Adopted Dog Knows He’s Getting A Forever Home And He Can’t Contain His Excitement
Adoption is such a rewarding thing that someone can do for a homeless animal. Not only are you saving a life, but you’re getting a new best friend all in the same process. I remember the day that we brought home our family dog from the animal shelter. She was a scrawny little black cockapoo mix who was so happy she wouldn’t stop whining with excitement. That was over twenty years ago now, but it was such a great day. It was clear that she knew what was happening and that she was getting a forever home. Photo: Pixabay/stefanom1974...
Dog Lost For Weeks Reunites With Family At The Shelter
Sometimes, accidents happen. As pet owners, we’ve probably all had close calls where we almost lost our pets to an open door or garden fence. Some of us might have even had to face the real devastation of losing a pet. It can be a very scary moment when you realize that your beloved pet isn’t inside your home anymore. The first thing that you worry about is their safety. Many of us live in areas that see lots of road traffic, and the last thing that you want is to end up finding out that your pet has gotten hit by a car. Plus,...
5 Basic Ways to Transform Your Pet’s Health in 2022
A new year is right around the corner! While the last couple of years have been unpredictable and unprecedented, there are ways that we can plan and execute simple changes to our lifestyles and behavior that will improve our pet’s health. Dr. Aziza shares a few suggestions that would be a great addition to any new year’s resolution list. Get into an exercise routine One of the top diseases affecting our pets is obesity. This is a serious issue due to the secondary health concerns that develop from, contribute to, or are...
Woman Rescues Malnourished Dog Chained to a Tree Without Food or Water
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 was helping my niece paint a place she was moving into, and the tenants at that time had not yet moved out. A small, skinny dog was chained to a tree on the property. For three days, I watched as that dog begged to be noticed. I am not a dog person. Yet, I simply had to go say hi to her. She was dusty and dirty. It was 90 degrees that week. DOG. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/TANYA The thing that...
5 News Year’s Resolutions Inspired By Pets
As the year comes to an end, most people take some time to reflect on the past year and make goals for the upcoming one. While exercising, losing weight, and eating better usually top the majority of lists, we have come up with some resolutions inspired by our furry companions (ones that you will actually want to follow through on). Plus, several involve your dog or cat. New Year’s Resolutions Drink more water. Photo: Pixabay/Sinawa Have you heard of the 8×8 rule? Health experts recommend adults drink eight 8-ounce glasses of...
America’s Animal Shelters are in Crisis. 6 Things You Need to Know
Just before Christmas, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Texas announced they would be forced to reduce services and stop the non-emergency intake of pets through December 31. The reason? A new wave of COVID infections led to severe understaffing. There are simply not enough people to take in and care for the pets in the shelter. On top of this crisis, the shelter has been at or above capacity for months, due to sluggish adoption numbers and more pets coming into the shelter—both impacts of the pandemic. A...
Detroit Police Officers Rescue Malnourished Dog and Her Puppies From Abandoned Home
On the evening of December 26, the Detroit Police Department received a report of a “vicious dog” and went to investigate. But what they found was a malnourished pit bull who had recently given birth. Detroit Police officers, H. Kourani and G. Rogers, spotted the dog outside an abandoned home and slowly approached her. Posted by Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue on Sunday, December 26, 2021 They managed to earn her trust by feeding her tasty treats, which she quickly devoured. Once they established that they were there to help they...
Ensuring Safe Placement vs. Placing Barriers In Adoption
Have you ever rehomed or surrendered a pet? That is a question many members within an animal welfare organization will know too well. And recently we met a family that faced difficulties adopting a pet because they entered ‘YES’ as the answer to that question, without the organizations inquiring on ‘WHY’ they had to make that decision with a former pet. Well, technically there were TWO organizations that asked why they had to rehome a former pet, however the first organization that asked continued to deny the family...
Dogs Rescued From Different Situations Become BFFS In The Shelter
When two dogs from two different situations were brought together with the help of a rescue, they immediately hit things off and became good friends. It all started when Hope For Paws heard about a dog, Chester, who’d been living on the streets for at least a month. Rescuers JoAnn Wiltz and Alex Babcock immediately headed to the Southern California home that’d called them, and they were greeted by the friendly puppy! The person who’d called them said that they’d tried to take Chester in, but their other dogs...
Horse Takes Herself On Walks Through Town Every Day After Owner Passes
For 15 years, a white Arabian horse named Jenny has been taking herself for long walks through town. The mare used to enjoy the walks with her owner, Werner Weischedel, but now she walks alone. According to a post by Keith Anderson, Weischedel became unable to ride Jenny around 15 years ago but the mare didn’t want to stop her daily walks through Frankfurt, Germany. Instead of keeping her contained in a stable, Weischedel allowed Jenny to go out through the gate – and the horse walked herself along their usual route and came back...
