How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down
Teaching your dog to lie down is a practical cue because it leads to more advanced behaviors. When your dog can lie down on cue, he’ll be able to stay on his bed or master tricks like rolling over or crawling. The sky’s the limit! Your pup will enjoy the training and your friends will be impressed. How to teach your dog to lay down Before you start training, follow these tips to set up your surroundings for a successful session: First, to set your dog up to succeed, exercise him before starting the training session. He needs...
Why Can’t Vets at Texas Animal Shelters Treat Owned Pets?
My dog Ranger first started having seizures at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. At 5 years old, my happy, healthy, and active little shadow who’d never had an inkling of health issues was suddenly violently convulsing at the foot of my bed and I had no idea what to do or how to help him. That trip to the veterinarian cost me just shy of $3000. I was fortunately able to pay that bill with my limited savings and help from my parents – an unearned privilege that I don’t take for granted. The medicine, bloodwork, and trips to...
6 Steps to Prepare for Pet Loss
Pet loss can be one of the most difficult experiences in life. These six steps will help you prepare yourself and your family for losing a beloved animal companion. Whether your furry friend has been with you for a couple years, a decade, or more, saying goodbye is never easy. Here are some steps you can take to help yourself and your family cope with the grief that comes with pet loss. 1. Seek Pet Loss Support Friends, family, and professionals are excellent support networks. Losing an animal can be as painful as losing a human loved one,...
Abandoned Blind Pig Had Difficulty with Trusting Another Human Until This Guy Won Her Over
Before adopting an animal, ensure you are committed to them until old age. They are not like items you can just simply discard because you deem them boring or useless. Animals can feel a wide variety of emotions — from joy to loneliness. It might not be apparent in their facial expressions, but abandonment and neglect shatter their hearts. It can also cause stress which may reflect in their health condition or behavior. The whole experience is traumatizing to animals and it can affect their perspective as well. Due to abandonment, some...
Puppy That Was Dumped By a Lake Finds Happy Home with New Brother
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! Zoey was discovered thrown by a lake by two fishermen. She and her brother were cold, wet, hungry and only about 4-weeks-old. They turned these poor pups into the animal shelter, but that became their lucky day. PHOTO: SHARLENE SIMON We’d gone to the shelter looking for a new dog because our beautiful lab,...
Dog with Mange Rescued, Has Hard Time Finding Home Due to Heart Condition
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! Daisy is our family’s second foster fail. She was found – covered in mange and starving – on someone’s porch, and was taken in by Lakeside Animal Rescue in Holly Hill, South Carolina, a local foster-based rescue group. PHOTO: PAMELA GARDINER As the second of our two most recent fosters had...
A Bear Heals His Inner Child After Finally Gaining Freedom from Cages and Circus Life
Since ages ago, people go to circuses for fun and entertainment. There are a lot of activities to do and performances to watch. Every circus has its main highlight, and sometimes it’s a talented animal. They are incredibly talented creatures trained to entertain the audience. Although amazing, some circuses should be held accountable for exploitation. There are many cases of mistreated animals — cooped up in cages, physically abused, or forced to perform. They are also deprived of proper nourishment and medical care. The animal is...
New Mom Asks Social Media For Advice After Kicking Her Aunt Out Over A Cat
Welcoming a new baby home is an exciting time for expecting parents, but it can pose a lot of changes. For those with pets, it can be a bit stressful. After all, you never know how a dog or cat will react to having a tiny baby in the house. A new mom in her late 20s recently went through this, but her cat seems to love the baby. The woman, who goes on Reddit by u/Correct_Foot_3630, shared in a post that her relationship with her cat was causing a bit of drama as a new mom, but it had less to do with the baby or motherhood duties and more to...
Reddit User Sparks Debate Over Calling On A “Missing Pet” Poster In The Middle Of The Night
“If your cat was missing and you put up posters, would you be mad that someone called at 12:45 am to say they found it?” It’s a question Reddit user u/IhavemyCat asked in the subreddit r/CatAdvice. Photo: Flickr/Heidi De Vries License: CC BY 2.0 In the post, u/IhavemyCat explained that they noticed “missing” posters for a young cat in the neighborhood and the posters were up for several weeks. One night, they happened to notice a cat that matched the posters’ description of the missing feline in their...
