Saturday, 31 August 2019
Friday, 30 August 2019
Hurricane Dorian 2019: Evacuation Resources for You and Your Pet
Read on to learn more about hurricane Dorian 2019 evacuation resources and tips to keep the entire family safe.
The post Hurricane Dorian 2019: Evacuation Resources for You and Your Pet appeared first on The Trupanion Blog.
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This Special Pup Was Born With A Permanent Smile
You’d never know it by looking at him, but little Chupey’s DNA is made up mostly of Pit Bull and Rottweiler! Born hairless with inside-out ears, beady eyes, and a toothy grin, he resembles the mythical Chupacabra of Mexican folklore.
Rescuer, Kaley Carlyle dubbed him “Chupey” for short.
Carlyle had already rescued one litter of puppies with a seizure disorder when the same breeder came to her with Chupey. She cut a deal with the woman: if she would spay Chupey’s mother, Carlyle would take in the special needs puppy.
In addition to his unique appearance, Chupey had liver problems. He was underweight and always exhausted, sleeping up to 23 hours a day. Luckily, a special diet is helping to improve his health. Now his adorable personality is shining through!
“My favorite thing about Chupey is his attitude – he always wants to be part of what you’re doing and does a little shimmy dance when he’s excited,” Carlyle tells Metro UK.
He is also incredibly cuddly, rushing over whenever a blanket appears, and barking until he is let underneath. Don’t worry, Chupey has a collection of warm clothing to protect his hairless body when the weather turns chilly.
Chupey is now nearly 2-years-old and thriving. He has close to 9,000 followers on Instagram who log in to see his heartwarming smile.
While Carlyle has grown to love Chupey’s one-of-a-kind appearance, she says his personality is what makes him truly special.
“I think people need to give special needs dogs a chance and look at the dogs that aren’t as beautiful and striking as the rest. I hope I can encourage people to look at dogs differently and understand that personality is more important than looks.”
Let Chupey’s goofy grin brighten up your life by following him on Instagram and Facebook!
The post This Special Pup Was Born With A Permanent Smile appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.
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Latest Incident Highlights The Dangers Of Entrusting Your Pup To Dog Care Apps
A California dog dad got a shocking surprise when a motion alert from his home security camera appeared on his phone. He watched in horror as the pet sitter he hired through the Rover app violently threw his puppy, Lucy to the ground.
Lucy was seen by a veterinarian, and is expected to be fine, but it certainly raises questions as to the safety of using pet care apps such as Rover and Wag.
Warning: The video footage is very disturbing. Proceed with caution.
Wag and Rover are often compared to “Uber for dogs” due to their ease of use. But fast and convenient may not be good things when it comes to the care of your beloved pup.
In April, CBS News reported the death of a blind senior pooch named Mooshu who fell from a two story porch while in the care of a Rover pet sitter. The owner was offered $2,600 towards the cost of Mooshu’s vet bills and cremation as well as the cost of a new dog, if she signed a non-disclosure agreement.
She declined and became one of 14 families to speak with CBS about the deaths of their dogs while in the care of Rover or Wag sitters. One dog parent discovered her Rover sitter had a criminal record, another caught her Wag walker on surveillance video kicking and intimidating her dog.
Users of both apps were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements after their dogs were injured or killed while in the care of Wag or Rover employees.
Rover told CBS that the well-being of pets is their “top priority” and they are “continually working to improve safety.” Similarly, Wag reported that they are “committed to constantly improving their service” and “care deeply about the safety” of dogs.
Pet care industry expert, Carmen Rustenbeck says these companies are adopting more regulations, but for now, she recommends dog parents seek out licensed professionals.
“Just pasting a badge on the website is not going to work anymore, they’re going to have to back that up with some kind of training,” Rustenback said. “If you had a child, would you just accept a person on an app to take care of your child? Or would you do more investigation? And that’s what I encourage all pet owners to do.”
The post Latest Incident Highlights The Dangers Of Entrusting Your Pup To Dog Care Apps appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.
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Deadly Accident in Colorado Rockies Leaves Dog Missing, Fighting For Life
For one Colorado family, a fun-filled drive in the mountains quickly turned tragic. While driving in the Rocky Mountains, Tara Orr was with her mother, Jennifer, and Tara’s pup Bentley, a one-year-old Goldendoodle. It was supposed to be a fun adventure, but while navigating steep mountain roads, they lost control, and their car plummeted down a 600-foot cliff. Tara survived the crash. However, her mom sadly died at the scene. Unfortunately for Bentley, the struggle to survive was just beginning.
