Ralph the Penguin Needs Wet Suit to Stay Warm

Penguins typically don't need help staying warm, but a Humboldt penguin in the United Kingdom has a special wet suit for when the temperature drops.

While all penguins molt or shed their old feathers for a few weeks in the summer, Ralph, a 16-year-old Humboldt penguin at Marwell Wildlife, near Winchester in the United Kingdom, has "extreme molts" that cause bald spots on his skin, according to Ross Brown, the animal collections manager of birds at the center.

To read more on this story, click here: Ralph the Penguin Needs Wet Suit to Stay Warm

Four Years In A Dog Kennel And Still No Home

As a dog owner, I feel guilty leaving my hounds in their kennel for even a few hours.

Dogs belong with their human companions; curled up by the fire, lounging on the couch, chilling by the fridge hoping to snag a piece of dropped cheese.

That's why when I heard about Winston, my heart sank and I knew I just had to share his story.

To read more on this story, click here: Four Years In A Dog Kennel And Still No Home

10 "Poison Pills" for Pets

Anyone who takes medication prescribed for someone else puts themselves at risk of illness or even death - and this applies to your pets, too! Although there are many medications used in both animals and people, the effects, doses needed, and other things aren't always the same.

About one-quarter of all phone calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) are about human medications. Your pet can easily ingest dropped pills or may be given harmful human medications by an unknowing owner, resulting in illness, or even death, of your pet.

To read more on this story, click here: 10 "Poison Pills" for Pets

Pet Ferret Mauled Baby’s Face Off While Mother Was Upstairs

Officials said the month-old baby was attacked by ferrets that escaped from a cloth cage while the girl’s mother went upstairs and her father was sleeping on Thursday afternoon.
The baby was in stable condition in intensive care Friday after emergency reconstructive surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

To read more on this story, click here: Pet Ferret Mauled Baby’s Face Off While Mother Was Upstairs

10 Unexpected Ways You Could Be Hurting Your Dog or Cat

We know you love your pet unconditionally and strive to take good care of him, but even the most experienced owners can sometimes harm their cats or dogs and not even realize it.

Here are a few mistakes you might be making, but don't worry, we've also included advice and links to more detailed articles to help you fix them.

To read more on this story, click here: 10 Unexpected Ways You Could Be Hurting Your Dog or Cat

Ticks and Fleas on Cats Q&A

With just a few exceptions in the United States, fleas and ticks are a common problem for us, and our cats. So we went to internationally known flea and tick expert Michael Dryden to find out how to fight the flea and eliminate the tick. Dryden has a doctorate in veterinary parasitology, is a founding member of the Companion Animal Parasite Council, and has conducted research on almost every major flea and tick product on the market.

To read more on this story, click here: Ticks and Fleas on Cats Q&A

Army Sergeant Reunites With, And Adopts His Bomb-Sniffing Dog

April 30, 2014 (Chicago) -- An army sergeant and his military dog are back together Wednesday night after an emotional reunion at O'Hare.

Sergeant Jason Bos greeted Cila as the bomb-sniffing dog returned from active duty.

The two worked together for five years detecting roadside bombs in Iraq and later doing security screenings for presidential visits here in the U.S.

With Cila's military service ending, Sergeant Bos is adopting her.

"It's time for her to retire and live the couch life," said Bos.

Bos and Cila are headed to the sergeant's home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

To see this heartwarming video, click here: Army Sergeant Reunites With, And Adopts His Bomb-Sniffing Dog

13 Reasons Cats Are Basically Magic (video)

Take a look at this cute video. If you are a cat owner, you can probably relate!

To view video, click here: 13 Reasons Cats Are Basically Magic (video)

Dog Food Recall - J.J. Fuds Raw Pet Food Recall

January 23, 2015 — J.J. Fuds of Valparaiso, Indiana is recalling a select lot of J.J. Fuds Chicken Tender Chunks Pet Food because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

To read more on this recall, click here: Dog Food Recall - J.J. Fuds Raw Pet Food Recall


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Hairballs in Cats

There's nothing quite like the glorious feeling of stepping out of your warm bed onto a cold, squishy, slimy hairball! Perhaps we should feel flattered that our beloved feline companion has left a piece of herself as a special gift for us, but frankly, most of us would rather bond with our cats another way!

To read more on this story, click here: Hairballs in Cats

Can a Cat Get Pregnant While Still Nursing Kittens?

Q: Can a cat get pregnant while still nursing kittens?

A: Yes. Lactation (production of milk) does not suppress the heat cycle, and cats that are actively nursing kittens can go into heat as soon as two weeks after giving birth.

Some aspects of a cat’s reproductive capabilities are truly remarkable. Did you know that even being pregnant doesn’t necessarily suppress the heat cycle in cats! In fact, 10 percent of female cats go into heat between the third and sixth week of pregnancy.

