Articles List

A Day in the Life of a Pet Therapy Team: Healing Licks
On a snowy day in January, a line of children sit in their wheelchairs and wait. The roads are getting slick…is he still coming? A serious-looking young boy clasps his hands in his lap and stares into the lobby of The Children’s Center, a look of expectation on his face.
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A New Leash on Life! Choosing the Best Leash for Your Dog
If you want to be overwhelmed, just take a peek at the leash selections in your average pet supply store. You’ve got thick ones, thin ones, long ones, short ones and all different types of materials. How is a pet owner supposed to pick the right one? Given that all communities have leash laws, this is a necessary purchase and Animal Friends would like to share a few tips to help make your leash-buying decision a bit easier. Animal Friends recommends a 6-foot leather or nylon leash for use at shelter events and with our resident canines. Based upon our experience, we also recommend that this type and length leash be used in the home. The width of the leash will be dependent upon the size of your dog, but 1/4 inch to 1 inch should be suitable for most. Leather is very easy on your hands and is very durable. Nylon is also durable and while not as easy on your hands as leather, it does lend itself to cleaning in the washing machine. Six feet is a good length because your dog can do a bit of exploring, but not move so far away that you’re no longer in control of his actions. It is also easier to untangle in the event that your pup decides to dance and twirl with another pup!
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Adopting Two Dogs is Twice as Nice
Adopting a dog can be one the biggest blessings in life. Imagine how much better that blessing would be if you took two dogs home instead of one!
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Bunny Grooming Basics
Just like dogs and cats, regular brushing helps keep rabbits’ fur in healthy condition. Brushing can also be a very enjoyable activity for you and your rabbit. When you settle down to brush your bunny, be patient and give her praise and a special treat. Begin by just petting her. Then, let her get used to the brush a little at a time.
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Canines in the Classroom Reading With Rover
For a child who finds reading difficult, reading aloud can be a painful and embarrassing experience. Standing in front of the classroom with fears of being made fun of, or fear of pressure or criticism from teachers and peers can lead to a downward spiral.
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Caring for the Aging Rabbit
Good news for bunnies! Pet rabbits are now living longer because of advances in veterinary care and the increased knowledge of their caretakers. It’s not uncommon anymore for a well-loved rabbit to live well past her tenth year. Just as in humans, when a rabbit ages, changes occur and you will need to make adjustments in their care. As your rabbit leaves middle age behind, you will want to consider the following: Diet; Mobility; Dental and Medical care.
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Cats and Agility Training
They said the earth was flat. They said man would never walk on the moon. They said you cannot train a cat. They were wrong!
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Clicker Training Can Help Your Pet
Have you ever watched a wild animal show at theme or marine life parks and found it fascinating? Watching eager dolphins leap through hoops; happy parrots chortle away show tunes; and menacing lions, tigers, and bears play so gently with their handlers makes can make anyone’s mouth gape open in wonder and amazement!
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Dig This! Managing Your Dog's Digging Habit
Despite how your dog’s digging makes you feel, he is not doing it out of spite or because he is angry with you. The bottom line is that some dogs dig.
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Dominance vs. Leadership in Dog Training
Given the popularity of the Dog Whisperer, many dog lovers have many questions about the concept of “dominance.”
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Every Litter Hurts: The Facts About Spay and Neuter
You’ve probably heard it before. Even the most well-meaning pet lovers will sometimes say: “I’m just going to let my pet have one litter before she’s spayed. What could just one litter hurt?” When there are already more pets in a community than there are available homes, every litter hurts. Shelters across America are bursting at the seams with unwanted animals. In Allegheny County alone, conservative estimates show that 25,000 abandoned pets enter shelters each year. Nationally, an estimated 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized at animal control facilities and shelters every year. That’s over 10,000 animals a day and over 400 per hour – pretty sobering statistics.
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Finding Pet-Friendly Rental Housing
It’s a sad truth—many pets are surrendered to shelters simply because their families move into housing that doesn’t allow pets. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 6.5 million more pets could have homes if more landlords allowed pets.
