A Deep Dive into Emotional Freedom Technique: Learn About Tapping with Joan Ranquet!
Discover Joan Ranquet’s teachings on Emotional Freedom Technique and how tapping sequences can benefit dogs, cats, and their parents. Most pet parents struggle at some point with stress, separation anxiety, aggression, or other behavioral challenges. And while training is an important component for managing these issues, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a crucial puzzle piece that many pet parents don’t even realize is missing! EFT is a tool that can help you tap into your animal companion’s meridian system to address...
Learn how to build one-of-a-kind programs for neonatal kittens
Neonatal kittens may be the tiniest residents in our shelters, but they face the biggest risks. That’s why Kitten College: Transforming Tiny Lives Through Innovation, a free self-paced course on Maddie’s® University, is here to change the story. This one-of-a-kind program gives animal shelters and foster-based organizations the tools to launch or expand neonatal programs that are sustainable, impactful and built on proven best practices. Grounded in shelter medicine and guided by the principles of high-quality, high-volume...
Common Canine Idiosyncrasies and What They Mean
Have you ever watched your dog do something that made you think, “Why on earth do they do that?” There are many quirky behaviors in dogs that might seem strange to us but actually make perfect sense from their perspective. Understanding these common canine idiosyncrasies can help you better connect with your furry friend and know when something might need attention. Head Tilting When your dog tilts their head while you’re talking, they’re not just being adorable. Dogs tilt their heads to better locate sounds and...
Joint health nutrition for dogs and cats
Support your dog or cat’s joint health with anti-inflammatory foods and easy recipes that help ease arthritis and improve mobility. Many companion animals experience joint problems such as arthritis, especially as they age. Feeding them a joint-supportive diet helps alleviate discomfort and improve mobility. Let’s look at joint health nutrition for dogs and cats, along with recipes you can share with your beloved companion 10 joint-healthy foods for dogs and cats 1.Cold water fish: Salmon, sardines, trout...
Oral Ulcers in Cats
What Are Mouth Ulcers in Cats? Mouth ulcers are open sores that can appear anywhere in your cat’s mouth, including the gums, tongue, and inner cheeks. They often appear as red, inflamed areas and can cause significant discomfort. These ulcers can develop from various causes, including dental disease, viral infections like feline calicivirus, immune system problems, or even trauma from eating something sharp. Common signs your cat may have mouth ulcers include difficulty eating, excessive drooling, bad breath, pawing at the mouth, and...
2025 Access to Care Report: How we can address the biggest gaps in veterinary care
“Access to veterinary care is not just an animal welfare issue — it’s a public health and family well-being issue,” says Dr. Michael Blackwell, lead author of the 2025 Access to Care report. “When pets don’t get the care they need, families face emotional distress, financial hardship, and difficult decisions no one should have to make.” Dr. Blackwell and his team at the Program for Pet Health Equity, University of Tennessee, Knoxville released a new report that builds on the 2018 Access to Veterinary...
Benefits of dogs and cats for seniors
More and more people are discovering how powerful the bond between animals and seniors can be. As we age, it’s common to face health challenges and a shrinking social circle — factors that often lead to loneliness. In fact, the National Institute on Aging states that older adults are especially vulnerable to social isolation. The companionship of a dog or cat, however, can significantly enrich a senior’s life, offering comfort, connection, and a renewed sense of purpose. One of the benefits of dogs and cats for seniors is...
My Word! Your Dog Possesses Amazing Language Learning Skills
Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being. Source: Animal Wellness...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Cat Superhighway course, webcasts and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Your roadmap to get every cat to where they need to goDo you want to streamline pathway planning to find the best available outcome for every cat and kitten at your organization? Look no further than Cat Superhighway, a free self-paced course on Maddie’s® University. This course equips animal shelter professionals with the tools to implement or enhance pathway planning for cats and kittens, streamlining their… Learn More August and September 2025...
Why orange cats are usually male
Have you ever wondered why orange cats are usually male? And why calicos and tortoiseshells are female? For decades, scientists at leading universities have explored why cat fur color is linked to sex. Now, building on past work, researchers at Stanford University and Kyushu University have each conducted independent studies and found a definitive answer. It all has to do with a long-posited but elusive genetic mutation – a DNA deletion near a gene called ARHGAP36. This mutation causes pigment cells to produce a ginger hue....
Are dogs replacing children?
