If Deforestation in the Amazon Continues, the Rainforest Could Become a Dry Savannah, Devastating Capybaras and Other Species
The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most biodiverse and ecologically significant regions on Earth. It is home to a staggering array of species, including the largest rodent in the world – the capybara. These adorable, water-loving creatures are an essential part of the Amazon’s delicate ecosystem, but they are now under threat due to deforestation. Deforestation in the Amazon is an urgent issue that demands attention. The Amazon Rainforest is a crucial carbon sink, The Washington Post reports, absorbing vast amounts of carbon...
3 Easy Dog Enrichment Ideas
Enrichment means meeting an animal’s needs. It’s less about keeping a dog busy or tiring him out and more about encouraging, enabling and empowering him to engage in species-specific behaviors. It keeps dogs emotionally, mentally and physically healthy and helps alleviate and prevent behavior issues. Truly enriching activities effect positive, observable and measurable behavior change. Let’s say your dog goes bonkers over deliveries. But on days he’s had a sniffari beforehand he only barks for one minute instead of...
Use Nose Work for a Happy, Active Dog
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...
Woman Shares Her Daily Life Living with a Lovable Pig and His Rat Siblings
People have always been used to adopting cats and dogs as pets, but others prefer something out of the norm. They’ll take in spiders, snakes, lizards, rabbits, fish, birds, or even farm animals. Their home is open to any creature that needs a place to stay, and it doesn’t matter if it’s exotic. Taking care of those animals might be new for them, but they’ll research answers to properly provide them with a comfortable life. Some people even share their daily life with their pets to give a glimpse of their living...
This Puppy’s Transformation Shocked His Family, Yet They Love Him Unconditionally
Dogs are more than their adorable physical features. It’s still part of the reason why people adopt one, but real pet parents will look past that. Being a fur lover means you accept them for who they are — giving them the unconditional love they deserve. It’s saddening when a family rejects a puppy when it has special needs or “ugly” physical traits. That mindset isn’t something a pet parent should have because dogs aren’t just for display. Puppies are in search of a forever home that has consistency...
Adorable Pet Turtle Becomes A Show Stealer During Her Parent’s Wedding Ceremony
The first picks for a flower girl are one’s own daughter/s, sometimes siblings, or nieces. Another adorable choice would be a pet. We’ve witnessed numerous videos of dogs doing their part on their owner’s special day, but what if you have another type of pet? Something quite unsuitable to walk down the aisle that walks slowly and has a tendency to get shy and hide away from a crowd? PHOTO: Unsplash/Ashlee Marie You guessed that right! It’s a turtle. Colors is the name of the Eastern Painted Turtle that walked down the...
Family Left Homeless After Earthquake Adopts Dog They Pulled From The Rubble
Oftentimes, we hear stories about people losing their homes and giving up their pets as a result. After all, it’s more challenging to find housing with a dog in tow. However, one family in Turkey did the opposite: They found themselves homeless and decided to welcome a fellow homeless pet into their lives! Photo: YouTube/Inside Edition According to Inside Edition, Umet was living in the city of Adiyaman, Turkey when it was hit by a devastating earthquake in February. While his home was destroyed, he escaped with his life and his...
California Lifeguard Saves Little Dog Lost At Sea
A heroic lifeguard saved a struggling puppy that was trying to swim out to sea from a California beach. The Long Beach Fire Department shared about the incident and rescue in a Facebook Post. In the post, they explained that bystanders alerted lifeguards to a dog running loose nearby. Photo: Facebook/Long Beach Fire Department One lifeguard immediately jumped into action and went after the tiny pup, but the dog ended up running to the ocean and was swimming out to sea. It’s unclear what spooked the dog enough to run away and begin...
Kitten Thought to Be a Boy is Actually a Girl, Despite Roughhousing and Not Being ‘The Dainty Type’
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 bringing groceries to a family in need. When I pulled up, I noticed two kittens walking around the front yard, but there was no mother cat. One kitten was gray and white and investigated everything. The other was a brown tabby, and tried to make itself smaller by hiding in a cinder block. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / KANASHI I’m drawn to anyone who needs help, so I commented to the...
National Puppy Day: How Long Do Puppies Need to Sleep?
Bringing home a new addition is one of the most exciting moments of pet parenthood. For first-time pet parents, this exciting time also comes with a number of questions, including “how long do puppies need to sleep?”. In honor of national puppy day, we’ve put together a guide to help new pet parents understand everything sleep-related for their new puppy. Why do puppies need to sleep more than dogs? An adult dog sleeps between 12 and 14 hours a day, but a puppy can sleep up to 20 hours a day! It’s no surprise that...
If You Could Domesticate One Wild Species, What Would It Be?
