Overcrowded Animal Shelters: What You Can Do to Help Rescue Dogs in 2023
This year has begun badly for rescue dogs, particularly large-breed rescues. “Overcrowded animal shelters are turning away owners wanting to surrender their dogs because there is no room,” says Maria Dales, founder and director of California’s German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. “With nowhere to take their unwanted dogs, owners seek the help of rescue groups; when rescues can’t help, there are no options left. We can’t ‘rescue’ ourselves out of this situation.” The best thing you can...
Why Dogs Need Variety in Their Food
Rotational Feeding Gives Them the Nutrition They Need It’s long been the advice of choice to put your dog on one food and keep her on it for her lifetime. But what if that isn’t exactly accurate? It is true that dogs who have been fed the same food for many years can experience stomach upset when abruptly changing their diet. But it is also true that feeding them the same meat and other ingredients day after day means your dog is not getting the wide range of amino acids and nutrients necessary for optimum health. Can You Switch...
A free editorial calendar template for your animal organization’s marketing efforts
Does your animal well-being organization use an editorial calendar to strategize and organize its marketing efforts? If not, or if you want some inspiration for your current plan, be sure to check out this toolkit from HeARTs Speak and Human Animal Support Services. Throughout the past year, the organizations have created a series of communications kits to help you talk to your constituents about the many ways that you are supporting people and pets (and how they can, too!). Now, they’ve created a way for you to use...
Bomb-Sniffing K9 Gets Some Sweet Comfort During A Thunderstorm
It doesn’t matter how big or tough we are. We all have a weakness. Even Superman had kryptonite, so it’s no surprise that even a bomb-sniffing K9 would also have a fear. Fortunately, the dog was not alone as he went through a difficult time. It happened when bad weather rolled through Johnson County, and Senna, a police dog trained to sniff bombs, was not fond of the loud noises. Photo: Pexels/Moritz Böing The police officer from Olathe, Kansas, was quick to pick up the dog and cuddle close under an umbrella. Senna seemed to...
Vet Tech Shares “Warning Labels” She’d Give To Different Dog Breeds
It’s no secret that different dog breeds boast different personalities and traits. While each individual animal is unique in its own right, dogs of the same breed tend to have similar features and personalities that they’ve been bred for years to exhibit. Oftentimes, we hear about the positive stereotypes of different breeds, like the happy-go-lucky personality of a golden retriever, or the bold and spunky attitude of a husky. But what about the other side? Photo: Pexels/Kateryna Babaieva A veterinarian assistant (who goes on...
Ralphie The “Whole Jerk Demon Dog” Finds A Family Willing To Adopt Him
French bulldogs are in high demand, and they can sell for a lot of money. They’re so popular as a breed that they’re even stolen at alarming rates as people do whatever it takes to get their hands on one. With that in mind, you’d think a French bulldog at an animal shelter wouldn’t have problems finding a home, but Ralphee the Frenchie proved challenging to place. Photo: Pexels/Pixabay Ralphie was surrendered to the Niagara ASPCA in western New York after going through two different homes. The shelter shared about...
Man Claims ChatGTP Saved His Dog’s Life When The Vet Couldn’t Figure Out A Diagnosis
A dog owner is thanking artificial intelligence for saving his dog’s life when the veterinarian couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Twitter user @peakcooper (who identifies as Cooper on the app) is the proud dog dad to a border collie named Sassy. Photo: Pexels/Brixiv Unfortunately, Sassy’s health took a turn for the worse when she was diagnosed with a tick-borne disease and became severely anemic as a result of it. Cooper shared on Twitter that the vet started her on the proper treatment, and “despite a serious...
Important Info for Cat Owners: Did You Know Felines Can Get Heartworms? Regrettably, it’s True!
Similar to canines, cats can get heartworms after being bitten by an infected mosquito — although they are not nearly as susceptible to infection as dogs. According to the FDA, a cat is not a natural host of heartworms because the worms do not thrive as well inside of their bodies, but both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk for heartworm disease. This is news many feline lovers will find surprising, as we so often associate the debilitating illness with dogs. Regardless, if left untreated, heartworm disease will progress to damage the...
Veterinarians Look To Change The Industry With “Fear Free” Pet Care
Having a pet in the family is a big responsibility. They take a lot of attention and love, and they rely on us to take care of them. One thing most responsible pet owners do is ensure their furry friends have regular visits to the veterinarian. Just like humans, pets need regular check-ups and care, but unfortunately, many pets don’t get the care that they need. Photo: Pexels/Japheth Mast One reason some pet owners stay away from the vet’s office is because of the fear, anxiety, and stress that the visit causes their pets....
Sweet Puppy Attempts To Win The Heart Of Disinterested Cat
Cats and dogs aren’t stereotypically friends, but in reality, they can be closer than family. Sometimes, cats and dogs will hit off a friendship immediately, but other times it just takes a little bit of time, patience, and persistence for the two to overcome their differences and become friends. Photo: YouTube/The Fluffiest In one sweet viral video, you can see an adorable puppy interacting with a disinterested cat. The cat doesn’t seem so sure about being friends with the puppy, but the tiny dog is determined to win her over. In...
