How to Transition Dog Food — Old to New
Your dog may be experiencing stomach issues. Perhaps he needs to lose weight. Or, he might be getting older. No matter what the reason is, now you’re looking into switching dog food. There is a correct way to transition dog food, which involves not switching your dog food too fast or overfeeding your dog. This will ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible and your dog enjoys his new food. Learn from the experts why it’s important to change dog food at certain times of your pup’s life as well as how to properly do it....
Officials Propose ‘Medicare For Pets’ In Australia
A Victorian MP has proposed “veticare” for pets to make care more affordable and accessible to pet owners in need. According to the Daily Mail, the plan, a play on Medicare but for pets, was proposed by the Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick. Meddick announced the plan as part of a way to address the country’s vet shortage and subsequent shortage of pet care. Photo: flickr/Austin Community College Speaking with the Herald Sun, Meddick said: “It is resulting in Victorians having to travel up to hours for vet care, or...
Dolphins Protect Unsuspecting Swimmer From Great White Shark
An open-water swimmer credits a pod of dolphins for protecting him from a great white shark while out for a swim in the ocean. Adam Walker is a world-renowned open-water swimmer and he’s one of just 138 people who’ve successfully swam the 16-mile Cook Straight. Walker made the swim back in 2014, but he didn’t do it alone. Unplanned by him, he was accompanied by a pod of around 10 dolphins. Photo: YouTube/Adam Ocean Walker According to People, the dolphins swam with Walker the whole way, even pausing when he had to hydrate...
Bison Can Lose 200 Pounds During Mating Season, and Other Facts About Our National Mammal
The American bison, the national mammal of the United States, inspires awe with its sturdy profile, recovery story, and historical significance. Unfortunately, they often end up in the news because people don’t behave safely around them, but when you’re enjoying them from a reasonable distance, here are some fun facts to ponder. They Came Back From Near Extinction PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK / WIRESTOCK Centuries ago, American bison were widespread across most of North America, with an estimated population of 30 million when Christopher...
Do You Know Why Your Beloved Cat Keeps on Knocking Things Over?
Why do we love our cats? It will take you a day and a night to recall some of the reasons, and a lifetime to reveal all. Because loving a cat is living with a darling, mysterious creature who is full of energy, antics, and mind-boggling habits. Photo: YouTube/The Dodo At times, it loves you to death, never leaving your side, and keeps hanging on to you as if it would drown if you would not give it its usual dose of affection. Other times, it is too busy with its toys or something else that is outside the window that it does not seem to notice...
21 Dogs Are Freed From Meat Farm Just 3 Days Before They Would’ve Been Slaughtered
Bok Nal season in South Korea is a tradition that commemorates the hot summer months with the consumption of a variety of soups. Sadly, dog meat is the main ingredient of these soups, which locals believe provides healing and immune boosting properties. Photo: YouTube/The Humane Society of the United States The dogs that they use for their soups are kept at dog meat farms, where they live in deplorable conditions. They are crammed into dirty wire cages that are much too small for them, where they’re forced to live among their own feces,...
Cat Toy Company Marks its 40th Anniversary by Making ‘World’s Largest Catnip Kicker’
A business reaching its 40th anniversary is kind of exciting, and one company in Maine is getting a kick out of theirs… literally. The Pussums Cat Company, which offers premium catnip toys and gifts, is celebrating its 40-year milestone with a 72-inch tall catnip kicker toy. The unofficial world’s largest catnip kicker, as they’ve dubbed it, has a 50-inch circumference and 35 pounds of catnip inside. Not surprisingly, the promotion has been pretty irresistible to cats. PHOTO: THE PUSSUMS CAT COMPANY Susan Shaw, whose family...
In a Room Full of Kittens, Adopter Sets Her Sights on the Older Cat
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! My cat Baby had passed away in 2014 after being with me since she was 6-months-old. I found her as a stray kitten on the property where I was living, and she was with me for 18 years after that. I had gotten to know the employees at my local PetSmart, as I had shopped there every week for 18 years. One day, I went into PetSmart to say hello to everybody, without knowing they were having a...
11 Best Farm Dog Breeds
What do you picture when you hear the words “farm dog”? It may be Old Yeller, some type of collie, or even a feisty Jack Russell. While any dog can live on a farm, there are certain dog breeds that excel as farm dogs due to their herding skills and energy levels. Most of these dog fall into the herding and working category (no big surprise). However, just because some have the instinct to herd it doesn’t always mean they are helpful. Anyone who has been herded by a dog or watched as a little spitfire pup tries to herd a...
What Is a Dog Sanitary Trim?
Your dog runs in from his doggy door and jumps on the couch. You smile. Then it hits you. Dog poop smell. It’s the worst. Especially if you now have to clean the couch and your dog’s behind. Luckily, a simple dog sanitary trim will keep poop off you and your furniture. What is a sanitary cut for dogs? Sanitary trims cut down the hair around the belly, the back of your dog’s legs and private parts, so that when they relieve themselves, it doesn’t get in the hair and then get spread around. Sanitary cuts for dogs are...
