Adopting Sibling Puppies
I have the privilege (and responsibility) of dog-sitting two of the pups from my most recent foster litter – for a whole week! –...
Pet Health Insurance Calculations
It’s at this time of the year that my dog Otto’s health insurance company sends out a renewal letter. And, of course, the older...
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
Why am I just learning about this now? Apparently, some years ago, the ASPCA and Petfinder.com founded November as “Adopt a Senior Pet” month....
Treasuring The Time I Have With My Older Dog Otto
When I take longer or harder hikes now, I have to leave my senior dog, Otto, at home. It’s for his own good; he...
The Veterinarian and Vet Tech Shortage Is Getting Really Scary
Back in July, I wrote a piece for this space about the increasing frequency of reports I was seeing about emergency veterinary clinics suspending...
New Searchable Database of Approved Canned Dog Foods
What’s the cool new tool? It’s a searchable database of ALL of the foods on our “approved canned foods" list.
A Trip to Kansas (With Dogs in Mind)
A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to visit a former coworker/friend I hadn’t seen for a decade or more. He had...
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Parts of Fostering
My current fostering project is a little different from what I usually take on. Ordinarily, my local shelter will contact me if they have...
Do Your Dogs Sense When You’re Leaving On a Trip?
They already know. Even before the carry-on suitcase comes out of the closet, they know.
I’m leaving town for a few days.
Is it the extra...
Xylitol – Highly Toxic to Dogs
A friend recently had a terrible scare with a dog who ate a homemade cinnamon bun and got hideously ill; it turned out that...
Community-Based Animal Shelters
I’m thinking today about how communities interact with their local animal control/animal shelters and vice versa, and how shelters can most meaningfully affect the...
The Importance of Crate Training Your Dogs
Hey, it’s September! Long-time readers know what that means! It’s time for Nancy’s annual reminder to PLEASE habituate your dog (and cats, and other...
Latest Blog
A Fish Story
What’s worse than a skunked dog? A dog who has rolled in a long-dead, rotten salmon carcass. Rolled in it at length, luxuriously, with relish while ignoring the calls and whistles of her foster provider—even after being abandoned by the other dogs, who did heed their owners’ calls.