When Meridel adopted Sadie, little did she know that they both would both have cancer in common. The latest Mutual Rescue video tells their story. Cancer is a devastating diagnosis to re… Read More

The U.S. Department of Justice just announced that Inotiv will pay more than $35 million, including an $11 million fine for violating the Animal Welfare Act, the largest in the Act’s h… Read More

When I’m depressed and barely slog through daily life my loving dog still cheers me on with faith that’s blind to all the ills of humankind. He finds delight… Read More

Artist Ken Bailey specialises in vintage advertising style art that features dogs and cats – making his artwork ideal for the pet lover’s home. A graduate of the University of… Read More

When his girlfriend Misty came to stay, I took Sox and Misty to Christchurch’s red zone for off-lead time. In this video, the dogs run and play. Greyhounds love to run. In this vi… Read More

It’s a common belief that purebred dogs are more prone to disease than mixed-breed dogs, but a new study led by researchers at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biome… Read More

The dogs of my life have brought me great joy, endless love, and moments of intense heartache. Our dogs can also be the source of great surprise, which was the case yesterday evening wh… Read More

Box plot displaying the frequency of times owners brought their dog physically to the veterinary surgeon in the past 12 months and age in years of the dogs. Number of dogs =&th… Read More

Not only are dogs man’s best friend, they also offer insight into how people decline cognitively. A new study published in GeroScience is revealing fascinating parallels between the ag… Read More

Note from DoggyMom: The manufacture and marketing of pet food has to be one of the most confusion and contentious issues for pet owners to understand. Streamlining and efficiency are hard to… Read More

Dallas Mavericks assistant athletic trainer Heather Mau has noticed a trend of players grabbing extra breakfast. It’s not that their appetite has grown, but they need the extra food to… Read More

Spending quality time with dogs reduces stress and increases the power of brain waves associated with relaxation and concentration, according to a study published on March 13, 2024 in the op… Read More

Over the last few weeks, our weather in Christchurch has turned noticeably autumnal. Last week, we even had one morning when it was 3 degrees C. Whenever the weather turns cooler, I t… Read More

Over the world, dog owners are finding ways to cut costs in the face of high inflation. Many who feed commercial foods (commonly referred to as kibble), will look to buying the largest… Read More

Peter Carl Fabergé, the Russian jeweler, is best known for his Easter eggs using precious metals and gemstones that were crafted for the Russian royal family. But, in an exhibit ce… Read More

Scientists have made significant strides in addressing a common yet concerning issue: overweight pets. This research unveils the potential of specific probiotics to combat obesity in dogs… Read More

When it comes to tail wagging among dogs, some questions still hound researchers. We know that domesticated dogs (Canis familiaris) use their tails to communicate — with other dog… Read More

Ever wonder what kind of TV shows your dog might choose if they could work the remote control? New research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Veterinary Medici… Read More

For many, pets can be good companions, quickly becoming an important part of the family. The UK lockdowns in 2020 saw lots of people make the decision to purchase their very own pooches t… Read More

New Zealand is in the heart of its summer season with record-breaking temperatures in many regions. Not surprisingly, dogs will want to go swimming to cool off. Each summer, we have… Read More

According to a new survey of 2,000 cat and dog owners, 32% admit they’re more excited to see a family member or friend’s pet than they are to see them. kerkezz – stock.adob… Read More

This year has marked another achievement in Sox’s life – his stage debut. Local dance school Defy Dance Academy was choreographing a number entitled “Legs” and wan… Read More

Cat and dog owners tend to experience slower cognitive decline than those who don’t have pets, according to the latest research released by the University of Maryland. The study, pu… Read More

The FDA has yet to approve any drugs for life extension. But biotech company Loyal is now a step closer to bringing one to market—for dogs. Photograph: MartinFredy/Getty ImagesTher… Read More

There has been a rush of enthusiasm to use Berensa in older dogs suffering from arthritic and other pain since it arrived here in NZ. It’s understandable when you hear stories of dogs… Read More

