How Responsible Breeding Can Reduce Hereditary Diseases in Dogs and Cats

The American Veterinary Medical Association convention went virtual this year, and one of the topics discussed was that a greater understanding of how genetic diseases occur can help vets prevent and mitigate their effects in our pets. The speaker, Dr. Jerold Bell, a veterinarian and geneticist at Tufts University, said that many of the most …

Communicating with Cats: It’s All in the Eyes

Ask any cat lover what a “slow blink” is, and chances are they’ll know it’s a sure sign that their cat is enjoying their company.  A recent study published in Scientific Reports analyzed this form of human-cat communication and found that both cats and humans appreciate bonding via the slow blink! The authors note that …

Homes Needed for Greyhounds as US Dog Tracks Continue to Close

An in-depth article on the decline of dog racing in the US published by National Geographic shines a light on the challenges faced by Greyhounds, both on and off the track. Earlier this year, the last Greyhound track in Texas closed.  At the end of 2020, dog racing will end in Florida with the closure …

Study: Looking at Animals is Good for Your Health

Researchers have been studying the health benefits of pet ownership for a long time, but a new study proves that even watching animal videos and looking at pictures of animals have measurable health benefits. Dr. Andrea Utley of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds in the UK worked with a group …

“We Are All Ears” Project Encourages Children to Read with Pets

Pet Partners, a therapy animal non-profit that fosters human health and well-being through the human-animal bond, has created a new program that encourages young readers to practice reading with their pets. We Are All Ears is especially well-suited to this time of social isolation, when many beginning readers are participating in distance learning and may …