Bonded Brother and Sister Hope to Go to the Same Home for the Holidays
This story was submitted by our shelter friend The Cat House on the Kings. The Cat House on the Kings saves pets’ lives in the Fresno County, California area, and the Animal Rescue Site is proud to share their stories. You can learn more about their work here! Here we come a caroling about a bonded pair that needs holiday magic to find a family out there. Carl and Carley hope for love and joy to come to them with adoption together soon! These two shy siblings have relied on each other since they were abandoned by their birth mother....
Celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day With A Closer Look at Nature’s Gardeners
Squirrel Appreciation Day, observed on January 21st every year, may not be as well-known as some other holidays, but it offers a unique opportunity to recognize and appreciate the fascinating world of squirrels. These small, bushy-tailed creatures often go unnoticed in our daily lives, but they play a significant role in our ecosystems and offer more surprises than one might expect. Photo: PexelsOver 270 squirrel species exist worldwide. Squirrel Diversity Across the Globe Squirrels are a diverse group of rodents, with over 200 different...
The perfect holiday gift for animal lovers! Sponsor an adoptable APA! pet.
Dec 20, 2023 If you are looking for a last-minute gift for a friend or loved one, Austin Pets Alive! has the paw-fect gift idea for the animal lover in your life. For the first time ever, you can sponsor any adoptable pet of your choice this holiday season at Austin Pets Alive! Your gift of $50 or more in honor of your favorite animals in our care will help make it the most wonderful time of the year for pets in need. 🐾 In return, you’ll receive a personalized message, heartwarming update, and adorable pictures of your sponsored...
History Made In Colorado As Five Gray Wolves Are Released In Mountains
Gray wolves once roamed the entire state of Colorado, but like many other states, were hunted to near extinction in the 1940’s. While a lone wolf has passed through the state over recent years, wolves have not called the state home in many decades – but that is about to change. On Monday, December 18, five gray wolves were reintroduced to Colorado’s mountains west of the Continental Divide in a historic move that was years in the planning. Screenshot: Vimeo/CPW -Jerry Neal Voters expressed their desire to have the endangered...
Florida Shelter Dog Is Losing Hope Of Ever Finding A Home
The holidays are full of joy, cheer, and hope, but not for sweet Chipper. The 2-year-old Cirneco dell Etna Mix is losing hope that he will ever find another family. The energetic pup has lost his enthusiasm to play and is becoming depressed as people continue to pass by him. He loves people, older kids, and other dogs. He arrived at Humane Society of Broward County when his family moved away and couldn’t take him with. While he misses them, he is ready to find a forever home and love his new family unconditionally. He is a staff...
Adult Shelter Pets Anxiously Wait To Be Picked For “Holiday Sleepover”
It is the “most wonderful time of the year”, or at least that is what shelter pets continue to hear. Sadly, many shelters are in crisis mode as pets continue to arrive and adopters decrease. Several pets have been waiting for months to find their person and some are losing hope. Each animals wants to find a home for the holidays, so Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has come up with a way to help find their adult pets experience the joy of the holiday – even if it is only for a short time....
Top 13 Holiday Pet Safety Tips
These 13 holiday pet safety tips will keep your furry family safe during the holiday season. Learn how to avoid choking hazards, toxic foods, injuries, and other dangers. The holiday season is a time for fun, friends, family, food, and celebration. But it’s also a hectic time of year, and there are dangers for dogs and cats that pet parents must be aware of. From poisonous treats to escape attempts, pet parents have to be especially vigilant about their four-legged family members around this time. Here are 13 holiday pet safety tips...
Stray Kitten Adopts Family, Ends Up with the Name Pia Because She’s a ‘Pain in the…’
This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! My mom told me about a 6-month-old kitten someone had dumped on our farm. I went to see her and fell instantly in love as she snuggled right up to me. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / ANNETTE MEYER I took her home that night. She had obviously been somebody’s pet because she was extremely comfortable in a house and knew how to use a litter box. My three older cats let her rule the roost. FEED...
Reindeer’s ‘Extraordinary Visual System’ Includes Seasonal Eye Color Change, Ability to See UV Light
As Christmas approaches, reindeer may be on our radar more than usual, whether we’re chatting with kids who still believe in Santa, we’re watching our favorite holiday movies featuring reindeer, or we find ourselves wanting to learn more about the real-life animals. If you happen to belong to that last group, a new study may pique your interest. During the wintertime, reindeer may not have as much access to food, so they mostly eat a specific type of lichen, called reindeer moss. They get to it by digging into the snow. Another...
Share the Love 2023
Dec 19, 2023 ‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright! And Austin Subaru’s Share the Love campaign fits right into that aesthetic. A fundraiser that supports pets in need makes the staff, volunteers and pets of APA! so merry because it helps ensure a bright year ahead for our lifesaving programs. APA! was honored to be selected as a pillar partner of Austin Subaru this year and we were thrilled when they announced we’d be one of their hometown charities. In fact, this year is our 9th year in a row as a beneficiary of...
