Five Things To Do If You Witness Animal Abuse

I assume that most Whole Dog Journal readers are as upset as I am when I see someone treating a dog badly. What should you do when you see someone being rough with their dog? Hard as it may be, I urge you to be calm and take several deep breaths before you act. Then . . .

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The 3 Surprising Ways 'Pet Parents' Are Treating Their Pets Like Humans

Could today's children experience "sibling rivalry" -- with the family dog?

As an increasing number of Americans consider their pets to be like children -- and themselves to be "pet parents" -- the concept of sibling rivalry is taking on a whole new dimension.

According to a 2011 survey by Harris Interactive, over 9 in 10 pet owners (91 percent) say they consider their pet to be a member of their families. It turns out the tendency to perceive pets as family members may even have a biological basis -- a recent study by the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital found mothers' brains showed similar responses to their babies and their dogs.

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One Scottish Dog Serves to Remind All of Online Sales Dangers

This cautionary tale has a name: Kai. A Shar Pei mix, Kai the dog was recently abandoned at a Scottish railway station. As adoption offers poured in from around the world, authorities began to piece together Kai’s past. Unfortunately, the dog’s original family, who’d rehomed him via a website in 2013, possessed no information concerning Kai’s second owner.

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Mind Your Moods, Cat Owners

Babies "social reference" by checking out their parents' facial expressions and voice tones when they encounter a new or strange object or event in their environment — then base their own reactions on mom's or dad's. They look to their parents as they wonder: Is it OK to stay calm, or is it time to worry?

Animal behavior research shows that dogs do this, too. It's not surprising, given how closely dogs are attuned to us — as they have been for many millennia. New research posted this month on the website of the journal Animal Cognition shows that cats may participate in social referencing also.

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This Sweet Dog Was Finally Adopted After Spending 6 Years in Shelter - Such A Happy Ending

This is the story of Rufo, a dog who — though loving and sweet — just could not get adopted. He was deposited at a muncipal shelter at the age of one. For the next six years he lived in a cage 22 hours a day…but worry not, this story ends well!

Hear more about his sweet story in the video.

Woman Told She Can't Bring Puppy Onto Plane, Drowns it in Airport Bathroom, Authorities Claim

Grand Island, Neb. (AP) - A Florida woman is suspected of drowning a 2-week-old puppy in a Nebraska airport bathroom so she could board a plane.

Grand Island Police Sgt. Stan Steele says 56-year-old Cynthia V. Anderson of Edgewater, Florida, was denied access to a flight Friday at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport because the puppy was so young and not properly contained. Steele says she tried to conceal the Doberman in her carry-on bag.

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Dogs Have 'Inner Compass' When Pooping, Study Suggests

Berlin - German and Czech researchers studying squatting dogs doing their business have found the pooches have an "inner compass" that may help explain how they find their way home over great distances.

When the four-legged friends stop during a walk to defecate or urinate, they tend to do so along a north-south axis, provided the earth's magnetic field is stable at the time, the scientists said Friday.

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They Put Prison Inmates In Charge Of Caring For Shelter Dogs

An inspiring documentary titled Dogs on the Inside shares the journey of prison inmates and neglected and abused shelter dogs at a Massachusetts correctional facility. Together, they build trust and respect as they work towards a second chance at life. As their relationship deepens, the inmates discover parts of themselves that they thought were lost forever.