Michigan’s Ferris State University is Allowing Pets to Live with Students in Cramer Hall
A Michigan-based university has introduced a new program starting this year that will see student pets allowed to live on the upper floor of Cramer Hall, located on Ferris State’s Big Rapids campus. It’s all part of an effort by the university to appeal to students who don’t want to or can’t bear to leave their pets behind at home. While most colleges still ban pets from living on campus, several have opened up to the idea in recent years in order to compete. One of them is Eckerd College in Florida, which holds an...
Dog with Note Attached to Collar Jumps into Patrol Car Looking for Help in Platteville, WI
Is this a trend or what? Recently, we’ve seen a number of stories where a dog or a cat has leapt into a vehicle looking for help or flat-out rescue from their situation. Well, it’s happened again, and this time it’s a dog in Wisconsin. A lost, or more likely abandoned, dog found herself alone in a park where she was apparently spotted and reported to local police. When an officer from the Platteville Police Department arrived at Moundview Park and opened the door to exit the vehicle, the female dog came bounding up and...
Slow-Moving Turtle Gets Help Escaping Owner’s House Fire
It was just before 2:30 in the morning when a resident woke up to a popping sound in her California home, followed almost immediately by her fire alarm. A fire had begun in the workshop at the back of the home, but the flames were quickly spreading to the rest of the two-story residence. Something needed to be done quickly to save the family and their pets. The Orange County Fire Authority was quickly on the scene and sprayed the fire with water to control it as they worked to rescue all of the residents. The two people living in the home...
How Airline Regulations Impact Blind Passengers with Service Animals
Air travel has long been a gateway to freedom and adventure, but for those with disabilities who rely on service animals, recent changes in airline regulations have turned this experience into a daunting and inaccessible journey. Department of Transportation rules, implemented in January 2021 to counteract the rise of untrained animals masquerading as service companions, have inadvertently created barriers for blind passengers, depriving them of their independence and peace of mind. Photo: PexelsPassengers can face rejection due to minor...
Lovely Lilly Longs to Brighten Your Life as Only an Adorable Adoptable Chocolate Lab Can
Hello everybody, I’m Lilly, and I’m happy to say I’m finally ready for my forever family! If you live in a quiet household and want to be a one-pet family and like cats and dogs, please read on! My foster, Auntie Nancy, says I’m like a cat-dog. I’m a chocolate Lab mix with the quiet energy of a cat and the sweetness and affection of a Lab. How cool is that? My superpowers: I LOVE staying close to my human(s). Especially sitting next to my human and receiving belly rubs and head pats! Photo: DLRR I’m fine...
Landscaper Astonished to Find Malnourished Alligator Near Pennsylvania Creek
Alligators don’t typically live in Pennsylvania, which partially explains why the one a landscaper was surprised to find near a creek was not doing particularly well. The man was working in an outdoor location near the creek when he happened to glance down into the ravine and noticed a small creature lying in a puddle near the edge of the creek. He was shocked to discover that it was a tiny alligator. Photo: Unsplash/Mia Anderson The landscaper called police, who came to take possession of the two-and-a-half-foot-long critter and get it...
A Picture of Transport Success: Tonto
Aug 29, 2023 For 10 months, Tonto sat overlooked in a crowded shelter in an isolated part of West Texas, where the human population counts at 9,000 and the nearest vet is 90 miles away. The longer he sat, and the more crowded the shelter got and the greater risk there was of Tonto facing euthanasia. But Tonto’s fate changed when APA!’s transport team, the Texas shelter, and Underground Dog, a local rescue, teamed up. Together we got Tonto on a flight up to Boise Bully Rescue in Boise, Idaho, where Tonto was quickly...
Heartbreaking Loss: Woman’s Beloved Dog Goes Missing at Atlanta Airport
In a harrowing turn of events, Paula Rodriguez’s journey took a nightmarish twist when her beloved dog, Maia, went missing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The incident has left her in agony, grasping onto the hope of reuniting with her cherished companion. Paula’s trip from the Dominican Republic to California via Atlanta turned into a traumatic ordeal when she was unexpectedly turned away at customs, reports The Washington Post. As she was held in detention, awaiting a return flight, the unimaginable happened...
Join the first Deeper Dive session from The Journey You Own on September 6th
Are you ready to reignite your passion, reclaim your energy and revolutionize your approach to work? We shared the news of the self-paced course, The Journey You Own: Practices for Wellbeing and Productivity, back in June, and now we’re excited to share the date for the first The Journey You Own: A Deeper Dive session. In this 50-minute meeting series, Jyothi V. Robertson, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine) will guide you in exploring the concepts and practices covered in the self-paced course on Maddie’s®...
Cat Ends Up at Shelter After Her Owner Dies During Hurricane
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! Hurricane Katrina had come through southern Mississippi. It had destroyed our home. It had been a few years since I had a cat. When we got our new home about a year after the storm, I went to the local animal rescue league shelter to find a kitten. I knew it would comfort me. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / VISTAWEI There were many there, but then, over to the side I saw this big pure white...
