Pets
/Home & Leisure
/ArcaMax
Canine infectious respiratory disease: new research insights
It is incredibly important to stay alert to any changes in your dog’s health. Any minor differences in the way they are breathing or walking can be indications of a health problem. There is always research being done on new and existing diseases to better educate pet owners on what to look out for in and how to treat different diseases.
...Read more
Lost cat turns up 2,000 miles from home after nearly 3 years
(UPI) A cat who went missing from his family's Texas home nearly three years ago was reunited with his owners after turning up in Massachusetts.
The Dakin Humane Society said on social media that "a skinny stray cat" was recently brought in by a member of the public and staff members were left in disbelief when his microchip identified ...Read more
Ask the Vet: Cat Scratching Posts Must Be Tall, Stable and Numerous
Q: We read your column about the importance of not declawing cats -- or, as you put it, amputating their toes. We're convinced! Now our question is: What can we do to prevent our cats from scratching our furniture?
A: Multiple toe amputation, euphemistically called declawing, causes long-term medical and behavioral problems in cats. Readers who...Read more
Dog bites: How to prevent or treat them
Each year, more than 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States. Despite what you might assume, most of these incidents dot happen when an unfamiliar dog attacks someone in a park or another outdoor location. Instead, most dog bites are inflicted by a pet dog in a home.
Here’s advice for avoiding these upsetting and potentially serious ...Read more
My Pet World: Managing behavioral challenges — Peeing issues, cognitive decline, and aggression
Dear Cathy,
I have a rescue cat who has always been skittish, but developed unfortunate peeing habits at about a year old. I tried hyper cleaning litter boxes (we have four) and changed litter types, but nothing has helped. We have pulled up the rugs in the house. I did the whole workup with the vet, and he put him on medication, which helped...Read more
Most popular dog breeds in the US and the states where they're #1
From bags of kibble in the grocery store to modern home sizes, things are getting smaller—and evidently, Americans are starting to look for furry friends that match. Small breeds like terriers and toys have largely dethroned the retrievers that once dominated the most popular breed rankings. This is a continuation of a trend that began in 2022...Read more
Kitten takes 15-mile ride in wheel well of search and rescue vehicle
(UPI) A kitten has a new home with an Oregon sheriff's deputy after hitching a 15-mile ride in the wheel well of a Search and Rescue team vehicle.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said a truck used by its Search and Rescue team was flagged to be inspected for a rodent infestation after it caught the attention of K9 during a training ...Read more
Tips on spending quality time with your dog as the seasons change
When you’re a dog owner, every day is spent appreciating your pup. This is especially true during the summer, when there may be more time to spend with our canine companions (maybe another dog has even been added to the family!).
The best way to strengthen the human-canine bond is through quality time. With summer coming to an end and ...Read more
My Pet World: Training your dog to use the yard instead of walks to 'go potty'
Dear Cathy,
My husband and I adopted/rescued a six-year-old Mini Schnauzer eight months ago. She has been a wonderful addition to our family. We are both in our 70s and live in a single-family, one-level home but do not have a fenced-in yard. For this reason, we always take her on walks to "do her duty." I wish she would poop and pee in our ...Read more
Florida team's bat dog to keep her job, despite messy debut
(UPI) A Minor League Baseball team in Florida introduced its new "bat dog" to the public, but the canine ended up being less interested in game than she was in doing her business.
Lucy May, a 10-month-old Labrador retriever, was introduced by Philadelphia Phillies single-A affiliate team the Clearwater Thrushers during their game against the ...Read more
Carrie Fisher's Dog Steals The Spotlight
Did you know that August 26th is World Dog Day? Here are some of our favourite celebrity dog stories.
Soaked kitten rescued from Ohio car wash
(UPI) Employees rescued a soaked kitten found lost inside an Ohio car wash, and the feline has now been dubbed Turbo Rinse.
The Fayette Regional Humane Society said on social media that Kierra Mills, team lead at Ultimate Shine Car Wash in Washington Court House, found the kitten in the turbo-blaster area of the wash during a routine inspection...Read more
Firefighters rescue dog from roof of California home
(UPI) Firefighters responded to a California home where a dog climbed out through a second story window and became stranded on the roof.
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District said on social media that the Truck 31 crew, based in Danville, took the call. "Although nobody was home, a neighbor noticed a dog walking on the roof," the department...Read more
My Pet World: Training a dog to ignore distractions and focus on you
Dear Cathy,
My trainer has always taught positive reinforcement rather than negative consequences, as you recommend. However, I need help understanding what to do when my dog won't listen or obey in cases where it is important.
For example, I have trained my two-year-old Havanese to come when I call, "leave it," "wait," etc., but when we are ...Read more
Nationwide shares most unusual pet insurance claims of the year
(UPI) Insurance company Nationwide announced the finalists for this year's Hambone Award, which celebrates the most unusual pet insurance claims of the year.
The Hambone Award, named in honor of a dog who ate an entire holiday ham while stuck in a refrigerator, aims "to shed light on the everyday and sometimes bizarre incidents that can befall ...Read more
Dog rescued from abandoned cistern in Kentucky
(UPI) An animal control officer in Kentucky came to the rescue of a dog found trapped in an old abandoned cistern.
The Caldwell County Animal Shelter said Animal Control Officer Kevin Lane responded Monday morning by driving to an empty lot next to the former Times Leader building on West Washington Street in Princeton.
Lane arrived to find ...Read more
Dog spooked by thunder runs 20 miles from home
(UPI) Animal rescuers in Ireland said a dog spooked by a thunderstorm ended up running 20 miles from home.
The Leitrim Animal Welfare Center said on social media that rescuers responded to a report of a collie running loose in Tarmon, County Leitrim, and they discovered the dog was wearing a collar and had a microchip.
The center contacted the...Read more
Mother cat, kittens rescued from behind subway station stairwell
(UPI) Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority workers came to the rescue of a mother cat and kittens found trapped behind a stairwell at a subway station.
SEPTA posted photos to social media showing the rescue of the mother and two kittens found stuck behind a stairwell at the 63rd Street Station in West Philadelphia.
"All other ...Read more
Stranded cat rescued from atop power pole after more than 24 hours
(UPI) Animal rescuers in British Columbia enlisted the help of utility crews to rescue a cat stranded for more than 24 hours at the top of a power pole.
The Okanagan Humane Society said volunteers were summoned to the 30-foot pole on Gibson Road in Kelowna by a resident who spotted a cat perched precariously at the top.
The rescuers determined...Read more
Cat missing for a year turns up more than 600 miles from home
(UPI) A cat who went missing from her Ontario family turned up one year later and more than 600 miles from home.
The Oromocto and Area SPCA said on social media that a stray cat was brought in recently by a group of young people who had been feeding the loose feline for months in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
"We immediately scanned her to see ...Read more