Sheltering Beyond Shelters: Housing Justice Advocacy and its Role in Animal Welfare
[embedded content] Housing is a necessity that impacts all families in the United States, and believe it or not – it also profoundly affects animal shelters. Watch this webinar on the state of housing and the history of housing justice advocacy efforts in the U.S. (and why animal welfare advocates should care). Lauren Loney, Staff Attorney & Policy Specialist for HASS, shares highlights from the HASS shelter intake reasons database, which details more than 20,000 housing-related intakes across the country. Joining Lauren is Megan...
Repeat Kangaroo Escapes Expose Dangerous Flaws in Roadside Zoo Management
In a bizarre yet intriguing incident, a kangaroo made headlines after its unexpected escape from Greenview Park and Zoo in southwestern Ontario. The kangaroo’s adventure, though short-lived, raises important questions about the safety and ethics of roadside zoos in the United States. Photo: PexelsSome roadside zoos operate with minimal or no regulatory oversight. Residents of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, were taken aback when they spotted the kangaroo casually hopping along a local roadway. According to CityNews, the sight was so unusual that...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Open Arms Challenge preparation, resource drive and more!
Happy Tuesday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. The staff training & leadership development resource drive has begun!We’re kicking off 2024 with another member-suggested resource drive focused on staff training & leadership development. A Forum member suggested the topic saying: “Some animal shelter professionals have traveled an unconventional career path or move up through the ranks on the merits of their dedication, focus and natural talent, but without a lot of traditional… Learn...
Neglected Bird Rescued From Tiny Cage, Home Filled with Cigarette Smoke
This story comes from our friends Burge Bird Rescue. Burge Bird Rescue, located in south Kansas City, Missouri, helps over 300 birds every year from several states. They are affiliated with Burge Bird Services, a veterinary practice that cares for birds exclusively. Learn more about them here! When an owner stubbornly refuses to listen to our advice on how to provide better care for their pets, it is incredibly frustrating and sometimes depressing. Spanky the Red Lored Amazon lived for decades in a cage suitable for a parakeet, bombarded by...
Australian Woman’s Dried Up, Bandicoot-Damaged Property Named ‘World’s Ugliest Lawn’
Some people idealize the perfectly maintained lawn. They aim for a lush green color, with meticulously trimmed blades of grass and certainly no dry spots. Kathleen Murray has the opposite goal, and it’s earned her a free second-hand shirt and world accolades. Murray has been named the latest winner of The World’s Ugliest Lawn competition, which was originally launched as a regional contest in Gotland, a Swedish island located about 60 miles southeast of the mainland in the Baltic Sea. The region regularly experiences low...
Stressed Senior Dog Seeks Quiet Home After Returning To Shelter Due To Owner’s Failing Health
For the past four years, a sweet dog named Mimi has lived in a loving home that she thought was her forever home. Sadly, her owner’s health is declining due to dementia and the family is no longer able to care for her. She has returned to Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is stressed by the loud and unfamiliar shelter environment. The eight-year-old pup has so much love to give and hopes to find her forever home soon. Screenshot: TikTok/@humanebroward The shelter posted her story on TikTok in hopes of...
Mongolia’s Wild Przewalski’s Horses Leap Back from the Brink of Extinction
Once believed extinct in the wild, the Takhi, also known as the Przewalski’s Horse, represents a monumental success story in wildlife conservation. This distinctive horse breed, never domesticated, was reintroduced into Mongolia’s landscapes in a stirring tale of perseverance and international collaboration. Photo: Wikipedia Commons / Solar OlgaThe Takhi, also known as Przewalski’s Horse, is native to the steppes of central Asia. The Takhi, a symbol of Mongolian heritage, was first scientifically described in the 19th...
Watch: Clever Shelter Dog Escapes Kennel And Tries To Free His Friends, But Then Police Arrive
There are some dog breeds that love a challenge and are great at figuring out puzzles, including how to escape their kennel. Lost Our Home Pet Rescue in Tempe, Arizona, shared a video that has gone viral of a “naughty” yet clever shelter dog escaping from his kennel in the middle of the night. Screenshot: YouTube/Lost Our Home Pet Rescue The escapade took place between around 2am and was captured on the shelter’s security cameras. The footage was posted on the shelter’s Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. Screenshot:...
The 1 Thing You Need to Get Your Cat to Drink More!
Cats need to drink water to stay hydrated and healthy, but it’s difficult to get feline friends to drink enough. A recirculating cat fountain is a solution that doesn’t work for many cats, so the AquaPurr fountain is here to save the day! All animals need water to survive, but cat parents have a harder time than others getting their four-legged friends to drink. Cats need to stay hydrated to keep their organs functioning and move oxygen and nutrients around their bodies, but they’re also fussy about their water and prone to...
Top 5 Diagnosed Dog Cancers
Cancer is one of the biggest fears that most pet parents have. About 25% of dogs will get it, but early detection may help improve your pup’s chances of recovery. Let’s learn about the five most common dog cancers, the symptoms to watch for, and common treatments. Cancer affects roughly one in four dogs. The numbers are even higher for older dogs. Some dogs have a genetic predisposition that makes them more vulnerable, but any dog can get cancer. Some types are more common than others, so here are the top five dog cancers, the...