Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Austin Pets Alive! courses, housing rights webcast and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Dr. Kwane Stewart is CNN’s Hero of the Year!Dr. Kwane Stewart, veterinarian and co-founder of Project Street Vet and a Maddie’s Fund® grantee, has been named at the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year for his incredible work with pets and people. As CNN Hero of the Year, Dr. Stewart will receive $100,000 to expand his work. During his acceptance speech, he promised to… Learn More Short and digestible online courses for animal organizations...
Winter Skin Care for Dogs
Winter skin care for dogs involves keeping their skin moisturized, avoiding chemical burns and frostbite, and addressing allergies. Follow these tips to keep your pup’s skin in tip-top shape in winter! Dry skin, flaking, itching, cracked paws. Winter can wreak havoc on your dog’s skin, including their nose and paws. Dry air, ice melt chemicals, allergens, wind, and cold can all take a toll. Luckily, there are things you can do to keep your pup safe! Here are some tips about winter skin care for dogs from Dr. Ian Spiegel and Dr....
How Anyone Can Celebrate and Protect Birds on National Bird Day
National Bird Day, observed annually on January 5th, serves as a critical reminder of the challenges faced by bird populations worldwide. This event, established by Born Free USA and the Avian Welfare Coalition in 2002, aims to promote avian awareness and address the issues affecting birds in America and beyond. The date aligns with the annual Christmas Bird Count, a significant bird survey highlighting the importance of these creatures in our ecosystem. Birds, revered for their beauty, songs, and flight, inspire human creativity and wonder....
The Art of Caring for Senior Pets
As any number of Instagram memes attest to, getting old is no joke. What’s even worse than our own creaking, croaking head, shoulders, knees, and toes though? Watching our pets age. Rusty, aching joints, struggles eating, wandering focus, lack of joy… All common to the aging process, but heart-rending nonetheless as we see their quality of life slowly go downhill. But there are ways to help your aging pet go gracefully into their golden years! The art of caring for senior pets involves prioritizing joint health, vitality, brain...
How to Keep Your Dog Fit and Active During the Winter
Depending on where you live, winters can be harsh, which means you and your dog spend a lot more time indoors. Here are some tips for keeping him fit, active and safe during the cold weather months. Once the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, most of us spend more time inside — and so do our dogs. Whatever the season, however, regular exercise is important for maintaining your canine companion’s health and fitness. This means getting him outside when conditions and temperatures allow, and finding ways to give him...
Would-Be Adopter Can’t Stop Thinking About Hissing, ‘Standoffish’ Cat
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! When I first saw my soon-to-be cat at a local pet store, I was really skeptical of her. She was very standoffish in her cage, and most cats run right up and purr and want your attention. Not her. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / DEVON BROWNING I’d walk past the cage a few times and try to talk to her, but she would stand in the farthest corner and actually hissed a few times. After seeing...
They Pack a Venomous Bite, and Other Interesting Facts About the Pygmy Slow Loris
Pygmy slow lorises are nocturnal, wide-eyed primates that spend most of their time in trees. Native to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and China, their pygmy name is apt. They top out at about 10 inches in length and two pounds in weight, though most weigh about half that. The “loris” part of their name is also appropriate, coming from an old Dutch word meaning clown. That’s likely due to their natural eye “makeup” looking a little bit like they might be ready to join the circus. These markings surround large eyes that...
NY Shelter Dog With “Colossal Toofers” And Adorable Smile Needs A Home
All dogs are adorable but ones with underbites, or in Eeyore’s case “colossal toofers”, melt hearts. The eight-year-old Chihuahua was found as a stray, and no one came to claim him. Hard to believe, we know. City of Buffalo Animal Shelter took to social media to help find him a new loving home. His unique smile and adorable face have already won the hearts of people near and far. They wrote, “Introducing Eeyore! With 2️⃣ colossal toofers and a smile that could brighten ☀️ even the gloomiest...
Celebrate National Cat Health Month with these Essential Care Tips
National Cat Health Month serves as an annual reminder for pet owners to focus on their feline friends’ health and well-being. This observance in February emphasizes the importance of regular veterinary check-ups, up-to-date vaccinations, and overall care to ensure our cats lead happy, healthy lives. Of course, there is also cause to celebrate your cat’s health every other month of the year, and here’s how. Photo: PexelsEngage in daily playtime for mental stimulation and exercise. Regular Veterinary Visits: The Cornerstone...
Making Your Home Allergy-Friendly for Pet-Allergic Guests
Welcoming relatives who are allergic to pets into your home requires a thoughtful approach to ensure their comfort and health. For many pet owners, our furry companions are like family, but their presence can pose significant challenges for visitors with pet allergies. The key lies in transforming your pet-friendly space into an allergen-reduced environment. Here’s how to demonstrate care and consideration for your guests’ well-being, maintaining a harmonious balance between your love for pets and your duties as a gracious host....