A Community Comes Together to Help
Bentley was thrown from the vehicle during the accident and was nowhere to be found. He was last seen running down the hill that the car had tumbled down. Unfortunately, Bentley’s mom was unable to search for him because she was airlifted to a local hospital to receive emergency care.
Locals came together to search for Bentley. They printed flyers and canvassed the area. They even started a Facebook page where people could share tips, words of encouragement and any sightings of sweet Bentley. Their efforts weren’t in vain. After 19 days of living alone in the hills of Colorado, Bentley was miraculously found!
Someone finally spotted him on the hillside and contacted Bentley’s heartbroken mom. She had since returned home in Kansas, but she hadn’t given up hope. Tara flew back to Colorado and managed to find Bentley still roaming the hills.
Two Survivors Reunited
His mom posted a heart-warming video to the Bring Bentley Home Facebook page. Tears fell from her eyes as she clutched Bentley. Her eyes were still black and blue from the accident- a shocking reminder of the reality of the situation.
“I’m just so grateful for everybody who helped… He’s literally laying in my lap,” Bentley’s mom said through tears.
VIDEO: Tara Calls Out to Bentley
BENTLEY HAS BEEN RESCUED!This guy has been what can only be compared to a mountain goat for the past 19 days. After the fatal accident where I lost my mom, Bentley was last seen running down hill from the accident. For the past 3 days he has been spotted far far above the accident site, laying amongst the rocks along the ridge of the mountain. Peering down at the Jeep wreckage, patiently waiting for his family to return. This morning, I left Pueblo, CO at 4:45am and drove the accident site in Buena Vista, CO. Along with a team, we spent hours hiking to the top of said mountain. I have never, and I mean never, done such dangerous and rewarding activity in my entire life. We were able to spot Bentley early in the day, a few hours in, I came within 30-40 feet of him. He wouldn’t come to me, but seemed interested. Eventually his fear got the best of him and he made his way to the ridge (top). I slowly but surely followed him, upon reaching the summit, I could see him watching me. I got close to him, laid down, unpacked some items to eat and a new toy I’d purchased from him. He never moved an inch for over 15 minutes. Eventually I decided to give him some space, back off for a few minutes, and that got his attention. When I came back, him and I slowly altered walking few steps towards each other until finally I was able to convince him to come into my arms. And from then it was nothing but tears and celebration! Bentley is okay, he’s a little malnourished and dehydrated. But otherwise no noticeable injuries. Thank you to everyone who played a role in bringing this sweet boy home. I know the past 19 days, God and my beautiful momma have been keeping an eye on him. GOD IS SO GOOD! ❤️
Posted by Bring Bentley Home on Saturday, August 25, 2018
Bentley made his way back home to Kansas, dehydrated and malnourished. He was welcomed home with signs in his yard and clusters of balloons. His family was so thankful to have their baby back!
“Bentley is settling back in as if he never left! He’s as goofy, fun, and as sweet as ever. The resilience of dogs will never fail to impress me. His eating, drinking, and digestion quickly returned to normal. Health-wise, he seemed to have no injuries whatsoever–a true miracle.”
Budgeting for a Pet and What it Can do for the Unexpected
Read on to learn more about budgeting for a pet and how medical insurance for pets can help be there for your pet's lifetime.
The post Budgeting for a Pet and What it Can do for the Unexpected appeared first on The Trupanion Blog.
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At The End Of Four Leashes
Not a day goes by when I don’t get a comment like “You must be a dog walker.” Or, my personal favorite “I have enough trouble managing two!”
I have become a fixture in my neighborhood. Albeit an unconventional one. People yell across distances at me “Awesome! Way to go!” or “Do you train?” Passing cars slow down to watch and smile. An older gentleman a few blocks over from my house confided in me one day, “My granddaughter watches for you every day. She calls you the Beagle Lady.”
Most recently a young neighbor boy walking by us with his father asked me a question “Why do you have so many dogs?” he asked shyly. Not knowing how to simply answer that question, I just smiled and said “Because I love dogs.”
