What Your Dog Wishes You Knew
When you truly understand your dog, the barks, wags, and nuzzles becomes a bridge to their inner worlds. Dogs communicate feelings through subtle signals—licking, turning away, or soft eye expressions. Interacting with them with empathy, not judgment, strengthens trust and makes them feel safe. That safety is the foundation for happiness and well-being. Read Their Language to Strengthen Your Bond Dogs don’t misbehave out of stubbornness—they express discomfort or ask for space. Growling signals fear or unease, not defiance....
Apply tomorrow for an Instructor-Led Course!
Head back-to-school with one of our 10 Instructor-Led Courses! Subjects include fostering, shelter consultations, marketing and more. The length and number of Zoom classes are course-dependent, and can range from 4 to 6 classes, at 60, 75, or 90 minutes each. All courses are free and begin in September. The application period opens tomorrow, August 8 and closes on August 18, 2025. This fall marks the debut of one new class about developing your own kitten college! And for the first time, three popular courses will have two sections....
How to find a holistic cat groomer
Find a holistic cat groomer who values your kitty’s comfort and well-being. Get tips on what to look for, questions to ask, and how to ensure a stress-free grooming experience. Cats groom themselves well, but professional grooming can still help in some situations. This is particularly true for cats with long coats or older cats that struggle to reach certain areas. You might envision cat grooming as a howling kitty covered in shampoo and hesitate to visit a groomer. However, this is rarely the case. A holistic cat groomer can provide a...
What Every Cat Parent Should Know about Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
A once-vibrant feline companion slowly loses weight despite eating vigorously, leaving you puzzled and heartbroken. This subtle yet serious condition might be exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), where the pancreas falters in producing essential digestive enzymes. Without these enzymes, your cat’s body cannot properly break down food, leading to malnutrition and discomfort. EPI often hides behind vague symptoms Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats shows symptoms such as persistent weight loss, large-volume, greasy stools, a...
Flea and Tick Prevention 101: The Role of “Natural” or Essential Oils and Pesticides
Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance—they pose serious health risks to dogs, cats, and even humans, such as Lyme disease and flea allergy dermatitis. While many pet parents love the idea of natural solutions instead of harsh chemicals, it’s important to understand both the benefits and limitations of these methods for flea & tick prevention. Let’s look at what essential oils can repel pests and what else is needed for a comprehensive approach to eliminate the threat. Essential Oils Repel Fleas and Ticks Many...
Most Lost Dogs Are Just Around the Corner – Literally
GPS-collar company Fi recently found that 95% of dogs who wander beyond their designated safe zones travel at most 1.8 miles (≈ 2 km) away from home—a distance many could cover on foot in about 30 minutes. Even more compelling: on average, lost dogs are recovered just 0.13 miles from home. That’s about 700 feet, or a little over two city blocks. What does that mean? Most lost dogs are within walking distance and could be reunited in under 3 minutes. These findings align closely with data from the Human...
The Rule of 7s for a Puppy’s First 7 Weeks
The earliest weeks of a puppy’s life are more than just adorable—they become the foundation for a lifetime of confidence and adaptability. By the time a pup reaches seven weeks old, she should have been exposed to a kaleidoscope of experiences based on the rule of 7s designed to build puppy socialization and resilience. Exploring seven different locations Picture this: your puppy exploring seven different locations—from the backyard to the neighbor’s yard—each new setting expanding her sense of the world. This...
Join us to discuss the impacts of adoption discrimination on the next Maddie’s Insights
Maddie’s® Insights are back! Join us on September 11th as Sloane Hawes and Celeste Morales with Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CAREawo.org) present their recent research on racial equity – or the lack thereof – in pet adoption as well as offer solutions for increasing access to pet ownership for BIPOC families. This one-hour call is titled Gatekeeping pet ownership: the impacts of adoption discrimination and will take place at 12pm PT/3pm ET on September 11. The animal well-being field has...
Flood by the Numbers
Aug 04, 2025 On July 4th, the Central Texas floods swept across our state, becoming one of the most devastating natural disasters in the state’s recent history. Austin Pets Alive! immediately engaged in ensuring that the pets of Central Texas were looked after, looked for and kept safe. Now on August 4th, we look back and are immensely grateful for our community and proud of the selfless and tireless efforts our staff and volunteers gave. The numbers speak for themselves; but they were only achievable because people came out to help us...
Cancer is a Word, Not a Sentence
Cancer diagnosis does not define fate; it always has a door for hope, resilience, and informed choices. John Diamond, a British journalist and broadcaster born in 1953, left a legacy with his powerful statement: “Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” In 1997 he was diagnosed with throat cancer, a subject he wrote about in his weekly column at The Times, as well as in two books. John’s words remind us that while cancer’s shadow is formidable, yet it need not eclipse hope or quality of life. First Step is Understanding When...
