Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?
Emergency vet bills average between $800 and $1,500, and some procedures can cost in the thousands. Pet insurance helps cover the cost of emergency medical care for your BFF, but it can often end up just as pricey. This has many pet parents wondering—is pet insurance worth the cost? We know you’d do anything for your fur family—we would, too! But pet parent life comes with uncertainties—like puppies eating shoes and kittens tumbling from high surfaces. It’s not our fault, but it is our responsibility to take care...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Shelter cats webcast, Candid Conversations and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Apply soon: Maddie’s® Online Instructor-Led CoursesApply starting Tuesday, December 13! Maddie’s Fund® Online Instructor-Led Courses provide an interactive educational opportunity for those who are looking to benefit from the wisdom of established innovative programs. They’re the catalyst you need to take your programs and learning to the next level! Class size is limited and the selection process is competitive. View courses Watch the...
Blind Dog Care Tips to Help Your Fur Baby Feel Much More Comfortable at Home
Losing one of your senses is definitely something hard to accept, especially since it’s necessary to navigate one’s daily life. If it’s already difficult for humans, what more is blindness for dogs? Their other senses are heightened when they lose sight, but that doesn’t mean things get easier. Dog blindness is caused by several health issues, such as acquiring cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and SARDS. Aside from these health issues, canines can be born blind due to a congenital disability, and other times it results...
10 Animals That Hibernate During the Winter
As cold weather sneaks in over the winter, many of us remain indoors as much as possible until it warms up a bit. There are plenty of animals that take the next step, by being practically immobile the entire season. Here are some of the animals that steer clear of winter altogether by hibernating. Bats PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK / MARTIN Bats, nature’s only free flying mammal, are not winging it when it comes to colder weather. While some species migrate to warmer climates during the winter, many enter a state known as torpor. This is when a...
Dementia Isn’t Just a Human Problem. It’s a Pet Problem, Too.
More and more data has come about in recent years pointing to the fact that keeping active and maintaining a regular exercise schedule can help keep dementia at bay in human beings. Well, now the same is thought to be true for our dogs. And why not? Exercise seems to protect brain health, whether you have two or four legs. Photo: Pixabay/AlkeMade Dementia in Dogs Cognitive decline in dogs can be stemmed by remaining active, according to research posted in Nature Scientific Reports. After analyzing data connected with more than 15,000 dogs,...
Timid Stray Settles Into Forever Home, Becomes Sneaky Bread Thief
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! Four years ago, we adopted a stray male black Labrador that was about 5- or 6-years-old. He’d been mistreated by his previous owners and was incredibly timid, missing most of his front teeth and had a cauliflower ear. He was also extremely nervous around men. On his first walk with us, something spooked him and he managed to slip free and run. We spent two agonising weeks searching...
53 Dogs Survive Plane Crash on Their Way to a Wisconsin Shelter
A harrowing story about a plane crashing with 53 dogs aboard has surfaced. It happened on November 15 while the plane was en route to the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha, Wisconsin, after departing New Orleans, Louisiana. The plane was so badly damaged after crashing onto the snow-covered Western Lakes Golf Course in Delafield, that both wings were ripped off during the terrifying landing. Bumps & Bruises Maggie Tate-Techtmann, director of organizational development at the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS), noted that the...
What is Whisker Fatigue in Cats?
Why would a cat’s whiskers get tired? Isn’t that what whisker fatigue means, tired whiskers? We’re envisioning, drooping whiskers barely able to get through the day due to the sheer exhaustion of it all. It’s meant to be funny, but is it really that far off? What is whisker fatigue and how do one’s whiskers get it? Photo: Pixabay/Pexels Whisker Fatigue in Cats According to Dr. Minta Keyes, retired DVM from Cat Vet Tucson, in basic terms, whisker fatigue is simply overstimulation of the sensory system of the...
Great Holiday Books for Dog Lovers
Dashing Through the Snowbirds Love animals? Then you’ll love all the books in the Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews. In the 32nd merry installment, Meg has her hands full with computer programmers, family, dogs and other animals while trying to solve a murder and make the season festive in the town of Caerphilly. $26.99. Minotaur Books Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off Christmas cookie bake-off with a sprinkle of murder along with a very cute Newfoundland named Wellington make for yummy reading in the second installment...
8 Nights of Our Favorite Hanukkah Dog Toys, Treats and Sweaters
Disclaimer: If you purchase items through links on our site we may earn a commission. Hanukkah starts on December 19, and with these festive dog accessories, toys and treats, your dog will know that she’s loved a latke. Celebrate Hanukkah with your dog with these Hanukkah dog accessories: Menorah Dog Bow Tie by Delight Dapple on Etsy. Starts $7. Your pup will be picture-perfect and ready to light to menorah in this adorable Hanukkah dog bow tie. Sizes range from extra-small to extra-large. 8 Nights of Hanukkah Box by Zippy Paws $45.99....
