Woman Finally Realizes Why Her Adopted Dog Has Been Ignoring Her – He Only Knows Spanish
Communication is key in any relationship, especially the ones we have with our pets. While some dogs are stubborn and have selective hearing, an adopted dog named Max was not listening to commands because he didn’t understand what his new humans were saying. Kalee McGee adopted the 4-year-old male Chihuahua a few weeks ago, but just realized he only understands Spanish. Her hilarious revelation was revealed on TikTok and the video has gone viral with over a million views. Screenshot: TikTok/kaleemcgee Kalee described Max as...
This Deadly Poison Threatens Vulnerable Species In The U.S., And It’s Still Being Used
Sodium fluoroacetate is a highly toxic compound primarily used as a pesticide known commercially as Compound 1080. This compound is naturally found in certain plants in Australia, South Africa and Brazil. A small amount is all it takes to induce vomiting, convulsions, and possibly even cardiac arrest in humans, and is more than often lethal to smaller animals. It’s one of the world’s most deadly poisons, the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology reports, but the U.S. government still allows its use as a pest deterrent....
Liquid Probiotic For Cats & Dogs Recalled
On December 1, 2021, Livia Global, Inc voluntarily recalled two lots of its liquid probiotics, one for humans and another for dogs and cats, due to the possibility of contamination by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. “Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a microorganism found in the environment that, if ingested, can cause life-threatening infection in immunocompromised individuals,” states the FDA. Photo: Pexels/Marián Šicko No illnesses have been reported at this time. The voluntary recall occurred after the issue was found during a...
Stuff the Stockings with Care
If dogs could write letters to Santa Paws, they would definitely ask for tasty treats and, maybe, a dose of calmness. The upcoming holiday season coupled with this ongoing pandemic may trigger anxiety, stress and fear in some once mellow dogs. “There are some pets who adjust and adapt, but there are others who are desperately trying to find ways to cope,” says Dr. Lisa Radosta, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who operates the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Stress will get worse in...
Family Takes Cutout Version of Their Cat on All Their Adventures
This story has been shared as part of the Fur Fam Story Contest. Submissions were accepted through December 5th. Voting will run from December 6th through December 31st. Three grand prize winners will receive a $500 prize, plus $2000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. See all the stories here! Wiggles was abandoned by his mommy cat when he was around 12 days old. He was rescued by a good Samaritan who found him and reached out for someone to help. My mom and I stepped up to take him in. Having never cared for a kitten so young,...
Alligator Snapping Turtle Considered For Endangered Species List Due To Drastic Decline In Population
One of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America is disappearing at an alarming rate due to decades of legal and illegal harvesting, nest predation, and fishing activities. There are only an estimated 2,000 Suwannee alligator snapping turtles remaining in Florida and Georgia. After conducting a thorough review via a Species Status Assessment, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed they be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. These specific prehistoric-looking turtles are found only in the...
The Norwegian-Swedish Wolf Is Now Extinct
For centuries Norwegian-Swedish wolves made their homes in the vast Scandinavian forests. Today, the only place you will see one of these wolves is at a zoo. In the rest of the wild, the Norwegian-Swedish wolf is extinct. There are still wolves in Norway and Sweden, Phys.org reports, but they are most likely packs that have migrated from Finland and further after the Norwegian-Swedish wolves disappeared. Decades of hunting and habitat destruction have led to the Norwegian-Swedish wolf’s disappearance. “The original...
Ohio Man Celebrates His 50th Birthday By Walking 50 Shelter Dogs In One Day
Alex Johns from Cincinnati, Ohio, is celebrating a milestone birthday in a big way. He decided he wanted to give back for his 50th birthday and chose the animal shelter, Cincinnati Animal CARE, where he is a regular volunteer. He came up with the idea to walk 50 shelter dogs in one day as a way of raising awareness for all the homeless dogs. Posted by Cincinnati Animal CARE on Monday, December 6, 2021 His “Fifty by 50” idea was a two-part goal. It started out as an idea inspired by his grandfather who visited 49 states. Johns...
Overnight Lifesaving Support Needed
Dec 07, 2021 In September of this year, a fire at a pet boarding facility north of Austin tragically took the lives of 75 dogs in the middle of the night. Just days earlier, an overnight fire took nearly two dozen feline lives at a shelter in Florida. As much as we wish they were, these are not isolated cases. From natural causes like lightning and heat waves to accidents like electrical shorts, the causes of fire are innumerable. At Austin Pets Alive!, we are ever vigilant and hyper-aware of the devastating effects of fire. We know that the...
How sustainable is your dog or cat’s lifestyle?
Your four-legged friend’s carbon “pawprint” is probably larger than you think! Here are 8 ways to make his lifestyle more sustainable. Sustainability is a hot topic these days. McGill University in Montreal defines it as “meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” When we take steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle, we also need to factor our dogs and cats into the equation, and find ways to reduce their own carbon “pawprint”. What...
