Pittsburgh Police Has a New Comfort Dog for the Bureau and of Course There Are Adorable Photos of Him

The newest member of the Pittsburgh police bureau is a very good boy.

He is not an officer but maybe an arf-icer, and, yes, that will be the last bad pun you’ll have to read here.

Meet Zane, who the bureau said is its first “comfort dog for peer support, critical incidents and community outreach.”

Pittsburgh police Officer Victoria Butch showed off the pup Thursday on the North Shore, posing next to the Police Memorial on North Shore Drive near Heinz Field. The statue, dedicated in 2015, honors fallen K-9 officers.

To read more on this story, click here: Pittsburgh Police Has a New Comfort Dog for the Bureau and of Course There Are Adorable Photos of Him


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Tiny Little Pup Left In A Shoebox By A Supermarket Dumpster

If more people would just be a little bit braver and do the right thing and give their unwanted animals directly to the rescuers, it would be so much better, this poor little pup was left, we wonder if the person was ashamed?

Taking a break from his work at the time, Eddie Olivarez worked at Albertsons, a grocery store in Arcadia, California, he found the little pup.

He found the tiny pup in a shoebox left on the ground by the dumpsters, he could have easily thrown the box into the dumpster, not realizing…

But his senses took over and he realized that the box had to be opened, and sure enough there was something incredible inside a one pound pup desperately in need of help!

To read more on this story, click here: Tiny Little Pup Left In A Shoebox By A Supermarket Dumpster


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Do Not Buy from Puppy Mills – A Must Read!

I did not write this story, but as an animal lover, I feel that I must share it:

Hi...do you know me??? I am a purebred Yorkshire Terrier. Pardon my appearance, maybe you didn't recognize me. I've been so busy making babies and it's hard to stay pretty when you live in filth and never bathe. Maybe you know one of my children, there are hundreds of them out there in the world. I know not where. They were taken from me so young. I hope they have forgotten me, anyway, and this horrible place I can never leave, this tiny cage with its wire floor is my world, I have never left it, it all I know. Is there something else? I know this cage, I know loneliness, I know fear, I know pain, I know sickness, I know hunger, I know thirst...I know I make babies. That's all I know. Is there more? Why are you here? I only know humans mean hurt. What do you mean help? What is Kindness? What is love? What is there beside what I know? Will you show me? Will you not forget me here? I want to know what else there is beside this hell I live in. Help me please, I can not help myself. ♥

There is a bill in the US Congress that will help dogs in puppy mills all over the country, the PUPS Act. House-HR835, Senate-S707. So far 25% of representatives have signed on in support.

PLEASE SHARE!!! PUT AN END TO THIS INDUSTRY FOREVER! TOGETHER WE WILL BE HEARD! MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT LISTEN AND DO NOT STOP UNTIL PUPPY MILLS ARE OUTLAWED AND ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED! Be their voice and their guardian angel, end the suffering of these innocents, once and for all.

Please look at the video below:

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If Your Dog Smells Bad - It Could Be Their Anal Glands

This is the most common cause of doggie odor that won't go away. Anal sacs are two small scent-sacs in the area of the anus. These are a type of "marking" glands. When a dog has a bowel movement, these sacs are normally squeeze, and a very smelly, oily secretion is released with the feces.

If these sacs become infected or impacted, problems result. This can be a very painful situation when they become infected. If a dog is scared or overly excited, these glands can secrete the smelly, oily substance on the surrounding fur, causing bad odor.

If you choose to do so, your veterinarian can show you how to check and even empty the anal sacs at home to prevent problems with odor. Always consult with your veterinarian if your notice an odd odor or anything "not quite right" with your pet. An ounce of prevention is definitely better than a pound of cure.

                                               Diagram showing location a of dog's anal sacs

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Puppy Eats Yogurt With Spoon

Trying to get an infant or a toddler to eat can be a trying task. Between getting them to sit still and then convincing them that eating strained peas is a wonderful experience – meal time can easily take a full hour! We wish all the small children in our lives would take a page from the little dog in this video.

Wrapped up in a little blanket, just like a human infant, the dog in this video is all set for snack time. His guardian prepares a spoonful of food and the dog knows exactly what to do! There is no need for his guardian to even prompt him to “say ah!” He opens his little mouth and squeals as if he can’t wait to get a big heaping spoonful.





