Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:
Ike’s a chocolate-colored Chihuahua Dachshund mix (so we think), I call him my lil’ choco-chi-weenie. We got him from a local shelter in November 2016. Like plenty of dogs, Ike likes toys. He’s pretty excited when I bring a new toy home, but for the most part the toy is a big hit for a bit and then is forgotten in a corner after a few days. It’s fine, and I actually try to rotate his toys so that I … Read more
Waking up for an early morning run and spending weekends improving your endurance will be a lot more fun when you have a running partner matching your pace. You can cajole your two-legged friends into being your mental motivation, but dogs have long since been prized partners when it comes to everyday exercise. They’re athletic and enthusiastic, and the right dog will push you toward achieving your goals. They won’t bail on your early morning runs, and you’ll never hear … Read more
No two post-operative recoveries are exactly alike. Age, overall health, and type of surgery all play a role in the length and quality of a dog’s recovery period. While the specifics may vary, there are several things you can do before, immediately after, and in the days post-op to ensure your dog recuperates as quickly and painlessly as possible from any procedure. Before Surgery The best indication of how your dog will behave after surgery is his or her … Read more
Amazon is a notoriously dog-friendly workplace, but it was only recently disclosed exactly how dog-friendly they really are. In a recent blog post, Amazon announced that as many as 6,000 dogs come to work with their owners at their Seattle headquarters every day. That’s a lot of dogs! A post shared by The Life of a Coporate Dog (@dogsofamazon) on Aug 21, 2015 at 2:12pm PDT The doggy culture was started early on when a husband and wife who both … Read more
You may have seen recent reports of the death of a pup while aboard a United flight from Houston to New York earlier this week. A flight attendant told a family that their dog, who was in a TSA approved carrier, would need to be put in the overhead bin. After some argument, the attendant assured the family that their dog would be safe, but three hours later when they arrived at their destination, he was dead. This isn’t the … Read more
DNA testing is all the rage these days. With a simple cheek swab, curious humans can learn all about their own cultural heritage or unlock their beloved mutt’s unique blend of breeds. When two families living nearly 1,000 miles apart submitted DNA tests to Embark Veterinary, they expected to learn the genetic makeup of the rescue pups they adopted in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. They had no idea they would discover their dogs’ long-lost littermate in the process! Ollie was … Read more
6 months after Feather the Siberian Husky was stolen right out of her own backyard in Moline, Illinois, her mom, Briana Martin, received a Facebook message from a stranger. The stranger said that he had just found out from his cousin that his parents – whom he is estranged from – had stolen Feather and taken her to live with them in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – nearly 90 miles away from where they had stolen her. https://www.facebook.com/525456724510533/photos/a.525461044510101/711824685873735/?type=3&theater Martin passed along … Read more
One year ago, a crooked-faced pooch named Picasso was rescued from a kill shelter along with his brother, Pablo. Liesl Wilhardt, the executive director of Luvable Dog Rescue in Oregon, welcomed the bonded pair with the intention of finding them the perfect adoptive family. But when tragedy touched both Wilhardt and Picasso, the veteran rescuer realized that Picasso was already home. Check out our original story on Picasso! A post shared by Picasso (@picassothewonkyfaceddog) on Feb 20, 2018 at 6:31am PST Last week, The … Read more
Lewis Jiminez adopted Titus as an 8-month-old puppy from the Austin Animal Center in 2013, never imagining that fate would force him to return the pup in November of 2017 over a dispute with a landlord. On February 25, Jiminez finally found new housing that allowed Pit Bulls and he was able to adopt Titus again. Thankfully, he hadn’t been adopted by anybody else while Jiminez searched for affordable housing that would allow Titus to come home again. Shelter staff, who … Read more
Having a good relationship with a veterinarian is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. From annual check-ups to emergency situations, you need to know your chosen vet will give your pup the best possible care. Trust, respect, and confidence all come into play, and unfortunately, you can’t always find the ideal person with the first office you schedule appointments with. If a recent experience has you doubting whether or not you’ve found “the one,” pay attention to … Read more
