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Showing posts from April, 2021

Giving Thailand’s Disabled Dogs A Second Chance at Life

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The Man That Rescues Dogs foundation’s mission is to see a happy and harmonious relationship between people and dogs in Thailand. The foundation was started in 2011 by Michael J. Baines, a Swedish entrepreneur who moved to Thailand to open a restaurant. Baines saw many stray dogs on the street that were unwell, sick, or injured. He pitched in where he could by taking injured dogs to the local veterinarian office and offering food and treats. Shortly after that, Baines decided to create a rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming sanctuary to take on even more animals.  Tags:  videos shelters & rescues international humane orgs that matter from The Bark https://ift.tt/3dUx6i2

Adopt a Shelter Dog, Enlarge Your Life

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We chose a geriatric Pit Bull with many, many health issues. He enriched our lives in ways too numerous to list. April 30 is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, a day devoted to raising awareness of the millions of animals waiting for homes in shelters across the country. Adding a companion animal in need of safe harbor to our lives has many benefits, as this essay illuminates. Imagine, if you will, Shrek, the green swamp-monster cartoon character, only tan—the color of a corn chip. Then imagine Shrek as a dog, a 70-pound Pit Bull to be exact, warty, wide and smelling like a can of farts. (I guess in that way Shrek stays the same: super-stinky.) Doing this simple exercise will give you a mental picture of Frito, our late dog whom I often referred to as  mi rey. My king. Frito was stubborn and, in many ways, gross, but to me he was regal, and I loved him. Tags:  essays Senior dogs humane from The Bark https://ift.tt/3aO15Gi

Why Do Dogs Burrow Under the Covers?

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And is it safe for them to do it? For those of us who share a bedroom with a furry friend or two, it’s not necessarily a strange sight to see them burrow under their (or our) bedcovers at night. But why do dogs tunnel under blankets, and is this behavior safe? Certain breeds of dog are more inclined toward creating little warrens in their bedding, and in general, such denning is not detrimental to their health. But some blanket options are safer than others, and dogs of certain ages and breeds need to be more closely monitored when they hunker down this way. With just a little know-how about dogs’ burrowing behavior, we can rest more easily alongside our comforter-covered canines. Tags:  dog behavior from The Bark https://ift.tt/2QGqGdo

Special Kitten Messily Celebrates Her Adoption With A Sweet Treat

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We know dogs enjoy a good Puppuccino, but did you know cats occasionally enjoy the Starbucks treat too? And why wouldn’t they? It’s a cup full of whipped cream goodness, and cats are known for their dairy fascination. ( While cat parents know dairy isn’t good for cats, a little bit from time to time won’t harm kittens .) In fact, for a kitten named Meredith, who’d been through a lot in her short life, the Puppuccino proved a purrfect goodbye treat after her time in foster care. @fosterthefurbabies/Instagram When Meredith was three-weeks-old, she and her littermates were found outside soaked by rain. Their mother was missing, and everyone was sick with parasites, respiratory infections, and infected eyes. But the babies were soon given to Foster the Furbabies in Sicklerville, NJ. One of the founders of the rescue, Gianna Cirucci, worried over Meredith and her littermates’ condition, telling The Dodo , “Meredith was the runt of the litter, and we weren’t sure if her [sic] or h

Dog Mom Gift Guide

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A Dog Lovers’ Gift Guide This curated selection of great gifts for dogs and their moms will help take the frazzle out of finding the perfect gift to bring comfort and joy to the lucky recipients. We’ve assembled a line-up of practical and interesting options, to delight every dog to something for those moms who have everything.  Dog Lovers’ Gift Guide for the Home Tags:  bark likes this products lists from The Bark https://ift.tt/3eAvwAT

