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Tips on dog-friendly gardening
As the spring season begins, many people will start tending to their gardens. While we love filling our gardens with our favorite plants and flowers, parts of them can be dangerous to our four-legged friends.
To help keep your garden dog-friendly this spring, the American Kennel Club offers the following advice.
Pick your plants carefully....Read more
WATCH: 'Pandas' at Chinese zoo are chow chow dogs in disguise
(UPI) A Chinese zoo is being criticized online after visitors complained the animals in a "panda" exhibit aren't bears at all -- they're painted chow chow dogs.
Visitors to the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province said they were surprised to discover the so-called "panda dogs" that went on display May 1 are dogs with their fur trimmed and dyed to ...Read more
Ask The Vet: Treat Cat to Outdoor Adventure With Cat-Safe Enclosure
Q: Monty, our indoor cat, often tries to escape from the house. We know he's safer inside, where he won't be attacked by another animal or hit by a car, but he's determined to explore outside. Is there some way we can let him venture outdoors safely?
A: One way is to take him for a stroll with you. Fit him with a cat harness and a thin leash, ...Read more
Kitten rescued from New Jersey storm drain
(UPI) Animal control officers and public works employees in New Jersey came to the rescue of a kitten found trapped in a storm drain.
The Somerset Regional Animal Shelter said in a Facebook post that Animal Control Officer Jess Ostrowski rushed into action Sunday night when a kitten was reported trapped in a storm drain on Sunny Slope Road in ...Read more
WATCH: Kitten rescued from New Jersey storm drain
(UPI) Animal control officers and public works employees in New Jersey came to the rescue of a kitten found trapped in a storm drain.
The Somerset Regional Animal Shelter said in a Facebook post that Animal Control Officer Jess Ostrowski rushed into action Sunday night when a kitten was reported trapped in a storm drain on Sunny Slope Road in ...Read more
Important reminders for developing disaster plans for your pets
National Animal Preparedness Day is coming up on May 8 and AKC Reunite wants to remind you to include your pets in your disaster preparedness plans.
Natural disasters such as storms, flooding and wildfires across the country have been heartbreaking for owners and their pets. This is why the need for emergency preparedness is evident. To ...Read more
What makes a Westminster Best in Show winner, based on a century of data
On the second weekend of May 2024, over 2,500 dogs representing every U.S. state and 12 countries will strut across rings at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, each having spent countless hours training and preparing for the event. While leaving with any prize from one of the most competitive dog shows in the U.S. is already an ...Read more
Ask the Vet: Xylitol Artificial Sweetener Toxic to Dogs
Q: Hercules, the dog I recently adopted, needs to take medicine that isn't available as a chewable tablet. May I hide his pills in peanut butter and give them that way?
A: Yes, provided you use peanut butter that is free of xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in many products.
Xylitol poisons dogs two ways: It induces liver failure, and it ...Read more
Firefighters rescue cat trapped in chimney for two days
(UPI) The London Fire Brigade came to the rescue of a cat who fled from his owner's vacuum and spent two days trapped in the chimney.
The brigade said its Bexley and Greenwich Red Watch crews responded to the Erith-area home to rescue the cat, named Oreo, when his owner started to grow concerned that he wasn't coming down on his own.
"Oreo the...Read more
Ask the Vet: Hoarder Has Too Many Animals for Adequate Care
Q: My neighbor has more cats than I can count, so I assume she's a hoarder. Should I intervene? If so, how?
A: Just having many cats doesn't make your neighbor a hoarder. What would make her a hoarder is having more cats than she can properly care for.
Hoarders fail to provide even minimal standards of shelter, sanitation, nutrition or ...Read more
My Pet World: Training is the answer for handling a dog who barks at guests
Dear Cathy,
I adopted a year-old dog from the SPCA (a Chipoodle). He is protective, but only in the house. When we're out on walks, he's fine if I stop and talk to anyone, or if anyone approaches. But at home, when the doorbell rings or anyone enters the house, he starts barking loudly.
He doesn't growl. If I give him a bunch of treats, he ...Read more
PetSmart contest offers to cover up bad tattoos with a pic of your pooch
Every tattoo has a story. Some are good; others may leave a nagging sense of regret.
Those tattoos that make you cringe are at the heart of a contest that the PetSmart superstore company launched this month.
Dubbed the "Redo Tattoo" contest, PetSmart is offering five winners a chance to replace tattoos they regret with a portrait of a pet.
...Read more
Florida golden retriever gives birth to lime green puppy
(UPI) A golden retriever puppy quickly gained fame online when she was born a color far different from the breed's golden reputation: lime green.
Carole DeBruler, owner of Florida's Golden Treasures Kennel, posted videos of the puppy, named Shamrock, to TikTok, where the cute canine quickly developed a following.
Shamrock was born lime green -...Read more
Escaped dog shuts down traffic in underground tunnel
(UPI) Workers with an Australian toll road operator came to the rescue of a dog that went for a run down a highway tunnel -- and nearly ruined a family wedding.
Transurban, which operates the Legacy Tunnel under the city of Brisbane, shared video showing 13-year-old Maltese mix Hermione running through the tunnel with a slow-speed truck in ...Read more
Missing dog found 17 days after escape at Melbourne Airport
(UPI) A dog who went missing at the Melbourne Airport in Australia was reunited with his owner in Wales after a 17-day search.
The dog, named Milo, had been due to travel home to Swansea, Wales, with owner Jason Whatnall when the canine escaped from the custody of AeroPets Animal Transport.
A 17-day search of the area was launched, and there ...Read more
The AKC offers important tips for your pup’s annual wellness visit
Spring is a great time of year to get your pet’s annual wellness exams done.
These exams are great to see if your pet gained (or lost) any weight over the winter, discuss with your veterinarian the development of any medical or behavioral trends, and focus on keeping your dog as healthy as possible so you and your dog can enjoy the ...Read more
Ask the Vet: Medications Can Diminish Dog's Sense of Smell
Q: I'm training my dog Roger for search and rescue, which requires him to use his nose. I noticed while I was taking a particular medication that my sense of smell worsened. Can the same thing happen to dogs? If so, what drugs affect their sense of smell?
A: A dog's nose has more than 300 million olfactory receptors that detect scent, while ...Read more
My Pet World: A trainer thinks dogs need 'consequences' to learn
Dear Cathy,
I recently have spent time with a dog trainer on a social level. In these settings, the trainer has commented about her dog training methods that don't seem compatible with your column or my own experience.
This trainer boards and trains dogs at her facility. She appears to be successful and gets dogs regularly. However, she ...Read more
'Little Kitty Big City’ is the mischievous cat video game you’ve always wanted
Matt Wood wants to get inside the mind of cat. That’s the driving force behind his indie project “Little Kitty Big City.” Inspired by his own feline friends, Mario and Roxy, and conceived with help from his children, he crafted a game focused on the nameless, at least initially, feline protagonist who falls from the safety of its window ...Read more
WATCH: Cat rescued from between walls goes viral for 'purr-turbed' expression
(UPI) A cat rescued from between two walls by firefighters in England is going viral on social media thanks to its amused facial expression.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said on social media that crews from Preston responded when the "curious cat" was found trapped between two walls.
"Our firefighters carefully chiseled them out safe and...Read more