.. By Jelena

Don’t let dogs have all the fun this Halloween! It’s easy to organize a Halloween activity with horses at your boarding stable or even a public equestrian area. Kids who ride can enjoy safe Halloween games and … Read More

It’s getting cold already in many areas, and horse owners are wondering when it’s time to start clipping for the winter. Horses that remain in moderate to heavy work during the winter months should  be clipped. … Read More

Many pet parents enjoy dressing their dogs in Halloween costumes. Unfortunately, dogs tend not to enjoy the activity quite as much as their humans do! Introduce a Halloween costume to your dog slowly and use positive … Read More

As dogs age, their nutritional needs change. Conventional wisdom about feeding senior dogs calls for lower levels of protein and fat, with additional fiber and ingredients to support the joints. However, pet owners and veterinary nutritionists … Read More

Many homeless individuals, whether temporarily or chronically homeless, own dogs, cats or both. In some areas of the United States, nearly one in four homeless persons owns a pet. The unconditional love of a pet can … Read More

Ok, ok, stop, before you laugh at this post title and click away, give me a chance to explain. Yes, cats get acne. Little pimples on a cat’s chin and sometimes the nose or eyebrow region … Read More

Pet parents who are pinching pennies in these lean economic times should take advantage of opportunities to save by ordering in large quantities, whether by buying individually in bulk or by networking with others who need … Read More

When two people move in together, dozens of issues must be considered: Furniture, sharing rent and utilities, schedules, grocery shopping, closet space, chores, laundry…. with so much to focus on, it’s no wonder many people blend … Read More

In Part One of this blog series, we looked at why animal rescue involves so many personal conflicts. We also addressed the use of active listening to make critics feel heard, defusing potentially explosive problems. Today, … Read More

There’s a saying I’ve heard from many people involved in pet rescue and adoption: “The only thing two animal rescuers can ever agree upon is that the third is going about it all wrong.”  It’s worth … Read More

A friend of mine recently adopted a seriously overweight senior dog. He’s a good-natured animal very much deserving of a forever home, but his new owner, who is accustomed to focusing on preventing her dogs from becoming … Read More

When enrolling in horseback riding lessons, one must choose between group lessons and private instruction.  Each instructional method has advantages and disadvantages. Ideally, most riders should take a combination of group and individual lessons. If this is not … Read More

Animal shelters and rescues are struggling financially due to the current recession. Creative fundraisers can help your favorite organization stand out among the many worthy groups currently vying for donors and funding. If you volunteer for a rescue … Read More

Recently, I’ve heard several potential dog owners express concerns about the behavioral health of dogs adopted from shelters. While it’s true that some shelter dogs have serious behavioral issues  like separation anxiety or fear aggression, it’s … Read More

As a rat owner of over three years now, I’ve spent a lot of time and energy searching for the perfect bedding. It doesn’t seem to exist just yet, but I’ve found some bedding products that … Read More

It’s back  to school time, and that means many Freshman students entering college will leave pets behind. While some campuses offer pet-friendly dorms, they’re still the exception to the rule, and often have long waiting lists. … Read More

Ear infections are common in dogs, particularly those that eat a low-quality diet with too many sources of carbohydrates and too little digestible protein. Mild ear infections are easily treated with medicated ear drops, but if … Read More

Well,  Michael Vick is a Philadelphia Eagle now, and despite protests from the team’s fans and other Philly residents, it looks like the team is committed to keeping him for the foreseeable future. The convicted dog … Read More

It’s almost Labor Day and families throughout the United States are planning mini-vacations, barbecues and other celebrations for the three-day weekend ahead. Holiday gatherings can be fun for the whole family, pets included, so long as … Read More

Is it better to adopt a younger puppy than an older one? Many states prohibit the sale of puppies under eight weeks old, but the myth persists that a puppy will bond more closely with its owner if … Read More

Most dogs love to accompany their owners to the beach. There are even surfing competitions for dogs! If your dog isn’t fond of surfing, he’ll still enjoy running along the sand or splashing in the surf. … Read More

Every dog lover smiles upon seeing a happy pooch parked outside a cafe or bistro with his owner, lying under a table or sitting on his own chair to smile at passers-by. But how do you … Read More

We learned in Part One that many dog owners have reported that their dogs experience symptoms similar to those seen in humans with mental illness. We also looked at depression and anxiety as specific conditions described … Read More

Dogs and humans suffer from many physical illnesses that can also be contracted by humans. Cancer, pneumonia and kidney failure are common causes of death in both dogs and humans. But can dogs and humans also … Read More

You probably only bathe your dog at most once every other week. More frequent baths strip the coat of oils needed for it to remain healthy with continual exposure to the weather. If a shampoo and … Read More

Nothing puts a person off their food like a begging dog. A wet nose on the knee followed by a puddle of drool isn’t the least bit appetizing. Even if you don’t mind your own dog … Read More

Pet owners expect dogs and puppies to chew, but it’s somehow much more surprising when a cat starts chewing. Cats that chew often target books, lampshades, curtains and other similar household items. This can be frustrating … Read More

Doggie daycare is a necessity for many busy pet owners. Even a placid dog doesn’t do well if left alone all day five days every week, especially if the owner returns from work too tired for … Read More

Losing a pet is never easy, but a creative and respectful memorial project can help bereaved owners work through their grief. Building or doing something beautiful in your pet’s memory allows you to channel sorrow into positive … Read More

Flying with pets is often difficult and confusing. Not all airlines permit pets. Those that do have varying requirements as to which pets can fly and where they will travel. Costs also vary between airlines. Then … Read More

Traveling by car with dogs can be fun, but it’s also exhausting. I find packing for trips with my dog more frustrating than any other part of traveling with him. I always seem to forget something … Read More

Have you ever struggled to get your rat to take his or her medicine? Pre-mixed medications for rats are often flavored to be appealing to cats or dogs or birds or hamsters, but leave rats wholly unimpressed. … Read More

Yesterday we looked at what to do if your dog is missing. Many of the steps for finding a missing cat are the same, but we’ll look at a few key differences between searching for a … Read More