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Cats Dogs Life at Home

Therapy Animals Offer Virtual Visits

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Reading Time: 3 minutes A gray tuxedo cat named Roger is jumping through hoops to spread cheer during the pandemic. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based therapy cat normally enjoys hands-on attention from hospice patients of Hospice of the Valley, kids at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, students at Arizona State University, and visitors to the Scottsdale Public Library. Of course, the coronavirus pandemic […]

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Dogs Life at Home Senior Pets Training & Grooming Veterinary Care

Why Potty-Trained Dogs Might Start Urinating Inside

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Reading Time: 3 minutes I’d just taken my senior Poodle, Peach, outside to potty. Instead of doing her business, she stood blinking at me, shivering a bit in the cold despite her little sweater. I kept the sliding door open in case she changed her mind, and sat down to eat lunch. Peach squatted next to my chair and […]

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Cats Dogs Fears & Anxieties Holidays Life at Home Other

How to Avoid Holiday Stress in Pets

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Reading Time: 3 minutes The most wonderful time of the year is finally here. The holidays bring festive decorations, bustling preparations, celebrations … and too often, stress. While we worry about how to get everything done or how to adjust our plans to the challenges of the past year, we can’t forget to care for our beloved pets. The […]

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Cats Dogs Life at Home Other

Are Our Pets Really Happy We’re Home All the Time, Or Is It a Mixed Blessing?

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Reading Time: 3 minutes At the start of the coronavirus pandemic when my state issued a stay-at-home order, a handmade sign appeared in a neighbor’s window that proclaimed: “AT LEAST OUR DOGS ARE HAPPY!” Meanwhile, the internet exploded with memes of cats being unamused that their humans were cramping their style by invading “their” home so much. Reality seems […]

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Cats Dogs New Pets Other Shelters & Fostering

The Pandemic Is Reshaping the Future of Animal Shelters and You Could Be Part of It

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Reading Time: 4 minutes When the coronavirus pandemic led to California’s stay-at-home order in March, Los Angeles resident Morgan Saunders was living by herself in an apartment. She started working from home, and her family lives across the country on the East Coast. Feeling isolated and wanting to help during the crisis in some way, she decided to foster […]

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Cats Dogs Life at Home Other

What We’re Noticing With Our Pets Now That We’re Home All the Time

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Reading Time: 4 minutes My husband and I have been lucky to work from home for over a decade. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, we haven’t left our house to go to a movie, restaurant, party, or concert since March. At least one of us is always home – to the delight of our dogs, Rio and Peach. […]

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Cats Dogs Other Veterinary Care

Vet Techs Keep Clinics Running and Pets Cared For

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Reading Time: 3 minutes Whenever someone asks Lindsey Rud what she does for a living, she answers, “Veterinary technician.” But most people have no idea what she means. “I would say about 90 percent of the time they’re confused,” she says. “So I always say, ‘I’m kind of like a nurse for dogs and cats.’” Rud is a Certified […]

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Cats Dogs Life at Home Other

What Pet Lovers Should Consider When Shopping for Homeowners Insurance

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Reading Time: 3 minutes I live in Denver, the current epicenter of the debate over pit bulls. My city has banned any dog with more than a 50 percent “appearance” of a pit bull for over 30 years, but this November, a ballot measure will let voters decide on replacing the outright ban with allowing pitties whose owners obtain […]

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Activities & Enrichment Dogs Life at Home

How to Prepare Dogs for Back-to-School Season – and Possibly Homeschooling

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Reading Time: 3 minutes Back-to-school season can be an exciting time for children, but a stressful time for dogs. After all, our pups love the extra time and attention enjoyed during summer vacation. During the coronavirus pandemic, our pets have been the beneficiaries of stay-at-home orders, as parents are often around more, too. Plus, many families have adopted pets […]

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Cats Dogs Life at Home Other Veterinary Care

Is Your Pet Overweight? Here’s How To Know – And Why You Should Care

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Reading Time: 3 minutes After my husband and I adopted a little stray Poodle named Peach, we took her to the veterinarian for a checkup. We were shocked when we learned she was overweight at 10.2 pounds. “She’s been hiking with us. Maybe muscle weighs more than fat?” I ventured. Our veterinarian patiently but firmly said, “No, she needs […]