston University and the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville. A trip along Interstate 45 will get you a glimpse of a giant roadside statue of the famed statesman, Sam Houston himself and several warning signs not to pick up hitchhikers, who may be escaped prisoners. Local rescue group St. Francis’ Angels has been picking up strays from the area streets for over 30 years. This is the story of one of their rescues, whose … Read more
We all pick favorites, whether we admit it or not. When it comes to dogs, they pick a favorite human and see no reason whatsoever to hide it. Some may call them clingy. You just call them yours. Here are 12 signs that you are one of those lucky dog moms with a mama’s dog by your side. #1 – Will Not Leave Your Side Mama’s dogs want to be with their mama. Not some of the time. Not part … Read more
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), Modern Dog Magazine, and Pet360, here are 20 perfect produce options to share with your dog! Just remember that moderation is key; produce, especially fruit, contains natural sugar, too much of which is never a good thing. As always, consult with your vet before feeding your dog anything new, especially if he/she is prone to allergies. 1. Peaches Fresh peach (not canned – too much sugar!) is a delicious snack you can enjoy with your … Read more
Saying goodbye to a dog is hard enough, but writing a eulogy when your pup has passed can be extremely daunting. How do you take a whole life and pack it into so few words? What do you say to express all the joy, love, and mischief that your dog experienced together in their lifetime in a way that is true to your pup? We were so impressed when we saw this beautiful farewell to a furry family member who … Read more
Mission Rabies is a worldwide project that helps to fight the spread of rabies in less developed parts of the world. Dedicated animal lovers in Cambodia joined forces with this mission, and accomplished something truly incredible. Many of us are lucky enough to live in a part of the world where the threat of rabies is not waiting at our doorstep. In developing parts of Asia and Africa, rabies is a common problem, which causes families to fear dogs due … Read more
Nellie the 5-year-old rescue dog had been bouncing around from different shelters and rescues for years, dreaming of finding a place to call home. She was just a cautious foster dog until one day she came across a scary situation. She was hiking near Enchanted Rock in Texas with her foster mom, Jane Taylor, and a friend. They came across a rattlesnake in the middle of their path, leaving Taylor in complete panic. However, this was the moment that Nellie … Read more
Guide dogs are incredible animals. They are smart enough to learn special tasks that can benefit people in ways that will completely change their lives for the better. But have you ever wondered how the dogs learn these skills and behaviors? Luckily, with a documentary on Netflix, you can! Pick of the Litter is a documentary that is specifically about puppies going through training to become guide dogs. This 2018 film is currently only available on Netflix overseas, but it … Read more
There’s a dog for every person. But sadly, there doesn’t seem to be a person for every dog. This truly appears to be the case for sweet Penny. She has spent most of her 5 1/2 years of life in a shelter with over 750 days at the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society animal shelter in Washington. This poor pup has faced struggles no dog should ever have to deal with. But most importantly, she has lived a great deal of … Read more
Some pretty great rescue dogs end up spending far too much time in shelters. Some have medical conditions, some have difficult pasts, and some are just getting up in age. All of them deserve to find families to love them. That’s the thinking that inspired Petfinder.com to celebrate Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week, and they’ve been doing it for the last 10 years. The goal is to help senior animals and other long-term shelter residents find their fur-ever homes. The annual … Read more
UPDATE 9/26/19: An adorable chocolate Pibble that spent more than 400 days in a Kansas shelter has been adopted! Queen made national headlines last week when devoted rescuer Scott Poore promised to live with her in her kennel until she found her forever home. The story went viral, but Queen’s new dad, Tony Puloso says that’s not what drew him to her. She is just a “perfectly sweet dog,” he told KMBC-TV. Check out Queen’s royal sendoff — complete with a … Read more
Part of each sale through the iHeartDogs store is donated to Greater Good, which helps support various charities. Thanks to customers like you, happy endings, like the one below, are made possible. Carl showed up on the doorstep of Roughneck Rescue & Sanctuary in the middle of the night in the middle of winter with three feet of snow on the ground. The rescue was alerted that he was outside by the other dogs. He didn’t have a collar or microchip and seemed like … Read more
