Frequently Asked Questions

A: Sometimes, not often, a cat or dog starts pressing its head against the wall or another object. The pet might even walk into a corner and seemingly not know how to get out. The head pressing is often the most notable behavior, but the pet might also show compulsive pacing, circling, changes in trained behavior, and even have seizures. If you note some or all of these symptoms, it's time to see the vet.  These strange behaviors indicate damage to the nervous system, or a toxic poisoning. There can be a number of underlying causes, and the sooner the pet gets to the vet, the better. Amongst the possible causes are cancers, stroke, metabolic problems, an infection, lead poisoning, head trauma, and parasites. Treatment is imperative for the future health of your pet. Compulsively pressing the head against a wall or other object shouldn't be confused with playfully "head butting" their human. Head pressing is hard to miss - the behavior doesn't look normal.

A: Many victims of crime, especially children, are too traumatized to talk about what happened, but talking is required to solve the situation. A Suffolk District Attorney has found a new way to help victims relax: Indy, a 2 year old Golden Retriever. Indy is trained to comfort people in emotional distress, and he is the first facility dog to work in a governmental agency in New England. He is donated by Canine Companions for Independence, and he has a knack for building trust and relaxing the people who need it the most. Each service dog placed by Canine Companions cost over $45,000 to raise and train. The dogs undergo intensive training,learning over 50 commands, and each dog is recertified every year. Indy can open doors and pick up items, helping people with physical  tasks, but his greatest talent is for emotional support. He has already made a big difference for victims in Suffolk, and his duties might well be expanded. Read more on the Boston Globe!

A: Some people have a decidedly sunnier outlook on life than others who tend to expect the worst. Up until most of us have thought this is a human trait, but it turns out that dogs can also have a predisposition towards optimism or pessimism. This new information comes from the University of Sydney, and started as a doggy personality test to determine the best service dogs for particular tasks. Dogs with a more pessimistic look on life tend to be more careful and reluctant to take risks - which makes them better guide dogs for the disabled. Optimistic dogs are more persistent and tend to do better in, for instance, search-and-rescue settings where a pessimistic dog might give up. The optimistic dogs also recover quicker when something bad happens. //youtu.be/gpUyrmpdfvI

A: According to the humane society, between three and four million pets are euthanized in shelters each year. It is a mind boggling number, but still an improvement - in the past the number was 20 million. The really sad part is that many of these cats and dogs aren't strays; they are surrendered by their owners. These pets used to have a home, and for different reasons their owners can't or won't keep them. Every person's life is more complicated than it appears at first glance. Some things are easy or self evident to one person, and difficult to someone else. Situations change - many pets are given up because their owners can't afford their vet bills, or even become homeless. Shelters around the country are stepping up to the challenge, and many now try to work with owners to help them keep their pets. Some need education - they might honestly believe that their dog is happier on a chain in the back yard than in the house - others need practical help, financial support for vet care, help with a pet deposit on a rental, or help with boarding a pet for a shorter period of time. If the pet is surrendered to the shelter, one of two things can happen: either the pet is killed, or the shelter pays for medical care, food, toys, and the effort to find it a new home. Helping the original owner keep the pet is a win for everyone.

A: Many dogs participate in sports, such as agility, dock diving, and flyball, but surfing might not be the first that comes to mind when thinking of dogs and sports. Believe it or not - it's a real thing, and the first surfing dogs in the USA were documented in the 1920s. In dog surfing, a dog is trained to surf either alone or with a human on the board. There is also tandem surfing with two or more dogs surfing together - the Guinness World Record for most dogs photographed on a surfboard is eighteen. This video clip is from the 1930s where a dog named Night Hawk surfed with his owner, Philip K. Auna in Waikiki   //youtu.be/nfeWlHVyBZQ   One of the most famous surfing dogs right now is no doubt Surf Dog Ricochet who interacts and surfs with children with special needs, people with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, and wounded warriors. Besides being great at surfing and having won countless contests, Ricochet is a certified therapy dog. On her website you can find information about the PTSD Battle Buddy Initiative, how to teach a dog to surf, and many other things. The tips about teaching a dog to surf includes what type of surf board is suitable, how to teach the dog to stand on the board, and many other useful things.   //youtu.be/GFVk0vJUGs0  