National air carrier Air New Zealand has recently announced that it is expanding its efforts in conservation by becoming the principal sponsor for the Conservation Dogs Programme. This prog… Read More

It’s not often the dog but the person holding the leash who creates the conditions, often by neglect or abuse, for a dog to attack. ***This is a wonderful opinion piece by Marcela G… Read More

Evidence shows human and pet support services should be integrated to avoid people having to relinquish their pets in a time of crisis. Keeping them often results in better health outcomes f… Read More

Sue Burgess noticed her dog Rosie developed symptoms when she switched from HRT tablets to a gelA veterinary clinic has warned of an “alarming spike” in the number of pets coming… Read More

I have wanted to write this post for some time; but events over the last month have prompted me that I can no longer wait. We need to talk about qualifications, because they are not al… Read More

Dog versus hedgehog. In a suburban garden, victory would go to the one with the prickled armour. On the dunes of Kaitōrete, the 25km spit of windswept land separating Te Waihora/Lake El… Read More

In honor of Service Dog Awareness Month, Purina Dog Chow is joining forces with actor and singer Anthony Ramos to celebrate the finalists of this year’s Dog Chow Visible Impact Award… Read More

For the last 20 years, I have always tried to have emergency supplies on hand. First it was because of the ‘millennium bug’ which threatened to shut down utilities and other… Read More

Social interaction is good for human health, and a new study suggests it might be good for your dog, too. “Where we live and who we interact with has a really strong effect on our h… Read More

Earlier this week, the liquidators were called in to oversee the final days of Pet Central, a South Island-based pet retail chain. I hate to hear when retail staff lose their jobs; they… Read More

Families come in all shapes and sizes. And for a majority of Americans, family includes their pets. Most Americans (62%) own a pet, including about a third (35%) who have more than one… Read More

We’ve all seen it. Many of us have done it. We treat dog walks as a chance to accomplish two (or three) things at once, leading our pooches around the neighborhood while gazing at o… Read More

Science has shown that violence among monkeys, rats, and mice increases when the weather is warm. Now it seems we can add dogs to the list. New findings from researchers at Harvard Medica… Read More

In May, a smaller report from NZ’s Racing Integrity Board (RIB) was released. The Supplementary Report (dated March 2023) was written at the request of the Minister of Racing. Wher… Read More

There are many creative thinkers in the pet industry. The latest is a prototype Roomba® vacuum cleaner that will dispense treats. Dubbed the Tasty Reward Emission Apparatus Thingy (T… Read More

On 23 May 2023, MP Kieran McAnulty released a report about greyhound racing that was dated December 2022. Authored by the Racing Integrity Board (RIB), this report is 175 pages long. Th… Read More

Millions of people view pets as family and count on their unconditional love. While it’s hard to put a value on the human-animal bond and what it means for so many of us, the Human Ani… Read More

14 May 2023 is Mother’s Day. On this Mother’s Day, I have been giving some thought to the role of us, the Dog Moms. I know that there are people who dislike the terms &ldqu… Read More

The genome of the 1920s Siberian husky Balto suggests that greater genetic diversity and less inbreeding contribute to better health. Balto with Gunnar Kaasen, his musher in the 1925 Seru… Read More

Pets will soon be allowed into more than 120 archaeological sites across Greece, the country’s Culture Ministry has announced, although not in the Acropolis or some of the other top to… Read More

Dogs and cats may be passing antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” to their owners, a new study warns. Researchers discovered one pet in the United Kingdom and six from Portugal were… Read More

Lawmakers are weighing whether to enact a law that would require public housing agencies in Maine to allow tenants to have one or more common household pets. “We feel this bill will… Read More

On holiday in Tennessee, I visited Graceland yesterday. Another tick off my bucket list. Whenever I travel, I (of course) look for things about dogs. According to Graceland’s off… Read More

On 30 January 2023, the Paws Off Act of 2023 was introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require foods containing th… Read More

