It's a New Year's tradition around my home, one that has outlived a handful of pets, but it still works to ensure the safety of the animals who share their lives with me now.... more
In the aftermath of Sept. 11, we opened our hearts and our wallets in a show of support and generosity that was truly inspiring -- but in so doing, we stopped paying attention to those charities that ... more
Sometimes a life can hinge on what happens in a minute. Or in eight of them, as was the case with the Lab-mix puppy I found myself cuddling at an emergency animal hospital in the middle of a cold wint... more
The season's first winter storm slammed through a couple of days after Thanksgiving, leaving me with a pair of dogs who didn't understand why I couldn't just throw something on and take them to the do... more
Over the last couple of years, my youngest dog has spent a fair amount of her free time digging a hole in my yard. Hidden in the shadow of an old rose bush, the opening is so small that Heather has to... more
As pet lovers, we always need to keep in mind one of the basic facts of life: Not everyone loves animals the way we do. And even those who do love animals can find the antics of other people's pets a ... more
Thanksgiving is at hand, and the rest of the holiday season looms ahead. It's a busy time, but you need to make sure in the whirl of activities that you aren't ignoring any danger to your pets.... more
Like most predators, cats have keen senses. Our lovingly spoiled and mostly domesticated former hunters get food served to them these days, often in fancy bowls. But that doesn't mean they've lost the... more
This year, I'm giving you ample warning: If you're thinking of a Christmas puppy, just stop it, right now. No matter how much your children want one, the holidays are just about the worst time possibl... more
People are always asking me to recommend a good pet for a child, an affectionate animal that can be cared for with a minimum of adult assistance.... more
Holidays are anything but fun for many pets. While we humans love the change in routine, the parties, the guests and the decorations, our furred and feathered family members too often find the disrupt... more
As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, you may be observing what seems rather odd for a body preparing for winter: Your dog is shedding more than usual.... more
The problem with placing adult cats, says a friend of mine who has found homes for dozens of them, is that everyone who wants a cat usually has one already. And many of the people who are in the marke... more
The recent terrorist attacks have tragically changed the lives of many four-legged family members as well as the human ones. In the areas surrounding New York City and Washington, D.C., many pets were... more
Poor-quality purebreds are everywhere: Vicious golden retrievers, crippled German shepherds and deaf Dalmatians -- virtually every breed has some kind of genetic problem that reputable, knowledgeable ... more
Bargain-hunting is a bad idea when it comes to buying a purebred puppy. Paying attention in any but the most cursory way to price is about the worst strategy I know of for determining the potential he... more
On our way back from Florida to our home in California, the dogs and I stopped in Texas to visit with the college professor friend who had bred my youngest dog, Heather.... more
Where will you be in 10 or 15 years? If you can't answer the question with any degree of certainty, then you shouldn't be in the market for a pet.... more
A headset holding back her thick gray hair and a look of gentle amusement on her face, Marla Baer is shifting through her voicemail messages at the Dumb Friends League in Denver.... more
Not long ago I was hanging out with a friend while he worked the overnight shift at an emergency veterinary clinic. I was expecting to see some dreadful situations and, sadly, I was not disappointed. ... more
Can cats and dogs get along? While a current movie has fun with the idea that the animals are secretly fighting an all-out war, millions of real-life cats and dogs live in harmony, and millions of peo... more
Not long ago I wrote about feathers, the strong, lightweight and beautiful genetic adaptation that allowed birds to shed their reptilian ancestry and take flight. I soon heard from a woman with an umb... more
The plumber was here the other afternoon, fixing one of those occasional disasters that hit the homes (and pocketbooks) of us all at the worst possible times.... more
Feathers are one of nature's most stupendous feats of engineering, as strong and functional as they are beautiful. Although feathers vary from species to species -- compare the feathers of a penguin w... more
What do an ironing board, clingy plastic food wrap and a condom have in common? In an emergency medical situation, all can be pressed into service to help save the life of your pet.... more
Noodles, who shared his life with one of my best friends, left this world a couple of months ago at the age of what my friend guessed was 17. He was one of my favorite cats, although why I liked him i... more
While we humans have trained dogs to work for us as long as there have been dogs, what we think of as formal dog training is largely a modern development, with techniques drawn from the military.... more