The truth is that my dogs and I were meant to find each other. Call it fate, providence, or whatever you choose to believe. It is actually as simple as that.
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Smiling Dog: Dobby
Dog's name and age: Dobby, 3 years
Story behind the name: When I adopted Dobby at 6 months, he looked just like Dobby from the Harry Potter series with these huge ears. He has grown into his ears now!
Adoption story: I lost my first dog, Samson, in August of 2016. I was completely devastated and thought it would be a long time before I could handle getting another dog. I still needed to get my "dog-fix" in so I started volunteering at the Humane Society of Huron Valley a few months later. Three weeks of volunteering later, I was cleaning up the back holding room and saw Dobby. It was absolutely love at first sight.
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How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Eating Socks
Dear Bark: Our adorable dog Mercury eats everything in sight—mostly small socks, but also napkins, dog toys, food wrappers and so much more. We’ve tried to train him to “leave it” and “drop it” and sometimes it works, but usually he becomes possessive of whatever it is and will choke down said item like a snake. Recently, he had emergency surgery to remove a child's sock. He’s now restricted from most of the house so we can keep an eye on him but he's also taken to eating fruit pits in the yard. What do you advise?
—Mercury & Co
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Thursday, 29 August 2019
Dog With Terminal Cancer Gets Shopping Spree and Ice Cream Party
The Richmond Animal League gave one sweet pup a day to remember recently. The staff and volunteers took Bebe for “Bebe’s Big Day Out” where he got to pick out anything he wanted. He went for a car ride and got to feel the breeze on his face with all of the windows down before indulging in a shopping spree at Petco.
Sneaky Pup Has the Most Surprising Way To Get Treats & Attention
A stray dog who lives in Bangkok is showing off his carefully crafted street smarts, and it’s getting him some viral attention worldwide. The locals call him Gae. He’s a reddish brown, large mixed breed whose ability to trick passersby gets him awarded by those whose heart goes out to him.
As you’ll see in the video, Gae perfectly positions and drags his hindquarters along the street as if he has injured legs. When someone pays him some attention, he quickly ‘recovers’ and walks around looking mighty proud of himself for his performance.
“This old dog has lived [at] my workplace for a few years,” local resident Thaweeporn Chongplapolkul told Viral Press. “He always does this trick to deceive people.”
Image Screenshot World News You Tube
Gae is taken care of by Chongplapolkul and other locals. They feed him rice and other things and she assures us, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Gae’s legs.
“We’ve checked both of his legs — they are both fine,” says Chongplapolkul. “If Gae had any kind of injury, I would take him to the vet immediately.”
What’s not so clear is if Gae came up with this gag on his own or if he was trained by another hungry belly that needed a little help. Perhaps, he was hanging around with a dog, with actual injuries, who received more hand outs than he did. That may have tipped him off to the trick. It’s also not too far fetched to think that a human taught him this to help both of them receive more kindness and contributions from strangers.
Image Screenshot World News You Tube
You’ll notice in the video that Gae receives much praise and giggles for his act, which surely only encourages him to keep up the habit. He even gets a guy on a motorbike to stop completely, with obvious concern on his face. Then Gae just jumps up, tail wagging, and all the onlooking humans laugh and tell him how tricky the little Thespian is.
No matter how he learned to perform, his scheme absolutely works! I mean, who would keep going when a poor helpless creature was dragging himself down the road? Hats off to Gae and his cunning. We all gotta eat, and this smart little cookie figured out a way to go right for the pity jugular to get his needs met. He’s simply irresistible.
What’s the most clever thing your dog does to get some attention? Did he come up with it on his own or was it a taught trick? Share your stories with us!
Featured Image Screenshot World News You Tube
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These Stuffed Toys Help Save Shelter Dogs & Teach Kids The Importance Of Rescue
Are you searching for the perfect gift for the young dog lover in your life? Look no further than Operation ResCUTE‘s adorable stuffed dog and book sets!
Each toy is modeled after a real life rescue dog, and comes with a book detailing their remarkable story. Best of all, 100% of the profits go towards helping shelter dogs get adopted!
Operation ResCUTE was inspired by a pooch named Jingles. Her story began when she was just a tiny pup, curled in a New York City trashcan for warmth.