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No, A 'Dog Year' Isn't Equivalent To 7 Human Years

Dogs age at different rates compared to humans, but the simple rule of 7 dog years to 1 human year is far from accurate.

If humans aged seven times slower than dogs, then many of us would be able to reproduce at age 7 and live to be 150. Obviously that's not the case.

The reason that dogs can reach full sexual maturity after only a year is that our canine friends age faster during the first two years of their lives than humans do.

Even this general statement is slightly off since smaller breeds tend to mature faster than larger breeds.

Compared to humans, dogs age more quickly at the beginning of their lives and slower toward the end. Therefore, calculating your dog's age relative to yours is a bit tricky, but luckily it's possible.

Since smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds, it's important to calculate your dog's age according to the right category: small (20 pounds or less), medium (21-50 pounds), large (51-90 pounds), or giant (over 90 pounds).

To read more on this story, click here: No, A 'Dog Year' Isn't Equivalent To 7 Human Years

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Puppies Spread Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Recent Diarrhea Outbreak

Puppy poop gave 118 people diarrhea in a recent outbreak caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Nobody died, but 26 people were hospitalized. And if the pet industry doesn’t change its puppy-peddling ways, these outbreaks could continue.

The CDC was first clued into the outbreak in August 2017, when the Florida Department of Health reported that six people had been infected with a type of bacteria that causes fevers, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. By February 2018, the CDC discovered that more than 118 people in 18 states had been infected with the same thing: a bacteria called Campylobacter that’s usually linked to eating raw chicken or food contaminated by chicken juices.

To read more on this, click here: Puppies Spread Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Recent Diarrhea Outbreak


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Chile's Annual Military Parade Took Place on Thursday, Capturing The Crowd's Attention with Adorable Golden Retriever Puppies

Chile's annual military parade took place on Thursday, capturing the crowd's attention with adorable golden retriever puppies.

Indeed, a row of golden retriever puppies, tucked into neon green bags  and carried by the country's national police force canine unit, became a highlight of the parade. A line of adult retrievers wearing boots followed suit.

The Great Military Parade in Santiago was held in honor of Chile's 208th Independence Day anniversary and featured more than 9,500 troops. It had millions of viewers nationwide, The Evening Standard reported.



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How To Make A Dog Birthday Cake

Celebrate a special occasion in your dog's life with a worthy homemade treat.

The bond we have with our dogs can be truly amazing. That's why it's no surprise that there is a growing trend for celebrating a dog's birthday not only with some extra cuddles but also with an extra special treat: a cake!

But not just any cake will do for a dog — it has to stay within a dog's dietary needs, of course. Grain-free and sugar-free cakes are a healthful way to celebrate. Many dogs have allergies to grains, resulting in itchy, dry skin and other problems, and added sugar is not good for their system. They experience sugar highs and lows just like we do, and the negative effects just aren't worth it. So the following cake recipes leave these harmful ingredients out.

The first recipe uses coconut flour instead of a grain-based flour. Coconut flour is a perfect ingredient for baked dog treats because it has loads of nutrients, including protein and iron, and is far lower on the glycemic index than grain flours. The second recipe uses no flour at all.

I used liver paste for the frosting since my dog is not a big fan of cheese or peanut butter, which are the main ingredients for the frosting recipe below. Needless to say, the frosting was licked off first! Feel free to get creative (within reason, for your dog's health) with the frosting and toppings and make them suit your dog's preferences.

To read more on this story, click here: How To Make A Dog Birthday Cake

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Do Dogs Cry?

We know our dogs have feelings, and we’ve all caught our pet looking particularly forlorn, wearing a plaintive stare and glassy eyes. What else to think, but our dog is crying! Is she really, though? Do dogs cry like we do?

While dogs can feel sadness and grief, they don’t actually cry in the same way humans do. In other words, their sad feelings don’t prompt a flow of tears. Humans, in fact, are the only animals on the planet to shed tears as a result of their emotional state.

But we can unpack this larger question into several others. Can dogs shed tears at all? Do dogs cry in some other way? And if they can’t cry, are we imagining other dog emotions?

