Squirrels as Drug Sniffers? In China, They’ve Trained 6 Already!
Move over, drug-sniffing dogs, you’ve got some competition. Traditionally, the job of sniffing out illegal narcotics has fallen to dogs, largely due to the 300 million olfactory receptors located in their adorable noses. But police in China have recruited their first-ever team of drug-sniffing squirrels made up of six Eurasian reds. They were “successfully trained” for the task by the Public Security Bureau of the Hechuan District in Chongqing, southwestern China. Photo: Pixabay/Ralphs_Fotos...
Purina Recalls Prescription Dog Food Over Potentially Dangerous Levels Of Vitamin D
When we welcome a dog into our homes, we do our best to take care of them in the best way possible. For some pet parents, that means giving their pups prescription dog food. Those who rely on certain lots of Purina prescription dog food should be aware that the company recently issued a recall after dogs got sick after eating the food. Photo: Pexels/MART PRODUCTION Nestlé Purina PetCare Company produces a lot of pet food, and they’ve just issued a voluntary recall of specific prescription dog food over potentially dangerous...
Sharing Stories, Shaping the Future: A HASS Town Hall
[embedded content] Listen to this thought-provoking discussion where we delved into the past, present, and future of the Human Animal Support Services project. Hear from Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services; Spencer Conover, Assistant Director of Animal Services for Pasco County Animal Services; Kylie Ortega, HASS Programs Coordinator for Fresno Humane Animal Services; and Jorge Ortega, Director for Guilford County Animal Services about their insights into the evolution of HASS and the future of animal...
Kaya the German Shepherd: A Beloved Ambassador for Service Dogs and Veterans’ Mental Health
Kaya was a remarkable German shepherd who became a beloved ambassador for service dogs and veterans’ mental health across the United States. Sadly, Kaya left this world on February 4th, just shy of her 9th birthday. “Kaya greatest legacy is — and always will be — the veterans who reached out and told me that she inspired them to get their service dog,” Cole Lyle, Kaya’s owner, told NPR. “And if they hadn’t, they would have killed themselves.” Photo: Twitter / ctlyle1Service dog Kaya left...
Will You Be My Valentine?
Looking for love? Your search is over. BISSELL Pet Foundation is making it even easier for you to find true love this Valentine’s Day by hosting an Empty The Shelters event from February 9 – 15, 2023. They are “spreading the love” by sponsoring reduced adoption fees to $50 or less for shelter pets at over 40 animal shelters. Dogs and cat provide unconditional love and there are thousands waiting to be someone’s valentine. BISSELL encourages people to adopt a valentine. If you are in search of a sweet and...
How Reiki Can Help Your Dog or Cat Through Stressful Transitions
Life transitions can be stressful, and our animal companions are affected as much as we are. Reiki is a non-invasive healing modality that can help. Stress comes under many guises, both positive and negative. Moving to a new home; dealing with a separation or bereavement; seeing a child off to college for the first time; even adopting a new animal can all create stress not only in your human family members, but also in your dog or cat. Because they like routine and predictability, many dogs and cats find life transitions of any kind...
What Is a Dog Life Jacket?
Boating, surfing, kayaking, rafting, paddle boarding — these popular water sports are even more fun with your dog. Water safety is as important for dogs as it is for children. Your dog should always wear a dog life jacket in case he tires, needs an extra lift and to prevent a water-related drowning. Many people refer to canine floatation devices as dog life jackets or dog life vests. Criteria for best dog life jackets Look for a dog life jacket, or canine floatation device, with a strong handle on top that’s easy to grab....
Dog Leads Rescuers To Remote Turkish Village In Need of Earthquake Relief
A heroic dog saved the day when a truck filled with disaster relief supplies got lost in the Turkish mountains. The truck was attempting to bring aid to a remote village destroyed by the recent earthquake, but they couldn’t find their way. According to CNN, the earthquake resulted in the deaths of 36,000 people and counting, along with thousands more injured and a devastating loss of infrastructure. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Amir Sabbagh License: CC BY-SA 3.0 While the main rescue and relief efforts have been focused on the larger urban...
A Poor Fox Got Stuck in a Net in a Backyard Until a Rescue Group Arrived
The gap between human residence and animal habitats has become smaller and smaller due to modernization. Residential places are built close to areas abundant with different wild species. It may seem dangerous, but it’s actually safe because precautions are devised. You might encounter animals, but they’ll only appear once in a while. It’s best to leave them alone if they don’t intend to harm anyone. Sometimes they explore places out of curiosity or when there’s a lack of food and water resources. Do not take...
Community Partnership Resources for your animal organization
When animal services agencies connect with other organizations, both benefit to better support people and pets where they live. Creating relationships with human and environmental organizations that may not traditionally help animals offers a more holistic approach to care. That’s why the February Maddie’s® Pet Forum resource drive is focused on community partnerships! How to Participate in this Resource Drive? Upload or Share Community Partnership examples & resources on this thread Reply with a request for a...