Laurie Brown-Nagin, Jingles’ adoptive mom and the creator of Operation ResCUTE, spotted an Animal Control Officer carrying the puppy to a vet’s office and fell in love. Soon, Jingles was the newest member of her family.
As a marketing researcher, Brown-Nagin was shocked to learn that only 30% of pets in homes come from shelters and rescue organizations. Even worse, an estimated 2.7 million healthy pets remain in shelters each year.
As a mom, she knew the only way to improve the plight of rescue dogs was through future generations. It was out of this desire to educate and encourage young readers that Operation ResCUTE was born!
The first set of ResCUTE toys and books feature Jingles, Brown-Nagin’s other dog Tanner, and a very special pooch known as Hudson the Railroad Puppy.
Back in 2012, Hudson and his two littermates were discovered with their paws nailed to a railroad track. The pups were treated for malnutrition, dehydration, and infected wounds. Sadly, one of Hudson’s sisters passed away, the other lost two toes, and sweet Hudson lost his entire left rear paw.
Despite his early circumstances, Hudson went on to find a wonderful home, become a therapy dog, and inspire millions with his story of survival and hope.
If your child or grandchild has a heart for dogs, there’s no better way to help nurture their passion. Each story and mini replica dog will help teach them the importance of rescue, and why they should always adopt not shop!
Featured Images via Facebook/Operation ResCUTE
The post These Stuffed Toys Help Save Shelter Dogs & Teach Kids The Importance Of Rescue appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.
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Spared from Certain Death Thanks to You
“Jax is doing great! He is a very loving dog, and we took to him right away. We couldn’t have asked for a better dog.”
Nothing brings us more joy than sharing success stories with you. After all, it is YOU who make these happy endings possible. When you shop on iHeartDogs, dogs get fed, housed, relocated, and ultimately, adopted! We’ve got a sweet story to share today that is a perfect example of the great things that come from the iHeartDogs community and our partnership with Greater Good.
Doom and Gloom
Jaxon came to a California shelter as a stray. Despite his warm personality and cool cattle dog coloring, he languished at the shelter. Potential adopter after potential adopter passed him by. Things were looking pretty gloomy for Jaxon.
4th of July Booms
Ask a shelter staffer which holiday they like the least and you are very likely to hear the 4th of July. Fireworks light up the sky and firecrackers blow up in cities, towns, and yards across our great nation. Humans love all the noise and spectacle. For many dogs, though. It’s a terrifying experience. Tons of dogs get loose, running away from the safety of their homes trying to escape the perceived threat. As a result, shelters get filled to the brim in the aftermath of the 4th year after year. Many of these wayward pups are reunited with their families, but sadly, many others are not. This puts a big strain on the shelter system.
Placed on the Kill List
Easy going Jaxon didn’t do anything wrong. He was a victim of circumstance and bad timing. The shelter in California became overcrowded following the 4th of July. There was seemingly no choice but to make room for those incoming dogs. Jaxon was one of the unlucky ones placed on the kill list. His life would be taken to make room for another. It’s a cycle that saddens and frustrates shelter staffers and volunteers.
Thanks to funding through Greater Good and iHeartDogs, Jaxon was taken out of the kill shelter in California by Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team and put on transport to Safehaven Humane Society in Oregon. Within two short weeks of residing at Safehaven Humane Society, Jaxon found his forever home!
Word from His Mama
Jaxon’s mama is super proud and happy to have her little love nugget. She told Greater Good,
“Jax is doing great! He is a very loving dog, and we took to him right away. We couldn’t have asked for a better dog.”
Instead of being put to sleep, Jaxon is being put to the neighborhood streets. He gets walked and loved and hugged every single day. How’s that for a happy ending?
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Thanks to YOU Nashville Humane Association Gets a Huge Face Lift
Every purchase you make on the iHeartDogs store helps feed and house shelter dogs in need. Thanks to you, the Nashville Humane Association received some serious improvements to their facility.
Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild
How Your Purchases Helped
Here’s a little breakdown of how your purchases get translated into upgrades for this animal shelters. iHeartDogs is partnered with Greater Good. A portion of your purchases goes to Greater Good to, well, do more good! Greater Good has an organization within it called Rescue Rebuild.
Rescue Rebuild is a volunteer program of GreaterGood.org that recruits volunteers from all over the country to help animal shelters in need. They travel to selected shelters and spend one to two weeks working to complete general repairs and renovations.