Tiny Kitten With Twisted Legs Getting Stronger With His Brother’s Help

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Barely a month old, Bean the kitten is a baby beating rough beginnings thanks to the love of family and foster care. His mom, Lilith, and another feral cat named Loula were both pregnant when rescued by FosterBabyCats in Columbus, OH. The two feline ladies had a friendly relationship and a decidedly similar calico look. The founder of the kitten rescue group, Jillian, shared, “The working theory is Lilith is Loula’s mom.” And with both cats about to give birth, their family tree was about to grow. Lilith went into labor first, giving birth to a tiny ginger kitten. Little Bean only weighed 75 grams, coming in at the lower end of the average newborn kitten weight of 50-150 grams . The tiniest of tabby sprouts he may have been, but Bean had a healthy appetite and loved snuggling with his mom and aunt. However, Jillian noticed Bean’s legs were “twisted and weak.” FosterBabyCats/ Facebook FosterBabyCats/ Facebook Baby Bean and Brother Burrito After a few days, Bean became a litt

Boston Terrier Cured Thanks to Groundbreaking 3D Laparoscopic Procedure

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UC Davis performs first 3D laparoscopic adrenalectomy in veterinary medicine. Louie, an 8-year-old male Boston terrier, was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease by his primary veterinarian. Cushing’s disease causes a dog’s adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol, a chemical that controls many aspects of a dog’s body, including its weight, its ability to fight infections, maintain blood sugar levels, and many other vital functions. In Louie, the Cushing’s disease was caused by a tumor in his right adrenal gland. His primary veterinarians referred Louie to the Soft Tissue Surgery Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital for surgical removal of his right adrenal gland. Tags:  health care from The Bark https://ift.tt/2QYty5i

Meet Rosie

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Rosie is beautiful and graceful. It’s a pleasure to watch her move, like watching a dancer. Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/3dSMSKe

Meet Yogi

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Yogi is a certified therapy dog.  He is highly intelligent, loyal, friendly, loving, and of course a handsome fellow! Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/3nkh8ke

Dogs Can Sniff Out Coronavirus with Impressive Accuracy

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In a proof-of-concept study led by the School of Veterinary Medicine, dogs identified positive samples with 96% accuracy. Many long for a return to a post-pandemic “normal,” which, for some, may entail concerts, travel, and large gatherings. But how to keep safe amid these potential public health risks? One possibility, according to a new study, is dogs. A proof-of-concept investigation published today in the journal  PLOS ONE  suggests that specially trained detection dogs can sniff out COVID-19-positive samples with 96% accuracy. Tags:  covid-19 & dogs work of dogs news research from The Bark https://ift.tt/3dPjeWc

Q&A with "The Truffle Hunters" filmmakers Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw

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Documenting the canine search for the world’s most expensive fungi. The Truffle Hunters opens with a gorgeous, contemplative long shot—a steep, thickly forested northwestern Italian hillside accented by its trees’ yellowing leaves and skeletal branches—that sets the tone for what’s to come. In the bottom of the frame, a person accompanied by a dog slowly emerges from the forest. It’s clear that the year is ending, that cold and snow are coming—an apt metaphor for the through-line that defines this documentary. A meditation on a group of elderly men and their devoted dogs engaged in an ancient activity that may be doomed by both modern life and climate change, it’s won awards from the Directors Guild of America and the American Society of Cinematographers, among others. Tags:  work of dogs movies pop culture from The Bark https://ift.tt/32D3QpH

Why Do Dogs Chase Garbage Trucks?

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Why do some dogs seem to lose their minds when a truck goes by? So many dogs—even dogs who are fine with cars and pick-ups—lose it when a garbage truck goes by, or worse, stops to collect the trash in front of their house. What’s going on, and what can we do about it? Not all dogs who see hulking, noisy garbage trucks react to them, but many do. For those dogs, encountering one while they’re outside can provoke them to chase it, or to erupt in a frantic bout of barking and fence-running. Seeing it while they’re inside the house may set off an attack of frenzied barking at the window. What is it about garbage trucks that upsets dogs? Pretty much everything. They’re big, they’re loud in a whole bunch of different ways, and they stop and start frequently. Heaven only knows how dogs feel about the variety of smells that emanate from them, but there’s certainly a powerful olfactory component. On top of everything—in towns and cities, at least—they pull up right in front of

“National High-Five Day” Gives Shelter Cats A Chance To Shine!