Following up on my previous post, the Minister for Racing, Kieran McAnulty, has responded about his report to Cabinet and release of the Racing Integrity Board report: “The ongoing… Read More

Towards the end of each calendar year, it seems that the NZ Government releases a lot of reports before staff take holidays for Christmas and the summer season. Unfortunately, this also mea… Read More

The first comprehensive study on the long-term effects of a plant-based diet for dogs has been completed by clinician-scientists at Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Ve… Read More

For Dame Lynley Dodd, a sketch of a dog on note paper started it all – 40 years ago. Harry Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy was first published in 1983. The book features Harr… Read More

I see a lot of social media posts about pet insurance. Most ask for recommendations on insurers, whether pet insurance is worthwhile, and which policy is ‘best.’ Since every… Read More

Spot, who was very special to me, passed away on 10 January 2023 after a short illness. I am sure many would say that Spot is not a particularly original name for a dog, but it suited him… Read More

A commitment to animal care and welfare—specifically in working dogs—is the driving force behind the newly funded research project The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HA… Read More

With a recession this year almost guaranteed, and consumers experiencing rising costs daily, I have promised readers of my newsletter my recommendations on money saving tips for dog care. I… Read More

Today is the anniversary of Izzy’s passing; I have been dreading the approaching holiday season knowing that this time in 2021, her health was failing and our time together was running… Read More

Pet owners may have a new reason to reach for the kibble. Dry cat and dog food tends to be better for the environment than wet food, veterinary nutritionist Vivian Pedrinelli of the Unive… Read More

Across the USA, demand for public housing is increasing because of the rapid rise in the cost of living. Unfortunately, housing authorities can impose restrictions on families that require… Read More

This is Sox on Tuesday morning. He was scheduled to go to the vet for a fasting blood test and could not have his breakfast. I didn’t think it was fair to eat breakfast when he could… Read More

(FilippoBacci/E+/Getty Images)How you ‘parent’ your pooch has an impact on the kind of dog it grows up to be, a new study shows. An owner who’s highly responsive to a dog&r… Read More

A new study measured the effects of petting a dog on human brain activity. Dogs have previously been shown to reduce stress, but the neurological mechanisms haven’t been studied… Read More

Subaru of America announced the return of Subaru Loves Pets Month, a time dedicated to supporting and celebrating shelter pets through the Subaru Loves Pets initiative. Togeth… Read More

A new lab at UBC’s Vancouver campus is looking for research participants—and not just anyone will do. The criteria? Must be furry and four-legged. Enjoy belly rubs and yummy trea… Read More

Leptospirosis, a disease that dogs can get from drinking water contaminated with Leptospira bacteria, can cause kidney failure, liver disease and severe bleeding into the lungs. Early detect… Read More

Cornell researchers have provided the first documentation that dogs’ sense of smell is integrated with their vision and other unique parts of the brain, shedding new light on how dogs… Read More

Earlier this month, owner Helen Fraser was found not guilty of a single charge – owning a dog that caused serious injury. Now that the initial flurry of social and traditional media c… Read More

Sox is on a journey to be an experienced pet greyhound, with added company responsibilities for The Balanced Dog such as teaching massage workshops and presenting at events. Sox is an only… Read More

If you want to find a safe neighborhood to live in, choose one where the residents trust each other – and have a lot of dogs to walk. More people walking their dogs means less crime… Read More

As employers the world over mull return-to-office plans, pitting managers and workers against one another over how much time is enough time at the office, an MSPCA-Angell poll of 500 pet own… Read More

Photo by Shutterstock The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) revealed results of a new publication led by researchers at the Telethon Kids Institute and The University of Wester… Read More

One week ago today, our special friend Bergie passed away. I say ‘our’ because Bergie was special to Izzy and any dog that captured her heart would have always been special… Read More

Many dog lovers want to know what goes on in their furry friends’ minds. Now scientists are finally getting closer to the answer. In a new study just published in the journal of Animal… Read More