Nashville Humane Association was a selected shelter to receive repairs and renovations. Rescue Rebuild recruited about 60 volunteers to come work at the shelter for the week. The number of people on hand allowed Rescue Rebuild to tackle quite a few projects for the Nashville Humane Association.
Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild
Make the Interior Pop
The Nashville Humane Association needed a paint job on the interior. Rescue Rebuild and their team of volunteers put many a paint brush and roller to work! Nashville Humane Association has different adoption rooms for different types of dogs based on size and temperament. Large breed active dogs can congregate in one room while sleepy seniors can chill out in another.
One of these areas is called the Real Life Rooms. They are set up like more typical household rooms for dogs that don’t do well in kennels. These rooms are highly visible to the incoming adopters so they are also used for dogs that have been at the shelter for a while who could use some added exposure.
Volunteers prepped and painted all of the trim and doors to these rooms and wow, what a difference! The colors really pop! Now the moment potential adopters walk in the door, their eyes will be drawn to that space and all the pups looking through the window at them, ready to go to their forever home.
Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild
Improving the Outdoor Space
The shelter already had one outdoor kennel space so that dogs can get some fresh air during the day. There was plenty of space for another one, though. The Rescue Rebuild team poured a large concrete pad and once it was dry, put in a large kennel.
Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild
An already established play yard was spacious and fun but there was a problem. The existing fence was low to the ground so larger dogs were easily leaping right over it and running around on the property. Due to this safety concern, the yard was only being used for smaller dogs off leash and larger dogs on leash. This had to change! The team torn down the picket fence and replaced it with a chain link fence. Now all the dogs get to have their outdoor time doing what they love to do best-run free!
Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild
Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild
Thank YOU for your continued contributions to Greater Good and Rescue Rebuild through your purchases at iHeartDogs. With your help, more ‘good’ is going to shelters in need.
Featured Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild
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Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Viral Story About Abused Pup Takes An Upsetting Turn When Truth Comes Out
An injured dog named Dani was brought into the Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital in Ohio because she needed emergency medical attention. The individual that brought her in claimed that they found the dog with a slit throat and a duct-taped mouth. Horrified by this story, officers went out to search for the person behind this animal abuse, but they later found out that the entire story was a fabrication. The real person to blame was the person who brought her in, which sadly was actually her family.
Even though the stories about Dani were false, she still appeared to be in pretty bad shape. She was incredibly skinny with sores around her nose and neck. Because of this, it was easy to believe the lies being told about how she got in this condition. However, upon further examination, the vets were able to confirm that these injuries were not from a slit throat or duct tape.
As it turns out, no one had purposely harmed Dani. The scratch on her neck was from an accidental run-in with a barbed wire fence. Once this incident occurred, her family wanted to seek medical attention for her injury. Sadly, they couldn’t afford to pay the vet bills. That’s when they decided to come up with a story to get her scratch fixed for free.
The sores around her nose were because her family kept a tight muzzle around her for long periods of time. They used the muzzle to control Dani’s behavior, such as excessive chewing and aggressive behaviors toward other dogs. However, the muzzle would sometimes be kept on Dani’s mouth for hours at a time. This is why it left such a horrible mark.
With the scratch from a barbed wire fence and the sores from a muzzle, Dani’s family was able to make up the perfect story. They thought they could claim to have found Dani, so that the vet would provide free medical care, but their plan backfired.
Dani is now being fostered at Hart of Cincinnati Animal Rescue, which is where she was originally adopted. Her foster parent says that she is a sweetheart, and her tail never stops wagging. It will take her some time for her to heal, but in the meantime, she’s in good hands.
The rescue states they would like to push for charges against the original family, but this hasn’t been done just yet. After the investigation, it was discovered that the incident happened in a different county than the officers originally thought.
“After the investigation was completed it was determined that this incident did not occur in Butler County, but we will make a joint effort to work with the adjacent jurisdiction to ensure this case is dealt with appropriately,” states Sheriff Jones.
This dog’s original family is actually in Warren County, so if the rescue does press charges, then they would have to be filed in that jurisdiction. However, what is most important is that Dani’s okay. She is with a loving foster home and is excited to find a caring and responsible forever home in the future.