A dedicated firefighting crew from Gainesville, Florida traveled to the Bahamas to help assist in the devastation left behind from Hurricane Dorian. One team member had no idea he would soon set out to rescue his future furry best friend! During their visit, the firefighting team witnessed miles of destruction and damage unlike anything they had ever seen. During their efforts, they were brought to a collapsed home of which a medium-sized Bulldog was trapped under piles of rubble. The … Read more
“I mean, it was just a dog.” “Now you can get a new one!” “It’s not like you lost an actual family member.” These are the types of statements people grieving the loss of a dog or cat have to put up with. Often mourners are made to feel as though their feelings over losing their dog are overblown or not justified. This is simply untrue, and very unfair. It’s important for everyone, whether you’ve lost an animal or you’ve … Read more
WARNING: DISTURBING PHOTOS OF NEGLECT BELOW Working dogs are an essential part of our work in the military, as they perform a list of tasks that help to save lives on the daily. You can imagine why so many are enraged at the release of new evidence that sheds light on the neglect these hard working dogs face during their time overseas. A year-long investigation by the state department has found a list of working dogs that have died in … Read more
1. Old Sweatshirts Make Awesome Small Dog Beds There’s nothing cozier to your dog than a soft piece of clothing that smells like you. Save money on cheaply made dog beds by making your own with just a pillow and an old sweatshirt! Here’s how! 2. Crib Mattress + Fitted Sheet = Big Dog Bed What happens to that old crib mattress when baby outgrows it? While people often pass on the crib itself, the mattress usually ends up in … Read more
When traveling, there is a chance that you will come across some stray animals during your trip. Many of them will likely be scared or hesitant around strangers, so most people don’t think much of it. However, a beautician named Lucy Clydesdale came across a stray dog that just wouldn’t leave her alone during her girls’ holiday at the Tropicana Beach Hotel in Turkey. This stray dog was unlike any other dog Clydesdale had seen. It was like love at … Read more
Hurricane Dorian was an unfortunate situation for many. Sadly, this includes the dogs that were in the Bahamas, especially the ones in shelters without a home. Of all the pets at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama in Freeport, over 120 animals did not survive the flooding and disasters from the hurricane. Staff spent hours in neck deep water, and luckily, were able to save 83 shelter dogs. These 83 dogs were brought to the H.A.L.O. No-Kill Shelter in Sebastian, … Read more
Todd Johnson is a resident of Keller, Texas, a suburban area near Dallas. Johnson resides in a minivan that he parks at various locations around town. He is a member of a fitness center where he exercises and uses the shower facilities before heading off to work. A fellow gym member, Patti Tavlian was walking into the gym when she noticed something inside the minivan. What she saw moved her enough to reach out to her neighbors via NextDoor, a … Read more
In honor of Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week, we are helping to bring attention to some of the less sought after pets in the shelters. So many loving dogs miss out on forever homes due to their age, appearance, and even their troubled past. A dog with a difficult past is no less adoptable than others, and may even show you their gratitude for your love in tenfold! This is especially true of this article’s featured pup, Agatha. Meet … Read more
Update: The good humans at Safe With Us Animal Rescue in Massachusetts have found Dakota his home! At a glance, you may not always be able to tell that a dog has been neglected. You may see big, brown eyes and a wagging tail, you might even see some protruding bones, broken teeth or scars. What you don’t see is a broken heart carefully mended back together by staff and volunteers who only wanted to let a pup know that … Read more
Just because we’re asleep for the night, doesn’t necessarily mean our dogs are too. Even when we fall asleep lying next to them, they can get up and down from the bed without us even knowing. Who really knows what hijinks our canine friends get up to while we’re blissfully unaware in our beds? One family in Lakeside, California, found out the answer to this type of mystery and it was not at all what they would have expected. The … Read more
Part of each sale through the iHeartDogs store is donated to Greater Good, which helps support various charities. Thanks to customers like you, happy endings, like the one below, are made possible. Maddy was found lying on a grave in Canine Connection All Breed Dog Rescue’s dog cemetery. She was brought to the property by a young neighbor girl who was afraid her dad was going to shoot Maddy. She was afraid to knock on the rescue’s door, so she left Maddy at the … Read more
