Crisis Sheltering for Pets: Keeping People and Pets Together
[embedded content] There are times when someone can’t take care of their pet on a temporary basis, because of a medical emergency, loss of housing, or another short-term crisis. The traditional sheltering response is to permanently separate the pet from their owner, but more and more organizations are providing crisis sheltering instead—boarding the pet at the shelter, or placing them in a foster home, for a limited amount of time. How does crisis sheltering work, and how can you get started? We’ve gathered experts from...
The Top 3 Ways Dogs & Cats Change Our Lives
Anyone who shares their home with a dog or cat knows that animal companionship enriches our lives on so many levels. Here are the top ways they do that. Words can’t express the pure joy we experience when feeling a sloppy puppy kiss on our cheeks, or the soothing comfort of a cat’s purr against our hearts. Our canine and feline companions are our best friends, our families, healers, and trusted guides. We learn valuable lessons from them about unconditional love, living life to the fullest, and friendship of the most loyal kind...
WisCARES receives $200,000 grant to help keep pets and people together
Maddie’s Fund® has awarded a $200,000 grant to The Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education and Social Support (WisCARES) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-M). This grant will support the salaries of a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) and social worker at the WisCARES program. By having a social worker available to its clients, WisCARES is able to provide the best possible veterinary medical care along with relevant social services to help keep pets and people together. These services can include...
Mama Dog Reuniting with Her 4 Puppies Will Melt Your Heart
Stray dogs on the streets of Ukraine are nothing new these days. In fact, all cities/countries across the world have loads of strays wandering around. But since the war in Ukraine was launched, many animals that were always house pets have found themselves scrounging on the streets for food and shelter. One rescue group there, known as @lovefurryfriends on social media, has taken it upon themselves to try to ease the severity of the situation by rescuing as many of these dogs as they possibly can. It’s not easy, and they are in constant...
Why Is My Dog Itchy (and How to Fix It!)
An itchy pooch is an uncomfortable pooch, but how can you help if you don’t know what’s wrong? Learn the most common reasons your dog might be itchy and what you can do to help! You find your dog scratching and biting their skin frantically—you tell them to stop, but they’re back at it a minute later. Eventually, you notice sores and bald patches starting to form. Sound familiar? Having an itchy dog is terrible. You know they’re uncomfortable but don’t know how to help. Find out the top causes of itchiness...
Sweet Senior Rescue Dog Can’t Seem to Find His Forever Golden Years Home
It’s tough being a senior, especially if you find yourself homeless. Just ask Hurricane, an approximately 10-year-old pibble mix waiting to be rescued in Tucson, Arizona. While Tucson has plenty of monsoon storms, they don’t typically get a lot of hurricanes – but here they are with one in their midst! And while he may have a whirling dervish of a name, this senior fella is more like a gentle breeze – calm, mellow, and easygoing. Photo: Pima Animal Care Center Hurricane has returned to the shelter after a much-needed...
PETA Offers Educational Curriculum After Oklahoma Teens Video Themselves Abusing Dogs
How messed up is messed up? Well, pretty darn messed up when kids turn to abusing animals for kicks. In case you haven’t heard, two Oklahoma teens recently filmed themselves beating dogs…yes, the sound of brakes squealing or a record scratching is probably echoing through your head right now. They filmed themselves abusing dogs with the intention of posting them, because that’s apparently what people do now. According to KOCO 5, two Deer Creek School students filmed themselves beating dogs before authorities said the teens...
It’s National Pet Day, So Spread the Word!
It’s National Pet Day, but if you’re a pet owner, you know there’s seldom a day that passes that you don’t celebrate the inclusion of your other “kids” in your world. So, go ahead and hug, kiss, or pet your babies a little extra today because they make us happier and healthier just by being in our lives. It’s true! For more than 10 years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has striven to determine the physical and mental benefits of pet ownership. As many of you likely know, not only can they...
The Ultimate Kitten Care Guide
Learn how to prepare for bringing a kitten home, ensure your kitten has everything they need, and find out about managing cat dental care. Kittens are bundles of energy and joy, and as cat parents, it’s our responsibility to ensure they have everything they need to thrive. This guide will cover what you need for kitten care, including tips about supplies, food, kitten-proofing, and more! Get Your Kitten Supplies Kittens are pretty low maintenance, but there are some things you’ll need to keep your kitty happy and healthy....
6 guidelines for marketing your foster pet
This post originally ran in 2018. We are republishing it today because foster marketing is as relevant as ever! Thanks to social media, foster caregivers from around the country are realizing the power they have to get pets adopted through marketing. Photographs, video, text and other materials created in foster care are especially valuable in helping potential adopters picture a pet in their own home and conveying information about a pet’s behavior outside the shelter. You don’t need a degree in marketing to be successful...