Lone Kitten Found Alive on Road, Next to His Deceased Mother and Siblings
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! Orph Fin was found on the road at one week of age next to his mother and siblings. All were dead except him, and he came to our kitten rescue. CATS. PHOTO: PIXABAY / BISHNU SARANGI We were fostering a cat who just had a litter and she accepted Orph as one on her own (Micetro Goose, she is now at the Rainbow Bridge, such a sweet kitty). We adopted Orph, couldn’t help it, we loved him...
Women are Better at Understanding Canine Communications Than Men
After doing some research on canine communications, we ran into a study conducted by Dr. Tamás Faragó and his team at Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary back in 2017. This is, rather interestingly, the same facility that recently undertook research on whether or not dogs had a preference for intonation among humans. The results confirmed what many of us have suspected for years: dogs enjoy baby talk directed at them and they respond better to women than men. Photo: Pixabay/thuanvo Women & Dogs The earlier 2017 study,...
Move Over, Cats: Felines Aren’t the Only Ones Who Prefer Baby Talk
New research points to dogs’ brains being sensitive to what scientists refer to as “exaggerated prosody,” which simply means baby talk. You know, that higher-pitched voice accompanied by cooing we all seem to resort to when addressing an infant or even a pet. To discern whether or not canines prefer what’s sometimes called the cutesy voice, Hungarian researchers from the Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, the Research Centre for Natural Sciences, and the Eötvös Loránd...
Vet Raises Health Concerns Over Dogs Playing with Tennis Balls
Whether it’s gently tossing the fuzzy yellow-green ball across the lawn or lobbing it from a hand-held launcher, you might want to think twice about the ball you’re throwing when playing fetch with Fido — at least that’s what Texas-based veterinarian Hunter Finn is warning dog owners. Photo: Pixabay/BerckenGroep Tennis Balls & Dogs Hunter, a vet who routinely shares animal care advice on his TikTok account, outlined the dangers of tennis balls in two videos that have since gone viral. In the first, viewers...
Humans Let This Deaf Pittie Down So Many Times, But He’s Still the Most Lovable Goofball
When Lisa first met Brad, the poor boy had been through more than any dog deserves to go through. He was found as a stray on the streets of Houston, Texas. It was believed that he was originally bred to be a fighting dog but was probably abandoned when his temperament proved to be too sweet for that life, or perhaps because he was deaf. Either way, he was left to fend for himself with no love or protection. Eventually, Brad was taken to a shelter and later transferred to 2 Blondes All Breed Rescue in Colorado, an organization that rescues...
How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog? Experts Weigh In On Finding the Right Balance
We all adore the fresh feeling that comes after a shower, and it’s only natural to extend the same courtesy to our four-legged companions. But how often should you really be bathing your furry friend? As responsible pet owners, it’s important to strike a balance between cleanliness and your dog’s overall well-being. Veterinarians have weighed in on this perennial question, shedding light on the factors that influence the ideal bathing frequency for your canine companion. Photo: PexelsUse positive reinforcement and treats to...
Bob Barker, Longtime Animal Advocate & Iconic Host of “The Price Is Right”, Dies At Age 99
Bob Barker, the iconic host of “The Price is Right”, ended every show with the same message – “Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.” For 35 years, he greeted contestants with his infectious smile and witty sense of humor. Over his career (1972-2007) on the longest-running game show, he won 19 Daytime Emmy Awards and acquired millions of fans. He used his success onstage to help advocate for animals. He convinced the show to stop giving away fur coats due to animal cruelty, which his...
FDA’s Investigation Reveals Link Between ‘Grain-Free’ Foods and Heart Disease in Pets
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ongoing investigation into diet-related heart disease in dogs and cats contains important warnings for pet owners. With over 1,300 reported cases of heart damage that may be tied to pet food, understanding the implications of this report is crucial for our furry companions’ well-being. Photo: PexelsDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition that weakens the heart. The Link Between “Grain-Free” Diets and Heart Disease Since the FDA’s initial alert in 2018 about a possible...
Ziggy the Wobbly Kitten Proves Pets with Disabilities Are Just “A Different Kind of Perfection”
Heather Wilson and her husband and two teenagers have never really known a life without pets. But Heather admits that, up until recently, they never really thought of adopting an animal that had a disability or special need. Now, after having adopted a kitten with cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), a permanent condition that affects the cerebellum and makes balancing difficult, Heather believes that animals with disabilities make some of the best pets. Heather’s 17-year-old daughter, Katie, is very involved with special needs students at her...
How Manuka Honey Helps Heal Wounds in Dogs
You’ve likely heard about Manuka honey, and that it offers health benefits that go beyond those of regular honey. What exactly is it, and why is it so helpful for healing wounds in your dog? While honey is primarily a food product, it has also been used historically for its healing properties. As a cough suppressant, a treatment for gingivitis, and a general dietary supplement, honey has a lot to offer. Manuka honey is especially beneficial, not just for us but for our dogs as well. Let’s take a closer look at Manuka honey, and...
