🐶 Horse-Riding Dog Loves Life 🐴

🐴 Farm Dog Rides Horses

📜 Pet Care Through The Ages

🏝️ Dog Takes 100 Mile Journey to Island

💸 Lotto Winner (at Bottom)

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🐶 🐴 Herding Dog Loves to Ride Horses
 

• 🐴 Born to Belong: Steve was supposed to be adopted out—but his bond with the farm’s horses (especially Ed and Sausage) made it clear: he was already home.

  🏇 Four Legs, Two Saddles: Steve doesn’t just herd—he rides horses. When he’s not perched calmly atop a foal, he’s sprinting beside them like one of the herd.

  💛 Farm Soulmate: More than a helper, Steve’s become the heart of the farm—bringing presence, peace, and a gentle kind of leadership to every paddock he trots into.

 Weekly Learning 📖 🐾

Newest Video: How Much is Too Much CBD for Dogs? 🐶 🍃

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🏝️ Dog Swims to Island On 100 Mile Journey 🐕

• 🐾 Lost and Legendary: After just one night in her new UK foster home, Amber the retriever mix went missing—only to embark on a 100-mile, 36-day solo adventure across Hampshire and Dorset.

• 🌊 Island Survivor: Amber swam a full mile across Poole Harbour to reach Brownsea Island, where she survived on food left out by a kind resident—until a ferry crew spotted her and pulled her from the water.

• 🚢 Seal? Nope—Just Amber: A ferry crew mistook her for a seal before realizing it was a struggling dog in the harbor. One crew member even jumped in to help her aboard.

• 🏡 Home on the Horizon: After being declared fit by a vet, Amber is recovering with extra meals—and the woman she bonded with on the island is already hoping to adopt her.

The History of Pet Ownership 📖 🐾

It’s easy to think of pet ownership as a modern thing—designer collars, vet visits, personalized beds—but the bond between humans and animals goes way back.

Across centuries and continents, people have not only lived alongside animals, but pampered them, honored them, and in some cases… worshipped them.

Here’s a look at the highlights from a few of history’s most pet-loving eras:

🐱 Divine Companions in Ancient Egypt

In Ancient Egypt, animals weren’t just tolerated—they were treasured.

• Cats were sacred, believed to bring protection and good fortune. They were associated with the goddess Bastet, and many homes kept them to guard grain stores and ward off evil spirits.

• Families often mummified their cats, burying them with food and jewelry to enjoy in the afterlife.

• Dogs were praised for their loyalty and hunting skill—some were buried with inscriptions honoring their courage.

📜 Fun fact: In 1888, over 80,000 mummified cats were discovered in a single tomb at Beni Hasan.

🏛️ Pampered Pets of Greece and Rome

In the classical world, pets moved into more personal roles—especially among the upper class.

• Small lapdogs were common in Roman homes, often treated as members of the family.

• Ancient Greeks kept dogs as playmates for children and companions for philosophers.

• Birds like nightingales and parrots were admired for their songs and kept in ornate cages.

🏺 Fun fact: One Roman tombstone reads, "To Helena, foster child, the soul without comparison and deserving of love." Helena was a dog.

🐕 Working Pets with Noble Status in the Middle Ages

Though medieval pets often had jobs, they were still deeply valued.

• Cats lived in monasteries and castles, appreciated for their pest control and companionship.

• Nobles kept hunting dogs and lapdogs, with miniature breeds often gifted across royal courts.

• In China, breeds like the Pekingese and Shih Tzu were bred to resemble lions and held in such high regard they were believed to have spiritual powers.

🦴 Fun fact: The Pekingese was so prized, it could only be owned by members of the Chinese Imperial Court for centuries.

🪞 The Pet-Loving Modern Era

As cities grew and the middle class expanded, pet ownership became more widespread—and more affectionate.

• Queen Victoria adored Pomeranians, which kicked off a boom in small dog breeds and home pet culture.

• The 1800s saw the founding of animal shelters, vet practices, and the American Kennel Club.

• By the early 20th century, it was common for pets to have names, collars, and dedicated spaces in the home.

🐶 Fun fact: The first recorded dog show was held in 1859 in England—and judged only pointers and setters!

🐾 The Bottom Line

Whether curled on royal cushions or chasing mice in ancient temples, pets have always held a meaningful place in human lives. Their roles may have changed—but our love for them clearly hasn’t.

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Rare Cat Has Vampire Teeth

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This Week’s Key Pet News

Pet Cat is Elected Mayor in Colorado

• 🗳️ Democracy with Paws: Hazel, a rescue tabby, won Louisville’s pet mayor race—beating out nine other candidates with a platform of “knocking things off platforms.”

• 🌈 A Post-Crisis Spirit Lift: The pet mayor initiative began to bring joy and community after wildfires and COVID, teaching kids about voting and civic pride through pets.

• 😺 Mayor Goals: Hazel’s official duties? Spreading pawsitivity and instituting mandatory daily nap time. Truly, a leader for the people.

Hospice Dog Gets Gourmet Sendoff

• 🥩 First-Class Feast: Buster, a 11.5-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, kicked off his bucket list with a “surf and turf” meal—steak, fish, and all—served with love by his new adoptive family.

• 🎥 Heartfelt Storytelling: His family shared the moment in a touching video narrated from Buster’s point of view: “They’re making sure every day is my best day.”

• 💛 Love Over Limits: Despite a grim diagnosis, Buster’s final chapter is filled with comfort, care, and joy—proving that every dog deserves a beautiful goodbye.

Telehealth Can Significantly Help Cats in Chronic Pain

• 📹 Care Without the Stress: A UC Davis study shows video visits can improve life for cats with arthritis by eliminating the anxiety of vet trips.

• 🏠 Home, Sweet (Modified) Home: Owners received personalized advice—like raised food bowls and easier-access litter boxes—to make cats more comfortable day-to-day.

• 💡 Smarter Support: Over 95% of cat owners said they’d pay for this service again. It’s a win for feline wellness and better caregiver confidence.