Holiday fostering resources for your animal shelter or rescue organization
This post originally ran in December 2019 during the Foster Express Challenge period. These resources are a great jumping off point to start or expand your foster offerings. Whether you are participating in our Foster Express Challenge or simply thinking about offering a holiday fostering program, we have everything you need to get you started! Holiday fostering is a gift for everyone. The dog or cat gets to experience a fun day out or simply is able to nap in a warm and cozy home. Shelters benefit from having a quieter space (which...
Superman Actor Credits Beloved Dog Kal With Saving His Mental Health
Henry Cavill is known for playing Superman, but the English actor knows the true source of his strength. According to CNN, Cavill was promoting the second season of his current project, The Witcher, when the actor applauded his dog, Kal, for preserving his mental health. “He really is (my best friend),” the action star told the show’s host, Lorraine Kelly. “We go everywhere together. He’s 8 now and he has saved my emotional, psychological bacon plenty of times.” Cavill and Kal are so close, in fact, that...
Beloved Campus K-9 Comforts Students After Bomb Threat On Campus
Officer Heidi is a trained K-9 and service dog working with the Yale Police Department. She’s also the first service dog posted to an Ivy League campus. “Meet Heidi, Yale Police’s service dog!” officers wrote on Facebook. “Her sole job is to be a calming, comforting presence for students, staff, faculty, hospital patients, and the community at large.” Officer Heidi is still relatively new, but she’s quickly become the most popular officer on campus. “She just makes my day so much...
Dog Showers His Mom with Snuggles and Makes Her Laugh During Cancer Treatment
This story has been shared as part of the Fur Fam Story Contest. Submissions were accepted through December 5th. Voting will run from December 6th through December 31st. Three grand prize winners will receive a $500 prize, plus $2000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. See all the stories here! We adopted Tracker in August 2019. In November 2019, I was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. “Wolfie” made it his job to take care of his momma! I didn’t train him, he just knows when I need his lovies and...
One-Eyed Chihuahua Wants A Home Of His Own For The Holidays After Spending The Past Year In A Shelter
Calling all women who love that “bad boy” personality… Meet Willie. This adorable six-year-old Chihuahua mix has been waiting at Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary for over a year, with little interest. He is described as a “complicated chap”, but who isn’t? All Willie wants this Christmas is a home to call his own… Can you help by sharing his plea 🥰Wee man Willie has been… Posted by Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary on Saturday, December 4, 2021 With the holidays just around the corner, he...
Arizona Firefighters Help Rescue Kitten Trapped In Sewer Drain For A Week
A tiny kitten trapped in a sewer drain in Phoenix, Arizona, meowed until help arrived. Phoenix Fire Station 61 arrived to save the ginger feline after receiving multiple calls from people who heard “meowing” coming from an underground pipe. Phoenix Fire Department posted, “We save cats out of trees, drains, or wherever they may be! 🐈” Photo: Facebook/Phoenix Fire Department Arizona Humane Society’s (AHS) Emergency Animal Medical Technicians assisted in the two-day rescue and said it took “all hands...
On the Twelfth Fail of Christmas
My German Shepherds, Fritz and Mina, love the holidays. While they’re very intuitive and sensitive, absorbing and reflecting the extra gaiety and joy of the season, they also have been known to land on Santa’s “naughty list.” Here are some of my dogs’ Christmas capers — and some shared by friends, neighbors and family — that might sound all too familiar. Countdown to a vet visit When my first German Shepherd, Greta, was an 18-month-old monster — er, I mean puppy — she discovered and ate 23...
Do dogs grieve?
Dogs may not experience and process grief the same way we do, but the behavioral changes that occur after a human or animal companion passes indicate they do feel a sense of loss and bereavement. Back in 1969, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote the definitive book about grief, titled On Death and Dying. In it, she speaks about the universality of grief and how it’s a process we all experience when a loved one passes away. One of the key contributions of the book are the five stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger,...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Foster plea survey, feline leukemia webcast and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Register now for “Feline Leukemia Testing: One and Done for Everyone” webcast Join Million Cat Challenge on December 15 at 12:00 PM PT/3:00PM ET for the webcast, Feline Leukemia Testing: One and Done for Everyone. In 2020, the American Association of Feline Practioners released new retrovirus testing guidelines that recommend one quality point of care test then moving forward with a live-outcome pathway. In accordance, Austin Pets...
Mother & Daughter Monkeys Enjoy Second Chance Together After Life At Laboratory
Mother-daughter monkey duo, Nanette and Gabby, have not had an easy start to life, but now they are enjoying each day at their home, the Black Beauty Ranch. The rhesus macaques mother gave birth to Gabby when they were stuck in a primate biomedical research laboratory. Although most infant macaques are taken from their mothers at labs like this, the two of them were luckily kept together like they would’ve been in the wild. Photo: YouTube/The Humane Society of the United States They formed an immediate bond, and having each other was...