Adoptable Kittens Oreo & Kit Kat are as Sweet as Candy!
Say hello to two of the sweetest kittens you’re ever going to meet, Oreo and Kit Kat! This brother and sister duo are currently being looked after by kindhearted fosters working with the Southern Arizona Cat Rescue in Tucson. The sibs are part of the kitten monsoon that happens each and every spring in Arizona and so many other places around the world. Photo: SACatRescue Adoptable Kitty Oreo Oreo here is a dapper young gent of just 9 weeks old. Besides being sweet and affectionate, curious is the best word to describe this adorable fur...
Mice Cured of Alzheimer’s Provide Hope for the Rest of Us
Alzheimer’s is one of those words, much like cancer, that strikes fear in our hearts. It’s a terrifying diagnosis that forever alters our world. But that could — in the not-so-distant future — be changing as news spreads about a new Alzheimer’s remedy that is being developed after initial trials seem to have cured the disease in mice. The trials, conducted by a team of Israeli scientists throughout 2022, purportedly caused 30 mice suffering from the debilitating disease to regain full cognitive ability by...
How to Stop Your Dog from Barking
Stopping the excessive barking is the key, not to stop the bark entirely. Barking is a completely normal behavior for dogs, and they bark for many different reasons: alarm, boredom, excitement, frustration, demand, play, stress. You have coping skills and strategies for your emotions: Your dog needs some, too. First, figure out context. Does he bark when deliveries come? When you leave for work? At the neighbor’s dogs? Knowing what your dog is attempting to communicate with his barking is half the battle. With time, patience and...
New Law Protects Pet Owners From Pet Rent and Breed Discrimination
In a move that has sparked both celebration and concern, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed HB23-1068 into law, ushering in significant changes for pet owners, insurers, law enforcement, and landlords across the state. This new legislation aims to redefine how these entities treat pet owners and their furry companions. “We’ve given options and predictability to pet lovers and pet guardians across the state,” said Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Democratic sponsor of the bill. “We’ve heard from animal shelters that...
Former Ukrainian President Adopts Homeless Dog From Flooded Kherson
The 5th President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and his wife, Marina, recently visited the flooded city of Kherson to help the people. A catastrophic dam collapse has caused life-threatening flooding with people and pets trapped and in need of rescuing. The former president took to Instagram to share what he witnessed and also to share that he took home one of the many homeless dogs in the area. HELP DISPLACED PEOPLE AND PETS IN UKRAINE “Marina and I, when we went to Kherson, realized that we need to help not only people, but also...
Invest in Your Pet and Yourself with Pet-Friendly Lawn Care
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...
PetSmart makes bold change to spay/neuter policy
Animals staying in shelters longer, staffing shortages and lack of access to veterinary care have driven animal shelters and rescue organizations to find new ways to move animals out of the shelter and into homes prior to spaying/neutering. That’s why starting in July 2023, PetSmart Charities is waiving the requirement for puppies and kittens (under 6 months) to be altered prior to participating in in-store adoption events or being housed in PetSmart Adoption Centers. This spay/neuter waiver will be piloted through the end...
Deaf French Bulldog and ‘Love Bunny’ Pug Are Quite the Pair
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! Murphy the French bulldog is deaf. PHOTO: JAN TURP She has learned some sign language and is my constant shadow. It doesn’t matter if she is dead asleep; within a few seconds, she finds me. She turns 7-years-old in November. She is a Queen Bee and definitely knows it. SHARE YOUR OWN RESCUE STORY She is a...
Cuddly Chocolate Pibble, Rocky, is Through Roughing it if You Can Help
Say hello to Rocky! Rocky is a very sweet, friendly boy that was found as a stray in 2021. He stayed with his rescuer for quite some time, but ultimately it wasn’t meant to be his forever home. He then came to Pima Animal Care Center, where he’s been ever since. Rocky was housebroken in his finder’s home with regular potty breaks, but he seems to have had a tough life before his time in their home, and he has the scars to prove it. He really deserves to find a place where he can be spoiled for the rest of his life and where...
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...
