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...
Why Victims Stay With Their Abusers When Pets Are Involved, And How You Can Help
Studies show as many as 65% of pet owning women will delay leaving an abusive home due to fear for the lives of their pets, putting them further in harm’s way. Outside the situation, it can be hard to understand why someone would stay in a relationship that results in physical, emotional, and physiological harm, Psych Central reports. Photo: Adobe Stock / Diego Cervo65% of pet owning women will delay leaving an abusive home due to fear for the lives of their pets, putting them further in harm’s way. The truth is, walking away from...
Interacting with Dogs Increases Brain Activity, Study Finds
There are so many benefits to owning and being around dogs. Aside from relieving stress, encouraging exercise, and filling our hearts with joy, a recent study found that interacting with dogs increases brain activity. Researchers are intrigued by the mental and physical impacts dogs have on their humans. They are after all man’s (and woman’s) best friend. Countless studies have been done to see how dogs improve our health, ease anxiety and depression, and so much more. A study published in PLUS ONE examined how spending time with...
Be Ready for Higher Medical Bills with These Dog Breeds
Being a dog guardian costs money, and some breeds cost more than others. Knowing what breeds are more expensive can help you budget accordingly to keep your new dog healthy and happy. When it comes to vet bills, certain breeds tend to have higher medical costs than others. Forbes Advisor recently put together a list of dog breeds with the highest average medical costs, so if you’re looking at a specific breed, then you can use these numbers to help budget for being a dog guardian. It’s also important to remember that some breeds...
This Shelter Pays Pet Deposits and Pet Rent for Anyone Who Needs It
Across the country, pets are being given up to animal shelters by people who love them—but who are facing housing challenges that leave them making the choice between having a place to live, and keeping their pet. Lawrence Humane Society, a nonprofit, open-admission shelter in Lawrence, Kansas, reports that over the last year, over half of pets were surrendered due to housing issues—a full 51 percent. In the fall of 2020, LHS developed a comprehensive pet retention program—they call it their Crisis Pet Retention...
Watch the Behavior Track from the 2022 Shelter Medicine Conference
The 2022 ASPCA® Cornell Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Conference features lectures on a variety of critical and engaging topics. The Behavior Track, specifically, is now available on Maddie’s® University! You’ll learn about what the science says about behavior assessments in shelters, a trauma-informed approach to behavioral care, review case studies, the effects of short-term foster care and more! The courses are a unique educational opportunity for veterinarians and other animal well-being professionals to...
Blind Rescued Pitbull Loves His New Little Dog Friends
Pitbulls sometimes have a difficult time getting rescued from pounds, but if you are a blind pitbull that is also a senior dog, you will likely spend a long time at the shelter. That is, unless Shira with The Animal Rescue Mission is there to help. Photo: YouTube/The Dodo When Petey, who is a pitbull that is blind and a senior dog, was at the pound for a long time, Shira came in and saved the day. She even took a video of them leaving the shelter and Petey going on his freedom walk. You might think that a senior blind pitbull would have a...
Dog Plagued With Allergies Gets Some Help And A New Home
Life can be difficult for a dog at the pound. Rhodie is one dog who knows this all too well. After arriving at the Humane Society of Pike’s Peak Region, they discovered that she had some problems and was in a lot of pain. According to their Facebook post, rescuers noticed that she was missing fur around her eyes, ears, and paws. She also suffered from poor skin and was bright red and sensitive when you touch her. That was when the rescuers realized that she needed some medical attention. The veterinary team that works along with the...
Neglected Husky Trapped In Backyard Is Finally Freed After Years Of Loneliness
Our hearts really go out to dogs that don’t have the companions they need or deserve in life. Those of us who have dogs by our side realize that they not only crave companionship, they are the best companions we could have. Perhaps that is why someone was so concerned when they noticed that their neighbor’s dog was being neglected. The dog was a husky, named Joey, and he was left outside 24 hours a day. Photo: YouTube/The Asher House According to The Asher House, that neighbor, who also turned out to be a Good Samaritan,...
Wildcats May Be Reintroduced to South West England After Being Extirpated From the Region
Once common across the United Kingdom, the European wildcat is now found only in Scotland, where it’s on the verge of extinction. Hunters extirpated the animal from most of Wales and England by the 18th century, but wildlife advocates are looking into bringing them back to one region in England. The Devon Wildlife Trust, a charity that manages 60 nature reserves in the county of Devon, has launched a project exploring the possibility of reintroducing wildcats to South West England. They hope to appoint a Wildcat Project Officer to lead...