All Images: Screenshot, wpxi.com
H/T: wpxi.com
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Senior Living Residents Have Different Plans For Dog Set To Be Euthanized
A dog in Virginia didn’t quite know love until she was adopted by a senior living facility.
A six-year-old pup by the name of Journey was found by Amy Creel with Knine Rescue in Montgomery County, Maryland. Journey had been kept in a cage her entire life and she ended up in an overcrowded shelter after her owner died.
Tuesday, 27 August 2019
A Sweet Pitbull Was Found Tied To A Tree. Then They Saw The Note.
The sad predicament of a pitbull abandoned in Connecticut is shedding light on the costs of raising a fur baby.
The poor girl was found tied to a tree in a park on July 26th with a note attached to her collar. The note, addressed to “Whomever love[s] dogs” explained that the pitbull’s name is Annabell and she would turn 3 years old on August 12th.
“Couldn’t afford her. Please help,” the note concluded.
She had no tags or microchip when she was picked up by animal control.
Norwalk Animal Shelter in Connecticut shared Annabell’s story on their page where it got a lot of attention. The post received hundreds of shares and several comments from people interested in adopting her.
Soon after, she was transferred to PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society) nearby where staff reported that she “can be a tad timid at first, but warms quickly and is sweet and social.” They also learned that she “enjoys outdoor time, long walks and playtime.”
After spay surgery Annabell was adopted by a couple on August 24th! Whether it was the social media attention or one look at her adorable mug that did it, she is now in a loving home.
Annabell’s story has sparked some conversation about the costs of raising a dog.
Many Facebook commenters expressed outrage that someone would abandon a dog like Annabell. In a post, PAWS requested that people not use her story to place judgment on the person who couldn’t take care of her.
“We also hope that rather than taking this as an opportunity to judge, people use this as a springboard for conversation about obstacles to successful pet ownership. These things include vet care that is not affordable, lack of pet friendly housing, breed discrimination in housing, overbreeding, lack of access to training, limited rehoming options and the limitation of adoptability due to breed prejudice and stigma,” the post read.
We’ll do anything for our dogs, but those costs can really add up.
Veterinary students at the University Of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Kelly Giffear and Brittany Scott projected the yearly costs of raising dogs of different breeds and sizes. According to Giffear and Scott, the average cost for the first year of raising small dogs was $2674; for medium dogs $2889; for large dogs $3239 and giant breeds like Great Danes have an annual cost of $3536. Across all dog sizes the average first year cost was $3085.
The estimates included the costs of supplies, food, and medical care but not training or boarding. If you’re planning to become a dog parent, make sure you know the costs involved. You can budget for food and replacement toys, but there will also be unexpected costs of boarding or vet visits to cover.
Of course, as most dog parents can tell you, the cost of having a dog in your life is worth it.
If you live near Norwalk but missed your chance to adopt Annabell, check out the other adorable dogs available through PAWS!
HT: Fox 5 NY
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Could Pics of Your Dog’s Nose Help Find a Lost Pup Faster?
What if there was a database filled with images of every individual snout, helping to reconnect us with our lost pups? A company named Megvii in China is already on to the idea, and making this a reality!
As the years have gone by, we are constantly finding ways to reunite with our lost pets even easier than before. What started out as only being able to find your escaped dog from word of mouth, has now turns into a system using microchips, shareable internet posts, and now, even nose identification.
This new technology works off of the same premise as the facial recognition software that we have on our phones. A dog’s nose print is just as unique as our fingerprint!
By uploading several photos of your pup’s nose from multiple angles, this software is able to download your dog’s very own data, and use it to help reunite you if they ever get lost! This program has already reunited 15,000 pets with their owners in other parts of the world.
This technology has caught on in the US in terms of identifying specific wildlife and conservation, and even in some kennel clubs. Some even use the facial recognition app called Finding Rover to locate their missing pets by comparing photos that are uploaded around the community. This is a new identification system that is expected to gain recognition, and possibly even be the main way to find missing pets in the future.
In China, this system has already caught on, and is being transformed for many different purposes! China intends to continue to use this software for lost pets, but to also monitor the behaviors of the pets in the area. They believe that with the progression of this technology, they will be able to watch the pets being walked in the area, monitor if their owners are following proper leash laws, and implement structure to those who choose to break the local rules.
