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Watch The Moment A Severely Matted Dog Feels The Sun On Her Skin For The First Time In Years

Watch The Moment A Severely Matted Dog Feels The Sun On Her Skin For The First Time In Years

About a year ago, residents of a Kansas City neighborhood spotted a severely matted pup wandering the streets all alone.

Jaina Spagis' 'Cats of San Bernardino' Mission Saves Thousands of Stray Cats Through Rescue and TNR

Jaina Spagis' 'Cats of San Bernardino' Mission Saves Thousands of Stray Cats Through Rescue and TNR

Jaina Spagis, a CNN Hero, has dedicated her home and life to saving stray cats in San Bernardino, California, through her organization, Cats of San Bernardino. What began with caring for a stray cat and her kittens in her backyard in 2013, after moving from Canada to South Los Angeles, evolved into a full-fledged nonprofit in 2019. Spagis and her wife, Ivy, discovered a significant lack of affordable veterinary resources and programs for cats in San Bernardino compared to Los Angeles. Their mission centers on trap-neuter-return (TNR) to control the outdoor cat population, sterilizing at least 20 community cats monthly. The organization also feeds 14 outdoor cat colonies, rescues injured and friendly cats, provides extensive medical care in a converted garage equipped with incubators and oxygen machines, and places adoptable cats in homes. Since 2019, they have placed over 2,000 cats and kittens, with adopters from across the U.S. and even internationally.

Veterinary Associations Face Scrutiny Over Support for Gestation Crates and Opposition to California's Proposition 12

Veterinary Associations Face Scrutiny Over Support for Gestation Crates and Opposition to California's Proposition 12

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) are under increasing scrutiny for their lobbying efforts against California's Proposition 12 and similar state laws that prohibit the sale of pork produced using gestation crates. Proposition 12, approved by Californian voters in 2018, mandates minimum space requirements for breeding sows. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has legally challenged Proposition 12 and is now lobbying Congress to overturn it through federal Farm Bill provisions. The AASV, led by Executive Director Dr. Harry Snelson, has strongly supported the NPPC's campaign, submitting an amicus brief in the 2023 Supreme Court case and lobbying Congress. Dr. Snelson previously served as the Director of Science and Technology at the NPPC. The AVMA, claiming to represent over 111,000 veterinarians nationwide, has also sent letters to Congress in 2024 and 2026, expressing 'strong support' for federal legislation to overturn Propo...

Dover Man Charged with Animal Cruelty After Abandoning Two Dogs in Woods

Dover Man Charged with Animal Cruelty After Abandoning Two Dogs in Woods

Victor Gonzalez Triana, a 49-year-old man from Dover, New Hampshire, has been charged with animal cruelty. Authorities arrested Triana after he was identified as the owner of a miniature Pinscher and a Chihuahua found abandoned in a dirty kennel in the woods in August. A woman discovered the two small dogs, which are now reported to be in good health and under the care of the Pope Memorial Humane Society. Following his arrest, Triana was released and is scheduled for an arraignment in October. This incident highlights ongoing issues of animal abandonment and the legal consequences faced by individuals responsible for such acts.

New Jersey Family-Owned Ranch Offers Second Chance for Horses Saved from Slaughter

New Jersey Family-Owned Ranch Offers Second Chance for Horses Saved from Slaughter

Circle S: Second Chance Ranch, a family-owned operation in Sicklerville, New Jersey, is dedicated to rescuing and caring for horses and other animals, many of whom have been saved directly from slaughter or pulled from the auction pipeline. Owners Kevin and Hilary Schultz, who initially had no prior experience with horses or large land ownership, began their mission by rescuing a single horse, which quickly expanded to multiple animals. The ranch, situated on 33 acres, currently houses seven horses, including one named Rescue who was saved just 15 minutes before being loaded onto a slaughter truck, along with other farm animals like goats and pigs. The Schultz family, who previously rescued cats and dogs, established a nonprofit arm, the Second Chance Ranch Foundation, to support their efforts. Beyond animal rescue, the ranch also hosts events, field trips, school visits, and offers a program specifically designed to help first responders and veterans cope with PTSD and anxiety.