A protein that the body naturally produces could become an important new immunotherapy drug in the cache of cancer-fighting tools available to oncologists. UC Davis cancer researchers for bo… Read More

Scent dog Silja at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport. (Image: Egil Björkman)A recent study by the University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital confirmed that scent detection do… Read More

A recent study suggests that having a pet dog or a larger family in early life may protect against Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers observed that i… Read More

Researchers have found that a suite of complementary tests can quantify changes in dogs suspected of suffering from cognitive decline. The approach could not only aid owners in managing thei… Read More

Sox is gradually coming up to speed with all the coats, food, treats, toys and accessories he needs for pet life. This week, I added his ID tag which I chose because it featured a greyhound… Read More

A new analysis suggests that most U.S. dog owners are unaware of—and do not follow—guidelines on safe pet food and dish handling from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but… Read More

A survey of veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada highlights mounting cases of cannabis poisoning among pets and sheds new light on symptoms, treatments, and outcomes. Richard Quansah Amissah… Read More

In the Netherlands, thousands of dogs stay in a shelter every year. Despite the good care, a shelter can be a stressful environment for dogs. Researchers at Utrecht University investigated i… Read More

This is an important question for someone like me, with a mobile practice. Let me start by saying that I have never been a ‘car person.’ I don’t notice makes and models… Read More

“Hey, Sox. We need to talk.” ‘bout what? “About where this relationship is heading” Whaddya mean? “Well, you came here to stay… Read More

Veterinarians and scientists from BSM Partners, the largest pet care research and consulting firm, and the University of Missouri, published an analysis of a retrospective survey that evalua… Read More

If you have ever been close with a dog, the chances are that you have wondered what your canine companion might be thinking. As time goes on and your relationship grows — whether as a… Read More

Dogs may also be a doctor’s best friend. For patients suffering from pain in the emergency room, just 10 minutes with a four-legged friend may help reduce pain, according to a study… Read More

Companion animals are a core part of family life in the United States, with 90 million American households having at least one pet. Many of us view pets as beloved family members who provide… Read More

Rosie, my special needs foster dog, went to her forever home on the 18th of February. She provided me with canine companionship in the weeks following Izzy’s death and, although I was… Read More

Photo by Angel Luciano on UnSplash Agility dogs lacking core strength from routine physical exercise and those participating in activities like flyball may be more susceptible to one of t… Read More

New research finds that dogs being walked in nature reserves contribute a significant amount of nutrients to the environment through their faeces and urine, which researchers warn could nega… Read More

Rosie is my foster dog; she arrived one month ago exactly, on 17 December 2021. Rosie is an affectionate black greyhound who has had three unsuccessful adoption placements. You see… Read More

A new Synchrony study, “Lifetime of Care,”1 has revealed that 7 out of 10 pet owners consider their pets family members; however, nearly half underestimated the lifetime cost of… Read More

Over 10,000 people in Europe use an assistance dog; think of guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired, hearing or signal dogs for the deaf and hard of hearing, medical response dogs an… Read More

Have you ever noticed that the rectangular film frame is less suited to the human body shape than to the four-legged format of the dog? That’s right: cinema was made for dogs. But s… Read More

Over the last few days I have thought a lot about what to write about Izzy, my best friend who joined my life in October 2014 and sadly had to leave it on 27 December 2021. When I first m… Read More

Could pets offer “probiotic” benefits to their owners? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) are set to investigate whether pe… Read More

Scientists have identified a series of molecular candidates for those parts of dog allergens that cause immune reactions in people—the first step in developing a vaccine against most c… Read More

It’s time to slip on your boots and grab the lead because walking a dog is better at combating stress that strolling alone, a new study has found. Darrya/Getty ImagesAccording to sc… Read More

Dog breeds are often recognized for distinctive traits — the short legs of a dachshund, wrinkled face of a pug, spotted coat of a Dalmatian. Unfortunately, the genetics that give vario… Read More