Pet News

Volunteer Foster Families For Deployed Soldiers' Pets

11/24/09-- When Iggy misses his mom, he rests his head on Carolyn Hastings' leg and looks forlorn.

"I know he needs some love then," his Gilbert foster mother says, and she's happy to oblige with the pats and coos that will make him feel better.

Iggy, a Chihuahua-mix, is making his home with Carolyn and her husband, Eldon, for about a year while his owner, a Valley woman, serves with the military in Kosovo. The same soldier's cat, Gypsy, lives with foster parents Judy and Ed Bensinger near Prescott, AZ.

Iggy and Gypsy were placed in the homes by Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet, a non-profit organization based in Hot Springs, Ark.

Texas Man Promotes Peace One Pet At A Time

11/17/09-- FORT WORTH — Gregory Pike has traveled all over the United States spreading his message of peace to all who will listen.

And he’s got quite the props.

Pike’s dog, Booger, lets his cat, Kitty, ride on his back while a year-old rat, Mousey, rides on the cat’s back.

"I’ve been doing this for years," Pike said. "The dog raised the cat, and they both grew up around rats."

Pike said people will see him around Fort Worth for the next week to 10 days while his motorcycle is being repaired. The motorcycle tows a small trailer that the pet trio rides in during trips, Pike said.

Help Your Pet DeStress During The Holidays

11/10/09-- Pheromones are chemical compounds sensed in cats and dogs by the vomeronasal organ in the back of the nose. Animals use pheromones for communication. Now a growing number of companies are seeking to harness pheromones' power to help humans curb behavior problems in pets.

You can buy calming animal pheromones in spray form, intended to be used on problem areas such as sofas where a cat is marking its territory, or as diffusers, which are plugged into an electrical socket to cover a wide area. In recent years, collars that release pheromones over a monthlong period have become available. Read More Of This Story
Source: Wall Street Journal

Yorkies Are High Risk Theft Target

11/06/09-- It’s been more than a year since Rosemary Amadeo’s silky Yorkshire terrier, Susieq, was stolen from her home. On Aug. 5, 2008, somebody broke into Amadeo’s Perry Avenue house in Stoughton and snatched her 2-year-old Yorkie, while ignoring her four other dogs.

“I miss her something terrible,” said Amadeo. Despite the amount of time that’s passed, she’s still offering a $1,000 reward for the return of her dog, for which she originally paid $3,000.Read More Of This Story
Source: EnterpriseNews.com

Cat Diagnosed with H1N1 Flu

11/05/09-- For all the attention that has whirled around H1N1 in recent months, it seems that one vulnerable, and furry, population may have been overlooked: the family pet.

On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a house pet, a 13-year-old domestic shorthaired cat. The animal likely contracted the virus from its owners, veterinarians say, since two of the three family members living in the cat's household had recently suffered from influenza-like illness.

Late last week, when the cat came down with flu-like symptoms - malaise, loss of appetite - its owners brought it to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment. The family mentioned to the vet that they had also recently battled illness, which led to testing the pet for H1N1. Read More Of This Story
Source: Time.com