This Little Package of Dynamite Needs Someone to Keep Up with Her
It’s all well and good being called sweet, dazzling, adorable, pure fun, and other compliments that border on platitudes, but they ring hollow when nobody wants to be your best bud or a part of their family. If she could talk, that’s probably what Luna would confide to you, but she can’t, so she won’t, but we will. Luna is a gorgeous German Shepherd and Pit Bull Terrier mix that has been at the Pima Animal Care Center shelter in Tucson since March 20, 2022, through absolutely no fault of her own. She’s spayed,...
The Story of Swoop and Mowgli: How a Magpie and a Cat Became Fast Friends
This unlikely story of friendship between a rescued magpie and a family cat will definitely warm your heart. It seems one day a volunteer firefighter in New Zealand by the name of Matt Owens saw an injured magpie chick on the side of the road. Too young to fly, he named the bird Swoop and brought it home to care for it there. There was only one hitch: Matt had a cat. Photo: YouTube/@swoopandmowgli5226 Unusual Friendships While you’re probably assuming the story ended badly after Swoop’s arrival or that, at the very least, it took...
Pharmacological treatments for separation anxiety: they’re all the same, right? Puddin’ says “no!”
Separation anxiety is an emotional and behavioral disorder that creates distress not only in pets, but also their caregivers. Dogs with separation anxiety often vocalize, cause destruction in the home, injure themselves, and/or eliminate in the house when left alone. Each of these problems could be caused by other issues so it is important the dog’s health, including emotional health, is properly assessed with a veterinarian. Also, separation anxiety is often part of a broader anxiety issue with many of these dogs experiencing noise...
Long-Stay Shelter Dog Has No Idea Why Someone Hasn’t Snapped Him Up Yet
Meet Boomer. When you hear the name, you may instantly think of the generation laughably accused of the ruination of the planet (it started long before they were born), the economy, and property values, thus spawning the obnoxious phrase “OK, Boomer.” Well, this is not that Boomer! This Boomer is just a dog that knows nothing of property values and even less about the state of the planet. To be fair, though, he’s not just a good dog, he’s a very, very good dog! Boomer’s also a long-stay shelter resident at the...
How to Make Sure You’re Starting Your Pet’s Year Off Right
There’s no better time to reassess your pet’s overall health and wellness than the start of a new year. We’ve put together a list of our best pet parent tips for 2023 to help make sure you’re starting your pet’s year off right. Schedule their annual veterinary appointment Pets are notoriously good at hiding signs of illness, so it’s not uncommon for pet parents to be unaware something is wrong until it becomes serious. This is why our best pet parent tip for 2023 is to schedule an annual vet appointment at...
Lab-Grown Meat – Should It Be Used in Pet Food?
Once you get beyond the “ick” factor, lab-grown meat may have profound ethical and environmental advantages. But will it be good for our dogs and cats (and us) and should it be used in pet food? Lab-grown meat? It sounds like something out of a science fiction story, but it’s a concept being explored by a growing number of companies. This article takes a closer look at lab-grown meat and how it’s made – and more importantly, whether or not it should be used in pet foods. How Is Lab-Grown Meat Made? Also known as...
Today is the last day to apply for an Online Instructor-Led Course!
Today, January 10, is the last day to apply for Maddie’s Fund® Online Instructor-Led Courses! If you’re looking to implement a new program, learn more about a specific subject and create positive change for pets and people in your community, then look no further! These courses require completion of: self-paced online materials, (4) 90-minute Zoom classes with your instructor and classmates, and a final project. Class size is limited and the selection process is competitive. “Our instructor-led offerings are a really cool...
Adults 65 and Older Who Own Pets Score Higher on Memory Tests Than Non-Pet Owners
According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, adults over the age of 65 who owned a pet for more than five years scored better on memory tests than non-pet owners. This adds to the plethora of evidence pointing to the mental and physical benefits of pet ownership already out there. Photo: Pixabay/StockSnap The Power of the Dog Dogs and cats are the most plentiful among household pets but pet ownership, in general, can have the same impact on our health. For this particular study, the group assessed data...
A Retriever-Shepherd Mix Was Found 4 Weeks Later and 62 Miles Away After Disappearing During Barn Fire
Another happy ending for pet parents with a missing fur baby! This one occurred in Woodford County, Illinois, four weeks after the family’s retriever-shepherd mix ran off during a barn fire on December 11. On the day the family was doing a televised interview regarding their pet’s disappearance, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that their 8-year-old dog, Ollie, had been found alive 62 miles away! Photo: 25 News Family Reunion Jim and Evelyn Zoss were standing before the cameras with a member of Animal Control when they...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Online Instructor-Led Courses, Open Arms Challenge and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Last chance to apply: Maddie’s® Online Instructor-Led Courses Tuesday, January 10 is the last day to apply for Maddie’s Fund® Online Instructor-Led Courses. The courses provide an interactive educational opportunity for those who are looking to benefit from the wisdom of established innovative programs. They’re the catalyst you need to take your programs and learning to the next level! Class size is limited and the selection process is...