10 Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2020
A lot of things changed in 2020, but one thing remained the same – Americans love Labrador retrievers. American Kennel Club just released their list of most popular dog breeds of 2020 based on registration statistics. The Labrador retriever was named top dog for the 30th consecutive year! But for the first time, the French bulldog climbed its way to number 2. Photo: Pexels While some breeds gained in popularity, others declined. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was knocked down to 11th spot by the Dachshund who took 10th. Rescued is our...
Community Centered Animal Support Takes Center Stage
Mar 18, 2021 It’s been over a decade since we started the APA! Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender Program (PASS). We began this initiative because we recognized that Austin pet owners were often faced with the terrible choice to give up their pets due to housing issues, life crises, pet medical problems the owner couldn’t afford to treat, and other human problems. The vast majority of these caregivers loved their pets like family, but their only choice at the time was to surrender the pet to the Austin city shelter....
Did You Know You Could be Arrested for Saving a Dog?
If you saw a dog in a hot car, what would you do? If you would have rescued it, there’s a chance you could be arrested for your good deed. That’s what happened to Michael Hammons, a Desert Storm veteran who spotted a Yorkshire terrier trapped in a hot car. The dog was panting and no hot water had been left for it. After calling law enforcement took too long to respond, Hammons took matters into his own hands. “I’ve got PTSD, and I’ve seen enough death and destruction,” Hammons told 11Alive, noting his...
Tune in for a Return to Home town hall TONIGHT!
We are halfway through the No Place Like Home Challenge and Best Friends Animal Society is going to check in with several participants of the Challenge tonight. Register now for the town hall this evening at 6:00pm EST. Even if you are not participating in the Challenge, anyone can benefit from attending. Let’s Get Them Home: Part 2 will discuss the evolutions and realizations that this panel of animal welfare leaders have discovered by taking a fresh look at their Return to Home policies. What’s worked for them? What...
Woman Asks Internet If She’s Liable For ‘Army Of Crows’ She Created Attacking Neighbor
This story originally appeared at Shareably. Crows are often associated with negative connotations like crop stealing, bad omens, and disease. But these birds are in fact one of the most intelligent creatures that might even have a bigger brain than you, figuratively speaking, of course. They’re not just intelligent, they’re super resourceful. An Oregon woman decided to feed and befriended her local murder of crows and what happens next was something she wasn’t prepared for. Photo: Pexels This woman wanted to test out a...
TikTok Users Are Feeding Chicken Wings Covered In Hot Sauce To Their Dogs In Dangerous Challenge
Anyone who has ever eaten hot sauce knows the uncomfortable burn it can cause and is something you should never feed to your pets. Sadly, some TikTok users are giving their dogs chicken wings covered in hot sauce just to see their dog’s reaction. The new dog challenge/trend is dangerous because of the hot sauce and cooked bones in chicken wings. Both can be deadly. Photo: Pixabay “Cooked chicken bones can break and splinter, which can cause your dog to choke and can also puncture the gastrointestinal tract, or get caught in his...
Without These Rules In The Endangered Species Act, A Million Species Could Be In Danger
The US Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the United States’ most effective law to protect at-risk species from extinction, having done so for 99% of species ever listed. Passed with bipartisan support in 1973, the law allows individuals and organizations to petition to have a species listed as endangered or threatened. According to World Wildlife Fund, these petitions undergo rigorous scientific evaluation and public review before a final decision is made on whether a species should be protected. The ESA requires protection for critical...
Two Men Continue To Care For Everyone’s Pets 10 Years After The Fukushima Disaster
It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the tsunami swept the Japanese coast. It took many lives and destroyed homes and businesses, including damaging the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Because of what happened to the nuclear plant, 160,000 people were displaced without any time to prepare. Out of the tens of thousands of people who were displaced because of Fukushima, many ran without taking anything but the clothes on their backs. Unfortunately, they also left animals behind. Although many people ran as a result of the...
100 Dogs Are Given A Second Chance After Being Rescued From A Puppy Mill
Most people recognize that puppy mills treat animals very poorly and they have earned the reputation they deserve. At the same time, however, many people and even pet stores continue to purchase puppies from those puppy mills, fueling the need and the desire to keep them running. Many rescues have stepped up to the plate to help animals that are living inside of those deplorable conditions, including one in Louisiana. Megan Winters is the shelter manager at Harbor Humane Society, and they shared on Facebook how they rescued dozens of dogs...
Australia Deployed Sheepdogs To Save A Penguin Colony
We have become far too familiar with animals disappearing, or at the very least, being put on the endangered species list. Some of those animals disappear from the scene without much attention but some little penguins are getting the attention that they need. Before the turn-of-the-century, thousands of little penguins called Middle Island home. By the time 2000 came around, half of them were gone and only four penguins were left by 2005. Unfortunately, those penguins had no defense against the European red fox, a species that was introduced...