Are dogs replacing children in modern society? In many countries, the number of dogs has surged so dramatically that it now surpasses the number of children. Some view this as a clear sign people are choosing dogs over parenthood. But researchers remain uncertain — deeper social and cultural factors may be driving the trend. Professor Enikő Kubinyi, who leads the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University, recently proposed a groundbreaking theory, published in the journal Current Directions in...
7 Red Flags for Dog Health
As a dog parent, you want to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. But sometimes, dogs can’t tell us when something is wrong. Learning to spot warning signs early can make a huge difference in your dog’s health and may even save their life. Here are seven red flags that mean it’s time to call your veterinarian right away. 1. Trouble Breathing If your dog is breathing fast, panting heavily when they shouldn’t be, or making unusual sounds like wheezing or whistling, this is a serious emergency. Watch for a blue tint...
Smarter Supported Self-Rehoming Solutions
[embedded content] Supported self-rehoming enables the community to participate in finding new homes for their pets without having to enter a shelter. However, animal welfare organizations often forget one of the most important pieces of this process—the support! In this webinar, Lauren Rogers, Community Initiatives Manager for San Diego Humane Society, will share strategies for streamlining supported self-rehoming programs and garnering even more community-member buy-in. Source: Human Animal Support...
Your Cat’s Not Obese—It’s Called Primordial Pouch
Have you ever noticed your cat has what looks like a saggy belly that swings when they walk? Don’t worry – your feline friend hasn’t gained weight overnight! What you’re seeing is called a primordial pouch, and it’s completely normal. What Exactly is a Primordial Pouch? The primordial pouch is a flap of loose skin and fat that hangs along your cat’s belly, typically between their hind legs. This natural feature appears in both male and female cats, regardless of whether they’ve been spayed or...
Breaking Down Barriers: Insights into the HASS Competitive Pet Placement Project
[embedded content] Over the last several months, HASS collaborated with a selection of HASS pilot shelters to identify any lingering shelter operation barriers to positive adoption outcomes as part of a formal Competitive Pet Placement (CPP) project. CPP is an initiative supported by PetSmart Charities that aims to make sure animal shelters are not making it harder for people to adopt and foster than it should be—and to make it easier for pets to get into homes. Watch Kate McHugh-Westfall, HASS Embedded Data and Implementation...
Your roadmap to get every cat to where they need to go
Do you want to streamline pathway planning to find the best available outcome for every cat and kitten at your organization? Look no further than Cat Superhighway, a free self-paced course on Maddie’s® University. This course equips animal shelter professionals with the tools to implement or enhance pathway planning for cats and kittens, streamlining their journey to the best possible outcome. Cat Superhighway presents research-backed strategies to reduce length of stay, decrease intake and ensure positive outcomes for all cats....
Brachycephalic dog health problems
Learn about common brachycephalic dog health problems — like breathing issues, allergies, and heat sensitivity — and how to care for your flat-faced pup. French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers have a lot in common. They have hearts of gold and some of the best personalities on earth. These breeds, and those like them, are truly our best friends. But they have something else in common. They’re brachycephalic, which means they’re prone to certain health issues. Let’s look at brachycephalic dog health problems,...
Join us for APA! Adoption Day at Four Hands
Sep 17, 2025 Join us for APA! Adoption Day by Four Hands Austin-based home furnishings leader partners with APA! to support local animals and donate 20% of event-day sales On Saturday, September 20, 2025 join Austin Pets Alive! at the Four Hands South Austin Flagship Showroom for a special day dedicated to saving lives. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can stop by to meet adoptable dogs and cats from Austin Pets Alive!, snap a complimentary pet-and-family headshot, sip coffee from Luna Espresso, and treat their pups to goodies from local...
Ringworm, Not a Worm, and Other Common Fungal Infections in Dogs
Marvel and DC universes have various villains, similar to infections, which also come in different shapes, sizes, and abilities. Among these infectious supervillains, like bacteria and viruses, fungi have their own place—say Poison Ivy from Batman. Fungal infections are often more obstinate and difficult to treat than viral and bacterial infections. This is because fungi can form resistant spores that evade antifungal treatments, they grow more slowly than bacteria making treatment take longer, and they can invade deep tissues, hiding...
Why Should You Scoop the Poop?
Sep 16, 2025 We have been so grateful to receive the Scoop the Poop grant year over year and while the name may sound silly, it is serious business. This grant not only supports the lifesaving work that takes place at APA!, but gives us an opportunity to remind our community just how important it is to Scoop the Poop! Some may think it isn’t such a crime to let your pup do its business and leave that pile behind, but there are actually a number of reasons that leaving that doo-doo is a no-no! Pet waste left behind can spread harmful...