To Grain or Not to Grain: Choosing Between Grain and Grain-Free Diets
Trying to find the best food for your dog or cat but stuck on the grain versus grain-free hamster wheel? Come along for the ride and find out what grains you’ll find in dog and cat foods, why they’re included, and when to pick grain-inclusive or grain-free diets for your fur baby! Look at any bag of dog or cat food these days and you’re just as likely to see “Grain-Free!” as you are to find grains in the ingredients. The debate between grain-inclusive and grain-free diets for dogs and cats is ongoing, leaving...
Woman Sets Out to Adopt One Rescue Dog, Ends Up with a Much Shyer Pup Who ‘Rescues’ Her
The following story was submitted to the From Woofs to Wonders Photo and Story contest. The top three finishers received a $250 Animal Rescue Site store shopping spree, as well as $2,000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. To read more stories, click here! When I moved back east, I knew I was ready for a dog, and I also knew I wanted a Shepherd. I loved the bigger dogs and the intelligent ones that flourish with some training and effort. Encouraged to adopt, I applied and was approved to adopt with Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue. I...
Over 50 Homeless Pets Will Leave Overcrowded Shelters And Fly To Wisconsin To Find A Home For The Holidays
There is only one thing that shelter dogs and cats want for Christmas – a forever home. Sadly, thousands are waiting in shelters that are over capacity and lacking adopters. That is where Greater Good Charities’ Good Flights comes to the rescue. Highly adoptable dogs and cats are at risk of euthanasia due to lack of space and loving homes. They all deserve a second chance to find their happily ever after. Every month, we sponsor a Good Flight, called Flight to Freedom, and this month’s flight is all about getting shelters...
Embrace Health and Happiness During National Walk Your Pet Month
January is heralded as National Walk Your Pet Month, a reminder of the importance of regular exercise for our pets’ well-being. In a fast-paced world where pets often mirror their human’s sedentary lifestyle, this month emphasizes the need for pet owners to incorporate physical activity into their routine. As Animal Medical Clinic Blog reports, this exercise is crucial not only for pets but also for the pet owners, offering a range of health benefits and opportunities for bonding. Photo: PexelsWalking boosts physical health by...
Understand the Risks and Rewards of Letting Cats Roam Free
When cats venture outdoors, their behavior transforms dramatically. Domestic cats, Felis catus, exhibit strong predatory instincts. A comprehensive study in Nature Communications revealed that outdoor cats, including feral ones, prey on over 2,000 species, predominantly birds, reptiles, and mammals. This predation has significant ecological implications, particularly on islands where species have evolved without mammalian predators. In an interview with the New York Times, Christopher Lepczyk, an ecologist at Auburn University, detailed the...
5 Special Holiday Gifts for Senior 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...
Short and digestible online courses for animal organizations available through Austin Pets Alive!
If your animal organization is looking to elevate the quality of care you provide and improve job satisfaction for staff, the Training and Education Center at Austin Pets Alive! may be just what you are looking for. The courses are broken up into chapters, which can be completed in 8-12 minutes. Combined with quick video demonstrations, printable infographics and interactive presentations, the courses keep learners engaged. There are currently six offerings available, with more planned for the future. The classes are available for a small fee...
Skinny Pup Rescued From the Streets, Learns How to Become a Dog Thanks to New Canine Sister
The following story was submitted to the From Woofs to Wonders Photo and Story contest. The top three finishers received a $250 Animal Rescue Site store shopping spree, as well as $2,000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. To read more stories, click here! Astrid was saved by Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue when she and her companion were tossed away like trash to roam the streets of Texas. PHOTO: JENNIFER LANGENOHL She was incredibly skinny, and you could tell she was much more comfortable outside than she was inside a home, which...
Light Pollution is Drawing Migrating Birds to Cities, Placing Them in a Possible ‘Ecological Trap’
According to the Audubon Society, at least 4,000 bird species migrate every year. They typically do so to get to food in winter months and then to get back to their nesting habitat in the spring. The journey can be substantial, with the most extreme case involving the Arctic tern, which travels from pole-to-pole every year. Along the way, the need to stop and rest arises, and a new study finds the light in urban environments may draw birds to it, putting them at risk. Research recently published in Nature Communications used weather radar...
Rare Twin Elephant Captivates Internet with His Viral Selfie Skills
Yaad, a one-year-old Asian elephant, has become an internet sensation after his “elfie” (elephant selfie) went viral. Residents at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, Yaad and his twin brother, Tukada, have been in the limelight since their historic birth, a rare event given that twin elephant births constitute only 1% of all elephant births globally, ABC News reports. Photo: X / Rosamond Gifford ZooAsian elephants are a keystone species, playing a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems they...
