Running with Your Dog: Meet Ona the 5K Racing Yorkie
One could say that Ona, a punky 12-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, has enjoyed a pretty bright and breezy lifestyle over the years soaking up the sun in Southern California. Lots of beach days, a comfy warm bed and a big pile of plush toys. What more could she want? Well, as it turns out, she wants to run! Nearly 50 races and counting Ona likes to take the lead during the races, so her dad and running partner, Jeff, follows her nearly the whole time. © Alan De Herrera Weighing in at just 6 pounds and standing a mere 6 inches from the ground,...
Harmful Consequences for Animals and Ecosystems When People Interfere With Wildlife In National Parks
The National Parks of the United States are a collection of breathtaking wilderness areas that provide a sanctuary for a diverse array of wildlife. These parks, from Yellowstone to Yosemite, Grand Canyon to Great Smoky Mountains, serve as vital habitats for numerous species and play a crucial role in their conservation efforts. However, the impact of human activity within these pristine natural spaces cannot be ignored. From feeding wildlife to disturbing their natural behaviors, certain actions can have devastating consequences for the...
Visit Oklahoma’s Museum of Osteology and Meet Their First Ever Cat Employee
Learning resources are now within reach with a simple click on your device. The internet can take you to an answer after using the right keywords. It’s astonishing how you can collect information in just a few seconds. Although immensely useful, you should still try to experience and see the things you find on the internet with your own eyes. It’s most especially recommended when you’re looking for historical resources, artifacts, artworks, or scientific discoveries. For this reason, people find time to visit museums...
Energy in Dog Training and Why It Matters
Energy is the language of life, but it’s one of the most neglected ingredients in dog training and behavior. Ignoring the energetic piece of the behavioral puzzle can mean more stress, strain, and struggle on both ends of the leash. With most dog parents, the focus is usually on the physical, performance-based aspects of training (e.g. obedience and agility training), as well as what the body is doing (e.g. pulling on the leash, destructiveness, etc.). But to really understand behavior, we also have to pay attention to the dog’s...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Training shelter dogs in prison, free stock photos and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. The May Weekly Community Conversations grant giveaway winners are…On Monday, Maddie’s Fund® gave two organizations a $5,000 grant for attending the May Weekly Community Conversations! A total of $10,000 in grants was given to two people chosen at random. In addition, the Maddie’s® Pet Forum winner of $3,000 was also announced! These two people won a grant for their organization from the Weekly… Learn More Prison training...
How Therapy Dogs from an NYC Program Motivate Students to Practice Their Reading Skills
Reading is a fun escape, but for most kids, learning the skill can be challenging. The difficulty often roots from pressure, limited exposure to reading materials, struggles with speech sounds, and lack of confidence. Rather than face the challenge, they prefer to play outdoors or watch television. That’s why it takes a whole lot of patience to teach a kid how to read. Schools and education-based programs have established strategies for years to help with this. Kids need to realize the value of reading skills at an early age. It’s...
The Grow-Old-Together Type of Friendship Between a Woman and Her Loving Tortoise
A person will meet a lot of people that will play a significant role in their lives. Some are for temporary purposes, while others will permanently stay. The latter are your different versions of soulmates. That someone could be a romantic partner, a parent, a relative, a best friend, and most fascinatingly, an animal. People and animals magically meet each other and form a heartfelt connection. They could meet at adoption events, rescue missions, rehabilitation centers, or when the animal suddenly appears near their house. That first...
Should You Separate Your Puppy and Older Dog?
Bringing a new puppy home is exciting for you, but can be stressful for an older dog. Be thoughtful about your dogs’ interactions. In the past, the general advice was to introduce new puppies to older dogs in the home right away. Now we know that isn’t always the best approach. How to introduce a puppy to an older dog: Follow these 5 steps Step 1: Create space Giving puppies and older dogs their own space before introducing them encourages positive interactions in the future. There’s no reason to rush greetings and...
The Importance of Environmental Enrichment for Cats and Dogs
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...
Urinary Tract Disease and Your Cat
One of the most common health problems to afflict cats is lower urinary tract disease. Understanding the various causes and symptoms are key to ensuring prompt treatment. Our feline companions are prone to lower urinary tract problems. There are a number of reasons for this, some of which can be addressed by making a few lifestyle changes. It’s important to have an understanding of why and how urinary tract problems manifest, and what the signs and symptoms are. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be obstructive or non-obstructive. In...
Lion’s Mane mushroom offers healing properties to both people and dogs
A popular mushroom in North America, Lion’s Mane features a range of medicinal benefits for both people and their dogs — from calming anxiety to supporting the gut. As we learned How Your Dog Can Benefit from Medicinal Mushrooms, many mushroom species are rich in healing properties. Exploring the medicinal benefits they can offer our dogs gives us another powerful tool for treating certain ailments and maintaining wellness. In this article, we’ll focus on Lion’s Mane, and how it can be used to help dogs with anxiety. A...
