Resources to incorporate more welcoming practices at your animal organization
With the Open Arms Challenge kicking off next month, the Maddie’s® Pet Forum resource drive for March is focused on welcoming practices. We know that making changes to your organization’s existing practices can sometimes be challenging, so the goal with this resource drive is to share and learn from others who have made changes or help those who are hoping to make specific changes to intentionally connect with all areas of your community. As always, everyone who uploads a file, shares a resource on this thread or replies with...
Hippo Therapy? Hannah the Hippo Says “Yes, Please”
With winter nearing its end and spring rapidly approaching, everyone’s favorite ambassador hippo, Hannah Shirley, wanted to offer a little reminder about the importance of prioritizing self-care. It’s important for maintaining emotional health and well-being as well as physical health. For example, Hannah enjoys a little garnish added to her water to make it fancier and more fun to stay hydrated. (While she prefers hay, she encourages you to choose whatever is special to you — cucumbers, strawberries or lemon slices may be...
Researchers Finally Understand Why Fish Need To Look Down When They Swim
Fish swim, but how do they know where to go and how do they remain seemingly in place sometimes? Like flocks of sheep, do they have the instinct of just following whoever’s in front of them? Do they just swim along with the current? Or do they orientate themselves using something else? PHOTO: Unsplash/NOAA In an interesting short video posted by Northwestern University, a single zebrafish shows an immediate reaction whenever the shadows underneath them shift their pattern. According to researchers, fish have developed an adaptive...
Petite, Puppy-Like Orah is a Gem of a Dog that Would Love to Be Your Companion
Meet Orah! Orah is a pretty lady who came to Pima Animal Care Center as a stray. She was cruising around Tucson, Arizona, with a few of her pals, but with the summer heat and the monsoons rolling in, it was time to find some shelter. Well, summer turned to fall and fall to winter, and, well, you know how seasons work. Adorable Orah has found herself waiting for a home for much longer than anyone ever expected — including her!! Photo: Pima Animal Care Center Rescue Pets While she was somewhat shy when she first arrived at PACC, Orah has...
‘Wild’ Apartment Complex Stray Finally Finds Home in One of the Units
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! Crazy was the resident stray at our apartment complex; she was already here when we moved in. The neighbors gave her the name because she was wild and vicious. She was pregnant more often than not, but she’d always have her babies in the woods. We never saw them. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / JACKIELOU DL We began leaving food out for her so she would, at the very least, be well-fed enough...
Zillow Releases the Names of the Top 10 Pet-Friendly Cities in America for Renters
So, you’re a pet owner that has decided to forego homeownership, or perhaps you sold your humble abode during the recent housing boom. Either way, you own a pet(s) and you still need a decent place to live. If you’re not averse to moving, and maybe that was your plan all along, there are 10 cities in particular that are being touted as the pet-friendliest for renters. Photo: Pixabay/KBaucherel According to a recent survey by Zillow, the takeaway in rental trends is that more people are searching for rentals that allow pets since...
Wary Tuxedo Kitty Saved From Streets is Ready for a Forever Home
A sweet tuxedo kitty by the name of Bombay was rescued from the streets of southern Arizona after showing his caretaker that he was friendly and ready to come inside. Since being in a foster home, Bombay has learned the luxury of great food, cat tv, toys, catnip, and comfy beds. At approximately 6 years old, he does take some time to adjust, as an adult in a new environment would. With patience, love, and treats, he will gain trust. Photo: SACatRescue Cat Rescues Bombay needs an experienced cat owner who understands he has some quirks and...
Emotional Support Dogs Making Inroads into Helping Law Enforcement Officers
Everybody could use an atta boy or girl, a kind look or word, a sympathetic ear, or just a shoulder to cry on every now and then, and the people who work in law enforcement are no different. ESA (emotional support animals) organizations are predominantly nonprofit groups run on a volunteer basis. The handlers and their dogs make visits because they know the impact the animals can have on humans. It’s not unusual for these selfless folks and their furry companions to visit police stations and emergency call centers to help ease stress...
GreaterGood Supports First Aid Responders After A Ukraine Apartment Was Hit A By Rocket
https://d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_4440.mp4 As Ukraine continues to defend its borders against Russia’s attacks, GreaterGood continues to fundraise and donate much-needed supplies and food to people impacted by the war. Many surviving Ukrainians are living in their dachas (summer houses), which are ill-equipped for winter use, in shelters, or with relatives in cramped quarters. It is not uncommon for the electricity to go off for periods of time, which means access to heat, light, and other amenities is...