Alex Collins, a single mother living in northern California, was out interviewing for a new job when she received a devastating phone call. Her neighbor called to say her house was in flames, and her dog was still inside. Thankfully, the woman’s toddler was safe at daycare, but when she arrived home, she had no idea whether her dog named Boo would live or die. Thanks to the dedicated work of the Chico Fire Department, Boo was rescued from … Read more
With both Wales and Scotland prohibiting electric shock collars used for animal training, England was the only country in the UK not on board with the ban. A group of lawmakers and animal advocates, however, are pushing to change that. A plan is in the works to bring about a ban that will unite the UK in a stance against the unnecessary suffering caused by shock collars used for dog training. Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced on Sunday the government’s … Read more
Have you heard about collapsing trachea before? If you have a small or toy dog breed, your dog may develop a collapsing trachea, so it’s important for you to understand what collapsing trachea is, what the symptoms are, and how it’s treated in order to prevent your dog from suffering needlessly before you take him to the vet for a diagnosis. And while larger dog breeds may also suffer from a collapsing trachea, small and toy breeds are significantly more … Read more
Can dogs suffer from PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was not added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders until 1980. Even then, it remained a controversial and poorly understood diagnosis for decades to come. One question that is asked more and more frequently from individuals rescuing pups from shelters or abusive conditions is – is my dog suffering from PTSD or some kind of lingering trauma from past abuse or neglect? It is no … Read more
How much do you really know about kennel cough? You may have heard it referred to as Bordetella, since Bordetella bronchiseptica is one of the most common causes of kennel cough. You may have been told your dog is required to have been vaccinated against it before going to doggy daycare or even the groomer. But would you know if your dog got it? Do you really need to go to the vet if they start coughing? What is the … Read more
They say that dogs and their people start to resemble each other after a while, but this pup’s face just looks strikingly… human! Yogi is an adorable pooch whose photo is making dog lovers scratch their heads. Sure he’s a breed mix, but does that include being part person? Actually, 1-year-old Yogi is a Shih-Poo (a Shih Tzu / Poodle mix) who was recently groomed. Perhaps it’s his stunning green eyes, his full pink pout, or his model-like bone structure … Read more
Scientists from the University of York recently published a study showing that dogs respond better to “dog-speak” – using dog-related words in a high-pitched tone of voice – over any other speech patterns. Because of course it takes a scientific study to prove what dog owners already know: you can drone on and on about your long day at work and your dog won’t blink an eye, but as soon as you perk up your voice and ask “Who wants a treat?” … Read more
Veterinarians truly want to do what’s best for the pets in their care, but sometimes owners do things that make the otherwise rewarding career of being a vet frustrating or disheartening. You try to give your dog the best care possible while being a good person in the process, but sometimes your love for your dog may cloud your vision and cause you to say or do things that drive your veterinarian crazy. Are you guilty of doing any of … Read more
This dog is gorgeous, sweet, playful, and has been homeless for most of her life. Survivor Tails Animal Rescue found Zelda through a shelter in Georgia. Abandoned while pregnant, Zelda was living with a foster while riding out her pregnancy, but Survivor Tails saw promise in her, and decided to take her in. After giving birth, she and her puppies moved North to Survivor Tails’ shelter in Boston, MA. Zelda raised her pups until they were old enough for adoption, … Read more
A Connecticut community came together on Thursday to save the life of a dog in need. After a severe storm ripped through the area, a homeowner noticed a sad-looking dog in their yard. They quickly called the local Wolcott Dog Pound, and a rescue team was soon on their way. https://www.facebook.com/WolcottDogPound/photos/pcb.1998735930155039/1998735216821777/?type=3&theater When animal control arrived on the scene, the dog (later named Stormy) was terrified of the group of humans approaching her. She ran down the road, and her would-be … Read more