Your dog’s nose may be the key to a major growth in animal search technology. Dog nose identification software is an impressive advancement, and will surely take the world by storm!
H/T: http://dogtime.com
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Golden Retriever Has an Exciting New Life After Losing 100 Pounds in One Year
Kai was a 173-pound golden retriever, who was saved by the Misfits of Alberta Animal Rescue after his previous family attempted to have him put down. However, the vet refused to end his life because he believed that Kai still had a chance.
When the vet contacted the dog rescue, Pam Heggie came to help right away. When she met this poor dog, she knew he was dangerously overweight, so she wanted to do everything she could to help him out. She decided to foster Kai to give him a place to stay and to help him get into shape.
TBT celebrating Canada Day In 2018 and 2019 🇨🇦 So if you’re thinking about setting a goal- and then realize it may take years to achieve- the time is going to pass anyhow. You just need to start.
Posted by This is Kai on Thursday, July 18, 2019
The vet claimed that Kai was the most overweight dog he had ever seen. He informed Heggie that Kai was about 100 pounds more than what a golden retriever should be. “Anything you do is gonna help that dog,” he told her.
At first, Kai struggled with his new life. He was so large that Heggie couldn’t even find a collar that would properly fit him. Any collar she tried to put on him would just fall off because he was not very well defined.
Heggie attempted to take him for three walks a day, but at first, Kai would walk for only a few steps before becoming exhausted and starting to pant heavily. It even took him 20 minutes just to get up the three stairs to her front door. Without assistance, he probably wouldn’t even have been able to get up the steps on his own.
Posted by This is Kai on Tuesday, April 3, 2018
It was clear that Kai had a long way to go in order to get into shape, but Heggie refused to give up on him. So, she kept doing everything she could to help, and over time, Kai began to trust her more and more.
As time went on, Kai began to show more progress. Heggie made sure he was eating a proper amount of food each day. She even had him do water therapy sessions to help strengthen his back legs.
For my friends the bee 🐝
Posted by This is Kai on Saturday, May 25, 2019
The whole process was a lot of work for the both of them, but Kai remained a happy dog and refused to give up. “He was always extremely loving,” Heggie says about his journey. Weight loss is not fun for everyone, but Kai appeared positive throughout the entire process.
Kai and Heggie recently appeared on Good Morning America, where Heggie revealed and discussed Kai’s incredible journey. “You really saved his life,” the hosts on the show tell her. Since then, Heggie has adopted Kai, finally giving him the forever family that he deserves.
In only one year, Kai was able to lose 100 pounds, causing him to look like a new dog with a happier, healthier life. His transformation is an inspiration for both humans and dogs alike, showing that we should not give up on dogs because they won’t give up on us.
Keep up with Kai’s progress on Facebook!
Featured Photo: This is Kai/Facebook
The post Golden Retriever Has an Exciting New Life After Losing 100 Pounds in One Year appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.
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1 Millionth Ever “Canine Good Citizen” Brings Comfort to Grieving Families
For those of us who have lost someone near and dear to our hearts, you know just how daunting the thought of seeing them after their death can be. A funeral home isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of comforting and warmth. Fiona, the Burmese Mountain Dog who spends her days at a New York funeral home, wants to be your warm hug on a very hard day.
We love Fiona’s new bandana! Many times families do not know if they are allowed to approach Fiona due to her therapy…
Posted by Marine Park Funeral Home on Thursday, July 18, 2019
Fiona was trained to assist those who are struggling at her dog mom’s place of work, a funeral home. Each viewing or funeral is filled with distraught loved ones, and Fiona takes the time to comfort each and every person if they need it. Nora, Fiona’s owner is especially proud of her compassionate pup. She has witnessed the incredible impact Fiona has had on the grieving families, and is still in amazement when she watches her pup in action.
Enjoying summer by our garden 🌸
Posted by Marine Park Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 13, 2019
It all began when Fiona rushed to the aid of a daughter who was in need. It was as if Fiona could sense her hesitance to enter the viewing room, and knew she could give her the strength to take those first steps. The woman held on to Fiona’s fur as she took those painful steps toward the casket of her late mother. As the woman fought through this painful day, she had a beautiful furry soul by her side.
