Weeks After Cat Gets Adopted, He Escapes, Somehow Surviving a Major Highway Crossing
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! I’m a nurse now, but I used to work for a veterinarian, and everyone around me knows that I am an animal lover. Well, late one night, I got a call from a friend who was out of town and practically begging me to call this friend of hers I didn’t know who was in need of “help”. Not knowing what this was about, I dialed the friend’s number and was met with a...
As Ice-Free Periods Lengthen, Polar Bears May Face a Higher Risk of Starvation
Ice-free periods are lengthening in the Arctic, with the annual freeze-up in fall happening nearly a month later than it was in 1979. That means that polar bears are forced to wait even longer before they can head back to the ice, where they’re best able to catch their primary food, the energy-rich seal. A new study shows that as polar bears spend more time on land with little access to seals, their risk of starvation may go up. Research recently published in Nature Communications tracked the daily energy expenditure, diet, weight, and...
How Can We Help Unhoused People with Pets? Study Shares Five Strategies
More than 650,000 Americans experienced homelessness in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Point-in-Time report, which looks at figures from a single night in January. This was a 12% increase over 2022. Officials say the increase was likely due in large part to high rents, limited rental units, and pandemic eviction protections winding down. An estimated 10% of these unhoused people own pets, so what can be done to keep them both healthy? A new study investigated. Research recently published in the...
“Canine Lovebirds” Adopted Together After Three Years At North Carolina Shelter
Six-year-old hounds named Romeo and Juliet are madly in love and refuse to be separated. They arrived as strays at Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society in December of 2020 and have been waiting for a home ever since. While their love for each other is undeniable, they still have room in their hearts to love a family. The friendly hounds have won the hearts of staff and volunteers who call them “canine lovebirds”. The no-kill shelter wrote, “These two kids aren’t hound dogs. They are lovebirds trapped inside canine bodies....
Race Against Time to Save the World’s Most Trafficked Mammal
In the shadowed underbrush of the world’s tropical forests, a small, scaly creature ambles in search of ants and termites. This creature, the pangolin, is an ecological marvel and an evolutionary enigma. Despite its innocuous lifestyle, the pangolin holds the dubious distinction of being the most trafficked mammal on the planet. World Pangolin Day, observed on the third Saturday of February, casts a spotlight on the urgent need to protect these unique animals from the brink of extinction. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Frendi Apen...
Cordyceps – An Adaptogenic Mushroom for Your Dog or Cat’s Adrenal Glands
Find out how an adaptogenic mushroom called cordyceps may help your dog or cat’s adrenal glands deal more effectively with stress. Handling stress is an important function of your dog or cat’s adrenal glands. These small, paired glands on each side of her body, just above the kidneys, are responsible for producing the “fight-or-flight” hormones, mainly adrenaline, when the body perceives an existential threat. They also produce stress hormones, mainly corticosteroids, when the body experiences stressors. In this...
Kitten Runs Up to Picnickers, Steals a Drumstick, and Bolts Away
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! When my family decided to attend a conference down in Cincinnati, Ohio, we did not expect to come back with an additional member of the family. The conference took place in an outdoor park equipped with a gazebo and picnic tables scattered about. The park was also surrounded by woods. When my sister came back to our family picnic table, plate piled with food (including a drumstick), an...
Teasing Isn’t Just for Humans, Our Great Ape Cousins Seem to Enjoy It, Too
Playful teasing is a good way to connect with our loved ones, or just to give them a bit of a hard time. Infants are capable of this behavior, so it stands to reason that other animals that lack verbal skills could be capable of it, too. That idea led scientists to investigate whether our great ape cousins like to tease each other. Multi-institute research recently published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B involved studying zoo-dwelling bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans for signs of teasing. The researchers say that based...
Free Spay/Neuter Clinics Are Saving Lives In United States And Ukraine
According to Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), one unspayed female cat and her offspring can give birth to roughly 4,948 kittens over seven years. One unspayed female dog and her offspring can have over 500 puppies. The solution to overpopulation of dogs and cats is to spay and neuter. The last Tuesday is February is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of spay/neuter on what is known as World Spay Day. It all started with Doris Day and her Animal League in 1995. At that time, the euthanasia rate at animal shelters was a...
Even For Stylish Humans, Pet Proofing Your Home Saves Lives
Balancing the aesthetics of a home with the needs of its four-legged occupants can seem like a daunting task. However, with strategic planning and the right materials, maintaining a stylish living space while ensuring the comfort and safety of pets is entirely achievable. Homeowners can achieve this balance by drawing on the following expert advice and innovative solutions. Photo: PexelsA regular grooming schedule can help your pet to reduce shedding. Choosing the Right Materials When it comes to furnishing a home that’s both stylish...