Our dogs make our worlds complete, but to them, we’re their whole world. We give them love, treats, and play, not to mention necessities like food, water, security, and shelter. They depend on us to fulfill all their physical and emotional needs, so it’s really no surprise that they’ve learned to observe us intently in our daily lives. But have you ever wondered how your dog always seems so in tune with how you’re feeling, for better or worse? As … Read more
If you are looking for a rough, tough Pit Bull type dog to protect your property and frighten away intruders, Helena is definitely not your girl. She was adopted from LifeLine Animal Project‘s Fulton County Animal Services shelter in October, but returned this week because she is just “too nice”. “Yes, she really was returned for being too nice,” LifeLine Animal Project spokesperson Karen Hirsch told TODAY. “It was obvious the gentleman was looking for a guard/protection dog. He also suggested she … Read more
Six months ago Abigail the Pit Bull was awarded one of the highest honors a dog can recieve. She was named American Humane’s 2017 Emerging Hero Dog for her work to end dog fighting. As a former bait dog, Abigail knows first-paw just how brutal this practice is. Now, her mission of peace has inspired a new dog grooming salon set to open in Fort Myers, Florida. The business will be located at One Fort Myers, a new luxury high rise … Read more
Ever wish you could give every shelter dog just one day to feel as loved as they possibly can? Rocky Kanaka is living that dream. You might recognize Rocky from the CW show Save Our Shelter, where he and his crew travelled around the country giving animal shelters much needed makeovers to help boost their adoption rates and make shelter life more tolerable for pets and staff. He also shares his love of good, healthy food with dogs through his … Read more
El Paso, Texas wants to see some changes coming to grooming salons in the city. The City Council unanimously voted to implement changes to the way that dog groomers operate businesses within the city. After discovering that groomers are not required to be licensed by any federal, state, or local authority, El Paso has decided that it wants to implement certification rules for groomers in the city. They also plan to require all dog grooming businesses to keep video surveillance cameras … Read more
The homeless dogs at Knox County Humane Society are enjoying the best seats at the shelter thanks to a creative idea and generous donors. The staff at this no-kill Illinois shelter have always gone above and beyond to provide for their rescued residents. They make sure every dog gets personalized attention and the best opportunities for adoption. But despite all they do, they know life in the shelter is tough. Dogs live in their kennels and spend months without knowing … Read more
Just over two months into 2018, and pet parents have already been inundated with a slew of product recalls. Most recently, Redbarn Pet Products has expanded a recall to total of 24 different products under 4 brand names due to concerns over Salmonella contamination. While no illnesses have been reported, the recall encompasses bully and steer stick products marketed under the brands Redbarn, Chewy Louie, Good Lovin’ and Dentley’s Brand. All the affected products have expiration dates ending in “BC.” … Read more
You want to spoil your furry friend as much as possible, but sometimes money is tight and you can’t just pull out all the stops to make your dog feel special. Luckily, there are lots of ways you can spoil your dog that are relatively cheap – or even free! All it takes is a little bit of your time and maybe some creativity to make your pup feel like he’s the king of the world. Here are the 9 best … Read more
When pet lovers embark on their end-of-life journey, they often worry about what will happen to their beloved dogs and cats when they pass away or become too frail to care for them. Some patients are lucky enough to have helpful friends or family members, but others are forced to give up their furry companions at a time when they need them most. Related Post: How To Ensure Your Pets Are Cared For, Should You Pass Away That’s where the nonprofit … Read more
They always say that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. What if what you love is dogs? Beyond the obvious options, there are actually a wide variety of ways to make money working with dogs. Some of these options are better off as side gigs, some require additional training, and one requires a law degree, but all of these are legitimate ways to make your love of dogs start paying you, maybe … Read more
If you want to be a professional dog walker, starting your business is relativity easy. You’ll need a general understanding of dog behavior and the confidence to keep track of a pack of potentially unruly clientele, but one thing you won’t need is a special license. Realtors, contractors, cosmetologists—all these career fields require special licenses, but dog walking isn’t one of them. The path to becoming a dog walker is comparably clear, but that status is set to change for … Read more