Miami’s Basketball Team Is Using Dogs To Sniff Fans For COVID-19
One of the many things that we have missed due to the pandemic is attending sporting events in person. Although the sports themselves may take place, the stadiums are eerily empty. Now that many of those stadiums are starting to reopen for fans again, stopping the spread of COVID-19 is an important consideration. One of the sports that was shut down in March 2020 was the National Basketball Association (NBA). They did so as a precaution, but now that spectators are starting to come back to the stadiums, they are showing caution once again....
Is It Possible For A Dog To Get Sunburned?
There is nothing quite like spending a day in the sunshine. It’s a great way to relax or perhaps to get a little active and work off some pent-up frustration. It’s also something that we enjoy sharing, so it’s not unusual to take our furry best friend along with us for a day outdoors. This may leave us wondering, is it possible for a dog to get sunburned? Absolutely it is! In fact, there are some signs that can let you know that your dog has had too much time in the sun and that it is time to take action. Perhaps their skin...
Why Do Pets ‘Cross The Rainbow Bridge’ When They Pass Away?
We may face a lot of difficult times in our life, but one of the most difficult for a pet owner is when the pet falls asleep in death. They had been such a big part of our lives for so many years and it stings more than most people realize when it happens. Any pet owner knows that it’s not simply a matter of moving on and getting another pet, it’s a real grieving process that we go through. Of course, if you have other pet owners or animal lovers in your life, they will show some compassion but they may be at a loss for words that...
Pit Bull Mama Rescued From The Freezing Cold Along With Her 6 Pups
The weather can get quite cold in Oklahoma City, especially in the middle of February. Nobody knows this better than a pitbull mother and her six puppies who were abandoned outside in the cold weather. The dogs were begging for help when officer R. Jenny was passing by on his patrol. He found the dogs in an alleyway, confined in a kennel, and abandoned in subfreezing temperatures. It was a cruel and cowardly act by someone who obviously doesn’t have a love for dogs. The issue was brought up on the Facebook account of the Oklahoma City...
Severely Abused Dogs Get New “Leash” On Life Thanks To You
Animal shelters are a safe haven for homeless, abused, and neglected dogs. Staff spend countless hours rehabilitating and caring for each dog, and the process is so much easier if they have the proper tools. Learn how your clicks on the Animal Rescue Site and shopping at the Animal Rescue Site Store helped give Benjamin and Franklin, two severely abused dogs, a new “leash” on life. Hearts Alive Village in Las Vegas rescued two dogs who were terrified of people and shaking with fear due to repeated abuse and neglect. They cowered...
Ryan’s Memory
This story was originally shared TheAnimalRescueSite.GreaterGood.com. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! My late daughter Ryan had been on me to get her a dog forever, as we had to go to PetsMart every Saturday to pet the dogs. I finally relented in February of 2006, and we brought home one of a litter of five from an outing at the rescue. PHOTO: Ed C. Sadly, Ryan passed away only three months later, but her new puppy brought some joy to her life… a life that had not been...
Austin Is First City In Texas To Ban Cat Declawing
The Austin City Council unanimously approved an ordinance last week to ban the declawing of cats. Austin is the first city in Texas to take action against the “cruel and unnecessary practice” and spent the past two years consulting with veterinarians, residents, and New York officials – who banned declawing in 2019. The ordinance bans declawing of cats for aesthetic reasons but still allows vets to surgically remove the claws for medical conditions. Photo: Pexels The City of Austin shared the good news on Twitter, “No...
Pets across the US are returning home thanks to the No Place Like Home Challenge
The No Place Like Home Challenge is halfway over and the success stories are already in. Over on Maddie’s Pet Forum, several Challenge participants have been sharing what’s been working for them. Please, share your successes and ideas, too! While the Challenge is a fun competition, the ultimate goal is to get more pets back home. Carla M Stroud, Shelter Director at Tri-Lake Humane Society in Saranac Lake, NY, detailed a story about the adventurous cat Moo Moo, who slipped out of his...
Woman Uses Kindness To Convince Man To Surrender His Neglected Dogs
A woman used kindness to convince a man to give her his severely neglected puppies and their mama. The Frankie, Lola and Friends dog rescue got a call about some neglected dogs in Los Angles, California. One dog, the mom, was chained with a heavy chain and severely underweight. Her puppies were living in filth and neglected alongside her. When Lisa arrived at the man’s house to investigate, she was pleasantly surprised that he eagerly let her onto the property. However, what she found was disturbing. The condition of the dogs,...
Pet Owner Issued Warning After Their Dog Died After Playing In A Lake In Texas
A pet owner issued a warning after their “mysteriously” dog died just minutes after playing in Belton Lake in Texas. More dogs in the area have been reported dead for unknown reasons after swimming in the lake. When Delaney Presley took her 6-month-old dog, Koda, for a play-date at the lake, she had no idea the tragedy that would follow. Minutes after playing in Lake Belton, located 10 miles west of Temple, TX, Koda began to seize and grow weak. Presley recognized something was seriously wrong and immediately began the 11-minute...
