More and More Dogs are Reportedly Going Back to Work with their Pet Parents
Companies are gradually allowing employees to bring their dogs to work with them as more and more people get back to the office. During the height of the pandemic, many workers found that their remote situations were ideal for pet parenting. But now that so many folks have headed back to the office, pet parents and their furry charges are experiencing a certain amount of regret and separation anxiety. With attitudes changing among the workforce about what is and isn’t acceptable for a balanced life, some businesses are apparently...
3 Fun Catnip Toys for Your Favorite Feline Valentine
It’s no secret many cats enjoy catnip, whether it’s dried or a living plant to roll around in. With that in mind, toys containing catnip make wonderful gifts for your putty tats regardless of the time of year, so why not get them some for Valentine’s Day? Surely you weren’t planning on not acknowledging them on the sweetest day of the year?! If your cat(s) are among those that react positively to it, then here are three natural cat toys made from recycled or recyclable products for you to consider. But first, did you...
Thyme is Just the Seasoning You Need to Adopt in Your Life Right Now
Looking for a shelter pet that brings a bit of spice to your life? We have just the seasoning for whatever you’re cooking up in your home, and it’s a sweet dog named Thyme. Currently a resident of the Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Arizona, this is what shelter staff there had to say about this fella: “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme… actually, forget the first three. Thyme is the most important ingredient and the only one that really matters! Ingredient for what, you ask? A happy life! He’s the main...
Treating My Disabled Therapy Dog with Integrative Medicine
Ichabod is a disabled Alaskan Malamute who was rescued from the dog meat trade, but nothing stops him from being an involved member of his community who volunteers his time to help others! Ichabod was rescued by No Dogs Left Behind, and I adopted him in February 2021. He has a disability (luxated patellas, meaning displaced kneecaps), but he still loves to walk and play with his two- and four-legged family members. He’s even a certified therapy dog! Ichabod needs more medical care than most dogs, and as his mom, I’m hoping that...
Search and Rescue Dogs in Northern Ireland Deploy to Turkey to Assist in Quake Efforts
After the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, help began pouring in from around the world. Unfortunately, one of the most needed resources is specially trained canines for search and rescue efforts. Dogs, who weigh less than humans and have a much better sense of smell and hearing, are well-suited for the difficult work of locating survivors. Many have arrived but more are still needed. Now, a search and rescue charity from County Down in Northern Ireland is preparing to deploy to one of the hardest-hit regions to try to assist...
Where We Find Hope and a Call to Action in the (Pretty Dismal) 2022 Shelter Data
You probably didn’t need to see a comprehensive report to know that 2022 was a tough year in sheltering. But we do have the data, thanks to Shelter Animals Count. Here’s their newest report: Intake and Outcome Data Comparison for the Full Year, Q1-Q4 2022. The long and short of it is that by most metrics, 2022 was worse than 2021, but still significantly better than 2019. While encouraging you to read the whole report, some of the most important and salient data points and findings include: 2.7 percent more pets entered shelters...
The January Weekly Community Conversations grant giveaway winners are…
On Monday, Maddie’s Fund® gave four organizations a $2,500 grant for attending the January Weekly Community Conversations! A total of $10,000 in grants was given to four people chosen at random. These four people won a grant for their organization: Kyle O’Neill, AniMeals, (Missoula, MT) Cecilia Oliveros, Animal Friends (Pittsburgh, PA) Vickie Ramirez, One Health Clinic Seattle (Seattle, WA) Jenna Riedi, Animal Friends Alliance (Fort Collins, CO) Want a chance to win a grant for your organization? All you have to...
Sometimes All It Takes is a Bag of Food to Keep Pets in Homes
Feb 08, 2023 What can 24 pallets of donated pet food do? It can connect a community, build a community, and keep the individuals in that community fed and safe. In 2022, APA! became a benefiting partner of a program created by the Humane Society of the United States and Chewy that connects Chewy’s warehouse returns to shelter partners in need. This collaboration has helped build upon our expanding PASS (Positive Alternative to Shelter Surrender) program, which has seen extreme growth over the last few years. A large delivery that we...
Can Dogs Sense Human Emotions?
It goes without saying that as pet parents, we develop a close emotional connection with our dogs – we’re able to recognize their feelings as easily as we do our own. But have you ever wondered “can dogs sense human emotions”? Extensive research has been done in this field and the results may (or may not) surprise you. How well can dogs sense human emotions? Pet parents know very well that dogs have an extraordinary ability to read human emotions, but in recent years this hunch has been backed by scientific research....
Best Automatic Litter Box (Self-Cleaning Boxes) Reviewed
Felines make up a big part of the average American’s life, with almost one in three Americans keeping at least one feline friend at home. But, with a cat’s companionship comes the responsibility of cleaning out litter boxes, a task not all cat owners can do regularly. This fact is why many pet brands offer automatic litter boxes. Let’s look at what an automatic litter box is and what the best automatic litter boxes out there look like. What Is an Automatic Litter Box? An automatic litter box is a litter box for...