Animal Welfare Practices Transform The More We Understand Farm Animals’ Minds
Farm animals, often viewed as simple beings, are proving to be anything but. Recent research delves into their emotional and cognitive depths, challenging long-held assumptions about their mental capabilities. This evolution in understanding marks a significant shift in how we perceive and interact with these animals. Photo: PexelsPigs demonstrate empathy towards their peers. Challenging Old Stereotypes: Farm Animals’ Surprising Intelligence Contrary to traditional beliefs, studies reveal that farm animals like pigs, goats, and cows...
Malnourished Dog Suffering From Several Health Issues Found At Gas Station Needs Your Help
Meet Edgardo. Life has not been easy for the sweet six-year-old pup who was found malnourished and suffering from multiple health issues. He was discovered at a gas station in Mexico by Riviera Rescue. No one knows how long he has lived on the streets, but he is in desperate need of medical care. The rescue brought him to the clinic where he was examined by a veterinarian. Photo: Riviera Rescue Edgardo tested positive for erlichia, heartworm, and ringworm. He also has an eye infection, needs dental work, and is missing fur due to mange. He...
At-Risk Shelter Pets Arrive In Wisconsin For A Second Chance To Find A Home For Holidays
Over 45 dogs and cats were taken from overcrowded shelters and boarded a plane in New Orleans to start the next chapter of their lives. Photo: GGC The staff who helped care for the shelter pets made sure they were safely on the plane and waved goodbye as they lifted off. Photo: GGC Many were at risk of euthanasia due to the lack of space and adopters. They all wanted the same thing for the holidays – a forever home. The Home for the Holidays Flight to Freedom landed in Wisconsin on Monday where staff and volunteers from the receiving...
Mongolia Ends Cruelty to Street Animals with Groundbreaking Pet Law
Mongolia, a country renowned for its vast steppes and nomadic culture, has recently taken a significant stride in animal welfare. The introduction of a new pet law marks a transformative shift in how the nation addresses the rights and treatment of animals, particularly pets. Mongolia’s pioneering legislation of the Pet Law has the potential to redefine animal welfare standards globally. Photo: PexelsMongolia recently passed a groundbreaking pet welfare law. Ending Cruel Practices in Mongolia For years, Mongolia grappled with the...
3D-Printed Medical Devices on Stuffed Animals Bring Joy to Children’s Healthcare Journeys
In Durand, Illinois, a heartwarming initiative is changing lives, one stuffed animal at a time. Carolyn Robbins, the brainchild behind this project, has created a unique approach to comfort and support for children with medical needs. Her business, WC (World’s Coolest) Build a Buddy, teams up with a UK collaborator to produce ‘Battle Buddies’—stuffed animals equipped with 3D-printed medical devices mirroring those used by children with health conditions. “These kids are on a journey and it’s not the easiest...
How Being a Cat Parent Improves Your Health: Top 5 Benefits
Being a cat parent helps keep the doctor away! Here are five ways how sharing your life with a feline friend can improve your health and well-being — physically and mentally. Cats are cute and cuddly companions — but they also offer their human companions numerous health benefits. From reducing stress to lowering blood pressure, sharing your life and home with a cat can positively impact your physical and mental well-being. Let’s explore the top five health benefits of living with cats, and why our furry felines are much...
Get ’em Home Challenge winning strategies for helping long-stay pets in animal shelters
This post originally ran in 2019. Mark your calendars for the next Challenge in April 2024, the Open Arms Challenge. In order to find adopters for pets with long shelter stays and compete in the Get ‘Em Home Challenge, Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville, TN, developed progressive programming that involved many different areas. Their plan involved the creation of a field trip program, an innovative foster-to-adopt program, marketing pets heavily on social media, increased use of play groups and training for dogs and cats who...
Family Falls in Love with Stray Kitten, Who Later Receives Serious Diagnosis
This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! We found him one summer night, and he had me twisted round his little broken tail within seconds. We figured someone had dumped him next to our place. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / MOSHE HAROSH We took him in and it was like he always belonged. We already had two other cats and were not keen on adding a third, but he obviously had other plans and within days, he was a member of our family. FEED...
Chimpanzees and Bonobos Recognize Friends Decades After They’ve Seen Them
Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest animal relatives, sharing more than 98% of our DNA. We’re thought to have split off from a common ancestor at least 6 million years ago, but we share common traits. Those include a high level of intelligence and communication through hand and limb gestures. A new study finds our long-term memory may be another commonality. Research recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigated whether or not bonobos and chimpanzees recognized old acquaintances that they...
Scientists Marvel at Half-Male, Half-Female Bird Found in Colombia
In the vibrant forests of Colombia, a rare avian spectacle has captivated scientists and birdwatchers alike. A green honeycreeper with an extraordinary condition known as bilateral gynandromorphy has been observed, presenting a unique opportunity to study this rare phenomenon in avian species. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Doug JansonThe green honeycreeper is a small, brightly colored bird native to Central and South America. What is Bilateral Gynandromorphy? Bilateral gynandromorphy is a biological condition where an organism displays male...
