In 2009, veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker attended a presentation where veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall said something that changed his life: “Fear is the worst thing a social species can experience, and it causes permanent damage to the brain.” “I’d always thought of myself as a particularly compassionate veterinarian,” he said. “I had been exposed… Learn More
Is canine parvovirus a problem in your community? Are many dog owners unable to afford hospital care for their pets with parvo? Would your shelter like to do more to help, but lacks the resources to hospitalize them? A recent study at the Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA), funded by Maddie’s Fund®, demonstrated that outpatient care for… Learn More
Are dogs and cats in shelters developing health and behavior problems because of stress? And does that make adoption more difficult and less likely for those pets? Yes, says board certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sheila D’Arpino. On January 14 and February 4, 2016, she’ll be presenting free webcasts on how stress is sabotaging your pet… Learn More
Is the missing link to saving more lives, relieving animal suffering, saving money on general operating costs and boosting community goodwill hiding in plain sight in your animal shelter’s spay/neuter clinic? Shelter veterinarians are not just a set of hands to perform surgery, give vaccines and treat emergencies. They’re a powerful source of experience, knowledge,… Learn More
Ever feel incredibly frustrated at the picture anti-cat advocates are trying to paint of cats? So is Peter Wolf, and he’s dedicated his life to doing something about it. He first created a blog called Vox Felina, where he methodically deconstructs misleading media narratives and bad science. He’s now added the position of Cat Initiatives… Learn More
If your shelter or rescue group needs to improve its online fundraising and cause awareness — and who doesn’t? — then they can’t afford to turn their back on the science of social media. If your only exposure to social media is sharing pets who need help, family photos and rants about issues of the… Learn More
Is the smell and look of a dog with seborrhea making it hard to get him or her adopted?
No one in animal welfare or veterinary medicine can have missed the news about the outbreak of a new strain of the virus that hit Chicago and nearby communities in the last month. This is the first time this strain has been identified in the United States. What does this outbreak mean for the dogs… Learn More
Because people in animal welfare often see terrible things befall pets, and because of genuine concern for the animals, we’ve sometimes gone overboard in terms of regulating, requiring, constraining, screening and even getting in the way of successful adoptions.
How can your shelter save more cats? Take in fewer of them at a time, give each cat more room and care for them better.