All Blog Posts (1,147)

Can a one-of-a-kind dog breed with a name like the “Furrychest Jack Beagle Terrier” make the people of Costa Rica see dog adoption differently, and blow adoption rates through the roof? Or can a shelter dog named Sandy photobomb the Oscars and drive national attention to a small rescue group? Can dream-like images of hot air ballooning shelter dogs in Prague, and frolicking dogs in North Carolina inspire countless families to adopt? Can happy dogs all over the world change the face of animal…

My husband was out fishing in the mountains today.. He kept hearing an eking sound, at first he thought it was his stomach growling.. He…

Nowadays various terms are used to entice consumers to purchase dog food products.  Magic words like “natural,” “organic,” “fresh,” “healthy,” “premium,” “wholesome,” and “holistic.”  These words show up on most dog food labels.  Do they really mean what they imply?  So many manufacturers have been dishonest with regard to disclosing the true quality of their product…

My husband and I are blessed to own our home.  We love the extremely large back yard.  And so do our wonderful fur babies.

Upon arriving home from work one day, I let our babies outside to do their business.  I went into the bathroom, which has a window that faces into the back yard.  I noticed that our neighbor's dog was being followed by three young boys...all carrying sticks in their hands.

I watched the boys to make sure that they were not hitting the dog. …

We are in a great time of combining the power of new media with human ingenuity, spirit and heart to achieve remarkable results in saving dogs. There are pioneers creating and shaping a wonderful, promising future: a 13 year-old Romanian girl who has saved over 150 dogs and placed them in countries such as Belgium, Germany and Austria (Facebook), a Maryland woman who has enlisted over 200 people in just three days to save her dog (crowdfunding), and a team of veterans who save injured…

It is time to protect against ticks and fleas. I personally HATE the thought of putting those tick & flea treatments onto my dogs. The last time I used a spot-on treatment, one of my dogs began to tremble, salivate, vomited, and lost her physical coordination within only minutes of application. I bathed her to remove the product. This helped quite a bit and she calmed down. I have avoided these products ever since.  People have no idea what these chemicals do to their dogs. …

Since your furry companion is no less than a member of the family, you are always available to have fun with him. Celebrating your dog’s birthday or rejoicing any occasion can prove to be a day of unlimited memories. You just have to plan it well. Go through the tips mentioned below and get the party started…..

1.  First and foremost, decide on the venue: If you are planning a small celebration, you could host the party at your house. But, on the other hand, it is also natural that…

In the words of soldiers and civilians, they are our brothers, our sisters, our buddies, our comrades in arms, our heroes. They have and are protecting Secretaries of Defense to Presidents. They comfort children and troops alike, and manage to make them smile and laugh. They have even made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Our Military Working Dogs are many, many things but they are not our equipment.

About a year ago, President Obama signed into law the National…

Spring and summer are almost upon us, and the open road is calling us to cottage country and beyond. While our pets can often travel with us, there are many occasions where they need to be left behind. Here are some key tips to make sure their kennel stay is safe and enjoyable for them, and worry free for you.

1. Get a referral or a recommendation for a boarding facility from trusted friends, your veterinarian, your groomer, animal care education specialists or other…

I was contacted about visiting an elderly person with my therapy dog, Malachi. The lady’s niece, Claudette, wanted us to be a special ‘birthday surprise’ for her aunt’s 93rd birthday. Claudette flew from her home in Texas to Boulder, Colorado, and we met in the parking lot to finalize the details on how we were going to pull off our surprise visit.

Malachi and I followed Claudette into the apartment. Her Aunt Mary’s vision and hearing…

Since Vietnam, dogs living and working alongside our military have saved over ten thousand lives.  Starting this instant, can they save tens of thousands more with help from New Media?

One example is the story of US Army Sergeant Logan Black and his best friend and fellow soldier, Diego, a peppy and outgoing bomb-sniffing Labrador. Logan was on mission in Iraq when Diego suddenly stopped him in his tracks indicating he found explosives. Those…

Kobi, which means “joy” in Japanese, and I are a registered therapy team with “Paws for the Soul.” We have encouraged many other teams to join us when we visit our local United Methodist nursing home. Paws for the Soul is a ministry that began with one little abused dog who brought gifts of joy and forgiveness to everyone he met!

Kobi was quick to “out think” me! When I brought his crate into the kitchen on Wednesday nights in…

You might have seen a therapy dog in a hospital, or you might have read about therapy dogs visiting nursing home residents. If you’ve ever wondered what a therapy dog visit is really like, read on to get a glimpse of what it takes to make therapy dog visits successful.

12-24 hours prior to the visit:

Give your dog a bath. Facilities and the people in them like clean, odor-free dogs. While bathing, let your…

Something happened today that I was not expecting. A person at my place of employment (who shall remain nameless) stated: "You're a little weird, Lauren T."

In retrospect, I have been called far worse. But, this surprising revelation really stung. Somehow I found the strength to say, "How?" This person appeared to be at a loss for words. I suppose he/she thought that I would just laugh it off or walk away with my tail between my legs (figuratively, of course). All I wanted was an…