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You can teach an old dog new tricks, and the same is true for cats! Shelter cats are often overlooked because they’re shy, scared, and reserved. But all they need is someone to take a chance on them and show them some love. That’s why Greater Good Charities, iHeartCats and Animal Planet’s Jackson Galaxy have teamed up to celebrate National High-Five Day. In an annual High-Five Day contest, participants help shelter cats learn new tricks like high-fives while also raising money for animals in need. And to add to this amazing cause, iHeartCats has donated toys to bring joy to even more adoptable cats! What is the Cat Pawsitive National High-Five Day Contest? 2021 marked the third year of the National High-Five Day Contest, part of the Jackson Galaxy Project’s Cat Pawsitive Initiative. Cat Pawsitive is a program that works on training shelter cats to help them seem more “adoptable.” As it turns out, teaching cats to give high-fives isn’t rocket science. Plus, this adorable trick hel

Earth-Friendly Products for Dogs

Being environmentally responsible doesn’t mean being boring. Here are few stand-out examples that prove style and sustainability can go hand-in-paw. Tags:  bark likes this editor's picks lifestyle green products mealtime extras dog food recipes from The Bark https://ift.tt/3sHBUeN

Giant Great Dane Proves To Be Best Kitten Foster Dad Ever

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To say Corbin is a big dog is an understatement. As a Great Dane, he’s 150 lbs. of legs and love. The better words to describe him are ‘gentle giant’. His mom, Karen, told the Dodo people will cross the road he’s so big, “yet they don’t know that he’s terrified of his own shadow.” You see, Corbin’s heart is bigger than he is, and it’s kittens that make this huge guy melt. Karen has been fostering kittens for a few years in conjunction with the Ontario SPCA & Humane Society . She says the benefits of helping to raise someone’s future best friend are immense, but she also shared, “I must admit though that the one who seems to benefit the most from fostering is our dog, Corbin.” @corbin_fosters/ Instagram Corbin’s Kittens The foster kittens in Karen and Corbin’s care are enough to make anyone smile, but for Corbin, “the highlight of his day is when he is allowed to come and spend some time with the kittens.” At first, though, Karen was careful to keep Corbin separated from

Cat With Compulsion For Flushing Can’t Keep His Paws Off The Toilet

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Cats are, without a doubt, the best, but cat lovers can’t deny felines have a tendency to wreak havoc. Ask Sabrina Louise. Her cat, Kai, loves creating mischief in the house. And his favorite road to misadventures leads to the bathroom, where he often hovers around the toilet. Why, you ask? As Kai tells it on Facebook , “I’m a compulsive toilet flusher.” And he’s not kidding. Sabrina has had a time dealing with Kai’s toilet flushing obsession. Misadventures of Kai/ Facebook When the toilet trouble first started, Sabrina would hear a flush, but could put no answer as to why the toilet would be flushing on its own. Before long, she caught the paw responsible for the flushes. Kai was the culprit all along! And it made sense, Sabrina tells the Dodo, “He’s been fascinated with toilet flushing since he was a kitten. He likes to watch the water. At a year old, I caught him using the toilet.” But she had no idea the smart cat knew how to flush the toilet by himself, and once he’d be

Cat Photographer, Erica Danger Captures Felines At Their Finest

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You love cute cat photos, right? Yep, same here. So, if you’re looking for more cat pics to get crazy over, you need to check out Erica Danger because she likes cats! She’ll keep you in adorable cat pictures for days and beyond… But just who is this maven of feline photography? Based in Oakland, CA, Erica is a cat lover from childhood with a creative streak a mile wide. She got into cat portraiture after she’d been a few years into professional photography, but “I kept joking that I wish I could just pet cats for a living because I’m super good at it, and people would surely hire me if they knew how good I was.” @ericalikescats/ Instagram @ericalikescats/ Instagram Erica recalled, “A friend of mine suggested I combine my photography and my passion for cats and be a cat photographer, and the rest is history!!” And as fans, we’re so grateful for her friend’s suggestion. By now, Erica has photographed more than a thousand cats, including her own senior cat sweetie, Miss Mou