Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: 2023 Shelter Summit, shelter programs survey and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Register now for the free Spring 2023 Shelter Summit!If you’re looking to create change at your shelter, but unsure on where to begin, Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge Learniverse Spring 2023 Shelter Summit and Fast Tracks may be the opportunity you’re looking for. The half-day, live online summit on March 14, 2023 from 9AM PT – 12:30PM PT, will focus on five topics: Coordinated… Learn More Register now for My Dog is My...
A Reddit Video Gains the Attention of the Internet Due to the Hilarious Copycat Behavior of This Dog
In every generation, language evolves, and people keep adding various terms to the dictionary. New words are coined and eventually become widely used and can be easily understood by the masses. One of the most interesting words ever invented is copycat. The term means one who engages in the act of imitation — copying someone’s work or actions. Cat was said to be an insulting word back in medieval times. Then in 1887, the first record of the word copycat was written by Constance Cary Harrison in her memoir. It was used in the...
Pet Parents Woke Up Witnessing Their Mischievous Cat Having Fun with the Light Switch
Having a cat gives you a reason to smile, laugh, and get up in the morning every day. Although aloof at times, they can show their adorable side to their favorite humans. They can get clingy, demanding, or talkative when you capture their heart and trust. One of their fascinating traits is their curiosity about any object they encounter indoors or outdoors. Living with a cat is like watching an interactive adventure show, which is entertainment with comedic flair. You’ll see them chasing robot vacuum cleaners, climbing on curtains, or...
Young Girl Diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease Goes Through Therapy Accompanied by Horses
Getting diagnosed with a disease at such a young age is truly devastating, more so when it’s a rare disease. Permanent cures for most of those illnesses are not yet available, which means the child’s youth will be spent mostly on getting treatments. One of the most severe medical conditions a young person can acquire is juvenile Huntington’s disease. As the illness progresses, nerve cells malfunction, which results in loss of physical abilities. The condition can be inherited, and data from Cleveland Clinic reports that only...
What To Do About Resource Guarding In Dogs
Resource guarding is when dogs become defensive to keep others away from something of value. It’s perfectly normal for dogs to want to protect their supply of food, their toys or stake claim to where they sleep. Some dogs even guard their humans. After all, they’re all valuable resources they want and need. But if dogs think access to those resources is threatened, they could become overprotective. Some contributing factors to resource guarding may include: issues with early socialization deprivation of resources at any stage...
Is your Lawn Care company using pet-friendly products?
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...
Can Dogs Laugh?
Although we could swear our dogs have a good belly laugh while at tug-o-war, actual dog laughs have not been specifically identified by animal behaviorists as other vocalizations like growls and whines have, according to vet behaviorist Dr. Sally J. Foote. Dogs can make short panting “huh, huh” sounds and grunting as they play with toys or with other dogs while enjoying themselves. “They are having fun. So, you could think of this as a laugh in this situation. Otherwise, it may be that they need to pant and have...
Reddit Video Shows the Other Side of Wild Animals, Which was Unbelievably Adorable
Wild animals are truly magnificent creatures that are greatly admired, but also feared by humans. One look from them can weaken your knees — close encounters with them can easily make your heart race. Such creatures are also fierce hunters, which makes all possible prey tremble at their sight. However, people must keep in mind that lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, and more won’t quickly attack them. They’ll be defensive only when threatened and they have a preference when it comes to their diet. That’s why humans should...
March is Adopt a Guinea Pig Month, Learn Some Fun Facts About These Sociable Pets
During March, we celebrate the first day of spring, St. Patrick’s Day, the beginning of later daylight hours, and, most importantly, Adopt a Guinea Pig Month. These family favorite pets are believed to have been first domesticated by the Incas more than 3,000 years ago. Today, there are 13 different breeds, and they have a broad range of coats, from white or red to chocolate brown or black. Regardless of the breed, they’re fun furry additions to the home. They’re even in many shelters, so you could adopt one there. Read on...
Brown Bears And Polar Bears In Siberia Might Soon Start Creating Hybrids Called The ‘Brolar Bear’
If you think about hybrids, what’s the first species that comes to mind? Some of the more popular ones you’ve probably heard of are ligers, tigons, coywolves, or even mules! To be honest, I didn’t know that the mule is a hybrid between a donkey and a horse until just recently. But another species that’s half polar bear is part of our ever-growing list of hybrids. PHOTO: Unsplash/Hans-Jurgen Mager This terrifyingly cute but deadly species is one of the many victims of climate change. They’re the poster child for...
Bathing Beauty Lexsa Can’t Wait for Summer and Adoption
A handsome girl who can’t get enough pool time in her life is looking forward to summer heat while planning for her inevitable adoption. Currently residing in Arizona, she’s sure the heat will come, but she’s a bit concerned about the adoption part. You see, when swim weather rolls around this June, she’ll have been a resident at the Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson for a full year, and no animal should have to wait that long for a forever home! This lovely lady and her brother were abandoned by one owner and then...
