How long do cats and dogs live?
I'm asked this question every week, usually by well-meaning guardians trying to make sound medical decisions in behalf of their older dog or cat. The good news is that our animal companions are living...
View ArticleA Call, a Car, a Can of Food, and a Dog Is Saved
A driver on a rural highway in Ohio spotted a dog lying on the side of the road. She stopped her car and got out to check on the dog but couldn't tell much about her condition, other than that she...
View ArticleKindness is not a finite commodity
The dog on the chain vibrated with excitement as the woman picked her way through the muddy, junk-strewn yard. She was only bringing a bale of straw to line the floor of the dog's dilapidated doghouse,...
View ArticleVictory: Angel's Gate Permanently Closed!
Great news! The hellhole formerly known as "Angel's Gate, Inc.," has been shut down for good! After PETA provided evidence that Angel's Gate had persistently failed to comply with reporting laws for...
View ArticleMicrochips Keep Families Together
Last month, I saw a beautiful gray cat lying in my driveway. From a distance, she appeared to be well-fed and cared for, but she wasn't wearing a collar. Fortunately, since I live in Sarasota, it...
View ArticleFor Animals, the Skies Are Anything but Friendly
Summer is just around the corner, and if you're like me, you're already making vacation plans and a list of what to pack. Wherever our travels take us, if we're getting there by air, one "item" that...
View ArticleMaking dogs suffer for 'beauty'
Dogs love us regardless of how we look. They don't care if we have big feet, frizzy hair or an oddly-shaped nose. Whether we're dressed to the nines or we've just rolled out of bed, dogs are always...
View ArticleThink your animals are safe in your backyard? Think again
Dogs have been disappearing in Idaho. One dog, named Bean, was found shot dead and left near a canal. A hiker found another dog in a canyon, covered with a sheet and apparently beaten to death. Two...
View ArticleA 'Snip' in Time Saves Felines
Visit any animal shelter in the country this month, and you're bound to see litter after litter of kittens as well as sweet mother cats and cat dads in need of loving homes. It's the peak of "kitten...
View ArticleToxic Mushrooms in the Backyard
If you've experienced a lot of moisture and low temperatures in your area this past spring, you may have come across some wild mushrooms. I live in Colorado, and we went through a soggy and cold—yet...
View ArticleA Medical Fund for Your Animal Companion
I walk into the examination room and see a cute, 6-month-old male Shih Tzu named Gus. Gus’ caretaker is a frail, older woman with a walking cane. Gus appears bright and happy. I’m told, “You’re the...
View Article‘No-Kill’ Horror Stories
To hear proponents of “no-kill” talk, one would conclude that the only reason why animals in shelters are euthanized is because open-admission shelter workers just haven’t closed their eyes, clicked...
View ArticleHow ‘saving’ animals at all costs can be a dangerous proposition
All across the country, people are hearing calls to raise the “save rate” at animal shelters. But beware: As warm and fuzzy as that sounds, a shelter’s high “save” rate does not reduce by one puppy or...
View ArticleCats and Their Claws
We cat lovers all have the same issue. What to do with our sweet little ones when they go on clawing around! We all know that declawing is a no-no, so what to do? Here is an excerpt from my book...
View ArticleIs your hero waiting in an animal shelter?
Dogs have earned the title “man’s best friend” for good reason. Consider a South Carolina dog named Killian , who is being hailed as a hero for outing an abusive babysitter. The normally friendly...
View ArticleThe Joys of Adopting a Senior Pet
November is “Adopt a Senior Pet” Month , and as anyone who has adopted an older animal can tell you, age is just a number. Furry seniors still have a lot of life—and love—left. Just ask anybody who...
View ArticleDogs Can Be Vegan!
Making the choice to become vegan is a personal, reflective process of deciding whether or not you want to make the leap to a plant-based diet and lifestyle that benefits you, animals, and the planet....
View ArticleFor Animals, the Skies Are Anything but Friendly
Summer is just around the corner, and if you’re like me, you’re already making vacation plans and a list of what to pack. Wherever our travels take us, if we’re getting there by air, one “item” that...
View ArticleWhy People Abandon Animals
I’ve been an animal shelter volunteer for more than 10 years. A lot of strays come in the door, but the animals who really touch me are the ones they call the “owner surrenders.” These are the animals...
View ArticlePicking the Perfect Cat-Sitter
It’s time to go on a trip, but unfortunately, you cannot take your feline friend with you. Your neighbor will not be able to watch your cat companion either. You concede that you will have to work with...
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