This week is Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week. Shelters are full of wonderful dogs that need forever homes. Puppies and pure breeds and smaller dogs get snapped up far more quickly than others. Age, breed, health problems, color and size can all impact a dog’s ability to find a forever home. To help, PetFinder launched Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet week in 2009. Here at iHeartDogs we have a special place in our dog-loving hearts for the pups that are frequently … Read more
Knowing that a dog is nearing the end of life is never an easy thing to deal with. As they get older, their families often just get sadder over the thought of losing their best friend. However, Brendan Wiltse was not like that. He knew that his beloved dog, Khyber, needed to enjoy every day of his life no matter the circumstances. Khyber has spent about 95% of his life by Wiltse’s side. They have been inseparable ever since the … Read more
Ellie Mae is an 11-year-old Shih Tzu with a sweet personality. Currently, she is walking around, full of life, but when she was first rescued, she was in terrible shape. Her previous parent had recently passed away. So, when the house was being cleaned out, that’s when Ellie Mae was found. They didn’t even know that the woman had a dog, and they guessed that Ellie Mae had gone at least a year without access to care. If they hadn’t … Read more
The World’s Cutest Rescue Dog of 2019 has been crowned, and a beautiful Keeshond named Kacey takes the win! Nearly 7,000 rescue dogs entered the contest, but Kacey’s troubling story captured the public’s hearts. Sheila Cosgrove, a New Jersey resident, was a member of an online pet rescue network that consisted of several rescues and pet owners. This rescue network helped to spread the word about foster pets in the area, and shed light on the puppy mill operations in … Read more
Benny, an adorable dachshund mix was found roaming the devastated streets after Hurricane Harvey. Rescuers brought him to Washington with several other found pups, where he then waited for the perfect family to call his own. His sad eyes caught the attention of the Ballenger family, and just like that he found his forever home. Scott Ballenger and Benny were inseparable from the start. From the second he stepped into their home, he clung to his new dad with every … Read more
Our dogs mean as much to us as we do to them, they’re just way cuter at showing it. We have the science to back up the fact that our pups miss us when we’re gone, but the excited jumps and tail wags when we return home make that plenty clear. That’s what makes our reunions with them so special. It’s also what makes being separated from them so difficult. Anthony Rogers, an artist in Memphis, Tennessee, ended up homeless … Read more
September 16th through the 22nd is Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week! This event might sound a bit sad, but it’s actually a celebration to encourage animal lovers to adopt a dog that is having a harder time finding their forever family. Some of these dogs include seniors, dogs with special needs, specific breeds, and dogs that have been up for adoption for a long time. So, it is important for dog lovers to pay attention to the amazing dogs … Read more
We are so excited to let you all know about a special company that is making a difference for people and dogs in Orange County neighborhoods. They’re called Lori’s Leash Lovers OC, and you’re going to love the work they’re doing. They’re a group of devoted dog walkers that provide a valuable service at an affordable price. Better still, they employ adults that have challenges to employment. Image Lori’s Leash Lovers OC Facebook Lori’s Leash Lovers OC Employees Adults with … Read more
iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I admit it. I’m “one of those dog moms”. You know, the ones that are crazy about their dogs and love to talk about dogs, and schedule their lives around their dogs? That’s me. My dogs are my life- they’re my fur-kids and my source of joy and comfort. After I lost my Great Dane and best … Read more
September 22-28 is National Dog Week, so while we always love and celebrate our pups, why not do something a little extra to show how much you care? These wonderfully delicious peanut butter I Woof You cookies from The Dog Bakery are the perfect tasty treats to share with your pooch during the special time. Or anytime! To celebrate this special event, The Dog Bakery will even donate a portion of proceeds to animal rescue. Talk about one sweet deal. … Read more
First impressions are important, and those of us who have adopted dogs from shelters know this to be true. When you meet the right dog, you just know. Sadly though, some dogs that end up in shelters don’t quite know how to socialize, and that makes giving a good first impression to a potential adopter difficult. This was the dilemma of an adorable beagle mix named Banjo. Banjo was originally found alone in the woods at just a few months … Read more