Brave Cat “Kneads Dough” On Rottweiler’s Back
The relationship between cats and dogs is really something interesting. On one hand, they’re known for being enemies, but on the other hand, they can make the best of friends. In other cases, though, cats and dogs have a different relationship entirely. Sometimes, they form a love-hate relationship or feel indifferent toward one another. Photo: YouTube/kpettway1 It’s hard to tell what’s really going on in their heads but one thing is certain: We love our pets and think it’s super adorable when they get along! YouTuber...
Golden Retriever Uses Christmas Tree As A Giant Chew Toy
With Christmas fast approaching, many people are gearing up for the holiday by getting a Christmas tree. It’s a fun tradition that many families partake in and having a tree in the house really brings joy to some people. Personally, getting a Christmas tree is one of my favorite parts of the whole year. There’s just something about the smell of pine needles and stringing lights that makes my heart so happy. My dog, on the other hand, would prefer I keep the tree outside. Photo: YouTube/morganb2003 For pet owners, bringing a tree...
Tiny Kitten Says Hello To Staffy And Can’t Stop Playing With His Tail
Dogs and cats are notorious enemies but that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions. In fact, a lot of dogs and cats that live in the same family are like siblings to each other! Growing up, my family had a dog that was the gentlest soul. He and our cat got along so well, they’d often be found snuggling together in the sunny spots of the yard and they’re not alone with their relationship. Just ask Vicki Reed! Photo: YouTube/Vicki Reed Back in 2013, she shared a video of her Staffordshire Bull Terrier meeting the...
Man Films Border Collie Running Through “Doggy Heaven” In Sweet Viral Video
A TikTok user who goes by the nickname “Sean the Sheepman” has been stealing hearts on the internet, but it’s not his good looks or sheep herding skills that are catching people’s attention. Instead, it’s his work dogs! You see, Sean is a sheep farmer in Scotland and he works alongside some well-trained border collies. He shares videos of his life on the farm featuring his dogs and people can’t get enough. Photo: TikTok/@seanthesheepman According to the American Kennel Club, the border collie is described...
Understanding Sudden Vision Loss in Dogs
Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome, aka SARDS, is a medical condition wherein a dog suddenly loses its vision over a period of several days to a matter of weeks. More commonly seen in older canines between the ages of 8 and 10 that are mixed breeds, it also tends to afflict spayed females for some reason. Unfortunately, the condition cannot be reversed. SARDS in Dogs While all canines regardless of breed can be struck by SARDS, some — such as dachshunds, beagles, and pugs — are reportedly predisposed to it. At the same...
Abandoned Senior Dog with Vision Impairment Gets Second Chance with New Family
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! At our local PetSmart, we went inside the adoption center and looked at cats and dogs. On the dog side, it was chaos, everyone barking or starting to bark once you came up to the cage. We looked at all of them and read their stories. Then there was her. DOG. PHOTO: PIXABAY / 15299 Bottom cage, staring out, not really looking at anything, not making a peep, looking pitiful. Sign: Madison....
Dug Up at Dogster: December 2022 Dog Events and Dog Holidays
Happy December! While you’re collecting little goodies to stuff in your dog’s stocking, consider picking up an extra for your local shelter. The dogs – and the staff – will appreciate the love! Many animal shelters and animal rescue organizations run adoption and fundraising campaigns during the holiday months, which we’ve listed in our December dog events. We want to see your holiday spirit! Show us how you and your #dogsterdogs are enjoying your holiday season by tagging us in your photos on social media....
2022’s Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Pets
Believe it or not, the year is coming to an end which means one thing: It’s time for our 2022 pet gift guide! We’ve put together the ultimate holiday gift guide for pets, with gifts divided into three unique categories so there’s something for everyone. Budget-friendly The first category in our 2022 pet gift guide is budget-friendly gifts. These gifts may be easy on your wallet, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t be memorable! Plan a special day together: Put together an itinerary for a day full of your...
Snoop Doggie Doggs! Dig into Snoop Dogg’s New Petwear Brand
Legendary rapper, businessman, media personality and creator of the Snoop Youth Football League, Snoop Dogg digs into a new line of apparel and accessories for his furry friends (and us!) called Snoop Doggie Doggs! The lineup is filled with dog apparel, accessories and plush toys, inspired from Snoop’s rapper lifestyle and launched right before the 2022 Christmas holiday. We asked Robert Brandegee, President of Little Earth Productions, who partnered with Snoop Dogg, about the new lineup. Dogster: We know Snoop Dogg loves dogs....
Top 5 ways to properly care for your senior pet
A senior cat or dog needs a different level of care than when they were young. The older your pet gets the more they’ll show signs of aging like arthritis, muscle loss, loss of hearing and eyesight, weight gain or loss, lethargy and more. Luckily, there are five things you can do regularly to help your beloved senior pet age comfortably and with ease. The first step is to stay on top of your senior pets’: 1) Veterinary Care No matter your pet’s age, you should be taking them for regular veterinary check-ups to ensure...