Tiny Rescue Chihuahua Herds Sheep With The Skills Of A Border Collie
A tiny rescue chihuahua named Nancy may not look intimidating on the outside, but she’s got a heart of steel. In true “small dog” fashion, she doesn’t let her little stature slow her down one bit! In fact, a video of Nancy shows how courageous she is as she herds sheep around a corral! Photo: YouTube/Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Nancy the Chihuahua was rescued by the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home many years ago. Battersea shared about Nancy on YouTube, saying: “Tiny Nancy weighs just 2.5 lbs but she has proven her...
Rescue Dog Zhuzha’s Heartbreaking Story Has a Much Happier Ending
As pitiful cases go, Zhuzha’s was right up there. An adorably sweet 2-year-old dog that was likely left homeless by the war in Ukraine, she had been spayed by a city neutering program and apparently released back onto the streets. Photo: YouTube/@lovefurryfriends Zhuzha was eventually reported to @lovefurryfriends, a rescue group living and working in Ukraine with the aim of helping homeless animals during all of the chaos. After hearing about the gentle pup, they made their way to the part of the city she’d been reported in and...
Cat and Dog BFFs Spend Years Going for Daily Walks Together
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! I was walking my blind Maltese, Franklin, around the block when we heard a cat meowing. It was a stray, and she followed us around the block, into the garden, and jumped up onto a bench I’d placed Franklin on. I was about to do some gardening, as was our usual routine. DOG AND CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / STOCKSNAP Sweet little Franklin could sense the cat (Fiona, as we’d soon name...
Wild Alaska Salmon Oil Formula and your dog — How to determine quality
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...
Do Dogs Watch TV and What Do They See?
Is my dog watching TV? Many of us have seen our dogs stare at the TV, apparently watching it. Some dogs will bark or even jump at the television, clearly reacting to what they are seeing. But what exactly are they seeing and is it good for them – should I leave the TV on for my dog? Ron Levi, founder of DOGTV, answers your questions about dogs watching TV. What do dogs see when they watch TV? Dogs have dichromatic vision, meaning they see shades of blue, yellow and gray only. While they can see images on the TV screen, they cannot...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Science-backed human and animal bonding, grant opportunity and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. How the Open Arms Challenge allowed this rescue organization to become more accessibleThe Open Arms Challenge starts next month, and we’re highlighting Salem Friends of Felines (SFOF) in Oregon to provide a little inspiration! SFOF is a rescue organization that won a grant for the Most Effective Use of Open and Welcoming Menu Items in the 2021 Open Arms Challenge. The Challenge was instrumental in obtaining the… Learn More Using science to improve...
Mom Explains To Child Why She Can’t Pet Woman’s Service Dog
Service dog owners know how frustrating it can be when a well-meaning (or not-so-well-meaning) individual attempts to pet or otherwise distract a working dog. One woman who knows this all too well is Haylee Graves. Graves has a medical and cardiac alert dog named Jake who helps sniff her high heart rate and changing blood pressure. Jake then alerts Haylee that she needs to sit down or risk passing out. Haylee regularly shares about Jake and helps educate the public on service dogs through her TikTok account, @jakethes.d and on Instagram....
Dog Loves Getting His Teeth Brushed With Mom
Unless you start and are consistent when they’re a puppy, it can be tough to get a dog to brush his teeth. It’s something most pet owners should be doing and is often recommended by dentists, but it’s not usually something dogs enjoy or tolerate well. Photo: YouTube/ViralHog My dog absolutely despises getting his teeth brushed. He won’t bite or anything, but he curls his lips and snarls mid-brush. Thankfully, his little snarls actually make it easier to brush his teeth but he still doesn’t enjoy it. One unusual...
Blind Rescue Cats Use “Chirping” Sounds To Find Each Other
Two rescue kittens may not have eyes to find one another, but they make up for it by using sound instead! Nicole is a special needs animal advocate and foster mom, so when she heard of two blind kittens in need of some help, she couldn’t say no. In an interview with The Dodo, Nicole explained: “The first day when I brought them home, I honestly thought that I couldn’t do it. Both of their eyes were so badly infected. It definitely was heartbreaking but they didn’t have anyone besides me, so I was determined to fight...
Family Rescue Cat Meets Baby For The Very First Time
You never quite know how a pet will react to having a new baby in the house. Even pets who are all lovey-dovey to other kids or protective of the baby bump might have a hard time adjusting to life with a newborn. Babies take up so much attention from Mom and Dad that it’s no wonder pets can be hesitant sometimes. They’re often tossed on the sidelines and forgotten about. Some pets, however, love new babies once they get past the initial uncertainty. That was the case with a sweet rescue cat named Minnie. Photo: YouTube/izzcat...