Last Surviving Dog Rescued From Michael Vick’s Dogfighting Ring In 2007 Dies
At less than a year old, Frodo the pit bull faced a bleak future. He was one of nearly 70 dogs that were crammed into the “Bad Newz Kennels,” an illegal dogfighting ring in Virginia run by NFL superstar Michael Vick. There, dogs were forced to attack, repeatedly injuring and traumatizing each other until a federal investigation was able to not only stop the ring in its tracks but also lead to convictions against Vick and his co-defendants. Photo: Pixabay/Ria Now, nearly 15 years after that infamous bust in 2007, Frodo has passed...
Watch These Cats That Love To Stick Their Faces In Humidifier Mist
Kittens love exploring the world around them and, in spite of the popular saying, that curiosity can be a good thing! Something the internet has noticed recently is how much their cats love messing around with humidifiers — there’s something about the plume of water vapor that they find incredibly interesting. Their reactions are, of course, adorable. Photo: Max Pixel Why do cats love it so much? For one, it seems like they know just how good it is for them! “Because cats groom themselves specifically to cool their bodies, a...
“Pigcasso” Sparks Conversation On Art, Farming, And Climate Change With Unusual Paintings
Art, as they say, is subjective — its beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so is its meaning! While a painting’s color or composition may catch collectors’ attention, so can its context. In the case of Pigcasso and her vibrant, strange landscapes, it looks like a case of all three! Photo: Pixabay/Yair Ventura Filho Based in Franschhoek, South Africa, Pigcasso was destined for the slaughterhouse before she was discovered by artist and activist Joanne Lefson. Lefson runs Farm Sanctuary SA, which is home to a variety of...
Is It Too Cold To Leave Your Dog Outside This Winter?
As winter temperatures descend upon us, we may find ourselves asking how our canine companions can cope with the cold. Of course, winter looks different all over the world — so, let’s look at some things to consider when bundling up your pup. Your Dog’s Behavior Does your dog seem anxious outside during cold weather? Watch for shivering and if your dog is reluctant to leave warmer areas. Similar to hot pavement, your dog may lift their paws up to avoid prolonged contact with a cold surface as well. Consider getting them...
Dog’s Owner Never Returned From The Hospital And Lives On The Streets
Hope For Paws is no stranger to helping abandoned pups, strays, and other dogs off the street. But when they received a call to help an injured dog at an apartment complex, they found an unexpectedly sad situation. A neighbor informed them that “the dog’s owner left for cancer treatment two months prior and sadly never returned.” Right then, they knew they needed to rescue this dog and find him a new forever home, to make up for the tragic loss that he had experienced but could never understand. PHOTO: YOUTUBE / HOPE FOR...
Dog Monthly and Daily Holidays
Celebrate your dog every day and every way but especially on these fun dog national holidays. Don’t see a dog holiday here? Just email us at dogstermag@belvoir.com and we will add it to the list! JANUARY dog holidays Walk Your Pet Month Train Your Dog Month January 1: New Year’s Day January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day FEBRUARY dog holidays ©Melissa L Kauffman Pet Dental Health Month Unchain a Dog Month Dog Training Education Month...
Dug Up at Dogster: 2022 Dog Events and Dog Holidays
Bring in the new year 2022 with these fun dog events and dog holidays. Don’t see your dog event on the list? Email us at dogstermag@belvoir.com and we will include your dog event. January 2022 Dog Holidays Walk Your pet month reminds us to get out and walk our dogs even if it is cold outside. ©Melissa L Kauffman Walk Your Pet Month Train Your Dog Month January 2, 2022: Pet Travel Safety Day January 14, 2022: Dress Up Your Pet Day January 24, 2022: Change a Pet’s Life Day (adoption) January 29,...
All Hail Jaqweenie!
Jaqweenie caught my eye after seeing his popular TikTok video, which showed his world being “rocked” by a cut on his foot. His human, Jean Mosher, says, “He was shaking, panting and licking his paw.” Thinking it was pretty serious, Jean rushed him to the vet but it turned out to be just a tiny cut. “Even though Jaqweenie was totally OK, I want to remind people that when in doubt, it’s really important to bring your dog to the vet. Excessive vocalizations, constant localized grooming, differences in...
Challenges, Hope, Help, and Dogs in Pajamas: These Are Our Top 10 Blogs of 2021
Our top 10 blogs of 2021 reflect both the immense and ongoing challenges of the last year, and how we’ve come together to protect and support our communities—the people and pets alike. Plus, foster dogs in pajamas. 1. Animal Shelter Workers Are Burned Out “After last year’s COVID-related lull, this summer animal shelters all over the country are full again—and it’s not just the animals who are at risk. The people whose job it is to care for the animals under these extreme conditions are suffering,...
Young Cat with FIV Rescued, Now Living it Up as Senior 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! We were staying a week at our camper, closer to the hospital where my daughter was going to give birth. Our grandson was born, and we went back to the camper that evening. A gray, matted kitty kept jumping on my lap to be petted. I’d put him down and he would jump right back up. We went to the grocery to get him food. He hung with us at our camper for the week, even answering to his...
