Do Dogs and Cats Recognize their Owners? The Many Ways Pets Tell Us Apart

Dogs and cats have many cues to help them recognize us. Learn about all the different ways our pets know who we are.

When you watch your dog bounding across the dog park, or when you see your cat perched atop her scratching post, you recognize your pet by her shape, the color of her coat, and the way she moves. You may find yourself wondering, “Does my cat know me?” or, “Can my dog tell me apart from everyone else?” Our pets certainly know who we are, but they often know us in ways that humans, with our different set of senses, can only imagine: scent, sound, and subtle cues of movement and touch.

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Remembering the Hero Dogs of 9/11

When the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001, nearly 10,000 emergency rescue workers joined in the efforts to help. More than 300 of those heroes were dogs.

We remember and honor the Hero Dogs of 9/11 along with the countless people who had their lives irrevocably changed by man’s best friend. From search and rescue dogs to comfort dogs to bomb detection dogs, these canines’ stories of courage and healing are a long-lasting legacy that must never be forgotten.

Always remember.

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The benefits of owning a pet -- and the surprsing science behind it

(CNN)Snuggling next to my kitties while their furry chests softly rumble is a proven antidote to the day's stress.

For me and millions more, having a pet brings a circle of love into our lives -- they give affection, we give it back and all of us are the better for it.

Science agrees.

"I have a list of 10 health benefits [that] studies have shown pet owners have," said psychologist Harold Herzog, a pet-loving professor at Western Carolina University who has long studied the human-animal connection.

To read more on this story, click here: The benefits of owning a pet -- and the surprsing science behind it

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Dog trainer Cesar Millan’s pit bull killed Queen Latifah’s dog, tried to cover it up: lawsuit

A young gymnast’s suit claims a dog owned by famed canine trainer Cesar Millan attacked one owned by the rapper-actress.

The details of a lawsuit from a young woman named Lidia Matiss allege that a dog owned by famed canine trainer Cesar Millan previously attacked another.

The lawsuit claims that Junior, Millan’s pit bull, attacked and killed a dog owned by Queen Latifah, and Millan lied to cover it up.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog trainer Cesar Millan’s pit bull killed Queen Latifah’s dog, tried to cover it up: lawsuit

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Grandma Adopts A Puppy For Her Grandson Who Was Saving Up To Buy One

This story speaks about a six-year-old boy called Xander Mellor, whose dream was to buy a pup. So, he’d been saving up for the past 18 months for that. The smart boy from Springfield, Illinois, would always ask his mama Natalie Ellenburg for the change to put it in his savings jar whenever she’d return home from work.

Can you imagine a kid stops buying goodies and sweets? Xander did that as he really wanted a pup! But his dream came true when his grandparents heard about his endearing struggle! So, they visited him with a big surprise!

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6 Tips for Giving Your Dog Pills

A spoonful of sugar might help our medicine go down, but dogs typically pose a bit more of a challenge. While some canine companions dutifully eat their pills with dinner, most tend to need a little encouragement. These tips for giving your dog a pill will make the process more pleasant for everyone involved.

Pill Pockets

Not all medication can be given with food. But if it can, putting the pill in a pill pocket or wrapping it in a piece of cheese makes it easy to slip into your dog’s system. Keep in mind that this approach works best for dogs that wolf down treats without chewing. Dogs that chew soft treats may bite into the unpleasant-tasting medicine, making them harder to trick next time. It should be noted that dogs with food sensitivities or allergies might have issues with the ingredients in pill pockets, so consult your veterinarian if your canine companion has had problems with food in the past.

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What to Do If Another Dog Bites Your Dog

Whether your dog got himself into a fight or was attacked out of the blue, he will need prompt care. Learn how to check for damage, clean the wound, and assess the need for veterinary attention.

Most dogs go through their lives without ever being involved in a real fight, but others are not so lucky. Maybe there was a disagreement over a toy at the dog park, or a loose dog went after yours while out on a walk. Whether your dog was the troublemaker or an innocent victim, here’s what to do if a dog bite occurs.

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High Blood Pressure in Dogs (Hypertension): A Brief Guide

 

There are various health conditions caused by high blood pressure in humans, and the same applies to dogs. High blood pressure in dogs can negatively affect how your pooch functions in their daily life. This condition occurs naturally, or may be triggered by an external source or underlying cause. Your dog will experience different symptoms depending on their age and if they have any other ailments.

To read more on this story, click here: High Blood Pressure in Dogs (Hypertension): A Brief Guide

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13-year-old boy sews bow ties in adorable effort to help shelter animals get adopted

A New Jersey teenager is helping shelter dogs and cats get adopted one homemade bow tie at a time.

Sir Darius Brown, 13, was born with a fine motor skill delay, so when he was eight years old his mother, Joy Brown, thought it would be useful for him to begin working with his hands.

His sister, Dazhai Shearz, was a hair stylist and at the time was making her own hair bows. Sir Darius wanted to be just like her, so his mother had the idea that he could become her “assistant,” helping her cut fabric and eventually using the sewing machine.

To read more on this story, click here: 13-year-old boy sews bow ties in adorable effort to help shelter animals get adopted

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Military Dog Handlers Reunite with and Adopt Their Former Canine Partners After Pups Retire

American Humane helped reunite Army Veteran Michael Stepnovich and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Wade Alfson with their canine partners for May's Military Appreciation Month.

May's Military Appreciation Month was extra sweet for two dog handlers from America's armed forces.

American Humane reunited both Army Veteran Michael Stepnovich and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Wade Alfson with the military dogs they worked with overseas. Not only did each man get a hug from their canine partner again, Stepnovich and Ssgt. Alfson both adopted their former patrol pals since the dogs are retired from active duty.

