You Want to Help Keep People and Pets Together. But How to Get Started?
People kept approaching Corena Huffman about giving up their pets. They couldn’t afford to feed them. They weren’t able to get them to the vet. People thought turning over the cats and dogs they loved to the Highland County Humane Society—the nonprofit, foster-based organization in rural Virginia, for which Corena volunteers as executive director (the organization has no paid staff)—was their only choice, if the pets were to stay healthy and well. Corena thought there might be a better way: giving out pet food,...
Does your animal shelter have a behavior program? Tell us!
You may remember us mentioning we have a few surveys coming your way this winter. Here’s a NEW one about shelter behavior practices. Supporting and making outcome decisions for dogs with behavioral concerns is a challenge for many shelters, so we’re looking to do an assessment of current shelter behavior practices. This survey primarily focuses on dogs, because you’ve told us that you struggle more with dog than cat behavior. If you’re a government or private animal shelter with a physical building, please...
Beloved Marathon Cheer Dog, Spencer, Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer
Spencer is a 12-year-old therapy dog with the most adorable hobby. The senior golden retriever loves cheering on runners at the Boston Marathon, which Spencer attends every year, rain or shine. In October 2021, Spencer even attended the race right after recovering from cancer surgery. Photo: YouTube/CBS Boston But while Spencer looked like his old self greeting runners from his usual spot between miles 2 and 3, it appears the dog’s cheerleading days are sadly numbered. According to Spencer’s owner, Rich Powers, the dog’s...
Blind Senior Dog Dumped at Shelter Finds Happiness in His Golden Years
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! When I was volunteering at Friends of Linden, 10-year-old Prince was dumped by his “owners.” He was a little white poodle, terribly matted, and blind from cataracts. The people who dumped him actually told the shelter they...
Kentucky Woman Searching For Missing Cat After Tornadoes Rip Through Town
When tornados flattened the town of Mayfield, Kentucky, Joyce Guthrie was lucky to escape with her life. But Joyce’s two cats, Po and Zeus, weren’t as fortunate. When the Kentucky woman returned home, she found her house had been destroyed. Even worse, her beloved pets were missing. “I’ve had them four years and they’re very precious to me,” Joyce told WSIL News 3, a local news station. Photo: YouTube/WSIL News 3 Thankfully–after 3 days of searching–Joyce finally found her orange tabby, Po,...
Service Dog Gives Army Veteran Suffering From PTSD & Depression A Will To Live
After serving in the military for a long period of time, many servicemen have a hard time adjusting back to civilian life. Becca Stephens was no exception. She served in the U.S. Army for four years, including a stressful tour in Iraq. When it was time to finally come home, she struggled with PTSD and depression. Photo: YouTube/Good Morning America She began seeing a doctor because she was having nightmares and she noticed a lot of things that had changed within her. That’s when the doctor diagnosed her with PTSD. Her crippling emotions...
Colorado Dog Missing For Two Weeks Found Alive On Cliff
One of the greatest fears of any pet owner is to have their pet go missing. But this story has a happy ending thanks to brave rescuers and a microchip. A Colorado family searched every day for their beloved dog who went missing two weeks ago. They refused to give up hope and were overjoyed when they received a call from the Humane Society of The Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) saying they had found Jessie Lee. Posted by Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region on Monday, December 13, 2021 The adorable pup had survived on her own in the...
Family In South Africa Finds Most Venomous Snake In Their Christmas Tree
Rob and Marcela Wild, along with their children, were putting the final touches on their Christmas tree in their home in Cape Town, South Africa, when an uninvited guest appeared. Their two cats alerted the family that something was amiss. Marcela moved an ornament expecting to maybe find a mouse but screamed when she saw a snake starring back at her. A female boomslang, the most venomous snake in the country, slithered around the branches of their fake Christmas tree as the family called a professional snake remover, Gerrie Heyns....
Pet Rescue Music Radio
Phillip Mlynar Phillip Mlynar spends his days writing about cats, hip-hop and food, often while being pestered by his rescue, a mackerel tabby named Mimosa. His work appears in Vice, Pitchfork, Red Bull, Bandcamp, VinePair and Catster. He’s won various awards at the Cat Writers’ Association Communication Contests, some of which are proudly on display at his local dive bar in New York City. Source:...
Gary the Cat
Submission Guidelines Thank you for your interest in writing for Animal Wellness. As the #1 natural health magazine for pets in North America, we take pride in providing our readers with the information they need to make wise health care choices for their animal companions. Our publication embraces the entire holistic spectrum, from physical health issues to the emotional and spiritual well being of our animals. We welcome unsolicited articles and story outlines as long as they focus on holistic healing, whether physical, emotional or...