A: Many dog owners have problems with their pooches chasing, or even attempting to herd cars. In the case of Ruby and Garrett it's the other way around, and this golden retriever does a fine job keeping her human safe. Garrett is a little boy with a severe case of autism who tends to wander off.  Even with several locks, deadbolts, and alarms on the front door he would leave and go to other people's houses, or just walk in the middle of the street. He also has a disorder making him want to eat unsuitable items, puts himself in danger, and needs 24/7 supervision. The situation was so bad the family avoided going anywhere out of fear of losing him. The arrival of Ruby changed everything. Ruby is a service dog who has undergone extensive training by Tender Loving Canines to help her autistic boy. She not  only keeps track of Garrett - she is also his first and best friend. Persons with autism have a hard time expressing themselves and often can't make friends, but that doesn't mean they don't get lonely. Before Ruby Garrett would barely talk, and now he sings songs to his dog. Before Ruby was placed with the family, the trainers made many visits to make sure she was the right fit, that she would be gentle with Garrett, and he with her. They still make follow up visits, and right now Ruby undergoes training to track him in case he wanders off.   //youtu.be/ub9Z29R9zqg

A: Cat cafes originated in Asia and offer tea, coffee, food, and cat cuddling. They are extremely popular in cultures where people might not be able to have a pet themselves, and today there are cat cafes in Europe and Canada as well. Thus far, the US has lagged behind. New York City saw a pop-up cat cafe earlier this year, but it might be Los Angeles that gets the first permanent installation. The first try starts today and will be open through October 5th 2014. The cafe partners with no-kill shelter Best Friends Animal Society Los Angeles, and with the Chinatown Business Improvement District. There will be cats available for petting and adoption, costumed butlers, and entertainment. Hopes are the cat cafe can become a permanent installation, and the plans include space to house homeless cats as well as showing visiting shelter cats seeking new homes. There are also plans to open cat cafes in Portland, San Francisco, and Oakland. The dreams of a permanent NYC cat cafe might also come to fruition soon - there is currently a crowd funding campaign attempting to raise startup funding. Read more about the pop up cat cafe here.

A: Image from Facebook: Duluth Animal Hospital Roo is a two-legged Chihuahua, and Penny is a fluffy chicken. They should reasonably never have met, but they were both rescued by the Duluth Animal Hospital.  Roo was born without front legs, and was allegedly found freezing in a ditch when he was seven weeks old. Penny was a mere nine weeks when she was rescued from an experiment program. Today, they're the best friends anyone can imagine. They spend their days together at Duluth Animal Hospital, snuggle together, take baths together, and dress up for the holidays together. Watch the video for images of ultimate cuteness! //youtu.be/maQBdmGPlMo

A: Photo from Washington County, Oregon, Animal Services in Hillsboro, OregonMonths ago, Gidget the Jack Russell terrier went missing from her home near Philadelphia.  Luckily, she was microchipped. She was found wandering the streets of a Portland Suburb - 3,000 miles away from her home. Thanks to the microchip, shelter workers could identify the owner, and Gidget will soon be taken back home. Gidget disappeared right after easter, and she's the only one who knows how she ended up in Oregon, and what she has been doing since April. It was surely a big adventure. She has never lived in Oregon and is unlikely to have walked there on her own, but who brought her is still a mystery. Shelter workers say she was thin but in good shape when she came to the shelter. Gidgets owners didn't have the money to fly out and get her, but sunshine stories like this bring out the best in many. Several people have offered to pay for transportation, and PetLink - the company that manufactured Gidget's microchip - will pick up the bill for her flight back home. A man also came to the shelter and paid for all expenses in caring for the dog.

A: Manatees and dogs don't usually meet, but if they did they just might be friends. White Boy is a dog from Tampa, Florida, who recently fell into the river. Residents of the Seminole Heights area heard a strange noise from the river Friday night, and saw the dog struggle to climb out the next morning.  When officers from the Tampa Police Department's Marine Patrol unit came to the scene, White Boy clung to a cement wall with his front paws - and a manatee stood guard behind him. It is unknown how long the manatee kept the dog company, but it stayed until the dog was rescued. White Boy has been reunited with his family, and got away from the adventure with bug bites and hurt paws. Hopefully he will stay away from the river in the future. Image from Tampa Police Department's Facebook page