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,...
Adoptable and Adorable Fran Needs a Strong Pack Leader to Take Charge in Her Life
Say hello to Fran, a sweet, pudgy girl interviewing for a forever family. She’s a 5-year-old Lab mix who, while petite in stature, is working on regaining her girlish figure. It’s hard when you love to eat, right? Other things she loves besides food and treats are walks, belly rubs, pets, and lots of loving from her special people. Fran is house- and doggy-door trained and gets along well with other dogs, especially those that are calm and respectful. She’s not sure about cats, though, because she hasn’t seen one up...
MSC Cruises Creates Training Program in Conjunction with ORCA to Reduce Whale Collisions
MSC Cruises just announced that it’s partnered up with the U.K.-based marine conservation group ORCA to reduce the likelihood of collisions with whales, dolphins, and porpoises in oceans around the world via an online training program they’re rolling out. This is great news, as large ships are thought to be responsible for numerous injuries and deaths among whales and other aquatic creatures. As just one example, a lone whale known as “Moon” swam thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean with a broken spine after...
Cat Labeled ‘Feral’ Meows Up a Storm Until Someone Pets Him
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! One August, I was volunteering for Spay Day. There were over 100 kitties there that day and a lot of meowing was heard. The feral kitties were separate from the adoptables, and one tiny “feral” kitty was meowing so loud he was heard above all the others. I stopped a few times to try and calm him down, and finally, I put my fingers in the cage (a no no with the ferals) and the...
Is Online Shopping Contributing to Whale Deaths?
The latest theory on whale deaths is that the creatures are being driven further into open waters due to climate change and that they’re inadvertently ending up in the path of cargo ships carrying merchandise for online shoppers. Since December 2022, nearly two dozen whales have washed up along the east coast of the U.S., as reported by The New York Times. A sharp increase in online shopping has resulted in more cargo ships churning through shipping lanes around the world. According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric...
CVS and Other Merchants in NYC Turn to Dogs to Stop Shoplifters
Dogs are a part of so many aspects of our lives, including taking on jobs once performed by humans. Now, in New York City, businesses like CVS are starting to think outside the box when it comes to shoplifting deterrents. Shoplifting has become a major issue across the country for many years now, reportedly costing U.S. retailers an estimated $94.5 billion last year. An initiative launched in the heart of the Big Apple in February saw CVS, located at Eighth Avenue and West 34th Street in the heart of the shopping district, take proactive...
Maine Sheriff’s Office Saves Senior Dog Nearly Frozen To Death And Reunites Her With Owner
A senior dog was let outside by her elderly owner on the night of February 24th to go to the bathroom, but never returned. The concerned owner waited up all night hoping her beloved dog would come home. Early in the morning of February 25th, Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a dog lying in the road and immediately responded. The temperature was in the single digits when Deputy Mark Anderson spotted the female dog in the ditch which appeared “almost frozen to death”. Photo: Pixabay The department posted,...
9 Reasons To Adopt A Cat
International Rescue Cat Day is celebrated every year on March 2nd to raise awareness about the thousands of homeless cats and to encourage people to adopt. We thought we would celebrate by sharing 9 reasons (although there are dozens more) why you should adopt a cat. They ask for so little and enhance our lives in so many ways. Read on and be sure to share this with your friends and family! Endless Entertainment Photo: Pixabay You will find yourself watching less television because you will be busy watching your new feline play and run...
How to Trim Dog Paw Hair
Is your dog sliding across the floor? Or coming inside with ice balls stuck between his toes? Sounds like he’s overdue for a paw hair trim! Head to the groomers for a professional job, or try your hand at trimming dog paw hair yourself. How to trim dog hair between paws yourself Kathy McFall, certified professional pet groomer and owner of Kathy’s Pet Salon, recommends starting with ballpoint scissors (or a small electric razor) and a slicker brush. Here are Kathy’s paw hair-trimming tips: Step 1. Lay small dogs on your lap...
Visiting a Cat Café in the Happiest Country in the World
For the past five years, Finland has ranked number one in world happiness reports. Are the country’s cats as happy as their human counterparts? I wanted to find out, so on a visit to Finland last summer, I dropped into the Helkatti Cat Café in downtown Helsinki. There are three cat cafés in Finland – that may not seem like much, but it’s not bad for a small country with a population of only 5.6 million, along with strict laws concerning animals and food prep. All three of Finland’s cat cafés are...
Pangolins: Shy, Unique, Toothless Mammals Facing Extinction Due to Illegal Trade
Pangolins, the shy and elusive mammals with reptilian appearances, have existed on Earth for about 60 million years. These unique, toothless creatures feed on ants and termites, using their sticky tongues to pick up food, A-Z Animals reports. They are nocturnal animals that lead solitary lives, coming together only during mating season. Their bodies are covered in scales, which serve as a natural shield from predators. When threatened, they have the ability to quickly roll into a tight ball and use their sharp-scaled tails to defend...
Netizens Applauded the Firefighters Who Rescued an Elk That Fell in an Ice Pond
People who continue to serve the community with courage and dedication to ensure everyone’s safety are modern day heroes. It’s only right to applaud them, especially when they rescue others amidst a perilous situation. Firefighters are one of those heroes that need to be recognized. Even though they say it’s just part of their job, it’s still inspiring how they chose a line of work that could harm them. They have saved countless people from fires, transported citizens to the hospital, and rescued those trapped in...
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 Care, Capacity for Care, Shelter Software & Data, Barrier Busting and Outcome Decisions. After the Summit, you can choose one or more of the five topics to continue learning and start...
3-Year-Old English Setter Has World’s Longest Dog Tongue
A dog’s tongue can impact the sound of his bark, help him groom, and help him cool down on a hot day with some panting. One dog’s tongue has also earned him a place in the record books. Three-year-old English Setter Bisbee’s tongue was recently named the longest on a living dog, measuring in at 9.49 centimeters, or 3.74 inches. The measurement starts at the tip of the snout, going out to the tip of the tongue, and a qualified vet must perform the measurement to count. Bisbee’s humans, Jay and Ericka Johnson, had...
Two Senior Cats Become Smitten with Each Other
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! Carmen was found dumped in a culvert with her five siblings by a nice medic who worked with my husband. We brought her into our home to help take away some of the stress of bottle feeding five kittens who hadn’t even opened their eyes yet. CATS. PHOTO: PIXABAY / PETER JUNG We like to say that Carmen was raised by my King Shepherd, who simply adored her. As Carmen grew, her pure...