Aside from her work at the funeral home, Fiona and her owner Nora had been working toward her incredible honor of being a Canine Good Citizen. To earn this certificate, she had to pass a 10 step test. This test included basic commands, walking through a crowd and behaving politely while doing so, greeting a stranger with ease, and behaving well around other dogs. She passed this test with flying colors, and became the one millionth Canine Good Citizen.
Say hello to the 1 millionth dog to pass the Canine Good Citizen test!Fiona is a one and a half year old Bernese Mountain Dog from Brooklyn. She loves cuddling and earning treats.
Posted by American Kennel Club on Thursday, August 15, 2019
Fiona is one of many Good Citizens who have went through the program that has helped to gain recognition to good dogs all over the word.
“This program has done so much good, from helping dog owners to teach their pet good manners to rehabilitating dogs that have had behavioral issues.” – Executive Vice President of AKC Sports & Events
Fiona continues to use her compassion and good citizen skills to help every broken heart that enters the funeral home. If there is a family member in need of a hug, Fiona is there waiting with open paws.
Whenever the sun comes out, Fiona will be ready! 🌧 ☀️
Posted by Marine Park Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 19, 2019
H/T: people.com
Image Source: AKC/Facebook
The post 1 Millionth Ever “Canine Good Citizen” Brings Comfort to Grieving Families appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.
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Pet Disaster Plan: Preparing for the Worst
A year ago, Tropical Storm Lane barreled into the Big Island of Hawaii and dropped a torrential 51+ inches of rain on the mainland. People and pets had to dodge mudslides, and rescues were needed to save lives. Three months prior, Mt. Kilauea erupted followed by a 4.4 earthquake -- 280 homes were destroyed, 1,700 people and pets had to flee their homes and those not directly affected, suffered migraines and worse from inhaling sulfur dioxide as their beautiful countryside was covered in a LAZE (lava and gasses).
California celebrated July 4th this year with the boom and rumble of three main 6.4, 5.4 and 7.1 magnitude shocks followed by more than 1,400 aftershocks! Although relatively minor damage was suffered, a few building fires and loss of power to thousands, next time the epicenter could be in a more heavily populated area.
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Labrador Retriever Adopts Orphaned Ducklings
Guarding a castle in Essex is the main job of a 10-year old Labrador Retriever named Fred, but it’s not his only one. He also serves as Foster-Dad-In-Chief. When members of the castle staff found 9 orphaned ducklings roaming the grounds, Fred stepped in to be their guardian and protector. (It is presumed that the mom was taken by a fox or some other predator.) His fatherly instincts were strong and the ducklings took to him like ducks usually take to water. They snuggled around his legs while he lounged on the grass. They climbed onto his head and hung out there for a while. They rode on his back while he moved around the grounds—a slight tail wag visible.
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Monday, 26 August 2019
Service Dog Protects Young Boy After He Was Shot, Now She is Nominated for National Award
Antonio Reese was only nine-years-old when he was the victim of a drive-by shooting on his way to a family dinner. The young boy was shot in the back of the head while riding in his family’s car in March 2015 near Lexington, Kentucky. Antonio’s spent 18 days in a coma and suffered a traumatic brain injury. His mom, Tara Murillo, told WKYT that the child suffers seizures and memory loss as a result.
It Takes A Village
As Antonio awaited his fifth brain surgery in April 2016, his mom was busy trying to fundraise money for his first service dog.
“We’re going to be doing a yard sale and a bake sale to help raise money. We need a fenced back yard for the dog. That’s a requirement for the dog, to have a fenced backyard,” Murillo told WKYT at the time.
The community successfully came together and raised thousands of dollars to help Antonio get his service dog.
Posted by LEX 18 on Thursday, September 22, 2016
Alice joined the family and is working hard to give Antonio some of his childhood back. Antonio is now 13-years-old but he continues to deal with the residual effects of his TBI from four years ago.
Posted by LEX 18 on Thursday, September 22, 2016
Alice goes with Antonio everywhere and she has never missed alerting him to one of his seizures.
Posted by LEX 18 on Thursday, September 22, 2016
Antonio’s mom told Lex18, “She has given me a tremendous feeling of safety. When you have a child that’s so fragile like Antonio is, but it’s truly an invisible disability, everything that he’s going through, from his TBI to his seizures. It truly is an invisible disability and people don’t know it.”
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