7 Things Dogs Need to Be Happy and Healthy
Dogs are beloved companions and family members. Their unwavering loyalty, unconditional love, and playful nature have brought us great joy and happiness. However, being a pet parent comes with the responsibility of giving them proper care and attention. In this post, we’ll look at seven things dogs need for health and happiness and provide tips on how to meet them. 1. Social Time with the Family Dogs are pack animals and love the company of people. Whether surrounded by human family or animal companions, dogs have an innate desire to be...
Offering Hearts and Home to Better Dogs Lives
Aug 05, 2023 We love getting to know the pets while they are at the shelter, but when you take the dog out of the shelter environment, you get to see their personality really blossom! Jessie and Chris Montoya have had a front row seat witnessing many fosters bloom since 2017. When APA! jumped into action to support the dogs and cats who needed help during hurricane Harvey, many individuals and families joined in, including the Montoyas. This couple knew they could offer their hearts and homes to pets in need and quickly found their niche form...
Do You Live in a Certified “Better City for Pets”? You Could!
Some towns and cities are pet-friendlier than others, but that’s not always apparent from the outset. Sure, places get a reputation for having more dog-friendly dining establishments, or for working hard to reduce feral cat populations with TNR programs, or ensuring that animals within their community are fixed before they’re available for adoption. Recently, the city of Santa Monica qualified for a “Better City For Pets” certification. These are awarded after conducting assessments regarding the pet-friendliness of a...
Managing Food Allergies in Dogs and Cats
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...
Unused COVID Meds Meant for Humans Earmarked for Cats in Cyprus as Thousands Die
According to a piece in The Guardian, unused medicines will be made available through veterinarians after a COVID-19 outbreak has wreaked havoc among Cyprus’s robust feline population. Cats have been dying by the thousands from feline Covid there, officials noted. So, the government gave them the green light to use the medications, which was said to be in line with a recommendation from the agriculture ministry. Photo: Pixabay/AmberShadow Feline Coronavirus Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is a variant of the coronavirus, has...
Foster a Pup…Save A Life!
Aug 03, 2023 German Shepherd pup Wile E. Coyote was deeply in need of help when he arrived at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!). He was so emaciated that he could not stand or walk. Then Katie Plunkard entered his world and decided to foster the shy, sweet-faced puppy. “This sweet boy was my first foster experience and, boy, was it more than I bargained for. He was in such rough shape but the payoff in watching him overcome it all and get back to 100% has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she said. Under her diligent...
Maddie’s Insights returns next month featuring the social behavior of cats in group housing at shelters
Little is known about the social behavior of cats living in group housing at shelters. In a series of studies, Dr. Malini Suchak and her research team at Canisius University recorded all the social behavior occurring between cats living in group housing and compared cats who were introduced at the shelter versus those who were surrendered together. They then followed up by specifically examining social behavior between cats who were labeled as bonded pairs or adopted together. Cats who were labeled as bonded pairs had a longer time to...
Animal Intake in the HASS Model: the Vision, the Myths, the Revolution
[embedded content] What does animal intake look like in the Human Animal Support Services model? Join us for an eye-opening webinar as we delve into the vision, the nitty-gritty, and common misconceptions about this model’s transformative and lifesaving impact. Dr. Ellen Jefferson, President and CEO of Austin Pets Alive!, and Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services, discuss this topic with Jorge Ortega, Animal Services Director for Guilford County Animal Shelter, a HASS pilot shelter. Viewers will...
Save the date! The Open Arms Challenge is coming April 2024
Exciting news! You’re one of the first to hear that the next Open Arms Challenge registration will open at the end of February 2024, with the Challenge taking place in April 2024. Mark your calendars now and add this to your planning! Going forward, there will only be one Challenge per year. The Challenge is all about opening our hearts and minds to more accessible and inclusive practices, helping to keep pets with their people through Return to Home and Foster programs and so much more. Not only do we all hope to see...
Is Small Dog Syndrome Actually Anxiety?
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...