The Story of Bessy’s Sad Search for a Forever Home
Hello, my name is Bessy. I am a very pretty spayed female that’s an interesting mix of yellow and white Australian Kelpie and American Staffordshire Terrier. If you’re unfamiliar with my breed mixture, a Kelpie is a medium-sized sheepdog capable of mustering and droving livestock — primarily sheep, cattle, and goats — with little or no guidance. That makes me pretty darn smart! Photo: Pinal County Animal Care & Control Looking for Love But as clever as I am, my heart is broken, and I’ve been left confused as...
Is Your Dog Panting Excessively?
All dogs pant, especially when it’s hot out, but excessive panting could be a danger sign. Here’s what you need to know. Summer’s here, and your dog is frolicking in the grass. His tongue is lolling and he’s panting up a storm. Most of the time, a panting dog is little cause for concern. After all, every canine pants and there are numerous reasons why, most of which are perfectly normal. Excessive panting, however, can sometimes signal a problem that requires veterinary assistance. As a dog parent, it’s important...
You’ll Be Surprised at This Owl that Acts Like a Cat — It’s Totally Adorable!
Though owls and cats are from different animal species, they share certain personality traits. Both animals are quite observant and independent, making them seem aloof and disinterested. They love their personal space and are often caught in their own little worlds. But despite the cold facade, owls and cats still crave affection and attention. There are many videos on the internet showing how clingy cats can get, but it’s more rare for owls. Photo: Reddit/KreiaSensei There are few videos and photos showing an owl’s affectionate...
Northern Long-Eared Bat Now Classified as Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act
Many bat species have dwindling populations due to white-nose syndrome, which involves a fungus that grows on bats while they’re vulnerable during hibernation. Another species has been hit so hard that it has new federal protections. This week, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a final rule that reclassifies the northern long-eared bat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This upgrades its status from threatened, the level at which it had been since 2015. The new classification takes effect January...
13 Dog Breeds with Webbed Feet
It’s recommended that from the time dogs and cats are puppies and kittens humans should begin getting them used to having their feet touched and inspected. This helps when they’re older and pet parents or veterinarians need to check them for stickers, thorns, ticks, and any number of other reasons an inspection might be necessary. You may never have noticed before, but several dog breeds actually have webbed feet. That’s because they were bred for water activities. There are 13 in total, and we’re going to cover them...
Redditor Claims That Sun Bears Are, In Fact, Not Actual Bears
A Reddit post claims that sun bears are just humans wearing bear suits. And the video evidence they presented might just convince you. Before I show you the video, let me tell you more about this rare bear species. PHOTO: Unsplash/Darren Welsh Sun bears, also known as honey bears for their love of honey, got their name from the white or yellowish patch on their chest that Southeast Asian legends see as a representation of the rising sun. They are also known as dog bears because of their rather cute appearance. They may be the smallest of all...
Kitten Hiding in Office Storm Drain Coaxed Out By Persistent Employee
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! In 2014, I was walking toward my car at our office when I saw a small ball of gray fur jump into a storm drain. After getting into my car, I drove past the drain, and to my surprise, there the gray ball sat on a brick, but still inside the drain. It was a long-haired gray kitten that looked to be around 5-weeks-old. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / GUILLAUME VINCENT I immediately rushed to our vet,...
Spartacus and His Mighty . . . Dachshunds?
While it’s served a number of purposes in its lifetime, excavation and various research have been conducted at the Roman Colosseum since at least the early 1800s. Some years back, scientists even confirmed how the ancient elevators with their pulley systems were able to lift great numbers of gladiators to the arena above or scores of wild animals to thrill the eager crowds. This penchant for blood sports kept the traditions of the colosseum alive and well for close to 500 years. Photo: Pixabay/Ichigo121212 Colosseum Construction While...
The Adorable Pine Marten Is Making a Comeback in England
A cat-sized predator known as a pine marten has started to make a comeback in the south of England after teetering on the brink of extinction. It is hoped that doing so will help restore some balance to the forests between red squirrels and grey squirrels. The good news comes after scientists found evidence pine martens are breeding in the New Forest. A relative of stoats and otters, the animals were once widespread across the U.K. before hunting drove them to near extinction in the 1900s. Photo: Pixabay/PineMarten Conservation Efforts With...
Airman Has Emotional Reunion With Her Retired K9 Partner After Adopting Him
Thanks to the American Humane Society, retired military working dog Akim was not only able to reunite with his handler, Senior Airman Jenna Canada, but also found a forever home with her. While it isn’t always typical for military dogs to go home with their handlers, Jenna knew that she couldn’t be without her beloved Akim. Photo: YouTube/MilitaryKind “Leaving him was the last thing I wanted to do,” Jenna told MilitaryKind. “I love this dog, and I was very upset to have to leave him, and knowing that he was still...
