Dog Collars: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

What’s the best kind of collar to help train your dog? Are any of them abusive? There’s much debate on the topic. Veterinarian Liz Stelow discusses seven options

Happy New Year of the Rabbit …

I was all set to say something about the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, which begins today. Then I discovered that if you live in Vietnam, it’s the Year of the Cat.

How Americans Think About Animals

With a new tool from Google, you can discover almost anything to do with cultural changes in our attitudes to animals – and indeed anything else. I looked into our changing relationship with pets, and the result was quite eye-opening

In Brazil Floods, the Dog Who Mourns

Leao won’t leave the grave of his “mom” Leao, the dog who mourns The human death toll from the floods in Brazil continues to rise. On…

Yorkshire Terrorist Shuts Down Mail Service

Oops, meant to say Yorkshire terrier! But mail carriers in a small British town are so spooked by Peggy (the “Beast of Dorset Gardens”) that the Royal Mail isn’t just avoiding her house; they’ve shut down the whole street!

Is Your Pet Making You Sick?

The CDC warns us about the dangers of having pets in bed. Scary examples of dangers to your health. But let’s look at the facts …

Mascot Donkey Home from the War

The former mascot of a Marine group in Iraq will soon have a new home in the United States. And Smoke the donkey may be going to work as a therapy animal for the children of wounded soldiers

Wildlife as Pets – What’s the Law?

Does an exotic or wildlife species make a good choice as a pet? And should our wildlife even be allowed as pets? Different states have different laws, and your state’s leaders might like to hear your views

Sal the Kitty Called to Jury Duty

When his mom wrote to the court explaining that a) he’s a cat, and b) he doesn’t speak English, the request to be disqualified was denied. But here’s my question …

Ferrets to Foxes: Exotic Animals as Pets

Veterinarian Liz Stelow says that keeping an exotic pet is a lot more difficult than having cats and dogs. It is difficult to provide the right food, housing and care. There is often little or no information about husbandry, and if the relationship doesn’t work out, you have fewer options

The Green-Eyed Monster

Jealousy is not limited to humans. Scientists agree that other animals can experience complex emotions like jealousy and pride. And whenever feelings of jealousy arise within a relationship, deep trouble often follows

Catnapped by Amtrak, Kitty Reunited

A grandmother from Canada and her pet cat, Mimi, who was taken from her by Amtrak officials have been reunited. Alexandra Kroutchinina, who speaks only Russian,…

Kuwait Oil Company and Humane Group Team Up

The oil company is funding a trap-neuter-return program that will be managed by the Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals to help reduce the number of homeless dogs who live on the streets of Ahmadi city

Three-Legged Dog Wins High Jump, Fosters Kittens

First Prize in the high jump … and she only has three legs … and she fosters frightened feral kittens … she even turned around the life of a disabled orphan child.

How Good a Dogtor is Fido?

We all know that pets and other animals are good for our health. Or are they? Psychologist and author Hal Herzog has looked through the medical evidence and has some surprising conclusions. Michael Mountain writes about this in his latest blog

Bunny + Pancake = Photo Book

With his flair for balancing waffles, toilet rolls and bananas on his head, Oolong the house rabbit gained a following of millions of people. A few people objected, but most rabbit lovers seemed to think it was all harmless fun. See Oolong’s slideshow

Missing Cat Returns – 11 Years Later

Chloe Hill was 6 years old when her new kitten, Salem, disappeared. The devastated 6-year-old and her mother, Karen, spent weeks searching their neighborhood, in Birmingham,…

Peeking Pup Pilloried by Hole in Wall

Rebel wasn’t rebelling. He was just plain stuck, with his head peering through one side of the 18-inch-thick brick wall, and the rest of him on the other side. And the two officers who rescued him said he couldn’t have been more cooperative

Do Dogs Know When Their Person Is Blind?

Experts weigh in on what exactly dogs and other animals know. One says they don’t have abstract mental concepts like “seeing.” Another says they do. And another tells a story about a dog who “clearly knew what it meant for a human to be blind.”