Successful Composting Program for Dog Waste in New York to Expand
Dog owners and their pups visiting the North End Avenue Dog Run in New York’s Battery Park City have the option of composting animal waste rather than bagging it. Launched in 2019 by the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA), the goal is twofold: get excrement out of landfills and off city streets. Most people very likely don’t know this, but when disposing of dog-doo in a plastic bag, the poop produces the greenhouse gas methane, which feeds global warming. If left to break down on its own, it runs off into our river systems when it...
Kitten Season is Here Again, and We’ve Got Resources for You
Well, it’s that time of year again. Kitten season. You’re either in it already, or the kittens are coming. You don’t need us telling you how hard kitten season is, especially in these very challenging times. The good news is we have a lot of tools and resources that will help you communicate with and engage your community, in the work of saving cats’ and kittens’ lives. 6 Tips for Building a Barrier-Free, Inclusive Foster Base When the ASPCA launched its LA Foster Program in 2017, a first...
How to Teach a Dog to Swim
Swimming is a fun activity for dogs, and while some automatically know how to swim, many dogs aren’t comfortable with water and need to learn how. Teaching your dog to swim or taking your dog to swimming lessons reinforces the idea that being in and around the water is going to be a positive experience. Before teaching your dog to swim: follow these three water-safety tips: Wear swim clothes so you can go into the water with your dog. Bring a properly fitted dog life jacket or life vest. These dog life jackets, also called canine...
Why Some Pet Parents Choose In-Home Euthanasia
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...
Feral Cat Becomes So Lovable, She Drools When She Gets Pets
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! The first time I saw her, it was a February day and she was sitting on the front steps of my house. She was staring up at the front door, practically asking someone to let her in. Two years earlier, we had lost our cat named Sara to kidney failure. Seeing that tortie sitting there, it felt as if Sara was reaching out from beyond the Rainbow Bridge and saying “help her.” CAT....
Sweet Pup “Bringer” Needs a Reprieve From Shelter Noise ASAP
Meet Bringer, a sweet pibble that’s not quite 3 years old and weighs approximately 60 pounds. Bringer is neutered and current on vaccinations, but that’s the boring stuff. The people who know Bringer best have far more interesting things to say about this handsome fella. For instance, shelter staff at Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson had this to say about him: Bringer is kind of an odd name, isn’t it? It definitely begs the question of what exactly he’s bringing… Well, the answer is simple. This happy young guy...
Insurance Provider Shares Entertaining Reasons for Claims Involving Dogs, and We Can All Relate
U.K. and Canadian insurance provider Aviva has revealed some of the claims submitted by policyholders with dogs, and most of us pet parents can relate. According to the carrier, dogs have been a factor in close to 4,000 accidental damage claims over the past five years. They include instances ranging from damaged laptops to damaged dentures, and they all had one thing in common: their dogs were to blame — or at least being blamed. Almost any dog owner has had at least one pair of their favorite shoes devoured at some point in life, so...
Senior Hound Adopted After Waiting 7 Years At North Carolina Shelter
Mitch arrived as an emaciated stray dog seven years ago at Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, a no-kill animal shelter in Jackson County, North Carolina. They never gave up hope that one day he would find a loving home. Staff and volunteers showered the sweet hound with love and attention as he waited for someone to give him a chance. The years passed by, but Mitch remained hopeful that one day he would meet his person. The laid-back fella was spoiled with Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas presents but one thing was missing – a family...
Shelter Dog Marie Hopes It Will Be Her Turn For A “Freedom Ride” Soon
Patience is a virtue, and 5-year-old shelter dog Marie has been more than patient. For the past 140 days, she has watched countless dogs find their forever homes and patiently waits by her kennel door for her chance. As the days go by, she wonders if it will ever be her turn… Humane Society of Broward County in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, shared that the American Staffordshire Terrier Mix is nicknamed “Mermaid” because she is ready to make a splash with you. She loves to play and be close to people but will need to be the only...
ZIWI Combines Top Quality Pet Nutrition with Convenience
Giving your dog or cat a healthy diet doesn’t have to be complicated, thanks to a company that blends high quality nutrition with the convenience of ready-to-serve food. A healthy diet means a healthy dog or cat, and that’s what most of us want for our animal companions. But some people hesitate to step up their game when feeding their dogs and cats because they worry it’ll be too difficult or complicated. Not so, especially when it comes to companies like ZIWI, which makes top quality pet foods that are also simple and...
How To Cool Down a Dog In The Summer
Tap into some cooling vests to keep Fido comfortable in the summer heat. You want one that is easy to use, is well constructed and is proven to keep a dog cool. $69. bArctic Light Therapy Dog Shirt. This shirt cools in hot sun to reduce the risk of overheating while converting sunlight into healthy red and near-infrared light through laser physics and optics (like your vet’s laser treatments). Can be warm all year as also warms in cool temps. Comes in a variety of from 3XS to 3XL-long and in four colors: gray with orange, blue or mint...
