News about amazing animals, pet care information, the best ways to spend time with your furry friends, great products for pets and for animal lovers, and much more information for people who love their pets
Reading Time: 2 minutes A study has shown that regularly walking a dog boosts levels of physical activity in older people, especially during the winter. Published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, the study used data from the EPIC Norfolk cohort study, which is tracking the health and wellbeing of thousands of residents of the English county…
Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the most common struggles for people living with autism spectrum disorder is socializing with others. Previous research has shown that dogs can serve as social catalysts, and that children with autism may feel more comfortable speaking and socializing in the presence of a therapy dog. However, in a new study, researchers at the…
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you have found yourself watching more cat videos than usual while quarantined at home, don’t feel too guilty about it. In fact, there’s even some science supporting the idea that watching cat (or other animal videos) is good for you. A June 2016 study, for example, by an Indiana University assistant professor Jessica Gall…
Reading Time: 2 minutes While current events have increased stress for all families, parents of children with autism report higher levels of stress on average than parents of typically developing kids. Feeling overwhelmed and overburdened by various responsibilities, some parents turn to pets as a source of comfort and support. Now, research from the University of Missouri has found that…
Reading Time: 3 minutes Embrace Pet Insurance, one of the nation’s top-rated pet insurance programs, is launching a social media campaign in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May to educate Americans on how their pets can improve their mental health. The campaign encourages pet parents to share on their Instagram, Twitter or directly to Embrace’s Facebook how their…
Reading Time: 2 minutes A new blog, Pet Therapy Stories, has been created to raise awareness and honor therapy dogs serving their communities. Pet therapy volunteers may submit stories about special encounters their therapy dogs have had working in their community. The blog also honors therapy dogs that have passed on its Therapy Angels page. There is no charge…
Reading Time: 2 minutes Rover.com, a network of five-star pet sitters ad dog walkers, recently released its Anatomy of Dog Love report. The report dove into the science behind why dogs and humans love each other and presents new data on how pets impact our romantic relationships. The Anatomy of Dog Love report is based on a survey of…
Reading Time: 2 minutes American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, today announced the official start of the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards® campaign, sponsored by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation. The annual campaign seeks to identify and honor America’s bravest heroes on both ends of the leash and will culminate this fall with the premiere of…
Reading Time: 2 minutes So, on East Carolina University campus, I saw this sign announcing the opportunity to pet a therapy animal: Well, of course I did! I had a stressful day ahead, as did most of the students, faculty and staff around me. That’s why this unexpected opportunity to pet a dog was so delightful! And even…
Reading Time: < 1 minute A new weekly podcast, The Animal Effect, shines light on the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. Hosted by licensed mental health professional Prairie Conlon, the podcast, which airs on Mental Health News Radio and all podcast streaming platforms, takes a holistic approach to mental health treatment through the power of healing with animal therapy. “More…
Reading Time: 2 minutes “A Pet Sees You” is a new short film that is described as “highlighting the mental health benefits of pet ownership for the Generation Z population.” It is actually only about a minute in length, but seems to definitely capture that sense of a dog (or other pet) always being there to provide emotional support,…
Reading Time: 3 minutes Remember the lines from the nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” about the lamb making the children laugh and play, so the teacher turned it out? Well, maybe a lamb isn’t a great idea, but small classroom pets may actually help improve academic performance and social skills in children, according to a new study,…
Reading Time: 2 minutes Goat yoga has become a global phenomenon and a bucket list item for many. In fact, according to a press release from PRWeb, The Original Goat Yoga has had thousands of people on a wait list just to try their classes. So, whether you’ve heard of goat yoga, or are just discovering this fairly new,…
Reading Time: 2 minutes DALLAS (PRNewswire) — This June, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, is launching Best Friend Fridays™, an initiative that celebrates happy minds and healthy hearts one pet parent at a time. As if pet parents needed more reason to brag about their furry friends – studies…
Reading Time: 5 minutes “CAPC Lyme prevalence maps gives monthly updates to show residents, travelers and health care providers what’s happening in every county, including areas where ten years ago there may not have been a risk.” (PRWeb.com) — New research from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) gives people and their health care providers a way to assess…
Reading Time: 3 minutes FRANKLIN, Tennessee (PRNewswire) — Mars Petcare is taking its commitment to creating a more pet-friendly world to new heights by announcing the “BETTER CITY FOR PETS” certification. “BETTER CITY FOR PETS” CERTIFICATIONThe introduction of the Mars Petcare “BETTER CITY FOR PETS” certification is just in time for the 87th U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Winter…
Reading Time: 2 minutes St. Louis (PRNewswire) — Today’s signing into law of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) marks an important milestone in efforts to reshape the way domestic violence victims and their pets are cared for in the United States. The newly enacted PAWS Act, included in the bill, received bi-partisan Congressional support and will…
Reading Time: 2 minutes CULVER CITY, California (PRNewswire) — Sony Pictures Entertainment and the Humane Society of the United States kicked off their collaboration at an advance screening of A Dog’s Way Home for veterans and their families in the DC area. A Dog’s Way Home will be released in theaters nationwide on January 11, 2019. Through the movie,…
Reading Time: 3 minutes A survey conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital® discovered a correlation between pets and professional achievements: 93 percent of C-suite executives surveyed in the U.S. grew up with a pet, with 78 percent attributing their career success in part to owning a pet as a child. VANCOUVER, Washington (PRNewswire) — Pets bring joy, companionship and comfort…
Reading Time: 3 minutes WASHINGTON (PRNewswire) — To provide veterans with assistance, American Humane, this country’s first national humane organization, provides a wide range of programs and services including free, lifesaving help for those who continue to battle the invisible wounds of war – deadly Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Here are just some of American…
Reading Time: 2 minutes SANTA FE, New Mexico (PRNewswire) — Most people say they wish they had more time to take better care of themselves and to feel less stress. At least that’s what acupuncturist and wellness practitioner Carlyn Montes De Oca discovered when she asked her patients to name their biggest challenges. With that information in mind, Montes…
Reading Time: 2 minutes SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, California (PRNewswire) — Solutions 4 Recovery now offers a pet-friendly policy for its Southern California addiction and dual diagnosis rehabilitation programming. Allowing clients to bring their beloved pet to rehab can enhance the treatment experience as well as reduce anxiety that often accompanies entering a program. According to Jacqueline Malani, Director of…