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Get Fit With Your Dog
Studies show that 56% of American people and 40% of American pets are overweight, and the numbers are growing rapidly. This could be different if you we made our dogs part of our exercise routines!
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Holiday Safety: Halloween Can Be a Scary Time for Pets
Halloween can be a frightening experience for pets. Think about it: strange people dressed in weird clothing keep ringing the doorbell, yelling words and then running away!
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Holiday Safety: The 4th of July
More pets are lost around the 4th of July than any other time of year. And, it’s no surprise…
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How to Help Pets with Thunderstorm Phobias
Many pets fear thunderstorms, fireworks, and other noises. Pets may also be fearful of storm-associated events such as a change in barometric pressure, lightning, and even smells associated with the storms. Always remember: The owner's attitude can influence the severity of the fear. For instance, if owners themselves are nervous during storms, phobias in their pets may occur more often or become more severe.
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How to Report Animal Abuse
When it comes to preventing animal abuse, a vigilant public and alert law enforcement officers are the eyes and ears in the community. Reporting suspected abuse to Humane Officers can save a life and prevent a lot of suffering.
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How to Trim a Cat’s Claws
What's more relaxing than sitting on your comfy sofa, sipping a cup of tea while your little kitty snuggles contentedly on your lap? But then, your sleepy kitty stirs a little and starts to stretch. You tell yourself, "Stay still and remain calm--maybe he won't..." But then it happens. He instinctively starts kneading your lap, and you regretfully think, "Why oh why didn't I trim his nails?" Nothing can ruin a pleasant moment like the feel of tiny needles in your leg!
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Introducing Pet Rabbits to Cats and Dogs
Those who enjoy the company of animals tend to agree: multi-species households are the best. At Animal Friends, we get to know many savvy pet owners who keep happy households with dogs, cats and rabbits living under the same roof.
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Introducing Your New Dog to Your Dog
Adding a new dog to your current dog family can be a wonderful experience that brings extra companionship, exercise and joy. It takes time to build good relationships, though, and the following tips can help you start these lifelong relationships off on the right paw.
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Letters to Litterbox Lenny
Lenny, a wise feline who aspires to be like Dr. Phil, specializes in providing support and advice to cats who need guidance regarding sensitive litterbox issues. Below, you’ll find letters from felines in need of a little straight talk about an important issue: the litterbox.
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Lives Six to Nine - Tips for Keeping the Maturing Cat Active
As your cat ages, he will most likely devote more time to finding snuggly warm places to nap and less time chasing fuzzy balls across the floor. Although it can sometimes be a challenge, it is essential for your cat’s physical health and mental well being to keep active. Making small changes in your cat’s daily routine or environment can make the difference!
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Love and Loss: Resources for Grieving Pet Owners
Pets provide us with incredible companionship and affection, but they leave us far too soon. Anytime we love, we open up our hearts and make ourselves vulnerable to the pain of loss. Sadly, experiencing and coping with the death of a beloved pet is a part of life that is inevitable but always difficult.
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Lucy on the Bench A Chihuahua Mix Brings Order and Understanding to the Courtroom
As more people recognize the benefits of animal interaction, the popular “Take Your Pet to Work Day” is turning into “Take Your Pet to Work Every Day.” Many of Animal Friends’ alums go on to happily “assist” their adopters in their offices, shops and businesses all over Pittsburgh.
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Managing Multi-Pit Bull Households
It used to be commonly thought that pit bulls couldn’t live together successfully. We now know that this isn’t true. Many pits can and do live successfully with other pit bulls and with other dogs. You simply need to understand the risks and what you need to do in order to keep your dogs safe.
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Pet Adoption: Why Adopt from a Shelter?