Planning Road Trips with Older Dogs Requires Specialized Care and Route Adjustments

Planning Road Trips with Older Dogs Requires Specialized Care and Route Adjustments

Planning Road Trips with Older Dogs Requires Specialized Care and Route Adjustments

Little Boy Can't Stop Crying When He Meets An Abandoned Dog At A Gas Station

Little Boy Can't Stop Crying When He Meets An Abandoned Dog At A Gas Station

This past Labor Day weekend, Alexandra and Rollins Luckey went on a road trip from Florida back home to Atlanta.

Rescue Dog Cactus Adopts Puppy Cowboy, Showcasing Interspecies Bond

Rescue Dog Cactus Adopts Puppy Cowboy, Showcasing Interspecies Bond

Rescue Dog Cactus Adopts Puppy Cowboy, Showcasing Interspecies Bond

Dave Cheryl Duffield Foundation Commits $250 Million to Expand Veterinary Care Access in the U.S.

Dave Cheryl Duffield Foundation Commits $250 Million to Expand Veterinary Care Access in the U.S.

The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation has launched a significant initiative called 'Big Bet for Pets,' committing $250 million over five years to reduce financial barriers to veterinary care for family pets across the United States. This commitment is described as one of the largest private philanthropic investments to date focused on expanding nonprofit community veterinary care. The initiative aims to close an estimated 50-million-pet access gap, largely driven by the cost of veterinary services. As part of this effort, the foundation has immediately opened two grant programs: Duffield Boost Grants, a $2.5 million pool offering 250 unrestricted grants of $10,000 each to nonprofit community veterinary care providers nationwide, and Expanding Access Grants, a separate $10 million pool for multi-year awards to established nonprofit veterinary clinics looking to scale up their capacity. The foundation, established in 2016, has a long history of supporting companion-animal causes, including through Maddie's F...

Embark Vet Introduces DNA Methylation Test to Estimate Dog Age

Embark Vet Introduces DNA Methylation Test to Estimate Dog Age

Embark Vet has launched a new DNA methylation test designed to estimate a dog's age. Unlike traditional DNA tests that analyze a dog's genetic sequence, this new test utilizes epigenetics, specifically focusing on DNA methylation patterns. DNA methylation is a chemical modification that alters how genes function without changing the underlying genetic code. As a dog ages, these methylation patterns change predictably, allowing scientists to use them as a 'clock' to estimate age. The company trained its Age Test model using data from thousands of dogs with known ages to reliably estimate a dog's age based on its DNA methylation profile. The test provides an estimated age and a 'prediction interval,' which is a range of dates likely to contain the dog's true birthday, with a 77% confidence rate. The test requires a separate cheek swab sample from other Embark DNA tests.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Offers Condolences to Obama Family on Loss of Dog Sunny

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Offers Condolences to Obama Family on Loss of Dog Sunny

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama announced the passing of their family dog, Sunny, at the age of 13. Sunny, a Portuguese Water Dog, joined the Obama family in August 2013 during President Obama's second term in the White House. The Obamas shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, describing Sunny as a 'force of nature' and a source of comfort. Following their announcement, many individuals, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, expressed their condolences. Governor Walz commented on the difficulty of losing a pet, acknowledging the profound impact Sunny had on the Obama family and the public.

Obamas Announce Passing of Family Dog Sunny

Obamas Announce Passing of Family Dog Sunny

Former President Barack Obama announced the passing of the family's pet dog, Sunny, a 13-year-old Portuguese water dog. Sunny joined the Obama family in 2013 during their second term in the White House. President Obama shared on social media that the family, including their first dog Bo, immediately fell in love with Sunny. He described Sunny as athletic, energetic, and protective of Bo, noting her unusual dislike for water despite her breed. Sunny's death follows that of Bo, who passed away in 2021. The announcement highlights the role of pets in presidential families, a tradition observed by many U.S. presidents.