Mabel The Dog Helps Owner Clear The Garden
It is always enjoyable to go out and do some work in the garden. Undoubtedly, that is how Andrew Cotter felt when he was out clearing up some leaves and old apples that fell from a tree. Although it is sometimes nice to be outside and reflect in peace and quiet, there are also times when we want someone beside us to help with the chore. For Andrew, that someone came in the form of a yellow Labrador retriever named Mabel. Photo: Pixabay/Sonja Kalee If you’ve ever had a Labrador before, you realize that they are always willing and ready...
Owner Spends Hours Setting Up Play Pen And Puppy Escapes In Seconds
Being a pet parent to a puppy can be pretty exhausting. They’re definitely a lot more work than a kitten that is for sure. I, personally, prefer kittens because the potty training is super easy – takes less than five minutes – and once that is over, it’s pretty smooth sailing and hours of fun. But not necessarily with a puppy. A puppy practically needs constant supervision to make sure they’re not chewing on things they shouldn’t be, or going to the bathroom indoors. As a result, a lot of pet parents might...
Cat Wears Tiny Camera On Collar So We Can See The World Through Its Eyes
Have you ever let your cat outside only to wonder what they get up to? I remember having an outdoor cat when I was growing up. The little rascal had a habit of always coming home with a smug look on his face. It often made me wonder what he’d gotten up to in the eight hours that he spent outside wandering the neighborhood. We know that he sometimes got into fights with other cats – we’d often hear them – but those were pretty rare instances. Everything else that he did was a complete mystery. Photo: Pexels/cottonbro Of...
This Puppy With Rickets Made The Most Amazing Transformation
When Ricky the puppy started showing signs of a serious sickness, his owner knew he would need some help to take care of his beloved dog. Unfortunately, he was unable to afford the vet bills. His dog had rickets and would need treatment and a special nutrition plan. Fortunately, he knew the right people to call for help. PHOTO: YOUTUBE / SIDEWALK SPECIALS Photo: Pixabay/N01Z The team behind the rescue, Sidewalk Specials, makes it their mission to “rescue dogs from abusive situations and off euthanasia lists,” even without a...
This Dog And Duck Are The Most Adorable BFFs
Biss and Olee are best friends — the pair love to roam and play on the Oklahoma farm where they live. What makes their friendship extra special is the fact that Biss is a huge, 150 pound Newfoundland, and Olee is a tiny 5-pound duck! The pair became friends in the Spring of 2020 after Biss was adopted by the farm’s owner, Jessie Vallier. Photo: Wikimedia Commons “During Covid shut down we decided we ‘needed’ a 3rd Newf in our life. We always wanted a brown bear and I reached to our favorite rescue to let her know...
Stray Cat Survives Horrible Car Crash After Family Takes Him in to Heal
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! “Miss Mew” was a brown stray who began visiting our backyard a few years ago. One of our other cats, Dodger, first brought Miss Mew to our attention by talking to his buddy loudly through our sliding door. Then he would come...
Terminally Ill Dog Seeks Loving Hospice Home After Spending Her Whole Life Chained Outside
A 12-year-old German shepherd named Ruby has spent her entire life chained outside. She was bred repeatedly but never properly cared for. The only company she had was her puppies, but that was short-lived. After her owner passed away, she was finally freed from her lonely life and brought to Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge (RBARI) for a second chance. Posted by Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge on Friday, December 10, 2021 A full examination was performed which revealed the senior dog has metastasized cancer and her prognosis is poor. “Ruby...
Dog Taped In Box And Left To Die In Construction Site Porta Potty
When temperatures fall, some pets get to cozy up around the fire with their families. But other animals aren’t so lucky, including the Boston corgi who was taped up in a box and left to die inside a construction site porta potty as winter closed in. Thankfully, the abandoned dog was able to free her head and front paws, which allowed her to start barking for help. A neighbor heard the dog’s frantic cries and called the police, who rescued the dog from her deadly predicament just in time. Posted by MSPCA-Angell on Friday,...
Restaurant Staff Surprise Terminally Ill Dog With A Special Last Meal
On the day her 13-year-old dog was scheduled to be put down, owner Julianna Lopez was determined to give her beloved pet, Boosie, a delicious last meal. The Topeka, Kansas, woman took the ailing Boston Terrier to a local steakhouse for takeout, where she ordered a 9-oz filet, sweet potato and left a heartbreaking message: “This is my dog’s last meal. Please make with love,” Lopez wrote on the order, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal. Photo: Pixabay Not only did restaurant staff respond to Lopez’s note, they even...
Remembering Roscoe
Dec 14, 2021 Together with you, we have the opportunity to share so many stories here at APA!. Your love of the pets with the greatest needs inspires us to continue saving lives every single day. Today, we wanted to share one of YOUR stories. Alyson and her partner visited APA! just two weeks after moving to Austin. “I was insistent on getting an adult or senior cat,” said Alyson. “At the time, that meant between ages five and 10, a cat that was calm and liked cuddles as much as me. Those were the parameters I relayed to the...