To read more on this story, click here: Military Dog Handlers Reunite with and Adopt Their Former Canine Partners After Pups Retire

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Canine Coronavirus Disease

What is canine coronavirus disease?

Canine coronavirus disease, known as CCoV, is a highly infectious intestinal infection in dogs, especially puppies. Canine coronavirus is usually short-lived but may cause considerable abdominal discomfort for a few days in infected dogs. The virus is from the Coronaviridae family. The virus gets its name from the fact that when viewed from above under an electron microscope, the virus has a ring of projections that appear like a coronet, or a small crown made of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. There are many types of coronavirus, each affecting different animal species, including humans.

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Pat's Prized Pets Challenge: Here Is the Unusual-Looking Pets Winner

Here are some of the most peculiar-looking pets in the D.C. area

All this month NBC4 is helping to Clear the Shelters and find forever homes for our furry friends.

To celebrate this year’s campaign, News4's legendary Pat Collins is back with another Pat’s Prized Pets challenge — he's uncovered the most peculiar-looking pets in the D.C. area.

We asked you to submit your derpy dogs, quirky cats and abnormal animals all week — and boy, did you deliver!

To read more on this story, click here: Pat's Prized Pets Challenge: Here Is the Unusual-Looking Pets Winner

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Reality Star Lisa Vanderpump Shares Her Pet Adoption Advice

"Go to a shelter and give a dog a second chance," the 'Vanderpump Dogs' star said.

Reality star Lisa Vanderpump works her magic to match adorable rescues with her colorful clientele at the Vanderpump Dogs Rescue Center on Peacock's "Vanderpump Dogs." 

Vanderpump Dog Rescue, located on West Third Street in West Hollywood, matches the right dog with the right person that comes through the door. The organization has rescued 2,500 dogs since it opened in the United States. 

"Please give a fur baby a forever home just like I have. Please help us Clear the Shelters," the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star said in an interview with NBC.

To read more on this story, click here: Reality Star Lisa Vanderpump Shares Her Pet Adoption Advice

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This one-eared 'unicorn' dog is stealing our hearts

Meet Rae, the 12-week-old golden retriever who is nicknamed a "unicorn" because of the one ear she has on the top of her head.

Rae is is ear spelled backwards.

She's so special and no one at the animal hospital she was taken to has seen a dog like her.

When Rae was born, she required emergency surgery and constant care.

To read more on this story, click here: This one-eared 'unicorn' dog is stealing our heart

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Animals With Down Syndrome: Separating Fact from Fiction

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by abnormal chromosomes, but can animals get down syndrome like humans? Here's the 411 on animals with down syndrome.

For anyone who remembers the animals with down syndrome "trend" on the internet a few years ago (just a quick search online will bring you many listicles and images of said animals), might remember Kenny the White Tiger or Otto the kitten, animals made internet-famous by people claiming that these mammals suffer from down syndrome.

But while we are all for inspiring and adorable animals, we want to go ahead and separate fact from fiction when it comes to animals with down syndrome. Spoiler alert: it's pretty much a myth!

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What You Can Do to Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs

Modern day living has a lot going for it, but possibly the leading attributes have to do with advances in medical arts. Disease has always been one of our greatest foes, but via timely and routine vaccinations, education, and preventive practices, we can live a relatively healthy life. This goes for our pets, too.

Lyme disease in dogs remains a formidable threat, but there are several ways to counteract possible exposure to this serious illness.

To read more on this story, click here: What You Can Do to Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs

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Grieving Man Goes to the Shelter and Adopts All the Dogs Nobody Else Wanted

Some people love animals so much that they can’t seem to get enough of them, adopting dogs and other animals until they are surrounded by a virtual farm. One such person, Steve Grieg, has taken it upon himself to provide a forever home to senior dogs unwanted by others. But Grieg didn’t always think this way.

To read more on this story, click here: Grieving Man Goes to the Shelter and Adopts All the Dogs Nobody Else Wanted

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Veteran Honors Beloved Service Dog by Making Him the Best Man at His Wedding

Service dogs play an important part in the lives of the people they serve. Whether they are acting in the capacity as a comfort or support animals, these dedicated animals are indispensable to their owners. In many cases, a service dog’s owner views them as more than just a helper, but as a best friend as well. This is the case with Justin Lansford and his service dog Gabe.

To read more on this story, click here: Veteran Honors Beloved Service Dog by Making Him the Best Man at His Wedding

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The Most Popular Animals Owned As Pets In The US

 

As far as the most popular pets go, you would not be wrong if you guessed that the majority of the pet owners in the United States own dogs and cats. However, what about other animals? Pets differ from usual domestic animals in that they do not perform any sort of task or produce a product. They mostly serve the purpose of companionship, creating a friend for us when we need one.

After dogs and cats, other popular pets include fish, reptiles, rabbits, birds, livestock, ferrets, and many more. Pets can be therapeutic for us, giving us the much-needed support just by constantly being there for us. This is why many people turn to pet ownership as a way to make life more bearable.

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Ticks on Dogs: Know What to Look For

We all know that spring and summer are seasons to be on high alert for ticks. Dogs are particularly susceptible to tick bites and can also carry them into the house. Tick-borne diseases, including Lyme Disease, Canine Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Canine Anaplasmosis, and several others affect both humans and dogs.

And although ticks are common throughout the country, people in some states are more at risk than others. For example, Pennsylvania and Virginia are among the 14 states with the highest rate of confirmed Lyme Disease cases in the country. If you live in either of these states, you should be extra vigilant, take preventative measure and check your dog for ticks frequently.

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