Christina Ricci Heartbroken Over The Loss Of Her “Best Friend”, Dog Karen Carpenter
Actress Christina Ricci took to Instagram this past weekend to share some devastating news. Her senior dog, Karen Carpenter, had passed away at the age of 15. She paid tribute to her “best friend” who died on Friday with three separate posts on Instagram stories, which disappear after 24 hours. According to People, the first post read, “My beautiful little best friend Karen Carpenter died on Friday. She was a lady and the best little soul I’ve ever known. My best friend for 15 years. So many of you knew her and loved...
Only Shelter Dog Not Adopted At Florida Event Finally Finds Her Person
A sweet 4-year-old pit bull mix named Patricia was the only dog not adopted at shelter event in Tampa Bay, but then fate stepped in. 15 shelter dogs were taken from Humane Society of Tampa Bay to a local park for their Bark in the Park adoption event. The event was a huge success with 14 of the 15 dogs adopted. The shelter raised funds to care for all the homeless animals and thanked everyone who participated. However, for Patricia it was a sad day as she watched all her friends find loving homes as she returned to the shelter alone. While...
No-Fly List Myths and The Truth About Flying With Pets
When it comes to traveling with furry companions, misinformation can often lead to unnecessary stress. Contrary to popular belief, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not maintain a ‘no-fly list’ for pets, reports Verify This. This revelation may come as a surprise to many pet owners who have navigated the complexities of air travel with their four-legged family members. Photo: PexelsAirlines have specific pet policies that vary widely. Airline Discretion in Pet Travel While the FAA sets the stage for air travel...
Tranquil tails: transform your dog or cat’s anxiety with natural ingredients
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...
Hundreds of Dogs and Cats Escape Toxic Testing Lab Into Arms of Freedom
In an unprecedented move that has stirred the animal welfare community, the Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) has closed down a significant animal testing laboratory in Nowata, Oklahoma, rescuing over 200 dogs and cats from years of experimentation. This landmark action not only saves these animals from further harm but also marks a pivotal shift in the approach to animal testing for flea and tick products. Photo: PexelsTesting can involve exposure to harmful chemicals causing suffering. A New Beginning for Rescued Animals The closure of the...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Becoming inclusive of your whole community, Camp Maddie and more!
Happy Tuesday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. How a 2023 Open Arms Challenge winner became more accessible and inclusive of its entire communityDuring the 2023 Open Arms Challenge, Grand Prize winner Harris County Pets of Houston, TX, (HCP) did its very best to ensure the practices and services offered were easily accessible and did not exclude anyone. Equipped with information from Community Conversations and Maddie’s® Pet Forum, they were able to make a number of changes that… Learn More...
Cat Gets Stuck Under Car, and Woman Trying to Get Her Out is Forced to Leave the Road
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! June 13, a Friday, on my way to a meeting, a light grey ball of fur dropped out from under the vehicle in front of me while sitting at a light. It scurried across, stopping in the middle of the road. Another car had stopped and we tried to catch the ball of fur, but it kept getting away. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / GITTI LOHR It ended up under my car, in the wheel well of the front tire. The...
Mets Star Pete Alonso Pledges $1,000 Donation to Rescues for Each Home Run He Hits This Year
More than 6 million pets end up in animal shelters each year, and nearly 1 million are euthanized, according to the ASPCA. A New York Mets star is using his baseball skills to help lower that number. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso has announced that for each home run he hits in the 2024 baseball season, his organization The Alonso Foundation will donate $1,000 to animal shelters. That could end up being around $50,000, as, not including the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Alonso is averaging 44 home runs per season throughout his career....
Rescued Cow Finds Comfort In Late Blind Cow’s Bouncy Ball At Sanctuary
As staff and volunteers at The Gentle Barn, animal sanctuaries for abused animals, mourn the loss of beloved rescue cow, Faith, her memory lives on in their hearts and with her beloved bouncy ball that has recently brought comfort to a new rescued cow. Faith was rescued by The Gentle Barn California in 2008 with a severe eye infection that went untreated and resulted in her going blind. She adapted to her new life without her sight and took comfort in a large bouncy ball that was always by her side. The staff shared that she would...
My Dog Ate Aluminum Foil! Our Vet Explains What to Do Now
VET APPROVED The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Learn more » Dogs seem to love eating all sorts of weird and wonderful things, even things that shouldn’t be edible! Of course, if you’ve had something delicious wrapped in aluminum foil, it might explain the appeal of eating some of this shiny metal material. If your dog has managed to feast on a sheet of aluminum foil, you’re obviously going to be worried about what to do next. The good news is that they will...
