Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Free HASS Playbook, Holiday Hero Awards and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. 5 exceptional animal well-being professionals honored with Holiday Hero Awards, thanks to Maddie Join us for the 2024 Open Arms Challenge! This Challenge is all about opening our hearts and minds to more accessible and The remarkable efforts of five individuals in the animal well-being (welfare) space were each recognized with a Maddie Holiday Hero Award in December. Five organizations each received a $5,000 grant from Maddie’s Fund in honor of these...
11 Times to Try Veterinary Telehealth
Veterinary telehealth is a way for pet parents to access medical care for dogs and cats without having to visit a clinic. While you will still have to take your fur baby to the clinic for some things, here are 11 instances when telehealth can replace an in-person visit. Veterinary telehealth enables veterinarians and clients to connect using phones, video chat, and email. Tele-triage is for people who need basic information or guidance but don’t have a previous relationship with the veterinarian. Telemedicine offers more services...
When Your Dog or Cat Needs a Tooth Extracted
From periodontal disease to crowded teeth, there are various reasons why your dog or cat may need one or more teeth extracted. Find out what they are, and what the procedure entails. Periodontal disease is a very common problem, affecting approximately 70% to 80% of dogs and cats starting at one to three years of age. Neglecting or improperly treating the issue can lead to further disease and more involved treatment, including dental extractions. But periodontal disease isn’t the only problem that can necessitate extraction. Find out...
Our 2024 Promise: We will be vigilant for progress for Austin’s pets
Jan 26, 2024 Last year was extremely challenging for animal shelters in the US, and Austin was no exception. The Austin of yesteryear found tremendous pride in leading the country in No Kill during a time when shelters struggled the most to save the lives of even half of the pets who entered their care. In this new era of humane struggles, where pets are guaranteed not to be killed while other pets are left on the streets, some living in crates for too long, and people struggle to keep their pets without support, our city must take the lead...
How Supporting Self-Rehoming Helps Your Community and Your Shelter
Owner surrendered pets make up the second largest category for shelter intake, contributing over a quarter of intake cases annually in national data, and over 14% in HASS pilot shelters. They are an important population to address if shelters are to alleviate the overcrowding many have seen since the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to fade. The data on owner surrenders also shows a pattern that likely contributes to the extra strain on resources and space that shelters typically see in the summer months. Both in Shelter Animals Count...
6 Ways Service Dogs Help People with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a challenging condition that causes pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. There is no cure, but service dogs for fibromyalgia can help make people’s lives easier in these six ways. Service dogs are specially trained to help people with illnesses and disabilities. They can perform tasks, provide physical support, and so much more. Service animals began as dogs who would help blind or visually impaired people navigate the world. Today, they also help people with fibromyalgia, a chronic disease characterized by fatigue, sleep...
5 exceptional animal well-being professionals honored with Holiday Hero Awards, thanks to Maddie
The remarkable efforts of five individuals in the animal well-being (welfare) space were each recognized with a Maddie Holiday Hero Award in December. Five organizations each received a $5,000 grant from Maddie’s Fund in honor of these individuals. Maddie’s Fund®, is a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals. “We believe these Maddie Holiday Heroes represent the key essence of community leadership and...
A Day in the Life of “Dr. Harley,” APA!’s Resident Therapy Dog
Jan 24, 2024 Hi, I’m Dr. Harley (aka “Dog-tor” Harley). I’m the resident therapy dog here at Austin Pets Alive!, providing a much-needed listening ear, emotional support and calming presence to the humans working hard to get dogs like me adopted. My days are pretty jam-packed and I never know what they’ll bring. Sometimes my clients present with a classic case of separation anxiety, while other times I’m just a sounding board for their doggy drama. I get asked all the time what it’s like to be a...
7 Tips to Stop Your Cat from Scratching Furniture
Submission Guidelines Thank you for your interest in writing for Animal Wellness. As the #1 natural health magazine for pets in North America, we take pride in providing our readers with the information they need to make wise health care choices for their animal companions. Our publication embraces the entire holistic spectrum, from physical health issues to the emotional and spiritual well being of our animals. We welcome unsolicited articles and story outlines as long as they focus on holistic healing, whether physical, emotional or...
Adaptogens—Solutions for Animal Stress!
The world can be a very stressful place for dogs, cats, and other companion animals. While it may be impossible to eliminate stressors from your fur baby’s life, there are things you can do to help them manage stress, and that includes adding adaptogens to their daily diet. COMMON STRESSORS FOR DOGS AND CATS Dogs and cats experience stress for reasons that can be physical, behavioral, and physiological. Depending on the animal and the situation, possible causes of stress can include: Being alone Loud noises Unfamiliar places Strangers...