Dog Food Advisor has been busy the past two months reporting Salmonella concerns, and the list of recalled products just got longer. Raw Basics from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin announced Tuesday a voluntary recall of the product labeled “Tucker’s Pork-Bison Formula” due to potential Salmonella contamination. The company joins the ranks of recently recalled Steve’s Real Food, Northwest Naturals, Raws for Paws, and Smokehouse Pet Products. No illnesses have been reported, but the Nebraska Department of Agriculture notified Raw Basics of … Read more
As we get older we rest more, exercise less, and our bodies lose shape. It happens to the best of us – our dogs included. Your dog may look comfy in his new, softer body, but that doesn’t mean that he is, and extra weight comes with extra issues. Dogs who are overweight are more likely to suffer from cardiac disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer – things that senior dogs are already more at risk for than younger pups. That’s … Read more
It’s a moment every pet parent dreads: your dog has been diagnosed with a serious illness. While your veterinarian does her best to explain the disease, treatment options and prognosis, your head spins with questions: Is my dog suffering? Can my family handle the emotional strain? How much will all this cost? Dr. Nancy Kay is a veterinarian and the author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs for a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life. She says that … Read more
I admit it: I talk to my pets. I even have a different voice for each one. My non-animal friends think it’s silly and more than a little crazy to carry on these one-sided conversations. But Nicholas Epley, professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago, disagrees. He feels it’s perfectly normal to engage in this behavior, and it may actually indicate a higher level of social cognition. Epley is the author of Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, … Read more
Does your dog need more mental stimulation? How can you tell? What are the signs you should be looking for? What should you do if your dog is displaying any of these signs? You want your dog to have the best life possible and you might not even realize that he’s bored all day long. Here are 10 signs that your dog needs more mental stimulation and what you can do to provide that for him. #1 – Destructive … Read more
Attempting to understand the emotional lives of dogs has been a hot topic of scientific study for centuries. In the 1600s, the French philosopher, Rene Descartes compared animals to living machines, incapable of feeling pain or emotion. Thankfully, science has progressed a long way since the 1600s. These advances have allowed us to delve deeper into the mystery of canine consciousness. We now know that dogs possess all the same complex brain structures humans do – including those responsible for … Read more
A shelter in Columbus, Ohio has passed new rules for owners who wish to surrender their dogs. The Franklin County Department of Animal Care & Control will now require an appointment to learn more about the dog’s background information before accepting surrenders, as well as a $10 fee. But before the appointment is booked, the shelter’s website explains that anyone considering surrender should know that they’ll only re-home “adoptable” dogs. Should the pup fail to pass a behavioral and medical … Read more
A tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Starla is being hailed a hero after foiling a home invasion in South Fulton, Georgia this Tuesday. Starla managed to run off the would-be robbers after being shot twice. The brave little pooch is also credited with saving a young girl’s life. “This little thing right here. It’s just like a little guard dog,” said Dion Ewing, Starla’s owner. A doorbell cam captured the horrifying moment the two criminals broke into the house. Starla and … Read more
Dog Food Advisor announced another recall from raw food company Steve’s Real Food due to potential Salmonella contamination. While no illnesses were reported, the voluntary recall was initiated after a sample came back positive for Salmonella. The specific products being recalled are the 5 lb bags of Raw Frozen Dog Food Turkey Canine Recipe, lot # E178 with a best by date of 9/27/18. According to Dog Food Advisor: Fifty two cases of this product [were] distributed between 6/27/17 … Read more
Whether your dog has a diagnosed seizure disorder or is experiencing an episode for the first time, it can be difficult to keep your wits about you. In fact, owners often end up doing more harm than good when trying to help their dog through a seizure. Dr. Pippa Elliott, a veterinarian with 30 years experience, shared her basic rules for protecting your dog and minimizing the effects of a seizure. Related Post: The 5 Things You Need To Know … Read more