Experts agree: pets are good for us! Pets bring love and laughter into our lives, encourage us to exercise and play, and even help lower our blood pressure. Pets are good for families because they help kids learn about empathy and responsibility. But with so many places to adopt, rescue, or purchase a pet, the amount of research involved can be overwhelming. Whether you’re looking for your first pet or are an experienced pet owner, you should first consider the many benefits of adopting from a shelter.
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Questions and Answers about Feral Cats
Q. I’ve noticed cat prints in the snow in my back yard. What should I do? A. It could be that a neighborhood cat is just taking a stroll, but more than likely, as is the case across the country, you may have a feral cat that is looking for warm shelter. Find a place out of the wind and set up a small shelter for her. It should be waterproof, windproof, and camouflaged. Straw is the best form of bedding for the inside.
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Safety First: How to Kitten-Proof Your Home to Keep Your New Kitten Safe
One of the most important things you can do before bringing home a kitten is to crawl around your living space and look down, around, and up from a kitten’s perspective.
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The Ins and Outs (and Overs and Unders!) of Cat Play: Why Cats Need Play Therapy
Cats need to play! As newborns, kittens play with littermates to test their skills and learn social behavior. When they’re around three months old, cats begin to play with objects.
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The Pit Bull Paradox Myths and Facts about Pit Bulls
Why are so many pit bulls ending up in our nation’s shelters? Why are so few adopted and so many euthanized? What is happening to this type of dog and how can we change their fate?
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The Rewards of Fostering a Shelter Pet
The first time I saw the little cat Marie, she was terrified. The last time I saw Marie, she was going home with a young couple who were grinning from ear to ear.
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Vaccinate Your Pet Against Rabies: It’s the Law!
Just about everyone is familiar with the story Old Yeller, the tale of a brave, loyal dog in the 1860s who contracts rabies while defending his human family from an attack by a rabid wolf. Sadly, because Old Yeller has been exposed to rabies, his owner must destroy him in order to keep this deadly disease from spreading any further.
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What is a Feral Cat?
All right, so they’ve woken you up again. It’s three a.m. and you have to go to work tomorrow. You know who they are. It’s an elusive orange tom cat and an equally shy little calico that you’ve caught scampering through your yard.
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When Dogs Who Growl or Snap What NOT to do
If your dog recently growled or snapped, you may be wondering why. After all, you may have done your research and made sure you adopted the best dog for your family. Does this sudden behavior change mean you must rehome him, or worse?
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When Pets Grieve
Our pets are like us in many ways. Many pet owners can clearly understand their pets’ moods and emotions by just the way they look at us or the way they wag their tail.
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Why Cats Have Claws...and How to Live With Them
Have you ever thought of declawing your cat as an easy way to protect your furniture from kitty’s sharp claws? Before taking this irreversible step, be sure you understand the declawing procedure and the consequences for both you and your cat.
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You Adopted a Rabbit! Now What?
“She was so cute, I couldn’t resist! Now what do I do?” At Animal Friends, we frequently hear from callers who need guidance after bringing home their first bunny. Sometimes all of the research in the world won’t calm a new parent—especially one who’s new to the bunny world.
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You Have Puppy Fever–Now What? Adopting Your First Puppy
Imagine a puppy under the Christmas tree, complete with a red bow around his neck. It’s a classic image used time and time again in commercials, on television shows and in the movies. But what’s the reality behind the cute little puppy and the big red bow?
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Zeolite and Pets
What are Zeolites? Zeolites are naturally occurring crystalline minerals commonly found in rock deposits. They are formed by the crystallization of volcanic rock and ash when they come in contact with fresh or salt ground water over millions of years. Zeolites are capable of selectively attracting and binding toxic particles, whether they are heavy metals, radioactive particles, viruses, or other carcinogens that may be contributing factors to chronic illness, and safely removing them before they negatively affect overall health. Not only do zeolites eliminate toxic buildup, they can also help control blood sugar levels, balance the body’s PH, improve digestion and nutrient absorption, support healthy immune function and help those who suffer from chronic allergies and improve the body’s resistance to diseases like cancer.
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