Do Dogs Cry? Not if Their Eyes Are Healthy

Dogs do have tear ducts, of course. These function to keep the eyes comfortable and clear of debris, and they drain back into the nasal cavity rather than dripping from the eye. This means something may be amiss if your dog is leaking tears. In dogs, tears could be caused by:

To read more on this story, click here: Do Dogs Cry?

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Ice Cream Shaped Puppies, Would You Eat Them?

Every day happy customers take pictures and tear into them, limb by limb, feeling sorry and happy at the same time. The shar-pei puppies look almost too real to eat but are made chocolate, milk tea or peanut-flavored ice cream.

J-C Company Art Kitchen in southern Taiwan has been serving these treats since last month, making them in special molds with a special recipe that creates a hairy-looking frost on top of the ice cream.

The ice cream is frozen at more than 20 degrees below zero, so it will keep shape long enough for staff to color the puppies' eyes with chocolate sauce before the wrinkled features of the dog start melting.

One puppy ice cream takes about five hours to make and customers can devour the small ones for $3.50, and the larger ones for about six dollars. Thanks to social media, the restaurant is struggling to keep up with demand as they can only make 100 per day.

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So You've Got Your New Puppy Home…Now What? Tips on Caring for Your New Puppy

Welcoming a new puppy into your family is truly an exciting and rewarding time! However, it can lead to headache and unnecessary stress for you and your new four-legged friend if you aren’t fully prepared. 

Before the Big Day

Once household discussions have established that everyone wants a dog of a certain age and breed, where to get the pup-from a shelter or reputable breeder-is more or less determined. Now, family meetings should cover scheduling:

• Who will take the pup to the papers or backyard and when?
• Who will be in charge of feedings three to four times a day?
• Who will make veterinary appointments for vaccinations and deworming?

Also, take time to create a vocabulary list everyone will use. If Mom says "down" when the puppy climbs on the couch, Dad says "down" when he wants him to lie down, and Junior utters "sit down" when he expects the pup's rear to hit the floor, the result will be one confused dog! Putting the schedule and vocabulary list in writing prevents confusion and will help dog walkers, nannies, and others involved in raising the puppy.

Next, draft a shopping list and purchase supplies: food and water bowls, chew toys, grooming supplies, bedding, collar and leash, identification tag, crate, gate, and odor neutralizer. Pre-puppy shopping allows you to order from wholesale catalogs or visit the pet superstore in the next county without the pressure of the puppy needing it right now.

You'll need to puppy-proof the area where the youngster will spend most of his time the first few months. This may mean taping loose electrical cords to baseboards; storing household chemicals on high shelves; removing plants, rugs, and breakables; setting up the crate; and installing gates. Once you think you've completely puppy-proofed, lie on the floor and look around once more to get a puppy's-eye view.

If you have children, hold one last meeting to lay down the rules: Don't overwhelm Puppy the first day, and don't fight over him.

Getting Off on the Right Paw

When you pick up your puppy, remember to ask what and when he was fed. Replicate that schedule for at least the first few days to avoid gastric distress. If you wish to switch to a different brand, do so over a period of about a week by adding one part new brand to three parts of the old for several days; then switch to equal parts; and then one part old to three parts new.

From the start, consistency is important. On the way home, Puppies should ride in the back seat, in a crate or carrier.

Once home, people who  plop the excited newcomer on the rug, and let the kids chase him will be mopping up in no time-and regretting the lesson they taught their new pup. 

Instead, take him to his toileting area immediately.

From there, carry out your schedule for feeding, toileting, napping, and play/exercise. From Day One, your pup will need family time and brief periods of solitary confinement. Solitude may be new to Puppies, so he may vocalize concern. Don't give in and comfort him or you may create a monster. The puppy thinks, "if making noise brought them running once, maybe more whimpering is needed to get their attention again," reasons the pup. Give him attention for good behavior, such as chewing on a toy or resting quietly.

They may be small, but new puppies can be big work. So much so, that the second you tell someone you’re getting a dog, the advice comes pouring in. “I think you get more advice when you walk down the street with a puppy than you do with a child,” says New York-based pet trainer and author, Andrea Arden. 

Five top tips for welcoming a new puppy into your home:

1. Get lots of toys
“A puppy, no matter what size, age or breed is going to have a lot of energy,” says Arden, who recommends having plenty of toys around the house to keep your pup busy and out of trouble. A toy that can be stuffed with food keeps puppies busy by encouraging them to hunt for their meals, and burns calories at the same time. Arden suggests keeping five to ten toys on hand. Remember, she says, “a nice tired puppy is a wonderful puppy.”