Domestic animals and wild animals are both amazing for their own reasons. Pets, of course, provide companionship, love, entertainment, and sometimes protection, among other things. Wild animals give us a sense of awe and adoration from afar and remind us of the magic of the natural world. But what if nature made a mistake? What if there was one animal out there that was always meant to be a pet, but Mother Nature made it feral instead? Photo: Unsplash/Derek Oyen As it turns out, there are a lot of people out there who think particular wild...
“Hey Mom, I’m Done! May I Come In?” Clever Dog Fakes Peeing Like a Hollywood Actor
Shih Tzus are among the most lovable dog breeds in the world. Did you know that their name was derived from the Chinese word, Shizigou, which means “Lion Sun Dog”? According to the Times of India, it’s due to the facial hair that grows out of this dog’s nose. Photo: Tiktok/branstonandpickle01 But, surely, these small dogs are more adorable and cuddly than wild lions. In fact, the American Kennel Club gives this breed 5 stars for being ‘affectionate with family, good with children, and good with other dogs’....
Sassy Cat Reacts To Dad Saying It’s Bedtime
If you have a cat in your life, you realize that they don’t always pay attention to your commands. Unlike dogs, which often look forward to pleasing their human, cats have their own mind, and they will often ignore you. Perhaps that’s why it isn’t a big surprise to any of us when we see the video below shared by Inside Edition. It shows a cat that is not only being disobedient, he is being downright defiant. Photo: YouTube/Inside Edition Of course, ask anyone who has a cat in their life and they will tell you that is exactly...
Senior Shelter Dog Who Spent Her Whole Life On The Streets Receives Sweet Gift From Chewy
Dallas Pets Alive (DPA) is working hard to save dogs and cats by offering resources, education, and programs to eliminate the killing of companion animals. They save pets that are scheduled to be euthanized or need medical care and give them a chance at a forever home. The organization is able to save these pets thanks to countless volunteers, their “robust foster system”, and supporters who give their time, open up their hearts and homes, and donate money. Since 2012, they have saved roughly 6,000 pets and their goal is save even...
Canine Freestyle on Tiktok! Get Amazed by the Dancing Skills of These Dogs!
“The modern era of musical freestyle got started in the late 1980s, but there are signs that the idea of dancing dogs goes back to antiquity. In fact, they were depicted in a famous piece of Pre-Columbian art retrieved from Aztec tombs. Later, musical trick dog acts were favorite attractions for street, circus, and vaudeville performers. The 1941 movie musical Lady Be Good features a lovely tap-dance routine performed by Eleanor Powell and a Russell Terrier,” according to the American Kennel Club. Photo: Tiktok/the_trickstars Can...
Amazing Cow and Friends at Wellness Farm: We Love Your Powdered Donuts, Mom! And We Love You, Too!
“Animals mirror back to us that we have value and worth. We feel gentle when we stroke them, wanted when they approach us, and soothed when we hug them. Animals don’t judge us and we can be authentically, uniquely us and the animals will always accept us as we are. Animals have a way of making us feel connected to them, and in turn, connected more deeply to ourselves,” said Ellie Laks, founder of The Gentle Barn, a non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary in California. Photo: Tiktok/shelleyofourfarmacy These statements are...
How to Introduce Dogs
Contrary to popular belief, most dogs are dog-selective or dog-tolerant and not dog-social. And that’s OK! Dogs shouldn’t be expected to like every dog they meet: Most humans don’t like every human, either. Well-planned intros keep everyone safe and happy. Always avoid impromptu on-leash greetings, especially allowing dogs to make a beeline for each other. This can be scary for many dogs, and they can become overwhelmed quickly and become defensively aggressive, especially when unable to escape the confines of the leash...
7 Signs Your Cat Might Be Sick
Cats are notoriously independent creatures who can be hard to read. It can be tough to tell when they’re feeling under the weather, but as responsible pet parents, it’s important to keep a close eye on our feline friends for any signs of cat illnesses. Here are some of the most common signs of diseases in cats: 1. Changes in Appetite A cat’s appetite can be a good indicator of their health. If you notice your cat has suddenly lost interest in food, or they’re not finishing their meals, it could be a sign that something...
How the Open Arms Challenge allowed this rescue organization to become more accessible
The 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 support they needed to implement changes including a more concise adoption questionnaire by removing questions about income, living arrangements and removed the landlord permission requirement prior to adoption....
Owl And Cat Have An Intense Staring Match Through The Window
A feisty house cat and a determined owl got into an unusual staring match when they locked eyes through the living room window. James, TikTok user @jfitjames, shared the video of the incident, noting that he heard growing and went to investigate. Photo: TikTok/@jfitjames He wrote in the text overlay, “This is now what I expected to see my cat gr-owl-ing at.” “Bro just wanna have a play date,” he added in the caption. In the clip, you can see the cat standing on the back of the couch. The hairs on his back are standing...
