Caring for Community Cats in Cold Weather   Caring for community cats in cold weather is important as the arrival of winter brings freezing temperatures for many of us. While we are usually able to keep the pets we care for indoors, community cats and feral cat colonies can use some extra help during these cold winter months. Whether you …

Dogs who eat too rapidly can choke. They can also swallow a lot of air, make themselves sick and are at risk for bloat, a life-threatening condition where the stomach can distend and rotate.Rapid eating is also not a rewarding use of a dog’s time. Instead using a slow feeding device or technique means the dog has to think and …

Summer is upon us, and many areas are feeling the effects of high heat and humidity. Here are a few quick tips on the essentials for keeping all of the animals in your care cool and safe this season. First and foremost, make sure all animals have a constant supply of cool, fresh water. You can even drop some ice cubes …

Did you know that today, December 13th is National Violin Day? While the purpose of this day is to encourage people to listen or play violin music, it got me thinking about the important role music can play in our everyday lives. There is often great passion and delicacy behind violin-based music that many find soothing and studies indicate this …

How big of a role does stress play in respiratory disease? If you work in animal welfare, you likely know it plays a large role. Upper respiratory infections are likely the most common infection in a kennel or shelter environment. Every day in shelters, URI leads to loss of life and prolonged stays. There are many factors which lead to …

Call me an optimist, but I do believe that most pet parents want to do right by their pets. They love them, even the ones who don’t treat their pets exactly the way I would, love them and mean well. I (for the most part) believe that bad things are done by people who genuinely don’t know better. Whether it’s …

Ideally you would have a perfect facility with no illness and limitless funds and manpower to continue operating in that state. Unfortunately, we live in reality and we need to work with what we have. Bummer, right? Well, if you play your cards right, you might be able to get farther than you think. After a class with Dr. Karen …

In DC, our public transport system has a slogan: “See something, say something.” It’s  meant to encourage people to report suspicious bags or talk to security guards if there are suspicious people. The idea is that if we’re all aware of our surroundings and willing to step up and say something, rather than assume someone else will, everyone will be …

With so many options for easy, simple ways to enrich the lives of your shelter’s pets, it’s easy to get excited and want to try them all at once. But depending on your organization (the number of animals, the layout of the building, your location, the amount of staff and volunteers you have available) it likely makes sense to pace …

Grooming may not come to mind right away when you think of enriching the lives of shelter animals, but consider all of the benefits that come with offering well-groomed pets for adoption. As compared to many pets that are not bathed prior to being put up for adoption, a freshly brushed and bathed animal can give potential adopters a stronger …