With so many cities banning the sale of puppies in pet stores, we are headed in the right direction to end puppy mills. Yet, not all humans understand these new laws. Some seem to think that banning retail sales of puppies will hurt reputable breeders too. But this is a misunderstanding because reputable breeders would never sell puppies in a pet store. Here are a few reasons why. (Click title to read more!)
Every time Molly tells someone that she fosters dogs, they always have the same initial response: “oh, I could never do that!” Or, “doesn’t that make you so sad?” There seems to be an ongoing stereotype that fostering is sad. And for some foster parents, I’m sure it is at times. But we’ve learned that if you go in with the right mindset, then it’s the opposite of sad. It’s uplifting and fulfilling. (Click title to read more!)
Humans have a strange obsession with random animals. They see a cute animal and their instinct is to say, “I want one!” But a lot of the animals that humans love aren’t pets, they’re wild animals. And while it might seem easy and affordable to take an animal out of the wild and keep it, think again. Wild animals are not pets and shouldn’t be kept as domesticated animals. Here’s why. (Click title to read more!)
When most people think of a rescue dog, they think of a dog that was adopted from a shelter or animal rescue. And I’ve made it very clear on this blog that I’m not happy about people buying puppies from pet stores and breeders. But what about dogs that are re-homed? If someone is giving away their dog to another family, is that dog then considered a rescue? There are lots of opinions on this, but I’ll share what I think about it. (Click title to read more!)
I get lots of kisses. Molly loves giving me and Taco kisses and cuddles on a regular basis, and she says it’s hard to resist. While many dogs don’t like hugs and kisses, I sure do! But I recently started wondering why humans kiss their dogs so much. Dogs don’t always understand the meaning behind kisses, so it seems pointless to do it. Yet, many humans consistently feel the urge to kiss their furry friends. Why is this? (Click title to read more!)
I’ve always known that you should be cautious when finding animals online, but I didn’t know how dangerous it really was. As it turns out, animals on Craigslist could be in danger in more ways than you’d expect. Not only are many Craigslist pets from puppy mills, but many cruel people buy online animals too. So, should Craigslist stop pet sales and what should pet parents do instead? (Click title to read more!)
Is it weird to talk to your dog? Humans with no pets might think so. But I’ve come to learn that many people talk to their furry friends with no regrets. Molly talks to me all the time, and she sometimes worries that others might find it crazy. But she feels the need to tell me what’s going on, such as when she’ll be home and where we’re walking to. After all, I am a part of the family! (Click title to read more)
Southern shelters are often the most crowded in the United States. So, whenever rescues and shelters near my home get new dogs in, they usually come from overcrowded kill shelters in warm climates. It’s great that states like Wisconsin and Michigan have plenty of space for these dogs, but the adjustment to a new climate can be difficult on some dogs. So, can dogs adjust to cold climates and snow? And how can you help them adjust? (Click title to read more!)
Have you heard of the term, dog “whale eye” before? It’s an unusual term, but it’s a fairly common behavior for dogs. Dogs can’t communicate with humans using words, so we have to find other ways to get our points across. A whale eye is one of the subtle ways that we let our humans know something is wrong. (Click title to read more!)
I’ve been told that dogs can be unpredictable, and that’s probably true. After all, I love to bark, but only at specific dogs. For example, I’m bothered by that Goldendoodle that walks past my yard and I always have to bark back when the neighbor Chihuahua yips at me. But then there are other dogs that I completely ignore. As a dog, it all makes sense to me, but it makes training difficult and confusing for my humans. I’ve noticed that other dogs have some similar habits, so I figured that I should address this issue from a dog’s perspective. (Click title to read more!)