Disc Dog Sport
The popular canine sport of disc dog requires a human and canine to work as a team. The dog relies on the human for accurate throws of a flying disc and the human relies on the dog’s athleticism to catch each throw. Maryland dog trainer Gabby Scott competes in disc dog events. However, the initial reasons as to why she started training for the event was just happenstance. “I arrived early for a dog-training class I was attending with my Aussie-mix eight years ago,” says Gabby. “The instructor was practicing tricks with...
The Battle for Survival Commenced as This Bird Steals Food Away from Its Friend
Birds are given the ability to conquer freedom with their wings. Life seems so easy for them, but they still have to fight for survival. Hunting food and finding a home safe from lurking predators is their everyday life. But as the world advances, a bird’s strategy also changes. Since they can go anywhere, there are birds accustomed to city life. Instead of searching for food in the wild, they hunt food from the streets. In some instances, humans would provide the free-roaming birds with food such as bird feed or bread. Other people...
Cat Gets Locked in an Empty Business for More Than a Week
The following story was a finalist in the Pawsitively Picture Perfect photo contest. The top three finishers received $500 in cash, as well as $2,000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. To read more stories, click here! Zeus was found behind a business in the shopping center where I work. He somehow had gotten himself locked in an empty business that was being renovated. We think he was in there between 10 and 11 days, no food or water at all. Then when workers went back in, they found him and just threw him out behind the...
Nine Health Benefits of Having a Cat
June is National Adopt a Cat Month. The month was so chosen because it coincides with the height of kitten season, when shelters need even more help than usual. When you adopt a cat, you help save a life, but did you know in return, that rescue cat can do some things to prolong your life? Here are just a few of the health benefits of bringing home that sweet shelter cat who reached their paw out to you. Long-Term Pet Ownership is Good for Brain Health PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK / AFRICA STUDIO Sometimes your cat may drive you a little crazy, but...
American Pit Bull Terrier Puppy, Spotify, Needs a Forever Home to Heal In
Say hello to sweet little Spotify, a 4-month-old American Pit Bull Terrier that weighs approximately 25 pounds. Spotify is currently a guest of the San Diego Humane Society, where he has been recuperating from a neck injury. A model guest so far, the shelter would very much like to find a safe, secure forever home for this adorable young puppy. This is what the shelter staff at SDHS has said about Spotify so far. Photo: San Diego Humane Society Why this Pet is the One for You Meet Spotify, an adorable and lively young puppy that is looking...
Sweet, Adoptable Smokey Just Can’t Seem to Catch a Break
Meet Smokey! By all accounts, Smokey is a great dog, but he hasn’t even received one adoption application yet, which has staff and volunteers at the Nebraska Humane Society baffled. The 2-year-old Boxer mix has even graduated from the organization’s Diamond Dog program for fearful pups. Armed with his new diploma, Smokey is said to have an improved sense of self-confidence and perhaps some swagger in his step these days. He’s also the perfect size at approximately 40 pounds with a compact body that’s described as...
Crocodile in Costa Rican Zoo Impregnated Itself, a First Ever Recorded
The first known case of a crocodile that became pregnant without ever having mated has been identified at a Costa Rican zoo. How do we know that? The semiaquatic reptile produced a foetus that was 99.9 percent genetically identical to itself! The phenomenon is often referred to as a “virgin birth” and has been reported in various species of fish, birds, and reptiles. It has not, however, been seen in crocodiles before — but was anybody checking? Apparently not, but we’ll get to that in a minute. The egg was laid back...
Keepers at Kazkova Dibrova Zoo Risk Lives to Protect Animals After Flood Kills Hundreds
In the past year, the keepers at Kazkova Dibrova zoo in southern Ukraine have faced incredible challenges while protecting their animals under Russian occupation. Even as access routes to the zoo were blocked, making it impossible to evacuate the animals, workers risked their lives to feed the animals each day, dodging bullets fired by Russian troops across the Dnieper River, the Washington Post reports. Over the winter, one volunteer brought home some of the smaller animals that would have perished in the cold. Farmers and residents also...
Scientific Survey Reveals Promising Conservation Efforts for the World’s Most Endangered Marine Mammal
The vaquita, a small porpoise and the world’s most endangered marine mammal, is teetering on the edge of existence. However, the latest scientific survey of the species reveals that new conservation efforts are showing promise, providing a glimmer of hope for their survival. María Luisa Albores González, Mexico’s secretary of environment and natural resources, shared the survey results at a news conference, conveying a sense of optimism. “Today, we have good news, hopeful news,” González said....