How to Fly with a Dog
“Where are we going,” “which airline do we choose” and “where are we staying” are a few of the questions people ask themselves as they plan for a trip. However, for dog owners who enjoy (or would like to begin) traveling with their four-legged “children,” the question of “What is the best and safest way to travel with my pet” is an important one. It’s estimated that about 2 million domestic animals travel on commercial flights each year – only 58% of them being dogs,...
Daughter’s Fear Complicates Living With Family Dog – Who Stays And Who Goes?
A woman who describes her family as “a modern Brady Bunch” recently took to Reddit for advice on a sensitive family matter, and it’s difficult to see who is in the right. Living in the household are the woman and her husband, the woman’s two children from a previous relationship, and the couple’s mutual child, now a year old. The man also has a 15-year-old daughter from a previous relationship who only spends the summers with her father. According to the woman who wrote the post, “a very good kid, gets good...
Pennsylvania Firefighters Rescue Dog From River Late At Night
Late one evening, Sharon Fire Department received a call about a dog that had fallen into the Shenango River and needed help. Firefighters immediately responded and brought the essential equipment for the nighttime water rescue. They used bright lights to shine on the dark area and a boat to travel upriver to find the dog named Dexter. However, the dog was frightened by the boat and swam away. The City of Sharon, PA posted, “Firefighter Sonny Miller entered the water and ‘made friends’ with him and finally was able to get...
Are You Making this One Mistake with Your Pet’s Dental Care?
Most dogs and cats have periodontal disease, and it’s important to pay attention to your pet’s oral hygiene. There are easy-to-use (and yummy) products on the market that can reduce plaque and tartar and prevent periodontal disease. No toothbrush required! Have you ever been too close when your dog yawned and been hit by a wall of stinky breath? Most of the time, pet parents laugh these things off. But bad breath is actually a sign of canine periodontal disease, and the mistake many guardians make is to ignore their pet’s...
Season 2 of Maddie’s Candid Conversations is coming!
Maddie’s® Candid Conversations are back! Our open, informal 30-minute conversations and Q+A with influential BIPOC leaders in our field are back with a fresh lineup of speakers. You will be inspired by their unique pathways to promoting equity, inclusion and diversity in their daily work. In our Season 2 premiere on Wednesday, August 24 at 12:00PM PT/3:00PM ET, Elijah Brice-Middleton, Director at Plainfield Area Humane Society (PAHS) in New Jersey, reveals the values and skills he uses to face challenges of being, in his...
After Hearing “Nobody Wants a One-Eyed Cat,” Family Takes One In
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 had just moved into my first apartment as a single mother. I was feeling very alone and guilty that my daughter had no one to play with, so I decided on getting a cat. That way, we would both have a friend. After browsing the newspapers, I came across an article that read “15 kittens please help!” I called and drove over that afternoon, newly purchased cat carrier in hand....
Texas First Responders Rescue Draft Horse Trapped In Thick Mud
It was all-hands-on-deck in North Texas to save a Belgian draft horse trapped in thick mud. Denton County Emergency Services District #1 received the call for help early Sunday morning and immediately responded along with Double Oak Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters and rescuers arrived at a stock pond in Copper Canyon and found the draft horse named Bella on the bank stuck up to her belly in mud. Belgian draft horses typically weigh between 2,100-2,300 pounds, so rescuers needed to clear the mud away from Bella so they could wrap...
Mayor Max Passes Away Suddenly Leaving All Who Knew Him Heartbroken
The most honest and friendliest politician, Mayor Max the Second of Idyllwild, California, has passed away. The beloved golden retriever served his town since 2013 and was loved by all. He would greet locals and visitors on a regular basis and always made time to pose for photos. His laid-back personality and adorable face attracted people near and far. He always looked the part with a tie and sometimes a hat. His humans, Phyllis and Glenny, are heartbroken and shared the devastating news on Mayor Max’s Facebook page. A mass was...
Why Are Pet Parents Switching to Refrigerated Dog Food?
Many pet parents have made the decision to switch from dry or canned food to refrigerated dog food options. As a result, refrigerated dog foods, such as the offerings we provide at Freshpet, have taken off in recent years, giving pet parents a wide range of options for their furry friends. Pet parents who primarily purchase dry kibble and do not have much knowledge about the refrigerated, fresh dog food space may wonder what sets refrigerated dog food apart from other offerings. After all, there is such a wide selection of different types of...
How to Tell if Your Furry Friend Will Benefit from a Dog Food for Sensitive Skin
Today’s pet food market is full of options that can help pet parents address the evolving needs of their dogs. One option that has been increasing in popularity among pet parent communities over the years is dog food for sensitive skin. These recipes can help alleviate discomfort for dogs with skin and gastrointestinal issues. Here, Freshpet explores how pet parents can tell if dog foods such as Freshpet Select Sensitive Stomach & Skin may be a good fit for their dogs. Is Your Dog Having Skin or Coat Issues? Skin and coat issues are...