The New York art scene got a little furry this week when the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted its annual Lunar New Year Festival. Every year, The Met observes the turning of the new lunar calendar in the best Chinese tradition. February 16 marked the first day of the Year of the Dog, and the four-legged representatives took over the museum to celebrate. They brought the community together for a day of fun and celebration mixed with informative lessons … Read more
When Fritos was found living alone on the streets, his skin was itchy and irritated, and he was missing patches of fur. Luckily, the loving folks at the San Antonio Humane Society took him in, and immediately went about trying to treat him. A year and multiple tests later, poor Fritos is still living with this itchy “mystery condition,” even though vets have ruled out lots of potential causes for his symptoms. According to the San Antonio Humane Society: “Initial … Read more
Tail-chasing might be one of the cutest, weirdest things our dogs do. If humans did it, it’d likely be a lot less cute and a lot weirder, but because they’re our dogs and we love them, we let them have it. Still, we must wonder why they choose this behavior, especially if you have a dog that seems content to make donuts in your living room for hours. Turns out that, there are several reasons your dog might be chasing … Read more
A global information technology company called Unisys has big ideas about what the future of flying with pets should look like. Their newly introduced app, Digi-Pet, enables users to track, monitor, and even interact with their animals while they’re crossing oceans and moving over state lines. For families traveling with large dogs and other animals too big to fly in cabin, the only option is to put their pet in a crate and hand them over to an airline employee. … Read more
In Orange County, Florida, the Shaw family got a small ray of sunshine following a heart-wrenching tragedy earlier this week. Nineteen-year-old Sam Shaw was driving in his jeep with Taz, the family’s rescue dog, when he lost control and crashed the car — losing his life. The terrified pup fled the scene, and was nowhere to be found when the family got the terrible news. Sam’s two older brothers printed out fliers and took to social media to spread word … Read more
When they weren’t on the slopes or at the rink, U.S. Olympic athletes spent their time in South Korea somewhere a lot less dazzling. Long before it was the stage for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, South Korea was the site of thousands of dog meat farms. Humane Society International estimates there are around 17,000 farms where dogs are crammed into filthy cages while they await their devastating fate. One of these farms is less than an hour away from … Read more
Scientists have long believed that prehistoric man domesticated prehistoric dog sometime between 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, but as they continue to discover and study remains, they learn more and more about the bond that humans and dogs share. It’s been known for some time that man and dogs developed a mutually beneficial relationship, where the two helped each other work and survive. Man trained dog to hunt and protect, and in return, kept him fed. But researchers studying prehistoric … Read more
“Stay” is one of those cues that may not seem all that important – until you need it. A strong “stay” can keep your dog from bolting outside when the door opens. It can also keep him out of a room you prefer he keep away from, like the bathroom when you need some privacy, or a baby’s room if your little one is having a nap. Although useful, “stay” can be difficult to teach, but making a game of … Read more
Walking your dog should be a fun, relaxing activity you get to enjoy with your pup. But it’s not uncommon to feel embarrassed if it’s your dog taking you for a walk instead of the other way around. If you feel jealous watching your neighbors walk their well-behaved pups while yours pulls you any way he pleases, then this video is perfect for you. Good leash walking etiquette not only makes your walks with your pup more pleasant, it also keeps you … Read more
The running. The barking. The tail wagging. The jumping. It’s amazing what one little knock at the door can do to our dogs! Dogs have been known to lose it at the first sign of newcomers. Whether they’re excited to meet them or protective of your home, you should be able to receive guests without having to worry about your friends and family being greeted with a barrage of barks. It’s not very polite, and it can be hard to … Read more
Toledo, United States.