Introducing a new pet into your home can be exciting, intimidating, fun, and stressful, all at the same time. Not only do we wonder how our new addition will adjust to life with us, but if we share our home with other furry family members, we worry about whether everyone will get along. It can […]
Non-Recognition Aggression Syndrome In Cats
I had never heard of “Non-Recognition Aggression Syndrome” in cats until, as the story often goes, one day it happened to me. Or rather, it happened to my two sweet kitties, Trouble and Squirt. Squirt and Trouble are brothers, littermates who were brought into my life 9 years ago by their feral mama, who somehow […]
Why Trying To “Dominate” Your Dog Will Backfire
Chances are pretty good that if you’ve ever shared life with a dog, somewhere along the way someone has instructed you about the importance of learning how to dominate your dog. Most dog parents have heard the lingo: alpha dog, pack leader, top dog, dominant, submissive. The problem is, dominance theory (which has enjoyed an […]
Choke, Prong and Shock Collars: Why They Don’t Belong On Our Dogs
The other day I was walking through a large pet-supply retail store (the kitties needed food, again!) when I spotted a beautiful black lab puppy. Immediately, my “squee” alert went off… this puppy was so adorable, I think I might have actually gone a little weak in the knees. But that moment was short-lived when […]
Can Pets Suffer from PTSD?
Recently I saw an emotionally moving video of firefighters rescuing cats from burning buildings. In the footage, the terror on the faces of those cats was obvious, and their fear was palpable. It made me wonder, how did they recover after they were rescued? Were they ever the same? Can our pets suffer from Post-Traumatic […]