Fauquier County Animal Control received an anonymous tip about a suspected puppy mill in Fauquier County, Virginia. The tip was from someone who had attempted to purchase a dog from Vernine Gipstein, 69, and Barton Gipstein, 75. However, they noticed that the puppy that was being sold to them did not appear to be healthy and even had fleas. This didn’t seem right to them, so they reached out for help immediately. Luckily, their simple tip ended up making a … Read more
Anyone familiar with a wide variety of dog breeds can tell you that some seem to have an innate knack for certain jobs or personality traits that are consistent across the breed. German Shepherds have great success in police work, for example, while Golden Retrievers are tolerant and gentle with children. Despite the fact that these stereotypes are generally accepted across countless breeds for countless traits, there has been little scientific research done on the subject. Until now. Researchers set … Read more
Every year since 2009, Petfinder.com has celebrated Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week to help senior dogs, FIV+ cats, and other often-overlooked pets find their fur-ever homes. The annual event takes place during the third week of September. This year’s Less Adoptable Pet Week is September 16 — 22, 2019. Handsome Hatchi came to All 4 Paws in Pawleys Island, South Carolina about six months ago. He has big, soulful brown eyes, loves long walks on the beach, and has … Read more
Children bond with their childhood pets in such a strong way. We never forget our first puppy love and will always hold them close in our hearts. For Nicole Grimes of Pennsylvania, the pup that first made that kind of mark was a small black and gray girl named Chloe. Image Nicole Grimes Facebook A Gift from Nana Nicole’s grandmother gifted her the puppy when Nicole was 10 years old. Dressed in a pink bow, Nicole was immediately infatuated with … Read more
A small dog in Brazil kept mysteriously escaping day after day. The resourceful boy was somehow getting out of the massive gate surrounding the family’s home. His mom would come home every day and find that Pingo had been gallivanting around town. “I don’t know when it began. All I knew was that he was getting out when the gate was closed,” Albertina Fogaça told The Dodo. An Undercover Mission to Solve the Mystery Pingo’s mom, Albertina Fogaça, decided to … Read more
A mysterious illness is plaguing dogs in Norway and causing panic. Veterinarians and scientists are scrambling to figure out the cause but have been unsuccessful so far. The illness has been linked to the death of nearly 30 dogs. Unfortunately, autopsies have given no clear insight into the mystery ailment. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute says 10 dogs have been autopsied so far. Another five autopsies are expected in the coming days. The agency hopes to have answers soon. A Mind-Bending … Read more
Vancouver pet parents found themselves looking for a local pet sitter when they needed to head out of town for a friend’s wedding. After much research, they found a pet sitter they believed they could trust from a popular online pet sitting service, Rover. What started out as a fun weekend with friends, turned into a nightmare for the loving dog parents. Michael and Shannon Brennan dropped off their beloved pup Sami with a pet sitter on a Friday before … Read more
In 2017 we were happy to tell iHeartDogs readers about Jake, Virgin Trains’ “Platform Pawtroller” at the Stafford Rail Station in Staffordshire, England. Jake was a big fan of trains, and for 11 years his dad, Neil McNamera would walk him to the station to greet guests with a wagging tail and happy face! In September of 2017, Virgin Trains rolled out new uniforms for railway employees. The staff was all very fond of Jake, and Virgin Trains presented him … Read more
When greed and selfish motives overcome love and compassion, the result is almost always tragic. Puppy mills are one such tragic result of this corruption of mankind. These are horrible places where dogs are forced to breed over and over again. Many of these poor dogs are kept in wire cages for their entire lives, so they don’t even know what it feels like to be a dog – to feel loved. Their health and wellbeing is sadly not maintained, so … Read more
Euthanasia in shelters is not something we really want to have to think about. Thankfully today we’ve got some positive news in that department! The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance recently announced that their state is now a “No-Kill” state for shelter animals. The MPFA defines “No-Kill” as a practice for animal shelters where euthanasia is only considered an “act of mercy,” “reserved only for cats and dogs that are too sick/injured to be treated or too aggressive to be suitably rehomed.” https://www.facebook.com/michiganhumane/photos/a.116049627848/10156586768717849/?type=3&theater … Read more
Toledo, United States.