Although these cycles are rarely fertile, it actually is possible for a cat to be carrying fetuses of different ages, resulting from separate matings in different heat cycles! The scientific term for this is "superfetation."

Also, a female cat in heat can mate with several males, and it is possible for kittens in a litter to have different fathers. The technical term for this is "superfecundation." Cats long have been recognized for their fertility. Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of fertility, is depicted as a cat in artwork, and the ancient Egyptians worshipped cats as a symbol of fertility.

When it comes to making babies, cats are one of the most prolific domestic pets out there.

(Source: Veterinary Expert, Arnold Plotnick, DVM)

Keeping Your Dog Safe From Law Enforcement: A Police Officer Shares Insight

Keeping your dog safe from law enforcement may sound like a contradictory statement, but recently there have been several tragic stories which involve family dogs being shot by police officers.

Cheryl Goede, not only has firsthand insight as a police officer, but she is also an experienced dog owner, and has been in law enforcement for the past fourteen years.

She collaborated with her husband, Kevin, who has 20 years of law enforcement background in addition to being a dog trainer, and Cindy Earnshaw, a journalist and former LEO/Animal Control officer.

Together, this threesome came up with a plethora of knowledge to share with all dog owners. The following information was written by Cheryl and should be shared with all dog owners:

If people know that the police are coming, then every effort should be made to make sure that the dogs are restrained in such a manner that they won't be able to escape. Even if you think that nothing will happen and that your dog is friendly and will not charge the officer, bark at them, etc., always expect the unexpected. Things can happen and circumstances can change in the blink of an eye. So always restrain your dogs.

Do not EVER allow your dogs to roam your neighborhood. If your dog is unrestrained and the police come to your home unexpectedly and the officer asks you to restrain your dog, do so immediately.

USE YOUR VOICE to alert the officer to your dog's NAME and loudly announce "Let me put up my dog, I am putting up my dog!" If the officer is not comfortable with the method of you restraining your dog (a dog on a retractable leash or the dog is jumping up on the fence after being placed in the backyard) and there is a chance that it is making the officer uncomfortable, immediately offer to restrain your dog further.

When you see officers in the vicinity of your home and your dog is outside, ESPECIALLY if they appear to be searching for someone/something, bring your dog inside. If it looks as though police are actively going into yards to search, don't think "I'll help the police out" and let your dog OUT, keep them in until police presence is gone. It is also a good idea put signs on your fence to indicate that there are dogs at the house and possibly in the backyard, so that officers are not taken by surprise if they are searching for someone and jump the fence to find there are dogs there. If both the officer and the dog are taken by surprise, that would put them in all in a position of defense….not good.

Do what you can to discourage your dog's excitement towards any officer or other official who is in your presence. Never tempt fate by encouraging your dog's excitement towards the officer. Dogs react differently to people in uniform, and they can and may behave in an unexpected manner.

It is imperative to remember that the legal default presumption is always that the dog owners are ultimately wholly responsible for the welfare and control of their canines.

If an officer does what was allegedly reported by the owner of Cisco, file a lawsuit against the officer, the police department, and the municipality. Under certain circumstances and under local law, it may be appropriate to file charges of animal cruelty/abuse against the officer. I don't think there was really anything his owner could have said or done in order to prevent the shooting, other than what he already did, due to the fact that the officer was pointing a gun at him and basically telling him not to move.

Kevin is hoping to create a course to help educate law enforcement officials about better communication with pet owners. He also hopes to teach law enforcement about how to read a dog's body language.

Please take a moment to share this valuable information with anyone who owns a dog. It could prevent a tragedy. Many thanks to Cheryl and Kevin Goede and Cindy Earnshaw for taking the time to put this important information together.

Head Pressing: If Your Dog or Cat Ever Does This, Go To the Vet, Immediately

Recently, there was an article sweeping the internet about “head pressing.” Although rare, it is something to watch for, especially if your dog suffers from one of the conditions that can cause head pressing.

To read more on this story, click here: Head Pressing: If Your Dog or Cat Ever Does This, Go To the Vet, Immediately

This Photo Captures The Tender Moment A 102-Year-Old Woman Fell In Love With A Shelter Cat

Barbara Bates, the adoption coordinator for a Texas animal shelter, was there with her camera when 102-year-old Iona L. and 2-year-old Edward discovered each other.

"It just filled my heart," Bates says about the scene in the shelter lobby. "The kitty just snuggled right up to her. Matched her outfit she had on.

"I said, 'Iona, do you mind if I take your picture?' And she said, 'Honey, I sure hope I don't break your camera.'"

To read more on this story, click here: This Photo Captures The Tender Moment A 102-Year-Old Woman Fell In Love With A Shelter Cat