Recent Evidence Points to Neolithic People Riding Horses Earlier Than Previously Thought
“The origins of horseback riding remain elusive. Scientific studies show that horses were kept for their milk ~3500 to 3000 BCE, widely accepted as indicating domestication. However, this does not confirm them to be ridden. Equipment used by early riders is rarely preserved, and the reliability of equine dental and mandibular pathologies remains contested. “However, horsemanship has two interacting components: the horse as mount and the human as rider. Alterations associated with riding in human skeletons therefore possibly...
“Kitten Season” is Almost Here, and It’s Not Such a Great Thing Unless You Want to Adopt
Whenever we hear the word “season” attached to a phrase, it infers that something is coming. Perhaps it’s sweater season, denoting cold weather is here or on the way. Or maybe it’s salad season in warmer summer months or stew and chili season in the fall. We often look forward to these changes of “season,” but not all of them are necessarily welcome. Take kitten season. Not only does it sound innocuous enough, but it conjures up images of sweet, playful furballs clumsily pouncing and clawing at bits of...
Kangaroos Increasingly Calling Texas Home But “Pets” They Are Not
Did you know that you can own a kangaroo in Texas? Why you’d want to, we’re not sure. But Texas is one of thirteen states in the U.S. that allows citizens to keep kangaroos as exotic pets. In fact, the animals are surprisingly popular there, partly due to the similarities in environment the Lone Star state shares with Australia. That, paired with lenient exotic animal laws, and you’ve got a recipe for a lot of roos. Photo: Pixabay/pen_ash Animals with Brute Strength But is it a good idea to own an animal with the strength of...
Unleashing the Power of Data: Key Insights from 2022
[embedded content] Data, data, data! This webinar goes over key highlights from 2022 sheltering data on lost pet reunification, better data practices, ways data can help us improve. Hear from Maggie Lynch, Senior Director of Research and Development at Austin Pets Alive!; Amanda Foster, Assistant Director of Implementation Analysis for the HASS project; and Kate McHugh-Westfall, Embedded Data and Implementation Coordinator for the HASS project, in this live webinar moderated by Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal...
3 Things You Need to Know About a UTI in Dogs
Urinary tract infections are one of the most common health problems for dogs. As pet parents, you can help prevent UTIs with supplements that support kidney, bladder, and urinary tract health. To protect your pup from UTIs, you should know the signs and symptoms and get your dog to the vet if you suspect an infection. What’s more, you can support good urinary tract health with diet, regular pee breaks, good hygiene, and high-quality supplements. 1. How Dogs Get a UTI The urinary tract includes the urethra, bladder, ureters (tubes...
Do Dogs Like Music?
Music has an undeniable impact on humans. But do dogs like music? Considering that dogs can’t tell us exactly how they feel, the answer isn’t conclusive. But some studies have shown positive responses in dogs. It’s a tough question to answer, says dog behavior expert and VCA Animal Hospitals Vet Tech Ali Creighton, because there is no proven way to determine whether a dog is actually enjoying music. “Studies have shown positive responses in behavior and body language, but this is something that is going to vary dog to...
Get Your Daily Dose of Serotonin By Watching This Guy Grooming a Giant Fluff of Alaskan Malamute
As a pet parent, there are various tasks that you need to prioritize to properly care for your fur baby. There are responsibilities that you do on a daily basis while others after a span of months. Aside from providing your pets with basic needs, their cleanliness must be a part of your care routine. You can take them for a bath at your very own home, but others also choose a professional groomer. That option especially applies to dogs with long fur and need to be trimmed after growing it for months. Through grooming, they are...
Hippo Siblings Engage in a Hilarious Yet Adorable Quarrel in Cincinnati Zoo
Sibling relationships differ in every family, but one common denominator is fighting with each other for various reasons. Sometimes it’s because you just want to annoy them, or get their attention. It’s a rather complex way of expressing love towards siblings, which is both adorable and hilarious. A day won’t pass by without screaming and throwing insults at one another. You and your siblings will be fighting about the smallest matters. Your parents are completely desensitized from those daily banters because all of you have...
Senior Dog Abandoned at Shelter Lives Out Last Days with a Bucket List
Biggs is a senior dog with an unclear age. He’s thought to be 10 or older, but no one is sure. What is clear is that he ended up at a shelter, a tough fate for a pooch his age. He was saved from death row, though, and is spending what time he has left with a foster who’s filling his last days with happiness and adventure. Biggs was pulled from a full shelter in southern Virginia, thanks to the Fredericksburg-based nonprofit One By One Deathrow Dog Rescue, which gives dogs set to be euthanized a second chance at life. For Biggs,...