2. Create a confinement area
“There’s a misconception about crating or confining your pet,” says Arden. “It’s not cruel. We use confinement to keep pets safe, like we do with children. If you were a visitor at someone’s home, you wouldn’t want to be set free to explore the home to then be reprimanded for going somewhere or touching something you weren’t supposed to. It’s the same with your new dog.”

Arden advises puppy owners to purchase a crate that’s an appropriate size for your pooch to stand up in, lie down, and turn around comfortably. This is meant to be used as a short-term confinement area. If you need to leave your pup alone for a stretch of time, consider an exercise pen – similar to a baby pen. Such pens give puppies more room while keeping them in one place.

3. Forget the doggy bed, use a towel instead
New dog owners don’t necessarily need to invest in a doggy bed right away, says Arden, who recommends using an easy-to-clean towel during the first few months. “I usually offer a puppy bed when the dog is five or six months old.”

4. Get a (good) collar and leash
“Ideally, you’ll have one of three collars – a plain buckle nylon collar, a Martingale collar that’s fitted to your puppy’s collar (especially good for Italian Greyhounds) or an Easy Walk or SENSE-ation harness,” says Arden. The two harnesses have a front leash attachment design and don’t pull on your dog as much. For leashes, the trainer recommends a 3-to-6-foot nylon style. Retractable leashes are better suited for older dogs who have already been trained.

5. Groom early and often
Start good grooming habits early with your puppy. “Clip a nail a day just so he gets used to the sensation,” says Arden. Buy a toothbrush or rubber tip for your finger and brush your pup’s teeth every day with pet safe toothpaste. Arden also recommends using unscented baby wipes to clean his paws every time you come in from outside. And remember to bathe your new pup in pet-safe shampoo and conditioner every two to three weeks.

Doing things correctly from the start prevents confusion. Through puppy preparedness, you are one step closer to your Dream Dog. FOLLOW US!

Homeless Dog and Her Puppy, Who Were Rescued Off of the Freeway, Now Available for Adoption [Video]

There are over 70 million homeless dogs and cats living in the U.S. While these animals may be homeless for a variety of reasons, they all share the same need for a warm, loving home. Finding a home for all these needy animals is no small task, but, thankfully, there are many amazing organizations working to help.

Hope for Paws, for example, specializes in rescuing homeless dogs in the Los Angeles area.

In this video, the Hope for Paws rescue team sets out to save a mother dog and her puppy who have been living next to the freeway. Living in an area so close to heavy traffic is extremely dangerous for any animal, especially so for a new little pup.

While the mom was reluctant to trust the rescuers, she came around thanks to the help of the kind people who had been feeding her. These Good Samaritans had named the mother “Oreo,” so it only seemed fitting for the Hope for Paws team to name her pup “Cookie Monster.”

With a little coaxing and a lot of kisses, Oreo and Cookie Monster made it safely to the Hope for Paws headquarters where they were given all the grooming and care they needed. Now that they’re sparkly and clean, Oreo and Cookie Monster are ready to be adopted into a forever home!

To learn more about adopting this adorable pair, click HERE.

To learn more about Mom, Oreo, click HERE.

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The Carroll County Sheriff's Office Needs Your Help in Naming Their Adorable New K9, A Four-Month-Old Female Bloodhound Puppy - Contest Ends March 29

Westminster, MD - An adorable new K9 puppy at the Carroll County Sheriff's Office needs your help: She doesn't have a name yet!

The four-month-old bloodhound puppy is set to be much more than merely adorable, of course. She's slated to undergo 10 weeks of training with the Maryland State Police, after which she'll also be highly skilled.

The puppy will learn how to search for missing people, criminals who have tried to evade police, and escaped inmates. She'll also be able to help investigators develop leads in criminal cases.

But she still doesn't have a name, and that's where you come in. The Sheriff's Office is asking people to send their suggestions to ccsopuppycontest@gmail.com. In your message, include a history of the name or the reason why you're suggesting it.

The Sheriff's Office is accepting ideas through email only, so hold off on any social media submissions.

You have through March 29 to submit name suggestions. A decision on the name will be made no later than April 2nd, and will be announced via social media.

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