Injured Kitten Follows Child Home, Family Spends Six Months Nursing Him Back to Health
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! About 13 years ago, a little yearling kitten followed a kid home from school. It was very cold, but he was very vocal and cheery, trotting alongside me like he already knew me. The cat seemed desperate for help, even rubbing on the neighbor’s dog and crying. Nobody knew who he was or where he came from. Knowing that it would get cold that night, my mom set him up in a dog pen in the...
Adoptable Chinese Shar Pei, Nala, is Always Happy to See Her People
The Shar Pei is an ancient dog dating back more than 2,000 years to China’s Han Dynasty. They are known for being steadfastly loyal to family. While the breed is well-known in the West for its deep wrinkles, a traditional, less wrinkled form of the animal is said to be maintained in Hong Kong. But none of that matters to Nala, as looks mean nothing to her. What is important is that she meets someone who wants to include her as a cherished family member for the rest of her life. Photo: Pima Animal Care Center Adoptable Rescue Dogs Nala...
These Pets Are Having a More Comfortable Stay in the Shelter, Thanks to You
Waiting in a shelter for a forever home can take some time. For many pets, months could drag on. With your help, though, plenty of these pups and cats are having an easier and more comfortable wait. Thanks to your clicks, shopping for a cause, and donations on The Animal Rescue Site, 30 cats and dogs at City of Dothan Animal Services in Alabama got some needed supplies. Both shelter pets and those being adopted received items including leashes, collars, toys, treats, and boxes. These were distributed through Greater Good Charities’...
No More Crazy Cat Lady, Feline Fanciers Are “In” on Dating Apps
A recent poll suggests that cat owners are not wasting away in a barren dating landscape full of people with negative impressions of cat owners. If anything, they appear to be doing just fine, if not better. In a review of 1,000 American cat owners versus 1,000 individuals who don’t have any, data assembled found that marriage rates among either group were, for all intents and purposes, essentially the same at 79 percent. In fact, if anything, cat owners’ love lives are doing slightly better, as they are more likely to be involved...
Top 5 Ways To Show Your Pet Love This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and there’s no better day to show your pet how much you care about them. If you’re looking for some inspiration, just take a look at our top five ways on how to show your pet some love this Valentine’s Day. Switch to a fresh diet The way to your pet’s heart is often through their stomach, so one of the best ways you can show your love is by making the switch to a fresh diet. Refrigerated, fresh food offers numerous benefits including: Healthier skin and coat Better...
Redditor Asks Whether She Should Have Childproofed Her House – Though She Doesn’t Have a Child
Would you childproof your house if you didn’t have a child? Probably not. But one mom came unglued on her childless sister-in-law for not being more prepared before she brought her friends and their gaggle of children over. Who’s right and who’s wrong in this Reddit battle? Read on to find out what Reddit thought. The original poster (OP) started out her post by saying, “I will admit, this all seems weird to me.” Photo: Adobe Stock/Krakenimages.com She went on to explain that she and her SO do not have any...
Former Turtle Egg Poachers in the Philippines Turn Protectors
Growing up in the Philippines, construction worker Johnny Manlugay combs the beaches each night for the eggs of sea turtles. He knows exactly what to look for, as he was trained as a child by his grandfather on how to locate the animals and their eggs. Back then, his family traded or ate them. It wasn’t about getting rich as much as it was just a part of life. Photo: Pixabay/Kanenori Endangered Sea Turtles Manlugay has since turned over a new leaf. Instead, he uses his tracking skills to protect the marine turtles that visit the beaches...
Ready, Set, Rally!
Feb 13, 2023 As one of Austin Subaru’s 2023 “pillar partners,” APA! has the opportunity to attend several events hosted or sponsored by the philanthropic company throughout the year! Ready, Set, Rally was the first of these events, which took place on February 4th. Austin Subaru recently welcomed a “dealership dog” and used this event to welcome Rally to the team! Taking place just days after one of Austin’s historic winter weather events, this event was welcomed with the warmth of the sunshine and the...
Keep Up with the Spanish Water Dog Breed
The Spanish Water Dog was developed on the Iberian Peninsula (which covers Spain and Portugal) to hunt, help farmers, herd and assist fisherman. Although his name makes him sound like he’d belong in the Sporting Group (and indeed he does like both water and sports), the American Kennel Club placed him in the herding group because of his strong herding history and instincts. The breed was fully recognized by the AKC in 2015. The dog was ranked 145th in popularity in 2021 by the AKC. How much does the Spanish Water Dog weigh? Male Spanish...
Woman Found a Mystery Egg, Nurtured It Until It Hatched, and Met the Sweetest Turkey She Has Ever Known
Animals who you randomly met in life and connected with will always hold a special place in your heart. You never planned on having them, but they have given you extra happiness. The universe has allowed you to meet as part of each other’s development. You’ll learn unconditional love from them and treat the animal just like your own. There’s always a wonderful bond between animals and humans. It does not only happen with cats and dogs — even those from the wild can be your best bud. You’ll inevitably encounter...
